The Buzz about Birchbox

I have to stay up to date on new products and industry buzz; one of the easiest (and most fun!) ways to do this is with a monthly Birchbox subscription.  Somewhere in the second week of the month a box of deluxe (and sometimes full size) samples are delivered to my door.  There are always products from major brands, but many are smaller companies that are just entering into the market so it's a great way to be "in the know" before the rest of the world is. There’s everything from make up to skin care to hair care and a few extra bonuses like tea, chocolate, nail polish and hair accessories.  Each box has a theme and the products are selected to complement it (ie back to school, spring break, the holidays, etc.). I’ve discovered there are times I try a product, love it and use the sample so quickly I have to order the full size product (like the SuperGoop City Sunscreen Serum – a skin care treatment, plus sunscreen.  Amazingly perfect for the summer!  Works great alone or under make up!).

If you want to know what’s new on the market or you just love beauty products, treat yourself to this monthly subscription ($10 a month and that includes the cost of shipping).  It's such a treat when you open your mailbox and the hot pink box is just waiting to be opened!!!

Birchbox

Have you tried Birchbox or any other monthly make up subscriptions?  If not, try this one and get ready to discover some great new products!

Jamie

"Cannot Live Without" Beauty Items

I'm constantly trying new products that claim to be the best and the greatest, but I've found over the years there are somethings I just continue to go back too.  Here are a few of my "cannot live without" beauty items.

MAC Bulk Wipes

These are a lifesaver!  One wipe will remove every stitch of make up including mascara no matter how much make up I'm wearing.  It's EXTREMELY important you remove your make up before you wash your face.  Your face wash was never meant to do double duty by washing your face and trying to remove make up.  (A bonus with these wipes is if you're in a time crunch or just too exhausted they can be used as a one stop shop-removing make up and hydrating your skin.  Great for those nights when you just want to get to sleep!)

La Roche-Posay Toleraine Purifying Foaming Cream

I have been obsessed with this face wash for years!  As someone who has sensitive, dry skin I have to be cautious about what products I use and this one has never let me down.  This cleanser is so concentrated, just a small pea size amount is plenty to wash your face so the bottle seems to last forever, plus it has a nice rich lather and does not strip my skin of moisture. (La Roche-Posay in general has amazing products.  Check out one of my favorite sunscreens in this post)

Trader Joe's Honey Mango Moisturizing Shave Cream

You know those shaving commercials...the ones where the girl's leg is completely covered in a foam shaving cream minus the one strip she's already shaved off?  For years that was me, shaving my legs like the girl in the commercial.  A non-foaming shaving cream just seemed so bizarre to me that I resisted trying anything else until one of my guy friends (yes, even guys get beauty too :) ) mentioned how the Trader Joe's Shaving Cream kept his face from breaking out after shaving.  From my first bottle I knew I was never going back.  As one who shaves my legs every day (I really hate prickly legs) this product is perfect for continual use on your legs...and all other delicate areas that need shaving.  A little goes along way with this product, so you need just enough to create a barrier between your skin and the razor.  Also, a bonus is that it's Paraben free and 100% Vegetarian. (For those who don't live near a Trader Joe's you can order it off of Amazon here.).  Get ready for silky, smooth legs!!!

MAC Brush Cleanser

Oh, I cannot stress the importance of properly cleaning brushes!  Next to my hands they are the most important tool in my make up kit and that is why I use this both personally and professionally.  There are plenty of other brush cleansers on the market (and even some DIY Pinterest boards), but I DON'T suggest them.  For me this brush cleaner packs a triple punch-it cleans/shampoos, disinfects with an anti-bacterial agent and most importantly it conditions the bristles.  It's not as imperative with a synthetic brush that the bristles be conditioned, but it is with a natural bristled brush.  Just imagine washing your hair and never putting a conditioning agent on it; it might be clean, but it's probably not going to be the softest and silkiest it could be.  Trust me after you feel how soft the bristles are after you've washed your brushes, you won't go back to another brush cleaner.

