❤ The Glam Life ❤

My other amazing job :) Working at Windsor Beauty Supply!!

2011-10-28T18:42:00.001-07:00

Some of you have been asking about my other job. And I love it just as much as being an Esthetician :) It's working retail at a local beauty supply.

It's where I took my esthetics course, it's where I did my Co-Op placement to finish up my high school diploma. I loved working there so much that I was thrilled when I got the call from one of the lovely owners Fay who wanted to hire me. I work there Monday-Wednesday and the salon the rest of the week. So I have become quite busy but feel lucky to love my job as much as I do :) It makes getting up in the morning a little easier to do.

It's a lot of work, a lot more than people would assume of a beauty supply. But there's customer service, learning the computer system, inventory, orders, special orders, having product knowledge and lots more. It's a lot but I love it, I love the customers and I love my coworkers.

Since there's so many pictures I'll just write a little about each one and if you have any specific questions on a product just let me know.

HOLY MOLY ! WHAT A WEEK !

2011-10-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Soooooooooo my first few days at the salon were GREAT !

I work Monday & Tuesday at Windsor Beauty Supply and Wednesday through Saturday at the salon :)

My boyfriend's been working out of town in Goderich cleaning up after the F3 tornado that whipped through Canada's prettiest town and caused an ENORMOUS amount of damage. He comes home on weekends for visits and GUESS WHAT HE DECIDED TO BRING HOME FOR ME ?

A HORRIBLE COLD !

Yesssssssssssssss, how nice of him ? Really, he could have brought something much nicer back for me but no he gave me a nasty cold :(

I'm not usually someone who gets sick easily, but normally when I do it's around this time of year. Seems as though my immune system thinks it's ok to temporarily stop working when the seasons change. I'm not complaining, it could be much worse and I am truly blessed. BUT DAMN, this was bad timing for me to wind up sick :(

I went from not really having many commitments or day to day tasks that I was absolutely 100% required to do. I went from having no jobs to 2 jobs in 2 days. And I'm NOT complaining ! In this economy I am grateful that my industry is still doing as well as it is and that I was so lucky to find such a great job after such a short time being out of school. I am also thankful that I have had the love and support of my parents, family and boyfriend. Everyone is behind me 100% believing in me and knowing that I am going to be successful. Which is more than I can ask for. My family has been diligently handing out business cards, spreading the word about my new salon adventure and trying to rope in as many clients for me as they can.

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family [yes I'm Canadian, in case you didn't know] I was able to spend time with my cousin who was like my sister as we grew up together. I got to see my Step-Mom's side of the family, my dad and his parents, and his lovely neighbours too ! Although I was completely exhausted I had a wonderful time.

It feels abnormally good to be genuinely exhausted, not from being a lazy teenager but from being a working adult. I feel so lucky to be so young starting my career, did ya hear that, career. Not just a job, but a passion that I am lucky enough to be paid for. Most 20 year olds are starting college, trying to figure out what they want to do with their lives. And I already have my foot in the door of a salon, a life long dream that's come true for me over the last year.

So I guess this post started out as a rant and now it's turned into me realizing how grateful & thankful I am to finally have my life going down a positive, passion-filled path. And I guess I want to just share this with all of you. I want to share my happiness, my excitement, my passion and my motivation. It took me a long time to get where I am. My family and I have had our hardships, we've had our struggles, we've gone through many ups and downs. I never really go into great detail about my past, but I've really learned a lot from it and I like to share that with you.

I want YOU to know that no matter what road your life has taken you to get to where you are now, there are great things ahead in your future. There are many blessings to be bestowed upon you. You can DO whatever you WANT to do with your life. Hard work and diligence will take you there faster. A passion and LOVE for your job/career make things a lot easier. So when you find something you love to do, when you find something that makes it easier to wake up in the morning--take it and RUN with it. Turn that passion into a career !

Something I've been using as a motto is -NO TRYING, JUST DOING-
And it seems to be helping me reach my goals and aspirations.

Don't let anybody bring you down, don't let someone's negativity pour into you and make you feel negative. Don't let others tell you what you're capable of, or what you're not capable of. If you want enough, you've got it in you to DO IT ! It may take some time to get where you want to go ! I'm all about living in the NOW and not focusing on the past or future, but you've got to remember where you came from. Sometimes you have to remember the hell you've been through to realize the heaven you're in.

So that's enough inspiration/life coaching for the day Ha Ha. I just really want you all to feel the way I do now. The fact that my blog has over 8000 views just AMAZES me and makes me want to do right by YOU the readers <3

THANK YOU SO MUCH for reading :) Stay Glam Girls !

You can always join me on The Glam Life Facebook HERE.
The Glam Life TWITTERISTAS can follow me HERE.

And you can ALWAYS E-Mail me @ theglamlife@live.ca

I LOVE reading your comments so feel free to post below :)

My FIRST day in the SALON :)

2011-10-05T15:08:00.000-07:00

So today was my FIRST day working in the salon where I am renting a room !

I'll put the link to their FB page HERE if you want to check it out for more pics of the salon and some of the work that the other girls have done/can do ! I'm the only Esthetician there, but the other girls are amazing hair stylists !

Here's a pic of their window decal :)

Anyways, on to my day ! The head stylist was out all day on a field trip with her daughter, so today was not the typical day at the salon. It was quite slow and there were only a few clients who came in ! I did however, get the opportunity to give Tasha [a stylist] a pedicure ! So I did get to make some money and got some practice in my room. I'm realizing that I still need a lot of practice, and that it's true that your education does NOT end when you are done school [it's really when the learning BEGINS]. It took me way too long to complete the service, I'm going to have to start looking at the clock while I perform services to ensure this doesn't happen to a client !

I was happily surprised when I was handed the phone, and on the other end was a woman named Charlotte who wanted to book a manicure on Saturday ! YAY my FIRST official appointment ! It was a little odd however, I had no idea how she found out I was even there as it was my first day !

I was also able to give my FIRST complimentary hand massage to a woman named Fay, while she waited for her husband to get his hair cut ! She really enjoyed it, and I was pleasantly surprised & pleased with it too ! I gave her a quick tour of my room and hopefully she'll end up being one of my clients !

So all in all, I had a great day ! Great learning experience, getting a feeling for the salon environment and for my room :) I'm so grateful that at such a young age I know what I want to do with my life and I'm on my way to achieving my goals ! Whatever you want to do with your life, whatever your passions are, follow them, do everything you can to make your dreams come true. Even when you're faced with obstacles in your life, focus in and get tunnel vision and see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks for reading girls :) If you would like to book an appointment you can see my price list HERE, you can send me an e-mail @ theglamlife@live.ca & come join The Glam Life on Facebook HERE.
[It's probably better if you leave a comment on my FB page if you'd like an appointment] I will be doing some sort of giveaway for my Facebook page SOON ! So stay tuned for that !

And here's a preview of my business cards !

BIG THINGS HAPPENING FOR ME !!! & PRICE LIST :)

2011-09-30T05:02:00.000-07:00

BIG THINGS
have been happening for me lately !!

