Bloftin Cosmetics Blog

Perhaps when you were a pre-teen, it was as simple as picking out your favorite color at the drugstore. But finding the right lip color is a bit more complicated than that these days. And, color choices aside, it’s hard to find anything resembling “just plain ol’ lipstick” in any drugstore makeup aisle.

To find the right product for your lip color needs, try one of these three choices:

Lip Gloss- For shine and just a little color, use a lip gloss. It is usually applied in a tube (like lip balm) and perfect for light makeup days and casual looks. Try it for a day when you’re out running errands in your t-shirt and jeans.

Lipstick- Lipstick is the most common lip color product and easiest to find. It is wax-based and covers the lips’ surface. (Lipstick has a tendency to look blotchy or uneven on lips with a lot of fine lines. For situations like this, FACE atelier makes a Lip Putty that can be used under lipstick to create an even surface before applying lipstick.)

Lip Stain- This long-lasting cosmetic product saturates lips with a pigment. It is usually applied with a brush and is perfect for someone looking for a dramatic look that can still pass as “natural.” Beware: The name serves it well and this product can definitely leave a stain. Once it dries, though, it will stay put on your lips and stay off of everything else!

To complete your look, don’t forget your lip liner! Usually found in a pencil form, lip liner is used to outline and define the natural line of the lips. It will give lipstick or lip stain extra staying power and a more complete look.

Pro Tip: When using lip liner, make sure to keep the color the same or lighter than your lipstick or lip stain. Wearing a lip liner that is darker will only accentuate the appearance of your cosmetics and take attention away from the real show: you!

The thought of facial or body powder often leaves us with memories of large jars of thick, chalky powder and a puffy pillow applicator found on our grandmother’s vanity table. The dusting powder we remember has been used for generations as a light skin coating or touch-up during the day to absorb moisture and leave a subtle scent on a woman’s arms, neck, and face. And your memory serves you right: it is often heavy and messy. Some, in fact, have claimed that it is bad for the respiratory system, as it can be inhaled during application. But don’t let your grandmother’s dusting powder keep you away from the benefits of the newer, lightweight facial powders of today.

Facial powders today are nothing like the old dusting powders, except for their basic use. For naturally oily skin, the minerals help absorb the oil and keep skin from being too shiny or greasy. But good quality facial powder is perfect for all skin types, lightweight, and easy to apply. This powder is worn either under makeup to provide a dry, matte base or over to help set the products. And, as always, it can be used for a touch-up during a hot day. For a good example, check out Jane Iredale’s Amazing Matte Loose Finish Powder. Pair it with a large makeup brush, you’ll be good go on a warm, sunny day!

Pro Tip: Yes! You can use your facial powder on other oily parts of your body! On particularly hot and steamy days, dust a little powder on your chest and neck or upper arms to mask the oil. You’ll have a healthy glow, but none of those embarrassing sweat droplets!

It should be no surprise to you that most women do not have even skin tone. Whether plagued by freckles, acne, or scars, we’ve all got blemishes that make us feel that our skin is not quite what it could be. The good news is that for some of us, a little bit of sun will dry oily skin to clear up acne or tan blotchy or freckled skin to create a more pleasant tone. But, until that sun comes out, what else can we do?

If you want to limit your cosmetic use because of skin issues, there are some natural remedies to even your skin tone. Various sources recommend everything from using lemon juice as an astringent to microdermabrasion. If you’d prefer, you could try various remedies to see what works. (Just remember that “natural remedies” are not proven to be effective, nor approved by dermatological professionals for use.)

Dermablend Cosmetics has a fabulous Redness Concealer that is created specifically for neutralizing the skin’s imperfections to create a smooth, even tone for those of us who don’t have it naturally. Applied under a foundation like Dermablend’s Smooth Indulgence Foundation, the concealer is the perfect matte base for the rest of your cosmetics. No one will ever know you have skin tone problems!

Pro Tip: Choosing a concealer or foundation color is always tricky, even for those with an even skin tone! For an idea of what your most natural-looking base color should be, compare cosmetics with the skin on your jawbone. Regardless of how much your skin tone varies around your face, your jawline should be the easiest to match and blend.

