by Amy Macgowan | Jan 9, 2014 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
Just a short little post today to tell you about a great product I found for $1.00!!!!
If you're like me, every once in awhile you get an unsightly pimple….zit….shaving bump (for our men) – whatever we want to call it.
ELF (Eyes, Lips, Face) has a great Essentials Zit Zapper for $1.00. Zit Zapper is a roller ball that contains witch hazel, tea tree oil, salicylic acid and camphor to reduce pore size and swelling. I clear the rack every time I'm at Target…one for my gym bag, one for the car, one for upstairs, downstairs, a couple for the kids, etc.
The Zit Zapper is brilliant and a great deal. Honestly, Clarins makes something like this called Truly Matte Blemish Control (2 X .17 fl. oz. for $24). Contrast that with $1 for 2 fl. oz. and IT WORKS GREAT!
Need I say more? Nope 🙂
Have a product you love? Let us know! Questions/comments? You can reach me: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com. I'd love to hear from you.
*I receive no compensation for writing PRO/STYLE. If I do at some time, I'll happily let you know!
by Amy Macgowan | Dec 31, 2013 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
Usually PRO/STYLE pops up on Wednesdays, but I wanted to get this to you early so you can take advantage of the great deals out in retail land for your New Year's Eve festivities.
I did a little shopping for you today, hoping that either:
-You received a bit of money as a present over the holidays, or
-You made a couple returns and now have a little money burning a hole in your pocket!
Either way, at holiday time, cosmetic manufacturers have gift sets that are always a great deal. The only better deal is after the holidays, when a few manufacturers discount them even further :).
Too Faced, Bare Minerals, Smash Box and Lorac are the specific discounted gift sets I looked for today and saw in stock at Ulta Cosmetics. Nordstrom (my focus store for the last six months) blew out of the Bare Minerals and Smash Box gift sets- so it's pretty great that Ulta still has some at the further discounted price!
Here are a few I especially liked this season and thought you might too:
Too Faced ‘Joy to the Girls': Pre-Christmas $45 now $36. 15 gorgeous shadows and a full sized mascara to boot.
Too Faced ‘All I Want For Christmas': Pre-Christmas $45 now $36. Lip cream, full sized shadow insurance, blush, eye-shadow trio compact, eyeliner, mascara.
Bare Minerals ‘Simply Irresistible': Pre-Christmas $49 now $39.
- Queen Phyllis Eyecolor (light buttercup) 0.02 oz
- Heirloom Eyecolor (shimmering grey) 0.02 oz
- Posh Eyecolor (sparkling carbon) 0.02 oz
- Cheek Tint in Charm (candy heart pink) 0.03 oz
- Secret Radiance All-Over Face Color (golden candlelit sheen) 0.03 oz
- Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Rebel (pink mauve) 0.15 oz
- Round the Clock Waterproof Eyeliner in Midnight (blackout) 0.04 oz
- Flawless Definition Volumizing Mascara in Black 0.33 oz
- Double-Ended Tapered Blush & Shadow Brush
Smashbox ‘Wondervision' sets:Â
Eyes: Pre-Christmas $32 now $24. Each set has 6 gorgeous eye shadows a full sized liner and full sized mascara. Three color sets to choose from. These are GONE at Nordstrom!
Lips: Pre-Christmas $24 now $19. 5 full sized glosses. Gone as well at Nordies.
Lorac ‘Rockin' Red Hot Mini Lip Gloss Set: Pre-Christmas $24 now $19. 8 adorable paraben-free glosses, full of anti-oxidants and yummy nutrients.
Are you thinking about trying out red lips for the new year? No need to spend a lot of money! NYX has great lipstick for $3.99 and right now, it's buy one, get one 50% off at Ulta. I'm wearing NYX Chaos tomorrow night and I bought Blush for 50% off (I just couldn't go without buying that second one…they got me!)
Happy New Year! Thanks for a great 2013 and here's to a fabulous 2014.
Let me know what you bought for yourself 🙂 and please feel free to contact me:amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com. I'd love to hear from you.
