Under Eye Concealer Tip

Short and simple. I'm unsure about how everyone feels about this, but I find that concealer tends to dry up and crease. You know- when it looks nasty and you can actually tell that someone's wearing concealer. Yah- that's not right.  This should NOT be happening. Don't get me wrong- this totally depends on the brand and how moisturizing the product is. If you find yourself getting creases or having your concealer dry up, just add some eye cream. This revamps the concealer and helps keep that area smooth and hydrated. When doing this you could either add both the concealer and eye cream to the palm of your hand to heat the products up. This will better blend the two products, therefore creating a healthy finish. If that doesn't work for you, I suggest mixing the two products together just under the eyes. I you don't even have an eye cream- well that might be the problem! It's essential to use an eye cream rather than a face moisturizer under the eyes because the skin is thinner and more sensitive than the the rest of your face! VITAL- especially to avoid getting future crow's feet. Try this tip and see if it helps!

Camera Ready

I finally got my BB Cream in the mail from Sephora.  I actually decided to go with Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream instead of choosing other brands.  I found the color matched me quite well and it was decently priced at, $39.  According to the back of the tube, this product, "moisturizes, primes, perfects, protects and control oils in one step to create a flawless face in a flash."

Initially opening the package, I liked the sleek, simple appearance and was quite ecstatic about the fact that it had an SPF 35.  I'm a firm believer that we should protect our skin, regardless of what shade our skin is.  Everyone may be prone to getting skin cancer, so let's just reduce the effects of this and aging by using a sunscreen.  A BB Cream like this makes this easy for all of us.  If you are always in a hurry or never have enough time to do your makeup, I would highly recommend using a product such as this. The shade I used was a Medium, which matched my skin wonderfully. Anyways, what I didn't like about this was the consistency of the cream.  It was very thick! Being myself, I hate that feeling of caking my face, so all I used was literally less than a dime sized amount.  Since, I didn't like the consistency of the product, I just added a little bit of my moisturizer to thin it out.  I used my fingers and applied from the inner parts of my face (nose and cheeks) to the outer portions of my face (forehead and chin).  The coverage for this item was quite a bit.  I was expecting a light coverage, but I would say this was a medium coverage.  I finished up with my concealer and pressed powder over my T-Zone. Even better for those people on the run and no time to touch up during the day.  For the most of the day, the product stayed on and didn't melt off my face (I'm only saying this because I was wearing it while doing hot yoga). It did leave a flawless finish and did leave my skin feeling smooth.

Other BB Creams I have looked into:
-Dior HydraLife BB Cream
-Estee Lauder DayWear BB Cream

I hope that helps, if you're searching for BB Creams.  Let me know what you think of this product or any others that are similar.

Fake it- Create Cheekbones!

Hello, hello! I've been asked to write about how to create cheekbones.  Let's admit it, we all don't have some that show.  This is just a quick post, showing how to create a contoured cheek so your face looks leaner, skinnier, and beautiful especially in the summer! In this particular post, I've used NARS Bronzer in Laguna to contour my cheeks.

All you need is a larger brush, such as a blush brush, and a bronzer.  Try using something that is near your skin tone. It should be just a few shades darker than your natural self.  Also make sure, the bronzer isn't too gold or shimmery.  This takes away from the effect of the contouring, making it look more fake, or too much! I'm not a big fan of glitter on the cheeks, so the NARS bronzer is perfect for me.  My look prior to using bronzer is below:

As you can see, I've done the rest of my beauty regiment for today.  My cheeks have only a bit of foundation on them.  Other than that, they're pretty plain jane.  Steps in applying bronzer for contouring:
1) Gently, press your brush into the bronzer.  You don't want to get too much, so just tap any excess powder against your arm.
2) Apply the bronzer, in a line, moving from the bottom/middle ear towards the corner of your lips.
3) I would say put more on if you're going out at night, as it's more difficult to see.  Take it easy in the daytime.  You will still have contoured cheeks with less than more.  It just looks more natural.

After applying bronzer, you can see the definition in my cheek:

See that definition. Even with this picture you can see that- wow Jasmine has a bit of cheek bone. My overall look is below:

My look is very subtle, but like I said, if you're planning to go out, I'd say add some more! Darken those areas and enhance your cheekbones.  Let's fake it and make some cheekbones! Good luck!