 These are just a few of the beauty items I can't live without.  Let me know what are some of your "Can't Live Without" items!

Jamie

Broken Eye Shadow? Here's how to fix it!

Has this ever happened, you open up an eyeshadow and it's disintegrated into small pieces?

Broken-Shadow-1

I always I thought I had two options, pour the loose shadow into a small container or throw it away.  Neither of those options were very appealing until I discovered this ... you can re-solidify your shadows.

Broken-Shadow-2

Using rubbing alcohol fill the metal container 3/4 high (I prefer 99% alcohol, but 90% or 91% should be fine) .

Don't over fill, you can always add more alcohol if it's not full enough.

Broken-Shadow-3

Gently press the shadow with a Q-tip mixing the shadow and alcohol together.

Make sure the shadow is completely saturated with alcohol even if this means the breaking the chunks of eye shadow into smaller pieces.

Broken-Shadow-4

The eye shadow should be completely saturated.

Lift the container and tap it against the counter.  You should see small bubbles being forced to the surface as the alcohol/eye shadow mixture settles back into the container.

Let the eye shadow container sit open so the alcohol can evaporate.

Voila!!!! Amazing that with a little alcohol an eye shadow can go from this to this!

Broken-Shadow-5

Hope this little trick can keep you from needlessly throwing away a broken eye shadow.

Jamie

I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for...Sunscreen?

Sunscreen, we know we need it, but do we really know what to use and why?  When I began researching this topic I expected to gain a refresher about sun safety, discover a few advancements and present you with a brief summary.  Boy was I wrong!  The refresher part was easy, but the discovering new advancements was like opening Pandora's box.  There are some very opinionated debates about what sunscreen you should wear, how you should wear it, and why you should wear it. Sun School 101

There are two types of UV Radiation being giving off by the sun, UVA and UVB and you need protection from both.

• UVA - These are the rays that cause AGING.  This is the dominant tanning ray whether tanning out doors or in a tanning bed and it is strong enough to permeate through glass and clouds.  This ray penetrates the skin deeper than a UVB ray, thus causing cumulative damage to the skin over time. 1
• UVB - These are the rays that cause your skin to BURN as they tend to effect only the superficial epidermal layer (or the top most layer).  The intensity of these rays vary by time of day, altitude and season. 1

According to the FDA's new labeling rules for 2012, if a bottle of sunscreen just has an SPF + a number it will not block out a significant amount of UVA rays.  To be sure your sunscreen is going to block both UVA and UVB rays, the bottle has to read "Broad Spectrum" and have an SPF of 15 or higher.  Any sunscreen not labeled Broad Spectrum or with an SPF between 2-14 the product will be listed a warning  “Skin Cancer/Skin Aging Alert:  Spending time in the sun increases your risk of skin cancer and early skin aging. This product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.”  2

Types of Sunscreen

There are two types of sunscreen, physical blockers and chemical blockers.   Physical sunscreen, titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, sits on the skin's surface and physically blocks both the UVA and UVB rays.  A chemical sunscreen is absorbed by the skin so the sun becomes deactivated once the rays come in contact with the chemicals in the sunscreen. 3 There is much debate as to the safety of chemical sunscreens and every article and opinion you read will tell you something new.  If you have used any major brand of sunscreen at any point in your life, you've used a chemical sunscreen.  Two chemicals that seem to be least controversial are Avobenzone and Mexoryl (see here and here). 1  Oxybenzone and Retinyl Palmitate seems to be two of the more controversial (see here and here).

Application

• Strip down, yep I said it, strip down to your birthday suit and apply sunscreen at least 30 minutes before you go outside.  Applying sunscreen in the buff will ensure your swimsuit won't get in the way and you can cover all the hard to reach areas.  There is nothing worse than thinking your skin is covered, your swimsuit unknowingly shifts one way just a little too far and you end up with a lobster red sunburn in one small line.

