Blog

Kicking off the New Year means reevaluating your goals, picking up healthy habits and committing to achieving the life you crave. For some, that may look like a brand-new gym membership or an inspiring travel itinerary, but for many it could simply mean prioritizing overall skin health by implementing more good-for-you ingredients into your beauty and skin care routine.

As we close out the year and fix our eyes on creating a memorable 2019, let’s turn back the clocks one last time to see which best-selling products left PÜR Beauties swooning last year.

Let’s get to the point. Your makeup doesn’t look good because your skin is too dry. This is probably because you’ve been applying a thin layer of moisturizer with your hands before your primer and foundation. Try this instead: apply a thick layer of moisturizer with the Contour Blending Sponge. It plumps your skin with hydration and skincare and ensures that more product stays on your face instead of on your hands. “I think where people miss the mark with creating really beautiful makeup is prepping the skin,” said PÜR beauty and makeup artist Angel Merino. He’s known across the internet and celebrity circles as @mac_daddyy. “I think people just kinda like rush to put on foundation and put on the makeup and they don’t take the time to really work the skin and perfect it.” As he was creating a look for fellow PÜR beauty and YouTuber Laura Lee (@larlarlee), he joked about using half a bottle of Mac’s Prep + Prime Fix + to hydrate Laura’s skin. PÜR’s Miracle Mist works similarly and has 70 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. Plus, you don’t have to use half as much. Angel used PÜR’s Contour Blending Sponge to layer on the MAC’s hydrating primer, an eye serum and Tom Ford’s Illuminating Primer. “A dry eye is not a good eye,” they agreed. If you want radiant skin, it needs to look that way before you apply your makeup, Angel explained. Dry and dull-looking skin is not a good foundation for makeup. You must take care of your skin first. Beauty blogger Wayne Goss agrees. “Prep is so important. You need to be using a huge amount of moisturizer to counteract negative makeup,” said Wayne in his “Number One Beautyblender Mistake for Flawless Skin” video. He explains how to use a blending sponge to apply moisturizer. “Make sure it’s completely damp,”Wayne said. “You need to embed the product into the skin” You need to press this into the skin and I don’t mean bounce. I mean press it as hard as you can.” The result is plumper, hydrated skin that allows you to layer on your primer, foundation and concealer without it settling in to fine lines and sticking to dry patches. Your skin will look like skin even after you contour and set your look. Plus, this beauty hack will keep your skin looking radiant even when the makeup comes off. Check out Angel’s makeup tutorial using his favorite contour product, Cameo Contour Stick, on COSMOPOLITAN.com here.

Cameo Contour, our innovative and dual-ended contour stick has just turned two! When contouring became the hottest trend by celebrities like KKW (Kim Kardashian West), we sought out to make highlighting and contouring easier for those that don’t have a makeup artist on call. This makeup hack was hard to master with regular foundation, concealers and brushes and could be expensive when you rounded up all the tools needed to make it look effortless. So, we made Cameo Contour dual-ended so you didn’t have to second guess which dark and light shades would complement each other and we also added a multifunctional sponge that made blending easy. (We even included step-by-step instructions in case a YouTube tutorial got too confusing.) All in all, Cameo Contour was designed to deliver red carpet worthy depth and dimension that makes flawless contouring an unexpected victory for the everyday girl. However, the true innovation is in the formula. With both a highlighting and sculpting shade in one convenient product, this contour stick allows you to create perfect dimension in a flash. Made with natural, light-reflective ingredients that resemble microspheres, the creamy formula emphasizes your face’s natural high points and shadows while blurring imperfections and sets itself to a lightweight, powder finish. The best part? Cameo Contour also multitasks as a foundation. It’s packed with all of the ingredients you want in a foundation such as PÜR’s age-defying Ceretin® Complex, a skin-nourishing blend of hydrating ceramides and skin-perfecting Vitamin A.  What does this mean exactly? This contour stick not only improves the look of your facial features, it also improves the look of your skin too ” which makes it preventative from some and corrective for others. After its launch two years ago, beauty influencers were the first to add it to their beauty arsenal. It has become an everyday staple in makeup artist and beauty influencer Angel Merino’s makeup bag. Angel, also known as @mac_daddyy, can be seen putting the beauty tool to work here. Laura Lee, also know as @larlarlee, describes it best: “It gives you the benefit of a cream contour as far as lasting a long time and it’s going to be way more easier to blend out than a regular cream contour because it blends out to a soft powder.” Best of all, “it will make you look flawless in pictures.” Dulce Candy gushed about it in a YouTube review: “It’s a cream-to-powder formula so you don’t have to add any powders on top unless you want to do a crazy transformation… That’s it! You are out the door. You’re highlighted. You’re contoured and you have coverage (that’s not heavy) at the same time.” Even Women’s Fitness Magazine called it one of their “beauty heroes” for making “light work of contouring.” We’re celebrating this milestone because for two years we have made a professional beauty secret a no-brainer for women worldwide ” especially for our loyal customers who craved celebrity looks. “Love this product. It glides on easy and blends out like a dream,” said Charlie B., a PÜR customer. “The application and blending of this product are very fast so it is perfect for daytime use.” Chiseled features are just five minutes away with Cameo Contour. What are you waiting for?

