Eye creams

Ok ladies and gents.,

There will be a day that you will look in that mirror and wish you started wearing eye cream way back in your twenties, when you couldn't fathom the need for such a product. It's called preventative. Some things like SPF and washing your face twice a day, taking your vitamins,etc. are ways to protect and prevent what inevitably lies in your future. Surface Beauty skin care specialists highly recommend man or woman, in finding an eye cream. Whether it be just the basic of hydrating components or vitamin A rich, hyaluronic acid, collagen boosting packed ingredients. The eyes are the first place on our entire body to tell the world how old you really are. Something to think about. Recommendations for a good basic eye cream is Shiseido skincare eye moisture recharge. For the ultimate in eye creams ( get ready to spend some serious cash) and yet truly effective ingredients take a good look at 3Lab WW eye cream.

That's the spirit!

I stepped on the scale over one year ago.
Probably haven't made this attempt for a year before that.
As a working mother of two, in my mid thirties, I found myself at a plateau. I did my hour at the gym two to three days a week, PLUS I joined my sons karate school, and worked my way up to green belt.


Well, back to the scale.

I was preparing to go on vacation soon, to Hawaii, and knew I was going to probably be in a bathing suit most the time. I felt the scale was going to tell me how much harder I needed to work on myself before Hawaii comes.
Honestly, I thought maybe five or so pounds extra to lose, but oh how I was awakened! Twenty-five pounds OVERWEIGHT!
Thirty-five pounds over what I thought I actually weighed!
How off could I be? How long have I been lying to myself?
Forcing myself into jeans and skirts that I'm sure I was "muffin-topping"
and popping out of the seams. What was I thinking? Was I blaming the dryer?
Did I turn the "other-cheek" when I stepped out of the shower?
How did I not notice the seat belt squeezing my stomach in half every time I buckled up?
Well enough was enough!
I knew I had to make a serious effort and it wasn't only exercise, it was paying attention, CLOSE attention to what I put into my mouth.
I went on line and decided to do a little math. Challenging, but fun math. I insisted that I count EVERYTHING that goes in my mouth, count what might go in my mouth, like if I were on my way to a restaurant, and even measure everything I drank and ate to get a feel of how much I was really eating.
Now this might sound like "not fun", but I made this a challenge. A game per say.
It wasn't hard to do. Infact with my husbands help with his handy iphone, no matter where we were we could look up calories for anything with the help of The Daily plate.com. In no time I was in control of my food in take and still found the room for the things I really loved. Like, a refreshing drink with my girlfriends on the weekend, some dark chocolate here and there, and Yogurtland were all still on the menu. By simply removing the bread from my sandwich to enjoying egg whites and turkey in the morning I regained control of body and how I wanted to fit in my clothes. In one month I lost over ten pounds in six months I lost thirty five. I know how to keep it off and have found a new "habit" that will take me through the rest of my life!
The first step is taking that close look at yourself. See the signs. Don't make any excuses. Decide what it is you want from your body, and take control. It's both mental and physical but it's the spirit that truly prevails over all.

New Addition

Surface Beauty Pros discover YUM gourmet skincare!

We are always searching for natures finest
and we give YUM our stamp of approval!
Surface Beauty strives for only the best
in performance as well as the experience
for our facials, Yum skincare is going
to be a welcomed addition to our menu.

Makeup Comparisons

When the dollar counts now more than ever,
how to get the most for our money.

Top foundations picked by the Pros.

For medium, natural coverage Chanel Vitalumiere Moisture-Rich Radiance Fluid Makeup spf 15 $54, for full coverage Kevin Aucoin The Liquid Airbrush $45, and for sheer tinted spf coverage Remede tinted moisturizer $40. The best all around coverage and age defying effect, T. Le Clerc Hydrating Fluid Foundation $50.
These foundations are easy to apply, virtually flawless in coverage, and definitely considered a luxury buy.

Whatever the situation, or if it's just a mood that strikes you, and you just can't see yourself throwing down fifty dollars for your base, there are some amazing alternatives right in your own neighborhood pharmacy.
True Match from Loreal $11 for a medium, natural coverage. Physicians Formula Organic Wear Tinted Moisturizer spf 15 $10, for a sheer touch of color and evening out skin tone. Then we have Maybellines New Dream Smooth Mousse $9, for a slightly fuller coverage.
Now, there is also Mac Select spf 15 $31 for a medium to full coverage, not a $10 makeup but not $50 either.

