Beauty Tip: Sun-Kissed Skin

Summer is right on our heels (SO thankful) but why wait until then to look like you have been kissed by the sun?  I absolutely love the sun!  Maybe it has something to do with me being a summer baby but whatever the case may be, I can never get enough of it.  There is nothing like a good tan!  I absolutely love the bronzy glow I get after laying out.  However, you don't need a trip to the beach to illuminate your skin.  A sun-kissed appearance can be achieved by mixing a touch of gold highlighter with your foundation or tinted moisturizer.  This little trick will give you a natural glow!  And if you are opting for the bronze goddess look like Christina's (see photo), keep the rest of your makeup in the same color family and this will give you a natural effect.  Try using a matte bronzer on your cheeks, a natural color on your lids (like a taupe), and tie it all together with a swipe of gold-flecked lipgloss!

My highlighter of choice is Josie Maran's Argan Illuminizer.  The Argan Illuminizer is described as an ultra light skin brightener with a hint of bronze giving the skin a radiant, luminous, lit-from-within glow that lasts all day.  And I can vouch...it does just that! :)  If that wasn't enough and as the name suggests, this product contains Argan Oil.  Commonly referred to as "liquid gold" or "The Gold of Morocco", Argan Oil is an incredibly rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.  It has astonishing healing, conditioning and anti-aging properties to help keep your skin nourished and revitalized.  The Argan Illuminizer can be purchased online at http://www.josiemaran.com/ and at Sephora (retail - $28).

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer

Added Benefits of Argan Oil:

1. Soften dry skin - Argan Oil's naturally high concentration in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids work to alleviate dry skin and rough patches.
2. Help Minimize fine lines - Smooth Argan Oil over skin and under your eyes for intense moisture and to reduce appearance of fine lines.
3. Help heal acne blemishes and scarring - With regular use, Argan Oil is widely reported to heat existing acne blemishes, prevent the occurrence of new breakouts and help reduce scarring.
4. Give skin a fresh, youthful look - Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow.

Glow forth & be merry!! :)


XOXO,


~Tiaja

What's up, Ombré!

Unless you are living on another planet, Ombré is everywhere.  From hair, eyes and even nails....there is no escaping!  So, it was only a matter of time before this trend made it the the lips.  What is Ombré (you might ask)?  Ombré is French for an effect with a gradual colour transition, usually from light to dark.  For example, with hair, the ends are deliberately lighter than the roots....in a good way.  lol  It is completely different from the look of a dye-job "regrowth" which is just dreadful!  But unlike fashion and hair, when you apply this concept to makeup, it's all about color choices and shading which usually creates a 3-D effect making lips look fuller.

Here's what you'll need:

Find two contrasting colors that are in the same family.  To achieve this effect, one will obviously need to be lighter than the other.

Tip:  It is better to use fairly opaque lip colours for this effect because you want to get enough coverage both with the first dark layer, and then again with the light layer on top.

Once you have picked your color choices, fill your entire lip with the darker shade.  Matte finishes generally work best, so try a matte lipstick or lip liner.  When using matte lipsticks, it is very important that your lips are in the best condition possible and not chapped.  Make sure to condition them, beforehand!

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

Next, you will add the lighter shade in the center of your lips for a pop of color.  You can apply straight from the tube, with a lip brush or even with your fingers.  Whichever works best for you!  The lighter shade can be a matte finish, as well.  But you can absolutely use a shimmer or slightly metallic finish.  I find that the latter adds even more dimension, making lips look fuller and bigger.  Once you have applied the lighter shade, blend it into the darker shade.  Be careful to leave the edges darker than the middle.  And it's probably a good idea not to press your lips together too much or else you may lose the Ombré effect that you are trying to achieve.

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

Adding a clear lip gloss for more of a modern edge, is completely optional and a matter of choice.  Remember that matte lipsticks can make your lips feel a little dry.

Photo courtesy of Makeup and Macarrons

What do you think...Are you a fan??

XOXO

~Tiaja

To Whiten or Not To Whiten?

Whatever happened to the teeth whitening craze???  Seriously!!  Six or Seven years ago you could not escape the pressure of keeping your pearly whites BRIGHT!  Ads splashed across your television screens with all of the latest products and techniques that would "guarantee" you a whiter and brighter smile.  And nowadays, not so much!  There are still a few ads out there but they are few and far between. 

