Facial Hair Waxing: Tips and Tricks

Facial hair. We all have it and most of us don't like to talk about it. Here's another one for you - waxing. 

Waxing your upper lip. 

I am very hairy and my facial hair is literally black (thanks, dad) which makes it more noticeable and need to wax every couple of weeks. I've done it myself for years and I actually have some tips for you as well as product recommendations. 

I wasn't intending on writing this post tonight, however I happened to wax this afternoon, slightly peeled off some extra skin and my thesis defense is in less than forty-eight hours. Accidents happen, ladies and gentlemen but I have it all under control. 

If you do wax facial hair yourself or have ever thought about doing it, keep on reading. 

November Favorites: Mac, La Roche Posay, This Works, Clinique, Agave

Products Mentioned

- Mac Highlight Pen in Radiant Rose

- Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Light

- Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows

- This Works Sleep Balm

- Agave Healing Oil Treatment

- La Roche Posay Cicaplast 

Face of the Day (26.03.13)

Hi beauties! I was feeling a little bit experimental yesterday. I hadn't done a pop of color on the eyes in a while, especially using greens. If you're interested in finding out which products I used to achieve this look, continue reading.

February Favorites

Monthly favorites are usually my favorite blogs to read and favorite videos to watch. Why? You get to see a wide range of products that people love and we may love, too. 

To make this post helpful and appealing, I've selected a wider range of products that don't include just a particular category. I hope you enjoy it!

Face of the Night: Bronzy-Glowing Skin and Smokey Golden Eyes

Hello!

I was doing my makeup for tonight and I felt like raving about a combination.

If you follow me on Instagram, you already know that today's beauty tip was: matching your primer to your foundation. For instance, I used Smashbox Photo Finish Light (water-based) and then Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua (water-based). The results = flawless finish. 

Now on to what the post is about: Face of the Night. If you're interested, keep reading!

January Favorites

Hi everyone! I'm a little late on my January Favorites. But here I go! These were the products I reached out the most/I was most impressed with this month. Let's begin!

1. L'oreal Translucent Powder with Vitamin C: An excellent drugstore powder. It's very finely milled and I have been really impressed at how good it is at controlling oil. I tap this on my T-zone and I am shine free for more than six hours! It also makes my skin look healthy.

2. REN No.1 Purity Cleansing Balm: a lovely rose-scented balm infused with natural oils. It is a dream to work with if you are patient enough to massage your face for a few minutes. I don't want to write so much about it because I will review it soon. 

3. Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder: I have the shade 002 Sunlight. It's a soft, sheer bronzer that is so easy to use, you will never look like you've overdone it. A combination of peach and warm tones instantly make me look healthy and awake. I like to use my Make Up For Ever Kabuki Brush to apply it - going stronger on my cheekbones and lighter on the rest of my face. 

4. Kerastase Elixir Ultime: It smells divine, leaves my hair soft and manageable and it is very versatile. You can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment, a leave-in treatment (which is the way I use it), a pre-blowout treatment or a post-blow out treatment to add shine and tame frizz. It can be applied on dry or wet hair. 

5. Vichy Aqualia Thermal Eye-Roll On: Tightening, cooling, moisturizing, firming, de-puffing, amazing. I'm on my second tube and I know I will be repurchasing it. I use it every single day when I wake up and before I apply make-up. 

6. Illamasqua Cream Blush: I have the shade Brazen. It is a bright red that looks scary on the pan, but it looks extremely natural on the cheeks. It reminds me of how my skin looks after being out in the snow for a long time. Tip: Be extremely light-handed with Illamasqua's cream blushes because they are EXTREMELY pigmented. 

7. Mac Studio Finish Concealer: I have the shade NC 30. I am very glad I got this. I was really hesitant and dubious about buying this because there were mixed reviews about it when using it on the under-eye area. Some people said it was horribly cakey, while others loved it. I love it. I really do. I think a little goes a long way, the coverage is pretty good, I love the fact that it's water resistant and that it has SPF. I find the texture really light. It does not feel heavy nor cakey. 

8. Mac Pro Sculpting Cream: I have the shade Richly Honed. I love, love, love this for contouring. It's a cream-to-powder formula, giving me the cheekbones I've always wanted to have. I love to apply this using my Real Techniques Contour Brush.

