Pre-Mature Aging ?? Here is some information for you...

Are you under 30 and think you have premature again ?? 

Well I am here to tell you some info in hopes to help you save your money and buy what`s right for you ! 

I have read several post from ladies under 25 years old who claim that they have crows feet and fine lines. I used to be one of those girls who thought the same until a professional dermatologist set me straight. 

What I thought was fine lines was actually dry skin . I was not having pre-mature aging my skin was thirsty for moisture. The fact that I was not drinking enough water or eating right did not help my problem any. So this is what I did: 

1. I started to drink water ( I know this can be difficult but once you get into a habit of drinking water you get used to it ) 

2. Changed my cleanser and moisturizer to something that would support my dry skin. 

3. Getting a good nights rest. 

4. Got a GOOD sunblock 

I know all the above are basic things everyone should be doing and I thought I was.. but when I started to really look into my habits I realized I was not being good to my body and it was being advertised to the world by my dry skin. 

These minor changes made a HUGE difference. Now since I do have dry skin naturally I will always have to use a good moisturizer and eye cream but what is different now is what type of eye cream I need to use. At 22 years old I did not need a $50.00 eye cream for moisturize.. I could get that from other eye creams that did not cost a fortune, same goes with moisturizer. 

I am 33 now and I am proud of how my skin looks. 10 years later am no longer using the same products, now I do use mid-range products because the truth is.. I am no longer 22 and I need some extra moisture than before. But then again I am still not in need of high cost retinol or those type of creams. 

So the moral of this story is don`t waste your money on stuff you do not need until you actually need it. Buy wisely !! 

One thing I want to add is something I learned the hard-way.. SUN DAMAGE. Sun damage is the leading cause for fine lines for ladies in their 30`s. Sun is good in moderation. Living in Miami Beach I can`t help but to go to the beach but now I do it with a hat always in hand. Sun Spots and fine lines WILL happen so buy a good sunblock and be aware. 

I hope this info is good for you all 

Until next time - K

Let the birdies sing ! It's Spring time

Spring time is finally here !

Time to review all the latest trends and finding our unique way to rock them !
I am putting together some tips and trick on how to incorporate today’s trends in your daily look.

Stay tuned !

The Wen Challenge - Final Review

Hello Everyone

So I am back to give you my final review and my thoughts about the WEN haircare system.

I have been using WEN exclusively for almost 3 months so I feel that I have used the product long enough to have a good opinion so here it is ..

I LOVE IT !! :D

Now I will say that WEN is not the perfect product. I personally found that is does build up on your scalp so every two weeks I do an apple cider vinegar rinse to eliminate build up. So far that has done the trick.
Another thing I noticed is that I am still shedding alot of hair, the amount did not reduce any like I hoped it would. Although I did notice that I don't have as much breakage, I even have new growth around my hairline where I had lots of breakage. ( my hair is still thin though but then again it never claimed to help with that problem )

The best part of using WEN for me is how it has helped me retain my color. It's amazing ! My hair color is almost the exact same shade as when I first colored it. Actually it might even look better. This is huge ! That means I don't hair to color my hair as often hence not damaging more than necessary.

Here are some pics for you. This time I did use flat iron so my hair may look longer but you can still see my hair does not look broken or lifeless.

I am a WEN believer and I still stand behind the fact that the SIX THIRTEEN cleansing cream was really the game changer. This added the moisture and the umphh the regular cleanser lacks.

My bottom line suggestion is: TRY IT
Buy it from a place like QVC where there is a 30 day guarantee and they have good deals.

So the WEN challenge is done and
Just started another challenge with a product called Nerium AD. More on that soon !

Until next time, Karen

The Wen Challenge Day 34

Hello Everyone

I am back to do an update. I have been waiting for an update because in the last few weeks I cut my hair and colored it, I wanted to make sure I was done with everything before posting again.

So far I am still very impressed and happy with the results of WEN. I cut my hair about 2 weeks ago and noticed how much less breakage I actually had and not to mention minimal split ends.* Note: I don't use heat on my hair everyday so contributes also to less breakage and preventing split ends. When I use heat I always make sure I use a heat protector.

Last week I colored my hair, not because my color was so bad but mostly because I had been spending time at the beach and I noticed my hair was becoming dull. I use a permanent color from Wella and also a clear gloss on top. Wen is suppose to help color last longer so now that my hair is freshly done we will see. I will admit that in the time I was using WEN before I colored my hair, my previous color did not further fade.

Here are so pictures for you. One is a close up of my hair right after I cut it but before it was colored. The other was taken today , 1 week after color. Again I styled my hair with my CONAIR Infiniti Spin Brush for about 5-10 minutes total on slightly damp hair. Also my heat protector of the moment is the TRESEMME Heat Tamer.

Taken After Cut before Color 2 week s ago

Taken Today 34 days into using WEN

One thing I still have not seen is a reduction of hair shedding. Now that my hair is darker I can see it even more. The amount is not alarming but enough for me to notice. I will keep my eye on this moving forward to see if it improves. 

I will be back in a few week to update on my color and how I am still doing with the product.

If anyone is using WEN, I would love to hear from you.

Until next time

Karen

The Wen Challenge Day 7

Hello Everyone !

