Making Trends your Own

    Makeup is an easy and inexpensive way for you to spice up your wardrobe and keep up with the season’s hottest trends. While some of the season’s hottest colors can sometimes seem out of reach or place in your everyday lifestyle, it’s time to take control with these  trends and make it yours no matter what. In my industry I get many clients who are in love with the collections out there. Collections that showcase palettes of neons, bright colors and even bold nudes.

    However, as stated before they can be scared to try or invest on such trends because they feel it can be too much to introduce into their activities. Some are students some are 9-5 Chicas. Obviously if you are a nurse or a secretary, a bright pink lip is probably not an option. So let’s break down the trends and figure out fab alternatives to suit any situation.

Skin

  Today’s trend for skin is sheer dewy coverage. The look of easy, breezy, flawless lightweight coverage is going to be huge this Spring/Summer season. Now many, including myself can’t always go sheer. Whether it’s because of oily or less than perfect skin, a little more coverage is practical. So for us who need to fake it, highlights are the way to go. Highlighting powders that are placed right where light can reflect, will give the look up illuminating skin. When used in conjunction with bronzers, that give a natural tan, it can give the overall look of a glowing finish. Which I think should be a staple no matter the season. And please don’t forget also a regular skincare regimen and the use of a good primer (all tailored to your skin type) can help with the success of your foundation application.

Flawless skin

Adding color with good ole’ Blush

  Blush is a great way to add color that will assist in adding shape to your face with focus on definition. While you should utilize bronzer to add a natural glow we just discussed, blush also adds definition. Spring/Summer is focusing on peaches and pinks – Bold or Subtle.  Don’t be scared, I love the look on some of my client’s faces when I try to introduce a medium bright pink blush. For one thing they think I’m insane. They don’t realize how different colors can look on skin than in a compact. I always educate my clients that a good line should have products that are buildable. Try before you past judgement. Never load up on color, always start slow and “build” to the desired effect. You can create many different looks with just one shade.  Still keep in mind the basic rules. If you suffer from redness, stay away from pink, it can make you look flush in a not so flattering matter especially if your redness flares up during the day. Peaches can help counteract that while still adding a beautiful color.

Bold Cheeks & Lip

Eyes & Lips

   To me this is where you can play. Whether going bold or neutral, focus on one feature – eyes or lips. Colors this season consists of bright neons or new metallics. Metallics are my favorite because it’s a great new way to replace shimmer with an up to date, more grown up twist. These new shades allow for a more bold effect without looking harsh. Allowing to wear these palettes easier no matter the occasion—even work!  J

   Quick example: Going to work and only have 10 mins to do your makeup routine? On eyes  use a metallic brown on lid, line with a chocolate liner and load up on lengthening mascara. Take it to night by smudging a medium brown shadow to the outer corner, line top line with black liquid liner and pump up the lashes with some volumizing mascara, focusing on the outer lashes.

  Wanna go the neon route , but want to take baby steps? Try a neutral brown lid with your bottom lid lined in your fav neon color. It’ll add a splash of spice without going overboard. You may even find yourself becoming a hot topic as the office’s new trendsetter.

Metallic lids

Bold/Neutral Lip

  For lips, if you are going for bold eyes, go neutral on lips. Perhaps one on the pink side. Topped with a gloss with a gentle shimmer (not glitter).  If you want to focus on lips, you can go for a bright pink. Not necessarily a neon pink, but one that pops. Even better, try tangerine. This color is the new red for the season. It screams summer. It’s refreshing, eye catching and completely FAB! There are now many shades of this hue to cater to any skin tone.

   Whatever your makeup advisor helps you find, or whatever trends are gracing Elle magazine, it’s all about you! How you feel in it. That you like how it looks on you. While I like to assist my clients to push their personal makeup boundaries or rather fears, it all lies on if they feel comfortable. I never want you sweethearts to purchase something you are not confident about. Without confidence, no matter how hot you look, your mood and doubt can bring down any look.

  Approach such trends or even any new purchase with an open mind. Renewing oneself is not just for celebrities. You deserve to rock anything anywhere, because YOU WANT TO. Not because a mag tells you to.

Stay Fabulous and Fierce ~~~ XoXo MiMi 

BE YOUR OWN ICON

 Hello my sweet loves. I know it’s been a while. I have been so busy with crazy things going on, but I missed you and am so glad to be back. These past few months I have learned how important self image is. So today instead of the traditional beauty news, I want to share some all important rules every Diva should know to stay fierce and true to oneself.

 Embracing one’s self is essential to basic self esteem. It’s what makes each one of us different and unique. It’s what inspires others on THEIR path. Now it takes effort to really keep yourself together. When we become lazy in aspects of our lives, it can of course affect other sides of us as well. Working on ourself insures that we put our self worth and self esteem first.

  ~Embracing yourself requires learning who you are. Feeling confident that no matter how different you seem to those around you, you have something special and amazing to offer to this world. Being different is actually the most beautiful thing you CAN offer in this society that is bombarded with cookie cutter personalities.

