Getting Rid of Redness - How to Lighten Your Skin Naturally

Do you have an uneven skin-tone? Perhaps your capillaries are overactive and there are reddish spots on your skin where your circulation can be seen too close to the surface of the skin. Or maybe you're unhappy with your freckles and dark spots that you're gaining with age. Skin tone is constantly varying with time and environmental conditions, it never remains as light as it used to be. The worst skin damager is the sun, although you may love your darker complexion, you ought to think about the consequences of weather-beaten effects on your skin cells. However, there are ways to lighten your skin naturally, seeing as those expensive beauty regenerating creams tend to be filled with unhealthy chemicals and do not show the results they promise. You should always be using sunscreen in your daily routine (even in the winter) because it's the easiest way to keep your skin's youth, most moisturizers can be found with at least SPF 15-30.

Natural exfoliation - do this once a week

1. 2 tbsp brown sugar (+ 2 tbsp oatmeal if you choose) and mix with 1/4 cup milk
2. stir until pasty consistency
3. scrub your face gently
4. rinse with water
5. apply moisturizer so your skin doesn't dry out from treatment

Lighten your skin - do this as often as you'd like

1. take 2 egg whites and an equal amount of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix together
2. heat mixture in a pan and put it inside jar
3. let mixture cool until room temperature and apply to skin
4. rinse after 15 minutes with water

Another method of lightening - you can do this 3x a day if you want

1. take 1/2 cup tomato juice and 1/2 cup oatmeal and mix together
2. place mixture on your skin
3. rinse off with water after 20 minutes

Drinking lots of water regularly helps maintain your hydration level and make sure you eat many fruits and vegetables in your pursuit of lighter skin. If you wish you can rub your face with lemon juice, milk, or papaya as all of these have natural whitening properties. Be extremely wary of skin lightening treatments you can purchase as many of these are not FDA approved for such usage and increase cell turnover (how fast your skin's cells are killed and replaced) which can lead to detrimental effects such as the pigment going underneath the outermost layer of your skin and possible skin cancer-promoting mechanisms. The chemical whitening solutions that can be found in stores also have a high possibility of causing an allergic reaction on your skin.

Sephora Mini-Haul and Product Reviews

Lately, I find myself drawn to a particular texture of makeup rather than one brand or another: silky. Silky means that if you rub the makeup mixture in between your fingers, you feel as though your fingers are coated in the finest layer of silk with no bulges, imperfections, or obtrusions. I think powders with this texture will give the most airbrushed makeup look that you can achieve without actually using an airbrush (or even better than an airbrush, depending on which one you have). I used the VIBDREAM sale at Sephora for the holiday season (20% off all items purchased for Nov. 11-14th) for Very Important Beauty Insiders (people who have spent $350+ in a calendar year at Sephora). I was part of this program because my husband bought me the TEMPTU airbrush system as a wedding present, although we ended up returning it multiple times because of all the defects it had, but that's a story for another time.

I bought myself a tried, tested and true favorite: Diorskin Shimmer Powder by Dior, and then I decided to replenish my depleting quantity of Urban Decay's Grifter, feeling adventurous I purchased Kat Von D's Saint palette and the elusive Korres' Wild Rose Compact Powder (because Sephora is usually out of these). I'll be posting photos of all the products and swatches, as well as my impressions of all of them.

Diorskin Shimmer Powder
The original retail value of this shimmer block is $44, which is quite a hefty price, but it was definitely worth it with my discount. I personally buy the Rose Diamond set because of my skin's undertones, since it comes in either pinkish hues or beige/tan hues. Photos do not do this product justice, it is extremely stunning and flattering. This is one of those products that you can wear every day, even though it is shimmer, without looking like you belong in a nightclub. When applied to the cheeks as blush and above for a highlighting effect, it allows your cheekbones to stand out and people will wonder how you're so naturally beautiful. The sign of a great face product is that it looks natural when you put it on, and this is exactly that. The texture is soft and the color payoff is amazing, the colors are not too bright, like some of the Tarina Tarantino or MAC colors tend to be, it is the right amount of color and there is no fall-out or waste. The product is a generous size and there are four shades of color to choose from. There is a highlight white tone, a ballet-pink shimmer, a mauve-rose blush and a fuschia pink blush. However, the fact that you can mix them all together in whichever way you want allows for uniqueness and creativity on your part. I highly recommend this product, it's one of those that get 100% from me.

