Amazing Lashes Can Be Yours

Amazing lashes can be yours

I never have had long eyelashes, but I just dealt with the fact that fabulous lashes were something that weren’t in the cards for me….until now. Let me back up. Throughout my career & my life, as a matter of fact, I literally tried every mascara, every lash curler, really whatever I could get my hands on. But my life changed when I heard about Latisse.I was interviewed by Kimberly Kennedy on ABC for a health segment at Dr. Pradeep Sinha’s office the week that Latisse went on the market and I was his patient for the segment so I got to ask ALL the questions.  I bought it from Dr. Rudderman at OH2 Spa in February 2009. (He is fabulous by the way) And so, I went wild, putting it on every night religiously & meticulously. My lashes grew & grew, and they looked incredible; they were Minnie Mouse lashes! They were soooo long, but unfortunately not at all full or thick. That annoyed me, but they were still so long-yay! Yet I actually forgot to put it on a few nights & just like that, my lashes returned to their short little nubby selves.  You HAVE to apply Latisse everyday to get your lashes to grow. However, don’t worry, I resumed my scrupulous Latisse applying routine soon after & phew, they got long again. The Minnie lashes were back, however still no thickness. Apparently Latisse is supposed to create thickness in people’s lashes, but for some reason, mine didn’t get any thicker (and they weren’t thick to begin with!)

Originally I wasn’t concerned about the side effects of Latisse (there are  a few-mke sure you read the potential list) and after nine months of using the magical stuff, I developed an allergy! Ugh. I was devastated. I thought my lashes were doomed to return to tiny stubs forever because I couldn’t use Latisse anymore, but around the same time, one of my make-up artists introduced me to Robyn Fujimoto. Robyn does Mink Eyelash Extensions. Robin’s lashes were so long & dark & lush that it made me want them! So long story short, Robin gave me Mink extensions.  Wow I was amazed. I am typing this right now & I am sure I have told many of you in the studio that, I. Will. Never. Ever. Be. The. Same. Ever. These lash extensions are incredible! They are so real looking that no one believes they are fake.  I get nearly every person looking at my saying, “you’re lashes are BEAUTIFUL!” Not only do they give me length, but they give me volume & thickness that I couldn’t get from Latisse. These lashes make a huge difference in my life! I now wear less make-up, never wear mascara, and I, more importantly, look well rested & bright eyed, even when I’m not, which is usually the case.

So while I’m not discounting Latisse at all, Mink lashes are absolutely amazing! Robin, our own Authentic Beauty Mink Lashes girl is here at the studio every Tuesday & Friday working on Authentic Beauty clients only. The Mink eyelash extensions are placed on each of your individual lashes, one at a time. Your eyes are closed through out the entire painless process & the lashes are put on with a special medical-grade, odorless adhesive that binds the Mink lash to your own natural lash about one millimeter away from your skin.  I even took a nap while she was doing them!

The extensions will last anywhere from two to six weeks depending on the growth cycle of your lashes and how well you take care of them. They fall out when your lash is ready to fall out, which is the natural shedding process your lashes go through; typically that is between 60 to 100 days. It is recommended that maintain your new lash extensions with a fill every two to three weeks. Mink lashes are resistant to water, heat, pool chlorine, perspiration & water-based cleansers. Make sure to avoid excessive rubbing around your eye area. Also avoid oil based cleansers, lotion & make-up remover; gel based cleansers are suggested. Use a small Q-tip to carefully clean the eyeliner around your eye. Mascara is not necessary when you have Mink lashes! So don’t apply any & waste the lashes!

Robyn started her career as a licensed cosmetologist and esthetician in the state of Washington in 2002. She has since focused her attention to lash extensions after becoming addicted to the lashes, herself. Robyn specializes in synthetic mink extensions as she feels that they provide the most beautiful, natural look while preserving the integrity of the natural lash. Compared to the typical lash extension, they are feather-light, softer, and more glamorous. She doesn’t “count” lashes like other extension technicians but rather customizes extensions to fit your needs. Whether you are going for a “natural” look and just want to slightly thicken/lengthen your lashes, or the “glam” look and want to be red-carpet-ready, she will work with you to achieve your desired look.

Call/email Stephanie  at 404-849-0443 or  Robyn (404)931-4948 /e-mail at luxelashes@gmail.com for any questions, to set-up a consultation/appointment, or to have her explain the process in more depth than this blog.

Mink costs:

-Full Set of Mink Eyelash Extensions (1 1/2-2 hrs. initial application)
$135 (normally $200)
-Fill w/ Mink Lashes (45 mins-1 hr. touch-up)
$65 (normally $85)
-Swarovski Crystals Added to Service
$1 each
-Colored Minks Added to Service
No Additional Charge

So whatever route you choose, you can’t go wrong! I loved Latisse until I developed an allergy & now I love Mink lashes! Latisse rocks & so do Mink lashes! Use whichever one you feel better about!

