Summer Color Palette - Bright Lips

Summer is here! As the days get brighter, so should your makeup palette.  Take a cue from the recent runways ….go bold.!  Choose a bold lip or bright eye — think shimmer, sheer textures and fun!

The key to a brighter palette for summer is knowing which colors to choose for your skin tone.  A good rule of thumb is the darker your skin tone, the brighter the colors you will be able to pull off.  Darker complexions can wear bright colors with ease without going overboard.   Think jewel tones, and for the adventurous, neons.  If you keep the texture sheer, the whole rainbow is yours to play with. Light to medium skin tones should try deep pastels to get their pop of color.  Keep in mind to only choose one feature to highlight.  Choose either bold lips or a bright eye but never both.

For lips, pick up pink and berry shades.  Save the nudes to balance your smoky eyes at the office holiday party.  CARGO lipstick in CeCe is a great summer berry shade.  Bonus points: the package is eco-friendly.  Skip matte textures and use satin or sheer lipsticks.  Glosses are always my number one pick for summer!  The shine makes lips look fresh and you can always find one with a lot of pigment to rival lipstick.  Check out Clearly Pretty from Tricia Sawyer Beauty. It looks like clear gloss in the tube, but turns your lips the perfect color for your own skin tone. For waterproofing at the beach, choose a lip and cheek stain.  You’ll get long lasting, easy-to-apply color.

For summer fun with eyes, choose either a bright shadow or an adventurous liner.  My favorites for summer are bright cream shadows.   Try a royal purple for darker skin tones and a bright lavender for medium skin tones.  Mascara is a must for all seasons but at the beach try a waterproof formula from your favorite brand.  Add ice cream, sand, and enjoy!

ABOUT TASHA REIKO BROWN:

Tasha is a Los Angeles-based makeup artist whose work can regularly be seen on the red carpet and on your favorite magazine covers. She is a member of the Beautyfix Panel of experts. Check out Tasha’s Portfolio here.

Active veil SPF 18 is an ultra light formula designed to be worn over your foundation or mineral foundation. If you aren’t keen on wearing a base, you can lightly dust this over your face as the last step in your beauty routine. It’s formulated with nourishing and natural minerals and diffuses light with shimmer particles to give you a radiant glow. Not only does it provide SPF 18, but it’s used as a finishing touch to your makeup routine and help set your makeup.

How to apply RAW Natural Beauty’s Active Veil:

Step 1 – Open the container

Step 2 – Lightly shake the jar so a small amount appears at the top, but make sure that it’s enough to cover your face, neck and décolleté. (Your chest)

Step 3 – Using a makeup brush, touch brush into powder and apply to your entire face, neck and décolleté.

Side note – Remember, if you’re sweating or in water during the day, you’ll need to re-apply to be able to get the amount of protection you need from the SPF. Plus it doesn’t hurt to re-apply Active Veil SPF 18 throughout the day anyway to get rid of shine and add a healthy glow to your skin.

What it feels like: I’ve been incorporating RAW Natural Beauty’s Active Veil into my routine for quite a while now and I love it. It sets into my skin perfectly and it’s great for any skin color because it disappears when you apply it. The amount of shimmer in it is perfect. It’s enough to reflect light and add and shimmering glow to your skin for any occasion or time of day. I love that it’s light and it doesn’t overpower the other steps in my makeup routine. Overall it’s become a staple in my beauty regimen and we’re sure that you’ll love it too.

What do you think of Active Veil?

Source: Flickr User Jingdianmeinv

If you haven’t noticed my enthusiasm for summer in my recent blog posts, then you aren’t reading the Beautyfix blog enough. One of the best things of summer is getting that summer glow. The best way to achieve this is with an amazing bronzer and it’s one of the season’s must have beauty products. Here’s how to use the best face bronzer to get an overall sun kissed glow for summer time. Bronzer can also be used to create shadow, slim your face and get that unforgettable glow like Gisele’s.