Let’s get to the point. Your makeup doesn’t look good because your skin is too dry. This is probably because you’ve been applying a thin layer of moisturizer with your hands before your primer and foundation. Try this instead: apply a thick layer of moisturizer with the Contour Blending Sponge. It plumps your skin with hydration and skincare and ensures that more product stays on your face instead of on your hands. “I think where people miss the mark with creating really beautiful makeup is prepping the skin,” said PÜR beauty and makeup artist Angel Merino. He’s known across the internet and celebrity circles as @mac_daddyy. “I think people just kinda like rush to put on foundation and put on the makeup and they don’t take the time to really work the skin and perfect it.” As he was creating a look for fellow PÜR beauty and YouTuber Laura Lee (@larlarlee), he joked about using half a bottle of Mac’s Prep + Prime Fix + to hydrate Laura’s skin. PÜR’s Miracle Mist works similarly and has 70 essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and amino acids. Plus, you don’t have to use half as much. Angel used PÜR’s Contour Blending Sponge to layer on the MAC’s hydrating primer, an eye serum and Tom Ford’s Illuminating Primer. “A dry eye is not a good eye,” they agreed. If you want radiant skin, it needs to look that way before you apply your makeup, Angel explained. Dry and dull-looking skin is not a good foundation for makeup. You must take care of your skin first. Beauty blogger Wayne Goss agrees. “Prep is so important. You need to be using a huge amount of moisturizer to counteract negative makeup,” said Wayne in his “Number One Beautyblender Mistake for Flawless Skin” video. He explains how to use a blending sponge to apply moisturizer. “Make sure it’s completely damp,” Wayne said. “You need to embed the product into the skin” You need to press this into the skin and I don’t mean bounce. I mean press it as hard as you can.” The result is plumper, hydrated skin that allows you to layer on your primer, foundation and concealer without it settling in to fine lines and sticking to dry patches. Your skin will look like skin even after you contour and set your look. Plus, this beauty hack will keep your skin looking radiant even when the makeup comes off. Check out Angel’s makeup tutorial using his favorite contour product, Cameo Contour Stick, on COSMOPOLITAN.com here.

Up until the days of YouTube beauty gurus and tutorials, we all applied concealer the same way  in a half moon shape under our eyes to cover dark circles, and on top of pesky blemishes. Now, thanks to the Internet, we know that concealer can be used in a multitude of ways, including highlighting and sculpting the face. Here’s a few ways you should be using these magical formulas. COVER  DARK CIRCLES Say bye bye to the half-moons and hello to the upside-down triangles. Using a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your skin tone, draw a line from the inner corners of your eye down the side of your nose, then up and over to the edge of the eye socket  just above your cheekbone. We’ve fallen in love with Disappearing Ink’s pen applicator because it makes applying concealer this way fast and easy, especially when used with the flat side of the Blend Squad blending sponges. Tap the concealer onto your under-eye area first, then down the side of the nose where redness occurs. Use the remainder of the concealer to fill in the triangle. This technique doesn’t just cover up dark circles, it also brightens the under eye area and helps sculpt the face. INSTANT EYE LIFT Apply concealer to the inner part of your eyes and under your brow bone for an instant lifted effect. If your eyelids are veiny or dark, cover them with concealer and apply a light brown shade to the crease for a “no makeup makeup”look. HIGHLIGHT YOUR BEST FEATURES Follow the upside-down triangle trick to hide bags. Then, add concealer down the bridge of the nose, in the middle of the forehead, above your cupid’s bow and on the chin. Blend with a Blend Squad sponge. This technique helps to highlight your best features and fake definition. Hello chiseled cheekbones! ADD DEFINITION Use your concealer with an angled brush to outline your brows and lips “ this will make these features look more defined and will stop your lipstick from bleeding. Disappearing Act has a creamy consistency much like a lipliner and will blend seamlessly into your foundation. Bolder browns and bigger pouts “ who doesn’t love that? SET IT AND FORGET IT Grab some setting powder and sweep it over all the places you applied concealer with PÜR’s Powder Foundation Brush. This ensures that the concealer lasts all day and doesn’t crease or crumble. Most importantly, it’s like fairy dust, magically blurring imperfections and giving the skin an airbrushed finish.

