How to Hide a Pimple

October 10, 2012 By 1 Comment

We are very excited to welcome beauty expert Melissa Wilson of MAWBeauty Hair & Makeup Studio to share her insider expertise with us on how to address this common annoyance that happens to even the best of us. 

Let’s face it – not everyone has perfect, flawless skin. There are many of us out there who suffer from acne, seasonal or hormonal breakouts. And when our face isn’t looking its best, we definitely don’t feel our best. Having pimples can definitely be a confidence breaker, but knowing how to conceal your blemishes in a natural looking way can give you the boost of confidence that you need to face the world head on! As a professional makeup artist, here are some tips for concealing your pimples.

1) Start with a clean, well hydrated face. Odds are that if you are experiencing breakouts, you probably have some excess oil in your skin. Be sure to wash your face with an oil-free cleanser, and hydrate with an oil-free moisturizer.

2) Using a flat concealer brush, apply stick or cream concealer to the blemish. Stick and cream concealers give better coverage than liquid   concealers. Using a concealer that is too light or too dark will make your pimple stand out even more, so your concealer should match your skin tone exactly. I personally like concealers from Arbonne International. They give great coverage, are very blendable, and are free of ingredients that will clog your skin even more, or cause more breakouts.

3) Gently press the concealer brush on top of your pimple, giving the brush a little twist. This will help to work the product into the blemish so that all the nooks, crannies, and crevices are filled in.  This step can be repeated until the pimple is totally hidden. I really like the Sonia Kashuk concealer brush. The bristles are firm, yet very pliable, which will reduce any pulling or tugging on the area.

4) Using your finger, gently tap the area around the pimple, smoothing out and blending into the skin any lines created by the concealer

5) Next, apply foundation to the rest of your face. Your foundation can be applied using a sponge, brush, or your fingers. Try not to apply foundation to the pimple, however, if you apply your foundation over the pimple, I suggest using your finger to lightly tap the product on. This way, the coverage that you created with the concealer will not be disturbed.

6) Apply a skin-matching or translucent powder directly to the pimple using your finger, Q-tip, or a small fluffy brush. Avoid putting too much pressure on the pimple, as this could lead to scarring or more irritations.

There you have it! You have successfully covered your pimple! Keep in mind, though, that while makeup is great for covering things up, the key to having a flawless complexion is having a great skin care regimen and a healthy diet. For oily, acne-prone skin, products containing low amounts of salicylic acid or glycolic acid will help to treat breakouts. They will also chemically exfoliate the skin, getting rid of dead skin cells and creating a smooth, polished complexion. Also, be sure to keep your skin hydrated by drinking plenty of water! By following these 6 simple steps to cover up any unwanted blemishes along with proper diet and skin care, you will be sure to stay flawless all the time!

Filed Under: Beauty Questions, Makeup, Melissa Wilson

Television’s Top “Tough as Nails” Beauties

October 1, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Television’s fall season is now upon us and now, more than ever, shows are featuring female characters that are feminine and tough. This got our thinking; who are our favorite “tough as nails” small-screen beauties? Of course there are many we admire that didn’t make the list, but we wanted to take time  to highlight our top five picks.

1) Maggie Q as Nikita in Nikita

This former model is kicking some serious butt as the title character on the CW’s Nikita. As a former government assassin who fights for the greater good and her own redemption, Maggie shows off her fighting skills, acting chops and that wickedly lean figure. We’re heads over heels in love with this vegan’s sculpted facial figures, fresh-faced look and absurdly healthy head of hair.

2) Taraji P. Henson as Detective Joss Carter on Person of Interest

On the show Person of Interest, the Oscar-nominee plays an idealistic cop who follows her own intuition instead of the rules. Whether she is chasing down criminals, bonding with her son or piecing together clues, we find ourselves captivated by her intense, smoldering stare and perfectly arched eyebrows. At 42-years-old, this woman looks better than most people half her age!

3) Cobie Smulders as Robin Scherbatsky in How I Met Your Mother

For eight seasons, Cobie has played the gun-loving, cigar-smoking, baby-fearing news reporter on CBS’s How I Met Your Mother. With her baby blue eyes, athletic build and unapologetic independence, it’s no wonder that all the characters, except Marshall, have lusted after this hilarious, strong babe (we’re looking at you Lilly!) Bravely facing life’s ups and downs, it’s her imperfections that make her truly beautiful.

4) Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison in Homeland

There has never quite been a character as brave or as flawed as Carrie Mathison. The extremely talented and dedicated CIA agent was the sole individual to suspect the impending terrorist attack and readily sacrificed her job and sanity to try to expose the truth. In the role, beautiful Claire Danes exemplifies inspiring strength and heartbreaking vulnerability that has won her overwhelming praise and a string of top awards.

5) Kat Dennings as Max Black in 2 Broke Girls

We’re here to talk about Kat Dennings’ eyes, and we don’t mean that as an innuendo. We could personally get lost for hours in those expressive, blue peepers of hers. In the show, Max correctly wears minimal colors on her eyelids in order to not detract from her icy irises and, instead, plays up her full lips with a rich hue. As a feisty, Brooklyn waitress in a late-night diner, the character of Max is full of witty one-liners that push people away and make her seem unshakable. However, underneath her hard exterior, she is a loyal friend who goes above and beyond to do the right thing.

 

 

Filed Under: As Seen On TV, Beauty Trends, Makeup Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , ,

Product Review: Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour

September 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

                            

What comes to mind when you think of pink lipstick? Frosted pink abominations from the 80′s or Barbie dolls . . . that’s what I picture. So, when I was received the Borghese Perla Duale High Impact Lipcolour Perla Rosa, I was immediately struck by just how pink it was. Yes, I was a little worried. After all, it seems like a very hard color for someone to pull off for an average day. Well, let me be the first to say that I was very wrong. I received so many compliments while wearing this shade that it was awesome!

So, what look did I match my bright pink lips with? With such a statement-making color, I didn’t want to overwhelm my aesthetic, so I put on light blush and minimal eye makeup. Next, I applied nude lip liner to help prevent the product from bleeding. When using the lipstick itself, it was so soft that it felt like putting expensive coco butter on my lips! The product lasted very long and I only had to reapply once in 12 hours. With the durability of the color and the ultra-softness, I give this Borghese lipstick two thumbs up!

Inspired by the fashions from the runways from Milan, each lipcolour contains a pearlescent outer core that gives each shade that extra pearly glow. It is formulated with Vitamins A, E and C to condition lips and provide anti-oxidant protection, and Chamomile and Aloe to keep her lips smooth.

Filed Under: Beauty Trends, Makeup, Vicki Long Tagged With: , , ,

Eye Makeup Tips For Women With Glasses

September 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment

You might have been called “four-eyes” in grade school, but glasses are quickly becoming the sexy new trend that are being worn on the red carpet and out on the town. With the increasing popularity of eye wear, perhaps you want to give your contacts the night off. Below are suggestions to consider when adorning the statement-making fashion accessory.

  • Match the thickness of your eye makeup to the thickness of your frames. If you have dark, bulky rims, we suggest a more dramatic look of either a smoky eye or drawn out, cat eye makeup. Reversely, if your frames are thin and delicate, sport a more natural, subtler look. Additionally, take into account the glasses’ effect on the size your eyes will seem. If you are farsighted, the lenses will make your eyes appear larger, so you might want to use darker shadows to minimize the effect. Inversely, those who are nearsighted will want to make their eyes pop by applying light eyeliner to the waterline. No matter your prescription though, black mascara is a must if you want to make your eyes really stand out. However, if your lashes continually hit your glasses, use an eyelash curler to help pull them upward.
  • Cleanly shaped eyebrows are a must for women who wear glasses. Your arches will make the difference between your look appearing disheveled or sleek. While there are various ways to shape the brows, we recommend using a pencil to make the brows more dramatic and defined. Additionally, a powder will help you lighten or darken the brows. To help tame the hairs, consider buying a specialized comb or brush.
  • Your glasses’ lenses can emphasize shadows and bags underneath the eyes, so take care to apply concealer. However, be aware that any blemishes can be slightly magnified, so take care to use a color that seamlessly matches your own skin tone. Another offered suggestion is to buy products that minimize puffiness.

