Gwen Stefani-Get the look !

I Love! recreating looks in magazines..theres something so exciting about figuring out colours, techniques, products used and having it all come together in the end, adding your own twists along the way.
This look is inspired by the cover of Novembers issue of In Style magazine featuring Gwen Stefani. Obviously Gwen Stefani is a  major fashion icon not only in her style but in her make-up as well. She loves to rock a modern clean nude cat eye with a bold lip, usually red, but not this time kids, nope she's sporting a hot pink/fushia type lip that looks amazing!! try it and see for yourself. This clean cat eye can be paired with any bold lip of your choice so have fun and rock it!!



Face:  Foundation, conceal and powder as usual. although try some simple contouring by 




Using a bronzer with NO! shimmer in it( I love Blunt from MAC) run this in the hollows of your 




cheeks from your ears to the middle towards your mouth. Next apply a light dusting of shimmer 




eyeshadow or powder along the tops of your cheek bones sweeping up towards the outer eye. 




Highlighting the highest points and contouring the lower points of the face work together to 




slenderize and brighten the face as well as add




depth and color to the face.

Eyes: First off you want to prep your eyes so that your shadow lasts all day I used MAC paint 




pot in Painterly, not only does this allow your shadow to last all day but it also allows the 




pigments of the eyeshadow to show true to their colour.

After your done prepping the eyes its time to move onto shadow. This look is a very clean look




and requires just a couple of shadows, sweep a white shimmer or matte eyeshadow all over the 




lid up to the brow bone I used Vanilla eyeshadow from MAC. 

By the look of the picture it looks like its just a wash of a matte colour all over but I decided to 




add some depth to the look by applying a light brown colour to the outer corners of the eye in a 




'V' shape. I used cappuccino by MAC using my blending fluffy brush in a winder wiper motion 




in my crease to create a soft colour in the outer crease. 

Time to grab your liquid liner ladies and create that classic cat eye, this does require practice so 




if your uncomfortable using liquid liner try using a sharp angled brush with black eyeshadow to 




practise with. eyeshadow can easily be blended out and corrected until your confident enough




to use liquid liner. After be sure to curl your lashes and apply mascara, apply false lashes if 




desired.

Cheeks/Lips: For the cheeks she didn't look like she had to much on, obviously her skin tone is much different from mine but no worries just work with what you got. I used a very light pink blush, Dandelion from Benefit but any light pink will do. And lastly the  star of the show those beautiful fushia/pink lips. First I outlined and filled in my lips with a pink lipliner, here I used Glam Pink lipliner from Gosh. Applying lipliner around the lips as well as filling in the lips allows your lipstick to last longer, have more staying power, and prevents the lipstick from running outside your natural lip line. After applying the lipliner I covered my lips in Lily Extase (340) by Revlon.

Don't forget to fill in the brows, which I did, I know it sounds strange but filling in your eyebrows with a coloured shadow or eye pencil frames the eyes and brings structure to the face.

I Love this bold lip!!! I even matched it with a scarf.. have fun and enjoy :D

Exploring with colour- get the look

Everyone say hello to my beautiful younger cousin Brianna. I love it when people allow me to do whatever I please with their make-up. In a casual day with my cousin I decided to do her makeup funky yet wearable. The inspiration came from a face chart I had created months before. I chose to explore with colours using mainly MAC pigments simply because.. well their well pigmented and easy to work with continue reading if you would like to get the look, or get inspired and try these colours in your own way.  

Face: Foundation, conceal and powder your face as usual. 

Eyes: First start by priming the lids with the lid primer of your preference, I LOVE! MAC paint pots I used Painterly for this look. 

For any look it is recommended you start your eye look with the lighter colours first simply because it is a lot easier to go over a light colour then to cover up a dark colour. That being said in the first inner corner of the eye place your yellow pigment in the first quarter of the eye. We are creating a soft transition of colours so next I used a beautiful lime green colour, to blend into the yellow and cover another quarter of the eye. in this case I used MAC pigments in Chartreuse. 

I wanted to transition the green into a deep purple and used a combination of MAC eyeshadows in Nocturnelle,Indian Ink, Vibrant Grape and Fig 1. but by all means work with what purples you have, when it comes to layering and making colours pop try working with various shades of the same colour to add depth to the look.

and lastly I wanted the outer corners to transition to a beautiful fushia/pink colour and went with MAC Fushia pigment.

