We're Moving.

Its been eons and a day since I blogged on here. Fear not my little followers. We're moving on to bigger and better things. I'm working my magic with my fellow brilliant minded friend Souli to bring you an incredible blog that will fulfill all my dreams and hopefully yours.

See you on the flip side!

Going Green

I often get asked whether there are good 'green' makeup or skin care lines on the market. With the full-blown trend of eco-chic taking the world by a continuous storm, I've decided to do a blog posting by request of a reader, on a few Eco-friendly brands.

One of my all-time favorite brands that also has an eco-line is Cargo. I absolutely adore Cargo cosmetics (and not because I worked for them back in the day). A favorite of celebrity makeup artists and used on many t.v and film sets, Cargo has been ahead of trends in many ways (hello blu-ray makeup!). With their wonderfully sinful Cargo PlantLove, the geniuses at Cargo have developed an ECOCERT, environmentally conscious line of makeup. With extremely stylish 100% natural ingredients and biodegradable packaging, PlantLove is for the stylish eco-loving (or not) girl on the go. The Baked Illuminator ($28), a bronzer and blush combo, is a huge fan-favorite! I HIGHLY recommend you check out Cargo PlantLove, you most definitely won't be disappointed and you're doing good for the environment and yourself.

Physician's Formula is another great eco-friendly brand that has been around for a long time. Being one of the first brands to carry eco-friendly make up and the very first to be ECOCERT certified, Physician's formula's makeup is environmentally conscious from the 100% certified organic ingredients to the paper (as opposed to plastic) packaging. Their line of Mineral Wear, talc-free makeup is also wonderful for anyone who prefers mineral makeup over liquid foundations or dry powders. The Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Jumbo Lash Mascara ($15.79) is perfect for anyone looking for a hypoallergenic, fragrance free mascara that also contains Physician's Formula's OrganiSoy and Eco-olive ingredients to moisturize lashes and shield lashes from harmful rays.

Sejaa is supermodel (and Tom Brady's babymamawife) Gisele Bundchen's 100% natural-line of skin care. Being a huge advocate for environmental friendly products, she's the UN Ambassador for the Environmental Program (she even has her own like of eco-friendly flip flops!), Gisele's line is 100% natural by every stretch of the imagination possible. From the development to the packaging, Sejaa is the perfect skin-care line for someone who is environmentally conscious and a beauty maven. What makes the line even more perfect, she doesn't offer 100 different products. Rather, she's perfected the 3 products one needs for their skin and encourages trice daily use. The mud mask has had rave reviews and while it has a $56 price tag for a 2-month supply, if we think about how much energy (actual energy, windmills were used!!) and personalization was taken into consideration in production, you are absolutely getting your money's worth!

Burt's Bees is amongst one of the best natural personal care lines out there. You can find Burt's Bees in just about any drugstore in Canada and in health food stores as well and for good reason. Making their products using as natural means as possible, Burt's Bees has been a pioneer for encouraging eco-friendly, environmentally conscious natural makeup and skin care. Where they began (home-made beeswax lip balm) to where they are now (full skin, body, hair care and makeup lines for adults, children and babies), Burt's Bee is a definite go-to for the environmentally and budget conscious girl ( guy or baby). My personal favorites are the tinted lip balm's, they give a wonderful hint of color on the lips while conditioning and protecting. At only $7.99, they're a steal!

There are many eco-friendly, green makeup and skin care lines available. Even the conglomerate companies such as Proctor and Gamble and L'Oreal are developing environmentally friendly products within their lines because more and more consumers are asking for it. If the above mentioned brands are either out of your reach or you're a loyal customer to your current brand, don't be afraid to ask them (or me!) if they offer what you're looking for. Chances are, nowadays, they do.

Peachy-Keen

Summer is thisclose to being here. Everywhere you go, bright colors, maxi dresses, sandals and shorts are screaming for you to buy them. Beauty counters are displaying their summer collections full of gorgeous bronze, peach, pink and gold shades. And lets be honest, you're probably upping your work outs at the gym and watching your carb-intake (ice creams not a carb right?). Regardless as to how you're preparing yourself for those summer days and summer nights, you have to admit you don't want to look tooooo made up but rather glowing and fresh-faced.

A key color trend for summer beauty products is peach. On the lips, cheeks and eyes, peachy colors give you a healthful glow with the right amount of color and compliment your glorious tan (or your sun-protected skin if you don't tan!). When buying a peach colored beauty product, keep in mind, while peach is universally flattering, you want whatever it is you buy, whether its a lip color, cheek stain or highlighter, to compliment the rest of your makeup. Always shop with a plan/look in mind (trust me on this, I am a makeup junkie after all). Pair peach lips/cheeks with soft vanilla or bronzy eye shadows with a touch of mascara and an all-over highlighter with a bit of bronzer for a perfect summer look.

