PRIMP – Page 178

Beauty 911: What Are Your Breakouts Telling You?

Published on August 9, 2018August 9, 2018 by LeeLeave a comment

In recent weeks, I’ve become fascinated with the Eastern tradition of face mapping. Face mapping, which combines modern dermatology with ancient Chinese medicine, is the idea that there’s a correlation between your internal organs and different zones of your face.

Face mapping makes a lot of sense when you consider the fact you’re your skin is an organ too (the largest organ in your body, in fact). My aesthetician can also tell when I’ve just been sick or am about to get sick based on the area right above my brows. I don’t know about you, but I find it all very fascinating! Besides just being an interesting topic, educating yourself about face mapping can actually help to clear up your skin. Once you’ve identified what’s causing your acne, it’s easier to prevent it. While some causes are unavoidable (monthly hormone swings, for instance), diet and lifestyle changes can definitely help to clear up your skin.

Without further ado, here are what your breakouts are telling you in five different zones of your face…

1. Forehead. Breakouts across the forehead are often triggered by stress or sleep deprivation. Make sure to log 7 to 9 hours of beauty rest a night to keep your forehead clear.
2. Above the brow. The area above the brow is affected by your immune system. Breakouts here tend to happen right before, after, or during a cold or flu. If you notice a breakout in this zone, slow down for a couple days, drink plenty of water and eat these 10 immune boosting foods.
3. Between brows. Breakouts between the brows can be caused by overindulgence of unhealthy foods or a food allergy. Cutting back on sugar, dairy, rich foods, and alcohol can help clear up skin in this zone.
4. Cheeks. Your cheeks are linked to your respiratory system. Smoking or breathing polluted air can cause breakouts here.
5. Side of chin. The sides of your chin are affected by hormones. Breakouts here occur around the time of your period and happen on one side or another depending on which ovary is ovulating that month.

Let me know what beauty crisis you’d like me to cover in my next Beauty 911 post!

XO, Lee

Gift Guide: For the Beauty Buff

Published on August 6, 2018May 1, 2024 by LeeLeave a comment

Let’s face it, we all have a self-proclaimed beauty buff on our friend list. You know, the one that’s a VIB member at Sephora or at Ulta Beauty, can name all the eyeshadow palettes that dropped this year, and can recommend the best moisturizer before you can even say the word. It can be difficult to shop for someone who’s makeup bag is already filled to the brim, which brings me to today’s post. I have compile a list of gift ideas for the beauty fanatic in your life. From top-rated face masks, to beauty blenders and makeup organizers, this list will make holiday/celebration shopping a breeze. The best part of it all? Everything in this gift guide is under $100! Keep scrolling to do a little holiday shopping for your favorite beauty obsessed babe…

1. Glossier Balm Dotcom Trio, $30
One of my favorite cult beauty brands has to be Glossier. This Balm Dotcom trio is the perfect gift for the girl who’s always reaching for a moisturizing lip balm. Plus they smell and look amazing!

2. Caboodles Le Sophistique 10pc Bag Set Black & White Stripe, $29.99
Every beauty babe needs a trusty cosmetic case. You can head over to target and see what affordable choices they have to offer. They have many popular name brand cosmetic bags, so you won’t be disappointed.

3. Sorbus Cosmetic Makeup and Jewelry Storage Case Display – Spacious Design (4 Large – 2 Small Drawers), $33.99
This sturdy, clear acrylic makeup organizer set includes four drawers on the bottom unit and two top drawers are great for holding smaller items. The 16 slots on the top portion let you place a variety of items like makeup brushes, lipsticks and more, making this display a must-have on your vanity. Talk about a chic and functional way to keep your sink nice and organized!

4. BRWNGRLMGC Set, $44
These classic elegant hues are mani/pedi worthy if you ask me. If you have a gal in your life that nails the at-home mani, this is the gift that keeps on giving.

