TheMakeupGirl

Beauty By Josi: Teeth Bleachers Anonymous...

Momma, why are your teeth blue? SERIOUSLY, that is what my 4 year old asked me the other day. My husband kept asking me why I was bleaching my teeth AGAIN every time I have these last few months but I ignored him......so it's time for me to come clean. I, Josi Lauritzen am a teeth-bleaching addict!!!!

I knew that before my teeth became clear I needed to do something about it. I've seen the "enamel rebuilding" toothpastes out on the market and had tried a few with so-so results. Well after using Sensodyne ProEnamel toothpaste my teeth are finally getting back on track....I have laid off the whitestrips and my teeth look the better for it...I have been using that with my new Oral B CrossAction Pro-Health Toothbrush...I love IT because it has this awesome tongue cleaner and let's me know when it's time to buy a new one! After all, as vain as I am...I do know that it's all about health!

In fact, on my trip in Mexico my best friends husband even remarked "how do you get your teeth so white, do you bleach them everyday?" So I figure that I am doing okay...phew!!!!

Sensodyne and Oral-B can be found at your local drugstore or mass merchant. The toothpaste is under $5 bucks and the toothbrush under $6!

Brush Beautifully Ya'll!

Drugstore Diva: Milani Sunset Duos Blush & Bronzer

Hey girls! So first off, you should know by now that I am a total self-tanning junkie...however, I NEVER use self-tanner on my face...I am just too break-out prone. I also try my best to NEVER get any sun on my face....so how to make my bod match my face you ask?

Why bronzer and blush of course!  And you know that lately I have been in love with Milani cosmetics...the reason is because since they are an ethnic beauty line that works for ALL skin tones, their products have TONS of pigment...making them as close to  department store makeup that I think I have gotten thus far...and I LOVE these new Sunset Duos.  The bronzer and blush are in one compact and have been formulated to go together...one less thing to think about!!!

Now, my trick to a sun-kissed face:

1.  After your foundation/concealer has been applied (if you need it, if not I HATE you..lol) take a medium-sized powder brush and apply bronzer to EDGE of your forehead, concentrating it into the hairline...really dig the brush in so that there is no visible line....

2. Now keep applying the bronzer to the edge of your temples down across the cheekbones..stopping at the apples of your cheeks....(if you want to do a bit of contouring here than go a bit under the cheekbones as well).

3. Visually, think of a horseshoe shape when you apply the bronzer....basically framing the top half of your face and cheekbones....This is the exact technique that all the celebrity makeup artists use to really highlight the stars faces...visually it highlights the eyes and your bone structure...JLO is THE perfect example of this technique...check it out next time she walks the red carpet (which may not be for awhile with TWO new babies...)

4. Now take your blush and apply it ONLY on the apples of your cheeks...my trick for this is to smile real big before you apply...then you can tell EXACTLY where those apples are...

*Hint of the Day: For a mini-face lift, apply blush as high as possible on the apples of the cheeks (without going TOO high so it still looks natural)..and if you have the time and want to take it even further, apply a highlighter to the top half of your apples!!! You will be amazed at how it lifts your face and distracts from under eye circles....

5. Last step, be sure to use loose translucent powder to blend the blush and bronzer and set your makeup for the day!!!

What I love about this technique is that it makes my face match my neck....and I get an even, sun-kissed look without having to tan my face...Just remember to pick a bronzer in the same shade range as your self-tanner.

Now real quick, how do I get my face to match my body when I don't want to wear makeup and need to just run out the door real quick? Tinted moisturizer (with SPF of course)..I have found that it gives just enough color to blend my face with my neck while still looking natural.....I use that instead of my regular moisturizer..easy and no extra steps!!!

Bronze Beautifully Y'all!

How To: White Teeth for Cheap...

Okay so...a couple of years back I got on this "perfect teeth" bender...got a couple of bids for braces..(if you haven't noticed my snaggle-tooth....)..and looked into Zoom whitening.

Well I managed to develop a regime that got my teeth just as white.... and maintains them.. that is A LOT cheaper than Zoom....just takes the right products...

First off, I highly recommend getting a Sonicare  toothbrush... I know that initial payout sucks, but your teeth, your doctor and your body will thank you. More than anything, for me I think the trick is that it gets me to brush my teeth for the whole 2 minutes you are supposed to.....

So I started off with whitestrips...tried 'em all....expensive and generic. And my favorite by far are Target Brand generic whitestrips! They have a waxy base that really holds the bleach to your teeth..way better that those flimsy ones....used the whole pack until I got as white as I thought I needed to go.

