Makeup Mistakes That Age You ~ Beauty Tip Of The Week # 15

Makeup can accentuate your best features, diminish those you're not so keen on, and make your skin absolutely glow.
When it's done right.
When it's not done correctly makeup can totally age you, suck the life out of your skin and leave you looking haggard.
Beware of these 7 Makeup Mistakes That Totally Age You:

1. Not Moisturizing Before Makeup.
It is so important to moisturize your skin before applying makeup.
Dry skin grabs makeup and makes it look both cakey and overdone.
Apply a good moisturizer, evenly, then give it a couple of minutes to soak in before you put on your foundation.

2. Concealer That's Too Light.

Concealer should be matched to your skin tone. Ideally it should match your skin color or just be a hint lighter.
Concealer that is too light or that has the wrong undertone will make your under eye area look grey, dull and aged. To correct dark circles under your eyes use a color corrector in a pink or peach shade.

3. Heavy Foundation.
Heavy, opaque foundation is a thing of the past. These days the look is sheer, with a focus on glowing, youthful skin.
Put down the heavy, spackel like foundation, instead look for lightweight formulas or BB creams to give you even color and a fresh faced, healthy look

4. Black Eyeliner.
Black eyeliner gives a heavy look to the lashline, and on eyes that are even just starting to show tell-tale signs of leaving their 20's, it can be super aging. Instead of letting black eyeliner age you and dominate your face, opt for deep plums and espresso browns to give you depth at the same time as being softer.

5. Too Much Mascara/Poorly Applied Mascara.
There are twin devils in the world of mascara. The first is applying it to just the ends of the lashes, the second is applying too much and having it look clumpy.
Invest in a good, glossy mascara, and apply it from the base of the lash wiggling the brush out to the tip of the lash. Your lashes should look smooth and shiny.
Don't pump the brush inside the tube - that will dry your mascara out.

6. Too Much Contour.
You are not a Kardshian, so don't try to contour like one. 

These days it seems like women of all ages get crazy on Instagram and You Tube contouring. 

image via Muskoka Makeupartistry

For the most part (with a few exceptions) if you see it on You Tube or Instagram, do the opposite. 

Excessive contouring makes your skin look dirty, sucks hollows where you don't want them, makes you look too heavily made up, and also makes you look like you're trying to hard. Which is both unflattering and aging.
Instead of a mega contour try a little well placed highlight to brighten the complexion.

7. Dark Lips.
Dark lipstick is aging. It makes lips look thin and mean and can drain the life out of your skin.
Unless you have plump, full lips, avoid dense, dark shades, choosing mid-tones and lighter shades instead.

image via Huffington Post

Rosie Huntington-Whitley Gets Naked For Lui Magazine

British model and now actress (Mad Max Fury Road) Rosie Huntington-Whitley bares all for the June 21 issue of French men's magazine Lui.

Photographed by Luigi and Iango, Huntington-Whitley is absolutely flawless, with a perfect red mouth.

Her body is a work of art. which makes it pretty hard to imagine her on the couch with boyfriend Jason Statham eating doritos and watching movies....

How To Choose An External Battery Pack For Your Phone

Whether you are a vacation traveler or a business traveler you have no doubt experienced being in a crowded airport with your phone battery dying and every power socket in sight already snagged by other travelers.

Or maybe you are out seeing the sights, taking photos and videos on your phone, and part way through your day your battery starts to die.

With  smartphones being our source of everything now, from city maps to restaurant guides, cameras to social media uploaders, you really do need a light, portable external battery to throw in your handbag or pocket and take with you.

I've been trying to figure out what I need in an external battery.
2000, 4000 or 13000 mAh? (like I even know what that means???) 1 USB port or 2?
It's all pretty confusing to a non-techie type.

I read a few articles on the subject, and got a little info.
If you just need a battery source for your phone, then look at a 4000 mAh. If you will also be charging up an iPad or tablet look for a 13,000 mAh battery pack.
13,000 can charge an iPad from completely depleted to full.

