Do it Yourself Beauty for the new Economy
For brilliant hair:
- To help mend split ends rub olive oil into the ends of hair. Leave in for 30 minutes and then shampoo as usual. The oil nourishes hair and adds moisture.
- To add brightness and a shiny gloss to hair, Julia March, owner and specialist at Julia March Skincare, recommends combining 2-3 tablespoons of raw apple cider vinegar with a cup of water. Use this mixture after shampooing, and be sure to rinse to avoid a lingering vinegar aroma!
- Done with that beer? Put it aside for the shower. After shampooing, rinse wet hair with a tepid beer for added volume and shine.
For a radiant face:
- For problem skin, March suggests letting the face absorb the vapors from a steaming pot of 3 tablespoons of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar combined with a quart of filtered water. Raw apple cider vinegar can also be used as a tonic for oily skin when mixed with distilled water at a 1:1 ratio (not steamed).
- To combat puffy eyes, apply used black teabags to the swollen area.
- If slightly sunburned, apply cucumber slices to the face. Dry skin will draw moisture from the slices, in addition to being nourished by the many vitamins in cucumbers.
- For hydration and a radiant glow, March recommends applying a facial mask of raw honey and plain, full fat yogurt for 15- 20 minutes. The fats in the dairy and honey will moisturize and nourish the skin.
For smooth skin:
- To exfoliate the body effectively and inexpensively, create a DIY body scrub with olive oil and sea salt. Pay special attention to rough areas like elbows, knees and feet. March notes that a few drops of lavender extract add a nice and soothing scent to this homemade concoction.
- All out of bath foam and in need of a luxurious bath? Adding a quart of full cream milk to bath water will help restore and calm skin’s lipids while milk proteins help maintain skin’s elasticity.
- For hard and white nails, spoil fingers with a lemon bath. Dip nails into one half of a lemon and turn them, squeezing out the juice. Let them soak for a minute.
For white teeth:
- As a cheap alternative to whitening teeth, mix a teaspoon of baking soda and a pinch of salt with a small glass of water until mixture is paste-like. Brush teeth as usual and rinse well. It is proven that baking soda will help lighten stains, but be careful not to use too often. Once every two weeks should be enough, as baking soda can be abrasive and erode tooth enamel.
beautypress.com
Total Beauty Break - Best & Worst Highlights
Celebrities like Jennifer Aniston should be your hair color inspiration, but Lindsay Lohan, not so much |
Considering highlights or wondering what went wrong with yours? Let these celebrities guide you towards the best (and away from the worst) highlights for your hair type. |
Freebie Break - Sonic's Free Float Night
Get a FREE root beer float Sonic's Free Float Night tonight when you pop in anywhere between 8 p.m. to midnight. Check the website for your nearest drive-in.
Giveaway Break - David Babaii WildAid Shampoo & Conditioner
Now, you can do something great for your hair and for our planet’s endangered wildlife. Hairstylist David Babaii and Kate Hudson are proud to introduce David Babaii for WildAid. Inspired by the remarkable beauty in nature, these innovative hair care products are made with exclusive blends of exotic natural ingredients from Avena Oat Extracts to Blue Algae.
The Hydrating Shampoo is Sulfate FREE, Paraben FREE, Petrochemical FREE, animal product FREE and, most importantly, FREE from all animal testing! It instantly replenishes thirsty hair during cleansing. Rich Cupuacu Butter from the South American Amazon works as an incredible natural moisturizer. Combined with Mango and Shea Butters, it results in lustrous, radiant, hydrated hair. Wild Orchid and Jojoba Seed Oil adds extra moisture, while keeping hair healthy and shiny. Blue Algae extract strengthens the hair shaft.
The Hydrating Conditioner is also FREE from all animal testing! It conditions hair by replenishing thirsty hair and restoring optimum moisture levels and nutrients. Rich Cupuacu butter from the South American Amazon works as an incredible natural moisturizer. Combined with Mango and Shea butters, it results in lustrous, radiant, hydrated hair. Wild Orchid adds extra moisture, while keeping hair healthy and shiny. Blue Algae extract strengthens the hair shaft and Oat Extract is soothing to the scalp.
You can enter up to once a day. For extra entries, you can sign up for my mailing list, post a link to this giveaway on your blog, follow my blog, or follow me on Twitter.
This giveaway is open to US & Canadian residents. This contest will end on Tuesday, June 16th. I will randomly select 10 winners and announce them on Lipgloss Break, so keep checking to see if you're a winner - Good Luck!
Style Break - Get Adam Lambert's Style
But His Looks are Always #1!
Whether it’s the perfectly sleek and matte hairdo, spiked and rocker-esque or the gelled back pompadour, Adam Lambert is certainly the style chameleon! The runner-up American Idol superstar certainly knows how to keep his audiences attention not just with his amazing vocals, but with his crazy wardrobe changes. Get Adam’s looks easily (without the expensive pricetag) with L.A. Looks Mega Hold Gel, Smooth ‘N Shine Instant Repair Spray-On Hair Polisher, Black Opal Precision Eye Definer in Licorice and wet n wild Wild Shine Nail Polish and Eyeliner
L.A. Looks Mega Hold Gel $3.49 SRP
Smooth ‘N Shine Instant Repair Spray On Hair Polisher $4.99 SRP
BLACK OPAL Precision Eye Definer $4.15 SRP
And the Winners are...
Amanda won the UMI Haircare products and Frosted Couture won the Twitter giveaway.
Didn't win? Don't fret - still more chances to win!
