Line and Define

24 Dec

If you are tired of using your traditional eye pencil, try using Bobbi Brown Gel Eyeliner ($21 www.bobbibrown.com).  This eyeliner gives you the look of a liquid liner but goes on so much easier!  You apply it with an eyeliner brush ($25 Bobbi Brown Ultra Fine Eyeliner Brush) and it goes on very smooth with out the mess of a liquid liner.  It is long-lasting and stays put all day!  You can use it on upper and lower lids as well as the inner lid for extreme definition.  I think this is a great update to an eye and it also makes your eye color really POP!  I use Caviar Ink which is one shade lighter than black for everyday.  I have had so many compliments on my eye makeup recently, I suggest using this to update your look too!  There are 13 colors to choose from so the options are endless.  Don’t be scared to try this, practice makes perfect!

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Daily Dose of Vitamins

23 Dec

 

I have been taking vitamins for my hair for past 10 years.  For the past five years I have been taking  Schiff Hair,Skin & Nail Vitamins and these are by far the best.  I experimented with all different kinds of hair vitamins.  I used all the different expensive ones that you buy at the department store and tons of different brands from the drugstore.  I saw the Schiff vitamins in my local drugstore  about 5 years ago and have been using them ever since!  It takes about 1 month to see any results from any vitamin or supplement.  My hair and nails began to grow like weeds!  I had  a really short bob hairstyle at the time and I was constantantly having to get it trimmed.  Then last year I decided to grow my hair out and it is already down my back!  My hair  grows so fast that  my hair colorist has even started taking hair vitamins!  Along with your hair looking healthier, you will also notice that your nails  begin to grow faster  and  are stronger.  I was a nail biter for many years and had really weak, thin nails…now they are strong and they are a great length and I have stopped biting!  I can’t tell you how great the  results are from these vitamins, you really need to try them for yourself.  I take one to two pills every night before bedtime.  I prefer to take vitamins at night so that they are easier on my stomach.  You will begin to  notice results after a month and with continued use things will only get better!  You can go onto the Schiff website and search for a store that sells these vitamins near  you! ($17 www.schiffvitamins.com)

 

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Kissable Lips All Year Long!

22 Dec

 

I have always had dry lips.  I hate using chapstick because I am a lipstick person.  When the weather started to change this Fall and started to get really cold, my lips became so dry and even cracked.  I did some research and read a lot of great reviews about “The Lip Balm” from La Mer.  I knew that their other products were great but I had actually not tried anything from this line before.  I decided to give “The Lip Balm” a try as a solution for my “aching” lips.  I used this product for one night and saw results by the next morning!  When I woke up the cracked areas of my lips had healed and the moisture had been restored.  When you read about this product on their website it says “Applied at night, lips are renewed by morning.”  I was a skeptic I must admit but it worked overnight just as the website said!  this is a pricey product but you get a large amount in the container and you only need a small amount with each application.  I apply this every night as the last step of my beauty routine and in the morning before I apply lipstick.  My lips have been so soft since I started using this it is amazing!  It even has a nice mint flavor and the La Mer Specialist at the Counter told me that it helps to keep your breath fresh!  If you are looking for something to rejuvenate your lips and keep them soft all the time go and get a sample of “The Lip Balm” from La Mer, you won’t be disappointed! ($45 www.cremedelamer.com)

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The Perfect Curl

21 Dec

 

I can’t tell you how important it is to add the Shu Uemura Eyelash curler to your beauty tools!  I am sure you have seen it in tons of beauty magazines as the “Top  Rated” eyelash curler but let me tell you…all the hype is true!  This eyelash curler will change your life!  Before I had the Shu Uemura I had a cheap curler from the drugstore that pulled and tugged on my eyelashes and hurt at times.  My sister decided to try the Shu Uemura after we kept seeing  it in every beauty magazine we read and once she did she told me, “You have to buy this immediately!”  I have been using this eyelash curler ever since and that was about 6 years ago!  When you buy the eyelash curler, you must take care of it.  That means you need to wash the curler and the silicone pad.  Once you use the second replacement pad it is time to buy an entire new curler.  I know it seems like a pain but just like everything else eyelash curlers wear out and need to be replaced.  The curler is gentle on your eyelashes, it will not pull them out and it will give you the perfect curl every time!  The curl that you are given helps tremendously when you are applying makeup.  It helps give you a clear defined lash line so applying eyeliner is a ‘piece of cake!’  If you currently look at your eyelash curler as a “torture device”, please switch to the Shu Uemura, it will make your morning beauty routine one step easier, the curl is so perfect you can even skip mascara if you are in a hurry!  Currently the curler is only available online ($19 www.shuuemura-usa.com)