Urban Decay Grifter Eyeshadow
This is one of my favorite eyeshadows. You have to realize the gravity of that statement when I say this about an eyeshadow that is not from MAC. Urban Decay's color payoff in this shade is brilliant, you get exactly what you see, you can wash the color out a little bit by applying it with a light hand or you can increase its potency by using a mixing medium or Visine when you apply it. Regardless, this is a product that looks great on fair skinned girls with brown eyes. It's got a quite a bit of pizzazz, some may not be comfortable wearing it at work because of the glitter inside of it. The glitter speckles can be quite large and if you have sensitive eyes, then I do not recommend this eyeshadow. I'm lucky enough to be able to wear it and I love it. This product isn't quite as silky smooth as the others I bought this haul, but it's not bad either. It's a good product for a good price ($17 retail) that you will get a ton of usage out of (I get hundreds and hundreds of applications from one of these pots). Just because it might not be for everyone and it's not from the best company ever made, I'm giving this product an 85%, but I would definitely recommend this to you.

Kat Von D True Romance Eyeshadow Palette in Saint
Not particularly liking Kat Von D's style in general, I was reluctant to purchase her makeup and that's why I've waited until I completed my thorough research and asked as many opinions as I could about her products. Can I just say that I was blown away by the quality of this palette especially when comparing it to the price (it retails for $35). The similar predecessor of this palette is Urban Decay's Naked palette, which I also have, and the difference here is that Kat Von D's formula is a lot softer to wear while the colors are vibrant and beautiful, you probably have to use less of this product to get the color you want than of the Urban Decay one. Don't get me wrong, I love them both, but this palette seems a little more practical to me because it has a lot less glitter-specks (only the color '<3' and 'bookworm' have them) and they are very sheer. The palette also comes with her autograph pencil liner in black and this formula is comparable to the Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner. This palette gets a 95% on my scale and it only doesn't achieve perfection because I wish there were even more colors and the palette was a little larger. However, the packaging is darling, the tin is made of metal and not cardboard like most palettes out there. I do wish that 'Pray For Me' was a little darker when swatched and the camera did not pick up the intensity of '<3' but trust me it really does look like the color you see in the palette.

Korres Wild Rose Compact Powder

I have read stellar reviews on Korres products in general but I've never been drawn to them until I randomly was walking through Sephora and touched this powder out of curiosity. Swatching this item feels like you are running your finger through a cloud. It most certainly is a far cry from MAC's studio-finish powders which are a little harsh to the touch. I don't yet know what kind of coverage this gives, but I tend to use my powder after foundations and this will work perfectly for me. Another bonus is that their 02 Golden Fair color is exactly my skin-tone and I rarely find my exact warmish pinkish hue in any makeup brand. I'm thrilled to try this out, you basically can't even see the powder on my skin in the swatch, but I assure you it is there. I give this product an 80% so far because I have yet to try it and I wish it had a little bit of shimmer in it for an even healthier glow (although I realize it's not practical to wear shimmer everywhere, I'm going to try to impress upon you that we should all always be wearing a bit of shimmer). Also, this didn't rate as high on my scale because I just can't get as excited about a powder as I can about eyeshadows, and the packaging was just bland. It opens up to reveal a little sponge underneath the product, which thoroughly annoyed me, because I thought there was going to be a lot more product (as the case would lead to believe) than there truly is. However, this is one of those products that is healthier than the rest because it is formed without parabens, aluminums and other nasty chemicals we shouldn't be putting on our faces, so I guess beauty and quantity suffer for health. It has a pleasant scent, sheer coverage and reduces shine, all bonuses when it comes to powder compacts. It's also $28 which is not quite as much as some of the other powders on the market.

