Happy Friday, gorgeous! Remember a few months back when I was a judge for Calling All Makeup Artists, the glamorous beauty showdown between six makeup artists? The competition included a day-long photography makeup workshop, and the winner scored the career-changing prize of being featured in the Spring 2012 lookbook for Your Name Professional Brands, seen by over 12,000 industry professionals.

Well – the lookbook has dropped, magazine style, springing to life with electric colors and editorial features. Scroll down to see the winner’s image, some daring makeup ideas, and Your Name’s Top 5 Trend picks for spring:

The Winner! Congratulations to CAMA winner Monica Verduzco of MOKA Cosmetics, whose final photogaph from the competition is featured here:

I don’t know about you but I’m ready for a colorful spring.

Are you a makeup artist? The next Calling All Makeup Artists compeition is set for NYC April 30. Join the CAMA Facebook page for updates!

Banishing unwanted body hair is a substantial part of your beauty routine. You wax your brows, get your lip threaded, you have your bikini lasered (and add fox fur?), and most importantly, you are VERY strict about getting rid of stray nose hairs.

Or are you?

Well, should you ever leave a visible nose hair behind, you just may find out about it via an anonymous email.

To avoid the awkward situation of having to tell someone they have a nose hair protruding, a Japanese company has been kind enough to invent a service to anonymously inform people of their out-lying nostril hairs. The site allows you to choose your recipient, indicate which nostril (right, left or both?) how many nose hairs are sticking out (one, two, too many to count?) and the tone you want to use. Is this a gentle notification? A not-so-subtle advisory to remove offending nose hairs immediately? A serious threat to your relationship?

The service just recently launched in English, however they clearly did not have any English-speaking humans review the translation. The broken English just makes it all that much more laughable.

Unless you’re that person… and you don’t actually have a nose hair.

I sent this notification to our affiliate program coordinator, Melissa last night – but she really didn’t have one. HAHAHA just testing it out! Sorry Mel!

I’m a terrible example! This service could potentially save someone a lot of embarrassment though… we grooming sticklers have to stick together and make the world a better place, one nose hair at a time.

MAYONNAISE.  You either love it or you hate it. Or, you’re like me and think it’s yucky in theory, but when it’s disguised in a sushi roll or a salad dressing, you can’t get enough.

Well, no matter if it’s disguised or not, the truth is mayo has a bad rap. A really bad rap. I’d like to dispel a common myth and tell you this: Mayo is NOT that bad for you. Sure, it’s high in fat, but let’s take a look at the ingredients: Whole eggs, soybean oil, vinegar, lemon, and some salt, sugar and other flavorings – an emulsion of mostly good fats and natural ingredients. The only time you get into high fructose corn syrup and other questionable additives is when it’s the “reduced fat” kind, which is almost always the worse-for-you kind, of any food. The problem with mayo lies in the fact that a lot people glob on 4 or 5 spoonfuls of it, and the fat (10 grams per 1 TBSP serving) adds up quickly. Also, the eggs used are most definitely not free-range. But, if you’re not concerned with the farming and you use the condiment modestly, don’t stop now.

Whether you’re a mayo lover and are looking for something with NO preservatives or additives whatsoever, you’re a mayo hater and really would like to find an alternative that you enjoy, or you live a vegan lifestyle, today’s Spa Foodie recipe is for you. Try this healthy recipe for Vegan Mayo, provided by Maggie Talisman of Dishes .

EASY VEGAN MAYO RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 cup – soymilk
2 ½ cups – canola oil
1 tablespoon – tomato paste
1 ½ tablespoon - cider vinegar
½ teaspoon – dry mustard (or ½ tablespoon prepared mustard)
1 tablespoom – agave nectar
½ tablespoon – hot sauce (optional)
¼ teaspoon - chopped garlic
1 tablespoon - salt
1 teaspoon - pepper

Instructions:

1. Place the soy milk in a blender, and with the blender still running, slowly drizzle in the oil.
2. Continue adding the oil until it is all absorbed.
3. Transfer to a large bowl, and whisk in the vinegar, mustard, tomato paste, agave nectar, hot sauce, salt and pepper.
4. The mayo will keep in the refrigerator, covered, for up to a week.

Viola!

Not only is this a healthy alternative to Hellmann’s, this recipe can also be used as a natural substitute to chemically-saturated conditioner for soft, silky hair!

