Posts Tagged ‘jane iredale’

Ravishing Red Lips: 10 great tips

Red lips seem to be all the rage this season popping up in all of the most fashion-forward magazines around the world! If you’re like me and you never go beyond the barely noticeable pale pinks, but wish you could do the red and just don’t know how, follow this guide for some great tips from the experts:

1. Find the right shade for your skin tone: If you have a cool complexion, choose cooler reds like a true red or a pinkish red. If you have a warm complexion, choose warmer reds with a brown base, like a brick or rusty red

2. If you are unsure about your shade choose a cool, blue-red shade because they are more flattering to most complexions than warm reds with orange tones.

3. Line lips with a lip pencil before applying lipstick to prevent the color from seeping into fine lines or feathering outside the lip line

4. Fill in lips with lip pencil to act as a primer – lipstick will last longer and stay put

5. After you’ve applied your color, blot with a tissue, then re-apply color for more drama

6. If your teeth are not-so-white a warm toned red can make them look yellow, blue-toned reds can make teeth look whiter

7. Keep the rest of your makeup subtle! If you go for a bold lip don’t go for a bold eye or cheek (less is more)

6. If you aren’t quite ready for a full-on red lip, ease into it with a gloss as they can be a bit more sheer

7. Red lips can bring out red imperfections in the skin so be sure to cover  blemishes with a yellow-based concealer

8. Use a lip brush for more control

9. Pair your red lips with a red accessory or a red nail polish

10. Deep reds can make thin lips look smaller so if you are thin-lipped you might want to use a lip plumper to add more volume

Red Lip Essentials:

Jane Iredale Lip Fixation ‘Passion’

Jane Iredale Pure Moist Lip Color ‘Carrie’

Fusion Beauty Lip Fusion XL

Youngblood Mineral Makeup Lip Liner Pencil ‘Truly Red   ‘

We’d love for you to share your thoughts with us about the topic of this blog! Also, as a special offer for just being a follower of our blog enter coupon code BLOG10 for 10% off your next purchase! Also, remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our many contests!

Mineral Makeup: How can you choose the right one??

It seems like all of the makeup lines out there are putting the word ‘mineral’ into their name. As consumers become more ingredient savy and less tolerant of artificial ingredients the demand for mineral makeup goes up. Most traditional makeups contain fillers, artificial scents, artificial dyes, known skin irritants and carcinogens.

Pure mineral makeups don’t contain any of these ingredients and have a natural SPF because the minerals act like little mirrors which reflect UVA and UVB rays. Unlike other SPF creams, lotions, sprays, and foundations they do not need to be re-applied because in pure mineral form they cannot be absorbed into the body.

The question – Is there a difference between the different brands?
The answer – YES! Having the word ‘mineral’ on the label does not mean that it’s pure.

What to look for when shopping for a mineral makeup:

1. Is it 100% pure mineral? If the sales person doesn’t know the answer, it’s probably not.
2. Does it have the SPF level written on the package? SPF must be written on the packaging to be legitimate.
3. Is it in the form of a powder (loose, pressed)? Pure mineral makeup doesn’t come in any other form.

If you are thinking ‘Yeah, but I can’t wear a powder with my dry skin.’ or ‘The powder will accentuate my fine lines.’ you are wrong. It’s not technically a powder because it doesn’t contain talc. In fact it helps to hold moisture in your skin. One of the Spa Girls here has extremely dry, sensitive skin, with spots of Eczema and she uses the Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Minerals Powder Base with SPF 20 everyday! Her skin isn’t dried out at all.

Also, mineral powders should always be set with a hydrating spray which can give a nice hydrated look and blend away the ‘powdery’ look. We recommend Jane Iredale Pom Mist Hydration Spray.

Our favorite pure mineral makeups are:

Eminence Sun Defense Minerals
Jane Iredale: Jane Iredale Amazing Base, Jane Iredale Pure Pressed Base, and Jane Iredale Powder-me SPF

Here is a video of Shirley & Rebekah at our retail store explaining each product featured in today’s blog: :

Tell us about your mineral makeup at the end of this blog. And remember to follow us @spaboutique on Twitter and “Like” our Facebook page! You could be the lucky winner of our June Contest! We are giving out five $50 Gift Coupon Code!