Well it's been 1 full week since I started using the WEN hair cleansing system and I am back to do an update.

As I mentioned on my last post, I was going to be getting the Sweet Almond Mint and Pomegranate duo which I was going to include in my regime and mixing with the Six Thirteen Treatment. I got the duos on Monday so I have been using all 3 ever since.

After 4 uses of the WEN hair cleansing system, here are some of my findings:

1. You don't need that much product ! This is good news because if I want to use this product long term I don't want to go broke doing it. Now I obviously only speak from the perspective of someone with thin hair but still I cannot imagine that anyone would actually need 10 pumps for thick hair.  If you add the Six Thirteen treatment to any of your regular WEN conditioners you almost double the amount. The Six Thirteen treatment is thicker, creamier and add lots of moisture. I tried using the Six Thirteen alone but I do feel it was over kill . I like the results I am getting by using the product in combination with the regular line.

2. WEN is not for the 5 minute shower type gals ( which I used to be ) I made the big mistake of taking a quick shower  and did not rinsing my hair thoroughly. What a mess !! My hair was heavy, greasy and all I wanted to do was jump back into the shower. We were out at a dinner when this happened so the moment I got home I bee lined it to the sink to rinsed my hair. After a good rinse all was well with the world again.

3. When I started with this product I had real bad dry scalp. I am happy to report my scalp is no longer dry nor flaking. I give this credit to the Sweet Almond Mint conditioner which I have been using only on my scalp. The Six Thirteen also had that tingly minty effect on my scalp too which was very refreshing. I do have to say that I haven't seen my scalp this healthy in a very long time. This was an unexpected surprise.

4. Color. I was going to refresh my color this week but I think I am going to wait a little longer. Since starting to use WEN my hair color has remained the same no more fading. Granted my hair was already fading and getting a bit brassy but using a normal shampoo I would have noticed it lighter and lighter with each shampooing. If anything my color looks decent. I am going to see how long I can last without new color

This is a quick description of how I have been using these products this week:

First I use 2 pumps of the Sweet Almond Mint and use it on my scalp and massage for about 30 seconds.
The I use 2 pumps of the Pomegranate with 1 pump of the Six Thirteen and use it on the lengths of my hair.
I add a splash of water and it gets creamy enough to massage all over hair. I then left it on for about 6-7 minutes while I finished with the rest of my shower. I then rinsed as long as I could ( although it felt like forever I am sure it was only a few minutes ) You can actually feel when you hair is fully rinsed when the slip of the product is gone.
Now on to styling:
I first air dried my hair for about 30 min and then used a round brush with my hair dryer for 5-6 minutes ( same thing I did last week )  This is what my hair looked like today:

Right away I can see there is more shine to my hair and not as dull










The back of my hair was easier to manage and the ends do not look dry and unruly.








So far I am liking WEN and my hair is liking it too. I have to continue using it longer to see how holds up in the long run. I have heard about build up the longer you use the product which I am prepared to tackle with an Apple Cider Vinegar rinse if needed. So far I have no build up and my hair feels softer than ever.
The only thing I am still looking for is less shedding. I shed more hair than my cat ! This week I will be paying special attention to see if I am losing less hair as WEN promises. Keep you posted !

Until next time
Karen

The WEN Challenge Day 1

If you are like me and watch way too much late night infomercials, then you have seen the infomercials for WEN hair care system.

What is it ? According to the website for WEN :

WEN® Cleansing Conditioner is a revolutionary new concept in hair care. A 5-in-1 formula, this one product takes the place of your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner. It cleanses hair thoroughly but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos—it is designed so it won't strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils. Your hair is left with sheen, moisture, manageability and better color retention

Well like the good product junkie that I am, I was dying to try it BUT it is super expensive.I just could not justify spending 20 bucks on something that was going to last me 1 month. Fortunately Sally's has a dupe called HairOne which claims to be just like WEN but less expensive ( around 10 dollars for a 1 month supply ) I used an entire bottle and I actually liked it but it was nothing that wowed me enough to stop looking for the next best thing.

 A few years have passed since then and I recently found myself in front of the TV watching one of WEN's infomercials wondering if my hair can really be that lovely by using this product. I was now on a mission to get me some WEN ! so I took advantage of my upcoming birthday/wedding anniversary and I used my birthday wishes and got me some WEN goodies to try.

I got it all from QVC which is a much better value. After much research this is what I got:

WEN by Chaz Dean Six Thirteen Cleansing Treatment

WEN by Chaz Dean Sweet Almond Mint and Pomegranate Duo

The reason I got these products is because both the Sweet Almond Mint and the Pomegranate Duo work best when mixed with the Six Thirteen which is suppose to be like a booster ( more of a treatment but can be used on it's own )

So far I have only received the Six Thirteen so my following opinion is only on my experience with this one product. I get the rest in a few days so when I post my follow up review I will then also be using the other Cleansing Conditioners.

Let me first start with a quick description of my hair.  I can sum it up in a few words..

THIN, DULL, DRY ... Did I already mention THIN ?

Okay so maybe I am being harsh on my poor hair.. It's not that bad.. AFTER I spend an hour with curlers, flat irons and hair clips. I just want what ever girl wants... Victoria Secret's Angel Hair ( duh ) Long Layers sexy hair that I wake up to without having to do anything. Is that too much to ask  ?

