Whats Hot for the 4th of July

Top Looks for Independence Day...

1.) The Red Lip - this is a popular trend for 4th of July, because it gives a pop of color to you makeup look.

• Keep the eyes simple with lots of lashes and maybe black liner 
• Add a pop of candy apple red blush but apply very conservatively (just as if someone pinched your cheek)
• Use a clear wax lip liner to keep the red from feathering

2.) Bronzed Babe - a medium airbrush tan to give you a glow will compliment any summer dress, with a little body bling on the shoulders and shins and a touch of bronzer on the forehead and across the cheeks and nose

• Dont go too dark with your airbrush tan, because it will fade unnaturally 
• Put shimmer body lotion (my favorite is Body Bling by Scott Barnes) only on the areas that wont touch your clothes or other people
• Use a matte face bronzer only in the areas where the sun would naturally hit your face (forehead, across the nose and cheeks, and a touch on the chin)

3.) Denim - I like just one piece in denim...denim top and bottom is way too much in my opinion, but I do love a strapless denim dress!  (the denim shorts witht he pockets hanging out the bottom...even though it is the trend right now, I think you will end up regreting it if you do)

5.) Stars and Stripes - Pick one.  Wearing both together can start to look like a parade or costume.  I prefer a smaller stripe it is more flattering

6.) Fun Sunglasses - If you can get away with colored rims, I love them.  But for me... I love Gold Rims and a bronzy tinted lense.   Plus it always looks great with my airbrush tan.

7.) Summer Highlights - Everyone wants to lighten their hair a bit during the summer...however, chunky overdone highlights tend to look dated.  Keep them natural and in the right color family for your skin tone.

Picture Perfect Prom Makeup

Perfect Prom Makeup -

Not everyone can afford to get professional makeup done, and as much as we would love to do every one's makeup for every special occasion we don't have the time.  So I have a few recommendation for DIY Prom Makeup to look like it was done by a professional.





1. ) Primer is still necessary for young skin.  It helps control oil and balance out uneven skin.  It will also help the makeup last longer (my favorite is Smashbox Photo Finish Primer available in a small container perfect size for special occasions only)

2.) Color match your foundation carefully.  Everyone needs to have at least 2 colors of foundation, 3 is ideal.  It allows you to change your foundation color to perfectly match your skin no matter how fair or tan you are  on any given day.

• Match your foundation to your décolleté for the full face coverage. 
• Match it to your neck for highlight color. 
• Match it to your shoulders for the perfect bronzy color.

3.) Use an eye primer.  Eye primer helps the shadows stick to the eye and last all night.  It also allows you to blend the colors easily.  (my favorite is MAC Paint  Pot in Painterly or Groundwork for darker skin tones).

3.) Define your brows.  Even if you don't need to fill them in or darken them, it is a good idea to add a little brow gel or brush them with a touch of hairspray or clear brow wax to make them defined for photos.

4.) Liquids before Powders...put on all your liquids (foundation and concealers) before you apply any powders (blush, contour, blot powder).  The texture will start to look cakey and weird if you apply liquids over the top of a setting powder.  Be very careful applying too much setting powder under the eyes it can give you a white look in photos.

5.) Eyes in the Correct Order.  They eye shadow should be applied light to dark in that order, and eye liner last and mascara and lashes at the very end.  Blend out all eye shadows completely with a very light touch and then at the very end use eye liner, mascara, and false lashes.

Having fun putting on your makeup and getting ready is most important, but some of these tricks should help you achieve the look you are wanting and help it last all night.  Cheers.

Airbrush Tanning Prep and Post Care

Proper Tanning Prep…

12-24 Hours Before Your Airbrush Tan

• Make sure you shower and shave or wax prior to your appointment.
• Exfoliate with a loofa or sugar scrub prior to your tanning service, however do not apply any perfumes, deodorants, lotions or moisturizers on you skin before you appointment. 
• You will be able to remove makeup when you arrive, but lotions can act as a barrier and will affect the processing of you tan.
• Make sure you get your manicure and pedicure done the day before.
• Make sure you have all your waxing and sugaring done at least one day prior to your tan.
• Pack your tanning bag (black or dark undergarments if desired, loose fitting shoes, dark  and loose fitting clothes to wear afterwards, umbrella in-case of rain)
• Uggs or similar shoes are best during the winter and flip flops are best during the summer

15 Minutes Before Your Airbrush Tan

• Remove all makeup and deodorant with baby wipes
• Pull hair back away from face and up off your neck (we do not provide hair ties, however we have them available for purchase)
• Remove all jewelry
• Change into your desired tanning attire (anything or nothing for females, boxers or briefs for men)
• Put on the undergarments you want to wear and adjust them to where you want the tan lines to be (we do not provide disposable undergarments, however we have them available for purchase)

Proper Post-Tanning Care…

 

1 Hour After Your Airbrush Tan

• Dry yourself with the hair dryer for about 5 minutes
• Gather all jewelry and place it in a safe place, rings and earrings are the only thing you should put back on after the airbrush tan
• Keep your hair up off your neck
• Avoid touching your skin with your palms or fingers to prevent the airbrush tan from transferring to your hands.

