You can learn a lot from an esthetician, including some very important information about exfoliation. Sure, you may think there cannot be anything else to know about something that seems so simple. Most young girls are taught something about exfoliation from their mothers, whether it be to use your wash rag in a circular motion when you wash your face, or to use harsh scrubs that contain pieces of nut shell. But in this case, mamma may not always know best. Here are three things that an esthetician could tell you that may surprise you.

1. Use a Lubricant

Olive oil, moisturizer, even baby oil is better than nothing. Just do not exfoliate bare skin. No matter how much it claims to be safe for sensitive skin, if you use it without some protection you might as well be using sandpaper. A cream or oil will not get in the way of the exfoliation process. It will actually help it.

2. Less Really Is More

You need to do it, but be careful not to do it too much. It is kind of like eating. You have to eat to stay healthy, but too much food or the wrong kinds of food can actually do damage. Exfoliation is essential to healthy skin, but doing it too often actually defeats the purpose. Exfoliation is meant to remove dead skin cells and leave room for healthy, younger ones to shine through. If you exfoliate more than once per week chances are you are getting rid of healthy skin cells, which increases cell production. The result is too many cells needing attention and care, and a dull or uneven complexion.

3. Step Away from the Sandpaper

Regardless of skin’s condition, harsh scrubs are not the answer. Skin cells are delicate and it does not take much to knock them free. Larger beads are better than jagged sandy ones, and a homemade scrub made with a rich cream and fine grain sugar works just fine. Use a light touch, rinse thoroughly, and beautiful skin is yours for the taking. The rougher the grain, the more irritating and damaging the skin is going to be. Damage and irritation does not result in beauty.

Estheticians are full of useful information and great skin care is their specialty. They take what they learn in esthetics schools and take your exfoliation advice from them and watch glowing skin ensue. Find a beauty school and BeautySchool.com.

It’s almost time to roll out the red carpet, pop some champagne, and tune into the Academy Awards. While all the reporters will be asking, “What are you wearing?” – we’d prefer to check out some elegant and unique hairstyles that only Hollywood can bring us! Here are our top five favorite Oscar-winning hairstyles from the past decade!

Halle Berry – Who can forget that maroon dress with the flowers sitting in just the right places? Halle Berry’s dress worn at the 2002 Oscars may have stole the show, but her short hair made her just as iconic. Halle’s pixie cut allowed her to truly show off her dress, and it showed women around the world that a short haircut can be sexy and glamorous enough for the Academy Awards.

Julia Roberts – In 2001 Julia Roberts strutted down the red carpet in a black and white vintage Valentino gown and a dramatic updo. Roberts’ hairstyle showed us that with a few well-placed hair extensions and a retro vibe, bigger is better!

Reese Witherspoon – We loved Witherspoon’s elegant chignon updo in 2006. Taking home an Oscar for her role in Walk the Line, Reese made an appropriate choice with her hair. This classic look channeled Grace Kelly and took us back to old Hollywood.

Charlize Theron – In 2004, Charlize choose to mimic Hollywood stars of the 1930s and 1940s with her pin-curled bob. We love that she paired this retro hairstyle with a modern dress and allover shimmer.

Penelope Cruz – When Penelope won her Academy Award in 2009, she relied on a classic ballerina bun that was simple, understated, and elegant. But who can blame her? Other great actresses like Audrey Hepburn have rocked this timeless look.

Who do you think will join the rankings of best Oscar hair this year?

A very happy New Year from all of us at BeautySchool.com!

While it’s not uncommon for the stores and the media and even many individuals to consider this the season of Christmas, we at BeautySchool.com recognize that it is not the only holiday that falls around this time of year. Today is the first day of Hanukkah for Jewish people around the world, and we wish all of you a joyous celebration.

Wish you could get up out of bed and be instantly prettier? Of course you do. If you could altogether avoid or cut in half the daunting task of dolling yourself up for the day – wouldn’t you? Absolutely!

Well, now you can with this list of 5 ways to wake up prettier. No more of those days at work having someone tell you, “Ooh, you look tired.” Nope! You can kiss those days goodbye.

Shower it – then braid it

If you want to achieve that nice wavy look, then stick to this old motherly secret. You’ve heard the saying, “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” Well, this bedtime beauty secret is old school for a reason – it’s not broke, so don’t fix it!

Double layer it

Wearing primer over skincare products at night might sound odd, but it allows them to sink in and work their magic. Try it out if you’re a non-believer and see how good you look in the morning.

Keep it tamed

Want to protect yourself from the reincarnation of ‘80s riot hair? Then flip your hair upside down, pull it into a ponytail and secure it tightly (but not too tight – you’ve got to sleep comfortably after all) with a hair tie. No more striking a morning pose looking like Madonna.