So go on and embrace your inner-Tina Fey. Forget the outdated stereotypes of women with glasses being mousy and meek; in this day and age, you can be be flirty, sexy and able to properly see!

 

Filed Under: Beauty Trends, Makeup Tagged With: , ,

How to Transition a Smoky Eye from Day to Night

September 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Smoky eyes . . . they’re sexy, flirty and edgy. I believe that every woman owes it to herself to try it at least once. Good news is, the smoky-eye-look can be styled to be “classy and ladylike,” and then easily modified to “a sexy, late night” appearance. Last night at work, I did just that with my makeup. At the beginning of my shift at the restaurant, there were lots of families and so I wore simple makeup. However, as the night progressed into more of a party atmosphere, so did my personal look. An adaptable smoky eye is easy to achieve with a few simple tricks.

Last night, I used Too Faced MoonBeam Baked Eye Shadow and was very impressed. It lasted all throughout an eleven hour shift, was super blend-able and it had just the right amount of sparkle to make it look sassy instead of trashy.

To start off the day, I used another light green eyeshadow on my whole eyelid and blended it into the lid. I then lightly applied Moon Beam Baked Eye Shadow on my crease. The goal was to achieve a subtle tint instead of bold, statement making color, so I only pressed down slightly. Feel free to add a single coat of mascara, but avoid using eyeliner for now.

To smoothly transition this look to night, slightly wet the tip of your brush and then apply the same eye shadow to the area above your lash line, using slightly more pressure than before. Don’t worry about being precise, as you will next use a smudge brush and blend it into the lid. While the subtle green shade was suitable for a daytime affair, darker shades are needed to obtain a sexier eye.

Next, line your lower lash line using the same eye shadow; utilize the thicker part of the thin brush on the outer half of your lower lid, and then switch to using the brush’s tip as you approach the inner corners. To add extra oomph, use a dry brush to add another layer of the eye shadow to your outer crease, though I found such a step unnecessary with the baked eye shadow. Apply another coat of mascara and you’re ready to rock & roll!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Beauty Questions, Makeup, Vicki Long Tagged With: , , , , ,

Wacky Beauty Through History: The Road to Pale Skin

September 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Today, women (and men) spend hundreds of dollars and risk the prevalent threat of cancer in order to achieve one thing; the perfect, golden tan. As MTV star Pauly D says, “I got a f—ing tanning bed in my place, that’s how serious I am.” It might be hard to believe that, for many centuries, Caucasian women thought paleness was the pinnacle of beauty. In much of Europe, skin that was untouched by the sun was treated as an indicator of affluence and wealth, as it was the low class workers who toiled outside and had their skin scorched. While individuals have used various versions of foundation since the time of Ancient Egypt, they have also historically engaged in less conventional methods to lighten their color.

Starting in the sixth century, European women truly proved that “beauty is pain” by bleeding themselves to achieve paler skin. While, the process was carried out through a variety of different techniques, one popular trick was to apply leeches to the ears. Surprisingly, this enduring practice could be considered one of the healthier ways women achieved milky appearances.

In the times of the Renaissance, women like Queen Elizabeth coated their faces with white paint that contained ingredients like lead and arsenic. Not only did this ruin the skin they wanted to protect, but it led to many scenarios of digestive problems, shaking and death. Because of the horrid effects of the makeup, women would increasingly apply thicker coats to hide the scarring, and consequently start a vicious cycle. Similarly, women used harmful substances to also lighten their locks; one particularly outrageous example is application of lye (used in soap making and biodiesel production), which would lead to the hair falling out. Not coincidentally, wigs grew in popularity during this time period.

 

After piecing together the deadly results of their own makeup, European women began to shy away from the predecessors’ cosmetics in favor of more natural ingredients to achieve a clean, white face; in the 1800s, women commonly used ingredients like egg whites, oatmeal, lemon juice and honey to alter their appearance. Also, the sun was avoided all together as skin remained consistently covered and parasols became all the rage. To use manufactured beauty products was seen as being crude and deceptive.

Today, there are a variety of different products that help women of all races to easily achieve the look of flawless skin without, you know, the risk of death or attracting bugs. To protect your complexion and battle the sun’s aging effects, we recommend finding a creamy foundation that incorporates SPF protection, as found in TIGI and Dermalogica cosmetic lines.

