How to Conceal a Zit

Yikes! That's a big one!

Hello, my lovelies! Because of Hurricane Sandy, my parade was rained inside all day, but I got a lot of work done, thankfully. Of that work includes this photo tutorial on how to conceal an unsightly blemish. Every teenager gets zits, pimples, blemishes, whatever you want to call them. How to conceal them is a lifelong skill you'll want to know forever.  ;)

Because I have an HD Camera, you can only see the difference slightly, but in person, there's a dramatic difference. Try it out, and you'll see!

You'll Need: Concealer, Foundation, Foundation Brush, Concealer Brush (optional)

I used: Too Faced Flexible Coverage Concealer (but only because it was the only one at my disposal at the time), Sephora Mattifying Foundation, BareMinerals makeup brushes.

Stay beautiful! 

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream Sample

Hello, my lovelies! Last week, at about 4pm, an idea struck me. I'm well into my Sephora Mattifying Foundation, but because winter aka the season of dry skin is coming up, I've been thinking about switching to a more moisturizing foundation. Then I thought: BB Cream. If you haven't heard of this widespread phenomenon, then you must live under a rock on planet Jupiter, because BB Cream is HUGE. Originating from Asia, BB Cream stands for Beauty Balm, and combines skincare with makeup to create the ultimate 1 step beautifying solution.

Every major makeup brand has its own BB Cream, but I tried Maybelline Dream Fresh, because their marketing team consists of geniuses. In the latest issue of Seventeen Magazine, inside a Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream ad was a packet with a free sample of it's light/medium shade and a coupon for $1 off until the end of the year! As a subscriber, I get every issue a month early, but when I first saw the sample I didn't think I'd like it, so I didn't even bother.

Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream is an 8-in-1 Skin Perfector. It claims to:

• Blur imperfections
• Brighten your complexion
• Even skin tone
• Smooth
• Hydrate
• Enhance
• Protect with SPF 30
• and it has 0% oils and heavy ingredients!

So, I tried it. Nothing to lose, right? I washed my face with a gentle cleanser (that's the before shot) and didn't apply any moisturizer or anything. My face was completely naked (besides some lip balm). Then I applied the BB Cream.

*** Disregard the fact that my face is several shades lighter in the after picture; the light/medium tint was too light for my skin color, and SPF in foundation washes faces out in photographs. If I bought the product I'd get the next shade or two up.

Four words for you: I love BB Cream. I could rave about it for hours, but just look at everything I listed. It did everything it said it would, and you couldn't even tell anything was on my face! Well, besides that it made me look lighter than normal.  =)

There was enough in the sample for 2-3 days, a little goes a long way, so I tried using both with and without my Sephora Mattifying Foundation over it. Because the BB has such sheer coverage, my mattifying foundation helped me get medium to full coverage overall. But I'm sure you could layer it and get enough coverage. A great duo, though!

Overall, I'd score this beauty balm 9.5 out of 10 stars, only because it's so good, it's not fair. My ladies with dark skin can't jump on the Dream Fresh bandwagon, because the color choices are so limiting. Only 5 fresh tones!

This BB cream sells for either $7.44 or $8.99 in the US depending where you buy (I recommend Walmart or Target for the cheaper buy), which I'd say is reasonable for all the benefits it gives you!

That's all for now folks!

Stay beautiful!

In the Classroom: Nails (Part Three)

Credit to aafp.org

Hello, my lovelies! It has been a long, hard week, and I'm so glad it's finally Saturday so I can rest, relax, and do what I love most; blog! I had been debating in my head what topic to cover for the last part of the In the Classroom: Nails feature. Then I realized I'd been leaving out an important member of the nail family! In the last two parts, Part 1 and Part 2, I focused on the fingernails. But what about toenails? They're important to, and I bet you don't know as much as you should!

You'll be happy to know the anatomy of the toenail is exactly the same as the fingernail, it's just shaped like, well–a toe. And did you know, the toenail is twice as thick as a fingernail? And don't worry about the lunula by the way, not all nails have an easy to see lunula. I sure don't, neither on my fingernails nor my toenails!

