12.02.2015

Confession Session: I'm Allergic To...

I haven’t told too many people this, but I recently found out that I am allergic to eggs, almonds, dairy & a few other items like mushrooms and oats. My daughter and I have been going to a naturalist doctor in Orange County for a few months now, and she has helped us a lot in such a short time. 

I have always had allergies and an inhaler for as long as I can remember. Over the last few years, I get a terrible pain in my thumb and joints - especially after a long day at the office or when it’s freezing out side. I had also been suffering from tightness in my throat, difficulty swallowing, bad breath, belching all the time, bloating after most meals, weight gain and waking up in the middle of the night with difficulty of breath. 

When I learned the results of my food allergy test in October, I was pretty bummed about the fact that I am allergic to almonds. I also had just eaten a handful pretty much as I was reading my allergy report. The eggs part didn’t really bother me at first, but after really thinking about how many things we eat on a daily basis have egg in them, I got frustrated. The dairy was also a bit of a bummer because I use milk in my coffee and enjoy fancy cheeses.

Then it all hit me while I was in Greece: What can I eat for breakfast? I can’t eat eggs, and oatmeal is out of the questions because oats was a minor food allergy. That basically leaves fruit which has a lot of sugar… even though it is a natural sugar. I ate some meat for breakfast as well, but all I wanted for breakfast was eggs! 

My best friend, Annie, joined me in Greece for a few days and she loves ice cream. We found an ice cream place near our hotel in Santorini, and the guy assured me that my ice cream had no dairy or eggs in it. I tasted it and it tasted way too good to be egg and dairy free! It was pure egg yolks and dairy of course. So, at times, it has been rough, BUT there is good news in all of this…

Since I have learned of my food allergies and have avoided those foods almost 100% (okay minus a taste every so often), I have seen a change in my inhaler behavior. I don’t have to use it as much! I also have been sleeping much better and haven’t had the joint pain.

Conveniently, my daughter eats dairy free (minus sheep and goat cheeses) and cooks many egg free & vegan dishes at home. While we all eat meat, we don’t consume dairy, so it’s been fairly easy when I am in Orange County and she can cook for me. 

Back in February, Krysten finally launched Krysten’s Kitchen after a few years of encouragement from friends and family. She does a lot of trial and error to make many meals She makes the most delicious dinners and foods at home that I can eat: 

stuffed chicken thighs (I have to go easy on the feta, though but doc said a little goat feta is okay here and there)
chia seed pudding - one of my favorites, tastes like tapioca 
crunch bars - YES!

The best part about all of this, her recipes are all dairy free, almond and egg free! I love these brownies and a pizza crust mix that she makes from Namaste Foods. This company has many different food products that are all allergy friendly - so, no eggs, nuts, dairy, soy, tree nut, shellfish, corn etc in any of their stuff. It makes it easier on me, too.  I also love this tasty vegan pesto from Basiltops. You would never know it didn't have cheese in it and it's wonderful on the pizza. 

In all of this, I am grateful that I do know what I am allergic to, although it kind of stinks a bit when I’m out at events or holiday parties. However, I feel so much better when I avoid almonds, eggs and dairy. I have heard so many people say “I could never give that up.” If you have a key to feeling much better each day and choose to push it aside, that makes no sense to me. 

If you would have told me that I needed to avoid dairy, almonds and eggs, I might have thought that it wouldn’t do anything because I don’t get a physical reaction or rash on my skin. However, following my doctor’s orders and giving it a try was the best thing I could have done because I feel so much better. Plus, there are so many alternatives out there nowadays and my daughter has made some of the most delicious recipes that are free of the stuff I cannot eat anymore. 

Life is an adventure. Eliminating a food or two isn’t the end of the world. And for me, after eliminating these foods, all of those terrible things I had been dealing with have either disappeared or severely minimized! 





Athena offers Complimentary Consultations. To learn more about Athena's work,
see before and after photos and read testimonials from both clients and doctors,
please visit her website FoolingMotherNature.com

11.20.2015

Favorites Friday: Bronze Goddess

You know, with all the makeup I have and with all of the makeup I've tried, there really hasn't ever been a bronzer that was made for me. Bronzers are either too yellow or way to red on me. Estee Lauder got it right this time! Their Bronze Goddess (in 02 medium) is just so perfect on so many skin tones. My daughter and I both wear it and we have completely different skin tones & undertones.

