Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

Summer is just around the corner. At least, that’s what they keep telling us. Some of us here in Minnesota are beginning to wonder…

We all know of the dangers of sun-bathing, but we still long for the sun-kissed glow. How can we achieve this look without risking the health of our skin? By using the right tools to enhance features and protect skin.

Here are some essentials every woman should keep in her make-up kit this summer to keep skin looking healthy, glowing and gorgeous!

Foundation that offers SPF protection. If you’ve been reading my posts, you know I’m a fan of the mineral makeup as it offers natural sunscreen protection. If you are using another makeup, look for something that covers well and has a mineral-defense shield to protect your skin.

Bronzing Powder can be used to mimic that sun-kissed glow. There are lots of good bronzers on the market. Again, I like the mineral makeup bronzers.

Water-Proof Mascara. You will want this assuming you decide to take a spontaneous dip in the pool. Find a mascara that will survive the water and coat your lashes with long-lasting color while helping to condition and protect.

Bright eyeshadow. Bright, bold, colorful eyeshadow helps to enhance the sun-kissed look. You could try something ocean blue, fiery red, bright emerald green or those which offer a rich, warm, golden glow.

Sparkly, sheer lipstick to brighten your face. The dark, heavy lip colors are best when worn in the winter. For the summer try sheer colors such as the pearlescents with just a hint of sparkle. Pinks are great for summer or perhaps you would prefer a golden rose with multi-colored sparkles.

Self-tanners rather than sun-bathing. Again, there are tons of these on the market. Try one of the new body lotions which gradually build that even sun-kissed glow. Start by applying to dry and well cleansed skin and allow it to set in before dressing. Some of these lotions will help improve the texture of you skin while adding that “fresh from the beach glow”.

At the end of your day, when returning home of the beach, don’t forget about something for your feet. There are wonderful foot masks on the market with essential oils that will leave your feet feeling cool, refreshed and fragrant. The mask will deep cleanse and soothe tired achy feet from running across the hot sand!

Even with skin cancer rates rising, many of us still like to bake ourselves bronze in the summer. There’s something about wearing white with a good tan. It just looks–healthy. Yes, we know people who don’t take care of their skin in the sun are going to age faster. But, we are hooked on that healthy look.

Experts tell us that spray-tanning and bronzing sunscreens are safer than tanning beds. Tanning beds have been associated with an increased risk of skin cancer and are definitely not recommended.

Some dermatologist are telling us that mineral makeup is a great innovation and the mineral bronzers can give the same effect as a golden tan.

The main ingredients in mineral makeup are mica, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. These are found in most makeup, but at a high concentration and without irritants like talc, preservatives, fragrance and dyes. Mineral makeups also have a built in SPF 15.

Mineral makeup can reflect light, giving a nice tone to the skin. Minerals are inert so you are less likely to have reactions to mineral makeups. Talc tends to absorb sweat and oils, leading to a creasing effect which is undesirable, but the mineral-based makeups are more likely to stay looking great even after a work out or a hot day in the sun.

The mineral bronzers should be applied on the forehead, cheekbones, nose and decolletage area. You want to apply the bronzer on places where the sun hits.

Another important tip for summer is to up your intake of water and vitamin C. This helps to repair tissue. Treat yourself to an anti-oxidant facial to help your skin in the summer. And here’s another natural home remedy that will keep your skin fresh and healthy in the hot sun. Brew a pot of green tea, jasmine smells really nice, let it cool, then put it in a spay bottle to mist your face throughout the day. This is inexpensive and very refreshing!

Do you ever leave the house with no makeup. Or, what would be the bare minimum you could do with? For me, its always been eyeliner and lip gloss. While I may still look a little rough, at least with these,  I can go out not feeling completely naked.

Must have makeup varies depending on who you ask but most agree on one thing. It all starts with genuinely cleaned skin, not just splashed with water. A good skin care regimen is essential . And if you are over 30, plan on exfoliating daily to get rid of dead, dry cells and bring back the brightness.

According to one of New York Cities most prominent makeup artist, here are some must haves: bronzing powder, mascara and lipstick. She stresses the importance of not forgetting the eyebrows. Your brows frame your face, if they look polished and defined, you can actually get away with much less makeup.

