Health
Our beautiful and clever client Courtney Nichols Gould ( CEO of SmartyPants vitamins ) talks about making smart choices for your optimal health.
We recommend this article for people who judge themselves . Follow Courtney's recommended three steps and make a change!
Check out her speech on Mind Body Green blog - Why You're The Expert On Your Health
Photo by Tomas Skaringa
Makeup by Agne Skaringa (Beauty Affair )
In our contemporary society majority of women wear makeup every day. Makeup is our tool that helps us to look great and feel confident in our appearance! However, a lot of women are not aware that makeup can cause health issues if it is not properly taken care of.
When I was a model, many times I had to work with makeup artists who would double dip or use the same brushes on other models before even properly cleaning them. Occasionally, that caused me a red and irritated eye or even an infection. Since then, I always carried my mascara whenever I was booked for a photoshoot. That way, I knew that my eyes, most sensitive part of my face, would be safe from infection.
On one photoshoot, my makeup artist dropped, on a dirty and dusty floor, a cosmetic sponge, which she was using to apply foundation on my face. She picked it up and without even bother to clean it, she continued applying foundation on my face with that filthy sponge! At that moment, I wish I had confidence to tell her to stop, because I felt embarrassed.
Therefore, I decided to write this article for women who want to be not only beautiful, but healthy as well.
First and foremost, make sure that you keep your cosmetics in a clean environment. Wipe packages, sharpen pencils, wash your makeup brushes often. Take your time and don’t be lazy, it’s all for your own safety!
Are you hiring a professional makeup artist? How to be sure if she/ he is professional enough?
Sanitation is the most important thing for a healthy makeup application! Could you imagine if in a restaurant silver ware or plates would be with pieces of leftovers? It is the same with makeup.
Do not let any makeup artist to do your makeup application on you if you notice that her/ his makeup kit, cosmetics are not clean. Make sure that cosmetic products are properly kept, with lids, no dust or any hair. Check if makeup brushes look clean and your makeup artist does not double dipping in liquid products such as mascaras and lip-glosses, because bacteria spread very fast through liquid and it might cause health issues such as eye infection or herpes.
If you are looking for a makeup artist for your wedding day, make sure you have a trial session. This will allow you to find out if the makeup fits you well and also how professional and clean the makeup artist is, because I bet that you don’t want to have a red eye or herpes on your wedding day!
In general, every professional makeup artist and hair stylist must keep their products clean and wash their hands before working with their clients.
Keep your makeup clean and keep an eye on makeup artists and hair stylists who you are working with, because your safety always comes first!
Article prepared by professional Los Angeles makeup artist Agne Skaringa
I wanted to write about this subject few months ago. It took me a while put it together, because there is so much information and so many makeup companies which claim benefits for your skin. Most makeup products in the stores can have titles as "Sugar Plum", "Cherry Kiss" which may sound attractive and promising! Unfortunately, if you check what they are made of, you may find ingredients such as"Diethanolamine", etc. I asked my clients, girlfriends, dermatologist and esthetician about their used makeup products. Esthetician, Agne Jankauskiene, highly recommended Glo Minerals. My friends love some of Jane Iradele products.
Probably, you have already heard how important it is to take care of your skin. I want to remind you that you will have it for the rest of your life. So, make a good decision what you put on it. Skin absorbs everything.. Make sure you you treat is as best s you can. I am happy to share with you my own experience and the research I conducted .
I would like to start with ingredients which you should AVOID:
Mineral Oil
Paraffin
Alpha-hydroxy acids
Alcohol
Talc
Laquer
Benzoyl Peroxide
Collagen (Natural collagen helps our skin retain it's elasticity. However, collagen in cosmetics is made from ground up chicken feet and animal skin. It clogs pores)
Lanolin
Triclosan, Emulsifiers, PEGs
Phthalates
Diethanolamine (DEA), Triethanolamine (TEA)
Methyl, Propyl, Butyl and Ethyl Parabens
Imidazolidinyl Urea
Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate
Petrolatum
Propylene Glycol
PVP/VA Copolymer
BHA and BHT
Dibutyl Phthalate
Triclosan
"CI" followed by a five digit number
Stearalkonium Chloride
Synthetic Colors
Synthetic Fragrances
Here is more information about harm of these toxic ingredients:
www.womensforum.com/bad-make-up-ingredients.html
http://www.fitsugar.com/10-Toxic-Cosmetic-Ingredients-Avoid-204330
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-toxic-12-beauty-ingredients.html
http://www.davidsuzuki.org/issues/health/science/toxics/dirty-dozen-cosmetic-chemicals/
The Best Face Makeup Brands in a Market recommended by Agne Skaringa:
1.Jane Iradele
https://janeiredale.com/
Perfect for those with rosacea, acne and other sensitive skin conditions, Jane Iredale makeup evens the skin's tone while actually nourishing, soothing and protecting with natural ingredients.
2.Glo Minerals
http://www.gloprofessional.com/
Glo Professionals caries three lines : Glo Minerals , Glo Therapeutics and Glo Essentials .
