7 HIGHLIGHTERS THAT BRIGHTEN AND MAKE YOU FEEL MORE AWAKE

Now that we are approaching to some colder weather, it is so important to keep our skin hydrated and moisturized. Not only is that so important, but keeping your skin {face} highlighted/glowy will also make your skin even more radiant in the colder weather. We all tend to look a little more tired during the winter months and this is usually caused by lack of sun {Vitamin D} and daily stresses.

By using just a few of these highlighting products and keeping your skin hydrated and moisturized all winter long, you will be assured to see a brighter/youthful well rested face.

Shop these 7 highlighting products below, by click each item:



THE BEST EYELINER FOR YOUR EYE COLOUR

Picking out the best eyeliner to enhance your eye colour can sometimes be challenging. Today, I am here with another beauty post on how to intensify and make your eye colour pop by choosing the right eyeliner colour.

 BLUE EYES

 Copper, dark navy and gold makes blue eyes pop and make the blue appear even bluer. Always keep the liner tight to the lash line and also add a pop of copper or gold in the inner corner of the eye.

NARS Eye Paint in Iskandar
Buy Here

Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Line in Deep Navy
Buy Here

Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12hr in Sun Tan 
Buy Here

GREEN EYES

 If you look at a colour wheel, red is directly across from green. Red undertoned liners compliment green eyes and definitely makes them pop!

NARS "Larger Then Life" Long Wear Eye Liner in Via Appia 
 Buy Here

Chantecaille Waterproof Eye Liner in Orchid
 Buy Here

BROWN EYES

Staying with rich earthy brown tones, cobalt blues, purples and greys make brown eyes pop as it emphasizes the light flecks in brown eyes.

Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Gel Eye Liner in Steel Grey
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 Laura Mercier Longwear Eye Pencil in Cobalt
Buy Here

Tarte Clay Pot Liner in Blackened Plum
Buy Here

HAZEL EYES

Emerald, gold, olive and plum liners bring out the green in hazel eyes. You can also wear a brown liner as well if you want more of a subtle natural look.

Bobbi Brown Long- Wear Gel Eyeliner in Ivy Shimmer Ink
Buy Here

Laura Mercier Crème Eyeliner in Violet
Buy Here

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Diamond Gold
 Buy Here

Shop The Post...

SUMMER MAKEUP TIPS

 

GO NATURAL

If it's a beach/ pool day or your just relaxing in the sun, skip the foundation and use a waterproof concealer instead. You still want to cover up dark shadows, redness and blemishes but skipping out on the base will save you from blotting it off your face due to sweating and water activities.

The thicker the concealer the longer it will last on the face. Skip on the liquid concealers that day.

 I really like to use MAC Studio Finish SPF 35.

  

Don't forget your sunscreen prior to concealer. I love using La Roche Posay Anthelios SPF 60

IF YOU NEED TO, WEAR TINTED MOISTURIZER

If you don't feel comfortable not using a foundation along with your concealer, than use a tinted moisturizer instead. This is more light weight, gives a sheer coverage and it also has an SPF.

I love and use the Origins Vita-Zing SPF 15 Energy Boosting Tinted Moisturizer

BRONZING POWDER

Use a bronzer with a slight shimmer that has some peachy pink undertones. This will give you a nice summer bronzed glowy look. Apply it where the sun would naturally hit your face.

Try Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder in the colour 01

HIGHLIGHTER

Adding a bit of liquid highlighter, ontop of the cheekbones, under your brow bone and a little down the nose will give you the perfect summer glow. Don't go overboard on this step as it will give you the opposite affect and make your face look oily. 

Try the Nars Copacabana Illuminator

CHOOSING THE RIGHT LIPSTICK

Lipsticks can sometimes be a pain in the you know what, especially if your at the beach. It never lasts and it always comes off when your swimming. It's best to choose a lip product that has a bright stain that will last longer {without touch ups} and that has an SPF.

I am obsessed with the Fresh Sugar SPF 15 Lip Treatments. It gives the perfect tint and your precious lips are sun protected.

