Beauty Management

Which of these do you dedicate serious time to?

A. Hair

B. Makeup

C. Nails

D. Skin Care

Share this with us.

♥ Khou

Photos: http://pinterest.com/pin/133933097/ Info: thebeautydepartment

TGIF!

 

Good Morning! I’m so glad it’s Friday. This will be more of a personal blog but I needed to change some things up. =P I’m looking forward to this weekend for some fun filled events with friends and the dentist. =(

My plans this weekend? For today – After work I’m heading out to Pyscho Suzy’s  to celebrate my birthday with my two other friends. I call it the “August Trio Birthdays.” I have never been to Pyscho Suzy’s but I’ve heard of great things. I’m pretty excited to see everyone tonight. One thing I do NOT want to do is be drunk. Ugh, I hate that feeling and do not want to wake up hungover because I have a dentist appt at 8am the next day. I know my dentist (who is my uncle) would not appreciate my alcohol breath. LOL

Saturday- I have a dentist apptmt at 8am. I’m doing a deep cleaning so it will take anywhere from 3.5-4 hours.I’m dreading this. The s/o is doing a regular clean up as well. Later on the day we are heading out to Vikings preseason game with the Cowgirls. Oh yea! I’m excited! Lucky me won the tickets from work. We have suite tickets too.

Sunday- Made plans to head out to the MN State fair. I’m super uber stoked! I didn’t get to go last year so I’m planning to pig out as usual. I want turkey legs, cheese curds, fries, corn on the cob, deep fried candy bar, and lots more! Eheheheh I love going to the state fair.

Other than that, I need to do a makeup haul. I bought some Japanese makeup a few months back from Chicago. It was a big dent on my wallet. Luckily, I put half of what I wanted back or else I would have been scolded by the s/o. ehehehe So far I’ve tried two of the japanese mascara and I only like one of them. Then I’m also trying out this Japanese exfolient as well. So far I’ve only used it once and I’m liking it a LOT. I will have to use it more often to give it a full review.

What are your plans for the weekend? Anything exciting? Anything you would like to share?

Have a great weekend all!

<3, Lilly

Think Twice About Gel Manicures and Pedicures

Who doesn't desire gel manicures and pedicures? It makes your nails shiny and chip-free longer. Yet, it can  be risky and hazardous. 

At the American Academy of Dermatology’ Summer Academy Meeting, there was discussion about the ways gel is applied and removed. "They require regular exposure to ultra violet light, and there have been a couple of articles which suggested that damage of the nails has occurred," says Richard K. Scher, a dermatologist at Columbia University in NYC.

Other dermatologists are treading carefully with this trend, too: "I heard about gel manicures and thought what a great idea—until I got one and realized how much exposure to UV light the skin surrounding the nail is actually getting," says Heidi Waldorf, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in NYC. "That could increase your risk for squamous-cell carcinoma (aka cancer) in the area." 

And along with UV exposure, Scher points out that acetone can be a culprit, too: To remove gel polish, women dip their nails—or entire fingers—into acetone. If you're getting a manicure every two to three weeks, he says, this can dry out the nail and even cause inflammation to surrounding skin.
 

Tell us your thoughts.

♥ Khou

Photos: http://screamcute.tumblr.com/page/2; http://www.flickr.com/photos/lelalobo/5631654035/in/faves-46536312@N06/; http://www.flickr.com/photos/lelalobo/5792152720/in/photostream/; http://imgur.com/Y7srY&8EzJ0&8lYMU&sqRNEl Info: allure

Smile With Your Eyeglasses

Wearing eyeglasses is not for nerds anymore. It has become a fashion and makeup statement. Complete your look with these eye-catching tips in glasses.

 

Stay Neutral

Less is definitely more. Wearing glasses draws attention to your eyes, so it’s best to keep your eye makeup simple. Stick to neutral shades on the eyes, but remember to blend a darker color into your crease for definition. Save the bright, bold colors for your lips. Don’t forget corrector and concealer—this is a must if you’re wearing glasses.

Don’t Be Afraid of Mascara 

Apply 2-3 coats of mascara to really make eyes stand out. Always use black mascara because it makes the biggest difference.

Get In Line

 Adjust the thickness of your liner is important when you’re wearing glasses. If your frames are thicker, you’ll want to apply a thicker line to the upper lash line so that eyes stand out. If your frames are thinner, a softer liner works.

Define Your Brows 

Eye brows make a huge difference when you wear glasses— the frames draw attention to them. Learning how to shape and color your brows can change the entire frame of your face.

Share your makeup tips wearing eyeglasses with us.

♥ Khou

Info: fashionista; Picture: http://gabrielaaaa.tumblr.com/post/5383452599

Do you really need to moisturize?

When it comes to beauty rules, most of us believe that moisturizing is just as important as proper cleansing. But as an “Oily” type, the truth may surprise you. The fact is, your “Oily” skin has plenty of natural hydration, and this extra step may not be necessary for you.

When your skin is “Oily,” you have to consider your skin’s other attributes, since concerns such as aging and redness are addressed with specially formulated moisturizers. But the last thing your “Oily” skin needs is more oil, especially if you’re trying to fight excess shine. Many anti-aging creams also contain harsh acids that can aggravate “Sensitive” skin—even more reason to shy away.

Instead of a true moisturizer, try a lighter serum or gel that contains ingredients designed to quell your other skin concerns. Antioxidant-rich offerings are effective for fighting wrinkles and other signs of aging, and formulas with anti-inflammatory ingredients can help with redness. As an added bonus, serums may contain higher concentrations of good-for-your-skin ingredients than moisturizers anyway. A few to try: Olay Regenerist Fragrance-Free Regenerating Serum, iS Clinical Hydra-Cool Serum, Caudalie Firming Concentrate and Jurlique Herbal Recovery Gel.

If you find it hard to break the moisturizer habit, you can get an extra dose of moisture with your daily sunscreen. When paired with the right serum, you can get all the skin-improving ingredients and environmental protection your skin needs, without the extra oil and shine.

Cited from Skin Type Solutions

How to minimiz pores

While you can't decrease the actual size of your pores, there are several strategies that can make them look less noticeable:

• Exfoliate. When pores are clogged with oil and dead skin cells, they are easier to see. Regular exfoliation with ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids (like glycolic or lactic acids) or salicylic acid will help rid the debris that collects inside. ( Definitely exfoliate with a facial brush like Sigma's cleansing and polishing tool. http://www.sigmabeauty.com/?Click=4779) 

• Stimulate cell turnover. Once pores are cleared out, look for ingredients that will keep them that way! Horse Chestnut extract is proven to speed cell turnover and slough off dead skin cells before they can clog pores. Find it in Babor Calming Sensitive Couperose Serum and in Pevonia Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser. Retinoids are also helpful here, and in addition to decreasing oil production, they help you look younger, too!

• Plump skin. The next strategy is to prompt the skin around pores to swell slightly. As the skin plumps, pores will appear to contract. Topical Vitamin C (available in a variety of facial serums), and light in-office light procedures like IPL are effective ways to add volume to the skin and minimize the appearance of large pores.

• Keep in mind that enlarged pores are easier to prevent than to treat after the fact: Wash away makeup every night, and avoid popping or picking pimples because that can permanently stretch pores.

Cited: Skin Type Solutions