8. La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat: A mattifying moisturizer with a gel-like consistency. It hydrates and tightens the skin. People with combination to oily skin will love this. I do not recommend this to people with normal to dry skin. It does an excellent job at keeping the skin shine-free, and with prolonged use, it reduces the size of pores and decreases sebum production. Yes and yes. It does both. I'm on my second tube. PS: It makes an excellent primer. 

9. Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder: I have the shade Dark Brown. I never really paid attention to my brows til last year. I thought they were too dark and thick as they were. Usually I would see that those who used brow products were women with very thin and light brows, but after using this powder, I learned that groomed eyebrows look best. Anastasia offers two shades - the dark shade is meant to cover any spots that need filling, while the lightest shade is meant to be applied all over the brow. Even though this is a powder formula, the color does not fade at all. 

10. Yves Rocher Aqua Tonic Masque: A yummy-scented moisturizing mask that works in just three minutes. Inexpensive, effective and plumping. 

11. The Body Shop Neroi Jasmin Body Lotion: Probably one of my favorite scents ever. You have to smell this. It is divine. Seriously. Go to a store and just smell it. You'll thank me later. PS: It's light but moisturizing enough, and the smell lingers. 

What were your January Favorites? 

Which products do you strongly recommend?

January Empties

Hi everyone!

I hope you've all had a great Monday and beginning of the week.

Today I have my "January Empties" for you - One hair product and five skincare products!

And while I am typing this.... I am ....

Yep, eating left-over Christmas M&M's. I told you I was addicted!

Now it's time to get serious! I will give you my in depth opinion about these products individually, and I'll tell you whether I would re-purchase these products or not. 

If you're interested, continue reading!

Face of the day (22.01.13): No-Makeup Makeup

Hi everyone!

I have been wanting to do a "no-makeup makeup" look for a while. I love the whole idea of it - wearing makeup that looks natural enough for people to think that you either have perfect skin or you're just glowing from within. Ironically enough, I found it to be quite challenging, and I ended up using a good amount of products. 

I hope you enjoy the post!

Hola a todos!

He tenido ganas de hacer un look de "maquillaje sin maquillaje" desde hace un tiempo. Me encanta la idea - usar maquillaje de una manera tan natural que la gente piense que tienes la piel perfecta o que sencillamente te veas radiante y fresca. Irónicamente, encontré este look un poco difícil y terminé usando bastante productos.

Espero que les guste!

Face/Rostro

Lately, I've been using La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat as a primer. I love the product as it is - it definitely controls oil production even on humid, tropical climates. It also reduces the size of pores. It really creates a smooth canvas for makeup to go glide on easily.

He estado utilizando La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat como un primer. Amo el producto en si - definitivamente controla y reduce la grasa en la piel hasta en climas húmedos y tropicales. También reduce el tamaño de los poros. Crea una superficie lisa y suave para que el maquillaje pueda aplicarse con más facilidad. 

I used Clinique Acne Solutions as my foundation for today. I have some annoying spots on my forehead, which is why I chose to use this one. Why? It covers so flawlessly, I don't even have to conceal my spots. 

The shade I used was "05 Fresh Beige", but it's a wee-bit too dark for me at the moment, so I applied just a thin layer, buffing it gently. 

Utilicé Clinique Acne Solutions como mi base de hoy. Por qué? Tengo unos granitos en mi frente, y esta base cubre tan perfectamente, que no necesito aplicar corrector sobre ellos después. 

El tono es "05 Fresh Beige", el cual es un poco muy oscuro para mi en estos momentos, así que apliqué una capa fina de manera delicada. 

To create an effortless, healthy glow, I used my Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder in the shade "002 Sunlight". 

It is very hard to overdo this, and it looks extremely natural. Very buildable. You can use it all over the face, but I applied it to the areas where the sun would naturally hit. 

Para que la piel se viera radiante, utilicé Diorskin Nude Tan Healthy Glow Enhancing Powder en el tono "002 Sunlight".

Te puedes poner tantas capas que siempre se verá muy natural. Lo puedes utilizar en todo el rostro, pero yo lo usé donde el sol naturalmente caería.  

If you're looking for a natural-looking color to apply to your cheeks, I strongly suggest to go for a cream blush. For this look, I chose Tarte Cheek Stain in the shade "Flush". It creates a dewy effect on your cheeks, similar to the shade you naturally get after you go out for a run. 

I applied it to my fingertips, and then tapped it onto my cheeks.

