Serums and Eye Creams.

Hey! Sorry for the delay, it has been a very busy week!!

So to carry on from where I left off, here are some amazing products I have tried and loved so far!

I am not 100% sure you can buy them everywhere, just google them to find out where to purchase if you are interested!

SERUMS:

These products areusually water based or are light weight lotion-like substances. Use them BEFORE applying your daily cream (remember water and oil do not mix, and always apply light weight textures UNDER thicker textures).

Many times these serums have high concentration levels of special ingredients to target "problematic" factors either it being oiliness, dullness, pigmentation unevenness etc.

LIERAC CONCENTRE MESOLIFT SERUM: This is my ALL TIME FAVE serum ... EVER!

It is a multi vitamin serum, and water based..it's texture is a bit like a gel... the little glass-pump applicator helps allocate as much product as you want to use. Usually a pea size amount is enough as this product is very easily spreadable. Massage it in to the skin until it is fully absorbed.

It may feel a little sticky while applying, though it dries without leaving anyresidue.

It leaves the skin smooth to thetouch, smelling fresh as a mixture of peachy-citrusy fruits and leaves the skin feeling fresh with a cool/tingly feel as if your pores are breathing.

It's price is a bit high, in the USit is about 60 dollars, in Hungary about 10000 Ft and in the UK 40 pounds... HOWEVER if you do not use any other targeting products THIS IS TOTALLY WORTH IT! I usually buy it in fall (like now), when the skin looks dull and lifeless and needs a bit more T.L.C. I go through one bottle to revive my skin then once it's run out you can evaluate if you need to do another "treatment" of it or not.

DIANNE BRILL STILL AND FILL SERUM:

I bought this product out of curiosity when they were pulling the product from a chain store back in Budapest called Douglas. They were super expensive and the packaging was lovely...also I would try and feel out the testers and liked what I saw...especially when they were onsale!!! So I bought it (and also the day cream/lotion to go with it) and it was actually very nice! The scent is apple and citrusy, similar to the Lierac one. Also water based though this one is a bit less "gel"-y. It's effects are similar asLierac Mesolift , but I didn't notice a visible "glow". It leaves the skin smooth, even, fresh and hydrated. I would buy it again if I saw it somewhere, but I am afraid the Dianne Brill products are non-existant...I cannot find them ANYWHERE! :(

LIERAC MAT-CHRONO:

This is the best serum if you have "combined" skin...a.k.a. dry Seborrea.

It controls the oil production and by giving the skin a matte effect though it smooths and hydrates the skin at the same time. It truly is a great product. I've used it before and also have recommended it to others in the past. It's about 40-50 dollars and in Hungary it's around 6000Ft. I don't know in the UK how much they charge, but I am sure you can search for it in google.

It smells a bit like the woods or a forest..at least to me...it is water based and not too gel-like so it absorbs very fast! It's a great product for changing seasons...I use it when the weather gets warmer and I have a bit more shine. It has a refreshing cool feel.

EYE CREAMS:

So I haven't used too may eye creams so this is going to be a shorter section...

PHILOSOPHY EYE HOPE:

I got a bunch of testers for this product on my birthday from SEPHORA and was a bit disappointed, because I recently before it, bought the day cream version and HATE IT!!! It has a strong smell of lavender, which would be ok if it wouldn't be so intense that it actually makes your eyes water and irritated..plus I didn't think it had any amazing effect.

So I saw these testers and was totally unexcited about it, but tried it out anyways and LOVED IT! It has no scent, and it's texture is rich, so it truly nourishes the eye area very well, then absorbs beautifully. It leaves you with a more well rested look and feel. The best thing about it that it is extremely spreadable..literally half a pea size is enough for one full eye area! GREAT!

I am going to get it once I have run out of the testers! :)

BIOTHERM AQUASOURCE EYE PERFECTION:

Again, another product I got in a tester form. It is very good. It's texture is light and gel-like. It has no scent or harsh chemicals and is great for any skin type. I would buy it again though the

only "issue" I have with this product is that the little massage ball often gets stuck and it is an inconvenience... other wise, the texture is amazing it makes the eye area feel nicely hydrated and refreshed and the cool feel of the metal massager ball is calming and gives an extra invigorating sense.

