If you are anywhere near Cincinnati (or Washington, DC, for that matter), you know that the blistering-cold temperatures can wreak havoc on your lips. If you aren’t a fan of lipstick, be sure you are at least applying a great lip balm to protect your lips. Don’t let your kids walk out the door without sending them off with heavily balmed lips. And if you plan on keeping your spouse kissable, make sure they are protecting their lips as well. Nothing is worse than seeing cracked, dry lips.
In the Cold and Flu season, you should replace your mascara and lipstick once a month to avoid germs that can take you, and your immune system, down for the count. Head germs off at the pass and avoid getting sick by having good makeup hygiene. If anything (at all) has been in your makeup bag longer than three months, toss it. Wash makeup brushes with shampoo and conditioner and let air dry to keep all makeup tools clean and free of germs.
Proof that everyone looks good in red lipstick. When is the last time you wore red lipstick? I’ve been a red-lips fan since childhood. It works on every hair color, every skin tone. It’s the epitome of sexy…we love that!
Phthalates are used to enhance fragrance to make it last longer. They are commonly found in perfumes, fragrance, hair products, deodorants, body lotions, and nail polish. Unfortunately, they are not required to be listed on labels, as they are classified as proprietary. Always use products that clearly state they are Phthalate-Free, as scientists believe that Phthalates contribute to DNA disruption, birth defects, and are a possible cause of cancers.
Are makeup vanities an area of forgotten interior design? Approximately 90% of women are wear makeup every day, so one would think this would be a vital and key area in a girl’s home. A quick Google search on makeup vanities depicts sad results. There are scarce findings, and very few gorgeous makeup areas to be found …anywhere. Since this is an area most of us utilize every morning, it should be beautiful and inviting, and a gorgeous place to start your day.
I have, however, found a few examples where they got it right. Check out the amazing spaces below.
What they’ve done right: Crisp and clean white walls and curtains makes this makeup area feel light and breezy. The carpet and chair add a nice punch of color and contrast. The over head chandelier brings beautiful elegance to the room.
What they’ve done right: They stuck with a theme …old Hollywood with a twist of French decor. The furniture is ultra-feminine and girly, the lamp picks up the color from the pale pink walls. Sunlight streams in for the back, reflecting off the mirrored table. Gorgeous!
What they’ve done right: Beautiful architectural details with the arches, filled with a wall-sized mirror that reflects the light from behind. Beautiful tiled flooring in white with flower accents brightens the space. Small mirror attached to the wall for tasks such as putting on mascara.
If you adore design, visit my friend Julia’s blog, over at Hooked On Houses. She has an amazing blog that features everything “houses.”
Having shiny skin by lunchtime? Oil levels spike at 11 a.m. every day, explains Laura Goodman, a senior scientist for Proctor & Gamble in Cincinnati. Shine may be worse if you’re in your 30s, when “oil-pumping hormones peak.” Pre-makeup, apply a clay mask or mix a dollop with your face wash, says Jessica Liebeskind, a New York City makeup artist, to control the mid-day shines.
There’s a reason that Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara is the best selling mascara in America. Great Lash is used by many, many makeup artists in Hollywood, and models have been singing the praises of Great Lash for years. It’s inexpensive, and it works great! It also makes your eyelashes look a mile long. What’s not to love? (editorial note)….try the curved brush in brownish-black. Looks great on blondes.
Sonia Kashuk, celebrity makeup artist to many stars, including Cindy Crawford, lists her 10 commandments for great skin.
Protect yourself from the sun — use sunscreen and avoid direct sunlight between the hours of 10 and 2.
Don’t — I repeat — don’tsmoke. Your skin is a large organ and it needs a lot of circulation. Smoking impairs that dramatically. That’s why smokers’ skin looks dull and gray. Instead of having oxy-generated blood delivered to the surface of the skin, they’re getting poisons and oxidants.
Get adequate rest and nutrition.
Protect yourself from stress — both emotional and environmental stress.
Wash your face twice a day and put on the proper treatment product. I’m amazed when women tell me they don’t wash their face in the morning. A lot of icky stuff collects overnight — dead skin cells, dirt, and dust!
Don’t neglect certain areas of the skin. Elbows, heels, neck, and decolletage need moisturizing, and your scalp and the tops of your feet need sun protection.
Touch your face less and wash your hands more! Don’t get too surgical on yourself. It’s very tempting to pick, poke, squeeze, and scratch in front of the mirror. But the more you traumatize the skin, the greater your risk of scarring. Apply treatment products and let them work.
Keep your makeup clean. Replace the sponges in your compact on a regular basis. Now and then, toss the whole works and start fresh — the average shelf life for cosmetics is 6 to 12 months. Don’t buy products so expensive that you’ll be heartbroken if you have to throw them away.
Exercise moderation. More is not always better. Moisturizer, for example, is the most overused product in America. We’ve been bamboozled by cosmetic companies into thinking every square inch of our body has to be slathered. And it’s simply not true. Exfoliators are another thing to be careful with. Used too often, they overacidify and irritate your skin.
Beware of counter girls. If it were up to them, you’d be in the bathroom for two and a half hours each morning — putting 80 layers on your face. Keep your regimen simple. And when you do add a new product, do it gradually so your skin has time to adjust. Each skincare or makeup product has an average of 20 to 40 ingredients — you’re introducing 20 to 40 potential allergens to your face every time you try something new.
Sevin Nyne, Lindsay Lohan’s new signature mist self-tanner, is being sold exclusively at Sephora from May until November. Sevin Nyne, allegedly named after Lindsay’s favorite numbers, says they use caramel in lieu of artificial colors for deeper results.
“We have taken a more environmental approach so we use caramels for color and chardonnay extracts and goji berry for the skin,” said Kristi Kaylor, marketing at Sevin Nyne. It takes two to five hours to develop, and the results are said to last for four to five days.
Ratings on Sephora are 3.5 stars out of 5. Some rave about this tanner, some say it’s a waste of your money. Sevin Nyne is $35.00 for 5 ounces. Take into consideration this is a mist, so a great deal of the product never sees your skin. All reviewers, however, seem to agree that the product smells amazing….. are we love that eco-friendly component to the product.
Monroe Misfit Makeup, a You Tube makeup tutorial channel, is the go-to source on the web for makeup application and new ideas. Jody is a super-talent in makeup artistry. From earthy to vampy, she displays many different looks via her video tutorials.
