Max Hydration for a Winnipeg Winter. Oct 24/ 2012

As I have talked about in past blogs of mine, hydrating our skin is very important. From head to toe our bodies need moisture all year round and especially in the dry winter months. Living in a place like Winnipeg, when fall/winter seasons come around our skin certainly feels different. Some of us deal with mild dryness, itchy and flaky skin, and sometimes even red ruddy patches that can be itchy or even painful. I have discovered a product that will soothe your skin and mind this winter.......

Its called GNC Vitamin E Ointment. This product has done nothing but blow me out of the water. For feet, slather on a thin layer concentrating on the heels and rough spots. Apply before bed and after 2 nights of using Vitamin E Ointment, you WILL see a difference. Same goes for hands, elbows, knees, and even the backs of the arms where those red ruddy bumps appear. If you have dry flaky skin on the face, wether it be on the forehead, around the nose, or on the cheeks this product will do the trick (If you get regular breakouts on your face or are quite oily, this product is too much for your skin.) I recommend using this product on your face once or twice a week (before bed) for dry/sensitive, dry/dehydrated skin types. Vitamin E Ointment has become a staple in my purse, night table, and even in the esthetics room! Find Vitamin E Ointment at GNC (General Nutrition Corporation) near you. If you want Max Hydration this Winter, get this product.

http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Quote Oct 17/ 2012

"IT'S NOT ALWAYS ABOUT WHAT IS TRENDY, IT'S ABOUT WHAT EXPRESSES YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL."  
                                          Megan Gyles

Bad Habits Your Body Will Hate You For! Oct 3/ 2012

* 1. Smoking! One of the biggest forms of skin damage I see other than from the sun is from smoking. It causes vasoconstriction, reducing blood supply to the skin causing changes in the elasticity and loss of collagen. Smoking burns the skin from cigarette heat, sucks the Vitamin A out reducing moisture of the skin intensively, cause of viral infections cancer (I won't go on here, since we have all seen and heard about it) Lastly, you smell bad.

* 2. Picking/Poking the skin with instruments of any kind! Picking pimples, blackheads, scabs, scars, ingrown hairs.....Anything of the matter will cause further damage to the skin that is permanent. For women over  the age of 45 that own a magnifying mirror, I would not recommend them. I understand that as vision changes its harder to see what you are tweezing in the mirror. But these mirrors magnify things to where you actually see TOO MUCH. This is when picking or poking things that are unnecessary come into play. Don't forget that not a soul is looking at us that closely, and not even Cindy Crawford, Christie Brinkley, or Salma Hayek look fantastic THAT close up! Don't forget that ladies. Commonly the scars, marks, imperfections that we end up trying to cover or conceal is something we created ourselves years ago. This is for all women who pick or poke their skin! Don't.

* 3. Tanning To Excess! I am a believer that too much of ANYTHING is bad for you. If we eat too many carrots (healthy or not) we will turn orange! If we colour our hair too often, we will see damage. Same rule goes for tanning! Don't over do it or you will see its wrath, if not now then later. Take it easy on the tanning beds and sun exposure. This along with smoking is where I see the MOST permanent damage to the skin and it isn't pretty.

* 4. Chemical/Facial Peels! If you feel the need to make an appointment with a facility that provides machine operated facial procedures, stop and ask yourself why first. Sometimes as women, we forget just how beauty brainwashed we can become. Don't get me wrong, we all want to look and feel beautiful but don't let the world around you define what that is. Its your body, face, breasts, no one else's. Many times women have these procedures done when there was nothing wrong with their skin in the first place. If it isn't broke....don't fix it! There are MANY things that we can do at home or with an esthetician to conceal or improve skin imperfections naturally and affordably. 

* 5. Nail/ Cuticle Biting! This sounds like something we tell our children, not to bite their nails but there are MANY adults who do it as well. Not only can this disrupt nail growth but its incredibly incredibly unsanitary! Lots of women and men take pride in healthy beautiful nails and this habit certainly effects that. I can't stress enough that this isn't just for esthetic reasons but also health reasons. If you bite your nails/cuticles and notice that you commonly get colds, a cough, sniffles, or even the flu it is very likely that this bad habit is connected. Take a month challenge to avoid biting your nails and I guarantee that you will feel healthier. 

