The Problem With Make Up Stores

This is a rather painful post for me to write considering that I'm in love with Sephora and Ulta. But, the truth is they have some serious flaws that directly affect us customers. I'm not saying to never set foot in a Sephora again, but be on the lookout when you do. 

As businesses, these make up stores/counters want you to buy as many products as your wallet will allow. How? By convincing you that you need them. How? By pointing out all your flaws and making you feel insecure. Ouch. I've walked past beautiful girls going make up shopping, only to hear the sales rep telling them they have dark circles, uneven skin tone, small eyes, large nose, thin lips... I can see the girl's confidence deflating as the list goes on. And those places have the harshest lighting ever, so when the girl looks in the mirror, of course she picks out all those imperfections. That's not ok! If a sales rep starts going on about your flaws, politely excuse yourself. ("Oh, ok. Well, thanks for your input but I think I'll just browse around for now. I'm not even sure if I'll buy anything today.") And don't take it personally- a great saleswoman could make Adriana Lima feel self-conscious. That's why I've pretty much stopped asking for help!

You're beautiful and shopping for make up should not be like shopping for a bikini! My personal philosophy is that make up should enhance your natural beauty, not create a mask to cover you up. That's not to say I don't use concealer on pimples or scars, but I'm not trying to plump my lips or contour my cheeks so they look thinner. You don't need make up, but you can definitely have fun with it! Just please, please remember you're already gorgeous- and whatever make up you apply is just high lighting that fact!

Peace, love, and kisses!

Karen

Audrey Hepburn's Beauty Tips

My entire life I have adored Audrey Hepburn.  I remember watching her movies as a young girl and being completely enamored by her beauty and grace.  She was everything a woman should be.  One christmas when I was very young, my mother bought me two huge books on Marilyn Monroe, and Audrey Hepburn.  I would sit on the floor and study their makeup and hair, and try to recreate it as best as I could on my own face.  Both are huge influences in my life, and while possessing very different beauties, both are amazing.  Over time I'm sure you'll notice how often I reference them and bring up their style!

  

I really don't know how many people know Audrey Hepburn's "beauty tips" poem.  It is one of the most beautiful and honest things I have ever read.  I thought I'd include it in a post... 

Enjoy.  Every woman has something to learn from Audrey.

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.  

For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people. 

For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry. 

For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day. 

For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone. 

People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed and redeemed; never throw out anyone. 

Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of each of your arms. As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. 

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. 

The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode, but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives and the passion that she shows. 

The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.

keep it classy, Y Ariel

Youu Myyy.. Brown-Eyed Girl!

Don't worry you dark-haired, dark-eyed beauties! While Miss Ariel is an expert on blondes with light eyes, I've got the brown-eyed brunette market cornered! No more wishing for baby blues or platinum locks, there are some stunning looks FYBEO (for your brown eyes only heh) and I'm going to share them with you!

Here's a list of colors that should be in every brown-eyed girl's makeup bag!

• Maroon~ This color is pretty tough to pull off, but it's so flattering for us brownies! Try: Too Faced's Temper Temper, Make Up Forever's Burgundy 141, or Lola's Merlot
• Blue~ Not electric- I'm talking navy and slate. Try: PlantLove by Cargo's Dove, Nars's Night Flight, Sephora's Pearl No. 5, or Fresh's Eye Shadow Trio in Corazon Del Mar
• Gray~ Gray is usually associated with a smoky eye, but it doesn't have to be so dramatic to look phenomenal. Try: Stila's Storm, Urban Decay's Revolver, or Dior's Silver Dust
• Purple~ Go dark for a classic look, or bright for a funky, modern look. Try: Smashbox's Spellbound, Nvey Eco's 164, or Shiseido's A10 Violet Splendor
• Light Yellow~ The key word is light- a yellow shimmer is a subtle way to highlight your eyes. Try: Josie Maran's Mist, Benefit's Bikini Line, Kevyn Aucoin's Oro, or Lorac's Gold
• Green~  Any green you can get your hands on looks great! Try: Smashbox's Serpent, The Balm's Jealous Jordana, Yves Saint Laurent's 11 Iridescent Emerald, or Givenchy's Trendy Khaki

Peace, love, and kisses!

Karen

Blondes: TRY THIS!

Do You highlight your hair?? I do!

Although I have naturally blonde hair, it isn't as blonde as it once was!  I like to keep it a little brighter, so I get blonde highlights. Keeping up with your coloring can be RIDIC EXPENSIVE!

