Cosmetic Check-Up

Take this opportunity to check the expiration dates on all your cosmetics and skincare products. Each product has a specific shelf life and using them past their expiration dates is not the best practice. Bacteria can grow quite easily from air getting trapped inside containers. Also using your fingers for application can contribute to contamination.

Skin Care Tips for Winter

Winter is still here and your skin is feeling dry ,uncomfortable, and itchy. What do you do? Here are a few of tips that will help..

Drink Water
Hydrate your skin from within by drinking lots of water. Carry a bottle with you when you go outside. Herbal tea is also great when it’s really cold. Your skin will soon have a healthy glow. So drink up and don’t let your skin go thirsty.

Exfoliate
A good scrub and facial exfoliate can help remove dead skin cells from your body. Add this to your cleansing routine once a week. Not only will you feel fresh but your skin will be free from all that old dry cells.

Oil-Based Moisturizer
This will help protect your skin from moisture loss. Choose one that comes in an ointment form as it will contain 80% oil. Creams and lotions may tend to dry out the skin rather than keep it moisturized and soft.

Gloves
Why expose your hands to the cold. Choose a good quality pair that does not irritate the skin. It will help keep your hands dry and warm.

Oil Bath
Now how does a jojoba oil or sweet almond bath sound to you? You don’t have to keep these for holidays. Nourish you skin by adding a few drops of these oils into your every day bath. It will do wonders for your skin.

We Heart: MAC Stuck on You Longwear Lipcolour

We Heart MAC Cosmetics  Stuck on You Lipcolour! Try this everyday, creamy, long lasting, lipcolour that doesn't smudge or run. Stuck on You is a mixture of frost berry-red and gold-pearl  lipstick. This lipcolour  applies on smooth with just two steps:

-Apply lipcolour
-Flip the stick and apply gloss

We Heart: Sonia Kashuk Makeup Brushes!

The handles of these brushes fit comfortably in your hand and make them easier to hold while you create your look! Retails $10-$15 each at Target.

Lemon & Honey Face Mask

Looking for a natural way to lighten, brighten, and tighten the skin on your face? Well this mask is for you! This natural homemade facemask will leave your skin feeling smooth and looking radiant! The honey in the mask is a natural antibacterial & anti-inflammatory. It absorbs impurities from the pores and skin making the skin more radiant. The lemon component within the mask brightens and exfoliates the skin. It is great for acne prone skin or uneven skin tones! Squeeze 1/2 a lemon into a bowl, add 2 tbsp of honey. Mix it with a spoon until it’s a liquid consistency. Apply it all over a clean face avoiding eye area. Try this mask today, and tell us how it works for you! 

WE HEART: Nivea’s A Kiss of Shine

Say goodbye to chapped lips! Nivea’s A Kiss of Shine with SPF is the perfect soothing moisturizer that your lips will love you for. Retails for $3.99.

WE HEART: Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum helps keep naturally curly or frizzy hair straight and sleek in all kinds of weather. Retails for $15.99.

WE HEART: Biosilk Therapy Serum

We all hate heavy oils and serums. Biosilk Therapy Serum repairs split ends and leaves hair smooth. Retails between $10-$12.

We Heart: Lisa Hoffman Perfume Jewelry

Get your favorite fragrance in jewelry form! They are stackable and come with a closeable detailed casing that holds a fragrance ball inside. Why we love it? The fragrances last longer than any spritz or rollerball perfume, and they are trendy!

We Heart: E.L.F. Mineral Mist

This product is great for those that travel. It is a hydrating mist that you can spray when your face dries out whether it be at the airport or when you are out and about. This product is great for sensitive skin as well. Retails at $8.00!

Quick Tattoo Concealing

Whether you are preparing for an interview or getting ready for your big day, concealing a tattoo can be a pain. If this is your dilemma, here is a quick three-step process to temporarily conceal tattoos that many celebrities use.

(1) Dab a heavier concealer (like Lancôme Maquicomplet Concealer, $27.50) that matches your skin tone over your ink as well as an inch around it.

(2) Then rip a makeup sponge in half (the rough edge diffuses any hard lines), and blot to blend everything in.

(3)  Mist on a spray foundation to make the coverage look seamless and give another layer of camouflage.