• Apply 1 ounce (equal to 2 tablespoons or a shot glass full) of sunscreen to your entire body. 1

• Reapply every 2 hours.  "Waterproof" sunscreens have been approved to last for 80 minutes, but may need to be reapplied sooner when swimming or with heavy sweating.  "Water Resistant" sunscreens have been approved to last for 40 minutes. 4

• Don't forget to apply sunscreen to your ears (front and back), back of the neck, back of the hands and any exposed areas in your hair (like where your hair is parted - you do not want that to burn and then turn into a peeling, flaky scalp). 4

Guidelines

• Always choose a broad spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 15. 1

• Sunscreen can loose it's potency over time so be cautious using sunscreen that has changed color, smell or consistency. 4

•  If you are concerned about potentially toxic chemicals avoid any sunscreens containing oxybenzone and retinyl palmitate. 5  For a list of sunscreens without these chemicals, see here.

• Remember this phrase from the American Cancer Society: "Slip, Slop, Slap and Wrap".  Slip on a shirt, Slop on sunscreen, Slap on a hat, and Wrap on sunglasses. 4

My Recommendation...

The two companies that I have trusted for the last few years is EltaMD and La Roche-Posay.  Unbeknownst to me they were the top two selling sunscreens of 2012 (see the list here - I cannot guarantee that the products on this list are free of some of the aforementioned chemicals.).

The sunscreen that I use almost every day...yes I don't wear it every day...is EltaMD UV Facial Broad Spectrum SPF 30+.  If I know I'm going to be stuck in side all day without being in the sun at all, I don't wear sunscreen.  This product is wonderful under make up.  It soaks right into the skin and leaves no greasy residue.  It's a constant in both my personal and professional make up kit.  This product is only found in a dermatologist office, but this link will tell you where it's sold in an office near you.

La Roche-Posey is a company that I recommend for multiple products (I've used one of their face washes for years and I love it!).  Their sunscreens are some of the best on the market because of the Mexoryl SX technology.  The Anthelios SX Daily Moisturizer with Sunscreen is one of their best sellers.  This product is usually found in the dermatologists office, but in the last few years CVS has started carrying this line.  If it's not in a store near you then the products can be found on the CVS website.

So as I told you in the beginning, what I thought was going to be a simple post was anything but.  Hopefully this gave you a refresher about information you already knew and introduced you to some new information about what's currently on the market.  I'd love to know what your favorite sunscreens are.

Happy Safe Sunning!!!

Jamie

1. www.skincancer.org

2.www.fda.gov

3. www.nytimes.com

4. www.medicinenet.com

5. www.cnn.com

Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Polish - Product Review

  I LOVE painted nails, but I HATE chipped polish.  Because of my job, my hands are in pictures all the time so my nails need to look prefect.  Regular nail polish had never failed me ... until I had professional gel nails applied.  After having weeks with no chipping, it made regular nail polish just not worth the trouble.

When Sally Hansen released their Salon Pro Gel Polish that promised no chips for 14 days, I was intrigued.

Sally Hansen Salon Pro Gel Kit

Verdict: I love this product.  It's one of my favorite beauty finds.

Pros

There are other at home gel kits on the market, but here are my reason I prefer this one.

• It's very easy to use and the color lasts.

• As soon as the color is cured, your nails are done.  No smudging!!!

• This product is sold in almost every store so it's readily available (Target, CVS, Ulta, etc.).   Budget tip-Some of these stores have 20% off coupons which are perfect for items like these.

• It uses an LED light, which is safer for the skin, instead of a UV light to cure the polish.

• These do not weaken my nails like I feel some of the professional gel polishes have.

• 100% Acetone is all that's needed to remove the polish.  These must be removed properly, see how here.  *See Tips.

• 99% Alcohol soaked wipes are what's in the packets you use before and after applying the polish. *See Tips

Nails

Cons

• The range of colors are a bit limited.  Assuming this product does well in the market, I'm hoping they will expand the color range.

• I've found my right hand (the dominant one) does tend to chip a bit quicker than my left hand.

