Beauty Tip

Exfoliating your skin is very important. You need to rid your skin of all the dirt and other junk we are exposed to everyday from the environment.

Right now these exfoliation wands are very popular, and can be pretty pricey. My trick that I use will give you the same results. Get the cheapest wash clothes at Walmart (they are rougher and only $4.00 for a pack of 18)  use them with your favorite face wash. I like to use it in the shower so the steam will help open your pores and you will be able to get all the dirt and oils out of your pores in a fast and effective way. When you are all done your face will feel so smooth and soft. The best thing is you don't have to break the bank to have nice skin. :)

How to Tweeze Your Eyebrows

A pair of well-groomed and shaped eyebrows makes all the difference to your look. To get the perfect set of eyebrows, you don’t need to be a professional but you will have to follow some basic rules when you are grooming your eyebrows. This diagram is for tweezing or waxing.

For less painful tweezing, try to tweeze the brows after you have taken a hot shower. Hair follicles open up and hence pulling them out becomes easy and less painful.

Study the shape of your face. Know what type of eyebrows will suit your face, fuller, thicker or thin. The arch is an important part of the brows and care should be taken in shaping them; do not make it too high.

Choose the right tweezers, a slant tip allows precision and helps to avoid accidentally pinching your skin while tweezing. Use a creamy white or black pencil to outline the brows and mark the desired shape.

Shape is the most important feature in the tweezing or waxing process, in the diagram at the top of the post here is what you need to do:

Take a long pencil or a thin brush and line it along the side of the nose, the brow starts right above the tear duct.
Now, take the pencil/brush and with one end on the side of the nose and make a 45 degree angle. The invisible line should go right through the pupil and the spot where the pencil hits the brows will be the highest spot and will determine the arch shape and position. Place one end of the pencil at the nose line and the other end along the outer corner of the eye, both should meet the brow. Keep in mind that perfect looking brows have a slight arch so do not make it unnaturally higher or very arched. Brush the brows upwards with a brow brush/ toothbrush and see if you need to trim them.

Pluck the hair on or outside the line, start from below the brow. Do not pluck the hairs above the brow, they help to give you a nice arch.

Those who have gaps and uneven growth, can fill in using a dark brown eye shadow or use a brow kit to make your brows look more natural. Black looks unnatural, a shade lighter always helps.

Happy tweezing!

My Top 5 Hair Tips

Hair is a reflection of your health & personality. If taken care of they can add to your beauty. Your hair and scalp need proper care now and always. When it comes to your hair there are so many things out there on hair tips and tricks. As a licenced Cosmetologist these are some of my favorite hair tips I want to share with you today.

1) Your hair has memory and it is so important to change up your normal routine to get the full benefits out of a hair care product. What I mean by this is, if you use the same shampoo and conditioner for years your hair isn't going to get the benefits it could be. Your hair will just get used to the same properties in a product. My rule of thumb is to have about 3 or 4 different shampoos and conditioners and alternate them every 2 weeks or so. This also helps your product last a lot longer. Use one of your favorites for moisture, one for damage, one for color treated etc. I have 4  different shampoos and conditioners in my shower that I alternate. When I do this my hair is a lot  healthier and, I can tell a big difference. Try to use professional products as much as you can yes, they can be pricey but the technology in them is worth the money spent and the results are amazing.

 

 

(I switch them up a lot but these are what I use right now)

2) Use a deep conditioner every week.  Any that you buy, professional or not it will normally say to leave on for 3-5 mins. That is not nearly enough time to allow for you to get the full benefits. Here is what I do: Make sure you have 35 mins of free time. Wash your hair, put on the deep conditioner or mask (same thing) and let it sit on your hair for 30 mins and put a shower cap on to allow it to soak in. The last five minutes put your blow dryer on to allow the cuticle of your hair shaft to open with the heat and let the conditioner soak down to every layer of your hair shaft. Let cool for 5 mins before you rinse it all out. Dry your hair and you will feel a HUGE difference in your hair. After you do this for a month straight, cut back to only once a month maintenance. Salons have professional grade deep conditioners that work awesome and that you can't buy over the counter. One of my favorites is, Redken Chemistry Shots, just make sure they leave it on long enough to get the full benefits.

