Cross Fit Training - Not To Be Confused With Cross Training

 

If you ever run across something advertised as cross fit training, it is not the same thing as cross training. Cross fit training is a specific program which gained in population a few years ago at a variety of gyms. Cross fit is a high intensity form of exercise composed of highly functional movements all done at highly intensive rates.

The movements such as pushing, squatting, pulling, etc are ones you would do in your day to day life. Many of these movements are actually variations of squats, push-ups, or weight lifting for set amounts of time so the person builds muscles. This is not the traditional way of doing things where a person is expected to perform a specific number of reps. It is said that cross fit training is extremely effective due to its emphasis on load, distance, and speed.  

Everyone does a certain workout each day and the workout is listed on the website. In addition, there is a place on the website to advise people on which workout is best for them according to their fitness level by having suggested substitutions available. Cross fit trainers state that the training can meet the needs of every person because everyone has to do these functional movements.  Many cross fit places include an element of competition by using a scoreboard and posting the winners to social media to share their victories. 

Unfortunately, this type of training can also have risks due to the high intensity nature of the workout.  According to one study, they found that 20 percent of the folks who participated in this type of training injured themselves. This is a high rate of injury for a recreational activity. The injuries occur when the participant becomes fatigued and their form becomes sloppy.

If you want to do this type of activity, always monitor your form. You want to make sure you do not round your lower back and make sure your knees do not go over the toes during a squat. One way to help is to find the right trainer or coach. You want to make sure you do not over fatigue yourself but work only to the point of fatigue. 

If you are just beginning, make sure you take a class designed specifically for beginners so you learn to do it correctly.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day. Take care.

Later Spring

 

Early Spring

 

Cross Training - Why It Is Good.

Trying to stay healthy and in good shape can be quite challenging for the average person. You hear that one should be doing this, that, or the other thing so you stay in good shape, especially if you age.  I've seen references to cross training being a great thing to do but I've never looked at the topic in detail. 

Cross training is defined as a type of exercise where people train using other exercises than they normally do.  This allows your body to adapt to new routines while encouraging better overall fitness levels. Cross training means the fully body undergoes conditioning, while improving skill, agility, balance, and fitness. Your cross training routine might be incorporating riding a bike once a week into your daily running routine.  When you add the bike riding, you are using a different set of muscles from those used when you run daily. 

There are several benefits to cross training.  First you won't get as bored as easily.  When we get bored, it is so much easier to find excuses not to workout and pretty soon, your exercise regime disappears.  By switching up your choices of exercise, you stay motivated, work muscles in a new and different way, and fun.

When we exercise, the body works harder because it has to breath more, the blood flow increases, and increased muscle load.  Exercise actually stresses the body in a way that makes it healthier in general.  If the frequency, intensity, time, and type of exercise is the same everyday, the body becomes used to it and will not become fitter.  When you change it up, the body will improve.

In addition, when you cross train, you make sure your metabolism stays up and more efficient.  When you do the same exercise, your metabolism can stagnate so you might hit a plateau if you are trying to lose weight.  Furthermore cross training helps prevent injury.  When you do the same type of exercises every day, it puts your joints, bones, and muscles under stress which can increase the possibility of injury.  

A good cross training program will have an aerobic component along with  a strength component  and one that focuses on flexibility.  All training should consist of at least 30 minutes on most days but if you need to break it up into smaller chunks, that is fine but it needs to add up to 30 minutes. So switch up exercises, change things around, and enjoy the benefits of cross training.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear have a great day.

What To Look For In An Eye Cream.

 

At one point or another, most of us end up using an eye cream.  I use one regularly due to the wonderful bags I seem to have inherited from my father.  They are something I'll never get rid of but I can do things to minimize their impact.  As a result, I've been researching what things you should look for in a good eye cream. 

As we age, the skin around our eyes begins to form wrinkles referred to as crows feet.  In addition, the area might develop puffiness, or dark circles.  You might want to think about preventing them when you are in your 20's or you see them and want something to help minimize the issues, you want an eye cream.

