Published on December 3, 2017June 24, 2018 by LeeLeave a comment

8 Tips on how to be beautiful without makeup

Many of us can’t even imagine our life without makeup. Today’s topic might sound strange and even scary for many girls, thanks to media popularization of unrealistic beauty standards. To be beautiful without makeup?! Is it even possible?!

It became our daily ritual to wake up early and put on our “beautiful” makeup mask.
For many of us it would be a big nonsense even to go to a supermarket with no makeup on. Media often forces us to believe that a woman with no makeup on can’t actually look somewhat attractive or beautiful.

In this article, I don’t suggest that you completely let go and forget about taking care of yourself; on the contrary, if you want to live a makeup-free life, or at least be able to have makeup-free days, then it makes sense to put a little bit more effort into caring about the natural beauty of your face, hair and body.

1) Feel beautiful (even without makeup)
Yes, first step to natural, makeup-free beauty is connected with your inner perception of yourself – your self-image. How do you feel about yourself inside? It all depends on you. Try to feel beautiful. Yes. Right now, in this very moment… Know that you are pretty!

If a girl considers herself beautiful and is able to accept herself totally and unconditionally, then the whole world will feel the same about her. Yes, it’s that simple!

But if you don’t feel comfortable and confident about yourself with no makeup on, try to adapt the new ‘natural’ image gradually. For example, while on vacation, give your face a “vacation” as well, by using a minimal amount of cosmetics; use only mascara and a touch of lip gloss.

2) Your skin is your everything!
If you decide to live a makeup-free life, it doesn’t mean that you need to completely let go of all skin care products. Nobody abolished daily cleansing and moisturizer; these are necessary ingredients to the beauty and health of our skin.

If you used to deal with pimples by covering them up with tones of makeup – now, your main concern is the health and beauty of your skin.

Many skin problems are actually related to the excessive use of makeup; skin tone becomes uneven because of the reaction of your body on a foundation, concealer or blush. If you stop using foundation (at least for a while), after some time, you’ll notice that your skin tone will improve and there will be no need of that thick makeup mask any more. If skin problems persist, get a professional advice from a dermatologist; it’s better to treat the problem straight away, than to put it on hold into a waiting box.

Some other tips for the beauty of your skin include: use facial masks 2 or 3 times a week (choose masks according to your skin type), and exfoliate your skin regularly (we are not only talking about exfoliating your facial skin, but also exfoliate your whole body.)
Here is one of my favorite skin care tips: splash your face with cold water in the morning and in the evening for about 10 seconds. This helps to tone your skin naturally and will also help close pores.

3) Your beautiful natural eyebrows
Usually, when we apply makeup, we often try to change the proportions of our face and adapt it to world’s beauty standards, so that sometimes, we even forget how pretty and unique we look naturally.
If you want to minimize your daily makeup routine, then try to emphasize your natural features. Let’s start with your beautiful eyebrows. Look in the mirror and notice natural shape of your eyebrows, if you over-plucked them, then try to grow them back (apply natural oils on your eyebrows every evening; use castor oil, olive oil, coconut oil or burdock root oil) and then, shape your brows once and for all with the help of a professional, or with the help of YouTube. 🙂 If your eyebrows are too light and you usually draw them with a pencil, try a semi-permanent brow coloration in a salon instead. This will look more natural, so that your makeup-free face with well defined and beautiful eyebrows will instantly look more attractive.
Here is another tip on how to make your natural eyebrows grow: apply Jamaican Black Castor Oil (will help your eyelash and eyebrows to grow thicker and longer, and keep from breaking. It also helps promote new growth in bare areas caused by over-tweezing.) or Almond Oil on the brows every evening before going to sleep; do it for one or two months and see wonderful results! ( However, the growth period might vary based on the health and age of each individual.) Messaging your eyebrows with warm olive oil for 5 minutes before bed can also help. Just make sure you rinse it off with warm water the next morning. Try to avoid any temptation to pluck and exfoliate the eyebrow area daily to help stimulate hair growth.

