Tag Archives: face

30 Days Of Beauty…Starts NOW!

30 Jun

July calendarWell, I think I have found a challenge to keep me on my writing toes. I saw the photo below while looking for art to use with a past post on this blog. It made me think, “How about I push myself to write a blogpost, everyday, that corresponds with this photo?” This redhead is always up for a challenge so I thought HELL YEAH! Gloves on, bell rings, let’s do this!

Beginning tomorrow, July 1st, I will try to match the item I am wearing that day to the day’s corresponding request. If it is just a general question or favorite item that day, I’ll give my lifeline and the details about it. I will also share a photo if I can find one so you can see what the items look like if you decide to search go for them. And finally, if you want to comment with what you can contribute to the day’s challenge–go for it! I’d love to get ideas from my readers too on their daily choices or faves.

So this is what we will be doing this July, Sassinistas! Are you up for the challenge too? Join me and let’s have some fun!

30Days

Advertisement

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

DIY Night Cream…That Works!

25 Nov

SleepingA little while back, I saw a do-it-yourself recipe for a night cream that seemed easy to make with ingredients that I know had great anti-aging properties. It has been a while since I’ve made any of my own natural skin care, but after researching some of the new ingredients and knowing the nature of the familiar ones, I thought I would give this one a shot, especially with the change in seasons.

After making it about two weeks ago, and using it nightly since, I have definitely noticed a difference in my skin. When I get up in the morning, I thoroughly wash my face (exfoliating twice a week) and can notice softer skin, smoother complexion, less fine lines, and a nice even glow. Very good. Very good indeed.

Of course, me being me, I had to tweak the recipe just a bit to make it the way I like it, but I had my reasons which I’ll explain. But so far, this inexpensive, totally natural night cream is my go-to savior as the temps start to drop and my skin gets drier.

So, ready for me to share? Get a pen because a few things you may have to find…and I’ll tell you where.

Sassy’s Super Night Cream

2 tsp. beeswax – Beeswax is a skin protectant, healer, softener and fights against bad bacterias that can set into dry or chapped skin causing irritation or inflammation.
1 1/2 tsp. coconut oil – Again, coconut oil can fight against dry skin by improving the moisture and lipid content of the skin.
2 tbs. almond oil – A staple in my home, almond oil has many positive qualities to benefit the skin from head to toe. This is a true gem that helps balance the PH of the skin, removes dark circles around the eyes, and reduces wrinkles.
1 tsp. grapeseed oil – Oh, my favorite oil! Its benefits are endless–who knew? It’s great in a night cream because its properties help reduce skin inflammation, tightens skin, moisturizes and fights aging.
1/4 cup aloe vera gel – Like many of the other ingredients, aloe helps fight acne, moisturizes and fights aging. What’s great about this specific ingredient is it is not oily and is quickly absorbed to make the night cream light and less greasy.
1 tsp. raw honey – Honey does a lot of what the other products do, but in a raw, fresh way. In addition to the general properties of the other ingredients, honey will also open your pores (making them easy to unclog with your morning wash) and helps give your skin a nice glow.
2/3 tsp. bentonite clay – Yup, this one is probably new to you. It was for me! But after researching, I find this is the most important ingredient. This clay actually comes from volcanic ash, packed with beneficial minerals while binding to removing toxins. According to Mountain Rose Herbs: “Bentonite, also referred to as Montmorillonite, is one of the most effective and powerful healing clays. A good quality Bentonite should be a grey/cream color…anything bordering “pure white” is suspect. It has a very fine, velveteen feel and is odorless and non-staining.” The clay can actually produce an electrical charge so when working with it, PLASTIC OR WOODEN UTENSILS CAN ONLY BE USED to do the mixing.
1/4 tsp Unsweetened Hi-C Lemonade Powder – This is a great add to give the cream a gentle scent but also adds Vitamin C and Citric Acid which helps to reduce pore size, brighten the skin and speed cell turnover to keep skin looking young.

DIRECTIONS–FOLLOW CLOSE!:
In a small, microwave save plastic bowel (with cover), add the first 3 ingredients and microwave on medium for 1 minute on medium. Remove carefully and stir with a wooden stick or plastic spoon. Repeat for 30 seconds, stirring about a minute in between till wax is melted. Add the aloe gel, grapeseed oil, lemonade & honey into the melted mix. Stir gently and repeat till the cream is completely blended, smooth and is beginning to thicken. While it is still soft, add the bentonite clay. REMEMBER–PLASTIC BOWLS AND SPOONS ONLY! NOTHING METAL!!! Once smooth with no lumps, cover and put in refrigerator for about 2 hours. The steam in the container will add natural moisturizer with the cream. Take out for about an hour before use. One it is out, it can stay at room temperature.

