http://CranfordHairCo.com

DIY Beauty On A Budget In these hard economic times, it’s time to get creative. If the wallet isn’t agreeing with everyday beauty budgets, scan the kitchen cabinets for ingredients to create fresh, homemade, and even organic beauty solutions. Here are some tips to maintain healthy, shiny hair, white teeth, a radiant face and smooth skin using ingredients you can find at home.

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.


http://blog.mycosmeticbag.com

http://CranfordHairCo.com

10 Nail Myths to Stop Believing You’ve heard of Myth Busters, but we’re about to take it to a whole new level – Beauty Myth Busting! To be more specific, it’s all about your nails and how you take care of them. Here are ten myths that have not been proven true, some seemingly more outrageous than others. It may just change the way you view your nails! We want the best for our nails after all, so hopefully after reading this, you’ll be more informed (and nail-savvy!). (via BeautyPress)

1. Eating gelatin will strengthen weak nails. While it’s true that nails are made of a protein called keratin and that gelatin too is a protein, there’s never been any scientific proof that gelatin does anything to strengthen nails. By the same token, despite the fact that there are trace amounts of calcium in the nail, downing more milk or other calcium-rich products won’t do anything to strengthen nails either. Overall good nutrition, including adequate protein, is the way to go for strong nails.

2. Enhancements should be soaked off every so often to “give nails a break”. As long as your nail tech is using high-quality products and correctly applying them, there’s no reason to remove your enhancements. In fact, this should be avoided, as removing artificial nails can be potentially damaging. Ask your tech how to properly maintain your enhancements between visits, so you don’t get any cracks or other signs of service breakdown. If you decide to take a break from polish or enhancements (which can be removed safely if need be), try a month of regular buffing and applying cuticle oil to add moisture and seal the nail.

3. Avoid nail products that have chemicals in them. This would be literally impossible to do, because virtually everything you see and touch is a chemical (even purified water). There is no such thing as a “chemical-free” nail product (or as an “all-natural” artificial nail product). That said, improperly used chemicals can cause harm, so seek to understand the ingredients in the products your nail tech is using, but don’t avoid them altogether.

4. Enhancements ruin natural nails. Today’s nail products are dramatically advanced and don’t require your nail tech to damage your natural nails during application or removal. If you experience pain, discomfort, or thinned or damaged nails, it’s most likely due to a nail tech misstep. (Look at your natural nails after your nail tech files them, they should NOT be noticeably thinner.) Also, don’t pick, chew, or mistreat your enhancements, because that could lead to natural nail damage.

5. Store nail polish in the fridge to make it last longer. If you constantly remove the polish from the fridge, use it, and put it back, it makes no difference to the polish’s shelf life. However, it is true that if you leave polish in the fridge for at least a few weeks at a time it will slow the over-thickening of the polish’s thickening agents, thereby making it last longer. (Just make sure you bring the polish back to room temperature before opening, or water condensation will affect its quality.) The best way to increase the shelf life of polish is to make sure it’s resealed properly after use to prevent the solvents from evaporating — this means closing it tightly as soon as you’re done using it, making sure all polish is removed from the bottle’s neck, and tightly sealing the cap.

6. That green stuff on some people’s nails is mold. Mold is not a normal nail pathogen. It very rarely can appear on nails, but it will appear brown or black, not green. The vast majority of nail infections are actually caused by bacteria, including pseudomonas, which show up as green discoloration of the nail. It’s illegal for your nail tech to make a diagnosis of what’s causing the discoloration (and she must refuse to service you — at least until you bring her a doctor’s note), but she may be able to recommend a doctor for you to get the greenie checked out.

7. Plunging wet nails into ice water will make them dry faster. Your nail tech doesn’t do this for you in the salon because it wouldn’t work. To get polish to dry requires the evaporation of solvents. This is why your tech puts you in front of a warm fan.

8. Never file back-and-forth on a natural nail. Filing back and forth won’t harm the natural nail plate if the proper abrasives and the correct downward pressure are used, meaning a 180-grit or higher file and a light touch. Don’t use a file with a grit below 180 on your natural nail because it can cause excessive damage no matter what type of filing motion is used.

9. Cutting cuticles is good for nail health. What you’re calling “cuticle” is actually the “eponychium” (cuticle is the dead skin that’s on the nail plate, whereas the eponychium is living skin). Cutting eponychium isn’t recommended, and is actually illegal in some states, because too often the living skin that protects the matrix is cut and infections occur. Plus, over time cutting eponychium can lead to thickened scar-like tissue. Instead, soak your nails in warm water for 10 minutes and push back with something soft (like a towel) or just use a liquid cuticle remover to dissolve the dead skin on top of the nail.

