Getting ready for fall

I hope everyone is having a good summer whereever you may be!

As we get ready for fall, I thought you'd enjoy some videos of my work.

It's always a pleasure working with a great team and creating special moments.

Looking forward to seeing many of you again and meeting others.

Happy Summer!

A bientôt,

Brigitte

 

The Five Minute Makeover

Are you looking for a quick and appropriate way to do your makeup? 

Whether you're a busy mom, business woman, interviewing for a job, or just pinched for time, here is an easy and stress free way to do your makeup.  
Once you've washed and moisturized your face, follow with a good makeup primer for long lasting foundation and smooth results.
Follow with a good foundation adapted to your skin type.  Try and avoid the eye area.   

To be quick and clean I suggest using a foundation brush. Use your concealer around the eye area.  

Use a large powder brush and neutral powder to fix the foundation and matify your face.  

Keep a compact powder in your bag to touch up when you get shiny.
Find a good blush that you can wear everyday.  Gently sweep across the cheek bone and around the sides of your forehead.
For the eyes use two colors.  Apply the first color which should be neutral on the entire eye area.  Take your second color which should be a few shades darker and apply it in the crease of the eye.  You can also use this color on the lid, avoiding the brow area. 

If you want a stronger or more defined look, contour your eye with eyeliner. 

I prefer soft black, brown, navy or plum.  Now you can finish with 2 coats of mascara.
Your final step is to line your lips with a neutral color lipliner.  Choose a lipcolor that is suited to the look you're trying to create. 

Keep your lipliner and lipstick in your bag as well for touchups.
To dress up your look in the evening, you can darken the crease in the eye area and/or use a darker, brighter lipstick with gloss.

Voila, now you can relax and enjoy your day!

 

Theresa

Theresa

 

I was trying to find a theme for my next post when unexpectedly one of my best friends sent me an article.

I read one of the most touching stories and discovered a beautiful woman that I don't know.  

She has touched many, and moreso she has created a direct link to happiness using her own words and experience.

I would like to share the following story with my readers and how one courageous woman's journey can inspire us all to appreciate every day and see beauty in everything.

We waste so much time on petty things in life that we forget to see the good things around us.

A simple smile, a big hug, and kind words are so much more rewarding than material objects.

I want to thank Theresa for sharing her journey with us and touching my heart and soul.  

I am moved and inspired by her.

To me, she radiates true beauty in every form.

Please click on the following link and discover this beautiful person.

http://www.breaktheillusion.com/story/a-guest-post-by-theresa

"The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or touched, they must be felt with the heart"

- Helen Keller
 

 "The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love and let it come in"

- Morrie Schwartz
 

"People are like stained-glass windows.  They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within" 

-  Elisabeth Kubler- Ross

MAKEUP AND ACNE

 

MAKEUP AND ACNE

During a recent workshop the topic that kept coming up was acne.  I have been there myself.  There's nothing worse than that feeling of being self conscious.  Waking up on an important day to acne or a pimple can be so stressful.
Makeup can help cover up the problem but in other cases it can accentuate it as well.  Everyone is different so the solution isn't easy to find right away.

I think the most important thing for everyone to remember is to wash your face properly everyday.

Many people do not wash their face before going to bed leaving traces of makeup.  It is essential to clean the face and neck with a cleanser adapted to your needs and skin type.

Gel gives a nice squeaky clean feel to the skin, cream for a dry skin craving moisture or a traditional face  bar soap.  If possible, follow with a toner to help your pores and moisturizer.

I suggest to my clients to do an inexpensive deep pore cleaner every once and a while using a chamomile tea bag and a few drops of lavender essential oil.  Put both in boiling water, wrap a towel around your head and let the steam penetrate your skin for at least 10 minutes.  Many blocked impurities will release and the aroma itself is heavenly while being very subtle and calming.

When purchasing makeup, many people just buy without really knowing what certain terms mean.

Non-comedogenic makeup is designed to prevent breakouts and reduces pore blockage.  It you are allergic to makeup or have acne, this could be a great solution for you.

Acne prone skin should avoid liquid makeup and stick to powder.  Powders also have the added bonus of helping absorb excess oil.  Many liquid makeups contain oil which is not for everyone.

