Favorite's Fridays: L'oreal's B.B. Cream

I normally am not one to go for the latest beauty "gimmick" unless a friend or client highly recommends something. A dear client (and now friend) of mine strongly suggested that I try L'Oreal's B.B. Cream because she absolutely loved it. Thanks to her, I finally tried it and now love it, too!

I am pretty open and honest with people about the fact that I have fillers done every so often. During the healing process, it isn't uncommon to be a little black and blue from a little bruising. When I look a little bruised, I need a great concealer, foundation, and powder, however I refuse to use any products that makes me look "cakey." While the B.B. Cream isn't for a full coverage look, it does create an even skin tone and does not look powdery, cakey, thick or too "made up".  The B.B. Cream goes onto your skin white and, after it sits for two seconds, you rub it in and it magically evens out your skin tone.  After I apply the B.B. Cream, I add a touch of my favorite concealer under my eyes - neither of which look "cakey."

L'Oreal's B.B. Cream hydrates your skin, evens out your skin tone, hides minor imperfections and provides your skin with all-day moisture. It feels very light, as if you do not have makeup on, and is very easy to use. It also has what L'Oreal calls "Beautifying beads", which are infused with an ultra light lotion with antioxidants Vitamin C and Vitamin E. 

B.B. Cream can be purchased in Fair, Light, Medium and Deep. I have tried the Light, Medium and Deep and they all seem to be the right color because they blend right into my skin tone. Of course, the Deep and the Light look slightly different, but no one would say that my makeup looks too light or too dark. Find L'Oreal's B.B. Cream at Target, Rite Aid, CVS or any drug store and enjoy!

B.B. Cream's Beautifying Beads:

Prime - Smooth Skin's Texture

Correct - Even Complexion

Hydrate - All Day Moisture

Perfect - Hide Imperfections

Favorite's Fridays: Cholesterol Hair Conditioner

Is your hair in need of a miracle? Have you spent too much time in the sun this summer? Is your hair overworked, over-stressed and begging for help? You might need Cholesterol!

Cholesterol is a great conditioner that can be found at beauty supply shops. It is for extremely damaged, dehydrated, and stressed out hair. I have been using this conditioner for years and always get fabulous results. However, I don't use it on a daily basis. I probably only use it every three to four months - when my hair needs a "happy hour." Lately, I've felt as if my hair has been so fried, frizzy and dead. The other day I put a generous amount on my hair, massaged it into my scalp and the ends of my hair, and let it sit for about an hour under a shower cap while I did a few house chores. Immediately after rinsing it out I could tell my hair felt healthier. After I was reminded of how healthy my hair felt after using it this past week, I will probably use it once a month to maintain it's great results.

Cholesterol contains Aloe and Keratin Amino Acid Proteins to deep condition and revive damaged hair. Cholesterol Conditioner contains proteins and cholesterols to add strength and moisture to your desperate hair. It is meant to revive brittle, broken and damaged hair and increases shine, softness and strength! The product is made by Queen Helene, a company that is over 75 years old!

This conditioner is very inexpensive and can be found at Sally Beauty Supply or any other beauty supply stores. 

Happy 1 Year Anniversary

On September 10th, 2011, (9/10/11) my baby girl got married in San Francisco. She and her husband had been dating for six years (at the time) when they got married. They met in college in Scottsdale, Arizona, during the first week of their freshmen year of college and have been joined at the hip ever since. They got engaged back in December of 2010 at my daughter's favorite place in the world, Disneyland, and started planning the wedding in June of last year. They didn't give her father or me a whole lot of time to put this together. Though we did not have much time to plan, the wedding was perfectly beautiful. There were roughly 200 guests, excellent food, delicious cake, family, friends and one beautiful bride. As I saw my daughter walk down the aisle of the beautiful church, I couldn't help but tear up a bit. My only baby was getting married! 

