Month: May 2017

Summer’s Hottest Makeup Trend In 7 Minutes

In a world of skincare in twelve steps and makeup with five layers, I’m excited about this summer’s hottest makeup trend. My daily messy-bun and sweatpants-self hopes it’s here to stay.

Drum roll: natural yet defined brows, understated eyeshadow, mascara and a swipe or five of bronzer. #Boom.

It makes sense that as the humidity kicks in and the heats starts sizzling, we are spending more time outside which means fun in the sun (and water) and sweat.  But interestingly it’s going a step farther this summer because even the best winged eyeliner is starting to fall back into the [eye]shadows.  Today’s magazine covers have replaced dramatic eyes with muted nude that take a back seat to wispy lashes, and dustings of freckles not covered by foundations make an appearance.  Freckles?! My heart can’t be any happier.

Time to put away the smoky charcoals, eyeliner and glittery get up.

How to get the look.

Eyeshadow: Opt for a versatile nude shade with some slight sheen to give you some brightness.  Add a lighter highlighter color in the corners for some extra pop.  Covergirl makes some great nude options in their Eye Enhancers line and bonus they are easy to find and so inexpensive! Have fun with a swipe of color that matches your favorite summer drink.

Lashes: growth serums are all the rage these days.  You can read my post about how to get those mega lashes on ReadHead which will give you that flirty, beachy vibe.  The trick is to be enhanced yet natural.  Put away the super thick falsie look-a-likes and opt for lengthening and fanning.  Do a quick eyelash curl and put on a coat or two of your favorite mascara. I like Benefit’s Roller Lash which has the best brush for lengthening I’ve come across and hear there’s a dupe from Covergirl called Lash Sensational.  Time to make a trip to the drug store!

Finish it off: Follow up with your favorite SPF, swipe some brow color for definition and hit the high points with your favorite bronzer.  That’s your forehead, bridge of your nose, chin, and cheeks.  Just a neutral swipe though, the goal is to look sun-kissed, not sun-mauled.

You can achieve this look in under 7 minutes and I’ll challenge you to skip the BB cream or foundation ::gasp!::.  It’s a little scary at first but dip your toe in.  I promise you’ll be fine.

Your skin will thank you for its own allotted summer break. You can always hide behind your sunglasses and hat, like me!

Have a favorite summertime routine? Drop us a line in the comments.

 

Brighten & Tighten: Eyes Talking To You

I asked my Facebook network if there was a topic they’d like me to write about and the top answer was addressing dark under-eye circles.  I’ll take it a step further to give ReadHead readers some tips to go from oh gosh to posh in no time.

Under-eye Circles & Puffiness

Under-eye circles and puffiness are caused by many culprits – genetics, fatigue, diet, allergies, age, sun and free radical damage, and trauma to the eye area.  For some, genetics will prove that under eye circles are inevitable, but there are some things you can do to stave off those shadows as long as you can.

Getting more sleep, staying out of the sun + using SPF are no brainers.  Making sure not to tug on your lower eyes when applying eyeliner or over-exfoliating the delicate skin around your eyes which can cause skin to look crepey and bring blood vessels closer to the surface of the skin and more visible are causes not usually top of mind.

The body has a lymphatic system that helps filter toxins and pollutants.  Your face retains water and lymphatic juice (ew, but I can’t think of a better word to describe it) which creates puffiness and can build up, putting pressure on blood vessels in one of the most thinly-skinned areas on the body.  Irritants like allergies or the common cold also cause the lymphatic system to work overtime while trying to flush out the toxins.

Facial massage designed to drain the lymphatic build-up will decrease overall puffiness, increase circulation and help to remove the pollution from your skin.  You may see increased skin elasticity, better skin contour, brighter under-eye area, less acne and an overall anti-aging effect of lesser wrinkles due to muscle relaxation – and increased happiness!  Who doesn’t love a good massage.

This video is long, but when I commit the time to do this routine I find that my skin looks great.  I mean, look at this woman.  Who WOULDN’T want her glowing, amazing skin??

Makeup & Other Tricks of the Trade

When you can’t get rid of those pesky circles, makeup and proper skin care is your best bet.

