beauty – Page 3 – MUAHbyAlex

Intraceuticals Oxygen Infused Facial

Hi dolls! What an exciting week! Bridal trials, special fx makeup, and spa treatments! My friend Jason from this past season of Face Off called me over to watch him create a new fx character. I’ve been meaning to go to his workshop and learn for a while now, but with both our busy schedules, it seemed impossible. It was so fun! He’s so talented.

Ok ladies…Lets talk beauty! Spa treatments, for most of us, are something of a treat. Anniversaries, Christmas presents, birthday surprises…. —a girls favorite gift. I take my spa days seriously, since most treatments are pricey, I need good technicians that are educated and can perform amazing services. Which is why, my beauties, I can’t wait to tell you about my Oxygen Infused facial at La Tua Bella Beauty bar in Rhinebeck, NY.

Luckily for me, I was invited for a complementary 2 hour infusion service. *Perks of a beauty blogger. I feel like this is exactly what I needed. I am a work-a-holic! Even when I’m not working at the salon or beautifying my clients, I’m still working, whether it’s networking, advertising, prepping for a shoot, cleaning my brushes, emailing back and forth with clients… It never stops. With all that work, comes stress, and with stress comes congested skin crying out for help (no matter how much time I spend at home giving myself homemade facials), an Oxygen Facial was exactly what I needed. Who doesn’t love a bit of pampering? A little pampering goes a long way. Indulging in any beauty treatment, at home or at the spa can give you a feeling of instant glam and a pick me up confidence booster for sure!

La Tua Bella is not your local makeup store, or your idea of a regular spa/salon. This “beauty bar” is a unique blend of affordable services that combine professional salon/style pampering with such a wide range of services and products. I arrived early, sporting my cotton leggings and an off the shoulder, comfy sweater from h&m. I love everything about Rhinebeck, & in my opinion the location of this spa is perfect. In the middle of a cute town I adore. So walking up to La Tua Bella, I’m already in my glory, sipping on hot green tea, wearing my fingerless gloves made by UGGs. Open the door and you are in princess glamy land that is suitable for ANY age. I was welcomed by Megan, the owner, who made me feel right at home. Soft music played as she offered me a beverage and a mini cupcake (which I indulged in after my services). The set up is perfect. A new sink & chair under a canopy, to give you enough privacy for your relaxing blow out. It features a beauty bar (literally) filled with products to test. Megan carries so many of my favorite products including Model In a Bottle setting spray, Benefit makeup products, Hylunia skin care, Somme Institute just to name a few, which are displayed on wooden shelves, and very neatly arranged. There are stylish, yet comfortable chairs, perfectly bright lighting in the main room, followed by low lighting in the spa room, which immediately relaxed me. Everything about this place is pleasing to the eye, and VERY CLEAN!

As I got ready for my Intraceuticals Oxygen Infused facial, I noticed all things were in place. A warm candle-lit room, with a familiar scent that greeted me.. “Chill Pill” one of my favorite lavender essential oils that I actually had with me in my purse. The bed was heated, which was a nice touch. I then embarked upon nearly 2 hours of sheer BLISS. An oasis of calm, came over me and all the stresses of modern life left me. Intracueticals Oxygen Infusion treatment involves a machine that infuses atomized moisturizers and high powered serums onto your skin by using a stream of pressurized oxygen. It hydrates the skin immediately, temporarily diminishes all fine lines and tiny imperfections, while plumping and smoothing the skin’s surface. It’s recommended to receive 6 treatments for optimum results. There are 2 different types to choose from.

Rejuvenate ~ Achieves a youthful glow and visible reduction of fine lines and wrinkles through deep hydration, promotes natural collagen and elastin production for improved skin texture

Opulence ~ Super concentrated vitamin C and natural plant extracts safely and naturally treat hyper-pigmentation with deep hydration. It’s a botanical brightener to reduce hyper pigmentation and lighten dark spots, scars and other imperfections.

The Intraceuticals Infusion Oxygen Facial boasts a long line of celebrity fans including Madonna, Naomi Campbell, Eva Longoria and even Justin Timberlake. It uses hyperbaric oxygen (which is basically pressurized oxygen) along with Hyaluronic Acid to deliver specially formulated serums deep into the skin’s structural layers so skin becomes instantly brighter, firmer and younger. Hmm… An oxygen system that claims to deliver this “miracle treatment” …without needles? Sounds not only weird but also bogus… right? This experience, truly vanished my doubts. This treatment was completely painless, as a matter of fact the cool, tingly, sensation almost tickled. No discomfort, redness or irritation. Megan was even nice enough to even offer me a lip infusion.

