Feeling Stressed? Take a Beauty Timeout

Are you feeling the holiday stress yet, Makeup Moxies?

If you are, take comfort in the fact that you’re definitely not alone. Even more importantly, there are things you can do to cope with any stress or depression that may arise during the holiday season.

If you do a Google Search for “holiday stress”, you’ll find several helpful articles. One that I found particularly interesting and informative is this one from MayoClinic.com.

The article pinpoints the three most common “triggers” for holiday stress and depression and then offers twelve tips to help you cope.

But what kind of Makeup Moxie would I be if I didn’t add a soul-soothing beauty tip to the list?

For me, one of the best stress-busters is also a really simple one: Take a “beauty timeout” and do something to really pamper yourself. Even if it’s just for fifteen or twenty minutes, take some time that’s solely for your own self-indulgence.

Take a hot bath or a long shower and follow up by slathering on a rich body cream, get your nails done, get a massage, or just treat yourself to a face mask.

Most importantly, whatever you choose to do, resist the urge to run through your mental checklists or entertain any worries.

It’s amazing just how relaxed, recharged, and re-energized you can feel when you do something for yourself that makes you feel beautiful.

Picture Perfect: How to Do Your Makeup For Photos

iStockphoto.com has a great Article of the Week: “Make Up” by Elizabeth Shoemaker. This article has some high quality information about applying makeup that will look great in photographs. Though it’s written for professional photographers, it still has some really good makeup tips that anyone can use.

These tips are particularly helpful if you are a bride who decides to do your own makeup or if you have any other special occasion such as a wedding, graduation, reunion, or whatever, where you will not have a professional makeup artist there to ensure that you are photo-ready.

Shoemaker explains, for example, that any foundation with titanium dioxide — a commonly used sunscreen — should be avoided when taking flash pictures. Since the titanium dioxide works to shield the skin by reflecting light, the resulting effect is that your face takes on a washed-out, mask-like appearance in the finished picture.

The article also includes information and some helpful photographs that explain the theory behind makeup application — knowledge that can be extremely helpful even when just applying your regular, “every day” makeup. Be sure to check out the section on contouring for a great explanation (and even better illustration!) of why it is so important to apply blush, bronzer, and highlighter in the right places and in the correct colors.

This article is well worth the read. You can check it out here:
“Make Up” by Elizabeth Shoemaker

Note to fellow Beauty Bloggers and Beauty Web Designers: iStockphoto.com has a wide variety of excellent stock beauty photos that are available at incredibly low prices (as low as $1). If you’re on the market for some great beauty photos and you have not yet joined iStockphoto.com, you can try it out by clicking here.

Looking for more picture-perfect complexion perfection? Check out these posts:

• The Therma Clear Acne Treatment Device helps get rid of those pimples that pop up right before big events.
• Don’t let an oil slick ruin your photo op, try smoothing on Becca Mattifying Primer before applying your foundation
• Smashbox Photo Finish is a skin-perfecting classic and now it even fights the signs of aging. Learn more in my Smashbox PhotoFinish with Dermaxyl Review.

Winter Blues Got You Down?

Lorac Cheek Duo on Beauty.com

For many parts of the country, this has felt like an endless Winter. While there’s no better way to escape the blizzards and subzero temperatures than a deliciously sunny tropical vacation, there’s a few things you can do to bring the tropics to you

One of the best ways to banish a dull, sun-deprived complexion is by using a high quality self-tanner. After exfoliating your skin, follow up with Fusion Beauty’s GlowFusion Micro-Nutrient Protein Tan. This practically goof-proof self-tanner is fast drying, completely odor-free, long-lasting, and delivers a healthy dose of antioxidants ($58, Beauty.com).

Running a little short on time? Brush on some face-warming bronzer like Lorac Cheek Duo in Hot & Spicy ($28.50, Beauty.com). Get a quick sunkissed glow by brushing the darker shade over cheekbones and across your forehead and nose and then use a big fluffy brush to apply the pink blush to just the apples of your cheeks.

For instant gratification (or to enhance your fake-baked glow), snag a bottle of one of the hottest new scents: Island Michael Kors Hawaii ($60, Sephora). Initially energizing with its bright notes of clementine and pineapple, this scent is also grounded with notes of ginger lily, sandalwood, and jasmine — the result is a heady, soul-soothing escape into paradise. Yummy.

With products like these, you don’t necessarily need to book a flight down to Cabo to get rid of the Winter doldrums (but wouldn’t it be nice?).

Reviews of Some Cheek-Warming Blushes:

• Can a colorless gel blush really transform into your perfect shade? Find out in my Smashbox O-Glow Review
• Check out my Almay Smart Blush Review and find out why Smart Blush isn’t so smart.
• Looking for a pretty cream blush that’s easy to use? Look no further than this Benefit Sheer Cream Blusher Review.

How to Wear Spring’s Metallic Makeup Trend

Kevyn Aucoin on Beauty.com

Earlier this week, I talked about a subtle, pretty way to wear silver and gold eyeliner with spring’s nude makeup look.

I warned against going overboard with the metallics, but I also mentioned that there is a right way to go heavier on the silver or gold makeup. So, in honor of all you weekend-party-ready makeup moxies, here’s how to get a dramatic, out-of-this-world party look.

For a soft celestial glow that looks great in a darkened night club, sculpt your cheekbones with a shimmery highlighting powder. I love Nars Highlighting Blush ($25, Beauty.com), which is a radiant, shimmery powder that’s great either on it’s own or for layering over your own blush.

