Ten Step Transformation

from Art of Appearance

In your fifties every time when you look in the mirror you say to yourself: "It is very important for me to make appointment for skin care, make-up, stress relief and much, much more". My friend Emily mentioned Maria’s Anti-Aging University where she studied skin care and make-up. So – finally, I made my appointment with Maria.

When I came to the Studio I was amazed of the tranquility of the place. The atmosphere was quiet and setting was very elegant. "Maria has good taste", I thought. I decided to start with "Art of Appearance lessons", which consist of two sessions: first – the make-up session and second – the facial exercise and color analysis session. Let me share with you my wonderful experience. I am talking about lessons with Maria. I filled out the application and, after a short consultation, Maria started the first part of the lesson – make-up session.

"The biggest asset we have in life" – Maria said – "are ourselves and we must use it to its best advantage. How good looking we are is a matter of how well we can present and package ourselves. Success in life depends on how strong our presentation and how high the level of conscientious about what happens around us, at that moment.

Today’s session is about every day make-up. Let’s start our ten steps of transformation."

1 - MARIA CLEANED MY FACE, PAT IT DRIED AND WIPED IT OFF WITH A PIECE OF COTTON WITH TONER. ON MY DAMP SKIN SHE APPLIED SERUM FOLLOWED BY THE SUNSCREEN, DAY CREAM, EYE CREAM.

2 - MY PIMPLES AND BROWN SPOTS WERE COVERED WITH A LITTLE BIT OF CONCEALER.

3 - WHEN MY SKIN WAS PROTECTED AND NOURISHED, MARIA APPLIED THE FOUNDATION USING A SPONGE.

4 - SHE APPLIED LOOSE POWDER ON THE TOP OF THE FOUNDATION USING THE SAME SPONGE.

5 - NEXT STEP WAS A CONCEALER FOR EYELIDS. SHE USED NATURAL COLOR.

6 - WHEN THE TIME CAME TO APPLY THE COLORS MARIA STARTED WITH EYEBROWS USING A LIGHT BLOND PENCIL WITH BRUSH. IT HELPED FIX MY BROWS TO A NICE SHAPE.

7 - SHE APPLIED EYELINER VERY CLOSE TO THE ROOTS OF MY LASHES.

8 - NEXT MARIA USED A TWO-COLOR MASCARA. FIRST SHE APPLIED WHITE COLOR –A THERAPEUTIC FLUID. ONE MINUTE LATER SHE APPLIED THE BLACK COLOR. MY LASHES APPEARED THICK AND MUCH LONGER.

9 - WHEN MARIA APPLIED BLUSH SHE USED STROKES FROM THE EAR TO THE MIDDLE OF THE CHEEK AND TO THE TEMPLE, AND WITH VERY LIGHT TOUCH – TO THE BONE UNDER EYEBROWS.

10 - NOW IT WAS TIME FOR LIPS. FIRST SHE APPLIED THE LIP PENCIL EXACTLY ON THE LINE OF MY LIPS. AFTER THIS - THE LIPSTICK.

For all this time I have been looking in the mirror as I have witness amazing transformation from tired gal to relaxing glowing woman. I liked very much what I finally saw in the mirror.

Maria continued: "If you have a special event, before starting make-up, first - do the face-lift masque and find 15-20 minutes to relax. In the Evening Make-up you change only two things: first, apply HALO 70 instant glow under foundation. Second – for eyelids use two colors shadows - light and dark. Apply light shadow closer to the inner corner of the eye, and darker shadow – to the outer corner. And last suggestion: never match color of make-up to the color of your dress. All colors should be matched to the color of your eyes, skin and hair. Every woman is beautiful, if she knows HOW."

The second session includes face exercise and color analysis, I’ve already scheduled the appointment at Art of Appearance Skin Care & Image Center.

Get the Cosmetic Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen from Food

By Naweko San-Joyz

Got a wrinkle to fill? You could fill that wrinkle with injections of bovine collagen or hyaluronic acid. Yet, is there anyway to smooth out wrinkles without jabbing your skin with needles?

Estrogen and Youthful Skin
You can avoid the need for the needle by optimizing your estrogen levels. While estrogen influences numerous aspects of our health, from the development of breast cancer to the development of a fetus, estrogen also determines the moisture and collagen level of our skin as we age.

Studies published by N. Grosman in the “Acta Pharmacol Toxicol” established the link between estrogen and collagen. Estrogen boosts the skin’s moisture content by increasing the amount of hyaluronic acid in the skin.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the body. One of hyaluronic acid’s primary jobs is to make the skin firm and provide support for the collagen and elastin fibers that give skin a firm, youthful appearance.

Food Sources for Plumper Skin
You can potentially increase that amount of hyaluronic acid in your skin by increasing your intake of estrogen. For example, animal studies show that soy isoflavones protect skin against sun damage and may increase production of hyaluronic acid.

Soy dishes come in a variety of options. From soy tofu to soy protein shakes, food incarnations of soy are endless. While eating your way to a firmer face, you don’t want to overlook vitamin C. While vitamin C remains a potent antioxidant, it also helps your body to produce collagen.

Even though vitamin C’s beauty potential is loudly touted by the media, 33% of the US population is not getting enough vitamin C according to a 2005 survey done by the U.S. Agricultural Research Service’s Food Surveys Research Group. You can enjoy vitamin C in foods like broccoli, red or green peppers, strawberries, oranges and Brussels spouts.

Eating vitamin C and optimizing your estrogen levels are just one step in a series of things you can do to slow down the aging process. One simple tip to keep your anti-aging regime working is to ask yourself each time you eat, “Is this food protecting me from free radials and allowing my body to repair itself, or causing more free radial damage?” This way you’re sure to be eating your way to more youthful skin.