Save Your Skin this Winter

It's that time of year... the cold weather and dry heater air take a toll on our skin, but not this year!  Save your skin this winter by remembering these two things:  Exfoliate and Moisturize.

Soften your Skin - Have you every applied so much lotion that it just disappears into your skin without really doing much?  Or do you sometimes see small flakes coming off your skin while you are rubbing in a body creme?  If so, you are skipping an essential step in your skincare regime - exfoliation.
Your skin regenerates constantly, meaning old skin cells are shedding while new ones come in to replace them.  Sometimes the old skin does not completely come off, so we need to help that process along by exfoliating.  I mean, who wants to hang on to old, dead skin?  Using a body polish or body scrub in the shower will work wonders on your skin and leave you feeling more like a superstar and less like a snake.

Best BODY Exfoliants and Moisturizers:
Have a tropical island getaway in the winter with Aveda's Caribbean Therapy line, made with Caribbean Mango and Cocoa butter.
Aveda Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub ($39.50 for 15.8 oz at aveda.com)
Aveda Caribbean Therapy Body Cream ($27.00 for 6.7 oz at aveda.com)

I discovered this line when a client introduced me to it and have been hooked ever since:
Fresh Brown Sugar Body Polish  ($38.00 for 7 oz at fresh.com)
Fresh Brown Sugar Body Cream ($35.00 for 6.8 oz at fresh.com)

Feel like soft skin is not in your budget?  My favorite soft skin regimen is actually the cheapest solution!

Create your own exfoliant using sea salt and olive oil (for your legs and arms, do NOT use this on your face) or a mixture of 1/2 c brown sugar, 1/4 cup almond oil, a teaspoon of honey and a touch of vanilla extract or your favorite essential oil.  The amount of oil you use will depend on the texture and condition of your skin, but feel free to tweak the recipe to work for you and your skin.

Believe it or not, my all-time favorite moisturizer is....  Johnson's baby oil!  I keep a bottle in the shower and apply it right after I pat my skin dry with a towel.  Add a couple drops of essential oil if you do not like the baby aroma (I personally don't mind it).  Or you can try Neutrogena's body oil at a comparable price point.    

For a Fresh Face - The skin on your face is a little more delicate than on the rest of your body, so take extra care and use the right products so that you can put your best face forward.  Some of the exfoliants out there on the market (the apricot scrubs!) are much too abrasive for the face and can cause microscopic tears on the face which could lead to scarring, hyperpigmentation, and other discoloration on the skin, so choose your products with caution!
Even though Aveda is known for hair care, it's skin care line is absolutely sensational, and of course, it all smells divine.

Try exfoliating with the Aveda Tourmaline Charged Exfoliating Cleanser ($29 for 5 oz at aveda.com)
It is made with perfectly round jojoba beads that will gently exfoliate your face without tearing any tissue. The beads burst on impact and infuse your face with natural oils.

Aveda Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant ($20 for 5 oz at aveda.com) is a liquid exfoliant that you can apply with a cotton round.  This product is a great addition to your existing skin care regimen and will give you a refreshed, clean look and feel.

For intense moisture, use the Aveda Tourmaline Charged Hydrating Cream ($37 for 1.7 oz at aveda.com)
This product may be a little heavy for some skin, but if you are extra dry, this is a great one to use at night.
Tourmaline is an energizing mineral that will leave your face with a beautiful glow.

An awesome everyday moisturizer is the Aveda Botanical Kinetics Hydrating Lotion  ($33 for 5 oz at aveda.com)  This is a great moisturizer for all skin types, not too heavy and not too light.  And it will leave your face with a delicate aroma that is great for kissing and caressing  ;)

Advice for your Eyes - This skin around our eyes is the thinnest and most delicate skin on our body, so take extra care and precaution when working with it.  Forget about exfoliating for this section.

All the holiday parties, stressful shopping sessions, work deadlines, and final exams in school leave you wanting one thing:  more sleep!  While I can't add more hours to the day for you to sleep, I can tell you how to combat those dark circles and puffiness.

1)  Drink more water!  We forget to do this in the winter because it's cold and all the wonderful winter drinks (peppermint hot chocolate, pumpkin spice lattes, egg nog, mulled wine, spiced cider) sound so much more appealing and WARM.  

BUT instead of reaching for that morning cup of coffee after a long night of partying, drink a tall glass of water and try bending forward to touch your toes or do a headstand. (but proceed with caution, use a wall or pillow if you need.)  It may sound a little crazy, but this will help you hydrate and improve circulation to your head and face, making you look and feel more awake and energized.

2)  Apply an under eye cream twice a day (morning and night) that will help address your specific needs.  Use something a little lighter under your concealer in the morning.  I like Aveda's tourmaline charged eye cream, but it is discontinued  :(  But your favorite department store line should have something good.  

Try Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Eye before bed.  It may be a little pricey, but a little goes a long way.  Remember to use your ring finger when applying anything or touching your eye area because it applies the least amount of pressure to this delicate skin.

