Glamorized Skin

Great Looking Skin Even During Summer Heat

2011-07-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

Summer has finally started here in Southern California, which means the days are super hot and we mostly spend our time inside with the AC turned on. If not at the office/school, we spend time outside, baking in the heat and enjoying the nice weather. The bad thing about these situations is that extreme temperature changes lead to dry skin, no matter what skin type you are. All this causes flakyness for those with dry skin and more oil for those with oily skin (oily skin compensates for the dryness by producing more oil). Therefore, a gentle but thorough cleansing and exfoliating is a MUST and you should not forget to moisturize your skin to keep it hydrated. Make sure to use face moisturizers with the right ingredients - a cream/lotion for dry skin (an example is CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM) and a gel/serum for oily skin (an example is Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum).

It seems to me that during summer we want our skin to look even better, than throughout the rest of the year, because we spend so much time outside in bright light. With a help of a good and well matched foundation this can be easily achieved. In this article, I will help you figure out how to choose the right color and will recommend which foundation might better suite your skin type. First, you need to figure out if you have a pink or yellow skin tone. While standing in a good (preferably natural) light look in the mirror. Do you see mostly yellow undertone or pink? If this does not help, look on the inside of your wrist - if your veins look mostly green, then you have yellow undertone, but if they look mostly blue, then you have pink undertone.

Once you figured out your skin tone, half of the work is done and all you need to do, when looking for a proper foundation shade, is find the right intensity - fair vs. dark. The brands I will be recommending below have a good array of colors to choose from. When choosing a color, try a small amount of foundation on the back of your hand, not to see if it matches your skin color, but to see if it has a pink or yellow undertone. Once you find the right undertone for your skin, you will probably need to buy one or two shades that are similar to your skin color in order to check them out in a good light at home. Keep in mind that most drugstores and department stores will allow you to return opened makeup if you are not satisfied (ask about their makeup return policy). Many brands at the department stores would also provide you with a substantial sample to try at home for free before buying. This will give you the opportunity to try out several shades in the daylight in front of the good size mirror at home.

When you are home and ready to try your new foundation(s), use a sponge (or your fingers) to apply a small amount of the product to your jaw bone area and your cheek. What you are looking for is whether the color blends well with your natural skin tone. If your face is lighter (or darker) than your neck, do not try to match the shade of your neck to the shade of your face completely because it will only make your foundation look like a mask. Try to find a color somewhere in between the two shades, but closer to the one of your face. Thus, even after a sunburn you would look flawless as always.

Foundation recommendations for oily/combination skin:

Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15, L'Oreal Paris True Match Super Blendable Makeup SPF 17, MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 (personal favorite)

Foundation recommendations for dry skin: Stilla Illuminating Liquid Foundation, Maybelline Dream Liquid Mousse Airbrush Finish, Estee Lauder Resilient Lift Extreme Radiant Lifting Makeup SPF 15.

Foundations recommended above are not guaranteed to work for your skin type and life style, but it is a good start in finding that perfect one. If you have any questions please post them here and I will be glad to answer them.

Summer Vacation Here We Come! Or, a Guide to Efficient Packing of Your Cosmetics

2011-06-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

It's summer time! Time to relax, enjoy the weather, and go out of town for a worry free vacation. We women, usually, have a hard time figuring out what we are going to take with us. This applies to everything - dresses, shoes, hats, bathing suites, skin care, make up and much more. The Glamorized Skin Team will help you with this dilemma. In this article we will guide you through packing your toiletries and make up essentials for your next glamorous trip.

Let us start with skin care products. Based on your skin type (oily/combination or dry/sensitive) you should take the minimum amount of necessities with you. You will need a gentle cleanser, exfoliant, disinfectant (only if have acne prone skin), and a good moisturizer/serum with SPF for morning and without SPF for night. A good amount of sunscreen (SPF 45+) to keep your whole body protected from the sun throughout the vacation, is a good addition to the list. Additionally, you will need to pack a small amount of your favorite shampoo, conditioner and a full body moisturizer to treat your skin after a full day at the beach. We would not recommend taking body soap, shower gel or a large amount of moisturizer because most hotels provide these things for you in sufficient amounts. Finally, you should check with your airline/airport policies regarding the size and the amount of containers you are allowed take in your carry-on if you are taking your essentials on board. We like to keep small containers from samples and gifts, which are under 3 oz., and re-use them each time we travel. To sum up below is a list of skin care necessities we recommend to take with you:

- Face Cleanser

- Exfoliant and Disinfectant (optional)

- Moisturizer AM (w/SPF) & PM (w/o SPF)

- Body Sunscreen (SPF 50+)

- Small bottle of body moisturizer

- Small bottle of shampoo and conditioner

Now lets discuss your make up necessities. You should first read our article about what skin tone/shade you have and which color scheme would suit you best (Color Wheel Your Face). Once you figure out your shading, you should concentrate on colors that will make you look fresh and well rested. If your vacation will not involve "black tie" events you should probably forgo taking with you heavy foundation, which will only make your your skin look artificial in the sun. All you will need is a tinted moisturizer with a well formulated sunscreen (over 30 SPF preferred). For our cool tone blondes a peachy shade blush and golden eyeshadow will make you look fresh and ready for various activities. A touch of a dark eyeliner and one to two coats of your favorite mascara will transform your day look for an evening outing. For brunettes, a pinkish-purple blush and light brown/purple eyeshadow with a little shimmer will make you look ready for a day at the beach. A touch of black eyeliner, a deeper brown eyeshadow in the crease, and black mascara will create a more elegant, evening look. Do not forget a good lip gloss/balm with sun protection for the day and a sheer lipstick for an evening. To sum up, here is a list of make up necessities you should take with you:

- Tinted Moisturizer (SPF 20+)

- Sheer Foundation (optional for evening use)

- Compact Powder (or loose if preferred)

- Light Eyeshadow

- Dark Eyeshadow

- Eyeliner (liquid or pencil)

- Mascara

- Lip gloss/balm (w/SPF)

- Lip gloss/sheer lipstick (w/o SPF for evening)

Additional Tips:

- Try not to take all your eyeshadow colors and lipstick colors with you. Choose the ones you look best in because you won't have time to use them all during your vacation anyway.

- If you have sensitive skin and cannot use moisturizer or body cleanser with fragrance, bring your own; the ones provided in the hotel will have fragrance.

- Do not forget a nail file (non-metal) in case you break or chip a nail. Also bring a clear nail polish to maintain your manicure.

- Try to pack you clothes in outfits (including shoes, handbags, and hats) so that you would not have to think about it while away.

- When flying, do not apply much make up before you board. However, 30-40 minutes before you land, wash your face and apply your exfoliant and moisturizer/sunscreen as usual. Then, apply your make up to look fresh when you arrive at your destination.

- Finally, do not forget to drink plenty of water to keep your body hydrated and ready for all your planned (and unplanned!) activities. Skip the high sodium drinks or alcohol on the plane to help you stay hydrated and fresh.

I hope these tips will help you pack your luggage more efficiently and make your make up routine a breeze. I also wish you all great vacations this summer, no matter how long or short they are. If you can think of additional tips or tricks for vacation packing, please share with your fellow readers.

Product Review: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner

2011-05-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

I found another great product that may save time and effort and prevent frustration for many of us when it comes to lining our eyes with a liner. Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner is exactly what the name describes - a waterproof eyeliner that will stay on all day no matter what you do (you can even go swimming with it and it won't budge!).

I know many people who have trouble with liquid eyeliner. Besides the fact that it is difficult to apply in a neat way (unless you have tons of practice), very often, it smudges, runs and leaves unwanted traces on the upper and lower eye lids. This happens especially if your upper eyelid touches your lower eyelid (Asian women have this eye shape). Additionally, if your eyelids sweat easily or get greasy because your skin is oily, you would also have trouble with a regular liquid eyeliner or even a pencil because they will all leave unwanted marks in around your eyes. These are the reasons I am always on a look out for a good eyeliner (liquid or pencil) to recommend to our readers.

This eyeliner is a little different from other liquid eyeliners: its applicator looks very much like a pen or a thin marker. All you need to do before application is shake it. The applicator allows you to apply a thin line and you line your lash line only once. If you would like a thicker line, you can always apply an additional layer next to the first one. Make sure you make all the fixes and smudges before it sets because once it dries only an oil based make up remover, such is Clinique Take The Day Off Make up Remover, will be able to remove it.

Let us look at some other waterproof eyeliners that also perform well, but are not as good as Stila eyeliener. A good example is MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil or MAC Fluidline Liquid Eyeliner. The trouble with MAC pencil is that it is not completely waterproof and will smear with time if you have oily skin or a droopy lid. The Fluidline is similar to Stila eyeliner in terms of being very waterproof and will withstand swimming and all day wear. However, it is sold in a small jar and you will have to find a good eyeliner brush, such as Sonia Kashuk Eyeliner Brush, to use it. With Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner, all you have to do is open the pen and line your eyes without any fuss. That is why it is highly recommended by Glamorized Skin team.

Lastly, I want to mention that the ingredient list for this eyeliner includes methylparaben and propylparaben, which are preservatives to keep this product fresh longer. These preservatives may be irritable for people with sensitive skin. If you know you have sensitivity to parabens and products containing them, this eyeliner should be tried with caution.

Product Review: Clinique Gift Spring 2011 - Not a bad choice for a sensitive skin!

2011-05-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

by Inna Grinblat of GlamorizedSkin

In today's post, I will review products from Clinique Gift Offer with Purchase for Spring 2011.

This brand caught my attention because of the personal issue I have stumbled upon recently and I want to share my experience with our readers. Ever since puberty, I had breakouts and acne. I have oily/combination skin type and it took me a while to figure out the proper way to take care of my skin so that it looks and feels healthy. Once I figured out the proper routine for my skin type, my skin would react only if I put too much benzoyl peroxide (disinfectant) or salicylic acid (exfoliant) on it. Even then, it would get red or peel a little, but overall I could use any product I wanted and my skin would not react to it. I have never had, what many of my girl friends and acquaintances had and have - skin sensitivity. However, several months ago all of this changed. The skin on my face, as well as, on my whole body suddenly did not like anything it came in contact with. I had to change my laundry detergent, hand soaps, hand lotions, body lotions, shampoos, body wash, and etc. Basically, I had to change the way I was thinking when I would purchase any of those products - no fragrance, no preservatives or irritants. The worst part was that my favorite make up products would irritate the skin on my face with the most effect on the skin around my eyes. I am a make up artist and I love to play with make up and come up with different looks. I have many eyeshadows, eye liners, powders, blushes, and many other things and it took me some time to figure out which products I am sensitive to. I also had to find new products for sensitive skin. From my extensive research on make up products and brands that are designed for sensitive skin, two stood out the most: Clinique and Almay. I already wrote a review of Almay eyeshadow, and we will be reviewing more products of this brand in the near future. Let's focus on Clinique now.