Here are some of my favorite peachy products for summer:

Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Stain in Joy/Peaceful

Benefit Coralista Blush

Lancome Juicy Tube in Simmer

Nars Blush in Orgasm/Sex Appeal

Nars Illuminator in Orgasm

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Nectar

**all products can be found at Sephora**

How to get the Look: Kate Middleton's Wedding Makeup

People ask me all the time if I'd ever do my own makeup for my wedding day. I've always said no, that I'd rather not have to deal with the stress of doing it myself. Then I heard Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cornwall did her own makeup. Now, the day I get married, I might have a large wedding but its extremely doubtful I would get married in the presence of not only 1,900 people but also the majority of the world watching me exchange vows with a Prince. So, if Kate can do it, I'm pretty sure that I can.

Here's a guide to getting Kate's makeup look that she so deftly did on her own. Rumor has it she used Bobbi Brown cosmetics but I've added some of my favorite products to use and tricks to achieve the look!

Step 1: Prep your skin.

I can't emphasize the importance of a good skin regimen leading up to your special day. While makeup can do wonders, no one wants to shellack product on their face to create a lit-from-within glow. If you don't already have a skin care regimen, start now! You don't have to go out and buy a plethora of products. Start with your basics : Cleanser, Toner, Moisturizer (CTM). Once you get into a solid pattern CTMing of 2x day, everyday, you'll want to incorporate an Exfoliant. Exfoliants are my favvvvvvvvvorite skin care products. They make dull skin look lively, a rough skin feel soft and most importantly they allow your skin to reproduce new skin cells so the old dead ones don't stay around!

The best advice I can give you about buying CTM products and an exfoliant is pay attention to what you're buying. If you aren't familiar, ask (ahem! *wink wink*). If you've used them all before but are wanting to upgrade, drop by a few counters, get as much information as possible, get a demonstration of the product and a sample if you can. Its important to educate yourself about the products you buy rather than "i'll just buy it because she/he/they/vogue said its good". Beauty professionals are there to help you but some unfortunately work on a commission basis but if you're a smart cookie (and you are) you can tell the difference between a good beauty professional and a sales-driven one.

Continue with your skin care regimen leading up to your wedding day, however, I would suggest if it is within your means, to treat yourself to a facial (or two) the month of your wedding. Getting a facial not only gives your skin a good cleaning but its also an hour to relax and let someone else take care of you. There are so many different facials, so get one that appeals to you but my recommendation would be that if you only get 1, get an oxygen facial. Oxygen facials follow in the similar steps of a regular facial, however an oxygen facial provides a boost of active ingredients to the skin and not only helps with the release of impurities but also gives and overall smoother, brighter looking skin. Many spa's now provide Oxygen facials, I had one at Absolute Spa once and it.was.divine! Rumor has it, Kate Middleton got one too ;-)

Step 2- Groom your brows

You can either leave this to a professional if you get it done regularly or groom them yourself but if you've never groomed your brows, please don't get tweezer happy and start plucking away. Ask a friend where they get theirs done and ask for a consult if possible. Strong, clean eyebrows are key in looking fabulous in your wedding photos.

Step 3-Wedding Day Makeup

Try if you can to get some sleep the night before. If not, CTM your face as you normally do but after rinsing before applying moisturizer, splash your face with cold water. Not only will it wake you up but it will also perk up your skin.

You'll need the following products, I've recommended my favorites to get the look:

Primer (Benefit That Gal)

Foundation (Lancome Teinte Idole Fresh Wear)

Concealer (Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage)

Powder ( Makeup Forever HD Microfinish Powder)

Eyeshadow (Dior 5-Color Eye Shadow Palette in Rosy Tan)

Eyeliner (Bobbi Brown Creamy Eye Pencil is Caviar)

Mascara (Lancome Hypnose Mascara Waterproof in Black)

Eyebrow color (Bobbi Brown Brow Pencil in Mahogany)

Blush (Nars Blush in Amour)

Lipliner (Lancome Le Lipstique in Sheer Raspberry)

Lipstick/Lipgloss (Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Tulle/ Bobbi Brown Lip Gloss in Buff)

FACE:

Start with a well moisturized face. Apply primer all over with either a brush or your fingers but concentrate the most on the t-zone. Wait a few seconds for it to dry and set before applying foundation. **foundation must match your skin perfectly** I always recommend applying foundation with a brush because you get the most coverage with the least amount of product. Don't use too much foundation, you don't need it but make sure you apply the product evenly and blend really well. Apply concealer under the eyes, in between the eyebrows, around the nose, on your chin and over any blemishes or discoloration you might have. **remember under eye concealer is always one shade lighter than your skin whereas to cover blemishes, etc, it matches your skin** Set with powder using a big powder brush or a velour puff, concentrating on the under eyes, nose, forehead and chin.

