Ivy’s Tips and Tricks

The Kiehl’s Oils That Have Transformed My Skin

April 17, 2018 - Leave a Comment

It’s no secret I’ve been adamant about taking care of my skin lately, I’m in my early thirties (shhh… don’t tell a soul) and having two toddlers can make you young at heart but seriously do a number on your skin.

Now I use many different types of creams and moisturizers which I constantly share with you on my Instastories, and I’m a big masker, but for the past year I’ve discovered a skin care secret and an extra-step to my routine, which has literally transformed my skin and put a serious halt on my aging signs. And that would be Kiehl’s oils. Oil you might think? Is that even good for my skin? What if my skin is already oily? Wouldn’t it cause me to break out? Before I get into it let me tell you which oils I am referring to.

Day Time

Daily Reviving Concentrate

It contains essentials oils from ginger, sunflower and Tamanu (it’s an exotic nut tree) all of which work to keep your skin smooth, diminish fine lines, fight dehydration and fatigue. The mix of ingredients in this has become a game changer in the skin care industry. This step will not replace a single one of your skin care routine steps, it will simply just become your first and most important one, I promise.

How To Apply

2 to 3 drops of Kiehl’s Daily Reviving Concentrate in the morning will be more than enough to last you the ENTIRE day, applied to your hands to distribute evenly and then gently pat your hands all over your face, and no you don’t have to avoid your T-zones. You might think ok that’s too little to make a difference. You are wrong. Think of this like a vitamin pill you take daily for your skin. It will give your skin a boost, and get the blood flowing, so expect an immediate glow. It will also protect your skin against all those things flying in the air from pollution that make it more dull. Feel free to continue with your creams, moisturizers or any other steps you have in your routine after this.

Another Way I like to Apply it

We’ve all seen a ridiculous amount of makeup tutorials on Instagram and YouTube where bloggers will apply oil to their foundations. What these oils do is give a shot of radiance to your skin, that will seep through even the thickest of foundations to make your skin breath and look more natural and help makeup look less piled up. Also, if you invested all your makeup allowance on matte foundations and now want something a little more glow-y then all you have to do is apply one or two drops of this oil directly to your foundation and onto your face.

Results

Besides hydrating my skin and stopping it from looking so dull due to major fatigue, I would say eliminating my fine lines by almost 50%. That’s why I swear by it and Midnight Recovery Concentrate which I will also tell you about below.

Nightime

Midnight Recovery Concentrate

It contains lavender, primrose and squalene oils, that all together work towards fighting signs of aging, hence why its perfect to apply right before bed, so your skin can absorb it and it works all night to rejuvenate.

This is a cult hero, skin care gurus and celebrities swear by it and I’m not going to lie; I was doubtful. Like how can one bottle of oil do so much? It just does. You really do feel great results the next morning. Not only will you feel like your skin is actually smoother, softer and just healthier but you will feel major suppleness especially after a month. It also feels so calming and gentle without lingering for too long.

How To Apply

The same way you would apply the Daily Reviving Concentrate, 2 to 3 drops on your hands and then on to your face. But because this is part of my evening routine I like to be a little extra and massage my face with it. But here’s the thing, I like to give this baby the FaceTime it deserves so if I’m applying it before bed, I won’t apply any night cream, and guess what I don’t need to.

Results

The first week I used this, I remember posting a couple of pictures online and getting more “your skin looks great” comments than usual. I never hid what I’ve been using from anyone. I even got got a couple of Botox question. No baby I got Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery and you should too, thank me later.

If You like the Midnight Recovery Concentrate You’ll Also Like…

Midnight Recovery Cleansing Oil– Equipped with the same essential oils as the concentrate, this is an oil cleanser. You basically use it to wash your face, and your makeup off. But because this product is based from oil, expect super- hydration to post-rinse.

Sometimes you’ll discover a product and think, what did I do before this. This is one of them for me. Especially the Midnight Recovery- also nicknamed Midnight Miracle.
What you’ll love even more about Kiehl’s is that you can actually pass by one of their points of sale and request a sample of both. But if you want to add one of them to your skin care routine and don’t have the budget to start with both I would suggest you first go with the Midnight Recovery Concentrate first and then move on to the Daily Reviving Concentrate.