This spring, Clinique was offering a gift with a purchase, which included a Medium Pink Floral Print Fabric Cosmetic Bag, a Small Floral Print Fabric Cosmetic Bag, Lash doubling Mascara in Black, Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion, Take the Day Off Eye Makeup Remover, Compact Shadow Duo and Soft-Pressed Blush, Different Lipstick & Long Last Glosswear Duo. Two choices of color combinations were available: mauve and pink. I will refer to them as plum and coral throughout the article because I believe they describe the colors more accurately. I believe that all of these products are of a very good quality and are safe to use by all of us with sensitive skin. However, the blush brush that comes with the set it horrible and should be thrown out. It does not provide an even application and the bristles are very coarse and unpleasant to the skin. Let's look at each product individually:

Lash Doubling Mascara
This is a good mascara that is recommended for every day use because, although, it does increase the thickness and length of your lashes, it does not give you tremendous drama such as Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Turbo Boost Mascara 7X. It goes on smooth and does not clump or smear.

Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
This lotion has been a portion of the Clinique's 3 Step System for a very long time. Although it does have moisturizing ingredients, it lacks antioxidants or any other "state-of-the-art" ingredients such as some of other Clinique moisturizers have (The Cosmetics Cop website and books provide more information on state-of-the-art products and ingredients). You may use this lotion on your hands and feet as it has mineral and sesame oils, which will moisturize your dry to very dry skin. However, I would not recommend using it on your face, because there are other, more beneficial and less expensive products out there.

Take the Day Off Eye Make Makeup Remover
This is a good, silicone and water, make up remover that removes not only regular make up but also stubborn, waterproof mascara and liners as well as long lasting lipsticks. There are many makeup removers out there, but the best one I came in contact with so far is Lancome Bi-Facil, Double-Action Eye Makeup Remover and I am happy to say that Clinique is on the same level of quality with Lancome when in comes to make up removers.

Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo
There were two choices of the Gift that you could choose - plum colors or coral colors. The plum colors gift had Twilight Mauve/Brandied Plum duo and the coral colors gift had Rosewine duo. Each color combination is on the opposite sides of the color spectrum. The plum eyeshadows have very cool undertone and the coral eyeshadows have very warm, subtle undertone. However, all the colors should look fairly well on any skin tone.

Soft Pressed Powder Blush
The plum colors gift had a reddish-pink blush, Smoldering Plum, that does not match the cool shade of the eyeshadows in the set because it has a very warm undertone. However, it is a very nice color and would work with most skin tones. Be aware that it has a lot of pigment and the color will look intense if it is not applied carefully. As I always recommend, start with small amount and layer to increase intensity. The color color gift had a light peachy blush, Pink Blush. This is a light color that will look very natural on a fair skin. However, if you have olive skin (or darker) or you are very tanned, most likely it will not show up on your skin.

Lipstick

Each gift set had very nice lipstick colors. However, both are a little extreme in terms of colors. For example, the coral gift set had Think Bronze lipstick, that is a deep shade of orange. It would look good with a very bright/fresh make up for a walk at the beach. The plum gift set had a completely different, deep plum color, Shy, which would look vulgar during the day but a good option for an elegant evening.

Long Lasting Glosswear SPF 15
In both cases, the lipgloss matches well with the lipstick in the set. Therefore, if you decide to buy both in a full product size the guess work is done for you. The coral gift set has a very sheer, peach color, Air Kiss. The plum gift set has a plum color gloss, Mystic. This lipgloss can be worn on its own and stays on longer than regular lipglosses. However, when it's combined with a lipstick it looses its long wear properties and you will find you need repeated application of both products.

Lastly, I wanted to say that although the offer has ended, we can still buy these products in full size form at any department store that sells Clinique. I fully intend to do so once I run out of anything because these products work so well on my newly sensitive skin. I hope you found this review beneficial and I welcome your questions as always.

Photographs Source: www.amazon.com; www.simonelovesmakeup.com

Have You Blushed Today? Top 7 Techniques to Use When Applying Blush.

2011-04-15T00:34:00.000-07:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

Many women leave blush out of their list of staple cosmetic products. Yet blushes and bronzers are the only products that can make your overall look come together with just a few strokes or give you the benefits of the special slimming effects. Hollywood stars, such as Jennifer Lopez, Angelina Jolie and Kim Kardashian, create their signature looks using blushes and bronzers. In the following article, I will discuss the importance of using a blush and now it can improve your appearance and self-confidence. To make things simple, I will be referring to a blush or a bronzer, when using the word blush but I will note which shade/tone I have in mind.

1. Make Your Face Look Slimmer With More Profound Bone Structure.

In order to define your features, your first step should be to figure out your face shape, as described in one of my previous articles, The Ultimate Brow - Part I. There are four general face shapes: long, round, square, oval. Which one is yours? Usually, those of us with round or square face shapes desire to create an illusion of a narrower face and here is how you can do just that. Feel your cheeks for your cheekbones and cheek hollows (right below cheekbones). Do you feel the bone underneath the skin and the angle it is at? This is the general angle your blush brush should follow. It may be more horizontal or more vertical, but you should follow it closely when defining your cheeks with a blush. Additionally, your blush "line" should be either at or right below your cheekbone (your cheek hollows), depending on the overall size of your face. Ladies with smaller, more delicate faces should apply blush right at the cheekbones and those with more area to work with may apply it right below. To narrow your face, start to "draw" with your blush as closely as you can to your ear and bring it out toward your nose/mouth. This way the color will be more intense closer to the ear and less intense as you blend it out towards the center of your face. By following this technique, you will create an illusion of a narrower face with defined cheekbones.

2. Make Your Skin Glow With a Couple of Strokes.

The main secret to a glowing skin is good skin care. We discuss skin care for different skin types here: Oily/Combination Skin Care and Dry/Sensitive Skin Care. However, not all of us have the luxury of having great skin at all times. We just do not have that healthy and beautiful glow that would appear after a long walk in the park every day. No worries, ladies! By applying blush that matches your skin tone well, you can create the glow we all desire. For warm skin tones with red, pink, or yellow undertones (learn more about different skin tones in our article, Color Wheel Your Face) choose peachy colors with a little pink in them, i.e. Smashbox Blush Rush in Chiffon. For cooler skin tones with blue undertone, choose pink shades with just a bit of purple in them, i.e. Clinique Blushing Blush Powder Blush in Smoldering Plum. When applying blush, follow the techniques I describe in this article for a natural looking effect. Additionally, apply a little blush to your temples and the bottom of your chin. This will create an impression that your skin is glowing all over.

3. Make Your Skin Appear Healthier.

Always make sure you are using correct shades for your coloring. Ladies with cool skin tone and either light or dark hair color will look best in peach and pinkish-purple tones, i.e. MAC Powder Blush in Coygirl. I believe brownish and red colors would be too warm for their undertone. Warm skin tones, however, would look washed out/sick with peachy pink blush, while very nice with red or brownish-orange tones, i.e. MAC Powder Blush in Style. Redheads should opt out for reddish-golden shades to achieve a natural look. By paying attention to different colors of your blush you will know which shades make you look washed out and will refrain from using them.

4. Erase Fatigue and Add a "TAN".

Using a blush is the best way to add a "tan" to your appearance without actually spending any time in the sun. First, decide what time of the day you will be wearing your "tan". If it is during the day when there is plenty of day light, try to use a lighter colored blush/bronzer, such as light golden brown with a little sparkle. However, if you are "tanning" yourself for an evening out, then use a deeper brownish matte color. When applying a bronzer, you should use the same technique I describe above in Step 2. Additionally, you may use a little on your cleavage and your collar bones to deepen the effect of your sunless tan. Apply it right under your collar bones and vertically right in the middle of your chest bone. As always, remember to blend well to avoid sharply visible lines of color.

5. Make Your Narrow Face Rounder.

If you have a narrow face that you would like to appear wider, there is a very simple technique you may follow. Again, feel your cheeks for your cheekbones and the apples of your cheeks to figure out which angle you will follow. However, when you apply the blush, start from the apples of your cheeks and blend it out to your ear. Basically, the apples of your cheeks (the front of your face) will have the most color with just a little on your sides. Lighter color on the sides of your face will make them appear fuller. Of course, do not forget to blend the front to make sure there are no harsh lines.

6. Emphasize Your Cheekbones.

Most of us have beautiful cheekbones and we just do not know how to emphasize them. The best way to do it is by using two different blush colors. Of course they should be in the same family of colors, with a lighter and a darker shade. For example, take a deep red and a lighter pinkish-red or a deep brown and a lighter brownish orange color. Apply the darker color to your cheek hollows trying to "draw" the bottom of your cheeks. Then, apply the light color to the apples of your cheeks. Do not forget to blend each color into another. Voilà! Now your beautiful cheeks are Glamorized.

7. Downplay a Protruding Jawline.

If you have a square jaw and would like to draw attention away from it, there is a little trick you can use. Apply your blush (any red, pink, purple or brown variety you choose) to the cheek hollows and the apples of your cheeks. Then, take a deep colored bronzer and a large angled brush (contour brush) and apply the bronzer right on your jaw bone in a sweeping motion from the ear lobe to the chin. Blend this line downward below your jawline to erase any harsh lines. This will not decrease the appearance of your jaw dramatically, but it will diminish the effect a little.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome. I am looking forward to see what you think about blush application techniques I have described. Do you believe they are easy to follow on every day basis?

Self Acceptance, Smiling and Positive Thoughts or a Guide to Cosmetics Shopping from a Professional Make-Up Artist

2011-04-08T10:06:00.000-07:00

by Olga Tsiba of Glamorized Skin

We were recently introduced to a Make-Up Artist, Tatyana Seredkina, by one of our models. After meeting Tatyana in person, we realized that we share great passion for the art of make-up. Tatyana’s resume with international education and experience is impressive. She graduated with high honors from Tiiu Luht School of Make-Up in Tallinn, Estonia. She also completed an apprenticeship with Katrin Sangla, a renowned Estonian Make-Up Artist. Katrin Sangla trained in Hollywood under the pioneer, whose efforts resulted in creation of airbrush make up, Joe Blasco. Inspired by Katrin’s experience and driven by her desire to increase her own awareness of beauty, Tatyana moved to Los Angeles, California. She studied advanced Make Up Artistry in special effects, stage, and beauty at Joe Blasco’s Professional Make-Up Artist Trainer Center. At the 2008 International Make-Up Artist Trade Show, Tatyana earned a spot among the finalists of the Beauty Fantasy Student Competition. This inspiring young woman currently resides in Laguna Hills, California, and continues to explore beauty by working with many professional photographers and models. Tatyana says that helping women find their personal best image is what inspires her the most.

Tatyana agreed to share some of her knowledge and personal experiences with Glamorized Skin readers. We love her easy-flowing, conversational style. By the way, all the photos in this post are of Tatyana's work!

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When Olga and Inna of Glamorized Skin approached me and shared their ideas about empowering women and helping them look their best on the daily basis, I thought: what a great way to share what I know about make-up and beauty outside of professional work environment. Here is my small collection of personal tips and findings. While writing this article, I imagined that I am talking to a very good friend.