5. The Little Market Lavender Spa Gift Box, $76
Give the gift of rest and relaxation with this luxurious lavender gift set for any celebration. This box has their incredible Bath Bomb, Lavender & Honey Soap, Soaking Salt and Candle, all in a yummy lavender scent. Treat the beauty buff in your life while giving back to female artisans at the same time.

6. Philosophy 4-step hydrate & glow set, $34
This next gift is a beauty must. I’m kinda obsessed with everything that Philosophy has to offer, and this gift kit is the perfect way to introduce your loved ones to some of the best skincare.

7. Moon Juice Moon Dust Sachet Sampler Box, $35
Have your beauty buff feeling beautiful from the inside out with this blend of Moon Dust sachets. Add them to your favorite beverage to help combat the effects of stress to nourish body, beauty and consciousness from the inside out.

Bigelow Benefits, $19.95
All of us know how important it is to put good things in our bodies to help us stay strong. That desire was the inspiration for the Bigelow Benefits line, everyday teas that fuel your body with good for you ingredients. And of course, the flavor is everything! The Bigelow family designed this tea collection to taste fabulous and help support your well-being. They Benefits teas can be used as part of your everyday routine and can help you define the life you want to live! This boxed set of six includes 18 tea bags each of Cinnamon Blackberry Herbal Tea, Lemon & Echinacea Herbal Tea, Turmeric, Chili Matcha Green Tea, Chamomile & Lavender Herbal Tea, Ginger & Peach Herbal Tea and Blueberry & Aloe Herbal Tea …108 Tea bags in all.

8. Taking Care Of Your Hair Under There Kit, $45
Have you heard? CURLS came out with these ultra-chic gift boxes with the best CURListas haircare line has to offer. Now you can have the freedom to rock your protective styles fearlessly. Take care of your “hair under there” before, after and throughout the duration of your protective style, using CURLS Blueberry Bliss Curl Collection! Enriched with certified organic blueberry extract to PURIFY – PROTECT, PRESERVE & GROW your hair while rocking your braids, wigs, clip ins or extension styles.

9. White with Style Sparkle White Professional Home Teeth Whitening Kit, $~~269.99~~
On the go? Use White with Style Teeth Whitening kits to get your teeth whiter than a pearl. Use code: CRYSTALEE to get Sparkle White Professional Home Teeth Whitening Kit for ONLY $28. Click here for more info!

10. MyMakeupBrushSet 10 Piece Black and Gold Oval Brush Set, $34.99
Last but not least, I have the Black and Gold Oval Brush Set for all of the makeup lovers out there. Blend that makeup look into perfection with the beauty world’s favorite tool.

BH Cosmetics Crystal Quartz – 12 Piece Brush Set, $15.60
Enchant your beauty routine with our Crystal Quartz 12 Piece Brush Set, a collection of top-quality face and eye brushes. The set comes in an ethereal, iridescent zip-top case for convenient storage and travel.

Do you have any gift ideas for the beauty buff in your life?

Let me know your suggestions in the comments!

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Primp Tip: Brush, Sponge, or Fingers?

Published on August 1, 2018May 1, 2024 by Lee4 Comments

For some of us, putting on makeup is almost second nature. We have our routines down and can even step away from the mirror in 5 minutes flat. But for others, the application process can pose more questions than productivity. When there are so many ways to apply your makeup, it’s easy to get confused on which way is the correct way to go about it. Which brings me to my latest Primp Tip… Today I will be debunking the brush vs. sponge vs. fingertip debacle.

While there are pros and cons to each tool, it all comes down to personal preference. In order to find out which technique works for you, I recommend experimenting to see which applicator you feel most comfortable using. While trial and error is always a good way to determine the winner, below I’ve broken down each applicator and it’s specific benefits. So if you’re still deciding between a brush, sponge or your fingertips, keep reading…

Brush

Using a brush to apply your makeup is a great way to give your skin an airbrushed finish. Brushes are known for their precision and also for their blendability. Whether you’re using powder or cream, brushes are versatile enough to get the job done. Tip: It’s important to start with a small amount of product and build up to your desired look. With a brush you tend to get a more concentrated amount of product and color, so blending it all out is essential.

