Self Confidence

No More Food Pyramid!

2011-06-02T15:29:00.001-05:00

Wow, this is pretty exciting...especially for those of us working so hard to improve out health. The nutritional food pyramid is going away...and a plate (literally) is taking its place. And the plate is super-easy to use to make better eating decisions.

Check out the details: http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2011/06/02/136884100/new-symbol-for-healthful-eating-hello-plate-goodbye-pyramid?ps=sh_sthdl

The Sunshine Kids Foundation & Autism Speaks

2011-05-04T09:44:00.013-05:00

What a wonderful way to help children receiving cancer treatments - and the warmer is PERFECT for children's rooms, bathrooms, schools, daycares...so many options!

The Sunshine Kids Foundation has been providing positive, exciting group activities for children receiving cancer treatments in hospitals all over North America, at no charge to the kids or their parents, since 1982. The Sunshine Kids Warmer was created to honor and support the foundation’s work. The whimsical design and bright primary colors capture the simple joys of being a child. All of the net profits from the sale of this warmer will go directly to the Sunshine Kids Foundation.

Scentsy also has a warmer (which are wickless candles - with a low watt bulb, scented wax is warmed to release delicious scents!) that benefits Autism Speaks. I love working with a company who realizes the value of children...and gives us the chance to help in our own small way. : )If you'd like further information, please send me an email - glad to share.

https://alisonsoileau.scentsy.us/Buy/ProductDetails/DSW-SFF-KIDS

The Perfect Easter Gift for Children

2011-03-31T09:42:00.006-05:00

I must admit, this was suggested from someone else...but I love it and thought I would share!

The Scentsy Buddies, which are stuffed animals that have "scent packs" in them are so perfect as Spring / Easter gifts...children love them, and they add such a nice fragrance to the air (and the snuggle factor for the stuffed animal is extremely high since they smell so good!). Favorite scents include: Vanilla Cream (like ice cream), Clean Breeze (think of a dryer sheet) and French Lavender (great calming fragrance for bedtime!). Check them out:
AlisonSoileau.Scentsy.us/Buy/Collection/785

My children have already put in their "requests" to the Easter Bunny for the Lion and Lamb...and 4 different scent packs! Ha! They can't decide which one they love the most.

Mmmmm....Delicious Scents!!

2011-03-11T09:45:00.004-06:00

As you know, using high-quality, botanically-based health and wellness products has been an extremely important part of my family's existence for many years. We use lotions and skincare products without mineral oil, parabens, etc...and make sure our nutrition products are vegan-certified, without animal byproducts (also important to not have animal byproducts in cosmetics!!).

The one thing I didn't think about was our home environment. We love good scents...especially candles. I usually have a different scent in each room of our home for variety. Unbeknownst to us, lighting candles produces soot in the air...which we then breathe in (think of all the black stuff on glass jar candles). Ugh.

Thanks to my mother-in-law learning about this, and passing it on - we have made a dramatic change in our home. Since December, I have replaced all our candles with wickfree, soot-free, lead-free warmers. The warmers use a nightbulb light to warm a specially formulated wax that scents the air three times as long as a traditional candle. Yay! And Yum - there are 80 scents to choose from, so my need for variety is fulfilled...and the kids have chosen their own special scents.

A few weeks ago, due to popular request from friends/family/current clients who have witnessed the change in our home, I decided to become a consultant for Scentsy, the line of products who changed our home environment. I am excited to offer the same level of service as our current business...only now with the added benefit of home products as well. I will add more details about Scenty's offerings as I learn them...this is going to be great fun! : )

Check out what Scentsy has to offer: AlisonSoileau.Scentsy.us

Great Blog with Outstanding Educational Info

2011-02-16T14:14:00.002-06:00

I was sent a link to this blog recently, and it has such great information on the cosmetics industry...especially this video. Kind of scary to know these things are in the products we put on our faces! I bought my daughter some "play" makeup yesterday, and when I checked the ingredients - I had to throw most of it away. It was disturbing to know I would allow those items to touch her face had I not learned about what they really mean.

