The Best Super Food: Avocados

Beauties, did you know that avocado is considered by most to be one of the best beauty foods out there! The creamy fruit is full of good beauty fats and nutrients, and works just as well for your insides as it does slathered on your skin! I read an article in which they interviewed celebrity food coach and Mom Energy author Kathy Kaehler, and discovered that not all fat is bad for you. In fact, you need healthy fats in your diet—they can lower your cholesterol, maintain cell growth, and keep your skin moisturized!

“Avocado is a super food, and one of the best things to include in your everyday diet,” says Kathy. “It’s full of potassium, which combines with the sodium in your body to help fight against cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and cholesterol problems.” This delicious fruit also has a high amount of folic acid, which is especially important for pregnant women because it helps prevent birth defects.

Avocado’s real beauty secret is its bounty of monounsaturated fats. These fats are essential for a healthy body and help to add moisture to your skin. They work to keep you full for longer, help to break down bad fats, and develop and maintain cell growth—which is extremely important for healthy skin, hair, and nails.

“Avocados contain around 200 calories, so it’s fine to eat one a day,” according to Kathy. Try it alone with some chopped tomato, in guacamole, or on toast for a yummy breakfast!

I had an avocado arepa for lunch the other day and it was sooooo YUMMY! Avocado’s monounsaturated fats also work miracles when you apply the buttery fruit directly to your skin. Fresh avocado and avocado oil both provide plenty of moisture and contain vitamins A, D, and E – which provide your body with plenty of antioxidants to fight free radicals, maintain cell growth, and prevent the signs of aging and sun damage.

So what’s stopping you, beautiful? Go out and buy some avocados! If you live in California, you’re bound to find them all year round! Enjoy and let me know what your favorite avocado snack is.

As always, stay beautiful & healthy!

xo-LL

DIY: How to Turn Eye Shadow into Nail Polish

Happy Monday beauties!! I’ve already shown you some fun and easy ways to save on products by Doing It Yourself, but did you know you can create your own nail polish color out of eye shadow? When you don’t want to splurge on a new polish, just break out your old shadows (if they’re cracked or broken, that’s even better! Colored pigments work too) and repurpose for your fingertips. You can mix colors to achieve the exact shade you want—perfect when creating complex, intricate designs or effects.  Plus, the best part, you know no one else in the world will be wearing your one-of-a-kind color. The process takes less than 10 minutes! Keep reading as I walk you through this simple DIY project. Try it at home and post your pictures on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Everyday-Fabulous-by-LovelyLin/165648933542968.

WHAT YOU’LL NEED

1. 1 eye shadow (mineral is preferred because of its finer pigment texture)  
2. 1 clear nail polish
3. 1 small mixing bowl (a disposable paper cup works too)

PREP EYE SHADOW

Start by gently tapping a loose eye shadow into a small bowl. If you are using a solid shadow, scrape it out of the palette using a kitchen knife. Because you want your polish to apply smoothly without bumps, use your knife to smash any larger pigment bits into dust. You should have about a spoonful of powder, which will be enough for all 10 fingers.  For an exact measurement, tap eye shadow into a spoon before dumping it into the bowl.

MIX IN CLEAR NAIL POLISH

Use the brush on your clear nail polish (I opted for a base and topcoat combo) to add 25 to 30 drops to the bowl with the eye shadow. If you are feeling more confident, pour drops directly from the bottle. Remove the cotton from one end of a Q-tip and use the stick to stir eye shadow and nail polish together until they blend into a colored liquid form. You should be able to tell if your polish is too thick or too thin and adjust accordingly by adding more powder or more clear polish to the mix. Be sure to blend well. The smoother the formula, the better it will apply to your nails.

PAINT

Because the blend is exposed to air, it will dry quickly, so begin to paint your nails right away. Use the brush from your clear nail polish to apply. Don’t worry—you can soak the brush in nail polish remover later to remove the polish (it will be as good as new!). If you like a high-lacquered finish? Apply a clear topcoat to your manicure and voilà! You now have your own custom holographic nail color.

