Banish Raccoon Eyes Forever

 I had no choice but to apply concealer under my eyes so I wouldn't send the mortals running for the hills with my zombie under-eye circles. Let's fast forward to 2012, I have no dark circles underneath my eyes. At times, I'll have the sporadic occurrence of raccoon eyes, but that's only when I slept for less than six hours. The following lifestyle changes kicked my dark circles to the wayside:

Eat Pretty

The old adage "you are what you eat" is true. If you eat plenty of colorful foods such as dark leafy greens, fruit, and nuts your body will thank you with a clearer and brighter complexion. My favorite nuts to snack on are Almonds; they are not only good for your body but are full of vitamin E. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that helps prevent cellular damage, wrinkles, and aging. This vitamin also makes your skin more supple. Almonds, Walnuts, Avocados, and Olive Oil are excellent sources of vitamin E. At the very least, take a vitamin E supplement daily. 

Water, Water, Oh Yeah...MORE WATER!

There's a slew of information circulating the web about the health benefits of water,however, it has the best beauty benefit--clear skin. Water flushes all of the toxins out of your body leaving you with a pristine complexion. I drink about 10 glasses daily.

Magic, Creams, and Potions 

There are many products on the market that promise to banish under eye circles. None worked for me, outside of a good skincare regimen. Even though I no longer have a shadow of darkness under my eyes, I still love to brighten my under eyes. I don't know maybe I adore Nicki Minaj's makeup a little too much.  Want to get that "brightening effect" that you see on the red carpet? Look out for that tutorial this week!

What under eye circle treatments worked for you?

How To Enter Urban Decay Giveaway

Summer Beauty Made As Simple As 1-2-3

The summer is the perfect time to pay close attention to your skin. The higher the humidity  the least likely you are to wear makeup. Beauty addicts such as myself still feel the need to wear makeup in the heat, but there is a way of enhancing your beauty in a warmer climate without your face melting like the Wicked Witch of the West. The following products are ALL you need to have a fresh naturally dewy look for the summer!

1. Good Skincare Regimen 

The first step to having the best application of any product is to start off with a good canvas ahem...your face. Everyone's skin is different,however, I absolutely love Aveeno and Cetaphil's products because they are fragrance free and hypoallergenic. I wash my face with Aveeno's Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser and apply Cetaphil's moisturizer daily before and after makeup application. It's a good habit to exfoliate your face once a week; exfoliation removes dead skin cells and clears your pores of all impurities. By consistently cleansing, moisturizing, and exfoliating your face on the regular basis, your skin tone will be clearer and acne-free.

2. Water Proof Mascara 

Oh mascara...a small cylinder of mushy goodness that packs a  punch to any look. I feel naked without it. Mascara gives you a certain je nais se quoi even if it's the only product on your face. The beautiful thing about waterproof mascara is that it will never run and can withstand intense humidity. My favorite WP mascara is L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes. Every time I wear this product people always think I'm wearing lash extensions. Yes it's that dope! For a fun summer look check out colored mascaras;these are perfect for people who are looking for a subtle pop of color. 

3. Lip Balm 

Keep those lips kissable with your favorite lip balm. I love using tinted lip moisturizers because they hydrate your lips and give a hint of color. My favorite is Wet 'n' Wild's lip balm in Raspberry. 

*BONUS*

BRONZER

 I am in love with bronzer! There's a bronzer for every skin type. Oily skin? Try using a powder bronzer such as  MAC's Mineralized Skin Finish in Gold Deposit. If you have dry or combination skin, such as myself, you will do best with a cream or (for summer) liquid bronzer. The best liquid bronzer on the market is Smash Box's Artificial Light which is light-weight and can be mixed with moisturizer or foundation to get that "illuminated within look." It's a bit on the pricey side at $26.00, but a little goes a long way. For the most natural look, it's best to apply this product where the sun naturally hits your face which is on the forehead, chin and on top of cheek bones.

This is my first blog post. I would LOVE to receive feedback about the type of posts that interest you the most. Product reviews? Video Tutorials? Or just keep you guessing? Sound off!