My Favorite Things!!

Photo taken from Sanre Organic Skinfood's website.

I wish I could be like Oprah and give everyone in my audience boatloads of my favorite things! (and be a billionaire)

Since I cannot send each of you my favorite things, the very least I can do is pass along some of my favorite beauty booty!

I have been on the hunt for the Holy Grail of sunscreen for years and I think I may have found it!

Let me first say that as I have become involved in the beauty industry and have researched ingredients, I now have specific criteria that have to be met before I can consider a product for Holy Grail status.

1. No parabens, petroleum or harmful chemicals.

   2.  No fragrance. Fragrance is very irritating to the skin and if your skin is constantly irritated, that means it is constantly working to repair itself and that equals stress!

   3. The product should have nutrient rich ingredients for skin health.

With that being said, let me introduce to you, Sanre products. I found Sanre Supple Sunshine moisturizer with SPF 30 while I was searching the Environmental Working Group's website for a non-toxic sunscreen. This was on their 2009 top 10 list, coming in at number 5. I decided to give it a try and have been hooked ever since.

***Side Note- EWG is a group that works to expose threats to your health and the environment, and to find solutions.***

Sanre Organic Skinfood is a skin care company who believe in using organic ingredients and never using artificial, synthetic chemicals. Their line includes eye creams, face mask, lip balms, moisturizers, toners and cleansers. I find them to be a bit on the pricey side but when you find a product that is everything you have been looking for and works, sometimes you just have to splurge!

Sanre Organic Skinfood products are approved by PETA, certified vegan, part of the Leaping Bunny Program (which means no animal testing) and Green America certified.

Now back to Supple Sunshine! Supple Sunshine is an organic rosemary and lavender day cream for normal to dry skin that has an SPF of 30. The benefits, as listed on their website are as follows:

• Shields and protects your skin from sun exposure and pollution, while gently restoring moisture and elasticity, all without clogging sensitive pores.
• Applied as a daily moisturizer to provide a soothing and healing barrier against mother nature as it strives to reduce skin irritation, inflammation and free radical damage.

The ingredients are:

Organic Safflower Oil (Carthamus Tinctorius Oil): Highly moisturizing oil with an exceptionally high amount of Oleic acids. Deeply soothing.


Organic Grape Seed (Vitis Vinifera) Oil: Antioxidant, rich in Vitamin C, combats free radicals, rejuvenating agent.

Purified Water (Aqua).

Zinc Oxide: Natural mineral used to shield against the harmful effects of the sun, which is here utilized in a non-irritating, non-sticky form. Unlike other chemical sunscreen ingredients it cannot be absorbed into the skin and is not metabolized by the body. SanRe is very careful with its zinc oxide particle size; never using micro "nano" particles that can be ingested into your skin's pores.

Organic Beeswax (Cera Alba): Natural thickener and emollient, with emulsifying, hydrating and protective properties.

Organic Coconut Oil (Cocos Nucifera Oil): Antifungal, anti-inflammatory, reduces the appearance of intrusive pigments like Lipotuscin (brown, freckle like spots) on the skin. Reduces free-radical activity and oxidation, while healing, repairing and encouraging the growth of new healthier tissue. Protects the skin from the damaging rays of the sun.

Organic Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Gel) Gel: Healing, soothing, oil-free nourishment minimizes wrinkles and infuses the tissues.

Organic Lavender (Lavendula Angustifolia) Essential Oil: Has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, which are calming, healing and purifying. Also provides a fragrant natural scent.

Organic Rosemary (Rosinarinas Officinalis) Essential Oil: Astringent, anti-bacterial, and helps to improve skin circulation.

Organic Red Thyme (Thymus Vulgaris) Essential Oil: Natural preservative has antiseptic and aromatic properties.

Organic Patchouli (Pogostemon Cablin) Essential Oil: Excellent rejuvenator, which invigorates and restores the skin.