You can create an amazing healthy, glowing look by using bronzing powder. There are many available that you can pick up but here are a few favorites:

Too Faced The Bronzed and The Beautiful provides 3 amazing bronzers in one kit for an affordable price. Perfect for any season, especially summer and caters to any skin tone. Its’ easy to get the “I just got back from the Caribbean glow with Sun Bunny, Snow Bunny and Bronzer in Pink Leopard, accompanied with its own super soft kabuki bronzing brush. Not only does it come with all three, but it comes in a mirrored compact perfect for on the go. Simple glaze your cheeks, neck, collarbone and lightly dust your face and you’re all set with a gorgeous glow.

Always avoid bronzers that are too orange. This will cause your natural looking glow to look like you’ve spent a little too much time in the tanning salon. For this I suggest using Redpoint’s Rejuvenating Bronzing Silk or Laura Gellar’s Balance N Bronze. These will provide an irresistible glow without any harsh lines that will blend perfect with any skin tone. Laura Gellar’s Balance N Bronze is a multi-hued baked powder enriched with vitamin E that will provide an illuminating glow that will even out your skin tone instead of disturbing your skin. It’s important to use a bronzing powder rather than a liquid on oily or acne prone skin. This way it absorbs oil, creates an even skin tone and is better for the health of your skin.

For mature or dry skin a liquid bronzer is recommended. These formulas tend to be lighter in weight and won’t sink in to any fine lines or wrinkles, making your skin look younger. Stila’s Sun Gel and Cargo’s Multi Mix bronzer are prime examples of what a great liquid bronzer can do. Not only are they great for the face but they are multi-functioning and can be used on other areas of the body as well. When using a liquid bronzer, you’ll need to use a smaller amount for your face. This prevents it from the color being too dark, and you can regulate exactly how glowing you want to be.

Another simple trick that I love to add after applying bronzer, is sweeping my cheeks with a little bit of shimmer. My absolute favorite product for this is Jane Iredale’s 24 Karat Gold Dust Powder. It’s completely amazing and has real 24 karat golf flakes in it! (Hint: You may have received it in a past Beautyfix.)While providing a gorgeous shimmer and color to my skin it’s also perfectly reflected in any light and it’s very affordable.  You can use it as a body duster, bronzer, eye shadow or lip color. If you’re looking for an all around product this is it and it won’t leave you disappointed. Watch this video to learn some tips on using the 24 Karat Gold Dust Powder from Jane Iredale herself here!

Any of these great products will give you a youthful, golden fresh look for any occasion. Instead of shying away from getting the beach bunny look, give it a shot. You’ll have people fooled into thinking you just got back from a luxurious, tropical vacation.

Starting with the first step of your skin routine, use an SPF moisturizer. This will help give you a great base before makeup, keep your skin hydrated and offer the protection that it needs all in one cream. I love iQ Derma’s Life Without Wrinkles Day Cream SPF 25 Moisturizer. It is very lightweight and doesn’t make your makeup ball up and flake off. It’s the perfect base with added protection. If you don’t normally use a moisturizer before you apply your makeup, there’s also foundation with SPF available. SPF foundation is another great way to utilize your normal makeup routine while incorporating sun care.

So your makeup is done and you’ve got your face well protected for the day. Sun protection doesn’t stop there. What most people don’t realize is that for an SPF to be effective, it has to be re-applied! There is also a universal misconception of what the Sun Protection Factor actually means. Sun Protection Factor is a measure of how much protection you get from UVB rays (the rays that cause sunburn). So, if you wear SPF 15, it will take 15 times longer for you to burn than if you didn’t wear any sun block. SPF does not account for protection against UVA rays, which are the nasty rays most associated with the visible signs of aging and also skin cancer. Learn more about UV rays from the Skin Cancer Foundation.

Here are some factors that influence the efficacy of your SPF:

• Your skin type
• The amount applied and how often you re-apply
• Activities that you engage in (i.e. swimming leads to a loss of sunscreen)
• The amount of sunscreen your skin has actually absorbed.

Source: Flickr User dipster1

This is why it’s so important to re-apply throughout the day. If you aren’t sun bathing and aren’t in need of SPF lotion every 2 hours –Let’s be honest, I’m not rubbing oily SPF on my face every 20 minutes- then I highly recommend a SPF mineral makeup brush. This multi-functioning product is easy to use and very effective. I use Colorescience’s Sunforgettable Brush SPF 30 while I’m on the go and keep it in my purse so it’s always available. At the same time of providing my skin with SPF, it also takes away shine and offers mineral coverage when I need it. Not only is it a fabulous multi-functioning product, but it’s recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. If you want something a little smaller, you can also use their smaller Sunforgettable Orb which you can choose in your next Beautyfix kit!