IF ANY OF THESE HABITS APPLY TO YOU, HERE ARE SOME TOOLS TO HELP YOU ALONG: 

* For smokers- Do the proper research to find the best solution for you. Whether it be the gum, patch, proper medication, or the help of a friend or family member. Do your best to quit.

*Skin Pickers- Get rid of the magnifying mirrors, your husband will thank you as well as yourself. Schedule a facial with your trusted esthetician for proper extractions. They are trained to remove blackheads and more without damaging your skin. Let them wax/thread/sugar your brows, that way you aren't blindly tweezing and causing problems. Start with weekly homemade face masks, I promise that your skin will thank you!

*Tanners- Love the sun appropriately! Use SPF 30 and upward to get that bronze glow that you love without over doing it. Be aware of high UV times of the day, and wear fashionable hats to ramp up the protection. This all sounds like no fun now, but you will thank me later.

*Facial Peel Lovers- Speak to a dermatologist or esthetician for less abrasive products or solutions. If this is an addiction which may be, make an appointment with a trusted psychologist or councellor since your physical solutions could be reflecting an inner issue.

*Nail Biters- I treat you like a smoker in the sense that you need to find another GOOD habit to curb the bad one. Purchase suckers or gum....something that will substitute the habit to bite. Some have their nails done and that helps. Others have found that the bitter clear nail polish that you purchase at the drugstore does the trick. Or maybe there is a specific time of day, or activity that brings on your biting habit. Journal when or what those things are and go from there.

GOOD LUCK! AND REMEMBER THAT YOU WILL THANK YOURSELF LATER!    

http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Revival Night Treatment Sept 19/2012

Here is the best revival night treatment that your body will thank you for. Enjoy!


* Cleanse skin gently in small upward circular motions. Make sure to concentrate in tight areas like around the nose and eyes. When skin is clean, pat dry with a fresh towel.

* Soak a single seaweed/Nori sheet (torn into patches) in a bowl of warm water for 1 minute.

* Dip hands into bowl and massage seaweed onto your face and neck (neck is optional but beneficial). Use as much of one seaweed sheet as you can. The mask will appear spotty.

* Leave mask for 10-15 minutes, the longer the better! By this time the mask will have dried and want to flake off.

* Rinse your skin with warm water until you are seaweed free. Pat dry gently.

* Smooth a dime sized amount  of Bio Oil over your face and neck. Massage in delicately. If you are not familiar with Bio Oil refer to last blog; Top 10 Super Products.

* Let the Bio Oil sit on your skin for a few minutes before applying your moisturizer.

* Apply a quarter sized amount of GNC Moisturizing Cream using a light tapping rhythm, this is good for blood flow. Refer to last blog again if not familiar with the GNC cream. Take a few moments to assure that cream is absorbed.

* Next! Take a water bottle to bed with you, smooth your thickest most luxurious cream over your feet and hands. Put cuticle oil on for best results. Hit the pillow (at a descent hour I might add)  and wake up  soft, happy, and hydrated.

http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

10 SUPER PRODUCTS from the drugstore/department stores.

Straight from the Esthetician's mouth, here are My 10 Favourite Super Products from the drugstore or department store near you. Enjoy!


*GNC MOISTURIZING CREAMS - (Vitamin C, Vitamins E, A&D, and Aloe Vera) - These are fantastic face creams, especially for the summer months. They are non-greasy, light creams that give you a hydration kick. Great for smoothing over your skin when you hop out of the pool or lake. Also incredibly soothing when applied after a waxing. I recommend these creams mostly for summer, unless you are very oily they can be great all year round. Find these creams at your local GNC supplement store.

