My Day & Night Skin Care Routine!

Hey there my loves! So this has been a very requested post and I'm so sorry I haven't gotten around to doing it yet! This is my Day & Night Skin Care Routine! I know what you're thinking "Day and Night?!" Yes! I use different products depending on my needs for the time of day. The products I'm going to mention are not for "all skin types", some of the more basic things are, but for the most part they're for my combination skin. Combination skin means your skin has both components of dry and oily, now there are two types of combination skin: Combination Oily and Combination Dry. Which basically means if your Combination Oily you're more oily than dry and vice versa for Combination Dry. I myself am Combination Dry. While I can get oily on my forehead and sometimes on my cheeks, I'm very dry around my nose, outer cheeks and chin so that is why I've chosen these products for myself. They're very hydrating without being "overly" hydrating which will irritate the oily-ness in my skin! I will say however, by hydrating my skin more and more, my skin has become less oily which is what its supposed to do! :) So let's dive into the products! :)

Morning Routine

So most mornings I try to keep it pretty simple because I am usually in a hurry (I am the furthest from a morning person!) so the fewer products I have to use the better! What I'm going to show you though are the things I would use everyday if I had the time or if its a weekend! 

If you know me at all you know how much I love this product. It is by far the best cleanser I have every used and is gentle enough to use around the eyes to remove eye makeup! It also is the first cleanser that hasn't stripped my skin and left my face feeling tight and dry! Since I am on the dryer side I like something that will at least lightly moisturize. This is the description straight from philosophy's website! I completely agree with it! "purity made simple one-step facial cleanser is our award-winning cleanser, loved by all for its multitasking, 4-in-1 approach to cleansing. purity made simple gently cleanses, tones and melts away all face and eye makeup in one simple step, while lightly hydrating. skin is left feeling perfectly clean, comfortable and balanced." Again I say... AMAZING!

 

Now through the week I do not have time to do this in the morning. Letting a mask sit for 7-10 minutes may not seem like that long, but when you are not a morning person, that is 10 minutes of extra sleep :P however I do use this mask every Saturday & Sunday morning! Which makes up for the two times during the week I would normally use it. Even if its a gentle mask you really don't want to use it more than twice a week. I prefer to use an enzyme mask because it "eats away" all the build up of dead skin. The top layer of our skin is just dead skin, so in the processes of cell turnover, if you're not exfoliating you can get a build up of dead skin. I do exfoliate with an manual exfoliant (scrubs and such) on occasion but I prefer to use this because it is more gentle and moisturizing. This is the description of the product from the website! "How delicious to surrender your sensitive skin to the relaxing, moisturizing comfort of this vacation in a jar. Sensitive Skin Enzyme Mask not only softens and calms irritated skin on contact but also–with the lightest possible touch-dissolves residual dead skin cell build-up too."

Now even though the purity cleanser is supposed to tone your skin as well, I prefer to use a good ole fashioned toner on my own. Especially since I apply an enzyme mask after since toner not only balances the skin after being stripped from cleaning, it will remove any product reside or left behind traces of makeup! I really love toner and the smell of this product is great! "Completing the cleansing process, Balancing Tonic gently removes remaining traces of dirt, oil, and makeup to leave skin feeling clean and soft. This freshly scented botanically-enriched formula balances the skin and helps prevent moisture loss while protecting skin against bacteria and harmful environmental stressors"

I do not use this often at all, but I wanted to include it because I have been using it recently. I like to use this after I cleanse with purity when I'm having  some issues with my skin. I've been dealing with some breakouts lately so I have been using this medicated acne facial wash just to help treat my problem areas! " Medicated Pumice Wash works deep to eliminate acne-triggering impurities while prepping skin to be more responsive to treatment products"

I can not express enough the importance of sunscreen! Most people tend to think that if they're not going to be in direct sunlight (ie. Laying on the Beach, Running outside, etc.) they don't need it. WRONG! Even if you're driving in your car you are exposed to sun. Sun Damage cause 90% of your natural aging process and while staying completely out of the sun is way too much to ask of people you should also use a moisturizer with at least SPF 30 every single day! I've heard people say "well I've been doing this for years and I have no sun damage" That's because it takes time to show up! Which is why as you mature some people being to get dark spots, deep lines, ect.. It's all the stuff they didn't prevent in their younger years coming to the surface over time! So if you start now, you'll have less damage and issues as you age! I have clients come in that are all ages and its very apparent who took care of their skin and who hasn't once I get them under my magnification lamp!

