* Lately I've been kind of obsessed with creating a makeup questionnaire that I can use when doing makeup. I sometimes have a hard time ascertaining whether or not I am on the same page with a client and that gets tricky. While I've never had anyone say they were not happy, I have had the impression that we are not speaking the same language. (you say 'berry' and I think strawberry and you are actually thinking more apricot)
I think this could really help me really give the recipient of my makeovers exactly what they had in mind. With people I'm friends with I can kind of guess or make choices for them but for someone I don't know well, it can be very difficult. I created a 'look book' with different makeup looks I ripped out of magazines and put into a binder so my clients can also have a visual.
Here it is blank:
(below I've filled it out with my answers because it's fun. feel free to print it and take it with you next time you brave a department store makeover!)
Makeup Questionnaire:
1. I wear makeup _____________________
(ex: everyday, most days, sometimes, for special occasions, never)
2. Most of the time I want my makeup to be __________________
(ex: fun, simple, natural, dramatic)
3. I feel best when I look ________________
(ex: glamorous, healthy, well-rested, trendy)
4. If I had to wear one lipstick for the rest of my life it would be _______________
5. I prefer lipgloss/lipstick/lipbalm (choose one)
6. The one makeup look I would never do is __________________
7. The one makeup item I can't live without is _______________
8. Today I want to look __________________
9. I would be really unhappy if I looked ______________________
10. The products that are perfect for me are _________________________
I am still looking for the perfect __________________________________
11. I am able to experiment with different looks/I am most comfortable with a certain look (choose one)
12. I consider my skin to be:
(normal/combination, oily/problem,mature, sensitive)
13. T/F: I exfoliate regularly
14. T/F: I moisturize regularly
15. T/F: Today I am happy with the way my skin looks.
I looked through the book and I the ones I liked the most were:
Natural: pretty, neutral,romantic, balanced face, soft rosy cheeks and lips, dewey skin
Natural/Sun kissed: beachy, neutral, peach cheeks, apricot lips, bronzed skin
Dramatic: lots of color, metallics, focus on the eye, shimmery skin
Dramatic 40's Retro: vampy deep red lips with neutral eyes and cheeks, matte skin
Dramatic 60's Retro: Cat-eye liner, lots of mascara, pale mouth, velvety skin
Dramatic 70's Retro: Dark, smudgey liner, tough punk rock style, imperfect skin
Other Comments/Questions: _______________________________________
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Makeup Questionnaire:
1. I wear makeup most days
(ex: everyday, most days, sometimes, for special occasions, never)
2. Most of the time I want my makeup to be simple, natural, flattering, like myself but more glamorous
(ex: fun, simple, natural, dramatic)
3. I feel best when I look healthy, well-rested
(ex: glamorous, healthy, well-rested, trendy)
4. If I had to wear one lipstick for the rest of my life it would be a color like Dr. Hauschka #11 or Glominerals Snapdragon or Bare Escentuals Wild Woman Josie
5. I prefer lipgloss/lipstick/lipbalm (choose one) lipstick
6. The one makeup look I would never do is a lot of bronzer and orange-y colors.
7. The one makeup item I can't live without is lipstick
8. Today I want to look pretty.
9. I would be really unhappy if I looked trashy.
10. The products that are perfect for me are mineral makeup, Blinc kiss me mascara, powder blush, cream or liquid highlighters.
I am still looking for the perfect nothing. I am happy with most of my products.
11. I am able to experiment with different looks/I am most comfortable with a certain look (choose one) The first one
12. I consider my skin to be:
(normal/combination, oily/problem,mature, sensitive) normal/combination when in balance, a bit problem during stress or period
13. T/F: I exfoliate regularly T
14. T/F: I moisturize regularly T
15. T/F: Today I am happy with the way my skin looks. F
I looked through the book and I the ones I liked the most were: The first one but with soft/smudgey brown liner and shimmery eyes.
