Vaseline, The Miracle Worker

Vaseline is something that has become a staple in this day in age and for good reason.  Did you know there were a ton of different uses of Vaseline that can promote a more beautiful you?  Well here are some great ideas for you to try out with this inexpensive product!

Some people swear by applying Vaseline to their eyelashes to promote lash growth.  Put a coat on before you go to bed and over time you will notice that your lashes grow longer and thicker over time

Do you suffer from crusty feet?  Try putting a coat of Vaseline on them then stick them in some socks, sleep with it on for the night and wake up with crack free and smooth feet.

A lot of people suffer from dry and cracked elbows especially around this time of the year.  Slather some Vaseline on them every day and have dramatically smoother elbows

I suffer from terrible cuticles, as does so many other people.  Something that has really helped to prevent my cuticles from looking so terrible and feeling just as bad is putting some Vaseline on my cuticles every day.  I have not had a painful cuticle in months.

Vaseline is great for chapped lips.  They sell mini Vaseline tubs that are perfect to toss in your bag and used on chapped lips all the time.

Want to make your own lip gloss at home?  Try mixing some Kool-Aid powder with some Vaseline to have a colored lip gloss that tastes good too!

Want an even yummier lip gloss?  Melt some Vaseline and a chocolate chip in the microwave.  Mix together and enjoy a yummy chocolate lip gloss!  Seriously so yummy and looks great on lips

Do you ever feel like your perfume never lasts long after you apply it?  Apply a little Vaseline to the places where you usually spritz your perfume, it will help make the scent last longer.

It is a misconception that Vaseline clogs pores so slather it on your face if you are experiencing extreme dry skin and it will make your skin smooth and soft.

Mix this puppy with some sea salt and make an awesome scrub for the shower

Does your skin get irritated after you shave?  Apply this to all affected areas and it will help to smooth the skin and soothe it

Apply this as a base coat underneath eyeshadow creating a shiny effect perfect for New Years Eve

Apply this on the cheeks for a fresh, dewy look.

Have pesky mascara or liquid liner that just won’t come off?  Try applying this to areas that need it and use it as a make up remover

Dry Scalp?  Try massaging this into your hair before you shampoo and experience a scalp that is flake free.

Ever experience hair dye that stains your forehead?  Prevent it by applying a ring around your scalp.

Use to quickly shine shoes and bags.

Put the littlest amount in your hands and scrunch hair with it to give it a choppy look.

Apply a little to ends of hair to mask split ends or breakage

Use Vaseline to remove lash glue from your eyelids

Apply some to any extreme dry patches on your body before you apply a self tanner for a much more even look.

-Kristen

No Heat - No Problem !

So we all know that your hair has a love/hate relationship with the heat and styling you do to it.  Your hair looks amazing when it is curled perfectly or has effortless waves but it does not feel good when your hair gets burnt or fried.  Here are some tricks to try to help you achieve either a curly or wavy look without having to use tools that heat up.

Do Some Braids- Apply some hair spray or some gel (preferably one that won’t make hair crunchy) to damp or towel dried hair.  The key to this is to make sure that your hair isn’t soaking wet, rather make sure it is towel dried and damp.  Separate your hair into 2 sections, or more depending on how you want the waves to look, loose braid = loose waves tight brads=tight waves.  Whether you choose the loose braid or the tight braid make sure that the tops of the braids are loose so the hair doesn’t look crazy up there when the braids are taken out.  You can choose to sleep with them in or you can just sit with them in for a couple of hours.  When they are about 90% dry slowly take the braids out.  Use your fingers to give the waves a little kink, and even add a little more product and scrunch.  Then enjoy waves without heat!

Buns- Just like with the braids, make sure that hair is towel dried or damp.  Apply a little hairspray or gel to hair or even some beach waves  spray.  Separate hair into sections varying from 2-5 depending on how you want the waves to look.  Twist hair around first then form it into a bun.  Make sure they are at about the middle of your head or even low on your head.  Leave the buns in either over night or for a couple of hours, making sure they are all the way dry when you take them out.  Take them out and again use your fingers to arrange the waves.  Apply some sea salt spray to hair and scrunch for even more waves.

