THE MAKE-UP GURU

EYELASH YOU - A BEAUTIFUL FACADE!

2010-06-29T17:56:00.000-07:00

Eyelash You - A Beautiful Facade

Sometimes people put up walls not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down. While I am getting better with doing this, I am occasionally guilty of building walls. Okay who's joking - I build towers with alligator filled moats according to some people! At times it feels like I am going to have no other choice, but to eventually grow my hair like Rapunzel and throw a potential suitor a rope of braided hair so that he can find the way up to this tangled web I call my heart.

Being a girl that always found myself in long term committed relationships, I felt like it was important for me to know that I can do things alone and be happy. So I took a "sabbatical" from my heart for a good year - A time where I did some major soul searching. It is amazing what you discover when you are just living for yourself and your dreams. I think every woman should do it at least once in her life.

The lessons from my sabbatical were priceless - I will admittedly tell you that the road to self discovery is not all lolly pops and daisies but it is a yellow brick road of great adventures that will inevitably bring courage, heart, and wisdom.

Now that I am trying to break down some of those walls it has not been an easy transition. I have become what I call a beautiful facade - an anomaly - a mystery to many- where people make assumptions about my heart and feelings about relationships...this sabbatical while it has been wonderful has come at a price....I have gotten a little hurt and unfortunately I have hurt others a little in the process. Funny but sometimes the very thing you are trying to push away is pulling you in from the other direction. While a mystery is always intriguing like the many layers to a haircut - if not executed properly it can be pointless. After a certain time it goes against the grain to detach yourself from your heart - especially when you are a sap like me. I mean let's face it, I am a hopeless romantic deep inside.

For those who know me in my inner circle, I am much like a mellon - rough peel to get through but easily devoured. So where is the happy medium between beautiful facade and devoured mellon? When are the walls too much, too overpowering, and when are they just right!? I don't know quite yet but in the words of my favorite movie, The Shaw Shank Redemption "get busy living or gt busy dying." I am finally ready to break down these walls. Perhaps I am ready to say the words I love you to the right person because I finally love myself on many levels. Nobody wants to be alone forever and it is only natural to yearn for that special someone....so the rest is to be revealed.

Today's Beauty Lesson is about achieving a happy medium between facade and natural.

Are eyelash extensions right for you -

Luscious lashes have long been the standard of beauty for women. We go to great lengths to achieve them, using mascara, and even eyelash curlers. It is no secret that our lashes frame the most expressive feature on our face – our eyes.

Mascara has always been the weapon of choice for luxurious lashes. But with eyelash extensions, you can throw out the hard-to-fulfill promises of lengthening, strengthening, thickening, clump-free mascaras. Eyelash extensions create more drama than mascara, but still look fresh and natural. You’ll look doe-eyed first thing in the morning and throughout the day.

Here is what you need to know:

Lash cost: Eyelash extensions will run you about $250. In addition, the touch-ups you usually require every two weeks will be about $60. It can be pricey but a full set of extensions can lengthen your lashes up to 50%, and will thicken them by 30 to 50%. You can also choose different colors, from blacks and browns to purples and tints of red, depending on your coloring and the effect you crave.

How it works: The entire procedure usually takes about two hours. First, you’ll lie down while an eyelash extension specialist uses surgical tape to hold down your bottom lashes, which aren’t used in the procedure. Then, between 25 and 40 individual silk lashes are dipped one by one into a bonding agent and applied to your existing individual lashes. The procedure is painless, even relaxing.

Lash care: It’s critical to avoid getting your lashes wet with water, oils or creams in the first 24 to 48 hours. Your new lashes will last about 4 to 6 weeks, but for maximum results, touch-ups are usually recommended every two weeks to replace any strays that have fallen out.

****Avoid pulling and rubbing lashes when washing your face. Toss out your eyelash curler and mascara too. Curlers can break or crease your new lashes, and since most mascara is petroleum-based, it’ll break down the adhesive and ruin the lashes. Mascara isn’t necessary when you have extensions. Do not use waxy or creamy eyeliner pencils either. To take off your eye makeup, use a non-oily makeup remover instead of a cleanser.

BOTTOM LINE

Like most things worth having (like love) - eyelash extensions take a bit of a commitment. They are a great beauty secret that simply accentuate your natural lash and can be removed at any time when you are ready to go back to basics...much like the walls one can build around their heart!

P.S I give your permission to take a sabatical from the daily grind of mascara and curlers. Come see me for a fabulous set of Xtreme Eyelash Extensions. MUAH!

xoxoxoxox

Leslie

I will leave you with a great song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujnH4yNqL8E

EMBRACE DON'T ERASE

2010-05-02T20:11:00.000-07:00

A LESSON IN CHANGE

(SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS)
"Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind." (Henry Wadsworth)

As I listened to a very profound message at church today, I started to feel like perhaps I was right where I was suppose to be. It was obvious that powers beyond me and my control wanted to remind me of core messages that I seemed to have abandoned these past few weeks. You see, I like most of you reading this blog have my moments when I get stuck reflecting on memories that are bitter sweet. The times I call SPLENDOR IN THE GRASS. Moments that are nice to reflect on but hinder your progression to make new memories if you are not careful.

Pastor Mark very eloquently said "When your memories exceed your dreams your life is over." I am here to remind you not to live in the past. To have joyful memories we have to make new memories daily. Let's face it, we are all going to die one day. Some of us may be given more time than others but, we are all going to pass on eventually. That doesn't mean we have to go out and party like it is 1999 Prince Style and be reckless, but it means we need to be AWARE with gratitude that we have been given another breath of air to make a new memory for today - to speak, share, touch and be used as a vessel!

I recently had the misfortune of burying someone I really cared about, my uncle Fernando. His life was one of promise and hope until he allowed himself to be frozen in time. He reached his "thought to be" pinnacle of success in the 90s. (Business, expanding family, and love...you name it.) Eventually he would lose everything in what seemed to be an instant but really it was a long 15 year process. He slowly allowed an alcohol addiction to make him believe that he would never have his dreams surpass his past memories. It was very painful to watch how one man's inability to make new memories made a stream of hearts stagnant all around him.

For years all of us as a family watched and listened to him reflect on pictures, moments, and feelings of the past. Conversation would never be about tomorrow. As we all became busy making new memories he was still talking about childhood memories, achievements, and people. With each drink he would delve further back in time until he was paralyzed by his own defeat.

I have to believe that my uncle's recent death, in addition to the message at church was a nudge for me to share my thoughts on this topic. ABANDON the memories of yesterday. Use today as the stepping stone to your new stair well to the future. Life isn't meant to be repeated or be done over, it is meant to be a journey of self acceptance and love. What you were yesterday is nothing compared to what you can be tomorrow.

'To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did.' When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you." (unknown)

Today's Blog is a lesson in Embrace Don't Erase:

On a daily basis women shy away from embracing their age! Are we so conditioned to do everything we can to "look and feel younger" that we can't love the age we're in? At the same time this message is not a green light to let one self go but perhaps be more gentle.

When Dove launched it's Pro Age campaign I was thrilled, but I didn't have much hope for the survival of this campaign. Having worked in the stereotypical high fashion industry, I found it amazing that women of all shapes and sizes collaborated to let it all hang out and change the face of acceptable.

_______________________________

Three years later I am elated to announce that this campaign is still going strong. This just proves that we, as a society, are starving to change the image of perfection and beauty.

In a day where runway fashion models are dropping dead like flies from anorexia to meet the norm among their coworkers and role models, IT IS ABOUT FLIPPING TIME we enjoy the day and embrace a curvy booty and smile lines - for it may be our last day to express that smile or show off those dangerous curves ;). _______________________________________________TODAY IS THE DAY - you are worthy to make new memories and not live in yesterday's size 2 image or nostalgia of yesterday's love. Evolving is a wonderful and BEAUTIFUL thing - it is the difference between diapers and toilets. ENJOY THE DAY AND LAUGH!

BOATS AGAINST THE CURRENT - GREAT CLIP

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1OWrKQWNFY

xoxoxoxo Leslie (R.I.P. FERNIE you are loved)

BEAUTY PERSONIFIED

2010-03-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

BEAUTY PERSONIFIED
(Attitude is Altitude)

My intent isn’t to give you a lesson in religion or even convince you to share in the same belief system that I have. When I meet someone incredible from whatever walk of life - I just want to share that person with everyone. Every now and then you meet someone that makes you reconsider how you have been living and your thought process. Nick Vujicic was just that for me. Having worked in an industry where beauty is measured by waist lines, I found it refreshing to redefine my concept of beautiful. Ironically by the standards of the world he would be considered disabled but I find him more "able" and "beautiful" than most of society.

I had the awesome pleasure of seeing Nick Vujicic speak at my church a few years ago. It was a meeting that planted a small seed that eventually would bloom a plant of love and self acceptance. Nick is the creator of an organization called Life Without Limbs. He is 26 years old, was born without arms or legs, and a medical phenomenon. Medical professionals were never able to give him or his parents a reason for this condition but these same professional were quick to assume that his life would be very limited and bleak.

Faced with countless challenges and obstacles, Nick quite often talks about how God has given him the strength to surmount what others might call impossible. Watching him rapidly move from one end of the stage to the other, was enough for me to want a little of what he had. He has an unquenchable passion to share hope and genuine love. Nick has traveled to over 19 nations to give his personal story. While I think it is very humbling to be in his presence, he will tell you how humbled he is by the continuous opportunities he has had to share his personal testimony of passion and purpose. Nick just has something contagious about him. It can’t be bought, emulated, or even imitated. He is amazing with not only his profound faith but his amazing ability touch other people, play golf, public speak, paint, etc.

Because of Nick's unique personal story, he is able to speak to groups of all kinds. This included young and old, impoverished, imprisoned, business people, children, peoples of all races, those with disabilities and those without them.

"Nick's authentic love of Christ shines through him so penetratingly that people are literally captivated and disarmed by the fact he can genuinely rejoice in his circumstances. Almost without realizing it, they discover that they want desperately that same factor that they see so clearly displayed in Nick's life and messages, in their own lives. That factor that they desire for themselves is, of course, Christ...living in him, and working through him." (www.lifewithoutlimbs.org)

Today’s Blog is about
Redefining Your Concept of Beautiful

"America's Next Top Model"

The last time I checked, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton could have taken some profound direction from Nick. In a world so flooded with living on the surface and in material, I think our concept of beautiful is a bit off. Call it getting older, but what attracts me to another person has very little to do with their genetic make-up anymore. Don't get me wrong, I am not blind but perhaps I am seeing with a different set of eyes. Coming from a girl that often found myself adorned with a "beautiful" arm piece, a man. I am no longer into accessories that serve no purpose.