Recently, I've found myself with little time to make an appointment with my stylist because of my work schedule, her work schedule, and lack of  cash flowage.

I've always used a color protective shampoo and conditioner.  BELIEVE ME- I have tried everything out there!  From expensive to cheap, salon to drug store!  

About two weeks ago I was at Walgreens picking something up, and realized I was running low on shampoo and conditioner.  So I hesitantly walk on over to the aisle, well aware that I would be in there for another 30 minutes reading ingredients and comparing new products (I am ridiculous.)  I noticed a new product in the John Frieda Collection.  I am not new to his line, I have tried all of the Sheer Blonde products, so you can imagine my excitement! 

Color Renew Tone-Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner 

with Optical Brightener and Lavendar

How It Works

• Sheer Blonde® Color Renew Tone-Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner neutralize brassy and yellow tones for noticeably brighter, salon-fresh blonde in just 3 uses
• Optical Brightening Technology converts UV rays to a white-blue light, making color-treated hair appear lighter and brighter
• Violet dyes are lightly deposited on the hair toneutralize orange and red brassy tones
• Ammonia and peroxide-free
• Gentle enough for daily use

How To Use
Begin by applying Sheer Blonde® Color Renew Tone-Restoring Shampoo to wet hair. Gently massage and work into a rich lather, then rinse. Follow with Color Renew Conditioner. Massage throughout hair, from root to tip, then rinse thoroughly. Towel dry. Style as usual. 

Available In
9.3 fl. oz. size

Well, they really aren't lying!  The bottle said noticeably brighter, salon-fresh blonde in just 3 uses, but I noticed it in just 1 use!  Now, after 2 weeks of using the product my hair is much brighter and less brassy.  The active ingredient in this product are the violet dyes.  The SAME violet dyes they use in my coloring and toner at the salon!  The product does lighten my natural blonde hair as well, but not with the same distinct results as the colored hair.  My roots are still showing, but it will definitly make the time between colorings easier to bare, and I don't need to go quite as soon!  I also have extremely thin hair and I noticed my hair was easier to style and had more volume. 

My only qualm with this product is that it contains sulfate, which many beauty experts, health nuts, and friends have warned me not to use!  Finding a sulfate free shampoo can be hard and expensive. 

To read an article on shampoo containing sodium lauryl sulfate, visit this site!

Til Next Coloring,

Ariel

Sneak-a-Peek: Karen's Pout Enhancers

I love my lips. Every woman should love her lips! They smile, they kiss, and you can dress them up. What's not to love?!

I have a whole cosmetic bag dedicated for my pout goodies:

(I still need  LOTS more..)

Here are a few of my faves:

from left to right~

 Make Up For Ever in 205

 Smashbox in Starlit

I layer these two for a sexy, dramatic look. I keep the rest of my face neutral so my lips are the star of the show! 

 Jaqua in Pink Champagne

Light, sparkly, and delicious! This gloss is perfect for those whimsical sort of days.

 Benefit's The Gloss in Chaperone

This is a perfect nude gloss with a subtle sparkle. I can wear this gloss with everything, and it's the only gloss I wear when going for the smoky eye look.

 Nars in Mitzi

This is a nice, natural color. It looks great without being too obvious- it simply enhances what I've already got!

Peace, love, and kisses!

Karen

An Ariel Beauty Confession: What I'm DYING to buy!

Siren of the Sea Hydrating and Brightening Seven-Piece Collection ($98 Value)

ONLY $49!

from Bare Escentuals

only at Sephora!

It includes:

•  0.02 oz bareMinerals High Shine Sand Dune (gilded sand, high shine)
  
•  0.02 oz bareMinerals Mermaid Eyecolor (dark blue-green velvet)
  
•  0.02 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Coral Blush (coral dusk)
  
•  0.07 oz bareMinerals Hydrating Mineral Veil (brightening finish)
  
•  0.14 oz bareMinerals 100% Natural LipGloss in Chiffon (nude sand)
  
•  Double-Ended Hydrate & Brighten Duo Brush with Custom Bamboo Handle
  
•  Straw Clutch
  

Why I'm DYING to buy it:

• I am on the BIGGEST Bare Escentuals kick right now!
• The eyeshadows are fab because you can wear them wet or dry. (I love wet, lasts longer and has a more dramatic effect!)
• Brushes are the highest quality and keep like new even after washing.  This brush has two ends, which means more room in your beauty bag and comes with a custom bamboo handle!
• They may look small, but a little sure does go a long way with these products.
• This color combo is perfect for summer, love the Mermaid eyecolor the most!
• Nude Sand lipgloss is perfect with a tan, you won't want a lot of color on your lips distracting from your beautiful bronze skin tone!
• I think they would look best on blondes (haha ME!) but would also look great on other colorings as well.
• They're all natural, and THE WHOLE THING IS ONLY $49!!!  What else could you ask for?