Things to consider are how speedy your device is, how it holds a charge, and how slim and portable it is.
Based on the article I read on The Wirecutter (The Best USB Battery Pack) I am buying the Anker’s $30 2nd Gen Astro E4 13,000-mAh External Battery. It's very fast, slim enough to slip in your pocket, and can power up both my iPad and my iPhone.

Anker 2nd Gen Astro E4 13000mAh 3A High Capacity Fast Portable Charger  External Battery Power Bank with PowerIQ Technology for iPhone 6 Plus 5S 5C 5 4S, iPad Air 2 Mini 3, Samsung Galaxy S6 S5 S4 Note Tab, Nexus, HTC, Motorola, Nokia, PS Vita, Gopro, more Phones and Tablets and More (Black)

Bridal Beauty Tip # 14 ~ How To Wear A Red Lip On Your Wedding Day

Red lips are stunning, dramatic, and wildly alluring.
They can compliment a white wedding dress and a glowing complexion like nothing else, giving you a look that is fresh, modern and uber chic.

Super fresh and stunning - bride in a red lip

But they also can be tricky to pull off on a day as huge as your wedding day, so here are  tips for How To Wear A Red Lip On Your Wedding Day.


1. Do I or don't I? 
If you normally wear a red lip, absolutely! - Go for it! If you don't normally wear a red lip, proceed with caution. Red is trickier than any other color to wear, and as it is such an attention grabber, any hiccups that occur along the way, happen front and center.

2. Balm It.
If you are planning on going red for your wedding look, make sure you start prepping a few days out. Gently exfoliate your lips then keep them super hydrated with a thick and nourishing lip balm day and night leading into your big day.
Cracked, chapped lips, even slightly chapped lips, look awful under a bold red lipstick.  Get those lips smooth and hydrated before you go near a red lipstick. Try Nuxe Nourishing Lip balm (click on image below)



3. Saturate Your Color
Choose a lipstick that has really saturated color. Pinky/nudey glosses don't really require too much color saturation, and will look fine even if the color is a little wiggly or patchy. Bold colors like reds really need dense, even pigment to make the entire lip look even. A patchy red lip looks awful.
(Click image for link to Temptu Imperial Red Lipstick)



4. Line It Twice.
I like to use two lip liners when working with red. The first is slightly darker than the lip color I'm using. This helps to create a multi dimensional lip, and stops the red from looking like it's just sitting on top of your skin. (You will blend your lipstick through this line and make it disappear, but it will still be doing it's job for you underneath.)
The second lip liner is the same shade as the lipstick, and you will fill the entire lip in with it. This way if your lipstick starts to come away you will have a matching color underneath.

5. Finish Strong.
Although glossy reds can be fun I don't recommend them for weddings, instead I direct my girls to a matte finish.
Mattes hold longer - glosses tend to slip more. A matte lip in a bold color lets you opt for a glowy gorgeous complexion offset with a firm brow.
Another thing to consider when thinking red lips is the fellow you are planning on kissing. 
Men both love and fear a red lip. Red lipstick commands attention, is madly sexy (it will have him thinking about the wedding night allll day long!), but if you have a glossy or satiny red lip he will fear kissing you because he doesn't want a trail of red slime all over him. A matte lip is both alluring and kiss friendly!

West Face East - How To Layer Your Skin Care, Korean Style

West Face East ~ How To Layer Skin Care, Korean Style

I'm shamelessly obsessed with Korean women and their world famous, spectacular skin. 

Ob. Sessed.

South Korea is recognized as being light years ahead in research and development of skin care products, and is known to have the very best, most high performing products in the world. 

American companies to go South Korean to buy technologies for their new products, but don't have access to everything, just some things.

The technological advances in Korean skin care, and the obsession of Korean women with having and maintaining exquisite skin run unparalleled

Stateside women typically don't think about their aging skin until there is a problem, at which point they run to the department store and buy overpriced skin care products and inject every filler and toxin they can into their faces to try and recapture youth.

Asian women see their faces more holistically. They start beauty regimens at an early age, see skin care routines as an investment in themselves. Rather than pile on heavy makeup they prefer to see exquisite skin, and the enhance it with light makeup.