  We are constantly striving for innovation. Each year, our development team gets together with our brand leaders to brainstorm new ways we can give you the trends you want while making your skin better. Any makeup brand can make you look pretty, but it is part of our DNA to make sure that we are taking care of your skin. This year, we focused on creating better makeup that fits your healthy, active lifestyle. We started with Agave. We chose agave nectar over honey because it is vegan, but works similarly to restore moisture to the skin. Agave, is a succulent plant that is best known for its role in tequila and as a popular sweetener.  In skincare, the plant works as a humectant drawing water into the skin cells. Its binding properties help the skin remain hydrated for longer. The effect is a plumper more youthful appearance. We loved the effects so much we created the Blue Agave Mask and added agave to our new foundation Bare It All, our new eye shadow primer Get A Grip, our skin primer No Filter, and all of our lip products. Our other new addition to our complexion formulas is our Energy Complex. Think of the Energy Complex as a multivitamin for the skin. It is a combination of ginseng, vitamin B and green tea which acts as a complement to our Ceretin Complex a combination of retinol and moisturizing ceramides that helps renew the skin’s appearance. Together, the ingredients help energize the skin’s metabolism. Here is how it works: the retinol in our Ceretin Complex is helping to exfoliate the dull, dead, rough skin cells, while the ceramides are nourishing the skin underneath so they remain plump and healthy. The Energy Complex helps stimulate the process of skin repair by helping to neutralize free radicals that cause signs of aging and cheerleading the skin renewal process that helps the skin look brighter, firmer, and healthier. Our Energy Complex can be found in our Blue Agave Mask, Bare It All Foundation, and No Filter Primer. Have you tried any of our new products? Share your comments below or on social @purcosmetics.

Making sure both wings are even and your concealer is set takes dedication. Nothing is more frustrating than looking in the mirror after what you thought was a “perfect makeup day” to find you have cakey foundation hours later. To look amazing all day, read through our tips below. Primers are key. Primer creates the perfect canvas for your foundation to adhere to throughout the day. From pore-minimizing to illuminizing, there’s a primer that was made with your skin type in mind. For oily or combination skin, use a mattifying primer like Make It Matte which helps to absorb oil and minimize pores for a smooth, flawless finish. If you have dry skin, Hydrate & Balance Correcting Primer will give you deep hydration with a mattified finish. To achieve that insta-ready luminous glow, No Filter Blurring Photography Primer is a multitasking product that you can use to prime, mix in with foundation or blend onto the high points of your face. Choose a longwear foundation. Longwear formulas are essential to your makeup lasting all day, meaning high-performance foundations that adhere to your skin ” and stay there. Silicone-based formulas like Kat Von D’s Lock It Tattoo Foundation promises 24-hour wear while Bare It All promises 12-hours of wear. “This foundation really surprised me,” said Kaitie at From MyVanity.com in a review of Bare It All. “From the name I was expecting a sheer, natural-looking finish  but this foundation is very thick in consistency and gives you full coverage.” If you’re looking for a flat matte finish with very full coverage, you might like the Kat Von D formula. If you like a more semi-matte, skin-like finish with buildable coverage to your foundation, you should try Bare It All. “I like the foundation,” YouTuber Dania Lanese said “It gives you a semi-matte finish.” The key to application is to apply these formulas with a damp blending sponge. Like the Beauty Blender, Contour Blending Sponge was made to apply foundation flawlessly. Tap the foundation onto your skin and use the blending sponge to “press and roll” the product onto the face vs. swiping. Opt for the right concealer. Little known concealer trick? Your concealer should match the consistency of your foundation (i.e. liquid, cream) to minimize creasing and separating. Longwear foundations often have a thicker texture so a creamy concealer, like Disappearing Act, works best. Similarly, Kevyn Aucoin’s Sensual Skin Enhancer provides tattoo-like coverage for a premium price. Disappearing Act works double time to conceal imperfections while also providing nourishing skincare to repair the areas needing coverage. For warmer weather, Disappearing Ink is your go-to. Being a concealer pen with thinner consistency, its coverage layers seamlessly over tinted moisturizers and sheer foundations. Set it and forget it. Once you’ve finished your entire look, it’s time to set it. Setting powders discourage foundation and concealers from creasing or caking especially when both are longwearing. Translucent powders simply set your cream products without adding any coverage. When you use a powder foundation, like 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Makeup Foundation, to set your look you get the bonus of more coverage and skincare benefits. Use a big, fluffy Powder Foundation Brush to dip into the 4-in-1 powder, swirl and tap off the excess before lightly tapping the brush onto the areas of your face that you want to set. Hit yourself with a few sprays of Miracle Mist to get rid of the look powders can sometimes leave behind and you’re out the door!