*BIO-OIL - Where do I begin! Bio-Oil is meant for scars, stretch marks,uneven skin tone, aging skin, and dehydrated skin. This product feels like silk! Don't let the word "oil" scare you either, it goes on beautifully and when applied as directed will not leave you feeling greasy. I have about 1 million reasons why I love this product and what I use it for but I don't have all day. Great product for after sun relief, used as a serum before bed, for ugly scars (i.e. oven burns, cuts). You will feel amazing when you use Bio-Oil and if you do the 3month test on the back of the bottle, there will be nothing but smiles from here on out! Find Bio-Oil at your local Shoppers Drug mart in various sized bottles. Can also be found at Costco (and I might add a better deal).

*BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO - Batiste refreshes your hair between washes and can be found in nice scents. I love this product for camping or when you are on the go and you simply have no time to wash your hair. I love the Tropical scent, it smells like coconut. Comes in a large or travel sized can and you shake, spray 30cm from hair, give even coverage, massage through your hair, leave for a few moments, then brush out. Find Batiste Dry Shampoo at your local Shoppers Drug mart.

*SMITH'S STRAWBERRY LIP BALM - This was an accidental find and I love it. Also comes in a mocha scent and goes on like butter with a easy on the go applicator. SMITH'S Strawberry Lip Balm can be found at a local Sephora near you.

*LUSH LUSTRE DUSTING POWDER - Soft gold shimmer powder for dusting on your skin. Lustre has a jasmine scent to it and leaves you glowing. I used this on my wedding day so my skin would glimmer, it doubles as an eyeshadow, and can be toted anywhere with you! I also put it in my hair. Lustre can be found at a local LUSH Fresh Handmade Cosmetics near you.

*HEMP HAND PROTECTOR - I realized the other day just how long I have been using this hand cream and I hope to god it will never be discontinued. Made with hemp seed oil, this product makes your hands (or feet) feel buttery silky smooth. One important fact about Hemp Hand Protector is the drier your hands are the better it works. If you can get away with a light (almost milky consistency) on your hands, then this product is too thick for you. Works best applied before bed or when you are simply bored and not doing much. Hemp Hand Protector can be found at a The Body Shop, in a local mall near you.

*JOHNSON'S HAND AND FACE WIPES - So many uses for this one! Great on the go, throw em in your purse, or bedside night table(for quick or lazy makeup removal), helps wipe away 95% of dirt and germs, your hands feel sooo clean since they have a soft scent, they're textured, and dampened. Also a fabulous camping essential! Find Johnson's Hand and Face Wipes at a local Shoppers Drug mart near you.

*HOOLA BRONZING POWDER BY BENEFIT - Sun shine in a box! If you are fair or even have a hard time keeping a tan, you need to try Hoola. Easy to apply bronzing powder, includes on the go brush. Hoola is perfect with your everyday makeup or applied by itself for a sunny appearance. I love this bronzer over other brands because it goes on easy, doesn't look muddy or orange and I even carry it in my professional makeup kit! Find Hoola Bronzing Powder at Sephora or a local Shoppers Drug mart near you.

*BURT'S BEES LEMON BUTTER CUTICLE CREAM - Or as I call it; Cuticle Butter. This product  pretty much speaks for itself. Lather it on your cuticles when you have a break at work or before bed. Works wonders and smells like lemony heaven. There is no place I don't take this product. Massage it in thick or thin, you will love it and your friends, your mom, your grandma are all going to want to use it. Find Burt's Bees products of any kind at a Shoppers Drug mart near you.

*LUSH WHIP STICK - Last but certainly not least, my all time favourite chocolate lip balm. Whip Stick contains essential oils and your lips will never feel better until you try this. This product also goes everywhere with me and IF I forget my cuticle butter this doubles as one. When I apply Whip Stick to my lips, people around me think that there are baked cookies near by....and there aren't lol. Find Whip stick at a local LUSH Handmade Cosmetics near you.

Hope you enjoyed the read and found some products to try!! I was just asked out of these 10 products, which would be top 5. Here they are; GNC Face Creams, Bio-Oil, Hemp Hand Protector, Whip Stick, and Hoola Bronzing Powder.

Zit Zapping Remedies!

Here are THE BEST zit zapping remedies, just as I promised. Enjoy!