• The LED light has a preset 30 second timer to cure the polish, but each nail really needs a 60-90 second cure time.  **See Tips

Tips

*Some of the other at home gel polishes have specialty removers made only by their brand.  Sally Hansen does sell prepackaged 99% Alcohol wipes and small bottles of acetone, but if you're budget savvy just purchase the CVS or Target brand of Acetone found on the bottom shelf with the nail polish removers.  99% Alcohol is a medical grade alcohol that can some times be found in the pharmacy or can be purchased from one of the make up supply houses in larger cities (West Coast peeps - Frends, Nigel's; East Coast peeps - Alcone)

**Cure the polish for the first 30 seconds with the light shining directly on the nails.  For the next 30-60 seconds, rock the fingers/hand slightly side to side so the light will shine on the edges of the polish and fully cure.  Do this with all 3 steps.

Have you ever tried gel nails either at home or professionally applied?

Jamie

Lovely Layers, how to make a color you might be missing!

There are many times that I'm applying make up and I don't have the exact color I need.  With lipsticks it's quite easy to blend a few together to make the color I'm missing, but did you know it's just as easy to do that with eye shadow?  All it takes is a little layering.  For this particular look I wanted an eyeshadow color that mimicked the reflection of the sequins on my shirt.

Follow these steps as I show you how I make the exact color I was needing.

Silver

Lid color #1, Silver, was applied to the eye lid and the Brow Highlight was added to the brow bone using the 242 brush.

Pink

Lid color #2, Pink, was brushed on top of the silver using the 242 brush.

Crease

A warm, red based brown was blended into the crease with the 217 brush.

Gel-Liner

I lined the top and bottom lid with a gel eyeliner using a 263 brush.

Powder-Liner

Using a black eyeshadow and the 266 brush, I gently smudged the eyeshadow into the gel liner.

Mascara

Add mascara.

Water-Line

Using the 263 brush and the gel eyeliner, paint the inner water line of the eye for this finished look.

Final Look

I'd love to help you create a color that you're missing.  Let me know if you have any questions!

Jamie

Gel Eyeliner that lasts all day, to good to be true? (I think not)

I'm always on the lookout for products that will last, but will still look fresh when my day is over.  When I heard this new company, Inglot Cosmetics, had a gel eyeliner that outlasts any other on the market my interest was peeked.  The official product name on their website is Matte Collection AMC Eyeliner Gel.  I used number 77.

The test was a 15 hour day (applied at 7AM, removed at 10:30PM) and the application was a 50's style winged eye liner.  This application requires exact precision, with this look no mistakes can be made and covered with with a smudged line.  I used a synthetic bristled, angled brush to apply this product, similar to the 263 brush referenced in my essential brushes post.

Review

-Budget friendly - There's a large amount of product for the price. (0.19 oz vs 0.1 oz which is about the average size)

-Tons of matte colors (as well as metallic colors not shown on the website)

-Simple, easy packaging.

-Opaque, velvety color.

-Paraben free and no animal testing.

-The texture is great!  This is my ultimate test for gel liners.  It's has a nice slip to it when painting it on the skin and it's not too thick.

-At the inner corner of my eye, on the bottom near the tear duct, a small amount of product that transferred to the skin midway through the day.  This is not an uncommon place for a product to transfer/run because of the amount of moisture near the tear duct.  I simply used a q-tip to remove the product.

Final Judgment

-This is a product I will use both personally and professionally.  This product wore for 15 hours without budging.  All the pictures here were taken at the end of the 15 hour day!

*Because this product is so new it can only be found in select markets.  Nigel Beauty Emporium is the only place that I know of in LA that sells this line of cosmetics.  This store one of the amazing make up stores that I use when I'm purchasing products for my kit.  You can use the Inglot Cosmetics website to research their products.  If you're local, head on over to Nigel's or place an order because they literally ship make up supplies all over the world!

If you try this product, let me know.  I'd love to hear your reviews on it!

Jamie

Fresh faces rule the red carpet at the 2013 Oscars!

