DISCOVER BEAUTY: WIMMB

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I've always been a step behind with make-up it seems. 

In high school when all the girls were shellacking on full faces, 

I "rocked" my clear mascara and Dr. Pepper lip smackers (remember those).

But I think I am just finally settling into a great rhythm 

for this visage. 

I thought I'd give you a peek into my 

perfectly curated for me make up bag!

BEAUTY HAUL / JANUARY

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1 Revlon Custom Eyes / 2 Milani retractable eyeliner / 3 Bare Minerals in Med-Deep / 

4 EOS Lip Balm / Revlon Color Burst Lip Gloss

At the beginning of every year, I like to renew my beauty products. 

Something about dipping a clean wand into a fresh tube of 

mascara makes me feel like I can take over the world. 

I'm not much of a makeup guru. In fact I consider myself a 

late bloomer in this category. Didn't wear makeup at all in high school, 

wore minimal makeup in college and all through my 20s. Now that I am at the 

tail end of that era, I am a bit more confident in my application and know 

how I want to be portrayed. I'm very safe too.

All over powders, cat eye, lip balm and a lip colour. 

Every. Time. 

But I vowed to dabble and play a bit more. 

I hate to bring it up again and I don't want to use it as an excuse for everything in my life, 

but having a baby totally made me want to declare my place and femininity 

again. For all I know it was left in the labor wing at the hospital. 

A little makeup is an easy and fun solution.

Stay tuned for more cosmetic bag adventures! 

MY BEAUTY BASICS

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Ahhh skincare. 

My favorite and least favorite subject. 

I love it because, well who doesn't love glowing, flawless skin. 

Hate it because of how obsessed I get with it. 

I can be a bit of a product hoarder. I love trying new things to achieve 

"perfect" skin. Mainly because skincare at this time is a bit of a job. 

Pregnancy breakouts can take a 1st class trip to hell for all I care. 

It is a doozy for sure. Full of intense breakouts with large, almost cyst like zits 

that over stay their welcome by a month or more. 

And the scarring....not my idea of bliss. But I have managed to find a 

rhythm that keeps the crazy skin shifts at bay. 

Cleanse:

I must say, if you have problematic skin and constantly clogged pores, a brush is a must.

It helps remove all the grime and makeup that hand washing can't handle. 

I have seen dramatic improvements in the overall appearance of my skin 

since I began using the Pretika. 

I typically use it at night, when my skin is the dirtiest with a 

mild moisturizing cleanser. 

In the morning I stick to a gentle scrub/cleanser routine.

Correct:

Now for the random spurts of zits, I religiously apply 

Burt's Bees Blemish Stick. It s pretty spicy and earthy, but it works like a charm. 

(my hub hates the smell, but it fades fast). I typically follow up 

with a vanishing cream to further dry out the problem area.

Afterwards I apply Garnier's Dark Spot Corrector to balance out the tone of 

my skin.

Hydrate:

The most fulfilling of all the steps is moisturizing.

 Simple's lightweight moisturizer with SPF is perfect after applying 

acne products that tend to dry out my skin. 

Because we are in the colder months, I add a drop of grapeseed oil (at night) to my

lotion dollop for extra love and repair. 

(I also use grapeseed oil for eye makeup removal and conditioning)  

And there you have it. 

The basis of my skincare. 

It's pretty easy and no fuss for the mere fact that 

I don't have much time to lah-di-dah these days.

If you have problematic skin, I hope this helps a bit. 

Do you have an awesome, gold mine of a product for flary skin? 

Do share it with us!! 

 -Kel

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 8

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It has been a while since I have done a discover beauty post.

Mostly because I prefer quality & truth over quantity. 

I made the promise (to myself) that I would use more natural

products, skincare mostly. 

My skin was rebelling against me. 

My tried and true's were giving me the finger and 

I found myself lost in the aisles and at counters

searching for a solution, with a kung-fu grip on my 

wallet. So I played and tested. Got trial versions of a couple 

of items but the bundle was cut down and I thought that I could

share with you all my daily regimen for skin cleanse and care.

Beginning In Shower.

this is probably the simplest, but was the hardest to 

narrow down. Apparently over time I developed a skin allergy

to scented and overly perfumed soaps.

