Tips on getting a flawless face

Moisturize before putting on your  foundation.

• You want to apply foundation on freshly moisturized skin because applying foundation on dry skin can look flakey . A moisturizer will help the foundation blend & sit on the skin better!

Primer.

• Apply the primer after you  moisturizer and before foundation. A primer glides over your skin, pores, acne, etc creating a barrier between your skin and your makeup. A primer acts a second skin by smoothing over any imperfections to make your skin look more smooth and even. Smoothing primers like Benefit Porefessional, Tarte Clean Slate Poreless, Too Faced Primed and Poreless, MAC Prep & Prime Skin Base, Loreal Studio Secrets Professional Base, ELF’s Mineral Primer or Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Primer Skin Transformer will all have smoothing, perfecting effects. 

Translucent powder.

• Translucent powder is a super silky white powder that applies clear/translucent all over your face after your pressed powder or after foundation. Any skin shade can use it. It not only helps keep your foundation on longer and controls oils but also has “blurring” effects and almost airbrushes your face because the powder is so finely milled. MAC, Makeup Forever, Tarte & ELF all make great translucent powders.

Exfoliating your skin.

• Using a face scrub or an exfoliating product once to twice a week will make your skin smooth and even ready for makeup application.

Don’t look too matte!

• Use a highlighter on your cheekbones or a setting spray to take away any powdery look. A super matte, powdery look can accentuate pores and dry patches and look too fake/cakey because no one’s skin looks like powder. If youre an oily skin person, don’t over do it & apply a light layer. Translucent powder is best because it looks more  natural and flawless but still helps control shine.

The right foundation brush.

• My personal favorite brush to achieve a flawless face is a flat top foundation brush. It really buffs & blends the foundation into your skin instead of the foundation just sitting ontop your skin skin. ELF foundation brush is what I use. 

 MORE TIPS

Exfoliate ur skin at least twice a week, if not everyday. For sensitive skin,look for a more gentle exfoliator to use it more frequently without harsh effects.


Getting rid of shine

To remove any excess shine in the center of your face, simply apply a very light dusting of finishing powder

Never, ever, ever, EVER forget to wash your face before bedtime!


Over cleansing your face is just as bad as not cleansing it enough. Stick to twice a day, am & pm


Apply egg whites to your clean skin as a face mask for 15 minutes. Removes blackheads in just a few uses. Use 1-2x a week!


No one is perfect! We all have imperfections and things we would like to change or improve about ourselves

Quotes

  "Changing the way you look is fun, makeup comes off and you can be someone new every time." ~Pablo R.

MAC Makeup Artist

" A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous.”

― Coco Chanel

 

“Life is too short to spend hoping that the perfectly arched eyebrow or hottest new lip shade will mask an ugly heart.”

—	Kevyn Aucoin (famed makeup artist)

“Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone.”
― Dorothy Parker

“What you do, the way you think, makes you beautiful.”
― Scott Westerfeld,

“Sometimes people are beautiful.
Not in looks.
Not in what they say.
Just in what they are.”
― Markus Zusak,

 
The makeup is simply an extension of the personality and colors, clothing, makeup all express something.

Gene Simmons

" The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you " - Coco Chanel

Beauty, to me, is about being comfortable in your own skin. That, or a kick-ass red lipstick

“No Amount of makeup can mask an ugly heart.”

Kevyn Aucoin

"Sometimes a girl needs more than glitter to make her feel sparkly"
Pat McGrath 


"Beneath The Makeup and Behind The Smilee,
I Am Just A Girl Who Wishes For Thee World."
-Marilyn Monroe

"I'm a big believer in that if you focus on good skin care, you really won't need a lot of makeup."

Demi Moore 

The sweetest thing a guy said is that I look pretty with or without makeup.

Vanessa Hudgens 

 

The best thing is to look natural, but it takes makeup to look natural.

Calvin Klein

 

"Life is too short to spend hoping that the perfectly arched eyebrow or hottest new lip shade will mask an ugly heart.”

—	Kevyn Aucoin (famed makeup artist)

Getting rid of stretch marks

Do you have stretch marks and wants to get rid of them? Are you tired of using different products that still hasnt giving you the result you wanted? 

