Verano Beauty Trends to Try at Home

Are you ready to give yourself summer’s hottest makeover? These must-have beauty trends are all over the runways, and the good news is that they’re easy to recreate at home. Here’s how:

Balayage

Literally meaning “sweeping” in French, this hair highlighting technique is achieved by hand painting color onto each strand of hair to create depth. The highlights appear natural due to the scattered, painted strands, instead of the straight lines that result when foils are used. The best part? Touch-ups aren’t necessary since the roots are less obvious when they grow out. At home: Try Clairol Natural Instincts at least three shades lighter than your current hair color. Twist sections of your hair and apply the dye about one third down the twist. Follow the instructions on the box, untwist your hair and show off your new look.

Matte Nails

Forget glossy, shiny nails this summer -- it’s all about matte. There is no need to head to the nail salon to try this trend. Pick up a bottle at the drug store and paint on at home. Just make sure to apply a clear base coat to help the polish adhere to your nails. Paint two coats of the matte polish, let it dry and you are ready to go!

Dewy Complexion

Fresh skin is the key to looking younger and happier. A dewy complexion is easy to achieve at home when you use the correct products. Start by applying COVERGIRL & Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation. This combination serum and foundation helps to improve your skin tone while it instantly covers age spots and discolorations. Choose a creamy blush and brush it lightly over your cheekbones and forehead for a natural glow. Complete the look with a nude lip gloss.

Adios Cabello Drama! Get Gorgeous Hair Fast

If your mornings are a race against how long it takes for your kids to eat breakfast, actually styling your hair is likely an anomaly. Ditch the ponytail and follow these simple tricks to get gorgeous hair -- in no time.

Time-Saving Products

The right products will give you desired results that last longer. “The best tip to speed up your morning routine is to towel dry hair and apply Argan oil,” says Lizette Green, owner of Salon Essence in Coral Springs, Fla. The oil will tame frizz and restore shine even before your blow-dry.

A good leave-in conditioner is also a must for gorgeous hair in no time, and can save you even more time in the shower. Leave-in conditioners keep hair moisturized long after it’s applied, and doubles as a heat damage protectant. “For finer hair, use a spray leave-in; for thicker hair a creamy leave-in,” says Green.

Lastly, apply a protein or moisture treatment at night, twice a month. “These are like medicine for hair. They nourish and restore hair’s health and any damage caused from heat elements,” says Green. Use protein for fine hair, and moisture for thick hair. The result? Less time spent managing bad hair days.

Easy Blow-Dry

If you can squeeze in a blow-dry, follow Green’s technique for a time-saving technique that will last for days: After letting hair first top dry, wrapped in a microfiber towel, section hair in three sections. Blow-dry from the bottom section to the top. “Sectioning gives you a quicker finish because you target direct areas more efficiently,” says Green.

Bonus Quick Tricks

  • Eliminate time spent detangling by combing hair in the shower with conditioner before rinsing.

  • After shampooing, use a wet brush for the best way to detangle hair without pulling it, suggests Green.

  • Skip the curling iron and sleep in loose braids for an effortless beachy wave.

Get Summer-Ready With a Healthy Smile

Warm weather is easily something to smile about, so make sure your pearly whites are in tip-top shape this season. “A healthy mouth means a healthy body,” says Dr. Rosa Lopez, a dentist based in Dallas. While proper dental care is essential all year round, you can still get a bright, healthy smile just in time for verano with these three tips:

Use a Proper Technique

You may be incorrectly caring for your teeth and gums, which could be contributing to discoloration, cavities and more. Be sure to brush at least two times a day, for two minutes each. “An electric or rotary toothbrush is much more effective at removing plaque,” says Lopez. Brush in circular or vertical strokes for optimum gum health.

Tip: Don’t forget the tongue! An unclean tongue is a main source of bad breath. “Tongue scrapers are very effective in removing bacteria,” says Lopez.

Time to Whiten

“The best way to brighten your teeth is to start with a professional cleaning at your dental office,” says Lopez. “The hygienist will efficiently remove stain and buildup, revealing clean dental enamel.” From there, Lopez suggests over-the-counter whitening strips, which will easily and effectively whiten your smile. For an extra boost of whitening power, brush daily with a whitening toothpaste, and rinse with a whitening mouthwash.

Watch What You Eat

Are you a fan of tea or coffee? Drinks like these, along with sports drinks, wine, and berries, can stain and erode your teeth. “Consume these in moderation,” says Lopez. “Use a straw to minimize staining, and rinse -- even with water -- and brush after eating if possible.” Look for crunchy fruits and vegetables, such as celery, apples and pears, which are high in water content and help produce more saliva, to gently cleanse the mouth. 

