do-it-yourself sugar scrub if you didn't know from earlier posts, this christmas was my second DIY christmas. since i have so many family members, what i end up doing is making a lot of the same things for several people. like this sugar scrub for the ladies! this stuff is a great exfoliator, smells and feels and looks so good, and contains ingredients that are amazingly healthy for your skin. it is totally non-toxic; you could even EAT it! though i would recommend not eating it, since it is mainly just sugar. just take a taste after you make it; i did! (super yummy! hehe.) this is so easy to make, and is such a great gift. and look how pretty! i love 'em. the blue is an almond scent, then we have grapefruit and lemon. up there in the top right photo, the cream color is also almond. Sugar Scrub what scents could you add? try these essential oils: almond, juniper, cinnamon, ginger, guava, peppermint, spearmint, wintergreen, lavendar, rose, orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit, or tangerine.
10 of the Best Drug Store Beauty Buys I have an apology to make: I used to be one of those girls behind the makeup counter of a big, fancy department store selling you over-priced beauty products. While I won’t say which brand I worked for, I can tell you that my uniform consisted of all black and way too much makeup. Hey, it was the 90’s, after all. Well, I’m here to make amends. The beauty industry is full of people pushing products that they don’t stand behind 100%. Also, celebrities rarely endorse products because, like the rest of us, they aren’t always picture perfect and no cosmetic company wants to be represented by someone who actually looks like the rest of us common folk. So, to make up for the error in my ways, I am sharing ten of my all-time favorite drug store beauty buys with you. (Part 2 of this series can be seen here: 10 More of the Best Drug Store Beauty Buys) L’Oréal Volumnious Mascara in Carbon Black I have been using this mascara for over 15 years now. Nicole Nail Polish by OPI Wet ‘n’ Wild Eyeliner
Beauty Tips Use toothpaste on yellow nails. This usually happens when you let nail polish stay on your nails for very long and when you’ve used cheap nail polish. Whiten them all up by rubbing toothpaste to remove the stains. You can also add a few drops of lemon for extra whitening, it’s a natural bleaching agent. See other uses of lemon with this POST. Use suntan oil to treat damaged hair. Treat burns with milk. Powder Your Roots If by any chance you have no chance to jump into the shower and you need to look your best. Cure Calluses with Vaseline or petroleum jelly It’s very unsightly to see hard calluses on your feet especially when you’ve been wearing closed shoes for a long time. Spot-Treat Smudges I find cotton tips very usual for this. Super-Glue a Nail Yikes! Buff with Baking Soda I’ve laughed at that episode in Friends when Ross went to a self-tanning sauna and got disastrous results. Use Toothpaste on a Zit Use just a pea-size amount. Technorati Tags: beauty tips
DIY - MAKE YOUR OWN WAX FOR HAIR REMOVAL I was chatting with someone on my flight back from my vacation. She lived in another country where salons are hard to come by or if they are around, they aren't very good. So, sometimes a girl has got to depend on herself. You can make one on your own so easily. So when I described it to her, she loved it and she said I just have to put it up online. So here goes: Wax recipe Ingredients 2 cups sugar ¼ cup water ¼ cup lemon juice Method Pour the sugar, water and lemon juice in a saucepan, and heat it over a low flame. How do you know it is done? Take a glass of water and put a drop of wax into it. Benefits of making your own WAX: 1. Waxing strips: We used to do this in college all the time. NOTE: The inner facing fabric of the jeans should be the one touching your skin otherwise if you use the opposite side, your skin will probably get blue with the denim color. Waxing technique Test the temperature before applying the wax to your skin. Benefits of Waxing 1.
Five Beauty Tricks to Do with a Toothbrush Beauty magazines love to tell readers about all the high-tech tools that one simply must have in one’s makeup bag. Lash separators, blending spatulas, and cuticle scissors may come in handy sometimes, but it’s natural to want something a little more multipurpose. The hardest-working, most versatile, and most sorely unsung hero of the makeup case isn’t some expensive specialized implement; it’s a toothbrush. A plain, medium-bristled toothbrush is the only thing you need to always look well-tressed, and it works so much magic with your hair and brows, your teeth might get a little jealous. Smooth Flyaways Spritz a few sprays of light-hold hairspray or a shine spray (try Bumble and bumble Shine On (and On) Finishing Spray, $25 at Bumbleandbumble.com) onto the bristles and use it to smooth down those wispies at the hairline. Apply Dry Shampoo Dry shampoo is great for absorbing oil and giving hair a little lift without washing and restyling. Touch Up Roots Get Some Lift Tame Unruly Brows
DIY Beauty Products Let's keep things simple this week. When it comes to personal-care products, we are big believers in streamlining what you use—see "Eight Products You Think You Need But Don't" for a refresher—buying less in general, and getting creative. We have both always loved experimenting in our kitchens and our bathrooms, checking ingredients in products we love, isolating the main ones, and then trying them on their own. Sometimes it works: A favorite hair leave-in contained aloe, for example, so one day we tried aloe alone and found that, lo and behold, it worked just fine on its own. And sometimes it didn't. Over the years we have tried dozens of DIY beauty recipes to find ones we like—and that work. Simple body scrub Honey face wash We already told you about our new favorite homemade face wash last week but here's the recipe: In the palm of your hand, combine a tablespoon of raw, unfiltered honey with a half a tablespoon of baking soda, mix it together, and apply to damp skin. Perfume Shave oil
The Complete Guide to Waxing for Beginners Nothing beats waxing for smooth, hair-free skin all summer long. Because waxing removes hair at the root the results are more effective and last longer than shaving. If you're tired of shaving every day, waxing may be for you -- but it can be intimidating for beginners. No worries, we're here to guide you every step of the way! Should I Wax at Home or Leave it to Professionals? It is up to you to decide whether you're going to go to a professional or do it yourself. Beauty expert Alexis Wolfer, founder of TheBeautyBean.com, recommends at-home waxers start with their legs: "You can see what you're doing best and the risk of screwing it up is minimal at most." Once your skin is clean and dry and your wax is at the right temperature Wolfer recommends you, "apply the wax in the direction of the hair growth and then pull it out in the opposite direction." What is a bikini wax? A "French" wax removes a little more than the American, but does not include hair removal from your backside.
