Feel like a Celebrity

There is nothing more disheartening than to feel like a celebrity when you leave the house for an event, and then to see yourself in the mirror an hour later…Your makeup is cakey and filling those lines and your hair now looks like a bird made a home there! How do women keep their appearance looking like they stepped out of a magazine?

The same way you prepare for an event days before (or weeks before) by planning your outfit, you should also be preparing your skin and hair. We’ve found some fabulous products and beauty routines to help you look and feel like a model for hours upon hours!

Let’s get started…One week before your event

Hair… Glorious Hair:

• Let your hair soak. Your hair may be dry or damaged from all the color, blow drying & heat styling. Give some moisture back to your hair. Try ENJOY Hair Mask. This will not only give your hair the immediate softness and shine, but will help make your hair more manageable when you’re styling it a week later.
• Let your hair “grease” up. What do we mean? After masking your hair, washing & styling, give your hair a break from the washing and products every day. Yes… let it get dirty! It’s a gross thought… but ever wonder why you see so many women in caps? Yup… bad hair day! Some of us can’t possibly show up to work with caps or greasy hair, there is a solution… Dry Shampoo! It works wonders! A personal favorite is “Not Your Mother’s Clean Freak Dry Shampoo”.

Face…Glowing and Smooth:

• Give your face a routine it will love! Hopefully it goes without saying that you should already be cleansing, toning and moisturizing daily. As we age, the dark circles and laughter lines around our eyes become more prominent. While sleep plays a vital role in reducing dark circles, it does not eliminate them. Your eyes “speak” a lot about your health. Be sure to keep your iron levels stable by eating dark green leafy vegetables and you can also try taking some iron vitamins if your levels are low. (Always consult your doctor or healthcare professional for health concerns). There is also a great product for dark circles and lines, Total Eye Anti Aging Cream by Pure Biology. This is a tried and tested product and we are in love! It is not costly like most anti-aging products and you will not be sorry about your purchase! Use this cream both morning and night around the eyes (as directed on the label) and give your skin time to soak it in before moisturizing.
• Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Even if you have oily skin… find a product that moisturizes and evens out your skin without making it oily. Never forego moisturizing! Pure Biology products still remain a favorite, another anti-aging face cream favorite, tried and tested is Retinol Moisturizer Cream by Radha Beauty.

On the day of your event:

Styling your hair…

• When washing & conditioning your hair, may we suggest Evo Shampoo & Conditioner. There is an Evo product for every hair type. They smell good too! And while they can be a little more costly, you don’t use as much product and it seems to last a really long time!
• After towel drying your hair, apply some moroccan or argan oil (a small amount, “pea size”) starting at the ends of your hair and moving inwards towards your scalp. This helps smooth your hair and keeps the shine!
• Always use a “wet comb” or “wet brush” on your wet hair to avoid breaking your hair.
• Apply your hair styling product. Personal favorites of styling products are Sebastian Professional hair products especially the mousse and hairspray. These products do not leave your hair sticky or hard but instead you will have shine, softness and hold!

Applying your face…

• When cleansing your face, try using a facial scrub to remove dead skin cells and smooth out the appearance of your skin. Afterwards, give your skin time to soak in the moisturizer (15+ minutes) before applying a primer. The best makeup primer (in my opinion) is Bellezza Secreto. This primer goes on smoothly, covers fine lines, and keeps makeup looking flawless without feeling heavy on the face! The best part, besides the price, is that you use so little it lasts and lasts. In fact, if you use too much, it ruins the makeup, so be advised to test this before your big event so you know how much to use! Also remember, once again, give your primer time to soak in and set before adding foundation… suggested to give it at least 10 minutes to set (longer than the label suggestion).
• After applying your foundation, eyeliner, eyeshadow and blush (no lipstick yet), spray your face with setting spray. There are many products which claim quick drying, but be more aware of the “lightness” because let’s “face” it… our faces are already loaded with product! We don’t want to add to the heaviness of it. Try Bella Jade Botanicals. This product has exceptional reviews!
• And lastly, applying a long lasting lipstick… Every woman needs a good lipstick. Go bold. Give yourself color! Give Maybelline New York Superstay 24 Liquid Lipstick a try! This is another tried, tested and loved product! Ensure your lips are dry before adding the color liquid and allow it to try fully before adding the conditioning balm.

And lastly… a crucially important element when getting ready… TIME… This cannot be stressed enough. Give yourself time to get ready! Don’t rush yourself. It never ends well…

Now, get that dress and those shoes on and look amazing for hours!

*The reviews and product suggestions are not from paid promotions. LivingBetter50 staff have trialed and tested these products and found them to be worth sharing!