The real skinny on brows

The real skinny on brows

Like I said in my Piedmont Review column about brows, I have a hard time watching TV. It’s not the programming & it’s not the reality shows. It’s the eyebrows on beautiful women on TV-eyebrows too thin, eyebrows waxed half off, brows that travel straight across with no arch, or the surprised and Vulcan-shaped brows that project unintended communications. A quote that I believe & frequently repeat is, “If the eyes are the windows to your soul, then your eyebrows are the curtains.”

That quote is so true! Really if your eyebrows look like crap, then all the time & money you spent on your skin & other make-up is a waste because people will be looking at your, for lack of a better word that gets the message across-jacked, eyebrows. So here are some of my key guidelines to live by, I’m not the eyebrow guru of Atlanta for no reason!

• Make sure your eyebrows are clean & shaped (Groomed brows balance the face & make you look more together and ultimately more youthful)
• Along the same lines, have a professional shape them every few times & then just remove the strays that grow back in between seeing a professional. Call to book an appoinment with me-(404) 849-0443
• Don’t overpluck, just clean up strays around the perimeter
• On that end, tweeze the strays in natural light
• Eyebrow pencils are your friend, use them to lightly fill in gaps
• Do NOT get eyebrows threaded or waxed EVER
• Read my guidelines in the July/August 2009 issue of the Piedmont Review & follow them closely
• Better yet, come in & see me & I’ll work on your brows, it’s always better to let a professional do these things. Case in point, one time I thought I could dye my hair from a kit from the drug store & after a few hours of “hard work,” my hair came out looking orange, so now I leave my hair to a professional-Daniel Jones of Muse Salon & Spa, in case anyone is wondering! He is fantastic. 

But back to my point, make sure your brows are flawless or your effort on everything else will be wasted!

The O Glow: The basics on blush, bronzer & highlighter

The O Glow: The basics on blush, bronzer & highlighter

It’s true. Throughout my entire career, I’ve been told to apply blush so many different ways, it’s no wonder every client I meet is totally confused about where to put blush. But the reality is that blush exists because it creates the illusion you are in fact, blushing. This essentially means the “blush,” or the slight glow your face creates after a vigorous workout. This could mean a healthy flush from actually exercising or you know working out in “other” ways. Read the O Glow. I mean c’mon, Nars did not name their number 1 selling blush, Orgasm, for no reason.

So here’s the trick to making blush work for you, so you don’t look like a clown:

• Smile in a mirror & find the apples of your cheeks
• Using a blush brush that is the appropriate size for your face, start at the apple of the cheek & sweep to your upper ear, staying away from your eye area. You want to avoid putting blush around your eye socket & in the general eye area because you don’t want blush in your fine lines or wrinkles.
• After you have swept the blush brush from the apples of your cheeks to your ears, then blend the color out, whisking away any hard lines of demarcation & making the blush look natural. As you can see the word natural keeps popping up in all of my blogs about make-up & make-up application.
• My favorite blush brush is the flat top Kabuki brush (http://www.myimagejourney.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=600_602&products_id=1100134) sold at Authentic Beauty for $32.
• Again I must emphasize you need to blend & blend again & blend some more. You really don’t want racing stripes, read unnatural & awkward streaks of blush on your face. As a general rule of thumb, you need to stick to a more natural blush application; apply with a light hand. You do not want to apply blush incorrectly because it is incredibly distracting. This rule also applies for bronzer.

Bronzer is meant to only give you a touch of sun. That’s right, a touch. Bronzer is not supposed to replace a natural tan, a spray tan, a tanning lotion, a tanning bed or any of the above. A slight touch of bronzer on tan skin gives skin a sunkissed glow. It complements the skin like blush does. The sun hits us predominantly on the forehead, bridge of the nose & the cheeks, so put it in those places, no where else. Do not pile it all over your face and look like an Ooompah-Loompah. This, by the way, is the number 1 mistake that women make-applying too much bronzer. Bronzer is just like blush except, well, a different color. You wouldn’t cover your entire face in blush, now would you? No you wouldn’t, so why would you cover your entire face in bronzer? Ok hopefully everyone got my point. Ladies, be subtle, it’s a subtle highlight of the cheeks. And speaking of highlighting….

Highlighter is meant to highlight. It’s pretty simple; wherever you place light, you making a feature pop, you’ll bring it out. And wherever you put dark, you’ll create depth. The only, I repeat only, places you want to highlight are above the cheekbone & below the brow bone. Furthermore, the only time to highlight & contour a feature is when:

• You have professional instruction.
• You are in a photo shoot.
• You are in very dark lighting & will be for the entire time you wear that make-up. Do not highlight or contour in natural light. That’s why they say, “drag queens paint their faces in the dark.” Their make-up is harsh, abrupt & pretty darn vile, if you ask me. Hello they’re guys trying to be girls. You are women being women. See the difference?