Love Thy Cuerpo: A Healthy Look at Body Image

For many mujeres, living up to the beauty ideals of the Hispanic and American culturas, is anything but easy. On a daily basis, we face unique body image issues -- “Am I skinny enough?” “Is my nose too big?” “Are my feet ugly?” -- and situations that can get in the way of our accepting and loving our bodies and ourselves. Here, five women share why they love and celebrate themselves -- we dare you to do the same con tu cuerpo!

I would stand in front of the mirror and rate each area of my body from one to 10. The part of my body that would never score well was my thighs.”

“They always looked so big and shaky. I hated them. It wasn’t until I started working out that I stopped obsessing over my legs. Then one day, I realized that my whole body, including my legs, was in good shape. My thighs were still big, but that’s just how my body was shaped and there was nothing I could do to change it. It also helped to see women such as Jennifer Lopez and Kim Kardashian proudly displaying their big butts and thighs looking so sexy and confident. So I started accepting myself and now I think my thighs are sexy.”

- Nichole Moreno, 40

I'm on the shorter side with thick hips and a big bust, but I'm not any less confident.”

“Latinas, in general, are taught to love the shape of their body, knowing full well that it goes against the American standard of what has traditionally believed to be beautiful, which is tall, blond and blue eyed. I know that my shape and size are different, but I’m confident because being different is also beautiful.”

- Harumi Yoshida, 26

Although the ideal Latina body is supposed to be curvy and voluptuous, my hips are pretty narrow.”

“Luckily, my parents taught me to like my body ever since I was a kid. I learned very early how to be comfortable in my own skin. As a result, today, I know my body is beautiful and that anyone can be sexy at any size.”

- Karla Minchala, 25

I am a woman and we are all about change.”

“My weight fluctuates between five or eight pounds on any given day, depending on how much I ate the night before. So it is no surprise that my feelings about my weight and overall body also change depending on my mood, which also changes. I embrace the extra five pounds -- or 10. I embrace the ability to fill a dress that I couldn’t the week before. How boring would it be if we didn’t change? I love who I am today.”

- Yeilin Bonilla, 32

I was blessed with all of the hair DNA from both sides of my parents.

“I had hair everywhere: on my lips, chin, belly button, arms, legs. Even my toes! To make matters worse, my mom wouldn’t let me shave until I was in high school. For most of my life, I was ashamed of all that hair, and finally got rid of most of it with laser treatments. When it came time to take the hair off my arms, however, I couldn’t do it. At the last minute, I decided I wanted to keep it. I wanted to have something that reminded me of my parents and how I came into the world.”

- Johanna Robles, 37

The 5 Accessories You Need This Spring

Switching up your wardrobe this spring will be a head-to-toe transition. But you don’t have to spend a ton of money on new clothes. Update your look using accessories with bright colors, fun embellishments and interesting textures to take your look from bundled-up-boring to fun and flirty just in time for spring.

Joyas

Now that you’re no longer covered up in bulky sweaters, long sleeves and turtlenecks, make the switch to unique, larger bib and choker necklaces, and colorful geometric bangle bracelets like those seen on the Chanel runways. For still-cool days, necklaces and bracelets can be layered over jackets and cuffs. While the desire to pile on the accessories may be tempting, try to stick to one statement piece per look.

Zapatos

Whether you prefer heels or flats, spring shoes are prettying up los pies. Have fun with fringe, feathers and floral footwear designs that work well with a neutral dress, like those seen at Narciso Rodriguez and Candela. For the early days of spring, cutout sandals are a great option for keeping feet semi-covered.

Bolsos

Clutches are a big trend this season, in styles from the envelope clutch to the snap clutch. Look for bright colors or color blocking, as well as prints such as plaid and floral, like those seen at Christian Louboutin. For women in need of a carryall (calling all madres!), soft and squishy oversized bags are a great option for holding everything without feeling weighed down.

Gafas de Sol

The great sunglasses rule: always keep a classic black pair and mix it up with colorful, oversized shades like those seen on the runways of Rachel Zoe and Jeremy Scott. Mirror-like lenses are also definitely trending (and perfect for hiding those late-night circles in a flash).

Scarves

Ditch the heavy wool neck scarves and pick up light headscarves in silk or chiffon. Brightly colored print scarves are a trendy way to update an ordinary hairstyle, as they’re being wrapped in a bun, braided, or worn functionally in a turban -- perfect for shielding hair from el sol.