Time And Money Saving Beauty Tips

Announcement

2008-08-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I wanted to let you know that I have continued this blog on my own website located at http://gorgeousforless.com

This was not an easy decision, but I wanted to have the freedom that Wordpress offers.

All posts from this blog have been imported into the new site and there is quite a bit more information over on the new site. I hope you enjoy it and hope to see you there.

I will update here from time to time, but wanted to explain the absence.

Thank you all for your continued support!

Tips To Repair Sun Damage

2007-10-26T07:58:00.000-07:00

There was a link to a great article on MSN this morning about repairing sun damage to your skin.

In case you didn't see it, you can find it here:
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/21423588/?GT1=10450

The article includes some great tips and product recommendations. Well worth taking a look at.

Olive Oil for Soft Hands

2007-10-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

Olive oil has amazing purifying properties that deeply clean sensitive skin and leave it baby soft. The main reason is the rich, fatty acids that protect your skin from drying out.

For hands try Cucina Purifying Hand Wash with Lemon and Olive Oil. You can get it at http://www.drugstore.com

For even softer hands after washing, try locking in the moisture by immediately smoothing on a rich olive oil hand cream.

Some customers even report their hands look younger after a few weeks of use.

Olive Oil For Youthful Skin

2007-10-22T04:22:00.000-07:00

The age fighting antioxidants in olives minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Not to mention the moisturizing capabilities.

One to try:

Jardin del Oliver Dry Skin Cream with Olive Oil
Fairly inexpensive at http://www.drugstore.com
Several of my customers are reporting amazing results with this cream.

Lift A Sagging Neck

2007-10-20T20:57:00.000-07:00

As we get older, the one thing we know for sure is that gravity will affect us all, but here's a great trick to fight neck sagging a.k.a. chicken neck.

To tighten the neck and jawline, place both hands side by side in front of the throat.

Using your fingers, push the skin on your neck firmly upward to the chin and then outward toward the ears, then circling down toward your collarbone.

Repeat this movement twice.

The motion increases skin-firming blood circulation and drains any fluid buildup. Doing this simple exercise daily should result in a leaner, more toned neck within four weeks.

Simple Trick To Save Broken Lipstick

2007-10-18T20:15:00.000-07:00

It happens to all of us. You have a favorite lipstick and while you're applying the lipcolor, it breaks.

Don't be sad. Repair it with this quick fix.

Remove the broken piece with a tissue, then wave a lit match beneath it. I don't need to tell you this, but don't catch the tissue on fire. Once the lipstick softens, put it back on the base, swivel the tube down and stick it in the fridge for about 5-10 minutes. The chill will set the mold and you've just saved yourself from having to buy another tube.

Chocolate Lovers - Good News!

2007-10-17T21:06:00.000-07:00

This is the best news I've heard in years for people who love chocolate. German researchers completed a three month study where they gave women chocolate every day for the duration of the test. The results? The women's skin became moister, smoother and even showed less damage from the sun.

Another independent study proved that regularly enjoying chocolate increases the skin's moisture by 30% and reduces redness and irritation by 25%.

So how does chocolate accomplish these results? The flavonols found in chocolate are powerful antioxidants that stop damage from free radicals that age the skin.

Other studies have shown that chocolate can also boost your memory, attention span, reaction time and problem solving abilities. As well, studies have shown that chocolate can prevent cavities (yes you read correctly), beat depression, strengthen your heart, fight PMS, ease stress, help you feel more passionate and even live longer. If you'd like to read more about any of the studies, leave a comment here on the blog regarding which ones you want to see and I'll post them for you.

I don't know about you, but I have no problem including chocolate in my daily routine. lol

As always, comments are welcome.

Salon Perfect Hair After Cut

2007-10-16T04:53:00.000-07:00

Many people want to know how to keep their hair salon perfect days after a cut.

One way to help keep your style is to sleep on a satin pillowcase. Satin lets your hair slide around while you're sleeping which leads to fewer tangles so you're hair is easier to style.

You can also wrap your hair in a scarf or bandana to help hold the style in place.
If your style is not curly, you can use a dry shampoo to remove excess oils that weigh down the hair and destroy your style. Simply massage it through the scalp and brush with a nylon or natural boar bristle brush.

Home Skin Remedies

2007-10-15T20:59:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more home remedies to try for different skin and hair types. They're working for several of my clients, so I thought I'd pass them along to you.

Dry Skin:
Mix 1 egg white, 1 tsp. honey, and 1 tsp. full-fat cream
Pat onto the skin and leave for about 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. The benefits of this treatment are that it conditions the skins and leaves it soft, supple and radiant.

Redness and Irritation:
Mix 2 Tablespoons of milk powder with rosewater
Pat on and leave until dry. Rinse with lukewarm water. Refreshes and tones the skin.

Hair is smooth, but sometimes Oily:
Mix 1 egg with 2 tablespoons of fresh orange juice
Wisk together and massage onto scalp. Use as a final rinse after shampoo. This has proven to be and excellent cure for oily hair.

Facial Scrub For Everyone:
Mix 1 tablespoon chopped fresh pineapple with 1 teaspoon ground almonds
Simply rub on the face using gentle, circular movements. Rinse with lukewarm water and you'll have instantly softer skin.

If you give these a try, please take the time to come back and comment on how they worked out for you. I'd love to hear your stories.

Cheryl Tiegs Unbelievable Review

2007-07-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs, age 58, recently featured as one of the Age Defying Women on the Oprah show now shares one of her best beauty secrets, and better yet, makes this amazing product available to you through this special Free Trial offer.

Clinically proven to:

- Reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles
- Up to 50% reduction in just minutes
- Lasts for hours

Finally, an instant Botox alternative!

Try it Free Now
Cheryl Tiegs Unbelievable

Unbelievable is a revolutionary new serum that instantly reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes, face and neck. This product is so effective, that 100% of participants in a recent study noticed significant results. In clinical trials, the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles was reduced by up to 50%!

Now for the first time with this special internet offer, you have the chance to try this remarkable product at no risk. You have nothing to loose but your wrinkles.

Please click here to go to your special free trial offer.
Try It Now

I first heard about this product from the rave review of my customers and decided to give it a try. Just like them, I saw pretty amazing results. If you have tried it or have any experience with the product, I invite you to comment here and let everyone know.

Once again, I have to apologize for not keeping this blog updated with great tips and tricks. The summer has been extremely busy and I've been working extremely long hours. With back to school and the fall season coming up, I'll have more time to post. Thanks for reading and I'll be back in a day or so with some cool tips. Take care!

Melissa

Home Skin Remedies

2007-04-13T14:10:00.000-07:00

Finding the Perfect Eye Cream

2007-04-05T05:34:00.000-07:00

Eye creams should be a daily part of your beauty regimen. If you're not using one, you definitely should. Other than your lips, the skin around the eyes is the most delicate on your face and should be protected as well as moisturized to prevent premature aging. Below you will find four recommended creams for different problems. Give them a try my clients are raving about them.

For fine lines, eye creams with alpha-hydroxy acid are your best bet. This "magic" ingredient helps to moisturize the skin around your eyes and reduce the appearance of fine lines. Try Neutrogena Healthy Skin Eye Cream.

For dark circles, give an eye cream with citrus extracts to improve your skin's tone and circulation. Try Clean & Clear Morning Glow Eye Brightening Cream.

For puffiness, try and eye cream with cucumber to reduce puffiness and soothe the skin. Try Olay Total Effects Eye Transforming Cream.

For sagginess, lifting eye creams help tighten the skin around your eyes and make you look younger (always a plus). Try RoC Protient Fortify Lift and Define Eye Cream.

If you don't have any of the above problems, just about any eye cream will work for you. One thing I forgot to mention is that if you use an eye cream, your eyeshadow goes on much smoother and is easier to blend.

If you know of a great eye cream, please post a comment and tell me about it. I'm always looking for new products that work to recommend to my clients.

Turn To Nature For Beautiful Skin

2007-04-04T19:14:00.000-07:00

There are several new "miracle" creams on the market to help give you a soft complexion and solve your biggest skin problems. Read on to find out how pomegranate, green tea, honey, orange and roses can help you get glowing, smooth skin.

Skin Problem: Rough, Wrinkled or Dry

Solution: Rose Cream

Roses are beautiful and wonderfully fragrant, but roses and rose hips have been known for reducing the appearance of wrinkles and smoothing fine lines. They have also been reported to help maintain your skin's moisture and nourish the skin cells giving you much more supple skin.

Recommended Creams:
Mod Spa Rose Hips Rejuvenating Face Cream
$13 at http://www.drugstore.com

Besame Delightful Rose Balance Lotion
$45 at http://www.besamecosmetics.com

Skin Problem: Dull

Solution: Orange Cream

There is an abundance of Vitamin C in oranges that helps your skin synthesize collagen. The more collagen you have in your skin, the smoother and brighter your complexion will be.

Recommended Cream:
The Body Shop SPF 15 Daily Moisturizer with Vitamin C
$16 at http://www.thebodyshop.com

Skin Problem: Sensitive But Dry

Solution: Honey & Royal Jelly Cream

What is Royal Jelly? Simply put, it's the food that worker bees feed to the queen bee and it's packed with skin-soothing minerals. Honey is extremely gentle and nourishing, especially for sensitive, dry patches of skin that leaves you with long-lasting softness.

Recommended Creams:
Hydromiel Honey Night Cream
$11 at http://drugstore.com

Skin Problem: Oily

Solution: Pomegranate Cream

The extremely juicy seeds of the pomegranate fruit help regulate oil production, clarify breakouts and moisturize the skin.

Recommended Creams:
Korres Pomegranate Balancing Moisturizer
$29 at http://www.sephora.com

Skin Problem: Sun or Wind Damaged

Solution: Green Tea Cream

Been outside and your skin feeling rather leathery or dry? Green tea - a potent antioxidant - is skin calming and helps minimize damage from the elements, giving your skin a more even tone and much smoother texture.

Recommended Creams:
Alba Hawaiian Aloe & Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
$17 at http://www.albabotanica.com

On a side note, I have to apologize once again for not keeping this updated. The holidays were crazy and it's been even crazier since. Please stay tuned, though as I have a ton of great tips coming up.

