Sunday, January 29, 2012

Using Fashion to Look Great: I Have Mesothelioma

Jackie Clark, a writer from the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance (http://www.mesothelioma.com/), reached out to me to share an article about women feeling beautiful no matter what circumstances that may come their way. Here she shares a powerful message on how women can feel strong, confident, and feel beautiful in their own skin.


Using Fashion to Look Great
By: Jackie Clark

All women deserve to feel beautiful, because they are. Fashion is one way to bring every woman's inner beauty to the surface. All women can look beautiful, no matter what struggles they are facing in their lives, including mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer caused by asbestos exposure and inhalation of asbestos particles. Symptoms of mesothelioma do not appear until many years down the road. If you suffer symptoms of mesothelioma, it is important to
consult a doctor with experience in diagnosing the disease immediately. Catching mesothelioma in its early stages provides the individual with more treatment options. Beating the cancer is a long and difficult road, but there are many ways for women to still feel beautiful and spirited along the way.

A woman with many other expenses can find affordable and fashionable clothes thanks to thrift and convenience stores. A woman diagnosed with mesothelioma can uplift her spirits by treating herself to a facial and a new outfit. A woman who is struggling with her weight can choose clothes that compliment her best features to build her self-esteem. Using fashion to look great is a simple way for women to boost their self-esteem and highlight their best features. Below are some tips to keep in mind when using fashion to bring out a woman's inner beauty.

Highlight your best features. Whether you're choosing a new wardrobe or applying makeup, you can benefit from focusing on your best features. Reflect on what you find attractive about yourself. Ask for the opinions of friends and
family if you’re uncomfortable deciding. Once you have a good idea of what your best features are, think of clothing, makeup, hairstyle, and other options that call attention to those features.

Use natural makeup. The point of makeup is to draw attention to you and your best features, not to the fact that you're wearing makeup. Try to choose makeup that complements you without making it too obvious that you're wearing makeup. Natural-looking makeup works great, especially if you're not used to wearing makeup on a daily basis. This doesn't mean you can't use color, it just means you should choose subtle shades that blend well rather than bright, over-the-top, colors. Another great tip is to try to choose certain features of your face that you want to draw attention to. Use color there rather than using dramatic color on all areas of your face.

Treat yourself. It's okay to indulge in beauty treatments occasionally. Sign up for a mani-pedi, have your hair done, or get a facial. If you are low on cash, you can always ask for gift certificates for your birthday or holidays.

Consult a professional. Free fashion and beauty advice is always available. Most beauty salons or department stores offer free facials where their staff will provide makeup demonstrations and suggestions. Most clothing store associates will offer advice on what type of clothing suits you. Most hair salons can offer you advice about what type of hairstyle suits you best. If you are unsure about what styles and fashions suit you best, help is never far away.

Check out her latest article, The Healing Power of Feeling Beautiful (http://www.mesothelioma.com/blog/authors/jackie/the-healing-power-of-feeling-beautiful.htm)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

My Bobbi Brown Beauty Regimen

To achieve a natural look, choosing the right brush is key. Listed above is the following: Bobbi Brown Face Brush, Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush, Amore Blush Brush, Sheer Cover Eyeshadow Base Brush, MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush, MAC 224 Tapered Blending Brush, MAC 217 Blending Brush, and MAC 219 Pencil Brush.
Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 Warm Sand #2.5. Apply with Bobbi Brown Foundation Brush. After applying the foundation to the entire face, blend with finger tips. This foundation offers natural coverage, evens skin tones and hides imperfections.
Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick Warm Sand #2.5. Blend with fingertips. Perfect for concealing any imperfections, redness or blemishes.
Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick Warm Sand #2.5. Apply with fingertips. Great for highlighting above the eyebrows, upper brow bone, and underneath the eyes. For tips and tricks on highlighting, stay tune for my next post.
Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder Golden Light #1. Apply with Bobbi Brown Face Brush. For tips and tricks on contouring, stay tune for my next post.
Bobbi Brown Blush Nectar #11. Apply with Amore Blush Brush on the apple of the cheeks, blending up to the hairline. Then smooth out with Bobbi Brown Face Brush for a more natural look.
Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eye Shadow Copper Penny #20. Apply with Sheer Cover Base Brush. Remember to apply eye primer before applying eyeshadow. Eye primer locks in the color and prevents the eyeshadow from fading or creasing. I also like to apply Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream before applying the eye primer for added moisture.
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow White #1. Great for highlighting the upper brow bone. Apply with Sheer Cover Base Brush.
Bobbi Brown Metallic Eye Shadow Sage #4. Apply with MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush. This brush has a tapered, rounded edge that can be used to build intense color on the eyelid. For a smokier look, apply with MAC 219 Pencil Brush in the eye crease or along the lash line.
Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow Saddle #61. I use this eyeshadow as an eyebrow shader. Apply with Lilique Angled Brush #284 for a natural smooth look with no harsh lines. Bobbi Brown herself says," Start at the inside of the brow line, use short feathery strokes, follow the shape of the brow, brush the hair up, make the most out of your arch and make sure the ends come to a point." The eyebrows are the frame to your face.
Bobbi Brown Perfectly Defined Mascara and Extreme Party Mascara. I like to use a combination of the two together. The Extreme Party Mascara creates unbelievable volume while the Perfectly Defined Mascara lengthens and separates my lashes.

I highly recommend that you try using Bobbi Brown's line at least once. I am truly inspired by all the wonderful colors that she uses. It is all about emphasizing natural beauty and creating a healthy appearance by feeling and looking your best. I will upload my Bobbi Brown look on my next post. I will also include tips and tricks on contouring and highlighting so please visit me soon!

Thanks,
Joan/Little Girl Big World