SPAtember, Beauty Tips To Spa At Home

September is National Skincare Awareness month, and what better time to pamper your skin than with some beauty tips from The Beauty Spotlight Team. Check out these great SPAtember beauty tips.

Spa At Home Skincare

Looking for an essence that’s more than an essence? Allison from Never Say Die Beauty has discovered Korean skincare brand, Abib’s Okjuk Essence, loaded with Solomon’s Seal extract, is a nutritious anti-aging hydrator. Plus, it’s on sale at Amazon!

Vitabrid C¹² Wrinkle Serum is a wonderful antioxidant-rich serum that offers skin incredible hydration and protection from free-radical damage. It boasts a blend of novel peptides that help boost collagen production, and the result is the appearance of firmer skin and plumped fine lines. Lola’s Secret Beauty Blog also loves that it helps to brighten the skin, fade hyperpigmentation, and it leaves skin soft, supple, smooth and incredibly luminous.

Splurge or steal? That was Prime Beauty‘s decision to make when looking for a particular skincare item. Her find is a steal we should all take advantage of.

Are you ready to rock that next ZOOM Meeting? Or do you hate how you look on video? Mask wearings and the Zoom meetings forced many to look at themselves with unfavorable lighting and awkward angles, noticing some features that make you look older than you are. 

It is all about the eyes and you can’t hide from it! Some much-needed anti-aging eye treatments are what you need so your eyes are ready to be the center of attention! Found out how they can with this post from Barbie’s Beauty Bits.

Spa At Home Makeup

Is the Disney x ColourPop Bambi Palette worth picking up? Over on Southeast by Midwest Cassie has a review with swatches to help you decide.  

Treat Yourself To Some Fashion And Food

Angie at Your True Self Blog has compiled a list of what you can wear that has unlimited potential.She has rounded up her favorite basics that go with most anything and everything in her closet. If you have these basic pieces, she thinks it would be really easy for you to find something to wear every day! Age doesn’t matter.

Food Stuck. It’s a real thing, especially after months of stress eating, feeling limited, and using food for entertainment and comfort. Fall is here, and we are ready to get unstuck from the food habits that have added pounds to our scale and inches to our waist. 

It’s time to stop making excuses and learn how to master food habits that align with how we want to look and feel to build a body you love that loves you back. Learn about this on The Culinary Cure.

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Top 10 Secrets To Getting A Salon-Like Pedicure During Quarantine

Top 10 Secrets To Getting A Salon-Like Pedicure At Home

I do not know about you, but not being able to go to the salon to get my nails done or worse covering my grays has been a bummer.

While I’ve always been a big fan of "At Home DIY Beauty," something like my hair and nails I saved for the pampering at my favorite salon.

But, with this lockdown, it is not possible, and letting ourselves go is not what we need to be doing. This means we have to become creative, and that is just what we are going to be sharing with you over the next month, with "Our Top Quarantine Beauty Tips."

From creating your own nail polish to beauty masks made from items in your frig, pampering yourself with salon-like pedicures at home, to how to apply skincare without using your hands, and other Skincare Quarantine Tips. We have you covered over the next month.

So go grab a glass of wine, some comfy clothes, and let's get started on today's DIY Tip, which is our "Top 10 Secrets To Getting A Salon-Like Pedicure During Quarantine."

Pedi Passion
With spring in the air, the shining sun, it's time to show off those feet and toes, but are they ready? These little piggies have been cooped up for months, so let them loose.

One of the best ways to revive your feet and toes is with a pedicure. Because when your feet feel good, your whole body feels refreshed and energized.

Before we dive into the pedicure and how to get Tip Top Toenails! I am going to start with a DIY Nail Polish, so once this is complete, you can jump right into the pedicure.

Posh And Polish 

Making Your Own Nail Polish

For this portion of the post, I partnered up with Mixify Beauty's Make Your Own Nail Polish Kit.

I think we "nailed it" with this brand! It sure comes in handy with all of this downtime and for many a lack of funds! Speaking of money, the quarantine special will get you $15 OFF this set, now how is that for a savings?

Beauties, this is your chance to unleash your inner artisan and create your favorite nail polish colors! Sounds fun, right? Well, it sure is!

Mixify Beauty's Make Your Own Nail Polish Kit comes with everything you need to mix, blend, and create your very own custom nail polish. Complete with eight different pigments so you can create everything from bright colors to neutral classics.

 
The Complete Kit includes:

• 8 Color Pigments (5 basic colors: red, blue, yellow, white, black and three passion colors: purple, orange, teal)
• 5 Uncolored Nail Polish Bottles
• Limited edition collectors tin
• Mixing Tray
• Funnel
• Spoons & Stirrers
• Mixing Ball
• How To Create Your Own Nail Polish Cheat Sheet

How Can I Make Nail Polish At Home
Creating your signature nail polish color with Mixify DIY beauty kits is so easy in 3 steps:⁠

1. ⁠Blend⁠
2. Mix⁠
3. Shake⁠

That's it! You can create 5 signature colors with each kit.

