Outlets! Beauty Tip Tuesday

I'm not talking about the malls you drive a long distance to, for a discount on last seasons jeans and sweaters. I'm talking about a way to release your inner angst.

Some find it with food, some with exercise, maybe it's sleep, or shopping, etc.
My beauty tip for this Tuesday is finding the positive "outlet" for todays stresses and pressures. I had a deep conversation with a close friend about this subject and we compared and contrasted peoples options in stress release. When someone feels out of control with a current situation they almost by nature feel the need to create a feeling of control in something else they think they "can" control. Eating and drinking are the quickest and easiest areas to appease ourselves with. "Treating" yourself or your friends to lunch or a cocktail gives a person a false sense of control and self worth.

BUT,what if you instead took a friend out for a hike around the lake, or to try out a new exercise program to work out your mind and body tensions?

Last year I didn't notice my weight increase twenty five pounds over a good six to eight months of over indulging and taking friends out for wine and cheese tastings. I regularly went to the gym and kept fairly active with my two kids but the month before I was to vacation in Hawaii I pulled out the scale and just flipped in disbelief when I saw the numbers!

With the combination of counting calories and finding no more excuses in starting up kickboxing again (my favorite sport), I had no problems dropping that twenty five and another five on top of that in less than four months. My good friend has found walking in the mornings the most effective way to relax and drop her weight and she feels proud to talk about it.
Nothing makes someone feel more rewarded when they successfully accomplish a goal, nothing makes you feel more attractive when you lose weight you worked so hard to lose, and no pair of shoes or dripping-fudge chocolate cake can make me feel as great as I do after I kick the crud out of my kick bag and sweat out my stresses during a vigorous hour of kickboxing!
So find your sport, your "outlet". Get yourself moving for at least an hour, three to four times a week doing something you love and even better, do it with a friend!

Beauty Tip Tuesday - Foundation Facts From Behind the Counter

Finding the right foundation can be one of the most challenging experiences for women. The majority of women who approach the cosmetic counter are not necessarily makeup connoisseurs. They are the uncertain and curious souls who are looking to be properly guided in finding that special item that will enhance, conceal, or remove, whatever it is about their face. Today, in the year 2010, women from the ages 16 to say 32, have grown up in a time where foundation has personality. It can be sheer, medium to full coverage. Powder, cream, wet-dry, even a mousse. Built in SPF, hydrating, or matte finish. Now, if we are women who experienced foundation for the first time before 1995, our options were quite limited to the "cakey" pink to orange ranges of pore clogging face cracking, bottled foundations. No more of that thank goodness! I continue to be approached by the nervous and base-scorned woman who still fears her foundation yet she yearns to smooth, cover, and protect her face without the appeal of a mask. Ladies I've been there and back! My first experience with foundation was 1985, I was 12 and in 7th grade. So gobbing on a bottle of Cover Girl beige/ tan foundation(when I'm white, freckly, and fuzzy), probably wasn't the best first experience. Once I hit puberty, hormones and all, still wearing Cover Girl, I experienced clogging of the pores and couldn't figure out what was causing it! I thought, "It couldn't be my foundation, I've been wearing it for years now." Cover Girl came out with an acne control foundation, so I switched formulas. Still clogged my skin and was even more cakey and had a lovely medicinal scent! It wasn't until the age of 20,(1993), that I was first introduced to another form of foundation. MAC. Suffice it to say, not a better choice. I chose Studio Fix, at the time I was promised I was investing in a quality foundation, I would never have known this product was going to asphyxiate my pores. Tiny little bumps formed all over my forehead from the mineral oils and mica in the product. Yikes! Again, I sought "professional" help with my skin care. Ehem, I believed by going to a cosmetic counter where the ladies wore white lab coats would know how to save my skin. (Little did I know that was a just a costume). A girl not much older than me sold me an astringent that practically burned my skin right off, and told me to exfoliate the bumps! I spread the acne down my face by this mistake! I suffered a good year or so with adult acne when it was simply caused by the products I was sold by an uneducated cosmetic sales girl. By some miracle I met an honest and well informed esthetician working for Shiseido. She explained to me the benefits of soap-free anti microbial cleanser and a balancing, alcohol free toner. In less than two weeks my skin was finally clear. From that day forward, no one can believe that I was ever a sufferer of acne, I vowed no longer will I be a victim of misinformation and I have found myself devoting my interests in sharing this with any and all who are interested in the truths behind the products. As an esthetician and makeup artist for almost sixteen years now, I see the importance behind knowing what's in that which we apply on our face and body, from active ingredients, where it was made, to it's expiration date. Asking questions about products before you make the investment and knowing how it will affect your skin are your best safeguards to avoiding adverse reactions and simply being happy with your purchase.

