Acupuncture has been around for centuries, but recently a certain spot has been poked than others.

Ear Stapling for weight loss, no diet, no exercise, just stainless steel pierced into the middle cartilage of your ear.

No harm, no foul.

I find it silly, but if you really need to loose a few more pounds, go get stapled.
"Can I have a #6, super sized."

Grin and Bear it

I smoke, even though I shouldn't.

I drink coffee, even though caffeine is the no.1 cause of cellulite.

I drink wine, because its yummy.

One day I noticed the effects all these had, not-so-pearly whites.

Whoa, smiling with a closed mouth in pictures, that is not me.

So, in order to boost my confidence level again, and smile like i was meant to, I whitened them.

I did my research, I have used the ones from my dentist before, but they were too pricey at the time. I didn't like how the dissolving strips felt, so I stopped using them.

I found that Go Smile is the most efficient, wallet friendly kit out there. Maintaining your new white teeth is what they are all about, giving you all the tools necessary to keep you smiling.

Now that my pearly's are pearly, I am thinking about getting myself a gold one.

Taking out the Trash

Clean out those make up bags, kits, and drawers! It is time to clean house and get rid of the old, bad and gone bad.

Make up expires, so re-evaluate your supplies.

Playing for Keeps:

Keep it if it doesn't smell funky. Keep it if you plan on wearing it. Remember that tons of cosmetic companies out there have the recycled plan, bring in the empties and you will get a re-fill, so keep them in a bag and when you have enough, go to collect your prize. MAC has Back 2 MAC, bring in 6 empties and get 1 lip or eye color. It doesn't even have to be completely used up! If you have a "what was I thinking" lip color from last season, it counts too!

Garbage Pail Kids:

Toss it if it smells funky, or looks funkier. Mascaras smell and get crumbly, lip sticks will smell like crayons when turned rancid, concealers/foundation will have an un-natural scent when expired. If it's a yucky product, it is not healthy for your eyes or skin, Acne Amy knows.If you haven't worn or used it and it's still okay, re-gift. Make a nice little bag with that lotion you never opened and the great eye color that just-wasn't-you, recycle to a friend that will rock it. Karma.

Clean those brushes, tidy things up and organize. Keep your skin care in the medicine cabinet. I like keeping my goodies together, Eyes are on one tray, lips another, and foundation and correctors on another. My routine of make up application goes in that order, as I work my way across my make up area, my full face come together as I hit the end of the assembly line. If you beauty regime is quicker and more efficient, your day will be too.

I just got wind that caffeine is a the number one factor for cellulite!! WHAT.

I think it's time to get on the boat and take Nivea's Good Bye Cellulite, Hello Bikini challenge. 4 weeks to see the transformation, I am starting today so, 1 month from now, we can discuss the results. I feel like today I may just skip my starbuckies run.

Aging Gracefully

The secret to aging gracefully, SPF. Stress, blah, it really doesn't "age" you, the beating sun does, making you look leathery and saggy. Now, who wants to be called Saggy. Neutrogena is my protector.

Wear it, or don't bitch that my skin looks better than yours

YOU: " Its because your a make up artist, that must be it, right?!"

ME:" Nope, its because I linger in the shadows"

overnight lashes?

A magic cream to put on your eyelashes and while you sleep you can grow full glamorous lashes(with 4-6 weeks before you see results).

Shit, I try to grow taller every night while I sleep and I still wake up five foot five.

There is tons of new products out there, that help you grew new stronger,longer, thicker lashes.

They work, they're real.

I am not ready to commit.

I prefer false lashes. You can play off your mood, love em or leave em. Full fun glamour band lashes or individual lashes.

Band Geeks:
Make sure to trim them to fit your eye, if they are too long they will be uncomfortable and if they are too short you will look like a ding dong. Place them across your eye, hold your finger to where you need to trim and cut those few hairs off. Do not do this once it is glued on your lash line,scissors by your eye or a clients' is not a good idea, use your smarts, measure, then trim from the outside, this will still give you the natural progression of long to short ( outside is longer, inside is shorter)

Make sure you put your adhesive on the band, give it a moment to dry, then apply as close as you can get to the lash line. You don't want to adhere the band to your lid or to your real lashes. If you do get glue or feel like you're stuck,fake lashes intertwined with your real ones, don't freak out, grab your make up remover and a Qtip this will thin out the adhesive and release it.

Lone Soldiers:

Individual lashes are a little more tricky for some, these too may have to be trimmed. I like getting medium length and using a few on the end as accent lashes, it really makes my eyes pop.

Once my lashes are secured with my eyelash adhesive, i let them dry, then apply some mascara to bond them together. I put my pinky finger across my lid, behind my lashes as I apply my mascara, this helps bond them and they wont move around when your mascara wand brushes through those lashes.

Maybe I will teach you soon how to make your own feather false eyelashes......I'll think about it.

Manly Men Grooming

For the fellas or ladies looking to help a fella out.

A hot shave.

The barbershop is a familiar place against all shifts in our changing culture. The all-man atmoshphere combined with the scent of real shaving cream and hair tonics immediatley make you feel......like a man.

Wrapping and layering of hot towels on his face, lemon based creams to cleanse his pores, a close shave with sharp razor, and a facial massage. Afterwards, he walks out feeling like a king.

A barber knows how to cut a man's hair.

A barbershop is a cool place for men to hang out.

A stranger holding a sharp razor to your neck is a nice reminder that you are still alive.

Organics

if you haven't gone green anywhere in your life, start on your face. Some of my favorite organic products...

DuWop!!

-Cheek Venom, a tingly rush to your cheeks $24

-Reverse Lip Liner, matte and colorless, stops lip color from feathering.

