TheMakeupGirl

Oompa Loompa: ModelCo Airbrush Tan in a Can...

Okay I normally don't do this but I MUST speak about this.  Modelco Airbrush in a Can is orange.  There, I said it.  I have been testing several of these over the past few days and when she saw this photo, my sister told me my leg looked like an Oompa Loompa.  I will say that they are pretty orange - this photo doesn't really show you the true orange-ness of it all but if you ask Julia and Meredith, they will tell you.  They got to see it in person this past Saturday...orange.

Now don't get me wrong, if you like that orange-y look then go for it.  It just really didn't work on me, it looked extremely un-natural and  I don't want people calling me an oompa loompa dammit!  So I am still on a quest to find a natural looking spray on tanner. I will let you know when I find one.

Spray Pretty!!

Drugstore Diva: Olay Touch of Sun Overnight

OMG ya'll....I am so EXCITED about this product I cannot even tell you...so excuse my blubbering in advance.  SO, you already know that I think that the advent of daily self-tanner/moisturizers has been the best thing since sliced bread; you actually get believable color!....BUT regardless, they still stink to high heaven...and I don't care what some brands say...no matter how pungent you make the top notes, in the end by the time you see the color you smell like the monkey exhibit at the zoo...

So, I was super excited when I saw Olay's New Touch of Sun Overnight Daily Moisturizer....I figured I could slather it on before bed, get my color and shower off the stink in the am....I figured it would still smell like ass but my suffering would be minimized while I slept.  I mean, I was even willing to stink up my bed and nightgown in order not to smell the crap during the day....

Well imagine my disbelief upon my first application of this stuff...this smooth, milky formula was immediately absorbed by my thirsty skin..and smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla...nice to fall asleep to, but I figured when I woke up I would be all monkey...OMG! You should have seen me sniffing myself trying to smell the self-tanner the next morning....it was SO extremely faint that I could've even been imagining it!!! And heres the kicker: I even wore the SAME nightgown the next night!!  UNHEARD OF...and the color was the same gorgeous golden-brown as the daytime formulas....without streaking or staining anything....

TIP: Now don't be afraid,but this is how I conquer the "hand-issue" when it comes to tanners..I don't wash my hands!!! ...I always hated it because after washing I always ended up looking like my arms went to the Bahamas and left my hands behind...too weird! So I happened upon a trick that works great for me:

After I have applied the lotion to my entire body I take a towel (a dark one...) and firmly wipe my palms off (be sure to get up to the sides of them) and then between each finger...using a seperate section of  towel for each finger... I think between that and my next step, which is running leave-in conditioner through my wet hair,enough product comes off leaving my hands looking tan and VERY natural.....give it a try next time you apply..(ooo..I just rhymed..lol)!!!

So anyways..I still can't believe how un-smelly this new Olay Overnight stuff is....you have got to try it!!! After all, It has become very clear to me this summer (and since my Mexico beach vacation) that 30+year old skin just looks better self-tanned then real-tanned....sad to say, but my skin just doesn't tan the same....HELLO freckles and liver spots, YUCK!!! Thank goodness for self-tanner.....and now UN-stinky ones!!! Wooo-Hoooo....

You can find Olay Touch of Sun Overnight at all your grocery and drugstores.....and it's under $7 bucks!

Be Beautiful....

How To Stay Cool On A Hot Day...

I have been getting a lot of email asking me what I do for a summertime routine.  I do love warm weather, I am a summertime kinda gal...love the pool the beach...whatever.  However...I don't like it when it gets too hot (85-95 degrees is my melting point!!) I don't ever like to feel like I am melting in the sun EVER.

My beauty routine changes as the weather gets warmer and I go into what I like to call "summertime survival" mode.  Some of my go-to ways to stay cool that I have used for years are, drinking loads of water or anything cool to drink (I am a fool for iced tea of any kind!), light meals...nothing heavy to eat so I don't feel weighed down.   Also keep your makeup in a bag with a gel ice pack OR my favorite hot weather item Icy Bag so you don't have a makeup meltdown on your hands!  I also roll up dampened washcloths and stash them in the freezer,  you can use them on your face and body for an instant blast of cool.

And last but not least...as little clothing as possible.....

Beauty By Josi: Confessions of a Sun Junkie....

Phew....So while I am backing on for my Mexico get-away...I thought PERFECT opportunity to share my beauty product joy. You know you are a beauty junkie when you are worried they might lose your luggage because you will miss your favorite new moisturizer instead of your designer jeans....(which I will NOT be bringing btw LOL)

So heres my latest sunscreen........

AB Sun ($45) SPF 45 Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB Protection....love, love this stuff...contains Avobenzone AND Micronized Zinc Oxide...green tea AND caffeine for antioxidant skin defense...what more do you need really?

Developed by  Dr.Craig Austin who practices in NY and Southampton, this bad boy will protect my skin on the beach and in the city!!! You can buy his products in his office, or in his... Skincare Store.

Plan of attack....squeeze into bathing suite (it's super-cute btw)....slather this all over.....pop on the sun hat and proceed to bake @ 90 degrees....proceed to turn approximately every 20 minutes or as needed......baste in ocean hourly....lol!

