makeup & a twist out

Parabens I found at home

Ok so I thought it would be a good idea to go through my cosmetics as well as general products that are used in my house to get an idea of just how much paraben consumption is taking place in my household. I didn't do cleaning products. I will at another time. This time I just wanted to focus on the basics since not everyone wears makeup. Thankfully there were no parabens in the shampoo & conditioners I use, but they were in every type of lotion we had in the house including the baby lotion! I couldn't believe it but if the FDA doesn't have rock solid proof that there is a connection between parabens & cancer they won't take the chemicals out of our products. I would think that knowing that parabens act like estrogen in your body would be reason enough but hey all we can do is be informed and do our own research. Its time we read ingredients and become familiar with labels. Luckily there are so many different natural products being brought into the beauty industry that we have choices. I don't want to alarm anyone to the point where they feel they have to throw out all of their products. I would just suggest that when you run out of these products that you replenish your stock with natural, paraben free alternatives. I threw all of these items out because I was in a position to get more but don't feel pressured. Phase the products out that you use the most and do your own research to get what is best for you. My infant now has natural baby lotion instead of the regular brand by Johnson & Johnson. We also use an aveeno lotion which is also paraben free. I now use this instead of the Dove face lotion that I loved so dearly. Should I find a natural dove facial lotion with a smell that I like I will return. I also replaced the olive oil that I was using for his scalp & hair. Now we use tea tree oil. It is natural and paraben free. Just thought I would share. Feel free to chime in or share your own favorite products & whether or not you had any luck finding a replacement. My hope is that soon we will be free of all or most harsh chemicals and safe to grab from shelves whatever we like.

Natural Makeup - PARABEN FREE

Its being brought to our attention that many of the every day makeup brands that we all use have chemicals in them that can be linked to cancer with prolonged use. We can make smart purchases by knowing what we are exposing ourselves to and what to avoid. There are Green makeup lines that specialize in makeup that is chemical free & toxin free. There are natural makeup brands that can be purchased and are as inexpensive as drug store brands all the way up to the most popular makeup brands.

What should we do? Ok before you go crazy... don't. There are things we can do to reduce & eventually eliminate our consumption of such chemicals.

1) Instead of chemical washes use natural exfoliants & face washes. They can be purchased & even made in your kitchen.

2) No need to throw out all of your makeup collection. You can start phasing out your old makeups that have parabens & replace them with natural makeups slowly. Start with foundation, face powders, & bronzers since they are used the most on your face.

3) Read the labels. Be sure to pay attention to the cosmetics you purchase in the future & read them even if they are labeled organic. Look for paraben free makeup.

4) Always wash your face & remove all makeup before bed.

5) There are paraben free makeup products in different makeup lines. To keep from throwing out good makeup blindly, go online and read the ingredients to be on the safe side. Don't assume that you automatically have to give up your favorite brand.

Paraben free drug store brands: Physician's Formula,Loreal Bare Naturale, organic wear, burt bees, Green by nature, Avalon organics & more.

Sephora: Bare minerals, Juice beauty organics, Josie Maran, Boscia & more.

Brands such as Makeup Forever also sell Paraben free makeup such as their HD microfinish blush.

Parabens can also be found in some deodorants, shampoos & home cleaning products, so lets get in the habit of reading the labels.

Lipstick swatch & Review

I grabbed a few lipsticks from my makeup case that I've put into rotation lately. Not all of them but here are a few. I grabbed a few of the ones that are on shelves right now so that if you love it you will spend wisely. If you hate it, you'll save some money.

In order from left to right:

#735 Champagne Shimmer (Maybelline colorsensational).

This swatch is furthest to the left on my hand. You can barely see it because it is so close to my skin tone. Its very faint next to the nude shade to the right of it. This is a very sheer lipstick good for those days when you want you lips to have an understated look. Moist on lips & only minimally tinted.

