Showing posts with label beauty tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beauty tips. Show all posts

Monday, December 24, 2012

Mondays with Mindy: Holiday Beauty Guide

Well folks, they're here. No more escaping. The holidays have come! This time of year is bound to bring on some type of stress (good or bad) so why not look your best when running to four different Christmas parties or while being cornered by weird Uncle Harry?? Here are seven beauty tips to ensure a fabulous holiday!

1.) With crazy fashions constantly hitting the shelves, nails are sure to be a hit this year. But instead of painting them like candy canes or the always popular cranberry shades, try glamming up a neutral. Neutral hues are always classy but how about adding a glitter polish as a top coat? Try OPI nail lacquer in "Bubble Bath" as your neutral than your favorite glitter polish. You're sure to be a perfect 10!

2.) Nix your old faithful eyeliner for a look that will be the envy of the party! Try using a sapphire or plum shade on your bottom water line. Not only will these colors make your eye color "pop", but they also make the whites of the eye look whiter, which tend to yellow the older we get. I use Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner pencils in "Binge" and "Rockstar". TIP: Is your eyeliner too soft or crumbling? Pop it in the freezer for 15 minutes before applying. Works like a charm and feels great putting it on!

3.) When the holidays approach, some many experts say, "try a red lip!" Well if you don't know exactly which darker shade looks best, this trend can go really wrong. Instead, try a neutral high shine gloss. This allows your eyes to grab the attention and your lips to keep them looking. Glossy neutral lips can make your pout fuller. So if thin lips are what you've got, try this instant (and painless) plumper. TIP: Running low on your fave gloss near the holidays? Drop your closed gloss stick into a mug of warm water for 10 minutes. The heat melts gloss off the sides so you have more to use. And then pray for a gift card to MAC from Santa!

4.) Sometimes we want a new hairstyle but don't want to cut it or don't know how to style it. Here's a way to do both without changing your length at all! Blow dry and curl your hair. The curls underneath don't have to be perfect so waves will do just fine. As soon as it's curled and the front looks the way you want it, take the ends of your hair and roll them under creating a faux wavy bob updo! Secure the hidden hair with a few long pins or bobby pins. The undone wisps of hair make this look modern and fresh.



5.) Want fuller eyelashes without the hassle of false lashes? Using a waterproof eyeliner in a dark neutral shade, trace the upper inner rim of your lash line. Lashes can look or actually be sparse. This trick fills in the gaps and gives the illusion of thick, full lashes. TIP: Try this method before you shadow your eyes. This way the shadow doesn't get on your fingers and on the rest of your face. Using a make-up brush, horizontally push on your eyelid. This will expose the inner lash line. Use a sharpened pencil so the product doesn't get into your eye!


6.) Give your hair a little sparkle for a holiday party. A low bun will not wow anyone. But a low bun with a glittery head band will! Dress up a messy side bun will a sparkling clip or pin. You can even bobby pin in a brooch made from crystals. Or if you really want to wow people, re-purpose a sparkly necklace.  Attach a necklace onto a ponytail holder. Put your hair up and start to braid, only in one of the sections, add the necklace so its like a strand of hair. Continue to braid and then wrap the braid around into a bun. Secure with bobby pins and Presto! You now have that glittery necklace woven into your hair.



7.) It's a fact. There will be more treats and drinks at holidays parties than anyone knows what to do with. The problem... other than your waistline, is puffiness! Your face and hands can retain water because of dehydration and too much salt. The solution? Drink LOTS of water! This will help flush out the salt and keep your face looking fresh. Try to stay away from caffeine as well. It will only dehydrate you and your skin more. 





Here's to a beautiful holiday season and an even more glamorous 2013!!

XOXO Mindy












Monday, November 19, 2012

Mondays with Mindy: Beautify Your Thanksgiving


As unbelievable as it seems, it's that time of year again! The holidays are here. In just 3 days, millions of people will be entertaining family and friends with a table full of delicious autumnal foods. Top items include turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing (or is it dressing?!?), and don't forget the pumpkin pie! But as I was browsing through what seemed like hundreds of pumpkin pie recipes, I noticed something odd. More than half the recipes I found call for less than one can of pumpkin purée. So the question is, what to do with all the left over pumpkin??


Here are a few at home, DYI beauty recipes that are sure to get your skin glowing just in time for turkey day!

Why is pumpkin a great additive to many popular skin care products? Pumpkin is filled with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A, to name a few. Pumpkin renews the skin, removes the outer layer exposing the new skin, creating a beautiful glow.

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Honey Mask

What You'll Need:

4 tablespoons of plain pumpkin purée
2 tablespoons of honey
2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
2 teaspoons of mashed pineapple
1 teaspoon of green tea
½ teaspoon of sunflower oil.

Preparation:



Prepare green tea and let it rest a bit. While that is cooling down, combine pineapple, honey, pumpkin, and aloe gel. Add to that sunflower oil and then green tea. Mix well.

Apply the mix on the face and neck and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pad dry. This amount is enough for 4 applications. Keep it in a glass jar, tightly closed and refrigerated. It is not to be used after 2 weeks.

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Pedicure

Since pumpkin is chock full of good-for-you nutrients, it only makes sense that it would pack the same benefits for your skin. With the weather getting colder, it's a great ingredient to add to your beauty treatments since it nourishes tired and dry skin instantly, plus gives it a gorgeous healthy glow.

What You'll Need:
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
Optional ingredients: splash of milk, 1 tsp honey

Preparation:
Mix ingredients together and apply the pumpkin masque to feet and calves. Wrap in plastic bags. Sit back and relax for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Dry off and apply a few pumps of your favorite moisturizer or lotion (try a Vanilla scent) to keep feet and calves silky-smooth and hydrated. Cut and file nails as desired.

And while your at it...here's a great recipe using any leftover butternut squash you may have!

DIY Recipe: Brightening Butternut Squash Enzyme Mask
This great mask works like a scrub to exfoliate without being abrasive to your skin. Butternut squash is high in vitamins A and C and zinc, and can brighten, heal, and protect your skin from free radicals, all while gently dissolving dead skin cells.

What You'll Need:
1 raw egg and 1 cup cooked butternut squash. (Optional Ingredients include papaya, honey, apple cider or cranberry juice.)

Method and Application:
Adding an egg to the mask helps bind the ingredients together, as well as nourishing and lifting the skin. Whisk together about 1/2 cup of the squash and the egg (feel free to use pumpkin, either fresh or canned, for this recipe!). How to customize your mask: For more exfoliation: Add 2/3 cup fresh mashed papaya. The additional enzymes will dissolve dead skin on the spot, leaving you fresh and glowing. For dry skin: Add a tablespoon of honey, which acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin. For oily skin: Mix in a tablespoon of apple cider or cranberry juice for a toning astringent effect. Slather the mixture on your face in a fairly thick layer. Avoid the eye area. You'll feel some light tingling as the enzymes gently exfoliate the top layer of skin. Leave the mask on for 10-20 minutes and rinse off with warm water and a washcloth.

So to all of you, have a happy, safe, and beautiful Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble,

Mindy


Sources:
Eric Sakas, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Vapour Cosmetics.
Skin Care Recipes and Remedies: Pumpkin Skin Care
Real Beauty: 7 DIY Thanksgiving-Inspired Spa Treatments

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