Lashes: To Curl or Not To Curl?

The lash curler has been a part of a woman’s make up arsenal for decades. I remember attempting to figure out my mother’s on my eyelashes when I was about 6 years old (I think I pinched and bruised my eyelid.) Children even know it as “Mommy’s tool.” Young ladies, carry it almost as a badge of honor, as it somehow symbolizes the progression in their beauty knowledge. What is it about the mysteries of the lash curler, and is it necessary?

I get a lot of emails from readers on whether I am big into curling the eyelashes. My truth: not really. I do bring a lash curler with me in the bowels of my kit at all times, but I have not found it necessary for all my make up applications. Could it be that I’ve been blessed with clients who have really beautifully curled lashes? Maybe, but I doubt it.

There are a lot of women I’ve come across who cannot live without it – nothing wrong with that. I personally use the natural bend of a model or of a client’s lashes to my advantage. I always assess the need, especially in a situation wherein I know I will be using false eyelashes. I have found that it does not ‘take away’ from the final look if I don’t curl the lashes.

I have had clients and worked on models who have ‘stick-straight-looking-down-to-the-ground lashes’, and yes, they definitely always need to be curled. There are also women I know who can totally rock their beautiful faces by simply curling their lashes, applying some lipbalm and are good to go… most of us, not so lucky.

When it comes to curling your lashes, ladies take heed!

A lot of women curl their lashes so hard, it puts a “fold” onto their already naturally curled lashes. I’ve seen those horizontal lines that create a 90 degree angle on them! The lashes end up standing up like unusual soldiers horizontally along their lid. Not pretty.

If you have stick straight lashes, curl them… gently. There is no need to squeeze the tip as if your yanking something out with a pair of pliers!

Curl your lashes, use a firm but gentle grip before applying mascara. Start close to the base and squeeze for 5-10 seconds, follow by slowly moving towards the center of the lashes and apply a firm squeeze for another 5 seconds.

If you curl after mascara application, there’s potential for breaking off your lashes. It causes build up and texture on the base of the lash curler and subsequently will cause your tool to continue to pull out your lashes.

Replace the band that comes with your lash curler regularly. I’ve seen lash curlers that are loaded with old mascara gunk on them and almost look rusty… it’s gross. Do the change every other month, if you’re good about not curling after mascara application, you can go much longer than that.

Curl. Apply Mascara. Apply false lashes. It keeps the integrity of the false eyelashes that way. (More on that on my false eyelashes blog)

Heated lash curlers? Yes! They do work. It takes some patience but I’ve come to appreciate its technology. It will not burn your eye. Its a tiny AAA battery and only warms the tool. It takes some getting used to and the best part is you get more control on the kind of bend you need.

Try this!

Blinc Heated Lash Curler

Make up your mind to be kind to your lashes… they are beautiful gifts. Don’t ignore them, but don’t be hard on them either. Keep batting those lashes and stay tuned for another round of Make Up Your Mind: Lash Talk!

I want to be more like my friend, Tin.

A new series I’m incorporating into my ‘Make Up Your Mind’ blog:

People I want to be most like today ’cause (in my book) they inspire, act and fill the world with more love.

I am launching this series with someone I’ve talked about so highly that its time to blog about her. Today, I am making up my mind to be more like my old friend, Tintin.

Tin & I have been friends since third grade! Growing up, Tin has always been the responsible yet walks on the wild side kid. In seventh grade she ran for school president (I believe I was her campaign manager,) a gymnast, a cheerleader, an oratory champion, a writer and everyone’s favorite gal. When we got to high school, she tossed the glasses and grew five extra feet tall— still the same old gal we loved.

Ever since she moved to the states, 6 years ago, we’ve reconnected. And since I moved to Vegas, and spend so much time in Los Angeles, we have definitely gotten closer than ever.

Why do I want to become more like TIn? Let me tell you…

She’s an amazing person.

She’s an all-around woman.