(I know, let's all shed a single tear on that one)

After walking up the bath aisle with arm loads of

everything and accumulating a Y2K hoarders amount of 

body washes underneath the sink, I have found my holy grail.

 1. Aveeno-

(Duh) How did I not try this during round 1?

No it doesn't smell like a nymph frolicking in the valley, but it does

leave my skin unbelievably moisturized and not at all stripped.

2. Chloe Shower Gel- 

Chloe is my "signature" scent...I have tried purchasing other fragrances 

but I am a Chloe girl through and through. 

Just in case there is a gal out there that doesn't know this I will reiterate the 

importance of layering your fragrance. 

In order for your fragrances that you spend your hard earned moo-lah

on, you must layer it properly. And it starts in the shower. 

Get that loofah and lather up with it last. This is not your cleansing 

wash, it is your dose of decadence. Afterwards, you will 

 add your lotion and parfum on your pulse points. Et voila.

The elevators are not shellacked with the scent, but the nose of 

the cute guy in the break room will definitely perk up. 

 

3. Sweet Lavender Soap Bar from Anthropologie.

Sometimes I need to remind myself I'm French. And with cometh French 

genes, cometh the bars of soap that take you to Provence. 

It is necessary and this soaps' scent lasts til the last sliver. 

I typically use this after I use the Aveeno at night. It makes

climbing into my nighties feel a little bit more feminine and fresh. 

And my husband is a fan of it too! There is nothing worse than 

coming to bed with layers of a "day time" fragrance on. It kind of 

allows my body to turn down.

Onto my face!

Aside from the random DIYs this routine

is Catholic school nun strict. 

I changed it once and my skin gave me a lashing out of this world

in the form of acne and  scarring and dullness.

1. Olay 4-in-1 Daily Facial Cloths.

These are perfect for a gal like me that doesn't wear much makeup

on a daily basis. Gets the grit out and doesn't leave my skin sad and stiff.

After I lather my face with the cloth, I follow up with a $5 facial scrubber

from Sephora. It gets deep into my pores without leaving my skin raw. 

2. Clearsil Acne Cleansing Pads. 

Hormones are bitch. Period. 

And that is the main source of my headaches when it comes to

skin care. So these pads keep those zits in check.

3. Orange Blossom Water

My bit of nature. I usually interchange this with rose water as 

my toner and correcter. Just pour it in a spritzer bottle

 and let it air dry.

 I purchase mine at the Farmer's Market

for the low low. Not into spending "bill money" for a natural resource. 

 That's just me...

4. Cleasil Acne Treatment Cream.

As mentioned before, the monthly demons that 

show their face on my face are aggravating. This 

on the spot day/night cream gets those suckers in their place.

5. Grapeseed Oil

The craziest bit of yesness for my skin. 

For a long time I thought that adding oil was a no no for 

women of colour with oily/combo complexions. 

I was proven so wrong. Yes, it is an oily oil, but my skin completely

drinks this stuff up and is left uber soft. I mean if I could put my eyelids and brows

up here for a touch and feel I would. It's magic and your must try. Especially

for your night time routine. Your pores won't be clogged and grossed.

 You will wake up looking like your were kissed my angels. 

I promise.

I hope this helped those of you going through the motions

of figuring your largest & most important organ out.

If have any questions or skincare recommendations 

leave them in the comments.

Take a peek at more Discover Beauty posts here

DISCOVER ART / DISCOVER BEAUTY

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by Shane Koyczan

A hauntingly beautiful message is what this is...

I had this prepped for next week, but there was no way I could sit on it any longer. 

it's something we all need devour as opposed to simply taste. 

let it wash over you. let it sit in your belly heavily like grits.

whether you were the poked or the prodder. 

Enjoy---Kel

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 7

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Happy Wednesday Beauts!

If you have a tons of old makeup that you can't bear to part with because you 

paid so much for it this is the perfect DIY for you!

I have all these loose eyeshadow pigments that I never use, because 

I rarely go out with a full face. So I hoard them "just in case". 

I stumbled upon a DIY on pinterest and thought it would be 

fun and easy so now I'm bringing it to you! 

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 6

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 Hey ya!!!

Winter skin blows.

