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Channel: Jerri Lien – skinblissful

Summertime Thang… Wedding Makeup & Skin

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Do you have weddings to attend this summer? Or maybe YOU are getting married?!! Let’s talk about makeup and skincare then.

Makeup and skincare go together as a topic, or at least, they should. The skin is the canvas, and the healthier and smoother, the better you and your makeup will look.

What you do to prep your skin will depend on how much time you have, what you’re willing to do, and how much money you can factor in.

I’ve been doing skincare for a long time, and I can tell you, don’t decide at the last minute before your big event to get your first facial or peel ever. In case of an adverse response or the skin needing to purge, you want to give at least two weeks before your event if you will be trying new skin treatments or products. If you are at two weeks or less, don’t risk it, but do get the best quality makeup you can, and hire a reputable makeup artist, if at all possible. If not, girl, get on YouTube for some tutorials!

If you’ve got more time to work with, try treatments like the ultrasonic facial that won’t make you red, flaky, or sensitive. You still need to enjoy your summer, right?!!

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The skincare product I’ve chosen to endorse is NeriumAD. Why? It’s the hardest working product I’ve found and it improves a multitude of complexion concerns, such as fine lines, wrinkles, enlarged pores, brown spots, dull skin, and sagging. It’s a natural product that gives real results without over-processing your skin. I call it a facial in a bottle!

Real Results With NeriumAD

Real Results With NeriumAD

Being in skincare, and predominately advanced skincare in the med spa arena, I do have a preference for the highest quality products and ingredients. My makeup line of choice is Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, or Jane Iredale. First developed to be safe and compatible within a dermatology setting, Iredale is a full range, beautiful makeup line that looks fresh, pretty, and lasts all night. Blotting instead of wiping will leave your makeup on and only remove perspiration and oil production. Other than that, the only thing you should really ever need to touch up is your lips.

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So your skin is looking good and you’ve picked out your venue, colors, decor, and your dress (assuming you’re the bride), and you’ve picked out your attire if you’re not the bride, now you can decide on a makeup look that will be a marriage (wah wah wah) of your own natural, personal style and the theme for the event. Keep in mind that most grooms prefer a little more of a natural look. But you and your makeup artist or your bffs are the only ones that need to know what exactly went into achieving that natural look!

Similar rules apply to wedding makeup as the rest of the time:

Bold eyes and lots of lashes paired with a nude lipstick/gloss.

Hey! There’s more than one way to get big lashes! Use Latisse or other lash growth serums, start a couple months ahead of time and grow your own! Getting lash extensions is another option. Or, use false lash strips or clusters. Experiment with lash extensions and false lashes at least a few weeks ahead of time to make sure you don’t have any allergies or sensitivities.

Even when choosing a nude lip look, I still recommend using a good lip liner and lip stain, topped off with lipstick or gloss.

bold eye nude lip

Smoky eyes paired with a pink lip. 

Experiment with the smoky eye. It’s a gorgeous look and is actually easy to do. Start with the deepest shade around the lash line, use slightly lighter but still deep color out to the crease line, and lighter, more skin toned up to the brow. Blend! Add highlite at brow bone and inner corners of eyes, and do your brows! You can’t have them fading into the background!

Help keep your pretty lips in place with lip stain first, then lipstick.

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Fuller yet groomed eyebrows and retro eyeliner paired with bold lip color.

Brow stencils or a steady hand and an artful eye will go a long way here. Keep eyeshadow pretty classic, main shade not much deeper than your skin tone, deeper shade for crease and bottom lash line, and highlite shade. Practice a tight line along your upper lash line, keeping at the area where lashes grow out of your lid. Wing the liner out some at the outer edge.

Precise lip liner, a lip stain, and lipstick/gloss will help you keep your bold lip throughout your event.

retro liner bold lip

Dewy skin and nude eyes paired with glossed up lips.

Good skincare is really paying off here! Add to that a dewy or luminous finish foundation or BB Cream. A cream blush will continue your glowing theme.

Line lips and use a lip stain/gloss combo. Keep a classic eye look with lighter/nude shades.

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Above all, may your summertime weddings and special events be blessed and successful! Mazel Tov!!!



Here I Grow Again!

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I love the beauty industry! And it’s a good thing, as I have spent most of my adult life entrenched. The years I have spent working in salons, spas, & med spas have shaped how I see & experience the world around me. I know that I KNOW true beauty comes from within, & that helping people with their image & developing meaningful relationships is where the real reward is in what I do.

