Skin Care Mistakes...Winter Edition!

Contrary to popular belief, winter-proofing your skin doesn't always have to entail a super-rich body butter and an ultra-moisturizing lip balm. Top skin experts have cracked the cold-weather skincare code about five common winter beauty misconceptions! 

Mistake #1- Using a super-thick cream will hydrate your skin better. 

"Concentrated doesn't necessarily equal optimum hydration," says Annet King, director of training & development for the International Dermal Institute. "An overdose of lipids can actually trap dead cells and leave skin looking duller." King suggests layering serums under creams in order to boost moisture. Facialist Sonia Dakar agrees: "Serums are light, yet have super-concentrated ingredients - ideal for absorption."
RECOMMENDATION: Mary Kay Timewise Serum C+ 

Mistake #2- Loading up on lip balms prevent chapping

Only if it is the right balm. 
Some common ingredients can actually have an adverse effect. Mineral oil (petroleum jelly) creates an artificial film on your lips, signaling your skin to stop producing lipids, while funky flavors, perfumes, and colors can also dry out skin. King suggests seeking natural-oil-infused balms or those with shea & cocoa butter. "To get rid of flaky patches, apply a little facial exfoliant to damp lips, scrub gently, then follow with balm," she says. Wait till spring to resume use of lip plumpers and super-long-lasting formulas that dry out your pout.
RECOMMENDATION: Mary Kay Satin Lips Set

Mistake #3- Extra layers of high-tech clothing are a cold-climate must. 

While warmth is obviously a necessity when temps plummet, some nylon and polyester fabrics can cause unsightly bumps, clogged pores, and even ingrown hairs when they trap dead cells, oils, and sweat. Better to wear natural fabrics — especially inner layers that touch your skin — and moisturize head to toe, morning and night. Also consider face and neck creams with humectants like aloe, hyaluronic acid, and lactic acid. RECOMMENDATION: Mary Kay Hydrating Body Lotion

Mistake #4- If you have oily skin, you can forgo moisturizer. 

Dry, cold climates wear on all skin types — even oily. And without some added protection, barrier function (which keeps pollution and other damaging elements out and moisture in) gets compromised. If your skin is super-oily, you can get by with a gel-cream or lotion formula. For true combination skin, use different moisturizers for different areas — a light formula for your T-zone and a richer one for cheeks that get dry, patchy spots.
RECOMMENDATION: Mary Kay Moisturizing Products for All Skin Types

Mistake #5- Overcast skies mean you can skip the sunscreen. 

Hardly. As a depleting ozone has led to stronger UVB burning rays, SPF is now a year-round endeavor. And clouds do little to filter out wrinkle-accelerating UVA rays. Come cooler, drier weather, find a daily moisturizer with a broad-spectrum SPF 15 (or higher) to hydrate and protect. "You can enhance your sun protection exponentially by using an antioxidant-rich serum underneath your moisturizer," says Washington, D.C., dermatologist Dr. Cheryl Burgess.
RECOMMENDATION: Mary Kay Hand and Décolleté Cream w/ Sunscreen SPF 15* and TimeWise Anti-Aging Moisturizer with SPF 25



Get your skin in tip top shape for this winter!
What you do today helps you look amazing for the rest of your life!

Have a fabulous day!

Much love, Amanda

Compact, Schmompact.

Did you know that Mary Kay compacts are made from the same resin as a Toshiba laptop??

They are scratch and scuff proof & were designed to fit perfectly in a woman's palm, patent pending! 

 

MK was the first company to "GO GREEN" (before it was the cool thing to do). We created the first refillable compact instead of you having to spend MORE money & throw the whole thing away when done. Only change out the colors to customize your look! 

What's in your compact???

 

 

Make the Most of Your Eyes

Getting a beautiful eye look is simple when you know a few secrets that makeup artists use to create a gorgeous look. To get started, consider choosing eye shadows that work with your skin tone and eye color. Have fun playing with different colors to find your favorites. And then learn the application tips that best enhance your eye shape. Now, get ready to start mastering the art of makeup!

