THE DBB STYLE GLOWUP: WARDROBE & IMAGE MAKEOVER SERVICES

I’ve always said “It’s not just about the makeup…it’s the whole package!” and that’s how I approach my image and my business. My love of glamour has encompassed the allure of a strong feminine presence from my earliest memories. Babies can’t lie…their stares and facial expressions tell the entire story, which is why to this day, I rely upon my reaction to help me select items when shopping. If an object captures my attention for longer than a few seconds, then I know it’s interesting and worthy of considering. If I get goosebumps at the same time, then I must have it! That’s telling me I AM moved, and at the very least, it’ll be a conversation starter.

DESEDA "HEAR ME ROAR" SCARF

In my blog EVERYDAY GLAMOUR, I talk about how I was captivated by the incomprehensible beauty of the Silver Screen Era Goddesses and I’ve come to realize that, if I AM to pay attention to my responses, than I MUST address that fact that GLAMOUR is what excites me…and all that it encompasses.

I studied fashion, first in magazines, catalogs, movies, and in music videos (I saw the launch of the Moon Man on MTV) and then formally at Illinois State University. I worked briefly in high-end Women’s fashion before switching to the business of Makeup but it’s ALL THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY to me. I’ve always treated the world as my runway by wearing FACE TO FLOOR flattering looks that made me feel ALIVE and I’d love for you to join me on stage! Allow me to help you discover your STYLE IDENTITY with my lifelong passion and expertise in Makeup, Fashion and Style.

MARINA CARTEGENA 📸 https://www.instagram.com/yourlocalphotographercartagena?igsh=ZW1ubzZhZmx5aW9h

Imagine a situation where you have a very important function to attend, have shed a few lbs and are in the mood for something new, or are in the space of disposing of what no longer serves you. Wouldn’t it be FABULOUS to have a Glam Genie pop in and say…”Let’s go shopping! No time? I’ll window shop online for you and put together a Look Book of options you can choose from!” Or how about you sit there and enjoy a glass of bubbly while I hold up items and together we vote on which pile they go into KEEP, STORE, SELL, or DONATE and then I create outfits for you from the edited selection, take pics, and organize your closet into digital albums for easy reference. When you return VOILA your closet is tidy and organized! Or my personal favorite, let’s find you something SMASHING to wear to your event and ROCK OUT with gorgeous accessories, hair, and makeup for a flawless execution that’ll make you confidently feel like you own the room!

JANET MANDELL HIGH FASHION RENTAL

These are all scenarios that bring my service options to life. THE DBB STYLE GLOWUP refers to having it all…an edited wardrobe that compliments your body and energizes your mood plus makeup lessons to teach you how to apply makeup that flatters for when the Glam Genie isn’t by your side. Imagine YOU2.0 pulling pre-curated looks from your organized closet, sitting at your vanity, and painting yourself to look FRESHLY FIERCE! That’s my daily experience and I can teach you how. It’s ALWAYS THE RIGHT TIME to learn and be a BETTER YOU!

Please fill out the Contact Form to express interest and to share how I can be of service.

XX, DAWN BLISS 💋

The Mind-Body-Spirit Connection

Lately my girlfriends and I have been talking a lot about MIND-BODY CONNECTION as it pertains COVID-19 & the resulting Quarantine. These are conditions that none of us have been subject to before and while everyone is affected by it differently, one thing is the same, WE ALL MUST ADAPT.

The spectrum of mindsets I’ve been observing run the gamut from grateful, content, and blissful to anxious, concerned and fearful. One could argue that’s easier to adapt if you have XYZ but the old adage of “The grass isn’t always greener on the other side.” was never more suited than to a situation like this.

We are all being tested and since the playing field has been leveled, what better time than now to get in touch with how we feel and how to benefit from that connection.

Worse or different?

Always one for “conducting an experiment” or trying on new behaviors during a trial period, I see this as fertile training ground for developing improved self-awareness…tools that we can use for the rest of our lives. The key to healthy self-awareness is simply observing how you feel in any given moment. That’s where the Mind-Body Connection comes in.

