Hello, readers out there in blog land!
Sorry that I've been AWOL through the month of February. I just don't know how that month came and went so fast, especially when it had an extra day and all! I'll try and be better at keeping up with y'all.
I know you've heard the expression that the eyes are the windows to the soul. That they are! And they give away alot about our everyday lives, too. If we're sleep deprived, they're bleary and bloodshot; if we're hung over, they're bleary and bloodshot, too! If we're angry, they're fiery; if we're happy, they shine and well, you get the idea. But, have you ever thought about your eyeBROWS?
I'll bet the answer is no, isn't it? That's a shame, because the eyebrows frame the whole face and subtly, without our even knowing it, they make our EYES come alive! Do this little experiment to prove me right. On one eye, leave the brow just as is, and on the other, color it in, either with a pencil (Laura Geller's is great!) or with a colored eyebrow gel (also recommend Laura Geller) or with a 3 piece eyebrow set from Bare Escentuals (includes the clear eyebrow gel, the color and brush to apply). (I also recommend Smashbox and Mac). Try and match your brow color to your haircolor, so that it looks very natural. Then, look at the difference between the brow that you touched up and the one that you left alone! Dramatic, isn't it?
I"m telling you that no matter what your age, filling in the bald spots and making your brows more obvious than they naturally are, will add youth to your face. Now, who doesn't want that?
I don't care if you have thin brows or thick ones, fill them in and you won't believe the difference they make! My only request is that you don't DRAW them on! No! No! No!
Now, take an extra minute or two to attend to your brows and let me know all the comments you get! (If you don't get any, it's just because they're all jealous!!) ha!
Until next time........
Until next time........
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Seven Skincare Sins (according to QVC)
OK, according to one of the home shopping networks of which I have been a loyal fan for 12 years, they had a show on last week on the Seven Skincare Sins. I'll list them for you and then let you decide if you are doing right by your own body! Just to brag, I only was guilty of one sin and that was #5. What about you?
1. Not wearing sunglasses and protecting your eyes- the retinas and skin around the eyes.
2. Not wearing sunscreen every single day, come rain or shine!
3. Having dry, dehydrated skin (moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!)
4. Picking blemishes. (Yuck!)
5. Over expressing- smiling, laughing, frowning. (Guilty as charged!)
6. Neglecting the neck- front AND back (the skin around the eyes and on the neck are the very thinnest and need special attention!)
7. Never exfoliating. (I told you about this before, so no need for more comment. Just know that I am yelling at you if you didn't take me up on it prior to this!)
If you have any questions or would like me to recommend some products, let me know. Otherwise, sin no more. my lovelies!!
See ya soon!
1. Not wearing sunglasses and protecting your eyes- the retinas and skin around the eyes.
2. Not wearing sunscreen every single day, come rain or shine!
3. Having dry, dehydrated skin (moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!)
4. Picking blemishes. (Yuck!)
5. Over expressing- smiling, laughing, frowning. (Guilty as charged!)
6. Neglecting the neck- front AND back (the skin around the eyes and on the neck are the very thinnest and need special attention!)
7. Never exfoliating. (I told you about this before, so no need for more comment. Just know that I am yelling at you if you didn't take me up on it prior to this!)
If you have any questions or would like me to recommend some products, let me know. Otherwise, sin no more. my lovelies!!
See ya soon!
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
You Are What You Eat!
Here we are again. Another week gone all too quickly. At my age, it's very scary to see time evaporate this fast. A guy I knew at my gym, who was exactly my age, dropped dead of a heart attack last week! Although I didn't know him well, I did know him enough to say hi and chat a bit with him, everytime I saw him working out on the treadmill. He did what I do, to stave off the ravages of aging- he worked out regularly- and now he's gone. Blink. That's it. Ya just never know, so enjoy every single wrinkly moment you have on this earth! You may have wrinkles, but at least, you're still here!