In Washington State, I am a licensed Cosmetologist, Esthetician, and Esthetics Instructor. Over the last 16 years my focus has been on skincare & makeup. I love the luxurious experience of spa treatments & the results derived from treatments found in med spas. My ideal treatments blend both worlds.

Over 10 years ago, I was introduced to Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics and fell in love! I have used & sold JI in every med spa in which I have been employed. From 2008-2011, I was a freelance makeup artist on Iredale’s Artistry Team in WA State.

Jane Iredale Spring 2012 Collection

In 2012, I caught the Nerium bug & have been all a-twitter about it ever since. My clients & I have been experiencing fantastic results with this breakthrough skincare line.
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I have joined forces with my dear friend & partner in Nerium, Jennifer Solsten, to form The Real Beauty Team. We are using our backgrounds in the beauty & skincare industries, combined with life experience, to build up & encourage women of all ages.

The Real Beauty Team Jerri & Jennifer

The Real Beauty Team
Jerri & Jennifer

Victoria’s Academy offered me a teaching position in their esthetician program, with the position starting September 2013. So exciting!
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I love writing blog entries & articles about people, places, products, & treatments I discover in the skincare & beauty industries.
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What my colleagues and friends are up to is of great interest to me as well. Please share!


True Beauty

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Sometimes it takes a true friend to come alongside you and pick you up, help dust you off, and remind you of… who you are! The most wonderful thing about love and friendship is when someone helps you to see something good inside yourself. This happened to me recently.

There is something about growing up in an area and building friendships, clientele, and a network there. Before moving across state from my hometown region, I had somewhat of a sense of things being well in my world. I enjoyed working as an esthetician and laser technician in a high-rise in downtown Tacoma, as well as working independently offering skincare out of my home and out of a friend’s salon. I had fun doing makeup events around Western Washington.

When my husband and I moved to Southeastern Washington a little over four years ago, our lives changed and were challenged in more ways than we could have foreseen. My husband delved into work and I worked some from home, mostly social media work and a little writing. I blogged quite a bit back then, but in the fall of 2013, I accepted a position at a local school teaching master esthetics. And then… I did not have time for much else!

Since we made the move, I felt my health begin to spiral downward. There was a lot of stress, between moving, family situations, and then the stress of being a new teacher, so I blamed everything on that. Then last fall and winter I could no longer deny that I was having some chronic health concerns. While I am slightly overwhelmed to learn that I have autoimmune issues and metabolic issues, my doctor put it in perspective by telling me that the good news is I don’t have pancreatic cancer! My husband’s step-father passed away from pancreatic cancer, so I can definitely appreciate that I am not dealing with THAT! Still, I have been over-stressed and overwhelmed and have decided to take a break from working and focus on my health for a while.

I have met some wonderful people here in Southeastern Washington! Still, it has not been easy to be separated from some of my dearest family, friends, and supporters. I have felt a bit weary and my sparkle has been dulled, so it was especially lovely to have been invited to participate in something exciting that fellow beauty expert, Jennifer Solsten Elliott of Grace Consulting has in the works. She is featuring a series of beauty experts via Grace Consulting in a project she is revealing called “True Beauty”. It warms my heart and honors me greatly that Jennifer chose me to be the first in her series. The following is the bio that she asked me to write up and submit to her:

“Jerri Lien has “grown up” in the beauty industry and has spent most of her adult life entrenched. She is a licensed Cosmetologist, Master Esthetician, and Instructor. What has captivated her most is working with clients one on one to help them feel happier and healthier in their own skin. Whether clients or students, Jerri truly loves any opportunity to offer positive encouragement to others.

Have you ever noticed that when someone is in love they have a certain glow about them? Have you recognized that a woman is pregnant simply by the new radiance that emanates from her face? Happy vacationers and honeymooners all look more beautiful, right?!! And how about those people whose faith is strong? Did Moses not come down from the mountain with his face shining from speaking with The Lord?

Jerri loves the beauty industry, especially when used to truly help others achieve healthy minds, bodies, and a renewed sense of their value in the world. She believes this ultimately comes through faith in God and love for one another. Everything else we do to achieve “beauty” is akin to frosting an already delicious cupcake!”

