Well Being Beaut y
Reader Q & A
Beach Worthy Makeup …
Lighten up! A lightweight tinted moisturizer or a BB cream — rather than a heavy foundation — will give you an even skin tone that is hydrated and protected with SPF. Sometimes a quality mineral foundation is a good choice since it is very breathable and the coverage is buildable. Then spot treat any imperfections or dark circles with a concealer. *Pro Tip—when choosing a concealer to correct under-eye circles, look in a mirror and determine if the dark circles have more of a purple or green tint. If you are correcting purplish under eye circles, then you should opt for a yellow tinted concealer, and if you are correcting green under eye circles, you should choose a slightly pink concealer. Brighten up! Bronzer and cheek color will give your skin that summer glow that we here in the Northwest have been missing since last October. Invest in a bronzer that is the correct shade for your skin (not orange!) and learn how to apply this correctly. A little bronzer can go a long way! Lip stains are also a great alternative to lipsticks, and won’t budge for hours without feeling heavy. Most lip stains work well when dually used as a cheek stain. Mattify! Take away any shine with a sweep of blot powder. On hot and humid days this is essential. Apply a thin layer in the morning to set your foundation and reapply throughout the day as necessary. If you are heading straight from the beach to a barbecue then this simple touch up can make you look more polished and put together. Waterproof it! Switch your mascara and eyeliner to a water resistant or waterproof formula. This will prevent any unwanted raccoon eyes, and help your makeup stay in place through hot days, swimming and, of course, our lovely Washington rain. If you want a complete look there are plenty of waterproof cream shadows, brow products, and lip and cheek stains. 54 NorthSoundLife.com
With the wedding planning, a new job, and now buying a house, I have been pretty stressed and my skin is freaking out even more than normal. I’ve been struggling with acne pretty bad over the last couple of years and now it’s just out of control. I have very combination skin that seems like it’s always either too oily or so dry it flakes. I feel like I’ve tried just about every face wash, moisturizer, etc out there. I wear very little make up- usually just mascara and maybe a little bit of blush or bronzer but no foundation or anything, in hopes that it will help keep my skin clearer. I don’t know what else to do, so any advice would be so helpful!” -Laura K
Unfortunately this is an all too common problem among young women! Stress can cause many problems and acne is one of them. My first suggestion is to try OCM if you haven’t yet. This stands for Oil Cleansing Method and is essentially using an oil to “wash” your face in the morning and at night. It is an excellent makeup remover and it’s inexpensive, too. You can use different oils until you find your perfect combination, and it’s natural! Your skin will probably like being free of chemicals (especially if you’ve tried Proactive or other strong face washes) and is very gentle. Your skin may take about two weeks to get used to it, but after that two weeks you should notice that your skin is regulating oil better. This means the areas that were dry are now hydrated, and the areas the over producing oil are now producing less. I would start with Jojoba Oil, sunflower oil, or hazelnut oil (or a blend of all 3!), and add 2-3 drops per use of Tea Tree Oil to help with acne (you can get pure Jojoba and Tea Tree Oil at Trader Joe’s). Also adding 1 tsp. of Tamanu Oil to
your mix will help immensely with acne and scarring. It’s not cheap though. Rub this mixture into your face for up to 10 minutes (by then you can feel your pores clearing, it feels gritty on your fingers) and then wipe off the excess oil with a warm washcloth or with cotton balls. Repeat if desired. You won’t need to rinse and your skin is already hydrated for the rest of the day. Always make sure that your brushes and sponges are clean when you apply moisturizer, makeup or touch your face. Most people don’t realize that they are using a dirty makeup brush when applying makeup and this could be the sole factor causing acne. When choosing a brush cleaner make sure it isn’t loaded with fragrance and other unnecessary chemicals. Be sure that you are getting enough “Laura time” and try not to stress! Meditation, yoga, long walks, or whatever it is that relaxes you should be an integral part of your routine. Nourish your mind, body, and soul and you should see positive changes.