ABC's on Cruelty-Free

When it comes to the ease of applying makeup from foundation to shadow, the quality of the makeup brush can make it or break it and that said; the hair is what makes the "grade".
I have come across many who gasp at the mention of the types of hair a cosmetic brush can be made from. Whether it be squirrel, badger, to sable. Personally I am a big fan of the squirrel- hair makeup brush. So I hear the "Awwes", and "Ohhs", often when people want to know why the brush is so divinely soft. For the devout vegetarian there are some well made synthetic brushes out there
(Taklon and Nylon) but nothing has come close to the versatility and silky touch of squirrel. To also educate a few on the fact that the higher the "grade" of hair the better chance it is Cruelty-Free. As with squirrel, kolinsky sable, and mink, ask if they are "First-cut" hair, which means they were sheared from the tips of the fur(not harming the animal), and is truly the softest to the touch. Lower grade brushes are typically created with "blunt-cut" hairs coming from the lower cut of the fur, which are more course and can feel scratchy or prickly to the touch.

These days thank goodness one doesn't have to pay an arm and a leg for a nice set of makeup brushes, but as a collector and admirer of the beauty and function of the brush, it can become quite the investment.

Here is a list of hair-types from highest grade to lowest:
Squirrel
Kolinsky Sable
Mink
Badger
Red sable
Weasle
Pony
Goat
Pahmi
Taklon/Nylon

(Post in April) Buddhalicious Scent Spray

Buddahlicious multipurpose sprays are safe on your skin, furniture, clothes, hair, and sheets; Concentrated so just a few squirts is all you need. Try some "Energy" at work or in the car on long drives to keep you focused. Try "Harmony" for a little soothing and calming. Change the mood of the room instantly. Freshen linens in between washings. Create a peaceful atmosphere with just one squirt. These NEW sprays are dry sprays. You can spray your sheets and they won't be wet when you get in bed. You can also spray your clothes and you won't have a wet spot. 8 oz for $18.00

The Price of Beauty

The Price of Beauty on VH1
http://www.vh1.com/shows/jessica_simpson_the_price_of_beauty/series.jhtml?xrs=synd


Premiering Wednesday March 15th 2010 at 10:00 p.m. Et/Pt

Check this out! What a wonderful way to look at the world of beauty! What an eye opening experience revealing the worlds views on what is beauty, and how it effects individuals across the globe. Kudos to Jessica and her team, and God bless it's about time!

Journeying from Tokyo and Thailand, to Paris and Rio, to Uganda, Morocco and India -- the cast is met in each city by a "beauty ambassador" who helps them tackle topics revolving around fashion, fitness, diet and outlandish spa treatments. In each country, Jessica, Ken and CaCee experience firsthand some of the local beauty rituals, from drinking cow urine in India, to being buried up to their necks in Tokyo, to drinking gourds of ghee in a fattening hut in Uganda. But it's not all fun and games -- Jessica also explores the high price that some women pay to feel beautiful. Imagine the plight of women in Northern Thailand, who wear 20-pound rings around their necks, crushing their clavicles, to a mother in Rio who cannot afford electricity, but is secretly saving for butt implants.

Seeing Circles Before Your Eyes? Beauty Tip Tuesday- March 9, 2010

A very common concern among many women as well as men is under eye circles. Some of us may have inherited our grandmothers "circles" or we may be noticing them more and more with age.

What is it really that's causing these shadows?

For the simplest explanation, they are tiny blood vessels just under the skin. Even though it's mostly an inherited trait there can be several other elements that contribute to the dilation of the blood vessels. Lack of sleep, not enough water, allergies, medications, and of course, age. More serious medical conditions such as anemia, bad blood circulation, or Periorbital hyperpigmentation; increased melanin production around the eyes, should never be over looked.

So let's just say we woke up after a night out and took one shocking glance at the deep puffy results of what too much alcohol and not enough water will do, and we need to look our best for this mornings 9 a.m. meeting!

What to do?

First and foremost get some fluids in your body a.s.a.p.! Rinse the face with cold water, soaking the eyes with cool water will constrict the skin, and promote blood circulation quickly. If you have tea bags available, (seriously), soak and press over the eyes for five to ten minutes. *The tea must be caffeinated. The caffeine is key to help decongest the skin and promote blood circulation. A sliced raw potato also will firm as well as sooth the fragile skin under the eye.
Then we have the consumer who is looking for the miracle eye treatment in a jar, quick fix, magic potion, that will turn back time.
Beware.
Eye creams; effective, high-grade creams may cost more than your entire spring make-up wardrobe combined. If you are ready to invest in an eye cream that will satisfy your expectations in an eye treatment; of my sixteen years of trying any and all eye creams offered throughout Nordstrom, Saks, Neimans, and Barneys, no one has come close to the nano-technology, peptide rich eye cream created by 3Lab($250.). Remember an eye cream is a treatment that needs to be applied both day and night, after appropriately prepping the face for the last layers of moisturizer and eye cream. Many also make the mistake in believing that more is better. The skin around the eye is delicate and minute, and really doesn't require a lot of product. By using a small spatula or Qtip, you need to only "dot" the product around the orbital bone from brow arch around the outside corners of the eye to just below the eye "ring". Use only your pinkie and or ring finger to tap in the product so as not to pull on the skin. (Less is more, especially considering the cost of the product, let's not waste this precious little miracle!)

