Only Browsing?

I'd like to take time and discuss a very real issue.  Eyebrows.  Eyebrows are hella serious peeps, they make or break your face, I promise!

Check this out:

• On the left: Aww Mila Kunis is so pretty I'm like mega jealous of her!
• On the right: Aww gross, that's nasty!

Right?  It's a very serious thing that is very, very easy to get wrong so please pay attention!

 First, determine the shape of your face.  The picture below includes all of the basic face shapes:

• If you have an Oval shaped face: Congrats!  You can pull off any brow shape you damn please!
• If you have a Round shaped face:  You should shape your brows into the "Soft Angled" (shown below)
• If you have a Long shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Flat" (shown below)
• If you have a Square shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Hard Angled" (shown below)
• If you have a Heart shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "Round" (shown below)
• If you have a Diamond shaped face: You should shape you brows into the "S Shape" (shown below)

Now that you know which shape your brows should take, it's time to determine the size.  This is very simple to do and yet seems to be the biggest offense in the "eye brow criminal justice system".

Take a pen or pencil from the point at the side of the nose you see in the above drawing:

• Point A: Is where your brows should start
• Point B: Is where highest point of your brow's angle should be, it will begin to taper at this point as well
• Point C: Is where your brows should end

So you see, it's literally as easy as ABC!

Moving on, there are a few different ways you can tame the beasts! You can wax, tweeze, thread or go to an esthetician and have them worry about it!

•  Wax: My FAV!  It's fast and it's easy, plus I have my own wax pot at home.  I use GiGi Creme Wax and the GiGi Wax Warmer (pictured below).  Initially this will set you back about $100+ (that's both products seen below, plus wax sticks and strips, cleaners and lotions that are necessary) but it ABSOLUTELY pays for itself!  It does however, have a tendency to be SUPER messy plus if you're not careful you can remove more brow than originally planned.

• Tweeze: This is the most painful way but it allows the most precision which is worth the tears!  I recommend using two pairs, one with a slanted edge and then one with sharp edge.  Tips to remember:

1.  Don't numb your brows with ice.  It just makes the pores smaller, which causes the hair to be harder to remove.  Meaning more pain for you!  Instead, "warm up" the brows by rubbing your finger back and forth on the brow bone.
2. I'm sure you've heard this a million times but always, always, ALWAYS shape from below the brow..BUT that doesn't mean you can't clean up the hairs above the brow, in fact you should, just be really careful that you don't cut into the shape of the brow.
3. After using an eyebrow brush (shown at the above right) to find the natural shape of your eyes, spritz a little hair spray on the hair to keep it in place while you chisel out your masterpiece!

• Threading: I'll be honest I've never had it done, I don't know anyone who gets it done so don't have any advice here.

•  Esthetician:  This is by far the easiest!  But it can be pricey, you'll be looking at $30-$45 every three weeks.  But you'll get a spa experience, the wax will be hot and ready once you get there, you don't have to clean it up, plus estheticians have LOADS of training in brow shaping and hair removal so if you're not sure how to shape or would just rather have someone else deal with it estheticians are great!

1.  If you're in the Omaha, NE area: I recommend Elisha with Simply Pure Salon.  She is so nice and she's great with facial waxings, ESPECIALLY brows!  PLUS you'll score like a 5 minute mini face massage which is awesome after having hair ripped out of your face!
2. If you're in the Grand Junction, CO area: I recommend Jessica at Cost Cutters in the Mesa Mall (yeah, they do facial waxing there!)  She's AWESOME, If I lived there I would be in there all the time seriously!

*Tweezers and eyebrow brushes can be purchased at ULTA Beauty Supply, and local drugstores, mass merchandisers or grocery stores.  Also, don't feel like you gotta drop serious cash on tweezers and an eyebrow brush.  I've read a good pair of tweezers should put you out $15-$20.  Uh no.  I dropped about "tree fitty" on my tweezers and they work JUST FINE.  Same goes with the eyebrow brush, you're just using it to push your eyebrow hairs in the direction they grow naturally, just get a cheap generic one they all work the same.

*Wax Warmer, Wax and all the accessories can be purchased at Sally Beauty Supply. 

*Face shape corresponding to brow shape is like pirate code.  It's really more of a guideline.  What I listed are brow shapes that are most flattering on that face shape.

*Disclaimer*

I want it to be totally clear that the opinions expressed on this blog are 100% my own.  I do not work for ULTA or any cosmetics company (I am however extremely brand loyal)  If I hear something I will pass it and probably say where it came from just to add legitimacy but really I won't post it unless I already believed it.

