Hiding Behind Your Sunglasses

Under eye circles can form for a number of reasons— long hours at work, bad sleeping habits, a poor diet, stress or genetics. And while those chic sunglasses might do a great job of hiding your under eye area, they can’t stay on all day. I’ve had this problem most of my adult life so I decided it’s time to take care of it.

Finding the right concealer—not the right sunglasses— is key in conquering those under eye circles. Concealer should be yellow toned and one shade lighter than your foundation. Avoid too white or pink concealers that will only appear that color when applied. Concealers are effective at hiding dark under-eye circles because they're opaque (they don't let light through). Normal make-up isn't a match for truly dark under-eye circles.

Before you apply your concealer (or any other part of your beautifying process for that matter), you want to make sure you cleanse and moisturize your face right before with a nice, light weight eye cream. This keeps skin dewy and moist, which will help make-up from settling into fine lines.

Only put the concealer where you need it. For example, only dab the concealer where you have darkness. Use your finger or a make-up brush to apply in thin layers starting at the inner corner of your eye. Cover up all of the dark area and finish at the outer edge of your lower lash line. Check the color in the mirror. If it doesn’t look right yet, add another thin layer until the darkness is concealed.
Lightly dust a pale yellow powder (good for most of our complexions) over the concealer.

* If you are feeling a little extra tired, dab a bit of concealer on the inside of the bridge of your nose or apply eye shadow to inner corners of the eyes. Soft pinks, golds and silvers work best.

*I haven’t tried these but here are some recommendations for eye enhancers:

Benefit Powderflage Set, $32. (brush included),
Mally Beauty Cancellation Concealer 3-piece System $35.
Bare Essentials, Well-rested for Eyes, $18.

Do you have a concealer that works well for you?

Dry Brushing Your Skin

If you’ve ever wanted softer skin (and who hasn’t!) try this simple method to improve your skin tone. I’ve started doing it every morning and it feels great! It’s called “Dry Brushing” because you are brushing your skin dry, usually before a bath or shower.

Giving your body a firm brush all over makes the skin glow by removing the top dull, dead layer of skin and encouraging new cells to regenerate. The gentle massaging motion of the bristles also has a beneficial effect on areas of cellulite and it is an effective treatment for helping eliminate toxins from the body.

The technique is a simple one, and you need only a body brush with natural bristles, such as those of goat or boar, or a loofah. You will need a brush with a handle so that you can reach all the inaccessible parts of your back. You need a much softer brush for the face.

*Skin brushing is carried out on dry skin. Start at the soles of your feet and work upwards, brushing the legs, then buttocks, your arms, then on to the chest and stomach, your back and finally the face. Brush more gently where the skin is thinnest and always brush towards the heart. Don’t brush any areas of broken skin or rash. (I have a very gentle facial brush that I use. Some people skip brushing their face.)


*Brushing your whole body in this way will take you between three and five minutes, depending on how many strokes you give to each area. Try to keep a rhythm going and brush for up to five minutes every day and preferably immediately before you have a bath or shower so that the dead cells are washed away. Skin brushing is best done in the morning as the acceleration of blood flow has quite an invigorating effect. You should be able to see the difference in your skin after just a few sessions - it will become very soft and develop an attractive rosy glow.

A good follow-up for after your shower is Gathered From The Garden's Satin and Silk Shea Butter Lotion. It’s like a body butter and is SO moisturizing!
Check out our website for more great products: http://www.gatheredfromthegardenllc.4t.com/

Michael,Farrah,Ed and Billy

Donna Marie over at the IndieBusiness Blog wrote a very inspirational article about these four. You should definitely check it out:

http://www.indiebusinessblog.com/2009/06/28/what-i-learned-from-fawcett-jackson-mcmahon-and-mays

Hair Tips and Tricks

Some helpful hints to keep your hair looking it's best this summer.
**Give your hair a much needed break and let it air dry naturally. Think of it as a vacation for your hair. If you are going to have your hair air dried, it is very important to remember that the hair is at its weakest when it is wet. So, take care not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel will make your hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with the towel. Also, be careful not to tug or pull at your hair that much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, fluff it out with your fingers.

