Bridal Beauty Skin Tips from Karen!

Karen is a Dollface Certified Artist and a Licensed Esthetics Instructor. She has worked and trained with many industry leaders across the country. Read her tips for brides-to-be:

Having a flawless face on your wedding day begins months before you say "I do." Great makeup begins with great skin.

First, start a good cleansing program which includes a cleanser, treatment serum or gel, and a moisturizer all appropriate for your skin type. You also want to include a gentle exfoliant to your routine one to three times a week. I really like Oil of Olay Microdermabrasion. You may want to consult an Esthetician and discuss your skin-care goals. Remember, even oily skin types need a moisturizer. Just choose an oil-free one. Recently, I tried DDF Ultra-lite oil-free moisturizing dew and loved it.

Don't forget your lips! Exfoliate your lips by using an old soft bristled tooth-brush or wash cloth in the shower. Rub gently for 30 seconds. Apply vaseline or heavy lip balm every night.

One of the best things you can do for yourself and skin is drink plenty of water. Keep a water bottle with you at all times. Drinking more water will help rid your body of toxins and hydrate your skin. While you are at it consider decreasing your caffeine consumption.

Use SPF: Always remember to wear your sunscreen and put in on the back of your hands as well.

Start shaping your eyebrows 12 weeks in advance and do your last waxing or threading one week before the wedding. Avoid waxing if your are using a glycolic acid, retin-a or retinol product on your face.

Beauty sleep works!  Get plenty of rest to allow your skin time to repair itself.  Try to get as much as you can done early so you can focus on keeping yourself well rested and relaxed. Sleep is the body's natural beauty treatment and more effective than any other treatment you could buy.

Best wishes dolls!

*photo provided by Erin Rene Photography

We've been a little busy but we're back.. kinda.

You may or may not have noticed the Dollface by Jules Facebook page was pretty quite last week.  Well, we (myself along with Dollface Photobooth) of traveling to Tampa, FL for a fantastic wedding.  Savannah based photographer, Dylan Wilson, captured the love & fun of the evening.  More to come of the makeup but here's a sneak peek of the happy couple:

After the wedding fun was complete, we travel to the makeup manufacturing plant we are working with to create the MAKEUP LINE!  The line is scheduled to launch in 2012, stay tuned for details!

After 8 days of traveling, we will be back on the road again Saturday evening.  This time Team Dollface is Orlando bound for the Premiere Beauty Show to enjoy too much shopping & classes from top pros.  We will be back in Savannah next week & sharing tips for all of our fans.  Just wanted you to know I hadn't forgotten about ya!

Best Day Ever.. You Tell Me...

To recap how I spent the day... I was at Paula Deen's home w/ Libbie Summers (Paula's Senior Food Stylist who has her own cookbook coming out in Sept), met the incredible icon - Liza Minnelli, & Bobby Dean gave me his new cookbook inscribed to "Jules & The Fritz".  Just when you didn't think it could get any better- I was paid top dollar to do all of this!

I say all of this for a reason, and also because it IS pretty damn awesome!  I want to encourage you along with myself to never let go of your dream.  I remember when many, and I mean lots & *LOTS* of people thought I was absolutely crazy for ever thinking I could leave my tiny hometown to do makeup.  Makeup?!  On location and not out of a hair salon?!  Full time?!   Well a little over 2 years later- a thriving business with a team of 5, portable photobooth division, & a makeup line in the works, I say with a smile- "Yup."

No matter what your dream is, no matter how crazy it seems to everyone else.. follow it anyway since living your dream is the best ride you can ever take but living in regret of what could've been is a miserable option.  Today reminded me of how sweet life is and how it's worth taking the chance on yourself.

Here's a photo from Paula's crew:

Adding Intensity to a Smoky Eye

For a flawless way to do dark eye makeup, we recommend using two eyeliners. Start by dotting on a dark liner to the base of the lashes. Then, simply go back over the line with a gel liner, dark shadow or liquid liner. Just by retracing the line, you'll get more intensity, help keep your makeup in place, and your lashes will look thicker.  Try using this with a brown pencil and then using jet black for best results.  

DIY Salt Glow Recipe & Directions

Yesterday I had a fantastic salt glow, a salt scrub which exfoliates your body to make your skin feel baby smooth and glow!  I wanted to share the tips & recipe I was given to make this happen more often.  Did you know exfoliating with salt is better for your skin that sugar?  Salt helps to pull toxins out of your skin and will not dissolve in the oil.  Sugar is still good, salt is just bit better.

You will need:

• Fine Sea Salt or Epson Salt
• 1/2 cup of massage oil such as almond or grapeseed - no cooking oil
• 10-15 drops of essential oils such as lavendar or lemongrass
• 1/4 cup of honey
• Mixing bowl
• A jar with a lid

Mix the oils & salt together until the oil has completely soaked the salt in your mixing bowl.  Next mix in the honey.  Transfer the goods to your jar & take a bath or shower.  

If you have a bathtub, allow the excess salt to fall into the tub which will now create a soothing soak.  Using the scrub in the shower prior to shaving is a great way to avoid ingrown hairs.  Make sure to use a soothing shave cream such as Ambrosia from Lush.com.    

Use your scrub 1-2 times per week.  This recipe will give you about 3 scrubs.  Feel free to add any oils you fancy.  Creating your own perfect salt glow is half the fun!