Lips & the Face Mask

Are your lips flaky, peeling and beyond dry?

Summer heat and the face masks may be making them dry. But also know RX medicine can trigger dry lips too.

So, what’s a gal to do? 

Today I featured on River City Live on WJXT-4 a few tips on what you can do.

http://www.rivercitylivetv.com

Exfoliate

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

 

• You may feel like a D.I.Y.  that you can whip up yourself with a recipe of white sugar and coconut oil or olive oil. Apply to lips and brush the lips with a babies tooth brush.Rinse well with a warm washcloth.
• OR you can buy one already made like the Farmhouse Fresh Beach Punch.

It FHF  is one of Oprah’s fav’ brands.

• Coconut Oil is a cream and you can rub all across the lips as a quick lip fix just swipe and go. I keep mini travel jars around the house. Celebrities love ❤️ using coconut 🥥 oil.
• Fresh organic honey 🍯 is a natural and wonderful lip 👄mask!
• TLC Vitamin E or C lip conditioners in a tube travel friendly and work wonders too.
• Lip gel or sheet masks from Korea give instant gratification to your lips. All the rage with professional makeup artists and celebrities too.
• DRINK plenty of water 💦 to keep yourself hydrated.
• Try not to lick your lips a lot. It dries out the skin on your lips.
• My mantra and slogan has always been … 💄
• ” A woman without lipstick is like a day without sunshine”. Don’t forget to lift your spirits and do give your lips some sunshine.🌞

 

Enjoy these tips just for the lips!

Please Note:If you are allergic to any of the above ingredients…don’t use them.

 

SUGAR Please!

Happy 1st day of summer!

As the summer begins you want to EXFOLIATE your skin. Dead skin cells mount up on your hands,feet and body and your skin needs a bit of TLC attention. This will also help you get a better even tan. I love doing this before I apply my sunless tanner. Your skin will be smoother and tan faster and more efficiently.

It really WORKS!

Sugar & CITRUS Scrub

2 tablespoons of  white or brown sugar

1 orange zest

1 tablespoon of lemon juice

2 tablespoons of sunflower oil or apricot kernel oil

Mix all of these in a small bowl and on a clean body. I like my body to be slightly damp. Rub in circular motions and slough off your tired looking winter skin. Your skin will turn a little pink and have a flushed look. That’s a good thing. You are bringing blood to the surface and helping circulation.

Rinse well with luke warm washcloth. Next, apply your fave body lotion.

Lemon Love Water

Follow this D.I.Y. treatment by drinking  a half a gallon of water with a slice or two of lemons. Drinking this will eliminate toxins and flush and clean you from the inside.

Sip it throughout your day.

I hope you will enjoy this refreshing skin loving treat,be more hydrated and kiss your dull skin…GOODBYE!

Sugar,Sugar

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LEMON LOVE!

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Blackheads are rearing their ugly heads…

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Once they come to the surface. That is why they call them blackheads the dreaded  clogged pore! 

Sometimes blackheads come from an over worked sebaceous gland. Not washing your face good enough at night and more.

Here is my go to D.I.Y. recipe for telling them goodbye!

2 teaspoons of cornmeal (I grind it fine in my coffee grinder)

1 teaspoon of Chinese or any other clay mask powder

1 teaspoon of lemon juice

2 teaspoons of plain yogurt (I prefer Greek)

Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

Mix all of the above in a bowl. Let it rest. The cornmeal will get creamy and the clay will soften together. Stir and apply the mix on a wet face that you FIRST splashed with water. Apply to your face with a clean MASK brush or your fingers. Stay away from your eye area. I like to focus my attention to the T-zone or wear there may be a stubborn blackhead. Rinse with warm water and your fav’ cleanser and rinse again.

Photo by Dominika Roseclay on Pexels.com

Your face will look better,skin tighter and the blackhead be gone (fingers crossed).

Do you have a mask or scrub you use that you’d like to share with me? I would LOVE to hear from you.

My beauty and lifestyle blog is a two sided relationship!

😍

PS

I like to keep all kinds of spices,sugars, flours and cormeal at my fingertips in my pantry for beauty.

Is your lipstick making your lips DRY?

Beauty has had an explosion of  lip stains,three application and product steps and other matte and drying lipsticks. Just remember not all lip stains are created equal and some seem to make lips dry no matter what. Since I have an addiction for lipsticks and all things lips I have had my share of testing,tasting and applying all kinds and brands of lipsticks.

Here is a recipe for a pretty amazing sugary delight for your lips! 

1 cup white sugar

½ cup coconut oil

6 drops of lemon essential oil or less

*Make it fun and add a few drops of pink food coloring or even Kool-aid!

