Sneak-A-Peek: Urban Decay's Naked 3 Palette

Urban Decay's Naked 3 palette is due to hit shelves soon, and I am THRILLED! I am a huge Urban Decay shadow fan! Naked 3 will focus on "rose neutrals" and features a variety of shimmery, satin, and (hopefully) matte shades in the pinky-nude family which are staples for a lot of my bridal clients.  MUAs and make up lovers everywhere: REJOICE!!!

Finding The Perfect Lip Color

Holiday Make Up

I am in LOVE w this bronze eye/mauve lip look created by the folks at Green Beauty Team!  STUNNING holiday look!

Holiday Make Up - Cover Your Bases

Cranberry Mask

• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 cup seedless red grapes
• 2 teaspoons grapefruit juice
• 1 envelope unflavored gelatin

To Make: Mix ingredients until it becomes a paste. Cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to let the mixture thicken. Remove from the fridge and let sit for about 10 minutes.
Cranberry juice helps detoxify the skin and is particularly useful for those who are acne-prone or suffer from psoriasis or have oily skin. In addition, cranberries help reduce skin inflammation, redness, and itchy, irritated skin.

Pumpkin Facial Mask

  

    At Thanksgiving time, there's no doubt that we all love to indulge in our favorite foods and enjoy our time off with the ones we love. All of you food lovers out there can agree that one of the greatest perks of this holiday is the overwhelming amount of leftovers in your fridge that will keep you full for weeks to come! Even then, you may still find yourself with more food than you can handle. So what to do with it all? Time to beautify!

PUMPKIN FACIAL MASK

 This recipe is full of exfoliating enzymes that will brighten your skin, giving you a healthy, refreshed glow. Pumpkin is also rich in vitamin A, which can help heal skin and repair damaged tissue. The antioxidant properties of the vitamin A will also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

• 2 tsp. canned pureed pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp. honey
• 1/4 tsp. heavy whipping cream

To Make: Mix all ingredients together and apply to face. Leave on for 10
minutes then rinse thoroughly. You'll love the results!

Halloween Make Up Safety

    Let's face it - Halloween will be no fun at all if you're suffering a burning rash or swollen eyelids from the costume paint. Before we tackle the tips on how to make yourself look as much unlike you as possible, let's look at a few basic safety precautions.

1. Read the Labels - Definitely follow the directions on the label, because some Halloween makeup isn't as common-sense as you'd think. If the label says not to use near the eyes, believe it. Even if the packaging shows people wearing the makup near their eyes, it can cause huge problems.
2. Use as Intended - Never decorate your face with things that aren't made for your skin. This is a common problem when people use face decals like crystals or bindis. Only use glues that are made for the skin - not acrylic nail glue or craft glue.
  3. Skin Test - If you're using a costume paint you've never used before, perform a skin test a couple of days before Halloween. To do a skin test, just dab a bit of the paint on the inside of your arm and leave it alone. If you don't have an allergic reaction within an hour or two, you're probably safe.
4. No Flame - Never use Halloween makeup or any powders (baby powder is great for costume paint) around open flame. It will ignite.
5. Don't mix - Never mix different types of makeup. If you need layers, do layers. Don't try to blend the paints before placing them on your face.
6. Clean Up - Don't wear your costume paint to bed. After the party's over, carefully wash your skin with a mild soap and warm water until all traces of the makeup are gone. Leaving it on for an extended period of time can cause nasty side-effects.

      If you follow all these steps and still have a reaction to the costume paint you chose, please report it to the FDA. They keep track of which makeup causes reactions so that if a number of people are suffering the same problems the product can be recalled. Call FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) Adverse Event Reporting System (CAERS) by phone at 301-436-2405 or by email at CAERS@cfsan.fda.gov.

Halloween How To: The Perfect Blood Red Lip

To begin:  lightly exfoliate lips with a little sugar, water and your finger or toothbrush finger to remove dead skin.  Next: lightly moisturize and blot lips on a tissue.  Cancel out natural lip color with a primer or concealer, and lightly powder with a translucent powder. With a very sharp red liner, line the natural lip line and fill in everything.   Using a lip brush, repeat the process with lipstick. Next lightly powder again with translucent powder, repeat lipstick application & lightly powder one last time. Taking a thin concealer brush and a light concealer gently (& w a light touch) line OUTSIDE original liner line to clean up and sharpen edges. Using a clean brush, blend concealer. If you aren't interested in the traditional matte red lip, add a small dab of gloss in the center of bottom lip to make lips appear more full. Tip: to keep lipstick off of teeth - insert finger in mouth, close lips around it and pull it out. Voila! Any lipstick that might have ended up on your teeth is now on you finger! CherSee More