Spring is in the air and that was very apparent tonight on the Academy Award's red carpet!  This awards show never disappoints with all the glamour and the fashion.  There seemed to be a light, freshness in all the beauties that graced the red carpet as neutrals and pastels were the color du jour. Subtle plums created sweet, but statement making smokey eyes; while nude lips provided a lovely complement to their overall look for Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Garner.

Jennifer Lawrence and Jennifer Garner

Their ashen grey smokey eyes, though light in color never lacked any drama for both Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington.  Both ladies kept the skin youthful and fresh with hints of pink on their cheeks and lips.

Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington

Continuing with the neutral trend, but adding her own flair to it, was the lovely Jessica Chastain.  She was my favorite of the evening oozing old Hollywood glamour with her make up, hair and dress.  The eyes were kept very simple with a shimmery nude eyeshadow on the eyelid, a warm, but very faint contour in the crease and a clean but dramatic black eyeliner on the upper eyelid only.  Her skin was flawless and her cheeks had a soft pink glow.  The finishing touch to complete her look was a perfectly, classic red lip.

jessica-chastain-oscars-2013

Below are a few products to help you recreate this look.

Eyelid Color - Chanel OMBRE ESSENTIELLE Eyeshadow - Lotus (Champagne shadow with a slight shimmer)

Crease - MAC Eyeshadow - Soba (Gold Brown with Gold Shimmer)

Eye Liner - Bobby Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner - Black Ink

Lashes - Ardell - #123

Blush -MAC Cosmetics Sheertone Blush - Pinch O' Peach (Warm Peach)

Lips -MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Lipcreme -Prolong (True Red)

Let me know if you had a favorite red carpet look and you want to recreate it!

Jamie

Blooming Brushes, what are the essentials?

Hands down (pun intended), my brushes are the most important tool in my make up kit. The right brush with right product can achieve beautiful results! This is one item that I will tell you DO NOT scrimp on your brushes. Bite the bullet and spend for QUALITY; the results are well worth it. It's a small investment with a major payoff. There are brushes that I've had for 10+ years and they are in just as good of shape today as they were the day I bought them (now this is also because I'm meticulous in taking very good care of them, but that is for another post coming soon! :) The 5 basic essentials ...

193 Angled Foundation Brush

This brush is a synthetic bristle perfect to be used for a cream or liquid.  I like that the over all shape of the bristles are wide enough to be used over the whole face, but because they come to a slight point it can double as a concealer brush for a little spot concealing when needed.

129 Powder/Blush Brush

This is a natural bristle brush perfect for a pressed or loose powder.  The bristle shape of this particular brush is large enough to be used as a powder brush or small enough to be used as blush brush.  (Either use the brush for blush or powder.  Trying to use the same brush for both could have a disastrous ending.)

266 Small Angled Brush

This is one of the most multipurpose brushes I own.  This brush is a natural bristle brush.  It's perfect for using a powdered product to line your eyes, smudge your eyeliner or even add a little color to fill in your brows.  There is a synthetic version of this brush (263 Small Angled Brush) that is ideal when using a cream or liquid liner.

242 Shader Brush

This has been a staple of mine for years.  It can be used for any make up product that is powder, liquid or cream.  The bristles are stiff enough to give a bold, intense payoff of color, yet soft enough to you could lightly brush product onto the skin to get just a hint of the color showing.  I use this to apply color to my eyelids or brow highlight, to smudge eyeliner for a smokey eye or even use it as a concealer or lip brush. (As stated above with the powder/blush brush, you must designate what this brush will be used for.  You can't jump between smudging eyeliner one day and then using the same brush for concealer the next.)

217 Blending Brush

I've saved my favorite brush for last!  This is a blending brush for the crease of your eyes.  It's a natural bristle so it's best used for powder products.  The dome shape of the bristles are perfect for flawlessly blending colors together and achieving that airbrushed look.

If you have any question about these or any other brushes, let me know and I'd be glad to tell you how to use them!

Jamie