Caring for your toenails is the same as well. The same concepts apply; clip the free edges of your toenails regularly, moisturize the nail and cuticles, do NOT cut your cuticles, push cuticles back after a shower while they're soft, etc. Did you know gorilla mothers cut their babies' toenails with their teeth? Luckily, we have nail clippers for that job. =)

I'm sure you're wondering now, if all the information is the same, why is it important? Toenails are often forgotten, especially in the fall/winter seasons. They're covered with socks and stylish shoes; no one's going to see them, so who cares, right? WRONG. Toenails are still an important part of the body that, you guessed it, protects the body from infection and disease. Don't forget about them! Plus, they're so easy to paint because you don't have to worry about the whole "left-handed, right-handed" thing.

Stay beautiful!

In the Classroom: Nails (Part Two)

Nail care is important. 

Hello my lovelies! Happy Monday! I thought I'd brighten up the beginning of your week with some fun facts. Did you know nails are made out of a protein called keratin, just like our hair? And if you're right handed, the nails on your right hand will grow faster? Works with lefty's too... Like me! And did you know humans have been doing manicures for over 4,000 years? Maybe not in nail salons, but the concept is pretty much the same. Ooh, and did you know rubber bands last longer when refrigerated? Haha, I bet you learned more in the last 30 seconds than you did in school today.

Caring for your nails is important. Your nails are the barrier between you and infection, not to mention they're this year's #1 accessory. Fun Fact: Did you know the condition of your nails is a tell-tale sign of your health status? So if your body is healthy, your nails are healthy... And vice versa.

General Nail Care Tips

1. Lack of vitamins and minerals in your system shows on the surface of your nails. No dieting and malnutrition! Maintain a healthy lifestyle.
2. Your nails are not tools; don't use them to break things, pick things up, open things, etc. That's what fingers and can openers are for!
3. Regularly cut the free edges of your nails. Not completely, but regularly cutting your nails actually helps them grow faster. 
4. Moisturize and use nail oils. Just like your skin and your hair, nails get dry, and regularly moisturizing them keeps them healthy and smooth. Nail oils can help stimulate growth and strengthen your nails.
5. Wear gloves more often. When washing the dishes, doing the laundry, gardening, and especially cleaning the house, your hands get exposed to many harsh chemicals. Protect your skin and your nails by wearing gloves for more than just going outside!
6. Be careful with certain nail products. Especially in nail polish remover, there may be strong chemicals that can actually damage your nails. If your nails seem stained, dry, or brittle, stop using that product and give your nails a rest. Then try a milder one.

Cuticle Care

Credit to health.howstuffworks.com

Your cuticles are protectors; they prevent infection and cover the tissue that builds new nail cells. Some cuticles are smooth and clean, while others are ragged and thick. Whichever category you fall in, do not cut your cuticles. It is unsafe and unnecessary.

1. If your cuticles are covering half of your nail, rather than cut them, push them back while they're soft, like after you take a shower. 
2. Don't pick at or press on your cuticles, be gentle with them!
3. Use cuticle cream or cuticle oil to moisturize your cuticles. Remember, cuticles are still skin, and dry out too, especially in colder climates. Dry cuticles are unsightly.

Alrighty, one last Fun Fact: Diamonds can be made from peanut butter. True story. 

Tune in tomorrow for Part Three!

Stay beautiful!

Sephora's End of Summer Sale!

Sephora.com End of Summer Sale!

Hello, my lovelies! I spent all day yesterday having a somewhat relaxing day alone in the house (with my dad), because my mom took my sisters to the hairdresser to get their hair done... (Without me!) While that irked me endlessly, I tried to make the best of my time alone and bored by painting my nails (now they're white with little black polka dots) and doing my hair (tangle free!). 

When I wasn't doing these things, I was browsing Sephora's website (on an old MacBook since I killed my laptop a few nights ago), because they're having the ultimate End of Summer Sale! Hundreds of makeup, skincare, and bath/body beauty products are on sale for up to 65% off online!

Of course, I'll have to take advantage of this offer and buy some products that I ran out of (or am dangerously low on) this summer for Back to School. I cannot believe the first day of school is just a few days away! It seems like just yesterday it was June and I was writing about Korres Guava Lip Butter. Believe it or not, this is Aisles of Beauty's 50th Post! Can you believe it? I'd launch some sort of major giveaway, but I'm saving that for the 100th post... If I did my math correctly that should be... In October. Can't wait!

So head on over to sephora.com and check out all the fabulous products they have on sale!

Stay Beautiful!

