Kitchen Beautician

Well I may not be loved by my colleagues after this post. Giving away tricks of the trade. Tsk. Tsk. I won't spill ALL the beans but I will give you some simple at home tricks for beauty and skin care.

If you are like me and you have a ton of make up...new & old. You must know, there is some old make up you just HAVE TO throw out: mascara, eyeliner you can't sharpen with a sharpener, foundation, etc. If it has a strange odor or has changed color THROW IT AWAY.

Make your own tinted lip balm: Take some petroleum jelly and mix it with either lipstick shavings or crushed up blush or eyeshadow of your desired shade.

Make Your Own Lip Stain: Use Red or Pink Food Coloring. Plain and simple. Put it on a eyeshadow sponge and apply it. That is the easiest way of doing it without making a huge mess. Avoid the skin around your lips at all cost, because it will stain. (Hence the name.)

Make your own Facial Toner:
Chamomile & Green Tea Toner (This is GREAT after a sunburn!)
Ingredients needed are:
1 cup of water
1 green tea bag
1 chamomile tea bag
2 or 3 drops of lemongrass essential oil
Boil water then pour into large cup over both tea bags and let steep till it becomes room temperature. Do not use skin toner on face or body while it is still hot. After cooling period, remove tea bags and add 2 or 3 drops of lemongrass essential oil into tea and stir. Transfer the liquid to a travel size spray bottle. Keep in the refrigerator,  it can keep up to 2 weeks.

Eye makeup remover: Combine 2 tablespoons of canola oil and one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil. Wet cotton ball or tissue with the oil. Wipe your eyelid and eyelashes to remove eye makeup. Rinse with cool water. 

Use baby shampoo on a cotton ball to remove waterproof mascara.
At Home Blemish Treatment: Use Tooth paste as a blemish spot treatment at night.

Swap. Don't Shop

I like to dress fun and trendy with a twist of uniqueness. I appreciate clothing that you don't see everyone else wearing. I don't need designer labels or anything like that, I just like pieces that I feel good wearing that have a funky edge. I also like to have a lot of choices and tend to change up my wardrobe quite a bit. One way I am able to do this without breaking the bank is by swapping or trading clothing, shoes, handbags & accessories. (Please don't share or trade cosmetics, as this could spread bacteria)

Here are my tips and tricks for Swapping.....NOT Shopping:

Have a "Swap & Shop" party. Have your friends each bring clothing & accessory items they no longer want. (Make sure they know to bring "Gently Used" items....nobody wants your grungy yard work sweats, ok?) You can choose to set up the party anyway you want...You can pour all the bags out on top of a bed and everyone can dig feverishly through it or even display the items in a living room "boutique" way. Anything works really. The idea is to trade items with friends, that way everyone walks out with new items, and no one spends a dime.

I work in a Day Spa so I work with a large group of women. One day someone brought in a bag of old clothes and told everyone to sift through it and take what they wanted. The items were snatched up in a matter of seconds. This also got everyone else wanting to do the same thing, so they brought in bags just a few days later.  Giving: It's contagious.

I also love to frequent resale shops like Crossroads trading, Buffalo Exchange, and some locally owned shops that have a similar concept.  This, however can be a very frustrating, and even a bit humiliating, not to mention ego crushing! (BUT that was my FAVORITE dress when I was 10 lbs lighter! How could you NOT buy it?!?!). Unless you have designer label clothing & accessories in impeccable condition they most likely won't buy much from you, sad but true. You also have to bring in clothing that is the current season or call and ask what they are "buying now".  I have concocted a way of selling or trading clothing to these shops without getting your ego bruised. It will cost you a few bucks, but could pay off big in the end. Ok here goes.... go to your local thrift shop (if you live near an affluent neighborhood go to the closest thrift shop to that neighborhood) Look for Premium Designer jeans in ANY size. (Brands to look for: Joe's jeans, 7 for all mankind, Rock and Republic, Prps, Citizens of Humanity, Diesel, J Brand, Lucky Brand, Paige Premium Denim, True Religion) Make sure that the denim is in good condition. There is a difference between worn down and deconstructed (intended for the rips to be there) Deconstructed is good. Buy up all the premium denim treasures you can find. Then go back to your local trading post and trade all the premium denim you just snagged at the thrift store. Use the credit they give you for new (to you) fabulous threads!