With all the choices and products to choose from it can be overwhelming and even though we want the most for our money, it is more important to remember, that foundation is the one thing we apply all over our face so we want to make sure that it's quality and as healthy for our skin as possible.

Makeup Before Workout?

Makeup before working out?

There is more to this that stings the eyes:

I work out vigorously. I truly enjoy what I do.
I train in kick boxing as well as teach. Before this I frequented the gym two to four times
a week religiously since the age of eighteen. I am a mother of two and a lover of makeup as well.

Some ladies have approached me on this subject, and this is both a personal as well as professional opinion.

I consider myself "better off" with some sort of base/concealer on my face before I step out to go anywhere. This is something that shouldn't be even detectable gym or no gym. Just making sure there isn't any irritating ingredients that can harm the eyes because after a good sweat, it is inevitable foundation can seep into your eyes; and through experience, can be quite painful and just ends up ruining a good workout. I continuously wipe my face and chest, as I sweat, so my towel is going to reflect whatever is streaming off my face as well. I stick to water based tinted moisturizers and whatever hangs in there by the end of the work out is pretty much a miracle.

As for added touches like mascara, yes, why not, as long as it is waterproof and doesn't end up smudged under the eyes like a line backer. As for lipstick, probably not necessary but if you must, choose something sheer and neutral. A nice lip balm, or lip tint is fine, but keeping it natural, 'cause your'e just working out, right?
A workout for what it is, is not a time for glamming it up but we are out in the public eye, and if a little cover up and color makes you feel a little bit better about yourself, more power to you.

Your Bridal Best

The time has come;
you have the date, you've picked out the rings, the dress is in the bag(per say). Now the time has come to interview makeup artists and hair stylists who will transform you and your day into your "Bridal Best". You want to still be you but the most beautiful you, you have ever imagined and you must trust this unto the talented and experienced hands of the right makeup artist and hair stylist.

Through experience, and seeing it time and time again, picking the same hair stylist to do makeup and vice versa is begging for a disaster. Stick with the specialists, especially on this most important day. A hair stylist "specializes" in up-dos, a makeup artist specializes, well, in makeup. It's understood that a cosmetologist is "licensed" in both but doesn't mean she/he works regularly doing both. More than likely if they are spending their days working with hair, it's hair they know. As for the makeup artist whom spends their day working with cosmetics, the many ranges of skin, face shapes, styles and trends that challenge them daily, it's safe to say it's makeup they know. It doesn't have to cost any more to have both a hair stylist and makeup artist. You pay for the job requested. You need your hair done(Price ranges of $75-$250), expect to pay for this service just as you would pay for the makeup service(Price ranges of $75-$250).

This brings us to the age old adage "You get what you pay for". And how true this is in the beauty/bridal industry. We all know as much as the next woman, how important your wedding day is and how much more importantly it is for you to look your very best. This is a rare and special moment you will be entrusting your face and hair to a specialist who is to create the most beautiful you which in turn presets one of your most precious memories throughout the rest of your life. EEgad, the pressure.

Don't you fret. Now here is why I am writing this blog. Have fun finding your makeup artist and hair stylist. Most of us know at least two people in our lives, as women, who we trust with our hair. If it isn't the lady who cuts your hair whom you think could style it as well, take a good look around the salon, ask to see someones portfolio, and set up some trial runs. Hair trials should cost a minimal amount($25-$65), and you should get what you want, If you don't , don't you dare settle. Move on, try again.

Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to search out the right talent months in advance so you don't end up frantic, stressed, or sounding too desperate to the artists. Do your best to get the makeup artist and hair stylist together on the same day so to see the completed look. Makeup artists can be found in department stores, salons, and independently. Again, insist on viewing a portfolio, and have a trial sitting($45-$75).

It's recommended you make appointments for your trials on a day you plan to go out and test out the wear of the hair and makeup. For example a bachelorette party, or engagement party. Take photos and ask loved ones what they honestly think.

Also a real important tool of communication in getting the message across of the kind of look you want; cut out, print out, tear out, photos, images, and styles you like from magazines and/or the Internet. With pictures sitting right in front of you and the artist there should be little room for misunderstandings. Give plenty of time for your trials, no more than two hours, try not to rush the artists if the look is intricate, like, your hair is long, or curly but you want straight, or fine but you want "BIG", etc.,etc.

In the end respect the expert, they want you to look your best, because in the end if you look good they look good.