DIY Lip Exfoliation & Lip Plumping Bonus | Tip Off Tuesday

 
To keep your lips looking lush you can purchase lip exfoliation sets or even get lip treatments at your salon but to smooth your lips at home all you need is a toothbrush and a great lip moisturizer for this DIY beauty routine.


Gently brush your lips in circular motion with a wet toothbrush, do this until the flakes have fallen off and the dry areas are smooth.  Next wipe clean and apply a good quality lip product to moisturize.
Bonus alert!  Lips appear fuller after lip exfoliation.  This DIY treatment pulls double duty as a problem solver and lip plumper.

DIY Sea Salt Spray | For Beachy Hair Waves

• 4 tsp sea salt
• 1 T hair gel
• 8 oz  water
• 1/2 tsp conditioner or serum
• spray bottle - use an empty one, save your dollar, they add up I swear.  Plus you know that reducing and reusing is even better than recycling. 

I adapted this recipe from the girls blogging at Glamour.   For dry hair use less sea salt, if you hair tends to be oily this spray actually keeps it to a minimum a little longer because the salt is somewhat drying.  After I spray my damp hair with the beach wave spray I use the no heat wave method on a few sections of hair to give a few waves more definition.

Catch up with the entire Summer Beauty Series here.

Follow @amariebeauty

How to Protect your Hair from Pool Water | A Free DIY

To protect your hair from all the chemicals in pool water and prevent swimmers hair try a do it yourself spray on hair protector.

If you get into the pool with dry hair your hair soaks up the water and chemical treatments in the pool.  Preventing that is simple.  Don't get in with dry hair.  Wet your hair with a spray made of 10 parts water to 1 part conditioner.  Having your hair already wet means the water doesn't absorb right in to your hair and the conditioner is an extra shield of protection.

This is great to stash for the kids near the pool or in the beach bag to go.

Read more posts from the Summer Beauty Series.  Later in the series we are making another DIY hair spray for summer.

DIY a Pro Pedicure at Home | How To

Sandal season is here so it's time to up your pedicure game.  Save $30. this week and do it yourself with these tips from the spa.

Of course your toes are not going to look as polished at home if you just whip out a quick polish change.  There is a method to the pro magic.  Follow these steps to get top notch results and save hundreds of dollars a year.

Do It Yourself Pedicure by amariebeauty featuring The Body Shop beauty products
1. Soak feet for about 5 minutes in a foot soak.
2. Remove old polish.
3. Clip, file and clean toe nails. 
4. Massage in foot scrub, rinse well in your soak tub.
5. Treat any callus at this time, use a callus softener then file in a circular motion using a foot file or pumice stone.  A product with Alpha Hydroxy Acid helps slough off the outer layer of dead skin making it a prime ingredient for callus softening.  Salicylic acid is easily found in acne treatment gels, that is what I use with much success. 
6. Push back cuticles, then brush the nail bed with a wet nail brush.
7. Apply lotion.
8. Clean nails with polish remover, this removes the lotion from the nail to insure the polish will adhere for longest wear.
9. Apply base coat,2 coats of color and a top coat.  Wait one minute between coats.
10. Allow polish to sit and spray with a quick dry spray (optional).

This is post 2 of the Summer Beauty Series.  Read the intro and post 2, SPF for Lips.

DIY Eye Makeup Remover Pads

Supply List
1/2 T baby wash
1 T grapeseed oil
6 oz water
cotton rounds
container with lid

• Mix the baby wash, grapeseed oil and water together.  It will sud slightly, much like a bottle you can buy in stores. 
• Place cotton rounds in container and slowly pour the mixture on top of the cotton rounds and let it absorb through the stack.
• Make batches of about 20 at a time.  This allows the eye makeup remover to penetrate all the cotton rounds and keeps them fresh. 
• Store the eye makeup remover pads tightly closed.
• For efficient, fast removal follow my use guide here, How to Remove Eye Makeup.

A note about my take on DIY beauty recipes.
I love simple recipes, DIY beauty and minimal chemical ingredients.  However I also love convenience and haven't made a switch to living all organic and eco harmoniously just yet.  I do my part at respecting the earth.  Equally as important is my goal at buying things intentionally.  I read labels, I educate myself on what those big words are and do for a gal and I strive to purchase minimally processed and chemically packed products.