*Hint of the Day: When it says on the packages to use the strips BEFORE you brush your teeth the reason is because that way your gums don't become as sore and sensitized after using the strips for a few days straight...dumb ass here thought that she should do it after  brushing so the bleach would really "get in there" and whiten more.....could've saved myself A LOT of sore gums...

So anyways..here's my daily regime to maintain the whiteness... after flossing I use Listerine Whitening Pre-brush Rinse morning and night. This stuff rocks!!! At night I brush with Crest Vivid White Night toothpaste (to remove that days stains)and then in the morning I use Colgate Luminous Toothpaste (to replace some of the enamel I probably strip off, lol).  Then, once or twice a week I retouch with my good 'ol Target Generic Brand Whitestrips...

I"m tellin' ya...I'm a latte-lovin' Starbucks junkie...and my teeth are pretty darn white!!! Try it, you'll be amazed at all the compliments you get...(such a showboat I am....hee hee)!

Bleach Beautifully Y'all!   

How To: Cover-a-Zit...

Hey y'all. So realized I've spent a lot of time on here belly-aching about my acne....without sharing any tips or techniques to hide the suckers...and now at 32  I have quite the experience to draw upon...lol!!!! I've included some links to products that I really like to use as well.......

Here goes:

Step One: It is imperative that you start off with flake-free, properly moisturized skin before beginning this process.....I've learned that covering acne is all about prep work. That's why I always say exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate....I also use a gentle facial scrub  (this one is my favorite right now)...at least once a day...usually at night...and in the long run hopefully this process will prevent further breakouts!

Step Two: I recommend using toner...no matter what I always hear from doctors, fellow "beauty experts" etc.... I know that my skin wouldn't look half as good without it....any ALCOHOL-FREE toner  will do the job...again, make sure it is alcohol-free..otherwise it will just strip your skin making it produce even more oil (and even more zits). The reason I think toner is so important is because you get a second chance to get any flakes that you may have missed at the sink.

*Hint of the Day:  When you have a pimple that is a "leaker" or you just picked at ...(I know but I have to go here), Visine  will stop it immediately...soak a cotton ball and hold over the zit for about 2 minutes. ( Just like Visine gets the red out of your eyes by constricting small blood vessels, it does the the same for pimples!!!)

Step Three: Moisturize, moisturize... Any Oil-free moisturizer  will do...I like one that has SPF.....and if you don't mind an extra step, apply Foundation primer .

Step Four: Here's where the makeup comes in....when I have more than 3 or 4 pimples I like to spread a thin layer of Foundation  on the entire face (and blend onto the neck of course...) so that way my concealing won't be quite as obvious.

Step Five:  Spot apply a Cream Concealer   to your zits..( make sure concealer shade matches your foundation perfectly..too light and it will only draw attention to the spot)....I like to use a Small Concealer Brush directly on the spot and then blend out very gently with my fingertips...that way you get the concealer exactly on the pimple instead of overdoing it onto the area around it.

Step Six: Using a makeup sponge, firmly pat Translucent Loose Powder  over the pimple to seal the concealer.

Step Seven: Repeat Step Five and Step Six until you get the coverage you need to hide the pimple...once you have gotten the coverage you desire, using a Big Powder Brush  dust more translucent power over the entire face..this way skin texture will be even!

And there you go! Not too hard, but it really works for me and always kills me when I get compliments on my skin when I know what is underneath all the spackle!!! I really hope that most of you don't need this tutorial, but if it helps one person than it was worth it. If you have any questions, tips or tricks that work for you, I would LOVE to hear about it here.

So Hide Those Zits Beautifully Y'all!.....(I know, I know)

   

How To: Holiday Hair - Romantic Waves...

Nothing like having gorgeous hair for the holidays - right??  My favorite look these days is a loose wavy one.  No structure or stuffiness, just loose romantic waves.  Nexxus and world renowned hair stylist Kevin Mancuso show you how to get the look with little or no effort.  This look is sooooo old Hollywood, think Veronica Lake and Dorothy Dandrige.

Nothing is prettier to me than loose wavy hair and trust me, whether your hair is short or long this will work for you.  Now, if you are sporting a short close cropped do, this isn't for you BUT if your hair is right above shoulder length or longer (read, can you pin curl it??) then this is YOU.

below is step by step video to get the look - just tried it this weekend with stunning results.  Knock yourselves out ladies and get the look you want and need for that holiday party at home without breaking the bank.

Style Pretty!!

How To: Rosey Glow...

I have come across these GREAT how to videos from Ford Models TV!  They have everything on here even tips on dressing.  This particular video shows how to use Benefit's Hoola Bronzer and Benetint to create a pretty rosey glow.

 

 

Glow Pretty!!