Search results matching tag 'cosmetics'

Get the most out of your makeup

Karen — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:04:04 GMT

Today's blog article is a super beauty list of the top ten ways to get the most out of your daily makeup performance. Check it out now!

http://beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/05/21/top-10-tips-for-better-makeup-performance.aspx

Top 10 Tips for Better Makeup Performance

Karen — Tue, 21 May 2013 15:19:00 GMT

Believe it or not, the average woman will spend so much time applying makeup over the course of her life that if you added up every second, you’d have a year’s worth of time. That’s right, we spend the equivalent of 365 days of our lives in front of the mirror getting pretty, and we all want to get the most mileage out of our cosmetics to make all of that time spent worth it.

I’ve done some research recently to determine the best ways to improve makeup performance. Here are my tips on everything from preparing your skin for makeup to choosing the right makeup and accessories.

1. Start with a clean slate. Never put on makeup without first cleansing your face. Whether you take a shower prior to makeup application or use a cleanser at the sink, washing your face will remove oil and debris that can prevent makeup from adhering fully to your skin. You should follow your cleanser with all of the products in your daily skin care routine, including a toner and a moisturizer. Choose skin care products from a reputable brand like StriVectin.

2. Tighten Up. If you have aging skin, using formulas to target problem areas can help improve the appearance of your skin and will help your makeup look better and last longer. Choose products designed to address your specific concerns. For example, if you have loose, sagging tissue along the jawline or décolletage, a product like StriVectin-TL Tightening Neck Cream can greatly improve your skin tone.

3. Prepare your canvas. Even after performing your skin care regimen, your complexion needs to be prepared for makeup application using a primer. This type of skin care product helps to constrict the pores, controlling oil production to help prevent makeup from becoming diluted during the day. One of my favorite primers is Too Faced Primed and Poreless, which is also enriched with vitamins A and C to provide antioxidant protection.

4. Look at your lids and your pucker. Your eyes and your lips are often the places where makeup fades the most quickly, so you’ll need to give them some extra attention prior to makeup application. Start by using a primer formulated specifically for your eyes like Too Faced Shadow Insurance to help eye shadow glide on more easily and prevent feathering and creases. Next, apply a primer formula to your lip area to temporarily fill in fine lines and help prevent lipstick bleeding and smearing. Too Faced makes a special lip primer formula, while other brands have combination eye and lip priming formulas.

5. Chase away the darkness. Dark circles are a common problem for many women, and as a result, we often find ourselves layering on concealer under our eyes. Typically, dark circles worsen throughout the day, so the cosmetics that were capable of covering up the discoloration in the morning are no longer enough as the day moves on. I recommend applying an under eye treatment like StriVectin-EV Get Even Dark Circle Corrector to fade dark circles, so the darkness remains hidden away until the end of the day.

6. Choose your weapons wisely. The brushes and tools that you use to apply your makeup can greatly affect its performance. By using the right brushes for the right tasks, you can improve how well makeup adheres to your skin and extend the life of your favorite cosmetics. An easy way to be sure you have all of the correct tools on hand is to purchase brush or makeup sets that include all of the necessary brushes and applicators.

7. Pick your potion carefully, too. Choosing the right makeup is just as important as selecting the right brushes. Look for products with pure pigments, such as mineral cosmetics, as these types of formulas will provide more even, vivid and long-lasting coloration. Keep in mind that mineral makeup collections include liquid, loose powdered and pressed options, so there’s something for every preference in many of the ranges. Many brands offer palettes and color sets, which make it easy to find shades that are great for mixing and matching.

8. Seal It Up. After applying your makeup, you’ll need to set it in place. You can do so with a setting powder or a setting spray. Both types of formulas create a thin barrier over your cosmetics, which helps prevent makeup from fading or being affected by weather.

9. Hands off. During the day, be mindful of where you place your hands. Even if you’ve properly set your makeup, rubbing your eyes, touching your cheeks or leaning your chin against your hand can all wipe off your cosmetics. Use a hands-free telephone whenever possible, too.

10. Treat Yourself. Set aside one or two days per week to have a spa day at home. By using skin care masks designed for the needs of your complexion, you can help keep your skin in the best possible condition, which will ultimately improve the performance of your makeup.