Night Routine 

Now my night routine doesn't change too much from my morning routine, I still use my purity cleanser and my control corrective balancing tonic but I add in more night time appropriate  products as well. Mostly things that are too heavy to wear during the day time! All of these things are from Mario Badescu. I just recently started using this line and I have to say I am absolutely loving it!

 

 

 

This facial spray is amazing! I use this quite a few times throughout the day for a refresh if my skin is feeling yucky, I set my makeup with this and I also use it nightly after my balancing toner. It smells absolutely divine!(which is probably why I spray it so much!) You can also spray it on your hair! "
A refreshing, hydrating mist to use anywhere anytime. Simply formulated with fragrant Herbal Extracts and Rosewater for a pleasant, pick me up for dehydrated, tight and uncomfortable skin. Spray your day and night creams for a boost of hydration or use it to set make-up or spray on dry hair throughout the day. Safe for all skin types. Gentle, non-irritating."

 Night creams are perfect for just that, NIGHT! :) This is a very thick consistency but moisturizes like a dream! I'm always looking for a thicker moisturizer at night because thats when your skin starts to repair itself so it needs all the moisture it can get! One of the best things about this product is that you barely have to use any! Maybe about the size of a dime amount will cover your face and neck! That's the one of the biggest misconceptions people get about skin care products. They thing "why spend double the money on half the product?" That's because you use way less of it! I know when I was using Neutrogena moisturizer I was using about a walnut or bigger amount for just my face and neck and thats just a ridiculous amount! "Intense moisture replenishing night cream enriched with antioxidant Vitamin A to reduce the effects of aging. A high concentration of emollients along with Collagen help to preserve skin's tone and elasticity"
 

 I only use this product once a week and of course I use it at night! I apply a little after I cleanse and let it sit for 20 minutes then start the rest of my night time routine! It helps with the redness in my skin as well if I'm having any type of breakouts! It's really amazing stuff! :) "Control irritation and redness caused by acne. A great companion product to our Drying Mask that balances out redness and acne-irritated skin. Non-hardening and effective for very sensitive or dry skin types with acne. Contains soothing Balsam Peru, a natural, anti-inflammatory ingredient."

Another must have product that everyone should use is an eye cream or gel! The skin under your eyes is so different than the rest of the face that it deserves some special attention. That thin skin will become more thin with age as well as begin to crease/wrinkle if not properly taken care of! So start now so you won't have to worry about it as you age. I apply this just under my eyes, nowhere else. I also do no apply moisturizer under my eyes, just my eye gel! "Improve the delicate eye skin’s hydration levels with our greaseless, lightweight eye gel formulated with softening Ceramides and nourishing Herbal Extracts. Diminishes puffiness and tired eyes. Store in the fridge for a soothing morning eye treatment"

And that's pretty much it! I'm constantly trying new products so it can change up pretty fast, but these have been my go to's for the last couple months :) Something I've come to learn both through textbooks and personal experience is that if you want to have flawless makeup or just skin for that matter, you have to take care of yourself interally and take the time to pamper your skin as much as possible. If you were born with great skin, maintain it! You'll be thankful you did as you age! Well there you have it, my morning & night skin care routine. As always, please leave me any comments or questions you have about this post or any of my previous posts! Until next time, Stay Beautiful! <3

 

 

Dark Blue Smokey Eye!

