Skin deep Beauty

I think many things can add or take away from the beauty we see everyday not only in the mirror but in our lives. While there are a lot of things I could touch on and will in the future, today I am talking about massage. Since I am not an expert in that field I went to someone who is! Nichole Howe of West Orange Massage was kind enough to write the following article for my blog. She defiantly takes a serious medical approach to massage therapy and its benefits to us and not all of them are because it feels good. If you have any questions about today's article you can send them to me or visit her website at http://www.westorangemassagetherapy.com

Beauty Benefits of Massage There are many ways that massage therapy can enhance your beauty. The first and most obvious is its effects on the skin. Massage increases circulation, sending fresh blood to the skin and moving out toxins. Enhancements that can be beneficial include hot towels, salt scrubs to exfoliate dead skin cells, and hydrating body wraps. Our bodies are in a constant tug-o-war to find center. When we have a tight shoulder on one side, the other shoulder is working double time to counter balance. When we have forward head posture, our necks are straining to keep us upright. We know that people who are most recognized for their beauty have near perfectly symmetrical features. There are different types of massage, such as Craniosacral Therapy and Myofascial Release that can have a drastic effect on the structural analysis of the body and face. Studies show that Massage can greatly reduce the amount of stress people feel. Stress is a huge factor in your health, and we all know that healthy is beautiful. Taking time to get massage is part of a healthy lifestyle. Massage therapists are trained to alert clients to suspicious moles and other skin conditions that people may not be able to see for themselves. Timely treatment of these conditions can save a life as well as the appearance of the skin. The effects of massage are far reaching, from a cellular level to an outward appearance. A person who has just received a massage will be comfortable and at ease, making them more attractive to the world around them.

By: Nicole Howe, LMT West Orange Massage Therapy

Have Salon Beautiful Hair Everyday!

If I had a nickel for every time I heard the phrase “I can never get my hair to look as great as you do” I would be a rich woman. While a lot has to do with the fact that I do it on a daily basis it also has a lot to do with the tools I use to do it. So here is some advice so that your hair can look salon beautiful everyday. As always please submit your hair, makeup or skin questions to Heather@StudioImageLLC.com and I will answer them next month.

Hair

I tell my clients in the salon all the time,” do not wash your hair everyday!” It fades your color and it denies your hair the natural oil that your body produces to keep it healthy. If you must do something with it daily, rinse it at the end of your shower and put in a small amount of conditioner. Other than that I only recommend washing your hair 1-2 times a week.

On to styling

Products are the key to anyone’s hair looking amazing. I suggest you have a few key products that you always put in your hair and then a few that you use for different styles.

After washing and conditioning your hair a leave in conditioner is a total must.

Second a UV protection for your hair if you are out in the sun a lot and notice that your color fades fast this will help tremendously with that problem. There is at least one in every line of professional hair products but I use Pureology.

The third product is going to help with how your hair styles.

If you have curly hair I recommend the following products.

Paul Mitchell Round Trip- leaves the hair soft and curls defined.

Paul Mitchell sculpting foam mixed with Paul Mitchell Super Skinny- has a little more hold that the first product but still has the softness.

Moroccan Oil Intense Curl Cream- I love this entire line of products. Great for curls. This would be my top pick for sure.

When going for a more strait and smooth look

Paul Mitchell Strait Works mixed with super skinny- Gives it that smooth strait feeling without being so light that you have a bunch of fly aways. This will help keep that smoothed out hair last for days even in Florida’s moist weather.

Moroccan Oil- this can be used on the hair wet or dry and works wonderfully. (see full review of this product in my next set of reviews coming out soon!)

When using your smoothing iron take smaller sections that you have in the past. Go over the area a little slower as well. While it might seem like this will take more time, but it really saves you time because you don’t have to go over each area 4 times. You get it the first time and it looks amazing.