Quick tips to hide those circles:

  • Invest in a skin or eye cream rich in peptides and antioxidants like vitamin E which is proven to decrease the look of dark circles, and vitamin K, a lesser known vitamin that aids in wound healing including bruising.  Ferulic acid and vitamin c also help to clear malasma or skin discolorations caused by the sun.  My milia-prone under eyes love Dr. Dennis Gross’ Ferulic and Retinol Triple Eye Correction serum.  It’s lightweight, doesn’t clog my skin, and keeps them bright and refined.  Those with dry skin may need a heavier moisturizer.  If you’re on a budget, no need to splurge for an eye cream.  A well-formulated face moisturizer will do the trick!
  • A little Visine and a light tight line to your eyes (this is the skin inside your bottom eyelashes) with white or beige liner with brighten the whites of your eyes and give them an instant pop.  Curling your lashes and some lifting mascara (try a navy for a brighter take on the traditional black) makes them appear bright and wide.
  • Eyeshadow a shade or two lighter than your skin tone swept on your upper lid and in the corners of your eyes (and slightly under your lower lashes right by the tear duct) will reflect light and cut down on dullness.
  • A well-formulated highlighting concealer dotted under your eyes and on your lids can create brightness. My favorite happens to be Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer which doesn’t crease, look cakey or break down however covers exceptionally well.  Look for products that contain mica or silica.  These ingredients help reflect light which can hide and brighten.  Mixing some highlighter with moisturizer can also have a great effect while being economical.

A common misconception is that covering dark eye circles requires a foundation or concealer much lighter than your skin color.  This looks unnatural and can give you raccoon eyes in reverse.  Try finding one that matches your skin tone but is formulated to cover well, while boasting highlighting properties.

Lastly, break out the ole cucumbers, tea bags or spoons in the freezer.  Give yourself a good massage and stick these babies on your peepers for a detoxed and refreshed look.  Make some cucumber water and sit back and relax while you’re at it!

Have a go-to that helps with your under eye circles or puffiness?  Drop us a line in the comments.

 

Product Review: Dr. Jart Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer

Since it’s getting into the warmer and more humid months here in the Midwest, it may be time to reconsider your beauty routine.  You may need to go from incredibly emollient and heavy moisturizers that protected your skin from the harsh cold and wind into something more suitable for the changing climate that won’t weigh you down or give you a case of the makeup melty face.

I am a fan of K-beauty (which stands for Korean beauty) products and Dr. Jart is high on my list.  My skin seems to love just about everything they put out in the moisturizer category.  What I like about their products is that they are true skincare, not just moisturizers or foundations.

With dehydrated/oily yet reactive skin prone to clogging, the Water Drop Hydrating Moisturizer is a great solution for those of you with my skin type.   This gem came as part of a freebie package from Sephora and has remained a staple in my closet (it’s way beyond a cabinet) since.   AND it’s super fun to use – more later in the application category of the review.

Ingredients:

While a much shorter list of ingredients than many moisturizers you’ll see, this is often times a good thing.  This formulation includes extracts and peptides to promote healthy skin, Dr. Jart’s signature arbutin for skin lightening, and humectants like hyaluronic acid and glycerin to give you that moisture surge.  It does have fragrance as part of the list which smells exactly like Fruit Loops.  The good news is that it’s at the end of the list, meaning there is the least of it, and…well…I love a good bowl of Fruit Loops.

From Birch Box’s Website: Water, Cyclomethicone, Glycerin, Arbutin, Sodium Chloride, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Hyaluronic Acid, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Centella Asiatica Extract, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, DMDM Hydantoin, Fragrance

Application:

The Water Drop Moisturizer comes out in a white translucent gel-like consistency.  I squeezed the tube and was easily able to control the appropriate amount – a little less than a dime-sized mound – onto my finger.  Given the name “water drop” it wasn’t runny whatsoever which is nice.  Dealing with runny formulations that run down your hands is just not a fun thing.

Now on to the fun part.  As soon as I started putting the gel onto my face it “burst” into a water-like consistency.  There’s no sound or bubbling of this, but you can tell that it immediately starts to liquefy. I put it on my face and immediately felt the smooth, soothing and refreshing sensation they are talking about…and whiffed those Fruit Loops.  What a fun treat!  I’ve never experienced anything like it before.

Packaging:

The packaging is a silver plastic tube with a screw top.  Praise goodness that it’s not a pot, not a dropper, or some other crazy contraption.  It looks nice and worthy of Korean skincare, is easy to use and leaves the frills to the product itself.

Overall:

Moisturizing has always been a challenge for me, and my skin continues to change with skincare products I use, age and climate.  I appreciated the fun of using this product, and because it’s a gel vs. a heavy cream, it gave me proper moisture without causing an oil slick or break-out city.  At $36 is not cheap, but it’s a good formulation with skin-benefitting ingredients, and oily-skinned, acne prone people like myself may see that this helps improve issues heavier moisturizers or those with 100 filler ingredients you can’t pronounce may cause.  Those with very dehydrated or dry skin may not get enough moisture from this alone. It’s also not a multi-tasker as it does not include SPF.  You’ll need a separate sunscreen for day. I’m deducting one point off for that.

Pro-tip: Sephora has this on their 100 point products fairly often considering and at a great trial size.  Did I mention it’s just fun to use?

Overall: 4/5

Packaging: 5/5

Price: $$$$$

Have you tried the Water Drop Moisturizer or have a K-beauty brand you love? Drop us a line in the comments.