Use the coupon code BLOG5 for $5 off towards your purchase for something special for yourself!(Minimum $40 purchase) Thanks for Following the Spa Girls!

How To Pick a Jane Iredale Foundation

We have a new function on our site called “Ask an Esthetician”. It’s a quick way to ask for specifics regarding skincare. When the question is relevant enough I can use it to start a blog post.

It just so happens that the very first question was a great one and got me thinking about our Jane Iredale line. I’m not going to go into the benefits of mineral makeup up in this post. You can find that info here.

Jane has 4 foundation options, so how do you know which is going to be the best for you?

Let’s go over their strengths:

Pressed Powder:  This is best for those with oily or combination skin. You’re going to get the quickest/easiest application with a matte finish. Use with the Handi brush, swirl it in the pan, tap the handle and apply to the face. You can layer wherever you feel you need more coverage. It can double as a concealer as well if you use a small, stiff, synthetic bristle brush (Camoflage brush). It also has an SPF benefit as long as it’s applied evenly enough.

Loose Powder: This is great for drier or more mature skin . It’s got a little more of a glow and it’s not quite as matte as the pressed. The colors are about a shade or two darker than the pressed. This is because an additive is put into the pressed to keep the cake form and lightens it slightly. I’m not sure why they don’t just rename them. It’s something that comes up at every training session that they’ve still never dealt with.

The application goes as follows: flip the container upside down and tap it a few times, this will put some powder in the lid. Unscrew the top. Dip the sides of the Chisel Brush in to the powder in the lid and press lightly onto the skin then follow with sweeping motions. Most people associate loose powder with mess, but this is really easy to use. You can also use it as concealer with the camoflage brush.

This is my personal favorite but I use it a bit differently. I mix a small amount in with my moisturizer and apply it, then finish with a dusting over top. I find it makes my skin radiant and flawless.

Liquid: This one is probably the most complicated, but well worth the effort. It’s the only one without an SPF but is packed full of anti-oxidants and hydrators. Best for dry and mature skin, there is a very specific way to use it.

• Apply two pumps of the foundation to the tip of a dry Flocked Spnge. Spritz the foundation 3-5 times with a hydrator (D20 or Pom Mist) and then massage into the skin.

The reason for this is the liposome technology. All those suspended beads burst when they are forced through the mesh screen in the pump. Inside those are more “baby liposomes” that deliver fresh antioxidants every time you use it. This is way the product looks a little grainy when it comes out of the tube. The massaging action breaks them and smoothes them onto the skin. You get a beautifully hydrating coverage that will boost any anti-aging skincare routine.

Sunscreen is important though. They can’t formulate it properly with sunscreen ingredients in it, so have chosen to highlight the antioxidant aspect and allow you to choose a different method of UV protection. Either of the other powders will work fine for that.

Dream Tint: The fastest, sheerest coverage.  Choose the one closest to your skin tone, apply and go! Every so often I’ll layer some powder over top. The peach and lilac can be a bit confusing. They aren’t really meant to be worn on their own. They’re meant to even tone or brighten respectively then have a seperate foundationof other Dream Tint over top.

Hopefully that clears up the choice for you! I highly encourage trying each of them at some point before settling on the one that works best with your skin. That being said I’ve not met many oily skin sufferers that really love the liquid. But it’s up to your discretion as a consumer.

What’s your favorite form of foundation?

Spa Boutique Client Talks About Her Skin Care Solutions

This is our first client post! Karen is a great contributor to us, she’s very active on our Facebook page and is always helping improve our site. We’re very excited that she participated and shared her skin care success. If you have skin like hers, hopefully this will help you out!

“Greetings makeup enthusiasts! I am excited to share my personal skin care regime, discoveries and difficulties with you. I love how makeup is a global community.  I am a married mother of two gorgeous daughters. Since their births and my on-going medical issues, I have been battling skin changes (eczema, break-outs, dryness, redness and sensitivity).  I found all the mentioned products through Spa Boutique’s Skin Care Analysis.

