Weights Wednesday was so much fun!

AM Boot Camp - We got off to late start [sorry again you all] – so I knew I had to powerhouse them through in order to get some sweat action and calorie burning. We did a quick warm-up and then right into our group workouts. Inside’s rep workout included: running high knees, KB swings, push-ups, plank hold, jumping jacks, burpees, and squat jumps. Outside’s group did suicide runs with bear crawls intermingled. Then we finished it off with some abdominals & stretching. Heart rate monitor, caloric burn = 680 calories

KB2 – I should lable this workout as a SWEATY MESS. But the sweatier, the better. We warmed up together utilizing different forms of jumping jacks and jump rope to get the blood flowing. Then keeping with “Weights Wednesday” – I created a few exercises that included weights, punching & kicking. After the weights portion – I had them complete a 5-minute fat blast that I call: MAX HEART RATE workout. It included:

• 20 seconds running high knees
• 20 seconds push-ups
• 20 seconds running lunges/mountain climbers

I put this on repeat – and they went 5x through (or 5:00 minutes total). We followed up with a run around the block and then broke into our respective groups (everyone partnered up). We had a KettleBell crew, and a Mitts/Punching crew then after 5 minutes, we switched up and went again. I’ll be investing in additional mitts for next week so we can get a full on punching and kicking match going on next time, as well as, encouraging the ladies to get hand wraps or wear workout gloves to protect the knuckles. Heart rate monitor, caloric burn = 780 calories

PM Boot Camp {Special: Oh my.. Pumpkin Workout} - One of the biggest things that I pride Fit For Fashion on is the idea that we try to make things fun and entertaining – where as, your basic gym is just that … basic. We had a few people bring in a good sized pumpkin to class and utilize that during our relays and activities to give a good workout. Jess led the class through indian runs, relays and group-abdominals at the end. Estimated caloric burn = 600-650 calories

We had over 40 people attend our classes today – and you all did awesome! Please let us know what you loved & what you didn’t love so much so we know how to make the workouts better for YOU. Email: FitForFashionStPete@gmail.com.

xo

Welcome to our Mondays – where the workouts are intense & motivation is high. It was the first day of our “7-Day Challenge” – and we had to go through the day without any meat products!  Everyone did so awesome. We had over 20 people participate in the meatless challenge. Some found it difficult, while others are vegetarian or vegan 24-7 so it was just a normal day for them. Either way, it was a good way to start off the 7-Day challenge that will get us through the end of the October!

Now onto the workout …

Bikini Blast Boot Camp is known to be the hot spot for sore legs, sore glutes and just an all over sweat bash. Yesterday proved to be no different. With around 2-3 miles of running intermingled into the workout, we had a relay-type of setting including:

~Sprints

~Jump Rope

~Jumping in & out of tires

~Frog Leaps

~Kettlebell Swings

~Running

~Bear Crawls

(on repeat – just like your favorite workout song)…

We finished it up with some indoor weight-training & intervals of cardio to keep the sweat pourin’. There was no escaping the burning muscles & deep breathing. It’s what makes Bikini Blast what it is.

12 Kicka$$ participants: Maritsa, Renee, Raquel, Yira, Dina, Jess, Katie, Laura, Robin, Alli, Holly, & Jackie – how are you feeling today?

Sweat really is fat crying. Adios fat.

Here’s a few tunes to add to your iPod or mp3 player to get that motivation moving:

• TNT. Hot Gyal.
• D-Block & S-te-Fan. Rockin’ Ur Mind.
• D-Block & S-te-Fan. Music Made Addict.
• Nero . Me & You (Kamuki Remix).
• Noisecontrollers. Gimme Love.
• Two Fingers & Sway. That Girl.
• Chuckie & Hardwell ft. feat. Ambush. Move It 2 the Drum (Addicted to Bass Edit).
• Afrojack. Funk With Me (Original Mix).
• LMFAO. Put That A*$ to Work.
• The Party Squad. Pull Up.
• Body-Shock. Percoloco.
• Major Lazer. Bruk Out (Buraka Som Sistema Mix).

Woo-hoo, so stoked that it’s Friday and you’ll be in love with today’s workouts.

AM Boot Camp – .. oohh the colder weather held a few people back from attending (wa, wa, wa) , but we still managed at least 10 ladies braving the chillier weather. They have begun to call Fridays our “punishment”, but really, I just know what happens on the weekends (bad food, drinks & no workouts) – so I get so pumped to introduce harder things!

