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Recently I helped a friend with the makeup for her wedding. She asked if there was anything to do to make her pores appear smaller, which prompted a little research on my part. I knew that microdermabrasion over time can make pores appear smaller, minimize fine lines, and can also minimize the appearance of some scars. So I recommended Mary Kay’s Microdermabrasion Set and told her to use 2-3 times a week. I wasn’t sure if I would see a difference in the two weeks we had until the wedding. However, when the day came, I was truly impressed with the results as her pores did appear smaller only two weeks later!
And in a study done by an independent research facility, Mary Kay’s Microdermabrasion Set had these results after only one week of use on the panelists:
85% saw improvement in skin texture
73% saw a reduction in fine lines
71% saw smaller-looking pores
Impressive. At $55, Mary Kay’s Microdermabrasion Set is well worth the money. Especially when you consider that a popular local salon charges $420 for only 4 sessions of microdermabrasion treatment!
Another tip I learned in my research was to use a primer on the area with larger looking pores, allow to dry, and then follow with desired foundation. I used MK’s Eye Primer on the area, allowed to dry, and then followed with the Mineral Powder Foundation. It worked great! And it looked more natural then using concealer, which can be too noticeable if covering a larger area of skin.
So there is the ticket: Mary Kay’s Microdermabrasion Set for minimizing large pores in a matter of weeks, and Mary Kay’s Eye Primer for a quick cover-up job.
My hands can become really dry during the winter months. Maybe it’s because they spend too much time in hot soapy dish water. Or because I change so many diapers each day and wash my hands after each change. I know it’s not because I clean the bathroom too often! But something about the cold weather sucks the moisture right out of my hands! Whatever the reasons may be, there are a few items that keep my hands from drying up completely, and keep my skin from cracking like it used to before I discovered these products!
1) Satin Hands Smoothie Hand Scrub: I leave this at my bathroom sink. It has an incredibly yummy peach scent and takes all the dry skin right off. In fact, this scrub won “best hand scrub” by SELF magazine in 2007. If you’d like to read some reviews on this, besides my own, go to this website. A friend once told me that she loves to wash her hands in my bathroom just to use the hand scrub!
2) Satin Hands Hand Cream: I buy samples to give to people and then end up using half of them for myself It’s not greasy, not sticky, fragrance free, and hydrates for hours so you don’t have to keep applying like cheap hand creams. It is the best and even my husband will use this one!
3) Emollient Night Cream: I put this on my hands before bed whenever they have had an extra harsh day. I love what it does to my hands and it also works wonders on foot calluses! It’s like an overnight miracle to softness.
So, in this political season, I leave you with a famous “quote:” Ask not what your hands can do for you, but what you can do for your hands.
For all you ladies who are loving your mineral powder foundation, here is some helpful information when it comes to applying it!
I hear this a lot, “I love mineral powder foundation! But it’s so messy!” If this is you, then I hope this will be helpful information to you: Mineral powder foundation is the least messy of foundations when applied correctly, and here is how.
The best way to apply a mineral powder foundation is of course with the specifically designed brush. These brushes have soft bristles, shorter than some brushes, and firm.
- With the lid still on your foundation jar, gently give the jar an upside down one shake to release a small amount of powder into the sifter. Open the jar and hold your jar and lid in the same hand.
- Use your brush to pick up the powder in the sifter, and then tap off any extra powder on the edge of the jar.
- Swirl the brush in the lid so that the powder is distributed evenly across the bristles. This also ensures that no powder falls when you lift the brush to your face. If any powder falls off onto your counter or clothes, there is too much powder on the brush. Tap off extra powder and keep the lid as your clear “swirling” space, leaving any excess powder in the sifter.
- In small circular motions, apply the powder to your face evenly in small layers. Mineral powder is best applied in several light layers, as buildable coverage, as opposed to one thick layer.
- If you need more powder in the sifter, simply give the jar a gentle side shake, or you can put the lid on and do it as you did in the beginning.
- Continue this pattern of powder on brush, tap, swirl, apply, until you’ve reached your desired coverage.
- Let the powder (and minerals) warm to your skin, and you will see the smooth flawless, but natural, coverage.
