August 31, 2008

August - The Month in review.

August 31, 2008/

I usually do a Week in Review, but as I have been obviously too busy to remember to post that little round-up every Sunday, this week, you will have to settle for The Month in review. Check out what you may have missed during this great month of August.

NEW from MAC: Starflash.

Ten Creative Beauty Tips That Really Work!

August 22, 2008/

I recently read a great amount of tips over on msnbc.com that listed some pretty creative things to use that amp up your beauty routine. Check out my top ten favorite - some of which I have heard of, some I never heard of, and some, yes - some that I have even tried.

1- Powdering your roots
If your hairline starts to look greasy, dig up a big fluffy makeup brush and dip it into a pot of loose powder (using translucent powder on your greasy roots). This is something you want do when you don’t have time to shower; it blends into all different hair colors — don’t use baby powder, use translucent as it absorbs oil.

2- Shave with conditioner instead of shaving cream
Ran out of shaving cream? Do double duty by coating your stems with a thick hair conditioner. It softens the hair so it’s easier to shave off and it makes legs feel amazingly silky.

3- Make an egg white mask
To revive tired and dull skin without hitting the spa table, try this: Crack open an egg in a bowl, separate the yolk, and use the egg whites to make a face mask. The proteins help to heal and restore skin’s moisture. Leave it on for five minutes, rinse off!

4- Heat up your eyelash curler
If you have stick-straight lashes, try blasting your metal eyelash curler with a hair dryer for a couple seconds to heat it up so your lashes bend more easily. And use a waterproof mascara — the formula dries faster than other mascaras, so it sets the curl more effectively. It works like a mini curling iron!

5- Spike lotion with bronzer
If you don’t have time to book a self-tanning session, mix a few pumps of body bronzer with regular hand lotion and pat it on your legs for a gradual dose of sexy, beachy color.

6- Soften your body with avocado
Take a ripe avocado, remove the pit and skin, and mash it up in a bowl. Slather all over your body, let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off. Your skin will be so soft, since avocado is a natural moisturizer.

7- Amp shine with vinegar
Mix one part vinegar with four parts carbonated water, and soak dry hair. Leave on for 15 minutes before you shampoo to lock in shine and combat dullness.

8- Press a tea bag on splotches
If you’re sensitive or just looking irritated or puffy for some reason, steep a bag of green tea for a minute or two, let it cool down and dab it over your face. The antioxidants in the tea take down inflammation.

9- Use eye makeup remover on stubborn lipstick
Don’t try to rub off red lipstick (which makes it smear across your mouth, which isn’t too sexy). Instead take a cotton ball or tissue and dip it in makeup remover, and just dab to erase the dark stain fast.

10- Use toothpaste on a zit
Use just a pea-size amount, let it sit for 15 minutes to absorb the oil so the pimple won’t get more clogged, then wash it off.

Do you have any creative beauty tips to share?

August 14, 2008

A Milk Mask - Not for Dinking, but for Nourishing.

August 14, 2008/

I am constantly on the lookout for little do-it-yourself beauty recipes to treat my skin with. As I am very dry this time of year, between the sun, self-tanning and well, just naturally getting older, I was looking for something different. Something to nourish my dry, aging skin.

Many of the at-home recipes I found were for facial masks made with Milk. Well, that is an ingredient I certainly always have in the fridge, so I decided a Milk Mask was the way to go. You see milk contains proteins, sugar, a whole bunch of vitamins and natural lactic acid. This naturally helps in cell rejuvenation - as in helping the skin cells turn over faster. The nourishing benefits also rehydrate and help ward off dehydration to start with.

I made my Milk Mask with the following: 1/4 Cup of Granulated Sugar, 1/4 Cup of Brown Sugar, 1 Tablespoon of Honey, and enough Milk - I used whole milk, to make it into a paste. I used just a bit shy of 4 Tablespoons. After mixing the paste, I applied the mask with my fingers all over my face, and let it sit for about 30 minutes. After the 30 minutes, I ran a wash cloth under very warm water and placed it over my face for a few minutes and let the heat help nourish the milk and other wonders into my skin before wiping it off. My face felt so soft and hydrated. So much so that I didn't use moisturizer right after. I actually slept with a clean face. And it still felt wonderful in the morning.

I love finding something that works, especially with a natural, nutrient rich natural product - like Milk! Yes, it does do a "body good". Both inside and out! ;)

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