3) Dry your hair with your head upside down to get some natural volume. Once a week let your hair air dry without heat. Use a blow dryer with NanoIonic Complex (a blend of 32 natural-occurring minerals) that emits Natural Negative Ions in to the hair. Natural Negative Ion energy is powerful enough to break down clusters of water molecules into fine particles that penetrate the hair shaft, to re-hydrate, re-condition and restore moisture balance. After using the Bio Ionic product system, hair feels smooth, super-soft and looks silky-shiny. My favorite is the BaByliss Pro Nano Titanium blow dryer and I love their straightener as well. Again it is more pricey than a Walmart or Target brand blow dryer but in the long run it will save you money because you will not have to replace this every year. These have a 4 year warranty and they are worth every penny in my book. Your hair will love you for using higher end hair tools. :-)

4) Use PRODUCTS in your hair before you dry it and after you dry it. There is a lot of hair care products out there so how do you know which ones are right for your hair? Well, trail and error there isn't just ONE product that will work for everyone. Every ones hair is different and has different needs BUT the nice thing about hair products is they really have a lot of technology behind them and  they are meant to do what they say they will do.  Find ones that work best for your hair in these categories. Everyone need a  blow dry protectant spray. Heat is harmful to your hair that is why we have products specifically for the heat elements of a blow dryer, straighteners and, curling irons. My favorite is Kenra Blow dry spray ( use on wet hair). Next you should be using a root lifting spray. Hands down my favorite is Redken Guts (use on wet hair), this is a product that everyone can use whether you have thick or fine hair it is AMAZING! Then you should be using heat protectants for straightening or curling your hair. The heat elements are different then the blow dryer. Some of my favorites for straightening is, Redken iron silk or Kenra thermal styling spray ( use on dry hair). Use these sparingly you don't want your hair to sizzle AT ALL when you use these otherwise you are using too much.  You should use a frizz or shine gloss to tame down fly aways and prevent split ends. Just don't use any that have alcohol in them, it will dry your hair out. Next you should be using a good hair spray to set your style, Kenra 25 is the best hands down. CLICK HERE  Avoid products that leave build-up on your hair. If you see white gunk, that means that your product is not water-soluble and may be coating your hair shaft. Build-up causes limpness, breakage and inability to curl not to mention the white flakes.


5) Get your hair trimmed on a regular basis (approximately every two months). This is especially important for growing out layers and/or bangs to reshape and make each stage of growing hair out a style. You need to have a nice clean edge to prevent any split ends. Most importantly have the right cut for your bone structure and face shape CLICK HERE and CLICK HERE

Giveaway Time!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW OVER
Time for my first prize giveaway for all my AWESOME followers! Who doesn't like Moroccanoil? Especially for FREE! I have been to so many hair shows, and I always have to get something from the Moroccanoil hair booth. So today is your chance to enter to win this package of Moroccanoil haircare.

What is included in this AWESOME FULL SIZE giveaway?

* Moroccanoil Frizz control ($33.60 value)
* Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong ($22.20 value)
* Moroccanoil Intense Hydrating Mask ($54.40 value)
* Moroccanoil Treatment light ($43.00 value)
* Moroccanoil Treatment ($43.00 value)
* Moroccanoil Moisture Repair Conditioner ($22.80 value)
* Moroccanoil Hydrating Shampoo ($21.80 value)
THIS IS VALUED AT OVER $240.00

How to Enter: You have to do all of these to win!

* You must be a follower of my blog to win (if you are not a follower, become one today. On the right side of my blog under awesome followers, hit join this site)

* You must leave a comment and tell me why you want to win this giveaway. (if you comment and are not a follower, it will not count)

* Share it on your Facebook page that you entered in this AWESOME giveaway. Unless you don't have one then as long as you do the first two it will count :)

How and when the winner will be chosen!

I will use random.org to choose a winner. This giveaway will end April 30th so everyone will have enough time to enter! Ready, set, GO!!

Some Face and Body Favorites!

Today I would like to share with you some of my favorite face and body products. It was hard to just put a few on because there are so many out there that are great.

* I LOVE Aveeno active naturals daily moisturizing lotion for an all over body lotion. My skin stays moisturized all day. It is non greasy and it has an oatmeal formula that locks in moisture. It is also fragrance free so you can still use your favorite perfume with it.

* If I want to have a nice subtle smell with nice moisture I use, Hempz Citrus Blossom. It smells so nice and refreshing but not too over the top.

* If I feel extra dry I like the Aveeno 24 hr ultra hydrating whipped souffle.

 

* My FAVORITE perfume is Ed Hardy

* My favorite moisturizer for the face is this Coconut oil....so divine!

* I use one of these every time in the shower, its a must.....now with spring and summer time just around the corner this will be your feet's best friend :) You can get this one at Sally's Beauty Supply... Mr. Pumice

* Body wash I love Aveeno any of them  ( I know...I like a lot of Aveeno) this is the one I am using right now, my skin feels so nice after I use it.