But seriously, my biggest concern is my thinning hair and doing what I can to avoid breakage. I color my hair about once every 6-8 weeks and in the spirit of getting it healthy I don't abuse heat unless I am going on a hot date with the hubby *wink *wink

Right now I am using a combination of products including Aveda and Kerastase. I like how my hair feels but it still needs a lot of help to make it look presentable. Most days it ends up in a ponytail which I am desperately trying to avoid because it's making my hairline even thinner as the years go by. So here we go trying something new and this time I would like to share the experience with you.

Day One of the WEN Challenge is about to begin:

If you have seen the commercial it tells you over and over how to use the product so I won't bore you too much details ( if you are curious about the product check out their site and they even have videos )

The instructions are simple.. wet hair, use 6-8 pumps and massage into hair like you are shampooing ( minus the suds) then leave on for as long as you can while you finish your shower then you rinse with cool water. Repeat if necessary. Once done put 1 pump on soaking wet hair as a leave in.

Personally I found the process very simply. Maybe it was because the product SIX THIRTEEN is thicker and creamier that the other conditioning creams which I think is actually a good thing.
I used a total of 4 pumps to completely cover my hair. ( I have hair that is approx 3-4 inches below my shoulders but it is baby fine.. for thicker hair you will have to use more ) then I left it on for about 5 minutes then rinse with cool water. Immediately I noticed how soft my hair was. I used about half a pump on the length of my hair as a leave-in then I toweled dry.

I woke up this morning and after drying overnight and my hair was uber soft and not the rats nest I am used to waking up to. So far I am happy with the results. Now on to the styling test.
I used a hair dryer with a round brush to style it. I don't have much patience so I mostly did the front and some of the back. I found my hair shinny, soft and easy to brush through. Here are some after pics:

As you can tell the front is smooth while the back was frizzy ( made worst by the brush and heat )

For only using the dryer for 5-6 minutes it was not all that bad. I ended up taking a flat iron to it and my hair was silky smooth.

Final Verdict. Too early to tell really.  I am going to color my hair in the next week and keep using these products for another 2 weeks before having an opinion.

If you have tried WEN I would love to hear about your experience.

Until next time

K.

October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month !

In honor of breast cancer awareness month, I want to talk about a very special deodorant that is a great natural alternative to what we are using today.

"Crystal® is the world's leading all-natural mineral salt deodorant for a reason. It works to prevent odor while other products attempt to mask it or plug pores with aluminum chlorohydrate or aluminum zirconium. Crystal is safe, healthy and totally effective"

I started using this product shortly after I read an article linking ingredients in anti perspirant with breast cancer. Now I don't want to get into a debate about how much truth there is behind this theory but knowing that there is an alternative that is natural and effective is enough for me to give it a try.

At first I purchased the actual stone. The way you apply it is by running it under water and rubbing it against the skin. Although effective I just couldn't wrap my head around the sensation of the stone. It just didn't feel like there was anything going on.. Even though it was .. I know its strange but we are creatures of custom and sometimes we need something that is familiar so that's where the roll on comes in.

The roll on is the same exact product as the stone but its already diluted for you and put into a presentation that is easy to use and familiar to most of us already.

In regards its effectiveness , I am really impressed by the results. The product itself is completely odor free and It keeps you dry and odor free all day ! It's just as effective as my dove without the stickyness or white marks left on my clothes.

You can find this product at any drug store and recently Walmart started carrying it too. The average cost is about 3-4 bucks and 1 bottle will last you about 3 months. During my last trip to Walmart I saw they have a new line with some fragrance. Personally I like that it has no fragrance just don't be fooled into using more than normal because it feels like water.. The stuff really works and you only need a swipe or two to get the best results. In my opinion these will be the best couple of bucks you will spend on yourself.

If you are using or have tried this product I would love to hear your thoughts

Until next time

Karen

" FAVORITE THINGS " Part 1

Hello everyone !

It's been a long long time since my last post. 8 months went by in a blink of an eye ! Where have I been.. WORKING WORKING WORKING. That is the story of my life. BUT that doesn't mean I haven't been testing a great variety of products and as you know, I don't recommend anything unless I believe it 100%.

Last night I was watching season 25 on Oprah's new channel and it happened to be on episode of this years " OPRAH'S FAVORITE THINGS" So I think it's a good idea to being my comeback with a list of my own.

Because I love everyone product so much I have decided to do a post for each. Come back each week for a new one !

Now let's jump in and start with the most important tool that you will ever use on your face and by far the one thing EVERY woman should have....

THE CLAROSONIC PLUS - AKA: THE MIRACLE WORKER

This is the kit I purchased from QVC . It included the Clarosonic and products from Philosophy.



The clarosonic is the ultimate face cleansing tool. For me this has become the foundation of my skin care routine. The concept behind it is very simple. Start with clean skin and everything you put on after will work better.
I have been using the Clarosonic for 6 months every night with the Philosophy cleanser that came with my kit. Let me just say real quick that this will work with ANY cleanser is your favorite, I just so happen to have an 8oz bottle of the PURITY cleanser so that is what I have been using. The Purity cleanser is a great cleanser but too expensive for my taste. There are plenty of other cleansers out there that cost less and are just as good. So moving on to the star of the show.. The Clarosonic.

