IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness

    Let me first start off by saying that IT Cosmetics does not label their products gluten free (at least that's what a rep told me when I called) but since this was a requested review I decided to do some testing of my own. As most of you know I have the gluten tester kit (Glutentox.com if you want more info on it check out my old product posts section). So like I do with all products that are from a line I have never tried (yes even the ones labeled gluten free) I used the test and it came back clean with no traces of gluten. Horray!!

The product I am talking about is one of the best products I have ever used on my highly sensitive and red skin. (Drum Roll) The product is  Bye Bye Redness from IT Cosmetics. I have had many people ask my opinion about it, Could I do a review? Are their products worth the money? 

    Let me start off with saying  IT Cosmetics customer service are not only friendly but very knowledgable about their products and trust me I am sure they think I am a little crazy for all the emails and questions I sent them. They went out of their way to help me and answer all my questions. I got my first Bye Bye Redness a few months ago and when I first saw it I immediately thought of Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer that I am sure you have read about on beauty blogs and seen on YouTube videos. Bye Bye Redness comes in a small jar that contains 0.37oz. I know it seems like a small amount but you need such a small amount of product because it is so pigmented. The product claims to neutralize redness and contains skincare ingridients that are supposed to help nourish your skin and over time help get rid of some of that redness. So your not only concealing your redness, you are helping heal it as well. You all know I love the idea of makeup and skincare all in one especially if it really is a two in one product. Unlike some of the CC creams and BB creams on the market today that really don't give you the added skincare benefits like the original ones did that were created in Germany and then became very popular in Korea years ago. Most drugstore brands here in the U.S. literally just repackaged their tinted moisturizers to say CC or BB cream. Back to my review, I was skeptical at first because the product only comes in one shade and for me that usually means way to dark or way to orange. How to use the product seems to be confusing for some people because it can be used as a spot treatment to cancel out the redness of a blemish or the areas of your face that always have a little redness like around your nose, on your cheeks, (if you have Lupus and have the "butterfly" redness then you know what I am talking about) or to cover up hyper pigmentation left behind from a break out. After spot treating you can continue with your normal makeup routine and you won't have to use as much foundation/base because the redness is gone and you won't have to worry about applying more layers of foundation and ending up with that cakey makeup look that we all try to avoid. 

       I on the other hand have all over redness and use my Bye Bye Redness as my foundation. It gives me full coverage that looks like natural skin. Plus it has the added benefit of skincare ingridients that I spoke of earlier so why wouldn't I use it all over my face? In my opinion it's a win win situation because it cuts down on the time I spend getting ready and leaves my skin looking flawless and it feels like I have nothing on.

Application: The application I am going to share is on how I apply  Bye Bye Redness as a foundation. I decided not to go into a full face application with blush, eyes, lips, contouring and highlighting. You have read and seen me do many full face tutorials and I wanted to focus on the product itself. My very first step no matter what I am using is to moisturize IT Cosmetics suggest applying Bye Bye Redness with one of their brushes but as you know I have dry skin so I prefer to use a dampened Beauty Blender and do the usual bounce and press into the skin method. I follow it up with some powder to lock it into place. Sometimes I just use a a powder brush and apply it by getting the powder on my brush, then I knock the brush a few times so that I can apply a very light amount of powder to my skin sweeping (sweeping not buffing) it very lightly across my Tzone and anywhere else I feel I need it, making sure not to move any of the product. If I really want lock it in place and have it stay put for a long period of time (from early morning to when I take my makeup off right before I go to bed at night) or if I feel I have used to much powder I just spray my face with some setting spray and I am good to go.

 Who this product is for: This product is perfect for people with very sensitive skin, rosacea, hyperpimitarion, people with autoimmune diseases who have skin issues as one of their symptoms or because of their medication, people with acne who have really red blemishes or those red spots that breakouts can leave behind, someone who has had a face peel or microdermabrasion, anyone on a a perscription topical medication for acne that causes your skin to be dry and red.

