Obsessed! Mary Kay Extra Emollient Night Cream

"My favorite beauty secret carried over from my childhood! Miracle worker on chapped lips, rough patches of skin, dry hands & it evens helps my eczema! This tube is worth its weight in gold in my house!"

 Don't let the name fool you, this stuff in't just for nighttime. My mother used to sell Mary Kay when I was young and this was her must have, we had this stuff in every room of our house and I have carried that forward into my own life with good reasons!

Why I am OBSESSED! and how I use it:

• Cures dry hands instantly! This is what this product was originally made for. Slather it on & feel it soak in. I use a homemade lemon scrub before the smooth out the skin, apply the emollient then my favorite scented cream. You can use this on any part of your body, hands, elbows, knees, feet, if you have it, you can use this on it!
• Chapped lips-I always get chapped from too much sun or too much cold, my son unfortunately is the same way. I use this on both of our lips every night before bed & every morning (under my lipstick). It keeps your lips super moisturized & will heal start immediately helping any chapped areas. 
• Lashes- I don't think many people realize your eyelases are hair & they get dry too. After I apply this product to my lips at night, I take the residual left over on my finger & bat my eye lashes through it. It helps keep my lashes plump and my mascara loving them! 
• Eczema- I will clarify immediately, eczema is a dermatological condition & this will not cure it! BUT this stuff has worked miracles on the little patches that I have began developing around my marionette lines and they are gone in a day or two. 
• Even though this product is heavy, I have never had a breakout from it. It doesn't clog the pores around my mouth or on my face. It really is a moisture haven in a tube.

You can buy amazing tube of wonderful from your local Mary Kay rep or use mine and order at Rhiannon's online site! $13

OBSESSED! Origins Modern Friction

"Like a professional Microderm session in a tube! This amazing product gives you the same amazing, smooth glow but minus the ouch, irritation & time it takes in a doctor's office!!"

Winter is finally over! Time to kick the dull, drab skin out the door. Winter is a particularly hard time for skin. Lower humidity levels, lack of sun (and Vitamin D) and the dry heat produced by heaters & furnaces all work together to wreak havoc on your skin. In these conditions your skin dries out causing that dull look we all hate. I have tried many exfoliating products over the years but hands down Origin's Modern Friction wins! I have been obsessed with several Origins products since I discovered them close to a decade ago. They are all natural, no chemicals, actually do what the claim to do & my favorite part, they last forever!

Why I am OBSESSED! 

• When used as directed results equal to getting a professional Microdermabrasion session 
• Gently removes sluggish cells to revive dull skin
• Evens out discoloration and sign of sun damage and 
• My face feeling super clean & glows after use 
• Natural ingredients of of Rice Starch, Lemon Oil, Vitamin C & Aloe Vera make for an incredible, oh so good, gooey mixture! 

How I use it:

• Work a dime sized amount thoroughly in, using my finger tips to one section of my face & neck at a time  (make sure you avoid your eyes!)
• Wet hands with warm water & work up a good lather & rinse well!
• Top it off with a good, rich moisturizer (my favorite is Origin's A Perfect World with SPF15)
• My face comes out looking polished & smooth. The effects are immediately noticeable, fine lines and pores are less noticeable and my face is glowing.  

So get your fresh, spring glow on! You can't go wrong with this product. Its great for all skin types!! Origins is sold at most Macy's or directly online  www.origins.com. 

Makeup Took Kit for Spring 2013

"Have you ever wondered how to achieve the makeup looks you see on models & celebs? Watched a so-called Youtube guide or read a Hot To article then thought, 'There is absolutely no way I can afford all of that or even know where to begin?' That is what YouniqueU was created for! As our Beauty Guru, I am tasked with breaking down these looks to make it simple and have you looking like you stepped off a runway in no time!  You do not need to make what we would call a 'Professional Makeup Kit', you need your kit to make you!" -Brooke Allison, Beauty Guru

Every season I will compile the basics you will need for a good tool kit that will help you achieve all of our seasonal looks! Then follow my Manic Makeup Video Blogs every Monday for step by step instructions on how to apply these looks for you!

Here is what you will need to achieve our Spring 2013 looks!

Face Primer- A face primer is a great way to start off any look. It preps the skin and gives it a smooth finish that your other elements will gently glide over and will help hold your makeup in place the whole day.