Some of you have emailed me wondering why I recommend purchasing products either at ebay or a site linked to ebay. There are actually several reasons behind this. First and foremost being that this is a blog about saving time and money. Ebay is a treasure trove of excellent buys and you can get many items there for less than half of what you would pay at a retail store. Second, many people who read this blog don't live in or near a large town with department stores and they must rely on the internet to get what they want. I simply point to a marketplace where you can get the products at the best possible price.

I hope these solutions will help you and as always, please feel free to comment your thoughts.

Stay tuned...

Weekly or Biweekly Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

2006-12-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

During this time of the year it is a good time to add a weekly or biweekly deep conditioning hair mask to your beauty regimen.

The reason you need it is to combat the effects of dry weather, prevent damage and split ends.

Normal to oily hair types are having luck with Rusk Sensories Moist Sunflower and Apricot Creme Treatment.

Normal to dry hair types are having the best luck with Biolage Conditioning Balm with Rosemary or Neutrogena's Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask.

Adding any of the above to your weekly treatment will keep your hair soft, shiny and prevent the dreaded "split ends" of winter.

Until next time...

Time Gets Away And The First In A New Series of Tips

2006-12-06T19:53:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone!

My how time gets away from you. Shortly after my last post, my husband had a 4 wheeler accident and I spent a lot of time doing what I could to help him recover. (He's lucky to be alive)

Then, just as he was pretty much healed, he started having chest pain and he's been having to go through a bunch of tests to determine if it's his heart or something else. He's really too young to be having heart trouble, but we all know it can hit at any age.

Anyhow, I've come up with a new series of tips that will hopefully keep your skin soft, smooth and supple during the dry winter season. I'll share the first one today.

To help keep your face smooth and supple, try using a less drying facial cleanser and a thicker moisturizer.

The reason you need a less drying cleanser is that your skin produces less oil in dry, cooler weather and deep cleansers will dry out your skin. Try finding a cleanser that has a milk or cream base for ultra softness.

You'll want a thicker moisturizer since there is less humidity in the air and your skin turns naturally drier. Lotions just don't offer the level of moisture you need for winter so you'll want something that is a cream or an ointment.

To keep this short, I'll break them up into days. I'll be posting the rest daily.

Take care, until next time....

Melissa

Cool Home Remedy To Clear Up Stress Induced Breakouts

2006-09-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Stress seems to be a common fact of life in today's society and is one of the main causes for blemish breakouts.

To help combat the problem and calm your skin, try this quick home remedy.

Puree a half of a small tomato, 1/4 cup of fresh parsley and about a teaspoon of lemon juice in a blender.

Apply the mixture to your face and let sit for about 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

The mildly acidic properties of lemon and parsley seem to neutralize the fatty secretions that can cause acne breakouts. The lycopene from the tomato boosts the immune system to help heal the skin.

I've been trying this on some of my teenage clients and it seems to be working for many of them. There is no rule as to how often to use the mixture, but I've been recommending once a day for the first 3 days then as often as needed.

Since it seemed to be working for a few clients, I thought I would share it with all of you.

Until next time...

You Can Delay Salon Visits With The Right Shampoo

2006-09-21T18:05:00.000-07:00

There is an old rule of thumb that hair should be cut every six weeks to maintain health, get rid of split ends, etc.

Stylists everywhere are beginning to admit that you can actually wait 12 weeks or more as long as your hair remains healthy or isn't too long for your style.

This is not for everyone as some people have naturally dry hair and are more prone to split ends and "dead" looking hair. Every 4-6 weeks usually works well for those with dry hair.

However, if you really want to lengthen the time between cuts - buy shampoo for dry hair, regardless of the type of hair you may have.

Moisturizing shampoos and conditioners for dry hair have more emollients that coat and protect the hair shaft than other types of shampoos.

This extra strength helps you to have far fewer broken strands and split ends.

Unless you just favor them, there is no need to spend the extra money on salon quality products. There are many quality shampoos in the retail market. Simply choose one you like and see if you can save some money by extending the time between cuts.

Dandruff - It's Not What You Think

2006-08-27T06:19:00.000-07:00

I ran across a recent article in a publication that just blew me away. I was like everyone else and thought that dandruff was caused by a dry scalp or flaking skin. Part of that is true, but did you know that it's really caused by STRESS?

Who would have thought?

Here's an excerpt from the article:

"Dandruff is a warning sign that your body is unhappy about something. A chemical reaction triggered by stress speeds up the process of flaking skin at the scalp, which is what dandruff is. Most suceptible scalps: Those that are excessively oily, not dry as is commonly believed. Dandruff scales are actually flakes of skin secured by oil. Cure: Apply any antidandruff lotion and avoid harsh dandruff shampoos."

This was news to me and I figured it would be to all of you, so I thought I would share it. No wonder it seems that the Fall season is when most people have it. There's so much stress with Back-To-School and the Holidays that it just makes sense that Fall and Winter are the most common times to have dandruff. I was like everyone else and thought it was just because the skin was dry.

So the perfect dandruff cure... Reduce the stress in your life.

Until next time...

Melissa

Summer Perfumes

2006-07-31T20:31:00.000-07:00

The best perfumes for women to wear in the summer or even the office are those with lighter scents. This is especially true for those with dry skin. Why? Dry skin makes any perfume more pungent. You will want to avoid Oriental scents such as musk and heavy jasmine as they are too strong for this time of year.

Another tip is to stock up on your toiletry basics. Your personal items that are essential in your life, like shaving cream, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, etc. are items that you should keep at least one extra of on hand for a backup supply. These items are usually inexpensive and have the power to completely ruin your day if you run out of any of them before the day gets started.

Sorry To My Readers

2006-07-29T12:26:00.000-07:00

I just have to say that I'm very sorry to all of my loyal readers for not keeping this blog updated over the last several months. I have been very limited on time lately as we acquired a new puppy shortly after my last post in February and we had our first niece the next month. The puppy has finally started to behave and not require every spare minute of my time (lol) and my sister-in-law doesn't require babysitting services near as often as she did when she first had her.

Seriously, I've enjoyed raising the puppy and spending as much time as possible with my new niece, but it's time to get back to work. Thanks so much for your patience and I look forward to supplying you with a lot more good information in the coming weeks.

Until next time...

Melissa

The Best Clothing Looks - Accent the Positive, Eliminate the Negative

2006-07-29T12:13:00.000-07:00

There are many strategies that us women use to minimize figure flaws during the summer season. Here are just a few listed below:

If you are top heavy - Wear tunics that glide over the problem areas. V-necked blouses help to make the shoulders and bosom appear smaller. As far as bathing suits, choose a diagonal wrap one piece bathing suit in contrasting colors. This concentrates the eye on the suit itself instead of the body. Blousy tops that are gathered at the waist also help to minimize this shape as well.

If you are a little chunky - To suggest curviness, wear nipped in waists and eye catching belts. Choose dresses that have a dropped waist and one piece bathing suits with vertical or diagonal stripes. These characteristics in clothing combined will help you look slimmer.

If you are bottom heavy - Choose pants that end below the knees to show shapely calves and classic pantsuits that fall smoothly in a straight line without pleats or cuffs. Vertically striped wraparound dresses and one piece bathing suits with a colorful bra top and darker color below really do help to minimize this body shape.

These are just a few clothing tricks that my friends and I have tried with quite a bit of success. I hope they can help you too.

#1 Frizz Solution From Hair Exposed To Humidity

2006-02-28T16:37:00.000-08:00

Spring is just around the corner and with it comes showers and thunderstorms and depending on where you live, humidity.

Frizz is the number one hair problem when the air is humid. You can smooth it out with a straightening iron and an hour later it might look like you haven't even combed it.

The best solution is an old tried and true product that has stood the test of time and for many is an old friend. Good old Alberto VO5 Sheer Hairdressing.

Simply add a small dollop to wet or dry hair to smooth away the frizzies, add shine and as an added bonus, you'll have just the right amount of hold for your style.

Be sure not to use too much as hair will look greasy. A drop the size of a pea will do.

Easy Fixes For Winter Hair & Skin

2006-02-06T20:41:00.000-08:00

Winter poses a problem for most people concerning their hair and skin. Below you will find solutions for some of the most common problems.

Have alligator skin?

The solution is a milk bath product. It contains a lactic acid to soften and smooth your skin. To treat: As your bath water is running, pour in 2 cups of powdered milk and swirl with your hands until dissolved and soak for 15 minutes.

Flaky Skin?

The solution is an avocado mask. Avocado is rich in nourishing antioxidants that prevent premature aging. To Treat: Simply mash 1/2 of an avocado and mix in 1 egg white. Smooth on face, let sit for 20 minutes and rinse.

Brittle Hair?

Use and almond oil conditioning treatment. Almond oil contains a natural emollient that strengthens hair. To treat: Using a clean paintbrush, dab almond oil over bottom third of hair; let sit 15 minutes, rinse, then shampoo and condition as usual.

Rough Hands?

Use a yogurt and lemon hand treatment. Yogurt is full of gentle AHA's to boost your skin's health and softness. To treat: Mix the juice of 1/2 a lemon with 6oz. plain yogurt. Apply to hands, let sit for 10 minutes and rinse.

Cracked Lips?

The solution is a honey oat mask. Honey's humectant properties trap and seal moisture while oats gently slough off the flakes. To Treat: Mix 2 tsp. honey with enough oats to make a paste over lips. Leave on one minute, then remove the mixture with a damp warm washcloth.

I hope these tips will help you overcome winter skin problems.

10 Second Secrets to Salon Perfect Hair

2005-12-14T16:31:00.000-08:00

Our hair doesn't always want to cooperate with us and will sometimes send us running
for our Bad Hair Day hat to cover it up. I've assembled a few quick fixes for some of the most common and frustrating problems.

When you want to sculpt your cheeks and accentuate your eyes, the secret is to add a little volume at the back of the crown only. Too much volume at the front hairline takes the focus off the face and directs it to the hair. To achieve this simply part the front two inches of your hair as usual and brush the rest backward. Wrap the back-brushed hair around the barrel of a large round brush and blast it for five seconds with cool air from your blow dryer. Then just spritz with hairspray and you're set for the day.

If the waves you set in the morning tend to become limp by lunchtime, keep a mineral
water spritzer in your purse. Just mist, then scrunch with your fingers. The mineral water will "break" the hydrogen bonds in each strand that give hair its flexibility so it can be reset with the simply scrunching action. As hair dries, the bonds reform and seal in your waves.

