Beautiful Brows Tutorial

Forget those high prices in salons! In this tutorial, you’ll learn some tips and techniques you can use to get glamorous eyebrows at home! Check back next weekend for the Beautiful Eyes Tutorial - a sweet complement to your Beautiful Brows... in fact, the picture below is a preview of the colors I'll be using in the Beautiful Eyes tutorial!

Things you’ll need:

Note: I’ve listed some comparable products if you don’t have the Anastasia Brow Kit (available at Sephora, Ulta, and Anastasia).

*Parissa Eyebrow Waxing Kit

*Anastasia Brow Powder or a good eyebrow pencil 

Find a color that works for you but here's some recommendations from Anastasia:

Anastasia's Brow Powder Color Recommendations

Golden Blonde – Suggested for golden and strawberry blonde hair

Ash Blonde/Taupe – Suggested for light to dark blonde hair

Medium Ash/Medium Brown – Suggested for light to medium brown and silver hair

Brunette – Suggested for medium brown to dark brown hair

Ebony – Suggested for dark brown to black hair

Strawburn – Suggested for auburn hair

*Anastasia Brow Brush or a clean mascara wand

*Anastasia Brow Highlighter or a very light cream/pink or white CoverGirl Eyeshadow

*Anastasia Brow Gel or Maybelline Clear Mascara

*Tweezers

 1. Start by removing all your eye makeup with a good eye makeup remover. I like Sephora’s FACE Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover.

2. Look at your face in the mirror and visualize an ideal brow shape. Having something in mind helps you decide what you need to do. Here’s some ideas for ideal brow shapes based on face shapes provided in the Parissa Eyebrow Wax Kit. For myself, I have a combination of the Soft Angle and the High Arch Angle.

3. Prepare by brushing your brows with your brow brush into their natural shape.

4. Determine the start, arch, and end of your brows. First, make sure you are looking straight into mirror – don’t have your body or head turned or you might get the wrong shape! We'll design the brows with Step 3. 

1. BEGINNING. Using an eyebrow pencil or your brow brush with a little brow powder, align the brush vertically against the side of your nose. Make a small mark (point 1) to indicate the starting point.

2. ARCH. Align the pencil or brush diagonally so if a line is drawn the points go through the side of your nose and the center of your pupil. Make a small mark (point 2) to indicate the arch point.

3. END. Align the pencil or brush diagonally again so if a line is drawn the points go through the side of your nose and the outer corner of your eye. Make a small mark (point 3) to indicate the ending point.

4. Brush your brows again with your brow brush and slightly trim any long or unruly hairs that extend beyond the edges of your brow.

5. If you don’t have a shape to your eyebrows, I recommend the Parissa eyebrow waxing kit. Just follow the instructions that are provided – they’re well written and easy to follow. Check out my blog post about the Parissa Eyebrow Waxing Kit!

6. Next, tweeze any hairs outside your desired brow shape (or ones that you missed during waxing). Always tweeze in the direction of the hair growth. If the hair grows outward to the right, pull the hair to the right. In terms of tweezing, I don’t recommend removing hairs before the ARCH point. If you want natural looking brows, the key to shaping an arch is to follow the outer shape of your eye.

7. Using a pencil or the brow powder, use small strokes to fill in your brows. When I fill in my brows, I follow the growth of the hairs.

8. Using your brow brush or mascara wand, brush your brows again. This is an important step because it blends the pencil and brush marks with the natural growth of your brows. 

9. Using the highlighting pencil or lightly colored eyeshadow, apply to the brow bone starting above the iris to the end of the brow. Blend using your fingertip. Remember, this isn’t part of your eye makeup – it is just highlighting your brows. 

10. Set your brows with the setting gel or clear mascara. Apply the gel lightly by using short, upward strokes. 

I hope you enjoy your beautiful brows! Next weekend, you'll have Beautiful Eyes!

