Glycolic Peel Kit

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Can't believe that 2011 is gone and I am staring 2012 in the face! Unbelievable!

I am excited to be reviewing some new products this year and hopefully help some of you out there about products you might want to buy with Christmas money or get for Valentine's Day or whatever other event in which you buy beauty supplies.

So, to kick off I am going to tell you about the Boots brand glycolic peel kit.



First a little education. Glycolic acid is a compound that can both be chemically generated and isolated from some plants naturally. Glycolic acid has a unique ablity to penetrate human skin -in particular glycolic acid weakens the binding properties of lipids (fats) in the skin so after applying and letting it sit on the face, dead old skin cells come right off.

Glycolic acid is most commonly used by professionals who use a high concentration of the product - high concentrations (anything over 20%) is not available to consumers directly and must be applied by a doctor or trained professional. But there are kits on the market that have a glycolic peel kit with concentrations usually under 10%.

A glycolic peel is beneficial to people who are dealing with fine lines and wrinkles, uneven skin tone and skin texture, acne, acne scars, and in general dull, not healthy looking skin. It is also a beneficial treatment for brides or people about to have an important event but should be done about 6-8 weeks before the big day and should be done by a professional at a high concentration.

Today, we're examining a glycolic kit whose concentration is around 7%. Here's some benefits:

Because the concentration is so low, this can be incorporated into a normal skin care routine - it can be used 2 times a week which over time, improves the look of your skin. I tend to like this option better than using a face scrub that just removes old skin with good old fashioned scratching although both basically do the same thing.

Also, it's quick! You apply the acid with the brush (NOT your hands)to a clean face and let it sit for about 5 minutes, rub off with a pad provided in the kit and then rinse. The whole process is about 7 minutes total and could be done while watching tv, painting nails or just sitting around.

Also, the price is great, it's $25 at Target(so convenient)!

Some drawbacks or just special notes about this product:

Because the concentration is low, it does need to be used consistently to see results. I was trying to coordinate my glycolic night with trash day (cause its 2 times a week too) but it gets hard sometimes. If you only have time to do this mask once a month, it may not be the treatment for you.

A glycolic peel like any exfoliator will cause things under the surface to come up. So, acne prone skin you may be disappointed that for the first few weeks your skin isn't clearing (and possibly worsening) but its actually doing a good job. Continued use will let what's under the surface out and then continue to cleanse the skin to get you that skin you always hope for. Stick with it. Also, this is why you don't do a professional glycolic treatment right before a wedding - do it several weeks before the wedding, let your skin breakout if it must and then give it time to heal. Then you will be happy with your results.

Lastly, this is not a product for sensitive skin or someone with rosacea. This will aggrivate your skin like crazy so stay away.

I hope that was a bit helpful. I really like my kit. I am starting to see improvement in my skin's texture and color which is nice but I'm dealing with a bit of breakout :( I think its a great product to have as part of a routine that will give you a fresh look. If you're wanting an easy way to improve your skins texture, color and over look, go ahead and get one at Target!

Post any questions you may have!

~Linds

Review of Resolutions

So, two weeks into the new year of 2011, I wrote this blog post:

http://lindsayschott.blogspot.com/2011/01/new-years-resolution-get-my-s-together.html

And now it's time to review. Oh dear... (stay positive!)

I did successfully grow my business this year - I had a steady stream of clients, I designed some things for professional use, I had several weddings for makeup and I did get my website up and running although it still needs some tweeks. I am also blogging consistently which I feel helps. So, pretty good with that but I need to do better book keeping. So far my strategy is keeping receipts and emails and then plugging them all in excel every once in awhile...not so good...

Weight...I am working out more but I am eating more, so not so good there. I need to examine my relationship with food (well, relationship and food shouldn't be in the same sentence to begin with).

Money, honey. Well, we're doing ok but dang do I love a good deal and I am a girly girl at heart, my whole Christmas was accessories and makeup. I will need some heart work on this one - I am still really impressed with new, shiny things :)

Walk with God - better, not awesome but I tend to thing that He feels oppsite at times then I do about what our "walk" is. I do sense a nearness to Christ this year that struggled last year. I have been deeply encouraged at our new church and I have been in the word more consistently but I know my soul would benefit from a little more Jesus time.

