Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Backup to Prep Work

I failed to mention what should happen to your face before you paint anything on it. Prep Work aka Exfoliating. Which, by the way is a frightening word to me. Did you know you could do major damage to your face by doing this? I learned the hard way and only laser treatment fixed it. I'm talking broken capillaries which result in bloody tiny fissure veins on your face. Mine occurred on the fatty part of the cheeks which is where I attacked - um, began with the exfoliator. Any exfoliator that is gritty will do it - so beware!
I still do it, though. I am just smarter. You can exfoliate without the harshness. I prefer to make this a twice weekly step between shampoo and conditioner. I shave, wash, meditate, etc. while it is doing it's thang. Your skin will love you, I promise and you will be rewarded by smooth clear skin.
There are a lot of choices so I am just going to list them. They do have particles in them but they are of a powder constancy rather than a concrete one. I use different ones so that my face doesn't develop an immunity to a certain one.

Happy Makeup!
Preppy Girl

1. My Favorite: YSL Top Secrets Exfoliator. It's magic and I have used it for about 10 years now.

2. Amore Pacific Enzyme Peel - it isn't really a peel but you will feel like you did one anyway.

3. Dermatologica - This one is so mild you can use it daily

Don't forget your MASKS!

1. Peter Thomas Roth Cucumber Mask - OMG - I cannot say enough about this mask  - it is my favorite and I highly recommend it for both a hangover or sunburn and you will be ADDICTED to how it makes your face feel. Nuf said!

2. Chantecaille - Every one of their masks are simply amazing. I use the Healing, Acid and Detox masks.

3. If you have acne, here is your mask!




Thursday, April 4, 2013

Make Your Makeup Pallet

I always find it amusing that my daughter continuously asks me when I'm going to stop wearing so much makeup while every other female I encounter complements me and asks how I do it. I don't go out in public if I can help it without full makeup including eyelashes. My motto is simple. I never know who I might see and we all know that the ONE time I do, I will run into said people. Some of whom I absolutely MUST drive crazy if possible.

This post is the basis of my makeup. It literally takes me at least 45 minutes and usually a full hour to do my face. Every. Day. It's a process. And, I don't believe in paint, so it all has to breathe or else you'll have real skin problems. I'm also highly allergic to some weird ingredient called Quaternium. Basically, this an animal fat that only American manufacturers use. I stay with plant extract products or anything manufactured in Europe, which bans it. Some trial and error so everything's not so crazy expensive. I admit it. I'm a makeup whore with a drawer full of samples. Sephora is my friend. and I go to Neimans for the good stuff

Step 1: CLEAN skin. I start with one of two products. I switch around so my skin doesn't becme immune to one product. At the moment, I start with Omorovicza. I use the Rose Lifting Serum on my forehead and either their Skin Renewal Serum or Illuminating Moisturizer or Radiance Renewal Serum on the rest of my face. I am obsessed with this brand. EVERYTHING works and us amazing. Worth the splurge. It will dry pretty quick and this is followed up by a good moisturizer like Korres Wild Rose Vitamin C cream. In the Summer I tend to go lighter with YSL's Hydra Water Gel. I follow this with Makeup For Ever Pink Primer. This sets all the goodness into your skin and creates a smooth basis for your foundation. LET THIS ALL DRY.

Before I "foundate", I cover. I use Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer. I dab it on one cheek and blend. Covering like a foundation. This stuff will cover anything. Redness, acne, age spots. Poof! I dab a tad under my eyebrows to even out the sallow eye. If I need a pick me up I use Trish McEvoy's Eye Base under my eyes. Repeat for the other side of your face. Make sure to blend down towards the beck and be careful around your hairline. Use fingertips to carefully blend towards the hairline, but not into it.

Now "foundate" again, I flip between two. For brightness and fresh, I use Revlon PhotoReady Mousse. It's light and a little goes a long way. I have it in 3 different colors depending on the illumination I want which varies according to the time of say. A tiny dab on each cheek, chin and forehead and lightly blend. OR, if want to be a little bronzed, I use Omorovicza Bronzer called Sunkiss.

Finally, I set it with loose powder. I like an illuminating powder but makeup companies create and delete his stuff all the time. Right now, I blended Laura Mercier Translucent Powder with Chantecaille Gold Dust Powder. With a big, fat round brush I powder my face. You will want the biggest, fattest brush head you can find. Sadly, the one I use has been dicontinued. I usually just grab one at the local drugstore.

This whole process only takes about 15 minutes. The key is patience to let each step dry before proceeding. But, it's worth it because my makeup doesn't move all day. With the exception of what I call the muzzle. I usually have to redo the area from the bottom of my nose to my chin in an upside down triangle.

Holla if you need any tips. More posts to come. Next up: The Eyes are the Window to Your Soul

Preppy Girl

Friday, February 15, 2013

Two Weeks without Wine, SCREAM!

I am not really sure I will able to follow through with this goal. But, today is day one of my wine less resolve. See, I have a friend who is gorgeous, kind AND tiny. I should hate her. But, she is prone to non-lady-like outbursts like me so, instead, I simply adore her. She is on a fast. A no alcohol fast. Since I only drink wine (and lots of it) I am going to emulate her and try. I plan to take my resolve further and juice. All Day.

I don't have a juicer and have no plans to buy one unless this new attraction becomes a new obsession. They say those things are a bitch to clean. I don't have time to be cleaning out pulp unless I enjoy it. I loaded up yesterday with Naked juice. Googling this tactic produced a lot of negative don't do it advice. Poor Naked Juice Company. I hope to be able to give them a positive review at the end of my almost 10 days. I will pop in and out to  give updates on my favorites and how it's proceeding.

