Tag: beauty hacks

3 Super Easy Ways To Detox For Free

Published on by Lee14 Comments

With summer fast approaching, I’m well aware that bikini season is right around the corner. And in an effort to stay clear of FAD diets, I’ve started thinking of some quick and easy lifestyle changes that’ll seriously help me and you to detox. Even if weight loss isn’t your goal, it never hurts to go on a little health kick every now and then. I swear with these three easy hacks, you’ll feel tons better, have way more energy, and you’ll look better too – beauty does start from within after all!

Learn To Decode Your Cravings

When you’re craving a particular food, it’s often the source of nutrients that triggers the feeling. That also means there’s always a healthier option with a higher content of the nutrients that your body really needs. For example, when you want chocolate, which I been craving chocolate for a while now, the source of your craving is actually magnesium, which can be found in almonds, spinach or quinoa. Similarly, if you’re desperate for salty foods, you’re in need of chloride silicon; which is found in apples, grapes or bell peppers. And, if you feel like you’re in desperate need of carbs, you’re really after nitrogen, which is found in high protein foods like meat or fish. Even, when you’re tired and desperate for a coffee, you can trade it in for a green tea, as this also contains a high level of caffeine. So the moral of the story is, don’t trust your cravings, decode them and find the source! Even though you may think the only thing that’ll satisfy your cravings is a tub of Ben & Jerry’s, it’s not what your body really needs.

Cut Back On Animal Products

I know that veganism may seem like the latest Insta happy trend, but there are actually some major health benefits to a plant-based diet. I am not suggesting that you go vegan 24/7 – we’re not sure what life is without a grilled cheese sandwich now and again – but cutting back on meat and dairy can make a real difference to your health. So, I try to go meat-free three days a week, and limit dairy intake to one meal a day. Even though meat is a really good source of protein, it also has the highest amount of saturated fats in our diet, especially red meat. When you do eat meat, it’s worth looking for free-range and organic sources, otherwise, the animal may have been pumped with harmful chemicals and hormones, which we all then ingest – gross!

When it comes to our dairy intake, we couldn’t believe it when we found out that 65% of the population is lactose intolerant (lactose is the main carbohydrate found in dairy products). This is because it’s a complex compound that our body finds difficult to break down and digest, causing you to bloat and feel sluggish. Limiting your dairy intake to one serving a day is also enough to satisfy your daily requirement for calcium. The rest of your calcium intake can be found in other calcium-rich foods, like pineapple or leafy greens. Plus, dairy is normally high in fat and can be super calorific, so even if you aren’t intolerant, it’s always a good idea to cut back. There are so many alternatives to dairy products too, like almond or oat milk, there’s even vegan ice cream which is surprisingly good, so next time you’re at the store, try these instead!

Eat Within a 12 Hour Window

When I found out that celebrities like Miranda Kerr, Beyoncé, Terry Crews, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry and Kourtney Kardashian swear by eating within a 12 hour period, I had to check it out! And OMG it’s one of the easiest “diet” rules to follow! It can make a big difference to your daily metabolic cycle, helping you burn more fat, and it’ll also seriously decrease your daily food intake. Eating within a 12 hour period helps regulate and balance your insulin production (the hormone that’s released after each meal), which is what causes your body to produce glucose. The influx of glucose triggers a hormone called ghrelin, which makes you feel hungry. When you limit your food intake you also limit your production of ghrelin, which means you regulate and decrease your hunger.

Eating within a restricted time frame also means you don’t store fat, but instead you continue to burn it throughout the day and before you go to sleep. Even if you don’t want to regulate your hunger, restricting your eating time will help manage your blood sugar levels, lower levels of inflammation, improve your heart health, and your immune system. Just remember the golden rule, the clock starts ticking from the very first thing you put into your body (apart from water) and it stops exactly 12 hours later.

Are you guys gonna try any of these?

5 Amazing Beauty Hacks This Free Tool Is THE BEST For

Published on by Lee3 Comments

If there’s one tool that every beauty lover should have in their glam room, it’s a spoolie. I know it may not look like much, but it’s an MUA’s secret weapon as it has SO many different uses: from taming brows and flyaways to plumping your lips and fixing your lashes. If you’re not familiar, a spoolie is the small mascara wand that you can find on most beauty counters, or they’re often included in brow kits, but that definitely doesn’t mean you should limit them to your brows. Here’s I use my fav beauty tool for a whole range of hacks….

To tame flyaways

There’s nothing worse than when your glossy blow-dry gets caught in the rain – or exposed to the desert heat. To combat frizz when you’re-on-the-go and keep flyaways at bay, make sure you have a spoolie in your purse at all times – I swear, it works wonders! As the brush is so fine it’ll smooth down any baby hairs and leave your hair looking silky smooth. For maximum impact, spray your spoolie with hairspray before combing it through your hair to get ultimate hold and shine – do this almost every morning!

For brows

There’s arguably no better brow tool for taming your brows than a spoolie! For ultimate hold, coat your spoolie with a little hairspray, and for thicker looking brows, brush your brows upwards up until you reach the arch and then brush the brows toward your hairline.

