The Balm Cosmetics: Rockstar Face Palette

For those of you who do a lot of traveling or just don't like clutter in your purse, this is the perfect make up must have. The Balm Cosmetics has created this ingenious all in one Rockstar Face Palette. It has everything you would need to create a beautiful finished make up look. Not only is the quality of the make up good but the packaging is adorable. I have no need to take any extra make up products as long as I have this in my purse! The palette it self is very thin and compact and fits easily into my hand bag. It contains 12 gorgeous eye shadows, one highlighter, one blush, and two lip stains that can also be used on the cheeks. It also comes with a helpful guide that shows you how to coordinate the eye shadows, blush, and lip stain to create different looks. It would make a great gift for those who are just starting to experiment with make up. I absolutely love it and give it a two thumbs up! It is my new make up obsession :)
                                   Your Gracefulcharm Beauty blogger,
                                                    Rebecca Vallejo


 

                                                                                
                                                                                    

BareMinerals vs. Physicians Formula

 BareMinerlas is all the hype when it comes to a choice for "natural" looking makeup. However the number of steps involved to achieve the BareMinerals "glow" can be a bit time consuming. Its also quite a large expense. Don't get me wrong this product is great if you have the money to splurge and the time it takes to apply it. If you're looking for a money and time saving alternative, Physicians Formula mineral pressed powder is the best choice. When compared Physicians Formula gave me the same natural looking glow and coverage that I get when I use BareMinerals, minus all the steps involved. When I purchased BareMinerals complete set, which was three different jars including the foundation, I wound up spending over $60.  The Physicians Formula pressed mineral powder only cost me $13 :) It only took one compact to do the same job that it takes three jars of BareMinerals to do. The down side is that Physicians Formula only offers three different shades: translucent, creamy natural, and Beige. It works best for light to medium skin tones. Its so easy to apply. I usually just use a powder puff and with a rolling back and forth motion apply it to my face. Be sure to moisturize before applying the powder because, as with any powder, it can emphasize dry areas. 

                                                                                                 Your GracefulCharm beauty blogger,
                                                                                                                 Rebecca Vallejo

 

 

 

My new skin care routine

Hello everyone!!! Its been a while since I last blogged. Well to make a long story short I broke my ankle about two months ago...Ouch!!! The good news is I'm doing a lot better, the bad news is because of all the stress during recovery I broke out with acne. When I first started noticing the breakouts I decided to give Proactive a try ( probably because of all the hype on the infomercials). OMG!!! That was the worst thing I could have done for my skin. I had a horrible reaction to the stuff. My skin burned, turned red, and dried out. In the end the acne got worse instead of better. As soon as I stopped using the product the redness and drying subsided...Thank God. Unfortunately the acne was still there. In my 2nd attempt to get rid of all the ZITS I decided to give Clean and Clear ( which contains the acne fighting ingredient salicylic acid) a go. Again my skin had a bad reaction with the same redness and irritation. I even tried some Burt's Bees products that have the same ingredient salicylic acid, but yet again my skin hated it. By this point I was so horribly frustrated. I came to the obvious conclusion that I'm sensitive  to the ingredients that all these products contain ( benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid...not to mention the bleach that's in Proactive). Since none of these well known brands were working for me I decided to go the route of natural remedies and changing my diet. I've incorporated more fresh fruits and vegetables in to my diet and cut out animal products like meat and poultry. Animal products contain a lot of fat and some animals are even given loads of hormones and other things that can negatively affect your body including your skin. I also drink a lot of water to help keep the skin hydrated. As far as topical things go I use aloe vera to help calm any redness and Tea tree oil at night (just a little cause the smell is powerful) to kill bacteria on the areas of my face where there are blemishes. Tea tree oil works the same as benzoyl peroxide but without all the irritation. At least once a week I exfoliate with St. Ives Apricot scrub to get rid of the dead skin cells that can clog pores. Its been about a month and a half of this new diet and skin care routine and so far its WORKING GREAT! The pimples are gone!!!!! I still have a bit of redness but slowly and surely its clearing up.