For starters, I just want to recap on what I had posted on Facebook. This is definitly the most common question I hear in my profession; What's up with my skin?!  Why all the breakouts?! I want to remind everyone with major breakouts (or even little ones) that more than likely its connected to stress. When they pop up in the chin and jawline region, its from being extremely overworked, worried, you aren't sleeping well, eating badly, or all of these at the same time. If you are about to try any of these zit remedies please keep in mind that they work BEST when you take time to relax. SO take a deep breath, a long bath/steamy shower, read a book, listen to music, eat!, sleep and RELAX. Ok, now for the good stuff.

THE ONE WEEK DOCTOR ORDON TREATMENT

You will need *Dried Basil Leaves
                        *Aspirin or baby Aspirin
                        *Chamomile Tea bags
Start by adding 3 tablespoons of dried basil leaves to 1 cup of boiling water. Mix in and let boil for a few short moments. Let cool then strain leaves. Place the liquid in a clean jar or clean spray bottle (spray bottle if you want to spritz it on and jar if you want to swipe your skin over with a cotton pad)
Before cleansing, apply the basil toner to your skin. Let sit for a few minutes then cleanse your skin like  normal. After cleansing apply a thin layer of moisturizer. Take your Aspirin (only need 1 or half of one at a time) place in a mortar and pestle to crush down to a powder. Place a few drops of water and mix until it becomes a paste. Spot treat...I repeat...spot treat any flare ups. Leave it on and go to bed. This treatment should be done before bed. It sets in better and you aren't walking around with paste on your face all day. For any random flare ups that come at a bad time (i.e. before family photos) Take warm chamomile teabags and use them as a compress on the spots for 15 minutes. This calms down any redness and takes away the urge to pick (hands off). Basil is an anti-inflammatory, Aspirin contains salicylic acid which kills bacteria within the pimple and shrinks them down. And chamomile is an anti-inflammatory as well.  Always be sure to moisturize (with an oil free moisturizer) even while doing this treatment. Your skin needs hydration and many think that not moisturizing while they have breakouts will help them disappear. This is not the case.

DO THIS TREATMENT EVERYDAY FOR A WEEK (7 DAYS) AND YOU WILL SEE A DIFFERENCE

For anyone that finds this treatment above too much work for them; cleanse your skin, and spot treat with Tea Tree Oil which you can pick up in the drugstore. Make sure you are not allergic to Tea Tree Oil first. You will notice that it has a potent scent because it is pure. Take a clean Q-tip and saturate the tip with Tea Tree. Spot treat in dabbing swirls. Moisturize and go to bed. You will see results by morning. Not as quickly as the Aspirin but still quick. I have sooo many more of these treatments but a blog should only be so long. So Enjoy these for now, relax, and I will see ya soon with more skin treats. http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/








                     
                       

I'm Back!

Hello everyone! You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything on my blog in a while. Just wanted to let you know what I have been up to.

Well the last couple of months were extra busy with wedding plans! Saturday August 11/ 2012 I married Matthew Gyles. I am officially Megan Gyles! The wedding was held at the new Southwood Golf and Country Club in St. Norbert. We were married in the garden area at 3pm and the reception followed indoors. There were 123 guests that attended and friends of ours sang and played acoustic guitar during the service. For the reception, the tables were named after UFC fighters (yes, we are huge UFC fans!) Matt and I came out to a pumped up song with our UFC gloves on and my black hooded robe that says "Mrs. Gyles" on the back. We had a wedding party of 6 (3 women and 3 men). Our menu selections were chicken, salmon, or vegetarian which were served with creamy potatoes au gratin, chef's vegetable medley, and a strawberry kiwi salad. For dessert, we chose a warm individual pecan tart topped with vanilla ice cream and chocolate drizzle. The food was phenomenal! After dinner and speeches, the candy buffet was opened for guests to enjoy as a little thank you. We danced, laughed and partied into the night. It was a wonderful day!

To anyone getting married, have fun, laugh, don't stress, and enjoy each other before and after the wedding because it all goes so fast!