Organic Hyssop (Hyssopus Officinalis) Essential Oil: Has tonic, sedative properties, and is an anti-inflammatory agent.

I have been using this product for 1 year and I am just finishing up my 2nd jar. The jars only come in a 1 oz size. I work from home most of the time so it is not used everyday, so for everyday use it would probably last about 4 months.

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this product! It is moisturizing and provides great sun protection without causing any irritation or breakouts or that unsightly white cast that some mineral sunblocks can cause. It is nutrient rich and does not contain any chemicals.

My moisturizing sun protection Holy Grail. I will be using this product for a long time to come!

Littlegoddesscosmetics.com

http://www.sanreorganic.com/catalog/

Correct and Conceal

Little Goddess Pro Palette Correct and Conceal

Hello My Beauties!!

Today's tutorial is on how to use color correctors. Color correctors are those pastel colors that most people have absolutely no idea how to use! I am here to explain color correctors and to show you how you can use them to help correct dark under eye circles.

The theory behind color correctors is if you look at a color wheel, colors that are opposite each other will neutralize each other out. For example, green and red are opposite each other on the color wheel, so green and red will neutralize each other out. Keep in mind that skin is multi-tonal, maybe the darkness under your eyes is a bluish purple instead of a reddish purple, so it may take a few tries to see what will work best for you.

Little Goddess Pro Palette Correct and Conceal color palette comes with 3 different corrector shades:

Green-To neutralize red tones.

Yellow-To neutralize blue and purple tones.

Lavender-To brighten sallow skin.

Color correctors do not mimic the color of skin like a concealer does. The sole purpose of a corrector is to correct and even out discolorations (although I do use the lavender color to create a beautiful highlight on the cheekbone right under the eye area).

Color correctors should be worn under something such as foundation or concealer, as opposed to wearing it by itself and they are not necessary unless you have a very noticeable discoloration, such as rosacea or very dark circles, that a concealer or foundation cannot even out on it's own.

So here are some basic steps to follow:

1. Prep and prime skin as you normally would.

2. Apply corrector to affected area, such as dark under eye area or red cheek area, etc.

3. Apply foundation over area where corrector was applied.

4. Apply concealer if needed. This step is optional.

5. Lightly powder to set makeup.  

Little Goddess products used in this video:

• Pro Palette Correct and Conceal
• Mineral Sheer Tint SPF 20 in Light
• Mineral Photo Touch Concealer
• Hydraradiance Age Defying Mineral Powder Foundation 

Happy Correcting!!

That time of year....

Hello All!

Summertime is right around the corner and it is time to start thinking about sun protection! It is always time to think about sun protection! I wear sun protection year round and you should too, even on the cloudy days because the UV rays still penetrate through the clouds!

The days are now getting longer and everyone will be spending more time outdoors in the beautiful sunshine so I feel it is my duty to re post this sun protection post from last year-I hope you enjoy it the second time around:

Hello All! It is that time of the year again. Summertime is fast upon us, so it is my duty to make sure everyone knows the importance of sun protection. The sun makes your skin look dry, dull, uneven, wrinkled, and causes the collegen to break down, which causes skin to sag. Also, you don't even see the damage it causes until years later, which is why it is so important to use broad spectrum sun protection all the time, including wintertime and during daily activities. Besides causing premature aging, you can get skin cancer from the sun-so please protect yourself.



So what is the best protection for you? Well let me explain the difference between sunscreen and sunblock. Sunscreen or chemical sunscreen use chemicals as the active sun protection ingredients. It usually contains oxybenzone or avobenzone (also known as Parsol 1789), which can cause irritation if you have sensitive skin. Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays before they can cause any damage. Chemical sunscreens need to be applied about 30 minutes before sun exposure as that is how long it takes to "activate" on your skin.