Extra hack: For longer lashes and brows, dip your spoolie in castor oil and then brush it through your hair. Castor oil is bursting with protein and fatty acids that can strengthen hair, making it the ideal remedy for extending the length of your lashes and brows.

For false lashes

One of my all-time fav hacks transforms a $2 pair of lashes into super luxurious, natural looking lashes. Just grab a spoolie and any drugstore lashes, and brush the lashes outwards, in horizontal back and forth motions. This will separate the lashes, making the lash strip appear fuller. Even, if you’re not a fan of falsies and you’re a die-hard mascara fan, if you run a clean spoolie through your mascara-coated lashes, you’ll separate each lash, getting rid of any clumps and again, making your eyes look more dramatic.

For your lips

This hacks only takes 30 seconds, and it’ll give you THE softest lips: just apply your fave lip balm or oil ( like to use coconut oil as it’s super hydrating and tastes delicious too!), then, using small circular motions, brush your lips gently with your spoolie.

For your nails

Using a spoolie to remove stubborn nail polish is basically a two-in-one nail treatment, as it gets rid of any stubborn polish while also gently buffing your nails. Just dip your spoolie in nail polish and buff away – the fine bristles are ideal as they’re able to access the cracks and crevices of your nails.

Let me know if you guys have any other amazing hacks you do with your spoolie in the comments.

5 Miracle Foods That Will Help You Detox – Fast!

Published on by Lee1 Comment

As much as we all love a burger, we know it’s not going to help us get that glossy skin and beautiful mane we lust after. Sure, now and again it’s no harm, but no matter how much money you spend on miracle products, if you’re not taking care of what you put into your body, your newest potion is never going to reach its full potential. These five superfoods, however, will make you feel beautiful from the inside out and I swear in just a week, we’ve been able to notice a difference in our hair and our skin. Plus, by eating healthy you’ll have more than just extra energy and great hair, your concentration and mood will improve too. These five ingredients are so good you’ll want to bathe in them – and btw, I have the recipes so that you can:

Chia Seeds – The Glow-Getter 

Don’t be fooled by their size, these tiny seeds are literally full of beauty-boosting minerals and antioxidants. They’re super high in Omega 3, so they’ll give you the ultimate glow while reducing any inflammation or dryness. The amazing seeds also increase your blood circulation, thereby giving you more even skin. You can sprinkle the seeds on pretty much anything, from your yogurts and smoothies to your salads. I love mixing them with almond milk and honey for a delicious breakfast snack with fruit.

Chia Seed and Lavender Face Mask DIY:
My favorite Chia Seed DIY will gently exfoliate your skin leaving you feeling baby soft with a J Lo glow. Mix 2 teaspoons of Chia Seeds with 4 tablespoons of water, then add 2 drops of lavender oil. Massage it onto your face and leave the mix on your skin for 10 minutes, then just wash away with warm water.

Medjool Dates – Acne Banisher, Youth Booster

Medjool Dates are desert plants, originally from the Middle East. Most Medjool Date Palm Trees sold in Florida come from California fruit producers that are selling off the older, less productive cultivars to make room for newer, better fruiting cultivars. Plus, there aren’t well adapted here because it rains more in Florida than California. Dates (the fruit) can be produced in North Florida and South East US if planted correctly. It is best to choose cultivars that are more tolerant of humidity and rain.

Luckily, Target sells Medjool– I’m obsessed! But, not just because they’re mega tasty, they’re also a rich source of fiber, which will support your metabolism and help you debloat. In the Middle East, some like to use them to break their fast during Ramadan, as they’re great energy boosters – making them an ideal snack (just stick to a few though as they’re high in sugar). Medjool Dates are also a great source of copper, which helps your body absorb more iron allowing your skin to produce more collagen. Dates can even help reduce redness and will work as an anti-inflammatory, so if you’re acne-prone, ditch the crisps and grab a date!

Medjool Date and Honey Mask DIY:
De-pit 3 to 4 dates and blend with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey (both rich in vitamin B) to formulate a thick paste. Spread this mix on your face and leave for 10 minutes before washing away with water. Your face will feel SO smooth.

Avocado – The Hair Helper

Avocados aren’t just for your breakfast Insta Story, they’re a beauty miracle ingredient too! Avocados are full of fatty acids and proteins, and whether you use them on your hair as a mask or you just eat them on toast, they’ll give your locks killer shine – Adriana Lima swears by it. The vitamin B and E content will also strengthen your hair follicles and help the strands remain strong and healthy, preventing split ends from forming.

Avocado and Coconut Hair Mask:
For the ultimate hair mask, mash one ripe avocado (if you have shorter hair you can use half and eat the other), and mix it with one egg yolk and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Massage it into your hair (from root to tip) and then wash it off 20 minutes later. Just make sure you shampoo your hair thoroughly or you could get a little oily at the roots.