Healthy and Beautiful Skin Blog

Foundation Brush or Sponge

2011-01-07T10:31:00.003-06:00

With the start of a new year, I decided to try some new makeup application techniques (well, new to me anyway!). I've heard a lot about foundation brushes - and lots of women love them.

So, I bought a foundation brush along with a concealer brush. I've used a concealer brush for awhile now, but I always end up "finishing" the look with slight taps of my fingers. For some reason, I cannot get the look I want with just the brush. But, I needed a new one anyway - and it's always good to replace brushes that are not completely washable (I didn't feel like I could get 100% of the concealer off of the brush when I washed it).

My experience with the foundation brush has had some ups and downs. Here are some pros and cons that I've seen:

Pros: (1) It would be great for a night out - when more foundation is needed and (2) it was fun!

Cons: (1) I used a lot more foundation - not good for the checkbook, (2) it was a heavier look...not as natural for a "day" look, and (3) the "finish" was not as soft as I like.

That being said, I'm going to give it a few more tries. Perhaps practice is what I need to get away from my usual technique.

When I work with women on cosmetics, I always recommend foundation application using clean fingers (dot cheeks, nose, forehead, chin - then blend using downward strokes)...and "finish" or "blend" with a sponge. That way, you are only removing the extra foundation, and you can smooth it down to the neck. I had difficulty doing this with the brush.

I'd love to hear other opinions of foundation brushes...perhaps I just didn't select the right brand? Either way, for now, I think I'm going to stick to my tried-and-true (and less expensive) application technique. : )

Dinner for All Four of Us!

2010-11-29T20:00:00.004-06:00

Finally! A dinner that all four of the people who live in our house actually LOVED - and it's from Cooking Light, so the fat/calories/etc. are not too bad. It's Fettuccine Alfredo with Bacon (made with low fat milk and Applewood Bacon...I also subsituted whole wheat pasta in place of the fettuccine noodles). My little ones even asked for "seconds," which rarely happens! I am still shocked by dinner tonight...hope your family enjoys it, too.
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=10000001949744

Holiday Card Time!

2010-11-22T11:34:00.004-06:00

What a great time to connect (or re-connect) with family and friends...with holiday cards! I realize some find this an old tradition, but we love to decorate our living space with the cards we receive each year, especially now that most of them have beautiful pictures on them! And those of you who have seen my house or office know that I love being surrounded by reminders of family and friends - and their smiling faces.

I also love carrying around pictures of Cole & Cass with me…and my most recent photo album creation is sitting happily in my purse as you read this. The latest cool thing I have noticed about Shutterfly is that you can select a bunch of pictures, tell it you want a photo album, and they will automatically group “like” pictures page-by-page! How cool is that?!? My entire last album was created by them, not me. Fantastic time-saver. I’ve started getting a new album every few months so I can avoid printing a ton of photos and having to file them myself. And the albums are really reasonably priced (the latest special is $10.39). Here's the link to their site:
http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books

Now I am testing out holiday cards…here is my favorite – what do you think?

Still working on it...but here's the site so you can make your own holiday cards:
http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-cards
Looking forward to seeing and sharing some gorgeous cards this year!
: )

The Perfect Red!

2010-10-26T12:48:00.003-05:00

This just about says it all...what a great, brief post on lipstick color! Thanks to City Girl for the review -
http://citygirlinredlipstick.com/2010/10/20/arbonne-cosmetics-2/

Don't Forget the Sunscreen!

2010-10-15T09:44:00.005-05:00

I was out for a jog this morning, and the weather is gorgeous! As I was squinting in the beautiful sunshine, I realized I should have put on sunglasses and sunscreen...for some reason, it just slips the mind when it's not "summer"....has this happened to you?

