Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Beauty Hangover Cure

Oh My! Is that what you are saying as you look in the mirror after a late night? Or after a bad nights sleep? Well here are a few tips and tricks to help you look and feel more refreshed!

-Wash your face thoroughly and remove any makeup, surface oil or dirt that you might have left on your face from the night before or that has accumulated during sleep.

-Heavily Moisturize your face by softly patting it into your face, using the warmth of your hands to help it absorb into the skin and to create a shield from any other further elements that can dehydrate your skin during the day. Try to use a moisturizer that has some brightening properties in it to give you a glow. I like Vital Boost by Goldfaden MD. It not only moisturizes well but it delivers a glow to all skin types.

-Lips feeling dry. This usually is a sign of dehydration. After you help yourself to some water. Apply some Vaseline to your lips to help heal your chapped lips.

-Now on to the Tell Tale sign of a long night or sleep deprivation. Your eyes! Use your best depuffing eye cream. I would suggest Origins Ginzing eye cream not only to depuff your eyes but because it also brightens the eye area to make you look more awake. And it works fast. Clinique All About Eyes also works quick to depuff. Here's a tip: Keep your favorite depuffing eye cream in the Fridge for a nice cool eye treatment. I keep my Origins "No Puffery" in the Fridge for those extra under eye puffy days!

-Perhaps you have found yourself in a stage that is beyond what any eye cream might be able to help do. Your not out of luck! Put two spoons in the refrigerator to get cold and than place them over your eyes to depuff. Or use Green, Black, or Chamomile tea bags on your eyes. Steep them in hot water for five minutes. Than cool them in the refrigerator until they are cool. And than place them over your eyelids for fifteen minutes. The tannins and caffeine in the tea bags will help to depuff.

I hope these tips help and leave your looking and feeling the Best that you can!!

SikGlam

Sunday, December 30, 2012

New Years Facial

Oh No!

New Years is quickly approaching! You might have a New Years Eve Party to go too. You might have made some Beauty and Skin Care resolutions you want to get kick started! Well here is a simple facial that can get you started.

I want you to remember if your want you makeup to look good, your skin MUST look good! I remember being in my early twenties and and I was having my makeup done at Dior. I would always want to buy some of the makeup they used after, because I would love to bring it home after to recreate the look. I remember the makeup artist saying to me "you can buy color anywhere, skincare in what you need to invest in."  I thought to myself "oh they just wants me to buy skincare because it costs more". But as time went on and I learned more and more about makeup and skincare. There words were never truer.  Because not only will your makeup go on better. But you skin will look younger, be more youthful, look more refreshed, and it will age more gracefully. I am so glad I started using excellent skincare products in my early twenties.  Not only because my skin is in excellent shape now, but also because I couldn't forecast the future and that I was going to have health issue later down the line.  Which would lead to me now having to pay even more attention to my skin than someone else in their early thirties.

Now on to this Glamorous New Years Facial! I hope to make it simple, quick and easy. I am only recommending products that are going to work, especially ones that you are going to see results on your face immediately in case you want to do the facial before a party.

Ok, here we go.

First and foremost, start off with a clean makeup free face. I would use my favorite one step cleanser Purity by Philosophy. It is so pure and gentle, it can remove face and eye makeup all in one. What a time saver!!!

Than do some light and gentle exfoliation. To slough off that dead and dry skin that has built up this winter. I would recommend using Demalogica Multivitamin Thermafoliant. It is a powerful skin polisher that activates upon contact to enhance penetration of age fighting ingredients into the skin. If your face is not in need of a good exfoliation, than just be very gently when applying it in circular motions.  Bonus: It contains no artificial color or fragrance.  (Good because certain products with a Strong fragrance can cause headaches).  You don't need a headache before New Years! Here is an extra tip:  I would also take a damp face cloth and very gently rub your lips to get off the dead skin that has also built up.

I would than apply Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque. It is concentrated with vitamins A, C, E and F, to help skin recover from damage that can lead to skin aging while promoting healthy tissue regeneration. Once again, it contains no artificial color or fragrance,  I would apply this generously to the face and neck and avoid the eye area.  (It is probably the most moisturizing masque I have come across that works in that little of time). Let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing off. Remember to always pat your skin dry with a soft towel. Never ever rub it dry. Be very gentle with your skin.

After the masque, I would tone my skin and apply my favorite serum.  Remember to always let your serum sit on your skin for at least ten minutes before you apply your moisturizer.  You really want your skin to fully absorb the serum and all its ingredients. There are so many excellent toners and serums on the market. That I would use one that is suited to what you are doing after your facial.  If you are going to a party.  I would recommend Lamer's Radiant Infusion and Radiant Serum.  To enhance you skin's radiance. If you are just looking to relax.  I would use something more moisturizing such as Lamer's Hydrating Infusion and their Regenerating Serum (for a added bonus of some anti-aging forces to sit on the face over night).  If you are looking for a more budget friendly toner and serum, I would recommend the Boots N 7 Protect and Perfect Serum and their Expert Gentle Sensitive Toner.