A Story About Inner Beauty

The other day, while working at NARS, I was introduced to a new client.  She was a 51 year old bride, getting married in August.  She's been married previously and is a devoted Christian.  I meet a lot of brides, but for some reason yesterday- I felt very compelled to talk about my experience with her.
This woman is a bit on the larger side, and seemed to have very low self-esteem and lacked a confidence. I know there are many women out there like this, and I know every woman has their own insecurities.  While removing her makeup, she warned me about her appearance and continued making remarks of how 'fat' she was.  Honestly, I felt kind of bad and wanted to help her feel better about herself.  Continuing with her makeup consultation, she opened up a lot and told me about her past experience, her dress, fiance, and her wedding.  It was so nice to hear that she'd found love again, especially at an older age.  Even while showing me pictures of her dress, she continued to put her self down about her body.

I finally learned that she had battled cancer! I was shocked!  This woman has gone through so much, even having battled uterine cancer, she didn't believe in herself. It was my mission to make her feel beautiful! It was such a great experience to meet someone so strong and having gone through so much. As our consultation continues, I gave her tips and talked about her beautiful features, such as her eyes. I firmly believe, we should focus on what we love about ourselves, instead of focusing on what we hate about ourselves! We continued talking, and I really got to know her.  She's done well, considering she had lost her hair through chemotherapy.  She looked amazing! She was honestly quite surprised that she had met such a fantastic guy.  She called it a blessing.  Anyways, I told her that I was going to show her makeup at the end of our session. So, she wasn't allowed to look in the mirror the whole time- 1 hour! I know, you're probably thinking- Jasmine, how can you tease someone so much? Well, I wanted to show her how beautiful she could be.  Basically, I wanted to give her a shock factor.

As we approached the end of our session, I handed her the mirror. Wow- her reaction was absolutely flooring. She literally teared up and said, "Jasmine, you've made feel gorgeous.  I have never felt so beautiful.  Thank you so much! I look amazing." Hearing that- I realized I had probably done so much for this woman! I made her feel gorgeous, inside and out. She was so happy that she met me. It made my day.  It's days like this, when I realize, it's really more than just applying makeup. I actually helped this individual feel good about themselves. And essentially, that's why I love doing what I do. I know- I sound corny, but it's completely true!

With telling you all about this story, I would like to share my email address: jasmine.sehra@gmail.com. I want you to nominate yourself, friends, or family members, for a makeover session with me! I will teach and show you techniques to make yourself or another person feel beautiful. If you know anyone who has a hard time realizing how amazing they really are- nominate them! Tell me their story and why you've nominated them! I would love to hear all the stories, good or bad. The person who receives my *FREE SERVICES* will be contacted by email, and we will set up a date and time that works for both myself and this special individual! Unfortunately, this will only be valid for those in the Edmonton area. Don't be shy and share! Can't wait to hear from my readers! Contest will close March 31st, 2012!

Spring Corals

I'm usually one who doesn't go crazy with the lip color, but lately I feel as though I should take the plunge.  I've been experimenting with a lot of corals.  I know- you're probably thinking- Coral, Jasmine really, that's a plunge?  I'm typically one who plays up my eyes and leaves my lips a little subtle or nude.  So for me, it's slow progress.  Although, I have been known to randomly bust out a flash of red lipstick here and there (not my mom's favorite look on me). I thought going coral would look gorgeous with the bold colors and floral prints coming in this season! If you've seen or know me, you'd know I'm quite lame when it comes to color in my wardrobe.  A bold move for me was buying eggplant purple toned pants. I know- I'm LAME. In terms of my Indian clothing- I guess I'm an array of colors. After analyzing my closet, I decided to venture out and attempt to add some color to both my wardrobe and lipsticks.

So I bought some new products from NARS- I love this stuff! The reason being, I find it moisturizing, especially in Alberta's dry climate.  Lip balms are a must have for me, especially in winter! But the weather is gorgeous and so are my lips!

Last week, I purchased 3 new products from NARS Cosmetics:
1) NARS Satin Lipstick in Casablanca- This lipstick has a lustrous shine to it and is the definition of coral. The lipstick itself is $30 and available at Sephora, The Bay, and Holt Renfrew (some locations).  It was "Best Overall Lipstick” 2010 & 2011 InStyle "Best Beauty Buys”. Super moisturizing.
2) NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita- How can I describe this color? Well it's a bit of a dusty rose mixed with a tinge of coral and smidgen of red. So this matte pencil goes on very smooth and doesn't feel dry.  The vitamin E in the product provide nourishment, and the silicons keep this product on. It's also $30 and well worth the purchase.  But you will need a pencil sharpener large enough for this lip pencil! 
3) NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Gold Digger- This a sparkly peach shimmer lip gloss and also $30. NARS Cosmetics actually just released this new line of lip glosses.  Essentially, this lip gloss has an anti-aging component that also plumps.  I'm cursed with itty bitty little lips, so I definitely need something extra for a larger pucker!

