Posts Tagged ‘mineral makeup’

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!

Top 5 Autumn Beauty Makeover Tips

Thanksgiving has already come and gone, the leaves are changing color and falling from the trees, and Halloween is right around the corner. Summer is definitely long gone, but have you updated your beauty routine yet? Each change of season should signal a change to our hair, makeup, and skincare routines. Here are our top 5 autumn beauty tips to get you fall/winter ready:

1. Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!
Sunny summer days equal sun damage on our skin. Also, the use of non-mineral sunscreens can cause a greasy build up on the skin. Fall is the perfect time to begin an intense exfoliation series such as microdermabrasion or chemical peels to shed all of the dead summer skin cells and reveal a bright, fresh complexion. Don’t have time to go into the dermatologist’s office or spa? No problem, there are various professional intensive exfoliation systems that you can safely use at home (Dermalogica ChromaWhite TRx Powerfoliant is excellent!). Always be sure to ask your esthetician first to ensure that the system is right for your skin type and always follow directions carefully.

2. Boost that Hydration!
One of the biggest skin complaints we get during the fall and winter months is dehydration/dryness. Since serums and masks have the highest concentration of active ingredients use of one or both will give you quick and noticeable results. One of our favorite hydrating masks is the Guinot Moisture-Supplying Radiance Mask which is like a big drink of water for the skin! It may be necessary to switch your moisturizer to a richer, creamier version as well. Another easy way to increase your skin’s moisture level is simply by using a hydrating toner before you apply your moisturizer. Apply your moisturizer while your skin is still damp from the toner so that the moisturizer penetrates easier. If you wear mineral makeup you may also spritz your hydrating toner right over your makeup throughout the day.

3. Change your Makeup Colors and/or textures
Since our skin tone tends to lighten 1 or 2 shades during this time of year we should be sure to adjust our makeup accordingly. Be sure to match your shade to your neck/decollete area. Remember that cosmetics expire so toss your last year’s shade and get a fresh replacement (this is your skin we’re talking about!). If you used a tinted moisturizer during the summer or a light powder, you may like the feel of a creamy liquid foundation now as they tend to be a bit more nourishing. Switch your summer color pallete for a new fall pallete and be sure to use 100% pure mineral makeup (nothing tops Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup)!

4. Don’t Forget your Feet!
We don’t see them so much anymore now that the sandals are out and boots are back in, but that doesn’t mean we should neglect them. Give your toe nails a break from polish to re-hydrate and allow the de-hydration spots (white, dry areas) to grow out. Go in for a natural pedicure to slough off all of the dry skin left over from summer. Instead of polish go for a paraffin wax treatment which will help to seal in moisture and soften skin. Don’t stop applying your foot moisturizer either (remember what your feet looked like when you put your sandals on for the first time this spring!).

5. Last, but not least: Hair
Our hair goes through a lot of stress during summer with sun exposure, chlorinated pools, salt water, sand… and the list goes on. First of all – get a trim to tackle dry, split ends. Our hair needs re-hydration as well just like our skin. Switching to a moisture-boosting shampoo and conditioner as well as the introduction of a deep moisture mask once a week will definitely help. When temperatures dip don’t go out with wet hair as it may freeze then break off. Instead gently towel dry, apply a thermal protection product like KQC Thermal Shine Spray, and blow dry on low-medium heat.

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!

Spa Boutique’s First Store!

It’s been a long time coming, but this past November we finally opened our very first retail store front.

Located at 3630 west 4th in Kitsilano, we have an adorable little space with purple walls and sparkling chandeliers.

We carry a selection of the products that are online (we simply don’ t have space for everything) but it includes our best selling skin care and makeup lines.

Additionally we are one of, if not the only place in Vancouver, that carries select polishes form China Glaze, Essie, Orly, CND and Spa Ritual all in one place.

We offer customizable express facials that are educational in nature and and are a great way to learn how to take care of your skin at home.

They’re a complete steal at $30 for 30 minutes and this also includes a light application of Jane Iredale mineral makeup.

Staffed with estheticians, we are happy to answer your skin care questions and help you achieve your best skin.

Come by and visit us!

Spa Boutique Kitsilano

360 West 4th Ave, Vancouver

604-734-7114

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?