Now that you have created your own beautiful colors of nail polish, let's go over some ways to show your feet a salon-style of pedicure in the comfort of your own home!

Scrub and Soak
You want to start with clean feet, so what better way than to implement a foot scrub and a soak. A DIY approach to this is to combine some coconut oil and sea salt to soothe those soles. Finish by scattering some rose petals in the water to boost the rose scent, and add an extra feeling of calmness and rejuvenation.

Coconut Oil And Salt Foot Scrub
You Will Need

• 1 cup salt (use Epsom or any bath salt)
• ¼ cup of coconut oil
• 3-4 drops of any essential oil

Coconut oil has many healing and anti-inflammatory properties and is terrific at keeping the bottom of your feet moisturized.   And if you have really dry feet, trying adding a few drops of peppermint oil. Not only can peppermint help with itchy, dry feet, it is also relaxing, and is excellent at ridding any funky, fungus toenails. Lastly, you want to make sure to use warm water instead of hot, as hot water can strip the moisture from your feet, which can lead to dry, scaly heals.

Dry Up
After soaking your feet, make sure to thoroughly rinse off the scrub or other products and pat your feet dry. Pay close attention to moisture between the toes, which can lead to athlete's foot or other fungal infections.

Moisturize Those Dry Winter Feet
Cold weather can drain away moisture from your feet, so getting them Spring ready requires some extra moisturizing! Apply cream all over your feet and toes. Don’t forget your heels!

Cut The Crap
You want to trim your toenails, just above the top of each toe. Snip those tips by using a straight-edge toenail clipper as it gives you more of a precision cut. You want to make sure that you cut your toenails when they are wet to avoid them from cracking and splitting. Finish by smoothing out the edges and shape your nail with a professional-grade emery board.

Clean Nails
It seems simple, but you want to make sure that you completely remove all the old nail polish. One way to ensure this is a quick wipe over with some vinegar, as it will remove any leftover nail polish remover, moisturizer, or any other residue, ultimately enabling the polish to adhere longer.



Polish Up
The application is essential! After all, the nail polish is the icing on the cake, so to speak. Hence, you want to make sure you are patiently applying the nail polish you just created so it will dry correctly, preventing smudges. Mixify Beauty's nail polishes are quick-drying, long-lasting, and vegan!

Prevent Smudging
One reason your nails are smudging is that you are applying too much nail polish at once. Instead, use multiple thin coats instead of one thick coat. Doing numerous thin coats will enable those layers to dry and not smudge. Painting is a 3 step process. You want to start with one coat down the middle and one on each side.

No More Messy Pedicures
A "Phenomenail" way to keep nail polish from running onto your cuticles or toes is to apply a small bit of petroleum jelly along the sides and the base of your nails. If polish seeps off the toenail, who cares, as all you have to do is wipe off the petroleum jelly, and you now have perfectly painted nails!



Baby Soft Feet
Foot moisturizing socks are perfect for baby soft feet. But you can make a DIY version by mixing some coconut oil with some aloe and lavender water, and apply the mixture all over of your feet. Finish by wearing warm socks (heat them in the microwave) overnight to moisturize your feet deeply.

So there you have it beauties, the top 10 salon secrets revealed on how to get a salon-like pedicure at home!

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Quarantine Skincare Tips Using Watts Beauty

Quarantine Skincare Tips Using Watts Beauty

While social distancing has allowed people to get creative for communications, work, and dining out, it has left many struggling in the self-care department. Manicures, root-touch ups, and other spa related treatments are now in the far-off future. But beauties, that does not mean that you can’t implement at-home treatments, especially when it comes to skincare.

So, if you want to find out what can you do to maintain a skincare routine at home and not look like a hot mess, continue reading!

Stressed Out Skin
We are bringing this up as stress can really have an impact on the skin. Not only does stress cause a chemical response, but it also has a hormonal response, where there is an increase in your cortisol levels (AKA stress hormone). Which, in turn, can lead to a breakdown in elastin, causing wrinkles. And I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want after quarantine is dull, aggravated skin and premature wrinkles to add to my gray roots, that I couldn’t cover.

 
Did You Know Stress Causes Dehydration?
So, let me get this right; I can have gray roots, wrinkles, and will also become dehydrated? Yes, unfortunately. And if your body is not hydrated, your skin starts to feel and look, lackluster, dry, and flaky and downright old!

Ways To Add Hydration Back Into The Skin
For a dewy, hydrated complexion, you want to make sure you are drinking plenty of water (alkaline water if possible). Even consider adding some fruit to it for an extra detoxification and antioxidant boost.