To make split ends instantly disappear, spritz a large round hairbrush with hairspray, roll the ends of dry hair under and hit it with a blast of heat from your blow dryer. Repeat working your way around the head. Thanks to brushes that have 360 degree bristles, spritzing the brush - rather than the strands - enables the sray to coat hair from all angles. Which, in turn, slicks down frayed cuticles for a perfectly polished look.

Make dull hair shiny by running a silk scarf over your strands from roots to ends.
Positively charged particles from the scarf will transfer to your hair, where you'll end with a sleek shine.

Stunning Hair Straight From Your Kitchen

2005-11-30T21:35:00.000-08:00

It's a fact that as the seasons change, so does our hair. Depending on your hair type and climate, your hair may turn oily or dry, dull or limp or your hair may begin to thin out a little. We're really no different than other animals in that we shed our hair in the spring and fall and it's not impossible that you may notice a few bare spots where you would normally have hair.
Never fear, your kitchen pantry holds several basics which contain the same active ingredients as many pricey salon hair therapies. These remedies are great if you develop a specific problem and don't have a product specially formulated for treating it. In many cases, these home ingredients work just as well or better than the best products you can buy. When you find yourself with one of the conditions below, instead of going out and spending money on a product you'll only need a few times, use the ingredients you can find in your kitchen to solve the problem and save a little time and money in the process.

Problem: Oily Hair
Solution: Mint
Why It Works: Mint is a natural astringent. For a quick detox, brew five mint tea bags in a pot and cool. Pour over hair as a final rinse after shampoo and conditioner.

Problem: Dull Hair
Solution: Baking Soda
Why It Works: Baking soda lowers the pH of shampoo and seals the cuticle. Mix 1 tsp. of baking soda with your favorite shampoo for extra strength shine

Problem: Dry Hair
Solution: Honey
Why It Works: Honey is a humectant that draws and traps moisture into dry hair. Simply mix 1 Tbsp. of honey with 2 Tbsp. of shampoo and apply normally.

Problem: Limp Hair
Solution: Rice
Why It Works: Rice protein expands hair, making it look fuller. Simply soak 1 cup of rice in 2 cups of water overnight. Strain and transfer the liquid to a spray bottle. Then mist on damp hair before drying.

Problem: Thinning Hair or Hair That Won't Grow
Solution: Basil
Why It Works: Basil promotes new growth by stimulating the scalp. Heat 1 Tbsp. of basil and 1/2 cup of olive oil in the microwave for 30 seconds. Let cool slightly and massage into scalp. Leave on for 15 minutes then shampoo as normal.

Get Luxurious, Flirty Eyelashes

2005-10-25T04:32:00.000-07:00

Ask just about any woman and she'll tell you that she wants thicker, fuller eyelashes. It's no wonder we envy the men in this category because it always seems they are born with perfect eyelashes. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the men around you and you'll see what I mean. lol

Since most of us weren't born with perfect eyelashes, here's a few tricks to make yours look thicker, fuller and more flirty.

Choosing the right wand for mascara is a necessity. For thicker lashes, you'll want to opt for a larger applicator with very densely packed bristles. I've had the best luck with L'Oreal Voluminous. It doesn't clump like other brands and really works to plump up your lashes.

Another way to achieve thicker lashes with the mascara you already use is to use a lash primer or simply dust a little loose powder on you eyelashes before you apply mascara.

To get bigger, more shapely eyes simply apply mascara in an out and up direction and you'll help create the illusion of wider, larger eyes.

And finally, to prevent clumping - simply wipe off excess mascara from the wand with a tissue and apply as you normally would.

Until next time........

Quick Fix For Frizz & Tone Down Brassy Highlights

2005-10-19T21:05:00.000-07:00

Fall and Winter are stressful times for hair. The wind is blowing, the air is drier and the environmental effects can damage your locks. Frizz and static electricity are usually the chief complaints. When you find yourself in a hurry and don't have any of the commercial products on hand to help tame the problem, you can simply mix one part baby oil with three parts water in a small spray bottle - shake well and spritz on either wet or damp hair for soft controllable hair. Dry and style as usual.

Summer highlights are wonderful and give you a fresh look for the sunshine months, but many people find as they're going into Fall that their highlights have either faded or taken on a brassy unflattering tone. There are many products that help combat the problem, but the best remedy is to drench freshly shampooed hair in whole milk or heavy cream for 10 minutes. The natural acids in milk and cream help neutralize the brassy color.

Hair breakage is another big complaint for the chilly months ahead and sometimes the easiest way to avoid the problem is to change the way you part your hair every week or two. Parting it in the same spot every day can stress and damage the exposed section of hair. This is also a great time to experiment with different ways of styling your hair.

Totally Natural Eyes

2005-09-28T20:58:00.000-07:00

Totally natural looking eye makeup is for if you have small eyes. Too much makeup seems to shrink smaller eyes.

To get this look, sweep skin toned shadow from lash line to brow. Smudge bronzer from lash line to crease. Apply brown liner from middle of upper lashline to outer corner and finish with glossy brown mascara.

Good eye makeup to try for this look is Cover Girl's Eye Enhancer 1 kit shadows in French Vanilla and Bedazzled Biscotti.

Smokey & Sultry Eyes

2005-09-19T15:56:00.000-07:00

Today we'll learn how to get smokey and sultry looking eyes. This look is for you if you're going out for a night on the town or if you're trying to cover dark circles under your eyes. This look distracts from underye imperfections.

To Do:

Apply light gray shadow from lash line to just above crease and dark gray along upper lash line. Line lids with charcoal liner, smudging with a cotton swab. Finish with two coats of black mascara.

A good mascara to try is Big Flirt Thickening Mascara in Black Wink. You can get it at http://www.kohls.com

Hot Fall Looks For Eyes

2005-09-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

This week's series is about great looks for eyes this fall using the latest color trends. Today we'll begin with the totally natural look.

The Look: Totally Natural

It's for you if you have small eyes. Too much makeup tends to shrink smaller eyes, so the philosophy that less is more applies here.

How To Get It:

Sweep skin-toned eyeshadow from lash line to brow. Smudge bronzer from lash line to crease. Apply brown liner from middle of upper lashline to outer corner. Finish with a glossy brown mascara.

Products to help you: Try Cover Girl Eye Enhancer 1 Kit shadows in French Vanilla and Bedazzled Biscotti (Cost about $3.15)

Next time we'll feature Smokey and Sultry Eyes.

Salt In Your Footbath

2005-09-13T04:40:00.000-07:00

One of the cheapest and most inexpensive ways to soothe and deodorize tired feet is by using simple table salt. Another benefit to using salt is that it also acts as an anti-perspirant to help keep your feet dry. Pamper your tired feet by adding warm water to a shallow pan or footbath and add 1/4 cup of salt and soak for about 10 minutes. If you happen to have lavender growing where you live you can also make a mixture of salt and lavender and keep it in a tightly closed jar or container and use it in your next footbath for a great aromatherapy experience. Your feet will also have a nice smell when your done.

Until next time.....

Wonderful Foaming Foot Bath

2005-09-12T05:04:00.000-07:00

I came across the article below when searching for a more natural footbath for doing pedicures in my salon and decided to give it a try on the next five clients. Well let me tell you, they loved it! It also made my job easier because it softened their feet so well that it was much easier to remove dead skin and calluses. Feel free to read and use the recipe in this article at home and pamper your tired feet.

Wonderful Foaming Honey Foot Bath at Home
By Nathan Kotny

I imagine you can tell me at length about how tired your feet and legs get after your busy day. When’s the last time you got to treat yourself to a day at the spa? Even if you had the time, it’s not too often you can afford the $100 cost of a simple, relaxing, foot soak.
Doesn’t that sound nice? A relaxing foot soak at a spa. So I put together this simple recipe so you can have that soothing soak with ingredients you probably already have at home, and can whip up immediately.

Step 1. Create this wonderful foaming honey foot bath at home.

Here’s what you need:
1 tablespoon Honey
1 tablespoon Liquid Soap (I used dish soap)
1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
2 tablespoons Sweet Almond Oil
The almond oil was the only things that sounded like it was tough to find, but my wife and I found it at the chain drugstore at the corner of our street. Just take a look in the beauty/cosmetic aisle.

Mix all these ingredients together in a bowl and its ready for your foot bath.
Note: If you want to make this stuff in a large quantity to save for later, you can bump up all the ingredients to something like this:

½ cup Honey½ cup Liquid Soap (I used dish soap)
1 tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 cup Sweet Almond Oil
Now you can save this in a bottle and save some time for next time.

Step 2. Find yourself a foot bath
These days you can get a fancy, space-age, foot bath for about $20. They promise they do all sorts of things like vibration, bubbles, and heat. I haven’t tried one myself, but for $20 that probably isn’t a bad experiment.

My wife however didn’t need one as she had me volunteer to provide all the scrubbing and massaging for her.

Wait! Hon, I don’t recall you ever offering me a foot bath?

So anything around the house that can submerse your feet just above the ankle is going to work here. We ended up using a disposable aluminum roasting pan.
Yes it was brand new and didn’t have roasted meat in it!

Step 3. Fill up your foot bath

Put your mixed up concoction from Step 1 into your foot bath and fill with warm water.
Please be real careful with the water temperature. Do this by triple checking the temperature of the water with your hands when it’s done. And if you are doing this for a spouse make sure you understand their taste in temperature.

I speak from experience here. I got a little lazy, and didn’t judge the hotness of the water. Although my wife was a trooper and tried to go along anyways. I could tell from her grimace and refusal to dip more than like a toe into the water, that I made it too hot.

Step 4. Soak for 10 minutes
After I got the temperature of the water right, we soaked her feet for 10 minutes. There is all sorts of good stuff going on now during this soak.

The soap is obviously cleaning all sorts of impurities from your feet. I can’t even explain how many things the honey is doing. Here is a short list:

1) Apparently honey forms hydrogen peroxide which is a great anti bacterial agent. So there is goes cleansing your feet some more.
2) Honey contains antioxidants. Health news constantly revolves around us getting more antioxidants. So without me getting all biologist on us, I’ll just confirm that getting more antioxidants on our skin and in our diet is really super great!
3) Honey is also a terrific humectant. All that means is it makes a great moisturizer.
***
Just knowing about this foot bath, you can get started on your at-home foot spa. So take 15 minutes tonight and pamper yourself. Those feet are going to feel so soft, especially in a comfy pair of flip flops.