I was hired at the Beauty Supply where I work on September 19, 2011 and on the 20th I was hired at a salon as a room rental ! I've been pretty busy getting everything ready to start working there as an Esthetician ! I'm so excited & happy that things are finally falling into place for me :)

I wanted to make a quick post with a few pictures of my ROOM [these pics were taken yesterday when I was moving my furniture in] I will be posting more pictures as I get things set up and then finally when it's done and I'm ready to start working !!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

URBAN HAIR DESIGN & ESTHETICS ** MY PRICE LIST >> VIEW PDF FILE ** <<= CLICK that link to view my price list as a PDF on Google Docs :) [more services will be added in January, and prices may change]

So, that's my room ! It's a quaint little room, with a view of the Thames River. It's the perfect spot for me to start and I can't wait to actually get in there and START WORKING :)

There ya go ! A quick post for you showing my room, and my price list. I'm hoping to do a post soon on the beauty supply where I work . If you're interested leave a comment below or on my Facebook page you can find HERE ! If you have any questions feel free to leave them there as well, or contact me by E-Mail @ theglamlife@live.ca ! Thanks for reading GLAM GIRLS !!

OPI Fall & Holiday Promotions & Collections.

2011-09-24T19:23:00.000-07:00

As I previously blogged, OPI will be releasing a GORGEOUS collection this Holiday season--The Muppets, to coincide with the release of The Muppets Movie ! The collection features 6 dazzling glitter polishes, and 6 shimmery Fall inspired colours !

This collection will be available in October, and is sure to have a polish for EVERYONE !

You will also be seeing this display at your local OPI distributor [now]

The Silver Shatter has been available for sometime now, and the Gold has finally come to Canada, and it's absolutely beautiful ! I love wearing it over black, chocolate brown, or silver for that two-toned metal look.

And let's not forget about Breast Cancer Awareness month, October. OPI releases a special, limited edition pink shade of polish for their "Pink Of Heart's" Breast Cancer Awareness initiative. This years promotion is "Let's SHATTER Breast Cancer", featuring PINK SHATTER !

I've had the pleasure of playing with this one and it's a gorgeous pink with fine shimmer.

Let's NOT forget about Halloween ? Who doesn't LOVE dressing up and pretending to be somebody else for the day? Wearing your Halloween make up, costume and accessories, why not complete the look with your nails ? This year for OPI's Happy Halloweenies they've released a SUPER cool GLOW in the DARK polish [that actually works, I've tested it :)] PAIRED with the ULTRA popular BLACK SHATTER !

This awesome duo is called Pair'em & Scare'em and features 2 full sized polishes [available NOW]!

And they've ALSO released A mini collection called "Spookettes"

This collection features 4 MINI polishes, with Alpine Snow [white] & Black Onyx [black] renamed for the season, along with a festive orange & the glow in the dark polish. This collection comes with easy to apply nail decals which make nail art simple, fun and SCARY ! You're sure to be this Halloween's trend setter with either of these Happy Halloweenies polishes !

And last but not least, they've released a beautiful fall hued duo that comes with a free cosmetic bag ! [Which I've discovered is the perfect size for hiding tampons in your purse] Ha ha ha .... TMI ?

Anyways, you get the #1 Best Selling shade by OPI, "I'm Not Really A Waitress", a beautiful, deep, shimmering red. Also included is a deep plum-purple shade called, "William Tell Me About OPI".

FYI The bag is folded over in the packaging, it's at least twice as long. This collection is also available now.

Thanks for reading GLAM GIRLS !!! If you have any questions or requests please feel free to contact me on my FB page HERE, send me an E-Mail @ theglamlife@live.ca or TWEET me HERE ! I love reading all of your comments so feel free to do that too !!! Lot's of Love <3

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Bad, baaaaaaaaaaaad Blogger :(

2011-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:00

This is where I give you all of my excuses as to why I haven't been blogging, insert bull$^&* here ______.

Ha ha, no, instead of that let's make this post a point form update as to what's been going on in my life and how I've been working my butt off to make my way into the beauty industry.

Esthetics course : Feb-June 2011
Co-Op placement at a Beauty Supply to complete my Grade 12 from May 2011-present
Extra courses & advanced courses on Mondays a few times a month [Katrine Marso skincare training, OPI Axxium Gels, OPI Axxium Soak Off, and soon a makeup & eyelash extension class]
My 20th Birthday, September 2 :) I had to throw that in there :)
Got hired at the Beauty Supply where I Co-Op on Monday September 19th.
Got hired to work as an Esthetician at a salon On September 20th. Will be renting a room and working for myself. [Finding furniture, looking into insurance, taking my personal product inventory, looking into business cards, coming up with my pricelist, working on holiday promotions and figuring out how to market myself.
and completely ignoring/neglecting my blog :( Which I am NOT proud of, and I'm not sure why--because I totally love sharing my knowledge with all of you, talking about new products, doing hauls, and just writing about all things beauty........... Trying to get back on the wagon.

And also on top of all that I've been dealing with the fact that I'm at home alone :( I've lived with my boyfriend for almost 4 years in a relationship where we never get sick of eachother. We've spent about 90% of the relationship with eachother all day every day. I guess I've learned that I'm not so good at being alone :( Most days when I get done from Co-Op I come home and relax with our little chihuahua Bentley, and really don't feel like doing much. BUT in the past week I've seemed to pull myself out of that FUNK-a-DUNK and I've been doing WAYYYYYYYYYYY better. I guess I'm finally learning how to be independant.

ANYHOW, back to the Beauty Industry and my NEW/FIRST JOB working as an Esthetician ! I will be renting a room in a beautiful hair salon [not saying the name just yet]. So I will be paying rent and everything I make will be MINE, I will be working with a wonderful bunch of girls who are just as excited to have me as I am to be there. I guess I'm just really proud of myself for how far I've come in the last 10 years. I won't go into detail, but I had quite a hard time with life for a pretty long time, and back then I would have NEVER guessed that I would have come THIS far by 20 years old. I am so happy with the way my life is going right now, it's like the cookie's finally crumbling the way I WANT IT TO !

So I'm gonna say goodbye again for now, but it won't be as long until the next one, *pinky promise*

OPI POLISH Collections : Nice Stems, Miss Universe, Touring America, and The Muppets !

2011-07-13T20:26:00.000-07:00

Gosh I feel horrible :( It's been SOOOOOOOOOOOO long since I've posted. Yes, I have been a delinquent Blogger, and no it's NOT good for The Glam Life and NO I don't plan on being this way forever... Blah blah blah, right ? Blame it on being busy, no not completely true. Just like everyone else I go through times when I don't even open my laptop, it's like being AWOL from the internet--and every once in a while I feel like everyone should do it.........

Anyways I hope everyone's been enjoying the holidays [Canada Day, July 1st, and the 4th of July for America] and if those don't apply to you, then I hope all of you have been enjoying the Summer. Off from work and school, it's time to relax and paint our nails. With ALL of the collections that OPI has & will be releasing in the near future, we'll all have so many new colours to choose from !

First we'll start with 1 of 2 of my favourites, and it's already released [I plan on grabbing at least 3/4 of them in the near future, the names are just too darn CUTE !]

The NICE STEMS collection, 4 perfect pink polishes for your taking !

These are NOT my photos, Google images

These are NOT my photos, Google images
From the Left, Play the Peonies, Come to Poppy, Be a Dahlia, Won't You ? and I Lily Love You !

NEXT is the Miss Universe Collection :

Also NOT mine, Google Images

Also NOT mine, Google Images

From The Left : Swimsuit....Nailed It! Crown Me Already, Congeniality is My Middle Name, and It's MY Year

TOURING AMERICA being released August 4th !!!

NOT MY PHOTOS : Google Images

Not Mine, Google Images

And my other favourite collection so far comes from OPI's Holiday Promotions 2011, The MUPPETS COLLECTION !!!

First of all, who didn't LOVE to watch the Muppets as a child ! I grew up in the 90's, and I ALWAYS watched them, the movies, holiday specials EVERYTHING ! And Miss Piggy was always my favourite <3 Anyways, on to the GOODS!!!

