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MicrodermaMitt

May 6, 2012 · Leave a Comment ·

This magical reusable Mitt is made of a new microfiber technology that quickly and completely removes makeup and deep cleans your face with only water! It even removes waterproof mascara! No need for eye makeup remover, makeup remover wipes, cleanser or toner.

The mitt lifts and removes make-up, oil and other impurities without drying your skin. Leaves skin completely clean and smooth without being tight and does not change the pH balance of skin.

I was addicted to Pond’s Cleansing Towlettes for years. Even though they’re not the cleanest in this catagory, they still worked the best for me and didn’t bother my sensitive skin. But I have to admit that I was starting to feel guilty about the waste of using throw-away wipes. But I’m “old-school” when it comes to cleansing, so I always remove makeup first then follow with a cleanser and toner.

I was skeptical at first. But after using the mitt at the end of every makeup wearing day, I’m totally sold. You will be too. And the mitt lasts for 9-12 months! Now that’s what I call eco-friendly.

Available at If a Goddess Wore Makeup. $24

My Favorite Beauty Products

April 13, 2012 · Leave a Comment ·

guest post by Lily Hansen

Growing up with a makeup artist mother, I am a self-described product junkie always jonesing for the latest beauty trick or fix. While my schoolmates were concerned with kickball and crushes, I was the fourth grader applying her lip gloss at recess and begging my mom to teach me batwing eyeliner.

From toying with new products from If a Goddess Wore Makeup (I’m the lucky lab rat for most new skin creams and lipsticks) to snagging the occasional nail polish or Crayola colored eyeliner while in line at CVS, I am a beauty buff through and through. Throw me on a desert island and I’d take a Vitamix blender, my favorite clothes and these must-have makeup and skin care products below.

Gabriel Cosmetics Navy Eyeliner

Who doesn’t love a good eyeliner? Gabriel Cosmetics Navy Eyeliner is chemical-free and perfect for sensitive eyes like mine. Precise, yet smudgy enough to lend that seductive bedroom-eyes look, this eyeliner goes beautifully with baby blues and is way more interesting than black. Paired with concealer, curled eyelashes and mascara you will instantly look totally done in close to 30 seconds. (Get it atifagoddessworemakeup.com)

Maybelline One By One Volum’ Express Mascara

I have tried every type of mascara on the market and have been continually searching for the perfect one. Maybelline’s One By One Volum’ Express Mascara is pretty darn close resulting in defined, bat-worthy lashes without ticky-tacky clumps. While this company produces new makeup like crazy I seriously pray they keep this magic mascara on the shelf. (Buy at your local CVS.)

Mad Hippie Vitamin C Serum

While we’ve always been told to drink our daily glass of OJ who knew that a daily application of Vitamin C was just as important for our mug? Invest in this magical (and oh-so-cute!) Vitamin C Serum by Mad Hippie which brightens and evens out your skin tone, perfect for fair, pink-undertone complexions like mine. The best part? It’s versatile for all ages and skin types and displays results fast. Like I’m talking a noticeably brighter, even complexion in 3-5 days, and no-I’m-not-kidding! (Get it at ifagoddessworemakeup.com)

Vapour Organic Beauty Illusionist Concealer

Like the majority of the world I rarely get the recommended eight hours of sleep and this magical Vapour Organic Concealer truly lends the illusion of a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed version of me. With anti-inflammatory and moisturizing ingredients and mica minerals, this Illusionist Concealer brightens the under eye area, doesn’t settle into creases, and is the miracle product that produces a 24/7, 12-hours of sleep appearance. (Get it at ifagoddessworemakeup.com)

Facial Freedom Organic Acne Treatment

I want to strangle whoever said pimples went away post-puberty. If I get the occasional big honkin’ blemish I turn immediately to Facial Freedom’s Organic Acne Treatment, a gentle and effective concoction perfect for my baby-sensitive skin. Producing results like clockwork every time, this Organic Acne Treatment reduces the blemish within hours without leaving dry, flaky skin or the dreaded acne scar. I swear by it for my ghastly grade school moments. (Get it at ifagoddessworemakeup.com)

Larenim Mineral Argan Oil

Real talk: I am addicted to argan oil. Forget all that baloney you ever heard about oils being the arch enemy of acne-prone skin as this Larenim Mineral Argan Oil is effective on both dry and oily skin types. Especially helpful for oily, acne-prone complexions, this 100% pure, organic argan oil goes a long way with half a dropper being all you need for smooth, sparkling skin. Mark my words, you’ll never utter the phrase “oil free” again. (Get it at ifagoddessworemakeup.com)

Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

Save your shopping dollars on the Clarisonic, retailing for $119, as this Olay Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System has been voted by beauty magazines and critics like myself as being just as effective. I use this battery-powered brush with my own cleanser (chemical-free of course!) every other day for an exfoliating, deep clean that leaves my skins silky soft and luminous. (Run to Target today to buy this amazing cleansing system.)

