To help keep your mane flowing beautifully in these cold days, just follow these simple tips!

1. Trim it up! No matter what hairstyle you wear, be sure to get your hair trimmed more often in the colder winter months. Dryness starts at the ends of the strands, the portion of hair that spends the most time exposed to the elements.

2. Moisturize and condition. Whether your hair is curly, straight, short, long, fried or dyed, deep conditioning becomes an extreme necessity in the colder months. It gives your hair the extra strength and elasticity it needs to prevent breakage. The infusion of protein which can be found in eggs and mayonnaise, and essential oils, like jojoba, sunflower, avocado and lavender is vital for healthy hair.

We suggest you try out Dr. Miracle’s Deep Conditioner, (6 oz., $4.99) which is blended with Vitamins A and E, and jojoba oil. Weekly use will keep hair moisturized and conditioned, while preventing breakage and a dry scalp.

3. Drink lots of water! Water is just as important in the cold weather as it is in the warm weather. Be sure to drink lots of water to hydrate your hair from the inside out.

4. Shower sensibly. Hot showers can be tempting when there’s a chill in the air, but the hot water and steam can actually dry out your hair and scalp. Shampoo hair using warm to cool water as hot water can damage the hair shaft.

5. Prepare for heat! Avoid using heat-styling tools excessively as they can exacerbate the dryness that your tresses are already experiencing. If you have to heat style, apply a heat protector like Dr. Miracle’s Acai Berry Thermal Styler, (6 oz., $5.99) to shield hair from the effects of intense heat while adding shine.

6. Hats matter. Make sure that your cute winter hats are lined with silk or satin. Otherwise the friction of the wool will cause breakage and rob hair of needed moisture.

7. Protect all day! Apply an additional spritz of lightweight sheen to coat your strands before fairing any extreme temperatures. Try out Dr. Miracle’s Oil Sheen Spray, (15 oz., $4.99) which is blended with shea butter and aloe for conditioning.

Enjoy the rest of your winter looking good! Go to DrMiracles.com for more information on hair repair products, moisturizers and conditioners for everyone!

By: Dove
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Yep, it’s true! Bradley Cooper tops People Magazine‘s 2011 list of Sexy Men! Cooper, 36, has been riding on a career high with hit movies like Limitless and The Hangover, and is currently the rumored beau of People’s reigning world beauty, Jennifer Lopez. I guess we’ll see if the latter is true in time, but for now, Cooper is claiming single!

A slew of stunning Gen-Xers made the list as well, including Idris Elba, Justin Theroux, Chris Evans, Tim McGraw, Josh Charles, Joel McHale, Jason Momoa, Ryan Gosling and Dylan McDermott. But did last year’s Sexiest Man Alive Ryan Reynolds - or any of last year’s honorees – even make the list?

CLICK HERE to read more and see the photo gallery at People.com!

By: Dove
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Last night (Oct. 13, 2011), Uniqlo celebrated the grand opening of their Global Flagship Store with an invitation-only mixer for hundreds of fashion tastemakers and media representatives. Located on New York’s famed 5th Avenue at the corner of 53rd Street, the four story high retail space officially opens to the public at noon today, October 14. According to a Reuters article released yesterday, this is the start of a 200 store expansion in the U.S. for the Japanese-based company.

The guest list for the launch, which was rumored to be over 1,700 strong, included some of the country’s top stylists and fashionistas. Of course UrbLife.com was on hand to enjoy the festivities, complete with open bar(s), passed hors d’oeuvres, and some truly delightful macaroons.

Displays throughout the vast Uniqlo space were set up and ready to go for the official opening, and we were able to see the final results of the brand’s creative marketing campaign. Part of this is a series of lighted displays with the “voices” of New York, as celebrities, athletes and entrepreneurs speak on their personal inspirations, all looking suave in their Uniqlo gear.

Take a look at my photos below, and find out more about out the store for yourself at Uniqlo.com!

By: Dove
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As a busy actress and model, Skye Marshall is forever on the go, challenging herself at every turn. Marshall currently co-stars in the BET web series 8 Days a Week, and appears on the new season of CBS’s CSI: NY. Needless to say, she’s enjoying every moment of her career, but politics can be as harsh as stage lights in Hollywood, and Skye has to be conscientious of her appearance and attitude at all times.

