Blog

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