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

References: Parissa Eyebrow Waxing Kit instructions, Anastasia Essential Brow Kit

Must-Have: CHI 44 Iron Guard

I can remember so many mornings in college where I would realize class started in 10 minutes so I had literally roll out of bed and get ready QUICK! Not only did I always make it to my 8AM Physics class on time but my hair always managed to look fabulous. I’m totally going to share a secret… flat iron spray works miracles… well, CHI's 44 Iron Guard does!

I think one of the trickiest hair styling techniques is using an iron. You really only have one good chance at curling and only a few chances straightening before your hair gets toasted. Using a good flat iron spray not only keeps the iron from burning your hair but it will also give your luscious locks a super-sleek shine.

My first CHI product was the flat iron spray but I’ve also tried their hair spray and styling paste – all of which have a very crisp, clean smell that’s both enjoyable yet unique to the brand. It’s totally easy to identify a CHI product just by the scent! If you want your hair to really shine, CHI has the products to make that happen so check out all they have to offer. Below you’ll see a summary of the highlights of their heat protectant spray:

CHI 44 Iron Guard, 8.5 oz

Cost: $12 for 8.5 oz at Ulta (other sizes available)

Color: clear

Scent: fresh, clean, very unique to the brand

Texture: liquid

Apply using: spray

Leaves your hair feeling: smooth, silky, clean scented

Rating: <> <> <> <> <>

Remember to ALWAYS use a heat protectant spray when using a flat iron or curling iron – you don’t want to fry your hair and make it frizzy! I’ve been using CHI Iron Guard (and other CHI products) for nearly 10 years now and I don’t plan on using anything else. CHI makes the best hair styling products!

Well, what good is this awesome spray going to do if you don’t know my flat iron secrets?! Well, here are some of the things I remember that my mom, an experienced cosmetologist, shared with me:

*Keep your flat iron and curling iron clean. I clean my flat iron by turning it on a low heat setting and “flat ironing” a damp cloth. Be extremely careful when doing this so that any steam that is produced doesn’t burn you. There are iron cleaners out there but if you use an abrasive one by accident and scratch the ironing plates you’ll have to buy a new iron. I have a Hot Tools Professional Ceramic Iron and because I’ve kept it clean it works as awesome as the day that I got it!

*Make sure your hair is dry and not damp. Once your hair is dry, use the COOL feature on your hair dryer to seal your hair cuticle. The heat and moisture open the cuticle and not closing it results in fizz. Don’t straighten or curl damp hair. First of all, the curl or straighten does not hold at all, and second, steam can be produced and can burn your skin. There are some flat irons that allow you to straighten damp hair but check the package first!

*While straightening or curling, don’t use any styling products on your hair except for the flat iron spray or heat protectant spray. Some styling products, like pomades and waxes, can become sticky or gummy if heated and can cause irreversible damage to your hair. The only option would be to cut the ruined hair.

*Don’t try to flat iron a big chunk of your hair. Section your hair into smaller and easy to manage pieces. Using clips, section your hair starting at the top and work your way toward the bottom. Release the pre-sectioned hair beginning at the bottom. Spray the section with he heat protectant spray. Take the section in your hand and beginning at the scalp move the iron along the section at a steady and constant speed to avoid burning or clamp marks. Continue this process to the top until all sections have been straightened. Straightening small sections at time speeds up the straightening process and reduces your risk of burning your hair or straightening the same section more than once.

*Keep the iron moving at all times whenever applied to your hair. Don’t stop the iron on any part of your hair! You wouldn’t leave a hot iron on your freshly ironed shirt, would you?! If you stop, you could burn or leave clamp marks on that section of hair.

Remember, styling is FUN so don’t get frustrated! In my opinion, straightening and hair curling is one of the more difficult techniques of hair styling. I’ve noticed it helps if I have a few extra hands to help the first time I try styling my hair a new way so invite your friends over for some wine and hors d’oeuvres and have fun styling the night away!

