Bronzer, Your Guide to Sunkissed Bliss

Bronzer is one of my favorite beauty tools. Unfortunately, it's also one that's seriously misused. To avoid looking hideously orange see below 

WHAT YOU NEED 

• Fan Brush
• Foundation
• Bronzer

GET THIS LOOK

• Assuming that your skin is already prepped with moisturizer start with applying your foundation. If you want to achieve a super natural look use a tinted moisturizer instead so it evens out the skin tone but still lets your natural beauty shine through.
• A fan brush is a very versatile tool and a great addition to your brush collection. For this particular look you are going to be using the flat part of the brush not the edge/end of the brush. Work the bronzer on to your fan brush. Before application, test it out on your hand to make sure you didn't pick up too much product. It's better to not have enough on then to slap on too much and have orange streaks all over your face.
• Keep the brush flat to the face. Lightly dust bronzer on to the forehead, bridge of the nose, apples of the cheeks and chin. 

Take your skin from looking dull to truly gorgeous bronzed and beautiful!

3 Reasons Why EVERYONE Needs a Moisturizer

A lot of people (especially men) do not wear moisturizer. Sadly, it's mostly because nobody told them why they need to. Here's why:

IF YOU CLEANSE THEN YOU MOISTURIZE
First off, I shouldn't have to tell you to wash your face everyday but some people need to hear it. It's crucial because cleansing daily allows us to wash away impurities of the face, bacteria and makeup residue. Without cleansing you allow everything to build up leading to clogged pores, pimples, black heads and all that fun stuff! When we cleanse we strip our face of it's natural protective oils and in turn, we need to reapply moisture. Moisture will add a protective layer on the skin protecting it from harsh elements in your daily environment. Now if you're one of the people that wants to tell me " But Katy, I  have oily skin and moisturizer will just make it more oily" YOU'RE WRONG. Oily skin wants to moisturize too!Not wearing it will actually make your skin more oily causing it to break out more.
ITS A FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH
Really. Moisturizer is an infinite alley of beauty for men and women. Just like our body needs water to keep working, so does our skin.With proper moisture we are allowing our skin to repair itself and slow signs of aging far better than someone without it. As we get older our skin starts to lose it's elasticity causing sagging and wrinkles. Moisturizing will help "lock in" that moisture keeping the skin supple and young. 
MAKEUP APPLICATION
If you don't use moisturizer you can forget about ever loving your foundation. It will never go on smooth or even. Ever. 

Basically, not using moisturizer = you are on a high speed train to the land of wrinkles 
It's important to buy for your skin type so ask a beauty consultant before making your purchase. For all you guys out there who don't want to spend the money... They make VERY affordable skin care for men.Whether it be Target brand or from your local Sephora. Go get it.  

To Prime or Not to Prime

The answer? .... It depends. Like everything in life, there's no simple answer. So let's start with the basics.

WHAT DOES A PRIMER DO? 
A primer is what you use to prep and smooth out the skin before applying makeup. It creates a barrier so that your skin doesn't absorb talc and pigment from your foundation. It will help fill in pores and refined lines. And it absorbs oil to help your foundation "stay put"  throughout the day. 
HOW DO I APPLY IT? 
Before applying primer make sure that you have moisturized and applied any other skin products that you use daily. Remember that a little goes a long way. If you slather on too much primer it will be counterproductive and help your makeup to "slide" off easier. Using your fingers or a sponge start with the t-zone of the face and work your way out for an even application. 
 You may want to use a primer if any of the following apply to you:

• You have oily skin
• You have dry skin
• Your skin is an uneven texture
•  You have indented acne scars
• You have mature skin 
• You need a color corrective product
• You're going for a night on the town or special event
• You live in a hot climate

To prime or not to prime? Now you can decide for yourself =) 

Origami Inspired Eyelashes

Check out these Chinese origami inspired lashes by PAPERSELF

PAPERSELF
Enchant your eyes with these beauties! A whole new approach to faux lashes.

