My Make-Up Style

Don’t leave home with out the protection of a sunscreen. This is your summer beauty tip. I realize a little sunlight is healthy for you, however, if your exposure is more than 20 minutes of sun throughout the day, then you must apply some type of sunscreen. As my favorite Make-Up artist, Jan Finney say’s UVA and UVB means “you vill age and you vill burn!”

Now that I am creeping up on 50 years old, those things I tried to take seriously are certainly paying off. I know that my excellent skin care products have really made a difference.

As stated in an earlier post, I went for 40 days without any lotions or potions. The skin around my eyes really began to suffer. I decided to stay on eye treatments with this round of 40 days of no make-up or lotions. I am using two different products and have been watching how the product is changing the delicate eye tissue. I didn’t think I had developed any fine lines and wrinkles. Wow, have the creams been doing there job!

For just the fact that I have seen first hand the changes in my eyes with and without eye creams, I will never go without them again!!! Treat yourself right and chat with ya again soon.

Teresa

Well, sadly, I am starting a diet that will not allow me to use cosmetics for a little over a month. The creams and makeup contain ingredients that may affect my progress. I am completely freaking out over this but should I evolve more in control of my health and my weight, it will be worth it.

I keep looking for ways to break the rules. I use a hydrating mineral powder that I may use anyway on days that I am expected to shop, or work, meeting the public, wow, I don’t know. I don’t know, it is really freaking me out!!! I can’t stay housed for the next month. Maybe I will shop only in the middle of the night. Hehhehe.

I am completely mortified about not using my eye cream. I am going to try but I don’t know if I can really do it. I know that reversing what my products do for me will take time to repair the damage I may create. I have seen what happens when older women stop using excellent eye creams! Well, I will let you know how I deal with it in responses to this post, it may be more than I can handle.

I spoke to a girlfriend who is using Extra Strength Rogaine for hair loss on her eyebrows. Her eyebrows are very sparse due to hypothyroidism. It seems that Allure had an article and there are lots of posts on the internet with various experiences with Rogaine. My greatest concern is two issues.

First, and most importantly, even though you put the product on the brow at night before bed with a q-tip, this is dangerously close to the eyes. As a make-up artist, I know how topical products can travel. As they warm onto the skin especially a liposomal product will spread. I am a restless sleeper, and I would assume that even though the product will dry before I get into bed. Will there be any residue that may spread to my pillow top? If that occurs, could I get the product in my eyes? Minoxidil is a drug. I am pretty careful about keeping chemicals out of my house due to my sensitivities.

My second concern, in my reading, people report more hair loss before they any gain. I don’t know that I am willing to gamble on this product. After all, my eyebrow pencil works great for my hair color. Yes, it is another step, but one I have been doing since my teens because from the peak of my brow down, my brows are and always have been sparse. Hmmm…, I am going to continue watching posts on this issue. For now, I choose to maintain as I always have, not willing to gamble. I would love to hear your experiences on this issue!

My solutions to the latest make-up trends are to avoid them until you know how to do a natural look and are comfortable with application techniques.

Most trends can be added to your day look like a smokey eye. It is interesting to watch someone apply cosmetics, but if you are 50 and trying to imitate the application being performed on a 20 year old, there are several big problems with this scenario.

First, the age related issues. The colors applied may be too shimmery or too dark for you enhancing fine lines and wrinkles. Second, you are not taking into account your face shape, eye shape, bone structure, and lip shape.

You need good solid information and basic help understanding how to approach application for you. Everyone is unique to some degree and with make-up, size matters!

So don’t fall victim to the secrets of the stars, you need to unveil the secrets of you. Learn to work with brushes and matte colors, then add a little pizazz in the evening! So read my tips and blog, my e-books, I actually do respond to anyone who has ordered an e-book and will via e-mail help you tailor your application if you send me a couple of face shots. Just say ‘no’ to the $20.00 hooker look! I will help you craft an elegant beautiful you!

I don’t know what age you are when you can say that your skin is mature, but I certainly can tell you that when the skin around the eyes become crêpey, you begin to need application revisions to your current regime. And what I mean by crêpey is when you see the skin lack the elasticity it used to have. You know, when it begins to move with your eyeliner pencil or doesn’t quite snap right back.

It really comes down to my suggestions for learning how to apply make-up naturally.

Let’s start with no shimmers.  Look for matte eye shadow.  It seems to me that women start to give up and stop wearing eye shadow.   Then they just become lazy.  I know you got tired of flushing your money down the toilet, buying color that wasn’t right and then dumping it. This is why it is nice to visit a make-up artist.  Although it can be expensive initially, I am convinced you will save money in the long term, get some fresh ideas and you will know what to invest in, something you will use.

Once again, even though I was raised to, I don’t make-up every day of my life!  I have a life, therefore I don’t feel the need to create one through a stunning daily make-up application.  Now there are always exceptions to this rule.  If you are working everyday out where you are meeting and seeing others, this is really a very important time to wear make-up, but lighten it up on the weekends, say, foundation, mascara, blush, gloss and eyebrows (should yours be as scantily thin as mine).  Sometimes, I will use a sunblock and skip the foundation, hey, why not?  My skin looks beautiful, I have used great skin care products and it shows.

So that is the first step to mature skin application, pay attention to the changes with the eyes.   We will continue to discuss this subject further. But for now, I have to get back to my day job!