I’m truly a believer that sunscreen should be worn year round with no exceptions – (unless it’s night-time.) Your skin is your largest organ and is your body’s first level of defense against the sun’s rays. There is NO excuse not to take care of it. This means, be dedicated to taking care of it. Moisturize, protect and don’t bake in the sun until you’re burnt. And ladies please, if the new tanning tax wasn’t enough, no tanning beds! The last thing you want is to be in a doctor’s office waiting for your melanoma to be cut out. If you aren’t protecting your skin, then you should stay out of the sun or at home.

P.S. I’ve talked about your face but don’t forget to protect your lips also! Coola’s Liplux is awesome!

What are you sun care favorites?

flickr.com user gcoldironjr2003

Getting ready for a job interview can be stressful, and being prepared is key to having a smooth experience. Most people focus on the potential questions they may be asked during the interview and spend time rehearsing the best possible answers to those questions. That’s a great start, but it’s also important to do your research and find out exactly what type of environment you are about to walk into. Looking the part will give you added confidence and will show your potential employer that you’re the right fit for the job. In addition to what you wear, it’s important to consider your makeup look. We have put together a few makeup application tips to help you look your best.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to job interview makeup is to look conservative and appropriate, no matter what the job is that you are interviewing for (unless, of course, you’re trying to get a job at a night club). Generally, even if you are applying for a job at a really edgy place, you don’t want to look unprofessional with tons of heavy eyeliner and super dark lips. Keep your makeup natural and make sure you look clean and polished.

Start with a clean face and use a light foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion. Then apply a subtle blush to the apples of your cheeks to brighten up your face, making you look energized and healthy. Finish your face with an oil controlling powder to ensure that your makeup stays put and your skin doesn’t get shiny. You can also set your makeup with Skindinavia’s Makeup Finishing Spray – it’s genius for keeping your makeup on all day long.

For your eyes, stick with neutral shades of eyeshadow, and the more matte the better. Serious job interviews are not the place for green eyeliner and glitter. Sweep a shade that is a tad lighter than your natural skin tone over your lids, and then blend a darker shadow from the same color family in your creases to open up your eyes. Julie Hewett Los Angeles created the perfect job interview makeup palette exclusively for Beautyfix members. After applying your shadows, thinly line the top lid with dark brown or black liner, like Rosie Jane Eye Define in Beech Tree and either use a small amount of that liner for your lower lids, or use the same eyeshadow you did for your crease and use a liner brush to apply it to the lower lash line.

To complete the look use a natural, non glittery lipstick or lip gloss, and avoid dark or day glow shades that could intimidate or distract your interviewer.

In order to make the best impression, dress to impress, and wear a tasteful outfit that fits in with the company’s daily dress code.  Looking attractive is key, but looking sexy could be a turn off in a professional setting, so opt for higher necklines and lower hemlines to ensure you are taken seriously.

Flickr.com user c.a. muller

It seems one of my missions in the beauty industry has become to defend parabens and set the record straight. Perhaps it is because I unapologetically use them in my skin care products Alchimie Forever. Perhaps it is because I enjoy reading the scientific data on the topic. Or perhaps it is because I don’t mind taking the politically incorrect and unpopular view on the topic, as paraben free is a popular buzz word and trend in cosmetics today. In any case, I have written a number of scientific papers on parabens, and am writing my first blog post about it exclusively for Beautyfix.

Parabens are the preservatives most commonly used in cosmetics, foods, and drugs. These molecules are used in over 22,000 cosmetics as preservatives in concentrations up to 0.8% (mixtures of parabens) or up to 0.4% (single paraben). The group includes Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Isopropylparaben, Butylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and Benzylparaben. Parabens have been the subject of numerous studies that have established not only their broad spectrum of action against numerous micro-organisms, but also their efficacy, stability, and their lack of side effects.