I applied the velvet matte lip pencil first, then the lipstick and lastly, just a bit of the gloss.  Those are the 3 products I've used to get my coral look! So far, I've heard good things about my lips.  Please comment- let me know if you've used these products or are tempted too. Hope everyone had a Happy St. Patrick's Day and has recovered from the hangovers! The most green I wore was on my nails. I know- LAME! Take care.

For the Shiny Boys!

Guys- this one's for you! A lot of guys have asked me what to do about oily skin? If you look greasy and a little on the shiny side, try using Matte for Men. These products are made with sunscreen and are meant to take care of the seriously shiny forehead, T-Zone, and the scalp (I know, I was shocked when I saw this as well)!  This particular brand also has an anti-aging line for the oldies. For those men with the bold, tough-looking, shiny and bare head- this stuff is great! If you're just like Mr. Clean, try this stuff out. According to the website, "the products are fast-absorbing and non-greasy."  For some reason, I fell that men get more shiny than women do.  I know guys tend to keep their skin regiment a secret.  Don't worry- just because you're looking at this post- it does not mean you are any less of man. 

The Sephora website concludes, "Matte For Men Complete Head Care Lotion is the first product to combine the three most important benefits that men want in a lotion: sun protection (SPF 25), superior moisture delivery, and oil and shine control."  The products and line can be purchased at Sephora stores or online. The price of this shine reducing product is only a mere $30. Yahhh! Fantastic for an active and sweaty individual.

Let me know what you think?  Has anyone tried these product before? Thanks for watching out for your shiny self! Play and tell....

Simply Vera

The infamous wedding dress creator has put away her sewing machine and is coming out with a new makeup line, April 2012.  She's a 65 year old designer, and has yet to get out of the realm of beauty and fashion.  Her new makeup line will be alongside her affordable clothing line, Simply Vera, at Kohl's. According to US Weekly, "Like fashion, makeup is also transformational," Wang said in a statement. "I love its artistry to accentuate, enhance or create a mood for any time of day or occasion."  Her new cosmetics line is starting off with 16 products, including concealers, eye shadows, eyelash serum, and lipsticks.  Prices for the products will range from $16.50 to $39.50. 

"Vera's approach to beauty is very much in line with her approach and aesthetics in fashion. It's about enhancing a woman's natural beauty by creating a perfect skin canvas, and then allowing the woman to express her personality and embellish through color," Veronique Gabai-Pinsky, global brand president of Aramis and Designer Fragrances, BeautyBank and IdeaBank at Lauder.  Products from the line are meant to enhance one's natural beauty, by protecting the skin and adding a hint of color.

Vera Wang, the 65 year old designer isn't stopping yet. She continues to strive and succeed in the realm of beauty and fashion.  We may not be able to afford her gorgeous wedding dresses (at least I can't), but we can always try her makeup line.  Unfortunately, it will only be sold in the US :(

Let's go High Definition-HD!

Within the industry, I've heard numerous and wonderful remarks about the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation. Being my curious self, I went to Sephora  and bought the HD Complexion Starter Kit, which comes with a color matched foundation for you.  I was quite curious about the product and decided to go for it. The Starter Kit itself was $89.99 and the HD Invisible Cover Foundation is $46.00 (if purchased on its own). The Starter kit includes: HD Microperfecting Primer, HD Invisible Cover Foundation, HD Microfinish Powder, and HD Kabuki brush.

After following my normal face cleansing, and moisturizing regimen, I went on to put on the HD Microperfecting Primer. Initially, this product didn't seem any different in texture from other primers I've tried out. Moving on to the next part, I put one squirt of the foundation (shade-153) on my hand. It was literally a dime size amount of foundation.  Initially, I used my fingers to disperse the foundation on to different areas of my face (usually- cheek, nose, forehead, and chin). Then I just fix it up with a foundation brush.  Honestly, this foundation went on smoothly and didn't make my face feel caked on at all. I'm not a fan of a think layer of foundation, so I was quite content with the amount of coverage I got for the liquid consistency of the product. It seems like a medium to full coverage foundation, depending on how much you use.