Filed Under: Makeup Tagged With: , , ,

New Borghese Gift Sets Available!

August 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

We know that you all love Borghese Gift Sets.  If you love their products, their sets provide you with great savings, and always include some of their best sellers.  Well, we’ve just received 3 new Sets in stock that we know you’ll love.

Borghese Celestial Nights Beauty Box 7 Piece Set

The stars are out tonight with “Celestial Nights”. Get the look with this Borghese “beauty in a box” that sets the tone for a glamorous night out for any occasion. To begin, there’s Splendore Brightening Makeup which gives a subtle glow to brighten any complexion. Lips also shimmer and shine this holiday season with two new shades. First there’s Perfetta Lip Pencil in Cacao to line and define. Next, Lumina High Shine Lipcolour in Mocha to condition and soothe lips as it delivers color that lasts all night long. And last, B Gloss Lip Gloss in Celestial to give lips delicious moisture and shine that lasts while the stars are out. And eyes are also in on the fun. We’ve included Satin Shadow Milano Trio in Romantico Brown to layer softly or boldly. And to add dramatic definition just at the lash line, Linea Precisa Liquid Eyeliner in Black. Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara in Black gives her the lush, thick lashes she always wanted. She’s one step closer to heaven with “Celestial Nights”. Packed in its own Borghese Beauty Box, it’s a $160 value, priced at $49.99

GIFT INCLUDES:

Splendore Brightening Makeup
Perfetta Lip Pencil – Cacao
Lumina High Shine Lipcolour – Mocha
B Gloss Lip Gloss – Celestial
Satin Shadow Milano Trio – Romantico Brown
Linea Precisa Liquid Eyeliner – Black
Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara – Black
Borghese Beauty Box

Borghese Graceful Glow Gift Set 6 Piece

When the holidays call for travel, nothing’s better than this little kit from Borghese. This gift has everything a woman needs to glow. Crema Saponetta Cleansing Creme gently cleanses and refreshes, while Fango Active Mud for Face and Body helps to stimulate and firm the skin while gently detoxifying, leaving skin feeling hydrated and invigorated. Fluido Protettivo Advanced Spa Lift for Eyes helps to moisturize the delicate eye area. And for the perfect finishing touches, this collection also includes a mini B Gloss Lip Gloss in Fiore for high shine and moisturization and a mini Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara in Black to make her eye lashes thick, glamorous and luminous. Graceful Glow comes with its own small fabric Clutch Bag with a flower appliqué, perfect to throw into a purse, carry-on or tote.

GIFT INCLUDES:

Crema Saponetta Cleansing Creme, 1 oz
Fango Active Mud for Face and Body, 1 oz
Fluido Protettivo Advanced Spa Lift for Eyes, 0.5 fl oz
Mini B Gloss Lip Gloss – Fiore
Mini Superiore State-of-the-Art Mascara – Black
Clutch Bag

Borghese Majestic Treatment Gift Set 6 Piece

Majestic Treatment has everything she has been wishing for to feel pampered and special. The royal treatment starts with Fango Delicato Active Mud for Delicate Dry Skin to restore and polish delicate skin to a healthy vibrancy and a naturally hydrated state. Borghese’s high performance firming moisturizer, CuraForte Moisture Intensifier helps the skin’s capacity to retain moisture, giving hour after hour of hydration while Cura di Vita Protettivo Protective Moisturizer SPF 15 helps to give her a youthful glow while protecting her skin from environmental damage. Our lightweight and quick penetrating body treatment, Tono Body Creme, helps restore moisture balance to parched skin. And a mini B Gloss Lip Gloss in Chianti moisturizes lips and gives them a high shine. Our Majestic Treatment is enclosed in an exclusive terracotta fabric Cosmetic Case.

GIFT INCLUDES:

Fango Delicato Active Mud for Delicate Dry Skin, 1 oz
CuraForte Moisture Intensifier, 0.25 fl oz
Cura di Vita Protettivo Protective Moisturizer SPF 15, 1 fl oz
Tono Body Creme, 1 oz
Mini B Gloss Lip Gloss – Chianti
Cosmetic Case

Filed Under: Makeup, New Products Tagged With: , , , , ,
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