Elizabeth Taylor’s perfume ads are the perfect example of contouring done right. She looks incredibly sculpted and gorgeous with everything in place. Next time you want to contour, try to keep this in mind. But be warned, most women need little or no contouring or highlighting if their make-up is done correctly. HOWEVER..this was for a photo. If you see this in the natural light you would be offended!

Until next time! BROWS AND LASHES NEXT WEEK!!!!

What are we doing this week?

What are we doing this week?

So ok, I know it’s been somewhat calm these past few or so weeks, but we have geared back up again to hit spring in full force in mixing & mingling category. This week is jammed full of events & my only free night, last night, was spent writing! Hey I had to get my Piedmont Review column in on time! Today I got some extensions at RUMM Color Studio (http://rummcolorstudio.com/) in Alpharetta for my Best Self Magazine Image Journey column. Tonight is the What Women Want event at Market (http://www.marketbuckhead.com/) at the W Buckhead from 6 to 9 p.m. It will focus on woman to woman networking & spotlight the wellness arena. Dr. Marc Yune of Aesthetic Specialty Centre, Dr. Jeff Semel of Atlanta Medical Institute, Dr. Brenda Hall, the Medical Director at Spa Om Magie & Yolanda Owens, the skincare Chef and Owner of Iwifresh will be speaking. This should be a great opportunity to network with other fabulous women business owners as well as learning more about what these doctors are doing in the realm of PR & marketing.

I am looking forward to networking with some great people! Wednesday is the Life & Style 2010 Expo at 500 Amsterdam Walk in the Amsterdam Walk Shopping Center from 5:L30 to 8 p.m. I am honored to be involved & am so excited about networking with some of the other vendors, and to raise money for the people of Haiti. The hosts-Q-100’s Jenn Hobby, Skirt’s Stephanie Davis Smith, Fox 5’s Suchita Valdamani, model & gal about town, Veronica Best & Dave FM’s Renee Washington- are some of my favorite people to hang with, so I am thrilled about seeing them. We shot for Good Day Atlanta yesterday morning & had a blast with Stacey Elgin, the Road Warrior reporter who is super cute. I got to do her make-up for the shoot, so that was a lot of fun. I actually interviewed with Stephanie Davis yesterday & she posted a blog about me on Skirt’s newsletter! I appreciate being in there!

This Thursday at 7 p.m. brings another Keep Georgia Safe event with Shake It Up at Cantina in Buckhead. Cantina is the old Lola in Terminus. Celebrity Bartenders Richard Eldredge, Atlanta Magazine; Hollis Gillespie, Blogger/Writer; my fab friend E. Vincent Martinez, Grady High School’s Urban Couture Founder; Steve McCoy, B98.5 FM; Evelyn Mims, 11 Alive’s Soap Sultress; Dr. Scott Quisling, Orthopedic Surgeon to the Stars; & Steak Shapiro, 790 The Zone, will shake things up while raising money for Keep Georgia Safe’s mission. Their mission is to provide safety education and crime prevention training, and to operate the only alert network that sends GBI issued alerts for missing or dangerous persons to subscribers’ cell phones. To learn more about Keep Georgia Safe’s safety education programs and alert network visit www.keepgeorgiasafe.org.

Finally, on Saturday, Jan. 30, we’ll have the Project Authentic Beauty workshop with Allison Cross at the Center for Awareness, located at 1240 Johnson Ferry Place in Marietta from 2 to 4:30 p.m. This workshop is for teens ages 13 to 18 and their moms. Holistic beauty curriculum will be presented, and the girls will also have a makeup session with either me or another make-up artist from Authentic Beauty. The cost is $25 per mother/daughter couple, or $10 individual fee. Makeup services are an extra $25 per person. For more information, visit http://bodybeautybravery.com/.

Next Friday, Feb. 5, we are bringing back our superfun Champagne & Shadows from 6 to 9. And this event will be a special event edition featuring Smoky Eyes, Pole Dancing Demos/mini lessons by Hot Moves and a Pure Romance Party! Join the fun and get ready for Valentine’s Day & embrace the sexy side of Valentine’s Day!

The next Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. will be an amazing benefit concert at The Warren City Club above Dark Horse Saloon. Music for the Women of the Congo will raise awareness about violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo and V-Day’s special new facility, the City of Joy in Bukavu. There will be entertainment by Arlington Priest, Roxie Watson, Joi, Gina Loring, and others. Eve Ensler, the V-Day Founder and author of The Vagina Monologues, will speak. Tickets available online beginning Monday, January 18. Hurry & get them at: http://www.vday.org/atlcongo. I’m a co-chair along with some other pretty incredible women. I am also doing Eve’s make-up that night. Even though it seems far away, we are doing another Champagne & Shadows on March 12, so mark your calendars! That’s all for now. Xo, Aly

