DIY Mini Series - Banana Mask

Valentine's Day is over so we can all stop obsessing over looking flawless....Wrong! We got the guy or gal, now we need to keep 'em. I'm back with another quick and economical facial mask that can be done right at home. This mask is ideal for oily skin but since ingredients are all natural it can be used on all skin types as well.

1 Ripe Banana
1 Tbsp of Honey
Juice from a Lemon
Mash up banana (the skin and all), add the honey and a few drops of the lemon juice. Apply to cleansed skin, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse off thoroughly.

Banana

Bananas are one of the most nourishing fruits available because they contain large quantities of magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamins A, B (folic acid), E and F. The fat molecules in our skin create a waterproof layer to help protect it from foreign elements and substances like the weather and pollution. However over time that layer becomes damage due to the elements and bananas help repair that layer helping or skin do its job. So basically all that jibber-jabber means that bananas help moisturize and smooth the skin, making it a great addition to any facial mask.

Honey

Honey is an all natural humectant. A humectant draws in moisture to the skin keeping it moisturized. Honey also works as a natural antiseptic and can be used to treat minor cuts and burns. In addition to its antiseptic properties, honey is rich in antioxidants which help protect the skin against free radicals. Free radicals are one of main culprits in the premature aging of the skin. So again honey too is great for all skin types.

Lemon

Lemons are packed with vitamin c, one of the best vitamins for skin and hair. They also stimulate blood circulation, can be used to lightening the skin and fight acne. The citric acid in lemons exfoliates the skin which is an essential component in treated acne. It also works as an astringent helping to dry out pimples. Make sure to always dilute lemon juice in water or mix it with other ingredients to prevent any irritations to the skin. Also avoid sun exposure after use and apply sunscreen.

I am not a dermatologist or an esthetician but I am obsessed with my skin. I do not have the prefect skin so I use foundation, concealer and good skin care. All of that makes me feel better about myself and do what it takes to make yourself feel better too.

DIY Facials Mini Series

In this economy do-it-yourself projects are more than just saving a buck. Those bucks add up, those bucks pay bills and those bucks puts groceries on the table. So I don't mind DIY projects because I need to eat and look pretty while I eat. What better way to get pretty than getting a facial? I love getting facials but who can afford it. Some spas charge upwards to $300 a treatment or more. That's ridiculous! So why pay when you can raid your refrigerators and give yourself a facial for a lot less. I figure once a week I would educate you girls and guys on a variety of skin care items you can find right at home. First in the installment is a mask thats great for all skin types.

Oatmeal Yogurt Mask
1 Tablespoon of Oatmeal (finely grounded)
1 Tablespoon of Plain Yogurt
A few drops of honey
Mix together, apply to face and leave on for 10 minutes then rinse off thoroughly. Make sure the yogurt contains no fruit and ideally try to use organic.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal has been used for years for the treatment of dry skin. Oatmeal contains (big word alert) polysaccharides, a complex carbohydrate when mixed with water becomes a gel. This gel softens and nourishes the skin protecting it from drying out. Oatmeal also contains fat which acts like a moisturizer for the skin. Lastly oatmeal provides gentle exfoliation while absorbing dirt and impurities leaving your skin with a glow. All in all oatmeal is great for all skin types.

Yogurt

We all know that eating yogurt is great for your insides, but did you know the active good bacteria in yogurt is also good for your skin? The anti-bacterial properties in yogurt make it ideal for acne prone skin. The enzymes in yogurt kills the bad bacteria. Yogurt also contains lactic acid, which is a very mild but super effective exfloliator. Lactic acids aid in softening the skin, tightening pores and giving skin that over all natural glow, all while leaving the skin feeling moisturized. Yogurt too is great for all skin types.

Honey

Honey is an all natural humectant. A humectant draws in moisture to the skin keeping it moisturized. Honey also works as a natural antiseptic and can be used to treat minor cuts and burns. In addition to its antiseptic properties, honey is rich in antioxidants which help protect the skin against free radicals. Free radicals are one of main culprits in the premature aging of the skin. So again honey too is great for all skin types.

So try it out and let me know how you like ;-)



MAC Pink Friday

For those who aren't makeup enthusiasts like myself, you may not have known that Nicki Minaj did a collaboration with MAC to promote her new album Pink Friday. The lipstick was only available online for a short period of time last month and I was fortunate to gets my hands on one. Pink Friday is a bright, cool tone, opaque Barbie doll pink. If you are darker skin tone like myself  Pink Friday can not be wore alone but with lip liner and gloss, it's the perfect pink. It has become of one my new favorite lipstick to wear. But why write a blog about a color that's not longer available? Well there are plenty colors on the market that MAC and other brands have that are very similar to Pink Friday. MAC has Snob, Chatterbox and Viva Glam Lady Gaga that are similar. MAKE UP FOR EVER and Illamasqua both have bright Barbie doll like pinks in their collections. We are coming into Spring Summer 2011 where brights were huge on the runways. So ladies if you are tired of wearing those hoilday reds, try a pink.

