~H2O+ - Green Tea Antioxidant Face Complex

This moisturizer is recommended for dry or combination skin. When my skin is feeling parched and slightly windburned from the winter temperature extremes of the freezing cold air and the blazing high heat in buildings, this cream is a blessing. The soothing ingredients include Japanese green tea, Paraguay tea (both of which also have antioxidant properties), and the anti-inflammatory properties of algae extracts. Other antioxidant ingredients include vitamins C and E.

The antioxidant face complex has a creamy texture that is non-greasy and leaves my face feeling soft and silky. There is a very light, pleasing green tea scent to the cream, that is not at all overpowering.

Now that winter is creeping up on us and there is a bit of crispness to the evening air, I recommend this product for those readers who live in colder climates. Your skin will thank you.

You can find this and other fine products at http://www.h2oplus.com

More Than a Pretty Face

When working as an esthetician, I often had depression-era women come in for facials, as a gift from their children or grandchildren. Women who had never done anything nice for themselves before. I have been hugged and thanked profusely by women for "changing my life". When I became a makeup artist, I was happy to find a career that made use of my background in art, modeling and skincare. I was thrilled to have a job where I could be paid to be creative. However, I was worried that through leaving the esthetician room, I would no longer be able to provide as much comfort to my clients, that my work would only affect people on a superficial level.

I didn't expect that the makeup artistry would require the same amount of nurturing. Women can be so brutal toward themselves when it comes to their appearance. "I look in the mirror and all I see is ugly" one woman said as she sat in my chair. This poor woman carried around such self-loathing, that she would fiercely deny anything positive about her appearance that her daughter would point out to her. There have been many occasions where I had to interrupt a client to say, "Stop and listen to yourself. Would you allow someone else to say these things about you? Why are you saying them to yourself?"

This last week, a woman approached me. She was frail, and looked exhausted. She had an autoimmune disease, but was on the mend. She asked me for a bit of lipgloss, and her plea was heartbreaking, "I just want to feel pretty again." As much as makeup artists like to say "it's a makeup brush, not a magic wand" when it comes to unrealistic requests, sometimes that makeup brush really is a magic wand in diguise. Sometimes a little lipgloss can make all the difference in the world, transforming a woman who is down on herself to someone who holds her head a little higher. And sometimes the makeup artist is so moved by your gratitude and rediscovered pride that she lets a couple of tears fall in the back room after you leave.

Natural Fabric Freshener

By request from Vanesa, my fellow writer at "Confessions of an All-Purpose Model".


This is far less chemical-laden than Febreeze, and smells better to boot.

This is an old theatre costume-department trick jazzed up a notch.

Equal parts filtered water and cheap vodka with or without clear essential oils to scent. That's it. If you need it stronger, increase the vodka-to-water ratio.

I scented mine with lavender, cedarwood, bergamot, tea tree and a few drops of lemon. It took all of five minutes to make and most of that was looking for some duct-tape to use as a label so I didn't mistake it for toning mist based on the empty bottle I used.

http://www.gentletwist.com

In my wanderings, I came across this little gem of a website. Written by a "fledgling yogi", the posts are filled with gentle humor, touching insight, and breathtaking photography.

This post on Fairy houses is very inspiring. Not far from an apartment I lived in, near the hustle and bustle of a lake in the center of a large city, there was a tiny, quiet bit of magic. A tree on a busy path had a tiny little door at the base. Those hurrying through their day would not see it. But for those taking a gentle stroll, taking note of the world around them, there was a surprise. Behind the door there were notes, by adults and children alike, addressed to "Mr. Little Guy". Alongside these are return messages from Mr Little Guy. At the end of every response are the words "I believe in you". Four little words that hold so much power, so much healing. Suddenly I cannot wait for the snow to clear so I can build little pockets of mystery and imagination in the many wooded areas near my home. What a lovely way to add a touch of magic to someone's walk.

Also inspiring is the post entitled Heart Center. A few years ago, I was in a local metaphysical shop looking for stones to use in my jewelry. I found a lovely little citrine, naturally formed as a heart. It never became an accessory. The simple stone heart was a comfort, a kiss from nature that I carried in the pocket of my skirt. When my grandfather died, my aunt gifted me with some of his possessions, including a palm-sized heart of grey marble. Somewhere I have a heart-shaped worry stone. I once thought of collecting heart-shaped stones for a small altar, and then life became busy and the idea was forgotten in my own hustle and bustle. Wrapped up in the rush of a new career, I almost forgot the lesson of Mr. Little Guy's door, to slow down, enjoy the journey, and keep an eye open for magic. This post has renewed my interest in both the altar and the slowing down and reminded me "Return to heart center. Every time."

Adagio Teas - ingenuiTEA

Anybody who knows me will tell you that I live on herbal teas and fizzy water.

Because of this, I was overjoyed to receive this amazingly clever tea infuser. Honestly, this is one of the handiest products I have ever used, and a convenient way to make sure you keep your water intake high. I can put my loose tea leaves into it, fill it with water, pop it in the microwave and then drain it into my mug without a single leaf escaping. There is a valve on the bottom of the unit that is released when you set it on top of your coffee mug.

As I am quite easily amused, I drank mug after mug of tea after I was gifted with this, simply to watch the valve release and the tea flow into my mug. This is a brilliant product! Go to http://www.adagio.com/teaware/ingenuiTEA_teapot.html?SID=8b and watch the video to see it in action.

It is microwaveable and dishwasher safe.

If you have ever experienced the misery of scrubbing dried-on tea out of a wire-mesh filter, you will love this product. The filter is one of the best on the market, and it comes clean with a simple swipe of a dishrag.

I am actually making a mug of mint and lemon-balm tea in mine right now.

You can find this and more at http://www.adagio.com

Aveda - Botanical Kinetics Exfolient

This liquid exfoliant can be used by all but the most extremely-sensitive skin types, and is gentle enough for daily use.

I get many clients in who have overexfoliated their faces with harsh scrubs at home. I find that for all but the toughest, oiliest skin, liquid exfoliant is often a better choice than a scrub when it comes to facial care.

The salicylic acid in this product gently exfoliates the skin without irritation or abrasion. The skin does not feel tight and it helps to leave skin glowing with a smoother texture as the dead surface cells are cleared away.

Salicylic acid is used in many acne treatments, so this not only helps to reveal the healthy skin beneath surface debris, but can be part of home acne care as well (though Aveda also has an amazing acne line).

The Botanical Kinetics Exfoliant also contains lavender and chamomile to sooth the skin. The scent is fresh and green, both subtle and pleasing. Not at all overpowering, it is a good gender-neutral scent.

I have been using this at home for several months, and I have definitely noticed that my skin's texture and radiance have improved.

You can find this and more at http://www.aveda.com

Smashbox - Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Every artist knows the importance of priming the canvas. In makeup artistry it is just as important. It helps to provide a smooth surface to paint on.

It is for this reason that I use this liquid miracle on my clients. It helps to soften the appearance of fine lines and pore size. Photo Finish is velvety soft and foundation glides smoothly over its surface without getting hung up on little dry patches on the skin. The skin appears to be softer, with a diffused, matte finish. The primer also helps to extend the wear of foundation.

This primer contains vitamins and grapeseed extract, a strong antioxidant.

Photo Finish is perfect for use on special occasions when photos will be taken, as it was designed by photographers for photographers.

It is an indispensable part of my tool-kit.

You can find this and more at http://www.smashbox.com