Bright and White

All right, ladies! I found an amazing teeth whitening trick! I stumbled upon it, gave it a try, and loved the results!

Take 1/4 cup of baking soda and mix it with the juice of 1/2 lemon and then apply it to your teeth with a q-tip. Leave on your teeth for 1 minute, then brush. This amount is more than enough for two people, so share with your family :)

Makeup Musings

Spring into a fresh new makeup regimen! Keep it natural, light, and bright. 

Here are a few nice ideas for the spring. Remember to talk with your parents before wearing new makeup! Honoring them is more important than pink lips!

Makeup Musings

Have you ever been called freckle-face?

I love freckles. I wish I had them. I come from an Irish, fair, freckly family, but God gave me the Native American heritage in my skin. My mom, sister, brother, nieces, and nephew all have freckles. My dad and I -- we missed out. ;)

If you have freckles, firstly, embrace them! God has given you your skin and coloring, and it is lovely. Secondly, make wise choices about your foundation. Here are some tips:

• Match the color to your skin, not your freckles.
• Don't cake on the foundation. You don't want to look clownish.
• If you have only a few large freckles, use a bit of light concealer to cover the spots -- then use your foundation over it.

Makeup Musings

Found this great video on how to apply lip liner! Be sure to ask your parents if you can use this product if you have never done so.

Enjoy!

Dress Your Lips

As the season changes, you might be experiencing the pain of chapped lips. Wearing something to protect your lips is smart, but ending up looking like a scarlet woman is not.

Lip balm is appropriate for all ages; using lipstick requires more discretion. Here are some tips to help you choose how to dress your lips.

I love this stuff. I have to wear it continually through the fall and winter or my lips will crack and be rather painful. A clear or very pale pink is appropriate for all ages. My favorites are Burt's Bees as they have natural healing qualities and come in many sheer shades.

Lip gloss is my easy fix for days when I don't want to put on makeup. It brightens my face and protects my lips. It comes in many fun colors, but should be treated more as a lipstick rather than a balm.

Select a color that complements your countenance for a natural look. A bolder color would be appropriate for a young woman for a more dressy affair. Ask your parents for guidance if you are not yet wearing makeup. 

Overdone and you can look like a less-than-virtuous woman; balanced appropriately, lipstick can add a fun pizazz! The key to wearing a bold lipstick is keeping your other makeup minimal and natural. Lipstick will make you look older, so don't wear it if you are in your teens. It will make you look clownish.

Selecting the right color and type can be tricky. Visit your local mall and try on sample colors to find your perfect shade. Darker colors are for fall and winter, lighter tones for spring and summer.

Makeup Musings

Let's face it. We don't have flawless skin like the airbrushed divas on the covers of InStyle or Vogue. Maybe you feel your skin is a zit factory or maybe you have the occasional Rudolph-the-Red-Pimpled-Nosed-Reindeer syndrome.

Finding the right foundation is essential. Today I'm going to tell you about my favorite foundation, suitable whether you have oily, dry, or normal skin.

Mineral Foundation

I've been using this for years. I can go lighter or heavier, depending on the coverage I'll need for the day. Minerals are so easy on your skin and help nourish rather than just cover. (You can even sleep in them!) Finding the right mineral and color is the trick, so don't be surprised if you have to try a few different types to find your fit. Here are some of my favorite brands at different prices. Check these out with the links below.

Find out more here!

Find out more here!

Find out more here!

If you have dry skin, be sure to apply your moisturizer before foundation.

I hope you enjoy!

Basic Beauty

Makeup Musings

Selecting the right foundation is a crucial aspect of wearing makeup. If you don't use the right color for your skin tone, you can look very unnatural! Save the heavy, clown makeup for the circus. ;)

Here are three tips to help you select and apply the best product for your skin.

1. Type

Determine if you should use a liquid, powder, or mineral foundation. Liquid foundations give the best coverage and are very helpful if your skin tends to be splotchy or prone to breakouts. Just be sure to set (apply over) the liquid foundation with a loose translucent powder in your correct shade.

Powder and mineral foundations are perfect for a lighter coverage and allow your skin to breathe more. It is great for giving an even skin tone very quickly.

If you don't really need to cover up anything, a tinted moisturizer will probably be your best choice. It will protect your skin throughout the day and give it a glowing look.

2. Color

Test the color of the foundation on the inside of your forearm before applying to your face. The color should blend well into your skin tone.

All makeup brands carry different colors, so be wise in your selection. If at all possible, test before you buy.

3. Application

Start with a clean sponge or brush and blend, blend, BLEND! Blend down your neck and don't forget to blend up to your hairline and ears. Use a minimal amount for achieving a natural, even skin tone.

Foundation is not needed to cover the glow of youthful skin. If you haven't yet begun to wear it, remember to check with your parents before experimenting. :)

Question and Answer

Q:I am 12; do you think that I am too young to wear any kind of makeup???

A:12 is such a wonderful age! You are starting to learn how to make wise decisions and developing godly character. When I was 12, I loved all the pretty things of life :) (makeup included), but my mother was wise in leading me into the transition of womanhood slowly. On very special occasions, my parents allowed me to wear a little blush, under eye cover, and lip gloss.

