Tag: cosmetics

I’m a “Spring”….NOT!



Ever since I was a kid, I remember hearing women talk about their coloring in terms of seasons. If you were a “Summer” you looked best in earth tones, if you were a “Winter” you looked best in blues and purples. This concept has always irritated me to no end.

Color analysis is the process of determining the colors that best suit an individual’s natural coloring. There are a wide variety of approaches to analyzing personal coloring. The most well-known is “seasonal” color analysis, which places individual coloring into four general categories: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. Many different versions of seasonal analysis, first practiced by Suzanne Caygill in the 1950s, have since been developed and promoted by image and color consultants worldwide.

I’m sure Ms. Caygill had the best intentions. However, in typical fashion, the masses took it to the extreme. Once they were told their season (or determined it themselves), that was the be all, end all. From that moment forth, many women felt they could no longer wear green because it simply wasn’t part of their season. How ludicrous! How could one possibly take ALL the skin tones, ethnicities, races, colors, etc. of 7 billion people and divide them into only FOUR color groups?! Yet women bought into it. Later, perhaps when some women realized they just didn’t fit into one of the four seasons, Caygill identified a wide range of sub-groups within each season, and gave them descriptive names such as “Early Spring”, “Metallic Autumn”, or “Dynamic Winter”, each with its own set of special characteristics. Once again, more labeling.

I hate doing trade shows (there, I said it) but one thing I do enjoy is talking to customers and breaking stereotypes. I can’t tell you how many women won’t try different colors because they were told they can’t wear certain shades. Don’t get me wrong, we all have shades we just shouldn’t wear (me and orange is just downright scary). But that wouldn’t stop me from picking up a coral sweater and trying it on. Maybe the shade of coral would look good on my skin tone. Or not. I wouldn’t know unless I tried.

My point is, don’t let anyone pigeon hole you into any specific color group, season, temperature, time of day or however else they’re trying to classify it. I often get emails from customers telling me how much they love our samples, because it allows them to try new shades without committing to full sized product. Don’t try only mauve samples of lipstick because you’ve only ever used mauve. Try a new shade! I’ll never forget when we were testing our new lipstick shade Superstitious, our darkest color to date. I’m pale and blonde. I was told I could never even dream of wearing such a bold color. So I tried it anyway. And I LOVE it. I wear it lightly, and the tone is perfect and very natural on me. Had I listened to everyone else, I never would have gotten to try a color that works so well on me. Be bold. Be brave. The results could be stunning.

Fashion Forecast for Spring 2013



I’ll admit fashion trends can frustrate me. One designer is all about big, bright lips and then another makes them non-existent. So I pay attention to the trends, but part of me takes it with a grain of salt. Let’s talk about what we’re seeing on the runway, and you can pick and choose what works best for you.

Lips: Once again, lips are big, bold and brave in vibrant shades of red. Think Honeybee colors like Desire, Risqué and even Romance. A few designers were showcasing bring pink lips like Valentine and Soft Kiss (which I like better for spring). If you’re going to try this trend, pare down the rest of your make up.

Eyes: The name of the game is full on eye liner. We are still seeing winged liner, but also bold lines on both top and bottom of lashes. Our soft JobaColors Eye Liner is up for the task. There was some weird neoprene color blocked liner, along with a stripe of liner on the brow bone, but those are a bit too trendy for my taste.

Faux lashes are hot again. They went away briefly, and now they’re back. I tried the stick on type once, and let’s just say it didn’t go so well (read about it in previous blog). You can also go for the semi-permanent lashes if you dare. Or just sweep on two coats of Truly Natural Mascara in Black Magic.

Other consistent trends include bright blues and greens on eyes, as well as metallic shades. Think Castaway, Celtic PowderColors with Envy and Blue Jeans liner. The Party Girl palette has the bold shades to make this look work. Or go bronze with Satin Sheets, Sedona and use Passage to India as liner, or try a silver look with cool Cloud Nine PowderColors and Smoking Gun liner (my personal fav for spring). As with lips, if you’re going bold on eyes, keep the rest of your make up to a minimum (nude lips, i.e. Karma, and simple hair).