If your ultimate definition of beautiful lies in something or someone that lives without purpose, passion, or humility - I promise you will be seriously disappointed eventually or everytime. Don't build foundations on sand but rather have a firm concrete blue print to what is truly your beauty

_________________________________

In my opinion, Nick personifies beauty because attitude is altitude when it comes to everything about him. For a man without limbs - he builds bridges and ultimately bares a bunch of fruitful branches!

I challenge you to put yourself in Nick's position today and see if you would still think the same. I urge you to buy into an attainable concept of beautiful and be grateful for what God has given you. At the same time when you look at another person - don't be so judgemental.

xoxoxox

Leslie

Divas In Distress

2010-03-01T16:15:00.000-08:00

DIVAS IN DISTRESS
“The Power of 3”

After I was relocated to Florida, my two close friends D and Angela thought a girl’s trip was in order. It had been a while since we were all able to catch up. We decided on the Dominican Republic. All we could think about was getting some much needed relaxation with clear water, fruity drinks, and a beautiful hotel. My friend D’s parents had a beautiful time share in Puerto Rico that they swapped out for equal accommodations in the Dominican Republic. It just seemed perfect – so we didn’t bother to do much research when we booked our trip. I mean how bad could it be in comparison to the 5 star resort D’s parents always visited in Puerto Rico. _____________________________________________
So off we went with our bags packed and in vacation mode. I should mention that Angela drank the entire flight from New York to our final destination. We were 3 exhausted young girls in our mid twenties that arrived in this foreign land at 3am. Shortly after getting our luggage we went out to the curb to find our paid for - all inclusive transportation. Angela saw a man holding a cardboard sign with the name of our hotel and without a second thought we hopped in. Looking back we should have noticed that all of the other drivers had professional signs but we were sleep deprived and just happy to get our vacation started. Our driver really didn’t speak much English but having spent so much time with NY’s taxi system, we were not alarmed because many drivers came from foreign countries.

INCOMPLETE

Our drive in the dark started to become very scary. I immediately had a horrible feeling in my stomach. After about an hour D started to feel the same way. I remember holding hands and praying for some divine intervention. True to Angela’s personality, she was passed out drunk in the back of the van completely oblivious to what was going on. As the sun started to come up we realized we were going into the ghetto villages on the mountain top. It wasn’t looking very friendly or safe for that matter. D and I started to realize that if we didn’t do something quick, our photos were going to be on some CNN special a week or so later. I kept a close eye on my cell phone and started to hope for the bars of service to restablish themselves.

Knowing the Spanish language, D kept nudging me to communicate with the driver. I started to talking to the driver about his family. I especially harped on how old his kids were, if he had a little girl, and the bond between dads and daughters. D didn’t understand a word but true to being my partner in crime for everything, she nodded gracefully with a cute little smile and pretended that she was perfectly calm. In the meantime we were on the brink of a nervous breakdown.

Finally my cell phone bars were up. I quickly called my Dad and woke the poor man up. Just by the way I was answering his questions, he knew something was up. He kept asking me to give him a street location but being in the mountainous village – there weren’t any street names and the worst happened. We lost service. I could have given the poor man a heart attack as hours passed by before we would speak again. Although the phone cut out, I pretended to have a conversation with him and I made sure to speak in Spanish. Although my father doesn’t speak a lick of Spanish and really couldn’t hear me, I was set out to convince this driver that we had people who cared about us and had an idea where we were. At this point we were hoping Angela's shots of vodka wore off and that she would wake-up.

THREE IS BETTER THAN ONE

We were desperate, D even started to speak broken Italian to our Spanish driver and included a flirtatious giggle after everything she said. Eventually she was also pretending to talk to her parents on the cell – giggling and laughing with pseudo calmness. Just as we were planning to secretly throw ourselves into the middle of the jungle and some how pull lushy Angela with us – Angela perked her head up angry and hung over and said “are we almost there because I am going to pee in this cab.” So now the driver knew that all 3 girls were all on the same page – and he was going to be out numbered. Within 20 minutes we arrived at our hotel thankfully safe and in one piece.

When we asked the concierge how long it really takes to get from the airport to the hotel, she said 20 minutes. She also mentioned that a great deal of tourist crimes had been taking place and it wasn't uncommon to hear about missing people. To this day, we still don’t know where our 3 hour detour was really taking us but by the mere grace of God we arrived and proceeded to have one of the most memorable vacations of a life time. While we made sure to be cautious the rest of the trip, we new if we stuck together we would be a powerful trio!

Sadly, the day we were leaving the Dominican Republic, Natalie Hallowell went missing in Aruba. She was all over the news, her parents were frantic, and her friends said they last saw her wondering off alone. It was really an impactful day for us because we realized that one bad decison could have left us with the same sad circumstances.

Today’s Blog Is About

The Power of 3
(A Lesson in Playing It Safe with Eye Shadow)
Much like my eventful vacation - If you want to play it safe and have the most impact, you should use the power of 3 colors. All three colors play an important part in achieving a perfect outcome where your eyes look bright, more open, and beautiful. The lightest color will open and brighten your eyes. The medium color will give slight depth to eyes and the darker, and the contrasting color will give depth and shape to the eyes. You should use brushes to apply eye shadow.

*Using a single eye shadow most often results in an unchanged - boring look or a dangergously outdated look. Depending on the shade, it can even make your eye appear smaller.

Step 1

Apply highlight eye shadow color to brow bone area from inner to outer eyebrow. Use your brow bone as a guide. To make your eyes appear wider, apply highlight eye shadow from the inner corner of your lower eyelid to the middle of the lower eyelid.

Step 2

Apply medium eye shadow contrast to cover your entire lid. Blend slightly into your highlight eye shadow areas to avoid a demarcation line.

Step 3

Apply the darkest contrasting eye shadow to your crease, lower lid along the eyelashes. Blend into the medium eye shadow contrast color. To find your crease - open your eye and where your lids crease in the middle, this is the crease area. xoxoxo

Leslie

P.S.

I will leave you with our favorite song from Dominican Republic.........La Tortura by Shakira http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfADAejS-OQ

Cinderella's Slipper

2010-02-28T13:53:00.000-08:00

Cinderella’s Slipper

(A lesson in the perfect fit)

One of my favorite fairy tales growing up was Cinderella. I just loved how she was the only girl that fit into the prince’s single glass slipper. Growing up, I had no idea that eventually I would have my own metaphoric glass slipper and realize that not everything is a one size fits all.

There was a time that I was a girl who had everything but nothing really at all. I’m not sure if there are many people that can understand that concept but, for a period of time it was my reality. My ex fiance and I owned a big house, several cars, a huge swimming pool, and furniture fit for a king. We were young and making more of income than people twice our age. We took lavish trips all over the world for work and family events such as wedding, christenings, and birthdays. I had a 4 carat ring that sparkled like a star – a soon to be fallen star.

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

To people on the outside we were a couple with everything but when the doors closed at night I knew better. It seemed like the more we worked, the more we achieved, the further apart we became. I spent many nights alone in my big house with a cold dinner waiting for the day that my fiance would realize that he was filling voids with material things rather than the things that really mattered to me. We may have been successful at many things but we failed miserably as it related to agreeing on the important stuff like life, love, and health.

Over time I longed for the stupid moments that we once shared like snow days home from school or nights of snuggling together from not having any heat while we were saving to buy a new unit. When we shared a full sized bed we thought we had too much room as we literally slept cheek to cheek. Ironically when we got a king size bed we couldn’t have enough space between us.

I started to become resentful of anything or anyone that occupied his time because it seemed that I couldn’t get a minute if it didn’t involve a business plan to build another house or the menu for the next dinner party we would be having at the house. I started to buy into the concept that tomorrow would be a better day and eventually days evolved into months that eventually turned into years.

Back To Your Roots

When that relationship eventually ended, I didn’t know how to feel initially. I was in love with a past that no longer existed in my present. We were two different people with entirely two different agendas. In need of some TLC, I went back to my roots. I went back home to what I new best. Having grown up in a family that valued a hand made card over a store bought present, I gradually found myself filling my voids with the things that I longed for. I had everything that mattered again. I may not have had much material belongings anymore but my cup runneth over with hugs, laughter, and togetherness. I no longer spent nights with a cold dinner sitting on the stove but, instead had a meal that didn’t last very long because of how many people showed up to eat it!

Today’s blog is

a lesson in the perfect fit

We have all been guilty of seeing a new look (make-up, hair, body) or lifestyle in a magazine or TV and wanting to make it our own. What we fail to see is that everything is not a good fit. Much like Cinderella’s glass slipper, everything isn't for everyone. There are many factors that should be taken into consideration.

A great expample of this concept is found with hair. Remember that just because a hairstyle is in - it doesn’t mean that it is going to be a good look on you. Stick with what you know works for you and your facial structure. *Sometimes it is best to stick with your roots or just plain start over again inorder to get it right.

Round Face Shapes

Create less volume around the face to minimize the appearance of roundness.Try cuts that fall just below the chin. Soft graduate layers are great because they make your face appear slimmer and tend to remove bulk and weight from the sides. Consider wispy and tapered ends. Bangs are flattering, but keep them long or side-swept.

Square Face Shapes

Play down your strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, does this brilliantly. You can also get away with short, spiky cuts and long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jaw line and continue downward.

Oval Face Shapes

The oval face is the most versatile shape. You can pull off almost any look: short or long, straight or wavy. For your own most flattering look, consider your best feature and highlight it with your hair cut.

Heart Face Shapes

The pointy chin tends to be the focal point of your face. Draw attention to your eyes and cheekbones instead with side-swept bangs brow-grazing fringe, a strong part and hair that falls at or below your jaw line. For short hair Keep top layers soft and long. If you have longer hair - go for long layers that graze your cheek bones.

Long Face Shapes

The perfect haircut for the long face shape is one that doesn't drag down the face, yet adds width. Brow skimming bangs and chin length bobs are also ideal for this shape because they create the illusion of width. Just make sure your stylist cuts the hair a bit shorter in the back so it doesn't look boring. Curls and waves work well because they add width to the face.

xoxoxox

Leslie

P.S. I will leave you with a great song

Doesn't Mean Anything

Alice Keys

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfBMwqkRmbQ

Sleeping With A Broken Heart

2010-02-27T11:53:00.000-08:00

SLEEPING WITH A BROKEN HEART
(A Lesson in Proper Cleansing)

For anyone that has tried to sleep with a broken heart, I have total sympathy. Rest assured you are not abnormal. Been there, done that, and I very proudly have the one size fits all t-shirt. The best way I can describe it is that you suddenly go from sleeping soundly to being a total insomniac watching the weirdest late night infomercials. I remember seeing everything from the Thigh Master to Sex Toys. Late night TV can be totally disturbing but, it can be your only companion when your having sleepless nights with your broken heart.

THE MORNING AFTER

The bad thing about having a broken heart is that no matter how you fall asleep or when, most often you wake up feeling just as crappy. Days become nights and nights become days. When this is all taking place you just seem to be hypersensitive to everything. The best way to describe it is PMS that lasts longer than a few days (tears, pain, irritability, and depression).

