Blush & Bronzer

I wanted to make sure I talk about this topic because I think these are two products that often get misused, or skipped.

Myth #1

I don’t need to wear bronzer in the winter.

False! You should wear bronzer all year long. Bronzer is used to contour the face, or help give your face the appearance of being the ideal oval shape. In other words, in the winter, bronzer is not supposed to be used to make you look like you’ve spent a day in the sun!

 

Myth #2- In the summer I have to buy darker foundation to match my tan.

False! Keep your same foundation color all year long ( just make sure you get matched before your skin is tan) and add more bronzer in the right areas. Why? Well first of all, you’ll save a bit of money. Second, the sun doesn’t hit you equally all over. Instead, it will hit you in certain places (forehead, nose, cheeks) more than others. Changing your foundation to be all dark will look funny because your entire face will be the tan color.

 

Myth #3- Blush is only for my grandma.

False! Blush is for everyone! Blush livens up your face and make you look like you are awake, and ready for anything. As a college student, there are plenty of nights where I get less than 8 hours of sleep and the best thing you can do to look less tired is put on some blush and don’t wear dark eyeliner.

 

Myth #4 – If I use bronzer I don’t need to use blush.

False! Use both daily! Use bronzer to contour your cheekbones and make them appear more vivid. Use blush slightly above the bronzer to add life and brighten up your face. If you really want to look polished, add a highlighter above your cheekbones.

 

Nars is the leader in bronzer and blush so definitely check them out first. I particularly enjoy their orgasm/laguna blush/bronzer duo.

 

Tags: blush, bronzer, cheeks, highligher

Fall Eye Trends

 

Most women have  a hard time with eyeshadow. It is hard to wear fun makeup without looking like Mimi from the Drew Carey Show.

However, it is possible to add some color to your eye makeup routine without going to this extent. This post is me freeing you to explore the world outside of the brown eyeshadows and have some fun with your makeup.

What NOT to do

• Don’t go overboard. Feel free to add a splash of color, but don’t make a rainbow out of your eyes.
• Don’t go crazy with glitter. While most eyeshadows have some shimmer, try using a combination of shimmer and matte colors so you don’t end up looking like a disco ball.
• Don’t use more than 3 colors. Again, no rainbow eyes.

What TO do

• Do use colors that bring out your eyes. We will talk more about which eyeshadow colors complement your eye color.
• Do keep it appropriate. Remember there is a time and place for funky eyeshadow, there are ways you can tone your eyeshadow down or spice it up for whatever you are doing.
• Do practice first. You will be happy you practice experimenting with color before you are getting ready for work, school, or a night out. Nothing is worse than having a makeup disaster when you are short on time.

 

Tis the Season for Palettes

With the holiday season coming up, you can find great deals on eyeshadow palettes at most beauty retailers. I love palettes because they often have a variety of colors, including some fun ones you normally wouldn’t pick out separately. Check these awesome ones out.

Urban Decay Book of Shadows Vol III

I’m a big fan of Urban Decay when it comes to their shadows, eyeliners, and eyeshadow primer. This kit comes with 16 colors, 2 eyeliners, and a mini primer. Great deal!

 

 

Stila Color Wheel

I love how many colors this palette has in it. I also love that Stila included a look book with this kit that shows where to put each color to achieve certain looks.

 

 

These two are just a very small fraction of all the options available. Palettes are an awesome way to accrue a collection of eyeshadows so you can experiment and have fun. They also help guide you in choosing which colors to pair together. Most importantly, they save you a lot of money! Chances are you aren’t going to use a ton of lime green eyeshadow every day, so you don’t need the entire tub of it.

 

Matching Eye Color to Eyeshadow Color

There is a huge misconception with this; most women with blue eyes think they need blue eyeshadow. NO! WRONG! You can enhance the color of your eyes by using an eyeshadow that complements your eye color, rather than distracts from it. When you use blue eyeshadow on blue eyes, all people look at is your eyeshadow. Here’s the key:

Blue eyes: use browns to bring out the color of your eyes. If you want to play with color, add a plum color to the mix.

Brown Eyes: navy colors will bring your eyes out the most. Try a navy eyeliner to spice things up a little bit.

Green/Hazel eyes: Nothing brings out your eyes like a maroon or plum color. Have fun with it!

 

Smashbox Ultimate Eyes

These kits from Smashbox have everything you need to get started with eye makeup that complements your eye color. They are available in Blue, Brown, and Green. They include four eyeshadow colors, a cream eyeliner, eyeliner pencil, mascara, eyeshadow primer, artificial light, and a brush to help apply these.

Tags: eyeshadow, eyeshadow palettes, makeup

Mascara; The Most Difficult Beauty Purchase

Ok, so the title for this blog may be a little dramatic, but let’s face it, we all know mascara is the most vital beauty product, and the most difficult to buy. My theories for this are the following:

1.You can’t really try it in the store. Even if you are purchasing at Sephora or another luxury beauty retailer, the tester brushes are never the same quality as the brush that comes with the tube.

