Guest blog: Makeup fit for the summer heat!

I hope you all are having a nice weekend so far!  Today I have a little something different- a guest blogger post!  

I was recently contacted by Josh of Betterfly, a website that lets you search for professionals in a number of different fields.  Betterfly is a really cool tool you can use if you need a makeup artist, hair stylist, etc. for anything at all.  Josh explained that they have writers that do guest blogging and asked if I'd be interested in featuring one on my blog.  Well, definitely!  Today's post is all about tips and tricks to beat the heat so your makeup doesn't melt off.  Sounds appropriate, right? (It's a super-humid 85 degrees here as I type this, ugh!)

I really hope you guys enjoy this.

5 Tips to Help Your Makeup Beat the Heat

• Get a clean face. Before you even think about applying makeup, thoroughly wash your face to remove excess oil. Makeup has a tendency to slide all over the place in hot and humid weather, so it’s best to start with a dry face. Try using an oil absorbing face wash for best results, and carry oil-absorbing sheets for touch-ups during the day.

• Skip the foundation. Your foundation will melt at the first sign of sweating, leaving you with a streaky face. Instead opt for a tinted moisturizer, which is light weight but still provides adequate coverage. You can even make your own by combining a little bit of your foundation with your regular face moisturizer. Most important, make sure that your moisturizer has at least SPF 15!
• Bronze. Summer is the time to let your skin glow, so why not give it a little extra help? Lightly dust a powder bronzer over your T-line (nose to forehead). My current favorite is MAC bronzer in Golden. Also, brush powder blush over your cheeks for a sun-kissed look. Avoid cream-based products at all costs, as they fad fast in hot weather.

• Break out the waterproof products. It’s a no-brainer that waterproof mascara and eyeliner hold up better in the heat, so invest in them for the summer. Also try limiting your eyeliner to just the top lid—the bottom lid is more likely to smear and create dark circles under your eyes.
• Favor natural colors. Dark colored eye shadows and lip stains melt, and the resulting creases on your skin can be really noticeable. Instead, go for light shades of pink and peach that blend with your skin tone. Better yet, go au natural! Piling on products can clog your pores, so take this opportunity to show off your natural, radiant summer skin. 

Lauren Margolis works for Betterfly.com, a website that helps you find makeup artists in your local area. She is a contributing writer for beauty blogs, with a particular interest in New York makeup artists. 

Thanks for reading! xox

Disclaimer:  I am not in any way affiliated with or being compensated by Betterfly. 

Tip: Get more out of your concealer

The other day I was at the Clinique counter (after I finished my shift at work) getting the 3-step skincare routine done on me, and I learned some pretty awesome stuff.  The girl working did the 3-step on half of my face and then re-did my face makeup so I could leave looking presentable.  And that's when she told me...
how you can make your concealer last so much longer!


Now what she did was combine Clinique All About Eyes eye cream with the Line Smoothing concealer, and used the mixture on my under eye circles.  Her claim was that the eye cream helps depuff/reduce darkness as well as helping the concealer adhere to the skin and blend better.
You don't really need a specific eye cream to get the effect, though, as I don't believe the hype surrounding them anyway.  I tried this using my trusty Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion and it worked just as well.
Well, she also told me you only need about half as much concealer when you do this, which makes perfect sense right?  And to my surprise it totally works.  My under eye circles were just as concealed using this technique as they were using double as much concealer.
(For funnies, I am totally loving the Clinique Line Smoothing concealer.  It erases my under eye circles like no one's business.  I used it sparingly on my acne scars today, and it covered those too.  Yay!)

Look!  (For the swatches/demonstration I used Clinique All About Eyes cream- it's my mom's- and Clinique Quick Corrector concealer in Moderately Fair)

Left: All About Eyes, Right: Quick Corrector concealer

Left: All About Eyes, Middle: All About Eyes+ concealer mixed together, Right: one swatch of cream+concealer blend

That middle swatch is about enough product to cover both under eye areas and then some, and I started with about the same amount I would originally use for just one eye.  So being someone who wants to stretch their dollar in every possible way, I love this idea.  It makes your concealer last about twice as long, as well as helps in a better application (blends better, more smoothly).

And keep in mind that although I used All About Eyes eye cream for this,  you can definitely use a regular facial lotion.  I just happened to have what the Clinique girl recommended on hand, so I used that for the post.