10. I should bring my own implements to a salon to keep myself from contracting an infection. Let’s face it, the environment in your purse (where you’re probably storing your nail implements) is much less sanitary than the environment of a nail salon that complies with your state’s rules and regulations for salon sanitation. Instead of bringing your own implements (which your nail tech would be required to disinfect herself before using, wasting your valuable time), ask the tech questions about her sanitation practices and if she’s compliant with all state board requirements. If you feel uncomfortable about the salon’s cleanliness, then leave without getting a service.

blog.mycosmeticbag.com

Sunday is Mother’s Day, and you may still be struggling with what to get mom. Sometimes the nicest gifts are the one’s you make yourself, and with that in mind we found some great homemade beauty products mom is sure to love. Lemony Foot Scrub (http://adelightfulhome.com/how-to-make-a-frugal-foot-scrub/) : Who knew 4 ingredients and a blender could make a wonderful foot scrub? For Mother’s Day, consider this simple scrub recipe. Package it nicely and wow your mom with this thoughtful gift.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup oats
2 tablespoons of salt
6 drops of lemon essential oil

Blend the first three ingredients together. Once it’s become a fine power, add the essential oil and then put in packaging. Easy!

Anti-Aging Enzyme Peel (http://www.divinecaroline.com/112930/128107-diy-mother-s-day-gift-anti-aging) : There are very few mother’s who would turn down a day at the spa, but this enzyme peel recipe is the start to a great Mother’s Day at home spa!

Ingredients:
1 mashed papaya
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/2 cup of plain, organic yogurt
1 lemon
1/4 tablespoon of grape seed oil

Combine first two ingredients in a bowl. Apply and massage for 1 minute, rinse. Squeeze lemon into bowl, add yogurt and mix. Apply to face and massage. Leave on while you fill the sink with warm water. Dip a towel in the water, ring out, and wrap face. Leave the towel on for a minute, remove, and apply grape seed oil. Done! A lovely DIY treatment for a relaxed Mother’s Day.

Homemade Bath Bombs (http://www.intimateweddings.com/blog/how-to-make-bath-bombs-diy-wedding-favors/): Every mother deserves some time to relax, and these bath bombs could be the key.

Ingredients:

8 oz. baking soda
4 oz citric acid
4 oz. corn starch
4 oz. Epsom salts
3/4 tsp water
2 tsp. essential oil
2.5 tsp almond oil or other light oil
A few drops food coloring
sugar flower (the kind you use for decorating cakes)
round, snap-together plastic ornaments

Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl. Mix all wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Pour wet ingredients in with the dry ingredients, and combine. Pour the mix into either side of the snap-together container and snap together. Once formed, release from containers and let sit 1-2 days.

Enjoy a relaxed and happy Mother’s Day with these DIY ideas.


RealStyleNetwork

Are you burdened with flat locks? Everyone wants a little bump at the crown, but there's a fine line between pageant queen and pretty. To attain some extra lift, we asked celebrity hairstylist John D (who's crafted voluminous styles on Jennifer Lawrence and Natalie Portman) for some hair-raising advice.

First, PREP Every hairstyle needs a good foundation to stick to. Mousse and styling lotions give your follicles a little extra texture, which plump after heat styling. Begin by distributing your product of choice at the roots, gradually working your way to the tip. Be sure not to over-saturate your damp hair—start with a golf ball-sized amount of mousse or a few spritzes of spray and apply more if necessary.

Then, BLOW When your locks are ready for styling, arm yourself with the right tools for height. "A round brush really gives fine hair maximum volume," says John. As you dry your hair, work the nozzle of the blow-dryer into your roots and push up—this trains your tresses to retain their lifted shape at the crown.

Next, TEASE Teasing had a major hair moment back in the '70s and '80s (school photos we'd prefer to forget), but there's a way to harness the technique without turning into Snooki! With a small backcombing brush, grab a couple of one-inch sections from the sides and back of your head, then tease a couple of times, staying close to the root. After, smooth the sections with your fingers or a paddle brush, and spritz some light-hold hairspray "to really lock in the volume," adds John.

After, MAINTAIN Even a perfect morning styling session can go flat midday. To revive limp locks, meet your new hair bestie: Dry shampoo. "Blast dry shampoo into your roots, keeping the nozzle 10 inches from your head," advises John. "Give the hair a good shake with your fingers—the dry shampoo will absorb any excess oil and brings back the lift." In a pinch, hairspray essentially works the same!

