Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Tuesday Tip!

Who doesn't want a vacation full of pampering?  Unfortunately, most of us cannot afford it or find the time to go anywhere.  Here are some do-it-yourself ideas to create a spa at home!

Exfoliate!  Mix half a cup of sugar with any oil (literally any will do: olive, peanut, vegetable).  Use enough to dampen the sugar. If you have any essential oils, add those as well. If not, you can use fruit rind such as lemon or orange.  Rub all over the body, then shower as normal.  Another alternative rub is ground coffee mixed with olive oil.  The caffeine and antioxidants are good for your skin.

Moisturize!  My favorite moisturizing DIY is vaseline.  I cannot get enough of that stuff!  Rub a generous amount of it into your hands and feet and cover with gloves and socks.  Leave overnight and you will wake up feeling smooth as butter!

Deep Condition!  You can use household products to give your hair a moisture boost.  Try olive oil, mayonnaise, or pureed avocado. Shampoo afterwards to avoid smelling like a cobb salad.

Make a Mask!  Creating a facial mask takes literally thirty seconds.  Mix ground dry oatmeal, warm honey, and plain yogurt.  Apply to your face and leave for ten minutes.  Rinse with warm water then lay down with a hot, damp towel on your face.  Add essential oils or any scent you like to the hot water for a relaxing bonus!  Use lavender to help with relaxation, cinnamon for warmth, or mint for a cooling feeling.  This mask works for any skin type.

Go kick your girlfriend/boyfriend/partner/husband/wife/pets/kids/roommate out of the house and enjoy your spa day!

Friday, May 27, 2011

My First (official) Client!

When I found out my friend Jess was getting married, I decided to tell her about the biz.  I had just gotten my professional kit finished and was so excited to use it!  She happily accepted my offer, due the reasonable cost of free and her gracious confidence in my abilities.  I went over to her house one night for a pre-engagement photograph consult.  We discussed looks that she liked and I said I would show her two looks, one on each eye.  My hands weren't shaking but my heart was in my throat.  What if I really suck at this?  I am always nervous applying makeup on others, but this was a professional photograph session we were talking about.  I had never promised good results doing makeup for others.  What you got was what you got.  Now, I am telling my first client to trust me because I am a professional?  Amongst my raging emotions, I do both eyes the same.  I was all over the place mixing colors, not keeping track of which shade was mixed with what.  I used too much of everything.  I apologized and hand Jess some makeup wipes to start the second look we discussed.  She was being extremely patient and understanding.  I composed myself and started again but the second look was showing up exactly as the first.  After an hour and a half of makeup application (I had guessed it would take thirty minutes), we finally decide on an overall look.  I walked out the door and my confidence is at zero.  I am a perfectionist in certain aspects and this is disappointing first consult.  I went home and decided I need to develop a system of organization.  I cannot be dipping into random shades for a wedding and expect the same look twice.  So, I came up with a way to map my palettes and wrote down every color and product I would use for this one look.  By the time I went to bed, things were starting to look up.
Jess came over before her hair appointment to complete her makeup for the engagement photos.  I am sure I looked composed (or not), but I was a wreck on the inside.  I went step by step with my consult sheet I had made, double checking the locations of each color.  Things were going really well!!  By the time I had done the foundation, I was becoming more and more amazed at the outcome.  Then OOPS, I mislabeled two eyeshadow shades and couldn't figure out which shade I was supposed to use.  To give you an idea of what I am talking about, I have 88 shades in one palette and four palettes.  That's a lotta freakin colors.  I play around til I am about 75% sure which colors I had originally chosen and moved on.  Time was flying by and before I knew it, BAM!, time for her to head out the door.  I snapped a quick photo with my phone and she was off.  After she left, I remembered I had forgotten pressed powder as a finishing touch.  All in all, I was extremely impressed with how good her make-up looked, minus my few oversights!  Maybe I can do this after all!  Here is a link to her photographer's blog for more photos!








Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Lead in Lipstick?

My friend, Michelle, sent me a very interesting article about the levels of lead found in lipstick.  While the FDA ruled that amounts of lead found in the products were not harmful for topical use, the article is still interesting to read.  Lead is apparently found in many dyes used in make up and candy.  Regulations for candy are more strict because the product is intended for ingestion.  Because make up is intended for topical use only, higher levels have been determined to be safe.  What I also found interesting about the article was the chart at the bottom showing which companies owned product lines.  For example, did you know Clorox owns Burt's Bees?  Did you also know Estee Lauder owns MAC and Clinique?  I find the latter interesting because I am a HUGE fan of MAC and Clinique products.  The make up artists of the blog, Pixiwoo, argue that Estee Lauder products are the best in the market because the customers are primarily wealthy females.  They hold their products to a higher standard due to the customer pool.  While I don't totally agree with that argument, they do not test on animals, which means I support! 
To hop on another subject, many make up artists try to support the companies that do not test on animals.  There is a great list of companies that do and don't test on animals at PETA.  All the companies listed in my blog do not use animal testing, except for Sephora because there website sells many different brands.  Several companies that do test on animals include Proctor and Gamble (owns Cover Girl, Crest, Downy, Max Factor, Olay, Pantene, etc) and L'Oreal (owns Maybelline).  Clorox as a company tests on animals, but Burt's Bees does not test its products on animals.  Comment and let me know what you think about it!