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

Special Topic: My Skincare Routine

I took the Sephora Skincare Challenge and I would have to say I have uncovered my beautiful skin with a PERSONALIZED, EASY, and EFFECTIVE routine! Sephora has the experts to help you develop a skin care routine by outlining the important steps:

When you go to the store, I suggest talking with a Beauty Consultant in the skincare section. All of them are very knowledgeable and can suggest products based on your skin type. They’ll ask you some questions about different areas of your face to help determine your skin type. If you don’t have time to go to a store, Clinique has the BEST online tool for determining your skin type. They classify skin into four different types: Type 1 – Very Dry to Dry, Type 2 – Dry Combination, Type 3 – Oily, and Type 4 – Very Oily. Here are my results:

You are a Skin Type 2 - Dry Combination

•    You have combination skin, which means you're oily in the T-Zone but cheeks are uncomfortably dry when you don't use a moisturizer.

•    Your priority is to keep skin in balance - add moisture to some areas and keep oily spots under control.

Let me tell you about my personalized Sephora skincare routine. Just as a note, Sephora doesn’t sell Chanel skincare products but you can get these products at Neiman Marcus (Chanel Skincare at Neiman Marcus), Chanel (www.chanel.com), and various other department stores.

1. Cleanse with Chanel Mousse Douceur

2. Treat with Clinique Clarifying Lotion 3

3. Moisturize with Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel

4. Protect with Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Foundation

I love the Chanel facial cleanser because it’s very gentle and has a light scent. This cleanser gives a spotless canvas because it doesn’t leave behind a soapy film like other facial cleansers I’ve used. Just as a side note, I would be wary of heavily scented facial cleaners and products because sometimes the added perfumes and scented can irritate your face.

The clarifying lotion isn’t a lotion at all! It’s a actually a liquid. This helps treat the signs of aging by exfoliating your face (an important step to get glowing skin!) 

The dramatically different gel is fabulous because it moisturizes for firmness and elasticity without leaving your face feeling greasy. It is also very silky and light so it doesn’t feel like you have on another face!

Lastly, providing protection to prevent future damage, in my opinion, is best achieved by incorporating INTO your makeup. Many of the Bare Escentuals bareMinerals products contain least SPF 15. Instead of applying sunscreen and then your makeup – save a step and buy makeup with SPF.

Thanks to my new skincare routine, I’ve found my BEAUTIFUL skin! Have you?!

Join the Skincare Challenge at Sephora: http://www.sephora.com/go/skincarechallenge/index.jhtml?sccLanding=true

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

How I’m Prepared for Makeup And Fashion Emergencies

There are just some things I can’t live without. Coffee is one of them. The other is my Dooney & Bourke bag. It has everything I need for makeup and fashion emergencies.

Surprisingly, with all the “junk” I’ve got stowed away it’s not really that heavy. Which is good! You don’t need a heavy purse. With a heavy purse, the extra weight on your shoulder(s) becomes unevenly distributed throughout your body distorting proper posture. I have had multiple years of dance and ballet and from what I’ve learned proper posture is the key to a healthy life. So, get rid of all that stuff you haven’t even seen in a year and just put what you use often. If you're a little rusty on what's good posture, check this out:

*This sweet graphic came from Edie the Salsa Freak at http://www.salsastories.com/stories_o-p/posture.htm

Keeping this in mind, let me tell you about my makeup & fashion emergency kit… well, um… my purse!

A mini makeup kit: a deluxe sample size of my Bare Minerals foundation + mini kabuki brush, lipgloss, trial size of sunscreen, nail clippers, trail size of Sephora volumizing mascara, GO SMiLE touch up ampoule, a few safety pins, a couple of hair pins

Band-Aid Friction Block Stick (You know when you wear a pair of cute, new shoes they rub against your heel and your toes then you realize when you get home from work you’ve got a million blisters? Well, problem solved! Just apply this stuff to areas on your feet where your shoes give you trouble and you’ll be blister-free even at 5 o’clock!)

Trial size deodorant (Ok, I’ll admit… I’ll get all the way to the office and realized I forgot to put on my deodorant BUT I’m prepared and worry-free… and most likely smelly-free too.)

Chanel Rouge Allure Lip Stick (Just adding a little lip color not only livens up your appearance but gives you confidence too!)