In the late 1990s, several studies suggested that parabens had an oestrogenic activity. Then, in 2004, English researchers detected traces of parabens in breast tumour tissue samples. The media seized the subject and widely diffused the news: parabens used in cosmetics, most notably in deodorants, could cause breast cancer. Hence the paraben controversy began. As a result, numerous cosmetic companies have altered their product formulae, replacing parabens with alternate preservative systems. Parabens were the ingredient that began the trend of fear marketing in beauty products, or “free of” marketing.

Let’s look at the facts and set the record straight:

1. As stated above, the paraben controversy and the idea they cause breast cancer rests on one single medical study that was published in 2004. The methodology of that study, however, was flawed: parabens were indeed detected in cancerous breast tissue samples; however parabens were also detected in the control group (organic matter with no trace of cancer). As there were parabens in both the cancer tissue and the control, it is not accurate to conclude that parabens cause breast cancer. The American Cancer Society claims that the “studies have not shown any direct link between parabens and any health problems, including breast cancer.”

2. There has been no further published study in the 5 years since that initial study confirming parabens’ role in breast cancer.

3. Parabens are approved by all of the cosmetic regulatory bodies including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is not the case, for example, with hydroquinone, which is banned by the European equivalent of FDA.

4. Parabens have an extremely low skin sensitivity factor, meaning that very few people are allergic or have skin irritation to parabens. This is not the case with some of the paraben alternatives, including essential oils, which are very sensitizing and appear on the European list of top allergens.

5. Finally parabens have the broadest spectrum of action on bacteria, yeast, and mold, meaning they are effective on almost all. This again is not the case of paraben alternatives, whether natural or synthetic.

Of course from a commercial perspective, manufacturers may wish to replace parabens because consumers are demanding products without parabens (even if for the wrong reasons). Products without parabens enable manufacturers to avoid consumer questions and avoid having to set the record straight. But commercial decisions should not be made under the false pretense of making products safer when parabens are safe to begin with.

Furthermore, when removing parabens from products it is important to consider what we are replacing parabens with. Indeed, I believe we can all agree that preservatives and anti-bacterial agents play an important role in cosmetics. After all, who wants bacteria in their creams?

Finally, I urge the industry to reconsider the “free of” marketing craze we seem to have embarked on in the last few years. “Paraben-free” claims naturally although inaccurately lead consumers to believe that parabens are “bad.” Same with all of the other “free of” claims we see today.

ABOUT ADA POLLA:

Ada Polla of Alchimie Forever

Ada is the co-creator of skin care brand Alchimie Forever, and a member of the Beautyfix Panel. An expert in cosmetics development, Ada contributes to numerous magazines, and is a frequent guest speaker at leading universities and beauty industry conferences.

Here at Beautyfix we are always on the hunt for the best beauty products. Each season, our panel of beauty experts select the products that become the Official Beautyfix Selections. Those of you who are lucky enough to be members receive the panel’s top picks four times a year – an abundance of the best makeup, skin care, hair care, body care, and nail care products. Beautyfix is the new insider beauty award – but we go beyond just saying what we love – and actually send the best beauty products to you, our members.

With the dawn of the new year, we, the beauty obsessed, cannot help but reflect on all the amazing products that have come our way over the past year. Thanks to Beautyfix, we all have a new favorite (or two, or three, or four…), and we want you to help us pick the best of the best. What are your favorite Beautyfix products? We realize that it isn’t fair to make you choose just one – so tell us your top 3 if you’re so inclined.

Voting is simple! Just leave us a comment below, and tell us your favorite(s).

flickr user: kanpeki yume

What is a serum? A serum usually consists of a thinner consistency than a cream but not completely liquid. It was created for the purpose of delivering ingredients to the skin that most often, a cream or other products cannot do. The molecules are made to be smaller and use different delivery system-methods to have the product penetrate deeper into the skin. Serums can help prevent, and repair wrinkles and is recommended to be applied under sunscreen or a moisturizer. Common ingredients in anti-aging serums are usually peptides, antioxidants, vitamin C and sometimes retinol. The effectiveness of the ingredients in the serum may vary and not all serums have been clinically proven. They can also boost collagen and elastin production, which can decrease the appearance of wrinkles. After trying a slew of them, which ones do I like the best?