So I think its way past time for a little makeup pictorial!  I tend to lean more towards the neutral colors but every now and then I need to step outside my box and do something bold! I know a lot of people are afraid of bright colors but they can be totally wearable depending on how they're applied! I decided to use a dark blue eye shadow that was in an Urban Decay palette that I purchased on Black Friday! Let's get into the tutorial! :)

This is seriously the most you need  for BOTH eyes!

First and foremost we're going to conceal redness on the eye lid and prime them. Especially when using dark colors, you want to conceal the eyelids and prime to make sure you get the truest color as well as to keep the eye shadow in place!

 Before...

After!

 This is the beautiful blue color we're going to be using! As you can see the color name is "Evidence". It's a part of an Urban Decay palette called "The Dangerous Palette". I don't think its in stores anymore, but you may be able to find it on Ebay or Amazon! You're going to pick this shade up on a flat shader brush like the one pictured..

 You're going to want to pat this on the lid and avoid swiping it back and forth. Patting the color on the lid is going to give you the truest color and the least fall out. Working with darker colors can be tricky so make sure to apply your foundation after you finish the eyes just as a precaution. You want to apply this in an oval-ish type shape to make blending easier!

 Now we're going to take this medium brown shade and blend everything out into the desired shape. You always want to blend out your shadow with a matte, neutral shade!

 This is what it should look like so far!

I wanted to warm the look up just a bit so I decided to take this warm, matte brown called Swiss Chocolate by MAC and blend in right into the crease, above the blue colors, but below the first blending shade.

 This is where you want to place the "Swiss Chocolate" color!

 Now we're going to add some depth to the look by adding a darker color into the outer V of our eye lid. I'm taking "Blackheart" from the Naked 3 and applying it in my outer V. You could use any black/greyish color you'd like!

 Apply it...

Then blend it out with a fluffy brush!

 This is going to be our highlight shade. I decided to use something matte because I didn't want so much shimmer on the eye with it being so dramatic. I added this to the brow bone and the inner corner of the eye.

 I took a black eye liner and "tight lined" my upper lash line to make sure no skin was showing through under my lashes!

I lined my eyes with this liquid liner (which is awesome for the $2 I paid for it!) and did a slight wing just to elongate the eye a bit.

 Eyeliner finished!

 For foundation I used MAC Studio Fix Fluid in the color NW 13 (yes I'm super pale LOL) I love this foundation, it gives great coverage and it's super heavy.

 I used MAC Pro Longwear Concealer under my eyes and to highlight a bit. I have this in the color NW 15.

 I used Too Faced Chocolate Solie Bronzer to contour. I contoured my cheeks, sides of my forehead, under my chin and my nose :)

 MAC Soft & Gentle for the highlight! Across the cheekbones, done the bridge of the nose and a little on the forehead!

 I apply my highlight with the HUGE fan brush from Coastal Scents!

I applied MAC's "Gingerly" blush to my cheeks. This is a very warm shade and really warmed up my face since dark colors have a tendency to wash out pale skin.

 Applying to the apples of the cheeks and sweeping back towards the hair line!

 I filled in my brows using Anastasia Brow Wiz and I have to say this is my absolute favorite brow pencil I've ever used! I've used pretty much everything and this one is so worth the price. I will definitely be repurchasing! I have mine in the shade "Brunette".

Brows: Before!

 Brow: After! Such a difference! :)

 And here's the finished look!

I really do love how this turned out! I wore it out and about to run errands today and got a ton of compliments on how subtle it was, but yet it still popped! Which is exactly what you want! :)

I hope you enjoyed this little "pictorial"! I'll try to do these at least twice a week while I'm waiting on my camera! I can't wait to get back into doing videos for you guys! I hope these are helpful in the meantime! As always please let me know any requests you have for blog posts! I appreciate all of you for taking the time to read my blog! Until next time loves, Stay Beautiful! :)

Naked 3 Palette Review & Swatches!

So anyone that knows me, knows how much I love Urban Decay and specifically the Naked Palettes. I own every all 3 and they're definitely my go to. When I'm traveling I just grab them and go because I know I can do any look I could possibly want to do.