EYES:

Apply a bit of concealer to the eyelid as a primer and powder to set. Start with the lightest shade (in your palette of brown and peachy colors) and apply all over your eye from lash line to brow bone. Use the second lightest shade and contour your eye in the crease. **blend well** Take the second darkest color (not the darkest) and apply on your lid using a light application. Using your eye pencil, draw a line as close to your lash line as possible from the outside in towards the tear duct. Take an angle brush and the darkest shadow shade, go over the line softly to both smudge it lightly and set the shadow. Do this last step on the bottom lash line as well. Curl your lashes and swipe two coats of waterproof mascara.

BROWS:

Sharpen your eye brow pencil and lightly brush strokes as if mimicking individual brow hairs on your eye brow. Fill in the brow and using a clean angle brush, smooth over the lines and perfect your brow shape making sure the color is evenly applied and no smudges outside the brow shape.

CHEEKS:

Smile to find the apples of your cheeks and using a light hand, apply the pink shade from the apples of your cheek up towards the ear/hairline blending well. **a little blush goes a long way so don't over apply but apply just enough that you can see it and it complements the rest of your look**

LIPS:

Make sure your lips are free of cracking and smooth **the night before, use your exfoliant on an old toothbrush and "brush" your lips for a smooth, soft lip the next morning** Fill your lip in with lipliner and brush to even it out. Using a stiff lip brush, apply lipstick all over to fill in the lips. Finish off with a bit of gloss (not too much!)

VOILA!! Now you look like a Princess!

Glow Baby

Summer is right around the corner. We're pulling out our swimsuits, flip flops, maxi-dresses and summer wear from our closets. We're lightening our hair, making sure our toes are in tip-top shape and getting rid of those pesky body hairs we ignore in the winter months (all you girls know exactly what I'm taking about). We're even upping our work outs in the gym to flaunt the fruits of our labor on the beach. To be sun-kissed and tanned with a healthy glow is what we dream about leading up to those summer days. But those harmful rays, while providing a beautiful color to our otherwise non-tanned skin (unless you're from the Jersey Shore), can cause damage to your skin down the road.

I have here some beauty tricks to get the look of sun-kissed beautiful glowing skin without having to suffer the lobster burns of the glorious sun. It involves exfoliation, sun-less tanning products, and makeup highlighters and primers to provide a gorgeous healthy glow.

1-Start with exfoliating your face and body in the shower. Use a different exfoliant for your face and body as body exfoliants are often grainier in texture and too rough for the face. Some suggested exfoliants are: Face- Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($$$), Kiehl's Pineapple Papaya Scrub ($$), St. Ives Apricot Scrub ($). Body- Chanel Body Excellence Revitalizing Scrub ($$$), The Body Shop Coconut Scrub ($$), Dove Gentle Exfoliating Nourishing Body Wash ($). Exfoliating will provide a smooth surface and assist in an even application of sunless tanning lotion all over. Pay close attention when exfoliating your elbows and knees!

2-Do not moisturize your skin prior to applying your sunless tanning lotion. Moisturizer will not allow the lotion to adhere to the skin properly and can cause streaking. Make sure you follow the instructions when apply self-tanner (sunless tanning) but key points to remember are : a) give yourself time for the self-tanner to dry (depending on which you use, there are different drying times) b) even strokes will allow for an even tan c) less is more on your hands and feet d) you face should be 1 shade lighter than the rest of your body if not evenly dispersed, not darker. Some great self-tanners are: Lancome Flash Bronzer ($$) St. Tropez ($$), L'Oreal Sublime Bronze ($). It's suggested that you give yourself ample time to dry and set the self-tanner. Once set, then you can moisturize gently but remember, if you exfoliate again or wash with a loofah, the self-tan will not last as long.

3-To prep your makeup for a gorgeous glow, start my applying an illuminating primer. Benefit's Girl meets Pearl will give your skin a gorgeous all over glow. If you want to forgo the primer but still achieve that dewy look, Lancome's Eclat Miracle can be used as both a primer and as a highlighter for the face. Apply to the temples and down towards the cheeks, down the bridge of the nose and even on the apples of your cheeks to get a luminous glow.

