Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Recruitment Week: A Makeover for Girl Flirting

Whether you're in a sorority trying to win your rush crush over, or you're a PNM trying to get a bid from your dream house, you don't want to over or under do-it when it comes to your makeup.


That being said, when "girl flirting" for recruitment, you want to get your makeup perfect. Here are 7 makeup musts for recruitment week: 

1. Prime
Depending on how many rounds are in the day, you can be going from house to house with few breaks for up seven hours! You want to properly prime your face to help your foundation last. I like Benefit's The POREfessional.It makes your skin silky smooth for applying any product on top.

2. Use a tinted moisturizer/foundation
No matter how nice your skin is, it really can look better and more even with a little
more coverage. I would go for a lighter coverage foundation, a tinted moisturizer or
a BB Cream. All of these bases provide natural-looking coverage. I've been using L'Oreal True Match Lumi Healthy Luminous Foundation. This foundation has very sheer coverage and is build-able to a light-medium coverage. This is perfect for recruitment because it lets your skin underneath show and provides a healthy glow to your skin.

3. Conceal
Of course, you need to conceal any red spots, blemishes and under eye circles. You are probably going to be tired and your eyes will be the first to show it. Go for something with either a peach or salmon tint to hide your dark circles and make you look awake. Trust me, when you're talking for hours, you'll need it. I've been loving Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Highlighting Concealer in Radiant to help cover and brighten up my under eye area.

4. Bronzer/Blush
These are the two products I don't think I could live without. Bronzer is my favorite because it makes my skin look more healthy (especially during those pale winter months)! Definitely keep it easy on the bronzer and blush; stay away from bronzer and blush with too much shimmer. I'd use a matte bronzer, such as Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer or NYC Sunny Bronzer.**The NYC bronzer can be a little orange or muddy on lighter skin tones. As for blush, I'd lean towards a matte cool-toned pink for lighter tones, like MAC's Well Dressed. For medium or olive skin tones, I highly recommend MAC's Sunbasque; it is a dark toned peach with a little bit of shimmer and it's my all-time favorite blush. For darker skin tones, a matte red is beautiful, such as MAC's Frankly Scarlet.

Don't be afraid to use a little bit of highlight above your cheekbones as well. This adds dimension to your face and really makes your skin glow. I've been wearing the Balm's Mary Lou-Manizer

5. Eyes
Natural colors that compliment your eye color and skin tone work best. First, I'm a huge fan of really bright inner corner colors; it makes you look more awake and bright-eyed. I love shimmery cream or champagne colors for the inner corner. Stila Kitten is a great inner corner highlight. To keep it natural, I would just do one lid color and make sure it's blended upward toward the crease. Choose a lid color that is one or two shades darker than your skin tone. I love matte medium brown shades, like Urban Decay's Tease and Stila's Sandstone for my skin tone (I'm an NW20 at MAC).

For liner, you could either do liquid, gel or a pencil. It's really up to you and depends on your eye shape. I prefer winging out my gel or liquid on my eyes because they are almond shaped; when I wing my liner up and out, it gives my eyes a lift. I usually opt out of bottom lash liner on a daily basis, but if you line your lower lash line, use a light brown color.

Mascara should last you all day. I would use a waterproof or long-lasting formula.
My favorite mascara of the moment is Covergirl Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara in Very Black

6. Don't skimp on your brows!
Even the slightest filling in makes all the difference. If you're afraid to go too bold, you can use a blond or light brown pencil. A little goes a long way with most brow products. My favorite brow product is Benefit's Brow Zings Kit. If you don't feel the need to fill them in, definitely use a clear mascara to keep them in place. Maybelline's Great Lash Clear Mascara is a classic, drugstore product for brows.

After I fill them in, I like to either take my concealer or a matte ivory color and highlight underneath my brow bone to give my brows a more defined, clean look.   

7. Set your makeup!
Probably a holy grail product of mine, Urban Decay's De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray keeps your makeup on all day. Lightly mist a setting spray all over your face and you are recruitment ready! 

My daily routine: get up, be amazing, go back to bed. TSM.



Thursday, January 24, 2013

The Best 60 Minutes of My Life

Last week I got a facial (long overdue) at Fire Salon and Spa and WOW was it an experience. 

First of all, I think everyone needs time to themselves every now and then, but being pampered is a luxury that people need when they deserve it. My esthetician, Sarah, was amazing. She focused more on my relaxation, my wants and needs, which is how the ideal esthetician should act. I have had others try to "school" me on skin care and break my buck buying products--that is NOT how I want to spend my 60 minutes during a facial. This experience was a selfish hour that I needed. 

