Favorites Fridays: Face & Body by Make Up For Ever

Summer is upon us, which means warmer weather and less makeup! You might have already temporarily parted ways with your heavier foundation and possibly even switched to a tinted moisturizer for a fresher and more glowing look. What if I told you there is a wonderful and extremely light makeup that provides a completely natural, dewy, satin finish, is waterproof and is mostly made of water?

Now I have your attention… 

Make Up For Ever has an incredible product called Face & Body Liquid Foundation that is ideal for all skin-types as well as fine lines and large pores. It can be used all over to even out skin tone without accentuating imperfections. It gives sheer, even coverage, and is long lasting and a must for your summer makeup routine... and even year round! 

Make Up For Ever also has an amazing line of products for your summer makeup bag - check out their Aqua line which is all waterproof and too fabulous!

My tips for using Face & Body Liquid Foundation:

- Shake before using! Sometimes it tends to have a strange texture in the bottle before it pumps out - thats okay, there is nothing wrong with it. However, shaking the bottle will resolve that issue.

- Because this is mostly water, I believe using your hands to apply this liquid foundation is best. If you use a foundation brush or a beauty blender, too much of the foundation will be wasted. 

- Only use a little - it will go a long way! 

- By only using a little, it should last you a long, long time. If you plan on getting tan this summer, pick out a darker color from the Face & Body line and mix it with your regular Face & Body makeup.  As you get darker and darker over the next few months just add a tiny drop to the back of your hand and mix the two together.  

- You can buff it out afterwards with a fluffy brush if you like (not necessary).

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

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Can Bad Permanent Makeup Be Fixed?

Unfortunately, 40% - 50% of my work is now corrective work. That means there are many, many untrained, or poorly trained, technicians out there that are leaving men and women unhappy. It’s a shame that there are actually men and women out there who are simply taking a weekend course and now tattooing people’s faces. I am a licensed and trained cosmetic and corrective tattoo specialist and always continue to add to my education. I am one of the few Board Certified instructors through the State of California and have extensive experience with corrective tattooing. 

The bad news is that there are too many people who have to go through the pain of a bad procedure and then get it fixed before they can have the results that they were originally wanting! Now here's the good news: I can correct a “bad permanent makeup” procedure. 

I haven't met one pair of bad eyebrows nor a pair of lips I haven't be able to fix (bad color, shape, placement etc.) Unfortunately, there have been several cases of bad eyeliner (poorly placed pigment/or pigment that has migrated towards the inner and outer parts of the eye) where there is virtually no possible way to fix it - BUT I have had many, many successful cases! Of course there have been some tough cases... mostly because it requires an incredible amount of patience from the client (and myself) to complete. However my clients always leave happy! 

If you have a botched permanent makeup procedure, whether eyeliner, eyebrows, or lips, please do set up a complimentary consultation at one of my offices. Wether or not you choose to do a procedure, I can guide you and lead you in the right direction. 

I beg you to do your homework and some extensive research. Think about it! Is a cheaper price worth the risk? This is your face - do not settle!

Check this out! My client, Helen, went somewhere else to get

her eyebrows tattooed and they turned RED! A friend of hers

referred her to my office to correct them and now she is thrilled! 

Or, meet Tatyana - she though a better price would be the best way

to go when tattooing her eyebrows. She was wrong and left with

Groucho Marx eyebrows! A friend referred her to my office

and now she has beautiful maintenance-free eyebrows!

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

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Favorites Fridays: Maybelline’s Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms

Avoid having chapped or dry lips this summer with this week's favorites friday beauty product. Head on over to your local Target or drugstore and fill your basket with Maybelline’s Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms. They aren't expensive and are a must for your makeup bag!

Maybelline’s Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms come in a variety of sexy shades for all skin tones. These babies are paraben free, contain shea butter and have an SPF 20, which is great! It is always important to protect your lips! 

There are 18 different shades in three different categories: 

Electro Lip Balm

Moisturizing Lip Balm

Dr. Rescue Medicated Lip Balm

Baby Lips balms have a light, soft fragrance and vary from shade to shade. They glide onto your lips with ease and feel incredibly smooth and soft on your lips. It doesn’t feel waxy, glossy, sticky or greasy.

These are not heavily pigmented lip balms. Each shade has a different pigmentation level. Pink-Punch leaves a decent amount of pink color whereas Quenched leaves no pigment and goes on clear. Baby Lips might even be a great gift for a young girl because they are not heavily pigmented. I know it isn't December, but this might be a great stocking stuffer! They are also great if your lips are tattooed!