For those who aren't as familiar with these palettes, there are 3 in the series. They contain 12 eye shadows that are "neutrals". Naked 1 was very warm, bronzy shadows, Naked 2 was very cool toned shades, and Naked 3 are rosy gold toned shades. Like I previously said, I do own all 3 but I tend to gravitate towards the Naked 1 & Naked 3 more than the Naked 2, but only because I'm very warm toned so I always have to add a shade for warmth to make my eyes look the way I want them to.

Now for the main focus, The Naked 3! I can not express how much I love this palette. I was worried about how the rose gold shades would look on me even though I do look better in warm shades I was afraid they would be too much on the pink side. To my surprise they looked great on my skin tone. If you're super cool toned these shadows probably won't be your cup of tea because you're going to have to incorporate something cool toned or your shadow will just fall flat. The only complaint I have is some of the shades are so similar that if you use them together on your eye it looks the exact same, so that's something you definitely have to be mindful of. Other than that, I really have no complaints at all. The colors are beautiful, they blend wonderfully and are very pigmented.

All the Naked palettes run at about $50-$52. I know that seems like a big hunk of money for just a makeup palette, but because of the amazing quality and pigmentation you really don't use a lot so they will last you. I've seriously had my Naked 1 since 2011 and I've only hit pan on 4 shadows out of 12! That's pretty dang good considering I'm usually using at least on of my Naked Palettes on a daily basis. If you're into makeup and like to do you're make up, I think they would be a good investment. Especially seeing as a single UD shadow runs for $18 and a single MAC shadow runs for $15, you're saving money in the long run.

So, long story short I LOVE that Naked 3. It's probably my favorite out of all of them. I'm very happy I decided (or well my hubby decided) to purchase it. Urban Decay is one of my all time favorite brands for make up I prefer their eye shadows over any brand. I highly recommend them to anyone who wants to branch out into "higher end" make up. You won't be disappointed! I hope you enjoyed this review and if you have any specific questions please send them my way! Stay Beautiful lovies! :) {Swatches below}

From Left to right (top row): Factory, Liar, Nooner, Trick, Buzz, Limit, Burnout, Dust, Strange.

Left to Right (bottom row): Mugshot, Darkside, Blackheart

A few things about skin care!

 

So one of the biggest questions I get these days are about skin care. What products are good for my skin, I'm oily what products should I use, etc.. I can't answer those questions as a whole because seriously every one's skin is so different that unless I take a look and see what we're dealing with I can not give a precise answer. However, there are a few ways to determine your skin type and in turn figuring out which products I mention will work best for you!

So first and foremost the biggest thing in skin care is determining your skin type. The easiest way I can figure this out with clients other than doing a skin analysis is by asking one questions. When do you notice the most oil on your face? Before lunch time (before noon), Around lunch time (noon-2pm) or Evening (3pm-later)? If its before noon you are most likely oily-very oily, if its around lunch time you have normal to combination skin, if you don't notice your skin getting any shine to it until the later evening than you are on the dry to very dry side. Now let's talk about some products!

I know a lot of peoples skin care regimen is little to non existent but honestly people (I'm not just saying this because I'm an esthetician) you really need to take care of your skin! Even if you have semi good/decent skin now, by the time you're 40 all the damage you're doing today will be right on the surface for everyone to see! I see it everyday with clients that come in trying to reverse the damage they inflicted in their youth. While it can be done, it takes a lot of time (and money) to do so, which is why if you do it now it's something you won't have to worry about later. Every one's skin regimen should have a morning & a night routine. In the morning you should cleanse, tone, moisturize and protect. A lot of cleansers, especially the ones I'm going to recommend, cleanse and tone all in one step. In your morning routine you want to include an SPF of at least 30, which can also count as a moisturizer depending on the product. While at night you follow the same routine, but instead of using an SPF you want to use a something a little heavier to replenish your skin as you speak. This goes for all skin types! I know my oily skin ladies are going to cringe at the though of putting so much moisture into their skin but here's the kicker your skin needs moisture even if you have a natural overproduction of sebum (oil).  If you use those products that are supposed to "mattify" and "absorb oil" you will in turn be making your skin even more oily. Most of those products are very drying, especially if they're from a drugstore. If you dry out your skin it's going to freak out and produce more oil, while if you keep it hydrated it will eventually basically "trick" itself into thinking there is no need for more oil production.