Unfortunately, not all eye creams are the same so it is important to read the ingredients list to see if it contains the ones you most need.  Check for antioxidants as they protect the area against cell damage. You want something with vitamin C, vitamin E, or ferulic acid as it protects against environmental damage and helps decrease puffiness and swelling.

In addition, look for retinol which is a form of vitamin A that helps stimulate collagen.  Collagen helps reduce and prevent wrinkles.  Remember one thing though, both vitamin C and retinol are best used at night otherwise they can make your skin more sensitive to the sun.  If you have droopy, crepe paper like skin, make sure the eye cream has peptides because peptides help firm the skin by increasing collagen and elastin.

Furthermore, the skin around the eyes is the thinnest on the body so it becomes dry and irritated more easily.  This is the perfect spot for hyaluronic acid and ceramides.  Did you know that when the area is hydrated, wrinkles are less obvious?  So make sure the eye cream has this in it.

If you inherited the discoloration from your parents, you might think about looking for niacinamide and koji acid as they both reduce the discoloration by brightening the area and reducing activity in pigment producing cells.  Finally, make sure the eye cream has sunscreen or wear a layer over it the eye cream.  This is an extremely important step.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Should You Rotate Your Shampoo And Conditioner.

 

I grew up in a household where you were expected to switch between two different conditioners and  two different shampoos because your hair would get "used" to one product if you used it all the time.  It always seemed to me that this was true because when I had to use one product several weeks at a time, my hair started feeling blah.  Due to that feeling, I honestly thought it was true.  According to several hair stylists, this is not true. 

Instead, it is important to find the right combination of shampoos and conditioners for your hair based on type of hair, its condition, and overall condition.  They say the only reason to switch shampoos or conditioners is they either contain harmful ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate which can strip hair and damage it over time, or it doesn't clean it properly. 

If your shampoo does not clean your hair like it used to, you might want to see if you moved recently and now have harder or softer water than before. Is it winter or is it summer and you sweat a lot more. This might make you change shampoos but your hair has not become "used to it.", your circumstances have changed, requiring a change in you shampoo.

It is important to determine exactly what you want your products to do rather than just switching them up due to not working.  It might be you have an incorrect shampoo or conditioner to begin with. If you colored your hair, you want products designed specifically for hair that is colored so the color lasts longer and retain its moisture.  If you keep switching products, it won't do your hair any good.

When you look for a shampoo, you need to look at more than your hair type and if it is colored or chemically treated.  You also need to look at your lifestyle which includes what part of the country you live in, exercise, and humidity levels.  Look specifically for shampoos that meet your individual requirements.  

As for conditioner, look at your type of hair and it's texture. For instance, if you have fine hair, you will want a light weight conditioner where as if you have medium to coarse hair, you will want one with deep conditioning abilities so your hair is moisturized.  It seems as if companies offer shampoos and conditioners in pairs but the reality is that you might need one type of shampoo and a different conditioner so you aren't buying a pair.

Rather than deciding if your current products are not working right, ask yourself if your circumstances have changed?  Are you using the proper shampoo and conditioner or is one of them the wrong type.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

What Is Biophilia Exercise?

Prior to this past Wednesday, I'd never heard of biophilia exercise.  It is however, one of the latest exercise trends for 2023. Biophilia refers to the instinct people have to connect with nature and others.  Biophilia exercise is taking traditional indoor activities into nature. It is known as green exercise.

Think about it this way, instead of having yoga or cardio class in a gym or club, the classes are moved outside into the grass or on a lawn.  Many places are having classes on the green areas outside the buildings. In fact, the search on google for outdoor fitness classes has increased over 200 percent in the past five years. It came to the fore front due to Covid because people couldn't go to the gym so they started going outside.  I did a lot of walking by the ocean at the beginning because it was important to my mental health to feel the wind and breath the fresh air.

