OMG, Did You See The Oscars?

Did you watch this year’s Oscars Ceremony?

I usually don’t watch them, but I do like to see the pictures of the “Red Carpet” fashions to see watch all the celebrities are wearing.  What one image stood out (like a sore thumb so to speak) concerning the fashions of the evening?  I’m sure there was more than one that comes to mind.

But the one image that went viral and caused “no small stir” was Angelina Jolie’s right leg.  You outta “google” it for a real laugh!

Angie wore a pretty black velvet gown with a slit up the side.  But what was so funny was that she strategically revealed her right leg every time she stopped to pose for a picture, and especially when she walked up on stage to present an award. Personally I thought that was very tacky of her.  Maybe she’s still trying to compete with the killer sexy legs of Brad’s ex Jennifer?

What bothered me even more than her exposed lower appendage was that no one even noticed her gown or her face.  Sure it was partially because her black dress was such a stark contrast to her pale legs, like her bright orange/red lipstick on her pallid white face . But the truth of the matter is that the color of her dress was not right for her to begin with. This time she got away with it because her dress is low-cut, so it doesn’t take away from face too much, and she was wearing the right shade of lipstick at least.

You’ve probably noticed that Angie LOVES black, it must be her favorite color as she wears it alot.  BUT Black is NOT the best color for her skin tone, her eyes, or her hair color.  Black just doesn’t flatter her natural Autumn features.  The most flattering colors Angie should be wearing are earth tones, like deep orange, dark green, and golden brown to name a few.

I guess I can’t help but notice these things being a certified color analyst and all.

Here is another photo showing her wearing the wrong color, doesn’t she look washed out, and pale in this drab grey dress?

It is very unflattering to say the least. Makes you wonder, What was she thinking?

What’s funny is you’d think that famous people would know and wear what looks best on them, especially when they have to constantly make public appearances.  You’d also think that the top fashion designers of the world that make their gowns would tell them “this is a beautiful design on you, but the colors are wrong, let’s see what I have in your colors”.  But amazingly they don’t. Neither do their hair stylists or their makeup artists!

It is very rare to see Angie in her right colors.

But look, I found one!  Here’s a pic I dig up from a few years ago.

Now can you see the difference?

This emerald-green dress just brings out the best in her.  Yeah Brad’s also in the picture, but try to focus on her, ok?

This beautiful gown in her proper color draws attention to her face, and not away from it like the gray dress did.  You see the hazel color of her eyes stand out and she just has a more naturally beautiful, elegant look.

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This is just a quick example of how “color” can make a big difference in one’s appearance.

Want to know more about how color can change your appearance, your attitude and your life check out my article on “What Season are You?”.  

I think Angie needs to read it too!

Breakout!

We all have bouts of breakouts.

I’m not talking about the urge to break into a song and dance routine in a crowded mall, or breaking into a fit of rage from breaking a fingernail, but of the embarrassing breakouts of acne.

It can happen no matter what your age.  In fact statistics show that more than 50% of adult women and 25% of men have acne breakouts.  So don’t feel alone teenagers!

Wouldn’t it be nice to know what causes acne so that you can see it coming or avoid it altogether?  I know chocolate has gotten a bad rap for years as a major cause but in reality there are other causes worth looking into.

Here are some common causes and cures of acne:

Diet: You probably already know that eating junk food can be a major cause of acne breakouts, but also certain food allergies.   Another cause is sodas and any drinks with caffeine that are detrimental to clear flawless  skin.  Whats the cure?  Eat healthy foods and drink plenty of water.

Hormones: If you notice acne breakouts more at the time of your menstruation, then your hormones could be the culprit.  I can say I’ve been plagued by this type for many years, until I past menopause.  I’ve heard that regular use of birth control pills helps.

Hair Products: If you use oils and sprays on your hair they can get on your skin and clog your pores, especially around your forehead, and neck.   At night, after washing your face try sleeping with your hair tied up away from your face.

Bedding: When is the last time you washed your pillowcase and sheets?  Your face may be clean but any dirt from your hair or in the air even can build up on your pillow, not to mention bacteria and germs.  Best to wash bedding at least once a week.

