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REVIEW: It Works! Ultimate Body Applicator

30 Apr

Now, I want to start off by saying that I’m a huge skeptic of anything and everything. It usually even takes me awhile to get up the courage to try something new in fear of “I don’t know what this really does.” It has been my mission to find only the best of the best products to introduce to my clients, and I won’t settle for anything less.

Just another day going by in the salon when I saw a guy peeping in my doorway wanting to introduce me to a product he is selling. To be honest, my first thought was “Oh great.. another sales pitch..” I took his card and he went on his way. A week or so later, I saw him again.. Then again.. I took a look at the cards he gave me, wrote it off for something that was just too good to be true, and threw them in a drawer. Well, another week passed and he scheduled with me to get his eyebrows done after visiting his hairstylist in my salon. I felt pretty bad at this point. During the treatment, he went on for a little bit about how this may benefit my business and he finally talked me into at least trying it.

I tried it. It was amazing!

The Ultimate Body Applicator by It Works! is an all natural, botanical cream blend infused in a non woven cloth. You simply tear open the individually wrapped package, apply the applicator to your target area, leave on for at least 45 minutes, and voila!

IW_HowTo

Mind you, I am 5’6″ at 110lbs; I lost 2.5″ off my waist. I didn’t even know I had room to lose!! The company does want to push the fact they can not guarantee inch loss, but they can guarantee tightening, toning, and firming of the skin.

My only “woe” in regards to the wrap: I got pretty sick in the following days.
1. It was the very first time I had ever tried any form of detox therapy. I didn’t know what to expect.
2. You are supposed to drink at least 2 full glasses of water while you have it on. I drank half a glass.
3. I read that if you’re pretty “toxic” you should be drinking plenty of water. Did I? Nope.
My body was trying to flush all that nasty c**p out of my body, and I wasn’t helping. Trapped toxins trying to leave your body result in flu like symptoms.

Am I going to try it again? Definitely!
After my body flushed those nasty toxins out of my system, I felt amazing – I still feel amazing. Those 2.5 inches that I lost? Still gone. I feel completely guilt free every time I pull into a McDonald’s drive thru because I know I have my handy wrap waiting for me; and boy, does It Work! ;)

Hello there!

25 Aug

I suppose I should formally introduce myself..
Hello there, my name is Joscelyn Lucille Graham! I was born in the suburbs of Southern California and swear I will never leave. I was a dancer for 16 years then mysteriously stopped and haven’t picked it back up. Dance was my outlet and I miss it terribly. I’m extremely hard on myself and seeing that I’m an only child, it’s a little exasperating. Almost everything I do is achieved through self-teaching. I’m a firm believer in figuring things out for yourself.. but that only applies to me! I
am always willing to help those that are willing to listen. I’ve been told I talk in riddles since I was a kid – no one can ever understand me.
I’m quiet, reserved and never speak out of turn. The handful of people I’m close to know the real me. I hate drama. I never jump on the band wagon of the “he-said-she-said.” I give everyone the opportunity to make a lasting impression not just a hit and run first impression. Art = LOVE. From baking to scrapbooking, dancing to website building, anything that involves creativity takes my breath away. My very first job was as a store hostess at Disneyland. I miss that terribly too! I suppose I miss a lot of things. I think It’s time to change that.
I love everything couture. I love pastels and neons. I love old hollywood glamour. Chandeliers. Technology. Animals. Organization. F.R.I.E.N.D.S. You’ll start to learn that I’m quite the oxymoron.
I keep everything to myself and I can’t wait to get this blog started to learn more.. about myself!

That Dark Abyss Under the Eyes

25 Aug

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I dread looking at myself in the mirror every morning. I feel like Jamie Lee Curtis in Freaky Friday: “OH, IM LIKE THE CRYPTKEEPER!” And truth be told, Concealing the dark under eye circles is actually much easier than expected!

As we get older, the thin skin/tissue under and around our eyes gets thinner, thus revealing the blue undertone of our blood stream. Most women are told to choose a concealer one to two shades lighter than their foundation and frankly.. thank you sephora employee who wasted a lot of my money! I was buying the wrong concealers for years. The lighter shades can in turn enhance the discoloration leaving you with now an ashy grey raccoon look.

To properly conceal that blue-ish combination, use orange. I know.. Woah! When looking at a color wheel, the opposing color will cancel the other out. So if you’re dealing with redness on the cheeks or nose after prolonged sun exposure, use green.

Now, I’m not telling you to go out and buy an orange stick-shadow and smudge that all over. But I am saying, find a concealer that matches your skin tone and has an orange to salmon hue to it. The same color theory applies to other areas of hyper pigmentation and even covering bruises.

*original post on Haute Couture Skin & Makeup Lounge

Anonymous asked: “how’d you get named the mistress of makeup?”

10 Aug

I had a client awhile back who said I had magic brushes and that she adored my makeup kit.. She just kept raving about it and she finally concluded with “well aren’t you just a Mistress of Makeup?!” ..and that’s that! :)

Environmentally & Pocket Friendly

10 Aug

We’re all trying to save a few dollars here and there, and a great way is through making things from ingredients around the house!

“I want to start a regular skin care regimen. What do I do?”

10 Aug

I’m so glad you’re taking the big leap into skin care! I’m going to warn you, doing this twice a day will seem a bit tedious at first but will become second nature to you in no time!

1. Cleanse
Start by selecting the best cleanser for your skin type (ex: Dry Skin: Cream Cleanser, Acneic: Clay Cleanser). It is very important to avoid bar soaps and cheap cleansers as they tend to dry out your skin an alter the pH balance. Before performing your nightly routine, be sure to double cleanse and remove all traces of makeup. Makeup left on your face overnight can age you up to 5 days!

2. Exfoliate
Regular exfoliation helps renew your skin, purify blemishes and stimulate cell turnover. Follow the directions of your exfoliant very carefully to ensure you don’t over use it! Over exfoliating can do more harm than good. Many people overlook exfoliating because it leaves their skin feeling dry and tight.. but wait…

3. Moisturize
Since we just exposed a fresh layer of skin, we need to keep it hydrated and well nourished so it feels it’s best! Choose an oil free moisturize that is free of fragrance or any harsh alcohols. Apply morning and night.

4. Protect
The #1 cause of wrinkles is sun damage. SPF 15 is the bare minimum when it comes to sunscreen! This should be worn every day no matter the weather outside!

Once this becomes second nature, I would love to go more in-depth with you for your routine!

Summer Savior

10 Aug

Summer is finally here and to make sure we keep our skin safe, here are some helpful tips for choosing a sunscreen:
1. “Broad Spectrum.” Broad Spectrum sunscreens protect you from UVA and UVB rays. (UVA – pigments skin to tan/UVB – causes sun burns and alters DNA)
2. SPF of at least 15
3. Include one or more of these ingredients:
- mexoryl, oxybenxone or avobenzone(Parsol 1789) – for UVA protection

- titanium dioxide or zinc oxide – for UVA/UVB protection
Remember: Even on a cloudy day it is very important to protect your skin from the sun!