Hope you are having a great week so far in this wonderfully hot and steamy month of August! I just love hot nights.
With the hot weather and this going on today, I wanted to talk about beauty issues for a minute. Many of you email me and ask me for makeup tips. My passions of skincare and health are actually more connected than you might think- as skin is our largest organ and our largest detoxifying organ.
60-70% of whatever we put onto our skin is absorbed through the dermis, and ends up in our bloodstream and has to be processed by the liver. That is why more medications are delivered through the skin, like the Patch for smokers. This has serious implications for moisturizers and other skin products, as they sit on the skin 24/7!
As women, I understand that we want to look good too, it’s part of life! And I think part of being healthy should be looking your most beautiful. The right products are key to the whole equation. What if you spent all the money to buy organic foods, then put products on your skin (and therefore into your body) with high levels of chemicals?? Not good!! And not beautifying. We don’t want to tax our skin and organs unnecessarily.
I’m not a huge advocate of foundation for every day use because I think your skin should breathe as much as possible. For special events, parties, at night, big work presentations, sure! But every single day??? Hmmmm.
Well I am by no means a makeup expert. So I called on 2 of my absolute favorite makeup expert extraordinaires, one based in NY and one based in LA. Let’s see what they say about makeup and the HEAT!
Cheryl Nick is one of Hollywood’s top makeup artists. She has been nominated for an Emmy as well as Two Hollywood Makeup Artist Guild awards.
Nick’s personal clients include Sharon Stone, Tea’ Leoni, Gloria Reuben and Vince Vaughn.
She has also served as a Key Makeup artist on over 30 motion pictures including Meet The Fockers, all three Austin Powers films, Charlie’s Angeles, Tombstone, Couples Retreat, Four Christmases, Swordfish, Collateral Damage, Spanglish, The Number 23 and Hannah Montana: The Movie.
Currently she is working full time on CSI Miami.
Robin Schoen is a New York based makeup artist veteran of over 20 years. She has collaborated with cosmetic campaigns such as Urban Decay, L’Oreal, Prescriptives, Origins, Avon Global, and Rimmel Underground. Editorially, Robin’s work has appeared in W, Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, Glamour, In Style, Marie Claire, Flaunt, Seventeen, and Surface magazines.
Her celebrity roster includes Kate Winslet, Giselle Bundchen, Jessica Simpson, Kerry Russell, Natasha Henstridge, Jessica Biehl, Elle McPherson and Parker Posey. From Milan to New York, Robin’s work has graced the fashion runways for designers that include Giorgio Armani, Oscar De La Renta, Carolina Herrera, John Galliano, Nicole Miller, Patricia Fields, and Victoria’s Secret.
Her website is www.robinschoen.com. Weddings, special events, and in depth makeovers, are just a few services Robin offers there.
How do you avoid your makeup sweating off in the summer?
Cheryl: To create a nice base, one thing that important is to exfoliate with a mild exfoliant; a few times a week-it can be really beneficial. Then start with clean skin, prime with your favorite primer. Proceed with base and use a light powder.
Spritzing with a toner/rose water after application can also “lock” in the makeup. (MAC has a spritzer that works great!)
Robin: During the warm steamy summer months, moisture in the air and heated temperatures can do a number on your makeup. If you remember to be very strategic about what you put on your face and think in terms providing a sort of “preventative base” that will support your look, you will give your makeup staying power and avoid an unnecessary “meltdown”.
What’s the best way to pick your concealer or powder color?
Robin: Lighting is SO vital when it comes to selecting the right color of concealer and powder. With regards to concealer, most women (unless your skin is porcelain or VERY fair) should choose creamier more yellow-based tones that blend seamlessly texture wise as well as color wise. You shouldn’t be able to see anything sitting on top of your skin.
Powder is an easy one for Caucasian women. ALWAYS choose a completely colorless or translucent loose or pressed version. No color is needed because the powders only function is to set makeup and absorb excessive shine.
For women of color, it really depends upon the dominant pigments in your skin. Skin tones can range from yellow, golden, and burnished tan skin to ashy brown and deep mahogany. My advice would be to find out which are your dominant tones and test some shades on your jaw area while looking in flat daylight (truest light).
How do you keep your eye makeup from smudging in the heat- even the waterproof stuff??
