5 Things Every Girl Should Have In Their Makeup Kit For The Summer Season

 This topic is totally opinion based and I know other women out there have different must haves. These are mine for the up coming summer season...

1. Maybelline Mascara: I'm loving The Volume Express Collection right now. More specifically "Colossal" it's a yellow tube. As always though Maybelline puts out a great mascara, starting with the classic "Great Lash" the pink tube with green wand.

2. MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner with SPF 15. Not only are you protecting and conditioning the colors are fantastic! This product stays on my lips for a really long time which is a great bonus. I love Fuchsia Fix it's a pretty pink and looks good on just about everyone.
3. Twilight Freshface Glow by Fresh. Use alone to accent or mix with your moisturizer for an all over glow. Perfect for summer skin.
4. Tinted moisturizer. I have yet to find my absolute favorite. Becca Luminous Skin Colour is super popular. If you can find one you like with an SPF, even better. Dermologica and Bobby Brown make popular tinted moisturizers with SPF.
5. Laura Mercier Brow Powder Duo. I'm all about a strong brow all year long. When it's summertime casual and your not wearing much makeup to begin with, that's when I love a defined brow the most. It's just hot.period. I like the duo's because you can custom mix the color. Maybe you want a darker brow one night and a lighter look the next day...you can achieve that with this product.

Primp And Primer. A Girls Guide to Foundation Primers, Eyeshadow Primers & Lip Primers.

WHAT!?? We need yet another step in our daily regimen? What's with this primer movement! I'll break it down for you.

Foundation primers hit the scene many years ago. One of the first to introduce us to this world was Vincent Longo or VLNY. Does anyone remember or still use Water Canvas foundation? He really started a trend with that product. It was the first time I had used a primer under my makeup and I was in love. The Water Canvas Base Primer is the name of the product and it's still available. What it did for me was made my foundation application easier by filling in pores and fine lines (funny at the time I was probably 24 and didn't even need foundation never mind a fine line filler) Today I don't use a foundation primer because I don't wear makeup like I used to. I put some concealer under my eyes and on my lids and that's about it for a base. But if you like to use a full face of foundation then a primer might be nice. As I said earlier, it makes the process of applying foundation easier and it's supposed to make your makeup last longer. It doesn't have to be an everyday step, but try it for a special occasion and let me know what you think.

Eyeshadow primers are a hot new item these days too. They definitely make your eyeshadow stick all day and the best part...no more creasing! You know that mid-day grease line in the crease of your eye? Well say buh bye to that! I have the Urban Decay Primer Potion. I don't always remember to use it daily, but I do use it for a night out, or special occasion, date, ya know the usual.  When I'm scheduled to do a redeye turn and I'm going to be flying through the night, I try to remember to use my eyeshadow primer. When we land at 7:00am I feel better knowing my eyes don't look like how I'm feeling. Also, I really do think it makes your eyeshadow colors pop and look brighter.

Lip primers may not be necessary to use everyday either but they are most helpful when wearing dark or bright lip colors. The main thing it does is fill in those fine lines around the lips so that your lipstick doesn't run up and out onto your skin. You know that feathering look? YUK! It also keeps lipstick in place longer than normal. This product can come in a few different forms...pencil (to trace your lip line and fill in), lipstick form (yup apply just like your lipstick before the actual lip color) and gel or cream in a tube (looks like a gloss apply with brush or fingers). I have heard that Mary Kay Time Wise Lip Primer is a very good product.

Hot Tip: If you are wanting to try a certain primer or all of them, you can always ask for samples at makeup counters, skin care counters, and retailers like Sephora and Ulta. Don't be shy! Just ask.

I closing, I think primers are great. I don't always use them but I think they are functional to some degree. I mean lets face it, no one but yourself is going to know if you have primer on under your makeup. BUT, when we put in the effort and actually take the extra step to do these things, we feel that much better, sexier and fun, right? Kinda like knowing you have on matching underwear!

I tried to teach my baby cousin some tricks of the trade, but, I don't think she primed before applying!!!

Travel Tip #2: Oh boy! There's vom in row 16!