Diamond Buying Guide

If you're looking to get an engagement ring, an anniversary gift, or a piece of jewelry for whatever reason that has diamonds in it, you need to know some basics before delving into a purchase. There are 5 main pieces of information that you must have about your diamonds, also known as the 5 C's: cut, clarity, color, carat weight and certification (the last of these is by far the most important and we'll find out why later). The most important aspect of a diamond overall is its proportions and not just one subcategory or another.

Cut

The brilliance of a diamond depends a lot on the way it is cut, this does not determine the shape of the diamond although people commonly confuse the two (even jewelers who aren't well-versed on the subject can get the two confused). The cut quality makes a big difference to the way the diamond looks and is the most important aspect of your buy. A cut can make the diamond brilliant or dull because the angles it is cut at determine its ability to reflect light and can make it appear as though the light is coming from within.  In a poorly cut diamond, the light will escape out of the sides or bottom rather than reflecting out through the top face of the diamond where you will see it. The criteria of the cut can be classified as: ideal, premium, very good, good, fair and poor. If you're going to invest money in a ring, this is where you want to max out your budget because it will make the hugest difference in the sparkle of the ring. The ideal cut gives you maximum brilliance and is the most beautiful diamond money can buy but can only be achieved in the round shape. Otherwise, it is acceptable to buy 'very good' quality cuts in other diamond shapes. 

Clarity

The clarity of the diamond refers to the amount of blemishes and inclusions you can see inside the diamond itself, usually caused from the cutting process or just naturally-occurring inside the stone. Blemishes are on the surface of the diamond and inclusions are bubbles or minerals or cracks inside the diamond itself. Obviously, diamonds with very few or small blemishes and inclusions are the clearest, however many jewelers will tell you that the human eye cannot see the difference between flawless and very slight inclusions. However, I can tell you from personal experience that it is possible to see very slight inclusions if you have good vision. The grade level will have a big impact on the overall value of the diamond and price. The Gemological Institute of America certification will send you a map of the diamond's topography which will show exactly where and what the blemishes and inclusions look like as well as the clarity grade for your ring.

Color

Color does not mean yellow, pink, or brown diamonds, those are not covered in this buying guide and you need to follow slightly different rules when purchasing one of those diamonds. However, when we say color we are referring to the presence or absence of color in a white diamond. Colorless diamonds are more valuable because they allow light to easily pass through them whereas diamonds which have color will impede the light from passing through to reflect that brilliance. The color scale starts at D and goes all the way to the end of the alphabet with D being the most colorless a diamond can possibly be. The untrained eye cannot see the 'color' until the diamond is classified as an 'I' or 'J'. If you are placing your diamond in white gold, you will want to try to get as colorless of a diamond as you can because the whiteness of the gold will cause your diamond to appear more yellow than it actually is. The diamond color should always be based on the mounting and jewelry you are placing it inside. Think of the ensemble as a whole and your preference in general, some people prefer the warmth of a lower-color diamond.

Carats

A carat is the measurement unit that is used to weigh the diamond but the scale is a little strange. One carat = 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. Whoever says the size of a diamond doesn't matter is lying. The size does matter tremendously, it is visible to everybody, and the size should also be based on where you want the diamond to be. For example, if you want the diamond to be in a ring and it will be on a small hand, you don't need to purchase one quite as big as for a bigger hand because it will overwhelm the person's features. Carat does not mean the same thing as karat, which is used to describe the purity of gold rather than diamond size. Make sure that the setting you choose is made to fit the carat weight of your diamond before you purchase anything! Also, if you choose to go with a larger diamond and cannot fit it into your budget, consider going with a lower quality of color and clarity.

Certification

Many people believe that certificates are the same as appraisals but this is not true. An appraisal merely places a monetary value on the diamond but does not certify that the diamond is of a certain quality or describe the diamond. A certificate specifies the quality of a diamond and gives a map of the stone's characteristics, pointing out all of the individual flaws and it is proof of the diamond's identity. A certificate does not attach a monetary value to the diamond because these fluctuate highly and are very dependent on the economy and supply. Loose diamonds are valued by the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) or American Gem Society (AGS), although you can get them valued at other labs around the world these are the two highest recognized authorities for diamonds (because of their stringent requirements) in the world. You should always ask for the certification of the diamond and double-check that you should be paying the amount asked and to make sure that you are indeed purchasing a diamond and not a cubic zirconium. Shop around and make sure that you are getting the best bang for your buck, after all these are quite hefty purchases. It is better that you are skeptical in this purchase rather than trusting the sales merchants who are always just looking to make profit and commission. 