2. We don’t know what to look for. How do you know which formula will do everything you want and won’t flake? Which brush shape/type is best?

3.We don’t really know how to apply it.

4.We don’t replace it frequently enough.

5. But most importantly, I believe mascara shopping is difficult because its so important. Most of us will at least put on a little mascara if nothing else, and we all want long, voluminous lashes.

 

Here are my answers to my theories:

1. While you can’t really get a feel for how it will work by testing it in the store, if you are spending a decent amount of money ($20-$30) you are most likely going to be purchasing it from a retail with a customer-centric return policy which will allow you to return or exchange if you don’t like it. Now, I’m not saying you should go “rent” your mascara from your nearest beauty store, but if you are going to spend more than $10 on it, make sure the store you buy it from won’t keep your money if you decide you don’t like it within a reasonable amount of time. *note* It usually takes a person about a week to get used to a formula and brush of a new mascara so don’t return it after you’ve only tried it once.

2. So your standing at the store, looking at walls full of mascara’s wondering which one to pick, what’s your method? Eenie-meenie-miny-mo? No! Next time, do your homework first. Before you go shopping, check online. Most luxury beauty retailers will have reviews posted online with ratings for the top selling mascaras. It’s pretty clear when you go to sephora.com and look at Dior DiorShow Mascara and see that it has been rated 4.4/5 by 6,734 people it is probably pretty good. Magazines are also a good place to check too. Don’t forget, when you get to the store, ask the beauty experts for their opinion! They will be happy to help you find the one that’s best for you. One thing I will add too, don’t judge your mascara by its brush; while it is important, don’t assume a big, bushy brush is best, or the crazy spiky one either…ask the experts that work at the store. Chances are, they’ve tried quite a few, and hopefully they will give you an unbiased opinion.

3. How do you know how to put your mascara on? Have you seen it in the movies? Have you watched your mom? Most of us just swipe the mascara through our lashes and wonder why it clumps. Next time, try starting at the base of the lash, and wiggling it out to the tip. You will find way fewer clumps!

4. I don’t know about you guys, but my mother was the type of woman who replaced her makeup about once every two years. I love her to the moon and back, but this is very wrong. First of all, a dark, moist, closed environment is the perfect breeding grounds for bacteria. Second, dry mascara is ineffective and clumpy. You should keep your mascara no longer than 6 months tops, and as soon as you find yourself pumping it to get more out, its time for a new tube.

5. Any woman that wears makeup knows that lashes are key, so we need a good mascara. That’s why its so important to us. We need to be treating them right though. Lash primers and treatments are a great way to keep your lashes strong and long, and eliminate the breaking and falling out that can happen sometimes. Check these out the next time you are in the market for a new mascara.

 

Of course, as always, I have some suggestions of great products for everyone.

DiorShow Mascara

As I mentioned before, this is a very popular mascara. The number one best seller at Sephora to be exact. I have tried this mascara and have enjoyed it. It does a good job at volumizing and lengthening

 

 

 

HYPNÔSE- Lancome

This is probably my favorite mascara. It works wonders at volumizing! I also found that I can get away with not curling my lashes when I use this mascara too. Doesn’t clump or flake off throughout the day.

 

 

Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara

I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I LOVE Hourglass products, as I have dedicated an entire blog post to them. This mascara is no exception. I have tried this mascara as well and it has to be my second favorite mascara. This one, like the others, is volumizing and lengthening, but it also leaves your lashes looking a little shiny which is a nice little added benefit.

 

DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

This product obviously isn’t a mascara, but is a lash primer instead. You can put this product on under mascara to enhance the length and volume, or you can apply this by itself (at night) and have it work to condition your lashes. This product will work to promote lash growth when used long-term by conditioning lashes to prevent breakage.

Lashes To Die For™ Platinum

While the Dior lash primer works by conidioning lashes so breakage is reduced, Lashes To Die For by Peter Thomas Roth actually stimulates lash growth. This product is very similar to Latisse, a prescription lash enhancer, however, this product doesn’t have the ingredient that can cause your iris to turn brown. Don’t think this product is going to work in a week though. Results may not happen for quite a few weeks, but it does work. At $125 it is cheaper than Latisse, but is definitely not for the average user who just wants a little longer lashes.

 

 

Tags: lash primer, lash treatments, lashes, mascara

Acne Treatments

In my last post, I discussed the essential components of a skincare routine that will combat acne. I also discussed the active ingredients in the products. In this post, I will suggest some products that can be used to get rid of acne. I want to remind everyone that treating acne requires a skincare routine rather than just a spot treatment. Every type of skin (normal, dry, oily) needs to be cleansed and moisturized twice a day to look it’s best.