The Impact of a Lash Tint! June 11/ 2012

What is a Lash Tint? Darkening of the lashes using a natural vegetable dye. This is The Most Underrated service that I provide at Positively Beautiful!  A lash tint takes 15-20 mins, looks amazing, and lasts 3-6 weeks! This is the quickest and most affordable way to get knock out lashes. And I PROMISE you that friends and co workers will be saying: "Did you get a facial?" , "Your eyes look amazing!", or "Something's Different?"  If you are a bride wanting lush lashes for your wedding day, going away on vacation and want to wear little to no makeup, or even an alternative to mascara, a lash tint is for you. Lash tints take best to light blonde to dirty blonde colouring (this includes red heads). Don't forget that I am all about health and safety, I need to know if you have allergies and contact lenses cannot be worn during a lash tint procedure.  http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

My Favourite Homemade Face Masks! April 8/2012

I love homemade face masks! They are incredibly effective, affordable and easy. Here are my Top 3 masks I use most.  SEAWEED MASK: Seaweed Sheets (yes, the kind you use for making sushi) Take one sheet and tear it into strips or small patches, soak them in a dish of COLD water for a few seconds until they feel slimy, lay them on the skin and pat them firmly. Leave on for 10-20minutes. The longer the better I find. Rinse well with warm water and moisturize. Seaweed draws out toxins from our body and releases nutrients into our pores. It conditions, promotes elasticity, helps prevent stretch marks, is a rich source in minerals and calcium, seaweed deeply relaxes your nervous system, which in turn reduces stress. 

    HONEY MASK: Liquid or creamed honey (preferably plain honey) Take a small dish with a few tablespoons of honey and a facial brush and apply a thick layer on your skin (not too close to eyes) Leave honey for 10-15 minutes, have a damp towel handy this one drips as it warms with your skin. Rinse with warm water and follow with moisturizer. Honey contains lots of natural enzymes and gives you soft glowing skin. Great for dry or even flaky skin. 

                      CHOCOLATE COFFEE MASK: 1 tablespoon of ground coffee, 1 tablespoon of cocoa, and 1 1/2 tablespoons of olive oil. Mix well in a small dish and apply with fingers or facial brush. This is a stimulating mask and gets the circulation going. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. You can GENTLY massage in  for a few seconds over the surface of your face. Rinse with warm water and follow with moisturizer. The caffeine is very stimulating for the skin. This is a great mask when your skin looks or feels dull or grey, and you need a skin boost. 

     These Masks that I have shared with you are all safe on the skin (providing you are not allergic to any of the ingredients) Always cleanse the skin well before applying a mask. You can also steam your skin before or during mask application, this will help enhance their performance. Applying facial masks in the evening before bed is the most beneficial time to do so. Hope you enjoy!  http://wwww.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Perfectly Crafted Brows. March 29/2012

Having Perfectly Crafted Brows is easier than you may think. The most commonly made mistake is over manicuring of the brows. Over doing it by self tweezing or waxing eyebrows without any guidelines to follow will leave you in a sticky spot. Its best reccomended that you schedule brow shaping with a professional esthetician. Especially when you are first starting out. Once you have done so, communication is key! Wether you have virgin brows or have had them done before, communicating is what will get you What You Want!
                              Today, brows are included in our day to day makeup rituals. As they should be. Using brow gels for unruly hairs, filling in sparse growth with tinted powders etc.. Eyebrows frame our faces, give structure and create character all on their own. Since 2000, the natural brow shape has made a serious comeback. Some fantastic natural brows to watch for: Portia De Rossi, Annalynne McCord,  Beyonce, Kate Winslet, Megan Fox, Jennifer Aniston, Brooke Shields, Scarlett Johansson.

         Having your brows crafted by a professional will make life a little easier. So drop those tweezers and leave the tweaking to someone else.

        Coming From a Professional, my Main Goal is:
                             *To give you the most desirable shape for your face and features.
                            *To fulfill obvious needs such as separating the brows, tint brows.
                        *Create effortless, maintainable eyebrows.

   http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/   For Beautiful Brows Near You!