There are some skincare products, like those with hyaluronic acid, that you want to add to your routine, which we will discuss below.

Special Treats For Your Skin
For this portion, I partnered up with Watts Beauty. Because money can be tight right now, I thought it would be helpful for me to share some tips using some products that will not break the bank.

Watts Beauty has been kind enough to offer a BOGO free deal! This exclusive BOGO free deal applies to their AMAZING BOOST HYALURONIC SERUM SETS.

This is a great chance to give your skin the fantastic boost it needs during this lockdown and at a great cost.

• Simply add 2 of any variation of the SETS found here, mix or match, and the lowest price items or set will be absolutely FREE. 
• With CODE:  BARBIESBEAUTYBITS1
• TIP... To select one of the sets you want for the BOGO offer. There is a dropdown under the star review that reads, "SELECT SIZE HERE".

Hydrate And Vegetate With Hyaluronic Acid
So, while you are on that Netflix binge, you can still be taking care of your skin. Our go-to skincare ingredient during quarantine is Hyaluronic Acid (HA).

Hyaluronic acids are so essential in skincare. Let’s first talk about how it can help with that dehydrated skin caused by stress!

How Hyaluronic Acid Helps With Dehydration
Hyaluronic Acid attracts up to 1000 times its weight in moisture. This means it is excellent for retaining skin moisture, keeping the skin plump allowing for the space that the renewal process needs to continue cellular turnover at a much faster pace for younger-looking skin!

Wait There's More
There are other benefits of using skincare that has hyaluronic acid in it-Antiaging…

You see, as we start to age, our hyaluronic acid levels decrease, resulting in collagen declines, and wrinkles and discoloration become more visible. Maximizing and protecting collagen levels will keep the skin supple, which is why it is essential to incorporate products with Hyaluronic Acid in them.

Product Suggestion: Watt's Boost Hyaluronic Serum

Time To Get Serious About Serums
Serums are a win, win for the skin, especially those that contain peptides, like Watt’s Peptide Complex Serum. Enriched with potent peptides hyaluronic acid, and L-Arginine, this combination is a must for a radiant complexion.

Why The Heck Do I Need Peptides In My Skincare
Peptides form to make proteins, and proteins are the fundamental building block of the skin. Without these building blocks, the skin does not stay intact. Meaning, collagen will break down, and this is when you start to see sagging, loose, aging skin!

Reveal Radiance With Retinol
Retinol is one of the top 5 age-defying ingredients. To me, if I had to pick one ingredient, retinol would be it as it can offer so much to healthy,  younger-looking skin.

Benefits Of Adding A Retinol Product To Your Skincare Routine

• Fighting acne
• Reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by increasing the production of collagen.
• Stimulate the production of new blood vessels in the skin, which can help with discoloration.
• Minimize large pores
• And my favorite promoting cellular turnover

Watts Product Reveal: Reveal Radiance Retinol Night Cream



We’re On A Roll With A Derma Roller
If you have not heard about the Derma Roller or at least the term "Derma Rolling," then your skin has been missing out. As it is a "MUST HAVE" beauty tool used by almost every skincare expert & beauty blogger.

What The Heck Is A Derma Roller
A derma roller is a skincare tool that has a wheel on the end that is covered in hundreds of fine needles. WTH, yes, I know at first glance this might look like a mid-evil torture device. But once you learn about the benefits of derma rolling, you will want to implement it into your skincare regimen.

So, What Exactly Does This Bad Boy Do For My Skin?
Derma rolling is a form of micro-needling, a technique that involves a series of tiny, very fine needles that are passed over the skin, creating micro-injuries that trigger new collagen and elastin synthesis as the skin begins to repair itself naturally.

Used regularly, Derma Rollers can help to...

• Improve the appearance of fine lines and deep wrinkles
• Even out your skin tone
• Reduce the appearance of pores
• Smooth and plumps the skin
• Diminish acne scars
• When used in conjunction with Watt’s Peptide Complex Serum, it boosts the absorption of vital ingredients up to 90%.

Does Size Matter?
Yes, size does matter when it comes to Derma Rollers. Watts Beauty offers a variety of sizes as each size addresses specific skin concerns and areas of the face and body.

The size YOU need depends on your SKIN CONCERNS and the area in which you will be using the Derma Roller such as, are you Derma Rolling your FACE or BODY?

So as you can see there are plenty of ways you can show your skin some TLC with these  "Quarantine Skincare Tips Using Watts Beauty." And don't forget to use code: BARBIESBEAUTYBITS1 for the BOGO deal!  Click Here to start saving!

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The term "superfood," depending on where you live has been around for a while. I see it everywhere in California, but locally I only see it at some of the Mom & Pop health food stores. But the wonderful thing is you can go online for these Superfoods, to places like Naked Nutrient, which makes it convenient.

