Say YES to GLOW, NO to SHINE

For you who withstand humid, hot weather, shine can be your worst enemy.

This summer, swap shine for glow!

Here's how:

First and foremost cleanse your skin with Carol’s Daughter Wash Away the Oil
Gentle Face Wash. This natural cleanser is the best I’ve tried so far for my combination skin. It washes the skin thoroughly without drying it at all. Absolutely amazing—and it’s natural!

Soak up on high SPF sunscreen. The best still is Josie Maran’s Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40+.

Let it absorb and apply Tarte’s Clean Slate primer. It literally feels like you are applying nothing, but remain faithful and continue until you’ve spread it throughout the face. Your makeup will stay intact ALL DAY, while it nourishes your skin with antioxidants.

Then add COLOR that looks natural:

Swap liquid foundation for pressed powder. Tarte’s Provocateur Mineral Pressed Powder SPF 8 provides perfect coverage with vitamins and antioxidants, and of course, no shiny foreheads!

Complete your perfect summer complexion with Nars Blush-Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna.  The bronzer gives you that perfect sun-kissed look, while the blush—the name says it all—gives you that perfect peachy-rose glow.

Smart Sunbathing: skin and hair summer must-haves

The Sun, the ocean and the pool can be really harsh on your hair and skin. For aesthetics and health reasons, make sure these are well taken care of this summer.

At the beach:  

Protect your hair with Aveda’s Sun Care Protective Hair Veil.It protects hair from the sun with water-resistant UV defense. This is natural and a great one to

keep your hair nice and beach wavy after leaving it up on a bun.

Keep your body soaked on Oil-Free Sunblock Lotion SPF 45. I know, it sounds high and like it will leave you with the same color you had when summer began. But trust me; this will let you get a healthy tan while keeping off premature aging and skin cancer.

At the beach and daily:

Feed your skin with antioxidants and the miraculous Moroccan oil through Josie Maran’s Argan Oil Daily Moisturizer with SPF 40. It is all natural, anti-aging, absorbs quickly and great for daily use.

Finally, wear a hat! Nice, fashionable options for protection with style.

Invest a little on these, and you will keep healthy skin and lustrous hair throughout summer!

DIY! Firming Homemade Facial Mask

It will do wonders for your skin! I found this must-share clay face mask recipe. Clay has amazing proprieties for the skin, and this is a really easy and inexpensive recipe.

"CHOOSE THE RIGHT CLAY:

Dry or Sensitive Skin:

White, pink or yellow kaolin clay

Oily Skin:

Bentonite, red or blue montmorillonite, French green, red kaolin or Moroccan rhassoul clay

All Skin Types:

Dead Sea clay

1. To start, add one tablespoon of water, green tea, or milk to a small bowl. Gradually add two tablespoons of fine clay powder to the liquid, stirring to prevent clumps. The result should be a smooth paste; if it's too thick or too runny, add a few drops of water or a little more clay to achieve the desired consistency.

2. Using your fingers, apply a thick layer of the paste to clean, dry skin, avoiding the eyes and lips. (For a more even application, use a clean one-inch paintbrush.) Sit back and relax while the mask dries, staying as still as possible so the clay doesn't crack and fall off.

3. After 10 to 12 minutes, rinse with warm water.

4. Pat dry with a fluffy towel and follow with a natural toner and a light moisturizer to soften and nourish skin throughout the day" (wholeliving.com).

  

Ready for summer: cellulite and unwanted hair begone!!

I tried these two products from this interesting brand DS Laboratories. I hadn't heard of it until about a month ago when my hairdresser suggested I use their Cellulite Reducing Gel along with their Body Hair Minimizer. I was skeptical, but it is a new line at the salon, and they all swear by it. So, why not? After using the two for one month, I was impressed. They seem to work! 

I didn’t think it would do miracles. But it seriously made a difference; my skin seems firmer and tighter, and those slight indentations waiting to become real dimples are almost totally gone. This is definitely worth the shot.

I wasn't expecting much from the hair minimizer either. It does have moisturizing proprieties, so it wouldn't hurt to try. The verdict: BUY IT! My bikini line is taking longer to grow, and the same goes for my legs. The hair is finer too! Wow!

I have been waxing these areas for a while. so I am not sure how fast this would work for those who shave. Nevertheless, worth it! You can, at least, make it softer and less noticeable.

Perfect Smokey Eyes!

Smokey Eyes has been an eye makeup staple since its first appearance. It’s glamorous, enhances any person’s eyes and can be made to work with anything you choose to wear.

Check out this video for a foolproof, step-by-step tutorial on Jennifer Lopez's "On The Floor" gorgeous smokey eyes.

I followed the instructions on the video, and the result was incredible! I couldn't believe it was done by me. I skipped the faux lash and compensated by using a curler and tons of mascara. For summer, I will be using these same guidelines to create more colorful eyes. My first try was a green smokey eye with Stila Going Green eye shadow trio. It worked great! I'm excited to try out the bronzes, pinks and purples that go really well with my brown skin tone.

Let us know what works for you!