The Keys to Color

Because the tone of your skin impacts a color after application, it is important to consider skin tone as much as eye color when choosing an eye shadow.

Ivory complexions work well with a range of neutrals, cool purples, reddish browns and blue-greens. For a more dramatic look, deep greens and taupes or warm purples also can be used. 

Beige skin tones can be complemented with taupes, tawnies, greens, warm browns and deep plums. Charcoal gray, navy or deep purple are perfect for a striking evening look. 

Bronze skin tones use deep or dark browns, deep greens such as forest green or charcoal grays. Dramatic looks are best created with dark purple, dark brown or charcoal. 

When choosing eye shadows that bring out the color of your eyes, pick shades that either complement or contrast your irises. 

Blue eyes radiate with warm browns, bronze, copper and other shades with similar orange undertones. 

Green eyes look great in purples, plums and taupes. 

Hazel eyes stand out in shades of deep greens and lavenders and shades with soft yellow undertones. 

Brown eyes look gorgeous in any color, especially purples, pinks, grays or blues.

~*~Operation Pink 2013~*~

CALLING ALL LADIES!!!! 

Make sure to sign up & share this event with all the women & men in your life! 

Operation Pink's focus is to pamper & celebrate women who have fought, are fighting, and those who support eradicating cancers that effect women. Check out all the fun pampering that will be going on...including massages, brow waxing, and even shopping opportunities! 

RSVP at operationpink2013@gmail.com OR contact me, Amanda, @ 502.316.3966! 

Details below or head to our event page for details! 

 

*******OPERATION PINK*******

The Pink Pampering Party- to celebrate women who have fought & pampering those who support finding a cure
Friday, August 23, 2013
6:30pm
Studio Pink, 282 E. Brannon Rd.
Brannon Crossing, Nicholasville

Registration Includes…
*Swag bag with fun samples, coupons from local businesses, & yummy goodies! 

*Four...yes, 4...pampering sessions to nourish your skin, play up your eyes, & get luscious lips! 

*Appetizers & goodies from local vendors! 

*An amazing night celebrating life & joining the fight with fellow women to find a cure!

Reserve your VIP seat today!
$3 for Survivors, $5 All Ladies
RSVP: operationpink2013@gmail.com
OR Amanda Woods @ 502.316.3966

Ace Your Base

No offense, but you’re probably making one of these 7 mistakes with your foundation 

It's okay, I was too. And it appears thet even after 5+ years in the business, YES, yes it is possible to teach a beauty consultant a few new tricks. 

Arguably, foundation- or more accurately, the entire art or perfecting your skin with makeup- is the hardest element of the application process. Let's face it: filling in your brows or swiping on mascara is not rocket science. But it takes a special effort (both in shade and product selection, along with technique) to make your skin look both natural AND flawless. 

So if you think UR DOIN IT WRONG (and sorry, but your probably are)...read on: 

 

1. YOU'RE USING A POWDER FOUNDATION

Ditch it. 

I know, I know-I used to be a massive fan too. And yes, mineral makeup IS supposedly better for your skin (non-comedogenic, naturally anti-bacterial and with built-in sunscreen). 

The problem is that powder foundations don't give you the best finish. The look right now is very, very natural and a little bit dewy (see the Mary Kay Luminous-Wear foundation) and the best way to get said look is with a liquid foundation. Powders are drying, tend to cake and can even accentuate wrinkles because they settle into the creases. And makes your pores look larger- horrifying! 

 

2. TO FIND YOUR SHADE, YOU TESTED YOUR FOUNDATION ON YOUR JAW.

Yes, everybody tells you to do this but I have some breaking news: you should actually test your foundation in three spots: underneath the eyes, on/around the nose and at the cheek/jawline. Do it all on one side of your face so you can compare with the no-makeup side. 