The Art of Healthy Natural Nails. March 2/2012

Healthy Natural Nails, we all want them! In this blog, there are some basic TLC tips for beautiful nails.  

Nails are designed to protect our sensitive fingertips from pain and damage. When we have an itch, we'd be lost without them. Our nails (along with hair and skin) reflect the level of health within our bodies. An example of this is when the nails have a bluish colour, this can relate to issues of the heart. An orange/yellow colour can reflect liver problems. Substance abuse affects our nails.They are also hereditary, so expect to see similarities within family fingernails. 

 

    When caring for our nails there are obvious things to avoid: Discourage bad habits like biting (nails/cuticles), peeling of the nail tips, pulling hangnails, and causing damage to the nail beds. Excellent nail care STARTS with getting rid of bad habits. 

        Trim and file your nails gently. Try not to wear your nails too long, this puts pressure on the stress point and can weaken them. Caring for the cuticle is as important as caring for the nails. The cuticle is where nail growth begins.Soak fingertips in warm water and push cuticles back (softly) with a clean steel pusher or orangewood stick. Have a professional trim the cuticle, avoid doing this yourself. Use a 3 sided buffer to shine and smooth the surface of the nails. Buff them in an "X" pattern with downward strokes. Apply strengthener in 2 coats (every other day). When your nails are very brittle or dry follow these steps and remove at the end of the week. Begin this process again and you will see faster results. Strengthener dries very quickly and can be applied in SECONDS. Some favourite brands of strengtheners are OPI's Nail Envy and China Glaze Growth Formula. Applying cuticle oil is ESSENTIAL for smooth, fuss free cuticles. Cuticle oil also strengthens and improves nail condition. Oil lasts long, can be carried everywhere with you, works wonders when applied before bed and a little goes a Long Way! Some favourites are CND's Solar Oil, Burt's Bees Lemon Cuticle Balm, Star Nail's Cranberry Oil.

     Treat and Relax!  Get out a fancy glass bowl, not too big or too small. Fill with warm water and drop in lemon, lime, and orange slices. Let the citrus sit a minute or two so the juices settle into the water. Sit somewhere that you can relax and place your hands in the bowl. A 10min soak is just fine. Citrus fruit contains folic acid which strengthens nails. This treatment feels and smells good. Green Tea and Honey also makes a great hand (and Foot) soak. Green Tea is full of antioxidants and honey is THE BEST natural moisturizer (honey is a whole other blog!) After your relaxing soak, rinse hands and apply moisturizer. When choosing moisturizer, avoid creams and lotions that contain alcohol or are heavily perfumed. Some favourite brands are Hempz Creams and Lotions, Body Drench, CND Cranberry, or Pear and Dandelion. Lotions to Avoid would be Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, or the complimentary lotion that comes with the perfume you buy.  Professional Tips at your Service. Enjoy!   http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Acne Facial Treatment Part 3. Feb 28/2012

Part 3 Acne Treatment, we skipped an extra week to see any differences. The major changes we have observed since the very first treatment is that the skin congestion has shrunk down immensely. Meaning any pustules that come in are much smaller in size and less cystic in appearance. My treatment subject and I  have spoken about little things that she can do in between facials, I call it "homework". When you feel a breakout coming on and it feels sore or is red in appearance, steam the skin in the shower or with a Vichy steamer and then spot treat with Tea Tree Oil (on a Q-tip), Drink lots of water, get plenty of sleep, change your pillow case, wipe down your phone(s), keep Hands Off your face and DON'T PICK your skin! When you need your skin treated/checked or you have had enough, schedule a facial with a professional like myself. These points I go over are so important for keeping the skin acne free and easier to take care of. http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Knock em Dead with a Fabulous Red! Feb 16/2012

The colour red stimulates the physical senses and enhances ambitions, drives, and courage. Red is a very passionate and assertive colour. If your energy level has been low, you have the winter blues, or you want to Knock em Dead at your next interview, Go Red! A slick red polish, red heels, or even red jewelry can lift your spirits. It has been said that a woman in red is never forgotten. Stand out, take charge, and be the powerful woman that you are!
           Choose your hue of red. Red-Blue, Red-Orange, Red-Pink. Some reds have a brown or magenta undertone. What works best for your skin tone? Schedule an appointment with your skincare/nail care professional to find out! www.positivelybeautiful.ca