Jerri Lien in Northern Uganda
Jerri Lien in Northern Uganda

Lira Clinical – Science, Nature, & Great Results

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It was a former master esthetics student of mine who came back from a skincare conference super excited about a hot new product line she had discovered there  – Lira Clinical. I looked into it and was able to make contact with the wonderful Aimee Fuentes, who is the NW Regional Sales/Educator and In Clinic Trainer.

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Aimee has been incredibly gracious and generous with her time, coming to the school where I was teaching on several occasions to provide education and an introduction to Lira Clinical. Aimee AND the Lira product line were always a big hit.

Having been in skincare since 1997, I have tried many different product lines and even loved a few of them! I enjoyed learning about Lira Clinical and trying the samples I had received, but I have to say it was so exciting to place my first order of full size products and have it arrive on my doorstep!

I really love knowing that Lira was founded by and is owned by four women, each with a background in skincare and education. I love that it was created for licensed professionals for use in the treatment room, as well as for home care use. Lira is a clinical-quality line that blends science and nature in order to bring about beautiful results. The products are also cosmetically elegant and pleasant to use. AND most of the products even have an appealing natural scent. Trust me, this does not always happen with clinical lines!

Lira’s professional line includes an array of exfoliants (peels) for use in the treatment room, which will pique the interest of estheticians, and whose results will please clients. The retail line ranges from lash growth serum to firming cream to bb cream, yet remains easily navigable.

I have started out with Enzyme Cleanser with PSC (plant stem cells), Hydra C Serum with PSC, Perfecting Eye Crème with PSC, Lift Crème with PSC, Solar Shield 30 Oil-Free with PSC, and Lux Lash with PSC. Feeling a little spoiled, yes, even so,  it was difficult to stop there!

In the coming weeks, I will be sure and update you on my progress with Lira Clinical.


Eyebrow Wow

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In the beauty industry, we often hear, and sometimes say, that eyebrows are sisters, but not twin sisters. Well, mine were step-cousins, okay? It was not flattering, especially for someone IN the beauty industry!

Many moons ago, almost two decades now, I went from having fairly decent natural brows to letting my boss at the first spa I worked at perform permanent cosmetics on me. I pretty much hated them from the beginning and did everything I could to fade faster, including peels and microdermabrasion. I was forever having to conceal discoloration with makeup. Finally, a friend who used to practice permanent cosmetics added some camouflage strokes to hide my residual permanent makeup. Relief!

Over the years, however, my eyebrow hair began to diminish. I still had hair, though I could not get my brows to fill in very well. I spent more time than I would have liked each day trying to fill my eyebrows in with makeup.

Within this past year, I began seeing information and photos popping up regarding a new-to-me technique called Microblading. There are other names for this technique, but basically it just means semi-permanent makeup done in a hair stroke pattern to simulate actual hair. So exciting! I watched for months as a gal I knew of churned out great-looking before and after pictures. I was intrigued and wanted it done so badly!

I ended up being a model for another eyebrow technique and, though I know the artist will be amazing as she continues her practice, my eyebrows were very uneven. I felt it made me look older and more tired. It also took me longer to get ready in the morning, trying to even things out. Major bummer!

When I went for my initial Microblading session with the artist I had been watching, I posted about my experience on social media, including my before and after pictures. I had so much response asking if I was going to begin offering the technique that I said yes! I went for training and began seeing models and clients for MicrobladingIMG_4492 1 at a salon in Tacoma, Rumors Salon. I lease a facial room there and offer Microblading for the eyebrows, Chemical Peels, Microneedling, Facials, Facial Waxing, and Lash & Brow Tinting.

The response for fuller, better, natural-looking eyebrows has been terrific. Clients, many with very little natural brow hair, have been thrilled to have eyebrows again! I am receiving inquiries daily regarding this service. Good eyebrows are kind of a big deal!

Have you looked into Microblading your eyebrows? If so, what kinds of questions do you have?


Lip-tabulous! LipSense!

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Today I got to have a coffee date with two of my favorite ladies, Amy Crawford (Ultherapy/Merz rep), and Jennifer Solsten (pharmaceutical rep). At the same time! I see both of them somewhat regularly, but we had not all been together at the same time in probably three years. On this day of torrential downpours, it was all double rainbows for this special occasion!

Besides catching up, our coffee date was really about… lips! We are three long time beauty industry girls who are very picky about what we do with our skin care and makeup. None of us anticipated loving LipSense… but we DO! We really do.

