I am always being asked what I use on my skin.  Actually, come to think of it, others are asking me what they should “use” on their skin.  Unless of course you’re blessed with the porcelain flawless dreamy pallet, you’ll need some direction.  Not only is a skin care regimen and a healthy diet/sleep pattern necessary, but emotional health is equally as important.  When I start a client on a new regimen I always ask them to curb their old ways.  Give yourself 30 days.  We shed approximately 1.5 million dead skin cells each hour with our entire skin replaced about every 28 days.  Drinking more water and working out will give the blood more oxygen, therefore, faster detox.  Less toxins equals better skin and overall health.  Again, this also works for grounding your emotions.  Kinder thoughts equal happier words.  Passion in your heart will drive you through your goals.   So you want good skin?  Eat wholesome food, exercise a few times a week, drink more water, use pure cosmetics, get your beauty sleep, and stop the stress in your lives.  Oh, and laugh, more!!

1. straight long hair (nicole kidman & gwyneth paltrow)
2. flawless skin (j-lo & reese witherspoon)
3. sizzling red lips (maggie gyllenhaal & kirsten dunst)
4. nude lips and black eyeliner (beyonce & emily blunt)
5. loosely pinned lustrous updo’s (rachel weisz & cameron diaz)

1. Flowers tucked in hair
2. Loose chignon buns
3. Glittering metallic eyes
4. Bold pink lips
5. Delicate light pink eye shadow
6. Subtle rosy cheeks

1.
Chapped cheeks. Move to a non-soap alternative for face washing (squeaky clean means your skin has been stripped of its natural moisturizers).  If it foams, it’s soap.  Always remember to cover your your cheeks while outside.

Itchy skin. There’s one way to deal with weather-related eczema: moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. For facial skin, one of the best moisturizers is  Epicuren’s  Facial Emulision .  Facial Emulsion is a smooth and light daytime moisturizer  which stimulates cell renewal with Epicuren’s Metadermabolic Enzymes.   For your body  again Epicuren has created  “After Bath.”  A unique blend of  skin  treat emulsion and aromatherapy oil.   “After Bath” comes in many scents lasting all day. 

Irritated face. For those used to monthly facial peels or microdermabrasion, winter weather may make your skin more sensitive and easily irritated.  Try exfoliating less during these harsh weather months.
If you’re waxing or threading your lip or eyebrows, bring Visine, which is a vasoconstrictor. Saturate a cotton ball with it and swipe the area immediately after the treatment to reduce redness.

Fragile hair. Don’t leave the house with wet hair, obviously—though blow-drying leaves hair overprocessed. Use a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner—Redken  All Soft  delivers protiens, amino acids, and avocado oil to provide softness , moisture, conditioning and shine.

Use a deep conditioner once a week-Redken Butter Treat is a smoothing treatment for very dry/unruly hair.

Post-party puff. Although they’re used to treat a condition most people would rather not think about, Tucks Pads are a quick cure for under-eye puffiness. They contain witch hazel, an anti-inflammatory; swipe with them to help decrease the morning-after look.

The skin of your lips does not have any sweat glands or sebaceous glands. Therefore, your lips do not have the usual protective layer of sweat and body oils which keep the skin smooth, kill pathogens, and regulate warmth. For these reasons, the lips dry out faster and become chapped more easily. To combat the dryness, La Bella Donna’s Lip Sheers contain Avocado Oil, an extremely deep penetrating oil, rich in vitamins A, D and E, lecithin, as well as potassium; helping make dry lips a thing of the past. According to a 1991 study by the Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, avocado oil was found to significantly raise the amount of collagen in the skin. How is that for appetizing lips?

10. Precise Eyeliner - Blend jeweled, rich greens or bold blues on the bottom lash line rather than the top.  For more drama, smudge black liner into lash line over the color.

9. Modern Bun - Messy low chignon buns.  Loose and not perfect.

8. Ponytail - Sexy and over the top “gone out riding” look.  Special and stylish ponytails.

7. Bushy Brows - For more intensity, brush the brow up and color in with soft shadow.  The look is wild with aggression and energy.  A savage look!

6. Napoleonic lips - Warm and gentle lips with an evident cupids bow.  This season, lips are more romantic and less cute.