LIERAC EYE CREAMS:

I am not putting an image in for this one, as Lierac has a good range for specific eye care. They all are beautiful in texture and gentle on the skin. I recommend their products highly as I know them well. The prices are reasonable, and they will last a long time as they are very spreadable.

So these are my top serums and eye care products, I have tried many others but these are the ones I WOULD/DO BUY AGAIN.

I have to do some thing today but I will make my next post about day creams only since there are many... after I think I will do a post about Pro Active and some other essential "Battle the Blemishes" products and tips...Then FINALLY we can move on to make up!!! :) Yaaaay!!

Peace ;)

Skin Types 101

So there are 3 main skin types, with one having 2 subtypes.

To begin with let's start with NORMAL skin type.

This is considered to be the most ideal, though it is not PERFECT! There is no such thing as perfect skin folks!

Normal skin usually is described as having/being:

• well hydrated ( no wrinkles )
• dead skin cell exfoliation rate normal (no peeling what so ever)
• circulatory system functions normal ( no broken blood vessels )
• balanced secretion ( never shiny, but glowing..if that makes any sense )
• few blackheads/pores around nose area ( usually under folds )
• pigmentation levels are balanced ( no freckles or any other type of pigmentation marks)
• no scars, or any other type of secondary skin symptoms
• no irritation ( a.k.a. blemish/acne)
• no abnormal hair growth

If you have this type, you are lucky...all you need to do is keep up and watch for signs of unusual symptoms...then you need to start using some prevention products...SOME! You do not need to change all your elements or your every day skin care products, just maybe change or use some other product(s) on target areas.

Moving on , we can talk about ALIPIC skin type.

This skin type is missing the fatty/oily substances hence the name! This skin type occurs usually in older age groups ( normal production in the glands slow down ), or overly treated dry skin ( I have had this skin type after using Pro-Active over time! ).

Usually these tend to be the most sensitive and easily irritable skin types. The hydration levels are low as a result of not having a barrier of oil to hold in the water between tissue and cells.

Alipic skin description:

• dry
• tight pores
• red, irritable, allergic
• wrinkles
• peeling, flaky skin
• irritation blemishes can occur... think of eczema
• fallen
• broken blood vessels

Briefly these are the main "red flag" warning signs!

This skin type is a MAJOR pain and can be utterly devastating...Because it is so sensitive it is difficult to treat externally alone, thus your key treatment will be in internal consumption.

If you feel you have this skin type or experience signs of it..I suggest first of all trying to ONLY drink water and TONS of it! Ideally 3 liters, though we live in a busy world so this can be difficult, try to go for 2! Try to eat as much fruit and vegetables as well to make sure you get your kick of nutrients and vitamins. In order to boost oil levels, eat nuts (if you don't have allergies) and some oily fish as well.

Externally make sure you shop at the pharmacy and you will have to stay away from "commercial"/mid-low quality generic brands. (La Roche Posay is GREAT, Avene, Aderma...)

You will have to probably spend a bit more money, but trust me, it is worth it!

Do NOT Exfoliate, use scented or overly processed products with too many chemicals... Only buy products that are for "Dry, Very Dry, Sensitive, Irritable" skin...if it says "normal" or "combination" PUT IT DOWN.

Lastly, if symptoms last too long and your skin does not improve see a dermatologist immediately!

Last but not least SEBORRHEIC skin type.

This type has two sun types. Both have over production of oil in the glands, paired with other different symptoms generally having to do with the keratinization ( rate of new skin cells forming and dead ones exfoliating off ). The most common is the DRY version (Seborrhea Sicca) and the other, less common is the HYDRATED version (Seborrhea Oleosa).

Seborrhea Sicca description:

• Oily shine in the T-Zone area
• Blackheads and whiteheads on the entire face but mostly in T-Zone area
• Open pores whole face
• Tightness and dryness of skin
• Irritation ( Blemishes/Acne)
• Sandy and/or flaky peeling
• Broken blood vessels around nose and chin
• Skin color usually looks "dull"
• Wrinkles
• Can become easily irritated

If you believe this skin type is familiar to you, your best bet will to be products to combat irritation, peeling , hydration and secretion. Because this skin is in need of hydration I would opt for a gentle cleanser...either a milky one or a watery based one...nothing that is lathery...so no strong soaps or gels. In the past I have liked Lierac, Bioderma and Biotherm most.

