“Beauty FAQs (12 March 2013): Eyeshadow for your eye color, working with pale shadow, blush tips, skincare, and what makeup I wear in daily life!”
—How do (or do you) use all of the very light colors in something like the 88 warm palette? Aside from regular brow and highlight colors, I wasn’t sure if you had some more creative uses :) thanks! Your blog is absolutely the best.
Thank you! That’s a problem I have with the palette as well! There are just too many of them and they’re all so similar.
I’m sure you already know to use them on your brow-bone, the inner corner of your eyes and down the center of your eyes for looks.
The other way you can try to use them up (if you are quite light-skinned) is to use a big brush, pick up a mixture of a few shades, and then use that as a cheek highlight. The less shimmery shades would also work around the edge of your the cupid’s bow to make your lips fuller looking.
But other than this, I really don’t have that much use for them either LOL!
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how do you get such clear skin?
I have normal/combination skin that tends to be oilier around the nose, inner cheeks, and chin, and here’s a current routine. But then I think a lot of it also has to do with the fact that I’m 31 and my skin’s started to calm down a lot (in the oil department) compared to my younger years.
Some ground-rules I established over the years:
Face Mask Ingredient Guide; Moisturizing
I’ve gotten a few requests for recipes for moisturizing/calming face masks so rather than post a one-size-fits-all tutorial I figured I would instead create an ingredient guide. This way you can use whatever you have on hand rather than worrying about finding specific ingredients. I don’t recommend making masks in bulk since they use fresh ingredients and therefor go bad quickly: generally you want to use a mask once or twice per week.
Moisturizing base; yogurt, mashed avocado, mashed banana, honey, aloe vera gel, canned pureed pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling! It has sugar and spices in it which you don’t want)
Exfoliant (optional); ground almonds, ground oatmeal, sugar (brown works especially well)
Soothers; lavender (essential oil or steeped in hot water), chamomile (essential oil or brewed tea), rose water, calamine powder
Method; Choose one ingredient from each category and combine into some semblance of a paste. Apply to a clean, damp face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water, massaging as you do in order to exfoliate. For a super luxurious moisturizing mask, begin by massaging a little facial oil into your skin before applying the mask (good oil choices include argan, almond, or jojoba. Olive and coconut will work too but they’re a little heavier and might take more scrubbing to remove completely). And always remember to follow with toner and moisturizer!
skincare tips and tricks and stuff!
i reblogged a post the other day about using cold water to close your pores as like the simplest step in skincare ever and it made me wonder about how many basic skincare tips like that people don’t know about? i’ve used that one since i was like…11 and first started having acne issues (i was an early bloomer). so i’ve decided to compile a list of basic skincare tips that people simply may not know (my parents taught me all of mine)
- rinse your face with cold water! people complain all the time about having big pores but the first step in minimizing their appearance is to actually physically minimize them with cold water. heat expands, so you wash your face with hot water to clean your pores, and you rinse it with cold to shrink them. makes sense, yes?
- use a gentle soap in the morning (you haven’t sweated much while sleeping and i’m assuming you don’t sleep in makeup so you don’t need anything harsh) and a slightly heavier duty one at night. in the morning i’d recommend just rinsing your face and cleaning it with a light soap…face bar soaps are good or a cream cleanser if you need the moisture. if you have acne issues, use anything Neutrogena bc it really does work. i use the grapefruit wash when i’m having issues. don’t use much because it will dry your skin a bit and always rinse with cold water and follow with a moisturizer.
- invest in a moisturizer and use it at least twice a day (and it doesn’t have to be one that breaks the bank either). this depends on your skin type of course but after you wash your face is a good rule of thumb. i would recommend Lubriderm. My family has been using it for like 30 years and i use it to this day. it’s cheap, you can get it in bulk at costco if you’d like. it has an inoffensive smell (i have an incredibly sensitive nose so i can attest to this!) and it does the job without making you greasy and it’s super effectual. I also like B. Right Triple Performing Facial Emulsion by benefit. it smells super nice and moisturizes really well (but it’s more expensive and it’s more of a pampering item)
- you can also invest in a nighttime moisturizer! if you have dry skin or it’s winter or you’re going to go on a flight in the morning (where humidity is low) buy a nighttime moisturizer. they’re heavier duty and they’re thicker and i love them. I use Olay bc my grandma has always used Olay and her skin is amazing.
