Keep that Summer Glow

Hi Guys,
I seem to be beauty blogging more lately, it must be the industry I'm in he he. The things i seem to be blogging about are the things that seem to be concerning me at the mo.
I'm sure you have been tanning  hard to work up a golden tan this summer?So how do you prevent that sun-kissed look from fading away?

Use some of our fabulous skincare tips to maintain your summer tan this Autumn and winter, and enjoy that bronzed look for a while longer!

1. Avoid over exfoliating. Buffing and scrubbing your skin regularly is a great way to keep your skin looking smooth and toned, but this process will wear away your tan. Limit total body exfoliation to just once per week, that is all you need anyway or even once every other week to help your tan last longer. Avoid using any type of body peels or salt scrubs if you want to maintain that sun-kissed look.

2. Stick with cool showers. Very hot showers and baths can strip your skin of moisture, and can make your skin look dull and dehydrated over time. Stick with cooler showers that will cleanse your pores without affecting your tan.

3. Layer on the moisturizer. Use a vitamin-E infused moisturizers day and night to keep your skin looking soft, and to protect its natural moisture barrier. A lack of moisture can make our skin appear dull -- your skin will lose that natural glow when it's dehydrated. Use a high-quality moisturizer after you shower, and stick with moisturizers that contain ample amounts of Shea butter, jojoba oil and other moisturizing ingredients for even more benefits.

4. Use a bronzing lotion a few days per week. You can enhance your tan by applying a bronzing lotion a few times a week. These lotions will bring out your natural glow while delivering a dose of moisture. Use these a few times per week to maintain your tan and keep your skin looking healthy throughout Autumn.

5. Eat your fruits and veggies. Eating foods that contain a lot of water, essential minerals and vitamins can help to make your skin glow and will enhance your tan. Fruits and veggies that contain vitamin E, zinc and vitamin C can help to keep your skin looking smooth and youthful, and will prevent dehydration. After summer's over, make sure your diet still includes a variety of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables.

Maintaining your summer tan through the autumn and winter seasons can be challenging, but there are several things you can do to prevent your tan from fading. Use these tips and ideas to maintain that summer glow for a few more weeks!

Just something to try :-)

Minx Application for Professionals

 As a nail tech, i am always wanting to introduce new products and services to our salon,boy, there is soooo much stuff around. Although Minx has been on the market for quite a while i have finally decided to start offering it to my clients, who are always looking for something more exciting to show off on their nails. So any nail techs out there wondering if it's worth it... here's all the info you need to make a decision and the basic instructions to get you going if you want to give it a go!

Minx come in fingernail and toenail sizes but they are interchangeable. The toenail sizes are more economical sometimes even for fingers because they come smaller (the pinkie size on the fingers just isn't small enough for most of my clients). Minx has a fabulous range of colours and patterns but to get started you cant go wrong with the the cool silver and gold, this seems to be what everyone wants at the moment anyway.  You will need a crystal file to apply minx or something similar, you also need an infra red heat lamp 150 - 250 watts, I have purchased a fabulous one from eBay that tilts up and down, rather than on a big stem, then i can move it around if necessary. the infra red does get hot, which is why i purchased 150 watts to start with, i figure when we can apply in our sleep (that's the aim he-he) i can always purchase a more powerful bulb.

Now here we go with the application. 

Minx definitely takes time, but don't become discouraged, remember what it was like when you started applying tips and acrylic (anxiety attack...... breathe!). The application will come in time and the adhesion will become easier and easier after while as with anything, the more practice you can get the better. It's best to start on someone with a good free edge because these are nearly impossible, even with experience, to apply to someone with very short or bitten nails. 

Application

1. Remove any polish from the nail with acetone.  Shape the free edges of the nail, square is better for good adhesion. 
2. Turn on your infrared heat lamp and put the fingers and the Minx under the light for at least thirty seconds.  This will activate the adhesion on the Minx and warm the nail plate, ready for application.
3. Peel a Minx off the sheet.  Place it on the fingernail (keeping under the heat lamp) pressing it on starting with the middle and working side to side. This can be tricky on people with a high arch to the nail.  Just keep working till you have no wrinkles, the warmth will help with the molding of the minx. 
4. Take a cuticle pusher with a soft end and rub the entire Minx firmly making sure to seal the edges and tip well.  Pull the end of the Minx down and stick it to the fingertip so that it is held tight on the tip.
5. Remove from heat and allow to cool for one minute. 
6. Take your crystal file and in a straight DOWNWARD motion file the Minx at the tip until the end is removed. You can cut it with sharp rounded nail scissors but i think filing is much easier. You need to be very careful not to file the actual nail plate or the minx will be dragged away from the tips and lifting may occur.
7. Look a the nails carefully.  If there are any bubbles or lifting return to heat and rub over again with the cuticle pusher until all edges are sealed.
8. Allow to cool.