You can however use a tonic to help treat secretion, if you feel your cleanser alone is just not 100% "strong" enough. The next step is one of the most vital! EXFOLIATION! There are many many product on the market... "every day exfoliator" and brushes and these rubbery things that have little tiny spike-like surfaces... I say...FORGET IT! All you need is a GREAT exfoliator that you use every 10 days. Best ones are alpha hydroxy acids and ones which have tiny tiny little "scrubbers"... Ideally , you will probably use the latter one... AHA-s are great but they can be dangerous to use at home, or expensive at the salon. My FAVE exfoliators are MAC MICROFINE and LIERAC SOIN EXFOLIANT LUMIERE VISAGE....They have the best price and product level ratio!

Exfoliation will help prevent irritation ( helps dead skin cells off ) by letting secretion escape the pore, not trapping it inside to become irritated.

Then you want to use some type of serum. Serums are usually water based, so you help your hydration level to increase ... not to mention those nasty irritations also occur because of your dryness... hence the problem of abnormal keratinisation...

Serums also come in a wide variety, treating specific symptoms.

After this, you will still want to use a hydrating day cream. I would opt for a lotion, because of it's light texture. I would stay away from anything containing salicylic acid or alcohol ( THEY WILL DRY! ).

For treating specific areas/ blemishes it is safe to use either/or:

Tea Tree Oil,

La Roche Posay's Effaclar A.I.,

Natural Aloe Vera...even from the leaf!! That's the best!!

If symptoms are abnormal and become worse over time see your dermatologist.

MOVING ON ( I know...FINALLY, right?...)

Seborrhea OLEOSA description:

• Oily shine on whole face
• Face/skin looks "full" (hydrated)
• Blackheads mostly in T-zone, white heads entire face
• Open pores on entire face
• Not too much irritation
• Brocken blood vessels
• "Dull" skin color

Basically you may have giggled reading "Face looks full"...but it does. This is because there is always a substantial amount of oil on the face , it acts as a barrier, keeping moisture locked in.

The pores are open thus there is less irritation...the sebum can escape the pores easily and because the hydration is more "normal", the dead skin cells peel off at a normal rate, not trapping sebum in the pore.

If you feel this is the type that is most familiar to you, you will need to regulate the secretion levels firstly then tackle secondary symptoms..such as blood vessels...

You can use some stronger face wash, something of a gel or soapy substance...VICHY is a great brand for this skin type... and many other more "generic" brands are ok to use too...

Use a toner, it will also help to regulate secretion levels.

You should use a serum or a light lotion for the day time... I have not myself experienced this skin type, but what i would do is carry a little spray bottle with toner in it and a little bottle of a light lotion in my bag...then during the day I can evaluate which one I need to use.

Keep using an exfoliator of corse!

As with the previous, if symptoms worsen, or do not subside contact your dermatologist.

What do you think? And what should the next post be about? Acne or My skin care rutine?

I will do both but I want each post to make sense with the previous one...and not have them all over the place. What do you think?

Skin 101...what you need to know to keep your skin healthy

This post is about skin. Before even going in to makeup, it is vital to have basic knowledge about the skin and it's function(s). Understanding this, it will help you tend to it, thus resulting in healthier skin and more self confidence for you! ( We all worry and scrutinize ourselves in front of the mirror, so don't even try to deny it! :))

First rule, your skin is one of your largest organs! It is there for purposes of protection,keeping temperatures, sensation and circulatory. Not to mention all the pores found on us do in fact breathe.

It protects us from organisms/micro-orgainsms in the outside world.

If you think about it, any physiological occurrences always show up on our skin. If you are ill you can become warm, sweaty, pale, red, irritable...etc.

If you cut yourself or get burned you feel it because of the receptors in the skin...if they weren't there..we probably wouldn't feel the hot stove, and only notice boils on our skin when we would catch a glance at it.

Not to mention it contains the circulatory system of blood, lymph and fluid balance.