I think we all (who live in seasonal areas) have similar sentiments

when it is 25 degrees outside with heaps of wind blasting your face.

I already gave you tips on how to care for your skin & lips
during the winter months.

But I wanted to tell you how to save that oh so sweet and valuable time.  

If your anything like me, you purchase lip balms 5 at a time and 

scatter them everywhere you go.

(in the car, two purses, my desk, my daughters backpack...just in case) 

I typically layer my lip balms with a color, never seem to have "the one" when 

 I'm looking for it. 

So I figured, why not make this easier and combine my 

two favs! 

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 5

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In my opinion,

there is nothing less attractive than dry, chapped lips.

Next to your eyes, your mouth is one of the first things a person notices

upon being introduced to you.  Its what you occasionally focus on during conversations

 We all know the winter months can be a brutal and relentless wench when 

it comes to our skin. Our kissers mustn't be left out of our skincare routine. 

And throwing on an extra coat or two of Carmex or Rosebud doesn't always do the trick. 

So I figured I'd share my super simple routine that includes 3 of my favorite go to ingredients. 

1. spoon a 1/2tsp of brown sugar and a single drop of honey and olive oil on to a plate. 

(shapes not always required, but hell why not right?!)

2. Mix sugar and honey first to create a tacky-paste.

3. Collect the sugar-honey mixture and dabble it around in the olive oil.

4. scoop it all up.  it should remain thick and not too loose. you can always add more sugar if it is.

5. using your fingers, apply the scrub to your lips in a circular motion, gently exfoliating to remove the dry skin.

6. let the scrub sit on your lips for 2-3 minutes. this allows the olive oil to do the job of moisturizing and conditioning your lips. Wash of with warm water & Voila!!! 

You should be left with smooth & flush lips all prepped for smoochin' and snuggling during the cold season. 

i would recommend doing this treatment in the evening and applying a light balm over night. this only helps the skin rebuild and renew. 

Enjoy!

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 4

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So I gave you a little peek yesterday of today's post.

You were probably so confused of this gloppy goo.

It is seriously the easiest of the Discover Beauty Kitchen DIY's.

Everyone with a cupboard or pantry is guaranteed to have these ingredients and 

it is nearly mess free (unless it's just one of those clumsy days). 

The goal of this Discover Beauty is to get rid of that 

sun damaged, dead skin and prep it for your winter skin care routine.

During the cooler months, no one I know is interested in having dry, cracked skin.

And it seems as old man winter is arriving earlier and earlier, so preparing to 

brave the fierce wind howls as naturally as possible is key.

 

1) In a small storage container scoop in 1 Tsp of fine grain white sugar. Because I have sensitive skin, I choose a grain that is a bit less abrasive than larger brown sugar granules, which tend to be more harsh on the skin. But you can definitely use Brown Sugar if that it the texture you prefer. 

2) Add about a teaspoon of honey directly into the container. Using a spoon doesn't allow you to get the full portion. 

3) Sift the two ingredients so the sugar coated honey. This makes the honey less tacky for mixing.

4) With a spoon, stir the honey and sugar.  It should wad up onto the teaspoon fairly easily. 

NOTE:These measurements make exactly 1tsp of scrub, good for 2 face washing sessions.

By all means add more of each ingredient to make larger portions.

Cheers to Happy, Healthy Skin!!!

Kel

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 3

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 So if you follow me or have liked my page, 

you have had ample time to prep for today's Discover Beauty.

But for those of you that don't, 

(all is forgiven) 

you may want to hustle up and grab your nose plugs or

clothes pins for this round.

Yup, today we are busting out the oozie of the

natural skincare world.

Apple Cider Vinegar--In honor of autumn

If you have never worked with or used this product before, 

your first exposure to its scent will have you 

(and the rest of the household occupants) 

running for a bucket.

This is definitely one of those routines that goes in the 

"home alone on Saturday night" pile along with

chick-scaping and singing The Cranberries.

So take a deep breath of fresh air and jump:

Now the waiting begins. 

For Sensitive skin leave the mask on for 5-10 mins.

For Normal Skin tough it out for 15-20 mins.
You will begin to feel your skin pulsate and tighten.
Go vacuum, unload the dryer, give yourself a quick pedicure

until your time is up.

If you often lose track of time, no worries. 