The body produces different sensations such as butterflies (anticipation), tightening of the chest and throat (anxiety), heart palpitations (fear, anxiety, excitement), changes in body temperature, which are indicators of what’s going on mentally just as our emotions (happy, indifferent, sad, nervous, excited etc.) are guides as to how we should proceed in any given circumstance.

The emotions and resulting physiological reactions we experience are an IN-HOUSE MECHANISM we have to protect us from harm and help us create more of what feels good. That’s not to be undermined. It’s a beautiful gift of a COMPASS that when used will undoubtedly create a healthier mental landscape and a better quality of life.

Your body is telling you something.

One way it’s been showing for me and other single girlfriends I have that don’t have children is the feeling of loneliness due to isolation. I know that seems like a dream to some of you who would give anything at this point to have some quiet time to yourself without someone wanting something from you but again…Grass, greener. To be homebound and alone most hours, day in, day out, is a different kind of stress.

It manifests in lack of motivation, sluggishness, disorientation, increased self-isolation and can turn into prolonged depression if the emotions are allowed to fester. So for example, to course correct I could count my blessings (Rule #1), go for a walk or drive, Face-Time a friend, meditate, get my emotions out by journaling, learn something new, start a project, or plan something to look forward to. In other words, SHIFT MY FOCUS AND RAISE MY VIBRATION.

Get out of your head.

Other ways you can benefit by Mind-Body Connection is observing your body’s reaction during and after any activity.  For instance, just in the category of food alone you can observe how you feel after eating certain foods…Do they give you energy or leave you drained? Make you feel congested? Give you indigestion? You get the idea. Everyone’s body is different and while there are so many approaches to good health and weightloss, I believe that all you need to do is PAY ATTENTION to your body’s reaction and do more of what feels good and less of what causes dis-ease. Since I took this approach, my weight stabilized once and for all and I stopped yo-yo dieting.

Same thing with working out. Once I took the emphasis off of working out to lose weight and paid full attention to how certain activities made me feel strong, energetic, empowered, confident, mobile, flexible, fluid, sensual, and vital INSIDE & OUT, then nothing and no one could stop me from moving to feel good!

https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-trust-your-intuition/

In relationships you may feel “energized” or “drained” by certain individuals and in business they say “Trust your gut.” Figures of speech we’ve been repeating our entire lives are actually words of wisdom trying to guide us.

Now we’ve talked about Mind-Body Connection but there’s still one more piece of the puzzle to complete the triangle to FULL CONSCIOUS AWARENESS and that’s the SPIRIT. Enter meditation.

I admit I am new to the mystery and science of meditation. While I have had many “failed attempts” over the years because I couldn’t quiet my mind long enough to establish a “connection,” once I finally did and recognized how comforted, supported, guided, invigorated and inspired I felt afterwards, I was able to recreate the process and grow from there.

If you are reading this and are frustrated that you keep hearing about meditation but you don’t understand what the big deal is, I completely understand! This is why I want to share this information. I have been in your shoes forever but now that I am beginning to discover the existence and benefits of communicating with this hidden world that’s out there but actually within you, I feel it’s my duty. I know it sounds trippy but stay with me…

You have more power than you think.

So there are many different types of meditation and reasons for doing it. I don’t profess to be an expert and I’m not going to even Google the subject because I AM speaking from my own experience. I became curious about it as a coping mechanism for anxiety. I would always hear about “focus on your breathing” as an exercise in focus, silencing the noise in your head, and giving your body a much-needed break. At first I started off with sitting still and trying to quiet my mind while breathing deeply but I was “trying too hard to SUCCEED at meditating.”

Then I got into the habit of casually stopping what I was doing when I felt anxiety creeping in and taking deep breaths until it passed. Success with that demonstrated to me that there was something there. Next I started reading about connecting with a higher source, The Divine AKA God, during meditation and that intrigued me so I formally prepared a Sacred Ceremony by burning candles, incense, and Palo Santo sticks to clear the energy, laid out my exercise mat to lay down with crystals to raise my vibration (what works best for me), and focused on igniting my chakras and connecting to the higher powers.

