Are YOU a LAZY SPF applier? (I am)

Confession:  I often forget to apply sunscreen.. eeeekkkkk!

I just walked my dog and remembered, I didn’t apply ANYTHING to my face today.  I think I just burned the back of my neck (smacking my head right now)!  It is my day off but NO EXCUSE!   I work on skin ALL day, I ask everyone if they are using SFP daily, I am starting to see spots on my face more & more from my teenage burns.. WHAT IS MY PROBLEM?  SUN is the quickest way to speed AGING up.. I KNOW THIS.. I preach this.. I believe this!

Let’s keep it simple.  I need to heed my own advice:

1.  Apply your moisturizer to clean skin in the morning.  Allow the product to absorb into your skin, this way your skin is less likely to want to absorb all the sunscreen into your pores, ultimately clogging them.

2. ApplySPF to your face (which I skip) and ALSO to your neck and chest (which I do).  Your neck and chest are the tell tale signs of your age.  They are always forgotten, but always exposed.  Apply to BOTH.

3. (Ladies) As a final step after you have finished doing your make-up, apply a mineral make-up with a fluffy round brush all over your face, neck & chest.  Mineral make-up contains ZINC & Titanium Dioxide which are both natural sunscreens (just like Baby sunscreens).   Applying “powdered” SPF (mineral powders) is a great re-application product throughout your day.  They lay on top of the skin and don’t have a tendency to clog pores from absorption (like some over the counter sunscreens can do).

4.  If you are outside all day, you should re-apply.  It doesn’t last all day long (even 100 SPF) especially after swimming, sweating or working.

That seems easy enough.. why can’t I remember to do it?

Baz Luhrmann said it BEST: “Always Wear Sunscreen!”

While you are spreading sunshine throughout your day, also remember to apply sunscreen. (I need to copy and paste that to my bathroom mirror ASAP).  It’s the easiest way to slow the “beauty” aging process.

Need another reason?  My aunt died because of skin cancer.. read her story here.

2 Oscar makeup picks & tricks

Guilty pleasure? Completely forgot? Purposely avoided?  Did you watch the Oscars this year?  Are you wondering how everyone looked so fresh & glowing (especially when they start getting ready early afternoon & arrive by 3pm PST) all night?

These 2 picks are magical tools for their makeup lasting & the glow looking fresh – All Night/Day Long! 😉

(watch video here)

Not only does it look great on the red carpet, it’s the perfect duo to spruce up your makeup bag for SPRING! (insert happy song here) shop here

So who has questions for SPRING makeup picks?  Here’s to bringing the daily glow from the inside to the outside.  Remember, YOU are Beauty- FULL!

~Michelle xo

New Year, Let’s get real!

There is nothing like browsing gorgeous pictures online or in magazines, especially during award season. I want. I wish. I wonder. Sigh..

Having a makeup artist, hairstylist, great lighting and photoshop editors makes EVERYONE look great – trust me, I KNOW. At the start or end of my day, I don’t even come close to seeing a semblance in my mirror. Do you?

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but those people in the photos aren’t recognizable in their mirror at home after the event – once everything is off.  Good news: They are just as normal as you and I – only they have a BEAUTY TRIBE.

So it’s a new year.. I want to help you with real beauty concerns, questions & frustrations.  I want to give you real solutions, hope and inspiration!  So let’s GET REAL! Who’s with me?

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Here is your first Beauty “TO DO” for 2016.. schedule in #MeTime this year & regularly!  Whatever you have to do; add it to your calendar, phone, schedule an alarm or  stratigically place sticky notes – DO IT & be consistent!  Here’s list to help start you off.

I will be back with more TO DOs for YOU and your perfectly, perfect (and annoying) imperfections!  Together we will GET REAL and feel more BEAUTIFUL by the end of 2016..  Cheers!!!  ~Michelle

5 Ways to Beat the Post Holiday Skin Blues

Were you NOT running around packing as much as possible into your days leading up to the holidays? Was I the only one?