We recently tapped in to some beauty secrets from Skye to find out how she maintains the effortless glow to play Zoe, a character several years her junior in 8 Days a Week. In this exclusive interview with UrbLife.com, Skye also tells us about her huge audition for the role, why working on the CSI: NY set is almost like an internship, and explains why a positive outlook is as critical to beauty as the right lip color! Read on…

What are your top tips for keeping a fresh face?

Skye Marshall: I have so many tips for skin and makeup. Here are a few:

1. Drink water! I drink tons of water. I think that a lot of people don’t really grasp that the digestive system can run your entire body overall. From your energy, to your skin, from your complexion, tone, hair, nails.

In order to flush that digestive system you have to continuously drink a lot of water. Otherwise the toxin build-up will show on your face. Your sluggish ways will show on your face. I try to drink as much water as possible. Probably the easiest and the cheapest beauty secret.

2. Exfoliate daily. Because they do constantly apply a lot of makeup [in my work], just a foam cleanse is not going to be enough. I do have to use a daily scrub. I’ve tried tons of expensive products here and there, but the best one that I’ve had the most success with is Neutrogena Visibly Even.

I saw commercial years ago that Gabrielle Union was doing, [and she] won’t endorse just anything. I gave it a try and it actually did work out amazing for me. It evens skin tone and requires less makeup. That’s what you want. You never want for them to have to put on a lot of makeup. The more even you can get your skin, the better.

3. Take a break. I don’t think a lot of people throughout the day just relax. The stress will also show up on your face. I try to maintain my stress levels as much as possible. I exercise, I meditate here and there, not as much as I would like. Just to take better control of your emotions. If you see a situation that could possibly be negative or stressful, attack it early or use more preventative methods to avoid it. That way you can also calm the hormone levels so that way you won’t tend to get breakouts.

These are just methods that work for me, because after all of the studying I’ve done, I found that our bodies will react exactly how you allow it to react. Everything is not on the counter, most of the stuff is God given. You drink some water and you maintain your level of stress, so that it doesn’t show up on your face. Also you want to maintain a healthy diet of course.

4. Park your powder! When traveling, leave all of the loose powders at home. It becomes messy after a while and a lot of times you have to do quick touchups. You don’t want to have powder getting on your clothes. When you have to do a quick fix, the pressed powder is the way to go. [Avoid] using one tone over the whole face. Always have a couple of options for your highlights. You want to have a lighter powder for your highlighted areas and a deeper powder to accentuate the cheekbones, jawline, and around the hairline so that it’s a nice blend.

I can’t stand to see that circle right below the hairline on women’s faces because they have used the exact same color throughout. You want to have that natural look. If your entire face has the same tone, you lose a lot of your definition that your bone structure is built for. If you look at a lot of my photos, my cheekbones and my face might look chiseled, but that’s because I placed the makeup in a way to give it that more defined look.

5. Define your cheekbones. Another nice tip, right below your cheekbones apply just a little bit of a light line. I leaned that from Naomi Campbell. Whether you have defined cheekbones or not, it will make it look like you do. I use like a chocolate eye shadow and rub just a little bit under my cheekbones, and instantly have the more defined look.

Right under the eyes, that’s where you put your highlights and bronzer. On the actual cheek, you apply your plums, your reds, your colors. Under that is where you should put a shadow darker than your skin tone. It’s like a straight line. It’ll give you that defined, highlighted look. It gives you a fierce face, you’ve got to have that! It just completely changes the look, even behind the bone structure you already have.

6. Prep your eyes properly. I see a lot of women that apply the mascara and just keep going until it gets to this thick layer of mascara. The best tip for me is to apply a thin layer of mascara, leave it alone, and go to work on another area of your face. Then return and do a second coat of mascara.

You want to let that first coat of mascara dry, otherwise you lose the shape of your lashes and it tends to clump after a while. When you let that first coat dry, the second coat will break the lashes apart, because you’re breaking apart dried mascara. Once you break it apart, it spreads your lashes even more to give it volume.

One thing I do not like – I think all women have experienced this before – where you put on your eye shadow and it looks amazing, then after the day goes by and the oils in your skin build up, you start to see the lines through your eye shadow. My recommendation would definitely be to use a primer. Primer works amazing for eye shadows.

