If you are on a budget then is the perfect do-it-yourself treatment for you. All you need is baking soda and about 10 minutes of your time once a week.

Recipe for the At-Home Microdermabrasion Treatment:

1. Baking Soda
2. Water

How To Create The At-Home Microdermabrasion Treatment:

1. Mix 1 part water to 10 parts baking soda.

2. Wash your face with a gentle skin cleanser, I prefer using Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser.

3. Don’t dry your face after you wash, apply the baking soda mixture by using soft circles with your fingertips and slowly massage your entire face. Be sure to avoid the eye area as you don’t want to damage the delicate skin near your eyes.

4. You can take it one step further and work your way down to your neck and decollate.

5. After you are done all you have to do is wash your face with your cleanser, and apply your evening moisturizer. If you are using a retinol, then skip it for today.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to use sunscreen daily with SPF 30, and apply it generously on your face, neck, and decollate. You don’t want to suffer from the effects of sun damage!

What I like about this at-home treatment is that its not something that requires a lot of your time, but it leaves your skin feeling smooth and supple. I recommend that you do this about once a month, but if you find that you get better results by doing this two times a month then go for it.

Enjoy!!

I was perusing through many of the samples that I wanted to review and decided to test out Pureology’s Pure Volume Shampoo. I have heard great things about this line, especially the ingredients in Pureology’s products. So before I get into my review about this product let me give you the skinny on Pureology (taken from their website):

Ingredients

Zero Sulfates (Sulfate-Free)
Salt Free
Color Preserving formula – coconut, corn, and sugar
Natural Plant Extracts
Lavender, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood
Pureology Signature Aromatherapy Blend
Amber, Mandarin and Ylang Ylang

Pureology Benefits

Rich lather, easy rinsing
Extra gentle cleansers
Does not strip colour
Concentrated natural conditioning
Decadent fragrance for a multi-sensorial, spa-like experience
Calms and soothes

I used this product over several days and discovered that despite having shiny and ‘clean’ hair, by lunchtime without fail my hair became oily and flat at the roots. You don’t need to use a lot of the product to wash your hair thoroughly, so if your worried about the price tag on the product – a little bit goes a long way. Anyway, I thought that maybe I wasn’t giving Pureology a fair chance, so I continued using this product and over several days and had the same results. This is of course my own experience, but if you are a consistently visiting the salon to get your hair dyed than this product may be for you. I will say though, that I will have to pass on future Pureology products, which is a bummer because I am a fan of the ingredients that are in their product line.

If you are one of those girls or guys that sometimes suffer’s from those frequent fly-aways then this is the product for you. I actually discovered this product after getting my hair cut, and my stylist was raving about it. Nonetheless, she used it on my ends to style my new hair-do I found that my hair stayed in place without looking weighed down. I don’t like using too many products in my hair, but this is my definite go to product when I am going to be out and about. What I like about this product is that you can use very little because it goes a long way.

I like using this product because your hair will have both a smooth and sleek finish, without looking oily or greasy. The bonus: The product is light-weight, and it has a great fragrance too!

If you happen to be allergic to aluminum, which is a common ingredient in both antiperspirant and deodorants than I have great news for you! I received a sample of The “Best” Deodorant by Benedetta, and it is really works! There are several organic brands that are available in the market, but this one is definitely a keeper.

About Benedetta:
Julie Faller founded Benedetta, which is a holistic skin care line that is 100% botanical. In other words, it means that all of the ingredients in their products are sourced from nature, and not from a laboratory. Benedetta products are not bleached, nor do they contain parabens, sodium lauryl sulfates, propylene glycol or synthetic fragrances.

My Review:
I was surprised that this product comes in a spray bottle, but it applies onto your skin really well. All you need is about two sprays, and it dries really quickly. You won’t have to fret over a messy and runny product, or the deodorant irritating your skin. The light lavender fragrance is not overpowering, so it is perfect. If your looking for a natural deodorant, then this product will have to be a staple in your medicine cabinet.