It took me a few attempts but eventually I would feel moments of connection with what felt like waves of euphoric warm tingles rushing through my body like electricity along with an unrivaled peace mixed with empowerment and enlightenment through seemingly random clear and very smart thoughts. A detailed description of my meditation process is featured in my blog HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES.

Creating a ceremony helps me get into “The Zone.”

I have since identified that what I accomplish within time meditating is worth hours, months, years worth of sweat equity maintaining what I’ve created up to that point. The reason being is that during my time laying still and “just being,” the ideas and WISDOM that flows is grander than anything that occurs to me while I AM BUSY living my life and no amount of “staying busy” will lead me there. The clutter of the mind and the noise it creates drowns out the brilliant ideas and the guidance we seek.

https://mirror-of-my-soul.com/2015/01/20/when-the-twin-flame-kundalini-rises-souls-merge-true-story/

BECAUSE I WAS OPEN, I accelerated very quickly in my learning to go deep into my mind and into other dimensions where wisdom lives. To demonstrate the types of thoughts that come to me while I am in this state of mind, I have chosen to share with you an excerpt of the notes I took during my last meditation. They are an unedited stream of consciousness that I refer to afterwards to ponder and guide my next steps:

To fulfill your purpose here on Earth, you are given a book of assignments. Cases.

Everyone has their own Divine Book.

I’m currently on ******** Detail.

“You don’t just get to protect the President. You graduate.” **Evy Poumpouras 

We are all worker bees. Even angels. Everyone has a function. A detail. We are the Hands of The Creator…like the brushes to a Makeup Artist. To be obedient to that function is to be in communion with The Creator. To be in the flow. You feel it like a surfer riding a wave. It’s an energy. A current. A momentum. It pulls you until you get distracted. You must maintain focus in order to keep the momentum going. When you do, you “graduate” to the next level. 

The Fountain of Youth isn’t a fountain at all. It’s not water. It’s fire. Ignited by passion, connection (Mind-Body-Spirit to The Divine and all of Creation) and purpose. The water is actually light. 

The Fountain of Youth is actually a Vessel of Light. We are the vessel. The light within us is the Divine Holy Spirit. When we tap into it, we get younger from the inside out and “radiate” or “glow” peace, love, & joy. Happiness is different from joy. It is possible to get younger as you get older. 

How do you maintain the connection? By being still. Reserve time. Exercise stillness. It’s a muscle. 

So you can get younger by being still? Yes! The instruction will come to you then. You don’t have to know anything more. . 

In mediation you don’t have to do anything but observe and listen.

Just be.

As you can see the wisdom I “downloaded” during this session was elevated above what I normally encounter during my daily routine of living. The concepts here are bigger though sometimes I just decompress and air out fear, negativity, and anxiety. Sometimes I get answers to simple questions I’ve been asking or inspiration for projects. Other times I fill up on gratitude and send light and love to whomever enters my mind.

You get what you need in the moment and I must admit that I tell myself to “be quiet” and “let go” every time because the chatter creeps in but each time it becomes easier to switch gears and “connect.” While I have a meditation template I’ve created for myself, I by no means try to control the process. The point is to JUST BE and receive what comes to you.

To bring the MIND-BODY-SPIRIT CONNECTION full circle, when we are PRESENT & ALIGNED, we feel joyful, ignited, supported, AT EASE, inspired, alive, full, DIVINE. This is how we are supposed to feel and when we cut the noise, listen to our bodies, and connect more often, we inch closer to fulfilling our PURPOSE and living a QUALITY OF LIFE that is our birthright.

“The more you believe, the more you can see.” **Michael Whitcomb

Light & Love,

Dawn Bliss

INSPIRING TOTAL TRANSFORMATION

In a previous blog on entitled EVERYDAY GLAMOUR, I describe my fascination with the heightened femininity of Old Hollywood actresses and how that has translated into my daily aesthetic.  I AM a huge proponent of putting in a little extra effort to feel good because WE ARE WORTH IT and it makes a difference!  Adding a pop of color on your lip or a little lash will put pep in your step, I guarantee it!  Look no further than my Instagram @dawnblissbeauty to see this creed in motion. 