There you have it; my 10 best tips for a flawless face. You can find Too Faced and StriVectin products like Too Faced Shadow Insurance and StriVectin-TL Tightening Neck Cream in the inventories of many online stores, so stock up and get ready for makeup that lasts and lasts.

Post Party Skin Must-Dos

Karen — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:11:00 GMT

We’ve all had that experience of getting home from a party late, feeling as if we have just one eye open as we undress and prepare for bed. On such nights, it’s easy to look at your skin care products and think, “One night won’t hurt,” and then simply head to bed without having touched them.

While it’s true that skipping your healthy skin care routine for just one night isn’t likely to have long-term negative effects on your skin, short-term problems, such as acne blemishes, blackheads, skin irritation and signs of dryness, can arise from missing one night. This doesn’t mean that you have to perform your complete multi-step beauty routine after a long night either. To help you take the best care of your skin post-party, I’ve put together this list of tips.

Take It All Off – The first thing you should do when you return home from a party is remove all of your makeup. Fortunately, makeup removers are available in a variety of options from no-rinse formulas, to wash-away varieties to disposable wipes, so you can decide which type is the quickest and easiest for you to use post-party.

Clean Up Your Act – Once you’ve removed your makeup, you’ll need to thoroughly wash your face to remove excess oil from your complexion and debris from your pores. When choosing cleansers, look for one designed specifically for your skin type to ensure that you’re giving your complexion what it needs to look its best.

Get Automated – My secret weapon for post party skin care is the Clarisonic cleansing system. This hand-held cleansing tool has a head that spins, loosening dirt and oil. The device does all the work for you, making it perfect for use post-party. The most compact models in the collection are the Clarisonic Mia and the Clarisonic Mia 2. Both are proven to be 2 times more effective than cleansing with your hands or a washcloth and are highly praised in Clarisonic reviews. In addition, the devices are both available in beautiful colors, such as the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System – Lavender and the Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Cleansing System – Pink. The main difference between the Mia and Mia 2 is that the Mia 2 has a T-Timer, which signals when you should shift the device to the next quadrant of your face. This can be a real lifesaver when you’re too exhausted after a party to even count the seconds.

Watch Your Tone - Whether you wash your face the traditional way or with a mechanical cleansing device like the Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System – Lavender, you should follow up by toning your skin after the party ends. Toners help to regulate your skin’s pH level to normalize your complexion. When you choose a therapeutic toner like the DDF Glycolic Toning Complex, toning can also remove dead skin from your complexion. By exfoliating while you tone, products like the DDF Glycolic Toning Complex have the ability to soften the appearance of wrinkles, decrease the likelihood of acne breakouts, minimize areas of skin discoloration and diminish enlarged pores.

Keep Things Moist - The final step to a healthy post-party skin care regimen is applying a moisturizer. Even if you have oily skin, moisturizers provide essential nourishment that helps to keep your skin conditioned, youthful and radiant. I recommend choosing a therapeutic moisturizer, so that you can provide extra benefits to your complexion while you cleanse. For example if you’re using a DDF toner and have a normal, combination or oily complexion, you could follow up with the DDF Ultra Light Oil Free Moisturizing Dew.

Be Prepared - To make your skin care regimen as simple as possible for yourself when you get home, have your bathroom set up when you leave. On your sink, line up your makeup remover, your cleanser, your Clarisonic device, your toner, your moisturizer and cotton pads and swabs for application. If everything is at the ready, you’ll be more likely to follow through with your skin care routine, even when you’re tired.

By maintaining your skin care routine with essential products like makeup removers and face cleansers in addition to face toners and face moisturizers, your skin will look and feel better day after day, and that will give you something to truly party about.

Getting Ready for the Big Day

Karen — Tue, 07 May 2013 15:05:45 GMT

Are you a bride-to-be? If so, you're going to want to read today's blog article about what's trending in this year's bridal gowns. This article is loaded with great ideas to help you look absolutely stunning when all eyes are on you as you walk down the aisle. Check it out now and be sure to pass the link on to a friend if you know someone has recently become engaged.

http://beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/05/07/gorgeous-gowns-bridal-fashion-2013.aspx

Lovely Brows – Tips for Tweezing to Perfection

Karen — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:16:00 GMT

You simply can't underestimate the effect that your eyebrows have upon the overall look of your face. Don't believe me? Do a quick Google Image search for "actresses without eyebrows," and check out the first few results of photographs to see how beautiful celebrities look without them! Once you become an eyebrow believer, you're sure to want to keep yours looking perfectly sculpted and smooth, so follow these 10 tips to get the perfect tweeze.

