How to Get that Summer Glow!

Everyone looks better with a healthy glow, am I right? Keyword being “Healthy” though, people! Stop baking in the sun and get your glow on with my new favorite Self-Tanner by South Seas! They have so many formulations, so there really is something for everyone! I LOVE using their Tanning Mousse on my body for a deep, natural, island tan. For my face, I use their Tahitian Glow Lotion….this stuff smells amazing and you are instantly transported to a tropical paradise! Seriously, I love this product. You can pick up some for yourself at SouthSeasSkincare.com

My girl, @MorganNorstrand looking flawless in her SouthSeas Self-Tanner!

I was browsing the makeup aisle in my local Walgreens in search of an inexpensive but glamorous bronzer…I found it! Wet & Wild has a great selection of shimmering bronzers for under $5! I grabbed them all and headed to my studio to play.

Normally when applying bronzers, I like to leave the “Diamond” of the face untouched by bronzers, but with this look I applied the bronzers to the nose as well as inner apples of the cheeks…be sure to watch the video…since this is tricky to explain in words. haha

Let me know if you have any questions! Thanks for being here!

xoxo,

Missy

Summer Beauty Must-Haves

Summer Beauty Must-Haves

Summer Beauty Must-Haves on KUTV’s Fresh Living

I think I can speak for all of us when I say, thank goodness it’s FINALLY Summer! With the temperatures rising…so do our moods. Sunshine is good for the soul! But before we head out to enjoy the much anticipated rays…here are some of my top picks to add to your Summer Beauty Rituals!

First up is my go-to solution for the perfect streak-less glowing tan: South Seas has multiple options when it comes to their fabulous formulations of self-tanners. Their “Hottest” item is by far is their Sea Foam Tanning Mousse. It’s super easy-to-use and when applied with their Bronzing Mitt, you get a streak-free finish that smells amazing! I have used my fair share of tanning products over the years, and have had some not so great looking tans, not to mention the obvious “I’m wearing a self-tanner” smell that seems to enter the room before I do! Thanks to South Seas, I no longer have those issues…and guys, the scent their formula’s have is seriously amazing. You’ll want to apply it everyday just so you can smell like you’re on a Beach Vacay in the islands! Their Sea Foam Mousse is a steal at just $24, and you can pick it up at SouthSeasSkincare.com

SouthSeasSkincare.com

Next up is a no-brainer when it comes to Summer Beauty Must-Haves: Waterproof Eyeliner & Mascara! Maybelline has launched their new Falsies Lash Lift Hydrofuge Mascara and at only $8.99 at Target.com you should definitely add it to your Makeup Bag! This mascara has fibers in it that allow you to build up your lashes to insane lengths! Apply multiple layers and don’t let it dry between coats…you want to maintain a clump-free lifted lash look!

When it comes to eyeliner, I’m a sucker for anything in a pen. It seriously makes application so quick and easy and with the Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner in Waterproof…you’ll have that gorgeous winged liner even after a dunk in the pool! At just $6.99 do you even need to think about it? Get it now at Target.com

The perfect duo for Summertime

This last item makes me giddy like a 13 year old! It’s the Limited Edition Chi x Barbie Collection! Yes, that’s right pink lovers…Barbie and Chi have come together to give us the trusted hair brand’s favorite styling tools…now in Barbie Dream Pink! EEK! Can you stand the cuteness? Not only did they release the Hot Flat Iron and Curling Iron in the iconic Barbie pink, but for a limited time your favorite CHI hair styling products come in the pink packaging as well! Now we can live like Barbie all summer long with great hair! Available at Ulta.com

Limited Edition Chi x Barbie Collection

Well there you have it, my friends! My Summer Beauty Must-Haves! I hope you enjoy these great products! Have a great Summer!

xoxo,

Missy

Teen/Tween Beauty

Teen Beauty Segment on CBS Affiliate, Fresh Living.

First off, let me just congratulate you mom’s out there that are raising teens! What a difficult age, am I right? It’s like terrible two’s but you can’t pick them up and put them in time-out anymore! Plus, not only are their attitudes getting worse, but their skin is too! Thanks to the teenage raging hormones! UGH! I hated my teen years because the havoc my hormones played on my skin was a nightmare!

