The Absolute Basics

Everything you do with makeup all begins with a blank canvas. I like to think of makeup as an art and rightfully so. With makeup you can transform your face. There is literally nothing you can't do with makeup. I've seen MUA's create fantastic creature transformations. They have recreated characters from movies, cartoons and even imaginations. If you can think of a design on paper, you can create it on skin. We see it in movies and on television. Heck...look at the power of tattoo's.

That being said, you have to start with a great canvas and to get that great canvas you have to prep the skin. Good skin doesn't always come naturally. I am not blessed with naturally great skin. And even those of you that do have naturally great skin probably still need to take care of it. Great skin takes work and you need to pamper the skin you are in. (Yes I stole that slogan. No don't sue me.)

Before you start on the outside you have to begin within. You put a bunch of junk in the system and it is going to show on the outside. If you are constantly inhaling crap, your skin is going to show it. One of my great friends works hard on helping promote healthy lifestyles and her skin is absolutely gorgeous. Why? Because she knows that the fuel she puts into her body is what makes her run at her best. The key building block to a beautiful face and a healthy body is good nutrition and plenty of water. Caffeine in moderation is great but you can't replace a glass of water with a can of Coke.

If you want some great tips on healthy nutrition and getting that natural glow, I highly recommend reaching out to Natalie Weatherly at www.facebook.com/nataliecweatherly. She is a certified Beachbody Coach and her nutrition advice is top notch. She can help you get on track. No, I don't get a cut or a referral. I'm just giving you some advise for some healthy skin.

That being said...let's move on to prepping that canvas. Here are some products that I have found to be essential.

Right now I use about 95% of these every single day. The glass of water is an absolute given. You need to drink lots of water to stay hydrated. Dehydration will wreck your face quickly and no amount of makeup can make your face look lush and dewy without it. So drink up!

The next essential is a clean face. Never, ever, ever use a harsh cleaning agent on your eyes. I use a cold cream, such as Pond's or Burt Bee's Oil, or Coconut Oil (not shown) on my eyes. Simply pat it on using your ring finger (which by the way should be the only finger you ever touch your eyes with. Why? Because it uses the least amount of pressure.) Then gently wipe it away with a very soft cloth or makeup remover pad.

For the rest of my face I use Aveno's Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser. It is gently and leaves my face feeling really soft and clean. When my face is feeling dry or sensitive I'll use the Pond's Cold Cream for my entire face and then just gently wipe clean with a warm wash cloth.

When rinsing use warm water.

The next step is debatable. I believe that you should exfoliate every single day and I do it in the shower each morning. I use:

 It's gentle and it gets rid of the pesky flaky mess that can accumulate around the nose and mouth. I highly recommend. Please do yourself a favor and throw away anything that has beads. Those are really unnecessary, rough on the skin and a serious bit of damage to the environment. The beads do not break down and actually do more harm than good. Your exfoliate should contain natural ingredients. There are some really great daily scrubs out there and at some great prices. The Dollar Store even has some. Use them daily!

 When you are all nice and clean, exfoliated and you have gently patted yourself dry...add in the toner. It helps tighten the pores and gets you all ready for moisturizer. The moisturizing step is one that a LOT of people screw up on and it is absolutely the MOST IMPORTANT one. So pay close attention.

You can never have too much moisturizer. Never.

Never.

Did I stutter? Yes. You read it correctly. Just when you thought you had enough, add another bit. Trust me...your skin will love you for it. And chose the right one!

I bought some of the Pond's Bio-Hydrate and it is a "Light-Hydrating Cream" that feels very good against the skin. My only complaint is that it really seems to have been a little too harsh for my skin and left it irritated. I haven't tossed it out yet because I want to give it a second chance. If you don't have super sensitive skin then you may want to give it a try. I picked it up for about $5.00. It smells great and my grandmother swore by all Pond's products and she had beautiful skin that was so lush.

For years my go to lotion was L'Oreal Revitalift and it is a great, creamy lotion. I have 40 year old skin that is sensitive and needs to be protected. I don't like runny lotions. I would always recommend the L'Oreal line. It is a great, solid line and it is reasonably priced.

This is my absolute favorite lotion EVER. The smell is absolutely divine and the texture is perfect. It isn't too thick and it isn't too thin. I use at least a teaspoon and really take my time to work it into my skin. And that is the key with lotion. You really have to take your time and work it into your skin. And don't be shy about using it. *Please reference above notation about using too much moisturizer* When you are done working it in, your face will be red and that is OK! The redness will fade. Plus you should always wait before proceeding with makeup anyway. But that is for another blog. ;)

While I am prepping my face, I don't forget my lips. I had (I have cancelled because I don't think it is worth the $10 a month fee) an Ipsy subscription and got a really cool sugar lip scrub. I use it pretty much daily. I take a bit, smear it on my mouth and then use a clean tooth brush and gently exfoliate my lips. This is what keeps your lips looking kissable and makes your lipstick look wickedly beautiful! No dry, peeling or chapped lips for you divine beauties.

If you don't want to spring for an extra product, don't sweat it. You can use a toothbrush and gently scrub your lips after brushing your teeth. Do this for about a minute and you will get full, pouty lips that will give Angelina Whooo? a run for her money. (I'll tell you later about a tip to get them really pouty and full!

So there you go. Those are my every day basics. My makeup may change regularly depending on what I wear but my basics do not. Like a great brand of underwear, or a bra that fits ever so right, your basics are your building blocks to success. Eat right, drink plenty of water, get a good night's sleep and make sure to take care of your skin.

Let me know how this is going by leaving a comment and stay tuned for the next Wickedly Beautiful You tip! Be the Beauty in the Mirror! Kisses my Kats and Kittens!!

Here are some links to the products I use:

http://www.amazon.com/Alba-Botanica-Hawaiian-Jasmine-Moisture/dp/B00120XR0M

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12681133

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod3710271