Would I buy this product again? YES and if they ever discontinue it I will buy every single one I can find. This is a HG product without a doubt. I have had issues with my skin being red, broken out, super sensitive, etc.. For as long as I can remember. This product not only does everything I want my foundation to but it is also making a difrence in how my skin looks. Even when I am not wearing it I notice my skin is looking much better and it is doesn't look as red as it used to. It has been confidence in a jar for me. I definitely give this product 5 stars. Have you ever tried anything from IT Cosmetics? Leave a comment and let us know about your experience with their products. I myself plan on trying more of their products and of course keep you updated. Let me know what other products you would like me to review by leaving a comment, emailing me or messaging me on Facebook.

Sneak Peak: My review on some products from Whitening Lightning will be up soon as promised:)  

A look inside the many sides of Celiac disease

I learned a lot today about Celiac disease that I didn't really know before but thought I would share. Besides the biggest misconception of Celiac disease being an allergy the second largest misconception Is that once a person with Celiac's begins a gluten free lifestyle that all their symptoms will disappear with no long term side effects. For some this is true in fact some people never even show any symptoms at all but for a majority of people this is not the case. Some people can be gluten free and symptom free for years and then out of the blue they start experiencing some of the side effects and or symptoms associated with the disease (its a very long list). Others (like me) go gluten free and  still have symptoms no matter what they do. Maybe it has to do with how long the disease was reeking havoc on your body and causing your organs  to go into fight mode. Celiac disease is not a one size fits all diagnosis. People's bodies react differently to different things and chances are if you have one autoimmune disease you are more likely to have another. Some people assume that once someone with Celiac disease starts living a gluten free lifestyle that they are fine and lucky in fact that they don't have to take any medication. Well I myself wish I could take a medication that could stop the severe stomach pain, digestive problems, pancreatitis, joint and muscle spasms that leave all the muscles in my body locked to the point where I am curled up in a ball and my hands and feet are clamped shut like lobster claws. Never mind the migraines, fatigue and nausea, etc.. Is it like that everyday of my life all day? No but it does take its toll on not only your body but your mind and spirit as well. We all have our own personal issues that are hard to deal with but we adapt. Since knowledge is power I thought I would share what I learned by passing it on. Oh and for the millionth time CELIAC DISEASE IS NOT AN ALLERGY IT IS AN AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE. I am not saying allergies don't suck because they do I know (yes add allergies to my list of issues)

but they are not even close to being the same thing.

Gluten free Makeup for Christmas

This time of year makeup companies all have great kits for sale that let you try a bunch of products for a great price. Both tarte and Stila have great gifts sets available at sephora. If you are looking for a less expensive option Elf has quite a few palettes for sale with different combos of eyeshadow, blush, and lipgloss. Kits are a great way to try products from a line that you have had your eye on but not sure if you wanted to spend your money on. Kit's are also a great gift to give. Just make sure that if you are buying for yourself or as a gift for someone with Celiacs or gluten intolerant that you do your homework and check the company out online or give them a call to make sure their products are gluten free because most sales associates at Sephora, Ulta or any beauty counter have no clue if the products they are selling contain gluten or not. It's always best to contact the beauty product company itself and not just the store that sells the product if you are looking for up to date product information.

Summer loving

This time of year is crazy when it comes to new product releases and relaunches of popular summer beauty products. During summer people like to switch out foundation and powder for just a tinted moisturizer and bronzer for a glowy natural look for the skin and then some lipgloss and your good to go for the day. To switch it up and add some drama at night add a pop of color to your eyes and wear your hair down for a tousled sexy beach hair look.
My must haves for summer are Red Apple Lipsticks lip gloss in "Bridesmaid". It's a shiny pink with some shimmer. You can wear it alone for a sheer pink glossy look or you can wear it over their "Petal Pusher" lipstick for the perfect vibrant pink lip that will give you a great pop of color.
I am obsessed with bronzer in the summer because it just gives you that warm summer glow. My favorite is by Lorac and it's from the TANtalizer line and it is the "Highlighter and Matte Bronzer duo". This makeup was created for professional makeup artist so it can be pricey but the amount of product you get plus the quality is definitely worth it. The bronzer is perfect to use as a contour because it's matte and has no shimmer to it or you can just use it as a bronzer on your cheeks, nose, forehead, etc.. Anywhere the sun would hit your skin. Then the added highlighter gives you the perfect dewy glow we all want. Swipe it on the bridge of your nose, high on your cheek bone up to your temple, and don't forget your cupids bow for a fuller looking lip.
As for hair I try to only blow dry when I have to, so when it's still wet I twist it up and let it dry until its only a little damp and then I take it down and add some smoothing and shine serum by Bamboo and I am good to go.

