Category Archives: Carissa

What is Cupping?

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While this Jennifer Aniston pic circulates, so does talk of cupping and what it’s all about. The pic below her is of me several years ago when I first tried cupping treatments that would often supplement my Accupuncture. It’s used to treat pain, better circulation, and to just keep the general flow of energy in the body moving. My treatments were for my lower back which was trashed from hunching over too much while doing makeup.

A flame is quickly lit into the glass cup before the cup is put on your skin to create the suction. Your skin rises inside the cup as it reacts to the suction which doesn’t hurt at all. It’s this suction that improves the blood flow and energy as the cups stay on the skin for 10ish minutes. Check out this short vid which shows in more detail what it’s all about.

Cupping isn’t too pricey either, I remember it was around $20 added on to the price of Accupuncture, so on its own I can’t imagine it world be too much more.

My facialist does facial cupping (see here) to increase the circulation in the skin. It’s less intense (no fire!) than traditional cupping but you can often see rosier, healthy skin right after you’re finished. (Click here for a facial cupping vid.)

Cupping has been around since 3000 BC so it’s not something new. Find out more about cupping and its many uses here to see if it’s something that might help you.

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Instagram With Me

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More fun than Facebook, more interesting than Twitter- it’s all about Instagram the way addicting photo sharing app. I try to get something up every day or so and I follow back most normal-seeming people so find me and let’s creep into each other’s personal space via iPhone.

Oh- I’m also going to start giving things away on there so heads up…

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Another Day Another Bride: Me at Work

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Carissa Wedding Makeup

Just a glimpse of me at work with a giant eagle watching over it all. No biggie. It’s actually taken at one of my very favorite wedding venues in Colorado, Crooked Willow Farms by one of the very best photographers around Travis Broxton. I’m putting together a look for a very sweet bride for her big day, in a photo where I believe I was newly pregnant.

I’d forgotten to share this a while back and I wanted to post it because I always think it’s interesting to see makeup used by artists at work. Oh, btw that’s Graftobian pressed powder and not Studio Fix of which I’m totally not a fan.

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My Old Driver’s License Photo and the Importance of Even Brows

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Since showing the world my placenta and many other unflattering pics, I decided this old drivers license photo from 8 years ago wouldn’t even be in the realm of embarrassing anymore. And really, the embarrassing stuff (relative to my new photo) has hopefully passed.

A few observations: the first being that my face was so much fatter fuller (30lbs-ish) that even my nose looks skinnier! How weird is that? Maybe (some) celebs are telling the truth when they say their noses are real when comparing past photos to now. Next, a new hair stylist taught me the value of a lowlight every now and again- bleach is a dangerous addiction. Lastly (though I could go on forever) but most importantly: brows. People, say it with me, I promise not to over-pluck and I will see a professional for some guidance. A trained Anastasia or Damone Roberts brow expert is great because they’re trained to pre-measure the brow and not remove too much. Big shout out to my brow ninja who got me all evened out, Carla Gray in Centennial who on our first appointment told me to not tweeze and come back in 3 months since there weren’t any brows left to shape.

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Brows. They frame your face and make your eyes pop. Get yours evened out by a pro, the $40 or so is way worth it.

Makeup I Use & Jane Iredale’s Latest

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Jane Iredale BB Cream

What you see below is the makeup I packed for our California trip (brushes and skincare not included obvs). All were things I bought (save for the CARGO bronzer and theBalm shadow) in spite of there being plenty of makeup scattered around my office sent by companies wanting me to review it all. I do have a Japonesque case filled with makeup that I love using when time allows and there’s a reason to doll up, but most days I edit down and use at least one or two things from this pile.

Bronzer: CARGO
Mineral Foundation: Jane Iredale in Warm Silk
Laura Mercier: Eyeliner for Tightline
White Eye Pencil: Jane Iredale
Lip Gloss: Jane Iredale in Soft Peach (my all time fav shade)
Lipstick: Aveda Oyster Pink (limited)
Cheek Color: Jane Iredale Parfait
Single Eye Shadow: theBalm Mary-Lou Manizer
Shadow trio: Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in ‘Filter’
Foundation: Boscia BB Cream
Concealer: Miracle Skin Transformer Treat & Conceal
Not Pictured: Mascara CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion (the purple tube)


Click to enlarge

I use the Jane Iredale Mineral Makeup over the BB Cream for a little more coverage. In a hurry, I just brush on the Iredale powder solo.

Speaking JI- their new Smooth Affair primer is amazing. It’s a light weight nourishing formula with good-for-the-skin ingredients and antioxidants that really help makeup stay put. I’ve even used it a few times in place of a morning moisturizer when my skin isn’t feeling dry because it’s the perfect amount of hydration and it makes my skin look and feel great. She also introduced a mineral BB Cream that will soon replace the Boscia I’ve been using once it runs out. It has tons of coverage and a beautiful finish. I like it better than the Boscia because of the natural ingredients and it comes in darker shade selections rather than just one ‘universal’ shade that really isn’t.


Smooth Affair Primer


Glow Time BB Cream