Dental Floss (I can’t think of how many times I asked people for a toothpick because I had something stuck in my teeth. Do what I do! Pack some dental floss and you’ll know you’ll always be able to get rid of that huge chuck of broccoli between your teeth and stubborn popcorn kernels.)

A folding spoon I got from an Apple Jack’s cereal box (I haven’t used it yet but I’m sure eventually I’ll need it when I least expect it.)

Some mints from various restaurants (They are free, aren’t they?)

Small pack of tissues (Last thing you need on your face other than makeup is a huge glob of snot.)

Super-cute Bath & Body Works PocketBac Antibacterial Hand Gel with holder (Be totally prepared – and smell great – while enjoying a sandwich at lunchtime!)

A reusable coffee sleeve (Caribou Coffee sells cute reusable sleeves to use with to-go coffee cups! Just think how much paper we’re saving if we use our reusable sleeve every time we go to Starbucks, Dunkin Donuts, and Caribou Coffee!)

… oh, and I’ve got a wallet with my ID, a credit card, 68 cents in change, and a World Market Coffee Club card. 

For vacations and trips, I use my super-mini purse. It’s a Dooney & Bourke coin purse (Thanks for the gift, Mom!). It’s the perfect size for my ID, a credit card, lipgloss, a couple of hair pins, a dollar in quarters, and my Bath & Body Works PocketBac.

Get that purse out you haven’t seen in forever, clean it up, and make it new again with YOUR own makeup and fashion must-haves!

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

Special Review: Sephora's Sun Safety Kit

I love summer because it’s perfect for VACATIONS! I just got back from a sunny, weeklong vacation at the beach and Disney World so I wanted to write about sun safety so you all have a “safe skin” vacation too! Sephora sells a SWEET seasonal sun safety package called Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit (this is definitely a MUST-HAVE!). The kit comes with 12 sample size products, a makeup bag, and two UV monitoring bracelets. Sample kits are great because you get to try products at a low cost. There have been so many times where I received a sample size of something and liked it so much I ended up buying a large container… and there have been plenty of times I received samples very cheap (I spent less than $1) where I decided that product is just not going to work for me. Take the time to try samples before you waste your money! I’ve read that many people said the sample sizes were too small but I disagree. With these types of products you just need a small amount. If you really want a complete cost analysis, there’s a total of 2.4 oz of products so it’s like paying about $10.42 per ounce (I’m not including the UVSunSense bracelets or the makeup bag). Just for comparison, Chanel SPF Moisturizers go for about $44 per ounce.

Not sure if you need this kit? Check out these common Q&A about sun safety from the Skin Cancer Foundation’s website (reference listed below).

Q: What are sunscreens?

A: Sunscreens are chemical agents that help prevent the sun's ultraviolet (UV) radiation from reaching the skin. Two types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB, damage the skin and increase your risk of skin cancer. UVB is the chief culprit behind sunburn, while UVA rays, which penetrate the skin more deeply, are associated with wrinkling, leathering, sagging, and other effects of photoaging. They also exacerbate the carcinogenic effects of UVB rays, and increasingly are being seen as a cause of skin cancer on their own. Sunscreens vary in their ability to protect against UVA and UVB.

Q: What Is SPF?

A: Most sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher do an excellent job of protecting against UVB. SPF — or Sun Protection Factor — is a measure of a sunscreen's ability to prevent UVB from damaging the skin. Here's how it works: If it takes 20 minutes for your unprotected skin to start turning red, using an SPF 15 sunscreen theoretically prevents reddening 15 times longer — about five hours.

Another way to look at it is in terms of percentages: SPF 15 blocks approximately 93 percent of all incoming UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent; and SPF 50 blocks 98 percent. They may seem like negligible differences, but if you are light-sensitive, or have a history of skin cancer, those extra percentages will make a difference. And as you can see, no sunscreen can block all UV rays.

But there are problems with the SPF model: First, no sunscreen, regardless of strength, should be expected to stay effective longer than two hours without reapplication. Second, "reddening" of the skin is a reaction to UVB rays alone and tells you little about what UVA damage you may be getting. Plenty of damage can be done without the red flag of sunburn being raised.

