Skin Care: Sunblock/Sunscreen! Why is it important?

Summer is just around the corner.. You know what that means... Protecting yourself from the sun. By that meaning wearing protective clothing, keeping hydrated, staying in the shade, and slapping on that Sunblock! People are often misled by the fact that soaking up the sun will help the skin absorb it's natural Vitamin D. Only 10 minutes out in the sun without sun protection will absorb that Vitamin D. Truth there are A LOT of downsides to the sun.

Aging? Sun exposure is the #1 cause of aging. Skin cancer kills more woman under the age of 30 than from  any other cancer including breast cancer and ovarian cancer. 

Sunscreen/Sunblock? What about it?

Studies show that regular use of sunscreen protects against photoaging: the wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, and loss of elasticity caused by exposure to the sun's ultraviolet radiation.

 outdoors activity.

Sunscreens/Sunblocks containing Zinc and Titanium Dioxide are both ideal ingredients that will both provide a Physical barrier to the sun.

Sunblock vs. Sunscreen...

Sunblock: Physical barrier to the sun (zinc, titanium)

Sunscreen: Absorb the energy of UV rays and reflect it away as heat (goes into the skin)

Sunscreen/Sunblocks containing Zinc is beneficial to anyone because it has natural anti-inflammatory properties. Great for someone with sensitive skin, vascular skin (Telangiectasia, couperose skin, chronic redness)

Avoid sunscreen/sunblock products containing ingredients ending in "Benzene" and "Benzone"

   - Avobenzone

   - Oxybenzone

   - Dioxybenzone

   - Sulisbenzone

Sunblocks/Sunscreens to Avoid:

- Coppertone

- Aveno Baby

- Hawaiian Tropic

- Ombrelle

All of these products contain fragrances which lead to product fatigue (which meanburns and tanning)

- Causes cataracts 

- Are related to 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer.

UVA

- Aging rays

- Can pass through glass, reflect off snow.

- Penetrates deeper into the skin than UVB.

- Affect long term skin damage.

Myths

Not all sunblock/sunscreen products... 

- Cause breakouts 

- Leave a greasy film on the surface of the skin 

- Cause cancer

- Are all fragranced

Makeup Recovery 101: Makeup Brushes!

There's nothing worse that finding out that one of your good makeup brushes has become loose or detached... Don't throw them out! There are always helpful solutions.

All you need is your broken/detached or loose makeup brushes and a hair dryer.

Put the brush back in place as tight to the wood as to the metal. Turn on hair dryer to hot. Blast at the metal part of the brush. By doing so, it will help heat and melt the glue which once held the 2 pieces together. Let sit to cool down. Once cool examine the brush to see if it's  still loose or detaches again.. If so, retry process.. If this process is unsuccessful, detach the brush and blast the hair dryer to inner metal part of the brush to help the glue melt quicker. Use a tooth pick or a depressor stick to test how hot the glue is and move it to the sides of the inner metal to recoat it. Than place the wood end piece of the brush gently back into place and let sit to cool.

Halloween Lace Eye Mask 🎭

PRODUCTS USED TO CREATE THIS LOOK!!!

✨Using Sugarpill's 'Goldilux' pigment, 'Bulletproof' and 'Flamepoint' eyeshadows.✨

✨Make Up For Ever 'Black' Cakeliner

✨Nyx Gel Liner/Smudger 'Black'

✨MAC 'Swiss Chocolate' shadow and 'Viva Glam I' lipstick 

Zipped Rainbow Skull 💀

Using Sugarpill cosmetics eyeshadows and the UrbanDecay electric palette, Make Up For Ever cakeliner, and my QC Makeup Pro concealer palette. 

Beauty Tip: Brush Cleaning!

New makeup brush owners? Deep cleaning and disinfecting your brushes are very important. It helps to prevent breakouts and communicable infections. Learning a new 'at home remedy' on how to clean your brushes: A light antibacterial dish washing soap (dawn) and a bit of olive oil, or baby shampoo/wash (Johnson's). Both are affordable and very gentle on the skin/hair which means gentle on your brushes.

When washing your brushes, wash the hairs separate from the handle and absolutely DO NOT get water into the metal part of the brush, it will loosen the glue and ruin your brush. Dry your brushes with the brissles facing downward, so the water drips out through the hairs. Proper cleaning/drying/maintaining will help the life of your brushes last longer.

Recommended cleaning time:

Your personal brushes: After every third use or weekly.

Client: After every use, or during an event. Use a disinfectant spray/cleanse spray between clients.

*Rememer as a makeup artist, your brushes are like your babies, they are your tools/essentials. They need proper care.

Egyptian Kat

And the fun begins! Egyptian cat using Sugarpill Cosmetics eyeshadows and pigments and AOM eyeshadows. 

✨Sugarpill in 'tiara' (double wing), 'Stella' black shimmer (over the black lids), 'tako' (whiskers, bridge of nose, and lashes), and 'bulletproof' (eyelids, shape cheek contour, cat mouth contour)

✨ AOM (Artist of Makeup) in 'cocoa' and 'black smoke' (nose, temples, chin, lower cheek contouring) 

✨ MUFE (Make Up For Ever) Cake liner (eyebrows, nose, whiskers, eyeliner, mouth, neck paint)

✨ QC Makeup Academy pro concealer palette.

It's that time of year again!! Who's excited?

Here are a few pics of my work I've have done over the years. I enjoy all makeup, but I specialize in Special FX and fantasy. Being that Halloween is a Holliday makes my job so much more fun because it puts my creativity and art at work. Enjoy!