Foundation Guidelines

We’ve gone over the skincare basics & what gadgets are Authentic Beauty approved. Now I want to educate you about foundation. Painting over your smooth canvas (your skin), in artist’s terms, should be quick & easy. You just need to know how to do it most efficiently. I’m sure you’ve heard about lots of ways to apply foundation, but please people, consider the source. I’m sure if you are reading a magazine, a writer, not a knowledgeable make-up artist is giving you instructions. Boo. Also note that you should choose a foundation based on what effect it will produce. For example, tinted moisturizer doesn’t give you enough coverage like regular liquid foundation. There are more than 155 types of foundation on the Sephora website, and that doesn’t even include the multiple drugstore brands. And do NOT listen to what salespeople say because remember as I have emphasized, they want to SELL you something first and foremost, making you look good is secondary. Just read the bottles for the effect & listen to your make-up artist friends. I like obviously, our Authentic Beauty 3 in 1 foundation (non-toxic, eco-friendly, easy to use and GEL-based), as well as Laura Mercier & Bobbi Brown foundation; I used to like Aveda’s foundation, but Estee Lauder bought the label & ruined the texture of the product. You may remember my rant on Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer & primer in a previous blog, but I like her foundation. Anyway Authentic Beauty’s 3 in 1 is available on line www.myimagejourney.com/store at the studio for $30 & we are looking forward to the Home Shopping Network liking our product and giving it air time WE HOPE. YAY!

Choosing foundation is complex thing, so again don’t listen to sales people & buy with a mission. If you’re oily, you want a mattifying or oil-free foundation, if you’re dry, you want moisturizing & so on & so forth. Additionally, women of different ages should realize they need varying levels of coverage. See which applies to you:

Teenagers: Do not have full coverage on the entire face. Teens’ skin still has a flawless natural glow, so they only need to spot cover problem areas.  REMEMBER TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN. You will exacerbate the breakouts by using too much makeup and not cleaning your skin. 70%/30% rule (70% skin 30% makeup)

Newly graduated college students/20’s: Apply a full face of foundation that will look natural but even out your skintone. These women are still youthful looking, but have some problem areas. They are going out & applying for jobs, so they need to look refined & polished in the workplace. If you have not began a regular skincare routine. DO IT NOW.

30’s: Lighten up your coverage. Women in their 30’s are starting to develop some fine lines & wrinkles & still need ample coverage, but not an entire face. This is where you really need develop a keen sense of being appropriate to your environment. If you are still doing what you did in your 20’s you better do a reality check.

40’s & older: Women of this age need full coverage to even out their skin, so it appears smooth, balanced & healthy looking. FYI some women tell me that the actual foundation is super noticeable on their face & settles into their lines. This is because their skin is not moist enough. If this is you, moisturize more! The skin sucks out all the moisture in the foundation leaving the color sitting on top of the skin which looks unnatural, rather than melding into the skin creating a natural look.

Furthermore, I want to specifically spell out the fact that I.HATE.MINERAL.MAKE-UP. Hate it. It’s is awful & people saying it is good for your skin is a bunch of well, you know. (Sorry Leslie Blodgett, I didn’t drink the Kool-Aid). Mineral make-up is terrible. Terrible. Please, I beg you, don’t buy it. Don’t.

So here is my way to apply foundation & make it look flawless:

• Always begin with a clean, exfoliated, moisturized face. If you don’t, just do NOT apply foundation. It will end up looking bad.
• Know that your foundation of choice will determine your application process, but is no one way of applying foundation that is the one right way. People use a variety of tools-fingers, oval sponge, egg shaped sponge, pointed brushes, flat brushes, triangle sponges, etc- to apply their foundation. Do what works for you & keep the end result in mind. You want a fresh, glowy natural effect.
• Keep in mind, apply foundation in natural light to ensure you have chosen the correct color & make sure it is appropriate to the environment you’ll be in. Full coverage for work & nighttime, but lighter coverage for daytime, outside events.
• As you apply your foundation, make sure you blend, blend & blend again to ensure a perfect, natural look with no noticeable lines of demarcation. SMILE and have a natural expression on your face. It will keep the makeup from settling into lines.

Powder is another topic altogether, but you generally need to set foundation with a light dusting of it. Sometimes too much powder will make it look cakey, but a minimal amount will set the foundation & control shine. I do like the Bare Essentials Mineral Veil powder which is exactly like our oil-free translucent because it makes your skin glow that much more & makes it look a touch more flawless. It has tiny flecks of shimmer which balances out the actual powder, making it look more natural. Also I will note that while I HATE MINERAL MAKE-UP, I do like this product.  I think women use WAY too much powder so lighten up everyone! And use a kabuki brush to buff off the excess. I prefer the flat top ADesign Kabuki.

Look for my Blush, Bronzer & Highlighter blog next!

Happy Foundation Application! Please post your comments, your personal likes and dislikes about foundation and Share it with others!!!!

Gizmos, Gadgets and the Lowdown about In-Office Procedures

Ok so we went through the basic steps of skincare in my last blog, but I want to share with all of you what gizmos and gadgets I love & I stand behind as well as their stronger counterparts offered at one of my favorite med spas Oculus (http://www.oculusskincare.com/).