SHOPPING

WHY

Shopping can be really frustrating when you find yourself in a cosmetic store just because… I find that planning my shopping before entering the store helps. I can be more focused, get what I need, feel more confident and depending on my goals, every salesperson happens to be either invaluable or invisible. By the way, just browsing the store could be a plan too. In any case, every make up shopping trip should be fun. Being in a gloomy mood or in doubt does not work for me.

HOW

Every woman knows how tricky choosing the right color of lipstick can be. Foundation is even trickier. My biggest mistake of all times is trying to find just one perfect magic shade for every occasion and season. I know I need much more than one of everything…even mascara. I have it in black, brown and even purple.

I do not have a magic formula for picking out the right color. It is always based on trials and experiments. I often go outside for daylight to check the colors I liked the most in the store. I use my hand for lipsticks and shadows, although I know it is not the same as my face. The undertone is what is important because it is the same on your entire body. If a shadow looks dull on my hand or a lipstick appears to look odd, it means this particular color just does not go with my skin tone.

I always have two or three foundations. Why more than one? I have a light color and a color that is two shades darker. I use them alone depending on the season and how tanned my skin is or the time of day. I have to admit that I have made mistakes picking out the right colors for myself. Being a make-up artist, I felt very unhappy discovering the “misses” in my purchases after bringing them home. However, over time, I realized that fear of failure is worse than failure itself. Do not be afraid to experiment. In then end you will have fun, get smarter and look fabulous!

ARE BRANDS IMPORTANT?

I do not make my decisions based on how well known the brand is. The most important factor for me is safety. I avoid products with harmful substances such as parabens, SLS, petrolatum and many others. There are plenty of websites for checking cosmetic safety. I use www.cosmeticsdatabase.com regularly. I was surprised by how a more expensive make up or cosmetic product can be more hazardous for my health than a cheaper brand that you would pick up at a local drug store.

GLAMOROUS SKIN

Many women want to have fantastic luminous gorgeous skin. During my teenage years, I could not claim that I had great skin. That is when I began to research how to improve skin condition. For example, I learned that simple, fragrance free cleansers, such as Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, work well for my face, body, and shaving needs, regardless of the time of day. Overall I keep my cosmetic routine as simple as possible and always check products for safety. I think it is better to spend time on researching the product than more money on products with unsubstantiated claims.

Being on any type of a diet is a very personal and delicate choice. Every woman’s body is different. I would encourage women to pay attention to how the body reacts to different foods, drinks, medicines and supplements. With today’s access to information on the web, you will be able to find what works for you with time. Our beauty and health is in our hands if only we pay attention. Aside from that, these personal findings help my skin feel and look better:

- Avoid dehydration: I drink plenty of water. I do not drink soda, black tea or use sugar. They take water away from the body. My next step is to get rid of coffee. I have to admit that it is a challenge!

- Help digestion: drink water 15 minutes before a meal, not after. Drinking water after your meal dilutes your stomach acid making it harder for your body to digest food. This is not very easy to get used, but makes a big difference for me.

There is a connection between what people eat and the appearance of their skin. Indigestion can lead to breakouts along the jawline, rosacea or other skin disorders. I found that not drinking water right after meals helps skin look more radiant.

- Sweets right after a meal, for me, is not the best time for their digestion for the same reason as not drinking water right after meals.

This topic has no ending, but those are my personal staples. I found them helpful in maintaining the health of my skin.

THE BEST MAKE UP PRODUCTS

…are Self Acceptance, Smiling and Positive Thoughts

Have you noticed how different your “I feel terrific” face looks from “I feel depressed” face? I realized that a smile makes me look relaxed and glowing. Switching worries to positive expectations conceals “expression lines” in seconds and heals relationships.

OTHER QUICK TIPS FROM TATYANA

If your have blemishes, it is better to use a matte bronzer vs. a bronzer with shimmer. Shimmer emphasizes skin imperfections because it attracts light. You may be surprised, but one of my favorite matte bronzers is the New York Color Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny (the price is the surprise!). Its tone is just right - not too yellow or orange.

Matte shadows look more sophisticated and elegant; shimmer brings fun to make-up. TheBalm has a palette with nine different shadows that I really like.

Different textures do not blend well together; liquid or creamy texture needs to be powdered before applying dry product.

You can find out more about Tatyana’s work on her Facebook page and website.

Sources:

Professional Make Up Artist Training Center, www.Joeblasco.com

All photographs in this article are copyrighted and cannot be used without authorization of the photographer(s).

Does YouTube Star Blair Fowler (juicystar07) Know How to Glamorize?

2011-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Blair Fowler is a YouTube sensation. With over 122 million views, Blair posts Vlogs about beauty and fashion. She was featured in Seventeen Magazine, has a web based business with her sister and, oh yeah, she is only 17 years old. Aside from admiring her entrepreneurial spirit and warm personality, we think that Blair's openness to experiments with make up is something that every woman can try. We know some of our readers may stop and wonder whether this post is teenager territory. Rest assured, Blair's make up skills and use of color are sophisticated and women of all ages have something to learn. We decided to review one of Blair's looks from a video she shared back in November 2010 from a point of view of a professional make up artist and show our readers how Blair is able to create a look that works well with her facial features and coloring. We hope that you can learn to complement your own best features by learning from this post. Below is the video in question:

In this video, Blair demonstrates that such a wild color as purple can be used in a sophisticated day or evening look.

FIRST THINGS FIRST

Let us begin with describing Blair’s facial shape, features and skin undertone. Blair is a brunette, with long-oval face shape, brown, almond shaped eyes, and warm, light to medium skin undertone. She has prominent cheekbones, which are easily emphasized with proper makeup techniques. She does a good job, applying foundation and concealer that match her coloring,conceal all blemishes and even out her skin tone. Her foundation and concealer are well matched to her warm, light to medium skin tone and are blended well all over her face without any streaks or smears.

PURPLE, PURPLE

As noted in our previous article, Eyes That Sparkle, various shades of purple color accentuate green eyes, or bring out any green pigments of the eye color even if it is mostly brown/gray/blue. Blair has naturally brown eyes, but with this purple look, green pigments show through. She uses Bobbi Brown Cream Eyeshadow Orchid as a base on her eyelids. I would recommend using an eyeshadow primer, especially if you plan to use a cream eyeshadow, so it will keep this oil-based product from creasing and “disappearing” from your skin during the day. Good primers to try are MAC Eye Primer or Sephora Eye Primer Pot. When you use a primer, cream or powder eyeshadow pigments will be more accentuated i.e. the color will be juicy and it helps the product stay on your lids longer. Depending on what you already have in your make up collection or decide to buy, following the primer, apply either a cream or dry eyeshadow in pinkish/mauve/purple color family all over the lid in manner that is flattering to your eye shape (more about this topic in a future post!) Following the application of the cream shadow, Blair uses Bobbi Brown Powder Eyeshadow Pink Pearl on top of the cream shadow. She then follows up with MAC Eyeshadow Brule, a powder eyeshadow in a neutral toned shade, to blend the other colors and to use as a highlighter under eyebrows and in the inner corner of your eye. Finally, Blair uses MAC Eyeshadow Beauty Marked as the darker color in her crease and as a liner. You can create a day look with less intense color or a night look by applying several coats of this shade.

MAC Eyeshadow Brule MAC Eyeshadow Beauty Marked

TO LINE OR NOT TO LINE?

Blair uses this same eyeshadow as a liner to line both of her upper and lower eyelash lines. As you see in the video, she uses an angled brush and sweeps the color outward. On the bottom lash line, she starts with a thick line on the outer corner of her eye and thins it out as it moves inward. Additionally, she uses a darker pencil liner to rim her lower lash line. In my opinion, by rimming your lower lash line with a dark color you create an illusion of narrower eyes but more cat like. If Blair had done the look without rimming her bottom lashes, her eyes would have appeared larger. You can see this right before she applies the pencil liner.

MASCARA - YOUR CHERRY ON TOP

Blair curls and applies mascara on her lashes. I agree that curling your lashes will allow your eyes to look bigger and more open, unless you have naturally curled eyelashes. In this case, you may skip this step.

BALANCE, BALANCE, BALANCE

Blair uses Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge Powder Pink as a blush and lip color. This color is in the same color category, pinkish purple, as the rest of Blair's make up. She applies her blush right under and at her cheekbone to accentuate the shape. She uses very little on her lips to keep the whole look balanced.

She also uses a clear gloss on her lips to make them glossier/larger. Another technique for making your lips larger is a lip liner. It will keep your lip gloss/lipstick from leaking and will define your lips better. As mentioned in our article, Natural Look for Every Day, you can either line your lips before or after you apply the lip color. If you use the lip liner, I still recommend using the same muted lip gloss/lipstick color on your lips to keep the attention mostly on the eyes.

The cream based blush is recommended for those of us with dry skin, with few to no blemishes. If it is used on oily/combination skin with acne or uneven skin, it may “disappear” from your skin quiet fast. To fix this problem and to intensify the color for an evening look, I would recommend using a powder blush of a similar color right on top of the cream. Of course, with any look you are creating, do not forget to shape your eyebrows anywhere there are bold spots with a shade that is very close to your natural color. In Blair's case, she carefully selected a warm, deep brown color that matches her dark brown hair and eyebrows.

PURPLE FOR YOU?

Based on our discussions regarding your overall coloring (hair, skin, eyes), purple color works well on brunettes. Additionally, it will work with other hair/skin tones as long as different shades are used. For example, cool skin toned blondes may wear purple shades with a little silver or gold shimmer to them. Red heads with warm skin tones may wear purple shades that have a little gray or brown undertone. And those of us who have a darker skin tone, may wear purple colors that have a darker tint to them. To learn more about your skin tone, review our article Color Wheel Your Face. As always, I recommend experimenting with different shades and seeing what works best for your undertone and life style.

Product Review: ALMAY intense i-color powder shadow and smoky-i kit

2011-03-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

ALMAY For You?

Today, I would like to bring to your attention the eye complementing eyeshadows from ALMAY. Not that long ago ALMAY has revamped their whole make up line by changing their marketing strategy, product quality and presentation. A decade or so ago this line mainly targeted women in their late 20s+. It was not considered “cool” by the younger generation. However, now ALMAY seems to appeal to most women, from teenagers to mature ladies. The TV commercials and magazine ads about ALMAY's eyeshadows that complement different eye colors made me go to my neighborhood drugstore to check them out.

The Offer:

There are two types of eyeshadow palettes they are offering: ALMAY intense i-color powder shadow and ALMAY intense i-color smoky-i kit eyeshadow. Both promise to brighten your eyes and intensify your eye color. Additionally, the smoky kit promises to give you those smokey eyes Kate Hudson is showing off in all of the pictures and TV ads for ALMAY. In my opinion, some of the company's choices for several eye colors are a bit strange. In our Eyes That Sparkle article, we note that the best way to intensify your eye color is to apply a shade that is opposite your eye color on the Color Wheel. However, ALMAY offers you a blue colored eyeshadow (smoky eye kit) for blue eyes. The picture above is a good example of what would happen when blue eyeshadow is used on blue eyes. Although the eyeshadows look very nice and creative on the model, the overall look does not intensify the eye color. Instead the eye color is overshadowed by the eyeshadow shades. Therefore, I would still recommend following our advice about which shade would complement your eye color best. If you wanted to try ALMAY'S palettes and you have blue eyes, try the colors suggested for brown eyes (warm, sparkly brown, dark violet and light tan) or hazel eyes (deep silver, warm purple and light tan).