Most of the ingredients you can get either in the market or on eBay. Here is a list on where I found these items:

Almond Oil, Grapeseed Oil, Coconut Oil can all be found in the baking aisle of a regular supermarket usually. You might want to try a higher-end market that specializes in organic products. The Hi-C Unsweetened Lemonade packet can be found in any supermarket drink-mix aisle.

Beeswax can be found on different EBay stores. I get mine from EBay seller “paypalsale”. You can buy just one ounce which is more than enough and shipping is free. Find the link to their listing –> here

Pure Aloe Vera Gel can also be found on EBay. I got mine from EBay seller “bodygrin”. You can find a listing for the aloe gel with free shipping –> here

Bentonite clay can be sold with additives so it’s important to find a pure product. I really like the one I got from EBay seller “hedys-haven”. You can find a link to their clay –> here

This recipe will give you a decent sized container of night cream that can be kept out next to the bed or on your bathroom counter. The “cream” can be a little waxy with the amount of beeswax used, but I like the health benefits that the beeswax contains so I add a bit more. Even waxy, the cream will melt at skin temperature, so it will go on thin when warmed between the fingers. Make sure you wash your face in the morning because the night cream will turn the cells over while you sleep and you will want to wash the “old” ones away in the morning, leaving your face feeling soft and looking bright & young!

Have fun making yourself a natural, healthy night cream that does what you need and more… without unneeded chemicals, additives or the added price of retail advertising. Not to mention, with the amount you’ll get out of one batch and how little you will use? You probably will have enough to keep you looking young for pennies for a long, long time!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

“Perfectly” Perfect… (part one)

19 Jun

Once upon a time, a long long time ago, there was a redhead who was waist deep in a home based business. The economy turned, women got too busy for parties, and comparable items were available in the local mall or drugstore for less. Soon, reports came out about company animal testing, non-USA made products, and some added ingredients that were on an “unsafe” list. Was this an organization I wanted to be a part of? Nope, no more. I was done–REALLY DONE. I did however learn a lot about the skin care industry, found a few products I liked, then stepped away… giving me time to do a lot of researchPosh and follow my dream to write. I learned about what was good for the skin, what was not, what ingredients were healthy, what ones were certainly not. I couldn’t learn enough! And OH!…the things I learned.

After six years of researching, investigating, writing, testing and trying various products (including some I made myself), I became very particular about what was going on my face and body. General rule of thumb for my skin became “If you can’t eat it, you shouldn’t use it.” Most of my bathroom vanity consisted of natural products I had found, free of unhealthy additives and chemicals. A lot I had made with simple products found in most peoples kitchens. Some things weren’t easy to find–more so makeup items than skin care–but with a lot of hunting, I was able to find mineral face, eye and cheek cosmetics and homemade lip products that were to my liking. Still, I wish that I could find safe, natural, good-quality skin care products without harsh chemicals, additives, and ingredients that would I wouldn’t react to, for sale on the open market. Plus, I wanted to support my neighbors, people who worked and produced products like this in the US. I wanted products that contained ingredients I new that were originated in towns I had heard of! Oh, and was it too much to ask that products like these could be sold at a price that wouldn’t break the bank? Almost sounds virtually impossible, right? For a while, I thought yes… but then I found Perfectly Posh.

Now, we know that I manage a tattoo shop part time to keep myself sane (yeah, process that!) One of our regular customers whom I had the pleasure of meeting shortly after I started there came in for an appointment one evening. I had left for the day when she came in and was sad I had to miss her. Shannon is a doll and there is always a fun time when we are all together. When I came in the next day, however, I found a beautiful pink gift bag stocked with samples of all kinds of “pampering products”. Okay, first let me say DA-ROOL!… I’m a sucker for samples that make me feel & smell delish! As I investigated further, I found they were from Shannon, as she was a consultant with the Perfectly Posh organization. At first, I’ll be honest, I was very skeptical–my home based business radar kicked into high alert. Memories of stalking unit leaders and free pink car drivers reciting monotonous mantras began replaying in my head. I honestly took out each sample while surrounding myself with a brick wall so no song, dance and mind-game manipulation would get to me. And if this stuff WAS so good, why hadn’t I heard about it before now, hmm? So like every good writer, I decided to research the company AND the products to see how they compared to or exceeded similar items on the market. Let’s start with what I learned about Perfectly Posh and their product line:

The company wants you to know that YOU deserve to be pampered. (I agree with this 100%. If you don’t take a few minutes each day to make yourself feel special, you’ll get eaten alive in this world. I’m not saying you need a whole day at the spa, but take some time, each day, for you. It will liven your mood to be a better mom, wife, student, employee, boss, whatever. Take time for YOU!)

