My favorite Beauty Tips

First and for most to have the best canvass possible, you need to have a clean-makeup free face, and always always use moisturizer.
I cannot stress how important drinking water is. Be sure to drink lots of water. Also, a good diet is essential to good skin.  If you cannot have a complete diet, mutli-vitamins are an option.

Develop a routine and make sure you have enough time to do so when getting yourself ready. For me, my beauty regimen is a de-stresser, and when I don't have enough time to do so, it can be stressful.
I usually shower , I shampoo and condition my hair first and yes I brush my teeth in the shower. Then I was my face. I started this routine as I was getting irritated skin easy. I use the soap free facial bar from Neutrogena.  If I wash my face after shampooing it guarantees there is no soap on my face.
Of course wash, then I shave if I need to. I shave last so my skin has time to absorb water, it makes it easier and my skin softer.
After the shower I immediately dry off and apply my face moisturizer, this ensures I have no other traces of product on my hand that could break me out. Then deodorant and lotion. Putting facial moisturizer on first gives the product time to be absorbed by your skin.

So on to the makeup routine I apply my base first, depending on my mood. I usually use a tinted moisturizer or a light weight foundation. I don't have problem skin anymore so if its light that's ok. (I'll post makeup ideas for problem skin) I don't use my hands at all. I have a dome brush from Sonia Kashuk's 15 year anniversary brush collection. Then I use concealer, the reason for this being I don't need as much if I apply my base first. Then I blend with a damp beauty sponge.
Next I do bronzer and blush, then the eyes. I always use some sort of lip balm for my base or "primer" when applying lip gloss or lipstick. An alternate is tinted lip balm. I use Bert's Bees Tinted lip balm in Hibiscus.

I also strongly affirm that touching your face is bad. I had a bad habit of doing so and I used to break out quite a bit. Then I broke that habit, and it helped.


FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, let your face breathe. I cannot stress this enough. I know we may forget but make it a point wash your makeup off before bed. It just gets everywhere if you don't and your skin absorbs it overnight. Going to bed with a clean face makes for a healthier looking face in the morning.

Ice, ice baby. I do ice facials. I take an ice cube and wrap in it a clean wash cloth but only half way, and I rub that ice all over on my skin and even under my eyes (only if you can stand it). It really wakes you up and gets the blood flowing to the surface of the skin.

More beauty tips to come!