Minx typically lasts around a week but may last some up to two.  It is normal for it to wear at the tips a little but it should not lift when it has been properly applied.  To remove it just warm them up under the heat lamp and peel off, for longer wearing you can apply a coal of UV gel over the top as a top coat or just a UV clear top coat for protection. If you do apply gel, remember to charge accordingly (for example the same as for a full set of gel colour).

Minx should take you around 30-45 minutes a set (depending on the condition of the clients nails).  You do need to charge appropriately to make any profit.  I think practice makes perfect so the more practice you can get the better, and the easier minx will become.

             

Beauty - in the Silly Season

Ladies, we have talked diet now we will talk beauty, here are my tips for getting through the silly season, looking radiant and relaxed. Even if you’re not ha ha x

HYDRATE YOUR SKIN LIKE NEVER BEFORE.

Now is the time to pack your skin with more moisture than a sea sponge, and the way to do that is with a moisture mask. Y’see, when your skin is dehydrated, it looks dull, sallow and dare I say it, old. So, by popping a hydrating and radiance mask to your face the morning after a big night, and probably the night after that, too, you’re chances of faking feeling alive increase significantly. Factors like alcohol, poor diet, lack of sleep and not enough water all contribute to lifeless skin, so if you can’t curb those vices, you better hit your tub of moisturiser and facial masks STAT. Oh, and drink, drink, drink as much water as possible. Try: Dermalogica Intensive Moisture Masque, or Dermalogica Multivitamin Recovery Masque (an ambulance in a bottle)

2. WHILE YOU MAY BE TEMPTED TO PLASTER ON THE MAKEUP, DON’T.

It’s only natural to wake up, see our ‘not as radiant as it once was’ skin and think, ‘Eek, where is my full coverage foundation?’ and plaster the stuff on like wallpaper, but ladies, now is not the time for that. No, no, the more you clog your pores, the more your skin will freak out and the cycle continues. Instead, try a tinted moisturiser with illuminating particles (you know I’m obsessing over the Napoleon Perdis Advanced Mineral Makeup is a weightless liquid foundation laced with light diffusers, long-wear capabilities and a semi-matte finish.  , a touch of creme blush and some concealer to cover those dark circles of yours.

3. FAKE IT IN EVERY WAY POSSIBLE.

First up, if you’re not sporing a fake tan right now, I suggest you skip off immediately and get one. Yup, right now. A fake tan will help you look and feel amazing and also lift the colour of your skin, giving you a healthy, fresh, natural glow, try a MagicTan for a natural all over colour Secondly, fake wide awake eyes by curling your lashes and applying a brown Napoleon Perdis mascara. Avoid dark colours on your eyes if you’re tired, they’ll make you look worse. Then, grab a metallic white eye shadow and apply it to the inner corners of your eyes, this is another one of those super handy makeup tips we learn from the pro’s and LOVE.

4. NATURAL MAKEUP IS ALWAYS BEST

When you’re tired, rundown and maybe even a little bit hungover, you really don’t want to draw attention to yourself,  So, keep your makeup neutral (no bright lipstick this week, please) and perk up a tired looking mouth with a natural lip gloss that’s as close to your natural lip colour as possible. One of my personal favourites is the Napoleon Perdis Luxe Lipgloss It smells yummy so you get the mad added bonus of lollies. Winner.

5. IF ALL ELSE FAILS, WEAR MASSIVE GLASSES AND A DO NOT DISTURB SIGN

How to apply perfect eyeliner! - Beauty Corner

Hello Ladies, I have been so busy with business I regret I have negleted my blog, but these are the sort of things I have been busy working on, I found this great tutorial on how to apply eyeliner which I have shared with my facebook fans... enjoy!

1. As always we start with priming our eyelid to make sure that the makeup will last all day.
 Make sure you get some on the outer corner as well if you want a winged eyeliner like
 Angelina Jolie. I’ve used Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot (its a crime not to prime)

2. Get your favorite Napoleon liquid liner and line your lash line. You can choose if you

want it to end in the outer corner of if you want a little wing. If you want to wing it a little,

 make sure it’s at an angle with the outer corner of your eye and the end of the eyebrow.

The great thing about this technique is that it does not need to be perfect, but do it fast so

that it won’t dry before you get the chance to smudge it.

(Napoleon Perdis Neo Noir liquid eyeliner) draws like a texta.

3. Take whatever colour you want your line to be on a small brush and smudge out

the liner with the eye shadow. You can use brown or black for a neutral look, or go

for a colour that will compliment your eye colour. For example brown eyes look 

fabulous with green (Napoleon colour disc or loose dust) which brings out the

brown eye. Napoleon sable brush 5a is perfect for this.

4. …and apply Mesmerise mascara. How easy was that? :)

by make up tutorials