Google Images

Are there any that you MUST have ? One collection that REALLY stands out to you ? Let me know if you buy any and how you like them ! I'm planning on purchasing some soon [Nice Stems], pictures will be on Facebook !

And as always, THANKS for reading, though there wasn't much to read.*Sigh*

Come join me on Facebook HERE or click the picture at the top right of the screen ! I LOVE reading your comments, and answering questions........ Facebook is where I do most of that, so get in on it ! Oh, and TWITTER too !

ALL ABOUT HAIR REMOVAL ! [BASIC]

2011-06-05T16:57:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I last blogged, and I feel horrible for neglecting The Glam Life ! It's not very GLAM at all! But I have been very busy, with my Esthetics course on the weekends, trying to get practice in during the week, and now Co-Oping at the beauty supply to finish my Grade 12 Diploma. It's a lot of work, that I'm honestly not used to and I'm loving every minute of it ! It feels good to finally be doing something, reaching goals I have for myself, working, and finishing school--in an industry that I LOVE so much !

Anyways, on to the Hair removal information !

ALL methods of hair removal generally fall into one of two categories, depilation and epilation. Depilation is the removal of hair at the surface of the skin and epilation is the removal of hair from under the skin.

Shaving and abrasives are both types of depilation. Depilation can actually make your hair appear darker, thicker and more coarse as it grows back. When you shave, the hair grows back quickly, sometimes showing dark course stubble within 24 hours. [Think, a man's 5 O'Clock shadow]This type of hair removal can also irritate thin and tender skin areas such as the underarms, face and bikini line. And don't forget about the possibility of CUTTING yourself, razor bumps, and INGROWN hairs.

ABRASIVES are like MILD SANDPAPER for your skin... Meant to remove FINE hairs by rubbing it OFF. Ok seriously, if any of you GLAM GIRLS have tried this, let me know in the comments or on the FB page :)

I can only imagine what this would feel like, OUCH ! Rugburn anyone ???

WAXING, TWEEZING AND ELECTROLYSIS are all types of EPILATION.

ELECTROLYSIS is the ONLY known, tried & true method of PERMANENT hair removal. In a nut shell ? A small needle is inserted into each hair follicle until it reaches the root when a galvanized electric current is conducted through the needle killing the root making regrowth IMPOSSIBLE. It also costs you an arm & a leg !

TWEEZING is an ancient ritual which has NOT improved, and is NOW usually only performed on the brows. It's tedious work that usually needs to be done 2-3 times a week and if done improperly can cause a LOT of pain......... Don't we ALL know that !

WAXING:

HARD WAX has been used for CENTURIES and is one of the oldest methods of hair removal known. There are NO strips using hard wax. It is simply melted to a thick creamy consistency, it is applied and allowed to set until tacky. Then the end of the wax is flicked, lifted and pulled quickly in the opposite direction. STRIP WAX is melted to a thinner consistency than hard wax, is applied and then pulled up with a strip of Muslin. The warmth of the liquid wax allows the pores to expand so that the hair can be removed less painfully. And EVERY time you wax,a new papilla must be formed--MEANING that consistent removal WEAKENS the papilla making the hair finer and softer! ALSO meaning that EVERY time you wax it becomes less painful AND it will take longer for the hair to grow back. Your waxing appointments will start approx. 4-6 weeks apart, and after consistent removal time between appointments gets longer as your hair is weakened.

THANKS FOR READING !!!

If you have any questions about anything on TheGlamLife , feel free to contact me @ theglamlife@live.ca and JOIN us on FB for more GLAM-ness <3 haha XOXO & don't forget about TWITTER !!

Love those LUSCIOUS LOCKS !!

2011-05-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

I was just about to straighten my hair when I realized that I haven't updated you all on the hair products that I use ! So I thought I'd do a quick post on 3 products that I use every day !!!

I just picked up that Herbal Essences Long-term Relationship Split End Leave In protector because I had a coupon [haha, yes, why not save money where you can?]

What it says on the bottle: Live in the length of luxury. This is the beautiful beginning of the ends. Smooth them with a kiss of protective conditioning that strengthens you hair against split ends and breakage. I'll keep your hair from splitsville with my quenching formula fused with extracts of red raspberries & Brazilian silk. I'm a tip treat with a silky finish that feels so good.
USE ME: Massage through wet or dry hair, give your tips a big sip, leave it in and love the ending.

Of course, I'm always wary of products claiming to help split ends [because we all know the only way to rid ourselves of them completely is to go get a trim]. But they marketed this as a protector not a mender so I grabbed it. I use this after I towel dry my hair, concentrating mostly on the ends of my hair. {I tend to get greasy on my scalp and bangs first so I avoid putting product in those areas} Since adding this product to my routine I found my hair to be a lot softer and easier to manage/style. There is alcohol in this product, and I'm not sure if I'll be rebuying because I'm planning on switching everything to Macadamia once I get the $$$ ! For being a cheap drugstore product I still think this product performed fairly well. I'll give it a 3/5.

NEXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXT >>>>>>>>>>>

Proclaim Argan Oil Hair Treatment from Sally's Beauty Supply.

I've had that bottle for months & months and I still have BARELY made a ding in it. I bought it when all the buzz first started about Argan Oil, and as much as I love this product, I can ONLY imagine how much I'd love PURE ARGAN OIL !

What it says on the bottle : Proclaim Argan Oil Hair Oil Treatment is uniquely formulated with argan oil and natural ingredients that condition, help repair dry, damaged hair without weighing it down, eliminates frizz and infuse brilliant shine.
DIRECTIONS: Apply a small amount to your palm and distribute evenly through damp or dry hair. Style as desired.

Ok, so I agree with all of that 100%, and DEFINITELY in the directions, you really only need a TINY amount. When I first got this, I was a little excited and went overboard... It wasn't very pretty.. 3 shampoos later and I wasn't greasy anymore.. HAHA My hair is just longer than my shoulders and I use less than a dime size. I also use this after I towel dry my hair, and I find that it shortens the time it takes my hair to dry. This product does eliminate frizz and I love it ! Although I probably won't be repurchasing, only because I'll be switching to Macadamia... I give this product a 4/5 only because I don't know what I'm missing out on with the pure oil !

LAST BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST !

Tresemme Vitamin-Enriched Heat Tamer Spray [minimizes heat damage]

What the bottle says:

Styles and protects

Thermal Creations A complete line of styling products specially formulated to work with your heat appliances to help you get today's hottest looks.
Get Protected This product guards against heat and friction to keep your hair shiny and incredibly soft.

Our Stylists Suggest: Spray liberally 6-8 inches away from mid-shaft to ends. Use both on damp hair before you blow dry and on dry hair before curling or flat-ironing to shield hair from damaging heat. For the ultimate protection use with Tresemme Thermal Creations styling line.

Before I was using this I was only using THIS which I still LOVE, but only use when I curl my hair, read the post if you haven't already because I've repurchased that product SEVERAL times over. This Tresemme Heat Protectant is perfect for both straightening and curling your hair. I still use this with the other product when I curl my hair, I just don't use it when I straighten anymore.

[If that wasn't confusing enough I don't know what is!] LOL

I love this stuff, and I know I will be re-buying this one for sure. This one leaves my dry, frizzy and needs-a-cut-really-bad-since-like-September-2010 hair feeling soft and looking healthy and shiny.! And I feel like it would be great for all hair types. It's not one of those sticky residue heat protectors, it's really light and it doesn't leave any residue.. I spray this much more liberally than the ones that have alcohol in the first 5 ingredients. I give this product a 5/5 for sure !!