We started off with our Warm-Up which included runs, jump ropes, and true-styled Burpees (with the push-ups). Then I opened up the area for everyone’s “favorite” exercises. I say that sarcastically, because I made sure to include all the exercises that everyone hates, but their body loves. They had to complete them in no particular order (which is very different from the other days) but they had to complete the exercise in it’s entirety before moving on to the next one. Some of the exercises included: bear crawls, running with the 20lb weighted vest, 290lb tire flips, battle roping, glider climbers, TRX Suspension squat jumps, incline pull ups, dumbbell thrusters, kettlebell swings & more!

Holly, Diane, Yira, Sandra, Karina, Jenny, Teresa, Abby, & Ismary, NOW you’re ready for the weekend! Enjoy!

PM Happy Hour Pilates – The workout is pretty much created for tonight’s class. I’ll be adding in a few new moves. We’ll be doing rounds, like we did a few weeks ago. But making sure I have it written on paper so we don’t forget any exercises. I always look forward to this class! See you on the mat!

Personal Training Notables for the Week:

T.P. — GREAT enthusiasm even though she can’t run currently (in the middle of an injury) NO EXCUSES PEOPLE! We did an all-over body workout – really focusing on heavier weights & getting in some unconventional training methods using the tire, the battle rope, and more. Rows on the bench were in perfect form. We have to get her “cardio” up utilizing weight training – so we switched up the heavier weights at times for her to get in fluid & fast motions.

A.C. — Smith machine love. We really focused on the upper body (primarily the back) – for lat pull downs and a bunch of different types of rows. We did some punching with the mitts to get the heart rate going and fat burning going. Strong and solid punches. Great form on the lat pull downs, which she just about dominated. Will be increasing the weights next time around to add intensity.

M.S. — Did some basic assessments to get a good idea of where we stand. 2nd PT included a mixture of exercises, I introduced the gliders to her (pure love, I’m sure) and then she completed a round of exercises: 10x dumbbell thrusters, 10x burpees, 10x sit-ups (repeat 3x total). 3rd PT (today) will be including some upper body weights & cardio intervals {TM, Arc, Bike} — looking forward to seeing how her body reacts.

Meatless
Monday

Drop the meat and get in plenty of vegetables
and fruits along with eating protein sources such as: nuts, legumes, beans
& whole grains.

Two-A-Day
Tuesday

Get in two solid workouts to make for a
perfect “two-a-day”. They don’t need to be the same workout twice. Switch it
up. Cardio in the AM with weights in the PM or reverse.

Weights
Wednesday

Make sure to get in the weight training today
– and we’re not talking about 3 to 5lbs dumbbells – lift some heavy weight. In
the studio? Bring your pumpkin to Boot Camp!

Thoughtful
Thursday

Post the following: something you like about
yourself, something that you aren’t the best at but you’re getting better,
someone who has impacted your life & a quote that gets you through the hard
times.

Fearless
Friday

No fears allowed today, so do something you
wouldn’t normally do. Like: talking to a stranger, calling an old friend or
something fitness wise: taking a new class, trying a new machine in the gym,
increasing your machine weight or running farther/faster.

Suck-down-the-Water
& Shop Saturday

Suck down the water (at least 2L of water)
and then shop for something nice for yourself. Whether it’s something fitness
related or a nice outfit that makes you feel good – do it because you deserve
it. Just make sure to never reward yourself with food – because you are not a
dog. You’ve come so far, don’t ruin it now.

Sweat-with-a-Friend
Sunday

Grab a family member or friend and get in
some sweaty exercise routines. Go for a jog, attend a class, do something that
is fun and breaks a sweat!

www.facebook.com/FitForFashion
/  bekahdarling.tumblr.com /
www.FitForFashionStPete.com

Great classes throughout the day & night.

AM Boot Camp – This class was non-stop. From the warm-up with running 1.5 miles to inside the Studio, the goal was for everyone to be moving from one exercise right into the next. The AM classes have really shown many progressions. I can’t wait to utilize more equipment for them in the winter months. We’ll be outside more & lifting heavier and doing faster drills.

I love my AM crew!

Tim & Joey – both down in body fat percentage!