Q: If it's cold or cloudy outside, you don't need sunscreen.


A: This is not true. Up to 40 percent of the sun's ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth on a completely cloudy day. This misperception often leads to the most serious sunburns, because people spend all day outdoors with no protection from the sun.

This isn’t a complete list of FAQ’s, so for more Q&A, check out the website listed in the reference.

Reference: "The Skin Cancer Foundation: Sunscreens Explained." Sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation, 2010. Web. 04 July 2010. <http://www.skincancer.org/sunscreens-explained.html>.

Here’s a summary of Sun Safety Kit:

Sephora’s Sun Safety Kit

Cost: $25 at Sephora (a $95 value)

Color: variable, most products are white/beige

Scent: variable, most products have none

Texture: products are creams or gels

Apply using: clean hands

Overall leaves your skin feeling: softer, protected from the sun

Overall Rating: <> <> <> <> <>

This set contains:


0.14 oz Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15


0.23 oz DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15


0.10 oz Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile


0.25 oz Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30


0.16 oz Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen


0.27 oz Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15


0.16 oz Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50


0.34 oz Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15


0.23 oz Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++


0.25 oz Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15 


0.25 oz Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15


0.02 oz Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque


Pink Sephora makeup bag


2 single-use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelet

If you’re interested in overall ratings of each product, here’s an At A Glance summary:

At A Glance

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Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile

Single Use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelet

Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen

Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15

Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50


Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15

Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque


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Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15

Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
(0.25 oz)

<> <> <>

Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15 


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DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15


Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++


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Pink Sephora makeup bag


And, lastly, here are the specific product reviews. There are quite a few products so I’m going to include a paragraph review instead of a full summary review for each product.

Murad Essential-C Eye Cream SPF 15 (0.14 oz)

I’m always on the lookout for great eye products and I would have to say I like this product a lot! It really helps to brighten the overall appearance of your eyes. I would like to note that A LITTLE of this product goes a long way so don’t use too much. I definitely plan on buying this product.

DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew UV Moisturizer SPF 15 (0.23 oz)


After using the product, my skin definitely felt moisturized and softer BUT I felt that it was a little greasy even though it says “Oil-Free.” I’ll use it because I have a sample but there are better sunscreen lotions in this kit.

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 in Lemon and Chamomile (0.10 oz)

This is my favorite product in this kit. I already have dry lips so being out in the sun makes my lips even drier. Not only does this product smell great and isn’t sticky but it also really moisturizes your lips. My favorite part is that it makes my lips tingle! 




Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Lotion SPF 30
(0.25 oz)

The only other Peter Thomas Roth product I’ve used is a moisturizer and I really liked it because it was VERY lightweight. Peter Thomas Roth makes good products that make your skin immediately feel moisturized and soft with just a small amount of product. It’s not greasy and (just like the moisturizer) feels very lightweight. Overall, I didn’t find anything special about this product except that it has a pleasant yet unique scent.

Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen
(0.16 oz)

This is a great sunscreen! It’s a great size for traveling, taking to outdoor events, or just keeping in your pocket. I like this product because it’s not greasy and a little goes a long way. Also, it’s very lightweight so it doesn’t feel like I have a “sunscreen mask” on when I apply it to my face. I’m going to rate this product the best sunscreen in this kit for your face.

Clarins Delectable Self Tanning Mousse SPF 15 (0.27 oz)

For a self-tanning product, I love this! I’ve only used it on my face but it gives a light brown/tanned color (that’s not orange!) and it appears to be noncomedogenic (doesn’t clog pores). It’s not a really dark color so you might have to apply the product as needed to achieve the color you want. There have been numerous self-tanning face products that make my face feel heated/smothered but this one doesn’t feel that way at all. I’ve never had problems streaking but I would say it could look bad if you use AN UNBELIEVABLE amount of the product at all at once… just like any other self-tanning product.