DIY Spa Ideas

My youngest sister Ava's DIY Spa

Hello, my lovelies! So Sunday night my youngest sister Ava wanted to test out some spa do-it-yourself's she found online. And since my mom is on a ridiculous "nature food" health kick, our refrigerator is full of all types of fruits and vegetables. Ava got busy and treated me to a lovely spa evening!

I decided to bring my notebook and take notes and pictures during the evening, so I could document everything Ava learned. She taught me a lot of great DIY Spa Ideas, and so now I'm sharing them with you!

Water with lemon

For a most professional and relaxing spa, Ava provided glasses of water with lemon slices. Not only did it look fabulous, it tasted pretty good too. Bonus: lemon water is packed with Vitamin C, can reduce acne, wrinkles, and cleanses your skin from the inside, giving you a healthy glow!

Ava's Spa Treatment began with Heat Therapy. In a small bowl filled with steamy water were hot wash cloths, which we gently rung out and placed on our faces. Then we could lie down and relax with the hot towels resting from the forehead to our noses (so we still had room to breath deeply through our mouths). 

Heat relaxes the muscles, and you'd be surprised how stressed the muscles in your face are from so much usage. This is very calming and relaxing, and so simple!

Oatmeal Facial

Oatmeal has so many uses besides eating it for breakfast. It's a phenomenal skincare ingredient! You can use oatmeal to treat acne, soothe the skin from rashes and poison ivy, and use as a facial scrub! It can help cleanse the pores and soften your skin!

Egg whites are full of protein, vitamins, and minerals. Egg whites have the potential to reduce wrinkles, tighten skin, give a deep cleansing to the pores, and leave your skin soft and supple!

What happens when you combine the two? Ava mixed oatmeal, warm water, and egg whites to create a fantastic deep cleansing, skin softening Oatmeal Facial. And all you need are those three ingredients and a mixing bowl! We applied spoonfuls to a damp washcloth, then massaged that cloth all over our face and relaxed for 6 - 8 minutes. Once the mask starts to dry, or if it feels tight on your face, just rinse it off and feel the softening effects on your skin!

Fresh cucumber slices

Cucumber slices on the eyes can reduce puffiness and erase fatigue. Its cooling effects do wonders for the skin, and cucumbers can soften the skin and improve your complexion. Did you know you can also use cucumbers to treat sunburn? We took some Cucumber Slices and laid them on our eyes as we let our Oatmeal Facials rest on our faces. It was a rejuvenating experience!

At the end of the spa night, I have to say, I was glowing. Next time you want a relaxing spa day, try these DIY Spa Ideas, and let me know what you think! And do you have any of your own DIY Spa Ideas to share? Tell me all about them!

Stay beautiful!

In the Classroom: Skincare (Part Three)

My personal roundup of skincare products!

Hello, my lovelies! This is the third and final piece of the In the Classroom: Skincare series. You've learned all about the science of your pores, the Beauty Sectors of the Face, and with the help of the Aisles of Beauty Skin Type Chart, you've found your skin type!

Woah, that's a lot! But all of it was in preparation for the big finale. It's time to take everything you learned and design a beauty routine perfect for YOU!

Remember when I said how personalized skincare is? It depends on your skin type, allergies, preferences to smell and texture, and pricing is a biggie, too. At this point, deciding what products to use is completely up to you, and what you know is perfect for your skin. It's a trial and error process; you may find one product that's great, and another that isn't so hot. From here on, the only thing I can do is let you know what kinds of products you should be looking for. I'm talking about your Beauty Routine. Your Beauty Routine is designed specifically and exclusively for YOU, based on your schedule and all the other factors I listed earlier. 

You should wash and moisturize your face every morning and every night for the healthiest, most glowing skin possible. Here's a basic guideline of how your beauty routine should work in the AM and in the PM.

Morning: Wash your face with a gentle facial cleanser. Moisturize with face lotion. 
Most recently, I've been using Aveeno Ultra Calming Foaming Facial Cleanser and Clarins Paris Multi-Active Jour. My mom got Multi-Active Jour for me, so I'm not sure where you can find it.