Shu Umera Eyelash Curler

If you don’t know that this Shu Umera Eyelash Curler is the creme-de-la-creme get yourself to a department store ASAP. The Japanese brand who originally invented this eyelash curler to bend the stick-straight eyelashes of Asian women is in practically every makeup artist and Hollywood starlet’s bag alike. For a $20 investment I can assure you mine has stayed in pristine condition for over five years. (Fetch this amazing eyelash curler now at Shu Umera.com)

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Style Inspiration: Paris

March 30, 2012 · Leave a Comment ·

For months I’ve wanted to write a blog about French women and their distinctive style. And now I don’t have to because my daughter, Lily Hansen, just wrote one.

Enjoy!

Ever since my Parisian study abroad experience in the fall of 2008, I have been obsessed with the je ne sais quois behind the French woman’s always perfectly groomed look.

Like a scientist trying to understand the physics behind a certain experiment, I sat in cafes and parks observing these femme fatales wondering, “Is it possible that every single woman on the street looks incredible?” With Americans blowing out their hair, slapping on their warpaint and perusing Net-a-Porter for the perfect outfit, the simplicity of French fashion was a mind boggling equation. After months of Sartorialist style research (minus the camera- thankfully I didn’t resort to stalking) I came to a few very simple – and doable! -conclusions.

1. Quality over quantity: French women shop less and spend more. They know damn well that you’re asking for pilled fabric, torn seams and an ill fit if you consistently shop cheaply rather than chicly. Invest in even one quality piece and wear the hell out of it, while accessorizing with fast fashion jewelry for a trendy update. (Side note: From living with Parisian teenagers I discovered the beauty of mass market meccas like Etam- the Forever 21 of Paris – whose low-cost clothing actually holds up fairly well. I still have a pencil skirt, T-shirts and shorts that are fashionable keepsakes four years later.)

2. Clean, unadorned skin is more glamorous than a face full of makeup: Your skincare products are the foundation of your look. Not the other way around. All of the young women I saw were fanatical about their skincare routines, which explains the prominence of pharmacies on every corner. Forgo piles of maquillage and let your natural beauty shine through from a puff of powder, swipe of mascara and dab of lipstick. Voila!

3. Your tailor is your new best friend: Ever see those women whose clothes just don’t fit them quite right? (I’ve had my moments- I call them in between sizes and too broke to replace.) Parisian women seem to have an innate understanding of their body and what silhouettes look best on their physique. They get that a closet of sheath dresses, pencil skirts and cardigans is more stunning than a rotating wardrobe of the season’s latest trends. Like the age old saying goes, emphasize your good points and downplay your bad!

4. More is more: From Marilyn Monroe’s airtight, bust-enhancing sweater tops to bubble gum pop stars letting it all hang out, American sexiness is equivalent to how much skin you let hang out. Parisian women go by the 25/75 ratio: 25% flaunting your best asset asset, 75% covering the rest up! You never know how sexy a sweater top, pencil skirt, heels is until you see a woman on a first date wearing it with confidence and grace.

5. Stylish women have a rotating rack of closet staples: Whether it’s your leopard print cardigan, mustard cotton scarf, or skinny black jeans (those are mine!) have a few go-to items that you can throw on anytime with confidence. I used to think shopping practically was “boring” and that getting dressed in the morning involved piles of costume jewelry and Jimi Hendrix velvet jackets. And while sometimes it still is having five “go-to gems” that look and feel great on me cuts corners when I’m running late (which is always) or having one of those “what the muck do I wear moments?”

For further inspiration check out my current fashion icons below.

An American in Paris, Jean Seberg

Jean Seberg in Breathless, 1960

My summer inspiration outfit (wish my bike was as cool as this!)

The Sartorialist Street Style

French beauty at it’s best

Guest Post: Wake-up Makeup Call

March 18, 2012 · Leave a Comment ·

by Lily Hansen

Lily Hansen

One week ago I was hired as If a Goddess Wore Makeup’s first official employee to help out on Saturdays when Andersonville is as swamped as the Magnificent Mile. Transitioning from client to customer service was an enlightening experience and helped me solidify an idea I’d been toying with for quite some time: while a vast amount of women experience trouble with their skin, most instinctually mask their problems with makeup rather than seeking the root of the problem.

My mother and I are living, breathing testaments to the fact that a healthy diet and chemical-free products lead to aesthetic results. We are both health enthusiasts who believe that a beautiful complexion is related to the food you eat and the products you put on your skin. In a world where the FDA isn’t mandated to regulate cosmetic products and even “natural” lines contain indecipherable chemical names it’s no wonder that most women are perplexed why their skin is so troubled.

