Free makeup consultation at Sephora

In case you didn’t know, you can walk into any Sephora and get a free makeup consultation. I need to try this for myself…According to Sephora’s website:

Free makeup consultations! Stop into a Sephora store near you for your complimentary makeup consultation by Sephora’s professional makeup artists. Try a new seasonal look, a new color, a new brand, or a whole new look for evening – by Sephora’s experts!

After your complimentary consultation, you can take home and enjoy free “personalized” product samples when you visit any Sephora store.

Money Saving Tips

1. Hit the drugstore. Most drugstore cosmetics are related to department store brands: L’Oreal to Lancôme, Jane to Estee Lauder. That means the cheaper versions use the same cutting-edge technologies as their pricier sisters. Best low-cost bets: Mascara and lipstick. Don’t be fooled by high-price skincare. Dermatologists consistently recommend their old (low-cost) favorites: Neutrogena, Purpose, and Cetaphil cleansers and moisturizers.

2. QUick manicure – soak nails in lemon juice to clean, then use a nail buffer to make them shiny.

3. Forego exfoliating treatments at a spa and do it yourself. Mix a handful of coarse sugar crystals with some olive oil and use to scrub off dead skin in the shower.

4. Maximize your lipstick by changing the finish. Apply lipstick over a thin layer of Vaseline for a glossy look, dust with loose powder for a matte look, pat on with a fingertip for a stain and mix with a dark shadow for an evening effect.

5. Use hair products wet and dry. Instead of investing in two different styling aids, use one for all of your needs. Apply a hair cream to damp locks to tame frizz, then smooth on a bit when hair is dry to smooth flyaways. Try gel on wet hair for hold, then add more to dry hair for shine.

6. Stake out salon training nights. Most top hair salons or beauty schools  offer low-cost cuts on training nights, where student stylists work their magic under the supervision of their senior colleagues.

7. Try a multi-purpose product. Vaseline and Smith’s Rosebud Salve are great for lip balm or gloss, keep eyebrows in control, moisturize cuticles, and smooth dry skin.

Food For Thought

Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) are compounds that are taken from sugars found in milk and fruits. Alpha hydroxy acids are known to be effective in rejuvenatind the skin and fading wrinkles, while healing damaged caused by photoaging skin.  AHA exfoliates dead cells off the skin, encouraging the skin to grow cells to replace the old ones. AHA also induces the production of elastin and collagen, the compounds responsible for the reduction of wrinkles and the suppleness of the skin.

AHA can be found a variety of beauty products, but should be used in moderation. If used incorrectly or if you use too much, it can irritate the skin. Pigment scarring has also been associated with the use of too much AHA.

Be very careful when applying alpha hydroxy products on your skin. The best way to do it is to choose one or two products out there containing AHA (as your exfoliant and moisturizer), then use other beauty products that do not have AHA – so you don’t overdo it.

Always remember to use sunscreen when using a product with an active alpha hydroxy acid ingredient. AHA increases the skin’s sensitivity to damage from sunlight. Because too much alpha hydroxy acid can be dangerous to the skin, make sure to use a product with only the right levels of AHA in it. The ideal AHA concentration in any product should be around 5 to 8%, with a pH level of three or four. Any more can do more damage than good!

Today’s Quickie

To save money on exfoliation, try using regular old white sugar while in the shower. It makes a great face and body scrub. To fix streaky self tanners, add a teaspoon of lemon juice.

To alleviate pain from plucking hairs, tweeze right after showering when your hair follicles are open. The hair will slide out more easily.

Foundation can also become concealer. When the amount you have out starts to thicken, use a concealer brush and layer it on to whatever needs to be covered. Makes a great color match too!

Tool kit to brush up your makeup

Bring out the makeup artist in you with a good collection of makeup brushes, sponges and curlers. Even the most expensive and quality makeup in the world won’t look particularly great without the correct makeup tools. For a professional finish you need the right tools. This means investing in a set of good brushes and applicators. Here’s your basic cosmetics tool kit .

1. Makeup Sponge

It is best to have a wedge-shaped makeup sponge, so you can use the finer edges to help blend in foundation round your nose and jaw line, while the flatter edges are great for the cheeks, forehead and chin. However, if you prefer not to use a synthetic sponge try the small, natural ones instead.

2. Powder Brush

Get used to using a powder brush each time you put makeup on. To prevent a caked or clogged finish to your face powder, use a large, soft brush to dust away any excess.

3. Blusher Brush

Use to add a pretty glow to your skin with a light dusting of powder blusher. A blusher brush is slightly smaller than a powder brush to make it easier to control.