Everyone loves a matte lipstick. Nothing beats the retro glam of a high-pigment matte. Bloggers have been hacking this look over the past year. Whether it’s how to turn your lipstick stash matte with a little translucent powder or how to prep your lips for drying formulas with a good exfoliator a la Alyssa Forever in her “9 Lipstick/Concealer HACKS Every Girl Should Know” YouTube tutorial. Matte has been the lipstick craze du jour.”I don’t know what it is, I’m just addicted to matte lips,” Alyssa said. “I think I’m matte squad for life.” Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick by PÜR has been on the lips of the top beauty bloggers and they’ve praised its non-drying mousse-like texture. “There’s nothing better than a soft, sexy matte lip that doesn’t dry out or clump throughout the day!” says Andrea of @andreaschoice. She found that when she tried PÜR’s 10 shades of Velvet Mattes, they were the perfect consistency to mix to create a custom look. “I love to mix Oh Bae with About Last Night for a natural every day look,” she said. However, there was one hack that no one else thought of: matte lipstick as eye shadow.* Amanda Montell of Byrdie took her inspiration from 16-year-old Iris Law the new face of Burberry’s Liquid Lip Velvet. She used PÜR’s au courant Ever After which is a nod to the “Millennial Pink” that has been mentioned in think pieces from Vogue to Slate to New York Mag. “I figured since the texture is also whipped, it might work well””and it did. As I’d learn, a moisturizing, not-totally-matte texture is ideal for this look, so it’s best to use whipped formulas, as opposed to your Kylie Lip Kits and Colourpop tubes,” Amanda wrote. “PÜR’s velvety liquid lipstick truly feels like it was meant to double as an eye shadow.” The three-minute application proved to be a winner. She used the doe foot applicator to apply Ever After on the lid and her pinky finger to dot the product along her lower lash line, she wrote. “Honest to goodness, the first day I wore this, I received more compliments than any other eye makeup product I’ve worn in months. Who knew?” Check out other looks Amanda created with Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick here. Disclaimer: Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick was not tested for usage around the eyes, thus sensitivity and irritation may occur.

PÜR is one of the pioneers of beauty meets digital influence. Over the past year, PÜR has been working closely with top-tier beauty influencers to reshape the industry landscape using social media to engage PÜR Beauties across the globe. Last week, we invited some of these key influencers on a trip to paradise with us to celebrate our newest and biggest-yet product launches of 2017. We travelled all the way to warm and sunny Anguilla to put our new performance products to the test. Our PÜR Beauties Sona (@simplysona), Kristen (@kristenxleanne), Laura (@larlarlee), Angel (@mac_daddyy),  Jackie (@jackieaina), Nicol (@nicolconcilio), Karen (@iluvsarahii), Ellarie (@ellarie), Denise (@makeupbydenise), Sonjdra (@sonjdradeluxe), Hailie (@hailiebarber), Andrea (@andrearussett), Melissa (@alatorreee), Christen (@christendominique), Maryam (@maryamnyc) and Jade (@jadeywadey180) were among the exclusive party guests to celebrate our launches. Our itinerary was complete with fun day-time activities including speed boating around the island of St. Marteen and enjoying stunning views from convertible Mini Coopers on the island of St. Barths. We also threw several evening parties like the Masquerade Ball, an all white Beach Affair and a Slay Soiree in Anguilla where we launched some of our most coveted new products Chrome Glaze Lip Glosses, Velvet Matte Liquid Lipsticks, self-sharpening On Point Lip Liners, PRO Eyelashes, Bare It All 12-Hour 4-in-1 Skin-Perfecting Foundation, No Filter Primer, and our Skin-Perfecting Brushes. Our beauty gurus were extremely excited about the new launches. Nicol Concilio said “The Trolls Eye Shadow Palette was amazing! Totally loved how it was different than anything you guys have done in the past.” And others couldn’t wait to try the new lip collection and complexion products. Our PÜR Beauties tested the Bare It All foundation and found it had wonderful wear all day in and out of the sun. If you’d like to see more of the trip, check out our pics from #paradisewithpur

