11 New Year's Eve Beauty Tips and Tricks

Here are 11 New Year's Eve beauty tricks to look your absolute best when bringing in 2011:

Tip #1: If you're letting the girls out to play, add a little shimmer to enhance them. Dust a light layer of shimmer, not heavy glitter, onto your decolletage. It looks cute and sexy at the same time.

Tip #2: Making your lips extra kissable if you're going out with your guy is a must. A nude lip is inviting and won't discourage that special celebration kiss. If you must wear lipstick, try wearing a long lasting lip stain that won't rub off. With a lip stain you won't have to keep reapplying.

Product Review: Mirabella Lash Essential Mascara

I just completed a short product review on Mirabella's Skin Tint Creme and I couldn't step away from my computer without raving about Mirabella's Lash Essential Mascara.

Someone recently asked me for a mascara recommendation and I did not hesitate. There are so many mascaras on the market but hands down this one is my favorite because its special gel formula exaggerates the length of each and every lash for the ultimate fanned out look. If you want the look of falsies but prefer to skip the process of applying them, this mascara should do the trick. Its rich in color and its clump free.

When I wore Lash Essential Mascara for the first time someone asked if I had applied eyelash extensions, which makes sense because I'm a lash artist. When I told her it was mascara she was shocked just as I had been. In addition to the gel formula, the trick is in the wiggle. I was taught to start at the base of the lash and wiggle, as well as push upward for a count of three. This lifted my lashes up and out, exaggerating the length. My lashes are naturally long, but whew! When I saw the difference I must admit, I was impressed.

I would love to hear about your favorite mascara and application techniques. Us girls could never have too much of a good thing.

Lata!

Getting Serious About My Hair

Hello there!

I woke up this morning with hair on my mind. Not breakfast (I love food) but hair. I've been transitioning now for a few months from chemically texturized hair to my natural kinky curly hair. So far so good, but as I experience hair growth what worked for me a few months ago is falling short of gratification. Working with two textures is proving to be a challenge. I decided that I needed to commit to continue my transition or just strap up and do "the big chop".

My plan is to retain my length and transition for two years. At that time, the processed hair that remains on the ends will be cut off. For those of you who do not know what transitioning is, it is when you grow out your chemically processed hair and as new growth comes in you clip the ends. This is repeated until you have cut off all of the processed hair and you are left with a full head of 100% natural curly kinky hair. Sounds easy, right?

The challenge is caring for two different hair textures. Different textures need different care and different products. Finding a product that works for both textures poses one challenge. The other challenge is trying to prevent breakage. The point between the natural texture and the chemically treated texture is very fragile. This area requires low manipulation and has to be moisturized at all times. I understand why its easier to chop off the relaxed hair "the big chop" rather than transition out of it. Arrgg!

No need for frustration though. I'm enjoying learning about my hair and I've decided to follow through with my transition. I've completed a strand test and it looks like I'm going to have a mix of 4a and 4b hair. I may certainly need some more length to see my true curl pattern because I've read that the pattern may change as it grows out. To complete my strand test, I pulled out a few strands of hair growing in different areas of my head; the front, middle, sides and back, washed the strands with shampoo and used conditioner. After allowing the strands to dry, I was in the 4a/4b range with some 3c possibly. Its only natural to be curious about my hair type in this phase and I guess I'll figure it all out soon enough. Until then, I'll just love my hair.

I'll be sure to post a link to an article about hair types soon or you can go to YouTube and type in "natural hair types". I remain passionate, excited, and proud of my transition and I'm looking forward to documenting my progress.

See ya lata'!

Product Review: Mirabella Skin Tint Creme

For more than five years I used Maybelline's Pure Makeup in Caramel Dark 2. I have no complaints about the brand or the product. It was an oil-free foundation and it gave me a flawless finish. The compliments I received regarding my skin's complexion earned Maybelline's Pure Makeup foundation a #1 spot in my cosmetics drawer. The slogan "Maybe she's born with it. Maybe its Maybelline" lived up to its expectations.

