Foundation Top Picks!

Hi, I'm the Fashion & Beauty Consultant for Estate Jewelry International where we don't just sell jewelry but pamper the whole you!

It's always tough finding the perfect foundation for your skin type, color, and texture. Some products are heavy,some don't cover so well, others don't blend well. We'll review a few of the products which we tried.

Tinted Moisturizers

* Laura Mercier tint moisturizer that leaves your skin feeling fresh. Comes in 7 shades all very natural. It has an SPF of 20 and is fortified with age-defying antioxidants.

* Elizabeth Arden tint moisturizer blends easily with enough coverage that you don't feel naked. It doesn't build up on dry patches. Demotologist tested. It has a SPF of 15

* Hydramax tint moisturizer is a lightweight hydrating lotion balancing moisture and coverage with natural-colour tint. Extract of Butterfly Lavender helps boost hydration by stimulating the water-trapping proteins essential for skin's proper moisture balance. Comes in 2 shades.

* Bobbi Brown tint moisturizer won the Best New Foundation award in Nov 2004 in Health Magazine. This formula is rich and luxurious so its perfect for anyone with extra dry skin. It blends easily and gives skin light coverage. Deeply moisturizes skin, to help reduce the look of fine lines. Dermatologist tested.

* Avon tint moisturizer is great for younger skin, however it has a tendency to stick out like a sore thumb on dry skin. I tried applying it as a foundation with a make up sponge and as a moisturiser using my fingertips and both times my skin looked terrible. It has a nice feel and a pleasant floral scent but the overall look it gave me was not natural in any way, the dry spots on my face seemed to show badly. Perhaps better suited for pre 40's skin. Liquid Foundations

* Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk liquid foundation is lush yet feather light with a very sheer texture. It is exceptional at correcting discoloration, elimating redness and blotchiness. Comes in 14 shades.

* L'Oreal True Match liquid foundation is a nice light weight and has terrific texture. No oils, fragrences or pore clogging materials. Contains vitamins B & E as well as glycerin to nourish the skin. Available in 24 colors.

* Laura Mercier liquid foundation is water based yet exceptionally creamy with a nice smooth finish. It has great coverage for a non oil based product. It isn't greasy or drying and the color matches well. Application is best with a sponge, and you can get more or less coverage depending on how much you apply. Takes a few minutes to set.

* Revlon Age Defying liquid foundation has great coverage and does not feel heavy. It does have a fragrance which does not go away. May hot be the best choice if your skin is at all oily. By mid day face may tend to feel oily and some experience zit outbreaks. It has an SPF of 30. Limited colors.

* T Leclerc Hydrating Fluid liquid foundation is best applied with a sponge or fingers. Its super thin so you hardly know its there. Comes in 6 shades. It has an SPF of 8. Mousse Foundation

* Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse is my all time favourite foundation. It gives great coverage but you feel like you've got nothing on. It's lighweight and easy to apply. I find it's best applied with fingers. If your skins a little on the dry side apply a moisturizer and then the mousse and it says light weight. It lasts all day and I've never had a break out using this product. It's advertised as a revolutionary whipped formula and that describes its texture perfetly. Available in 10 shades.

* Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Mousse is easy to apply and it never looks cakey or thick. Good coverage for such a sheer foundation. Great for dry skin. If you have oily or dry skin you may find yourself oily by mid day. I must say the smell can be a little harsh. If your at all sensative to smells have a whiff before buying. Dermatologist, clinically, allergy tested. Recommended for all skin types, except extra-oily.

* Erno Laszlo Absolute Finish Finishing Mousse Foundation is water free, air whipped providing flawless coverage. It is good for almost all skin types except for very oily skin and those that have a sensitivity to salicylic acid. Its very light and coverage can be sheer to complete. Stays on all day. Its a water free air whipped. Contains Emu Oil and essential fatty acids for non greasy moisturizing. Antioxidants vitamin A, C, & E to defend against free radical damage. It has UVA and UVB protection, and it is Dermatologist tested.

Wouldn't life be grand if one product worked for all of us. However, that's not the case so although I try and review products I cannot tell you how they will work on your skin. Most reputable cosmetic companies will refund or exchange a product if you are unhappy with it. When you find a product that works for you stay with it.

Remember your fashion statement includes the whole you from your hair to the polish on your toes, from your hat to your shoes, from your earrings to the rings on your fingers. So be sure to let the world know who you are and Make Your Fashion Statement!