Youthful bloom is on your side at your age. Celebrate this season of life and cherish the days when makeup is not necessary. Makeup is fun, but don't be in a rush. This step of womanhood will come sooner than you can imagine! I had friends who were allowed the liberties of using makeup at younger ages than 12, but in a sense, the drive to fast-forward their lives stole away their days of youth. Makeup will make you look older, so I encourage you to look into your heart and see if there's a possibility you are a little discontent with the age you are right now. This is a question I ask myself very often, even at the age of 21. Desiring to become a woman is a worthy goal, but keep sight of growing a heart that is close to the Lord, and your girlhood will transition into the woman whose beauty will never fade.

Seek guidance from your parents. Honoring their request is far more important than my advice. Regardless of when you start wearing makeup, start slow. Use colors that fade into your skin tones that make you glow rather than stand out :)

P.S. Remember, it's important, no matter your age, to take care of your face. Washing, toning, and moisturizing are good habits to start now so you will keep your youthful glow for years to come.

Makeup Musings ~ Red

I have a crush on red lipstick. It can be so fun for a special event or for making the everyday a little more fancy! Red lipstick is not for everyone. If you're still enjoying your teen years, pass the red lipsticks by and go for lovely lip glosses in tinted colors.

Red may not be your style and that's okay, too! Reasons I like red is that it makes teeth seem whiter and draws attention to a smile! = D If you are considering wearing red, keep the rest of your makeup simple, e.g., use less eye makeup if you want a bolder color on your lip.

Choosing the right red might take a little trial and error. If you are more of a cool skin tone, then try a deep cherry color. If you are more warm, go for the true reds like fire engine red.

Runway Reviews

Fashion shows are as interesting as designers. Many designers create artwork to wear, so a fashion show is a lot like going to an art gallery in motion. Runway shows vary from high avant-garde fashion to the best trends for everyday women. 

Fashion shows are not foreign to Mrs. Debbie (Abby and Jacqueline's mom and Silk and Purple's editor extraordinaire). In her younger days, Mrs. Debbie was a model and modeling director of a school and agency in Atlanta, Georgia. The lessons she learned through this time in her life flow through this blog, and I am personally grateful for her transparency and guidance in leading me to know what true beauty really is.

Last evening, we had a fun time at the REAL Cover Girl runway show. The evening consisted of delicious hors d'oeuvres, a video of street interviews, a helpful message about what a REAL cover girl looks like, and a runway show. The emphasis that true beauty is not only exterior was very encouraging. The speaker personified REAL as Reflection, Essential, Ageless, and Lifestyle. The video was played of some interesting interviews of people on the street. One young man was asked if he was ever distracted during his church's worship service by women's dress choices, and with a firm head nod, he said yes.

The runway show was filled with bright, bold colors, and color-blocking styles. Many of the outfits were reflective of the model's lifestyle -- not over-the-top artistic, just fun and flattering to every woman's age and shape. A few outfits could have used a little more creativity in making them effortlessly modest. Most could be changed with a little extra layering. The models were exuding joy as classic, graceful music made for a fun atmosphere!

Here are some favorite photos and fashions of the evening.

       

AuNaturel

This tutorial is not for every skin type and tone, but it will show a few easy steps in applying makeup oh-so-simply! This method is perfect for everyday use and for younger ladies who don't need to hide any of their natural beauty.

Please remember to consult with your parents if you don't wear makeup on a regular basis. If you respect and honor their judgment, you will gain favor in the Lord!

Skin Care - Face Masks

We have all heard the saying that "cleanliness is next to godliness." I don't think the theology of that statement is true, but it shows us how much people put value into being clean. Our body is God's temple. The Holy Spirit lives in us if we have been washed by Jesus' blood, so we want our bodies to glorify Him and to give a good testimony to others. Cleanliness plays a big part in honoring God with our bodies.


Keeping our faces clean is a very important part of skin care. We should be washing our faces twice every day with a gentle soap. This is a habit that takes discipline to form. It took me years of disciplining myself and watching a good friend being diligent in her skin care before I finally learned. 


I have found that using a face mask once or twice a week has really helped to keep my skin clean. When you wash a face mask off, your face will never have felt so fresh and clean! Face masks at natural food stores are generally very expensive, but if you can learn to make your own, you can be a wise steward of the money God has given you! Below are two of my favorite face mask recipes that I have used for several years.


Banana Honey Mask
-1/2 of a very ripe banana 
-1 tablespoon raw honey


1. Combine both ingredients and mash until fluffy.
2. Apply to face and leave it on for 10-20 minutes.
3. Rinse off with warm water.

Oatmeal Mask
-2 tablespoons plain yogurt
-1 teaspoon oatmeal
-1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice


1. Mix all ingredients together until creamy.
2. Apply to face and leave it on for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse off with warm water.

Happy skin care!
For His Glory,
Elyse

Tutorial 2 - Everyday Eye

Kate has a creamy skin tone so she doesn't need dramatic eye makeup to draw attention to her eyes. 

This everyday eye is for young women on the go. Play with these eyeshadow colors, but keep the colors neutral to your skin tone with a little shimmer for a perfect everyday look! Have fun!

{This tutorial is not suitable for all girls. If you are young, ask your mother or father before applying any makeup.}