If you don’t have a primer, just put a little bit of your under-eye concealer on the eyelid itself, and then apply the eye shadow on top of that. That would be my backup, but I would definitely go with a primer that way it can set your eye shadow to stay in place for 8-12 hours.

7. Balance your eyes and lips. One thing I will say, make sure your eye shadow speaks to your lips. Seriously. If you’re giving loud, dark eyes or colorful eyes, always go soft on the lips. Go for a nude or a softer, lighter pink. If you already have chocolate tone lips such as myself, just put on a clear gloss. That way you’re not doing too much. If you want to do the lighter eye shadow, then give them the plum, give them the red, and give them those deeper colors.

You definitely don’t want to draw too much attention to both the eyes and the lips [at the same time]. That’s when you start to dip into the hooker lane. The days I don’t do the eye shadow, that gives me the opportunity to play around and push the envelope with different colors for my lips.

Lip liner is important too. Whatever color lipstick you use, take that color down a couple of darker shades and use a lip liner to have the continuity blend from your skin tone to the inner lip. The inner lip is bright pink, so you want that bright pink to go to the color lipstick, darker liner, and darker skin tone.

Tell us about the BET webisode series 8 Days a Week. How did you get involved in it and what is your role?

SM: My agency submitted me for 8 Days a Week and I got the audition and I was extremely excited. I read the breakdown of the character, her name is Zoe Daniels, and she is a fashionista. She lives outside of society’s box. She loves to push the envelope and she’s very original. What also makes Zoe original is that she’s very in tune and in tap with the power of the mind.

As far as maintaining that positivity and understanding that you have full control over whatever situation that you’re in as soon as you adjust your mental state. If you say that you continuously hate something, then whatever that something is, is going to continuously confirm to why you hate it. Zoe always has to remind [the other girls] of that because we are all fighting for a dream, we all have goals, we all have careers that we just got out of college is pursuing.

When college students are fresh out of college, you get hit with that, “I’m getting thrown into the real world and I actually do have and put my dream into effect, but I don’t see how it could be done.” Zoe continuously steps in and reminds them, “Don’t worry about the house. Just worry about what you want and it’ll be done, it’s already written, so smile and have that attitude of expectancy because it will come. Just be flawless and be fly as you always are and enjoy your life.”

Skye Townsend plays Jade, and Zoe works with Jade at the café. She always gets involved in all of the drama and gossip, that’s like the highlight of her day to hear what’s going on. I read the breakdown of Zoe, completely fell in love with her, went into the audition… and to be honest Zoe is exactly like me, so it was fun for me to play myself.

In real life you’re older that your character. Do you feel like you were able to bring a little more knowledge to your character’s reaction to things?

SM: I do believe that I brought wisdom, but I still diluted the dialogue so that I spoke to them in their own language, so I made it hip, made it fun, and made it funny. Zoe speaks her own language anyway. Instead of saying see you later, Zoe would say “see you latro.” She’s in her own world.

She’s a typical 23-year-old that still believes that because they are done with high school and college they’ve “been there done that,” know it all, know what’s going on, but has no clue that she just started life. She’s nothing but a ball of light, and if any arguing goes on in that café, Zoe will put an end to it immediately.

I went in for the audition and I was very nervous, because the casting director was Ms. Robi Reed and she is hands down the biggest casting director in Black Hollywood of all time. She put Halle Berry in her first film, she cast Denzel Washington in Mo Better Blues, and she cast all of Spike Lee’s first films, Harlem Nights, every single episode of In Living Color. Her resume is endless when it comes to influential films, Black Hollywood, television shows, all the way up to Tyler Perry’s For Colored Girls.

As a Black actress that’s new in Hollywood, you want to read and audition for Robi Reed, but you also want to feel confident that you’re ready for her, because the first impression with Robi is lasting. I studied endlessly on my craft and worked really hard and was prepared for my audition. At first when I went in, I think I may have blacked out because I was so nervous. Robi Reed has an intense poker face, so you don’t really pick up on what she thinks of your performances.

