Fooling Mother Nature

7.27.2014

Favorites Fridays: Express Tank/Cami

Might sound strange for a Favorites Fridays post, but I have loved these tanks for years and years. They come in a wide variety of colors, have a built in bra and go with everything! Express Tank Tops are great with jeans, linen pants, dressy pants and even work out pants. These babies are incredibly comfortable to wear all day at work!

Scoop neck
adjustable spaghetti straps
built in bra
fitted shape, straight hem
cotton/lycra
many colors to choose from

To purchase the fabulous express tank/cami, visit your local Express store or order online/click here!

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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

7.26.2014

All About Chapped Lips

It is so incredibly important to keep your lips moisturized! I know we all break the “you should never lick your lips when they are dry” rule at some point, because we either don’t have chapped stick handy, or we are lazy. The fact is, licking your lips helps for temporarily relief, but, in reality, it's making them worse.

Your lips have a very thin layer of skin, similar to the face, but thinner and more transparent. Because the skin on your lips is so thin, they can easily become chapped in any weather and at any time.

Here are some things that can cause dry lips:

1. Using a matte lipstick, long wearing lip stain or lip paint can dry out your lips

2. Using any kind of lip plumper that contains pepper, mint, mint oils, etc. can cause irritation that can lead to dry, chapped lips.

3. Using anti-acne ointments, lotions, skin care routines that have Accutane as an ingredient have been known to cause dry or chapped lips.

The best way to avoid chapped or dry lips is to keep your lips moisturized. Consider using a chemical-free and petroleum-free balm. One of my favorites is Waxelene (a petroleum free, organic and natural moisturizer). You could also try Maybelline's Baby Lips.

If you enjoy wearing lip stains and matte lipsticks, but often have dry chapped lips, consider tattooing your lips. Permanent Makeup is really for anyone and everyone. You can WAKE UP looking beautiful and natural at the same time... ALL OF THE TIME!

Here are the benefits of tattooing your lips with a blush of color:
1. On a day to day basis, you don’t have to apply lip color, lip sticks, lip stains, etc. that can dry out your lips.

2. You will always have an even lip-shape, lip-line, etc.

3. You can always add lipstick on over the permanent makeup to give your lips a fun or more dramatic color, even though there is no need to do so on a daily basis.

4. As we age, the color in our lips fade, and our lips lose their shape.

5. The tattooing process can stimulate blood flow back into the lips.

6. If you desire a more pouty lip, tattooing even a millimeter outside of your natural lip line/shape can make a BIG difference in your lips and look.

7. If you have a cleft palate/cleft palate surgery scar, cosmetic tattooing can be used to reshape your lips.

8. The fine lines around your mouth (due to age or smoking) can be minimized with cosmetic tattooing and give your mouth a more "youthful" look.

To see before and after photos of lips CLICK HERE!

I do hope this blog gives you the information you need to make an informed decision about tattooing your lips and/or avoiding chapped lips. To schedule a complimentary consultation with Athena Karsant at either office, please visit her website: FoolingMotherNature.com or CLICK HERE.

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7.25.2014

Favorites Fridays: Trader Joe's Spanakopita

This is a strange favorites friday post... but it technically is one of my favorite things, so I think it counts, right? You may know, simply based on my name, that I am Greek. My parents were both wonderful cooks and always made the most delicious meals and Greek dishes. While it may be no surprise that I love Greek food, what may be surprising is that my Favorite Friday this week is Spanakopita from Trader Joe's!

My daughter and son-in-law love Trader Joe's. They introduced me to their amazing Spanakopita about a year ago, and they really weren't sure if I would like it because it wasn't homemade like what our family serves at holiday parties and gatherings my entire life. However, I tried it and absolutely loved it! The inside is filled with delicious spinach and feta, isn't super salty and the outside wasn't too "doughy". You really can't go wrong with this delicious appetizer.

Over the holidays my daughter and I bought a few boxes, took them out of the box, placed them on cookie sheets and brought them over to some of the family parties but didn't tell them we bought them at Trader Joe's until after they were all gone. Everyone thought they were homemade! If you can impress a Greek family with Trader Joe's Spanakopita, then it must be tasty!

While it will never be your YiaYia's Spanakopita, I guess You CAN Fool Mother Nature... and REAL Greeks with Trader Joe's Spanakopita... haha

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7.20.2014

Please Welcome: Sam Kaye

I am excited to announce and introduce you to a new permanent makeup technician who will be primarily at our Beverly Hills office. Get to know her - she’s great!