Let’s be clear here. I am a no fuss, no BS results oriented professional. I promise to never sell you a load of malarkey. If I endorse them, they work. I had to be sold first….and I am a tough cookie.

I sell the ANSR System at the studio (http://www.ansr.com/). It was formulated to treat blemish outbreaks while helping to restore the skin’s balance of natural oils. To facilitate this, use ANSR once or twice daily in the morning and/or evening. Just make sure you have clean skin and then, use your ANSR: BEAM to administer healing blue and red light waves. The blue light kills acne causing bacteria & the red light helps improve skin texture and tone, & reduces fine lines, wrinkles, pore size & redness.

Oculus offers the Anti-Aging Red Light LED Treatment. This treatment begins with Oculus’ signature facial, which includes a deep pore cleanse, customized chemical peel & mask, followed by an application of medical grade skin care products and upper body massage.  The red light LED is used to soothe skin, control redness and signs of rosacea, and stimulate collage production of the skin.  With this treatment you receive anti-aging benefits of the signature facial plus the red light therapy from the LED light. On the other hand, Oculus’ Acne Blue Light Treatment uses blue light LED therapy to kill bacteria & control acne breakouts.  It is combined with the added benefits of the signature facial and the extraction of clogged pores. The ANSR & the professional version of LED equipment differ in that the professional version emits more nanometers of light, which means (obviously) that the professional LED is stronger.

The ANSR beam used at home continues to effects of the in-office procedure.

Authentic Beauty also sells the Clarisonic, which is actually one of Oprah’s favorite things (http://www.clarisonic.com). It’s $195, but believe me, it’s incredible. Clarisonic is the sonic technology proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores. The Clarisonic Skin Care Brush uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth your skin. In just 60 seconds a day, the Clarisonic micro-massage action cleans more than twice as effectively as manual cleansing.

The Illuminize peel, Vitalize peel, and Rejuvenize peel at Oculus are all great ways to exfoliate the skin as well as remove dirt and oil to clear your pores, much like Clairsonic & the other product I am a champion of, the Galvanic Spa (http://www.nuskin.com/nuskin/us/en/products/nuskin/galvanic_spa.html), but better. They stimulate skin cell turnover and increase collagen production.  Typically you will see results in your skin after a single treatment. But more info on the Galvanic Spa-it works synergistically with specially formulated products to facilitate the transport of key ingredients for optimal performance. The products used in conjunction with the Galvanic Spa produce results similar to the treatments at Oculus. Again they are not as prominent because the treatments aren’t as strong.

I will tell you. I WAS COMPLETELY 100% skeptical about the Galvanic Spa. Let me tell you. One demonstration and you will be blown away.  I was! On one client the entire side of her face appeared lifted like a face-lift. It was ridiculous. Please schedule a demonstration to see for yourself. This is the best non-surgical alternative to a face-lift I have ever seen

Microdermabrasion at Oculus is designed to exfoliate the top layer of skin which helps to stimulate regeneration of new cells and improve skin’s texture and tone.  It can also be combined with LED light to target redness, texture, and bacteria. The Clairsonic is somewhat similar to microdermabrasion, but again the results aren’t as significant. However, I feel it’s very important to  invest in either the ANSR System, Clarisonic or the Galvanic Spa.

Most products my clients bring to me during an Image Journey are very high on the toxicity list & are bad for humans & the environment. Seriously, it’s bad when a client comes in & says her face & eyes are burning everyday because of her cleanser. She was set on the fact it wasn’t the cleanser because she had been using it since she was 12; she’s now 28. People you can’t do that! Your skin is different as a 28-year-old than it was as a 12-year-old. So I told her to replace it & surprise surprise, her eyes & face stopped burning. I saw her yesterday & her face was glowing! It is very important what you put on your skin, so you better start using things that work with it, rather than against it. Follow a skincare regimen with one of the three products I mentioned & try to make time to get at least one of these procedures offered at Oculus.

The Basics of Skincare

The answer to all your questions about making your make-up appear natural lies in the basic premise of skincare. Bottom line: If you don’t have good skin, then you don’t have good make-up. You simply don’t. It’s a fact people, a cold hard fact. Make-up covers slight imperfections like a zit here & there, but a whole face of them-no. Like I have always said, spend about 70% of time on your skincare regimen & then you only have to spend about 30% of your time on your make-up, more if you’re doing it for fun.

You know as well as I do that well nourished skin & a good skincare regimen will reward you with a more youthful, energized, healthier, fresher glow. Your skin will glow for real. So don’t abuse your skin. Get a simple, basic routine down because like most things I talk about, THIS IS NOT HARD. YOU CAN DO IT! So don’t believe all the hogwash on TV about you needing this & that. Not to sound like a hypnotist, but believe me & you’ll be rewarded. Just follow these guidelines, or “Alyisms”:

*Cleansing-You clean off the windows to your car or your house right, see all that dirt & much & garbage on your cloth? Well that crap is on your face too. So #1 rule: Don’t go to bed at night with washing your face. Otherwise you’ll let the grime from the day build-up in your pores, creating whiteheads, blackheads & zits. Sounds simple right?

