Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Fall Color Series: Spotlight on Mykonos Blue



As fall rolls on and we're looking to add a bit more color to our wardrobe we have decided to put our Fall Color Series spotlight on Mykonos Blue. This color, inspired by the rich tones and oceans around Greece, is a great way to add a bold and classic pop of color if light and bright accents aren't your thing.

Mykonos Blue works well as a stand-alone color but also compliments darker grays (such as Pantone's Turbulence) and brighter colors (think Pantone's Emerald and Samba). Here are some fun ways to add Mykonos blue to your fall lifestyle:

Home Decor: If you want a big color accent, try painting an old bookshelf or dresser blue (find out how to paint wood here). For a smaller change, spray paint a few picture frames blue or add golden Dahlias to a Mykonos Blue vase (check out this easy vase DIY!)
Fashion: Mykonos Blue is a great color to play with in your wardrobe because it is a great color for all seasons. Our favorite ways to wear it are as a piece of statement jewelry or on a fun, patterned dress.
Makeup: Add a dark blue matte eyeshadow to the crease with a matte nude eyeshadow all over the lid. Pair it with a rosy cheek and nude lip (we recommend our Cinnamon Spice blush and Sandy lip gloss!) for a fun fall look.

Since blue is always a staple in our wardrobe, it's fun to mix it up and pair it with brighter colors. Stay tuned for more from our Fall Color Series!

Our Top Six Tips for Healthy Skin

 

Not only does keeping your skin healthy pave way for a flawless makeup look, it also keeps you (as a whole) healthy. Skin is the largest human organ and is usually the first line of defense when it comes to protecting your body. Small cuts and breaks in the skin can lead to viral infection and the growth of bacteria, and to be frank, unhealthy skin doesn’t make us feel too good both physically and mentally. Listing the benefits of healthy skin would take all day, but aside from keeping you feeling good and looking beautiful, the best benefit is that of good health.

 

I’m sure you know the basics (moisturize, don’t smoke, get enough sleep and drink lots of water!) but here are our tried and true favorites:

  • Wash your hands first, and your face second. Pretty simple to remember, do you really want whatever last touched your hands to touch our face?

  • Smile! Toned muscles always look better than flabby muscles (and believe us, your face has a lot of muscles - 43 to be exact).

  • Eat colorfully. Brightly colored foods (think bell peppers, raspberries and blueberries) contain antioxidants which help fight against wrinkles.

  • Turn down your shower temp! Hot water feels great (especially in the colder weather!) but prolonged exposure to hot temperatures can strip your skin of moisture

  • Oil away! Try adding a few drops of olive oil to your bath for extra skin moisturizing

  • Clean those makeup brushes! We suggest cleaning at least every 2-4 weeks to help stop bacteria and dirt from accumulating

That snow may look pretty, but that cold weather is harsh! Remember that protecting your skin not only makes you look good, but keeps your skin healthy!

 

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

AmazingCosmetics On Set with PAWS Chicago


Talk about a lot of pups! Our AmazingCosmetics makeup artist, Sarah, was on set for the SPLASH Cover Shoot with PAWS Chicago founder, Paula Fasseas, helping her get primed and fabulous. Check out the video to see Paula looking flawless while handling 5 adorable pooches at once!



Monday, November 11, 2013

Living it "old school"

 

These days it seems we’ve become obsessed with everyone else’s beauty routine but our own.

I think we’re all hoping that we’ll find out some deep hidden secret as to why “that” girl looks so fantastic. Well sorry to disappoint but that rarely, if ever, happens.

Being in the beauty biz for…well long enough, I’ve learned that new is where it’s at! Products with new names and new ingredients that make new promises are all the rage. Everyone wants the latest and greatest because “new” will surely help us on our quest for smaller pores or firmer skin…or shinier hair…or…..well you get where I’m going with this. But time and time again I’m reminded that “old school” trumps the “newbie.” I’m not saying that there haven’t been breakthrough product innovations over the years in skincare or color cosmetics that have proven themselves winners. What I am saying is the older I get the more I believe that time honored traditions and steadfast beauty rituals are the real deal.

I just read this great article on Refinery 29 How (Exactly) To Look Like A French Girl and just as I suspected it’s not about buying “hope in a jar” but rather finding hope inside of us. Changing our attitude about beauty can literally change the way we look and the way others see us. So listen to your mother and your mother’s mother when you’re searching for beauty rituals that truly work and then… focus on your attitude because what you think is beautiful is.

And if you’re looking to try something “new” * wink wink * try some of my faves…most of which I learned from my European born Mum J.

1 - Oil for your skin and hair - Slather some on and you’ll see what everyone is talking about. Try Caudalie Vinosource Nourishing Concentrate, $44 or Josie Maran Argan Oil, $48

2 - Facial Massage - All those sweet smelling creams, lotions and mists are not the only reason your skin looks radiant after a facial silly! The massaging techniques of a great aesthetician gets the blood pumping on your face, neck and décolletage’ helping to create that “just had a facial” glow.

3 - Don’t wash your hair every day - When I was younger I thought, ”how gross” when my Mom would tell me to skip a day…well not anymore. It helps keep the shine and also prevents breakage. And doesn’t hurt to cut down on getting ready time either!

4 - Petroleum jelly - Dry lips? Dry skin? Dry heels? Dry hands? Should I keep going? Dry anything….good ole Vaseline® not only hydrates the dryness but locks in the moisture too. A good friend of mine who has beautiful skin literally coats her face in it before cold weather outdoor activities like skiing or hiking and I can tell you...it works.

5 - Masks - My mom made one for our hair from mayo and olive oil…and it worked! Masks for the face are gaining ground big time and I just purchased GlamGlow’s exfoliating Mud Mask and after one use I liked what I saw!

~Sandy 

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Before and After Blog Series #1: Chemical Peel


AmazingCosmetics B&A Blog Series! 

We are super excited to introduce our new Before and After blog series! Over the next few weeks we will be posting great examples of how AmazingCosmetics has helped enhance natural beauty and create flawless looks. Our first example shows how AmazingCosmetics came to the rescue after a chemical peel. We know that chemical peels probably aren't a part of your daily routine but we all have problems with rosacea, dry skin and redness! Here's what Sherri had to say about her experience:



The Day After 


Yesterday I went for my very first chemical peel. OUCH! I am not one for pain, but hey, I’ll do anything in the name of beauty.

As you can see from my before photo, the peel left me more than “a little” red. What’s a girl to do?  Well, luckily I have in my bag of tricks Hollywood’s go-to brand for the “flawless face,” AmazingConcealer. What a difference it made!

The AmazingConcealer has always been my favorite and today it did not disappoint! I love my little black tube because no matter what the challenge it always delivers.

 …so after a few aspirin, drinking lots of water and slathering on the aloe I can’t wait to see my new skin revealed!

Sherri

Products used: AmazingCosmetics Anti-Aging Face Primer to moisturize and calm skin, AmazingCosmetics VelvetMineral Liquid Foundation in Medium Golden, AmazingCosmetics AmazingConcealer in Dark Beige, AmazingCosmetics VelvetMineral Pressed Powder Foundation in Medium Golden, and AmazingCosmetics Powderset to finish off the look.