She is a super wife and mother— she is up earliest in the morning to ensure she feeds her boys a home cooked breakfast. This is after an hour of working out at the gym, and before she gets ready for work. (Oh she does this at night after work too, by the way)

She and her husband, Mars are great friends and partners in every sense of the word. They are my epitome of what “conscious parenting” should be. Her son, my godson, Inigo, is a true sweetheart, full of love and very obviously made with and surrounded by BIG love – it shows in his demeanor.

They take equal partnership in making time for each other, time with the baby and time for themselves. I am in awe at how they carve this time considering both of them work full time. They also have a solid community of people who they seem to always find time to cultivate friendships with- its fantastic to watch!

She takes time to look & FEEL good. She is an avid yogi and is committed to optimal health. She dresses impeccably and is really great with applying her make up! (A student of mine no more!)

Tin is loved by her boss. An interior & lighting designer, she is favored by her company due to her impeccable work ethic and her brilliant creativity. Have you seen the amazing light fixtures at the Wynn or Encore Las Vegas?!? All TIn, (ok, exag,) A LOT- TIN.

What I admire most of all about my friend, is her loyalty. Her friendship is beyond measure. She has always been there for me and has never failed to tell me the truth. I think she knows when I am facing serious challenges in my life- and she reminds me in her own way that I am fantastic just the way I am. She truly is one of my biggest fans, and I wonder about that sometimes. She is a friend who doesn’t blow sunshine up my ass “just cause” — she is one of those who means every word because she believes in my true potential. She is always interested in what I am up to and will be the first to acknowledge the newest work I put out. That means so much to me- the sincerity in which she expresses it is always so tactile.

I remember back in grade school when she would help me in class… always there, patiently teaching me until I would get it. Until now, still the same.

When Tin says she will do something, she will. I love that integrity about her. I wish more people were like her and I hope that I carry that same integrity with me wherever I go and in whatever I do.

I would like to acknowledge her (and Mars too) for bringing in a child and raising a child so consciously in this world. Igo is so affectionate, incredibly smart and at only three years old could be smarter than most american fifth graders I know! Hahaha- ok, maybe second graders. They (Mars & Tin) pay full attention to everything that goes in and through him without being all “overtly-zealous-California-parents” about it. They are instilling in him good Filipino values and are so calm and cool about the process. It makes me less scared to procreate when I watch them in action.

I’ve made up my mind to be more like Tin. Her commitment to being an exceptionally all around woman is an inspiration to me. And I am so lucky to have her as one of my oldest and dearest friends.

Thanks Tin, for being in my life and an inspiration to me!

***********

So think about the people who inspire you to become a better person today… the ones in your life who give you inspiration, love…. call, text message or send them an email today.  Tell them they inspire you. Why wait?

Send them some love! They deserve it, if they affect your life the way they do

The “Reset Button”

I have suffered with various digestive issues for several years now. I carry a lot of my energy in my belly and I understand from years of study that my constipation is a reflection of what is going on inside. It has affected my skin, my mood, the way I dress, my sex life, my energy- just about everything in my being!

With much exposure to a long list of solutions for this issue, I knew that there was more that needed to be done- it wasn’t just about being able to have a “glorious poo” (although that goal is always in the forefront!) It was a lifestyle thing. I’ve done it all! Laxatives, herbal tea, oxy powder, fiber powder, fiber wafers, prune juice, aloe vera juice, colonic sessions… I’ve done it all! I knew though, that until I made up my mind and shift to do something drastic, nothing was going to change.

Enter, “The Master Cleanse”…

My good friend, Dave had made it past Day 7 of his Master Cleanse diet, and not only was I impressed- I was inspired! I was witnessing the positive effects this was bringing him. It wasn’t necessarily tangible, but I could definitely sense a clarity and strength in him that I desired within me. (I believe he made it to day 15 but the way he was going, I could’ve sworn he could’ve made it to day 40!)

I’d been battling the being ‘backed-up-for-days’ issue again and I needed to press THE RESET button! The Master Cleanse was the vehicle I chose to make it happen.