What About Quality?

In terms of quality, these eyeshadows live up to their claims. These are powdery, smooth, and blend easily. They go on soft and stay on for quiet some time without fading or flaking (assuming you have prepped your eyelids in advance). Smoky eye kits do not have a more intense color than powder shadow palettes. Colors from both types of palettes can be worn every day to work or school. If you want to achieve a smoky, deep color look, you would have to apply several coats and an eyeliner.

Glamorized Skin Approved!

Overall, I would recommend these trios for everyone who wants to spend less time choosing different colors in the morning. Each palette contains all you need to achieve a completed look – there is a medium color for application on the lid, a darker color that is applied in the crease and a light color that is used for highlighting and blending everything nicely. If you are going for a smoky eye effect, you should apply the darker color above your lash line up to the crease, the medium color at the crease and the light color right below your brows and to blend everything.

If you want to hear more about application techniques for these eyeshadows or which colors would truly complement your eye color, ask your questions and I will be happy to help.

SPRING CLEANING FOR YOUR MAKE UP CASE? ABSOLUTELY!

2011-03-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

by Olga Tsiba of Glamorized Skin

We know that throwing away our precious make up is not easy. You paid money for it, you had it for years and it might not even smell bad. After all, there is rarely an expiration date on those containers. However, bacterial contamination is a reality even for make up products. You stick your fingers or a sponge into your foundation and expose everything to air every time you open a lipstick or a mascara. Oils in many lipsticks, foundations and other products go rancid after 2 years. Since spring cleaning will be on your mind anyway, why not take a few minutes to go through your make up bag?

The lifetime of different products after opening the container is generally as follows:

Mascara - 4 to 6 months
Liquid Eyeliner - 4 to 6 months
Liquid Foundations - 6 months
Moisturizers (tinted or not) - 6 months
Powders (loose or compact) - 2 to 3 years
Eyeshadows - 2 to 3 years
Blushes - 2 to 3 years
Lipsticks and lipglosses - 2 to 3 years
Lip and eyeliner pencils - 2 to 3 years

However, I will admit that I have eyeshadows, blushes and other beauty products that are older than their recommended lifetime. Some people argue that the storage guidelines are created by cosmetic companies to make you buy their products more often. My rule of thumb is to dispose of products that directly touch my face or products that I may touch directly with my hands within given time frame. I throw mascara out within four to six months mostly because it touches my eye lids directly with the applicator. In the end, our faces and hands are the sources of bacteria that contaminate cosmetics. A few pimples is one thing, but an eye infection is a much more serious condition. So, I choose not to take my chances with an old mascara. Besides that, it dries out quickly anyway! If I use sponges for foundation, which again touch my face directly, I throw them out or wash them after every use. For everything else, I use common sense to make a decision about tossing or keeping. If the product's color or consistency changes, I will throw it out. If it smells bad (think rancid oil smell), off to the trash it goes. If it irritates my skin or eyes, I part with it and never miss it.

Other General Tips:

1. If you forgot your make up case in your car under the sun for the entire day, it will create an environment for bacterial growth. As a rule of thumb, avoid storing make up in temperatures above 85F (29C).

2. Do not share make up with friends unless you are ready to sanitize it with rubbing alcohol right after. As nice as it is to share, you will also be sharing bacteria.

3. Be a neatfreak:
   - Always wash your hands before make up application.
   - Wipe your containers often and wash your brushes at
          least once a week.
   - Clean your make up cases.
   - If your solid concealers or lipsticks get dirty or have not
   been used in a very long time, clean them with a paper
   towel dipped into rubbing alcohol; dry eye shadows and
   powders can be cleaned with a dry paper towel.

To summarize, keep your make up products and tools clean and fresh. They will reward you with GLAMORIZED SKIN!

Interested in learning what trends await you this summer? Check out our Top 5 Summer 2011 Makeup Trends.

Sources:
Beauty Bible by Paula Begoun; Cosmeticscop.com; The great cosmetics con: Are sell by dates there to protect your health or make you buy more? by Claire Coleman

Are You Ready? Top 5 Summer 2011 Make Up Trends

2011-03-10T20:24:00.000-08:00

SPRING is finally here! The sun is out, the days are longer, and we are wearing lighter clothing. Your make up should also be fresher, lighter and brighter. The 2011 Spring/Summer Fashion Week introduced many new make up trends for the upcoming warm seasons. Below are the top five trends from many designer collections that are anticipated to show up on faces near you.

NUDE LOOK - LET THE INNER LIGHT OUT

The nude shades are very popular this season when it comes to clothes, shoes and handbags. The nude make up look is no exception. Do not think that nude means no make up. You should use a well-matched concealer, foundation, and powder to even out your skin tone and keep those blemishes hidden away. For more information on how to choose the correct foundation tone read Color Wheel Your Face. For eyeshadow, try muted and lighter tones of gold, pink, violet, light brown, and peach colors. Matte shades will look more natural and subdued, while shimmer will give you a little sparkle. For blush, you can try just a hint of blush in pink or orange shades, complementing it with a little bronzer to tone down the colors. Finally, for your lips, stick with sheer lipglosses to keep the look as natural as possible.

BRIGHT EYESHADOW FOR THE BRAVE SOULS

The retro look is anticipated to be very popular this summer. There are many, many different eyeshadow colors you can try, among which are orange, red, aqua, and purple. Read more about which eyeshadow colors would better complement your eye color here. A dark eyeliner and several coats of mascara complement bright eyeshadows well. Try to keep the rest of your make up at the bare minimum, when you use bright, deep colors on your eyes. If your have a strong eye look and you add a strong lip look with bright cheeks, you risk looking like a clown or simply vulgar. For a balanced, GLAMORIZED face, we recommend to either concentrate on your eyes or lips and cheeks.

BOLD LIPS - FROM CLASSIC RED TO BUBBLE GUM

The main rule to keep in mind when creating bold, well defined lips is to keep the rest of your make up at its minimum. Bold, deep colored lips create a very powerful statement and the main goal for the rest of your make up is to define your features nicely without competing with the lip color. To figure out the best shade of red or other color for your lips, read Color Wheel Your Face. Always, remember to smile! Your bright lipstick help to make your smile even more memorable.

FADED SMOKEY EYES - THE SPRING KIND

The mysterious smoky eyes look is always popular, no matter what season or year it is. For Spring/ Summer 2011, this look is a little different from the regular smoky look. Your goal is to create something neat and fresh but manage to look like you just rolled out of bed and forgot to wash your eye make up off the night before. Use slightly lighter shades of gray in combination with light natural eyeshadows in pink, peach and light beige. The main technique to use is smudging – you smudge the eyeshadow you are applying (with your finger or a clean brush); you smudge the eyeliner; and you use the smudge technique to blend the dark eyeshadow right around the eye with your natural eyeshadow color on the rest of the lid. However, don’t forget to be a little messy in order to keep up the pretense of just waking up!

METALLICS - FOR THE DRAMA QUEEN IN YOU

Using metallic shades during summer months is great because they allow you to look a little sizzled with a lot of glam. Try different metallic shades to see which suite your mood better – from deep blues to light golden sheers. You can use blush and lip colors with shimmer as well, in order to create a finished look. A dark liner and several coats of mascara will help to define the eyes even more. And always remember to blend, blend, blend for a seamless transition between colors.

Sources: HarpersBazaar.com, Allure.com, MacCosmetics.Com

Magic Wands - Your Top 10 Make Up Brushes

2011-03-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

As a follow up to our step-by-step guide to a natural look, I would like to discuss different types of make up brushes and what they are used for. There are many different brushes out there, some of which you will never need to use. However, there are also brushes that you should have in your kit at home for every day use.

CONCEALER BRUSH - YOUR FINGER EXTENSION

This is a small, flat, tapered brush with synthetic bristles. Synthetic bristles are better than natural hairs because they absorb less of the product and allow an easier application whether you want your coverage sheer or heavy. The best way to use this brush is by tapping it gently at an angle around the blemish you are covering up and thinning the product out as you move away from the blemish. The brush shown on the picture above is Studio Basics Concealer Brush or you can use Sonia Kashuk Concealer Brush.

FOUNDATION BRUSH - A NEATER WAY TO APPLY FOUNDATION

This is a larger version of the concealer brush. It also has synthetic bristles and is flat and tapered. Again, synthetic is a better material for this type of brush because you are working with a liquid/cream product, which absorbs easily and this type of material prevents the absorption. To use this brush, apply a small amount of the product to one of its sides and spread it all over your face. Try to move it in different directions in order to erase any smears and streaks that may be showing. The brush shown in the picture above is MAC Foundation Brush 190.

POWDER BRUSH - A LARGE BRUSH FOR EASY SWEEPING

This is a large, natural material, round brush. The size of the brush correlates directly with the amount of powder you can apply to your face. Therefore, this brush should be large enough to aid you in setting your foundation to a more natural look. To use this brush dab it in the powder (loose or compact) and move in circular motions around your face. This brush can be also used to apply powder foundation. I like using a brush rather than a sponge applicator because it leaves a very sheer and even layer of powder that gives the desired effect without leaving visible traces of powder lines on your face. The brush shown in the picture above is Revlon Powder Brush.

BLUSH BRUSH - EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED TO GET SNOW WHITE'S CHEEKS

This brush is smaller than powder brush, but should also be made out of natural material and should be round. The size of this brush is also directly related to the amount of the product is deposited on to your skin. A very large blush brush does not allow you to control the shape and size of the blush area, while brush that is too small may deposit more product on to your skin than desired. The best way to use this brush is by holding it at an angle with the end of the brush pointing towards your ear. Start the application closer to your ear gradually bringing it towards the center of your face. Always make sure you are applying the blush directly where you cheek bones are and blend it well. The brush shown in the picture above is Cinema Secrets Blush Brush.

CONTOUR BRUSH - THE KEY TO BRONZER SOPHISTICATION

This brush should be similar in size and material to the powder brush but it should be slanted at the end. This brush is best used at contouring your cheekbones and jaw. Always make sure to choose a bronzer powder that does not have shimmer to make the contouring as natural looking as possible. The brush shown in the picture above is Sonia Kashuk Contour Brush.

EYESHADOW BRUSHES - YOUR AID TO THE

EYES THAT SPARKLE

There are different types of eyeshadow brushes out there but the main characteristic they all possess is: natural hair bristles. These brushes can be round, angled, blunt, pointy, and tapered. Things to remember: use a round, larger brush for applying a base or an all over lid eyeshadow, use a smaller, tapered brush to apply eyeshadow at the crease, and use a small, pointy one to apply eyeliner with an eyeshadow or to smudge the existing line you drew with a pencil. Starting from top to bottom the picture above shows these brushes: Sephora Professional Brush, BareMinerals Angled Eyeshadow Brush, Estee Lauder Blunt Eyeshadow Brush, and Lancome Eyeshadow Brush.

