Natalie Peachy Makeup Artist

4 Essential Makeup “Dos” (and 1 Don’t) for Looking Younger

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Makeup is magical. It can completely transform a face or enhance a woman’s features in the most subtle, natural way. And BONUS – if you’re concerned about aging it can help you look younger! But if you’re using the wrong products they can also age you. Don’t worry though – I got you girl! Read on for 5 key anti-aging dos and dont’s I share with all my clients.  

RETINOL ANYONE? 

Actually the heading should read retinol EVERYONE over 30! After sunscreen, retinol is THE #1 superhero anti-aging ingredient on the market because it will:

  • increase your skin cell turnover 
  • stimulate your own collagen production
  • minimize fine lines and wrinkles
  • give you a smoother and brighter complexion
  • improve your skin’s texture and tone

The key is not to overdo it in the beginning guys. Your face needs time to develop a tolerance for it. Start by using it once a week in the evening after washing your face and work your way up to 2 or 3 times a week max. Avoid falling into the “more is better” trap which I did. Too much retionl too fast will leave your skin looking red and flaky. I’ve been there and it ain’t cool.

Peachy’s Picks:

Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Moisturizer Night

The Ordinay 1% Retinol in Squalane

GO AHEAD, SHOW SOME SKIN.

If you grew up in the 80s like I did, you’ll remember foundation only came in one formula – thick! Thankfully formulations have advanced and are now incredibly light and skinlike. And this is especially important for aging skin. Now that I’m in my 40’s the thought of full coverage foundation makes me cringe because it INSTANTLY ages me!

As we age our pores get bigger and our skin becomes drier and thinner creating fine lines and a dull, lacklustre complexion. A heavy foundation will only enhance these things but a light, hydrating formula will give our skin the added moisture it craves and impart a youthful, radiant glow.

My go to now is a BB or CC cream. And when I do need to wear foundation I opt for the most lightweight but effective formula I can find. If you’ve got beautiful skin why hide it? For a youthful result use products that tone down redness and discolouration while letting your skin show through. 

Peachy’s Picks:

it cosmetics your skin but better CC+ cream

rms beauty “un-cover” up cream foundation

 

ARE YOU BLUSHING?

There’s a reason NARS’ best selling blush is called orgasm. Yup – they’re alluding to “that” glow. Why? Because nothing’s more natural or healthy looking than the shade your cheeks naturally flush. Very cheeky Nars 😉

And the best way to achieve that look is with cream blush! Unlike powder which sits on top of your skin, cream blush literally melts into it. It looks incredibly natural and the best part is you don’t need even need a brush. It’s insanely easy to apply. Pat 3 dots along the top of your cheekbone with your finger and blend outward in a circular motion. Bam – that’s it!

Peachy’s Picks:

Maybelline Cheek Heat Sheer Gel Cream Blush

rms beauty lip2cheek cream blush

 

 

THE RIGHT TOOLS ARE EVERYTHING

I’m not a great cook. Probably because I don’t enjoy it. Honestly I only learned how when Russell moved in because I didn’t want to subject him to fishsticks every night. But I bet if I used Wolfgang Puck’s cookware I could turn out a pretty mean stirfry.

It’s the same with makeup brushes. Honestly a good brush will do the work for you. If you’re not terribly confident applying makeup the right brush will help you feel like a pro.  And if you’ve got mad skills quality brushes will let you “slay” every look.

Two of my favourite brands for quality, affordable tools are Quo (Shoppers Drug Mart) and E.L.F. Cosmetics brushes. If you want to splurge MAC brushes are amazing but range from $25-$50 each. The up-side is they’re very durable and if cared for properly can last up to 10 years.

 

 

It’s time to break up with “Matte”‘

Do you know why Marilyn Monroe applied vaseline under her makeup before filming? Because she knew moisture = youth. She also pretty much invented lip gloss. And nothing looks sexier and more youthful than a luscious, plump pout. Matte lipstick is incredibly drying and can make your lips look smaller.

For a natural, hydrating wash of colour try Physicians Formula Rose Kiss All Day Glossy Lip Colour. For a light shine add a coat of clear or sheer colour gloss to your lipstick. I love Rimmel’s Stay Glossy or Oh My Gloss range.

 

 

5 Winter Skincare Tips for a Glowy & Dewy Complexion

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Do you find no matter how much moisturizer you apply lately your skin craves more? Me too! The lightweight lotions I normally use aren’t cutting it come November and the cold, dry air that comes with it. 

