Stephanie Linus Daily

Tag: Makeup

Common Skincare Mistakes You’re Probably Making

Hey SL Fabz,

Let’s talk about our skincare today!

Whether you spend just 30 seconds every morning or have a dedicated pre-bedtime ritual, practically everyone has a skincare routine. Everybody wants to have a beautiful skin because it has always been an indicator of our inner health.

If you haven’t noticed any improvement in your skin’s condition despite your best efforts, you may want to consider these common skincare habits that could be keeping you from having the smooth, radiant skin you want.

Here are 10 common skincare mistakes I’ve been guilty of at one time or another. I hope we can all learn from them and make the necessary adjustments.

1. Leaving Your Makeup On
When you’re exhausted after a long day at work, you might be tempted to curl up in bed and skip the whole makeup removal routine. This means you could end up with clogged pores and irritated skin. When you put makeup on, oil and dirt can become trapped in your skin throughout the day. Taking the time to remove all traces of makeup before going to bed helps keep your skin clean and lowers the risk of getting blemishes.

2. Not cleaning your cell phone regularly
Think about how many times a day you touch your cell phone. Wipe down the screen at least once a week if not daily. Household cleaners can damage your phone’s screen, so look for a phone-friendly cleaner.

3. Sleeping on a cotton pillowcase
Switch to silk. Satin or silk minimizes permanent creases and complexion issues on your face. Persistently pressing your face into a pillowcase causes trauma to the skin. Over time, this trauma aggravated by the friction of cotton can cause permanent creases as our collagen breaks down.

4. Overusing scrubs
The more you scrub, the more damage you’re likely causing your skin.
Even if you don’t see any redness after your exfoliate, you could be harming skin below the surface. Over time, rubbing and scrubbing too hard can lead to wrinkles, especially within the delicate skin surrounding eyes. If you’re unsure of whether or not you should be exfoliating your skin, it can be a good idea to check with your dermatologist or other skincare professional.

5. Cleansing with bar soap
Solid bar soap might seem like a standard skincare habit, but in reality, these soaps can leave a film on your skin that may lead to dryness or irritation. Instead, try a gentler liquid or even lotion-based face wash that can even help to moisturize your skin while cleansing it.

6. Washing the face with water that is too hot or too cold
Water that is too hot or too cold is no good for your skin. Wash your face with slightly warm water. It will cleanse your face perfectly and won’t harm your skin.

7. Not drinking enough water
A common skin mistake we make is not drinking enough water. It’s the easiest thing we should be doing, daily. Water is the best moisturizer you can gift your skin. If you are not drinking enough water you might notice blotchy and dehydrated skin. Doctors advise having minimum 2 liters of water everyday.

8. Forgetting to moisturize
By applying moisturizers within minutes of getting out of a shower, you can combat everything from dry skin to more serious skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis. Moisturizing is very important and helps ensure that dry air and wind doesn’t pull moisture out of the skin and leave it flaking and cracking.

9. Not using products formulated for your skin type
The reason you may not see improved results with your skincare products is that they aren’t suited for your skin’s unique needs. Find out what type of skin a product is formulated for. If you’re truly looking for results, it’s important that you use products exclusively formulated for the unique needs of your skin.

10. Applying too much face powder
Many ladies tend to over-powder their faces when the weather is hot. Yes, face powder prevents you from looking too shiny, but it also clogs the pores. Too much powder only harms your skin. It’s better to use blotting papers, because they instantly soak up excess oil and remove shine from the face.

Do you have any other common skincare mistakes to add to this list?

December 10, 2016
Feeling Beautiful Without Makeup

I read this story written by a lady called Maya Rupert on how she saw herself in a gorgeous new light after she bought foundation to “correct” her skin tone. It was published on Oprah and I just had to share it here. Believe me, this will change the way you feel about makeup:

I was 27 years old when a clerk at a cosmetics counter told me I was looking at the wrong shade of foundation. Instead of the color I had worn for the last several years, which matched my skin tone, she encouraged me to get one that was actually two shades lighter. Registering skepticism, she explained that I should try to go as light as I could get away with because with my complexion, she said, “you wouldn’t want to get any darker.”

There was no question in her voice. She didn’t say it as if she were stating a preference, but rather a fact, the same way she would have advised me on how best to apply blush or find a base that wouldn’t dry out my skin. I was humiliated by her assumption that it was an unspoken understanding between us: that obviously, if given the choice, I would change this thing about the way I looked.