- moisturize your neck!! i cannot stress this enough!! the skin on your neck is as sensitive as the skin on your face, especially under the jaw and on the throat so please moisturize those areas ok your skin will thank you!!
- invest in a makeup remover! (if you wear makeup). simply washing your face does not remove all your makeup so invest in makeup removing wipes. i like Aveeno’s Ultra Calming wipes bc i love aveeno AND they have chamomile in it which is a godsend. it smells pleasant and removes makeup and oils and dirt. follow up by washing your face!
- products for older skin or wrinkle treatment are not necessary for young skin and also are not proven to work! so don’t break the bank and buy any if you don’t want to. they’re expensive and because you’re probably young, you definitely don’t need them. young skin repairs itself.
- if you want to prevent wrinkles… drink water, wear sunscreen, and avoid sun exposure! (most moisturizers and makeups have a low spf sunscreen so if you don’t go outside much you’re probably okay…but you should wear sunscreen anyway). i know drinking a lot of water sounds like it can be difficult but it really isn’t. your body and your skin will thank you.
- if you’ve ever been to a dermatologist they’ve probably told you to use something “non-comedogenic” and THEY ARE RIGHT. that is all.
- also…give your skin a break once in a while. if you feel weird without makeup and can’t leave the house without it, then don’t put it on one day when you’re not leaving the house. your skin needs to breathe and you need to take care of it so lay off on makeup once in a while
i think that’s it. i’m not going to go into makeup tips or items you can use for luxury or pampering, though i definitely can if anyone asks. these are just really super basic tips most of which i’m assuming y’all know but then again i learned this stuff from my parents and not like beauty counter people etc. these are just super basic tips to care for your skin and trust me i do all of them all the time so i can attest to the fact that they work!
Karebrush Undercover: Derma Rollers Revealing Beautiful Skin!
What: At home Derma Rollers aka Dry Needling or Micro-Needling you see at the dermatologists office. Think a roller that comes in different needle lengths.
How: Stimulates collagen & helps skincare products penetrate better. Helps fade acne scars, fine lines, and yes, cellulite. Think even, beautiful skin - or at least skin that doesn’t require much foundation ♥ Best of all, it’s FDA approved!
Where: Our makeup artists ended up settling with the Leaf & Rusher 0.18mm Derma Roller from the skinstore.com after viewing suspicious looking dermarolls on Ebay. Since Leaf & Rusher is a Skincare clinic in Beverly Hills - why not? Only stainless steel rollers - no rusty pricks in our pores for us!
Results: Derma roller was used 4 times, 5min each for the past two months. H20 Face Oasis or Mederma was applied after rolling upwards on the skin. The verdict? skin was softer, smoother, scars were flatter and lighter! We used a lot less makeup after two months of using the roller - really made our morning makeup routine a breeze. Highly recommended if you have large pores and lots of acne scars.
Side Effects: Skin gets dry and red the next day after using, to the point where parts of it had rough dead skin patches. We recommend using a moisturizing mask for those rough patches and BB Foundation Cream for makeup if things get worse. Hang in there, it’s worth it afterwards!!
For more Karebrush Undercover with our Makeup Artists:
Latisse Lash Growth Serum
Intense Laser Pulsate
10 steps to have a good spa day
Hey darlings! We work a lot. Everyday you go to work or school, sit for hours learning or working, get home and have to do more work. Finally the weekend comes. You’ve had a long week. I usually like to have spa days on Friday or Saturday night, because I can wakeup at my own time and feel good.
Step one- Light some candles. Preferably, good smelling ones. Choose your favorite candle(s) and light it.
Step two- Eat your favorite food, or eat anything that will make you feel good.
Step three- Take a warm shower. Use your favorite soap and exfoliate all the dead skin.
Step four- Moisturize your skin will a good lotion.