Additionally all eyes are not created equal and all though this is made up of gentle ingredients it may not be for everyone.  I have sensitive eyes and store bought formula's irritate mine and this homemade eye makeup remover works with no problem.  

Sharing the Beauty

I have been sharing beauty tips and linking up in the Share the Beauty party hosted by Yellow Heart Art, The Elephants Trunk and Just Lovely Things.

This week was all about face care and I shared my favorite post about skin care to date.  It's got all the steps and my products pics for doing a facial at home.  Check it out here.

Facial Fresh Glow by amariebeauty featuring mark. face moisturizers

Tribal Nail Art | Pictorial

1. Apply coral color all over.  This one was compliments of Mom2Memphis&Ruby.
2. Add 2 coats of gold nail polish as a side stripe.
3. Make tiny connected triangles using a nail art brush in black polish.
4. Connect the triangles with a solid line across the bottom using the same black.
5. Connect the triangles across the top.
6. Using a nail art brush in green make three dots above each triangle and diagonal slants in the opposite corner.
7. Alternate black lines with the bright green ones from step 6.

I love nail art but my attention span runs thin.  That is why the ring finger design is perfect, not just for the tribal design but any design.  It doesn't take all day and it isn't as busy as a pattern on every finger.  Win, win.

This is my first pictorial so please share any feedback you have via comments or inbox.  I have some fun how to's coming up and want to know how you would like to see them?

Try these tips next time you are doing your own manicure to make it look better and last longer.

Pictorial?
Bigger, more detailed tutorial?
Video?

Loving tribal prints?  Check out yesterday's post for some wearable looks.

Tip Off Tuesday: Best Prep for Self Tanner

I realize exfoliation is clearly highlighted on the directions of self tanning products...but do you want an advantage?

A dry physical exfoliation is the best way to prep the skin for even coverage.  You will need a body mitt or body brush.  That's it, no fancy product required.

1. Smooth over your entire skin with a brush or mitt to loosen up the dead skin cells.
2. Rinse off in the shower keeping your skin free from oils and other products.

Pay extra attention to any excessive dry patches, your elbows and knees.

Shiatsu for Healthy, Youthful Skin

Shiatsu in Japanese means finger pressure.

Shiatsu is a common form of massage using your finger tips.  Many spa's include it as part of a facial for it's benefits to the skin.  To reap the rewards at home you can incorporate into your daily cleansing routine.  It's simple just more intentional then applying the cleanser and rinsing it off. 

The manipulations stimulate circulation and cellular turnover which also bring more oxygen to the skins surface revealing glowing and more healthy skin.  Other benefits to your face are:  

• diminished puffiness by stimulating circulation and lymphatic drainage
• improved skin tone
• exfoliation of dead skin cells revealing younger looking skin
• stimulation of collagen production keeping skin fuller and free of fine lines longer

Below is the simple method of adding Shiatsu to your cleansing routine, it's for all skin types efficient, and free.

While cleansing your face glide around smoothly while doing intervals of shiatsu in the *target areas.   Hold the pressure on your target point for a 3-5 second count and release gliding to the next target area. 

Try this when doing your next facial at home.

*target areas = forehead, along the brow bone, beneath the eye socket, along the sinuses, above the upper lip, and the corners of your mouth 

source

If anyone has other non conventional methods of keeping your skin healthy please share them. It is not all about the latest, greatest and most expensive product but more about the habits you keep and methods you use in skin care.

Skin Type, Product Overload and a Workable Routine.

It is easy to buy in to the hype of mass marketed skin care products with there lofty claims.  They lure you in with some heavy wording and a pretty package.  Take time to get to know your ingredients.  Familiarize yourself with how they work and what they do for skin.  You should also arm yourself with the knowledge of your own skin type.  Having a base line of product knowledge and skin type will help you sift through products to choose the right one for you.

A basic approach to your beauty routine can be best.  It is cost effective and simple.  The practices you use to care for your skin are just as important as the products you use.  Using them in conjunction produces the best looking skin.