Beauty Tips and Secrets

Tested by Heather Brinkman of Studio Image,LLC



Ok so when I heard baking soda as a facial wash I was skeptical because how could something so cheap work well to wash your face? So I did a little research on the subject. It goes both ways with some people saying it is a great gentle exfoliate for your face and others saying no way no how should you be using this on your face. But I had to look into this on my own to make a decision on the matter.
So a little bit of background is needed Baking soda is a natural occurring mineral called sodium bicarbonate. Now this gets a little tricky so I am going to make a very long scientific story short. The ph scale has a lot I mean a lot to do with out skin and how it reacts to everything, the natural ph level of skin is 5. But things like sweat, dirt and oil change our skins ph so it is important to try and keep it at its natural ph level 5 to maintain healthy beautiful skin. Any substance with a ph level higher than 7 is considered alkali and below that is considered an acid. That is not to say that we have acid skin. Because baking soda’s ph is 8.2 it is considered an alkali. Now going back to our skins natural ph for a second (a 5 on the ph scale) the two don’t really match up. So one would think this would not be good to put on the skin because the goal in skin care is the keep the skin at its natural ph level of 5. But it turns out baking soda has a little something going for it. According to Arm and Hammer baking soda helps regulate ph levels and act as a buffer to keep them regulated longer. “When ARM & HAMMER® Baking Soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, it's natural effect is to neutralize that extreme pH - tilting the see- saw back toward level.”
With all of this promising information I thought it was worth a try. I used baking soda for about 2 weeks. I did notice that my skin didn’t need a lot of moisturizer and no blemishes popped up. I simply mixed it with a bit of tap water and gently washed and exfoliated in a small circular motion. After the two weeks I went back to my normal routine. I have notice my normal blemishes popping up and I plan on buying some baking soda to keep by my sink. All in all I am impressed with the idea and the effects on my skin. I would say at $.069 everyone can afford to give it a try.


For more information on the ph scale and how it works please visit the site below
http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/184ph.html


For more information and faq’s about baking soda not included in this article please visit the following site for information

http://www.armhammer.com/basics/magic/#1






Make Your Own Blemish Treatment

I have tried this method and found it to work rather well. In fact I would say it is one of the best treatments short of going to a skin care professional. When first applied it did sting. I was glad to feel something because that must mean it is working! With a few hours after I did the treatment my blemish has dried up and was starting to go down.

Small amount of baking soda mixed with a few drops of Visine to make a paste. Apply to the blemish and let it dry.

The theory is that it will dry out the blemish and it will heal faster. I have found this to be true when trying it on myself.



Keep your foundation looking great all day long

When using the word foundation it means a lot more to me than a beauty product that closely resembles your own skin tone. To me it truly means a foundation for your face. Just as a house needs a proper foundation so does your skin. If you skip any of the important steps the difference will be written all over your face. So here are a few tips to keep your face looking youthful, even toned, and healthy.

You must wash your face two times a day and exfoliate 2 times a week. Why exfoliate? Have you ever seen people and the texture of their skin is not smooth. It isn’t covered in blemishes but it isn’t smooth either. More than likely it is because they don’t exfoliate. It leaves a build up of old dead (yuck!) skin on your face and hides the true natural beautiful skin underneath like an ugly mask. So exfoliate two times a week to remove this nasty build up. The exfoliant should be gentle and meant for the face. Micro-beads would be a great exfoliant to try.
Moisturizer can be seriously underrated especially by people with oily skin. If you feel like your skin is already oily enough get a moisturizer made for oily skin types. Because your skin needs the moisture and it can play a nasty game with its self. It’s oily but then you wash and it thinks it is dried out. So what does it do? It produces more oil! Make sure no matter what type of skin you have that you get an oil free moisturizer otherwise you could experience an increase in blemish production. For those of you who need extra moisture try a night cream.
Always wash and moisturize your face just before you put on your foundation. This will give it the opportunity to do its job better and will give it staying power for the day.
Using a finishing powder. It helps set the foundation. A good powder will not leave your skin looking dry or powdery so find the one that does this best for you. I like translucent powder myself. It does the job perfect but everyone’s skin is different so check out reviews and then try them for your self. This is one of those times that I think getting it at a counter would be better than at a discount store or drug store.

New Reviews by Heather

Coastal Scents Reviews

Product:
Coastal Scents mineral concealer

Price:$8.95 for 3 grams (this is a large amount)

Pros
Its powder!

Cons
Not a lot of corrective options

Review:
I really have never thought about using a mineral powder concealer to be honest. But after trying it I wish I tried it a lot time ago. If you need it to correct something such as a bruise or very dark circles it may not do the job, but it does work for other things. Such as minor blemishes that will not be corrected by using foundation alone, under eye circles that are not deep blue and skin pigmentations that are splotchy. Ok what I really like about this concealer is that it doesn’t settle in lines. So if you use it under your eye it will not crease in fine lines or wrinkles. This is very good news for a lot of us. If over used it does tend to look a little powdery on the face but that is quickly fixed by passing a brush over it without any product on the brush. Overall I think this product is definantly going to stick around in my kit. It gives a nice finish and you can pop your mineral foundation on right over top with no blending problems. I have been trying a lot of coastal scents products as of late because they are really starting to offer some great products at really great prices. The website is listed below so you can take a look at their products.

www.coastalscents.com

Manufacture claims: Coastal Scents isn’t one for a lot of hype with their products. They most state facts. Therefore I am saying that they are meeting the claims they make on the website.