My favorite picks are both from Urban Decay. Urban Decay Primer Potion- Pore Perfecting and Urban Decay Complexion Primer Potion - Brightening & Tightening. They have a higher price point but you use such a small amount, they last forever! Both run around $31.00 and can be found at in store or online Macy’s, Sephora or UrbanDecay. 

Need a lower price point? Try Sally Hansen: Natural Beauty Insprired by Camindy, Luminizing Face Primer that runs around $19.99 and can be found in most drug & superstores.

Your Favorite Foundation- For the warmer months go for a tinted moisturizer or BB cream! They keep your skin from feeling heavy when they mix with the heat & moisture that Spring brings!  Make sure you look for something with a SPF to help protect against daily skin damage. 

Don't have a favorite? A great tint with an even greater price point is Sonia Kashuk Radiant Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15. This can be picked up for around $14 at Target. 

Your Favorite Concealer- No matter what time of year it is, you can always benefit from the right  concealer. There are different color tints for different problems.

Don't have a favorite? Try Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette. This palette has multiple concealers in one palette to treat multiple problems. This can be grabbed for under $11.00 at your local Target.

Eye Shadow Primer- Eye primer is just as important to your makeup routine as face primer. Its specially formulated for the sensitive skin on your eyes. Applying a primer will help intensify your colors, keep colors brighter all day, prevent that undesired midday lid crease.

My favorite pick is Urban Decay Eye Potion. Like with most Urban Decay products just a tiny bit goes a really long way! You can pick this up for around $20 in store or online at Macy's, Sephora, Ulta or Urban Decay.








Looking for a comparable product at a lower price? Try e.l.f Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer- can’t beat this product dual use product for $3! Only use a dab of the primer to prep eyes. The other end is a liner sealer that you can also use to dip in a powered shadow to create custom colored liners which a super hot this season!

Eye Shadow Palette-  For spring make sure you pick a palette with bright colors, greens, pinks & blues are all key colors for the season! If you are just starting out you can find a large multi-colored palette on Amazon for $20 or less.

Look for one like this e.l.f. Bright Eyeshadow Set - 144 pc for only $15. e.l.f products can normally be found at your local target but for a full selection visit their website.

Colored Eyeliner Pencils- Colored liners are super hot this season. Pick up a couple in your favorite colors & that compliment and make your eye color POP! (you can also use colored liquid or gel liners if you are comfortable with those elements)

 My favorite are Urban Decay 24/7. They are super creamy & stay great even on your water line. They come in a ton of colors. Priced at $17 each & can be picked up at in store or online Macy’s,  Sephora. or Urban Decay.

A great lower price point alternative that is very comparable is L'Oreal Hip Color Chrome Eyeliner. There are only 5 colors but unless you are looking for something funky, these should fill your colored liner appetite. These are a steal at $9.99 Ulta or your local Target/WalMart.


Don't really want to invest in colored liner because you aren't sure if you will like it? Pick up the  e.l.f Studio Eye Primer & Liner Sealer I mentioned earlier to try out colored lines or watch for our OBSESSED! blog on Mac Fix+ and learn how to make your own!

Mascara- even with no other makeup, mascara is a great way to make your face look more alive & your eyes bigger & brighter. 

My favorite mascara is Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara , you can pick it up in store or online at Sephora, Ulta or Smashbox for around $19.50.

Looking for a lower price point? Try out Maybelline Colossal Volume Express for under $8 at your local drugstore or superstore.

Your Favorite Red Lipstick- Red lipstick is all the rage this season! So make sure you have your favorite shade on hand! Everyone looks good in red lipstick, the trick is finding the right shade! Watch for our upcoming blog showing you how to find the right shade for you!!

I love this shade from NARS. Its called Heat Wave and is a semi matte orange red. Orangey reds look great on women with fair skin & light hair but also women with coco skin & dark hair! You can find NARS at Sephora or pick up a shade with a lower price point at your local drug store or Target.










Brushes- you don't need a 50 piece brush set to do great makeup. I use 5 very basic brushes in all of my looks to keep it simple. 