Karina & Jenny – amazing losses so far, they have both reached their goal body fat % and are within 1-3lbs from their weight loss goal

KB2 – 12 kicka$$ ladies showed up. We started late because of measurements, so I had to push PRETTY hard right out the gate. We partnered up and had 4:00 minutes of drills using the hand mitts while the other 6 ladies did 10x KB Swing, 10x Burpee, 10x Push Ups & repeat. We did the Painkiller workout (approximately a total of 65 burpees with running high knees in between) – which I know everyone just loves! (Ha, Ha!) Then within our partners, we did some jabs, high knees along with a plyo circuit and more KB action. Loved watching the sweat bead down during those jumping jacks with punches!

Heart rate monitor calorie count: ~780 calories

GREAT job ladies! Mari, Renee, Liz, Sandy, Alli, Robin, Claudia, Jackie, JoAnne, Min, Laura & Katie

PM Boot Camp - Poor Jamie still has the hurt shins, so we had to arrange for the class to be more inside than usual. Even though the weather was nice, however, it worked out because the door was open, and we hit the weights. We did 3 set Tabatas, utilizing: dumbbell thrusters, squat presses, burpees with dumbbells, overhead tricep extensions & then either bicep curls into shoulder presses OR front/lateral raises. The goal was that SET 2 and SET 3 had to be better than the previous SET. Kathy was the only one who missed one repetition in the first Tabata Cycle, her punishment? 5 Burpees. After I awarded her the punishment, no one else had a slip up. Amazing how a little scare tactic could work!

Great overall class! Ryan, Kathy, Rachel, Jamie, Ashley & Dina

We will begin to post pictures to keep everyone in the loop and to check out some sweet moves.

xo,

Bekah

One thing many people don’t realize is that many factors can influence a person’s weight which do not reflect that person’s body fat. For example, two cups of water weigh one pound. If you tend to retain water or bloat, the scale can easily rise a few pounds without a  change in what you have eaten. However, for dieters the effects of water  weight can be severe.

Here’s an example of when a pound is NOT a pound:

• You eat an extra dessert over the weekend
• You weigh yourself the following day or day after
• The scale shoots up 5 pounds – and you believe you’ve gained five pounds of fat.

Why is this NOT possible?

• Because you must have eaten a caloric excess of 17,500 calories to gain 5 pounds of fat.
• 3500 EXCESS CALORIES (by excess, we do not include your BMR and daily activity) make up 1 pound of fat.
• It is very very difficult to overeat by this amount, even when splurging.

So why is there this dramatic weight gain?

Water weight. Any time the scale suddenly rises or falls, it is usually because of fluid shift in the body. Eating high-sodium foods can also provoke water retention (not fat retention) in salt-sensitive  individuals. Yet how easily chronic dieters believe they did something  wrong; they must have single-handedly gobbled five pounds worth of food.  No, no no!

Similarly, losing two pounds immediately from an hour or aerobics is not a two-pound fat loss. Rather, it’s mostly water loss from sweat. Jubilant dieters who think they have lost 10 pounds in a week may be in  for an unwanted surprise. Whilst it may be true that the scale  indicated ten pounds less than when they weighed one week ago, the  question is: What KIND of weight did they lose? To lose ten pounds of fat in one week requires an energy deficit of 35,000 calories, or a deficit of 5,000 calories every day! The average woman only eats about 1,500 to 1,600 calories per day. The sad reality is that this person is losing a lot of water weight, usually at the expense of their muscles, due to the process of muscle-wasting. Muscle is made up of mainly water (about 70%)

When a hungry body is not given enough calories, the body cannibalizes itself for an energy source. The prime directive of the body is that it must have energy, at any cost – it’s part of the survival mechanism. When a muscle cell is destroyed, water is released and eventually excreted – that’s your precious weight loss. This whittled-away muscle contributes to lowering your metabolism. Muscles are metabolically active tissue – generally the more muscles we  have, the more calories we burn. Hence why men burn more calories than  women – they have more muscle mass.

Increased muscle mass, while metabolically more active and desireable, weighs more than fat. Muscle also takes up less space than fat. Although beneficial, this often frustrates dieters by the rising, or unchanging scale number. The scale does NOT reflect your body composition. Just like weighing a piece of stake at the butcher’s does not tell you how lean it is.

It’s better off to stay away from the scales for as long as possible and take measurements, or discover your body fat percentage instead and work towards body composition (less fat, lean muscle) goals  rather than any kind of weight-loss goal that destroy the integrity of your structure and your well-being, too.

1. Always exercise on Monday. This sets the psychological pattern for the week.

2. If at all possible, exercise first thing in the morning. As the day wears on, you’ll find more excuses to skip exercising. Get it checked off your list, first thing.