Needs change. As the skin ages, it requires different nutrients to keep it healthy and looking vibrant. The key to looking fabulous at any age is prevention, protection and the right products. It is best to consult an aesthetician or dermatologist to get an analysis of the skin and to address any skin concerns. Here are some basics to consider when picking skincare. 20s Focus on cleansing. This is the perfect time for those who haven’t invested in a proper skin care regimen to do so. Skin is more likely to be oily and blemish-prone due to lingering adolescent acne and lack of proper care. Also, females may experience heightened skin issues due to hormonal birth control. Identify whether skin is sensitive, oily, dry, or combination? A cleanser, toner, moisturizer, and sun protection based on skin type is a good start. A skin-loving makeup remover is also a good investment. Those cheap towelettes are laced with ingredients that can irritate sensitive skin and can be overdrying. Remember, removing makeup is not the same as washing the face. Cleansing and toning after makeup removal , especially if using long-wear products , is essential and so is sun protection. It needs to be worn everyday , no exceptions. Try COSMEDIX’s Purity Solution, PÜR’s Joystick, PÜR’s Air Perfection SPF 50 30s Focus on the eyes. It may be starting to show how much a certain someone enjoyed their 20s or how much sleep they haven’t gotten since they’ve had children. Fine lines and dark circles may be more noticeable. Pores may appear larger and skin may appear less smooth due to its natural exfoliation rate decreasing by half. This is the time to add an eye cream with a humectant like squalane or a plumping peptide. To keep the skin bright and smooth, add an exfoliator to the regimen. It can be a manual exfoliator like a mask or scrub or a chemical exfoliator like a retinol, enzymes, or hydroxy acids. Sun protection is crucial when using an exfoliator. It can make skin more sensitive to the sun so an SPF needs to be worn daily. Try PÜR’s Tone Up, Dirty Girl and Ceretin Serum 40s Focus on elasticity. The neck and chest may start to look crepey. Fine lines, wrinkles, droopiness around the eyes and sagging skin may start to appear. These are all signs of loss of elasticity. Adding a serum, eye cream, or a moisturizer with peptides can help stimulate collagen production to improve the look of the skin. Try PÜR’s Tone Up, Aloette’s Be Smooth and PÜR’s Get A Lift Over 50 Focus on moisture. Anti-aging moisturizers aren’t going to magically take 20 years off the face or make up for decades of improper care, but it will give the skin what it needs to look its best. Lines and wrinkles in skin over fifty can deepen as skin starts to thin and sag. Hyperpigmentation and blotchiness can also increase. Nourishing the skin with moisture and continue a nighttime regimen of retinol, alpha hydroxy acids, amino acids, and other firming and retexturizing ingredients to keep skin from becoming rough, flaky and dull. Try PÜR’s M.M.C., Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum, Tata Harper Concentrated Brightening Serum

Life would be so much easier if we had enough time in the day to get everything done without breaking a sweat. Our lives are not so easy and though the internet has us believing that we have just as many hours in our day as Beyonce, many of us are still running a few minutes behind and often on empty sans entourage. Though the idea of “waking up flawless” is a self-loving mantra we can get behind, we slather on our retinol, masks and night creams as insurance. We are busy. Our calendars are filled with obligations from work or school with slivers of time for errands and appointments. We need the work that we put into our beauty routine to pay off at the end of the day instead of giving up and rubbing off. Is there a such thing as beauty that keeps up with the demands of a #girlboss on the go? We don’t have time for our makeup to fail us. We don’t have time to fix it if it does. That’s more work for us and less time to tend to the things that matter in our lives. How do we put our best face forward when our contour is taking a break? We have to ask, does your makeup live up to your lifestyle or is it time to fire your foundation? Your makeup must smarten up. It should be working as hard as you do. It’s true, we know what we want out of our lives  even our relationships more than we know what we want out of our makeup. It’s part of knowing who we are as a person. We’ve become complacent, afraid to try new things, shuffling through that drawer of lipsticks to get to an old faithful even if you don’t love it like you used to. We should shop for makeup like we’re looking for our next employee: does it have longevity in the industry? Do we have the same values? Can it multitask? Does it mix well with others? Is it willing to work late nights and evenings if necessary? We should spend more time reading the labels and checking references online. Sometimes, being a boss means making hard decisions. And, sometimes it means letting go of makeup that doesn’t work for you. It’s time to say goodbye to bad makeup. Your skin will thank you.