THE ROUTINE

I remember one time in particular, wondering if I would feel icky forever. It was a pain that couldn’t be diagnosed by a doctor but the symptoms were very real. I wished many times that there was a magic pill to make it all go away. I tried everything from beer to Benadryl and even Melatonin. The beer would make me sadder, the Benadryl helped me to sleep but I felt groggy the next day, and melatonin just tasted bad.

The hardest part for me was when I was all alone in my bed. My ex could have been a million miles away and with someone else but, I still felt his presence right next to me – haunting me with loneliness. Oddly during this phase, you never think about anything negative or bad about this person. On the contrary you reflect on all the good times and play them over and over again like broken dreams. As I quickly learned with sleep deprecation came an inability to think rationally.

During this time I analyzed myself with a fine tooth comb. I started to enter the world of “WHAT IF.” What if I said, did, or tried differently. My older brother Roger has always been a great sounding board with brutal honesty. One day he just said, “gees Les you look like garbage. You have dark circles under your eyes and you are starting to look really unhealthy." Basically he was telling me that I looked like the walking dead” Coming from a guy that always complimented me and told everyone he had a hot sister, I knew I was looking like dog poop. I think that was when I made a commitment to get my sexy back.

Roger was always used to me being a spit fire. I was the one often putting him in his place. Being five years younger, as child I had to be super rebellious and bold to run in his circles and be noticed. I did a great job of it. He beat on me but, I always put up a great fight. HE WILL TELL YOU HIMSELF THAT I NEVER GAVE UP EVEN THOUGH I WAS HALF IS SIZE. So in a nutshell, seeing me as a weakling was not pleasant for him or anyone who knew me well. I remember quite often - people would just tell me to get over it. I wished it was that easy. I have learned to be very patient and considerate to anyone going through this process.

COMMITMENT TO CLEANSE

I had an epiphany. I l realized that getting out of this dreadful stage required a commitment. It wasn't just going to happen over night but, over time I would be okay. I started to work out like crazy, become super busy, lean on friends, and exhaust myself with helping other people. Slowly I started to expel yesterday’s shattered dreams and started to live in the now -making new dreams and better habits.

”Finally" I would rest my head down on the pillow and eventually have a good night sleep with good dreams again. It took a conscious effort to change my routine but like with anything, after time it just becomes part of your daily norm. Slowly I started to change my thoughts, my actions, and lastly my feelings. Nothing could describe when I realized that I woke up without a broken heart. The flowers smelled sweeter, the days seemed shorter, and I had my glow back. I was finally a changed woman and ready to start the dating process all over again but a little wiser and bit more experienced!

Today’s Blog Is About
Cleansing

“A routine that slowly becomes a part of you and gradually transforms you overall”

Skin cleansing is a very important part of having great skin. It removes dirt, grime, and grease from the upper layer of the skin. Keep in mind we all have a layer of dead cells that accumulate over time and that can eventually create clogged pores. Cleansing the skin can be a vital part of not aging, getting discolored skin, having pigment issues, and developing premature wrinkles.

In addition cleansing helps remove bacteria, particles of dusts, make-up, perspiration, and dirt. Removing make-up at night is a must. Sleeping with your make-up will eventually make your skin dull, take your glow away, and create blackheads.

How to Eliminate Blackheads

For those of who have had bad cleansing habits, removing blackhead would be a good start. Here are some tips:

ALPHA HYDROXY ACID

is a good start. It gently exfoliates skin to prevent cells from building up and clogging pores.

SALICYLIC ACID CLEANSERS

will temporarily remove surface oil and pore-clogging debris.
Really stubborn blackheads are best removed by a skin technician or dermatologist.

RETIN-A

is another defense that you might want to consider. A little stronger than the HYDROXY ACIDS, it loosens the blackheads while speeding up cell turnover. That means that skin cells have less of a chance to clog pores.

Currently I love the Gel Cleanser from Natural Advantage!

Just like with getting over SLEEPING WITH A BROKEN HEART and cleansing your soul - sometimes you need a rude awaking, help, and even some lessons to make cleansing seem part of your skincare routine. Eventually this change just becomes a part of you and everyone starts to notice your healthy glow. Always try to be gentile with yourself but remember not cleaning each night will result in waking up the same way but I little messier.

xoxoxxo

Leslie

I will leave you with my favorite song by Alicia Keys

SLEEPING WITH A BROKEN HEART

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZULyhfQmCg

THE BEDAZZLER

2010-02-25T16:35:00.000-08:00

"A lesson in knowing your

tool and your boundaries"

Most of you can remember what the "awful" Bedazzler was. For those of you who had the fortunate experience to have missed this error of bad fashion experimentation, the Bedazzler was a product manufactured by NSI Innovations that allowed users to set sequins and rhinestones into fabrics. I remember in 90’s receiving hats, shirts, and purses that were Bedazzled. The best way to describe this type of thing was GAUDY and TACKY. People went crazy with this tool and Bedazzled everything. Michael Jackson and his glittery glove carried so much more class than anything made by this mechanism.

____________________________

DUMB DAZZLED

A few months ago, my life seemed a bit blah. It was missing a bit of glitz to my glam and for anyone that knows me that is never a good thing. During lull periods, I always have to be the most careful. I don’t always make the best decisions when I am bored.

There was this guy that had been calling and text messaging me for months. Normally I wouldn't give him the time of day and I never responded to his sneaky attempts of communication. I knew that he was a boat load of drama and denial but he happened to catch me during this uneventful time of my life and my guard was down. Contrary to what everyone around me thought, I felt like I needed some Tacky Bedazzling to stir things up. Instead of ignoring him like I always did, I made the cardinal sin of returning one of his phone calls.

FOLLOW YOUR FIRST INSTINCTS
(The Bedazzler)

So this guy, I recently named Mr. Bedazzler (The Tool) for a number of reasons, had been taking me out quite a bit. I never really liked kissing him without having a few drinks. That should have been my first sign to run like hell but again he was filling this blah time. I wanted to overlook all the red flags and I did a pretty good job.

_______________________________

One night we were out with a good friend of his that was the complete opposite. On the contrary to Mr. Bedazzler, he didn’t make excuses for his existence, he was a ton of innocent fun, and he wasn’t bad looking. I actually liked him. Ironically as it turned out this friend had a thriving business putting Swarovski Crystals on items. We exchanged numbers for the sole purpose of promoting one another’s business and I only saw him out a few times with Mr. Bedazzler. In my eyes he was an acquaintance, someone cool, and interesting. __________________________________________________________

As it was inevitable, I shortly figured out that Mr. Bedazzler was just what I initially thought - a ball of flattery wrapped up in trickery. He was talking to several innocent damsels in distress all at the same time, making them all feel like the one. Now looking back I think he had one for every day of the week. He still has a herrum of silly ladies that don't know about each other (Not my problem). In the end, I was totally unaffected. The truth is that I was just using him for some entertainment. He was super gaudy, lacked any boundaries, and had that sparkle appeal that wore off very quickly with the trend that my life was in at the time.

Stick With Your Own Team

I quickly gave Mr. Bedazzler a piece of my mind, Rosie Peres style. I really didn’t care either way. When everything hit the fan - I immediately knew that I didn’t love him, like him much, or even want our situation to progress. I was always out of his league. Trust me that I'm not being conceited, not many people were appropriate for his team. I always thought it took a special kind of woman to deal with him. It seriously had become a joke among my friends. To keep him anonymous I will not reveal his name but just know my friends had a field day renaming him a few times just based on how he treated me.

A few months after I cut ties with Mr. Bedazzler, my best friend wanted to mass produce a bunch of t-shirts with Swarovski Crystals. I didn’t think anything of calling the contact I had made through Mr. Bedazzler, the friend mentioned above. After all, I love helping a fellow entrepreneur and I thought he was a really decent guy.

TACKY

After contacting this person via email, I received an email that read the following:

“I know you blamed me and talked bad about me for what happened between you and my friend (Mr. Bedazzler). What makes you think that I want to be your friend. I have no desire to do business with you.”

Laugh - it is okay. I did too. Apparently, he was brainwashed and misinformed by Mr. Bedazzler and unfortunately missed out on a ton of business.

When I called my friend who was looking to make the business deal (the t-shirts) and told her what happened, she let out a loud chuckle and said "well we can always try to use the real Bedazzler."

Today’s blog is about:
Knowing Your Tool and Your Boundaries

A Lesson In Eyeliner

Types of Eyeliners include pencil, liquid, felt-tip pen, crayon and gel eyeliner. They each have advantages, but mostly it's all about preference. Each type of eyeliner performs a bit differently, so you may want to try each kind before settling on a favorite.

The most commonly used type of eyeliner is the gel eyeliner and the kohl pencil. Many women prefer a soft Kohl pencil because it provides an easier application and leaves more room for error over the gel liner that sets quickly. Either way don't worry about making mistakes -smudging your eyeliner will soften the whole look of your eye. Smudging can be easily done with a cotton swab.

Gel Eyeliner

Gel eyeliner (one of Bisou’s best selling items) will provide the boldest look of all the eyeliner formulations. It can be tricky to learn how to steady your hand to get the best results. Remember to practice, practice, practice to get the results you want.

When mastered you will get a stronger, bolder line than from a pencil. This dramatic line is well suited for evening looks and social occasions. It is my personal favorite as it won't rub off easily.

Kohl Eyeliner Pencil

Kohl Eyeliner pencils give a dramatic look and they are easier to handle as you have a bit more control. If you want one basic eyeliner that can do it all, try an eyeliner crayon or kohl. This pencil will rub off easy and doesn't take a great deal practice to master.

USEFUL BOUNDARIES

Rather than drawing one hard line, use short, feathery strokes when applying eyeliner. Hold your eyelid tight with your other hand to allow the easiest application. Start at the outer corner of the eye and work your way in the center of the eyelid. If it’s more comfortable to work from the inside out, go ahead, but you can start at the mid-point of the eyelid for most looks. For more long-lasting eyeliner, apply eye shadow over your eyeliner to set it into place.

Simply outline the eye. Whatever you choose will provide a definite emphasis around the eyes. Please avoid the winged Cleopatra look it is tacky and outdated.

When used right, eyeliner is the perfect compliment to your eye shape much like a good relationship. Avoid it being tacky, stay within your boundaries, and learn to use your tool.

P.S. While I haven’t seen much of the Bedazzler there is a new style of decor that is similar. It is called the V-dazzler but it is just as tacky. (lol) See below.....Viewer discretion is advised.

xoxoxoxox

Leslie

No Boundaries by Adam Lambert seems so appropriate

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nvCwvX57a8

ENJOY THE PICTURES. I PERSONALLY FIND THEM FLIPPING HILLARIOUS.

