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How to Organize Your Makeup the Marie Kondo Way

   Makeup  Jan 19, 2020  Comments Off on How to Organize Your Makeup the Marie Kondo Way
How to Organize Your Makeup the Marie Kondo Way

There are proper ways to organize all of your makeup?

You normally just have everything in a large makeup bag and reach in and grab what you want that day. Then you have on-the-go makeup that you store in your purse. What’s wrong with that?

Nothing at all actually; however, there are ways to organize your makeup that will not only save you time but also preserve the life of certain tools and types of makeup that you own.

Do you remember Marie Kondo? The cheerful Japanese woman from the Netflix series Tidying Up With Marie Kondo has her own method (KonMarie Method) of simplifying and organizing others’ lives…and she’s VERY wonderful at what she does.

Marie Kondo can help others organize just about anything in their life, from a simple jewelry box to an entire basement. If it’s messy, she can organize it. If it’s cluttered, she can simplify it. If it’s borderline hoarding, she can still help!

Fortunately, the KonMarie Method also has tips and tricks for organizing makeup.

Let’s see what advice she gives to all of us makeup wearers…

COMMIT TO THE PROCESS

To fully Marie Kondo (it’s now a verb!) your makeup bag, you will need to fully commit to the process…because it will be a process. Change is not easy, especially if you were doing what you were doing for a very long time.

PUT ALL OF YOUR MAKEUP IN ONE BIG PILE

Why is this important? Why can’t you just go things section by section or reach in and grab stuff out one by one? Marie Kondo believes you need to visually see how much of something you physically have; it will put things into perspective, like “wow…I have a million lip glosses that I don’t even wear!” Hopefully seeing the mountain of makeup will encourage you even more to get rid of some and simplify your life a little.

OUT WITH THE OLD…AND GROSS…AND EXPIRED

Before you really dig into that pile of makeup and decide what to keep, do yourself a favor first and search for items that may be expired, dried out, or broken. Those can easily be tossed.

DECIDE WHAT BRINGS YOU JOY

“What brings you joy?” is one of Marie Kondo’s famous questions. Now that you have tossed out the grossly expired stuff, you hopefully have less of a mountain to work with and can start deciding what you really want to keep. Pick each piece up one by one and ask yourself, hmmmm…does this Tarte spring palette still bring me joy? If your heart and soul still believe it does, then it’s a keeper! Be honest with yourself, or you’ll end up keeping everything.

IT’S TIME TO ORGANIZE

Kondo suggests organizing makeup by categories and subcategories. Keep your brushes away from other items and stored upright (possibly in a glass jar or cute tin). She also suggests storing all long items (mascaras, concealers, brushes) in clear, plastic cosmetic holders and trays. Then add a pop of color with a candle or two surrounding your area. She believes that the area in which you get ready in the morning should be beautiful and calming. If you have a large makeup caddy, clean it out before you put the makeup back in and make sure it is organized by category.

To this this action, watch the Extreme Makeup Declutter the KonMarie Method video on YouTube.

No matter what your makeup resides in or what it all looks like, there is always room to declutter and clean. If Marie Kondo can tidy literally anything, you definitely can tidy your makeup.

Speaking of makeup brushes, if you are in need of professional makeup application for an event, or even just for a night out on the town, contact Laura Skin Care and book an appointment.

What Vitamin C Can Do For Your Skin

   Skin Care  Jan 08, 2020  Comments Off on What Vitamin C Can Do For Your Skin
What Vitamin C Can Do For Your Skin

When you hear the word vitamin, it typically has a positive connotation. You may think of health, vitality, growth, strength, or youth. Of course, all things need to be taken in moderation and it is wise to follow your doctor’s recommendations; not doing so can have negative consequences–however, a normal amount of Vitamin C is healthy for your body inside and out.

There are various vitamins that are essential for young, healthy, glowing skin and Vitamin C is definitely one of those. This specific vitamin can be taken orally through eating (obviously…) or by taking an actual Vitamin C supplement…and you can use Vitamin C topically on your skin, which has numerous advantages.

Let’s learn about the benefits of using topical Vitamin C and what to look for when purchasing some.

The experts at Dermalogica state that “Topical Vitamin C is one of the most potent antioxidants available – and it lives up to the hype, effectively tackling the primary causes of premature aging to give you brighter, firmer skin.”

If you are looking for something to lighten and brighten your skin with anti-aging and collagen-boosting properties, then Vitamin C is the way to go.

Vitamin C on the skin can actually help in defending it from harmful rays and pollution, which is called photoprotection.

Kim Chang, a medical aesthetician at Baylor College of Medicine, has studied the use of Vitamin C topically. “Studies have shown that using sunscreen with Vitamin C protects the skin from further photo damage caused by ultraviolet rays,” Chang said. “This information is important because most people don’t know that you can protect your skin even further than just sunscreen.”