Sunblock or physical sunblock use minerals such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as the active sun protection ingredients. Physical sunblock is much more gentle on sensitive skin and they work by forming an opaque film that reflects or scatters UV light before it can penetrate the skin. Physical sunblock sometimes has a whitish cast when applied to the skin (think of the lifeguard's white nose-that's zinc oxide).

I had done a whole post on antioxidants, they have been proven to increase sun protection so make sure you get your daily dosage of antioxidants through your diet or apply it to your skin before you apply your sunscreen, such as with the green tea toner, or a Vitamin C serum (I am going to do a post on how to make your own).

Yes it is true, almost everyone looks better with a tan, but there are much healthier ways of getting that tan than sitting in the sun or a tanning bed such as using a self tanner, going to get a spray tan, or using Little Goddess Mineral Bronzer in Congo! Also keep in mind that when your skin tans, it is actually protecting itself from the rays that are damaging it.

**TIP**When applying bronzer to your face, remember to hit your neck, chest, and even the tops of your hands so everything matches and looks uniform, and your face doesn't look like it's a different color from your body.

Ok guys, I hope you found this re-post helpful and informative! Please don't go outside without your protection and if you have any questions, you can always message me!

Love and Sunshine,

Jessica

CLOSE-UP

Hello All!

This past week the Soho Film Festival took place in NYC. I had the pleasure of attending the screening of CLOSE-UP, a movie about a recovering drug addict/down on his luck actor trying to get his life back on track, played very convincingly by Shaun Paul Costello. The cast is rounded out by Valentina Mohle, Brian Gallagher, Brian Anthony Wilson, Jacqui Schneider and Ryan Dunn of Jackass fame.

My Lovely Niece Erica



CLOSE-UP was written, directed and produced by Jose Cruz and my lovely niece Erica Lenart acted as associate producer on the film.

Enjoy the trailer!

Click here to read about CLOSE-UP and Cruz Control Pictures

Simple Smokey Eye for the Donna's

Not my eye! Photo pilfered from
the internet!

I have three friends named Donna.

There is Donna, Dona and Madonna (not that Madonna, but this one is just as fabulous!)

My three Donna's love a smokey eye, however, two are hot momma's on the go and just don't have time to sit around perfecting the smokey eye-and the third hot tamale does not feel extremely skilled in the makeup application department.

So in honor of the Donna's (and as requested), I have posted a simple smokey eye tutorial! The smokey eye look is the most requested makeup look as it is a very sultry, sexy look and who does not want to look sexy? There are a bazillion different ways to do a smokey eye (and probably a bazillion different videos on YouTube showing you how to do a smokey eye).

The following is my simplified version. It may look like a lot of steps but it really is simple even if you don't feel like you have a lot of makeup know how.  

First, let me start by saying that smoking your eye out is a technique! It is not referring to the color of smoke even though traditionally smokey eyes have been done using blacks or greys. It is referring to the technique of blending the eyeshadow colors to give it the effect of smoke. Think of smoke coming from a fire-the smoke is most prominant near the fire source but then gradually lessens and disappears. Same effect with a smokey eye, the darkest colors are going to be closest to the lash line and then blended to soften and fade into the browbone. There should be no harsh lines, and if using multiple colors, you shouldn't know where one color ends and the other begins. That hold true for most makeup looks when you are blending colors together.

Second, I must stress that the key to having  makeup that will last is to layer. In this video, there is a base eyeshadow, eye pencil, more eyeshadow, more pencil and more eyeshadow to set!! Your makeup should not move for hours!

The products I used for this look are of course all Little Goddess products (except for the black eyeshadow) and are as follows:

Silk Sheets Polychromatic Eyeshadow

Sand Mineral Matte Eyeshadow

Ink Mineral Eyeshadow

Wild Pink Cream Blush

Sandstone Mineral Eyeshadow

Absolute Black Eye Pencil

HD Mascara in Carbon

Brow Shaper Kit in Medium

Nude Lipliner  

         Liptoxyl Lipgloss in Angel                

So before you start you want to make sure to prime/prep your skin and apply foundation/powder to the skin as you usually would. If you don't usually use foundation, please at least powder the eyelids.

