Wouldn’t You Know It.
It’s always the way isn’t it? My face, a shoe in for first runner up in the 2007 Elephant Eyes of the Year Contest and I had a meeting to attend! Don’t you hate that? No, I most certainly did not go out warts (or crepes) and all, but did my best camouflage makeup and prayed that I wouldn’t be adding insult to injury. So What did I do? I washed my face with lukewarm water only and gently pat dry with a clean towel. Then while my face was still a tad damp, I carefully pressed on a small amount of certified organic jojoba oil all over my face, including my crepey eyes. After a minute or two, I gently patted my face again with the same towel that was still slightly damp from drying my face just prior to remove any excess jojoba oil. The jojoba oil not only acted as the perfect moisturizer, as it is very sebum-like, but it also ever so slightly re-hydrated the deeper crevices that were in fact, the most sore. I then applied several light kabuki brush loads of pressed mineral base all over my face. The more matte the mineral makeup the better, as there is no need to bring extra attention by highlighting and shimmerizing the flair-up is there? After ensuring the minerals were blended in properly and not sitting up on top of the more scaly looking bits that were courteously provided by the allergy, I applied one swipe only of mineral eyeshadow to my top lids and gently blended well. I curled my lashes and applied a coat of mascara only to the top lashes. Next, I groomed and slightly filled in my brows. To finish off my look I went a few sheer slicks of mineral gloss and left it at that. Thankfully, my elephant eyes scrubbed up nicely. Phew!
OOPS! I Did It Again!
Judging from my dodgy, unintentional eye lid reconstruction, I’m going to have to keep away from the hard stuff for a little while until the newest allergic reaction on my eyelids settles and disappears. Yes, yours truly is sporting the latest in elephant eyes today. Sigh. It’s an itchy, swollen, crepey nuisance, which means I will have to give the guinea pigging of eye products a rest for a few days. Ooh, but the upside to this malady is, I now have an excuse to shop for a new pair of gorgeous sunglasses. Yes! So that’s me for the weekend: ice cubes, chilled chamomile tea bags, certified organic jojoba oil, and the odd antihistamine, if I can’t keep the swelling at bay. I’m not too worried…as sadly, I’ve been here before. I’ll just keep reminding myself that it’s worth it for posterity’s sake, right? *wink* After all, it’s just as Pierre-August Renoir said, “The pain passes, but the beauty remains.”
Today Is The Day!
Today is the day to be magnificent, generous, powerful, and radiantly beautiful from the inside and out. Today is the day to be just who you are!
-Beauty Marked! xx
And Now We Wait…
Okay, so you’ve made the switch to a more natural based hair and skincare range and your hair and skin are looking…um…well, let’s say…not so great (read: kaka), and you’re wondering if it was worth the switch? Well, I have no doubt that switching from harsher, more chock-full of naughties products to more skin and hair considerate products was a good thing. I, also, appreciate your valid question as to when exactly will the effects of your positive move become evident? Unfortunately, it will not be obvious on the first use of your new product, but may take as long as 3 to 4 weeks before a marked improvement is clearly seen and the good stuff can take effect. Your hair and skin may even seem worse with the new no-naughties hair and skincare regime for the first little while, without the “benefit” of all the smoothers, sudsers, harsh solvents and other questionable ingredients. Grrrreat, I hear you say? I know. *understandingly sighs* It will be worth it, just as you are, I promise. But for now, we wait. Hang in there!
Being Sun Smart.
I know that you gorgeous skincare savants are très savvy when it comes to protecting your skin from the damaging effects of unprotected sun exposure, but thanks to L’Oréal Professionnel, you can now look after your cherished tresses with the same sagacious smarts as you do your skin. In September 2007, L’Oréal Professionnel is launching Série Expert Solar Sublime sun smart products for your hair. The Série Expert Solar Sublime range is comprised of 3 key hair care products that will afford your hair superior sun protection against the damaging UV rays that affect all three zones of the hair fiber from the root to the tips. Série Expert Solar Sublime contains Mexoryl S.O. (Sun Optimal), which is a patented hair care specific UV-filter system which acts as a protective shield against the sun’s harmful rays as well as moisturizing and maintaining the hair’s hydration.
Série Expert Solar Sublime by L’Oréal Professionnel is a formidable ally against the unfiltered effects of the sun’s UV rays which leads to damaged hair. Série expert Solar Sublime assists in preventing the sun’s UVB rays from stripping the lipid coating from the hair’s surface which causes the shaft of the hair to become porous and eventually splits due to it’s brittleness from the breakdown of keratin which results. Sun damaged hair can often feel straw-like and the natural pigment in the hair is diminished. Sun damaged hair not only looks lackluster but tends to be difficult to style as well. It is with this understanding, that L’Oréal Professionnel has created this new advanced formula to enhance its range of sun smart products for the hair:
Série Expert Solar Sublime Shampoo An après sun protecting shampoo which contains Mexoryl S.O. UV-Protect, vitamin E derivative and glycerol.
Série Expert Solar Sublime Masque An after sun nourishing balm that contains Mexoryl S.O. UV-Protect to detangle, smooth the hair’s surface, and bring softness and shine to the hair.
Série Expert Solar Sublime Protection Spray An invisible leave-in protection spray to be used on damp hair and leaves a light protective film around the hair fiber of the sun filter Mexoryl S.O. UV-Protect and a natural looking shine.
Série Expert is only available in L’Oréal Professionnel salons. Call 1300 651 141 for your nearest stockist (within Australia) or online.
A Beauty Secret.
Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. - Franz Kafka
Whipped With A Thread Of Cotton.
As beautifully asked…
I am a Middle Eastern woman, who has done nothing to her brows and they have no discernible shape. I am keen to have them look nice and shaped, as you have highly recommended in the past. But, I am certainly not keen on waxing or plucking my eyebrows. Are there any other suggestions as my eyebrow hairs are very fine and do not seem to be removed very easily, but seem to just snap off and remain as stubble?
As answered with pleasure…
Have you ever considered Threading? Threading is a long established form of hair removal in India, The Middle East, and in many other Asian countries as well, in fact. This method of hair removal is an amazingly effective way to shape your brows and remove any unwanted hair. Even the finest hairs can be removed by Threading. What’s even better is that Threading comes into its own and works its best magic on fine hairs that are generally not easily removed by waxing or tweezing! Sounds perfect, hey?
So how’s it done? A light dusting of powder is applied to hair to be removed. The threader then winds two threads of cotton between her fingers across her two hands. The hairs for removal are targeted and precisely removed by twisting the thread between the fingers, capturing the hairs in question and extracting them from the root. Since the hair is removed in its entirety by the threads, the hair is not snapped off, as some fine hair can be when waxed or plucked. The hair’s regrowth pattern seems to be the same as with waxing or tweezing, when done properly.
Even though Threading has been around for donkey’s years, it may be a bit hard to find places to have it done in your local area, but absolutely worth the hunt. Perhaps try asking in your local Indian or Middle Eastern spice shop or grocery store if anyone knows of a good threader in your area. I hope this helps and please let us know how you go. Good luck!