THANKS FOR READING !!!

If you have any questions about anything on TheGlamLife , feel free to contact me @ theglamlife@live.ca and JOIN us on FB for more GLAM-ness <3 haha XOXO & don't forget about TWITTER !!

Nail Shapes & Definitions

2011-05-13T12:39:00.000-07:00

This post contains information from

Milady's Standard Nail Technology, 6th edition.

"Square : The square nail is completely straight across the free edge with no rounding at the outside edges.

Squoval : The squoval nail has a square free edge that is rounded off at the corner edges. If the nail extends only slightly past the fingertip this shape will be sturdy because there is no square edge to break off and any pressure on the tip will be reflected directly back to the nail plate, its strongest area. Clients who work with their hands--nurses, computer technicians, landscapers, or office workers--will need shorter, squoval nails.

The round nail should be slightly tapered and usually should extend a bit past the fingertip.

The oval nail is a conservative nail shape that is thought to be attractive on most women's hands. It is similar to a squoval nail with even more rounded corners. Professional clients who have their hands on display [eg. business people, teachers, sales people] may want longer oval nails.

The pointed nail is suited to thin hands with long fingers and narrow nail beds. The nail is tapered and longer than usual to emphasize and enhance the slender appearance of the hand. Know, however, that this nail shape may be weaker, may break more easily, and is more difficult to maintain than other nail shapes. Rarely natural nails are successful with this nail shape so they are usually enhancements. They are for fashion-conscious people who do not need the strongest, most durable nail enhancements."

from

Milady's Standard Nail Technology, 6th edition.
http://www.milady.cengage.com/emails/home_nailtech.html

THANKS FOR READING !!!

If you have any questions about anything on TheGlamLife , feel free to contact me @ theglamlife@live.ca and JOIN us on FB for more GLAM-ness <3 haha XOXO & don't forget about TWITTER !!

What is BETTER for the Natural Nail ??

2011-05-13T11:23:00.000-07:00

This post contains information from

Milady's Standard Nail Technology, 6th edition.

Some people believe that certain types of nail enhancement products are 'better' for the natural nail. Or that some are natural and that others are not. This is absolutely false ! All nail enhancements are made from organic substances. These are false claims designed to fool nail technicians and clients. No one type of nail enhancement product is better for the nail plate than another.

What is better for the nail? That's easy to answer. The best thing for the natural nail is a highly skilled, educated and conscientious nail professional. She is the natural nail's best friend. Good nail professionals protect the health of the nail plate and prevent natural nail damage and infection. The job of every nail professional is to nurture the nail plate and surrounding skin.

When problems occur, they are usually caused by improper nail plate preparation, improper application or maintenance, or improper removal. Any nail enhancement product can be applied, worn and removed safely. It is up to you to choose a salon whos reputation you can stand behind and to be sure your nail technician is able to fully explain the enhancement chosen [What to do & what not to do, offers you retail products to keep your enhancements lasting] You must have a nail technician who is willing to educate you on maintaining your enhancements routinely so that she can ensure that your nails will always be in perfect condition.

This post contains information from

Milady's Standard Nail Technology, 6th edition.

http://www.milady.cengage.com/emails/home_nailtech.html

THANKS FOR READING !!!

If you have any questions about anything on TheGlamLife , feel free to contact me @ theglamlife@live.ca and JOIN us on FB for more GLAM-ness <3 haha XOXO & don't forget about TWITTER !!

I'm an OPI girl, but this stuff looks AWESOME !

2011-05-12T11:05:00.000-07:00

HEY GLAM GIRLS <3 I came across this on the nailsmag website and just HAD to share with you !!!

LCN has just come out with a new type of polish that actually has metal particles in the polish so that they will react to a magnet, which LCN has designed to create unique and fun designs on the polish. It works pretty easily: Just apply the polish on the nail and then immediately hold one of the LCN magnets over the nail for about 10-15 seconds. The polish will take on the shape of the magnet, leaving a nice metallic imprint design on the nail.

The effect will range from subtle to more defined designs, but the luster of the polish added with the layering from the magnet definitely creates a look unto itself.

I can't wait to try this !!!

Tell me what you think ??

THANKS FOR READING BEAUTIES !!

TWITTER & FBOOK

DRY vs. Dehydrated Skin !!! {QUICK POST}

2011-05-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

HEY GLAM GIRLS !!
Here's a quick post regarding Dry vs Dehydrated skin !!

While common for someone with dry skin, dehydration is a condition that can be seen with all skin types. Dehydrated skin lacks WATER, which is different from DRY skin that lacks OIL.

It's important to remember the difference because even oily skin can be dehydrated and needs to be hydrated. Dehydrated skin can look thin or flaky and can feel tight and dry. Skin that needs moisture tends o absorb products quickly. Dehydrated skin can be caused by both internal and external factors such as medications, products, environmental factors and lifestyle choices such as smoking. Drinking plenty of water and hydrating the skin with moisturizers on a daily basis can help minimize the effects of dryness and dehydration.

Quick points:

Dry skin is a skin type, and skin dehydration is a skin condition.
Just because someone drinks 8 glasses of water a day doesn't mean they can't have dehydrated skin.
Make sure you exfoliate GOOD at least once a week to avoid DEAD SKIN BUILDUP which can make your skin look flaky.
Try using a HYDRATION MASQUE at home, or if you can afford it go for a HYDRATING FACIAL.
MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE : Especially right after you get out of the shower and are still a bit wet, AND try adding a drop of baby oil into the lotion in your hand for EXTRA moisturization! Applying lotion while you're still wet helps to lock the moisture into your skin !

I hope this was helpful !!! & as always THANKS for reading <3

Stay SUN SAFE this SUMMER !!

2011-05-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

We all love to be GOLDEN TANNED for the summer, it's instantly slimming, makes you look more toned, allows you to expand your colour palette to choose from clothes & makeup and gives a confidence boost. But at what cost are we paying for the perfect tan ?

As a very fair person who freckles & BURNS easily, I will admit that I tried bed tanning one summer to try and achieve some sort of glow.. Long story short, I burned, freckled and had spots showing up that weren't there before... I realize that this might not be enough for some people to stop their tanning, but it was enough for me. There have been several skin-cancer scares in my family, and I actually had a distant Aunt pass away from Melanoma on my Mom's side..

Don't get me wrong, I would LOVE to be tan all year round but it won't be coming from the sun or tanning beds. And don't worry, this isn't some post talking you into a tan out of a bottle either. I just wanted to address some myths I have come across in my personal FB news feed... "I was at Blankety Blank beach today, had so much fun and now I'm super burned but I don't care cause' it's gonna turn into an even more WICKED TAN !"

And I'm sitting there, OMG, OMG, NO NO NOOOOOOOOOOO !! This is from a GORGEOUS girl I went to school with and I had to break the news to her that what she thought wasn't true... I thought that since Sun Safety has been shoved down our throats in Elementary School and seeing all of the leather faces would make girls think twice before lathering on the baby oil and laying out for hours, but I guess not. So I gathered 3 common myths from another website who I don't want to publish their address because some of the information is 'iffy'. So here they are
:

MYTH	"I heard that you can get a better tan but you have to burn first."
FACT	A sunburn does not fade into a tan. A sunburn indicates over exposure to UV-light and actually damages the skin, leaving it inflamed (as indicated by the skin's red coloring and sensitivity), dry, chapped and visibly unappealing. In fact, a sunburn can lead to premature aging and potentially skin cancer.

