recipe – Life, Lipstick, & Glowing Skin

Need an energy lift?

When days are busy or long and you’re hungry and need a an energy boost… Try this! Working in beauty and wellness is glam but schedules can be crazy and hectic. At times theres no time to eat. I try to keep fruit on hand to eat. Bananas and fresh green apples fill you fast and hit the spot. Staying hydrated with 💦 water is another must.

But making a recipe like this shake keeping these supplies on hand help. This shake will get you through until you can eat a real meal. This is cocoa rich creamy and dreamy recipe!

What you will need to make this shake:

1 ripe banana

2 Tbsp of cocoa powder

2 Tbsp cashew butter

1 1/2 cups of milk (of your choice)

4 dates (pitted)

4 ice cubes

Place the above in a blender and blend until frothy and fabulous!

Pour into a pretty glass and take a “shake break”. Depending on the size of your glass this recipe makes a few servings.

* Please Note: if you prefer peanut butter. Use it instead. But if you’re a cashew girl or guy you’ll love the cashew butter.

Enjoy!

If you have a recipe you’d like to share with me. Do tell!

Go Bananas!

It’s already HOT in sunny Florida where I live. But other places are feeling summer not spring where they live. I see a lot of beach babes here already basking in the 🌞 sun and frying their hair & skin!

So, I thought I’d share a natural treatment mask you can do that is for the hair!

What you will need to do this mask:

My clients love this mask too. I like to share with them too!

1 ripe banana 🍌

1 tablespoon of olive 🫒 oil

1 teaspoon of local honey 🍯

I learned this recipe when I traveled to Italy. I love interviewing locals on their beauty secrets wherever I go.

Simply mash and mix all of the above in a small bowl. Stir well. It will be gooey a bit but so worth it!

I apply the mask with my hands and leave it on at least 15 minutes. Rinse well and shampoo with a little bit of shampoo. You don’t need to use cream rinse afterwards.

*FYI … If you want to tweak this recipe by adding more olive oil,a dash more of honey or half of another banana you can. If you want to do this on your husbands hair he will benefit from it too!

Olive oil does so much for the face & body!

I love whipping up natural recipes in my beauty kitchen!

🍁 Skin Care that’s so Fall !

Photo by Anastasia Latunova on Pexels.com

It’s my favorite time of year. I love 🧡 The scents of fall and all things 🎃 pumpkins and decorating my home and my business office with fall decor.

I miss Beautiful New York and walking through Central Park especially when the leaves are in full fall peak bloom! I’m Florida fall leaves and all are not quite the same. But I do love the exotic palm trees 🌴 all around me!

So because a few of you asked I thought I’d share one of my favorite pumpkin DIY scrub recipes I like to do! You don’t have to buy one! Make your own on the cheap! Especially if you have the ingredients on hand. This can also be used as a exfoliating FACE Polish. But if you have acne or Rosacea. Skip it. You’ll want to eat this mix but don’t! It smells so delightful when done!

What you will need for this Aromatic Body Scrub:

1 cup of brown or white sugar

1/2 cup of sweet almond oil

1/2 cup of coconut oil (organic)

1/2 cup of pumpkin in a can

Sprinkle of nutmeg or Pumpkin Pie Spice!

A large mouth mason jar.

🎃 Stir all of the above in a bowl.

🎃 Place in a glass jar. Scoop out a soup size spoonful when you’re ready to use.

🎃 Apply on clean damp skin. Work in circular motions. Neck, hands.arms,stomach,buttocks,legs,feet and enjoy the exfoliating beauty of this scrub.

🎃 Leave on your body at least 15 minutes.

🎃 Rinse well and apply your favorite body oil or lotion.

Your skin will FEEL so delicious and soft.

Did you know pumpkin is a “turn on” for men? If you want to create a little magic. You know what to do!

I want CANDY! 🍫

I am addicted to sweets I’ll admit that!

Naturally, I had to share a yummy chocolate recipe with you! Your bestie, your lover or family too!

Crazy for Chocolate 🍫 Face Mask

What you will need to make this face recipe:

👄1/3 of organic natural cocoa powder

* (not the ones you use for making cookies)

👄 2 TSP of Heavy cream (milk works too) But I like the mask creamier.

👄 1 or 2 TSP of 🍯 honey

Place all of these ingredients in a bowl. Or a small clean jam jar. Recycled one from your kitchen even better.