I knew when I had kids that I wanted to protect them from those harsh years of acne, and bullying! Sooo…we taught our daughters when they were young about the importance of cleansing, toning, and moisturizing ones’ face. It became part of their daily routine, just like brushing their teeth…and it has paid off!

Even though they were establishing good habits and keeping their skin clean, when those hormones went haywire…they started getting pimples…everywhere! We tried a lot of different products and brands and finally found the solution that worked for them.

Prana SpaCeuticals created a teen Acne line called, “BanAcne”. It’s formulated using banana extracts and oils to help rid the skin of infectious bacteria and create a healthy foundation that is protected from breakouts. It’s been life changing for my girls! The formula is gentle and safe for their young skin and it actually works! Hallelujah!

Prana SpaCeuticals BanAcne System – $73.00
SAVE 20% Using CODE #Alonetogether

There are a lot of great products from Prana SpaCeuticals that I love for myself as well! Be sure to check out their entire line at PranaSpaCeuticals.com (My personal favorites are their hydration masques, my skin feels quenched and supple which is difficult to do when living in the high desert) Bravo!

Skincare, Masks & Hand Sanitizer from Prana SpaCeuticals

Next up, let’s talk oily teenage hair! Gross! I don’t know how it can get so bad in only 24 hours! These girls wash their hair everyday and still somehow end up oily some days. Thank goodness we found COLAB Dry Shampoo!

COLAB is a multi award-winning dry shampoo that’s suitable for all hair types, colors and textures.

Their incredible formula effectively absorbs oil and instantly refreshes roots with an invisible, lightweight finish. Yes, I can even use it on my dark hair!

Hair feels clean, soft and beautifully fragranced in an instant.

What’s more, COLAB is totally vegan friendly, comes in a range of incredible fashion-forward fragrances and has been created by a team of beauty industry experts.

What more can I say? It’s everything you want from a dry shampoo and more…because it’s only $5.49 at Target, Wal-Mart and Rite-Aid. Uhhhmazing!

COLAB Dry Shampoo $5.49 at Target.com

As a professional Makeup Artist, my daughters have been around glitter, glitz and glam their whole lives! So much so, that I thought they wouldn’t have an interest in makeup until they were much older….to my surprise they started asking when they could wear certain things like Mascara, or Lip gloss when they were around 10-11.

I never wanted them to feel they couldn’t wear makeup. (That backfired on my parents when I was teen…because I “couldn’t” wear it, only made me want to wear A LOT of it even more!) So..I’ve let my daughter’s slowly transition into wearing tinted chapsticks, or colored mascara’s.

Now that my Lillybug is almost 13, she’s been experimenting with eyeshadows and blushes….but thankfully she is still perceptive to what Mom has to say about properly applying it at her age. She can wear pretty much any color of the rainbow and it still looks age-appropriate because she knows HOW to wear it.

One of my biggest concerns about raising daughters in this delusional world of “Beauty” is that they will lose sight of themselves by trying to conform to someone else’s idea of beauty. I think as Mom’s we need to set examples of self-love and sharing positive vibes with our offspring.

I was delighted to find RealHer Makeup. A brand that stands for something amazing! Check out their Mission Statement…it says it all!

“We are a high quality, CERTIFIED CRUELTY-FREE and PARABEN FREE makeup brand featuring empowering and inspiring affirmations on our product. Our mission is to inspire and bring out the best in every individual, to know their worth, to feel proud of their individuality, to love each and every one of their flaws, and to not fear who they really are. Each of our products come with a self-affirmation to remind us everyday that we are enough.”

Boom! Need I say more? Well, I will, because I never know when to stop talking! haha As a professional Makeup Artist my level of standard for cosmetics is ridiculously high. I was over-the-moon with the formulations that RealHer Makeup created. So much so, that I can tell you….I USE THEM EVERYDAY!! (insert gasp here)

When I heard about their sister line – Love You First, I knew it would be perfect for my girls. Designed for the younger fashionistas, this line has everything for our girls to feel empowered and look fabulous! My daughters love their eyeshadow palettes as well as the sparkly lipglosses. You can never go wrong when glitter is involved.

