What is Micellar Water?


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Hi There! I subscribe to a lot of the fashion and beauty magazine and they all advertise this particular product call, Micellar water. So, I ask myself what is the heck is this micellar water and how will it benefit me? May of you might be asking as same think. Hence, to find out I did some research and this is what I came up with.

What is Micellar Water?

Micellar water takes its name from micelles, tiny round balls of cleansing molecules that float in the water. According to board-certified dermatologist Hadley King of Skinney Medspa, “micelles are attracted to dirt and oil, so they are able to draw out impurities without drying out the skin,” rather than containing a foamy solution that strips your skin and leaves behind harsh chemicals. As a result, micellar water can be used as a facial wash, makeup remover and moisturizer all in one that leaves behind a glowy, hydrated finish.

History of Micellar Water?

According to the Elle Magazine, micellar water has been around for hundreds of years, first gaining momentum in France, where it was designed to help Parisians deal with the region’s infamously harsh water supply.

How is it different from regular cleanser?

Micellar water is different from your traditional cleanser in that does not need to applied and than removed. All you need is to simply pour a little product on a cotton pad, then wipe your skin clean — and it feels delightfully refreshing. It another word, it is a dream product for any lazy girl like myself. It is great for people with dry and sensitive skin types because it is so gentle and hydrating.

What will Micellar water not take care of?

According to Huffington post, what micellar water won’t do, however, is remove heavy foundations or stubborn eye makeup like waterproof mascara. So you’ll need to use a separate makeup remover to get fresh-faced. Additionally, if you have oily skin, according to Tabasum Mir, a skincare physician in cosmetic dermatology and cosmetic laser surgery, this product doesn’t clean as well as you’d like. So she suggests those with oily skin, as well as individuals who are acne prone to supplement with a traditional facial cleanser.

What are some the best micellar water out there?

Some of the best micellar water that are available includes, La Roche-Posay Physiological Micellar Solution ($21); Perricone Blue Plasma Cleansing Treatment ($39);Bioderma Crealine H2O ($28); SimpleCleansing Micellar Water ($6.99). My favorite as always been the simple micellar water. I have been using it was a while now and I am in love with the product.

I hope you find this article informative. Please comment on your favorite micellar water.

Don’t forget to like my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @allaboutme3181.

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Forever NijLeave a comment

The Beauty Hacks You Need to Know


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Lips: If you have dry lips don’t forget to exfoliate your dry lips with a clean disposable mascara wand for a smoother lipstick application. However, first make sure that you just apply some lip balm over your lip first in order to give your lips some slip, so it is much easier to slough away any flaky skin. Second, if you do not want lipstick on your teeth like me you can keep your lipstick off your teeth by sticking your clean pointer finger in your mouth, wrapping your lips around it, and then pulling your finger out. Any lipstick that would have gotten on your teeth will be left on your finger. Third, in order for you to make your lipstick last longer just apply your favorite lipstick and just hold a tissue over your mouth. After that dust a translucent powder over it. A small amount of the powder with transfer onto the tissue this way, locking in your color.

Eyes: In order to make your eye shadow color to pop, first add a nude shadow base. This way the light reflect of the base shadow revealing the true color of the top eye shadow you are wearing. You want an easy way to apply eye liner? Use a lash curler to apply your eyeliner. Simply line the curler with eyeliner, curl your lashes and you’re done! It is that simple.

Face: In order to apply a concealer effectively, if you apply your foundation first, then you’ll find that you don’t need to use as much concealer. However, if you apply concealer first, you’ll remove most of it while applying your foundation. When concealing pimple, I find it more effective to apply a green concealer first and then applying a concealer of my own skin tone. In order to get a boost of hydration and glow in my skin, I spray my skin with Vitamin C Spritz (See Body Works Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz for $19). This only give my skin a nice glow but a keeps it hydrated as well. You can also apply rose water (Amazon for $9.99). In addition I apply Tatcha Supply Rich Silk Cream (Sephora for $150) which makes the foundation go in easily and my face do not dry out easily. You can get the travel size for $3o at Tatcha website. As for contouring I use my makeup brush handle as my guide to find my cheekbone when contouring. Makeup looks more natural this way. Trace a number 3 along the perimeter of the face, starting with the center of the forehead then tracing along your hair line. You then move down the middle of the ear follow by the hollows of your cheek, sweep back towards the ear and continue down alone the jawline. Wala! You just traced a number three. Just repeat until you get your desired look and buff the brush after to trace along to until blended. You now trace number 11 along the sides of your nose your give definition to your nose. In order to create perfect highlight just trace number 3 around the eye in one continuous sweep. Just start at the middle of the forehead just above the eyebrow and sweep all the way around the temple to the top of the cheekbone. Then just repeat with the brush to blend. Don’t forget to add hightlight tracing number 1 on the bridge of your nose and little bit on your chin as well. You are now all set.

