Dr. Oz's Opinion - The Price of Beauty

Wow...this was scary (but quite informative) reading. I heard about this information recently, and I finally found the Dr. Oz post online:

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/price-beauty

Cosmetics - Foundation Video

Tips & Techniques: Celebrity Makeup Artist Cooper demonstrates why Arbonne Cosmetics are a perfect complement to your skin care regimen in this new video on YouTube, highlighting the Perfecting Liquid Foundation with SPF 15. Take a look and share it with your friends! http://bit.ly/b4nO5I
[reposted from Arbonne's FB page]

Do You Have to Speak in Front of a Group Soon?

A true test of one's self-confidence is standing in front of a room of people to speak. Most of us are deathly afraid of doing it!
If you haven't checked out a Toastmasters meeting before, I highly recommend it. I've been a member for many years, and the practice/feedback from these groups is outstanding to improve public speaking skills. Here are some tips from www.toastmasters.org:

1. Know your material - use personal stories, it will help you remember what you are going to say.

2. Practice! Rehearse out loud. Time yourself.

3. Know the audience. Greet people as they come in. It's easier to speak to friends than strangers.

4. Know the room. Arrive early, walk around, test equipment.

5. Relax. Transform nervous energy into enthusiasm.

6. Visualize yourself giving your speech. See the audience clapping for you.

7. Realize that people want you to succeed. They don't want you to fail.

8. Don't apologize for nervousness...no one probably noticed it anyway.

9. Concentrate on the message, not the medium (ie, focus on content and not yourself).

10. Gain experience. Experience builds confidence.

Perfect "Natural" Lipcolor!

Finally, finally, finally - after years of searching and too much money to count spent on trying different colors - I stumbled upon a great neutral lip color today!! I am so excited...it's perfect for summer.

I always had problems with too pink, too non-existent, too pale, just not right colors - but this looks great and blends well with my skintone. My lips are really pale, and then I have dark hair, dark eyes - and light skin. It is very difficult to find a "natural" lip color that didn't fade away into the background. But not today - Whew!

Lips lined in Cafe, Lipstick in Satin, with a touch of Brown Sugar lip polish...even got compliments from strangers today.

It's amazing how a good set of lips can make a lady's day!
: )

Summer Cosmetics Tips #1

This is a repost from Arbonne's Facebook page - love these tips!

"It's the start of summer. And since vibrant colors boost your mood, it's also the beginning of a new series of Arbonne makeup tips!

Summer Cosmetic Tip #1: Makeup lasts even longer when you start by applying a primer to your face, including your brow bone and eyelids. Primer prepares your skin for makeup application by ...creating a smooth, even surface."

To Sun or Not to Sun?

What a struggle! With all of the information we know about the dangers of being out in the sun, exposing our skin to UV rays, skin cancer - ahhh! What to do?!? I just so happen to ADORE the sun, the warm feeling it creates, the slight glow it adds to the skin...but the slice of skin missing from my back due to "pre-cancerous cells" always makes me second-guess the decision to go outside.

This summer, I think a compromise is in order: a little sun, a little cheating - how about a suncreen mixed with self-tanner? I'm going to test a spray that has a botanically-based self tanner plus SPF.

This is my first summer home with the kids, so I can't NOT go in the pool with them, right? And, I spoke with a dermatologist about protection suggestions for the little ones - she recommended the swim shirts with hats at all times. And actual sunscreen LOTION, not the spray kind - she said the lotion is more effective.

And then after the sun, I'll test a formula which contains avocado oil that is supposed to moisturize and repair dry skin. It also includes ingredients that help restore the skin’s delicate moisture balance (and has anti-aging stuff...cool).

We shall see! What about you? What are your summer protection plans?

What Type of Face Mask to Use?

I love face masks - they just seem to be a powerful, quick way to change the feel of skin. You should aim for using a mask at least once/week...moreso if desired.

Feeling dry? Use one with extra moisturization.
Feeling oily? Use a clay or mud mask.
Feeling like you need a deep clean? Clay or exfoliate.
Feeling less than soft? Try one with a manual exfoliant.

Here are more details:
Clay masks are great at reducing oil, removing extra dirt and grime from pores, and overall deep cleansing. They also reduce the number of toxins in the skin.

The detoxifying actions of sea mud and bentonite clay help draw out impurities as they absorb excess oil from the skin. Also suited for oily skin to help prevent clogged pores, blackheads and blemishes. Helps detoxify and condition the skin’s surface. It wraps you in comfort and leaves your skin glowing.

For a mask to help moisturize, you can even try an at-home mask using mashed avocado mixed with honey.

Always be sure to follow the mask instructions - don't leave on a mask longer than recommended as it may cause irritation instead of benefits. And when applying your mask, use "upwards" strokes for best results. Enjoy the 15-20 minutes of you time.