Wine Experts @theblendgirls

Photo Christian Yah Photography

But lately, you may have noticed a shift in my posts and stories as I AM being summoned to another calling.  Over the past 2 years, I have been on the most exhilarating, eye-opening, and healing journey of my life!  I have learned so much and am bursting at the seams to share all of my best practices with you that incorporate mind, body, and soul, in addition to the Glamsformations I AM known for. 

Goddess Tendencies

I have always indulged in vibration-elevating practices such as lighting candles, playing music, displaying flowers, using obscene amounts of body products to keep my skin soft, etc. but no matter how good I was at styling myself, my clients, and my home, I was still secretly unhappy.  So in 2018 I decided to go on a quest to find out the true meaning of SELF-LOVE because all arrows pointed back to me and my deeply-rooted beliefs. 

The Journey Ahead

After 1st surrendering to God, I enlisted the help of a tribe of professionals who would guide me to enlightenment: Miana Melendez for “business branding counseling w/ a spiritual twist,” Maureen Riley of Purely Vital , a mindfulness-based therapist, life coach, and one of the few medically certified energy healers in the country for energy healing, plus the assistance of a traditional psychotherapist .

I discovered that due to a series of childhood traumas (who doesn’t have them), I made AGREEMENTS with myself such as “I am less than” or “Because I don’t have XYZ, I must not deserve it” that determined my self-worth and right to be happy. 

Nourish Your Inner Child

I carried this mindset from a young age, when I didn’t have control over my circumstances, well into adulthood and created the reality to support it, AKA self-fulfilling prophecy. Some of my self-sabotaging behaviors of choice were negative self-talk to keep myself in bondage and in victim mode, attracting and retaining the wrong people, refusing to set goals or prioritize, allowing opportunities to pass me by, and not taking risks.

Picking Up The Pieces

After much reflection, I discovered that SELF-LOVE IS SYNONYMOUS WITH SELF-WORTH!!!  Unlike what I originally thought, it has less to do with how well you take care of yourself on the OUTSIDE and more to do with how well you take care of yourself on the INSIDE!

BELIEVING YOU DESERVE IT (whatever IT is), being your own biggest advocate, prioritizing YOU and your goals & dreams, having goals & dreams at all, putting on your oxygen mask 1st so you can best serve others, recognizing your triggers and adjusting your habits accordingly, creating healthy practices that are supportive vs. self-sabotaging are all examples of self-love. 

Healed

Once, I got to the ROOT of my faulty mindset, I was able to change it (my subconscious) and the resulting patterns of behavior that created my reality up to that point.  As you can imagine, my life began to improve and the spark of light that sustained me all of these years grew to a burning flame, which continues today. 

How different my life is now within the landscape of a healthy mind.  Regardless of the circumstances, I now have the tools to ALIGN and course correct, hence my unwavering joy in the midst of an unpaid quarantine!

One of the biggest tools I now employ is daily MEDITATION, which I spoke at length about in my last blog HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES.  In it, I list other healthy practices I have adopted and provide links to supporting articles, which are a wealth of wisdom.

HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES

Another major change I made was to start living by the LAW OF ATTRACTION, which is “the ability to attract into your life whatever you are focusing on” AKA MANIFESTING.  You see, once I removed the “viral bugs” from my mind or Operating System as I like to call it, I was able to focus on CREATING and that’s where the MAGIC happens!!!  I went from being a victim who was “creative” to becoming a true Creator in every sense of the word and I AM not alone.  We all have this POWER within us as extensions of THE CREATOR HIMSELF. Especially You!

Dawn Bliss

The Vision I AM speaking into existence is to merge Glamour, Spirituality, Creativity, Vitality, Healthy Living, Mental Wellness, Self-care, and Wisdom into one juicy package to inspire YOU to a TOTAL TRANSFORMATION.  

I have heard a whispering in my ear for quite some time to #FOLLOWME and I AM finally surrendering.  Join me as we continue to grow and transform together, inside and out.  