*I receive no compensation for writing PRO/STYLE. If I do, I'll let you know
by Amy Macgowan | Dec 18, 2013 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
Weddings, job interviews, job reviews, press interviews, photo shoots, video reviews, reunions…..
Do you have a big day coming up? The kind of day you need your “A” game for.?
I like to call these game days. And a good rule of thumb to follow for game days is: Don't pull out a new play.
What I mean is, it's prudent to be your very best self on these days, without trying something new. Here's an example: I consult many brides regarding make up for their wedding. More often than not, they request false eyelashes for their wedding day. My very first question is, “Have you worn false eyelashes before?” and 99% of the time the answer is no. My advice to them is, wear false eyelashes at least 6 times before the wedding to see if they are something you can tolerate. False eyelashes are heavy, come un-glued easily, and the glue often causes an allergic reaction in the sensitive eye crowd. Can you imagine this happening throughout the wedding and in the pictures? It would ruin a very special day!
Job interview day? Not the best time to test out “I'm Not A Waitress Red” lipstick, or even nail polish, if you've never worn it before. You'll spend the entire interview worrying about lipstick on your teeth or in the corners of your mouth, rather than about the dreaded, “Tell me about your biggest weakness” question. You'll also be focused on how fabulous your nails look, instead of how fabulous the job sounds (or doesn't!) Also, a personal experience note here- test run new shoes prior to your game day. I had a great new pair of Calvin Klein pumps and wore them for the first time to a job interview that happened to be at a very funky cement floored office. As we were touring the office, they squeaked with EVERY step. Awkward! I finally acknowledged the squeaking elephant in the room and we went on, but I could have avoided the situation had I worn the pumps a bit first! Lesson learned, and no, I didn't get the job.
Wear make up and clothes you're completely comfortable with. If you feel like updating is in order, do it ahead of time and get comfortable with everything prior to game day.
Video taping for a review / photo shoot / demo, etc? If you're choosing your own clothes, and doing your own make up, be yourself. Make up is needed with camera lights, but usually not as much as you think. Take your natural lip shade and deepen it naturally (think mauve) two to three shades- without gloss. Save gloss and sparkle for non-camera events. Accentuate your eyes with some liner and remember to fill in your brows.
Test-run your clothes!!!! Bend over in front of a mirror and do everything you'll be doing in front of the camera. Is everything comfortable and can you move freely without concern? Are your revealing more than your gregarious teaching personality? Check out the rear view as well. I'll always remember the “Refrigerator repairman” view I got throughout one ENTIRE cycling class, as the instructor's tights were riding low and her top was riding high.
Have a great game everyone. Go and win it!
We'd love to hear your past game day / new play stories, or if you have questions, you can reach me: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com
*I receive no compensation for writing PRO/STYLE. If I do in the future, I will happily let you know.
by Amy Macgowan | Dec 4, 2013 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
It's snowing right now in MN. Rather robust flakes in fact. It makes me more excited to leave for Jamaica next Sunday on our working vacation! No need to be jealous…you can take a working vacation too!
Here's ten things I can't be without when on vacation in a warm climate (cold weather version to follow in months ahead):
1. Dental Floss and threader: This doesn't sound very sexy, but being without it is even less sexy! I bring at least three packs of floss- one for my travel bag, one in my suitcase and one for my beach bag (this one is specifically for John so he doesn't have to run back to the room all the time). What's a threader you ask? Well, if you have a dental bridge or crown, you already know. Otherwise, it's a nifty little device that allows the dental floss to go under dental work. Dental floss can be found in third world countries, although not easily when arriving late at night. Threaders, on the other hand, cannot :(.
2. SPF in a spray can for body: Now I can SPF ‘my own self' as the kids used to say :). No assistance needed for my back and other hard to reach areas. I used to be stuck when John was off scuba diving. There never seemed to be a handsome pool boy around when I needed one.  I bring a minimum of two cans- three to be safe. Sunscreen (and everything else on the islands) is expensive. The downside to spray SPF is it goes pretty fast. Upside: it dries fast, easy application and I'll use it more often. What am I bringing this trip? Three cans of Coppertone Sport Continuous Spray SPF 30.