The largest organ of our body is our skin. It’s also the greatest “tattle-tale” of what’s going on in our life. It shows STRESS honestly.   

Take a moment, sit down and follow the instructions below to de-stress your skin and put this back in order, post holiday!

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1. DEHYDRATION: Water. (Put in your mouth & on your skin)

Traveling and climate change take a toll on the hydration of our bodies and ultimately our skin. Water is so important for healthy body functioning as well as ALL of our cells. On average, our body is made up of 60-80% water.. So refill it consistently & often, and it will GLOW. 

2. SUGAR OVERLOAD: Skip it & Detox. 

We all indulge more this time of year. Did you know that consumption of processed sugar actually breaks down the good fibers in our skin? I know. I’m bummed too. So go back to limited sugar and stick with the natural forms (fruits, vegetables) and a bite of dark chocolate every other day. 

3. TOO MUCH MAKEUP: Wipe it off (well).  

This is the time of year we dress up more & add extra eyeliner. Take the time to do a second cleanse. Grab a toner with ingredients like salycillic acid, peptides, aloe & haulourinic acid so you are putting them into the skin as well as cleansing. You will be amazed at the amount of makeup residue you will wipe off your skin AFTER washing your face. 

4. MORE LINES & WRINKLES: Mini facials. 

Start giving your skin more love to make up for all the stress. Do a scrub every other night. Add extra eye cream under your eyes. Apply a second layer of moisturizer for a hydrating mask while you sleep. Grab the green tea bags after brewing and apply to your eyes for 5-10 mins. You’re skin will thank you & bounce back. 

5. EXHAUSTION: Rest. 

They call it beauty sleep for a reason. All our cells regenerate at night. Start winding down a few nights early and allow your body more time to rejuvenate. Not only will you feel better, you’ll look better! Promise. 

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I’d love to hear what you think.. Do you have a specific post holiday skin issue? Please let me know. 

  

Happy Beautiful New Year to you ALL!  ~ Michelle xo

Fall M/U trends: #1. Red

Runway trends don’t always translate into every day wear, but this year there are 5 great trends that would work and really jazzed up your every day make-up look.

Each week In September I’ll give you some examples of how to incorporate each trend into your look as well as my favorite product picks.  Let’s start with #1 = Red lips.
Every year when I think of the Fall & holiday season, the first thing I think of is bright, rich, bold lips!  And I get excited.. I have dark hair and pale skin so I love reds, dark fuchsia, bricks, crimson and wine.. and every year I add a new color.  This is one of the trends from the runway this season.

The trickiest part is choosing the right undertone for your skin tone. Here’s an example and a guide from The Beauty Bookends : Choosing The Perfect Red Lip.

My TOP 5 all-time favorite pics are these:

1. Avon Slick Tint in Wine
2. LipSense in Blue Red (The best contact for LipSense: lisaderoma@netzero.com)
3. MAC LadyBug or RubyWoo Gloss
4. Revlon Black Cherry
5. Loreal Pro Infallible Red (long lasting not too drying)

Basic rules: 

1. Red isn’t for everyone, but it doesn’t hurt to try.

2. Clear lip liner helps it stay in place & not bleed.

3. Keep your eyes simpler with a really bold lip. 

4. Take a selfie and see how it looks but make sure your whole face is made up not just your lips.

5. Have fun! Aren’t you thrilled that the fall is finally coming? Go out and try something new it’s make up remember, you can always wipe it off.

Do YOU have a favorite RED or have your eye on a new one for Fall? Please share with me in the comments below.. I’ll be shopping soon.

8 Reasons to use toner NOW

I didn’t use toner for years. Another product? Another step? No way.. I already have/do too many. I don’t need that (with laughter filling my head).  Sound familiar?

Then I did an experiment. I took a clean cotton pad after using my best cleanser, applied some hydrosol and I wiped. Hmmmm how can that be?  Then I applied all my skincare products and went to grab some much needed beauty sleep.

