Seal the Deal

Sorry for such a delay in posts! It has been a crazy few weeks! Lately, I've had multiple people ask me what I use on my nails for a top coat. I've tried a lot out there, and my fav by far is Sally Hansen's InstaDri Anti-Chip Topcoat. 

It boasts that it can dry any nail color in 30 seconds, and it honestly does. I usually do my nails before I go to bed, and when I wake up, I don't have the "fingerprint-looking" smudges that sheets usually cause. Just wait two minutes after painting your nails, apply InstaDri and then you'll be good to go in about 30 seconds.

It's available at Walmart, and retails for around $5.

DIY Hair Color

  You asked, you shall receive!

Someone asked me what I recommended for do it yourself hair color for Fall/Winter. Now, I've got to be honest, I've never colored my hair at home, so I'm no expert. However, I have been seeing a new brand of DIY hair color that I am very curious about. It's called Fat Foam and currently only available at Walmart. Here's part of the pitch on their website:

• 100% Gray Coverage
• Long Lasting Color
• Conditioning Formula with Soy
• Easy Hand Application
• Less Application Time
  

Less Mess! Non-drip whipped foam means the color wraps every strand, stays in place, and won't drip. No-mistake hand application provides even distribution, especially to those hard-to-reach areas such as the back of the head. No dry spots, it's so simple.

Long lasting, rich color that covers gray completely with less application time. Conditions & Shines! Formulated with soy protein to leave your hair looking smooth, healthy, shiny and youthful. Retails for around $8.97.

For more information on Fat Foam and reviews, visit:

http://www.fatfoam.com/

Review-http://community.qvc.com/forums/Beauty-Banter/topic/97435/sami-fat-foam-hair-color-my-review.aspx

Hair Color 101

I came across this very helpful article from Daily Glow about coloring your hair...

• Wash you hair the day before you color it, not the same day.
• Color your hair when it is completely dry.
• Apply a thin layer of moisturizer along your hairline to prevent color from oozing onto your face and neck.
• If you are doing your own hair color treatment, part hair into small sections and apply color from roots to ends.
• Follow the package directions and apply the color properly. Leave the solution on your hair as long as the instructions say you should, then rinse hair for at least 5 minutes in warm water. Squeeze out excess water, then apply the conditioner that came with the color treatment.
• Do not wash your hair the day you color it, or on the day afterward. It’s best to do nothing on days one and two, then, on day three, “wash” with conditioner only. Remember that semipermanent color washes out, so the more you shampoo, the quicker it fades.
• Touch up your hair color regularly to prevent roots and gray hairs from showing and to keep the color even throughout your hair.

For more great information on hair coloring, check out this link:

http://www.dailyglow.com/articles/133/hair-colour/hair-coloring-products.html

Colors for Fall and Winter

Honestly, I don't think there's a certain color that's in or out for this Fall/Winter. I think whatever makes you feel good and compliments your skin tone is the best way to go! I'm personally rocking blonde hair that's probably a little too blond for winter, but I like the way it looks on me so I decided to defy the system. :-)

Happy coloring and let me know what you decide to use and/or if you need more information. Highlights are a different blog post all together!

Wage War Against Under Eye Circles!

Recently I was asked by a friend of mine about what to do with dark under eye circles, or as she called them, "raccoon eyes". I know this is pretty common with a lot of women, so I wanted to put up some ideas/thoughts/solutions that might help. I did some research and pulled from several different resources that should hopefully help us attack "raccoon eyes" from all angles!

Basic Training

1. Get plenty of sleep.Though an obvious solution, most under eye circles are caused by lack of rest and skin damage from illness.
   
2. Try placing cool cucumber slices or black tea bags over your eyes for 20 to 30 minutes each day. These natural remedies minimize the swelling and redness associated with dark under eye circles and bags.
   
3. You can also try covering your eyes with thin potato slices for 10 to 20 minutes each day. Potatoes contain a skin lightening enzyme called catecholase(big word) which is used in many retail cosmetic products and aids in restoring discolored skin areas.
   
4. Apply Vitamin E or olive oil directly to under eye circles and dark spots. Break open a capsule (or purchase a cream if desired) and lightly dab the contents on your under eye circles. Vitamin E and olive oil contain hydrating ingredients that reduce the appearance of circles.
   
5. Drink plenty of water (8 to 10 eight-ounce glasses a day) and take a multi-vitamin regularly. Under eye circles are sometimes caused by a lack of hydration or balance of nutrients in the body and are easily treated by restoring these levels. Courtesy of www.ehow.com.

Choosing Your Weapons

• If you're fair-skinned, apply a sheer light pink concealer, which helps to bounce light off the dark areas.*
• If you have a medium skin tone, try using a peachy beige concealer.*
• For darker skin tones, use a golden beige concealer.*

On of my favorite things is Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer. This moisture-rich concealer is designed specifically for under and around the eye area to conceal discolorations and dark circles. It comes in 6 shades and retails for around $22. You can purchase this at Sephora, some department stores or at www.lauramercier.com.

 

If you're looking for a more budget-friendly solution, try NYC New York Color Corrective Cover Sticks.The soft formula will not pull or tug around your gentle eye area. Use yellow Corrective Cover Sticks to conceal dark under-eye circles and freckles.You can pick this up at almost any retailer such as Walmart, and it runs about $2-$3.

Ready, Aim, Apply!

Use your ring finger to dab on the concealer, since it's the weakest finger and won't pull as hard on your delicate eye tissue. Also, don't forget to apply concealer on the hollow sides of the nose(right next to your eye socket). This will open up your eyes and make them look bright and fresh.