Hair: If you want to prevent split end and breakage from your hair make sure your hair is well conditioned and lubricated. Leave-in condition will not weigh your hair down and keep your lubricated at the same time. When heat to style your hair make sure that it is well protected. Make sure you use a heat protection product to protect your hair. Check out Allure magazine’s Top 10 heat protection products under $20. If you are like me and do not want to blow dry then try out Bumble and bumble Don’t Blow It (Sephora for $14) . This is an amazing product that gives me the perfect texture and definition that need for my air-dried hair. An for the days you want to go with the shampoo try the Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (Sephora for $20). This is the best dry shampoo I have ever use so far. It makes my hair feels  light and fresh. My friends could not tell that I did not wash my hair. I am happy.

Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @allaboutme3181. Please do let me know if you have any beauty hacks that have worked for you.

———————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

Instagram: @allaboutme3181

Forever NijLeave a comment

My Lip Color Obsession


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Today, I will share with you my favorite lipstick obsession. According to Vogue, the 7 matte lip colors obsessing over this season include NARs audacious Lipstick in Rita. This is of the favorite lipstick I own. I also love the one in Jeanne. I am so glad that the Sephora representative recommended this color for this. I received so many complement on this color. I also love NARs lipstick in Fast Ride. Vogue also recommends Clinique Long Last Soft Matte Lipstick in Mandarin that can be found in Sephora, and MAC Cosmetics Matte Lipstick in Heroine.  I love the MAC lipstick color. My other favorite MAC lipstick includes Viva Glam lipstick in Viva Glam VI and Matte lipstick in Living Legend. I also love MAC Cosmetics Patentpolish Lipstick in Sultana, which is a beautiful matte color. I own similar colors from Bite, including Bite Beauty Luminous Crème Lipstick in Cassis.  One thing I love about Bite lipsticks is that they are so soft. One thing I also found really lovely this reason is the Bite Beauty Mix n’ Mingle Lip Minis in Lipstick Duo of Violet/Palomino and  Duo of Poppy/Scarlet. One of my favorite Bite Beauty is Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix. It’s a gift box has four small size beautiful color lip pencil in pomegranate, sable, rhubarb, and winterberry.

The other names in the Vogue list include, Maybelline Color Sensational Creamy Matte Lip Color in Faint for Fuchsia, Revlon Color Burst Matte Balm in Sultry, Tom Ford Beauty Lip Color Matte in First Time, Surratt Automatique Lip Crayon in Blood Orange. My lip color obsessions include, Kat Von D Everlasting Liquid Lipstick Lolita and Bachelorette. I also have in my collection Kat Von D Studded Kissed Lipstick in in Homegirl. This is a dark matte lip color for one those days I am into dark colors. These two are long lasting matte lip color that I love and definitely can be added in this season’s color selections. Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick 08 is another beautiful color that is not great for this season does not break one’s wallet.  My other lip obsession includes Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer in Kissability, Sephora Collection in 24 Cocoa Passion, Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Primrose, and Buxom Full on Lip Polish in Jasmine.

Hope, you enjoy my lip color obsession. I enjoy my lip colors and I keep adding more to the collection. Happy reading.

 

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My Makeup Secret


With just two days left for the holidays, I know the ladies you have worked hard to get ready preparing for the holidays and the party. Now it’s time to take care of yourselves, the dress, the makeups. Today, this blog is dedicated just for you because you deserve it. I am by no means experts in beauty or make-ups. I will bring today what I have come across through process of elimination through my own personal experience. Since, I have started using my new make-up regiment since last August, I have been getting non-stop complements on my make-ups because I keep my make-up simple, and today I want to share that step by step secret with you. Again, I am not promoting any particular product. I am just reporting what has worked for me. Perhaps something else will work for you. If you have a great alternative please share in your comments and we would love to hear it. I will also share some great holiday fashion that came across in Vogue magazine. Happy reading.