5 Reasons You Need To Be Using Dry Shampoo

October 15, 2017 - Leave a Comment

I look back at my pre-baby photos now and just can’t believe how primped and on fleek my hair looked almost everyday, and just how much time I had to put into the way I looked. If my hair would get slightly frazzled or out of place after a work-out, I would just pop in and out of the hair salon for a quick dry blow out.

It’s been VERY challenging to maintain that now that I’m a mom of two. When I do actually find the time or opportunity, I’ll have one of my little ones tag along, which means it’ll have to be short and swift before one of them decides to break the place down. So I’ve had to deal with really quick blow outs, causing my hair to go flat faster and, well, not as social media ready as I need it to be. I also now think twice about hitting the gym and ruining good hair, because between getting my hair washed and done again, that’s just a luxury of time I don’t have. Also, as someone who’s always on the go, in between meetings with clients bad messy, flat, greasy hair is never an option.

For all these reason’s dry shampoo has been my savior for the past couple of years, as I’ve been using Batiste since high school. When I moved to Lebanon I would stock up on it whenever I travelled abroad, especially the small bottles which I like to fit in all my handbags. So when I found out that one of my all-time favorites, Batiste, was now available in Lebanon, I breathed a sigh of relief. No longer do I have to use it sparingly.

If you’re not very familiar with dry shampoo then let me walk you through 5 Reasons why you all need it in your busy lives:

1. It makes greasy hair history.

No, your hair doesn’t just oil up because it hasn’t been washed – some people just have naturally greasy hair after just one day post-shower. I remember when I got a keratin treatment to tame my curls, I had to apply Batiste daily until the product grew out with my roots or else my hair would just shine and go flat. It was a real-life saver.

2. Washing your hair daily isn’t really doing your hair any good.

Not only do you strip your hair of its own essential oils and dry it out, it can cause it to change in texture and become frizzy. So, to give it a fresh boost even when it’s a day old, dry shampoo your roots.

3. It can prolong a blowout.

I’m not a fan of hair spray. I can’t deal with how it makes my hair stiff not to mention rough. I think it’s the rice starch in Batiste that holds my curls so well together, because what I actually like to do is give my roots a spray, but then I’ll just have a very quick go on some of the waves as well, to split them, rather than keep them in one big clump. I’ll follow it up with a quick rub to avoid white residue and everything will just magically stay in place!

4. Hello Volume!

I don’t know what it is about dry shampoo that can add major volume to hair, but it just does. The trick is not to simply spray it on your top roots, but rather split it into sections and apply, then massage the product in. Next, grab your favorite teasing brush and go at it.

5. Nothing beats the smell of washed hair.

Sadly, it never lasts for more than a day, especially if you use blow dryers or curling irons on your hair – something I am very guilty of. I hate it when my hair smells like heated hair, so what I’ll do after a styling session is just give my hair a light spray. Batiste comes with many fragrance options which I appreciate as I tend to be quite picky.

And there you have it! I’m happy to learn that you can now find Batiste in Beirut in its fragrance range, my faves being Blush and Floral. I stock up on Batiste from Carrefour.

Batiste Arabia will soon be doing something exciting so stay tuned. You can follow them on @batistearabia on Instagram and Facebook.

My Daily Skin Care Routine

March 15, 2017 - 2 Comments

I’m not sure what’s tougher, being heavily pregnant with a 14 months old toddler or being a mom of a month old baby and a 17 month old. Either way, the sleepless nights and long days have taken a toll on my skin, but as part of my resolutions last year, I’ve made my skin and overall well being a priority. So here I am sharing with you my current daily skin care routine.