Be a Shellac Bride! Feb 9/2012

Shellac by CND is the new hybrid nail polish that goes on like polish and lasts like gels. Shellac is fantastic for the everyday woman and lasts 14 to 21 days! It is Formaldehyde Free, Toluene Free, and Dibutyl Phthalate Free, making it very safe on the nails. Whenever I perform nail services for my clients I not only want them to leave feeling positively beautiful, but I want them to feel educated. Knowing what works best for their nails and how to prolong them to their best ability is important. This is why I stand by Shellac! My next mission is to educate brides. I have observed over time that most brides have gel nails applied for their weddings. Applying a gel nail requires serious buffing down of the natural nail first. So you get your gels done professionally (Running about $60-$80) and have them for your wedding. When the wedding is over, you are stuck with gels that need to be removed (and hurts) or you pick them off and they feel worse. The result you are left with is red, sore nails that feel like paper and will take months (to a year) to grow back in.  When Shellac is applied (for $40-$50) there is NO buffing of the natural nail, it feels thin like polish and not thick (leaving you able to function) The sheen stays strong and MORE IMPORTANTLY: When Shellac is removed your nails are not damaged. Shellac can be applied in various shades as well as french. For Brides in Winnipeg, check out http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/ for Bridal Packages including Shellac.

Acne Facial Treatment Part 2. Feb 7/2012

It's been two weeks, and we're on part 2 of the acne facial treatment. Since the last treatment, it is already visible that the little bumps and congestion along the jaw line has gone down dramatically. This is the results of the Organic Dermabrasion and High Frequency Machine that was used. The next area that I will be targeting is the cheeks going right into the hairline. This area is common for larger acne and congestion to occur, due to stress, hormones, and even sweat buildup from a workout. I steamed the skin and performed some extractions over the skin but again, did not over do it. After extractions, toner, high frequency and spot treating (with Tea Tree Oil) was done. When spot treating extracted pustules, always use a clean Q-tip to do so and not your fingers. A clay mask application followed (sat on 10-15min) toner, and a light citrus moisturizer. Some IMPORTANT points to remember with acne prone skin: Always wear a sweat band when working out to prevent forehead breakouts and hair products dripping down on to the face, wash your pillowcase(s) weekly, swipe down phones and cellphones(including at work) with an alcohol pad to prevent dirt and oils from getting on the skin, try to avoid touching your face as much as possible, and THE BIG ONE: Don't pick your skin! Leave it alone and get extractions done professionally. More results photos to come! These tips are especially important for acne prone skin, but are great for us all to follow. http://www.positivelybeautiful.ca/

Important Quote. Feb 2/2012

"HOW WE THINK AFFECTS HOW WE LOOK. PERIOD." Makeup Artist Carmindy, From What Not to Wear.

Get What You Want and Be Imaginative. Feb 1/2012

Something fun about being a makeup artist is the ability to mix, create, and be imaginative! Don't get me wrong, I love a fresh new palette of shadows or lip colours but there is something exciting about mixing and creating your own tints and colours. Wether I'm applying my own or applying makeup for a client, I love to cocktail different colours, shades, and textures. One of my favourite combos is cherry red lipstick+gold lipstick+burgundy lipstick (pea size each), swirl em up and you get a sexy rose gold shade! This is really nice for an evening lip. Take a matte shadow to shimmer, bubble gum to hot fuchsia, or green shadow to aqua. Intensify or tone down any shade with a little magic mixing. Makeup is meant to be fun and its easy to get into a routine of applying basic colours. If you love "cocktailing" tints and are proud of your creations, place them in clean jars/containers. Name them as you see fit and label them up. Don't just wear makeup, Mix It Up!

Important Quote Jan 31/2012

"KNOW THAT WHAT YOU WANT IS WORTHWHILE, VALUABLE AND VALID."                         Arlene Dickinson: From Dragon's Den.