If you have a signficant amount of blemishes consistently, you will want to consider a skincare routine focused on acne treatment/ prevention.

Live Clear™. Acne Complex® Starter Kit

This kit by Murad is one of the best selling acne treatment skincare systems. It is pretty intense so it isn’t for a person with sensitive skin, or fairly dry skin. This is better for someone with normal, combination, or oily skin.

The kit comes with:

-Clarifying Cleanser- this is a salicylic acid cleanser, has a nice tingly cooling feeling

-Clarifying Toner- eliminates oil, balances skin

-Exfoliating Acne Treatment Gel- eliminates dead skin cells, unclogs pores

-Acne Spot Treatment-decreases blemish healing time. This is a sulfur treatment so it is gentle on the skin.

-Skin Perfecting Lotion- lightweight and oil free. Best for oily skin.

The Murad treatment system is great if you have frequent breakouts, however, if you have the type of skin that breaks out occassionally, your skincare routine will be most effective with a gentle cleaner and moisturizer that are not specific for acne treatment, and a spot treatment for the breakouts.

Purity Made Simple

This cleanser is probably the best selling facial cleanser at Sephora. It is great for all types of skin; normal, oily, dry, and combination. It works to unclog your pores, remove makeup, and soothes skin. It is gentle enough for every day use and a little bit goes a long way.

RareMinerals™ Purely Nourishing Facial Moisturizer

This moisturizer by Bare Escentuals is very gentle on all skin types as well. It is also very natural, meaning it doesn’t have synthetic materials that can harm your skin or clog pores. I like this moisturizer because it is lightweight but very moistrizing, and doesn’t cause breakouts.

Umbrian Clay Treatment Bar

This has to be one of my favorite skincare products ever! It is 100% umbrian clay which is known to have healing properties. It can be used as a cleanser, mask, or a spot treatment to sooth and heal blemishes. While many typical spot treatments kill the acne causing bacteria, this product helps to heal skin harmed by the blemish, cutting down the time redness remains after the blemish. The product can be purchased in a liquid or a bar formula. The bar is cheaper and can easily be used the way the liquid is by dissolving it with water.

Acne Spot and Area Treatment

This spot treatment by Peter Thomas Roth is one of the most powerful spot treatments out there. It is a sulfur treatment so it is not so drying on your skin, but it works wonders at clearing blemishes quickly. It has one of the highest levels of sulfur, so it can be a little rough on sensitive skin. I have found that it can make the skin feel a little itchy for a minute if the skin on the blemish has been broken or torn.

Blemishes are frustrating for everyone, but remember almost everyone gets them so they are nothing to be embarrassed about. Just remember, its important to get a good routine set. Once this is done, your pores will become less clogged over time and your skin will age better too. Everyone’s skin is different too so something that works for your friend may not work for you. Even if you don’t wear makeup, or don’t like to spend a lot of money on makeup, its important to invest in good skincare. You will be happy you have in the long run.

Tags: acne, acne treatments, blemishes, murad, philosophy, skincare

Acne-free skin

Acne   is frustrating for everyone. The reality is though, that everyone gets blemishes at some point in their lives. The unfortunate truth of the matter is that no one single answer for everybody. There are, however certain things you can do to prevent and speed recovery of blemishes. The important thing to note is that skincare requires  a routine. Your blemishes won’t stop if you aren’t washing your face twice a day, moisturizing, and using a spot treatment. You need to wash your skin even if its’s dry, and you need to moisturize your skin even if it is oily. I know that a lot of the products I have suggested so far are a bit pricey, but if you are going to invest in any beauty products, invest in good skincare. You will thank me when you’re older.

Here’s the overiew:

- You don’t want to overwhelm your face. If you are having a breakout right now, please don’t go buy the strongest face wash possible and wash it 5 times throughout the day. This will only stress your skin out and make your skin worse. Instead, if you are switching cleansers, start out washing your face one time a day for a couple days, then two times. Your skin will improve over time. Be patient.

- If you’re a female, it is perfectly normal for your skin to breakout right before you menstruate. I know it’s frustrating, but it happens to all of us.

- There are three main ingredients in acne products that serve different purposes:

• Salicylic Acid
• Benzoyl Peroxide
• Sulfur

Salicylic acid works as a mild exfoliant to remove the dead skin cells from the top layer of your skin, allowing new ones to show and urging growth of new skin cells. This helps speed the recovery of blemishes because it makes your skin want to product new skin cells faster. Salicylic acid works best when it is encorporated into a face wash rather than a spot treatment. Benzoyl Peroxide is more abrasive than salicylic acid. BP works to dry out and fight the bacteria causing the acne. Be cautious when choosing a cleanser to make sure that BP isn’t the active ingredient. This is far to drying for every day use on your entire face. Many people have tried Proactiv products and found that they work at first but dry the skin out very fast. This is because all Proactiv products use BP as their active ingredient. Instead, try a spot treatment with BP; using a salicylic acid face wash and then a BP spot treatment is a good combination for people with medium to severe acne. You won’t find acne products with sulfur at your grocery store, but these products seem to be very popular in the high end skincare products. Sulfur, similar to BP works to dry out the blemish while calming the irritation. Sulfur is a great alternative to BP because it is much gentler on the skin.

