Makeup: A Transformation Tool

Today's rant comes from seeing beautiful women constantly questioning how beautiful they really are because they look nothing like the celebrities we idolize on tv or the big screen.  The truth is that there are many reasons they look so amazing!  Lighting, camera... and makeup!

A lot of people feel that we should embrace our natural beauty and I tend to agree.  Even when I give makeup tips, I always tell people that makeup isn't something you should rely on to perfect your flaws.  It's something you use to enhance the beauty you already have!

Makeup should be worn to embrace our natural beauty.  But there are also times when makeup is used to transform you!  It's ok to do this once and a while and experiment.

Makeup, if used in the right way, can change the shape of your face.  It can draw focus to your most fabulous feature!  It's almost mind blowing how much it can change the way you look.

The concern I have for the women in our culture, young and old, is that we have been raised to believe that beauty is measured by the starlets who grace our screens. We see these celebrities with their perfect cheek bones, perfect skin and wish we could look just like that, thinking they look like THAT, all the time.  The truth is, they don't. They aren't any less human then the rest of us.

I'm not saying they aren't naturally beautiful, because they are.  But they aren't perfect, nor do they look perfect all the time.

As a society we need to embrace our natural beauty and learn that makeup is exactly that, a way to make you up!  

I know I am really minimizing the creativity behind creating a makeup look but I cannot emphasize how important it is to work on embracing your inner beauty as much as you work on your outer beauty.

Here are just a 'few' examples of how much makeup can do for someone!

Take the time to think next time you compare yourself to a glammed up celebrity!

It's Sun Kissed, Not Dorito Raped

So I took a little break from the blog and decided to start up again with a little rant of mine......



Spring is fast approaching, and thus will be followed by summer.  This time of year sparks a fire in us to start getting our tan on so we aren't glow in the dark pasty in our swim wear.

Despite it still being frigidly cold I am starting to see more and more fake and bake women out there.

There is a point to which you start looking less and less sun kissed and more and more like you were ganged banged by bag of Zesty Cheese Doritos.  If you look more orange then not, stop applying bronzer, tanning oil, self tanners or what have you.

I do feel that applying a little bronzer and/or self tanner gives you that healthy sun kissed glow is a makeup must have for summer.  In this case, less is definitely more!

I hope I don't have to rant about the effects tanning beds and UV rays from the sun have on your health!  I can't even begin to say how unhealthy it is for you!  Not to mention it defeats the purpose of wanting that youthful glow.  Tanning ages your skin!  If you want wrinkles, this is the way to do it.

Obviously the perfect shade of tan is going to depend on your natural skin tone.  But I thought I would give you some do's and dont's in a visual manner:

Sun Kissed Dos:

A beautiful healthy glow that look natural. These ladies are doing it right!

 Sun Kissed Dont's:

When you need to apply excess make up to push through the tan, or the tan is red or orange. You've gone too far.

 And just to prove my point, I thought I would leave you with a couple of examples of how this obsession can get out of control:

I'm not normally this aggressive when it comes to personal expression.  I believe everyone has a right to express themselves in their own true fashion but there is a point there the expression is unhealthy!

Copper Glimmer Look - How To

Masquerade Girl

How Young is Too Young For Makeup?

A friend of mine told me her daughter is asking about makeup and wanting to wear it.  Her daughter, being 8 years old, is too young to doll herself up.  She asked me if there is any kind of compromise in regards to wearing makeup?

 I remember wanting to wear make up myself around that age, I didn't start until I was 10.  My mom was often hesitant about wanting to let me wear makeup as well and couldn't understand why I wanted to.  For kids in my generation we always watched our moms do their makeup and we often see something of a transformation both in appearance and behavior.  So tell me, what little girl wouldn't want to be like their moms, especially when they are at their most confident?  Of course, I can definitely see the point a mom would want to make, that you are beautiful without it and to embrace your natural beauty!

So what did I wear at 10 years old?  Clear mascara and lip gloss!