Last but not least how to conceal under eye circles. Depending on the skin tone one has, we have several options. For the fair and thin skinned, typically the coloration under the eyes will appear lavender to blue. Using a yellow to peachy toned concealer(Kanebo) you can quickly correct the cool tones and smooth the eye coloring easily. If your skin is tan to dark, and suffering from under eye circles, the circles may appear more brown to purple-ish beneath the eyes. By smoothing a beige to pinkish lavender toned concealer(By Terry) with the matching skin toned foundation you will brighten and correct under the eyes with ease. Avoid the hype of green and blue concealers to correct anything on the face, unless you have a pro- makeup artist applying it. Most people come back dissatisfied with color correctors because of the time involved in blending it into a natural effect.

Buddahlicious Shea Body Lotion

Zen lotions are made with luxuriously organic ingredients. Paraben-free with no artificial colorants.

95% natural and 70% organic. Buddha is adorned with crystal. Paraben free and made with organic aloe vera, shea butter, jojoba oil, comfrey, sweet almond oil and more. Each scent has an uplifting quote. You will enjoy having a positive affirmation to add to your daily ritual. No artificial colorants. 8 oz bottle retails for $18.00

Last Chance for Tickets!

To wax or not to wax!

As a woman of the fuzzy persuasion, I have strong convictions towards hair removal. Growing up with the nickname "Harry" in high school along with recurrent comments such as,"Wow, you know you have a mustache?!", and " I thought I was hairy!"(From boys no less!), impassioned me to find an answer to removing all this hair. At the age of fifteen, the moment I was introduced to the waxing-way, I have never looked back!
Like most women who have experimented with depilatories, I have agonized with skin burning-creams, that melt hair away but still leave stubble, and an awful smell!
Epilady! Yikes! Shaving, temporarily satisfying, and scarring nicks to prove it. Threading, too time consuming and, again, Yikes! I have agonized over the experimental days of the over- the- counter microwavable honey waxes that if you over heat by two seconds you end up scalding yourself, messing up counter tops and clothing, to the subsequent irritating red bumps that I endured for at least a week. Then one day, happily, I befriended a wax expert who introduces a wax product unlike the traditional-honey based wax that we know of. This dreamy rose infused calming wax smoothed on easily, gripped only to hair, not skin, smelled heavenly, and left my skin with minimal redness, and NO bumps! Of course I became a fan instantly. Today, with the same company that I am such a devotee,
( Mancine Cosmetics from Australia), they introduced to the world a synthetic face and body wax like nothing anyone has seen! Completely adheres only to hair and grabs all the way to root, from under arms, (the toughest pubic hair), to the finest vellus hairs of the face! I've had clients wincing just before I pull away the wax, and as I remind them they will be so surprised, they didn't even know I had already finished the removal. They couldn't believe how easy and painless their experience was and why all these years they were letting their neighborhood salons burn, rip, and tear at their skin unnecessarily!
So it comes down to this, take 30 minutes once a month to wax and remove unwanted, unsightly hair with ease, or shave, nick, irritate my skin daily with a razor? Hmmmm, I'm reaching for my wax strips right now!

The Love Boat

Pampered Ladies Cruise
Sunday, March 21, 2010

Surface Beauty will be embarking with Pampered Lady Cruise in Newport Harbor to offer deluxe on-board spa services. Join your favorite girlfriends for some relaxation and beauty treatments, while cruising the Pacific and breathing in the fresh ocean breeze.

The Hornblower’s luxury yacht “Endless Dreams” will set sail on Sunday, March 21, 2010, at 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm for a three-hour mini-retreat of pampering and pleasure. Ladies can indulge in some first-class hospitality and delight in remarkable entertainment, exquisite appetizers, delectable desserts, wine and champagne for a complete extravagant relaxing experience.

Enjoy a unique event of soaking up the sun, while enjoying a soothing spa treatment. Surface Beauty offers three special sail away packages: Clients can dip their hands and feet in an invigorating paraffin wax; they can renew and replenish their complexion with a high-quality facial peel; and get flawless skin with airbrush makeup technology.

Sensational Sensi Peel: Experience a fifteen minute peel with a gentle process to strengthen and brighten the skin while helping to treat sun damage and other forms of hyperpigmentation and skin discoloration. This multi-faceted treatment provides anti-inflammatory, anti-acne, and anti-bacterial action making it an excellent choice for helping
calm rosacea.

Air Brushed Beauties: Transform skin into flawless radiance with Surface Beauty’s custom blended water-based foundations. Perfect for a night out on the town after the cruise.

Pampering Paraffin: Undergo a luxurious aromatherapy hand or foot massage with a warm deep hydrating paraffin-dip.

Surface Beauty’s on-board spa services are available to clients attending the Pampered Ladies Cruise. Surface Beauty will offers the finest professional skin care and cosmetics products such as Jurlique and Ren skincare and Chanel, Vincent Logo, and Fresh make-up. For more in formation on the Pampered Ladies Cruise. and to purchase a ticket visit http://www.parentingoc.com/pamperedlady/