If you see that your makeup is creating a reaction, allergy or your acne is worse, try something else.

I suggest to my clients to try it for a few days and see.  Then wait a few days and see what happens when you don't use it.  Switching brands is very common and a good way to see which ones your skin tolerates.  In certain cases, even non-comedogenic can irritate extremely sensitive skin so don't worry.

Proper hygiene with your makeup applicators and makeup brushes is also a must.  Bacteria on your skin can come from there and create acne.  Get in the habit of washing your brushes and applicators with baby shampoo, makeup brush cleaner or even a antimicrobial soap regularly.  Another option is disposable applicators which are easy to find.

It's definitely not easy to deal with bad skin especially if your big day is coming up, or you just aren't finding a solution in general.

Take into consideration that stress, pollution, diet, hormones and climate can contribute to your problem.

If your problem persists, go to see a dermatologist and leave your skin alone for a few days.

 

We are all beautiful flowers

We are all beautiful flowers
(click and listen )

 

I believe that we are all beautiful flowers in one way or another.

Beauty on the inside reflects the beauty on the outside.

I wanted to share this special song with my readers and thank you for being you and believing in me.

The best part of beauty is that which no picture can express.  
- Francis Bacon

Beauty is everywhere a welcome guest.   -Goethe

 

Fabulous at 50!

One of the most important changes that occur as we get older is the skin's texture. It's a great idea at any age to exfoliate dead skin cells and keep your skin glowing.  Always moisturize afterwards.
Many women turning fifty tend to look better with less makeup on.  
Foundation should be light and applied sparingly in the same color as your natural skin tone.  Use a concealer that is lightly textured and be careful with the color.  Going too light will give a gray appearance.  Make sure that you powder lightly afterwards.  I tend to use a powder brush to apply it evenly all over the face and not have any blotching.
If you have a few more lines around the eye area, avoid frosted colors and try to go more for a matte look.
Flashy or vivid colors should also be avoided.  Eyeliner should be kept on the upper lid to avoid a heavy look.  Follow with mascara.  Choose a natural rose or beige color blush to enhance your cheek bones.  No need to create apple cheeks.
Finish with a pretty soft , natural colored lipstick to finish your look.  If you've created a natural eye then you can go darker and deeper for your lip color.  It's a good idea to line your lips first to avoid lip bleeding from your lipstick.  
If you have this problem, powder your lips before applying the lipliner and lipstick.

How to keep your brows looking good

How to keep your brows looking good

The brow area helps open the eyes and gives your face the appearance of being well cared for.
You need to first find the right shape which in my opinion should be done by an expert.  Once you've gotten the right look, you can easily keep the shape.  Eyebrow waxing can be done in a salon in a matter of minutes!
Keeping your eyebrows looking good is not difficult but needs regular maintenance.  You can tweeze them all by yourself with a good tweezer and magnified mirror.  Be sure to do your tweezing in a well lit area and don't go overboard.
The inner part of your brow should be thicker than the outer edge.  Make sure the area from the arch going outwards tapers off gradually.
Thickness of the brows depends on your features.  Always maintain your natural arch.
Brows that are too thin don't look natural and on most peope don't look good.  Brows need to look neat and well shaped. 
When you begin plucking, never tweeze hairs above the brow to shape them.  Stray hairs are the only thing you should be plucking!
Pluck hairs from the underside of your brows one hair at a time, and pluck hairs in a row.  Pluck the hair in the direction that the hair is growing and stay close to the skin. 
It's a good idea to stop and check yourself in a regular mirror to make sure you're even.
If for some reason you've overplucked, don't worry because the hair grows back within 2 weeks.

To avoid bacteria from building up, it's a good idea to take a q-tip or cotton ball with toner or alcohol when you're done.  You can rub an icecube on the area plucked to reduce any puffiness.

If you have areas on the brow missing, sparse or not growing, no need to worry.  Eyebrow pencils and shadows are wonderful and look very natural.  Try not to go much darker than your hair color.
You can easily fill in the area and have that natural look you want.
There are also brow mascaras on the market which are great to keep the shape in line and enhance the color a little.  I am not a big fan of liquid brow products being they tend to get messy.
I do however use clear brow mascara frequently on my clients to give a polished look to the brow and keep those babes in line.