* Face wash...I like a lot out there but what I am using is, Clean & Clear Morning Burst.  I LOVE it! It's really good to use something with scrubing beads to sluff off all the dead skin which will help get all the yucky dirt and grim out of your pores. You just need to use it 2-3 times a week. I also like to use homemade face masks and scrubs which I have posted on here already just look under the beauty label to find some of my favs :)

* A more gentle everyday use would be these cleaning pads. I love that they have a smooth and ruff side on them. The smoother side I use around my eyes and then flip it over to scrub the rest of my face. It also takes off eye makeup really well. I just LOVE these!

One of the best pieces of advice I could give you for body care or skin care is, DON'T use ANYTHING with mineral oil in it!!!!  Mineral oil is a petrochemical product, which means that it is derived from crude oil. It is a by product of the process used to create petroleum products (gasoline) So if you use products with it, you are basically putting gasoline/crude oil on your skin, which your body is absorbing.  Now you may be wondering why almost 95% of creams, moisturizers, make-up and body products contains a by product of the crude oil to gasoline product? Well business is about making profits as we all know. The cheaper the ingredients means the cheaper it is to produce which means more profit.  Mineral oil has also been linked to a number of skin problems, including acne. The problem with mineral oil in moisturizers and other skin care products and cosmetics is that it clogs the pores of the skin which interferes with skin's ability to eliminate toxins. You can judge and do your own research on Mineral Oil but I choose not to use any skin care or body care products in the last 10+ years that contain Mineral Oil. It is all a personal choice ;-)

Top Beauty Products

Who doesn't like a post about favorite beauty products?? These are going to be a few on the top of my list that I cannot live without.  Everyone can benefit from these no matter what your skin type. It will be fun! So sit down and relax and get ready to try some of my favorite things (on the beauty side of things)

 My favorite primer:
I have to make a confession, I don't wear foundation.....I have always HATED the way it feels on my skin and it always dries my skin out no matter which one I try.  So why do I like a primer? I do use blush and some faux tan bronzer for some color. I feel like a primer just helps it all go on super smooth and last longer. It creates a smooth, silky texture that allows anything you put on your face glide on. It also helps diminish the look of pores and fine lines. I love the Bare Minerals Prime Time but for the price of $23.00... you can't beat ELF's Primer which is only $6.00. To me I cannot tell any difference in the two so I buy the cheaper one.

My favorite Moisturizer for the Face:
This is something that I have only been using for a couple of months and I LOVE IT! Coconut oil. But it can't just be any coconut oil. This one is the best because you truly are getting pure cold pressed, organic coconut oil without any added junk. You can get it at GNC.I use mine morning and night. It smells so yummy too, for an added bonus :-) A little goes a long way so you don't need to use a lot. It is a solid that turns into a liquid. It really makes your skin feel divine!

My Favorite Concealer for under the eyes:

Even though I don't use foundation I still use some concealer for under my eyes and on a few breakouts. This is my favorite because it is so silky and doesn't get settled in lines around the eyes and it lasts all day. It is by Fusion Beauty the Illumcover, it twists at the bottom to get the right amount you need. The nice thing is you don't have to put your fingers in it and get it dirty evertime you need it.

My Favorite Blush:

Another Fusion Beauty, their cream blush is AWESOME! It gives you a nice natural color but yet still dewy where it doesn't look settled into your skin. It is just an all around  great blush. My favorite colors are; Bella, Crave, and Cherub. They last a really long time!

My Favorite Eyeshadow:

Covergirl's sandstone. It really is good for any skin tone. What I like about it is there is a little shimmer in it but not too much. It also gives you some color without over doing it. I just LOVE it!

For under the brow as a highlighter I love L'OREAL morning light (#805) Perfect color!

My Favorite Mascara:

Rimmel London The Max Volume Flash mascara. Oh how I love this one it truly does what it says. I love how big the brush is and I never get clumps or the feeling of dry eyelashes. I use the blackest black.

My Favorite Lipstick and Gloss:

This is a hard one because I use so many...so I picked ones that everyone can benefit from :) I love the Covergirl natureluxe, really any color from this line is awesome but two of my favorite colors are: Hibiscus (#215) and Clay (#260) These have SPF and it is a gloss balm so it really gives your lips good moisture.

Covergirl wetsticks, they have nice natural colors that go well with really anything and it is like having a lipstick with a gloss in one :-)

Bare Escentuals gazebo is another great natural color that lasts almost all day long.