3)  If you have time, you can always lay back and put cold cucumber slices or cold spoons over your eyes.  

Tips for Lips - Exfoliate, moisturize, enjoy!

Try Fresh's Sugar Lip Polish ($22.50 for .6 oz at fresh.com or available at sephora) and Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment ($22.50 for .15 oz at fresh.com or sephora) to get your full fix.  You may even be able to find a gift set with both products around holiday time.  This is my FAVORITE lip balm.  It has SPF 15 and now comes in a few different tones.  I keep one in each purse!     

Chantecaille Lip Potion ($42.00 for .16 oz at chantecaille.com)

This is a splurge, but my sister swears by it!  Specifically for anyone that picks at or bites their lips throughout the day, this product will be a mini miracle at night.  Apply a little bit before bed and wake up with soft, smooth, silky lips.  

For something more economical, you can exfoliate your lips with an old toothbrush (make sure your lips and the toothbrush are both wet and use gentle strokes) and apply a moisturizing balm such as softlips or blistex throughout the day.  

Help for Hands - Constantly washing your hands in hot water can lead to dry, chapped hands.  This can even be a little painful if the skin starts cracking.  To avoid that awful feeling of having your own hands snag your stockings in the morning, exfoliate with a sugar scrub or exfoliating body wash.  

For moisture, try Aveda's Hand Relief - $20 for 4.2 oz

Besides the wonderful citrus aroma, this product is amazing because it lasts through multiple hand washes and infuses your skin with Vitamin E and other essential oils.   Throw a travel size Hand Relief in your purse for a little relief anywhere you go.

Don't Forget your Feet! - They may stay hidden in stockings, socks, and boots all day, but give them some TLC at the end of the day.  Exfoliate in the shower using a wet pumice stone, paying extra attention to the heel and any other extra dry areas.  Apply a foot cream and take a few minutes to massage it in before bed.  

Reinventing the Heel from origins.com works wonders for my mother, who works on her feet all day.  This product will sooth your sole and make your toes tingle with jojoba oils and a little bit of menthol.  

You can also check out bathandbodyworks.com for foot soaks, cracked heel treatments, and super rich foot creams.  Put on a pair of gel socks after you treat your feet for continued conditioning while keeping your feet warm.      

5 Reasons to work out NOW!

5)  Get Great Skin - Exercise improves blood flow which makes it easier to transport nutrients to the skin.  Additionally, sweating during exercise helps cleanse toxins out of the pores.  The result is clean, healthy, beautiful skin with a natural glow.

4)  Get Friendly - Taking a class a gym or just running along a popular trail, you will see a lot of people smiling.  People are generally in better moods when they exercise (see below) so take advantage and make some new friends!

3)  Get Happy - Over and over I have read about how exercise makes your brain release endorphins and other 'feel good' substances.  While I do not completely understand the science behind it all, I know it's true!  Exercise always boosts my mood and gives me energy.  Instead of a morning cup of coffee to brighten your day, try a quick AM workout.

2)  Get Healthy - Yes yes yes, there are many health benefits of working out.  Reduce your risk of all kinds of diseases, treat depression, live longer....  you know all this  ;)

1)  Get Sexy - Of course!  Working out tones your body, makes you feel good, and makes you LOOK good.  Even if you already look good on the outside, working out will make you feel good on the inside, and vice versa.  So instead of picking up the remote and envying the amazing bodies on... (insert the name your favorite TV show with hot people on it)... get up and shape your body the way you want to see it!


Need more motivation?  These tunes will get you in the mood and keep you going. Whether you are running, kickboxing, lifting weights, or just letting loose and having a dance party in your living room, let these beats push you to burn some extra calories!    

Rihanna ft. Calvin Harris - "We Found Love"  (this is a good one to warm up and get you going)
Flo Rida - "Good Feeling"
Jennifer Lopez - "Papi"
Pitbull ft. Chris Brown - "International Love"
LMFAO - "Sexy and I know it"  (When he sings 'look at that body' you reply, I WORK OUT!)

My Five Faves: Mascara

Mascara and makeup is like frosting and cupcakes.  Sure, the essence is there, but that little extra step adds so much more!
Here are my favorite mascaras that will complete your look and satisfy your senses:

5)  DiorShow Mascara   - Retail Price $24.50
DiorShow comes highly recommended by makeup artists around the globe and rightfully so.  It curls the lashes while coating them with color.  If you want to enhance your curves (on your lashes, of course) and complete your runway catwalk, check out DiorShow Mascara.

4)  MAC Splashproof Lash   - Retail Price  $15.00
This is my #1 recommendation to brides, their mothers, sisters and anyone else that may shed some tears while wearing mascara.  Using this product is like coating your lashes with little mini umbrellas, it works great and does not clump.  To keep mascara on your lashes and not trickling down the side of your cheeks, try Mac's splashproof lash.

