Valentine's Day In..

Valentine's Day is here! 

I love this holiday! Even though many may refer to it as a "greeting card holiday," and refuse to celebrate or think it's silly, I think it's a great chance to remind yourself of all the loved ones in your life! It's an opportunity to show your appreciation and love for them. <3  

Not to mention, I LOVE champagne, flowers, chocolate in heart shaped boxes and pretty much everything the commercialized holiday has to offer! 

Lucky us, this holiday falls on a Sunday this year, so no rushing from work to dinner plans. Most of you will have the day to relax and maybe even start the holiday from bed (get your head out of the gutter :)) you know, good old fashioned breakfast in bed :) 

With that, I leave you with some simple beauty tricks to feel your absolute best in the laziest way possible. 

WIN WIN!

1.) Wear something nice to bed..

Clothing is powerful. 

Ever put on an outfit and just feel better about yourself? Feel like you can take on whatever the day throws at you?? Well, this is an easy way to wake up feeling good from the get go. Maybe the night before you slip into that nighty that makes you feel special, or that cute/cozy pajama set you got for your birthday! 

Here are some cute and fun options for the occasion.. 

Victoria's Secret Afterhours Satin Pajama

$74.50

photo c/o victoriassecret.com

How could I resist this adorable lip print pajama! They are warm, cozy and adorable for the occasion. they also come in a variety of fun patterns. 

Looking for something less conservative? 

Victoria's Secret Angel Sleep Slip

$29.50-$32.50

 photo c/o victoriassecret.com

I'm kind of obsessed with this one. Still sexy but a little more modest, comfortable and cute with an assortment of patterns. 

2.) Illuminating Skin Cream/Serum

Plan on spending the day in? That doesn't mean you should neglect all beauty routine! You can still get "dolled up" for the occasion :) Start with applying an illuminating skin cream/serum. There are so many to choose from! These illuminating products are great for hydrating the skin (especially after a long night's rest), and often have light reflecting particles to help brighten darker areas -- which in result makes your skin appear extra luminous and healthy. 

One of my current faves.. 

Nars Optimal Brightening Concentrate

$74

photo c/o Nars.com

I've been using this for a few months now and I really like it. This serum makes my skin look and feel luminous, bright and youthful. 

3.) Don't forget about your pout... 

You can't forget about your lips! Even if you do plan on staying in, be sure to apply a hydrating balm so those lips are kissable. Here are my favorite low key items...

Rosebud Salve

$6

photo c/o sephora.com

A cult classic for good reason. This stuff is the best in the market! For hydrated lips with a kissable finish, this is your go to product. They now offer this product in a tube form which is much easier for travel. Coming in a variety of flavors and scents, you can find the perfect match-- try the peppermint for a morning burst of freshness and energy. 

Looking for a hint of color? 

Tarte LipSurgence Lip Tint

$24

photo c/o tartecosmetics.com

I've talked about these sticks before-- I LOVE them! They are quick to apply, super hydrating and these particular ones add a sheer wash of color. Perfect for that, "I woke up like this," pout. 

4.) Body Oil 

Give your skin a boost of moisture and a little glow first thing in the morning. Applying a body oil is a great way to achieve that. These quick absorbing oils penetrate the skin to lock in moisture all while giving a nice sheen-- which makes your skin look healthy and radiant. 

A great one to try... 

Moroccan Dry Body Oil 

$48

photo c/o Moroccanoil.com

This body oil is so luxurious, quickly absorbing into the skin it's full of antioxidants which allow your skin to become healthier and brighter. 

5.) RELAX!

If you are lucky enough to have the day inside with a loved one, just enjoy your time with them and relax! Honestly one of the best beauty tricks in the book :)

Hope everyone has a fun Valentine's Day with those they love! Be sure to share if you try any of these beauty routines, would love to hear your thoughts! 

Winter Lip Care

Hi All,

So I've been noticing more and more with clients this season their struggle to keep their lips soft and supple. Many are dealing with chapped, dry, cracked lips. 

Here are some tips to prevent this from happening or to repair the damage. 

When the temperatures drop and the wind picks up (especially in the mid west!), it can become increasingly difficult to keep your lips moisturized. 

1. Don't lick your lips! 

Your saliva contains acids that help break down food which can irritate your lips' delicate skin. Licking your lips only adds to dehydration. 

2. Drink TONS of water!

I am very guilty of not drinking enough water this time of year. To help prevent dryness, it's important to stay hydrated from the inside--out! Make yourself drink 2 glasses upon waking up and going to bed. Making this a ritual will help with dehydration.

3. Apply Lip Balm at night.

You lose so much moisture at night! Especailly since most of us sleep with our mouths open (glamorous as it is), it's extremely drying. By applying a balm before bed, it helps to slow that process. When purchasing a lip balm, beware of ingredients such as, eucalyptus, menthol or camphor-- these can cause dryness or irritation. 

My favorite: 

          

Burts Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

With all natural ingredients that work, this balm tops the charts for me!

4. Exfoliation.

I preach about exfoliation often! It makes such a huge difference! There are a couple different ways to handle it, I'm splitting it into 2 parts. 

Part One: 

I am a big fan of home remedies, mostly because of sensitivities, but also because they work! If your lips are dry, but not cracked, you can give this trick a try once every week to two weeks. 

Take a little sugar with some oil (coconut, olive, etc), and create a paste. Take your finger and gently scrub this mixture in tiny circular motions on your lips. This helps to gently scrub off any dead skin, and the oil helps to moisturize. Once you finish, take a dry rag and wipe off the sugar, apply some balm and voila! soft supple lips! 