Mask of Magnaminty Cleanser:

It contains bentonite gel, which helps to deep clean your pores and tightens your skin at the same time.
The ground aduki beans removes dead skin cells, it polishes the skin.
Contains peppermint oil, which cools the skin.

How To Use:
1. Wash your face thoroughly and pat dry your face.
2. Apply the mask onto your face avoiding the eye area.
3. Leave the mask cleanser on for 15 minutes.
4. Rinse with warm water and apply your favorite moisturizer afterwards

I found that when I used this product my skin looked brighter, but the best part is when you apply the mask itself. The peppermint oil is not overpowering for your senses. I love this product because it tightens and soothes your skin, which is great after a long day at work. I felt as though I was at a spa in the comfort of my own home. I recommend that you use this mask cleanser at least twice a month for best results. If you don’t want to purchase the product outright, then just ask one of Lush’s sales associates for a sample! You can try out the product before you make the investment.

Disclaimer: I do caution those with sensitive skin, please test this product behind your ear to avoid any skin irritation, rashes, etc. The last thing you want is a reaction to any beauty product!

As shifts in trends and styles occur, we can accommodate our wardrobe and accessories to last the test of time. Notice some fashion is always in (i.e., the LBD, accessories, boot cut denim, cashmere sweaters, etc.) and some fashion, well you donâ€t see it for more than six months, we call that ‘fast fashion.’

As we turn the page towards 2012, I want to start this year by showcasing an outfit on Polyvore that I named the Classic White Collection, inspired by one of my favorite movies starring Julia Roberts, Pretty Woman. I love that this ensemble has that classy look that you can wear for something at the office, or a formal affair. If you want to go bold, try wearing a nice red lipstick, or if your the subtle type try a shimmer gloss. Both of those options would work perfectly with this outfit!

Happy New Year!

Happy Holidays!

It contains rice extract that moisturizes and brightens your skin. The texture of the ground rice is supposed to leave your skin bright, soft and lustrous.

How to Use

Step One:
Thoroughly wash your and rinse your face

Step Two:
Apply desired amount onto face, focusing on the nose area while avoiding eye and mouth areas

Step Three:
Leave the mask on for approximately 10 to 15 minutes

Step Four:
Wash off the mask with warm water

My Product Rating

I was curious about the product, but after trying it I would not give it my recommendation. I imagine that many of their products are great, but this one did not win me over. As much as the mask leaves your skin smooth, the overwhelming fragrance does not make up for it. I may consider using other products from this product line, but I will have to pass for the Rice Mask Wash Off by Skin Food.

For those ladies who are on a budget check out this amazing recipe that will leave your skin smooth and supple. I tried this recipe a few times and I plan on sticking to this routine because it works!

Recipe For Flawless Skin

Ingredients

12-13 uncoated aspirin
Fresh Lemon (enough to make a nice paste when combined with aspirin)
Baking Soda
Water
Cotton Rounds

Creating The Mask For Flawless Skin

1. Place 12-13 aspirin rounds into a bowl and add fresh lemon to it. Let it sit for a few minutes until it becomes grainy.

2. One the mixture becomes a bit grainy in texture, apply this to your face avoiding the eye area.

3. Let the mask sit for about 10 minutes.

4. While you are waiting make your baking soda and water mixture. I normally add about a nice teaspoon and a bit of water.

5. After your 10 minutes are up, take a few cotton rounds and use that to remove the mask.

You will find that you may feel a bit of irritation, so if you have sensitive skin please test this behind your ear before you apply it directly onto your face.

Fun Facts: Aspirin contains salicylic acid (commonly found in acne products), which helps to reduce acne breakouts. Lemon helps to minimize sun damage to your skin, which was even a surprise to me. Try out the mask, you won’t be disappointed!

Check out my creative fashion idea just in time for the Holidays! The perfect ‘Little Black Dress’:

Happy Holidays!