MYTH	"All skin types tan or burn in the same amount of time."
FACT	Not all skin types are alike. Some people tan more easily than others or burn more easily than others. For example, a Skin Type 1 person with fair skin, red hair and freckles will burn easily, resulting in peeling and blistering without any indication that he or she has tanned. On the other hand, a Skin Type 4 person with dark hair and olive skin will tan very well and quite easily even with a minimal amount of sun exposure. It is important to know: repeated exposure of unprotected skin while tanning may increase the risk of skin aging, skin cancer and harmful effects to the skin even if you don't burn.

MYTH	"People with medium to dark skin never burn."
FACT	Although people with medium to darker skin tend to tan more easily than others, they can still get sunburns. They can also suffer from overexposure to UV-light. It is still important for these skin types to use sunscreens and avoid being in the sun longer than they need to be.

Now, it's still up to you if you want to go lay out and get that golden beach goddess look, but make sure you realize that the long term affects can be DEADLY, and if you don't have problems with skin cancer it will AGE YOU MUCH FASTER. Now I'm not trying to scare anybody, but I feel this post will be more EDUCATIONAL & EFFECTIVE by ending with some pictures of Sun Damaged skin found on Google Images. CHECK OUT http://www.sunprotection.net/ for more information on how to protect yourself from the SUN !!

Different types of malignant and benign moles. Benign are the safe. non cancerous moles.

Severly sun damaged skin.

Different types of sun damage.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Skin Cancer.

Thanks for reading GLAM GIRLS, I hope I have somewhat influenced you to stay SUN SAFE this summer !! And I was thinking of doing a post SOOOON on my Self-Tanner of choice with Before & Afters if you'd like me to do it leave a comment below..

& Don't forget that just because this is the time of year that we feel the most heat from the sun doesn't mean we don't need to protect ourselves all year round !! Even when you can't feel the heat from the sun your skin still soaks up those damaging UVA & UVB RAYS !!

As ALWAYS, find me on FB HERE & TWITTER HERE !!

XOXO -- GLAM <3

SUPER SIMPLE & SUPER CUTE Newspaper Mani !!

2011-05-09T21:10:00.001-07:00

First, I'll show you the finished product !

Don't you LOOOOOOVE it ? And it's super cheap and EASY !!

Here's what you need:

Base Coat

Colour of your choice, I chose Alpine Snow by OPI [x2 coats]

Top Coat

Newspaper

Rubbing Alchohol

Container to dip your finger in

And a Brush is Optional. I used a Flat Shader Brush by ELF.

Here's a picture of my setup for this Mani.

Minus a little glass dappen dish that I used to dip my finger.

So here's the super simple, quick instructions to get you on your way to this chic vintage looking mani !

First, Basecoat & 2 coats of your chosen colour.

MAKE SURE YOU LET YOUR NAILS DRY 100% or the newspaper will peel the polish off.

Dip your finger into alcohol.

Take a piece of newspaper large enough to cover your entire nail.

Press it on firmly, brushing on more alcohol if necessary. I found that it worked well for me to dip my finger into alcohol and then press the newsprint on and brush alcohol on while holding it in place. If you allowed enough time for your polish to dry there are should be NO worry that you will smudge your polish, and adding alcohol makes it easier to pull the newsprint away.

And ta-da, you get this AWESOME, cheap DIY mani !!

Don't forget TOP-COAT !!

Who knew you could transfer Newsprint to nails with alcohol ?
I'm glad I found out about this & could share it with YOU !!

I hope you enjoyed

Thanks for reading GLAM GIRLS <3

If you have any questions about anything on TheGlamLife , feel free to contact me @ theglamlife@live.ca and JOIN us on FB for more GLAM-ness <3 haha XOXO & don't forget about TWITTER !!

OPI's Pirate's of the Carribean Collection !

2011-05-01T17:10:00.000-07:00

HEY GLAM GIRLS, I've been wanting to show you something !!!

OPI's Pirates of The Caribbean is going to be released THIS MONTH !!! I am always excited for a new collection from OPI, but I was even MORE excited to find that SILVER Shatter is being released as part of the collection !! I wanted to show you guys the BEAUTIFUL & PERFECT for Spring 2011 colours !!

Here are the names again, just in case you can't see in the pictures ! And as ALWAYS OPI delivers some very clever & cute names, making me want them even MORE !! haha

Ok so the names are going to be from right to left for the top picture and top to bottom for the nail palette !

[Solid colours on the right, and then with Silver Shatter on the left]

Silver Shatter
Skull & Glossbones

Steady as She Rows
Sparrow Me the Drama
Planks a Lot

Stranger Tides

and

Mermaids Tears

All of these colours are GORGEOUS for Spring, and seem like they could have decorated the PERFECT Easter Egg ! I can't wait to get my hands on this collection !!

You will be able to find this polish ANYWHERE OPI is sold sometime in May, no exact date yet but I think I'll be able to get it in a week or so !!

THANKS for reading, beauties XOXO

Find The Glam Life on Facebook AND Twitter !! You can E-Mail me @ theglamlife@live.ca !

GLAM Trends : The perfect Spring Purple !!

2011-04-29T18:04:00.000-07:00

Hey GLAM GIRLS & BOYS,

This is just going to be a QUICK post on my MOST

requested colour for toes this season !!

This is not my photo.

This GAAAAAAAAAAAAWGEOUS pale-looking in the bottle, bright & pretty out-of-the-bottle PURPLE is part of OPI's Bright's Collection, and the name is TO-DIE-FOR ! I think that's part of the reason that everyone loves this colour, so 'Do You Lilac It' ? Cause I Loooove it !!

**And of course you could wear this on your fingernails too !! I think it's beautiful with Black Shatter over it too !!

THANKS for reading Beauties --GLAM <3

Give Your Nails & Hands the LOVE they Deserve Between Manicures !

2011-04-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know ! ALL OPI products !!!!

We all LOVE getting manicures, the whole process is luxurious from the polishing to the massage ! And now you can bring that feeling home with these Hand & Nail Care products from OPI !

Starting at the back with Avoplex High Intensity hand & Nail Cream

Straight from OPI: Envelops severely overworked hands in protective butters, OPI's Advanced Avocado Lipid Complex, and a unique deep penetrating hydrolyzed protein that binds with skin and nails to lock moisture within. With repeated use the result is a dramatic increase in elasticity for softer, smoother hands and more flexible nails .

Directions: Use at least twice a day after handwashing and especially before exposure to harsh conditions.

My thoughts:

SMELL : The fragrance isn't over-bearing, it smells slightly perfume-y [yes, thats a word according to me] and is creamy and luxurious.

FEELING/TEXTURE : This cream glides on smoothly and isn't very thick. I think the consistency is perfect !

QUALITY: This is a high-end product, with a matching price. I feel that it delivers on all promises made and if you're looking for a luxury hand cream I would recommend this product 100%. It leaves your hands feeling supple and smooth :)

PERFORMANCE: Again, OPI delivers on their promises of increased hydration and flexibility.

WHY YOU NEED IT : If you are someone who goes for manicures or nail enhancements often. WHY? I bet you didn't know that the cheap lotion you've been using has been causing your manicures/enhancements to break down pre-maturely. Many cheaper lotions and creams are formulated using many different types of oils and other ingredients which negatively impact the life of your manicure/enhancement. Avoplex has been formulated for use as at-home-care with these services. If your nails are dehydrated and brittle your polish is more likely to chip or peel off, when you keep your nails hydrated they stay flexible so that you're manicure will live for a few extra days. EVEN if you aren't a frequent manicure/enhancement client your hands, nails and skin can still reap the benefits from Avoplex High Intensity Hand & Nail Cream with daily use.