EYELINER BRUSH - THE IMPOSSIBLY THIN LINE SOLUTION

This should be a very thin, pointy brush with natural hair. Do not forget you will be drawing a very precise line with this brush. You can use eyeshadow, liquid, or cream products to create your line. Hold this brush at an angle and try to draw the whole line with one stroke. The brush shown in the picture above is Cinema Secrets Eyeliner.

ANGLED BRUSH - THE SECRET OF YOUR PERFECT EYEBROWS

This brush is thin, angled and with natural hair. It can be used to define your eyebrows, to smudge your liner, or create a line with an eyeshadow. When defining eyebrows remember that less is more. Always start with a little and then increase the intensity as needed. Here is a good example of how it is done: The Ultimate Brow - Part II. The brush shown in the picture above is MAC Angled Brush 263.

FAN BRUSH - JANE AUSTEN HAD A HAND FAN, HERE IS YOURS

This is an interesting looking brush and many people do not know its purpose. This is a fanned out brush, which looks like a fan and is made out of natural bristles. It should be used to apply a highlighter to your cheekbones and forehead and chin. It can also be used to apply a thick layer of loose powder under your eyes when creating a smoky look. When you are done applying dark eye shadow, you simply sweep off the loose powder and voila - no traces of dark particles left behind. Finally, this brush brushes away everything that falls down from your eyes to the under eye area while you are applying your make up. It’s one very useful brush! The brush shown in the picture above is ART NET Professional Paris 27 Fan Brush.

LIP BRUSH - A BRUSH FOR PERFECT RED LIPS

This is a thin, pointy or squared brush made out of either natural or synthetic bristles. It should not be as small as the eyeliner brush but still smaller than eyeshadow brushes. You can use this brush to apply either lipgloss or lipstick and blend them with the lip liner. It allows you to have more control in order to create more defined lines. The brush shown above is Cinema Secrets Lip Brush.

Above I have described most of the brushes you will meet out there. Of course you will see others. However, these definitions should help you identify which brushes you may need for your every day and evening routines. Please post your questions and comments and I will be glad to answer them all.

Is GLAMORIZED Natural Look for Every Day Possible? See for Yourself

2011-02-28T21:51:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

Based on requests from our readers, I will be discussing a detailed step-by-step routine for applying makeup to create a natural, day look. As with our other posts, our goal is to bring out a glamorized version of you! For the products that I use, I will provide color descriptions, as well as names/colors of the actual products, so that you can either pick out the colors from products you already own or pick up a few things next time you are shopping for makeup.

Any time you prepare to apply makeup to your face you should begin with cleansed and moisturized skin. If you use any specialty products, such as exfoliants and disinfectants, they should be applied before moisturizing. Please, meet our beautiful model, Kristina.

The first step is to apply a foundation (powder or liquid) or a tinted moisturizer to the entire face. This product should be well matched to your natural skin tone and shade. It should help you in achieving your other goals, such as covering up imperfections or making your skin "glow". For more information about different skin tones and shades and how to choose a color that complements your complexion refer to Color Wheel Your Face. A good way to choose the right foundation color is to apply a small amount of the product on the side of your cheek in natural daylight and see if it matches the rest of your face and neck. Kristina's underlying tone is pink with a little yellow. In order to match her warm skin tone and fair color as closely as possible, I am using a sheer to medium coverage foundation with pink and yellow undertones, L’Oreal True Match Super-Blendable Makeup SPF 17 N2 (available at many drugstores) all over her face, making sure to blend it well into her neck. This foundation is recommended for normal to slightly oily/combination skin. Following the application of a liquid foundation, I set it with loose or compact powder in order for the foundation to look more natural on the skin. For Kristina, I am using MAC Select Sheer/Loose Powder NC5 (available at MAC stores, department stores and online) that also matches her skin's undertone. If you use a powder foundation, or you have a dry to very dry skin, you can skip this step.

Additionally, I use Cinema Secrets professional concealers to erase any of the blemishes she may have. This is how Kristina’s face looks once the foundation, powder, and concealers are applied:

The next step is to GLAMORIZE the eyes. First, I apply a sheer, light beige, matte color (MAC Eyeshadow Brule) to the bottom of her eyes and a sheer, light beige, sparkly color (MAC Eyeshadow Shroom) to both of her lids to help the foundation and concealer around the eyes stay set throughout the day. Kristina has hazel-green eyes and for her personal natural look, I am using golden and brown tones. For more information about how to pick out eyeshadow to bring out your natural eye color, refer to Eyes That Sparkle. I use a sparkly pinkish-golden eyeshadow (MAC Eyeshadow Sweet Lust) above the eyelashes right up to the crease and a brown eyeshadow (MAC Eyeshadow Corduroy) in the crease and both the bottom and top outer corners of the eyes. Afterward, I use a sheer, neutral, sparkly color again (MAC Eyeshadow Shroom) to help blend the brown eyeshadow so that the line where it ends is not harshly defined.

The next step is to apply the eyeliner. For Kristina, I am using a dark brown water-resistant eye pencil (MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil Stubborn Brown). For a natural look, the line I am creating is fairly thin and does not extend much beyond her eye. The main thing to know about using eyeliner is that you have to make sure it is positioned as close to the lash line as possible, so the skin right before and around the eyelashes is not visible. If the skin is showing between the eyeliner and the lash line, the eyeliner does not serve its purpose anymore. Instead of defining the eye shape and making eyelashes appear thicker, the actual line drawn on the eyelid is immediately visible to other people and does not provide any beneficial effects. This is one of the harder skills to learn, so practice, practice, practice.

The next step is to apply mascara and touch up the eyebrows to their proper shape. For more information about different shapes of eyebrows refer to The Ultimate Brow – Part I and Part II. I am using black mascara on Kristina (MAC Studio Fix Lash Black). My personal favorite is a mascara with a rubber brush applicator. However, synthetic brushes can also get the job done just as well. Additionally, I am using a light brown with a touch of golden color (MAC Eye Shadow Soba) and a thin, angled brush to enhance the eyebrows.

The next step is to apply lipgloss and define the cheekbones with a blush. For Kristina, I use a pink with a small amount of gold sparkles lipgloss (Covergirl CG Wetslicks Lipgloss Tutu 410 available at drug stores). For the blush, I use a pink with a brownish red undertone blush with no shimmer (Cinema Secrets Blush Natural BS004).

To create fuller lips, I use a neutral, brownish pink lip liner that matches the color of her lips well (MAC Lip Pencil Whirl). You can apply a lip pencil before or after you use a lip gloss. However, if you are applying lipstick, it is better to use the pencil before the lipstick in order to allow it to blend well with the pencil.

Finally, Kristina had put her hair down and as Tyra Banks would say to her America's Next Top Models, "smized" into the camera. Voilà! I created a GLAMORIZED natural, day look for our beautiful model, Kristina:

Want Your Skin To Be Soft, Smooth and Healthy? Keep On Reading - Part II

2011-02-17T23:47:00.000-08:00

by Olga Tsiba of Glamorized Skin

After discussing oily/combination skin care in Part I of this topic, let me proceed to dry/sensitive skin type and its care. If you are just joining us and not sure what skin type you have or if you already know you have oily/combination skin type, please, read Want Your Skin To Be Soft, Smooth and Healthy? Keep On Reading - Part I. I previously described dry/sensitive skin type as one with sallow tone, with fine lines, fine pores and prone to irritation. It may also become tight and inflamed. Let us review the routine for this type of skin.

THE ROUTINE

Dry/Sensitive Skin Daily Routine Summary (bold items are required; non-bolded are optional depending on skin condition and may be required if acne or other skin conditions are present)

AM: Cleanse, Exfoliate (not for sensitive skin), Additional Products, Moisturize with SPF

PM: Cleanse, Exfoliate (not for sensitive skin), Additional Products, Moisturize without SPF

CLEANSE - for dry/sensitive skin type, you still need to clean your face both AM and PM in order to remove all traces of make up and dirt that you gather throughout the day and dead skin cells and products that have not been absorbed in the morning. Your cleanser should be extra GENTLE, moisturizing, and not contain any harsh ingredients (i.e. sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate). Some of the cleansers recommended for dry skin may not dissolve make up completely and thus, a soft washcloth will come to the rescue. Just make sure you do not rub too harshly, pull or apply too much pressure when using one. As with other skin types, avoid bar soaps at all costs.

EXFOLIATE – Although dry skin is less likely to have acne, we still recommend gentle exfoliation. This will help to slough off dead skin cells, uncover smoother skin and improve absorption of all the products you will use afterward. There are two methods of exfoliation: chemical and manual (discussed in detail here). For dry skin type, chemical exfoliation using alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) is recommended. AHA is different from BHA (discussed here), because it exfoliates only at the surface of the skin. AHA is generally available for home use in concentrations of 5%-10%. Higher concentrations are usually used at the dermatologist's office for chemical peels. My recommendation is to start applying AHA with the lowest available concentration in the PM and pay attention to how your skin reacts. If flakes or irritation develop, reduce use to every other day. Otherwise, if your observe no negative reaction, you may increase the use to AM and PM. The real benefit will be visible after several weeks of use, when your skin will become smoother. Do not apply AHA to irritated skin or wounds that are healing from skin picking as long as there is a scab. Similarly to BHA, AHA is an acid and can damage the healing process.

Recommended chemical exfoliants: Any of the AHA products from Paula's Choice available at www.paulaschoice.com and Peter Thomas Roth Glycolic Acid 10% Moisturizer. Again, I want to emphasize that I highly recommend starting with products I list here because the pH factor is extremely important for AHA products and these products have been tested for effectiveness.

MOISTURIZE - Dry/sensitive skin cannot survive without AM moisturizing. Ideally, your moisturizer SHOULD include a lotion with sunscreen SPF 15 or higher. There are different views on when moisturizers with SPF should be used and you can read about them in the first part of our discussion about skin care here.

Recommended AM moisturizers: Neutrogena Healthy Skin Visibly Even Daily SPF 15 Moisturizer, Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25 or Clinique Redness Solution Daily Protective Base SPF 15

MOISTURIZE - PM moisturizing is also a must for dry/sensitive skin. As we discussed previously, the night is when your skin absorbs nutrients most effectively. This is when you want to have the good stuff on your face to make you look radiant in the morning.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS - You can use additional skin products such as skin lightening products, retinol serums and etc., right before you moisturize and better at night than in the morning. At night, various healing processes take place in your body and your skin absorption is best. However, try to avoid using multiple exfoliants on dry skin at the same time. For example, if you already use AHA in the evening, do not add retinol into the mix as it may lead to additional irritation and extra dryness. However, you can try adding it to your morning routine or vice versa.

Recommended Retinol Products (OTC): Olay Pro-X Deep Wrinkle Treatment, Paula's Choice Resist Barrier Repair Moisturizer, Skin Remodeling Complex available at www.paulaschoice.com, Philosophy Eye Believe.

Recommended Skin Lightening Products: Alpha Hydrox Spot Light Targeted Skin Lightener, Paula's Choice Resist Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel, for All Skin Types available at www.paulaschoice.com.

