Beauty Central...
a
collection of beauty tips, tricks & advice
December 3, 2010
Creating the Perfect
Pout… That Lasts!
Whether you’re a mascara and lip gloss gal, or an “I-don’t-even-check-the-mail-without-my-face-on,” lady, we all share one thing in common: we want the time we’ve spent on
looking good to actually last!
When it comes to lip products, I have done the research and
tried most everything on the market. Though long wearing lip color products
definitely deliver as they promise, unless you need your color to withstand
hours and hours without the option of a touch-up, I’d recommend avoiding them.
Don’t get me wrong, I love them for all of my fitness, figure and bikini
competitors and even for my brides who don’t want to mess with having to touch-up,
but I don’t typically recommend them for everyday wear.
Simply because of this: the drawbacks (dry, scaly lips and
product that has to literally be removed with makeup remover) outweigh the
benefits for everyday use. Most of us still prefer beauty that doesn’t totally
compromise our comfort… well, to a certain degree anyways!
When it comes to applying good-looking makeup, the secret is
less often in the ‘what,’ and more frequently in the ‘how.’ So – for those of
us who do have the option of the occasional touch-up but still want our lip
look to last as long as possible, allow me to suggest a solution. Follow these 3 steps, and I guarantee your lip
look will last longer!
1.
Line your entire lip area.
(Please note: the darkly lined lip with a much paler lip color look of the early 90’s
is out folks. So, unless you want to seriously date yourself, please steer clear!)
2.
Apply your fave lipstick.
(I opt for mattes over more sheer formulas, as the color is more intense/opaque
and will always last longer.)
3.
Add gloss.
(Remember, in terms of longevity – the stickier the better!)
There you go ladies! Now go perfect those pouts!
August 24, 2010
Tan in a Can? YES YOU
CAN!
Let’s face it – we all feel
better when we have a little bit of that sun-kissed glow. The honest truth
is, we look better too. We look healthier,
leaner, more fit... all around, better!
As a recovering tanning-bed junkie, I too LOVE that sun-kissed
glow. Since I’ve joyously been blessed with super fair skin, I’ve always sought
out ways to change that! Until recently, that meant soaking up the sun – real or
artificial, whenever possible.
That all changed when I noticed developing brow lines. This fun
discovery spurred a little bit of personal research…
Ladies, listen up – (especially you lil’ young ones who are
just like I was) what your mama and your doctor told you is TRUE. True, true,
true! Protect your skin! One day, you’ll be mighty thankful you did!
That being said, what’s a pale girl to do??
I have searched high and low for the perfect ‘tan in a can.’
There are some really, really bad ones out there. I have survived the
trauma of leper-like streaks and spots (which lasted for an entire week) and
the annoyance of a tan that is barely noticeable after a long and tedious
application.
So I am proud to announce – I have discovered the perfect ‘tan in a can.’ Yes, PERFECT!
It is divine, to say the least. It’s fool proof, streak
proof and about as easy as putting on perfume. (No joke.) The best part is – it
takes seconds to apply, gives an instant glow (which darkens within a few hours)
and lasts several days. Ladies, it’s a self-tanner’s dream. In a can.
What is this miracle product called and where can you
purchase it??? It’s Performance Ready’s, ‘Beach Body Tanning Mist’ and can be
purchased at http://performanceready.com/prshop/products.html.
It retails for
only $22 a bottle and is worth every cent. Give it a try. You and your skin will be so thankful you
did. Here's to a healthy tan that won’t break the bank or turn you into a striped pumpkin. Now
that’s something to glow about.
July 8, 2010
Smell HOT When It's Hot!
Believe
it or not, there are a few special tricks to
smelling good all day long… beyond just showering! While that one's a "no brainer" - these lil' smell-good secrets may not be! In no particular
order, here
they are:
1. Do Deodorant At Night!
Why?