In the 6 months I have been using this heaven sent tool, my skin has changed in way I have never imagined. I believe its a combination of the deep cleansing and that now my products are working as they should. The Claronic uses sonic waves to deeply cleanse your skin. On the skin it feels like a massage and although it's not an "exfoliator" per say, team this up with your favorite face scrub and it gives you spa quality results . Speaking of SPA's that is where I actually meet the Clarosonic, at the famous FOUR SEASON SPA In Miami. I got a fantastic facial and they used the Claronic PLUS on me and when I was done I was determined to get one of my own. The Clarosonic PLUS is a professional quality tool that has a built in timer and different speeds ( you can get it on QVC.com ). The Claronic Plus comes automatically programmed for a 60 second routine ( 40 on forehead, t-zone chin and 10 seconds on each cheek ) at speed 1. I have sensitive skin so I have not changed the speed but you can change it to your hearts desire. This is what makes the Claronic PLUS so great.

In 6 months I have seen: ( in combination with a good moisturizer )
A dramatic reduction in fine lines ( especially a pretty deep one I had on my forehead.. it's almost GONE )
My skin in supple and softer than ever
and most important... I no longer need the heavy creams I had become dependent on using. I am now good with
a light moisturizer ( I am using the HOPE IN A JAR by Philosophy which also came in the kit )
I no longer need the RETINOL nor the heavy night creams I had previously been using. In short, because I no longer need it. My skin is better than ever.
No more dry patches,No more big pores, No more flaky or oily skin. My skin is balanced and blemish free.

For all your makeup lovers I have good news for you ! As you know when you start with clean, smooth skin your makeup will go on smoother and give you a great finish. But one thing that I learned.. that thanks to my Clarosonic I need LESS makeup ! I can now get my foundation done with about 1/2 as much product as before.
My use of concealer has reduced to pretty much only those "times of the month" when I have something to hide. My current bottle of foundation has lasted me about 6 months !! Unbelievable !

So when it's all said and done you will actually SAVE money buying this machine. Now I have seen some imitations out there such as Olay one. DON'T WASTE YOUR MONEY. Nothing compares to the real thing.
Only the Clarosonic has the sonic techonology that is key to what makes this work.
The Claronic Plus will cost about usd 200.00 dollars. ( don't fall of your chair just yet )
There is a smaller version called the Clarosonic MIA that is half as much. But I suggest if you can make this one time Splurge and buy the PLUS, it's worth every cent.As an added bonus the PLUS comes with a Body Brush that is great for all self tanners and also for those who enjoy a body good body exfoliation from time to time. I personally like to use it on by chest, arms and legs at least once a week ( if you use it on your bikini area it will help prevent razor bumps)

If you are a professional makeup artist, you have to have this in your kit, no exeptions ! This will give you the perfect canvas to make that ultimate face.

I hope this have been a good introduction to the Clarosonic and I hope you give it a try.

Up next time my new favorite skin care product to use in combination with CLAROSONIC -
The Kiehls Midnight Recovery Concentrate- Throw out all those creams, retinols, AHA ... this is the last skin care product you will ever need !

Until next time

Karen G.

Taking it old school !! The cure for your damaged dry hair..

Hello Everyone !!

Just when I thought I had the upper hand on this cold weather.. Winter played the wild card on me.. he played the HAIR Card !! ( enter here dramatic horror music ) Last week I went to get my hair trimmed and the stylist could not believe how dry my hair was, and to be honest I was surprised myself. I mean.. I thought I was taking care of my hair, weekly treatments, good shampoo/conditioner.. good hair creams.. what more was a girl to do ?? Well I over estimated the power of my hair cream and thought it would be enough to battle this cold weather, unfortunately it failed miserably . Well shortly after my hair cut I dashed to Sally for some serious hair treatments and while I was looking for a good leave in conditioner.. I ran into this:

Yes ladies !! They still make the original Infusium 23 leave in conditioner !!! OMG ! I have never been more excited to see a bottle of product before in my life ! For all those who don't know this product.. Infusium 23 is a leave in treatment that you spray into your hair. This product was a cult favorite back in the 90's and I think the reason why our hair didn't fall out after using so much hairspray and LA looks Gel.

Here is the product description:

"Infusium 23 Original Formula Pro-Vitamin Leave-In Conditioner corrects, restores, restructurizes and infuses hair with 23 essential pro-vitamin and treatment ingredients"

I have been using this leave in for the last 4-5 days and I can't believe how wonderful my hair feels. It's soft, hydrated and it does not weight down my very thin hair which is hard to find in a leave in conditioner.

Back in the 90's this product used to come in a bottle with a spray not anymore so what I did was some into a small sprayer bottle for easier use. I spray a bit into my hair after my shower and it also works great as a touch up spray when you want to refresh your hair in between washes.

Last night my husband even asked me what I was doing to my hair because it looks great.. Now if that's not confirmation that this product works, I don't know what is.

You can find this liquid hair potion at Sally's Beauty Supply for about 5-6 bucks. In my opinion this is definitely a must have product on everyone's beauty arsenal.

Check it out and let me know what you guys think !

Until next time - K

How to help you skin beat the winter blues...