Acne is the worst. Cystic or not “ it’s like an annoying younger sibling that shows up and steals your spotlight when you are having a good day. Pus-filled pimples, blackheads and red, irritated bumps are all signs of acne and pop up for lack of a better term “  when pores are clogged with oil, bacteria and dead skin cells. Though some acne is hereditary, acne breakouts can be triggered by hormonal changes including those caused by birth control, other medications, or too much sugar and carbohydrates. (Read: Too much pizza.) More annoyingly, these rude interruptions may leave behind permanent scarring reminding you of acne past even when your breakouts cease. Severe acne may require a prescription from a dermatologist, but taking preventative steps to curb what we can control is key. “Getting on a good skin-care regimen, avoiding picking, popping, or traumatizing the skin, and protecting it with SPF so it does not darken are important ways to avoid acne scarring,” said dermatologist Annie Chiu in a recent cosmopolitan.com article. Sure, bursting those suckers gives you instant satisfaction, but it could cause more harm than good. (Actually, don’t burst them at all AND stop touching your face.) First, to prevent breakouts all together, make sure you are removing your makeup at night and using a clarifying and deep pore cleanser that targets oil without drying it out such as In the Clear morning and night. It’s Lactic Acid gently exfoliates the skin while its Tea Tree Oil has antibacterial properties that help curb breakouts. “Not all oils are bad for oily skin,” said Rachel Sullivan, Director of Product Development at PÜR. Oily skin is caused by the skin’s own attempt to moisturize itself with sebum. Adding an exfoliating mask like Dirty Girl to your weekly regimen also helps decrease the likelihood of your pores getting clogged with dead skin cells. “It’s detoxfying clay, sulfur and acne-fighting Salicylic Acid help exfoliate the skin and kill bacteria,”Sullivan told Forbes. Masks can also be used more frequently as a spot treatment. Sun protection is also essential for already sensitive skin. It helps curb the hyperpigmentation sometimes left behind from a breakout. Rescue Squad adds moisture, SPF 25, smoothing and firming peptides to curb signs of aging, and fights the visible signs of stressed skin. (Moisturizing is essential because dehydrated skin can quickly start to show lines and wrinkles.) Rescue Squad is literally like your grime-fighting, daily skin savior. Don’t let your acne take center stage. Start a skin care regimen that prevents breakouts not just corrects blemishes.

We have this debate with ourselves every morning: do I work out in the morning or the evening? The alarm goes off and you have to decide whether you’re going to the 6:30 a.m. booty boot camp or am I going to spin at 7. If the morning routine wins, we shuffle to the bathroom to wash our faces and freshen our breath before gearing up to get going. As we rush past the mirror one more time we make the decision whether or not to wear makeup. I polled the PÜR office about going to the gym au naturale. I was met with nervous admissions no one goes to the gym barefaced. It’s not like we’re going to the gym with intentional smoky eyes and fully contoured cheekbones. None of us go to the gym looking like Khloe Kardashian in Shape. We did admit to adding “little” powder foundation or some mascara “to look more awake.” I took another poll for those of us that workout after work. I asked: do you remove your makeup before breaking a sweat? Everyone said no. Sure, one could take the extra step to remove our makeup before our run, pilates or CrossFit, but if your makeup doesn’t work against your skin, why take it off? Well, it depends on what’s in your makeup. PÜR’s foundations are full of good-for-your skin ingredients that improve the skin with each use. Think of it as your skin getting fit along with your body. For instance, PÜR’s Ceretin Complex has retinol which helps firm and clarify the skin. So, with each use “ even during your workouts “ your makeup is working to smooth and tighten your skin. The longer you keep it on. The better your results. There is no such thing as a wrong decision when it comes to your gym appearance. If a little mascara makes you want to stay in the gym a little longer “ apply two coats. If a little concealer is needed to cover up those early morning bags “ go for it. Your skin will tell you if you’re making the right decision. Now, imagine a workout that just requires you to slather it on your body for 60 days to see results. If only staying fit was that easy.