Dr. Austin believes in the Power of Glycolic Acid and so do I.  I will be reviewing his other products upon my return to the real world......plan on doing some really cool before and after photos so stay tuned......

See you when I get back beauties!!!!!

Hasta la Vista Acne: Somme Institute Skincare...

So as some of you know I have formed a deep, long-lasting relationship with my dermatologist....I have been in the beauty industry for years (toot,toot that horn Josi), used all the department store skincare products, prescription treatments and dermatologist recommended products...both drugstore and from their office. Bottom line, I want the MOST bang for my buck....and if my doctor says it works then I don't mind plunking down the dough.....

And as you all know, the reason for this is that I am a control FREAK when it comes to my face. Seriously, when I was in high school I used to STAY HOME if I had a big zit....(thanks Dad....he used to say, "hmm...Look who's growing a second nose...or, Look who's growing a second chin...")  Now at 32, I am SO glad I stuck with my dermatologist (and therapist) because after YEARS of laying in the sun, tanning-bed abuse and long distance running w/o a stitch of sunscreen my skin looks pretty good wrinkle-wise (if I do say so myself)!

However, if someone would've told me that I would start to get wrinkles AND horrible acne (again) when I hit my thirties I would've said, SHOOT ME NOW!!! In the past, when my skin got bad I resorted to prescription retinoids...and they usually worked...but for some reason since I have aged my skin has become more and more sensitive....I needed a product that could help prevent/heal my acne when it flared, prevent and smooth lines and lighten/correct skin hyper pigmentation.

Well I finally found a skincare line that is helping me with BOTH...the Somme Institute 5 step skincare regime. ..and no wonder....developed and tested by leading researchers and dermatologists, Somme Institute skincare results are documented and validated at top universities (among them.. Harvard & Yale)! And if my dermatologist recommends it I can trust that it will work.....and thank god this time it has.....seriously ya'll...I have been using it for 2 weeks now and my skin has not looked THIS good in a REALLY long time....my lines look plumper and no acne scars!The main thing I noticed right off the bat was that while I could feel it working my skin didn't freak out and get all mad at me...no redness, in fact it calmed it down!

I love the clean, minimalistic packaging...and each product comes with a cute little color-coded dot to help skincare newbies adjust to any skincare-related confusion....(or if you are like me..suffer from swiss-cheese brain at times...)!

The Somme Institute 5 Step skincare regime includes:   

1. Somme Institute Nourishing Cleanser ($40):  love,love...smelling a little bit like lemon-grass heaven, this luxurious cleanser was tough enough to remove my makeup without stripping or irritating..... and has all the benefits of my good ol' Cetaphil ....

2. Some Institute Transport Pads ($58): This is where the expensive R&D comes in...for years we have known WHAT ingredients work to help the skin but DELIVERING them into the skins deeper layers was the challenge. Somme products have what they call MDT5 (Molecular Dispersion Technology) that delivers a combo of 5 different vitamins  (A,C,E,D,B2 and B5) directly into the innermost layers of the skin....(this is where the Harvard and Yale studies and research come into play...)

I LOVED these pads...loaded with glycolic acid, AHA & BHA they removed any left-over flakes,dirt or makeup. They can sting a bit in the beginning so I wrapped mine around a cotton ball to soak up the excess. They TOTALLY reminded me of the Dr. Gross Beta-peel system...and work just as well in 1 step instead of 2.

3. Somme Institute Serum ($82): This refreshing serum contains a potent stablized form of Vitamin C and felt like a drink of water to my skin and has a light, crisp scent...it really helped sooth my redness and irritation. It also helped with my brown spots....

4.Somme Institue A-Bomb ($70): A very lightweight cream containing their patented MDT5,this little guy penetrated super-fast...if you are really dry I would recommend a basic moisturizing cream afterwards for night (I didn't need one though...) And it has the same heavenly scent as their nourishing cleanser....

5. Somme Institute Double Defense Day Moisture ($48): Light and fast penetrating it contained all the moisture I need for spring...its provides a complete SPF of 30 (Parsol 1789) and contains free-radical scavengers and anti-inflammatory agents...I was amazed how hydrated my skin felt without the least bit of grease...

And I found this... The Some Institute Mobile ($85)..contains the entire 5 step regimen in travel sizes....contains 14 treatments (enough to really see the benefits of this stuff)...a great way to introduce your skin to the regimen without shelling out the major dough before you are SURE it will work for you.....

But I am happy to say I am loving this stuff...my skin is finally calmed...without sacrificing effectiveness....another thing I noticed right after the first day was an increased tautness to my skin (without feeling tight or dry)...an effect that I have only achieved thus far through prescription Retinoids.....those darn dermatologists..they think think of EVERYTHING...lol!

Somme Institute Skincare products and Professional Treatments can be purchased at The Somme Institute,  in dermatologist offices and med spas.

Be Beautiful Y'all!

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!

Beauty By Josi: Self-Tan FAST!!!

