Face Serum Upgrade  

Posted by: LadyBird in , ,

The advanced recipe for the face serum. The website that the ingredients can be purchased at is www.skinactives.com I am going to try this recipe out when I get the chance. At the moment I have a whole bunch of recipes waiting for me to try so I'll see when I get there. :)



First, use the recommended quantities. Period.

To 1-2 tablespoons of plain vegetable glycerin, add
pinch
Ellagic Acid- antioxidant, cancer preventive, anti-inflammatory, helps improve discoloration

pinch Ferulic Acid- cancer preventive, protects the skin against UVB-induced erythema, skin lightener, increases stability of vitamins C (MAP) and E

1/8 teaspoon of Coenzyme Q10- topical application restores mitochondrial activity, increasing energy production plus minimizing energy needed to make new collagen; antiaging, antioxidant, stimulating active, it will push your skin into “high gear”
Mix thoroughly until all actives are dissolved. If you have difficulty dissolving, microwave for 10-15 seconds and mix, mix, mix. Set aside.

Next, to the Fountain of Youth serum, add:
1/8 teaspoon
Alpha Lipoic Acid** - (aka ALA) essential for youthful cell function; our bodies’ own production dimishes as we age
pinch
Beta Glucan- anti-aging, cancer-preventive
pinch
Carnosine- accelerates and improves healing. Prevents wrinkles and loss of elasticity brought about by aging and exposure to sunlight, .also an antioxidant and seems to improve immune response
1/8 teaspoon
DMAE** - antioxidant, increases firmness and overall appearance of aging skin
pinch
Green Tea ECGC- antioxidant, repair of damage done by UVA radiation, cancer preventive
1/4 teaspoon
Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate- (aka MAP) the “real” ester-C, a stable and soluble form of ascorbic acid, stimulates collagen synthesis, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, anti-acne, skin brightening, decrease appearance of sun spots
1/8 teaspoon
Niacin- relieves itching, controls sebum products, skin lightening effects
Last, add the glycerin-active mix to the serum. Mix thoroughly. Put the mix into a glass dropper-top bottle or other non-reactive liquid dispensing container.

Some of the actives may never dissolve completely, but they will release their active ingredients continuously. If the undissolved ‘grit’ bothers you, strain your serum using CLEAN muslin, cheese cloth, nylon or any fine-sieve strainer.

DIRECTIONS: Use this super-active serum once or twice a day, after cleansing your skin, before you apply your moisturizer and sunscreen, and after 30 days, you will see smoother, brighter, clearer, younger-looking skin.If you experience ANY irritation…
either your skin doesn’t like one (or more) of the ingredients–in which case you should stop using it altogether and toss it
OR your mix is too concentrated–dilute it with some distilled water until your skin can tolerate it
OR your skin is simply adjusting to one or more of the ingredients–use your serum only once a day when you are not using any other products and if the irritation doesn’t subside after 3-4 days, stop using it and toss it

COSTS: The active ingredients is this serum are exactly the same as those found in the most exclusive, expensive skincare products on the market today. What you’ll spend: $87.00, plus shipping. If you don’t have glycerin, you can find it at most pharmacies or grocery stores, about $6 for 4 oz.

BONUS: You’ll have LOTS of the active ingredients leftover, which you can add to most any moisturizer (NOT sunscreen, NOT already-active cream…plain Eucerin, Olay, et al are okay) to make your own super-active skincare cream–way better than the high-dollar stuff at the department stores. Whether you use your mix on your face or body–or both–is completely up to you. But keep in mind with all these actives: A LITTLE BIT GOES A LONG WAY.

**Many people experience mild stinging with Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE, especially when they first start using them. However, if the stinging is intense or if you experience ANY redness and irritation, OR if the stinging occurs for more than a few days, STOP USING THIS SERUM.

NOTE: If you have rosacea or sensitive skin, or if you want to avoid the irritation issue, DO NOT USE Alpha Lipoic Acid or DMAE.

AS ALWAYS: When mixing, take extra precautions to wash your hands and be sure to use sterilized mixing, measuring, straining implements and containers.

Face Serum  

Posted by: LadyBird in , ,

I am very interested in creating or rather making homemade facial care and skin care recipes. For some reason today I had it my mind to make a face serum or rather if I wanted to make a face serum how would I go about that. So I started to google. Yes I do love that search engine. Anyway I found a nice recipe that the blog poster had perfected, It has a basic serum recipe and then an advance part, where there are more ingredients that offer various benefits for you skin. The site is www.natural-beauty-tips.info

DIY (do-it-yourself) Skincare can be fun, easy and best of all, work wonders on your skin…plus, it costs WAY less than those ultra-expensive beauty products, most of which are a bit of a rip-off (and some of which are a complete scam).

The following Fountain-of-Youth serum is one that can be used by itself but it can also act as a base for other active skincare ingredients. Click on the links to purchase the individual ingredients. Distilled water (a must…no tap water, please) can be bought at your grocery store:
1 1/2 tablespoons of distilled water
1/2 tablespoon
seakelp bioferment
1/4 teaspoon
hyaluronic acid
1/8 teaspoon
Germaben II preservative

Optional ingredients include aloe vera juice (substitute 1/2 tablespoon of water) and plain vegetable glycerin (add up to 1 teaspoon).

Seakelp bioferment is a kelp extract containing vital nutrients that feeds your skin. It’s the “magic” Miracle Broth™ ingredient in Creme de la Mer.

Hyaluronic acid (also called hyaluronate or hyaluronan), produced naturally by the human body, is a component of connective tissue whose function is to cushion and lubricate. It’s been nicknamed the “key to the fountain of youth” because it has been noted that some people who ingest a lot of it in their diets tend to live to ripe old ages and also because it provides volume and fullness to the skin.