Kids. Well, the second miscarriage threw me for a loop this year but the bitterness never erupted like it did in 2010 so that is my greatest triumph of character for the year. The sadness doesn't change and yep, I did feel like 73 people told me they were pregnant and I struggled to hold the line of being happy for them and many times gave in to my envy but I believe God's Spirit reminds me that its ok to mourn the loss we suffered but its not ok to despise what God is doing in another's life. I am still praying and seeking about this part of our life and God's already provided more money than I thought we'd ever have at this point for an adoption but consistently He reminds me not to make this an idol.

So, my generic review. It's dangerous to publish what you want to accomplish in a year but accountablity is good for the soul. Before I anty up my resolutions for 2012 I am just going to sit for a few days and think about 2011 and appreciate it and try to learn something from it and maybe gain a heart of wisdom.

~Linds

Wearing Red Lipstick

Red lips!

Scary for some and a thrill for others...here's some tips about picking out and wearing a red lipstick (and Christmas is a perfect time to do it!)

Generally when considering wearing a red you have 3 kinds - berry or wine red, true red or a orange red (some may say coral).

Here are examples,

Berry:





Berry can work on just about anyone, it looks great on dark, medium and fair skinned women. It is a very popular look this fall and winter. When considering a bold berry lip, go neutral on the eyes but soft like you see Emma Stone doing above. Such a dark lip can look severe so the eyes can soften the look. Go try it!

True Red:





Always classic. This has been beautiful since the 1920's and it still is. True red is an eye catcher for sure. The true red lip is beautifully coupled by a simple black eye liner "cat eye" as a nice retro throw-back. When wearing true red I would suggest a subtle eye without a lot of dark shadow but a strong eyeliner is great. If you do too much eye makeup you will look like a clown. This is also a great opportunity for fake eye lashes!

Finally, the Orange or Coral Red:

















This is a softer look so it is possible to do a little more on the eyes. Because orange is a warm tone, this isn't as much of a winter look as it is spring and summer but it can be done well in winter. Orange does not do well on everyone but there probably is a shade out there for you that you could find with some trial and error - it just is not as full proof as I feel a berry red is. This one will take more research and more trying if you want it.

Some tips on wearing bright lips. First, they will be bright and if you are not accustomed to red lips, it may shock you but that's the point. There is nothing subtle about red lips so if you are scared or want subtle, this is not the look for you. Second, when doing your makeup spread your foundation across your lips before you apply lipstick (and for red lips I do recommend lipstick, not gloss). Using a lip liner is also helpful to keep lipstick on and to give you a guide when you are filling it in. I suggest using a liner slightly darker than your lipstick shade for some good contouring. You can use a lip pencil the same color but don't go lighter.

Go for it some time this holiday season! Red is always striking, try it for a holiday party or Christmas Eve!

~Lindsay

Holiday Eye Makeup Looks

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas! (Finally!)

As the holidays are upon us many of us are attending Christmas Parties! I actually just recently attended my husband's corporate Christmas party for the first time and it went off without a hitch.

Holiday parties are a perfect place to wear color eye makeup when you normally don't wear color. Today, I will share a few ways to wear color on your eyes - and believe me you can pull off way more than you think!

First, we will move from most subtle to most bold. Here's the first two looks in two variations with the same idea: a single stroke of color on the top or bottom lid:








You can use a color eye liner pencil or eye shadow with a skinny brush or the point of a sponge applicator. This is the perfect gateway use of color on the eyes. Its subtle, easy and looks beautiful. I would suggest you try first before you head out for the big night. I personally like using color on my bottom lid because I feel like my eye stands out a little bit more when I do my normal eye makeup up top but that is totally your call. I actually wear this look to work :)

Second, a little more adventurous is color all over the eye but blended well:



For this look integrate a color on your top lid and blend with your normal neutrals. I love this look as well - its a great color pop with the comfort of a bit of normalcy.

Here's a simple one, color eye liner on top and bottom:

This isn't my favorite because I like darker colors right next to my eye, so for me this is too subtle but for many of you this is perfect for your beautiful eyes:



Finally, shadow all over the top lid- simple and gets the job done. Its for a few braver souls but as this beautiful actress shows, you can pull it off and it can be perfect:



Lastly are "Stage 3" color uses. These are for the bold girls who like color and like to stand out. I love these. They are not for the faint of heart thought but if you like color a holiday party is an appropriate place to wear this:





Go big or go home with these looks. Try it on yourself first before the big night and then shine your brightest at the party!