I wear the colour Tulip and Rose

IF YOU MUST HAVE A BRIGHT BOLD LIP

If lip stains aren't enough and you still want a bold pouty lip then apply your bright pigmented lipstick by dapping it on with your finger then blotting and then repeating it until the desired look.

This is building up the colour while staining the lips at the same time. When you apply it to the lips directly from the lipstick tube, it's not penetrating into your lips.

I love MAC Candy Yum Yum

MASCARA TIME

Obviously if you are going to be in the sun all day at the pool or beach, you want to use a waterproof mascara. But, if you are like me and you can't stand waterproof mascaras for the reason being they are annoying and so hard to remove, even with makeup remover than try this.

After you have applied your coats of "non waterproof mascara," apply a coat of clear mascara over top to seal the colour on the top lashes and use only clear mascara for the bottom lashes. This will prevent raccoon eyes.

I use and LOVE the Make Up For Ever Smoky Extravagant Mascara    

MAKE THOSE EYES POP

Adding light to the eyes is always key for a summery makeup look. Choosing an eye shadow with a little shimmer will give you that look. Try using a copper shadow to give a little less dramatic smoky eye or use any golden peach shadows.

Try Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color in the colour Sunshower.

This is a pretty sparkling copper rose colour.

**The following list below are the products I mentioned above. Scroll through with the arrows and click each product.

MAC PREP + PRIME HIGHLIGHTER

Over the past few weeks, I have been having some under eye circles and haven't been looking "awake" and bright eyed like I use to. I have been getting a good amount of sleep but for some reason, no matter how much concealer I use, I still look tired and not myself.

I was on a mission to find a brightener that I could use under my eyes as well as other area's on my face. I have heard great reviews and have even tried a few samples of the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat luminizing pen which is an amazing product and I really liked it but I wanted to try something else and something a little cheaper. I ended up going to MAC instead and I was looking at the Prep + Prime Hightlighter in the colour "Light Boost." They have a tone of different colours depending on your skin tone.

I have a slight pink/purple undertone under my eyes, so I wasn't able to get the Prep + Prime in Radiant Rose like I wanted to. I really wanted something brightening which would have been the Radiant Rose but because I already have a slight pink/purple undertone under my eyes, that colour wouldn't have worked for me. If you don't have any pink or purple undertones, than you could totally get away with that colour but if you are like me, then you have to go with a colour that is more of a yellow tone to cancel out the pink/purple tone.

Let me just say that this highlighting pen in Light boost is a-m-a-z-i-n-g and what a difference it has made under my eyes. I look so much more awake and it has really improved the appearance of my under eye circles. I would definitely say that this highlighting pen is very comparable to the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat and it's cheaper also which is a bonus!!

Not only do I use this highlighting pen under my eyes, I also use it to highlight my face as well.

Here is how I use it:

Eyes:

I use this highlighting pen two ways depending on what my under eyes look like that day.

I will either wear the Prep + Prime alone or if I look really tired, I will apply my skin toned under eye concealer on first and blend that in and afterwards I apply the Prep + Prime Highlighter in Light Boost over top and blend that all in.

You could set your under eyes with a translucent powder afterwards which I do sometimes but a lot of times I don't because this highlighter gives a nice sheen and I don't want to cover that up since this product is suppose to highlight and make you more awake with the brightening affects of the product.

Face:

I will apply it to the tops of my cheek bones, creating a "C" shape around my eye, including my temples and just above my brows. I will also add a little bit down the bridge of my nose as well as my cupids bow {above the lip}.

I love that this is a multi-purpose product and I can use it on all areas of my face. This product has been a life saver and I don't think I could ever not use an under eye brightener after using this product. Even if you don't have under eye circles or discolouration under your eyes, this product will still work and make you even more bright eyed and awake looking. 