I hope this helps you keep your wardrobe ever evolving. Stay Pretty!

Every Beautiful Face needs a Solid Foundation.

I am a foundation girl. Always have been, always will. It evens out my skin tone and allows my eye make up to stay put. It usually has an spf in it so I have a barrier of sun protection too. I know some people dislike foundation because it can sometimes appear to be thick or "cakey", but I have found that more times than not how it is applied versus the make up itself. If you have a foundation that is too thick try thinning it out with a facial moisturizer or spf. This will give you the coverage without the heavy feel.

The key to making sure your foundation doesn't look "mask like" is to BLEND. Blend it onto your neck and even your ears. Choosing the proper color is also important, this will give the foundation the most natural look. If you are at the store and cannot check the actually make up on your skin (like at a drugstore) then check the color in the bottle against the tone of your wrist. (If you spray tan, this color may not be accurate so keep that in mind) If you are able to sample the product, then the ideal place to apply the color to get the best match is just below your jawline on your neck.

Here are my top 5 inexpensive brands of Foundation:

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation
This product has good coverage, and stays put. It definitely does what it says and photographs nicely too. The bottle has a pump on the top that disperses the perfect amount of foundation. It is also spf 20 and that is always a plus!!!




ALMAY Smart Shade Anti Aging Foundation
For most women the most difficult make up item to buy is foundation because trying to find the right shade can be agonizing. Also since I wear foundation all day it would be nice if it did something positive for my skin at the same time. So you are telling me this foundation MATCHES itself to my skin tone AND helps fight the skins of aging? AND This product actually does what it claims. SOLD.




Revlon Color Stay Mineral Mousse Make Up
Revlon has been one of those make up brands that I can almost always count on to deliver a quality product. I can't say I have bought one of the products and didn't like it. This product is no exception. It deliver a good healthy dose of coverage without a heavy feel. Once again it has spf and I always love that!



Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid Make Up
I am pretty certain that Neutrogena was a skin care line before they carried make up. They make products that are pore friendly. They have light weight coverage and they are non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) This product is perfect for the woman who doesn't like a heavy foundation.





Neutrogena SkinClearing Liquid Makeup
When you have acne foundation can sometime be your friend and sometimes your worst enemy. It may cover the breakouts but eventually cause new ones if using the wrong product. This foundation actually clear exsisting breakouts with 2% salicylic and an ingredient to actually keep new acne from forming. 




There is a poll on the bottom on my blog for you to vote for the products you want me to review next.

Until we meet again......Stay Pretty!

Moisturize Me. Ten Best Moisturizers under $10.

Summer is nearly upon us. Glistening skin is IN. I myself have very dry skin so I have tried a plethora of moisturizers. Here are a few body lotions and oils I highly recommend you give a try.

Ginseng Miracle Wonder 8 Oil:  Well this product was named correctly because a miracle is what it truly is. A friend gave me a bottle and I pretty much fell in love instantly. My skin absorbed the oil versus having it lay on top of my skin, which I loved. It has a light citrus scent that is not overpowering, I could still use my perfume without worrying the two scents would clash. Ginseng Miracle Wonder 8 Oil is not just for the skin, but was really nice in my hair also. I have hair extensions and they are very dry compared to your natural hair. This wonder oil added moisture to my extensions without making my hair look oily. AMAZING! 

Blue Magic Coconut Hair Conditioner: I usually buy a big fat tub of this stuff every summer. Although it is a "Conditioner" I don't use it in my hair. I slather it on as a body oil. It smells like heaven and has a nice sheen which makes your skin look great! 

