Just because a product is popular and works for a lot of people doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right for you.  For example, I recently used a tester size eye cream all over my face and had a terrible reaction.  Another good reason to get a sample of the product you are thinking of purchasing before you close the deal. This way you don’t pay full price for an item you can’t use.

It seems like products are being produced with more chemicals, botanical’s and God only knows what. So, it’s tough to say that unless you know what to look for on the ingredients list, you may not have a clue what those long scientific ingredient names really stand for. Always, read the ingredient list on anything you use on or put in your body.

To test a product to see if you may have a negative reaction to it, simply place a pea size amount on the skin behind your ear, or on the inside of your elbow. Do this before you go to bed at night. You may also place a bandage over the product  to prevent wiping it off and for optimal test results.

These tests may seem a bit extreme to some, so you can keep them for products used on the face or hair.  Believe me, if you have had any type of sensitivity in the past or a reaction, you won’t want to skip the patch test.

Your Feet:

The other day I was at the nail salon and the girl next to me had some wrongfully long-a** toenails. Now, there is no good explanation for this as far as I am concerned. I don’t care if you can’t get into the salon/spa to get a pedicure on a regular basis, clip your toenails girl!  It didn’t even stop there, she even claimed to have “crusty calluses” on the bottom of her feet.

Since this blog is based on beauty tips I’m going to direct those out there who had no clue about a certain section at the drug store. The personal care, or beauty isle. Here you can find, toe nail clippers, pumice stones, nail files, and even cream specifically geared to smoothing the rough skin on your feet.

Our feet literally carry everything on them. Like anything else, they need maintenance. What would we do if we neglected them and they suddenly couldn’t perform the everyday duties we rely on so much? Especially since it’s sandal season,  I’m going to share a few pointers of what I do in between pedicures to maintain soft and gorgeous feet.

1. In shower pumice stone or pumice file.

Use it on the bottoms of your feet to keep dead skin from becoming calluses.

2. baby-oil.

Straight out of the shower it locks in moisture to keep feet soft.

3. Foot Cream – one that is specifically geared towared keeping calluses at bay.

I apply mine at night and place socks over my feet so it soaks in all night.

4. Clippers & Nail file.

If you can’t get in to have someone else keep your nails in shape, keep them trimmed at home. There is no excuse for talons as toenails.

Everyone has a few staples in their beauty routine that they can’t live without. Here are Brookemoinet.com’s, favorite thing’s.

1. Aveda Body Wash in Shampure or Energizing scent.

“The natural scents from Aveda wake me up inside. Their body wash is a pure and refreshing way to start the day!”

2. Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo -

“I like to use this on more than just Sunday to help fade my color after I just have it done.   Helps my colored hair look more natural.”

3. La Roche Posay- Biomedic Micro Exfoliating Scrub-

“The best exfoliating facial scrub out there by a land slide! Every exfoliating cleaser I’ve tried doesn’t come close to the exfoliating power of this product.  It deeply exfoliates without being too harsh on the skin. Like a microdermabrasion at your own sink.”

4. Oral-B Glide Silk Floss-

“Glides through my tight teeth without getting stuck or fraying”

5. Bath and Body Works gentle foaming hand wash-

“Affordably luxurious. Your guests will compliment it every time they use it. Leaves a nice soft scent on hands.”

6. T.N. Dickensons Witch Hazel-

“Great as a post face-wash astringent. I could bathe in this stuff! “

7. Burt’s Bees Chap-stick-

“My lips can’t live without it! I love that it’s natural.  I know it not just creating a barrier over my lips like most chap-sticks out there, it’s also healing and moisturizing them.”

8. Cetaphil Cream-

“Heals the driest skin in an instant. Great for sensitive skin and skin affected by eczema as well. I love slathering it on myhands before I go to sleep. “

9. Pedicure by OPI “Soften”-

“Amazing callus softener with AHA & Green Tea Extract. Apply before bed and wake up with baby soft feet.”

10. Baby Oil-

“For me it’s the best eye makeup remover. It loosens even the toughest, waterproof mascara, or lash glue, or eye paint you may have worn that evening. Plus, you won’t be doing a lot of rubbing with this, which can cause premature aging around the eyes.”

11. Bed Head Masterpiece Hair Spray-

“Smells delicious! Leaves a clean shine, and holds any masterpiece in place. Use a little for a lighter hold, or you can build it up for a stiffer hold.”

So, where am I going with this? I’m going to continue to bless you with the honest knowledge and advice about skincare and beauty, in 2010.

Happy Holidays!

 Congrats, you’re in the know!

 Just as I has suspected it helped smooth any red, bumpy skin I had on my legs or arms, and gasp, dare I say I may think it worked better than KP Duty?.. Also, I think I may be in love with the Vitamin A, and E Eye Treatment, and the pore clearing strips… Not to mention they had a mattifying primer-like product that works as a great base for my make up!

Keep it up Proactive, and spread the love to the rest of your customers. I think they will  be very happy with the new product candy!

That being said, I am so over offering my services and generosity in exchange for the experience to work with unappreciative people.  So, if you are like me and are blessed to pick your ”work”. Pick who you offer your services to wisely, and if you get taken advantage of, don’t do favors for that  person or company again… Thanks for letting me vent.

xoxo

Here is something I love and can’t live without.  GO SMiLE FLASH LiTES, are a must have in your purse/ make-up bag for an evening out, or throughout the day to refresh your smile, and breath. I love them whenever I go out to eat, or have a girls night out and I am drinking red wine. If you are a red wine drinker you know what I am talking about. GO SMiLE FLASH LiTES  erase the purple teeth and save your smile. These are a beauty must have, especially if your girlfriends turn into the paparazzi every time you are out on the town with them.

Here is a quick reminder: If you are using any type of anti-aging skin care that contains any sort of acid or exfoliant, use extra caution when you head out into the sun.

Removing the dead skin cells or rapidly sloughing away your top (protective) layer of skin, by using acids or exfoliants, exposes you to more danger than if you were not using the products at all.  The reason being is your newer and younger skin cells no longer have the extra layer to protect them.  So, the result is even more damage than you had before, if you over expose your fresh skin.

Besides, what’s the point of using anti-agers if you are soaking up the sun anyway?

One way to instantly add glam to your overall look is lashes. There are a few ways you can add lashes to the ones you already have.

1. Strip eyelashes
2. cluster/individual lashes
3. lash extensions

Personally, I like the strip lashes because they are much quicker to apply and I am usually in a hurry.  make sure to measure the stip to your eye before applying, and if it’s too long don’t be afraid to cut it to fit your lash-line.

Clusters, and individual lashes take a little longer and more precision to apply. They aren’t impossible, they just take practice. Be sure to keep the longer, thicker lashes toward the outer corner of the eye, to keep the look as “natural” as possible.

For strip lashes, cluster, and individual you need to also buy glue if your lashes do not come with there own tube. You can buy the glue in clear or black. Also you’ll need a pair of tweezers to help you apply the lashes with more grace. You can also buy a special tool specifically for applying strip eyelashes.This tool looks like a very large and wide pair of tweezers, however, I’d still keep the other tweezers close by.

Lash extensions are individual lashes that are applied professionally and last a few weeks. It’s all the rage in Hollywood, however I would test your eye sensitivity with the more temporary lashes first. I hear lash extensions can be a bit uncomfortable and feel like a perma-wig on top of your eye.

Go for it, glam up those baby blues, or browns and add a little more lash!