Stir well by hand.

Apply this decadent chocolate potion on a clean face and neck. I use clean fingers or a mask brush. But if you have a husband or boyfriend who has a shaving brush they don’t use anymore…ask him for it! It works just as well too!

Leave the chocolate mask on your face and neck at least 15 minutes.

Rinse well and enjoy the yummiest smelling skin ever!

Cacao is an ancient old discovery from Mayan times and not only delightful to eat and drink chocolate also is filled with nutrients and makes your skin glow!

Refreshing Pumpkin 🎃 Polish!

As you may know by now I love 💛* pumpkins!

Here’s one of favorite recipes I love to use and have shared with my clients too!

What you will need for this DIY body recipe:

1/2 cup of sweet almond oil

1/2 cup of organic coconut oil

1 cup of raw sugar

1/2 cup of pumpkin purée

* Optional but aromatic You can add a sprinkling of cinnamon spice or a dash of nutmeg!

Stir all of these ingredients and place in a jam or jelly jar. Tighten that lid. Lasts a few days in the refrigerator.

Apply on a clean body and enjoy this aromatic skin polishing you’ve created! Leave on at least 10 mins. Rinse well.

Please do not use this recipe if you are allergic to any of the above. Also if in doubt do a patch test in the inner forearm or wrist. if it turns red or itches it’s no for you. This rarely happens just a word of wisdom.

Makes a great gift idea! Hostess, holiday, Birthday or a treat just got you!

Let’s make some…Spa water!

I recently traveled to Las Vegas for work and play! They have the best spas and shopping! Today for throwback Thursday I am thinking of some of my fabulous spa moments and SPA Water.

As we are still in hot summer days I thought I’d share a recipe that I so love to make for my clients and family.

Sweet & Refreshing Strawberry and Pineapple Water. Both pineapples and strawberries have so many beauty and body benefits.

Pineapples help your gut and digestive tract. Packed with nutrients,antioxidants and enzymes. They also help to decrease your getting colds and infections. On the skin they are a great gentle skin exfoliator. A delicious sweet treat!

Photo by Pineapple Supply Co. on Pexels.com

Strawberries are a juicy form of Vitamin C. Eating them can help to lower the risk of cancer some doctors say. Can help reduce diabetes,heart disease and more .They too can be used as a fresh face mask mashed up and applied to the skin.

1 pineapple (cored) and sliced

1 large container of strawberries cut up in slices

1 pitcher of water

*ice cubes are optional

Serve cool or cold.

Did you know one of actress Catherine Zita Jones beauty secrets is to apply slices of fresh cut strawberries on her teeth to brighten them?

I hope you have fun with these tips and recipes and try them for your complexion, a fruity snack or to make SPA water.

😎 Keep Cool!

Oh it’s so HOT and steamy outside! Isn’t it?

When out of town I made myself a cocktail and facial slushee in my hotel room. Yes even on the road I love to whip up treats for my husbands and my skin. We both can’t seem to cool down and our eyes are puffy from all the salty snacks and yummy food.

You know puffy eyes are caused by water retention. A cold, allergies,food,drinking alcohol and jet ✈️ lag all can give you unwanted puffy eyes!

So 🥒 cucumbers to the rescue!

I ❤️ love to use cucumbers for puffy eyes, beverages, as a snack and in delicious salads I so enjoy.

It is such a cool and delicious treat to use on your eye lids abs under puffy eyes and to eat.

What you will need is:

1 fresh cucumber

Ice cubes (crushed)

1 washcloth

Crush ice cubes and add the scooped out cucumber 🥒 pulp.

A cucumber 🥒 and ice slushee is the answer!

Place into a washcloth and lay down on a bed or a recliner. Close your eyes and just chill in more ways than one.We relaxed and did it for 15 minutes.

Another way to cool down is a bottle of Perrier or Italian sparkling 💦 water like San Pellegrino.

Add some 🥒 cucumber slices and some fresh squeezed lemon 🍋 juice. Place a few lemon slices into the glass.

If you’re not traveling and at a hotel. You can do this at home. Make a pitcher of water add lemon 🍋 and cucumbers. It is so refreshing and cooling. Ice is optional.

