relaxed routine

When it’s hot and sticky outside, the last thing you want is to feel the weight of heavy products on your skin.

First thing, convert to something that feels like skin, yet still gives you the coverage you desire. Prep skin with products that do double duty, like tinted moisturizers with SPF (Coola Mineral Matte Tint with SPF 30 or Coola Mineral Rose Tint, SPF 20–both provide moisture, antioxidants, sun protection and a little sheer tint).

Also, using a primer will help even skin tone and texture without adding color (Stratus Instant Skin Perfector from Vapour Organic Beauty).

Find multi-taking products for adding color. This makes summer makeup extra-easy (Vapour’s Aura Multi-use Blush stick for cheeks, eyes and lips– favorite color picks for summer: crush, spark, courtesan and foxy).

Give eyes a sheer wash of color with fun in the sun shades that bloom, inspire, bronze and twinkle. Add a little mascara and have fun!

To find your relaxed routine and simple summer look, make an appointment to visit the studio (call 713-292-6711 or email sari@sarimotley.com.

smart summer

Is your skin ready for summer? Making a few adjustments is key to breezing beautifully through the heat, humidity and sun. Of course you are using SPF for your face daily, correct? And on your body too, right? Also, remember to stay hydrated inside and out by drinking plenty of water. These daily do’s will help keep you looking “cool” despite rising temps.

use spf daily even when not at the beach or pool

After a bath or shower, slather on a body lotion, with SPF, to exposed areas (hands, arms, chest, etc.) to protect and moisturize. Two to try: Coola’s Mineral Body Unscented (limited edition) or Coola’s new Plant UV Collection (coming soon). And a favorite for the face, Coola’s new Matte Tint, SPF 30.

COOLA Matte Tint, SPF 30

make makeup simple 

Go for creamier formulas with your foundation (Atmosphere Luminous Foundation) and blush (Aura Multi-use Blush). They are really durable and easy to blend, and when formulated with skin-loving organic ingredients (like those in Vapour Organic Beauty), an uncompromising bonus for your skin. 

Vapour Organic Beauty: Atmosphere Luminous Foundation

blot not blotchy

Keep a pack of blotting papers in your handbag. These are great for absorbing oil and sweat and will refresh your look without the blotchiness of powder. Try Tatcha Beauty Papers made from oil-absorbing abaca leaf. 

TATCHA Beauty Papers

nourish your skin at night

If you need simplicity, keep these two go-to products by your bedside table: (1) Preserve Cleansing Pads in Orange Blossom, and (2) Vapour’s Essence Restorative Night Treatment. Remove the day’s muck and dirt with Preserve Cleansing Pad, then massage one pump of Vapour’s Essence onto face and neck. Wakeup stunning! 

Preserve Cleansing Pads in Orange Blossom

mind your mouth

Keep lips super-hydrated with a simple nourishing balm like smartmouth natural lip balm from sarimotley. With cocoa butter and lip-loving natural oils, this freshly scented sassy balm will keep your foxy lips smooth and calm.

These smart summer essentials are available at sarimotley studio, sarimotley.com. For more information please email sari@sarimotley.com or call 713-292-6711.

greasepaint gossip

Hello Makeup Bag, we need to talk. Rumor has it you are are holding on to a few things that are making me look, well, older!

image above: People Clipart.com

Many amazing things come with age: intelligence, security, comfort, etc., and with that delight comes gravity, graying and an occasional feeling of being less gorgeous than before. Brave the battle with a little tweaking of everyday things, like your makeup.

In the article "16 Ways to Look Younger With Makeup" (Allure, April 2012), Danielle Pergament amusingly writes that "turning back the clock can be as simple as opening your makeup bag." With her insight and some product suggestions, here is a little sarimotley digest version on how to look more youthful:

• Moisturize. Forget this step and you're doomed with dullness. Keep skin smooth and supple and the rest is easy. (Great for daily moisture replenishment and filled with antioxidants, do-over daily moisture creme with co-Q10).

• Creative concealing. Correcting facial imperfections with a light-diffusing and hydrating concealer is key. Think of adding brightness to camouflage by reflecting light away as opposed to adding layers to hide behind. Try Illusionist from Vapour Organic Beauty.
• Warm it up. Adding a touch of bronzer to warm the skin and give a healthy, youthful glow can take years off a tired face. Just go with a more day at the spa look vs. back from the beach (Vapour's Solar Bronzer in Simmer is the perfect shade for most skin tones).

• Powder is passe. The days of being powder perfect are in the past. If you must, use a translucent, light-diffusing powder like the Mineral Mix Secret Set powder from Senna Cosmetics (available at sarimotley studio). Or when it's just a touch up, try Tatcha's Japanese Blotting Papers made from Abaca leaf.
• Get cheeky. Creamy, dewy textures are perfect for dry mature skin, especially when they are packed with nourishing organic ingredients that leave your face feeling cared for. Use your cheekbones as a guide for placing blush for just the right flush. (Aura Multi-Use Blush from Vapour).

• Just browsing. Go a little lighter with your brow color (unless you are blonde, then just a shade darker) using softer strokes to fill in sparse areas. Find your brow solutions at sarimotley studio.
  

• Batter up. If you are not already doing so, start using your eyelash curler. Lashes become less full, and giving them a little bump up helps open the eyes and brighten your look. (Tarte's Picture Perfect Eyelash Curler is awesome.)
  

