As a beauty brand owner, designing products is the best part of my job. If I had to pick a favorite product it would be lip products all day. With all the options currently on the market, choosing a formula that is right for you can get a bit overwhelming. Some are for moisturization, some for all day wear and there are others that provide nothing more than all day shine. Much like skincare, to choose what works for you, you will need to know your lip type. Are your lips dry a lot? You need to exfoliate and will want to use something that moisturizes. Your type can also depend on what season we’re currently in. Taking all of this into account, here’s a few formulas worth mentioning:
Crème - This type lives somewhere between a matte and a gloss and are highly pigmented. They tend to be hydrating, depending on the formula and provide full coverage yet smooth wear.
Matte – Matte lipsticks have become extremely popular over the years with several brands offering smudge-proof, waterproof and kiss-proof wear but they tend to be very drying without proper lip care. The upside is that they are long-lasting and are usually highly pigmented for full color payoff.
Gloss – If you like a shiny pout, glosses are for you. Usually, color isn’t as important although they come in both clear and shades. Another added alternative is to purchase a gloss-based lip plumper for the illusion of fuller, plumper lips.
Lip Crayons – A combination of a lipstick and a lip balm, this product comes in many formulas but is mostly creamy and soft in texture. The color payoff is subtle as it’s more about moisturization than it is pigmentation. Choose this for a fuss-free flush of color and hydration.
Knowing your lip type and the finish/texture of a lip product will greatly reduce the chances of you losing money by choosing products that don’t work for you. If you’re anything like me and love the idea of building collections, at least do so by knowing what you’re getting and the best way it can be worn.
Happy Shopping!
Hey guys! It's been a while since I've posted, and I'm so excited to get back into it! Let's talk about self-care...
I think that self-care is a timely topic because of all the crazy stuff going on in the media right now. There are a lot of people who don't understand how they can help their communities or the world—and that's okay! Sometimes the best thing you can do for your community is take care of yourself.
With everything going on in the world, we're constantly being told to give and give and give—and it truly is important that we keep our hearts open to others, that we reach out to people struggling with mental health issues, and that we stay informed about the world around us. We do need to take care of others, but we also need to take care of ourselves.
Self-care is one of those things that I struggled with for a long time. I had a really hard time putting myself first, and even harder time learning how to say no and setting necessary boundaries. And honestly, for a long time, I didn't focus on self-care because I didn't think I needed it or think it was important.
It wasn't until some pretty big life changes forced me to re-evaluate what was important to me and what my priorities were that I realized how much my lack of self-care had impacted my overall health and well-being.
I've heard people say, "You can't pour from an empty cup," and it seemed like such a cliche at the time, but now that I've spent some time focusing on this aspect of my life, I'm starting to see some big changes.
So, what does self-care look like? Well, that depends on who you are! It might mean finding something that brings you peace—a hobby, an activity, a passion—that centers you and gives your life purpose and meaning (and maybe even joy!). Maybe it's learning to say "no"—or more importantly, learning how to say "no" in love: how to set boundaries without making other people feel rejected or like they don't matter. Maybe it's taking care of your body or eating better or making time for prayer and personal bible study, or just meditating and having "quiet time."
And remember this isn't just about pampering! Self-care is about checking in with yourself and learning or understanding how you're feeling. It's checking in with yourself to ensure that your mind is healthy and asking the questions, how am I feeling or how am I doing because you really want to know and really taking a step back to listen for the answers. These check-ins should be performed regularly so that we're thriving through life instead of just surviving from day to day. You also shouldn't feel guilty for any of this. You NEED it!
Master and embrace the art of doing nothing. Especially in today's world, where we're inundated with news and images and opinions. Where the media is telling us we have to be #onALLthetime because if you aren't constantly posting selfies and pictures of your food, products and witty thoughts, no one will know you exist. And if you're not out there making yourself known to potential employers or influencers or whatever, you might as well just give up now. It's all a little overwhelming, isn't it? We need rest and resets. None of what you do is going to matter if you're burnt out. Take the time to center your life around what matters most and watch how much happier you become.
P.S. There’s an amazing Gratitude blog that’s full of information and encouragement for emotional well-being by an amazing writer named, Aarushi. To further support you in your self care journey, here’s a link to the blog post, 100 Self-Care Quotes to Give Yourself the Care You Deserve.