There has been at least one study done that indicates those who exercise outside are more likely to be involved in social interactions with fewer distractions and people were more likely to want to do it again. In addition, people felt that being in nature was more calming than being indoors and it was considered less stressful.

Other research indicates that people are more likely to work harder and perform better outdoors. This is because people feel that exercise is less strenuous when done outside and people are more likely to push. The exercises that work best outside include yoga, roller skating, biking, skateboarding, swimming, walking, hiking, trampolining, and climbing.  

In some places, gyms are beginning to bring the outdoors inside because the outdoors might be too hot, too cold, too smoggy or other reason.  These gyms have redecorated so there are plants spread out around the space with sun coming in so you feel as if you are outside rather than in a stuffy building. In addition, rope and wood is replacing metal and plastic to reinforce the feeling of being outdoors. 

So if you exercise at home, think about having plants spread around the room to make it feel nicer and so you can undergo some of the same benefits you'd receive by exercising outside.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Ended Up With

 

Wished For.

 

Should Your Face Be Wet Or Dry.

 

I have been trying to figure out why my skin absorbs all of the serums if it is allowed to dry between products but it its when it is still damp. Serums are light-weight, super concentrated  products designed to target specific skin products. Serums can help decrease dark spots or fine lines and wrinkles.  

You want to make sure what ever product you choose is filled with vitamins and minerals. Look for one that has most of what you want but don't expect to find a product that has everything. Do not apply any product with vitamin C or Retinol in the morning as both makes your skin more sensitive to sunlight.

When you apply serums, make sure it is damp because wet skin is able to absorb ten times the amount of moisture dry skin can. This is extremely important if the product contains hyaluronic acid because this acid helps bind moisture to wet skin.

It is strongly recommended that you rotate serums because applying some of these products can make your skin sensitive and even dry out. In addition, one should not use those potent anti-aging or exfoliating products more than 2 to 3 times a week.  When you rotate your serums, you expose yourself to more of the benefits of all the products.

Before you apply any serum, you need to make sure you've taken time to cleanse and tone your face. When you clean your face, you remove any impurities from your skin and the toning helps balance your facial pH and preparing it for serums. When you clean and tone, you get your skin in the best shape for applying serums and creams so your skin receives the most from all the nutrients.

Once you've applied all your serums, finish it off with some sort of moisturizing cream because serums do not provide the moisturizing power of proper creams.  If you use several different serums, wait at least 90 seconds between each one so your skin has a chance to absorb nutrients before the next one is applied.  Otherwise, you could dilute the efficacy of each serum. 

Make sure you store your serums away from the sunlight in a cool dry location.  This is so the ingredients contained in the serum do not break down. You do not need to invest in a small fridge for all your beauty products. Instead, place them in the bathroom on a shelf as far from the shower and windows as possible or on a shady dresser in the living room.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Is New Zealand Honey Better Than Regular Honey in Skin Care?

 

I was down, visiting New Zealand, earlier this year and one thing that came out of the trip was how proud the people were of their special honey, also known as Manuka Honey.  This honey is produced from the flowers of the Manuka tree found only in New Zealand and parts of Australia. Manuka honey is said to have better therapeutic and antimicrobial properties than regular honey since it contains Methyglyoxlal and hydrogen peroxide.  

In addition, Manuka honey also contains lots of vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B3, potassium, zinc, and antioxidant compounds such as phenols and flavonoids which neutralize free radicals. The  honey helps block the damage these free radicals cause so you don't age as fast.

According to what I could find, this honey helps improve skin that is prone to acne by decreasing the amount of redness and helping inflamed skin. The two compounds mentioned earlier are great at killing bacteria so your skin is better able to heal. There are suggestions that it possibly fights infection while boosting healing.  In addition, it helps repair cellular damage at the same time it encourages skin regeneration. It has such a good reputation for healing that it is often used in clinical settings.  Manuka honey is also known for balancing your skin's pH, while helping get rid of dead skin cells. 