Lemons – The Detox Queen

Whenever you ask a model how they start their day, I swear the answer will be with a cup of hot water and lemon. Lemon is an incredible detoxifier and cleans your digestive system so that your liver can eliminate waste more efficiently. It also boosts your lymphatic drainage, which will help get rid of any puffiness around your eyes and toxins from your body. And the best thing about a detox drink is that it can seriously help clear up your skin, so say hello to that glow!

Lemon, Honey, and Green Tea Face Mask: 
This face mask will revitalize your skin and cleanse your pores, leaving your skin super radiant. Mix the juice of half a lemon with 1 teaspoon of honey and the contents of one green tea bag (brew the tea first, and then take the leaves from the tea bag). Apply it your face and wash it off 15 minutes later with warm water.

Figs – The Beauty All-rounder

Figs don’t get the hype they deserve but we love them! Just like lemons, they’re an incredible detoxifier as the seeds inside the fruit will help cleanse the digestive tract of mucus and toxins. This is so important as when it’s blocked, it prevents essential nutrients getting into your skin. It’s also full of antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which cause fine lines and wrinkles to form. A great source of vitamins C and B6, figs can help even out your skin tone and regulate hormone activity, combatting breakouts. I love to snack on them, but make sure you limit your intake to just a couple as they’re high in sugar.

Fig and Oatmeal Mask 
For an amazing exfoliator, blend 5 figs with a teaspoon of powdered oatmeal and a teaspoon of milk. Once a smooth paste is formed, massage it into your skin, leave it for 15 minutes and wash it off with warm water and a soft washcloth.

Let me know if you have any other fav healthy foods that are also great for DIYs!

How to Get Makeup Out of Clothes: 8 Genius Solutions

Published on by LeeLeave a comment

No dry cleaning required.

One truth universally acknowledged is that regardless of your level of hand-eye coordination, makeup spills and smudges are bound to happen. And when they do, you’re left wondering how to get makeup out of clothes, ideally without making the stain look worse. I got eight genius solutions for getting makeup stains out of your clothes fast and easy.

1. Use a Makeup Wipe

Makeup wipes don’t just work on your face–they can actually help get makeup off your clothes. It’s an old backstage trick you can occasionally spot at fashion shows when makeup artists realize they’ve smeared something on themselves while trying to protect the models’ clothes. It’s sneaky and it works. Just grab one and gently blot or rub until the offending makeup stain is lifted away.

A couple of things to remember: This is most effective on a fresh spill that hasn’t had time to dry or set. And you’ve got to spot-test anything that you aren’t sure is colorfast or that might water-spot like silk on an area that doesn’t show before going to town on it—you don’t want to ruin anything delicate. But on things like cotton? Makeup wipes are basically a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser for makeup on clothes.

2. Rubbing Alcohol

Soak a cotton ball or the tip of a washcloth in rubbing alcohol and then rub it over the makeup stain. Rubbing alcohol is particularly effective at removing lipstick stains, since alcohol can break down oily and waxy stains.

3. Shaving Cream

Who knew shaving cream can lift a stain? Apply a squirt or two the stain and let it sit for ten minutes. During that time, the cream will dissolve the stain. After ten minutes, wipe off the shaving cream with cold water.

4. A Blow Dryer

If you use any kind of loose powder on your face, you know how frustrating it can be if you spill it on your clothes (especially if it’s light powder on dark fabric). Any attempt to wipe it away is met with a smeared mess that’s even more noticeable than the original dots of powder were. So what do you? Grab a blow dryer. Blast the powder off the fabric and you’re good to go.

5. Hairspray

Who knew? Hairspray can actually help you get rid of a tricky lipstick stain. Apply hairspray to the stain and let it dry. Let the hairspray dry and follow up with a wet wipe. Note: this only works if the hairspray contains alcohol. Alcohol-free hairsprays will do nothing for a makeup stain.

6. Ice, Ice Baby

Applying ice cubes is another way to get makeup out of clothes. Grab a cube and rub it vigorously on stain. Ice (and cold water) works to lift a stain, while using hot water during a spot treatment can actually spread the stain. Avoid hot water at all costs when trying to spot treat a minor makeup stain. Save the hot water for when you toss in the washer.

7. Soap and Water

If all you have on hand is soap and water, you can still try to get a makeup stain out. Just don’t grab a paper towel or napkin. Instead, dab cold water on the stain and the teensiest spot of soap. Then, rub the fabric against itself and allow the friction to lift the stain. This is better than using a paper product, as it can flake off and leave the fabric smeared with little white bits, potentially make the stained area look even worse until you’re able to give it a proper washing.

8. Detergent Pens and Detergent Wipes

Designed for treating stains on the go, detergent pens like Tide to Go can provide a quick fix. For the best result, make sure to blot off any excess gunk off your fabric before taking applying the pen to it. When you press the tip into the clothing, the detergent solution will come out. Rub the tip of the detergent pen against the fabric until the stain starts to come off. Then, wipe off any extra solution. Detergent pens are reusable and safe to apply to most fabrics, including those labeled “dry clean only.”