When I saw the results, my jaw literally dropped! My face looked visibly and instantly plumper and any tightness that I had on my forehead, cheeks and chin was completely gone. My skin immediately had a gorgeous glow. I didn’t notice much of a difference with my lips, but Megan said if I follow up with 2 to 3 more treatments, I will. Afterwards, my skin was incredibly soft, and still is. I got so many complements on my skin yesterday and today! It was such a lovely experience and something I could get used to every month. Actually, scratch that… EVERY WEEK! I think this would be a nice treat for a best friend, or if your a guy looking to get your girlfriend a gift… this is definitely it! This perk me up treatment was a revelation! I can see why Madonna is so in love with this! She even bought the machine so she can do the treatments at home. Katy Perry gets this treatment before every performance. Eva Longoria even says this is a “necessity before every major event.” Here is a clip from celebrity makeup artist Gina Brooke demonstrating the exact facial treatment I got done. Check it out!

I want to thank Megan at La Tua Bella Beauty bar for making my first oxygen facial such an amazing, pleasant and memorable experience. I am officially loving this product line, and a fan which means I’ll definitely be going back for more. Remember, you can go to any spa for a facial, but not many have Intraceuticals Oxygen Infusion treatments. I recommend this La Tua Bella Beauty Bar 100%. It’s so unique, and perfect for any spa day, ladies night out, or even a young girls birthday party. Actually, a group of young girls were walking in as I was leaving to have a birthday party there! Every now and then everyone deserves a relaxing, pampering day. (even guys)

$165 initial treatment

Series of 6: $800 ($190 savings).

Please check out La Tua Bellas website at http://www.latuabella.com

If you decide to book a service after reading this, please let them know you read this article.

Have you ever tried an Intraceuticals treatment? Want to try it after reading this post? Was my review useful? Please beauties… Do tell!

Disclosure: A treatment was provided for review.

Go for the glow!

Ah November, you are here and creeped up on me way too quickly. I can’t believe I find myself holiday shopping already! I started buying gifts and goodies for my girls. Oh, how I will miss summer dearly but can’t say the beginning of these crisp days and nights excite me. Every year when the weather turns cold, I find myself craving hot baths, hot showers, and of course hot tea. Sure it all sounds fabulous and feels nice, but I’m trying to refrain myself from doing so (besides the tea part!). Let me tell you why. The hot water may feel amazing when it’s cold outside, and a great way for warming you up from this chilly weather, but it is an absolute NIGHTMARE for drying out your body and scalp. I’ve mentioned before in one of my previous posts that I used to suffer from psoriasis. I have to work extra hard to keep myself hydrated to avoid any dryness that can trigger dry skin and psoriasis. Hot water can suck the hydration right out of our bodies, leaving us with dry skin and dandruff. If you absolutely love taking hot showers like me, then here is a few pointers to keep yourself hydrated this winter!

–Exfoliate! Exfoliating helps the skin absorb products better, giving you a smoother appearance. The three most important things you can do for your skin are clean it, moisturize it, and protect it from the sun. Exfoliation helps to deep cleanse your skin, which will help it retain more moisture and look fresher, younger and healthier. If exfoliating at home is just not enough then I definitely recommend having your skin polished at the spa! One of my favorite services to receive would definitely be microdermabrasion. I feel that it really improves skin texture and eliminates discoloration making your skin very even toned. Microdermabrasion also erases fine lines ! You want to make sure you go to a very reputable establishment before receiving this service. Your task should be performed by a licensed esthetician or even a dermatologist. If you suffer from rosacea, I wouldn’t recommend getting Micro because it can leave your skin aggravated and cause redness. The micro process removes the very top layer of your skin, so some people’s skin will turn pink after for a short period of time. ( This doesn’t happen to me ) I like to get this done a couple days before a big event, leaving my skin polished and glowing. DO NOT go into the sun after getting Micro! Your skin will become easily irritated and more susceptible to sunburn. Regular removal of dead skin cells and surface impurities or exfoliation helps prevent excessive thickening of your skin which makes it look pasty and not fresh. EW! For my at home exfoliations I use Ole Hendricksen’s Walnut Complexion Scrub found at Sephora. I also LOVE Karuna’s exfoliating mask, which I use once a week. Use gentle circular strokes when exfoliating and don’t SCRUB or work on any area for too long because it will cause irritation. I exfoliate at home once a week. For your body you can use stronger scrubs and brushes. I use a loofah. I also love sugar scrubs. I exfoliate my body every time I shower and moisturize as soon as I get out so my whole body feels ultra soft.