Products: Coastal Scents Lip Smacks Lip Gloss

Price: $49.00 for all 21 colors or $2.95 each

Pros: Amazing prices as usual!

Cons: The Lid can and will cut you if you are not careful.


Review:
I have several colors of this set. I really like that I have a lot to choose from because I don’t always use them alone I often put them over top of a lip color to add shine and soften/enhance colors as needed. I would really like a red lip gloss from this company as the only one I can really find right now is from MAC and Coastal Scents is far more cost efficient. When you open the lid (the part that connects to the tube) is sharp and can hurt your fingers if you are not careful. Knowing this I am careful with it and have found it isn’t the only lip gloss line that this happens with. Overall it is a great product at a great price. I am pleased once again.


www.coastalscents.com


Product: Coastal Scents Hot Pots Custom Makeup Palettes

Pros: Finally you can choose only the shadows you want and put them all together in a palette.

Cons: None

Price: $12.95 for a magnetic palette that holds 12 shadows from their Hot Pots line
$4.95 for a palette that hold 4 colors $4.95 for each shadow color you pick all your own colors choose as many or few as you would like.

Review:
If you are familiar with M.A.C. pro palettes this works the very same way. Coastal Scents has even given you a guide so that if you have favorite M.A.C. colors you can get them through Coastal Scents. They don’t have all of them yet but I am sure they will add more as time goes on. The shadows are perfectly comparable to M.A.C. shadows and have amazing blendability. The color is rich and smooth and really shows you that you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a great product. I have several of these shadows and plan on purchasing my shadows from this company when ever possible. As for the palette itself, it out does the M.A.C. palette in a few ways. Most noticeably the size. It is a bit smaller M.A.C. holding 15 Coastal Scents holding 12 but that is not a big deal because the size is so much smaller. This part right here really makes me happy. The inside of the palette holds the shadows in place with not only a magnate that covers the entire bottom of the palette (M.A.C. puts magnates on each shadow) but also holds them in place with a soft neoprene padding. Now this is important because on my M.A.C. palettes I have put my own padding in on top of the shadows to protect them from damage if the palette was to be dropped or carried around in my kit. With this palette I do not need to add my own padding Coastal Scents has done it for me! Also the name of the color is printed on the bottom of the Hot Pot. That too is something that no one else does and is very helpful. As you can see I am very fond of this product line and recommend it to everyone.


To get this product go to www.coastalscents.com and click on hot pots.

Product Reviews by Heather

March 2009

Loreal Voluminous Mascara (This is one of my favorite mascaras!)

Pros:
Great wand - gets all the little spots, separates lashes and adds volume.

Cons:
On rare occassion, it can tend to leave black rings around the bottom lashes.

Price:

$3.99-$5.69

Review:
This in-expensive mascara really does the job. Its consistency is not as thin as most and keeps lashes from sticking together. You are able to add several layers for a more dramatic look and still have great looking, thick, long lashes. It comes in several shades and waterproof. The waterproof version works just as well as the regular with the added security. The wand is designed to get into tight spaces to get those hard to get smaller lashes. Yes! There are more expensive brands out there that might be slightly better, but for the money, this mascara is a must have for everyone’s makeup bag.

Product Claims:

Unique maximizing formula quickly thickens and builds lashes in a single application for a full and dramatic look. Patented Volume Maximizing Brush thickens lashes evenly, smoothly leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges or clumps. Voluminous with Panthenol and Ceramide-R protects and conditions lashes leaving them supple and soft to the touch, resisting clumping and flaking. Ophthalmologist and allergy tested. Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. Clump-Resistant. Fragrance-Free.

My thoughts on their claims:

I think this product does a good job keeping up with the claims made by Loreal. Overall I would say it is accurate.

Do I recommend this product? Yes!


M.A.C. Mineral Foundation

Pros:
Easy to apply, gives skin a healthy glow, covers minor imperfections.

Cons:
Color choices are not as good as they could be which can cause you to be too light or too dark depending on the time of year.

Cost:

$29.00

Review:

This mineral foundation is much like every other brand on the market in terms of the ingredience. However, for me anyways, it seems to give a nice light coverage while not drying out the skin as some might expect from a powder type foundation. You can build coverage where needed without it looking uneven. It contains todays standard of SPF 15 for foundations. They do need a wider range of color options for those whose skin tones are not as warm as others. Because the color options are limited it is easy to get a shade that is too dark or too light and therefore have the wrong shade on your skin. However, this is not a problem for everyone so this product is worth a try at your local M.A.C. counter to see how you like it. Overall I think it is a great product that gives a healthy skin glow without looking heavy, powdery or settling in lines.