Step five- Put on your coziest and most comfortable pajamas. Wear slippers around the house.
Step six- Drink some tea. I find this extremely relaxing and sit outside or perhaps listen to rain falling or look at the stars.
Step seven- Give your hair a break. Just comb through your hair and put it in a braid to let it air dry. You will wake up with shiny and wavy hair.
Step eight- Do your nails. Maybe file them, buff them, paint them, whatever you like.
Step nine- Meditate. This relaxes your muscles and mind before you go to bed.
Step ten- Go to bed in the warmest blankets.
15 skincare tips you should know
The secret to the best makeup isn’t what primer you use or what brand of products you use. Having nice makeup starts with, you guessed it – having nice skin!
Beauty advice is continuously changing. Gone are the days when we were advised to use baby oil to get a good tan. Nowadays, there are so many different skin care tips; it can be hard to keep track.
So I’ve listed my top 15 skin care tips. Read them, memorize them, and most importantly – use them!
- Have wrinkles around your eyes? Stay away from any eye makeup with shimmer in it. It will only highlight your flaws.
- To lock in moisture and look more hydrated, always moisturize immediately after washing.
- Day time: Use antioxidants and SPF to defend your skin. Night time: Time to repair-use ingredients like acids and enzymes.
- Enlarged pores? Use a light reflecting moisturizer and powder.
- Apply moisturizer by massaging in upward circles. Don’t forget to warm it up by rubbing your fingers through it first.
- Alcohol and caffeine can dry out your skin and make you age faster. An overnight repair cream will help to undo the negative effects.
- TONER ! TONER TONER! It keeps the PH levels of your skin balanced and keeps pores tight. It also replenishes the good vitamins you may have washed away while exfoliating.
- Use two tablespoons of baking soda and mix with water and massage in upward circles for three minutes to help reduce blackheads.
- Know your skin! Different products work for different types of skin. If you have dry skin, stay away from anything with alcohol in it.
- Use primer to even out texture and tone down redness.
- Best way to keep your skin hydrated is by using alcohol-free toner, creams and serums.
- SPF is the first and most important defense against wrinkles! Make sure your foundations/moisturizers include it to prevent new wrinkles from developing and existing ones from getting deeper.
- A good skincare routine consists of cleansing, toning, moisturizing and DON’T FORGET YOUR EYE CARE! Skin and makeup will blend and look better if you exfoliate regularly to remove all dead skin cells.
- When putting on makeup or going through your skin regime, don’t forget your neck!
- Use cream cleansers as opposed to gel cleansers since they are less drying.
You wake up this morning ..
With Bel
You wake up this morning .. and decide that brewing a cup of green tea would make all the difference to your day ..
While brewing your green tea, set aside small amount on a shallow dish and let it cool down in the fridge .. come back to it after waking up to your cup of hot green tea and add enough caster sugar to form a workable paste. Work this sugar and green tea mixture in circular motions lightly onto your face.
The Perfect Exfoliant:
Sugar - contains natural glycolic acid, a natural exfoliant. This substance penetrates deep into the skin and can help break up stubborn dead skin cells, resulting in softer and glowing skin.
Green tea - packed full of antioxidants. Apart from being a great ingredient for the skin, drinking green tea is also great for health and can help keep breakouts out of the way
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You wake up this morning .. and realise it is actually past 12pm, damn. But hey, ditch the healthy breakkie and take in some protein. Brunch time! Today? scrambled eggs and multi grain toast ..
while you are giving your scrambled eggs a sprinkle of salt, set aside a small amount of salt in a shallow dish. Finish up your brunch and its time to run errands. Hot weather makes your T-zone shine more and you hate that.
Take the salt and add some cold pressed olive oil, enough to form a workable paste. Now apply this to your face in circular motions, focusing more on your problem areas. Note: Salt scrubs are generally more harsh than sugar, so make sure you don’t apply too much pressure and spend too long exfoliating one part. Also, this scrub would not be as suitable for those with sensitive skin. Wash off with warm water and remember to moisturize.