Step 1: Apply Silk Sheets eyeshadow all over the lid from lashes to browbone. There are multiple reasons why you need to apply a base eyeshadow:

• Eyelids are naturally oily and you need to powder them down to prevent creasing and slippage.

• If you put foundation/concealor on your eyelids, you need to powder them to set the makeup and prevent it from sliding and seperating as the day goes on-which is why makeup disappears during the day if it is not set properly.

• The additional shadows and makeup you apply needs something to grab onto that is not skin. So the base layer provides a barrier between your skin so your application is smoother and last longer.

If you properly powder your eyelids with loose powder, you can skip the base eyeshadow.

Step 2: A smokey eye needs lots of black eyeliner. Apply Absolute Black eyeliner to top lash line and smudge with a smudge brush (or a Q-tip) to soften. Remember-no harsh lines.

Step 3: Apply Ink eyeshadow on top lid, from lashline into the crease. I used a flat shadow brush, you can use whatever you have.

Step 4: Take a clean blending brush and blend the outer edge of the shadow (or) blend a neautral shadow such as Sand Mineral Matte into the edge of the shadow to soften and fade. You can also use loose powder for this step if you don't have a neautral shadow.

Step 5: Apply a second coat of eyeliner to the top lashline. With a stiff slanted eyeliner brush, set top lash line with black eyeshadow.

Step 6: Apply Absolute Black eyeliner to the lower lashline. With a stiff slanted eyeliner brush, set lower lashline with Ink shadow.

Step 7: Add Sandstone to brow bone and inner corner of eye to highlight.

Step 8: Apply HD Mascara to both top and lower lashes.

Step 9: Shape eyebrows using LG Brow Shaper Kit.

Step 10: Apply Wild Pink Cream Blush to cheeks-or whatever neautral colored blush you have.

Step 11: Apply Nude Lipliner and Angel Liptoxyl Gloss-or whatever neautral toned lip colors you have.

I hope this is as simple as I intended it to be! If you have any questions, please feel free to comment and I will respond-Donna's, you can just call me up!

Please enjoy the video!

Happy Blending! 

 All products can be purchased at

Littlegoddesscosmetics.com

Ban the Bun!

Hello All!!

I just wanted to share something that I learned the other day while getting my hair cut that some of you long haired gal's (and guy's) may find useful.

While sitting in my hair guy's chair after he cut my hair and finished blow drying, he said to me "you know-you have to be careful", so I said "careful about what?". As he is running his fingers through my hair and looking at me with some concern, he asked me "what are you doing right here?" while firmly palming my crown-ahem, let me clarify-not the crown I wear while at home in my kingdom, the actual crown of my skull. I replied "nothing-I don't do anything there"

Him: You don't put clips right here? (hand planted firmly on crown)

Me: No! I don't clip my hair!

Him: Well you're doing something right here.

Then it dawned on me-my beloved bun!! or as sweetie pie calls it-my pom pom!

I love my long hair but I really love my long hair when it is sitting in a tight bun on top of my little head! For the past 100 years, the first thing I do when I walk in my door is put my hair up in a bun perched right on top of my head! Very conveniently out of my face and out of my way! I have also noticed for the past 100 years is that after I blow dry my hair there are always these little baby fuzzy hairs sticking straight up like a little highlighted porcupine but I just chalked it up to my blow drying skills not being up to par. I have also begun noticing these little broken hairs at the front of my hairline and was wondering where the f**k are they coming from?! Well I know now-my beloved bun!!

So I asked could my bun be causing all this damage? "Yes!" he said, "that is it!" and then banned me from my bun loving ways!

So rather than risk going bald on top of my head and resembling a bald monk that has been tonsured, I've had to reprogram myself. I am allowed to wear a loose bun at the nape of my neck-fun stuff.

