From the desk of Jhenelle Neon: Whats in my makeup Bag ???

1. YSL 24 Hour Foundation with Sunscreen

This new 24-Hour, full coverage foundation instantly blurs pores and fines lines, and provides uninterrupted flawless wear that looks and feels just applied, all-day. No-touch ups required. I use the shade mocha in the summer time and Honey in the winter.

All Hours 24-Hour advanced formula won't cake, dry, flake or fade. Transfer-proof, oil-free and non-pore clogging, this foundation stands up to makeup meltdowns by combining move-with-you flexible pigments and skin-loving ingredients for better flawless coverage and skin that feels fresh and comfortable day to night.

Instantly blur and erase imperfections, pores, dullness and unevenness. Skin looks flawless up to 24 hours thanks to the highest concentration of ultra-fine, oil absorbing pigments that cover and smooth perfectly yet resist fading, heat, humidity, dryness and touch.

2. Shea Moisture Makeup Removing Wipes

I’ve used these makeup wipes for years, and if you’re an avid reader of the blog or one of my clients you probably know how much I love them!!! The Shea Moisture Makeup removing wipes are one of Allure’s Best of Beauty picks for 2017. Allure’s editors try thousands of products and announce the best of the best, mass and prestige, every October. (It’s kind’ve a big deal!) These makeup wipes are so gentle on the skin and remove every trace of makeup, even waterproof mascara. It’s easy to see why they made it into Allure’s Best of Beauty picks this year.

3. Gloss Bomb By Rihanna

An ultimate, gotta-have-it lip gloss with explosive shine that feels as good as it looks. I love anything with Shea Butter in it! I use the shade FENTY GLOW!

This universal lip luminizer delivers explosive shine in three shades that flatter all skin tones. One swipe of Gloss Bomb’s XXL wand leaves lips looking instantly fuller and smoother. The non-sticky formula is super shiny, and has an addictive peach-vanilla scent you just can't get enough of. Rihanna was obsessed with creating the perfect gloss that makes you want to put it on over and over again.

“I made it because I wanted the girls to get kissed more.”—Rihanna, Brand Founder

4. La Mer Sheer Pressed Powder

If you’ve been a reader on the blog for awhile, you probably know how much I love the La Mer Translucent Loose Powder. When they released their Sheer Pressed Powder I was so excited, because it’s perfect for traveling! This powder has all of the same blurring effects as the loose powder, but it’s so compact and mess free. That’s exactly what to look for when packing a travel makeup bag!

5. Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Luminous Color

This product has become my holy grail bronzer ever since I first tried it on my channel. I have the shade deep and it’s absolutely amazing for warming up my complexion. I use this bronzer almost every single time I do my makeup, I seriously couldn’t travel without it!

6. Pérsona Cosmetics Identity Palette ($32)

Of course I can’t travel without my Persona Cosmetics Identity Palette, it has every shade I need to create eye looks for day or night.  The twelve warm buttery neutral shades compliment my brown eyes so well and blend so effortlessly on the lid. This palette is also great for travel because it’s so compact and fits perfectly in my makeup bag. It’s definitely at the top of my travel makeup bag essentials!

7. Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè

This should have been NUMBER 1! It’s so important to be applying and moisturizer on the daily, and this Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè  is absolutely amazing. It’s great for sensitive skin and is so lightweight! 24-Hour Miracle Cream The must have product for makeup artists, models and celebrities. A cult favorite that has found its way onto countless photo shoots, television and film sets internationally. This creamy lotion is three products in one: primer, moisturizer, and make-up remover. Its formula remains extremely simple and effective with nourishing ingredients that restores the skin’s natural glow and gives a boost to tired dehydrated skin. Non oily so it sits perfect under makeup. Great for the whole body!!!!

8. Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

This Too Faced mascara is a great product to take with you on your next trip! It creates such a thick, long, voluminous lash look that really opens up the eyes. I love wearing this with a full face of makeup, but it looks just as beautiful on the lashes with minimal shadow. I can’t say enough good things about this mascara.

9. Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint

This is another product I’ve raved about endlessly over the past few months, and it’s the best lip balm with a sheer tint I’ve ever used! When I’m not sure what lip product to wear, or my lips need a boost of hydration, I always gravitate towards this product. It’s a lip product that I always am glad is in my makeup bag.

How To Clean Your Makeup Brushes

We paint, contour, and flush our faces with makeup brushes every day, but how often are those brushes being cleaned after the fact? Turns out, not enough. (Shocker.) According to dermatologists and makeup artists, we should be sudsing up our tools on a weekly basis — at least — in order to prevent bacteria buildup, which can ultimately led to unwanted breakouts. We here at Neonfix have to clean our brushes after EVERY client. We are a bit OCD. Read on to find out how to clean up your makeup brushes the right way.

First of all, how often should you clean your makeup brushes?