Applying deodorant/antiperspirant before you go to
bed allows the active ingredients to be
better absorbed by your pores and sweat ducts because you sweat less when you sleep. It actually signals your
sweat
glands to reduce and/or stop perspiration. The effect can last up to 24
hours and sometimes longer - even after you shower in the morning!
As a creature of habit, I always still
reapply in the morning. But, I’ve tried to simply incorporate the nighttime application into my evening beauty regime, right alongside brushing my teeth and
applying eye cream!
2. Layer, Layer, Layer!
Say What?
To layer a fragrance means to apply a variety of items possessing that
fragrance…
from lotion, to body spray, to perfume - you get the picture.
Why?
The more you “layer” a fragrance the longer it will last! I’m a layering
queen!
3. Pay Attention To Your Pulse Points!
Why?
“Pulse points" are points on your
body where you can actually feel your heart beat. Your throat, behind your ears and
knees and along the inside of your
wrists and elbows are the best pulse points for
applying
a fragrance.
The pulse beating at these points actually ends up "disturbing" the
fragrance
you have just applied. As the fragrance gets disturbed, it gets
continuously
refreshed. (Woohoo!) Additionally, your pulse points are warmer than
other areas of your
body, so, because a perfume reacts to warmth - it will make the scent
stronger.
No one wants to be the gal or guy you can smell from a mile away! Want your
scent to linger enchantingly instead of knocking people
out? I though so. Hit up those pulse points and it
will.
4. Rubbing Is Meant For Massages – Not Perfume!
Why?
This one is sooo tempting! We’ve all done the classic: spray our wrists
and then rub
em' together… I don’t really even know why!! However, it’s a beauty no-no
because it actually breaks down the fragrance. Don’t do it!
Cheers to smelling HOT when it’s
hot!
May 17,
2010
The
Art of the Side Swept Messy Bun
We all have our go-to hairstyle that we depend on
when we’re
in a pinch but still need to look our best. Mine? A side swept messy bun
of course. If
you’ve ever caught me working an event, I’m most likely sporting this
do. After
getting asked how I “do it,” literally dozens and dozens of times, I’ve
decided it is time
to let the world in on this blissful beauty secret, which honestly takes
5
minutes to create… but looks like you’ve spent an hour!
Here’s what you’ll
need to achieve the look:
- Hair Wax
I prefer: MOP’s 'Orange Peel Molding
Crème.'
- Several Bobby Pins
(which match your hair color)
- 1 Goody StayPut Elastic
(which matches your hair color)
- Extra Strong Hold Hair Spray
I prefer: Aquage’s 'Transforming Spray,' (what I often refer to
as my, “God-Hair Spray,”
because it's that awesome!).
Here’s how to do it:
1. Start
by applying some wax to the nape of your
neck and on the sides of your head. This works as “glue” later on to
help hold
everything in place and avoid unwanted flyaways!
(If
your hair is more coarse
or frizzy in texture, apply any leftover wax along the ends to smooth
everything
out in advance. Avoid your roots and crown!)
2. Part hair
wherever you desire, then pull into a
low side pony, (just below your ear) making sure not to
pull hair all the way through. Tighten by pulling on the sides of the
pony,
then gently grab your hair in a few spots along
your crown/the
top of your head and
pull upwards, to give it a little boost of volume on top.
3. Gently begin
moving the hair which didn’t get
pulled through the pony (and is now sticking out the bottom) so it’s
evenly dispersed
around the pony. Simply grab the hair and pull it around, spacing it out
so it appears even all the way around.
4. Now it’s time to
begin “pinning.” Pin the
rounded part of the pony to your head in several spots to cover up the
elastic
you’ve used. If you fasten the bobby pins along the underside of the
rounded
part they will be covered up by the rest of your hair. Get creative and
have
fun with this part, there’s no “right” way to do it... it’ll never be
the
exact same twice!
(Having a wall mounted
makeup mirror on the wall that is across
from the main mirror in your bathroom is super handy for this!! It
allows you
to see what you are creating as you create it! If you don’t have one,
you can
purchase one at any Bed Bath and Beyond.)
