A natural healthy glow is always in! While you can enhance your complexion with color, you should not cross over the fine line between fake and natural looking. Here is a super quick way to fake a natural glow. Start with a clean face, moisturized face. Apply a tinted moisturizer a shade darker than your natural skin tone, this will give you a sun kissed look. Make sure you apply the tint all over the face and down to the décolleté area. An example product which would be perfect is the Dream Tint Moisture Tint SPF 15 by Jane Iredale. To stay with a natural appearance, use a cream blush on the apples of the cheeks or on the top area of your cheek bones and blend. At this point, your skin tone should appear dewy or glowing with a touch of a natural blushing effect. Stila makes great convertible cream colors for use on the cheeks and lip, we love the Gerbera shade! To top off your natural glow and glam up just a tiny bit, apply some mascara either in brown for lighter toned skin or in black for darker toned skin. Your result will be enhanced and naturally beautiful facial features!

Make sure to enter into our Giveaway! See our Facebook page for details!

When you look exhausted, there’s no way around it, it shows. Whether you are up all night with the kiddos or dancing until the sun comes up, dark circles and bags under your eyes are unavoidable. Here are a few tricks I’ve found that will keep you looking fresh and well rested to tackle your day.

1. Scrub a dub dub- Your skin regenerates at night, but when you don’t give it any down time it’s not able to whisk away dead skin cells as a part of its natural repair process. Give your skin a helping hand by scrubbing away those pesky, lack luster cells that leave your skin dull and shall we say…blah.
2. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate- Dehydrated skin accentuates fine lines and makes skin look older than it really is. Moisturizer helps to replenish hydration levels in the skin revealing a plump, supple youthful complexion.
3. Can’t fix it, then hide it! Simply conceal your late night rendezvous. Dab concealer under your eyes and on eyelids to even out darkness. Ta-da you’re instantly refreshed!
4. A flush of color on the cheeks imparts a healthy glow. Although you may feel drained, you don’t have to look it! A few strokes of a bright colored blush gives radiance to the skin.
5. Can you barely keep your eyes open? Stop from nodding out at your desk by simply curling your lashes. You’ll look bright eyed and bushy tailed for your 8 a.m. company update meeting.

Remember ladies, nothing replaces the benefits of a full night’s beauty sleep. Hopefully, you can catch up on your zzzz’s tonight!

Do you know any tricks to help you appear well rested? We’d love to here your tips on our Facebook page!

Wanna win a customized 5-product regimen from NIA24? Don’t miss out on our latest giveaway.  Enter now!

We’ve all heard the term “less is more” however there is a very fine line to what works on each side of the fence. Typically for your day look you’d stay on the lighter side of things while at night you’d be more drawn towards a darker look. While that may be a general rule of thumb in makeup application, you might need to think twice.

It’s often said that “With age, comes beauty”. I believe that it is quite true especially when it comes to appearance. There’s a certain grace about a woman. Certain colors or makeup in general can actually age your appearance and create facial faults. Here are some guidelines to make sure your application is radiant and doesn’t dull your shine:

• Steer clear of harsh dark eye makeup – Dark colors can sometimes add shadows around the eye area, making you appear tired. If you use a darker shade in your crease it should be blended out until it only creates a contour/ slight shadow.
• Stick with complimentary colors to your eye color, skin, and hair colors. Mostly that includes neutrals, plums, or olives. Shades of blue are few and far between that have to be matched perfectly!
• For overall face color, think radiance. Opt for blushes and lip colors in shades of peach/pink with gold hues. Corals are the most universal colors for skin shades and age. Steer clear of orange, reds, and sometimes browns which can make the skin appear muddy.
• Steer clear of thick cakey makeup as it sets into your imperfections, pores, and wrinkles making them more obvious. If you can, try using only a tinted moisturizer or liquid foundation. They tend to blend easier onto the skin and are more lightweight then creams or powders.
• While higher pigmented makeup is usually better quality, don’t overdo application. Too much color draws unwanted attention to only the areas applied. The look you want is even and smooth.
• In conclusion, you want to accentuate your natural features/ beauty. Pick only one feature as your focus and make sure the rest easily blends into that feature. Your ending result should be youthful and classy!

What are your favorite make-up looks, tips and tricks? We’d love to know! Comment or share with us on Facebook!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win a 5-product regimen from NIA24! Enter now!