Cover FX BritePrep FX Brightening Foundation Primer & Photo-Aging Defense SPF 50
(0.16 oz)

You have to shake this product well! Even though I really like Smashbox primers

 (see below) this is still a great product too – I’d have to say that is one of my favorites from this kit. It’s a brightening foundation primer so when you apply it to your face, you instantly get a luminous glow… until you put your foundation on. Maybe it is just me but when I apply the Bare Minerals foundations over this product the luminous glow gets hidden under the powder. BUT – this product says it “blurs the appearance of fine lines and pores and promotes skin lightening of sunspots” and it does exactly that!

Bliss Best of Skintentions Daily Moisturizer SPF 15
(0.34 oz)

This is the only product I’ve tried by Bliss but I would have to say I’m impressed! I really like this product. It goes on smooth and has a nice citrus scent. It might be on the verge of being a little too thick/heavy for a moisturizer but one plus that the product claims is that “it delivers essential vitamins, minerals, and omegas” (omegas: essential fatty acids) to the skin. Extra plus for being a large sample size!

Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 60 PA+++
(0.23 oz)

I was a little disappointed by this product. I really like Shiseido cosmetics so I got really excited when I saw this lotion. If you spend many hours at the beach, then you’ll be excited that it says it is “very water resistant.” Unfortunately, I’ve found better sunscreens for my face. Even after shaking, it’s still very watery and takes a lot of product to get good coverage.

Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Cream SPF 15 (0.25 oz)

In my opinion, I didn’t notice anything special about this moisturizer. Nevertheless, it had the characteristics of a good moisturizer: very light/no scent, not greasy, and absorbed well.

Smashbox Photo Finish UVA/UVB SPF 15
(0.25 oz)

Whenever I wear foundation I always use a primer because it smooths out you skin so your foundation goes on more evenly. I’ve used the regular Smashbox Photo Finish primer and really liked it because it felt very lightweight. In my opinion, this product is just like the regular primer except it has SPF in it.

Bare Escentuals BareMinerals Multi-tasking Face SPF 20 in Summer Bisque
(0.02 oz)

I really like Bare Escentuals products so I was excited when I saw the kit came with this powder. This product is seems most like a foundation/finishing powder. This is great for a summer foundation since it has a slightly gold undertone.

Pink Sephora makeup bag


I wasn’t really impressed with this. It wasn’t that it felt cheap but it was ripped at the top when I removed it from the box. It appeared that it wasn’t glued together well near the ziplock-type closure.

2 single-use UVSunSense UV monitoring bracelets

This is an awesome idea! I am so bad about not watching how long I’ve been outside especially if I’m at a baseball game or the beach so this product takes the guess work out of wondering if you’ve been out in the sun too long. Just put the bracelet on, apply your sunscreen, and keep an eye on the color of the bracelet. It will change from white to dark purple when you need apply sunscreen again and then from dark purple to pale yellow when you’ve been in the sun long enough!

Protecting your skin from sun damage is important so if you don’t know what products would be good for your skin buy this kit to help you decide! This kit has everything you need to be SAFE in the SUN!

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

Must-Have: GO SMiLE Touch-Up Perfecting Ampoules

I drink a lot of coffee. I mean, A LOT of coffee. I could list off many reasons why I like it but I think it might be easier to say why I don’t… I get “coffee smile”! Even though always go get my teeth cleaned at the dentist every 6 months, I like to keep my smile white in between visits – that’s why I use GO SMiLE Touch-Up Perfecting Ampoules. In fact, check out my before/after picture below! The results shown are from using only the Touch Up Ampoules approximately twice a week for 6 months NOT the complete GO SMiLE whitening system.

I think I’ve officially tried every teeth whitener out there. Let’s see… I’ve used whitening toothpastes, whitening rinses, whitening strips, teeth whitening stuff you “paint” on… and none of it has worked for me. Not to mention, all those whiteners made my teeth hurt after the first application. The last place I would have guessed I’d find teeth whitener was at a makeup store! About 6 months ago I was actually shopping for some face moisturizer at Sephora and just so happened to walk by the GO SMiLE display. I saw someone trying out a sample and they seemed really happy with the results (I guess at this point I was willing to try anything!)

GO SMiLE is different than other whitening products. There aren’t any trays or strips - just a cute little ampoule filled with GO SMiLE’s teeth whitener. I love their slogan: Flip, Pop, Whiten! That’s all you do!