Even though I was happy with Maybelline, I wanted to try a mineral-based foundation because of its skin health benefits. As a student of an esthetician program I wanted to ensure I was using a healthy alternative for my clients who wanted to wear light makeup without the risk of clogged pores and breakouts so I attended a 30 minute consultation with a Mirabella sales representative at Cosmo Prof in Los Angeles. During the consultation my skin was matched to 3 shades with 14 shades to choose from and hands down my perfect match was VN or 5 Neutral. After a complete application of foundation, mascara, and lip gloss I was sold. Little did I know, walking in and sitting in that tall director's chair that this skin tint creme would become my favorite product of 2010.

Mirabella's Skin Tint Creme is now one of my staple products and is included in my top 5 must have product list. It's a light mineral-based foundation that glides effortless onto my skin. The best thing about it is that it is so light and weightless I barely know it's there. It leaves my skin glowing with a luminescent finish. The pump bottle is convenient and all I need is one pump to cover my entire face. Because a little goes a long way the $35 price tag was well worth it.

So there you have it. If you've tried Mirabella's Skin Tint Creme and you want to share your thoughts with the rest of us, leave your comments below.

Talk to ya lata'!

Cleanse Twice?

So you have one eyebrow lifted and you're thinking...why would I cleanse twice?

Ever notice that estheticians cleanse your face twice during a facial? There's a reason why. Try this test. Cleanse your face as you normally do. After cleansing, wipe your face down with toner on a cotton ball. Notice any trace of debris left behind?

The first cleanse or pre-cleanse can be done with your regular cleanser or with a cleansing oil. This initial cleanse will break up dirt, oil, and product buildup from makeup. A pre-cleansing oil, such as Dermalogica's PreCleanse or Shu Uemura's Cleansing Oil allows oil-based debris, such as oil-based foundation, to be readily rinsed away from your skin.

The second cleanse is the deep cleanse. Now that makeup and oils are rinsed away from your skin, this cleanse will get deeper into your pores and remove any remaining traces of dirt, makeup, and impurities.

A double cleanse will leave your skin feeling clean and refreshed.

10 Tips to Cure Dry Winter Skin

It's that time of year again! Dry skin is a very common skin problem and is often worse during the winter months. In the winter your skin can feel uncomfortable, dry, and itchy. Here are 10 skin care tips to keep your skin thriving during the bitter cold season.

1. Drink Water
Drinking water is the most important thing you can do to keep your skin hydrated, supple and glowing. A common rule is to drink half of your body weight in ounces. So if your body weight is 100 pounds, you would drink 50 ounces of water per day. That would be three 16 ounce bottles of water. And if you're thirsty, drink some more!

2. Oil-based Moisturizer for Winter
Using an oil-based moisturizer in the winter will help your skin retain moisture by forming a protective layer on the skin. A good way to seal in moisture is to apply your moisturizer when your skin is still damp from a bath or shower.

3. Don't Forget the Sunscreen!
The sun's rays are effective all year around. Apply a layer of moisturizing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher to any area of skin exposed to the sun such as the face and hands. Using sunscreens that combine an oily, moisturizing cream will act as a barrier to protect the skin against the harsh elements of winter.

4. Use a Humidifier
In the winter season we often turn the heat on or up in our homes causing the air inside to become dry, lacking moisture. Consistent travel from outdoors where it's cold and dry to indoors where it's hot and dry can wreak havoc on your skin. A humidifier can add moisture to the air and help soothe your cracked, dry skin or help your skin to maintain its suppleness. You can purchase a relatively inexpensive humidifier at most local drug stores.

5. Facial and Body Scrub
A good exfoliant goes a long way in bringing your skin from dry and drab to soft and glowing. Removing dry flaky skin and sloughing off dead skin cells will allow your skin to better absorb moisturizers and reveal a healthier glow. Exfoliating your skin once per week after cleansing will leave you feeling fresh and anew.

