Ways To Lighten Your Makeup Bag When Traveling.

 

This summer, more people are out traveling and many flights are totally full.  There is little overhead space available by the time the last people board and if you are going off to somewhere new or unique, you might want to use makeup that can be used in more than one way because you want to keep the weight down and leave space for all the things you buy on the trip.

One way to cut down on the number of things you take is to find items that will do double duty.  As for cleaning your face, find a foaming oil so you don't need to take both the oil and the foaming cleaner.  If you aren't into cleaning your face with oil and a foaming cleanser, look for a wipe that will both clean and exfoliate your face.  These wipes or towelettes are great for cleaning and exfoliating and some will also brighten your skin at the same time so read packs carefully.

Instead of adding a blush, bronzer, and highlighter to your makeup bag, find a palette that combines all three into one container so you have everything you need to contour and highlight at the same time. There are also small boxes with powders designed to fill in your brows and wax to make eye brows perfect.  In addition, look for a stick that has both eye liner and shadow.  A good one will allow you to make either thin or thick lines along the lashes while the shadow end will easily apply shadow without needing a brush.  

If you can't find one of those, eyeliner pencils can be used to create the line and then applied on the eyelid and smudged to get an eyeshadow look but a creamier eyeliner is better for this.  Pack a few different shades to mix and match liners and shadows.  To fully finish off the look, get your hands on a two step mascara that has primer on one side and mascara on the other side. 

 It is also possible to use a nice creme blush both on your cheeks and to add a bit of color to your lips. Furthermore, there are lip liners out there that will allow you to line the lip while filling it in so it looks like you are wearing lipstick. Want your nails to match your lips?  Go for the strips of nail polish stickers so all you have to do is apply them.  The stickers can be used for the full nail or just the tips for a French manicure style. You don't need to take bottles which can break or spill. In addition, they are extremely light and don't take up much weight or space.

Check out a BB cream because it can replace your foundation, sunscreen, and a moisturizer inside your makeup bag.  Using a BB cream means one tube or bottle instead of three so fewer bottles means less weight.  I am picky about my sunscreen and prefer to take a small bottle of my preferred brand but I like a nice tinted moisturizer so I get the hydrating power of moisturizer with a bit of color.

Although you can use certain types of makeup in other ways it is not always the best suggestion.  Makeup such as lip liner can be used to fill in the eyebrow while concealer can be used as an eyeshadow primer or to contour.  Eyeshadow can be used on the lips or as a highlighter.  Lipstick can double up as blush, to correct color, and if it is in liquid form, it can double as eyeliner.

I prefer the products meant to be used as intended but I also need to know where to find all of the alternatives so I can reduce the number of things I carry with me when I travel.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.

Staying Hydrated With Fruit Flavored Water.

We always hear that we need to stay hydrated.  In the summer, it can take more to stay hydrated than at other times of the year but it is possible to become dehydrated in the winter.  Years ago, I used to work at a Ren Faire in Texas.  We were told to drink lots of fluids even if you don't feel thirsty because by the time you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.  The one thing we'd do to monitor our intake was to check the color of our pee when we went to the bathroom.  If it was a dark yellow, you knew you needed to drink more water. 

The best liquid to prevent dehydration is plain old water but I am one of those people who never learned to like water.  It maybe because I've lived places where the water foamed, tasted weird, or just didn't look right. Yes, I could buy water from the store but I haven't always had the money to do that so I learned to take regular water and flavor it. I began with using bottle lemon or lime juice because I had that in my fridge. I'd add just a little juice to flavor it but not to the point of having to add sugar.

Later on, I learned about fruit infused water, where you place fruit into water to give it a bit of flavor but not enough to change the lack of flavor into a light hint of flavor. Many people need some sort of flavor associated with water.  Today, we'll look at how to make your own flavored waters and suggestions for flavors.

Once you've added the fruit, the flavors will begin to develop and you'll notice a light hint within 15 minutes for a light flavor but you get a stronger flavor after 30 to 60 minutes.  Depending on how strong you like your flavored water, you'll be able to use your fruits again up to four times. You can make a batch in the morning, then as you drink the liquid, refill it, and repeat throughout the day. Every time you reuse the fruit, the flavor becomes weaker and when the fruit has no more flavor, compost them.