Dorm Room Spa: 3 Easy DIY Beauty Recipes to Try Photo Credit It’s that taxing in-between time of the semester again – spring break is over, papers and projects are coming due, and finals are looming ahead. It’s clear that college students are stressed right now, and with that stress comes the need for relaxation. Of course, as college students, we can’t all afford to shell out for a trip to a high-end spa. 1. Photo Credit Olive oil isn’t just for cooking — it’s great for your hair, too! To give your hair a conditioning treatment, massage about 2 tablespoons of olive oil into your hair and scalp. Next, take a warm, damp towel and wrap it around your head and treated hair (“turban” it). Finally, rinse out the olive oil with shampoo. 2. This DIY mask, made of nutmeg, honey, and cinnamon, is calming and soothing for stressed-out skin – in addition, it smells absolutely amazing! The secret? To create the mask, mix 2 tablespoons of honey with a teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of nutmeg. 3. Photo Credit Your Thoughts?
A Cup O' Joe: DIY Facial Scrub The following article was written by PETA intern Sofia Hueter. Many of us are accustomed to the daily ritual of guzzling cup after cup of coffee to stay awake because it is so ingrained in our society that habitually drinking something with caffeine in it every few hours is the best way to fight fatigue. Caffeine does, in fact, help to ward off our lingering morning drowsiness, but drinking coffee, though often delicious and enjoyable, is not the only way to get the caffeine fix that your body craves. Did you know that your body can absorb caffeine through the skin? In addition to giving you a pick-me-up, coffee has other benefits. Cup O’ Joe Facial Scrub 4 Tbsp. olive oil 6 Tbsp. coffee grounds* Container for finished product Mix the coffee grounds and olive oil. *Note: The coffee grounds should be very fine because you will be rubbing them onto your skin. The coffee will exfoliate your skin while the olive oil provides a good source of moisture to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
8 Baking Soda Beauty Recipes Baking soda is useful far beyond the kitchen. You probably know that you can clean your house with baking soda, but did you know it can also come in handy as part of your beauty regimen? Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, which helps to regulate pH, and that makes it great for beauty recipes. How does it work? Facial Scrub: You can give yourself an inexpensive and invigorating body scrub and facial. Conditioner: We all know the benefits of vinegar to your hair, but baking soda has a place as well. Do you use baking soda in your beauty regimen? Image Credit: Baking Soda photo via Shutterstorck Get non-toxic and cruelty free beauty and health tips from FeelGoodStyle! Tags: baking soda, baking soda beauty recipes, baking soda skincare, natural skincare, skincare
Bikini and Brazilian Waxing Tips - Hair Removal Facts at WomansDay.com In the last several years, waxing has become a common (and popular) service offered at salons and spas. Whether it's the eyebrow, upper lip, armpit or, well, someplace more intimate, many people choose waxing for longer-lasting hair removal. But to those who've never done it (or who’ve done it once and had a bad experience), it can seem a bit daunting. Who Should WaxWaxing is a great alternative to shaving if you have hair you’re uncomfortable with, says Cornelia Zicu, chief creative officer at the Elizabeth Arden: Red Door Spas. Waxing vs. Preparing for a WaxIf you're worried about pain, take one or two Advil an hour before your appointment. How Often to WaxIf you’ve shaven recently, wait five days. What to ExpectFirst your waxer will clean and disinfect the area. The Pain FactorWaxing is uncomfortable because the hair is being pulled all the way out. Waxing HygieneFirst and foremost, make sure you go to a place with proper sterilization procedures. Bikini vs. Why Brazilian?
DIY facial using only 2 ingredients You want a facial. You need a facial. But your wallet is sort of… well… your wallet is a bit of a tightwad; it thinks you need to ease up on the beauty budget a little. Don’t worry, you don’t need to break up with anyone just yet; I’ve got a cheap fix for your facial needs. You knew I would, I always do. A homemade facial mask using only baking soda and water. Step 1: Measure 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water. That’s it, you’re done! F.Y.I. Baking soda really IS all that and a bag of chips. Allison Well, hello there! Do You Know What Causes Pimples? Did you know that the location of your blemish can tell you how it got there in the first place? Beautylish got the lowdown on "pimple geography" from Dermalogica Director of Global Education, Annet King. Learn why your zits can give you clues about other issues in your body. The International Dermal Institute created face mapping, a skin analysis system that divides your face into 14 zones that you can individually analyze and treat. What about skin issues on the body? Zones 1 & 3 Forehead Traditionally, the forehead connects to your digestion. Zone 2 Center Forehead The middle of the forehead, between the eyebrows, connects to the liver. Zones 4 & 10 Ears The ears connect to the kidneys. Zones 5 & 9 Cheeks Your cheeks indicate respiratory issues. Zones 6 & 8 Eyes The eyes, like the ears, connect to the kidneys. Zone 7 Nose Your nose indicates blood pressure. Zone 12 Chin Chin breakouts are regulated by hormones and tend to freak out before and after your period. Zones 11 & 13 Corners of the mouth