4) Be transparent
When we are talking about beauty without makeup, it doesn’t mean that we should completely ignore all the beauty industry and forget about all cosmetic products. There are some great products on the market that can help you emphasize your natural beauty, such as eyebrow gels and transparent mascaras for your eyelashes, chap sticks, lip balms and lip glosses with no or a little bit of color; these nourish your lips and make you look fresh, natural and beautiful. Here is another beauty tip: I use The Queen Pegasus to help grow my eyelashes full and thicker. I also brush my eyelashes every day and every night to prevent clumps. Did you know that Vaseline helps grow eyelashes longer, thicker, and stronger It also claims that moisturizing around the eyelid will help the skin stay smooth and supple. The best way to get results from this is to use a cleaned mascara wand to apply the Vaseline to your eyelashes before bed.

5) Healthy eating and water
Good food is important not only for the beauty of our skin, but also for the overall health of our body. We are what we eat, therefore healthy and balanced diet should be our faithful, lifelong friend.
Make sure you eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day, as well as healthy fats and proteins; these are so important for our beauty. And, of course, our best friend is water! Try to drink about 8 glasses of water a day and also treat yourself with a green or white tea from time to time, because these are rich in antioxidants and will help your skin look fresh and young for a very long time, even without makeup.

Shhh… Come here I’m not the healthiest eater but when I make rice, I put vegetables into the rice and it will be mixed in so there is no way around it. Also, I love to fill up my Brita Pitcher with water then add slices of lemon to it. Lemon promotes hydration, it’s a good source of vitamin c, it improves your skin quality, it supports weight loss, it aids digestion, it freshens breath and it helps prevent kidney stones. I sometimes like to suck on limes. The health benefits of lime include weight loss, improved digestion, reduced respiratory and urinary disorders, relief from constipation, and treatment of scurvy, piles, peptic ulcer, gout, and gums. It also aids in skin care and eye care.

6) Kissable Lips
Here is a very simple tip on how to make your lips kissable and soft: gently massage your lips every evening (or every other evening) with your toothbrush for a couple of minutes (or use a ‘sugar+honey’ scrub instead); then rinse and apply Shea butter/pure coconut oil(your natural moisturizer) on your lips. Now, feel how tender, soft and kissable your lips feel; your prince charming won’t be able to stop kissing you!

SHOP:

7) Smile and love yourself
Smile will instantly help you to feel and look pretty, even if you don’t have any makeup on!

As Audrey Hepburn once said: “Happy girls are the prettiest!” Smile every time you look in the mirror, smile to people you see on the street and, in general, let smile be your favorite accessory – you will see how the whole world will start smiling back at you!

Love yourself. Accept yourself fully and completely. Love the way you look with or without makeup, because you are truly unique and beautiful! Remember it!

8) What about your hair?

If you want to look pretty with no makeup on – it’s important to take good care of your hair and keep your hair color close to natural.

If you use certain “extreme” hair colors, such as blue, pink or green, it can emphasise all little “imperfections” on your face and draw attention to them.

Try to keep your hair in great condition by using right hair care products that are suitable for your hair type, and do hair masks and oil treatments regularly. Nothing can be more beautiful than silky and shiny locks!

Hair Tip: Try Curls – Organic Hair Products

Do you think it’s possible to be pretty without makeup? Feel free to share your thought and beauty tips in the comment section below ⬇️

Stay beautiful 💞

Published on July 22, 2017May 7, 2018 by Lee2 Comments

beauty 50

If you have hyperpigmentation spots due to breakouts and sun exposure, the good news is you’re not stuck with them forever. Follow the tips below and you’ll start to notice the diminish appearance of dark spots in as quickly as four weeks and prevent new spots from cropping up. Read on for your spot-fading game plan.

1. Do Not (I Repeat, Do Not) Pick That Zit

Yes, it’s hard to resist. But if you’ve given into temptation in the past, you know the ugly aftermath: a red or brown mark that could scar your face forever. Instead, treat your marks with a 1% hydrocortisone cream 4 times a day (you can pick up a tube at any drugstore). Apply it around the same time every day. Hydrocortisone is an anti-inflammatory, so it’ll soothe redness and swelling. It’s better than traditional zit zappers that use salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide to dry out pimples, which can potentially dry out your skin and lead to more irritation. Want a more natural safe alternative? Try Aloe Vera, Baking Soda, Coconut Oil, Cucumber, Honey, Lemon, Potato Juice, Rose Hip Seed Oil, Sugar Scrub, and Vitamin E. After that, put Visine on the pimple to make it look less obvious for a few hours. Want to speed things up? Use a clay mask. Popping the sucker can damage skin tissue and make your pimple a lot worst. clay

2. Use a Skin-Cleansing Brush/Pad

Using a powered cleansing brush or facial cleaning pad every two days not only cleanses your skin more deeply than your fingertips can, it also gently gets rid of dull, dead skin cells that can sit on your skin. Sloughing away dead cells also removes the top layer of skin that’s ready to be exfoliated away, making your skin better able to absorb the spot treatment you’ll apply to eradicate any brown spots from past breakouts or overexposure to the sun. Just remember to take good care of your brush head, washing it after each use and swapping it for a new one every month.

