Color me Mango!

The absolutely delicious fruit that is sooooo good you just cant help but want to eat the whole thing in 2 seconds. (Well at least for me)

So of course this delicious fruit can be used in more ways than one.. you guessed it.. on your face for baby smooth healthy skin!

The big cosmetics companies have been slapping the “AHA” label on skin cleansers, creams and masks for a few years now, but translate that sciencey-sounding name (AHA stands for alpha-hydroxy acids) and you get simple fruit acids, which you can find in high concentrations in the skin and meat of a variety of fruits, and without the preservatives beauty products usually use.- Starr Vartan (Green Living Expert)

So you know what this means ladies... time to get your glow on and start making use of these simple fruit acids the right way.

As I mentioned before, I suffered from terrible cystic acne and when I finally dropped all the big brand names and went O'Naturaaaal (simple basic ingredients I could pronounce and understand) I was left with lots of scars all over my cheeks and chin. I was referred to a dermatologist by a friend and they were so quick to do a citric acid peel to rid the top layers of my skin so that the new "fresh" skin could come out. (What they really meant was to pour some crazy acid on my face that burned like hell and then proceeded to leave me looking like a Mike N Ike's Hot Tamale for 2 weeks- not kidding) Did I mention they assured me my skin would only be "sensitive" for about 2 days (what they really mean is hide in a dark room and don't try to touch your face for a whole week cause you will scream bloody murder)... yea... about that.

If you never had this type of experience then THANK goodness... cause I don't wish that upon my worst enemy.. lol (or do I) ;)

So, I did my research and found that I could help lighten my spots with natural citric acids found in common fruit we eat, such as Mango!

After a few attempts trying to find the right mix I finally was able to come up with something real snazy that my face just eats up (oh and yes of course has played a huge role in getting rid of my acne scars)

By now you should know my main ingredient with almost every mask is FULL fat yogurt ( I really believe this is miracle in a jar for you skin and body)

First, I want to share with you the massage technique you should be using when you do anything on your face, i.e cleanse, mask, ect.
(not only does it feel good.. it helps stimulate the blood in your face)



 On to the yummy mask:

Mango Sunshine Mask

What you will need:

• 1/4 cup full fat yogurt
• 1/2 mango
• small mixing bowl
• foundation brush (optional)
• 2 squirts of honey
• small facial towel

1. Mix full fat yogurt , honey, and mango (smash up the ripe mango with a fork) in small mixing bowl. Place in fridge to cool.
2. Cleanse face thoroughly and pat dry. Use foundation brush or clean fingers to smooth on skin (this is where the cool massage technique comes in and feels really good!)
3. Enjoy the cool feeling on your skin.. check your FB or play with the puppy.. lol (just beware that pups like to try and eat this mask.. Miss Bella)
4. Let the mask sit for 15 minutes, then use the small wash cloth to gently wash off the mask (with warm water).
5. Do a cold water splash on your face (this will sure wake you up but most importantly will help close the pores)
6. Gently pat skin dry and apply your favorite moisturizer

**Note**

Make sure to use sunscreen as the natural fruit acids leave your skin more prone to sun damage.



The secret life of Jojoba oil

Jojoba oil, a secret 007 agent that presents itself as "oil" but really is a secret multitasker,the moment we hear oil our automatic reaction is to RUN!

Fear not beautiful people, Jojoba oil is the secret oil that has so many wonderful uses I wish I could just roll in a bath full of it!

Here is the "down low" on this fabulous oil:

For centuries, Native Americans of the great Southwest have extracted this oil from the seeds of the desert jojoba shrub to treat wounds and moisturize skin and hair. Many of jojoba’s beneficial properties come from the fact that it matches the molecular structure of hair and skin sebum. As a result, it can quickly penetrate your skin and scalp without leaving an oily residue.

In beauty school my teacher always had a giant bottle of Jojoba oil and when it came time to perform any exercise such as facials, hair treatments, and nail care the first thing she would reach for was that giant bottle of Jojoba.

