Keeping Your Makeup Feeling Fresh

It's that time of year. Combination skin that swings to the dry side for winter is now heading toward oiliness as the temperature rises. 90% of my clients have confused skin - which is why I consider it "normal". Here's a little advice on keeping your makeup looking great all day - no matter what your skin is doing! I love to use Cargo's blu_ray High Def Mattifier under my tinited moisturizer or foundation. This is a great product - because you can also use it over your makeup later on in the day to take shine away without adding color. Skin feeling a little tight after sitting in air conditioning all day? Try The Body Shop's Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz. Just spritz your face and let it absorb for an instant pick me up that's filled with vitamins. Had a rough day at the office but want to gleam at the evening happy hour? Clarins has ya covered with their Beauty Flash Balm. This stuff is the balm! Sorry, bad joke. But really - the Clarins rep probably has never even heard of this stuff and it's one of their best products. It's loaded with good stuff and leaves you dewy but not at all greasy. Just use a tiny dab, rub your hands together and press into your skin. To avoid rubbing your makeup off - PRESS these products into your skin with your fingertips rather than smearing, grabbing, slapping - you get the picture!

MAC Pro Class

I have the extreme pleasure of being registered as a MAC Pro. I recently took a MAC Pro Master Class with Senior Artist Victor Cembellin (pictured). To watch him work was amazing - and he is hilarious! He has worked with Missy Elliott, Paris Hilton and Liza Minnelli just to name drop a few! If you don't know who Missy is - she's a rapper who takes makeup to the art extreme. Look for his work on her upcoming CD cover. I learned so much - my notebook is filled with chicken scratches because I was writing so fast. I've been using my new knowledge ever since I stepped out of class - on myself and others! Here's one of those tips: When in doubt of where to "highlight" your face - take a flashlight in a dark room - hold it directly over your head. Take note of where the light is hitting and creating shadows - that is where you highlight & contour! One of the products that he used that I'm now in love with is their Sculpt and Shape Powder. It takes the guesswork out of what colors to use - the compact is split - one side is a highlighter, the other is a bronzer. This technique is great when you are being photographed. Email me if you have any questions or need product recommendations. This link will take you directly to the powders! www.maccosmetics.com

Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme

OK - It's snowing today in Denver - but spring is truly right around the corner! I hate dry cuticles - but I also would never push them back, cut them, etc. I've had many manicures where they do that and I end up with little red marks and cuts all over. You are just asking for an infection! This product is the answer. I have used it forever. Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme is a creamy wax-type substance that comes in a cute little round tin (inside the box pictured) You massage it into your cuticles and it smells like you just dipped your fingers in a lemon cake. YUMMY. Your fingers (and your toes!) will instantly look better. I keep one in my purse, next to my computer and on my nightstand. I've seen it for sale everywhere ($6) - including down Target's cosmetics aisle where they sell a purse size one for $3!