For 2019, I decided to go back to a trainer friend of mine. While I can’t drive to workout with him any longer in person, he did put together an excellent plan for me, and one of them included adding some Superfoods to my daily diet. Now I know you are probably wondering what the Heck Is A Superfood?

Well to put it simply, the term Superfood refers to foods that offer maximum nutritional benefits with minimal calories, which is why they are great to add to other foods, especially a protein shake, smoothie, and soups. Not only do Superfoods have minimal calories, but the benefit is they are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants and boy do I love me some antioxidants!

The Antioxidant Benefits Of Superfoods

Being a woman in her forties, I need as many rich antioxidants that I can get as they are amazing at helping to neutralize free radicals in our bodies. Free radicals can wreak havoc on the body especially the skin as they cause damage to the cellular structure.  This damage can speed up the skin's aging, by breaking down the skin’s collagen, which can lead to premature aging with sagging, wrinkled skin and who the heck wants that?

Antioxidant molecules found in superfoods, can decrease and in some cases reverse the effects of free radicals, which is one reason I am all about them! But it doesn’t stop there. Superfoods are great at basically supercharging your health, immunity boosting, and more!

 The Superfood Qualities Of Mushrooms And Why You Should Add Them To Your Diet

One Superfood that I am implementing into my diet is a product from Naked Nutrient, SUPERFOOD 10 Organic Mushroom Powder Extract.

The benefits of mushrooms are huge. They have a great deal of nutritional value, are full of micronutrients, are low in carbohydrates and sodium and high in fiber and potassium (more than a banana), oh and they have no fat!

Naked Nutrient Superfood 10 Mushroom Powder Extract Blend
This Superfood blend has 10 different mushrooms. The extract powder is derived from Ancient Chinese Medicinal Techniques. Dating back to 400A.D.  This powder is:

• Hot water extract (no alcohol used)
• USDA certified organic
• Made in an FDA registered facility
• Gluten Free
• 100% WHOLE FRUITING BODIES, NO mycelium (grain)
• Free from fillers, grains & mycelium
• Vegan-friendly
• Mostly Wild mountain harvested mushrooms
• NOT genetically engineered mushrooms
• 10 PURE MUSHROOM EXTRACTS to include: Reishi, Chaga, Maitake, Cordyceps, Shiitake, Lions Mane, TurkeyTail, Oyster, Phellinus linteus, and Wood Ear Mushroom.

What Are The Benefits And Uses Of Mushroom Powder Extract
If you’re interested in adding more mushrooms to your diet, this powder is a fantastic way to do it. It can be mixed into your food in a variety of ways very easily. Mushrooms add a nutty taste and can be added to some of the below.

Ways To Add More Mushrooms To Your Diet

• Coffee
• Tea
• Hot Cocoa
• Smoothie
• Breaksfast Superfood Bowls
• Protein drinks
• Oatmeal
• Add to food & broth to enhance their flavors
• As a meat substitute
• In soups, sautés, salad dressings and so much more!

Click Here For Hot Cocoa Recipe

Benefits Of Adding Mushrooms To Your Diet
A diet rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants can help you live a longer, healthier life. The product from Naked nutrients has many benefits, helping with things such as…

• Obesity (Mushrooms are prebiotic, which means they nourish the healthy bacteria in your gut, which could also help treat obesity)
• Protects the cells from free radicals
• Improves mood- mental focus & lowers stress
• Immunity boosting & cell health supporting
• Detoxifying
• Energy & endurance
• Increase satiety and reduces appetite
• Packed with fiber
• Vitamin Rich:
• Vitamin C that can help to boost immunity and lower inflammation in the body.
• Vitamin A which can assist with detoxifying the body, improving skin and hair health.
• Excellent source of Potassium. Potassium works with sodium to help your body maintain a proper water and electrolyte balance. Hence helping with things like lowering your blood pressure, dehydration, muscle cramps, and much more!

Overall consuming more superfood mushrooms may be one of the most important foods you can eat to improve your health and using a product like Naked Nutrient 10 Pure Mushroom Powder Extract makes it easier to consume!

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While the weather outside may be frightful, this doesn’t mean your skin needs to be as well. During these chilly winter months, our delicate skin can sure be affected by these blistering cold winds. So, this month I wanted to share with you some less expensive ways to have radiant skin, with my “Pantry To Pretty Skincare Series.” A DIY approach to skincare.

Dry, itchy skin affects a lot of us and can be most prevalent during this time of year when the humidity and temperature drop, making our skin particularly vulnerable to dryness, cracking and worse yet, aging us (yuk). That is why it is essential to take extra special care of the skin during the winter! Furthermore, skincare and makeup go hand in hand, and no one wants to apply makeup to their skin when it is dry and flaky, highlighting our imperfections.