Hello There !! I love winter ! I love getting getting all bundled up with my favorite scarf and enjoy the smell of the crisp night air. What I don't love is this itchy dry skin !! So here are some of my favorite items to keep my skin from suffering from winter blues...

Hands and Body - Eucerin Moisturizing Cream and Lotion

This cream is an oldie but goodie. What I love about this cream is that is does a great job in not only moisturizing but also protect it against the elements. This non-irritating , fragrance free cream and lotions are clinically proven to be effective on extra dry and sensitive skin. For those whose skin is not as dry as the sahara, check out their Intensive Repair Lotion which is great for all over the body.

Face - Olay regenerist micro sculpting night cream

Dear Olay, Thank you for finally putting out something that is worth spending money on !

This night time cream is an Allure Magazine Readers Choice award winning cream. Its super hydrating and packed with amino acids to help the with the regeneration of our skin.

Added bonus ** If you are a Costco shopper you can find a 2 pack for under $ 50.00. Check it out !

and lots but not least.. LIPS- Korres Lip Butters

Now I am about to talk some craziness.. I am about to tell you to go RUN to your nearest Sephora and pay $ 1o.00 for this gold in a jar. YES I said pay 10 bucks for a lip balm ! You must be thinking.. " that's it.. she lost her mind" Well I might have.. or I might have just found the most amazing lip product of all time !! ( I say the second option sounds best ) . Korres lip butters are 100 % natural lip smoothing goodness. This stuff is so hydrating, so absolutely smoothing that you will throw away that Carmex and never look back. This stuff is so great that me and my husband fight for it ( at $ 10.00 bucks a jar you know I am territorial with mine ) A great and added bonus is that they come in 7 amazing shades ranging from a beautiful wild rose to clear. These can be paired up with you favorite lipstick or worn alone. Ohhh and the smell ... THE SMELL !! AMAZING !! My favorite is Jasmine ( Sheer Neutral Pink ) with it's cotton candy like scent.. really it's worth every dime. Check it out here at Sephora or Sephora.com

Korres Lip Butters

Well that's it for now.. What are your favorite winter time beauty products ? Leave a comment below !

Until Next Time- K

The Ever Famous.. URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE

There is not much more that I can say about this wonderful palette that thousands of other bloggers or gurus have not already said. This palette is AMAZING period.

The reason for my post is that believe it or not ... there are people out there who still do not know about it. Just this weekend at a girlfriends house, she saw the palette and loved it. So I wanted to write this post for all my gals out there who still have not meet the ever famous.. URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE.

This will be the best $ 44.00 you will spend in your life. Now in addition to getting 12 of the creamiest most pigmented eyeshadows around, you will get their double sided 24/7 eyeliner in brown and black. ALSO you get a mini urban decay primer potion which is a great way to get to know the wonders of using an eye primer.

This has been my go to palette for the past month and it still looks as good as when I got it. We are talking some serious pigment my friends.. a little goes a long way ! and they all blend so beautifully together making it easy for even beginners to dive right in and start playing !

This palette will be your go to neutral palette. It is perfect for taking it from day into night with just a few strokes of the brush.

Trust me... you will love it !

Until next time - K

EVE PEARL SALE ALERT !! SALE ALERT !!

EVE PEARL BLACK FRIDAY SALE !!

With all the makeup lines around I bet it's confusing what to colors to choose, what primer to use etc etc etc.. Well Eve Pearl has made it easy for us, whether you are fair, light, medium, tan, dark or deep.. there is a foundation, magic salmon concealer ( it's called magic for good reason ), powder just for you. Each foundation shade comes with a lighter and darker shade so you can customize your foundation anytime of the year. Let's not forget her creamy lipsticks and eye shadows.

Did I mention that her products are amazing ! They are so easy to apply and get that airbrush finish ( without the airbrush ) we are all looking for.

Check out her youtube video for details on the most amazing sale !!

If you could only try one thing.. check out her Salmon Concealer for under eyes.. the most amazing, creamy concealer around. In my opinion much better than my old favorite Bobbi Brown ( and you all know how good that one is ) It's worth ever cent and with this sale you can by one for you and one for your mom ( or is that just me who buy my mom makeup lol )

Happy Thanksgiving everyone !! Happy Shopping

Eve Pearl Black Friday Sale

Until next time- K

New Website !!

I am happy to announce my website is up and running..

www.makeupbykareng.com

Follow the link to check it out !!

MAKEUP BY KAREN G.


Until Next Time- K

Makeup by Karen G.

On August 28th, 2010 I married my best friend... ( Well call him Mr. G.)
We got married on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Southern California surrounded by family and friends. It was just amazing.

I will share with you that in addition to getting married that day.. I was also my own makeup artist.Hair was done by Stephanie Pino.

Now I can tell you from personal experience that doing my own makeup was my best and worst idea. It was great because I was able to achieve the look I wanted BUT it was also more stressful that what I thought it would be. Finding a quiet corner to do my makeup in the midst of the madness was almost impossible to find. Now I understand why everyone says to have someone do your makeup.. not only because of the final outcome but because it's one less thing you have to worry about on this day.

On this day your only role should be that of BRIDE nothing else. Trust me with that alone you will have your hands full.