Full 80s brows are still around and don’t seem to be going away (though one designer bleached them out on his models). So stop plucking and keep your Brooke Shields look, as long as you keep them well groomed.

Skin: Glowing perfect skin is the name of the game for spring (of course). I doubt dry, sagging skin will EVER be popular (sigh). So I’ll have to fake it as best I can. This means eating better, staying hydrated on the inside and moisturizing on the out. To cover up the imperfection, it’s Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation to the rescue! Cheeks saw a bit more face time on the runway too, with pale hues highlighting high cheek bones. Try Kitten, Enchanted or Heavenly shades in our Healthy Glow Mineral Blush collection.

Fashion Colors: Thank goodness the folks at Pantone gave us NICE colors to work with this season. Check out Poppy Red, Emerald, Monaco Blue, Nectarine, Lemon Zest, Linen and African Violet.

And how about those clothing trends? We saw everything from Japanese inspired dresses, to short suits (business jackets paired with shorts) to Bermuda shorts on the catwalk. There were 80s inspired color block and black and white trends as well as some 60s shapes too. Instead of the delicate florals, there were bold stripes, leather (faux please) and sporty sleeveless dresses (skate skirts and A lines). Accessories included statement sunglasses (after I finally purchased a pair of aviators!)

Hair styles favored dirty grunge looks (not for me) or feminine creative braids, pony tails and fish tails. There were even some rainbow striped tresses.

There you have it. Pick one or two that you like and make them work for YOU. It’s always fun to try something different. With our wide selection of sample sizes available, trying new colors is easy and affordable. Go for it!

Brush Your Way To Better Skin


A few months ago, I became interested in “dry brushing”. Now that I’m in my 40s (*gads!*) it takes more effort to make my skin look its best. This means eating clean, drinking lots of water, NOT tanning, moisturizing regularly, etc. Dry brushing is purported to promote healthier skin by removing dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, allowing it to breathe and absorb more nutrients. It also stimulates and increases skin cell production, stimulates the lymphatic and circulatory systems, and boosts your immune system. The gentle pressure and brushing sensations are said to have a calming effect; increasing your blood flow reduces stressed areas of the body and stimulates nerve endings in your skin which in turn rejuvenates your nervous system. Last but not least, dry brushing supposedly reduces cellulite by increasing blood circulation to the skin, helping to break down and release toxins that cause cellulite in legs and hips.

This I had to try.

I went on line (amazon.com) and purchased a Yerba Prima Tampico Skin Brush. If you’re going to try dry brushing, you want a natural bristle brush or loofah. Look for bristles that are made from plant fibers. Synthetic bristles can be too harsh and cause irritation. The brush I chose has a removable handle so you can use it in the palm of your hand, or use it with the handle for harder to reach areas like your back.

So how do you do it? It’s best to dry brush when you first wake up in the morning, before you jump in the shower. Here is the recommended dry brushing process:

1. Start with your feet, moving in soft circular movements (always moving towards the heart) first on the bottom of the feet, and then on the top.
2. Work up each leg, one at a time, first the back of the leg (using the same soft circular, always towards the heart, movements) up through the buttock and then the front of the leg. Avoid any delicate skin, like the skin on the insides of the thighs.
3. After you are finished with the lower half, start at the fingertips of one arm; move up the arm (palms of hands, back of hands, forearm, bicep) and towards the heart. Repeat on other arm.
4. Move to the back working your movements towards your stomach, starting and finishing with one side of the back and then the other.
5. When you get to your stomach, start at your lower abdomen and work your way up (make sure to steer clear of delicate areas like the nipples) and end at your chest in an upward stroke.
6. Rinse off and shower as normal.

