Ancient Chinese Secret

No not that Chinese secret silly.

This chinese secret - Green Tea!

One of the main contents is flavonoids - in a cup of green tea the flavonoids are higher than that in the same volume of other food and drink items that are traditionally considered healthy including fresh fruits, vegetable juices or wine. Flavonoids are a group of phytochemicals in most plant products that are responsible for such health effects as anti-oxidative and anti-carcinogenic functions. So it's like anti-rust for your skin! Although tea contains various types of polyphenols and tannin, tea does not contain tannic acid - meaning that it is suitable [even calming] to sensitive skin. I know that most people drink the brew but I just can not get into it SO ... I use my extra strength brew [3 tea bags for 2 cups of water] and make 'ice cube tonics' and whenever I get puffy from the weather or when my skin shows the signs when my 80-20 diet becomes more like 20-80 - I just pop out a cube and rub it on my clean face - the coolness brings down the swelling, and the caffeine helps tighten the skin. Win-Win!

This time of year between the wind, cold and stress - the skin takes a beating. I have found these great masks at the asian store (for a dollar - that's right ... one buck!!) and it is full of .... well I'm not too sure what because it is written in Korean but I know they are AMAZING. *giggles* Not only are they made of collagen (hopefully not animal based) but also pomegranate, red ginseng and green tea - which are all fantastic healing agents. To maximize the benefits of this wonderful product simply wash your face (2x if you are wearing makeup) perferably with a cleanser with an alpha-hydroxy acid such as glycolic (which most anti-aging products have in it - DDF Glycolic Wash happens to be my favorite you can get it at Ulta and Sephora) on the last cleanse leave the wash on the skin for atleast a minute (if you can - if it stings please rinse it off immediately) before rinsing 3xs (this gives the glycolic time to actually do some work), use a soothing toner perferably something with aloe in it (it is great if your skin is sensitive or weather beating and wonderful if you have acne as it is a healing agent), I really don't like to use scrubs on the face - I find them too abrasive but instead to use an enzyme (MyChelle carries 3 different kinds and you can buy them in a small pot at the health food store) avoid eye are when you are applying - leave on 1 - 2 mins (it will tingle but if it is irritating rinse immediately) RINSE VERY WELL (I can't stress that enough), apply the mask of your choice (save some of the serum for after), now go lay down and relax (or if need be do some chores or whatever you fancy) for about 20 mins (IF the product stings REMOVE IMMEDIATELY and RINSE IT OFF it isn't suppose to burn), slowly peel off the mask from the bottom up and pat alittle bit of the remaining serum and that's it - enjoy your beautifully refreshed skin. If your skin is super dry apply cream BUT if you are going out don't forget sunscreen (yes ... even in the winter).

Hey guys also don't forget to add yourself as a 'follower' in order to enter in the Paul Mitchell Giveaway - Deadline is this Thursday the 8th and announced this Friday the 9th.

Linking to:

Between Naps On The Porch

Blissful Rhythm



Fancy Lashes

Now that the new year (and it's parties) are here one of the items you are going to be using are false eyelashes. Nothing completes a look like a perfect pair of lashes and this little post will help you in two parts - one is how to apply and the other is how to clean to reuse.

A few items you will need are: lashes, glue - I like Duo Clear (according to type - stip for stip and individual for individual), toothpick or orange wood stick, small scissors, lash curler, tweezer and a mirror. Before you put on your lashes make sure your eye makeup is complete including, especially, without exception eyeliner *side note: you can do pencil or liquid under the lashes but only liquid should be on the lashes - pencil could pull or move the lashes once applied*  

Half Moon or Reversed French

I have been seeing Dita Von Teese's reversed french manicure around lately. It was kinda big back in '07 then picked up last year and .. it'ssss baaaack. Dita sports a silver moon with a retro red nail base. Every kind of color combo (green/red, gold/green, black/white) has been out and the techniques for some have been too technical (and others look too sloppy). So here is my interpretation of this look.

I used this cool retro red (Cherry Red) as the moon color
Apply and let dry. 

 

Apply french tip guides ($1.88 at Walmart) where the moon would be.