Getting micro in this photo! I look like a mummy lol

–Moisturize within minutes of stepping out of the shower. People think the best time to hydrate is after your skin is dried off….wrong. The best time to lather on facial moisturizers and body lotions is when your skin is still slightly damp. Your body absorbs the product better and in turn you end up using less product then you normally would!

Simply Bee-utiful Lavender Honey lotion.. All natural.. feels so good !

-For shampoos stick to brands without sulfates. Sulfate is not good for your scalp and very drying. A LOT of shampoos have sulfate. I use Onesta shampoo & Nature’s Gate shampoo which are both natural and sulfate free.

–Argan Oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil and sesame oil is my best kept secrets to smooth, soft skin…especially in the winter months. I mix a few drops into my body lotion, rub into my cuticles and layer on top of my moisturizer for added hydration.

This oil is what I use to shave my legs 🙂

There are many things to love about this time of year.. My birthday 😉 Thanksgiving, Christmas, crisp snowy mornings, holiday parties, festive lights, hot tea and cocoa, ice skating, jingle Ball, fireplaces with a room filled with lit candles, so much.

Jingle Ball’s After party last year with Redfoo

My birthday last year.. dressed as batman lmao

Ghetto fire place … haha we ran out of real fire wood

But unfortunately with these cold months ahead also brings on puffy eyes, headaches, runny noses, etc. So irritating to deal with, and takes a toll on your beauty routine as well. Make sure to take your vitamins, especially Vitamin C during these months, drink herbal teas, and keep warm. But here are some easy tips to help these beauty issues for the winter.

New tea cup 🙂

Puffy eyes? You need a soothing product to give them a quick boost. Bliss has some great eye treatments to help energize for an instant eye lift! Try fresh sliced cucumbers and frozen green tea bags for an at home remedy.

Headache? Try an essential oil to dab on your temples, back of neck and under nose to inhale. I learned this at the spa. They usually do this before a massage. Also, eye pillows help! For an at home remedy drink apple cider vinegar mixed with a glass of water 😉

Dry, Raw nose? Drink water! Also, Saline water is best natural remedy for dry nose. Saline nasal drops are available in pharmacy stores. Inhale steam, all you have to do is boil water in a bowl, once it has started to boil remove the vessel from the stove. Inhale the steam. The moisturizing effect of steam will help to relieve pain and dryness in the nose. It will also open the pores.

Colds and sore throats? Sip on a cocktail of an immune-boosting squeezed lemon juice with warm water, ginger and raw honey (must be raw as this preserves healthful enzymes). Mix together one small tablespoon of raw honey with ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon.

Increase your intake of healthy fats and oils this winter: avocado, coconut oil, olive oil, flaxseeds and oil, chia seeds, nuts, oily fish and fish oil! Ok time to get ready for bed and catch up on my shows. Sorry for posting so late tonight, I had a surprise birthday dinner to attend for my favorite lady, Monica! Here are some photos below… Enjoy 🙂

Another thank you card from one of my gorgeous brides 🙂

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend! Xo

Frankenstorm Sandy

Unfortunately myself and my fellow North Easterners are currently being affected by what has been named “Frankenstorm Sandy.” I honestly didn’t think this whole Frankenstorm was going to be a big deal, but after watching many news reports and hearing heavy winds picking up and banging against my house, I was finally convinced I should run down to Shop Rite for some supplies earlier today. We are prepared and have my house as ready as possible. I’m absolutely addicted to Yankee Candle so I didn’t have to splurge on candles since my house is already filled with fall scents such as pumpkin pie, and apple spice ! If I’m going to be in the dark, it should at least smell good! Unfortunately, I expect power and internet to go out (I’m shocked I’ve lasted this long without power, I’m usually the first to loose it)… so why not do a quick blog post while I sit and wait ? I’ve spent most of my day riding this storm, curled up on my couch in a comfy t-shirt that I’ve stolen from my boyfriend, catching up on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, enjoying an antioxidant mask by Hylunia, loading up on ~~junk food~~ (womp womp) and reading fashion blogs by scented candle light. With all my guilty pleasure snacks all stockpiled and ready to go, I pulled out a few other rainy day essentials to enjoy. My favorite hurricane accessory thus far? Without a doubt, my fuzzy warm socks. I am also keeping my MacBook Air and iPhone plugged in at all times, so if and when the electricity goes out, I’ll still be able to blog and tweet before I loose contact with society. I keep thinking about online shopping but almost too distracted by the news for that. For some reason I keep noticing every store having hurricane sales? Weird. Not sure if thats sick or genius…

