Beauty Tip Tuesday

It’s my favorite day again – time for another beauty tip.

So today let’s talk about big, luscious lips!

Most girls want them, but not all of us have them. So how do we get them? I mean aside from plastic surgery that is? Fake it of course!

Before we can start making our lips luscious, we need to make sure they are moisturized. To really achieve the look of those nice soft lips you need to keep them healthy. Start by wearing a moisturizing lip balm – if you have chapped lips try staying away from a waxy lip balm – it covers the surface of your lips (acts like a raincoat) and doesn’t let your chapped lips “breath” – which can make the chapping worse.

You will need:

- a soft bristle toothbrush

-moisturizing lip balm

-lip liner (nude/neutral – preferably close to the tone/color of your lips)

-lipstick

-lip gloss

-pink/natural shimmer

Steps:

1) You take the soft bristled toothbrush and gently brush your lips – this brings the blood to the surface of your lips and makes them appear fuller.

2) Apply the lip balm.

3) Take the lip liner and ever so slightly line your lips above your natural lip line. Smudge the liner so that it doesn’t appear as a “definite” line (this makes the look more natural). If you just want to make your lips appear “pouty” just accentuate your “cupid’s bow” and just under the middle of your bottom lip.

4) Apply the lipstick to your lips and using a lip brush or your finger gently “push” the color outwards.

5) Apply the lip gloss.

6) To make the look more “pouty” add a shimmer to the centre of your lips. (You can also put a hint of pink shimmer right above your cupid’s bow)

And there you have it friends! A way to achieve the look of those big, luscious lips! Let me know how this beauty tip works for you.

XO Sarah

Big News!

A Touch of Pink is moving… to Extreme Ends! But don’t fret friends – I am still available to do contract work, spa/beauty parties, corporate events, group/individual consultations, special events such as weddings, graduations and Halloween events; I also do makeup for fashion, photography, film, TV and print.

My hours at Extreme Ends will be:

Tuesday 2pm-8pm  

Wednesday 9am-5:30pm

Thursday 9am-5pm

Friday 9am-5:30pm

Saturday 9am-5pm

Starting April 1^st! Please feel free to stop in and check out the new location or give them a call to book an appointment. I will also be doing Esthetics on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays!

Extreme Ends is located at:

A-319 4^th St                  

Courtenay

Ph: 250-338-8552

XO Sarah

All about Camouflage...

Friends – meet my new love… camouflage makeup!

I know when you hear the word camouflage the first thing that pops into your head is men running around in army gear with their faces painted.

They do this so they blend into their surroundings. Camouflage makeup is similar in the fact that we use it to “camouflage” skin conditions so they blend into the rest of our skin.

Let me give you the run down on what exactly camouflage makeup is and how it works.

Where it came from:

Camouflage makeup was first developed by plastic surgeons during World War Two in order to hide burns that fighter pilots received.

What it’s used for:

It doesn’t cause you to blend into your surroundings but it does camouflage blemishes on your skin so that they are not so noticeable – this includes scars, birthmarks, acne, lupus rash, spider veins and any number of other skin irregularities.

You can use it on any part of your body (awesome!) and some brands are water proof so you are able to go swimming - imagine putting on that bikini and covering those nasty stretch marks - Umm Heck yes!

Oh and did I mention that body camouflage can be worn for 3-4 days before having to be washed off and reapplied?

It is also great for covering tattoos for any special occasion… I like that idea too!  

Why I LOVE it:

Talk about a boost to your self confidence! I know plenty of women, and especially young girls with skin problems that cause them to be embarrassed. I’m so glad that there are people out there who are making products like these to help them feel at their most beautiful.
The fact is cosmetic camouflage has been shown to improve the quality of life significantly. It improves self-esteem and creates a sense of personal well-being.

XO Sarah

Oh My LASHES!

Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to worry about your mascara? Is it flaking, is it smearing, running down your face, washing off, clumping – oh the worries that we have about mascara! Well – I have just received my first eyelash extensions, and wow! I am so happy with them that I’m not sure I would ever go back to mascara again. They look amazing, they feel great, and the best part is I don’t have to worry about anything. What a great idea for a bride – no more worrying if you have mascara running down your face if you get a little teary eyed – on your honey moon, you wake up with bright, big lashes, go swimming – still bright, big lashes. Lol. I love it!