Rag Waves- Cut up an old Tshirt into 6-8 inch strips.  Then section your damp, towel dried hair into 2 sections and then section those sections off into 2 sections.  Next take a section of hair, place the peace of tshirt at the bottom of the hair, and roll the tshirt and hair up together like you would a regular curler.  Stop at the scalp and tie the two ends of the tshirt together to hold the curl in place.  Let your hair completely dry, then let your hair out.  For added body or more waves use a diffuser on your hair dryer.  Add a little sea salt spray, scrunch your hair lightly and use the diffuser to dry the waves!

Kristen

Makeup Gone BAD

A common mistake many people make with make up products is not keeping up with the expiration date, which every article of make up does have.  By not throwing out old make up you are allowing bacteria to just fester on your face, so here are some tricks to help you know when your make up is expired:

Mascara- This is the product that should be on the top of your list of things that go bad easily.  You are constantly taking the brush out and putting it back in and then applying it to your lashes.  Think about all the bacteria that you are putting into your eye.  Mascaras should last about 2-3 months.  You can also tell if mascara has gone bad by smelling it: if it smells like gasoline toss it in the trash

Foundation- Due to the fact that most foundations are water based, they are usually infested with bacteria far sooner than you would want.  If you haven’t actually broken the seal to the foundation they can last for up to a couple of years but if the seal is broken give the foundation 6-12 months and then throw it away.  Also make sure you aren’t storing your foundation in moist areas like the bathroom or too hot places like near a radiator because both of these places help to spoil the formula and allow for bacteria to fester.  All make up has a scent to it but when a foundation goes bad you should be able to tell if there is an off smell to it, also the coloring should be off.  All of these factors could lead to potential breakouts and pimples.

Face Powder- Face powder lasts a pretty decent amount of time, up to 2 years.  In rare cases some powders are formulated with small amounts of water, which puts the product at risk of growing bacteria.  Make sure you are aware of the ingredients in your powder, paying close attention to anything that could contain moisture, and throw out anything that has been lying around for too long

Blush- Face powder and blush fall under the same category basically.  If you have cream blush this should only last up to a year.   To prolong the life of your blush ensure that you are cleaning your make up brush regularly and storing your blush in a dark, dry place.  If you are applying blush over a cream or liquid foundation you should take even more precautions with your blush brush and really clean it because it can get bacteria on it just from touching your cream or liquid foundation.  You can tell if your blush has gone bad if it has developed a white or chalky layer on top.  Also if the formula is extremely hard and won’t come out on the brush, give it a toss.

Eye shadows –Surprisingly you should throw your eye shadows out after about 3 months of use.  You might be confused because eye shadows are basically like face powder, but they aren’t.  You are constantly applying it to your eyes, which have mucous membranes, which in turn can lead to the growth of bacteria.  Make sure you are cleaning your eye shadow brushes every time after you use them.

Eyeliner- Whether you use a pencil or liquid liner they should both be replaced after about 3 months of use.  This is due in fact that they are constantly touching a sensitive area and have the risk of spreading bacteria without any signs of contamination.  If you have used an old liquid liner you will notice an irritation in your eyes and even sometimes conjunctivitis.  Pencil liners can last a little bit longer if you make sure to constantly sharpen it, but if it has gone bad you will notice a white film developing on the tip.

Lipstick and Lipgloss- Surprisingly this stuff does not go bad as easily as one would expect because there is no water in them.  Usually you should replace them in about a year or after you have been sick.  If a lipstick has gone bad you will notice that it doesn’t apply easily, and the pigment doesn’t spread effortlessly.  Lip gloss will come out goopy and also won’t spread well, so toss em if they show any of these signs

Brushes- Brushes are a main source of bacteria so make sure you are cleaning them regularly.  After every use you should wipe them off with a clean towel or a paper towel, and every 2 weeks you should clean them with a gentle hair shampoo or an antibacterial dish soap.  If you use make up sponges from the drug store those should be thrown out after about 2 uses because they are said to be “bacteria pits”.  Finally use an antibacterial spray that can be found anywhere from Sephora to Target.

-Kristen

All About the Glow

Although pale, gator skin is seemingly inevitable around this time of year, there are some products out there that can really help your skin glow, and look its best.  Seriously what is more depressing then looking in the mirror and seeing pale, flaky, boring skin?  I am an admitted tanaholic so being pale is like being sick for me.  In my mind I don’t look good nor do I feel good when I have pale, dull skin.  So here are some of the products I use to prevent my skin from looking like this!