When you get hurt and are wounded, Vitamin C can help heal the open wound quickly. Inflammation occurs when there is a wound on your body and inflammation depletes the Vitamin C in your body. The experts at WebMD say that Vitamin C “is required for the synthesis of collagen. It is also a highly effective antioxidant protecting cells from damage by free radicals. Studies have shown that the vitamin can help speed the healing process of wounds.”

How do individuals choose the right kind of topical Vitamin C?

When using any product on your skin, you want to be sure to choose one that is known to work and safe for your skin. You don’t want to find a lot of extra ingredients in the product and are going to want to look for a product that has a pH level at 3.5 and a concentration level between 10 and 20 percent. Topical Vitamin C in the most purest form is highly recommended. Chang suggests using a serum above a gel or lotion as it is found to be more effective and include less additives.

Once you do purchase your first bottle, be sure to test out a small portion on your neck or back of hand to make sure you will not have a reaction to the formula; it is unlikely, but some people are sensitive to it.

If you are unsure as to what brand to get or if Vitamin C is even right for your skin, make sure you contact your dermatologist or esthetician, as they can assess your skin and recommend the right products for you.

Actually, you can contact Laura Skin Care right now and book an appointment!

The Benefits of Natural, Cruelty-Free, and Vegan Makeup

   Makeup  Dec 18, 2019  Comments Off on The Benefits of Natural, Cruelty-Free, and Vegan Makeup
The Benefits of Natural, Cruelty-Free, and Vegan Makeup

Not all makeup has the same…makeup. Between the hundreds, if not thousands of cosmetic brands available in the world, there are even more possible ingredients out there, many being harmful chemicals.

Some toxic ingredients, which are often labeled as other that are often used in common makeup products include:

  • Lead
  • Formaldehyde
  • Petroleum
  • Parabens
  • Carbon black
  • Talc
  • Titanium dioxide
  • Preservatives
  • And the list goes on and on

Some of these ingredients listed, among dozens of others, are known to possibly cause adverse health issues, such as cancer or reproductive issues.

If this concerns you or if you are sensitive to common drugstore makeup, there are several different options out there for you; these may work better with your skin type, are more environmentally-friendly, and you don’t have to worry about negative health consequences or harm to animals.

Let’s take a look at three separate types of alternative makeup available: natural, cruelty-free, and vegan

Natural Makeup

Natural cosmetics, unlike the typical kind you will find in stores, is void of any preservatives, artificial colors and fragrances, heavy metals, and fillers. This type of will typically cost more than a drugstore brand, however there are definitely benefits to using higher-quality makeup. Natural makeup is absolutely better for those with sensitive skin and some types are even considered eco-friendly, if you are concerned about the environment as well. Another benefit is that using natural cosmetics is extra good for your skin because of all of the nutrient-rich ingredients; these can help protect and nourish skin, fight free-radicals, and help diminish signs of aging.

Cruelty-Free Makeup

Now who doesn’t love animals? It is pretty easy to forget about our furry friends when we go about our daily makeup-applying routine, but we should all try to think about them more often. To put it plainly and simply without going into the gritty details, the process of testing on animals can be extremely cruel and inhumane. Animal testing is done on a variety of animals, including our friendly pet pals, dogs, cats, and rabbits. When laboratories are finished using the animals in their experiments, they are often euthanized. Many countries have already taken the lead in banning animal testing for cosmetics and other products–they do not see the need due to the literal thousands of alternative brands out there that are cruelty-free. If you are an animal-lover, check out PETA’s cruelty-free product database and see if the products you currently use are on the list.

Vegan Makeup

With loads of vegan options on the rise due to the significant increase in individuals choosing to become vegetarian or vegan, the cosmetic industry has followed suit. Vegan, in this case, refers to makeup that does not have any ingredients that come from animals and it is also cruelty-free; however, vegan does not mean all-natural; these products may still include chemicals and fillers even though the majority of them are relatively natural. Vegan cosmetics are not only wonderful for your health and skin, they are animal and environmentally-friendly. Check out a list of completely vegan makeup products.

Depending on your skin type, personal values, and budget, you are now able to find a wide variety of cosmetics that suit your needs. While traditional department or drug store makeup may be more affordable and convenient, if you hold strong opinions about animals, the environment, or your own health, or have exceptionally sensitive skin, you may want to try out an alternative type of makeup such as a natural, cruelty-free, or vegan brand.

If you are thinking about getting a facial consultation to figure out your skin type and what it needs to look fabulous, visit Laura Skin Care in Petaluma, where Laura and her team will take great care of you.