KICKING THOSE SKIN HABITS TO THE CURB

SUGAR, SALTS AND ALCOHOL

Overdoing on anything like drinking too much caffeine, alcohol, eating too much sugar and salt, is definitely going to take a toll on our skin and show the ugly side effects. It's a no brainer that all of these can dehydrate our skin, making it dry and blotchy and sugar and salts break down elastin and collagen causing dullness and wrinkles.

FIGHTING WITH YOUR ACNE!

Over touching your acne is a no no. Instead of battling with that annoying zit, cleanse your face with a salicylic acid cleanser with moisturizing ingredients. Using a cleanser with little moisturizing will dry out your skin which will cause even more acne breakouts and the current breakouts you have will stick around even longer.  

OVER WASHING YOUR FACE

If your face is already dry, cleanse less or use a cleanser that is for dry skin {a milk cleanser}. Over washing strips your natural oils. Do your full face wash routine at night, including toner and moisturizer and when you wake up, instead of washing your face again, just rinse with cool water to keep your natural oils {warm/hot water will strip your natural oils}. Of course if you have oily skin, keep washing your face twice a day.

STRAY AWAY FROM GRITTY EXFOLIATORS

Exfoliating is definitely important but it's not suppose to hurt while doing it. Using an exfoliator that is too gritty is not good and if you are using an exfoliator that leaves your skin red/blotchy and even makes your skin burn and tingle afterwards is also not a good thing. Using exfoliators that are too gritty or harsh peels can cause irritation, inflammation, pre mature aging {wrinkles}, brown spots and can even clog pores resulting in acne breakouts.

Use a gentle exfoliator with micro beads or sugar once or twice a week depending on your skin type or use a mild peel with lactic acid once a week.

GETTING YOUR BEAUTY SLEEP

Getting less than 7 hours of sleep can make your skin dull, puffy {especially around your eyes} and can cause pre mature aging {fine lines} down the road. If you wake up with puffy eyes, slice a cucumber and put a slice over each eye and leave it for 5-10 minutes or grab an ice pack {wrap it in a towel of course} and place it on each eye for a few minutes. This will eliminate swelling and puffiness.

SLEEPING THE RIGHT WAY

 Not only sleeping the right way {which technically is on your back side to eliminate wrinkles and crease marks on your face} but choosing the right pillow case is the major factor in your sleep routine.

As gross as it may sound, pillowcases are a collector for natural oils from your hair and face, dead skin cells, bacteria, dust, etc. Change your pillowcase once or twice a week {I do twice a week}. Now choosing the right pillowcase is also important. Most of us have cotton pillowcases which is a no no in beauty land. Swap out your old cotton pillowcase and choose a satin, silk or Egyptian cotton one instead as rough cotton pillowcases can will cause wrinkles.

DONT SKIP OUT ON SUNSCREEN

This is obvious. Wearing an SPF 30 or higher {I use an SPF 60 on my face and body} is a must in the summer and winter months. Don't be fooled in the winter months. The sun reflecting off the snow and the wet roads are just as bad as being on a beach in the summer.

Wear your SPF people!

DON'T MISS A DERMATOLOGIST APPOINTMENT

Skipping on your yearly mole check is your choice but who wants to receive the "bad news" when you do finally go see the doc. Do yourself a favor and go see your dermatologist yearly. Even if you are the type of person that doesn't have very many moles or maybe you don't ever burn in the sun, you can still be at risk to sun damage and even the scary "C" word.

It's better to be safe than sorry.

SMOKING

Smoking breaks down elastin fibers which is why you sometimes see smokers with yellow tinged skin. It also breaks down collagen which definitely leads to wrinkles and pre-mature aging.

Sometimes it's nice to have a little beauty reminder here and there, wouldn't you agree?

Thank you so much for stopping by, xo!!

SHAMPOO MISTAKES TO BREAK

YOU ARE USING THE SAME SHAMPOO 7 DAYS A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR

Washing your hair this many times a week is not only too frequent, but using the same shampoo over and over is not good either. Changing your shampoo's occasionally and regularly is important to prevent buildup especially from certain ingredients like silicone's.