Today’s Pantry To Pretty product is with Organic Black Seed Oil or Nigella Sativa. This plant native to Asia has been around dating back to ancient Egypt times. The Queen of the Nile herself, Cleopatra, is said to have slathered it on herself!

So, if you want to see the many Benefits of Black Seed Oil For The Skin, continue reading.

The Benefits Of Black Seed Oil For The Skin

Best Black Seed Oil
The oil of black seed has many benefits from antibacterial & antifungal properties to anti-inflammatory effects, balancing sebum production and is excellent at calming inflamed, itchy winter skin; even eczema and acne-prone complexions have benefited from this oil! It sounds like a wonderful oil doesn’t it?  Well, beauties it is, and one place I found that offers this oil in its purest form is Naked Nutrient.

Not compared to other Black Seed Oil, this brand oil is "VIRGIN, FIRST PRESSING" cold pressed oil. Which means that it is unrefined so that the oil will retain as many nutrients in its purest form, with no additives, solvents or alcohol added.  It is 100% pure and natural that is extracted from black cumin seeds and can be used topically as well and ingested.

Before I get into the many benefits that black seed oil has on the skin. Let’s take a gander at the nutrients found in black seed oil that contributes to beautiful skin.

The Nutrients Found In Black Seed Cumin Oil That Are Great For The Skin
Being a woman in her forties I am looking for products that have omega fatty acids, vitamin B & C, as well as some other antioxidants and black seed oil, has all of these!

Yep, you read right.  Until recently, I only looked used black seed oil for its anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.  It wasn’t until I discovered the many anti-aging benefits it had, thanks to an aesthetician friend of mine. She has great looking skin, and she shared with me that black seed oil has rich and powerful anti-oxidants like…

• Omega-3 fatty acids that help to improve the skins cellular structure.
• Vital Amino acids that are the building blocks of both peptides and proteins which have an essential role in skincare. Amino acids also maintain the skin's hydration and overall healthy appearance. Furthermore, it can help the skin to generate collagen and elastin!
• Skin Nourishing Vitamins: Black seed is an excellent source of vitamins B and C. As well as Zinc, Calcium, and Potassium who would have thought?  All these combined are great at helping to promote the growth of healthy skin tissue, support the elasticity and tone of the skin, and can even help with minor acne flare-ups.

Why Go DIY With Your Skincare Routine?
The DIY approach to skincare has been something I have done forever! I got it from my mother and grandmother, who both have gorgeous skin. It's no secret that DIY can save you money, but when it comes to dry winter skin you want to stay away from products that have artificial fragrances and synthetics in them as these ingredients can cause your skin to become more irritated!  While they may smell pretty, they are not pretty for the skin!

Black Seed Oil Skincare Recipes
Many have asked me how to take black seed oil? What is black seed oil good for? Well, black seed oil can be used in many ways, but today I am going to share with you my top 3 black seed oil skincare recipes.

For A Glowing Complexion

1. Mix 1 teaspoon of black seed oil with a carrier oil.
2. My two favorites carrier oils are Coconut and Olive Oil.
3. Rub the face with this mixture and leave on for one hour.
4. Or I prefer to leave it on overnight. However, you want to be careful not to get it in your eyes. Also, leaving it on overnight may be too strong, so test it first before applying to your face.
5. Wash off with gentle foaming facial cleanser. Never use a body soap to wash it off, it dries the skin!

Zap A Zit

• This one is easy. All you need is a Q-tip
• Simply soak a clean Q-tip with black seed oil and dab it onto your pimples.
• For those extra troubled areas, I combine it with organic honey.

A Facial Mask
I love me a facial mask, and this one takes the cake as it is combined with Turmeric.

Turmeric has been used in India for thousands of years as a spice and medicinal herb. The plant’s intense healing power primarily comes from Curcumin, its main active ingredient.  Curcumin is packed with anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory firepower that promotes an incredible range of healing benefits. Combine that with the Black Seed oil, and you have the remedy for younger-looking radiant skin, so check out the video here.

So, there you have it beauties, my first winter skincare Pantry to Pretty Bit.  Make sure to stay tuned for my others that will talk about Organic Black Maca and Organic Mushroom powder. Until next time!

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13 Plus Genius Techniques To Make Your Thin Hair Thicker

As we get older, the appearance of our hair changes.  It gets dryer, turns grays and worse, thinner. On average, we lose about 50-100 hairs daily, seems like a lot, doesn't it?  However, if this is happening while you are growing your hair back that’s OK.  But, what if you aren't? Especially, with this modelesque generation portrayed in magazines and reality TV shows, for women, it can be a real blow to your self-esteem.

Despite this thinning hair, it does not sentence you to a life of dull, lackluster tresses. In fact, there are several things that you can do to help your hair appear lush and thick, just by the way you style it and with the products you use.

So, if you want to find out how you can have fuller, lush hair continue reading!

