Fusion Beauty Blog by Product Expert Heather Boswell

Looking forward to Fall

Going on vacation is wonderful but I always love coming home. I think I feel the same way about Fall. Although I LOVE just about everything about Summer by mid August I seem to be ready for Fall. It can be such a beautiful time of year. And although the fun beachy, barely there makeup and clothes of Summer are relaxed and easy, there is just something about the Fall fashion mags that gets me excited. Always so fresh and new, offering vibrant edgy color options and the newest looks in makeup and clothes. Year after year, it has become a tradition for me to pick up the super thick Fall Mag editions and pour over them making mental notes of what I love and what will work best for me. So much to look at but if you have a pretty good sense of what your style is there is always something for everyone. Change can be good. I welcome it and use this time to try a new lip color, experiment with a new makeup look and change up my products a bit. It can be as simple as switching out our Summer gloss for a bolder color or texture, like a rich, creamy liquid lipstick. After months of sheer, glistening summer makeup I am so ready for a more matte look. I absolutely LOVE the versatility of brightening minerals for subtly perfected, flawless skin that has a velvety finish but is also hydrated. I still complete my look with a bronzer (I use it all year) but take care to apply more like a blusher on the apples of the cheeks,  so I have that healthy, refreshed look like I just came in from a brisk walk..oh that sounds nice. And I'll be wearing the amazing  jacket and sexy boots I saw in a magazine today. Oh..and a shiny new bag in rich purple! And I will definitely need a big cozy scarf...and gloves.....and new sunglasses...See you in September!

Life Lessons

My mother-in-law has a collection of books I like to call "powder room" books. You know, the ones that look pretty on a little table in your guest bathroom that contain life lessons, meaningful sayings or daily affirmations to ponder. I picked one up on a recent visit and found that many of the little "life lessons" if you will, are helpful when you apply them to beauty. I know this is not how they were meant and I appreciate that these can be potentially "life changing" messages for some…but I found it kind of entertaining to go through them and see how many I could apply specifically to beauty. I'll share a few with you and encourage you to share your "beauty life lessons" with me too.

That brings me to the first one. I think it came from a list of "life lessons I learned in pre-school" or something like that. It is simply to "share". Although it is sometimes tempting to keep a beauty secret to yourself, don't you find a greater sense of satisfaction when you share it with a friend? They think you are the smartest person ever and then when they share it with other women they will usually give you kudos for discovering this new trick. You'll be discussed by many as a clever, insightful woman who is not only beauty savvy but generous enough to share her wisdom.  Pretty cool huh?

Okay here's another one and I know it's one we've all heard. "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." So how does this apply to beauty? Here's how I see it. Have you ever met an absolutely stunning woman who talks about all her flaws to the point that you want to smack her? Is that annoying or what!? To me, if you are cutting yourself down then you are sabotaging your beauty. You don't have to toot your own horn, but if the words you are about to speak about yourself are negative, just don't say them. You'll be surprised how great you'll begin to feel about yourself.   

This sets up my next point perfectly, and it's another "oldie but goodie"....SMILE! Smile when you are applying your makeup. Smile when you look at yourself in the mirror in the morning. Smile when you are talking to people. Not only will you start to feel happy (It's the fake it ‘til you make it philosophy working here) but you will look more beautiful. My kids actually clarified this one for me. I was working with a model once who didn't smile on camera. My kids were watching my show and said to my husband "who is the mean lady and why is she mad?" Out of the mouths of babes! We all look more approachable, confident, happy and yes, beautiful when our resting face is pleasant. Oh and another bonus....our faces look less "droopy" when we are not frowning!

I have more of these but would love to hear your "beauty life lessons" too.

I want to look good and I want it FAST!

When I am applying makeup for one of my clients it is not uncommon for me to take up to a hour to complete this procedure and I enjoy every minute. I love to watch as the look emerges and my client gazes approvingly at her new reflection in the mirror. I always say I've done my job when a client can't stop looking at herself! Great problem to have right?! Now, when it comes to doing my OWN face I am all about an "efficient" application so I spend the least amount of time possible in front of the mirror. I just want to get on with other things. I guess it's partially because I am busier now and because I have two kids so I just can't spend the time I used to getting ready. It's kind of funny that I used to take MUCH longer pre-kids but I think now I get a prettier result in less time. Maybe less is more. Or maybe it's just that I have perfected the process with the right multitasking products. I'm not sure but I do know that if you have told me ten years ago that I had 10 minutes to do my makeup for an event, I'd laugh in your face. Now, its totally doable.

After my shower and brushing my teeth I apply LipFusion XL then spot treat my lines and wrinkles with LiftFusion and EyeLift and let it work while I blow dry my hair. I mix my brightening minerals and fluid foundation together (2 to 3 pumps of each) activate on fingertips and apply to my entire face and neck. Then eyebrows go on (2 seconds), a light dusting of brightening minerals on entire face to even out the skin tone and a quick sweep of Radiance on lids and cheekbones. Brows, eyeliner and a brownish crease color on the eyes takes about 2 or 3 minutes and then I finish my eyes with mascara. Two coats of LashFusion on top, one coat bottom. I would say that takes about a minute (maybe two). I then brush my bronzer onto apples of cheeks, across nose and under the jaw line (I find I look slimmer when I contour under the jaw), then I finish with a plumping  pencil and gloss or my liquid lipstick. There you have it. Under ten minutes and that is what I consider to be a "full makeup" so whether you see me in the supermarket or on television that is what I am wearing on my face. Pretty simple and VERY efficient!

Summer Beauty - Part II

I'd love to hear from you and all the things you love about Summer! Here are some more of my favorite Summer beauty indulgences:

6. Shimmering peachy or pink lips at the pool or beach (Try LipFusion in Summer, Kiss, Flirt or Beach Baby of course!)
7. Dewy skin. I use my brightening lotion on face, neck, decolletee and shoulders for a soft hydrated healthy appearance.
8. A spritz of light summery fragrance. Try Clean Summer which smells like all things you love about summer, and the lotion is cooling on the skin! Very refreshing!
9. Summer Smoothies! Keep ice and blender handy and puree fresh berries and fruit with plain yogurt for a quick healthy snack or lunch on-the-go.
10.Strappy shoes and summery sandals. Enjoy them while you can girls. Get a fun pedicure and expose your toes!

Summer Beauty

I'd love to hear from you and all the things you love about Summer! Here are a few of my favorite Summer beauty indulgences:

1. Exfoliating with beach sand. (Great on the feet especially!)
2. Powder Sun Block - I am LOVING this new product. Goes on beautifully under or over makeup. It's colorless and doesn't feel sticky or oily!
3. Air dried wavy beach hair. Put your blow dryer away and show off your natural waves a-la Kate Hudson!
4. An all over Glow and subtly shimmering shoulders. Looks SO great in a sundress or strapless top.(Get the look with GlowFusion self -tanning mist, GlowFusion Bronzer and SkinFusion Radiance on shoulders.)
5. The no makeup look - just a bit of bronzer, glossy plump lips and thick gorgeous lashes. Looks so pretty and takes seconds to apply!

Pillow Talk

Have you ever woken up with a pillow crease on your face? I am told that as we age we should avoid sleeping on our side to prevent this type of thing but who can control what position your head is in when you sleep? I did purchase one of those foam pillows (which I LOVE!) but I don't lug it with me when I travel so occasionally the "pillow wrinkle" is there in the morning. Lovely!  I've discovered that a liberal dose of LiftFusion  does the trick. Sometimes I have to apply twice and wait about 15 minutes between application (depending on the depth of the wrinkle). It also works on creases in the decolletee area if you are a side sleeper.