beauty tips

FEATURE : Elizabeth Sawatzky courtesy of The Campbell Agency

Model Features

Summer is finally starting to settle in. Bright and long sunny days make it so easy to enjoy the outdoors and have a more laissez-faire attitude towards beauty.

We recently worked with beautiful Elizabeth in a series showcasing lovely and feminine clothing in a setting that was like a small Secret Garden. Photographed by Shannon Touchstone and styled by Danielle Brown, Elizabeth easily transitioned into a very soft and almost playful self.

Because we were photoshooting outside in very humid weather, I decided to work with nature’s canvas and utilize the dewiness in her skin and flyaways to add a carefree almost bohemian feel to her look.

Her hair was was prepped with Bumble and Bumble Prep Spray and City Swept Spray to reveal texture, prime it for the waving wand heat, and to add a bit of weight. 

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The hair was then waved with a Paul Mitchell Neuro Unclipped 1.25″ Cone counterclockwise in the same direction away from the face beginning at the front hairline.

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The hair was then finger raked to loosen the waves. I added two pumps of Wella Oil Reflections to add shine, reveal highlights and lowlights in her hair color and to add a bit of polish. I also used this lightweight non greasy oil on her legs and arms for a subtle glow.

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Elizabeth has great skin and I wanted to enhance with a bit solar protection and color. I used Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream in Medium in the center of the face and shade Medium/Deep on the perimeter of the face to add a bit of lived in tan effect.

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The lips and cheeks were tinted with YSL Volupte Tint-In-Oil in shades Drive Me Copper and Oh My Gold. I love these lip tints for a sheer wash of color with a non sticky feel. No lipliner needed!

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Summer is all about being social with a casual and easy breezy feel. I hope you enjoy these products as much I did!

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Credits

Hair and Makeup : Walter Fuentes of The Campbell Agency | http://www.wafuartistry.com

Photography : Shannon Touchstone

Fashion Styling: Danielle Brown, The Campbell Agency

Muse: Elizabeth Sawatzky,  The Campbell Agency

LIP SERVICE: Beauty Tips for maintaining a beautiful pout

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They come in all in all shapes, colors, and sizes but all are nonetheless beautiful, sexy, and necessary.

I’m speaking of LIPS!

This area of our skin gets a lot of use but can sometimes be neglected.

ANATOMY

Did you know that the skin on your lips is made up entirely different than anything else in your face? The skin is thinner which allows more blood vessels to show close to the surface. This gives them their color and sensitivity.  They also lack oil glands, which keep the skin lubricated. This is why they suffer due to extreme temperatures and dehydration.

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Follow these tips to keep your lips feeling smooth and balanced:

1. No licking!- Saliva has powerful digestive enzymes that can destroy the bit of hydration on your lips and leave them raw. Instead, use a lip balm to create slip.

2. To balm or not to balm– In essense, all lip products go on the same way but not all are created equal. A balm will give you a more emollient benefit throughout the day. A conditoner, however, is usually thicker and is meant to be worn longer as a treatment to reap its benefits. Take note to stay away from menthol, eucalyptus, and camphor if you are allergic, sensitive or you have cracked lips as these ingredients will only aggravate the issue.

I do not splurge on lip balms but do use them throughout the day. That way if I misplace them, it doesn’t hurt the bank. 

* NIVEA A Kiss of Vitamin Swirl

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*Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

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For overnight conditioning and repair, I use lip conditioner that has additional antioxidants and collagen. My favorites are:

*Fresh Sugar Advanced Lip Therapy

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It’s taste and smell are addictive while the Black Currant Seed Oil and Sea Fennel Oil hydrate and smooth out lines. I use nightly and immediately after exfoliating.

*Dior Crème de Rose Lip Balm

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Rose of Damas essential oil and shea butter really pack a punch of hydration for your lips. Vitamins A and E combined with SPF 10 also make it my go to when in extreme weather conditions like summer and winter.  It also doubles as a nice nail cuticle conditioner.

3. Hydrate – You hear it day in and day out of how important drinking enough water is.  This is one the first areas to show signs of dehydration.  Sadly enough, caffeine will dehydrate you even more.

4. Exfoliate correctly– Exfoliation is benefial and necessary to remove dead skin cells from our bodies. However, over doing it can have the adverse effect. In general, I exfoliate with a product once or twice a week depending on when it is needed.

My go to exfoliators are:

*Bliss Fabulips Sugar Scrub

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This scrub is made with granulated sugar, almond, and walnet shells which gently remove any flakes.  Jojoba oil and vanilla condition without residue and stickiness. This is a staple in my makeup kit!