I really enjoy the gifts that come along with a purchase from Nordstrom or Macys when I buy my favorite concealer (also from Estee Lauder) because without those little gifts, I would have never tried this awesome bronzer. I have tried so many bronzers in my day- from different companies, in different shades and they are either too orangy or even too glittery! Finally something that is a wonderful shade, without too much glitter or orange! 

With just one sweep, this smooth, oil-free powder gives the face, shoulders, and décolletage a seductive bronzed look. The formula contains a unique oil-control complex that keeps skin shine-free and comfortable while imparting the perfect golden glow.

Estee Lauder's Bronze Goddess in 02 medium is a great purchase from Sephora or any Estee Lauder makeup counter. It really looks great on everyone, I truly believe. It is a great stocking stuffer for your girlfriends, your mother, aunt or even yourself. Enjoy!

Also, in case you think this bronzer might be too dark for you, they also have a few other shades in Bronze Goddess. If you aren't sure about which is right for you, ask someone at the counter to help you. It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. 

Just remember when applying bronzer - less is more!

______

Athena Karsant was honored with Best of San Francisco & Best of Beverly Hills for 2013!
Athena also offers Complimentary Consultations. To learn more about Athena's work,
see before and after photos and read testimonials from both clients and doctors,
please visit her website FoolingMotherNature.com



11.13.2015

Favorites Fridays: Queen Bee Scrub

I haven’t posted a favorite product in awhile I just only want to bring you the good stuff and not post about any beauty products just because I want to post another blog. Nothing has really jumped out at me lately in the last few months... until now. 

About a month ago, our favorite coffee scrub company, Boss Babe Body, finally released their latest and greatest scrub. I have written about their amazing coffee scrub before and its amazing benefits. So many men and women all over the world are saying GOODBYE to stretch marks, psoriasis, eczema, dry skin and more with Boss Babe Coffee Scrub! 

QUEEN BEE is the newest addition to the Boss Babe Body line of fabulous scrubs. It's incredibly rich, moisturizing and made with the best of the best organic and pure ingredients fit for royalty. Once you open the bag, the wonderful aroma will pull you in so fast. When we got our first bag of the Queen Bee scrub, Krysten (my daughter) and I opened the bag and the smell that took over was amazing.

This scrub is unlike the others in that it doesn’t have coffee in it, but it’s even more moisturizing than the other scrubs. It also doesn’t make any mess! I love the other scrubs, but they do make a big mess in the shower. The QUEEN BEE scrub is mess free and will make your skin feel incredible this winter!

I will tell you this, this is a MUST HAVE PRODUCT this Holiday season. Boss Babe Body was featured in the celebrity gift bags for The 87th Academy Awards & Sundance Film Festival. It was also featured in the June 2015 issue of British Vogue as one of “Vogue's Summer Beauty Obsessions.” 

This is the holiday product that your friends and family will absolutely fall in love with... it’s that luxurious. 

If you have tried their other coffee scrubs, you know that they are jam-packed with amazing ingredients and wonderful benefits... you also know they are messy in the shower. QUEEN BEE is not messy at all! 

Boss Babe Body is 100% Organic 

Boss Babe Body is for EVERYONE (just like permanent makeup / cosmetic tattooing)!

For more information, please visit BossBabeBody.com
Like Boss Babe Body on Facebook!
Follow Boss Babe Body on Instagram!
Post your photos using #bossbabebody

______

Athena Karsant was honored with Best of San Francisco & Best of Beverly Hills for 2013!
Athena also offers Complimentary Consultations. To learn more about Athena's work,
see before and after photos and read testimonials from both clients and doctors,
please visit her website FoolingMotherNature.com


9.30.2015

The Way I Work… & It Does Work!

As you may know, I work differently than almost every other permanent makeup artist in the industry. I have been a cosmetic and corrective tattoo artist for over 25 years now and the system that I have designed for my clients has worked thus far, so why change it... right?

I don’t say that to be harsh or crass. I legitimately believe in what I do wholeheartedly, and I have such a passion for my work and what I do that it truly is every ounce of my being. With that said, I wanted to give some more detail to you about how I work. 