Furthermore, Manuka honey also works as a moisturizer due to it's humectant and emollient properties.  Remember humectants draw moisture from the air and deposit them on your skin while emollients fill the spaces between skin cells so your skin is softer. It is in this dual way that the honey hydrates your skin and causes your skin to look dewy.

You can either use it straight or you can invest in skincare products that contain it.  If you use it straight, you can clean your face by massaging a pea sized amount of honey all over before rinsing it off.  You can also mix the honey with ground oats and lemon juice as a mask. Mix it, apply it all over your face and leave for 15 minutes before washing off.

When shopping for Manuka honey, you want one that has a UMF or Unique Manuka Factor of 15 or more and an MGO or methylglyoxal rating of at least 250. Furthermore, make sure it comes from New Zealand so it is the actual item. It will be a bit expensive and the cheaper ones are not always what you want.  So know you know why Manuka honey is considered better than regular honey, especially for skin care.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Does Bee Venom Really Work?

 

Every time I turn around, there is some new ingredient hitting the skincare market.  One that makes all sorts of promises.  There's been snail slime, dragon's blood, and so many others.  Some stick around, some fade in time.  Recently, bee venom has been on the list but does it really work?  I know the hype says it does but does it?  We'll find out today.

We already know that bees play an important part in our world.  They fly from flower to flower, pollinating so we get both food and more flowers.  In addition, they produce a beautifully sweet liquid known as honey.  One other thing, bees have is venom which is used to protect themselves when they have to sting someone.  The venom is now found in many skin care products. Bee venom is said to contain amino acids, enzymes and peptides.

It appears there are multiple reasons ones should use a skincare product containing bee venom.  First, it helps reduce the the look of inflammation in the skin.  Bee venom contains melittin which is responsible for helping sooth skin.  Another thing it helps reduce is eczema which an outbreak of redness and itchy skin.  The same ingredient that helps sooth inflammation, also helps reduce eczema.  In addition, it is also suggested one use bee venom to help acne as it can help reduce the inflammation associated with acne.  

Furthermore, it is said to reduce how wrinkles look.  According to several studies, bee venom reduces the look of fine lines and wrinkles so your skin does not look as if it is aging as fast.  One study I found indicates that bee venom actually reduces the total wrinkle area, total wrinkle count, and the average wrinkle depth. It is also said to make your skin glow giving it a more youthful look.

One other thing, if you have a sensitivity or allergy to bee venom, it is suggested you not use it at all.  If you really want to try it, speak with a medical professional first.  If you do not have a sensitivity, give it a try.  I use a cream at night that contains bee venom and I like the results but know results can vary form person to person.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

For Two

 

For One.

 

How To Stay Motivated To Lose Weight

So many times, it is easier to gain weight than it it is to take it off or even keep from gaining anything.  According to my doctor's scale, I'd put on something like 8 pounds in about 6 weeks which is something I have not had happen.  This made me step back, revisit my life, make some decisions including looking for ways to lose the weight while staying motivated.  I found something that works for me but I am not promising it will work for everyone but I'm including the most promising tips to help others.

When it comes to losing weight, you need two components.  The first is your diet while the second is exercise.  You need both components to successfully lose weight because you have to burn more calories than you consume.   Unfortunately, loosing weight can be quite difficult, especially if you lose your motivation.  When it comes to motivation, there are two types. The first is extrinsic or that which comes from outside in the form of rewards.  The second is intrinsic or motivation which comes from inside you.

According to a study of people who participated in an internet based program, the ones who lost five percent of their body weight by the 16th week, were the people who were able to maintain intrinsic motivation between weeks 4 and 16.  In fact, the study also found that those people who increased their self-monitoring, were more likely to be successful when it came to losing weight.

There are nine things you can do to help you lose weight.  First is to set realistic goals.  It is best to write down a very specific goal so instead of saying you want to lose weight, say instead that you want to lose 15 pounds by eating healthy foods and exercising more.  One has to also have a way of monitoring the diet and exercise and this would consist of writing down what you eat, how much you exercise every day and one a week write down your weight.  This way you can see what is happening.  