• Prime time. Smooth on a little shadow primer to even lid tone and soften fine lines. This will help eye shadow keep its true color and stay put longer. Totally Transforming Eyeshadow Primer from Senna is an anti-ageing powerhouse with ingredients like hibiscus to help firm and smooth.
• Beware black. Dark brown liner is the new black. It's less intense, but still defines the eyes. Keep the line super-close to the lashes and maybe fore go the liner on lower lashes for a softer look. (Superwear Gel Liner in dark sienna available at sarimotley studio).

• Let in a little light. A soft shimmer, not glitter, on the inner corners of the eyes will wake up your makeup. Also, jut a touch above cheekbones and on the brow bone will add nice dimension. (Trick Stick from Vapour, available as sarimotley studio.)

• Lips of luxury. Boost natural lip tone with universally flattering shades like berries, mauves and just bitten reds. Vapour's Siren Lipsticks are the go-to for finding your perfect shade. Colors that are more sheer allow natural lip tone to peek through, making the hue you choose your very own.

For more information on how to makeup a younger looking you, schedule a visit to sarimotley studio.

great gifts

Be a smart and savvy gift-giver this season with the best of clean and natural beauty bounty. With the holidays fast approaching you'll find perfect presents for special someones, and a treat for yourself too! Here are a few tips for your shopping list:

to: The Someone Who Has Everything

sarimotley custom gift certificate for any service and denomination specially made for your gal pal who has it all.

to: The Boss

butter LONDON Tops & Tails. This perfect nail duo will dress her nails from top to tails; contains butter LONDON's Nail Foundation Flawless Basecoat and Hardwear P.D. Quick Topcoat. A perfect mani/pedi maker to ensure long lasting, high shine. Best of all it's three free (no formaldehyde, no toluene, no DBP). $25

to: The Co-worker

butter LONDON Quick Change Artist Duo. Everything she'll need for the removal and application of nail lacquer. Contains "Yummy Mummy"-- the perfect medium beige, stunning on all skin, and Powder Room acetone free lacquer remover that gently banishes all traces of dirt and lacquer from nails and has a soft powdery scent too. $15

to: The Teacher

Tassi. The tassi is a simple solution for keeping hair off the face when washing, applying makeup, getting a facial or anything. Tassi is for doing what you do without messing up your doo. $15

to: Sis

Kai Bathing Bubbles. Nourish her skin and indulge her senses with this soothing and luxuriously foaming kai-scented bubbling bath. This exclusive formula blends moisturizing, vitamin E-rich argan oil with naturally cleansing coconut and sugar derivatives. $36

Kai Lotion: This kai-scented classic body moisturizer contains safflower seed oil, shea butter, apricot kernel oil and cucumber extract--lotion luxury. $37

to: Mom

Kai Body Buffer. A light blend of exotic perfumes and natural essences join palm, coconut and olive oil to cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize skin. Infused in a two-piece hypo-allergenic sponge that releases kai-scented foaming bubbles when wet. $40

Kai Eau De Parfum.Take Mom's senses on a journey with kai's signature scent of natural essences and essential oils in this beautifully crafted glass bottle. $76

to: The Sassy Friend

Elixir Plumping Lip Gloss from Vapour Organic Beauty. Hydrating botanicals and organic plumping liposomes lock in mega moisture for super-hydrated, voluptuous lips. And she'll love the versatile color, dimension and shine. $22

to: The Uncomplicated Friend

Aura Multi-Use Blush from Vapour Organic Beauty. These universally flattering core colors work on all skin tones and all ages. She'll find this convenient, easy-to-use stick for cheeks, lips and eyes perfect for her beauty needs.

To wrap up all of these great ideas, enjoy complimentary gift wrap with your purchase. With fewer and fewer shopping days left, you're invited to shop at sarimotley.com or call 713-292-6711 to schedule your private shopping experience.

flattering for fall

Allure magazine raves about a sarimotley favorite from Vapour Organic Beauty: Aura Multi-Use Blush in Impluse! This cool, clear red offers buildable coverage that takes you from sheer to bold with a few strokes. Impulse is a fall wardrobe essential.

summer makeup tips

scorching temps, barely bikinis and melting makeup? who's ready for summer?

summer fun has its place, but your makeup does not have to melt off your face. keep makeup simple and beautiful with these five face-friendly tips.

1. prime time

neglecting this savvy makeup step is so yesterday! a great makeup primer will provide a smooth and ready surface for longer-lasting makeup. try VAPOUR favorites stratus instant skin perfector and stratus soft focus instant skin perfector. these 3-n-1 moisturizer, primer and no-color foundations balance skin for a smooth, luminous look on their own or as a beautiful base for color makeup.

2. living light

use foundation to even skin tone and perfect. find light-as-air formulas like VAPOUR atmosphere luminous foundation that gives skin a luminous glow and natural finish.

3. beautifully bronzed

a bit of bronzer = fresh-from-the-beach glamour. apply to the high points of your face where the sun touches: forehead, cheekbones, chin and nose. use VAPOUR solar translucent bronzer for a sun-kissed glow on face, shoulders, decolletage and legs.

4. multi-tasking

go natural looking or add a pop of color, but keep texture simple with easy-to-blend cream (VAPOUR aura multi-use blush for cheeks, eyes and lips) or soft mineral cheek colors.

5. soft set

set it and forget it. a light dusting of oil absorbing powder keeps makeup fresh. sarimotley favorite: secret set mineral buffing powder glides over foundation with a candlelit finish.

for more great tips on summer proofing your makeup, email sari@sarimotley.com or visit our contact page.