Dry skin:  I know this sounds absurd, but if your skin is overly dry it can actually produce more oil to compensate.  All skin need moisture, but to different degrees.  Some moisturizers are rich for extremely dry skin, and some light for more oily skin.  Choose what’s best for your skin type.

STRESS! Stress can cause a multitude of health problems, one being skin conditions such as acne. You may not be able to relieve your stressful day to day situations, but try to take a break away from your routine once in a while. Have a little fun.   It will do wonders for your health.  Regular daily exercise also helps relieve stress, and provides a multitude of health benefits.

Touch: Are you constantly touching your face?  I know I’m guilty of that one!  Hands touch all kinds of nasty stuff throughout the day and can transfer germs and bacteria to your face.

I don’t mean to sound like your mother, but “keep your hands off your face, and wash them regularly”.   Also a big NO-NO is when you have a pimple don’t squeeze it (remember don’t touch!)  Squeezing can make it worse, last longer and cause scarring.

Here is another thing you may not of thought of, something that touches your face more than anything else, your cell phone.   Ever notice how dirty, and greasy your phone gets from your hands?  It’s best to use a “hands free” bluetooth as much as possible.  To clean your phone just wipe it with antibacterial wipes or rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball every few days or at least once a week.  Oh yeah and limit others from using your phone to avoid passing on germs and bacteria.  I know I cringe when I see moms hand their toddlers a cell phone to play with, and they start drooling and sucking on them.  Yikes, Germ City!

Makeup: Did you know that some ingredients in your makeup may actually clog pores can cause breakouts?   Or you could have an allergic reaction to some product, and not even be aware of it.   It’s important to remove makeup and wash your face thoroughly every night with a good facial cleanser, and exfoliate at least once a week to remove dead cells under the skin.  It is also a good practice to clean your facial brushes and sponges  regularly.

Smoking: Smoking not only adversely affects areas like the respiratory and immune system, but also clogs pores which can cause breakouts.

Cures for acne can differ depending on the cause and type of skin you have. If you have  extremely bad acne or reoccurring breakouts it may be necessary to see a dermatologist.

If you have cystic pimples, ones that do not surface, they don’t normally respond to common treatments.  I’ve heard ice helps with the pain.  Unfortunately there is not alot you can do but be patient and let them dissolve on their own.

For mild to moderate acne breakouts look for products that contain Salicylic Acid or Benzoyl Peroxide.

Hope that some of these causes and cures can help you in your fight to combat acne breakouts and get your skin back to looking healthy and beautiful.

To Reveal or Conceal

If you are like me,  you wake up in the morning, eyes half-open, stumble to the bathroom and go right to the mirror.

Wish I could fix my face with my eyes closed!

My Mission: To improve my appearance before anyone else sees me!  But unfortunately on occasion, my husband is making his way to bed as I’m rising and we met in the hall.  Yikes! He is the last person I want to see me before I put my face on!

One of the biggest things I notice first is the DARK CIRCLES under my eyes!

Or the “Raccoon Effect” as some call it.

There are several different causes of dark circles, here are some of the common ones:

Lack of Sleep – One of the most common reasons of “temporary” dark under eye circles is lack of sleep.   Making sure to get at least 8 hours of sleep regularly is the way to keep dark circles at bay.

Iron Deficiency –Low iron levels can result in lessened blood oxygenating efficiency. One of the areas seen the most of all is under the eyes where vessels tend to clot and pool, thus causing the dark circle eye effect.  Increasing iron intake by adding some of these foods to your diet such as; Eggs, oily fish, red meat, dried fruit such as figs and apricots, beans and nuts which are all rich in iron can help diminish dark circles and other symptoms IF deficiency in iron is the problem.  It is important to  get enough Vitamin C also, as this helps the absorption of  iron by your body.

Hereditary –Do others in your family also have dark under eye circles?  The majority of people who have dark circles under the eyes don’t suffer from any deficiencies or fatigue, it is simply an inherited trait.  This can be the most frustrating because no matter what you do, you always look tired,  even after you’ve had a great night’s sleep.  That’s me!

Dark circles are similar to bruises, they are really oxidizing hemoglobin.

