Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Talk About It Tuesday

Hey Finessees!  When I started this blog a few months ago, my intentions were to use it as a means to share room makeovers in my home( see those here, and here), health tidbits, financial empowerment,  and lil bit of fashion.  MyFinessedLife has truly jump started my creative side and taught me new things about myself.

Those topics are such a small part of my life.  Going forward, my posts may at times  be random or have a more inward focus-meaning I may be more reflective of my own personal finessing.

Thanks for your support and taking this ride on the finessed roller coaster as we grow (i.e. figure things out).
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Monday, May 20, 2013

Neutral Ground: My "No MakeUp" Makeup Look

Hey Finessess!  Lately I've been getting emails inquiring about my make up routine referencing pics from my instagram account.  I am impressed by the stalking you're doing.  LOL

Joi over at rxfitnesslady.com has challenged me to a 7 day blog.  The first is to solve a problem for MyFinessedLife readers. Here's to hoping that this make up tutorial fits the bill.

1NYX Studio Perfect Primer, Clear, 1.0 oz/30ml
/ 2 Iman BB Cream  /3MAC 'Pro Longwear' Concealer / 4MAC Moisture Foundation/ 5 No7 Highlights Illuminator
/ 6 NARS Blush & Bronzer Duo/ 7 NYX Cosmetics Natural Eye Shadow Palette 
/ 8 Benefit They'Re Real! Mascara
/ 9 Buxom Lip Polish


Start with a clean face (cleansing previously posted here).

1. PRIMER Prime your face. Makeup lasts longer and blends better on a primed face.

2. BB CREAM If you have great skin, you can use BB Cream instead in lieu of primer and foundation.  BB cream aka beauty balm an all-in-one facial cosmetic that replaces serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock. It can be worn alone as a tinted moisturizer, over serum and moisturizer as a regular foundation, and under powder, depending on the desired amount of coverage.

3.CONCEALER Use concealer to mask dark circles, age spots and other small blemishes on skin.

4. FOUNDATION  Blend well!  This is key to looking natural.

5. ILLUMINATOR Illuminator brightens the face giving you a dewy youthful face.I put it down the bridge of my nose, just under my brow bone, and on my cheek bone.

6.BLUSH/BRONZER I smile and apply blush the the apple of the cheek. Then I suck my cheeks in and apply bronzer to the hollows for a more contoured effect.

7. EYESHADOW Keep eyeshadow simple. Choose a color one or two shades above or below your skin tone. Your goal is to only have a hint of color. 

8. MASCARA Add a few swipes of mascara

9. LIP GLOSS. Nude lips have come a long way. It doesn't have to be all brown. Choose a gloss or lipstick similar to your lip color. Choose caramel and pink for lighter complexions and cinnamon tones for darker complexions.  Sometimes I put foundation and clear gloss on the lips for a true neutral look.

Some of my neutral looks:



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Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Summer Face


For spring and summer, my makeup goal is to look fresh faced...think summer glow.  Magazine ads although air brushed, make me green with envy!  The models have the perfect glow and no pores.  Aquiring this look is impossible  tough, especially after a long brutal skin drying winter.   My recommendations are a few tweaks with the change of season to whip that gorgeous face into shape:


(From Right to Left) Olay Fresh Effects S'wipe Out! Refreshing Make-Up Removal Cloths / Decleor Aroma Cleanse Fresh Purifying Gel / Clarisonic Skin Cleansing System




(Left to Right) Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads  / Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Full Strength / Elizabeth Arden Visible Difference Peel & Reveal Revitalizing Mask


(Right to Left) Origins Out Of Trouble™ 10 Minute Mask  / Juice Beauty Organic Facial Rejuvenating Mask / GLAMGLOW Super-Mud Clearing Treatment 
Healthy glowing  skin is soooo #finessed.  

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Tuesday, May 14, 2013

New Music Tuesday: Lauryn Hill



Hey Finessees!  It has been a minute since Lauryn Hill has released new material.  But the wait is over! "Neurotic Society (Compulsory Mix)" is nothing like I've ever heard by Miss Hill...I don't like it.  Perhaps it will grow on me?  I had to listen to it a few times to catch all that she is saying 0_o.  She's rapping allegro no pretissimo. She had a lot to say!

Hill pleaded guilty to charges of tax evasion for failing to file tax returns for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007. Lauryn took to Tumblr stating that she had gone “underground” in order to live without “being manipulated and controlled by a media protected military industrial complex with a completely different agenda.  (-_- ) IJS

On 6 May 2013, Hill  received a 90 day sentence for tax evasion.  Her prison sentence is slated to begin July 8th.  Hill made the following statement comparing her situation to slavery. She told the judge:  
"I was put into a system I didn’t know the nature of. … I’m a child of former slaves. I got into an economic paradigm and had that imposed on me… I sold 50 million units … now I’m up here paying a tax debt. If that’s not likened to slavery, I don’t know what is.
She followed up on those statements in court, saying, “I needed to be able to earn so I could pay my taxes, without compromising the health and welfare of my children, and I was being denied that.” I can guarantee you her lawyer flat lined after she said this.  LOLBVS!!! 

Oh sometimes my brothers and sisters are so deep that they go soo far in the rabbit whole that there is no way back.  COMPLETE FAIL...but I digress.  Any who, here is the song.  What do you think? 





Le Sigh...Drugs? Mental Illness? Wyclef? or Folded Under Pressure?

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Monday, May 13, 2013

Going Gatsby

It seems everywhere I turn, I see a woman sporting a roaring 20's bob.  I am a huge fan of bobs and wore my hair during my teen years in an asymmetric bob.  Love the do but just not willing to cut my hair in all those layers EVER again.  Here's how to get a glam bob without cutting your hair.