At home Pampering

Spring is just around the corner even though it feels like its miles away. Winter can leave you skin dry and looking dull so I decided to try some at home remedies to wake up my skin and get it out of hibernation.
If you want to get rid of dead skin cells and exfoliate to brighten up your complexion all you need is some lemon juice and sugar. You just take cotton wipe and squeeze some lemon juice (it doesn't have to be fresh squeezed you can use the one that comes in a bottle) onto the wipe and then sprinkle the wipe with sugar ( just eyeball it because the amount you want and need is up to you). Then rub the wipe on your face going in tiny circular motions. Then just rinse. Your skin should feel clean and fresh.
If your skin is dry you can make your own refreshing skin spray that will leave your skin feeling soft. All you need is a spray bottle, water, and glycerine (you can get it at a pharmacy). Fill a spray bottle with water and add a tablespoon of glycerine. Shake the bottle up and squirt your face two or three times and then pat it into your skin. Give it a minute to dry and soak into your skin.
If your skin is really dry you most likely already have the perfect moisturizer. Just look in your kitchen for some extra virgin olive oil and pat it onto your skin like you would a serum. To really seal in the moisture you can take some un-petroleum jelly (it's basically Vaseline without poor clogging ingredients like mineral oil) and gently rub it on your skin, especially under your eyes. You can leave this on overnight (you will need to change your pillowcase in the morning) or for just an hour or two. In the morning when you wake up just use a mild cleanser and rinse. Your skin should feel soft and moisturized. You can do this routine a couple of times a week, everyday, or once a month, it really depends on how dry your skin is.

Gluten Free Meals

I know your all used to reading my reviews about gluten free beauty products but I am so excited about what happened in my kitchen that I just had to share. For a while now I have been looking for someone to help me out with (or do all the work) gluten free cooking. I needed someone with knowledge about food and of course gluten free cooking. That's when I stumbled upon "The Dinner Maker" Javier Fuertes a personal chef who can cater to your diet restrictions. There are different packages you can choose from depending on how many meals you are looking for and for how many people. Then all you have to do is go to his website and check out his menu options. The key word is OPTIONS something I am not used to when it comes to food. Picking out the entree for me was the hardest part. I was like a kid in a candy store for the first time. The menu has something for everyone. It doesn't matter whether you have allergies, are looking to eat healthier or just don't have the time or talent to cook a meal. Once I picked out my entrees I emailed him my menu picks and a week later he was in my kitchen with everything you could possibly need to make a meal. He had everything from spices to pot and pans to the tupperware the food would be stored in. All I had to do was open the door and let him work his magic in my kitchen. He did the grocery shopping, the traveling, the cooking and the cleanup! All the food looked, smelled and tasted delicious (yes I tried a little of everything before I put it in the refrigerator). So if you are looking for someone who has not only the ability but the knowledge to make you a meal that is specifically made for you and your specifications then you should definitely check out his website.
www.thedinnermaker.com

Top Ten Gluten Free Beauty Must Haves

I am in the process of putting together an article on the top ten gluten free beauty products. What products do you always have on hand? What about your go to product for a night out? I still have to put a lot of new products to try. A big thanks to all of the vendors who sent me their products to try. I love that there are more and more options for us gluten free girls. Don't worry only the best of the best will make the list.