3)  BADGal Lash by Benefit  - Retail Price  $19.00
The wand of this mascara says it all!  The ultra-thick long brush will coat your lashes top to bottom, giving you big beautiful sexy lashes.  Wiggle the wand back and forth as you apply to really saturate the lashes with product.  If you are looking for full, fierce lashes with attitude, BADGal's magic wand will make it happen.  

2)  Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara   - Retail Price  $22.00

What don't I love about the Makeup Forever line?  All their products are fabulous and this mascara is no exception.  I especially recommend this to clients with lighter lashes because it is ultra-pigmented and coats the lashes with full, rich color.  For the perfect mascara to complement your smoky eye, use Makeup Forever's Smoky Lash.

1)  Supernova Mascara by Fresh  - Retail Price $25.00
     This may come as a surprise to some of you, but keep in mind that this is a list of 'favorites.'  Why do I love this product over all the others?  It is alcohol-free so it does not dry your lashes, but conditions them with natural oils.  Supernova is also free of sulfates, synthetic dyes, and fragrances for those of you that may have sensitive eyes. AND this formula has fortifying ingredients that actually help strengthen your lashes while defining, thickening, and lengthening them... all in one rich coat!  
     As if all that is not enough to make me love this product, every time I use it, I get numerous compliments on my eyes and lashes.  Apply 2-3 coats for a look that will have you say Bye Bye to false lashes and Hello Supernova!

Bonus Mascara Tip:  Just like frosting on cupcakes, mascara should be the last step of your makeup routine, unless of course you are adding sprinkles  ;)
Whether you put on your lipstick, gloss or mascara last, use the following tip for your lashes:
By applying mascara after your makeup is done, any shadow or powder that falls onto your lashes can be cleaned up with the wand.  To make the lashes appear fuller, dust a layer of translucent loose powder on them before applying mascara.

Party Glam Hair and Makeup Tutorial

The finished look:  Big sexy hair, Colorful Eyes, Contoured Cheeks, and Nude Lips

Hair Tutorial - Teasing, Smoothing, and pinning

Tools - Teasing comb or rat tail comb, Volumizing Hair Spray, Bobby Pins

Makeup Tutorial - Highlighting, Contouring and Shading the eyes and cheeks

Classic Glam Hair and Makeup Tutorial

The Finished Look:  Soft waves, bold eyeliner and red lips

Hair Tutorial  - Soft waves on long hair with a curling iron

Tools:  3/4'' or 1'' curling iron, Single or double prong clips, duck bill clips, rat tail comb, flexible hold hair spray

Makeup Tutorial - Brow filling, Basic Shadow, Eyeliner, Concealer, Soft cheeks, Bold lips

All-Natural Miracle Hair Product: Coconut Oil

When I was a little girl, my mother used to massage my scalp with coconut oil and braid my hair before bed every night. At the time, I thought that coconut oil only make my hair smell funny and excessively greasy.

Fast forward twenty years later and I am the one massaging coconut oil in my scalp and braiding my hair before bed (not every night, but at least once a week) AND I'm recommending it to all my clients!

Coconut oil is high in saturated fat, with some polyunsaturated fat and monounsaturated fat. All these fats contain a variety of amino acids and vitamins that are great for your skin and hair. You can use it to combat hair loss, to treat dandruff or dry scalp, to moisturize dry hair, and it may even help your hair grow faster. There is no other product out there that can do so much. The best part is that it is only $10, available at your local health food store, and you can do it yourself. Here is how you do it:

1) Coconut oil is solid at room temperature, so scoop some out into your hands and rub them together to liquify the product.

2) Starting at the nape of your neck, massage the oil into your scalp. Use more product as necessary to continue massaging your entire scalp, paying extra attention to places you may have excessive dryness or hair loss. USE YOUR FINGERTIPS to massage, not your fingernails!

3) Once your scalp is completely covered with the oil, you can use a fine toothed comb to work it through. If you have longer hair or are using the product as a conditioning treatment, apply some product to the ends of your hair and work it through.

4) The oil will solidify once again at room temperature. You may pull your hair into a braid if it is long enough.

5) The following morning, use a cleansing shampoo to get the product out. I like Aveda's Shampure shampoo because the aroma overtakes the coconut smell. You will have to shampoo twice and make sure you really build a lather to get out all the oil.

6) You can skip using a conditioner or if you prefer, you can use a light detangler on your hair. Dry and style as usual and notice the shine and fullness in your hair :)

What a crazy year!

It has been over a year since I posted and so much has changed, but one thing has remained constant, I love my work doing hair and makeup :)

And now that I am finally able to pay my bills, I have time to update this blog!

Keep an eye on this blog for tips and trends on all things beauty, fitness and health.

As my wedding hair and makeup business has been growing, you'll also see a lot of bridal hair and makeup pictures as well as tips and tricks from brides themselves as well as stylists, photographers, and designers.

Glad to be back on the blog!