Well the truth is, there are no products  that is going to get inside the dermis of the skin (where the damage occurred to cause the stretch mark) and remodel your collagen to such an extent that your stretch mark will disappear. Remember that stretch marks do improve. Many that are still in the purplish red zone tend to fade out. 

A friend of mine along with myself are trying to find a way to fade stretch marks. What we do is to use Palmer's Cocco Butter Lotion (Palmer's Cocoo Butter for Stretch Marks will be better), Dr. Sheffield's Scar Gel (good for acne, stretch marks, cuts and scrapes) and ultra bright brightening gel.

What we do is to mix all three products in a container, use a tip of the ultra bright gel. Then apply the mixture to the area. To see results, its best to use two or three times daily for a month, the stretch marks will fade.

The mixture can last for up to one month depending no how bad your stretch marks are.. Ive had my minxture over one month and i do see my marks fading.

Try it and see if it works for you!

eyeliner tip

You can use an eyeliner pencil a liquid liner or an eyeliner brush dipped into a deep shadow to line eyes. If you use a pencil, set the line with eyeshadow because penciled lines tend to melt and won't stay put all day.

Some persons find it difficult to  apply liquid eyeliner, but the fact is its very easy to do. Simply, line the eye from the inside of the lashes outward in one big sweep. What I normally do is to line the eye from the middle of the lash line outward, then finish the line from the inner corner of the eye to the middle

Getting rid of ingrown hair

Most men suffer from ingrown hairs or razor burn, black men are especially prone to this condition because of their highly-curved body hairs. Because the hair tends to be more tightly curled, it has a greater chance of curving and growing back into the skin after shaving. This causes painful shaving bumps and irritation on the face and neck, and can only become more aggravated with further shaving. 

 Although it’s a common problem, there’s no need to simply accept it as a natural danger of shaving: by keeping skin exfoliated, changing your razor after 4-5 uses and following with a product with dermatologically-active ingredients, you can greatly reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs. If you find yourself suffering a great deal from these skin irritations, consider cutting down on the amount of times you shave, since frequent shaving too close to the skin will trap hairs inside the follicles. 





 These steps will also help you to clear up ingrown hairs.

You will need Castor Oil (which can be purchased at you drugstore), and baking soda.

First, you'll need to apply an oil mask that will open the pores to release pus and pressure. Spread 2 tbsp. of castor oil over the area affected by ingrown hairs, covering it with a thick layer of oil. Allow the oil to remain on the skin for at least 15 minutes, then gently wipe it away with a damp washcloth. Secondly, you should exfoliate the ingrown hair to remove dead skin and bacteria around that area. Then you should combine 1 tbsp.baking soda and1 tsp. water then spread the baking soda paste onto the area that is affected by the ingrown hairs. Gently massage the paste around the area by doing circular finger movements. After two minutes, you should rinse the skin well with water. Lastly, remove the end of the hair with tweezers to allow the skin to heal naturally. Locate the loop of hair inside the ingrown hair bump on your skin. Place the tip of the tweezers underneath the loop, and gently pull upward. The tip of the hair will exit the skin. Once the tip appears, allow it to remain attached to the skin. The skin will now be able to heal normally.

The Castor oil is helpful in reaching deep within the skin to open up the pores. Once the pores are opened, pus and bacteria can exit the skin to relieve pressure and swelling, and to allow the skin to heal properly. The baking soda can effectively remove bacteria and dead skin buildup that can become lodged inside the pores and exacerbate ingrown hairs. Because the particulates in baking soda are smooth, the substance will not scratch or irritate the skin when used as a scrub.When pulling out the tips of the ingrown hairs, be careful not to tear or rip the skin surrounding the hair, which can cause scarring and infection.

Baking Soda is affordable and can be purchased at your local supermarket.




Tip:   Shave your hair in the same direction it grows in.This will train the hair to grow straight out instead of sideways or back into the skin in addition to preventing it from being cut too short.Use downward strokes on your upper lip, cheeks and chin and use upward strokes on your neck.

I am sure that preventing the ingrown hairs to grow is actually much easier than the treatment.
you should xfoliate regularly. Every 2-3 days should be good enough. St Ives apricot Scrub works well and its affordable and can be purchased at the supermaket/wholsales.