OK gross I know, but I have to write this post for Eileen!  Eileen, myself and a few other girlfriends were out for drinks one night. I was telling them a story about my car being vandalized by projectile vomit. Yeah someone threw up in my car. Let it sink in, let it pass, OK we're over it...back to the story. So I had my car professionally cleaned and they did a great job. However, my car had the distinct smell of french vanilla coffee (FVC) for weeks and it was driving me nuts! I loathe FVC so you can imagine my annoyance. Finally it dawned on me that what I was smelling was exactly what I thought it was.....FVC.

Fast forward to the inside of an Airbus A320
Unfortunately "vom" as we flight attendants so lovingly call it, is one of the things we have to deal with on the job. I'd like to tell you that most of the time it's from little kids who eat too many bags of Doritos munchies mix, but, a lot of time it's just some jerk who can't hold his liquor. We have a little trick on the airplane when it comes to this stuff. Put on your rubber gloves, clean it the best you can, and dump a bag of fresh coffee grinds on the stain and the affected area. Most of you out there with kids are thinking...I use baking soda...but trust the coffee does a much better job. It not only masks the smell it absorbs the moisture. Pretty genius right!? Well, Eileen thought so when she had to use the technique just a few short days after my car story. So back to that...

There is a Duncan Donuts right next to the car detailing shop and I know this because I bought my hangover breakfast there. I'm telling you they walked right over there after I left them my car. Man had I known they were going to use the airplane trick on my cute little Mazda3 I would've told them to hold the vanilla!

So while traveling or at home I hope you never have to "grab a coffee bag"  but it's there for ya if you need it.

Hair Color and Pregnancy

I can not give you a personal opinion because I am not your doctor. However, just being "behind the chair" for so many years has given me the opportunity to share with you some information. Maybe it will  help you decide what's best for you.

Most common things Doctors say about hair color and pregnancy: When you ask...can I color my hair?...it's usually a Yes or No answer and here are some explanations...

• "Yes, it's not a problem"...some doctors say that hair color has no affect either way on the birth and health of your baby
• "Yes, but only after the first trimester"...some doctors feel that the first 3 months are the most crucial and it's best to wait until you are out of this time frame
• "No, you should wait until after the baby is born"...some doctors believe it can be toxic to the mother and baby 
• "Not while breast feeding"...some doctors believe chemicals from hair color might get into the blood stream through the scalp
• "Yes but only if it doesn't touch your scalp"....again some docs believe the chemicals touching your scalp are a problem. However, if you are getting a foil highlight or a cap highlight  the product does not have contact with you scalp and therefore it's OK
• "Yes but only if you aren't using peroxide"...if you are lightening your natural hair color through single process and/or highlights, or covering grey hair with permanent hair color,  peroxide is a main ingredient, so some docs would say no to your specific hair color. But, if you darken, glaze or use semi permanent hair color there is typically zero peroxide in the formula, so your doctor might give you the OK.
• "Yes but only using up to 20 volume developer of peroxide"...the less intense the developer is, the less penetration into the hair shaft and some doctors believe the same to be true for your scalp

Your hair shaft has 3 layers...the cuticle, the cortex and the medulla.

• Cuticle layer: The outer most layer of the hair shaft. It's scale like cells open and close to regulate your hairs moisture. It's transparent and acts like a protective layer for the cortex.
• Cortex layer: This part gives your hair it's elasticity and shape. It also holds your hairs natural color pigments (melanin) 
• Medulla: The innermost layer or the core. It's loosely bound cells contain keratin (protein)

Alright so now lets discuss the 3 different types of hair color. The basic difference is the penetration level into the hair shaft.

1. Permanent: usually contains some amount of ammonia and is mixed with a developer (peroxide). The developer has different strengths 10 volume being the most gentle and 40 volume being the strongest. The developer lifts the cuticle layer of the hair, and removes natural pigment in the cortex layer so that the hair color can replace it.  Although it says "permanent", color usually starts to fade or dull after 6-8 weeks.
2. Demi-permanent: does not contain ammonia therefore, is not as strong as permanent. It is still mixed with a developer (peroxide) and will last up to 20 shampoos. This process deposits hair color under the cuticle layer only. Think of it as laying on top of the cortex, not penetrating it.
3. Semi-permanent: contains no ammonia, no developer (peroxide). This is deposited on the outside of the hair cuticle and usually lasts up to 10 shampoos. It's more like a hair stain or glaze because it doesn't lift the cuticle layer at all.