Get With A Stylist
There are many ways to create the illusion of thicker hair. First is to find a stylist, by searching for a hair salon near me, once you find you both can come up with a HAIRtastic plan of action.

Hair Styles
Add Layers To You Hair: One of the best ways to conceal thinning hair is with a hairstyle that will add a lot of texture and layers, as this can create volume. This may mean trying a shorter style, as the weight of longer hair can pull your hair down and draw more attention to those thinning areas.

Coloring: There are many things you can do with coloring your hair. Your stylist can educate you on the different color options that would be best for you.  But in the meantime, know that color catches light in a variety of ways that can create the illusion of fuller hair, so you most certainly want to discuss all the possibilities with him or her!  For Example...

Go Ombre: Having a darker top portion to your hair and lighter ends is a great trick to helping your locks appear lusher! 

Highlights or Lowlights: One-dimensional hair can make your hair look dull and flat, so by using a combination of lowlights, highlights, or even some color accents, your stylist can do wonders for your hair!

A Part: Having a defined part can draw attention to your fine hair, therefore try a style that does not have a prominent part.

Add Hair Extensions: Clip-in hair extensions are great, they are an easy non-permanent way to add length and volume to your hair.  Additionally, clip in extensions does not damage the hair, unlike other hair alternatives like bonding which can weigh down the hair and cause breakage or even prevent hair growth.  Quality is important when it comes to hair extensions, so if you are looking to get some, you can get $10 off with my link, for Luxy Hair Extensions.

Hair Products
There are some great hair products out there that do live up to their claims.  The key is using them the correct way.

Dry Shampoo: While dry shampoo works amazingly on oil absorption, it is also perfect for adding volume and lift.  The key is to apply the dry shampoo at the beginning at the roots.

Protectors: Hair breakage is a significant contributor to thin hair and combine that with a hot styling tool, your hair is doomed! A quick way to prevent your hair from getting damaged is to apply a heat protector on your hair. In addition to a heat shield, you should invest in a UV protector along with some Moroccan or argan oils.

Mouse: A lightweight mouse applied to the roots of your hair can give you a full look! Add that with blow drying your hair upside down at the crown, and you will be the queen of the full hair!

Using Products With The Wrong Ingredients: You want to stay away from products with sulfates in them as these are harsh and drying on the hair and scalp.

Clarifying Shampoo: We all get build up product and by implementing a clarifying shampoo into your beauty regimen, not only will it remove the residue build up but can help to make your hair appear thicker.

Stop Overdoing The Do  
Conditioner:  While conditioner is a necessity if you don’t wash it out thoroughly you can weigh your hair down, and on top of that it can make your hair look oily.

Washing Your Hair Everyday. Keeping your hair clean is important, but washing it too often can thin your hair.  The longer you can go without washing your hair the better!

Don't Over Dry: Blowing drying your hair all the time can cause your hair to become brittle and flat.  Partially air drying your hair will allow your hair to be stronger. Over exposure to heat on your hair can make your hair look dull, as the heat from the dryer causes the cuticles to open, which can lead to frizz and breakage.  A tip to save on drying time, don’t apply conditioner to your entire hair, only apply to the ends of your hair.

Don’t Over Bleach:  While adding color for dimension is essential, over processing your hair will cause it to break off. Hence you don’t want to be bleaching your hair with each visit to the salon.

As you can see, none of these thinning hair remedies are difficult. Simply by learning how to best style your thinning hair while learning to use the correct products, you can do a great deal to give your hair the boost it needs to make it look like it is both voluminous and thick.

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30 Plus Genius Mascara Hacks Revealed

If you think there is no such thing as a magic wand, you’re not making the best of your mascara! Yeah, a bit of humor but if you ask most women what one makeup item they can’t go without, most will say Mascara!

Long luscious lashes are something a lot of women seek, and we’ve got the scoop on some of the best tips, tricks, and Mascara Hacks out there!

Prevent Clumps

• Before application, you want to blot your mascara wand with a piece of tissue; this will help to remove any excess mascara. 
• Apply petroleum jelly to your lashes first before apply Mascara.
• When applying your mascara, do it in a zig zag manner. Starting at the base of your lashes and moving the wand in an upward sweep to the tips.
• Wait in between applications. Some mascaras take longer to dry, so wait about 60 seconds before applying your next coat
• Dryness could be a reason your mascara gets clumpy. So to add some moisture back into your tube, add some drops of alcohol-based eye makeup remover.

Raccoon Eyes

• To prevent this look for a long wearing mascara.
• Another option is a waterproof mascara
• Make sure you are not allergic to it.  While this seems like a duh comment, overly watered eyes which can lead to your mascara smudging can be because of a sensitivity to your mascara.  In this case, switch it out.
• Another raccoon eye can occur with the removal of your makeup.  So make sure to remove it with something like the makeup eraser.