Y Ariel

Dang girl, your nails are so bright!

What's all the rage in nail care and beauty this summer?

NEON NAILS!!

WHY IT'S FUN:

• spruces up plain outfits.
• what's more tropical than neon nails? (i know, a lot of things)
• it makes you look tanner!

CURRENTLY WEARING: 

Color Club Professional Nail Lacquer

in PINK LAZER

WHY WE LOVE THIS BRAND:

Salon polish quality, without being the most expensive.  This brand has the coolest colors we've ever seen, and it's available online and in tons of beauty stores! (we get ours at BeautyLand!)

WORD TO THE WISE:

Wearing neon colors on long (fake or natch) can be quite tacky if not careful, so..

FOR BEST RESULTS:

Wear on shorter nails, we are NOT encouraging the hawaiian neon nail look of the 90's, but a more fun and flirty look-

like this!

HAVE FUN! That IS what summer is meant for after all...

Y Ariel

p.s. It's also on my toes!

The Skin You're In!

Welcome to Beaututes! 

We decided to start off this whole venture with some skin care tips. After all, clear skin is essential to looking your best! 

 

Unfortunately, there are so many products out there promising impossible results, and some can make your skin situation even worse. Cosmetics do not fall under the FDA's jurisdiction, so companies are not liable for presenting the truth. Those "clinical studies" are most likely completely bogus "tests". And don't believe all those rave reviews you read online, either! Some companies may actually create an "independent" website that ranks different products from different brands... and guess whose is always the 5-star, #1 recommended product? (That sort of scam is especially used in the Teeth Whitening industry.)

 

Also, expensive does not always mean better. Your best line of defense is to look at the ingredients. Don't be fooled by all those scientific terms- you can learn what each one does online if you're really curious. Ingredients are typically listed in descending order, so the most used ingredient is at the top of the list. If you compare ingredients, you may see minimal to no difference between the expensive product and the bargain product. Same thing goes for "face" moisturizers versus "eye" moisturizers- the ones I've compared have the exact same ingredients in the exact same order. Interesting, eh?

 

But have no fear, that's why we're here! We'll help you cut through the lies and finally attain gorgeous skin!

Karen Says:

I guess my skin falls under the "Combination" category. My T-zone can get pretty oily while the rest of my skin is normal. Blackheads have always been my number one problem, and the occasional break outs that left lovely little scars. I tried a variety of different products from brands including Clean&Clear, some Spa exclusive brand, St. Ives, Philosophy, etc.- but none of them had any lasting effect.

  (T-Zone!)

Recently I decided to give Clearasil a try, so I picked up some of their Daily Facial Cleanser for Normal to Oily Skin. It was great at getting rid of make-up and whatever else was on my skin, but it was not cleaning my (large) pores. So, I started using Biore's Pore Unclogging Scrub, a creamy exfoliator. My pores were definitely unclogged, but there was still some scrub residue. So, neither one by itself fixed my skin problem.

 

And then, I had a stroke of genius! Duh, why not use them together? I use the Biore first to really get out all the dirt from my pores, and follow it with the Clearasil to clear off all the dirt and residue. My skin feels seriously fresh and clean! You don't have to use the exact same products I do- but the general idea is to deep clean with a scrub, rinse, then follow up with a gel cleanser.

Any pimples that might pop up I take care of with a cream with 10% benzoyl peroxide. Again, the brand doesn't really matter- as long as it has that 10%! The other type of zit-zapper has 2% salicylic acid. Both are effective, but for different types of bacteria. So the 2% salicylic acid wasn't as effective against my pimples as the 10% benzoyl peroxide, but you may have the opposite result!

 

Finally, I use moisturizer sparingly. Since my T-zone is oily, I never apply moisturizer there. I used to in the past, but I ended up a greasy mess. I only apply a moisturizer to the driest part of my face, which is usually under my cheek bone. I prefer to use a light, natural moisturizer since heavy creams clog up my pores and cause more pimples, but drier skin than mine may need something a little more heavy duty.

 

Experiment within those guidelines and you'll be on your way to your best skin ever!

Peace, love, and kisses!

Karen