Shape

The shape is entirely up to you, you should choose whichever is your favorite and you will find most comfortable to wear. Personally, I love the round-cut diamond for its brilliance, light-refraction and practicality as well as beauty. 

I highly recommend that you purchase all aspects of your ring separately if you are going to purchase an engagement ring because you are much more likely to get a great deal. If you buy a ring from a department store or a jeweler, you will pay a huge mark-up and you may not be entirely in love with the design. I suggest taking a look at www.bluenile.com for the most accurate wholesale information on settings and diamonds. Go into a jewelry store and find out which size you are, which shapes and settings you like, and then build your own ring on the Blue Nile website and have it shipped home. You would be surprised what a difference it will make in your pocket.

Jessica Simpson Collection Review

What can you say about Jessica Simpson? People have plenty of opinions about her weight, singing and acting talent, and the things she says. But one thing nobody can debate is her business acumen. Her fashion empire has an estimated value of upwards of $1 billion, yes that's right, you read that number correctly. She started in hair extensions with Ken Paves (her celebrity hairstylist friend) and her company Hairdo skyrocketed to the top of the faux-hair industry. Due to her loyal following and quality products at reasonable prices, she admirably decided to begin her own fashion line. The first thing I purchased from her line (which was still in its infancy 5 years ago or so and producing only handbags and shoes) was the black 'Kaptiva' leather riding boots. These are absolutely stunning in person, the heel is the perfect length (not insanely high, perfectly wearable) they stretch in the calf right where I need it most and have a touch of trend with two silver buckle details.

For my birthday last year, I received this dress as a gift from my mother and her best friend and I am thrilled with the quality and style of it. It's a black and white color-block dress like none I've seen before, which has a slimming effect and futuristic appeal. The fabric is soft, it is properly lined and the overall quality is very high, I was pleasantly surprised with every one of the dresses I tried on by her (another one was a black sequined tunic that felt like a dream). At the mall, I was also enamored by her quality, interesting purses and fashion corsets which had beautiful bodices but were not over-the-top revealing. Either Jessica Simpson has impeccable taste or she has a wonderful team of designers working alongside her, or both. I think I would love to own any piece of jewelry from her collection, I haven't seen anything I wouldn't wear and I'm even completely amazed by the chain-wrapped jewelry collection she made consisting  of a necklace, earrings and bracelet.

Many of her pieces appear to be of superior product quality, the line doesn't cheap out on fabric or leave the hems with lackluster finishing. The selection of handbags and shoes is sure to please everybody, she seems to try to cater to a wide market. Her clothing is also made with her body figure in mind and I'm very thankful for that. It's very difficult to find clothes as a curvy woman, but she makes searching for the perfect ensemble very easy for all shapes and sizes. Her clothing comes in a wide range of sizes and shapes which are always classically fitting and flattering, even though she plays with color and patterns in the right way. The Jessica Simpson collection takes risks in all the right places, and it pays off in spades.  Unlike other celebrity lines, such as K-Dash by the Kardashians, her taste and style level does not disappoint, neither does the attention to detail and craftsmanship. So whatever her critics may have to say about her, they can not deny that she has proven herself to be a style icon, not because of the way she dresses herself but because of the way she is able to dress women of all shapes and sizes. It's refreshing to finally see a designer that is concerned with the way we all look, as opposed to ones that are only interested in dressing size 0 models. I'm going to keep purchasing from her collection, from the fabulous fashion tights she creates, to the shoes, and overall clothing collection, the price point is right and the quality is far superior to anything else in that price range. It reflects a style that is enduring and can be worn many years in the future, as opposed to the disposable clothing from many stores nowadays. 

Happy shopping!

www.jessicasimpsoncollection.com

Which lipstick makes your teeth look white?