I am excited to be able to apply everything I have learned from my own wedding to my clients. It's a whole new perspective now.. one that I will carry with me for a lifetime.

Until next time- K

Oily Skin ? Want to try something new.. Check this out !

Hello Ladies !

I just stumbled upon a post asking advice to clean oily skin.
I made the following comment and I thought I would share with all of you. I suggested a method of cleansing called the OIL CLEANSING METHOD. The concept behind it is using oils to cleanse your skin. Now you might be saying " what ! Put oil on my skin are you nuts ! " Well let me tell you , Oil attracts Oil so instead of making you oily it will actually help you to control your oily skin by not stripping your face and causing it to over produce sebum. I really hope you try this, I have been using this method for the past year and I have never been happier with my skin.

Here is the comment :

If you want to try something different that is great for oily skin and not expensive I have something for you. It's called the OIL CLEANSING METHOD. It's a combination of grapeseed oil and castor oil ( start with a 50/50 blend ) this will not only help with your oily skin but leave your skin supple and black head free. Let me explain. Oil attracts Oil so while the oil attracts excess oil it will not strip your face so you don't have to worry about over production of sebum
( which is what most cleansers actually do ) First make your blend it a small bottle so you always have it on hand, then use about a quarter size and rub all over your face in circular motions. if you wear makeup this will melt it all off. Then get a washcloth and run it under warm water ( the warmer the better ) then gently wipe off your face. That's it! You will not be oily once bit.. it's my secret weapon it has yet to fail me.. Try it and let me know what you think !!
( you can get castor oil and grapeseed oil at your super market )

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ps: this will also work fantastic for people with dry skin. The only difference is to use less castor oil. Try 80% grapeseed and 20% castor oil. Or you can even use 100% grapeseed oil .. it works just as well.

Let me know if you have any questions !

Until next time - K

What is Co-Washing.. Learn about it here.

A few days ago I put up a post about Hair Cleansing Creams and introducing you to this method of cleansing your hair.

Read more about it here:
http://www.luuux.com/health-beauty/what-are-hair-cleansing-conditioners-...

Now there was a great question put on the post asking if these hair creams were available at the drugstore . Unfortunately at this time most ( if not all ) cleansing creams are available either online or at Sally Beauty Supply. So if you are unable to get either then I have an alternative for you. That is to co-wash with conditioners you can find at your drugstore.

Me personally did not have much success with the conditioners you purchase at the store. This does not mean it does not work just that my super fine hair likes the one at Sally's instead.

The conditioners recommended for co-washing will never run more than 2-3 dollars per bottle so you really have nothing to lose but everything to gain checking out this new method of cleansing.

So Here is a video and a blog for you to check out and learn more about co-washing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jgBiwBmtpQ

http://www.glamourandlove.com/2009/06/what-is-co-washing.html

Let me know if you have any questions

Until next time - K

The Basics: Makeup Brushes

Makeup Brushes are one of the most important things when it comes to makeup. A good brush can help you to achieve that beautiful well polished look we all strive for, while a bad brush can waste your product and leave you blotchy and not very happy.

Two of the most frequent questions I see on boards are : What are the must have makeup brushes and Where can I get brushes that are good quality but without breaking the bank ?

Well let me start with my own personal brush collection. What do I have ? I have it all, my collection is not made up from one brand or one type. I have everything from high end to low end, real hair to synthetic. I have done a lot of research and tried lots of brushes to arm what I would call a great PERSONAL brush arsenal ;-) and let me tell you.. I use them ALL !

When I first started out I bought the best ( because I didn't know any better ) and although I do not regret my purchase I now know that you do not need to spend $ 50.00 for 1 brush because there are plenty of good brushes that cost less and give you the same results.

I do believe in investing in a good set of brushes that has brushes that you will actually use. This is a good foundation which to build on.

My suggestion for this set is the SIGMA Face and Eyes Kit.
You get 6 of the most used brushes ever.

Large Powder, Duo Fibre ( Stippling Brush ), Pencil, Eye Shadow Shader, Tapered Blending and Buffer ( Kubuki ) brush.

For $54.00 ( less than 10 bucks a brush ) you can't go wrong ! For the regular gal this is set has everything you should ever need and nothing that you don't. Sigma brushes are compared to MAC brushes but for much much less and I agree. I wish Sigma would of been around 15 years ago when I bought my first eye brush at MAC for almost $ 20.00 ( for what it's worth I still have that MAC brush as it's still good as new )

http://www.sigmabeauty.com/product_p/fek001.htm

important note: To this set you will need to get a blush brush which you can get from Coastal Scents, ELF, Eco tools, MAC, or even Sigma. A good one that will work on mostly everyone is Sonia Kashuk Angled Contour Blush and Blush Brush or Eco Tools Blush Brush. If you contour you may need contour brush which can also be used for blush. I suggest the Sonia Kashuk Angled Contour Blush ( Target )

Now after you have your everyday brushes on hand you can get single brushes for your specific needs.

I mentioned before that I have a combination of Natural and Synthetic brushes, you might ask yourself why you need both. I will keep this simple and say that for emollient based products ( cream liners, cream shadows, paints etc ) you do not want to use natural brushes because you need something firmer but also because you can ruin them. That's when you use a synthetic brush. My favorite brush is my MAC 252 large shader brush and my MAC 242 Shader Brush which is smaller that the 252 for more precise placement.