My 10am facial appointment booked in Rhinebeck tomorrow morning was obviously post-poned until next week, along with a dinner date with my friends. But I am thankful I haven’t had any water damage (yet, I don’t want to speak too soon) but my heart does go out to every one that is being affected by this disastrous Frankenstorm! Tons of my friends and family in NYC are dealing with crazy floods right now, I’m hearing there is so much damage, and can’t believe my eyes watching the news! Ugh! Sandy is not messing around.

All I can say is that my thoughts are with all of the people that have/are going to be affected by Sandy. Please show your support to them and the aftermath of this awful storm. Although, I suppose Sandy is forcing all of us to spend some extra time with our family, friends and/or loved ones. I must admit this storm put a stop to all of our everyday hustle and bustle and force us to bond and spend time together. Jeeze. Frankenstorm please go away, but in the meantime I guess I will cherish this time to hang with my man and furry babies 😉 Hoping all outdoor animals and strays found shelter and are safe. Also my dad who is stuck working in this severe weather. 😦

Hurricanes are stressful. Sit tight my beauties! If there is no power tomorrow, I will attempt to reorganize my closet…. again.. Ugh! Stay safe !

Eyes Need Special Care

Hello beauties! Thank you for reading 🙂 This week has been crazy, busy and so hectic! It feels amazing to wind down with an exfoliating facial on, and lay on my couch with my furry friends. This week was filled with bridal makeup… Weddings, trials, more weddings, & more trials. I’m now booking bridal makeup for 2013. I am happy to announce that I am soon to be, a featured vendor on The Knot! The knot is an exclusive website that contains everything you need to plan your wedding. Dresses, ideas, photos, vendors, inspirations, etc. I’m currently in the process of setting up my profile, but by next week it should be up. My profile will also be featured on Kleinfeld’s site, which carries the largest selection of beautiful, couture wedding dresses and gowns. I quickly posted Friday morning, of an incredible wedding video which I did makeup for. If you haven’t watched it yet, please do! The video was done beautifully by Moving Pictures. Definitely made me cry both times I watched it. Sniff, sniff.

Here is flowers from Friday’s wedding, perfect for Fall and so pretty! And photo of Saturday’s bride, Lindsay. I love her! Also a photo of Erin, one of my past brides who just got her professional photos back!

I can finally say that I have completed all my weddings for October. I only have a few weddings booked for next month and the following. During the winter months is when I’m really recommending my future brides to set up trials, while I have the open slots and free time available. Because once spring comes, I’m back in full force busy for the wedding season. Seems that everyone is getting engaged! If you are, or know anyone that is please send them my way and have them check out my site if your in the tri-state area 🙂 When wedding season comes to an end, it allows me to pick up jobs doing makeup for runway shows, commercials, events, films and shoots. I have a lot of exciting projects coming up within the next two months, which I can’t wait to share with you when the time comes 🙂 Besides from bridal makeup, I’ve done my fair share of Halloween makeup this month and I’m finding a lot of my clients wanting completely different haircuts and styles for fall! It’s nice to change it up! I’m working on Halloween this year, so I had to celebrate my Halloween last night. I went to Studio square in Long Island city. Music was so good, view was gorgeous, the set up was done great and we got there early to enjoy all the drink specials. Through out the night it got busy but wasn’t too crowded where you can’t breath or move, thank god because I like my space, nothing worse than a room filled with hot, sweaty strangers in costumes dancing and rubbing against you. ugh! Music by Ed Polido & then Miss Jennifer. ❤

Follow me on Instagram @Alexgill !

I decided to be a kitten, since 1. I only had 10 minutes (literally!) to figure out a costume and throwing on old black leggings from Metropark a couple years back and a black tank top were KEY & 2. all my friends and coworkers have been calling me the “cat lady” since I rescued these adorable two little kittens that were living in my yard. I just HAD to take them in, it was getting so cold out and it’s been so rainy, they would crawl up into my car to stay warm from the heat in my engine. What kind of person would I be to deny these cute little creatures a warm, loving home, as they sat outside my windows looking in?! I had to keep them. When we took them to the vet, he said that there was quite and age difference (buddah just over 6 months and banks around 2-3 months) and also informed me that they were not liter mates, and told me how incredibly rare it is for these two stray kittens to find each other, and interact with each other becoming best friends. Once I took them for shots, and brought them inside I had to introduce them to my pup Sonny. He adores them. He’s so gentle with them and I’m pretty positive he thinks he’s the kitten’s mother, which is perfectly okay with me.