3. Never skip exercising two days in a row. You can skip a day, but the next day, you must exercise, no matter how inconvenient.

4. Give yourself credit for the smallest effort. My father always said that all he had to do was put on his running shoes and close the door behind him. Many times, by promising myself I could quit ten minutes after I’d started, I got myself to start—and then found that I didn’t want to quit, after all.

5. Think about context. I thought I disliked weight training, but in fact, I dislike the guys who hang out in the weight-training area. Are you distressed about the grubby showers in your gym? Do you try to run in the mornings, but recoil from going out in the cold? Examine the factors that might be discouraging you from exercising.

6. Exercise several times a week. If your idea of exercise is to join games of pick-up basketball, you should be playing practically every day. Twice a month isn’t enough.

7. If you don’t have time to both exercise and take a shower, find a way to exercise that doesn’t require you to shower afterward. Twice a week, I have a very challenging weight-training session, but the format I follow doesn’t make me sweat. (Some of you are saying, “It can’t be challenging if you don’t sweat!” Oh yes, believe me, it is.)

8. Look for affordable ways to make exercising more pleasant or satisfying. Could you upgrade to a nicer or more convenient gym? Buy yourself a new iPod? Work with a trainer? Get a pedometer to keep track of your walking distances? Exercise is a high life priority, so this a worthwhile place to spend some money if that helps.

9. Think of exercise as part of your essential preparation for times you want to be in especially fine form—whether in performance (to be sharp for an important presentation) or appearance (to look good for a wedding) or mood (to deal with a stressful situation). Studies show that exercise does help.

10. Remember one of my favorite Secrets of Adulthood, courtesy of Voltaire: Don’t let perfect be the enemy. Don’t decide it’s only worth exercising if you can run five miles or if you can bike for an hour. I have a friend who scorns exercise unless she’s training for a marathon—so she never exercises. Even going for a ten-minute walk is worthwhile. Do what you can.

11. Don’t kid yourself. Belonging to a gym doesn’t mean you go to the gym. Having been in shape in high school or college doesn’t mean you’re in shape now. Saying that you don’t have time to exercise doesn’t make it true.

Taken from a friend, Isa – so perfect & so true.

Fit For Fashion would be nothing without YOU ALL!

Without your obedience, consistency, hardwork, devotion & passion – we’d still be a 1-dumbbell, 1 yoga mat, 1 resistance band, a few cones @ the PARK, in the rain with no timer or tire to flip.

And it all started with…

MS. ASHLI COOPER

{Thank God for Twitter}

There were a few others as well, but Ashli has remained the most consistent !

Now Ashli as relocated to Austin, Texas – yeehaw – and we’ll all miss her very deeply.

We saw her run her heart out & get nice, toned, and strong!

We’ll miss you Ashli – but we’re only a FACEBOOK PAGE AWAY!

Love,

All of the Ladies at Fit For Fashion

Written by: Sarah Kelsey at “That’s Fit” – AOL News

What can we learn from ancient civilizations about happiness? Apparently, a lot. Brant Secunda, co-author of the new book “Fit Soul, Fit Body: 9 Keys to Healthier, Happier You,” spent 12 years living among the happiest people on earth — the Huichol people of Mexico. Here, he shares some of the things he learned and seven tips on how you can be happier now.

Q: Nature plays a huge role in the happiness of the Huichols. How is our disassociation with it affecting our health?

A: It’s ultimately making us feel unhappy, depressed and just out of sync with life. What do we do all day in our modern world? We tap into technology (which isn’t necessarily bad) and forget the power of nature that always surrounds us. We spend an unnatural amount of time inside.

Q: Are we doing anything right in terms of making ourselves happier?

A: Our society is becoming more aware of how important it is to have a healthy soul as well as a healthy body, heart and spirit. We’re making a big effort to connect everything and to let go of stress, our busy minds and the things that are holding us back. We’re also working on developing broader communities with social media.

Q: Can you explain a bit about the emerging field of “eco-therapy”?

A: Indigenous cultures have always been “eco-therapists” or “green therapists.” Their approach to life promotes the regenerative power of the environment — it can have instant and profound effects on your mood, transforming negative emotions — such as fear, depression, anger and anxiety — into a peaceful, happy state of mind.

Q: How can people go about boosting their health and happiness?

A: There are several ways. Here are seven.