Have you tried every mascara on the market yet you’re still disappointed? Nearly all mascaras claim to be non-clumping, water resistant and flake free, but their track record proves otherwise. Whether you purchase the item from a drugstore or department store, you’re left with the same lackluster result.

It’s time to try something totally different, something TUBULAR! Blinc Mascara is an innovative product that forms tiny water resistant tubes around your lashes rather than coating them with traditional paint-like mascara. Envision lacquer shrink-wrapping to the lash creating length and volume while giving 360 degree coverage around each lash. The result is stunning! Even one with the oiliest of eyelids or women that live in extremely humid climates can be worry free of smudging. You’re left with clump free, water resistant, flake free lashes.

It’s also great for sensitive eyes and contact wearers. For best results apply Blinc on clean, dry lashes. Blinc mascara lasts all day at work, stays put through a vigorous workout and even a full night’s sleep. During application you have a minute and a half to build the volume and length of your lashes to your liking. Once it sets, the tubes clamp onto your lashes for ultimate hold.

When it’s time for removal, no eye makeup remover is required. Water and gentle pressure safely slides the tubes off of your lashes. You’re left with no messy residue that can lead to clogged pores and lashes falling out. Blinc mascara comes in six colors: black, dark brown, medium brown, purple, dark green, and blue.

Ladies strive to look their best when they apply their makeup. Beauty enhancements that improve your looks hide flaws and increase your self confidence. But what looked good on us at one time doesn’t always look flattering years later.

Here are some suggestions and tips on things to avoid as we approach 40 and beyond:

1. Dark eyeliner using liquid liner or pencils above your lash line: While this may look great in our younger years, as our eyelids age and we experience crepiness on our lid, hard lines from liners can call more attention to the fact that we no longer have tight skin around our eyelids. Instead consider using a lighter shade and apply a shadow to the base of your lash line and blend upward. The smoother line will help conceal the crepiness and blending upward draws less attention to sagging lids!

2. Dark eyeliner or eye shadow below your lower lash line: While this may have been all the rage during your night club days it’s just not the best thing for someone with lines. Instead consider keeping the area under your lower lash line neutral. Try adding some mascara to your lower lashes and even lining the inside of your lower eyelid with a white or light tan liner.

3. Staying true to one color scheme: Color schemes come and go. Colors that looked flattering on us in our younger years may not be in style now and can make you look outdated. Try picking up the latest edition of a glamour or fashion magazine and make note of what colors are in season and can freshen up your look.

4. Bronzers, glitters & sparkles: Using heavy bronzers, lots of glitter and sparkle can send out the message, “I’m desperate to look younger!” Try enhancing your look with just a touch of fun sparkle and shimmer. Remember a little bit of bling goes a long way… don’t overdo it!

5. Dark lip colors: While deep dark ruby red lip colors may have defined the Hollywood Glamour era and those colors are making a retro come back for gals in their twenties, using dark colors on your lips later in life can draw attention to aged hollow lips, lines around the lip area and project an overall dark unfriendly tone. Instead consider using a lighter, neutral shade of lip color and a little bit of lip gloss.

6. Too much makeup: Invest in a good quality foundation that meets your coverage needs without going overboard. Even out your skin tone, but remember…Less Is More!

7. Dry skin: Using makeup on dry or dehydrated skin can cause problems blending your makeup, call attention to dry flakes of skin and exacerbate fine lines and wrinkles! Using an oil free moisturizer or oil free makeup primer before can create a much more hydrated and  smooth surface. I suggest a something with dimethicone to fill in fine lines and wrinkles and give you a soft silky texture!

8. Outdated Eyebrows: While most ladies take the time to tweeze their brows or get their brows waxed we need to remember with age all things start moving south! Try reshaping your brows lifting them up a little higher than usual and adjusting your arch a bit higher. A skilled esthetician knows how to do this!

So what are your do’s and don’ts for 40′s, 50′s and beyond?!

If you’re anything like most girls (including myself) then your make-up bag carries everything and more. I swear, I need a dozen lip glosses, 600 bobby pins and 3 packs of floss with me at ALL TIMES!

Who are we kidding though?! Nobody needs that much stuff on the go! And since it’s a new year, let’s overhaul our make-up bags and (literally) lighten the burden that’s hanging on our shoulders.