Here’s another tip our from the same makeup artist. Apply your bronzer from the decolletage on up. At her studio, they use this technique on every celebrity and socialite that walks through the doors. You can contour the face by using a fan brush on the cheekbones, chin and bridge of the nose. Bronzer warms the skin and brightens the eyes. To minimize a larger nose, use a concealer over the bridge and bronze on the side to soften the angles. And, don’t forget the blush- a touch of it adds the right hint of color.

I now have a whole new respect for bronzer. Prior to writing this, I used just a bit on my cheeks. Looks like I have to buy some different brushes and rethink what I’ve been doing.

My new makeup must haves are bronzer, eyeliner and lip gloss.

It’s pure, it’s natural, it’s actually good for your skin. These claims are what have catapulted mineral makeup into a full-fledged cosmetic phenomenon.

Today, virtually every cosmetic company has a mineral makeup. Mary Kay recently unveiled their line of mineral makeup. Check out your local drug store and you will find most of the players such as Revlon, Neutrogena, L’Oreal, Cover Girl and Physician’s Formula now have mineral lines. So do New York Color, Wet n’ Wild, Mabelline, and Avon. M.A.C. will be debuting their line this year if they haven’t already done so.

Why the buz? The consumers are buying into the all-natural rage. Some retailers such as Walmart and Target report that sales of mineral-based cosmetics were in the amount of $149 million last year!

Mineral makeup is affordable, costing no more than traditional makeup. Women love it because they view it as a treatment and self-preservation rather than self-indulgence. It’s exciting to know there are healthy options that offer them beauty.

Bare Escentuals has been the trailblazer in the mineral makeup market. If you’ve ever watched late night TV, most likely you have come across their infomercial.

For most of us who are sold on mineral makeup, we have all undergone a metamorphosis from the days of traditional, greasy, heavy makeup. Makeup that would melt in the summer, get oily and leave us feeling as though we were wearing a mask. Another benefit, sun protection that doesn’t disappear if you perspire.

From a dermatologist perspective, the makeup appears to be pretty safe and the women like it. Stated by Dr. Robert Norman from Tampa, FL. “The makeup doesn’t aggravate acne or cause flare-ups but, there are certain people who will be sensitive to it.”

Christy Nolan, an esthetician in Dr. Norman’s office recommends Jane Iredale Mineral cosmetics to patients particularly after laser and surgical procedures. She is personally a big fan of the makeup and wears it daily. “It goes on very well, blends and covers with out damaging the skin,” and says Nolan, “it doesn’t clog the pores like other makeups can.”

Would you believe the desire to look good is as old as time itself? Down through the ages, both men and women have always found ways to enhance their physical appearance. As we all know, when we look good - we feel good.

In order to look good, we have taken advantages of advances in chemical research. Many ingredients we use in our products to help in our quest to look better, have cheap ingredients to assure uniform quality. Some popular ingredients in cosmetics are talc, probylene glycol and polyvinyl pyrrolidone. These are common raw materials in cosmetics manufactured in the United States today.

Now we are realizing that there side effects caused by some of these ingredients. Some of the side effects are far more significant than others. Talc is a particularly dangerous ingredient, considered to be a carcinogen and is associated with ovarian cancer. My sister-in-law used the femine hygiene sprays for years only to find out talc was one of the main ingredients. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer 5 months ago. She truly believes the cancer is a result of having used these sprays for many years.

Some of the other ingredients mentioned above are thought to cause kidney and liver damage as well as birth defects and allergies with long term use. Not good since we use these products on our skin daily.

So, what are we to do, resign ourselves to walking around all natural, with no enhancements? Please, say it isn’t so!

Enter the resurgence of mineral cosmetics. I say resurgence because they were using minerals as enhancements back in time of ancient Egypt.

Minerals are trace elements which need to be replenished daily to keep the body healthy. Some common examples would be zinc, selenium, magnesium and titanium. Minerals play a vital role with helping blood circulation, boosting brain performance as well as improving muscle tone and keeping eyes and skin healthy.

