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

It’s A New Year.. What Makes YOU Fierce?

It’s a new year and one of my favorite words is FIERCE!  It ignites my passion.. my desire to be strong.. my wish to be fearless.. my ambition to persevere and my goals of being unforgettable!

A year ago in February, my Grama passed away.  We were very close & I loved her with all my heart.  She was one of my most special people: my cheerleader, my mom, my voice of reason, my greatest sounding board and LOVED to watch me dance!  While I was back East for her funeral I stumbled upon a ballroom dance studio I had NO IDEA existed a few blocks from my home in LA.  I contacted them while in NJ (I swear Grama sent me to them) and the rest is history.. I fell back in love with dancing because of the owners Katie & Erick (below) and the wonderful instructors (the events & other students are just a bonus).

I started dancing at 10 yrs old.  I taught, performed & competed all throughout school.  I turned professional at the age of 19 and continued my career until 26.  I taught ballroom at a Fred Astaire studio from 22-24 yrs old.  I lived my dream of being a dancer and performing professionally all over the country.  But I hadn’t ballroom danced in about 15 years (even just for fun).

Dancing has ALWAYS been my heart, my love, my joy, my passion.

When I retired I couldn’t figure out how to enjoy it for fun.. so I gave it up.

Last February I walked into the studio (shaking & heart pounding – thinking WHAT AM I DOING? I can’t do this anymore!) I was greeted by one of the sweetest guys I have ever had the pleasure of meeting (or dancing with) and I haven’t stopped smiling yet!   In a year I have lost 25 pounds.. bought a dozen glittering gowns.. danced & sung more songs then I can remember, laughed uncontrollably (while dancing), felt like a princess (more than once) and entered my first EVER competition in December.

I am FIERCE!  I am having the time of my life.. inspiring others to dare to try something new.. sharing my joy, reminding others talent SHOULD be shared and hoping to become awesome in TANGO (my worst dance, in my mind) by this years end.  I am  not giving up!  I have over done it and injured myself multiple times last year.  But I’ve kept going. I can’t remember as much as I would like to or as quickly as I used to, BUT I AM FIERCE.  I feel good.  I’m graceful.  I’m happy.  I’m taking chances.  I’m NOT giving up!

What is it that you would LOVE to try this year?  What lights a spark in your heart? What do you do and no matter how hard you try, you can’t stop smiling (this is a problem for my TANGO).  Do that!  Try that!  If it scares you a little, it means there is a WONDERFUL treasure awaiting you on the other side.. it’s wrapped in a gorgeous package with a tag on it with YOUR name.. “YOU ARE FIERCE“.. It’s just waiting to be opened.. discovered.. shared.. and ONLY YOU can unwrap it!

Remember, DON’T let anyone or anything STOP you.. especially when you soul is whispering to you.. listen to it!  It’s usually IMPORTANT.

Please share your adventures & journey with me!  I can’t wait to hear what makes YOU FIERCE!(because you are)

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

Vitamin C is good 4 You

And your skin. Are you using it?

Anti-oxidants protect skin from future sun damage as well as repairing cells of past damage (those darn free radicals). Let me say that again, Vitamin C helps the skin repair itself!

It helps stimulate the production of collagen and elastin which slows down with age – hence the wrinkles.

Internal consumption is extremely good for skin as well. Buffered Vitamin C has always been recommended as a good choice for better body absorption.  Vitamin C is water soluble so you if it’s not absorbed by the body, it leaves.  We need to replenish daily because look at all the health benefits..

3 of my favorites are:

Dr. Spiller Vitamin C Line (serum, day & night cream)

Rodan + Fields Reverse Line (vitamin c & retinol combo) and the Sunscreen is the most hydrating I’ve ever used!

Avalon Organics Vitamin C renewal (lip balm)

So whether it’s finding a skincare line with Vitamin C, throwing an orange slice into your tea/water, munching on C based veggies (bell pepper, cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, collard greens, tomatoes) or supplementing your diet with buffered C (especially during cold & flu season) – start rev-ing UP your anti-aging routine today.

Your skin & body will THANK YOU!

DIY: SuperBowl SPAday

It’s SuperBowl Sunday weekend. Is there anyone else not into watching it or is it just me?  Well here’s what I will be doing.. SuperBowl SPAday!  Self pampering beauty.. Way better than football (at least to me) but maybe I’ll peek at the half-time show.

Here’s how to enjoy yourself while everyone else is in front of the television. Or after the party if you want to catch the game. (Can also be used any day you choose, whenever you’re in the mood or need it!)

What you will need:
Music of choice
Book of choice
Coconut oil
Packet of sugar
Honey
Green tea bags (2)
Candles
Socks/slippers
Favorite beverage

Start by lighting some candles (watching a flame lowers blood pressure), choosing some music (can’t go wrong with Classical or George Winston), pull out your favorite read (I’m addicted to Outlander right now) and pour yourself a beverage.

Pull your hair back with a tie or headband and slip into comfy clothes and slippers.  Take out the packet of sugar and empty it into your hand.  Mix a drop of your favorite cleanser into the sugar and apply to your face in circular movements.  Use warm water to wash your face with the mixture and give extra attention to any dry spots (nose, chin, lips).  The sugar will exfoliate and dissolve within the water as you wash (brilliant).  Rinse your face with cold water to close your pores and pat dry.

Apply a thin layer of coconut oil all over your face and follow by spreading a teaspoon of honey to your entire face & neck.  Pat the honey with your fingertips all over your face for about 1-2 minutes.  This stimulates the cells and encourages product penetration.  Apply coconut oil to your cuticles and grab a book, sitting with your feet up in front of the candles.  If you want to relax instead of read, apply one wet green tea bag to each eye and close.

Allow yourself to sit for 15-20 minutes with the honey on your face.  Then massage remaining oil into cuticles, remove tea bags, rinse face and pat dry.  Follow with one more application of coconut oil to your face & neck, apply your favorite eye cream and top with your moisturizer.

The honey and coconut oil will hydrate your skin and leave it feeling baby bottom smooth (and won’t clog or breakout skin).  The green tea bags will help hydrate, eliminate puffiness and firm.

If you want to sneak a peek at the television, now would be the time or just put your feet back up and enjoy YOU.

Let me know if you’ll be enjoying the game or pampering yourself.

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..

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)