Apply to freshly washed wet lips and go back in forth with your pinkie. Leave on at least 10 minutes. You’ll want to eat it but don’t. Instead fill this in a small jam jar or whatever little glass jar you may have.

Rinse with lukewarm water and a washcloth. Next apply your fave lip balm.

I love recycling and re-purposing  jars and other cute containers. It is so chic to be green. This recipe will make a few jars. This recipe may be used on your lips or your daughters or granddaughters lips.  Shelf life in refrigerator is a few weeks.

Don’t let the summer get away until you’ve tried this pink and lemony skin softening delight.

 

Photo by Rodolfo Clix on Pexels.com

Kitchen Beauty

Friday on a pop culture and entertainment show here in sunny Florida called River City Live TV I shared some of my signature beauty secrets from the kitchen or your own backyard. I thought you would enjoy them!

Make a facial steam bath…to open up your pores and sweat!

Your skin will love it. Make a pot of tea water…fill a glass bowl with some of that hot water.Rub herbs in palm of your hand a bit.Place sprigs of rosemary OR fresh spearmint inside the bowl of steamy water. Allow time for it to float and infuse the aromatics from the herb.  You can also try this D.I.Y. with other fresh herbs from your fridge or garden. Place your face near the bowl and let the steam (not water) hit your face.Do this for at least 5 minutes. Rinse your face well and use your fav’ face toner and a light moisturizer next.

In a pinch and don’t have any facial scrub at home?

Try using cornmeal from your pantry!

Take a spoonful and place in a little dish. Add some water. Make a little liquid  grain like paste. Apply on a clean face and work in gentle circular motions. Stay away from your eyes and lips. Leave on for a couple of minutes and rub again gently. I like to do this on my T-zone. Rinse well and follow up with your facial toner.This is not only great for the pores but also great for dry flaky skin as a natural exfoliant.

Got stress?

A kitchen rolling pin isn’t just for baking darlings…Get it out and have your sweetie release the stress on your back and or back of legs. Use with gentle strokes.It really does wonders. Use a dash of olive or sunflower oil for some massage oil slip (like massage therapists use). I like it better than on dry skin. When you can’t see your massage therapist this works!

Roses aren’t just good to decorate your house with they also make a floral delight for your eyes. In place of cucumbers a rose petal has soft hydrating properties. They say ancient Chinese royalty loved to do this. I prefer organic roses. All you do is take a petal and place one on each side. Rest your eyes and listen to some music or enjoy the quiet in the room.Now, remove the petals and enjoy softer skin.

I LOVE making fruit or vegetable infused water.…and drink it all day. Better than coffee or sodas and they quench your thirst and make your skin happy too. On TV I showed the viewers how to make a personal bottle of this water. I found an adorable glass with a straw built in and keep it on my desk or work area.

1 container or large pitcher of spring water

1 fresh organic kiwi sliced

1 sprig of  fresh mint

ANOTHER version simply add wedges of oranges.

Allow them to set in pitcher for at least an hour or more. This lets the above make love together and makes the water taste great. Enjoy!

*Drink at room temperature. That’s what a lot of doctors say is best to do. Not ice cold.

Remember my philosophy is not all things have to come from a store…making it yourself is fun and kinda therapeutic. I hope you’ll let me know of any ideas or recipes you like to do too! I LOVE hearing from you.

xoxo

 

 

Pumpkin Pie Holiday

I know you love pumpkin! We cannot seem to get enough of it.

Coffee,beer,muffins,bread,pie and more.So here is another one of my recipes for a my pumpkin pie body scrub in a jar. Pumpkin puree contains beta-carotene and anti-0xidants,brown sugar helps remove dead skin. Olive oil and a vitamin E pill (prick and squeeze out the oil) and OR use oil by the bottle add even more of the moisturizing your skin bliss.

1 can pumpkin puree (you’ll need 1/4 cup) Go for the real thing.

2  cups of brown sugar

2 tsp. olive oil or jojoba

optional:1 tsp. vitamin E oil

1/4 or 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice (this will make the body scrub even more luscious and have the aroma of cinnamon,nutmeg and cloves). I like to sprinkle this on top!

Stir this all together and you will have an amazing scrumptious body scrub and wonderful for your heels too! It is like a pumpkin pie slathered over your body!

I like to make gifts in jelly jars for myself or someone else!

Add a mini spoon,bow,love note and you’re good to go.

Nice stocking stuffer or hostess gift add a pumpkin pie or a bottle of sangria to your gift and who ever you give it to will really love you.

Play and see what you come up with. I’d love to hear from you on any D.I.Y. recipes you might whip up and love too!

 

 

 

 

HELLO, Beauty!