Step 1: Face Masks

Like every other girl and her mother, I’ve been indulging in some serious masking lately, trying out all sorts of different formulas and ingredients. Some I liked, some did nothing for me and others I’m obsessed with in particular, this one. If you follow me on SnapChat you already know how strongly I feel about Kiehl’s Turmeric & Cranberry Seed Energizing Radiance Masque. Yes, what a combo you might be thinking? But here is why these two natural ingredients work so well together. Tumeric has anti-inflammatory properties and Cranberry seed is a super antioxidant, et voila…radiant energetic skin. And it works, like REALLY works. My dull skin gets a major boost after just ten minutes. It’s super creamy just make sure you spread generously and evenly, get all the cranberries everywhere. The very yellow mixture will then harden and stiffen. I didn’t use it as an exfoliate as I’m always weary of breakouts, but I like to remove it with two wet cottons. Instant bright skin. My secret and now I’m sharing. I also recommend the Cilantro & Orange Extract Pollutant Defending Masque which protects against environmental aggressors.

Step 2: Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate

Don’t worry , I too was slightly alarmed by the word “peel” when I got introduced to this new concentrate. I remember the red and irritated faces of my mother’s friends after a peel and that forever made me weary of peels. And although this is indeed a form of peel, it’s a micro peel, nothing like an actual chemical peel, Dermatologist tested and screened for safety, so I was assured. In fact, I was hooked. Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate is formulated to speed up your skin cell turnover to give you fresh, smooth, even radiant skin. And I attest to all of the above. The active ingredient? Quinoa husk extract-which is responsible here for gently releasing the dull skin surface and making way for the new.

The serum comes in a glass bottle and a dropper, a little different than your average serum in a tube or jar, which I like and all it takes in one drop every night before your night cream and before bed. Although it looks thick it blends on your face very easily. Something happened the first night I applied it, my skin had taken such a rough beating and was feeling so dehydrated that it started to actually peel the next morning. Not dramatically. Kind of like when you use scrub to remove burnt skin after a nasty sunburn. And what was revealed underneath was pure satisfaction. Even my notorious dark spot seemed to take a day off from annoying me. Supple, even, clear and so fresh. And that was only day one. One month later, and my skin has never looked better. It could be because of my no caffeine no alcohol no nicotine diet from the past 9 months, but let me tell you, for someone who doesn’t get more than 4 hours of sleep on a good night, this stuff is magic in a bottle.

Step 3: Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate

I’m in my very very early thirties. Ok, so now that I’ve put that out there so casually, that makes me in the anti-wrinkle cream demographic. But I started early, in my mid-twenties to be precise. And though most of the girl’s my age are having “preventative” botox, I’m not, so I’m always on the lookout for a cream or serum that can keep my fine lines at bay. Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate is really doing it for me at the moment. I especially like it because it has a very high concentration of Vitamin C. It has a thick texture and can be worn first on the skin, even before your moisturizer. I use it in the mornings and at night right after Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micro-Peel Concentrate. I’ve felt real results after a steady two months and this quickly became a staple in my daily skin care routine.

So this is my current skin care routine. Although it is recommended you apply these products daily, I’ve seen results even when I skip a day or two a week- nowadays I’m lucky if I have time to wash my face let alone treat it. You can follow me on Snap Chat @IvySays to stay up to date with all things beauty related and I hope they work for you like they have for me!

NYE Makeup Tutorial with Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Collection

December 30, 2016 - Leave a Comment

I wanted to create a New Year’s Eve look that was versatile enough to work for both a cozy dinner in with friends or a Gatsby-Bash style celebration. I also wanted a look that was focused on complexion perfection; given the amount of photos we would probably take during the holiday festivities so creating the perfect base on my face before applying actual colors and shades was paramount.

Step 1: I started off my look by using Dior Beauty’s Backstage Pros range FIX IT COLOUR multipurpose color concealers: inspired by the house’s Backstage makeup techniques. The 4 shade collection is comprised of colors designed to target and neutralize the colour imperfections all over your face. Because imperfections aren’t always red or spotted, they differ according to the area of your face like your nose or lips; so according to the color wheel, each shade you use to cover up these discolorations needs to neutralize them rather than simply just cover them up. Let me demonstrate further:

First: Green, your weapon for fighting redness.