When a client seeks my artistry, a complimentary consult is always recommended to discuss your wants and needs for any procedure. It entails a thorough and comprehensive and informative one-on-one time where I am able to answer any questions that the client might have, as well as go over the entire procedure in depth. If you are requesting permanent makeup, such as eyebrows, eyeliner and lips, a part of the consultation with be focused on penciling in the procedure to get the right shape and an idea of the perfect color. 

Because every individual client is different (i.e. the shape of their face, the color of their skin, their undertones, lifestyle, etc.), each procedure is completely customized per individual. No two eyebrows, eyeliner or lips will be the same because no two people are the same. 

The number one question that I get asked over the phone is price. I never discuss price over the phone because I truly have to see you in person to be able to give you the best price. You may not need as much work as you think you will need. On the contrary, you may in fact might need more work than you think - which could be because it’s corrective work. If you don’t understand color theory or the ins-and-outs of this type of artistry, it isn’t always as simple as “can’t you just put a little bit of color there?”

The way my fee works is very simple and quite beneficial to each client: I charge one flat fee for the entire year. This fee is paid up front and includes all of your aftercare and touchup appointments. I want to see you as the seasons change so that we can get the best color for you, shape and design to last many years to come. I want you to be a huge part of the process, we will work together to make sure that you are happy with your procedure. 

For some, the initial fee is a bit high, but let me do my best to explain that to you. If you had to pay for every appointment until perfection, there is a chance you might not always want to schedule because you wouldn’t want it to hurt your wallet. Because I strive for perfection with every single procedure that I perform, I want you to want to come in, even if it is for a minor touch up… you might simply need a few hair strokes in your eyebrow. Also, most technicians charge you a price that includes one touchup. I strongly believe that perfection cannot be achieved in just two visits. After your first appointment, there is a strong chance that the pigment will fade up to 50% - and that is completely normal. Each subsequent visit I take a look at how your procedure looks and layer additional pigment to create the perfect shape and color. After each visit, they may be fading. However, there will also be an improvement after each visit until we achieve the perfect results. I believe that it is almost always impossible for a technician to achieve perfection in only 2 visits, especially if the client has not been taught how to properly maintain and take care of their new eyebrows, eyeliner or lips.

When you book an appointment for a procedure with me, I give you my all. I want perfection, and I want your procedure to last for many years. I want to work with you all year long so that I can properly teach you how to take care of your procedure. I want you to be happy with my artistry, but I want to be happy too! That is why I only want the absolute best work on each client. You are a walking canvas of my artistry, therefore, precision and excellence is what I can assure you when you walk out of my door and into the world. 

After 25 years of helping numerous clients with their permanent makeup and sparse eyebrow needs, as well as scar camouflage, areola repigmentation and more, I know that making you commit to the process works smoothly and allows you to feel confident that we will achieve perfection together. I also am beyond blessed that I am able to get to know you over the entire year, learn about you, your family and so much more. I have gone through so many celebrations with my clients: weddings, births, promotions, moves, travels, etc. and, unfortunately, many sad times as well: deaths, divorces, accidents, etc. But one thing remains: my love and devotion to each client that walks in my door and puts their cute little behind in one of my chairs. 

We can do this together, and together we can reach perfection! 


Schedule a complimentary consultation at any our conveniently located offices: 

8.11.2015

Permanent Makeup On The Rise

Permanent makeup is on the rise… but there are still so many people who don’t know it’s an option to fix their eyebrow troubles. Quite often, I meet people who are shocked at what I do because they have never heard of it! It’s really exciting to know that you really can fix your sparse “barely-there" eyebrows without being a slave to your eyebrow pencils each day! 

It really does take a blend of science and art to perform a permanent makeup procedure. While anyone can go take a class or learn how to do what I do on YouTube (yes… that should scare you into really doing your research!), it takes more than just picking any eyebrow color and “drawing” them on your client's face. 

I recently had a client who came to see me for corrective work. She shared with me her experience at the technician who originally performed her procedure. When it was time to begin the procedure the technician asked her to choose the color that she wanted for her eyebrows. That’s something that you do at a nail salon, not when you are receiving permanent makeup! A good permanent makeup technician will understand color theory and how your undertones will change the color of the pigment that is deposited into your skin. If you go somewhere for permanent makeup and they want you to choose your own color… run out of that door as fast as you can! Remember, permanent makeup is a tattoo… which is permanent! I would much rather you receive a procedure the right way the first time than have to correct it later. 