Hope you guys are having a great start to your week, after the long weekend!  I had to work yesterday (Fourth of July), but I didn't have plans otherwise so it was ok. :)

xox

Summer Makeup tips

Natural makeup is perfect for summer, bronze powder, matte eyeshadows, creamy lipstick, and pastels are perfect for the hot period of the year.

Say no to foundation:
Instead use a tinted moisturizer with a spf, it will give you some coverage but wont melt off in the heat.
Powder:
Replace foundation with a powder, choose a light, smooth texture.
Bronze powder:
Avoid using bronze powder just after applying moisturizer. It will make it more difficult to apply. Skin should be dry. Apply to forehead, nose bridge, cheeks, a bit on the chin and neck.
Blush:
For more natural look use a creamy and smooth, fluid texture and warm colors. 
At the Beach:
Beach makeup doesn't have to forbidden, instead apply a light coat of waterproof mascara, then a lipgloss in a shimmery shade.
  

Blogging and Professionalism

Every once in a while I'm motivated to blog about something due to an experience.  This is one of those posts.

Working in a hospital, we are obligated to be professional.  Being professional has a lot of different perspectives and ideas.  One business's professional standards may be different from another.  By this I mean dress codes, appearance of employees, appropriate conversations etc.  An example of this could be tattoos.  If you work in a tattoo parlor, bar, design maybe this is acceptable in terms of a business environment and employees.  (Please I have nothing against tattoos but I know many businesses have dress code rules on this matter).  Where I work, you are not allowed to have visible tattoos.  If you have them on your forearms, for example, you are required to wear long sleeves to cover them.

What about with blogging?  For some, your blog is your business, or at least, you hope it one day will be.  For others, it may just be an outlet.  There could possibly be a hundred reasons people keep a blog.  If you're blog is a business (or hopeful one) professionalism is necessary to obtain and keep your clients.  I think most bloggers are aware of that and do follow through with that.  Where some bloggers kind of forget sometimes is in forums  or sites off-blog.

Myself, I am active on several forums, product review sites, social sites, etc.  I always link up my blog where it's acceptable to do so. In this way your name is attached to your brand (blog). I was recently on a site.  I won't say where (for the purpose of this post it's not important).  There was an on-going conversation amongst some bloggers.  The conversation was less than professional.  It was a site where companies are too. When blogging is your business you need to be aware of your surroundings.  In this particular setting not only is it not good for the bloggers who are involved in the conversation but it also takes credentials away from the bloggers who are trying to maintain  an appropriate business environment. 

Yes there are times that we need to vent. Maybe you have an issue with another blogger.  Maybe you didn't like a comment somebody left on a particular subject.  Whatever it is, if you can't let it go than go to that person directly.  By email, by twitter DM, facebook IM, just privately not posted all over a public forum.  Approach them respectfully.  Sometimes what you hear is not the whole truth or was misinterpreted.  Think about how you would like to be treated and approached.  I think that is the bottom line to professionalism.

I'm not perfect. I've said and done things I regret.  If you type something out online, there's always the delete button.

Here is my blogging professionalism thoughts.  Please feel free to leave your thoughts and your own tips:

1.  Be honest.

2.  If you hope that a particular person or group doesn't read what you posted, then don't post it.

3.  Give credit where credit is due.

4.  If you have a problem with someone online go to them directly. Don't announce it publicly.

5.  If you don't like a product, site, comment etc approach respectfully.  You may not know the whole story. If someone were to approach you, how would you want them to approach you about it?

6.  Consider your audience.

7.  My own personal rule and works in many settings: stay away from conversations regarding political affiliation, religion, and sex unless the situation requires you to do so.  If it does, give only need to know information. Of course this will vary greatly.  If your blog is about your church, political news, your family values, and so on, then go for it.

8.  When you're angry take a break.  Walk away from your computer.  Step out of the room.  Whatever it takes for however long it takes before you write.  Give yourself time to cool off and think about how you should really approach something.  OR if you should write something.

9.  Spelling, punctuation, and proof reading.  Yea I know, like I'm the one who should be saying this.  I re-read my own posts all the time and think "ah you goof that's supposed to by my not me." I know this is an area I need to work on

10.  Stay true to your blog--Me, I refuse to do paid posts on over-priced products or services.  I'll do a review but I'm gonna tell the truth (see #1).  You can send me a $200 face cream but I'm gonna tell my readers it's too expensive unless it zaps every wrinkle and you never have to buy another bottle.  (In that case, sign up as a rep because then it's a good value lol)

I know there's probably a few i missed.  I know there's a few I need to work on myself.  Please feel free to comment with your tips.



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