Here are your make-up bag staples that you should carry with you:

1. Powder compact – an essential for touching up mid-day OR using a heavier application in case you had to rush out the door and had no time for foundation.
2. Convertible lip-cheek-eye color. One product that can do your entire face and is completely fool-proof when it comes to color matching. Stila Convertible Color – Rose is a great choice.
3. Lip balm and a lip gloss. Keep a lip balm with you at all times-preferably one that has SPF in it. It’ll keep your lips hydrated and protected from the sun’s harmful rays. Lip gloss always makes you feel glam, even when you’ve got no other make-up on… so pick a neutral, flattering shade that’ll go with everything. bareMinerals 100 Percent Natural Lipgloss – 7 Layer Cake is my favorite.
4. If you wear eyeliner- then you may want to keep one with you in case of touch-ups. Most liners don’t smudge but if you had a laugh-til-you-cry lunch break you may need to re-apply so you don’t look like a raccoon for the rest of the day! Ditto on the mascara.
5. Blotting papers. ‘Nuff said. Most of us (even those with dry skin types) have a bit of any oil breakthrough by mid-day. Sop it up with and Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, and your make-up will look super fresh again!
6. Hand sanitizer & hand cream- to keep your hands germ-free and super soft! Hand cream can also double as a hair product if your strands frizz up or get unruly.
7. And essential essentials, of course! Hairpins (just a few- in case you want to re-style your do or clip away pesky wisps of hair), hair ties (if you have long hair then these are a godsend), Cotton swabs (for cleaning up eye make-up if it gets smudgy), floss (in case you have food stuck in your teeth after lunch), gum/mints (for good breath, duh), and a nail file (in case you snag a nail).

Of course, everyone’s make-up essentials may vary but many girls agree that the above products are true life-savers on the go. In addition to the above items I also like to keep a travel toothpaste & toothbrush for post-lunch brushing, a hair brush to keep my hair smooth and tangle-free, a pack of tissues, and eye drops (a must since I wear contacts).

What is your make-up bag? Tell us… do you travel light, or bring the train case with you?

Hollywood’s classic glamour era from the 1930’s to 1960’s was an era when more was more! Gentlemen wore suits and ties with overcoats and ladies wore elegant dresses and gowns with elaborate hats or fur coats. Red carpets and spotlights rolled out for movie releases as stars arrived in Cadillacs, Lincolns, Duesenbergs, and Packards.

Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich can be remembered for their notorious brows. Jane Mansfield and Marilyn Monroe bring to mind that brilliantly glossy blond bombshell hair. Bette Davis and Elizabeth Taylor had eyes that commanded the movie screen. A wink from Sophia Loren or Julie Newmar’s powerful lashes made any man melt. And heaven forbid Lena Horne or Judy Garland be caught without their ruby red lips!

Classic Hollywood glamour is making a comeback! The key is not go overboard. Start with one of these qualities and mix and match a bit of classic glamour with a bit of modern style.

Here are five great items that can help you achieve some of those Hollywood Diva qualities:

1. Colorscience Voluptuous Stencil will help you perfectly shape and arch your brows without any guess work or errors! Use the stencils to draw in your brows and judge how they look before your tweeze or wax them.

2. Luscious lashes are a must! To stimulate lash growth for longer, thicker, fuller lashes try using RapidLash Eyelash Renewal Serum.

3. For a temporary boost for that night on the town you can instantly pump up your length, volume and definition using Fusion Beauty LashFusionXL.

4. Brilliantly shining hair, whether you’re a blonde, brunette, or red head, stops traffic in it’s tracks! Try using Alterna Caviar Anti Aging Polishing Serum to add a weightless, anti-frizz gloss that adds shine to your hair!

5. For those ruby red lips that command respect anywhere you go try DuWop Private Red. It’s an excellent red lipstick that adjusts to each woman’s skin tone creating your own “Private Red!”

Now go out and work the red carpet!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

Hollywood’s classic glamour-era look is making a comeback. Throughout their careers Joan Crawford and Marlene Dietrich can be remembered for their deep ruby red “Hollywood” lips.