Now, the next logical question is: "How do I pick which color?" Oh man, for someone who loves color this is a huge question but here are my suggestions:

1. Google search or Pinterest search actresses that look like you (skin color, hair color, eye color) and see what looks they do and try them out yourself. Also, google search "makeup for brown eyes" or "makeup for blue eyes" and see what pops up.

2. Go to the makeup section of Target or CVS or wherever you get makeup and take a look at the sets that are especially made for your eye color. It's only half a gimmick. There really is science and thought behind those color combinations so study them, take some notes or just buy one and take it home.

3. Know some color theory - ok, we're getting cerebral and ART 101 here. There are generally two reasons why colors look good together - one they complement each other or they contrast each other.

For the explanation we need a color wheel:



Colors that "complement" are colors that are close to each other on the color wheel. So if you are a blue eyed person then blues, greens and purples will do well on you. If you have green eyes, then golds and greens would do well on you and so on and so forth. Brown eye girls you are considered a dark orange but because browns are considered a "neutral" you could do more colors than you think you can!!

Colors that "contrast" are colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. So, blue eyed people believe it or not when you wear brown and bronze your blue eyes pop. Green eye people if you wear red, wine or something pink, your green pops. Brown girls - blues and especially purples are your friends! Play around with different colors and see what happens!

You can really play with color to emphasize a certain tone in your eye. For example, my eyes are brown but if I wear wine, red, burgundy or something like that on my eye, the green in my eyes comes out. If I wear blue they look a little more golden. If I wear green then they seem a little more red-brown. So you can do the same thing with your eyes.

A special note though - don't feel like you must match the color of your makeup to your outfit. It's not 1982- you don't have to wear blue eye shadow with a blue dress. It's better to match your face if you are going to err on one side :)

Have fun, do experiments and ask me questions if you have them! You can do it, have fun!

Great website and a Great Christmas Gift Idea

Hi Friends!

I haven't blogged because I've actually been really busy doing photoshoots and then editing! Wow!! Most of those jobs are wrapping up so some nice picture collages will be headed this way soon but for now I wanted to share a new website:

www.birchbox.com




This is a really fun website. They carry skincare, haircare, makeup and other cosmetics from great brands you find at Sephora and other departments stores. They have wonderful resources like a blog, video tutorials, product reviews and featured new products.

The best part of Birchbox is when you "join" for $10 a month you are shipped a box of fairly good sized samples from their vendors every month. Also, when you shop with birchbox as a member, you aren't charged for shipping. If you are into cosmetics and trying to new brands this is a great way to get exposed to new things. If you have a friend or family member who loves cosmetics and you don't know what to get them you can gift a membership!

I think I may ask for this for my birthday seeing as my Christmas list on Amazon is getting too large but this is a great resource, fun gift and helpful resource. Check out the website tonight on your laptop as you watch tv!

~Linds

Official Review of the Wave and more...

Alright!

This is my official review of the Neutrogena Wave.





I've used this little thing consistently for about 2 weeks now. I started using it in the morning and at night but after about 4 days my skin was too dry so I shifted to 1 time a day, in the evening.

My conclusion is this is a good product.

My skin was consistently cleaner after I used the Wave as opposed to my regular washing with soap and my hands. My breakouts near my chin were reduced a little bit - I wouldn't say it was a dramatic shift for my acne but I noticed a reduction in blackheads and shrinkage in some of the pores on my cheeks. The Wave does offer a subtle exfoliation and I would guess using an actual exfoliating soap would only add to that.

So, if you are looking for a cleaner clean this product is pretty good. I would recommend it. The only draw back is of course buying the cleaning pads after you've run out but they are easily purchased at the grocery store.

Coming up in just a few days I will be reviewing a whole line of new skin care products being offered at Target. The brand is called "Boots" and you won't want to miss it!

~Linds

Fit Me Makeup and "Wave" product reviews

So, I have been trying a few new products and feeling that I am an advocate for the average woman, disciphering cosmetics in the CVS or Target isle...I wanted to share my findings.

I have been trying the "Fit Me" makeup from Maybelline and I just bought the "Wave" face scrubber from Neutrogena.