                                                                                         Your graceful charm beauty blogger,
                                                                                                   Rebecca Vallejo

Affordable foundation: Avon Ideal flawless invisible coverage liquid foundation

In my quest to find a good quality foundation that's affordable I came across Avon Ideal flawless invisible coverage liquid foundation. I'm absolutely shocked at how beautifully it goes on the skin. The texture is smooth and creamy and it gives good coverage. The finish is so beautiful and dewy looking, not too matte and not too shiny. I love this foundation and it is now part of my daily make up routine. I was able to purchase it for $11.00, which was totally worth every penny. So if you can get your hands on this product buy more then one. If your worried about finding your color don't fret because it comes in a wide range of shades. This foundation looks particularly fabulous on dry or mature skin because it gives a slight luminosity to the face. Trust me when I say you will NOT be disappointed ;)

                                                                                                  Your Gracefulcharm blogger,
                                                                                                            Rebecca Vallejo

Tinted lip moisturizer: Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer

For all you ladies who've been in search of a lip moisturizer look no more. I've just discovered an awesome lip moisturizer in the form of a stick that has a touch of color in it. Its called Burt's Bees Lip Shimmer and comes in an assortment of colors. It's feels so soothing on my lips and has a light scent of mint. The texture is soft and creamy and doesn't feel sticky at all. Another plus side of this wonderful little product is that it's 100% natural. So if you love natural skin care products this is definitely a must have. I keep one in my purse at all times. I also like to use it on those days when I don't feel like wearing lip stick but I still want to add color to my lips. It's like the perfect cross between a chapstick and a lip stick. I absolutely love it ;) and the best part is that its affordable!!! I found these at my local Walmart in the cosmetics section for about $6.00 and change each.
                                                                                      
                                                                                            Your Gracefulcharm Beauty blogger,
                                                                                                          Rebecca Vallejo

From left to right: Peony (left) and Rhubarb (right)

Summer hair trend: Braids

It seems that braided hair styles are very trendy this year. I see them every where I go...on magazines, in hit films, and even on the run way.They are so beautiful yet fairly simple to create and the options on what kind of braid to sport are endless. This style is perfect for summer especially if you plan on vacationing on the beach. It keeps your hair off your face and leaves you feeling much cooler in the summer heat. The braided look is so versatile as well and can be adjusted to suit what ever mood you are in. It can give you such a feminine and delegate appearance but if worn in just the right way it can be edgy and rocker chic. ;)     

                                                  Your Gracefulcharm Beauty blogger,

                                            Rebecca Vallejo

Summer fun feet - money saving nail idea

Are your feet ready for summer? Well, there is no time like the present to start preparing your toes for "sandal season". This usually in tails a trip to the nail salon. You leave with beautifully decorated nails but an empty wallet. So before you step out to your nearby salon let me share a secret to beautiful nails that will save you money $$. All you need is your favorite nail polish in any fun summer color, a clear nail polish, and decorative nail stickers. Nail Artist Stickers by Kiss do an assortment of fun colorful nail stickers for a great price. You can find them at your local Walmart in the beauty and cosmetics section. Be sure to remove any old nail polish before you begin. First, apply one to two coats of the colored nail polish to your toe nails and allow to dry. It is important that the nail polish is dry so that the sticker will properly adhere. Next, choose the nail sticker design that calls to you and apply one to each big toe. Placement of the sticker is up to you, but I find that it looks best if placed toward the outer corners of the nail. Lastly, apply a coat of clear polish and allow to dry. Now your feet are ready for fun in the sun, and with the money you saved buy yourself a cute pair of sandals!!! ;D

                                                                         Your Gracefulcharm Beauty blogger,

                                                                            Rebecca Vallejo