This lip product is causing such a complete frenzy that literally almost every single lip color is TEMPORARILY on backorder. I talked Amy out of Bombshell and Glossy Gloss and immediately went home to sign up as a distributor.

Once you put your color on and the gloss over the top, you can totally chow down a sandwich at the airport (Amy) and still your lip color stays put til you take it off. Bring. It. ON!!!

When stock starts catching back up, I will begin carrying the lip product in my facial room. In the meantime, you can take a look by following this link:

LipSense

My distributor number is: 358918


Eye Love A Good Lash Lift

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lash perm and tint jerriBeing in the skincare industry for 20 years and the beauty industry for even longer, I can attest to the fact that when it’s our turn to receive a treatment… we find ourselves in a state of bliss! It is also a privilege to have the ability to trade services with other beauty experts.

This morning, I was super excited for my appointment with a fellow esthetician friend, Lori, for a lash lift (perm), lash tint, and brow tint. I have been aware of lash perming and have been around it… but I have never received this service until today.

I am in the process of growing back and filling in my lashes a la Lira Clinical’s Lux Lash Growth Serum, which I love and sell. My eyes are too sensitive for lash extensions or even strip lashes. Sometimes I remember to tint my own lashes and brows, but I would never even attempt to perm my own! So things were looking a little sad this morning before Lori worked her magic.

My eyebrows are another story. I have had Microblading done and am getting discoloration and fading. Lori is going to help me with that as well. But in case you wonder what is up with my brows in my pictures, well, that’s what’s up!

I am so pleased with the difference that today’s lash lift and tint made. I walked around feeling happy about it all day! The brow tint is also helping to balance out the look of the faded permanent makeup, so that is a huge plus as well.

Lash lifting is such a great service that I think I am going to add it soon to my menu at Skinblissful – Jerri Lien Skin Care. It made me look like I have more lashes that I do and really did give my eyes a “lift.”

Thanks so much, Lori Sanders of Bella Regazza in Sumner, Washington!


Microneedling + Peel + Lip Color

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When you get to be of a certain age (oh, use your imagination!), it can be a challenge keeping your skin looking youthful. There are a few maddening individuals who maintain a fresh complexion despite never doing anything good for their skin, but I’m not bitter. Not bitter at all. Ha!

A nice complexion doesn’t come easy for the rest of us mere mortals. Part of why I became an esthetician in 1997, was due to the fact that I wanted to have better skin, and I could empathize with other glow seekers. Back then, all it took for me was regular facials and professional home care products. In the two decades since… well… sometimes it feels like I am in training for a marathon.

For the first half of 2016, we were just moved back to Western Washington and living between homes in what I affectionately dub “the trailer park” AKA my in-laws “compound.” It wasn’t the ideal setting to keep on top of my skincare treatments, though I always have time for my clinical skincare products! Throw in the stress of moving and the troubles of life, plus suddenly finding myself just past my mid-forties (gasp!), I was not in love with how my skin was looking.

In August of 2016, I was fortunate enough to be GIVEN an Ultherapy full face and neck treatment! Ultherapy is not a laser, but it is a medical device that uses deep ultrasound technology to stimulate collagen reproduction and, therefore, skin tightening. That was my start on a new journey toward more beautiful skin. That and the SkinStylus Microneedlng pen I purchased for my treatment room!

I have been doing Microneedling treatments on myself semi-regularly for the past year. Microneedling is also known as Collagen Induction Therapy, as this service tricks the skin into producing collagen (our skin’s support fiber). This treatment can be done every 4 weeks for a series of 6-8 treatments. This service is also on my menu at Skinblissful – Jerri Lien Skin Care.

My last treatment on myself was 9 days ago. I Microneedled over Lira Clinical’s VitaBrite Peel for the first time. It was a little zingier than usual, and my skin is still a bit pink… but it is looking good! Today I also have on LipSense‘s Mulled Wine with Glossy Gloss on top. I smooched my husband and… there is zero evidence of that incident smeared across his face. I love it! No lip color on my hubby, none on my coffee cup. Perfect! (My distributor number is 358918) You can also contact me for LipSense as well as Lira Clinical skincare products.