Apply tip color - this is "Manhattan" by NYC .
It is such a great color. Let dry COMPLETELY!

CAREFULLY remove the stickers

Use orangewood stick or cotton swab to remove excess
around nail and swipe a coat or 2 of clear polish.
*Don't forget to put lotion on your hands - like I did ^o^*

There you have it ... clean, perfect nails :)
*I found that the matte colors looked best but maybe its just me*



Getting Ready For Summer

For some people getting ready for summer means cute clothes, cool colors and tanned skin. And I guess I am no exceptions. This week I am going with this bright pink polish and I ammm looooving iiit. It is "Free Fall" from Pure Ice which I purchased at the Walmart and costed just a few bucks. Again, if it is a color that you are going to wear constantly then you can splurge on the more expensive brand, if not then cheaper is always better. One of my biggest pet peeves (and yes there are A LOT!!) is the farmer's tan with ghost legs(which I am also sporting LOL)People please! I'm begging you! STOP the atrocity!! There are plenty of self tanners that can remedy this problem. I usually use L'Oreal's "Sublime" and I really do like it but this time I am using Banana Boat's "Summer Color" in Deep Dark Color. Now a few tricks that you can do in order to get an even color are: One, is to exfoliate. If you do not take off the dead layer of skin sitting on the epidermis before applying the color, in a day or so, you will start to streak because the color would have attached itself to the dead skin. I use a few things depending on the condition of my skin - either I do dry brushing or I use the apricot scrub (yes the stuff for the face and NEVER EVER use it on your face!! Use a deeper foundation and bronzer - don't apply tanner as it may clog pores. And if you use acne products-the salicylic acid exfoliates the skin and your color won't hold). Two, is do not apply lotion or oil before applying color - the color won't stick to the skin if you do this. Three, don't apply color to the elbows, knees or ankles if you do thoughs areas will turn a funny orangey-brown. You apply the color to the area above and below and then feather towards these areas. Fourth, the more olive the skin the greener the tanner should be. If you have olive skin, which I do, "Dark Sensation" by Sun works really well. Fifth, is not to over tan - using it every third day should be fine any closer that then you run the risk of the tanner getting too dark but it doesn't get bronzey dark it gets orangey dark and that is what we are not trying to achieve. Always remember to keep the skin moisturized between salt, chlorine and summer heat, your skin will get dried out. And if this happens the skin will flake and it will start to streak. So keep the skin moisturized!!!

Face Facts

A few questions I get in my everyday life is regarding face and makeup products. I will start by saying that I try not to use products that have either animal by-products (which is hard) or have been animal tested (also a bit tricky) ESPECIALLY products that don't cost alot ($50 for a foundation to me is a lot) If you go onto PETA's site CaringConsumers.Com you will find a list of companies. You can search by product (makeup, hair, personal care, ect) and you will get a HUGE list. From this approved list you will see companies that do not test such as: Revlon, Aveda, Bonne Belle, Carmex, CO Bigelow, E.L.F. Cosmetics, ect. So from this list I can purchase economical items without a: going broke and b: still keep my beliefs. Which I see as a win-win. Now let's say that I need an item and there isn't a company approved product - my next thing I look at, is the magic word biodegradable. If I can not save the animals or planet from suffering before the making of the prouct then I can try not to make my actions worsen the state of those in my immediate area. Another words - I can not save what happened from others actions but I can make sure that mine doesn't harm the environment around me. So that's what I do - I own Avon, NY Color and Hard Candy - which stamp their products non animal tested. Or I will make my own and I will share some favorite recipes with you. I wash my face with DDF Glycolic Wash and use Burt Bee's serum. Sure they might not be as good as some other companies but good enough is just fine by me. No animal should ever be harmed in order for me to be able to be "put together"!! *INHALE-EXHALE* I am not a radical vegan or anything just a simple person with a simple idea of protecting those who can not protect themselves. So I try to eat whole foods and cooking from scratch - limiting my box items that have very few ingredients (rice, cereal, oatmeal, almond milk) - and my version of eating out is grabbing taquitos from the frozen section of the store (which I don't do too often*wink*)get my sleep, excercise, enjoy my life, and wear TONS of sunscreen. And from this my skin my might have more hyperpigmentation (sun spots) than I want and I might not be as thin as I would want to be and I so far have no health issues (I don't get sick and all my body parts works) and people always tell me how they think I am 10 years younger ( if I told you my age I would have to kill you and then who will follow me : D)

Now how can anyone test on something so precious is beyond me - I could never look those people in the eye and be ok with what they do.