So for all you ladies (or men) that are noticing broken hairs, thinning hair or have a bun addiction-Please be careful because you may be abusing your hair and not even realize it!

Even though bald is beautiful, full healthy hair is spectacular! 

Ban the Bun! 

2011 Top Beauty Blog!

Hello All!!

Congratulations to Little Goddess Cosmetics for being chosen by Beautyschool.com and

Mysocialbeauty.com as one of the

Top Beauty Blogs in 2011!

So a big Thank You to everyone who subscribes and follows me here at Little Goddess and also a big Thank You to everyone at Beautyschool.com as well as well as Mysocialbeauty.com

Making the world more beautiful,
one Goddess at a time!

My Skin's Chemical Romance

           
        My skin loves chemicals. Yep, that's right and anyone who knows me will see the absolute irony in that statement.              
        For those of you who don't, let me explain-I hate chemicals. It started many years ago when after cleaning my bathtub with some chemical cleanser, I didn't want to take a bath because I was completely grossed out by the thought of soaking in a bathtub that would most likely have chemicals floating around in it. I hate everything about cleansers, the way they smell especially-clean does not smell like a fake chemical pine forest! I started making my own cleanser by combining baking soda, cream of tar tar and white vinegar. I felt much better about my bathtub after I started cleaning it with my homemade scrub. I despise air "fresheners"-there is nothing fresh about them. When someone sprays air freshener I don't think "aah-how fresh", I think "I'm going to get cancer".
        It started with cleanser and then moved to the foods I eat. I had already stopped eating most meats-especially processed meats. I have not had a hot dog, hamburger, or a cold cut (minus cheese) since 1987. So now I decided to take it one step further. I believe people should eat whole foods-that means foods that have had nothing added to them and nothing taken away. In other words, no processed foods. I do not eat anything fat or sugar free. If you take the fat or sugar out of food, you have to add something back in to make it taste good and that means chemicals!
        So this past year, I had decided to apply my no chemical stance to my skin care routine. I decided to change all the products I used and not only was I going to shun parabans and petroleum, I wanted all of the ingredients to be from the earth. I wanted the moisturizing agents to be oils pressed from the finest fruits, the anti-inflammatory ingredients to come from the leaves of an exotic plant and the anti aging magic to come from the petals of a fragrant flower. I wanted to be able to eat my skincare if I needed to.
        So I started out by purchasing a sample package from an all organic "natural" line. The ingredients featured Aloe Vera Gel, Soapwort Extract, Jojoba Oil, Golden Seal, Grapeseed Extract, Chamomile, Sugar Cane and Green Tea. Perfect! I was so happy! All I envisioned was my already beautiful skin being transformed into the most wonderful, luminous skin ever created! What I got was the biggest breakout of my life! OK-I was not going to give up, I was convinced it was the Aloe Vera, so I would just avoid that. So my first all natural product and not only was I avoiding chemical ingredients, I was now avoiding natural ingredients. Great. I ordered a face cleanser from an online "natural" website that didn't work and ended up being used as a hand soap. I purchased a cleansing cream from the health food store because it was all "natural" and contained Sea Buckthorn and Cucumber. Next I tried another line by a well known Doctor who follows an '"all natural" lifestyle and shuns chemicals. My skin only got worse.
        One day honeybuns looked at me and said "you look like a 15 year old girl" due to my adolescent worthy breakout I had been having for the past 5 months. That same week while handing my landlady my rent check, she looked at me and said "what happened to your face?" I knew something had to be done. I was going to have to sleep with the enemy. I purchased some samples from Paulaschoice.com and almost overnight, my skin cleared up.
        The moral of this story is: not all things that are natural and from the earth are good for your skin, and not all things synthetic and man made are bad for your skin. You just have to figure out your comfort level. 
        Just as I try to eat healthfully and mindfully as much as I can, don't be surprised if you see me devouring the occasional bag of Doritos. I still try to avoid the parabans, sulfates, and fragrance and be mindful of what I put on my skin, but I am a little more open to all ingredients including the synthetic ones.

