Beauty Tip: Sun-Kissed Skin

Summer is right on our heels (SO thankful) but why wait until then to look like you have been kissed by the sun?  I absolutely love the sun!  Maybe it has something to do with me being a summer baby but whatever the case may be, I can never get enough of it.  There is nothing like a good tan!  I absolutely love the bronzy glow I get after laying out.  However, you don't need a trip to the beach to illuminate your skin.  A sun-kissed appearance can be achieved by mixing a touch of gold highlighter with your foundation or tinted moisturizer.  This little trick will give you a natural glow!  And if you are opting for the bronze goddess look like Christina's (see photo), keep the rest of your makeup in the same color family and this will give you a natural effect.  Try using a matte bronzer on your cheeks, a natural color on your lids (like a taupe), and tie it all together with a swipe of gold-flecked lipgloss!

My highlighter of choice is Josie Maran's Argan Illuminizer.  The Argan Illuminizer is described as an ultra light skin brightener with a hint of bronze giving the skin a radiant, luminous, lit-from-within glow that lasts all day.  And I can vouch...it does just that! :)  If that wasn't enough and as the name suggests, this product contains Argan Oil.  Commonly referred to as "liquid gold" or "The Gold of Morocco", Argan Oil is an incredibly rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids.  It has astonishing healing, conditioning and anti-aging properties to help keep your skin nourished and revitalized.  The Argan Illuminizer can be purchased online at http://www.josiemaran.com/ and at Sephora (retail - $28).

Josie Maran Argan Illuminizer

Added Benefits of Argan Oil:

1. Soften dry skin - Argan Oil's naturally high concentration in Vitamin E and essential fatty acids work to alleviate dry skin and rough patches.
2. Help Minimize fine lines - Smooth Argan Oil over skin and under your eyes for intense moisture and to reduce appearance of fine lines.
3. Help heal acne blemishes and scarring - With regular use, Argan Oil is widely reported to heat existing acne blemishes, prevent the occurrence of new breakouts and help reduce scarring.
4. Give skin a fresh, youthful look - Argan Oil easily absorbs into skin to give you a youthful, dewy glow.

Glow forth & be merry!! :)


XOXO,


~Tiaja

Saving Face....Buh Bye, Pimples!

For the past week I have been contemplating on what my next blog topic would be.  I mean really racking my brain!  And this morning, I awoke to the North Star on my forehead & instantly reached for Peter Thomas Roth's Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash; giving me an "Ah Ha" moment.  Why not write about a product that I swear by and have been using for years?  That's what blogging is all about right, sharing thoughts, opinions and in this case...beauty secrets!

I rarely cheat on LaMer but when I wake up with a huge zit anywhere on my face, I am definitely moonlighting with this Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash!  Around the time that I turned 30, I discovered Adult Acne...or should I say it discovered me.  I never really had a problem with my skin except for the occasional breakout here and there.  So, it came as a complete shock when I began to breakout more regularly as an adult.  I was cheerleading at this time and i'm sure the fact that I was wearing makeup more than normal contributed to my acne issues.  But the bottom-line was that I had to deal with it and QUICK!  I tried going to an Aesthetician on a regular basis which really helped me out alot. However, it was hurting my pockets!  This is when I discovered Peter Thomas Roth's Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash and was thoroughly impressed with the results.

Most acne medications are geared to target teenage oily-skin which is a bad choice for adults who tend to have drier skin.  The Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash is oil-free, alcohol-free, fragrance-free and gentle enough to give you a deep cleanse without over drying your skin.  At the first sign of a pimple, I use this wash and my annoying little friend is significantly smaller, if not gone, the next day!  Now granted, my breakouts are generally not that bad.  I usually get a pimple here and there especially during that wonderful time of the month.  But who wants to be bothered with pimples??  Not me!  Which is why this product comes highly recommended.  Everyone's skin is different and I would suggest that you get a sample and try it first before you buy.  Although, I think you will be pleasantly surprised just as I was!