Nail Break - Kiss EverLasting Nail Kits
For every wedding or formal event I have attended in the past year, I have used these nails. I’m a mani/pedi girl, but a French manicure on my natural nails doesn’t usually last more than one day. Kiss nails usually stay on me for about 4 days. They are so easy to put on, and you can’t beat the flawless look!
Top 6 reasons to invest in a set of these nails!
1) ANY LENGTH or SHAPE
The new Kiss nails can be filed down with a regular nail file to a preferred length or shape, just a like a natural nail. Or just leave them as they come in the box, they are fashionably square shaped.
2) HELPS GROW NAILS
Kiss’ new EverLasting French nails help prevent nail biting. Wear these nails for a few weeks, and watch natural nails grow underneath.
3) NO DAMAGE
These new French nails can be removed easily with pure acetone without any damage to the natural nail. Kiss offer a remover kit to make it even easier.
4) NO CHIPPING
New technology guarantees that these new French nails won’t break or chip like a regular manicure and lasts much longer.
5) SAVINGS
At $5.99 a box, Kiss kits save money in the long run. Customers savings can cover cell phone bills for nearly a year!
6) NATURAL LOOKING
Do the test! See if friends can tell they are not real? It’s not those tacky 80’s nails anymore!
Go out and by some! Make sure to read the application tips below from Michele Pierno, Product Development at Kiss Products - she gives us the inside scoop on super easy application and removal!
- Find your sizes first, and then place aside in sequence. (So you won’t be fumbling through the tray with nails on!)
- Always start with dominant hand first. If you are right-handed, apply nails to your right hand first. (This way, you won’t feel awkward when applying to left hand, not only with hand you do not normally use, but with nails on will feel even more challenging.)
- Applying to pinky first, then ring, then middle… is best. (Just like the pro’s do!)
- Use enough glue! Have some cotton swabs handy for quick easy clean-up. Apply glue to artificial nail and natural nail to avoid air pockets.
- Slowly lower artificial nail onto natural nail at an angle using the cuticle as your pivot point, then lightly press down. Any excess glue will then seep outward under nail’s free edge which is easier to clean and remove than if spilling out at cuticle or sides. Clean excess with cotton swab immediately.
Proper removal is the key to preventing damage to the natural nail (which is the biggest fear amongst artificial nail “non-wearers”!) For the fastest removal, we recommend using Kiss All or One Artificial Nail Remover Kit. However, you may also use pure acetone, or an acetone-based polish remover to safely remove artificial nails.
- Start by trimming the length of artificial nails.
- Use a low grit, slightly rougher nail file to lightly scratch the surface of the artificial nail thereby breaking the protective seal.
- For either fingers or toes, pour into a small glass bowl with enough remover to fully submerge all nails.
- Soak fingernails in remover until glue and plastic have melted off completely.
Sunscreen Break- Will Ferrell's Sun Stroke Sunscreen
Are you sexy? Are you Hot? Then why in the world would you not want a "Sexy Hot Tan"?
All Proceeds from Will Ferrell's Sun Stroke sunscreen benefit Cancer for College - 100% of the net proceeds will benefit the Cancer for College scholarship fund.
Get Your Sunscreen today!
Total Beauty Weekend Web Tour!
The Informed Makeup Maven reviews Luminess' at home airbrush tanning system, Avon magix skin perfector; does summer Stila style and is giving away Diorshow Mascara and Maybelline Mineral Power Foundation!
Monique at Beauty Girl Musings shares her experience with the online shoe service, ShoeDazzle. Read about it here!
Boutique Flair reviews the Barielle 60 Second Mani-Pedi.
Meilily reviews Pacifica Avalon Juniper Perfume with exclusive product photos and shopping tips.
Beauty Junkies Unite goes to Kinara, gets a fab St. Tropez faux tan and gabs about it!
A Little More Beautiful has two great giveaways Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin and Max Factor Lash Perfection Volume Couture Mascara ending on May 31st at Midnight and June 20th at Midnight! It's fast and easy to enter!
Beauty Anonymous brings you Visée summer 2009 makeup collection!
The Makeup Divas reviews Too Faced Locked Down Cream Eyeshadows plus the new summer lip bronzer in Pink Leopard.
Beauty Banter dishes on must-have tips for staying young in surf and sun!
Fabulous Over Forty attends a makeup class with Lancome artist Alex Sanchez.
eye4style is all lit up over Delirium & Co. Candles. Read her review here!
The Beauty Couch has thirteen tips for Simplifying Your Beauty Routine that will save time without sacrificing your look.
Lipgloss Break is running a giveaway for 5 White Sand Smudge Texture Cremes!
Addicted to Lipstick gives us swatches from the Mac Style Warrior Collection plus she tells us all about The New Mac Naked Honey Collection
Enter to win a Beautyticket.com $50 gift certificate at Face Candy.
Alison Blackman of the Advice Sistersattended the 2009 Fragrance Foundation FIFI Awardsr and created a celebrity photo albumfeaturing Paris Hilton, Marc Jacobs, Sean Combs, Queen Latifah, Ernest & Tova Borgnine, Lisa & Dustin Hoffman, Hilary Rhoda, and more!
Getting ready to hit the pool? Check out Beauty in Real Life's review on Redken's Color Extend Sun Collection.
image and style news shows us the top hairstyles trends for 2009
LA Pretty is giving away a Glowelle 7 day kit to two lucky readers. Glowelle is one of the hottest things in skin care, so don't miss your chance to try it out for yourself! Find out the details here!
Hot Beauty Health discusses her new love for eau fragrance Fresh Mangosteen and the top beauty health products for 2009.
Sweeten Up Your Visage with Elique Organic Skin Food.
The Working Girl from Girl-Woman-Beauty-Brains-Blog shares a secret while singing the praises of an acne treatment.