Start Your Makeup With the Best Skin Surface Possible

I get so many questions about how to get that magazine glow and what makeup technique works best. Well, my advice is to start before the makeup. What is just as important as the makeup, is the condition of the skin the makeup is applied to.

Most skin, even if you are in your 20's, has a residual of dead skin cells which contribute to microscopic or even larger wrinkles. You need to eliminate and then control the recurrence of these dead cells and the easiest, least expensive and least painful way to achieve this is by using a moisturizer with 10% AHA (glycolic acid). I prefer 10% because I have seen sensitive skin get irritated at 15% to 20%. Even though glycolic acid is derived from sugar cane or sugar beets, or made synthetically, it is the same substance that dermatoligists use for chemical peels, although at a much higher concentration.

I'm not a big fan of chemical peels because I have seen extraordinary results from a 10% concentration with no pain and or that temporary redness of chemical peels. The results of daily use of a 10% AHA cream are a smoothing of fine lines, diminishment of acne, elimination of discoloration, softening of blackheads and a brightening of the skin surface. It also accelerates collegen synthesis which combats aging.

Our Renouveau cream, also known as our Green Tea Cream, has 10% AHA and SPF. And it has a very loyal following. http://www.giella.com/

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You Are What You Eat

When it comes to makeup ingredients, what you put on your lips is perhaps most important. After all, lipstick will come off on a glass or even a fork or spoon. Some tiny amount may even be ingested. That is why I have always been a fanatic with what is in my lipstick base. I don't want to eat bad stuff!

We have now refined the ingredients in GIELLA lipstick base to the point where it is 100% vegetable, plant or otherwise natural ingredients. And those ingredients are the highest quality from the best suppliers in the U.S. I personally source and select each ingredient just as I would shop for dinner for my family. I want the best and safest ingredients money can buy.

I test lipstick formulations for look, feel, durability, suitability and safety. I don't know what the big companies do. I do know that GIELLA lipstick may just be good enough to eat.

Spring 2011 Fashion Trend: the 70's look

The hottest trend on the runways during Spring Fashion Week 2011 is a dual 70's inspired look: 70's Bohemian and 70's sophisticated glamor. At GIELLA custom blend cosmetics we designed a Spring 2011 makeup look to capture the essence of both. This is what is happening in clothing, accessories, hair and makeup.

Clothing - There are many new high-waisted, wide-leg styles offered for Spring. We're feeling longer and leaner already. Because exaggerated flares don't look great on smaller women, we suggest anyone under 5 foot-4 stick to the look that is narrow at the waist but with a clean, straight leg.

Try a smartly belted jump suit but make sure the cut is flattering to your body type. Spending a few more dollars will get you a style that you can wear more often, so it may not be more expensive at all. And good news: last year's maxi dress is still in. Wear it in bright Bohemian colors for daytime and in sophisticated solids for glamorous evening wear.

Accessories - Put away that chunky necklace and make way for statement earrings like rhinestone clip-ons or big, gold hoops for glamor with polished stone or graphic art for the Bohemian look. Also, ditch those wayfarers. Huge sunglasses are everywhere! Try to create a look somewhere between Jackie O and J Lo. Try to pair your sunglasses with a big floppy hat which you can find done perfectly in Charlie 5.0's Spring Lookbook.

Hair - A change of pace from last year's top knot, the low bun is back. Start with a middle part, make a low ponytail that covers your ears. Then tie your hair in a knot and secure with pins that match your hair color. Allow your bun to look a bit unfinished. When hair was worn loose in the 70's, it was styled but not overdone. Try loose bed head waves for the modern version of Farrah Fawcett.

Makeup - Fashion makeup in the 70's was natural, fresh-faced and barely there. There was more of a focus on taking care of your skin than in earlier decades. This is when women began elaborate skincare regimens that aided the look of a healthy, dewey face. The heavy, caked foundations of the 50's and 60's gave way to light-feeling foundations and tinted moisturizers.

To recreate the 70's face with healthy, smooth skin, start by moisturizing with the GIELLA Ginseng + Vitamin C serum. This will hydrate your skin and create a silky-smooth, fresh look. Add a touch of our Super Red (mica) or Super Gold (mica) for just the right tint and glow. This will bring your skin to life with the lightest, barely there look of the 70's.

Apply either a tinted moisturizer or liquid foundation all over the face with clean fingers. Avoid using a foundation brush here because you want a very sheer, light coverage.

Using a concealer brush apply GIELLA Magnetic Eye from your lash line to your brow bone. Then lightly dust GIELLA Bunny, a neutral eyeshadow, over the Magnetic Eye.

Next, lightly apply GIELLA Twinkle Eye Shadow, a champagne shimmer, on your eyelids, disappearing into the crease. This will attract light to your eyes. With our slanted eyeliner brush #4, take GIELLA Cher Eyeliner and fill in the spaces between your eyelashes, gradually making the line thicker towards the outer eye. If you want to add drama to this look, do it with the eyeliner. Its a natural way to make your lashes look a lot fuller. Soften the line by smudging with the same brush. Then carefully line your lower outer lash with what remains on the brush. Use GIELLA Lively to brighten the inner rims of your lower lash line.

Wiggle a black mascara on your upper and lower lashes. Finish your eyes with the right color brow gel. This is a more natural look than a penciled-in eyebrow.

GIELLA Farrah bronzer has a little glow that will add to this "Earth Angel" look. Apply it in the hollows of your cheeks with a dusting on your forehead and chin. Use a circular motion while applying GIELLA Scooby blush (a vibrant warm pink) on the apples of your cheeks. Highlight your cheek bones with GIELLA Foxy.

Line your lips with neutral pink lip liner, GIELLA Skinny. Fill in with GIELLA Edie, a sheer pink with shimmer or Ava, a soft pink that stains the lips for longer wear. Top the lips with GIELLA Earth Angels, a white lip gloss that will make your lips sparkle.

Darling, you look marvelous with a 70's look that will never be out of style!

Check our website for locations and product. http://www.giella.com/

Lipsticks are not created equal

A few days ago, my husband and I were making a batch of our GIELLA lipstick base using a process of heating, measuring and blending our custom ingredients which are natural or organic and only the highest quality available. We use a hand process with vats, mixers and heaters so that we can inspect and check the quality of the ingredients as they are blended together. He reminded me of a tour he did several years ago of a cosmetics plant of a huge company that made lipsticks for about 7 or 8different brands. This mega-company used the same equipment and virtually the same ingredients for each of the lipstick brands with the primary difference being the packaging. The assembly line was virtually automated and ran by itself. Quality control was by a mechanical control system.

People buy these lines believing they are getting something unique, and I'm sure they are getting quality. But there is something that gives me comfort in knowing exactly what is in my lipstick and knowing that only the best ingredients available are used in GIELLA custom blend cosmetics.