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Beauty Bar

20 Dec

I have been using the Dove Beauty Bar as my body wash for 10 years!  It was actually recommended to me by my gynecologist when I was in high school!  She advised that you should never use scented body washes or body oils because they can lead to bacterial vaginal infections as well as yeast infections.  I am a little bit of a “germ freak” so I immediately when out and bought the Dove Unscented Sensitive Skin Beauty Bar ($5-$11) and have been using it ever since!  I like to feel really clean after I get out of the shower which is why I like using this so much.  It doesn’t leave a scent so when you use your favorite perfume or lotion, that is all you can smell.  You shouldn’t spend a fortune on body wash either, because you are only using it to clean your skin and then rinsing it down the drain.  The great thing about Dove is they have a lot of different beauty bar options to choose from that will fit your skin type.  They even sell it in body wash form if you do not want to use the beauty bar.  Each beauty bar also has ‘Moisturizing Cream’ which makes your skin feel really soft.   Also, it is great for travel and if you forget it in the hotel room, you won’t be mad at yourself for leaving your “expensive” body wash behind.  Check out all the different beauty bars on the Dove website at www.dove.com

 

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Keep It Clean

19 Dec

 

I do everything known to man to make sure I do everything to prevent breakouts!  One thing that you need to do on a regular basis is wash your make-up brushes and replace make-up sponges.  As part of my Sunday routine, I wash my make-up brushes and if I am short for time I make sure I wash at least the foundation and concealer brushes.  You don’t have to wash your brushes weekly like I do, but every other week is best.  It helps get old makeup and oil off the brushes as well as any bacteria that may have grown on the  brushes in between washes.  There is no need to buy an expensive make-up brush cleanser either, then you will just be introducing another product to your skin.  You should use your daily face wash to clean your brushes. If you use an expensive face wash, then buy a gentle cleanser from the drug store such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.   After washing your brushes lay them flat on a towel to dry.  After a couple of hours I like to fluff them up to help maintain their shape.  I hope you start doing this regularly, it will help improve your make-up application and make your brushes last longer.

Dry Clean Only

18 Dec

 

I currently own six different types of  “dry” shampoo and I still think the best option is Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder with cornstarch ($4-$7 www.drugstore.com).  A lot of people disagree because they think that if you are a redhead or brunette, the white powder will leave a “grey haze” on your  hair…well, that is because they are applying it directly to the top of their hair.  I put a small amount in my palms and rub them together,  then tip my head upside down and begin to massage the powder in at the roots.  You do not need to cover the ends of  your hair, just focus on the roots and the areas of your hair that seem to be the most greasy. I apply the powder after I flat-iron my hair and then once the powder is in I brush and finish styling it.   I wash my hair every other day and usually don’t need any form of “dry” shampoo at all, but when I do this is the best option.   My hair smells clean and fresh all day.  The powder absorbs any oil that may occur during the day and this definitely holds you over until your next shampoo.  I also love the fact that you can buy baby powder at any drugstore or supermarket and it is not expensive at all.  I buy the large bottle so that I have it for a long  time and I don’t have to worry about running out.  If you have searching for a Dry Shampoo, give this a try, it may be the solution you were looking for.

“Hello, Mr. Ford….”

