Adrienne Furrie Beauty

Is your eyesight slowing down your makeup skills?

There’s no doubt that less crisp up close vision makes doing your makeup trickier. But have faith it’s still very do-able!

Use a magnifying mirror for your precision details such as eyeliner or lip liner. But then put the magnifying mirror away and return to using your regular mirror!! Even if you need to pop glasses back on at this stage.

It’s essential to observe the overall effect of your makeup and you can’t do that exclusively using a magnifying mirror. It’s an easy trap to fall into, and it can give you a false sense of reality. Being hyper zoomed in can make you think your skin is a disaster, but it’s not!

Makeup is a balance of precision AND global overall effect.

Number one most basic skincare tip - cover up when you’re outside!!

Number two beauty tip - we need more fairy doors in Calgary, 🧚 they’re portals to magic.

Do what you can to slow down skin damage before it even has a chance to happen. Sunspots and uneven pigmentation in skin that we end up trying to smooth out with makeup are ideally halted in their tracks from happening in the first place and slowed down from getting any worse.

This is not about perfection it’s just doing the best that you can on a daily basis.

Throw on sunscreen, a whatever who cares ball cap and some big sunnies. You still want to get outside and live your life, but do what you can to slow down how much sun is hitting your face (and if you’re being extra cautious also your neck and chest). Some women like to tie a loose scarf around their neck and prioritize tops that cover you better. Don’t overthink it just do what you can to protect your face.

Now back to fairy doors… I visited Salt Spring Island a few summers ago and had heard in advance that the island was famous for its fairy doors, and it did not disappoint. They are sprinkled all around the island. Random surprise moments of art and whimsy are the ultimate expression of beauty. I use the words magic and beauty almost interchangeably because to me beauty is a feeling, there’s an electrical charge to it that feels otherworldly.

☀️

Yessssss!!!!

This answer made me sit straight up and pay attention, this is someone who is tuned into the perfect energy to thrive.

Q: What are your goals as a makeup artist?
A: Help elders in my community to feel beautiful again.

This is from a recent application I received for my upcoming Pro Makeup Artist Intensive course starting at the end up September.

This is the kind of “why” that is full circle and sustainable. This individual wants to learn a new skill so they can help others. I am also deeply reminded of how important it is to pass along expertise and knowledge. To be a mentor to the next generation. You never know what your teaching can help make possible for someone else.

The desire to create beauty for others is a calling. I’ve been frankly obsessed with it for as long as I can possibly remember. I have always been fascinated by the transformative nature of makeup, and hair and clothes and the objects in our surroundings, our environments. To spark the feeling of beauty for someone else is an act nothing short of real live magic.

I am excited to be leading this intensive to help introduce a new group of aspiring beauty professionals to create that feeling of magic for others. I’ve been learning and practicing the artistry and business of makeup for over 20 years, there’s a lot of value to be passed along.

If there’s someone in your life that you know is destined to be a creator of beauty for others please share this opportunity with them. The training is being offered both in person and simultaneously through live stream so you are not limited by geography.

Little by little, a little becomes a lot.

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Setting goals for is the easy part. What actually matters way more is what you do when things inevitably bog down.

When the initial buzz of motivation falls limp, the meteoric success you dreamed about is taking sooooooo longgggggg. Obstacles arise and something you want to see happen feels super duper hard to achieve. Ugh.

Maybe it’s a health or lifestyle goal or a relationship energy you’re trying to shift. Maybe it’s a big bold career goal, or it’s a self care daily skincare intention.

The specifics of your goal are less important, what really matters is how you respond when things inevitably are different than how you imagined. Because they just will be, zero doubt about it.

Do you stop? Do you give up? Do you tell yourself it’s all crap and get angry and frustrated and abandon your plan?

I am no stranger to this. An inspired idea comes, some action follows and then reality has its own ideas that often don’t immediately align with the hopes and dreams. Sour moods can follow and progress grinds to a halt. I promise you, this is not a helpful behaviour.

But, if you can step back from the feelings of frustration and see the big picture it’s a completely different reality. Your small, intentional, consistent choices ARE working. It’s just small and kind of invisible for possibly a really long time. All of this is a one day at a time commitment.

Little by little, a little becomes a lot.

What’s a goal you’re working on that is feeling hard? Can you step back from it and gain some perspective to help fuel your ongoing commitment….