I am SO ready for spring....my skin has started to take on that pasty look....so I've had to hit the self-tanner pretty hard these last few weeks...and I just learned an AWESOME tip that I need to share with you!

I've learned recently that heat is what actually makes self-tanner activate...so for girls (and boys) that are like me and want it NOW, NOW, NOW....all you have to do is...

1. Exfoliate in the shower....like you haven't heard this a million times....
2. Apply self-tanner in whatever form....
3. Turn on your blow dryer and BLOW yourself (hee hee) until dry! You'll be amazed at how fast you see color, and you won't have to wait ten years to put your clothes on!!!

Yippee!!! Here are my favorite Self-tanner picks....for those of you on a budget and you lucky ones that get to shop at the counters....Neutrogena Micromist Tanning Spray
(what I love about this one is that you just spray and you're done...no rubbing in, washing hands kind of crap)....and Lancome Flashbronzer GlowNWear (the color is so beautiful...and it's tinted so you can see exactly where you apply).

Bronze Beautifully Y'all! 

Swimproof.....

I was at the pool all weekend long and I was experimenting with some of my water resistant goodies.  Now, I have a few things that I use religiously but this weekend I decided to shake it up a little.  I don't wear foundation (especially in the water) because I think it is a little heavy for the summer - plus you are tan anyway .. right??

Tarte Lights Camera Splashes Most waterproof mascaras make your lashes hard or brittle.  This one left my lashes soft and flexible and it was easy to remove with a little oil based remover.  Plus I got length and thickness.

Laura Mercier Metallic Creme Eye Color I like one color on the lid when you are poolside/beachside.  This one is great because you can use your fingers.  Just a little dab will do the trick and you can place it from lash line to lid.  Waterproof and extremely lightweight....I wore Platinum yesterday.

Smashbox O-Glow I really like this because it doesn't look like a big streak of red on me.  Now it may be different for lighter complexions but it looks great on brown girls.  Lightweight gel formula glides on and keeps your cheeks glowing for hours.

Geurlain Kiss Kiss Gloss Non sticky, water resistant and it comes in 10 shades from pink to fig.  Available in three formulas, Petal Effect gives sheer coverage, Pearl Effect gets a boost of pearly essence, and Gloss Effect provides a subtle sparkling finish.  My favorites are Fraise a Croquer, Figue Plaisir and Beige Caprice.

As always, make sure that you use a good sunscreen underneath it all with at least SPF 20 or higher.

Swim Pretty!!

Lemme Lemme Upgrade Ya...

Ready for a self tanner upgrade??  If you are new to the self tanner game, and thinking about trying a high end brand why not start with the best one I have tried ever....  Okay I am biased because i worked for them for so long, but I still use the products today so that says something.

Clarins has been in the skincare business since 1954, in fact they were one of the first "high-end" sun care lines I tried.  They used to have this amazing tinted sun care cream that was SPF 20 (unheard of back then) that I used to slather all over my body...LOL.

Clarins has the science and the expertise to deliver.  The Self Tanning Starter Kit is no exception.  This three step kit has everything you need to get a nice golden glow.  Kit contains...

• 4.4 oz Self Tanning Instant Gel
• 1.7 oz Radiance-Plus Self Tanning Cream-Gel
• 0.69 oz One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Use the cleanser to exfoliate your face before you apply the Radiance Plus to your face, the Instant Gel is amazing because it dries so quickly you will never know it was there.  No streaking, no funny orange color...just beautiful bronze glow.

Tan Pretty!!

Makeup 101: Summertime...

Okay so here we are at another warm weather season.  I have gotten a lot of e-mails asking me to review self tanners.  I am directing you over to Beauty Addict who has declared May Fake Bake month.  She will be reviewing many many many different self tanners (she has a rating system and everything....lol) so you can get good info there.

Now onto summer makeup.  So many pretty things to choose from this season!! 

Eyes
Let's start with one of my favorites, Stila's new Summer Eyeshadow Trio.  This beauty grabbed my eye because it looked like an avocado (so clever...making makeup look like food...heh heh)  The colors are soft, sheer and very blendable.  The palette is available in three different color combinations.  If you are planning to be in the water, then look no further than Tarte.  They have come up with an adorable new product called Lock & Roll.  Two dual ended color coordinated creamy shadows that are  water and crease resistant.  Top it off with Lights, Camera, Splashes waterproof mascara and you are good to go.  The mascara even has a little blue jean cover that is waterproof, and if you accidentally drop it in the water - it floats.  Genius!
 

Tanriffic....

I am a huge proponent of suncare...I have been wearing sunblock since I could swim and I honestly believe that it is one of the main factors behind my wrinkle free skin. I also love self tanners/bronzers and they are becoming increasingly inventive as of late.

Enter Bliss Labs and their newest creation A Tan For All Seasons. This baby is an aerosol and has a built in bronzer. The nozzle has a 360 degree range so you can get it to go just about anywhere. It dries quick and is transfer resistant, the fine spray mist gives you an even coat of product. The best part? No streaking, just a gorgeous tan...

Tan Pretty!!