I'm not going to lie, I suffered from very bad cystic acne for about 3-4 years and in my eyes "oil" was the devil and I shuttered at the very thought of putting it anywhere near my face or hair for the fear that my situation would get worse.... I was WRONG.

I like to think of my face as a bank, the natural oil produced by your face is taken away when you wash your face and you need to replace the same amount of oil you washed away so your skin does not attempt to compensate for the oil lost, thus creating what we all fear... a horrible "OIL SLICK" and clogged pores (big sad face).

So through trial and error along with a few staple products throughout the years I have conquered my battle and still to this day always keep  a bottle of Jojoba oil in my cabinet for everyday use.

Here are some example you can use this 007 Secret Agent Oil:

1. Eye and Face Makeup Remover

Add a few drops of jojoba oil to fingers or to a cotton ball and wipe over eyes and face. Rinse off with water and follow with regular cleanser.

2. Facial Cleanser and Moisturizer

To cleanse normal to dry skin, apply with a few drops on fingers or cotton ball. Remove with water. Pat a few more drops on to damp skin for a lasting moisture treatment.

3. Body Moisturizer

Apply immediately after shower or bath, while skin is still damp It seals in moisture, leaving skin soft and smooth.

4. Massage and Bath Oil

Great for a massage therapist or for use at home. Perfect for sensitive skin. Add a few drops to your bath to leave skin moisturized, soft, and smooth.

5. Foot and Hand Softener

Use alone or add a few drops to your regular moisturizer. For an intense foot treatment, apply oil, wrap in gauze and put on socks. Leave on for at least one hour. Feet will be beautifully soft
and smooth.

6. Hair and Scalp Massage

Add a few drops to hands. Massage into scalp to relieve dryness.

7. Deep Conditioning Treatment for Hair

Pour a quarter-sized amount of oil into hands. Smooth over damp hair, applying most of oil to ends. Leave on for 5-10 minutes. Shampoo out and style as usual. To help mend split ends, rub one or two drops into your hand and then apply to ends of your hair. Apply while hair is still damp to help smooth frizzies.

8. Lip Conditioner

Apply to finger and smooth onto lips. Works great as an overnight treatment.

9. Cuticle Oil

Apply a few drops to rough, dry cuticles at least once per day.

10. Shaving Prep and Aftershave

Apply to beard or desired area beneath your shaving product. Helps prevent razor burn and leaves skin smooth and soft. Apply directly after shaving to effectively soothe and moisturize skin.

Jojoba oil has been so good to me over the years and I whole heartily believe it has been one of the reasons my face has come back from something very horrible that no one should have to go through. I have also given Jojoba as a gift to my family members such as my grandmother because she has chronic dry skin all over her body and have her using this along with a second moisturiser to help keep her skin hydrated
If you have any questions or just curious about this special oil please do research on it, there is plenty of information on the Internet and YouTube videos with tips and tricks plus raving reviews.

Happy Hump Day Ladies!
XoXoXo

Tis the season... to Strawberry it up!

Pampering your skin with this seasons delicious fruit has never been easier, with a few key ingredients and about 30 minutes your skin will be smiling.

The ever so delicious fruit 

Fact:

Strawberries contain salicylic acid that rids the skin of dead cells, makes your skin pores smaller and your face look brighter and shinier. They gently refresh and exfoliate the skin, remove impurities, and reduce redness and swelling, which is wonderful for a cleansing and skin softening facial mask.

DIY Strawberry Yogurt Mask 

You will need: 

• 3 to 4 ripe strawberries
• 1/2 cup full fat plain yogurt
• small mixing bowl
• pot to boil water
• small face towel to pat face dry
• large towel to use during steam
• medium bowl
• 1 chamomile tea bag

Instructions:

1. Boil water and pour into medium bowl and let chamomile tea bag steep for about 3 minutes.
2. Cut the tops of strawberries of and cut into small slices. In small bowl use fork to smash strawberries into a mush like paste.
3. Add 1/2 cup full fat yogurt to small bowl and mix thoroughly. There should be small chunks of strawberries present in the mixture. (place mixture in the fridge to keep cool while you steam)
4. Place your face above the bowl of steam and use large towel to cover your head. Steam for about 5 minutes. **caution not to get too close to the steam or you might burn your skin**
5. Once you have steamed your face, pat dry with small face towel and use fingers to smooth the mask onto your face taking caution of eyes, nose, and mouth.
6. Let sit for about 15-20 minutes (this is a perfect time to lay down and relax)
7. Use luke warm water to wash your face using circular motions to help exfoliate and get the blood flowing in the skin.
8. Pat dry and apply favorite moisturiser
9. Look in the mirror and enjoy!