I bought my 252 brush almost 15 years ago and it's still good as new. Although there are similar brushes I have not seen actual dupes so for this brush I would say buy the original.

Now for almost everything else there are brushes that have a low cost brother. This comes in handy when you want to have more that one eyeshadow brush but you don't want to spend $10.00 for each one ( for your travel set, work set etc .. yes I actually have a work brush set ) You can look to these companies for good brushes that although they will not last as long as a high end brush.. they will last you long enough to pay for itself.
Those companies are:
Coastal Scents
ELF ( eyes, lips, face )
Crown Brushes ( great brushes )
Sonia Kashuk *
Eco Tools **

* Sonia Kashuk I consider mid level brushes .. you have to get her " eyeliner bent brush " $ 4.00 the most amazing brush to use with cream eyeliner.. hands down !!
** Eco Tools can be found in most drug stores. They have great brushes you can use with mineral makeup. Highly recommended.

Now as you get more familiar with brushes and use them you will see what you need such as a smaller shader brush, a firmer blending one , a smaller blush brush.. the range is endless and the good thing about getting individual brushes is that you can customize your collection with brushes you will actually use.

A tip for someone just beginning. From the 6 must have brushes above, choose at least the powder, shader and blending brush. Then get the rest as you are able to.

I know this is a lot of info and although I have not covered it all, I think this is a good place to start.

I hope this helps !

Until next time- K

Having Problems With Your Makeup ?? It could be your BRUSH !

Did your favorite foundation all of a sudden start streaking or caking ? Did you just get that expensive Nars blush that everyone is talking about only to find out it's a DUD ? Did you finally give into trying mineral makeup and it made you look a powdery mess??

Well gals.. I am here to tell you that it might not be the makeup your are using.. IT MIGHT BE YOUR BRUSH ( insert dramatic soap opera music right now!! )

Yes Girls ! I am talking about that stick with the soft hair sticking out of it ( if it's not soft then that's a whole other post ) That makeup brush can be the reason behind some of the best and worst makeup looks out there today.

Now I am going to assume all of you already have a good set of makeup brushes. If you don't I will be making a post talking about the importance of it as well as tips on what brushes you should have etc.

This is what happened to me this week:

I have been using Bare Minerals for the past 10 years . I have always been happy and never had a problem. A few days ago I went about putting my makeup as I always do and I noticed something was wrong.. it was cakey. This has never happened to me so I had to get to the bottom of it. I had not changed anything in my makeup regime so it had to be something that I was using already. I depot my makeup into smaller container I can take to work so I transfered all of them to new container thinking that might be the problem and I did not use my primer ( my primer dupe Aveeno Baby Lotion.. you can read more about that here http://www.luuux.com/health-beauty/need-primer-try-aveeno-baby-daily-bab... )So next day I was eager to put on my makeup and the same.. nothing changed. Now I was desperate ! I tried a new cleanser and new primer the following day... Still the same ( WHAT !! ) Then as I was about to chuck my BE into the trash can.. there it was looking right at me, my brush .. dull, heavy and all kinds of DIRTY !

Yes I am ashamed !! I should know better than to go 2 weeks without washing my foundation brush .. But you see I just got married and the traveling blah blah blah ( can you hear the violins playing ).. NO EXCUSE !! I was my fault.
So I went home washed my brush and after apologizing to my poor BE foundation ( who had been cursed up and down from here to California) I put it on and was happy to see my "flawless" airbrushed look come back upon me.

Moral of this story.. WASH YOUR BRUSHES !! If all of a sudden you are having to use more blush or your makeup just isn't right.. Look at your brushes first before swearing off makeup forever ;P

This is the same for when you get new makeup that looks pigment on everyone and their grandmothers but on you it's too light.. IT COULD BE YOUR BRUSH ! It could be a low quality brush that isn't picking up product as it should.

I was going to do a post about cleaning your brushes but there are so many great ones already I am going to share with you one I like:

http://forbeautysake.xanga.com/698475192/how-long-since-you-wash-your-ma...

Now there could be a million reasons why good makeup application goes bad.. but if you have eliminated the obvious ( new makeup, new lotion, bad reaction etc etc etc ) then it could be something simple like this.

Hope this helps you all !!

Until next time - K

What are Hair Cleansing Conditioners ?? Learn about it here !

Cleansing Creams.. What are they and what do they do ?

Hair cleansing conditioner have been around for awhile, Chaz Dean ( hair stylist to the star ) made this famous with his WEN cleansing system which he originally offered to his star clients. His line is now available to the public and if you have seen the infomercial then you are familiar with the concept. For those who have not here is a recap:

Wen® Cleansing Conditioner is a revolutionary new concept in hair care. A 5-in-1 formula, this one product takes the place of your shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, detangler and leave-in conditioner. It cleanses hair thoroughly but without lathering and all the harsh ingredients that may be found in ordinary shampoos—it is designed so it won't strip your hair and scalp of their natural oils. Your hair is left with sheen, moisture, manageability and better color retention.