Tags: acne treatments, blemishes, skincare

Bare Escentuals- Worthy of the Craze?

By now, most women and teenage girls have heard about Bare Minerals. You’ve probably seen the informercials, use it, or know someone who uses it and swears by it. In this post, I will be discussing its pro’s and con’s and why people love it so much.

About Bare Escentuals

I want to begin by explaining the difference between Bare Minerals and Bare Escentuals. Bare Escentuals is the umbrella brand for the two sub-brands; Bare Minerals and Buxom. Within Bare Minerals, there is also Rare Minerals, which is the skincare line. Bare Minerals features a more neutral line of product.Within this brand you will find the mineral foundation, concealers, eyeshadows, skincare and more. Buxom, on the other hand, features fun , colorful products such as lip glosses, cream shadows, and eyeliners. It is easy to get these three brands confused as you can usually find two brand names on any product packaging. Just know that if you visit a store that carries Bare Minerals,  you are getting Bare Escentuals products whether it said Bare Minerals, Rare Minerals, Buxom, or Bare Escentuals.

The best part about these products is how gentle they are on the skin. These products are ideal for someone with sensitive skin because they are

The Products

Because Bare Escentuals carries such a wide array of products, I will be discussing the most popular products in this post.

Mineral Foundation

This is what bare minerals is best known for . The best way to describe the this it that it is a very natural looking foundation. The foundation colors are very forgiving, meaning you can choose a shade without much effort to select the very best one because it will blend in with your skin nicely regardless. Many dermatologists recommend this for their clients because it is so gentle on the skin. It won’t clog your pores or lead to blemishes. The downfall to this product is that it isn’t a very full coverage so it isn’t for someone who is trying to cover up a lot. Also, it doesn’t last long throughout the day. It gets about 4 hours of good wear before it starts coming off. The foundation comes in matte and original. I have heard a range of reviews for the matte; some people love it, some people hate it. One benefit to the matte is that is formulated without an ingrediant that is a common irritant. If you haven’t ever tried this before, I would suggest purchasing the kit to begin with. The kit gives you a full size foundation, mini primer, warmth, mineral veil, and brushes. Definitely a great value!

Tags: bare escentuals, bare minerals, mineral foundation

Clear Skin with Clarisonic

This week, I had a chance to try out an amazing new high-tech skin care tool, the Clarisonic. The best way to describe this, is like an electric toothbrush for your skin. This powerful (yet gentle) tool uses sonic frequency to get your skin six times cleaner than it would just by cleaning your face with your hands. The fast movement of the brush loosens up dirt, oil, and makeup that are stuck in your pores. After a one minute cleaning, your face will feel softer, look brighter, and be more radiant. Removing the dirt and oil that are normally left on your face after cleaning regularly help make pores appear smaller, and helps to get rid of blemishes. Another great benefit about this tool is that your cleaner skin will absorb treatments better (moisturizers, acne spot treatments) and your makeup will look so much better on.

I’ll admit, I was a little skeptical at first. I have heard so many rave reviews from coworkers and clients but I just didn’t understand how a brush could get my skin noticeably cleaner. However, I also have to admit that they were all right. I’ve always kind of struggled with  my skin. It falls under that in-between category; not perfect yet not acne. It is also pretty sensitive so I have to work to find the right products. After just using the Clarisonic for a week, my blemishes have been recovering faster than normal, and my skin feels softer than it does after I exfoliate. I also loved that I could use any cleanser I want with it, and because the Clarisonic does all the work of getting my skin cleaner, I can use a less astringent cleaner. Needless to say, my skin is the happiest it has been in a while!

 

Here are some before and after pictures I found on Clarisonic’s website:

 

 

This is the difference the Clarisonic makes in makeup removal. The image on the left is a face with make up. To the right of that is the face after being cleaned with the Clarisonic and on the far right is the face being washed by hand.

 

 

This image shows the difference the Clarisonic can make for people with Rosacea.

 

While this tool is amazing and works wonders, it is pricey. The Mia, which is the travel size, one speed brush is $149. The Original is $195, and can be used for the face or body The Plus is $225 and has two speeds and can also be used for face and body. The brushes also need to be replaced about every six months but are only around 25.  It is definitely an investment, but a great one at that.

 

Tags: clarisonic, cleansing, skin care, sonic