Get Smooth Skin for Summer

As the summer months are approaching quickly everyone wants to get smooth beautiful beach worthy skin. So how do you find the right products to get what you want?

First analyze your skin and determine what really needs attention. Review the questions and solutions best needed for achieving the results you desire. Yes, it’s that easy!

QUESTION: Do you have rough and scaly patches of skin?

SOLUTION: Exfoliate and moisturize. There are several products out on the market that exfoliate the skin and leave you with touchable soft and smooth skin. Your other option is to use a loofah or exfoliating mesh ball. Pour your favorite liquid body gel and rub in circular motion. Remember there is no need to rub hard. The loofah or mesh ball is effective enough without pressure to smooth out rough patches of skin.

QUESTION: Do you have dry areas of skin?

SOLUTION: The type of moisturizer you should use, should be determined by several factors, age, skin type and condition of skin such as sensitive or acneic. After moisturizing choose a thick rich emollient cream to deeply penetrate the top layers of the skin to hydrate and leave the skin dewy. Look for a product that is rich in humectants. Humectants attract water and increase the moisture level in the skin.

QUESTION: Are you concerned with skin protection?

SOLUTION: The best and least expensive protection is clothing. A broad hat that covers your face and especially your ears is a smart choice. Many people forget that ears need protection too as well as the tops of your feet when wearing sandals. The other option is a physical sunscreen or a chemical sunscreen. It may seem complicated but here’s the easy way to understand it. The chemical sunscreen absorbs the UV light and the Physical sunscreen reflects or blocks the UV light. So you probably are thinking, which one do I use? The short answer is to choose one that you are going to wear consistently to ensure at the very least you are protecting your skin. Until my next post about the difference between chemical versus physical sunscreen check out these websites for more information.

http://www.skincancer.org/

http://www.webmd.com/skin-beauty/beauty-sun-care-directory

Photo credit: Africa

5 recommended products for a 5 minute makeup look

5 Fabulous Favorites

Everyone knows, most mornings, especially Mondays can be hectic.  As a makeup artist your first impression with a client may very well be a lasting impression. So I’d like to share with you a piece of simple but savvy advice. Establish a quick morning routine for when you are limited in time. My quick routine involves 5 products in 5 minutes. I limit my choices and focus on my two best features, my eyes and lips. Narrowing my focus to my best attributes ensures that I spend my time applying it carefully. Trying to put a little of all your beauty products on in such a short amount of time, generally ends up in mistakes, smudges and feeling rushed. Or worse showing up to set late, unprepared and unkempt!

It’s always smart to have a beauty routine that can get you out the door and still make you feel great about how you look. First impressions can never be repeated. Those crucial five minutes can help you achieve a polished and pretty look that will hold up for the rest of the day.  Here are my fabulous five favorites and the favorites of the female crew that worked on the UPS shoot with me earlier this week.

Suzette Mariel-Makeup Artist 5 recommended products

La Mer Moisturizer

Peter Thomas Roth- Lashes to Die For The Mascara

Bare Escentuals Mineral makeup

Bare Escentuals Blush

Kiehl’s tinted lip balm

(Actress) Laurie Burke’s 5 recommended products

Mac Foundation Studio Fix

Tarte Blush

Mac Lipliner  or lipgloss

Loreal Eyebrow powder

Mac Eyeshadow/Liner

(Script Supervisor) Mary G.’s 5 recommended products

Arbonne Foundation Face Powder

Eyebrow powder by Origins

Arbonne Lipstick

Sunscreen/Moisturizer

Arbonne Blush

Everyone’s beauty routine is different and usually highlights what most people believe is their best feature. For some people it’s their eyes and for others it’s the lips. It’s a smart move to pay extra attention to the area you believe is your attention getter. Focusing on your best attribute can give you a sense of feeling pulled together even when running late. Share with us your 5 Recommended products for a 5 minute makeup.

Bonus-As a special treat, if you leave a comment with your 5 recommended products AND like my facebook company fan page – Suzette Mariel  AND follow me on twitter @suzette_mariel 5 lucky winners chosen randomly who do all three will receive a special beauty product. Winner will be chosen on June 1st, 2011. Good Luck!