Did you know that what we eat has a huge effect on our skin? Tis true! One study showed that people whose diets were rich in veggies, beans, olive oil, nuts and multigrains are less likely to wrinkle than those who eat red meat, butter and sugar. Foods that are colorful, such as cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, deep leafy greens, tomatoes, and other foods that are naturally yellow, orange and red help our skin as well as multivitamins and products containing antioxidants.
So, what we eat has a definite effect on our skin. Our skin is our largest organ and is easily exposed to the environment. As green as some of you might be, you really need to start protecting your own bodies before you worry about saving the planet. If you're not around to do the work, then how will it get done?
Until next week.......
Did you know that what we eat has a huge effect on our skin? Tis true! One study showed that people whose diets were rich in veggies, beans, olive oil, nuts and multigrains are less likely to wrinkle than those who eat red meat, butter and sugar. Foods that are colorful, such as cantaloupe, apricots, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, deep leafy greens, tomatoes, and other foods that are naturally yellow, orange and red help our skin as well as multivitamins and products containing antioxidants.
So, what we eat has a definite effect on our skin. Our skin is our largest organ and is easily exposed to the environment. As green as some of you might be, you really need to start protecting your own bodies before you worry about saving the planet. If you're not around to do the work, then how will it get done?
Until next week.......
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
It's More Important Than You Realize!
Geez, this font business is really getting to me. If you think I wanted that obnoxious color for my last post, you are sadly mistaken! But I was so afraid of losing my post again, after having already done that, that I had to keep it, ugly and all! So sorry if you made your eyes go crazy! Bear with me, kiddos, as I learn my way around this blog business!
I had a real interesting week at work last week. Remember, I work for a line of cosmetics (very well known!) and the reasons women come into the store are as varied as the personalities. I don't know why, but we seemed to have alot of adult daughters and mothers coming in together and it was so cute how the daughters were so attentive to their mothers. One "couple" involved trying to rid themselves of their "old" lives and begin anew with new makeup. The husband/father was going through his mid-life crisis and tossing aside any remnants of his past "normal" life (including the women who had meant so much to him!) to move in with his wife's best friend! Can you say Jerry Springer?! Both mother and daughter were in desperate need (they told me) of hiding tired, sleepless eyes that just leaked with tears at every inopportune moment. Well, allow me to say, they looked AWESOME when they left! But the best part was that they both felt they "looked so beautiful!" I could just see their look of amazement as they looked at themselves in the mirror. The best, BEST part was that I felt that I had played a part in the start of their new lives. We hugged and I had never set eyes on these women before they walked in the store! Who knew that makeup could do so much for the soul?
Another wonderful pair that came in also needed a makeover from the inside out. The young woman had literally just returned from Iraq the day before! She still seemed to be overwhelmed by the world she had just re-entered, after having been overseas for 15 months. Her skin was all broken out and she said she was used to using "cheapy" cosmetics daily. What I found amazing, tho, was that she even bothered to put on any makeup at all! She said she never went without it! Women may be soldiers but they are still women first and that was nice to hear. She could not stop looking in the mirror at herself when we finished. She couldn't believe that was herself staring back! I thanked her over and over and over again for her service and told her how proud I was to help initiate her back into civilian life. (She was so thrilled she even told me how well I would be received by the other women soldiers if I went over to IRAQ! Thanks but no thanks!)
My point in writing about these two experiences is to prove that makeup is not some exterior, superfluous, self absorbed, unnecessary evil. When we look better, we feel better, through and through! My heart was bursting after working with these ladies. I hugged them as if we had been best friends for years, because little do they know, that they did 1000 times more for my soul than I could ever do for theirs!
See ya next week. Hope you have a great one!
