Under Construction.
My blog Levette Naturals is currently under construction.
Be back soon with some exciting new things for the Summer =)
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Where to Place Highlighter on the Face:
Applying highlighter to your face is easy and fun! The key is to place it in the areas of the face that the sunlight will naturally hit. These spots would be the center of the forehead, underneath your brow bones, bridge of nose, top of cheek bones, and the chin. You will naturally add dimension and a healthy glow to your face when placing a highlighter in these areas. Some other fun ways for applying highlighter is placing it in the inner corner of the eyes and the cupid’s bow of your upper lip.
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Levette’s Friday Beauty Report: TOXIC Cosmetic Ingredients and DANGERS.
You would be surprised if you knew all of the things that may be in your favorite cosmetics. This post will review a few dangerous ingredients that are used in the production of traditional cosmetics. Grab your makeup bag, skin care products, and hair care products and check out all of the labels.
Formaldehydes. This is a preservative found in cosmetics that can cause various allergic skin reactions, headaches, and breathing difficulties particularly for people with asthma. When used in nail polish, it can stain the nails yellow. Studies have shown that this ingredient may result in cancer. It’s very dangerous when inhaled.
Parabens. These are also used as preservatives in cosmetics. They can easily enter the bloodstream by skin contact. They may cause skin irritation, fertility issues, and breast cancer. Parabens were discovered in several samples of breast cancer tissue.
Phthalates. These are reproductive toxins that are usually listed as “fragrance” on a cosmetic product like deodorant, perfume, hairspray, and nail polish. Organs such as the liver, kidneys, and lungs can be damaged from the use of Phthalates. They can also affect child development.
Propylene glycol. This is often used in moisturizers. It can cause skin irritation, dryness, and cell membrane damage. Propylene glycol is another ingredient that can enter your bloodstream by skin contact. It is derived from petroleum oil. The use of Propylene glycol can also increase acid inside of the body.
Talc. This is a toxic mineral that may lead to ovarian cancer. It can cause tumors in the lungs and ovaries. Talc is often found in baby powders, eye shadows, face powders, and blushes.
There are of course thousands of other dangerous ingredients that can be found in cosmetics. As you’ve read in this post, some ingredients can affect fertility and child development. When I went to school for makeup artistry, I also learned that a lot of the popular lipsticks in the cosmetic industry contain lead. This is extremely dangerous because at some point during the day, we consume our lipstick because of eating or drinking. Lead in lipstick has also been linked to miscarriages.
I always tell my clients, especially pregnant women that it’s best to go natural! Natural and organic cosmetics are your safest and healthiest option. I can’t stress that enough!
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Eyeshadow Application:
When applying eyeshadow, pat the shadow on your eyelid with your brush instead of sweeping it across your eye. Patting the shadow provides better control of the product. The color will be evenly distributed and vibrant!
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Levette’s Friday Beauty Report: The Difference Between Natural and Organic.
Natural beauty care products are becoming increasingly popular in the cosmetics industry. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference between a natural product and a traditional product. The list of ingredients can become overwhelming. In this post I will explain the difference between Natural, Organic, and Certified Organic cosmetics.
Natural: These products are usually created without adding dyes, fragrances, or chemical preservatives. Many of the ingredients come form natural ingredients and plants. Not all products that claim to be “natural” are 100% natural. Make sure to look for labels that state that they are 100% natural.
Organic: The materials used to create these products are not genetically modified. They are made without hormones, chemicals, and pesticides. The materials are from plant materials or from substances derived from plant materials.
Certified Organic: These products have 100% organic ingredients. They are produced without any pesticides or hormones. Synthetic chemicals can not be used at all at any stage of the production process. A certified organic product will always have a seal that states it’s a certified organic product.
You can never go wrong with researching products before you buy. Call the company of the product if you ever have questions about their labeling or ingredients. I hope this post helps anyone that may have been confused about what qualifies a product to be natural or organic!
xoxo,
♥ Levette
My new addition to my Burt’s Bees lip products!!! Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Lip Gloss in Sweet Sunset. Love it ♥
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Natural skin care is the best skin care! I can never get enough of Burt’s Bees. Here are my favorite products currently…
Natural Acne Solutions Purifying Gel Cleanser
Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream with Cotton Extract
Radiance Night Cream with Royal Jelly
Facial Cleansing Towelettes with White Tea Extract
Richly Replenishing Cocoa & Cupuacu Butters Body Lotion for Dry Skin
Island Lip Balm with Passion Fruit
Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter
xoxo,
♥ Levette
How To Pick Concealer:
Everyone has their own unique skin tone. The color of concealer that works for you may not work for someone else. Pick a color that caters to your skin tone’s needs. The following is a list of general concealer shades and how they cover common skin imperfections.
Natural (Skin Tone Shades): Corrects and shades.
Yellow Beige: Hides blue veins and under eye circles.
Ivory: Hides under eye circles.
Green: Counteract redness. Perfect for rosacea.
Peach: Counteracts brown. Perfect for sunspots, freckles, and under eye area.
Lilac: Gives a radiant and luminous effect. Perfect for eyelids and under eye area.
xoxo,
♥ Levette
Levette’s Friday Beauty Report: Know Your Cosmetic’s Expiration Dates.
Using expired cosmetics can be extremely harmful for your skin. They can cause breakouts, rashes, or infections. It’s important for us to go through our makeup and skincare monthly to check for what has expired.
This picture is a skincare product that I purchased yesterday at a drugstore. As you can see, the product expired March of 2012. It is now April of 2013, yet this product was still on the shelves. I have brought this to the attention of the company and returned this item along with another expired item. This goes to show you that you can’t put all of your trust in stores when making purchases. Lesson learned for me. For now on I will always check before I buy. The following is a list of general expiration dates for a few makeup and skincare products.
Makeup
Liquid and cream foundations: 2 years
Face powder: 2 years
Powder blush: 2 years
Cream blush: 12 to 18 months
Concealer: 2 years
Mascara: 4 to 6 months
Powder eye shadow: 2 years
Cream eye shadow: 12 to 18 months
Eye pencil: 1 year
Lipstick: 1 year
Lip pencil: 1 year
Skincare
Facial wash and acne products: 4 to 6 months
Exfoliating scrubs: 2 years
Face cream: 1 to 2 years
Eye cream: 6 months
Sunscreen: 2 years
The time frames that I listed are just general guidelines. It’s always best to search for an expiration date on the packaging of your product. If you love natural and organic products like me, make sure to take extra precautions because they can expire quicker than traditional products. Luckily I noticed the date on the product in the picture before I used it and was able to return it. I hope this post helps anyone who may have questions about the expiration dates of cosmetics. Thanks for reading!
xoxo,
♥ Levette