Of course this can seem like a long process, all written out, when in reality I have found it to be much quicker to apply than my previous liquid/cream foundation. Not to mention all the other benefits of a mineral powder. It’s one of my favorite products!
CALL+RESPONSE is a first of its kind feature documentary film that reveals the world’s 27 million dirtiest secrets: there are more slaves today than ever before in human history. CALL+RESPONSE goes deep undercover where slavery is thriving from the child brothels of Cambodia to the slave brick kilns of rural India to reveal that in 2007, Slave Traders made more money than Google, Nike and Starbucks combined.
Luminaries on the issue such as Cornel West, Madeleine Albright, Daryl Hannah, Julia Ormond, Ashley Judd, Nicholas Kristof, and many other prominent political and cultural figures offer first hand account of this 21st century trade. Performances from Grammy-winning and critically acclaimed artists including Moby, Natasha Bedingfield, Cold War Kids, Matisyahu, Imogen Heap, Talib Kweli, Five For Fighting, Switchfoot, members of Nickel Creek and Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers, Rocco Deluca move this chilling information into inspiration for stopping it.
Music is part of the movement against human slavery. Dr. Cornel West connects the music of the American slave fields to the popular music we listen to today, and offers this connection as a rallying cry for the modern abolitionist movement currently brewing.
excerpt from: http://www.callandresponse.com/about.html
WHAT DOES HAVE TO DO WITH BEAUTIFUL YOU?
One leader in the current day abolitionist movement is the International Justice Mission (one of the organizations featured in this film). Because I believe strongly in the work that they do, and in an effort to raise awareness of this organization and the work they do, 5% of all MK retail products I sell go to the work of IJM. So, it has everything to do with my business as a skincare consultant and what I am passionate about. Hope you will be able to watch this documentary. Please comment on this posting with your thoughts on the film.
Not every woman can carry off the big fall trends: the graphic arch of a plucked and penciled brow; the dark red stain of a strong, vampy mouth; the smoky play of light and shadow on a Theda Bara eye. But in this season of glamorous choices and sophisticated natural looks, makeup lets a woman play — or underplay — whatever role she chooses. “Fashion is one thing,” says the makeup artist Heidi Morawetz, “but personality is quite another. A woman must always adapt makeup and trends to her own personality and use them to be more herself.” Be a heroine, if you feel like one. Didn’t someone once say that all the world’s a stage? (emphasis mine)
Matte Rich Dark Lips: Use minimal eye makeup and go for a deep rich color on the lips. This look is a favorite in the fall and winter seasons, and was all over the Nordstrom catalogue that recently came to my mailbox. To try this look, start with a great base color followed with MK’s Red, Amber Suede, or Nutmeg or another rich color. This weekend my husband is taking me out on a date and I’m taking my own challenge to try something new by sporting some bold lips. Which, by the way, I NEVER do. I am definitely a natural lips type of girl with more glamour around the eyes. I may write about my experiment if I get an interesting reaction from my husband.
Cat Eyes: It’s all about the eyeliner, especially liquid eyeliner. If you have been considering trying a little something dramatic like cat eyes, this would be the season. Some cat eye looks like this one, are fitting only for a night out, or for the really bold personality. But even for the average person, it doesn’t have to be too dramatic. Angelina Jolie’s cat eye look is terrific. Although, she’s not a good example of the “average person.” Still, check it out, it’s gorgeous.
Here is a helpful article “How to Apply Eyeliner” with directions for using liquid eyeliner to create the cat eye look. Have fun with this fall trend!
Fresh Face: Focus on getting flawless skin, with a natural soft look, and a touch of color on the lips. MK’s Even Complexion Essence with the TimeWise Miracle Set is a great start to silky smooth skin. Apply your Mineral Powder Foundation, or Sheer Mineral Pressed Powder to even the skin tone with a soft coverage. One of the secrets to this look is to use your bronzer to add contour to your face by applying it not for the summer sun kissed look, but using it to frame your face by applying along your hairline. Use soft eye colors in shades of white and cream. And finally accentuate your lips with a warm lip color. Simply elegant.
Beautiful You 