The flavored water is best consumed on the day that it is made. If you use citrus with the rind to flavor the water, don't let it set longer than four hours or the liquid could become bitter.  It is important to keep the flavors nice so you'll drink the water and stay hydrated all day. In addition, you can use either plain or sparkling water so you can alternate the type of water if you want.

Rather than throwing fruit into a huge gallon or two of water, consider using a quart jar to make the fruit infused water in so the flavor spreads through it faster and is ready to drink quickly.  If you want, make one and when you begin to drink that, start a second jar so you have it ready as soon as you need it. Now for the suggestions of combinations.  Sparkling water can be used rather than plane water or you can alternate waters.

1.  Take, ice, 1/4 red or pink grapefruit cut into slices, a sprig of rosemary, and enough water to fill the jar to the top.   If you don't like ice, leave that out but put the grapefruit, rosemary, and ice into the container before filling with water.  Let set for between 15 minutes and an hour.  Refill when done.  When there is no flavor left, throw out the fruit and rosemary.

2. Take ice, 1/2 a lemon sliced into thin rounds, 1/2 a lime sliced into thin rounds, place into a container before covering with either plane or sparkling water. Let set between 15 and 60 minutes.  Make refills as needed.

3. Take ice, 1 peeled kiwi cut into thin slices, 2 strawberries hauled and sliced into thin rounds, 1/2 lime cut into slices placed in a container, and cover with water. 

4. Take ice, 1/4 of a cucumber cut into thin slices, 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves and place in a container.  Finish by filling with water and letting set 15 to 60 minutes before drinking.

5. Take ice, 3 to 4 half slices of watermelon that are further cut into smaller triangular slices, 1/4 cup of basil and place into the container.  Top with water and set 15 to 60 minutes before drinking.  Make refills as needed.

6. Take ice, 1/4 cup fresh raspberries, 1/4 cup mint leaves, and fill with plain or sparkling water,  and let set for 15 to 60 minutes. Make refills as needed. 

7. Take ice, 1/3 cup sliced pineapple, 1/4 cup fresh coconut separated from the shell, before covering with water and let set 15 to 60 minutes before drinking. 

8. Take ice, 1/4 cup blueberries, 1/2 orange sliced into thin slices, and fill with water before letting it set between 15 and 60 minutes.

9. Take ice, 1/2 cup strawberries thinly sliced, 5 basil leaves that have been torn to release flavor, and 1/2 thinly sliced lemon.  Fill with water and let set 15 to 60 minutes before drinking.

10. take ice, 1/2 cup of cubed honeydew melon, 1/2 cucumber thinly sliced, and 5 mint leaves torn in the container.  Fill with water and set between 15 and 60 minutes.

11. Take ice, 1 cup blackberries, 1/2 orange thinly sliced, and a 1 inch chunk of ginger that is thinly sliced.  Fill with water and set between 15 to 60 minutes.

12. Take ice, 1/2 mango cut into small cubes, 1/2 cup raspberries, and a one inch piece of ginger cut into thin slices.  Fill with water and let rest for 15 to 60 minutes.

These are just a few recipes to get you started.  You can mix whatever fruits you want to use or you can do a quick search for more suggested mixtures.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Outdoor Concerts

 Enjoying outdoor music.

Summer Is Here

 

Standing in comfortable shoes and shorts

Wearing Bold Makeup During The Day

Summer is a good season to break out the bright and bold makeup since the days are long and the world tends to be much brighter than in any other season. Move away from the neutral and browns into the world of blue, green, pink, and purple. Although one wants bold, it is possible to over do it.  Today, I'm looking at wearing a bold look during the day since most times, we associated bold with evenings.

When going with the bolder, brighter, or darker look, you will "break" some of the normally accepted "rules".  For instance, the bolder the makeup you choose to wear, the foundation you choose should be one to two shades darker than your normal shade to counter the brightness.  One of the best ways to get your foundation on for this look is to make sure you have extremely bright lighting.