Take It Off, Gorgeous

   Why remove your make up at night? Some make up companies out there claim you can actually sleep in their make up. In the words if my Grandmother, "Just because you can doesn't mean you should". Anything that sits on the surface of the skin for a prolonged period of time is going to clog your pores. Make up mixed with oil from skin that is wiped off onto pillow case is also a recipe for gnarly break out bacteria. Clogged pores = black heads, break outs, dry skin (need I go on?). Not to mention mascara left on overnight becomes extremely brittle, and can take your lashes with it when it breaks.  Let me put this another way: It takes TWO WEEKS of consistent morning and night cleansing, toning & moisturizing to undo the aging damage done in ONE NIGHT of wearing make up to bed.  Take it off, Gorgeous <3

Oily Skin? Are You Sure?

    Here is a test: cleanse your face. After 2 mins, take a tissue and gently blot your t-zone. Any oil on the tissue? Traditionally oily skin will leave a noticeably visible residue almost immediately. What you may actually be experiencing is overly dry skin. Not enough water intake or failure to properly cleanse, tone, moisturize & exfoliate (no need to scrub. Using a washcloth to cleanse is all the daily exfoliation you need) can cause dead skin to build up, leaving a shiny, almost oily like appearance that most people mistake for oily skin. Conversly, the use of overly harsh cleansers and scrubs can strip skin of it's natural oils, causing it to over-produce oil to make up for the loss in moisture. Look for a "non-comedogenic gentle cleansing milk or cleanser, no-alcohol toner and a moisturizer filled with ingredients you recognize (your skin absorbs 60% of what you put on it...be smart), AND USE THEM in the morning AND in the evening. Takes 2 mins, and your skin with thank you. *NOTE: most people get "shiny" over the course of the day. To refresh your face, blot w tissue or rice paper, and spritz with a no-alcohol toner. If you still feel the need to powder, use a light touch. Cakiness is NO BEUNO! Happy Monday, Gorgeous! Be blessed! With love, Cher

All Things Exfoliation

DO YOU NEED TO EXFOLIATE?  A simple test you can do at home to see if you have surface dry skin cells on your skin is to take a piece of clear tape and apply it to the forehead. Rub it gently and remove. Look at the tape, and if there are little pieces of flaky skin, then you need to exfoliate!

Exfoliation is considered one of the most important techniques that you can perform on your skin to resolve certain skin problems as well as to achieve healthy and glowing skin.

BLEMISHED SKIN:  Exfoliation should be the main focus of a homecare program. So often, we are told to dry out the skin with harsh acne products. Although this will destroy acne-causing bacteria, it tends to dry out the skin, and this usually results in not only irritated skin but also in future breakouts. Why? Because as you over-dry the skin, you create surface dry skin cell buildup. This then acts as a barrier to trap oil in the skin, thereby starting a cycle of new breakouts.

POST BREAK OUT RED/DARK MARKS:  Often, the real concern is not so much the actual blemishes, but rather the red, dark marks that remain on the skin long after the breakout has healed. The key to fading those post-breakout marks is exfoliation. The more you remove the surface damaged skin tissue, the more you are ridding the skin of the dark marks and encouraging the formation of new healthy (non-scarred) skin tissue. The result is more even-toned skin with less scarring.

CLOGGED PORES:  Clogged pores aren't infected blemishes, but rather blackheads, small whiteheads, and little clogged bumps on the skin, often on the forehead. The same rules apply as with blemished skins. The more you remove surface dry skin cells (usually caused by using harsh, drying products), the less oil will stay trapped and congested in the pores.

HYPERPIGMENTATION:  These are the brown spots that come from age, pregnancy, hormonal changes, and genetics. These spots tend to become more apparent and darker as the skin ages. Exfoliation is beneficial for breaking up the pigmented cells to allow them to fade.

DRY SKIN:  Especially in the winter, exfoliation is very important. So often when the skin is dry, we tend to load up on heavier creams to compensate for the dryness. But dry skin means you have dry skin cell buildup. And the more you layer on the heavier creams, the more you are trying to re-hydrate dry skin cells, which makes no sense! Instead, increase your exfoliation to remove the dry skin cells, and then moisturize the new skin cells, resulting in a moister skin.