With the long sleeves and long pants we are wearing, using suncreen on our hands and face isn't always top-of-mind. However, if you use a daily moisturizer with sunscreen, that helps. No extra step required! Remember, most of the signs of aging (80-90%) are externally driven (ie, environment, sun damage, smoking) - not genetics.

Squinting can lead to fine lines around the eyes, and going outside without sunscreen is just a bad idea...always. So take care of your skin this winter - lots of moisturizer, and keep the sunscreen on hand.

P.S. I read an article in the paper yesterday...did you know that sleeping on your side or stomach can also lead to more wrinkles?!?! All that pressure for so many hours is not good for the skin. So try your best to sleep on your back! Whew.

A Tiny Bit of Color

2010-09-22T09:36:00.007-05:00

Something I never quite understood was the emphasis on one particular cosmetics product - blush. There always seems to be a lot of commentary and worry over how to apply it just the right way.

Thinking about our "non-made-up" faces, though, do any of us naturally blush exactly the same way? Some of us have a little more color higher on our cheeks than others. Some of us get blotchy...and some of us barely show any color at all. So why try to re-create a natural blush with products in an unnatural way?

To me, one of the biggest concerns with blush application is when you can tell it exists on someone's face. For example, a streak of color slashed across the cheeks to create the illusion of cheekbones is not flattering (use bronzer in the hollow and a highlighter on the bone instead...not pink, rose, or sunset colors).

Blush should be a natural complement to your skin, not a primary focus.

And for many of us, our skin gets flushed in the heat regularly anyway. Not to mention a little color from the sun. So there's no need to make our faces even more pink!

For a quick and easy, non-stressful blush application:

*Try a "sunset" shade - it tends to work well with most skintones (similar to the middle of the top petals of the rose to the right)

*Lightly load your brush with product
*Smile, start at the apple of your cheeks, and blend towards hairline
*Stop. No need to double-layer blush.
*Repeat on the other side

Or, you could have someone tell you a really funny joke...laughter will cause your face to light up beautifully...
: )

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

2010-09-08T08:55:00.005-05:00

Over the past few months of makeup workshops, I've discovered how very versatile a beautiful brown eye shadow can be. If you find the right color (something close to actual chocolate...rich, deep, true-to-color and slightly shimmery) - here are some of the things you can do with it:

*Quick eyeliner: (see "stamping" technique in previous post) on top lashline only, add mascara = done

*Everyday eyeliner: apply to both upper and lower lashline (only halfway across lower lashline)

*Dramatic evening look: use chocolate on the lid, a smokey gray in the crease, then dot a white/shimmery shadow where your pupil would be when your eyes are closed = gorgeous!

*Darken another color: if you have a shadow that isn't quite dark enough (or when you apply it, is has no depth...and can barely be seen) - tap your eyeshadow brush into your brown first, then your other color. It will deepen the shadow without making it too harsh.

*Eyebrow fill: Using a slanted brush, and short strokes - you can create a beautiful eyebrow to frame your face. Of course, if you have light hair - use a lighter brown color

All these options, with just one color - that's smart spending!
: )

Toxins in Cosmetics?

2010-08-25T09:25:00.005-05:00

There seems to be a lot of press about this lately...it's pretty nerve-wracking to think about all the things that could be in the products we put on our faces and bodies every day. Yesterday, there was a story on ABCNews.com (here's the link to the video), and now this Jillian Michaels info.

http://www.jillianmichaels.com/fitness-and-diet-tips/are-there-toxins-in-your-cosmetics

Ahhhh!

Drinks and Weight Loss

2010-08-17T08:16:00.004-05:00

WebMD has a great summary of many beverages (from tea to veggie juice and light beer), and how they can help or hurt weight loss efforts:
http://www.webmd.com/diet/slideshow-skinny-sipping?ecd=wnl_din_081610

Eye Shadow and Eyeliner

2010-08-16T13:20:00.006-05:00

Have you tried skipping the pencil or liquid liner when applying your eye makeup? It's a little intimidating at first, but the outcome can be really soft and pretty when done well.