In addition, when you set these goals, you need to make sure they are attainable.  Goals such as losing one to two pounds a week is much better than deciding to lose 15 pounds in a month, or exercise 20 to 30  minutes a day if you know you don't have time to do an hours worth.  

Next, have a journal where you write down every single thing you eat, and how often you exercise.  You might also want to record what type of exercise you do.  You do not need a fancy journal, I use a spiral bound notebook where I write the date, a line for exercise and two for what I each each day.  I have a third line for when I need to record my weight.  Be specific when you record what you eat.  You might state you had 1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal for breakfast with 1/4 cup milk and one tsp of sugar.  Make sure you also record any and all liquids you have every day.  In addition, include some self-reflection such as why did you keep wanting to snack all day, or why did you cut short the exercising or how did you feel after you tried that new workout? 

Provide positive self-talk to yourself.  Rather than thinking something is too hard, think of it as challenging, or rather than saying you should workout, just do it.  I find once I get started,  it is so much easier to complete a session.  If you don't manage to exercise that day, don't get mad at yourself. Forgive yourself and promise you'll do it tomorrow.  If you end up enjoying a piece of cheesecake, don't berate yourself, just accept that we all slip up, and start again 

As far as eating, do not go on a diet, especially one that is extremely restricting.  Start with a list of foods you like and want to eat but if they are higher in calories, look for variations that are lower in calories.  For instance, if you like a Chicken Alfredo, check the internet for a recipe that is just a creamy but has fewer calories so you don't feel deprived.

If you are a person who operates with todo lists or calendars, set them up for yourself.  Be specific when you schedule your exercise.  Don't just say walk but write walk for 30 minutes.  In fact, you can get your exercise via walking, dancing, working out, rowing, or other activity but you need to enjoy what you do.  

Look for a buddy who is there for you throughout your journey.  When you have a partner, you both keep each other motivated, you hold each other accountable, and you celebrate the small losses together.  Exercising with a friend, makes the time go faster and you have more fun.  From a personal viewpoint, I find having a journal the most motivating thing for me because I can see how much exercise I get and what I eat during the day so I know if I am eating properly.  I also know that weekends are the hardest thing for me because I'm at home all day, so I have to figure out what I can do to keep me from eating due to boredom.  

I hope this helps you.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Strengthening Your Core Muscles While Standing Up.

 Last time I looked at how important it was to have a strong core. This time I'm looking at ways to get a strong core without doing it all on the floor.  Yes, I do some of my core strengthening on the ground but it is not that easy so I prefer choosing exercises I can do standing up.  In addition, I still have to modify some of them so I don't hurt myself or get discouraged.

Although standing core exercises are not as effective as the traditional ones such as plank, abdominal crunch, or bridge, because of gravity.  Unfortunately, gravity helps do the exercises rather than providing resistance but for some people, the standing versions are better due to back issues. In addition, standing core exercises tend to target more muscles in your back and hips than the normal ones done on the floor.

One that can be done is the standing bicycle crunch. It actually mimics the bicycle crunches you do on the ground.  Furthermore, it helps your body be more functional, burns more calories, and there is less stress on your neck and back. Basically you bring your hand up behind your head with your elbows out.  Bring up the left knee while bringing the right elbow towards it as you would if you are on the floor.  Then you place the left leg on the floor and return the right elbow to its original position while standing straight.  Repeat with the right leg and left elbow and then revert back to the left.  Continue alternating sides.

If you want to take the standing bicycle crunch one step further, add in a squat.  You would start by lifting the left knee and moving the right elbow towards the knee and then return to a starting position. At this point, rather than switching to the other side, you squat while holding your hands up behind your head.  So you go down into a squat and back up.  Then you switch to the left elbow and right knee crunch and back to standing position. Then you throw in another squat.  Keep repeating. This variation burns even more calories.