4-The next step would be your makeup application. You can do what you normally do or if you'd like further continue with your bronzed goddess look, make sure you apply a highlight shade of eyeshadow on your eye : MAC's Shroom is gorgeous. Line your eyes with a bronze-brown pencil, try Lancome's Le Stylo Waterproof in Bronze, two coats of a volumizing mascara, try L'Oreal's Voluminous ($), Covergirl Lash Blast ($), Lancome Hypnose Drama ($$) or Dior DiorShow ($$). If you're going to be poolside and possibly get thrown in the water, make sure you buy waterproof formulas! Add a bit of cheek color, here you could add a cheek stain ( Tarte), a cream blush (Stila) or a bronzing powder (Nars). I would suggest do your cheeks based on how you're feeling...if you feel fun and flirty, apply some color, if you're thinking sexy and smoldering, apply some bronzer, or if you're feeling fun, flirty, sexy and smoldering, apply a cheek color and bronzer! And finally we end with our lip color. This is where you have tons of choices. You can do a lipgloss, a lip stain, lipstick, nude lip, anything goes. I also like to end with a bit of gloss so here are some of my favorites: Nars Lipgloss in Orgasm ($$), Stila Lipglaze in Apricot ($$), and Lancome Juicy Tube in Simmer ($$).

One extra bonus step to give that touchable shimmery skin: Benefit's Bathina Take a Picture it Last's Longer gives a hint of shimmer with a beautiful scent that leaves your skin supremely soft.

Some tousled hair, a maxi dress, gorgeous espandrilles or flip flops and voila...you're a sungoddess with glowing skin without suffering in the sun.

**no endorsements implied**

Nothing lasts forever: when good cosmetics go bad

I do private shopping and makeup lessons to a range of clients. Some are knowledgeable about cosmetics prior to meeting me, while others are inexperienced. I teach them the good, the bad and the ugly about all kinds of cosmetics, from makeup to skin care. More often than not, while they heed my advice on the majority of cosmetics, the one part they find boggling is that cosmetics DO expire.

While life would be much easier not having to replenish the many items we use, your skin will thank you many times over when you throw out your products when they've expired . I've broken down the expiry dates for some basic cosmetics for you here but keep this in mind, if a product changes texture, smell or color, its gotta go!

Foundation/Tinted Moisturizers: 1 year (it is formula dependent, however, the texture of foundation will change once it 'stops' working)

Concealer: 6 months - 1 year (same as above, it also depends on what you use to apply your concealer with, ex: if you use your fingers in a concealer pot, you're transferring bacteria onto the makeup thus onto your skin )

Powder: 2 years (if you start to see dry spots on the surface of your powder, its time for a new one)

Eyeshadow: 2-3 years (eyeshadow can last a long time, however once you start to see bubbles on the eyeshadow, those are build ups of bacteria, its in your best interest to replenish)

Eyeliner: 2-3 years (sharpen your pencil regularly)

Mascara: 3 months (this product is the one that expires most frequently, I can't emphasize the importance of replenishing your mascara every 3 months-it dries out and can irritate your eyes and lashes)

Blush: 2-3 years (similar to powder in texture, keep your eye on dryness and bubbles)

Lipliner: 2-3 years (like eyeliner, sharpen regularly)

Lipstick: 1-2 years (some say longer, up to 4 years but if it starts to smell, in the can it goes)

Lipgloss: 1-2 years

Face creams: 6-9 months; 12 months if in a pump (your fingers will transfer bacteria so be cautious)

Sunscreen: 1 year (usually there is an expiry date on the box/bottle but if it starts to separate or smell, stop using)

Nail polish: 1 year

Fragrances: 2 years (spritzing causes oxidation (air in bottle) thus changing the smell which is no problem other than a change in scent)

Sponges/Powder applicators: I personally don't like re-using sponges because I feel they can't be washed properly, i'd recommend buying a pack of non-latex sponges from the dollar store and throw out after every use (if you don't use a foundation brush that is!). Powder applicators can be kept as long as they are washed and dried, however, an investment is to purchase a velour puff (drugstores carry it as well as some makeup lines) and wash and dry every week--these puffs won't disintegrate whereas the powder applicators will

Brushes: clean on a tissue after every use, clean with brush cleaner weekly (for personal use only--makeup pro's you know better ;-) ) and wash 1-2x month with a mild non-scented soap/shampoo (i prefer baby shampoo as it is gentle and doesn't dissolve the glue at the base of brushes)

If your cosmetics have an expiry date, abide by the date but keep some common sense intact as well. If any product starts to change texture, color or smell, throw it out. If you're a budget-conscious beauty maven, there are a plethora of cosmetic lines that have affordable beauty products without breaking the bank.

Any questions: ask The Makeup Junkie!!

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

Im in the process of upgrading my website and blogs where I whole-heartedly promise to blog more frequently. I've needed a change and a better focus as far as the blog goes so bear with me and I promise you it'll be worth it

In the meantime, check out my recent makeup work at :

http://ozzandiyeh.com/blog/