Makeup Faves

Makeup is a huge contributor to skin conditions and problem skin. As a Master Esthetician, it is my job to find makeup that can cover up any skin imperfections, and also help treat the skin conditions and concerns. It's hard to find an entire line that can be beneficial to your skin, but amazingly enough there are a few choices.

As with any other high quality skincare product, quality makeup is not cheap. However, it will do wonders for your skin.

A few great skincare lines that are organic or professional grade (and better for your skin), and will be beneficial to the health of your skin is TRUE Beauty, Jane Iredale, and YoungBlood.
Here are a few of my favorites.

Powder Foundation:

Foundation Options

I absolutely LOVE this company. TRUE BEAUTY is a completely organic company that is so pure you could actually eat the products! My motto is 'If you can't eat it, why would you put it on your face?'.

This powder allows enough coverage without making you look cakey. One of the features I love most is the coloring options. In the winter,  I wear Medium 2, and in the summer, I just bump it up a shade and it matches my skin perfectly to a Tan 2. This helps to eliminate the line on the chin, and it definitely won't leave you looking like an Oompa Loompa.

The Powder also has Idebenone in it, which is a healing agent that helps the skin recover from chemical peels, or sun damage.

Added bonus? When I use my St Tropez tanning mouse I can wear my Tan 2 and not have any problems.

Bronzer:

Bronzer/Shimmer

This is a two in one bronzer that has bronzing and blush all in the same compact.

Blush:

Purchase here

Because True is a completely organic company, it has been milled 100 times more than other product meaning the pigment is more condensed, using less product and making the product last longer. This is especially beneficial for blush and bronzer.

Brow Kit:

Brow Definer Kits

OK, I have absolutely crazy brows, so I need a good brow kit. The TRUE kit comes with two colors to choose from to match your brows, AND a tinted wax to help keep your hair in place. I have learned to LOVE filling in my brows, making them seem thicker without applying a growth serum, and making them look complete.

Lipstick:

Gone are the days of wearing chapstick and lips the same color as your foundation. Bright lips and subtle eyes are trending, and it isn't always easy to find a good lip color for you. Sometimes, the bright lips aren't just what I'm feelin' so I've posted a few of my favorite neutral colors and a bright one.

Purchase Sunny Seoul by MAC

Purchase Hue by MAC

Purchase Lickable by MAC

Purchase Mac Red by MAC

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Have a topic you want covered? Leave me a comment!

XOXO 

Andrea

Family Photos Outfits

Here it is. Fall. That means, at least for us, its family photo time. Every year we do family photos and send out Christmas cards. In the past we've done it in the snow, or mid-fall but this year we wanted some leaves and a bit of different scenery.

Choosing outfits is by far the most difficult part of family photos. With a growing family, we have to ensure everyone has a different top, but still has the colors we originally had in mind. I know how hard it can be so I decided to write down some tips and tricks on coordinating outfits for photos.

*Pick a color scheme

Long gone are the days of black tops and khaki pants. Whether your getting pictures done in spring or fall, you will want to pick a color scheme that goes well with both your family and your photo location. When we do photos, we usually like to pick 2 dominate colors, and one 'POP' color. The two dominate colors are usually neutrals, but this isn't primarily a rule.

Pick colors that are flattering. No one likes to pay for photos only to see them 2 weeks later and die at the fact that the bright yellow top washed out half of your family. Consider your family's skin type and know that not everyone can pull off that orange tee.

*Find nicer looking clothes

If you're going to take the time to get photos done, take some time to find nice clothes that fit members of the family. AVOID SCREENPRINT. This tends to look lazy and not as thought out as you would like. Try to avoid jeans with rips, holes, and tears.

*Avoid the matchy-matchy type

Having kids all in the same shirt was definitely a fad of the 90's. Dress each member of the family in a top that reflects their own personality, but stays with the color theme of the photos. Remember, not everyone has to be in a solid color. Utilize the prints and patterns that are available now, i.e. plaids, florals, strips, polkadots, baseball tees, etc.

*Don't be afraid to layer

We ALWAYS have a few members of our family layering a basic tee (usually the pop of color) with a neutral button up top. This tends to break up the monotony of the three colors.

*Be flexible

Don't freak out if every green or red doesn't match exactly. That is one of the details that makes family photos fun. Mix it up with different shades of each color.

Here are a few examples of photos we've taken over the years. None of us have the same top on, and somehow, it all looks well put together, and coordinates well with the location.

Hope this helps XOXO