Are you tired? No. Are you tired of people asking you that? Yes? We’ve all looked ourselves in the mirror and realized that our eyes don’t look their best. Whether you’ve had a long flight, not enough sleep or just a rough start, sometimes we have to fake “awake” and it doesn’t involve a cappuccino. We asked makeup artist Johny Saade, who has used this trick on Chrissy Teigen and Rosario Dawson, how to get brighter eyes. “It’s a combination of makeup and a good eye cream,” Johny said. “The skin around the eyes is the thinnest so you have to make sure the under eye area is hydrated. A good eye treatment can help with the depuffing. Eye drops help reduce redness and the blue drops that you can only get in Europe or overseas make the whites of your eyes whiter.” We dabbed our HydraGel Lift around our eyes immediately, it’s practically coffee for your eyes; it has caffeine and encapsulated water , and listened intently. Johny instructed us to use a flesh-toned eye pencil on your water line. We used Hello Bright Eyes on our dual-ended Wake Up Brow Pencil. He told us to apply a light shimmery eye shadow to the lid and a little highlighter under the eyes to reflect light. We patted Eye Polish in Cashmere on our lids and brushed a little Twilight from the Moonlight Glow Strobe/Highlight Palette along the bottom lash line. He also recommended that we curled our lashes. Then, voila  magic. We’re having a brighter day already. No nap needed.

We’ve spent the last few months faking that sun-kissed look with bronzers and self-tanners. Though, we are not ready to ditch a little help, we are ready to let our skin bathe in the warmth of the sun. However, we don’t go bare without protection.  SPF, or sun protection factor, is a standard measurement of a sunscreen’s ability to protect the skin against sun rays. We should be slathering on a sunscreen with an SPF on a daily as part of our skincare routine “ even in the winter. Many foundations, tinted moisturizers and CC Creams include it in their formulas so you can skip this step. However, the fairest of us all may need a little extra protection. An SPF of 30 is recommended for fair skin while the rest of us can start with SPF 15. Having a dark to deeper skin tone does not exempt you from needing sunscreen. Melanin does not protect your skin from sun damage. Here is a little SPF math: You can’t add different SPFs like simple arithmetic. It’s more like the economics law of diminishing returns. For instance, applying SPF 10 on top of SPF 20 is not the same as applying SPF 30. Also, SPF 30 does not have twice the amount of protection as SPF 15. The increase in coverage between SPFs are only single digit percentages. To make it simple, the number refers to the estimated amount of time you can stay in the sun without getting sunburned. So, if you’re going to be sunbathing for hours reapply often and definitely after you’ve been sweating or in the water. These are the dangers of going out unprotected: The likelihood that you’ll get lingering hyperpigmentation like sunspots well after your tan is gone increase dramatically. The collagen in your skin that keeps it supple and smooth may deteriorate which may lead to lines and wrinkles. You may lose your baby soft skin because the sun depletes moisture which leads to crepe-like skin. Permanent damage to skin cell structure can lead to other more damaging and permanent skin conditions. Opting for a skin safety plan can make your fun in the sun a little less dangerous to your skin. Also, remember that any retinols or deep exfoliating treatments can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. So make sure you’re keeping your skin protected to preserve your results. The easiest way to be skin safe is to add sun protection to your regimen if it’s not already a part of your makeup routine. Get your sun on “ safely.

Is your skin wreaking havoc? Our breakouts and dryness may be due to what we are putting in our bodies as much as what are putting on our skin. The nutrients and antioxidants that we digest effect our internal organs to make sure that they are properly fueled and working their best, but do you ever think that about how that extra cheese pizza may be affecting the largest organ you have “ your skin? It may be time to go on a skin diet. Your skin is thirsty, so it’s imperative to stay hydrated. 85 percent of the brain, is comprised of water. Maintain your skin’s radiant glow and improve its texture by drinking plenty of water. Believe it or not, water is one of the best method for keeping your skin healthy and supple. The lack of moisture in the skin or dehydration causes skin cells to shrivel which leads to the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Healthy skin starts with a healthy diet of protein, vegetables and fruits. Try foods high in skin-strengthening Omega-3 fatty acids such as sardines, chia seeds, flaxseed, avocado and walnuts. Vitamin C helps stimulate collagen production so try adding bell peppers, strawberries, kale, broccoli and, of course, citrus fruits, to your diet. Antioxidants are great for your skin whether applied topically or eaten. Try vitamins A and E charged almond butter, wheat germ, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots and melons such as cantaloupe. Some of our favorite ways to incorporate these foods into our diets are through juicing, smoothies and constant inspiration from or PÜR Beauties. Madelynn @madewin’s vegan ramen or avocado toast anyone? All those Pinterest worthy DIY masks have their merits. Plants often referred to as botanicals and a lot of the foods you find tasty have ingredients that we use topically to improve skin. For instance, Malic Acid is the sour taste that in green apples. However, it also smoothes and brightens the complexion. Meanwhile, Basil, Turmeric and Eggplant are used in Tone Up Total Eye Fitness to reduce the look of fatigue, puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. It’s not as easy as blending a few ingredients and slathering them on your face “ because the concentration of these vitamins, antioxidants and acids is what makes the difference“ but you get the idea. Being mindful of what you eat can improve your skin from the inside out.