The Master Cleanse, also known as the Lemon Cleanse and the Maple Syrup Diet, is a dieting program created by Stanley Burroughs in 1941 and made popular by Peter Glickman through his book Lose Weight, Have More Energy & Be Happier in 10 Days, Second Edition, which promotes Burroughs’ regimen to a modern audience.The Master Cleanse claims to be a way to cleanse the body of toxins and remove the cravings associated with drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and eating junk food. “Coffee, tea, and various cola drinks, as habit-forming beverages, also lose their appeal through the marvels of the lemonade diet.” The cleanse involves drinking only lemonade made from fresh lemon or lime juice, maple syrup, water and Cayenne pepper. No solid food is eaten for the entire cleanse. The Master Cleanse is technically not a fast, and proponents say it is more gentle on the body because it does contain some essential vitamins and minerals. According to proponents it is recommended to be on the cleanse for a minimum of ten days, but some people stay on the cleanse for longer periods of time, even as long as 45 days.

(This general description is via Wikipedia and there is so much info on this cleanse that you can search online)

I was hungry for clarity- clarity of mind, of body, of spirit. I didn’t want answers, I wanted to reconstruct. I was already making progress in my Miracles Coaching Course- cause everyone needs a coach; and I have also started applying the Ancient Hawaiian clearing technique, Ho’oponopono in my daily life, (a must read! Zero Limits: The Secret Hawaiian System for Wealth, Health, Peace, and More) so I figured with all this additional new tools in place, I would need to throw a serious wrench in the mix!

I had attempted to do this cleanse over 5 years ago, unsuccessfully, I may add, and thought I could never do it again. This time, it was different and I proved myself wrong! (HOLLER!)

During that time, I wasn’t only physically constipated- I was mentally, emotionally and creatively constipated as well. I was tired of it. It took me a week or two talking and writing about it, psyching myself up, until one fine saturday afternoon I made up my mind: “I will start this fast tomorrow and I will make it at least a week,” and I did!

This is what I learned through the process:

~ If I make it past the dark places, and the light will follow. The first three days were hell. I was anxious and went through some serious widthrawal symptoms. With this decision I halted my coffee intake and said “good-bye” to cigarette smoking all together. (YES! I did it after 19 years!)

~ Embracing TIME and being present to it. The concept of time changes on this cleanse. All of a sudden, I had a whole slew of time! I wasn’t stopping to prepare food, figure out what to have for meals nor taking breaks for meals. I just sipped away on my lemonade cayenne pepper mix all day and did my thing. It was unnerving at first, but I learned how to be with it and I got a lot of stuff done.

~ I have an amazing partner who supports me in my endeavors. Jay listened to me whine about how hungry I was in my mind, and did not give in. He listened and talked to me through and through, it was a blessing.

~ Habits are incredibly embedded within me. Awareness is key. For example: walking into the kitchen straight to the fridge to look for something to eat ‘just because’ was a habit. I caught myself a couple of times as if waking up from a dream and was fascinated at what an unconscious action it was!

~ My mind creates a lot of the drama. It was tough… I thought about all the delicious foods I love to eat, I whined about it, I screamed about it… it pushed me to the limit because at the end of each passing day, I was okay. My emotions were starting to get in the way and worked through the roller coaster of emotions.

~ I am grateful for an abundant life. I have more abundance in my life than I think. Whenever I started feeling hungry and cranky, I thought about the people in the world whose only meal is a small bowl of rice, even if that, in a day. In my moments of inner rage, I would remember that, shift my mind, and lovingly sipped my nutritious lemonade. The hunger pangs and the screaming in my head would quiet. It was amazing!

~ When I ‘make up my mind’ to do something… I can. I did not like chugging the salt water wash every morning, but I did it. I made it 9 days. I was hoping to make it 15, but the fact that I made it past day 3 was a feat in itself! It reminded me that in times of self-doubt and fear, if I desire something bad enough and feel the change, the Universe will support me in every way. It was a huge form of self-love that this quest consistently brings to the surface.