 

 

Now lets talk about a few products. I know people are always looking for a good deal, but when it comes to skin care you usually get what you pay for. The reason drugstore brands are so inexpensive is due to the amount of fillers they contain, they have less that 30% active ingredients which means technically they have barely any benefits to the skin. If you are going to insist to go that route I would suggest something like cetaphil of the olay line. My personal favorite is the philosophy line. Yes I know that can be pricey but it seriously saved my skin, even before I started school. The 'purity' cleanser is seriously my holy grail and will be great for any skin type. It is a cleanser and toner in one and also will remove any trace of makeup (even waterproof mascara!) it also will not burn your eyes so its very gentle, but effective. Another line that I know has a lot of good reviews is the Clinique skin care line. While I haven't used it myself, I know a lot of people that swear by it and it is easily accessible. Their moisturizer is great as well, but I prefer to use an aesthetic strength moisturizer which now we'll talk about those products.

As an esthetician I am required to know the products I use on clients inside an out, since I have only used one brand inside and out like that I can recommend these and know exactly what is in them and what would be best for you.  The line that I am referring to is called IMAGE. You can only purchase these products through an esthetician and while they are pricey they are WORTH it.  The difference and benefits that give to peoples skin is amazing and can definitely be noticed. For my oily ladies I would recommend the Clear Cell line from Image, {http://www.imageskincare.com/collections/clear-cell} it will kill acne causing bacteria and purify the skin without doing too much and without drying it out. If you are normal skin you can really use anything from IMAGE, but I would recommend the Ormedic line{http://www.imageskincare.com/collections/ormedic), it will balance and hydrate your skin as well! As for my dry peeps I can not recommend the Vital C line{http://www.imageskincare.com/collections/vital-c} enough, it is seriously amazing. It is great for sensitive skin, very dry skin, eczema and rosacea. I know this line inside and out and know these products WILL work for these skin types! While products can (and in some cases need to be) customized to the person, this is just a general assessment.

While there are tons of products I can talk about from eye creams, to serums, to eye gels this is just the basics. One thing I can strongly suggest is to keep your regimen into one line, meaning if you have a philosophy cleanser, use the rest of their products for the rest of your regimen. Most products are made to work together, so by mixing and matching you're not getting the best results. With the IMAGE line, the entire thing works together so even if its a Ormedic cleanser and a Vital C moisturizer its all made to coincide so you will get results!

I hope this answered at least some of your questions, if you have anything specific you would like to know, or something I left unanswered please do not hesitate to ask. I also have added a "contact me" widget so you can send your questions through there if we are not communicating through facebook. I hope you enjoyed and until next time. Stay Beautiful! :)

Where have I been?!

Long time no talk my lovies! I hope all of you have been doing wonderful and are ready for a new year! I guess first and foremost I owe everyone an explanation as to where I've been!

 

Well, as some of you may know I started school in July of 2013 to become a licensed esthetician. I wanted to expand my knowledge of skin care to become a better makeup artist and in turn found something else I'm very passionate about. Skin care is the first step in that flawless face everyone wants to achieve. If you want nice looking makeup, you need nice, healthy skin underneath :)

 

I will officially be an Esthetican in just a couple months and I'm beyond ready to spread my knowledge with my past, present and future clients and of course all of you! I will be bringing tons of new information, blog post, videos, etc in the new year! I hate that I fell behind in all of my social media but school came first but now that its all down hill from here I think its time to get right back into it!

 

I can't wait to help you guys not only with makeup, but proper skin care as well! As always please leave me any requests or questions/comments you may have! Happy 2014! Make it count :)