THOSE WHO DESIRE SMOOTHER SKIN:  One way to instantly smooth the skin is to exfoliate! When you rid the skin of the surface dry skin cells, you create a smoother appearance.

THOSE WHO ARE CONCERNED WITH AGING SKIN:  The skin's natural exfoliation process slows as the skin ages, resulting in an accumulation of dry skin cells. As you increase your exfoliation, you are tricking the skin into acting young again.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD I EXFOLIATE?

There are two types of exfoliants. First, a "chemical" or "acid" exfoliant does the work for you. You apply it, leave it on the skin, and it works to dissolve the dry skin cells. These exfoliants include ingredients such as Glycolic Acid, AHAs and BHA, and enzymes such as Pumpkin, Papaya, and Pineapple. Second, a "physical" exfoliant means that you have to do the work. These exfoliants include facial brushes, sponges, and facial scrubs.  A combination of both physical and chemical exfoliants will give your skin the best results. For most skin types, this would be a mild alcohol-free Glycolic Acid Serum or AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) used under a night cream for seven nights on, seven nights off. This way, you're still getting an intensive exfoliation, but you also give your skin a break. You'd combine this with a very mild facial scrub twice a week to lift off and remove the dissolved skin cells.  For sensitive skin, I suggest using the enzymes instead of the acids, as these tend to be gentler on delicate skins.  For severely sun damaged skin, a prescription Retinol is effective because it exfoliates more deeply in the skin.

HOW DOES A PERSON KNOW IF THEY ARE GETTING TOO MUCH EXFOLIATION?

If you use a facial scrub and your skin turns bright red and feels irritated afterwards, it probably means that the grains used in the scrub are too large.  As I am sure you are aware, I am a big advocate of naturally derived products, HOWEVER:  I suggest avoiding some natural scrubs, such as those with apricot pits or walnut husks. These grains have sharp edges that can lacerate the skin. Look for micro-beadlets, as they will roll across the skin and not cause irritation.  If you are using chemical exfoliants and your skin starts to dry out, you may be removing too much of the skin's protective barrier, letting out much-needed moisture.

WHICH PROFESSIONAL SALON TREATMENTS ARE BENEFICIAL?

Many skin care spas offer microdermabrasion, mini-brasion (a gentler form of microdermabrasion), ultrasonic exfoliation, chemical peels, and enzyme peels to give your skin a more intensive exfoliation than you can do at home.

HERE’S THE BOTTOM LINE

The goal with your skin is to exfoliate as much as possible, with minimal irritation. The skin likes little boosts but not on an everyday basis.

Detox Bath

Click here for 3 fantastic ideas for a detox bath from the folks at Wellness Mama <3  Cher

Uniform Brows

If you've tried filling in a brow scar without much luck, check this out:  The skin on a scar is smoother and has fewer pores, so pencils and fine powders just don't adhere. Tinted waxes or creams are a better-sticking option. Choose one in a shade that matches your brows, and make short, light strokes in the direction of hair growth. Finish by blending color through the entire brow (not just the bald spot) for an even, believable shape.  <3 Cher

Skinny Liner

     As we head into fall, I am noticing a GORGEOUS minimalist eye liner trend happening in fashion magazines, and on the runway:  Skinny Liner!  I LOVE IT!!!   You can best achieve this minimal look with a good liquid liner like Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof liner, or NYX Cosmetics Waterproof Felt Tip Liquid Eye Liner. Given a choice between products that come with a paint brush-like applicator or a felt tip pen, I personally tend to favor the felt tip pen for more control in application.  <3 Cher

Candy Cane Sugar Scrub

   I know, I know.  "It's too early!  Christmas is MONTHS away."  Those of you that know me know that I care not for your Christmas hating ways.  I have been counting down the days till Christmas since last Christmas!

   Hello.  My name is Cher, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE Christmas!  LOVE!

  Here is a GREAT money saving gift idea you can easily make at home for pennies from Jac O' Lyn Murphy! 


 (to fill a pint jar)
2 cups granulated white sugar
1/3 cup LIGHT olive oil (or any light color oil)
1/8 cup melted coconut oil
(or more olive oil/any other oil is fine too, I just like coconut)
1/4 tsp peppermint extract or essential oil
(I have had the best luck with this)
gradually add coloring until desired color is reached

Jacolyn says, "This is not an exact science! and I am not claiming to be any sort of beauty product expert :) It is fun to experiment, add a little more sugar, a little more oil, more or less extract
 until it looks, smells and feels how you would like it." 
PS:  103 days till Christmas!