       

Hope you all had a safe, happy, healthy New Year!

       

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello All!

Just a quick post to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you will all be spending time with loved ones, eating a lot of food, laughing, napping, and drinking! All of the good stuff-I know I will!

I also wanted to take this opportunity to tell you all about my beautiful, and very talented, cousin Kristin.

Some of you may remember when I had my little baking gig with Hurley Girly Sweets and Treats. We used to sell our delicacies at the Old Stockade Farmers Market in Kingston. 

Kristin was 1/3 of our baking team-the other 1/3 being my mother, Lucille.

I was never a big fan of baking, I would much rather cook a meal, however Kristin loves it and she is quite wonderful at it.

She has continued down the baking path with:

   Confections by Kristin

 She is taking orders now for her holiday goodies!

Yum! I am getting hungry just looking at the menu!

Kristin's cookies are homemade with the finest ingredients and a lot of love!

(I know she doesn't have them on the menu, but Kris makes the most amazing apple cider donuts! They are a little bit of sugary heaven!)

So if anyone needs to bring a dessert, give a gift, or you just don't feel like baking your own this year, give Kristin a call or send her an email and she will help you out!

She is primarily delivering in Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and the Bronx, however, you can call her to discuss shipping options.

Everyone have a very safe Thanksgiving!

Brushes B*tch*s

        Every artist needs their tools. Just as Michelangelo had his favorite sculpting tools, and Picasso and daVinci had their brushes, makeup artist also have their tools they use to create their beautiful masterpiece's.

        A makeup artist brush holds a lot of power and can create magic, however, most people do not have all these tools or even know what to do with them, so I am here to help! I have gathered a few of my favorite brushes and will explain the functions of each and how they help to create the looks you love.

                                    

First, the Foundation Brush-When I first saw someone apply foundation with a brush, I thought "how bizarre" because I had only known foundation to be applied with a sponge. Applying foundation with a brush provides a much more even application without streaks like you sometimes get when you apply foundation with a sponge. Just dot the foundation on your forehead, nose, and chin, then blend outward. Don't forget to blend into your neck. Another pro of using a foundation brush as opposed to a sponge is you don't waste any of the product so a little goes a long way and you are using less product. With a sponge, most of the product gets sucked up into the sponge. You can also use a foundation brush to apply cream blush to the face.

                                     Next, the Concealer Brush-The concealer brush is like a mini foundation brush. Both usually have synthetic bristles, and the concealer brush is used to place concealer on the face and also makes it easier to apply to the inner corners of the eye and right under the lash line where you sometimes get some redness. I like to place the concealer on with a brush and then tap it in with my finger-the warmth of your finger helps the makeup blend easier. You know I like my makeup warmed up when I apply it!

       

Fluffy Contour Brush-This is my most valued brush for doing eye makeup because I can create a whole look using just this brush. This is a great brush for contouring the crease of your lid and also for blending and creating the sexy smoked out look. I also keep one of these clean, with no shadow on it, so I can blend any harsh lines without adding any color. The key to a professional look is blending.

       

Small Flat Shadow Brush-This brush helps to apply concentrated amounts of shadow in very precise areas, such as the outer V area of your eye or on the rounded part of your lid. 

Angle Brush-This brush comes in a small size and a larger size. The mini angle brush I use primarily to line my eyes and can also be used to set pencil or cream liner with eyeshadow. The larger angle brush is another brush that can be used to create that sexy cat eye V shape at the outer corner of your eye. It helps to extend the shadow out and elongate your eyes.