Lately I’ve been experiencing increased redness, so again according to the color wheel green cancels out red. You can see in the picture where I chose to apply this on my face. It differs from one person to another

Second: 200 Apricot This one is made for us olive skinned ladies

Think dark spots, hyper-pigmentation and dark circles that are usually caused by excess sun. Guilty! I have one that is a nightmare, no high-end cream can fix, so applying an apricot shade over it totally toned it down, better than any yellow concealer I’ve used before. This is how I applied it.

Third: 100 Blue, Anti-dullness action

Blue you might think? Yes, blue, lilac-blue evens out yellow-toned skin for an enhanced glow. So this one should be applied to dull areas of the face where you feel light is captured most. Here is how I applied it

Fourth: 300 Yellow

This one is pretty much straight forward- like any yellow toned concealer it works to erase stubborn under-eye circles especially blueish-darkish ones and here’s another way to use it. On your lips, specifically before applying lipstick, to bring out the true color intended.

It’s all about blending really well, here I used my once again trust Beauty Blender.

Step 2: Foundation

I wasn’t looking for heavy coverage, especially since I used the FIX IT COLOUR color concealers, but I did want my skin to glow with a dewy finish, kind of like the strobing technique that’s so in right now. That’s why instead of using your just any classic foundation, I chose the Dreamskin Perfect Skin Cushion by Dior. Light, airy, and hydrating, I love the way it left my skin looking luminous, perfect for a holiday look.

Step 3: EyeShadow

I’m loving every detail of the Dior Splendor Holiday Collection out now inspired by iconic fashion house’s couture ateliers with their sparkling creations embellished with lots of sequins motifs.The 5 COULEURS SPLENDOR Eyeshadow Palette in Precious Embroidery is a real stunner not to mention a limited edition, almost too pretty to use.

The textures are pearlescent and medium pigmented, with a ideal satin finish. For my eyes here I used the off white as a base, topped it off with the gorgeous gold champagne shade in the middle and creased my eyelid with the bronze taupe shade and then worked my way up to my brow bone with a medium taupe.

Step 4: Lipstick

No Holiday look is complete without a striking bold red lip shade, that’s not even up for debate. And it doesn’t get more classic, then a good, creamy red lipstick with exceptional long wear that won’t dry your lips out. That’s where the 999 Rouge Dior comes in, a staple matte fiery red shade, that will never go out of style. Be prepared for a brighter complexion (and teeth!) and for lots of compliments. I didn’t even have to reapply after a meal so that makes me very happy and comfortable.

Step 5: Blusher

Next, I applied the gorgeous DiorBlush Splendor which is also designed to keep with the spirit of the holiday sequined collection, dabbing lightly on the apples of my cheeks. it’s a slightly shimmery apricot shade that will give you just the right amount of warmth without competing with your pigmented lipstick.

Step 6: Highlighter

Finally my favorite from the Splendor Collection,The Diorific Illuminating Pressed Powder with its gold jewel-like packaging. I love the formula on this, it’s sheer but gives of an actual pigmented glow rather than simply a shimmery powdery finish. It’s the perfect subdued gold and everything you would expect your festive new highlighter to look like.

Step 8: Bonus Touch

Last but not least Nails! I love how these Diorific Vernis bottles now look like Christmas ornaments. The formula is high shine as one would expect for the holidays. I chose the 850 Splendor, a classic red with a subtle shimmer, which lasted for up to ten days on my nails, no complaints there at all. It went perfectly with my full holiday makeup look.

And there you have it, I hope you enjoyed this Step by Step Holiday Tutorial. Check back in for more new looks I have have planned for you this 2017 and don’t forget to follow me on SnapChat- IVYSAYS for all the latest in beauty arrivals as they hit your favorite makeup counters.

Happy 2017!

Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide, The 2016 Fragrance Edition

December 23, 2016 - Leave a Comment

One more day to Christmas, and if like me you’re never really done your last minute shopping until they have to literally roll down the doors and usher you out, then you’ve got your work cut out for you. Finding the perfect gift is a tough task in itself, let alone having to endure the Holiday rush and traffic. So I’ve compiled a list of my current 5 favorite fragrances that would make lovely Christmas gifts to friends or loved ones in no particular order.

Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Wild Eau De Parfum Limited Edition

Black Opium, is my go-to night out favorite fragrance, so you know I’d never pass up on a Limited Edition piece. It’s a collectible’s bottle that perfectly encapsulates the spirit and identity of every fierce woman that loves this scent. It’s a spicy one, with coffee, white flowers, vanilla, cedar and patchouli.

Dior Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming Eau De Parfum

Christian Dior’s legendary passion of flowers is no secret, so expect lots of them with Centifolia May rose from Grasse and peony, as well as white musk with an overpowering berry fruity note to it. It’s sexy and passionate and if the scent isn’t enough to lure you in, then the iconic bottle on the dressing table should.

Bvlgari Omnia Crystalline

Omnia is about the lightness of being, gentle, airy yet effortlessly feminine. This new version of Crystalline is richer and more sexy without being vulgar. Expect to smell notes of lotus, musk and mandarin, a combination I’ve personally come to love.

Acqua di Parma Peonia Nobile

This was love at first spritz for me. If you’re not familiar with Acqua di Parma yet, it’s probably because it just opened at ABC Ashrafieh. As part of their Nobile Collection this new fragrance is both sharp and fresh- like a cool sip of pink lemonade of a beautiful day. Peonies and pepper are most prominent in this scent. It’s ridiculously long-lasting and I can’t wait to discover more from this luxurious Italian brand.

L’OCCITANE de Provence Arlésienne Eau de Toilette

A brand new deeply captivating floral scent from this all-natural brand that’s all about well-being and aromatherapy. Inspired by the mysterious and bold confident woman of the south, Arlésienne is a floral bouquet with citrus bursts that leave a captivating trail behind them-don’t you just love it when you leave the room but your scent lingers on behind? I know I do. This can be also gifted as a set alongside it’s very own Beauty Milk body moisturizer.

And there you have it, 5 Must Have Fragrances this season that will make the perfect Christmas last-minute gift!
Happy Holidays and check back in here for an exciting New Years Eve Makeup Tutorial next week!

A Contouring Tutorial With The Blur Kit By Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics

December 7, 2016 - Leave a Comment

Contouring is not dead, it’s just had a little makeover itself, it’s no longer about looking like a 3D Barbie doll with mismatched rainbow foundation tones. But make no mistake the extra-chiseled cheekbones are here to stay, we’ve just seen them on runways everywhere and we continue to see them all over Instagram.

Plenty of brands are sprouting up with their own versions of how contouring oughta be, and though I’m always curious about most of them, I was especially excited about Bassam Fattouh‘s unique take on it as soon as he teased about releasing his own kit awhile back. It’s one thing when a brand releases a product and a whole different ballgame when a makeup artist reinterprets it, because I know it’s a result of daily expertise and trails, deciding what to nit pick and keep and then dropping the best features in one full kit.

I was expecting a creamy palette or sticks and was quite surprised when instead he chose a 6 shade powder palette. Yes, powder! It’s called The Blur Kit described as“a carefully curated combination of six incredibly blendable and buildable universal shades designed to mold, sculpt, define and add new depth and dimension to your natural features.”

I’ve contoured with liquid formulas, sticks, even pencils but never before with powders. So you can imagine my intrigue. The formula is as fine as they come, uber-milled particles with a medium coverage that’s easily buildable without coming off as exaggeratedly pigmented or else you would imagine how that would look on your face and cheeks. It’s ridiculously smooth, velvet-like, with an excellent color release. It’s also feather-light, almost weightless on your face, and for someone who usually avoids powders thanks to my currently dried out skin, this was nothing to fear, in fact, as you can see in my pictorial I layered and layered, and no cakiness and no flakiness and no over-doneness. The formula on most of the shades is a luminous matte one, except for one of the Highlighters which is shimmery.

The best part about The Blur Kit is you don’t have to be an expert at contouring and highlighting to get it right, nor do you need to watch random YouTube videos. On the inner side of the cover you can find a illustrated guide on where and how to apply product depending on the shape of your face. It’s Foolproof.