The Saviour Exfoliant:
Salt - A great exfoliant to get rid of dead skin cells (although more harsh) and also helps dry out excess oils. Salt solutions can also act as an antiseptic, and so it is great for those with acne and blackheads.
Olive Oil - A great natural moisturizer. oil dissolves oil so don’t be afraid to use this scrub even though you are feeling oily. Most of the time, the skin becomes oilier due to lack of moisture in the skin, and so the salt by itself would be much too drying, potentially creating even more shine.
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You wake up this morning .. and a nice warm shower is what you need to clear your mind and prepare yourself for this long day ahead ..
Take into the shower with you a muslin cloth. Wet your cloth and squeeze out any excess water then cover your face, letting the steam open up the pores. Apply morning cleanser if you wish and wash off with the cloth. If not, simply massage your face with just the muslin cloth, focusing on blackhead prone areas.
The Morning Buffer:
Muslin Cloth - A finely woven cloth that allows the skin to breathe and helps draw out impurities in the skin. It also helps exfoliate the skin every morning for a brighter, healthier complexion.
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You wake up this morning .. and you don’t feel like doing any of the above.. you take a two minute shower, step out still feeling too sluggish for anything and you skin shows it. Dull and lifeless, staring through your fogged up mirror you let out a massive sigh .. you don’t want to show your face today..
Take out Dr. Dennis Gross’s Alpha Beta Daily Face peel pads. Apply Step 1 all over your face and let it rest for two minutes. Now take Step 2 pads and apply it all over your face again to neutralize . Results: zero preparation time, fast, effective, instant brightening of the skin. Dull and lifeless skin, gone in less the 5 minutes.
The Instant Exfoliant:
A mild glycolic peel that is gentle enough for daily use. This peel is great for those with dark spots, acne, fine lines and dull complexions wanting an instant lift and smoothness of the skin.
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I woke up this morning .. and decided a cup of hot green tea would make all the difference to my day ..
time for a dose of my Perfect Exfoliant.
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Hope you guys enjoyed this little tips post. Above is a few methods I stick by to keep my skin in good shape. There are much more natural exfoliants and masks outside of this post and it is definitely worth the research.
The Basics of Skincare : The Basis of Good Skin
There are some of us who are always not satisfied with our skin. We lament its dullness, uneven complexion, acne, oiliness, crinkly wrinkles etc. We either blame it on our poor genes, or we blame the countless products’ efficacy. Everything that can be wrong, is possibly wrong.
Are we able to change that? Yes we can!
Our skin works in such a way that it renews itself every 30 days. This may differ from person to person. Some are blessed with faster skin renewal, and hence are kept looking young. As age catches up, the skin’s ability to renew itself slows down. This is when we first start to see the effects of aging. And sadly, for women, this effects will start to show from the age of 25.
Here, I share some tips on how to maximize the benefits of your skincare, some little reminders of how we should be taking care of our skin, with minimal effort (it still requires a bit of commitment) and seeing maximal results (hopefully!)
Tip :
#1: Makeup Removal - The amount of time to put on your makeup, is the amount of time you need to take to remove them. Completely.
Take time to slowly remove your makeup. Rub in your cleanser in circular motions and the key here is to not RUSH! The longer you take to slowly cleanse, the cleaner your skin will be. Try to imagine washing a stain off your clothes. The longer you rub in your detergent, the longer you soak, the cleaner it becomes. If using cleansing water with cotton pads, clean until you do not see any residue on your cotton. For cleansing oil and gel users, gently massage in for recommended 4-5 minutes, before cleaning off with a clean cotton pad, before washing with your facial cleanser. (Of course dont leave it there for 10 mins..what needs to be washed off, needs to be.)
#2: Cleanliness - Wash your face at least twice a day, but keeping it to maximum thrice a day.
It is recommended to wash your face the minute you get out of bed in the morning, and once before bedtime. If you are back home in mid-day, it is key to remove your makeup immediately and wash your face. That will be the 3rd time as recommended as a maximum. Too many washing will strip the face of its natural oil that helps to keep the skin hydrated.
#3: Promote Circulation - Gently massage your face for at least 1.5 minutes while cleansing.
