Beauty

Have you heard claims like this before? Sure. Are they easy to predict? Not really – there are too many tips. Indeed, it’s hard to keep up with them all as there are so many. Trying to keep your skin fresher, moister, tighter and younger, then, is by no means a walk in the park.

Sadly, the only one who suffers is you as your skin begins to show the signs of aging. In this case, there are four escape plans that some may call the greatest they have ever heard. While the jury is still out, why don’t you make up your mind?

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1: Something Over Nothing

Thanks to excellent marketing by the top firms, the majority of us assume only a handful of lotions work. Hint: it’s the ones with the top-secret ingredient, right? Wrong. On the whole, pretty much every cream or lotion helps the skin to stay young and healthy as long as it contains a handful of elements.

The Allure site says they include everything from glycerin to shea butter. As long as it has hydrating qualities, the moisturizer will help the skin to recover or to maintain. So, that tiny, complimentary tube in the hotel bathroom isn’t a waste of space.

2: It’s Always Sunny In…

Every state in every town and city in the country. Yep, even when it isn’t sunny, the sun is shining and it’s an important fact to keep in mind. We all know about UVB light as they are the rays which induce tanning. However, another form of radiation exists, and it’s known as UVA.

The Skin Cancer Foundation site has detailed info if you want to learn more. What sets the latter one apart is its ability to blast through windows, cloud cover, and anything which isn’t a sturdy material. As it has cancer-properties, it can turn the skin a yellowish color. Therefore, always use a protector even when the sun seems to have on its hat.

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3: Look Good, Feel Good

Let’s face it – people are judgmental. So, as soon as they hear that you are considering cosmetic surgery, the rumors will begin to flow. Normally, it’s enough for the average person to give in to the peer pressure and stick to the natural methods of anti-aging.

Although organic is great, some cosmetic surgery techniques are also worth considering. Take a quick glance at the James Christian Cosmetics website and you’ll see that they are fast and non-invasive in lots of circumstances. Look, they may be a bad option, but you should check out the pros and cons and come to an informed decision rather than listening to the gossip.

4: Small Mercies

The little details are easy to gloss over as they don’t seem as if they can make a difference. Come on – what’s wrong with drinking from a plastic bottle? Well, the experts say the constant pouting and face-pulling helps to develop lines around the mouth. A top tip is to use glass or buy a bottle with a spout and drink H2O the Indian way.

How does the above gauge on the scale of the best skincare tips you’ve ever heard?

The way that you look has a big impact on the way that you feel and even though it isn’t the most important thing, changing things up from time to time can give you a little boost. When you’ve been wearing the same clothes and hairstyle for years, it can be indicative of a wider rut in your life as a whole.

By reinventing yourself you can completely change your outlook on life and make a new start. You might be reluctant to do that because it means buying a whole new wardrobe and getting an expensive haircut but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of small, cheap changes that you can make that will change your look without breaking the bank.

Change Your Parting

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Most people never consider just how different your hair will look if you change your parting but it makes a huge difference. You’re probably parting your hair the same way that you have done for years, but if you switch it up, all of the layers in your hair will fall differently, giving you a completely new style. It’s also a great way to deal with fine, flat hair.

It’s difficult to get any volume in your hair if it’s particularly fine but you can easily sort that problem with a deep side parting. It’ll put a lot of lift into one side of your hair, giving you a lot more body than usual. A clever tip is to do your parting without a comb.

Instead of creating a fine line, just tilt your head to one side and draw the hair over with your fingers before flicking it back, you’ll have a great new hairstyle in no time, without spending loads on an expensive salon.

Crimping

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If you’re fed up with straight hair you could consider going curly but it’s time-consuming to do yourself and pretty expensive to do at a salon. That’s why crimped hairstyles are so popular at the minute. If you get the best hair crimpers, you can easily do it yourself at home. It’s pretty low maintenance compared to curling and it’s very on-trend at the moment.

New Accessories

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Buying a whole new wardrobe is pretty costly but you can turn your existing outfits into something new with a little clever accessorizing. Hair accessories are a great way to jazz up your style without going to get an expensive haircut. Putting a couple of ribbons or a bow in your hair will make it look fresh in no time, it’s the perfect way to inject a bit of your personality into your fashion without spending a lot of money to do it.

Adding a few items of jewelry is a great way to add to a look in a subtle way. Make sure to check out places like the Dallas jewelry store for beautiful pieces that will be treasured for a lifetime. 

Jewelry is a must-have for anyone looking to vamp up their look. If you’ve not got much to show for when it comes to jewelry, go treat yourself.

You can also add a lot of accessories to your outfits as well so instead of buying a load of new tops, just add some layered necklaces to them and you’ll have a completely new outfit. Adding a belt to a dress breaks it up and makes the fit a lot different.

