natural – Life, Lipstick, & Glowing Skin

It’s Freezing!

Don’t laugh it feels so brisk and cold here in Northeast Florida! 🌴 The temperature is 50 degrees. I know you’re laughing at me. Or us. Yes I’m turning into a true southerner. Our weather is so unpredictable one day we’re sweating and another day we’re beyond cold. Freezing 🥶

My husband is whining and bundled up too. We’ve got cozy socks, sweaters and pajama bottoms on.

So, I decided to warm us both up with some hot apple 🍏 cider. It’s working. Now to an old trick my mom did up North during the winter. I put a pot of 💦 water on. You know the size pot like making pasta. But I’m not. My mom swore it makes the house warmer in the fall & winter and adds moisture to our air.

But I wanted to take it a bit further and make a Cozy Pot of Potpourri. I like to scent the air with the following.

1 orange 🍊 sliced

1 Apple 🍎 sliced red or green it’s up to you!

A sprinkling of cloves.

A smidge of pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon of luxe Vanilla.

* I once got a gift 🎁 of vanilla from my husband and I love this useful kitchen addition from his international travels. I use it in so many different ways and find it is extra fancy stuff!

2 cinnamon sticks are optional. It looks pretty in the pot. But optional.

Toss all of the above in the pot of simmering water you boiled but lowered the flame. Let all of it mix, mingle with each other and dance in the pot. I just shut off that simmering pot of scentsational love!

My kitchen and house smells so aromatic fresh & delish!! Play with this recipe like I do and vary it any way you’d like.

Thanksgiving and the other holidays are fast approaching if you’d like to scent your home “naturally” and without room sprays, inexpensive candles and plug-ins. Try this!

Your guests will notice! And you will too.

Time To Celebrate!💋💋💋💄

This is one of my absolute favorite days of the year!

It is National Lipstick day!

What color are you wearing today? Are you a lipstick girl or a glossy liquid lipstick girl?

I truly believe and my signature mantra is: “ A day without lipstick is like a day without sunshine”

What’s hot in the world of lipstick 💄💋?

💋Lipstick in general from soft to bold hues. Women are starting to pull out those lipstick tubes! Lip stains rule!

💋Lip conditioners and lip balms are HOT!! These face masks are making our lips dry as ever.

💋 Lip masks are HOT too! From Korea, Hong Kong and now made in the USA 🇺🇸 these masks are little miracle workers.

💋 The dark trimmed lip liner is out. Invisible or Nearly Nude are IN!

💋 Lip Exfoliators are a skin care necessity!

💋 if you vape or smoke cigarettes 🚬 maybe you want to give that a rest and rethink it. If you want your lips to look prettier and more youthful and kissable. You need to do the right thing. Each puff makes you wrinkle more! Day after day! Really!

💋 Wearing sunscreen on your face is a must. Also… pay particular attention to and protect the tissue on the upper lip area and chin from 🌞 sunburn and wrinkling!

💋 Honey 🍯 is a delicious and cheap lip treatment. It can be used on the lips only or all over the face!!

💋Lip brushes make your lipstick look better and your tube last longer. It is a makeup artists fave brush.

Do you have a passion for lipstick like I do? Share with me. I’d love ❤️ to know your go to. Fave color and why you love lipstick?

Have a fabulous National Lipstick Day! 💄💋

All the beautiful people and new products were in Las Vegas!

We beauty professionals and speakers have been waiting for over a year and half to reconnect with each other,educate and see what’s trending and new! The show did go on and I could not be BE ANY HAPPIER!

The International Esthetics Cosmetics and Spa Conference was wonderful! My class went well. I was thrilled with all the beautiful faces looking to learn all I had to share with them too!

Yes, there was social distancing but we did not have to wear a face mask 😷 while educating. The show attendees had the option if vaccinated they did not have to wear a mask. There were sanitation stations and there was mindful social distancing. Attendance was UP considering what we have been through. Lines to shop 🛍 were long but worth the wait. I can’t believe the crowds of beauty PROS and spa and salon owners so many happy faces.

