Busy Mommy Media» Makeup

6 Little Green Steps to Green Your Beauty Routine

Sommer — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 05:24:26 +0000

Alright ladies, I know you have a vanity full of bottles, sprays, brushes and creams that will of course make you look your very best every day – right? I do and some of these are better for me than others (a few are so toxic I’m not sure what to do with them)! So how about getting serious this Earth Day and greening our beauty routine for Mother Earth and ourselves?

Inventory Time. What do you actually use each day and what do you have from five years ago that can probably be thrown away or recycled? Read the labels, look for expiration dates and if a container can be recycled rinse it well and recycle the bottle or container. Check Earth 911 to see if you can safely get rid of your old nail polish, hair spray and other not so eco-friendly items.
What is Safe? What are you using that you actually need or use and how safe is the product? Check out the Skin Deep Data Base and get the 4-1-1 on product safety. Skin Deep takes a look at eye make-up, lip stick, sunscreen and everything in between. Did you know that there could be mercury in your mascara? The data base lets you search individual ingredients or products by their name. If you wear contact lenses it is especially important to choose eye makeup that is safe.
Do Not Freak. After doing some research on the products you are using it could be easy to freak out but don’t! Instead begin replacing your products with safer options on the market. Using this handy guide free from Skin Deep will make life easier as you begin replacing products one-by-one. Try Aveda, ecostore USA, Juice Beauty, Revolution Organics and Natures Basin for starters.
Natural and Organic. Understand what this means and read the labels; don’t just be fooled by the marketing before you buy. Natural usually means derived from plants (though this word is thrown around loosely) and organic means these plants have been cultivated without fertilizer or synthetic ingredients and nasty pesticides. There are strict rules for any product that claims to be organic and bears the USDA organic label.
DIY. Make some of your own products at home with simple ingredients you can find in your kitchen! Lemons, olive oil, sea salt, sugar and eggs can do wonders for the skin, hair and body! A few great recipes can found at the Daily Green, Simple Mom and Pink Perfection! It will be fun to save money, wash your hair, scrub your body and then make cookies with the same ingredients!
Whiten Your Teeth Naturally! Oh, the pearly whites are everywhere nowadays with the lighting products on the shelf but did you know all you need are strawberries? Yes, strawberries! Check out what you need over at Green and Clean Mom and ditch the over the counter products!

For more green tips and ideas on going green visit, Sommer Poquette over at Green and Clean Mom. Her blog that makes living green fun and achievable! Join her over on Facebook and Twitter and check out her newMy Mommy is a Blogger children’s book debuting the spring of 2011!

Top Ten Beauty Products from Head to Toe for Spring/Summer 2010

Kimberly — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 07:01:57 +0000

With Spring all ready here and Summer rapidly approaching its time to get our beauty butts in gear! As the seasons change so do our beauty regimens. Your hair, skin and make-up react differently as the weather heats up so now is the time to change your beauty routine from head to toe. Below is a list of my top ten beauty products that will keep you beautiful all summer long.

The added sun exposure, wind, saltwater and chlorine can wreak havoc on your hair. You need something that will protect your hair and shield it from becoming brittle, unmanageable and discolored during the spring and summer months. Phyto Phytoplage Protective Sun Veil is made with sunflower extract, white lotus flower extract, sweet almond and illipe butter. These ingredients work together to provide a protective filter for the hair fibers, maintain moisture, restore volume, shine and suppleness.

As the weather warms up many of us kick our usual foundation to the curb and go for a light weight tinted moisturizer instead. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15 is the perfect solution. It is a moisturizer, sunscreen and luminizer all in one! The formula blends perfectly and the subtle shimmer and pigments work well to even the skin’s tone. Easy to apply, and a great way to achieve a quick overall look in one simple step.

For those that really can’t live without going the foundation route I highly recommend using B are Escentuals I.d. Bare Minerals Get Started Kit. The kit contains two shades of bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation, Mineral Veil, Warmth All Over Face Color, Full Flawless Face Brush, Flawless Application Face Brush, Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush and a How To DVD. I have been using this kit for years and it really conceals all of my facial flaws while adding depth and dimension to my face. I can’t live without Warmth or the Mineral veil. In my opinion the only thing missing from the kit that gives an all over radiant glow is Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Radiance Clear Radiance I love the way that it brightens my face and gives it a soft glow. I am continually told that I have great skin when I know that the secret isn’t great skin but great mineral make-up.

Spring and Summer eyes are all about the shimmer! Urban Decay Metallic Glitter Eyeshadow Intense Shadow is just the thing to do the trick! Urban Decay’s eye shadows are rich in pigment and loaded with color. There are very few binders so it blends easily and lasts for hours. They can also be applied wet for a more intense color. The trend this season is to apply a bright color underneath the lower lashes for a punch of color that is different from the upper lid. Urban Decay shadows can be applied wet with a fine tipped brush just like liquid eye liner for this dramatic look.