The day that I got the call back, I just shot through the roof. They let me bring some of my comedic improve into some of the lines and they loved it. They loved the decisions that I made, and based off of that I booked the job and it was history after that. I went on set and everyone was very professional and we all worked very well together, even though we didn’t get a chance to rehearse together. We all just meshed very well and we got the job done in a very quick amount of time. Everyone was very excited.

The thing I notice out here in Hollywood is a lot of people really don’t know how to stay in their own lane. Everybody wants to be the director, the producer, the lighting, and everybody wants to do the makeup and the hair.

On our set, everybody plays their position and plays it very well, and everyone else also respects the colleagues and the entire crew. We continuously stay on top of our production timing. There was never any overtime we had to do. Everyone was looking at [the creator] Lyah [LeFlore] and if she was smiling, let’s keep going we’re good. As long as the boss is happy, we’re happy.

You’re working on CSI:NY; tell us a little about that. Also what can we look for you in coming up?

SM: I have a role but I don’t have enough dialogue to really brag about it yet. For the past month, I do spend three to four days working on CSI. They have about 15 CSI techs and I’m one of them. It’s CSI: NY and it films in L.A.! [laughs] To me really it’s like a paid internship, that’s what it feels like because I’m constantly surrounded by the greats.

I always say that if you want to be in a certain position, go and submerge yourself in that environment. Really feel it out. If you want a BMW, go test drink a BMW. Don’t go back and continuously wishful think about it. An entire week films one episode, and it’s usually 12 hours a day. The show is an hour. You never know what happens in the editing room.

For me, CSI, I don’t look at it right now as exposure, I look at it as training and me learning from a lot of the greats and being on set and just experiencing what it’s like to be on one of the big budget shows. That is one of my goals and dreams.

I have a feature film, I was out in Cannes, France at the Cannes Film Festival last year, and I met up with a director from London named Andy Thompson and he has a feature film he’s going to be shooting. So I’m attached to that, I can’t say too much about it now, but that’s something I’m really excited about that’s coming up in December.

Besides that, it’s a hustle and flow industry, so you book but you keep grinding and keep hustling to stay busy. That’s exactly what I do. I don’t care if two weeks ago I did 106 and Park to promote 8 Days A Week and the very next day I did background work on 90210.

I’m very humble and love to learn and I love to be around people that are in a position that I’m striving for. They only motivate me. I can’t learn anything in a house. I keep myself as busy as possible, and also to avoid having to get any bartending and waitressing gigs like most actors!

Find out more about Skye Marshall on her official site SkyeMarshall.com, and follow her on Twitter @SkyeMarshall

CLICK HERE to watch 8 Days a Week on BET.com, beginning with Episode One!

By: Dove
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Atlanta’s DJ Mars recently teamed with New Balance for their “Where Are You Running to Next” campaign, however rather than just acting as a spokesman, he actually hit the boardroom as an Executive Producer for the visionary project. As an official DJ for Outkast and Keri Hilson, and party aficionado for the likes of Diddy, Jay-Z, Beyoncé and Jermaine Dupri, Mars is no stranger to the spotlight. So who better to seek like-minded talent for the classic New Balance brand?

We asked DJ Mars to give us a little insight on how he approached producing the run of short films, and why he selected the variety of personalities like Raekwon, Clinton Sparks, Don Cannon and Rich Medina to represent the brand so far.

How do you feel that the “Where Are You Running to Next” campaign ties in to your daily life?

DJ Mars: The campaign actually began with me documenting how I was always running, whether it was to rehearsal, picking my son up from school, walking my dog or spinning at a club. I’ve been blessed to travel throughout the world doing what I love, and because I’m in a different city almost every day that question has become a way of life within my circle.

How did you go about the selection process for the subjects of your short films?

DJ Mars: That was the easiest part because I’m a huge fan of the DJ culture, so I just began with a few of my favorite contemporary DJs who I knew loved New Balance.

What do you feel your experience as a DJ has added to your job in the marketing world?

DJ Mars: Part of my job as a DJ to know how to move the crowd, and marketing is just an extension of that philosophy, only the crowd that you have to move is much bigger of course. My job has taken me to every continent, with the exception of Antarctica, so I see things through a global lens.

I think the trick is to help your target market share in what is possible from a global perspective – especially when it comes to something like sneakers. I’m a huge sneaker head too, so I have a great appreciation for kicks that you may never see in the United States.

What is special about the evolution of New Balance?

