Archive for the ‘General Beauty Tips’ Category

Reader Screams, “Help Beauty Binge!” After An Attack of Oily Skin and T-Zone Breakouts

Dear Janna,

Please help me!! With the warmer weather I’m finding that I’m oily and gross during the day (vs. some dryness during the winter). I’m  also having T-zone breakouts and I wonder if there’s a moisturizer with a little zit-fighting ability that I should switch to vs. the Boscia now that the seasons have changed? Also, I typically use drugstore Neutrogena foundation/make-up (don’t yell!), but I think it’s time to invest in some good stuff, especially with my trouble skin AND the six weddings I have to attend between now and August (ugh). Is there a brand you absolutely love? (NARS? MAC?). I think I need a consult at a counter to find the products/shades that are right for me, but I’d love to know if there’s a company you trust more than others before I shell out some bucks  

Signed,

Gettin’ Greasy in LA

Dear Gettin’Greasy in LA,

Foundation: Girlfriend are you kidding me right now?? MAC or NARS??? With oily skin?? Do you WANT to flaunt Texas oil fields for the weddings?? Or perhaps you were hoping to look like a science project as a conversation starter. Breakout central!  I am prescribing  the Jane Iredale ‘Glow Time’ Full Coverage Mineral BB Cream Broad Spectrum SPF 25 ($48).  This BB Cream has a lot more coverage than a typical BB and it is actually designed to fight oil and blemishes so its working while it’s covering.  I got the recommendation from a friend who looks like she has amazing skin but claims to be plagued with oily skin, and she insists the Jane Iredale BB Cream changed her life. And she’s being totally serious. You just better promise me that the only thing the BB Cream is going to replace is your foundation.  You know that’s my pet peeve!

Guest Post: DIY Recipe to Get Your Pucker Perfect!

Hey my lovelies!  I’m handing over the reigns today on a much needed post on how to keep your pucker perfect during the harsh winter months.  Dr. Solmaz Amirnazmi, a practicing physician specializing in internal medicine, committed to preventive medicine and passionate about writing and delicious, time-efficient cooking, is going to give you some good lip and a delicious DIY recipe!  You can read her blog “All is Well That Eats Well” here.

I like to think of my kitchen as a “Farmacy” that I stock with fresh foods and spices packed with healing and medicinal properties.  Because so many people suffer from painful chapped lips both in the winter with the harsh cold weather and winds, I decided to share my simple softening and exfoliating lip scrub.

There are many causes of severely chapped lips such as certain medical conditions, vitamin deficiencies and medication side effects.  However, common causes include dehydration, smoking and oral habits such as licking the lips and mouth breathing.  Make sure to protect your lips by using lip balms containing beeswax or petroleum.  Oil-based lubricating creams are another option.  Just make sure whichever you are using does contain sunscreen and don’t be skimpy when outside – reapply often!  Another tip is to apply a nice layer on at night before going to bed to keep your lips moist while sleeping.  A few other pointers – ingredients such as menthol, eucalyptus and camphor have been found to cause irritation.

Recipe for My Fabulous Softening and Exfoliating Lip Scrub

You will need:

-  1 tablespoon brown sugar (I prefer brown but white works as well)
-  A few drops of organic extra virgin olive oil
-  A warm towel (I moisten a towel with water, wring it out, fold and place in microwave for 10-15 seconds)
-  Lip balm (as described above)

1.  Place the sugar into a small bowl and add the olive oil drop by drop until the mixture becomes a paste-like consistency.

2.  Gently rub the sugar/olive oil scrub on your lips in a circular motion (remember, your lips are delicate so be gentle when applying).

3.  After approximately 2 minutes, gently wipe off the scrub with your damp towel.

4.  Now apply your favorite lip balm to lock in the moisture.

The result?  Soft, hydrated, healthy-looking and feeling lips!

Celebrity Blind Beauty Item: Who is Taking the Bold Brows and Big Lashes Trends a Bit Too Literally?

Guess which former pop tartlet should start being a bit more “judge”-mental about the way her makeup looks on live TV?  Thanks to an overzealous makeup artist, this star’s face looks like a battleground between warring tar-coated tarantulas (her eyelashes) and tar-coated caterpillars (her eyebrows).  When I’m watching her show I can’t help but to be distracted by waiting for her to blink to see if her lashes will seal shut like venus flytraps or if her badly drawn brows are going to start bleeding down her face.

Let’s break down what she should be doing for her hot mess of a situation:

Tarantulashes: I’m sorry, but there are only two valid excuses for not having eyelash extensions 1. Can’t spare the cash 2. Super-sensitive watering eyes.  We know #1 isn’t a problem for her and judging by the amount of eye makeup she wears I’m assuming #2 isn’t an issue either.  She should get lash extensions on the top (I highly recommend Xtreme Lashes) and Lash Dip (It’s like a 2-week natural-looking mascara) or a lash tint on the bottom.  The gloppy mess on her lashes just isn’t okay. To learn more why I’m obsessed with lash extensions click here.

Warlock Brows:  I get that bold brows are in but let’s not be ridiculous. It looks like her makeup artist took a black kohl pencil and outlined slightly outside her entire brow area and then filled both shapes in solid with the pencil.  She looks like a cartoon villain.  What her makeup artist should have done — First choose a brow pencil like Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil ($22) that matches our tartlet’s brows.  Then angle the pencil 45° and lightly feather hair-length strokes through the brows (operative word being lightly).  Then set brows with a clear gel like Anastasia Brow Gel ($21). Voila!

Can you guess who our offending pop tartlet is?  Leave a comment or email me and I’ll tell you if you’re right!