Throughout the day, I marveled at the women who approached our studio each plagued by a different skin issue. From acne to rosacea, these women were intrigued to hear that their skin troubles might be diet and product-related rather than the result of an eternally cursed complexion. From nutrition to beauty advice, my mom and I educated one woman after another explaining that while beautiful skin is often related to genetics it is also dependent on diet, lifestyle, and a clean beauty routine.

Our first customer (who made my day by commenting that my mom and I so resembled each other “You’re like the Double Mint twins”) relayed a problem, that I myself relate to, that her acne-prone skin was too sensitive for drugstore cleansers. Ecstatic to learn about OHA’s ultra gentle Cleansing Milk and that my own blemish-prone skin cleared up within weeks of using it our new gal pal rushed down to the register jumping up and down with joy. A firm believer that the proof is in the pudding, our new friend thanked us and promised to come back for a full medicine cabinet overhaul.

Another young woman who had gone without wearing eye makeup for several months was excited to hear my mom empathized with her eye troubles, one of the reasons she founded her business. After learning about Gabriel’s paraben-free mascara and eyeliner she snapped up her new products immediately and vowed to never again return to the toxic route.

Our last client of the day, in for a full makeup lesson, had spent a lifetime living cosmetic-free in fear that she would be the bearer of the dreaded “department store mask.” Much to her relief, my mom explained to her that natural beauty products equate a natural look meant to enhance a woman’s true beauty rather than camouflage it. As she looked at herself in the mirror murmuring something along the lines that she, “Never looked this good” I knew immediately this was the mission behind my mother’s business. As she’s told me many times, any woman can have a flawless complexion if she just opens up her mind and starts listening to what her skin – and the Goddess- is saying.

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Product Review – Vapour Organic Beauty Siren Lipstick

January 16, 2012 · Leave a Comment ·

I’m a lipstick lover. Won’t leave home without it. My new favorite brand is by Vapour Organic Beauty. These lipsticks are long-wearing, moisturizing, healing and come in a dozen beautiful, sophisticated shades. Made of 70% organic ingredients and 30% natural mineral pigments, they’re also gluten-free.

Containing fruit oils that nourish dry, parched lips immediately, the scent is pleasant without being overpowering.

Finding a hydrating lipstick that also wears well and stays on for hours is almost impossible, but Vapour has managed to come up with one. I seriously only have to reapply every 5-6 hours.

I’m currently in love with Tryst, a gorgeous red. My other fave is Incognito, a warm neutral that looks perfect with no other makeup on.

Available at If a Goddess Wore Makeup.

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Lemon Water for Beautiful Skin

December 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment ·

When my daughter started having digestive problems, a friend recommended an easy, inexpensive fix. Lemon water. It worked. Lemon water acts as a tonic to the liver and stimulates the bowel to eliminate waste.

Now here’s how this relates to beautiful skin. Toxins trapped in the colon can find their way to other body parts as well as to the skin showing up as acne flare-ups, rashes and other skin issues. Basically, lemon water aids in washing toxins out of the body.

Lemons are a rich source of vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant – good for neutralizing those pesky free radicals that damage skin cells.

Some of the other benefits of drinking lemon juice in water are:

reduces the amount of phlegm in the body
blood purifier
boosts immune system
may lower blood pressure
makes body more alkaline/less acidic

My suggestion is to start with the juice of half a lemon squeezed in to 8oz of warm or room temperature water. Drink this the first thing in the morning. You can work your way up to the juice of a whole lemon in 16oz of water if you wish. Rinse your mouth with fresh water after to neutralize the acid from the lemon so you don’t have to worry about the possibility of it eroding the enamel on your teeth.

Lemon water is a tasty, refreshing drink and FYI – Trader Joe’s sells a bag of 6 lemons for $1.49. Now that’s what I call an affordable beauty remedy.

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Beauty Foods & Supplements

November 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment ·

When you come to me for a makeup lesson, you leave of course with your beautiful new makeup application, a how-to makeup chart with all the suggested products and shades plus a “Beauty Foods” hand-out. In case you don’t make it in anytime soon for a lesson, I’m posting this for you to take a look at.

Beauty Foods

fresh fruits (especially berries, avocado and pomegranate)

fresh vegetables (especially dark, leafy greens and broccoli)

walnuts

salmon

extra virgin olive oil

green tea

chia seeds, hemp seeds, flaxseed oil

These foods are anti-inflammatory, loaded with antioxidants, Vitamins A & C

and omega-3 fatty acids.

avoid processed food/junk food/fast food
limit sugar and alcohol
drink lots of purified water
investigate Dr. Weil’s Anti-inflammatory Diet
investigate the Mediterranean diet

Beauty Supplements

Resveratrol – studies show it has amazing anti-aging properties

Vitamin C – protects against UV induced cell damage

Turmeric – helps with acne and aging skin

Fish oil – promotes more vibrant and youthful skin

Probiotic – supports good digestion and elimination

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Time for a little Argan Oil

October 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment ·

I’ve written before about the benefits of argan oil. I’m still a big fan, especially this time of year when my skin starts to feel dry. I use the oil on my face, throat, body, and even on my hair if the ends are looking a bit fried.