The picture below shows how a foil protects your scalp from hair color chemicals.

*Your hair stylist might have their own opinion, but you should always take the advice of your doctor*

Dry Shampoo...is it necessary? Or just a gimmick.

A friend of mine, Gigi, had the oily hair problem. She also had the OMG my hair is thinning problem. I gave her a 4 week challenge 6 months before her wedding day:  She was using a Pantene type product so I had her buy a  professional brand for her hair type. She used ISO daily shampoo and conditioner, which is a light product made for normal hair, nothing fancy about it. I also challenged her to stop washing her hair so much. (everyday, sometimes twice a day) After just a few weeks, she noticed a dramatic change in her hair. No more oily scalp! After a month she noticed her hair growing back and getting fuller!! If you like this story read on...

I'm not sure who came up with the "dry shampoo" idea, but they took a wrong turn when they put the word "shampoo" attached to it. Shampoo cleanses your hair by opening the cuticle and stripping the oils and dirt, this stuff does not. The main idea of dry shampoo is to soak up the natural oils on your scalp to make the roots of your hair appear...dry. It's not cleaning anything. I gotta tell ya when I'm giving someone a consultation or shampooing their hair, this stuff grosses me out. At first glance it looks like really bad dandruff, at second glance it looks almost paste-like (it soaks up oil) and finally I have to ask the person what in the heck is going on on their head. Listen girls if your hair gets oily quick, try throwing away the Pantene and Garnier Fructis for some professional brands like ISO, Biolage, or even good ole Paul Mitchell. Second stop washing your hair twice a day or even every day. Much like using drying pimple pads on your face...if you wash your hair so much all you are doing is stripping your natural oils and then your body freaks out and produces more at a faster pace. Following? Try cutting back on washing too much and try using a professional brand that doesn't have ingredients like Pantene does, which are waxes. Ever notice how great your hair feels when you use Pantene? That's because you're just coating your hair with wax. Do this everyday for some time and your going to have some greasy, waxy locks to deal with.

Do you remember the post I wrote about hair and humidity back in September? I mentioned in that post that you should be picking out the appropriate shampoo and conditioner for your particular hair type. If you have normal hair, use shampoo for normal hair, NOT for damaged or stressed hair and so on and so on. (Breck!) Treat your hair like you would your skin. If you have a dry face you're not buying moisturizer for oily skin, right?

Try the 4 week challenge and let me know how it goes.(PLEASE COMMENT!) Be realistic when picking out your professional products...do you really need something moisturizing? Is your hair really dry? Do you really need a volume shampoo, or just a good haircut? Keep the drama out of your decision making and just buy what you need.

Hot Tip: There is zero reason why you have to have a full palms worth of shampoo and conditioner in your hand when washing. Especially with a really good product. Try cutting back to a quarter size. The product will last a whole lot longer and so will the money in your wallet.

 Gigi on her wedding day...with a "hairy friend :)"

There's Smoke In The Cabin!!

Because of those sexy eyes! Create a sultry smokey eye for all of your holiday parties...

• First you want to apply your face lotion, eye cream, concealer, foundation, etc...Then take a makeup sponge, dip it into a translucent loose powder and press it underneath your eyes to create a barrier which will protect your skin from any falling eye shadow colors...aka avoiding the proverbial football player face.
• If you have an eyeshadow primer apply it. Something like what >>Urban Decay<< makes is great. It eliminates "creasing" in eyeshadow colors (from skins natural oil) throughout the day/night.
• Apply a base shadow to your entire eye, something skin toned is always a good start.
• Highlight your brow and tear ducts with a vanilla shadow...I like a shimmer.