There is nothing like a little EVOO....

I don't know about you, but I love my flip flops!
Between all the dancing, dry hands, and beach hoping my skin has been on the NOT so Soft side. My hands are finally starting to sprout up with callus from all the pole work (so NOT complaining.. lol) and my knees and elbows and feet are starting to show all the floor work I'm doing.

So, naturally I needed to find a solution and its right in our kitchens.

Brown Sugar

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Simple. Easy. Effective- You all know that how I like things to be

Here is my recipe for some gentle yet effective exfoliation:

*this recipe makes enough to exfoliate your entire body*
*this can be a bit messy, highly recommended to be done in the shower*

1/4 cup of EVOO
1/2 cup of brown sugar

• Mix both ingredients in a bowl to create a scrub/paste
• Make a nice steamy shower and apply paste with hands while lightly rubbing in a circular motion
• leave on for a minute or two to soak up into skin
• wash off either with hands or a small washcloth if you prefer. (Some don't like the slight oil feeling left behind so you do have the option to wipe off residue with small cloth)
• Pat skin dry with towel, and Whaaala... soft, smooth, glowing skin for pennies on the dollar
• ENJOY

I have used this recipe many times and this simple recipe is very effective on all parts of the skin.

The Frizzz Pot, I think NOT!

Did your hair poof up like a blow fish this past weekend with all the humidity and tropical weather we had? Normally, I would say "I sure did" but not this time.

The HoTT trend with Moroccan and Argan oil is still in high demand, and I am on the same bandwagon except there are about 50 various brands of oil to choose from. Luckily, Ive tried about 45 of them... seriously. (this is where having your hair lisc comes in handy)

Ladies, I would like you  to meet : Rusk Deep Shine Oil

WHAT IS IT? Deepshine® Oil is a marine mineral-enriched argan oil treatment that smooths the cuticle, eliminates frizz, and improves elasticity and hydration, leaving hair soft, silky and manageable.

WHO IS IT FOR? Deepshine® Oil is perfect for all hair types.

WHAT DOES IT DO? Deepshine® Oil smooths the cuticle, eliminates frizz, and imparts incredible shine and condition.

HOW DO YOU USE IT? For styling, thermal protection and frizz control, apply a small amount to damp hair and style. For finishing, apply a few drops to dry hair as needed.

I honestly think the BEST part of this oil is you can add 2-3 drops into your color to help seal in the color and get amazing shine with an added conditioning treatment.

I tend to use about 4-5 drops when humidity strikes or I wake up looking like this..

No one should have to walk around battling the even demon of Frizz, its just not fair!
I really love this oil because its so versatile, you can use with damp or dry hair.. add to your color, Ive even added 1-2 drops into my shampoo for extra TLC.

Simple. Easy. Effective- That's how I like my products to work

So if you battle the frizz demon I would suggest to give this a try, even if you don't.. I would say  still give this a try, the results are phenomenal.

Lets Get Glowing

Did you know that your kitchen has a secret? Several as a matter of fact, but today we are shedding some light on one of the most common products found in your kitchen.

OATMEAL

Just looking at it makes me hungry, yumm!

So what can this wholesome delicious-ness do for you skin?
I'm going to have to make this list short and compact because the list is MiGhTy long!

• Works as a natural exfoliator and anti-inflammatory agent
• Gentle on all skin types and especially recommended for problematic and sensitive skin types
• When used as a skin cleanser absorbs and removes surface dirt and impurities leaving skin smooth, soft, and clean.
• As a mask, oatmeal deep cleans pores without irritating and drying out skin
• As a facial scrub, oatmeal gently but effectively removes dead skin cells to reveal softer, smoother looking skin.

