Trend: Skin is In

I say it all the time: better skin means better makeup.  Since the purpose of makeup is to enhance our natural features, the goal is to wear as little makeup as possible.  And this fall, it looks like the makeup trend is dewy, lush skin. The key to achieving this look is exfoliation and moisture, so get with a trusted professional if you need help creating a skin care routine.  Also, remember diet plays a huge role in how our skin behaves.

Since most of the country is still thawing out, the one product that helps when the weather is so dry my skin is literally peeling off is the Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Mask, and I use it all year on any dry spots or just for a moisture boost.

Another product that isn’t necessarily skincare, but is good for your skin, is the RMS Living Luminizer.  It gives that ever-so-subtle highlight displayed on the Fall 2015 runways.  When my face has some color, I can get away with just this and sunscreen.

Makeup-Free Day (Mostly)

I recently worked 16 days in a row.  When I had that 17^th day off, I had so much catching up to do that I didn’t even take a sip of water, so I certainly wasn’t focused on putting on makeup.  Still, the act of applying makeup is almost soothing for me, so I wanted to do a little something.  Thankfully, since I’ve started using Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pads on my face to camouflage my ghostly pallor, I didn’t need to apply anything else to my skin. Only a little concealer, bronzer, brows, eyeliner, mascara, lip gloss, and setting spray were used.  It took maybe five minutes to apply, but it was enough time to take a breath before tackling my day.

Good Skin Part II

After posting about the roller coaster that was my skin, I had some requests for my green smoothie recipe. As I stated earlier, I was introduced to the “Glowing Green Smoothie” through Kimberly Snyder, and her recipe can be found here.

My recipe makes four 16-oz. smoothies, and my husband and I both drink at least one a day.  One smoothie used to not fill me up, so I’d have some oatmeal on the side, or add flax or chia seeds directly into the blender, but now just the fiber from the fruits and greens is enough.

Also, please know that I am, in no way, shape or form, a nutritionist/nutritional coach/dietitian/etc. – just someone who wants to be healthy – so always ask a health professional before starting or changing your diet plan!

ELn Skin Saver Smoothie:

10 ounces organic greens (usually spinach or kale)

3 cups of filtered water

Juice from one lemon

½ cup orange juice (ish, I just fill it up to the 3.5-cup mark on my blender)

Blend until smooth (unless you have a super-powered blender, then you can throw everything in at once)

1 ripe banana

½  cup organic frozen berries (the fruit doesn't need to be frozen, it's just easier for me)

Blend until smooth

Pour into four 16-oz jars

Keeps in the fridge for up to four days

Sometimes I’ll swap the banana for an avocado or the berries for frozen mango, peaches, or pineapple – if you’re feeling feisty, an avocado/pineapple mix with a little fresh cilantro and a dash of cayenne powder is delicious.  Have fun experimenting, and let me know if you have any skin breakthroughs.  Enjoy!

Say What?

It all but breaks my heart when I hear someone say, “I love sparkly eye shadow but I’m over 50 so I can’t wear it,” or “Can you still do my makeup if I have {insert race} eyes/skin/features?” or “I feel gorgeous, confident, and powerful in red lipstick but it’s not appropriate for the office.” Somewhere along the way, these lovely people read or heard or were told they couldn’t do something with makeup or something was wrong with their faces and therefore they should only do their makeup a certain way or wear certain colors.  The people who spew all these “rules” are probably a) inept, b) misinformed, c) trying to sell something, or d) all of the above.

Don’t get me wrong – you need the right foundation color, and it is invaluable to know your facial anatomy to make the most of your makeup…

BUT

this is makeup.  It is not rocket science.  Obviously, if you work somewhere that doesn’t allow red lipstick, don’t wear it…

BUT

keep in mind that some of the most powerful and well-respected women in the world seem to work red lipstick into their dress codes (Condi...Hillary...Arianna...OPRAH...).

There are no rules in makeup.  Some colors and techniques look better than others, but that’s half the fun.  Do. Not. Let. Anyone. Hate. On. Your. Face.  Especially you.

Good Skin

It cannot be stressed enough: good skin is essential to good makeup.  More than that, your face is a reflection of what is going on in your body.  A few years ago I made some drastic changes in my diet.  While I believe that everything should be consumed in moderation, some things, like vegetables, should be included in our diets more than others (far easier said than done).  There was a time when I could not imagine not having some form of bread, cereal, or cow’s milk for breakfast.  I believe my (panicked) reaction was, “But what am I supposed to eat?!” You have to create a diet that works for you or it will. not. work. After about 8 years researching food and what it does to us, I came across Kimberly Snyder, a clinical nutritionist, and her book The Beauty Detox Solution.  While I follow some of her principles, that lifestyle in general is not for me.  One thing I swear by, however, is her Glowing Green Smoothie.

I started drinking a GGS first thing in the morning starting November 2011.  Snyder claims that if we eat balancing foods, they will continually cleanse our bodies on a daily basis.  While I have no definitive proof because I do not strictly follow her plan, I can tell you this without hesitation: my life and my skin have been transformed.

When I started drinking a GGS most mornings and began to eat clean 80% of the time, things started to change.  My nose was less runny; I had more energy; and most of all, my skin, which has A L W A Y S battled acne, completely cleared.

Snyder notes that when you first start a clean diet, toxins that have built up in your system will start to exit the body in different ways for different people.  This is what happened to me:

Don’t worry, it only lasted about a week.  These photos were taken in November 2011, just out of the shower with no product on my skin, and in natural light…as is this one, but taken today:

I hope you’ll consider what’s going into your body, because, clearly, it can show up on your face.  Let me reiterate:  I eat cookies, drink wine, and have a bit of an obsession with dark chocolate.  But balanced with way more vegetables at every meal, my skin is much happier.