Thursday, June 19, 2008

Your 5 minute Summer Face!

I have a friend going to the beach this weekend so I thought it was time that I address the quick summer face! Summer faces are supposed to be quick and help give you that extra glow!!!!


A few things you need for the perfect touch!

1. Moisturizer with SPF at least 15.

2. Bronzer! - a great bronzer is sometimes all you need! Bronzer should be applied with a wide fluffy brush and placed where ever the natural sun would hit your face; swept across the forehead, chin, nose, apples of the cheeks and neck. You can also decorate the décolletage with it. This will give you a warm glow! Remember your skin color when choosing the right one. If you have a lot of pink in your skin choose one that is more brownish. If you have olive skin choose a pinker one. For Yellow tones you can generally wear either depending on the darkness of the shade. My favorite is the Bronze Goddess from Estee Lauder. It has a fantastic color!




3. waterproof mascara - I do NOT recommend this for daily use; but for water purposes it is great. I love the new LOREAL Voluminous Natrurale in a the yellow/golden tube. This new formula does NOT clump! I feel like it is more of a stain than a thick nastiness that I am putting on my eyes. Plus they have a true brown black! I love it!

4. lip gloss with spf at least 15 (Clinique has a long wearing, fabulous one! in many shades)



I have a slight variation if I am going out.

5. Champagne colored eye shadow - when choosing a shadow opt for a cream, they last longer and if you have oily eyes (meaning your eyeliner and shadow never stay, because your eye lashes produce too much oil) this will make your life so much easier! They won't run or smudge after they are set. usually in 30 seconds or so. I use the clinique touch tint for eyes in Nude Sparkle.

6. Eye liner - Again, opt for a cream liner. Cream liners are long lasting and don't smudge once they are set. There are some that are waterproof! Cream liners take a little practice but you will apply with a fine brush - Sally's Beauty supply has a fantastic liner brush, at a great price! The one I love is clinique's brush-on cream liner in Black honey. This is a beautiful color!



This is my staple for summer! Enjoy! And really embrace your natural beauty!

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Hair Removal Products

I am a BIG advocate of hair removal strategies! When it comes to hair removal what are you wanting? Do you need to watch the pocket book, or are you ready for whatever it takes to have the hair out of your life and never have to worry about it again?

Depending on what your personal options are this is what I suggest.

If you have some extra money; look into laser hair removal. I have had it and I would recommend it to ANYONE! It is wonderful and you don’t have to worry about the hair ever again! It does take multiple treatments so plan on the hair removal process taking a year and a half or so. I had my upper lip, chin and neck done for a total cost of 475ish.. I can’t remember the exact amount. But when I think about how much I was spending getting my lip waxed every couple of weeks; the cost quickly diminished. I highly recommend this. I am also going to be getting my legs done next; however you can not treat while you are pregnant, so I have to wait.

For a quick fix. I love the new Sally Hansen spray on hair removal spray. The order is tolerable, it works very quickly and it really works! I also like the Mouse. The only downside is that you spend $8 per bottle of this stuff and are lucky to get two-three treatments. And I have short legs..

I also like using my husbands razor. For me, it is a much closer shave! I use it with a women’s cream and I have a great close shave.

Now tricks for the bikini area; if you get razor burn or irritation from shaving the secret is Neosporin and Baby powder. Use the Neosporin as soon as you get done shaving then pat with the baby powder and you will NOT get the yucky irritation. This works like a gem.




My best advice; look into laser hair removal options in your area; chances are they are more affordable then you may think. Think if you spend 40 every few weeks on getting your bikini area done; with in a year you have spent at least 500 bucks! And probably for a couple hundred you could have had it permanently removed. Almost seems silly doesn’t it. And yes it does work! It takes time, but it is wonderful!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Moisturizer..


After lunch with a couple of gal pals yesterday I feel it necessary to speak about moisturizers… And maybe a few other things we find in our bathroom cabinets.

Remember, these things do have an expiration date. If you can’t remember when you bought it or when someone gave it to you, TOSS IT! Don’t even hesitate. It could be more harm than good to your skin if it is old!

Everyone is in the same boat here when it comes to moisturizers.. Meaning, EVERYONE and every SKIN TYPE must moisturize. If you have oily skin, you will use a different moisturizer than someone with dry sensitive skin.

Also, it is important to note; that your neck is treated with the same care as your face. This too is skin that is susceptible to quick aging… No one wants a goose neck….

You are never too young to start taking good care of your face. However; if you are young lets say 14ish.. And you have acne trouble as most of us did at that age or some point. You will want to use a product that treats for acne, if you find this product to be too strong, try another. Not all products are created equal, what works on someone may not work with your particular body chemistry.

Most important, moisturize! Don’t just stop at the face, treat the whole body! Enjoy this me time! Get acquainted with your body. This might be the best time you have to pay attention to moles and sun spots.

OILY SKIN
If you have oily skin look it is just as important for you to moisturize. Moisturizing for oily skin will help rebalance your skin and you should eventually notice your skin calming down and not over producing oils. Just make sure you use a moisturizer that is oil free.

DRY SKIN
Dry skin you will want a moisturizer with oils in it. You can use either, but one with oil your skin will just drink up.

COMBINATION SKIN
Then there is the combination skin type… I fall into this category my forehead is oily the rest of my face is normal. My forehead oil is drip from the scalp. It is important to try and pin point where your oils are coming from. Do you notice them around the eyes? Then your eye lashes are probably producing too much oil. You will want to adjust your eye makeup to non-smudging.

Monday, June 2, 2008

Sun Block!


When it comes to sunblock and the mighty powerful sun; ALWAYS opt for using! Here are some tips!

1. First determine the level you are wanting..
I recommend always using at least spf 30 with UVA & UVB protection.

2. Put on the sunblock at least 30 minutes in advance before ever getting into the sun. This allows the sunblock to really sink into your pores enabling the ultimate in protection.

3. Replenish your sunblock at least every two hours.

4. If you are swimming while wearing your sunblock... Even though it says waterproof! Replenish at least every hour and let the sunblock set in before getting back into the water.

Sunblock is very important! Even when you are wearing sunblock you are still going to tan. Just be smart don't burn!!! Who wants a painful sunburn?

Be smart put on your sunblock thirty minutes before you go out in the sun, and replenish at least every two hours! protect yourself!


Be extra careful and wear sunscreen everyday; either in your foundation or put lotion. There are lots of products that put at least spf 15 in their foundation or lotions so take advantage of that. Do not rely on that as your only source of protection, you would have to put on a ton of foundation or lotion in order for it to protect you. But every bit helps!

I hope this information helps you with your sunblock confusion!