  ~Taking care of yourself from the inside out can help assist you in feeling your best. No matter what size and shape you are, you can feel amazing by maintaining a healthy diet that will not only nourish you from the inside, but also allow you to radiate on the outside. Remember you are what you eat. Eating foods that make you sluggish from the inside will show on your skin. So eating good stuff can kill two birds with one stone so to speak.

~Surrounding yourself with true positivity and not superficial joy. I first hand have experienced this. Through the years in my journey to learning and embracing myself, I have come across a few individuals who I thought were good for me. We got along, we shared stories, we had a few things in common, and from what I thought, we supported each other. But as time passed and I learned more about myself and what I should accept into my life and shouldn’t, I realized that these people were not for me. They were not on my team. This is where I learned the difference between friends and associates. Friends are those who always have your back. Who truly support you and not their agenda. Who push you to keep on your path and not steer you away because they don’t believe in it. Associates are those you get along with and can have fun, but are not ones you should become close to because they do not offer what your soul needs.

  This is the hardest lesson to learn. Sometimes it takes seeing this first hand to appreciate the special ones in your life (Shout out to my Bestie).

  ~Putting yourself together visually is all about how you express yourself to the world. An outfit that is put together and thought out, will assist in the world seeing you in the best light. Unfortunately first impressions mean everything. You want the world to see you as a fabulous fierce creature that they should look out for. Even if you are wearing a t-shirt, and cut-off jeans, how you wear that can mean everything from do you look like a hot mess or a hot Diva. Simply adding heels, an oversized clutch, hoop earrings and makeup can take you to superstar status even if you are just shopping at Target. It doesn’t have cost a lot of money to look refined, it’s just all about putting effort into the right details. And don't forget to smile. It's the hottest accessory to own.

  ~A little make up won’t hurt either. I am not saying you need to go the whole nine yards with your makeup. Simple things can go a long way in your image. I personally like to rock different color eyeliner for fun. I may do a simple neutral lid and put green eye liner on my bottom line. Maybe something as simple as a hot pink lip can make everyone go “Whoah!” and the smiles come pouring in. At the end it’s about getting creative with how you want to look, no matter how much time you have to devote to your daily regimen.

~Last, but not least Confidence. No matter what you are wearing, what kind of day you are having, confidence is the most powerful thing to possess that can have the most effect on your image. Again knowing who you are and what you have to offer as an individual will give you the most genuine confidence. Doing what other people are doing or trying to follow someone else’s path can make you look fake not relatable.

BE your own icon. Make your own opportunities. Be unstoppable. You alone can walk in your shoes. Make the best of it. You are beautiful, strong and worth it.

I miss you all and can’t wait to return and do what I can to support you. <3 x500000

Love you Divas

Stay Fabulous and Fierce ~~~ XoXo MiMi

Understanding your trip to the Asethetician

            Hey Babes, today I wanted to address some concerns I hear often when I meet new clients. I find that many times when I meet a new client, they express to me how their previous aestheticians don’t explain everything with them. This is serious , because clients need to trust you when you are dealing with their skin and conditions.

            Educating my clients is a huge part of my career and should be for my industry as a whole. Basic education should be 1.what is going on with their skin, 2.how they should treat it, 3. How to prevent any future conditions so as to have long lasting healthy skin. Now while that may sound simple and obvious, like with any industry, sometimes you’re not going to get the service you should. So this is why I wanted to share some info on what to expect, and some terms to learn so you can understand what your skin care professional is telling you.  Now every Asethetician works differently based on experience level and not everything needs to be done by “textbook”. This is just to assist you.

Skin Terms and Treatments:

          

   Skin Terms

-         Open/closed comedones-  Whiteheads/open: Small impaction with trapped oil, bacteria, and dead skin.

Blackheads/closed: Not dirt but rather oil that hit the air and oxidizes turning the tip black.

-         Papules- The beginning of a pustule/pimple. An inflamed follicle that appears to be a red, sore bump. Can at times disappear if the immune system fights it in time.

-         Pustules- When enough white blood cells come to fight infection it rises to the top giving the once a papule a whitehead.

-         Couperose- Small, red, enlarged capillaries on the face and other areas of the body. Usually found around the nose.

-         Hyperpigmentation- A condition that refers to areas where a larger amount of melanin (the pigment of the skin) appear due to sun damage, scaring or hormones .

-         Photo damage-  Damage to skin from sun exposure.

-         Free Radicals- Unstable oxygen atoms that go around stealing electrons from other atoms creating new free radicals. This can wreck havoc on skin for it can cause damage including cancer.

-         pH- The degree of how acidic and alkaline a product may be in relation to what it does to your skin.

-         Antioxidants- Stops free radical damage and is also used to prevent products from going rancid.

-         Acid mantle- Protective lipids and secretions on top of skin.

    
      Treatments

-         Chemical peels- Potent yet safe chemicals used to dissolve dead skin

-         Alternative treatments- Advance treatments to treat conditions that may not include peels and aggressive treatments. Suitable for sensitive or compromised skin. Sometimes used to prepare a client’s skin for more dramatic treatments.

-         Microdermabrasion- A manual exfoliation. A little more in depth than a regular scrub

-         Micro-current- A machine that mimics the body’s energy to tone muscles. With several treatments over time it’s a  great alternative to facial surgery, for it has lifting results.