You can buy their products online in a spa or salons. Glo minerals is recommended by dermatologists, plastic surgeons and licensed skincare professionals in the United States and abroad.
3. Young Blood
http://www.ybskin.com
Founded y medical aesthetician, Pauline Youngblood. She created this brand because she was missing makeup with great shades and benefits for a skin.
These are pretty good brands too:
4.Excuviance
5.Bare Minerals
Makeup products I highly recommend:
1.Jane Iradele Amazing Base SPF 20 $44
An incredible loose mineral foundation with UVA/UVB broad-spectrum sun protection. The look is creamy and luminous. The feel is like silk.
Best for: Normal, dry sking. Medium ,full coverage.
http://shop.janeiredale.com/products/mineral-foundation/11004-amazing-baser-spf-20.htm
2.Jane Iradele Pure Pressed Base Mineral Foundation $52
The look is sheer and semi-matte. The feel is weightless. Trust our mineral foundation to look like your skin, only better
Best for: Oily , combination skin. Sheer coverege
3.Jane Iradele Active Light Under Eye Concealer $26
Unlike any concealer you have ever used! Its unique ingredients create a soft-focus effect that conceals while it brightens.
Ingredients such as cucumber, white tea extract and buckwheat wax calm tired eyes and reduce puffiness. The added benefit of avocado and sunflower oil gently nourishes the delicate eye area.
Best for : Everyone
http://shop.janeiredale.com/products/concealers/15505-active-lightr-under-eye-concealer.htm
4.Glo Minerals Protective Liquid Foundation Satin II $41.50
A satin-finish liquid mineral foundation offering medium to full coverage.Exclusive antioxidant blend of vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract
Best for: Normal, dry skin. Medium,full coverege
http://www.gloprofessional.com/protective-liquid-foundation
5.Glo Minerals Protective Liquid Foundation -Matte II $34
An oil-absorbing liquid mineral foundation for extremely oily skin types.Exclusive antioxidant blend of vitamins A, C, E and green tea extract.
Best for: Oily skin. Medium,full coverage .
http://www.gloprofessional.com/protective-liquid-foundation-matte-ii
My goal is to give you a couple choises of makeup products (drugstore and professional) which are good for your skin. Unfortunately , there is no brand which carry all line of good makeup products in drugstores. As an example, I researched about Physicians Formula and Dr.Hauschka . I got disappointed .Some of their products contained bad ingredients such as : talc ,wax , a lot of parabens , etc.
Here are some products for girl/woman on a budget :
1.Physicians Formula Organic Wear Makeup $13.99
in Drugstore.com Buy 1 get 1 50% off
The finest Italian powder with buildable light to medium coverage. two shades blend together for the most natural finish.
2. Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation $13.99
in Drugstore.com Buy 1 get 1 50% off
Silky, triple-milled minerals offer buildable coverage to even skin tone and smooth the appearance of fine lines and pores for a naturally beautiful complexion with a shine-free finish.
Best for : All skin types
3.Mineral Fusion Sheertint Foundation $29
In Drugstore.com Buy 1 get 1 50% off
A lightweight, hydrating foundation with a dewy finish that provides sheer coverage for perfectly even skin tone.
Paraben Free | Artificial Free | Fragrance Free | Talc Free | Hand-Crafted | Hypo-Allergenic | Never Tested on Animals
Best for : All skin types
4. Lavera Natural Cosmetics. Natural Liquid Foundation $18
In Drugstore.com
Liquid Foundation With Organic Botanical Liposomes Gives Delicate, Even Coverage
Best for: Normal, dry skin
In addition, don't forget that word "Natural" on a package doesn't mean anything. Even though the main ingredient may be water , however the rest substances can be toxic. Search for products that are labeled as organic. There are just a few certified companies that carry organic products.
For your personal makeup products which would be best for your skin and would match perfectly your skin tone we highly recommend to make an appointment for a consultation with the Beauty Affair.
I am more than happy to share with you my discovered website http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ . This website will help you to find out ingredients of cosmetic products, so you could make your own decision to use it or not.
Don't forget to nourish your skin from inside! Drink plenty of water and don't pick on your skin.
I hope you enjoyed this article!
Yours,
Beauty Affair founder
Agne Skaringa
Do you want a glowing skin? Healthy body? Be in shape and happy? Lets start from good eating habits and healthy food!
I found these great advices online and I decided to share them with you. If you have a hard time choosing your grocery products,simply open this blog on your smart phone for healthy suggestions.
For tasty and healthy recipes check our Pinterest! https://pinterest.com/virtualbeauty/food/
Be healthy! :)
I thought I will write about this important thing for each women - Hormone Balance. I found an article which one gives more explanation, why women shouldn't use birth control pills.
Please read it and make your own decision. What you should use and shouldn't.
http://www.wellnesstimes.com/articles/real-risks-birth-control-pills
Here is a natural alternative to have your body in balance. My girlfriends tried it and it works for them!
http://www.vitacost.com/vitacost-vitex-agnus-castus-chaste-berry
By the way, Costco.com is one of the best places to buy food,vitamins,herbs online for better price.
Take care of your self ladies,
Agne