To wash my face, I use B. Kamins Bio-Maples Vegetable Skin Cleanser. I love how this product removes dead skin cells, toxins, impurities and my night cleanser effortlessly.  The cleanser rinses off nicely.  I use B.Kamins Matte Moisturizer SPF 15 to moisturize my face. A little goes a long way, but if I need more in the drier areas (cheeks, temples, outer edges of face) than I have play. This moisturizer is so non-greasy! Occasionally I apply B.Kamins Antipruritic Cream.  The antipruritic cream does tingle sometimes after application, but will decrease during product effectiveness.  Before bed, I reuse the vegetable cleanser, pat-dry my face and then apply B.Kamins Bio-Maple Night Cream. I really adore this product. There is no irritating scent. It applies and absorbs quickly. It helps calm my face and I notice the anti-aging agents work.

I prefer to use Jane Iredale products to enhance my natural beauty. Her line is categorized as the skin care makeup.  One way to feel expression is through creativity and Jane Iredale helps make that happen!

My face makes a better canvas when I let my morning moisturizer “settle” upon application.  I use her Handi BrushFlocked Sponge to apply Pure Pressed Minerals Pressed Powder Base With SPF 20 (Ivory). This product is a very excellent makeup multi-tasker.  I will try her Warm Silk color next because I want more coverage. I choose Circle Delete Under Eye Concealer Base (1) before and sometimes after the foundation.  First product I find that soothes while covering imperfections.  I use Pure Pressed Blush (Dubonnet) for my cheeks-a wonderful blending product.  My eye makeup includes: 24-Karat Gold Dust Powders (Gold) (I’ll add the Champagne and Bronze colors soon), PurePressed Eyeshadow Trios (Triple Cognac), PurePressed Eye Shadow (Dawn) & ( Bone), and Mary Kay eyeliner in Steely. I’m still hunting for an alternative to the eyeliner. Please note that you can create eyeliners with most powders.  I extend my collection with Antioxidant Hydration Spray. I spray my face differently-sometimes alone without makeup or moisturizer; sometimes before and after final makeup application. Lastly, I spoil my nails with OPI Nail Envy! and

I have noticed a big difference in my skin since using (May-present) B. Kamins and Jane Iredale. My skin is less itchy, irritated and red. I do have my off-days but they usually correct themselves through religious use of the above-mentioned products.

I close by offering hope to all “lost and frustrated” enthusiasts. Keep in touch with Spa Boutique’s Team.  They can happily, honestly and professionally pamper your skin care and makeup needs.”

-Karen

Thank you so much Karen, you’re one of the reasons why Spa Boutique keeps on growing!

If you would like to contribute to our blog,  let me know in the comment section and I can contact you with how to go about it.

Sensitive Skin: What Are Your Options?

Sensitive skin is a bit of a complicated subject. When doing services, it’s common for almost every client to claim sensitive skin.

In reality, about  62% of women have truly sensitive skin. That’s a pretty big number, but it’s still not everyone. The rest seems to be a combination of people using the wrong product for their skin type, using products improperly, fragrance sensitivity or an outright allergy.

So how do you know if you actually have sensitive skin?

TRULY sensitive skin does not just react to cosmetics. It reacts to life.

Burning, redness, itching and swelling are the characteristics of sensitive skin.  There are 5 common reasons why you could see these symptoms.

1)Sensitive/Reactive: Sudden appearance of local redness and swelling. Anything from a spot on the cheek to a  full blown rash. These can show up randomly during the day. It could be a reaction to anything: laundry detergent, metal, cleanser, touching something, or even tap water. It’s often combined with extremely dry skin. These people very rarely come in for facials as they are actually frightened. They have a lifetime of random hives, rashes and reactions. It’s unfortunate as it’s unlikely they be able to use products designed to brighten skin or provide anti-aging benefits as they are too active. This is not a hard and fast truth though. Sometimes it’s possible to find the exact right formulation that will work with their skin. It’s a joyous occasion when that happens, and they are usually the most grateful clients. Real change and results are possible and wonderful to see. Unfortunately it can involve a lot of trial and error.