The Author

Another great way for women readers to treat their feet is to slide them into a pair of ultra-comfortable flip flops. Get a pair at http://www.yourflipflops.com/.
Or if you’d like our FREE newletter with more articles about pampering your feet, send a blank email to mailto:flipflops@aweber.com

This Cellulite Cream Works!

2005-08-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

I never thought in a million years that a cellulite cream would ever work, but I'm a firm believer now. I've tried most all of them because I've always been fascinated with "miracles" in a bottle and I never expected to see any results. A friend of mine recommended this new product to me by Hydroderm called Body Shape and I've just finished the second bottle and can't believe the results. I've always had the "cottage cheese" look on my upper thighs and for the first time, it's not there! My husband asked me the other day if I had been working out and I said, "No, why do you ask?" He said "Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't see the dimples on your upper thighs anymore" (Isn't that cute? He called them dimples. lol)

I really hadn't even noticed if I was getting results, but when my husband noticed enough to ask me about it - I took a look. Actually, I went and contorted myself in almost every position imaginable in front of a full length mirror to try and make the "dimples" appear. (I'm sure I looked real cute - probably could have won America's Funniest Home videos if hubby had the video camera going) Anyway, I only found 1 little cellulite dimple and it was barely noticeable, so needless to say - I feel like I have found a miracle in a bottle and wanted to recommend it to anyone who has the same problem. Currently, you can start with a free trial and see how you like it. Feel free to visit the website and read all about it.

Until next time..............

Do Your Hands Make You Look Older?

2005-08-11T06:42:00.000-07:00

I found a great article about caring for your hands and wanted to share it with all of my readers. There are some things in it that I'll bet you never thought of using to moisturize your hands. I can't wait to give a few of these tips a try. Enjoy!

Do Your Hands Make You Look Older?
By: Natalie Katsman

When you hear about wrinkles and skin aging, your first thoughts are about face and neck. But the earliest signs of aging will show on your hands.

Often neglected, hands need to be regularly taken care of. Frequent contacts with water and chemicals, sun, cold weather, gardening - all put your skin under a big stress. While hands do not have many oil glands, they will give away your age earlier than your pampered face.

In the meantime, it has been noticed that after making eye contact, the next thing people pay attention to is your hands.

What can you do to keep your hands beautiful?

- Moisturize! Several times a day. Dry skin is easily injured and looks wrinkled.

- Protect your hands - wear gloves when gardening, washing dishes, or dealing with chemicals

- Use sun protection

- Keep your hands dry. Any water left on your hands will evaporate and dry out the skin.

- Give your hands a special treatment - herbal or oil bath - once in a while.

Here are a few suggestions for your next hand spa:

* Herbal hand bath

Bring 1 qt of water to boil and pour over 1 tbsp of herbs (you can use all of these or just one: chamomile, nettle, sage, coltsfoot, calendula). Let the infusion cool to 100-110F and soak your hands in it for about 15-20 minutes. Dry your hands thoroughly and apply a rich moisturizer.

* You can make your own nourishing hand cream.

Thoroughly mix 1 teaspoon of honey and 3 tbsp of unsalted butter. Add 1 tbsp of strong herbal infusion. This will make a very rich cream. It will take a while to absorb, but leave your hands silky and smooth.

* For dry skin use this hand treatment 1-2 times a week:

1 tbsp Glycerin
1 Egg yolk
2 tbsp vegetable oil (olive, almond, or another oil of your choice)
Lemon Juice of 1 lemon
3 1/2 - 4 oz of an herbal infusion (for example: chamomile, calendula, elderflower) or rose water.
Other tips:

Mashed potatoes (with milk) will make a great hand mask.
When cooking with eggs, don't throw the eggshells away. Scrape out the remaining egg white and spread it over your hands.
Rubbing your skin with a piece of lemon will give the skin a more even tone.
After washing dishes or dealing with other alkali detergents, rinse your hands with sour milk or with vinegar-in-water solution (1 tbsp. vinegar per 2qt of water). This will help to restore pH balance of the skin.
Keep your hands warm. Not only for the sake of better skin, but for your overall health. Flue and colds often start with cold hands.
Tip for gardeners:

- Before digging in the dirt, scratch a bar of soap with your nails. When you are done working, cleaning your hands will be so much easier!

Nails.
Just like your skin and hair, your nails need moisture and conditioning too.

Here are few tips for better nails:

If you use nail polish, do not use acetone polish removers.
From time to time give your nails a break - let them be "naked" for a few days.
For stronger nails, soak them in horsetail infusion.
Olive oil that you probably have in your pantry will make a perfect strengthening nail bath (warm it first).
Cuticles. Removing them is not always a good idea because it makes your nails more vulnerable to infections.
Yet, if you decide to do the procedure, prepare the nails first:
apply a rich cream to the cuticle area. soak your nails in warm soapy water for 5-6 minutes. After drying your hands, push the cuticles back and then carefully cut them off with small scissors.

As always, topical measures are not always enough, especially if you have brittle, split or dull nails.

There are vitamins that will help:

* Organic Silica - to speed up the growth, avoid brittle and split nails.
* Essential Fatty Acids - Omega 3-6, Primrose Oil, Borage Oil, Fish Oil - for healthy and strong nails.
* Vitamin B (particularly B5) - for healthy nails and skin.
* Chelated Iron - to avoid vertical ridges and spoon nails.
* MSM (Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane) - provides building material for healthy cells.

For better absorption of vitamins and minerals, take digestive enzymes or bitters to stimulate digestion and help your body clean itself of toxins.

Whichever way you choose to care for your hands, even if it is just a hand lotion from your local grocery store, use it regularly. After all, doing so many things, your hands deserve care and attention.

The Author

(C) Natalie Katsman, 2003.

Learn skin care secrets, find out how to protect your skin and preserve its youthful and healthy appearance. Visit us at:

http://www.Natural-Aid.com

Make Your Eyeshadow Last Longer

2005-08-10T07:39:00.000-07:00

Many people have a problem with eyeshadow gathering into the creases on their eyelids or wearing away by the end of the day. One of the best tips I've found for making it last all day is to apply a thin layer of concealer or foundation to the eyelid before applying shadow and it will usually last all day and in some cases for at least 24 hours.

A Cheap Radiant Glow

2005-07-22T06:21:00.000-07:00

Many of my clients have wondered how to get a beautiful radiant glow to their skin without shelling out the money for a specific product. Well, through trial and error, I've discovered that once you're done putting on all your make-up, just apply a little bit of baby powder (any body powder will do) with your brush and you'll give your face a radiant glow. Don't use too much or else you'll look pale. A little goes a long way. It takes a little experimenting, but once you get it right, it does the same job as those expensive products on the shelf. Enjoy!

Apologies & What To Consider When Buying Foundation

2005-07-13T07:49:00.000-07:00

My apologies go out to all of my loyal readers, I've been under the weather for the last month and basically had to neglect updating this blog. Well, I'm back and feeling good, so be ready for lots of information! LOL

The first frugal tip I have is what to consider when buying foundation. You'll be a little surprised to find out how much it really costs and whether or not you're getting a good buy.

When you shop for foundations and concealers, don't just compare the prices. Also write down how many ounces they give you and figure out the cost per ounce to accurately compare prices. If you don't do this, the prices can be deceiving.

For example, Stila sells a foundation for $40 a tube, but it contains 1.4 oz. Most foundation bottles hold around 1oz., and some .5oz. The Stila foundation works out to $28.57 per ounce. Zhen makes a stick foundation that is $18 for .5oz. That's $36 an ounce. Zhen's other foundations at $15.50 and $22.50 per ounce are a better deal. I was thinking of trying L'Oreal's cream to powder foundation for the summertime. It looked like a decent price until I noticed the net weight. It is $7 for .17 oz. That's $41 per ounce for a drugstore product!

You will normally use up a cream to powder faster than a liquid foundation. If you can, try to consider how quickly you will go through a particular formula. Beware though, salespeople will always tell you that their product lasts longer than others. It is also easier to go through a stick foundation quicker than a liquid, you will also go through a liquid foundation faster if you apply it with a sponge rather than your fingers, because a sponge soaks up some of the foundation. Just consider carefully which formula is best for you.

Until Next Time....

Testing Foundation

2005-06-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

When picking out a concealer or foundation, always test the colour on the inside of your wrist. The skin there is the most unblemished and will give you a good idea of how it will look on your face. If possible, try looking at it on your skin in different lighting such as, fluorescent, incandescent and natural daylight. What may look good under one light may look horrid under another.

Extend your foundation

Want to extend the life of your foundation and cut down on heavy concealer? Mix a drop of it with your natural moisturizer to create a luminescent look for your skin. You'll use less and in turn it lasts longer.

Tips for Eye and Lip Pencil Care

2005-06-10T06:31:00.000-07:00

Tired of your eye and lip pencils breaking when you sharpen them? Get a little more mileage out of them with this great tip:

Before sharpening, place them in the freezer for 10 minutes. They will harden slightly and not break when sharpened.

The 10 Minute Manicure & Repair For Tired Feet

2005-06-09T07:23:00.000-07:00

10 Minute manicure

Need a fast fix for unpolished nails? Simply file nails into a square shape, buff them to create a bit of shine and apply a clear coat of polish. Next rub in cuticle oil around the edges of the nail and moisturize your whole hand. It takes less than 10-15 minutes and will give your appearance a polished look.

Pamper your feet

Pamper your tired feet with a luxurious footbath. When a massaging foot bath is not available, fill a basin with warm water and add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Next place marbles or small stones (found at your local garden center) into the basin. Run your toes and soles of your feet over the marbles, and relax for 15 minutes. You'll feel like a whole new person.

Stop Mascara Mistakes & Achieve A Rosy Glow

2005-06-08T07:59:00.000-07:00

To avoid mascara flake-off or smudging on your face, apply a thin coat of mascara to the top lashes only. Then run an eyelash brush through lashes to prevent clumpy mascara build-up. You'll have virtually no flake-off and almost no smudging on your face due to oily skin or perspiration.