You will know you are well baked when it becomes increasingly difficult 

to crack a smile or yawn with complete satisfaction

 Plus, the proof is in the crackled mask

 

Simply wash the mask off with warm water. 

A soft mini towel helps get off 

the caked on areas, but wipe gently to prevent irritation. 

Your skin should be firm and refreshed.

Apply a light-weight moisturizer and you're off!  

Side Note and Forewarning:

Your skin will be slightly red from the tightening, so make sure

you give yourself ample time between the treatment and running errands.  

You don't want to prematurely scare little kids. 

Halloween is next week after all

(reminds me of when Samantha got a peel on SATC) 

Got some GLAM "in process" beauty shots of your own? 

Share the wealth! Snap a pic of yourself and 

share it on Instagram #discoverbeauty

Lets all have chuckle together!

Bisous, 

Kel

PINK KISSERS

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Happy Friday!

(I seems as though I write that every other day! Time is flying, non?)

Well, I have had a few inquiries about my lip color.

Is it Red? Is it Pink?Where is from? Is it drying?

The answer is: It's both.

I have searched high and low for a perfect pink color.

Earlier this year I vowed to wear more color and there was an array of pinks 

debuting in cosmetics. I new I wanted bright, but not ultra-violet.

I wanted Pink one day and Red the next----typical indecisive ol' me.

 I chose Covergirl's Spellbound Pink for it's bright factor. 

But this was really loud for the office and for my complexion which has red-violet undertones

I also received Milani's Berry Rich in a gift bag for an event a while ago and loved

the richness and moisture it provided, but occasionally a 

solid red feels too serious for me. 

(I tend to feel like I'm trying too hard to be too womanly or vampy...just me? yeah...ok)

So I thought I would take the best of both and combine them.

And POOF!!!

My dream color! A Dark Pink Berry color that works day or night, 

doesn't look like clown makeup, and doesn't cause my lips to peel. 

Sure, it's 2 tubes instead of one and there is an extra step in the application.

But hey why not if it achieves the hue.

I have tried department store brands and fell in love with the packaging and name

more than the performance of the product itself. 

I am a firm believer in drugstore beauty. It gives me the freedom to play a little and 

experiment without having to contemplate my weekly gas budget. 

Guilt-free beauty is always something to cheers about!

How about you? What are some of your tried and true drugstore beauty products?

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 2

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Hey guys! 

So for today's Discover Beauty, I thought I would spice things up a bit 

with a Cinnamon and Honey mask.

Honey is often used as a great base for at home beauty 

concoctions because of its anti-microbial properties 

and great ability to detox the pores without 

stripping them like harsh chemical soaps and cleansers.

Cinnamon is a great, fine grain exfoliant that can eliminate 

microbial infection in acne. 

Because of the changes that have occurred a while ago, 

my skin and body have taken a lashing in the form of large, 

stubborn zits that insist on appearing 

days before presentations, events, or date nights. 

(Yeah, just because we're married doesn't mean I mind looking sub-par)

Now this particular mask does have bite to it and tingles, 

mainly because of the Cinnamon.

If you are impartial to Cinnamon or allergic 

in anyway, let the Honey out weigh it the mixture or 

don't use it at all.

Remember: It's your face! What works for some may not work for others so, 

do what is best for YOUR skin.

Have fun exploring your regimen and Happy Tuesday!

DISCOVER BEAUTY / 1

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 Happy Monday!!!

To my surprise I have gotten a few inquiries about my beauty routine. Images of my cabinet underneath my bathroom sink begin to swirl about my head when this topic of beauty products comes up.

I would consider myself to be a semi-beauty-junkie on 

a budget with seasonal skin.

(Dewy and oily in the warmer months, dry in the cooler)

But the mainstay for me is to keep a healthy glow year round. 

And since we are approaching the cold and dry season, 

I thought it was most appropriate to share 

my not so secret Beauty Secret. 

A Coffee Body Scrub.

Every beauty blogger and magazine will tell you to scrub to remove dead skin and they may recommend products well into the $50 plus range, full of toxins and who-knows-what-else.

I don't know about you, but I want to know exactly what I'm going to be slathering all over me.

In this case all the ingredients can be found in your kitchen cupboards