1. Shower first. You should always tweeze freshly cleansed, exfoliated eyebrows. While you can simply wash your face in the sink before tweezing, showering helps to dilate your pores, allowing the hairs to slip out more easily. This means less tugging and less pain.

2. Draw guide lines or use a stencil. When you're first beginning to get your eyebrows into perfect shape at home, pre-draw the correct shape onto your brow and then comb your brows flat. Some cosmetics companies even make stencils that you can use to easily get the perfect arch. This will help prevent over-plucking and unevenness. I like to use a white eyeliner or illuminating eye pencil to make my lines.

3. The perfect starting place. The inner corners of your eyebrows should line up with the middles of your nostrils. Use an eyebrow pencil to determine this position and make a mark to guide you.

4. Finish strong. The outer corner of your eyebrows should line up diagonally with the outside corner of your eye.

5. Add the arch. The arch of your eyebrows should be positioned at the end of a straight line that connects the center of the colored part of your eyes and the tip of your nose.

6. Light it up. Use a mirror with a built in light to make sure you can see every hair; however, don't use magnifying mirrors, as these can trick you into overplucking.

7. Choose your weapon wisely. Only use tweezers with slanted, flat ends. Never use ones with pointed tips for plucking.

8. Easy does it. Don't pull too hard when you're plucking. If you're too aggressive, you could cause skin irritation, which makes it harder to pluck with accuracy. To make things easy, just focus on pulling one hair at a time.

9. Comb it out. Make it a rule to re-comb your brows after every five plucks. And on your very last comb-out you can use the small scissors and comb technique for trimming any extra long hairs.

10. End with some TLC. Apply a moisturizer or serum that contains aloe vera or chamomile extract immediately after plucking to soothe redness.

Effective tweezing takes practice, so if you're just starting out, be patient with yourself. Tweeze just a little bit every day to get your eyebrows to take shape, and always remember that the worst tweezing mistake that you can make is to over-pluck.

Last Day for a Huge Sale!

Karen — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 16:38:48 GMT

I just got an email from SkinStore.com that today is the last day of their Friends and Family sale. Use code FF20 at checkout for a 20% savings. It's a great time to stock up!!

In fact, anytime any of you find out about a sale on beauty products or fashion, etc. please let all of us know!

Thanks!!!

Airbrush Foundation

Karen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:47:14 GMT

Learn virtually everything you'll want to know about the flawless look of airbrushed foundation and if it may be right for you. This is great beauty info!

http://beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/04/26/airbrush-foundation-a-flawless-finish.aspx

Airbrush Foundation – A Flawless Finish

Karen — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:39:00 GMT

Perfectly applied foundation is the start of any beautiful makeup look, whether you're simply heading out to run errands or preparing for an important event like your wedding. To help ensure a flawless finish, many makeup artists now apply foundation using an airbrush. The results possible with this technique have made airbrush foundation a true sensation; there's even a line of home airbrush systems available for those who want to get the look without a visit to the spa or salon.

Not sure exactly what airbrush foundation is and whether or not it's right for you? I've done some research and put together this brief guide to airbrush makeup to help you out.

How It Works

Airbrush foundation is applied with a special wand, which is attached to an air pressure machine via tubing. The wand is filled with either a makeup pod or a liquid foundation intended for airbrushes. Once the wand is turned on, the pressure machine shoots condensed air through the wand. This breaks the makeup up into tiny particles, so that it applies evenly all over the complexion when it is emitted from the wand.

Benefits of Airbrush Foundation

There are several benefits to wearing airbrushed foundation over traditional makeup:

- More even, full application. Airbrush foundation can leave your skin looking flawless, yet still natural because of the small particles of makeup that the brush deposits on your skin.

- Photo-ready face. Airbrushed makeup tends to show up better in photographs, which is why so many brides opt for it on their big days.

- Long-lasting. The best quality airbrush foundations can remain in place for up to 16 hours.

- Lightweight. Although it will fully hide skin imperfections, airbrush foundation feels very lightweight, making it excellent for women who love the look of makeup, but not the feel.

