Preserve Your Sexy Pt. 1- Skin Like Butter

I received a request from fellow blogger, Hustle Crowe. That request? "Teach me how to preserve my sexy".

At that point, I promised Hustle I'd pay more attention to the needs of the guys. How so? Well, I've decided to do a series of posts for men called "Preserve Your Sexy" (or PYS).
Naturally, when I hear that phrase, I think of the man who made it famous, Sean "P. Diddy" Combs and decided to do some research on how Diddy preserves his sexy.
In Diddy's 2007 appearance on the Conan O'Brien show he claimed that his skin care regimen gave him the "softest skin in the world" and insisted O'Brien see for himself. Shocked, O'Brien touched Diddy's arm and proclaimed "Oh my God, it's like butter".
Diddy's skin care regimen consists of a hot shower. Then he allows his skin to "air dry" by dancing around in a little less than many of us would care to imagine. Unfortunately, Diddy's dance won't yield butter-soft skin, for most, but at least your lady will like it!
If you aren't as fortunate as my man, Diddy and your goal is to have skin like "butter", you first have to commit to a regimen that consists of more than washing with bar soap.
So here are the basics: Wash, exfoliate & tone and moisturize
Wash
If you have dry skin, find a cream-based cleanser that won't strip your skin of it's essential oils. If your skin is oily, you want a gel cleanser with salicylic or alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that will help clear your pores. hypo-allergenic, fragrance free cleansers work well for sensitive skin.
Exfoliate/Tone
Exfoliating adds a few minutes to this process but its well worth it. What is it? Exfoliation is a method that sloughs off dead skin cells that clog pores to reveal fresh, new skin underneath. You can use a scrub or other exfoliator about once a week.
A toner is used to finish the cleaning process by removing excess dead skin, oils and product that may be left on the skin.
Moisturize
Moisturizing is key. You may wonder why you use a toner to get rid of oil and then you go piling it back on? Well, look at it like this, the toner gets rid of the bad and the moisturizer gives your skin the good. The right moisturizer contains nutrients that are delivered right into the skin.
Here are some skin care lines to get you started
Jack Black, www.sephora.com
a/MEN/ity, www.getamenity.com
Anthony Logistics, www.sephora.com

P.S. ladies should use the "basics" too

Here's to Shea...Armour Beauty Lipgloss

Your lips are dry. Even worse, they're cracked and flaky.

Well, here's to Shea (butter, that is) and Kogan and Burns (creators of Amour Beauty). Burns, a vet makeup artisit in Hollywood and Kogan, lead singer for Lunachicks created a 14 shade (7 opaque, 7 shimmer) shea-butter-based lip gloss line.
Now, there's no need to prep & prime your lips with your favorite moisturizer before applying your favorite color, because Armour does it all--moisturizes and gives you kissable color!

www.armourbeauty.com
Shea Butter kisses

BLACK is beautiful

Dramatic cat-eye, fierce & smoky or sleek and sexy...However it was done, black eyeliner was one of the hottest trends to grace the runways this fall/winter.

Line with liquid, pencil, gel, pen or powder using some of the latest products
Chantecaille Le Stylo Liquid Eyeliner Pen, $26, eluxury.com
Noir Cosmetics Ultra Rich Eye Pencil, $15, noircosmetics.com (left) MAC Liquid Liner in Boot Black, $16.50, Maccosmetics.com (above)

Stila smudge pot in black, $18.00, ulta.com
Using black liner to create a trendy look that fits your own personal style is simple...Begin with a thin line at the base of your lashes using the liner of your choice. (Starting out too thick will most likely end in disaster). Take a step back and check for balance. If you have not yet achieved the look you desire, trace over the line until the intensity suits you. Again, check for balance.
Since your eyes are the focal point, keep the rest of your makeup neutral. If you decide against the neutral look, just remember you'll need more liner to balance your look.

D'Brows loves D'Guys

For nearly a year, D'Brows has captivated the women of DC by beating face and Brows, of course. Now its D'Guys turn!

My post on D'Brows, is long overdue (I'll elaborate in another blog). Located in the historic U St Corridor (1203 U St), D'Brows is a boutique style concept salon, that meets the beauty needs of DC's finest and now adds a D'Guys aMENity facial to its repertoire.
Guys, allow D'Brows Licensed Skin Care Specialists treat your acne bumps, razor bumps and blemishes.
This holiday season:
Ladies, treat your man. Men treat yourself. Trust me, you won't regret it.
Schedule your appointment today.
www.dbrows.com

A girl should be...

A GIRL SHOULD BE TWO THINGS: classy & fabulous

CoCo Chanel

Help MAC Give Back

Since 1994, MAC has been an advocate for combating HIV/AIDS through the MAC AIDS Fund. This year is no different.

This holiday season, MAC features 7 holiday collections. My favorite, however, is the 2008 Kids Helping Kids Gift Cards.
Assorted greeting cards feature artwork for kids by kids. All proceeds benefit pediatric AIDS organizations around the world.
Give the gift of life this holiday season.

Visit www.maccosmetics.com for other Holiday Collections

Blush

Blush: The Search for the Next Great Makeup Artist, a new Lifetime reality series gives hopefuls a shot at a contract as a professional artist with MaxFactor, an opportunity to beat face on an InStyle Photo Shoot and a cash prize of $100,000.

"In each episode, the contestants, all living under one roof in Los Angeles, compete in two different makeup competitions, designed to test the skills and personality traits — including compassion and confidence — necessary for success in the field. Following the second challenge, one contestant will be eliminated".

ANTM satisfies only some of a makeup artists appetite for creativity, but this show is really "what makes us blush" because it's all about us!

Blush airs on Lifetime Network, Tuesday nights at 10pm, EST.

More on blush to come...

Preview Episode 4