  • Posh strives for quality. They use gentle ingredients. The avoid dangerous fillers.
  • They love natural ingredients like butters and oils.
  • They WANT you to read their ingredient lists and labels so you know what is in everything and where it is from so there is no deception or hidden secrets. (Big plus with me. I’ve done my research so no one is going to b.s. This redhead. And they didn’t. What they said was there, was there; what they said wasn’t, wasn’t.)

I found a peace of mind when I learned the following about Posh products–

    • All products paraffin-free. They are also free of sulfates including SLS.
    • Their items also do not contain any petroleum-derived ingredients, parabens, or gluten ingredients.
    • There are no soy fillers, and no lanolin.
    • They use the highest-quality essential oils and fine phthalate-free fragrances.
    • Products are very natural and consequently gentle–read the labels.
    • They use natural enzymes and gently moisturizing vitamin E to preserve the life and look of our pampering products.
    • All of their products are cruelty-free with NO testing on animals.
    • Perfectly Posh does things differently. They offer your pampering products made from the best ingredients mother nature has to offer. They source gentle, nourishing, and the best ingredients from all over the world, then create great, natural products right here in the United States.

Maybe for some, those thing mean very little, maybe they don’t mean too much at all. But TO ME??? They meant a lot! So when I went through my big bag of samples to play with, I took out “The Posh Paper” (their catalog, printed on recycled paper) to learn about the benefits of each product I was trying, its ingredients, and how i could benefit from it. The first thing I noticed it that every product, in addition to its ingredients, has a Posh Product Key. The Key Codes help you find products with particular features while looking at the catalog. For example:
N = Natural Fragrance… No Color = No Color Added…..
D-Tox = D-Tox Ingredients Added… FF = Fragrance Free…..
EO = Essential Oils… V = Vegan…..
These little guides can be very helpful when looking for products that can interfere with a customer’s senses, allergies, or personal preferences.

After about a week, I had managed to try almost everything I got a sample of. Almost everything I tried, I liked. That’s good! The ingredients were things I had tried or used in the past and liked, but had trouble finding in products on store shelves. Everything seemed very clean, organized, informative and easy to try. It didn’t take me long to find a few I absolutely loved.

So, what did I put on my first order? Well let’s break down my favorites:

Look Natural

Moisturize 911

 

 

 

 

Face Care:
Having sensitive skin really reduces my options for products to not just clean and calm my face, but also keep me looking young. Finding ones that do that on a natural level is almost impossible! Posh’s “Look Natural” line has an array of face products that give my skin what it needs without the ingredients it doesn’t. Important features that this skin care line has are:

  • Gentle 100% Vegan Blends
  • No fillers
  • No parabens or sulfates
  • No dyes or phthalates
  • 100% natural fragrances & essential oils

I was lucky enough that Shannon was able to sample me almost every “Look Natural” item. I was glad because this really gave me a chance to see how my skin would react first before purchasing anything. Now that I have, I can share!
BFF: Best Face Forever wash was an immediate score. A gentle exfoliant is what my face likes 2-3x a week, and this gentle wash with very fine microbeads does just that. It’s surrounded by a combination of refreshing grapefruit and peppermint oils to help wash, freshen & soothe. Not too harsh at all to cause any discomfort, burning or reaction. A definite win! $20 (V, No Color, EO)
Delish! fashwash is what I turn to when I just need a simple, natural face wash. Nourishing & non-drying, this gentle cleanser removes dirt, oils, makeup & dead skin with natural fruit extracts. Being non-exfolliating, it can be used morning and night in between BFF treatments. And the scent is tasty too! $20 (V, No Color, N, EO)
Moisturize 911: This was a must-have item from Posh’s “Pretty” line. Even though the Pretty items kind of target the younger market, the formulas are spot on for people of all ages, especially ones that want to fight aging before signs creep in. I had done enough research over the years to learn that small amounts of caffeine in some skin care items can provide fabulous benefits–they tighten and brighten even the tiredest of faces and skin. This twice a day caffeine-infused glycerin moisturizer leaves your face a wake up call in the morning by firming and brightening. At night, I just let it do its magic while I sleep. It’s absorbed into the skin quickly, leaving a fresh, smooth feel while evening out your skin tone. A no-brainer for those who want to start a good skin routine or keep healthy skin looking its best! $16 (V, EO, N, No Color)