At this point, my skin literally felt like silk. No jokes! After being greatly excited about the results of using these two products, I move on to the HD Microfinishing powder.  I thought this powder may make my complexion look lighter, due to the white pigment of the powder.  I used my Kabuki brush and brushed this finishing powder all over my face. First off, the brush alone felt like heaven.  The bristles were ridiculously smooth.  It felt like a cashmere scarf was caressing my face. Secondly, the HD Microfinishing Powder completely added to the softness of my face, and didn't make me look like a ghost. I know I sound like I need a support group for this product. But, one downfall I did find, was the fact that I had a few dry patches here and there- meaning my nose and chin.  I have brutally dry skin, that worsens in the winter, and this foundation is probably better for me during the summer.

I know I look like the biggest geek- but at least my skin looks flawless!

 Overall reaction: I would definitely recommend these products. I'd like to use this on future clients because of the flawless look created, as well as the compatibility with photography and videoing.  Definitely a must for a bride, who wants to look amazing in her videos/photos. Like always, let me know if you've used the products and what you thought of them? Please don't hesitate to comment on the page. Thanks!

Dark Circles and Baggy Eyes- Instant Solution

I recently discovered this product and had to write about it! I think it's unreal. It's called the Shiseido Pure Retinol Instant Treatment Eye Mask. No joke of a lie- you put this 'mini mask' under and around your eyes for 15 minutes and it works with the collagen in your skin to INSTANTLY reduce puffiness and the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. So one of the wonderful ladies at The Bay, showed me these fantastic products for use in my makeup kit. She said it was great for dealing with 'hangovers' or for someone who needs to fix up the crow's feet around the eyes ASAP. I definitely did not believe her until I tried it out. No joke- it was refreshing and definitely helped the puffy tired eyes. I know I don't have wrinkles- thank God- but just the rejuvenating sensation of this product was amazing.

It honestly goes back to what I was talking about in my Age-Fighting Retinol blog, with the immediate effects of retinol on the skin. Definitely something I think everyone should try out, if they have a brutal under eye area.

According to the Shiseido website, "the original Pure Liquid Retinol Delivery System, penetrates skin rapidly and helps combat wrinkles, dark circles, dryness, and loss of resilience. It helps minimize uneven texture, fine lines, and crow's feet in just 15 minutes for a look that is visibly younger and smooth as silk. Contains Hydroxyproline, a high-technology amino acid that parallels skin's own natural building blocks and helps natural collagen production."

Although it is pricey, costing $68, for a box of 12 packets (2 pieces in each), I would recommend this to people who need a quick 'fix-me-up' and no time to sleep. Honestly, I'd probably use this if a) had an event to go and looked like death that day, or b) needed help with aging (not yet at least). Try it out, and let me know if you've tried other products like this on the market.

Age-Fighting Retinol

Lately, I've been seeing many retinol products out there. Retinol is actually a form of vitamin A, essential to the skin. Many products such as Philosophy's Help Me-Retinol Night Cream, have been introduced and are becoming more popular in the realm of anti-aging skincare.

Initially, retinol was introduced as an acne fighter years ago, but is now seen to have numerous benefits. These are listed on beauty product labels as retinyl acetate, retinyl linoleate, retinyl palmitate and retinyl proprionate in the ingredients. Retinoic acid (also called tretinoin) is a potent derivative of vitamin A, and is used in most acne medications. To make things plain and simple, listed below are the effects of retinol on the skin:

1) Fades sun-induced sun spots.
2) Help release collagen in the skin, plumping out wrinkles and eventually making the skin appear more youthful than it is.
3) Safeguards the skin from potential enzymes (released during sun exposure) that may breakdown the collagen.
4) Smooths out the skin and makes it feel softer.

Most cosmetic moisturizers use very little of the retinol derivatives, as they are very potent. Initially using a product with retinol, may cause some irritation to the skin, as well as dryness. This is completely normal.  It takes time for the retinol to kick in, usually taking about 2 to 6 months to see a noticeable difference. It is very important to continue using the retinol products, otherwise sun spots and wrinkles will reappear.

Most night creams use retinol, as vitamin A does not react well with the sun.  Many women in their 40s and 50s tend to use such creams, but you can literally start using retinol creams at any age.  If you're like me in your mid-20s, then I say there's no harm in starting the anti-aging process early.  I don't know about you guys but I'm terrified of getting wrinkles. I'll do anything to help the aging process. Here are numerous links of different retinol creams that are available on the market:

- LiftActiv Retinol HA
-Dermaglow NuVectin
-RoC Wrinkle Correxion
-La Roche-Posay Redermic
-Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv

I personally haven't used any of these creams, but eventually will try some out. Please share whether you have tried or are currently using retinol products. What are your concerns with this ingredient?