Living a fabulous life isn't easy, but I do it flawlessly! Of course I am not going to toot my own horn (beep-beep!), but this is not another blog from yet another pretentious person who thinks they are more fabulous than reality. Instead, I detail the makings of a fabulous life no matter where you are in life. It does not take a lot of money to live a fabulous life, just a lot of creativity. Honestly, being fabulous is a state of mind and I plan to help get you there, fabulously of course!!!
Showing posts with label Skin Care. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Skin Care. Show all posts

Monday, March 5, 2012

Some Fabulous Tips to Use When Applying Liquid Makeup

After talking to one of my coworkers/friends (Yes, you Daena), she told me how she was on YouTube and saw a video about how to apply liquid makeup. She told me the person said to wet your brush before applying liquid makeup and I almost passed out at work. In case you are wondering why I almost had a fabulous attack, it is for two reasons: you never want to add more water to a liquid product and I could not believe someone would recommend this to people.

I have never mentioned this before, but a lot of the information I talk about I learned about while working at Nordstrom. While there, I interacted with a lot of vendors and product specialists who provided me with an enormous wealth of information. So when I write tips about how to do certain things, I am not Googling this information, it comes from the knowledge I have acquired over the years.

Since liquid make-up already has a high water content, wetting the brush will just dilute the product and application of the product will not be as smooth as it should. You would never apply makeup on your face while it is still wet, so you definitely would not want to add water to a product when it is not needed.

When it comes to liquid products, I recommend not applying them directly to your face. I always put a small amount in the corner of my hand between my thumb and forefinger. If you are mixing products, you may want a more solid surface like a plate or palette.

I prefer to put it on my hand because it warms it up which makes it easier to work with before I apply it on my face. Another reason I put it on my hand first is because I am able to control how much product is applied and am able to add more as needed.

When I do finally apply it to my skin, I dab it and let it sit for a minute so the water is able to evaporate. This also warms the product up a little more (or cooks the product as some people say) so it is able to blend better into your skin. After the texture starts to change, I then work the product in using a brush for a flawless finish.

Always use brushes instead of sponges because sponges will absorb more of the product and do not provide the best application. A brush allows you to apply the right amount and applies it smoothly to provide a natural look.

I also recently heard about another tip which I recommend never using. If you have acne prone skin, never use baby oil to remove makeup from your skin. I know it is perfect at removing make-up, but there are many oil free makeup removers on the market which do a good job such as Neutrogena’s line of makeup removers. Remember: you never want to use anything with oil in it on your face because it does not take much to clog your pores.

For more information on foundation application, read my blog article “Face Fabulous” where I discuss how to apply your foundation so your face looks fabulous.

There is a lot of information out there, so I say be cautious and question it if it does not sound right before you do it. When in doubt, always ask an expert to see if they have heard of the method. I want to make sure you are all Fabulous and not Faux Fabulous, so make sure you are careful when it comes to tips to keep you fabulous.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!


Wednesday, February 8, 2012

How to Have Fabulous Skin in Winter: Part One

We are almost halfway through winter officially, but because this is the time when your skin needs the most attention, I decided to do a winter skin care series dedicated to taking care of your fabulous skin during this particular season.

I know it has been quite warm this winter on the east coast, but this does not mean you should avoid changing your regimen because the nights still get cold and this has a major impact on your skin. For Part One of the series, I would like to discuss your face.

The skin on your face is different, primarily because it is exposed to the elements more, so it needs special attention unlike the rest of the skin on your body. It is important to take care of your skin continually because it helps your skin look fresh and youthful as you age.

Whenever it comes to skincare for your face, I always recommend reaching deep into your wallet because it will cost you. All the products will not be expensive, but some of them will be. However, do not believe the hype that all products from the top department stores are the best because they are not always. I myself use Neutrogena’s Visibly Even and have done so for the last seven years. It is my tried and true moisturizer (raises hand to the sky).

Recently when I was discussing how I was going to write a skincare series, one of my friends from college was excited because she said my skin always looked “silky smooth.” It took me some time to make this happen because to this day I still have oily skin which used to break-out constantly until I started using Proactiv.

I went through almost every product on the market which was either too abrasive or left my sensitive skin dry. I then started using Proactiv, but still had some issues with my skin being dry until I used the Neutrogena in combination with it. I am not suggesting everyone run out and purchase Proactiv solely because I use it, but I am using it as an example to show how you have to find what works best for your skin.

Because the chemistry of everyone’s skin is different, different brands and products respond differently. For example, I love Clinique, but its acne cleanser was not strong enough for my skin, but I know people who swear by it. Determine what problems your skin has and then try to find a product which focuses on fixing your skin’s problems.

As we all know, the body naturally makes oil, but the oil your face produces often clogs your pores resulting in blemishes or it settles on your face and makes it extra shiny. As a result, this is why you should always use oil-free moisturizers on your face because oil is your face’s sworn enemy.

Few people know this, but when the skin on your face is dry, it may break-out in fine bumps. You may also notice you wake-up and your skin is really tight. These are all signs that your skin is dry and needs some special attention.

One of the simplest ways to fix this is switching your moisturizer. When it comes to moisturizers, you should have a different moisturizer for summer and winter to address the different needs of your skin during these seasons. Summer moisturizers tend to be lighter and let your skin breathe while winter moisturizers are thicker and supply more moisture for your skin. Some moisturizers work all throughout the year, but you will not know this for sure until you give it a try.

Whenever you try a new product, always give it about 45 – 60 days to determine if it works because it takes time for your skin to adjust to it. If you see redness, severe dryness, or develop a rash, I recommend you stop using that product immediately.

Keep in mind that dry skin is a serious issue, so if you have severe dry skin, please consult a dermatologist so they are able to prescribe you a medicated product to combat this issue. All the solutions I have discussed here are to help you if you have dry skin temporarily due to it being winter.

Skincare regimens are costly and time consuming, but they are necessary because they invest in making sure your skin stays fabulous for a long time. If you are unwilling to take care of your face now, you will definitely see the less than favorable results as you age. Make sure you take care of the fabulous part of you people see most by making sure they are able to see the glow you have inside of you on your face.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!