Dark under-eye circles begin in the capillaries, the tiny blood vessels that web the delicate skin around the eyes.  Frequently, red blood cells get lost and wander into the surrounding skin. This is normal and the enzymes in your body break down the red blood cells, including their hemoglobin (the molecule that gives them their distinctive red color).

But the reason dark under-eye circles are so apparent is that the skin around the eyes is some of the thinnest, most delicate skin of your entire body.  And the capillaries are much closer to the surface of the skin there.  Many people’s skin is not only thinner around the eyes, but also more translucent.

The combination of capillaries near the skin’s surface and translucent skin makes this discoloration a lot more apparent.

A few home remedies for dark circles:

Apply slices of cucumber to your eyes.

Cucumbers lighten the skin,  soothe and cool the eyes.  This really helps if you’ve had a late the night before or your eyes are red and tired from allergies.

It’s best to lay down on your back, or else the cucumbers will fall off!  Lay a thin slice of cucumber on each eye, making sure they have contact with the skin under the eyes.  Leave them on for 5 to 10 minutes.  Might want to set an alarm so you don’t fall asleep.  Also be careful not to get the juice from the cucumber in your eyes.

Apply Tea bags to your eyes .

The caffeine in the tea bags acts as a remedy for dark circles by diminishing puffiness. Tea also contains antioxidants that are beneficial to the skin.

Take 2 used tea bags, can be green, black or white tea that’s been squeezed out.  Make sure you wait till it is cool!  Lie down and leave them over your eyes for about 10 minutes.  You’ll see a noticeable improvement in puffiness and under-eye circles.

Apply a concealer to hide dark under-eye circles

Concealer is the most effective tool for hiding dark under-eye circles.

You’ll want to choose a color that’s a shade lighter than your normal color if your dark circles are blue-black.  Just don’t go too light or you’ll get the reverse “raccoon effect”! Concealers are effective at hiding dark under-eye circles because they’re opaque, meaning they don’t let light through.  When applying concealer never use your index finger as it will apply too much pressure on the sensitive area around your eyes.  You can use a sponge or your ring finger for the best results.  If your dark circles are not terribly noticeable you might be able to get away with just using a foundation instead of a concealer.  If you use both some recommend applying the concealer first then the foundation, but I’ve heard others do the reverse.  Whatever works best for YOU!   It is also a good idea to finish with some translucent power over your face  so your face doesn’t shine!

Products that reduce dark circles

Another solution is to find a product that can actually help to get rid of dark circles completely.   But don’t expect a miracle, nothing works overnight.  There are a lot of products out there to choose from.  Most contain a pigment-lightening.   Warning these products are not cheap!

Personally, I’ve been extremely happy with the results from a product I’m using,  Adrien Arpel’s Eye Perfection crème.  It is a triple action formula, that takes care of puffiness, dark circles and fine line and wrinkles.  Nice thing is it is slightly cooling, and non-greasy.   It also hydrates, revitalizes and smoothes, de-puffs and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Hope these suggestions help to remedy those unwanted “raccoon” eyes.   Hey, you know that smokey eyes are in style now!

Maybe we could start a trend that makes dark eye circles popular!

How Long Does It Last?

Ever wonder about expiration dates?

Aren’t you glad there are labels to warn you when your milk is about to spoil rather than finding out the hard way, after you’ve poured it on your favorite breakfast cereal, and took a big sour spoonful?   That is IF you read it before you drank  it. 

Well actually milk has a “sell by” date stamped on it (see picture above), this is for stores to know how long they can display a particular product. If you keep the item refrigerated it will usually remain drinkable for about one week after the “sell by” date on the package. The date tells you how long the product is likely to remain at its best quality when unopened.  But it is not a safety date.

Most products have the “use by” or “best” date stamped on them, after these dates have passed, you will start to notice changes in the product’s texture, color, or flavor.  But as long as you’ve been storing the item properly, you can generally consume it a little beyond this date (depending on the specific product).   The best way to gauge the quality is by smell or taste.  Always discard foods that have developed an off odor, flavor or appearance (like green fuzz growing on it is pretty obvious), for your health and safety.   

 “Use by” is like an expiration date on medicines, and taking them after the date listed is not recommended.

But how about your skin care and makeup?  Do they have expiration dates? 

Since you can’t smell or taste them how do you know how long they will last?

