What I Disovered on my Quest for the Best UVless Tan

I hope you had a great 4th! Sorry it's been a couple weeks since I've posted anything! It has been a busy couple of weeks. I had to fill in for someone who was out. And with the time I had to spare, I spent it with my hubby & kids. But everything should be normal this week & I should have a little more free time to blog my latest beauty discoveries.

I've been playing around with sunless tanning recently. I've tried a couple of tanning hot spots & a few over the counter tanning creams and sprays in search for the perfect tan. What did I discover? Well, like most things, it's definitely easier to just go get it done verses doing it yourself. I discovered was the store bought creams and sprays didn't wear very long, but the tanning booth spray ons did.

I did however like product Sublime 360 spray from Loreal. It's great for small touch ups and maybe covering a tan line or two. Don't expect last more than a few days. It would be great to use before a date or something, but not for the whole summer.

I tried out Tan & Tones Magic Tan. If you follow the steps 1,2,3 you will have a really nice tan for up to two weeks. It's a little difficult at first to get all the tanning poses down, & you totally can't see or breath for what feels like forever. Never-the-less their tanning system works & they carry products that help extend the results.

This past week I went and checked out At the Beach to "get my tan on", and discovered the Mystic tanning machine was so easy to use! There are only two positions that you stand in, front & back. It takes less then a minute & you can breath comfortably. They also carry products to help extend the life of your tan. The only down side I can think of is that their extend line is extensive. Too many choices in my opinion. I had to ask a lot of questions to discover which after care products I needed to purchase.

For those of you who want a little color minus the wrinkles, sun damage, and skin cancer. UVless tanning is worth checking out! See what works best for you. In my opinion, pro is the way to go. But if you can get the store bought stuff to work for you, I bow to your giftedness. If you found the best UVless tan let me know. I'd love to hear what you have discovered. Happy bronzing.

Concealer Myth Busted!

Concealer always goes on before foundation. True or False?

FALSE!
The application of concealer depends the type of foundation your wearing.

If you're going to wear a powder foundation apply your concealer & color correctors first. Since powder is absorbent, use a concealer that is a shade lighter than your foundation. This will prevent the concealer from darkening when powder is applied. Polka dots are cute, but not on your face. Once you apply your correctors and concealer, with a powder brush, lightly dust on the powder foundation. This step will insure that the concealer is completely dry and provide a smooth even application of the powder foundation. This rule applies to mineral make-up powder too.

If you're a liquid kinda girl like I am, always apply your concealer after you apply your foundation. When a concealer is applied before a liquid (or creme), it will wipe away all concealing you just did. Causing time wasting touch ups. However, if you apply the liquid first and then the concealer, the concealer will blend well with the base, and your skin will look flawless! Choose a color that is slightly lighter than your foundation (not too light) & a formula that is similar in consistancy.

There is a variety of concealers out there to choose from. Once you find the right consistency and coverage that you're looking for, follow the guidelines above for flawless concealing. You'll have even, perfect looking skin, every time. Bye-bye imperfections!

The Ocean in a Bottle!

I just bought a new product called Sea Salt Spray by KMS California. I am loving it! Not only does it smells terrific, it gives your hair wave (even if you have naturally straight hair like I do). Seriously, just spray it on wet or dry hair & watch your hair get an instant sea blown look. K-ute!

I'm going to carry mine with me when I hit the pool & beach this summer. I think it will be a great after swim product to give the hair a fixed but not overly fixed look. You know? Had to share my new find. Have a great week!

The Lip Wax Dilemma

You need it do, but you "break out" afterward & now are swearing off lip waxing. What are these annoying little unpopable bumps? I have the answer and what you can do about it.

There are a couple things that can cause these little bumps that actually are not pimples, but what are called water welts. The good news is that there are a few things you can do to remedy this. Yea!!! The reasons for water welts include; water retention and/or the wax being too hot.

The number one way to avoid water welts is to stay away from hot wax. Warm is ok. The heat causes the skin to retain water. At my salon we use the Nufree Nudesse System and are a Nufree Registered Salon. Nufree is the liquid gold of hair removal. Nufree is not a wax! It's a soy protein. It stays at body temperature, 98.6 degrees (preventing water welts). It's anti-bacterial & anti-microbial (prevents rash due to bacteria), and it's less painful then wax. Bonus!

I absolutely love the Nufree System. My clients love it too. To see if you have a Nufree Salon in your area visit http://www.nufreenudesse.com/ . If not no worries. Ask the person performing your lip wax to test the temp of the wax on the back her wrist each time she goes to apply the wax to your upper lip. Tell her you prefer the wax to be warm and not hot. If she's unwilling to make this small concession, get up and leave, she doesn't know what she's doing anyway.

The second thing you can do is use a cold (not frozen) compress before and after waxing. It will help the skin to eliminate excess water retention in that area. However, the most important thing you can do to prevent your body from retaining water is drink more water. Water's like the miracle cure for everything it seems :) Seriously though, if you drink at least half your body weight in ounces your body will not retain water. To test and see if you retain water, twist you wrist so that your palm is up. With your index finger press down on your forearm. Does the color come back immediately? Or does it come back slowly? If the color returns slowly, you are retaining water. This simple self test will give you a heads up so you can take the necessary steps before getting your lip waxed. Sweet!