Read Additional Tips and Nutrition for more information on beautifying your skin.

The Ultimate Brow - Part II

2011-02-10T22:13:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

If you are joining our eyebrow discussion for the first time, we highly recommend you also read The Ultimate Brow - Part I.

WHAT TO DO NEXT

You have gone to the mirror and measured your face to figure out where your eyebrows should start and end. You have also measured the exact place where the arch should be. You did your best at keeping the shape as natural as possible but tweezed it a little here and there to define it based on the guideline. Now what? What if your eyebrows do not begin where they “should”? What if they are too short naturally? What if they do not have an arch, although it feels like they should? What if their color does not match your hair color at all? Eyebrow pencil or shadow comes to the rescue!!! Your main goal is to find the right pencil/shadow color to complement your whole complexion.

LOOKING BACK AT THE COLOR WHEEL

Our good friend, the Color Wheel, will help you figure out the right color for your eyebrow make up. Of course, if you do not dye your hair, you do not need to figure out your eyebrow color because mother nature created it for you. If you need to alter or emphasize the shape of your brows, just pick the shade that matches your hair color OR makes it just a bit darker for a more intense evening look.

Those of us that change hair color should take some time to understand which eyebrow color would work best. Your hair color is your main guide, but here’s a little chart to help you choose:

BLOND hair color + pink/red/yellow skin undertone = light brown/golden eyebrow color

BLOND hair color + blue skin undertone = light gray eyebrow color

RED hair color + all skin undertones = golden red/deep orange color several shades darker than hair

BROWN hair color + pink/red/yellow skin undertone = dark red-brown eyebrow color

BROWN hair color + blue skin undertone = charcoal or dark brown-gray eyebrow color

BLACK hair color + pink/red/yellow skin undertone = dark brown or black eyebrow color

BLACK hair color + blue skin undertone = black eyebrow color

not TOO LITTLE / not TOO MUCH

To make sure your eyebrows look as natural as possible, start with a little color and then add to the desired intensity. For those of you who have never used an eyebrow pencil, I would recommend starting with an eye/brow shadow and a very thin angled brush. You do not need to buy a separate “brow” shadow if you find an acceptable eye shadow color among things you already own. Just tap your brush against the eye shadow and then lightly tap it against your skin as you follow the guidelines below. The powder will be deposited on your skin and neighboring hairs very lightly allowing for a natural look. Once you have mastered the technique, you can try using a pencil.

Using either a pencil or a shadow, start by looking at your eyebrows to find the areas where the hair is missing and there are “bold” patches. These spots occur naturally, as hairs finish growth cycle and fall out and others replace them. These spots need to be covered first. Then, if you need to make your eyebrows longer start where your eyebrows are full and make the line thinner and thinner, making it very thin in the end. If you need to prolong the area where they begin, make sure you decrease the intensity of the color as it moves closer to the bridge of the nose. The color should be the most intense right before, after and at the area where the arch is and its intensity should decrease as it moves out both ways. If you are using a pencil do not "color in" your eyebrows. Try drawing strokes in the direction your hair is growing to make it look more natural.

Here is an example of creating fuller, proportional and complementing eyebrows for our model Kristina, with naturally light hair and green eyes.

1. Natural eyebrows. You can see that they are a little too short. However, they begin at the right place (above the end of her nostrils) and the arch above the iris is visible. This terminology is discussed in detail in The Ultimate Brow - Part I.

2. One eyebrow is filled in and lengthened to its “proper” shape using a matching eye shadow and an angled brush. As a result, the arch is more visible, which emphasizes Kristina’s eye shape.

3. Both eyebrows are filled in and have equal length and beginnings.

This is it. With practice and well-matched colors, your eyebrows will become yet another feature that will help you put your best face forward.

Color Wheel Your Face

The Ultimate Brow - Part I

Eyes That Sparkle

GLAMORIZED SKIN WORKSHOPS

2011-02-03T20:45:00.000-08:00

At Glamorized Skin, we are dedicated to helping women of all ages and ethnicities with their skin care and make up routines. In addition to providing you with knowledge on our blog, we will be hosting a series of workshops to meet our loyal readers in person and help everyone on individual basis.

The first workshop in our series will be a discussion about proper make up and skin care routines. Each participant will receive a PERSONAL evaluation and explanation of her skin type, color and skin care and make up routines. We are asking women to bring items they use on the daily basis, so we can make sure our suggestions fit each participant’s level of comfort.

Many aspects of your personal care will be covered: cleansers, toners, exfoliants, moisturizers and sun protection; foundations, concealers, mascaras, eye shadows, lipsticks and lip glosses; skin type, dark circles, red capillaries, and acne.

Each member will leave this two-hour workshop with a THOROUGH understanding of their skin type and suggestions on make up and skin care routine. After you leave our workshop, you will be able to put your BEST FACE FORWARD every day. Additionally, each participant will receive a list of recommended products.

The first workshop location is the sunny City of Hollywood on February 12, 2011. For a limited time, we are offering the workshop at a 50% discount for $35 per person.

For tickets and additional information, please, contact us at

BeautSkin@GlamorizedSkin.com or at (949) 705-8165.

Here you can find more information about Glamorized Skin team members.

Want Your Skin To Be Smooth, Soft and Healthy? Keep on Reading - Part I

2011-01-28T15:52:00.000-08:00

by Olga Tsiba of Glamorized Skin

SKIN TYPES

Let us begin by reviewing skin types and their characteristics. There are four skin types: oily, combination, normal and dry/sensitive. The easiest way to understand your type is to pay close attention to your skin first thing in the morning. Does it have sheen to it and feels greasy? Does it have dry patches and feels tight all over? Does it have inflamed patches? Or is it a combination of things? Now that you have thoroughly observed your face, check out the types and their descriptions below:

OILY greasy and shiny with enlarged pores
and has a tendency to break out with
acne;

COMBINATION patches of dry and oily skin, usually dry
on the cheeks and around the eyes, and

oily on the forehead, nose and chin; also
tends to break out;

NORMAL least problematic, feels clean and smooth;

DRY/SENSITIVE sallow tone, with fine lines, fine pores and
prone to irritation; may become tight
and inflamed;

Each skin type has its own skin care routine and tricks that help to keep it as healthy as possible. In this post, I will only cover OILY and COMBINATION skin types in order to keep things focused. The rest of the skin types will be covered in future posts.

Before I begin, let me tell you about the greatest source of information on skin care I was able to find. I have learned much of the information presented herein from Paula Begoun aka the Cosmetics Cop. Glamorized Skin team started reading her books almost ten years ago (Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me and The Original Beauty Bible: Skin Care Facts for Ageless Beauty). We highly admire Paula for thorough research and standing up to cosmetic giants. It is our belief that her work is positively influencing the products that are available to consumers.

The methods, techniques and nutritional information is based on our own experience and constant experimentation in search of finding something that works and provides long lasting results. Please keep in mind that although some products recommended here may be designed by the manufacturer for a different skin type, in this post, I recommend them specifically for oily/combination skin type. The ingredients on the back label and experience rather than the claims on the box serve as the basis for our conclusions.

THE ROUTINE

Oily/Combination Skin Daily Routine Summary (bold items are required; non-bolded are optional depending on skin condition and may be required if acne or other skin conditions are present)

AM: Cleanse, Exfoliate, Disinfect, Additional Products, Moisturize with SPF

PM: Cleanse, Exfoliate, Disinfect, Additional Products, Moisturize without SPF

CLEANSE - for oily/combination skin type, you absolutely must clean your face both AM and PM in order to remove all traces of make up and dirt that you gather throughout the day and any grease and products that have not been absorbed in the morning. There are no excuses, ifs and buts. Just do it! There is one caveat: your cleanser should be GENTLE and not contain any harsh ingredients (i.e. sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate). It also should NOT be a soap bar. Oily combination skin has a natural pH factor of 4-5, while these harsh ingredients are much more basic on the pH scale with solid soaps at a pH as high as 11. Using such harsh ingredients, your skin returns to its normal pH only later in the day and at a price. Excess oil is released to restore the skin's protective acid mantle. Before the acid mantle is restored, the skin's natural antibacterial protection is down and you are more susceptible to acne. So clean, but be gentle. Your products at home can be perfectly good, and you can check them with pH or litmus paper sold on eBay (80 strips for $1). You are looking for a pH of 5-6.

Recommended cleansers: CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser, Earth Science Clarifying Facial Wash, The Body Shop Aloe Calming Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin.

EXFOLIATE - oily/combination skin tends to have larger/visible pores, which increase the chance of acne. Acne appears when these pores do not shed enough dead skin cells and oil's exit paths get clogged. Add some bacteria, and you have got inflammation. Sometimes, the dead skin cells in the pores solidify and you get a blackhead, those black dots on your face. To prevent that from happening and to increase cell turnover, you need to exfoliate. If you exfoliate regularly and correctly, your pore size will shrink given time. There are two methods to exfoliate: chemical and manual. For oily/combination skin types, chemical exfoliation includes BHA aka salicylic acid and manual exfoliation includes scrubs and masks. There are additional ways you can exfoliate at the dermatologist's office, but at the moment we will focus only what you can do at home.

Chemical exfoliation is beneficial because the product is absorbed into pores and reduces inflammation, and can be used on the daily basis. It may be an excellent alternative for those suffering from acne. My recommendation is to start applying salicylic acid in the PM and pay attention how your skin reacts to it. If flakes develop, reduce use to every other day. Otherwise, you can increase the application to both AM and PM for stronger effect. The real results will be visible after several weeks of use, but you should notice improvement in inflammation right away. Do not apply it to wounds that are healing from skin picking as long as there is a scab. BHA is an acid after all, and can damage the healing process.

Taking some extra time to give your face a scrub (made of soft synthetic particles rather than apricot and other ground fruit pits) or a clay mask at the end of a hard day are your manual exfoliation options. Remember that although you can apply chemical exfoliants up to two times a day, scrubs and masks should be used once or twice a week, depending on how your skin reacts. If you use a scrub too often you may "scrub" off too much of the protective layer of your skin and it will start to flake, produce more oil and become more susceptible to acne. My favorite routine is to scrub after being in the shower for a few minutes and follow with a mask. The improvement in the way my skin looks is especially noticeable the next day. The process itself relaxes and reenergizes me.

Recommended chemical exfoliants: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Stress Control 3-In-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment, Any of the BHA products from Paula's Choice (www.paulaschoice.com), Clinique Medical Skin Conditioning Treatment. I want to emphasize that I highly recommend starting with products I list here because the pH factor is extremely important for BHA products and these products have been tested for effectiveness.

Recommended manual exfoliants: Boots Expert Sensitive Gentle Smoothing Scrub, Neutrogena Fresh Foaming Scrub, Nu Skin Epoch Glacial Marine Mud, and Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Carbon Mask available at www.paulaschoice.com.