3. Treat Your Trouble Spots

Spots, whether from your handiwork (i.e. picking your skin) or the sun, take weeks to fade. So, while treating existing hyperpigmentation, make sure you’re also taking steps to prevent spots from forming by keeping your face clean. Whether or not you have acne, it’s important to wash your face twice daily to remove impurities, dead skin cells, and extra oil from your skins’ surface. Use warm water ( not hot water) and a mild facial cleanser. Always dry your face with a clean towel but I normally just let my face air dry for better protection.

Many acne products contain ingredients that dry out the skin. Look for “noncomedogenic” on the label, which means it should not cause acne. There are moisturizers made for oily, dry, or combination skin. I use Aveeno Active Naturals positively radiant daily cleansing pads, Ponds Clarant B3 Dark Spot Correcting Cream, L’Oréal Paris go 360 Clean Ideal Clean Deep Cleansing Exfoliating Scrub, and the Skinutritions Age Defy Ultimate Dark Spot Corrector. They are available at your local stores/ drugstore. For lotion, I either use Aveeno creamy moisturizing oil, Aveeno skin relief moisture repair cream, or coconut oil.

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During a breakout, try to avoid wearing foundation, powder, or blush. If you do wear makeup, wash it off at the end of the day. If possible, please try to choose oil-free cosmetics without added dyes and chemicals. Choose makeup that is labeled as “noncomedogenic”, meaning it should not cause any acne. Watch what you put into your hair because if they get on your face, they can block your pores and irritate your skin. Oily hair can add to the oil on your face, so wash your hair often, especially if you are breaking out. Got long hair? Keep it pulled away from your face.

Keep your hands off your face because that’s one of the ways bacteria can spread . Never pick or pop pimples with your fingers, as it can lead to infection and scarring. Try to feed your skin with more fruits and vegetables and whole grains to your “diet”. Also, try to stress less because that can cause breakage.

4. Fade Spots Fast With a Retinoid

Retinoids are a powerful form of vitamin A proven to speed up cell turnover, which helps erase spots faster. (Bonus: The vitamin also helps your skin produce more collagen, which helps your complexion looks smoother and diminishes the appearance of fine lines.) The most potent form is retinoic acid, which is only available through a prescription from your dermatologist, although it might cause slight irritation and flaking. It also costs about $150, though your insurance may cover it depending on your plan.
If you don’t have $150 to shell out on the regular, you can opt for the over-the-counter form, retinol, at any drugstore. The milder version offers similar results and minimizes the chance of redness or flaking. Regardless of the retinoid your derm recommends, start out using it once a week and then build the usage from there to ensure your skin stays calm. And then use your skin-brightening cream, like Olay Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream Moisturizer, on the other nights.

5. Wear SPF Daily

If there’s only one thing you do, make it this: Use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher daily, a guideline recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology. Not only does it help prevent skin cancer, it protects your skin from harmful UV rays, the culprit behind most dark spots. In response to the sun’s UV rays, our cells send out protective pigment (or melanin) to naturally keep your skin from getting burned. This is what you know to be a “tan,” but it’s really your skin trying to protect itself. You might be into your glowing bronze color, but deep in the layers of your skin, the damage has occurred and will later surface in as tiny brown spots (aka freckles). To keep your skin brown spot-free, don’t skip the SPF! I use the Aveeno protect + hydrate lotion sunscreen daily even if I don’t go outside.

Skin Care: 5 tips for healthy skin- including sun protection and gentle cleansing — can keep your skin healthy and glowing for years to come.

Published on May 30, 2017July 5, 2018 by LeeLeave a comment

Don’t have time for intensive skin care? You can still pamper yourself by acing the basics. Good skin care and healthy lifestyle choices can help delay the natural aging process and prevent various skin problems. Get started with these five quick and easy tips:

1. Protect yourself from the sun

One of the most important ways to take care of your skin is to protect it from the sun. Sun exposure can cause wrinkles, age spots and other skin problems — as well as increase the risk of skin cancer.