3. Lubricating Eye Drops: I have extended wear contacts. I love them! I keep them in for 30 days at a time, 24/7. At home, I just pop a drop of sterile saline solution in my eyes each morning. For travel, I bring a small bottle of lubricating eye drops and keep them by my bedside. Works great, and the small bottle is much more travel friendly than a big bottle of saline. This is also nice to have on hand during the dry flights.
4. SPF for face: You knew this was coming! I combine Clarins UV40 HP Medium and Dark Tint in a small bottle, as self-tanning has deepened my skin tone for the week. The combination of both colors is perfect and the small bottle lasts all week.
5. Bandanas and hats: The purpose of these is threefold: sun protection to prevent sunburned scalp, sun protection to prevent hair color from turning brassy, and sweat collection! I usually teach 2/3 classes a day- one in the pool, on our vacations, so having something on my head is very important. Bonus: easily hides a bad hair day. If you're not a ball cap kind of person, there are some really cute packable straw hats that fold well.
6. Body Oil for the beach: Life on the beach is trying, I mean drying! A good friend of mine always carries a small bottle of baby oil in her beach bag. I bring Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil, because prefer natural oils to mineral oils. Often, Clarins will have a trial sized bottle of this as a gift choice, so look for it the next time you purchase Clarins at gift time.
7. Sunglasses: I can't function without them during the day. Period. In fact, the thought of going without them puts me in a panic. Most likely because I'm a contact wearer and a migrainer. Polarized lenses are the best. Did you know that wearing sunglasses is one of the best things we can do to prevent cataracts? Yep…so we can be stylin' and preventative all at the same time!
8. First Aid Kit: To include, but certainly not limited to: band aids- regular and liquid, a strong topical antibiotic, an oral antibiotic (if you travel often to third world countries, ask your Dr. for a long lasting, broad spectrum antibiotic to keep in your suitcase- my OB/GYN offered to write a script for this), tweezers, blunt end scissors, clippers, antihistamine, benadryl, pain reliever, cold medicine, etc. All of these items are incredibly expensive, if even available, while on vacation. A visit to the Dr. and corresponding script will run hundreds of dollars.
9. Laundry detergent: I transfer some liquid laundry detergent into a small squeeze bottle (a 2 oz. shampoo bottle works well). John and I teach throughout our vacation. As you can imagine, his clothes (ok, mine too!) get sweaty and nasty. We don't own enough workout clothes for three classes a day, let alone have enough suitcase space. Bringing detergent and hand washing our clothes is the only way we get through the week. Depending on the humidity level, they dry in 12-24 hours by hanging them over the plastic chairs on the balcony. Nothing has EVER been stolen. Possibly because they're still too sweaty and nasty :)!
10. Spray tan in a can: Just like SPF, I can do it myself. I've found a week is too long to go without touch ups, so I bring it along. My favorite spray self tanner? Definitely Quick Tan by Body Drench. This stuff rocks. It's quick, easy and has a decent smell. The color is good and quite long lasting.
Okay, there you go. Please let us know what you bring along. Any advice is helpful, because I'm sure I'm forgetting something major. I feel like that every time we the house…passport? money? sunglasses? Did I turn the oven off? Did I schedule the bills to be paid on time? Did I schedule the PRO/STYLE post? Oh- that reminds me- next week, I'll be on vacation, so the next PRO/STYLE will be Wednesday, December 18.
* I receive no compensation for writing PRO/STYLE. If I do, I'll let you know!
by Amy Macgowan | Nov 27, 2013 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
While deep cleaning the carpets today, (overnight guests coming for Thanksgiving and a Yorkie that's untrainable….) I got to thinking about my Clarisonic experience. The correlation being deep cleaning- not dirty carpet and naughty dogs!
Clarisonic skin care systems were introduced in 2004. At that time, they were available for purchase only through spas and physicians. Shortly after, Clarisonic launched into mainstream retail. And launch they did! Clarisonic displays are everywhere- in the aisles, on the end-caps and in store fronts of major retailers world wide. Their marketing department is on the ball!