My Favorite Eyeliner:

This is my secret.... I use a black or brown eye shadow for my eyeliner :-) You can see why in this post that I did a while back CLICK HERE it will explain it all there. I like the Rimmel because they have a nice pointed side of the brush with the eyeshadow so you can get a nice line.

My Favorite Highlighter:

 I like to use a highlighter just above my cheek bones and in the middle of my forehead. There are two that I really like which are: Physicians formula translucent Pearl (5Q) and Elf shimmering face whip.

My Favorite Bronzer:

Hands down this is my favorite bronzer, Bare Minerals Faux Tan. From the picture it looks really dark but a little goes a long way and it is the perfect color without looking orange. I have had mine for over a year and I still have a lot left. It is the bomb! It is good to use in a shape of a backwards E and a 3 on your face (from your forehead, to your cheek bones, down to your jaw line) I hope that makes since. Then lightly down the middle of your nose.

So there you have some of my top beauty products for the face as far as makeup goes. I will be posting a hair and skin care one later on, so come back and check them out soon! Have a great day and remember, the best thing you can wear is a smile! :-)

How often should you shampoo your hair?

You may be washing your hair more often than you need to. Shampooing three times a week is plenty. You have natural oils on your scalp that need to do "their thing." Daily shampooing is only necessary if oil production on the scalp is high. A clean head of hair feels fresh and smells great but over-washing can turn one's healthy locks into a pile of straw. How often you need to shampoo depends on how oily your scalp is and your hair's texture. Oil-known as sebum-travels more easily down smooth, straight hair, making it look greasier faster. Sounds a little gross, but sebum helps moisturize and waterproof the hair shaft. This is one reason why curly or coarse hair is drier. When you wash every day, you typically strip off this natural moisturizer and then have to slather it back on in the form of commercial conditioner. If you are used to washing your hair daily, it can take a few weeks to get used to a new routine.  Gradually increase the days between shampooing and see if your hair becomes healthier and takes more time to appear dirty as a result.  Ultimately, how often you shampoo is a matter of personal preference.  Give it a try :)

Brown Sugar and Honey Face Scrub

This is probably one of my favorite face scrubs. Brown sugar exfoliates the skin ridding the pores of all dirt, oil and dead skin cells that cause blemishes. Honey is naturally antibacterial, so as the brown sugar scrubs away the things clogging pores, the honey cleans out the sources of the buildup to prevent future breakouts. Give it a try and tell me what you think :-)

 

For future posts down the road, I will be giving away prizes.  Only the people that are followers to my blog will be eligible to win. So go be a new follower by clicking the  "join this site", so you can win PRIZES!!! If you are already a follower THANK YOU!!  Have a good day :-)

How to back comb your hair the right way!!

A lot of my hair clients say they always have a hard time back combing their hair like I do it and make it stay. So I thought this would be a great blog post because I am sure many people would like to know how to back comb, the right and professional way to make it last ALL day!? Today I will show you step by step on how to do it right. I wish I could upload a video then I wouldn't have to type so much instructions. One of these days I will get it to work!!

Step one here is what you need to use to get the best results and the support to make it last ALL day.

When your hair is wet spray Redken Guts on the sides and back of the top of your head. I do two sections on each side and back because that is where you will be placing your back combing and it will be the support for all the back combing.

Blow dry your hair head down for the most volume

after its all dry, you can see around the top I already have some volume but just wait....=)

Take a section about an inch thick on the top/back of head. Have good tension on the section and back comb with a fine toothed comb about 2 inches up the section.

Every section that you back comb spray some Kenra 25 hairspray at the root underneath

Next do it on the side

(not front side yet, just under and to the side of the back to give you a nice shape and support)

 Back comb

 Spray

You want to have a nice roundness to the shape and not a big drop off if that makes sense

Then do two sections on each side toward the front...yes it looks messy but TRUST ME!!

OK all done go out like this....j/k BUT, let me tell you if your hair isn't this crazy before the next step, girl you don't have enough back combing tension going on. It needs to be this big to have the support to last all day!!

Now here is where the magic happens. I call this my grandma comb because my grandma always had a comb like this growing up. This will be your BEST FRIEND when it comes to back combing.

 Start at the back on top and smooth over with the "Magic comb"

You will feel like you are combing out all the back combing but you are not. You have the support of the guts, hair spray and back combing all in one =)

This is to show you that you want a nice smooth bend from top to bottom so it isn't all messy looking

Work on the other side to smooth it

Make sure you go all the way down to the ends of your hair so it is super smooth

Top view

TA DA!!! This technique is for short or long hair. I promise if you use these products and my steps you will have back combing last all day long. =)

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