For the most complete sun protection:

I generally use the Maybelline New York dream BB Fresh Cream that has SPF 30 but you can use sunscreen too if you like. Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 15 and apply the sunscreen/BB Cream generously.
Avoid the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when the sun’s rays are strongest. Protect your eyes with sunglasses that filter UVA and UVB rays. When UV light is strongest are between 10 am and 3 pm (standard time) or 11 am and 4 pm (daylight saving time).
Try to plan outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon when the sun’s rays are less intense. But, if you can’t avoid the sun between those time then wear long sleeved clothes. Try to wash your clothes with a UV -repellent laundry detergent .
Drink plenty of water

2. Don’t smoke

Smoking makes your skin look older and contributes to wrinkles. Smoking narrows the tiny blood vessels in the outermost layers of skin, which decreases blood flow. This depletes the skin of oxygen and nutrients that are important to skin health.
Smoking also damages collagen and elastin — the fibers that give your skin strength and elasticity. In addition, the repetitive facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — can contribute to wrinkles.

If you smoke, the best way to protect your skin is to quit. Ask your doctor for tips or treatments to help you stop smoking.

3. Treat your skin gently

Daily cleansing and shaving can take a toll on your skin. To keep it gentle:

Hot water and long showers or baths remove oils from your skin. Limit your bath or shower time, and use warm — rather than hot water.
Avoid strong soaps. Strong soaps and detergents can strip oil from your skin. Instead, choose mild cleansers.
To protect and lubricate your skin, apply shaving cream, lotion or gel before shaving. For the closest shave, use a clean, sharp razor. Shave in the direction the hair grows, not against it.
After washing or bathing, gently pat or blot your skin dry with a towel so that some moisture remains on your skin.
If your skin is dry, use a moisturizer that fits your skin type. For daily use, consider a moisturizer that contains SPF.

4. Eat a healthy diet

I know it is hard, trust me I deal with this battle everyday. But try to find something that motivates you to eat better. Start cutting things out and eating smaller portions. It is all about starting somewhere.

For example: Lately I’ve been drinking soda a lot but I don’t eat candy anymore.

A healthy diet can help you look and feel your best. Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins. The association between diet and acne isn’t clear — but some research suggests that a diet rich in vitamin C and low in unhealthy fats and processed or refined carbohydrates might promote younger looking skin.

5. Manage stress

Uncontrolled stress can make your skin more sensitive and trigger acne breakouts and other skin problems. To encourage healthy skin — and a healthy state of mind — take steps to manage your stress. Set reasonable limits, scale back your to-do list and make time to do the things you enjoy. The results might be more dramatic than you expect.

Focus on the positive things that is going on in your life now
Live your life for yourself
Eliminate the negative people out of your life. Your space, your bubble, and etc is very important. Choose wisely who you let in.
Exercise
Smile and laugh
Get social support, Talk about your problems
Meditate, yoga
Use your time wisely
Eat a healthy diet
Make time for hobbies
Take a breather and relaxed
Take control
Get more sleep
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine
Start Writing, it doesn’t have to make sense. Writing helps me to heal and it makes me a very happy girl.
Soothing bath
Develop healthy responses
Establish boundaries
Drink a cup of water
Ditch the “should”
Go for a walk
Take a break from technology, Take a break from people
Use positive self-talk
Focus on right now

Published on April 15, 2017March 1, 2018 by LeeLeave a comment

10 Beauty Dos and Don’ts

1. DO drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. I know you hear this a million times but trust me, it works wonders. I’m not a water drinker myself, so my skin got affected by it. My skin sometimes look dull and old. And I’m only 20 years old. It is never too late to start taking care of yourself. Drinking water increases energy, helps with weight loss, maintains regularity, boosts immune system, helps with cramps and improves skin complexion. Start with 1 bottle/glass of water and you will soon realize you are drinking up to 8 glasses of water everyday.