As a cosmetic and corrective tattoo specialist, I continue to expand my education because I believe that one should never stop learning. I have been in this industry for over 20 years now and have done extensive training on color theory and techniques so that I can completely customize every single procedure for each and every client. There are no two people in this world with the same exact natural eyebrows, and therefore I will not tattoo the same eyebrows on the different people. 

Everyone is different in more ways than one. We all have different personalities, lifestyles, facial expressions and taste in beauty and fashion. It’s important that when choosing a permanent makeup artist you research and recognize what to look for. 

1. He/She should have no less than 5 years of working experience.
2. He/She should have a professional workspace.
3. He/She should have real client testimonials. 
4. He/She should be a member of the SPCP (or a similar organization) & be certified by the state.
5. He/She should have referral letters from physicians and doctors.
6. He/She should have proof of Blood Bourne Pathogens training.
7. He/She should have a strong portfolio of real clients and real work.
8. He/She should be able to answer any questions that you might have.
9. He/She should have certifications and credentials handy in the office.
10. YOU should feel comfortable with your permanent makeup artist.



Schedule a complimentary consultation at any our conveniently located offices: 

6.08.2015

Favorites Fridays: Better Than Sex Mascara by Too Faced

You read that title right! A few months ago I had a client in my office, and I just couldn’t stop staring at her eyelashes! They were so long, thick, dark and just mesmerizing. I asked her what mascara she was using and I swore I would remember the name cause well, you know. I normally don't purchase mascara that I can't get at the drug store because I find that they really are all the same. Some have a different brush, but in general, I have always felt that mascara is something you don't have to get at a makeup counter. 

Remembering how amazing my client's eyelashes looked, I was determined to give this mascara a try. I texted her to find out the name and immediately ordered it. My daughter and I both bought TooFaced’s Better Than Sex Mascara and tried it right away. I can honestly say that, without a doubt, I have NEVER used a better mascara in my life! I'm sure there are so many great mascaras, and yes I have tried so many of them... but this one takes the cake! 

I have always been a believer in using multiple brands of makeup. I might have a primer or foundation from Jouer, a lip gloss from Gleam, a makeup brush from Sephora and an eyeliner from Make Up For Ever. I have also always used mascaras from drug stores because, lets face it, mascara is mascara and I still love my Cover Girl mascara that my darling friend Miss Ashlee Wilson Hawn told me about! But I must say, Too Faced has really done it! 

(photo credit - http://bit.ly/1BMTPQs)


Here’s what you need to know:

It’s intensely black to really make your lashes POP! It is a volumizing mascara with an hourglass shaped brush that really separates your lashes while coating and curling each individual eyelash. One coat is all you need, even though I like two coats because they look even more luscious, intense and all around fabulous! It’s paragon free, smudge proof (which you know would be fabulous with smudge free eyeliner) and wears all day keeping your lashes looking fierce! 



Schedule a complimentary consultation at any our conveniently located offices: 

5.18.2015

Brow Raising Facts About… Eyebrows

Eyebrows are more important that you thought! They aren’t just for facial expressions and fashion trend opportunities, they actually do more!


- Your eyebrows keep the sweat from dripping into your eyes The arch and tail of your eyebrows are designed so that your eyes stay protected during your workout and even in the rain! 

- Your eyebrows allow for others to know what you are thinking through facial expressions. When you are surprised, you might notice that your eyebrows are raised, and when you are angry, they bunch together.

- Your eyebrows have a specific life-span of 3 to 4 months. During that time, each hair falls out and new growth fills in.

- Eyebrows are crucial for facial recognition. According to a study done at MIT, it can be impossible to recognize a person when their eyebrows are removed! Participants of the study only recognized about half of the faces shown in the study. 


- Eyebrows have been an important part of beauty history. There once was a time when eyebrows were shaved off. During the Renaissance, some thought that shaving the eyebrows off signified beauty and high class. In other ancient civilizations, eyebrows were made from mouse skin and “glued” on for a bushy look. Grooming of the eyebrows is not anything new, and eyebrow maintenance and grooming has been around for a long, long while! 