Let's start with the makeup first.




Fit Me's add campaign starts with a pouty model saying "Don't control me, fit me." Ugh, Maybelline, you missed your market there - normal women do not identify with pouty-lipped, skinny models demanding the world bend another thing to them. On the other hand - you hit your market get with your price point (usually always around $6 a bottle).

I've used this product in the past (from spring to early summer of this year) and recently purchased it again and here are my conclusions:

Fit me is a great medium to medium-light coverage foundation for people who have dry to normal skin and don't deal with a lot of serious acne who enjoy a fresh "dewy" look.

To break down those words here's some explanation:

Medium, medium-light coverage - covers the skin to give a consistent look but not strong enough to cover scars or blemishes.

dry to normal skin - if your skin is dry or just little oily by the end of the day this will feel nice on your skin - not cakey, overwhelming or stiff. If you have oily skin, this will not aid your oily-ness and you will find this makeup sliding off your skin by the end of the day as you glisten in the florescent light of your cubicle (or the lamplight of your house or wherever you find yourself at about 4:00pm).

Fresh, "dewy" look - this is a term that describes a face finish that has a slight sheen to it. It's very popular right now as seen by the influx of "illuminators" on the market that give a false "sheen" to the skin. The idea is a more natural look that is not powdery. Here's a reference:



I personally like the dewy look because I have a past of covering acne with think makeup to cover my issues and although a lot of that acne has subsided, I long for the type of skin I feel confident barely covering and going out with. But it really is just a preference thing.

So, I hope that is helpful. My skin is a little oily, acne prone and acne scarred so I need a fuller coverage heavier makeup. It is a nice feeling product though and again if you have fairly nice skin and like the dewy look, this is a great option.

Secondly, the Wave...





I'll keep this short because I just got it yesterday. I will say, so far, so good.

I thought it was a gimmick and that I'd been duped...but to my surprise this little thing did clean my skin better than my normal soap and exfoliater pad did. So, I will give it a try, 2x daily for 2 weeks and then give a full run down but for $9 at the grocery store, this little sucker seems to be doing good!

Stay tuned for more details!

~Linds

Ruth Pauley Maternity

Now that we are not dying in the hot, drought-wrought summer - it's time for photography!

I had a wonderful maternity session last weekend with friends Josh and Ruth Pauley. They are cuter than words! Their love story is a classic, boy is in love with girl, girl thinks they're really good friends, boy still loves girl for 5 years, finally girl realizes she loves boy, and then they get married kind of situation.

They are super sweet people who are tender, loving, joyful and fun! I can't wait to meet their sweet daughter later this month!












It was great to see them, they will be amazing parents!

It's been too long AND DIY Masks!

Wow!! It's been WAY too long!

To my followers I am so sorry. The last 6 months has included my job change, my husband's job change, a pregnancy, a loss of pregnancy, an adoption application, a vacation, a failed detox attempt and a committment to serious gym time.

Hopefully I can begin to blog more consistently about photography, beauty and other fun things!

Today I want to share the treasure of home face masks. The issue came up because of our trip to Colorado. While in Colorado, my skin got a little dry, leathery feeling and therefore broke out more (I have weird skin).




So, as we drove further into the humidity, back to Houston I thought "I really need to do a face treatment of some kind - something that really cleans and something that adds moisture." Sadly, the only mask I had was a mineral mask from the dead sea. Now while the mineral mask can be incredible, it wasn't what I needed. I also did not want to go to the store so I thought...I can do this myself.

What I came up with was a honey (natural cleanser and has antioxidants), mayo (oils and proteins) and cinnamon (antioxidant). I mixed it all up, spread it on my face and waited. Now, I think I had too much cinnamon in there because it burned just a little but after about 15 minutes, I rinsed it off and my skin did feel better.

So, try this in the next 2 weeks. Google "DIY face mask" and find one that meets your needs - dry skin, acne prone skin, oily skin, dirty skin, etc. And have fun! Do it with friends! You can have a face mask party and set up ingredients like a salad bar and have people make their own masks. Ingredients are cheap and easy to find, some common ingredients to DIY masks are:

Mayonaise (NOT Miracle Whip, not enough oils)
Avocados
Cucumbers
Honey
Milk
Cinnamon
Oatmeal
Yogurt
Olive Oil
Tea Tree Oil

Just to name a few. This is an inexpensive, fun way to do face treatments and if using all natural ingredients is a priority for you then this is perfect!

