Travel essentials

As I get ready to pack up the family and go to Chicago for a few days, I'm trying my best to keep things light for myself. Between packing all the clothes/stroller/car seats (yes, I have to check two giant car seats), there is little room left for me and my daily essentials. I try to keep most of my makeup and toiletries in my carry-on, so I came up with just a few of the beauty items I'll be bringing to keep things simple but still feel like I have everything I need to get through a week away from home.

1.  GloMinerals Pressed base powder with makeup brush - has an SPF 18 which is also one less thing for me to pack

2. Oil blotters- a no brainer for walking around a city all day in August

3. A jewelry fragrance? These Lisa Hoffman bracelets are perfumed. Not sold on this yet but it sounds interesting!

4. Face cleansing wipes.  Cetaphil makes great individually packaged cleansing cloths now which is perfect for makeup remover and a gentle wash at the end of the day.

5. GloTherapeutics dry shampoo - being able to get away with one extra day without a hair wash is perfect when you're getting ready in a hotel room and just want to get your sightseeing started!

6. A product that can be used as a multipurpose lip and cheek color like Glo minerals creme blush in Fig is always a fun trick when you're on the go :)

7. My "cool as a cucumber" hand sanitizer from Bath and Body Works is so tiny and smells so much better than the typical hand sanitizer. It's great for those post-flight germs, no one wants to get sick on vacation!

Let me know if you have any travel tips for me, especially suggestions for things to do while we're in Chicago :)


-Colleen

A Summer Farm Share

This year, I decided to sign up for a summer farm share.  We did one two years ago through a farm near my husbands work and I absolutely loved it, so I decided to do my research and find out which one locally would suit us best this year.  I came across two in my area that caught my eye, Elwyn Farm and The Red Hill Farm.  I decided overall on the Red Hill Farm in Aston because of the partial share option and the children's garden that they have every summer.

 

Red Hill Farm is owned by the Sisters of St Francis in Philadelphia and allows 120 members to join the share each year.  You can read more about the farm and who it benefits here:

http://www.osfphila.org/red/what

 

Every Tuesday, we will go to the farm and pick up our share.  This was this week's portion:

 

In addition, they have a "You Pick" area with herbs, beans, peas, cherry tomatoes, and flowers for their members.  The children's garden is a cute space with different tasks like weeding and watering for the kids to do each week if they choose, and educational sessions where they can learn more about gardening.

You have to be pretty adventurous with your vegetables if you aren't used to cooking with certain kinds like rhubarb, beets, and collard greens.  But the farm offers recipe suggestions, and I just throw mine in a smoothie with lots of fruit if it's something I really can't get used to.  Other than the occasional type you may not be used to, its your typical summertime fruits and veggies like strawberries, cucumber, lettuce, and potatoes.  And aside from the obvious health benefits of eating lots of fruits and veggies this summer, your skin will thank you as well!  Many of these have a ton of vitamin C (among many others) in them, which naturally protects your skin from the damaging UV rays of the sun.

-Colleen

Ruthie's Summer Must Haves

I have been trying to figure out for the last week or so how am I going to stand the heat of the summer and feel good ! First I was thinking - how am I going to dress. Let's not forget I haven't worn shorts in 10 years.  So I stock up on the season's most plain maxi dresses, maxi skirts and some nice tank tops from H&M! 

$17.95 Maxi Dress

 

$29.95 Maxi Dress

 

 

Then I decide how I'm going to protect myself from the sun but still have just a tad of color to look sun kissed! As you all know I'm married to all GLO products! My bathroom is stocked with GLO to start my day and keep me fresh and beautiful all day long!

 

My daily skin care routine:

1.  Using my favorite purifying cleansing I wash my face using a Clarisonic to get get the best cleanse.
2.  Then I use the most amazing eye cream I have ever used - the eye restore!
3.  Then I apply the new  oil free SPF 30 tinted moisturizer in light! 
4. Then I use piece of the Summer Trio - GLO's newest limited edition kit. It gives the perfect sun kissed look for day or night at work or on the beach.
5. Throughout the day I stay hydrated with GLO's hydration mist. 

When my day is over I repeat my cleansing process with the purifying cleanser on my clarisonic and repeat the eye restore. I also use a B5 Hydration Serum  and my night cream is GLO's Moisture Rich Cream! 

 

Last but not least if your the beach babe that wants the tan skin and the beautiful glow of the sun without the harmful rays - Color my hydrated is the safest way to achieve your perfect sunless spray tan!! Spray Tan FAQ 

 

Visit us as Ruthie's Eyes Website for more information! All products can be ordered by calling, texting or emailing!  610-724-3808 ruthieseyes@gmail.com 

 

Hope your having a great summer!