6. Skip the Blow Dryer
If at all possible, skip the blow dryer. The hot air from a blow dryer can further dry out the scalp and skin leading to irritation.

7. Don't Forget Your Lips
Your lips can become dry and cracked without the use of a good lip moisturizer. If you've ever experienced dry lips you know that it can be painful. Using a lip protectant and/or lip gloss will go a long way in helping you maintain soft and supple kissable lips. Layer a lip gloss over a lip protectant with an SPF of at least 15 for extra protection. I use Blistex SPF 15 Lip Protectant/Sunscreen under my favorite lip gloss; Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in cocoalicoius.

8. Take an Oil Bath
A few drops of oil can be added to your bath water to relieve dry skin all over your body. Olive oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, or coconut oil are wonderful options. Not only are they nourishing but they are relaxing as well. But be extra careful because oil can cause your bath tub to become slippery. Enjoy!

9. Drink Tea to Boost Your Skin!
Drinking tea can be pleasurable on a cold, winter night. What you may not know is that it can be good for your skin too! Some teas include antioxidants, which help your body to strengthen its immune system and fight off free radicals. Free radicals harm healthy skin cells by affecting oxygen and DNA needed for skin cell repair causing skin damage including dryness, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. Antioxidants can help minimize the impact on your skin. My nightly routine includes a cup of Antioxidant Green Tea with Mint. Simply delicious!

10. Learn Your Skin and Body
No matter how many tips you read, your skin is unique and may or may not react favorably. Learn your skin and develop a routine that works for you.

What's your winter dry skin care tip?

Beauty: What is it?

Mirror mirror on the wall, who in the land is fairest of all?

Call it a cliche, but I think beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Our expectations of what beauty is can often be distorted by the images we see others take enjoyment in whether those images are considered beautiful in its true art form or based on the feeling derived from the image. History reveals that our concept of beauty seems to fluctuate over time, particularly concerning people. So, what is beauty? The thought provoking questions below should get your perspective jumping.

Beauty Rituals: Do You Have Any?

If you don't have any fashion or beauty rituals, I suggest you adopt at least one. Rituals are daily routines or event specific routines that you do frequently or almost always the same way each time hopefully making your life easier or more productive in some way. If your ritual is fashion or beauty oriented, it will be much easier to achieve your desired style or look. Maybe you like to pick your clothes out at night rather than in the morning. Perhaps you like to snap pictures of an outfit when you wear it for the first time. Great for creating your signature look and style scrap book.

Here are a few of my fashion and/or beauty rituals that I plan to hold on to for the long-term:

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog! 

It's me, Naumi! You may know me from Lashhouse, as SkinnyFatGirl, or Caffeinated Beauty. Either way, I'm glad you stopped by. As the latest endeavor in my lifetime pursuit of encouraging natural beauty and the acceptance of it, Just Naumi is not just a signature but a free daily blog featuring my favorite beauty obsessions, as well as, my thoughts on beauty in an ever-unsatisfied, beauty crazed society.

Product reviews, shopping hauls, and tutorials offer a behind the scenes take on my personal journey to better hair, skin and body. I'm obsessed with achieving flawless skin as the foundation for my makeup and I have fallen in-love with natural kinky hair. I’m on a mission to find the perfect lash plumping mascara, gain a healthy 10 pounds, and achieve a natural head of 4b/4c kinky curly hair.

The highlight of my blog, as a freelance writer and conversationalist, is that I get to share my life as just Naumi, not as an expert, guru, or insider. Although a beauty inspired blog, it is my mission to entice stimulating conversation that will turn heads, raise brows, and pull varying perspectives through a segment titled “Lean Back, Lean Forward”.

Although my blog allows me to share my journey with you, it is a way of welcoming you into my world. We've got so much to talk about! 

Thank you for visiting and I hope to have you back soon!