Turtle Power

 You are officially out of time on picking a Halloween costume... so let me pick for you. You can nail this look even if you’re coming home from work, and without time to re-do an entire face of makeup. I dug into the archives of an old halloween costume that my girlfriends and I did about 5 years ago, and re-created it. I became a ninja turtle in 15 minutes flat! First, pick out your eye shadow of choice (you’ve got to have at least one of these four...red, blue, orange, or purple.) I chose purple (MAC’s “Whim”), and quickly applied a straight line across my forehead (starting around my eyebrows). To dramatize the look I also added falsh eyelashes.I gently applied the color across the brow, in between the brows, on the eyelids, and voila! You have a colorful eyemask. I finished the look with bronzer, blush, lipstick, and of course a green tank top and am now ready to go! It’s party time! Happy Halloween, skinnies! 

-XO Annabelle

All Dolled Up- DIY Halloween Costumes

As a part of this week’s DIY last minute Halloween ideas, I decided to do something that all girls love- get dolled up! And I’m not just talking dressing up, I actually turned myself into a 28-year old doll. 

You too can pull together this easy, yet dramatic look in minutes! I put on my usual face make up, and then went over my foundation with some drugstore white halloween paint to give myself a more “porcelain” appearance. I then applied MAC’s “Deep Truth” blue eyeshadow for a pop of color and to draw attention to my eyes. To line the eyes, I applied MAC’s eye liner in “Feline”. I then applied not one, but two sets of false eye lashes to my top and bottom lashes to make a very wide/large-appearing set of peepers. I drew circle shapes on the apples of my cheeks (very dark pink) with Make Up Forever’s HD Blush in “Walk of Shame”, and drew little freckles near my cheek bones. For my lips, I used MAC’s hot pink “Chatterbox”. Lastly, I tied a pink ribbon in my hair, put on a skirt and top, and was ready to go! Check out pics below, and Happy Halloween! 

One final look is coming, stay tuned! XO-Annabelle

Geisha Glam

I had the pleasure of working with my gorgeous little sister this past weekend on her Halloween costume. She found an authentic kimono at her local Good Will Store, and it fit like a glove. To dramatize the look, we styled her hair into a high bun, and finished the look with chop sticks from Cost Plus World Market ($4.99 for a set of 4). For her makeup, I did a very smokey eye, with thick black liner. I used MAC’s Pro Longwear Paint Pot in “Groundwork” all over the lid, “Carbon” eye shadow in the corners, and blended with “Dazzelight” to soften, and highlight under the brow. For Renee’s Liner, I used MAC’s LiquidLast in “Point Black”. I also applied a lighter shade of powder over Renee’s foundation to give her a pale complexion. On her lips, I used MAC’s lip liner in “Cherry”, and painted on her MAC “MAC Red” lipstick with a brush (this makes applying much easier, and leaves less room for error. Red lipstick can be very unforgiving if smudged). To complete the look, we applied Ardell’s False Eyelashes (Special Edition-Disney Villains, Ursula set).

 As you can see, her makeup turned out beautiful, and she looked absolutely stunning! Stay tuned to the blog for two additional DIY Halloween looks Wednesday, and Thursday. Happy Halloween week to you- it is my favorite!

XO,

Annabelle

For supplies, visit maccosmetics.com , and worldmarket.com , and walgreens.com

 

Ardell Special Edition Lashes (Walgreens) 

 

 

 

[The Finished Product]

 

Balayage Highlight

Scared of commitment? Desperately seeking a change for your hair, but aren’t quite courageous enough to try an ombre highlight, or chop that chin-length bob? Cue the Balayage highlight! This past weekend I spent some time on myself, and paid a visit to my favorite magician; I mean, beautician, Brittany. I was seeking a slight pop of color, and highlight to bring some brightness and dimension to my sometimes dull brunette locks. I absolutely love this simple, yet noticeable transformation.

 

Balayage is different than an ombre highlight in that it is less-drastic (in the combination of colors) and is mostly concentrated towards the front of the face. Your hairdresser will lightly paint on your bleach/dye and can then tone it to the hue of your choice with a glaze. Check out my favorite balayage looks below compliments of pinterest (& my iphone). <3 Happy Monday, skinnies!

Check out Madison Avenue Salon & Day Spa
http://spamadison.com/
  

My look was inspired by superbabe, and Victoria's Secret Model Lily Aldridge (Pictured indoors above, and outdoors below)

 Brunette and Blonde looks pictured above and below

The Porcupine Nose

Blackheads can be one of the most frustrating skin conditions to deal with. Dry, impacted, and written all over your face. And what the hell are they, anyways? A blackhead is a plug of sebum stuck inside of a hair follicle. The sebum has been exposed to the air (oxidized), and therefore turns black. This common condition, although annoying, can be easily treated. My personal recommendations include:

1. Applying a topical salicylic acid product on the areas you experience the blackheads (most commonly this is the T-Zone) up to two times daily.
2. Exfoliate regularly (at least once a week). Using a gentle scrub, or chemical exfoliant can help to break down the keratin build up, therefore releasing the dirt, rather than keeping it trapped within the pores.
3. If you can afford adding it into your budget, getting a monthly facial with a professional is highly beneficial. Skin therapists are trained on safely, and effectively extracting the skin, without causing trauma or inflammation.
4. Mask. Using a clay based mask at home can draw out impurities, and attract the oils in the sebum. (Like attract like theory: oil attracts oil). 
5. Make sure you are effectively hydrating. It is often misconstrued that adding more oil will cause additional breakouts and blackheads-wrong. If the skin is dehydrated, it will actually become confused, and try to overcompensate by creating even more oil as a means of protection. 
6. If you have a stubborn blackhead that needs extracting, heat a damp washcloth in the microwave and place it on the area until the cloth has cooled. Once the impaction has loosened, you can place two fingers around the sides of the blackhead and gently move the fingers in, and then up until the impaction purges from the pore. 

Share your favorites with me and have a great weekend, skinnies! Go get your glow on. 

Products that I like:

Topical Salicylic Acid Treatments:

PCA Skin Acne Gel 

Dermalogica’s Clearing Mattifier 

Exfoliants:

PCA Skin Gentle ExfoliantDermalogica Daily Microfoliant

Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant

Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer

 

Masks:

PCA Skin Purifying Mask (This badboy doubles as an exfoliant, and will polish the skin as you remove it)
Dermalogica Sebum Clearing Mask

 

 

Photocredit: Dermalogica, PCA Skin, and Pinterest

For more info on these products visit pcaskin.com , dermalogica.com , or contact me directly at TheSkinny1122@gmail.com

Lighten, Tighten, & Brighten – Oh my!

I am frequently asked questions about what products and ingredients are most important when customizing a daily skincare regimen. There are many active ingredients that are very beneficial to your overall appearance and skin health. However, only a few ingredients can show dramatic results- and Vitamin C is one of them. Vitamin C will do three main things: 

1) Lighten any existing hyperpigmentation, and protect you from future damage

 2) Tighten and improve the overall laxity of the skin by stimulating collagen, and 

3) Brighten the skin, giving you a glow. Another feature of this powerhouse is that it acts as an anti-inflammatory, making it a must-have for breakout/acne prone skin.

My Vitamin C of choice is made by PCA Skin (C-Strength 15%)- and I use it religiously! It contains one of the most stable forms of Vitamin-C on the market and its anhydrous formulation keeps the L-ascorbic acid protected and completely stable until it is applied to your skin. For more information on where you can purchase C-Strength, contact me directly at TheSkinny1122@gmail.com , or visit pcaskin.com .

“BB-ehind The Trend”

For several months I was continuously hearing about a “must have” product that I…(GASP!) didn’t have. What the hell was a BB Cream? And why did I need it? As a self-proclaimed product junkie, I have to admit, I felt behind the trend. BB Creams, come to find out, are actually all they’re cracked up to be, and then some. This little miracle in a tube, with an acronym standing for Beauty Balm, helps to do just that. BB Creams are designed to give you many benefits without the hassle of a daunting multi-step regimen. I selected MAC’s Prep & Prime BB SPF35 ($30), and love it! It provides me with a sheer, corrective-finish, that hydrates without leaving an oily shine. Here is what your BB Cream should do for you:

·         Hydrate

·         Conceal (Imperfections)

·         Correct (Even out skin tone)

·         Protect (SPF)

·         Anti-aging benefits (Peptides, antioxidants, and vitamins)

·         Provide A Luminous Glow

·         Moisturize

·         Prime

·         Save you TIME

After reading many reviews, I’ve found that an adequate coverage can also be found in the drugstore brands. The best reviews were given to Garnier’s Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream SPF 15, and Maybelline’s Dream Fresh BB. Other brands I’m interested in trying are Too Faced Tinted Beauty Balm, and Stila’s Stay All Day 10-in-1 HD Beauty Balm.

Feel free to use this product as the primer to your foundation, or as the quick fix you need when you’re in a hurry. So tell me, Skinnies, what BBs have you tried? And could you love ‘em, or leave ‘em?

-Annabelle

 

 

 

 

 

MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF35 (Pictured above without foundation as a second means of coverage)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

BB Bargains (pictures compliments of Pinterest)

 

 

 

 

 

BBs on my wishlist (pictures compliments of Pinterest)

 

First Post

Thanks for checking out The Skinny with Annabelle! My name is Annie, and I am a licensed aesthetician, ASU graduate with a journalism degree, and a current nursing student working on advancing my aesthetics career. I also happen to be a product junkie and love makeup and everything beauty-related. Most importantly, I have passion for the industry, and I love sharing my findings. I've decided to combine it all and start a blog. Stick with me, and I’ll give you “the skinny”, and inside scoop on everything you need to know about cosmetics, and skin care. 

Besos! 

-Annabelle

Thank you!

Thank you for visiting The Skinny Blog! We will be up and running soon, and thank you for your patience. If you need to contact me in the meantime, please email me directly at: TheSkinny1122@gmail.com

-xo Annabelle