I’ve gone ahead prepared my own little pictorial, as I walk you through each of the 6 shades in the palette and how best to use them:

Step 1. Cheekbones– the one-size fits all bronzer, I loved this shade, but if you like your bronzer even warmer then you can use the Nosejob shade instead. I like to start by sculpting my cheekbones first and then I’ll move on to my upper forehead and lower sides of my chin- basically where the sun would naturally hit my face.

Step 2. Nosejob- As the name suggests, this shade is perfect for basically contouring those imperfections about your nose. I prefer to use a small brush for precision; start all the way at the top side bridges and work my way down to narrow my nose and give the illusion that it’s thinner… and hide a bump I got from a terrible fall in Elementary school. It’s basically like painting. By the way, this shade looks amazing as an eye shadow as well.

Step 3. Banane- place this one right under your eyes, to conceal and warm up any dark circles and heal red or blue discolorations. As a mom of toddler, I’ve actually been putting this one on even when I’m not using the rest of the palette to conceal as well, and it works wonders for me.

Step 4. Highlighter- the first one is a matte one, but don’t mistaken that with dull, it still gives that glow minus the shimmer. As you know there is no contouring without highlighting, so this shade is your friend, use her wisely, on your forehead, cheekbones right below where you used the bronzer and chin. It is perfection.

Step 5. Joue- No other contouring kit contains a blush so thank you Bassam Fattouh for this little bonus. At first glance you may consider it slightly too bright, but nope, this is the universal blush shade, natural, healthy and luminous. Too bad there is not more of it in there.

Step 6, Highlighter- Now this one is shimmery. For those gorgeous upper cheekbones and tip of your nose. I am currently obsessing over highlighters, this one has a yellow/goldish tone to it, and though it seems subtle a little will go a long way so be prepared to glow!

Bassam Fattouh’s words echo in my head “blend blend and blend some more.” He’s right, you can have the best products in the world but if you don’t blend it well all together, you can look blotchy and patchy. I like to blend with my trusty beauty blender. For this look I applied my foundation first as a base, but feel free to use The Blur Kit even without a base. It really all depends on how made up you want to look.

So there you have it. I loved the final results and totally appreciate how nothing looked piled up, and although I molded and sculpted as desired, my overall look was a natural one, while reflecting just the right amount of light to my face.

I’m very excited to be a part of the official launch of The Blur Kit by Bassam Fattouh Cosmetics tomorrow in Beirut. Stay posted with me on my Snap Chat IvySays.

You can now shop it online from anywhere in the world HERE

YSL Beauty x Ivy Says- Mon Paris

November 1, 2016 - Leave a Comment

I’ve come to be quite proud of my current fragrance collection. As a little girl I remember being drawn to my mother’s perfumes, the fancy bottles and alluring scents. She was an avid collector of all the classics at that time. She wouldn’t even throw the empty ones away. Instead she would store them in a little box in her closet. “They’re too pretty to go in the bin” she would say. And she was right.

My father and her developed a ritual, when he would travel, which he did quite often, he would always return with one or two from the airports he would visit, and just like that, her collection would grow.

There was one scent in particular which was always my favorite, especially when my mom would so generously apply it, I remember what a lovely trail she would leave behind in each room. It was called Paris, by Yves Saint Laurent, a tribute to Parisiennes who renowned for their natural elegance, romance, simplicity and charm. I didn’t know it at the time, but YSL’s Paris was a scent that would heavily influence my future preferences in perfumes. Sensationally floral, a unique harmony between violets and roses.

So you can imagine my appreciation of a classic revisited. This season, YSL Beauty launched Mon Paris, a new fragrance inspired by the city of lights, in a bottle so chic. modern, sensual and feminine. Like it’s godmother Paris, it’s also floral, but it’s fruity. Berries and pears, with white peonies, datura and patchouli. It’s strong without being overbearing, with the right balance of sweet.

I was very happy to be a part of the launch that took place at ABC Ashrafieh. The YSL team and I invited ladies to take part in a love vertigo draw and bring a little taste of that Paris romance to Beirut, with a chance to win a hand painted drawing with their special someone.

If you’re looking for your next signature fragrance then I would definitely recommend you give Mon Paris a try and as always I can’t wait to share with you more of my favorite seasonal releases from my all-time favorite makeup brand YSL Beauty!