2. DON’T forget to remove your makeup. No matter how tired or lazy you are, take that beautiful makeup off. I get it, sometimes you forget or you just look too beautiful to want to clear that pretty face of yours. I use either epielle Argan Oil Cleansing Tissues (Big Lots), D’Nature New York Rose Toner (Coral Square Mall or Sawgrass Mall), eye makeup remover liquid (gift), and Neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover (Walmart, Publix, & etc). After I do that, I wash my face with Oil-Free Acne Wash: pink grapefruit foaming scrub Neutrogena (Walmart). But if you are looking to save money then go back to the basics. Use water and soap. It is best to use cold water to tighten up your cuticles and pores. Cold water can “seal” the pores in the skin and scalp too, preventing dirt from getting in. Hot water has the tendency to dry out our skin, try to use warm water. It is important for your skin to breathe.

3. DO take different lipsticks with you every time you travel. A different lip color can totally change your entire look and feel. Sometimes, mascara, eyebrows, and a good lipstick is all you need! My favorite chapstick is Burt’s Bees Strawberry Moisturizing Lip Balm (Publix, Walgreen, & etc). LipLand by Amrezy is heaven. I have the Liquid Lipstick “Empire” which is the perfect shade of brown for me. If you are going for a “natural” fresh look than Empire is definitely the one for you. Even though its matte, it doesn’t dry out your lips. Is it time to feel sexy yet? Red lipsticks is perfect for that sultry, sexy vibe. Try the Kat Von D “Damned” Liquid Matte Lipstick, Colorkillmakeup “Ruby Bling”, Colorkillmakeup “Beep Me” and Colorkillmakeup “Bond Babe” lipsticks. In my opinion, those are amazing shades of red for everyone. Especially for color skin girls. But, if you are not really into lipsticks then try the Sonia Kashuk “Plum Prune 14” lipliner. I’m not really into lip glosses but my go to glosses are LA-LA and CAN-CAN from lucieandpompette cosmetic.

4. DON’T forget to apply sunscreen on your face everyday. Our faces are exposed to the sun daily, we don’t have to be on the beach to be exposed to sun ray. It is important to use sunscreen aka sunblock because it protects you from harmful radiation from the sun, reduces your risk for skin cancer, wrinkles, and sunburns. Sunscreen is important for all skin types! I use the Maybelline New York Dream BB Fresh in replacement of an actual sunscreen. It works the same and is a 8-in-1 Beauty Balm Skin Perfector. Also, the BB Cream contains SPF 30, that nearly blocks 97%. Most sunscreens have moisturizing base, so you can skip applying “regular” moisturizer during the day. However, if you are dry, look for a daytime moisturizer with SPF that is formulated for dry skin.

5. DO have an overnight kit packed at all times. I know packing can be a hassle, but if you keep all your mini beauty products in one place (moisturizer, makeup wipes, facial wash, toothpaste, and etc) you can just grab that kit and go.

6. DON’T overdo your contouring. I’m guilty of this myself. Many women get too excited when they contour their features. But keep in mind that you don’t want to look like you have dirt streaked over your face because you applied too much bronzer or didn’t blend your contour cream or powder well. If you are a beginner, then watch videos on how to contour. Makeup is to help your features to pop more.

7. DO use styling tools in moderation. Try not to blow-dry your hair or use curling/flat irons every day. The heat from these tool causes damage. Blow drying removes the surface moisture and water that is bound to the hair, which is called water of hydration. The effect of this flash drying is that the hair becomes dry, rigid, and brittle. To keep hair healthy and shiny I would recommend letting your hair air dry and/or do a deep hair mask every once in a while. Don’t towel dry the hair either, this can cause wet hair to break. Heat styling breaks down the hair hydrogen bonds, applying concentrated heat from curling or straightening iron.

8. DON’T be that girl. Keep the light, shadows, and colors as natural as possible. Blend in your makeup and have fun with it.

9. DO match your makeup with your outfit. If you’re wearing something printed and colorful, tone down the bright eyeshadows and crazy lipstick colors. But, if you are wearing something plain like neutral colors then go wild with it. Remember, it is all about balance!

10. DON’T expect to have “perfect” skin all the time. We all experience breakouts, so don’t be too hard on yourself. It is really a matter of using the right products for your skin type. When you get a zit, don’t panic! It will go away eventually. No one have “flawless” skin. Some of us have blemishes, moles, freckles, and birth marks. But, that is okay. We are blessed to try many different skincare products. Everything takes time, so don’t get discourage when something doesn’t work. Just keep taking care of your mind, body and soul.