PRICE :

This product retails for

50mL C$10.95

120 mL C$19.95

In front of the cream we find, Avoplex Exfoliating Cuticle Treatment
Before I get into product spefications I would like to talk about the cuticle, what it is and why we remove it.

The Cuticle is made up of dead skin cells from the folds of skin surrounding the nail unit. Cuticle is non-living. Cuticle is NOT pterygium (which is an over growth of skin cells). Cuticle is NOT the eponychium (which is living skin surrounding the base of the nail unit). Cuticle is NOT ‘true cuticle’ as opposed to false cuticle, it IS cuticle.If the cuticle is not regularly removed or rubbed off in some way, then it will build up and stick together until it almost looks like a membrane which is growing from under the eponychium … but it is not growing and it is not living, it is just building up until such time as it is removed...So, now that we cleared that up let's start talking about this wonderful product !

Straight from OPI: This unique blend of natural alpha hydroxy acids and OPI's revolutionary Avocado Lipid Complex eliminates dry, rough cuticles while replenishing essential moisture and lipids. Light cucumber-citrus scent. Massage onto cuticles several times weekly. For best results, leave on for 3-5 minutes.

SMELL: Exactly as described, a cucumber citrus scent!
FEELING/TEXTURE: It's a light cream that's slightly oily.
QUALITY: I use this on myself and for all manicures, I love it and it definitely works. If you have excessive cuticle build up you may want to apply a little more generously.

PERFORMANCE: It does the job that it's supposed to. Again, if you have excessive cuticle built up you may need to apply more liberally and possibly again after some cuticle has been removed.

WHY YOU NEED IT: As explained, the cuticle is made up of non-living tissue. Removing the cuticle is mostly for beautification and for longer wearing polish and enhancements it's best to start with a fresh nail bed with little to no cuticle left attached. If nail prep is done incorrectly enhancements may start lifting and breaking down, polish may not wear as smoothly or last as long. This is a great product for you to use in between manicures, NOT a frequent salon visiter? That's ok, you can still use this product to remove the dead tissue from your nail beds to make your DIY manicures last much longer and have nicer looking nails !

PRICE:
This product retails for
30 mL C$15.95

And in front of the exfoliater we have Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Replenishing Oil
Which now ALSO comes in this convenient pen applicator ! Perfect to throw in your purse!

Straight from OPI: Rich in therapeutic, skin-loving Avocado oil in combination with super antioxidant Tocotrienol--1000 times more powerful than regular Vitamin E -- plus feather-light Grape Seed, Sunflower, Sesame, Kukui Nut Oils amd Lecithin to restore essential moisture and lipids and nourish dry cuticles! Ideal for rough elbows and heels, too!
Directions: Massage into cuticles 1-3 times daily as needed.

SMELL: Out of all the products mentioned here, this one smells the BEST! In my opinion anyways, it smells delicious ! Like a high-end hair serum... Its a slightly fruity scent, a little sweet too !

FEELING/TEXTURE: It's an oil... Not much to say here, it's oily... Apply too much of the drops and it might take a while to rub in...

QUALITY: Absolutely LUXURIOUS ! This is one product I cannot live without ! Another perfect product for in-between manicures !

PERFORMANCE: Ok so you put it on & rub it in, I'll put a picture at the bottom with the before & after of using all of these products on my boyfriend... Who let's face it , had some pretty nasty nails to start with...
WHY YOU NEED IT : Ok, so now I've probably got you all confused... Why should we be moisturizing our cuticles if it's non-living skin. Well bad product naming/labelling is the answer.. As I'm in school to become an Esthetician we learn the anatomy of the nail and the cuticle is MOST DEFINITLEY NON-LIVING tissue, so really this product should be called eponychium oil, but that doesn't really sound so great does it ? Again this product helps with the flexibility and hydration of the nail, it helps polish last longer and won't cause service break-down on your costly enhancements. It can also help prevent those unsightly hang-nails, and can be used ANYWHERE your skin is super dry and screaming for hydration!

PRICING:

Avoplex Nail & Cuticle Oil [glass dropper bottle]
7.5 mL C$10.95

15 mL C$22.50

Avoplex Cuticle Oil To GO [convenient pen format]

7.5mL C$9.95

And finally, the BE ALL END ALL of High Performance Shiner/Buffers and the product I've been asked about time and time again !! The OPI FLEX GREEN/WHITE 1000/4000 Shiner and NEW! The FLEX VIOLET/WHITE 1000/4000 Shiner XL !

First a little WARNING for my nail beginners <3 ONLY use this file on DRY product FREE nails ! If you are going to use this in conjunction with any of the products mentioned above be sure to use the SHINER FIRST !! Using this file on nails with oil will cause the SHINER's exterior to break down and you will have to replace it much sooner than with proper use.

So here is the OPI Description of the GREEN Shiner, Buffs nails and enhancements to a brilliant, glass-like shine. And for the VIOLET SHINER: Extra-thick, firm buffer for a high shine in record time.

Let me just say WOW do these things WORK !! Gone are the days wandering around the mall being POKED AND PRODDED by pushy sales people.. Oh give me your hand , I want to show you something.. Pushy sales person puts these 'so called FANCY' products on one nail, pulls out a 4-way buffer and shows you an amazing glass like finish, but only on one finger and says well now all of your nails can look like this if you buy such and such introductory offer of $69.95 for this amazing kit.. Sorry if you've been had by these sales people, but I'm here to tell you now that you can achieve the SAME result with this ONE product...

This file is washable [using a nail brush and antiseptic soap gently wash the nail dust off of the file and let it sit on a paper towel to dry ! They are obviously re-usable, but eventually will need to be replaced.

How to use this product, ALWAYS Start with Washed & Dried Hands.. If you've just gotten out of the shower you should wait before buffing your nails as they are porous and become thin and you may not get the desired result ! Make sure you are sitting properly where you can rest your elbow so that you can buff faster for better results...

As with all files you always start with the lower number [higher grit] working your way to the higher number [lower grit] This is to say that a file with a 180 grit is VERY course and isn't used on natural nails very often due to the roughness, where as these files are a 1000/4000 grit very soft, never damaging.. So you would start with the coloured side of the file and the thinner portion of the file concentrating your strokes around the perimeter of the nail. The longer and faster your strokes the better and more area of the nail you're covering.

Then you can use the wide side concentrating on the larger part of your nail, the area, if you will. Once you have completed all steps on all 10 fingers you can FLIP the file and do the exact same thing with the white side. And if done correctly you should have nails that look like they have a clear coat on !! If you haven't achieved the result you wanted you may want to spend a little more time with the first side of the file, don't beat yourself up, it can take a few times before you get your technique down ! Have fun trying and practice on your girlfriends !

PRICING !
Around C$7.50 for 1

AND AS PROMISED !! A before & after picture with all products mentioned here used !

If you have any questions about anything you've seen here, or any other OPI products, or you would like to purchase something mentioned here you can contact me on Facebook HERE [personal] or HERE [theglamlife on FB] Send me an E-Mail HERE [glamarissa@live.ca] or drop a comment below !
Find me on Twitter >>> THEGLAMLIFEXO

BEAUTY SCHOOL

2011-04-17T16:58:00.000-07:00

This will be a VERY LONG POST showcasing some of my works from the NAIL TECHNOLOGY portion of my Esthetics course.