Here's how the Clarisonic skin cleansing systems work- taken directly from their website:
The Clarisonic Sonic Method, a combination of patented sonic devices and state-of-the-art skincare formulas, is clinically proven to amplify results of both professional treatments and daily skincare regimens. Our sonic technology harnesses a patented range of sonic frequency to drive oscillation between 200 to 350 movements per second, working with skin's natural elasticity to beautifully transform skin's texture and appearance.
Ranging in price from $99 (MiaFirst) to $235 (PLUS Face & Body Cleansing Brush- handle not included at $30), it's safe to say heading into Clarisonic land is an investment. Brush heads run about $25 a pop and need to be replaced every 3 months. Each brush head has anti-microbial properties that last three months.
I fought (and won) the urge to buy a Clarisonic. I simply couldn't come to terms with the cost and upkeep- much like my nails from this post. However, I recently met the lovely Clarisonic rep here in Minnesota and she gifted me with a PLUS model and handle. (This is often done in cosmetics- it's smart business and allows us to speak with experience and authority on products sold in the department. I get asked daily about Clarisonic).
Clarisonic is so confident about their products, they make this guarantee:
We promise to transform your skin. In fact, we guarantee it.
FEEL & SEE GUARANTEE
We offer a 90-day, 100% money-back guarantee on our sonic cleansing and infusion devices. If you purchased your Clarisonic device from an authorized dealer and you are dissatisfied for any reason, please call Clarisonic Customer Care at 1-888-525-2747 to make arrangements for the return.
I couldn't wait to use mine! After reading the instructions and dutifully watching the video on the website (all in the name of research of course), I used my PLUS that night with Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser with Cottonseed that I'd been using successfully for months. But here's the thing….after daily use for a week, I just couldn't take it anymore. My skin was red, irritated and I had little broken blood vessels all over. Backing off to every other day yielded the same results. I set my PLUS in its charger and took a break. My skin returned to normal and I tried it for another week, took a break…and again for another week just to make sure. Same results. Bummer. I don't have a history of sensitive skin. I was using the normal brush head that came with the PLUS and making sure not to press too hard while using it. Hmmm…part of the guarantee held true for me- I did see a transformation in my skin- just not in a good way. It would seem I'm in the minority, as most reviews (a whopping 81%) LOVE their Clarisonic.
Next, I changed to the body brush head and popped the PLUS in the extended handle. Moving to my body, I got a totally different result=LOVE! My skin was much softer and my dry skin was much improved. The PLUS does a much better job then I can do manually with a scrub and the best thing is I can get to hard to reach places. In fact, right now I'm prepping my winter body for self tanner and the PLUS is the perfect way to exfoliate prior to application.
Carly- my youngest daughter is home from college for a week. Inquisitive in nature, she grabbed the Clarisonic PLUS off the charger and gave it a try- with a new brush head of course! She started using it yesterday and we're anxious to see how her acne prone skin responds to the deep sonic cleansing system. I have a deep pore brush head ready for her to graduate to if she responds well.
As for me and my face, I guess deep pore cleanliness in the Clarinsonic way isn't in my future. That's okay-Â I love it for my body. I'm back to exfoliating daily with a gentle exfoliator and that's just fine with me.
Have you used a Clarisonic? What was your experience? We'd like to hear from you! Reach out to me: amyjo@groupfitnessradio.com or simply comment below!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Gobble gobble. Eat…enjoy…be thankful!
*I receive no compensation for writing this. If I ever do, I'll happily let you know :).
by Amy Macgowan | Nov 13, 2013 | Instructor Training, PRO/STYLE
Has the onset of winter brought your eye circles to the forefront? It sure seems mine are worse these days!
In the ‘olden days' we called it cover up. Today, the cosmetic industry affectionately refers to it as concealer. Whatever we call it, done correctly, it can take years off our appearance. Done incorrectly, it simply draws attention to the very circles we were trying to conceal in the first place.
Color and formula are the two problem areas in concealing. Both are easy to detect and correct.
Eva's make up artist needs to be fired. Her concealer is WAY too light!