(4) Dust on a translucent powder with a big powder brush to set things in place.

Suggested by celeb makeup artist Mary Burton.

We Heart: Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream

Do you have an unwanted dark shadow under your armpit from shaving or rubbing of different fabrics? Well, there is finally a solution to your problem. Ambi Skin Discoloration Fade Cream contains hydroquinone, which brightens skin to get rid of that unwanted dark shadow. Retails for only $5.00 in drugstores.

We Heart: Rain Bath Refreshing Shower and Bath Gel

We heart this product, because of its unique fragrance of spices, fruits and herbs that provide a clean, fresh burst that awakens your senses and refreshes your entire body! This product leaves no residue, and leaves your skin feeling soothingly soft! Retails for $7.99 at Target.

Soft Lip Sacrifice

Do you love lipstick, but struggle with the dryness that can come after? Well here are a few quick tips so you no longer have to sacrifice lip softness for those beautiful lipstick hues you love!

- Apply lip balm  (We suggest Aquaphor Healing Ointment)

 - Blot! – Simply put blotting make lipstick last longer and keep it off your teeth.

- Swipe on Color

When using these tips, try to avoid long wear lipsticks which can be drying, and need to be applied to naked lips.

We Heart: Organix Moroccan Argan Oil

Are your extensions beginning to look dry or dull? The shampoo or conditioner being used on the extensions can cause this lack of luster. We heart Organix Moroccan Argan Oil Products, because they are sulfate free. The sulfate is harsh on the extensions causing the hair to look dry and dull lacking that shine we all love! Try it out! Retails in drugstores starting at $9.99.

                                            Titanium Flat Irons Vs. Ceramic Flat Irons

 Not a stylist, but want a nice flat iron for everyday use? Are you debating which would be most beneficial for your healthy hair? Well here is a quick difference between the two most popular flat irons, and hopefully you find the one that you heart the most!

 Ceramic is a non-metallic, non-corrosive inorganic material that is usually baked onto the iron's aluminum base plates in thin layers, although pure ceramic plates are also available. Ceramic irons are more common than titanium irons, so it's possible to find them in more stores, models and price ranges. Many prefer ceramic, because it provides less heat damage.
                                                                           

     VS. 

 Titanium is a lustrous, low-density, lightweight metal derived from igneous rock, known for its strength and high-temperature stability. Titanium is corrosion resistant, conducts heat more evenly and heats up faster than ceramic. Also, titanium has a higher ionic output than ceramic, leaving hair shinier, according to Misikko.com.

 Price Difference: High quality irons with 100 percent ceramic plates can cost over $300. Many of these high quality irons can be found in stores such as Marshalls or TJ Maxx for a lower price, but same name brand. Titanium irons range typically from $50 to $150, and mini irons, made for travel and short hair are around $30.

 All heat styling products can lead to hair damage if used to frequently. High quality products apply more controlled, and consistent heat to avoid heat damage. Which flat iron do you prefer?

We Heart: Neutrogena Naturals Multi Vitamin Nourishing Night Cream

After a long day out, your face is screaming for hydration! This moisturizing cream is clinically proven to boost skin's defense against dullness and roughness, leaving it naturally radiant, healthier and younger looking today and in the future. Not to mention it smells yummy! Retails between $11-14 in drugstores.                          

Cleanse Down Deeper

Did you know by applying a warm washcloth to your skin and holding it in place for 10 – 15 seconds allows you to cleanse the skin deeper? The warmth allows the skin/ pores to relax and open, so oils and dirt are easily removed. Plus, stimulates circulation with the cells allowing the skin to repair itself.

WE HEART: ISO Edge Stick

New and hot on the hair scene!! We all know, natural hair has become the popular alternative to relaxed hair.  Here is a way to keep your beautiful natural hair healthy without frizzy or course edges. Next to the flat iron and the blow dryer, the edge stick is a must have item in any women’s styling kit! Retails between $70 - $100.

WE HEART:Carol’s Daughter Rosemary Mint Duo

Does hair get extremely oily quickly? You should try this duo from Carol’s Daughter. It detoxifies hair that has been weighed down from oil and dirt buildup. This product revitalizes the hair back to its natural texture. The pair retails for around $25.