Again, do a slow massage of about 3-4 minutes with your facial cleanser. Remember to get into areas that are often neglected, like the corners of your nose, nose bridge area and between your brows, around your lips, as well as near the hairline on the peripheral of your face.
#4: Keep Clean - Change your pillow cases and face towels once a week
Our skin secretes oil and other bodily fluids through the day, and especially so at night when our bodies are at rest and regenerate themselves. Dirt and bacteria built up on our pillow cases and face towels really fast, so its recommended to change them as often as you will like. Once a week is a guide.
#5:Keep Hydrated - Use a mist spray throughout the day, and drink at least 8 glasses of water.
Using a spray mist throughout the day on top of your makeup is actually better than having use oil blotters to remove oil and shine from our skin for people with oily or combination skin types. We have a misperception that oil on our face is bad for us. It is, however, the skin’s natural ability to regulate its moisture content and oil secretion is linked to having dehydrated skin. Use of a spray mist helps to replenish the moisture lost from the surface of our skin, and drinking water helps to keep our system hydrated, to achieve that in-and-out radiant hydrated and supple look.
#6: Skin Absorption - wait 5-10 minutes in between skincare products.
Many of us buy lots of targeted skincare products, each with a bigger than better tagline. From fixing premature wrinkles, keeping skin hydrated round the day, to whitening and firming, the promised results are endless. Yet, I do not recommend using 3-4 or more products in a short 5 min regime. Imagine our skin as a sponge, it has its own limited absorption ability. What happens when we pile many types of creams and gels on them? Will the many products we use, gradually weigh down our skin and cause our pores to clog up because our skin cannot absorb fast enough? What happens to the products that do not get absorbed? Some tend to react with the surrounds, attracting dust and germs and bacteria before they finally get absorbed after 20 mins, or even longer!
#7: Pore-Clogging - minimize the use of too many products on your skin for each regime.
It is fine to use many targeted products. However, this has to be done in a spaced out regime where you apply one specific product type, you wait for a while before putting on the next. You will be able to feel the skin absorbing the product, for some feel sticky or wet upon application. Feel with your palms. Apply on the next when it feels ‘drier’ than immediately after applying the previous.
#8 : Hygiene - Keep your hands and hair out of your face during the day.
Our hair traps dust and dirt, so do our hands that are full of bacteria and germs from touching things around us. We may not see them but our everyday objects lying in the house can be as dirty as the road. Gadgets like our keyboards, remote controls, cleaning rags etc. are full of bacteria we don’t want on our faces.
So, what other tips will you share with us regarding your skincare habits? :)
Beauty Tips
A boudoir shoot is one of the best gifts a woman can give herself. It’s like getting ready for prom or your wedding all over again. If you are going to spend the time and money investing in a shoot, I am going to give you some of the best tips in beauty to make sure you are feeling hot hot hottt at your shoot!
Beauty has 5 tiers. Skin, Health, Hair, Make-up and Nails.
1. Your skin should be your number one pride and joy. It covers your entire body. It’s the first thing people see on you. You can cake yourself with makeup, but the truth is, if you skin doesn’t glow underneath, you are working a dirty, oily, and dead skin canvas. So the first step to great skin is exfoliation. Just like beauty has 5 tiers, skin has 5 essential things you should be doing:
- Exfoliating: Proper exfoliation is the key to great skin…PROPER being the key word here. I remember when I was younger, I would scrub away on my skin because it made it feel “clean”, when in actuality I was just irritating it even more! Using a Microderm scrub twice a week gets rid of all the dead skin cells, dirt and bacteria that cause wrinkles, blackheads, age spots, uneven skin tone, acne, you name it. A gentle Microderm followed with a replenishing serum recharges and revitalizes your skin.
- Cleansing: Combine with your exfoliation, daily use of a Clarisonic with your preferred Mary Kay Cleanser gets your skin up to 6 times cleaner than with your finger tips. And just like the Sonicare toothbrushes make your teeth feel dentist clean and polished, the ClariSONIC (same technology and company) leaves your skin feeling the same. Ahh, visualize getting all the grossness of the world off so you can recharge to take it the next day! Falling in love with your skin routine is one of the best gifts you can give yourselves and others. (were the ones that have to look at it!)