And if you’ve worked hard to achieve a glowing, healthy complexion don’t worry. Keeping your dewy glow is as easy as switching up a few items in your beauty routine.

Here are 5 things to try.

1. Add a serum to your morning routine. Normally after cleansing I apply my daytime moisturizer but now I feel it’s not enough. Solution? Apply a hydrating serum before my moisturizer. Look for serums with ingredients like hyaluronic acid that bind water to your skin.

I like: Tarte Mermaid Skin Hyaluronic H20 Serum (available at Sephora)

 2. Exfoliate at least twice a week! This will remove dry, dead surface skin and reveal the young fresh skin underneath. It also helps your moisturizer to penetrate deeper. In the winter I prefer a chemical exfoliant to a manual scrub. It’s gentler and doesn’t make my skin red the way some scrubs do.

I like: Paula’s Choice 2% Beta Hydroxy Acid (available at paulaschoice.com)

3. Use a richer moisturizer in the evening. Now that my electric heating sucks the moisture from my face on the daily, I need more hydration at night. I love Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Moisturizer. It’s got glycerine – a great emollient that also protects your skin’s outer barrier and squalane – a lipid commonly derived from olives with antioxidant properties. Your skin produces some squalane so it recognizes it and drinks it in leaving it feeling smooth, supple and hydrated. Ahhhhh. (available at Sephora)

4. When the temperature dips below zero, I occasionally swap my nighttime moisturizer for facial oil. Facial oils have better absorption than moisturizers and provide greater hydration. You can also use them as a lip balm and under eye moisturizer.  Facial oils have youth boosting antioxidants and will make your skin look brighter and smoother! They are light, non greasy and fast absorbing. I apply 3-4 drops and massage all over my face and neck.

I like: Tarte Maracuja Oil, Josia Maran Argan oil (available at Sephora), The Body Shop Oils of Life

5. Don’t forget your body! The skin on your body can get drier than your face. When standard body lotion isn’t enough, nothing soothes dry, itchy skin like a rich body butter! It creates a barrier around your skin locking moisture in and keeping the cold out. And you’ll smell delicious all day long!

I like: The Body Shop Shea Body Butter

Getting Hitched? Here are 6 Tips for Doing your own Wedding Makeup

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Bride with vail blowing in the wind

Congratulations and let the wedding planning begin! Planning a wedding can be stressful (book a venue, photographer, catering, décor) and costs can add up pretty quickly. If you’re comfortable doing your own makeup, you can save some money by doing it yourself on your wedding day. Pinterest is a great source for inspirational bridal looks (how did anyone plan their wedding before Pinterest?)

Wedding day makeup is more complex than your everyday look because you need to look gorgeous in person AND in photos. You also want it to last until the last man – or woman – standing.

Here a few recommendations for doing your wedding day makeup like a pro: 

Prep and Prime

Moisturize your skin then apply a light layer of primer either with your fingers or a brush. Start at the t-zone (forehead, nose and chin) and blend outwards. A good primer does two things:

  • it fills in enlarged pores and fine lines so your foundation glides on smoothly
  • it controls shine and extends the wear of your makeup

Recommended:

Nars Pore & Shine Control Primer

Benefit The Porefessional

Foundation

Use a long wear foundation that matches your skin perfectly. These are designed to be sweat and humidity resistant and will last 10-12 hrs. If you wear your hair up don’t forget to put some on your ears! They can get pretty red when we’re nervous or excited.

Recommended:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Makeup

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

Eyes that Mesmerize

Focus the drama on your lash line and lashes. This will make your eyes really stand out in photos. I like to use a waterproof pencil or gel, and apply it as close to the base of the lashes as possible. After you’ve applied the eyeliner, take a small brush with some dark shadow and apply it on top of the line. This will give you a softer, more romantic feel. And make sure your mascara is waterproof! Bridal Makeup- Gallery Image 23

Recommended:

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place Eye Pencil

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

Kiss Proof Lips

To ensure your lipstick doesn’t fade after your first kiss, follow this technique.

  • hydrate lips with lip balm
  • line and fill ill in your lips with lip liner
  • apply lipstick (avoid moisturizing formulas, they fade quickly)
  • take a tissue and blot your lips (this removes moisture and turns it into a stain)
  • apply another coat of lipstick and top with gloss if you like.