Cheryl: One nice and simple thing that can be done to help with eyeshadow lasting and prevent from sweating off is use a eyelid primer before you apply your shadows. (MAC, Lancome are a couple that make nice ones).
Robin: While waterproof makeup might be unaffected by water, it IS NOT unaffected by oil. And the oil is what ultimately creates havoc on your makeup, causing it to smudge and smear. That’s why it’s essential to put oil control products underneath the liners and eyeshadows to create a barrier that will prevent oil from creeping into your makeup.
For eyes, apply a drop of shadow base or primer to lids to grab and hold onto color. A good one to try is Benefit’s F.Y.Eye Nude Primer. Then go with cream shadows with formulas that dry and never crease. My favorite is Urban Decay Cream Eyeshadows! Coat lashes with 2-3 coats of waterproof black mascara for a smear proof finish.
Well I hope you guys enjoyed the tips; reminding you to look for organic makeup brands, and have a great rest of your week!
I’m leaving for LA for more work stuff, so I’ll write from there. 🙂
Love, Kimberly
well done on the packaging with green credentials- if only more products followed suit
Kimmy! You should’ve known you would’ve heard from me with a post like this! Right up my alley!!! Great info from two great artists. Hurrah on your packaging! I will always admire the steps you take with the environs in mind 🙂
One love, (Ohhh i’m loving your rasta [red,gold & green} band on your wrist)
Char
omg, how many times have I drooled over the fabulous urban decay promo pics…and u know the creator of the very looks! Wow, thanks for introducing us to her….one more artist to follow and admire 🙂
I find it weird that you would post something that recommends MAC on Lancome products after first talking about chemicals in make-up. Not very consistent. Otherwise a great blog!
Hi Tai!
WORD! I don’t use those products myself. However, I didn’t want to edit out what the makeup artists wrote!
xx Kimberly
Hi Kimberly i just had a question.Im just wondering what specific products you use for makeup if you do wear makeup..? I’m curious. I’m trying around different types but i want to watch what i put on my skin. So far ,not so bad for me. And if you dont want to share what kind of makeup you use specifically, could u at least tell us if it cakes or looks different as the day collapses? Just a question because i tried bare minerals and it looked really bad after a few hours!
Peace and love!
I would love to know which makeup products you use as well…? Always good to hear advice…thanks!
Cheers,
Paula
Very nice information.
Hi Kimberly,
I just started reading your blog and have just started reading your book. I am learning so much!
I have the same question as Iris. I use Bare Minerals and recently had a Nordstrom sales associate tell me that the Mica is very bad for my skin. I have oily, acne prone skin and usually don’t use liquid foundations because I feel like they clog my pores. Do you have any suggestions for a natural makeup?
Thank you so much,
Christina
What moisturizer do you use on your face, you didn’t recommend anything after mentioning you don’t use coconut oil on the face? Also what brands or makeup lines can you recommend?
Thank you
Hi Kimberly!
I am just embarking on my quest for health and beauty you speak and write of. Am I to expect any sort of signs that I am detoxing? …like a break out of rash or acne? I have heard people experiencing reactions in their first couple of weeks of changing the way they eat.
Thanks for listening!
Paula
hi kimberly-just got your new book and cant wait to read it. i too was wondering what facial products you use for moisturizing? do you wear any makeup other than lip gloss?
HI Judy! I love the Christopher Drummond line for makeup. I use a little powder, eye liner, mascara, lip gloss and sometimes a little blush. Never foundation unless it’s for TV or a shoot. I’m working on another beauty line, so I have a ton of samples from that to use for a moisturizer, but for cleansers I use very simple, non-chemical brands. Right now I’m using the apricot cleanser from Burt’s Bees.
xx Kimberly
cool. i cant wait until your new line comes out!!! keep us posted.
Great! Stay tuned. 🙂
by the way, i am 53. will there be products for women my age?
I read that your use Coconut oil for a body moisturizer lotion. I went to Henry’s and after i got homeI noticed i picked up coconut butter by Artisana. Is that the same thing? If not, what exactly do you use? Thanks so much for your tips!!!
I don’t wear make-up much.But the best brand personally is Always and physical formula (which they use have natrual items). There is also more expensive ones like Burt Bees and Yes (which is are organic and natrual). I use to buy cheap make-up but it breks me out.So now I have very little make-up but only use those brands.Mac is more expensive and full of chemicals(or so called “minerals”!