**If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking. Blot the water out with a towel first. Do not hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from your hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your hair hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer. Stop while the hair is still slightly damp.

**Boost the shine of your hair--once your hair is completely dry, finish it off with a cool blast of air to seal the cuticle.

**Here are some homemade beauty hair tips. I have not tried these but thought they sounded fun.

*Eggs?!? Lightly beat two eggs mixed with some milk and run throughout your hair. Leave on for 5 minutes, rinse and you'll see a shine instantly.

*Dandruff ? Dissolve 2 aspirins in your dandruff shampoo and watch how it clears up. Use a good moisturizing conditioner afterward.

*Hair Static? This isn't meant to be funny. Use static guard. Use about 7 inches from your hair lightly. Don’t over do!

*Greasy Hair? Use powder. Most come in hundreds of fragrances, brands, and unscented selections. Put a little at the root of your hair. If it is a serious problem, put the power on heavily for 15 minutes wash completely, condition lightly, and style.

*Lemon-Boost Lemon juice mixed with natural sunlight will lighten any hair.

*Sweet Shine Honey in your tea, snack or applied as a small amount in the hair will give you shine.

*Coffee For brunettes/redheads—take 8 cups of warm brewed coffee. After shampooing rinse your hair with the coffee. Do not rinse out. Your hair will be thick and shiny.

Do you have any tried and true tricks for hair you could share with us?

We've been busy blogging and creating!

Gathered From The Garden has been working on some new products--Bath and Massage Oil --Ease away tension and stress with this nourishing blend of oils infused with essential oils.
Sanitizers--: Perfect around the home and for travels, you’re sure to find hundreds of places to put it to use; hotel pillows and furniture, your airplane/train/bus seat, your car, counter tops, pet beds, keyboards, telephones, the list goes on and on. The 2 oz size is under the maximum allowed by the Transportation Security Administration so feel free to keep it handy in your carryon luggage.

Flawless Foundation Application

First off here’s a tip that I wasn’t aware of: if you want liquid foundation to remain usable throughout its lifetime, always shake it well before application. I've been kind of lax about that...

Then the trick is to pick the right foundation color. For a natural look your foundation must match your skin tone. Test foundations along your jawline. Blend the foundation into your skin to see if the color is right. If it's too light, then test the next shade darker. If it's too dark, then go down a shade until the color matches. You will know the best color because it will disappear into your skin. The goal of foundation application is to neutralize any discoloration and imbalance, not to change the tone /color of your skin. (I've heard that you should test the color on your skin and then go outside in natural light before you buy.)

For flawless application start with a clean, moisturized face. A clean face will allow the makeup to smooth and blend easier. Apply the appropriate moisturizer according to your skin type. It will improve your skin quality and act as a protective layer to help trap the moisture in the skin and stop it from evaporation. Apply the moisturizer and let it soak in at least 3 minutes before applying foundation.( Dry skin will soak up the foundation if not given that base. For oily skin use an oil-free moisturizer and powder foundation.)

Apply foundation by dabbing a small amount on your face. Start by applying the foundation in little dots on your forehead, down your nose and on your chin and cheeks. Blend the foundation with a brush, sponge or your fingertips. Blend it off on the jaw line and hair line. Make sure it's blended completely to create a natural, flawless look. Using fingertips will give the heaviest application, but a sponge gives a thinner application. Be extra careful in the area around your eyes where the skin is super thin. Don't forget to apply foundation on your eyelids and lips. (I’ve never done that!)To avoid a foundation line around the jaw apply foundation as usual then use a little moisturizer in your hand and blend it down your neck.

On the under-eye area, apply facial makeup with a finger or with a small synthetic brush or applicator. These tools are particularly useful for accessing the inner corners of your eyes. Pat with your fingertips to blend, using your ring finger or pinkie to minimize the pressure.