Basic Manicuring Skills, Spa Manicure

Spa Manicure on Pat [above & below]

Spa Manicure on my Dad, below

Spa Manicure on my Mom with White Free Edge & Rhinestones

Spa Manicure on Brandon Manion

OPI AXXIUM SOAK OFF MANICURE

New Generation of Gels
Strong, beautiful, all-one-length natural nails can be difficult to grow and maintain. You use your hands for so many things every day – working on the computer, crafting, digging in your purse – that nails often suffer.
But you can have the nails you want – in fact, your nails, only better – with the new Axxium Gel System by OPI.

Available only at professional salons, Axxium acts as an invisible layer of protection for your nails, keeping them strong so that they can grow without breaking.
Plus, Axxium gives your nails incredible shine.

And you won’t even know you’re wearing gels – Axxium gels are virtually weightless, and the finish is so sheer and flawless that your own nails show through.

Class One :
FIRST Gel Manicure EVER > March 12 2011
Soak Off Gels ♥

[Model: Shirley]
Class Two :
FIRST French Gel Manicure > March 13 2011
Soak Off Gels ♥

[below] My classmate Shirley wearing my FIRST
ever soak off application :)

[below] AXXIUM Soak Off [3] Weeks later.

[Model: Teresa McFadden] Her First Soak Off Application
March 15 2011

Teresa's Second Application

Axxium Soak Off on my Mom
March 16 2011

Axxium Soak Off on Char

AXXIUM GEL NAILS

[not soak off, used with tips and as a more permanent natural nail overlay]

In the picture below Shirley is wearing false tips on the fingers marked with pink dots,
on the other nails she is wearing a natural nail overlay with no false tips. The white is applied to the
free edge then a clear gel is applied on top for smooth natural looking nails.

BELOW : Application of a FULL SET of gels with tips

Model: Jessica Osborne, March 17 2011

1: Before & During [Nail Prep & Tips being glued on and trimmed]

2: During [After all gel has been applied and shaped]
3: During [After UV SEAL]

Model: Jessica Osborne, March 17 2011

4-5: NAIL ART TIME :) [This is the design we chose to go underneath OPI Shatter]
6 The finished product with Shatter and Top Coat !!

This is most of the work I have completed to date, if you have any questions about anything you see here, or would like to try something you see here feel free to contact me on Facebook Here [personal]
or Here [theglamlifeFB] . Send me an E-Mail HERE, Find me on Twitter HERE.

PLEASE Comment and leave feedback, thanks again :)

The Holy Grail of Heat Protectors / Stylers !!!

2011-01-06T16:41:00.000-08:00

See, ^^ even my dog Bentley loves it !! haha

[Want to skip to the point? Just read Why I Love this Product]
If you're like me, [thick unruly, naturally crazy hair] then you probably use hot tools a TON [flat iron, blow dryer, curling iron]. In order for my hair to even look close to o.k. I have to use some form of heat to style my hair. Over time, this can become very damaging, and to keep your hair looking healthy and to keep a shine -- you MUST protect your hair from the damage heat causes.

There are many products in my hair care routine, I would recommend finding one that suits your hair type and problems. This post will focus on Proclaim Thermal Heat Styler, found at Sally's Beauty Supply for around $6. I am so glad that I picked this product up one day, I had been on the search for a heat protectant for a long time. I had tried tons of different ones, some made my hair greasy, some made my hair stiff after applying heat, some left a white residue after applying heat. All were totally gross, and a total waste of money. I was not a happy shopper :( Thank God I had birthday money left, I grabbed the product and read the bottle, "HELPS PROTECT HAIR FROM HEAT. Heat-Activated Styling Spray. For use with flat irons, curling irons or heated rollers." AHA-Exactly what I need !

This product is formulated for use with dry hair, and make sure you don't use too much or spray it too close.

Why I love this product : It does EXACTLY what it says it does on the bottle. It protects your hair from heat damage, while adding body and shine. This product enhances the performance of the tool you use it with. I LOVE to use this product before I curl my hair with my flat iron. The curls are tighter, stronger and they last FOREVER !! The same results apply when you use it with a flat iron, you only have to apply heat to a small section ONCE-instead of running the iron down the same section multiple times. This product ALSO makes it easier to get the VOLUME you want, with LESS hassle. I have yet to use this product with heated rollers [as I still don't have any ;{ ] but I can only imagine the results !!
Go pick up a bottle of Proclaim Thermal Heat Styler @ Sally's Beauty Supply for around $6.00 <3
You'll LOVE it !! I promise !!

Thanks for reading Beauties <3 --Glam

Bobbi Brown [Beauty Rules]

2011-01-05T16:26:00.000-08:00

I recieved this book as a gift from my Father, for Christmas.
Well truth be told, I was Christmas shopping with my Dad and we stopped at Coles, so I wandered to the Lifestyle Section and of course he found me with it in my hands. He asked if I wanted it, I wasn't going to lie, so he bought it. Then tells me that I can't have it until Christmas.
The day I recieved the book, I rushed home, and read the entire thing.. Ha ha, yes I am that lame...

Of course, there were a lot of things in this book that I already knew but there was a also a lot that I didn't know. And this book will be a great reference if I ever forget something. This book's demographic is aimed at young teens to ladies in their twenties. Bobbi Brown focuses on enhancing natural beauty, skin care, style secrets and invaluable life lessons.

When I first started reading, after the forward, table of contents etc. It starts out looking like this book may have been aimed at readers much younger or less experienced with makeup than I already was. I stopped myself from feeling disappointed by telling myself that there was a lot of pages left, and I was sure that the entire book wouldn't focus on that age. I'm glad I kept on reading, because it would turn out that this book was like the Bible of Beauty. Moving on further she talks more about natural looks, and how to excentuate your natural beauty.

One of my favourite chapters is titled "Feeling Good In Your Skin", which has been something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember.. Somewhere between being the adorable-fair skinned-Glam at the ages 3,4,5,6 something happened around 7,8,9, I wish I knew what it was exactly-but my face turned into FRECKLE CITY ! It was embarassing, and I hated it. I still have some freckles now, but with my knowledge of makeup it is NO problem for me to cover them up.

In this section Bobbi Brown touches on a range of topics to do with skin. She lays out a realistic skin care routine which can be adapted by any skin type. There are tips for dealing with pimples, disguising pimples, tips for protecting your skin from the sun, tips on fake tanning, applying bronzer and more. This entire chapter is full of useful information, and I reference it about once a week.

Over all , I love this book. Beauty Rules isn't 100% about beauty on the outside, Bobbi speaks a lot about being who you are and being comfortable in your own skin. She talks a lot about dealing with what you already have and learning to stop wishing for what you don't have. She tells us that when she was younger she dreamed of being a super tall, super skinny, blonde with a flat chest--while she was the complete opposite. Though, she learned-like she is helping the rest of us to-love what we have, and find what works with what we have.

Thanks for reading, Beauties
<3 Glam

Quick Beauty Quote

2011-01-04T17:12:00.000-08:00

“People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within.”--Unknown

It's easy to forget sometimes, that even the most beautiful people don't have perfect lives.
It's easier to believe that someone's life must be perfect--just based on appearance.
We see beauty on the outside all the time, making it difficult to remember to keep ourselves beautiful on the inside. We see celebrities on television wearing the latest fashions and carrying the latest bags with perfect hair & makeup. Forgetting that they have a team of people who keep them looking that way--we create unreachable & unrealistic standards for ourselves. Majority of the time, we are seeing these celebrities at their 100% BEST.. Meaning that we see them looking as good as they possibly can, this is how the media works and it's not going to change.