I had a real interesting week at work last week. Remember, I work for a line of cosmetics (very well known!) and the reasons women come into the store are as varied as the personalities. I don't know why, but we seemed to have alot of adult daughters and mothers coming in together and it was so cute how the daughters were so attentive to their mothers. One "couple" involved trying to rid themselves of their "old" lives and begin anew with new makeup. The husband/father was going through his mid-life crisis and tossing aside any remnants of his past "normal" life (including the women who had meant so much to him!) to move in with his wife's best friend! Can you say Jerry Springer?! Both mother and daughter were in desperate need (they told me) of hiding tired, sleepless eyes that just leaked with tears at every inopportune moment. Well, allow me to say, they looked AWESOME when they left! But the best part was that they both felt they "looked so beautiful!" I could just see their look of amazement as they looked at themselves in the mirror. The best, BEST part was that I felt that I had played a part in the start of their new lives. We hugged and I had never set eyes on these women before they walked in the store! Who knew that makeup could do so much for the soul?
Another wonderful pair that came in also needed a makeover from the inside out. The young woman had literally just returned from Iraq the day before! She still seemed to be overwhelmed by the world she had just re-entered, after having been overseas for 15 months. Her skin was all broken out and she said she was used to using "cheapy" cosmetics daily. What I found amazing, tho, was that she even bothered to put on any makeup at all! She said she never went without it! Women may be soldiers but they are still women first and that was nice to hear. She could not stop looking in the mirror at herself when we finished. She couldn't believe that was herself staring back! I thanked her over and over and over again for her service and told her how proud I was to help initiate her back into civilian life. (She was so thrilled she even told me how well I would be received by the other women soldiers if I went over to IRAQ! Thanks but no thanks!)
My point in writing about these two experiences is to prove that makeup is not some exterior, superfluous, self absorbed, unnecessary evil. When we look better, we feel better, through and through! My heart was bursting after working with these ladies. I hugged them as if we had been best friends for years, because little do they know, that they did 1000 times more for my soul than I could ever do for theirs!
See ya next week. Hope you have a great one!
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
A NEW YEAR AND A NEW YOU!
Take two! I just wrote an entire lengthy (and wonderful!) post, but decided to change the color of the font and then proceeded to ERASE the entire post, ugly font color and all! So, here goes my second attempt. What I do for you guys is just unbelievable! But you're worth it, 'cause I love you all! (All 3 who read this!)
Before welcoming in the New Year, let's review my sage advice for the end of 2007. Buy stock in sunscreen, (protecting against both UVA and UVB rays) and exfoliate, gently, until your skin is as smooth as a baby's butt! No, not red and rashy as a baby's butt! We're talking smooth here! I forgot to mention my favorite facial exfoliators in my last post. Sorry 'bout that! The easiest and most gentle ones to use on a daily basis are Philosophy's Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash that you just keep in the shower and Bare Escentuals Skin Revver Upper that you use every morning after cleansing and before moisturizing. They are perfect even for the most sensitive of skins. These products are for the mornings. What to do at night?
I hear you asking me (or am I just hearing things?), "Is it important that I take off my makeup every night? Sometimes, I'm so tired (or so hungover) that I just want to go to bed without bothering." My answer is a definite yes, take it off (take it all off! ha!) with the exception of one product line- Bare Escentuals. They claim that their makeup is so pure you can even sleep in it! That means, it will not clog pores! The reason? It is pure, crushed minerals from the earth with no preservatives, binders, fillers, fragrances, nothing added, so yes, feel free to sleep in BE. Otherwise, get your lazy butts out of bed and wash your faces! ha!
After you've removed your makeup, then what? Moisturize! Especially at this time of year when the heat in our homes is sucking the plumpness right out of our cells. Can you spell w-r-i-n-k-l-e-s? Dry skin = wrinkled skin! Take those few extra minutes to slap on some moisturizer. You'll thank me in the morning! There are a ton on the market. My faves are the anti-aging brands such as Neutrogena, LOreal, Philosophy, Dr. Denese, Dr. Perricone, Clientele. I have personally used these, and there are lots more that I haven't used. Just read the labels and avoid moisturizers that have mineral oil in them (it clogs pores).