Jergens Skin Smoothing, Cellular Renewal Moisturizer:  This moisturizer rocks. It has AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) in it so it sloughs off dry skin cells as it moisturizes. It really packs a punch against flaky skin and bumps on arms, thighs and mid section. 

AmLactin Moisturizing Cream:  Do you suffer from rough patches on your elbows and heels? Maybe have "goose bump" like bumps on your arms and thighs? (those "goose bumps" are called keratosis pilaris, a very common skin condition) This cream is exactly what you need. It's contains lactic acid which will smooth rough patches and bumps and evens skin tone. It's has a bit of a chemical smell, but really does the trick. I recommend using it before bedtime. If you use it during the day you would want to use an spf of 30 or higher on top of it as it will make your skin more sensitive to the sunlight.

Johnson's 24 Hour Lotion: This moisturizer does not lie. It keeps skin moisturized all day and all night. It's has a light scent and a non-greasy feel. Perfect for Mother or Child.

Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion: This lotion is creamy and smooth. It contains colloidal oatmeal so it calms and soothes dry, red, irritated skin. Perfect for eczema sufferers.

Aquaphor Healing Ointment:  No time to get into the spa for a pedicure? Slather on some of this thick ointment on your tootsies and you won't have to worry about cracked heals. Originally made for Alaskan fisherman this ointment gives severely dry skin a one-two punch!

Nivea Creme: This creme is wonderful for very dry skin. It's contains glycerin and emollients which bind water to the skin leaving it moisturized as well as hydrated. It does leave a slight layer on top of the skin so I recommend using it at night or after bathing.

 

Kiss my Face Lavender and Shea Butter Moisturizer:  Two of my favorite things combined together: Lavender and Shea Butter. Kiss my Face is a natural brand which makes really wonderful rich and creamy products without the chemicals.

Neutrogena Body Oil: Sometimes I just want a light oil to smooth on and go. This is the perfect oil for just that. It has a light scent so it pairs nicely with perfume. Add a couple drop to your bath and soften as you soak.

If anyone has any category of products they would like me to review just let me know. Until then..Stay pretty!

Who loves eyeliner?? THIS GIRL.

Welcome one and all to my very first post. I only thought it appropriate to post about the one beauty item that is nearest and dearest to my heart....my beloved eyeliner. Liquid, Crayon, Pencil, Kohl, Shadow as eyeliner...you name it, I love it all. So here is a run down of my top drugstore must have eyeliners. Tried and true they do their job and then some.

BEST Marker-type Liquid Liner: 

Liquid liner in the ink pot can be difficult if you aren't use to working with it. This product is great for those new to the world of liquid liner. I find myself using it quite frequently because of how easy it is to work with. e.l.f. Essentials Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Black. Oh yeah and the best part...It's ONLY $1.00!!!!

BEST No Sharpener needed Eyeliner:

I have used this product for years! My Mom actually introduced me to this product. This was one of the very first eyeliners I ever used and it has consistently been in my make up bag ever since. It glides on nice and smooth and stays put. It even has a little sponge at the end to give your eyes a smokey look. Covergirl Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner. My favorite shade is Espresso. It is the PERFECT brown eyeliner. Only $5.79!. 

BEST Cream Liner: 

This creamy rich liner gives and nice fluid line. It has staying power like you wouldn't believe. It's rich consistency is actually really easy to work with.  e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeliner. It even comes with slanted eyeliner brush! This product is a steal at a mere $3.00! 

BEST Ink Pot Style Liquid Liner:

This type of liner is more for the experienced liquid liner wearer. It can be quite messy if you aren't use to applying it, but if applied correctly you can get a really beautiful classic winged eye. ALMAY® Liquid Liner in black in a must have for the do it yourself pin up look. Only $5.98 .

Well there you have it my beauties. Great Eyeliner at a steal! Until we meet again...Stay Pretty!