MOTHER PUCKER

2010-02-25T10:44:00.000-08:00

MOTHER PUCKER
(A Lesson in Killer Lips)

“Did I Say Something Wrong”

Have you ever noticed that words are like feathers in the wind, once they are let out they are hard to catch or take back again. With age I am learning to hold my thoughts captive. Let’s face it, if everything we ever thought came uttering out of our mouths we would be much like brain dead baboons at the zoo who lack the frontal lobe process of the brain.

Having been on both ends of hurtful words, I can see why the bible often speaks about the tongue as a weapon. It can cut like a sword and leave you in pieces for a long time. At the same time if you are wise with your words, they can be super profound and change not only your life but the lives of others.

“Know when to seal your lips”

This reminds me of my experiences with sports as a child. I lived for sports and cheer leading as a young girl. I had no idea how complicated and socialistic it had the potential to become.

My first experience came from being a Pop Warner Cheerleader. All the girls were divided into two obvious groups – A and B. Much like being picked last for kickball on the playground field, I felt awful when I was put on the B team. I mean all I ever wanted to do was wear that cute little uniform and do cartwheels. I was a gymnastic star at my gym - so how hard could it be to scream and tumble at the same time.

I should tell you that my parents really didn’t have a lot of time to be social pillars in the community. We were middle class and while I was involved in every activity imaginable, my parents worked hard to provide me with that environment. So when it came time for my 7 year old cheer leading tryouts, I was really at a home team disadvantage. All of the mothers who had time to play the popularity contest were of course the judges of this tryout.

I had a lot of friends that made it to the A team, while I made the B team. It wasn’t uncommon for me to be at a birthday party or after school hangout with the A team girls. They were my friends and we were just kids that didn’t know any better. After practice one day, I overheard one the busy body popular moms say “isn’t that B team a travesty...our girls are much cuter.” I might have only been 7 but those words hit me like I was 20 getting rejected from the final stage of American Idol. Now having an 8 year old niece, I realize how ridiculous that mom was for being so gossipy, hurtful, and just plain loose with her words.

“REFLECTIONS”

I took a good look at My B team. While some of the girls without a doubt lacked coordination, some of us just really got handed a bad deal. One thing we all shared in common was that we knew we were different and it didn’t feel good. I just knew based on what that mom said - that B stood for bad.

In high school I mustered up the guts to try out for the cheer leading squad. This sudden interest in the sport again didn’t come from a love for the sport anymore but for the love of being noticed by a boy playing basketball.

To my surprise I made the varsity team as a freshman. This time my fate wasn’t in the hands of the popular moms but a third party that didn’t know me or the girls at all. I was shocked. How was it that I wasn’t in the B group and what the heck happened to that mom who said my group was a total bunch travesties and ugly ducklings.

Polar opposite to my 7 year old experience, I was quite often the girl on the top of the pyramid getting thrown around like a rag doll. As a matter of fact my basketball player crush was forced to watch me on his off days as he was on the JV team (the B team). I always had a thing for the under dog. B now stood for BEAUTIFUL.

Today’s Blog is about
KILLER LIPS

(Know when to use them - know when to mute them)

RULE OF THUMB

With Smokey Eyes – always mute lips with nude colors!

CAUTION

If you are going to be bold and make your lips stand out for a killer pout know how to do it. It can make or break your look. Nothing else should be competing with your lips when it comes to this look. Your lips should be the focus. Stick with neutral colors on the rest of your face.

What’s In

Right now the orange-red lip is in. It is a brighter alternative to the classic blue-red lip. Be bold by choosing a matte finish or play it down with a creamy gloss formula. Use a lip liner that matches your natural lip color and then apply the lipstick with a brush.
Personally I don’t think this look is for everyone. I look like a street walker when I try it on myself but you be the judge.

Classic

Marylynne Monroe’s classic red lip never seems to go out of style. She knew how to perfectly master red lipstick. You be the judge of your killer lips. You know how far you want to push the envelope and what the people around you can handle. By the way did you know that Marrilynne Monroe was initially thought of as a B-list celebrity.

As for that mother who was hurtful and didn't hold her thoughts captive, she is part of my history. This blog is for all of my B girls. I am sure our experience helped us to master our own pucker and know when to seal our lips. Most of us might even like the reflection we see in the mirror!

xoxoxoxox

Leslie

P.S. I will leave you with an appropriate song by Depeche Mode called

ENJOY THE SILENCE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAN9sKlOZxE

EYES WITHOUT A FACE

2010-02-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

EYES WITHOUT A FACE

(A Lesson in Being Mysterious)

Despite that I often claim to be an open book among my fellow bloggers, in my dating life I have learned to use more discretion when just getting to know someone. Don’t get me wrong, I realize one eventually must be open and divulge personal stuff to have a true connection. I just think you have to be careful and know your audience before you take that plunge. Life can be very primal – to survive you must know how to navigate through the jungle by avoiding your enemies and enticing your prey.

For fear of being devoured -For years I had a tremendous fear to speak in front of crowds. I missed out on a lot of great opportunities because of my inability to overcome this fear. I would often admire my father and brother for their ability to hold seminars in front of crowds of hundreds and thousands. I always told them that I would rather eat dog poop than do something so outrageous like that.

To give you an idea.......I remember working backstage at Miami Fashion Week with E! Channel covering the event. I would be standing next to some of the greatest faces in fashion and just stay in my zone of make-up and artistry. While all of my fellow artists were getting animalistic to get camera and editorial time, I was quite happy working away in my own little world. As a matter of fact in all of the footage - all you saw was my hand, back of my head, and my profile. The best way to describe what happened was that I was a pretty wall flower at the school dance. I often was hired to design looks, but because of my fear to be center stage someone else would get the notoriety.

Being Prepared

The time had come to go big or go home. It was the opportunity to be center stage and take my business to a new level. In the past I had always found ways to avoid having to speak personally with editors for magazines by playing the busy card. You would be surprised how many editors emailed their questions. Don’t get me wrong, I was busy but I also this fear of being put on the spot. Having an email interview vs. an on the spot interview insured that I would be prepared. I never realized that a few simple rules could make you prepared for just about any conversation.

I wasn’t being chosen to work backstage or answer questions via email. People wanted to place a face and voice with what I did. I was going to be on television being featured as a make-up expert. All I knew was that I had to show up . The night before my father taught me about the RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

Thanks to my Dad, I entered the TV studio with confidence. I was ready and I was going to make sure I would get the credit this time. Art Welton's Rules of Engagement can not only apply to public speaking but almost everything in life from dating to diamonds.

Rules of Engagement (LESS IS MORE)

Realize you know more about the subject matter than your audience

Speak confidently when spoken to

Answer question specifically but general for all to understand

Stick with the subject matter

Don’t get off task

Leave them wanting to know more

When you don’t know the answer say:
“I would be happy to get back with you on that at a later time”

Don't get bullied into answering question that are uncomfortable

Most Importantly
* If you make a total ass of yourself nobody will remember it in ten years from now.

This particular interview opened the door to many other public speaking events. I can proudly say that I now have great relationships with all different organizations because I followed the simple rules of mystery, knowledge, and engagement!

Today's Blog is About Achieving

EYES WITHOUT A FACE

(THE SEXY AND MYSTERIOUS SMOKEY EYE)

Maximize your eyes and leave the rest of your assets playing second fiddle until you need backup.

Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez have mastered this look. While they are both known for having a variety of killer assets, they know how to play up their eyes to be sexy, sultry and the main focal point of their face.

How to achieve this look

1. Prep the lid. The key to keeping eye shadow from melting into your eyelid crease as the day goes on is to keep eyelids oil-free. I like to put foundation not only on my face but also on my lids

2. Apply eyeliner. If you're going for a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye.

3. Blend in color on bottom lashes The key is to "smudge it." You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.

4. Apply light base color Pair a lighter base with the darker hue. I prefer a nice cream shade for my base. Sweep a light, shimmery shadow over the lids to your brow bone.

5. Blend in darker color, but keep dark color below the crease. Now that you have the base and eyeliner on, it's time to get the smoky effect. You need a darker eyeshadow shade. Blend in color starting at your lash line, blending up. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease.

6. Finish with several coats of mascara: Avoid clumps

Remember to only highlight one asset at a time. Nobody likes to see the goodies all at once.... it makes for a boring follow up date. Follow the rules of engagement with mystery and knowledge. Just because you know the rest of your face is beautiful, don't put the horse before the carriage.

Keep lips and face nude!

xoxoxoxxo

Leslie

P.S Picture of me mastering my EYES WITHOUT A FACE look.

I will leave you with a great song that inspired today's blog

Billy Idol's

"Eyes Without A Face" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQA2XZbDkdA

Premature Reconcilation

2010-02-23T21:04:00.000-08:00

Premature Reconciliation

(Scary Fatal Attraction or Sexy Femme Fatale)

I remember as a little girl standing at the ledge of my swimming pool. The water was freezing and dipping my tiny toe to test the temperature wasn’t helping my courage factor. It was one of those things either I was jumping in head first or going back into my house. My two older brothers were already in the water playing Marco Polo. If I wanted to be included in their fun, I quickly learned that I had to run with the big dogs and stray away from being the puppy on the porch. For those of you who know my personality, I did what any brave five year old would do. I did a cannon ball right in the middle of their game playing. I remember in mid air thinking, too late now, I’m all in and it’s going to be struggle.

Like any commitment, you are either all in or you really shouldn’t bother. My grandmother, a tenacious God fearing woman who passed away two years ago, always would say that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. I think about her often for not only the positive influence she was in my life but, also for the respect that she had for any commitment she made (God, People, and Survival).

Just to get an idea about Isabella Gonzales……At 92 She lived on the second floor of an apartment complex that did not have an elevator. With several health ailments to include weak legs and blurry vision, she made it up and down those stairs at least once daily all by herself. She sometimes would be holding a load of laundry in one hand and pulling her self up with the other. Much like the immigrant she came over as, she refused to fall by the waste side and receive anyone’s pity. Her personal road blocks such as her inability to speak the language and prejudice she endured from others when first arriving in America, never stopped her from becoming what I call an iconic figure. I should tell her that even in her death she never looked her age and hardly had any wrinkles.

After her death, I seemed unaffected. As a matter of fact everyone thought I took it surprisingly well. Secretly I was just trying to avoid what I call a premature reconciliation with my feelings of loss as it related to her. I had no idea about the commitment I made to make everything appear easy to everyone around me. If I had a premature reconciliation with my feelings, I felt that it could have been detrimental to my mother who was dealing with the loss of her mother. I was all put together for a while until all of my Grandmother’s furniture arrived at my house. By then everyone was settled with their personal grief and it was now okay for me to begin my process of coping.

The best way to describe premature reconciliation - when you go through a break up and you worked hard to win back the love and attention of your ex. Just when you’re keeping it together, making headway to get back together, you suddenly loose control and loose your ground when your ex shows the first signs of agreement with you. I know a lot of you know exactly what I am talking about. So to speak you go from feeling like Jessica Rabbit to Glen Close boiling bunnies in Fatal Attraction. (LOL)

I have learned how to avoid premature reconciliation by playing it cool and allowing people to have just enough space to realize what they lost, what I lost, and ultimately what is to gain.