Natural: pretty, romantic, neutral, balanced face, soft rosy cheeks and lips, dewey skin
Natural/Sun kissed: innocent,beachy, neutral, peach cheeks, apricot lips, bronzed skin
Dramatic: lots of color, metallics, focus on the eye, shimmery skin
Dramatic 40's Retro: vampy deep red lips with neutral eyes and cheeks, matte skin
Dramatic 60's Retro: Cat-eye liner, lots of mascara, pale mouth, velvety skin
Dramatic 70's Retro: Dark, smudgey liner, tough punk rock style, imperfect skin
Other Comments/Questions: _______________________________________
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Makeover Time!!
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The Dirty Two Dozen
Good quality brushes are really important for getting a smooth, beautiful application when you apply your makeup. I have a LOT of brushes, but these are the ones I use daily. The rest I have in my professional kit. I wash my professional brushes after every job I do, but sometimes my personal ones get a tad neglected.
I noticed recently that they were looking a bit scary so I gave them a bath. For smaller or synthetic brushes--eyeshadow, concealer, lip it is perfectly fine to mostly clean with instant brush cleaner.It is mostly alcohol, though and can dry out natural bristles, so for fuller brushes I usually use brush cleaner sparingly and shampoo them when I notice that they are holding too much product.
I use shampoo or mild natural hand soap and no conditioner. I know a lot of people think it's good because it will make the bristles softer but I worry about it leaving a residue that will end up on my face, clogging my pores. It's best to try and angle the brush down as you wash them so water doesn't enter the barrel and cause damage to the handle.
It's really entertaining for me to see all the gross stuff washing out of my brushes and so satisfying to see them all clean and happy. After gently squeezing out excess water with my index and middle fingers I lay them flat to dry on a paper towel.
In the morning they will be dry and will only need a little fluffing before using.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Kiss Me
The best red lipstick on the planet is Dr. Hauschka 06 Fortissimo.
It's a rich, true red not too blue or orange but a pure blood red. It's great for every skin tone which most reds are not. Even women who thought they couldn't wear reds can pull this one off.
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Toxic Lipstick/Just Another Reason To Go Natural
Group: Lipsticks test positive for lead
Campaign for Safe Cosmetics reports it found lead in top brands including L'Oréal, Cover Girl and Christian Dior.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- A significant proportion of lipstick manufactured in the United States and used by millions of American women contains surprisingly high levels of lead, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said Thursday.
According to new product tests, 61 percent of brand-name lipsticks tested contained detectable levels of lead, which can be toxic if ingested.
The top brands testing positive for lead included L'Oréal Colour Riche "True Red," L'Oréal Colour Riche "Classic Wine," Cover Girl Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" and Dior Addict "Positive Red," the group said.
The FDA said it is aware of concerns about lead in lipstick and is following up on the report, a spokeswoman said.
"These concerns have not generally been supported by FDA's own analysis of products on the market," the spokeswoman said. "In the present case, we are looking into the specific details of the issues raised."
Federal regulation covers lead levels in lipstick coloring, she said.
An industry representative said the products tested by the CSC meet FDA standards.
"The FDA has set daily safe levels for lead exposure for adults, children and pregnant women," said John Bailey, the executive vice president for the Science Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association, a trade group representing the cosmetics industry. "The agency also has set strict limits for lead levels allowed in the colors used in lipsticks."
In a statement, L'Oréal Group said it "is committed to upholding the highest standards of safety for all the products it makes and sells. Each and every ingredient used in our products has been thoroughly reviewed and tested by our internal safety team."
Procter & Gamble (Charts, Fortune 500), the company that owns Cover Girl, said it follows a "very rigorous scientific process" in evaluating its products and the ingredients used to make them.
"P&G stands behind the safety of our products because of the standards we set and the rigid requirements imposed by our industry," the company said.
A spokeswoman for Christian Dior cosmetics was not available for comment.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, one-third of the tested lipsticks exceeded the FDA's limit for lead in candy - a standard established to protect children from directly ingesting lead. Pregnant women and young children are particularly vulnerable to lead exposure.