For those ruby red lips that command respect anywhere you go try using Fusion Beauty LipFusion Micro Injected Lip Plumping Pencil in Glam. Apply a thin layer of lip balm to condition your lips. Next pencil in just below your lower lip line and continue to the outer corner of each side of your lower lip to give the illusion of a fuller lower lip. When you pencil in your upper lip start in the center just above where you would normally pencil. Work your way up and outward with the highest part of your rounded arch about  one third of the way to the corner. Once you have the liner finished you can complete the look with DuWop Private Red.  It’s an excellent red lipstick that adjusts to each woman’s skin tone creating your own “Private Red!”

Blotting off excess lipstick by placing a tissue between your lips and pressing your lips together followed by an application of a translucent powder can help set your lip color, making it last longer! If you want to boost the “glam” you can apply a thin layer of Nuxe Lip Gloss Prodigieux Nutri-Protector Lip Gloss- Charismatic Red.

Like this blog and share it with your friends on Facebook! Or leave us a comment, questions, or feedback – if you have a question, one of our estheticians will respond to you directly when you supply your email address in your response, remember, email addresses are not posted with your comment.

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

Long, dark, full lashes are on the wish list of most women, and achieving that look is easier than ever with Fusion Beauty! LashFusionXL is a mascara formula that is creamy, rich and has much more to offer than a typical mascara.

The wand holds a large non-clumping brush that coats every single lash to ensure a sexy, dramatic look with only one application. The specialized formula is set in a time released method that allows the stimulating proteins and protective keratin to nourish the lashes while amplifying the length and adding strength. This mascara also contains natural emollients to keep the lashes from becoming brittle and dry and giving you more beautiful, youthful lashes even after you take it off. Now you’re on your way to va-va voom lashes!

Have you entered our latest giveaway? You could win skincare treasures from Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare! Enter now!

11.4 million viewers tuned in to watch the 2010 VMA’s on September 12^th, myself included. I was glued to my TV drooling all over myself as I watched all the gorgeous celebrities strut their stuff up and down the “white” carpet. Some stunning and some…. well shocking… cough cough (Lady Gaga!) cough. Gotta’ love her though! There was one person in particular that stood out to me, Ashley Greene. Beauty just radiated from her that night, therefore, inspiring this celebrity tutorial.

Setting the Stage

Apply a medium to full coverage foundation to conceal any flaws. Stila One Step Makeup Foundation works as a primer foundation and concealer all in one step.

Set with a natural mineral powder like Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Powder Foundation for a naturally flawless finish.

The Main Production

To highlight apply a shimmering subtle white under the brow bone. Stila Eye Shadow Pan – Moonlight is an excellent choice.

Next, apply a soft sliver shadow all over the rest of the lid

Apply your deep navy color along the lash line and in the outer corners of you lid. Then continue to carry the shadow into the natural crease of your eye to add definition, Stila Eye Shadow in Azure  is a great color for this step.

On the inner corners on your eyes, apply a shimmering neutral Gray and blend into the crease.

Now for the eyeliner. Ashley has a dark, thick and slightly smoky liner, use one that smudges easy to create that sexy smoky look. bareMinerals Big and Bright Eyeliner Pencil Black works perfectly for this step. Apply the liner in and above the lash line, make sure to get in the water line on both the upper and lower lid and in between your lashes really well.

Smudge the bottom liner to soften the look and then go over the bottom with the soft sliver shadow and in the inner corners to add highlight.

Lastly, load on the mascara. Too Faced Lash Injection in Pitch Black comes in handy to help pump and darken lashes.

The Supporting Role

Her brows are kept natural and understated as in to not upstage her eyes. To keep it soft, use a buildable powder for the brows. This way you’re able to gauge how little or how much to use. Billion Dollar Brows Brow Babe Kit comes with everything a brow queen would need.

Keeping with the theme of her brows, her cheeks have just a healthy, natural hint to them. bareMinerals Blush in Dusk is great for this job. Apply on the apples of the cheeks and sweep upward to the temple.

And last but not least the lips! To stay with consistency, the lip color follows suit with the rest of the supporting roles. Natural, nude, soft hint of subtle rose, Too Faced Lip of Luxury in Celebrity Meltdown is perfect for this part.

Like this blog and share it with your friends on Facebook! Or leave us a comment, questions, or feedback – if you have a question, one of our estheticians will respond to you directly when you supply your email address in your response, remember, email addresses are not posted with your comment.