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Tuesday Tip!

Today's tip is all about eyebrows.  They can be very difficult to shape!  If you are at all unsure about shaping your own brows, head to a reputable spa for waxing or threading.  One opinion I have had lately is to not over pluck your brows.  Over plucking now will leave you will very thin eyebrows in your mature years and thin brows age the face.  I have included a diagram of angles to keep in mind when shaping your brows.

Axis A shows that your brow should begin above the outer edge of your nostril.  This is the most common mistake when women try to shape their own brows because they tend to take too much and end up with brows that are too far apart.  If you have created brows that are too far apart, stop plucking and let them grow back in our use a brow pencil to fill them in. Axis B shows the highest arch of your brow.  Most brows have a natural arch around this point so follow the natural arch.  Avoid plucking above the brow because it can really flatten your shape.  Axis C is the end of the brow.  Notice it extends past the length of the eye.  I always end up filling in this area because my natural brow ends at the eye, while filling in makes the eyes appear larger.  Avoid the comma brow.  I made this mistake A LOT in my teen years and notice how unflattering it is.  The comma brow is taking too much off the end of the brow but leaving the front of the brow full, creating a comma shape.  If this shape has been created, there are two solutions.  Thin out the front of the brow if you are not going to end up with pamela anderson-thin eyebrows.  The other solution is to grow out the back of the eyebrow and start again.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Tuesday Tip! (on wednesday due to publishing error)

Applying foundation correctly can be a trickity trick.  Here are a few simple tips to prevent common foundation no-nos. 
1. When purchasing foundation, or tinted moisturizer, apply to your face and then walk outside.  I used to hear this and think it was pointless....until I spent money on a shade that looked great in the store and horrible in the daylight.  Store lights are nothing like daylight (even if they tell you it is simulating day lighting).  Make sure the product matches your skin tone outside before purchasing to prevent returning the product once you get home.
2. Prep your face!  Primer is a great way to keep your foundation looking great for long periods of time.  See my list of favorites for the primer I use. 
3. During application, DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT forget your ears, neck, and hairline.  I cannot tell you how many women I see with a distinct make up line surrounding their jaw.  It is hideous and people will notice, especially if you are using foundation that is too dark or have applied bronzer.  Extend your foundation down your neck.  I should make a point to say that if your skin tone is different from your face to your neck to your chest, blend down until you have an even complexion.  Some people remember the neck but the blending stopped halfway and they have half a red/pale/splotchy neck (not flattering).  Blend into the hairline and put a dab on the ears to prevent make up lines. 
4. Set your foundation with a powder.  If you are going for a dewey look, skip this step, but usually powder should be applied to your T-zone (forehead, nose, and chin).
5. If you like the airbrushed look, try using a brush like the Mac 187.  Apply foundation using a quick, circular motion.  Remember, if you are using more than a nickel sized amount, switch to a foundation with heavier coverage or use a skin-correcting primer.  More product does not equal flawless face.  For a heavy coverage, try Chanel Vitalumiere


187 Duo Fibre Brush

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Tuesday Tip!

How long has that favorite eyeliner been in your make up bag?  Like everything else, your beauty products have an expiration date.  Here are a few dates to keep up with:

1. Mascara- replace every three months to prevent eye infection
2. Eyeliner- also a favorite for bacteria buildup, replace every three months
3. Lipstick- replace once a year, unless you have been sick, then replace immediately
4. Powder- replace every two to three years.  Powder is the least likely place for bacteria due to ingredients, yah!
5. Sponge inside your powder compact- replace once a month, these build up bacteria fast!
6. Eyeshadow- replace every three to six months, tend to harbor bacteria because you usually dip your brush more than once during application, or use your finger (which reminds me, wash your hands before applying your make up to prevent contamination and make your products last longer!)

When I buy a product, I write the date of purchase on the product.  This way I know how long I have at a glance.  You could also write the date the product needs replacing.

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Tuesday Tip!

Warm weather is approaching, or already here if you live in the South like me.  Here are a couple tips for make-up you can wear to the beach!  Tinted moisturizer is great if you will be outdoors most of the day.  It can be worn alone, without a powder finish, and gives a small amount of dewey texture to the skin (which you will have anyways from sweat).  Powder tends to run with sweat or cake on your face in hot temperatures.  Tinted moisturizer will stay put and wont come off when you take a swim or need to towel dry your face.  Pick a moisturizer that is several shades darker than your skin tone.  This allows you to also skip the bronzer if you are under the umbrella all day.  Laura Mercier and Benefit make great tinted moisturizers that can be found at Sephora.  Add water-proof mascara and a tinted chapstick to finish off the look.  Try Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balm for rosy lips.