- Some people spend an average of 10 minutes per day (and even up to 30 minutes) penciling in and perfecting their eyebrows. 10 minutes per day can really add up!


- There are many people who are enjoying the wonderful benefits of having their eyebrows tattooed! While it is believed that permanent makeup started in the days of Cleopatra, there are still so many people who do not know that they can have permanent makeup, have it look extremely natural and that it’s just one phone call away. 


Schedule a complimentary consultation at any our conveniently located offices: San Francisco, Beverly Hills or Newport Beach! Let me help you LOVE your eyebrows again!

4.22.2015

Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge - WARNING!

I feel as though I should address this. I have seen this new Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge swarming all over social media and just cannot believe that there are so many people partaking in it. If you have noticed, Kylie Jenner’s lips have changed a lot since she was a little girl. I really don’t know how this challenge started, but it’s sad that there are so many people getting hurt!

Yes, it’s true - so many people want to enhance their lips, mostly with lip injections which is a great option if you are having someone who is properly certified to do so. Did you know that you can also enhance your lips permanent makeup and cosmetic tattooing? You don't need to use a bottle to enhance your lips! With this lip challenge, you are entrusting a glass or plastic bottle! 

There are so many teens (men and women) that are trying this and while it can cause bruising and a temporary lip “pout” it can even cause some serious damage! In some cases, people are experiencing serious injury due to the bottle exploding and sending shards of glass into and around their mouth.


I highly recommend that you stay away from this “challenge” as it can be much more harmful that you really think it is. Please do some research about what can really happen with internet challenges and consider the following options if you are desiring bigger and more pouty lips:

Lip Venom from DuWop! - Lip Venom has been around for a while. It’s a clear lip gloss that makes your lips fuller with pure essential oils of cinnamon, ginger and wintergreen. It stimulates circulation and with the jojoba and avocado oils, it gives moisture and shine. It’s only $16 and you can click here to learn more.

- Lip Injections - ask you doctor or plastic surgeon for more information to see if this is the right procedure for you. Please make sure that the person who will do the procedure for you is qualified and certified to do so. Don't hesitate to ask any questions, read real client testimonials and look at before and after pictures. 

Permanent Makeup: Tattooing your lips can stimulate your own collagen and increase blood flow. Did you know that as we age, our natural lip color and lip line can fade? Tattooing your lips even a millimeter outside of your natural lip line/shape can make a BIG difference in your lips and your look. Many of my clients request that I enhance their lips to make them look bigger through cosmetic tattooing. It is very popular for men and women! To schedule a complimentary consultation at any of my offices, please click here or visit www.FoolingMotherNature.com



To learn more about Athena Karsant, click here. 



4.16.2015

Favorites Fridays: Bioderma Sensibio H20

Let’s face it - sometimes you get home really late from the office, the movies, a hot date or a night out with friends and all you want to do is take off your high heels and climb into bed. While removing those heels is a must, there is something else that you should do without hesitation… wash your face. Everyone has forgotten to do it…. even I have forgotten before! (Shhhh) I get home really late from a concert or conference and all I want to do is climb into bed and turn Netflix on. I started keeping a jar of toner with cotton rounds in it by the bed so that if I just didn’t want to get back on my feet, I could at least remove my makeup. Unfortunately, the toner has alcohol and harsh chemicals and/or oils that just aren't the best for my skin. It also can’t remove my eye makeup and would burn if I even tried. Are you wondering where I am going with all of this? Well, here we go...

This week, I share Bioderma Sensibio H20 (also known as Crealine H20) which is a no-rinse micellar cleanser and makeup remover. It is wonderful for all types of skin and can even remove waterproof mascara, eye makeup and face makeup with out leaving any kind of residue on the skin or eyes. Now do you see where I was going with this? I love this product because it will remove my makeup and eye makeup with ease and my skin feels so clean afterwards! I highly recommend this fabulous beauty product for anyone!

I don’t recommend using this as your daily cleanser and not washing or exfoliating your face, but I do think this is the best eye makeup remover that I have ever seen or used. It is also fragrance-free, alcohol-free, paraben-free and hypoallergenic. So, basically, it’s magic and works like a charm! 