Put a cardigan over the top and you’ve suddenly created two new outfits for just a couple of dollars. If you are going to spend a little money on your new look, buying some great shoes or a new bag can inject a bit of life into some dull old outfits.

You’ve got to be careful with accessorizing though, it’s easy to take it too far. If you’re wearing a fairly plain outfit you can afford to use a few more accessories but if the outfit already has pretty bold designs on, too many accessories can make it look a bit too messy. Experiment with different combinations and you’ll be able to find a good balance.

Buy Second Hand

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Filling your wardrobe with a load of brand-new stuff doesn’t need to be expensive if you buy second-hand. Vintage clothes are very on-trend at the minute so you can look stylish and save yourself a lot of money at the same time. There are plenty of thrift stores all over the place that is absolute goldmines. It takes a bit of searching to find good stuff in the right size but it’s worth it in the end.

Change Your Skin Routine

It’s difficult to keep up with a good skin routine when you’re leading a busy life but it makes a big difference to how you look and feel. Maintaining good skin care makes your face look brighter and healthier which goes a long way toward revitalizing your look.

If you’re struggling to find the time to fit a skincare routine in, there are plenty of quick tips you can use. Dark circles around the eyes are one of the biggest problems that you’ll have but you don’t need expensive eye creams to sort them out. Sleeping on a thinner pillow reduces bags because when your head is elevated, you get a buildup of fluid under the eye, by lowering your head a little, you can combat gravity and stop that from happening.

Taking ten seconds to give your eyes a quick message when you apply creams also helps. Another great tip is to soak green tea bags in water and freeze them, then apply them to your eyes for ten seconds every morning.

A good skincare routine doesn’t have to take hours every morning, just use some of these simple tricks and you can cut it down to just a few minutes.

Bold Makeup

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The easiest way to change things up is to make a couple of bold changes and makeup is the best way to do it. If you usually go for a fairly pale shade of lipstick or mascara, why not try something a bit darker and more colorful? It’s only a minor change that won’t cost you a lot but it makes a massive difference. Try experimenting with different makeup choices and you can completely reinvent yourself in no time.

People often stick with the same old look for years because they’re unsure what choices to make and they’re worried about the cost of buying a whole new wardrobe but that’s not necessary.

This shop has been compensated by Schwarzkopf. #HolidayHairCare #sponsored

I believe that everything should have a little extra sparkle and shine during the holiday season. Especially your hair! Because nothing quite sets off a fabulous frock like a funky new do! If you’d like to give your lovely locks a holiday refresher, here are 5 tips to get you started:

Tip 1: Refresh your hair color:

A few days before the start of the holiday season, I make sure to refresh my look with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color. Its one of my biggest secrets to helping me get ready for the holiday season! 

And when it comes to picking the right shade of hair color, a general rule of thumbs is to pick a shade no more than two hues lighter or darker than your natural brow color. This helps your color blend in with your skin tone. Helping your hair appear healthy with added dimension and shine. 

Now, if you’d like a more show-stopping look, try something in the Auburn family. It’s my husband’s favorite shade and you’ll wow the crowds for sure! Here’s how I step-by-step use Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color to treat my hair at home:

Step 1: Remove the contents of the box. Making sure that you have all the supplies to color your hair. Then determine your coloring needs. If you’ve colored your hair in the last season, follow the instructions listed for touching up your hair. If you have virgin hair or hair that’s not been treated in 6 months or longer, follow the instructions for full head coloring. I used the direction indicated for full head coloring. 

Step 2: Open the directions packet. There you’ll find your colorist gloves inside. Put them on to protect your hands during application.

Step 3: Twist off the Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color pre-treatment cap and squeeze some into your gloved hand. Apply to the dry ends of your hair. This pre-treatment is to prevent breakage and has the added benefit of helping to ensure your color is absorbed evenly throughout your hair.

Step 4: Break the Creme color seal. Squeeze the contents of the color Creme into the application bottle. Making sure to twist the cap off of the application bottle first.

Step 5: While holding a gloved finger over the top of the bottle, shake your applicator bottle to combine.

Step 6: Create a part through the center of your head. Squeeze a line of the Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color directly down the part and then smooth out your color with gloved fingers. Continue parting your hair into 1/2″ sections and applying color in the same way. Color all of your roots. 

Step 7: Allow your color to sit on your roots for 20 minutes. 

Step 8: After 20 minutes, apply Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color to the remainder of your hair. Squeezing the color down the shaft until you reach your ends. Then let your color sit on for an additional 10 minutes. And don’t fret, because Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color is low odor thanks to their advanced ammonia control technology. Thankfully, your house won’t smell of a hair salon while you wait! 

Step 9: After your color is finished processing, using your colorist gloves, give your hair a final scalp massage to loosen your color and then rinse your hair. It is easiest for me to do this in the shower, but sink sprayers work well too! Rinse out your color thoroughly.