I am going to keep trying new mask treatments and I will keep you updated. So far the mayo, honey, cinnamon was good - just go a litte easy on the cinnamon. Post a good face mask recipe if you find one! Here are links to two good ones that I found!

Oatmeal and Yogurt mask for all skin types:
http://beauty.about.com/od/skinflaws/a/facemasks.htm

And just in time for fall, a pumpkin mask for all skin types, and can help with acne:
http://beauty.about.com/od/homemadefacemask1/r/Rejuvenating-Pumpkin-Mask-For-All-Skin-Types.htm

First Week of the Detox

So, my review of the first week of Detox.

To review, in the first week I progressively took out caffeine, white sugar, and white flower while adding 3 liters of water a day.

So here's my bad, ugly and good (want to end on a positive note)

Bad:

I had small headaches the first 2 days but that could have just as easily been allergies or PMS (so maybe not really a bad)

Planning was a little difficult because sometimes I didn't plan meals or snacks well and I was just out of food or I "went off the reservation" which negates the whole purpose anyway

Ugly:

Realizing there are lots of foods and beverages that I crave emotionally to feel better, feel comforted, to have something fun to do, etc. I should not have a "relationship" with food where it makes me have feelings of longing, dreaming, anger and such...the detox is helping me see food is a means of giving me energy so I can live.

Lots of trips to the bathroom because of all that water so didn't get a lot of work done :)

I did "go off the reservation" (just for clarification this will be the phrase I'll keep using for when I go off the detox plan) with a buffalo burger with some fries one night and pizza another and I will say my stomach and intestines hurt instantly. The after effects were not so pretty either so - motivation to not eat those things!

Good:

The discipline it took to get caffeine, refined sugar and white starches out of my diet has encouraged me to have self discipline in my diet as a whole, in my workout routine and even in my business so I am grateful for the transformation in my character hopefullly

The breakdown of my emotional relationship with food (seeing food just as an energy source, not a source of happiness)

Realizing that things like burgers, fries and pizza really are bad for me because they actually give me pain!

That's all I have for now. This week marks the first week of the total detox and here are my perameters:

1. No caffeine, white/refined sugars, white starches
2. No gluten (wheat, barley, oat products)
3. No dairy (I will do eggs though)
4. Lean/ light proteins (fish and chicken, I am going to do no red meats, that isn't a must on a detox but I am doing for me because I have a suspicion that my body doesn't process red meat well and I want to test my theory)
5. Lots of water (3L a day)
6. Paleo Cleans powder - this is a product I got from Coach Kelly that aids the body in getting rid of toxins and other bad things.

I'm hoping to experience some good things from this detox. One of the things I am most looking forward to is when this is all over (NO, I don't just want it to be over) I want to really slowly integrate foods in to see how my body reacts. If I react badly to adding gluten, dairy or caffeine again then I want to get those things out of my diet. It's like a mini food allergy testing.

I've heard a lot of people who drink a lot of water say it energizes them so I hope that happens. I hope my skin looks great (I have a skin obsession) and I'd really like to see my skin clear up and look fresh and new! A little weight loss would be awesome but I don't want to expect it. And lastly, I want to learn more about my body, foods that are good for it and how to creatively make those foods and get myself off of over processed, super modified, sodium and sugar infused food.

Good luck to any of you who are doing the same thing or thinking about it! Let's breakup with our food and just be friends and look for happiness somewhere eternal...

~Lindsay

remember you can go to http://kellycouch.wordpress.com for more detox info!

28 Day Detox

Maybe I am a glutton for punishment and maybe I am over estimating my ability to have self discipline but I am embarking on a 28 day detox.

I will be coached through the process by my good friend Kelly Couch (Kelly Coach...ha ha) who is extremely smart, funny, honest and qualified. (Visit her blog at http://kellycouch.wordpress.com/ to get details of how you can eat healthy, live healty and detox yourself!)

I'll be blogging the journey as I go day by day marking the good, the bad and the down right ugly.