7 Day Scrub by Clinique- What everyone should know is that exfoliating your skin should be the most important part of your beauty regimen during this time of the year.  Your face tends to get flaky due to over exposure to extreme heat and extreme cold, and your left with skin that looks less than satisfactory.  This scrub should be included in your weekly regimen up to 3 times a week.  Not only does it buff away dry skin but it also helps to really clear away patches of skin that may be too oily.  If you are noticing problem areas with a couple of pimples, work this stuff into your skin for about a minute and allow the oils and toxins to be released from your skin.  You should expect to see clearer skin after using this 3 times a week. Upon using this your skin is in an ideal condition to really soak in moisture so follow up with your 3 step kit (if you are an avid Clinique user which you should be because they’re products are AMAZING.) Notice your skin looking far more radiant and healthy even after just one use!

Pros: Gentle yet effective on skin, clears dry and oily patches, reasonably priced (18.50), perfect to use before applying at home tanning systems

Cons: I haven’t found one yet!

Smoothing Body Scrubs by Victoria’s Secret- I am an absolute nut when it comes to the Victoria’s Secret Fantasies collection and have loved their scents Love Spell and Pure Seduction for years now.  Love Spell has a very distinct fruity, sweet smell that can be distinguished in a crowded room.  Pure Seduction isn’t as popular as Love Spell, but smells like flowers and candy.   Also you really can’t beat their deals like 3 products for $25 or 5 products for $30 with 1 for free!  With these deals I am always loading up on creams, sprays and scrubs.  This scrub is one of my FAVORITES.  It comes with little grains in it meant to buff and exfoliate skin, while also putting nutrients back into your skin.   I lather it all over my skin and really buff noticeably dry patches.  I love love love to really scrub my legs with this and then shave.  My legs come out silky smooth, and feel incredible!  This stuff is crucial right before you apply self tanner, because tanning solution really sits better on exfoliated skin.  Use this stuff right before you apply self tanner, and notice skin that absorbs the tan better.  At $10 this is a steal and a musthave!

Tinted Self Tanning Body Mist by Sephora Collection – So as you all know I love my tanning mist solutions and am always on the hunt for the best one, and alas I think I may have found it.  This stuff is MIND-BLOWING and my new best friend.  I did some research on this product and read nothing but rave reviews so I decided to give it a try.  The mist is ultra fine and comes out evenly.  One major plus about this product is the fine mist because it does not run or drip like a lot of other tanning sprays.  This stays right where you spray it and is a beautiful, natural bronzed color.  It also dries in literally 20 seconds, and does not leave your skin feeling wet or sticky.  The only bad thing I can say about this is that the smell is a little overpowering, kind of like a hair spray smell.  The smell might be a little much but if your tanorexic like me, the smell won’t bother you much.  Not to mention it only smells while your spraying it, it doesn’t smell overpowering on your skin.  I seriously love this stuff and will continue to buy it after this can is up.  At $14 this is an absolute steal, and something you HAVE to try especially with Christmas and New Years right around the corner J

Rockin Body Luminous Perfecting Body Cream – this stuff is my little secret for a night I want to look and feel sexy especially on nights where I am wearing a dress or a revealing top.  This cream claims to brighten, smooth and blur the look of imperfections on the skin.  It is formulated with high tech optical diffusers and Diamond Power that gives you that flawless finish look.  It also gives your skin a golden glow that kind of mimics a highlighter that you put on your face.  So if your skin is feeling down due to the winter try some of this on your legs or chest for a radiant, flawless look. $10

Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Bronze Shimmer Dust- Ok so maybe glitter was so 6^th grade, but when used correctly a little bit of shimmer can really sex up a look and leave skin glowing.  This spray is like nothing I have ever used before.  It looks like an old fashioned perfume, including the puff used for spraying the solution.  This can be used on legs, arms, chest and even hair.  It gives your body a shimmer and glow, not like huge sparkles, but a soft touch of shimmer.  I love the way this stuff looks on my skin and even in my hair.  I cannot wait to use it on NYE when shimmer and shine is in!  It comes in a bronzed color, a white color and a gold color perfect for all different skin colors.  It is a little pricey at $39 but it’s not too late to ask Santa for it ;)

-Kristen