-Ruthie

 

Wedding Morning

On the heels of a fantastic weekend spent in New Jersey, both getting a bridal party ready for a wedding, and then attending a sea side wedding myself, I thought I would highlight the importance of the wedding morning.  

Ruthie and I are with bridal parties the morning of the wedding all of the time, and I think it is such an important part of the day because it really sets the tone for the remainder of the day.  I have such great memories of getting ready in my bridal suite the morning of my wedding, getting hair and makeup done, having coffee with my friends, playing with my niece, and listening to great music.  

Whether you’re at home getting ready, at the reception site or hotel, it doesn’t matter.  The wedding morning can be such a fun time and a nice distracter if you’re feeling those pre-wedding nerves!  .

Here are some fun tips for starting off your wedding day: 

5 Tips To Getting Ready The Morning Of Your Wedding

12 Things you must do the morning of your wedding

Wedding Planning 101 - Good Morning Bride

And finally, a wedding-themed playlist for the morning of, as suggested by Brides.com:

Wedding Morning Playlist

We love being a party of each Bride's wedding morning and we can also help with all things beauty leading up to your big day. From eyebrow shaping, to facials and spray tans. Visit us at online for more information.

-Colleen

Favorite Instagram feeds

Aside from following my friends on Instagram and seeing cute pictures of their children or their latest adventures, I also follow a ton of small businesses, celebrities, artists, and photographers. Here are just a few of my favorites:

1. ElizabethMessina - California based wedding photographer and author who posts everything beautiful and inspiring from her latest photo shoots.

2. Mrs_Paulie_ - Account of Paulina Eaborn, an Australian mother who created the adorable and handmade Pray4Trax necklaces which benefits a little boy named Trax who was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

3. Sweetlittlepeanut - these ladies post everything from crafts, to products they love, to their latest post on Mother's Day gift guides.

4. Freshlypicked - anyone who knows me, knows I love baby moccasins.

5. Papercrownluvsu - account for Paper Crown, LA based clothing company founded by Lauren Conrad. Gorgeous, over-priced clothes that I love to just look at.

What are you favorite Instagram accounts?

 -Colleen

The Silver Trunk

Clients often ask me what the "silver trunk" is in the corner is our studio facial suite. This tiny piece of equipment happens to be one of my most popular services, microdermabrasion.

For those of you who don't know, microdermabrasion is a quick and painless procedure that offers a variety of benefits. Our 25 minute procedure utilizes a diamond tip abrasion system that simultaneously exfoliates and suctions those dead skin cells away with no downtime afterwards!

Benefits include smoother looking skin and better product absorption after the first few treatments.

After 6-12 treatments clients see a reduction in fine lines, lighter or diminished sun or age spots, reduction in pore size, and overall beautiful and glowing skin.

Those of you looking for a more aggressive treatment can combine microdermabrasion with a glycolic peel for the ultimate in exfoliation treatments. We offer an amazing package of 6 microdermabrasion treatments for $300, with the 7th and 8th free!  Typical treatments in this area cost around $100-$150 per treatment so this package is a great value at only $37.50 per treatment.


Please let us know if you have any questions about microdermabrasion or any of our exfoliating products!

-Colleen

Want to learn to do your own lashes?

What I recommend for those of you who are learning how to put false eyelashes on is to stay calm and take deep breaths. Always have a clean face when you start your make up... It provides a clean slate for the make up to lay nicely.

(1) First do your eyes the way you want them .... 

Smokey

Natural 

Whatever way you choose. 

(2) Do your eyeliner to your liking 

(3) Start by taking your eyelashes out of the pack 

I always start mine by measuring the eyelash across my eye.

I always make sure it's a little shorter then my natural lash line.

(4) To ensure the most natural looking line snip the end of the lash  (never snip the inner end).

(5) Squeeze glue on to the cardboard

(6) Put a small thin line across the back of your eyelashes 

(7) Place the false eyelashes at the very base of the natural lash and press lightly! 

(8) Please allow at least 10 mind for glue to dry completely ! 

(9) As the glue drys the lashes will feel tighter and tighter after the 10 min mark you can close both eyes and pull lightly to stretch the false lashes 

(10) When you have reached the 10 min mark and your lashes feel comfortable, proceed to finish the look with filling in the dotted line with your eye liner ! 

Tip: If you want a softer or heavier liner look use a thin brush and a dark color eye shadow (brown or black) 

Ruthie eye is always a text away for your beauty questions and needs.  Please feel free to text, call or email us !! 610-724-3808 or ruthieseyes@gmail.com! 

Reminder - I am a licensed XTreme Lashes Stylist. Learn more here!

Happy lashes!

-Ruth