Posts tagged ‘blogger tips’
Tips Infront of the Camera
When I first started this blog I had absolutely no intention of sharing photos of myself. Fast forward a year later and my face is everywhere. While I guess you could say I’ve “gotten used to it”, the truth of the matter is I am super awkward in front of the camera and it doesn’t help that the majority of the photos I take are on the street in front of passing cars and ogling people. One person walks by and my face turns to wax — the double chins form, my eyes roll to the top of my head, and my body cringes like I’m the Wicked Witch of the West melting away. Needless to say, I am not Kate Moss. But you already knew that.
While I still have a lot of growing to do, there are a few things I’ve discovered over my past few years infront of the camera.
One — take a ton of photos. Essentially you want one good photo for every three bad ones so you have some options.
Two — open up your face. People have a tendency to squint and pucker in front of the camera, which causes wrinkles, emphasizes under eye circles, and basically makes you look like you’re having a really bad day. When I take pictures I try to use the face muscles that I’d use to wiggle my ears or move my scalp up and down (for the record, I can do neither of these circus tricks). I also try to open my eyes (read: smize) just a little extra — emphasis on the little as you don’t want to look like a blowfish being squeezed.
Three — move. I have a tendency to get extremely stiff the second I feel the camera lens on me. Much like a deer in the headlights I become statuesque and pray that holding a steady position will yield the best results. But I am not a deer and last time I checked photographers are not moving cars, so really all this does is make me look like a frozen freak on the brink of pissing herself. So I wiggle around, walk back and forth, kick my legs in the air, open my mouth as wide as I can, and do anything else that feels ridiculous so that I loosen up a bit. Which brings me back to the importance of step number one: take a ton of pictures.
Beauty Board – The Essentials
I recently got an email from a reader asking there were any new products added to my must-have items. Seeing as how my last Beauty Board post was well over a year ago, you better believe I’ve introduced all kinds of new products into my routine! So much so that I’ve actually decided to divide this post up into two: the essentials and the subsidiaries.
Today I bring you the essentials, which are all listed below:
Hair:
Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Shampoo | Aveda Color Conserve Conditioner | Moroccanoil Hydrating Cream |Frederic Fekkai Full Blown Volume Spray |Moroccanoil Hydrating Mask
I’m still a believer that your shampoo and conditioner don’t have to be by the same brand. I love the smell and freshness of Bumble and Bumble’s Seaweed Shampoo and how Aveda’s Color Conserve Conditioner not only leaves my hair super soft, but keeps me nice and blonde throughout each season! Moroccanoil is my BFF — this Hydrating Cream keeps my waves intact without giving them any of that icky crunch that comes from so many products. Sometimes I like to add a little more volume to my roots, so I spray a bit of Fekkai’s Full Blown Volume Spray onto them and then blast them with a hairdryer for a minute or so. And when I’ve spent too much time pooling around or think my locks could use an extra bit of love, I spend 10-15 minutes with Moroccanoil’s Hydrating Mask in my hair, which make it super shiny.
Skin:
Fresh Soy Face Cleanser | Clarisonic Mia | Fresh Soy Moisturizing Cream SPF 20 | Mario Badescu Drying Lotion | Neosporin | Mario Badescu Cucumber Tonic Mask
In the past year I’ve run into pimples, something that I’ve never really had a problem with. I think I’m finally starting to get them under control with Fresh’s Soy Face Cleanser and the Clarisonic Mia, which I use only at night. I’m a firm believer in lotion with sunblock and found that Fresh’s Soy Moisturizing Cream is not only light (aka doesn’t clog pores) but also has SPF 20. Win. When I do have an outbreak, I switch between using Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion one night and Neosporin the other. The last thing you want to do is dry out your skin so much that it has to make oils for itself. I also try to use Mario Badescu’s Cucumber Tonic Mask once a week (often when I’m using the aforementioned Moroccanoil Hydrating Mask — I look really pretty during these moments).
Concealer:
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer | Bare Escentuals Original Foundation | e.l.f. Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter | Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage
Concealer can be really gross. I hate when you see people with it so caked on to their face that if you drew a fingernail across their cheek you would pick up residue. Barf. Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer is a fantastic concealer as it’s extremely thin. I really only use it on my t-zone and then follow up with a bit of Bare Escentuals Original Foundation to even everything out. On occasion I will use e.l.f.’s Under Eye Concealer & Highlighter for days when the bags are too big to carry onboard and Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage for icky breakouts.
Lips:
Nars Bronzer in Laguna | Nars The Multiple Orgasm | Benefit Moon Beam | Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil in Pale Gold
My cheek routine is pretty minimal. I’d say on a day-to-day basis I really only use Nars Bronzer, but sometimes it’s fun to jazz things up in which I use a smidge of Nars Orgasm cream blush. I’m always a fan of the tanned and dewy look, so if I’m going out at night or feel like trying something different, I’ll use Benefit’s Moon Beam and Nars Soft Touch Shadow Pencil on my cheek bones, the bridge of my nose and around my brow line. It’s supposed to be an eyeshadow pencil, but I have yet to use it as such.
Eyes:
gloMinerals gloCream in Espresso | Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler | DiorShow Mascara | Yves Saint Laurent Eyeliner
The eyes are the most important part of my makeup routine, and I have to say, not much has changed in terms of products. There isn’t a day that I don’t use gloMinerals gloCream eyeliner, you all know how much I love my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, and I always top things off with DiorShow mascara. Sometimes at night I’ll darken things up with a black eyeliner or cat eye look in which I use Yves Saint Laurent’s felt tip eyeliner.
Lips:
MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo | Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Papaya | Lucas’ Papaw Ointment | Egyptian Magic Balm | Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry
Oh, lips! You are so fun to decorate! Recently I’m all about the reds and rarely venture away from them. MAC’s Lipstick in Ruby Woo is my immediate go-to (it doesn’t smudge, goes on evenly, and immediately pumps up a look), but for something a little less dramatic I use Revlon’s ColorBurst Lip Gloss in Papaya, which still adds a solid amount of color but is less in your face. I’m a big lip balm addict and use Lucas’ Papaw Ointment all throughout the day (you can find it at one of my favorite NYC shops, 143 Ludlow) and Egyptian Magic right before I go to bed at night. For subtle color that still has some moisturizer in it, I use Maybelline’s Baby Lips in Cherry.
And that’s a beauty essentials wrap!