Friday night, my good friend Monica and I attended a fundraising event at Marlene Weber Day Spa, in Poughkeepsie. We purchased a $25 ticket which was donated to Miles of Hope and included two complimentary services, along with raffles, food and cocktails. Is that an amazing deal, or what?! Even better, since it goes to such a great cause. Of course for one of my services, I booked a massage, hunching over all day doing makeup is obviously not the best posture for my back. For my second service, I booked an eyebrow grooming with my glamorous friend Stephanie (who has the best brows EVER may I add) If you need your brows waxed and groomed and you live near the Poughkeepsie area, I definitely recommend you going to her. We all know how important our brows are, which frame our faces! Remember thin, is NOT in anymore. This year full, thick brows is what it’s about. So try to grow those brows in and go get them shaped! I wish I took more photos of the event, but I was too busy indulging delicious food, complements of Rossi’s, Brasserie, La Puerta Azul and more. To make the night even better, I won a raffle for a wash, cut & blow-dry and waxing. Oh la la! I never win raffles so I was beyond excited. Marlene Weber Day Spa was also offering 20% off gift cards, and since my birthday is next month, why not treat myself to an early birthday gift?! I purchased an $80 service for $64. Good deal! Over all Beauty Night Out was a success, many donations made to Miles of Hope, I won a raffle, and got to enjoy time with my girlfriends while being pampered!

Fall headband piece perfect for these cold months ahead!

So how do I cut & style multiple clients hair, do makeup trials on my future brides, apply makeup to brides and their full bridal parities, wander off to NYC, attend beauty fundraising events, along with many meetings, dinner dates and errands in between without looking tired, even though I’m BEYOND EXHAUSTED? By taking special care of your eyes of course!

The skin around your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face so it requires special attention! Dark under-eye circles can make young people look old and tired. Womp womp. They can be treated very successfully with prescription topical creams and lasers. But I obviously prefer natural eye care.

~~Puffiness:~~ under eye puffiness can be caused by a variety of reasons including diet, allergies or extra fluid in your system. In the morning to treat puffiness, Splash your face with very cold water. Tap gently around your eyes to help move away fluid in eyes. gently press along your eyebrow and around your eye socket with your middle. Place a cold compress under your eyes for 15 minutes. I like to use cold green tea bags that i keep in the freezer over night or cold cucumber slices. Tannin, which is found in teabags, will lower the swelling and discoloration around the eyes. You need to place two teabags in the fridge overnight to chill them; in the morning, get them damp, and then lie down with them on your eyes. Keep your eyes closed and body still for 10 to 15 minutes each day – you’ll see results immediately 🙂 If you don’t have teabags, use an ice cube wrapped in a cloth. Never put ice directly onto the skin around your eye because it can cause blood vessels to burst, which causes more dark circles and discoloration.

~~Dark circles:~~ The skin under the eyes is so thin that in some people the blood passing through the teeny tiny veins near the surface show through, giving that area a bluish or gray cast aka dark circles. Heredity, fatigue and illness and make under eye circles dark as well. Sleep and concealer is the best options. Make sure you get at least 8 hours of sleep each night. Beauty sleep is NO MYTH! If you want to look good, do everything you can to get a good night’s sleep. And perhaps invest in 100% silk pillowcases. Always use natural eye creams morning and night.

Lush lashes: All your hair, grows in cycles. Eyelashes grow for approximately six months then falls out by a new lash. Never rub your eyes. Even when removing makeup. Be gentle. Before bed, treat your lashes with castor oil or other light oils to keep them clean and conditioned. A friend recommended I try a product called Lash Max which was a conditioner for your eye lashes making them grow longer and healthier. I tried it for about a month and loved it.

Remember to always wear sunglasses in the sun. One of your best beauty tools. It also prevents crow’s feet and eye wrinkles! I like the eye cream by Hylunia and Lilly B. Lily B has a great natural eye cream I adore, which is infused with vitamin K and arnica that helps reduce any puffiness and under eye circles! Lily.B Skincare Multi-Action Rescue Ultra Eye Cream is a great eye cream for those looking to remedy tired, puffy eyes. It’s non-jar packaging makes it an eye cream I highly recommend to anyone!

My favorite under eye concealer is Erase Paste by benefit. which is a concentrated, creamy brightening concealer for eyes and face. Application is key. Use your finger and pat the product from the inside corner of the eye and out to give a smooth, natural coverage. You only need a little because too much concealer can actually bring focus to the under eye area. Always start with an eye cream first to hydrate the eye area before applying concealer so it goes on smoothly and evenly. For extreme under eye darkness, start with a concealer that is pink or peach in color. Pink concealers help to brighten a dark blue or purple under-eye, and peach colored concealers brighten a green or gray under-eye. Don’t use a beige or white concealer, It’s only going to make the darkness look gray. Once you have applied the pink or peach, layer concealer that matches your skin tone on top. Dust the under-eye with a sheer, pale yellow powder to help to set the product and make sure it doesn’t crease.

Okay, time to remove my facial mask off and get my blankets ready to sleep on the couch, with my tea! Everyone be safe during this hurricane sandy storm! Hopefully it doesn’t hit us too hard. Perfect opportunity to stay inside and enjoy “me” time! Xoxo

Laura’s Bridal Video

Just a little something to hold you over until Sunday’s post. This video is the most impressive video I’ve seen documenting a wedding. Moving Pictures created this bridal video for Laura. I did her wedding makeup as you’ll see in the video, and Chelsea Harris did her bridal hair! Her wedding looked so incredibly beautiful. This is definitely a tear jerker, so please have a tissue present! I’ll post this on my bridal page also.. Off to do weddings all weekend ! Enjoy 🙂

Halloween time

Hi 🙂 Thanks for reading! This week has been crazy, busy.. I had bridal trials this week, brides yesterday, halloween makeup applications booked, and more brides today & Sunday! Like I said in my last post, Fall is one of my favorite seasons. It is also my busiest season. I find that my skin becomes more dry during these cooler months, so I find myself spending a little bit more time taking care of my skin in the morning and night than I would in the summer or spring. I recently been experimenting with new product lines. As far as skin care lines, I really love organic and natural products. I know what exactly I’m putting on my skin, and I know it’s not harmful.

I have been using Dr. Alkaitis Organic & Holistic line. It truly works wonders! I talked to them about my job and my blog, & they were willing to send me samples for my guests to try at my blog launch and I’ve been getting great responses. *There is also a sample cleanser in my goodie bag for my October giveaway! “If you can’t eat it, don’t put it on your face” is what Dr. Alkaitis promotes, and I agree!. Health IS the essential foundation of beauty! You can purchase a sample pack online at alkaitis.com and the samples last about 3 weeks. It is very light, containing coconut, jojoba, shea, sesame oil, and other raw, natural ingredients that work wonders on your skin. I used the organic enzyme exfoliating mask and I saw a difference in my skin immediately. I liked how you had to mix the mask your self, taking 2 tsp of the mask mixing it with equal portions of water. It brightened my complexion and helped even out my skin tone. I’ve been using these products every day starting with the cleanser, following with toner, moisturizer and eye cream. At night I’ll add their oil to my moisturizer, so when I wake up my face feels fresh and soft. I should also add that I grew up having psoriasis. Which is when you get very, dry patches all over your skin. Since I’ve been using natural products, my skin really has improved almost 100%. (also eating clean and drinking lots of water!) So if you suffer from this, I can relate! And definitely recommend trying out this line!

I also tried out an exfoliating mask from Karuna. OMG! I will continue to use this mask once a week. Karuna masks comes in a packet, it’s a all-natural fiber cloth which helps retain moisture. Your supposed to leave the mask on for 10-20 minutes, but I left my mask on for a solid 30 minutes. Once you remove the mask, their is no need to rinse off your face. Karuna is a line of “convenience”, one-step, no rise product. It felt a bit slimy afterwards but I just massaged all the residue into my skin and onto my neck. Immediately my skin felt fresh, clean, smooth, brighter, and plump! All my friends sent me photos of themselves wearing the mask, and I took some myself, but it’s a bit scary, and alien-ish so I’ll hold back on posting those. LOL I also would recommend these for your weekly mask. You can also receive one in my October giveaway goodie bag!