It was wonderful to be out and about and to TRAVEL on an airplane again. Seeing lots of people was great and Delta Airlines took good care of me! Chatting with strangers and and seeing SMILING FACES without face covers and masks was beyond joyous.

It was HOT and steamy in beautiful Las Vegas and I got a chance to work and play!!! One day it was actually 116 degrees.

Networking at it’s finest! Like a GIANT COCKTAIL PARTY! The IECSC show even treated us to a cocktail 🍸 or other libations to toast and welcome us back!

Here is a list of what I discovered on that’s Trending and NEW! Some I predicted and knew but some trends I saw on the show floor.

Skin care is HOT! It is even more in than makeup! We got to see the latest in action with LIVE demos on the show floor.

Facial embellishments were a thing and step aside tattoos and piercings. Pearls,colorful stencils,flowers and bold eye designs.

Wellness is a MUST in our lives. We must take better care of ourselves!

“Caked on” made up faces are NOT happening. Makeup is heading softer and pretty is back.

Brows and lashes are cared for with serums of gold. Brow laminations are hot.

Lash Lifts are still in.

False Lashes depending on who you speak to are out but faux lash companies are still selling. All kinds of lashes and COLORS!

OVER done and over the top contouring is OUT!

Lip plumpers are still coveted alongside a gorgeous lipgloss or 💄 lipstick.

Shimmery GLOWY skin is still with us.

Dermaplaning is still hot!

Concealing the entire face with concealer, highlighters and foundation is not in.

Tinted shampoos in all colors too!

Root Powder coverups in all HUES!

HAIR YOU WEAR and take off …faux bangs,pony’s and more are not going away.

Glossy faces!

Bright shiny glass like skin for the hair.

💅 Nails are fresh and natural but also pointed and embellished and long!

Facial Masks reign supreme! ALL kinds of treatments,smell and feel amazing!

Celebrities weren’t the only ones on the Las Vegas Strip.

We were there and it felt so amazing!

Stay tuned for my next beauty adventure!

My aromatic Spring Cleansing treat!

Have you ever tried doing a facial steam for your skin? It feels so good and leaves your skin refreshed and dewy!

My new favorite skin recipe is to use a small sprinkle a handful of lavender buds, chamomile flowers and rose petals. A little goes a long way. They infuse the water with a light scented facial steam and looks so pretty!

Make a recipe for yourself or you can share with your clients at your spa or beauty business. All you need to do is pick up a few flowers and herbs depending on what you are going to make. Just remember if you have acne, rosacea or sensitive skin issues you might want to skip this beauty recipe.

There are so many choices to make in your kitchen!!!

Then all you need is a clean face and a bowl of hot water that you boiled in a pot on the stove top and poured into a glass bowl.
I like to use a glass bowl that you can see through. It makes the experience even more delightful.
Next, toss a few herbs or flowers of your choice. What are you in the mood for today? * You might even want to try a drop of your favorite essential oil. Like lavender or rose oil.
Place your face over the bowl and place a tea towel over your head and not to close.
Allow the warm STEAM to rise and to your face.
Do this for at least 5 to 10 minutes or until the water cools.
Your face will sweat and be damp. A good sign! The dead skin,traces of old makeup and impurities will sweat out.
Wash your face with a lukewarm washcloth and follow with and use your fave facial toner or astringent.
Apply a few drops of moisturizer and eye cream.
Let me know how you like it and any recipes you come up with!

So escape and enjoy a few minutes just for you! My husband even loves to do this too.

Farmer’s Market BEAUTY

Oh how I love to go to the Farmer’s Market and spread my shopping LOVE.

I also love the crunch and goodness of an apple. I like the green apples. But red are delicious too.You know what they say “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

I even scoop up and eat the rest of the apple left from making this mask.