Sher Matsen from Estate Jewelry International have been serving customers for over 20 years, providing affordable estate jewelry, and a wealth of information on jewelry, fashion, designers, and beauty with on staff industry professionals. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Makeup for Acne Scars Hiding as You Heal

Acne is a pernicious and upsetting condition, and most sufferers long for the day when their skin is clear of it. But many acne patients achieve clear skin only to find themselves left with a disappointing aftermath ? acne scars. While many scars will fade significantly with time, most patients will want to begin enjoying their improved skin immediately. Thankfully, there is great makeup for acne scars available that can balance the appearance of your skin, giving you the bright and clear complexion that you have waited so long to achieve. There is a wide variety of specialist makeup for acne scars available, but many people will find that ordinary makeup, applied correctly, will do the job just as well.

If you have had a history of bad skin, it is always wise to select light, non-greasy make up products ? there are a huge variety of foundations and powders available for sensitive skins, and many medicated varieties, should you feel your skin still needs a little extra help in keeping clear. Remember that your scars will lighten as time passes, but if dark scars are making you feel particularly self-conscious then there is a good selection of speciality make up for acne scars available that can also be used to cover other types of scars and birthmarks. If you would like some first hand tips on minimising the appearance of your scars, then treat yourself to a makeover at one of your local drug stores make up counters. The professionals will show you how to use their products to best compliment your own skin.

If you feel that using makeup for your acne scars is simply not enough, then there are ways of getting rid of acne scars. Dermabrasion is a popular treatment among former acne sufferers, and can help reduce the appearance of pitted scars significantly. The procedure involves the light scraping of the top most layer of skin, and while it can be effective, the process will initially result in skin that appears very raw. Skin needs especially delicate treatment after this procedure and most doctors will advise against even the use of camouflage makeup after dermabrasion. This can be upsetting for many patients who have already spent too much time with bad skin, so before signing up for the procedure be sure that is worth the possibility of getting rid of your acne scars. Make up for acne scars can be just as effective.

Find out more about Acne Skin Care Products as well as Acne and acne cures and adult acne treatments at Peter?s website, Acne All Gone.

Mineral Makeup a Natural Acne Cure?

Mineral makeup may offer new hope for acne sufferers. Because mineral makeup has several unique qualities not offered in any other makeup product that make it ideal for helping cure acne.

To understand how mineral makeup can cure your acne it is necissary to look at the seven causes of acne:

1. Genetics. Sadly, nothing can change your genetics. If your parents had acne as teenagers there is a good chance that you will too.

2. Hormones. During adolesence, hormones called androgens become active and stimulate oil glands in your skin, increasing oil production. This, in turn, clogs pores, causing pimples and blackheads.

3. Stress. Although stress doesn't actually cause acne, it can add to the problem by affecting hormones.

4. Diet. Many times what you eat has been shown to cause acne. Most of the time acne is an adverse reaction your body has to a food allergy.

5. Washing your face too often. This can irritate the skin making acne worse.

6. Medications. Many medications can cause acne or make an existing condition worse. Read labels or talk to your paharmacist to find out if acne is a side effect.

7. Using greasy skin care products and oily cosmetics. Most makeup falls into this category.

While these are the casuse of acne it is important to remember that acne is ultimately a result of bacteria growing in clogged pores. Bacteria is organic and thus cannot grow or multiply without the presence of water. This is where mineral makeup plays an almost magical role in curing acne.

Mineral makeup is made of natural minerals derived from the earth, these minerals are not only inorganic but they are also extremely resistant to water. They actually act as a shield on your face keeping bacteria feeding moisture away from your pores. Mineral makeup is not soluable in water so even if you put water directly on your face the minerals will not be absorbed and the water cannot pass through.

Mineral makeup does not clog pores either. Because it is so finely milled during production, the granules are much smaller than your pores. This not only prevents acne from forming, but makes the makeup extremely easy to blend into the skin with a very flawless look and conceals problem areas very well. If you suffer from a break out the finely milled minerals are very effective as disguising it.

Because of these and other unique qualities mineral makeup is known througout the world as the skin care makeup and recommended to acne sufferers by dermatologists. Ultimately, it does not matter what the cause of your acne is, without water to feed the bacteria, and something to clog the pores and hold that moisture in acne cannot form or worsen. If you suffer from acne, mineral makeup may end up being your best friend.

Find more Mineral Makeup information at http://www.bare-mineral-makeup.info. Get the facts, ingredients, and benefits as well as advice about which brands are the best.

Using Acne Cleansers To Control Your Acne

Before getting into acne control, let us know how it is formed. Oil called sebum is secreted normally from hair follicles which travel up to the pores where it lubricates and protects the skin. Sometimes, there are overworked oil glands which enlarge and produce too much sebum which can get trapped in the hair follicle. Thus the pores will get clogged which are either called blackheads or whiteheads, allow bacteria overgrowth of Propionibacterium acnes. In the surrounding skin, acne will be formed by inflaming the hair follicle by this bacterium.