The first step before any make-up regiment, I always wash my face with my usual regiments and use my Body Shop Tea Tree Skin Clearing Toner.  I then use my usual moisturizing regiment.

For the fist step of make-up, I use the Sephora Photo Finish More Than Primer – Blemish Control.  It can be layered under foundation without the worry of breakouts. It’s parabens, sulphate, and phthalates free. I follow the primer with a very light layer of Body Shop Tea Tree BB Cream. After my trip to the very windy and cold city of Chicago my face broke out in enormous blisters and acne with resulted in bad scars as a result I have to take extra precaution on myvery sensitive skin when comes to skincare. You probably don’t have to use this. However, I love this product it because it give my skin extra layer of protection and during weekends when I don’t feel like wearing foundation, I just wear this and I am good to go.

I next wear the NARS Radiant Cream Concealer underneath my eyes to cover my dark circles. Ladies, here I have to share a secret with you. In order to get rid of the crease with the concealer underneath your eyes, the trick is to mix the concealer with your eye cream. It works for me all the time. I put dabs of eyes creams and dabs of the concealer under by eyes and mix and walla perfect under eyes.  I then hide rest of my blemishes and scars with NARS concealer. The best thing about both of these concealers is that they come in make shades so there is a shade for every skin tones.

Once I cover all the flaws, I use Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Foundation Face Powder . I like this powder make-up because they are faster to use and less time consuming. More0ver, this is parabens free baked foundation which I prefer for my skin. However, when I am taking my time and what to use liquid make-up I use Sephora 10 HR Wear Perfection Foundation. This is a parabens free, oil free foundation which comes in my exact skin tone and provides great coverage.

Once foundation is done is now, time to contour and highlight the face. This is where we get to bring out the best features of our face. I use products here. I came up with these products after few experimentation and recommendations from family and friends. I first use the Anastasia Beverly Hills  Contour Kit to contour and highlight my face. What I like about buying directly from the Beverly Hills Anastasia site is that I was able to custom make my own contour kit based on my own skin tone. After contouring, I use the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush. The best thing about this blush is that is that it’s a baked nude blush that has buildable coverage. I use one last highlighter on my face that I absolutely love is the Benefit High Beam highlighter. I tap a little around my eyes and cheekbones and the result is fabulous giving me a luminous but never frosty or greasy look, it enhances coverage by bouncing light off the face. I use it high on cheeks after blush, I use it in in dark area by eyes, high part of nose and I use a tiny dot on bottom and top middle of lip for added fullness effect. A little goes a long way. I heard some people mixing it with their liquid foundation and got even better result.

Once done with my face I then handle my eyes. To be honest, I don’t have the best eye brows hence I have to take extra care of it. However, one thing that I do have it that I do have a good shape, according eye brow person I used to go to,  and I try to take advantage of that. I don’t draw my eyebrow with pencil because that lead to more eye brows falling. I use the Make Up Forever Aqua Brow cream to draw my eyebrow along my natural eyebrow shape to enhance my eyebrow. I will share another trick with you here. I use mascara wand to brush my brows before and after applying the cream. It makes my brows looks naturally full and when I apply the cream it looks more natural. You can by the wand at your local beauty supply store or at Amazon. Also, I never buy the black color. Always get the same color as the color of natural hair color. Since, my hair is dark brown that’s the color I get. Since I started doing that and filling my eyebrows, everyone I met told that I have the most beautiful I brows, which is a great complement for me. I add Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Waterproofing Gel on top of the brow cream even though the cream is waterproof for extra protection.

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Then depending on the occasion I wear my eye make-up and lipstick. Just remember to use light eye shadow underneath the arches of the brows to define the brows. However, I always end my make-up the same way. I always set my make up by using the Make For Ever HD Pressed Powder. It’s a clear powder that softens the appearance of fine lines and pores. I then finish the look by using Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Make Up Setting Spray. It keeps makeup looking just-applied for up to 16 hours. I cover my eyes with my hand and just am completely dependent on this product.

