Go for the Glow - a four-part primer for luminous skin

Part 1
I have not always loved my skin. When I was younger I wanted it tanner, then paler. I was always searching for something to mask the redness in my skin. One day, a woman said to me "Aren't you lucky you have a pink complexion - you don't need to wear blush." And there it is. Often the things we hate about our bodies, hair, skin are the very things others covet. While I never found the right product for masking redness, I did learn the way to make the most of the skin I have.
Women have been asking me to reveal how to get their skin radiant. So I am gonna break it down into four parts: cleanse, exfoliate, moisturize and makeup.

The first and second steps can be combined into one, but this gets tricky sometimes as what is good for exfoliating is not safe for the eye area. So, you are going to need a good cleanser for getting rid of dirt and makeup. You can incorporate exfoliation at this point with a damp washcloth. I like Purity by Philosophy, $25 from QVC and Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Ageless Exfoliating cleanser, about $10 at drugstores. Burt's Bees has a nice cleanser which is also cruelty free, Radiance Cleanser $10 at Wegmans. It has jojoba beads and fruit acids for exfoliation. The only problem I have with Burt's Bees it can sometimes be too oily, so be careful if that is an issue for you. If you are a soap girl, try Pears, the world's oldest soap. I get it from the dollar store. It used to be made in England, but now is made under license in India. I love it because it is hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic (won't block pores), and it reminds me of my grandparents in England. I keep a bar in my shower and at the sink.
Remove eye makeup with a gentle makeup remover, wet your face and then apply the cleanser all over - rubbing it into your skin with circular movements, rinse well and pat dry. You will then be ready to exfoliate further or apply moisturizer.

Next time - dead, dull skin be gone!

Black magic

Big, thick, long lashes make eyes look brighter, bigger and sexier, but few are born with them. Most of us look for a wand dipped in black magic and hope it thickens eyelashes without globs and clumps.
I have long given up on my quest of finding the perfect mascara. As far as I'm concerned mascara needs to 1. make my lashes thicker and darker; 2. not clump, and 3. work the same half way down the tube as it did fresh from the package.
I have tried many mascaras and I have no real loyalty to any. However there are two I like right now a lot better than the rest.

Benefit's Bad Gal Lash, $19 at sephora.com, has a big brush which thickens my lashes and never clumps. Mally Beauty Volumizing Mascara, $20 at QVC.com, fulfills my criteria for a good mascara. My tube is almost empty and it coats my lashes as well as it did when I first opened it. A post about mascara would not be complete without a mention of Maybelline's Great Lash which runs about $5 at drugstores and does the job without any fireworks. This iconic mascara always gets readers' choice awards in beauty mags.
I always curl my lashes and then apply two coats to my top lashes only. I move the wand sideways at the base and pull it up to the tips. If I'm going out I apply an extra bit on the lashes at the outer corner, and ta da - my eyes look bigger and more awake, just like magic.

Product Junkie

I am a self-proclaimed product junkie. From the packaging to what's inside I love products for the body, hair and face. And don't get me started about makeup. I am blogging to help people find the best products without having to spend thousands of dollars trying.

While I have a lot of knowledge, keep in mind that what worked for me may not work for you.

Go forth and be beautiful!

Things I can't live without

I used to play a game with my coworkers at Aveda when I worked there. The game was what high-priced Aveda items can I not live without when I no longer work here and no longer get the amazing discount.

So, I no longer work there and I have discovered that although I love everything Aveda, there are a few things that I am willing to splurge on despite the lack of a discount because I have not found anything that works better.

I really can't use anything but Aveda's Color Conserve Shampoo and Conditioner. I have very fine hair which I color frequently and no other conditioner detangles, moisturizes and protects like Color Conserve. If you know Aveda, then you are familiar with their fair trade, plant-based products. I also can never go back to other scents. Color Conserve has lavender, peppermint and ylang ylang. The 8.5 ounce bottle of shampoo is $15 and the 6.7 ounce conditioner also retails at $15.


I am a big fan of exfoliation and have tried many body scrubs. Either they smell too artificial, don't exfoliate enough or are too oily. Caribbean Therapy Body Scrub is made with salt, cane sugar, coconut and passionfruit oils.  I use my mango wood spoon to stir the juicy concoction, take a big spoonful and rub it all over. There is no need to moisturize after. Nothing leaves my skin softer. 15.8 ounces sell for $39.50. All available at Aveda.com.

There are a few more items I can't live without, but I'll save that for another day.