4. Eyeshadow Brush

Smooth on any shade of eyeshadow with this brush.

5. Eyebrow Tweezers

It is essential to have a good pair of tweezers for regularly tidying up the eyebrows.

6. Eyeshadow Sponge

An sponge applicator is great for applying a sweep of pale eyeshadow that does not need much blending or applying high lighter to your brow bones.

7. All-in-one eyelash brush/comb

Great for combing through your lashes between coats of mascara for a clump-free finish. Flip the comb over and use the brush side to seep your eyebrows into shape, or soften penciled-in brows.

8. Lip brush

Use to create a perfect outline for your lips and then use to fill in the shape with your lipstick.

9. Eyelash curlers

Once used, they’ll soon become a beauty essential! Curlier eyelashes help open up your eyes and make a huge difference to the way you look.

As easy as vaseline

Just heard this tip on Access Hollywood: vaseline does wonders

Use some on your eyelashes before bed to nourish them and help them grow.

Apply some (spread evenly and rub itnto skin) on dry skin patches and wrinke spots of the face.

Don’t forget to moisturize the lips with vaseline for a smooth pucker.

Supposedly Beyonce does this but who will really know this

Look great in just 5 minutes

A few minutes is all you need to look great!

1. Smooth on tinted moisturizer or foundation

2. Pat concealer under eyes

3. Conceal any redness or breakouts

4. Dust powder to set makeup

5. Seep on highlighter

6. Apply blush at the apples of the cheeks

7. Line your lash line

8. Apply mascara

9. Slick on some lip gloss or tinted lip balm

My beauty secrets

Since this section is titled “beauty secrets”, I’ll share some of mine

- To make hair shinier, rinse with cold water. Also after blowdrying, finish up with the cold air setting.

- Less is more. Don’t overuse hair products. Too much actually weighs hair down and gives it a dirty feel. Also, don’t apply too much facial products even if you have acne. The skin naturally produces oils, sometimes it will produce more to compensate for dryness. So be careful not to over apply drying, mattifying, acne fighting products as it can cause the opposite effect that you’re aiming for.

- Petroleum jelly/vaseline: Apply a little to your lashes to keep them soft before bedtime. Put some on your lips to moisturize as well.

- A dab of preparation H (hemorroid cream) under the eyes can seriously reduce puffiness. Apply the night before.

- Use a daily moisturizer with tanner (Aveeno, Neutrogena, Jergens). This will give you a bit of color and you can increase the amount over time for a natural look. Your body will instantly look more toned and tight.

- For scars, try Mederma as instructed. Works best on new scars so use it immediately. Apply and rub in 3-4 times a day.

- Always use sunscreen spf15 and above. I’ve forgotten to apply sunscreen and notice a huge difference after being out in the sun. The UV rays can do some serious damage and wrinkles!

Greater Lips

Some of us have less perfect lips than others. No need to despair! There are plenty of tricks of the trade to help make your lips more balanced and beautiful. Some of the most effective solutions:

* The best lip color fixative? – A thin layer of Chapstick. The formula holds lip color like crazy as it heals and protects.

* Powder lips also gives lip color or gloss something to cling to for longer, smoother wear.

* For longer wear, blot lips after applying lipstick to set color and remove excess. Add a thin layer of loose or pressed powder, then apply color again.

* Turn down too much shine by holding a single-ply tissue to your lips and pressing a little loose powder through it – just enough will sift through the tissue to adhere to color and reduce the shine.

* Turn up the shine with a thin layer of clear lip gloss over lipstick or alone.

* For high-voltage shine and color, try a lip lacquer over lipstick or alone.

* For fuller, poutier lips, spotlight lip gloss right in the center of your mouth.

* Keep matte lip color from drying your lips – use a lip primer or lip color fixative before you apply the matte color.

* For evening special fx, apply a sheer lip gloss in silver, gold or an iridescent shade over the lip color.

Eyeliner for different eyes

Not all eyes are the same! Per person that is. Here are some tips!

Small eyes – Draw a dark line and gradually thicken it at the outer edge of the eye. Draw under the lower lash with a light colored pencil in silver, white, or gold.

Close-set eyes – Using a grey, brown, or black pencil, line the outer third of the upper lids. Smudge gently and use a lighter colored liner on the inner eye. This helps widen the space between the eyes.

Drooping eyes – Line the outer third of the eye very close to the lashes, then sweep the liner up at the corner of the eye to create an uplifting effect.

Deep-set eyes: Use a  pale, shimmery color and line the upper lash line. Then line the outer edge of the lower lashline with a neutral shade such as grey or taupe beige.