YOUR HAIR ISN'T WET ENOUGH BEFORE APPLYING SHAMPOO

 If your hair isn't wet enough than shampoo isn't going to lather properly, which means more product is going to be used, resulting in spending more money, more often on shampoo products. Make sure your hair is really wet before applying any shampoo. Your wallet will love you!

 YOU ALWAYS BEGIN APPLYING THE SAMPOO TO THE SAME SPOT ON YOUR HEAD

Do you ever feel like your hair is always weighed down and more oily in the same spot or maybe your scalp is dryer in certain areas than others? This could be caused by beginning to apply your shampoo to the same spot on your head every single time. Try alternating the way you apply your shampoo, whether it's starting at the nape of your neck or to the sides of your head, etc.

WASHING YOUR HAIR TOO VIGOROUSLY

If you find your hair is breaking or your hair is really tangled when combing out while it's wet, you might be too rough on your hair when shampooing. Try massaging your head with your fingertips and/or the palms of your hands, not your fingernails. Your hair will thank you later!

RINSING WITH HOT WATER

If you are rinsing with hot water, stop now! Rinsing with hot water may cause your hair and scalp to become more dry and to fade your colour treated hair. Rinse with luke warm water when shampooing and cool water when rinsing conditioner, as this helps lock in moisture from conditioning and it also preserves colour treated hair from fading.

The list of products below are some of my favorite hair products that I absolutely love, xo!!

THE BEAUTY BLENDER

I am not one to really use brushes or sponges to apply my foundation or tinted moisturizer. I had heard a lot of great reviews and thoughts on this pretty pink sponge that I had to give it a try.

 I was in Sephora a few weeks back looking for a new foundation/ tinted moisturizer as I am getting low on my Origins VitaZing and ended up getting a bunch of different samples to try {will be doing a post on this soon}. The beauty consultant that was helping me asked what I normally use to apply my foundation and I was embarrassed to say that I use nothing, just my fingers {CLEAN fingers I might add}. She asked if I had ever tried the "Beauty Blender" and of course I said no but heard it was amazing. Well let's just say she pretty much sold me on the product.

 

How I use it:

I put a few dots of whatever I am using that day {foundation or tinted moisturizer} all over my face. I then wet the sponge so that's it's damp {not soaking wet} and I stipple {patting} the {bigger end of the sponge} all over my face so that the foundation is being blended into my skin. For those hard to reach areas as well as under my eyes, mouth, nose etc, I then use the pointed end to blend the foundation in those areas. If you usually apply your foundation with your fingers {like myself} you can also apply it with your fingers first and then go around your entire face afterwards with the beauty blender {dry or damp} to properly smooth out and refine the makeup for a polished look.

After every use, I always wash the sponge with baby shampoo. I know there is a special cleaner for the sponge as well called the Blender Cleanser but I prefer to use baby shampoo as that's what I already use on my makeup brushes.

I really love this sponge and how it gives a flawless finish to my face. I wish I would have purchased it a lot sooner than I did but it's better late then never right? I would definitely recommend this sponge to anyone and it's definitely worth the money in my opinion.

Have you ever used the Beauty Blender and what are your thoughts on it?

FACE PRIMER

 

Try A Tinted Primer:

If your face is looking dull:

Try using a light pink primer like Benefit That Gal Brightening Face Primer. This will add a glow to your face to make it more healthy looking.

If you have sallow skin:

Try using a lilac shade primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer {Lilac}. This will brighten sallow looking skin.

If you have redness:

Try using a green primer like Smashbox Photo Finish Colour Correcting Primer {Green}. This colour neutrilizes redness caused from acne, rosacea and sunburns.

Less Is Always More:

 Don't feel like you have to apply a tone of primer to your face for it to work. Over applying will actually pill under your foundation. Add a small pea size amount to the face by gently rubbing it in for an all even coverage.

Apply To Your Eyes:

Gently pat primer around the eyes and a little on the lids. This will prevent eye makeup from creasing and smudging and it also helps smooth out fine lines around the eyes as well as counteracting redness.