- Moisturizing: I have so much going on in life, that whenever I can go to the simplest and most efficient route, I do. So when it comes to moisturizing and repairing, I am and will always be a StriVectin’s SD user. These doctors have patented this special technology that delivers the molecule Niacin (the molecule that repairs skin cells, and is the reason Spinach is so good for us) to the skin. They knew the power of the molecule, but because it was water soluble they couldn’t use it to repair the dermis and epidermis skin cells. Well long story short, these doctors created this process that gives the molecule a lypophillic tail that delivers the niacin deep into your skin to REPAIR and REBUILD skin cells. While traveling through the layers, it actually takes the serums and everything else you use deeper into the skin with it! It repairs stretch marks, works on age spots, discoloration, tone and texture, moisture levels… and best part is it is oil and paraben free, and smells pepperminty fresh! I can’t say enough great things about it. If you want to try some out, shoot me an email and I’ll hook you up with a sample to try! As you can tell, I am passionate about my skin!
- Repairing: see above
- Protecting: Just like you don’t smoke cigarettes to prevent lung cancer, you should be wearing sunscreen to protect against skin cancer. Trust me, you don’t want to have a scarred, bloody and bandaged skin cancered chest like my Mom. StriVectin has a great sunscreen, but anything oil free and lightweight can layers beautifully over your moisturizer or works perfect for as a moisturizer with sunscreen for those with fresh young skin!
Wow, that was a novel just on the first tier of Beauty. I just realized I could write a book about this stuff. I LOVE everything beauty :) Keep coming back to look for more tips on Health, Hair, Make-up and Nails, and start saving for YOUR Boudoir shoot today!
Love Your Vivalicious Photographer,
Jenna
Some Skincare Tips That Saved My Face
- Wash your pillowcases at least once a week. Wash them after every single time you fall asleep with your make-up on.
- Wash your make-up brushes or whatever you use to put your make-up on with weekly with a brush shampoo. Spray face brushes (foundation, bronzer, powder, blush, etc.) with a disinfectant after every individual use. Favorite brush shampoo. Favorite daily brush spray.
- Wash your hands before you do your make-up or apply any skincare items. Like, really really wash them.
- If your face ever feels tight or dry you are doing something wrong. Tightness and burning does NOT mean that the products are working, it means they are ruining your skin.
- Drying out your skin will not cure acne or pimples. When you use abrasive facial products it tricks your body into thinking you naturally have dry skin and so your body begins to produce extra oil. This would obviously clog your pores and create MORE pimples. Do not ignore this. This is the most important rule that helped me cure my acne.
- 95% of the time if a product says it’s for acne, it’s actually bad for your skin. Research the crap out of all ingredients.
- Never put anything on your skin that has alcohol in it. EVER.
- Also, don’t put lemon juice or honey on your skin. Those stupid DIY pinterest face masks are a load of shit and will give you wrinkles.
- Don’t use any face wipes except for sensitive baby wipes. All those face wipes are full of alcohol, that’s how they work. As they wipe your skin they are actually tearing away layers of it and, take a guess, give you wrinkles!! If you are in a jam and need to take off make-up or excess oil and you can’t wash your skin normally, use a sensitive, fragrance-free baby wipe. It’s absolutely the best thing you can do!
- Drink lots of water and eat healthy!
A Not-So-Secret Tip For Getting Clearer Skin From My Mother
If there’s one thing my mother asks me every time I speak to her, it’s “Are you drinking enough water?” If I happen to mention that my skin is looking less than stellar, she’s quick to remind me to drink the recommended eight ounces. I know I should drink more water and that it’s good for my skin but I’m often too lazy. But for the last six months I’ve been making a concerted effort to keep a water bottle on hand and in that in that time I’ve noticed a big change in my skin. Of course I still get breakouts, but I can always tell when I haven’t been drinking enough water. My skin just starts to look a little dull and blotchy.
