Sunday, February 28, 2010

March Madness

Our Surface Beauty consultants are here to keep you stress free as well as beautiful during the tax-time blues!
We are introducing our NEW Oxygen Facial, that will awaken the cells deep within your skin and INSTANTLY, bring forth a firmer, fresher face! (This offer good thru March 31st 2010, for only $55.00).

This antioxidant therapy corrects and prevents free radical damage, reducing oxidative and environmental stress to the skin. Our Oxygen Facial promotes healthy skin and rejuvenates sluggish, stressed skin that has been depleted by toxins, pollutants, allergens, improper diet, smoking and or sun damage. So take this time for yourself, make a special evening with your friends or a private moment for only you and let us help you bring your best face forward!

If you would like to make an appointment and received this email from Miki, call(310)801-2818, we will add on a luxurious aromatherapy-paraffin foot treatment, complimentary, that will make you slip on your flip flops in the middle of winter!

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Don't forget the SPF!


It may be raining, cold, and windy, but living in Southern California chances the sun's rays meeting your skin are still very great. Never neglect the importance of protecting your delicate skin from the sun's harmful uva(actinic) and uvb(burning) rays. Personally I rely on my tinted moisturizer by Remede to provide complete coverage over my face and the moment I set foot into the car, I apply a light weight body SPF lotion to neck, chest, and hands.(Supergoop). Many of our darker complected beauties seem to feel they are exempt to the suns harmful effects and ignore the SPF "hype". True, their skin is better protected by melanin than a fair skinned gal such as myself, but by not protecting even the darkest of skin, one can experience hyper pigmenation, age spotting, wrinkling, uneven skin coloration, and no one is exempt from the possibilities of skin cancer. When choosing an SPF, just grabbing a 50 doesn't mean your'e more protected than say a 15. The only difference between the two is the the time you're in the sun. A 15 SPF will protect up to 3 and a half hours of sun exposure. A 30 SPF will protect you up to about 7 and a half hours, so a 50 SPF protects for 12 and a half hours?! That's some coverage. ALTHOUGH!...We sweat, swim, and wipe at our skin and then we must remember to reaply no matter what the level of SPF. Look for the key word "Full spectrum" protection on your next bottle or tube of SPF, this will save your skin from the damage the sun can cause such as capillary damage, hyperpigmentation, collagen and elastin deterioration and most importantly, skin cancer. Let's all enjoy this Southern California weather, and keep our skin younger and healthier, longer with SPF!

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Beauty Tip Tuesday - Feb 16, 2010

Product Knowledge 101:

Don't get "sold" by a cosmetic salesperson.
Who doesn't have drawers or boxes full of makeup and skincare you hardly touch?
Why is this?
Because you were told it would do something for you, yet failed to meet your expectations.

Two top requested recommendations in cosmetics:

Foundation & Mascara

Foundation:

Mineral makeup: Number One Myth...
Because it says "mineral" doesn't make it a miracle. Commonly used in much of today's powders and foundations, the minerals are mainly derived from mica, and zinc oxides. Finely ground to create a temporary "glow" to the skin. It's what happens in an hour that makes all the difference. What happens when our face introduces sebum to the mix? Separation, clogging, and discoloration in skin tone. None of these powders provide a nutrient to your skin so why mask your face with it?

From soy to sea, there's nothing better for me!

Finding a foundation created from soy(T.Le Clerc), or seaweed botanics(Sue Devitt Studio, Vincent Longo water canvas) are a whole other story. These prime ingredients synthesize with our skins natural, daily, needs and functions instead of conflicting. Creating a more smooth and flawless coverage as well as a "healthy" finish!