Lastly, use an after wax cream. Nufree Nudesse is a complete system that thought about even the smallest of details. They have created an after cream called Fenipil. Fenipil cools and shrinks the follicles. Not only does it feel amazingly soothing after a hair removal service, it also keeps the empty follicles clean and helps close the follicle back up. Fenipil will calm sensitive skin, prevent a bacterial rash, and ward off water welts. Plus, it also slows regrowth! Score!

If your one to get water welts you'll notice them more so in the summer then the winter. Something with the summer heat causes the skin to hang on to water (could it be the dehydrated state we all walk around in thinking we get our water through fluids other then pure H2O? Umm... Probably. ;) ) So drink up, find a Nufree Salon, use a cool compress, get a hold of some Fenipil, and you'll eradicate water welts once and for all. Bingo!

I'm Melting!

Now that it's hot (at least in Oklahoma) most of us will start experiencing the not so trendy "melted look". It's like the scene on Wizard of Oz when the wicked witch turns into a puddle of goo. Yeah, the look where your wearing your eyeliner on your cheeks and mascara on your forehead lol. Yep, that's the one.

Make-up like clothing should change with the seasons, and not just in color. In the winter the skin tends to be dryer and needs more hydration. In the summer the skin can tends to be a little more oily. In light of this fact it's time to put away soft eyeliner pencils, heavy coverage foundations (or powder foundation), and lipstick. These tend to be heavier in consistency and melt as your wearing them in the heat. Exchange these wintry items for a smudge proof or powder liner, water resistant mascara, sheer foundation, blotting powder, and a gloss, stain, or sheer lipstick instead.

A smudge proof liner will resist smudging due to oil, perspiration, humidity, and water. It even has stay power when swimming. A powder liner will absorb extra moisture and stays put as you go about your everyday tasks. If you're using a brow pencil pack it away too, and start using a brow powder instead.

A sheer foundation is just that, sheer. It gives the skin an amazing glow and feels as if you are wearing no make-up at all. Best of all will not streak or melt! A blotting powder will help absorb the extra oil, without caking unattractive layers of color that regular powder and powder foundations do.

Glosses, stains, and sheer lipsticks give the mouth a beautiful wash of color that will stay put and not melt outside the lines, yikes! Now that your cosmetic wardrobe is summerized try this look cool look.

The Look
Beauty and the Beach

You will need: a soft charcoal/grey eyeshadow, and angled eyeliner brush, mascara, liquid bronzer, sheer foundation, and a pale pink lipgloss.

Apply a sheer foundation. Then apply a liquid bronzer to your cheeks, chin, and forehead. Blend well. Now smudge the soft charcoal on the upper and lower lash lines with the angled eyeliner brush. Sweep a sheer application of the charcoal shadow on the lid and crease, applying it a bit heavier in the crease. Apply ample mascara. The more the better, but make sure it's clump proof. You don't want your lashes to look like the roof of a grass hut! Lastly,slip into a pale pink gloss. Fabulous!

So, if the summer heat is streaking your glam, making you want to throw out your make-up and stomping on it. Hold that thought and weather proof your make-up, and start enjoying a fresh look that won't melt away.

Beauty Review Junkie is Going Live On...

If you're a mom you do not want to miss this! I was invited to be a guest on the Momrn Blog Radio Show . The topic is beauty (of course), for the busy mom. Join Me The Beauty Review Junkie and Momrn Monday at 11am central time for a cup of coffee, laughs, and ton of quick and easy beauty ideas! See you there.

Is Your Make-up Healthy?

Cosmetic companies are stepping up and creating cosmetics that are actually good for the skin! Skin care make-up contains nutrient rich ingredients that provide skin care benefits.

Sorme' Cosmetics of Beverly Hills is a pioneer in skin care cosmetics. They've created a full line of "good for you" make-up with a large variety that range from high fashion lip lacquers to powder foundation. Sorme' products incorporate the latest ingredients such as vitamins, alphahydroxy acids, natural botanicals, moisturizing essential oils and SPF, to soothe and protect the skin.

I've tried almost all Sorme' products and I have fallen in love with them! When I use Sorme' my skin looks and feels healthier. A few of my favorite Sorme' products is their amazing bronzer in Goddess, lip thick in Bloom, and smudge/waterproof eyeliner in Black 1.

Sorme' is only sold in fine salons and spas and on the web. When shopping for cosmetics online, make sure you trust the source. Cosmetics do expire even if the package is un-opened. So definitely purchase from a trusted source! For online purchases of Sorme' I highly recommend the Ibrow Studio Salon and Spa. The Ibrow Studio is a local day spa that has extended their spa store to the web for the convenience of their customers and all beauty enthusiast. The products they carry turn over quickly which guarantees the freshness of their stock.

If you're a skin care freak and love make-up as much as I do, you too will fall in love with Sorme' and the perks (great skin) that come along with it.