Color:
The easiest and best way to determine if you're using the right color concealer is to take a look at some recent photos of yourself taken in a variety of light. Does your eye area look super dark (need to conceal), quite natural and good (perfect- don't change a thing), or do you look like a raccoon (too light, too light!)?
Concealer that's too light is very common. The best example of raccoon eyes is Eva Longoria. I don't know who her make up artist is, but he/she should be replaced, STAT! Eva's beautiful, but the abuse of concealer not only distracts from her beauty, but makes her look like a cartoon character.
I've no idea where the ‘lighter is better' mentality comes from regarding under eye concealer. Daily I re-educate lovely women on proper concealer color choice. Concealer should be very close to our foundation color. In other words, it should match our skin tone! A good concealer will cover our dark circles and should match our cheeks in an even progression up to our lower lashes.
Here's a great tip/trick where light color is better: apply a light color shadow base to the eyelid. Dark circles are a FULL circle that goes all the way around the eye. Concealing the eyelid prevents dark circles from casting a shadow back down on the concealed lower eye. Continue with regular eyeshadow application over the base.
A few more concealing tricks:
-apply concealer into the ‘divet' (inner corner of eye) and down into nose bridge
-make sure to take concealer all the way up to lower lashes and blend
-concealer should be blended into the nose mid way down
Formula:
When under eye circles are properly concealed, the effect can enhance natural beauty. Check out the difference between her left and right eye, and even more- the difference between how great she looks compared to Eva!
In my opinion, a concealer must have these four things:
1. It needs to actually cover dark circles (kind of a duh, but many don't)!
2. It must wear all day without reapplication.
3. It CANNOT, under any circumstances, settle in lines and wrinkles. (One pass with my finger after initial application is acceptable). Concealer congealed in lines and wrinkles is worse than dark circles left alone and ages us as much as raccoon eyes.
4. The right consistency…not too dry, not too moist. It has to be j-u-s-t right. (Sounding like Goldilocks here!) If it's too dry, it looks chalky and draws attention to imperfections in the eye area. If it's too moist, it shines and the same problem exists.
How hard can it be to find the right color and these four attributes in a concealer. Turns out it's a challenge. Here are a few concealers I like and the reasons I like them for myself and my clients:
-Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector ($34). This concealer works the best for me personally and is beautiful on many lighter skinned women. The 02 color is a perfect match for 90% of my Scandinavian clients. Instant Light contains rice peptides and oat sugars that help to smoothen and brighten under eye skin, so it doesn't settle in lines and wrinkles and it makes the eye area look better than before it was applied. Yippee! It's every bit as good as Dior Skinflash Radiance Booster Pen ($37) and lasts much longer. My only complaint is the limited color range. It's only offered in three shades- none dark enough for women of color :(. I hope Clarins will expand the color line in Instant Light. (It should be noted that Clarins introduced Instant Concealer $30 this past August that comes in shades for all skin tones. Reviews for Instant Concealer have been fantastic, but I like Instant Light so much I can't get myself to try it. However, it looks great on every customer I've put it on. Most purchase it).
-Exuviance Coverblend Concealing Treatment Makeup ($38). My second choice. It's not as lightening/brightening as Clarins Instant Light, but stands out because it's anti-aging and wears forever. The color range is HUGE, so everyone can get a proper match! It is very versatile and can be used as an all over face concealer as well. Wears well and doesn't settle. SPF20, and somehow it doesn't bother my eyes. A little goes a long way, so the tube lasts a very long time.
Lancome Effacernes Waterproof Concealer ($30). Until I tried Exuviance and then Clarins, this was my favorite. Good coverage, long wearing and it doesn't settle in lines and wrinkles. Until two years ago, there were only four color choices. Now there is an expanded color choice, so most women can find a color match. No bells and whistles. Just a great performing concealer that meets all the basic requirements as stated above.
Do you have a concealer you love? Let us know. I can't wait to hear from you.
*I receive no compensation for writing this. If I do in the future, I'll happily let you know. Maybe I'll get so much concealer I'll be invisible! 🙂