Pucker Up This Summer with Maybelline’s Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balms! Try one... or try them all! 

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

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Corrective Eyebrows - Don’t let this happen to you!

Have you ever spent a long time in the mirror perfecting your eyebrows? When you finally get them right, you gain a little bit of confidence and just hope that they don't sweat or smudge off. Imagine the feeling if they were tattooed on perfectly (to your liking) and you didn't have to fuss with them every single day! Wouldn't you love to have that extra time in the morning? It is possible! 

Okay, now that I have you imagining a morning routine that doesn't involve fussing with your eyebrows, let's change gears. Now, picture this… 

You decide to get your eyebrows tattooed, and you find a salon or office that will do it. You book your appointment, get there a few minutes early and count the minutes until it is your turn. Fast forward to after the procedure where you look into the mirror and you become speechless because the eyebrows you now have permanently tattooed on your face are nothing like the ones you wanted. They are the wrong color, the wrong shape and make you look like you are surprised all of the time. Or, they are the right color, but now the shape of your brows make you look like Spock’s twin sister.

This scenario is real and has happened many, many times. I don't say this to frighten you about permanent makeup; I say this to educate you. Many men and women come into my office with bad permanent makeup (that they received somewhere else), and they find me to fix it. Corrective work can be difficult and it is a tedious process that the client has to fully commit to. When done right the first time, Permanent Makeup is already a multi-session process that requires touch-up sessions and following easy after care instructions. Corrective work requires more time to achieve the brows (or lips or eyeliner) that the client originally desired but failed to receive.

If you or someone you know is suffering from a bad permanent makeup procedure - whether it’s lips, eyebrows or even eyeliner, do not hesitate to set up a complimentary consultation at either the Beverly Hills or San Francisco office.  I want to make sure that you leave my office completely happy with whatever permanent makeup procedure that you choose. 

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

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15 Beauty/Fashion Items That You Should Have By The Time You Are 30!

1) You need a concealer that works and that you can rely on! Consider trying this fabulous department store concealer that I highly recommend to everyone.

2) You need a nice blowdryer and hair style routine that you can trust to always give you a great, frizz-free look. If you prefer to have sexy wavy hair, or even curls, try the Amazing Curl-Secret!

3) You need a wonderful foundation brush. My favorite foundation brush is from Sephora, and you can read about it here. If you need a great brush, head on over to Sephora or your favorite makeup-counter and give a few of them a try.

4) You should have two favorite GO-TO nail polish colors, one bright and one natural/nude polish color that look great any time of the year and goes with any outfit!

5) You need a great sunscreen that works and that you actually wear. Here is one of my favorites. Sunscreen is one of the most important things you need in your beauty routine. It prevents premature aging, will keep your skin looking fabulous as you age and protects you from the evil rays of the sun that can give you skin caner.

6) You need a fabulous perfume. Everyone knows that not every single fragrance smells the same on everyone. This is because of our own body’s natural scent and oils that can either make the fragrance smell even more amazing or turn it into a weird B.O. smell that no one likes. So try a bunch, and pick your favorite!

7) You need a natural-looking eyebrow pencil that you can carry in your purse at all times to touch up your brows during the day. You do not need an eyebrow pencil if your eyebrows are tattooed, smudge-free and look so incredible that no one even knows they are permanent makeup.

8) You need a mascara that will not flake or fail you throughout the day. Stay away from waterproof mascara unless you are going to a wedding or a sappy chick-flick. Waterproof mascaras tend to be super harsh and can even pull out your lashes when you are removing your mascara at the end of the day. So far, there is one mascara that has not failed me yet - mascara 1.

9) You should have a supplement and vitamin routine ritual. Keep in mind that as we get older we should be updating this according to our doctor’s orders and guidance. Probiotics, fish oils and vitamin D should be included unless your doctor orders against it, for some reason. Did you know that while supplements are great to take, you should avoid taking certain ones before surgery and even before your first permanent makeup appointment?

10) You must have a wonderful moisturizer that works for your skin! Remember that as we age we should reevaluate our skin and the condition it is in because sometimes the products we are using in our 20s and 30s are the right products for our 40s and 50s. Here is a fabulous moisturizer!

11) You should have a go-to lipstick that can work any time of the day, any time of the year and with anything that you wear. Most likely it should be on the natural side with a blush of color. If your lips are tattooed with a blush of color, then keeping a clear lip gloss handy works great! You can also keep one of my all time favorites: Waxelene in your purse! It is great for dry chapped lips and also adds some shine! Pucker up, babe!