Evening: Wash your face with either the same facial cleanser or a slightly stronger one (your choice). Use toner to cleanse away chlorine and clean out pores. Moisturize with long lasting lotion.
I use Proactiv's Three Step System every few days for a stronger cleansing. The three step system comes with a cleanser, toner, and acne cream, so this spring/summer I've been using that kit's toner. I moisturize with St. Ives Intensive Healing Lotion. I like to wear it to bed because even though it works wonders, it smells like bananas. O_o

Let's review! Here's your shopping list:

1. Facial Cleanser (two if you want to change between AM and PM)
2. Toner
3. Face Lotion

When buying these products, think about your skin type. A person with dry skin would want to use a higher power moisturizer than someone with oily skin, and if you have sensitive skin, be VERY careful when buying toner. Opt for a toner without alcohol for the sake of your face. And combination skin people! You may have to buy multiple cleansers and lotions to take care of your dry areas and oily areas. Some reputable companies that are fantastic with skincare are: Aveeno, Cetaphil, Clarins, Clean and Clear, Clinique, and Neutrogena. There are tons more to try out, ask the staff of different stores and companies for advice; they'll be more than happy to help! 

It's been a pleasure educating you all on the basics of skincare! Take my advice and go create your perfect beauty routine! What products do you use? What brands are your favorite? Leave it in the comments or let me know!

Stay Beautiful!

In the Classroom: Skincare (Part Two)

The Beauty Sectors of the Face.

Hello, my lovelies! I'm feeling much better today... I slept in and had some breakfast, cleaned my room, put my laptop on my desk, and I've spent a solid two hours so far of pure Aisles of Beauty work all business-like. I've been making minor site fixes, working on posts, and (SPOILER ALERT) there might be a collaboration of some sort in the near future... Feel free to let the mystery drive you crazy. :)

If you haven't already read Part One of the In the Classroom: Skincare series, I recommend reading that first. Now let's get started!

The first part of today's lesson is about the Beauty Sectors of the Face. Look at the picture to your left. There are four main named sections on the face that we refer to when talking about skincare. 

• The T Zone - refers to forehead down to the tip of the nose, creating a T shape.
• The Eye Area - refers to the skin surrounding the eyes.
• The S Zone - refers to the cheeks.
• The O Zone - refers the chin and the area around the mouth.

You'll need to think about the Beauty Sectors of YOUR Face to determine your skin type. Once you know your skin type, you'll finally be able to to pinpoint the best products for you!

There are 5 main skin types: normal, dry, oily, combination, and sensitive. Using the Official Aisles of Beauty Skin Type Chart, find which of the 5 main skin types sounds most like your face! Just click on the chart to enlarge it.

Once you determine your skin type, come back tomorrow for Part Three!

Stay Beautiful!

In the Classroom: Skincare

Taking care of her skin!

Hello, my lovelies! I have a terrible case of the sniffles, with a sore throat as well. So my busy week's events are out, but luckily for you, that leaves me plenty of time to bulk up on posts! When writing this post, I had so much to say, I had to break it into parts. And sorry about missing yesterday, I was too sick to even look at my computer. So, introducing... In the Classroom: Skincare!

Starting at age 10, and for the rest of your life, taking care of your skin becomes a priority. So it'd only make sense to explain the basic science of your skin; more specifically, your pores.

Your pores are tiny holes in the skin that allow natural oils created under the skin to reach the surface and keep your skin soft and supple. 

But often, we don't think of pores that way. We think of them as the reason for blackheads and acne. TVs advertise pore strips and cleansers that minimize your pores and give you flawless skin. Pores aren't a bad thing, as long as you know what you're doing.

Pores can get clogged with dirt, oils, and makeup that you put on the surface of your skin. This blocks the natural oils that are made in your body from coming out to lubricate your skin. Remember? That's the pores job. That's when breakouts start; acne and blackheads.

Keeping the breakouts away is easy; all you have to do is take care of your skin. Just wash your face, and make sure you wash away the dirt, oils, and makeup so they don't clog your pores. Simple as this task is, this is where all the confusion begins. Truth be told, there are dozens of ways to cleanse your skin and keep it healthy. 

It's a personalized matter; skincare is different for every person. If you have dry skin vs. oily skin, tough skin vs. sensitive skin, how much time you have in your schedule, allergies, preferences to smells and textures... Get the point? You've got the science of your skin down, but there's still a whole world to learn.

Come back for Part Two!

This has been Part One of In the Classroom: Skincare. Stay beautiful!