5. If desired, pull
out some pieces on both sides
of your part to frame your face. I often pull out more on one side to
create a
look that is not perfectly symmetrical.
6. If you don’t
have straight hair, or if your hair doesn't lay the
way you'd like it to naturally, you may either curl or flat iron the pieces you've pulled out, depending upon what look you are going for. If you are flat ironing them, make sure to create a little bend so they softly
frame the curves
of your face and do not hang perfectly straight. If the ends sticking
out of
your messy bun are still a bit frizzy, gently flat iron them (remember
to create
a bend if you don’t want them to be stick straight!) and add a touch of
wax or
pomade.
7. Apply wax or
the smallest amount of pomade (I
prefer Short Sexy Hair’s Gleam Me Up) along the pieces you’ve pulled out
to
frame your face. Stay away from the roots!
8. Spray
all over with shine spray, then douse with
hair spray.
Viola! You’re done! After a couple of times you’ll
become a
master at "the art of the side swept messy bun!" Soon you’ll be able to
achieve a
style that looks amazing, lasts all day and takes less than 10 minutes
to
perfect! Woohoo!
April
26, 2010
Lash
Curling: The Beautiful Truth
Is there a science to curling your lashes? I mean,
is that
extra step really even necessary? After all, the device does slightly to
resemble a guillotine for the eyes and who actually has the time to mess
with it on a regular basis??? Ladies, I know you are in a hurry, and I
know curling your
lashes is one step that many of you frequently opt out of. Allow me to
share the
beautiful truth about curling your lashes!
So, is there a science to curling your lashes? And
is that
extra step really even necessary? Yes, and yes. You bet.
Is curling your lashes necessary?
It is necessary only if you want your lashes to
appear
longer and fuller and your eyes to look bigger and be more noticeable.
(I’d be
willing to bet a small fortune that without hesitation, most of you
would shout a resounding, “yes!”) So there
is your answer my friend.
Is there a “science” to curling you lashes?
Absolutely!
1. Always
curl BEFORE applying mascara or primer.
2. Curl
at 3-5 spots along your lashes. Start at the
base, then work your way through the middle and then the very end.
Viola! You’ve just spent 30 seconds on a step that
will literally
make a HUGE impact on your look! Go get em sistas.
April 14, 2010
Top 5 Best Kept Beauty
Secrets... That Won’t Break the Bank
Part Five
Beauty Secret #5: Baby
Powder Bliss
If you are anything like me,
washing and
styling your hair every single day just isn't an option. If you had
"wash
n’ go" hair, perhaps it would be... but you don’t! So, when you do
go the
extra distance and create that 'perfect style,' you want your look to
last as
long as possible! The biggest culprit in sustaining your look for a few
extra days? Greasy roots! Well guess what? Baby powder will zap the
grease
fast! Not only will it revitalize your look and dry up the oil, but it
will also give you an instant boost of
volume!
Here’s How: Part
your hair. Put a small amount
of baby powder in your palm then pat powder directly onto your roots
along the
part you just made. Move your hair to create another part, add powder.
When
finished applying powder in visible areas of the crown of your head/
along your
hairline, wash and dry your hands. Run your fingers through your hair to
wipe
off/disperse any excess powder. Style as needed. Presto! Your look is
good for
another day… And you just saved loads of time! A win win!
Baby Powder Disclaimer: Due
to the
color of baby powder, it is most optimal for shades of grey, blonde and
lighter brunettes. If you have dark brown, black or red hair, try a
hair powder or dry shampoo for the exact same result. Finely Hair
Powder, Batiste Dry Shampoo, Bumble and
Bumble Hair Powder or Cake Beauty Satin Sugar Hair & Body Refreshing
Powder
are a few. They can all be found at www.amazon.com.
April 6, 2010
Top 5 Best Kept Beauty
Secrets... That Won’t Break the Bank
Part Four
Beauty Secret # 4: Eyebrow
Finisher in a Flash
Many of you color in and
shape your
brows. Good job ladies! You make me proud! Since your eyebrows "frame"
your face, regular eyebrow grooming is an absolute must! 