Light & Love,

Dawn Bliss  

HOW I SHED LBS & GAINED ENLIGHTENMENT BY CONFRONTING MY FINANCES

I’m sure I got your attention by the very mention of losing weight but that was never my intention.  Every year since my awakening in 2018, I have vowed to focus on one theme per year and I decided 2020 would be the Year of Finances because the Scarcity AKA Feast or Famine Mindset I “enjoyed” my entire life was no longer serving me.  As dreadful as that sounds, I have identified over the past few years that EVERYTHING IS MINDSET.  What matters less is the object of our focus.  The real victory lies in realizing the power within yourself to accomplish anything you set your mind to.  Of course we’ve all heard this before but wisdom is a cliche on a bumper sticker (now meme) until you put it to the test and it means something personally to you.  That said, once I made up my mind that I was going to commit, not only to demolishing my debt, but more importantly to RESPECT money and be responsible with my hard earned resources, I had the humbling task of combing through all of my monthly expenses and income sources in order to upload them onto the accounting software Quicken with the help of a trusted friend.  YIKES!!!  So you can understand how I lost my appetite and the pounds just dropped off.  Just kidding…sort of. 

I was aware of my habits because I’ve been employing them for years and they were serving some part of me but what I didn’t know were the exact dollar amounts and percentages they were consuming.  NUMBERS DON’T LIE.  I allowed myself to behave in the same way I always had so that I could observe where the opportunity lie for me to free up some cash to apply to my debt.  After 2 weeks of daily entering into my app…Starbucks, Starbucks, Starbucks, Champagne, Champagne, Champagne, restaurant, restaurant, restaurant…I connected my behaviors, that is, HABITS to the reality of where I was financially.  IT’S THAT SIMPLE!  Same habits, same mindset, same outcome. 

Now, I know I wanted a new outcome MORE than I wanted to maintain my luxurious, self-indulgent lifestyle.  HEAR ME:  MAKE THE THING YOU DESIRE BIGGER than your objection to changing your lifestyle in order to achieve it!!!.  SWITCH YOUR FOCUS! One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in this process is more often than not we are addicted to the HABIT of doing something vs. the thing itself.  I am astonished at how quickly I adapted new behaviors all at once, not just one thing, with my determination leading the charge.  Things that I attached myself to as part of my so-called identity that I confused with serving me.  Can I get an Amen!   

So the 1st thing I did was head straight to Trader Joes!  The last time my fridge was full was in August 2019!  I adjusted my budgets on Quicken to accommodate more grocery shopping and less eating out.  The fact that I dislike cooking helps because I now stock up on lots of salads, fruits, soups, and a few pre-made hot foods.  I buy instant coffee to create a powerful cold brew to replace my 4 shots of espresso at Starbucks.  One of the biggest changes I made was to not to buy any cold alcohol, including Champagne, Rose, or white wine during this debt payoff period given my propensity to suck it down as a thirst quencher.  Instead I changed to red wine, which I sip and savor, and have 1.5 glasses a day at most and allowed myself a maximum of 2 bottles a week.  In the interest of making good choices across the board, I also got in the habit of drinking a large shot of apple cider vinegar with Stevia concentrate on an empty stomach 1st thing in the morning 30 minutes before coffee/food PLUS squeezing one whole lemon per water bottle with Stevia concrete averaging 4 lemons a day, depending upon how much water I drink.  I drink plain water in between as a palette cleanser and heat up lemon water in the evening to digest my food and prepare for bed.  It’s become a little ritual, a healthy habit, signaling it’s time to wind down.  When I am craving champagne, hot sweet lemon water does the trick for me for some reason.  I’ll take it!!! 

