Kid Style: A Restyled Skirt

This skirt is a favorite from Abercrombie kids.  It was a hand me down and the distressed hole it came with looked more like a raggedy hole.  It needed to be upcycled for sure.


I wanted the boho-shabby look.  To create the look I added a patch to the hole, and repurposed an old tee shirt into a braided belt and infinity scarf to pair with it.

The patch is part of a embroidered tunic that my little red head wore as a baby.  I cut the piece I needed to size and sewed it on with my machine to insure it was durable for washing and wearing.  The repurposed accessories were exactly my speed because they were a no sew project!  Simple steps of cutting and stretching the fabric and we were in business. 

Tip Off Tuesday: Skip Sunscreen for Photos Sake

The SPF in moisturizer with sunscreen reflects off the cameras flash in nighttime or low light photos.  It gives your face a white over cast or ‘glow' effect. 
Chances are you will be snapped in a photo or two this Holiday season.  It’s likely you will be indoors most of the time for the celebrations and many times out at night so you can safely skip the SPF and swap it for coverage with out the sunscreen.

SPF AT NIGHT=PHOTO GLOW

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.

Festive Little Extras

Let's face it, many of us girls love our basic black.  What is not to love?!  Invest wisely in those solid wardrobe staples and dress them up with inexpensive accessories.  That basic black ensemble is entirely interchangeable, just by swapping the little extras you can go from classic to trendy to chic to whatever your occasion so commands.  So take it to the holiday's by adding some festive little touches.

Festive Extras by amariebeauty featuring a black clutch

Tis' the Season to Repurpose and Wrap it up!

Pinterest is ever so inspiring.  I got some of my handmade gift ideas there this year.  Most of my crafting comes from loving to repurpose and reuse common things.

Let's take it from the top and work clockwise, shall we...

1.  Wrapped Bangle, no pin to link to for this one.  Wrapping out of style cheap-o jewelry is kinda my fave thing to do.  I usually use fabric scraps but I picked this cotton string up for the organic look. 
2.  Newsprint bow, never again will this gal buy a bow, well close to never.  See the instructions here.  What's in the package you ask???  A DIY scarf, see that post here..
3.  Twig Candle Holder, nature + reused glass jar = awesome.  Here is how to do it.

Handmade gifts offer something original and personal for the receiver.  The giver gets a chance to channel in to their creative side.  I say it's a win, win. 

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..

Sparkle for the Holidays

vintage necklace and sparkle polish

Ugly sweaters everywhere can stay stuffed in the attic.  You can look festive without sporting santa, candy canes or Christmas trees.  To sparkle this holiday season, dress up your usual style with some accessories. Don’t forget to spread the holiday cheer to your manicure.  The little touches make a big impact. 

The sparklers of this outfit are my vintage jeweled bow tie necklace gifted to me by my grandmother and OPI's Visions of Sugar Plum from 2009's Holiday Collection.  The blazer is American Eagle and top is Relativity.
  
Some choice colors for the holiday season are wintery whites, blues, plum, gold and silver. The standard green and red work too, especially when you break away from the traditional colors and go with emerald or a brick red.  It gets the point across and looks upgraded.  Cori at la vie petite has great accessorizing tips to share in her post, trim your-self.

Tip Off Tuesday: A Free Speed Dry for Your Manicure

Speed dry your manicure with this quick, easy and FREE tip.  After you apply your final coat of polish dip your nails in a bowl of ice water for sixty seconds.  Pat dry and your done.

Remember just like any other quick set method of drying polish it is still easily smudged so be easy for a bit.

Winter Wonderland Eye Makeup Look

 

Just when I start to fiend for the rich colors of fall I am reminded of all the pretty sparkly things winter has to offer a gal.  I get it, the standard holiday festive Christmas cheer means red and green for many.  I go the other way with the gorgeous colors of winter reminisct of glistening snow, snowflakes and frost.  

There are so many funky, fun makeup looks to liven up the other seasons faces so this year I am going to try out some different looks inspired by Old Man Winter. 

• I applied a shimmery white all over the lid. 
• Next I lined the top and bottom with a silver glitter eye liner.  
• To add the blue I used a damp q-tip dipped in blue to line the bottom lid.  
• I winged it out a bit on the outer edge and filled in the inner corner with the blue.

When you do a dramatic eye keeping your lips and cheeks simple works best.  If everything is bright and bold it can be too busy.

A 205 Pound Confession

I am losing my momentum.  It is driving me crazy, the just say no to sugar routine and the little baby portions of starchy carb goodness.  So this weekend I ordered exactly what I wanted with a big ole margarita while out with the husband.  It was fantastic.  Even more fantastic was that I no longer snarff down the huge restaurant portions so I had it for lunch too, sans the margarita.

So today I am going public over at adelynSTONE with this image of me at my very heaviest.  It also shows my progress point and where I am today.  I am 18 pounds away from my goal weight.

Never again.  It was so very uncomfortable and the fashion so limited!  So here is to sharing things I never thought I would and to keep on keepin' on.