The rub

You’re not the only one who wants to be comfortable when you lay yourself down to sleep at night. Your skin wants – no, deserves – to be comfy, too. Next time, moisturize yourself all over – elbows, knees, toes, ankles, armpits. If you can name it – moisturize it.

Get the glow

Self tanner is an important beauty product for maintaining exceptionally vibrant skin throughout the year. The best time to apply it? Right before bed. By self-tanning before bed and letting it dry overnight, you’ll find yourself waking up radiant-er.

By utilizing these 5 beauty-before-bedtime tips, you’ll be well on your way to waking up prettier and saving yourself that bothersome task of getting ready in the morning.

As summer rolls in, we also usher in wedding season in all its glory. Whether you’re a blushing bride, a helpful bridesmaid or a hair or make-up stylist gearing up for some serious wedding makeovers, we’ve got a few tips to help you all out.

Don’t go on overload with your schedule- Don’t save all your beauty to-dos until the few days before the wedding. Its added stress and some procedures such as facials can actually leave you with redness on your wedding day. Space out appointments accordingly!

Be yourself- Your fiancé wants to see you on your wedding day—not some made-up woman he doesn’t recognize. Make sure your make-up is heavy enough to make an impact in photos but not overdone.

Be careful in the pursuit of a tan- Almost every bride wants a glow, but don’t try to get it by sunbathing with the bridesmaids the day before—you’ll only end up with a bad sunburn. Be super careful with sunless tanner as well. Use a mitt to avoid embarrassing streaks and don’t wear it without showering. You’ll rub off on your beautiful white gown!

Do a trial run- No one wants to walk down the aisle with a hairstyle they didn’t expect or make-up they don’t absolutely love. Brides, make sure you schedule a trial run with your stylist at least two weeks before your wedding date. Stylists, make sure you ask enough questions about what the brides want.

Most of all, don’t sweat the hair and make-up details too much. Remember what the day is really all about!

Summer is here and it’s easy to relax and lounge in the sun but if you could combine a summer vacation environment with getting an education? Attending beauty schools in Los Angeles allows you to be around a warm climate all the time. There are many other important factors to look at when finding a beauty school though in addition to the area, the local attractions and the climate.

Here are a few handy questions to ask yourself:

- Is my school accredited?
- Does my school offer cosmetology scholarships?
- Will my school assist with financial aid?
- Does my school have a student salon?
- Will my school help with job placement?

Beauty schools in Los Angeles offer many great opportunities to start your career. To find out which the cosmetology schools in the area, watch the video below.

You’ve seen them out there making headlines, raising eyebrows and perking paparazzi. It’s a simple pleasure we take in life by seeing celebrities in their “not-so fine” moments, especially when those moments are fashion and makeup mishaps. You know, when the celebrity in question looks more like they just got out of a stint in the slammer than off the red carpet. Well, today ladies and gentlemen (more so ladies) is your lucky day because this is a list of top celebrity fashion disasters. Enjoy!

Nicole Kidman
This one’s tough because Nicole Kidman typically radiates beauty and she does so subtly – never flaunting the vibe that she’s 1,000 times prettier than you like some celebrities do. But, this makeup mishap is just too hard to ignore. Next time Nicole, make sure you check your makeup in different lighting before you grace the presence of hundreds of flashing cameras.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/sq4jIp

Lindsay Lohan
Remember when it was semi-funny to make fun of Lohan’s absurd run-ins with the press? Well, it’s far past the road of funny and the car has really just taken the path to pitifully sad. Talk about a celebrity fallout. Well, despite the massive amounts of negative comments she already receives, Lindsay so eloquently lands on this list as well. In fact, finding a picture to encapsulate Lohan’s fashion disasters was probably easier than beating a 4-year-old in a spelling bee.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/u4OAeh

Christina Aguilera
Remember when Christina first hit the music scene with her “Genie in a Bottle” hit? Then you probably also remember her looking cute and innocent and not…well, like this. Although Christina has finally gone back to emphasizing her true beauty look as of late, the above picture really displays that whole drag look-alike phase that she went through during her “Dirty” period.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/v5zHjp

Mischa Barton
Mischa Barton is beautiful, there’s no denying that. But, sometimes even the most beautiful women can look straight up scary if their makeup application shares a closer resemblance to the aftermath of a fight than a trip to the salon. In this particular case, it looks like Barton just got double punched in the eyes. Is that black bruising or eye shadow?

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/svJcxm

Carrot Top
This is believed to be comedian Carrot Top… in drag? Nope, just Carrot Top being himself. There is so many things wrong here that this picture should be in one of those children’s activity magazines (like Highlights) where you have to circle everything that is out of place in the picture. Although, this picture would probably only have one circle – the entire image.

See For Yourself: http://bit.ly/tggnMC