Lashes Sticking Together
Full, voluminous lashes are my goal with mascara, but when they stick together like spider legs, it is not attractive. To help with this, comb through your lashes with a mascara comb. Not only does it separate the lashes but it also removes any access that can lead to clumping.

Fuller Lashes

• Apply some black eyeliner to the upper waterline. 
• Dust your lashes with powder, bronzer or a dark eye shadow before applying your mascara. This will allow the mascara to adhere to the lashes, building thickness. This is a great DIY approach to the fiber formula mascaras!

Don’t Cut Corners
(Or in this case, forget the corners). To get the appearance of falsies you want to make sure that you are applying mascara to each lash.  So, don’t forget about using mascara on both ends, near the tear duct area as well as the outer eyelash edge.
  
Don’t Forget The Lash Line
That thickness and darkness you get from fake eyelashes are very prominent at the base of the lash line.  Hence, wiggling the mascara wand back and forth starting at the root and going upwards is going to make your lashes appear so much thicker while giving you that same falsies baseline look.

Make Your Mascara Last Longer

• Apply a non-waterproof mascara first, doing this will help with easy removal. Place the waterproof mascara on top of the coat of non-waterproof. 
• Combining the two will give you the benefits of having an extraordinary smear proof curled lash, which will last all day, with easy removal. 

Holding the Brush Correctly

• Holding your brush in different positions can give you different looks. 
• Vertical: Holding your brush vertically will give you longer lashes. 
• Horizontal: the Horizontal application will give you voluminous lashes. Make sure to apply in a wiggle motion, emphasizing on the base of the lashes and swooping upwards. 
• Bend the wand: This is a bit hard to describe, but we’ll do our best. You can make use of an old mascara wand by bending the bristle area of the wand upwards (it will look like a right angle). Doing this will enable you to get those hard to reach areas, like the corner of your lashes and other smaller lashes without a mess.

Mess-Free Application

• Getting mascara on your skin can be a pain, especially if you have already applied your makeup.  But fret no more as we have some great hacks to help with this!  
• Apply your mascara by using a business card.  Just place a business card right to the lash line, behind your lashes and apply your mascara. 
• Spoon: You can do the same thing by using a spoon. Place the spoon with the curved side out.  I usually do this when applying mascara to my lower lashes. 
• Both approaches will prevent you from getting mascara on your skin. Instead, it will go on the spoon or card.   

Revive Your Mascara
If you find that your mascara is dried out, or close to the end of the tube, there are a few tricks to help.

• Take your tube of mascara & place it in the palms of your hands. Quickly roll the mascara tube back & forth between your hands for about 30 seconds.
• You can also loosen your mascara by placing the closed tube in a warm glass of water.
• By doing either of the above, you create heat, which will soften & loosen the mascara or it won't seem as dried out, it revives and will apply like a new tube.
• IMPORTANT, make sure to keep in mind the safe time usage of your mascara, AKA expire.  The best way to keep track is to write the date you opened it, on the bottom of the tube.   After three months’ start paying attention to it. Don’t keep it if it is what we call in the makeup world “past its shelf life,” toss it in the trash, don’t try to revive it.

Taking Care Of Your Lashes
If you are not taking care of your lashes, none of these tricks will help you.  It is important when you are removing your mascara that you are not pulling or tugging on the eyelashes with hopes to get the mascara off.

Instead, you want to take the approach that aestheticians use to remove your eye makeup when you are getting a facial. Use a makeup removing the solution and a cotton pad or something like the makeup eraser and with your eye closed, gently wipe downwards repetitively until the pad or wipe is free from mascara. You can then open the eye and clean up the under-eye area.

Some Don’ts!
Now that we’ve shared some do’s there are a few do not's we feel are necessary to mention!

Do Not Pump The Wand: This is something we see people often do but do not pump the wand up and down in the tube! Doing so can put air in the tube causing it to go bad sooner, it can also create bacteria, and that is the last thing you want near your eyes!

Don’t Over Use Waterproof Mascara: While it is ok to use it sometimes or when layering as we mentioned above. Trying to remove it can be difficult, and the last thing you want to do is pull and tug on the skin as sagging skin can lead to thinner lashes!

Don’t Curl Your Lashes After: Again, our goal is full lashes, and if you curl your lashes after you have applied your mascara, the likelihood of pulling some of the lashes out or having them stick to the eyelash curler is much higher!

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Top 10 Beauty Mistakes, You Probably Didn't Even Know You're Making

I get so many questions and more so statements, saying how did you know that. Or I’ve been doing that wrong all along.  Yes, beauties, we’ve all been there, even myself!  While there is a list of mistakes I see daily, I wanted to share with you the top 10  Beauty Mistakes I see people make most often.  From hair to makeup, these beauty mistakes need to stop right now, and I can help you!