If you don’t find them too drying, you can opt for a long wear lip stain. Have your maid of honour or bridesmaid carry your lipstick so you have access to it for touch ups.                                                                                            

Recommended:

MAC Lip Pencil

Estee Lauder Stay-In-Place Lip Pencil

Lock and Load

Now that you’ve created your ideal bridal look you want it to last! I always finish each bride’s makeup with 4-5 sprays of a makeup setting spay – it’s like hairspray for your face. If you tend to get oily, carry blotting sheets instead of powder. They will lift away oil for a shine free finish.

Recommended:

Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets

Picture Perfect

Makeup on your wedding day must be a little heavier than what you’d normally wear. This is to compensate for the camera flash that will bounce off your face and wash out your colour by 30-40%. Practice doing your makeup and take a few selfies in daylight and at night for a true sense of how it will look on the big day.

3 Anti-Aging Tips for Looking Younger after 40

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If you’re like me, looking good after 40 doesn’t mean trying to look 25 again, but the freshest, most youthful version of yourself. It’s no secret our skin changes in our 40s and keeps changing as we age. Knowing how to deal with these changes (wrinkles and age spots and pores – oy vey) can be an exercise in frustration. It doesn’t help that the internet bombards us with beauty advice often geared towards a younger demographic. 

To help you cut through the noise, here are my top 3 tips for looking youthful.

Should you wear foundation? Yes because you’ll look younger!

An uneven skin tone makes you look old – period. A good foundation will conceal ruddiness, sun spots, and discoloration and will even out your complexion. Making your skin look its best is the first step to looking YOUNG and FRESH.

Our skin can get drier after 40, so hydrating liquid formulas are your best bet. Stay away from thick, heavy formulations which will settle into fine lines and accentuate them. Instead, opt for light to medium coverage foundations that are buildable (you can add more after the first application and it won’t look cakey). If you have oily skin, avoid ones with the words “luminous” or “radiance” on the label – you’ll just end up looking greasy.

If you find foundations too heavy, try a BB cream instead (stands for Beauty Balm). It’s basically a tinted moisturizer with added primer and spf. It’s extremely lightweight with a light amount of pigment for colour correction. 

Recommended: 

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream: Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora 

Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation: Sephora 

Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid: Nordstrom, Sephora.com

 Moisturize – alot.

After age 40, skin becomes drier and loses elasticity which leads to fine lines and wrinkles. Do you find this happening to you? Between the freezing temperature outside and the dry indoor heat my face feels like a shrunken apple head doll! 

Before applying foundation, skin should be as HYDRATED and PLUMP as possible. This is an important part of any anti-aging regimen. Using a good moisturizer will create a smooth canvas for the foundation to glide over.  The more quenched your skin is, the less likely foundation will settle into fine lines and pores. After cleansing, massage a liberal amount all over your face AND neck before applying foundation. If your under eye area is dry, give it some TLC with a rich eye cream.

Your daytime moisturizer should have a minimum SPF of 25 and antioxidants (Vitamins A, C, E). Antioxidants protect the skin from the sun’s UV rays and environmental damage thereby helping prevent wrinkles. Also, make sure you purchase moisturizer in a pump or tube, not a jar. Anti-aging ingredients can lose their efficacy when exposed to light and air.

Recommended: 

Olay Professional Pro x Anti-Aging Lotion SPF 30: Shoppers Drug Mart, WalMart 

Clinique City Block Sheer Oil-Free Daily Face Protector SPF 25: The Bay, Sephora

Blush – the glow of youth!

As we age, our complexion can start to look dull and washed out. Adding a pop of colour to your cheeks is the fastest way to look INSTANTLY YOUNGER! Nothing adds life to the face like blush. Mid tone shades of soft peach and warm pink are universally flattering.

Many clients tell me they’re afraid to use blush because they don’t know how to apply it. Here’s what you do:

  • apply blush along your cheekbone – not the apple (centre) of your cheek
  • place your brush where your cheekbone begins, just below your pupil
  • move upwards toward your temple in small circular motions.
  • this gives your face an instant lift!

Using the right brush is so important! Get a blush brush with soft, full bristles. If the bristles are too hard or dense you’ll be left with a stripe along the side of your face (remember the 80’s?) instead of a youthful flush.

Recommended: MAC 129 Blush Brush; Clinique Blush Brush