Some of today’s cosmetic manufacturers have realized the benefit of offering make up containing minerals. This makeup is safe on the skin so there typically are no issues with sensitive skin. Also, mineral makeup can boost antioxidant activity and offer natural sunscreen protection.

Grandma was right. You need your minerals! However, I’ll bet she never thought you would be getting them from your makeup!

Mineral makeup is the hottest trend in makeup today. It’s the newest phenomenon and more and more women are requesting it. Of course it helps that it has been popularized by television infomercials showcasing mineral makeup products such as foundations, blush, translucent powders, and eye shadows.

However, the mineral makeup recipe is anything but new. The Egyptians knew the advantages of finely ground stones and quartz and applied them to their skin specifically for beauty. The cosmetic industry is just “rediscovering” this ancient wisdom and is now promoting it as the latest “magic powder”.

Mineral makeup has been around for awhile in the US. Jane Iredale released a make-up series based on titanium oxide and zinc oxide more than 10 years ago. Jane Iredale began her career as a casting agent in Hollywood and she knows the concerns and needs of people who tax their skin daily with cosmetics. Her line of mineral makeup is healthy for the skin and is well tolerated, this is one reason Fantasia is now carrying the full line of Jane Iredale makeup.

Mineral based cosmetics are not only good because they are easily tolerated. They also work to inhibit inflammation, soothe the skin and at the same time guarantee a natural protection from UV sunlight because their small particles reflect the rays.

Also, the makeup made from minerals doesn’t clog the pores, as is often the case with ordinary makeup because it doesn’t soak into the skin so it can’t breathe. In addition, mineral-based makeup is fortified with vitamins and antioxidants. We’ve talked about the importance of this in another post. This mixture protects the skin from environmental effects and also precludes aging of the skin.

Makers of mineral based cremes and powders say it fuses optimally with the skin, covering it evenly and concealing redness and impurities. The result is an even complexion where the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles are reduced.

Of course there are critics of the mineral makeup enthusiasm. Some just don’t believe in the 100 percent effectiveness of the “magic powder” and argue that ordinary cosmetics are put through such extensive testing that there is hardly a risk of allergy. As we already talked about in another post, while that may be true in some countries it is not necessarily so in the United States.

Some even see mineral based makeups as a short-lived trend as opposed to the cosmetic of the future. As with other things, only time will tell.

To say that Fantasia is trilled to announce our new makeup line would be an understatement! We have always carried good makeup in the salon. Just like we endeavor to stay abreast of the current trends in the hair replacement, hair and nail industries, it is the same where makeup and skin care is concerned. And, because Fantasia has many clients with compromised skin from chemotherapy treatments and otherwise, we want to be on the cutting edge to help those clients. So, when we learned about Jane Iredale Skin Care Makeup, we knew it was something we must have in the salon!

Jane Iredale is recommended by physicians and professionals world-wide. Mineral makeup is a hot trend but not all mineral makeup is created equal. Jane Iredale makeup is the most technically advanced makeup in the world.

As you wear this makeup, you will experience the minerals silky lightness and as well as how easy the minerals are to apply. This makeup gives you flawless-looking skin. If you are like most women, the biggest problem you have with makeup is finding the right base shade. That problem is solved for you with Jane Iredale , not only do the minerals react to light differently from standard makeup making it easier to find a base shade that looks like your skin; but the company has spent lots of time holding focus groups and tweaking colors to eliminate ashi-ness and making sure there’s a color for every ethnicity.

Jane Iredale minerals will make your life simpler. They are a foundation, concealer, powder and sunscreen all in one. The sunscreen is UVA and UVB protective. There are products for not only eliminating shine but also controlling oil secretion.

Of course, the right application tool is essential which is why we carry a complete line of high quality brushes suggested by the Jane Iredale to apply the makeup.

If you are a label reader, you will notice there are no dyes, chemical preservatives like parabens or synthetic fragrances and that the company uses no fillers in the makeup such as talc. The products are simple and natural yet very effective. It’s important that you know what you are putting on your skin. You can go to the company website, www.janeiredale.com to learn about each product in dept.

Here’s a cosmetic line that has the ability to change your life. Fantasia is proud to offer you a cutting edge product which can give you the skin you have always wanted, it’s just a brush away!