Product Claims:

“A lightweight loose powder mineral foundation that provides the skin with a smooth, radiant, natural finish. Brushes on the skin for medium-buildable coverage. Special mineral complex helps keep skin healthy and nourished while the blend of moisturizers and conditioners in the formula help create a smooth, flawless application. Provides everyday SPF 15 sun protection.”


My thoughts on thier claims:

I think it does a fairly good job keeping up with the claims from M.A.C. on its performance. I think “flawless application” might be a bit of a stretch simply because of the color factor but it is pretty accurate in its claims.

Do I recommend this product? Yes !


M.A.C. Brush 109

Pros:

Great for applying several different foundations including mineral foundation. It is soft but firm and can be used for many different things.

Cons:

It tends to shed on the face even after several shampoos

Cost:
$32.00

Review:
Great brush for applying mineral foundations, blending counsealors, and other powders. This is definitely my favorite brush for those applications. It is soft but firm and is gentle on the face. It does tend to shed on a regular basis no matter how many uses or washes it gets. This is a big flaw to have for a brush that you use on your face. Overall the shedding can be overlooked due to the fact that there is really no other brush like it on the market that I know of at this time. Definitely a staple in your makeup brush collection.

Product Claims:

Use to contour powder products. Softly rounded dome tip delivers just enough colour; smoothly blends colour into the face. Made of natural fibers.

My thoughts on thier claims:

The claims are fairly simple and straight forward and I belive it meets those claims fully.


Do I recommend this product? Yes!


M.A.C. Splashproof Mascara

Pros:
Waterproof, from a brand you can trust.

Cons:
Thin consistency that tends to clump lashes.

Cost:
$12.00

Review:
While I love M.A.C. this is not one of my favorite products. I find that it has such as thin consistency that it tends to clump lashes together because it goes on very wet. While it is one of the only waterproof mascaras from M.A.C., it really doesn’t perform as well as other waterproof mascaras on the market at this time. M.A.C. does a good job at making it very competitive with its price. You could very well pick up a drug store mascara and end up paying more for a lesser quality product. All in all, it is very similar to Cover Girls “Great Lash” mascara, I am not a fan of that one either. Worth a try if you are a “Great Lash” fan but other than that I think it is a pass.

Product Claims:

Waterproof, long-wearing, length-defining, lash-thickening, and formulated to last. Won't clump, flake, or blot! Takes the splash! Go swim!

My thoughts on their claims:

It is, infact, waterproof and long wearing. I do not agree with thier claim of “lash thickening” and "wont clump" though.

Do I recommend this product? No.

If you would like to hear a review of a certain product, let me know! Until next time....

Why Hire a Bridal Hair and Makeup Artist?

By Kristine Crane

This is the day you have dreamed of since you were just a little girl. You have always pictured in your mind how you would look on your wedding day. Now, it is coming time to actually start planning for that wonderful, romantic, “dream come true” of a day. You have finally found Mr. Wonderful, your perfect dress, the perfect place you want to walk down the aisle, the look and feel of the bridesmaids standing by your side, your flowers…but did you think about your hair and makeup? Are you going to leave that last detail to chance? It is time to think about hiring a professional bridal hair and makeup artist.

Why should you hire a professional bridal hair makeup artist for your wedding day? The answer is quite simple, education, experience, knowledge and the stress-free, convenient environment they create. You want every thing to be perfect on your wedding day and so do they. The last thing you need to stress about is making sure your makeup and hair looks just right. Relax; hire a professional bridal hair and makeup artist that will come to you, which puts more time in your already busy schedule. You will save time and energy and its fun!

It is very important that your hair and makeup will look as beautiful and relevant in 20 years as it does on the day of your wedding. A bridal hair and makeup artist knows how to achieve the trendy styles of today without “dating” your photos, creating a perfect memory of your wedding day for you and your family to enjoy for years to come. Bridal hair and makeup artists use professional products and have the knowledge as to which ones will work with your particular hair or skin type. They are trained to create looks that compliment your dress, the theme of the wedding and your personality.

When choosing a makeup artist, make sure you choose one that has specialized training in what is called “Media Makeup”. Media Makeup is the knowledge of what the camera (or photograph) will need fo r color and definition. Bridal Makeup artists understand how makeup will show up with the flash of the camera or under certain lighting conditions. With this education and skill, bridal makeup artists will insure your makeup is never too much or too little, your wedding photos will be “picture perfect”.