-Beautylish

Benefits of a Bare FaceThere are hundreds of tutorials on the internet explaining how to use makeup to create a no-makeup look. Of course, all of these tutorials makes a person wonder why the writers and experts don’t just skip the makeup altogether, instead of providing a long list of products that make your skin look dewy or sun-kissed. So rather than wear makeup that creates the illusion of not having makeup on, maybe you should read about the benefits of staying away from the makeup aisle and keeping a naked face.

Who has the Time?Not all women have money to buy a truckload of makeup products, nor do they have the time. We can’t all dedicate 30 minutes in front of a mirror before work or school just to apply makeup because let’s face it: it takes us 30 minutes just to roll out of bed in the morning. And don’t forget that at the end of each day, you’ll need to spend even more time trying to get the products off of your face, which will cost more money as you’ll have to buy makeup remover to get the job done right.

Misleading LabelsAlthough the makeup models you see on boxes are beautiful with thick eyelashes, flush cheeks, and perfect eyebrows, there’s no way you’ll be able to look like their picture – even if you spend all day in front of the mirror. Oftentimes, product labels will claim to improve skin tone and texture, but unfortunately, they fail at delivering on those promises. So if you’re expecting perfect outcomes with mascara, you’re going to be disappointed because most of the brushes that are labeled "no clump" will leave you with clumps that have to be worked out with an eyelash brush.

Youthful-Looking FaceWomen who choose to go out with no makeup on tend to appear more youthful, compared to women who take the time to apply makeup. You could be adding years to your face by wearing makeup if you’re not using the right foundation formula or shade. After all, some foundations fall into the smallest of creases on your face, which draws attention to the wrong areas.

You’ll Get NoticedThe term associated with women who don’t wear makeup is low maintenance, and it’s a compliment. You’ll find that being able to feel confident with no makeup will get you noticed because men like women who are comfortable with the face they were born with. In fact, a lot of men prefer women who aren’t fussing with lipsticks and blushes every time they need to go to the grocery store.

Touching Your FaceWhen you don’t wear makeup, you’re able to rub your eye as often as you’d like (although it’s not recommended), and you don’t have to visit the restroom for touchups. Plus your face can become oily with makeup, and this requires oil blotting sheets. For some makeup looks to be complete, you’ll even need fake eyelashes, and when you have an eyelash in your eye, this can become extremely troublesome.

How to Look Beautiful without MakeupWhatever your reason for not wearing makeup is, it’s important to still look your best, and be confident with your natural beauty.

1. Beauty Rest
   Be sure that you are getting plenty of rest every night; the required amount is said to be 6-8 hours of sleep every night. Along with 8 hours of sleep, be sure to drink plenty of water and avoid sodas. These two things can greatly improve your skin’s complexion, and help heal the circles around your eyes.
2. Wash Your Face
   If your goal is to clear skin without using makeup, then washing your face twice a day should become part of your daily routine. You’ll spend a fraction of the time washing your face as you would applying and removing makeup each day. Choose facial cleansers and exfoliates according to your specific skin type for best results.
3. Maintain Your Eyebrows
   Your eyebrows are the easiest feature to manipulate on your face. You can change the shape and size easily by visiting a salon, or by learning to wax and pluck eyebrows yourself. When you keep your eyebrows maintained, your face looks clean and put-together without using makeup, while also framing your face and drawing attention to your eyes. But always be cautious as to not over-pluck, because this can create more problems for you in the future.
4. Moisturize Your Face and Body
   Apply a moisturizer every day to your face and body. For your face, you’ll want to apply a moisturizer that includes an SPF – even on days that aren’t sunny. After all, the sun’s harmful rays can get to you even on overcast days. At night, you can use a nighttime moisturizer after you cleanse your skin; this will improve your moisture, and make your skin soft and smooth.
5. Diet
   The food you eat is very important for staying healthy and youthful. This being said, you’ll want to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to make your skin glow. A trick is to eat one cup of fresh fruit or vegetables before every meal in order to get your full servings of important nutrients. Read about beauty foods to improve the look of your skin, hair and nails.
6. Hairstyle
   Before you decide on a hairstyle, be sure it will suit your face shape and hair type. Not every haircut will look good on every girl, and it’s very important not to have the wrong hairstyle since this distracts from your face, and can cause you to look unappealing.
7. Create Healthy Hair
   Only shampoo (how to choose hair shampoo and conditioner) your hair when it is needed; for the average woman, this is every other day, unless your hair frequently becomes oily. You’ll want to only apply conditioner to the ends, and pony-tail a section of your hair before rinsing well with cool water to boost your hair’s shine, softness and smoothness.

Assuming you can closely follow the aforementioned seven points, you’ll be on your way to looking good with no makeup required.


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