Here is a recipe a client shared with me for a mask I have enjoyed for years. I like to use it on the face and neck especially around this time of apple picking year.

What you need to Make DIY this face mask:

1 fresh apple grated or pureed

2 Tbsp of crushed oats

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

1 Tsp of organic honey

Put all the above in a small bowl. Apply it to a clean face with clean hands or a facial mask brush. It may be a little messy for you. But so worth it. If you want to make it more moist add some bottled (not tap) water for a creamier consistency.

Leave this recipe mix on the face at least 15 minutes.

Beauty benefits include a gentle exfoliation while the apple and honey leave the skin hydrated,plump and glowing.

Please note: IF you are allergic to any of these ingredients do not use the ingredient you might be allergic to.

This natural face mask is great for normal to combination skin.

Enjoy!

If you are looking for a product at a spa, skin clinic and online that packs a pretty beauty punch with the benefits of apples malic acid. Great for even the most sensitive he skin!

Try this brand. Created by a woman business owner and skincare professional! She guest speaks and educated alongside me at spa shows across the country!

Check out her Instagram stories and feed. Her tips and tricks are awesome!

The company says “An Apple 🍏 🍎 a day will peel wrinkles away!”

Although I don’t have many wrinkles… I’ll take it.

Can a pineapple make you pretty?

Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Pexels.com

Yes, it can!

It was another long holiday weekend and It was time to do something fun! But since we can’t get out like we usually do we have to do things that make us happy at home too.

Since March I have not touched a face. My beauty cottage is open for pickup orders at our door. And we are happily shipping mail orders. I’m doing virtual events and have already begun getting ready for the holiday season. Yes, it’s important to think about that as business owners.

But back to the fun part! I took some time to enjoy giving myself a natural and Gentle exfoliating facial at home. And I made this tropical drink.

Anti-inflammatory,digestive support and refreshing in a smoothie and as a facial on your face!

Pineapples 🍍 rock!

I love natural beauty and since our immune systems needs to stay strong in this time of Covid-19. I’m trying to keep my husband and I and family healthy. In my business I usually serve juice shots which are fresh made juice mini serving drinks. One of my all time fave’s is with pineapple.

Here is what I do for my skin. I cleanse the skin and apply slices of the pineapple directly to the skin. I leave it on the skin at least 20 minutes. Next I rinse my skin and follow up with a rosewater skin toner. It is just a gentle exfoliant and a quick fix on the cheap!

Sipping Pineapple 🍍 Tropical 🌴 Smoothie

Here’s what you will need:

1 cup of fresh or frozen pineapple

1 1/2 cups of coconut 🥥 water

1/2 cup of coconut milk in a can

1 cup of frozen Pitaya dragon fruit

1 cup of frozen peaches

A dash of honey if you’d like!

Place all of the above in your blender. Blend until it’s creamy and dreamy. Sometimes I add a zest or dash of the juice of a lemon or lime.

Adding ice cubes is optional.

Add a drink umbrella ⛱ and you’re all set!

I hope you’ll try my drink recipe and or this easy twist on a facial

FYI

If you are allergic to pineapples OR anything else in this recipe in this recipe…please do not use them.

Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Squeaky Clean 🧼

Photo by Burst on Pexels.com

And while you are at it CLEAN them in a liquid jewelry cleaner. 💍

Or better yet in a SterileLight disinfecting case I told you about a few weeks back. Keep it clean and know you are doing the right thing.

By the way, don’t you just love my lip ring? Even on a quarantine day I want to look good and have some fun!

Have you heard about?

There are so many exciting things happening in beauty and new brands emerging into the US.

The latest one is Cure Natural Aqua gel from Japan. It is the most amazing and gentle skin exfoliant I have ever found or used. It is not just for the face but the entire body. I love the results on the tops of my hands too. My clients love it and my husband is even using it too.