A key factor in
any beautiful look - day or night.
That
being said, you most likely own an eyebrow brush. While these are a
great tool to
have in your arsenal, they offer a different function/outcome than using
my
favorite (and the most inexpensive!) brow finisher/tool of all time – a
toothbrush.
Here’s How: Using a
toothbrush you don’t use to
brush your teeth (and the firmer the better), comb brows into place
before adding
color/shape. Then when finished applying color, comb through brows
again,
combing off excess color and finishing into place. Perfecto!
March 26, 2010
Top 5 Best Kept Beauty
Secrets... That Won’t Break the Bank
Part Three
Beauty Secret # 3:
Mani-Mishaps
No More
Even though you’re no longer
five
and aren’t highly challenged by the task of coloring in the lines, 
if
you are
human, you’re still prone to frequent out-of-the-lines mishaps with your
nail
polish. (We all are!) Here’s an amazingly handy nail tip that I was
lovingly
taught about 20 years ago. I have followed it religiously ever since...
it never fails!
Here’s How: When
painting your nails skip your
thumbs and start with your pointer, finishing off with your pinky. When you’re completely
finished polishing your pointer through
your pinky, polish your thumbs. Here’s the
magical secret: use your thumbs in place of a wooden manicure stick to
clean up
polish mistakes! You'll need to use a manicure stick to fix mistakes on
your thumbs, but that's it.
The beauty in using your
thumbs to correct the majority of your polish errors (over a manicure
stick), is that you actually have more control. Thus, you are much more
likely to "erase" your mistakes only... not the good parts! Follow this
simple rule (which fabulously doesn't cost a penny) and
your
mani-mishaps are gone!
March 16, 2010
Top 5 Best Kept Beauty
Secrets... That Won’t Break the Bank
Part Two
Beauty Secret #2: Green Tea to the Rescue
We’ve all had our share of
sob-fests. What’s worse than the agony we're sobbing over? The
painfully-puffy
eyes we're stuck with the morning after. Got 5-10 minutes? Here’s a fast
fix
that will send the puffs a-packin.
Here’s How: You may
use any brand/flavor of tea as long as it
contains caffeine (this is the secret de-puffing agent). I prefer Green
tea, the aroma is super mild and it’s packed with antioxidants - so it's
beneficial on multiple levels.
Brew 2 tea bags in a
glass of warm
to hot (not boiling!) water for about 4 minutes. Then cool off the tea
bags by filling
the glass with cold running water. Remove each bag and squeeze out the
excess water.
Lie down, close your eyes and place a tea bag on each eye for 5-10
minutes. So long
puffs… welcome back pretty!
March
8, 2010
Top 5 Best Kept Beauty
Secrets... That Won’t Break the Bank
Part One
Beauty Secret #1: Lip Love
You’ll Love: 30-Second
Lip Exfoliation TreatmentJust like
the rest of our
body, our lips need to be taken care of, in order to keep them looking
their best. For most of
us, our lips have a tendency to get dry and a bit flaky. Put some lip
gloss on top and they look a hot mess.
The only way to ensure soft, supple, gorgeous lips is to exfoliate them!
Here’s How:
After
brushing your teeth, use your wet toothbrush to brush your lips.
Yes, your lips. Use tiny and
gentle brush strokes, as the skin on your lips is delicate and much more
sensitive than your teeth!! Brush your lips for 15-30 seconds, then dry
off by
rubbing with a dry wash cloth or towel, for extra exfoliation. Top with
your
fave lip balm. My pick: Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm. Viola. Goodbye
flakes! Hello hotness!
March 1, 2010
Is White the New Black?
Quite
possibly, yes.
I
know many of you have been “rimming” your eyes with black liner for eons
now. And
yes, it's hot. Not only is it a popular trend among those in their
tween-years, but it also makes frequent appearances in Hollywood, on the
runway, and is a
sure fire way to rev-up the drama for any occasion.
