Monday, December 17, 2007

Celebrity Beauty Inspiration : Gabrielle Union


Yeah, it's been about 2 weeks since I did this type of post. But looking at the cover of the new(well old) Essence Magazine just has me in awe of the gorgeous Ms. Union. She always looks fresh! This Nebraska native continues to represent African American beauty very well. I love the red lip (above). To steal Gabrielle's style:

1. Don't be afraid to wear color. She can always be seen working a bold red lip or a green smokey eye.

2. Glowing Skin. I think everyone in Hollywood makes their skincare a priority. She always has such a nice glow.

3. Natural Blush and Bronzer. Blush and bronzer duo help to give her that extra definition to bring out those gorgeous cheekbones.

4. Liner. Gabrielle loves a smokey eye. It isn't an over the top smokey eye. This effect is mainly achieve by liner, because of the shape of her eye.

5. Concealer. Just, because she has gorgeous skin doesn't mean that she doesn't have areas that couldn't use an extra highlight. In one of the looks below, she is wearing concealer 2 shades lighter to give open her eyes.


7 Days and Counting


I am a Georgian born-Floridian raised gal. I claim Florida as my stomping ground because that is where I grew up. In 7 days, I will be returning and I CAN'T wait!! I love DC (in the summertime), but this cold weather is not my skin's friend. I love playing around with new skincare products, but I love having the security in knowing that my old faithful Bobbi Brown products will work just fine. From the last post, you can see that I had to upgrade my moisturizer (which I love)...but geeeez...it's cold out there folks!! So anywho, I also need to upgrade my foundation as well. As of late, I have noticed that my skin is dry, so I moisturize really well only to put my stick foundation right on top. Not good ladies, because the stick contains silica, which just sucks all the moisture out that I just generously applied. Then after about an hour or so of wear, I am shiny. I don't mean a dewy shine, I mean a vaseline like shine. My skin is totally going in overdrive trying to produce more moisture to compensate for what is being suck up by my foundation. I finally tried Clinique's SuperMoisture Makeup in Chestnut. I love it. It stands up to the un-yielding winds, leaving my skin moisturized but not greasy. Perfect for those with normal to dry skin, looking for minimal coverage! It feels sooooo good!! I am actually very surprised with this line. I have never been a fan of Clinique, but lately it has been throwing me curve balls. I wouldn't recommend this for someone who has ance prone skin (although oil is not the number one cause of acne). But 'tis is the season to evaluate the type of skin that you have.

I also had to change my cleanser. I was using Bobbi Brown Lathering Tube Soap to remove makeup at night. I need something that will moisturize as well remove makeup. My favorite "how did I ever live without you" product is Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil. This is a dream come true at night when it is time to remove the makeup.It removes the makeup without stripping your skin of moisture, even leaving a nice cushy feel. I even get excited to cleanse my skin.

Be sure to participate in the poll to the left.

Wednesday, December 12, 2007

The Skin Oasis


I have finally ended my journey in the search for the winter's best moisturizer. I have slept with it on(no humidifier) and awakened to find that my skin felt as soft as a baby's bottom. No tightness or dryness around the mouth area!! I found it in perfect timing too!!! Finals are here and that means no sleep until December 19th. Between Finals, work, and freelancing my skin will need this extra boost.

Introducing.... MD Skincare Hydra-Pure Intense Moisture Cream!!! It was love at first touch. This made my skin feel so good!! The instant I rubbed this in, my skin felt like I had never drank a Cosmo, Diet-Coke, or a Starbucks Frap. I was surprised at my skin's reaction, because I didn't think that the cream would be heavy enough for what I needed. The Bobbi Moisture balm has been the only moisturizer that I have been using for the past year at night, so the difference in texture made me a little apprehensive. But... I had to have it!! The sales rep Greg at the counter was soooo helpful. It was really good to see that he was well read and well versed on the product that he was selling. Listening to him go over the product information pulled out chemical vocabulary (i'm a chem major) that I just recently learned. The most impressive part about this moisturizer is that it contains a chelating complex that binds with unwanted heavy metals, minerals, and impurities left behind by water, which helps to alleviate breakouts. Next I would like to find a hydrating skin mask to give my skin a boost at the end of the week.

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Night Time Skincare


For the past few weeks, I have been waking up with dry lips and tight feeling skin!! I moisturize the heck outta my skin before I go to bed (Bobbi Brown Eye balm, Hydrating face cream, and Bobbi Brown Face Oil...I put the eyebalm all over my face). I even sleep with a bottle of Charge Water bedside so that I can spray myself at night. I have concluded that I need a new night time moisturizer and a Humidifier.
My skin needs something that is richer and heavier than what I have been using. Really, I don't even know where to start. I am working on a budget, so I will keep you updated on my findings. Tomorrow, I am definitely hitting up Nordstrom to see which lines past the test.

Say Cheese!!


Visual documentation for the important milestones in your life should be perfect. Everything should look perfect so that your personality will radiate through the photo.I always look and feel happy when I know that I look good! Sometimes this doesn't happen if your hair and makeup isn't quite how you wanted it to look. Take out a recently taken photograph of yourself...Do you feel that you could have done a little more to look your best? You know...more concealer under the eye, more color on the lips,etc.

A week ago, I did an application on a young lady for graduation photos(congrats Tashira!!). We agreed that it would be best for her to look like herself only prettier and more confident. The exciting part was seeing how excited and pretty she was when I finished. Here are a list of products I used as well as a photo (taken after pictures):

1. Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream (used all over face and under eyes)
2. Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Foundation in Espresso
3. MAC NW40 Concealer (used under eyes and as brow highlight)
4. MAC Paint in Stilllife (base for eyeshadow)
5. MAC Pigment in GoldStroke (I love this color...on lowerlid)
6. MAC Bronze shadow (blended in with Gold stroke)
7. MAC Embark shadow (in crease)
8. Bobbi Brown Mahogany shadow (liner)
9. MAC #33 Lashes (this was a first time lash wearer)
10. Bobbi Brown Blush in Plum
11. MAC shadow in Brown Down (brows)
12. MAC Plushglass in Trance Plant (plum-pink)

Monday, December 3, 2007

Say Cheese!!!

I know that it has been awhile. Between school,my job (I need a new one), and photoshoots I haven't had anytime to update you. With my graduation approaching faster than I have time to breathe, I wanted to talk about makeup for the milestone photographs (you know highschool graduation, college graduation, wedding, etc). Okay, so go take out a recently taken professional photograph of yourself...go ahead, I'll wait. Evaluate it and point out something that you would like to change. Are your dark circles showing, brows groomed, skin look healthy? Basically, do you feel like you could have looked better? These photographs are historical documentations of you. You should look and feel your best on this day. Feeling your best will be acheived when you look your best.

I recently did an application on someone who is graduating this month (congrats Tashira). I kept the application very light, but enough so that her skin would look its best. This was made possible by using : Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream, Bobbi Brown Moisturizing Foundation in Espresso (I diluted with water), MAC Brown Down shadow (brows), MAC Bronze shadow mixed with MAC Goldstroke pigment (my new favorite color!!), MAC #33 Lash, Bobbi Brown Blush in Plum, and a pink semi-glossy lip!!
You don't want to over do it!! The photo should still look like you...only prettier and more confident!!