I have to say that I am kinda sadden that this craze has died down.  To me, there is nothing like a nice smile.  And teeth are definitely apart of that equation!  I mean let's be real....with the help of braces and whiteners,  there is really no excuse for not having a nice "grill" especially if you can fit it into your budget.  Am I right or am I right?

Zoom! Whitening Procedure

What brings me to this subject, you might ask?  A recent visit to my dentist!  I've been going to my dentist for about four years now and recently, I've noticed that he has really been pushing their teeth whitening procedure down my throat!!  Almost to the point where I had to question whether or not my teeth were white enough.  lol  Had me looking in the mirror every five secs just to make sure!  Now granted, it has been a few years since my last Zoom! whitening procedure and I could probably use a touch-up but my teeth are still a nice shade of white, in my opinion.

So, during my last visit, without fail, the dentist compliments me on my teeth and tells me that "a whiter smile will make it that much better"!  At this point, i'm really beginning to consider his "recommendation".  For a mere $300, my teeth can be white again and up to my dentist's standards.  And just when I was about to hand over my credit card, in walks the dental hygenist.  After overhearing the conversation (and making sure the coast was clear), she asks me do I have a Costco card?  I replied, "Yes"!  She then tells me to go to there and pick up some Crest Whitestrips.  Not only are they cheaper but with patience, they provide the same results!  Now why hadn't I thought of this?? lol  Not only did she stick her neck out for me but she also saved me money in the process.    So, I thanked her and went on my merry little way!

Crest Whitestrips Procedure

As I sat in my car, again I asked myself....why didn't I think of this?  It's not like I wasn't familiar with Crest Whitestrips.  During my days as a cheerleader, I used them religiously thanks to my teammate, Shonte, who had/ has THE whitest teeth that I have ever seen.  lol  I asked her one day how did she get her teeth so white and she put me on to the strips.  As I mentioned before, you will not get immediate results like you would by using a professional whitening treatment, but after about a week of using the Crest Whitestrips I definitely noticed a difference.  Simply apply the strips for 30 mins a day until you see your desired results and voilà!  Now it would not be fair if I did not mention that you may experience some tooth whitening sensitivity but it's just a small price to pay for pearly whites.  And another good thing is that you don't need a Costco membership to purchase them.  You can buy Crest Whitestrips at any major retailer and they run anywhere from $39 - $60 depending on which kit you choose to purchase.  And in my case, that's a savings for up to $240!! 

So in answer to my own question....why wouldn't you whiten??


XOXO

~Tiaja

Champagne Wishes & Caviar.....Manicures??

As of late, nail art has become just as much of a fashion accessory as let's say a piece of jewelry!  Last year was all about the crackle top coats and magnetic polishes. And this year, we are still kind of waiting for the new trend to drop.  Well, that wait may be over!   

UK nail polish brand, Ciate, will soon be launching their Caviar Manicure kits which is sure to have nail art lovers ABUZZ!  Seen first on the runway at Cushie et Ochs' Fall 2011 show where nail artists used beads from the designer's collection to create this three dimensional look, Ciate has decided to make achieving the look a lot easier!  By creating a kit which will combine nail lacquer and beads, making it a one-stop-shop.  The Caviar Manicure kit is set to make its US debut at Sephora stores in April and will be offered in three colors:  multi (rainbow), white (mother of pearl) and black (black pearl).  And I am pretty sure that more colors will follow with increased demand!

I actually like this look and I think the Caviar Manicure Kits will take off once they hit the shelves.  However, I worry about how easy it will be to apply.  This will probably be a job left for a trained professional (aka my nail tech, Cindy) as I just don't have a steady enough hand to apply without making a mess.  I could probably apply to my left hand without incident but my right hand is another story!  lol  And lastly, while I think the Caviar Manicure is very festive, pretty and sophisticated, even, I would more than likely leave this for special occasions or to create an accent nail as seen here....but that's just me! :)

What do you think.....will the Caviar Manicure be the new glitter??


XOXO

~Tiaja

Coming Soon: OPI's Spider-Man Nail Polish Collection!

With the July 3rd release of The Amazing Spider-Man on the horizons, OPI is launching a nail polish collection inspired by the movie!  There will be seven heroic shades including one color inspired by Emma Stone's character and Peter Parker's first love, Gwen Stacy, named "Call Me Gwen-Ever".  By the way, I love OPI's word play when naming their colors! :) When asked to decribe this latest collection, Suzi Weiss-Fischmann, Executive VP at OPI, says, "the colors in this line capture the movie's exciting atmosphere, and the new chapter this film covers is both dark and sexy".  And from the looks of it, she's exactly right.  The colors range from a flirty pink to a smoky slate and with nail polishes & lacquers being my latest beauty obsession, I am definitely excited to try out this new collection!
 