Luckily, I didn't have black tears running down my cheeks as some of the guests did. The only makeup touching up I had to do throughout the night was reapply some lipstick to give my lips a more dramatic look and touchup my blush. Though my lips are tattooed, the color is very subtle. Adding lipstick gives that WOW factor that is perfect for a night out or in this case a BIG party! When I was in the restroom, I saw many women reapplying their makeup–but not blush or lipstick. There were some reapplying eyeliner... I couldn't believe that their eyeliner wouldn't stay on for the length of a wedding ceremony and reception without the need to reapply! Everyone is different. Everyone's face holds makeup differently. My daughter didn't have any permanent makeup at the time of her wedding and her makeup stayed on the whole day. She kept reapplying lipstick and lip-gloss throughout the night but that was it. Some of us are not that fortunate. If I didn't have permanent makeup, I would have to keep reapplying (conventional) makeup all night. I am glad I don't have to carry my makeup drawer in my purse. 

I can't believe it has been a year already. It's amazing how this past year has come and gone. Congratulations to Krysten and Jeff on your first anniversary. I love you both and I am so happy to have the two of you working with me! Cheers!

Favorite's Fridays: Aqua Black

I know that I have already done a blog on the Make Up For Ever Aqua line however I really wanted to write a blog focusing on one of the aqua products specifically. 

Although I have my eyeliner tattooed* on, I still enjoy enhancing it with a little black eyeliner (preferably the form of gel). On a somewhat daily basis, when I add to my tattooed eyeliner, I use Make Up For Ever's Aqua Black.

Aqua Black comes in a tiny pot and is applied with an angled eye makeup brush. It is similar to this past favorite, only BETTER because it is waterproof. It can only be taken off with an oil based makeup remover. I like it because it doesn't leave a crease mark on your upper eyelid, stays on all day long without reapplication, and it is very easy to apply. 

My daughter informed me that when she was on vacation last week in Palm Springs, she spent everyday at the pool and underwater. She said that this eyeliner is the only thing that stayed on in the sunshine, the pool and while sunbathing. It did not sweat off or need reapplication. 

She also has her eyeliner tattooed on. However, it is very subtle and is more of a "lash enhancement." Therefore, she likes to enhance her permanent makeup as well. When she wears just mascara (and no additional eyeliner) it looks as if she has more lashes. The way I work with my clients (and even my daughter) is very unique. She has only been in my chair twice to touch up her eyeliner over the past few months. Cosmetic Tattooing is a process in which I gradually build out my client's eyeliner (or eyebrows, or lips) at each session (which is covered in the one time fee.) This is done for many reasons: 1) No downtime; 2) Limiting the shock factor (many clients who have no eyebrows always like to start little by little - it is shocking to them to see themselves in a mirror all of a sudden with eyebrows); and 3) So I can see how your skin handles the color of the pigments and so I can go through the four seasons with you.

You can purchase Make Up For Ever at Sephora or online at makeupforever.com

*When you are sick of applying your eyeliner everyday, give me a call.

Think You're Too Old? Think Again!

Who do you think of when you think of tattoos? Many people think of "kids" (in the late teens, early twenties) when they hear the word tattoo. Tattooing isn’t just for those in their 20s... in my office, age is just a number. It doesn’t define the procedure that they request or the reason that they are in my chair. Of course, I do have clients who are in their 20s. However, I also have clients, both men and women, who’s ages range from young 30s to late 80s and even 90s! Many of my "mature" clients still wish to apply conventional makeup, but their hands are no longer steady enough to add eyeliner, lipstick or color, and shaping to their eyebrows. That shouldn’t limit them from wanting to look their best and feel great! I have had cute, little, old ladies in my office that just cannot see well enough to apply their makeup anymore. I have had visually impaired clients who are not in their 90s, but who wish they didn't have to have some one else apply their makeup every day. I have had men and women in my chair who wish to fix a scar above their lip due to a cleft palate. My mother-in-law is very conservative and does not like (body art) tattoos. I have even had her in my chair, and now she doesn’t have to spend that time in the mirror applying eyebrow pencil! Permanent makeup and paramedical tattooing does not have an age limit. Come one, come all! Come young, come old... mature! You are all welcome to Fool Mother Nature! 

Permanent Makeup - Corrective Tattooing - Scar Camouflage & More... 