5. Straight Hair - Lots of modern volume.  Long softness with messy texture, yet fresh and clean.

4. Knots - The “do it yourself” knot. Strong Bridgette Bordeaux knots.

3. Berry Lips - Lips stained with strawberry, cherry, and raspberry wines.  Not too much thought to this look.  Smudge a stain on the insides of lips giving you the “wine look.”  Celebrate the working woman who remains confident and beautiful with less effort.

2. Bold Face - Powerful and poetic eyes with light, glossy lips.  Midnight, navy blue shadows give glamour and strength while soft and gentle lips create romance.

1. Fresh Face - The look of being naturally blessed in all the right places.  Using bronzer to create definition and rosy blush for the appearance of high cheek bones.  You will get the “got a major crush” look.

This season is either bold or gentle.  It’s for the strong woman who is confident and individualistic.  If you have questions or are not sure how to achieve these looks, contact me today!

Q. What can I do this winter to prevent getting dry and red cheeks from being out in the cold weather?
  
A. Cold weather, heavy winds, and moving from inside heat to outside cold can take it’s toll.  Here are a few tips that will help prevent any further damage:

• Try cleansing with tepid water rather than hot. Hot water removes natural skin oils more quickly.
• It is a good idea during the winter months to use the appropriate toner and moisturizer. In doing so, your skin will better absorb the moisturizer and it will act as a barrier for the skin.
• Basically, you are creating a shield for your skin. Before going outside, cover your cheeks, lips, and nose with your scarf, mittens, hat or whatever you can.
• Dermalogica offers a product that can help soothe and hydrate the skin, offering easy to use protection with SPF 15. Yes, you still need to use some kind of SPF during the winter months.

Q. I get dry lips in the winter even though I drink a lot of water. Is there a lip balm out there with color that actually works?  What do you suggest?

A. Our lips become sensitive during any type of extreme weather.  Don’t lose hope with your water intake.  Keep in mind, after taking a drink of water the skin is the very last organ to receive that water.  So keep up the good work!  As far as product suggestions, there is so much out there!  Determining quality products can be difficult.  I really like Kiehl’s tinted lip balm.  It feels exceptionally smooth and adds just enough color.  It also has the SPF coverage.

Q. Do those night time, age defying eye creams really work?  I use a regular face lotion before bedtime, will that help prevent wrinkles?

A. My absolute favorite night time treatment is olive oil.  I put a few drops on a q-tip or cotton ball and pat on around my eyes and lips.  Since doing this, I have noticed deeper color in my lips and even my lashes have become fuller and longer!  Not to mention, there is no evidence of any “crows feet”.  Check out my post about olive oil for more information.

Every Autumn, nature puts on a brillant show of color.  And so can you!  This season is full of eloquent lip shades from slightly shimmering cocoas and bejeweled reds to dazzling matte bordeauxs.  Flirtatious cheeks in roses and rubies can warm up anyone.   Shadows in warm silvers and golds swept (smudged if using creams) on the lids can be sophisticated and fun.  I am personally falling for the warm shades of mascara.  Forest greens, golden browns, or plums applied on just the tips of the lashes.  Give everyone a glimpse of your natural beauty.

I usually play with just one or two of these looks at one time.  Need help with your makeup?   I give lessons, contact me today!

What you need is a good exfoliator.  With summer behind us and fall on the rise, it’s time to shed your summer skin and fall into autumn with a fresh soft glow.  During a hot and humid summer, application after application of sunscreen (I hope you all wore sunscreen ), and dead skin cells piling up, now is the perfect time to scrub those pores clean.  Exfoliation not only cleans out pores but it allows your skin to speed up the cell renewal process, allowing for improved absorption of moisturizing treatments.  When looking for the perfect exfoliator, keep in mind everyone has different needs.

If, for instance, you have extremely sensitive skin, a gentler exfoliant with calming agents is necessary.  If your skin is tough and can withstand more abrasive products, something along the lines of a corn cob meal exfoliant would better suit you.  When choosing any exfoliant, be sure the ingredients include calming agents to prevent over-stimulation of the skin.  If you have questions about what exfoliator you need, submit a comment here and I will be happy to help!

Long tousled locks are the look for fall.  Anywhere from honey hues to chocolate shades are in the mix for the upcoming season.  Deepen your color and let those bangs grow out.  Keep the long bang for definition around the face as if it were a layer.  For volume roll with hot rollers or curl loosly.  Flip your head upside down and toss.  Flip up and let it go with a shake.  Keep it soft and bouncy for a fun and flirty fall look.