HOW TO STYLE YOUR HAIR IN A FAUX BOB:

  • Create a deep side part above the arch of one of your eyebrows
  • Using a one inch flat iron, curl your hair from the temple down, then brush for loose waves.
  • Tuck and pin hair in a bun at the nape of your neck to create a faux bob, then pull a few front strands loose.



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Saturday, May 11, 2013

Skin Finesse: My Bad Skin Habits

If you are a person a color, then you are familar with the phrase BLACK DON'T CRACK.  Well, my  pigmented brothers and sisters, if you have some bad habits like myself you may be experiencing  a few fractures...EEK!  Bad skin habits can be the difference between a healthy glowing complexion and irritated, damage skin.  I KNOW is should be treating my skin better, but laziness is getting in the way.


2 BAD SKIN HABITS THAT I HAVE TO BREAK:




  1. NOT WASHING MY FACE AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN WEARING MAKEUP

Sleeping in makeup is clogging my pores.  I'm risking eye infections, and making my eyelashes sparse.  Currently, I am trying Mario Badescu products.  Early Review...LOVE  Now to use it before bed.

2.  KEEPING MAKEUP TOO LONG- Make up starts to harbor bacteria. Based on  articles I've found at Cosmetics Suite101, and Confessions of a Product Junkie and About: Skincarehere is a list of the shelf lives of specific products:

Foundation and Concealers: 12 months (water based/oil-free), 18 months (oil-based).
Powder : 2 years.
Blush and bronzer: 2 years (powder), 12-18 months (cream).
Eye liner: Sharpen it regularly and it will last up to 3 years (pencil), 3-6 months (liquid).
                                Eye shadow: 2-3 years (powder), 12-18 months (cream).
                                Lipstick and Liners: 2-3 years.

                                Lip gloss: 18-24 months.
                               Mascara: Some experts say 3-4 months. Others say 6 months maximum. No matter 

                              whom you’re choosing to listen to, all experts agree that mascara has one of the shortest  
                              shelf life. Think of your mascara as a petri dish for bacteria.  
                              Nail polish: 12 months ( Sorry just won't conform to this one)
                              Applicators (brushes and sponges): 3-6 months. Wash them regularly
                              Moisturizer, Toner, Exfoliants, Eye creams: 6-12 months
                              Lip balm: 1-2 years     
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Thursday, May 9, 2013

6 Household Items Worth the Splurge

When it comes to household appliances, I am a firm believer in the saying you get what you pay for. Appliances get a lot of wear and tear. I am willing to pay more up front for quality and durability where as my husband is not.  Thus we are on washer/dryer #2 due to his frugality within 7 years.  But this second time.... Mrs FinessedLife got what she wanted.  Here are six household items worth the splurge.

Knife Set
Well-crafted cutlery can last a lifetime, so you’ll never need to replace them if chosen wisely. With that said, the most expensive sets aren’t necessary unless you’re a professional, but spending $200 to $400 on a knife block will buy you durable steel blades that resist corrosion and stains. Also invest in a sharpener, available for as little as $20 if it doesn’t come with the set, will keep your knives slicing, dicing and carving for years to come.  


Cookware

Quality pots, pans and casserole dishes can last for decades. Low-end pieces can become warped from heat and cheap non-stick surfaces can chip away, finding their way into your food. Instead, invest in solid pieces made of stainless steel, aluminum or cast iron. Look for non-stick cookware free of PFOA, a carcinogen that has been widely used in non-stick coatings.  (Read more about PFOA here). Invest in reputable brands.  Your body will thank you.

Coffee Maker
Depend on your morning coffee fix? A top-notch machine will not only save you from spending $4 on a store-bought latte, it can also produce better-tasting coffee compared to cheaper brands.  Higher end brewers have better water filtration systems and higher boiling points. Since coffee tastes best when it’s super hot, you want a machine that steeps between 195 and 205 degrees for that perfect cup. If you only want enough coffee to fill your travel mug before dashing out the door, consider a single-serve machine to reduce wasted leftovers. A $150 coffee maker will pay for itself in 3months. 

Steam Iron
By far my least favorite chore, ironing. This task would make me even more miserable with a cheap iron.  A low quality iron can damage your clothes, leak water, stain items, and fail to reach the proper temperature. Quality irons start at around $75 and have the following key features: fast heating and an anti-drip seal. Also look for stainless steel or ceramic-sole plates, which glide best over a variety of fabrics. It doesn’t have to have a lot of steam holes to be effective. 

Washer/Dryer
Speaking from experience, consider your needs. Do you have unique cleaning challenges that require special features?  Go for efficiency. Do you put loads in before bed? Perhaps you need quiet features. Also consider capacity. Also determine if you need a gas or electric dryer.   Also always buy a matching set.  They are most efficient that way.


Vacuum Cleaner
One chore I actually enjoy doing.  It's  mini workout in my head.  The fresh vacuumed lines in a  rug or upholstered item do something for me 0_o.  A smart budget here is between $200 and $400. Consumer Reports says a full-size canister vacuum, while more expensive than an upright, does tend to last an average of two years longer.  While you’re shopping, look for a model with a suction control switch, which will allow you to clean different types of floor surfaces. An edge cleaner picks up dirt and debris under the entire area of the cleaning head so you can vacuum right up to the wall. And for deep cleaning, pick a vacuum with manual carpet height adjustment. A top-notch vacuum should last about seven years. If you spend $300 and clean once a week, that breaks down to just 82 cents per use.

What items have you splurged on for your home?
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