Determining your skin type can be done by a skin analysis from a professional or at home with a few basic guidelines as the determining factor.  There are many skin types and other conditions that affect the skin and the proper course of action.

Skin Types

• Dry.  Lacks any oil, may have flakiness or rough patches.
• Combination.  Partly oily and dry.  T-zone oil and outer facial dryness.  Some enlarged pores may be visible.
• Oily.  Excess oil is present.  Skin may appear shiny, thick and pores enlarged.  Follicles are easily clogged and breakouts may be a problem.
• Normal.  The least common of all.  Appears perfect to the eye and touch.  This skin is plump, smooth, and has even color and pores.
• Sensitive.  Skin is thinner, usually skin tone is uneven.  This skin is easily aggravated.

Common Conditions of the Skin

• Aging.  Facial lines and wrinkles are present.  Dryer skin becomes present.  Loss of collagen causes skin to begin to sag or appear less full.
• Acne.  Ongoing problems with breakouts, constant blemishes and clogged pores.
• Sun and environmental damage.  Dehydrated, dark spots, wrinkles and discoloration.
• Dehydration.  Visible lines, severe dryness and a sense of tightness.
• Hyper and hypo pigmentation.  Hyper pigmentation is a darkening of skin cells.  Commonly caused from sun damage.  Freckles are also hyper pigmentation.  Hypo pigmentation is a lightening of skin cells also caused by sun damage.  Some more rare skin conditions can also cause hypo pigmentation.
• Dark eye circles and bags.  Puffiness and darkness around and under the eyes.  Most affected by lifestyle but can be genetic.

Your type will fall into one of the skin type categories and may be affected by one or more of the skin conditions.  Your type can also vary depending on the season, hormones and other factors that cause fluctuations.

For every skin type there is a basic routine that can be applied when you are using a simplified approach to beauty. 

Cleanse, exfoliate and moisturize.

Cleanse.
I recommend using a gentle non soap cleanser for all skin types.  Look for no added scents, dyes or harsh ingredients.  The cleanser itself is not on your skin long enough to treat or have any real acting purpose for anything other then cleansing. 

Looking for a good choice? Try this one.

Exfoliate.
This is the most variable step based on skin type.  You can go all natural and make your own using 1 part carrier oil, try grapeseed oil, to two parts sugar.  There are other DIY natural scrub recipes available or you can buy pre-made scrubs. 
Dry skin needs help to shed off dead layers of skin to allow the moisturizer to penetrate, exfoliate 2-3 times per week, follow this timeline for Normal and Combination skin.
Oily skin may be breakout prone so use caution and avoid exfoliating open blemishes or scabs.  1-2 times per week.  Sensitive skin should follow this timeline.
Aging skin also benefits from exfoliating 2-3 times per week because it aids in cellular turnover which produces younger, fresher looking skin.

Moisturize.
This step is for all types.  There is a product out there for every type.  You need a moisturizer to create a barrier to protect the delicate skin on your face and to prevent dehydration which can affect all skin types, even oily, and lead to deeper wrinkles and dull skin.
Massage moisturizer onto skin in an upward motion.  

This information is for your daily basic skin care.  There are other steps that can be implemented as needed.  Such as using a facial mask, applying treatments and doing a facial steam. 

To treat is the most difficult because reversing the effects of nature or damage is nearly impossible.  Minimizing the signs can be achieved but is hard to accomplish using natural methods.  Prevention, proper care and maintenance are best when caring for your skin. 

Pro Manicure Tips

Remove old polish.

Trim, file and shape nails.

Clean and exfoliate your hands and nails.
I use a teaspoon of sea salt mixed with a pump of my favorite hand soap.  Packaged exfoilator will work too.
Pay attention to dry or rough areas and work in around the cuticle and nail.
Rinse well.
 
Care for your cuticles.  Apply cuticle cream and push back the cuticle gently.    

Moisturize to the maximum, massage in a rich cream.

Clean nail bed off with polish remover.  Leaving the oils from the moisturizer on your nail make it hard for the polish to adhere. 