Cheeks: For such a Loud eye look like this try keeping the cheeks a bit more subtle yet complementing to the eyes. Because the eyes have that pop of pink/fushia I went for a Blush colour to complement this, I used MAC Dollymix. Don't let this colour scare you it looks really intense on the pallet but is beautiful when applied, sweep this colour with a light hand along the cheek bones to give a nice natural flush of pink.

Lips: Again with this look choose a lip colour thats subtle yet ties in with the rest of the look, I went with a variety of light pinks to compliment the cheeks. I used Sweet thing by MAC. 

Product Recap: 

                    Eyes:

                            MAC Lemon pigment

                            MAC Chartreuse pigment

                            MAC Nocturnelle eyeshadow

                            MAC Vibrant grape eyeshadow

                            MAC Fig 1. eyeshadow

                            MAC Fushia pigment

                            

                   Cheeks: MAC Dollymix

                    Lips: MAC Sweet thing

                          

However use whatever colours, brands you have and get creative and see what different looks you can come up with. I love working with pigments because there so pigmented and so colourful!! A little goes a long way with these babies and for a more creamy liquid texture try mixing them or wetting your brush with water, eye drops or a mixing medium. I love experimenting with color and the best thing about makeup is you can do what you please, have fun :D let me know what looks you come up with.

xoxox Relish 

Tea Tree oil your powerful sidekick in everyday battles with anything!

Yes...kinda random tea tree oil? what the what??
I love this stuff!! yes it smells kinda weird but in a good aromatic way, kinda refreshing on the nostrils. but weird smell or no it is a essential oil extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca aternifolia tree greatly found in Australia. It has been used for many centuries for the treatment of cuts, abrasions, burns, insect bites, infections and similar conditions in between.

The many uses of tea tree oil.
 Tea tree essential oil is considered to be both a natural antiseptic, meaning able to destroy bacteria capable of causing infections, and antimicrobial, may destroy or prevent growth of microbes which are tiny living things including bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. It is used in various ways in the treatment of many conditions. The most common being prevention or treatment of acne, fungal infections such as athlete's foot, yeast infections and a wide variety of skin conditions. 
Tea tree oil works against bacteria and microbes in a similar way to disinfectants. It disrupts the cell membranes of the destructive microorganisms and disables the proteins within them so they cannot multiply and cause health problems. The main constituents in tea tree oil are chemical compounds called Terpinen-4-ol, Alpha-terpineol and Linaool.


Where can tea tree oil be used?? 
the ten common uses of tea tree oil are
1.) Acne  Apply tea tree oil to affected area as needed. add a few drops to your face cleanser to prevent build up of bacteria that causes acne.
2.) Athlete's foot Apply 2-3 drops of tea tree oil to the affected area on the feet. soak in solutions of 5-10 drops in a bath of warm water.
3.) colds Add approximately 10 drops of tea tree oil in a vaporizer to help clear chest and nasal congestion.
4.) cold sores Apply tea tree oil directly to the sore two times a day.
5.) head lice Add 5 drops of tea tree oil to 1oz of shampoo. massage into wet hair, leave on for 10 minutes, rinse, repeat daily until lice and eggs are gone.
6.) insect bites Apply a drop or two of tea tree oil on an affected area, for cleansing make a solution of 10 drops of tea tree oil in 1/4 cup of warm water and wash affected area with a clean cotton ball or pad.
7.) Dermatits/eczema Apply a small amount to affected area if no irritation occurs repeat on other areas. for cleansing make a solution of 10 drops of oil in 1/4 cup of warm water and wash affected area.
8.) Ear infections Mix 5 drops of tea tree oil in 1/4 cup of warm olive oil. drop a small amount into the ear, tilting the head to one side, using a small cotton ball swab gently to absorb the oil. repeat as needed.
9.) Cuts and wounds  Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to cup of warm water to use as an antiseptic wash.
10.) Dandruff Add 20 drops of tea tree oil into your shampoo and mix, or use three drops mixed with your shampoo in your hand to wash your hair.