Peter Thomas Roth’s Un-Wrinkle definitely does what it says. It UN-WRINKLES. This hasn’t been the first time using this product for me. When I was working back as an esthetician in the Stone Age, I’d add a few drops of this little bad boy in my facial treatments to give them the wow factor when they walked out and looked in the mirror. This serum can be used on all skin types and uses a 23% blend of neuropeptides and peptides. This can help reduce the appearance of deeper wrinkles, fine lines, expression lines etc. Not to mention your skin looks fantastic almost immediately after using it. They do tend to call it “Botox in a bottle” because of the unique ingredients it uses which is my favorite part. It uses 4% SYN-AKE and 10% SNAP-8 that are pain-free synthetic ingredients that mimic snake venom and injectibles to target wrinkle formation. This serum also helps boost collagen production, increase firmness and visibly reduce the appearance of wrinkles. I’ve loved this line of anti-aging products so much; I have also bought the Wrinkle Preventer and the Un-Wrinkle eye cream.

Since sometimes serums can have a lot of artificial ingredients and fillers in them, it’s good to try out something on the natural and organic side once in a while. One of my favorite hydrating serums is John Masters Organics Green Tea and Rose Hydrating Face Serum. This serum has a blend of nourishing certified organic ingredients that focus on the hydration of your skin. At the same time this serum encourages collagen production and stimulates cell turnover leaving your skin radiant and gorgeous after application. It’s also full of antioxidants to nourish your skin and help your complexion. What I love about this is how silky it is on application and it doesn’t interfere with your eye makeup. It leaves your skin dewy and supple. This is perfect for any skin care regimen.

Another that I’ve fallen in love with blindsided me because I personally thought it was too good to be true. At lunch one day talking about my mission of finding the fountain of youth, my friend had recommended I try iQ Derma’s SkinTensive xCel serum day and night to help me with my lovely fine lines. They offer a free trial and focus on anti-aging formulas made with “intelligent ingredients.” After using for about 3 days morning and night I was astonished to see the results even after the first day. It helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and it really shows. I feel like those lines of mine are diminishing faster and faster, not to mention my sun spots have been evened out quite a bit, which was an added bonus. Since using this, my wrinkles have improved and it’s more radiant than ever. When applying you don’t have to use much, so you don’t feel like you’re wasting product and it glides on evenly not interfering with makeup either. I’ll be using this one for a while.

When on your own search for that perfect anti-aging miracle serum, just remember that samples can be your best friend and don’t be afraid to branch out and try new brands! Not every product is meant for every skin type but I highly recommend using a serum under your moisturizer ever day. It’s great for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and it’s amazing for prevention. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Use a lip stain to keep your lips plump and perfect. Benefit has a solid stain for your lips and cheeks, called Benetint and comes in a seductive rose or poppy pink. You can have a drink and not worry about anything on the glass and it’s totally kiss-proof. This rosey jar of liquid gives you a perfect flushed color to accompany you through the parties without any worry of fading or fumbling. Not only is it a good lip stain but you can use it on your cheeks too. Feel free to find one that suits you the best Urban Decay’s Lip Envy is another good one to use.

Flickr user: Vincent Boiteau

I’m a firm believer of Skindinavia’s makeup finishing spray and have fallen in love with their No More Shine Makeup Finishing spray. This spray gives a matte finish to your look, helps control shine and excess oil (for when you overheat a little bit), helps reduce the appearance of smudging, creasing and makeup slippage and also saves up to 50% of makeup usage. No re-applying! I can’t leave the house without putting on these sprays and not to forget about the rest of the finishing sprays they have to offer for any event or occasion. Not having to check my makeup constantly is a win-win situation.

For your eyes, you can use liquid eyeliner or a cream eyeliner that’ll stay for hours and hours. It’s very easy to apply a classic cat-eye look or just line the basics. Paired with the finishing spray you’re good to go through the night and you don’t ever have to worry about re-applying or touch ups.

There you have it, some eyes, lips and face tips that’ll get stuck on you for the duration of the party. Just don’t indulge too much you’ll still have to carry yourself like the classy lady you are.