-         Light therapy- The use of light rays to treat certain skin conditions including hair removal.

-         Ultrasound- The use of high frequency to help skin exfoliate or assist in the penetration of skin repairing serums.

Visit to the Asethetician

~    Consultation- This is where you should have an in depth discussion of your skin concerns, what your goals are, and any other medical conditions or meds you are on that may affect treatment decisions. Your skin care professional should listen to all your concerns while thoroughly explaining their recommendations. This is also when your aesthetician will examine your skin in depth and document what condition your skin is in.

~   Pre and post treatment home kits- Don’t think your aesthetician is trying to sell you anything. While retail is important in most salon and spa environments, using recommended products from the same skincare line of which they will be using on your skin, will help facilitate proper results and long lasting results. Pre treatment kits get your skin ready for whatever treatments you may have planned. Post treatment kits aid in the healing process to whatever you already had done, therefore giving better results. Don’t be so wary to purchase such recommended products, after all if your products at home were working you wouldn’t be seeing an aesthetician for help.

 ~  The importance of starting slow- it is very important to start slow with any treatment. For one, your skin needs to get acclimated to the products now being used, second you may have sensitivities to treatments that would have otherwise never been known if you started aggressive treatments from the start. Your aesthetician needs to get to know your skin and it’s habits. Working your way gradually will also get better results, for your skin will learn to heal better within time. It’s crucial to first work on the integrity of your skin and to get it to a healthy state before pursuing more dramatic treatments your skin may not be ready for.

~  Patience- It is very important to have patience. Your aesthetician is not a miracle worker. There is but so much they can do safely to your skin that will give results in the timeline you may want them. Many of these treatments do need to be performed several times and can only be performed after a set amount of days or weeks. Some treatments can be performed several times a week or maybe only once every 3-4 weeks. Sometimes your aesthetician may alternate treatments to get optimum results or to address mutiple concerns. Also take in consideration your budget. Maybe you won’t be able to come in when recommended, that will affect your goals.

            Now remember this is a basic list to assist you. Always use discernment when choosing a professional. You should feel comfortable with whomever you choose, again after all you are trusting them with your skin. Use this info to understand what is expected not just of the professional but also of you. Taking their advice is very crucial to getting the results you’ve been waiting for.

If you have any questions or experiences you would like to share, I would love to hear them.

Love you Dolls

Stay Fabulous and Fierce ~~~ XoXo MiMi

           

Understanding your Skin Type

    Hi my sweets, I have written past posts on having a skin routine and even how to exfoliate for your skin type. And while most of you do recognize your skin type, let’s go over the “official” clues that will help you determine yours, and how to learn what to treat.

    There are essentially 4 main skin types. These skin types are determined by pore size brought on by for the most part, genetics. Your skin type will never change because your pore size and genetics never change themselves.

4 Main Types:

~ Normal- Noticed by small to medium size pores. Skin feels clean most of the day. Never too oily and never too dry. Basically feels… normal throughout the day.

~ Dry- Pores are barely visible. They are too small to secrete a good amount of oil to help lubricate the skin. Usually feels, scaly, flaky, and tight, especially after cleansing.

~ Oily- Pores are large to even huge. Oil can practically pour out leaving a feeling of “greasiness”, shiny looking face. Can look shiny quickly after you’re cleansing. Sadly your makeup can have a “melting” effect.

~ Combination Oily or dry- Sometimes you can have a mix of pore sizes. Usually with combination, you can have normal pores around your face and have tiny or large pores on your T zones.

To take care of your skin, use products meant for your type.

Dry- use milk cleansers or heavily hydrating properties.

Oily- a tougher cleanser, sometimes gel like cleansers help strip all that extra oil for a true clean feeling.

Normal- a gentle not too harsh cleanser

Combination- whether combo/oily or combo/dry, use a cleanser that will treat the bigger problem. So combo/oily will be treated as oily, and combo/dry will be treated as dry.

Conditions you may suffer from:

~ Acne

~ Wrinkles

~ Sensitive (usually treated by gentle handling. No aggressive procedures)

~ Dehydration (it’s when your skin is seriously in need for hydration. You can be oily and still suffer from dry skin, that’s usually a dehydration issue. Upping your water intake will help with this issue)

   These are conditions. Conditions are issues that can be treated to where it stops or gets relatively better. Ex: Yes it appears more often in oily skin, but because of poor diet, products that clog pores, or even not properly cleansing dirty skin- Acne can appear and disappear on anyone.

   Conditions can be treated with home care, advance care with an Aesthetician and/or Doctor, or even surgery. Understanding your skin type and the difference of conditions, can help you understand how to recognize what products to use and how. If using a home care regimen, refer back to my blog post on Skincare 101, and remember to cleanse for your  type and repair for your condition. Usually repairing/treating conditions works with creams and serums, and you’d want to do that at night, because your skin repairs itself during sleep.

   Hope this helps you ladies, and if you have any doubt on something or questions please feel free to ask me. I would love to answer anything on your mind <3

Stay Fabulous and Fierce ~~~ XoXo MiMi