Now that I shared my fall time skin regime with you, let’s talk makeup! I know I posted about Collodion in my last post, and I’m so excited that I finally tried it out! My friend Justine wanted me to re-create my creepy doll halloween look from last year. It’s so fun doing beauty makeup for brides all day, then coming home to do fun, halloween makeup! Take a look below 🙂

Another EASY, fun way to spice up your Halloween look is to mask your own mask! I participated in a hair show last month, and I had to do the makeup for a butterfly. I really was stumped and didn’t want to be corny and paint on a butterfly, so I tried to get really creative. I took some puffy paint (found at walmart or any craft store, for like $1 a piece) and started to paint on a laminated folder 2 wings. I free handed “a face” on the folder, so I knew exactly where the eyes were and started to paint. I made a thick layer, threw on some sparkles, even using some of my MAC pigment colors. It took a couple hours for it to completely dry. I peeled it off and wahhh lahh! I had my butterfly “mask”. It was so simple to apply. I tested one out on myself first. I just took eyelash glue and applied to the back of the mask, letting it become tacky before putting it on my face. Once I tried it on myself, I sent it to Aly (the hair creator of the butterfly) and she loved it! She said she was incorporating lace so I made another mask, this time applying lace. I cut out the lace to fit the mask and once this mask had dried, I put the lace on using fabric glue. Check it out! This is fun, esp. for kids!

You have to love fall and Halloween time because of the exciting costume ideas, the colors of the season and the beginning of the holiday season. One of my favorite fruits of the year is the pumpkin. It’s the perfect fall symbol, an amazing color of orange, it’s tasty—and it’s fun to carve. Pumpkin tea, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin EVERYTHING! Fall is one of the BEST times to make your own at home skin care treatments because of the tasty delights and seasonal goodies that come around. What’s better is that natural skin care is always a great choice for you.. Have fun with it! After you and your girlfriends, finish carving your pumpkins, use those guts for a good cause 😉 Pumpkin facials!

Pumpkin facial mask

Take 3 tablespoons of pumpkin puree and add 1-2 tablespoons of honey
Add 1 tablespoon of milk (regular for oily skin or buttermilk for dry skin)
Optional-add plain yogurt to mixture
Spread paste onto your face and keep on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off with water.

*Be sure to make your mask thick enough that it’s not dripping off your face.

Both of these at home skin care recipes using natural pumpkin will leave your skin smooth and glowing. It’s a festive way to help get the most out of the seasons with the nature around you.

Me & my friend Jessica at the Jane Hotel this week, holding up our “No No” signs ! LOL

Okay! Off to a wedding. Time to get the bride beautified! LOVE MY JOB!!! Thank you for reading.

Cure to Chapped Lips!

Hello again! Thanks for checking out my blog 🙂 Hope everyone is keeping warm and drinking lots of herbal teas on these cold, breezy fall nights!

So many people have been asking me about Halloween makeup… I’m booked with Halloween makeup this year, and I’m absolutely stoked about it. Halloween is my FAVORITE time of year!

I went to the The Great Jack O’Lantern blaze in Westchester last weekend. It was freezing, but so fun! So much to look at, & gets you in the Halloween spirit for sure! I definitely recommend going.

Ahhh I love this season! Yesterday I was in New York City with a friend, and randomly met up with my friend Jason. We met last year, both doing makeup on set of a movie. He was on this season of SyFy’s Face Off, which is a special FX makeup show, where the contestants have to complete challenges every week, creating a character based on a a movie, director or some sort of cool inspiration! He now works for Saturday Night Live, making and applying prosthetics. Sweet! So after he left the NBC studios yesterday, he took me to a small makeup store in Manhattan.

There, I bought a few supplies I’ll be needing for a Halloween application I’m doing on Friday evening. I purchased Collodion, a syrupy solution that is often used in theatrical makeup. You can create old-age wrinkles or scars with this product. I’ll definitely post photos of all the Halloween makeup once I complete the applications, and share application tips with you 🙂

Jason, Harry the video guy, myself and our model on set of a photo shoot..

Halloween makeup I did to myself last year!

I wasn’t sure if Batman and Patrick from Spongebob were walking around in costume because it is Halloween time… or maybe because it’s NYC and it’s pretty much ALWAYS halloween time in the city… lol

Mirror photo at the W… Red blazer from H&M

Although I adore Halloween and Fall, this time of year is definitely Chapped lips season. (ughh gross) I have to share a remedy that I use and find really helpful to fix chapped lips almost immediately! I have to say, I am a fan of a lip scrub called Sugar found at Sephora, but it’s definitely pricy for a tiny amount of it.. This remedy works JUST as well, if not better. If you try it, let me know what you think!