All facials at Fire Salon and Spa start out pretty much the same. They give you time to slip into your robe and get under the sheets. When I got under the sheets, it was warmed up! It felt so nice (especially after a "Wake of Shame" morning). Then, in the dimly lit room, they tell you to take three deep breaths as you inhale the essential oil of your choice. Usually, since I like to get facials at nighttime, I always opt for lavender--it's my go-to. This time, since it was in the morning, I got an uplifting breath of Aveda's Energizing Composition Oil; it smelt like a soft citrus blend. It wasn't what I was used to, but it was perfect for the morning after a night out. 

Then, after taking three deep breaths of the exhilarating scent, the facial began. She cleansed my face with Aveda's Purifying Gel Cleanser and all I can say is, there is no doubt that this cleanser will be replacing the cleansers in my bathroom vanity. I love when I can feel a cleanser do it's job, without the harshness of most cleansers. This refreshing cleanser left me with a nice, tingly feeling on my skin. 

After cleansing, she used Comfort Zone's Active Pureness Tonic, a new line to me, and I love trying new things. The most intriguing part? It had a thicker consistency than any toner I've tried. I knew right away I was going to fall in love with this line, and I did. 

While the Comfort Zone Chrono Reverser Peel (Delicate) was renewing my skin, she gave me a much-needed foot scrub and foot mask. This treatment was going above and beyond a typical facial. After she removed the peel and applied Comfort Zone's Skin Resonance Mask, she took the composition oil and gave me a thorough arm, hand and foot massage. Getting the arm, hand and foot massage is expected when you get facials at Fire, which is why it is my spa of choice around here. 

To wrap up the session, she used my two favorite products. Aveda's Outer Peace Acne Relief Pad's were used to continuously treat my skin after the peel and mask. To moisturize, she used Aveda's Outer Peace Acne Relief Lotion, which is so unique compared to any other moisturizer for oily/acne-prone skin...it IS NOT oil-free. I know, it sound weird, but trust me, it has something going for it. 

I awoke from my facial coma feeling refreshed, renewed and like I never went out the night before! If you want 60, 90 or even 30 minutes of blissful pampering, Fire Salon is a must.  It was an amazing experience that I expect to make time for once a month. 

aveda: connecting beauty, environment and well-being.

Sunday, January 13, 2013

My BA Beauties: Subtly Sexy

I did my friend Nina's makeup last night, and her request was to have a subtle, but sexy look. 

Nina's skin isn't too troubled, but she does have some redness going on, especially around her cheeks, so after I applied BB Cream to prime and even out her skin, I applied a light, dewy and natural foundation. She didn't need too much coverage. 

She has an oval-shaped face, so when I applied her bronzer, I did not contour and bring the bronzer too far inward. I applied the bronzer just to the lower outsides of her cheeks and up to the temples (kind of like parentheses that frame her face) . I applied her blush only on the apples of her cheeks. This lifted her face and cheeks upward and out more, to make her face a little more full. 

When I did her eye makeup, I wanted to bring her eyeshadow up high, and use very little eyeliner to make her eyes appear bigger. I used just enough to darken and define the lash line only. 

Here are the Before and After shots!

Before
After
After
After

Face:

Eyes:
Crease color on crease to blend and brow bone color for inner corner
Applied very closly to the lash line and blended
Applied on the outer corner and blended inward

Lips:

I know of my sex appeal. I know about sexuality, and I know how to use it--tastefully, of course :: Rachel Bilson 

Friday, January 11, 2013

Lay One On Me

Winter may be almost be over, and it may have taken a toll on your lips. But I'm going to teach you a thing or two so you'll have the smoothest, softest, sexiest pout around. 


You only need two types of products that you'll need to keep your lips kissable. 

The first thing, that most people skimp out on, is a lip scrub. I know, I know, it seems excessive, but trust me on this one. Your lips will be able to absorb your lip balm, Chapstick, or whatever luscious product you quench your lips with so much better. Also, when your lips get dry, they flake (not cute), but the best way to get rid of those flakes, is to use a scrub! 

Some of my favorite lip scrubs are:

Lush Sweet Lips Lip Scrub
This is probably the least expensive lip scrub you could buy. The best part? It's edible! That's what makes this Lushious product so easy and fun. Just apply the sugary product on your lips, rub it in and lick it right off! All of their tasty flavors are fun too. 

Sara Happ The Lip Scrub
This is a more luxurious and creamy lip scrub. I actually like the texture of this better, but it's not edible and doesn't taste very good. Lip products don't need to taste good, but The Lip Scrub has an artificial-plastic taste and runs a little more expensive, $24. It is an amazing scrub, though. I'm sure there will be no complains from your fling after you use this scrub. 