The company says “Skin ages and varies from country to country and this is due to the differences in climate and humidity between locations. The best thing for your skin is to keep it moisturized and to prevent dehydration.
If you normally use just lotion without toner, we strongly recommend that you make a new discovery.” I so agree.

To get started:

Wash the face as you normally would. Dry off completely.

Benefits:

Anti-Aging, brightening skin tone and smooths the skin.
Brighten effect has been proved by Japan’s biggest health magazine.
Awarded “Skincare Brand of the Year” by World Branding Awards.

NO FRAGRANCE ● NO COLORING ● NO PRESERVATIVE

How it Works:
Natural Aqua Gel gently catches dead skin cells on the surface of the skin and removes them without using strong acids. It helps skin metabolism function better.
There is no need to rub or scrub your skin hard and you will be surprised at how smooth your skin has become.

Beneficial effects of gel should last approximately 3 to 4 months if used properly once or twice a week.

How to use it:

Wash your face as you normally would. Dry off completely.

Pump the nozzle 3 to 5 times to obtain the appropriate amount of gel onto your fingertips and apply to the desired area. Leave on skin for a few moments allowing Cure to react with the dead skin cells.

Gently massage in circular motion for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Do not rub too hard. The gel will turn in to a milky white color, and beads of dead skin cells can be seen as they are lifted off the skin.

Rinse well with water and then continue and follow with your regular skincare routine and or facial.

For best results, I like to use Cure Natural Aqua Gel twice a week.

Once a thin layer of dried skin is removed, it allows the other skincare products that you use daily to work.

Cure Natural gel is my new go to! It is so worth looking into.

And it doesn’t cost a fortune.

Energizing scents!

Today I had to be on TV and was sleepless in Seattle and woke up very early. I also had to go to my makeup and skin studio and worked all day. In the middle of the afternoon I needed a lift between clients. I was tired. I’m never tired! So, instead of reaching out for coffee I did this. If you need a lift over the holiday season at work or at play…TRY THIS!

Looking for a boost of plant energy during a hectic day at work? OR at home 🏡after holiday shopping?

Look to Mother Nature!

Try rubbing some basil leaves together. Or fresh peppermint leaves work as well. The aromatic scents will refresh your spirit. I keep a variety of plants and one of each of these at my business door and in my beauty kitchen. Ready for cooking, ice tea or aromatherapy.

Not all aromatherapy has to come from a bottle of essential oil.

Enjoy!

green basil leaves — Photo by monicore on Pexels.com

Pumpkin Pretty D.I.Y.

An you feel the almost arrival of fall?

My husband says “I kiss better than I cook” 😁 But I so enjoy entertaining,cooking and makeup! I also love this time of year and all the decor and recipes to celebrate fall.

Today I went to the store and discovered a potpourri of pumpkins 🎃 and more.

So to celebrate 🎊 this time of year here is a recipe to do for YOU and or on your clients too! You’ll be tempted to eat it but don’t. The room will smell divine while and after making this facial treat.

close up photography of pumpkins — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Pretty Pumpkin Pie 🎃 facial mask

What you will need:

1 can of pumpkin pie filling

1 teaspoon of honey

1 sprinkle of nutmeg

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

Stir in all of the above in a bowl. What you will have is a creamy and dreamy gentle natural exfoliation mask. No harsh chemicals. I find even my clients with sensitive skin love to use this and have no issues.

You may use fresh pumpkin but I love using the can in a pinch!

*But please do a patch test on the inside of your arm near your wrist or a section of your face to see if you have a slight reaction. If you have allergies to these ingredients don’t use this D.I.Y.

I like to leave this on at least 10 minutes. Rinse with luke warm water and a washcloth. Afterwards use your facial toner and moisturizer.

Place remains in a small jam or condiments jar you recycled and you can use it again in a few days.

Sip a cold glass of fresh apple 🍎 cider and you’ll make the day even more delicious.

Enjoy!