Select the one feature you want to brighten such as your lips or your eyes but only one, otherwise you can look overdone or not real.  In addition, you look more appropriate for daytime.  Now, if you aren't ready to commit fully, you can use pops of color to emphasis the look such as using a colored eyeliner rather than bright eyeshadow.  Applying pops of color is great for summer when you might choose to wear less makeup. 

When you use bold eye shadows on your eyes, there are a few things you can do to have it turn out better. First choose the colors you want to use.  Use one color if you want a stark bold look, otherwise select two or more colors so you have one prime color and a transitional color such as a deep purple with a light purple or pink. In addition, decide on the type of eyeshadow you want.  Powder or cream?  

Begin by applying a primer to your eyelid so the shadow stays and doesn't smudge or accumulate in the creases.  If you are using more than one shadow, apply the transitional color or the lighter color first and apply it all over your eyelid, into the crease and a bit further. When you apply the second darker color, begin applying it in the middle and gradually going lighter to the edges.  Soften the edges of the bold at the top out by using a bit of the lighter or transitional color blended into it. Once the eyeshadow is on, add the eye liner, mascara or fake lashes

Make sure to use highlights down the top of the bridge of your nose, along the top of the cheeks, the inner corner of you eye, on the chin, and at the bow of the lips.  Make sure it is blended in to keep the look light and adds dimension.  

This is one of the cases you want to use lip liner first if you plan to highlight your lips, then apply the lip stick. When applying either, use a good light so you can see the edges.  If you mess up, it can be cleaned up with concealer and a cotton swab.   To apply the lipstick for the best results, begin by cleaning, exfoliating, and moisturizing the lips. Next cover all the lips with concealer that is similar to the color of your lips which is like priming your lips. Now you are ready to apply the lip liner in a shade that is close to the color of your lipstick around your lips.  Use the side of the pencil to fill in the edges before applying the lipstick itself.  Be sure to apply it over the liner to add a dimension.

The great thing about getting a bold look is that you can always remove it and try again if it doesn't work out quite right.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  I hope you have a great day.

What Type Of Makeup Should You Wear In Super Hot Weather.

 

Wearing makeup in extremely hot weather can be difficult due to the propensity of the human body to sweat and we do more of it when the temperature is up. This means you need to look at the type of makeup you use so it stays on nicely. Although it is often better to go without makeup, there are times such as an evening out when we want to wear it.

The most important step in the process is to begin by prepping your skin.  Always cleanse your skin so you get rid of dirt, sweat, and other things that could effect your makeup.  Then apply an oil free broad spectrum sunscreen on the clean skin so you have enough protection.

Think about starting with a primer when you begin your makeup.  Primer was originally designed to wear in humid weather to extend the life of the foundation. However, it should be only used on the T-zone, the side of the nose and cheeks but if you use too much primer, you skin suddenly looks too dull or flat.  Furthermore, avoid a silicon based primer because it can dry out the skin.  Instead of messing with a primer, think about using a good hydrating lotion.

As far as foundations go, look for a liquid rather than a cream because creams are less stable than liquid foundations. In fact, you'll want to look for a water based formula because the rich hydrating foundations tends to slide off in the hot weather. When you apply the foundation, apply it in a light layer and add another layers in areas that might need a little extra but do not use a heavy layer.  Finish with a nice powder in the T-Zone and it should last all day but make sure the foundation is completely dry before applying the powder, otherwise it looks caked.  Should you decide to go with a cream blush, look for one that has a dry finish otherwise they'll turn greasy.  Although shimmer blushes may look cool, they can make your skin look oilier in the heat.  

If you need to conceal any blemishes, look for a concealer that is tacky rather than creamy since it will stay on your face better.  In addition, do not try to powder away any shine you see as it will only make the face look caked and horrid.  Instead, make sure you have blotter paper so you can blot the shine away just like they did in my grandmothers time. Blotting papers remove the shine without disturbing your makeup.  For best results, wrap a piece of blotting paper around a dry powder puff for more control.

If you want to wear eye shadow and liner so it lasts longer there are two different methods you can use.  One is to apply an eyeshadow primer under it all or apply a layer of cream eyeshadow with a layer of powdered eyeshadow on top. To finish the look, apply a sheer or tinted lipstick while avoiding anything too glossy or shiny. Now if you want to ensure your makeup stays in place, finish the whole look off with a makeup setting spray but be careful.  These types of spray keep your makeup on for up to 16 hours so it takes a bit of elbow grease to get your makeup off at night.