I have known some people who have had the lash extensions and not enjoyed them, but I know that the technology for this is getting better every day, and it has come a long way from what it was back when they had the extensions put on.

I’m not going to lie, they are a bit costly – about $100 – $150 for the set and then around $50 for a fill approximately once  a month or every 6 weeks. I think I can handle that for the simple convenience alone. How about you? What do you think of lash extensions?

XO Sarah

Beauty Tip Tuesday

~ Try it and tell me what you think!

Help with Under Eye bags/Dark Circles

The sad and unfortunate fact is – we all get them at one time or another! But, there is a way to help get rid of those pesky buggers. It’s called … wait for it… green tea! I know – so simple right?

Here’s how it works:

You need

cotton pads

freezer baggies 

high quality green tea (make sure it’s caffeinated)

eye cream

Now you can do this two ways –

one is to soak the cotton pads in the tea, stick them in freezer bags (two to a bag) and put them in the freezer – this is a great option for cold compresses to bring down the puffiness and bags – you can use them anytime (great first thing in the morning to brighten your eyes) and they are great for a little pick me up for your eyes throughout the day. You can also freeze the tea bags if you like for a more potent option (steep only two minutes in warm water).

The other option is to steep the 2 tea bags for two minutes before putting one tea bag directly on each eye leaving them on for about 10 minutes. This helps get rid of the under eye circles. Try this option just before bed.

Don’t forget your eye cream!

To increase circulation and prevent puffiness try patting the eye cream under your eyes with your ring finger (your ring finger is generally the weakest finger on your hand, and when apply eye cream it does not exert too much pressure when performing the gentle tapping)

Remember to be tender to your eyes – they are very sensitive – treat them with care. Make sure you use eye makeup removal liquids and soft cotton pads to remove makeup; don’t pull or pluck your eyelids (this can cause drooping!).  

Bloated eye bags don’t always indicate that you have too much water around your eyes – sometimes it means that your eyes are too dry – if you continuously get eye bags – try opting for a more moisturizing eye cream.

XO Sarah

Spa – aaaaaaaa…

I just got back from a weekend in Vancouver at the Spa Show and wow! There is so much to see and do and take in – I feel like I’ve soaked up so much information that I can’t take anything else in. There is a crazy amount of products out there and I must have tried them all – my hands and arms feel phenomenal! Lol. I don’t think my skin has ever felt this soft. They have skin care (face), body care, makeup, waxing products, teeth whitening, lash extensions, diet programs, facial machines, body machines; the list goes on and on!  

I dragged my sister along for the ride, and it was a blast! We got lash extension (look for future post), facials, and makeup applications. I found some A-MAZ-ING skin care lines and can’t wait to share them with you all! But until I get the product in, I’m keeping it a secret – once it’s here, you will love it! Keep checking for updates.

What I am most excited about though is Micabella – the most wonderful makeup line ever! I found this product probably about 2 years ago and though it’s hard to find, I can’t go back to anything else. I’m addicted. I was so excited to find out that it was going to be at the Spa Show – and guess what the first booth was that I went to? Yup, Micabella. I don’t even want to tell you how much I bought in one go! Lol. The foundation goes on flawlessly, coverage is amazing, and the colors are gorgeous! It is really exciting that I will be able to incorporate this product into A Touch Of Pink. 

XO Sarah    

Experiment!

When it comes to makeup there is no right or wrong – only what makes you feel good! I don’t know how many times I say this to people. It is a fun and creative tool to use which can enhance a person’s natural beauty or alter their appearance. It can transform the way a person feels about themselves.

Makeup is a form of art, and art is beauty, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So don’t be afraid to try new things! I know people fall into the rut of wearing the same old thing day after day because it’s easy and convenient and they are afraid to experiment. But let me tell you this… experiment! It can always be washed off. So change it up… try something new. Even a change in liner can make an impact.

A good plan is to flip through a magazine and find pictures of makeup you like, go home and try it out. If you don't have the right colors you can always go to Walmart or Zellers - they both carry the brand Wet n Wild (not the best, but it is cheap! $2-4 for eye shadows and lipsticks. For a test run it works just fine!)

 The looks don't always turn out the way they do in the photo, and that is ok. It is about experimenting. And with a little alteration, a little toning down, or toning up, it can become "your" new look! For the night, or for a day or for the next week!
Remember, change is good!

XO Sarah