Daily Grind
Skindelicious
Body Care:
Since Perfectly Posh focuses on taking some time for you, to make yourself feel pampered and pretty, a home spa day definitely is going to focus on products to make you feel special from head to toe. Not only do you want to relax but you also want good, natural, products to make this happen. Now, I myself, am not a bath girl. I like my showers, and if allowed, I’ll stay in till every last drop of hot water is used. (I know–bad for redheads. Very bad!) So I am going to look for things that will make me feel good when I’m in and when I get out! That’s why I love:
The Daily Grind: Hello?…Who doesn’t like to start their day with coffee? Okay, so not everyone, but I do! The Daily Grind is a great body scrub that eliminates the dead, dry, top layers of skin while limiting the breakdown of skin structure. That’s thanks to the natural cleansing & clearing elements of the coffee bean which is also a huge benefit to aid in the prevention of cellulite. Plus the scrub isn’t too abrasive so it preserves your beautiful surface skin. Cleanses and clears in one step. Love the smell, love the results! $24 (EO, V, No Colors)
Skindelicious: Your body’s skin needs to stay moist, and unnatural & pore-clogging petroleum based products are not the answer. I have been raving about the benefits of natural oils and butters for years, so to see a company that actually agrees with my way of thinking is a big deal. (Yeay!–applause for Sassy!) Posh’s Scrumptious Body Butters contain nothing but the best moisturizing and hydrating ingredients that you can feed your skin to keep it feeling soft and fresh all day long. Some like to use it before bed, others like to start the day off with an all-over blanket of moisture and freshness. With eight formulas to choose from, you should have no problem fining the scent/formula that will help keep you get the most for your best skin ever! My pick? Mango Marshmallow–luxurious mango butter with nourishing marshmallow and vanilla extracts to increase the skin’s natural cell regeneration process. $22 (V, No Color)

Okay, I’ve got more to talk about, but we will stop for now. Like I said, Perfectly Posh has great products to pamper you from head to toe and next time we will talk about pampering some if those other parts that need a little TLC too: lips, hands and feet. So, for now, if you are interested in reading more about the Perfectly Posh company and the great products Shannon has graciously let me try (or others you might like!), check out Shannon’s page at: www.perfectlyposh.com/sls

And if you want to ask me about anything I’ve tried? Don’t hesitate to ask. Click the *Click Here To Contact Sassy* link and ask away! I’ll be honest about what I’ve used, and my thoughts and results with each. And have you had experience with Perfectly Posh products. What did you think? Add you comments below! I’d love to know what my readers are thinking!

Now, what are you waiting for? Go make a cup of tea/coffee/fresh lemonade, kick back, relax, and take some time for you. YOU deserve it!!Now, what are you waiting for? Go make a cup of tea/coffee/fresh lemonade, kick back, relax, and take some time for you. YOU deserve it!!

image

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Must Haves In May

5 Jun

image

I hate May.

How is that for an opening remark? I really don’t think any month tears me up more than May. I have lost several close relatives in the month of May, the weather is so unpredictable, allergies are brutal and… oh, let’s not forget the best of the best… my birthday is in May. Getting another year older always puts a smile on my face….NOT! I hate getting old and will fight ANY signs of it as much as possible–mind, body & soul. Which is probably why most of my fab finds this month will help me stay 29…again!

So what are my new favorite makeup and skin care items I found this month? Read on and find out:

image1. Lancôme Visionnaire – A few of the tell-tale signs of your real age is what begins happening to the skin on your face and neck. Fine lines appear, pores look larger, face takes on an uneven skin tone. Everything that screams old. Since cosmetic procedures are not an option to me (don’t know if I would even if I could), I always read about the latest products to fight the signs of aging. My friend Lisa who is a manager at the local Macy’s said I HAD to try this product for a couple of weeks and gave me a few samples of the Visionnaire serum. My current night cream was getting low so I thought it would be a good time to try it out. I had been using a night gel so this Lancôme Serum felt really nice to put on. It absorbed quickly with no tight or sticky feeling. I already notice my skin tone is evening out, and my pores and fine lines seem less noticeable. Boo-Yah! Just what I am looking for. The only down side it’s pretty expensive, but a little goes a long way and I believe the bottle I got will last at least six months to a year. That’s a good investment in younger looking skin. I top it with my favorite moisturizing night cream and let nature do the rest! ($89 [1oz], Macy’s stores & online)