As a black woman with dark skin, it wasn’t the first time I had been told—subtly and often not so subtly—that my complexion was a deficit I had to overcome to be beautiful. But the fact that the saleswoman, who was white, said it not out of malice, but seemingly with genuine concern, made me feel worse. I didn’t think she was criticizing me; she was trying to help me. And I was terrified that she—an expert—knew something I didn’t. I bought the foundation.

At home, I dipped the sponge in the compact and covered my face with the powder. I couldn’t bring myself to look in the mirror as I applied it.

When I finally did look, I was horrified: I had to admit that I looked prettier than I’d ever remembered. I had to admit that my dark skin was unattractive, and that being lighter really did mean being more attractive.

I wept. Then I went to wash my face. But the makeup wouldn’t come off. I scrubbed hard; still nothing. That’s when I looked at the compact and realized I hadn’t pulled off the protective paper. In fact, I hadn’t been wearing any makeup at all.

After seven years and countless applications of the right shade of makeup, that moment has stayed with me. Whenever I question whether my complexion is beautiful (which is more often than I should, but less often than I might), I think back to that moment when I saw my face—my bare face—and thought it was so beautiful, it made me cry.

Light skin, dark skin… every one is indeed beautiful. Yes, makeup does often enhance beauty but if you don’t begin to see yourself as beautiful inwardly, no one can convince you that you are even with layers of makeup on.

She hadn’t even applied any makeup on but just the ‘thought’ of being lighter than she was made her feel more beautiful. And the fact is that there was nothing on her face!

Ladies, bask in your natural beauty and let it radiate.

*Picture used is not that of the writer.

March 9, 2015
I’m Loving…

Hi SL Fabz!

I’m in the mood for some beauty talk so let’s talk about lip colours today.

Lip balms, lip glosses and lip sticks are a staple in my beauty routine as I’m sure they will be for you too. Quite often I’ll be carrying around different lip colours in my handbag, at the moment I absolutely love red!

There’s something about red lipstick that can instantly make you feel a little more glamorous and sexy. But pulling off red lipstick isn’t always easy. Its bold look can often make you feel self-conscious. The trick to wearing red lipstick confidently is to pair it with other makeup that allows the rich color to shine. (more…)

February 18, 2014
6 Must Haves for New Makeup Users

If you’re entering the world of makeup for the first time it’s hard to know what the must haves for new makeup users are. There are so many products and tools out there and once you’ve become more experienced with makeup, you’ll find yourself curious to try all these products.

However, we should begin with the basics. Here are my suggestions for must haves for new makeup users: (more…)

January 28, 2014
5 Makeup Trends to Rock This Year

The New Year is all about getting a fresh start — and of course, that also pertains to our beauty routines. In the past year, some beauty enthusiasts had on some seriously stunning makeup, hair and nail looks that really rocked.

From bold pouts, to bold brows here’s a look at the top 5 beauty trends that you can try out this year:

1. Cat eye Makeup

This is one makeup trend that’s been going strong for a while now. The great thing about cat-eye liner is that while it’s so popular right now, it’s also a retro look, so it reads as totally classic in your photos and works with almost any outfit. You’ll be right on target if you go this route this year.

2. Pretty Pink Lips

Notice-me berry and baby-pink lips were a big makeup trend last year, and I think pink will still be one of the favorite statement lipstick color for ladies this year. Not only are they a bit less committal and bold than red, they go perfectly with lots of colours and are fun and romantic.

3. Bold Brows

These days, ladies’ brows are stronger, fuller and more beautiful than ever thanks to the bevy of new eyebrow-specific products making their way to the beauty counters. Consider bold brows the new statement lip! If you can pull it off nicely, it would surely get the right kind of attention.

4. Near Naked Makeup

Fresh, flawless and universally flattering— the “no-makeup” makeup look was a hot one last year. It is simple and classy. Will do dare to go bare? Try it this year.

5. Smoky Eyes

In terms of eye makeup, is there anything sexier and more sophisticated than the classic Smoky Eye Look? There sure isn’t! That’s why almost every page of today’s magazines has a picture of a beautiful model or a celebrity sporting (what else?) – the smoky eye look!

So, if you feel you are ready to join this fabulous team, try it out this year and you’d definitely stand out.

What do you think about these makeup trends? Is there any other makeup look you would like to add to this list?

xoxo

SL

January 3, 2014