Mascara
:

Mascara madness: From CG to D&G:
Mascara packaging, (like the toothbrush), shape shifts almost daily. What's inside has hardly changed since it was invented(via 1913; Maybelline). Our makeup pros have experienced dozens of mascaras from Serge Lutens $65 mascara to Cover Girls $8 LashBlast. The only big difference is scent and the shape of the comb. Fragrances are an issue for many in light of allergies, and since mascara is practically in the eye most companies are savvy to this concern. Search for conditioning ingredients such as vitamin E(tocopherol), bees wax, soy, or Argan which provide at least some nutrients to the lashes. Otherwise, all mascaras contain preservatives to kill bacteria and prolong the life of the product.(note: throw it away after 3 months or experience flaking, itchy eyes, or even worse an eye infection). As for the shape of the lash comb; they cater to the varied shapes and lengths of our lashes. If one needs length they may want a sleek, slim-toothed comb, and if one desires fullness, look for a thick bristled comb. Last but not least an essential tool all mascara wearers should possess, a needle-toothed lash separator(Chanel). To comb out any clumps as well as shape the direction of the lash. Here's to a more enlightened cosmetic experience!

Friday, February 12, 2010

VIVA GLAM: Help Lady Gaga & Cyndi Lauper fight HIV/AIDS.

Just admiring two fantastic ladies! See their interview
on Good Morning America via Billboard.com
Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper are both posing for the
Spring 2010 Mac Viva Glam Campaign
photographed by
Ellen von Unwerth.
"Every cent from the sale of M·A·C VIVA GLAM Lipstick
and Lipglass goes towards helping women, men and kids everywhere affected by HIV and AIDS.

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Beauty Tip Tuesday - February 9

Perfectly Smokey Eyes!

Why smokey?
This is the number one most requested look of my sixteen years as a make-up artist. Women of all ages desire this never dated, sultry, mysterious visage, yet so few have the confidence in applying it!

With the right tools, it can be done.:
* Find a deep, soft black pencil eyeliner (Sue Devitt eye intensifier, MAC eye kohl).
*A short soft bristled smudge brush (Bobbi Brown eye smudge brush, Stila #15).
* A quality, complimentary eyeshadow to the eye color (Shu Uemura, MAC, Stila).
* A neutral highlight shadow for the brow arch (Bobbi Brown, MAC, Stila, Shu Uemura).
* A soft blending brush (MAC 222 tapered blending brush, Stila #9).
* A needle toothed lash comb (Chanel).
* A deep black, quality, waterproof mascara (Shu Uemura, Serge Lutens, Loreal Double Extend).

Begin by lacing the inner lining of the eye with the the soft, dark, black liner. All the way around the eye (as long as you're not allergic, you won't clog any pores or get an eye infection if you keep your pencil sterile and sharpened to a soft point). Sweep the complimentary shadow across the main lid (warm bronzes for blue eyes, cool mauve for brown eyes). With the same black liner softly line into and slightly above the lash line, upper and lower lashes (for more a "cat" like shape thicken the liner at the outer edges and always sweep up and out towards temples). Blend shadow into the lash line. Wash the highlighter or neutral tone shade across the brow bone and into the shadow with the blending brush. Blend until there are NO lines and NO edges. Finish with plenty of mascara and separate the lashes with a needle-toothed comb. A "magic-touch" of concealer below the eye to smooth, clean, and perfect this look whether for a sexy night on the town, or just a rousing trip to the grocery store! NO RULES BABY! Enjoy!

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Beauty Tip Tuesday - Feb 2, 2010




You really are what you eat (and drink!). Has your life been so hectic that you barely had time to enjoy a bottle/glass of water? Take a good look around your eyes, your neck, chest and even your hands and feet. Just by drinking eight glasses a day you can "plump" up those thin-skinned areas, and watch fine lines practically disappear! As for what you eat, make sure to take in enough antioxidant rich foods ( like blueberries, blackberries and other deep colored fruit). Not only are they age fighting, but cancer fighting as well. Don't skimp on the healthy oils in foods, for example: avocado, fish, and even peanut butter! These natural oils are rich in vitamins A,B1,B2,D, and E! Not to mention the essential fatty acids our body benefits from, in promoting smoother softer, healthier skin! Last but not least, educate yourself on where your food comes from. Is your beef or chicken free-range?, pasture fed?, hormone/antibiotic free?, etc. By paying attention to what you put in your body, you will not only be caring for your insides but it will show beautifully on the out.