I think it is important for us to reflect on what beauty really is.  I truly believe that we all have the potential to enhance our natural beauty but not everyone is able to produce inner beauty.   I think it comes from a goodness or the Godness we have inside.  The Spirit of each of us is truly our connection to our source. It is the part of us that still evades science to a Scientist’s extreme frustration.  Happy New Year 2009!  If you are looking want to enhance your inner glow, remember to nurture your inner beauty and feed your Spirit creating balance!

Motives by Loren Ridinger, Gel eyeliner, LOVE IT!

I have been working with a new product from Motives that is absolutely divine. It is a gel eyeliner you use with a brush and line your lid. I really am impressed with this product. I loved it the first time I worked with it because it is so gentle.

I like to give a new product a little time, to see how it fairs. I am sure you have all purchased something that seems great the first couple of uses but then fails to meet the same expectations in the future. I have been using it for two months now and still feel it is really a fabulous product.

I have not noticed this type of eyeliner on the market. If it exists, I am not trying to be company specific, please forgive me, I just have not seen it. What is so incredible about the gel opposed to an eyeliner pencil is no sharpening and no breaking. I have always loved being able to sharpen my own pencil because I like to use the point. I have always lain the pencil sideways and pulled towards the nose bridge which gave me that nice clean outer edge. With this product there is no tugging or taring the eye tissue. It is absolutely silky smooth! The only draw back is washing your brush, but a little liquid soap and a rinse and wha..la!! Fantastic! Motives by Loren Ridinger, great job, great new product!!!

With your cleanser rubbed in, lay a warm wash clothe over your face and relax a minute or two. Allow the warmth to lift the cosmetics or debris from the pores, opening the pores and then genltly rinse and wipe.

In my morning shower, I felt the warmth and comfort of the water and steam. It made me think of how easy and inexpensively we can give to ourselves. I remember when my children were little; it was always a race to complete everything that needed to be done. Now my kids have grown and my husband and I are empty nesters, I take more time for myself, but it also made me think of how you can meet two needs every evening.

When I have clients in my make-up chair, I always have them cleanse their face with my products. I hand them some cleanser and talk to them about washing each night, then I hand them a very warm wash cloth they lay over their face and I always hear “ahhhh“, they melt.

It is one of lives simple pleasures and such an easy thing for you to do. Not only are you caring for your skin health, but you are nurturing the part of you that needs to be comforted. So every day, put that wash clothe to really good use and feel the warmth and relaxation it inspires, enabling you to do one little loving thing for you.

I was asked to be an amateur judge for Miss Grand Lake Scholarship program and Miss Grand Lake Outstanding Teen. It was my first pageant experience. My foremost thought was how can I possibly pass judgment on these girls?

I was miserably shy as a young woman feeling awkward in my skin. And I thought to myself, I could have never done what they are doing. Imagine… dressing to impress and going into a room with 5 people sitting, staring at you from head to toe and shooting questions at you. Oh no,… not from a list of prepared questions, the judges can ask you whatever they want, any subject that comes to mind from politics to bargain shopping.

I honestly don’t know if my contribution was helpful or a hindrance. Beauty to me is so much more than looks. It is a style, a kindness, a warmth and laughter. I felt myself squirming in my own self doubt while growing within me was a new appreciation for the pageant system. The dedication these girls comprise to be leaders creates a full schedule of caring for themselves through diet and exercise programs, donating their time, while maintaining honors in education continually striving for excellence.

And I had to choose? I had moments to rate them on a scale of 1 to 10. Although I was given profiles in advance and could research their platforms, as I was reading about each candidate, I was in awe. What possesses them to excel the way they do? The courage they would have to have. The system seems to promote a poise that I rarely see in young women and I was so pleased to meet these beautiful young influential girls.

It was a new experience and I appreciated the opportunity of being included and being an insider on an event that can often catapult a woman into a career of volunteerism, a system of scholarship opportunities to aide them in their education and last but not least, the role of leadership. The next step for the winner is Miss Oklahoma, I may have to go!

I know some of you will be shocked this could ever be some type of horror but none the less, the number one boo boo is not wearing a foundation.

And wow, foundation issues are heading the list at numbers 3, 2 and 1. This is how important it really is. Since I admittedly confess that I am guilty of not always wearing a foundation, I am sure this could be confusing, so permit me to preface this by…  If you want to look your best, let’s explore the importance of wearing a foundation!

There are lots of reasons to start your natural look with a nice foundation. In my opinion, the number one reason is …

1. Building confidence and self esteem. When you look your best, you feel your best. It makes you feel more put together. It is more professional, just take a look at the before and after’s on my home page (and remember, MY BEFORE PIC is the make-up they typically wear.  Some are wearing foundation and some are not.)  Your polished look makes people take you more seriously.

1. My second number one reason to wear a foundation; it creates an even tone with which to apply color. This is the preparation point for the best make-up. It gives you a clean even canvas, so to speak, to lay color on minimizing imperfections.

1. I have another number one reason for you to wear a foundation (teehee); it is a base that allows your color (lip, eye, blush etc.) to last ALL day.  If you wear a water based breathable foundation, your makeup sits on your foundation base rather than being absorbed into the pores.  By what I am reading, I certainly don’t know for fact the body absorbs make-up but it seems cosmetic ingredients are creating some great concerns so they must absorb to some degree.

So to recap, your water based, breathable foundation, is your barrier to the elements. It evens skin tone and makes your make-up last a very long time; I actually can exercise in mine and still look pretty good. Need I say more? Keep feeling beautiful!