It’s officially Spring in my neck of the woods and the birds and bees aren’t the only ones sniffing around for a sweet scent. Are you looking for something new this season?

Enigma Perfume

Alexandra de Markoff’s Enigma Perfume might be the perfect scent for you this Spring! Enigma is a a mix of floral scents, lightly dusted with spices. And, if perfume isn’t usually your thing, you’re in luck! There are a few different Enigma products to choose from:

The Natural Cologne spray is perfect for a night out. Just a light mist will cover you with the subtle scent. The Enigma Essence Mist is a bit heavier concentration of scent, perfect for a dab on the wrist or neckline. Enigma Body Lotion is long-lasting and leaves skin feeling soft and elegant. (Try it on rough places like elbows, knees, and heels.) The Shower Cream is perfect for a nighttime shower or bath. Use it to cleanse your skin and leave you both clean and smelling great!

So, no matter what the occasion, consider Alexandra de Markoff’s Enigma Perfume as your go-to scent for the new season.

Pro Tip: Don’t let perfume scare you! Many women are afraid that their perfume will be too obvious or overwhelming for those in close proximity. So, if you’re new to the world of perfume, take easy and start simple. Try this: an hour before you leave home, dab the product on a few choice spots–maybe your neck and wrists. Let the scent settle in and get used to it yourself. The smell might be new to you, but it will fade into something more subtle and pleasant to those around you! People will take notice, but will have to do a double-take to decide where it came from. And, when they do, they’ll notice you!

What if a friend approached you asking if you’d help them re-create their look by throwing away all their products and re-building their collection from the bottom up? Which cosmetics are most important? Which products should be in every girl’s makeup bag? What are the basics?

To build a cosmetic collection from the basics up, you’ll need to begin with a few necessary items:

1. Foundation
2. Blush
3. Powder
4. Mascara
5. Eye Shadow
6. Eye Liner
7. Lipstick/Gloss

But, even if you know what products to buy, it’s hard to decide what brand or shades. Depending on how familiar your friend is to the world of makeup, she may or may not be able to make those decisions herself. The choice of colors is a mix between what works best for her skintone and how dramatic a look she’s hoping for and sometimes these decisions require a professional opinion. You might suggest a visit to the makeup counters at a nearby department store. The women working there would be happy to let your friend try their products. In fact, your friend will walk away with, essentially, a free makeover and a list of “what to buy” if she likes what she sees! If she doesn’t like what she sees, she can come back the next day to visit a different manufacturer and try out a different line of products or a different look.

Jane Iredale Sample Kit- Medium

Another suggestion is to purchase a starter kit or a few sample sized products. Companies like Jane Iredale Cosmetics offer sample kits designed for specific skin tones. These kits contain all “the basics” as outlined above, but in small, sample sizes. So, your friend can take a few days to experiment to see what works and, when a color doesn’t work, she won’t have to throw away a $30 swatch of eye shadow!

Once your friend has determined what brands and colors she prefers, the fun begins! Start with the list of products above and she’ll have everything she needs to get started on her new look. When she builds up from the basics, the options are endless.

I know it’s been a long day. I know that the only thing on your mind is getting cozy and climbing into bed. But, do your skin a favor and don’t forget to wash off your makeup!

This might seem obvious to some of you, but many women skip the end-of-day face washing. Some of us use the reasoning that we are going to wash it off in the shower the next morning anyway, so it’s a waste of time. Some women simply don’t know it’s important. And, let’s face it, some of us just don’t want to bother! But going to bed with a clean, dry face is important for a few reasons. First of all, to be healthy, your pores need to breathe. Second, your skin needs to heal while you sleep. Third, some makeup contains chemicals that are not intended to be left on your skin for long periods of time. The simple act of removing your makeup and washing your face gives your sensitive skin some time to recoup and get ready for the next day. Think of it as a nap for your skin!

FACEatelier Melt

To remove your makeup properly, use a special cleanser on cotton balls for the sensitive skin around your eyes and then a facial wash for the rest of your face. (Don’t use a regular body soap, as it can dry out our your skin!) After removing your makeup and cleansing the skin, you can apply toner or astringent and, finally, a moisturizer. A product like FACEatelier’s Melt contains both a cosmetic remover and hydrating face wash in one, but you can also purchase individual products by themselves and use them together. In addition to your normal, daily cleansing routine, try a facial mask and/or exfoliant once a week to attack the deep oil and dirt.