See more photos at

FOOLINGMOTHERNATURE.COM

or

FOOLINGFATHERTIME.COM

Favorite's Fridays: Crystal Deodorant

The modern Deodorant was first invented in 1888. Though it has come a long way since the late 1800s, it is still used by (hopefully) everyone over 100 years later. There are all types of deodorants. They come in different scents, for men and women, and even in special formulas for those with allergies or sensitive skin. I have sensitive skin and don't use a typical deodorant on a daily basis because I use Hibiclens. But I also always have a special Crystal deodorant in my medicine cabinet as well. Crystal is a natural mineral salt deodorant. It prevents odor and does not clog or plug pores with aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. I use Crystal because it works just the same as some of the other leading deodorants, but it isn't harming to my body. Aluminum can be toxic to the nervous system as well as the reproductive system. It is very common in antiperspirant deodorants and should be avoided. Sweating is a natural act and should not be "covered up" by blocking pores, which is what most deodorants do.

Crystal Deodorant can be found in two forms: a rock - literally and a liquid. Both can be purchased at most drugstores. I highly recommend using Crystal Deodorant if you want to use a deodorant that is not bad for your body. 

The Mean Green Smoothie

 Over the last few months, I have changed a big part of my diet. I stopped drinking lots of coffee and added more greens. Substituting spinach for coffee? YES! I saw my daughter drinking a bright green drink (which I referred to as "green slime"), and she begged me to taste it. I refused because it looked like slime. The next time she made it, she had it covered so I could not see what it looked like... clever girl. I tried it... loved it... and have been making them every morning since! 

Many clients ask what in the world I am drinking when they see me sipping my green drinks in the office, so I wanted to share my recipe with you. I never thought I would get so hooked on these drinks, but they sure are tasty, healthy and easy to make! 

My family is huge on the Vitamix mixer. The Vitamix is fabulous for all types of meals, dips, desserts, fresh soups and smoothies! We make our green drinks in the Vitamix, but you can make it in just about any blender (although my personal opinion is that the Vitamix is the best!).

I don't have an exact recipe for what I drink every morning because I don't measure anything anymore... except my protein powder. There is no real science to my green madness, it's all about manipulating the taste by adding different fruits and veggies to your blender. I have learned to freeze a lot of the ingredients to get a better result. I buy apples, bananas, celery, pineapple, and cucumber and cut them into desired pieces, freeze them in baggies and have them ready for my morning green drinks. 

ENJOY! 

Here is the Green Drink that started it all. These are from my daughter, Krysten. Hopefully you will try and enjoy them! 

The Easy Green Drink 

2 cups Pineapple (Fresh is always the best!)
1 stalk Celery
2 cups Spinach
4 ounces Unsweetened Vanilla FlaxMilk (Try Good Karma Flax Milk)
2 cups ice cubes
1 scoop Vanilla Whey or Hemp Protein Powder

After about a week, I started to add some more goodies to the recipe. 

The Green Drink 

2 cups Pineapple (Fresh is always the best!)
1 stalk Celery
2 cups Spinach
1 small piece of frozen Banana
1 small piece of Green Apple
4 ounces Unsweetened Vanilla FlaxMilk (Try Good Karma Flax Milk)
2 cups ice cubes
1 scoop Vanilla Whey or Hemp Protein Powder

Then I started getting creative ... 

The Green Drink 2.0

Pineapple (Fresh is always the best!)
Celery
Spinach
parsley
ginger
kale
Banana
Green Apple
1 scoop Vanilla Whey or Hemp Protein Powder
Unsweetened Vanilla FlaxMilk (Try Good Karma Flax Milk) (about a cup)
ice cubes

I always base my green drinks off of the first recipe (The Easy Green Drink), but without measuring. There are so many easy ways to manipulate the recipe to fit your taste buds. My daughter makes a chocolate green drink that tastes like a chocolate milkshake. Here it is!

Chocolatey Green Drink:

1 small stalk Celery
2 cups Spinach (or more)
frozen cucumber
1 small piece of frozen Banana
1 cup Dark Chocolate Almond Milk* 
1 scoop Chocolate Whey Protein Powder
ice cubes

*If it is too sweet, substitute 1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Almond Milk for Unsweetened Vanilla FlaxMilk (Try Good Karma Flax Milk).