DISINFECT - if you do not have inflamed acne, skip to step 4. Most oily/combination skin types have some redness and inflammation and this step will help you with that issue. Besides helping the skin shed dead skin cells, an effective skin care routine must include a disinfectant aka benzoyl peroxide. It simply kills bacteria that causes acne. You should try to apply this product at night after cleansing and exfoliation. However, if you want a stronger effect and your skin reacts normal to this step, try applying it in the AM as well. Be careful with this product and apply a very small amount only to the areas that are prone to acne because if applied too much it can irritate your skin.

Recommended disinfectants: Clinique Acne Solutions Emergency Gel Lotion and Paula's Choice Clear Acne Fighting Treatment 2.5% Benzoyl Peroxide available at www.paulaschoice.com.

MOISTURIZE - AM moisturizing is optional for this skin type, but ideally, your moisturizer SHOULD include a lotion with sunscreen SPF 15 or higher. There are many conflicting facts about sun protection out there. On the one hand, the sun provides essential vitamin D, while on the other hand, it is the single most powerful source of skin aging. On the one hand, sun screens protect us from the harmful UVA and UVB rays, while on the other hand, recent studies found some of the active ingredients (i.e. titanium dioxide) may be cancerous if used in abundance. Therefore, I will leave the decision about sun screen up to you. If you are a true routine lover, you can just use a lightweight moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher every morning before you go out. Alternatively, if you believe that there is some benefit to the sun’s rays, you can use this type of moisturizer only when you know you will be outside for more than 15 minutes rain or shine. Of course if you are at the beach all day, I highly recommend applying and reapplying sunscreen every two hours because sun burns are linked to skin cancer later in life. This is particularly important for people who take winter vacations in the tropics. I have seen my friends from the Northeast get burned immediately when they did not apply sunscreen generously right away, while on vacation in Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Recommended AM moisturizers: Olay Regenerist UV Defence Regenerating Lotion SPF 15 or SPF 50, MAC Studio Moisture Fix SPF 15 available at www.maccosmetics.com or in stores, Paula's Choice Skin Balancing Daily Mattifying Lotion with SPF 15 and Antioxidants available at www.paulaschoice.com.

MOISTURIZE - PM moisturizing is a little different for oily/combination skin comparing to other skin types. If you have combination skin, you should apply a moisturizer to dry areas, such as cheeks and around the eyes. If your whole face is oily, you probably do not need a moisturizer, as your exfoliant and disinfectant will provide the necessary "moisturizing" feel. However, if your whole face gets really dry and you feel the need to moisturize, this can be a sign that your cleanser is too harsh, you use BHA/manual scrubs too frequently, or you need to increase your water intake. In general, oily skin does not require additional moisturizing before going to bed.

Recommended PM moisturizers: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer, Paula's Choice HydraLight Moisture-Infusing Lotion available at www.cosmeticscop.com, Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum, Fragrance-Free, Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate Recovery Boosting Treatment.

ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS - if you are using additional products such as skin lightening products, retinol serums and etc., they would be the last step in your skin care routine and are recommended to be used at night. At night, various healing processes take place in your body and your skin absorption is best. In order to keep your morning routine quick and simple, you should use a minimal amount of products in the morning and leave the rest for the evening, because so many other things require your time and attention whether it is preparing breakfast for your family or commute to work or both.

Recommended Skin Lightening Products: Alpha Hydrox Spot Light Targeted Skin Lightener, Paula's Choice Resis Clearly Remarkable Skin Lightening Gel, for All Skin Types available at www.paulaschoice.com.

Read Additional Tips and Nutrition for more information on beautifying your skin

Oily/Combination Skin Care Tips and Nutrition

2011-01-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

ADDITIONAL TIPS

1. Do not touch your face or let others do it. It is adorable if your husband or boyfriend touches your face to show affection, but be ware: those hands carry bacteria and you will soon notice new breakouts precisely where he touches you on the regular basis. Your own hands have bacteria, so try to avoid mindlessly touching your face, while thinking, reading or driving.

2. Do not let your cell phone touch your face because it carries large amounts of bacteria. Handsfree and blue tooth devices are your friends for more reasons than one.

3. Change your pillowcases often and turn your pillow over every night in between, again, to keep bacteria away from your skin.

4. Wear sunglasses religiously and make sure to get good quality lenses that actually protect you from the sun rather than just have darkened surface.

NUTRITION

This section is for the brave and open-minded and everything I present here is gathered from extensive experimentation with my own body and skin. This is not medical advice by any means. Most of this information applies to adult acne and breakouts because unfortunately, I passed puberty before I came across much of this information. However, I think teens can try to implement some of the tips here as well.

Traditional Western medicine sees no connection between food and health and internal organs and skin. For years, I would ask every dermatologist I saw whether I should pay attention to my diet or take supplements and they all shrugged their shoulders and proposed antibiotics or birth control as acne. Eastern and European medicine see direct connection between everything that is going on inside your body and your skin. Here are some of the recommendations based on these schools of medicine:

1. Observe how your body reacts to certain foods and drinks. Food diaries have become popular for weight loss and you can just add a line for skin condition. For example, over the years, I noticed that I break out the next day after having beer or champagne. I excluded both from any social activities, and the skin symptoms related to these drinks stopped. I have read many times that people observe skin reactions from dairy.

2. In Europe, doctors believe that acne location on your face directly relates to the health or function of certain organs. Acne on your forehead is linked to liver, your cheeks to intestinal health and your chin to reproductive organs.

For acne on your forehead, your liver can be cleaned by supplements of Milk Thistle. They should be taken 3 times a day for at least 2-3 months for the first time and supplementation should be repeated several times a year. I found that brewing Burdock Root tea or dried Burdock Root in bulk is even more effective. Burdock Root liquid should be taken warm, three times a day, about 30 minutes before meals. I brew it in batches and store in the refridgerator and then warm half a cup at a time for individual doses.

For acne on your cheeks, the health of your intestines requires attention. While antibiotics may be effective in treating certain health problems, they take a toll on our intestinal flora. Problems such as constipation, poor nutrient absorption and, yes, acne relate to intestinal health. What should you do? Intestinal cleansing sets are very common now and can be found in many health food stores. As long as the set contains bentonite clay as one of its ingredients and includes a course of probiotics, you can pick whatever is available and affordable. If you are on a tight budget, simply look for food grade bentonite clay and complete a treatment course of two weeks long. Here is the Great Plains product I have used successfully. This specific product is taken two hours before/after meals with a dosage of one tablespoon for two weeks. You should also increase your water intake, as bentonite absorbs water in your body. The purpose of this clay is to collect negative bacteria, medicine remnants and other toxic items from your intestines. After that, supplement your diet with probiotics. Make sure your supplement is from the refrigerated section of the store and it includes bifidus, which is a probiotic that kills bad bacteria. Here is a good combination of multiple strains of the good bacteria: Natural Factors - Acidophilus and Bifidus. Probiotics should be taken 3 times a day. I take them in one-month cycles and repeat throughout the year, as necessary. Repeat every time you take antibiotics. Additionally, almost every culture has foods, which contain probiotics and I recommend their consumption. Yogurts, buttermilk, kefir, kim chi, miso, tempeh soured cabbage and pickles (marinated in salt water) are all on the list. You want to help the beneficial bacteria multiply in your body.

Persistent acne on your chin, relates to your reproductive organs for females and could be caused by inflammation related to polycystic syndrome or other conditions. A visit to your doctor and a discussion about your gynecological health is a must in this case.

Go Back to Skin Types and Oily/Combination Skin Care Routine

Check out a product review: Boots No.7 Soft & Sheer Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

Eyes That Sparkle

2011-01-20T14:51:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

While Lady Gaga's wild eye make up fits perfectly with her creative outfits and videos, most of us can allow ourselves such imagery only at masquerades and Halloween parties. However, we still want our eyes to be mesmerizing by bringing out their best potential on everyday basis. When women shop for eye make up, there are two goals they have in mind:

1. to have their eyes stand out in order for everyone to notice their beauty;

2. to wear eye make up that complements their eye color and makes them look younger, healthier and more energized.

Both of these goals can be accomplished by choosing the right eye shadow color, to complement your eye color. Let us examine each eye color separately:

BLUE/GREY

Blue and grey eye colors can be in the same category because these colors are both emphasized by similar shades of eye shadows. For a day look, women with these eye colors should experiment with different shades of brown: golden brown, taupe, tawny, chocolate brown etc. Brown complements blue/grey eyes very well and will help you achieve that popping color effect. You can chose from a variety of browns including deep browns, reddish browns, and orange browns etc. For an evening out, you should use the same shades with richer, darker or more intense color, which has more pigments.

GREEN/HAZEL

You will meet a person with truly green eyes very rarely. Usually, people have either brown or hazel eyes that have various amounts of green color in them. If you have green eyes, you should mostly experiment with purple and violet colors, which will make your eyes look like emeralds. Green can also be complemented by soft pinks and golden brown shades, which work well for a more conservative day look. If your eyes have hazel or brown color, you can try mauve and peach shades. Once more, for an evening look you should use the same shades with richer color pigmentation and just a touch of sparkle for that oomph effect.

BROWN/BLACK

Women with brown eyes are the lucky ones. Most eye make up shades look great with this eye color. However, brown eyes are best emphasized by deep browns, orange browns and golden tones. They also look very good next to soft purples, berries and silver greys. Deep black eyes should be emphasized by the same shades as brown eyes, but they mostly look very good with frosty pink and berry colors. If you have truly black eye color stay away from very light shades, as they may look unnatural with your eye color.

As you can see the rules to choose your eye make up color are not very strict and many shades look good with different eye colors. The trick is to experiment with different shades. For example if you have blue eyes, experiment with different shades of browns and greys to achieve a different effect every time. By using the right eye make up color, you will magnify the beauty of your eyes and feel more confident from day to night.

8 EYE SHADOW COMMANDMENTS

1. Always stay in the same color family when it comes to the rest of your face, i.e. wearing purple eye make up, orange blush and red lipstick is a no-no; instead, try pink, mauve or plum blush and lipstick.

2. If you are creating a strong eye effect (i.e. smoky eyes), lighter color blush and neutral, lighter colored lips are required for balance.

3. If you are creating a strong lip color effect (i.e. rich red lips) a classical look is a must for the top of your face. It would include neutral eye shadow, black liner and mascara with little else.

4. A bronzer will complement almost any make up look. Make sure to chose the right shade for your complexion. A bronzer should not make a blaring statement, but create a subtle shading on multiple areas of the face. It can be used in place of or together with a blush and it is also the safest way to tan!!!

5. If you have expression lines, try to stay away from eye shadow with a lot of sparkles or glitter as it may attract more attention to the area. It is best to experiment with matte eye make up colors and use just tiny bit of sparkle on the inner side of the eye, if necessary.

6. Always start with a small amount of eye make up and intensify the effect little by little in order to keep the look as natural as possible and remember: BLEND, BLEND, BLEND!!! in order to hide those areas where one color meets another.

7. Skin color matters. The darker your skin color, the more intense eye shadow colors you can use and keep your make up look natural.

8. Try to go out of your comfort zone when you are experimenting and use one color or effect that you haven't tried before. Who knows? Maybe you will be able to achieve that desirable effect and your eyes will truly SPARKLE!

