Are you a busy woman who has just a few minutes to do makeup in the mornings?  And of course you need it to look fresh & lasts all day?  Each of the beauty products below will help your makeup routine go much easier and faster while delivering fabulous results – as they do more than just cover!  To save time & money, look for words like all-in-one, long-lasting, multi-function, self-adjusting, SPF, etc.

1. Stila One Step Makeup
This skin-loving makeup combines the benefits of a primer, foundation, concealer and powder in one luxurious formula.

2. CK One 3-In-1 Face Makeup SPF 8
A revolutionary foundation that combines a serum, primer and face makeup all in one product.

3. Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20
A breakthrough 5-in-1 tinted skin enhancer designed to hydrate, prime, enhance, mattify and protect your skin in one simple step!

4. Dr. Brandt Flexitone BB Cream
A multi-functional cream that provides flawless, natural-looking coverage with antiaging and protective benefits for the skin.

5. Dior Diorskin Airflash
One sweep provides an instant sensation of freshness – in just a few seconds the skin tone is perfectly even with a radiant, ultra-natural, airbrushed finish.

MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick combines the saturated color of lipstick with a gorgeous sheen of a lipgloss. The Sheen Supreme lipstick was launched last spring offering an array of colors to enjoy throughout the year.  Its buttery texture is best applied using a lip brush.

For this spring and summer we are loving these three delicious hues – Royal Azalea, Sheer Mandarin and Asian Flower.

Warm sun rays that we enjoy in the springtime can also damage and dry out our skin.  Now is the time to get your skin prepped for harsh seasons to come by giving your skin a much needed hydration boost.  Meet Mac Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel.  What is better than a cool gel cream to quench your skin especially during warmer months?  This refreshing creamy gel offers intense moisturization without the oily, greasy residue.

Apply it before going to bed and wake up with dewy, lustrous skin.  There is no worry of rubbing off on a pillow or blanket since it absorbs into your skin fast.  Or, use as a base for a smooth makeup application.  Also check out the rest of the MAC Mineralize skincare collection below.

More M·A·C…

Benefit Cosmetics Dandelion – Get cheeky with this powder blush in a delicious strawberry milk shade.

Fresh Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15 – Sheer prettiness.  A gorgeous coral lip treatment that goes on sheer while it conditions and protects lips.

Dior Vernis Scented Nail Polish – In ravishing Waterlily & Forget-Me-Not shades with a subtle scent of roses.

Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder – No shine, no worries!  The lavender shade goes on invisibly and works on all skin tones.

Valentino Valentina – Its intoxicating floral-oriental fragrance is just as irresistible as the bottle.

As the saying goes, “make the first impression a lasting impression” and it can’t be more true when it comes to job interviews.  The right makeup can help you look more put together and polished, like a sleek blazer does for an outfit.  One thing to remember, don’t over do it.  Instead, think smart yet natural makeup – your face but better.  Here are some of my favorite beauty essentials to help you put your best face forward for interviews and beyond.  Get that “no-makeup” makeup look without much effort with these fail-safe items!

Laura Mercier’s Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer is hands down the best tinted moisturizer I’ve ever used – natural looking coverage to even out your skin tone plus a healthy glow to go with.  Another must-have from Laura Mercier is the Invisible Loose Setting Powder.  Its translucent, matte finish is ultra flattering on all skin tones from light to deep.  Got pore problems?  Don’t skip out on the Porefessional!  It’s also like a blotting tissue in a liquid form – zaps the shine in an instant.

Time for colors.  When it comes to lips, I’m obsessed with the Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil.  A sleek matte finish.  You can use it as a lip liner or lip color (in an array of gorgeous shades).  With a convenient stick form, Bobbi Brown Sheer Color Cheek Tint is really a simple way to add cheek color.  Enjoy the sheer application that you can build & blend.

Go for subtle eye makeup.  Neutral eyeshadows with a slight sheen are pretty while elegant.  I recommend the Smashbox Be Discovered Eyeshadow Palette which contains eight blendable shades in both shimmery and matte finishes.

Last not but least, a good waterproof eyeliner is a must (say no to raccoon eyes).  Again, I prefer the pencil type for the ease of use and one of the best all-around eye pencils available is this Aqua Eyes by Makeup For Ever.  I prefer in a brown shade that is not as dramatic as in black.

Do you have any makeup tips for interviews or for work in general that you want to share?