This bedtime routine may seem tedious and, for those with healthy skin, might seem like a waste of time. But don’t underestimate the importance of sleeping with a clean, dry face! Take care of your skin now and, when you wake up in the morning, your face will be ready for a new day.

Pro Tip: To make the most of your cleansing routine, pay attention to the natural condition of your skin and buy products designed for it! Is it oily? Use water-based products and skip using more oil. Is your skin dry? Look for oil-based products to help lock in the moisture!

Yes, cosmetics have an expiration date! Although you might think that it’s silly to replace your products after six months (specially if you don’t use them every day), you could be asking for trouble if you use makeup past its prime.

Let’s use mascara as an example:

Alexandra de Markoff Mascara Xtreme

Every time you use your mascara, the brush comes within millimeters of your eyes, which are full of bacteria. Then, every time you dip that brush back into the mascara tube, you spread that bacteria to the unused product, thereby spreading it back to your eye on your next application. Thankfully, most mascara brushes are coated with an antibacterial layer for your protection but, after a few months, this protection starts to decrease and the dangers increase. This is why, in the case of mascara, it’s safest to replace your product every 3-4 months.

As far as other cosmetics are concerned, 6-12 months is the lifespan of most products. It is recommended, though, that you replace any product after it is used on an infected area such as eyes or mouth. (So, after getting over pink eye, toss your eye makeup!) You should also use common sense when assessing the health of your cosmetics. If the consistency seems to change too much, of if they are suddenly harder to apply, it might be time to replace them. You could see the expiration of your cosmetics as a nuisance, or your could use it as an opportunity to reinvent your look! The next time you have to buy a new product, do something a little different! Change from browns to grays, from pinks to purples, or try something you’ve never had the guts to try before!

Pro Tip: Give all your cosmetics a good, full life by following three easy rules. First, do not share makeup unless necessary because sharing makeup means sharing germs. Second, close all caps and tubes tightly and store them properly. Use a clean cosmetics bag and store it in a relatively cool, dark place. Third, never use your fingers to apply your cosmetics; always use brushes or applicators. (Jane Iredale sells some great cosmetics brushes, as do most cosmetics manufacturers.)

Planning your spring collection of beauty products can be really exciting–new colors, trends, and scents–but don’t forget your invisible skin ally: sunscreen. After a long, cold winter, the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays may not feel dangerous, but skin cancer is very serious business. Over two million new cases of skin cancer are diagnosed each year, making it the most common form of cancer. It affects both men and women, young and old, and in the vast majority of cases it is directly related to exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays. Sunscreen helps block some of these rays in one of two ways: by either reflecting or absorbing them. And these UV rays aren’t just dangerous because of skin cancer. They can cause painful sunburn and sun-drenched skin ages faster than protected skin.

Jane Iredale's Amazing Base Loose Minerals SPF 20

The good news is that you don’t need to layer on a thick, lotion or gel-based sunscreen, before you apply your makeup, to protect your face from UV rays. Many of today’s cosmetics are made with a sunscreen included right in the product itself. Some lipsticks and many powders and foundations (like Jane Iredale’s Amazing Base Loose Minerals) contain built-in protection, as do many facial lotions. But, to find the perfect product, you need to be able to navigate the sunscreen lingo. The most important term to understand is the “sun protection factor,” or SPF. The higher the SPF rating, the more UV rays the product keeps off the skin, as compared with naked skin (sans-sunscreen). For example: in certain sunny conditions, your skin may burn in an hour’s time. With a sunscreen of SPF 15, your skin can last 15 hours’ worth of UV exposure in those conditions before burning. Now, in the same conditions, with a sunscreen of SPF 30, your face will be safe for 30 hours. (The Jane Iredale Amazing Base Loose Minerals has an SPF of 20.)

So, when venturing out to complete your spring wardrobe and makeup arsenal, keep the health of your skin in mind and consider purchasing products with added sunscreen.