DIY Lip Scrub
There are so many different ways to create your own lip scrub. It can be as simple as just using two ingredients! My favorite combo is honey and brown sugar because it's sweet. Essentially, what you need is a base (honey, olive oil or both) and the scrubby part (brown sugar or regular sugar). The best part about DIY lip scrubs? They're basically free! Who doesn't love that? 

The second thing, which is common, is to moisturize! Most people do this already, but what product you use is really important. I find that natural or organic lip balms work best. Some of my favorites are:

EOS Lip Balm in Sweet Mint
This is my absolute favorite lip balm. I feel like it really moisturizes my lips, so that they are more resistant to getting chapped! Some lip balms make your lips dependent on the product. Not this one! It's also shaped as a sphere, which makes applying the product so much fun. 

Yes to Carrots Lip Butter in Mint
This is another great lip balm that does not make your lips dependent on the product. This is very similar to the EOS Lip Balm. I like to use this at night before I go to bed. 

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15 
This product feels like it does a good job, like a treatment (duh). As soon as I apply it, I get this silky feeling on my lips that feels absolutely incredible. Also, the SPF 15 makes it the perfect lip balm for daytime. Fresh also has come out with tinted lip treatments and I'm a huge fan of them. 

Kissing - and I mean like, yummy, smacking kissing - is the most delicious, most beautiful and passionate thing that two people can do, bar none :: Drew Barrymore 

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Take It Off

Nothing feels better than taking it all off...
your makeup that is. Even if you don't have any skin issues at all, taking your makeup off is extremely important. Not only can makeup clog your pores if you sleep in it, but it also ages you about seven days! 

I love the feeling of being refreshed after taking my makeup off. Some people may not realize, but fully removing your makeup is a must before you go ahead and start your nightly regimen. I like to remove all of my eye and face makeup before I use my gentle cleanser and Clarisonic Mia. 

There are all different types of makeup removers and I, as always, will tell you about the good stuff. 

Oil-Based Makeup Removers
Some people fear oil cleansers because, of well, OIL! But don't be afraid, oil cleansers are the best of the best. Essentially, oil cleansers draw out (like magnets) all impurities and makeup from the skin. It's actually pretty magical what cleansing oils can do. The trick? Massage it on to your dry face, wet your fingertips, massage some more so texture becomes milky, and then rinse off! 

This simple bottle took my cleansing oil virginity. Origins is a brand I have grown up around and will always remain a favorite, so I just had to try out this cleansing oil. This natural blend of oils effectively remove dirt, makeup and pollutants...plus the extra kick of Vitamin E oil gives me what I need for healthy, breathing skin. 

Wow. This smells like it does a good job...I know that probably sounds strange, but it does! It also feels amazing. This is a tad more expensive, but you probably need about a quarter-sized pump, maybe even less. This cleansing oil is great for helping refresh congested skin.

Cream/Lotion Makeup Removers
While they are not my favorite, they may work for some people. I like to use these types of products before the shower or if I am trying to specifically remove makeup from one area (lips, eyes, etc). Cream makeup removers are versatile, so they can be rinsed or tissued off. 

This product just melts my long-wearing lipstick and waterproof mascara! While it is not my favorite for a quickie or to remove all of the makeup from the night, it is nice for removing lipstick and eye makeup specifically. It is great as long as you have another way to thoroughly cleanse your face. 

Makeup Removing Wipes
They're quick and easy. Having a lazy day? Need a refreshment? Makeup wipes are perfect! Also, so many brands have them and they work so effectively (some even work in removing stubborn mascara)!  I keep makeup wipes beside my bed at all times because trust me, we all have those nights...

The new Simple line is all about...well simplicity. It is an extremely gentle line that works. These are my current facial wipes and I love them because I recently have been using some products that make my skin more sensitive. There are no fragrances, dyes, irritants or alcohol in any of these products...except Vitamin B5, which is meant to soften and restore the skin from any harsh irritants. For being so simple, this product removes some harsh makeup. 

THE BEST! These are perfect for removing makeup at night time, not only because of the gentle (yet effective) makeup removing, but oh my, the calming lavender scent gets me in to bed. These facial wipes effortlessly glide over my skin and remove my makeup. Just amazing.  

These wipes take off some of MAC's most difficult products! They are a little pricey (100 for $29), but they're HUGE, so you could cut them, reuse them, whatever you want! Also, they are great for quick brush cleaning.

Glamour is about feeling good in your own skin :: Zoe Saldana