Protect Your Smacker!

     A survey by a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery found that only 47 percent of respondents used lip protection containing UV blockers. That's bad news, because "when skin cancer originates from the lips, it's especially aggressive and has a higher risk of spreading," says Erin Welch, M.D., assistant professor of dermatology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Guard your smackers by stocking up on balms with sunscreen, like Softlips Lip Protectant/Sunscreen with SPF 20 ($4 for two tubes, drugstore.com).

Honey Cinnamon Nutmeg Face Mask

A little Monday skin pick me up!

Ingredients:
¼ Cup Raw Organic Honey
2 Tablespoons Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon Cinnamon
Prep:
Combine the honey, nutmeg, and cinnamon together in a mixing bowl. Warm the honey up for a few seconds to make it easier to stir. Don’t warm the honey too long or it can burn your skin. Once all the ingredients are blended well together and you have formed a good paste, apply the face mask to your clean face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Leave this mask on for about 25 minutes then rinse the treatment off with warm water. Gently pat your skin dry with a hand towel and apply an oil-free moisturizer to your face and neck.
Benefits:
This facial mask is perfect for dealing with acne flare-ups. You can use this mask twice a week but for some this may be too much because cinnamon can cause irritation if used every day – Once a week should do the trick.
Honey contains numerous antimicrobial properties and is a natural antioxidant. Honey fights microbial infections that cause acne without irritating your skin further. Honey is also packed with antibacterial properties that will fight acne-causing bacteria and infections, stopping them dead in their tracks. Since acne-causing bacteria, excess oil, and dead skin cells can get trapped in the pores of the skin, this sweet goodness gently pulls out those impurities from your pores that would normally stay clogged and cause pimples to form.  Honey will also help restore your skin’s texture and reduce damage done to your skin by the sun and daily environments you come in contact with. It will reduce redness and inflammation from acne and other skin conditions as well.
Nutmeg is wonderful when used as a spot treatment for pimples. It reduces inflammation, redness, and acne-causing bacteria. It will dry out the pimples quickly and with no further irritation to the skin. Nutmeg is much safer than using a topical acne treatment that contains ingredients like benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid.
Cinnamon works to kill acne by drying out the affected area and brings blood and oxygen to the surface to open the pores and unclog the bacteria and excess oil that settle there. A little goes a long way so don’t overdo it on the cinnamon. This face mask will show immediate results by leaving the skin feeling soft and smooth, while appearing noticeably less inflamed and reducing redness.

Lavender Facial Toner Recipe

CLICK HERE for a great recipe from New Nostalgia for a fantastic facial toner minus all the nasty chemicals and alcohol that are found in most store bought toners!  Toner returns your skin's pH back to normal after washing to prepare it for moisturizer.  If you aren't toning, you aren't getting your money's worth from your moisturizer. 

SUMMER TIME!!!

At the risk of repeating myself,

 

I would be a really horrible make up artist if I didn't mention SUMMER TIME MAKE UP.   Who wants to look "overdone" for summer?  No. No. No.  If you are taking care of your skin from the inside out (ie. Lots of water, good sleep, physical activity, eating well, vitamins, stress-management), your skin will show it.  All you need is a 3 in one tinted moisturizer (hint of color, moisturizer and SPF) a great creamy concealer for spot checks (light touch, Gorgeous...light touch) and a good mineral powder for a flawless summer complex.  I am also LOVING 3 in 1 eye cheek and lip stains (check out stila products...so so good) and a great creamy clear or light lip gloss.  2 coats of waterproof mascara, a little brow grooming and you are out the door in 5 mins and ready for a hot summer day!!!  Have a happy Thursday!  With Love - Cher <3

Summer Time Musts!

Summer time musts: Who wants to walk around in heavy make up during warmer weather that will melt off and leave you a greasy mess (Placing index finger on tip of nose, screaming "not it").   I am always on the look out for natural products that accomplish more than purpose.  So, here are my favorite 3 "must haves" for summertime easy 2 minute polished look for beach, pool side, hiking, biking or outdoor concert weather:
1. A 3 in one tinted moisturizer containing spf and light coverage. Instead of your regular concealer, try your regular liquid make up for concealing if necessary.  Set T-Zone w a "little" powder
2. Mascara - preferably waterproof and hypoallergenic. I am loving lancome right now.
3. A peacy pink lip and cheek stain that can also be used for a little pop of eye color. My perfect pick is any by Stila.
* Keep it light and polished. If you have few extra secs, curl those lashes, lightly powder t-zone and add a pop of gloss on that lower lip.  