DJ Mars: As a kid, New Balance was that shoe that I looked up to and had to have a pair of because all the big willies from DC and New York kept a pair of 993s, 574s or 576s – so at one point, depending on where you lived, NBs became synonymous with Hip Hop culture.

That feeling actually never goes away, so the evolution is kind of retro in a sense. In those days, Hip Hop style was crispy and your suede had to be fresh! Plus, I’m from Massachusetts [home of New Balance] so you know…

Watch the New Balance “Where Are You Running to Next?”  short film series below!

For more information on the New Balance “Where Are You Running to Next?” campaign, visit their site at NewBalance.com

By: Dove
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Modern Family‘s Sofia Vergara strips down, and up, and back down, in this ad for her new clothing line! Sofia’s designs are now available exclusively at Kmart, including her favorite “Lady Tiger” dress featured in the ad!

Watch the new commercial and tell us what you think about Sofia’s creative, affordable glam! And if you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve also included the Kmart “Show Us What You Got” style commercial set to Public Enemy‘s music… perfection!

To find out more about Sofia Vergara’s new line, go to Kmart.com/Sofia

By: Dove
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Ok, so I’m a little late on this, but I love some good mascara, and Jessica Biel flirting with Pharrell Williams was just too good to pass up! The sexy Gen-Xers co-star in this extended version of Revlon’s Grow Luscious Plumping Mascara ad, with Pharrell on the jingle. Enjoy!

Thanks to our friends at 2db!

By: Dove
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There are all kinds of hair experts on television these days, but not many who have the versatility and know-how of Derek J. After becoming a household name via Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the veteran stylist was recruited as co-host/judge of Oxygen’s Hair Battle Spectacular. The reality show contest kicks off its second season August 15, 2011 with America’s Next Top Model cycle three winner Eva Marcille and snarky stylist Taylor Jacobson from The Rachel Zoe Project joining the cast.

Having participated in hair battles himself for years, Derek J brings his expertise in extreme hair to the very intense bouts on Hair Battle Spectacular. Whether he’s filming a show, creating new hair products, or working out a creative ‘do in his famed Atlanta shop The J Spot, Derek still finds time to give good advice on keeping those tresses fresh.

We recently brushed up on tips to transition our hair from hot Summer to breezy Fall with the King of Coiffure! Read on as Derek J takes the wheel…

1. Condition! In the summer you want to keep your hair well conditioned. The sun can be damaging to the hair, so keeping your hair clean and conditioned on a weekly or bi-weekly plan will ensure you healthy hair through the summer.

2. Weave and let weave. If you don’t have time to do your hair, weave it up! A good weave – be it curly or straight – can save the day in the summer. It allows you to be fabulous all the time.

3. Wet it to protect it. If you are a swimmer in the summertime, make sure you wet your hair with regular tap water first. By wetting you hair first, it swells the cuticle which cuts down the amount of chlorine to enter the hair.

4. Trim time! After the summer is over and your hair has taken a beating, don’t be afraid to get a haircut. Clean lines on any haircut will make damaged hair have a neater look.

5. Go to the dark side. Going into the Fall you should darken your hair color. Darker, richer hair color can camouflage any damaged hair from the summer color.

6. Keep it cool! During the summer try to limit the amount of heat being put on the hair. Roller-sets work great in hot weather, and it will also camouflage any new growth or swelling at the root.

7. Color or relaxer – pick one. You have to make a choice between a relaxer or color, because having two chemical services on the head can cause damage.

Find out more about Derek J and Hair Battle Spectacular at Oxygen.com and follow him on Twitter @DerekJHair

If you’re in Atlanta, be sure to get in an appointment at The J Spot!

Hair Battle Spectacular Season 2 trailer

By: Dove
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Kenny Powers (Danny McBride of HBO’s Eastbound & Down) is back with K-Swiss for a brand new campaign, but this time he’s the MFCEO! Last year, Powers teamed with the global sneaker brand and Funny or Die for the over-the-top announcement of his “signing,” but this time around, he’s taking over the whole company!

K-Swiss has a number of new styles available, all of which Kenny Powers tries to push with his creative marketing ideas in the new campaign. Comedy and passion meets sports and fashion… genius!