This was my reset button: the Master Cleanse + continued regular StemEnhace® intake. As I detoxed, I flooded my body with millions of brand new cells for renewal. It was amazing! There are so many different ways to do this in your life. The Master Cleanse isn’t for everyone. For some, its a retreat, going to an ashram, learning something new, joining a program, starting to write, doing something creative, even surrounding yourself with new people! This one worked for me, and I look forward to doing it again one day— maybe for a longer period of time.

I have to admit, that other than the mind and belly hunger screams and the shivers in my body & headaches from the detox, the most challenging part of all was the gap it created in my relationship with Jay. It was scary there for a minute… our days were looking different. We had been so accustomed to our routine, and this definitely threw a wrench in it. The most fantastic thing about being with a man like mine is that we stayed conscious, didn’t take it personally, and trusted that we would create new habits together as we got past the jolt. We certainly did and still are in the process of working through it.

It’s now been almost two months and my body feels the best its ever felt! I’m back to eating solid foods. I did not do this to turn vegetarian (although I love & respect my veggie-only eatin’ friends!) nor to lose weight- believe me, I’m a proud meat eating Filipina who knows how to indulge in a good old Filipino ‘meat-filled’ meal! “All in moderation” right? I am certainly more conscious of my food intake now. I have learned to integrate more vegetables and colorful foods into my diet. I eat smaller portions so not to freak my digestive system out too much. I workout and started doing Bikram Yoga almost everyday, I continue to take my StemSPORT™, I take time to do my Bamboo Brainfood daily and am feeling more confident and inspired than ever before! My belly is flat, my skin’s looking good, I’m sleeping much better and I’m even learning how to enjoy being an “early bird!”

It is a shift. Its an awakening, and wake up I did!

This was another new beginning for me. A re-awakening. New beginnings happen for us everyday! As this quest continues, I have much to discover and without a doubt many more reset buttons to push!

Are you ready to push your “reset button”?

Eight years of love and serendipity

Where our friendship was born

A Love Letter from my husband, Jay:

“Eight years ago today I realized that you, my love, were someone I simply could not walk away from or let slip away. You were, and are, an answered prayer… an exact response from the Universe! Our commitment to creating a better life for ourselves and each other continues to unfold in new, exciting and unpredictable ways. It is as terrifying as it is exhilarating, and there is no one else in this dimension that I would want to share this journey with. Thank you for your endless patience with my idiosyncrasies. You are, without doubt, my best friend, my lover (even when I’m distant) and my wife. I adore you and support you on your path a self discovery and expression…even if it leads us into waters that others do not understand and we ourselves cannot see right now. I love you beyond words and deeds. I can only hope that offers some remote form of comfort in the face of the massive growth we have initiated… All my Love, PB”

Three years ago today, I married my best friend, my lover and my life partner.   We are individually unique in every way yet it is fascinating how well we compliment each other. For eight years, this man has stood by my side and reminded me of my beauty. Many times I’ve resisted it, and there are  moments when I embrace it, yet in this quest, I realize that there are still blocks and limiting beliefs I have still to breakdown and work through.

Eight years ago, I made up my mind to engage myself with a man who instinctively knew ME. I had never introduced myself to a man I was remotely interested in before, and at that time, I wasn’t even looking for love! I did make up my mind that I wanted a relationship founded on true friendship and remarkable communication. The Universe answered- and I’m glad I was paying attention! There was an immediate connection almost to say that we’ve known each other for a lifetime. We spoke the same language, the communication was seamless… it truly was serendipitous.

We’ve been through an incredible amount of challenges. It hasn’t been all easy. Not long ago, I even thought we’d be going our separate ways. The thing is, through this Relationship I have learned an immense amount about myself, and I continue to do so. Our commitment to this union is one of self-actualization and  I couldn’t be more proud.

Today I celebrate my relationship, I celebrate my love, and I celebrate my friendship with this man I call ‘Bear’! I am grateful that I have a partner who supports me in my journey to discover the magic and beauty in and around me.  Thank you Jay, thank you.

I invite you to pay attention to what you’ve made your mind about how and what you want your relationships to be. How does it fill your personal love tank? Does it make you feel beautiful inside? It should! For those of you who haven’t found it yet, the moment you get clear, and stop looking, the Universe will respond. It always does. It did for me!