"Lead builds up in the body over time and lead-containing lipstick applied several times a day, every day, can add up to significant exposure levels. The latest studies show there is no safe level of lead exposure," Mark Mitchell, M.D., president of the Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice said in the CSC statement.
The lead tests were conducted by an independent laboratory over the month of September on red lipsticks bought in Boston, Hartford, Conn., San Francisco and Minneapolis, according to the CSC.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, established in 2002, is made up of women's, public health, labor, environmental health and consumer-rights groups including the Breast Cancer Fund, Clean Water Fund and National Environmental Trust. 
Copied from Cnnmoney.com
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Skincare Q and A
I get questions all the time from (mostly) ladies who are confused about how to take care of their skin. I thought I'd address those here. Here are the first ones I have received. If you have a question for me you can leave it as a comment and I will answer it or email me at:
jen@skinrhythm.com
Q: Do I need to remove my makeup before compressing?
A: Absolutely. If you don't then you are basically pushing makeup and grime into your relaxed pores. You should remove all makeup with a creamy cleanser or plain jojoba oil. Then you can compress and then use the cleansing cream like usual if you are doing the Dr. Hauschka cleansing ritual or whichever cleanser/exfoliant you are currently using.
Q: Is it ever ok to mix and match products? If I am doing the Dr. Hauschka cleansing ritual does that mean I can never try other products?
A: This is a tricky question but I will give you my opinion, using examples from the lines that I use.
I think that a lot of brands create their products to work synergistically with one another so you will get the best results by using one brand that you trust rather than a bunch of random products.
That being said, if you decide you do want to change components of your existing skincare regimen, that can be possible if you keep a few key things in mind.
For example: Dr. Hauschka cleansers do not disturb the acid mantle, the protective layer that sits on the surface of the skin. So the toners do not Ph balance the skin because it is not unbalanced after cleansing. Grateful Body cleansers also do not disturb the acid mantle so you could use their cleansers interchangeably.
Mychelle cleansers do disrupt the acid mantle and so their enzyme mist is designed to rebalance the skin and prepare it to receive the serums and moisturizers. If you do not use the mist after using one of their cleansers, then you are not getting the best results from the products.
If you used the Mychelle cleansers and then a Dr. Hauschka toner then your skin would have to scramble to rebalance itself and could send messages to your sebaceous glands to produce more oil, possibly causing breakouts.
But, if you wanted to do the full Hauschka regimen or the full Grateful Body system but wanted to use a Mychelle hyaluronic acid serum or vitamin C serum occasionally you could fit that in during the day under your moisturizer and it would not harm the skin.
If you could use the fruit enzyme mist to set your makeup and that would be fine. Or if you wanted to use the blueberry mask for antioxident benefits or the pumpkin peel for vitamin A and to purify the skin post-menstruation then that would also work.
If you just use the serums you don't need to change your other products but for me, if I'm going to use a Mychelle mask then I use the rest of their products too, to maximize it's efficacy. So I would use the Honeydew cleanser, fruit enzyme mist then apply the pumpkin peel, compress off then more enzyme mist followed by the pumpkin renew cream.
Most cleansers do disrupt the acid mantle, GB and DH are pretty unique in the fact that they don't. Foaming cleansers almost always disrupt the acid mantle while some creamy cleansers can leave it intact.
When in doubt, find a line you trust and stick mostly with them. I love holistic products but for me, my three favorites are by far Grateful Body, Mychelle Dermaceuticals and Dr. Hauschka. I do use them all, for different purposes and after assessing my skin's needs.
If you are confused by what your skincare needs are, it's great to get a skincare consultation from a holistic esthetician who can get a good idea of what your skin needs are by touching and examining it, but if you have a question I will do my best to answer it.
For more information on the lines I have mentioned you can look at their official websites:
www.drhauschka.com
www.mychelleusa.com
www.gratefulbody.com