First Things First: Take Care Of Your Face

I don't care who you are, you need to wash your face twice a day, every day.  Wash right before you go to sleep at night and then again right when you wake up (because something about your body in it's sleep state makes the oils in your face settle faster?  I don't get it either, but I don't question it and neither should you!)

I use Neutregena's Deep Clean line (with an added blackhead scrub because I've had a problem with black heads my whole life.  If you have a problem with blackheads this scrub works really well!)

• Cleanser: Twice a day, every day
• Blackhead Scrub: Once a day, every day
• Exfoliating Scrub: 2-3 times a week
• Cleansing Mask: Once a week

I also use Neutregena's Make Up Remover wipes, which are not pictured but they're the best, I seriously won't use anything else!

Lady GaGa once said in an interview that she sleeps in her makeup every night.  I cannot stress this enough: UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD YOU SLEEP IN YOUR MAKEUP.  EVER.  Think of it this way: Every night you sleep in your makeup, you age your face seven days.  It doesn't sound like a lot I know, but if you were to sleep in your makeup every night for six weeks straight you'll add a year to your face!

Some people have naturally good skin (Lady GaGa being one of them, obvi).  In cases such as that you don't need the chemicals in a lot of the facial cleansers on the market.  In those cases, the chemicals can actually cause your face to break out, scar or cause unevenness in your complexion.  Take my mother as an example.  She washes her face with Dove bar soap, she has for years and aside from age, her face is flawless.  Guys really "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  Another key point to remember is not to constantly change up your facial cleansing routine.  Don't go trying every product you see a commercial for.  Once your face is used to a routine that works it won't be as likely to break out.  Should you decide to try a different product, remember to give the product 3-4 weeks before you decide whether or not you like it.  That will be about the time your skin will take to adapt to the new chemicals.

Words cannot express how important exfoliation is for your face (for your skin in general, but especially your face).  You can't get it really clean if all those dead skin cells are still hanging out (not to mention your makeup will look flaky).  So get rid of them!  And at the rate that skin cells die, it's important to exfoliate 2-3 times every week.

Another thing that is really, REALLY important:  Moisturizers!

 I use Ponds Dry Skin Cream on my face and Physicians Formula Hydrating Eye Cream for the skin around my eyes (twice a day, every day for both, natch).  

You need to use something that is specifically for the eyes, as the skin around your eyes is much thinner than the rest of your face.  For your face, you can use anything, I like Ponds because that stuff packs some serious moisture!  

Please don't bother with astringents.  I've never understood them, really, but just don't.  I know they seem like a good idea right now, but 20-30 years from now, you will seriously wish you hadn't..

*AS SOON AS you are finished washing your face or showering, quickly pat your face dry so that you're not dripping wet and moisturize.  It is crucial to get the moisturizer on your skin as soon as you can, preferably within 30 seconds of washing your face or showering, in those first 30 seconds your skin is at it's most absorbent, so it will benefit the most from the moisturizer during that time!

*I've never personally used it, but I have heard from more than one source (one being Dermalogica) that Apricot Scrub will tear up your face.  So try to avoid it.

*Proactiv is super hit or miss.  It will either work wonders or it will seriously damage your skin (I'm just now getting rid of the marks it left on my face in 2006)  I say avoid it if you can because it's not worth it.  If you see a Dr. and that person recommends Proactiv, then by all means try it.  I'm not a Dr. so their word should be valued over mine.

All of the products shown were purchased at ULTA Beauty Supply.  You can also find them at your local Drugstore, Mass Merchandiser, or Grocery Store.

c. Labor Day Weekend 2011

That's when this whole infatuation with makeup began.  I had always liked makeup and the artistry behind it but I never thought I would be able to do it myself because I'm not very creative, nor do I have very good hand coordination.

But then I went to school and one day I was sitting in class, totally innocent and minding my own business, when this guy walked in.  It took me like a 15 second delay to recognize this guy was a MEGA BABE!  So I thought to myself "Oh, man, I gotta get this guy's attention but I don't think my knowledge of 90's music and Disney movies is going to cut it!"  I decided that in order for this mega hottie to notice me, I had to become a mega hottie myself.  And so began my addiction to cosmetics.

Flash forward ten months later:

• I'm still really into makeup but it has now become an infatuation with esthetics in general.
• I am a Platinum Club Member at ULTA Beauty Supply.
• I'm seriously considering getting an Esthetician's license.
• I NEVER got the guts to say anything to hottie's face and I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed..(but a girl can still dream right?!) 

 This blog is where I intend to share my experiences, recommendations, tips, tutorials that I find or come up with and I hope you find it helpful!