Brush Your Face!

My NEW favorite beauty tool…

Every morning and every night my mother always said: “Its time to wash your face and brush your teeth!” I used to make fun of the whole thing and switched it around with my smart giggle “Brush your face and wash your teeth”. Now who would’ve thought that it wouldn’t be so silly after all?

We’ve come a long way in the different techniques in washing our face. Some of us just use our hands, some use a small face towel, some use a cellulose sponge with the cleanser of choice, some even use just cleansing wipes!

I’ve learned many techniques from washing the face in a upward motion to massaging the face a certain way to promote circulation which I did not pay much attention to in my early years.

I’ve spoken about battling with problem skin most of my adolescence and I think the worst time was through my 20′s. Being a make up artist and in front of people’s faces all the time, it was a big burden carrying the weight of “bad skin.” HUGE! Not only was I taking some time everyday perfecting my camouflage techniques, it was always a production removing my make up thoroughly at night. A big pain in the ass but I had to do it. My skin was too volatile and although I was able to mask the discoloration, the texture was still a large problem. Finding the right cleanser, partnered with an annual series of Microderm Abrasion treatments, a change in lifestyle and climate, my daily intake of StemEnhance® and my new found Clarisonic brush has led to my skin no longer having the texture of the surface of the moon!

As a make up artist, I have always advised my clients to treat themselves to a facial at least 4 times a year. Having worked in a high traffic tourist hotspot, Las Vegas, for years, it shocked me to meet women who have never had a facial before and thought it a frivolous and silly expense. Not so! Think of facials like changing the oil and rotating you car’s tires every 3,000 miles, or getting a bi-yearly teeth cleaning.

Ensuring proper skin care regime, having a thorough deep clean, a relaxing facial massage, maybe some extractions every now and then, and a good masking always gives the body and soul a boost. Some people are fortunate enough to do this more than four times a year, nevertheless, if you don’t and you’re in the ‘i-love-my-skin’ business, this brush will give you a mini-facial everyday! THAT is a good thing.

So what is my new favorite beauty tool all about?

Clarisonic is an innovative skin cleanser for face and body that uses an oscillating brush to open the pores and remove dirt and debris from the skin. It uses a patented technology developed by the lead inventor of the Sonicare toothbrush system. Similar to the effects of Microdermabrasion treatments in its powerful cleansing abilities, the brush is gentle on skin, even when used as consistently as two times a day (unlike most treatments that can leave skin dry and sensitive). Clarisonic is clinically proven to eliminate six times the dirt, debris and makeup of manual cleansing. The Clarisonic targets and alleviates excessive oil, patchiness, imperfections and discoloration while refining pore size and leaving skin soft and smooth. The system cleanses and exfoliates skin thoroughly by penetrating areas of the skin that manual cleansing methods just can’t reach. With this, I was able to achieve the clearer, healthier skin I’ve always dreamed of.

YOU WILL LOVE IT! I promise! I use it everyday— every night! The difference in how clean my skin feels is amazing. Even my husband, Jay, uses it! He suffers from having an extremely oily skin type (even here in the Vegas climate), is prone to ingrown facial hairs around his jaw line and has seen a huge difference in how his skin behaves. I love how his skin feels after he brushes! (♥It encourages more dancing cheek to cheek!♥) The brush heads are removable and only need replacing every three to four months; it makes the cleansing process so much fun, simple and easy. There are four different types of brush heads. I use the sensitive skin one, Jay uses the normal skin one. The feel of my skin after the cleanse is smooth and balanced… it welcomes the drink of moisturizer and is ready for the application of make up in the morning.

Let’s face it— we all get a little lazy sometimes. I know there have been times, coming home exhausted from a a long day, I remove my make up with a sheet of make up wipes and call it a day. Now, with the Clarisonic facial brush, I let it do the work for me! I love it and I know you will love it too! Hurry, make up your mind ’cause its time to BRUSH YOUR FACE! Feeeeeel the difference!