Every star you’ve ever loved has a look. Whether it’s Kim Kardashian’s contour and curves or Zooey Deschanel’s quirky-cool bangs, they all have an undeniably, unmistakable style. Personal style is personal, but it takes some work (and help) to figure out how to create a signature. According to celebrity makeup artist Amy Strozzi, it starts with knowing what you want and knowing what you don’t want (Insert diva moment here). “It’s always interesting working with talent that is just getting started in the industry, especially young musicians! Most of them have a very strong idea of what they want to look like, but it takes a few tries and a lot of opinions to decide on a look that suits the artist but is also marketable,” said Strozzi who created singer Banks’ sentimental look. “When I met Banks she hadn’t released anything yet, we had a clean slate. We knew these images would be impactful, so they had to encompass her sultriness but also leave you with a sense of mystery… who is this girl?” It worked. Her album Goddess has been in heavy rotation since its release in 2014. The gritty nature of the So-Cal girl mixes intensely with her extreme vulnerability. It appeals to our emo side. Back to Banks. “At the time, she had strong feelings about colors used on her, cool browns rather than warm browns, and I don’t think she wanted black at all. She has fantastic brows and I was adamant about keeping them that way.” Strozzi said that the process is totally collaborative and that there is still room to have some fun. So when picking your trademark look, know that you are not a slave to it. Your look should be interesting, but it should also be something that represents you and makes you comfortable in your skin instead of say an alter ego. “I always want my clients to feel like themselves,” Strozzi said. “When they are comfortable enough to push some boundaries, I am there waiting with my red lipstick or blue cobalt eyeliner.” We asked celebrity makeup artist Kristee Liu what happens when you work with an artist with a look with an undeniable signature like the incomparable Cher. “What didn’t I learn from working with Cher!” Liu said. “She is such an inspiration and fun to work with.  In case you didn’t know, Cher has always done her own makeup and is a makeup expert! think the most valuable lessons I learned from her is probably how to deal with life itself.  Never apologize for being who you are, be kind to others and if you truly want something, you will figure out a way to get it.” Well, those are lessons to brighten all of our star power or at least enhance our music festival look.

It’s easy to always opt for the classics “ the white t-shirt, the black jeans and the little black dress. Some of us are the same way with our makeup. We opt for a classic matte shadow, black eyeliner or the unfussy no-makeup makeup look. We asked the master of classic beauty makeup artistry Anthony Merante how to perfect the “I woke up like this” look while staying on trend. After all, he is responsible for making Taraji P. Henson, Lady Gaga and Pia Mia look amazing. It takes a good amount of makeup to pull off no-makeup makeup. How can we master this?Most of the time I use a concealer under the eyes, around the nose and center of the forehead. I blend that down using a beauty blender and then I apply PÜR’s 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation with a powder brush all over the face for a sheer finish. I woke up like this necessities: Disappearing Ink Concealer and 4-in-1 Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation with Skincare Ingredients For those of us that need a little more coverage, what are your tips for the perfect foundation application?Properly prepping the skin for makeup is essential in making your makeup last. Start with a great moisturizer and let that soak in for a few minutes. Blot off any excess moisturizer and then apply your liquid or cream foundation using the tool of your choice. Be sure to set the foundation with a colorless translucent powder. I like to set my foundation using a velour powder puff in a stippling motion as to not disturb the foundation. Coverage essentials: 4-in-1 Mineral Liquid Foundation and Balancing Act Oil Control Powder Ok, let’s step it up. We are always inspired by the beauty trends of New York Fashion Week. What’s a new trend we should try?My favorite look at New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2016 was the look at Diane Von Furstenberg show. The models had a really fresh colorful eye in shades of bright blue on the top lash line and bright green on the lower lash line. I loved the combination of the two colors. I love playing with color and can’t wait to try this look out. Bold and brave essentials: Double Ego and Eye Polish