Smudge Brush-There are a few different shaped smudge brushes. Smudge brushes are used to smudge and blend eyeliner. Whenever you apply any eyeliner, either pencil or cream, it should be smudged a little so you do not have a super harsh line. A line that is smudged a little is much more sexy and youthful than an aging harsh line.

               Fine Line Eyeliner Brush-This brush is used with creme eyeliner, such as Little Goddess Absolute Creamliner, to create a super fine line and a super sexy pin-up cat eye. This Fine Line brush can be purchased at littlegoddesscosmetics.com.

Eyebrow Brush and Spoolie Brush-Used to groom, shape, and apply powder to your eyebrows. Use the spoolie brush to brush your eyebrows up, then use the eyebrow brush to apply powder, fill in any bare spots, and shape to frame your face.

Contour Brush-I use this brush to apply blush instead of the traditional fluffy blush brushes. A contour brush contours to the planes and angle's of your face (hence the name) and will place the blush precisely where you want it. This brush is a little denser due to its flat top so it provides a little more concentrated color than the traditional fluffy blush brush, so be careful not to apply too much!

Fan Brush-This is the brush I use the least but I still love it! This brush is great if you want a very light dusting of color on your cheeks, highlighter on your cheekbones or even to correct mistakes! Lets say you applied too much blush-just take your fan brush, dip it in loose powder and gently blend the edges of the blush so it does not appear so harsh.

Kabuki Brush-This brush comes in a big version and a mini version. Kabuki brushes are usually used to apply powder foundation, however I used my large Kabuki to buff my foundation onto my skin-I posted a video on how to do this a few months back-and I also use the large Kabuki to to blend all of my makeup together and create a polished finish. You can purchase the mini Kabuki at littlegoddesscosmetics.com.

**Kabuki is a form of traditional Japanese theater which is known for the elaborate makeup worn by it's performers!**

Purchase

These are just some of the hundreds of different types of makeup brushes out there. There are many different places you can purchase brushes. Little Goddess Cosmetics right now only sells the Fineliner Brush and the Mini Kabuki Brush. MAC and Trish McEvoy are known for their brushes but if you are not looking to spend a fortune-brushes can get expensive-I find Sephora's makeup brushes to be reasonably priced and of good quality. You can also find affordable brushes at Target-check out Sonia Kashuk's line.

Clean

You should keep your brushes clean as they perform best when they are cleaned and well maintained. Brushes that you apply powder products with you can clean every few weeks, however brushes that you apply a wet product to, such as foundation or cream liner, you should clean daily. Wetness breeds bacteria, and you don't want bacteria on your brushes. I keep my brushes clean by washing them with Dial Anti-Bacterial Soap. Some people like using baby shampoo, while others loosen up the product on the brushes with a little oil before they wash them. My choice of oil would be of the olive variety.

Now as much as there are "rules" in makeup application, there are really no rules! If you feel the best way to apply your eyeshadow is with a big fluffy blush brush, then so be it and if you feel that using a large angle brush is the best way to contour your cheek bones, then who am I to stop you? There are no makeup police in Glamorville! I do believe that as with any art form, you need the proper tools to create a professional look and I do feel that using certain brushes helps to attain that polished look, however, keep in mind that you already possess the most important tools that you'll need-your hands! So if you want to use your hands to wield a powerful brush or apply your whole face with just your fingers-I won't be mad at you. Now you can go forth with all the information you will need to make that decision! Happy Creating!!