Part Two: 

Another exfoliation trick, that's a little more gentle and easy to do, is to take your toothbrush after brushing your teeth, and gently brush your lips. This helps stimulate blood flow and gently removes dead skin. This is something you can mindlessly do every day. 

If you are suffering from severe cracked, dry lips with pain or bleeding, you can seek out a medicated treatment to get them under control, and then try some of the above tips for upkeep. 

Hope this helps you as we slowly but surely make our way into spring with lots of bright lipsticks! 

Proper Skin Prep

I always tell my clients, Good makeup starts with Good skincare.

Seen in one of my first blog posts HERE. 

It's true! 

If you neglect your skin or don't properly prep the skin, applying makeup can be extremely difficult and sometimes almost impossible!

Before I put any makeup on my client's face, I make sure their skin is prepped.

Why is this important? 

It assures a smoother makeup application, long lasting makeup, and an all over better looking application.

So while you're taking care of your body and skin, be sure to follow these tips on how to prep your skin for makeup :) 

Here's how I prepare the skin for all my clients, listing some favorite products along the way.

Step One: Moisturize

I think I've written that word 600 X's on this blog! It is so important to make sure the skin is properly hydrated before applying makeup. I actually make sure to moisturize the face until it feels dewy/moist.

  YES! 

No matter if you're oily, or dry, I make sure the client's skin feels moist to the touch.

Here are a couple moisturizers I favor: 

For oily skin clients: 

Mario Badescu Oil Free moisturizer

Retails at $20

(You can purchase it HERE)

I enjoy using this Mario Badescu Oil Free moisturizer. This line is incredibly affordable and has products for EVERY need! You can even fill out a skin survey HERE to try some new products. Plus, they give away samples with every purchase :)

For Dry Skin client's (or combination with dry patches):

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre

Retails at $16-$28

(You can purchase it HERE)

I love this Embryolisse moisturizer. It is incredibly hydrating and a little bit goes a long way.

*Additional tip:

 I usually do the eye makeup first-- so after I hydrate the skin, I'll do the eye makeup, and then re-access the skin-- so I'll gently feel the skin and if there is still some dryness (if the skin is really dry in some areas, it can absorb into the skin quickly), I'll re-apply some moisturizer where needed and then finish the face prep. *

Step Two: Lip Balm

Your lips need love too! Be sure to apply a hydrating balm onto the lips so that when you go to apply a lipstick/gloss, it is a smooth application. If you have chapped lips, be sure to take a little sugar and a warm washcloth and gently rub off the dead skin. Then follow with balm/chapstick.

One of my favorite balms is the Rosebud Salve.

Retails at around $6

*You can get it in it's original cute tin, or they now make tubes!*

(You can purchase it HERE)

This has been around forever and is a favorite amongst artists and makeup mavens :) Not to mention, it is multifunctional! It can be used for your dry feet and elbows :)

Step Three: Eye Primer

I will almost always use an eye primer. Its purpose is to even out the tone on your lid, create a solid base for the eye shadow for even color, and to prevent product from creasing.

It is GREAT.

A little goes a long way, so take a tiny dab and apply a thin layer evenly on your lid with your finger, a brush or a sponge.

Here are a couple favorites that work remarkably well!

Urban Decay Shadow Primer Potion

Retails at $20

*also comes in a variety of shades! I love the understated shimmer I get with SIN!*

(You can purchase it HERE)

Too Faced Shadow Insurance

Retails at $18

(You can purchase it HERE)

Step Four: Primer

I apply a primer after I've done the first 3 steps and have done the eye makeup. If the face is no longer dewy and moist, after the eye makeup is finished, I'll apply some more moisturizer where needed and then apply the primer.

A primer is used to create an even base for makeup. It is generally silicone based, which helps makeup adhere and prevent it from moving around too much. It also helps the products to wear all day long! I like using primers (especially for a full face makeup application) because it kind of creates a barrier between your skin and the makeup.

You can apply this with your fingers, a sponge, or a brush.

Some primers I love: 

Smashbox photo Finish primer.

Retails from $17-$49

(You can purchase it HERE)

This is a great universal primer for any skin type. Smashbox has a collection of different types for different purposes-- all of which are great! For example, they have some for color correction (redness, blue undertones), hydrating, and even one with an SPF!

Laura gellar makeup spackle:

Retails at $27

(You can purchase it HERE)

I feel like this primer is very hydrating- It works on all skin types, but if someone is extremely dry-or if I'm doing makeup on more mature skin, I'll use this.

Extra Step: If you want, I also highly suggest using a light eye cream. There is little/no oil production underneath your eyes, so applying a product that is gentle, moisturizing and firming around the eyes, is great!

If you experience excessive dryness around the eyes, I highly suggest this step! It will make any makeup around your eyes (foundation/concealer) look better and prevent it from sinking into fine lines.

Here are two good ones:

Burt's Bee's is a STEAL!

Retailing at $18

(You can purchase it HERE)

Dermacyte is a major SPLURGE!

Retailing at $95!

(You can purchase it HERE)

So remember! Before you apply a full face of makeup on a dry face-- think back to this post and AT LEAST apply a good moisturizer :)

Check out my TV appearance with WCIU's "You & Me This Morning"-- talking about the golden globes, and some makeup tips every woman should know-- INCLUDING skin prep! xo

I Love My Job: Jen Brown, Make-Up Artist

XOXO JEN