Birchbox

Birchbox is a website were you pay ten bucks a month to receive 4 to 5 deluxe samples of makeup, skincare, haircare and some miscellaneous products. They carry mostly high-end labels like Nars, Laura Mercier and Phyto that are beautifully packaged and delivered to your home. I know what you're thinking, "why pay money for samples"? Well being able to try the latest products, that are hand delivered to you home is worth it for me. Plus they're high-end deluxe sample. Sephora has a customer loyalty program where each dollar you spend equals a point and points are redeemed for samples. Its takes 100 points to receive one deluxe sample. That's a hundred dollars people. Don't get me wrong I love Sephora and free stuff is free stuff but Birchbox is just a different avenue and in a world of many avenues, streets, roads and boulevards what's one more? So check it out....Birchbox.com.

An Ode to Princess!!!

Photographer, photoshop wizard, computer extraordinaire, my secretary *winks*, dog lover, baker, honorary gay, spokes woman for Stinkyness, a wife, a daughter, a sister blah blah blah and not to mention one of my best friends!!! Love you Princess!!! She let me play on her face a few weeks back, here are the pictures. I airbrushed her and used Beauty From The Earth Cosmetics on the eyes.

Wedding Trial with Jennifer

I had a wedding consultations a couple days ago here are the pictures...tell me what you think. I did a very natural neutral look because that's what she wanted. Looking at the pictures now I would change a few things. I would definitely add lashes (I forgot to bring them that day), lighten up on the blush and darken the outer crease a bit more. But its not the wedding day, only the trial and I can always go back and perfect the look on her.

Practice Makes Better

Today I just was at home chilling with the family and a bit bored so I decided to try out some different looks on my sis and niece. Looking back at the pictures I see all the imperfections and the little details I need to work on, but practice makes better (not perfect) and that's what I'm working towards. A Better Me! So tell me what you think...

Have I Lost My Passion?

Makeup has almost been a huge part of my life but this past year I haven't been into it. I haven't been doing any makeup or shopping for makeup or networking. I still love makeup and the artistry behind it but I feel like I've lost my passion for it. I'm going crazy, this can't be! The last couple of weeks I've been researching different makeup gurus on YouTube, checking out new makeup lines and learning new techniques so I can get back in the grooves of things. So I'm back!! I have a couple weddings coming up, I ordered some new makeup, I'm starting to do airbrushing and I'm looking forward to showing y'all what I got! I'm going to try to do a weekly blog and in the next few weeks I will be doing tutorials on YouTube on everthing from makeup, to hair, nails and all things girly.

Sunscreen

The dreaded winter is technically over WHOOHOO!! That means we will be spending more time outdoors in the sun so it's very important to wear sunscreen. Sun rays do not discriminate. Young, old, Black and White, it can damage us all. Here are some simple tips when it comes to sun protection.

• Use a broad spectrum sun protection to block both UVA and UVB rays
• Apply sunscreen on about 20 minutes before sun exposure
• Reapply every two hours especially when out in the sun
• Avoid peak hours in the sun 10am-4pm
• Wear protective gear ie. hats, sunglasses, t-shirts
• Shade and clouds do not protect you from UVA and UVB rays
• Reapply after getting into water
• Some medications and sun don't mix increasing the skin sensitivity so make sure you check with your doctor

Burnt, leather, freckly skin is not hot people. I don't care how great a tan looks, its not going to look good when your in the hospital getting treatment for skin cancer. Also if you are as vain and narcissistic as me then you'll avoid the sun because it causes wrinkles. I have a birthday coming up and wrinkles are the enemy. Also if using SPF only in your foundations remember to apply the foundation all over the face but I recommend using a seperate SPF. Well enjoy the Spring and Summer will be here before you know it.

