Picture Perfect Makeup

With the general population being more picture obsessed than they once were and people, women in particular, looking to be seen as “picture perfect” as possible for social media and while on their day to day routine, the pressure mounds to make women’s makeup  something right out of a magazine, Fluff Magazine preferably.  With help from the expert makeup artist LeAndra France, we got the pro’s guide to keeping your face photo ready for anyone aiming to create the perfect visual effect that looks flawless on or off camera.

Name the top five makeup mistakes that unexperienced MUA’s or DIY gals make on a day to day basis?

1.  Using the wrong colors foundations and concealers. I see this a lot, either the colors are too dark or too red or pale .It is important to know undertones of the skin and match them with a concealer that hides imperfections, as opposed highlighting them.

2. Not blending makeup enough, leaving marks of demarcation at the jaw line and not applying
foundation and powders around the hairline and eyebrows are a hug No-No.

3. Misapplication of mascara is another pet peeve. One must always apply mascara on all the hairs of the lashes and making sure they apply mascara from the base of the eyelash, all the way to the top of the lash. A major mistake is when some ladies only apply mascara from the middle of the lash, to the tip which can make the lashes look very sparse.

4. I like to call it one stop contour. Not knowing your face’s shape can be a big problem, I see woman contouring and highlight every face the same way….it isn't a one technique fits all kind of deal. Everyone’s bone structure is unique and we all don't need to hollow out our cheekbones and slim our noses. Too much contouring and using the wrong technique can look very unflattering.

5. Using mineral makeup products is not a great idea. These products contain Mica, a mineral that can make your skin appear oily and very shiny, especially when the photographer’s light and flash hit it.


  What do you recommend doing to ensure that a face photographs well?

1.  Sometimes photographers lighting can be too little bright on the skin’s pigment and it in turn makes the model look very pale or ashy. It is best to darken your foundation a shade and blend it on to the ears, neck and décolletage.

*Trick of the Trade: If you get foundation on the hairline use a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a paper towel to wipe it off gently.

2. Using lots of shimmer and glitter is a HUGE faux pas. Glitters and shimmery products make the skin appear very shiny, or wet when the flash and lighting hit it.  Professionals call these shiny areas, Hot spots. We often recommend using matte makeup because matte makeup products won't reflect any light on camera.

*Trick of the Trade: Not using a setting powder is a big mistake. Apply setting powder to the forehead, nose and chin to avoid excess shine. Setting powders are great for protecting your foundation and concealers and keeps your beautiful makeup from melting under the hot photography lights or sun. So the more the better just make sure to pat and blend very well

3.Skin care is very important! Foundations and concealers can emphasize the look of dehydrated cracking skin and wrinkles it’s always best to do a mini facial before shoot. Doing light exfoliation on your face and lips while using of a good moisturizer and primer will help your makeup blend into your skin allowing your makeup to look flawless.

No that your camera ready and have all the tips you need to guarantee that you look your best on camera, it time to delete the filter apps and embrace the instructions that will promise perfection when it comes to makeup application for photos.

For more info on Makeup Artist LeAndra France visit her website: www.leandrafrance.com

Homemade Haircare

Being a continuous customer and purchasing pricey hair care products can be a daunting task and also drain your pockets to no end. The products that women pay the most for, are hair care products, specifically conditioners. On average women spend over $ 10,000 a year on products for their hair and in most cases, a third of that number are wasted by women who are searching for the right products that have the best results for dry damaged hair. As consumers, we are persuaded to believe that only store bought products will treat our hair issues, when in fact we have a slew of ingredients in our own homes that can treat and repair damaged or dry hair more effectively. Want to know which ingredients are most effective? Team Fluff has got you covered. Here are the top five ingredients in your home that will help you with curing your dry hair issues.

1.   Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is considered nature’s magical serum that is good for just about any and everything, including serving as a wonderful leave in treatment for dry hair. The application of coconut oil is just as easy as 1-2-3. Apply to hair and leave in for 4-6 hours and rinse.

Another alternative for the use of Coconut Oil is creating a Coconut Lavender Conditioner made from the following.

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1 teaspoon jojoba oil
5 drops lavender essential oil
1 cup of organic coconut oil

Mix all of these ingredients in a bowl and warm in the microwave on high for 2-3 minutes and place in a plastic container to cool for use.

2.   Eggs - Although this is not the most smell friendly approach to hair conditioning, it does work wonders for conditioning hair. Mix two eggs with half cup of olive oil. Stir the mixture and apply to your hair, leave in for an hour and rinse.

When trying to solve issues regarding dandruff, the following  egg and vinegar hair mask will work its magic and make all your dry scalp worries disappear.

Beat one egg in a bowl and mix it with 1 table spoon of vinegar and olive oil. Apply it on your hair roots and strands using a brush. Let it stay for minimum 45 minutes and wash with shampoo and rinse. No additional conditioning needed.

3.   Apple Cider Vinegar – A very effective remedy for dry hair, apply Apple Cider Vinegar to a cotton ball and gently pat to the roots of your hair, let sit for 5 minutes and rinse.

If you are looking to cleanse your hair of excess oils and buildup , Apple Cider Vinegars serves as the perfect hair clarifier .

Mix a 8 oz water bottle with half Apple Cider Vinegar and the other half with water. Rinse your hair with the mixture and leave in your hair for 5 minutes and rinse.

4.    Yogurt – Another remedy for dry brittle hair that you will need to combine with Apple Cider Vinegar and place on hair as a mask for 15 minutes and rinse.