To mix: stir together the water and hyaluronic acid first and let it set for a few hours to overnight. This mixture will thicken (you can add more or less hyaluronic acid depending on the consistency you prefer), then add the remaining ingredients, adding the preservative last. If you use another preservative, be sure to use one that is water-based or will work in a hydrophilic solution — and that you use the proper amount.

Directions: Apply to your face and neck after cleansing your skin, 1-2 times per day. Moisturize and apply sunscreen over the top of the serum.

Costs: $32 (plus shipping for the actives and Germaben II) depending on what distilled water costs at your grocery store.

Bonus: LOTS of leftover Seakelp Bioferment, distilled water and Hyaluronic Acid that can all be used in other youth-inducing skincare mixes you make yourself.

Please note: When mixing ANY products you put on your face or body, take extra care to wash your hands and use sterilized implements and containers (mixing sticks, bottles, droppers, etc.).

Next time, I’ll recommend different active ingredients to add to the base serum. Each active or group of actives will address different issues, i.e., free-radical protection, collagen building, firmness, and so on.

Next post the advanced recipe




Paula Begoun  

Posted by: LadyBird in

I am sure that many of you have heard of Paula Begoun the author of "Don't go to the cosmetic counter without me". I have personally seen the books many times and have passed by them thinking that they would be of no help or interest to me.

Having seen t.v. interviews and youtube footage of her, I have since changed my mind. And after visiting her website I am a convert.

Here is one of her youtube videos



You should check out her website it is loaded with tons of information. Information that I will definately being posting here.

Wish List  

Posted by: LadyBird in



So im going to make this into a separate heading. Where I will post items that are on my makeup wish list.


The first post its Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation. A few of the makeup bloggers have had the chance to create a custom blend that is just for them. I'll post links to a few of them at the end of the post.
A custom formula is created just for you and is tailored to meet your foundation needs for example if you want a mattifier because your skin is oily or if you want the foundation to have moisturizer or sunscreen protection.
It is made just for you, and you also get a nice travel size to take along.
The drawback. The price. You know custom things are never cheap, It costs $65 or so in the states and is probabley much more in Canada. As far as I know they are only available at Holt Renfrew in Canada.
You can also have a custom concealer, blush, lip gloss, bronzer and tinted moisturizer made just for you, all separately priced of course.
Heres the site if you want to check it out.Prescriptives.com
MakeupAlley reviewed it, the response is mixed.
As well as Kiss and Makeup
So did BellaSugar ( you have to scroll down a bit to see the post)
Blogdorf Goodman also had a custom experience.

Summer Beauty Tips, Tricks and Skincare!  

Posted by: LadyBird in ,



Once again this video is done by Scandalous Beauty. I think its good information for the summer time.

Common Makeup Misconceptions and Questions by Black Women!  

Posted by: LadyBird in ,



This video is done by Scandalousbeauty, you can find her blog here and her youtube page here.

makeup forever

becca cosmectics

Makeup Brush Care  

Posted by: LadyBird in ,




I came across this article from EBS about how to clean your makeup brushes properly and I could not pass it by. So here goes:
Let's face it! Professional makeup brushes are an investment. And, like any other investment, we want a great return on that investment. One of best ways to ensure that will happen is proper brush care. One of the best things you can do for your brushes is to clean them - regularly. Clean them when they are first purchased and clean them on a regular basis to remove:
Old makeup
Dirt & debris
Bacteria
Oils
Dead skin cells

One of the greatest benefits to keeping your brushes clean is softness! Yes, did you realize that makeup buildup, especially foundation, makes your brushes feel scratchy? If you have sensitive skin, cleaning your brushes regularly will help them stay soft and lush! Your skin will thank you!

How often should you clean your brushes? Ideally, everyday. But, who has time for that? So, here are a few guidelines:
Foundation Brushes - minimum once a week
Brushes used for finishing powders and bronzers - once a week
Blush Brushes - one a week
Eyeshadow Brushes - every 2-3 days
Eyeliner Brushes - after every use especially if you use an eyeliner sealant.

For those that suffer with acne, you will greatly benefit from keeping your foundation brushes clean at all times. To cut down on cleaning time, rotate brushes so you always have a fresh clean one to use.

How to clean your brushes:
First, you want to wet the hairs under the faucet with tepid to warm water with the hairs pointing downwards - this will help prevent any water getting in to the ferrule (metal part) or down in to the handle for brushes that don’t have ferrules.

Next you want to use a mild shampoo, liquid hand soap, pure castile soap or our favorite - California Baby Super Sensitive Shampoo & Bodywash. Squirt a little soap on your fingers and apply it to the hairs from ferrule to hair tips. Gently squeeze the hairs from ferrule to hair tips over and over adding a little water at a time. Rinse and repeat until the water runs clear. Make sure when you are rinsing to keep the brush hairs pointing down.

After your brushes have a good bath, brush them off a little on a clean paper towel and lay them to dry on their side on a paper towel or a regular towel. It is also a good idea to reshape the brush at this point in time to prevent splaying. Lay kabuki’s and any other stand-up brush on their side. Never leave them to dry brush hairs up in a brush holder. The water can run down in to the ferrule and loosen the glue holding the brush together over time.

Lastly, let brushes dry completely before using. Dry time will depend on size and brush density.
Keeping your brushes in good condition by washing frequently will provide you with years of beautiful makeup application! Now that's a great investment!




I use QUO brush cleaner. Its a Canadian brand that is from Shoppers Drugmart. It works well for me, but Im going to have to wash my brushes more frequently. Though I am an infrequent makeup wearer.