Moms Know Everything

There is no question that some of our best and most memorable tips about makeup and skincare come from our Mommas. Our Mothers tend to be the first person we seem to call on if we need beauty advice. Somehow, they usually seem to have the best advice– whether it be from their past beauty experiences, or they are just undercover-dermatologist-makeup-artist-problem-solving-counselors. I’m pretty sure it’s both.

One of the most memorable things my Mom taught me is to use alternative and natural moisturizing methods, such as Vitamin A & E oil, to help moisturize and prevent fine lines and wrinkles. This method has seemed to completely balance my skin. It is so much better than using a moisturizer that is loaded full of chemicals and parabens that I can’t even pronounce. It’s also a heck of a lot cheaper.

This is just one of many things that I can remember my Mother sharing with me about beauty. I know I will continue to learn even more throughout the years. I’m so grateful to have a Mother who is not only beautiful (and the best Mom ever), but also so helpful in the ever-confusing beauty department.

With Mother’s Day right around the corner, what is one memorable beauty tip that your Mother taught you?

Happy Mother’s Day to all you Momma’s out there! Have a fabulous weekend!

xo,

 

My Latest Beauty Obsessions

1. LUSH Ultrabalm

Omg. This product has become my lifesaver during these winter months. It’s an all-purpose balm that you can literally use on everything. My knuckles and lips get extremely dry and will crack. I keep this on my nightstand and apply it before I go to bed. I’ve also heard people with Eczema and Psoriasis swear by this product!

2. Safflower Oil

I’ve always preferred using natural products on my skin. I’m like a kid in a candy store in the health food store beauty aisle. Safflower Oil has amazing benefits for the skin. It’s full of linoleic acid, which is an essential fatty acid that your body uses to make ceramides–a key part of a healthy skin barrier that promotes elasticity and moisture retention. This product is one of the best (and most inexpensive) forms of linoleic acid. It helps to retain moisture, but isn’t harmful like some of it’s competitors (mineral oil and lanolin). This can be used on all skin types and research has shown it can be great on acneic skin. Not only do I use this on my face, I put some on my oatmeal in the morning, or use it for cooking. It can actually help get rid of extra inches because it attacks stubborn belly fat.  This stuff is the whole shebang!

3. L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes Black Lacquer

This mascara is a sister to my favorite mascara, L’Oreal Voluminous Carbon Black. It’s not quite as thick as Carbon Black and the brush is quite different. It really lengthens and separates, while Carbon black is great at thickening. I use this mascara and then add a coat of Carbon Black and my lashes are out of this world. It would be a challenge to beat this winning combo.

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What’s even better about these products?! They’re all under $15!

I’d love to hear what you’re loving at the moment! What are your current beauty obsessions?

xo,

DIY Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

In order to wear all these fun Summer lip colors I’ve been into lately, I have to make sure I have soft and smooth lips. On a recent Sephora trip,  I was inspired by this fabulous lip polish from Fresh Cosmetics. I took matters into my own hands and concocted this lip scrub to  exfoliate my lips so I have the perfect base to wear any lip color I want. Having smooth lips is essential before you apply any lipstick. Having dry, flaky lips is never a good look for anyone, so even if you don’t wear lipstick this recipe is for you. I’ve used quite a few lip scrubs from different companies before and some are far too gentle and others feel a bit too harsh. This is the perfect consistency to exfoliate the lips. This scrub contains honey, which has healing properties, and coconut oil which is very nourishing and moisturizing for the lips. It even tastes like a yummy sugar cookie!  Here is what you will need:

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp olive oil

1 tsp coconut oil

1 tsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

jar

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Combine the honey & coconut oil.

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Mash the honey and coconut oil together with a spoon until the mixture is free of clumps.

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Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture.

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Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.

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Scoop into a jar.

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The finished product.

Make sure to keep this product refrigerated. Coconut oil solidifies below 76 degrees, so you may need to set this out for a bit at room temperature to give the oil a little time to liquefy. Instead, I just use a spoon and stir it up a bit. I’m in love with coconut oil but feel free to substitute the coconut oil for a bit more olive oil. I hope you enjoy this delectable scrub as much as I did!

Favorite Friday: Source Naturals Skin Eternal DMAE Serum

When you think “serum,” you think, “I’m going to have to spend a small fortune at the department store that I should be using to pay my utility bills.”  At least that’s what I think. Typically, buying a serum at the department store is going to cost anywhere from $50 to well over $100. They have all sorts of fancy schmancy ingredients in them that have been hand-gathered from The Red Sea or The Great Barrier Reef. Whatever. Anyways, I found a serum that I truly love and that doesn’t break the bank! It was recommended to me by my Mother (kudos to her!), she always suggests the best stuff. She recommended my favorite product last Friday to me, too! Here is the serum that gets voted as my favorite thing this Friday:

Source Naturals Skin Eternal DMAE Serum, $18

This product is from a company called Source Naturals. They are a health and wellness company that sells beauty products, vitamins, supplements, and much more. I bought this product at a local health food store, but you can also purchase it online. DMAE is short for Dimethylaminoethanol. No wonder they shortened it up! This is an antioxidant that helps to firm, brighten and tighten the skin.  DMAE actually helps to tighten the cell membrane, helping to protect the skin from free radicals.  We encounter free radicals on a daily basis from smoke, pollution, etc. This serum also contains Vitamin C, which is essential to collagen production and also helps to firm and tighten the skin. It has Alpha-Lipoic Acid which is one of my favorite things. Alpha-Lipoic Acid is another potent antioxidant that helps to improve the texture of skin and prevents lines and wrinkles from forming.

This product retails for $29, but you can find it here and on many other sites for only $18. For only $18, this product is packed full of wonderful ingredients for the skin. I use this product in the morning and evening and have noticed quite the difference in the overall texture and appearance of my skin.  My makeup seems to go on much smoother, too! It is very lightweight and has a light coconut fragrance. It feels very moisturizing and it’s also paraben free. Here is my morning skincare routine:

My morning essentials: Burt’s Bees Radiance Facial Cleanser, Source Naturals DMAE serum, Mario Badescu Oil Free Moisturizer

Who ever said you can’t find quality skincare products that won’t break the bank?

What’s your favorite thing this Friday?