It's Utopic to me.

Korean women use a famously intricate 10 Step skin care program, compared to the average American woman's 1.5 - 3 step program. Personally if you try to sell me a skin system that involves 3 steps I will run for the hills. Tell me there are 10 or 12 steps and you will have my undivided attention.

If you do use multiple skin care products you might enjoy this guide to layering your skin care like a Korean beauty queen.

STEP ONE: Eye Makeup Remover

Use an eye makeup remover to break down stubborn mascaras and waterproof eyeliners, gently dissolve eye makeup and clean the delicate eye area.

This is also fantastic for removing long wear lipsticks or any lip stains or colors that are difficult to remove.

STEP TWO: The Cleanse

Korean women use 2 step cleansing, one to remove makeup and the second to clean the skin.

My favorite is to use an oil cleanser to dissolve makeup, and if I have time use my clarisonic to do a second cleanse.

When you are cleansing your skin it is important to take time to really massage the face, which improves circulation and helps breathe new life into the skin.
Missha Near Skin Liquid To Foam is gentle and also balances the skin's pH

Missha Near Skin Liquid To Foam

For non foaming cleanser try Holika Holika Soda Pore Cleansing Cream. It has capsules containing carbonated ingredients to get a deeper clean.

Soda Pore Cleansing Cream

STEP THREE: Exfoliate

But just don't overdo it. For most people every 2 weeks is plenty. Personally I'm not a fan of skin care lines that tell you to exfoliate everyday - I think that's too harsh on the skin, and creates perpetually roughed up texture.

If you are using a scrub look for one with fine grains, not big chunky particles. Or opt for an enzyme mask that gently eats away the dead surface cells.

STEP FOUR: The Refresher

This is what we in America would call "toning", but where most toners feel like skin strippers to all but those with oily complexions, Korean Refreshers actually do leave the skin feeling softened, supple and ready to accept the treatment and moisturizing products. The thought behind it is to help remove pollutants as well as any residue from your cleanser.

Try Etude House Moistfull Collagen Facial Freshener ($23)
This refresher has collagen as its main ingredient, keeping the skin firm and moisturized, but also is alcohol free, making it ideal for all skin types.

Moistfull Collagen Facial Freshener

STEP FIVE: The Essence

Korean women consider this to be the most important step. What it does is speed the cell turnover rate, which makes skin smoother and brighter. Essence provides multiple intensive ingredients in just a single drop, and takes them deep deep into the skin where they go to work.

Personally I have noticed a remarkable difference to my own skin by adding in Essence. I'm currently using the Dragon Blood Essence ($27) from the Memebox website, but also look at the world famous Missha Essences.

Missha Near Skin Moist Capsule Essence gives double moisture benefit, plus protects skin from environmental pollutants, while leaving it sleek and soft.

Missha Near Skin Moist Capsule Essence

STEP SIX: The Ampoule 

The Ampoule is like a super condensed version of the essence. You can use ampoules to target specific skin issues - dry skin, clogged pores, uneven skin tone, excess oil - whatever the condition you want to treat there is an Ampoule or serum for it.

Missha Time Revolution Ampoule energizes, repairs and restores skin, is super nourishing and delivers intense moisture that regular skin care just cannot do!

Missha Time Revolution Ampoule

STEP SEVEN: Emulsion

Korean women understand the importance of hydrating the skin, and typically do two layers of moisturizer. 

Stateside women are always telling me that they don't moisturize because they have oily skin (which basically means a shiny T Zone). Asian women generally have more oily complexions, but still understand the importance of keeping the layers below the surface treated and hydrated. An oily surface is no excuse!

