Skincare Wakeup Call
As a Makeup Artist and owner of Erika Lee Artistry, I
feel that I have a responsibility to try new products and
understand how they work, before they touch my client’s
skin. This is a responsibility, which leaves me in a place of
learning, researching, sometimes finding jewels and at other times, JUNK. I do not claim to know everything, but I
do promise to share my lessons, for instance, when you’re
feeling lazy late at night, don’t assume a face cream will be
kind to your eyes. You may wake up looking like Margarito
after a Manny Pacquiao fight.
This is what I know, cosmetics and skincare is not a one
size fits all business! What I may love, you may not,
because skin is an ever-changing organ. I refer to makeup
artistry and skincare as artistry on a living canvas. I take
my responsibility seriously and I am still learning every
day and what I learn, I will continue to share.
When clients purchase new products they want to try it
all on at once, like an outfit. You know what I am talking
about! Hitting the mall and grabbing a new dress, shoes,
jewelry and a handbag and voila’, you have a beautiful new
outfit all at once! Instant gratification is the requirement
of the Insta-age, which we are living in, but when it comes
new skin products, patience is required. Slow down and try
one new product at a time and allow your body to react.
If you purchase a new cleanser, toner, serum and cream
and during your excitement you decide to try them all at
once, you have created a bit of a messy situation. Maybe
you have a reaction to the product(s), and now you don’t
know which product was the culpr it and you run to the
mall to return. Sometimes we have a product that we definitely see positive or negative changes, but because we used
everything at once, we’re left in with a conundrum. Miracle or mischief-maker? I always recommend adding one
new product at a time to your beauty regimen and then
use if for seven days. This allows for you to see if you have
a reaction, but remember that if you want to see the perks
of a product, you really need to give it time. That wrinkle
didn’t appear overnight and it’s not going to improve at the
snap of your fingers.
Lets talk about expectations, because often expectations
are a big part of the problem. I can’t begin to tell you
how many women come to me in frustration of how a
product had rave reviews, but didn’t do anything for them.
This is especially true with regards to skincare products.
Sometimes, the product isn’t doing anything for the client
because they purchased something that isn’t right for their
skin type. Take the time to understand your skin and it will
benefit you! (Take a look and learn more - http://www.
wikihow.com/Determine-Your-Skin-Type)
More often, the problem is the client has unrealistic wishes!
I often have a client who is mid 40s or beyond. With that,
they have decades of sun damage, dietary issues, lack of
water and lack of exercise, yet they want a cream or serum
to fix everything, immediately! The client is looking for
one product that will fix the world overnight and guess
what, that’s insanity! Ladies and gentlemen, creams and
serums do not replace fillers, injectables and surgery. They
also need to be combined with wisdom of having a healthy
diet and drinking plenty of water; along with plenty of
patience and the understanding that health is the truest
foundation of youth.
By: Erika Lee
Photography Fidel Gonzalez / Makeup & Hair Fidel Gonzalez using MAC Cosmetics / Nails Fidel Gonzalez / Retouching Fidel Gonzalez / model Linda Taylor