When shaving, be sure to use a sharp blade.

You should moisturise using a lightweight formula that doesn't clog pores like baby oil (Johnsons & Johnsons).
These are very quick and easy tips to follow. But  if after using these steps 2-3 months and is not seeing any improvement, you should try another method. Probably this method is just not for you!

Everyone is different.

Your shaving cream can also be the problem that is causing ingrown hairs so you might want to consider changing it. Always remember to moisturise.

I hope that my home remedies and tips are useful to you so that you can stop having problems with ingrown hair.

I will be posting more tips shortly.
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Eye shadow primer

So persons often ask this question......
Do i have to use eyeshadow primer before applying my eyeshadow?

The answer to that is the eyeshadow primer will help with a few things.

1. Help your eyeshadow and eyeliner last longer, no fading or creasing through out the day

2. Help eyeshadow colors show more vibrant and true to color



3.If the eyeshadow primer is tinted it can help even out the color of your eyelid hiding any veins or darkness
4. Helps eyeshadows blend better, sometimes it’s harder to blend on bare skin than it is with an eyeshadow
    primer

Even when I use just eyeliner on my eye lid I still like to use eyeshadow primer because it will help it last and not smudge. If you don’t have oily eyelids then eyeshadow primer isnt really a must have :) 

Clean you brushes

ladies u need to clean your brushes. Your brushes do actually need to be cleaned so if you’ve been using the same grimy powder brush that’s been sitting on your bathroom counter or so for the past 4 years, it’s time you get a new one and some brush cleaner.
 
Brushes should be deep cleaned once a week with either a gentle shampoo or some good quality brush cleaner (avoid baby shampoo it contains mineral oil which can often leave a film over your brushes) After each use try to spot clean your brushes with some rubbing alcohol; it removes bacteria and leaves your brushes fresh and ready to use for the next morning!.. I use Elf daily brush cleaner

The difference between liquid and powder foundation and when to use them

Since we live in a tropical country (Jamaica),  powder foundation is usually better for oily skin, easier & quicker to apply than liquid and more used during the summer because people are oily and it’s so hot. Just make sure to moisturize well before applying the powder so your face doesn’t look dry!

Liquid foundation usually has more coverage than powders. Therefore, it’s better for dry skin because it’s more hydrating and doesn’t have a matte finish. Liquid foundation are used any time of the year and especially in December  when the skin gets dry and tends to look a little more natural because a matte, powdery finish doesn’t look the most natural.

If you have very little to cover and want to keep any shine away, you can apply one layer of powder. It will definitely work well for a quick makeup routine.

 If you have a lot to cover like acne and scars,  you’re going to need to use concealer under the powder or use liquid foundation to get fuller coverage.

Apply foundation and then a light layer of powder over it which will help your liquid foundation to last longer.
As you can see they  both have their pros and cons, therefore, you should choose which one works best for you :)

Have a wonderful day. Remember no matter how much makeup you wear, it does not mask an ugly heart. Be kind, Live positive and be positive.

Remove makeup before going to bed

Before going to bed you should ensure that you remove make up from your face….it will give you spots, dry your skin, makes you look older, make their eyelashes brittle, your skin wont be able to breathe properly because your pores are clogged which will result in pimples and blackheads, your pillow case will also be messy…and many more reasons..

Some of the best make up remover are Neutrogena eye make up remover lotion (hydrating) and wipes, mac wipes, rimmel London make up remover, st. ives facial cleanser, mary kay oil free make up remover, etc….

Warning: Mascara and liquid eyeliner should be replaced after three to four months.

best foods to consume that helps with skin care

 Walnuts are a great start as they are good source of fiber, which will help the body eliminate toxins, but also essential fatty acids, which will help to dissolve fatty deposits that block pores.

Eat a serving of yogurt a day for clear skin. Yogurt is rich in probiotics, which help to balance bacteria levels in the body. The more good bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, the less bad bacteria in other places of the body, including the skin

  Snack on pears to help with clear skin. This fruit is high in both fiber and water as well as vitamin C. It is a wonderful cleansing food

Water should be a no-brainer to anyone looking to keep their skin looking and feeling clear. It is one of the purest things to consume in the world, which is why it is needed to flush your body of all the excess toxins within it.

