Blog Posts by CharleenBellezaBlog

In this blog I will go through my entire skin care regimen, with a demo of the products I use from morning to night.

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina My skin care regimen (iStockphoto)

Morning Routine

The first thing I do in the morning is wash my face. As you sleep, impurities build up in your pores, so it is very important to wash your face in the morning, as well as at night. I use The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Foaming Cleanser which helps fight acne and control excess oil. Then, I use The Body Shop's Tea Tree Skin Clearing Lotion to hydrate and soothe my skin. I finish up with Yes to Cucumbers Soothing Eye Gel to reduce puffiness and help create a bright-eyed effect.

Night Routine

I take off my makeup in the shower using the steam from the water to open up my pores. I find that using Aveeno's Ultra Calming Foaming Cleanser does a great job at taking off all of my makeup without having to spend the extra time using liquid makeup removers.

Watch my tutorial on how to keep an

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Summer makeup products I love (iStockphoto)These are my favorite beauty products of the moment, featuring bright color trends and light, summer-ready makeup.

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Trendy nail colors

Let me start off with my favorite nail polishes this month: Zoya and their Beach and Surf collection. I'm wearing Zoya's Shelby, and it is the perfect cherry blossom pink for the summer. I also love wearing orange nail polish for the summer like Zoya's Arizona (a bright citrus orange with a cream finish) and Myrta (a medium orange coral with a metallic shimmer).

Light, sun-proof foundation

Most women like wearing tinted moisturizers during the summer months because of their lightweight formulas and easy application. Try Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 which has light to medium coverage and looks as flawless as foundation. On days where I want my natural skin to shine through, but still need a bit of coverage, I use BECCA's Luminous Skin Colour Ultra Sheer Foundation with SPF 25.

Read More »from VIDEO: Top Beauty Products of the Moment

What's in your makeup bag? If all it has is five tubes of lipstick and an old blush brush, it's time to give your cosmetics kit a makeover. Charleen has the 411 on the must-have products that will help you build the perfect beauty kit.

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine LatinaBrushes are essential to any makeup kit / iStockphoto

Basic brushes

To start, I recommend having a good quality brush set. My favorite is Sigma's Essential Kit-Make Me Blush which contains all the necessary brushes for any makeup look. I suggest having at least a big fluffy powder brush, an angled blush brush, a foundation brush, a blending brush and a flat shader brush. You'll also need a brush cleansing spray like Sephora's Daily Brush Cleaner to keep your brushes clean and prevent bacteria from building up.

Watch my video to find out which are beauty must-haves:

Building a base

Next, get a foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out your complexion. For full coverage get a foundation like MAKE UP FOR EVER's HD Foundation. If you want lighter

Read More »from VIDEO: Makeup Kit Essentials

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Don't miss my tips for beauty budget swaps / iStockphotoThere are many fabulous high end makeup brands out there, but for Latinas (and any chica for that matter!) on a budget quality doesn't have to be sacrificed for affordability. Here are some great dupes for high end products.

LIPS
Starting with the Clinque Chubby Stick ($16) which imparts a sheer wash of color on the lips; Revlon has a super affordable alternative that won't break the bank. Revlon's Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain ($7.69) has more opaque color coverage and also works as a stain which lasts for hours. Next up is lip liner, MAC's Lip Pencil ($14) comes in a variety of colors and is revered around the world as the go-to lip liner. The price is not so fabulous, however, and I found NYX's lip liner ($4) to be a great alternative- just as pigmented and easy to use.

Watch my video to see which products give a better bang for your buck:

 

EYES

Eyeshadow primer is an absolute must before applying eyeshadow in order to increase theRead More »from VIDEO: Beauty on a Budget

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Selena Gomez (WireImage)In this tutorial I am going to recreate a red carpet look from the gorgeous Selena Gomez. I love how she's wearing a classic smoky eye with a bright pink lip. In a few simple steps, I'll show you how to achieve this fabulous look.

The brushes I'm going to use are from Sigma's Make Me Blush Essential set. The eyeshadow palette I'm using is LORAC's new Pro Palette.

Step 1

In order to replicate this red carpet look, you'll need a flawless looking face. I'm going to start by priming my face with Amazing Cosmetics Anti Aging Face primer, which will hydrate your skin and prolong the wear and appearance of your foundation. I'm using Amazing Cosmetics Velvet Mineral Liquid Custom Finish Foundation with a foundation brush. Use the brush to apply the makeup base in an outward motion.

Step 2

To finish off the face, apply a concealer like Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer To-Go on the under eye area and anywhere you have a blemish. Set

Read More »from VIDEO: Get the Look of Selena Gomez

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Get that sexy tan (iStockphoto)
A sexy tan at home

Having beautiful bronzed skin in the summer is easily attainable for any skin tone, even for some of us fair Latinas who tend to burn quickly. The best part: you don't have to spend any time under the sun's harmful UV rays. The easiest way to get a summer glow is to use a body self-tanner. I tested out many different brands, and the one self-tanner that didn't leave me orange, didn't have a bad smell and dried fairly quickly is LORAC's SelfTANtalizer Body Bronzing Gradual Self-Tanner. This self-tanner instantly adds a sun kissed look that can gradually be built up for a full-on tan. I recommend applying it after getting out of the shower; just wait about five minutes before putting your clothes on.

VIDEO: Watch my tutorial on how to get a great tan without the sun.

A beautifully bronzed face

Now we want the face to match our faux-bronzed skin, and to achieve this you can use a gradual facial self-tanner like LORAC's Read More »from Get a Great Tan Without Burning

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to create an easy, simple, and wearable smoky eye. In a few short steps, and with the right products, a sexy smoky look is easily attainable. Eva Mendes rocking the smoky eye look (iStockphoto)

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

All the brushes I use in this tutorial are from Sigma (Mrs. Bunny Essential Kit). You will need a base color that is close to the color of your skin, grey/taupe shadow, shimmery white shadow and a dark charcoal or black shadow. I like to use Too Faced's Romantic Eye Palette, which contains all these colors in an easily accessible and color-coordinated format.

Step 1:
Always start out by applying an eye shadow base to the eye. I use Too Faced's Eyeshadow Insurance, which prevents the shadows from creasing and increases their longevity and wear.

Watch my tutorial on how to create the perfect smoky eye:

Step 2:
Continue by using the color closest to your natural skin tone, and apply this as a base on your eyelid up to your brow bone with a fluffy blending

Read More »from Easy Steps for the Perfect Smoky Eye

By Charleen Gonzalez for Shine Latina

Summer Makeup Essentials (iStockphoto)Eye Liner and Mascara: Staying Waterproof
Dealing with the summer heat can spell disaster for your beauty routine, but there are products that can withstand the humidity and last you throughout the day. Waterproof products tend to last the longest without melting off, so you want to invest in eyeliner and mascara that will last whether you go for a swim or lay out in the sun. My favorite pencil eye liner is Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide On Pencil. This is the best pencil eye liner on the market, and it lasts the longest without smudging. To ensure that the pencil you use stays within the area you're trying to line, tap a bit of a similarly colored eye shadow with an angler liner brush on top of your pencil. This simple step will set your liner and will keep it from smudging. Liquid liners tend to stay on best, especially waterproof formulas. A great option is MAKE UP FOR EVER's Aqua Liner.

Waterproof mascara is a must in the summer. The heat can make

Read More »from Shine Without a Smudge: Tips for Summer Makeup