TODAY’S BLOG IS ABOUT
KNOWING WHEN AND HOW TO TAKE THE BASIC ACTION

Feeling beautiful is an all or nothing commitment. You will have days that the mirror may not be your friend. It will not tell you that you are the fairest of the land especially when you are going through mother nature’s process of pms, menopause, and just plain aging. You have to decide to make the commitment
are going to run the process or let it run you?

I recommend that you don’t sit back and be the evil step mother.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. The following has worked for many of my clients and people I know but without knowing you personally it is in your best interest to okay everything with your physician.

RELAX
No need to get your bloomies in a bunch about aging. Nothing makes you look worse then stress. Rest assured that there are things that you can to do to counteract these lousy feeling and stop the clock at any age. First you need to get in a fighting mentality. Age is just a number.

HAVE FAITH

Believe in something or someone. Have a belief in things unseen but hoped for.
For me it is God, for you it may be something different.

CLEANSING
Just like a good cry is great for wiping out the cob webs ofthe soul every now and then - so is everything from an occasional body colonic to properly washing your face before bed every night.

INSIDE OUT
If you aren’t on a vitamin regiment, now is the time to get started. It has been proven that supplements aid the body in fighting free radicals. Free radicals are your enemy. Just as you once played the game Centapede, you are looking to shoot those little guys roaming freely in your body. They have no business being there but daily stressors inevitably create them. This includes smoking, not eating right, and being a sun worshiper.
You can do the extra reading about the necessary vitamins but here is a list of the one’s that you should be taking.

Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Omega 3, Calcium , Selenium, L-glutamine, Evening Primose, Coenzyme Q 10

FYI: Before any big event I always tell my clients to eat a lot of colorful veggies, SALMON, drink a ton of water

SKINCARE
A good skincare regiment includes a combination of antioxidants and anti- inflammatory topicals that chemically trap and neutralize each free radical. Currently I have two favorite product lines:

Prevage MD
Natural Advantage

______________________________
This is a great start to avoid a premature reconciliation with a fine line or wrinkle! Life’s process of time and evolution will take place but the nice part is that you dohave some control over the matter - that will not only benefit you but the people around you as well.

I will leave you with my Abuelita Isabel's favorite song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPe5LtjzpjU
xoxoxoxxo
Lesile

P.S. I Don't Love You

2010-02-23T17:21:00.001-08:00

P.S. I Don't Love You
(Know Your Facts)

About Face

Did you ever notice that you could be living life with reckless abandonment, thinking everything is flower lilies/rose petals and one single event can literally make you do an ABOUT FACE? I have had a few monumental holts like that. As a matter of fact if I was a cartoon character you would have heard a LOUD TIRE SCREACHING AND BRAKING NOISE all the way to China.

Today I have the ability to see that everything happens for the best in the end but, at the time I was in a total fog of disbelief and denial. I had been in what I called my first “big girl” relationship. While I was still very naïve, I fell in love for the first time as an adult and not a 15 year old girl. I was 27, out of what was equivalent to a 13 year bad marriage, and the world was kind of my oyster. Things weren’t really hurting anymore and my previous loss was totally starting to look like a major gain. I had been in this new relationship for about a year. Looking back, I lived in a bubble of flattery, road trips, and out right reckless abandonment.

_________________________________

Looks Can Be Deceiving

While I thought I was really in love, in retrospect I’m really not sure. I know we had agreat deal of instant chemistry. That situation was just something seriously different for the mundane, stagnant, and turbulent relationship that I lived with for 13 years. In my book everything was now great. We never had an argument, he always told me I was beautiful, he never left me wondering, my family was totally approving, my friends loved him, and I didn’t have a mother in law that insisted in rearranging my kitchen cupboards. The simple things made me really happy at this point.

We always talked about being in love and to the best of my knowledge I thought I we both were. I smiled, laughed, and went with the flow. ……Until he woke up one day and said, “I don’t love you.” In my confused state all I remember saying was, “but you did yesterday and you told me that you did this morning.” I looked dumbfounded like Renee Zellweger from Bridget Jone’s Diary.

____________________________________

BAM – and not the Emeril Kind

Picture Bambi frolicking in the field and then BAM! A gun shot wound to the head. I was so confused and I had a lot of unanswered questions like how, why, and when. This is when I started to discover that you won’t always get all the detailed answers from the person who created the question.

For your own personal growth and protection you need a detailed answer - an explanation that you can live with and move forward. To my shock, I discovered that details won’t always be provided and they don’t always come from the horse’s mouth. The details can all be supplied from your very own conclusion, perspective, and research. You can be your very own Pandora’s box of answers.

After my incessant search for some explanation to my pride trauma, it quickly became evident that he didn’t know how or why he felt so strongly about kicking me to the curb but that was his story and he was sticking to it. Whatever was going on in his brain was no longer any of my business and I was forced to be the Sherlock Holmes to my roller coaster of emotions.

_________________________________________________

The Verdict (My side, His side, and the Truth)

When I really took a step back to analyze just the facts I knew (thanks to my mom), whatever he was feeling to so bluntly and strongly say "I don't love you " was really not important in the scheme of things. The truth is that I already knew all I really needed to know - that he did not love me................the rest was just minor details that were only important to me and my peice of mind.

Being born on Einstein’s birthday leaves me a bit more inquisitive. than the average person. Some may argue that I am like a two year old that just learned how to ask the question “why.” So I did what any other bewildered woman would do. I took time to wallow in self pity until things just made sense to me. In other words I got sick and tired of being sick and tired and it didn't hurt that I met a few distraction on my road to recovery.

In hindsight, I realize we were both writing checks that our booties could not cash. Despite the fact that we both talked about marriage, having children, and living happily ever after, we both had an enormous amount of individual soul searching left to do. We were both trying to make a name for ourselves and it wasn’t just going to happen over night. I needed to find myself and not be in the shadows of being someone’s girlfriend. He needed to grow up a bit and learn the difference between infatuation and love. It was no place for a relationship, blame, or settling for status quo.

________________________________

No Permanent Damage

Laugh, I promise it is okay to chuckle about it all now. Aside from now being the brunt of some funny drunk text messages, it is now all silly to me. If I saw him out, I would share a Mich Ultra, some fond memories, a smile, and sentiment of good will for the future.

I can proudly say that this breakup started me and hopefully him on the major journey of always KNOWING MY FACTS - not always just looking at the pretty advertisement. I always think about limiting a bit of that reckless abandonment behavior. Chemistry is still key in my love life but this time around - what is ignited so quickly and impulsively does not always burn out with the same intensity.

_______________________________________

Today’s blog is about KNOWING YOUR FACTS

I can’t tell you about how many people come to me after getting severely burned by excessively hot wax, their eyelashes practically all gone from bad extensions, and hyperpigmentation all over from a bad skin procedure. That is just naming a few horror stories. A few rules of thumb I try to emphasize - Don’t skimp on price or quality and at the same time most expensive doesn’t mean most qualified.

______________________________________________

Beware of Pretty Advertisements

Just because you make an appointment with who you think to be the expert of their craft, you need to be responsible for doing your research. You are the only one that will love and appreciate your skin the best way. Most of the screaming, crying, and regret after the fact will fall on deaf ears if your not careful. Sometimes things can be permanent and too late. Think before you sign that waiver of rights. If you don’t know your facts, the only one that you can blame when it is all said and done is you.

_____________________________________

ABOUT FACE

I always say that a driver’s license doesn’t always warrant a good driver and the same applies to doctors and technicians. Don’t wait to have an ABOUT FACE moment when it comes to your looks and your relationships. Live proactively knowing the facts, limit the reckless abandonment, and don’t always buy into the pretty advertisement. It can be enjoyable for a period of time but hurtful long term. Some mishaps just can’t be avoided but there is a such thing as damage control.

_____________________

The next time you say Bam – let it because you love the results of your spa visit and not because you became road kill! (lol)

Felt this song was appropriate (click to listen)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OvrrUhhdSo

xoxoxxo

Leslie

Can A Leopard Change His Spots

2010-02-23T11:52:00.000-08:00

Can A Leopard Change His Spots?

A Lesson In Hyperpigmentation

The answer to this question may vary from person to person. When I think about the behavioral patterns of yesterday’s men ……my leopards’ugly spots almost always resurfaced. There was of course a select few bad boys that reformed once they lost their ability to have their cake and eat it too but it was too late. Overall, I believe it takes something pretty drastic to change one’s tainted spots or character flaws. The bottom line is that it should all be approached with a great deal of caution on both ends. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration.

I can remember it as if it was yesterday. I don’t think words could adequately describe the way I felt when I discovered my boyfriend was in another woman’s bed. My bed was loaded with snotted up Kleenex, my eyes looked like I had a sodium overdose, and food was just around to exist. For someone active, I had little desire to eat or even get out of bed.

No matter how old you are or when it happens in your life - it has the ability to really rock your world. You are left with all of these questions. For me the following always swam around in this fish bowl I call my brain. What really happened, was it something I did, does he love her, is she prettier than me, if I forgive him will happen again, and lastly what does this say about me if I accept this.

Guilty As Charged

As many other women have done in their lives, I forgave. I chose to walk down the road of lolly pops and candy canes. I can’t exactly say I forgot what happened but I made a huge effort to move forward and trust him again. In my particular case it happened again a year later. This time I was a little older and not as willing to be understanding. The whole thing has the ability to chip away at who you are. You know that saying if “you stand for nothing, you fall for everything.” You can’t will change, you must take action.

DISCLAIMER : It all depends on what your circumstances are and what you are willing to deal with. My personal experience is exactly just that – MY PERSPECTIVE. Just like all brown spots (hyperpigmentation blemishes) are not created equal, all circumstances are not the same. If you are in similar circumstances, you need to do what is best for you and not use me as your guide.

Today’s Blog Is About Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is mostly caused by sun damage, inflammation, or other skin injuries, including those related to acne. People with darker Asian, Mediterranean or African skin tones are also more prone to hyperpigmentation, especially if they have excess sun exposure.
Many forms of hyperpigmentation are caused by an excess production of melanin. Hyperpigmentation can be diffuse or focal, affecting such areas as the face and the back of the hands. Melanin is produced by melanocytes at the lower layer of the epidermis. Melanin is a class of pigment responsible for producing color in the body in such places such as the eyes, skin, and hair. As the body ages, melanocyte distribution becomes less diffuse and its regulation less controlled by the body. UV light stimulates melanocyte activity, and where concentrations of the cells are denser than surrounding areas, hyperpigmentation is effected.

Treating Those Ugly Spots

Treatment of hyperpigmentation must be done WITH GREAT CAUTION. You can make a total mess of your skin and even permanently damage your skin. You need to seek help from a very qualified dermatologist or esthetician.