So now you know how to wear makeup in extreme heat.  Remember, you can wear a lighter look with just a bit of tinted foundation, sunscreen, eyes, and a bit of color on the lips but no matter what, begin with a freshly cleaned face.  Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.

Working Out Using DVD's

When the pandemic hit, gyms closed down so people had to find other ways to work out.  For me, it didn't make a big difference because I'm usually in the middle of nowhere so there is no gym or center available to take classes.  I've had to rely on the use of DVD's for the past 20 years or so.  I'll admit, I have several DVD's that are a bit tougher than I can handle because they have you popping down on your hands and knees, then up, and back down.  My knees don't like those or the DVD's with modification that aren't that much different from the regular.  I'll share what I've learned plus some things to look for when getting a DVD.

Personally, I like DVD's that have women who are different weights and shapes because not all of us, myself included, are athletically slender with no belly or fat.  When I see women who have real curves or are older say over 40, I feel as if I'm working out with others who might be my neighbor. When every person on the video has no fat, lots of abs and muscles, my insecurities explode and I'm always comparing my body to theirs and I lose every time.  

Another thing I love to see in any workout are modifications.  My favorites always seem to have the instructor showing the regular workout with someone showing the routine with modifications for people who might have joint issues or are beginners and someone who shows the more advanced moves so I can chose which one is best for me.  In fact, it is recommended that one check the level of fitness the DVD is rated, does it have modifications so you can progress from say beginner to intermediate.  I will admit, when a store went out of business, I bought a kettlebell with 6 different DVD's and it turns out the workouts are designed for folks who have been doing kettlebells for years.  I bought some other kettlebell DVD's with beginner and intermediate workouts so I can get myself to the point I can do the more advanced workouts.

Next, read the description to see if it tells you how much space you need and what equipment is needed or if the equipment is included.  Do you need a resistance band, weights, a mat, or blocks.  Is the DVD asking for equipment that is expensive or only used with the DVD?  Then you might want to look for something else.  I have some DVD's that use weights and the modified workout either uses a set of cans instead of one pound weights or no weights.  I have a couple other DVD's that included the resistance band so I didn't have to try to order the equipment.

What are you looking for?  Are you looking for a workout that tones your whole body, helps build muscle, builds abs, improves your booty?  Make sure the DVD meets your criteria and set some realistic goals and expectations before you go shopping. In addition, think about what types of things you like, do you like to dance, move about, do lots of weights because you'll want to find DVD's that meet that desire.  I love to dance, so I have lots of dance type workouts but I also have DVD's that have me moving around a lot.  Some of my DVD's include resistance bands or weights while I move about.

One other thing to think about is are you the type of person who likes a definite routine and you'll be happy with just a few DVD's or do you need a large number of DVD's to keep from getting bored?  I have quite a few because I like to focus on different aspects of the body depending on the day.  I also include things like tai chi, yoga, and DVD's focused on improving balance.

Take time to look at the instructor.  Look for them on the internet to see what their qualifications are and see if they have something on Youtube so you can see them in action.  Do you like their style?  I generally read the reviews to see what people say and how the ratings are spread.  If you have a library near by, see if they have the DVD you want in their video section so that you can check it out.  In general, if I like one video by an instructor, I'll order more of their stuff because I know I like them.

Finally, ask yourself how often do you think you'll use the DVD based on the type of workout and the length of workout.  I have workouts of different lengths because somedays I need a 10 minute workout to get me started and other days, I have time for a 50 minute workout.  Do not buy something that is 75 minutes long when you know you don't usually have more than 20 minutes available most day. 

You may be a person who prefers to workout in the gym so you might only want one or two for those days when the weather makes it difficult to get to the gym. Other than that, there is a good chance that no matter how carefully you think and check out things, you'll end up with a workout you don't like.  When that happens, make a donation to the library or give them to used goods places like second hand stores or goodwill and other stores.  You can take a bit of a tax write-off that way.  Let me know what you think I'd love to hear.  Have a great day.