Browsing Category: Beauty

Dark Under Eyes. Let’s Talk About!

dark under eyes

One thing that I’m focused on doing this summer is to wear cut back on the amount of make-up I wear. I don’t want to spend another hot and humid summer wearing make-up to give the illusion of flawless skin. I just want flawless skin. Thanks to successfully battling the hyperpigmentation on my cheeks, I’m ready to move on to the next battle; dark under eyes.

A simple fix for hiding dark under eyes is to throw on your favorite pair of sunglasses and keep it moving. However, we’re better than that, right? Right.

Of course, there are natural ways to reduce the appearance of dark under eyes. Some simple things you can do include getting plenty of rest, drinking enough water, and eating foods rich in vitamin K, such as broccoli and leafy green veggies. However, sometimes the natural way just isn’t enough and you decide to bring in the big guns of luxurious creams and make-up.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of products that help you tackle dark under eyes. So, if dark circles is one of your concerns, check out these products to help you treat and conceal those problematic areas.

Treatment for Dark Under Eyes

treatments dark under eyes

Multi Correxion 5 in 1 Eye Cream – Dead Sea Osmotor Eye Concentrate – White Lucent Anti-Dark Circle Cream – Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector – Dark Circle Corrective Eye Cream

Make-Up for Dark Under Eyes

dark under eyes make-up

Photo Op Under Eye Brightener – 5 Camouflage Cream Palette – Rainforest of the Sea Wipeout Color-Correcting Palette – Ooh La Lift

Please note, when selecting a color corrector to concealer dark under eyes, find an orange based concealer, such as Benefit’s Erase Paste. Afterwards, follow up by using a brightening concealer, like the ones above.

As usual, please share some of your favorite products to treat and/or to hide dark under eye areas.

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Natural Skincare Routine

natural skincare routine

When my combo/oily skin is acting up by having random breakouts or just feeling and looking “under the weather”, I push aside my strong and almost medicinal strength skincare products and reach for more gentle and natural products.

I pretty much baby my skin when it flares up. Since I’ve cut back on certain types of food such as dairy, sugar, and red meat, my skin hasn’t been very problematic. However, for the times it has, I nurture it by only using natural and chemical free products. Usually, my gentle natural skincare routine clears my skin in the matter of 1-2 days, which is great!

Here are the natural products I currently reach for when I want to calm my skin from a breakout.

Natural Skincare Routine:

natural skincare routine

When my skin is really breaking out, I avoid wearing any make-up. Even though there are natural beauty products out there, I would much rather just refrain from putting anything else on my skin that could potentially clog my pores and aggravate my skin any more. The most I will wear is mascara and maybe fill my brows in. So, in order to remove those products, I use a little bit of coconut oil to gently loosen the mascara and brow products to gently wipe it away with a cotton round. Coconut oil is this best!

To cleanse my skin, I use MaaDisha Neem Enriched Soap5. Although it’s great for chronic dry skin and eczema, which I have neither, it’s also antibacterial. So, it’s great for scaring away bacteria that might want to rest in your pores and create an acne garden. This soap is gentle, calming, and cruelty-free. All winners.

After cleansing face, if needed, I follow it by swiping my skin with a cotton ball soaked with witch hazel to tone my skin.It’s great to catch and remaining dirt on my skin, but also to calm, soothe, and prep my skin for my moisturizer.

Yes, you can’t skip the moisturizer.  I gently rub a couple of drops of Acure Organics marula oil into my skin, which is very light in hydrating. Therefore, I can use it day and night. If my skin is feeling a little dry, I will use a little coconut oil, instead.

I recommend, no matter your skin type, that everyone develops their own natural skincare routine. It might take a minute to find the right cleanser and moisturizer, but it’s worth experimenting.

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Foundation Sticks

foundation sticks

Okay, I will admit that I have a really intense love/hate relationship with foundations. I’ve bought way too many over the past couple of year, which I’ve blogged about on more than one occasion. At one point, I probably had enough foundations in, on and around my vanity to start a Youtube channel on foundations alone. However, there is one foundation that I haven’t bought or thought about buying in years….foundation sticks.

Yes, that thick, roll-up, tube of foundation that you might wonder “who even buys that?” considering that most people prefer their foundation in a bottle or tube. However, foundation sticks are highly pigmented and are great for the look of flawless skin in pictures and video.