Purple Grapes!

This weeks color comes from my good friend Frannie K. who lent me her Purple With A Purpose from OPI. As half the world already knows, I am not a fan of dark polish but this one isn't too deep of purple where it looks black. (Thank goodness :p) I do like OPI for its staying power but if you change nail color with every wardrobe change then you might want to invest in a more economical brand BUT if you keep your color for a week (or longer) then OPI should be one of (if not your only) gotta have brand. Ok gotta go and workout now talk to you guys later. B safe. PS the grapes were good : D

Yellow Is The Color Of ....

pretty daisies and my nails. I like the color yellow - I think it is so ... cheery. This is only 1 coat of Sally Hansen's 'Lite'. I got done polishing the first coat and put down the bottle to notice a drip of polish running down the bottle onto my very pretty dark wooden table. : l  I picked up the polish and noticed that the bottle was broken. It is a super shimmery polish and maybe two coats might be a bit much. Stay tuned for the next color - even I'm excited to know what the next color will be. Until then I'll be having fun with my cheery nails.  :)

The New Color Is ........

Green! Since I have a drop of Irish - I thought green would be a great color to celebrate St Patty's Day.

This is Sally Hansen HD Hi-Definition '#04 Hi-Def'. I got this on the cheap with a coupon from Ulta. This is a super shimmery color and it is super fun to wear. I feel like a mermaid.  LOL  On another note the polish I used for the orange did not last I had to re-polish 3xs in 1 week but I did like to color so I think I will get it in a better brand. I'll let you know which one when I decide. Stay tuned for another nail biting post regarding nail color in about 2 weeks. ;p

Orange Crush

If you are a true Denver Bronco fan then you know that the only color that comes after blue is orange. So that is what I went with. I was sooo excited to try orange that as soon as I got off work (9:15pm) I took off to Target looking for the perfect orange and I think I found it. (LOL - I totally forgot that I had this shirt) It is "Cloud 9" by SinfulColors Professional. I do have to say that I am not as self-concious with this color as I was with the blue. Even though to me its a crazy color I think I will wear this one again. But with the blue I did feel a bit free - as in when it started to chip I wasn't running to repolish it, acutally I didn't repolish at all. Maybe because since I felt that it was an unfeminine color it didn't deserve my extra time. Hmm interesting. Well anyhow, stay tuned for my next color. I wonder what it will be.

Blue Blue Days

In my quest to toe outside my small little box - I have been very bold. Are you ready - drum roll - here it is!!

That is right blue little nails and I have been feeling quite silly wearing this polish. I am a pink, blush, nude nailpolish kind of a girl so this is EXTREME for me but I wanted to get out of that mind set, I want to be able to wear the fun spring colors and be ok wearing them.I borrowed this color from my daughter she is the young, hip person with all these crazy colors (yellow, green, blue) the color is from Sally Hansen Calypso Blue and  as a polish it is very good - so far no chipping but the brush is big so it is good for toes but if you don't have a decent nail bed you'll get polish everywhere  ;p I was waiting for someone to say something about it but nobody gave it a second thought but still I have been feeling a little insecure (ok alot insecure) about it - which is why I am still wearing it. To me I just don't feel femine wearing it and there is no need for me to feel this way -to me wild color nailpolish isn't femine but I shouldn't have such a small part of my body define me as a whole. Right?  I LOVE LOVE LOVE the color blue, as you can see by the picture, my phone (the rumor 2 by sprint - it is the cooolest thing ever! and purposeley picked the blue over red/pink) and my sweater (which is my first non-pattern sweater I made it out of Bernat Baby Coordinate in Blue Bon Bon and it is sooo soft) is just a few things that I have that is blue - so why does it bother me so much wearing it as a polish?  Atleast I can say that I am adventuresome enough to have tried it. Geez I don't know if I survive my little torture experiment.