Today's challenge: no caffeine and 3 liters of water. So far so good (it's only 9:30am but hey by now I've already started my Coke Zero). I've got my nalgene bottle, I need to drink 3 and a half of these today...and the bathroom is on the floor below me (that should be fun, I'll get a stair workout today too!)

Alright everyone, here we go. Feel free to ask questions or give encouragement. If you aks questions though I have a feeling I will just defer to Kelly.

Much love everyone!

~Lindsay

Mothers Day/ Spring Time Mini-Shoot

Spring has sprung, the heat is on its way and I can feel the affects of pollen already (yeah Houston!).

AND more importantly it is time to bring back the Mini-Shoot! All the benefits of a professional photography session at a THIRD of the price! (Yes that means a 75% off sale and that cannot be beat!)

Here's the details:

- 30 minute on location shoot
- includes families, babies, couples or furry family members
- You'll receive 6 high res files of your favorite pictures
- $50

This is a great opportunity and also a wonderful gift for Mother's Day that will be here before you know it. So book today while there's still time!

Email me at lindsay.schott@gmail.com

Hot Mama!

This session is on sale now for $75 from now through Mother's Day weekend!

Since many of my friends have had babies in the last 6 months (about 5 friends I think) I have been a part of the transition from young married girl to Mommy. A common theme is not feeling pretty or sexy after kids. Between being peed on, pooped on, thrown up on, being tired, being busy, being in pain, not fitting in any of your clothes and a multiple of other factors - you just lose that confident edge.

So, I introduce to you the "Hot Mama Shoot". This is a shoot for women who have just had their babies or maybe their little ones are toddler age and they want to feel pretty again. The whole shoot includes hair and makeup done by me, a style consultation, an hour photo shoot and then of course, some wonderful images at the end. This is a great gift for a wife, a sister, or a friend.

Thank you to my friend Ashley Samperi for being my first Hot Mama. And thanks to her sweet boy Ezra for having a great attitude and making an appearance in the end. Here are some of her best shots!



















This was so much fun and I would love to do it again! Contact me today to book your Hot Mama Session!

lindsay.schott@gmail.com

Lively Needham!

I got to do a photo shoot this morning with a new favorite little person! Introducing Miss Lively Needham - daughter of our good friends Kelly and Jimmy.

For a bit of back story on my friend Kelly go here. Kelly and I have been meeting weekly for a little over a year now. In that time, she had a miscarriage last December and 4 months later I miscarried in March. Her friendship has meant the world to me and truly I felt the comfort of God in her words and actions. There is something unique to have a friend that will just understand what you are saying, even when you're not saying it well. It was an overwhelming joy to see God bring beauty from ashes when Kelly found out she was pregnant while on a trip to Israel (in Jerusalem, how amazing is that?). And I sometimes still can't believe that Lively is finally here.

I don't know if Lively will ever know how much she was longed for, prayed for, thought about, worried over, rejoiced for and just plain enjoyed...but I know that her parents and I will always know it. Enjoy!

Laura Wilkerson's Headshots

Good times with a great friend!

On Sunday I drove up to College Station (good old times) and swapped head shot sessions with my good friend and former roommate, Laura Wilkerson who is also a great photographer just starting her business - www.lwilkerson.com

We met my sophomore year through her boyfriend at the time, now husband, Josh, who was the President of the "Res Week" committee (of which I had some position, secretary or something - I don't remember). She was at Purdue at the time and Josh was at A&M and a year later Laura moved down to Aggieland. We became friends and then got a duplex with our friend Kelly Burris Haisten our senior year.

I had so much fun with Laura and Kelly my senior year including staying up too late, smelling Laura's morning Americano (EVERY Morning and do NOT speak with her until she's had it), buying water by the 3 gallon container, purity princesses, whose line is it anyway, the discussion of naked time (totally foreign concept to me at the time - "You mean people actually want to be naked?" was my response), a ban on cooking fish in the house and lots of poop talk which was weird to me (not any more though).

Laura, I enjoy you so much and am so grateful that you are in my life and you're one of the big reasons I loved my time at A&M so much.

So, these are downtown Bryan - we had lots of laughs, no accidents and lots of excitement about the future! If you are in the Bryan/ CS area and need photography, call Laura, she's amazing! www.lwilkerson.com




















And I referenced Laura's website wrong on image #6- its www.lwilkerson.com

Enjoy!