For this next exercise, you'll need a dumbbell or a kettle bell. You grab the weight and hold it with both hands in front of your chest.  Keeping both hands on the weight you will bring it up by the left side of your face, up around to behind your head and down the right side till you return to the original position.  Then reverse the circle up the right side, behind the head, down the left side to the front.  This overhead circle or halo can be done with 8 or 4 or 2 in one direction before switching and doing 8,4, or 2 the other direction or you can do singles.  It is up to you.  In addition to working on your core, it also works on the rotational function of your abs along with your shoulders, triceps, and upper back.

Next is the standing oblique bends also known as the weighted side bend.  As the name implies, it targets the obliques.  This requires a set of dumbbells so you have one in each hand.  As you hold one dumbbell in each hand, feet a bit more than hip distance apart, you are ready to start.  You hold the hands down by the thighs, then slowly lean sideways to the right side allowing the weighted hand to move down towards your ankle.  Come back up slowly to an upright position, then slowly lean sideways to the left allowing the weighted left hand to move towards the ankle before slowly coming up.  Repeat multiple times. 

These are four standing exercises to help get you started on improving your core strength.  I'll revisit the subject in the future with more standing exercises.  I'd love to hear from you if you'd like to share your thought.  Have a great day. 

Why Core Strength Is Important.

 

It seems like every time I exercise, I hear the words core strength.  I know I need a good strong core but have never thought about the why before.  Why do I need to have a strong core?  So today, we are going to explore the topic.  In addition, we'll look at the best way to get a strong core because if you need one, you also need to know how to get one.

When they talk about core strength, they are referring to the muscles that are around your middle region also known as your trunk. This area includes the pelvic region, lower back, hips, and stomach or abs. They connect your upper and lower parts of the body.

One big thing working the core does is to help train the muscles all to work together so that you have better balance and and are more steady and are much more stable. Improving core strength is not only important for anyone who participates in sports, it is also important for people in everyday life. These muscles help you with everyday activities such as bending over and reaching up, to on the job activities that require twisting, standing, or even sitting at your desk, to household activities, to gardening to having good posture.

Now, you don't need to rush to the gym to exercise there. You can do certain moves at home to improve core strength but the moves need to coordinate back muscles with stomach muscles so they work together.  For instance, if you do a workout with free weights while keeping your core muscles stable, you are working on core strength.

Many of the classic exercises designed to strengthen your core include plank variations, sit-ups, and the use of a fitness ball.  One example of a classic exercise is the bridge. This is the one where you lie on your back with your knees bent.  You tighten the muscles in your stomach, raising your back off the floor up so your body is in a straight line from the shoulders on the floor to your knees.  Hold for three breaths and then slowly lower.  Repeat as needed.

Although it takes cardio exercise to burn the fat off your stomach, core exercises help strengthen and tone the muscles located underneath.  Another thing your core muscles are needed for is to make doing certain physical activities so much easier.  Activities like swinging a golf club, getting a plate down from the top shelf, or even bending down to tie shoes.  If you have weak core muscles, you tend to have poorer posture, lower back pain, and more inclined to suffer muscle injury.

It is important to include core exercises in your workouts so you have the stronger core and reach all your fitness goals.  So next time, I'll share more exercises that are designed to strengthen your core and they can be done at home.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Instead

 Instead, I'm wide awake.

It's Saturday Morning

 I want to be asleep like this.

Spring Fashion Colors Trends for 2023

 

In the last column, we looked at the trends for makeup so today we'll look at the trending fashion colors for spring 2023.  It's time to see what the best colors are and to decide if they are already in your wardrobe or if you need to buy a few pieces to update your look. 

Overall, the colors are selected to be combined in as many different ways as possible with the idea of living as if there is no tomorrow.  People are expected to combine vivid and saturated colors with neutral and basic tones to create the perfect look.