If frizz is a problem you deal with, yogurt is also great for eliminating frizz and making your hair more manageable.

5.    Avocado – Also used as mask for conditioning, Avocado used with Apple Cider Vinegar and olive oil will serve as the perfect hydrant and detangler for unmanageable and dry hair.

Avocado is a fantastic remedy for hair loss and can help your roots maintain its elasticity to avoid breakage.

All of these all-natural ingredients will be sure to keep your mane smooth and shiny and are some of the best options aside from the chemically infused store bought products that don’t always to the trick.   

Hottest Lip Colors for the Summer

"That's a lot of money to spend on a lipstick! It was then that I knew we could never be friends." -Unknown Valley Girl

You can never go wrong with a good lip color and there's no better time than now to begin stepping out the box. I'll show you a few of my favorites and just promise me that if you love it, you'll buy it! 

1. Coloured Raine: This brand has some of the best lip colors that I've seen in awhile and it's my personal favorite. The most popular colors, which can be found as a lip gloss, matte, or lip stick are: Arabian Night, Intimidate, Malibu Barbie and Rebel Raine. Now, the honest truth about this brand is they often times sell out and most of the time I have to pre-order Arabian Night since it is one of their most gorgeous and trendy hue. The orders do come in quickly when there is no wait, which I love about the company. But do you want to know what I love most about Coloured Raine? The names of their lip colors! Who wouldn't want to go out on a date wearing Arabian Night? I'm feeling exotic!

2. Estee Lauder: Recently, Kendall Jenner became the spokesmodel for Estee Lauder and it was announced that her custom designed lipstick known as, "Restless" is now available. It's a hot, steamy, and youthful red. Very smart move, Estee Lauder! Estee Lauder is a brand that has a diverse age range and after reviewing some of their shades I think not only should red-hot Restless be a shade to rock, but the Pure Color Envy collection is in the running for having many shades for the on-the-go girl.

3. J'adore Dior: Dior has one of the smoothest lipsticks and glosses with colors that are undeniably chic and girl's night out ready. If you're a lip gloss lover then the Dior Addict Fluid Stick is for you. With flirtatious colors such as Tiny Pink, Vie D'Enfer, and Intrigue as a part of the collection,  your lips are sure to feel the flawless effect with one single sweep of application. I must say, the Dior lipsticks are equally in the running for a must-have during the summer. 

Let's face it, the only thing you really need this summer is your swim suit and a lip color that has a nice glow in the sun.

So let's make a vow today to just forget our towels and air dry simply because it's summertime.

Summer Skin Regime

Summer months are hard on our external organs and our skin is one of the most noticeable and delicate ones that can suffer if not carefully preserved. Here are some tips to help keep your skin in tip-top shape and allow you to look your best during those steamy hot summer days.

Skin protection is a regime that take a little bit more effort during the summer, yet it also has the ability to wreak havoc on our skin if not handled the correct way. During the summer time our skin will usually have more moisture to the touch, so moisturizers need to be of a lighter consistency to avoid pore blockage and break outs. The tricky part is finding something that still also has enough SPF protection to keep harmful UV rays away. Moisturizers that contain SPF coverage over a 30 is the best bet for keeping your skin protected, while allowing your pores to breath. Applying a light layer of sun block to your face can serve as a benefit the long term effects of your skin.

For those Glam Girls who dare not leave the house without make up on, there is a top-secret beauty industry tip that goes a long way in keeping your makeup on for long wear in the summer. No one enjoys spending hours carefully applying make up to their face to walk outside for 5 minutes and having it literally melt …. The answer and savior for your make up is an unlikely application, but one you will be writing home about and sharing with all of your friends…. Milk of Magnesia. Yes! Milk of Magnesia applied on a piece of cotton (1-2 mins of drying time) and then applied to your face, will serve as the perfect primer and base to assistant with exposure to outdoor elements, while keeping your face as fresh as when you first left the house.

Finding the balance of keeping your skin healthy and glowing without makeup can be something that you don’t often think about in the cooler months, wearing makeup is more bearable on cooler days but once summer hits, your desire to wear layers of makeup changes. In order help keep your skin glowing and fresh on those more “Natural” days consider an exfoliation scrub to remove the dead skin cells off the surface of your skin to reveal more healthy radiant looking skin. Your skin sheds anywhere from 28 - 45 days a year and depending on your age and skin type it can be more challenging to remove dead skin, so make it a point to renew your face and body by exfoliating regularly.  

So the goal for this summer is to focus on skin protection from the sun, make your makeup last by using Milk of Magnesia and exfoliate to allow your skin’s natural glow to speak for itself.

Written By: Danielle Stedman

IG: @Danirenee21

www.Danirenee21.com

Vacation Ready Hair- Fluff Style!

“Oh the summer night, has a smile of light, and she sits on a sapphire throne.” –Bryan Procter

            Pixie cuts, fishtail braids, wash-n-go’s, or just straight and bouncy, the summer months challenge us to think outside the box, grab some sunscreen, and simplify everything while on vacation. Hence, whether you’re feeling fairy friendly and want to go for a pixie cut or enjoy long goddess tresses I have a few style options for you. Before you vacation off to the Virgin Islands or South Beach it's vital that you switch it up a bit or completely step out of your comfort zone. If there is anytime of the year to be bold and experimental with different styles, it's the summer. View the gallery below and if you see something you love, phone your hair stylist and try it out.