A little does go a long way. The oil penetrates easily, does not leave an oily residue and can even be used around the eye area.

My new favorite way to use argan oil is on my hands and as a cuticle oil. I use only one or two drops on the back of my hands then rub them together bringing the oil out to moisturize the cuticles as well. I avoid the palms of my hands.

I carry a cute one ounce size of 100% Pure Organic Argan Oil in my cosmetic bag now and use it instead of hand cream. My hands have never felt so soft. It’s also working to fade the few brown spots I have from the sun.

To your health and beauty!

-Sheila

Beauty Tips

August 23, 2011 · Leave a Comment ·

Here is an ongoing list of beauty tips. I’ve got a million of them!

Apply makeup in natural light. The more brightly and evenly lit your face is, the easier it is to blend well and not over-do anything.
Instead of waiting to wash your face at midnight when you might be too tired and want to skip it, get it done as soon as you get home early in the evening.
Bronze or gold eye shadow create a beautiful contrast for blue eyes. Try using your bronzer as a shadow.
Good posture can make you look taller, thinner, younger and more confident. And it’s free!
Avoid anything with mineral oil (a by-product of petroleum). It’s like putting saran wrap on your skin; smothering the skin not allowing it to breath or eliminate toxins, clogging pores and actually drying the
skin out.
Even if you’re a “no makeup” girl, you may need concealer. Don’t resist. This is a must have for many of us. Getting rid of the darkness under the eyes, makes you look healthy, well rested and brings more attention to the eyes.
Get a shower filter. There are many health and beauty benefits.
Be as diligent about reading cosmetic labels as you are about reading food labels.
Nothing opens up your eyes like an eyelash curler. Curl lashes first then apply mascara.
Don’t be concerned about using a cleanser from one company and a moisturizer from another. It’s about you and what works best not brand loyalty.
Think of red lipstick as a fun accessory! Because many commercial lipsticks contain lead especially the red shades, opt for one from a natural/organic company.
Brows are very important and one of the first things I look at when doing a woman’s makeup. Have your brows shaped at least once by an expert, then keep up by pulling out the strays once or twice a week with a good tweezer like Tweezerman.
Is under-eye puffiness in the morning a problem?  Use an eye cream that contains caffeine and store in the fridge. The cool temperature of the cream (along with the active ingredients) will help to reduce swelling.
Sunglesses! Large-framed wraparound styles block out the most light limiting both vision damage and sun-induced wrinkles. Protect yourself especially between 11am and 3pm.
Consciously relax your face. We give ourselves some of the lines on our faces by squinting, raising our forehead, puckering, or habitual movements that can etch fine lines and wrinkles in place.
Make your own tinted moisturizer by mixing a drop or two of your favorite liquid foundation with a moisturizer in the palm of your hand.
Think of your face as extending down to your chest. So when applying treatment products, massage into face, throat and chest. These areas need the same TLC as your face.
According to every wellness guru, sugar is BAD for your skin. Sugar triggers the formation of AGEs (advanced glycation end products), which are believed to cause fine lines and wrinkles. Treat yourself once a week instead of every day.
Avoid sleeping on your side or even worse on your stomach. Try sleeping on your back to avoid wrinkles. Wake up without creases and lines from the pillow pushing up against our skin all night.
Does your skin feel dry when the weather turns cold? Most women are over-cleansing and under-moisturizing. Dry skins should cleanse once a day with a non-foaming cleanser and switch to a rich cream moisturizer. The products you use in the summer usually don’t work in the winter.
Follow the 3-4 month replacement rule on mascara. Why take a chance with bacteria and possible infections? I jot down a date in my appointment book reminding me when to buy a new mascara.
Have a yearly check-up with a dermatologist.
If your brows need filling in, use a stiff angled brush and eye shadow. Let your hair color determine the shade. Blondes can go a little darker, brunettes should go a bit lighter, redheads are best using a light brown shade (red would look strange) and if your gray or white, go with a taupe shade.
Don’t pick your lip color according to your outfit. It’s tacky. Go for shades that compliment your skin tone.
Skin issues? Adult acne, clogged pores, redness, rough dry skin? Seems like everyone thinks about covering up with makeup when you should be thinking about what you’re doing to care for your skin. Put your time and attention into skincare. You’ll need to wear less makeup as your skin starts looking better and better.