Apply base coat.  Bonder from Orly does just that, bonds.  I get my longest wearing mani using Bonder.

Apply two coats of color.

Finish with a top coat.  The shine a salon mani has seems like magic.  It's not, it is just a good shiny top coat like Glosser from Orly.

If you need a quick dry method use a drying top coat, manicurist's finishing sprayor this free DIY method.
Your DIY manicure can look and last like a salon job.

The quality of the products make a difference but the steps you follow when you do your own manicure really define the results. 

About the products, as far as polish goes if you have a good quality base and top coat the polish color is going to stick and last longer without chipping.  The polish color itself doesn’t have to be top of the line to look primo.

5 Colors for Your Manicure Stash

nail polish by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

Polish is a quick outfit pick me up.  This is especially true for a girl who likes her clothes simple.  You can get experimental with trendy colors and use polish as a simple accessory.
 
To stock your at home manicure stash start with 5 colors from these groups.

Nude.  Very modern, light colors wear easily and chips are harder to notice.

Nearly black.  Goes with everything and looks sophisticated.

Signature color.  I mentioned knowing and using your signature color here.  You will look at yours hands and feel happy and it will add your personality to basic outfits.

Glitter.  Enough said.

Trendy.  Just because it will keep you from getting stuck in a rut and its seasonal.  ‘It’ colors change each season so it will keep you trying new things.

**TIP** Don’t forget to grab a good base and top coat.  If you buy these two things right you can make less expensive polish colors look pro and last longer.  Pro manicure steps coming next week!

I linked up to other ladies sharing polish stories below.

Tip Off Tuesday: Soak in Sea Salt to Soften Wintery Skin

Add a 1/2 cup of sea salt to running bath water and soak up the natural benefits of sea salt.  Add some essential oil for aromatherapy to step it up a bit.  For more tips on using sea salt check out the post The Salty Side of Pretty.

Easy Sparkle Tips for Your Nails. Only 1 Extra Step!

Prep and polish as usual, try these steps for your best DIY manicure.  Next up no dipping, dusting or crazy hard work to get the pretty little glitterama look at the edge of your manicure.  Grab yourself a bottle of nail art glitter polish.  Then add vertical strokes all across the top, seal with your favorite top coat.  Done. 

These nail art polishes are available at the Dollar Tree.  They work fabulously!

photo source

DIY Fresh Facial Glow at Home

Facial Fresh Glow by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

Cleanse.  Take this daily step and slow it down to be thorough.  Remove all makeup, even the residual mascara and elusive eyeliner.
Try added this unconventional method, it's an extra step but it's free and effective!

Steam.  Once your face is bare steam it with a hot towel to open your pores.  See tips for a good towel steam here.


Extract.  If you have any blemishes now is the time to get rid of those.  Please never pick, use a needle or scrape at your face.  It can scar or become infected.  If a blemish is ready to be extracted it can be removed with proper technique.  You will know if it’s ready... big white head, check, pores filled with black/white heads, check.  For my tips on technique see the notes at the bottom of the post.

Massage.  Clearly this step is much better if someone else is doing it but the function of it is all the same.  The massage stimulates cellular turnover, helping to rid dead skin cells and let younger ones surface revealing healthier, more glowing skin.  It also stimulates collagen production to help skin stay taught and plump.  You can buy inexpensive massage cream formulated for the face at beauty supply stores.  I actual use the generic of Cetaphil’s gentle cleanser because I always have that on hand. Rinse well. 

Scrub.  Use a gentle exfoliant to get all the massage cream removed from your face and smooth the skins surface.  Let the scrub do the work and use gentle motions when applying.
 
Mask.  Now your skin is prepped and ready to receive some treatment.  Apply a mask based on what you are targeting.  For instance a moisture builder, acne clearer or oil controller.  Avoid alcohol based masks and look for ingredients with some acting power.  Follow specific product instructions for application.

this is the time to apply any additional serums or treatment products if you so desire.  I am a sensitive skin gal so I stick to the basics.
 
Moisturize.  Slather your choice of moisturizer on in an upward motion.  Use something for your skin type.  Moisturizing seals in all the good stuff and creates a protective barrier against the bad stuff like free radicals, weather and sunshine when using an SPF.