17 Dec

 

I have about a million lipsticks from a million different brands and let me tell you…no one is better than Tom Ford Private Blend Lipsticks ($48 www.tomford.com).  If you do not know who Tom Ford is then I don’t know if we can be friends…just kidding!  Tom Ford is an American Designer who is most famous for being the Creative Director for Gucci.  He turned the Gucci brand around and made it one of the “most wanted” fashion labels in the world.  In 2004, he parted ways with Gucci and has started his own mens and womenswear lines as well as launching Tom Ford Beauty.  So far I have only tried the lipstick and it is amazing!  I like this lipstick because it has a very creamy texture, it goes on smooth and the color lasts.  The special ingredients are soja seed extract, Brazilian murumuru butter, and chamomilla flower oil.  Another important thing when it comes to buying lipstick is the packaging.  I love his packaging because it is square and the lid is magnetic so it won’t fall off in your make-up bag or purse.  The other special thing I secretly love is that each lipstick has a ‘T’ and an ‘F’ stamped on the top, they fade over time with each application, but it is kind of  sexy to know that they once were there….so, if you are looking for a lipstick to give you soft, sophisticated lips, please give Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick a try….remember, it is Mistletoe season….

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Less is More

16 Dec

 

 

I always hate it when people say “less is more”…why? I can’t really tell  you, but I do.  I love beauty products, but recently I was using sooo many different ones and I was loving so many different ones that I was using everything all at once!  You can only imagine what happened…my skin FREAKED OUT!  After consulting with my Beauty Guru’s I took their advice and went back to these simple steps:

  1. Washing with a gentle cleanser AM/PM (Using the Clarisonic at Night)
  2. Moisturizing both AM/PM with a moisturizer that does  not have any Acne fighting products or retinol etc…
  3. Exfoliating Once a week using a gentle face scrub

I have very sensitive skin and sometimes I get excited about products and want to use them all which in turn counter acts the whole point of them.  If you are having breakouts and you never had breakouts before, try simplifying your routine and/or eliminating products one at a time from your routine for at least 5 days to see what is the causing these breakouts.  Remember also to monitor your high hormonal times to make sure that they are not the culprit either.  Here is a list of good products that are gentle and way to get back to balancing your skin and/or starting a basic skin care regimen:

  1.   Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($7-$12 www.drugstore.com)
  2.  Kate Somerville Nourish Daily Moisturizer ($65-$120 www.katesomerville.com)
  3. ExfoliKate Gentle or Intensive Exfoliating Treatment ($65 www.katesomerville.com)

These items will get you back to the basics.  When you are shopping, make sure to look for words such as “gentle”, “hypoallergenic”, or “daily” these usually mean the product is for frequent use and won’t over dry or irritate your skin.  Then you can start re-introducing or introducing new serums, treatments, or masks gradually so that you can still have fun with your beauty products!  Trust me on this “less is more” when it comes to skin care, I had to learn the hard way.

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On The Spot!

15 Dec

 

I hate when I get blemishes just like everyone else in the world…and it took me forever to  find a product that worked really fast to get rid of these horrible things!  I have tested everything from drugstore products to high-end, high-priced Spot Treatments.  After years of testing I have finally found one that is AMAZING…Kate Somerville Anti Bac Clearing Lotion ($39 www.katesomerville.com).  Anti Bac’s actual directed us is as an “all over” clearing lotion, but it is the perfect spot treatment!  It contains 5% Benzoyl Peroxide which will help clear up the acne and the additional ingredients help prevent water loss and maintain moisture in the skin.  The best part is that it absorbs nicely so you can wear it under makeup and it does not have any odor.  You can also apply it to the chest or back if you are having breakout issues in these areas as well.  Benzoyl Peroxide  can be drying to my skin and cause some redness so I use this product at night with a soothing moisturizer, Creme de La Mer Moisturizing Cream ($135-$250 www.cremedelamer.com).  Do not apply this lotion all over your face unless you truly suffer from Acne.  One blemish here and there is not Acne, that would be classified as a breakout.  If you apply Acne products all over your skin and you truly do not have Acne, you may actually be causing more breakouts because you are drying your skin out which is leading your skin to produce more oil.  I know, this can all get confusing, but just treat the spots and nothing else unless you truly have Acne, trust me I am guilty of over-treating, it is hard not to do.  The other great thing is that this product will last you a very LONG time.  You will use just a small amount on each spot and the bottle is a very nice size so you won’t be constantly replacing this product.  Please give this a try, I know you will be amazed at how fast your blemishes begin to disappear!!

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