Before even attempting to pick out a color make sure you exfoliate and brush your lips with a toothbrush for the smoothest possible finish, wipe them down with a washcloth to remove excess flakes of skin. Hydrating your lips is crucial to this process because a moisturizing treatment is the key to smoothing down any wrinkles and lines you may have on your lips (use a thick lip balm without a drying agent/alcohol in it).



Regardless of which lipstick you choose, make sure that the formula is sheen/sheer because matte lipstick formulaas will get creased on your lips in every line and groove and make them appear dryer than they really are. Cinnamon and mint-flavored lipglosses and lipsticks will provide a plumping effect because the ingredients will cause a swelling reaction on your lips. Sheen and shimmer will also make your lips appear larger than they really are because it helps the light reflect in a way that creates a fuller effect. If you want longevity to your lipstick, make sure you fill your lips in with liner before you add your lipstick on top and then finish it off with translucent face powder, this is the trick makeup artists use to have lipstick last long periods of time.  



Red lipstick will complement all skintones



Choosing your lipstick color depends a lot on your skintone. If your skin is a pinkish hue then you want to choose blue-base red colors (not orangey, warm tones like your skin) and the opposite is true for olive skin, choose an orangey red (not the blue-based red which is cool toned like your skin). This contrasting effect will allow the red to make your teeth appear whiter. The deeper and more opaque red you pick, the better for creating a tooth whitening effect. But red lipstick easily can get on your teeth, thus diminishing the purpose of wearing it, so make sure you press a kleenex between your lips before you're done with the application to remove any excess, loose lipstick. If you leave extra lipstick on your lips it also will make your lips appear chapped and uneven instead of that glossy finished look you're going for.



Pink tones bring out the yellow in teeth

Mauve-based lipstick is also a good option to try if you're scared of doing the ultimate red lip. For real precision you will want to do your application either with surgically-steady hands or with a lip brush because strong colors like red must be applied perfectly in order to look good - any mistake will be readily visible. Whatever you do, if you're looking to whiten your teeth, do not wear pink lipstick, especially if you plan on doing a lot of laughing or talking. Pink lipstick will bring out the natural yellow in the enamel of your teeth and definitely showcase your plaque if you have any. You can feel safe using pink lipstick only if you have just returned from the dentist to have a deep cleaning or if you've recently completed a whitening regimen.

Cosmetics Consumer Conspiracies

The cosmetics industry has long been shrouded in mystery, making up false pseudo-scientific reports for their products, not releasing any of their testing information to the public, and hocking up the price of simple cosmetics that could literally be made in your own home. If you look at the product labels you will see many compounds that you don't necessarily recognize even if you've taken high-level Biochemistry courses and have similar academia qualifications. There have been accusations and fines for almost all of the cosmetics manufacturers (Sephora and L'Oreal to name a few) for price fixing after secret meetings. Apparently, these companies have always been monopolizing the market to their advantage, so that private-label household brands stand no chance in the multibillion dollar industry.

If you want to know what poison the cosmetics industry is pouring into the majority of your products and calling them 'cosmetic grade' (in that they won't kill you if you use them) you can check out the list of 12 chemicals used that will adversely harm your skin, promote aging and are carcinogenic agents. If your cosmetics claim that they are organic, you should look at the ingredients list on the back of the product, because I can almost guarantee you that these products are not organic. Just because something is 'Certified Organic' does not mean the entire product is, it means that some of the ingredients used in the product are organic compounds, these will usually have asterisks by the name. At the very bottom in fine print you will see that the asterisk means that only those products are organic. It is very important when purchasing products that you read between the lines and pay attention to the fine print. The cosmetics industry is preying on the fact that the majority of their consumers are not educated in that specific field and/or don't care about what the products are made out of. You don't need to have a degree in Chemistry to see strange long-winded chemical names that you don't recognize and wonder what they're doing to your skin and body.



http://www.vermontsoap.com/specials.shtml

It's a big let down to know that companies are trying to fool consumers so if you have any doubts or questions you should call up your favorite cosmetics companies and ask about their products and practices. They have a responsibility to be honest with their consumers and if you find that they are beating around the bush or being dishonest and have a history of bad practices you may want to consider switching brands. If you're unsure where to start, ry Vermont Soap Organics products, for example, because they are completely open about their ingredients and even have a page on their website dedicated to listing all of the ingredients in every product. If you see that a cosmetic has a 'USDA grade' label on it, then you know you're dealing with a product that is good enough for your body as determined by the Food and Drug Administration because 'USDA grade' means that it is good enough for human consumption (these are the guildelines used to determine whether something is healthy to eat!). The factory where these products come from must be an Organic Processor factory that is legalized to make these products with federal certification in the United States. 