I first tried a foundation stick when I was in college in the early 2000s, pre-Youtube videos and blog dedicated to make-ups reviews. The first one I tried was by IMAN cosmetics and I was instantly confused on how to use it. LOL! I seriously cringe at the image of rubbing it on my face like lipstick on my lips. Too much! However, I eventually learned that less is more and to only apply it to areas that needed that full coverage look. Also, learning to blend the edges to give a natural look was one of the highlights of my summer of 2000.

I’m not sure how I exactly strayed away from stick foundations, but I recently decided to throw my money at foundation sticks, again. So, I decided to pick up right where I began with IMAN foundation stick and I’m in love all over again. Super pigmented, blendable, and still lightweight.

Foundation sticks are not only great for creating smooth and flawless face, but also are great to use as concealer for light make-up days. Multi-tasking beauty products make me so happy. Not to mention, like liquid bronzers to powdered bronzers, your favorite foundation brand probably has a stick foundation version of your fav for you.

So, if you’re ready to try foundation sticks, here are some options for you…no matter how big or small the size of your beauty budget.

FOUNDATION STICKS TO TRY:

foundation sticks

Clinique Chubby In The Nude Foundation Stick – Maybelline Fit Me Shine Free Foundation Stick – Lancome Tient Idole Ultra Longwear Foundation Stick – IMAN Cosmetics Second to None Stick Foundation – NYX Mineral Stick Founadtion

Have you ever tried using a stick foundation? If so, what are your thoughts? I would love to know your opinion on them! Share below, please!

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Liquid Bronzers

liquid bronzers

For the past couple of years, when it comes to what’s “popping” in the beauty and make-up work, it’s all about the contour. Don’t get me wrong, those perfectly contoured and highlighted visages that scroll up and down my social media feeds are fascinating and gorgeous. Make-up artists definitely earn that “artist” with the work they do. They can even make my round fat face look slender and smooth as a baby bottom with the right brush and bronzer.

Unfortunately, a perfect bronzed and contour beat goes in vain with my everyday life of working under florescent lights and tapping on a keyboard. However, I still love when my skin has a subtle hint of glow to it that gives the impression that I might’ve fell asleep outside while on my lunch break and taking a much deserved breath of midday fresh air. Well, enter liquid bronzer.

Liquid bronzer is the perfect product for those of us who want natural looking tan skin that’s comparable to spending a couple of hours on the beach or a day at a festival. The beauty of liquid bronzers is that they are light, buildable, and easy to use with just a few taps and rubs of your fingertips.

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SCALP CARE: Scalp Treatments and Products

scalp-care-treatments-and-products

Want longer and stronger hair? Take care of your scalp. It’s that easy. Fortunately, there are a number of scalp treatments and products on the market to help.

When it comes to growing out your hair or just a trying to grow a little more length, it all begins with having a clear and clean scalp. When we use products on our hair, they slide and glide all over the place before finally settling on our scalp. Product residue builds up and causes our scalps to get oily and clogged up, which slowly prevents our hair from growing.

So, just like when our body and/or skin feels bloated after consuming too much of something (i.e food, alcohol), we do a detox to help purge all the gook and junk from our system so we can continue to prosper. Well, our scalp and hair could also benefit from a detox. By using scalp treatments and products, we can get our hair growing and prospering all over the place, too!

SCALP TREATMENTS and PRODUCTS

scalp treatments and products

Carol’s Daughter Mimosa Hair Honey Clarifying Scalp Treatment – Shea Moisture Clear and Balance Hair and Scalp System – CAVIAR CLINICAL Exfoliating Scalp Facial – Keranique Micro-Exfoliating Follicle Revitalizing Mask – Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment

If you are more into a natural technique, my favorite D.I.Y mixture that only uses a little olive oil (to moisturize), baking soda (to exfoliate), and cinnamon (to increase circulation). It’s a real no-fuss, no-mess recipe that I do a couple times a months to give my scalp a breath of fresh air. I must admit that I have noticed some extra length and strength in my hair since I started using it a couple of months ago. The recipe and instructions are below.

SCALP DETOX RECIPE:

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 teaspoon on cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 cup apple cider vinegar (optional)

Directions:

  1. Apply generous amount of the mixture to your scalp
  2. Use your fingertips (or scalp massage) to massage your scalp in a circular motion
  3. Gently pile hair on top of your head and place shower cap on your head for 10-15 minutes
  4. Wash and condition hair as usual
  5. Rinse scalp and hair with apple cider vinegar to remove itchy/dry scalp causing bacteria.

*If you have a sensitive scalp, I recommend you consult with your dermatologist before trying any of these products of treatments.

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