See the Big Picture. To bring fear or worry into perspective, focus on a positive event in nature that will continue whether you face your fear or not. Recall the colours of the last sunrise you saw or think of the present season and its inevitable progression into the next one. You’ll see that such large events continue — whether you and your fears are there or not.

Embrace the Night. After sunset, find a place in nature where you’re not surrounded by things man-made and the only light is the stars. Get enveloped in the welcome darkness, listen to the sounds of nature and connect to your world.

Get Lit Up. Set your alarm in time to get outside when it’s still dark. As the sun is rising, concentrate on the dawning light. The sun’s rays transform the darkness of night into the brilliance of day. It will brighten your mood.

Get “Soleful” Love. Take a walk outside — someplace where you feel peaceful. Slowly put one foot in front of the other and quiet your internal chatter. With each step, visualize the earth’s love coming into your body through your feet and dissolving any problems you have.

Centre Between Earth and Sky. Sit or lie on the ground outside. Visualize the light of the sun entering the top of your head, filling your heart and body, then going down into the Earth. Feel the Earth beneath you and draw its love into your heart and body then send it up to the sun. Feel your connection to all life.

Invoke the Deer Spirit. The Huichols use the image of the deer to represent innocence, gentleness and clarity. To melt away emotional stress, visualize the image of a deer surrounded by a circle. Ask the deer — out loud or to yourself — to help you find harmony and balance and to help you stand tall like a tree.

Fight Negativity With Fire. Transform negative emotions by focusing on the flame of a candle or fire. Imagine your heart opening like a flower and imagine breathing in the fire’s light. Do this for about five minutes. This technique will give you an immediate release of tension.

This week we interviewed Lebbet Riollano – she is a Professional Make-up & Airbrush Artist as well as a fitness enthusiast who knows how to stay in tip top shape and keep a gorgeous appearance. I asked her lots of questions about skin, hair & make-up and learned so much myself. Take her tips, visit her site, and use them in your daily life to stay fit and blemish-free.

The Basics:

Name: Lebbet Riollano

Occupation:  VP and Co-Founder of Boost Lab, Inc. and Professional Make-up & Airbrush Artist

Website: LebbetRiollano.com

 How long you’ve been interested in beauty/style/etc: My whole life! Professionally, 7 years.

 How long you’ve been interested in fitness: I became serious about my fitness at 17 when I was diagnosed with Hypothyroidism due to a benign tumor in my Thyroid. I trained extremely hard, ate super clean (before it was coined that term) and managed to lose 45lbs in 3 months. I then had the tumor removed and have kept eating clean and maintaining my weight going on 6 years. Fitness and health has been my lifestyle ever since.

How often you work out: I use a 2 day on, 1 day off schedule that I just adapted versus the 5-6 days in a row with 1 day off schedule I used to follow. I find my body responds better and I have more energy with the extra off day, plus it allows me to push even harder with each session.

What is your favorite exercise & why? I love squats! There are so many variations which target so many muscles at once. Great all around toner!

A fun fact about you: I won the 2006 South Florida NPC Teen Figure title

************************************

Topic: Skin

How do I minimize breakouts on my face when I’m sweating during working out? Ideally, you want to remove your makeup prior to working out to prevent the product from being absorbed and clogging up your pores. Thick headbands are a chic way to prevent sweat and hair from going in your face. Make sure to wash your face after the gym as well, and don’t touch your face until you wash your hands!

How do I minimize breakouts elsewhere (chest/back)? Wear workout clothes that wick sweat away and that don’t have abrasive material. Rubbing from movement may cause ingrown hairs and/or may trap sweat in your pores causing icky breakouts.

My skin is always dry- what can I do to replenish it? Use a gentle cleanser that is occlusive. Occlusive products will trap moisture in the skin. Glycerin is an occlusive ingredient that causes water to be attracted to skin and is natural (usually vegetable source). Burt’s Bees’ Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cream Cleanser are great for removing make-up and impurities. Plus it has menthol, leaving you with a clean feeling without dryness! Lancome’s Galatee Comfort is my all-time favorite for super dry skin. It’s extremely gentle and can be used with or without water. Your skin feels like a cloud after use!

Is there a face wash, lotion, crème that you suggest to girls who workout 5-6 days per week? For girls with Normal skin types, Alba makes a great line of products. Their Pineapple Enzyme cleanser is light yet extremely effective for very active girls. For day lotions, make sure it has SPF regardless of your skin tone, such as Origin’s Have a Nice Day lotion. For night time, choose a cream that replenishes such as Origin’s A Perfect World which is full of antioxidants including White Tea or Origin’s Make a Difference cream for super dry skin.