I tried this about 2 weeks ago and really loved it.  I waited to write about it because I wanted to see just how long the color would last. Good news is, it lasted about a week before it started to chip.  I like using a really good clear nail polish because it guarantees a lasting finish.  Orly, OPI and others would be good brands to try. I hope you beauties find these DIY recipes helpful and if you try them PLEASE feel free to comment here or on my FB page! I’d love to hear about it! Good or bad all is welcome!

Have a fantastic week and stay FAB!

xoxo – LL

DIY: Lemon Beauty Recipes

Hi lovies!!! I hope you all had a lovely weekend and I hope that your week has started off the right way! Over the weekend, I decided to try a couple DIY recipes and this time…w/lemons!  Lemons are yet another one of nature’s multitaskers, and lemon-based products and recipes span many industries, including food, beverage, and household cleaners. They’ve been popular in cosmetics because of their pleasant scent and potent vitamin C concentration. It’s also widely known as the active ingredient in many hair and skin lightening products.  Lemon is also a great toner, brightener, cleanser, and fragrance. If you like to start your morning with a detoxifying cup of hot water, lemon juice, and honey, you’ll love these citrus-based beauty recipes. Try them on your skin and nails before lemons officially go out of season!

LEMON SUGAR HAND AND FOOT SCRUB – I’ve tried this one MANY times and I LOVE it! 

1. 1/2 cup granulated sugar  Raw or brown sugar with larger granules works too.
2. 2 tablespoons almond oil  You can also substitute apricot, olive, or jojoba oil.
3. Juice of half a lemon
4. OPTIONAL: 3 drops lavender, mint, or rosemary essential oil (I don’t use this, but you can if you wish)

This easy-to-make scrub is perfect for tired hands, feet, elbows, and even knees. In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients in no particular order and immediately massage the mixture onto hands or feet. Rinse off with warm water, then slather on your favorite lotion for extra moisture.

ACNE-FADING LEMON YOGURT MASK – Tried this over the weekend, and it’s a bit messy BUT loved the way my skin felt afterwards.

1. 2 tablespoons honey  Any organic brand
2. 4 teaspoons lemon juice  Freshly squeezed is best, but you can use bottled juice.
3. 3 teaspoons plain Greek yogurt
4. 1 egg white

The egg part kind of sounds yucky, but it works!  The citric acid in lemons has natural lightening and exfoliating properties that help fade remaining acne marks. The egg white helps boost your skin’s ability to protect itself, and honey serves as an antibacterial agent and humectant that soothes and hydrates skin. In no particular order, combine all of the ingredients in a bowl and whisk them until the consistency thickens. Apply a tablespoon or two of the mask onto your clean, dry skin (enough to coat your face) and let it set for 15 minutes. Gently wash the mask off with warm water and pat dry. This recipe yields eight applications, so you can keep it in the refrigerator for one week or share with friends if you wish.

A couple tips to keep in mind: 1. Lemons are highly reactive to light because of their high citric acid content. This phenom, called photosensitivity, means it’s best to keep sun exposure to a minimum when applying lemon-based products on your body; and: 2. You never want to put acid in or near your eyes, ever! So if you’re experimenting with citrus fruits, keep them at a safe distance from your eye area. Dilute lemon juice with water if your skin is sensitive.

If you try these out, let me know how it works for you! The scrub is the best one!!! ❤

Stay Beautiful!

LL

No pain, no gain…right?

No pain, no gain they say! Today’s post was inspired by one of my good friends.  I know many of you vowed to get back into shape in 2012, and if you haven’t worked out in a while, your muscles will ache as your body re-acclimates to daily exercise. There are so many ways to relieve cramps, soreness, and that next-day OMG I’m dying feeling.  Ice and ibuprofen (i.e. Advil) will help calm inflammation and a bath with Epsom salts will increase blood flow and promote healing.  We all know this, right?  But one of the best ways to get instant relief is to massage a warming product on the area that hurts. The naturally calming ingredients penetrate deep down to help loosen balled up muscles and prevent them from tightening up overnight. Don’t worry, you don’t have to deal with that medicinal Bengay odor either! Here are some suggestions that may help make your fitness transition a little easier.