Blending Brush
Try this one by e.l.f $3

Angled Eye Shadow Brush
ry this one by e.l.f $3 

Domed Eye Shadow Brush
Try this one by e.l.f  $3

Blush Brush- Try this one by e.l.f $3

 Powder Brush
 Try this one by e.l.f $3

DISCLAIMER: We do not own rights to any of these photos nor do we distribute or represent any of these products. These are for suggestive & demonstrative purposes only!

Top 10 Spring Skin Tips!

"Spring is here & its time to bring your skin out of hibernation! Try our quick & easy tricks below for gorgeous skin all season long!"

1. Never sleep in your makeup. Skin that can breathe dries out & ages quicker.
2. Use makeup remover before washing your face. If you use a gentle cleanser it may not remove all of the makeup pigments & can lead to just as many clogged pores. I love using coconut oil as a makeup remover.
3. Use sunscreen everyday even if you are indoors - the sun's UVA rays come through windows too and contribute to aging, pigmenting and tanning. Look for products that have at least SPF 15 but SPF 30 is ideal. 
4. Mild skin lightening creams can be used to even out any discolored spot you may have gained over the winter.  Look for botanical ingredients like Arbutin, Bearberry, Licorice, Mulberry, Ginseng, Gingko, Emblica, Turmeric - curcuma, Grapeseed and vitamins like C and A, and Niacinamide.
5. Moisturizers with an age-protecting agent at night!
• For younger skin, look for ingredients with antioxidants like: Vitamins C, E ; Botanicals like green tea, grapeseed or pomegranate extract, curcumin;  Genistein, ECGC, Resveratrol, Idebenone and Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10.  
• For older skin, look for the following ingredients: peptides, vitamin A and derivatives like retinol and other retinoids, Alpha, beta and polyhydroxy acids.
6. Exfoliation should be done with extreme caution and only with modern bead exfoliators. Avoid granular scrubs as these tend to damage the skin microscopically, which can lead to slow, insidious and patchy darkening.
7. Ditch the Heavy Foundation: We love a creamy foundation for winter, but change up to a great BB cream or tinted moisturizer for spring. No need to buy a new product if you still have foundation left over from winter; make your own by mixing your current liquid or cream foundation with your moisturizer or by thinning it down with some Mac Fix+
8. Before you shave, exfoliate your entire body to remove dead skin cells. After you've finished shaving, apply moisturizer before you leave the humid bathroom. This will help seal the moisture into your skin and reduce the chance that you develop razor rash or shave bumps.
9. Bump Up Your Vitamins. Increasing your intake of antioxidants helps protect skin from free radicals. Free radicals cause skin damage and, over time, contribute to aging by destroying collagen. The less collagen you have, the more wrinkles you get. Increase consumption of:
1. Vitamins E, C, and K. 
2. Getting enough vitamin A is also essential - if you're not getting enough, your skin responds by becoming dry and flaky. Most fruits and vegetables have plenty of vitamin A
10. Visit a dermatologist annually. There are a lot of nuances in skin colour, texture, smoothness, etc. that we can't see for ourselves. These can be detected by the dermatologist and mild creams/treatments can be recommended.

Our Favorite At Home Pampering Recipes

"The best products for your skin aren't always bought at the store. Try out my tried & true at home recipes below some Spring pampering that will make you come back for more!"

My Lemon/Sugar/Olive Oil/Ginger Body scrub: Mix 2 cups of brown sugar with 1 cup of olive oil and add a small amount of fresh ground ginger and 4 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice. Mix well & transfer into a mason jar Using circular motions, rub your entire body, paying special attention to elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse with a body wash and wet washcloth and towel dry. I keep a small jar of this on my sink to help combat my super dry hands. The result: Softer, suppler, and less dry skin.

Milk and Honey Foot Treatment: Pour 2 cups of milk per one cup of honey into a basin large enough to hold both feet. Soak for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the mixture into skin. Results: Softer, smoother skin without harsh exfoliation. You can also use the milk/honey combo to soak elbows or hands, or pat gently onto the face and massage in. Always rinse with tepid water.

Egg White and Citrus Face Masque: (normal to oily skin) -- Mix 2 raw egg whites with 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice. Apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes until dry. Rinse well with warm water. The result: Tighter pores and a brighter, less dull complexion.

Oatmeal Face Masque: (sensitive skin) -- Mix oatmeal with boiling water according to package instructions. Let cool, then apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. The result: A radiant, moisturized glow.