Acne control

Including a variety of seeds, nuts, vegetables and fresh fruit in your diet can be a good control for acne. Drink plenty of water every day since dehydrated skin sheds dead cells which can lead to clogged pores and effective acne control. Most skin care products contain chemical ingredients that can aggravate acne. If you use make-up, try products that are non-comedogenic. Keeping stress levels low can also reduce the release of stress hormones and reduce the intensity of acne. Dairy products and red meat in your diet can cause acne. Heavily tanned skin can lead to blocked pores. Some of the acne control guidelines recommended by The American Academy of Dermatology are as follows.

?Do not squeeze, pop or pick at the acne lesion. This can spread the inflammatory process and worsen the acne.

?Wash your face twice a day gently with mild soap or sulfur soap. Just pat your face dry and do not rub it with a towel.

?Avoid oil based products.

?Avoid acne irritants such as airborne grease from fast food restaurants, rubbing or friction from sporting equipment etc.

?Give anti-acne products time to clear up the lesions. This can mean several weeks or even months.

?Some acne products increase the skin's photosensitivity. When in the sun wear a hat and use sunscreen and avoid tanning booths while using these products.

Acne Cleanser

Acne Cleansers have an important part in skin care. A good acne cleanser will remove make-up, oil build up, dirt and other debris from the skin's surface, preparing it for acne fighting treatments.

Before the acne treatment, the skin has to be washed properly. Avoid using bath soap on your skin for cleansing. There are many kinds of skin cleansers in the market and you can choose the mildest cleanser for your skin. They are all natural and medicated cleansers and are great in controlling acnes. Some of the natural daily cleansers are as shown.

1.PhytoMe Gentle Cleansing Gel

Ingredients include herbal extracts that remove debris, impurities and excess sebum from the skin's surface to leave a clean refreshed feeling to your face. It can be used 2-3 times daily as a facial cleanser or make-up remover.

2.Clarins One-Step Facial Cleanser

It includes all natural, facial cleanser/toner/make-up removers. This acne cleanser uses the properties of orange extracts to remove impurities and dirt from the surface of the skin. This product does not clog pores and it keeps the skin clean and nourished and is great even for oily skins.

3.FACE Stockholm Foaming Facial Cleanser

The self foaming formula of this cleanser clears all make-up and impurities without harming the skin. The skin is cleaned and refreshed and can be used both in the morning and night.

4.St. Ives Facial Foaming Cleanser

It is 100% soap-free and includes acne-fighting tea tree oil combined with gentle glycerin and chamomile extract to balance the moisture, creating a cleanser that prevents breakouts without drying the skin. This cleanser is excellent for removing facial make-up, oil and dirt.

5.Fira Foaming Tea Tree Facial Cleanser

The clarity, tone, and texture of your skin can be greatly improved by using this instant, self-foaming acne cleanser. The tea tree oil has the natural properties for controlling skin problems and fighting acne causing bacteria. Due to the deep penetrating action of the foam, the skin is cleaned, leaving it fresh, and refreshed.

Jamie is the author of other Acne Tips located at Health Tips and Acne Articles Please stop by and sign up for our free health tip news letter.

Natural Mineral Makeup 3 Reasons Why It Should Be Your Natural Summer Sun Protection

Mineral Makeup is the natural solution for any person looking for natural sunscreen this summer. Especially if you are looking for a gentle and safe sunscreen. Then look no further than your makeup bag for fabulous looking results and full spectrum sun protection.

Here are the top 3 reasons why mineral makeup should be your sunscreen of choice:

1. The two principal ingredients in mineral makeup are natural sunscreens, giving full range UVA and UVB sun protection.

Zinc oxide is the top ingredient in mineral makeup. Because it absorbs both UVA and UVB rays of ultraviolet light very effectively it is the most widely used ingredient in sunscreen products. This mineral helps protect against sunburn and other damage to the skin caused by ultra violet light.

Titanium dioxide is also widely used as a sunscreen. Because of it's brightness and very high refractive index, next only to diamonds in brightness, this mineral, added to mineral makeup gives your face a radiant glow.

2. Mineral Makeup helps fight acne. And that is very good news if you want to wear makeup out doors in the hot summer. If you have acne, then you probably know that wearing makeup and cosmetics when you are going to be sweating only aggravates and worsens your acne.

Mineral makeup is your solution. It is inorganic, and repels bacteria feeding moisture from entering your pores, yet the minerals are ground so that they lay weightlessly on your skin and do not clog the pores.

3. Mineral Makeup does not meltoff your face when you sweat. Because it contains titanium dioxide, which turns the extra moisture into a strong steralizer, the moisture cannot be absorbed by the minerals and thus the makeup will not move or run off in the hot summer sun. This makeup stays put.

The steralizing effects of the makeup also give it a powerful punch in the acne fighting department. No wonder dermatologists love it, and call it the skin care makeup.

