Beauty Tips Archives - Suzanne Carillo

I recently shared my top five beauty mistakes I’ve made in the course of my fifty two years.

Today I’m sharing the best beauty decisions I’ve made to date.

My Top Five Beauty Secrets

#1 Lasik Eye Surgery

Best decision ever. Sure it was scary because it hadn’t even been out for too long when I decided to do it but walking out of the office sans glasses or contacts was incredible. Of course now with my aging eyes I’m beginning to notice that my eyesight is deteriorating. The joy of not having to deal with contacts or glasses for some 20+ years was totally worth it though.

#2 Eye Lash Extensions

I started these about eight years ago. As I have very long, straight, blonde lashes they are essentially invisible. I had them dyed for a few years but eventually I started reacting to the dye and had to quit. My eyes are very sensitive and mascara bothers them. The lash extensions are a great solution. I can’t feel the extensions on my eyes and they last until the lash falls out naturally on its own. I go for a mini fill once every two weeks which takes about 30 minutes. This keeps me from looking bare. Some people do it less often, most commonly every three weeks.

For my blog photos I often add additional glue on lash strips to pump up the drama.

#3 A Haircut That Works With My Hair

suzanne carillo — Me at the tender age of sixteen with my natural hair colour and famous Farrah Fawcett flip. I’ve had hooded eyes my whole life.

I didn’t discover the haircut I have now until nine years ago.

The red colour came afterwards and the ombre about a year after the red.

In the 80s and 90s I had blonde hair with highlights and spiral perms which gave my hair the body, curl and thickness that I craved.

Suzanne Robert Carillo Wedding — OMG! How young we were! Our wedding reception 1991.

I gave up the perms as it was too damaging for my hair.

For years I had layered haircuts.

It took far too much daily styling trying to get my hair to look thick and full.

I was working against the natural qualities of my own hair.

coba mexico 2008 — I wasn’t styling my hair here as we were on vacation in Mexico for Christmas 2008. It is possible I have purple or black in my hair on the ends here. I don’t wear makeup when I’m on vacation.

Learning to accept the hair I have was huge.

I am very grateful I found a cut and colour that works so well.

On the days I wash my hair I spend five minutes blow drying it. I don’t do anything else.

On the days I don’t wash my hair all I do is run a brush through it.

I rely on the cut and the colour to do all the work so I can be lazy. Granted, the visit to the hair salon is every 3.5-4 weeks but I figure that is a reasonable trade off for not doing anything else on a daily basis.

I also have my brows dyed every time my hair is dyed. Otherwise my blonde brows would be invisible.

#4 Water

I don’t drink anything but water. Literally, nothing but water. Yeah, I know it’s boring. My friends joke if I want to go out for water. I am a cheap date!

I had to give up alcohol about four years ago due to allergies. I still miss it but I’m okay with being alcohol free.

I often drink hot water in the mornings to replace the tea I was once addicted to and regular water the rest of the day. It’s easy, it’s cheap and it keeps my skin and body hydrated.

#5 Daily Beauty Products – Sun Screen, Oil of Olay and Snoxin

Those are the three things I use on my skin daily. I don’t use soap. I use a facial cleanser by La Roche-Posay called Effaclar about twice a week, otherwise I just rinse with water.

In the last few months, on Patti’s advice, I’ve started using Retin A cream, the weakest version, at night.

I’ve used Oil of Olay since I was in my teens. It is one of the very rare products that does not bother my sensitive Rosacea prone skin.

The Snoxin I use around my eyes and a bit around my lips. It is for wrinkles and full of peptides. I’ve used it for about six years now.

I always wear sunscreen and a hat when in the sun.

I also exfoliate when I’m in the shower twice a week. I don’t use anything but my finger tips. After being in the shower for five minutes the dead skin is loosened and easy to remove by gently rubbing the skin.

The best thing I’ve done for my beauty on my blog is to buy studio lights.

I look ten years older when I don’t have them on. I wish they could follow me around in real life too.

That’s my top beauty tips. What are yours?

Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday

Hindsight is 20/20 vision and looking back I’m able to see that some of my choices made in the quest for beauty weren’t the best.

Here are a few that I won’t be repeating anytime soon…

5 Mistakes I Have Made In The Quest For Beauty

#1 Tanning.

I was the manager of a tanning salon for a few years and tanned in tanning beds religiously for 45 minutes a day. It must be noted that at that time I was such a hedonist I didn’t think I’d live beyond thirty. I didn’t think it would matter how old and wrinkly my corpse was. Needless to say, I was an idiot!

I also laid in the sun by the pool on tinfoil and rubbed baby oil over my body when I was maybe fourteen. I burnt to a crisp. In fact I burnt often and never seemed to learn my lesson. I have very light sensitive skin. Once, when I was in Acapulco, it was so bad I felt like I might need medical intervention for my burn. Instead, I took it upon myself to ease the pain with Tequila slammers. In Mexico at the bars they had helmets they’d bring out onto the dance floor and pour out shots of Tequila mixed with 7-up. You’d slam it upside down on your head/helmet, it’d fizz like a volcano and you’d throw it back. After a couple of those I felt no pain.

This was of course all in pursuit of that “golden glow” which, in reality, actually made me look radioactive.

I’m paying for all that sun exposure now with age spots and wrinkles everywhere.

#2 Getting A Tattoo

It wasn’t a typical tattoo. It was my lash line on my eyelids so I could try to avoid using eyeliner. You can read all about the drama here. While I did like the look of this initially, the tattoo shrank by 80% and the pain just isn’t worth it. Also, did I mention? It has to be redone every 4-5 years.

#3 Not Learning How To Apply Eye Makeup

I didn’t learn how to apply eye makeup till I was in my mid 40’s.

Learning the right way to apply my eye makeup has made a huge difference for my photos. My eyes are small and hooded so learning how to make them appear larger is helpful.

This was self-taught through experimentation.

Full makeup me.

oscar reactions suzanne carillo — From our Oscar Party.

wear florals in winter by suzanne carillo — From the Christmas floral Anthro dress post.

No makeup me.

It must be noted that I’m not a huge fan of makeup. On a regular day the only thing I normally wear is lip balm. If I go out to the post office I might smear on some lipstick.

Robert Suzanne 2017 Honk Kong — Hong Kong 2017 Hiking

suzanne and robert dec 25 2016 — I may be wearing a bit of lipstick here.

If I’m heading out to meet people then I will take the time to apply makeup.

I have very sensitive eyes and skin (sometimes makeup exacerbates my Fibromyalgia) so I feel better when I’m not wearing makeup.

#4 Bad Spas

I tried out this nightmare of a Spa. My face needed weeks to repair the damage.

#5 IPL (Intense Pulsed Light Laser)

*Warning: Graphic Photos*

If the insane, torturous pain of IPL wasn’t enough (it felt like a fully heated iron was being placed directly on my face) the crazy swollen and excruciating Mr. Puffy face certainly was.

I did not think I’d get through the extreme pain and came very close to telling her to stop. Then I would have had only half a puffy face.