Tea tree oil in my opinion is great to have around the house for any of the above and more!! when buying and using tea tree oil look for 100% pure to get the best results and the purest oil possible.  To read up more about tea tree oil and more if its uses check out various health stores or of course the interweb ;)

cheers
xoxoxox Relish

5 important foods for healthy glowing skin

Theres millions of products out on the market to help get that healthy glowing skin we all treasure, and we as consumers spend hundreds trying various skin care methods, moisturizers, toners, masks, creams, facials etc.. of course theres these topical methods but we should realize that what we put into our bodies comes out in our skin and hair. You may notice if your diet or water intake has been lacking it will show through in your complextion resulting in dull lifeless skin. Eating healthy foods and taking in the appropriate amount of water flushes your system and gives your body and skin the nutrients and vitamins it requires to look healthy and glowing. Try adding these five foods to your everyday diet and notice the results in your skin.


H2O!!!!!
 Drinking your daily requirement of water can be more of a chore these days with all the new fancy drinks over crowding the market, but in all reality no matter how dull and tasteless water is it is still very important to our bodies and our overall appearance. our bodies are 70-85% water and therefore is essential to not only hydrate but cleanse and detox our systems. Especially when your feeling a little under the weather or you partied just a little to much over the weekend.
 So as dull and tasteless water is try remembering to drink at least the required 8 8oz glasses of water daily, if the taste of water really bothers you that much try adding lemon or cucumber to add a refreshing taste as well as other health benefits. Lemon water helps with water retention. 




TOMATOES
 Tomatoes may help clear acne because they contain Lycopene (the photochemical that makes tomatoes red) can help lower the acne promoting hormones our bodies produce. try adding tomatoes to your diet 3-5 times a week. Lycopene also defends off the damaging UV rays we encounter in tanning beds and the sun. Lycopene and other Carotenoids found in orange to reddish coloured foods help improve skins antioxidant status. I know a lot of people hate tomatoes (my boyfriend being one of them) but I love them!!! try munching on cherry or grape tomatoes, I could eat these all day, especially with a little side of ranch ;)


GREEN TEA
 I'm sure we all know that Green Tea reaps many health benefits for it is filled with powerful antioxidants and is good for you beyond the benefits of glowing skin. Green tea fights acne based on its ability to lower levels of acne producing hormones called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) it is recommended that 2-5 cups everyday will reap the full benefits of this superT!!! Although like everything else enjoy in moderations for drinking to much green tea can become toxic.

BERRIES
Deeply colored berries such as blueberries, cherry's, strawberries etc. are loaded with antioxidants to help your body fight off blemishes. With everyday obstacles and free radicals fighting against our bodies such as stress, environmental conditions, poor diet etc. all this oxidative stress going on can actually deplete the antioxidants so be sure to include lots of antioxidant filled fruits to your everyday diet.

Fish
 To be completely honest I'm not the best lover of anything from the sea despite all the fatty acids and essential oils they contain, but yes fish like I'm sure we all know contains omega-3 fatty acids, which among many other benefits, can slow down the "wrinkling process" in our skin. Wrinkle development is rooted in inflammation, inflammatory chemicals that are like "acid rain" on the collagen of your skin, Omega-3 turns down the production of these chemicals, Omega-3 also has mood-regulating benefits. If your like me and don't enjoy fish as much try looking for supplements.

BROWN RICE
 Not something I would expect to promote healthy glowing skin however Brown Rice contains Ceramids which are found in skin products. These lipid molecules help skin maintain it's moisture. When your body digests ceramics they become incorporated into the outer later of the skin and therefore naturally help maintain skins hydration.

And so there you have it ladies !! Instead of going out and spending a fortune on all these lotions and potions try adding these foods to your everyday or at least weekly diet. Essentially everything we put into our bodies comes out in our skin so eat healthy, hydrate your body get plenty of "beauty sleep" and relax.

cheers
xoxox Relish

Scrubs away!!!!!

Exfoliation is the removal of the deadest skin cells on the outermost layer of our skin, it is very important to exfoliate these dead skin cells to prevent them from building up on the surface creating acne and a dull complexion. And is great for skin rejuvination and the growth of new skin cells.
but why spend all your money on expensive spa packages when you can do them yourself at home using ingredients that are always available in our kitchens. you can even invite the girls over with a jug of sangria for a exfoliation spa day !!

All these exfoliation recipes are to be mixed and used the same day, we are using natural ingredients that don't have a shelf life and therefore have to be mixed and used on the same day. All the ingredients we are using in our exfoliation recipes are all ingredients you can easily purchase at a grocery store if there not already available in your kitchen. for best results try using all natural or organic.