There is currently no law requiring similar labeling on cosmetics.

But all cosmetics do have a shelf life, as to how long they can stay good while unopened, and  how long they remain safe once opened.

When either of those periods ends, spoilage can begin, and reduce a product’s effectiveness, allowing bacterial growth that can cause irritations or infections.

It is best to replace any of the following products that are past these expirations:

 

Eye Cream  6 Months

Mascara   6 Months

Lip and Eye Pencils   12 to 18 Months

Lipstick   12 to 18 Months

Concealer  2 Years

Powder   2 Years

Liquid Foundation   2 Years

Powder Blush   2 Years

Cream Blush  2 Years

Moisturizer   2 Years

Sunscreen   2 Years

Face Cream    2 Years

 

It is also a good idea to clean your makeup brushes regularly (every month or two) with a mild soap, baby shampoo works great. 

Just put a little in the palm of your hand with water and swish the brush around.  Then rinse it until soap residue is gone.  Squeeze out excess moisture and let dry before using.  Never immerse brushes in water, as the bristles are glued to the base and will come apart (even the most expensive ones).

You should also throw away any broken containers or ones that are missing caps.  Powder blushes and pressed powders that have broken are hard to use and should also be trashed.  Then you can make space for your newer, fresher, shelf life items.  Here is a suggestion when you purchase new products:  put little stickers on your lipstick, concealers etc… with the recommended expiration dates, so you won’t have to guess later down the road.

Don’t cry over sour milk, or expired beauty products, just replace them when needed to keep yourself healthy and beautiful!

For great vitamin enriched makeup and skin care: www.colormedirect.com/triciat

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Beauty Only Skin Deep?

I’m sure you’ve all heard the phrase,

“Beauty is only skin deep” 

Although your “True Beauty” lies within you, people will never get to know your inner beauty until they meet you and accept you on the outside first.

Your beautiful appearance starts with your skin.  All the makeup in the world cannot hide skin that is poorly maintained.  Proper daily skin care makes a hugh difference in your appearance. You can not only see, but feel the difference when your complexion has a natural radiant glow.

The Skinny on Skin:

Did you know that your skin is the largest living organ of your body?  It covers your whole body and protects everything inside.

But it is also one of the most neglected and unappreciated parts of the body.

The skin has three main functions:

1.  Protection (from germs and injury)

2.  Temperature control (through perspiration, to aid in keeping the body’s internal organs close to our normal internal temperature of 98.6° F.)

3.  Perception (nerve endings in our skin give us sensations of touch, pain, heat, and cold)

The skin is made up of three cell layers:

The Epidermis (outer layer)  Though you can’t see it happening, every minute of the day we lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells off the surface of our skin.   A substance called Melanin gives skin its color. The darker your skin is, the more melanin you have. But even though melanin is mighty, it can’t shield you from the sun’s UVA rays. Protecting your skin can help prevent skin cancer when you get older.

The Dermis (middle layer) You can’t see your dermis because it’s hidden under your epidermis. The dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and other materials vital to the skin’s strength, its ability to repair itself and fight off infections.

The Subcutaneous tissue ( bottom layer)   It is the border zone between muscle and bone tissues on one side, and the dermis on the other,  serves as insulation, a food reserve and binds the skin to your body.

Skin is also the site of the body’s natural production of vitamin D, stimulated by exposure to sunlight.

Now that you know the important functions your skin plays in your overall well being how important is it to take care of your skin?  

Let’s face it, your face is your interaction with the world, so shouldn’t that be one of the most important parts to take care of? 

Proper daily skin care is essential to your overall health, and beauty. 

There are basically three skin types: Normal, Dry and Oily or a combination of Dry and Oily.  

This is important to know in order to use the right products for your specific type. 

Darker skin tones tend to produce more oil.  Fairer skin tends to be dryer, fragile, and is more susceptable to sun damage and skin cancer. 

Did you know that the ultaviolet rays from the sun cause 90% of all signs of aging?  This is why you need to protect your skin (especially your face) when being exposed to the sun for extended periods.

Bottom line is if you take good care of your skin it will take good care of you!

 

For some awesome Adrien Arpel skin care products:  www.colormedirect.com/triciat

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