If you want to radiate a healthy glow, try using a gel or cream blush (instead of powder) in a rosy shade of pink to create a more natural look. Gels or creams tend to be more transparent and will blend smoothly – simply rub it on the apples of your cheek and blend up towards your eye for a glowing complexion. Gel or cream blushes are good for any complexion - even oily - because they help retain moisture on dry skin and will cause less oil production on oily skin.

Makeup Timeline

2005-06-07T06:27:00.000-07:00

I've been asked many times why makeup can suddenly cause skin reactions such as rashes, infections and the dreaded word, acne. Many people have reported that they'll be using a certain makeup and then all of a sudden, their eyes and skin become sensitive to it. The first thing I ask them is how old the makeup is and they look at me like I'm crazy, but the most common answer I get is anywhere from 8-16 months old. Then it's my turn to look at them like they're crazy. LOL

Believe it or not, makeup does need to be thrown out after a certain time frame. Ingredients in makeup do expire, but manufacturers don't put an expiration date on it when they package it because they believe the consumer will use it up before it can expire. What they don't realize is that us women tend to buy many different shades of colors in mascara, cheek color, lip color, eye color, etc. We couldn't possibly use them all up before they "expire." So, below you'll find a general timeline regarding when to throw out your cosmetics.

Make-up timeline

To ensure your eyes stay healthy and free of infection when using make-up, heed the following due-date rules. Throw out your mascara after three months, powder eye shadows every nine to 18 months, and cream eye shadows every six to 12 months. Sharpen your eyeliners often to keep them clean.

Foundation, cheek and lipstick color stay well for around 6-8 months. Powder will still be safe for up to a year, but your skin can begin reacting to it after only 8 months, so it's wise to discard it at the 8 month mark.

Following these timeline rules will keep your eyes and skin healthy and prevent those horrible, sometimes painful, skin irritations that come from using older and expired makeup.

My Favorite Timesaver

2005-05-27T06:36:00.000-07:00

With summer coming and everyone wanting to be outside and take advantage of the extended daylight hours as much as possible, sometimes the last thing we want to worry about is how our hair looks. I'll be honest, I tend to "cheat" a little in the spring and summer months when it comes to doing my hair and no one is ever the wiser. I simply put it up and clip on a ready made hair piece that perfectly matches my hair color. I get mine from Beauty Trends since they have a wide selection of colors and very low prices. Right now, they have an excellent special going on their Redi-Hair line - Buy One, Get One Free and you can mix and match!

Their prices are low anyway and when you can buy them 2 for 1 it's even better. The hair on their wigs looks so natural that everyone thinks it's my own hair when I wear them. The best thing about using these is the amount of time I save doing my hair. It takes all of two minutes to get it done and I'm ready for the day. If you've ever considered experimenting with clip on hairpieces, now is the perfect time to try. I highly recommend Beauty Trends as a source to begin your search as I use them exclusively. They have more to choose from than anyone else I've found and a huge color selection. To start looking, simply click on the banner below to be taken to the home page and click on Redi-Hair in the left column. Good luck and let me know if you try them and how it works out for you!

Until next time..............

Home Remedies for Acne

2005-05-15T05:20:00.000-07:00

Acne is a problem for people of all ages and it can be very difficult to get rid of. Below are a few home remedies that several of my clients swear by. These remedies worked for them when nothing else did. If you or someone you know is plagued by acne that won't seem to go away, please feel free to pass these tips along. They just might find something that will work.

Home remedies for ACNE, BLACKHEADS, AND PIMPLES:

Dab a small amount of toothpaste (paste, not gel) on pimples before bed; this helps dry out the pimples.

Mix equal amounts of lemon juice and rose water, apply to face with a cotton ball, and allow to sit for 30 minutes before rinsing. 15-20 days of this application helps cure pimples and also helps to remove blemishes and scars.

Apply fresh lemon juice on the affected area overnight. Wash off with warm water next morning.

For acne that hasn't seemed to respond to anything, steep 2-3 tsp. dried basil leaves in 1 cup boiling water for 10-20 minutes, cool, and apply to affected area with a cotton ball.

Fabulous Homemade Skin Care Products

2005-05-12T04:42:00.000-07:00

Here are a few recipes for more homemade skin care products for different types of skin. Most all will store well in the refrigerator and give you the same results as the most expensive brands. I've used them for giving facials and customers just love the way the products make their skin feel. I hope you enjoy them!

1) Honey & Lemon Face Scrub - Great for blemished skin.

1 med. lemon - juice of
2 Tbls. finely ground almonds
1 Tbls. honey

-Combine all ingredients.
-Massage mixture into face and neck.
-Leave on for 5 minutes.
-Rinse off with warm water.

2) Fruit Salad Body Mask - Softens and exfoliates the skin, leaving you feeling cool and clean.

2 slices pineapple - rind removed
1/2 med. honeydew melon - rind removed
1 doz. green grapes
1 med. banana - peeled
1 med. pear - cored
1 med. kiwi fruit - peeled

-Puree all ingredients in food processor. Mixture will be slightly lumpy.
-Refrigerate for 1 hour.
-Smooth onto body and/or face, leaving on for half an hour.
-Rinse of with tepid water.

3) Blemished Skin Mask - Weekly treatment for skin with spots.

1 tomato - chopped (You can also used grated carrot instead of tomato if you are allergic to the acid from them.)
1 Tbls. instant oatmeal
1 tsp. lemon juice

-Blend all ingredients just until combined.
-Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas, such as cheeks, forehead, or chin.
-Add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask, if necessary.
-Leave on 10 minutes.
-Scrub off with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.

4) Banana Mask for Dry Skin

1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 Tbls. honey
1 med. banana

-Mash all ingredients together with a fork.
-Smooth onto face and neck.
-Leave for 10 minutes, then rinse off.

5) Apple Mask For Normal Skin - Cool revitalizing mask.

1 apple - quartered, cored
2 Tbls. honey
1/2 tsp. ground sage

-Chop apple in food processor.
-Add honey and sage to apple. Mix well.
-Refrigerate for 10 minutes.
-Pat mixture onto face with a light tapping motion, tapping until honey feels tacky.
-Leave on for 30 minutes.
-Rinse.

6) Anti-Aging Face Mask - Look younger instantly!

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
1 med. banana - peeled
1 vitamin E capsule

-Mash together cream and banana.
-Stir in contents of capsule.
-Smooth onto face and neck.
-Leave on for 10-15 minutes.
-Wipe off with damp cloth.

I may have posted a couple of these recipes before, but I and my clients like them so well that I thought I would put them up again. Don't be afraid to give them a try and let us know what you think.

Until next time.........

More Frugal Hair & Skin Treatments

2005-05-08T21:25:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more of the recipes I've been known to use in my salon. I love to use them on my clients and instruct them on how to make the product at home. The main thing is, these solutions work and my clients will vouch for them as well. They never knew their kitchen was so full of useful beauty ingredients and that top quality skin and hair care doesn't have to cost them so much. Here are a few more for you to enjoy!

1) Split End Hair Repair

2 Tbls. olive oil
1 tsp. honey
1 egg yolk - beaten

-Whisk together olive oil and honey, then stir in egg yolk.
-Apply to hair ends in small sections.
-Wrap head with shower cap and leave on for 30 minutes.
-Rinse and shampoo out.
Hair is left soft, shiny and when done properly it is a perfect solution for in between cuts.

2) Strawberry Face Brightener - Fresh strawberries will soon be in season. Here's a great recipe to use any leftovers or overripe berries.

2 ozs. ripe strawberries
1 cup milk

-In a bowl, mash together strawberries and milk.
-Strain through a fine sieve.
-Smooth onto face with cotton ball, then wipe clean with fresh cotton ball.
-Refrigerate left-overs for future use.
Brightens up dull-looking skin.

3) Peach Tightening Mask

1 ripe peach - peeled, pitted
1 egg white

-Whip peach and egg white together in a blender until smooth.
-Gently pat mixture over face.
-Leave on for 30 minutes.
-Rinse off with cool water.
Tightens up pores on face to create a smoother look.

4) Nail Strengthening Solution

2 tsp. castor oil
2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. wheat germ oil

-Pour all ingredients into a sealable bottle.
-Before each use, shake well.
-Rub a small amount of the mixture into your nails.
-Leave on for 3-5 minutes.
-Wipe off with a cotton ball.
Helps to make your nails stronger and shinier.

Tips From Busy NYC Makeup Artists

2005-05-07T23:33:00.000-07:00

Below are four tips and forecasts for the Fall 2005 makeup season from some of New York City's top makeup artists. The Fall 2005 Fashion Week was held not very long ago and these were some quick tips passed on by some of the city's top artists.

Artist: ANTHEA KING

Cheap Trick:
Evian Mineral Water Spray. It helps keep your skin hydrated—especially when you're flying.

Fall Forecast:
Rosy cheeks never go out of style!

Artist: MATT NIGARA

Cheap Trick:
Individual fake eyelashes bring a pop to anybody's eye.

Fall Forecast:
A return to makeup. Last season was bare essentials; this time everything is done.

Artist: JESSICA LIEBESKIND

Cheap Tricks:
Whitening toothpaste, an eyelash curler, black mascara, and lip balm will make you look polished without the price. And don't forget to drink lots of water with lemon and cucumber!

Artist: PAUL STARR

Cheap Trick: Always keep your skin slightly bronzed.

Fall Forecast:
A smoldering blue eye with a fleshy beige lip.

Nutrients for your skin

2005-05-05T07:38:00.000-07:00

I just discovered a question by reader Lisa Sinclair that was asked on April 19. I'm sorry for not posting an answer sooner. I don't know how your question got overlooked, but let's see if we can help you out.

Lisa's question:
Question: I am a pre-nursing student and am looking for info on topical skin treatments/facials etc. for a Nutrition class presentation. Any idea where I can find specific info on nutrients and their beneficial affects when applied topically? eg. what exactly does lactic acid do to soften/exfoliate skin.

Answer: A good resource page for a few topical nutrients can be found here - Cosmeceuticals (Just click on the word)

Simply scroll down to the bottom of the page and you'll see a chart with several items listed and their benefits. These are the more popular topical nutrients in most cosmetics and creams, but it does give you a place to start. It's a pain, but if you look up each one idividually, you can find a wealth of information about the benefits of each ingredient.