1/2 teaspoon of honey

1/2 teaspoon of fresh lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon of castor oil

Mix all ingredients together. Spread over your lips and leave on overnight. In the morning awake to smooth, soothed lips! Any extra that you have left over should be stored in the refrigerator because it contains fresh lemon juice which can spoil. To exfoliate your lips take a bit of honey mixed with a pinch of sugar and lightly scrub in circular motions. Apply lip balm after.

****I tell all my brides to do this the night before their wedding so they have smooth, kissable lips.

My favorite lip balm is Simply Bee~utiful’s all natural lip balm. Their lip balms are made from beeswax and honey.

Okay, time to get comfy and get ready for the return of American Horror story tonight!! Love that show, Can’t wait 🙂

Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog, like my fan page and leave a comment telling me why breast cancer awareness is important for a chance to win a goodie bag filled with products!

You can also now add my website to your home screen on your phones, by typing in my website, clicking add to home screen, then my icon will appear! Enjoy!!

ps. here’s a new video of Samantha DeRosa singing a new original…. She’s one of my wonderful clients! Check it!

Highlighting & contouring

Hello again 🙂 Thank you so much for visiting my blog! It was an amazing feeling waking up this morning to over 1,200 hits on my very first blog post! My blog launch event took place yesterday at Maizie’s Tea Room. Most of the attendee’s are local, independent, young girls who are business owners that I will eventually be doing posts on. I think it’s incredible that such motivated, young girls are filled with such different talents, making a career based on what they love to do! I think it’s so important to do what you love. Businesses that are built around your strengths and talents have a better chance of success. It’s not only important to create a profitable business, but it’s also so important that your heart is in it! That way your happy managing and growing every day. I was so happy to have my guests come together and network. I love to surround myself with positive people, and advisors who will nurture and support you to become a better businessperson. It was a great afternoon, sipping on lavender, chamomile, and blue eyes tea, surrounded by successful, knowledgeable individuals that all share common interests and mutual business goals that see value in each others work. I had goodie bags for every girl who attended filled with ton’s of beauty products for them to try. These goodies are also some of my favorite skincare or makeup products that I will be doing posts on soon. I wanted my guests to try them, and get familiar with the products! I will be doing giveaways of goodie bags! This week I have a goodie bag featuring a full sized Model In a Bottle Setting Spray which I adore and use for all of my bride’s. This week’s winner will also receive everything that’s pictured below:

The Giveaway:

Me with the give away goodie bags in my closet!

Photos from yesterdays event

Again, a big thanks to the businesses working with me on this, guests, and supporters!! With all that being said, today I was hired to do a DJ Promo Shoot for my friend Ryder. The shoot was directed by Michelle Barone, the Owner & Operator of Exclusive Events & Promo, and photography by Giacomo Photography. The studio was gorgeous. Driving up to the building it looked like an old, abandoned, factory built of bricks during the early 1900s. Inside, was a whole different story! Gorgeous. I wanted to give Ryder a good “night life” look. I gave her a strong contour, really bringing out her cheekbones & jawline. Contouring & Highlighting can totally transform your face by playing up your beautiful features and downplaying your flaws and they usually go hand in hand. Darker colors push back areas while lighter colors bring them forward. I applied my primer & foundation to her first, smoothing out her face. Then I contoured using cream products from hourglass and makeup forever. When you contour and highlight, you really want to blend, blend, blend!! Lets be serious, who wants severe lines all over their face? Not cute. So blend well! To contour, you will need a color that is one to two shades darker than your foundation. To highlight, you will need a color that is one or two shades lighter than your foundation.

Areas to Contour

* Under your cheekbones

* Along both sides of your nose

* Bottom of your chin

* Jawline

* Creases of your eyes

* Temples

Areas to Highlight

* Front of the forehead

* Along the bridge of your nose

* Right above your cheeks

* Inner corner of your eyes

* Brow bone

* Center of your chin

LOL her shoes were not in the shots, so please ignore her socks with the heels! haha!

Here is from another recent Bridal shoot I did, also using highlighting and contouring techniques …

Once the professional photos come back from Ryders Promo shoot, I’ll post a few so you can see the makeup in better lighting, and better quality than the quality of my iPhone! Any Makeup questions on highlighting or contouring feel free to leave a comment or email me!

Required Entry to Goodie Bag:

1- Subscribe to my blog & leave a comment letting me know you have done so.

2- Become a fan on Facebook if your not already, at http://www.facebook.com/muahbyalexandria

3-Since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, tell me what Breast Cancer Awareness means to you & why it’s important to be aware!

4- Entrants must leave me a valid email address, so I can email the winner & please only enter once!

Good Luck!