Skin brushing Tips:
1. Avoid the face! While dry brushing is excellent for exfoliating skin, this body brush will be too rough for the delicate skin on your face.
2. It’s sometimes best to dry brush in the shower (with the water off) since there may be a lot of dead skin brushed off.

How often should you dry brush? For best results dry brush at least two times a week.

I started looking into some of the grand claims of dry brushing. It DOES get rid of dead skin cells, increase circulation (as a brisk walk would) and help the lymphatic system work better, and decrease bloating (as a massage would). However, the grander claims are more suspect. Even if done religiously over time, will dry brushing reduce the appearance of cellulite? Experts like Dr. Carolyn Jacob, a dermatologist in Chicago, feel probably not. Why? Cellulite is a complex problem that involves thin skin and the kind of fibrous bands holding in women’s fat. Dry brushing “won’t change fibrous bands at all,” Dr. Jacob said — a dagger to the hearts of women with cottage-cheese thighs. Twisting the dagger, Dr. Jacob cautioned that avid dry brushers put their skin at risk for inflammation, redness and an eczema-like itchy rash.

So is dry brushing for you? As long as you don’t have any severe skin irritation (acne, rash, eczema, open sore/cut, etc.), I say yes. It is an invigorating way to start the day, and it really does make your skin feel smooth and healthy.

Last Minute Gift Idea



Need a last minute gift idea AND a way to keep the kids busy AND not have it involve baking anything? Well I have the solution for you: Bath Fizzies.

These effervescent little fellas are easy to make, fun and remind the person to whom you are giving them, “Relax. Take some time out for yourself.”

Rather than writing the whole thing out myself, I decided to reference a link which I thought was pretty good. Let Martha Stewart tell you how it’s done!

http://www.marthastewart.com/280275/how-to-make-bath-fizzies

My New Big Thing



I’ve been reading a lot about coconut oil recently, and how it’s good for everything from healing acne to losing weight. Naturally, I had to try it.

Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the kernel or meat of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera). It is very heat-stable, which makes it suited to methods of cooking at high temperatures like frying. Because of its stability, it is slow to oxidize and, thus, resistant to rancidity, lasting up to two years due to its high saturated fat content. Multiple studies on Pacific Island populations who get 30-60 percent of their total caloric intake from fully saturated coconut oil have all shown nearly non-existent rates of cardiovascular disease.

But how can that be if coconut oil is so high in saturated fat? The fact is all saturated fats are not created equal. The fat in coconut oil is largely made up of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFA). Unlike other saturated fats, MCFA doesn’t heighten cholesterol and it can help to protect against heart disease.

You may have heard that coconut oil has antibacterial, antimicrobial, and antiviral properties. This is because of coconut oil’s high percentage of lauric acid, a “miracle” compound because of its unique health promoting properties. On absorption, the body converts lauric acid into monolaurin, which has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties.

If that wasn’t enough to spark interest, Victoria’s Secret supermodel Miranda Kerr says she has been using coconut oil since she was 14, consuming up to 4 teaspoons a day. Have you SEEN what this woman looks like?!

I went to the health food store and bought organic extra virgin coconut oil. If I was going to do this, why not work with the good stuff? It was about $15 for a decent sized jar. I didn’t know if that was reasonable or not, because I didn’t know how much product I was going to have to use for my experiments.

Experiment #1: Sugar scrub. One of our Facebook friends mentioned she used coconut oil to make a sugar scrub, which sounded yummy. Now this time of year, I have alligator legs. My skin is SO dry. I can moisturize over and over, but within hours, my skin looks reptilian. I’ve used salt scrubs that had some nice oils in them and kept my skin smooth for a bit longer, but never more than 12 hours. Anyway, I decided to melt 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave. Since coconut oil melts at about 76 degrees F, this took only a few seconds. I had some regular cane sugar that had been sitting in my pantry forever, so I decided to add 2 tablespoons of it to my now clear liquid. I mixed it up, but felt like I needed more sugar. I wound up adding about 2 additional tablespoons of organic brown sugar, and stirred thoroughly. Coconut oil remains liquid for a pretty long time (a few hours maybe?) so it’s not like you have to work fast. I poured the sweet smelling concoction into a plastic container and took it upstairs to use in the shower the next day.