Plastic surgery – is a medical specialty concerned with the correction or restoration of form and function.  Though cosmetic or aesthetic surgery is the best-known kind of plastic surgery, most plastic surgery is not cosmetic: plastic surgery includes many types of reconstructive surgery, hand surgery, microsurgery, and the treatment of burns.  (Wikipedia)

There is a on-going debate regarding plastic surgery.  Fortunately, both the procedures & techniques have come a long way and continues to advance.  Plastic surgery has been widely popular for decades especially in Asian countries such as South Korea and Japan where the practice is the norm, even a trend if you will.  Wherever you might stand on plastic surgery, the decision is ultimately up to the individual.  Finding trustworthy resources along with careful evaluation is crucial before considering any medical procedure including plastic surgery. This is so that one can be well informed and prepared.  Here is an interesting article that could help shed some light on folks who are perhaps considering plastic surgery.

To some degree, the attire and appearance of women has been idealized, and structured by the expectations of men, to the point that it is difficult for some women to strike a balance between attractive and respectful.  “Difficult” may not be exactly the right word – after all, many women find plenty of ways to dress tastefully.  However, it can be challenging at times for women trying to buy clothing for the workplace or other environments that call for fashionable yet tasteful attire.  The same can be true of physical appearance, clothing aside.  Many women have trouble striking a balance between “artificial” or fake appearances, and tastefully applied makeup or slight physical changes.

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Just another loose face powder at a quick glance.  Wrong!  The MAC Magically Cool Liquid Powder is cool to the touch (so refreshing!) while giving you a gorgeous subtle shimmer.  Perfect for summer when you don’t want heavy makeup.  Use as a highlighter or as a sheer all-over powder, and feel the coolness! In Cajun, Honey Rose, Truth & Light.

“A silky, feather-light powder, formulated with 70% water, dusts on to the skin as a cooling mist to set and enhance the look of any foundation. Beyond sheer: light-reflecting and translucent. A virtually invisible way to add luminosity and a soft, radiant glow to the skin”

I didn’t realize the power of a primer until well, I started to use one.  There is a noticeable difference in my skin with the primer on vs just the moisturizer alone.  My primer has became a year round essential, a must-have beauty item especially in the summer when humidity and heat cause makeup to slip right off.  Primer offers numerous benefits – preps the skin for a smoother makeup application, extends makeup wear time, prevents creasing, reduces the appearance of pores & fine wrinkles, adds extra hydration, helps control oil to keep down the shine, even out skin tone, etc.  The list goes on.  At times I find primer alone will do a sufficient job where I won’t need (or not as much) foundation.

My #1 primer of all time, hands down, is Porefessional by Benefit Cosmetics.  Diminishing the appearance of large pores (as its clever name) and shine doesn’t get much easier with this magic tube!  I simply apply it over moisturizer focusing on the T-Zone area where I tend to get the most oily.  Also, it’s the best quick makeup fix-up when used over makeup.  My makeup is good to go all day long.

There are a ton of primers on the market that you won’t have a problem finding one that suits your skin type.  Here are my top 5 recommendations that I have personally used & absolutely love.

Face Primer by Smashbox
Shine Control/Blotting Papers by Benefit

Check out this Loreal Smoothing Resurfacing Primer.  Not only did it do wonders for my skin but it is also quite affordable!

Pretty in pastels.  Today’s feature is the perfect office look for spring weather.  The best way to wear pastels is to incorporate one or two pieces at a time instead of full on head-to-toe or you’ll look like Easter eggs.  It’s time to nix the dark, heavy makeup but rather give your face a refreshing pastel treatment.  Subtle pastel makeup gives you a light yet sophisticated look.

DVF Acanthi-Print Blouse
Drew Sateen Flare Pant
Isola Odema Pumps
Blu Bijoux Faux-Pearl Drop Bracelet
MICHAEL Michael Kors Hamilton East/West Satchel
Bobbi Brown Blush
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream Lip Protectant Stick Sheer Tint SPF 15
Pur Minerals Eye Shadow Cream Quad

Running out of that expensive brand name cream or moisturizer? Maybe it’s not working as the claims said it would? Then you should definitely give plant oils a try. From cleansing to aroma therapy, plant oils have been used for beauty purposes for generations now. They are an excellent choice to maintain beautiful, healthy skin.

My absolute favorite is EVO – extra virgin olive oil. Not just on my salads but to boost hydration for my skin & hair especially in the winter. It is readily available and also easy on the wallet. Another favorite oil of mine is sesame seed oil which I use to sooth minor burns. Finally, lavender oil at night to help me get a better night’s sleep. I’m eager to try argan oil next, also known as liquid gold from Morocco. Remember, whatever oil it might be, use all-natural/organic oils whenever possible!

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