The perfect shade should pretty much disappear into your skin- but if in doubt, go slightly darker, not lighter. A slightly darker shade covers flaws A LOT better and will warm up your skin tone. Remember, nobody want to pull an Eagle (light face, dark body) like Emily Blunt.  

 

Mary Kay is the leader in foundation app & shade matching! When it comes to foundation, it's actually a pretty incredible selling point that one of our reps will actually come to your home/workplace etc. and help you find your perfect match in person. 

 

3.  YOU'RE NOT USING PRIMER UNDERNEATH YOUR FOUNDATION. 

Most people look 150 percent better with primer-really, they do-because it helps your foundation glide on smoother and stay put longer. (As in: it will be much less likely to slipe n' slide around your face, to start to crease.) They're making REALLY cleaver ones lately that can also soften the appearance of wrinkles, control shine or boost radiance. 

 

4. YOU APPLY YOUR FOUNDATION WITH YOUR FINGERS OR A SPONGE.

 Guilty as charged! I was a longtime finger user, but I made the change! 

The reason foundation brushes are superior is because they use far, far less product & are also ACE at blending- and that means a smoother, more natural, less cakey application. Sponges are okaaaay but the problem is that they waste a lot of product. Plus, they tend to be better at dabbing on areas where you need more coverage instead of creating a smooth, even application. 

When looking for a foundation brush, make sure it's synthetic, not animal hair. And it's a pain in the bum, but you also have to wash it regularly with either a makeup brush cleaner or a gentle baby shampoo. If you use Mary Kay's spray, its easy to spray & wipe each time you use so your brush isn't out of commision while it dries! 

5. YOU'RE APPLYING FOUNDATION ALL OVER YOUR FACE.

So not necessary, doll. The purpose of foundation is not, in fact, to cover up every square inch of your face-it's really only suppposed to be used on the areas where you need it. Think: the redness around your nose/chin, the darkness underneath your eyes, the random rogue blemishes. 

Blend everything really well using your aforementioned foundation brush, and if you've selected the right shade, it will look seamless. (If you need more coverage, we're talking about concealor next...)

6. YOU PUT YOUR CONCEALOR ON UNDER, NOT OVER, YOUR FOUNDATION.

Okay, this one is bad. Very, very bad. But I will forgive you if you didn't know better. This is a myth that has been perpetuated, even by makeup artists. Eeeek. 

Honestly though- what is the point of applying concealor if you're just going to blend it all away by putting foundation on top? It boggles my mind. So remember: foundation first, then concealor. Go in with a brush to dab it on top only where you need it. Then blend! 

7. YOU'RE SETTING YOUR FOUNDATION WITH TINTED POWDER AND A BIG, FLUFFY BRUSH.

If you want to "set" your foundation, I strongly, strongly advise that you invest in a translucent powder, which not only works for every single time in existence, but will also prevent any horrendous cakey texture from messing up your otherwise bang-on makeup application. 

Make sure you blend well, unlike Nicole Kidman....

 

The look right now, as I said, is dewy, so I would only apply your powder in the areas you tend to get shiny: the forehead & maybe the chin. And contrary to past beauty myths, don't use a big, fluffy brush to apply because you will deposit waaaaay too much product. Instead, go for a domed, fluffy shadow brush. 

And if you need to touch up during the day, please invest in some handy oil-blotting papers. Get the kind that aren't coated with powder though, or you're just going to end up back at square one.

8. SPRAY FINISHED MAKEUP WITH A FINISHING SPRAY

Set your look for lasting beauty when makeup meltdown is not an option. Give it staying power to last up to 16 hours. Spray as a final step & helps makeup look freshly applied for hours. It also works as a refresher any time of the day. This product will also reduce oiliness...score!

 

 

SO there you have it. So now, let's discuss: 

 

Do your wear foundation?

Were you doing some things "wrong"? 

Do you have any other foundation or skin-perfecting tips to share?