Don't be a Blush Lush

“#MakeupTipThursdays ”

— Brandon Cross

Everyone wants to look like the blushing bride, even when they are nowhere near marriage…One can dream. But in the meantime, almost everyone loves the look of blushing cheeks. It adds youth and playfulness to the face. Just like almost every other makeup trend, blush can be abused. Blush is supposed to be an accent to the face and mimic how the face would naturally appear when flushed. Here are a few tips to keep you from your look being a hit or a miss.

1. Skin Condition

I know that everyone has a preference, some people prefer to use powder, some prefer creams. If you are a person with oily skin, put down the cream products. If you use a powder blush, during the day when the skin begins to produce oil, the powder will combat the oil and keep you blushing all day long. And the same goes for people with dry skin…Put down the Powder, try a cream. 

2. Skin Tone

Blush is not a one size fits all product. Some blushes are made with warm undertones and some made with cool. If you are someone with fair skin and pink tones to your skin, then using a deep tangerine blush will make the skin appear muddy:

• Fair and cool: Baby pinks
• Fair and warm/neutral: Sheer apricots and peaches
• Medium and warm/olive/neutral: Deeper peachy-pinks, corals, ambers and even roses
• Medium and cool: Roses, berries and sheer plums
• Deep and warm/neutral: Bright pinks and fuchsias
• Deep and cool: Oranges and reds

3. Placement

Blush is a cheek product. Not the jaw line, not the nose. Too often people will drag the blush too far down or too close to the nose, remember the two finger rule. Take your pointer and middle finger and place next to your nose, your blush should not come down further than your two fingers. Also be sure to get to know your face. Use your finger to see where YOUR cheekbones are, keep the blush on and above your cheekbones or else you will end up aging your face 

4. Blending

By now you should have this in your mantra…Blend, Blend, Blend! If you are dotting on your blush to the face and not properly bending it out, you will be left with pink, or reddish marks that can be mistaken for rosacea or some other skin condition. 

5. Blush as Contour

There are products specifically designed for contour and products made for blush. It is a good idea to know that many products have more than one use but be sure to use appropriately. Also be sure to clean your brushes after use if using the same brush. You don’t want black ever shadow getting on your cheeks, or rosy blush on your forehead 

Basically, If you’re in a rush…forget the blush (apply with care) 

Why Milk 'Moo'ved Out of My Diet

Growing up, I know that kids were encouraged to drink milk and not just with their cereal or with snacks but glasses of milk. I suppose that was a delight that stuck with me to adulthood. It was never a problem until recently when I noticed that after drinking milk I would feel bloated, slightly uncomfortable and I decided to go to the doctor and find out why this was. 

According to the doctor, I am slightly lactose intolerant. People might think that they are allergic to milk but actually their bodies simply cannot digest the main sugar found in milk which is lactose. After the age of five the body stops producing lactase that breaks down this sugar which leads to cramping, bloating and other body irritations. The truth is that only 60% percent on humans possess the ability to break down this sugar after childhood. 

Switching to alternatives like Almond, Coconut or even Soy are popular options and can be found in most stores and coffee shops. Almond milk is made from ground almonds and water, it’s naturally lower in calories and fat than cow’s milk. Coconut milk is watered down to match milk’s consistency and fat content. It’s usually fortified with calcium and vitamin D. Soy milk is made from ground soybeans and water, it contains high-quality protein and is often fortified with B vitamins, calcium, and vitamin D, giving it the closest nutrition profile to cow’s milk.

Give it a try, you could possibly be a part of the 40% who might have a lactose intolerance too! 

Winter Hair Blues

During the winter months, we are, for the most part, confined to indoor activities. This causes a bit of cabin fever and causes us to experiment more with our looks, the main characteristic being our hair. The coming of the winter means dry everything, from the land, to our skin and even to our hair. Here are a few ways that you can keep moisturized and nourished. 

Lets start in the morning:

You know how you love to shower and wash your hair every morning...stop it. The mix of the cold hair outside and moisture in your hair is a toxic combination. Keep the hair washing to a minimum. Instead, if your hair starts feeling a tad oily or greasy, try an alternative like our Klorane Dry Shampoo that comes in two formulas for both light and dark hair colors. 

Before leaving the house when you are bundling up, don't forget your head! The cold air dries out your hair making it feel brittle, stiff and dry. Grabbing a hat before you leave the house will not only keep your body warm but keep your hair protected from the brutal cold. Worried about hat hair and frizz? Buying a beanie lined with satin will prevent this, or you can simply tie a scarf over your hair before a hat as well!

At night when you feel like it's time for a good wash, consider a Co-Wash. Briogeo Hair Care is a great line which has an amazing "Avocado + Quinoa" Co-Wash which works wonders. Co-Wash actually stands for Conditioning Wash: using a conditioner or conditioner cream based product to cleanse the hair in place of a shampoo. If the hair is extra dry, or chemically processed like mine, try the "Don't Despair Repair" Deep Conditioning Mask.

For the night-time, if you like your apartment hot and cozy like me, be sure to invest in a good humidifier. The heat in your apartment dries out the air as well as your skin and hair.  Using a humidifier will combat the effects of the heat and leave you waking up refreshed and ready to take on the day. Say goodbye to waking up tired, groggy and dehydrated!

Cedra Welcomes 2016

Welcome to the first work week of 2016. Last year was a great one for Cedra, we have expanded from one location to two and connected with many new patients as well as clients. The new location is in Houston, TX and will be celebrating its grand opening this coming February 9th! 

Cedra is more than just a pharmacy and boutique, it's a hybrid. What sets it apart from other stores is our customer service. We take pride in being able to give personalized attention to each person that walks through our doors. We feel it important to speak with and get to know every client before suggesting anything that they should try or purchase. 

Some might think that we only cater to certain demographics but this is not the case. We accept all major insurances and welcome anyone whom we can assist. We want to offer an upscale experience to a variety of people. We have products of all different price ranges and believe that we can help you can find anything to suit your needs perfectly.

Be ready to see Cedra in a whole new light in 2016. We are working hard to be bigger and better in order to provide you with the best services and products possible. 

Hope to see you soon!