All of this beautiful weather is really getting me excited for summer! So in honor of these warm and sunny days I decided to add this nice tutorial (thanks to The Beauty Department!) on how to do a fish tail braid. I love this spring-y hairstyle because it is quick fix to any bad hair day and gives a cute twist on your average braid! However, it may take some practice to get your hands moving in the right pattern so don’t get discouraged if it takes a few tries. Happy Braiding :)
Going to a salon and getting my nails done has always been a little joy of mine. But visit after visit could get a little pricey. So here are steps to complete a basic manicure in the comfort of your own home, that won’t break your bank …
The Simple Manicure:
FILE. File down nails to the shape and length that you want. Make sure to do this while your nails are dry to avoid breaking or splitting.
SOAK. Soak your fingers in warm water, I would suggest adding salt and hand soap to the water to soften and clean.
PUSH. Using a cuticle pusher, carefully push back cuticles. Don’t get too aggressive or you may cause damage.
TRIM. (OPTIONAL – Only do this if you feel that you can with caution) Use cuticle scissors to carefully trim your cuticles. However, this is best to be left up to professionals because you could be damaging healthy cuticles and cutting yourself can be very painful. Ouch!
BUFF. Dry off your nails and buff using a 3- or 4-sided nail buffer. Be sure to buff the ends and corners of your nails too for a polished look. In addition to your nails looking lustrous, it also prevents future cracking and peeling.
POLISH. Once you are finished with that you are all ready to paint! Or if you are going for a natural look, you can leave your nails as is.
INSPIRE. I decided to experiment with different nail designs that I found fitting for winter.
Grey nail w/ glitter on ring finger
Color: Essie - Cocktail Bling ; Essie - Pure Pearlfection
The mustache nail
Color: Essie - Marshmallow ; Sally Hansen Nail Art Pen - Black
The ombré nail
Color (left to right): Essie - Aruba Blue ; Essie - Mezmerised ; OPI - No Room for the Blues ; Essie - Mint Candy Apple ; Essie - Marshmallow (not shown)
The heart nail
Color: OPI - Panda-monium Pink ; Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pen - White
The dark nail
Color: OPI - OPI Ink
ENJOY. Now go and pamper yourself without spending a fortune. HAPPY PAINTING!
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY … i hope you all have a fabulous day <3
(Source: kawaiikokoro)
Taking care of your skin, whether it is from the sun’s harmful rays or maintaining a healthy complexion, should always be a priority – especially during the winter. Cold temperatures and wintry weather can leave your skin dry, itchy and irritable. So in order to repair and prevent future damage to your skin, I created a list of beauty rituals that every woman should follow…
Moisturize. First and foremost, you should be moisturizing at least twice a day. (I stand by Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream and Vaseline Intensive Rescue Moisture Locking Lotion.) Colder temperatures tend to dry the skin out more than it would in the summer, so be sure to replenish your skin as much as needed.
Cleanse. It is important to always wash your face before you go to bed and when you wake up in the morning. Your skin will feel refreshed and clean. When deciding on what face soap to use, it is always good to know what type of skin you have beforehand – oily, normal/combination, or dry/sensitive. (I, myself, have very sensitive and dry skin so I use Clinique Liquid Facial Soap in mild.) Also, never sleep with your makeup on – not only are you damaging your skin, but you could be ruining your pillowcase with unwanted stains.
Exfoliate. This is something that most women forget to incorporate into their beauty routine. Exfoliating your face with a facial scrub a few times a week is key to having a healthy complexion because it removes the top of layer of dead skin cells. I also like to use a facial mask at least once a week; this keeps your skin moisturized and also clears out your pores to prevent breakouts. I prefer Neutrogena’s Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask for my face. Not only does it double as a facial soap, but it also leaves your face with a fresh tingly sensation. For smooth skin everywhere else, I use Kiehl’s Crème de Corps Soy Milk & Honey Body Polish.
Makeup. I would recommend using makeup that is hypoallergenic or allergy tested so that you can avoid allergic reactions to any chemicals (like Clinique, Almay or BareMinerals). It is also important to use makeup that contains SPF to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays. But if you don’t own any SPF makeup, simply applying sunscreen under your makeup and any other place exposed to sunlight will do the trick too. Looking glamorous and preventing skin damage is like killing two birds with one stone.
Hydrate. It is crucial to stay hydrated throughout the day. This keeps your skin moisturized and hydrated as well as cleansing your body of toxins. According to the Mayo Clinic, women should be consuming 2.2 liters or 9 cups of total beverages a day.
Sleep. Every woman needs her beauty sleep, it is crucial to your skin and body’s well being. Nobody likes to see dark circles under their eyes or dull skin, so make sure you get enough sleep each night or all of the time you put into the things I listed above will go to waste! I would recommend getting at least 7 hours of sleep a night.
Now go out and apply these tips to your everyday life because having beautiful skin is something any woman can attain.
(via everythiinghasbeauty)
