Repeat after me " Washing my face everyday is one of the most important things I can do for my skin". Now say it again- and again, and again! I say this because so many of us (myself included, until I came to my senses in my 20's) do not take care of our face like we should and we wonder why the breakouts still happen, why our pores are blocked, and why we look like we have pepper sprinkled all over our noses! (which are blocked pores full of dead skin and dirty oils- YUCK!) Whether you're an avid makeup wearer or an au-natural girl, washing our faces when we wake up and before bed is one of the secrets to great skin. But I'm not just talking about soap and water- no, we have to get to the bottom of it all, and by bottom, I mean all the gunk that piles up beneath the top surface of our skin, hiding in the crevices of our pores and seeping through to the second layer of our skin. I'm painting a pretty picture, aren't I? Here are the 5 things you probably aren;t doing and should be doing to take better of your skin now so you'll slow down the hands of time and have your youthful glow for years to come! You're using the wrong facial cleanser: All skin is not created equal, so neither are facial cleansers. An effective face washing routine consists of the appropriate cleanser to tackle the specific skin type and issues that want to be resolved. For those with oily skin, stay away from cleansers that are for dry skin because the extra moisture control can trigger your oil production. For those with acne prone skin, look for cleaners that have salycic acid, an ingredient used to kill the bacteria associated with acne and breakouts. Those with dry skin will want creamy, high moisture cleaners, such as facial bars, to help retain moisture while stripping away oil and dirt. *Quick Tip: you don't need to spend big bucks on your facial cleanser. Choose something simple that meets your skin type needs and save your money for more important products, like face treatments and serums. You're not exfoliating: Washing the face is not enough to really get to the underlying dirt, oil, and bacteria that may still be lingering underneath your skin. An exfoliator is made to remove the top layer of dead skin cells and expose the healthier "new" skin underneath, allowing your face to breathe and giving you that "glow" that we see on healthy skin. Many companies make exfoliating cleansers that are made with gritty ingredients, such as walnut shell, that help with exfoliation. Or you can choose to buy a face exfoliator to use in conjunction with your facial cleanser. A little more expensive, but these little machines pack a powerful punch! You're not using the right face creams/moisturizers: For a face cream to be most effective, apply when face is freshly washed and skin is still slightly damp. Do not rub the face- pat away moisture with a soft towel to prevent tugging the skin and irritating the face. Products are easily absorbed on damp skin, allowing the key ingredients to penetrate the top layer of the skin. Just as with facial cleanser, choosing the correct cream for your specific skin type is crucial. Use face treatments, masks, and patches to address more crucial problem areas: Soap, toners, and creams only go so far, so to tackle problem areas try products for specific needs. Pore strips are great for those who get black heads around the nose area. Clay masks are great at pulling out toxins in our skin and leaving our face with a new "layer" of skin that seems to glow from within. Find your specific skin type, problems areas you want to address, and add them to your face washing beauty regimen. These are not to be done a daily basis- like all things, too much of a good thing can be bad for you, so too many face treatment can strip your skin of natural oils and moisture, which will just cause your skin to grow worse. Once a week a mask is recommended, and 2 times a week using pore strips should be enough. I don't know about you, but after writing this post, i feel like washing my face one more time! Take care of your skin- it's the only one you got! Plus, a clean face equals a better makeup application :)
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Ahh, wedding season is upon us. The smell of flowers in the air, wedding dresses everywhere... and frantic brides trying to do all they can to make sure their wedding day goes perfect! And one of the most important things besides the dress is the makeup. Between the endless pictures taken by the photographer and that crazy Aunt that always wants to get a close up ( we all have one of those!) your face will be the center of attention! So here's my take on long wearing, waterproof makeup for your wedding day that will last all day long, tears and all! Face: Foundation and Concealer Depending on your skin needs, foundation can range from light to medium coverage to " I want to look airbrushed so pack it on" coverage. It's important to remember that extra coverage is favorable because you can easily get washed out in your pictures, and the HD technology in cameras these days can pick up on every nook and cranny on your face, so perfect skin is what to aim for. My motto for wedding makeup is- fake it til you make it! Lots of concealer and high coverage foundation is ideal to make sure you look your best in your pictures. Here are my top 3 foundation picks: Here are my top 3 picks for concealer: Setting Powder After all that work in creating the perfect canvas with concealer and foundation, you need to lock it in with a great setting powder. Three key components to the perfect setting powder is texture, color, and coverage. You want a powder that is finely milled in order for it to melt into the skin instead of laying on top of the foundation. If the powder is too gritty in texture, it can appear blotchy on the skin and give you the dread "cake face". Here's some I would recommend: Setting Spray If you're looking for one more product to provide long wearing, long lasting makeup on your special day, then consider using a setting spray. These sprays are made to lock in your makeup with ingredients that create a barrier against moisture, sweat, tears- you name it, it has your back! These setting sprays have been tried and tested and come out on top as some of the best: Mascara Mascara is one of, if not THE, fundamental makeup products that needs to be waterproof, smudge proof, sweat proof, everything proof! Here's what I would recommend: Eyes Creating the perfect canvas on your face not only involves the skin, but also the eyes, which will be the focal point in all those smiling pictures you'll be taking All, Day, Long! A soft, smokey eye is the go to look for bridal, which is dramatic enough to make the eyes stand out but will not overpower your face. Here's some neutral palettes that work great for bridal looks: Are you planning your perfect wedding makeup? Or maybe you're one of those who likes to plan ahead and have been planning your wedding say, since you were 5 years old?! I hope this list of my go-to long lasting and water proof products help you create that perfect makeup look on your special day!
I love purple- it's a color that can be fun and flirty but also mysterious and sexy. But it's the one color that many women won't touch with a 10 foot pole! When you hear people you either think of a bright crayola crayon, or Barney. And neither seems appealing or flattering to wear! If you've read yesterdays post on orange and coral makeup, purple falls in the same category- it has a broad range of shades and tones that when worn appropriately can make a big statement. So don't be afraid to experiment with color! Here are some favorites for eyes, lips, and face: Lips
Blush
Eyes
Quick side note: be careful when working with colors like purple. Too much on the eyes or around the eyes can make you look like a crazed animal or as if you got into a fight and got punched in the eye! Remember to balance the face- if you want color on the eyes, then go light on the lips, and vice versa. An easy way to stay neutral with your makeup and add a pop of purple is to keep the eyes simple and wear a bright gloss or lipstick. its the easiest way to look put together with no work at all.
Okay, sorry for the corny joke title, but I had to ;) Orange is the color to wear as summer draws near, and it's one of those colors that has a wide range of shades and tones that is flattering on every skin color ! Orange lips remind me of those orangesicle pops that I would buy from the ice cream man and eat on the sidewalk with my friends, and coral shimmer eyes resemble the beautiful summer sunsets. Orange and coral can be both fun and romantic colors, and who doesn't love that?! So here are some of my favorite orange and coral toned makeup products for the summer: Blush
Lipstick
Lipgloss/ Lip Balm
Eyeshadow
I just love, love, LOVE wearing orange and corals! So flattering on every skin color because of its vast selection of shades and tones. Perfect color to compliment your summer glow!
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When I'm not spending way too much time getting ready or drooling over the newest beauty product, I'm a stay at home mom of a rambunctious 4 year old boy, a sweet baby girl we lovingly call "sissy", and a wife to my high school sweetheart. Archives
August 2014
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