Si lo que buscas es conseguir un color muy natural en tus mejillas, te recomiendo que utilices un rubor en crema. Para este look, elegí Tarte Cheek Stain en el tono "Flush". Tiene un acabado radiante y cremoso, mas no grasoso. El color es parecido a ese que se forma naturalmente en tus mejillas luego de haber corrido. 

Lo apliqué en las yemas de mis dedos y luego en mis mejillas.

Mac's Painterly Paint Pot makes a great base for eyeshadows, but it also makes a great color to use on its own to hide any discoloration or veins that show up on the eyelids.

I applied it using my fingertips.

I had some pretty bad circles today, so I first used Benefit Erase Paste in the shade "2 Medium", followed by Diorskin Nude Skin Perfecting Hydrating Concealer in the shade "002 Beige". 

El Paint Pot Painterly de Mac es una excelente base para las sombras, pero también es un color excelente para utilizar en los párpados para cubrir cualquier descoloración o venas. 

Para cubrir mis ojeras, empecé utilizando un corrector con tonos naranjas para neutralizar los tonos azules de éstas - Benefit Erase Paste en el color "02 Medium" - seguido por Diorskin Nude Perfecting Hydrating Concealer en el tono "002 Beige". 

Ya explique la diferencia entre "corrector" y "concealer" aquí. 

To seal everything in place, and get rid of unwanted shine, I used my Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder in 001 Bright Light.

Para sellar todo y quitar brillo donde no lo quería, utilicé polvo suelto - Dior Capture Totale Loose Powder en el tono "001 Bright Light". 

Eyes/Ojos

I started off using Stila's Kajal Eyeliner in the shade "Onyx" all over my top waterline only.

I then curled my lashes with a Revlon eyelash curler. 

I applied two coats of Hypnose Drama mascara by Lancome.

I filled my brows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in the shade "Dark Brown". 

Empecé utilizando el delineador Kajal se Stila en el color "Onyx" solamente en la linea de agua superior. 

Usé un rizador de pestañas de Revlon, y como rimel utilicé Hypnose Drama de Lancome. 

Rellené mis cejas con Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo en el tono "Dark Brown".

Lips/Labios

I went for a light rose shade, simiar to my lip's natural color - Bourjois in the shade "08 Rose Délicat".

Elegí este labial de Bourjois en el tono "08 Rose Délicat" porque es un rosa suave similar al color natural de mis labios. 

The final look?

El resultado final?

How I keep my Combination Skin at bay / Cómo controlo mi piel mixta

Combination skin can be a real pain. Oily T-zone (forehead, nose, chin) and normal/dry cheeks. I've sometimes found some dry/flaky patches on some areas on my skin, especially after washing my face with a cleanser for acne-prone skin. 

What works for me may not work for you, so bear that in mind. It's tricky to find the perfect equation for everyones' face. 

La piel mixta puede ser compleja y difícil de mantener equilibrada (aquella con frente/nariz/barbilla grasa, pómulos normales/secos). Suelo notar piel reseca en algunas áreas cuando me lavo el rostro con un limpiador para la piel con tendencia al acné, pero no me queda de otra porque me salen esos granitos de vez en cuando!

Lo que funciona para mi,  puede que no funcionar para ti. Es complicado conseguir la ecuación perfecta para el rostro de cada quien. 

I can immediately think of three rules to follow to keep your skin mattified, yet radiant looking. You don't want to absorb all of your natural oils. That will actually increase the production of sebum because your skin will try to compensate. 

Puedo inmediatamente pensar en tres reglas para mantener el rostro matificado, pero que a la vez se vea radiante. No busques absorber toda la grasa del rostro, ya que por naturaleza, sólo estarás incrementando la producción del sebo. 

1. Cleanse: wash your face with a gentle cleanser for combination or oily skin. On the picture above, I included a toner, because I will be talking about specific products that have been working for me. This is the Avene Purifying and Mattifying Toner from their Cleanance range. I apply this with a cotton pad  on my T-zone once a day, usually in the morning. It contains alcohol which can be be drying and is not recommended for sensitive skin. What I like about this particular toner though, is the fact that it contains oil-absorbing powders at the very bottom (you have to shake the bottle so both solutions mix). I find that using this prior to my moisturizer significantly reduces the amount of shine throughout the day.

