Jun 14, 2013

DIY Beauty Fridays: Homemade Salt Spray For Your Hair


Just got in the door after working out.  Still wavy!
My hair is getting really really really long. In fact, I haven't even had a trim since the before the wedding (can we say split ends!!!) However, since my hair is extremely thick, coarse, wavy and has a mind of it's own, I knew I'd have to find a simple way to style it for our trip.

For those of you that don't know, Allan and I are going backpacking for three months to Southeast Asia.  In fact, we leave on November 30 at 11:00am.  (And yes, I am counting the seconds too!  Ha)  Since I am only bringing one backpack for 90 days, I know there is no way I can pack my hair straightener, blow drier, curling iron, pomade, Moroccan oil, hair spray, hair treatments.......catch my drift?  25 pounds is the max I can carry for days on end and none of the products above are a necessity at this point.  Hence my desire to find one product I can spray on that will leave my hair looking pretty great AND is easy to carry.  Whew.

Excited by my waves
Sea Salt Spray it is ladies!  I have been reading so much about this spray ( like the Bumble and Bumble brand) but have been willing to fork out the money.  So, I made my own last night.

Beachy Waves via Salt Spray

1 cup distilled water, warm
2 teaspoons coarse sea salt or Epsom salts (I used a bit more than 2 tsp as my hair is super thick)
1 tsp hair gel (I used Frizz-Ease brand)
1/2 tsp leave-in conditioner
4-5 drops of coconut, argan or Moroccan oil (whichever is your preference)

Combine all ingredients and place in a spray bottle.  Wash or wet hair and spray immediately on to towel dried hair.  Spray onto sections, focusing on the roots.  Scrunch from the bottom up to the root to activate natural wave or curl.  You don't have to use the whole amount; stop when hair is saturated enough.  **TIP: Do not comb or brush your hair after you have towel dried your hair.  The purpose of this product is to enable your natural curl or wave to come out and be more prominent.**

I let me hair dry for about an hour then applied some more spray, scrunching again, and slept on my hair.  I woke up to a mound of curls.  I have been wearing this style all day AND just got home from the gym and my hair is still wavy.  I am absolutely making a batch of this before the trip.

Have you ever used a salt spray before?  What are your thoughts?

Happy Friday ladies

   

Jun 4, 2013

Guest Post: Summer Makeup Tips and Tricks

Summer is a season of fun, and your makeup should reflect that. You don't have to spend hours prepping and primping yourself to look flawless just to hang out with friends or spend some time in the sun. We’ll list some of the easiest ways to make (and keep) your makeup looking flawless during the summer months without a lot of extra effort.

Runny Makeup? 
If you're oily skinned and your makeup seems to run right off your face, start your daily routine with a really fantastic primer. Once your primer is on, your foundation should slide effortlessly onto your face. Set it with a good powder, and you'll be amazed at the staying power you get!

Oily Skin?
Got oily skin? There's a number of things you can do. First, eat the right foods and keep the junk off your plate – there is still some truth to the old adage ‘you are what you eat’. Carry blotting papers around with you to help dull down middle of the day shine. Make sure that you wash your face every single night before you lay down for bed, keep your hair pulled back out of your face, and wash your pillow cases every other night. Finally, look for the right makeup – you want makeup that’s made for oily skin, and there are increasingly more options available to you.

Dry Skin? 
Dry skin can be a hassle when trying to get your makeup just right also- it can make you look flaky and dried out. If you have dry skin, make sure to wash your skin every night, drink plenty of extra water, and moisturize your skin every night before bed. Apply sunscreen before going outside, and keep your showers cool and short.

Want To Go Bold? 
For a bold look this summer, you can either highlight your lips or eyes. To highlight your lips, go for an all-natural face paired with bright, shimmery lips. To highlight your eyes, keep your face and lipstick matte, and then choose dark or bold colors for your eyeshadow, with plenty of mascara.

Foundation Doesn't Match Anymore? 
You should always go one shade up from your winter shade during the summertime. This is because spending extra time out in the sun leads to a darker complexion, while during the winter, most people tend to (naturally) be less tan because they spend less time out in direct sunlight. It’s unlikely that you’ll have the good fortune of using the same foundation in the Winter and Summer, but if you’re really opposed to buying new foundation or your complexion changes often, you could always use some bronzing liquid to darken your existing foundation.

Foundation Too Runny? Or Too Thick? 
If your foundation is too runny, you can add ¼ of teaspoon of cornstarch or flour to thicken it up without drastically changing the coloring or look good properties it contains. If it's too thick, you can add ¼ of a teaspoon to a full teaspoon to your bottle to loosen things up a bit. Add just a smidgen at a time do you don't overdo it though.

Want Some Good General Tips? 
Stay hydrated, and eat right. Remember that what goes into your body, must come out- and it comes out through your skin. Everyone should wash their face and moisturize every single night. Steer clear of slippery lip gloss during the summer months because it will be even more prone to slipping and sliding off of your lips. Always go minimal. The less foundation, powder, concealer, or whatever it is that you put on your face, the less of a chance you run in clogging your pores.

That's it ladies! Those are our summer makeup tips and tricks, we hope you enjoyed them! If you have anything you'd like to say about our tips, or if you would like to offer up some of your own, please feel free to do so in the comments below. We'd love to hear from you!

Author Bio: Amanda is a skincare fanatic and author of SkincareHQ.org where she shares her favorite beauty products and tips and tricks. Aside from writing about cosmetics, Amanda loves to travel and one day dreams of visiting Africa. Questions or comments for Amanda? Feel free to  connect with her @Skincare_HQ on Twitter!


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