What should I do if I have a blemish that isn’t quite ready to be messed with? Is it ok to poke at my face? NO! Touching your face will make it worse, especially poking and prying at it. This adds even more bacteria to the area which could seep in and make it worse. Use a spot treatment serum overnight such as Murad Acne Spot Treatment. 9 times out of 10, it’ll be gone the morning.

Topic: Hair

Are hair-ties a bad thing? I have to pull my hair back while exercising but is there a better option? Am I ruining my hair by pulling it tight? Unfortunately, hair ties do damage hair, especially color treated hair. The tighter you make that pony tail and the more you squeeze it to tighten it, the more chances of breakage or fraying. If you have thick hair, using old-school cloth or silk scrunchies are much less damaging. Sorry ladies, you’ll have to sacrifice a bit of style. Another option is to clip it, however, if you have super thick hair, scrunchies will be your best bet.

How can I go from sweating to shower to work-ready in 30-40 minutes or less?

Dry shampoo is a fit girl’s best friend. Right before a shower, blow dry the roots a little bit then spray dry shampoo (Ojon Rub-Out Dry Shampoo) on them. Rub it in a bit, then hop in the shower. Once you’re out, brush the dry shampoo through and style in a sleek bun or low pony tail. For makeup, multi-purpose products really save on time. Apply a tinted moisturizer with SPF all over face (Tarte Smooth Operator), then apply an all-in-one eyeshadow/cheek and lip color (Stilas One Step Prime Color) to apples of cheeks, eye-lids, and lips to give a pop of color. Top it off with a couple of coats of a mascara and wa-la! What workout?

Is there a certain brand of shampoo/conditioner that is better to maintain minimal split ends and to calm my fitness hair? Go for gentle shampoos and conditioners, especially those who have color treated or coarse hair. Go for shampoos that are sulfate free, which are generally the most gentle. I also recommend using a super deep conditioning treatment once a week (such as Bumble and Bumbles Deeep) and leaving it on for 20 minutes in the shower while you wash up and/or shave.

I swim alot and wanted to know what the best tip dealing with my hair would be? Swim cap? If you plan on frequenting the pool, go for the swim cap. Looking like an old lady will be worth the health of your hair.

Topic: Make-Up

Is it awful to workout with make-up on? Yes and no. If you tend to sweat a lot, then I recommend removing your make-up. If you tend not to sweat much, you may be able to get away with it once in a while, but it’s always best to just workout with a clean face.

I’m going to the gym and I don’t want to apply a huge amount of make-up but I want to still feel good about myself, what could I put on my face to make me still look “presentable” ? A coat of mascara and a dab of concealer under your eyes is the maximum I recommend for those off-days. Otherwise, don’t worry about looking good at the gym. Everyone is there to work out, not look pretty!

I’m doing a fitness shoot and I’m doing minimal lifting and holding exercises- what make-up do you suggest I wear for the day of the shoot? First, you want to make sure your skin is hydrated and primed. Choose a good, thin day moisturizer without SPF. Depending on lighting (sunlight or indoor), choose a medium to full coverage foundation (such as Make Up Forever HD Foundation). Dab concealer 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone underneath the eyes from the inner corners to nearly three quarters outwards, blending well, such as Laura Mercier Secret Camoflauge which comes with two colors: one coral based to counter blue/purple undertones from bags, and a light flesh tone to highlight. Dust your face with a setting powder (Make Up Forever HD Microfinish). Use an eye shadow primer to enhance the colors and make them last (Urban Decay Primer Potion is amazing). Keep the eye shadow natural looking by using neutral tones such as tans, creams, and light taupe-y browns. A black or dark brown kohl liner along the top lash line will look more natural than a liquid liner yet add some nice definition. Apply a few coats of thickening mascara (Diorshow Iconic or MAC Haute & Naughty) – natural false lashes are optional. Line the lips with a pencil the same color as your lips. Lipstick and gloss should be similar to your natural color, with a hint of pink or peach, along with the blush which should be applied on the apples of the cheek and blended up the length of your cheek bone. You may also lightly apply a bronzer where the sun hits naturally – forehead, bridge of your nose, along with underneath your jaw line, and your décolletage, and shoulders. Gorgeous!

Any other advice you’d like to give:

Great makeup starts with great skincare. Invest time in developing a routine and make it a habit. Even if you begin with just making sure you wash your makeup off every night and applying a moisturizer!