The next morning, knowing my face was as clean as a whistle I took a cotton pad, applied some more hydrosol and wiped.. YIKES!

How was it possible with a clean face and doing nothing but sleep, I still have sweat & dirt on my face. That was the day I started using toner.

Here’s a picture from this morning.. Guess my mascara wasn’t all off last night. Thank you toner.. I have to say I love you!

WHY Toner..

1. Tightens, refreshes & firms skin

2. Keep pores clean (minimized) & helps prevent breakouts

3. Help pulls moisturizer deeper into skin when applied AFTER toner

4. Combat & repair anti-aging and sun damage

5. Gently exfoliates, soothes & disinfects

6. Is it’s own skin treatment –  adds ingredients like vitamins & antioxidants 

7. Takes off excess dirt, sweat, mascara, misc. makeup & oil (is your 2nd cleanse)

8. It will be your secret weapon (proof is in the pad, see photo above)

WHAT Toner..

Oily skin: Love most of these, astringent & alcohol-free 

Dry skin: Love adding hydrasols & these are great options

Normal skin:  These are good for normal skin – neroli is my favorite

Did I change your mind? Or do you already use toner? Please share with me in the comments below.

Eyebrows: DIY trimming or not?

Flashback, 1980s.. I decided I could trim my hair with a mirror and a comb. Facing backwards (what was I thinking) I started combing my curls and trimming the ends. Thinking I did a brilliant job until my Grama turned me around (wait for it..) a few days later and said, “Did you trim your hair? The entire back is 2 inches shorter than your sides.”  And I had curly hair!  Lets not even mention the bang trim.. and don’t pretend that you don’t know.. I bet you all have a story of your own!

First let’s look at what you should NEVER do:

1. Comb eyebrow down and trim
2. Face scissors into hairline and trim (asking for trouble)
3. Comb hair and trim like hair (this should be done by pro) 4. Use a large scissor, actually anything other than a cuticle

I always suggest try using wax or gel to set brows first.  If there are some unruly hairs, you can see if they will settle down before picking up scissors. If after a few days of gelling or waxing, you still have unruly hair (falling down, curling up, sticking out, too long), then grab the scissors (cuticle size only).  Be careful!  You do not want to make holes, gaps or slices in your brow (it’s easier to do than you may think.)

Rules of DIY trimming:
1. Always cut less than you think you need
2. Brush hairs UP
3. Face scissors away from rest of brow (tip of scissors should NEVER face directly into brow line, seriously DON’T do it = tears)
4. Trim and brush –  Reset

Remember the hairs from the arch to the end make your eyebrow tail.  If you brush them up and cut them really short you’ll lose the entire end of your brow line.  I only cut the tiniest of tips to start and brush hairs back into place.. then maybe a bit more, always checking my lines.

When cutting the front half of the brows (nose to arch), point tip of scissors into forehead (see photo above.)  Second half of the brow (arch to end) point tip of scissors toward temples.  Pointing the tip of scissors the wrong way, (yes I have personal knowledge of this) it is highly probable you will cut too far in.  Then, we need to chat about filling in the missing hair (coming up next) because you just cut spaces and gaps into your brow.

The most common question when trimming brows is what to do with at very start of the brow. Should they go up & trim or  should they go up and come over into the rest of the brow?  It’s depends.  Is your hair thick is your hair thin? Is your hair straight is your hair curly? And what look do you like?  Look at magazine photos.  Find a brow that is similar to your own natural brow and use that as a guide.

So baby steps and little trims.. brush UP, trim a tiny bit and brush into place.. reset.  I am a believer in using the natural shape of your own brow to create your perfect brow.  If you’re scared.. call your local professional (make sure its a referral.)

Remember both sides of the face are completely different and both brows are completely different. They are sisters, not twins –  we do the best we can to make them match.

Will you trim or NOT trim.. let me know in the COMMENTS below.  If you like this post please tweet it, pin it, re-pin it and share it with your friends! and of course comments are ALWAYS loved..