Prime Those Lashes Of Yours:

 For thicker and longer lashes, apply an eyelash primer under your regular mascara. These primers contain Vitamin E or glycerin to condition lashes which helps amplify those sparse lashes. Two coats of mascara is sufficient enough when applying primer.

Take It Easy If You Have Acne Prone Skin:

If your primer already has anti-acne ingredients such as salicylic acid, you will want to skip your acne spot treatments. Using both primer {for acne prone skin} and acne spot treatments will make the acne more irritated and inflamed. A great primer for acne prone skin is the Smashbox Photo Finish More Than Primer Blemish Control.

Prime Your Lips:

Dab on a lip primer before applying any lipstick {especially to prevent lipstick from settling into fine lines/ smudging}. If you don't want to purchase a lip primer, then use the primer for your face instead.

Apply Primer To Your Neck and Décolletage:

This will help smooth out fine lines on your neck and décolletage. 

Complete With Powder:

By following this order:

Primer, liquid foundation or tinted moisturizer and translucent powder.

If you skip on the powder whether it's tinted or translucent, the silicon in the primer and the water in your foundation will react together and once you touch your face or sweat, it will come right off. Powder is a must when using primer!

 Thank you so much for stopping by, xo!!



JOSIE MARAN 100% PURE ARGAN OIL LIGHT

Ok, I haven't done a beauty post in a really long time {I know, I am sorry}, so today I wanted to share and review a new love in my life. Yes, it's the Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil Light.

Some of you have probably tried this oil before and maybe some of you haven't. If you have tried this oil, I am sure you will agree that this stuff is a-m-a-z-i-n-g. 

About a month ago, I was looking for a new moisturizer for my face. I wanted to try something new and change things up a bit as I don't like to use a certain product for long periods of time. I was using this moisturizer which I love but since my face has been changing and getting a little more oily {even in the winter months} I wanted to try something that wasn't a "moisturizer." I have always heard great reviews on the Josie Maran Argan Oil and have always wanted to try it. Ok, so you are probably thinking, why would she use an oil on her face when her face is already oily? Yes, I thought that also and was a total sceptic. I went into my local Sephora and was talking to a beauty consultant about the Josie Maran Argan Oil and she was saying that she uses the regular Josie Maran Argan Oil and that she absolutely loves and swears by the product. She also has oily/combination skin.

I ended up getting a sample of the regular Josie Maran Argan Oil and used it for a few weeks. I did like it but I found that it was a little too heavy and I didn't like the feeling on my face as it was almost too greasy. I went back and got a sample of the "light" oil and this one was much better for my skin. The light oil is a lighter consistency and it also dries more matte on the face but also gives a little bit of a dewy look which I LOVE. I went back a week later and ended up getting the 0.5 oz {which is the smaller bottle to the 1.7 oz}.

I have been using the Josie Maran Argan Oil Light for over a month now and I can't believe the way my skin looks and feels. My face has never looked better and has never felt softer. Even when I am not wearing it on my face, my face still has a glow to it. This oil does not break me out, it actually helped clear up my acne as well as redness caused from past acne blemishes. This oil also reduces sebum production and is great for all skin tones, especially sensitive/ acne prone skin {which is me}. My skin also feels tighter and more hydrated.

How I apply it:

Morning:

After I have washed and toned my face, I add two drops to the entire face and whatever is left over on my fingers, I will then dap that around my eyes for extra hydration. I then follow my makeup routine afterwards. This oil is a great makeup base and when I apply my foundation {liquid or powder}, my face just looks flawless and dewy and so healthy looking. My boyfriend has also been commenting on how good my face has been looking as of late. Now, if your man notices and compliments you on your skin, then you know the product is a keeper.

Night:

After I have washed and toned my face, I put two drops on my index finger and I rub my two hands together and apply it all over my face. Once I have rubbed it all in, I then add one drop to my index finger again and I apply that around my eyes, focusing more on the outer corner of my eye {crows feet area} and a little under my eye and under my brow bone. Make sure that you don't get it too close to your lash line as it can get into your eyes.