Pro Tip: For extra protection, consider wearing a stylish, large-brimmed hat to shade your face–especially when at the beach. Try a floppy straw or canvas hat that matches an accent color on your bathing suit. Believe me, the sensitive skin on your nose will thank you! No sunburn. No cancer. Just a little added style!

I’m not sure what the weather is like where you are but, for much of the US, spring has officially sprung! The ground has thawed, trees and flowers are in bloom, and it’s only a matter of time before we hear that familiar buzzing of bees. But with the change of seasons (and those bees) comes an unwelcome guest: seasonal allergies. And if you’re one of the estimated 35 million Americans who experience hay fever, you know that it’s not only miserable for your sinuses and throat, but it can make you look like, and feel like, you haven’t slept in days.

The hallmark symptoms of hay fever are easily recognized: itchy and watery eyes, scratchy throat, sneezing, and a runny nose. The symptoms are similar to the common cold, but are triggered by seasonal pollen conditions rather than by a virus. Allergists recommend staying indoors during high pollen-count days, keeping doors and windows closed, and keeping your home free of pollen dust by vacuuming carpets, cleaning furniture, and filtering the air. But, who wants to stay inside on a day like today!? If you can bear it, it might be worth popping an over-the-counter antihistamine and braving the world. Before you do, though, make sure you put your best face forward by following these few quick steps:

- Wash your face. This might seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning anyway. Pollen is airborne and can stick to eyebrows, lashes, and, yes, even skin. One easy way to minimize your direct exposure to pollen is to wash it off!

- Pay attention to the ingredients in your cosmetics. If you are prone to seasonal allergies, you may also be susceptible to cosmetic allergies. Check the labels of the products you buy and save the “toxic” ingredients for a different time of year.

- Keep it simple and pure. When seasonal allergies are at their worst, give your skin a break. Skip the heavy foundation and, instead, choose a loose powder base like Jane Iredale’s Amazing Base Loose Minerals. For itchy eyes, choose a natural hue for liner and shadow and skip the mascara entirely. Then, opt for a light, clear lip gloss instead of your usual lipstick. (You won’t have to re-apply every time you blow your nose!)

- Smile. Yes, smile. Even if your head is aching and your nose won’t stop dripping, a smiling face works wonders for your outlook–and for the way others see you! Don’t let your seasonal allergies keep you from facing the day with your best face forward.

Pro Tip: When you see the first symptoms of hay fever, pop a small vial of eyedrops in your makeup bag or purse. If you notice your eyes are getting itchy or red, a few small drops will work like magic to clear the discomfort.

We’ve all been there: It’s been a long day and you’re home late. You wash your face, brush your teeth, and settle into bed. The clock reads 1:14am and you will have to wake up in less than five hours. You have a big, important meeting first-thing in the morning and the only thing on your mind is how terrible you will look when you hear that alarm clock ring and roll out of the bed. Let’s face it, a lack of sleep is bad for your mind, bad for your body, and very bad for your eyes. So, even if you’re confident that you can fake your way through this morning meeting, your eyes can’t lie. Cosmetics can help, but they don’t solve the whole problem.

What causes those red, puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles that so many of us find on our faces in the morning? And how can you get rid of them?
First, try drinking more water. Dehydration might not be the direct cause of the “morning eyes,” but water solves a multitude of skin problems and could help alleviate the redness and puffiness. Also, try a few home remedies such as cucumber slices, almond oil, or used tea bags to cool and soothe the eyelids. Then, get out in the sun! Vitamin D works wonders for tired eyes.

While you’re perfecting your “morning eyes” remedies, a few tried-and-true products can help you along the way. When you first rise from bed, try a soothing cream like Alexandra de Markoff’s Comfort Eye Gel. Then, before applying the rest of your eye makeup, Jane Iredale’s Active Light Under Eye Concealer will cover the dark circles and create an even palate for the rest of your cosmetics. No one will every know you’re running such an important meeting on only five hours of sleep!

Pro Tip: If you’re still struggling with red, puffy morning eyes, try adjusting your cosmetics’ color palate! Stick to lighter, pale colors for eye shadows and lips. The muted colors will help even your skin tone and draw attention away from the problem.