The most important tool in this type of makeup application is your brush - you must use a slanted brush..anything else just doesn't seem to work well.

Using a small angled brush, load it with the eye shadow (a color similar to chocolate works beautifully). Using a “stamping” technique, simply press the brush on the lid starting in the corner with the longer part of the angled brush into the corner. Reload and continue. Tilt upwards at the end.

Do the same “stamping” technique under the eye. Use a q-tip to slightly smudge under the eye.
*Tip: Use a large fan brush to dust away any excess…similar to sweeping with a small broom.

Eye shadow stays on very well through the day - but, if you're not quite confident in the shadow alone, you can always put some eyeliner on with a pencil, then cover it using the technique above. Double-duty liner!

What type of oil are you putting on your skin?

2010-08-05T10:49:00.006-05:00

Since I have extremely oily skin, I was always afraid of anything with oil in it...little did I know that some oils are very nourishing for the skin, and should definitely be used regularly! The post below does a great job explaining the differences in oils...and how they can benefit your skin:

Mineral Oil vs. Arbonne Oil (reposted from http://blog.arbonne.com/2010/07/16

Recently an Arbonne Consultant asked, “What’s the difference between mineral oil and the oil Arbonne uses?” This question is a very good one. Let’s define the difference between several types of oils used in the cosmetics industry and then define the Arbonne difference.

What is an oil?
Simply defined, an oil is any substance that remains in a liquid state at room temperature and that is insoluble in water — in other words … it floats on top. Oils can function as moisturizers or cleansers, depending on the formula into which they are added. As a cleanser, they can help surround and lift dirt off the skin and out of the pores which can be washed away. As a moisturizer, they help prevent transepidermal water loss (TEWL) because they are able to deliver hydrating lipids to the skin’s surface. In fact, the primary benefit of including oils in cosmetic formulations is specifically for their hydrating ability. Some oils, because of their traditional medicinal uses, are able to help soothe, calm and comfort surface irritations and sun damage.

The most popular oils used in cosmetic formulas are the following:

Mineral Oil
Vegetal Oil
Essential Oil

Let’s look at each of these …

Mineral Oil is liquid petrolatum. It is a by-product of the petroleum industry in their production of gasoline. Mineral oil is a lightweight inexpensive oil that is odorless and tasteless. There are two grades — industrial (as in machine lubricant) and cosmetic (as in beauty products). Cosmetic grade mineral oil is used by many skin care companies. Mineral oil is used in their formulas as an occlusive ingredient, coating the skin’s surface to inhibit TEWL and to give an emollient effect that is suitable for treating dry skin. Cosmetic mineral oil is generally USP (U.S. Pharmacopia) and BP (British Pharmacopia) grade, is highly refined and purified, and is not an industrial grade containing benzene, a known toxin and carcinogen. One of the common concerns regarding the use of cosmetic mineral oil is its presence on several lists of comedogenic substances (ingredients that clog the pores). These comedogenic lists were developed many years ago yet remain frequently quoted in some dermatologic literature.

Vegetal Oils are derived from … you guessed it … plants! Vegetal oils are used as fixed oils, base oils or carrier oils (as in aromatherapy) in cosmetic formulas. Vegetal oils are usually obtained from the fatty oils in seeds, kernels or nuts. Some vegetal oils are odorless, others may be sweet and nutty in aroma. Vegetal oils also have film-forming properties, are less occlusive than mineral oil, yet still help retard transepidermal water loss (TEWL). In addition, vegetal oils may naturally contain vitamins, minerals, nutrients and essential fatty acids (EFAs). For example, vegetal oils that naturally contain Vitamin E act as antioxidants. Safflower Oil contains oleic and lineolic acids that are beneficial to the skin. Olive Oil is effective in hydrating and soothing the skin. Other vegetal oils such as Avocado Oil, Apricot Oil, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil, Soybean Oil, Sunflower Oil and Sweet Almond Oil help prevent evaporation and provide lubrication to the surface of skin, making dry skin look and feel better.