I don't know of just one website where you can find this information. If anyone else has an answer please post the link in the comments section and I'll bring it to the front page.

Thanks for your question and I'm truly sorry I didn't see it before.

Until next time.........

Reversing Hair Loss - Naturally

2005-05-03T18:44:00.000-07:00

I've been asked many times whether or not you can really do anything to reverse hair loss. Other than trying the special shampoos, treatments and even going to a hair loss clinic, there are a few things that you can try on your own to help reverse the process. These are helpful tips to help regenerate hair follicles, but they do not cure any underlying conditions, or stress-related hair loss:

>Try drinking this- blend bananas with honey, yogurt and low-fat milk. A drink rich in biotin can help keep your crowning glory firmly rooted.

> Take dietary supplements such as Vitamin B6 and Zinc. Supplements are useful when you can't get enough from natural food sources.

> Invert your head while you shampoo and massage your scalp. This helps promote blood circulation to the head. You can even massage your scalp or have someone do it for you during leisure time. Anything you can do to stimulate blood flow to the scalp is a good thing and will help open your follicles.

> Do what you can to eliminate stress in your life or it can be disastrous to your hair.

> Simply getting enough sleep can help stop hair loss.

These are just a few tips you can try to help reverse the process. Some have been very successful for my clients. Other than illness and heredity, stress is the next reason in line for hair loss in most people. It's easier said than done, but sometimes we have to learn to take time out for ourselves and learn not the sweat the small stuff.

Until next time.........

The Last of My Frugal Shampoo Uses

2005-05-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Sorry, I'm a day late but I spent yesterday doing concessions for a local auction company and trying to get the rest of my garden planted. Anyway, here are the last of the uses on my list for unwanted shampoo. If anyone else has a great tip to share, please feel free to leave it in the comments section. I'll be happy to move it to the front page so everyone can enjoy it.

1) Use it as a cheap refill for your soap dispenser in the bathroom. You can sometimes buy shampoo at rock bottom prices like $.79 a bottle on sale. Simply fill your soap dispenser about 1/3 full of shampoo and the rest with warm water. Shake a little to mix and you've only spent about $.10 for a bottle of soap.

2) This may sound crazy, but you can also use it on your car to remove tar and other hard to remove things. A friend of mine got a little paint on her car and couldn't get it off with anything else. She tried shampoo and the paint came right off.

3) Shampoo and condtioner both are great for handwashing sweaters. Wash them with a little shampoo in the water and rinse with conditioner in the water to keep them soft. You can even add a small amount of vinegar to the conditioner water to close the fibers. This method is less harsh and more cost effective than using detergent in a washing machine.

4) And finally, if you can't use your unwanted shampoo for any of the above uses, consider giving it away to a shelter for abused women or a mission for homeless people. There's always a critical need for these type of items.

I hope you've enjoyed these tips as much as I've enjoyed sharing them and I hope you've found some valuable uses for your leftover or unwanted shampoo.

More Useful Shampoo Uses

2005-04-30T04:11:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more useful unwanted shampoo uses. Enjoy!

1) Use it like you would any liquid cleaner. Mop the floor, wash woodwork, etc. You don't need very much in your mixture with water.

2) Used as a pretreatment, it will get out that ring around the collar.

3) A little leftover shampoo combined with regular baking soda will clean and polish almost any hard surface until it gleams, especially chrome. It is great on rings in the bathtub and for scouring down shower tiles without the awful fumes. Leaves shower smelling great!

4) Use it to wash your combs and brushes.

5) If you have a shampoo that you don't like for you hair but you like the smell, use it as a body wash.

6) Leftover shampoo makes a great bubble bath!

7) Shampoo is excellent for getting out blood stains in clothing.

Stay tuned for tomorrow when I'll share the last of the tips I have for using shampoo in other applications.

Until next time...........

Fun Unwanted Shampoo Uses

2005-04-29T04:40:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I've definitely bought shampoo that I didn't like after the sale. Sometimes it's the smell or maybe it's too harsh, etc. Well, I hate throwing money down the drain so over the next few days, I'm going to share some tips for using that unwanted shampoo. Here's the first five:

1. Makes a great liquid hand soap, especially with the conditioner in it.

2. I can recommend it for spot cleaning rugs or upholstery. It's much less harsh than regular cleaning chemicals and works really well.

3. Shampoo is wonderful for getting out grease spots in clothing. It is much stronger cleaner than any of us realize.

4. Makes a great shave cream. To use up old conditioner and shampoo, mix 2/3 conditioner to 1/2 shampoo.

5. Shampoo makes a really good tub cleaner and smells better than commercial brands.

Stay tuned for many more uses for your unwanted shampoo!

Until next time,
Melissa

Clarifying Shampoo

2005-04-25T12:26:00.000-07:00

Many people have asked me what the best clarifying shampoo is and whether or not they should use it everyday. Clarifying shampoos tend to be quite a bit more harsh on your hair and will dry it out if used everyday. I recommend using this type of shampoo only once a week to get rid of environmental and styling product buildup. As for the best clarifying shampoo to use....it's best to make your own from the shampoo you are currently using! Here's how:

Clarifying egg shampoo recipe

Ingredients Needed:
1 egg, lightly whisked
1/2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup water
1 cup of your current favorite shampoo

Making your own shampoo can't be any easier than this. Put all the ingredients into a bowl, whisk to combine for a few minutes and you are done. Massage into your hair and rinse with cool water.

This simple clarifying recipe is less harsh on your hair than any product you can buy and should easily remove buildup from your hair. If you have a lot of styling product buildup, you might add just a little more lemon juice to the mixture. The other added bonus is that you aren't out the expense of an extra bottle of shampoo when you only need it every once in a while.

Until Next Time.........

Make Your Own Honey Butter Lip Balm

2005-04-21T12:44:00.000-07:00

Some of the most popluar retail products in my salon are ones that I make to sell to my clients. This last year, lip balm has been one of the fastest and best sellers since people have started realizing the need to take care of their lips as well as their skin. Below you will find the basic recipe for my popular Honey Butter Lip Balm that you can make at home and even have enough left over to give as gifts. The recipients will love you for it!

Honey Butter Lip Balm

Ingredients Needed:

2 Teaspoons Olive Oil
1/2 Teaspoon Grated Beeswax or Beeswax Pellets
1/2 Teaspoon Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
1/2 Teaspoon Honey
Flavored Oil To Taste
1 Vitamin E Capsule

Directions

Melt the oil, honey, wax and butter over low heat. Allow a few minutes to cool and then add the flavoring and contents of the Vitamin E capsule. Stir to blend and then pour into containers. If you would like a firmer lip balm, add just a little more wax to the ingredient list.

Lips will stay soft and smooth with regular application and since you are adding the flavor of your choice, of course you'll want to use it more often. Many of my customers have even reported that the fine lines begin to disappear after a couple of weeks use.

Have fun and enjoy!

Here's One Of My BEST Salon Secrets

2005-04-19T13:58:00.000-07:00

I've used the wildy popular following recipe in my salon for the last year as the exfoliant for my manicures and pedicures with rave reviews. Customers absolutely love the way it makes their skin feel! So, due to customer demand, I've decided to finally share my secret and hope that my readers will enjoy it as well.

Please only use it on your hands, elbows and feet as the ingredients can be irritating to delicate skin elsewhere.

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
1/4 cup fresh ginger root
1/2 cup table salt
2 limes - juiced
1/2 cup warmed vegetable oil

Pulverize 1/4 cup fresh ginger root in a blender; add 1/2 cup table salt. Mix in juice from two limes and 1/2 cup warmed vegetable oil to make a soft but gritty paste. Use to exfoliate hands, feet and rough spots such as elbows, massaging into skin with gentle circular motions.

Rinse with warm water spiked with squirts of lime.

Note: This recipe is from the Celebrity Cruises' AquaSpa, a
facility aboard a cruise. This exfoliant is to be used on your
hands, feet and elbows and then rinsed off, leaving you with
baby-smooth, touchable skin.

When followed with a moisturizing lotion, this is an excellent way to get your skin ready for the exposure of the spring and summer months. Use as needed.

Until next time,
Melissa

Interesting Oatmeal Beauty Recipes

2005-04-18T08:18:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I love using oatmeal in my facial recipes. It's one of the best exfoliants that I've ever seen. While searching for new recipes, I stumbled across this interesting article by Eleanor Athens that I thought my readers would enjoy.

Oatmeal: Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
By: Eleanor Athens

You may love them. Perhaps they make you think of cold mornings, and you can remember how a steaming, brown-sugar flecked bowl swimming in cream would warm you all nice and cozy. Or maybe oatmeal makes you think of a gummy thick paste forced down your throat before school. Which was bad enough, but what you really wanted was a bright, sugary cereal like the kids on TV eat as part of a balanced breakfast. Either way, oats are more than breakfast these days. At the end of this article are a few wonderful recipes using oatmeal in ways that the Quaker may not have intended.

The edible grains of a widely grown cereal grass, oats (avena sativa) appear in many beauty products. People appreciate their soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. Come to think of it, that's another childhood memory. When I got the chicken pox my mom popped me into an oatmeal and baking soda bath to relieve the itching. Oats are also highly absorptive, hypoallergenic, and help to soften skin. They have the best amino acid balance of all the cereal grains (amino acids work as water-binding agents in skin care products). Oats have also been clinically shown to help heal dry, itchy skin. Oat grains and straw appear in shampoos, dusting powders, moisturizers, and cleansing bars and that's just the start of a list!

Always be careful when using natural skin care products to note all ingredients and avoid any which you are allergic to (nuts, for example, are found in many recipes for facial scrubs). If any persistent stinging or redness occurs, thoroughly cleanse your face and rinse well with cool water.

Sometimes skin sensitivities can develop seemingly out of the blue. If this happens, discontinue use. When working with essential oils, remember how potent they can be. It takes perhaps 10 pounds of lavender to make just one ounce of the essential oil. Also, it is best to consult your doctor before using essential oils if you are pregnant or epileptic.

When choosing rolled oats (the breakfast cereal kind) for the following treatments, make sure to check the ingredients. There are plenty of popular brands available that are nothing but rolled oats, as they should be. Don't get the quick-cook or flavored versions. When the recipe calls for ground oats, use a clean coffee grinder or blender to grind the flakes to a fine powder. Mixed with cornstarch and/or arrowroot powder, this makes a very mild dusting powder for you or baby.