http://www.liquidplanet.com/images/tier3/Organic_USDA_Paneldiagram.gif



Keep in mind that without fragrance enhancers and chemical oils, naturally made products will not be as potent in their overall appearance and smell as those jam-packed with inorganic compounds. Changing to an all-natural, healthy skincare routine may take some getting used to, but it's definitely worth saving your skin from the risks of drying out, cancer, and oil imbalance. Also, if you think you are purchasing products that are hypoallergenic, you must keep in mind that this only means that there are less allergic compounds in that product compared to others, but it does not mean that there are no allergic products. There is no federal regulation for products that controls the amount of allergens found so these labels are purely introduced by the manufacturer. Make sure you know what it is you are allergic to by going to your doctor and then look out for those ingredients in everything you buy and stay away from them.

Until next time, stay beautiful and healthy everybody!!

Is tattooing your makeup safe?

Lately, I have seen more and more people, mostly women, with recently-inked faces to mimic makeup such as eyeliner, lipliner and to fill in permanent eyebrows. It's no wonder that people choose to go that route, getting a tattoo is certainly less expensive than purchasing all of that makeup for years on end. However, it is a permanent application of something you may not always like or want on your face, and that should make you think long and hard before choosing to do it in the first place. Fads and makeup styles change and the last thing anybody would want is to look outdated and out of place. Also, when we age, our skin sags and our pores shrivel up in an irregular manner, so your makeup is bound to look abnormally placed and droopy, making for what I am sure to be a horrific scene. Our facial structure and composition is changing all the time and you cannot expect to put something static on your face and expect it to always look the same when you are constantly morphing.

There is a problem with the tattoo industry in general, unless you go to a place that you know without a shadow of a doubt practices perfect hygiene, you're likely to run into problems. The hygiene practices of many tattoo parlors is sub-par because there is no federal regulation (in the United States) that holds them to a specific standard of cleanliness. These rules are regulated on a state-by-state basis, with some being far too relaxed on these establishments. Infectious diseases (such as hepatitis, staphylococcus infections, and AIDS) can be spread through the use of instruments that are not completely sterilized and shops are likely to skimp on these cleanliness requirements to save money (or out of sheer incompetence at times).

It is also important to remember that you may be allergic to tattoo inks and your face will react in a different way than the rest of your body. You can have a tattoo done on your arm that does not get infected, but that same tattoo on your face could trigger a nasty rash or infection because the skin is far softer and more sensitive. Factors such as this can create intense and irreparable damage to your face. This is especially true if you ever want to remove a tattoo, because even though there are laser removal technologies, they are not perfect and it is impossible to remove a tattoo without some scarring (and it's expensive, too). Some inks used in tattoos are a health risk in and of themselves, regardless of contamination, because they can not go through a Magnetic Resonance Instrument because the metals in the pigments will be pulled out with the electromagnet of the medical imaging machine. So if you have a medical condition, your doctors will not be able to put you through medical imaging techniques that could potentially save your life and help in diagnosis and surgery.

Another point to consider is that if you do get this cosmetic procedure done, you will end up looking as though you always have makeup on and when you do, in fact, want to look special, you will no longer be able to make yourself up to be more attractive than you normally are. I know that my husband appreciates the effort I put into my appearance on special occasions, but if those occasions weren't rare, would he even notice anymore? I suspect, that like most things, people would just become accustomed to your face being completely made up all the time and you wouldn't get the attention that you seek from your makeup (clearly you must want attention if you're getting yourself tattooed to be beautiful, right?). I don't believe that we are robots, and we probably shouldn't always look the same way. I also can't imagine how incredibly painful it would be to have someone put fine-tipped needles in your face repeatedly, it would take someone with high pain tolerance to undergo such a procedure willingly!