#G20 from Sephora's Lip attitude Glamour line. Its nude & creamy which is why it is one of my favorites. Goes on smooth and is perfectly pigmented.

#R24 Sephora Rouge. This is a rich plum shade that is bold. This is not a favorite shade on my skin complexion. I think this shade of lipstick will look better on a warmer skin tone.

#Q425 berry bling CoverGirl queen collection

This lipstick is pretty & creamy. I love this happy medium between pink & purple. Keep in mind this is a sort of sheer lipstick, so if you are looking for a bold blunt color it doesn't pop as much as the Sephora rouge lipsticks. This is a sheer fruity looking shade.

#R11 Sephora Rouge Fuchsia

This is one of my favorites that I wear the most. Its a strong pigmented color. As far as moisture it is a medium, not too dry but not moist. This color is the perfect accessory for almost any occasion & its fun.

#S07 Star lip attitude by Sephora

This lipstick is super creamy & moist like a lip gloss. It smells great & has a sweet taste to it. This shade of bubble gum pink is perfect & looks great on anyone. Its not too bold & not too subtle with just enough shine to it.

#Q515 Paint the town Covergirl Queen collection

This is a bold red lipstick with medium moisture. It smells great & goes on smooth.

Maybelline dark red lipstick. Very creamy & moist. This lipstick is very pigmented & thick. It has a shimmer to it with a heaviness that makes it suitable for night wear. The label came off so I can't remember the product number.

#075 Let me pink by Maybelline

This is a rich rosy color, but not my favorite. This color is likely better suited for a fairer skinned woman. This lipstick is also very dry which I do not like.

celeb inspired makeup looks

Here are some celeb inspired makeup looks I've done. The newest one being Rihanna's makeup from her music video titled "Who's that girl". These are all fun, not exact but very close. I would never wear this much makeup outside because I'm not a celebrity, but it's fun to try :). I will definitely be coming back to "makeup inspired looks often since its one of my favorite themes. What's life without a challenge?

-xoxo Ffbyje'

Makeup trends for Spring/Summer 2011

As a makeup Artist, its my job to be up on the latest trends and to notice what makeup styles are current. A couple of my favorite makeup trends that have picked up lately are the bold colorful lips & flushed cheeks! People seemed to shy away from lipstick and were focusing on glosses and stains instead, but now lipstick has made a comeback in full force. Flushed cheeks were very popular in the 80's and now women are wearing a more refined version. Whether coupled together tastefully, or worn one at a time these trends are here and I'm loving it! The rule for carrying these trends out will be the same for both and that is to wear MINIMAL eye makeup in accompaniment. Back in the 80's this look was bold but was also paired with wild, colorful eyeshadow. That is where our preference differs today. We either play up the eyes or the lips, not both. With a great bold lip you don't need a lot of eye makeup. Just add a little mascara to keep you from looking washed out, but you don't even need eyeliner. This look is very fun & flirty so don't be afraid to find shades that suit you! Reds, oranges, fuschia...try them! We always showcase our eyes. Let your lips & cheeks do the talking for you this time & enjoy!

Natural Facial Scrubs: chemical free and easy to make

Thinking about buying an expensive facial scrub? Think again. There are so many different ways to make a great scrub using natural ingredients that you can find right in your kitchen. Being chemical free is a lot safer for your body and will leave your skin feeling great. We have what we need right here naturally, so why not put it to use. I used to try lots of different products on the market just trying to achieve the clearest complexion possible. It actually wasn't until I put all the chemicals down that I found my skin in much better condition. I've tried a few different homemade scrubs and the sugar/honey scrub is my favorite. Its easy to make, smells great and won't taste disgusting should you accidentally get some on your lip. Organic milk is also great to add to the scrubs if u like, but with just sugar and honey you will achieve greatness! Just use a teaspoon of honey & half a teaspoon of sugar and blend together in a bowl. Apply to the face, gently rub into face in a circular motion and rinse very thoroughly so that you remove any stickiness. Enjoy!