About Sam Kaye

Sam Kaye was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Always a lover of many mediums of art, she attended Brooklyn College and Fashion Institute of Technology as a Fine Art major. Sam's experience as both a Graphic Designer, Traditional Illustrator and Cosmetic Tattoo Artist paint the complete canvas she has built her life and career around... click here to read more

Interview with Sam Kaye

- When did you hear about permanent makeup for the very first time?

by: Sam Kaye

The first time I heard about permanent makeup was when my mom told me she was “getting eyebrows”. I could only imagine what this meant until she told me all about it. Between a thyroid condition that causes her hair to thin and fall out and very light hair that gave her nearly invisible brows, she’d been drawing them in for as long as I can remember. Permanent makeup was a great solution for her.

- What drew you towards being a permanent makeup artist?

I am a formally trained artist and I specialize in portrait work. The human face is what I know best, so it comes naturally to me. Aside from this, I also paint, draw, storyboard and do graphic design so shape, perspective, color, shadow and light are all parts of these mediums. When I discovered permanent makeup, I realized that it is the one form of art that encompasses all of these, while making people feel great and sometimes even changing their lives in a huge way.

- What inspires you & gets your creative juices flowing?

by: Sam Kaye

Faces, color, drawing, museums, textures, patterns, nature, everything! I’m especially inspired by permanent makeup because no day is ever the same and our clients are so inspiring and warm. One minute you can be doing something as simple as filling in someone’s eyebrows and the next, you may be restoring areolas from a mastectomy or reshaping lips from surgery or aging. At the end of the day, making a difference in how someone sees himself or herself every day is really what fuels my creativity.

- What is your all time favorite beauty product that you just can’t live without?

Well, since my brows are always perfect, I’ve always got natural eyeliner and my lips always have a splash of color, foundation has become my staple beauty product. I became spoiled by a foundation called Chanel Perfection Lumiere. It goes on smooth, stays on all day, smells amazing and never causes irritation or breakouts. It’s pricey, but you can use it sparingly because of the high quality. A little goes a long way!

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To see before and after pictures of Sam's work,

please schedule a complimentary consultation.

7.18.2014

Favorites Fridays: Boss Babe Body Scrub

Who doesn’t love a good scrub? There are so many different scrubs out there: sugar scrubs, sea salt scrubs and even herbal scrubs. I have tried them all! Yes, for the most part, they all do the same thing: exfoliate. However, most of the side benefits are nothing to celebrate. While I do love all scrubs, Boss Babe Body Scrub is in a class of it’s own! It is something to celebrate and share with the world! I am beyond thrilled to share this product with you!

Boss Babe Body was created and founded by the beautiful Ashlee Wilson Hawn; former Miss Georgia, reality TV star, pageant coach and one of my dearest friends.

Made with 100% Organic coffee, Boss Babe Body Scrub is jam-packed full of natural ingredients that give you the smoothest, sexiest skin ever! It can take on cellulite, stretch marks, psoriasis, varicose veins, eczema, and even acne! It is made from arabica coffee beans and high quality almond oil (original) and organic extra virgin coconut oil (Grapeseed Coconut & Wild Lime Coconut).

I am so excited to tell you that my daughter and I recently tried the ORIGINAL Boss Babe Body Scrub, and we honestly loved it! I can promise that you will love this coffee scrub and what it does for your skin... Give it a try!

To order, visit BossBabeBody.com!

Here are some things you need to know:

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

Boss Babe Body comes in three different scents: Original, Coconut Lime and Coconut Grapeseed. All three are fabulous coffee based scrubs that will leave your skin feeling sexy smooth and incredibly hydrated.

Boss Babe Body is 100% Organic and 100% Vegan.

Do not purchase the ORIGINAL BOSS BABE BODY SCRUB if you are allergic to nuts, because it it made with almond oil. Instead, go for the Coconut Lime and Coconut Grapeseed which contain coconut oil.

The Original Boss Babe Scrub is packed with 200g (7oz) of cold-pressed sweet almond oil, orange essense, vitamins, & loads of healthy organic extras to remedy every skin imperfection.

The Grapeseed Coconut Boss Babe Scrub will make you love your "CoCo Grape Body”! It is packed with 200g (7oz) of 100% organic virgin coconut oil, grapeseed oil, real organic coconut flakes, jojoba beads, vitamins, & loads of healthy organic extras to target every skin imperfection.

The Wild Lime Coconut Boss Babe Scrub will make you "Wild about your CoCo Sexy Body" and is packed with 200g (7oz) of 100% organic virgin coconut oil, grapeseed oil, real organic coconut flakes, jojoba beads, vitamins, & loads of healthy organic extras to target every skin imperfection.

For more information, please visit BossBabeBody.com

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Post your photos using #bossbabebody

To learn more about Ashlee Wilson Hawn:

Fooling Mother Nature: Ashlee Wilson Hawn - Big Rich Atlanta

Fooling Mother Nature: Ashlee Wilson Hawn Guest Blog: Part 1

Fooling Mother Nature: Ashlee Wilson Hawn Guest Blog: Part 2

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Before & After photos taken from Boss Babe Body Customers found on Instagram:

6.26.2014

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).

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6.24.2014

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!

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