August Beauty Essentials

August has come to take over as quickly as a blink of an eye this year in 2015! I will enjoy this month. Not just because it’s my birthday and that I am a proud leo who came into this world on the 7th day of the 8th month. But also because August is the epitome of summer and the transition into an easy fall. In August, we reflect on all that we did for summer fun.I want to reflect on all of the wonderful beauty essentials that have made my summer a great one, and kept my skin, and my Mila Artistry clients skin hydrated, protected, prepped, and beautiful even under warm weather conditions in Palm Springs, Vegas, and the beach!

I’ll begin with Xtreme Lash Eyelash Extensions after care. Myself along with my clients wear eyelash extensions all year long. My essentials were the Xtreme Lash Total Eye Repair Serum. Designed without oils to disturb the adhesive, this leaves eyes refreshed and hydrated. Also diminishes fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. Extreme Lash Eye-makeup Remover and Cleanser really helped to remove any residue from eyeliner, proteins, and natural eyelid oils that may disturb the adhesive of the eyelash extensions. It is so gentle that if it gets into they eye it doesn’t even sting. Another Xtreme Lash essential is the Jo Mousselli Skin Renewing Concealer. Even though my skin is deep, I use the medium shade to combat dark circles, keep my skin hydrated, and will not disturb the lash adhesive, so my lash extensions last longer!

Flynn & King has been one of my favorite discoveries in organic independent skincare and beauty this year! The detox bar soap has such a refreshing neutral scent that I literally do not want to wear any other scents after I shower. My clients love this as well and are so happy I introduced this brand to them. My other favorite Flynn & King summer essential of 2015 has been the Balance Facial Toner with Aloe and Rose Geranium. Can I say that when I first tried this soft mist toner I FELL IN LOVE! I was actually in the middle of filming a movie as the hair and makeup artist when I received my package from Corina McDonnell, the Co- Founder of Flyn & King In NYC. She had hand written me a note and I knew that this brand was meant for me and my clients. I used this toner on set, on my self just to refresh from the sun and stay hydrated. I used it on my actors, the director, the sound and camera crew… Uhm not only did they love me for paying attention to them but they too were in love with the calming refreshing sensation of the skin, the gender neutral scent and the hydrating benefits. I use this morning and night. Sometimes I spray it all over fresh out of the shower. and I am good to go.

Laurel Skin is A FANTASTIC Independent California local skincare company up north developed by the lovely Laurel Herself. Each ingredient is grown and cared for locally. And each individual product in their line has been delicately refined and crafted. When I decided to launch Mila Artistry, I wanted to find and try products that have integrity, are performance, and are healthy. This brand Nailed it all. After trying everything on myself and my guests for several weeks now. I notice how much more youthful and calm and refreshed my skin was, and all the great reviews about my clients experience with Laurel Skin. My August essential is the Travel Set Oily/Combination. The Oily - combination cleanser is so refreshing, gentle and non drying to the skin but really reduces the shine and excess oil production throughout the day. The Oily/Combination elixir comes in a soft refined spray. So refreshing, calming, and hydrating. Oily skin still needs hydration throughout the day, otherwise the skin will begin to overproduce. That is actually the number one most common mistake that people with oily skin make. They strip as much oil as possible away. By doing that, it is causing the sebaceous glands- Microscopic glands in the skin that secrete an oil waxy matter called sebum to help lubricate and hydrate the skin and hair; To work harder because it now thinks that the skin is dry. This in turn produces much more oil, leading to break outs, rough skin, larger pores, and even flakiness and redness which opens your outer most layer of skin to sun damage, pollutants, and the ozone. That is scary. Long story short. This kit has helped to normalize my skin and keep it balanced. Im looking forward to the transition of summer to fall with Laurel, and a long partnership with this brand.

Kiss My Grits by Salacia Salts Hailing from Savannah GA, the charm of the south is a great organic independent company developed owned and hand crafted by Cari Clark Phelps of Clark Creative Communications. This brand is special to me because while my husband and I met and married in Savannah GA almost 7 years ago. I was able to meet Cari, and work with her on various magazine projects and events. When I learned of her Salacia Salts launch I really wanted to try it, and bring apart of Savannah back to my home town of Los Angeles CA. My favorite Summer essential has been the Kiss My Grits lip scrub. It is made with actual grits and dead sea-salt to gently exfoliate the lips for smooth kissable lips all summer long. I use this every few days or as I notice I need the extra exfoliation. But with other products for the body Like Midnight Garden which was named for the film Midnight Garden of Good and Evil (inspired by a true crime story that took place in Savannah) Starring Kevin Spacey and Lady Chablis AKA Brenda Dale Knox - A savannah GA resident and entertainer. (who BTW I was so excited to meet during the time I lived in Savannah!) I couldn’t go wrong. I love the refreshing scents of the south, the nostalgia, and the feeling of sharing a piece of my scented heart with the family and clients I love.

Behind The Seen Organics Owned and developed by Pamela Hackeman and her daughter has a brilliantly formulated skincare foundation that has become my favorite essential beauty staple. Pamela Hackeman Is not only a well known and respected Makeup Artist, Instructor, Aesthetician and successful salon owner in the industry. But she is also a Perfectionist (I say this dramatically and true). I know this because I was her student for the greater part of a year at MUD otherwise known as Makeup Designory - Burbank campus in Los Angeles California. The ingredients of this serum foundation are as consistently impressive as Pam’s resume. Containing anti inflammatory, antiseptic, calming, and repairing elements like allantoin, arnica, sodium hyaluronate and tocopherol to name a few. The foundation shades were strategically designed to be true to the natural skin tone, (fair- deep, Shade 6 Caramel Is literally my exact match) as well as corrective to the complexion. This serum foundation has a wonderful dewy finish that can be set by the BTS loose organic powder in either Porcelain Light Or Oyster Medium, or any other powder of your choice of finish, wether it be matte, translucent, radiant, or silky. I know this because I use it on myself, and on my guests. My skin loves this foundation and it appreciates it!

All Product listed can be found at the Mila Artistry Aesthetic Studio & Boutique for you to take home. As well as at the links I have shared. Enjoy your August and Maximize your beauty.