Step 10: Finish your color by applying a generous amount of the Keratin Care Complex Conditioner tube onto your hair. Working from the ends up to your roots. This helps moisturize your roots and keep your scalp and crown from being overly flat while styling! Leave this on your hair for 2 minutes and then rinse thoroughly. Then dry and style your hair as desired! 

Here is my finished color. Perfect for the holiday season! Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color leaves my hair super shiny and soft. Plus, it provides 100% gray coverage with intense, vibrant color. A must for curly girls in our early 30’s!

For my latest coloring, I chose the color Bordeaux Red. This shade gives my naturally dark blonde hair, with some early signs of greying, a more vibrant, youthful look. The darker Auburn shade beautifully compliments my face and makes me feel positively radiant!

I pick up my Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color on the Hair Color aisle at Walmart. The next time your in-store, grab a box for yourself too! Currently, there is also a Try Me Free Rebate to get your hair color for free after rebate!

If amazing looking hair color wasn’t enough, Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color is a partner of support for Dress for Success®, Dress for Success®, an organization that helps women beat the cycle of poverty by entering the workforce looking their personal best, and have pledged a contribution of $125,000 to this amazing cause. Learn more at Dressforsuccess.org. Because upward mobility and a successful workplace interview start with a successful self-care routine!

Tip 2: Deep condition your hair bi-weekly. Deep conditioning masks help deeply penetrate your hair with moisture and promote growth, moisture, and luster. Essential for curls, as our spirals are prone to drying out. A simple 20-minute mask of half a mashed up banana, 1/8 cup organic agave, and 1/2 cup organic coconut sugar will do wonders for keeping your hair looking its best! 

Tip 3: Trim Your Ends. Keeping your hair regularly trimmed is a cardinal rule for any curly girl. Colder temperatures can cause hair to become dry and brittle which can lead to breakage and split ends. Trimming your hair can greatly reduce breakage and help prolong the look of your style. I have my ends trimmed at the start of each season with a professional trim.

Tip 4: Eat & Drink Healthy. As the old adage goes, you are what you eat. That includes your curls! Eating well-balanced meals, heavy in plant-based nutrients, will help to provide your curls with the essential nutrients your hair needs to increase growth, promoting shine, and stay moisturized and healthy. This also includes drinking water! Eight 8-ounce glasses of water are sufficient, but when it comes to moisturizing your curls at home, the more the better! 

Tip 5: Change how you wash your curls. During the colder months, consider co-washing your curls. Co-washing, or washing your hair with only conditioner, will give your hair a gentle cleanse without totally stripping and drying the hair of essential natural oils. Because most shampoos and conditioners contain trace amounts of detergents called surfactants, that when mixed with water, wash away dirt, conditioner can cleanse your hair without stripping essential natural oils from your hair and scalp. If you’re not a fan of co-washing, make sure you use a good moisturizing shampoo instead. 

A quick tip: Co-wash your curls from the ends to the roots. This allows your ends to be extra conditioned and your scalp to not be overly dry!

Tip 6: Plop Your Curls. Looking for a way to decrease the drying time of your hair? Then plopping is for you! Plopping involves putting your hair up in a cloth, which encourages your natural curls to dry without them losing their spiral shape. To plop your hair, you begin by washing or c-washing your curls. Then apply any leave-ins or styling products, as needed. Then bend over and place your curls into a cloth or turban. Position your curls within the cloth, pressing your curls into the cloth. Finally, securing your plopped hair with a button or bobby pin. Then just wait for your hair to dry. After 30-60 minutes, remove your towel and diffuse to separate curls, if needed. Then, rock those curls!

Looking for an easy DIY Plopping Towel? Here’s a quick pattern for you to try:

Materials:

Cotton yarn skein (around 240 yards)
Size G Crochet Hook 
Elastic Band 

Pattern Terms:

Ch = Chain
HDC = Half Double Crochet
Hdc2tog = Half Double Crochet Two Together

Pattern:

Side 1:

Row 1: Ch 10, hdc in 2nd ch from hook and in each across. Ch-1, turn.
Rows 2-18: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 19: hdc in first 8, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 20: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 21: hdc in first 9, 2hdc in stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 22: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 23: hdc in first 10, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 24: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 25: hdc in first 11, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 26: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 27: hdc in first 12, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 28: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 29: hdc in first 13 stitched, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn. 
Row 30: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 31: hdc in first 14 stitched, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 32: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 33: hdc in first 15 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 34: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 35: hdc in first 16 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 36: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 37: hdc in first 17 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 38: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 39: hdc in first 18 stitches, 2hdc in last. Ch-1, turn.
Row 40: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 41: hdc in first 19 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 42: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 43: hdc in first 20 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 44: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 45: hdc in first 21 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 46: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 47: hdc in first 22 stitches, 2hdc into the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 48: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 49: hdc in first 23 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 50: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 51: hdc in first 24 stitches, 2hdc in last. Ch-1, turn.
Row 52: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 53: hdc in first 25 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Row 54: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 55: hdc in first 26 stitches, 2hdc in the last stitch. Ch-1, turn.
Rows 56 – 63: hdc in each stitch across. Ch-1, turn.
Row 64: hdc2tog, hdc in next 26 stitches. Ch-1, turn.
Row 65: hdc in first 25 stitches, hdc2tog. Ch-1, turn.
Row 66: hdc2tog, hdc in next 24 stitches. Ch-1, turn.
Row 67: hdc in first 23 stitches, hdc2tog. Ch-1, turn.
Row 68: hdc2tog, hdc in next 22 stitches. Ch-1, turn.
Row 69: hdc in first 21 stitches, hdc2tog. Ch-1, turn.
Row 70: hdc2tog, hdc in next 20 stitches. Fasten off, weave in ends on your first side.

Side two: Repeat Steps from Side 1. 

Creating your towel:

Lay the two pieces together and line them up. You’ll slip stitch around your seems with a single crochet border. Then flip your towel inside out and stitch a single stitch from the inside of the towel out to secure your elastic band to your towel. This will help you to secure your towel to your hair while your hair is inside.

To use the towel, place on your head, with the larger side cradling the crown on your head and your elastic band facing away from your face. Then gather your hair in the towel with your ends positioned into the towel end of your towel. Then gather your hair together by gently twisting your ends backward, towards the back of your head and secure inside the elastic band.

This pattern works up pretty quickly and would make a great holiday gift-giving idea for other curly girls on your list this year!

So, those are my top 5 tips for caring for your curls this winter. Give them a try! Be sure to also visit Schwarzkopf® to see what shade you will pick to color your own hair at home, product information, and even more curly hair styling tips too! You can also check out my other natural beauty and hair care tips here!

Friends, now I want to ask, do you plan to refresh your look this holiday season? And if so, what shade of Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color will you be going with? I’d love to hear about it below!

Connect with Schwarzkopf® Keratin Color:

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Connect with Dress for Success®:

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Please note: I received products courtesy of Jan Marini Skin Research and BrandBacker.com to facilitate this post. All opinions and experience are my own. This blog’s full disclosure notice can be seen here. Thank you.

Acne. I’ve been plagued by this skin scourge for as long as I can remember. First as a teenager, with a family history of acne, and then as an adult with adult acne brought about by my hormone-based, PCOS symptoms. Which is why maintaining a proper skincare routine is so important to me. 

But in having a great skincare routine one needs to buy the right products for their skin. Which has always been difficult for me as I have oily and combination skin, meaning my skin has been giving me a run for my money for as acne-prone skin pretty much since I can remember? So I’ve been very careful and diligent about taking care of my skin.  

When I heard about Jan Marini’s papaya mask and cleanser, I was definitely curious. I’ve heard about the exfoliating and skin-brightening effects of papaya before but wasn’t sure what it could do for my adult acne, so I decided to try it out. Because as anyone with adult acne will tell you, it can be extremely frustrating finding products that actually work. so I was excited to see if the Clean Zyme and Skin Zyme would be my new skin-clearing routine blessing.

Why Papaya-based skin products may be able to help you:

Skincare products rich in non-GMO papaya extracts not only cleanse the skin but can also rejuvenate the skin by way of enzymes that exfoliate your skin while providing your face a glowing complexion.

As papaya is also loaded with vitamin A, more specifically, the enzyme papain, which acts to break down inactive proteins in the skin. This enzyme also helps to eliminate dead skin cells, can help repair cuts and abrasions, smoothing aging skin, and can help plump skin cells. A tall order from a simple fruit!

About the products: 

Is there anything more lavish than a good tin of cuticle oil? The way it feels on the nails is second to none. You may also not know how super simple it is to make your own all natural version at home, but what’s even better is that cuticle oil tins make for a fun and frugal stocking stuffer or last minute holiday gifts as well. 

I always like to give away DIY cuticle oil each holiday season as I can make them not only in advance but for under three dollars I can prepare a dozen tins and give the gift of being pampered to in my life that needs it the most!

This is also an awesome zero waste project as the tins themselves are made from recycled Altoids boxes. This project is just a win-win all around.

Here’s how you can make your own giftable DIY All-Natural Cuticle Oil Tins too:

Isn’t that super simple to make? Now if you are considering giving cuticle oil tins this holiday season be sure to also give your recipient an orange stick, file, in a small pouch, for a holiday manicure kit, to go along with your tins as well. Also, be sure to pin the above instruction for reference later while making these awesome cuticle oil tins! 

Here’s to the holidays,