The following recipes are perishable and should be used right away.

Oat and Brown Sugar Scrub:

2 Tbsp. ground oats
2 tsp. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. aloe vera
1 tsp. lemon juice
Mix all ingredients in a clean bowl until you have a smooth paste. Gently massage onto damp skin, and rinse off with warm water. You can triple the recipe for a fantastic smoothing body treatment.

Banana Bread Masque:

½ really ripe mashed banana - moisturizing
2 Tbsp. ground oats - soothing
milk or cream, add as necessary - softening
pinch nutmeg - antiseptic
2 Tbsp. whole wheat flour - antioxidant

Whip ingredients together, adding cream or oat flour as necessary to get a smooth, paste-like consistency. Spread on clean face and leave for 5-10 minutes, then rinse thoroughly and pat dry.

Oat and Honey Milk Bath

½ cup rolled oats
¼ cup powdered milk
2 Tbsp. honey

Place all ingredients in a small, natural fabric bag (muslin and cheesecloth are great choices). Hang the bag under the faucet as you fill the tub, so running water disperses the goodness throughout your bath.

The Author

© Eleanor Athens. All Rights Reserved.

Eleanor Athens is the founder of E aromachologic fragrance oils; scents created from pure essential oils and perfumer's absolutes. Her interests in phyto- and aromatherapy led to the creation of a fragrance line that uses organic ingredients to enhance the well-being of the wearer.

Email: info@aromachologic.com
Website: http://aromachologic.com

More Frugal Beauty Tips

2005-04-15T04:20:00.000-07:00

Stop Flyaway Hair

Is your hair out of control? Static in your hair brush may be to blame. SOlve the problem by washing it with a drop of shampoo and warm water. Then rinse well and let completely air dry before using.

Shave your beauty budget

Instead of expensive shave gels and creams, opt for value priced hair conditioner instead - it contains many of the same emolients as pricey shave gels, and it'll last three times as long as a can of the cream.

Chapped Lip Fix

Saturate a black tea bag with warm water and press on clean lips for five minutes. Repeat if desired. Why does it work? Black tea is high in tannic acid, which retains moisture to keep lips soft and smooth.

Make your nails gleam

Mix 1 Tbs. hydrogen peroxide with 3 Tbs. baking soda. Apply to nails (underneath and over tops) with a cotton swab. Leave on for three to five minutes, then rinse with warm water. Nails will be completely clean and shiny.

Pluck brows without pain.

Love the look of neat brows, but hate painful tweezing? Here are two tricks that will make the process a little easier for you. Try removing unwanted hairs right after a warm shower. The steam opens up pores, making hair follicles less rigid. Or smooth on a bit of baby teething gel, such as Anbesol, five minutes before plucking - the numbing agent, benzocaine, will keep it from hurting.

Give Your Makeup A Makeover!

2005-04-12T06:43:00.000-07:00

Tired of looking at your unused collection of "What was I thinking?" eye shadows and lipsticks? Breathe new life into the shades you don't like by mixing them with colors you love.

Here are just a few recipes to give you an idea.

Eyeshadows:
Lavender + Gray = Smoky Lilac
White +Dark Chocoloate = Mocha
Lime Green + Gold = Moss
Powder Blue + Gunmetal = Slate
Bright Orange + Champagne = Peach

Lipsticks:
Blackberry + Pale Pink = Plum
Bright Orange + Bronze = Brick
Beige + Hot Pink = Nude
Purple + Dusty Mauve = Fig

Have fun and experiment! You just might find a color that you love.

60 Seconds To A Gorgeous New Look

2005-03-24T06:41:00.000-08:00

Don't have tons of time to spend on your makeup, but want to look like you did? A mini makeover is the answer! In just one minute, you can turn your eyes, cheeks, lips and skin from pretty to perfection!

Get More Youthful Eyebrows

The Trick: A Straighter Brow Line

Severely arched brows add years to your face, while brows with a straighter "tail" make your eyes look youthful. Just brush brows down, then across to find sparse spots. Fill in with brow pencil before blending with a brow brush.

Get Wide Open Eyes

The Trick: Hot new minimal liner

Skip thick eyeliner, which just makes eyes look small. Instead, dip an eye-lining brush into dampened shadow or pot liner and trace a thin line along roots of upper lashes. It will enhance the whites of the eyes, making them look bigger.

Get Model High Cheekbones

The Trick: Apply brush in an arc

Not only will your cheekbones look gorgeous, but your whole face will look slimmer! Instead of applying blush to apples of cheeks - which accentuates roundness - apply in an arc shape from slightly under cheekbones out and up toward temples while keeping lips puckered - blend well.

Get Mile Long Lashes

The Trick: Apply mascara vertically

Want long, lush lashes? Stop wiggling the wand back and forth while applying mascara. Many of us make this mistake, which leaves lashes short and clumpy. The quick fix? Run wand through lashes from roots to tips and separate between coats with a lash comb or brush.

Get Flawless Glowing Skin

The Trick: Use a foundation brush

Applying foundation with a specially designed brush - instead of a sponge or your fingers - helps it go on thinner so the natural beauty of your skin shines through. Coat the brush with foundation and apply in inner corners of eyes, under eyes, around nostrils and over chin - blend well.

Get Perfectly Pretty Lips

The Trick: Divide by 4

Instead of outlining lips in one or two quick motions - which can create an asymmetrical shape - get a perfect line every time by lining lips in four sections, starting at the outer corner of each lip and working your way toward the center, steadying your hand if necessary.

Using one or two of these simple tips can help you recreate your look without spending money on new makeup. Just applying what you already have in a different manner - no matter how subtle the change - can make a huge difference.

Shear Perfection - 10 Keys To A Good Haircut

2005-03-23T04:59:00.000-08:00

Sick of leaving the salon less-than-thrilled about your hairstyle? These tips will help.

1. Sit up straight. Don't cross your legs when you sit in the stylist's chair -- it skews your posture, so your cut could be uneven once you stand up. Instead, sit up in the chair, legs uncrossed.

2. Collect pictures. The biggest hair disasters arise when your stylist doesn't understand what you want. Pictures will help convey your message.

3. But be realistic. You may love a cut on a magazine model, but if your hair is not the same texture or your face is not the same shape as hers, the cut won't look the same on you. Ask your stylist for variations appropriate to you.

4. Soften a square jawline with layers. Keep them long and choppy around the lower half of your face.

5. Use your hands. Instead of asking for an inch off the ends, use your hands to show your stylist where you'd like your hair to fall.

6. Color after you cut. Your haircut will affect the look of your color, so wait until you've trimmed to add highlights or try a new shade.

7. Go for length to slim a round face. A style on the longer side -- say, to your shoulders -- makes a full face look narrower.

8. Ask for styling advice. A cut only looks as good as how it's styled. As your stylist finishes your hair, ask detailed questions so you can repeat the process at home.

9. Update your products. You may need to upgrade your styling products to get the effect needed for your new cut.

10. Keep your options open. Sometimes, an unexpected urge to go short can leave you with a haircut you may not have tried otherwise, but that's perfect for you!

Communication is the key. If your stylist isn't clear about the look you are trying to achieve, you probably won't be happy when you leave the salon. Don't be afraid to ask questions - your stylist will happy to share styling tips with you. Just by using a few of these basic tips the next time you go to the salon, you can easily end up leaving with the perfect cut tailored just for you.

The Look: Sleek & Straight With A Center Part

2005-03-19T02:30:00.000-08:00

The Style: It's for you if your face is round and full - the length will slim wide cheeks

The Cut: Ask for graduated layers starting below the chin. They'll keep ends from looking solid and blocky.

How To Style: Flat iron hair, then wrap around velcro rollers. Unroll and make a part with a rattail comb. Mist a shine spray on a large paddle brush and run through hair.

The Look: Ultra-long Voluminous Layers

2005-03-19T02:22:00.000-08:00

The Style: It's for you if your hair is fine and you want volume.

The Cut: Ask for LOTS of multi-length layers (the shortest ones should start at your cheekbone) - when done right, the layers will frame your face and graduate to the ends of your hair.

How To Style: Apply a volumizing product before blow-drying. Wrap hair around velcro rollers, blow dry and let cool. Then unroll and fluff waves with fingers.

The Look: Mid Length Wispy Hair

2005-03-19T02:17:00.000-08:00

The Style: It's for you if you're full figured (it will balance proportions), or have a long face (the choppy layers create the illusion of width.

The Cut: Ask for a cut that sweeps your collarbone, with face-framing razored layers.

How To Style: Smooth a texturizing pomade through damp hair. Divide hair into small sections and aim blow-dryer at roots while pulling pieces straight with a round brush.

The Look: Wispy Bangs

2005-03-19T02:13:00.000-08:00

The Style: It's for you if you want to hide brow lines, make a long face seem shorter or draw attention to your eyes.

The Cut: Ask for wispy bangs - your stylist will snip vertically for a softer look.

How To Style: Rub a drop of gel between palms and run fingers through bangs. Blow dry downward and fluff bangs into place.

The Look: Soft Bouncy Curls

2005-03-19T02:07:00.000-08:00

The Style: It's for you if you have angular features (curls tend to soften them) or you just want to pump up the volume a bit.

The Cut: Ask for a chin-length or longer cut with graduated layers that start halfway down your hair.

How To Style: Mist hair with setting spray, then wind sections around a medium-barreled curling iron. Let hair cool before pulling back with fingertips (as if you're making a ponytail) to gently release curls without unraveling.

Different Beauty Uses for Honey

2005-03-06T09:23:00.000-08:00

Honey and beeswax are used in the beauty industry to soften and heal the skin tissue and help attract moisture to the skin. Most lipsticks are made with a beeswax base. Honey can be used in making effective facials. Mix one or two tablespoons of honey with one-third cup finely ground oatmeal. Oatmeal can be ground in a blender. The amount of honey used depends on your thickness preference. Blend in a teaspoonful of rose water or tap water. Clean face thoroughly. Spread facial mixture evenly over face. Relax for ten minutes to one half hour. Remove with a soft washcloth and warm water. Rinse with cold water or use an astringent. Use this facial once a week for improved softness in the skin. This treatment also works well for oily complexions.