This is how you use it:
1. Rinse hair thoroughly and completely for 1-2 minutes.
2. Dispense the proper amount of Cleansing Conditioner into your hands and rub together
3. Work product into the hair, starting at the crown and working towards the ends, massaging vigorously. Apply a splash of water to help distribute the product evenly.
4. Really work the Cleansing Conditioner into your hair by pushing it into the hair shaft with your fingers. Remember it won't lather, but it should feel thick, rich and creamy.
5. Leave in for a minimum of 3-5 minutes then rinse thoroughly and completely. Your Cleansing Conditioner should be the first thing on and the last thing you rinse off in your shower routine. Remember the more you use and the longer you leave it on, the better the results.
6. Once you are out of the shower put a small amount on your hair as a leave-in.

I know it sounds complicated but I promise the results are amazing.

When it comes to all new products I am the biggest skeptic. But the concept sounds good so I got it. After the first use I can tell this was something different, my hair was bouncy and my scalp felt clean as if I would of washed it with shampoo. Come to find out we don't NEED shampoo to cleanse our scalp and these cleansing creams work just as well if not better. ( not to mention that any opportunity to stop using chemicals on my skin is always a good thing )
The biggest thing I needed to get over was the fact that this does not lather, but after a few uses I got used to it. Also it does take an extra step or two than my previews routine, BUT the results I got were amazing do it really didn't matter if I had to wait an extra minute before I rinsed.
My hair is in the best condition ever and I have cleansing conditioners to thank for that.

Is there a downside.. yes there is.. the WEN system is EXPENSIVE ! $ 30.00 per month !! BUT I have good news !! Sally Beauty Supply carries a product called HAIRONE that is as good or better than WEN.
Each bottle is about 10 dollars and they will last about 2 months ( for someone with shoulder length hair ) If you don't wash your hair everyday it can last you longer..

AHHHH and there's more.. If you color your hair.. this will help you retain your color like nothing else ! My color now last 6-8 weeks LONGER compared to when I was using a regular color care shampoo.

Here are the links to both the WEN and HairOne.. Hope you try it !

http://www.sallybeauty.com/cleansing-conditioner/SBS-737104,default,pd.h...

http://www.wenhaircare.com/

If you already use this product or have tried it.. let me know what you think!!

Until next time- K

Are You A Beauty Addict ??

I was online this morning found this great blog from
www.thebeautybunny.com Fantastic Site !! Check them out !

16 Signs That You’re a Beauty Addict
By Cailin on January 6, 2009

Think you’re addicted to beauty? Read the list below and find out. I sure am, since most of the items here come from personal experience. Here’s sixteen warning signs that indicate you’re headed for beauty product addiction:

1. You've used your flat iron at work. I once saw a girl in my high school do this with a crimping iron (eww) – she just plugged it into the wall socket right in the middle of my teacher’s lecture!
2. Your favorite artist is Kevyn Aucoin. Renoir can be a little heavy-handed with blush.
3. When trying to describe a particular color, you start naming off MAC shades. Bonus points if naming them makes you mad that they’re discontinued.
4. You’ve gotten extremely creative when trying to extract the last drop of a beloved product from its container. I laughed out loud when I read Blogdorf Goodman’s rave about Chanel Glossimer:
“I wish I had stockpiled this gloss. I literally emptied the tube clean. I contemplated sawing the rest of the tube open to get the remaining gloss. You know a gloss is great when you are thinking of trying to operate a power tool.”
5. Nearly all of your Christmas presents were Sephora gift cards. And you were ecstatic.
6. Your friends and family won’t buy a beauty product without consulting you first. My mother learned this one the hard way: every time saw her with a new beauty product, I’d verbally grade it and then scold her about not buying this other product that’s so much better because it blah blah blah…
7. The ladies at the MAC counter know you by name. Bonus points if you know all their names too.
8. Forget LOL – your favorite acronym is GWP. If you don’t get it, you probably don’t give enough money to Estee Lauder companies.
9. When someone you know has a pimple-related emergency, you’re the first person they turn to. I have the misfortune of holding this title in my social circles. Greeeaaat.
10. You can name at least three products that have received the Allure Best of Beauty award. Bonus points if you’ve ever ripped out the mag’s pages of winners and brought them with you to Sephora like a grocery list.
11. You’re really kind of sick of explaining the hair color level system. Let’s review: Level 10=light blonde. Level 1=black. If you can’t figure it out from there, I can’t help you.
12. The bar inside of your shower actually broke under the weight of all your products. I’m not kidding, this really happened to me.
13. When wall sockets are scarce, you’ve been known to forgo charging a dying cellphone to power your CHI. Bonus points if your cell actually ended up dying. More bonus points if you didn’t care because your hair looked FABulous.
14. You’d be embarrassed to admit the number of lip glosses in your purse right now. Go ahead, count. Don’t forget balms!
15. You annoy hairstylists by recommending products for them to use on your hair. I’ve turned off many stylists this way, although there’s the occasional true beauty addict who’s just happy to meet another junkie. I actually begged a makeup artist to use YSL Touche Eclat on me instead of the concealer she’d selected because I saw it on her counter and had been lusting after it forever, but hadn’t bought it yet. (FYI, she did and I looked amazing.)
16. You've devoted an entire website and a massive amount of your time to writing about beauty. Guilty.

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So are you a beauty addict ???

Until next time - K

Photo via DailyMail.co.uk