RealHer.com

I hope you love these teen-friendly products as much as we do!

xoxo,

Missy

Beauty From Home – (During Self-Isolation)

The lipstick effect is a theory that even in times of economic crisis, women will spend money on lipstick or other beauty products.  Why?  Because it boosts our morale! So to help YOU look and feel your best from home, we have some great, inexpensive, Beauty Products you can have shipped to your door during this “isolation” period.  

First up!  Revlon’s NEW Total Color Hair Color.  This boxed hair color is a completely CLEAN & VEGAN formula, free of ammonia, phalates, silicones, mineral oil, and more.  Not only does it provide 100% Gray Coverage, but it smells amazing!  They have a wide-range of colors to choose from and can be found at all major retailers and online. It’s ONLY $6.98 at Walmart.com and a life-saver for those of us going gray!
Full Product Review & Tutorial Here!

Next up – It’s all about the NAILS!  While unable to get in to see my nail tech, I’ve found that I can easily maintain that “Freshly Manicured” look by applying Color Street’s Nail Polish Strips.  These are super easy-to-use and provide a beautiful finish to your nails.  They even have them for your Toenails!  Prices range from $11-$14 and can be purchased at FingerNailNation.com

Lastly, let’s talk Skincare, particularly FACE Masks!  I am a HUGE fan of Face Masks.  In fact, most nights you’ll find me slathered in some crazy colored mask and scaring my children! haha  In all seriousness, though, face masks can provide an intensive facial treatment that will leave your skin brighter, smoother, and more hydrated.  Yes, please!  Some of my favorite masks can be found online at PureAuraBeauty.com  They offer a wide variety and even carry lip masks and eye masks!  Any chance to add more hydration to my skin, I’m in!  Starting at only $6 YOU too, can enjoy a spa treatment in the comfort of your own home!

Stay safe, healthy & beautiful my friends!

xoxo

Curling Those Lashes

Sometimes we’re so busy with our skincare routine that we forget to lay the right foundations for our makeup! Curling your lashes is one of the often-overlooked steps, which can make a huge difference to your eye makeup. With the classic contraptions used to curl your lashes it might seem a bit intimidating at first, but rest assured, here are some ways to make sure that your lashes get the TLC they need…

Makeup Tips w/Missy – The Deep-Set Eyes

Don’t know whether you have deep-set eyes? Are your eyes sunk into the sockets, or are your lids heavy with a prominent browbone? When you look straight at yourself in the mirror with your eyes open, does your eyelid seem to disappear? You have deep-set eyes.

Apply a light shimmery shadow to your lid from lash line to crease (DON’T GO ABOVE YOUR CREASE!) The light color and the shimmer will bring your lid forward. You don’t want to bring your browbone forward or you’ll really make your eyes look sunken in. Use a matte shadow two shades darker than your skin tone to blend into your crease, keeping the emphasis on the outer corners of the eyes. Draw eyeliner along the upper lash line to just past the outer corner. Keep this line fine so you don’t lose lid space! Or try tight-lining. If applying liner to bottom lash line keep the emphasis on the outer corner coming in only one-third of the way. Now curl those lashes and apply 2-3 coats of mascara!

Glitter Hacks that are Borderline Genius

Glitter is HOT right now, and we wanna nail the look without getting our eyelashes in a twist! Get your glitter on point so you can master the social slay…

Design Queen
Glitter can something be tricky to use – but thankfully glitter kits have come to our rescue! Most of them come with stencils, applicators and glue so that you can create new designs with ease – winning! You can also create your own glitter stamps out of makeup sponges – cut the design you would like out of the sponge and use it to press on perfectly.

Pout it out
The trick is to combine your favorite matte lipstick with a glitter glaze – really, it’s that easy! For a long lasting result, apply a lip liner followed by the matte lip color of your choice. Then, slick on a sparkly lip gloss in the same or, if you’re feeling cheeky, apply a contrasting glitter color. Alternatively, pat on your conventional glitter combined with a lip sealer to make it stay.

Body Beautiful
Turning your finishing spray into a glow spray is a savvy way to shimmer! Simply pour a liberal amount of fine powder, highlighter or shimmer into your finishing spray and shake it up! Spritz over key areas – face, collarbone and legs (if you’re braving no tights!). It takes 30 seconds and no sticky hands –yas!