Since my first foray into working for a plastic surgeon, 16 years ago, I have been very familiar and friendly with Botox and dermal filler. It wouldn’t be fair to let people think that I am working to maintain a youthful appearance with skincare treatments alone. I had two medical/beauty industry reps tell me about the same nurse injector (Jessica) at Eterna Vein and Medical Aesthetics. I like her! She is calm, conservative, with a good eye, AND close to my home. My eyes get puffy when my thyroid levels are off track (a lot), and I wanted her to help detract from that with a little bit of filler. She also injected some Dysport so I don’t look like I am mad all the time! Dysport is similar to Botox.

In my industry and in my personal experience, I have learned that when you look better, you feel better. What are you doing to feel and look better?



A Little Time For Myself

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In the service industries, providers spend their days taking care of patients and clients, as is our passion to do so, yet we are often lacking when it comes to taking care of ourselves. I am guilty!

While it is a huge blessing to be able to take care of my own skin, there is nothing like being the client and receiving a service. I tell my clients all the time to make sure they are taking time for themselves. It is important for everyone to take care of themselves, and especially important for those who spend their time taking care of others, whether at home, at work, or both! You must refill your own tank in order to keep giving of yourself.

Lately I have been looking at my hands and feet and KNOWING I needed to get in for a mani/pedi. About a month ago I did my own, but those results expired! Not only that, but doing your own mani/pedi is not relaxing. No, not at all!

Late last night I did my own Peel/Microneedling combo… definitely not relaxing, but the results have been fabulous. My clients have people chasing them down to find out what they are having done, their skin looks that good! So I do my own. But today after seeing clients, I went with my sweet friend and real estate agent, Monica Hilliard, for manis and pedis. Great way to end the day.

Ahhh, it felt so nice to take a little time for myself!

P.S. Feel free to ask your skincare, Lira Clinical, and LipSense questions: jerri.lien@gmail.com and “Like” Skinblissful – Jerri Lien Skin Care on Facebook.


Diet and the Acne Beast

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Our skin is our largest organ and is a reflection of what’s going on inside. Yes, some people are blessed with phenomenal genes (we don’t have to like those people) ha! Seriously, though, consider this, if you’re sick, stressed, malnourished, allergic… sooner or later these things show up on your skin. Your skin becomes a map of and a reflection of your health.

Years ago an esthetician friend and I had a high school senior meet with us to discuss acne and skincare. She was doing her senior project on something like the emotional impact of having acne. The girl mentioned some young people struggling with acne have contemplated suicide. The other esthetician thought this was ridiculous and could not possibly be true… but… that esthetician, while lovely and amazing, has never had any personal skin issues in her life – no teen or adult acne, no stretch marks, etc. She had never experienced these skin “afflictions” so she was not aware of the emotional toll they can take.

I remember a time when dermatologists would say that the foods we eat have no impact on acne. I have never believed that! I also know that while a healthy diet is important for a healthy body AND healthy skin, what we’re talking about here takes a little work and a little patience. The man in this video began experimenting with cutting out one dietary item at a time that he thought might be a trigger for his acne – firstly dairy, and he began adding in more vegetables and healthy foods. His results are nothing short of UHHH-MAZING!!!

Dairy and caffeine are a couple of big triggers for me. As a teen and young adult, my acne was pretty mild, but still annoying (I was a milk fiend). Then as an adult AND as an esthetician (humiliating), I went through a phase where I was getting painful cysts on my jawline. I had slowed down on dairy, but I had not given up caffeine. Even though I only consumed 1-2 coffees a day, that was enough. I also had started getting canker sores all the time. Once I cut out caffeine, the jawline breakouts and canker sores went away. Next on my list is to give up sugar. But that’s another story!

Achieving great skin is a multi-pronged approach that includes the following elements: a healthy (for you) diet, regular exercise, adequate water intake, a good home skincare regimen (including daily SPF), stress management, and regular facials/peels/skincare treatments. Your esthetician can help you with in-office treatments and can recommend a good home care regimen for you, but the rest is up to your own personal efforts. It’s a partnership!Pimples-on-chin-face-jawline-meaning

chin and jaw*** Disclaimer *** Of course, some people do need medical intervention for their acne, but I know from personal experience as well as from clients’ and friends’ testimonies that the prescriptions and even the Accutane usage doesn’t always yield the desired results. With Accutane, in particular, beware that it is a powerful drug with many warnings and side effects. I know it has been a godsend for some, while others have been on it more than once and still have acne. Either way, Accutane should be a last ditch effort after you’ve tried everything else.






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