I will always love make up and hair stuff, I will always love getting ready and watchcing the transformation happen as I primp myself--but one thing that I refuse to lose sight of is keeping my inner beauty. Beauty on the outside is great & all, but if you're a horrible person who treats people badly--the outer beauty will start to mean less and less. I'm sure you've met someone who at first you didn't find so attractive, but after getting to know them better you suddenly find yourself more and more attracted to them. This my friend, is inner beauty.

So the next time you find yourself gazing in the mirror at how beautiful your hair looks, or how glamorous your makeup is--think for a minute, am I still this beautiful in the dark? Or, would I still seem this beautiful to someone who didn't know what I look like? In a world that's moving farther and farther into outward appearances, it's our job to stay beautiful on the inside <3

Thanks for reading Beauties !! -- <3 Glam !

Applying Eyeshadow [A Fool Proof Guide]

2011-01-04T16:22:00.000-08:00

I like to think about makeup the way I think about art. I like to start with a fresh, clean and blank canvas-already prepared to start painting. I like to have my supplies all around me, clean brushes and maybe a photo for inspiration or reference. To start, I moisturize my entire face, apply primer and some green/yellow tinted concealer to cancel out the redness on my lids. I always do my eye make up before the rest of my face just incase I have to deal with some fallout on my cheek bone --or heaven forbid I make a mistake ! EEEEK !

To make explaining the process easier, I will speak as though I am using a quad of shadows for a neutral brown look. In this quad you will find an off white colour, a shimmery champagne colour, a medium brown colour and a matte dark brown colour.

To start, I apply the lightest colour [the off white] to the inner lid and I sweep it down towards my lower lash line. You will see that this instantly brightens your eyes. Then I take some of the same colour and apply it under my eyebrow as a highlight. Always make sure that you are using a seperate fluffy brush to blend your colours together or else you will see some of the colours transfering to places you don't want them too.

Now I take the second lightest colour of the quad [champagne] and apply it to my entire lid. Starting at the outer part of your lid, with the most product on your brush gently tap the brush on your lid working towards the lighter colour you did at the inner corner of your eye. Get a little more product on the brush and sweep the champagne colour to the 'above crease' and 'outer crease'--making sure not to use too much product. Now take your blending brush and gently swirl the colours towards eachother. The reason you are doing this is so that the colours flow together. You don't want them to look like theres harsh lines separating each colour, you want it to look gradient--like one colour gradually turns into the other.

Then taking the medium brown colour and tap it onto your outer lid. This is where some people get confused or lost.. It is the 'outer V' of your eye, where you make a horizontal V to exaggerate the size & shape of your eye. The trick that I use for this is to start by placing some of the brown and placing it on the outer part of my lower lash line--extending past where your lashes end, take the brown and draw a light line that would connect to your eyebrow if you kept going. The trick is to have the point of the V where your outer crease starts. < > . Looking at the picture above should help explain this a little better. After creating the V, tap the rest of the product off of your brush and blend the V back towards the inner part of your eye. **Be sure not to drag the colour over the highlighting you've done.

Finally, with the darker colour you can darken up your outer V. I usually use a dark matte brown eyeshadow as eyeliner because it looks much more natural. I would also apply the dark colour to the outer part of your lower lash line. **I NEVER put dark eyeliner ALL the way along the lower lash line. It makes your eyes look much smaller.. If you want to try something to make your eyes look bigger and brighter, try lining your waterline with WHITE instead of Black.

Like that ^^ !! If you have any specific questions, or you are unsure about anything written here, feel free to leave a comment here, or The Glam Life Facebook page, or send me a Tweet @TheGlamLifexo !!

Peace & Love Beauties <3 - Glam

Random Beauty Fact

2011-01-04T13:25:00.000-08:00

Did you KNOW ?? In the 1920's eye makeup consisted of kohl..., which might be made of ingredients as strange as soot, lead and goose grease. Kohl went all the way around the eyes ! For a dramatic touch, some 'vamps' drew a line of kohl from the corner of the eye outward, back then it was a slightly offensive look that was deemed sexy and bad. **What do you think about this look?? Go toTheGlamLife Facebook Page 'Like' it and then tell me what you think about this look !!

My Current 3 Favourite Drugstore Cosmetic Products !!

2011-01-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

Drumroll please .........................................................

Ok ! Here they are .....

In no particular order, of course.

Revlon Colorstay [Combo/Oily Skin Formula]
$15.00 @ Wal-Mart

Why I love this stuff : Ok, this is pretty embarassing. Before I started using this miracle in a bottle, I was still one of those suckers using CoverGirl foundations... Which I have been using since I started using make-up in like, Grade 7. Don't get me wrong, I have tried other foundations-but for some reason I always kept going back to my CG. Maybe beacause of how cheap it is, but I have learned that there are some products you can't be cheap about--foundation is one of them. I apply this product [after moisturizing and priming the face] with a cosmetic sponge, it can be tricky when you first start out--as the product dries pretty quickly. It is medium to full coverage and it is buildable, meaning that you control the coverage with the amount of product you apply. Now, for a 19 year old I have pretty horrid skin--It's incredibly uneven, I have discolorations and freckles all over the place. Combined with a concealer I get all the coverage I need without looking cakey or overdone. This product lasts from when I put it on in the a.m. to when I go to bed [usually in the a.m. as well]. One downside to this product is the colour range, I am extremely fair and use the lightest shade 'Ivory'.

If you have been looking to try a new foundation, I would recommend this 100% ! FYI There is also a formula available for Normal/Dry skin as well.

Hard Candy Baked Eyeshadow Duos

$4-5.00 @ Wal-Mart

Why I love them: Where to start? I have been LOVING the Hard Candy Cosmetics, ever since I started noticing stock going up in the Beauty section at Wal-Mart. Everytime I'm there I always check it out, the packaging is absoloutely adorable, they have some really pretty colours--what girl wouldn't be tempted to try out a couple things ?

So, I grabbed some up. I get them home, open them and swatch them to check out the colours ! With one swipe of the eyeshadow I am intrigued, excellent pigmentation and color pay-off [meaning the colour is true to how it appears in the pan]. Wow, I was happy with my purchase. Even if you only bought one of the duos, you're set for a whole eye look. With the proper tools [brushes] and application this product is STUNNING ! Just the right amound of shimmer, and the shadows are satiny [not like those cheap ones that resemble chalk after swirling a brush around in them], there is some fallout if you apply the product heavily--this happens with most shimmery products though. If you need help with application stay tuned for a post on "The Glam Life" Facebook Page !

And last, but DEFINITELY not least...

Rimmel Sexy Curves [Blue is Waterproof formula, Purple is Regular Formula]
$6-7.00 @ Wal-Mart
Why I love this stuff: This is AMAZING stuff right here !! First of all the applicator is AWESOME !! Here let me show you a picture...

This applicator holds just the right amount of product, it seperates lashes, curls them, defines them and volumizes them without clumping. Of course, using an eyelash comb & curler are optional before application but I recommend at least curling them. I always start at the outer part of my eye, I have some fussy lashes that like to go all wonky and criss cross eachother--and work my way in. Starting with the most product on the outer part and using less and less product as you reach the inner part of your eye. Another trick I use to make my lashes look darker & fuller is to apply one coat to the top of my lashes, the side parallel with my eyebrow [if you do this, do it before you go to the underside of your lashes, or the mascara may cause your lashes to droop]. This product lasts ALL day, and it gives you those glamorous looking lashes. Love Love LOVE !!!

Thanks for reading Beauties <3 - Glam

❤ The Glam Life ❤

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My Current 3 Favourite Drugstore Cosmetic Products !!

Random Beauty Fact