I like to finish off my under eye treatment with another Laura Mercier product, Secret Brightening Powder. It's used to set your concealer, as well as add an invisible lightening boost. It retails for around $22 and can be purchased at the same locations as the LM Secret Concealer.

Get a medium-sized flat makeup brush, dip it into the powder, tap off the excess and apply to your under eye by pressing slowly from the hollow sides of your nose to the outer corner of your eye.

Other Tips and Tricks

(Courtesy of Bobbi Brown, one of my favorite makeup artists!)

Keep the focus on your upper eye. Most women who have extreme under eye darkness also have dark eyelids. Lighten it up with a white or bone-colored eye shadow. Don't line the lower lash line or apply mascara  to the lower lashes.**

*Crazy Busy Beautiful by Carmindy
**Living Beauty by Bobbi Brown

Is It Time to Toss It?

How long is too long to keep beauty products? 

Just like food, beauty products don't stay good forever. When's the last time you did a cosmetics and beauty product cleanse? It might be time to, because bacteria and contamination can creep in if you're not careful. Pink eye is not a shade of eye shadow I highly recommend! 


Cosmetics:

Liquid Foundation, 3-6 months (Cream foundation can last 4-6 months)

Foundation in a bottle should last 3-6 months, but wide mouthed jars can expose the product to more air and should be tossed sooner. You'll know it's time to purchase a new bottle, when the ingredients begin to settle or separate, the texture thickens or thins, or the smell changes.

Concealer, 6-8 months

Powders, 1 year

Pressed powder, eye-shadows, blush

Mascara, 3 months

You should never keep mascara for any longer than 3 months (air pushes bacteria back into the tube). Never "pump" your mascara.

Lip gloss & Lipstick, 1 year

Eye/Lip Pencils, 1 year

Eye and lip pencils should last 1 year or more, but you should sharpen pencils at least once a week to prevent bacteria from being transferred to your eye area. You'll know the product has gone bad if it dries or crumbles.

Skincare

Facial Cleansers & Moisturizers, 6 months

Facial Toners, 1 year

Natural Cosmetics, 6 months ("all-natural body washes", etc.)

Among other cosmetics that are likely to have an unusually short shelf life are "all natural" products that contain plant-derived ingredients (which are conducive to bacterial growth), or products with no preservatives.

Brushes And Tools

Oils and bacteria get trapped in the bristles of the brushes. Wash natural-bristled brushes once a month, and synthetic brushes three to four times a month. Lay the brushes flat to dry so that the bristles don't break, and to maintain the shape of the brushes. There are brush cleansers out there, but you can also use mild soap. You may also use baby shampoo to wash your brushes.

Cosmetic makeup sponges are disposable tools. Wash after every use. Toss within 1 month, or when the sponge begins to tear.

Courtesty of www.cbsnews.com

Lips Like Sugar...

EXFOLIATION. It's not a new word, but do you ever associate it with your lips? Maybe it's time that you should. Having soft, kissable lips is not hard at all, you just need to exfoliate them regularly(but not so often that you rub them raw).  Exfoliated lips provide a nice, smooth base for your lipstick, gloss, stain, or whatever you choose to use.

There are products out there that make it easy to do, and one that I have used and liked is fRxtion by Tarte. It's a natural sugar exfoliator and lip balm duo. It's a little pricey at $15, but it does a nice job.

If you want to go a cheaper route, you can make your exfoliator at home! I came up with a recipe that only uses two ingredients: sugar and vegetable oil. All you do is mix a little over 1/4 teaspoon of sugar with 1/4 teaspoon of vegetable oil to get the consistency you see in the picture. Next, scoop up some of the mixture on your finger and start working it into your lips in a circular motion for about 30 seconds. Make sure to coat your top and bottom lip. after you're done, take a damp washcloth and gently rub away.

After your lips are dry, apply your choice of lip balm. In between the times you  

exfoliate(every few weeks), I really like using Blistex Lip Massage lip balm. Its' soft-touch tip smooths away rough spots and the balm stays on for longer than a lot of other ones I've tried.

So, if you want lips like sugar...you might have to use a little sugar. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Lion Tamer

Want a quick and easy way to tame your brows? Just sweep a coat of clear mascara over each of them to keep them in place. Usually any brand will due, but currently I'm using Bonne Bell Eye Style Precise Mascara in Natural Clear.

*I bought mine at Walmart.

Prep and Prime

By the end of the day, a lot of makeup tends to fade or run, leaving us to wonder if we even put any on that morning. There are many ways to get your makeup to last longer throughout the day, but we're going to concentrate on the eyes for now. I have two words for you....EYE. PRIMER. Some people might think this is just one more step to add to your daily beauty routine, but I promise you that it's worth the extra few seconds it takes to apply it.

What is Eye Primer and what does it do?

In short, eye primer is like foundation for your eyelids. It creates a smooth canvas and helps eyeshadow to stay on longer. It also discourages the annoying creases you can get when your eyeshadow has had enough!

It can come in different forms, some being more lotion-y, while others have more of a concealer basis. I have tried both kinds, but I think I prefer the more concealer-like version. Two eye primers I have tried are Mary Kay Eye Primer (more lotion-y) and Clinique Touch Base For Eyes (more like a concealer).

When Do I Apply It?

You will want to apply eye primer to your clean eyelids before you put on any of your eye makeup on. I cover my entire eyelid from brow bone to lash line.