• LUSH Sore Labours Massage Bar –  This contains Clove bud oil which helps relax the muscles and cardamom oil which warms them up. The jasmine in this product will loosen stiff limbs as well. I’ve tried this and it actually helps.  Back when I used to work out, my trainer killed us with certain routines.  I found that taking the Advil, stretching and bathing with this bar helped quite a bit.  
•  Ole Henriksen Muscle Comfort Lotion – This contains peppermint, lavender oil and seaweed extract. Peppermint will spur circulation, lavender will heal and the seaweed extract will reduce fluid build up. And finally;
• Mind over matter!  Thinking about how much it hurts just makes it worse! So be proud of your accomplishment, stay motivated, excited and most importantly eat the right things because if you don’t, you’ll lose interest FAST!  

I hope you ladies find this helpful! If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to comment!

xoxo – LovelyLin

DIY Recipes: Cucumber Eye Pads

Happy Monday, beauties!! Over the weekend, I decided to try another DIY recipe and I’m excited to say that it worked! They say that cucumbers are great for tired and puffy eyes and to be honest, I really didn’t believe it. I know they do this at the spa a lot, but I’ve always thought it was BS….oops! Cucumbers are composed of 90% water, so they’re extremely hydrating. 

Here is the recipe for Cucumber Eye Pads:

1. In a blender or juicer, make about a pint of fresh cucumber juice and mix it with water. Make sure you cut up your cucumber is small pieces.
2. Pour some juice in a bowl and soak the cotton pads.
3. Squeeze out the excess juice.
4. Place the pads in a sandwich bag; you can place up to 6 pads (2 rows of 3) in one bag (make sure they’re laying flat).
5. Seal the bag(s) and place in the freezer. *NOTE* – use the entire mixture and make as many as you can. Freezing them will help keep them fresh.

In the morning before you shower, take out 2 pads and thaw them out on a plate while you shower. By the time you’re done, the pads should be slightly thawed.  Place the pads on your eyes for 10 minutes. You should feel an immediate cooling and refreshing effect. Cucumbers are a good source of vitamin K and vitamin K shrinks capillaries which will help reduce your dark circles. You can do this daily if you wish.

Isn’t this great? When I heard about it I figured I would give it a shot and share the wealth! LOL!  

Have a fantastic week ladies, and remember stay fabulous!

LovelyLin

Time is up!

Hi pretty babies!! I wanted to discuss products and their expiration dates because I know a lot of us keep our products around longer than we should.  Either because we don’t use them often or simply because we’ve paid tons for them and don’t want to see them in the trash.  The fact of the matter is , we have to throw them away in order to ensure a healthy looking face.  Ever wonder how long you should keep makeup, perfume, foundation, etc.? Or maybe how often you need to clean your makeup brushes (if you use them)? Well, I’ve got the answers for you!

Makeup Brushes should be washed with a gentle shampoo (kids shampoo works just fine) or brush cleanser at least every 3 weeks to a month!

Blush, perfume and SPF should be kept for no more than a year.

• Blush (creams & powders) should be replaced yearly.  However if you wash your blush brush every few weeks, it will help keep it bacteria free.
• Most fragrances are good for a year if you use them two times per week and store them in a cool, dark place. Sprays retain their scent longer than splashes, which tend to turn more quickly becasue they’re exposed to air every time you remove the cap.
• SPF is good for a year from the day you buy it, but after a summer spent sitting out in the sun or in a hot beach bag, your SPF is pretty much done. The blocking chemicals in the lotion lose their oomph and can become ineffective.  Your best bet is to replace every season.