Most dermatologists will tell you to soak your tools, especially foundation and concealer brushes, once a week — at minimum — to prevent product buildup. Because these brushes are used on your face, the cleaner, the better, says Bobbi Brown. "Brushes that are used around the eyes should be cleaned at least twice a month," she says. "All others can be washed once a month." We definitely think you should wash weekly if not daily.

According to makeup artist Ashleigh Ciucci, soaping up your makeup brushes regularly can extend the life of the bristles and make for a better makeup application. "Brush hairs and sponges are porous, so they hold onto oils, debris, and bacteria," she says. "If your brushes are dirty, your application will be spotty and blending will be difficult."

What should you use to clean your makeup brushes?

The best (and most thorough) method for cleaning your tools requires only water and either a basic shampoo (nothing with too much protein /keratin which can stick to brush hairs and make it difficult to apply product.), gentle soap (regular soap formulas can dry out the brush's bristles, especially if they are made of natural hair) or brush cleanser. (Easy, peasy.)

How do you actually clean the brushes?

Follow these seven steps for cleaner, good-as-new brushes and blenders.

1. Wet the bristles with lukewarm water.

2. Place a drop of makeup brush cleanser, shampoo or soap into the palm of your hand.

3. Gently massage the tips of the bristles in your palm.

4. Rinse the bristles.

5. Squeeze out the excess moisture with a clean towel.

6. Reshape the brush head.

7. Let the brush dry with its bristles hanging off the edge of a counter, thereby allowing it to dry in the correct shape. Never let your brushes dry on a towel — the bristles can become mildewed.

Mid-wash, keep the base of the brush head away from soap and water. The bristles are glued to the base, and water and detergent can cause the glue to disintegrate and the bristles to come loose and shed. Do not dry vertically — this will cause water to leak into the ferrule [the piece that joins the bristles to the wand], which will also loosen the glue and lead to bristle loss.

Do you recommend any makeup brush cleaning products?

Three products stand out: My personal favorite is the Mac Cosmetics Brush Cleanser, the 2X Sigma Spa Brush Cleaning Glove and Vera Mona Color Switch.

-Jhenelle Hill

CHANEL WATERPROOF EYE BROW PENCIL ! ! !

This is a serious must have for beauty Pros and civilians alike. Not too thick not to thin this pencil really makes it hard to mess up a brow.  You do have a window of opportunity to blend and remove product before it sets. . .but once it sets you are set for the day!!!! Check out my Insta story @jhenelleneon I'm obsessed and I'll be wearing it all week!

XOXO Neon

Melanin Magic : Trendy or Super Bio engineering?

It seems like everyone and their mother wants to appear more bronze or tan these days. Men & Women alike are hitting beaches, imitation self tanners & tanning salons in huge numbers and its all in pursuit of a little thing called melanin. Melanin is a dark brown to black pigment occurring in the hair, skin, and iris of the eye in people and animals. It is responsible for tanning of skin exposed to sunlight.

Melanin is a broad term for a group of natural pigments found in most organisms. Melanin is produced by the oxidation of the amino acid tyrosine, followed by polymerization. The melanin pigments are produced in a specialized group of cells known as melanocytes. Melanin provides some protection against skin damage from the sun, and the melanocytes increase their production of melanin in response to sun exposure. Freckles, which occur in people of all races, are small, concentrated areas of increased melanin production. Some humans have very little or no melanin synthesis in their bodies, a condition known as albinism.

Melanin produced by plants are sometimes referred to as 'catechol melanins' as they can yield catechol on alkali fusion. It is commonly seen in the enzymatic browning of fruits such as bananas. Chestnut shell melanin can be used as an antioxidant and coloring agent.

ADVANTAGES OF MELANIN

Protects - Neutralizer of toxic substances within the body

Anti Aging -Cutting off free Radicals from the destruction of cells.

Nerve conducting Facilitator - Makes nerve impulses flow better

Optimizes your eye sight- Darker eyes give you better reaction time.

Energy Transformer- Found in places of body where energy is being transformed i.e.; inner ear , eye, brain.

As a child, Senegalese model Khoudia Diop was constantly teased for her dark complexion. Bullies would call her names like "daughter of the night." But today, Diop's deep chocolate skin is helping the 19-year-old New Yorker make a name for herself. She was recently featured in The "Colored" Girl Project.

In the pre-industrial age, freckles and sun damage were associated with peasants – people who did manual labour in the sun. The wealthy went to great lengths to keep a pale, milky skin by staying indoors and protecting themselves with hats, bonnets, umbrellas and protective clothing when they ventured outside.

While light therapy definitely played a role, it wasn't the only thing that sparked the fascination with a darker skin. It was only in the 1920s that tanning was made trendy by the fashion pioneer Coco Chanel

Rumour has it that photographs of her surfaced after she had sunbathed too much on a cruise. Chanel, who was known for her pioneering work in the fashion industry, immediately started a trend: Women unleashed the shackles of the Victorian era and took on a new minimalist style – combined with a “healthy glow”.