 

6-8 Hours After Your Airbrush Tan

• Avoid any activity that would cause seating, exercise, showering, or any activity that may result in water coming in contact with the skin.
• If you choose to sleep in your airbrush tan, you may want to put down dark sheets or towel to prevent the airbrush tan from transferring to your sheets (it should wash out, but it is recommended to wash immediately) 

12 Hours After Your Airbrush Tan

• Shower and shave like normal (extra hydrating body wash is recommended or hair conditioner)
• Make sure to wash off ALL the airbrush tanning solution off your skin or it may appear to look streaky if there is left over bronzer on the skin
• Pat your skin dry after showering to avoid unnecessary exfoliation
• Apply a generous amount of moisturizer all over the skin to help the tan last

Day 3-7

• Apply recommended At Home Tanning Spray at night in the areas that start to fade first (hands, face, and feet)
• Apply recommended Tan Extending Lotion every other morning to moisturize the skin and extend the life of the tan
• On Day 7 use the Tan Off Glove to remove all the remaining airbrush tan residue to prepare for your next airbrush tan

 

The Life of Your Tan

The life of your spray tan depends on the care you take of your skin.  Moisturize twice a day and avoid exfoliation. 

Products may reduce the number of days your spray tan will last…

• Band Aids
• Face Masks
• Anti-Aging or Acne Products
• Bar Soaps
• Hair Removal

 

Activities that may reduce the life of your airbrush tan…

• Hot Tubs
• Salt Water
• Prolonged time in the pool
• Hot Yoga
• Extreme Exercise
• Walking in sand for long distances
• Massage
• Mineral Oils

 

Tan Off Glove - How to Remove Your Spray Tan

How to Remove Unwanted Spray Tan -

Summer is coming soon, and a lot of you will be coming in for airbrush tans on a regular basis...each week if you want to keep your glow.  The tan often gathers in specific areas and builds up...starting to look unnatural and orange.  Sugar scrubs and salt scrubs are luxurious, but often don't take off all the left over tan and some leave you with a residue.

I was recently sent a product to try at home myself...and it was advertised to take off any left over tan residue or take of any unwanted tan (if you went somewhere else and your tan was less then flawless).

It is the Tan Off Glove, and it is from Australia.  It works amazing!!!!...best part is that you can wash it so it is totally hygienic and it lasts for a really long time.  

I also use the Natural Bristol Scrub Brush because it is nice for me feet and it has a handle for my back.  But the Tan Off Glove has 2 sides, one side as a 'tan corrector' (orange side) gets off excess tan especially around my underarms which is where it gathers for me the worst, and 'total tan remover' (black side) to remove all the remaining tan before your next appointment. 

Use the Orange Side to if you are going to be wearing white the very next day after you get your tan.  It will lightly exfoliate the tan off the areas where you are going to sweat where the tan might not even show...rib cage area, between the breasts, and around the underarms.  That way the tan still looks even and glowing, but you wont risk any excess running or rubbing off onto your beautiful white clothes.

It is my favorite new product that we have and it is reasonably priced...and lasts a long time.  It will absolutely make a difference in how your tan looks and lasts this summer.

Cheers!

1920's Makeup - The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby Makeup -

I was recently inspired by the return of The Great Gatsby, I have been obsessing over 1920's makeup.  I have always loved this decade because it was total excess in every way!  The makeup was fabulous, the clothes and accessories were over the top and everyone just seemed to party all the time.


I was invited to a Great Gatsby themed event and so I started to think about my outfit and makeup and hair style...these are the few things that I made note of that are obvious to this decade.

1. Headband or Hair Accessories
2. Lots and lots of jewelry (pearls and jewels)
3. Deep plum red lips in an over dramatic pout
4. Heavy and defined eye brows that extended way past the traditional angles we use for shaping currently
5. Extremely angled features (lots of contouring)
6. Heavy on the eye liner, but in a circle not an almond shape or wing like you see in later styles

So I got my outfit put together and started on the makeup and hair.  I have long hair, which was not common in this era so I had to thing of a crafty way to shorten it and make it stay...Enter Sock Bun!  But this time I did it to the side and kept it a bit messy.  My side bangs I loosely curled and brushed out completely and then sprayed so they sort of formed Finger Waves.   Hair, done!

Makeup was the next challenge, because I love my eyes to be almond and winged out at the ends...to make them into a deep dark smoky circle was torture. 

Starting with the contour and then the brows I had the basics and moved onto the eyes.  (In this kind of makeup it might be best to do the eyes before the foundation so you have less to clean up)

Eye makeup is basically dark eggplant on the lid or black, with a shimmer of peacock color over the dark to give it a sheen.  Follow this all the way around the eye, well below the lower liner as well.  Then blend with a neutral color all the way almost to the brow.  Make sure to let it be rounded in the outer corner.

I hope you all get a chance to experiment with different decade makeup, it is so much fun and researching what was popular in that era is fascinating!

Cheers!