OK, now that you've done your skincare, you ARE going to sleep, aren't you? Believe it or not, this is the best thing you can do for your skin! Skin does most of its' repair work during the night, especially between the hours of 1-3 AM. This is rejuvenation time! While you're sawing logs, your body is working on a cellular level to repair whatever you put it through during the day. However, if you don't get enough sleep (listen up, my two night owl adult kids!), you will actually age faster! In fact, lack of sleep is THE NUMBER ONE contributor to aging! So, get your zzzzzzz's, please!
Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, sleep. That should do it, at least until next week! Oh, and have a wonderful and healthy 2008!!
Before welcoming in the New Year, let's review my sage advice for the end of 2007. Buy stock in sunscreen, (protecting against both UVA and UVB rays) and exfoliate, gently, until your skin is as smooth as a baby's butt! No, not red and rashy as a baby's butt! We're talking smooth here! I forgot to mention my favorite facial exfoliators in my last post. Sorry 'bout that! The easiest and most gentle ones to use on a daily basis are Philosophy's Microdelivery Exfoliating Wash that you just keep in the shower and Bare Escentuals Skin Revver Upper that you use every morning after cleansing and before moisturizing. They are perfect even for the most sensitive of skins. These products are for the mornings. What to do at night?
I hear you asking me (or am I just hearing things?), "Is it important that I take off my makeup every night? Sometimes, I'm so tired (or so hungover) that I just want to go to bed without bothering." My answer is a definite yes, take it off (take it all off! ha!) with the exception of one product line- Bare Escentuals. They claim that their makeup is so pure you can even sleep in it! That means, it will not clog pores! The reason? It is pure, crushed minerals from the earth with no preservatives, binders, fillers, fragrances, nothing added, so yes, feel free to sleep in BE. Otherwise, get your lazy butts out of bed and wash your faces! ha!
After you've removed your makeup, then what? Moisturize! Especially at this time of year when the heat in our homes is sucking the plumpness right out of our cells. Can you spell w-r-i-n-k-l-e-s? Dry skin = wrinkled skin! Take those few extra minutes to slap on some moisturizer. You'll thank me in the morning! There are a ton on the market. My faves are the anti-aging brands such as Neutrogena, LOreal, Philosophy, Dr. Denese, Dr. Perricone, Clientele. I have personally used these, and there are lots more that I haven't used. Just read the labels and avoid moisturizers that have mineral oil in them (it clogs pores).
OK, now that you've done your skincare, you ARE going to sleep, aren't you? Believe it or not, this is the best thing you can do for your skin! Skin does most of its' repair work during the night, especially between the hours of 1-3 AM. This is rejuvenation time! While you're sawing logs, your body is working on a cellular level to repair whatever you put it through during the day. However, if you don't get enough sleep (listen up, my two night owl adult kids!), you will actually age faster! In fact, lack of sleep is THE NUMBER ONE contributor to aging! So, get your zzzzzzz's, please!
Cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize, sleep. That should do it, at least until next week! Oh, and have a wonderful and healthy 2008!!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
The End of 2007
My goodness gracious! How do Wednesdays come around so quickly??? I barely rested on my laurels from last week and dang, if it isn't time to write another blog! What do I have to say this week that is so earth shattering?
Well, tho not earth shattering, we finally got a new boss at the makeup store in which I work. We didn't have one for about a month and things were running amuck. Not that it bothered ME so much (how else could I get my Spanish studied?!), but it was bothering the other associate managers, since there are too many of them and no one really in charge. Oh well, the new boss seems nice enough and everyone seems to like her, so that's good, thus far. Stay tuned.
Business picked up this past week, as we get closer to Christmas. Played the age game again with a customer. She had two daughters, close to my daughter's age and SHE asked ME how old I was. She was four years younger, wouldn't ya know?? But it was really fun working on this mom and her two married daughters. Two of them were jealous of the one daughter's perfect eyebrows and kept commenting on how perfect they were! Of course, this same daughter was the only one of the three struggling with puffiness and dark circles! The second daughter was really beautiful, and was not even going to try our makeup. She just wanted to "watch the transformation" of her sister. That done, I did a makeover on the mother who was a very young looking mom. With the two of them looking beautiful (if I may say so myself!), the remaining sister gave in and said, "OK. Work your magic." Voila! All three bought alot! Made my day! I was the highest saleslady! But the best part? Spending over an hour with this family, altho I was exhausted when they left! They were a neat group of ladies and made me miss not having my daughter here with ME to go shopping as they were doing and play make up.