Ive seen oatmeal work wonders on  cystic acne, eczema, rosacea, dry parched skin, and even help regulate oilier skin types.

No need to go out and spend your hard earned cash on expensive name brand, I honestly buy mine at the 99Cent store... no joke, I really do! Instead of buying one box of plain oatmeal I will buy two, one to eat, and the other for my beauty regimen!
Here is the brand I use, Ive seen this brand at the 99Cent stores as well as Big Lots... both stores always have them in stock.

The pouches are perfect portion size for my tummy and face.

Here is a simple DIY oatmeal cleansing paste that will honestly get your skin glowing in all the right ways.

You need:

• Oats
• Hot water/Milk (use milk if your skin is VERY dry and needs moisture)
• Chamomile Tea Bag
• Small bowl

Directions:

1. Heat up 1/2cup of water/milk either in microwave or stove top
2. Once liquid is very warm, steep chamomile bag into liquid and let it sit for about 3-4 minutes. Use spoon to squeeze out excess liquid from bag.
3. Place 1/2cup oats in small bowl and slowly mix in liquid mixture (in small quantities) such as you would when making oatmeal to eat. You want the oatmeal to have enough liquid to create a paste.
4. If you put too much water in the bowl just add more oats to help thicken it up and vise versa.
5. Once mixture thickens up, tie your hair up and back because this can be a mess if you have hair flying everywhere.
6. Spread mixture with clean hands using your fingertips as a brush using circular motions to help stimulate the blood on your face.
7. Don't be afraid to spend extra time spreading it on and giving your face a much needed massage... your face will thank you later :)
8. If you need alittle more moisture than usual go ahead and leave the oatmeal on your face for about 5-10 minutes.
9. If not, then you can proceed to cleanse off with warm water using circular motions when washing your face so that you are gently exfoliate your skin.
10. Pat skin dry and apply your favorite moisturiser, and ENJOY glowing skin!

This is how I feel afterwards, and you will too :)

Well ladies, hope you all enjoyed this segment of DIY skincare... until next time!

If you have any questions or special requests for DIY masks, cleansers, toners please don't hesitate to ask, the answers are only a blog post away <3



Gym Bag 101

Fact: Physical activity does wonders for your complexion

Fact: Sweat can cause skin irritation and even acne if not cleansed properly after workout.

Between my yoga, piyo, and pole fitness classes I am often looking for a small collection of products that have multipurpose solutions because I am all about simplicity and effectiveness.

I'm going to list a collection of products that have helped me keep clean, fresh, and keep my skin happy...

First we have what I call amazing-nesssss in a bag, Yes to Cucumbers Facial Wipes. These little babies can be found in the travel section for about $1.25 and have saved my skin on numerous occasions.

After a complete sweat session I use one to wipe my face and even body down.
Benefits:

• Free of Parabens, Phthalates and SLS
• Calms and soothes irritated skin
• Helps rebuild damaged cells
• Gently keeps skin well hydrated

Second we have Johnson's Baby Powder, perfect for those pesky little areas that collect sweat (between boobs and lady bit areas). I even use this on my feet on occasion when I get so sweaty I'm literally sliding all around the floor. In all, this stuff does the trick to soak up any super sweaty spots without having a yucky feeling afterwards, plus it smells so good too!

Next we have another daily essential, deodorant (brand is really on you because every body is different). I switch between Degree and Dove, my two Fav!

Next we have a lotion that wont quit on you, ever! EOS Active Care Hand & Body Lotion.
Benefits:

• Fast acting
• NON-Greasy
• 97%natural
• Oat extract, cucumber, Shea butter, and vitamins C and E

I slather this baby on after a workout (usually in the car or in the restroom) and I can say it never leaves a sticky residue and has a fresh scent so for the ladies on the Go, this is perfect.(plus you can also use a bit on your face to help rehydrate!)