image2. L’Oreal RevitaLift® Miracle Blur – Okay, true story: I was asked to be a product tester for this product early in the month. I read all the info, used it as directed, but I personally didn’t think I saw the results I was supposed to get, so I tossed it aside after a week. Blur is not a moisturizer, Blur is not a foundation, and it is supposed to do more than just a primer does. But it just didn’t seem to give me what i wanted. Then, like only NY can do, the weather did a complete 180, turning not just warmer but flat out HOT! I realized I needed something to keep away the makeup melt-aways and nasty shine. A product that did that PLUS help me with a broad spectrum SPF would be really great. Hmmmm. Funny–those are things that the new product Blur promised. Okay, lets try this again. Now, the directions say you should apply Blur after your moisturizer and before your foundation. When I did that, I didn’t really get the look I wanted. But when I used a little less and applied it OVER my foundation, I got the look I loved with lasting results I wanted. Sometimes I even blend a bit of my mineral foundation into it in the palm of my hand with the Blur which gives me a nice, all-day matte look. Sometimes things just need another chance and a little adjusting. We hope our serums will work fast, but if they don’t do the job 100%, this will hide that little percentage it missed! ($24.99, most drug stores)

image3. Yes to Grapefruit Brightening Facial Towelettes – Obviously I have an OCD issue with the evenness and tone of my skin. I don’t want blotchy-ness and I don’t want scars from my teen years. If I could get my skin to brighten and even-out where I would need minimal to no foundation, I’d be thrilled. These towelettes take off all my makeup with a gentle textured no-rinse wipe. I was worried my sensitive skin might find it contained a bit too much acid from the grapefruit, but my skin tolerated the wipes just fine. I do feel some tingling after using them, but nothing that irritates or breaks out my face, more like a clean feeling. Oh and I love the scent! These are awesome for those “I’m too tired to take my face off” nights. Just leave a pack in the bed stand for just that! Congrats to Yes To for another fabulous line of products!!($5.99, most retail stores)

image4. Jimmy Choo’s “Flash” Parfum – Okay, so a new scent may not make you look younger, but it can definitely make you feel younger. And isn’t that what counts? This second fragrance from shoe expert, Jimmy Choo, has a pop to it that just takes the wearer’s charisma to a whole new level. The perfume caught my attention on a scratch & sniff page in one of my favorite magazines. (“Samples sell!!”) I INSTANTLY fell in love with it and the search was on. I was able to snag a mini bottle on EBay till I could get a regular sized bottle. This is truly one of those WOW! scents. Notes of pink pepper, strawberry and tangerine open you senses to a rush of power, allure and sexiness that you can even see within the person wearing it. It is very new, so watch for it. I think you hear more about it in the months to follow. ($55.00 [1.3 oz], Nordstrom’s and Nordstrom’s online)

image5. benefit’s They’re Real! Mascara – I am embarrassed to say how many mascaras I have featured on my blog as the greatest, best, advanced, favorite new product I’ve ever tried. Especially since I’m going to do it again. Ok, Sassinistas…. what do I always say about samples? (Look above, silly!). The sample of this mascara was actually the birthday gift to Sephora Insiders, so I picked mine up when I stopped in the store a few weeks ago. Okay, nice, a cute mascara, I’ll try it someday. Well, that day came while my husband was out of town recently and I had nothing to do with my free time except try makeup looks out of my glam mags. I grabbed a few of my fave products from the bathroom including “little” items that were easy to carry. I grabbed this mascara since the mini tube was easy to handle. I knew as soon as I put the mascara on a few of my lashes that is was really different. The “brush” coated each lash more like a comb, separating and plumping each lash. Seriously, they chose a great name for the product because it makes your lashes so lush, they almost look fake. As full as they were, removal wasn’t that difficult at bedtime either. I cringe to think about adding another mascara to my beauty drawer, but dang! I have GOT to get this one!! ($23.00, Sephora stores and online)

And there we have it! It may not be my favorite month of the year but trying new products kept my mind and writing hand busy. Phew, no doubt…. May was BUSY!! Soon, I’ll be talking about hot summer items that you’ll want to have on hand (and feet), so keep reading to learn about “summer must have’s” in your closet, beach bag, makeup drawer and on your bathroom counter. Is there anything YOU want to know about: Hot nail colors? Must-have hair products? Stylish shorts? Summer accessories? Skin tamers? Ask me! I’d love to do a blog post where I can help my readers with their fashion & glamour questions. Don’t wait… send them in!!!!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,