On blemishes, apply concealer in small spots with a finger then blend the edges with your fingertips. To cover imperfections apply foundation first and then go back and dot on a concealer that neutralizes red. For noticeable imperfections like very dark circles and birthmarks use a yellow concealer. Don't use too much powder in problem areas because it will draw attention to it.

The worst mistake you can make is to follow liquid foundation with powder foundation (heavy powder pressed into a compact with oil). This will merely look artificial when first applied, and will have slid down your face by the end of the day. (Not a good look!)

To finish, and for retouching during the day, use loose or pressed powder that is light-textured and contains no oil. Setting foundation with a powder is a must for oily skin; however, if your skin is dry or if you use solid foundation, your foundation will stay in place without powder.

Liquid foundation should never be applied over your makeup for retouching purposes, because it is impossible to blend well on top of powder, dust, or sebum. To diminish unwanted shine, use finishing powder instead.

The smoother your skin, the more natural the foundation will look. So do exfoliate twice a week to get rid of dead skin.

Simple Slimming Tip

Since my sister and daughter are both chiropractors we hear a lot about healthy backs and posture. Here's a tip about good posture while sitting to make you look thinner. (supposedly it can also help you slim down...) Keep your waist long by imagining there is a vertical toothpick in the space between the bottom of your ribs and the top of your hips. Not slumping in a chair will help to not crowd your internal organs. Simple is sometimes the best!

Let's Get Intimate!

A subject we don’t usually discuss with our friends but one that is important. Here are some tips for wearing and caring for your bra.

So, how often should you wash a bra? As a general rule, you should wash it after every second wearing. Now there are obvious exceptions to this rule. If you just finished running five miles, you really need to wash that sports bra before wearing it again. If you wear a particular bra only every so often, that should probably be washed after each wearing as well. Perfumes, lotions, and perspiration can mark fine fabrics. Body chemistry can cause straps and bands to lose elasticity.

Hand washing is always the best bet but you can throw them in the washer. Make sure the hooks are closed and put them in a mesh lingerie bag. Use warm water and the gentle cycle. Most bras contain a fair amount of elastic, which can deteriorate due to heat. Elastic bras should never be placed in the clothes dryer or left out in direct sunlight to dry.

The most important time to get fitted for a bra is after a significant weight gain or loss. Otherwise get fitted yearly. (To be honest, I have never done this. Anyone else ever gone into a store and gotten professionally fitted? How was that experience?) Here’s a way to do it yourself…

It's best to measure when you are wearing your most comfortable bra - one that has no padding and is not a minimizer.

Step 1:Band Size
Measure under your arms, high on your back, across the top of your chest. If this measurement is an even number, this is your band size. If an odd number, add 1" to determine your band size

Step 2: Cup Size
Measure loosely around the fullest part of your bust. Next, subtract your band measurement from your bust measurement; each inch represents a cup size. For example: if your band measurement is 34" and your bust measurement is 36", the difference between these measurements is two inches, and you'd wear a B-cup.

A great fitting bra shouldn't dig, pull, poke or otherwise cause discomfort. If it does, it's not the right bra (or size) for you. Make sure it feels comfortable when you sit down and move around.

Always try your bras on wearing a t-shirt – it's the best way to see what it's doing for you. A great fitting bra can make you look taller, will define your waist, and even make you look slimmer!

Take a look at the front of the bra. There shouldn't be any breast tissue spillage, puddling, or falling out of the bottom of the cups. If there is, your cup size is too small. Try sizing up for a flattering, more natural looking fit.

Underwires should lie flat at the front of your bra, against your ribcage. If you feel your underwire digging into any breast tissue, you should try a larger cup size or a different style.

If you wear a white or light-colored top, choose a bra that blends with your skin tone. Don’t wear white under white or the lines will show through.

Here are some lingerie sites to check out: http://www.isaacsultan.com/ www.herroom.com and http://www.fantasie.com/