5 Steps to a Bright Morning (even if the night wasn't so nice)

Ever have those parental nights where your kids (or partner) keep you up all night? Of course in the morning you don't get to sleep in. You have to be on top of everything like you got a full 8 hours (remember what that felt like? Me either.). You are the rockstar mother who does everything, you should look like her too. Here are a few easy tricks to fool everyone (including yourself) that you feel as good as you look. (You don't need kids or partners keeping you up. These tricks work for anyone who's had a bad night's sleep and needs a quick fix in the morning.) 

 1) Wash your face with cool water. Washing with water that is to hot or cold can actually be damaging to your skin, and may cause flare-ups for rosacea patients. To hot can cause flare-ups in your skin, dilating your blood vessels making you look red and more tired. A cooler temperature can jumpstart your day. If you can, step outside or stick your face out of the bathroom window for a little fresh air on your still wet face. 

2) Use an eye cream to decrease puffiness and brighten those under eyes. My favorite is actually a men's product by Kiehl's, but it works fast and does the trick. We're going for fast and effective here. Second, use a concealer to cover any redness or discoloration on your face. My favorite is the Playstick from Benefit. It's everything in one shot. Swipe, blend and be done. (Remember to only use your ring fingers to blend. Pushing to hard can damage the thin skin around your eyes.) 

  

3) Next up, line your inner eye with a lighter color. It will take away the redness and make your eyes look bigger, brighter, and more awake. Avoid using white because it will look to harsh. Try a skin tone or cream color, I've used Stila's Kajal eyeliner in Topaz.

4) Next, remember to fill in your eyebrows. A little color around your eye makes you look more awake and put together. A polished eyebrow can make or brake an entire look. 

 5) Without a lot of time some products can do double duty. A light blush can work not only as a cheek enhancer but also as an eye lift. A little pink in the crease of your lid will help lift and brighten.

Done! 5 minutes and no one will know you didn't get any sleep last night. :)

5 Things you might be doing to age yourself earlier than you want.

Everyone ages, some more gracefully than others. While a few laugh lines show you're living life to the fullest, no one should look older than they need to. Instead of breaking the bank on expensive creams and lotions, try loving the skin you're in by using a few tricks to keep it looking as young as you are inside.

1) Over exfoliating your skin.
Exfoliating your skin can be a good thing to help skin layers turn over faster, which can make you look younger and glowing. To much exfoliation, however, can mess with your skin's natural defenses and cause it to lose moisture and be susceptible to redness and acne. Using a washcloth or or scrub could be the problem. Opt for a once a week gentle chemical exfoliant or peel, which loosens dead skin cells using an acid, such as glycolic, salicylic, or lactic. Always use a moisturizer and use sunscreen  after exfoliating.  Make sure to avoid scrubs made with particles such as seeds or crushed shells; these exfoliants have jagged edges that create microscopic tears in the skin.
2) A little "color" in the summer.
Whether you get a glowing hue or turn lobster red, any sign of color is a sign the skin has been damaged. A summer's worth of color can turn lead to dark spots that won't go away come fall. Opt out of the sun and into a faux tan. Self tanners are so much better than they used to be without the orange hue or yeasty smell. If you splurge on a salon spray, they might even give you some contouring! 
3) Making faces.
Your grandmother was right. Make that face to many times, it will stick. If you are constantly squinting or furrowing your brow, eventually your skin will develop deep set lines in those areas. Wearing sunglasses can help reduce the glare and the crow's feet, and make an effort to relax your facial muscles when you don't have to use them. Meditation can help you focus on those muscles in your face, and de-stress your body so you won't have to furrow. 
4) Sleeping on your side or stomach.
Just like making the same facial expression over and over can lead to lines, squashing your face against a pillow night after night can cause what dermatologists call "sleep wrinkles." If you can't retrain your body, try minimizing the damage with a satin pillowcase or a wrinkle-preventing pillow such as the Juverest, which has a design that reduces the contact your face makes with the pillow.

5) Using the wrong cleanser.
Does your skin have a squeaky-clean feeling after you splash away your face wash? You may be over drying your complexion by stripping away its natural moisture. Only the oiliest skin types should use foaming cleansers or washes with scrubbing beads. If your skin is dry (and most of us get drier as we age), choose a moisturizing cream cleanser. Combination skin can handle a little bit of lather, but opt for a gentle formula that won't irritate dry patches. 

The Perfect Pout

Here are a few quick tips to make sure the color you've chosen looks perfect on your pout. I've picked Please Me from Mac, and all the goodies that go with it. 

 1) prime with lip primer. I used Mac lip primer. 
2) line your lip with a soft neutral color about a shade darker than the lipstick color. I used Mac Pro liner in Etcetera. 
3) fill in using your lip color. I used Mac Please Me. 
4) use a highlighter pencil to line the outside of your lip on the top and corners. Don't do the bottom. It creates a shadow effect and will make your lips look fuller. I used Benefit Watt's Up. 
5) create a soft finished look with gold highlights on your cheeks and eyelids, one coat of mascara on your lashes.