Last item is a little gem, you can pick up a travel size from your local Planet Beauty or Ulta for about $4-5 bucks. I call this my bang for my buck secret weapon for my crazy after workout hair, my frizz is outta this world after a workout and this stuff makes it all ok and helps keep the sweat from completely penetrating into my long strands.

Little goes along way with this stuff, Ive had my bottle for about 3 months and I'm just now making a dent in the bottle. With a dime size amount for my long hair I can smooth out the unruly and keep those strands under wraps!
So ladies, these are just a few of my essentials you will find in my gym bag. I am more active now than ever and although its good for me, it can honestly wreck havoc on my skin, hair, and body. In total I probably spent around $20 on all my "goodies" but they last me forever and are all worth every penny.

Enjoy

It's time we have the talk.... about Mineral Makeup

Not going to lie, I am a real stickler when it comes to makeup because I have such sensitive revengeful skin when a product has too many "fillers" or "ingredients I cant even pronounce".
I'm a basics kind of gal and look for products that are versatile, well made, and don't have an enormous ingredients list that I have to google.

For 4 years now I have used Everyday Minerals, a small company in Texas that creates exceptional mineral makeup and has amazing makeup brushes for a reasonable price.

The company has 4 different formulas to choose from:

• Semi-Matte: Moisturizing silk to satin finish, full coverage and for all skin types
• Matte Base: Naturally matte buildable coverage, full coverage, for all skin types and shine free
• Intensive Base: Perfectly matte with extra coverage, for normal-oily types
• Original Glo: Luminous with light reflecting minerals, medium to full coverage, normal to dry skin types

I have tried every single formula and I switch from original glo (winter time) to Semi-matte (summer), the best part is you can use the mineral foundation just as it is and buff it on your face, or you can mix it with your moisturizer/sunscreen to instantly create a tinted moisturizer and or full fledged foundation (I have done both and love the customizable results).
They graciously offer $5 base sample kit

I mean really, this is a steal... right? I think so

When you order they are always sending you samples of items and are not stingy with samples either, most of their samples will last me a few months so I am all for free samples!

The website is easy to navigate and prices range anywhere from $5 to $20 dollars and to be honest the bang is very much so worth your buck. The only drawback about this company is you can only purchase on-line, but rest assured.. they have lightning speed shipping. I will place my order in the morning and that afternoon I receive e-mail notification my package of goodies is being shipped to me. 

So ladies, if your in the market or even curious about trying mineral makeup.. go ahead.. give this a whirl, it's definitely worth it.

Here is the promo of the week... all THREE for FREE with any $25 purchase. (I can guarantee you that these "travel" sizes will last you months)

To visit the site, please see the link for "Everyday Minerals" under the Holy Grail that is located to your left hand side under the about me section. :D

Sweat + Hair = Dry Strands that are NO Fun!

Working out 4-5 times a week takes a toll on my long strands and with every sweat session I walk out rushing to spray leave in conditioner on the ends of my hair. No longer needed! Why?

Awapuhi... Awapajuki WHa? Yes, I know it sounds like a tongue twister but trust me its a godsend.

Awapuhi Wild Ginger is a concentrated Keratin blend that delivers deep repair treatment as well as protection from environmental stresses and heat damage.

The actual treatment itself can only be done by a salon professional but will seriously save your hair. The treatment comes in two steps, first the concentrated oil that is applied and left in the hair for 20 minutes. Then you apply the conditioning treatment (black bottle) to seal in the concentrated treatment.

Maintenance: Very Low

Application: Once a week treatment mask applied in shower (black bottle)

Outcome: Hydrated, silky, manageable, soft hair

Awapuhi Complete 2 Step Treatment Service Price: $40 (this is my price, not salon price) Please contact me if you are interested in the treatment.

How the Intesive 2 Step Treatment works:

Have you tried this line? Anyone experience different or similar results? I want to hear about it!

Hello Gorgeous!

First off, thank you for stopping by! Here at the Beauty Bar you will find all things beauty related, from DIY facials, skincare tips, makeup reviews, and so much more.  I am a licensed Cosmetologist with various backgrounds in skincare, haircare, nails, and of course makeup.

So enough about me... lets get to the fun stuff!