Here are the highlights:

GO SMiLE Touch Up Smile Perfecting Ampoules (7 count)

Cost: $10 at Sephora

Color: clear

Scent/Flavor: Fresh Mint, Watermelon Mint, and Green Apple

Texture: Liquid-Gel

Apply using: patented ampoule technology

Leaves your teeth feeling: clean, noticeably whiter after one application

Rating: <> <> <> <> <>

I really like this product because it is easy to use and convenient. It’s also like a mini toothbrush! After you use the product, it feels like you just brushed your teeth. So it’s great for taking on a date, using before meetings at the office, or just anywhere you’d like to have a toothbrush. The best part is that it doesn’t make my teeth hurt like some of the other whitening products out there. I’ve used this product for quite some time now and I haven’t noticed any increased sensitivity. There are three flavors you can choose from: Fresh Mint, Watermelon Mint, and Green Apple. I’ve tried all three and like the Watermelon Mint the best. The flavors aren’t strong so people won’t think you’ve seriously been downing Jolly Ranchers or Fruit Stripe Gum.

One other thing I do to repel stains on my teeth caused by coffee, tea, or dark colored wines is to drink some water after I get done drinking my beverage. Water is the universal solvent so it helps to rinse away those stain causing molecules. So, drink up! That’s just another reason why water is good for you.

Although I haven’t tried the GO SMiLE's total whitening system, these touch up ampoules still work pretty well. For me, this was the first whitening product I’ve used where I got IMMEDIATE results. After using one of the ampoules, my teeth look noticeably whiter. Just remember - everyone’s teeth are different so you might get slightly different results. Also, if you’re unsure about starting an at-home whitening system give your dentist a quick call to get some advice.

GO SMiLE has a great website. They compare their products against all the other types of products: strips, paint-ons, trays & gels, rinse & toothpastes, and in-office procedures. You’ll be amazed at the results! http://www.gosmile.com/how_it_works?2

Speaking of smiling, Charles Reade has a good point: "Beauty is power; a smile is its sword,” but I think Jean Kerr has a good point too: “I’m tired of all this nonsense about beauty being only skin-deep. That’s deep enough. What do you want - an adorable pancreas?”

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles

Mom's Advice: "Don't rub your makeup off - you just put it on!"

Mom here… One thing that always annoyed me is that I would get done with my makeup in the morning and by the time lunch came around it would either look cakey or look like I didn’t have any makeup on! I’ve got TWO easy (and cheap!) fixes for that! Use a setting powder and setting spray.

Setting your makeup with a powder is an important step in finishing your makeup. The powder creates a shield that keeps humidity, moisture, and pollution from making your makeup come off or look cakey.

For my setting powder, I use the Mary Kay Sheer Mineral Pressed Powder. I love it because it is feather light, it allows my true skin color to show through, it never shows shine - bottom line! It lasts! Get it online for $16 on Mary Kay's website: Click here to go to the Mary Kay website.

Important things to remember:

Don’t wipe or rub on your setting powder on your face – you’ll rub away your foundation.

Don’t tap it on your face. Too much powder gets transferred to your face giving an instant cake effect.

Do roll it on your face. Using a powder puff, start in one spot on your face and using a rocking motion roll the powder onto that area. Roll the powder all over your face. Don’t put too much, just a light covering will work. Lightly use your powder puff over your eyes before putting your eye makeup on. This works like a base for the eye makeup and mascara.

One last step in setting your makeup is to use a setting spray. Take an atomizer, fill with distilled water, hold 8-10 inches away from your face and lightly spray on your face. The small amount of the moisture gives your face an instant flawless appearance. My mom did this in 60s, I did this in the 80s, and my daughter does this now! Sephora (www.sephora.com) sells quite a few good atomizers for $6 - $10.

By the way, as much as I want to agree with you... CUPCAKES aren't a breakfast food.