12) You should have a little black dress that will look good either dressed up or dressed down.

13) You should have comfortable shoes: sneakers/closed-toed (try Dansko), flip flops (try Fit Flops), and heels (funny story about high heels).

14) You should have a lotion that works for your skin - whether it is dry or oily. It is a great idea to keep a small travel size tube or jar in your purse, car, work desk and gym bag. One of my favorites that I keep at home works great because it can be turned upside down to be sprayed in hard to reach places like the back of my legs, my shoulders or lower back. Or you can try this, handmade lotion where all the profits go to charity! 

15) You should have a fabulous bra that fits! A long time ago, Oprah did a show all about wearing the right bra and it was said that about 80% of women aren’t wearing the right band or cup size! How is this even possible!? Do yourself a favor and head to the nearest Victoria’s Secret and get measured for free. Whether you choose to buy a bra there or elsewhere, get measured, write your correct size down and start with that. It might even be a good idea to get measured every 5 or so years (unless you have gained or lost a significant amount of weight).

Remember: A good bra is like a good friend, hard to find, supportive and comfortable, always lifts you up, never lets your down or leaves you hanging! 

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

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Vitiligo….Did You Know?

Did you know….That many people don't really know what Vitiligo is because it only affects less than 1% of the population?

Did you know….That anyone can get Vitiligo? All races, ages, genders and ethnicities are affected.

Here are some more interesting facts about Vitiligo and the different ways to treat it:

- Vitiligo is a disorder that causes depigmentation of the skin. White patches develop on different 
parts of the body that spread as the cells, or melanocytes, that create pigment in the skin are damaged.
- Most people begin seeing symptoms before the age of 40. 
- In the United States alone, nearly 2 million people have this condition.
- It can occur anywhere on the body – even inside the lips and mouth.- Vitiligo can even cause the hair to turn grey early, eliminating pigment from the areas where hair follicles exist.
- Official reports confirm that Michael Jackson did, in fact, have Vitiligo.
- No one really knows what causes Vitiligo.  It is possible that it is an autoimmune disease, it may be genetic, or it could be brought on by excess sun exposure or stress.  There is still no solid evidence for any of these potential causes.
- There are three types of Vitiligo in terms of patterns:
   1. Focal: depigmentation occurs only on one or several areas of the body
   2. Segmental: depigmentation occurs on one side of the body
   3. Generalized: depigmentation occurs over many areas of the body

The most disappointing fact about Vitiligo is that there is no cure.  There are, however, many treatments available.  According to the NBCI, “There are a variety of treatments available, most of which are unsatisfactory.”

CLICK TO ENLARGE PHOTO

There are many treatment options for Vitiligo. Some include: light therapy, oral medication, surgical skin grafting and even conventional makeup. Factors to take into consideration regarding treatment options are side effects, success rate, financial burden (especially if the first or subsequent treatments do not work), time constraints and lifestyle.  If you are athletic, enjoy outdoor activities or live in a hot climate, for instance, using the makeup cover-up method may not be the best long-term plan for Vitiligo treatment.  Some brands of makeup for Vitiligo cover are excellent, but will only last so long.  Also consider the toxins in makeup and what must be in them in order to give them the ability to remain on the skin for long periods of time.  Eventually they do smear, run, and over time can become very costly.

Some treatments work, some don’t.  It can be a case of “hit or miss” when it comes to Vitiligo treatment, mainly due to the incapability to diagnose origination of the disorder in each individual.  Many of these treatments come with side effects and each one carries the possibility of simply not working or only working to a certain degree.  For some people, one of these methods may work perfectly!  For others, it may work only to 30 or 40% effectiveness. Or you may spend thousands of dollars and several days a week in a doctor’s office for long periods of time, or endure costly light therapies or painful surgeries, only to arrive at the end of the road with no results.

Many people are unaware that there is another option to treat and camouflage Vitiligo: Micropigmentation. Micropigmentation is different and it works.  A study by the NCBI reports that medical tattooing, or Micropigmentation, is an effective treatment for Vitiligo.  In fact, it states that the immediate results showed “dramatic aesthetic improvements” with minimal to no further fading.

Micropigmentation eliminates the need for costly surgeries, lengthy recovery time, frequent doctor visits, expensive medications and light equipment, pricey, inconvenient and toxic makeup, frightening side effects and more.  It never smears or runs, it doesn’t need to be constantly reapplied, there is no costly, painful surgery, and if your Vitiligo spreads or lightens to a higher degree, as Vitiligo often does, we can help you maintain it easily.

