FYI Men: Shaving Results 101

I have been asked this question a lot and I decided I would finally post something about you handsome men and the importance of skin care in your world!

Taking care of your skin is not just for women, it is for men and women equally. So take advantage if the benefits there are for you gentlemen!

The #1 problem men have in a skin care routine is shaving and developing those terrible ingrown hairs and discomfort. When men shave, they are using a very sharp metal object along the epidermis and that cuts the hair right down and leaves a "smooth" result.

Little do they realize, that once you shave the hairs all the way to the epidermis you are actually cutting off the hair making it sharper, so you get that "prickly" feeling and when the hair is cut so short, the potential for the hair to curl under the skin has increased and that is what creates an ingrown hair.

An easy way to diminish the ingrown hairs is to use a shave oil or cream. Preferably with either salicylic acid or glycolic acid, as it will help to remove the dead skin cells. Using shave oil will help with lubricating the epidermis for an easier glide of the blade, rather then shaving gel which doesn't have the right amount of moisturizers in it and dries the skin out more!

Also, use a razor with a single blade rather then a razor with five blades. Reason is, yes you will get the closer shave with the five blades but you are just creating a problem for when your hair starts to grow in because some hair so short that it has curled under the skin's layers. Just remember to shave in the direction the hair grows! It is important!


To finish off, moisturize your face. There are a lot of skin care companies out there that have a skin care line specifically for men, so take advantage and embrace it. You dont have to have scented face products which wouldn't help anyways on trying to calm any razor burn or ingrown hairs, it will just make it worse. So pick up an unscented face cream/gel and apply that moisture back into your face that it lacks and you will look more handsome and refreshed!

Take some undivided guy time and focus on you every once in awhile. It really is worth it!

A Splash of Colour With A Compliment

We have all been in the situation, of the beautiful colours staring at us in the face, that we want to try so bad but dont have enough willpower to let our guards down and try new things.

Well let your hair down and rock it girl! Be yourself and never look back!

Whether you have blue, hazel, green, grey, brown eyes there are tons of colours that compliment and enhance your eye colours that maybe you didn't already know about.

For a natural look for brown eyes, go for colours in the neutral zone, so browns and greens. To enhance your eyes go for a dramatic look with blues and purples! But do stay away from any grey shades as they will only dull the colour of your eyes.
 




 

For a natural look for your sparkling green eyes stick to colours in the green shades and neutral tones. For an enhanced look use shades with slight red undertones (red-orange, red-violets, violet, coppers, rusts, purples). You know what will look good and what will not. Experiment. 



 

Complementing hazel eyes is a mixture between brown and green eye choices. So to get a natural look use colours in the gold family as well as neutral shades. To enhance the striking hazels, use shades in the violets/purple families.





Blue eyes can be tricky to make them pop! But for a natural look use the colours in the grey families. Also to get an enhanced look use colours like golds, orange-browns (peach/copper), red-browns (plums and mauves), and neutrals (taupe and camel).

The fun thing about colour and experimenting is nothing is set in stone and you can wash it off with cleanser and water if you don't like it. Step outside your comfort zone and use the creative imagination you were born with. Who knows, you could create a new trend for the year! Never stop being an individual and stay true to yourself.

Enjoy!!

To Streak or Not To Streak?

The headline caught your attention didn't it? I thought so!

We all know that summer is here and we need to touch up our wonderful non-tans from the winter sun so what better way, then to do it yourself at home where no UV lights or artificial lighting are involved?

A great sunless tanning lotion and it can be used by both women and men! So men, let your guard down!!

But the question I always get asked is, "How do you apply it so flawlessly without getting the horrible streaks going every which way on your body?"

Well some would say just go and get a base tan at a tanning salon which is not the answer. But a great way to ensure you get a well balanced sunless tan is to exfoliate really well with a full body exfoliant and a dry brush. By working the exfoliant into the skin with the dry brush you are only increasing your chances of removing dead skin cells and debris and enhancing your skin's radiance and balance.

Here is an analogy for you to envision:

"When you used to sit in a classroom and your teacher used to write on the chalkboard for almost 2 hours and all you did all class was take notes. The teacher started with a bare, clean slate which you were able to see the words clearly and looked nice right? Well once the teacher used the chalk brush to remove the first part of the note and left behind the old chalk and yet, wrote over top of it, you had a hard time reading what they wrote because you have the excess debris left behind." 

So what I am trying to say is, exfoliate your skin regularly so that your new skin cells can breathe properly and when you remove the dead debris and cells you will have a easy application of the sunless tanning lotion. I am not guaranteeing that you will not have streaks because unfortunately sometimes you cannot get away from that because the colour takes time to develop but you will know the areas that are streaky and you can tackle those within 6 hours to a day.

 There is no specific exfoliant that I recommend because everyone is different so you need to find one that works well for your skin type! As well as sunless tanning lotion, you want to go with the lightest shade to your skin colour because then you will gradually gain colour as you use the product. But you just have to use your own discretion.

Always apply sunscreen before stepping foot outside as well. It is very safe to apply it over top of your colour so dont think that it isn't. Your sunless lotion is NOT going to save you from the UV Rays or the potential of skin cancer. Be aware of the elements and be smart!

Here is to an amazing Summer, Beautiful Skin, Smiling Faces and Warm Sun!

Natural and Earth Friendly Cosmetics

Product Review #1 - No Miss Cosmetics

I have had the wonderful experience of trying out No Miss Ltd. Cosmetics and I'm absolutely addicted.

This article is going to be on a couple No Miss Shadows and Liquid Eyeliners.

Sebring Shadow and Tallahassee Tan

These colours are more of neutral brown tones and go with any outfit. If you want a casual yet sleek look these are great shadows for either day or night. There is no residue left over, they blend well and throughout the day you do not need to touch up anything and there is no separation from the shadow from the eyelid if applied properly.