As the serum is siting on the face this would be a good time, to do a eye mask. I would recommend Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. It is amazing what these stick on under eye patches can do it just ten minutes and the results last. If you are looking for a more budget friendly eye treatment and one that is easier to find.  I would use Earth Therapeutics Rejuvenal- C Orange Eye Pads and perhaps if you are going to a party their Recover-E Cucumber Eye Pads to Soothe and Replenish the next morning. I know Kohl's and Ulta Beauty both carry Earth Therapeutics. I would also use this time to apply a heavy Lip Balm and really massage it in to the lips and just above. I would recommend Lamer the Lip Balm. But if you are looking for a more cost effective lip treatment.  I would use some Aquaphor Healing ointment, available at most drugstores. It is also great for dry spots on the face and body.

I would than seal my serum in with my favorite moisturizer by Lamer "Creme De La Mer". I have been using it for close to 9 years and when people ask me, what I use on my face or how is it in such good condition. I say one word "Lamer".  If you do not have Lamer. Than use your favorite facial moisturizer that has the most moisturizing properties in it.

Last but certainly not the least. I would apply my favorite eye cream. I use La Mer the eye concentrate.  I used to think it was a complete waste of money until I stopped using it and saw the results. That is when you truly know if a product is working for you. Use it up and than see it the next product works as well. I also love Boots N 7 Reviving Eye Gel after a Facial. There are so many eye creams that do so many different things out there. That will be in a blog to come...:)

And if you start to feel stressed, grab your favorite moisturizing hand lotion, and give yourself a 3 minute hand massage!

Well Happy New Year and I hope your skin Feels Healthy, Refreshed, Soothed and as soft as ever! Remember to treat your skin well this year and you will see the results!!!!

SikGlam

Saturday, December 29, 2012

YSL Touche Eclat Foundation

I eagerly awaited the arrival of YSL's Touche Eclat Foundation. Having been a fan of the Touche Eclat Radiant Touch Pen for over five years, I was thrilled when I heard they were launching a foundation. I was first in line early this August to get my hands on the miracle in the making, I had so been longing for. I was there before the YSL counters had even had time to place their displays out yet to promote the new foundation. I had been pacing for days (in my head, lol) just waiting for the U.S. launch. Than the day finally came. I woke up, threw my hair in a bun and raced to the store in my p.j.'s. And there it was, glowing like gold in front of me! The lovely lady working at YSL helped me find my color match. I got a tad lighter than I usually go for in foundations, since the fall was quickly approaching and I wouldn't be self tanning as much. So I chose Beige 40. The color was almost too perfect of a match. I believe I would have purchased Beige Dore 50, had it been the beginning of the summer. The foundation is everything it promised to be and more. It leaves your face with a luminous glow that contours your face and brings out your features but in a good way. It does not leave a heavy foundation feeling on your face, it feels like pure heaven! It is formulated without any opaque fillers (like many liquid foundations) which leads to a more pure radiant finish. I can wear it alone without any other blushes, bronzers, or highlighters and feel made-up and glamorous (which is amazing on saving time and energy)! And bonus, it has a SPF of 19! I now know why YSL took over ten years to launch it! They wanted perfection and boy did they get it! I applied it with a foundation brush and had to do absolutely no extra blending after application. Usually after I apply my Go To favorites (Chanel Vitalumiere, Nars, Clinique, Illamasqua, Rimmel), I either have to buff the foundation in with a buffing brush, Stippling Brush, or my new favorite my Urban Decay Optical Blurring Brush or even my beauty blender to create that flawless finish. I was amazed as the Touche Eclat glided on my skin and left a flawless coverage with barely any effort. My skin was left glowing and radiant. Than I took it for a test drive, I wore it all day and it did not let me down. It kept going like the energizer bunny! It did not budge and neither did the radiance! So if you are looking for a new foundation or just feel like you need a new look. I know that when I get bored with my makeup, simply a new foundation can help create whole new looks to go along with my existing makeup. I know that the foundation is pricey, right around the same price as Chanel and Dior Foundations. But I believe it is well worth the price. And if your on a budget, Loreal True Match Lumi Health Luminous Makeup is a Great Substitute. And as I do sometimes, if you don't want to invest in the foundation until you are absolutely sure that you love it. Ask to be colored matched at sephora or a department store and ask for a sample. It will be enough for you to try out at home for a few times to see how you like it and see how wonderful it looks with all your makeup applied with it. I know you won't be disappointed!

Thanks,

Sik Glam

Update:

It is now December and the Foundation is Still Amazing...

A Good Drug Store Dupe for the
Touche Eclat Foundation!