Facial Moisturizer and eye makeup such as creams, eyeshadows and liner should be thrown out after 6 months.

• Facial Moisturizers/Creams that contain antioxidants are very sensitive to light and expire quickly, especially the ones with vitamins A, C and E.  Products with acids like glycolic, beta hydroxy, etc. last the longest.
• Eye shadows and liners should be thrown out after 6 months, period.  The eyes are extra prone to bacterial infection, so anything touching them should definitely be tossed on time.

Mascara, concealer, and liquid foundation should not be kept for more than 3 months.

• Mascara is extremely prone to microbial growth so play it safe and just replace it at least every 3 months.
• Concealer is used everyday, so because of its usual contact with air, it should be replaced regularly. The concealer brush should be washed frequently as well, but if you use your fingers, always apply with clean hands. *Quick beauty tip*: if you apply concealer with your fingers, be sure to always use your ring finger.  The ring finger gives a lighter touch than the index or middle finger and the warmth of your skin helps melt concealer in for a flawless cover-up job.
• Liquid Foundation that comes in a wide-mouthed jar should be tossed at 3 months because the jars expose the makeup to greater amounts of air, increasing the chances of bacterial growth.

Keep in mind that most products come with an expiration date or have a small expiration logo that looks like the picture I’m using for this blog post.  They’re there for a reason beauties! Abide if you can!  =)

Have a fantastic weekend!!

LovelyLin

DIY Beauty Recipes: Bananas Anyone?

Good morning beauties!!! Thank goodness it’s almost Friday!

I stayed up pretty late last night thinking of a topic to talk about today, and thought…”why don’t I discuss ways to DIY”!  I’m always looking to save money because let’s face it; I just can’t afford all of these great products!  I’m always looking for DIY recipes because they’re easy and I can almost always find all the ingredients in my pantry or refrigerator! 

So let’s talk bananas!  Bananas are always in season and readily available at your local grocery store. It’s packed with potassium, vitamin B and C, and tryptophan that help revitalize dry skin and hair. Here are three banana recipes to help you stay soft and silky all year round!

Hydrating Hair Conditioner

1. 1/2 Ripe banana
2. 1/2 Ripe avocado
3. 2 Teaspoons of plain yogurt
4. 1 Tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
5. Wide tooth comb
6. Disposable shower cap

Mash the banana and avocado together in a bowl until smooth and stir in the yogurt and extra virgin olive oil. Wash your hair with shampoo and towel dry. Apply the conditioning mask into your hair thoroughly (avoiding the scalp area) and use a wide tooth comb to ensure it’s evenly distributed. Wrap your hair into a bun and cover your head with a disposable shower cap. Leave it on for 20-25 minutes, rinse out in the shower, and follow up with a shampoo to wash the conditioner completely out. 

Moisturizing Body Exfoliator – This one is my FAVORITE!

1. 1 Ripe banana
2. 4 Large strawberries
3. 2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
4. 1/2 Cup of raw or processed sugar

Mash the banana and strawberries together in a bowl until smooth and stir in the extra virgin olive oil and sugar. Mix all the ingredients until you have a smooth consistency. In the shower, apply this mixture in circular motions all over your body and let it sit for 3 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, pat dry, and follow up with your favorite moisturizer. The scent is sweet, not strong! Best of all…your skin will feel soooooo soft!  

Brightening Mask

1. 1/2 Ripe banana
2. 1/4 Cup of oatmeal

Mash the banana until smooth and mix in the oatmeal. On a clean face, pat the mixture on your skin, avoiding the eye area, and let it sit for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow up with your favorite toner (optional) and moisturizer. 

** Like any homemade recipe you’ve never used before, be sure to patch test beforehand to see if you have skin reactions. If you already know you’re allergic to some of these ingredients STAY AWAY and continue using your day to day products.**

I hope you find this helpful.  I’ll continue to do my best in trying to find easy and affordable DIY ways to help my fellow beauties out! If you have any questions or have your own DIY tips, please feel free to leave your comment! Positive feedback is ALWAYS welcomed. 