Meet the Collection (from clockwise):

• Just Spotted the Lizard:   a reptilian-inspired, holographic green
• Number One Nemesis:  a sexy slate
• Shatter the Scales:  a teal shatter which creates a web-like effect when dry
• Into the Night:  an iridescent shade of navy blue
• Your Web or Mine?:  a flirty shade of bright pink
• My Boyfriend Scales Walls:  a bright white
• Call Me Gwen-Ever:  a fiery orange

While there is no official release date, these lacquers are expected to hit stores in May!  They will retail for $8.50.



What do you think of this new collection?  Will you become entangled in this latest web of colour?

XOXO


~Tiaja

Benefit's Boo Boo Zap is B-A-C-K & Revamped!!

This news has literally made my day!  I swore by this stuff for years and then out of the blue and without warning, Benefit Cosmetics decided to discontinue the product.  I was heartbroken!!  The product that I speak of is Boo Boo Zap, the magical zit zapper! 

Old Boo Boo Zap

I was first introduced to this wonder product by my close friend, Cole, who worked for the company at the time.  And it was love at first try!  I loved everything about this product, from it's comic book packaging with the zit-fighting superheroin leaping across the SF skyline (see Right), to it's compact size & more importantly, how effective it was at getting rid of my zits.....with this stuff, they did not stand a chance!  I carried Boo Boo Zap with me everywhere I went.  A dab of this stuff and my blemish/ acne problem was zapped away!  So, imagine my horror when I visited the Benefit counter and was told that the product was no longer available.  But today, that all changed with the announcement that this wonder product was back on the market!

Meet the revamped, reformulated and repackaged Boo Boo Zap!  Although there have been a few changes made, its objective remains the same - to banish blemishes and reduce the appearance of redness and swelling.  While it still contains salicylic acid, they have removed the witch hazel and camphor, and added glycolic acid, bisabolol (an extract of chamomile believed to soothe flaky dry skin), PPG-26 and PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, a compound some folks try to avoid. Sounds like a MAJOR overhaul, huh?  I just hope that these changes will not compromise the effectiveness of a product that I feel was perfect the way it was.

While doing away with the comic book theme, Boo Boo Zap has been added to Benefit's b.bright SKINCARE line and has adopted its lighter more sophisticated look of green, tan and white packaging.  In addition, you get more product and a lower price tag (which is always an added plus)!!  The new zit zapper will contain 7.4 milliliters and will retail for $16, while the old one held 6 milliliters and retailed for $20.  A $4 decrease is pretty substantial...that's a grande Mocha Frapp at Starbucks!! :)

I have yet to try this revamped formula.  And while i'm excited that Benefit Cosmetics has decided to bring one of my favorite products back, I am equally nervous that it will not live up to its predecessor.  My fingers are crossed with this one!

The new Boo Boo Zap is scheduled to hit Benefit stores and counters in May.  However, if you cannot wait to get your hands on this product, I have good news!  It is currently available online at http://www.benefitcosmetics.com/!

XOXO

~Tiaja

Beauty Alert: Chanel's Fall 2012 Nail Laquer is causing a "Frenzy"!

With Paris Fashion Week in full swing this week. fashion enthusiasts are over-dosing in all of the latest fashion looks and trends & loving it!  Not only does Fashion Week dictate what will be on the racks in our favorite boutiques and department stores for the upcoming season, but it also gives us a sneak peak into the beauty world, as well.  Everything from hairstyles, to eye brow shapes, to nail polish hues all receive their stamp of approval on these runways.  And each year, Chanel's Global Creative Director, Peter Phillips, is notorious for debuting a new and soon-to-be-coveted nail color in their shows and this season was no exception!

This new "It" color is aptly called "Frenzy"!  According to Glamour, Phillips describes the shade as a "lavendar-taupe-gray hybrid" nude polish.  And each model received two coats of this opaque nude before taking to the runway.  Per Phillips, "It's a very beautiful, delicate pastel".  And the polish matches the blush used on the models during the Fall 2012 runway show.

But sorry ladies, the nail polish and the blush, which are apart of the Les Essentials des Chanel collection, will not be available until September.  The anticipation is sure to send beauty lovers into a full-fledged frenzy....pun intended! ;)

XOXO

~Tiaja