You're so Vain...You Probably Think This Post is About You...

 vainity van·i·ty/ˈvanətē/Noun

1. Excessive pride in or admiration of one's own appearance or achievements.

pride [prid] Noun

1. Satisfaction with self
2. Proper sense of own value
 
There is a fine line between vainity and pride, but caring about how you look shouldn't be an issue. I pride myself on always looking my best, and you should too. The efforts we take to ensure we look (and smell) good are not to be shrugged off or wasted. In a world where we are judged even before we open our mouth and speak, it should interest everyone to always put their appearance as a priority.

Making sure your hair, nails, face, teeth, clothes, shoes and scent are presentable is a must. This does not make you high maintenance, just conscientious, and attention to details will always score you big 'points' professionally and personally. Always.

A great investment that will last a lifetime would be to hire an image consultant. Sounds pricey, but it's actually not. They can customize their service(s) to suit your needs and do everything from style assessment, wardrobe/closet audit, hair/makeup consultation and personal shopping (among a few other things) to create your new look. They even go through your clothes and create new outfits for you.

Think of it like the show "What Not to Wear" with stylists making you over, but without the television cameras. This is the perfect way to get a legitimate unbiased opinion on what looks good to portray the image you want. Being delusional about thinking you look good when in fact you look like a hot mess is the worst thing you could do. Whether you start with a makeup make-over, or book an image consultant, you will not go wrong when applying the efforts to look your best.

Banish Those Puffy Eyes!

Do you often wake up with puffy under eyes regardless of how much sleep you got? Although hereditary, age and diet are the usual suspects, you can combat those dreaded bags. 

First things first; wash your face with warm water and lightly massage/tap the puffy area to circulate the fluid that has accumulated there. Next, get an ice cube, wrap it in a paper napkin and apply to puffy area (off/on for about 10 minutes). In between icing, continue to massage/tap the area gently while keeping your head upright (no laying down). Wait another 10 minutes before starting to do your makeup and you will see the remaining puffiness dissipate on its own. 

What can you do to prevent the puffiness in the first place? Drink more water, less sodas, and try eliminating salt/high sodium (junk) foods from your diet, and cut back on alcohol, because these are the beauty destroyers. If you don't believe me, just try skipping it for a week and you'll see how much more refreshed you'll look in the morning without the under eye baggage.

There are de-puffing eye products you can buy (caffenine is the main ingredient) that might be able to help speed up the process, but ultimately your diet is the bottom line and those "toxins" will resurface and show on your face. Plenty of rest with your head slightly elevated also helps avoid puffy eyes too.

Makeup Tips

Come visit (and 'like') my Touch of Color facebook page to read my quick daily status posts on makeup tips, tricks and techniques. Everything you could want, never knew, or needed to know.

http://www.facebook.com/TouchofColorAirbrushMakeupArtistry (cut and paste into browser if above link doesn't direct you to page). Thanks and hope to see some new 'fans'.

Wait..What? It's 2012 Already????

Saying 'time flies' is an understatement for how quickly 2011 zipped right by us. It's now 2012 and with this fact comes renewed hopes, dreams, goals, ideas and strategies for all of us. So aside from the usual get-in-better-shape resolution, what personal monologue did you have with yourself as 2011 was ending? What do you hope to accomplish/change for your new year?

While I'm an advocate of always looking your best and believing that when you look good, you feel good (or better), my resolutions are always attainable ones that I can practice daily. Not that I don't challenge myself (believe me, I'm my own worst critic and best cheerleader in one!) but I find business goals more challenging than personal ones (and not a resolution to make but a lifestyle to aspire to). So since I am fueled by things that make me happy and smile in life, I'd rather make a resolution that supports that, and encourage you to do the same.

Sometimes something as simple as getting a new haircut, changing you lipstick shade, wearing more color in your wardrobe, adding a fun accessory to an outfit, or even just smiling more in general (yes, even at strangers) can start a chain-reaction in  you. Despite what you may have gone through or what you have ahead of you, live your life and (try) to enjoy yourself. Don't waste energy (or sleep) on things you can't change or have no control over. Make 2012 the year of optimism and throw pessimism out with 2011.

Whether you work from the inside out or outside in, you can achieve what you set out to attain, so looking good while you're doing it couldn't hurt. Happy New Year everyone and remember to smile.

Holiday Freebies

Who doesn't love free stuff? This time of year is prime time for cosmetic companies to throw together a little incentive to purchase an item from them in order to get their free 'swag' bag of goodies. Ok its not technically free-free since you do need to buy something first, but with a small purchase of anywhere between $19.99 - $29.99, you can get a nice little re-useable makeup bag filled with free makeup products (travel size usually, but not always), and who doesn't love that?

I for one am a huge fan of this practice and always direct my purchase to the companies who do offer freebies just so I can get more for my money. The best part is that they aren't giving you discontinued products or un-popular colors, but are actually giving you products that you will want to use because they want you as a customer again and hope you will fall in love with something and return and buy it when you run out. It's worked on me many times, especially with the free perfume samples...I always come back to buy a full size bottle.

Lancome was the first major cosmetic company to offer the free product with purchase, and then all other companies followed suit. In my opinion though, Lancome still reigns supreme with the freebies because they give a lot for such a little purchase AND you get to pick your items too. I bought mascara the other day for $24 and walked away with a full size eye cream, lipstick, blush, 2 eye liner pencils, lip gloss, and an eye shadow duo compact. I was really impressed with the quantity and that I got to choose my own 7 items. 

So go check out the freebies being offered right now and get your own goodie bag to play with.

Destination Wedding Makeup

You're engaged! Now the planning begins, and whether you get married locally, back home or abroad for a destination wedding, you need to budget for a makeup artist to make sure your wedding photos look amazing.

Your regular makeup routine won't cut it and only a professional can give you camera-ready makeup. Here is an article I wrote for Destinations Travel Magazine regarding destination wedding makeup, and why you need to hire a professional on such an epic day.

Click Here - "The Flawless Face: Airbrush Makeup" page16

Falls MUST Haves

I am not particularly a fan of fall/winter because I adore heat, sunshine and summer clothes more, but the products we get to use sometimes during the chillier months do have its perks. This fall while your body is all bundled up (and probably your head too), let your gorgeous face peek through, and remind everyone that spring is only 6 months away.

 

This season you should incorporate coral, pink or berry colored glosses/lipsticks into your look. Pink blush is also flattering on everyone, shimmer or dewy skin (think J-Lo, she rocks it) looks fresh, and really subtle eye makeup. Nothing too busy. Matte anything right now (lipstick, eye shadow, face) can look harsh, so aim for "fresh". Using a tinted moisturizer is great to keep the cold wind and hot heaters from making your skin look dehydrated.

 

Flipping through fashion magazines is a great way to be inspired not only for fashion, but what's trending now in makeup as well. If you are not a follow-the-masses kind of girl, I still recommend that spring and fall require a makeup change, especially in your skin-care regiment, so you can benefit from the seasons changing and always look your best year round.