XOXO ~ LovelyLin

Curly Hair Myths

For the ladies like myself and my lovely friend aka my twin (seen here on the left in the picture w/me), I found this article talking about our curly manes! It took me years to figure out what products to use for my hair and how to cut it!  I’m Latina and my friend is Halfrican! Yes, you read it correctly, “Halfrican”.  She uses this term proudly and told me to write just that.  =)

I came across a specific shampoo and conditioner about eight years ago, and I’ve been a loyal fan ever since. I was at the mall and went into the salon where the product was sold, and right before I could say two words, the only male stylist there asked why my hair wasn’t cut in layers! LAYERS? I didn’t even know it had to be! Fact is, it does!  Needless to say, he cut my hair and I’ve been cutting it in layers ever since.  If you don’t cut your hair in layers you end up looking like a lil’ mushroom…LOL!  Now, my friend has curly hair just like mine, but it has a different texture.  My 3 year old has her same texture because she too is half African-American.  Her curls are a bit tighter and thicker than mine though.  For her,  I use a product called “Mixed Chicks” and they have sulfate-free products.

Now for that article!

Did you know an estimated 65 percent of women have naturally curly or wavy hair? It’s true, and many are guilty of styling with the wrong set of hair rules. Think your waves are uncontrollable? You might just be making a classic hair-care mistake. Common complaints like frizz, tangles, and texture are easily fixed when you know the proper way to tame your mane. We asked curly-hair guru and owner of Devachan Salons and Spa, Lorraine Massey, to separate fact from fiction so you can master your sexy spirals—and keep the bad-hair days at bay!

 

MYTH: You can brush your curls into submission (i.e., straight).

 

“It may seem like you can flatten or smooth your curly hair by brushing it. But the act of brushing or combing your hair actually disturbs the curls’ natural formation and ruffles each strand’s cuticle,” says Lorraine. “This causes the curls to break apart, and the result of these dispersed curls is frizz, frizz, and more frizz.” Instead, use your fingers to comb through your curls only when your hair is wet and saturated with conditioner when you’re in the shower.  “Curly hair is fragile, and the conditioner prevents breakage,” Lorraine explains. Once you get out of the shower, gently scrunch in a silicone-free, alcohol-free gel into soaking-wet hair. This captures the curl’s natural formation and again, prevents frizz. Then don’t touch your hair until it’s totally dry. “Touching before the curls are properly formed and dry causes the same friction as a brush. It disperses the curls and causes the ongoing dreaded frustration of the frizz!” says Lorraine.

 

MYTH: Any shampoo that says it’s for curly hair will do.

 

Absolutely not! “Traditional shampoos have been causing curly girls to hate their hair for decades. That’s because traditional shampoos contain harsh detergents called sulfates, such as sodium lauryl sulfate,” says Lorraine. Sulfates are foaming agents that strip curly hair of its natural oils, and since curly hair is naturally dry and has little to no natural oil, it needs all the moisture it can retain and absorb to be healthy and frizz-free. (Sulfates are the same foaming agents in dish soap and laundry detergent, and you wouldn’t wash your hair with those products, would you?) Even some shampoos that say they’re for curly hair contain these ingredients, so beware—and read labels! Instead, “cleanse hair with 100% sulfate-free cleansers and shampoos, and if you can’t find one at a store near you, cleanse your hair with silicone-free conditioner,” says Lorraine. “What cleans the hair and scalp the most is friction so you can just apply your sulfate-free cleanser or your conditioner to your finger-tips and firmly but gently massage your scalp to break up dirt.” Then rinse the condition out with water to remove it from your hair.

 

MYTH: Conditioner is optional.

