To Age or Not To Age

Admit it, aging is a bit frightening, isn't it? We're all getting older, but we're doing all we can to prevent it or delay the process.
Many cosmetic companies market products with claims of reducing the signs of aging, but how can the consumer know that is a true statement? Well, a little research on the ingredients in certain cosmetic products will help answer that question.

I'd like to address free radicals and I'm not talking about the person who advocates fundamental political, economic and social reforms by direct and often uncompromising methods! I'm talking about molecules; responsible for aging, tissue damage and possibly some diseases. They're called free, because they float around in the body, looking for a healthy molecules to bond with and destroy. In order to prevent such bonding, we need antioxidants to distract these free radicals from harming healthy tissue. What does this all have to do with cosmetics and skin care? Our bodies are aging and most women (and maybe men) want to do all we can to keep our skin (especially our faces) from looking old. We want to buy products that are good for our skin and not because it claims to reduce the signs.

Look for ingredients found in nature, like Pomegranate Extract, Acerola Fruit Extract, Barbados Cherry Extract or any extract high in Vitamin C. These are all antioxidants and will prevent those free radicals from hastening the aging process.
A product that is antioxidant-rich is going to enhance the production of new collagen and help keep existing collagen from breaking down. The antioxidant ingredients are also known to support elastin, a protein that gives skin its elasticity or what I like to call "spring"; can't you just see your skin leaping for joy because you're helping it to remove those Free Radicals?

We're going to age, no matter what, but if we can prolong the process, why not? Just be aware of ingredients that are going to benefit your skin and don't simply accept a product that claims to be "anti-aging" before doing some research of your own.

Until we meet again...

Concealer Help

Concealer Help

If you suffer from dark circles under the eyes, blemishes or slight imperfections on your skin, a concealer just might be the cure! The right colored concealer can hide these problem areas beautifully. Finding the correct concealer for your skin tone can be tricky, but with a few key concealer application tips, anyone can dab a little makeup magic under the eyes, and restore the beauty of youth in less than 5 minutes.

Finding the Right Shade

When choosing a concealer, select a shade that best 
matches your skin tone to even out skin or choose 
a shade lighter than your skin tone to highlight areas 
of the face. A yellow concealer shade can help 
reduce the appearance of red in the skin tone and 
a more skin toned or beige color will help hide the 
dark blue areas, such as under the eyes. You'll 
want to use different colors of concealer during 
each change of season; darker in the summer 
and lighter during the winter. When trying to 
find the right shade, do not apply it to the back 
of your hand. Instead, apply it to the area you 
want covered and stand in direct sunlight
to test it's matchability.

Application

Always use your ring finger to apply concealer. It's 
the best way to blend and get the coverage you want 
without wiping the product away. Use of this finger, will 
apply less pressure to your face, than your thumb or
index finger. Before applying foundation, apply a small 
dot of concealer on the targeted area. Gently 
pat with fingertip until well blended.

Benefits

Concealer creates a seamless canvas for perfect 
makeup application. When applied correctly, a concealer 
can successfully cover large pores, reduce eye 
discoloration, age spots, and/or hide acne and pimples. 
To cover a mole or scar use a shade that is close to your 
skin tone.

Conclusion

Be careful - the wrong color of concealer will draw 
attention to, rather than hide, the area it is applied 
being applied to. Blending is the key! Make 
sure the concealer and foundation are complimentary.

With these few tips, you'll be able to hide the imperfections of your skin and create a flawless, beautiful look.

How to Apply Your Look for the day in 5 minutes!

Try this quick and easy formula to take care of your skin and put on a fresh new "look" even when you're out of time in the morning. 

1. Rinse and moisturize your face - Cleanse your face quickly but thoroughly and follow up with moisturizer.

2. Dab on foundation - Use foundation only where you need it to even out your overall skin tone. Focus on your chin, the sides of your nose, and around your eyes, all areas that can be prone to redness or dark shadows. Dab it on using your ring finger.

3. Sweep on black or brown mascara - Mascara (a black shade is univerally flattering; brown is a good choice for the particularly fair) opens up the eyes and makes you look refreshed. Sweep on one coat from root to tip. No need to pump the wand; doing so lets air into the tube, promoting bacterial growth.

4. Apply lip color or blush - Apply blush to the apple of each cheek (the roundest part when you smile), sweeping back toward the ear. On your lips, use color with a sheer or gloss finish, which requires less precision (and time) than a liner-and-lipstick combo

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Fear

I apologize for my lack of blogging. I blame only laziness. Today's blog is borrowed from my Mary Kay  Director. It talks about how to deal with fear in our lives. I hope you glean something out of it and if you do, feel free to post your comments!

What are you afraid of? Or Better Yet, What Are You Going to do About It?

Fear is the single greatest force to keep you from being your very best. Every day toxic thoughts creep into our minds, but we do not have to yield to them. While you cannot control what pops into your head, you can control how long it stays there and what you choose to do about it! You can choose not to listen to the negative thoughts or to focus on fear or you can choose to use fear to your advantage. Face your fears and overcome them by trusting in yourself and believing in your dreams.

When we focus on our fears and allow them to dominate our thoughts, we are consumed by them. They can use up valuable time needed to care for our families, work our businesses or even enjoy the warmth of a sunny day. Worst of all, the fears we focus on most, eventually become a reality.

Fear is a funny thing. It can change our life's course in a positive or negative way. If you think about it, fear is really nothing more than a motivator or catalyst. This simply means it moves you... where you move is up to you. You have the choice everyday to use your fears to decide you are not worthy of your dreams or you can choose to use it to believe in yourself. Fear can push you to work harder to achieve your aspirations. Set goals that you are afraid of. If you aren't afraid of a goal, chances are, it's not a large enough stretch for you. Goals should force you to set out of your comfort zone and face your fears!

I implore you to have a renewed vision of fear. Use it as a positive tool in your everyday life. Invest in your goals and dreams. As you do, you will find you are indeed stronger than any anxiety or worry.

Create a world of strength, peace and success around yourself. This world begins in your mind. Your mind is powerful. Act with purpose; focus on your dreams and ambitions. This is the way to make them a reality!