Take it off!
One reason that really puts people off from using glitter is having to get it all off before bed. Not to despair! Follow these hacks to easily remove the sparkle without losing your own:

  • Dab the area with sellotape to remove most of it without getting it all over your sink
  • Then use an oil cleanser and cotton pad to swipe away the rest
  • Don’t use normal makeup remover – it will actually make it stick even more!

Courtesy BeautyPress.com

Date Night Glamour…All Day!

Whether you and your crush met on a dating app or while jogging in the park, the first date night ought to be special! But sometimes, and especially if the date takes place on a week night, there’s no time to go back home after work, swap clothes and refresh your look. Follow these easy tricks to get ready for an unforgettable night and reveal your most glamorous side.

Prep, Makeup & Hair
To prepare for a glamorous date, make sure you start the night before. For instant soothing and hydrating results use paraben free face, lips and under-eyes masks. They effectively remove any signs of tiredness, puffiness and dryness and create a perfect canvas for the makeup look. This can be done whilst you’re having a soak in the bath, catching up on your favorite series or even cleaning up your home! Before going to bed, spray a few drops of serum with omega, vitamins and essential oils onto a cotton pad and gently apply on the face and neck. Hair masks are another great way to deep condition and give locks some extra shine so you can swish your hair back and forth with pride! It’s best to apply the mask from mid-length to the tips of your hair and leave on for a good 10-15 minutes before rinsing. Some masks are even specially designed to leave in after shampooing so you don’t have to watch the clock! Argan oil is another great way to get some extra shine and just adding a few drops to your hair before blow drying is an additional step that takes just 30 seconds but could get impress your crush the whole night long!

In terms of makeup, the key to date night glamour is to look effortless as if there was no prep at all! What’s the secret to the effortless makeup look? Keep 3 main beauty products in your purse. First one is a lipstick – for fall apply a darker burgundy or plum color. Additionally, don’t forget to line the lips with a lipliner because this will not only help you fill in the lips with the darker pigment but will also preserve the color during dinner when you eat and drink at the date.

The second most important beauty product essential is a good face powder. It can be translucent or pigmented depending on your skin tone. Powder is crucial because after all nobody wants to be oily on their date night! A good substitute for powder is the face blotting papers which help when you have excessively oily skin or if you’ve just had a busy day on the go, and they’re so light you won’t even notice the addition to your handbag!

Finally, another must-have for the date night glamour look is a an on-the-go setting or texture hair spray. Fall weather can be more humid and could sometimes unexpectedly rain, so it’s always a good idea to carry a product that will help you tame your hair and prep it for a night out with your crush. Apply a little amount of texture spray on the hair to create an effortless yet elegant look.

Spa Weekend at Home

Ah, the spa…in theory, it’s a completely relaxing and pampering experience. That is, until you book the appointment, get there, disrobe in front of strangers…you know the drill. Why not transfer your home into a scene of serene, and pamper yourself the way you know how! The good news is that you can bring a version of some luxury spa treatments to your home for a fraction of the cost.

Set the scene
Candles, reed diffusers and essential oils are all ways to make your bathroom look like a sanctuary for shooing away the stress! The right scent can really uplift your mood and make you feel like you’re away on a tropical island. If you’re up for some DIY, having control over mixing your ingredients for treatments means you can play around to see how your skin and hair reacts to various salts, oils, and herbs, which could lead to finding your “miracle” mix. Stay away from any essential oils that are too potent and stimulating (like lemongrass) unless you’re confident in your aromatic blending abilities.

Heat things up
Before jumping into the shower, stash your daily body lotion on top of a radiator or heating vent so it’s warmed up when you rub it on. I tell you, there is nothing better than getting out of a hot shower and rubbing on the heated, soothing lotion. Just be aware that your lotion will get much more liquidy when it’s warm, so it might rush out of its container faster.

Big up the Bath
Whether you’re at the spa or at home, bath time is a great opportunity to lift the aches and pains of your mind, skin, and joints. Bath bombs are a great way to fill your bath with nourishing and moisturizing butters, oils, and additional items. Customize them by adding a tablespoon of your preferred dried flowers and essential oils in overnight or condition with a heat cap if you are pressed for time. Coconut oil also provides shine, and some studies even claim that it helps penetrate the hair to make it stronger. Leave-in intensive masks and oils are another fantastic way to make sure that we get the care we need.

–Courtesy of Beautypress.com