Who are you doing it for? What’s your why?

Camping can be a lot of work, and bringing the pup, Fergus, into the mix takes things next level.

Everything revolves around him. Is he bored and barking, is he tangled in his lead, a horsefly bit him, now he wants to chase sticks in the mountain lake (for the third time today), now he’s wet and muddy and cold, now he wants to come and nap on my sleeping bag with me. Our family trips don’t always include him, it just doesn’t always make sense. But then other times it does.

And, … it’s the best.

Choosing to bring him on a trip that he LOVED brings so much joy. Yes, it brings work, but his happiness was our happiness.

We can’t only make choices based on our own needs and desires. It’s a far too limited way to operate. It’s essential to consider who else we are doing things for. Yes, our own personal needs are hugely important and are never to be ignored, but sometimes when we’re stuck and can’t make a decision or take meaningful action, it’s helpful to get out of your own head and consider who else is impacted.

Wanting to make changes in your life, maybe for example to start wearing a little more makeup or maintaining your nails for example, who else benefits from that? Maybe the little sprinkle of joy seeing you having fun with your appearance might inspire someone else? Or maybe it will bring joy to a loved one to see you being creative.

This touches on the famous Simon Sinek idea of what’s your why? Why are you doing what you’re doing? We need to be connected to something larger than ourselves.

When I can tell I’m too up in my head and feeling wrapped up in my problems, one of the fastest ways I can snap out of that is to reconnect to my why’s and the people and creatures I care about.

It’s exhausting trying to pretend you don’t have grey (I mean silver), hair when you do.

Being a blondie, blue eyes, and fair skin is a classic recipe for going grey early, very early. I’ve been negotiating with the greys since my early 20’s, I tell you it’s been a marathon.

I’ve typically gravitated to a warm golden California blond highlights with a medium golden semi permanent darkened root but as the years move along it’s becoming ever higher maintenance to pull off convincingly. The hair appointments are coming faster at me than I want to prioritize.

For some women embracing your silvers looks incredible and others of us aren’t interested in that path. I’m mostly still in the later camp but slowly nudging myself somewhere to a middle ground.

I’ve also been observing and learning that what hair colours we see on camera is not reality, cameras shift colours to emphasize cool tones making the greys look more grey than they are in real life. This is why for example with photography makeup we’ll often use more bronzers to warm up complexions to counterbalance this cooler toned tendency of photography and video.

My partner in hair, the fantastic Leela Jacobs has expertly guided me through countless hair discussions over the years. It’s important your hair stylist makes time for your questions and can help explain different options to you in a clear way you can understand. This ensures no unhappy surprises and puts you in the drivers seat.

The current plan is embracing a natural regrowth root with neutral (pearly) all over highlights which are neither too golden or too cool, this is also known as grey blending. And I am working to retrain my eye and shift my attitude to not worry when I see silver. Change is good!!

What’s your relationship with your silvers?

I’ve been a secret fan of vision boards for years now, but I’ve always been kind of embarrassed of this habit, like it was a shameful secret. I would make my vision boards and then hide them away, for my eyes only.

For me to sharing my new vision board so publicly here with you is completely out of character.

And …. that’s the entire point. If we keep behaving the same way we keep experiencing the same things over and over.

My over riding theme of this board was one of connection, and being of service to a far broader community. I can’t do that hiding out and holding back. So thank you for being here and connecting.

It’s cool to see what happens when you put your intentions out into the universe and you take intentional action. Today opening up my email this request was sitting there waiting for me, a completely random, unsolicited request from a major Western Canadian publication Avenue Calgary Magazine asking for photos of one of my top selling products, my AF Lip Balms !! What!? How fun is that! Apparently they’re going to be featured in the upcoming January/February issue of the magazine 🥰.

Simple vision board how to steps:

- Do this solo or with some pals. My last two boards have been done in the company of inspiring women and I do recommend it. It’s interesting seeing how different everyone is, what fires them up.
- Get a piece of poster paper, or a blank canvas from dollar store
- you do need a of magazines, newspapers,
photo books, you could print off some assorted inspirational quotes, pretty papers etc
- Scissors, glue
- Some general questions to consider: what do you want more of in your life? What inspires you?
- Take as much time as you need to gently flip through your stack of materials. Tear/cut out anything that catches your heart. Phrases, images, colours, fonts etc. Don’t overthink it, try to analyze your choices. It’s mostly a gut reaction you’re looking for.
- Once you have a stack start to just lay them out and start gluing away.
- Tada! Now display it proudly somewhere

Finding a good facial sunscreen is no joke. One that doesn’t make you look blue/white, greasy, chalky, cause breakouts, smells strong or mess up your makeup takes some diligent effort and research.