* Tip - a small carrying sprinter of a mixture of lavender water and green tea is a fantastic refreshing spray to lightly sprint with during warmer weather Happy Summer! With Love - Cher

TOUCH UP TIP: Step awayyy from the power! Powder + more powder = cakey face. If you have already used foundation and powder to set it, but are feeling a little "shiny" after a few hrs: grab a piece of rice paper, tissue or if you're really in a pinch a piece of CLEAN paper toilet cover (CLEAN) and gently blot your t-zone or oily areas. a little gloss touch up on the lips and BAM! GORGEOUS! Happy Sunday! With Love - Cher ♥

The BEST Make up!

"Taking joy in living is a woman's best cosmetic." ~Rosalind Russell

Find your best lip color!

Still looking for your "signature" go-to everyday lipstick/gloss color? Take an honest look at your natural lip shade, and stay within two shades darker or lighter of it in liner and lipstick/gloss. LIGHTLY exfoliate lips with a washcloth or your wet tooth brush, pat dry and immediately lightly moisturize. Blot lips & prime with a base make-up, primer (urban decay is my personal favorite), or concealer and then lightly powder before applying liner and lip shade. A sheer gloss in the center of your bottom lip will give the illusion of a fuller lip. *Bonus - Any lip shade with a slightly blue undertone will cause your teeth to appear more white. With Love -  Cher <3

Now you see me. Now you don't!

How to camouflage fine lines around your eyes: moisturizer, matte neutral colors, a silicone based primer and a smudge brush are your friends :) use concealer with light touch only in the areas you need it most. Sparkles, glitter and thick concealers and powders settle into fine lines and make them appear more noticeable. *Tip- by using a dark liner on your top lash line, a lighter one one the bottom & smudging both out a little the eye is immediately drawn up and away from crow's feet and fine lines.

Take a Chance!

I hope you do at least one thing today that is out of your comfort zone. I hope you take a chance. Chase a dream by taking the first step. It could turn out bad...but at least you won't spend your life wondering "what if?".  HAPPY EASTER !!!  - With Love - Cher <3

Brows, brows, brows!!!

Did you know your eyebrow shape (or lack thereof) can serve to either age you, or take 10 yrs off of your appearance? Home upkeep with tweezer is a great way to save a few $$$ IF you have already had them professionally shaped, and are just cleaning up strays. HOWEVER, if you have not: step away from the tweezers and get yourself an appointment with an EXPERIENCED wax specialist.   Over tweezed brows can age your face significantly, as can crazy, wooly mammoth, unkept brows. That said, I am LOVING a well maincured full brow right now! A well manicured brow gives you an over all awake, lifted and youthful appearance. *Tip: Brow gels, powders or pencils can help out a lot for those with sparse brows. Use short, thin stroke to mimic real hair growth and take a step back to assess over all shape every few seconds.  With Love - Cher

Take it off, Baby!!!

     Why remove your make up at night? Some make up companies out there claim you can actually sleep in their make up. In the words if my Grandmother, "Just because you can, doesn't mean you should". Anything that sits on the surface of the skin for a prolonged period of tine is going to clog your pores. Make up mixed with oil from skin that is wiped off onto pillow case is also a recipe for break out bacteria. Clogged pores = black heads, break outs, dry skin (need I go on?). Not to mention mascara left on overnight becomes extremely brittle, and can take your lashes with it when it breaks. -Let me put this another way- It takes TWO WEEKS of consistent morning and night cleansing, toning & moisturizing to undo the aging damage done in ONE NIGHT of wearing make up to bed.  Take it off, Baby!!

5 Min Make-Up

"In a hurry" no make up look tip (5 mins or less :-): Look for products that "multi-task" (ie cream blushes can be used for color on lips, eyes & cheeks). Tinted moisturizer w SPF is a quick way to get minumal coverage. Tap a bit of liquid concealer in the same shade as tinted moisturizer with ring finger under eyes (halfway..don't go past your iris) & around your nose to cover redness if needed. Blot T-zone w rice paper instead of powder. Tight line upper eye lid with a black liner, curl lashes & use two coats of mascara. Use clear gel brow taming spoolie to quickly tame brows. Tap a little cream blush in a peachy pink on lips, eyes, and apples of cheeks for color. Top with gloss and go!  With Love - Cher