I've also heard that honey is an effective anti-acne and blemish treatment. Many of my clients say that it works wonders over a lot of over the counter remedies. Many will mix it with garlic or onion and create a paste that can be applied to the skin or blemishes and it acts as a drawing salve to get rid of the problem. It's always worth a try if nothing else seems to work for you.

Until next time............

The Most Common Myth Regarding Professional Beauty Products

2005-02-21T09:58:00.000-08:00

The biggest myth in the beauty retail industry is that people think the more it costs, the better it must be.

Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many of the most common high priced and name brand beauty products have the exact same ingredients as the lower priced brands that you can buy in any discount store. The difference is, you are paying for a name brand.

As a stylist, I constantly shoot myself in the foot regarding retail sales. But I really can't stand to see good people spend hard earned money on products that they don't need or can pay less for and achieve the same results. Many think I'm crazy for telling people this, but selling my services are what pay the bills, NOT the sale of retail products. My honesty has gained me hundreds of repeat clients through the years and I'd much rather have a client coming in once a month for a trim or color than every other month to buy a bottle of shampoo. You get the drift.

When it comes to shampoo, conditioner and styling products - just because it comes from a salon doesn't make it any better than products you can buy in a discount retail store. Shampoo is a detergent no matter how you package it. Conditioner is just what it says and the same goes for styling products. The only difference is that salon products are more concentrated and will last longer. In the end, the costs really figure out to be the same for salon and regular retail products. So my advice is to use whatever works best for you and the products you like.

There is one area that I have to say that salon products are better and that is COLOR. The reason I say that is, professional products are formulated under strict guidelines in the industry to insure that salon professionals will achieve the same color results every time. The colors you can buy over the counter are not as regulated and can truly vary from bottle to bottle. How many times have you bought the same home color and gotten a different result almost every time?

If you have your hair colored professionally and would like to do it at home, you might consider talking to your stylist about it. They might be willing to send you home with your color and specific instructions on how to use it. I've done this for many of my clients and truly don't mind doing it. I would rather my clients have what they are used to and be satisfied with their result than have them buy a product off the shelf and call me the next day saying they have pink or bright orange hair.

Use your best judgement regarding your hair products and use what you like and what works best for you.

Until next time...........

Olive Oil In Your Beauty Routine?

2005-02-20T22:52:00.000-08:00

We all know that olive oil is wonderful and healthy for us to cook with, but what about its other uses? Truthfully, olive oil is another main ingredient in several beauty products you can buy on the shelf. See for yourself how you can make your own skin cocktails and save a little money at the same time.

1. A mixture of 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup vinegar, & 1/4 cup water used as a night cream will make your skin glow. The olive oil softens and moisturizes and the vinegar lightens discolorations, kills bacteria and loosens dead skin cells. Splash water on your face before applying.

2. Olive oil can be used as cleansing cream if your skin is dry.

3. For a facial, wet face thoroughly, then massage olive oil into your skin. Use about a half teaspoon of sugar and scrub your face with that, then wipe off gently with a warm, wet cloth until the sugar is all gone.

4. Use olive oil on your feet with clean white cotton socks. Helps to soften up you feet and it absorbs better than baby oil.

5. It seems when you pour olive oil out there is always a drip, so wipe it up with your hand and rub it in to your elbows. Wonderful softening properties.

6. Use olive oil as bath oil. Two to three tablespoons will do the trick.

7. Use olive oil for your hair. Not only does it condition, but it also gets rid of the frizz. Put a small drop into your palm & then rub both hands together & apply it to dry hair.

Just a few of the many creative uses for olive oil in your skin care routine. Not only is it cheap, but it will go alot further than most products you can buy. Have fun and be creative.

Until next time................

Surprising Beauty Uses for Vinegar

2005-02-19T08:43:00.000-08:00

Most people are not aware that vinegar is a key ingredient many beauty products. It has a lot of properties that are essential for our skin and is a very economical ingredient. Below are a few ways you can use vinegar in your beauty regimen at home if you don't mind the smell. lol

1. As a skin peel
Use of vinegar on your fresh washed face will cause the release of the outer layer of skin. It's a very cheap method of cosmetic peel, but it's safer than most acid peel products in that it doesn't cause photosensitivity as Retin-A does. However the skin will be sensitive to sunlight, as it will be after any peeling treatment.

2. As a ph balancer
Because soaps are alkaline in nature, washing gets our skin ph out of whack. Vinegar puts it back - but overuse will dry the skin, so only use it when you need to neutralize soap, for instance when your skin feels dry and taut after washing.

3. A lightener for age spots
You can make an emulsion of your favorite cream or lotion and vinegar and use it religiously on your hands or other areas you want lightened. Put the lotion or cream in your blender then add about half as much vinegar and run the blender until it mixes well. This is more convenient than having to remember to use a special product - and it's cheaper!

4. A highlighter for your hair
Want to get a headstart on summer? Or just want to do something with your hair? If you soak a cotton ball in vinegar and swipe a lock of hair with it, then go out in the sun, the vinegar will hasten the sun bleach. You may have to do it several times to get the shade you want, but it works well - and it's frugal. Be sure to wash and condition well after treatment.

Remember that vinegar is a neutralizer: rinse your hair in it to remove all traces of shampoo and rinse your hands in it for the same reason (but don't overdo it; it will dry your hair & skin).

This is just a sample of the many uses for vinegar in your beauty routine. Be creative, don't overdo it and enjoy your new found "frugal" beauty miracle!

Until next time..........

10 Fun & Frugal Beauty Tips

2005-02-18T21:49:00.000-08:00

1. To dry nail polish in a hurry, spray nails with PAM Oil Spray.

2. Olive oil can be added to bath water for a skin softener.

3. Toner/Astringent -- Use witch hazel instead. No need to dilute -- use full strength. You can also rinse with a splash of Apple Cider Vinegar after cleansing -- it balances out the ph of your skin.

4. Cut back on the amount of shampoo you use. Do the same with toothpaste. The manufacturers want us to use more, so we buy more.

5. Keep your pantyhose in the freezer, and they will last longer.

6. For great lotion, mix one-part lotion with one-part vaseline. It works better than plain lotion, and, depending on the cost of your lotion, you can stretch its value.

7. To prevent hair pins from falling out, bend one prong in a "V" about halfway up and insert in hair. It will stay.

8. Old lipstick tubes, thoroughly cleaned, are great for purse-sized pill boxes or for pins.

9. Use hydrogen peroxide as an inexpensive nail bleach.

10. For an excellent facial, mix dry oatmeal and water into a paste and spread on face. Lie down and let it dry. Wash off with warm water.

Be sure to check back daily as I will be posting many more hints, tips and tricks to save you time and money.

Until next time............

How to combine styling products to get the look you want

2005-02-17T22:53:00.000-08:00

Avoid the confusion and get rid of the clutter. Haven't we all bought styling products thinking they will help us create magic with our hair and ended up greatly disappointed? Here are a few "recipes" that will help you achieve the look you are after.

You've got: Thin, fine hair
You want: Thick, full hair
Styling recipe: While your hair is still damp, mix volumizing mousse in your hands, flip your head upside down, and rub throughout your hair beginning with the roots, coming out to the ends. To evenly distribute the mousse, comb your hair with a wide-tooth comb.

You've got: Straight to wavy hair
You want: Curly Hair
Styling recipe: While slightly damp, set your hair into small sections using small, curlers. The smaller the sections, the more volume. Once your hair is dry, use hairspray on each curl and at the roots for added lift.

You've got: Dry, damaged hair
You want: Rich, healthy hair
Styling recipe: After shampooing hair with a moisturizing shampoo, use a deep conditioner for added moisture. Keep on hair for three to five minutes before rinsing. Apply a spray sheen evenly on dry hair, staying away from the roots (in order to avoid buildup on the scalp). Severely dry hair responds better to a gel sheen.

You've got: Curly hair
You want: Straight hair
Styling recipe: When hair is damp, mix a straightening balm in your hands and apply up the hair shaft until almost to the roots (again, steer clear of those roots!) Comb through to evenly distribute, then blow dry hair using a large, round brush. Flat iron for a super straight finish.

You've got: Kinky, curly hair
You want: Defined curls
Styling recipe: For added definition and hold, mix a leave-in conditioner or a pomade with a styling gel in the palm of your hand. Finger through damp hair section by section, avoiding the roots.

No matter what style you create, steer clear from using hair dryers that are too hot because these will fry hair and damage hair's natural texture. Check the number of watts before using a hair dryer and make sure it's not above 1,600 watts.

Time And Money Saving Beauty Tips

Announcement

Tips To Repair Sun Damage

Olive Oil for Soft Hands

Olive Oil For Youthful Skin

Lift A Sagging Neck

Simple Trick To Save Broken Lipstick

Chocolate Lovers - Good News!

Salon Perfect Hair After Cut

Home Skin Remedies

Cheryl Tiegs Unbelievable Review

Home Skin Remedies

Finding the Perfect Eye Cream

Turn To Nature For Beautiful Skin

Weekly or Biweekly Deep Conditioning Hair Mask

Time Gets Away And The First In A New Series of Tips

Cool Home Remedy To Clear Up Stress Induced Breakouts

You Can Delay Salon Visits With The Right Shampoo

More Home Remedies For Common Problems

Dandruff - It's Not What You Think

Summer Perfumes

Sorry To My Readers

The Best Clothing Looks - Accent the Positive, Eliminate the Negative

#1 Frizz Solution From Hair Exposed To Humidity

Easy Fixes For Winter Hair & Skin

10 Second Secrets to Salon Perfect Hair

Stunning Hair Straight From Your Kitchen

Get Luxurious, Flirty Eyelashes

Quick Fix For Frizz & Tone Down Brassy Highlights

Totally Natural Eyes

Smokey & Sultry Eyes

Hot Fall Looks For Eyes

Salt In Your Footbath

Wonderful Foaming Foot Bath

This Cellulite Cream Works!

Do Your Hands Make You Look Older?

Make Your Eyeshadow Last Longer

A Cheap Radiant Glow

Apologies & What To Consider When Buying Foundation

Testing Foundation

Tips for Eye and Lip Pencil Care

The 10 Minute Manicure & Repair For Tired Feet

Stop Mascara Mistakes & Achieve A Rosy Glow

Makeup Timeline

My Favorite Timesaver

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