Hair 

Using A Towel To Dry Your Hair:   Drying your hair with a towel leaves your hair frizzy and can damage the hair.  Instead of using a towel swap it out with a t-shirt.  A towel absorbs most of the moisture from your hair leaving it frizzy.

Using a t-shirt instead is better as is it flat with no roof edges, so it glides right through your hair with less friction. Less friction equals less frizz and damage!

Washing Your Hair With Hot Water: A nice hot shower is so relaxing, especially in the winter months! But it is important that we keep it cool, which is the opposite of what we want to do. Unfortunately, hot water can wash away the skin's natural oils, leaving us with dry, brittle hair.  Instead, you want to try to use warm water to rinse the hair and then for the last few seconds, zap it with some cold water to help seal the cuticle, making your locks appear smoother and healthier!

Using A Bobby Pin Incorrectly: What? There is actually a wrong way? Yes, there is a proper way to use a bobby pin. And is wasn't until a few years ago, I learned this from my hair stylist; and according to her most women she has dealt with, have been using them incorrectly.

The correct way to use a bobby pin is to insert it into your hair with the wavy side down. The wavy side is designed so it will grab your hair and situate it properly.  The flat side, is what pushes the hair into the groove, holding it in place. So there, you have it, simple yet powerful.

Skincare

Neglecting Your Neck: As I say Turkey neck is for the birds, but unfortunately if you are like me, the neck seems to be one area I have neglected in years past.  I think it is important that you understand that you’re best anti-aging facial cream may not work on your neck area, sucks I know!

You see most of these facial products are formulated to target wrinkles that occur on the thinner skinned areas, like our face.  The lines on our neck and décolletage are usually deeper, and the skin is much thicker.  Plus the older we are the skin can become looser.  Hence, the term turkey neck and this sagging skin area are so darn hard to treat. The key to addressing this zone is to select a product that has agents that help to firm and tighten the skin. In addition to tightening, the product should also penetrate deeply, which is why a facial cream will not work on your neck!

Sleeping With Your Makeup On:  I’ve also been guilty of this.  But a great friend of mine who is an Aesthetician explained to me why this is a big no, no. You see when we go to sleep we are renewing our body, mind and more, which includes the skin. Wearing makeup to bed prevents your skin from this renewal process.  It can also contribute to clogging your pores and outbreaks.

Not Exfoliating:  Exfoliating our skin is so essential. You see, our skin is constantly subjected to dirt, environmental pollutants and of course makeup.  All of this leaves a film on our face acting as a barrier to skincare products.  This buildup can leave us with an uneven skin tone, roughness, and creates false wrinkles; it can also clog our pores, causing breakouts. Yuk, I know! And if that wasn't bad enough, all of these will also make us appear older!  So by implementing exfoliation into your skincare regimen, you are going to help to buff away those dead skin cells, revealing a more radiant, healthy-looking skin.  Plus, it will be easier for the skin to absorb moisturizers and other skin treatments.  Lastly, it is going to leave the skin smooth for the perfect makeup application.

Makeup

Not Cleaning Your Makeup Brushes: Let's first start with the fact that our makeup brushes can harbor bacteria and dead skin cells, YUKO, and who wants to put that on their skin, NOT ME!  But, if you are NOT cleaning your makeup brushes regularly this is exactly what you are doing.

Properly washing and storing them can keep your face clean & healthy. Furthermore, cleaning your makeup brushes will ensure they remain in the best shape and increase longevity. Makeup brushes are just as important as the makeup itself, so taking care of them is essential.

Using Makeup Brushes That Come With Your Drugstore Brands: You want to stay away from brushes that come with the drugstore brands; they are inferior quality and the bristles usually fall out on your eyelids.

Lastly, you want to make sure that you avoid sponge applicators, as they absorb a lot of product.

Your goal is to get the product on your eye, not the applicator. (in the long run, brushes end up saving you money)



Not Using Primer: I explain primer in makeup, the same way, I would with a house.  Similar to the primer that you would apply to a wall before painting, you want to do the same with your eyes and face.  Primer allows the color to adhere better, last longer, with little transparency and minimal fading.  Also, if you have an excellent primer, it will prevent creasing and false wrinkles.

Using Expired Makeup: Holding on to your favorite makeup can be a big no, no. Like everything else in life, there comes a time you need to purge it! Unfortunately, it is not as easy as most other products, where an expiration date is printed on them or the packaging.  According to, the FDA website, cosmetic companies are not required to print expiration dates on the labels of their cosmetic products.  It is, however, left up to the manufacturers to determine the suggested shelf life of a product.  This shelf life is something you need to pay attention to, and I have listed some of them below. 

 So there you have it beauties, My Top 10 Beauty Mistakes, You Probably Don't Even Know You're Making!

Until Next Time,

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