/mineral-oil-vs-arbonne-oil/)

Essential Oils are derived from leaves, bark, roots and other aromatic portions of the plant. Essential oils are the fragrant oils found in plants. Essential oils are extremely concentrated and chemically complex, containing many substances and compounds. Some essential oils contain more than 200 identified chemical substances, and have been called by some botanical scientists the “lifeblood of a plant” because they contain compounds that the plant uses to fight infections, disease and parasites. Essential oils carry a distinct scent or essence of the plant. Essential oils are used in aromatherapy, massage therapy and ayurvedic medicine. They are also used in fragrances and lotions and incense. Essential oils with their volatile aromas can be used to enhance moods, help promote relaxation, help awaken energy levels, help calm the feelings of stress and help promote well-being. Essential oils should not be used by themselves directly on the skin. Because they are very concentrated, essential oils are always blended with vegetal oils, as in a massage oil; or blended with vegetal oils and other moisturizing ingredients as in a body lotion. Examples of essential oils include: Lavender Oil, Rosemary Oil, Cedarwood Oil, Peppermint Oil, Bergamot Oil, Lemon Oil, Ylang-Ylang, etc.

The Arbonne Difference
Arbonne does not use petroleum-based oil ingredients. This includes mineral oil. It is Arbonne’s preference to use vegetal oils and essential oils in its formulations because of our botanical-based heritage and because of the many additional healthy benefits plant oils can also bring to the skin. There are no known skin nutritive, massage and aromatherapeutic benefits from mineral oil. So why go this route when we have all the abundance plant oils can deliver.

Arbonne Oils (FC5 Skin Conditioning Oil, Sea Source 5-in-1 Essential Massage Oil, ABC Baby Body Oil, Aromassentials Unwind Massage Oil) are a blend of both vegetal and essential oils, formulated as beneficial skin care products and for massage. These oils are lightweight and can also be used on the face, as a supplemental AM/PM product or for a pampering facial massage.

SO-O-O-O … here’s an analogy - close your eyes and imagine…

Imagine … it’s cold and pouring rain outside ….
Would you rather be standing under an umbrella in that rain?
Or sitting at home, in your favorite chair, watching your favorite movie, eating your favorite ice cream?
In each scenario you are sheltered from the rain. That’s good!
Now … Do you want to just be protected … or …
Protected, Comfortable and Nourished all at the same time?
Which one do you think is analogous to the mineral oil?
Which one do you think is analogous to the Arbonne Oil?
Now… if you had YOUR choice, which one would YOU chose -— mineral oil? Or the Arbonne Oil?

Algae...on my face?

2010-07-16T00:23:00.001-05:00

Found this great article on algae...who knew?
http://blog.arbonne.com/2010/07/08/algae-extract-from-sea-to-skin/

Volume WITHOUT Back-Combing!

2010-07-12T16:45:00.005-05:00

I had a great experience with a new hairstylist this weekend - her name is Mistie, and her salon is The Hair House in Destrehan, LA.

She not only gave me a great haircut, but taught me different styles for my curly hair. She also blew it dry straight, and showed me how to style it that way. The time and energy she spent on education was outstanding. One new thing I learned about - that I must share with you! - is "Healing Style" by L'Anza - the Powder Up Texturizer.

Instead of teasing the hair at the crown, and creating a mess of knots, you can get height using this POWDER. It's the coolest thing I've ever tried in my hair. You sprinkle it on, and then rub it in..."tousle" the hair a little at the root - and you've got gorgeous volume without the mess. And it stays!!

Here's the website with more info on these products, if you're interested:
http://www.lanza.com/products/display_products.sd?iid=79&catid=16&loc=show&headTitle= - Powder-Up Texturizer

Just had to share - I feel like I have a new toy!

Fox News Story

2010-07-07T15:52:00.004-05:00

This is so exciting! Our company's anti-aging products were featured on a Fox news story recently by an international makeup artist! And there are other GREAT tips for dealing with the heat of summer.