To use this powder, simply sweep the edge of a large fan brush across the powder and then apply onto your temples and the very tops of your cheekbones.

You can further intensify your look by using metallic shades to play up either your eyes or lips. Be sure, however, to just choose one of these features to highlight. We’re going for “space-age-inspired” not “take me to your leader.”

For sparkling, come-hither eyes, try taking a silver or metallic eyeliner (see some of my favorites here) and drawing a bold line across your upper and lower lash lines.

If you instead opt for the metallic lip look, start with a good lipgloss like LipFusion Color Shine ($38, Beauty.com) and then dot silver or gold gloss like Kevyn Aucoin Liquid Cyber Lip Gloss in Datura ($27. Beauty.com) or Too Faced Highlighting Shimmer ($18.50, Beauty.com) on the cupids bow of the top lip and on the center of the bottom lip.

The gleam of the metallic gloss will not only add a pop of shimmer, but it will also help make your lips appear more full.

Put On Your Holiday Face

Looking for the perfect holiday face? Try flawless skin, smoked-gray eyes, lush lashes, and glossy lips with a pop of color.

Zip it all into a cute, ultra-portable little pouch and you’ve got the Tarte We Wish You Health Skinvigorating Discovery Kit.

I had the opportunity to try out this utterly fabu little gift set and I was pleased to find that everything in it is wearable and it has almost everything you need for a complete holiday makeup look.

The Beauty Goods
The We Wish You Health Kit includes travel-size versions of the excellent Clean Slate Face Primer, Lights, Camera, Lashes! 4-in-1 Mascara, a Lock & Roll eyeshadow duo, and an Inside Out Vitamin Lipgloss in “Serenity,” a shimmery, sheer, raspberry-hued gloss.

What’s this set missing?
The only thing I’d add to this set is an eyeliner. Tarte’s Indelible Wink in “Charcoal” goes incredibly well with the eyeshadows in this set and I recommend it (full review to come).

Bonus Tip:
If you want a more dramatic look, get yourself a really high-beam, loose silver powder (I used MAC in “Silver Fog”). Dot the powder onto the center of your eyelids for an extra shimmery wink or on the center of your lips for a fuller-looking, mistletoe-ready pout.

Hurry Up!
Snag your Tarte We Wish You Health Gift Set soon. Though it will certainly keep you looking pretty all the way through New Year’s, this limited edition set may not be around that long. The kit is available for $30 (a $50 value) from Sephora.

Holiday Beauty Survival Tips

Winter weather, decadent holiday foods, and late nights spent partying can all take their toll on your skin and makeup.

On top of all that, there’s bound to be a ton of picture-taking.

So what should you do to make sure you stay looking fabu throughout all your holiday festivities?

1. Don’t leave home without your eyelash comb. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If you wear mascara, a good eyelash comb is one of the most important tools in your beauty arsenal.

If Christmas carols make you misty or you get caught trudging through a snowstorm, you run the risk of lash clumpage. Be ready with the almighty Tweezerman Lash Comb (fellow Makeup Moxie, Amy, loves it too!).

2. Combat Shine With Powder Papers. You probably can’t avoid all the holiday picture taking…but you can avoid looking shiny on film. Use face papers to absorb excess oil without messing up your makeup or leaving your skin looking chalky or overdone.

3. Drink plenty of water. This is simple, but seriously effective. Drinking plenty of water will help counter the dehydration caused by Christmas cocktails as well as combat bloating from all that decadent holiday fare.

4. Get your antioxidants. Few combinations can wreak havoc on your skin as easily as the season’s mix of cold wind, blowing heaters, alcoholic bevvies, and a few too many late nights. Be sure you have an antioxidant-packed night cream on hand to moisturize, protect, and recharge your skin.

5. Relax and smile. When it really comes down to it, true grace and beauty comes with being comfortable with yourself.

Don’t worry about cosmetic perfection and just remember that you’re already gorgeous. If you relax and enjoy yourself, your true beauty will be sure to shine through ;)

Korres Lip Butter Review Part 2: A Top Beauty Secret

Korres Lip Butter on Sephora.com
(Pictured in “Quince”)

In Part 1 of my review of Korres Guava Lip Butter, I mentioned that the product’s white tint caused this lip butter’s biggest problem: the color clings to dry skin and actually emphasizes the appearance of chapped lips.

This sheer white color, however, is also the key to unlocking one of the product’s greatest strengths.

So what’s the Korres Guava Lip Butter Secret that I’m so twitterpated over?

This white tint in this lip butter is superb for toning down and neutralizing any lip color product that you currently have.

Have a lipstick that you think is too bright? Smooth your Guava lip butter over your lipstick to transform it into a slightly lighter, creamier shade.

Similarly, if you have a lipgloss that’s too dark or too bright, you can make your lipgloss look more subtle by applying a layer of the Guava lip butter on before slicking on your lipgloss.

The added bonus of this beauty trick is that you’ll also be fortifying your lipgloss or lipstick with the excellent, lip-softening benefits of this creamy lip balm.

And as for that pesky problem with the white color of the lip butter highlighting the dry areas on your lips? When you mix this lip butter with a colored lipgloss or lipstick, the problem simply goes away.

This lip butter’s ability to basically double your whole lip color wardrobe — while effectively moisturizing your lips — puts it firmly on my list of “makeup must-have’s.” Highly, highly recommended.

Korres Guava Lip Butter is available for $9 from Sephora.