When colour movies and television became prevalent, actresses wanted a tanned skin to look better on the big screen. 

As tanning became popular, so did sunburn, however, which opened up the market for products such as tanning oils.

By the 1960s, tanning was just as much as status symbol as pale skin used to be. A tanned skin suggested summer holidays on tropical islands, an outdoor lifestyle, fitness and overall robust health.

And if you couldn’t afford a life of leisure, what did you do? Tan in your back yard, or get a fake-tan, of course. Tanning beds and indoor tanning took off all over the world. 

People already made use of sunlamps in the 1930s, while the first commercial tanning beds made their appearance in the USA by 1978. The first self-tanner, Man-Tan, made its appearance in 1958, and by the 1990s, tanning beds and self-tanning products were widely available.

Sources

Sirius Times; Dr. Timothy Moore "The Science of Melanin," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yozORb1TE_I

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melanin

ISSA MAC Cosmetics Summer. . .heat proofing your makeup. . .

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

Barely there makeup down to a science--from glowing skin to groomed brows and tinted lips.

The emphasis on natural, barely there makeup is more evident than ever this year. Beauty experts and opinion makers are fixated on creating looks that highlight glowing skin. And were not talking about the overly “strobed” cheekbones of reality TV stars. The direction this season subscribes to the kind of glow that one gets post-workout or after a thorough facial. Think pinkish-gold flush. Dewy finish. Minimal coverage. And maybe, a show of adorable freckles.

Glowing Skin In Seconds. Start with MAC’s Strobe Tone Up Cushion Compact SPF 50. A spin off from the beauty label’s iconic Strobe Cream, this compact creates luminous radiant skin that easily glides onto skin. Fine pearl particles helps to achieve that glow from within. Use a sponge, brush or fingers when applying all over the face or on elevated parts. Top off your look with a spritz of MAC’s Prep and Prime Fix. This mother of all water mists now comes in two variants: Goldlite (for a bronzed finish) and Pinklite (for a subtle flush). Prep and Prime Fix is specifically formulated to hydrate and refresh skin, leaving a soft sheen. It may either be used alone or as a setting agent.

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

MAC Strobe Tone Up Cushion Compact

Photo courtesy of MAC Cosmetics

MAC Strobe Prep and Prime Fix Plus comes in Goldlite or Pinklite for a radiant, sheer finish

Brows For The Win. To compliment a look that celebrates skin that breathes, MAC makeup artists say, “eyebrows on-fleek are so last year.” For a while there, it felt like hyper-stenciled brows would be a beauty staple. It appears, however, as though women today are keen on celebrating their natural beauty and that would include brows that are less than perfect but well groomed. This is not to say that strays are not on-point. On the contrary, with this new direction, it is essential that one is able to keep brows shaped and in place.

We each have a distinct way of styling brows. Some like to fill them while others are partial to recreating texture. The Eyebrow Styler from MAC aids in precision application so that users are able to create hair-like strokes. A spoolie on the other end of the pencil makes it easy to groom and blend this long-wear formula. MAC’s Shape and Shade Tint, meanwhile, is a dual ended pen ideal for filling in brows. A sponge tip feature makes it easy to shape brows and keep them in place.

Vars City wants to Party and they have no chill!!! We just showed up with the airbrush, glitter and hairspray !

Makeup & Hair by #Teamneonfix 

An Explainer On Fashion's New It Model, Alexis Ren

Last month, New York magazine's The Cutpublished an article titled "Instagram’s Teen Idol on What It’s Like to Be ‘Perfect,’" which catalogued the heavily documented (read: public) life of 19-year-old model Alexis Ren. Her social media feed, though followed by more than 7 million people, looks less like a fashion insider's and more like that of a lifestyle blogger. In the past few months, however, Ren has decided she's ready to change that.

"In the future, Alexis hopes to transition her bikini success into more high-fashion jobs," Allie Jones writes, adding that the model has some big-name ambitions. "I look up to Gigi Hadid," she said. "I love where she’s taken herself, I love what brands she’s working on. I respect her because I understand… I mean, girls like her open the doors for girls like me. So all I can do is thank her.” Gigi’s entrée into the fashion world was also nontraditional; she started racking up Instagram followers after appearing with her mother on Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Now she and fellow reality star Kendall Jenner are two of the top models in the world. Alexis could be one TV appearance away from that mainstream success."

Sure, she may not have a dedicated Models.com page just yet, but what Ren does have is a growing list of industry commitments; she made the rounds at New York Fashion Week in September, sitting front row instead of walking, she's attended a slew of parties and events, and she's earned one major seal of approval from photography maestro Mario Testino himself. If you ask us, she's following the Hadid/Jenner route (minus the famous family) to success — and we're going to guess it's only a matter of time until we see her face in a L'Oreal campaign, or on the Victoria's Secret runway.

Since we're bound to start seeing Ren everywhere, we suggest getting to know the It Girl du jour. Click through for 10 reasons why she might just be the next big thing.