Some topicals that I personal use in my studio include hydroquinone, kojic acid, alpha hydroxy acids, azelaic acid, ascorbic acid, tretinoin (Retinol), topical glucocorticoids, and licorice extract. All treatments fail if the affected area is exposed to the sun with inadequate UVA/UVB protection.

Microdermabrasion is great to rid these stubborn little spots. It may take 6 – 10 sessions but I have seen great results with this lunch hour procedure on not only myself but also my clients. The procedure is not very painful and requires no anesthetic. Microdermabrasion can be used medically for scar removal when the scar is raised above the surrounding skin, but is less effective with sunken scars. There is very little, if any, evidence that microdermabrasion stimulates collagen formation. Microdermabrasion can also be used for treatment of acne, but must be repeated periodically to be effective.

*Microdermabrasion should not be used on patients who have taken the medication Accutane in the previous twelve months.

HOW IT IS DONE

The hand piece emits crystals onto the surface of the skin, resulting in a gentle abrasion or "polishing" process. Each treatment takes 30 minutes . Treatment should be spaced from 2 to 3 weeks apart. Maintenance of results requires periodic repeat treatments after the initial regimen is completed.

Benefits Of Microdermabrasion:

Virtually no side effects if done correctly

Gives the skin an overall fresh, healthy-looking glow

Nonsurgical, safe, effective "lunch hour" procedure.

Effective on all skin colors and types.

No anesthetic required.

Excellent for skin sensitive to chemical procedures.

Normal activities can be resumed immediately

Other Considerations:

Requires multiple sessions and maintenance treatment

Patients with good skin tone will show best results.

An individualized skin care program may be recommended to maximize results.

I have recently gotten into doing a certain type of professional medical grade chemical peel called PCA. PCA dramatically promotes cell renewal, resulting in smoother, tighter skin. It reduces surface bacteria, resulting fewer acne breakouts, brightens the skin and lightens hyerpigmentation. Hydration of the skin can also be achieved while wrinkles are dramatically reduced. It is at the discretion of the esthetician as to the appropriate peel as all skin types vary.
I experimented with this peel on Saturday night over some wine and chicken with my friend Karen. I must warn you that looked a bit scaly yesterday and I am still peeling a bit but today my skin has a HEALTHY GLOW. My stubborn brown spots are non existent at the moment.

DO THESE SPOTS EVER REALLY GO AWAY

Similar to the pain of betrayal, hyperpigmentation can resurface when activated. You have to live very cautious of protecting your skin as the underlying problem is still there - but can be kept at bay. All I can say is proceed with caution.

xoxoxoxox
Leslie

It's Complicated

2010-02-22T20:27:00.000-08:00

TRANSFER OR TRASH

I wish I could share with you the wacky collection of music on my ipod. It is the perfect example of my archived emotional right of passage. Being that I recently bought a new ipod Shuffle, I was forced to make the decision to transfer or trash my old downloaded music. It served to be a really big stroll down memory lane.

One minute I found myself prancing around my bedroom naked to I Like Big Butts (Sir Mix A lot) and the next I’m in my car having a complete meltdown listening to Sleeping With A Broken Heart(Alicia Keys). Can you picture it?

It was today that I realized that all of my downloads have been the sound track to my life. I don't know how many people know how to literally on one hand Drop It Like It’s Hot (Snoop Dog) and respectfully on the other hand listen to The Ring Of Fire (Johnny Cash) while surrounded by the Country Club Ladies.

Since a small age I was able to feel every emotion that a song can offer. Some might call it empathy and others might think it is my Latin genes. I know what joke some of you may want to crack right about now – “sounds to me like you have a hormonal imbalance.” For those of you who want to bust my chops, I’ve been checked and I am shockingly - perfectly normal.

Prognosis is in: I’m just free of a lot of baggage, catching up with lost time, and happy to be alive another day.

Growing up Colombian and Irish, I grew up listening to all kinds of music and eating all types of food. My cultural up bringing compiled with now being able to listen to a bunch of music from one little mechanism (my ipod) has taught me a few things about people. In general everyone is complicated and everyone has something to say. This theory applies to Country fans all the way to R&B groovers. It seems like we are all at some point wrapped up in trying to be "normal" and end up more complicated.

Today’s blog is about Streamlining and Downsizing:

Don't get me wrong, being complicated sometimes can't be avoided but it gets easier with a few realizations. Once you understand that not one soul is normal or 100% satisfied it is easy to master the art of downsizing in every area of your life from cosmetic drawers to circle of friends.

Let's face it, people define normal as the social circle they most feel comfortable letting loose with. For example if you are vegetarian you most likely won't be dining in a Brazilian churisquera. We have a saying among my social circle, normalcy is a facade and anyone that claims sanity will undoubtedly be committed at some point in their life. Denial is not a river I recommend.

As most of you know, I did away with the Webster Dictionary a long time ago. It served to be a boring accessory in my office. My logic is why walk the straight and narrow path of standarized words and definitions when you can read the Urban Dictionary. I’m all about the flavor baby. So after reading the Urban Dictionary, I think we should all aim to avoid the definition of complicated and abandon this endless hunt for normalcy:

Complicated Means The Following

One of the options for "Relationship Status" on Facebook. Refers to a couple in an ambiguous state between "friends" and "in a relationship". May also be used to indicate dissatisfaction with an existing relationship.

If someone changes their status from "In a Relationship" to "It's Complicated", expect them to be "Single" and "Looking for Random Play" soon.

- Fear of being called single- holding on to something that's about to end- still hoping to work things out- in denial stage of separation

___________________________________

If you catch my drift, now would be a good time to self analyze.
If something or someone hasn’t served you well in the last 6 months trash it! That includes everything from dead end relationships to your expired mascara. Be selective about what you transfer or trash because it says a lot about what you are feeling, how you relate to others, and ultimatley how you treat youself. You are worthy of welcoming in the new with self acceptance and ushering out the old with peace of mind.

A great example is this new PCA Peel I just did on my face. I am peeling like snake skin, saying goodbye to years of sun damage courtesy of the NJ shore, and welcoming in my baby skin for my birthday.

Tell you about that peel in a future blog.

P.S. While I got rid of a bunch of music, there are certain songs that I just can't trash. Perhaps I still identify with a few old emotions. :)

Click this link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6v9at5RlFu4

xoxoxox

Leslie

THE WEAK FIN

2010-02-22T12:30:00.001-08:00

WHO IS YOUR BARRACUDA?
For those of you who have never seen the movie Nemo, it is a must see! I love it because it serves to show us that flaws can be attributes and fears can be false.

_____________________

The storyline starts out with Marlin, a Ocellaris clownfish, taking extra care of his only child, Nemo, after his wife Coral and the rest of their eggs were eaten by a barracuda. Due to a crack in Nemo's egg, he has grown up with one small, weak fin, but Marlin constantly assures him it is his "lucky fin." Like any good parent - Marlin made several attempts to boost Nemo's self image and quell his fears. Marlin's only drawback was that he continuely struggled with a parallyzing fear of the lurking barracuda. By the end of the movie this fin, which once made Nemo an outcast, turned out to be his best attribute and the once terrifying barracuda was really no threat at all. So today I ask you to look at your worst features change your perspective, and analyze who your barracuda is.

Today’s blog is about making what you think to be imperfections be beautiful. While I am sure it is tough on men, I know personally as a woman it is increasingly hard to feel beautiful when magazines and television put such an emphasis on perfection. What is perfect and who is really the judge of what is beautiful?

When you think about how most standards have been made in the world, it usually stems from a rebellious or evil historic figure that changed the world according to his/her perspective. They set the TREND so to speak. So you may escape what I often call being a “fashionista label whore” but you may in fact be a “trend trauma.” You may not be on the hunt to buy the in clothes but physically you on the never ending treadmill to have the unattainable we see with photoshop in the most popular editorial feature.

Everywhere we turn there is a new body, a new nose, a new plump lip, and/or way to transform yourself to meet the latest trend. Don’t get me wrong, I am all about self preservation and doing what makes you feel good about yourself but, the whole topic leaves me thinking a bit. I just wonder if we have all fallen victim to the “bully trend setter”…….THE BARRACUDA LURKING.

THE BARRACUDA LURKING

Think back to middle school. Does that once arrogant, meathead, and ridiculous crush you had back in the day still appeal to you like an adonis or has he lost something in translation? For those of you that attended your high school reunion, the answer is most likely that he lost his luster. As we evolve much like the apes did from walking on all fours to standing on two legs, our perspective and our concept of acceptable drastically changes.

Truth be told growing up I hated my nose because a bully boy made fun of me in the school cafeteria. It wasn’t about what he alone had to say. He wasn’t able to shake my foundation but, when he quickly realized that his attempts were failing on deaf ears he grabbed his cronies to jump on the band wagon. By the time I got home from school, I was glued to the mirror, crying, and imaging the different ways to change my nose. The Bully Trendsetter won this game for many years even after he was long gone in my tangible life. I remember being in fitting rooms and catching my profile. Suddenly the designer jeans that I found on sale had nothing on how horrible I felt inside about this nose I was born with.

I never had a problem attracting a person of the opposite sex but I did have a private problem with being attracted to myself. Inside I had this insecurity of not being worthy of this perfection rat race. On the surface I was calm, cool, and collected but in my alone time my barracuda was always lurking.

While doing Fashion Week Miami a few years ago, I had the pleasure of working with one of Europe’s mainstream swimsuit designers. He worked with beautiful women all day long and for sure he new what beautiful looked like. As I was working on one of his models, he approached me from the side. Immediately my thoughts went directly to my self loathing profile but to my shock he uttered the complete opposite. Gideon Oberson said, ”YOU HAVE BEAUTIFUL FACIAL FEATURES (to me).” That night I sat up in my bed and really had to take analyze where my insecurities came from and if they were ever really more than some idiots attempt to rock my boat. Could it be that my cafeteria bully was nothing more than a passing trend, a bully trend setter, and/or the barracuda lurking!!!!!!?

SECURITY OR INSECURITY

Having worked in this industry for a while, I know what you see is not always what is. Technology has come a long way. Let's face it - the model on the cover of a magazine could have your booty with your neighbor's face and you wouldn't know the difference. A wrinkle is a mouse click away and cellulite can be removed with the drop of a tool bar. Really think about what I just said.

My personal perspective changed when I started to read about God's love for me and how he created me in his likeness. For you it may be different. Whatever the case, I dare you to change your perspective. Don’t be the fish at the end of the food chain getting devoured by the bigger fish just because they made a name for themselves at the moment. Trends come and go. Sometimes you have to set your own trend and your own standard of beautiful. Imperfections can be sexy. Just ask the icon in this picture. Her barracuda told her she was ugly,couldn't sing, and wouldn't make a thing out of her life!

IT SEEMS TO ME THAT "THE WEAK FIN" IS IN FACT THE WINNING ATTRIBUTE .