- Water-resistant. Typically, airbrush makeup will not wipe off, run or fade even if you cry or brush against your face.

- Breathable. Because airbrush foundation is made up of tiny particles, the air can more easily reach your skin when your makeup is on. Proper oxygenation is important to having healthy skin, so some proponents of airbrush makeup say that it is better for the complexion; however, we don't have enough scientific information to prove this theory yet.

Drawbacks of Airbrush Foundation

Despite the many benefits of airbrush foundation, there are some drawbacks as well.

- Cost. The biggest deterrent to choosing airbrush foundation is often cost. Both professional applications and at-home machines come at hefty prices that many people can't justify for everyday or frequent use.

- Limited product options. When you use an airbrush system at home, you'll need to select foundations that work with the wand, so if you have a favorite brand, you'll likely have to give it up.

- Technique. An airbrush foundation application is only as good as the technique used to perform it. When you first purchase a home system, it will take time to develop the right technique, so don't get an airbrush and assume you’ll be ready to do your own wedding makeup the following day. The skill levels of makeup artists can also vary widely, so if you're planning to use airbrush makeup for a special event, be sure to have a trial run ahead of time.

In the end, only you can decide if airbrush foundation application or purchasing a machine is right for you. If you opt for visiting a salon or spa, make sure that their reputation for performing this service is stellar. Should you choose to purchase a home airbrush machine, only shop through reputable stores and websites. These are good rules of thumb for getting that flawless airbrush look without any unwanted drama.

Add a Pop of Spring Color to Everything

Karen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 16:43:56 GMT

The colors this spring are gorgeous! Today's blog post offers up many ideas and colors to add to your wardrobe, your makeup and your home decor. Check it out now!

http://beautyresearch.com/blogs/beauty-research/archive/2013/04/15/spring-color-brighten-the-home-wardrobe-and-makeup-drawer.aspx

Spring Color – Brighten the Home, Wardrobe and Makeup Drawer

Karen — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 15:34:00 GMT

This spring, the petals of the blossoms opening for the first time won't be the only splash of color on the landscape. Spring fashion features color in a big way, and nearly every designer at the Spring Summer Fashion Weeks worldwide debuted lines with a generous pop of color. Beautiful colors from bold to pastel will also be big in cosmetics and home decor this spring, giving you the opportunity to immerse yourself in shades that can boost your spirits and accentuate your natural beauty and the appeal of your home. So what are the season's hottest colors? Read on to find out.

Fashion. This season, khaki is the neutral of choice, and to brighten up beige, designers are using a wide variety of shades. On the soft end of the scale, there's nectarine, sage green and violet, while on the bold side, there's cobalt, rust and goldenrod to try. If you're hesitant to step out in a bold, get-noticed shade, keep in mind that the more saturated the color, the more slimming it is to wear. In other words, a bright cobalt is much more likely to flatter your figure than a pale powder blue.

Cosmetics. This season, colored eye shadow will be taking the place of grays and browns in a big way. The key to mastering the colored eye shadow trend is to mix two contrasting colors, keeping the lighter, subtler shade on the outside of the eye. If you have blue eyes, sweep on a mix of gold and mint green to get one of the season's hottest looks. For dark eyes, mix fuchsia with white. Green-eyed ladies can get a pop of color with turquoise accented by peach. Bright lip colors like red and crimson will dominate this season.

Home decor. Pantone is largely considered the expert when it comes to the season's hottest decor colors, and this year, they're putting forward a veritable rainbow of shades. The spectrum includes poppy red, nectarine, lemon yellow, sage green, chartreuse, turquoise green, light blue, Monaco blue and violet. This color palette allows for many bold contrasts, such as turquoise with nectarine, as well as complementary color combinations like combining blues. As in fashion, beige or khaki is the most popular neutral for home decor this season.

Remember: just because color is big this season doesn't mean that you have to replace every couch, every eye shadow palette and every dress in your wardrobe. For your home, look for colorful accents, such as throw pillows or linens, that can easily be changed when the color trend shifts to new looks. Try adding one or two new eye shadow shades to your collection along with a lipstick in a bold spring color, and infuse your wardrobe with a handful of new pieces and some colorful accessories. By being smart with your shopping, you can get the look of this season's biggest colors while still keeping some green in your wallet.