Anyhoo, my skincare tip for this week and for next, since it will be the day after Christmas and no one will be reading this anyway, so I won't bother trying to write, is to exfoliate on a daily basis. You don't need to get those scratchy kinds where you feel if it doesn't hurt, then it doesn't work. Not so! There are many gentle ones on the market. If you don't exfoliate, then it's like trying to put wax on a dirty floor. You wouldn't do that now, would you (for those of you who actually clean your floors!)? You must really get rid of those dead skin cells so that your moisturizers and makeup will have a better surface to do whatever it is you expect them to do. Exfoliate in the shower, where the moisture will help. Once you get rid of the dead skin cells, the more beautiful skin underneath will come through. No amount of makeup can make up for beautiful skin, no matter how good you are at applying it!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! AND A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!
Well, tho not earth shattering, we finally got a new boss at the makeup store in which I work. We didn't have one for about a month and things were running amuck. Not that it bothered ME so much (how else could I get my Spanish studied?!), but it was bothering the other associate managers, since there are too many of them and no one really in charge. Oh well, the new boss seems nice enough and everyone seems to like her, so that's good, thus far. Stay tuned.
Business picked up this past week, as we get closer to Christmas. Played the age game again with a customer. She had two daughters, close to my daughter's age and SHE asked ME how old I was. She was four years younger, wouldn't ya know?? But it was really fun working on this mom and her two married daughters. Two of them were jealous of the one daughter's perfect eyebrows and kept commenting on how perfect they were! Of course, this same daughter was the only one of the three struggling with puffiness and dark circles! The second daughter was really beautiful, and was not even going to try our makeup. She just wanted to "watch the transformation" of her sister. That done, I did a makeover on the mother who was a very young looking mom. With the two of them looking beautiful (if I may say so myself!), the remaining sister gave in and said, "OK. Work your magic." Voila! All three bought alot! Made my day! I was the highest saleslady! But the best part? Spending over an hour with this family, altho I was exhausted when they left! They were a neat group of ladies and made me miss not having my daughter here with ME to go shopping as they were doing and play make up.
Anyhoo, my skincare tip for this week and for next, since it will be the day after Christmas and no one will be reading this anyway, so I won't bother trying to write, is to exfoliate on a daily basis. You don't need to get those scratchy kinds where you feel if it doesn't hurt, then it doesn't work. Not so! There are many gentle ones on the market. If you don't exfoliate, then it's like trying to put wax on a dirty floor. You wouldn't do that now, would you (for those of you who actually clean your floors!)? You must really get rid of those dead skin cells so that your moisturizers and makeup will have a better surface to do whatever it is you expect them to do. Exfoliate in the shower, where the moisture will help. Once you get rid of the dead skin cells, the more beautiful skin underneath will come through. No amount of makeup can make up for beautiful skin, no matter how good you are at applying it!
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!! AND A VERY HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!!!
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Holiday Shopping
OK, so Chanukah has come and gone and now it's time to get crazy with Christmas! I had previously mentioned that I work in a cosmetics store at a high end mall here in Texas. Normally, this time of year, things are hoppin! I've worked in cosmetics for several years and that's always been the case.......until this year. What's the deal, Lucille?! If you walk past our store, you will see a sea of black, since we always have to wear all black (don't get me started on that!) So, this sea of black, standing around, looking at each other, and when we tire of that, putting makeup either on ourselves or each other! I'm a person that just hates wasting time, because every moment is precious. I don't mind "bonding" with my fellow artists. I do enjoy listening to different life journeys, especially when they're as diverse as they are: young and old, white and black, rich and poor. But at this time of year, where are the customers??