Read more about the importance of using the right colors here: Color Wheel Your Face

Need perfect eye brows to frame your eyes: The Ultimate Brow

The Ultimate Brow - Part I

2011-01-13T22:29:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

Right around the time when women turn 13-15 years old, they begin to plug those little brow hairs to create a perfect arch to frame their faces. Some go all out and leave a very thin line, while others only tweeze a little bit, here and there, in order to define the shape a little better. Regardless of the result, everyone has a goal to achieve - ideal eyebrows that are not only neat and defined but also match the shape of their face. Today, we will discuss how to create these perfect eyebrows. Why don't you grab a mirror to help you on your quest for your perfect brows?

THE BEGINNING AND THE END

First, we need to figure out where your eyebrows should begin and end. In order to see where your eyebrows should begin, use the end of your nostrils as a starting point, as shown in the illustration, and draw an imaginary line going straight up. The spot where the line hits your natural eyebrow curve is where your eyebrows should begin. Now, again, use the end of your nostrils as a starting point and form an imaginary line passing through the outside corner of your eye. The eyebrows should end where the line hits your natural eyebrow curve. Do not be shocked if your natural eyebrows (not the ones you created by tweezing) do not begin or end where they "should" based on the technique described. In some cases, our eyebrows are too short or too long and that is just fine. An eyebrow pencil or matching eyeshadow is all you need to make them a little longer or a good old tweezer to make them a little shorter. However, in order for your brows to match your face and eye shape, you should always keep them as close as possible to your natural shape.

WHICH WAY ARE WE HEADED?

Next, we need to figure out where the ending of your brows should point. Your face shape will assist us in this task. In general, there are four types of face shapes: long, round, square, and oval. Some of these shapes have a sub-shape, but we will discuss those some other time.

A LONG or oblong face is longer than it is wide. This type of face has cheeks, jaw and forehead of about equal width and both the forehead and jawlines are curved.
A ROUND face is almost as wide, as it is long and cheeks are its widest part, and are usually well defined.
A SQUARE face has a forehead that is almost the same width as its cheekbones and jawline, which are more pronounced than curved.
An OVAL face is considered the perfect face shape. It is wider at the forehead and cheeks are usually the widest part, gently narrowing towards the chin.

Now is the time for you to look at yourself in the mirror and figure out which face shape you have. Once that is done, refer to the table below to identify where the ending of your eyebrows should point.

FACE SHAPE	BROW DIRECTION	WHY?
LONG	Above the ear, almost straight across	To counteract the impression of length
ROUND	Top of the ear	To eliminate curvature that accentuates roundness
SQUARE	Center of the ear	To “cut” the distance between your upper and lower face in half
OVAL	Lower lobe	To accentuate the harmonious oval line

I want to emphasize, one more time, that you should not change your eyebrow shape completely but try to keep it as natural as possible. If you are not able, in any way, to point your brow end towards your ear lobe, try to point it as low as possible, while keeping your natural shape. The same applies to your brow end that cannot be pointed above the ear. Again, try pointing it as high as possible, while keeping your true shape.

THOSE IMPOSSIBLE ARCHES

Finally, let us discuss the arch location. Usually, I would recommend keeping your arch where it is naturally placed. If you touch the bone right above your eye, you should be able to feel where it should appear. Some people do not have arches and they look very good with very straight eyebrows. Others have very high arches and it looks very nice on them. However, the general guideline is that the arch should be either directly over the outside of the iris, or diagonally from the end of the nostril through the pupil.

Now I've given you all the tools you need to have in order to figure out your perfect eyebrow shape. Please post your questions below and I will do my best to answer them.

Please check out Part II of The Ultimate Brow post.

Source: Makeup Training Manual, Academy of Make up and Fashion, Encino, CA.

COLOR WHEEL YOUR FACE

2011-01-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

by Inna Grinblat of Glamorized Skin

Did you ever wonder why some lipsticks or eye shadow colors look flattering and some foundation colors seem to literally disappear on your skin, while others brashly stand out? Why do some concealers actually conceal breakouts and under eye circles, while others simply make them lighter? The answer lies in the Color Wheel.

THE BASICS

I learned about the Color Wheel while being professionally trained as a make up artist. After having worked with many different skin tones, I can tell you that having the basic knowledge of colors takes most of the guessing out of my work. A short article called Color Made Simple Using the Color Wheel published by the Yahoo Network Associated Press provides a very good summary of the color theory, the primary and secondary colors and how they relate to our faces:

"Let's start with the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. These colors are basic. But once we mix red and blue, we get purple (violet); blue and yellow—we get green; and yellow and red—we get orange. Those are called secondary colors. Our skin pigments are made up of these primary/secondary colors. When these colors are mixed, it makes a category called "neutral browns". Once we mix white in with the neutral browns, they make a lighter brown, or a tan color—which is how we get light skin tones. When we mix black in with the neutral browns, we get darker skin tones.

Although our skin is made up of browns, whites, and black tones, it still doesn't change the fact that we also have the primary and secondary tones in our skin as well. Makeup is also made with those same tones, so there are perfect makeup shades for all of us out there."

NOW, LOOK IN THE MIRROR

Once you figure out your undertone it will be much easier to find make up shades, such as foundation, eye shadows, and lipsticks that will complement your coloring. Paying closer attention to the skin on your face (around the jawbone or neck) will allow you to have a better idea about what kind of undertone you have. This is the starting point for your “perfect” make up. Why do you think fair skinned ladies usually look amazing wearing a bright red lipstick? It is because they have a pink undertone and pink is from the color red family. Why do you think burgundy dark lipsticks look better on some of the darker skin tones? You guessed it - they go well together because they both have blue undertones. Go to the mirror right now (or use a hand held one while you are reading this) and try to see the different shades of your skin. Do you see a very fair color with some pink showing through? Do you see a light shade but there is a slight yellow tone to it? Do you see a darker shade with a little olive tone showing up where the light does not hit your face? There are many different skin undertones out there: pink, yellow, orange, olive, green, purple and blue. Yes, even purple and blue. One thing we would like to add is that regardless of how light or dark your skin is, it could have any of the undertones. Both pale Caucasian and dark skinned African American women can have the cool blue or the warm orange undertone. In other words, there are many different shades of each skin color. Once you figure out your undertone you made the first step to glamorizing your skin.

SO HOW DO I PICK MY FOUNDATION?

So, before you visit the make-up counter to find the perfect foundation or concealer, make sure you have examined your face very carefully. Then look for similar characteristics in the product. If you have a yellow undertone, does your powder? You may need to try several shades and brands to find the perfect match. If testers are offered, take them home and see how your skin looks in the daylight. The light at many stores is too unnatural, which intensifies the imperfections or bleaches out your skin, skewing the colors. You will look very different once you are outside, at home, at a restaurant or at a club. Although at a club, make up shades matter little because everyone looks good with a mixture of darkness and alcohol.

HOW DO I MAKE MY IMPERFECTIONS DISAPPEAR?

Finally, let us explore the art of using corrective concealers that provide flawless coverage specifically for those hard to hide blemishes. In many instances your inner diva may be screaming, “I want to look glamorous on my photos but my blemishes or dark circles are in the way!” The Color Theory will once again help you. The main point to remember is that each color cancels out its opposite on the Color Wheel. For example, green neutralizes red, which is the color of inflamed skin or acne. Of course you cannot just slab a green concealer on your skin without anyone noticing you have something green on your face. That is why when you are shopping for a concealer to hide your red blemishes you should look for something that matches the shade of your skin (light, medium or dark) but also includes greenish or yellowish tint. The same goes for the concealer that will hide your under eye circles. Orange or peachy color neutralizes the bluish tint, which is what you are after when you try to conceal your dark circles. The product itself should match the tone of your skin but also have a slightly pink or red tint to it. Finally, if you are after covering very dark circles or some other dark discolorations on your skin you can try a purple tinted concealer. However, from my experience, orange pink tinted concealers do a good job covering dark circles.

BEYOND MAKE UP

The color theory can be applied to many other things beyond make up. Hair color, clothes, jewelry, nail polish, and even your new bed sheets follow the same color rules. I hope the information I shared with you today can help you figure out your skin undertone easily, which should lead you to choosing make up shades that complement your coloring quicker and more efficiently.

Source: Color Made Simple Using the Color Wheel @ http://www.associatedcontent.com/

Product Review: Boots No.7 Soft & Sheer Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

2010-12-23T11:57:00.000-08:00

So many of us spent countless hours at the department stores, drug stores, spas and other make up counters looking for that perfect foundation/tinted moisturizer that will make our skin radiant, flawless, and as natural as possible. Just like you, we tried many, many different sheer, matte, full-coverage and other forms of this type of potion that promised to make our face less oily, more moisturized, less irritated and glowing. We cannot say that we have found a simple solution but after trying so many products, we think we can see the difference between a good vs. poor quality product. Today, we would like to draw your attention to Boots No7 Soft and Sheer Tinted Moisturizer - Fair (1.69 oz.). The claims for this product are that it enhances your natural beauty with its translucent, sheer wash of "barely there" color that evens our your skin tone and gives you a radiant, natural glow. It contains SPF 15 sunscreen to protect your skin from the aging effects of the sun and moisturizes for up to 12 hours. What else can we ask for? We find this tinted moisturizer delivers on its claims.

This product is a great find for those with normal to slightly oily or slightly dry skin. It goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. We would recommend this product for those with acne free complexion seeking some coverage for larger pores and more even skin tone. The tint provides very sheer coverage, which can be combined with a little bit of powder for a day look. The added powder will provide the matte look for those of us with slightly oily skin. If you use a concealer, do so after the tinted moisturizer is applied and before the powder, for oily skin. The SPF 15 is provided by Titanium Dioxide (1.9%) and Octinoxate (5%), which offer state of the art sun protection for our skin. All three shades are recommended.

Why Glamorize?

2010-12-20T15:15:00.000-08:00

With a little skill and effort every woman can look her best any day of the week. At Glamorized Skin, we are passionate about making it happen.

Our skin deserves attention and our face deserves to look its best. It is the first thing that people see when they meet us. It is what we see in the mirror every day. It is what is looking back at our husbands, boyfriends, and friends. When you have the knowledge of taking care of your skin properly and using make up in the best way that suits your face and personality, you feel confident and beautiful. You worry less about how others see you, because you know that you look your personal best.

Have you ever seen a woman who could look so much better if she only put some mascara on? How about a woman that looks great every single time you see her? The skills and information we will review here and the resulting confidence creates the difference you see between these two women. At Glamorized Skin, we will help you find the right routine for your skin care and make up and the proper products to aid you. A make up routine should be short and sweet when we are quickly getting ready in the morning and more thorough for an elegant evening out. Most importantly, a woman should be as comfortable with her routine as she is with brushing her teeth. The truth is, women do not always know how to bring out features they want others to notice the most, whether it is the almond shaped eyes, a cute puffy pout or those cheeks that are just calling for a squeeze.

This blog is about You and your skin care and make up. There is no single solution that fits everyone and we will use our experience and expertise to guide you to a more confident You. We are passionate about make up and putting our best face forward. If you become our regular reader, you will be too.