This recent TV segment aired on Fox® news in central Pennsylvania, featuring internationally renowned makeup artist Mickey Williams as she shares some skin care tips for looking your best this summer.

Check it out: http://bit.ly/arRobp

Tinted Moisturizer vs. Foundation

2010-07-05T22:53:00.008-05:00

For those of us who live where the humidity is high, the temperatures are high, and the likelihood of makeup staying put is low...you understand the foundation dilemma ("should I even bother? will it just melt off? will it even look natural? my face feels like i have a mask on!!").

One way to get the coverage without the "mask" feeling is with a great tinted moisturizer. There are fantastic products that have SPF in them, and your skin feels like you have nothing on it - but, you have the coverage you need...perfect!

Use concealer only where absolutely necessary (mostly just in a half-moon shape in the inner corner of the eyes), and to cover any imperfections...but concealer tends to be very heavy and thick, so you don't want to have too much of it on summer skin.

Use a translucent powder to finish the look. Apply the powder with a large powder brush (or kabuki brush) - dip it in the powder, tap off the excess, then apply to your skin with a light, swirling motion. Ahhh...feels cooler already.

Dr. Oz's Opinion - The Price of Beauty

2010-06-20T18:59:00.002-05:00

Wow...this was scary (but quite informative) reading. I heard about this information recently, and I finally found the Dr. Oz post online:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/price-beauty

Cosmetics - Foundation Video

2010-06-15T15:34:00.000-05:00

Tips & Techniques: Celebrity Makeup Artist Cooper demonstrates why Arbonne Cosmetics are a perfect complement to your skin care regimen in this new video on YouTube, highlighting the Perfecting Liquid Foundation with SPF 15. Take a look and share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/b4nO5I
[reposted from Arbonne's FB page]

Do You Have to Speak in Front of a Group Soon?

2010-06-10T15:55:00.006-05:00

A true test of one's self-confidence is standing in front of a room of people to speak. Most of us are deathly afraid of doing it!
If you haven't checked out a Toastmasters meeting before, I highly recommend it. I've been a member for many years, and the practice/feedback from these groups is outstanding to improve public speaking skills. Here are some tips from www.toastmasters.org:

1. Know your material - use personal stories, it will help you remember what you are going to say.

2. Practice! Rehearse out loud. Time yourself.

3. Know the audience. Greet people as they come in. It's easier to speak to friends than strangers.

4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around, test equipment.

5. Relax. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. See the audience clapping for you.

7. Realize that people want you to succeed. They don't want you to fail.

8. Don't apologize for nervousness...no one probably noticed it anyway.

9. Concentrate on the message, not the medium (ie, focus on content and not yourself).

10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence.

Perfect "Natural" Lipcolor!

2010-06-07T16:41:00.005-05:00

Finally, finally, finally - after years of searching and too much money to count spent on trying different colors - I stumbled upon a great neutral lip color today!! I am so excited...it's perfect for summer.

I always had problems with too pink, too non-existent, too pale, just not right colors - but this looks great and blends well with my skintone. My lips are really pale, and then I have dark hair, dark eyes - and light skin. It is very difficult to find a "natural" lip color that didn't fade away into the background. But not today - Whew!

Lips lined in Cafe, Lipstick in Satin, with a touch of Brown Sugar lip polish...even got compliments from strangers today.

It's amazing how a good set of lips can make a lady's day!
: )

Summer Cosmetics Tips #1

2010-06-02T22:08:00.006-05:00

This is a repost from Arbonne's Facebook page - love these tips!

"It's the start of summer. And since vibrant colors boost your mood, it's also the beginning of a new series of Arbonne makeup tips!

Summer Cosmetic Tip #1: Makeup lasts even longer when you start by applying a primer to your face, including your brow bone and eyelids. Primer prepares your skin for makeup application by ...creating a smooth, even surface."