The Easter bunny is coming early and hopping your way with these awesome beauty samples and finds! As a makeup artist and skin care therapist I can never get enough beauty!How about you?

BEAUTY HAPPENING…A BEAUTY EVENT week and a beauty bag.

A limited-edition Hello Beauty cotton cosmetic bag – An incredible retail value of $80+ will be sold in Whole Foods Market locations for a scrumptious price of ONLY $15 –

It will be filled with some NEW… …spring essentials you need, including:

• Hauschka Soothing Cleansing Milk .34 oz
• dermae Purifying 2-in-1 Charcoal Mask .5 oz
• Acure Pore Minimizing Facial Scrub 1 oz
• evanhealy Rose Geranium Facial Toner HydroSoul 1 oz
• Trilogy Rosehip Oil Antioxidant + 10 ml
• MyChelle Perfect C Serum .17 oz
• Mineral Fusion Lash Curling Mineral Mascara (Gravity) .57 oz
• Burt’s Bees Sunset Cruise Lip Stick .12 oz
• Weleda Skin Food .34 oz

Just a heads up girls…they won’t last until  the weekend…

They are while supplies last!

It is going to be a beautiful week once you own yours!

Who doesn’t love an awesome deal and save money too~

 

Natural, Vegan,Gluten Free and oh so heavenly!

I think it is important to take care of yourself.

I know it takes time and you might be giving a sigh or whine but I personally really try to practice it daily. I recommend you do it too. IF you only have a few minutes to yourself.Sip a cup of soothing hot tea or a glass of wine and enjoy five to 10 minutes to exfoliate,hydrate and oh so much more.

ME TIME! This scrub is on OPRAH’S FAVE sea salt SCRUB on her O -List .

It is 95% natural,Vegan and Gluten Free. It is not greasy and rich with vitamin E rice bran oil. Apply it to your hands,body and feet and give yourself a treat.NOT to be used on your face. This is a salty exfoliating sea salt treat not meant for your delicate complexion.You apply it before you shower or bathe and rub on a DRY body in small circles with your hand or a sponge. Then you rinse it off after it has done the skin softening and exfoliating magic.The honey and lavender additions in the scrub take it to another heavenly level!!!

So RELAXING to use and the scent makes me swoon…You gotta try it.

If you’ve got the thyme!

My weekend when not guest speaking out of town or painting a sports celebrities face is spent not only working in my makeup studio painting pretty faces and spirits but also stirring up some beauty.

I had some left over thyme from a chicken recipe I cooked for my husband and was in a lemony mood.

So here is what I whipped up…A YUMMY SCENTED and fabulous exfoliating hand and body scrub!

1/4 cup of coconut oil (can’t get enough of it) Whole Foods brand

1/4 cup Greek olive oil

1 cup of granulated sugar

1 dash of lemon essential oil (Auracacia brand)

1 sprig of thyme

Stir them all together with a whisk OR a portable hand mixer/blender. Creamy and sugar with a lemon scent twist.

After this was all done. I sprinkled the mixture with a few torn pieces of thyme.  The herb thyme has benefits but I LOVE the way it looked in the scrub.

I poured from a bowl into empty jam jars.(recycle your jam jars or buy and fill Ball brand jars)

Add a mini wooden spoon and you have a sweet exfoliating gift for yourself or someone else.

Something to do over these cold wintry months and take care of your skin too.

Enjoy this from a beauty who is a true foodie. Oops almost forgot I added the zest of lemon on top of the jar before I put the lid on and shook it back and forth.

D.I.Y. dahling!

Tips Before You KISS Under that Mistletoe!

Getting ready to kiss tonight? Guys and Gals …Make sure it works out right.

Prep your lips for kissing with my sweet recipe!

• Wash your lips with a warm washcloth.
• Use a Honey & Almond scrub that you can find in the store. Or D.I.Y. and make one.if you don’t have the ingredients. Run your lips with organic brown sugar and coconut oil.Rub on your lips back and forth with your finger and leave on at least 3 minutes. Rinse well.
• Brush your teeth with Supersmile toothpaste (A celebrity fave) or any other whitening toothpaste.
• Floss your teeth yes floss and brush your tongue with a soft tooth brush.Bacteria does the Cha Cha on your tongue throughout the day.Keep your breath and gums fresh.You wanna be kissed and kissable don’t you?
• Guys: Place a lip conditioner or lip balm on your lips guys. Hours before kissing so it starts to make your lips softer and look good.
• Gals: If you want to kick it up a notch.Don’t just do a lip balm WEAR SOME COLOR.

Paint the town red. Bring out your sexiest outfit even if it is blue jeans and a sexy sparkly top.

You’re ready to toast the new year Hello and kiss under the Kisstletoe!

This is a unisex recipe.My husband loves it too.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!