Highlighting and Contouring, So You Can Have Glowing Skin All Year Long-

     During Fall & Winter months it's easy to neglect our skin, which can cause dullness. One way to work around having "dull" skin all winter long is by highlighting and contouring. This is a quick and effective way to have glowing skin all winter long! All you need is:

Highlight areas like cheekbones, cupids bow,
bridge of nose, brow bone and inner corner
the eye. Contour areas around the nose,
under cheekbones, around hairline
and chin.

• Eyeshadow or highlighter one shade lighter than your skin, I used Petal Essence Illumination Single Eye Color by Aveda
• Bronzer or warm brown eyeshadow 1-2 shades darker than your skin, I used Brazilian Sun Uruku Bronzer by Aveda
• Medium sized blending brush, I used this one from Sephora
• Kabuki brush, here's the one I used from Aveda

We'll start with a simple guide of where to highlight and where to contour. This can change depending on your face and eye shape, bone structure and skin type. So take into consideration what highlighting and contouring do first. Anywhere you apply your highlight is going to bring the area out and enhance raised areas on the face where light naturally hits (tops of cheeks, cupids bow, bridge of nose, etc.) Contouring is using a darker color or bronzer to further darken natural shadows giving a more angular defined appearance, think you don't have cheekbones? Think again.

This is me with my base foundation, eyebrows filled in & ONLY a highlight applied.

You can see my cheekbones, cupids bow, brow bone, the bridge of my nose and forehead are catching and reflecting more light than the rest of my face. 

Now I've gone through and added my contour under my cheekbones and around my nose and chin. You can see what a dramatic effect it gives. Blending and working in small areas is key in contouring, that's why I recommend using an eyeshadow blending brush for working in small areas like around the nose.

Some different lighting so you can see the difference
natural vs. artificial lighting makes.

Highlighting and contouring can be your secret to glowing skin all Winter long, and it's a lot easier than you may have thought! You don't have to have Kim Kardashians makeup artist to highlight and contour, as a matter of fact I bet you have everything you need in your makeup bag right now! So don't be intimidated by this simple technique, give it a go!

xo.

beautifying composition

Aveda's Beautifying Composition Oil is a multi-use oil that replenishes skin and seals in moisture. It is great to use any time of the year, but especially in the dry Winter months. Beautifying Composition can be used on hair, skin or your scalp to provide extra moisture. It contains nourishing jojoba oil and essences of rosemary and bergamot. Some of my favorite ways to use the Beautifying Composition are:

• After a shower or bath-apply a few drops of Beautifying Composition to damp skin to seal in moisture.
• To condition hair and scalp-massage onto dry scalp let sit for 1-5 minutes; then shampoo.
• Add 10-15 drops to running bath water to condition dry skin.
• For  dry ends add 1-2 drops in the palm of your hand and run throughout dry or damp hair.
• Use for an aromatic scalp and body massage.
• 1-2 drops on a cotton ball or swab to remove stubborn eye makeup.

xo.

Aveda Hand Relief - Lend a Helping Hand

The incredibly rich moisture therapy in Hand Relief soothes dry, chapped hands-leaving them noticeably softer and smoother. Hydrating plant emollients, humectants, exfoliating fruit acids and anti-oxidants-including vitamins A and E help diminish signs of aging and provide optimal relief. Hand Relief increases moisture levels and elasticity in skin with continued use. Hand relief is a must have for me during the dry winter months, it moisturizes just enough without feeling greasy and saves me from having chapped hands.

     Also, during the month of October, Aveda will donate $4.00 from the purchase price of every Aveda Hand Relief to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation to support cruelty-free research, a cause very close to my heart. Stop by the nearest Aveda experience center or salon today to get your own Hand Relief to lend a helping hand to breast cancer research!

xo.

Green Science Firming Eye Cream

Aveda's Green Science Firming Eye Cream is some amazing stuff, I've recently started using it every morning and night and I love the results! It helps moisturize, smooth fine lines, reduce puffiness and dark circles. It uses lady's thistle, organic argan oil and cactus formula helps to moisturize skin and smooth fine lines. Peptides* and plant-derived buckwheat wax help with minimizing the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Preventative care with anti-aging products is extremely important, so if you start using products like this while you're young wrinkles won't be such a problem down the road.

*Peptides are complexes that produce collagen, strengthen capillaries, increase micro circulation and increase cellular circulation.

xo.

dry remedy moisturizing treatment masque

Did you know that cooler and drier weather can really take a toll on your hair? Winter weather is harsh on hair, but it's nothing a little product can't fix. I'm talking about Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Treatment Masque, this ultra rich and luxurious formula uses buriti oil, pomegranate and palm-derived conditioners to penetrate deep into the most dry and brittle hair. This amazing masque improves dry hair up to 63% and has a relaxing aroma including certified organic palmarosa, ylang ylang and rose geranium, plus a hint of vanilla. The Dry Remedy Masque is best used once a week on damp hair for 2-10 minutes, it is also safe for color treated hair. Using this hair masque regularly will dramatically improve the condition of your hair, especially in the dry winter months to come.

xo.