Love,

Mom

Beauty Bummer: Anastasia Mini Wax Kit

Believe me, taking the time to shape your eyebrows is worth it. Having nicely shaped and filled in brows brings the lots of attention to your eyes. My eyebrows aren't perfect at all. I get my sweet brows by using the Anastasia Brow Powder, Brow Gel, and Highlighting Pencil! I'm going to write a review on the Anastasia Brow Kit so stay tuned! Why do I love these products so much? Take a look at my before and after pictures below:

I'm sure you can see that well-groomed brows really change your look! Before my eyes looked tired and dull, but JUST by using the brow powder, gel, and highlighting pencil - I've brightened my appearance and contoured my brow bone to bring out my eyes.

I purchased the Anastasia Mini Wax kit because (as you can see in the picture above) Anastasia makes some great products! Well, as for the Anastasia Wax Kit... Welcome to Disappointment City! The directions in the kit say to first heat up the wax in the microwave. Then apply the heated wax to your brow using the small sticks provided. Finally apply a muslin strip over the wax, wait a minute or so, then remove the muslin strip. The first problem I encountered is that when I applied the wax then placed the muslin strip over the wax and waited… and waited… the wax NEVER became tacky or hardened slightly (like hot brow waxing is supposed to do!). When I pulled the muslin strip off, NONE of the stray hairs were removed. The wax stuck to my face and I had a difficult time removing it. It was like the wax wasn’t tacky or sticky enough to adhere to the hair and the muslin. Also, the kit doesn’t come with any azulene oil (used to calm the skin and slow hair growth) or anything similar. I was very disappointed. To sum it up in one sentence, it didn’t even look like I waxed my eyebrows.

Anastasia Mini Wax Kit

Cost: $12 at Sephora

Color: the wax is light brown

Scent: Light citrus

Texture: Liquidy, More gummy than sticky

Apply using: small sticks (provided), remove using muslin strips

Leaves your skin feeling: Hot/Burning, Sticky

Rating: <>

A better product to use is Parissa Mini Wax Strips. These are so easy to use and you get great results. It comes with the CUTEST instruction booklet I’ve ever seen. The instructions are very detailed – it’s not just about waxing, the instructions show you how to SHAPE your eyebrows based on your face shape!

There are 8 applications per sheet which makes 32 applications total (enough for 1 brow design and probably enough for 3-4 touch ups). Each sheet is two pieces of clear plastic stuck together with 4 little rectangles of wax. There’s a lot of plastic surrounding each piece of wax so you have really good control when aligning and pressing them on your brow. When you cut off one of the wax rectangles from the sheet and separate the plastic apart you will have actually two wax applications. All you do is take one of the applications – don’t touch the sticky side! – and press the wax on in the direction of the hair growth onto the area where stray hairs need to be removed. To remove, hold your skin taut with one hand and with your other hand quickly pull the strip off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Following up with the azulene oil that’s provided smooths your skin and removes any excess wax. These aren't complete instructions so just refer to the directions provided in the box. They are very clear and easy to follow.

Parissa Express Mini Wax Strips Eyebrow Design

Cost: $9 at Ulta

Color: the wax is white/opaque

Scent: None

Texture: Sticky, but even if you accidentally touch the wax it still stays sticky!

Apply using: clean hands, use a cotton ball for the azulene oil

Leaves your skin feeling: Smooth

Rating: <> <> <> <> <>

One more comment about this product... In the box is says not to wash your skin before you use it. The reasoning is that the oil from your skin helps the wax adhere to the hairs and not the skin. I had a little bit of eye makeup on when I applied the wax so the first few applications didn't work as well. Next time, I might use cotton ball to remove any excess makeup.

With any hair removal system, you might get a little redness where the wax was applied and removed. It depends on your skin type. If you're not sure, you can always test a small area to test for allergies and  sensitivities. I have sensitive skin but I noticed that by the next day after using this product the little bit of redness I had was gone. The Anastasia wax kit left my eyebrow area very red for at least 2 days.

Maybe I just might need to take a trip to Hollywood to see that “Anastasia technique," but while I save up, I’m going to stay with Parissa to stay beautiful! 

Stay Sunny,

Mrs. Sprinkles