Talk soon,
One of the first steps to creating a skincare routine is determining your skin type. While this may sound confusing, it's actually pretty simple! If you already know what your skin type is, you can skip this section and move onto the next step (Yay!). If you're unsure of your skin type, don't fret; there are several ways to figure it out. Your skin type is just that: a category based on your genetics, age, geographic location, and other factors that determines how your skin looks and feels. Your skin type is different from your skin condition, which can include things like acne or rosacea. You could have a skin condition in addition to your particular skin type, but these conditions aren't always there. Your skin type is always there. The best way is to check with a dermatologist or your local Esthetician, who will perform an in-depth analysis of your skin and assess what kind of care it needs. You can also determine your skin type yourself—by looking at how your complexion reacts to a range of different products. For example, if you notice that certain products cause drying or irritation (or no effects at all), then that’s a good indication of what you should be looking for in skincare moving forward (i.e., dryness = hydrating products). There are five basic categories of skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. It's possible that you might have more than one category of these skin types in different parts of your face (like an oily T-zone) but for the most part, there's one category that best describes what kind of dryness or oiliness your face has.
We'll walk you through a few simple steps to help determine which category fits you best:
Normal skin has small pores and is not overly oily or dry.
Normal skin has small pores and is not overly oily or dry. It looks and feels healthy, smooth, firm, and even.
In normal skin, the sebaceous (oil) glands are active but not overactive. They produce adequate amounts of natural oils to keep the skin soft, smooth, supple, hydrated (moisture-rich), and protected. The surface cells under the top layer of the epidermis are tightly packed together like tiles on a roof. They form a barrier that keeps moisture in and environmental pollutants out.
Normal skin has an even tone with few blemishes or blotches.
Oily skin is often shiny and prone to blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
People with oily skin often have large pores as well, which can become clogged with dirt and oil that can lead to blackheads and whiteheads.
Oily skin also makes people more prone to pimples and acne because dead skin cells mix with the oil and clog the pores. That's why it's important for people with oily skin to cleanse their face regularly.
Experts generally agree that your diet doesn't affect how much oil your body produces, though it might make you break out if you're eating too many greasy foods.
Treatments for oily skin include:
cleansing the face regularly.
moisturizing regularly to keep the glands from producing too much oil,
exfoliating,
using a mask,
changing pillowcases frequently
Combination skin means you have different kinds of skin on your face — for example, oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
Most people have combination skin, which means you have different kinds of skin on your face — for example, oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
You may have oily skin around your nose, forehead and chin, with dry skin on your cheeks and around your eyes.
Your skin type can change with age, as you get older you may produce less oil and your skin may become drier.
Dry skin is flaky, scaly or rough. It might be itchy or irritated because of its dryness.
Dry skin is flaky, scaly or rough. It might be itchy or irritated because of its dryness. Dry skin is common in older people, who may have a natural tendency to lose moisture more easily. Dry skin can also be caused by washing too often or using harsh soaps that remove the natural oils from your skin. You're more likely to get dry if you live in a cold, dry climate with low humidity levels.
Sensitive skin needs special care because it reacts adversely to some products that aren't a problem for other skin types.
If you have sensitive skin, taking care of it is not as straightforward as simply using products that work well for you. You need special care because your skin will react negatively to some ingredients and products that may be okay for other skin types. It’s important to always use gentle products and avoid those with fragrances. Every day, use sunscreen, moisturizers and gentle cleansers in order to keep your skin hydrated and prevent irritation.
Knowing your skin type will help you take better care of your skin.
Considering your skin type is an important part of choosing the right skincare products. Knowing your skin type will also help you to avoid triggers that make your skin problems worse.
Skin type is genetic. You are born with it, and you may notice that all the women in your family have similar personal experiences with their skin. Skin can also change as you age or because of environmental factors such as stress or the weather. For example, you may have dry skin now but oily in the summer months when your sebaceous glands are more active. Or, if you have sensitive skin, going through a stressful period might cause a flare-up. Our skin tends to change over time so regularly "checking in" with your skin and adjusting your routine and products accordingly will keep you on the right track in obtaining healthy skin.
With love,