My personal go to facial sunscreen and the brand that I’ve carried and retailed at www.adriennefurrie.com for the past several years was EltaMD Skin Care .

But I have some sad news 🥺, Elta is no longer being sold in Canada by the only licensed supplier there was. I’m sure some of the bigger shops will be able to continue sourcing it somehow but unfortunately for a smaller boutique brand such as myself it’s no longer available (trust me I’ve contacted other US based suppliers but the opening orders were insane, I would have had to purchase enough sunscreen inventory to last a lifetime and you guys would have had to really step up on how much sunscreen you’re purchasing from me 😂🙄).

So, when one door closes another opens. I need to choose my next facial sunscreen for me personally but more importantly for YOU! I always stock and retail a facial sunscreen because it’s a critical step in every solid beauty routine.

And I’d like your help.

I’m currently testing the HydroPeptide Skincare Solar Dew. So far I’m impressed with it. We already use the Hydropeptide professional skincare products at our beauty studio Calgary | Makeup | Nails | Brows for our facials. So I’m familiar with the brand but had previously ignored their sunscreen line up - but now I’m paying attention and am in scientist testing mode.

Solar Dew is a mineral sunscreen which I do really like. It has zero smell (miracle), and it’s got a great glassy finish to it. And so far it’s played nicely with my makeup.

But, I need some more testers! I have 5 small samples (very tiny, about 2-3 applications max), and I’d really value some other user feedback.

If you’d like to try it and share your impressions with me leave a comment below or DM and we’ll drop one in the mail to you.

Ever wonder what a casual dinner party at home with high vibes, active, health loving friends looks like?

I am dedicated to living a long and healthy and beauty filled life. Food plays a massive part of that. I strive to eat well in my daily life but I am not operating anywhere even close to what would be considered a professional athlete level of focus and awareness on nutrition. I know there’s ample room for improvement even as a non pro athlete and I love being inspired by those around me.

So it’s interesting when the opportunity presents itself to have a peak into the food habits of those who are seriously dedicated to living with energy, strength, discipline, big goals and meaningful connection.

The women in attendance at this dinner were no less than three of the cities top fitness professionals Michelle Nichol , Andrea Horne , Jill Rehman, Master Health Coach and dedicated active living pal Allison Ward . We’re talking HYROX Canada competitors, Canadian Streetlifting champions, Ironman competitors, you name it they’re doing it.

Check out this abundance of colour, choice of proteins, tons of veggies, whole grains, big fresh flavours. Lots of water, minimal alcohol, and just pure heart to heart sharing. And it all wrapped up nice and early to accommodate their early morning workouts. This group sets an excellent example 💕💪

Does your foundation/bb cream/concealer sometimes bead up and roll on your skin when you try to apply it?

It’s a bit hard to see here in this video but my product is rolling and beading a tiny bit on my cheeks, over my upper lip and around my nose and chin when I’m attempting to blend in my bb cream. This sucks and can feel really frustrating when you don’t understand what’s causing it.

But, don’t blame your makeup, it’s actually due to your skincare.

This beading aka pilling, is my skin and not the product itself. This is a common frustration and the impulse is to blame your cosmetics because that’s when this issue becomes most noticeable.

This pilling is almost always triggered by skincare that causes some kind of turnover of skin cells, in my case it’s from using a slightly stronger Retin-A cream (0.04%). Or maybe you used a chemical exfoliation product a few days prior and now your skin is shedding a top layer.

There’s often a small delay of a few days between using the skincare product and noticing the pilling, this can make it harder sometimes to connect the dots of what’s causing what.

If you’re experiencing mystery beading of your makeup don’t throw it away! Instead ask yourself what skincare you’ve been using lately. Did you introduce something new with retinol? Maybe you did Microneedling or a laser treatment recently?

Keep skin well moisturized while it’s shedding that top layer, do more gentle patting then vigorous rubbing of makeup to minimize disturbing the skin.