• Don’t use the wrong products on your skin (IE-A client of mine (who I know is reading this) uses the same face wash she did when she was in middle school. Hello your skin has matured. Use something new on it.) The wrong products will strip your natural oil, or force it to secrete more oil, leaving your skin out of whack.
• The goal of cleaning your skin is to remove dirt & debris & nothing else. Unlike cleaning your floor or bathtub, making it completely squeaky clean, completely stripped, this is not the goal with your skin. At all. You want to remove make-up, dirt, excess oil & the pollution created on your skin by the environment. Stop there.

*Exfoliating-I have an analogy for you. When a lizard molts (sheds it skin), its skin is gray, scaly, dry & just all around disgusting. Then it sheds its skin & beautiful new, glowing skin is beneath! FYI ladies, we are not lizards. We do not shed, therefore we need to exfoliate our skin to reveal our fresh, beautiful skin underneath.

• We have layers & layers of dead skin on our face & when we don’t exfoliate, our make-up just sits atop those uneven layers & ultimately looks bad.
• So there are daily exfoliants & stronger doctor dispensed exfoliants. Most women, at some point, need a combination of both to refine the skin, so it’s smooth & creates an even canvas.
• People prone to acne & breakouts need to pay particular attention to exfoliation. Also those women who have more mature skin, will tend to look gray & lizard-like if they don’t use stronger exfoliation practices. On that same note, exfoliation reduces the appearance of fine lines.
• I love the Clarisonic because it just makes exfoliation so simple & easy.
• Another analogy for you-A wrinkle on your face is like a valley & there is dirt/mountains on either side of that valley, or wrinkle. This dirt or layers of dead skin will make the valley (wrinkles) look deeper.

*Hydration-Now that you’ve cleansed & exfoliated, creating a clean & smooth canvas, you need to moisturize.

• Another analogy (I should’ve been an English teacher!). Consider a plant. When a plant is properly watered/hydrated, its leaves are plump, full, healthy & overall, fresh looking. When it is lacking water, the plant’s leaves are shriveled, crunchy & overall quite unhealthy looking. Your skin is a plant leaf. So the moral of the story is: if your skin is hydrated, it looks like a hydrated plant leaf-plump, healthy & glowy. If it’s not moisturized, it looks like an unwatered plant leaf-Shriveled, unhealthy & dried up. What do you want your skin to look like?
• The cosmetic industry tries to tell us that oil is bad, that oil causes break-outs. But the right amount of oil keeps the skin hydrated & well-lubricated, again, creating a perfect canvas for make-up application.
• Hydrating with the proper products for your skin type is essential. And again as you age, your oil production in your skin diminishes, so you need that extra oomph with moisturizing products.

*Protect-If you don’t protect your skin from the sun, it will age much faster, thus speeding up wrinkle production, the slowing down of oil production etc. SPF is essential. Stay away from tanning beds. By the way, we offer True Glow Mobile Spray Tanning at the studio every Thursday, so book today & do not go near a tanning bed! Seriously.

• Everyday you need to use a full spectrum sunscreen separate from your moisturizer. Make sure it’s at least SPF 30 if not higher.
• Basically if you don’t protect your skin, you’ll most likely get some type of melanoma. Check out my friend Susie Shina’s rant about skin cancer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHTHWbZLEqE
• Skin Cancer Facts brought to you by the Skin Cancer Foundation:
• Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than one million skin cancers are diagnosed annually.
• Each year there are more new cases of skin cancer than the combined incidence of cancers of the breast, prostate, lung and colon.
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.
• Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer; about one million of the cases diagnosed annually are basal cell carcinomas. Basal cell carcinomas are rarely fatal, but can be highly disfiguring.
• Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the second most common form of skin cancer. More than 250,000 cases are diagnosed each year, resulting in approximately 2,500 deaths.
• Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the two major forms of non-melanoma skin cancer. Between 40 and 50 percent of Americans who live to age 65 will have either skin cancer at least once.
• In 2004, the total direct cost associated with the treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers was more than $1 billion.
• About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.
• Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
• Contrary to popular belief, 80 percent of a person’s lifetime sun exposure is not acquired before age 18; only about 23 percent of lifetime exposure occurs by age 18.

So dear readers, it is key, excuse me, absolutely essential to properly cleanse, exfoliate, hydrate & protect your skin to create a smooth, flawless canvas to work with. Also use products that are natural & organic, when possible because not only is cosmetic manufacturing the second cause of pollution on the planet, but also most of the products sold in drugstores are horrible for your skin, the planet and you as a whole anyway. S

To learn more about the Authentic Beauty approved devices  tune in my next blog.