Click on pic to discover the many health benefits of lemon water

Between those changes alone, I am ingesting loads less sugar and hidden calories, curbing my appetite, speeding up my metabolism, dissolving barnacles off my digestive system, which all have lead to a slimmer body, not to mention saving $20-$30 a day, which I have applied to my debt, paying off my 1st credit card with a $4200 balance in one month!  How can you do that you ask?  $30 X 29 days = $870 not $4200.  Well that’s were the MAGIC comes in…

FOCUS + ALIGNMENT is a multiplier of ABUNDANCE. In addition to my new responsible behaviors, I carved out time to meditate daily and connect with the higher powers that could assist me.  For ME, it looks like this…I lay down my exercise mat and light a prosperity candle; I burn a palo santo stick to clear the energy and initiate my practice while my favorite DEEP MEDITATION 528HZ.MP3 by www.mindvibrations.com plays in the background.  I lay down and empty my mind until I CONNECT with the ENERGY OF GOD.  I know I have a connection because a tingling sensation comes over me, originating from my heart and sometimes my head or crown chakra, permeating throughout my entire body.  Once I am in this space, Vortex, or Zone as it is sometimes referred, I start thanking God for all of the things I’m grateful for while feeling the gratitude at my core.  When I find myself asking for things, I rephrase in the form of being thankful for them as if they have come to pass.  Then I put my energy behind that, envisioning all that I wish for and stating IT IS SO in Jesus Name.  I stay here for a while, being grateful, speaking affirmations, visualizing, feeling the sensation of having, and speaking things into existence plus sending light, love, and healing energy to those who pop into my head until I have a knowing that my meditation practice is complete. 

Click on pic for an in-depth explanation of my meditation experience

After that, I am quiet and listen to the instruction, which I write down to take action on with urgency.  This is called INSPIRED ACTION.  Inspired action can take you out of your comfort zone because it defies your tendencies or commonly accepted logic but you have to TRUST that the ideas that come to you during SACRED CEREMONY are DIVINE INSTRUCTION.  Between the facets of identifying a goal, devising a plan, aligning with the Divine to co-create, taking the necessary action steps, and STAYING FOCUSED ON THE VISION VS. THE REALITY OF WHAT YOU SEE IN FRONT OF YOU, you have a probable success rate of 100%. Insert whatever goal you have into the equation and the results will always be astounding. The power of your thoughts, spoken word, and intention are ignited through meditation. FOCUS & ALIGN and you will live life in a very different way to miraculous results.  This is how I am choosing to live my life forevermore and I would be happy to help you too. Below are some links to my favorite resources:

POSITIVE THOUGHTS AFFIRMATION CLUB https://youtu.be/xEm-a0AhLu0

MICHAEL SEALEY Inspirational Positive Affirmations https://youtu.be/eCrZ5R4yPns

MICHEAL SEALEY Guided Meditation For Meeting Your Future Self https://youtu.be/eCrZ5R4yPns

ABRAHAM HICKS 4 Things You Must Do Everyday https://youtu.be/AQsAP8mG5BI

ABRAHAM HICKS Passive Income Without Action https://youtu.be/T6bn3X6vDbk

ABRAHAM HICKS Letting Go IS Getting Into The Vortex https://youtu.be/SfEAbni35rs

TIBETAN HEALING SOUNDS https://youtu.be/x6UITRjhijI

MIND VIBRATIONS DEEP MEDITITATION SOUNDS https://www.mindvibrations.com/product/deep-meditation/

Please email at dawn@dawnblissbeauty.com or DM me on Instagram @DawnBlissBeauty or Facebook @DawnMBliss (buttons at the bottom of website) with questions, comments, or support.

Light & Love,

Dawn Bliss

EVERYDAY GLAMOUR

I've always been hypnotized by the enchantment of Glamour.  From a young age I studied the nuances of Silver Screen era icons such as Elizabeth Taylor, Ava Gardner, and Marilyn Monroe. The graceful planes of their faces and hourglass figures enhanced by polished hair and makeup and glorious fashions of the day made them as iconic as Superheroes to me.  In earlier times, femininity was elevated to an art-form, and I was captivated!      

The bar was set high and women were expected to maintain a degree of formality while silmutaneously accomplishing our agendas.  We used our mystical gifts to support our objectives and, rather than being offended, I've always found it utterly fascinating.  The dichotomy between the mental strength we possess to support our families, pursue careers, accomplish our dreams, and live our lives in an increasingly complex and fast-paced world and the softness we biologically inherit is one that is only ours to possess.  Rather than oppose it, I choose to celebrate that birthright.  To have fun with it and to showcase my clients in the most feminine light. 