Specifically, look at intense reds, astro green, cerulean blue, rust brown, hot rose, cobalt blue, pistachio green, a beautiful vibrant orange, bright solar yellow, lavender, and mint green.  The intense red is a self-affirming, powerful, and impactful color that was seen on four major runways indicating it is quite popular.  It is wonderful to add a touch to monochromatic looks  and looks great when paired with neutral, warm, pink and gray tones.

Astro green is quite popular with the generation Z folks.  It adds a joyful look to any casual piece worn, yet looks fantastic in party wear with its shiny and satin type fabrics.  It adds that bit of luxury. On the other hand, cerulean blue works with so many different seasons. It brightens up the look as it goes well with darker shades or with monochromatic looks and is great in tailored pieces, party wear, or sportswear.

Then there is rust brown, a nice striking, versatile, neutral color which allows it to be used in a variety of combinations. This shade looks best in cotton and linen fabrics and goes well with certain blues and greens. This year pink is moving to a warmer and less vibrant shade called hot rose. It goes well with prints and small florals. In addition, it can easily be paired with lace, satins, and textured fabrics. 

Another shade of blue, cobalt blue, is on for this season. It looks good in monochromatic situations, matched up with neutrals or with oranges, yellows, and pinks, no matter the shade. On the other hand, pistachio green is wonderful to pair with certain shades of pink, brown, and gray, especially when worn as a blouse or dress. 

This year, vibrant orange is found with ruffles, and drapes of satin fabrics.  In addition to being found in clothing, it is great when worn as an accessorizing color for shoes, etc.  Choose a dress, jacket, or blouse of this color to match with other pieces.  The nice thing about Solar yellow is that it is a bright, cheerful color that cheers us up. It is great as an accessorizing color or in prints.  

Of course, lavender is one of those shades that can be found in warmer or cooler choices. It can be romantic, or youthful depending on the shade and looks great in lacy or transparent pieces.  Finally is mint green that is great in dresses, tops, and outer wear such as jackets. 

Have fun with these new colors and enjoy updating your wardrobe.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear. Have a great day.

Spring Makeup Trends For 2023

 

We are now in February, the days are getting longer, and it is time to look at your makeup palette.  It is time to think about spring and checking out the latest trends for the new season.  Think about dewy skin, smoky eyes with layers and layers of liner, shadow, and blush but that isn't all.  Some of the looks and colors are subtle for those who prefer something lighter.

Shimmer is back but not as a one note.  Think about using a dimensional look so it adds depth.  In addition, think about choosing a frosted color on the eyes, the lips, and even a dab on the cheeks.  Frosted can be your friend.  Look for a gel containing shimmer to help it stay on better.

For contouring, look at underpainting so it is more subtle.  Think about applying the contour first before putting on the concealer and foundation so that the contour is barely there but causes the cheekbones to pop.   For a more subtle over all look, think about using the barely there look of rosy cheeks with the minimal make up look which is way different than the no make up look. You can still have the slightly flushed look on the cheeks, a bit of glimmer while having a polished look.

Of course, smoky eyes are usually around and this spring, they are there in the forefront.  Think about adding a angular wing at the eyes for that special look.  In addition, think about moving away from the gray and black shades towards the warmer shades.  The nice thing about a smoky look is that it can be matched up with bright red lipstick and nails.

As far as blush goes, layer, layer, layer it.  If you layer different blushes, you can create a theatrical look while elevating the overall look.  When you layer blushes, you need to start with a cream blush and then set it with a powder of about the same shade. This will give you that "look" you want.

Don't forget to start with the dewy skin look so you glow and look ethereal. Use plenty of highlighter so you get this great look. You don't have to use glitter to glow but you might want to use a skin care hybrid designed to boost the skins luminosity rather than relying on highlighters to get the look. 

Have fun experimenting and if you want something a bit extra to pop, think about a yellow lipstick, neon green eye shadow but save those for the Avant guard days.  Enjoy yourself this spring.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.