Tarte!!

-Mini cheek stain set $30, "we wish you happiness"

Eminence

-Stone Crop Whip Moisturizer!!! Hydrates and brightness my face. My personal fav, I don't know how I managed before it.

XY.....Z Palette

The IMATS (international make up artist tradeshow) this year I didn't have much time to shop. I was busy cranking out demo's at the Naked Cosmetics Booth.

My discovery at the IMATS was unreal, almost a life saver for both professional artists and others who share the obsession for organization.

Z PALETTE. Wow.

I played with it for a while and it is an amazing invention, way to go Zena!

What it is: a magnetic palette that you can organize and re-organize as many times as you like! Customize for your weekend trip, client for continuity, or day to day touch ups. It fits all make up brands and sizes, circles, square , MAC, Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, NARS, etc.

Navy Sealed

Is navy the new black? I am a firm believer that black is the best color out there, very slimming. For a nice change, line your eyes with a navy liner instead of black. I use Smashbox, using a small angled brush, I line my lids and smoke em' out,putting more softness into the look, PS-its waterproof.

Add a nude or hot pink lip for fun.

Beauty on a Budget

With our pressing economic times, save those hard earned bucks and get creative in your cabinets.

Homemade Treats.

Brush Cleaner:
Bottled (distilled) H20-1 Cup
Alcohol( save the whiskey for your belly, I am talking 70% or higher, for disinfecting) 1/4 Cup
Detergent-I like Palmolive dish soap-1/2 Tbsp
Shampoo-1/2 Tbsp
*if you have spray leave in conditioner lying around, toss in 1 Tbsp.

Mix gently, together, gently, you don't want suds. Pour into whatever lovely empty container you wish and there you go.

The best discovery in the world-Baking Soda. 0.79

The things you can do with baking soda is unreal! Throw some on your toothbrush ( with your toothpaste of course) and it is a natural tooth whitener! Got a bad sunburn, because you didn't sport your SPF( dummy) toss 1 cup in a luke warm bath for a soothing dip. And for my favorite use of ALL TIME, Exfoliating!!

Boy o' Boy I love this stuff and tell everyone I meet how magical it is. I "had" those lovely red bumps on the back of my arms, always self conscious about them, my mother says its a northern European trait...then I met a great masseuse who told me about the baking soda trick, and I am now a lifer. For all of you that do have those red annoying bumps, baking soda is your new best friend. Basically, your body it trying to sweat out and get rid of toxins and it cant, so clear the way and get clear skin.

I keep my Arm N Hammer in an empty water bottle in my shower, so the box doesnt get soggy and destroyed. Pour a bit into my hand, get it wet, to a consistency of a paste, now exfoliate! Face, one a week and body, at most, twice a week. It will make your legs smoother for a closer shave and keep the skin soft. It is non-abrasive and you can add essential oils to make it smell yummy or for aromatherapy, if you are into that witchcraft.
Add lavender for a soothing and relaxing effect, and for you AM exfoliates, citrus awakens the senses so try grapefruit or peppermint before your morning triple shot latte.

Make up Removers:
I like to use a simple lotion like Cetaphil to remove my eye makeup, then wash my mug.
Or try Baby Oil, on a cotton swab, make sure to wash your face thoroughly, it may clog them pores! If in a pinch, making your through a "new" bathroom,use contact lens solution to clean up those smoky eyes left over from last night,and surprise, it is safe on your eyes!

Puffy eyeballs:
Late nite martinis, or not enough ZZzz's
Cold spoons on the eyes, keep some in your fridge.
Cucumber, 1/2 thick, cold, on your eyes, 7 minutes.
Preparation H. For real. effective immediately, reduces all the swelling. I keep some in my make up kit, in an empty container I have marked " magic eye cream".

For those Darn Mosquito bites:
Ammonia on a cotton ball and apply to the vampire bite. It reliefs the itchy immediately.

Brushes. Natural Vs. Synthetic

Brush Em Brush Em Brush Em

Natural Vs. Synthetic

Synthetic: Tends to be less pricey, I use these for my lip brushes. The waxes/gloss of lip colors are harder to get out of your brushes, so I never use a lip brush on an eye, it will forever have that waxy feeling, so leave lips for lips. Most synthetics brushes are made from Taklon or Nylon, they are not as absorbent and doesn't trap or distribute the color as well as natural bristles( when it comes to powders). They also tend to get stiffer with uses. I like my lip brushes to be a little stiff so I have more control of where the color goes.

Natural: It is proven that natural bristles absorb and deliver more effectively. However the quality of the hair is a giant factor. My personal fav is badger hair( pictured). It blends well, giving you a smoother application. Squirrel hair is the softest of the naturals, and for me all I can picture,when its comes to squirrel, is someone holding the squirrel and brushing it with a giant horse grooming brush! I don't know why this image is in my head, but it is. Squirrel hair false eyelashes are F*N gorgeous!

Natural brushes can last a lifetime if taken care of properly, it is a smart investment for anyone.

Some of my favorite brushes are by Award winning make up artist, Ve Neil, has the best brushes around, I do not know how she did it, but man, these brushes are fantastic! Ve has a beauty set as well as a great special effects set for all you Pro's.
And of course we all know MAC makes a mean brush.

summer cheek color

Rock and Republic, cheek color, Immoral. It was beautiful.

As a free lance make up artist for almost 5 years, tons of cosmetics research and friends that value and trust my advice, I felt it was time to share with others. I will be writing a commenting on new products, skin care and make up application techniques.
To read my guest entries go to Angela's Eye Detroit's finest fashionista and my dear friend.