Sephora Classic Mini Multitasker Brush $14.00

My Makeup Brush10 PIECE Black Oval Brush Set $19.99

My Makeup Brush Purple Tulip 24 Piece Brush Set $19.99

Sponge

Similar to using a brush, sponges are known for their blended out, flawless finish. For an even distribution of product, wet the sponge before using a liquid foundation. By doing this you should get a sheer and lightweight look that is easily buildable. Like brushes, there are a variety of sponges used for different makeup techniques (highlighting, contouring, etc.). The only thing to be mindful of when using a sponge is that they soak up more product than a brush or your fingertips does.

$12.00

$20.00

$6.99

$16.00

$12.00

Fingertips

Last but not least, using your fingers to apply makeup is just as effective as using a brush or sponge. The warmth of your fingertips makes for more blendability—but be careful because you’re going to get more of a concentrated application. For colorful eye shadow and cream blushes, your fingertips will give you the best color payoff. If you’re going to use your fingers, be gentle! Always use a tapping motion with your ring finger and don’t use too much pressure.

While there isn’t a dramatic difference between each technique, the end results should be similar as long as your product is blended into your skin. You never want a harsh line! It ultimately comes down to practice and preference. I find that I use my fingers when I’m in a rush as opposed to a brush or sponge when I want a more done-up look.

So, which method do you prefer?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!

Click here to find out which tool(s) I prefer

Beauty Note: Why I Switched to a Foundation Brush—and Why I’ll Never Go Back

Published on July 26, 2018July 26, 2018 by Lee2 Comments

It all started on a routine trip to Target. I can’t help but make a detour through the cosmetics section every time I walk into the store—I swear it’s like a magnet! A small voice in my head convinces me that there’s something new that I need to try. During one of my more recent visits, Target had just remodeled the makeup brush section and I found myself comparing and contrasting every single one. After all, one needed to come home with me and I wanted it to be something I used on a regular basis. That day I became the proud owner of my first Sonia Kashuk foundation brush.

For the past few years I’ve been applying my foundation with a makeup sponge, and for the most part I had no complaints. After all, each application process has its pros and cons. Since I’m the kind of person that likes to test out the latest beauty trends to see what all of the hype is about, my curiosity is what ultimately lead me to the brush aisle at Target that day. I know that using a brush to apply foundation is not a new concept, and I have used makeup brushes before. But it been a while since I used brushes and there have been so many brushes that has been out that I needed to find out has there been a change for myself and I’m so glad I did. Keep scrolling to see why I’ve converted to using makeup brushes…

Why I’m ditching my makeup sponge.

All in all, makeup sponges work great when applying everything from foundation to concealer and even highlighter. After using a damp makeup sponge to apply my foundation for quite some time (I’m talking years), I found myself getting fed up with the lack of consistent coverage it was creating. Did you know that makeup sponges soak up a lot of the product that you’re using? I found that because of this, my makeup was looking blotchy in areas where there was more product and I was running out of foundation faster than I care to admit. Using a makeup sponge was proving to be more wasteful than helpful.

Why I’m sold on foundation brushes.

When it came time to test the makeup sponge against the foundation brush, the results were evident immediately. It cut my application time in half and it left me with polished and airbrushed looking results. The biggest difference for me was how even my skin looked—finally! Foundation brushes give you the option to build up as much coverage as you want, giving you full control of the look you’re wanting to achieve. These were the kind of results I was lacking with a makeup sponge.

After four weeks of using the foundation brush to apply my makeup, I can confidently say that I will not be reverting back to a sponge. If you’ve been curious about what they can do for you, I encourage you to make the switch! Not only will your product last longer, but you’ll be giving yourself an effortless airbrushed look every time you apply foundation. That’s a win win in my book!