Some doctors say that drinking iced 💦 water with lots of ice cubes actually doesn’t cool you off. They suggest room temperature or slightly chilled water with no ice is best! Interesting huh?

Keep cool 😎!

Life is kinda crazy these days!

Hasn’t it been for all of us?

I’m back from guest speaking in Las Vegas and all went beautifully. But I am STILL trying to recover from high temperatures, swollen ankles and the fun I had!

I got to unpack my bags this weekend and classroom supplies and enjoy a 4th of July with an intimate barbeque and yummy treats. I so appreciated the timing and safe return to have this long holiday weekend. After watching the news I am grateful I did not have any travel issues at two airports.

Yesterday I felt like whipping up a bath salt soak and I thought you might like to try to make this DIY too.

1 1/2 Tbsp. jojoba oil (as a carrier oil)

3-12 drops of lemon 🍋 essential oil (or grapefruit essential oil)

1 1/2 or 2 cups of Epsom salts

Use immediately or you must store in an airtight container. Will last safely a few days.

So refreshing and relaxing.

When life gives you a crazy schedule and you’re exhausted…

Take care of yourself with a 😎 Lemonade Lemon Bath 🛀 to soak in and just chill out!

Sip a glass of fresh lemonade or enjoy some Lemoncello. 🍋 and make your ME time bath even sweeter.

And don’t forget to add some mint to your drink or lemonade!

*Tweak this recipe as needed especially if you want to make more.

Note: if you are allergic to any of these ingredients don’t use them. Substitute for another ingredient.

Enjoy!

Yummy Skin Smoothies

I love to play on my beauty kitchen. And I love to cook too!

Today I craved a smoothie. My avocados 🥑 were over ripe so I decided to whip up an Avocado smoothie with a dash of an apple 🍏 I had leftover. I call this my afternoon delight snack.

What you will need for this recipe:

1 peeled and pitted avocado

2 apple slices

1 cup of milk of your choice

1/8 teaspoon of vanilla

A dash of sugar (optional)

Add ice cubes

Blend above until creamy and smooth.

Good for you! Loaded with vitamins, fiber and fats your body needs.

Sometimes you just CRAVE greens 🥬.

Don’t you?

If you’ve got an avocado that’s about to go bad or too mushy… make a face & neck mask out of it. Simply mash it up and apply to clean skin.

Leave on your skin at least 10 minutes.

Rinse and add your favorite moisturizer.

Your skin will feel awesome especially after a day at the beach 🏖 or hot summer day.

Got a recipe you’d like to share with me?

Do tell. I love ❤️ hearing from you.

Sandal season is here…

I featured on TV Friday a segment on DIY manicures & pedicures. The TV show viewers sent me a few requests to help them keep toe nail fungus away or to help with any future issues. Here is a pedicure that you can do at home. It seems as though I hear and see more fungus issues on the toes. Wether it is a little problem or big one here is an easy ecipe to try!

For some states spring is finally here! However for others you’re still getting snow. But no matter what sandal season and signs of spring into summer are here.

You’ll need to buy a few supplies:

Tea Tree essential oil (I love ❤️ Aura Cacia)

1 Basin of warm to a bit hot water 💦

1 Nail Scrub brush

1 teaspoon Clay mask powder

1 body lotion or foot cream

1 pair of white cotton socks

🍃First sprinkle about 5 drops of tea tree oil in a basin. Soak your feet in a water filled foot bath and wash them. Do this soak at least 15 minutes.

🍃Next, apply an exfoliating body scrub to your feet.

*If you don’t have one make one with white sugar and olive or sunflower oil. Be careful it will be a bit slippery.

🍃Next rinse well.

🍃Make a foot mask out of clay powder. Water and a few drops of tea tree oil. Mix in a bowl and apply mask to foot and mail bed. Leave this mask on and allow it to dry completely.

🍃Rinse your feet again. and apply your favorite body lotion.

🍃Dry your feet and apply a pair of white cotton socks and just chill or go to bed.

🍃Tea Tree oil has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. It speeds up the healing process. It really helps with its anti-fungal benefits to prevent foot and toe nail infections.

Your feet 🦶 will feel so refreshed and IF you have a problem with a nail fungus infection this treatment will work wonders.

If you have a severe problem on your nails on the hands and feet … it’s always best to see a doctor.

Keep your feet prettier, handsome and healthier!

They take you wherever you need to go.