Don’t want to buy one? I make a small batch at a time to give to clients and models. Make one at home by using this recipe:

In a glass bowl, mix:
* 4 tablespoons of brown sugar
* 3 tablespoons of sweet almond oil
* 10 drops of rosewater
* 1 tablespoon of raw coconut oil

Mix throughly and store in a glass container. I use this in the shower and scrub my lips in a soft circular motion for 1 minute. Rinse and pat dry.

5, Don’t stay matte forever – I love a good matte lipstick color but these can be quite drying and can accentuate lip dryness.  Rest your lips in between by properly using a lip conditioner, exfoliating, and hydrating.

Stay soft and hydrated my friends!

Header Image Credit:

Hair and Makeup: Walter Fuentes
Photos: Jorge Rivas, Nicollette Mollet

BEAT WINTER DRYNESS WITH THE BEST BODY OILS

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I’m not sure what part of the world you are in but here in Dallas, Texas, the weather has a mind of its own.

The heat, humidity, wind, rain and cold can be pretty abrasive and harsh on our bodies.

Now that the winter is upon us, I have to change my skin care routine a bit to ensure that it doesn’t dry out. I have highly reactive and sensitive combination skin with an oily T-zone.

As the days get shorter and we can’t get much of the sun’s glow, we dry our skins out by using heat in our homes and cars, and by longer hot showers.

Here is a list of my go to beauty oils that are tried and true. I keep these in stock in my makeup kit and beauty cabinet.  These can be used alone or as a supplement to your routine.

HAIR

* Moroccan Oil Dry Scalp Treatment

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This oil is a lifesaver for me when my scalp is unbalanced. Lavender, geranium, and argan oils act together to soothe and moisturize without a greasy feel. If your scalp is on the oilier side, opt for the oily scalp version. 

* AG Extra Virgin Argan Miracle Soothing Oil

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I use half a pump of this soft oil in my hair immediately after bathing.  It is paraben, gluten, and sulfate free. It is amazing for containing frizz and protecting colored hair. Dimethicone helps dry your hair faster and helps with UV deflection. Distribute evenly from root to end to and comb through. Can be used on the body to treat dry patches.

FACE

*Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil

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Used by Geishas to create a glow and help suppleness,  this is my favorite skin oil to use during drying periods.  Camelia, Rice Bran, and Japanese Sea Kelp all act as buffers against free radicals, help restore lipid balance, and hydrate while not being greasy. I use it prior to my moisturizer and I sleep in it as well. 4 to 6 drops are enough. Warm up in hands and press into skin for fast absorption. If you want a heavier glow, just distribute in small circles for a buffed look.

* Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate

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Kiehl’s has become a must have for me because they really know skin. No fuss just clean skin care. Squalene, Evening Primrose Oil, and Lavender work together to keep moisture locked in, replenish the lipid barrier, and refuce dark spots and blotchiness. Night time is when our skin regenerates and repairs itself so I use this only at night under my Tsubaki Oil.

*Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil

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Argan Oil has been used for hundreds of years by Moroccan women.  This light oil helps shield them from the desert sun and keeps aging signs away.  Josie Maran’s Argan Oil is great because it is fair traded and high quality with no parabens, sulfates, or fragance.  It is light enough for everyday wear as a moisturizer alone but it also can help with rosacea and eczema. I love using it as a moisturizer,  cuticle oil and hair oil on myself and on set.

BODY

* L’Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil

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I drench my skin in this oil from head to toe right after a shower.  It is high in Omega Fatty Acids which restore the fatty barrier in the skin. It is free of heavy fragrance so it does not clash with any of your other scents. I alternate this oil with raw coconut oil for maximum benefit.

*Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Body Oil

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I use this luxury oil when I am going to go out on the town or for a formal affair. I also sometimes wear this to bed. I love the light, crisp scent which complements all of my fragrances.  It is formulated with grapeseed, olive fruit, and date seed oils which make it a dry, fastly absorbed hydrator.

* Carol’s Daughter Coconut Dry Oil Mist

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I like to use a dry oil when I’m traveling or if I am in a hurry in the morning. This particular product is great because it has coconut oil and shea butter to moisturize and açai extract for antioxidant benefits.

MULTI-PURPOSE

* Raw Organic Coconut Oil is great to moisturize the body in place of over yhe counter lotions.  You can also use it to relive scalp dryness and soften hair.
I rub a bit of the solid onto the soles of my feet and sleep with socks on to moisturize my heels.

*Tea Tree Oil is perfect for when I have a rare(but serious) breakout. Gently swab a drop or two onto the blemish with a cotton bud. It’s antimicrobial and antibacterial propperties also help it keep them at bay and helps with regulating overly oily skin.

*Avocado oil is full of fatty acids that are essential for skin’s water retention. I use mine to sheer out foundation on set or to moisturize lips and cuticles.

Enjoy and stay soft!!