Anti Aging Ingredients and How They Help Your Skin

         Hello All! Today I want to talk about three important ingredients in anti-aging skin care and why you should be using one or all of them!
         First, let me introduce you to Alpha Hydroxy and Beta Hydroxy Acids better known as AHA's and BHA's.
         In order for your skin to look young and fresh and have a healthy glow about it, it needs to shed the dead skin cells away to reveal the new skin underneath. As you age, it takes longer for your skin to shed the older cells and that's why as you age your skin can sometimes take on a "dull" appearance. That's where our friends the hyroxy acids come in-they are both exfoliants and I will explain their benefits and differences.
        AHA, or Alpha Hydroxy Acids are most commonly derived from food products such as glycolic acid (from sugar cane) and lactic acid (from milk). AHA, when applied to the skin, gently exfoliates the top layer of dead skin to reveal the newer skin underneath. AHA does not exfoliate the inside of your pores, just the top layer of skin. Continued use of AHA's will smooth out your skin's texture, soften fine lines and produce collagen in the skin. Collagen is what gives skin it's youthfulness and our body stops producing it as we age. (Please note that topically applying products that contain collagen, such as a moisturizer, cannot  rebuild the collagen in your skin.)
        You can purchase a product containing AHA's from the drug store from such lines as Alpha Hydrox, online from Paulaschoice.com, or also from your dermatologist office. AHA's are usually sold in 8-10% strengths, however you can also make an appointment with your dermatologist for a chemical peel which is a Glycolic Acid peel in a much stronger concentration. You can also give yourself a yogurt mask! Take whole milk, full fat yogurt, slather it on your face and leave for 30 minutes. The lactic acid in the yogurt will gently exfoliate, brighten, and tone your skin.
        BHA's or Beta Hydroxy Acids are also an exfoliant, however, unlike its AHA sister, BHA's exfoliate the inside of the pores as well as the top layer of skin. BHA's are gentle and perfect for someone who is prone to breakouts or oily skin. The BHA's exfoliate the inside of the pore to clean out the oil and sebum which then makes the skin clear and the pores appear smaller. BHA's are salicylic acid which is basically aspirin. I personally like Paula's Choice BHA 2% Gel, however, since BHA's are aspirin, here is something you can do at home: Take 2 or 3 non-coated aspirin, such as Bayer 325mg. Place in a small plate and add a couple drops of water to create a paste. You can either spot treat pimples or apply to the entire face. Wait 30 minutes and rinse. Some people add honey to the aspirin so it stays on the face better-I don't like the sticky honey on my face so I just use the water. I f you decide to use just the water, you really need to sit back and relax because after the paste dries it becomes a bit flaky and will rub off easily if you touch it. So apply and then sit back and watch an episode of Real Housewives of Whatever. Rinse after 30 minutes.
        Lastly, I would like to discuss retinol. Retinol is the natural form of Vitamin A and retinol aids in the resurfacing of the skin. Where BHA's and AHA's exfoliate the skin, retinol is used to help generate the renewal of skin cells from deep under the skin. Using a product with retinol in it is where you will probably see the most change as it penetrates deep into the skin and wrinkles are gradually smoothed, moisture and elasticity increase, the complexion glows and damage is diminished. Retinol has also been shown to stimulate new collagen production. More and more products are starting to include retinol in their ingredients. The strongest and most efficient form of retinol will come from your dermatologist office. The most well know forms of retinol are Renova and Retin-A. They are the synthetic form of Vitamin A and prescription only.
        Now, I cannot write about anti-aging without stressing that the single most important anti-aging step you can take for your skin is to apply sunscreen-protect your skin every single day. Repeated exposure to the sun is a MAJOR cause of your skin aging and wrinkling. The sun will also break down collagen and elastin. The first defense is a broad spectrum sunscreen. Some of these products will make your skin a little photosensitive so it is important to use a good sunscreen. Have I mentioned that you should use a sunscreen? Please read my post on the importance of sun protection and which one is best for you.
        I think you need a few different products to help your skin stay youthful, there is not one miracle cream or ingredient that is going to do it all. You can use all of these ingredients together, however I would not apply them at the same time, for example you can use one in the morning and one at night but you shouldn't use both in the morning. Also, I wouldn't use the AHA/BHA's more than twice a week-over exfoliating is not good either!
        Ultimately, you will figure out what routine works best for your skin. It may take some trial and error, but products that contain these ingredients are a great first step!