Red Grapes are another food that are very high in antioxidant levels, which is why they are great for keeping your skin clear. They are also great for treating skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis too

Garlic is an excellent food for keeping the skin clear because it reacts with the blood to fight off many viruses and harmful bacteria.

Brown rice has several antioxidants, vitamin B, protein, and magnesium, as well as selenium which all reduce the sugar levels within the body and in-turn keeps the skin looking and feeling fresh.

If you suffer from acne, you should eat more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, soy and vitamin E. Make sure to reduce or eliminate sugars, refined baked goods, saturated fats, milk, chocolate and salt.

A diet rich in sugars and products made with them fosters acne development.


Carrots and cabbage are rich in Vitamin A, which can help cure dry skin.

Mackerel has high levels of docosahexaenoic and eicosapentaenoic acids which keep your skin looking and feeling great.

Sweet potatoes contain high levels of potassium, sodium and vitamin A which all aid the skin wonderfully. The sweet potato might just be the best tasting vegetable that keeps your skin clear. It is delicious to eat in either a baked, grilled, and even dessert form via a pie or casserole.

Not only is green tea wonderful for keeping the skin clear via the high levels of antioxidants, but it also helps build the immune system as well as burn fat like almost nothing else. It doesn't matter if you drink it hot or cold. It will be great for you as long as it's pure

Is there a better way to increase your protein intake than by working tofu into your diet? The soft, omelette-like substance made from soya beans is a good source of healing vegetable protein, calcium and healthy unsaturated fats – a killer combination for anyone suffering from a skin condition. It is also a rich source of antioxidants, as well as minerals iron, copper and manganese. We love our tofu freshly sprinkled over a salad or cooked into a stir fry. Try adding some of the other ingredients on this list for a super skin-boosting meal.

Not only are berries jammed with skin clearing antioxidants, but they’re packed with fibre too: great for staving off hunger pangs and regulating insulin production.

Salmon and other cold water fish. Also, the high protein it contains can help to speed up the skin’s natural healing process

Eggs are terrific for keeping the skin clear due to many of the great nutrients in them. These nutrients include protein and zinc along with vitamins A, D, and E. The yolk is the best part of the egg for healthy and clear skin.

Peppermint is another food that does wonders with helping your skin remain clear. Not only does peppermint aid with beauty but it also terrific for keeping your sinuses clear as well as relieving headaches.

Cleanse your skin before you shave

For most men, skin tends to get oily throughout the day in certain areas. The excess oil can stick to the skin and block the pores, therefore preventing your razor from gliding along the skin smoothly. So before you shave, wash your face with water and facial soap to make sure there is no blockage.

Getting ready for a shave

Before you pull out the razor, splash your face with warm water after you cleanse it, which will open up the pores. Then apply a light layer of pre-shaving cream, gel or mousse to keep the skin moist and warm. The smoother the skin, the better the shave.

Another way to simplify shaving is to do it in the shower. Not only is it a time-saver, the humidity of your shower will keep your skin moist and your pores open and even make the hair softer and easier to remove.

Home remedies for razor bumps

Tea bags may help to get rid of razor bumps. The tea bag contains tannic acid, which reduces the redness and inflammation, and also helps to soothe burning caused by razor burn. Cheap tea bags contain more tannic acid and work better than more expensive brands. To use, moisten a black tea bag in warm water, and rub over the affected area for two to three minutes. Repeat daily as needed. Tea bags are affordable and can be purchased at your local supermarket.

Baking Soda is good for alot of things and razor bump is one of them. Experts sugest dabbing the skin with a cotton ball soaked in a solution of 1 cup water and 1 tbsp. baking soda to relieve razor bumps. Allow the mixture to remain on the skin until dry, usually about five minutes, and rinse with cool water. The stinging and redness should disappear. Repeat two or three times daily as needed until the bumps subside.
Baking Soda is affordable and can be purchased at your local supermarket.

  Live positive, Be positive....love ya

will be posting more tips tomorrow.

Kenesha Berch Ennis