To my delight, we've seen a "return to adornment" in the past 5-10 years.  Due to the popularity of social media, both men and women have gotten inspired to the point of experimenting with different looks, procedures, and products, which comes down to self-expression.  I can't imagine our love affair with exaggerated lashes and full brows going anywhere anytime soon.  

I coined the term "Everyday Glamour" to describe my approach to beauty which embraces a nod to nostalgia with respect to reality.  The aesthetic I'm known for is a highly feminized face with the emphasis on the eyes and/or lips.  A subtle upturned winged liner or the right shade of complementary iris-enhancing eyeshadow/liner topped with two coats of mascara can be transformative.  So can accenting the "high points" of the face with highlighter to emphasize bone structure and give it a visual lift.  A groomed brow is another important detail to pay attention to, and I'm not talking about drawing on an "Instagram Brow," marked by a feathered front and a perfectly drawn-on darker tail.  I'm talking about seeing an expert and getting the right shaped brow for your face and purchasing the necessary products to make them look their best, whether its clear/colored gel, pomade, or pencil.  Pay attention to this area because it contributes a lot to your entire look.

Brows on fleek! I used Cose brow gel in Julia topped with Anastasia clear brow gel. Brush brows up for maximum impact.

Photo @isi.a.pix. Hair @kristinlmuller Makuep @dawnblissbeauty Model @sydneylouisecross

A little arsenal of knowledge can go a long way when making your "beauty mark" on the world.  What are your favorite things about your face and style?  Take inventory then push the limits there. Be a caricature of yourself!  That's when you know you have "signature style."  Taking a few minutes each day to add details to your look that excite you and give you more confidence and presence is Everyday Glamour.  It can't be defined as one look or another because it's more about attitude and the intention behind the effort.  Stand Out!  Be Counted!  Be Bold!  Putting in the effort to add a little extra polish is how I emphasize the feminine, even if the end-result is intended to look a bit "undone."  A groomed brow, cared for skin, an interesting lip, and a nice lash are my baseline and from there I change up the details.  The standards of the bygone era from which I draw inspiration are unrealistic today for most women but the idea is to be inspired by the spirit of femininity and celebrate it in a way that appeals to you.  That's Everyday Glamour! 

SAVE FACE

We didn't have much of a Summer this year but you can't blame us for trying!  Bottomless drinks with friends, long days in the pool, outdoor sports, festivals, bbq's and everything in between takes it's toll on our skin causing us to look tired, dehydrated, freckled and fried.  So what're we to do?  We're certainly not going to sacrifice a day at the beach in the name of beauty.  Life's too short for that so like most Summer-loving Chicagoans, we have our fun and worry about it tomorrow.  Ok so it's tomorrow...now what?  You promise yourself your going to drink more water,  sit in the shade the next time, and slow down on the brats but in the famous words of Dr. Rumack (Airplane, 1980), "That's not important right now!"  Because you need to look good right now!  Well fortunately, as a professional makeup artist, I have a few tricks up my sleeve that I'm going to share with you right now so that you can be prepared for where the fun takes you and still look your best.  This is what I know for sure:

1.  Ice reduces puffiness.  Chamomile tightens.  Make chamomile tea, let steep for as long as possible, then pour into an ice tray and freeze.  Once frozen, wrap a wet napkin or paper towel around the ice cube and apply to inflamed areas, such as the eyes, to instantly reduce puffiness.

2.  Caffeine tightens.  Look for neck, face, and eye creams that contain caffeine.  Better yet, look for the ingredient MATRIXYL 3000, an effective peptide that creates a Spanx-like effect on the skin but also "stimulates collagen synthesis and skin repair" for long-lasting benefits.   My favorite product that contains these ingredients and more is Luxurious Lathers Edens-Bliss .  

3.  Oxygen brightens.  When you oxygenate blood, it instantly turns bright red, and since we have a constant supply of blood flowing to the skin, feeding that source will in turn brighten it.  One of my favorite products is Peter Thomas Roth Brightening Bubbling Mask to make you look refreshed.