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Eyebrows 101
New series from the Beauty Boutique..
Your eyebrow questions answered.

Is that a grey hair in my eyebrow!?

It was an ordinary day. I grabbed my mirror and headed to the window with my tweezers.. Looking for those pesky hairs out of place & messing up my brow line.
Wait, what is that? Do I see a.. Is that a..? Hmmm a light blonde hair in my brow? Strange I’m a brunette. I turn away from the sunshine and flip the mirror to the magnifier. OMG.. @!$?! What! How?..

Oh no.. Do I pluck it? Cut it? Color it? Or ignore it (yeah right). Can anyone else relate? Let’s look at options:

1. Pluck it.
I prefer the word “tweeze”. They say when you pull 1 grey hair 2 grow in its place. But when you’re over 40, they may not grow back.
Over-plucking can lead to holes & thinned brows. So my advice is tweeze sparingly.

2. Trim it.
If you have lighter hair trimming the grey hair may be a good option. Trim the tip so it blends into the brow instead of laying on top. Darker hair needs to trim lower.
Be careful to isolate only the grey hair, otherwise you’ll cut yourself a bald spot. (Post coming up on “Trimming brows”)

3. Dye it.
I believe this is the best option. While having your hair colored (or DIY) place some color across your brows (not skin). Leave it on for 10-15 min depending on darkness of hair color. Wipe off with cold water pad to seal in color. Or make an appointment with your favorite Esthetican and ask for a brow tint. They will be able to customize a color to match your hair.
Tinting lasts up to a month and slowly fades away.

4. Color it.
Wetting eyeshadow can work for darker hair tones. The best option is finding a matching brow or hair mascara. Simply wipe on and let it dry.
Color lasts until it’s washed off. It also helps keep the brow hairs in place.

Otherwise you leave it alone, smile at yourself in the mirror and continue on.
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Eyebrows 101
New series from the Beauty Boutique..
Your eyebrow questions answered.

Why Toner? Do you use it?

I never thought I needed Toner.  Then I started studying skincare & aromatherapy.  I did a test on my face.. this is what I found:

Now at 42, I have noticed a BIG difference in the tone of my skin, brightness, firmness & lack of breakouts since using toner regularly.

I have noticed my girlfriend Dia’s face change too.  Her freckles are softer, less wrinkles, more brightness and more hydrated skin.

It’s GOOD for your skin!  Just cleanse and apply then follow with your fav moisturizer.  I love to use hydrosols as well – aromatherapy & skincare combined!

PS. This video screenshot is both of us without any makeup on our SKIN.. (only eyes.. LOL)

B is for Balance

I have struggled with BALANCE my entire life.

As a student studying dance.  As a choreographer/professional dancer.  As a business owner.  As a beauty artist.  Is there such a place as “perfect balance“?

“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance & order and rhythm & harmony.”  (Thomas Merton)

I believe unbalance is a common occurrence.  I believe it does not happen overnight.  I believe we all lead lopsided lives.  I believe it is a life long journey to figure it out.  What works for one person may not work for any other.  What do we do?

Do we ever reach the place where the see-saw is STUCK in perfect balance (that would be no fun)? Or in the yoga pose “tree” where we can’t come out of the pose due to our perfect balance (I’ve only done that maybe twice).

In Beauty, did you know a more balanced face appears more beautiful to the eye.  All beauty treatments and m/u applications are to help balance the skin/face.  In health and body, the more in balance our minds and bodies are, the better we feel.

I believe it is the journey of all the lessons that the imbalances give us that makes life more beautiful.

I believe it’s all about flexibility & patience.  Bend with changes and try to stay positive and upright..  all we have to do is strive for balance.   I believe it’s the process that creates the beautiful dance.

This year, BALANCE will mean not adding too much to my plate and saying
“NO, but thank you” more often!  Here’s to trying & a few cushioned falls!

What is your “B” word?  (this is what inspired mine.. Jan 2014)

#TellYourStory2014