But,
for those days when you’d like to add a lil’ somethin’
somethin’ to your look, but the black is 
just too much, (and it makes
you feel
a little to “vampire-ish” for wherever you are going) allow me to offer a
“bright”
alternative. (Pun intended.)
Go
with white instead! Yes, white!
You’ve
all seen it! Maybe you haven’t actually noticed. (If
we all noticed these kind of minute details I’d be out of a job!) But
trust me,
you have seen it! Rimming the eyes with white is actually more
popular than you
might realize! It has graced the covers of every style, fashion,
bridal, fitness and teen magazine out there, not to mention, it's a key
component in the sought-after looks of a
gazillion A-lister’s too!
Perhaps
you have seen a celebrity or model looking gorgeous
as usual, and wondered why you couldn’t get your eyes to look as bright
and
vibrant as theirs… well those days are over my friend. The secret is
revealed!
Now you can get that beautiful, bright-eyed look too! It’s only seconds
away…
Here’s
what you need:
1. White
eye
liner. (Not pearl or cream folks, white!) You may either use pencil
or gel.
My
pick: M-A-C Eye Kohl in ‘Fascinating.’
2. White
eye
shadow. (Again - not pearl or cream, only white!)
My
pick: M-A-C Eye Shadow in ‘Gesso.’
3. Angled
liner
brush.
My
pick: M-A-C brush #263.
Here’s how:
1. Apply
liner on the lower rim of your eye. For max
impact, apply two coats. If you’re using gel liner, you’ll need to apply
with a brush!
2. Top
with a layer of powder shadow.
Presto! Time for the reveal... Introducing the
bright-eyed, vibrant YOU! All without the price of a
Hollywood stylist! Cheers to that.
February 22, 2010
Picture-Perfect Like a Pro: The Art of Flawless
Foundation
While we all know that airbrushing can only be done in
photos (dang-it!), I’m here to let you
in on a little secret. (Drum roll
please!) You can come pretty darn close to picture-perfect foundation
without any airbrushing! (Woohoo!)
However, just like there is a
trade off in getting the bikini-ready bod you crave (you cannot eat
everything your lil’
heart desires and still shed pounds). There is a similar
trade off in creating
flawless foundation that goes the distance (meaning, it looks
picture-perfect,
all day).
You’ve gotta choose – simplicity, or longevity. I
know y’all love your powder foundation, and
trust me, I do too! It’s quick and easy, what’s not to love? On the days
that simplicity wins out, powder
it is!
But, as you may have already noticed, powder will not go
the
distance, looking flawless and picture-perfect all day long! So, for the
days that
longevity wins the battle, here’s how to make it happen like a pro:
1. Foundation
Primer.
This is like a base coat for your face – essential for a perfect
finish!
If you’re oily go with one that mattifies!
2. Quality
Foundation
Brush. Don’t skimp here!!
For the best finish, skip your standard
“foundation
brush” which looks like a paint brush
and instead, go
with M-A-C Brush #109, which
is my personal fave. It will buff your
foundation into
your skin as opposed to “painting”
it on.
Note: Do NOT use
your fingers or a makeup sponge!!! They
both absorb far more product
than a brush (meaning,
you'll use up your product
quicker, and ultimately spend more
money!) and they do
not have the capacity to blend/buff foundation into your
skin
seamlessly like a brush does.
3. Great
Foundation! Enough said!
My all time fave – M-A-C’s Studio Fix
Fluid.
4. Loose
Powder. Not all loose powders are created equal!!
I thought they were until I discovered
M-A-C’s Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. AMAZING. Worth every
cent. Try it!
5. Makeup
Setting
Agent. Seals the deal…
Try M-A-C’s Fix + (hydrating) or Model in
a Bottle Make Up Setting Spray (great for combination/oily skin), which
can be found at www.modelinabottle.com.
Voila! Now you've got the
secrets of a pro! Flawless foundation is yours!!