Acne Facial Treatment. Part 1. Jan 26/2012

I am documenting an acne facial treatment so you can see the differences in the skin. Here are before pictures of the skin (before beginning the facial). More pictures will be posted as the process takes place. Acne is very common and It's important to educate ourselves on how to take care of our skin the best ways possible. In this facial, I use a gel based cleanser, treat the skin with an organic dermabrasion (exfoliation) which is amazing for all skin types including sensitive skin. This sloughs off dead skin cells, promotes circulation of blood flow, and allows for other products to penetrate deeper an do their job. After dermabrasion, the skin is steamed to open up the pores and extractions can be performed. When performing   extractions, my fingers are clean, wrapped in tissues, and i'm pressing with the pads of my fingers to lift out  blackheads and anything congesting the skin. Over extracting the skin can cause red marks, bruising, and scars. The skin is then wiped down with a toner and the High Frequency Machine is used. High Frequency  produces a heat effect that stimulates blood flow, and has a germecidal effects on the skin. When applying a mask it's good to use clay masks with ingredients like liquorice, menthol, sulphur, and grapefruit, for their cleansing, calming, soothing, bacterial properties. The mask is on 10 -15 mins, and removed with hot towels and sponges (soaked in green tea). I tone the skin and then apply a light moisturizer (oil free) with citric properties. Whenever I perform acne facials there is little to no massaging. Over stimulating oil production is not the goal. Spot treating with tea tree oil is also great to prevent a pimple coming in or hinder it/them from getting any larger. Can't wait for you to see the progress!

Solid Scents I Love! Jan 19/2012

My new favourite perfumes! I was looking for some new scents to try and came across Lush. They have a great selection, up to 17 scents to choose from! They have them in stick form like these in the picture and sprays as well. I love Lust and Orange Blossom, fruity yet light and sexy. Available at a Lush store near you and Lush.ca. Give em a try!

Highly Recommended Read! Jan 18/2012

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual is not only a makeup guide but a beauty bible! She outlines step by step lessons, beauty do's and don'ts, proper skin care,diet/lifestyle choices and how they affect us as a whole. Great read for all women as well as teens. You can find this book at a Chapters/Indigo near you. Enjoy!!

Matte,Neutral,Nudes! Jan 11/2012

When making a choice to wear a nude or neutral shade of polish, it helps to have a little advice on what shades look great out there! Here is a list of some client faves!!  From top finger down in the bird photo: IV by China Glaze, Below Deck by China Glaze, Over the Taupe by OPI, Hopelessly in Love by OPI, Thumb is You Don't Know Jacques! by OPI. From top finger down in the pearl photo: Parlez-Vous OPI?, Bubble Bath by OPI, Recycle by China Glaze, Fifth Avenue by China Glaze, Thumb is Chocolate Moose by OPI. Hope you enjoy these classics!

Regime. Jan 10/2012

It's time to ask ourselves how often are we really sticking to a regime? Those daily things that we should be doing but haven't fully committed to. An incredibly common question I'm asked by clients is why is their skin so dry? And I ask, Are you exfoliating on a weekly basis? Are you applying creams/oils regularly? Protecting your skin from  harmful chemicals? (i.e. Wearing gloves when necessary) Are you applying SPF when exposed to the sun? It seems like a lot of questions but the TRUE HEALTH of our skin is what we need to focus on. Consider our heart for example. We follow a regular regime to ensure the health of our heart by watching what we eat and activities we take part in. Most of us forget that our skin is also an organ, just like our heart! Your skin is your outer shell and faces daily exposure to everything you touch and expose yourself to. So where does regime come in? Taking care of our skin.....truly taking care of our skin means treating it like the organ that it is and following these basics; PROTECT your skin from the sun with regular use of SPF and wear gloves when using harmful chemicals. REVIVE with weekly exfoliation to slough off dead skin cells and allow skin to regenerate. TREAT by hydrating as often as you can with regular water consumption, use of creams/oils, and getting plenty of rest for vibrant skin. Sticking to these basics and committing to a regime will leave your skin healthy and glowing!