Ingredients: Silica, Mica and Iron Oxide

Brown and Black Liquid Eyeliner

I have to say, I was skeptical at first when I noticed it was a liquid eyeliner but turns out the application of the product is smooth, due to the amazing and precise applicator brush and the colour is vibrant and you only need a little because it really goes a long way. The liner stays on all day and doesn't run which that is a product worth keeping because having makeup that runs isn't a good thing. The great thing about this liner is, if you make a mistake, you can easily touch it up with a Q-Tip that has a bit of water on the tip. Easy cleanup. 

Ingredients: Honeysuckle Flower Extract, Bergamot Oil, Green Tea Extract, Jojoba Oil, Cocoa Butter and Shea Butter

 Overall I give these products an 8/10 and hope you get a chance to try them because they are really worth the chance. 

A Little About The Company

The company has been in business since May 18, 1990 and their mission is to bring hip, hot and healthy alternative cosmetics to the world and beyond. 

They have found ways to create and develop non-chemical, non-cancerous products without harming the environment. The company is located in Boca Raton, Florida and have wonderful people representing them. 

Follow: @NoMissLtd

Website:  www.nomiss.com 

Check out No Miss on Facebook!

Keep The Pout

All my friends and family know that I have an obsession with lip balm. I still haven't figured out why but I have to admit I love to have the perfect pout!

Some of my favourites, which I will be mentioning in this article, are created by Blistex. For some reason, it is one company I can respectfully go back to every time.

My Number 3 is: 

Lip Infusion Moisture Splash 

This is definitely a great product because it puts extra moisture back onto your lips and help relieve any signs of damage from the elements outdoors.

Key ingredients in this are: Jojoba Oil, Lanolin Oil

The look of the container is intriguing as well because it has the roller ball on it so there is no mess and easy to apply. It leaves your lips feeling moisturized with the oils and doesn't leave a waxy feeling after applying it.



My Number 2 is:  

Natural Cooling Comfort

This medicated lip treatment helped me out a lot in the winter months. I experience dry, chapped lips because all the elements outside and being outside and indoors at sporting events.

Key ingredients in this product are: Menthol 0.20% (medication), Apricot Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Jojoba Oil, Pomegranate, Aloe Extract.

This product is 100% Organic under the USDA and is also 100% Natural. It is made in a recyclable tube and it goes on smooth onto your lips. You will notice a difference after a day of using it.

My Number 1 is: 

Herbal Answer
Herbal Answer combines effective protection with the moisturizing and soothing effects of natural herbal extracts. It's the herbal way to care for your lips.

 Key ingredients are: Aloe, Chamomile, Avocado, Shea Butter, Jojoba. It also has SPF 15 which will help along in the summer months.


Herbal Answer is a light, pleasant tasting balm that soothes, comforts and protects dry chapped lips.I noticed results after a day of using this product too. It heals well and with the natural properties that are combined into this tiny tube have huge benefits for healing chapped, dry, sunburned lips.

**PLEASE REMEMBER- LIPS DON'T TAN, THEY BURN!  STAY PROTECTED ALL YEAR ROUND**

Are We Buying Into Society More Then We Think?

Ever wonder how those celebrities get amazing long lashes that reach their eyebrows? Or the eyelashes that are so long and seem like there are 1000 eyelashes on each eye after she applied the mascara?

Well this is where cosmetic experts are good at advertising and marketing. Those aren't their real eyelashes and the mascara doesn't make your eyes look exactly like Drew Barrymore did in that CoverGirl commercial. We believe way too much from most of the commercials and products advertised on our televisions and the internet, to find out that it isn't what it's all cracked up to be.

The lashes that are being advertised are real and fake eyelashes put together to create an illusion that the mascara is so amazing. Too many people think that they will have eyelashes long and extreme if they pay a substantial amount of money on all these products because celebrities have used them and they look "perfect".

Society has really made it hard for every living person because we are always comparing ourselves and we blame ourselves if we don't look like the next CoverGirl who is advertising those eyeshadows or lipsticks.

Find what is right for you and enjoy it. No one is the same as you and you get to create a unique human being through everything you do so wear yellow eyeshadow, bright red lipstick, no makeup even and just be you! Don't feel pressure from the commercials or magazines. Half the time those celebrities have had some work, photoshopped, they have crazy lighting behind them and loads of makeup on anyways.

The Battle Between Hand Sanitizer Vs. Washing Your Hands

When you wash your hands you use soap and water you are removing the dirt and debris from the days activities. Correct? 

Now think about this, when you use hand sanitizer it seems like a really great idea in the little moments when you are no where near a bathroom or sink right? Well the bigger picture is that hand sanitizer doesn't really clean your hands the way they should be cleaned. Hand sanitizer is made up of mostly alcohol in a gel form and well alcohol is a very abrasive solution and really isn't the best way to clean your skin.

Where does all that dirt go after you sanitize? It doesn't evaporate into thin air like the hand sanitizer does. I see people using hand sanitizer more then they should be actually washing their hands and it bothers me because society has made it seem like it is Ok to replace actual soap with hand sanitizer.

Another key reason why using hand sanitizer isn't safe all the time is because if you use it too often you can build a barrier where it won't work for you anymore because you have used it too much. Also, alcohol is not the best solution to always be applying to your skin because:

A) It will dry your skin out and you will develop itchy and peeling skin

B) On your hands there are tiny open pores that you cannot see with the naked eye and you are allowing the alcohol to enter potentially into your blood stream and under your skin's epidermis(layers).

Please if you have a bathroom near by use that and use your soap and water rather then pumping hand sanitizer into your skin.