Here is a quick illustration :

I am not going to go in to depth, but it just goes to show actually how intricate and complex the skin is.

In our lifetime, we experience different skin types. This is NORMAL!

As we become older, the functions of our skin slow down, just as any other organ... it's sad, but it is true. With that said, the same way you care for your internal well being, it is vital to do this for our external organ(s) as well...

The easiest ways to achieve this is 100% percent common sense! Healthy lifestyle! Drinking water, eating a well balanced diet, spending time in fresh air, working out so our glands can produce and get rid of toxins ( sauna ), restful sleeping patterns, monitoring smoke and alcohol consumption... (just try not to at least...), monitoring medication consumption and probably one of the MOST important steps...watching and evaluating what nourishments and care you need to apply externally!

Some of you may wonder why is it so important to have a balanced diet...why does that effect the skin? It's quite simple... a lot of it has to do with our liver. Our livers act as filters... the more healthy we eat the more vitamins and healthy stuff there will be left in the liver , for our body's then to absorb...the more "non-food"/processed/chemically and/or hormone treated CRAP stays in the liver , for our body's to then absorb ... generally it's not great for you, but the first place the signs of some internal unhealthy problems show up, WILL BE ON THE SKIN...face and/or body.

I myself do LOVE junk food and time to time indulge, BUT over the past year have been living the most healthiest life style yet...and THAT combined with the right skin care regiment has made a HUGE difference! ( FYI I have always had problems with breakouts...)

So to wrap things up for this post, use your common sense and treat your skin as you would treat your most precious possession. Care for it and be gentle. If you do this you CAN NOT GO WRONG!

Introduction

Hi everyone!

I decided to start a blog about skincare and makeup because lately, I have been spending a lot of time watching YouTube, and discovering more and more talented and creative people.

I enjoy watching them and have great appreciation towards them!

With that said, I do however find there is a shortage of actual videos AND blogs, talking about actual makeup looks and products that can be worn day by day without looking too "done up".

I myself find that when I shop for products, I tend to deviate away from overly colorful, shiny or glittery products (unless it is needed for work purposes) and go for more subtle, earthy shades in matt or velvety textures.

I do have many beautiful and vivid products in my kit (which I will be showing to you all and describing my thoughts about them), but generally I've noticed they haven't been used too much. Mainly because I spent a good portion of my career in Television, doing makeup for more serious/conservative shows like news casts and talk shows, where the hosts and hostesses have to look relatable and portray the general "vibe" of the topics they would speak about.

In Fashion shows and photo shoots the same rules apply, with different techniques, but none the less most magazines and print media target the general public, whom are more drawn to relatable appearances.

There are some great creative magazines and media sources which offer more colorful story boards, though these are usually more in demand to those working in (close) relation to the fashion and and beauty industry.

In this blog I want to make an effort to show you and talk to you about products that work, how they work and which ones can make you look and feel gorgeous without looking like you are going for "A LOOK". To me, even a smoky eye can look too overpowering...so I will try to show some alternatives...I don't think women over 25 necessarily feel like they can carry off so much dark eye makeup, EVEN THOUGH secretly we would love to have the same look as a model, walking the runway of a Versace show (.I just wrote that example, because the girls always look so feminine and sexy).

I am young and already feel like if I wear too much eye shadow, I am adding at least 5 more years to my age...at least..and end up wiping off my makeup after spending the time and effort applying it. Am I the only one who does this?

So I will also be showing for example my favorite EASY and flattering for ALL AGES makeup combos...which you can pick and choose the techniques you like.

Also I want to start doing some tutorials..but I think for now I am going to try and keep to the basics first. Products...was it worth it...how to use it....etc.

SKINCARE!

I will be writing about basic skin knowledge. Skin types to be exact and products I have used over the years... Besides being an aesthetician I have probably had EVERY type of skin in my life and used everything from Pro-Active to Clean and Clear and Clinique and La Roche Posay and Vichy and so on and so forth...

I will show you what my fave products are, how to combat skin "issues", and what chemicals you want to stay away from!

I will try my very best to keep up with posts, but bear with me...

Welcome and I hope you find this blog useful...if anyone has any specific questions, or ideas/topics they want me to write about, let me know!

Enjoy!

Alexa