I have a spa getaway planned with two girlfriends. We have an event to plan which is our primary reason for getting together. Charity is a wonderful thing and we hope a lot of people will buy jewels so we can raise a lot of money. So, why not do our planning in a spa? I will be drinking then, so that gives me 10 days to do my juice-no alcohol thing.

I also have a husband who requires food, so that means I will eat at least one meal a day. Not to mention, popcorn on our movie date. So, don't cuss me that I am not doing a complete fast. Hey, it's my first juice experience and I am making it conform to my life.

The plan is simple. Juice, protein shakes or Coffee all day. I cannot live without my coffee so it stays. I might add ice to my juices for a fake milkshake or sorbet. Then at night, only fish, chicken and healthy veggies, which for me means asparagus, brussel sprouts, mushrooms and spinach. Broccoli if that is all I can find in a restaurant. No bread, starch or alcohol. Limited Splenda. I may or may not do a brothy soup if I am desperate.

I have a misguided purpose to this. I need to lose 10 pounds and I need to detox. I also really need to get back on track or my 60 pound weight loss will find me again. Not happening. I like my new clothes AND my new friends. I will try to blog about what happened to both the old friends and the weight. It was a good thing, but I digress.

Can't wait to see if this works or not. I am not even sure if any of my old followers are still out there but that might be another new thing in my life. New Followers.

Wish me luck.

Southern always but embracing a little tree hugging for the next 10 days.
Preppy Girl

Monday, September 21, 2009

These Eyes Still Have It....Apparently!

Marriage tends to make one complacent after awhile. It is a little hard to keep tweaking the same package. So, when unexpectedly, a change is noticed, it adds a lil spark back to the ole fire.

Recently, I overtweezed. You know, going after that one stubborn stray and getting 4-5 good ones in the process. Being the resourceful chick I am, I purchased a Maybelline Easy Define-A-Brow Eyebrow pencil. It was pretty easy to use since I could see EXACTLY where I needed to fill in....I also blended it and matched the other brow....and went on my merry way.

That night, at a rare dinner out. My cute hubby goes "your eyebrows look amazing...what did you do? it looks sexy!" Recovering from the momentary shock, I go - "Hmmm, I haven't done anything different? Maybe a different eye shadow?" and mentally right then and there decided that my mistake will become a permanent fixture in my toolbox.

It just goes to show that maybe I SHOULD take a re look and see what else I can do to enhance some random body part. I keep seeing Valerie Bertinelli on TV touting that THIS could be my season to lose 40 pounds. Well, maybe not. But, It is definitely my season to redecorate...my body that is!

Shag yourself to Walgreens!
Preppy Girl

Friday, July 17, 2009

It's Friday ~ It's Chocolate ~ and It's Free!

Alas, I have accepted that my Summer schedule does not allow me the frivolity of languishing at the computer and blogging. I will have to be content with just accomplishing a few necessities such as email and facebook. I also have the date circled on my calendar whence I will reclaim ME time - Don't get me wrong - I adore my children, but I also adore peace and quiet!
This is where the chocolate comes in. I recently discovered that you can actually receive the blissful stuff via the mail....for free. Yep. Just go to www.realchocolate.com on Fridays. 9 a.m. EST and sign yourself up. Pick your favorite and know that it will be shipping to your box. You can use up to 4 emails per household so recruit your husband and any children you wish to share said chocolate with - Me? I am saving this one all for myself.
Bon Appetit!
Preppy Girl

Monday, July 6, 2009

Sometimes You Just Want To Only Read The Blogs.....

I love Blogs. I have them marked in my Google Reader....and also on my ITouch.....because some blogs NEED to be viewed in full with the pictures accompanying the posts. However, I have clicked off a many a blog because of all the clutter/ads/boxes...They drive me nuts!

I am so happy to have discovered this site. www.baresite.com

This site allows you to type in any web address and it brings it up without all the annoying boxes, ads and clutter that get me into such a tizzy. It only has one drawback and that is the links that are clickable will also only bring up the bare minimum. But, if it is reading you want this is the site for you!

I love it when I find such simple things to make life easier, don't you?

Happy Blog Reading!
Preppy Girl

Sunday, June 21, 2009

It's Always 5:00 Somewhere.....

I tend to purchase more wine glasses than shoes. True. At least once a week, poolside in my backyard, you can find me with the girls enjoying a relaxing glass while the men watch the children. I am not sure when it started, but my glasses are always a conversation piece. More often than not, they go home as a to-go cup. So, I am well known for my glasses. They have to be unique. I don't want someone to be able to say they also bought the same glass last week. Oh, sometimes, I pick up a glass or 2 at Swoozies, but for the most part I scour specialty shops and craft fairs for the fun, the whimsical, and the downright naughty. If I know it's been a bad week, I do have a set than simply has the word "Bitch" painted all over it. You can open almost any cabinet in my house and find a wine glass.
Being a Sunday, you may not can find your own, so grab your paint pens, head to Target and doodle your own. But, for the thrill of expectation, order a fun one today.

Merlot!
Preppy Girl

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this shop on Etsy. ESPECIALLY for the Palmetto Trees I am so fond of!
Of course, the shop name is called Wine Whimsy and of course, she is from South Carolina.

I am so proud of my state for it's whimsical icon. You can adopt it, too - it seems to be a popular thing to do!


I have used this site for years. Eye4Gifts.com Her prices are great and she has every theme imaginable. Not to mention a special featured glass each month. I love these because they are quick shipping!