1. Limpieza: limpia tu rostro con un producto para piel mixta o grasa. En la foto incluí un tónico de Avene de la linea Cleanance. Aplico esto en mis areas grasas con una mota/algodón, usualmente por la mañana antes de continuar con mi hidratante. Contiene alcohol, lo cual puede resecar la piel y no es recomendable si tienes sensibilidad. Lo que particularmente me gusta de este tónico es el hecho que tiene polvos absorbentes (por lo cual tienes que batir el producto antes de utilizarlo). He notado que usando este producto una vez al día reduce significativamente la grasa durante el dia. 

2. Moisturize: I know there is a lot out there in the market nowadays, and it can be tempting to try new things, but limit yourself to products designed specifically for combination/oily skin. My absolute favorite moisturizer (and I've tried A LOT) is the La Roche Posay Effaclar Mat Lotion. It is sebo-regulating and it also reduces the size of the pores. It really does both. Another plus? It works amazingly as a primer. 

If you don't moisturize your face because you're afraid that by putting anything on your face, it will just make it oily, your skin will automatically produce MORE oil. So, moisturize!

2. Hidrata: se que hay un montón de productos en el mercado y que la tentación puede invadir, pero trata de limitarte a utilizar productos específicamente para pieles mixtas/grasas. Mi hidratante favorito (y he utilizado MUCHOS) es la Effaclar Mat de La Roche Posay. No sólo regula el sebo, sino que tambien reduce el tamano de los poros. Para agregarle unos puntos extras, sirve también como un primer, y funciona excelente como tal.  

Si no hidratas tu piel por miedo a que si le echas algo, tu piel se pondrá mas grasa, sólo estarás haciendo que tu piel produzca MAS grasa. Se que es irónico. Así que hidrata!

3. Use a clay mask once or twice a week: Detox your face. Clay masks are great to deeply cleanse the skin and take all that junk out (spots, blackheads, whiteheads, oil, dirt). My two favorite are the Origins Clear Improvement mask and the Clarins Pure and Radiant Mask. Both differ - the Origins mask hardens, the Clarins one doesn't. But both are great. 

Make it a pampering day if you want to make it more exciting and to have something to look forward to in your skin regime. Your skin will thank you. 

3. Utiliza una mascarila de arcilla una o dos veces por semana: son geniales para limpiar la piel a profundidad (granitos, puntos negros, puntos blancos, grasa, sucio). Mis dos favoritas son la Clear Improvement de Origins y la Pure And Radiant Mask de Clarins. Las dos son distintas: la de Origins se endurece luego de unos minutos, la de Clarins no se seca. 

Puedes convertirlo en parte de tu rutina para que sea un poco mas emocionante. Tu piel te lo agradecerá. 

What are your favorite products to combat oiliness and spots?

Cuales son tus productos favoritos para mantener un aspecto matificante y reducir el acné? 

My New Year's Eve Look

Hi everyone! I haven't been here in a while. I want to start off this post by wishing everyone a happy 2013 - may this year be better than the last.

Due to the amount of positive feed back I received on Instagram on my New Year's Eve look (thank you!), I decided to share with you what I used and how I used it to achieve the look.

Originally, I was thinking on doing a simple gold-toned look, but I was feeling inspired and I started experimenting/playing with blues and the result was a blue smokey eye which really made my already-big-dark-eyes pop even more.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

I wanted to make my skin look fresh and dewy, even though I live in a ridiculously tropical place.

@makeupbypatricia on Instagram

Want to see how I achieved this look? If so, keep reading!

Not Your Ordinary Chapstick

Try counting all the Chapsticks you've had since you can remember.

I bet you none of them have ever felt like this:

Ceralip is a lip treatment for severely dry or cracked lips by La Roche Posay. 

It's non-irritating, it doesn't have any fragrances, and it's even recommended by dermatologists for extreme weather or side effects from Accutane. Pretty tough stuff!

But what exactly stands out in this that other lip balms don't offer?

Unlike other lip balms that just leave a coat of wax on your lips, the texture of ceralip is not oily, but slightly creamy. Your lips literally soak this (if you put the right amount - a little goes a long way). 

Application

Squeeze the tube until a little bit of product comes out. Place the product on your lip, then blend with your ring finger. Rub lips together. 100% softness!

This is a great night-treatment product to wake up with soft lips.

It's also great to use before applying lipstick, especially matte ones. Just get rid of the excess and apply some color for ultra-moisturized lips!

Here's a pic of the back side of the tube

Any questions? Comments?