‘T’il Next Time! Aly

Taking the Mystery out of Make-up Application

Taking the Mystery out of Make-up Application

So let me get this straight just so everyone knows. Make-up application does not have to be hard. It’s not some complicated, mystical thing that only make-up artists can do. You can do it too! You really can. But without selling make-up artists short, we are great for teaching customers how to create particular looks, shaping brows, doing make-up for special occasions and the like. But I am here to tell you that YOU have to author you own look. Don’t be a slave to trends. Learn what works for you & how to wear everyday make-up (another reason make-up artists exist to show you how to create a natural look). This is the lowdown dear readers-the beauty industry basically gets you to buy stuff you don’t need. They create trends that last a short time & make you think you need to buy products you don’t need or won’t use. The bright green eye shadow from 2006, the hot pink lip gloss from 1997, you know the drill.

Take primers for example-Laura Mercier markets the crap out of hers & well, her marketing apparently works because Laura Mercier is a huge make-up company, earning a lot of money. But look, here’s why the primers work with Laura Mercier foundation. The foundation has no coverage. Therefore, if you put a foundation on that has no coverage, you need a primer to smooth & create a canvas. So it’s a catch 22; you can’t use one without the other. The primer makes the foundation look good & vice-versa. Yes you may agree, but you’re thinking so what, I just will buy another type of foundation that gives more coverage. But here’s the point. Like I said, the beauty industry creates a perceived need in the primer, BUT if you took care of your skin, you wouldn’t need the primer regardless. Oh and FYI, if you wear foundation, whether you need it or not, make sure it gives you coverage because that’s why you buy it. Otherwise just go barefaced & be done with it. See what I’m saying?

I know tons and tons of women, such as my own sister, ahem, who have a huge case full of make-up they don’t use or don’t need. And I know a lot more women who don’t even have the time to be make-up junkies. They need to get it & go. They need quick, easy & simple looks. I can relate. That is why Authentic Beauty exists. Well one of the main reasons anyway. What is missing in the cosmetic & beauty industry is that everyday factor, how to craft an easy, natural, everyday look that is fresh & beautiful. This is why I love the Dove Truth in Beauty campaign. And again that’s why Authentic Beauty exists. We are trained make-up artists. We show our clients how to author their own look, how to sift through all the trends & make them work for you, if you want. But above all, we show you how to make make-up work for you. Most of us have worked for at least a few cosmetics lines & we know the techniques of pretty much every line, so we are not pushing any kind of brand. That is a huge part of the Image Journey we offer. Each client can bring in all their make-up & we show them what works & what doesn’t & why. We don’t set rules or boundaries. So after we help you create your look, when you look in the mirror, you will recognize yourself not the make-up.

Here are a few guidelines we suggest you follow-ie-Alyisms:

• Never buy make-up you don’t see  for yourself in natural light
• Apply make-up in the light you’ll be seen in (if you work in florescent light apply your makeup in that same light)
• Following the above guideline-wear make-up appropriate to your environment-If wearing a trendy dress, stick with trendy make-up, if wearing casual clothes or work clothes, stick with natural make-up & so on & so worth
• Make sure your foundation looks very natural (we suggest a Kabuki brush to apply- (http://www.myimagejourney.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=600_602&products_id=1100084)
• Spend 70% of your time on your skin regimen & applying skincare products, and 30% of your time on applying make-up
• Make sure your eyebrows are clean & shaped (Groomed brows balance the face & make you look more together and ultimately more youthful)
• Following along the same lines of not going to the grocery store hungry, don’t go to the mall feeling bad about yourself because you’ll fall prey to the cosmetics counter sales people trying to sell you things you don’t need
• Use a Clarsonic (there will be more on this under my skin blog, but everyone should own one, it’s not one of Oprah’s favorite things for nothing)

But bottom line-it’s not our philosophy to tell people how they should look. It’s our job to help our customers realize they are all beautiful. There are no bad color choices, only bad techniques, and technique is a learnable skill.

New Year, New You

New Year, New You

Hello dear readers, happy New Year! Well it’s 2010 & here at Authentic Beauty we’ve celebrated one year in the studio on Roswell Road that we share with Noland Suttles Salon (http://nolandsuttles.squarespace.com/).  We commemorated our one-year anniversary on Sunday, Dec. 20 with some of the studio’s biggest supporters & most loyal customers. It would take me forever to name each & every one of you, so I’ll spare you that. But I want to personally thank Jenn Hobby of Q-100’s Bert Show for coming out as well as Jessica Dauler of Q-100’s Jessica Shops, Justin & Kelly Anthony of 10 Degrees South and Michelle Caplinger, the Chapter Senior Executive Director of the Grammy Awards. Actually Jenn mentioned Authentic Beauty as one of her “Favorite Things” on-air on Friday, Dec. 18; we loved her shout out of support. Thanks Jenn!

And right after the anniversary party, Authentic Beauty was featured on CBS Better Mornings Ambush Makeover on Monday, Dec. 21 & again on Monday, Dec. 28 with RUMM Color Studio in Alpharetta (www.rummcolorstudio.com/) & stylist, Robanne Schulman of Plaid Monkey (http://www.plaidmonkey.com/home). Also check out my column in the January/February issue of The Piedmont Review. I’m also proud to share that we were written up in The Northside & Sandy Springs Neighbor Newspaper in the Wednesday, Dec. 30 issue. Laura Braddick, a writer with the paper, came in & experienced an Image Journey. I knew the two & half hours with her was time well-spent after I saw her reaction to the Image Journey process. Thanks for coming in Laura!

Be sure to check out Best Self Magazine for their Best Self 2010 issue!!! We really love this magazine. It is a wonderful resource to assist you in becoming your Best Self. Authentic Beauty was featured a few times in the latest issue!

Also on Wednesday, Dec. 30, I was on CBS Better Mornings again, but this time I was in studio regarding the Image Journey instead of an Ambush Makeover. My client Kathryn Hoover took an Image Journey with me & phew, did we have some fun! I hope all the viewers found it informative & interesting. I’ll have a link to this soon!I will tell you, getting up at 3:30 am to be camera ready at 5..WOW! I have an appreciation for the morning hosts! Thank you Kathryn for getting up that early!

Unfortunately the cold weather & nonstop work took a huge toll on me & I got sick, so I couldn’t work with all my appointments on New Year’s Eve. Thankfully my staff swooped in & saved the day, picking up all my appointments & making everyone look fantastic for their night out on New Year’s Eve.

As I mentioned, I’m so happy it’s 2010. With the ushering in of the New Year, we’re really looking forward to doing a lot of Image Journeys and assisting as many as possible become the best and most Authentic Version of them Selves they can be. I’m also launching my new nontoxic & ecofriendly make-up line sometime in 2010. I’m super excited about it! I will keep you updated as we move along.

We are also starting up Champagne & Shadows again. These cocktail parties where you can mingle with other Authentic Beauties & get tips & madeover, will begin in February. The first one is a Sexy Champagne & Shadows on Feb. 5 to help everyone look their best for Valentine’s Day. SMOKY EYES AND SEXY STUFF!!!

And on that same thread of looking your best, remember we have True Glow Mobile Spray Tanning (www.yourtrueglow.com) coming every Thursday, so book early. She’s filling up before Valentine’s FYI. Call the studio at (404) 849-0443 to secure your spot! We are also offering some new lash services, but check back with us for more information on that.

I’m also looking forward to Eve Ensler, the author of The Vagina Monologues, coming to Atlanta in February. I will be giving you all the information to make sure you come hear what she has to say.

On Thursday, check back with us for the first blog in our series on “Understanding the Fundamentals of Make-up & Skincare: Taking the Mystery out of the Makeup Application.”  Throughout the next month I will be blogging about important fundamentals to having the best possible makeup. Stay tuned!!!

Give the Gift of Authentic Beauty

Authentic Beauty’s Favorite Gift Suggestions for the Holidays

Christmas is just next Friday & let’s face it, the malls….are a zoo. So why not stop in Authentic Beauty & get some last minute gifts for the people in your life. As I mentioned a few blogs ago, we seriously love the following:

Clarisonic (This fantastic tool is proven to gently yet effectively loosen dirt and oil to clear your pores. It uses a patented sonic frequency of more than 300 movements per second to clean, soften and smooth your skin.) Cool huh? We totally agree.

Galvanic Spa (Fab anti-aging & acne fighting products)

Ansr Photolight Therapy (ANSR was formulated to treat blemish outbreaks while helping to restore the skin’s balance of natural oils through harmless LED (low-emitting diode) photolight.)

Image Journey (Learn to authentically author your own look. Our signature service.)

True Glow Spray Tan (Non orange, back from the tropics, soft & glowy spray tan.) Make-up Therapy (Stressed out, need to vent, want to be pampered? Come to us for a little therapy, not only some girl talk, but we play with different looks on you.)

Perfect Brow Gift Certificate at Authentic Beauty (Learn how to shape your brows by moi, the brow guru of Atlanta.)

Personal Chefing from Dishes Delicious with Stephanie (No time to whip up some tasty treats or cook dinner or cook for guests, just call Dishes Delicious with Stephanie(yes, our very own scheduler extraordinaire!) at (404) 849-0443.)

If you don’t even have time to stop by, just order gifts online at Authentic Beauty website. I suggest choosing the Profaces Voluptuous lip gloss (great stocking stuffer) or the delicious Sally B Skin Yummies Lavender & Vanilla Hand Butter. Also we are selling the CRAVE Atlanta book for $19.95, which is a great book on all the fantastic women entrepreneurs in Atlanta; Authentic Beauty is on pages 24 & 25. Our one-year anniversary is tomorrow at the studio (4674 Roswell Road) from 4 to 7 p.m., so please stop by & toast with us!