Morning came, and after feeding my hoard of cats (because Lord knows you can’t do ANYTHING upon waking before you feed them), I stepped into my shower. After washing with my natural bar soap, I tried the now hardened sugar scrub. I scraped out about a teaspoon full and massaged it into my legs. The sugar melts quickly and rinses away. I did the same with my arms. As I was drying off, I noticed how smooth my skin felt. Not oily, not sticky, but protected. Needless to say, I expected to see dry flaky legs when I got home from work that night. But to my surprise, my skin still looked great. Not as perfect as they did after I had just stepped out of the shower, but WAY better than they normally do. Now it’s been several days of this cookie-scented sugar routine, and I see a big difference in my skin. I don’t have to moisturize at all. And the texture of my skin is softer and smoother than it’s been in a long time. I’m going to keep doing this AT LEAST through the winter months.

Experiment #2: Face wash. When I was a teen, I had acne. Not just a few pimples, but nasty patches of cystic acne. The dermatologist put me through years of chemical treatments including (progressively) antibiotics, Cleocin, Retin A and finally Accutane (which was new drug at the time, and I remember having to sign release forms). God knows what damage it did to my body, but I was a kid and didn’t know better. But since then, I have always kept anything containing oil far away from my face. Contrastingly, for years I would dry out my skin with alcohol and harsh soaps, trying to make the acne ‘go away’. So the concept of using a greasy substance to wash my skin was a tough pill to swallow. I always wash my face with natural bar soap and water before going to bed every night. Reluctantly one evening, I used a dollop of coconut oil instead of my soap. It felt like I was smearing Crisco on my face. The only redeeming quality about the experience is that the stuff just smells so darned good. Anyway, I rubbed the oil into my skin, and rinsed with warm water…for about 10 minutes! I felt like I had to get that oiliness off my skin. And water wasn’t going to take that away. I dried off, and went to bed, fearing a breakout to rival all breakouts the next morning. Well, I can tell you that after having done this for a few days now, not only have I not gotten one single blemish, but those dry blotchy patches I’ve been battling on my skin are going away too. AND my make-up stays on better throughout the day because my skin is actually moisturized. This is almost too good to be true.

Experiment#3: Body lotion/Massage oil. Having had such luck with its other uses, I decided to use coconut oil as a body lotion. It’s hard when you first scoop it out of the jar, but begins to melt instantly from the warmth of your skin. I allowed some to melt in my hands, and massaged the oil into my legs and feet. I don’t feel it has enough of a long term ‘slip’ to make a great massage oil, unless you’re giving a very short massage. But it rubs into skin nicely, making it an effective body lotion alternative. AND it keeps my skin moisturized longer than anything else I’ve tried thus far.

Last Experiment (for now): Hair conditioner. I’ve read about people massaging gobs of coconut oil into their hair, starting at the scalp and working all the way to the ends. Some even do this and then sleep with a shower cap on. While I’m sure it makes a great deep conditioning treatment, I haven’t had the guts to try that yet. But what I have done is massaged the oil into the ends of my hair (about the last two inches) and kept it on my hair for several hours before shampooing out. My hair is notorious for having fly away ends and looking frizzy. I’ve only done this experiment about three times so far, but I can tell you that each time, my hair does look better on the ends, and behaves better throughout the day.

I guess next will be cooking with coconut oil. If I ever get a chance to cook again (this time of year is so busy). Or maybe I’ll come up with a NEW use for it. How do YOU use coconut oil? Let us know. And if you haven’t tried this miracle product, by all means give it a shot. I’m sure you’ll be delighted by the results.