OLIVE OIL AND SUGAR: 

This is probably the most common and easy recipe available. I'm always using the recipe at least once a week to exfoliate and I LOVE it!! Olive oil is great for your skin, hair and overall health and when mixed with the sugar it creates the perfect simple and effective scrub.

1 tsp sugar

1tsp Olive oil (thats it !! it's that simple)

Whisk together ingredients and massage all over your face and neck, rinse with warm water, pat face dry with a clean towel. and taadaa its that simple and the results are amazing.

BAKING SODA AND WATER: 

Baking soda is considered a gentle exfoliator and is safe to use on sensitive skin.

add a little water to 1 tsp baking soda to make a paste. Massage gentley on your skin and leave on for about three minutes and rinse off.

HONEY AND YOGURT: 

This is very effective in treating black heads and nourishing your skin. Honey helps to reduce inflammation and redness and therefore is great for acne treatment. Honey is naturally anti-bacterial and has a slight acidity which gives an extra boost of exfoliation power. Honey is also a humectant which means it traps moisture and leaves your skin cleansed but not dried out.

mix 1 tsp of honey with 1tsp of plain yogurt. Spread and message on your face and leave on for 15 min. Rinse off with lukewarm water. this scrub is a bit messy but the results are worth it :)

LEMON JUICE AND SUGAR:
This one is also a very common and effective scrub that is very easy and convenient. Again we have the sugar acting as our exfoliation agent, but lemon juice contains salicylic acid which help kills bacteria in the skin and leaves your skin cleansed and refreshed! I love this scrub as well i never thought lemon juice and sugar would work such wonders on your skin but it does!!
Using a cotton face pad soak the cotton pad with a couple drops of lemon juice just enough to get it moist but not soggy. Sprinkle a pinch of sugar onto the cotton pad as well and scrubs away!!!! using small circular motions. Be careful around the eye area as well this stuff doesn't feel good in the eye.

CUCUMBER AND YOGURT MASK:
Yes I said it cucumber! Cucumber contains 96% water and is an excellent body hydrator. cucumbers contain lots of vitamins and minerals and have great health and beauty benefits.
For this mask you want to finely chop and mash 1/4 of a cucumber and mix it with 2 tbsp of plain yogurt in a bowl, mix to create a paste. Apply over your face and leave on for 20-25 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat skin dry with clean dry towel.

SANGRIA: 
mhmmm the only way to top a spa day with the girls is bringing the perfect drink into the mix. Sangria is a punch consisting of either red or white wine( i make mine with both) juice and fruit. you can choose any white or red you prefer and if your not a wine drinker I still encourage you to give this a try even people that hate wine have enjoyed this drink because it tastes like juice!
in a jug with ice mix in a bottle of red or white wine (or both)
next add the juice this can be any kind of juice I find orange juice works great!
thats pretty much your basic sangria however you can go even further and add fresh fruit slices and citrus slices. and if you want something with a little more to it you can also add soda water or sprite to give it a little extra something.
please remember to drink responsibly, if you have a little to much turn your spa day into a girls night in ;)


And there you have it ladies. So who needs to go spend all that money at a fancy spa when you can have just as good of a time at home with your girlies. There are hundreds of face mask and scrubs recipes available in books and on the internet.There are also many ingredients laying around your house that have great beauty benefits so get messy, try new things and have fun doing it :D Scrubs away everyone :D may your skin glow as bright as your hearts
xoxox Relish

Depoting eyeshadows :D

Heyy everyone!!

Having eyeshadows organized in a palette is such a beautiful thing both for a make-up artist or for your own personal collection. I've seen and tried a lot of different methods but I find this one is the most convenient and easy way. so lets get started :D

Heres what you'll need

Straightener

Eye shadow in pot

Nail file or anything with a flat point

Palette of your choice 

Magnetic tape: can be purchased at dollar stores or craft stores.

Step one.)

Plug in your straightener and set it on a low to medium heat (if thats an option for you). With the lid of your pot open place the eye shadow on your straightener and let sit for about 30 seconds to a minute, so that the glue holding the eyeshadow in starts to heat and loosen. keep a close eye on it and using the pointed tip of the eyeshadow poke the bottom of the pot to push the inner metal pot containing the eyeshadow upwards.

 Step two.)