Not only is this oil good for your face, it can also be used for your cuticles, hair, dry skin {hands, feet, elbows etc}. It's a multi purpose product and you definitely get your money's worth with this oil. I would definitely recommend this product to anyone and I am really glad that I found a product that actually doesn't make me breakout.

I hope you all found this post helpful and please let me know if you have any questions about the product or how I use it. Leave them in the comments below and I will definitely answer them as soon as I can..

Thank you so much for stopping by, xo!!

HOW TO APPLY SELF TANNER

GET THE IMPORTANT STUFF DONE FIRST

If you need to get a wax, shave your legs or even get a manicure/ pedicure, do any of these first before self-tanning. This is crucial as any of these can remove the self-tanner once it has been applied.

EXFOLIATE

Another important step before self- tanning is to exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate. This is so important as self-tanner sinks into dry skin leaving you looking patchy and uneven, um gross!
Using an exfoliating puff or body wash, exfoliate your whole body and wherever you are more dry focus more on those areas like the elbows, knees etc.
Don't forget to exfoliate your face as well with a gentle exfoliating cleaner or with a Clarisonic.

DRYING OFF

This one is obvious but make sure when you get out of the shower or bath to wait 10 minutes until you are 100% dry before applying the self-tanner.

SKIN SHOULD BE MOISTURIZED

Even though you want to be 100% dry, you will also want to add a little bit of moisturizer back into your skin before you self tan. Apply a lightweight lotion around your nose, knees, elbows, ankles and any other area on your body that is dry. This will prevent the areas from looking orange or dark once the self-tanner has been applied.

PICKING THE SELF-TANNER

There are a tone of different self tanners on the market these days from mousse formulas, to sprays and even gels. Mousses tend to be the easiest to rub in as sprays are great for those hard to reach areas. Choose a self-tanner to your skin tone not what you want as your desired look. Go with a light to medium self-tanner if you have fair skin and a dark formula if you have olive skin. Remember, if you chose a formula that is a "gradual self-tanner" it can take up to two to four applications to reach the right shade.

I did a post on my favorite self-tanners, you can read all about it here.

START AT THE BOTTOM AND WORK YOUR WAY UP

This is the technique that I like to start with but you can choose whatever way you want. With clean hands or latex gloves {which is what I use}, smooth on the self-tanner in circular motions. Start at your ankles {feet} and work your way up to your shoulders to prevent any weird lines or marks when you are bent over. Save your arms and hands for last.

TAKE IT EASY ON YOUR FACE

Dab on a dime size amount where you would naturally tan. Your forehead, the apples of your cheeks, the bridge of your nose and your chin, all blending outward with your fingertips {I would be using latex gloves for this one}. Be extra careful around your nose and above your lip as these areas tend to be drier. Whatever is left, apply along the hairline and past your jaw line.

DRYING TIME

If the product say's to wait ten minutes to dry, I would wait fifteen. Always wait a little longer than what the product say's.

**A little trick that I like to do is to add baby powder all over my body where I have applied the self-tanner. This trick is to prevent the tanner from transferring onto my clothes**

Always wait 6-8 hours before having a shower and during this time you shouldn't be sweating either, save the gym for later.

 CLEANING IT UP

We always make mistakes. If you have any streaks or splotches, rub half of a lemon on the area for a few minutes before removing with a damp cloth. It works like a charm!

MAINTAINING IT

You can't predict how long self-tanner will technically last but certain measures can prolong it. Use a gentle body wash and make sure your skin is always moisturized. Using acne creams or harsh chemicals will dissolve the colour on your face.
Once you're ready to refresh the tan, begin with exfoliating and repeat all the steps.


Now that the colder months are approaching, most of us are going to start self-tanning. With the simple steps above, you can be assured that your tan will look amazing!!!

What are your favorite self-tanners?

Thank you so much for stopping by and don't forget to follow me on Instagram @sincerelymissash