Lip gloss is a staple of summer and one of my all time favorites is Lancome Juicy Tubes Ultra Shiny Lip Gloss Lip Glosses. There are tons of flavors and colors to choose from and they are all pretty yummy! My favorite is Dreamsicle. The application is smooth and simple with the tube tip applicator – no messy wands, easily applied on the go. This ultra shiny gloss glides on for the most perfect pout.

The perfect manicure is a must have! I absolutely adore the OPI Hong Kong Spring/Summer 2010 Tiny Takeouts Mini Nail Lacquers. This great sample set is features the hot and modern colors for the Spring and Summer seasons. This tiny little four pack of nail polish mini’s feature three colors and a top coat. The colors in the set include: Red My Fortune Cookie, Dim Sum Plum, Suzi Says Feng Shui and the RapiDry Top Coat. All perfectly packaged in a cute little faux take out box!

One thing is certain, as the temperature rises we tend to drop our clothes. You know what that means – bathing suit time is a comin’! Getting prepared to show off your goods has just gotten easier. The Bliss-Philips Bikini Perfect Deluxe HP6378 Spa-At-Home Grooming System is exactly what you need to get your bikini area ready for show time. This deluxe set features convenient cordless wet and dry operation that offers super precision and less irritation. The set includes six different attachments and blissful spa salves so that grooming is a breeze and your body stays soft, smooth and soothed. The ultimate combination of function and glam all in one!

If you are at all like me, your legs haven’t seen the light of day since last summer. To keep from blinding anyone with the whiteness of my legs I like to use Bare Escentuals Faux Tan to make it appear that my legs have a gorgeous summer glow. The light coconut scent is great smelling and not overpowering at all. Simply apply it dry skin and you will be amazed at how smooth it feels, leaving no spots or streaks, this is the best self tanner that I have ever seen.

Flip flop and sandal weather mean showing off your perfect little piggies. It can be very embarrassing if your feet are rough and dry. To get your toes in tip top shape use the Tweezerman Pedicure Solution Kit for the perfect pedicure. This upscale kit includes a clipper, cuticle nipper, stainless steel pushy/cleaner, callus stone, pedicure files and a wooden pedicure stick all rolled up in an attractive embroidered storage case. Great for home or on the go.

Once you have spent the time clipping, trimming and filing you will want to maintain those smooth and soft sexy feet with some Philosop hy Soul Owner Exfoliating Foot Cream. This overnight foot treatment provides immediate results for dry and cracked skin. The cooling formula also relieves tired, puffy feet. Using this exfoliating foot cream on a regular basis will ensure that your feet remain supple and sexy through out the summer.

My top ten head to toe beauty products for Spring and Summer are sure to get your hot bod ready for all that hot weather fun. I know that these products will help you feel confident, glamorous and sexy inside and out. Honestly, what could be more fun than that?

Jenulence Mineral Makeup – Giveaway!

Julia — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:56:13 +0000

Congratulations to quiverfullfamily, the winner of the Jenulence Mineral Makeup giveaway!

I am a big fan of mineral makeup! It is all natural and great for your skin. It is so good for your skin because they should have no fillers, no artificial dyes or preservatives which is especially great if you are prone to break outs.

I recently tried Jenulence Mineral Makeup. The Jenulence line of makeup is all natural and also has no nano-particles, micronized minerals or FD&C, D&C or Aluminum Lake dyes (things that can irritate your skin and cause break outs!) And is water and sweat-resistant, hypoallergenic, doesn’t clog the pores, and delivers complete sun protection.

Jenulence Mineral Foundation

Jenulence mineral foundation powder has a soft and smooth application with great, long lasting coverage so you don’t need an additional liquid foundation or to reapply several times a day. They have a variety of shades for different skin tones to choose from so you can make a perfect match.

Jenulence Mineral Eye Shadows

I loved the Jenulence eye shadows. I tried the Shimmer Powder in Silver Pink and Latte, these two colors had deep color and pigmentaion so I didn’t have to apply several coats to get a great look. Also, the available colors in the Shimmer Eye Shadow powder line had a fun variety of shades and colors to choose from. I would definitily recommend trying this line of Mineral Makeup, especially because they are well priced and very good for your skin!

This Giveaway Has Ended.

Should you try Maybelline’s NEW Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara?

Julia — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:51:51 +0000

I think you will either love it or hate it, but you will never forget the experience of putting it on. I personally did not like the mascara and found it annoyingly ticklish and hard to handle. To apply you hold down the button on the wand while the brush is vibrating “7,000 times per stroke”. It made my eyes water from the extreme tickle it produced and I could hardly finish putting on the first coat due to the tears in my eyes! I managed to get it on both eyes and wore it all day only to find it was flaky leaving little black specks of mascara all over my face. Disappointing!