Do's & Don'ts of Liners

Yes its 2009 and I still see women drawing lines around their lips, drawing lines for their eye brows and using eyeliner all wrong. Ok lets start with eyeliner...No its not okay to wear white eyeliner on the upper lid so if you got that memo throw it away. Eyeliner is supposed to create a larger eye, give the appearance of longer fuller lashes or accentuate your eye color. If its not doing one or all of the above for you then 86 liner. And stick to the basic when to comes to colors: black, brown, gray, dark blue, dark plum, dark green. I think black can sometimes be harsh so charcoal gray is a good alternative especially for fair skinned blondes. Right now gel liners are the new rave. I personally use Bobbi Brown but Makeup Forever and Smashbox have quality ones as well. I'm not a fan of pencils, they tend to tug at the eye causing wrinkles AAHHH yes wrinkles ladies and they run so by the end of the day your eyeliner is half way down your face. Also if you tend to have dark circles and/or bags stay away from lining the lower lash line, all it does is make your dark circles look darker.
Ok enough about eye liner next topic....lip liner! I hate it! It's one of my pet peeves but lining your lips and then leaving the center clear or a lighter shade just looks horrible and is extremely out-dated. Lip liner should define the shape of your lips, keep lipsticks from bleeding and help your lipstick and gloss last longer. Keep the shade of the lip liner and lipstick as close as possible and no ladies its not okay to create a false lip line with your liner. If you have smaller lips I suggest wearing more lip gloss. Lip gloss is shinny causing light to reflect giving you the effect of larger more voluptuous lips.
Brow liners I did discuss in a previous blog but I'll retouch on the subject for those of you who haven't read it yet (shame on you). Only use a pencil on the second half of your brows and make sure to use a brush to blend so it wont look like a drawn on harsh line. But only use a pencil if your brows are sparse and need to be grown in. If your brows are full a powder is fine and set the hairs with a wax or brow gel.

Perfectly Shaped Brow

One of my biggest pet peeves is an over tweezed brow. Put the tweezers away please! A well defined eyebrow opens and frames the face. Key word here 'well defined' but not over plucked. Only tweeze the hair under the brow bone, not above. To get the perfect eyebrow shape follow these simple instructions.

• Place a pencil at the edge of your nose and connect this point to the inside corner of your eye. This is the point our eyebrow should start. Any hair in between pluck, we don't want a uni brow.
• To find the highest point of your arch, place a pencil starting from the middle of your mouth to the outside of the iris touching the nostril in a diagonal line. I'm not a doctor so Google 'iris' if you don't know where it is.
• To determine where your brow should end, place a pencil starting from the middle of your mouth outside the nose to the outer corner of your eye. Anything beyond than this point is going to bring the shape of your face down. Remember ladies a nice shaped brow is an instant face lift.

Here are a few other tips to perfectly shaped brows.

1. There is no such thing as natural beauty. Brows need as much attention as any other part of your beauty regimen.
2. Invest in a magnifying mirror and a good pair of tweezers.
3. Your natural arch is the main focal point, so be sure to accentuate it.
4. Your brows are sisters, not twins! They will never be identical, they should be proportionate, not exactly the same.
5. Your brows frame your face. If they are too far apart, it will create the illusion that your nose looks wider. And who wants to look like Ms. Piggy?
6. Use brow powder to fill in the brow only where there is hair. Where it is more sparse towards the end of the brow use a brow pencil, making sure to blend so there is not harsh line. Finish with a wax or gel to keep brows in place.
7. If you need to let your brows grow in, fake it by using a brow highlighter pencil with a shimmer on the brow bone just under the brow. This will leave your brows looking well groomed even if they are not.
8. When trimming the extra longs hairs, brush the hair down and only cut the hair hanging over. Be careful not to poke your eye out. I use scissors with rounded tips.

Is Your Makeup Old?

Just like food makeup does expire. I know there are some of you out there that has a pink frost lipstick deep down in you makeup bag from 1988. It's time girls, clean out your makeup bags!Most makeup products do have preservatives however they still can harbor bacteria. Yucky. Mascara has the shortest shelf life and should be thrown away after three months. If you're wearing mascara every day, a tube should only last about that long anyways. Foundations, lipsticks and lip gloss should be tossed out after a year but then again if used everyday they shouldn't even last that long. Shadows, blushes and powders should be tossed out after two years. But who goes through a shadow in two years? Along as you keep your fingers, water and dirty brushes out of your shadows they'll last a lot longer. On the subject of brushes ladies we should be cleaning them once a week. There are plenty of brush cleaners out there. I personally use baby shampoo on my brushes. Most brushes are animal hair so shampoo works fine but make sure its not conditioning shampoo because that can create build-up on your brushes. And lastly ladies make sure to keep your makeup in a cool and dry place, not under the bathroom sink where its humid and hot. Bacteria grows in humid environments.

My Daily Tip - Use Primer

Ladies if you want your foundations to last use primer. Simple. Just like an artist would prime their canvas before painting, you should prime your skin before applying foundations. The skin has millions of pores and some of us don't want to admit it but we all have fine lines and wrinkles. A primer will fill in any lines and guild over your pores allowing your foundation to look flawless on the skin. Also foundations cling to the primers making it last longer. You wont have to worry about reapplying as much throughout the day. Plus powder foundations start to look chalky on the skin when over-applied. Every brand makes one so invest in your skin; it is the first thing people see. I also recommend using a eye and lip primer for those evenings out when your makeup is heavier and you don't want it to slide off. We've all had that experience when we go to the club looking hot but leave the club (tipsy some of us) with raccoon eyes, chapped lips and not so hot. EUW! Avoid that look ladies and use a little primer so you can dance the night away not worrying about sweating off your look.