Covergirl Clear Mascara

This was a great way to make me feel I was getting dolled up with out looking way older then I needed to at 10.

It enhanced my natural eyelashes without all the goopy black stuff I live for today!

Covergirl isn't the only brand to carry clear mascara, this is just the brand I used.

 Any Lipgloss will do but I used a picture of Lip Smackers because they have such a wide variety to choose from, including sparkly ones!

Again, this product works to enhance their natural beauty but still allows her to apply her own make up!











The most important thing you can teach your daughters is proper face washing and personal care!  The healthier her skin is, the less make up she will want to wear! We hope ;)

Take care!

Keeping Your Face Clean

Here are some of my favourite tips when it comes to daily skin care!

There is a lot of information out there when it comes to how to clean the skin on your face.  And for the most part you will need to find what works best for you and your skin type.  Just like with exercise and good eating habits, consistency is key.  

As a kid, my grandma always made me wash my face before breakfast.  She said it's a good way to wake you up, but I think washing your face every morning did more then that. Especially since even at 80, my grandma has beautiful skin.  Of course she was consistent with her regimen and that is also helpful!

It is of the most important that you wash your face at least once a day! You don't always have to use soap or cleanser, you can use a wash cloth with warm water.  I wash my face in the morning when I get up.  This cleans away any stuff that piled up on my skin over night.  

If you wear makeup, it is so important to wash it all off before you go to bed. If you leave make up on your face there are many things that can and will happen.  You will develop dark circles under your eyes (as the eyeliner or mascara will rub and migrate into the corners of your eye).  You may develop irritation where ever the makeup is left on or in your eyes.  It will also make your skin dry and flaky since the make up is absorbing your skins natural oils.  

Your eyes and skin needs to breathe! Let them!

Some of my go to products that I swear by:

It will probably seem like I'm biased since I used Oil of Olay a lot but that is what my mom used and I have used it my entire life (or at least the last 20 years or more).  If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Oil of Olay (Wet Cleansing Cloths)

I use these every morning to wipe away and dirt or yuckies that my skin acquired over night.  It is also gives your skin that tingling feeling all over, very much like a toner would, which tells you that it's tightening your pores!

They are also great for make up removal if you don't have time to do a proper washing!

Oil of Olay (Complete All Day Moisturizer - SPF 15)

I use this lotion everyday, whether I wear make up or not.  My skin sucks it right up!

Oil of Olay (Night Cream)

I have suffered with dry skin most of my life, and not just on my face.  This is a great cream to put on just before bed!  It keeps your skin healthy and moisturized.

You don't have to use this though!

MAKE UP FOR EVER (Sens'eyes makeup remover cleanser)

This type of product is great for those stubborn products that refuse to vacate! 

It has cleanser in the title but it doesn't tingle like one, which is great because that tingling feeling doesn't translate well when in contact with your eyes.

Take Care! Brush your hair...or at least wash your face! lol 

Eye Def - High Def Glittering Cream Eye Shadow

Of all the cream eye shadows out there, this product is the cream of the crop. Pun intended!

It blends and goes on easily.  and most importantly, it dries quickly!

It comes in solids and glitters for everyday wear or a night on the town!  

I used this product, (in 'What Sandy Says Goes and Sprinkles' shades) on a wedding party back in September!  It's also my go to product for accenting my eyes verses eyeliner.

 Disco Shade

 Lagoon Shade

What Sandy Says Goes Shade

You can pick this product up anywhere Hard Candy is sold.  I know Walmart is a big supplier.

 *****

Everytime I've used this product I have been pleased with it.

5 out of 5 Stars

*****

 You can buy them for 6.00 a pop, which is excellent because they last for several months!

5 out of 5 Stars

*****

 If you have access to a Walmart, you have access to these bad boys!

5 out of 5 Stars

*****

The product is easy to use but if you have sensitive skin it may burn when it's applied.

4 out of 5 Stars

Take Care!