 

“Conditioner is a curly girl’s BFF!” gushes Lorraine. “Once curly hair fibers are sufficiently hydrated with conditioner, they will hold onto the moisture they need and the frizz will go away. Curly hair is porous, but the conditioner fills the holes, a bit like spackle on a wall. It also smooths and fills in the surface so that light can reflect off it.”  Leave some or all of your conditioner in your hair rather than rinsing. Generally, the tighter the curl or the drier your hair is, the more conditioner you need to leave in. Also, the frizzier, your hair typically is, the more conditioner you need to leave in. “Remember: Frizz is just a curl begging for more moisture—which is conditioner!” says Lorraine.

 

Now for my two cents:

Curly hair, from what I know and in MY experience, can be cut while wet, but the person cutting it HAS to know what they’re doing.  It’s recommended that it be cut while it’s dry and in its natural form because curls shrink. I’ve personally gotten my hair cut while wet and blow dried with no problems.  It has worked for me and as you can see from the picture, I have very tight curls.  

I know that this doesn’t apply to everyone because we are all different and have different hair textures, but I hope the article has given a little insight to those that have had troubles trying to figure out what to do with their curly hair.  xoxo =)

Stay beautiful!

LovelyLin

 

Faux Golden Glow

 

Living in California has always been a plus for me because regardless of the time of year, the sun is almost always out! However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t try and fake a sunkissed look every now and then…LOL!  During the Winter/Fall months, your skin tends to get a bit lighter because the sun isn’t always out like it is in the summer and you tend to stay indoors to avoid being cold. Here are few tips to help give you that perfect tan look without the harsh effects of the sun. 

The right bronzer can give you that oh so sexy St. Tropez tan, but to successfully get this look, you must select a shade that warms your complexion, rather than change it. 

Light Complexions: Stick to a sheer, cool bronzer that has a beige undertone. Anything too brown will be obvious and make your skin muddy.

Medium Complexions: You guys are some lucky ladies! You can pretty much get away with any bronzer, but your best bet will be one that’s gold or brown.  Those hues really warm up your skin. 

Dark Complexions: Golden and brown-based bronzers look the most natural on you.  If your skin is very dark, opt for a bronzer with more red or copper in it, which will really pop and give you a beautiful, sunny color.  

Give your face a light dusting with translucent powder before applying the bronzer to matte any oils from the skin. Then apply the bronzer in the “W” area of the face (cheeks and the bridge of the nose), which is where the sun naturally hits. Give your cheeks a light dusting first, then, in a circular motion, move the brush across the bridge of the nose without re-dipping into the bronzer. Using what’s left on the brush go into the hairline.  Don’t forget to sweep the bronzer onto your ears because if the ears don’t match the illusion of the tan is broken.

To get a believable looking tan, apply a bright pink blush onto the apples of the cheeks. And finally, don’t neglect your neck and cleavage! Give both areas a light dusting as well and you should be good to go! 

You can use any bronzer you’d like to accomplish this look.  I have personally used NARS bronzer in Laguna and NARS Multiple in Palm Beach (cream-to-powder stick). Both are amazing. If you go with the Multiple Stick, be sure to use your fingers to enhance and sculpt cheekbones, eyes and the jawline. Hope this helps!  

As always…stay beautiful!

LovelyLin

Is the weather hurting your lips?

Your lips are one of the first things to be affected in summer and sometimes in the cold weather months, showing signs of dehydration and flakiness. The Best way to ensure that you’ve always got smooth beautiful lips to try out the seasons hottest lipsticks is to apply a lip scrub. It’s so easy to use too! They are great at exfoliating and ridding your lips of dry, flaky skin.  There are tons of lip scrubs, but the one I like the most is Sara Happ Vanilla Bean Lip Scrub! It smells like vanilla beans in the summer! The scrub exfoliates and it’s very easy to apply.  Massage a generous amount onto lips using a firm, circular motion, then wipe away with a tissue before applying your lipstick of choice!

Clarins and Fresh have good lip exfoliators as well, but Sara Happ is my fave! 

Remember, stay beautiful!

LovelyLin