Covering Blemishes

Hi Terri. I suffer from hormonal acne and find it difficult to cover up my blemishes. My foundation and concealer don’t grab on to those areas and my breakouts always peek through. Is there a way to apply makeup that will keep my blemishes covered? ~ Josie

Josie, believe it or not, the solution is eye primer. Eye primer, such as Heir Atelier Eye Primer, is designed to hold eyeshadow to the lid so it doesn’t fade or crease. I put a small amount of eye primer on a blemish and let it dry for a couple of seconds before applying foundation and concealer. The primer grabs the makeup and blemishes usually stay hidden.

Strip Lashes

I like to wear strip lashes but can’t get them to stay on without having to reapply several times. Do you have any tips to make application easier? ~ Leah

Hi Leah! I struggled with that too and, after some trial and error, finally came up with an easy way to apply a strip lash. Cut each lash into three even pieces and then apply the sections individually, beginning at the outside corner. This way you don’t have to fuss with the whole strip, and it helps prevent the corners from lifting.

Brows

Hi Terri! I have pretty decent brows, but you can’t really see them because they’re so light in color ( I have naturally blonde hair). I don’t like filling them in with a pencil, is there another alternative to make them stand out? -Sonja

Hi Sonja! I think a lot of natural blondes have this issue and there are some great alternatives to a pencil! Try using a tinted brow gel. This will add a light wash of color to your existing brows and really make them pop in a natural way. I recommend the Maybelline Express Brow Fast Sculpt Mascara. If you are someone that gets your hair colored, next time you are at your salon, ask your stylist to add a little bit of the color to your brows. This will give a more semi-permanent solution that is less day-to-day maintenance.

Setting Spray

I use a powder and then a setting spray to make my makeup last longer, but I find that my makeup is still wearing off pretty quickly throughout the day. Is there a certain way I should be applying my makeup to ensure it lasts all day? -Helena

Hi Helena! If powder and setting sprays aren’t working for you, try using them in a different way. For example, you could mix the setting spray into your foundation, or spray it onto your brush or beauty sponge before applying the foundation. Finding the right makeup routine for your skin is really about experimentation. If you haven’t found a setting spray you like, Film and Television Makeup Expert, Rebecca Alling, says  Danessa Myricks’ setting sprays are her go-to. 

Summer Hair Products and Tips

Ahh, June. My favorite month of the year – longer days, the sun’s kiss on my bare shoulders (protected with SPF of course), cooling dips in a pool, lake, or ocean. But all that sun and swimming can take its toll on our tresses, whatever your color or texture. So here’s a lineup of hair-care products and a few pro tips to make sure your hair stays hydrated, strong, and silky all summer long.

Hydrate-Me.Masque

First up is the Kevin Murphy Hydrate-Me.Masque. This is an intensely hydrating hair mask that I use throughout the year. During summer months, I apply it twice a week to keep my hair feeling stronger, smoother, and moisturized despite frequent swims and surf-side fun.

The One Signature Shampoo

Next, use a shampoo and conditioner duo that is free of sulfates. Sulfates really cleanse and clarify, but when your hair is in a vulnerable state, these ingredients can strip away too much moisture. So, especially in the summer, I mostly use a sulfate-free shampoo (with a super clarifying, sudsy cleanse twice a month). My favorite sulfate-free formula is The One Signature Shampoo from Kristin Ess. If you’re interested in reading more about the pros and cons of sulfate ingredients, this article in Cosmopolitan has great information.

Lay off the heat

Now, this is probably going to be hard to accept—lay off the heat! The No. 1 way to damage, break, and exhaust hair (especially if it’s color-treated) is the repetitive use of hot tools. No one loves a good blow-dry and style more than I do, but to continue having gorgeous hair to style, we have to step away from the tools once in a while. The casual days of summer are the perfect time to experiment with styles that don’t require heat. This Buzzfeed article gives you 22 no-heat styling ideas.

TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray

My final piece of advice. If you absolutely HAVE to use your hot tools, whether it’s an iron, blow-dryer, or even hot rollers, please use a heat protectant beforehand. This will create a barrier between your hot tool and your hair to help protect your hair and preserve moisture. One of my favorites is the TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray.