Make the Most of Your Makeup: Sanitize!

This is a ritual your professional artist should know all too well. Makeup kits have to be sanitized after every job to ensure our makeup is hygienic and safe from contamination for all clients. Most people see the high importance of this practice for pros but what about you consumers and makeup aficionados? 

I have realized quite a few people do not think it is necessary to sanitize their own makeup. It is people! Here's a couple reasons why:-

1) When you do not sanitize your own makeup for example pressed powder products; with every use of a sponge or brush on this product, you are transferring oils from your skin onto your product. Oils essentially turn into dirt eventually and furthermore bacteria. Have you ever noticed your pressed powder foundation has a smooth crust on the top? That is a build up of those oils. Although this is your own personal product you can cause breakouts especially if you are acne prone. 

2) Regularly sanitizing your makeup increases their shelf life! Freshening your makeup helps to restore your products enabling you to get the most and best use out of them. 

"What do you use to sanitize?", I can hear some of you asking...

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My spray of choice is one called Beauty So Clean. It sanitizes makeup in ten short seconds; simple mist directly on the product holding bottle about 6 inches away and wait till it is dry before closing. 

1) For those products that have a film or crust over them simple scrape the top part off gently with a spatula or spoon  Then spray the sanitizing mist on it and wait 10 seconds for it to dry. 

2) Have a routine or set day for your makeup sanitizing. I try to do it at lease once a week however in all honesty it is usually every two weeks. 

Unfortunately I have not found this spray locally in Barbados so I stock up when I travel. It is totally worth it and very necessary. 

Thank you as always for all of your article requests and suggestions! Have a wonderful week Beauties and don't forget to subscribe to this blog so you are notified when new posts are up!

xoxo

Dee

Current Favorites: April to June 2015

Press play on the video below to watch my April to June favorites! See what products I have been reaching for over and over and why I love them so much. 

Hope you like the video. Please don't forget to send your requests by commenting on the video or on this blog.

xoxo

Dee

Make the Most of Your Makeup: Pressed Eye shadows!

Rich, shimmery, creamy, glittery....I could go on and on with describing that addictive little cosmetic called eyeshadow; pressed shadows to be exact. Every makeup lover confesses they have to many and never enough. For many of you Beauties this is your favorite part of makeup application.
From simply using it to even out dark eye lids to an alluring smoky eye to complex works of art. Eye shadow can be used on many different levels to add to your makeup look.
There are a few ways you can get your bang for your buck with these cosmetic gems. Continue reading to see how you can get the most out of your eye shadows.

1) Soft Brows. Take a synthetic angled brush to a matte rich dark brown shadow and lightly use it to fill in sparse areas in the eyebrows. This can look very natural and soft if you are going for a natural look or if your brows are already defined but only need a light fill in.

2) Blush. Whether matte or shimmery, some eye shadows can actually double as blush. Some are so pretty and have such a blend-able texture it is practically a crime not to use them in this way. My personal favorites are reds, oranges and deep pinks. Simply use a fluffy blush brush to apply the colour to the cheeks for a nice diffused wash of (blush) eyeshadow on that cheek area.

3) Matte red lips are contemporary and will always in style. I cannot think of any reason a red lipstick lover would not have a matte red lipstick in her makeup collection but just in case you only have a satin finish......matte red eye shadow to the rescue! Apply your lipstick. Take a spatula, butter knife or spoon and gently scape the top of the matte red shadow to get some of that shadow loose. Use a flat eyeshadow brush to apply the shadow to your lips in a patting technique. This will not only mattify that satin lipstick, it will make it bolder and more long wearing by setting that lipstick!

What are some outside of the box ways you like to use pressed shadow! Comment, message, share...I wanna know!!

xoxo
Dee

Lip Service: Guide to Lip Prep

 Lip looks are having a major beauty moment. With the rise in super matte liquid lipsticks, new glosses and liners on the market; lip products are selling like hotcakes and bold lips are very requested by makeover clients. They are a win for me because focusing on perfecting the skin and a bold lip colour is effortless and saves time when you're in a rush. I love lipsticks, always have and always will; so lip care is very important. Here are my top tips for priming and aftercare of your lips to ensure you have a beautiful lipstick/gloss application and healthy happy lips!

1) Exfoliate. I am sure you have heard me say this a million time. Yes, take 2 seconds to gently remove those dead skin cells off your lips. To do this run your toothbrush over your lips for a couple seconds after brushing your teeth. It will result in smooth healthy lips that allows lipstick and lip gloss to be applied beautifully.

2) Moisturize. Use your favorite lip balm after exfoliation to soften your lips and add that moisture that those ultra matte lipsticks absorb. I prefer to use formulas that are not medicated because they can be drying. I look for organic simple lip moisturizers that contain ingredients like shea butter and jojoba. My favorites to apply before lipstick or gloss are the EOS balms. I typically apply a heavier balm before bed like just shea butter.

3) Sun Protection. Especially if you plan on spending days by the pool or on the beach sun protection is very important. Sun burnt lips are very painful and can result in cracked, sore lips. When this happens you can't wear any lipstick at all. Save yourself the heartache and take the time to care for your lips properly.