Bioderma is a French skincare brand whose products are known for being highly effective but gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive skin. Bioderma understands the importance of maintaining skin health. Their team of biologists and dermatologists have conducted extensive research to create a line of products designed to protect the skin and boost its resistance to environmental factors. Their products are loved throughout the world and can be found in the kits of top makeup artists.

Let’s face it - washing your face and removing all of your makeup after a night out with the girls, a hot date or a late night at the office is the last thing women want to do. It seems like all we care about is taking off our high heels and climbing in to bed. If you ask your skincare expert, they will tell you there are just a few rules to great skin: 1) don’t pick 2) moisturize 3) exfoliate and 4) DON’T GO TO BED WITH YOUR MAKEUP ON! In fact, not washing your makeup off before bed can actually age your skin and your look quite quickly. Here is another solution and you have no excuses. Keep Bioderma Sensibio H20 by your bed and a few cotton rounds by you and it will easily remove all of your makeup without any effort. 

You can purchase this fabulous product on the Beautylish website or HERE. I learned about this fabulous product at The Makeup Show LA a few weeks ago and found out that they are my “neighbor” in San Francisco on Sutter Street, which is a few blocks from my San Francisco Office!

The only “makeup” it won’t remove is your permanent makeup - which is wonderful! Check it out and let me know what you think! You will LOVE this product, I promise!


at the BeautyLish booth at The Makeup Show LA


To learn more about Athena Karsant, click here. 

4.10.2015

Favorites Fridays: Gleam Body Radiance by Melanie Mills

Well, here is a brand new favorite of mine. Last year, my daughter and I attended The Makeup Show LA and we had a blast! Her favorite purchases were from Jouer Cosmetics (which have been some of my favorites too: face primer, the amazing, award winning and Allure Magazine favorite: Luminizing Moisture Tint as well as the Matte Moisture Tint and Long-Wear Creme Mousse Eyeshadow) and from Gleam. I remember her buying some goodies from Gleam’s booth, and I know she has loved it over the years, but I never really tried it myself. This week, I am excited to share Gleam's Body Radiance with you!

When we got to Gleam’s booth at the Makeup Show LA, my daughter was so excited to tell Melanie and her team how much she LOVED her purchases from the year before! While at the booth, I was able to try the Gleam Body Radiance in DEEP GOLD and loved the look of it on my arms. Because I haven’t enjoyed any time in the sun to get that Greek glowing tan that I normally have in the Spring and Summer, I found that this was right on the money. I loved the way it made my arms look nice and tan without being streaky, blotchy or orange. I love the different shades that Gleam Body Radiance comes in… there is something for everyone. 


Something you might love to know is that this fabulous line was created by the Emmy-Award winning Melanie Mills! She invented Gleam Body Radiance out of the necessity to instantly bronze the fabulous pro-dancers and celebrities’ skin without a spray tan, all while deeply moisturizing and making their skin glow for the cameras on ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars.”

Gleam is so incredibly light weight, but don’t let that fool you! It’s jam-packed with moisturizing ingredients to leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated. Normally, I don’t prefer strong scents in lotions because I really love the perfumes that I wear and don’t like mixing fragrant lotions with body perfume. BUT I really do love the subtle scent from Gleam Body Radiance. It reminds me of being out by the pool or being on the beach.



Some facts about Gleam Body Radiance:
1) If you aren’t sure about which shade of Gleam to purchase, the Rose Gold is the most universal.
2) When applied to clean, dry skin, Gleam will lift and enhance your natural squinting.
3) It is highly pigmented, so it will camouflage imperfections like skin discoloration, stretch marks and even varicose veins.
4) It will not rub off onto your clothes and it is transfer-resistant but can be easily removed with a baby wipe.... I KNOW, RIGHT?!
5) Mixing with your body lotion isn’t recommended, use Gleam alone.
6) Gleam will not stain your clothes, but if it does transfer, use soap and water to remove it.
7) Mix a little with your liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer or apply Gleam all by itself to your 

face for a sexy glow!
8) It's a must for your Summer (Fall, Winter, and Spring) beauty regime!


For more FAQ, visit their website.
To purchase Gleam Body Radiance click here!
You can purchase a sample pack to try out all four shades!



To learn more about Athena Karsant, click here.