Find out more about Natural Mineral Makeup and how to get a complete Mineral Makeup starter kit at http://www.bare-mineral-makeup.info

Camouflage Makeup! Is Your Current Concealing Makeup Doing Its Job?

When searching for camouflage makeup, whether it?s for covering up facial scars, or currently exposed acne blemish breakouts, do you ever have the feeling that your foundation concealer is not working like it should?

Chances are the cosmetics that you?re purchasing may be designed for all skin types, and in my opinion, your unique facial tones are different from anyone else?s skin out there, so why would you settle for a product that has one color designed for everybody?

Like many of your individual qualities, such as your eyes, hair, and skin, many cosmetic suppliers put these features in a grouped classification, but that doesn?t necessarily mean the products their offering will be the right ones for your distinctive skins characteristics.

In order to achieve the best results to camouflage skin successfully, you need to find makeup products that have a wide range of shades with many natural colors that will easily blend with your skin. For example, the Dermablend camouflage cosmetics line are specially designed for your individual needs, and they know that there are individuals, such as yourself that have slightly different skin tones and that?s why they offer over 50 different colors!

Camouflage Care Starts With The Correct Application Of Makeup Cosmetics!

Not only is it important to have the right corrective makeup, but also it?s very important that you know the proper techniques on how to apply your select cream or powder, so it will produce your desired results, and provide you the natural look and feel that you expect!

We?re sure you didn?t want to spend all your valuable time and research in finding the right camouflage cosmetic, later realizing the end result is less than you expected due to an improper application technique. The ability to learn how to layer, and properly blend these products will be perfected with practice, and once you achieve the right method you will notice your facial imperfections will be virtually un-noticeable.

To avoid the frustrations and the feeling that you?re buying the wrong camouflage concealer, you need to focus on sourcing the right camouflaging products that are specifically designed for your particular skin conditions. Whether you may have scars, birthmarks, irregular pigmentation of the skin, or are suffering from serious blemishes, we're happy to say that there are many cosmetics available online that can help with your skincare concerns!

About the author: William is the owner and the author of ?1st In Acne Skin Care Products? available at http://www.1st-in-acne-skin-care-products.com A great source for Acne Treatment Coverup! Find quality acne treatment, and cover-up products for complete camouflage and care of acne blemishes and scars. You can control the look of pimples with proper cover up treatments.

Summer Makeup

Many of you have asked this important question about your own makeup. I have had countless conversations about the topic of shiny vs. matte. There seems to be a strong resistance to the shine factor in makeup. Women feel that it will age their skin, making it look drier and older than it actually is.

Your skin in its healthiest state, like hair and nails, should have a natural sheen, a subtle glow. When your makeup is too matte, it ages the skin just as quickly as if it had too much shine! A subtle shine can add ?pop? to the eye area, highlight cheekbones beautifully, and give the appearance of fuller lips instantly.

After painting faces for almost sixteen years, I have to say I love to see women of all ages and skin tones wearing a little something reflective on their face. The key word here is ?little?. I?m not talking about going out and buying metallic makeup to wear to work everyday. No body glitter, frosty lipstick, or shimmering face powders are allowed! The kind of shine I love the best is a ?satin? finish. Often, there does not even appear to be an actual ?sparkly particle? in the product, but it glows and shows off the skin beautifully. Products with this ?satin? finish catch light and give life to your complexion!

A few rules to keep in mind:

1 Create balance between your features by accenting only one or two of them with shine. For example: matte eye shadows with dewy lips, or satin-finish eye shadows with a traditional lipstick texture.

2 If your skin is dry or flaky, shimmery makeup wouldn?t be the best for you. Stick to dewy, creamy textures instead. This will give your skin a very healthy glow. Try Nars Cream Shadows and Blushes in addition to Stila Convertible Color.

3 If your skin is oily, look for creamy, slightly shimmery eye shadow colors that are smudge-proof. This will serve as a base color and help keep your powder shadows in place during the day ahead. Try Bobbi Brown Cream Shadow Sticks and Stila Shadow Pots.

Remember, makeup is not permanent. It comes off! How lucky we are as women to have the ability to change the way we look so easily. If this all still seems a bit scary, a well-trained makeup artist can answer any questions and show you how to look your very best!

Sonja George is Senior Makeup Artist for Scott Miller ? a salon, spa, and store in Rochester, NY (http://www.scottmillerstyle.com). Sonja has been a professional makeup artist and licensed esthetician for more than 17 years. Through the proper use of color and technique Sonja helps empower clients to look their absolute best. Additionally she acts as an educator of clients and staff, specializing in product knowledge and industry research and development.

Sonja?s professional experiences include editorial print, runway, fashion, film, and television broadcast. A few of her clients include supermodel Niki Taylor, actor/comedian Joan Rivers, news anchor Dan Rather, sports broadcaster Jim Nantz, and actor Bruce McGill.