Fabulous Five: 5 Anti-Aging Foods to Add to Your Grocery List

A dear friend of mine was asking me today about how to keep her skin looking youthful. If you can't afford to break the bank with expensive anti aging creams, try adding these to your shopping cart. They'll leave you not only looking good but feeling good too=) 

BLUEBERRIES
A well known super food. Filled with antioxidants and great for the skin! Grab em' by the handful or add some to your morning smoothie.
ACAI BERRIES
You may have noticed these little gems burst into the health food scene recently, and for good reason! Acai berries actually contain twice the amount of antioxidants than the blueberry. Try picking up acai juice at your local grocery store.
RED WINE
My personal favorite on the list! According to Dr. Oz the reason for this is the combination of alcohol and resveratrol. Resveratrol is a powerful antioxidant that comes from the skin of grapes. Now don't go out getting sloshed off a bottle of wine saying you're gonna wake up ten years younger. 1 glass for women is all you need for a healthy dose of antioxidants.
ALMONDS
Almonds are full of vitamin E which help prevent sun damage. If you're a bathing beauty try a hand full of these bad boys for added protection from UV rays. 
GREEN OR WHITE TEA
A few cups a day are great for sun damage or sun exposed skin. It's also filled with an antioxidant that helps prevent cancer. 


     

 

Upcoming Makeup Trends for Fall 2011

In honor of the upcoming season, here's some of my favorite new trends to try this fall

NUDE

Nude is the way to go.You don't have to wear a lot of makeup to make a statement. It's fast, easy, natural and fresh. To give skin a flawless finish follow these easy steps:

• Prep the skin with a good moisturizer and eye cream that suits your skin type 
• Apply a primer to the skin. Primer "sets the stage" for your makeup and is an important step in keeping your makeup beautiful all day long. 
• Apply a foundation that perfectly matches your skin tone. No orange lines on the chin please! Spend time with a makeup consultant to make sure you get this step right. This is the most important step. A perfect match will leave you looking natural and flawless. 
• Apply concealer where needed
• Last but not least, set your makeup in with a dust of finishing powder!

If you want to add a touch of color try pairing it with one of these fall looks

METALLIC

Metallic was hot on the runway at fashion week. You can be sure you'll be seeing it everywhere this season. 

If you're as bored as I am with the "smokey eye" try revamping it with some metallic eye shadow for a whole new look. 

• Prep the eyelid with an amazing eye primer. This will help the eye shadow to go on with more pigment  and keep it from creasing into your eyelid as it wears on your skin
• Apply a dark shade of your choice for the smokey eye with light strokes. Add a thin layer along the bottom lash line. When you have an even layer of pigment blend along your lines with a clean brush. Blending is key! It can bring your look from average to professional. 
• This step calls for the metallic! Apply metallic shade on the middle of the eyelids and outer corners of the eyes
• Pair this look with a nude lip. Let your eyes be the star!

PINK POUT

It's not time to put away those pink glosses just yet. For a kiss of color add a soft pink gloss to your natural beauty look. It will leave you pretty in pink!

 

• Prep the lips with a moisturizer
• For a different approach try a soft cream blush on the apples of the cheeks that can double as color on the lips. Voila!

DOUBLE WINGED LINER

This is by far my favorite upcoming trend and I'm so excited to try it for myself. The classic cat eye is back in a whole new way. If you are a fan of eyeliner, this one's for you!

                                                                             Photograph by David Slijper

• Groom the brows and fill them in
• Apply a neutral base to your whole lid
• Don't let the next step intimidate you. Have a light hand, and remember that practice makes perfect =). Use a fine tipped brush and hold parallel to your lash line. Gently glide along the lash line and extend straight out. Repeat the same step on the bottom lash line. Dip a thin brush into makeup remover to clean up any mistakes you might have made.

A Recipe for Radiant Skin

 GREEN LEMONADE! Yes, I said GREEN. Did you know that getting your daily intake of leafy greens will reverse signs of aging? If that's not enough to convince you, here's just a few of the other benefits:

• It protects our eyes from age related problems
• Aids in weight loss
• Will give you loads of energy

And did I mention .. Reverse signs of aging?

Green Lemonade Recipe: 
*Please use all organic ingredients

1. A handful of kale
2. A handful of ice burg lettuce or 6 stalks of celery
3. 2 to 3 apples to add sweetness
4. 1 full lemon 
5. 1 to 3 inches of fresh ginger (optional, but my favorite part)

Directions:
Pop in the juicer and enjoy!!!! 

There are plenty of variations of this recipe so feel free to switch it up. Sometimes I like to add spinach in with the kale. I have been crazy about this recipe all summer. I noticed almost an immediate difference in my skin. Not to mention all the other health benefits. The best part is, it tastes amazing!

So do it... GO GREEN. Your body will thank you.

Here we go! I'm on a mission to track down fellow beauty gurus and find out their best kept beauty secrets. Until I do .. 

Here's a tip from yours truly =)

What's the secret to looking beautiful? Feeling beautiful! So let it shine from within.

wjrf