So the first layer of moisturizing is the lightweight emulsion.
For rejuvenation, nourishment and anti wrinkle concerns try 
Holika Holika Black Caviar Anti Wrinkle Emulsion ($36)

Black Caviar Emulsion

To lift skin, tighten pores, hydrate without feeling greasy, and leave skin super soft try IPKN Hydro3 Cube Emulsion ($39)

Hydro3 Cube Emulsion

STEP EIGHT: Moisture Cream or Sleeping Pack

This is your heavier moisturizer, designed to seal in all the goodness you have layered so far, as well as treat any other specific needs, from pore minimizing to whitening to plumping to deep hydration. 
For dry skin that needs an extra boost of nourishment try
Elisha Coy Moist Up Super Hyalurone Cream ($27)

Moist Up Super Hyalurone Cream

For a dewy, healthy glow, to even out skin tone and tighten up pores try SNP Pore Contraction Whitening Cream ($25)

Pore Contraction Cream

Today I am ordering this one -
SNP Diamond Water Sleeping Pack. (Or I might order the gold collagen one.)

SNP Diamond Water Sleeping Pack

STEP NINE: Sheet Masks

Sheet masks are a fabulous addition to your skin care regime, specifically treating issues, from brightening to firming, to hydrating to clearing - you name it! Every time I go on the Memebox website I end up buying more sheet masks. They only cost from $1 to about $8 on average, so are not expensive, but make a huge difference to your skin. They are wonderful to travel with too.

The cotton sheet holds the treatment product against the skin, helping it to be more effective.
Try Deep Sea Water Skin Food Mask

Deep Sea Water Skinfood Mask

STEP TEN: SPF

Sun damage ages your skin faster than anything else, so Korean women wouldn't even consider venturing outdoors without a full layer of potent SPF on their skin. 
Try the Missha All Around Safe Block SPF 50

Missha All Around Safe Block SPF 50

Bonus step: STEP ELEVEN: Mist

I love this one! Facial mist can be used at any time. You can breathe life back into tired looking makeup with a quick spritz, you can revive your skin at any time, (especially wonderful if you sit in front of a computer all day) I often start my entire skin care process with facial mist. Facial mists are fabulous for every day use as well as being magic on long haul international flights!

It's Skin Facial Solution Water Mist

All products in this blogpost are available through Memebox.
Click on any product link or on the advertisement below.

5 Steps to A Perfect Start To Your Day

 I have been busy shooting a campaign for Google all week, which has left me a bit behind on my blog schedule, so today I am reposting a blog entry from Career Girl Daily.
I have to say I absolutely need each and every one of these!
Click on the link at the bottom of this post to see more posts from Career Girl Daily

5 Morning Moments Every Girl Needs!

Everybody likes a lie in and morning’s can be hard work if you don’t get enough sleep. It can be impossible to convince yourself to actually get up, especially if you’re doling out your precious time for a shower, choosing your outfit and doing your makeup and hair. But it’s important to make the most of your mornings, they can help determine the rest of your day and lay foundations for better habits and a more productive week. If you’re struggling to make the most of your mornings, here’s five morning moments every girl needs!

Photo from Darling Magazine

#1 Water
It’s important to rehydrate yourself after a night’s sleep. So as well as splashing your face with cold water, you should try to drink some. Add some sliced fruit to your water and put it in the fridge overnight for a delicious and healthy drink in the morning.

#2 Breakfast
Never underestimate the importance of breakfast. It stops you having hunger pangs before lunch and can give you a burst of energy for the rest of the day. Make sure you have a breakfast packed with nutrients and vital ingredients to give you a spring in your step for the rest of the day.

Photo from Whizpered

#3 Stretches
If you’re so inclined, doing some brief stretches in the morning will help limber you up for the rest of the day. Use an app like Yoga Studio to do stretches at home, it gets the blood pumping, improves your posture and can banish a number of health problems.

#4 Visualise
Take a moment to think about the day ahead of you and focus on the positives. Even if you’re dreading the day ahead, think of all the little happinesses ahead of you and try to make sure you’re feeling good about this day.

#5 Socialise
It’s nice to get some chatting done in the morning, you don’t want to be boxed off with colleagues all day feeling anxious and stressed, so don’t compromise your socialisation. Having a giggle in the morning can help you relax and realise it’s not the end of the world if you have a bad day!

Read more posts like this at Career Girl Daily