P.S. This "profile" picture was taken of me and put in the main feature of Florida Today. Wish I could send it to my barracuda who is no longer allowed to roam freely in my brain space.

xoxoxoxox LESLIE -

FROM THE MOUTH OF BABES

2010-02-21T10:06:00.000-08:00

FROM THE MOUTH OF BABES
(The Ugly Truth About Make-up)

If you ever need to hear the brutal truth about anything just ask my eight year old niece Jordyn. I often say that she comes with a disclaimer. Make sure you can take the heat before you step into the kitchen. She is by no means rude or obnoxious but, if you ask her something expect to get the answer according to her innocent perspective. I realized this one day after having injured the side of my face. While everyone in my family was playing the whole ordeal down to protect my feelings, Jordyn walked into the house and said very loudly and bluntly “AUNTY WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FACE.”

If only we could all see the world through the eyes of Jordyn Lee Welton. She doesn’t wear rose colored glasses and her world is very black and white. She is a tough little cookie and rightly so. If you knew about some of her life experiences, she makes certain adults look very weak.

To give you a glimpse about Jordyn.......During potty training she requested that someone put her "damn" diaper back on. At three she insited on picking out and matching her own clothing. In her first few days of kindergarten there was a parent teacher conference because she very confidently told her teacher that she didn’t feel like doing any work. She would much rather be watching the Telatubbies and playing with her toys. By the age of five she was enamored with a guy I was dating and she secretly shared with my mom that she hoped my hair fell out so that he would like her better. At six she saved a human life by calling 911. By the age seven she told me that the guy I was seeing wasn’t very cute and I could do much better.

Jordyn is a happy go lucky spirit that if given center stage can take over the entire show. It is not uncommon for her to break out in song and dance at the most inappropriate times and locations. I don’t think “embarrassed” is a word she knows or an emotion that she has ever felt. She loves all eyes on her and I must say she is quite the fashionista. She has helped me get dressed for several dates.

I would take a bullet for this little girl. She has been the light for me in dark times and the constant flow of unconditional love during unpredictable moments. She has simple answers to all of life’s complicated issues …… that is until her wii fit breaks at the hands of her little brother Liam. As any female she is capable of a meltdown every now and then.

Jordyn has inspired today’s posting - honest advice about your make-up. I apologize in advance for the following tips if they are offensive to your beauty regiment but I promise that in the end it is for your own beauty good.

THE MAKE-UP DON’TS
Just like love and hate, there is a very fine line between good and bad make-up. Recklessness on the applier’s part can cause it to be crossed. A little too much or too less can completely change the way one looks and result in an appearance that is different from the one intended. Here are some common mistakes that can easily be avoided.

*If you want to be a BABE listen to the following advice and make it your beauty bible.

Heavy Base Playing:

Less is more when it comes to foundation. When too much base is applied, it gives a very Barbie meets Malibu look. The base should be just enough to give a smooth and fresh, yet natural look. The Flawless Fix is wonderful foundation. Click on this picture to read more about it.

Starting with the Wrong Foundation

Starting with the wrong foundation in both life and make-up is never good thing. The line of demarcation is never in season. The wrong shade of base is one of the surest ways to age you. I give free make-up consults for professional exact foundation matching. Come see me at my studio or find a certified make-up artist in your area.

All Chiefs no Indians

When applying make-up, one should decide upon a certain feature to focus on. Everything can’t be on display. For instance, the eyes, the lips, etc. If one feature is heavily made-up the other features should be toned down to balance it. Bright red lipstick with heavily made-up smoky eyes is a major no-no. Would you wear a miniskirt with a belly shirt…..same concept goes from make-up.

The Tammy Faye Look

While I think Tammy Faye is super sweet and an icon among Christian and Cancer Survivors- women please avoid chunks of mascara. It makes the lashes end up looking tangled and untidy. To avoid this, wipe away all excess mascara from the wand, at the opening of the bottle or tube before applying it. While the mascara is still wet, brush lashes with an old toothbrush or eyelash comb so that they don’t look tangled. Invest in a good mascara that has micro-fibers such as Lash Vixen.

If you suffer from puny lashes come see me for Eyelash Extensions. If you from out of state find an Xtreme Eyelash Consultant in you area. They are the lastest craze in Hollywood and they look beautiful. Don't go to just anyone. Saftey, quality, and appearance will vary if you don't go to a qualified person.

Streaking

Whether it’s the base, blusher or eye shadow, if the applicator is not smooth or one is unable to blend the make-up properly, one will get tell-tale streaks that show every stroke of the applicator on the face. This makes the face look painted and unnatural. Instead one should use an applicator with a smooth surface that has an even texture and blend the make-up well

Dracula’s Mouth

If one has discolored or yellowing teeth, dark or bright shades of lip gloss or lipstick should be avoided as they draw more attention to the teeth and consequently their color becomes more prominent.

I often do one session of Davinche Laser Teeth Whitening for my clients. It guarantees 5-14 shades lighter in 20 minutes. The best part is that my laser is an LED light that is completely safe and painless.

Bad Silhouettes

When one is unable to find a lip-liner that exactly matches one’s lipstick or lip gloss, it is better to use a lighter lip-liner shade than a darker one because one could be mistaken for a south central female gang member

In an attempt to make the lips look fuller, many women tend to outline their lips with a liner on the outer edge of the lips and then fill it with lipstick or lip gloss. Even if the colors of the liner and gloss/ lipstick are a perfect match, this gives a sloppy look. Instead, one can use Bisou Cosmetics – Pout N’ Plump to naturally plump. Click pn product for more info.

Pain in the Blush Brush:

The blusher should be just enough to give a natural flush to the cheeks and the best shade for most skin tones is a pinky-peach one. It should be applied to the apple of the cheeks, not all over them and with upward strokes. One should try using a nice big brush to spread the colour in a more evenly manner.

Morning After Make-Up

No matter how tired, one should never go to sleep with make-up still on. Your skin needs to breathe and with all the make-up covering the face, the pores get blocked and suffocated. If you make this a regular practice your skin will eventually lose its natural freshness and beauty.

Blue Eye Shadow from the Days of Dynasty

While I would agree with you that Linda Evans is gorgeous the blue eyeshadow trend looked bad then and it still looks bad now. It dates you and more impotantly accentuates crows feet. The key with eye shadow is to make your eyes pop naturally. To appear natural and refreshed go for more of a natural look with taupe colors.

"Seeing The Forest Through The Trees"

2010-02-20T11:10:00.000-08:00

SNEAK PEAK INTO TODAY'S POSTING
"Brazilian is still my favorite by far. Once I learned that pubic hair serves to trap pheromones and odor, I kind of felt that it equated to a baboon's bright red bum at a zoo. That is just my personal preference. Again don’t knock it till you try it!" Come see me at my studio for a safe and affordable Brazilian Wax. ;) www.bisoucosmetics.com
Save 15% if you mention this blog. xoxox Leslie

KEEP READING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SEEING THE FOREST THROUGH THE TREES
( TO WAX OR NOT TO WAX)

Last night I had a great time with my friend Andrea. It is always a pleasure to have “a big girl dinner” with a fellow New Yorker when you live in Florida. We were having a business/girl night that included an endless box of wine and an over sized ice cream cookie cake.

Andrea has never lost her Neverland. As a matter of fact she is one of my pirates, mermaids, and/or fairies that I spoke about in my last blog. You will hear a lot more about her so I figure now is a great time to tell you about her. Like any good friends, we are a sounding board for one another -
We help one another see metorphoric forest through the trees.

Last night Andrea cooked up a meal that tasted like something from Emeril’s kitchen. It doesn’t shock me because there is very little this girl can’t make happen. Much like finding a pretty shell with beautiful facets, she is literally pandora’s box wrapped up in friendship and love. The fact that Andrea and I are both in this undiscovered area of Florida is absolutely hilarious. She is now friends with Walmart also.

Andrea and I share some pretty funny war stories and good times but what we share the most is life and the understanding that you need your girlfriends….the sisterhood. I don’t mean a surface friendship. She is the friend that will tell you EXACTLY what your anatomy will look like in detail after childbirth while you are chomping on her gourmet meal set with Lenox and Mikasa. Don’t you love it!

Andrea is hutspah personified. She is currently a nurse, a mommy of two beautiful children, owner to a puppy named Trouble, and wife to a man who broke all of our dating molds and stereotypes. Andrea was the girl who occupied a gorgeous NYC brownstone, an accomplished Yale graduate, and a woman who loved being single and swore she was never getting married in her early 30s. The evolution of Andrea is a story that I will let her tell you one day on this blog but I hope all of my readers have a friend like her. You can borrow her and live vicariously thru my blog if you need that sisterhood.

True to who Andrea and I are, allow me to let you join our intriguing dinner conversation last night. It was quite entertaining and funny.

TO WAX OR NOT TO WAX.........

"Brazilian is still my favorite by far. Once I learned that pubic hair serves to trap pheromones and odor, I kind of felt that it equated to a baboon's bright red bum at a zoo. That is just my personal preference. Again don’t knock it till you try it!" Come see me at my studio for a safe and affordable Brazilian Wax. ;) www.bisoucosmetics.com
Save 15% if you mention this blog.

BIKINI WAXING and WAXING IN GENERAL

WAXING (101)RULES
*Avoid nail salons for waxing unless you like getting your skin singed off and/or don’t mind looking surprised with a bad eyebrow shaping. While this is my area of expertise, my recommendations also come from having these things done to me several years ago prior to being professionally trained.

Prior to getting waxed you should be asked about your skin and what kind of creams you use daily. If they don’t ask RUN quickly away.

If you have sensitive skin, please don’t wax. It is not something that you will get used to over time. If you suffer from dry skin, it will literally rip off. There are other hair removal methods that would suite you better and we will discuss in later blogs.

Most anti-aging creams are meant to thin the skin. They aim to exfoliate and reveal baby skin underneath. If you use any products that contain glycolic or rentinol, DO NOT WAX. You will lose skin, burn skin, and might even be left with a nasty scar.

The temperature of the wax is important. A technician should not be blowing on the wax to cool it off prior to application. Wax should always be set to the right temperature. It is not a guessing game, unlike checking to see if your Turkey Wing is cooked, wax is not to be broiled, boiled, or steamed.

FROM THE TECHNICIAN POINT OF VIEW

Just make sure you shower before appointment! That's the only thing us professional expect. We know it’s strange to be naked in front of someone with your body in a fashion you never thought possible! You are going to find ways to position your body you never thought possible, seriously! It will hurt a bit. But your waxer will walk you through it. Trust me, she is used to nervous women during this service. Just relax don't tense your body. If you tense it hurts more. And some women ever pass gas during this service, don't feel embarrassed, like I said as a professional we are used to this.