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With Make Up done, I now want to share the holiday style features in this years Vogue magazine. Here, I found a similar H&M Sequin Jacket for $59.95. I found this wonderful dress that goes well with the jacket too that just cost $69.95 at H&M for you guys, or you can wear the dress by itself.

This beautiful dress from Ann Taylor Jeweled Shift Dress is also featured in this month’s Vogue’s issue is on sale for $149.99. You can additional 50% off with code WINTER50.

As for me I like to wear something simple but but elegant at the same time. That’s I love wearing my long green long with velvet circle’s it. It look’s absolutely amazing. It’s one of a kind because it’s handmade and I get complements from everyone. I accessorize the dress with my Amrita Singh Reversible Bib Necklace and I am good to go. Ladies, I hope you are all ready to pamper yourselves this holiday after all the hard works. I look forward to hearing you version of holiday make-up and fashion tips. Enjoy.

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Is Your Skin Ready For Winter?


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The past couple of days have been very cold reminding us winter is upon us. While we are getting to the cold, is our skin ready for the bitter cold of the winter season. If the winter is anything like last year, then we are in for a brutal cold season. In the cold winter season, our skin becomes dry, dull, flaky, and sometimes even more reactive. Who wants to look like this especially during the holiday season?

I for one fall, am in huge predicament each winter. My skin is so sensitive to the cold that my face becomes red and flaky and sometimes, I get hives from the cold. When I come home to warm indoor my skin becomes dry from the heating systems. If you go through the same experience as I do each winter there is a solution for your predicament.

We don’t need to hide ourselves during the harsh winter season. We too can winterize our skin and embrace the warmth of the holiday season with open arms. First of all, just remember not all skin types are the same. Hence, the best option of course would be to go to an esthetician or dermatologist who can analyze your skin type, troubleshoot your current skincare regiment and advice on the best product for you.  However, since I already knew my skin type, I went to my local Body Shop, and talk to a store person there and ask them what to do. Since my skin is extra sensitive, they recommended their Aloe Vera moisturizer along with their Vitamin C regimen. I have to say, I did see a difference in my skin.

For the winter, the key to winterizing your skin is moisturizing. Make sure that you choose an oil-based moisturizer, not a water-based one. Just as an example, lotions labeled as “Night Creams” are oil-based.  I use natural organic essential oils on my skin, but I am very careful as to how much I use on my skin since my skin can breakout quite easily. According to WebMD, olive oil, avocado oil, mineral oil, primrose oil, or almond oil will not clog your pores.  You can apply small amount to your skin. I always wipe away extra with a soft wet cloth.  According to New York Dermatologist, Dr. Doris Day, a little bit of almond and coconut oils massaged gently around the eyes can help hydrate wrinkly skin under the eyes, but take care not to get it in your eyes, she said.

Every other night, I wash my face with a homemade scrub of with mixture of organic raw honey, organic extra virgin olive oil, and sugar. The honey is anti-inflammatory and a great moisturizer as well, and the scrub leaves my face soft and smooth.  It is also great for acne treatment, eye de-puffing and exfoliating scrubs. It’s excellent for treating eczema as well.  On the alternate days, I use mask made with organic raw honey, pure almond oil, avocado oil, and little yogurt. Yogurt is full of lactic acid that has wrinkle banishing properties.

In addition to moisturizing, I use the Body Shop Vitamin C Energizing Face Spritz that always gives me a boost of vitamin C and the Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster and Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Free Nigh Lotion. Every morning, I apply the Vitamin C Spritz along with Aloe Soothing Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15 under my Smashbox Blemish Control Primer and makeup. Those who want higher SPF, Essential-C Day Moisture SPF 30 is also a great option. Using sun screen is another key to winterizing your skin. Just because it’s winter it does not mean that your skin does not need protection from harmful UV ray. Follow these steps and you and your skin are ready to face the harsh winter. Nevertheless, not all skin types are the same, talk to you esthetician or dermatologist, or product store specialist. I know I am and my skin for sure are finally in the looking forward to this winter so far. Happy reading!

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