2)Sensitized: Not the natural state of the skin, lifestyle choices have made the skin more likely to react. Usually allowing healing or switching products immediately ends this.

• Harsh treatments will cause the skin to be sensitive while it heals: laser peels, microdermabrasion, surgery, medications.
• Using the wrong products for the skin type. People with normal skin and the occasional breakout using products for acne prone skin, using anti-aging products during the teen years or early 20’s, etc. Of course there’s redness and irritation. It’s much too aggressive. Once upon a time I worked for Proactiv. We use to get people coming back furious that their skin was so dry and irritated. A few questions would reveal that they didn’t actually have breakouts before, they were using it “to keep their skin clear”. The product never should have been sold to them in the first place. Do your best to objectively understand your skin type and honor it. Using products designed to treat other skin types will not give you the results you want.
• Using products improperly. Always read the instructions. Products designed to be used 2-3 times a week will not work better if you use them everyday. They will irritate your skin though. If you’re buying them at a spa, an esthetician should be more than happy to help you. They want you to have success. It is not fun to have a disappointed customer come back wanting to return a product.
• Not being used to active ingredients. There are some products out there that are meant to tingle. Some discomfort is common. AHA’s and enzymatic exfoliants will tingle and maybe itch a little. It’s a delicate balance between that and a burning reaction. It should never be unbearable though.

3)Rosacea:This can go undiagnosed for years, there’s no understanding yet for what causes it and the triggers can be many and varied. There are lines out there designed to help calm and soothe it, but there is nothing to cure it. Whereas sensitive skin reactions can be avoided once the allergen is pinpointed, the inflammation and redness of rosacea will always be present.

4)Fragrance: The syptoms can be the same as a skin sensitivity, but can also result in asthma like attacks, nausea and dizziness. They can also show up immediately or 7-10 days later.  When a product is labelled “Fragrance Free” it means that no perfumes have been added. The ingredients used to make the product work may have a scent to them though.  So remember that “fragrance free” and “scent free” are not the same thing. It’s nearly impossible from something to have no smell at all. Unfortunately most spas are not great places for people with fragrance sensitivites.

5)Allergy: Even though sensitive skin could be classified as an allergy, you can be allergic to something specific and not be sensitive to anything else. Professional lines are usually great with allergies and it’s often the only way you are allowed to return a product.  They want a detailed account of the reaction so as to eliminate common allergens.  If they get enough issues with a specific product and are provided enough details, they can reformulate to reduce the amount of reactions. If you want to return a product due to an allergy, it’s extremely helpful to fill out the form as well as you can.

Some things that can cause reactions for people with sensitive skin:

• When using mineral makeups, try and avoid the ingredient Bismuth Oxychloride. If you’ve experienced a reaction with a mineral foundation, this could be the culprit.
• Natural bristle brushes. Goat, boar, squirrel, pony. To test this, lightly use the clean brush on a clean face and see if there’s any reaction. If so, you may want to switch to synthetic brushes.
• Aggressive exfoliants. No crushed pits, or nuts or shells. These wreak havoc on normal skin and can create micro cuts in the skin.
• Retinol and Glycolics. These are fantastic products that can give great results, but are often too much for delicate skin. If you really want to try and AHA, start with Lactic.

Product Guidance:

• Look for gentle, soap free cleansers. Milks and lotions will be gentler as lathering agents (some sulphates) can cause irritation
• Keep your routine simple.  Start with just the basic products (cleanser/toner, moisturizer and maybe an exfoliant) and see how your skin reacts. If skin is non-irritated, consider adding extras that can help with specifics (serums, masks, eye cream).
• Go for the products designed for sensitive skin: they’ll usually say so on the packaging and are commonly fragrance-free

Sensitive skin is  so complex. Share your stories, what are the products that have worked for you? What other ingredients or products have produce reactions?

The product lines that we’ve had a lot of positive feedback for are B Kamins and Phytomer’s Accept/Douceur Marin line. Jane Iredale remains the best mineral makeup line that I’ve come across for sensitive skin.

Visit www.spaboutique.ca for a full selection of fantastic makeup, skin and hair products.