When you feel the glue is loosened enough use the pointed tip of the nail file around the rim of the metal pot to remove the eyeshadow from the pot, be sure to be gentle and use finesse with this procedure because we don't want the eyeshadow to crack or break. you can also remove the label with the same procedure and place the label on your newly de-potted eyeshadow. Place a piece of magnet tape at the bottom as well and taadaaa a new member to add to the palette. :D 

Continue this procedure with all your desired eyeshadows and arrange them in your palette however your little heart desires.

 To me having all my assortment of colours arranged in my palette reminds me of a painter and thats exactly what a make-up artist is, a painter, with the face as our canvas there are endless opportunities your imagination is the only thing holding you back and thats what I love about this industry.

Big hugzz and happy de-potting 

xoxo Relish ;)

Moisturizers are our friends!!! :D

hydration is key!! especially in the summer! not only for our bodies but our skin as well. The skin is our outer protection and has to deal with all the stress from the elements, UVA/UVB rays, as well as environmental stress's like pollution. moisturizers are a great way to have extra protection from these elements as well as provide moisture under our makeup so our skin doesn't dry out and get flakey, its also a great way to prevent premature wrinkles and with summer finally here (although hear in British Columbia you could hardly notice :( ) you need  extra moisture to protect the sun from drying out your skin and keep your skin looking healthy!
I dont know about you guys but I LOVE to moisturize!! My vanity table crawling with various moisturizers for hands,face,feet  and everything in between.
here are a list of all my favourite moisturizing products. I try a lot of products out however I always seem to come back to these...

First one up...
KISS MY FACE natural moisturizer:  I LOVE this stuff!! its budget friendly and its all natural!! they contain no animal ingredients, no PARABENS! or artificial colors its PH balanced, and 100% biodegradable, check out the rest of there products on there website. The moisturizers have different formulas for different skin types. My favourite is the one that contains Olive oil, i love the consistency its goes on creamy yet doesn't feel greasy a little goes a long way with this stuff!
 This is also my all time favourite moisturizer to mix with foundations to create a tinted moisturizer. Because of it's creamy smooth consistency it goes on like silk, is easy to apply and gives the face a natural, moisturized fresh look. This is definitely one of my favourites.

Baby Oil: Heyyy we all can't disagree that babies have the softest skin so why not use what they use. Baby oil is a great way to keep your skin hydrated and lock in moisture and it can be used so many ways! I always have baby oil on hand. Its great to put on while your in the shower/bath(Or after, whatever tickles your fancy ) to condition, hydrate and lock in moisture. I also use baby oil for many other things like cleaning your makeup brushes or removing make-up!

Vaseline Cocoa Butter: I get the big size of this stuff from wal-mart for like 7$ and it lasts a long time!!! i use it every time I get out of the shower all over my body to keep everything soft, smooth and moisturized :) It also works well as a tanning lotion (if your cheap like me and don't buy the fancy expensive stuff ;) it also works if you've had.. a little to much sun. (I recommend the aloe cucumber vaseline for sunburns it feels great and it so refreshing on your red burning skin lol )
it smells delicious and it keeps your skin well moisturized without being greasy.

O.P.I Peach juice lotion: You usually find this stuff, as well as other O.P.I products at salon's but if your hands crave moisture like mine do you'll be glad you have this. Not only does it smell delicious!! but its a great hand moisturizer that leaves them feeling soft, Not greasy! and smell wonderfully delicious.

The body shop body butter: I usually always have some of this around its one of there popular products and comes in many other delicious fruit combinations just pick one that you like. its a more intense moisture (like butter for your skin) so I usually just use it when my skin really needs a good moisturizing.

M.A.C lip moisturizer: I know there's no picture but if you go to M.A.C you'll see it with there cleansers and such. your lips are very delicate and easily stressed from cold weather and hot sun. I get really dry, chapped lips all the time and i've tried everything!!!! to keep my lips well moisturized and healthy. no product seemed to keep my lips consistently hydrated until I found this stuff and I've never looked back! it goes on so smooth and creamy and it really hydrates and keeps them hydrated! hydrated lips are also important for applying lipstick so it looks like a smooth application as opposed to cracked.

Happy product hunting :D I'm always experimenting and trying out new products and I always seem to come back to these products. I hope they work as great for you and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. It's  just a simple collection to keep everything well moisturized and healthy.

Have fun in the sun!!!
happy hydrating :)