Buy a lipstick for World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. I know not everyone has time to volunteer, but it only takes a couple minutes to buy a lipstick. One MAC Viva Glam lipstick ($14.50) can really make a difference. 100% of every Viva Glam Sale goes to the M.A.C. AIDS Fund. Here are just some of the things 1 lipstick can contribute to men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS:

ONE Viva Glam Lipstick=
8 home cooked meals
1 b-day or x-mas party pack for a child who lost a parent to HIV/AIDS.
 A year's worth of school supplies for a child affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa
3 boxes of a weeks supply of fruits and veggies in Canada
2 meals for 2 children at an orphanage affected by HIV?AIDS in South Africa
1 weekly grocery shop (4 bags of food) for 2 people affected by HIV/AIDS

to see more info, visit www.macaidsfund.org

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Moisture Mask for Acne Prone Skin

"Moisture" is a scary word for people with acne prone skin. The fact is, that even the oiliest skin needs it. Finding the right balance can be difficult, though. Too much moisture causes breakouts. Lack of moisture causes excess shine. Well, for those of you who always have at least one breakout somewhere on your face, but feel dehydrated at the same time, Laura Mercier has the perfect moisture mask for you.
Laura Mercier's Intensive Moisture Mask ($32) is an oil free water-based hydrating formula that will leave your skin feeling baby soft. It's a green gel that feels super light weight, so you can pile it on as thick as you want and won't breakout. After cleansing your face, wear the mask for 5-10 minutes then rinse or towel off with warm water. After using this mask, not only did my skin feel soft and extremely comfortable, I was also more radiant. I've broken down some of the ingredients so you all can see that this mask is truly for all skin types and addresses all concerns.

moisture:
sunflower oil
sweet almond oil
shea butter

clarity/radiance:
grapefuit extract
rice protein
saxifragra extract

soothing/calming:
cucumber extract
barley extract
wheat germ extract
rose water

antioxidants:
tomato extract
vitamin e

firming:
coneflower extract

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Pure Vitamin C

Freelancing for a wedding last week really opened my eyes to a truth I thought I wouldn't realize for at least another 4 years; I'm aging. We all are. Everyday. The whole day I thought the bridal party was my age. They were young and fun and radiant. Later that night I asked how old they were, and as it turned out, they were a few ears older than me. Smoking, having 3 kids, living an emotionally stressful life, staying up late, bad eating habits...all of those factors can be read on a woman's face. Women know that looking 25 is very different from 29 even though it's only a 4 year gap. At that moment I decided it was time to step up my skincare from basic prevention to early correction. Aging is inevitable and irreversible, but it can be slowed down, and it can be corrected.
After expressing my aging concerns, friend of mine who works for Kiehl's gave me a sample of their Dermatologist Solutions Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate ($56). I know you all probably think I'm crazy and don't need an extra-strength anti-wrinkle serum, and you're right. I don't. What drew me to this product was the continuous delivery of 10.5% Vitamin C, or L-Ascorbic Acid. Kiehl's was able to stabilize the highest dose of Vitamin C available without a dermatologist's prescription. Since my second pregnancy, I've been looking for a product that gave retinol results without the retinol. This Concentrate tested the same against retinol without the sensitivity and irritation. That means this is a safe anti-aging treatment for pregnant women.
So why would a 25 year old need this? Vitamin C (aside from correcting wrinkles) improves skin texture and radiance; my 2 main concerns. Since using this Line-Reducing Concentrate, I noticed a brighter, more youthful complexion. I look healthy and energized. I actually feel like I look my age.

Eye Serum

You can wear this serum day and night under a moisturizer. I suggest wearing a SPF of at least 15 on top of the Concentrate because of the rapid exfoliation taking place. There is also a formula available for the eye area, which I also love. Your eyes are where you see the first signs of aging, so I highly recommend the Dermatologist Solutions Line-Reducing Eye-Brightening Concentrate ($40) as well.

Beyonce Inspired B.B. Homemaker Makeup Tutorial

Here's my latest makeup tutorial based on one of Beyonce's looks in her "Why Don't You Love Me?" video. I have it on YouTube, but they disabled my audio due to licencing issues, so I had to replace the soundtrack with one of their pre-authorized songs. The Vimeo version has the original soundtrack; a tribute to Miss Eta James.


Beyonce Inspired B.B. Homemaker Tutorial from Marissa Rhoades on Vimeo.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Lip Stain!

On my venture to buy makeup for my Drug Store Beauty Queen Tutorial, I found a precious gem. Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain in Cherry Pop (Target.com, $6.49). I've tried department store stains like Benefit's Bene-Tint ($28), but I like this one better for 2 reasons; convenience and price point. To me it looks just like the product that costs $21 more, except instead of having a messy loose liquid, it's all contained in a little pen. The coverage is buildable, so you can keep coloring until your lips are as dark as you want it. It stays on all day. I've even slept with it on and my lips were still red the next morning. Color Sensational Lipstains are perfect for someone who doesn't like to reapply lipstick or gloss though out the day and wants a natural looking lip. I like to wear it with a moisturizing lip balm on top. Even Chapstick would work. Love it!
Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstain Demo:

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Brighter By Nature

Radiance and clarity are my main concerns for my skin, so naturally I had to try Origin's new Brighter By Nature High-potency brightening peel with fruit acids ($37.50). These mini-peel pads are loaded with skin brightening, anit-oxidant packed fruity acids from blueberries, Goji berries and grapes. Chamomile, aloe and lavender soothe redness and sensitivity. Test results showed that this treatment can be comparable to a 30% glycolic peel.

While this product claimed to be a "glycolic peel without the redness," I did see a little red. The box also indicated that a "tingling" sensation is normal, but what I felt was more of a sting. It wasn't unbearable, just a little uncomfortable. Both of those side effects are well worth the face I woke up to the next morning. My skin was noticeably brighter and acne scars were faded.

I recommend only using the peel pads two nights a week. Don't use them in the same 24 hours as your regular scrub and mask. You should use a broad-spectrum SPF everyday, but it's especially important after this treatment. Your face just shed several layers of dead skin, so your skin would be more vulnerable to UV rays.

Remember: Not every cosmetics counter girl knows what they're doing. The employee turnover rate in cosmetics is high, and most don't get formally trained until they've been there for a few months. It's not rude to ask how long they've been there and if they've gone to class yet. This is YOUR skin. Don't put its care in the hands of an untrained sales person who hasn't got the proper product knowledge.

Marissa's Pick of the Week - Cream Blush is All You Need!

These days, the average woman is on the go all day long. Whether you are a student or a carpool mom, there is always somewhere we have to be. Most days I don't even wear makeup, but sometimes while I'm driving around I'll get a call that sounds something like:
 "Hey, Hunny. I left my phone charger at home, can you drop it off?"
or
 "Hey, Marissa! I need you to come to work and sign some papers."
I'm not trying to go to my husband's office looking all haggard, or to my job looking like everything BUT a makeup artist. So I always have two things in my purse: face powder and cream blush. You don't need powder if you don't have oily or blemished skin, but I keep it just in case.
The real must have is cream blush! You can use it to add a natural flush to your cheeks, brighten your eyes, and add color to your lips. Cream blushes are truly an all-in-one freshen upper.

Favorites:
M.A.C. Blushcream ($18.50)
Lancome Color Design Blush ($27) Hurry! These are being discontinued!
Clinique Blushwear Cream Stick ($18.50)

Now enjoy my mini tutorial on how you can quickly apply cream blush no matter wear you are!