Let me know your favorite lip balms!
xoxo
Dee

Make The Most of Your Makeup: Eyeshadow Pigments

Eyeshadow pigments are loose eyeshadow powders ranging in texture and finish, from matte and very finely milled to shimmer or glittery. Pigments are that cosmetic we all like to look at and collect because they are so pretty and enthralling. Sad thing is when reaching for eyeshadow on an everyday basis pigments lose the battle to pressed eyeshadows. A big reason is pressed shadows are easier to work with and less messy.

Let's take a second to consider the word 'pigment', it simply means colour. Therefore it is a simply a cosmetic colour in a powder form. I am sure you can see why this is an excellent multitasking makeup product. Pigments can be used in a number of ways here are my personal favorites.

1. Wet eyeshadow application. Rub your eyeshadow brush on a face wipe to dampen it then apply the pigment to your eyeshadow look with that brush. This works with pigments that have shimmer to intensify the finish and make it even more shimmery.
2. Add a small amount of shimmery golden or bronze pigment to body lotion to create a beautiful bronzed highlight on your skin. This is perfect for summertime outings; it adds a healthy glow.
3. Amp up your gloss or lipstick. You can create your own lipgloss by adding your desired pigment to clear gloss. You can also pat pigment over lipstick to mattify it, or add dimension.
4. Highlight. Who wouldn't want glowing gorgeous Jennifer Lopez skin? Pigments make excellent highlighters on the tops of the cheekbones! Tip: Be extra light handed and use a small fluffy blending brush for precise but soft beautiful application.

Writing this post has definitely inspired me to start playing with my eyeshadow pigments again. Follow my Instagram ways I use pigments more this season!

What are your favorite pigments Beauties? You know I want to know!

Xoxo

Dee

Make The Most of Your Makeup: Concealer

I used to say quite often the only thing I need for a certainty in the morning are 'the two C's'; Coffee and Concealer. This product is another must have in your personal makeup kit. It wields the power to not only make you look alive in the morning by hiding that under eye darkness. Concealer can be used to spot concealer acne scars, pimples or hyper-pigmentation. For those of you who are not big on wearing a full foundation application everyday; concealer in places where you need it and a light dust of translucent powder to set it can go a very long way to make you have that fresh faced appearance with very minimal effort and time. However there are a couple simple ways you can use your concealer to get that extra oomph out of its application!

1. Apply it to your eyelids to neutralize darkness and conceal veins. We use concealer under the eyes to hide that darkness, but what about on the eyelid? By using concealer there it balances the look and also gives an instant eye brightening effect. You can choose to just blend it out and set with powder or you can do this as a priming step before your eye shadow look. Tip: Use a small amount and blend well.
2. Use it as a makeup sharpener. With concealer and a trusty synthetic angled brush; you are equipped to trace along your winged liner to make it appear even more sharp and fierce. Also use it in this way to clean up bold lipstick looks; this makes the lipstick appear more defined and prevents the colour from bleeding outside of those lines and looking messy. Tip: Set lightly and carefully with translucent powder, this will make sure that concealer does not budge.
3. Use it to neutralize highly pigmented lips. Want your lip colour to pop however your lips are very pigmented naturally (coloured)? Dab a very small amount of concealer on your lips and blend out with a fluffy brush. Now you have a neutral canvas to layer that lip colour over and really make it pop!

What concealers do you like to use and how do you like to use them?

XOXO

Dee

Make the Most of Your Makeup: Lip Liner

The unsung hero in many a makeup bag. I have to confess, in the early part of my makeup wearing life I have been guilty of overlooking lip liner. I was used to just swiping on my lipstick or gloss and hitting the road. However embracing this product and playing around with it has made me love it so much...ok ok basically I cannot do my makeup without it. They not only help with the longevity of your lipstick or lip gloss; they create a more defined, neat shape to your lip look while also allowing your lip colour to wear down evenly.

Must Haves:-

1) A nude/neutral lip liner. This will go with every lipstick and gloss you have. A must have to define     the lips and also help lip products to stay longer without necessarily adding colour.

2) A brown lip liner. The perfect brown for you will vary depending on your complexion. By the way     no matter how dark you are unless you are pairing it with a black lipstick, Black lip liner is NOT        AN OPTION particularly black UNBLENDED lip liner! (pet peeve confession).

Here are some ways to get the most out of your lip liners.

1) For those lipstick shades that you thought were to bright, light, unflattering....Do not throw them         out or give them away. Try lining your lips with a brown lip liner and blending it out, then                   applying that lipstick over it. You may be surprised at the outcome. Brown helps to tone down             bright colours and add depth to lipstick or lip gloss that may be to light for your complexion. 

2) Long wear lip colour on a budget. A result of the formula of most lip liners is that most of them are     long wearing. If you want a long wearing lip colour; try filling in your whole lip with the liner for a     matte, long wearing lip look.

3) Manipulate lipsticks. Use those gorgeous colourful lip liners to turn your lipsticks or glosses into       other shades. Mix and match; for example use a purple lip liner with a pink lipstick to create your       own custom shade. Endless fun can be had by using your lip liners in this way!

If you Beauties have any lip looks you have done with lip liner only or mixing and matching tag us on instagram! We would love to see!

xoxo

Dee