**NOTES**
Blemish Clearing.
Wait until it is ready, as in has a head that is white or dark.  Use pressure not picking.  Draw it out between your index fingers.  Some never will quite be ready thus never need “popped” simply treated with a spot clearing cream or dried out with a clay mask.  You know the ones, the nasty undergrounders.  If its resistant hold a hot cloth over it to loosen it up.

This post is linked up in the Sharing the Beauty party, check over at Yellow Heart Art for more face care and products.

Tip Off Tuesday: DIY Towel Facial Steam

DIY Facial Steam by amariebeauty on polyvore.com

Steam your face like a pro.  It’s a simple free step you can do at home to achieve that fresh facial dewy glow.  Steam loosens makeup, dirt and oil while opening your pores making moisturizers and other treatments easily absorbed.  You don’t need a fancy steamer, just a hand towel and water.

• roll the hand towel.
• run it under hot water until wet
• squeeze the excess water out, keeping it rolled to retain the heat
• place on your face in the shape of ring leaving only your mouth free
• let it sit for a minute
• wipe your face clean with the towel as you remove it
• finish with moisturizer

Give your face a quickie wash before you get started if you are wearing makeup or the steam’s power will be wasted breaking down the makeup.

Next week I am going to break down the basics of a facial that I learned while training to be an Esthetician and Makeup Artist and turn them into easy inexpensive DIY facial steps..

Tip Off Tuesday: Shave with Conditioner

Swap your shaving cream for hair conditioner this winter.  Hair conditioner is designed to moisturize making it great for keeping your legs soft and smooth.  Fans of this method say they have fewer nicks and supple legs.

No need to use the pricey stuff.  Conditioner has plenty of sale and coupon offers.  Don't forget to check the clearance products or use up those hotel freebies.

No Heat Quickie Hair Waves

Start with towel dried hair.  Work in a little mousse or gel.  For the next instructions follow the photo guide.

 

Once your hair is dry you can set it with a little hair spray or leave it as is, I like a little freeze spray reinforcement myself.  Other days, like super rushed ones, I walk right out the door with the hair twisted and let it loosen and dry as I get to where I am going.  Quick mirror check before venturing out of the car and voila, hair do done.  Just like that.

Aloe Vera Gel the Eyebrow Gel Bargain | Tip Off Tuesday

Eyebrows are the frame of your facial features.  Save your money to book your routine brow upkeep and skip on the pricey brow gel.  Keep brows looking precise and in place with a dab of Aloe Vera Gel. 

Grab it for a few dollars at drug or discount stores. 


Using Aloe Vera as  eyebrow gel is one of many uses.  I use it on my clients after a wax to reduce redness and seal the opened up pores.  It has anti-inflammatory and astringent properties.  
It's most commonly used for sunburn relief but try it to take the red out of a pimple.  Use it to seal in moisturizer in the drying winter months.  
You can't go wrong with this purchase. You will stash it for some usage!

 

Beauty Uses for Sea Salt | $1 Beauty Buy

Sea salt has been used for centuries in a variety of ways.   My favorite uses are in the department of personal care.  It is the ultimate economic beauty buy.  Here is why...

• Purchasable for $1 at the Dollar Tree.
• Add a 1/2 cup to running bath water for a softening soak.  Add scented oil for Aromatherapy. 
• Dissolve 1 tsp sea salt in a pint of hot water, soak cosmetic pads. Apply pads on eyes to reduce puffiness.
• Make an exfoliant for dry winter hands or summer feet.  ½ cup sea salt and ¼ cup oil. 

Baby oil, massage oil or body wash will do to mix your sea salt scrub.  Vitamin E oil, known for its positive effects in skin care, is an inexpensive luxury that can be found for around $2 dollars at discount stores..

In addition to the above beauty resources I am loving sea salt in the following ways...

cleaning the coffee pot
scouring greasy cast iron and stone ware
as an antiseptic mouth rinse
keeping flowers fresh
flavoring food deliciously 

Gotta love a multipurpose product.  How are you using sea salt?