Maybelline’s New Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara promises to:

Provide clump-free definition, intense color, and shine
Builds lash volume, length, and adds curl
Buildable formula

I didn’t find any of those promises to be true. I found that along with the intense tickle and watery eyes, it actually clumped some of my finer more fragile lashes together making them look wet and sticky. Call me old school, but I prefer the “wiggle method” of applying mascara, I find that I can control the definition and volume I want from a mascara when I am wiggling the brush gently back and forth during application.

I wish I could say I loved it, I so wanted to love it, but I hated it! It cost me 14.99 at Walgreens, the next morning I returned it and got my money back! (Thank goodness Walgreens takes back Cosmetics!)

Beauty on a Budget – Mascara Tips

Beauty on a Budget – Mascara Tips

Julia — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:48:52 +0000

Finding the best mascara doesn’t have to break your budget. You can make your lashes look great by using some simple tips and techniques.

Dear Julia,

I guess it’s my turn for a fluff question. What is everyone’s favorite mascara? Mine is almost gone and I don’t love it. I need something that can help with my not-so-long, not-so-thick eyelashes and that will accent my eyes without making me look completely fake. Any ideas? I will be having dinner and lunch next week to meet some of my husband’s colleagues and I’m a bit nervous about what to wear, how to look, etc. Kind of silly, but it’s true. Maybe a new mascara would take away some of the butterflies. Or maybe not thanks in advance for any advice!

Jen

Dear Jen,

First, please do not use waterproof mascara. It is made of a similar ingredient as tar and it is terrible for your lashes. Your lashes will break and fall out easier with the waterproof stuff! If you want more details, email me later.

Second, you don’t need a pricey brand to make your lashes look great. Most professional makeup artist, and I know a few personally, they don’t even use expensive high-end brands. You are only paying for the brand name not a better product most the time. For example, Lancome also makes Loreal, their ingredients are the same, and they have very few differences, which are the pigment levels. Also, the guy who did the makeup for Sex and the City did my makeup for a demo and he used an everyday brand you can buy at any drug store. It is the way you apply the mascara that matters more than what the brand is.

Third, you can try lash extensions, they are awesome! They are applied lash by lash and last up to 2 months. They are not like false lashes, these are a semi permanent and awesome. If you would like to read more about them, read Eyelash Extensions: The Next Big Thing in Beauty.

Fourth, you also can try a serum for growing and strengthening the lashes naturally. There are tons of these on the market, if you would like a few recommendations, email me and I can give you a few. I recommend the following steps to make your lashes curly. When you curl you lashes, (if you do), a trick is to heat the curler with your blow dryer for a few seconds and then curl…. Make sure the curler is not too hot; I always check it with my fingers and then my lips to see if it is too hot
there. If you do this, you will actually set the curl, just like your hair sets with heat. (like a curling iron) Also, always curl lashes before you apply mascara, never after.

The mascaras I recommend are:

1. Loreal HIP Mascara in Black, it is a high intensity pigment mascara, it has a nice thick
brush like one you would find in a Lancome mascara. It doesn’t clump or run or flack, it
is my new favorite, and I love this mascara. It will give you length and volume and
intensity. Apply a second coat for more dramatic results.

2. I also recommend Loreal Voluminous for the same dramatic effect.

3. I have tried the new Covergirl Volume Exact mascara; it has a unique patented
rubber brush. It has a similar designed brush as Maybelline Define-a-lash
mascara. Personally, I like them. It applied clean with no clumps.
Sincerely,
Julia Deaver- Master Esthetician

Do you have a beauty question for Julia? Send a message to Julia.

“O-Gloss” – Love Your Lips

Kelly — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:46:26 +0000

Some women wake up and look radiant everyday and then there are the rest of us that need to add a little pizzazz to make us feel fresh and rejuvenated to start the day. I was having lunch with my friend last week and she pulled an O-Gloss out of her purse and informed me that this was the best lip gloss around. The little pink tube had to have “magical ” powers from the way she was reacting. So I listened to her because I love getting tips from friends and went searching for this perfect lip gloss by Smashbox called O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss

The O-Gloss Intuitive Lip Gloss is available online at Nordstrom’s, Sephora and the Smashbox websites. The tube is $22 and I was skeptical because it comes in only one color and I did not want to shell out that kind of money on bubble gum pink lip gloss. But I listened to my friend and it was a good thing because she was right. The lip gloss glides on clear and then begins to darken. Smashbox markets the change as a physical reaction with your skin’s chemistry to come up with the perfect shade. Goji Berry-C Complex™ is made up of vitamin C, pomegranate seed oil and marine plankton which altogether provide the “blushing” effect to color your lips. Goji Berry is a Chinese medicine, also known as wolf berry, and provides antioxidant protection.

This product must be great to have received the Allure Reader’s Choice and Best of Sephora awards. Smashbox online store allows you to choose a free jumbo product sample to try and offers free shipping.

So what have you got to lose? Next time you are looking for something special for you, try this product and go get your O-Gloss on!