You can purchase Peter Thomas Roth's Beta Hydroxy Acid 2% Acne Wash on their website, http://www.peterthomasroth.com/, ULTA and Sephora.  It retails for $35.

XOXO

~Tiaja

Violent Lips: Hot Trend or Bad Fad?


Recently, I have come across pictures of celebs wearing what appears to be the latest craze....Violent Lips!  One picture, in particular, was of Keyshia Cole wearing the leopard print appliques (similar to the ones in the photo above) during a recent television interview.  And for the life of me, I could not make a decision as to whether or not I liked the look or not.  I was however, intrigued and being the beauty addict that I am, I HAD to check it out!

You are probably wondering what the heck are Violent Lips? Described as "the ultimate form of self-expression", Violent Lips is a line of temporary lip appliques offering a pretty wide variety of patterns ranging from animal prints to black/ white checks to a 'Glitterati' sparkle and are supposed to last up to 8 hours!   These vitamin-enhanced temporary lip tattoos are FDA approved, made in America and as stated on their website, 'tested on supermodels, not animals'. 

Interested, yet?  Well, I was! lol  I was more curious in finding out how they worked & how they would look on me.  So, I headed down to Sephora (where else) and grabbed a pack of the Red Glitterati which were on sale for $8 (original retail is $16) and headed home to bling out my lips! After reading the directions, I realized that these appliques work just like the temporary tattoos found in your Cracker Jacks box when you were a kid!  lol  And while it sounds fairly easy, I would say the tricky part is the placement and making sure that you get the right measurement (horizontal & vertical) for your lips!

After successfully applying the appliques to my lips, I have to say that I was not that impressed!  While they looked decent from afar, they were pretty disastrous up close.  Perhaps I didn't apply them properly but whatever the case may be, I did not find these to be practical in any way, shape or form.  Everytime I closed my mouth, the appliques would lift at the corners and they did not lay flat on my lips.  In short, the celeb photos looked WAY better than mine (see below)! And, I can't for the life of me begin to understand how Keyshia made it through an entire interview wearing these.  I give here major props!  lol  However, I will say that they were fairly easy to remove.  After rubbing my lips with an oil-based makeup remover, the appliques began to break down and peel off fairly quickly.

Kardashian/ Jenner sisters wearing Violent Lips
photo courtesy of bellasugar

My final thoughts....In theory, the temporary lip tattoos are a great and fun concept.  Would I wear them for a photo shoot...Yes!  Would I wear them for a night on the town, date or just because....NO WAY! Granted I may give them another try since it comes with 3 in a pack and just maybe I will get better results.  But at the end of the day, you know what they say about first impressions....

XOXO

~Tiaja

Not to Prime is a Crime!

Next to airbrushing....Facial Primers are the key to a smooth canvas!  A good primer will minimize your pores and fine lines while allowing your foundation and/ or powder to go on giving you a flawless complexion! ;) 

On my way out of town, I ran into Sephora for some last minute shopping and ran across One Prime Day by Benefit Cosmetics.  It's a mini-set of three primers that every girl should have in their make-up bags! 

All three are great but my absolute FAV was That Gal!  A little of this and some powder and I was ready to go! I have only been using this product for a little over a week and have gotten TONS of compliments about how great my skin looks.  And the good thing about the One Prime Day kit is that you can't beat the price....$10 ($28 value)! I'm sure after testing this kit out, you will run out and buy the full size which retails for $29.  ;)


Primer Honorable Mentions:

~ Photo Finish by SmashBox Cosmetics has a very velvety finish and comes in 11 different formulas to match your skin and target problem areas!

~ Veil Mineral Primer by Hourglass Cosmetics goes on satiny smooth and is formulated with SPF 15 for an added bonus!

Ladies, you can't go wrong with either of these 3 primers!

XOXO