I think I know. I hear on the news that retail sales are really low and online shopping is doing well. That makes sense. Who wants to go the mall, drive around looking for a parking place, fight crowds (of yesteryear!) when they don't have to? Heck, before I worked in the mall, I avoided it, too! ha! But now I'm on the other end! So, in the words of Bob Barker, come on down!
Because I kept thinking of how much I could be doing at home that was not getting done, I came up with a solution. I bought the ironing board to work! Just kidding! I don't iron! hee! hee! I brought the hundreds of store booklets that we all get this time of year from Nordstroms, Neimans, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Sharper Image, Sam's Club, Brookstone, Macy's, Coldwater Creek, J. Jill, etc. etc. etc. to work!!! Not only did I go through them in one day, but everyone else did, too, and they really enjoyed it! I didn't stop there! I always keep reading material in my car, in case I have to wait in line somewhere (life is short. Can't waste a moment!) So, after polishing off the booklets, I then went out to my car and brought in......are you ready for this?.......flashcards for teaching myself Spanish!! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Do you have any idea how long those have been in my trunk?????? I am so determined to learn Spanish (it was my New Year's resolution a couple of years ago! When I told my daughter that I was going to do this EVERYDAY, she said I needed to be a bit more realistic! How could she say such a thing to me? OH! Maybe because she knows me!) that I have bought a dictionary, workbook, calendar, CD, and these flash cards. SUCH good intentions! Anyhoo, I'm thrilled that I thought to bring them into the store, because we employees can quiz each other! (OK, so the big boss hasn't been there much! Whew!) Sooooooooo, if you people out there in blogland don't want to come into our malls at this time of year, fine! Be that way! I'll become bilingual!
Stay safe, stay warm and protect your precious skin! Exfoliate, moisturize and then exfoliate and moisturize some more!!! The cold outside and the heat inside will do a fine job of drying you out! Use lip balm, even when you sleep (we sell some great ones at our store! ha!), sunscreen, gloves and sunglasses!! And then have a joyous holiday season!
I think I know. I hear on the news that retail sales are really low and online shopping is doing well. That makes sense. Who wants to go the mall, drive around looking for a parking place, fight crowds (of yesteryear!) when they don't have to? Heck, before I worked in the mall, I avoided it, too! ha! But now I'm on the other end! So, in the words of Bob Barker, come on down!
Because I kept thinking of how much I could be doing at home that was not getting done, I came up with a solution. I bought the ironing board to work! Just kidding! I don't iron! hee! hee! I brought the hundreds of store booklets that we all get this time of year from Nordstroms, Neimans, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Sharper Image, Sam's Club, Brookstone, Macy's, Coldwater Creek, J. Jill, etc. etc. etc. to work!!! Not only did I go through them in one day, but everyone else did, too, and they really enjoyed it! I didn't stop there! I always keep reading material in my car, in case I have to wait in line somewhere (life is short. Can't waste a moment!) So, after polishing off the booklets, I then went out to my car and brought in......are you ready for this?.......flashcards for teaching myself Spanish!! Why didn't I think of this sooner? Do you have any idea how long those have been in my trunk?????? I am so determined to learn Spanish (it was my New Year's resolution a couple of years ago! When I told my daughter that I was going to do this EVERYDAY, she said I needed to be a bit more realistic! How could she say such a thing to me? OH! Maybe because she knows me!) that I have bought a dictionary, workbook, calendar, CD, and these flash cards. SUCH good intentions! Anyhoo, I'm thrilled that I thought to bring them into the store, because we employees can quiz each other! (OK, so the big boss hasn't been there much! Whew!) Sooooooooo, if you people out there in blogland don't want to come into our malls at this time of year, fine! Be that way! I'll become bilingual!
Stay safe, stay warm and protect your precious skin! Exfoliate, moisturize and then exfoliate and moisturize some more!!! The cold outside and the heat inside will do a fine job of drying you out! Use lip balm, even when you sleep (we sell some great ones at our store! ha!), sunscreen, gloves and sunglasses!! And then have a joyous holiday season!
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