4.  BB Creams do wonders and save time.  Essentially a foundation and moisturizer in one, Beauty Balms or BB Creams as they are most commonly known, can rapidly speed up the transformation process by evening out the skin tone and plumping the texture in one fell swoop.  They are great for people who don't like the look of foundation but they are also a brilliant first step for those who want to build coverage.  Why do all of the work on the back end when you can get the process started from the jump.   Bobbi Brown BB Cream SPF35 has the largest selection of colors.  For even sheerer coverage, mist rosewater such as Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist on your face beforehand.  

5.  Lines transform the face.  As in eyeliner and brows.  Visually from a distance, the features that dictate the face, are the ones that are the most prominent.  So if you want to instantly awaken a tired face, fill in the brows, concentrating on the top of the arches to magically lift the eyes like two invisible clothespins.  Add eyeliner to the top and bottom lashline to create a "V" on the outer corner.  The points should start at the top of the pupil and end underneath the pupil.  Add at least two coats of mascara to the top lashes to "pop" the eyes and distract from whatever else is going on.  Bottom mascara is optional.

6.  Go for the glow.  Adding warmth to the face is always an instant pick-me-up.  Sweep SHEER apricot, gold, copper, or pink bronzer (depending upon your skin tone) such as the classic Guerlain Terracotta Light Bronzing Powder to your cheeks, forehead, chin, nose, and eyelids using a medium to large fluffy brush for added diffusion.   Giorgio Armani Beauty makes a gorgeous fluid sheer highlighter to add to your skincare or foundation to create a subtle glowing effect.  With caution, you can use both liquid highlighter and bronzer BUT between the 2, make sure to add a thin veil of no color dusting power such as the incomparable BY TERRY Hyalauronic Hydra-Powder.  It's pricey but the results are worth it!  (Thanks Johhny Dosse for the introduction!)

7.  Lollipops!  Don't be a sucker and fall for the on-trend matte nude lip if you are trying to look alive.  Take inspiration from lollipops and add a little pop to your pucker in the form of cherry, tangerine, or raspberry lip color.  The texture can be sheer, such as Clinique Chubby Stick, if your aren't feeling so bold but color on the cheeks and lips will instantly make you look like you took a quick jog around the spa.

Now that you're equipped with some face-saving tools, go out and live life to the fullest!  

Welcome to Dawn Bliss Beauty!

TRANSFORMATION

There are times in your life when you look around and think, something's not right.  Something is off.  You probably go about your business, while the little voice in your head whispers commands such as "You need to move. You need to start your own business. You need to start dating."  This inner dialogue nags at us until we take action.  The moment when intention meets action is pure magic!  It infuses us with new energy, causing us to evaluate people, places, and things with a fresh set of eyes.  Old things are made new again, including ourselves.  It is in this spirit that I launch Dawn Bliss Beauty.  

My freelance career began a number of years back under the guise of Edit Faces.  As you probably suspect, most employers don't embrace freelancing, therefore I had to be discreet.  While I attained all of my clients on my own apart from the salon, I couldn't exactly sing from the rooftops.  Therefore I was always looking over my shoulder, never fully stepping into my greatness.  Until now!

The launch of Dawn Bliss Beauty is emotional on so many levels.  The name "Bliss" is my birth name, my mom's maiden name.  I only inhabited it for 7 years until my stepfather adopted me, which was later changed to my married name.  Returning to the place of origin for me doesn't mean going backwards.  It signifies returning to myself.  "Dawn Bliss" literally translates to "Emerge Happy" and that's exactly the person I want to be.  Always growing yet grateful for the present.  I'll be honest, the journey hasn't been easy but within the struggle lies immense growth.  Apart from the business component of running a business, doing makeup is my meditation.  It's a safe space to play, create, and connect.  This is my sweet spot where I cease to exist and can just be.  What's yours?

I can transform you.

At least the outside, which helps the inside, and vice versa.  Whatever your inner voice is telling you, I can help you feel empowered to accomplish your goals by enhancing your beauty and showing you how to recreate your best look so that you can be independently awesome.  My goal is "Expansion always.  In all ways."  That is, to not limit myself but to create opportunites and connections and to move forward into my bliss. 

Find your Bliss!

Dawn