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The wonders of Chen Man. How can you not get lost in the wonderful world of Chen Man's surreal imagination. I got introduced to the talented photographer while browsing through Mac's special editions counter. I bought the beauty powder (pictured below) and since then I am hooked. Partly because of the packaging, partly because of the product, but mostly because of the image (the very first image above) that accompanied the collection. 

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I do hope you enjoy as much as I did (and still do, because let's be honest, who can ever get enough of such beautiful images).  

Tangerine Tango

Versace Spring 2012

Pantone has announced Tangerine Tango the color of 2012. Since it is Fashion Week season, I thought I would take a look at the collections from New York Fashion Week and see which designers incorporated the color of the year into their collections.

"Want it" Beauty Products

B.B. Creams a.k.a. Blemish Balm is a phenomenon of the Asian market but it is fast becoming a hit of the western beauty industry as well.
It was originally developed to soothe skin that was damaged and on the sensitive side after laser surgery...but now, we don't have to have laser surgery to use a product such as Garnier's Miracle Skin Perfecter.
I'm curious to try the product and see if it can in fact replace my regular foundation.

This is another version of a B.B. cream by mac. There are so many "benefits" to B.B. creams.
They replace your:
1. Moisturizer
2. Sunscreen
3. Primer
4. Foundation

On top of that they HEAL your skin...what product has all these qualities in one!!??? Let's be real, NONE.

So all in all, this product is definitely one to try. It's on the top of my list for a reason.

Hard Candy is such a pleasant surprise. Their products are so affordable....actually they're downright cheap, but they do not skimp on quality.I saw "Glow All the Way" a couple of weeks ago and have been wanting to try ever since. It is supposed to be a bronzer and a self tanner and on top of that it is infused with 24 karat gold so it will make your complexion shine!

I've been looking for the perfect holiday blush and I think this one is the winner. The shimmer is just unbelievable and it is the holiday sister of the renown Orgasm blush by NARS. This one is the Supreme Orgasm. Even the name makes you all the more excited to try it out. I love it. It's such a beautiful color and it accentuates your cheekbones beautifully.

My lips are on the plump side, which is not always a good thing, especially when it comes to bright lipstick shades. That's why I like to stick to natural lip color (clear lip gloss or a simple swipe of vaseline will suffice for me). Recently I've been craving for something different, which brought me to the hunt for a perfect nude lip color. Yves Saint Laurent has the perfect shade.  This one is the Nude Beige.

Secrets of getting skin right

Ten things that are crucial in your skin care regimen:

1. Water/ Hydration 

- drink at least one glass of water first thing in the morning and one before going to bed

- and of course drink at least 6 to 8 glasses throughout the day

-add additional glasses to the 6 to 8 if you are travelling or exercising

2. Circulation = Glowing skin

-start your shower with hot water to open up your pores 

- use a blast of cold water at the end of your shower to get your blood circulation going and close up your pores

3. DO NOT USE HOT WATER ON YOUR FACE

- hot water weakens your vessels which will stretch and loosen your skin, it also dries out your skin

- use lukewarm to cold water instead 

4. Beware of the Sun 

-do not suntan from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. 

-use sunscreen

-and use the sun to your benefit with moderation 

5. Masques

- you can either use store bought masks, such as clay masks 

                                 OR

-you can make your own ( I posted some recipes here)

6. ALWAYS wash your face before going to bed!!!

7. Care for you face and neck GENTLY

-do not scrub the thin skin around your eyes and neck

-use an oil based eye-makeup remover like Lancome Bi-Facil or simply use olive oil 

8. Routine

- it is important to create a beauty routine that you will follow everyday, it will improve your skin and your mood

9. Simple is Key 

- do not put a thousand moisturizers on your face, it will not help! 

-do not over wash your face - it will only dry it out - washing your face twice a day is more than enough

10. Once again - drink lots and lots of water!

- AND don't smoke!

Image by Edouard Boubat

Beauty Products You Can Eat

I have been doing some research on beauty because my skin has not been looking the greatest for the past couple of weeks. I wanted to try something that i could make myself so I know what I am putting on my skin. All of the recipes below are from ingredients you use in your kitchen and because you make them yourself you know that they're fresh, and therefore more effective. So here they are, few recipes for dry skin for you to enjoy:

Sparkling Spa Honey Scrub
(this is meant for the face but in my opinion sugar is way too harsh for the face so I would use it on my body- obviously if you are using this on your body you need to make a bigger amount)

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of honey
1 tablespoon of mineral water

Mix all ingredients together. Rub it all around your face and rinse off.

White Bean Wonder Mask

Ingredients:
1/4 cup of white beans
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Soak the beans overnight. In a small saucepan bring the beans and 3 cups of water to a boil. Simmer until soft. Drain the beans. In a small bowl, mash the beans with a fork, then add the oil and lemon juice.

Cover your face and neck with the mask and relax for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and moisturize afterwards.
(The white beans contain calcium- helps with cell renewal and has antioxidants [if you suffer from dry skin in the winter you should take calcium tablets to combat the dryness] it also has anti-aging properties, potassium - a mineral that helps with new cell growth enabling your skin to look healthier and folate- helps with the division of skin cells [ if you have a folate deficiency it can lead to depression]) .


Sweetie Pie Cleanser

Ingredients:
 3 tablespoons apple juice
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon flour

In a small bowl mis together the apple juice and cream. Slowly stir in the flour so that it thickens the mixture.
Wash your face and neck with the cleanser only at night. Rinse off with warm water. In the morning splash cold water on both face and neck.
(Apple juice contains malic  acid which is an excellent exfoliator. Heavy cream is hydrating and the flour binds the ingredients together.)

Image is by the photographer Albert Watson.
The recipes are from the book Return To Beauty by Narine Nikogosian.