• Apply eyeliner as close to the lashline as possible. The line should start thin on the inner corners and gradually get thicker towards the outer corners. Don't use liquid, it doesn't blend. Smudge the liner with a brush in the same manner as you apply...as you get to the outer corners the line should be thick and blended upward. Apply a thin line underneath eyes exactly the same way...gradually get a bit thicker toward the outer corners and blend any lines out with a brush.
• Build and blend is important for this look. Start with a lighter crease/lid color and keep building with darker shadows to get the color you want. 
• In general terms the inner corners of your eyes should remain light. Though this is not a rule, it's usually easier to create for first timers. In other words, all of the color should be on the outer corners of your eyes, this creates and up and outward look or "almond shaped" eyes. Try drawing a "triangle" on the outer corner of your eye and then fill it in. The point facing out towards your temple. See photo above right.
• Sweep the shadow under your eyes, connect corners continuing the "triangle" and blend so there are no harsh lines.
• To finish I usually go back with the vanilla shimmer and highlight the brow and tear ducts again. AND don't forget to take a soft powder brush and sweep away the translucent powder from under your eyes.
• Add and extra coat of mascara.
• Once you've gotten the basics down, start playing around with color. Smokey doesn't have to be black, brown and grey. Try colors that compliment your eye color, skin tone or that hot dress you're wearing tonight!

Hot Tip: Kim Kardashian does a tutorial video with one of her makeup artists Mario...here's the link to >>Part 1 << I believe there are 4 all together. If you find tutorials irritating, I don't blame you so do I, but this one is with an actual professional. It's not exactly how I do a smokey eye but there are some great tips on application, and they tell you the actual brands, colors and tools used.

Holiday Shop Guide For The GUYS!!

I was going to update this list from 2 years age and give you new 2012 ideas but I think it's pretty genius just the way it is...

This is a blog about beauty and travel. Therefore my suggestions will stay on track with that theme. I'm not gonna be able to tell you what size Citizens jeans to get your girl, or which pair if earrings are her style, but I can give you a few fun ideas that will definitely have her loving you. Cause yea the new iPhone is pretty cool and the new gadgets that go with it are impressive (I guess) but remember you are buying for her not you :)

1. Every girl wants a day at the spa...a gift certificate is great for a "day spa" but why not step it up a notch and make it a weekend complete with a cozy room for two at a "spa resort"? Try one that has winter activities like snowshoeing. A bottle of wine and a fireplace after a long day of massage and walking in the snowy woods and she's wrapped around your pinky ;) 
2. Women love getting their hair done. Find out what salon she goes to and buy her a few haircuts and/or color appointments. She's going to spend the money on it regardless but it's a nice break for her wallet and trust me it'll be appreciated.
3. A cruise to nowhere or a Caribbean weekend...she's feeling pale and yuk by mid-February, what better way lift her spirits than the hot sun and blue water?  February is typically a slow month for travel and therefore it's cheaper! She'll have something to look forward to the next time she's shoveling the snow off of her car at 6:00am...unless of course you are the type that does that for her...hmm
4. Sephora...Go in there and pick out anything, honestly, anything >>>>>SEPHORA <<<<<click that!

OK guys already got the perfect gift but not sure what to put in her stocking?

• Sephora...again she'll like anything. Mini lip glosses, hand creams, gift sets, etc...
• Chocolates! Check out cool confections like Dylan's Candy Bar. Or get creative and make your own chocolate bars for her at Chocri.
• Feet warmers! Yup the kind you use in your ski boots. She'll appreciate them cause she's always cold. Especially on her morning commute into work. After you've removed the snow from her car and she's on her way with warm feet you will be the day's hero and hero's should be rewarded (yes girls, rewarded, it's only fair)
• Body scrubs. Something sugary sweet like The Body Shop's Sweet Lemon or Dylan's Candy Bar Coconut Bon Bon. She'll love it and so will you.
• 87% of women heat style their hair. So she's going to need hair protection...try Matrix Sleek Look Iron Smoother.
• Get her something from the Christmas collection at >>>> LUSH<<<<click

Hot Tip: Text that's blue is a link to click for you....