The process is simple.  Pigment is deposited into the lightened areas of the skin through special tattooing techniques. Don’t worry - a topical numbing cream is used to minimize any discomfort.  We build up the perfect color for each area in stages, using our training and experience in color theory, one of our many critical skills. Each area of the body can be slightly different in color due to condition, sun exposure and other factors.  Also, matching the skin colors as precisely as possible is our top priority. What sets us apart from other micropigmentation artists (also known as permanent makeup or cosmetic tattoo artists) is that we include one full year of touchup visits in our pricing, at no extra cost, to maintain the ideal appearance at all times. We want any and every procedure that we do to be absolutely perfect and customized to fit you, your skin tone, skin undertones, and lifestyle!

To schedule a complimentary consultation in person in our Beverly Hills office, do not hesitate to call us at 415.412.99700 or Sam Kaye, our Vitiligo specialist, directly at 818.212.3877 or email her at samkayeartist@icloud.com. We have clients who come to us from all over the U.S. and abroad!

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

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7 Things You Should Know Before Your First Permanent Makeup Appointment

1) Don't have any caffeine, alcohol or anything that will put your nerves on edge. 

It is common knowledge that tattoos can hurt, so many people drink alcohol before getting body art. However, most of the time, it will make the procedure hurt a lot more - unless you pass out from drinking too much (please don't do this!). If you are nervous about your permanent makeup procedure hurting, stay away from caffeine, coffee, and alcohol the day of your procedure. Also, I only use the best topical anesthetics which make permanent makeup (in my office) practically painless. 

2) Bring in photos from magazines or any photos of eyebrows, eyeliner or lips that you like so that I have an idea of what you want. 

Everyone knows that as we age our natural lip-line and lip shape can fade, and we also can loose hair from our eyebrows. Having old photos of your lips or brows (or photos from magazines) can help me see what would best suit your face, hair color, skin color and tailor the procedure to you and you alone. 

3) Along with photos, you should also bring in your eyebrow, eyeliner (unless it is black) and lip color pencils/creams etc. or anything you use so that I can see the colors you are using and the colors you like. 

While I am highly trained in pigments, mixing pigments and knowing what would work best with your eye color, skin color, hair color, undertones, etc, it is helpful for me to know what colors you gravitate towards. It also allows me to see if you choose neutral and natural colors or more vibrant colors. 

4) If you are coming in for permanent makeup (eyes, brows, lips), you should know that you will not be able to use your mascara, eyeliner pencils, or eyeshadow, lipsticks, chopsticks or anything else that you had previously used for about 3 days. 

The reason is simple - your makeup has bacteria on it. Ex: Your mascara should be changed at least every 2-3 months as is. Your mascara wand, lipsticks, eyeliner pencils, makeup brushes etc have bacteria (which is normal) from everyday use. For a few days after your procedure you should avoid using your current makeup, unless it has been cleaned or disinfected, for at least 3 days. I will give you a brand new mascara, lipstick, chap stick, and or lipgloss that you can use immediately. You DO NOT need to toss any of your current makeup! This is just a precaution and a part of your easy to follow after-care instructions. 

5) If you plan on moving forward with the procedure after your complimentary consultation, avoid any supplements that can cause bleeding or bruising. DO NOT STOP ANY MEDICATIONS OR SUPPLEMENTS WITHOUT YOUR DOCTOR/PHYSICIAN'S APPROVAL! (Also, here is a list of vitamins, supplements and other items to avoid before surgery.)

ibuprofen

alcohol

vitamin E

caffeine

fish oil

aspirin

blood thinners

6) If you plan on moving forward with your permanent makeup procedure after your complimentary consultation and have had a cold sore outbreak… 

If you have ever had a cold sore (in your lifetime), had the herpes II virus (which never leaves your nerves in that area) you must call your doctor for a prescription (such as Acyclovir) and follow directions for before and after the procedure. This simply prevents and minimizes the risk of an outbreak which can also mess up your lip procedure. Should an outbreak occur, DO NOT USE Abreva (it will mess up the procedure).

7) Know that when you do leave my office after your initial appointment and touch ups you will be happy and excited about your procedure!

Do you want to see what other clients are saying about Athena Karsant and their permanent makeup, hair loss camouflage, scar camouflage, areola repigmentation procedures? Click here!

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

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