Friday, June 13, 2014

DIY Cocoa Powder Bronzer or Self tanner


Thanks to the Morning Blend for inviting me on the show today to talk a little more about some beach beauty secrets! One DIY tip we explored was using Cocoa powder as a bronzer. This little trick has been getting a lot of hype lately and it's super easy to do, but does it really work?

Here is a post that has pretty much gone viral on Pinterest showing a before and after photo which appears pretty promising. Just mix 2 Tablespoons of cocoa powder with your favorite lotion and apply evenly for these results:


However, this photo seems to be the exception rather than the rule of what real life results are likely to be.

Case in point below appears to be more of a pudding like-mess. 


The cocoa powder/lotion bronzer will work - but it will not last long if you sweat and it will transfer easily on your clothes or anything that you happen to have skin contact with. Fun but not very practical! Would love to hear what sort of results some of you have experienced.

DIY Seaweed Mask for Hair and Face

Next time you are at the beach - instead of running away from the seaweed that's washed ashore, try using it to your beauty advantage. Spas love seaweed for baths and beauty treatments because it is rich in vitamins B-1. B-2, B-3, B-6 and B-12, a natural anti-inflammatory. Seaweed can also help restore the moisture levels to your skin. If you can't get the beach - no worries, just pick up some dry seaweed and make your own hair and face mask for a fraction of the price. 


If you are using dried seaweed just crumble it up - You need at least 2 Tablespoons, but I like to use at least double that. One of the wonderful things about making this mask yourself is that you aren't limited to a small amount of seaweed's and it's benefits. I feel like in most of the products you buy at the store, the amount of seaweed in their seaweed masks is not very significant, in fact it is often one of the last ingredients listed or it they will use seaweed extract instead. The cost of most of these products increases depending on the amount of seaweed used.






Next you will want to add 1-2 Tablespoons of water to mix into a thick paste. I like to use rose water but plain tap water is fine. You can use any type of blender for this but I find the hand blender is best.




Blend in: 
1 whole Avocado
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Tablespoon Yogart
Optional: 1 Tablespoon of Honey (This acts as a preservative)



FINAL product will look like this. You should apply this to your face and/or hair to help restore moisture levels. Leave it on for about 20 minutes before rinsing it off.



Thursday, June 12, 2014

Summer Beach Beauty Secrets as seen on Arizona Midday with Beauty Expert Shelley Goodstein



This week I chatted with Arizona Midday about how to create a spa experience at the beach. And if you can't get to away - I've got you covered  with these DIY recipes you can make at home. 

The beauty benefits from sand, seaweed and sea water offer big payoffs! Watch below.


Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Newest beauty craze hits the US - Sleeping Masks

One of the hottest new categories in the beauty world comes from straight from Asia. It's called a sleeping mask and not the satin kind you wear over your eyes to keep the light out. 

It's important that we help our skin repair and renew itself at night when we save it from the sun and the elements. Also when we sleep our body temperature rises causing dehydration. These new sleeping masks are products designed to use at bedtime after your regular moisturizer.


One of the most popular Laneige Water Sleeping Mask, reported sold in Asia every 15 seconds, is now available at Target for just $23, that is if you can get your hands on one because the stores are selling out as fast as they can get them in! It's not a heavy creme like I expected, instead it's a light blue gel that goes on very sheer and smells great. It reportedly leaves your skin brighter and more hydrated. I am already a big fan!


The other Sleeping Mask I am obsessed with is from UK brand James Read and is called their Sleep Mask Tan. Love this gel moisturizer too at nighttime because it contains a small amount of self tanner - enough so that you wake up looking like you've just been dusted with a bit of bronzer. 

Wake up More Beautiful with These Beauty Secrets!



We all wish we could live in the fairy tale world filled with 8 solid hours of Beauty Sleep, but when you can't get your zzzzzzz's you might try using some of these tricks that I shared yesterday on Arizona Midday about how look Prettier in the Morning.