The best way to get through a stressful schedule or even a stressful time in your life is by creating a routine. Routine can consist of the simplest things, such as which shampoo and moisturizer you will use for this month, or which shoes you will hide away until next summer approaches because even with every good routine, it must change in order to keep life exciting. We can all only wish for more hours in a day and more weekends in a week; or we can accept the reality and dislike whoever thought 24 hours in a day is enough. This blog is about how I start off my days by looking and feeling fabulous.
Some of the things I use on daily basis consist of the following:
This shampoo + conditioner can save you a lot of money on expensive perfume. It literally keeps the scent in your hair all day (unless you are a smoker.. then not much helps anyway. So now that I have officially quit, I may brag about it at times where it doesn't even fit in). I am absolutely obsessed as it makes your hair feel soft, gives it a shiny look and does not allow it to frizz.
If you still have some spare change left over and don't think shampoo and conditioner is enough for a great smell, you may want to invest in MY personal favorite perfume on the planet of earth:
I will never forget the day I was introduced to my favorite scent. I had visited a friend who works in Bloomingdales on Lexington Ave. Of course the visit was not short as I spent the afternoon doing shopping as well. I passed by the perfume section just because. An older, extremely elegant Russian saleswoman approached me, asking if I had a specific type of scent I typically liked. I didn't really have a direct answer so I had asked her for a recommendation. This is the first (and last) bottle she picked up. I knew within seconds that this will be a keeper for how ever long they produce it.
You can't just have fantastic hair and smell like the best stuff on earth. You must also take care of your SKIN! I stopped using different body gels and began to use soaps. I must say, the following soap is by far the best one:
This soap is not pleasant to use due to "granola" bits inside which can be quite sharp at times, but it can be used as a body scrub. I definitely recommend it though, because the after feel is fantastic. It leaves my skin very smooth and has a great natural scent.
The skin of your body is no more important than the skin on your face! If there was one thing I can't imagine not having behind my bathroom mirror, it's this moisturizer:
I had tested SO many different "recommended" companies, that I began to feel like I will be doing so for the rest of my life; until this magical face cream appeared in my life! I went from Clean n Clear, to Dr. Hauschka, to Avon, to Nivea (shipped directly from Europe since they use higher quality ingredients).. and for some reason, NONE would make my face look and feel the way I'd want. Nuxe 24 hour moisturizer cream is the way to go. Highly, highly, highly (and I repeat a 100 more times-highly) recommended.
After I am fresh and clean and properly moisturized, I am prepared to create art on my face. Before applying ANY foundation or powder, you MUST use a primer. I personally use one from Forces of Nature, but Mac has a great one as well. It gives your skin a silky feeling and applies the make up in a smooth way without making it look dry or packed on. My face only appreciates MAC products as I have also tested anything from Loreal to Lancome to Chanel foundations. Different levels of different qualities because you really won't know what fits YOU best until you try it. Mac has a fantastic foundation (Studio Fix Fluid):
which I top off with Mac's Skin Finish:
In the summer time, I use Medium Dark. Once the fall enters, I switch to Medium. This Skin Finish powder just smoothens out your face and gives it a very neat and clean look. Obsessed! Now you can't just leave your cheeks bare. They must be complemented. Not all of us have been blessed with Tyra Banks's cheek bones! So we must do it another way:
The powder on the left looks the same as the Skin Finish, but it actually has a shine to it. You don't want your entire face to be in glitter, but the cheek can use a special touch. I use one brush stroke for each cheek because I don't want it to look packed on. Directly on top, I add a Powder Blush for a tint of redness that makes the face look fresh and natural. My favorite Powder Blush is Desert Rose. With all those steps, the face has been painted. Now, moving on to the eyes. If you use eye shadow, a Paint Pod (also Mac) is highly recommended. It maintains the eye shadow and does not allow it to crease. For daily basis, I like to only use mascara for a more dramatic look on the eyelash instead of eye shadow. Believe it or not, the best mascara happens to be one of the cheaper brands as well. I have tried Dior, YSL, and other high priced brands before coming to the same realization: if you find the best, why search for better?
Loreal Voluminous. I use blackest brown, which is dark enough to override my light lashes but not too dark to make them look unnatural. This brush separates each lash perfectly and clumps it just where the dramatic look should be--in the outer corners. One negative side of this mascara is that it dries up fairly quickly. I go through one about every 3 weeks. But just a small FYI, even the higher brands do not last for more than a month whether they are put to use or not. And the big difference? About $30-$40 you-es-dees.
Sometimes you don't want to go for the natural look, but you do not have the time or patience to do your eye make up. You just want to add a little touch that can change the entire look. LIPSTICK! And this is where Mac steps in
again. I use Mac for a more funky look and Mary Kay for a more classy look:
1. Mary Kay: Give Dreams
2. Mac Sheen Supreme: Zen Rose
I am sticking to these two colors for now. Until I want to change my routine...
Toodles!