Watch the hilarious (and not work-safe unless you have headphones) long commercial below!

You can click here to watch the original Kenny Powers x K-Swiss “signing” video on FunnyOrDie.com (also not work safe)

Follow the new K-Swiss campaign at Facebook.com/KSwiss and find out more about their designs at KSwiss.com

By: Erika Nunez –
Image Director and fashion stylist, BLuxe Group
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Clearly the Summer is finally upon us now, but before we decide to take a dip in the pool or lay out on the beach, let’s examine the fit of your swimwear! Everything isn’t for everyone, and you don’t want the post-summer photo album to be full of moans and groans about your choice of a string bikini or a speedo when you should have been covering up a bit more!

Nothing to fear though, if you’re busty, gutsy, flat or curvy UrbLife.com has got you covered with these tips to match you with the right swim suit! Read on…

1. Classic One-piece

This option is ideal for smoothing out imperfections. Unfortunately, one-piece bathing suits can be a drab, as most women tend to go for the same ol’ black or navy swim suit that literally covers everything. Yes, darker colors may be flattering, but bold colors are just as flattering!

A tummy control-paneled swim suit that has a v-neck with wide, comfortable straps will open up the neck line, giving a “supported” and lean look for the apple-shaped woman. Check out the vibrant Cayenne Surplice design with matching sarong from Longitude:

2. Swim Trunks

There is nothing like seeing a topless handsome chiseled guy in swim trunks! But even if you have a little extra, you really can’t go wrong with a lively short that won’t expose any plumber’s crack…

Villabrequin has an array of prints, colors and lengths to choose from. With netted lining to hold “the goods” in place, they’re much more cooler and comfortable than your basketball shorts.

3. Updated Bikini

Mara Hoffman always designs with the shape of a woman in mind. For example, this embroidered bustier bikini set has clean lines with soft, yet strong colors. Of course, you’ll want to be in the best shape possible to go with this option, so hopefully you’ve been keeping up with our abundant fitness and nutrition tips!

Hour glass-shaped women will look most proportioned in bikinis, as the body is balanced from top to bottom. The underwire in the padded bra will flatter the bust, while the bikini bottoms will hug the other curves you’ve worked so hard in the gym for!

4. Two-piece Mix-N-Match

The greatest thing about two-piece bathing suits is the ability to make one body part more appealing than the other. Cheeky boy shorts fully cover the butt to give a firmer look, while bikini bottoms give a little more or less “junk in the trunk,” depending on the rise.

Meanwhile, bikini and bandeau tops can make breasts look more voluptuous, and tank-ini’s come with tummy control for a slimming effect. I like to play mix and match with Old Navy separates! They’re affordable, and they come in an array of colors, prints and sizes.

5. One-piece dress

A bathing suit that draws attention to the bust while minimizing the hips is ideal for pear-shaped ladies. Pear shapes are smaller on top, and heavier on bottom with fuller hips and thighs.

Avoid strapless or bandeau tops, as your breasts will appear a lot heavier than they actually are. Instead, opt for a halter style one or two-piece with ruching, a skirted bottom or short sarong wrap. This gem from Kenneth Cole is a great example of a flattering one-piece dress:

You can find this one-piece dress and more diverse styles from Kenneth Cole in various stores at Shopstyle.com!

6. Speedos

Guys, if you’re body is hot, then why not flaunt it? Try wearing sporty briefs or a sexy speedo, and give the ladies something to gawk at! Fortunately, Macy’s men’s shop has a number of form-fitting speedo options!

7. Body Wraps

Body confidence is an ongoing battle for both men and women, so thankfully there are great options for sarongs, caftans and tunics that will offer comfort as you flaunt your bathing suit this summer.

A cover-up, cool shades and a beach hat will be the perfect remedy for any of your beach bum blues. VictoriasSecret.com has a wealth of cover ups to choose from! Here is my favorite – the Striped Cover-Up Sweater:

Picking the right bathing suit is a daunting task for anyone, but with patience you can definitely find a flattering fit that minimizes problem areas. Happy shopping! Thank me later!

For more fashion tips and tricks, follow Erika Nunez on Twitter @ErikasNStyle

Erika Nunez is an Image Director for the BLuxe Hospitality Group, providing occasion-specific wardrobe for entertainers and business professionals.