See one of our past Spa Foodie features, another recipe for a mayo hair treatment.

(Photo exaggerated - unfortunately we cannot guarantee any mayonnaise will do this to your hair)

Yesterday, I found a really interesting do-it-yourself callus remover recipe calling for a foot bath of shaving cream and Listerine. I have never heard of anything like this before, especially with such an interesting ingredient combo. The recipe claims that “You can only use this method once a week or your feet will become very sore. Remember, this technique literally takes off a layer of skin.”  With a promise like that, you know I couldn’t resist. I HAD to investigate. Spoiler Alert: After the treatment I still had my calluses and smelled like a dentist’s office. Here’s how my failed Bill Nye experiment went down:

After the gym, I popped into the drugstore and bought a small bottle of both shaving cream and Listerine. At my apartment, I grabbed a mixing bowl and an old dish towel and follwed the directions to the letter.

Here’s what my foot looked like before:

Step 1. Put shaving cream on your feet

Step 2. In a bucket or sink, combine equal parts warm water and Listerine

Step 3. Soak a small hand towel in the solution of water and Listerine

Step 4. While the shaving cream is still on your feet wrap the wet hand towel around your feet and let it sit for 30 minutes

Step 5. After 30 minutes, use the towel to rub your feet. Some of the calloused and discolored skin will rub off

Here is what my foot looked like after:

And here is a close up of my heel:

During the 30 minutes I spent with my foot wrapped up like mummy, watching The Challenge: Battle of the Exes, my foot did get a little tingly and warm. Sadly, that sensation was just the false promise of a magical beauty remedy that did not deliver. I was so disappointed when I removed the towel and my regular, same old foot was revealed. I guess some of the dead skin was now more visible, but to me it was a total let down.

Then I got to thinking, maybe I was supposed to use more Listerine or more shaving cream or men’s shaving cream? What if this really was the Unicorn, the Big Foot, the Loch Ness Monster of all at-home recipes and I screwed it up? I guess you’ll just have to try it for yourself and see what happens!

Recipe via

There’s a French Renaissance happening, and it’s got nothing to do with the art and cultural movement that started in the 15th century. A few of us were sitting in the conference room this morning going over some (TOP SECRET SUPER-EXCITING!) stuff happening here at Spa Week in February, and being the girly girls we are, the topic turned from spa travel destinations to the resurgence of French Manicures. They had been relegated to boring nail-doers for many years in shades of Ballet Slipper, and over the past couple years have been reborn, now disguised in color, metallics, glitter, patterns… MUSTACHES!.. FRUIT!… and mindblowing innovation on the young and trendy set.

Our own Dina’s nails (above) are an all-gel clear manicure with orange French tips and glitter on top, which  inspired our French-obsessed meeting tangent, and this blog post.

All these are photos you’re about to see are ones we pinned on our new Pinterest account (follow us!). Check out our Mani Madness inspiration board for these and more.

TOP PICKS OF THE FRENCH (MANICURE) RENAISSANCE:

The contrasting matte/glossy blacks make these black nails anything but goth.

Anything or anyone with mustaches is hot right now. Especially this guy. Not only is this manicure on trend, it’s a great conversation piece.

Stay in the same color family for your French tips (just add glitter) and keep the shape classic for a subtly playful manicure.

For a more intergalactic rockstar look, try a totally contrasting glitter that fades from tip to bottom.

Use a jewel tone glitter on your base and pair with a glossy black tip – for a tres-glam combo.

Check out Chloe’s nail blog for more on her gradual blackout concept here:

Make a point.

Break it up and ditch the French pattern altogether while still being French-ish, but way edgier.

Neutral polish is having a big moment; bright pastels on the tips makes it playful and even more on-trend.

Go TETRIS! Need I say more?

Choose oozing and electric – this choice is not for the timid. 

The same idea – in white and pastel – is a totally different look.

Say HELLO to kitty, or pick another one of your favorite characters to poke out the tips of your nails.

Try in-versing the colors from one hand to the other.

The only way a traditional French manicure is still relevant… is if it’s attacked by a leopard.

REVERSE IT! The reverse French is a hot ticket – especially if it’s reflective.

The “balloons in the sky” look is the perfect birthday manicure.

We could pin cool manicures ALL DAY! But we have work to do. Tell us below: What’s the edgiest French manicure you’ve ever had? Link us to a picture of it if you have one!