Here's How WAXING WORKS FOR ALL OF YOU WAXING VIRGINS:

Most waxings occur in a private room with a door. You'll be left alone to remove your pants and underwear and you'll be asked to lie on a table with clean paper or sheets. It is possible that you may be provided with a paper thong and you can certainly ask for one.

Because you only need 1/4 inch of hair for the wax to grab onto, your waxer may trim pubic hair to the correct length. A general rule of thumb is that hair needs to be a quarter-inch if it's fine, a half-inch if it's coarse.

The waxer will liberally apply talcum powder to the skin. Talcum powder keeps hot wax from sticking to skin.

The best waxers are fast, which means less discomfort for you.
The waxer will dip a wooden waxing stick into a pot of hot wax and then spread it onto your skin and hair. She will then apply a cloth strip over the still-warm wax, pressing firmly so the cloth, hair and wax adhere to one another. When the wax has cooled, she will pull the strip off, in the opposite direction of your hair growth, pulling the hairs out by the root.
You might request a hard wax, which is thicker and is peeled off when cooled. It can be less painful, according to Barshop.

If the waxing is too painful, ask the technician to apply strips to smaller areas at a time.
Waxing usually starts in the front and moves toward the back. You may be asked to help hold skin taut.

Since the Brazilian means everything off except for a "landing strip" in the front, don't be surprised when the technician removes the hair between the buttocks. Yes, for most people, hair grows there.

Once the waxing is complete, the waxer will tweeze any stray hairs and she may trim the remaining landing strip.

8. The waxer will spread soothing lotion over the waxed areas. Apply aloe lotion or a hydrocortisone cream if you develop bumps, redness or ingrown hairs. I hear great things about Bliss ingrown hair eliminating pads:

The procedure, like any waxing, can be very painful at first, but frequent visits usually cut down on the pain factor as does 2 Advil an hour before your procedure. You can also apply a topical anesthetic, such as "Relax and Wax No-Scream Cream," ($20, relaxnwax.com) 45 minutes before the procedure.

Book the appointment for at least a week after your period. As for the embarrassment factor -- we like to think getting a Brazilian can't be any more embarrassing than a typical visit to your gynecologist's office.

Basic Bikini Waxing Styles:

Regular Bikini Wax:

Removes the hair outside the panty line. When to choose: If it's your first bikini wax, or are just looking for a clean up.

Full Bikini Wax:

Takes the sides of the bikini line deeper than a regular bikini wax, and can also include waxing some hair on top to make a more defined ‘triangle’ area, or trimming down the hair left shorter.When to choose: You still want to keep hair, but want more definition than a clean-up.

French Bikini Wax:

Takes all hair off the in the front (except a small strip) and continues to right before the back. It doesn't take hair off from the back like a Brazilian (see below). When to choose: You want the area basically pretty smooth with most hair removed, but don't want to take any hair away from your behind.

Brazilian Bikini Wax:

Takes all hair off the bikini line, front all the way to the back (yes by your bum).

When to choose: The perfect option if you wear a thong bikini, or want to be completely or almost hairless in front and back.

BRAZILIAN BIKINI WAX

Brazilian bikini waxes were introduced to New York in 1987 by seven Brazilian-born sisters and remains a popular hair removal method in the US.
The "Brazilian" differs from a regular bikini wax because hair is removed in the front, back and everything in between.
The "Brazilian" has most recently been in the press since the state of New Jersey announced in spring 2009 it may ban "genital waxing" after a couple residents were hospitalized with infections. I can’t stress enough – know who is waxing you and if they are qualified.

xoxoxox

Leslie

FIND PETER PAN, NEVERLAND, OR YOUR INNERCHILD

2010-02-19T12:57:00.000-08:00

In a few weeks I will be 31. I am positive this year is going to rock the Casbah! I feel like the older I get numerically the wiser I get spiritually. I have an on going joke that with every year I get a bit more immature. By the time I am 40 I will have a soul in her teens.

I know Peter Pan is a Disney character but I really think he was on to something profound. I mean let’s face it – did Peter ever have his panties in a twist? On the contrary he was always having these great adventures in Neverland interacting with mermaids, Indians, fairies, and pirates. In my eyes a typical adventure in the NYC subway system (just kidding).

When my 30th birthday was approaching I was a wreck. I am not ashamed to admit it. I was undoubtedly having a midlife half crisis. I wasn’t married, I didn’t have 5 kids, and instead of a white picket fence I had a cat named Henry. I always heard stories about becoming the crazy cat lady and I really had to analyze – is this where I am headed. Somewhere in my journey I learned to follow a stereotype that 30 was the age I needed to have it all together. What I had was a great family, my career, a broken heart, and absoultely no clue about living "MY" life. What I didn’t realize is that you have to be in pieces (fragments) before you are whole or what I call the masterpiece.

Sometimes you have to die to yourself to have a true rebirth. So like any other sassy girl who walked down that alley of broken biological clock demands would do…..I had a funeral last year for that girl who believed in crappy stereotypes.

There were many times I could have been the girl who was married, a mommy in her 20s, and the head of the PTA but some little voice always had another agenda. Was it little Tinkerbell or was it PETER (who knows). The truth is if I had not gone down this road I would be a stranger to myself, lack the tenacity to pursue my career goals, and most likely would have been living in the shadow of someone else - always feeling a bit insecure and unsure of me.

Some people are born with that concept of self. They go thru life just having this solid foundation of confidence and I think that is absolutely wonderful. My way was definately not the path of least resistance. My solid foundation and confidence came from trials and tribulations, heart aches, rejections, leaps of faith, and trial/error. What eventually emerged was this strong woman, that isn’t Adriene but is Rocky Balboa.

So my point is WHERE IS YOUR NEVERLAND? Can you pinpoint if you stopped dreaming or just felt that time was passing you by? I promise you that it hasn't. JUST START LAUGHING AGAIN. When did you start to take life WAY to serious and live worldy instead of spiritually in laughter and good will?

My Neverland came after my birthday last year - in the form of a music executive named JJ. JJ was 24 and yes that would make me a cougar at the time. He had seen, lived, and experienced more in 24 years than I had in 30. Lady Gaga was his discovered artist and seeing Mariah Carey or Black Dada was a normal event in his everyday life.

So here I was the apple of this magnanimous young sexy man’s eyes. He thought I was pretty with morning breath and sweatpants. CRAZY RIGHT! He wasn’t a cheater and he went to church with me every Sunday. He had the world at his fingertips but somehow he wanted me. The whole thing was mind boggling but it was just what the doctor ordered.

We made an art of drive thru Taco Bell at 3AM and breakfast at the exclusive country club. I wasn't Mrs. Robinson or any label. For the first time in a long time - I was Leslie Welton, 30, hot, and made no excuses for who I am. JJ was my Peter Pan. We shared profound conversation about everything from God to Jay-Z. Life just didn’t seem so serious and suddenly being 30 was freaking awesome. My spirit was happy and my wings were fully expanded.

We meet people for a reason - he helped me find my inner child, that girl who stopped dancing years ago. Now despite the fact that JJ and I are on different paths, I look back with gratitude and most importantly I dance alone in the car singing my lungs out and yes............. I am not ashamed to be the first out on the dance floor anywhere. I've got my fairy dust, my wings, and innerchild.

If you want the fountain of youth – find your Neverland, Peter Pan, and/or innerchild.

Personal Note - about Leslie

2010-02-18T22:57:00.000-08:00

“I revealed too much too soon. I was emotionally slutty.”

While I do not write a weekly column for the The New York Star, my personal life stories can definitely fill the pages of a book. I think anyone single past the age of 30 can have their very own Page Six Column. Between my personal peeks and valleys and that of my closest friends, I can honestly say life never gets boring. I really enjoy life these days and a big part of that has to do with learning to laugh at myself, musings about the relationships between men and women, dating, and being a business woman. My life is an open book!

The Truth and Nothing But The Truth……..

True to my New York roots I am not a regular smoker – I am however an on-again off-again social smoker. You know I only smoke when I drink blah blah blah- Marlboro Smooths, a Cosmopolitan, and my girlfirends can turn any normal day into an amusement park adventure!

Politically speaking I love Obama. At heart I am slightly more conservative. I attend church weekly, love being a Christian, and live very grateful for the blessings that God has given me. I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t on the endless search for true love. I refuse to settle for anything less than butterflies. Don’t get me wrong, I have had those butterflies but I want the kind that don’t go away in a week, a month, or a year.

Welcome to the Jungle………….

I was in a commited relationship for 13 years with someone I met at 15. Within a day found myself single and homeless at 27. Me and my favorite male on the planet “ Henry” (my cat) quickly found a new place to call home and were welcomed into to what I called the jungle – the dating scene. I feel like Guns and Roses should be playing loudly right about NOW.

There is nothing like being a gold fish in a shark tank. I was a deer in head lights. Yes ladies and gents I was Bambi!!!!! I didn’t have a clue about dating and I could tell you stories that would literally make you pee your pants. I have dated everyone from professional athletes, music moguls, to loser bad boy guys that made my family gray prematurely. Truthfully, I wouldn’t change any of it. I am who I am today because of these life experiences. In the life of Leslie it you just never know.... :)

It took me a while but I LOVE BEING SINGLE and ultimatley love being me – flaws and all. Whoever comes into my life at this point is an addition to a healthy home not the blue print.. I like to call myself “the beautiful disaster.” I will elaborate more on this in a later blog.

A Needle in a Hay Stack………….

I never imagined I would be a resident of Viera, Florida. For those of you that know about this area it is wonderful but it is THE POLAR OPPOSITE OF CITY LIVING. For those in my inner circle, hearing that I live anywhere but Manhattan, New York would be strange. You know – I always thought I was going to be that girl with a cute dog that lived in a brownstone on the Upper East Side between Park and Madison. I must say after much reluctancy and denial, Florida is home.

With living in Florida I have learned to make Walmart my friend! I mean where else can you get your tires rotated, get your eyes checked, a mani and a pedi, and do all of your grocery shopping! Don’t knock it till you try it.

While I believe that evolving is a must there are a few things about me that will never change. I still and will always have a romantic relationship with NYC. I visit as much as possible. You can take the girl out of the city but not the city out of the girl.

Starbucks is still my favorite coffee shop. I buy shoes like I change my underwear (daily). Doing make-up for Miami Fashion Week was like giving crack to an addict. I have been described as someone who lives for fashion and I must confess to buying Versace instead of dinner. I frequently mix vintage finds with high end labels.

I am a sucker for a bum on the street. Most importantly I have an EDGE. "THE HUTSPAH"

Happily Ever After………………….

I dare you to tell me that I can’t do something because I will show you that I can. I know what it takes to survive and win this race we call life. Being defeated has never been part of my vocabulary. I may sink, flounder for a little, but I will always reach the surface. I believe in treating people like you want to be treated and life will always reward you! I find the lesson in everything that happens both good and bad. Ultimately, I believe there are no accidents on God’s watch. He opens doors that only he can close and closes doors only he can open!