Beauty School: How To Protect Your Hair From The Elements

Hi everyone,

A bad bad hair day shouldn’t just be blamed on the type of hair you have, but what the weather is or even where you live. Different climates can have different effects on hair depending on heat, moisture, and other natural factors. With the seasons rapidly changing, here are my tips for beautiful, healthy hair, no matter the weather!

How to protect your hair from…

Cold, Dry Air: Cold, crisp air can cause hair to dry out and become brittle. It can also lead to static strands, so make sure to keep them moisturized. Another tip is to stay inside after washing your hair until it fully dries during the colder months, as wet hair is more prone to breakage.

Wind: While winds-wept hair can have a perfectly tousled effect, wind-blown hair is a totally different story. Too much exposure to those breezy fall days can increase tangles and knots, leading to unruly hair. Quick fix: tuck your hair in your sweater until you get in doors, or use a silk scarf as a head wrap.

Humidity: The more water vapor there is in the air, the more humid it will be. Excessive humidity is uncomfortable and takes a toll on hair. Humid weather causes strands to absorb more moisture and can actually CHANGE THE LENGTH and look of your hair.

One way to tame the effects of humidity, and the frizz that often comes with it, is to rinse your hair with cold water instead of warm in order to seal the cuticle. It will then lay flat instead of flying upward and out of control. Bonus: hitting your locks with a blast of cold water will also make it look shinier and sleeker!

Rain: Rain often has similar frizz-ifying effects, and it can also cause hair to flatten out and become limp. To keep hair looking smooth post-rain, PREVENTION suggests hydrating your hair prior to exposure, so the moisture from the rain doesn’t move up your strands. If you’re afraid of limp, lifeless hair, try a sleek up-do such as a bun or a low-maintenance braided look, and carry a comb in your purse just in case.

Sun Damage: If your hair feels out of control or lackluster after a summer of sun exposure and dry weather, I suggest undoing some of the damage by returning moisture and nutrients to your tresses. 

How do you deal with the elements? What does the climate you live in do to your hair? Share your stories in the comments!

<3 Mindy

NATURAL BEAUTY: CUSTOMIZE YOUR FRAGRANCE

Hi everyone,

Perfume is one of the most convenient beauty products out there. It's easy to use, pre-mixed, packaged, and instantly ready whenever you need it. But if you're curious about how scents are made and have a little extra time on your hands, you may want to check out essential oils. You can usually find a variety of them at grocery stores and beauty supply shops.

Essential oils can be used as perfume for a simple, pure scent, and, depending on whether or not you believe in the benefits of aromatherapy, the oils can also be used to stabilize your mood and to promote relaxation. You can even mix and match different oils to create different scents – it's like creating your own perfumes at home!

Lavender – Calming, relaxing, soothing, and balancing. I love to put this on right before bed!

Rose – Uplifting, romantic

Eucalyptus – Purifying, invigorating

Peppermint – Refreshing, cooling, vitalizing

Lemon – Uplifting, cheering, refreshing

Jasmine – Calming, relaxing, sensual, romantic
*Full disclosure that this oil is pricier than most. The flowers must be hand-picked just before dawn, when the essence is at its peak, and then large amounts are needed to produce even a small amount of oil.

Rosemary – Clarifying, invigorating

What's your favorite essential oil? I looovvee a lot about rosy thing and rose fragrance! Do you combine them to make your own scents? Post your faves in the comments section! :D

<3 Mindy

BEAUTY SCHOOL: THREE EASY YET UNEXPECTED USES OF OLIVE OIL

Hi everyone,

By now, you probably all know that olive oil is one of my favorite beauty products. Whether you're looking for a DIY, a Natural make up remover or a homemade bath scrub, this Mediterranean staple has a wide array of practical uses.

One of the easiest ways to reap the benefits of olive oil is to use it for its moisturizing capabilities. It contains linoleic acid, which is a compound that prevents water from evaporating. Since the human body doesn't produce this acid on its own, it's a great way to moisturize.

Here are three ways to incorporate olive oil into your beauty and skincare regime:

Hair detangler – Simply work a small amount of olive oil through wet hair to get rids of tangles and knots. The goal is to cover all of your hair in a thin layer of the oil so that you can then use your fingers to work through the trouble spots.

Shower oil – This is a great way to moisturize in the shower or bath while your skin is still wet. After washing and rinsing your body, massage olive oil into your skin as an instant moisturizer. If desired, you may also add a few drops of essential oils to give the oil the scent of your choice. You'll get out of the shower feeling silky smooth with a subtle, satiny sheen over your skin.

Acne Solution – Although it sounds counter-intuitive, some people swear that using olive oil on areas affected by acne is an effective solution. Using three tablespoons of olive oil and four tablespoons of salt, mix the ingredients together into a paste. Then use your fingers to massage it over your face and rinse with warm water.

Will you incorporate olive oil into your beauty routine? Post your own uses of the product in the comments section below!

<3 Mindy

BEAUTY SCHOOL: MAKE YOUR MAKEUP LAST

Hi everyone,

I was looking through the forum and noticed that a lot of you are curious about makeup setting sprays. If makeup primers and tinted moisturizers aren't doing the trick for you, these sprays might be worth considering because they act as a sealant.

Essentially, makeup setting sprays create a protective layer over your makeup. This will prevent your makeup from fading and sliding around as the day or night progresses. An added bonus is that they often contain vitamins and refreshing ingredients such as cucumber. Makeup setting sprays also a add dewy, luminous finishing touch to the face–instant, easy glamour that won't fade!

These are great for the weird in-between weather, but they're also great for when you're out on the town and need your glamorous look to last the whole night. Some sprays waterproof the makeup itself so that you can swim and sweat without disrupting the look you've achieved.

Check out these makeup setting sprays, and decide which one best suits your needs:

MAC FIX +

URBAN DECAY ALL NIGHTER LONG-LASTING MAKEUP SETTING SPRAY

E.L.F. MAKEUP MIST & SET

Do you use a makeup setting spray? If so, does it work for you? Let us know in the comments section!

<3 Mindy

10 BEAUTY SECRETS FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE

We're excited to bring you another great article from BELLASUGAR, a fantastic source for beauty news, how-to's, celebrity beauty trends, and giveaways galore. 

Over the millennia, isolated human populations found various ways to keep their hair, nails, and skin in good shape using simple ingredients from the environments around them. Now, with increasing globalization, we have access to a whole world's worth of accumulated beauty knowledge.

For 10 cool recipes and secret ingredients from spots around the globe, keep reading.

China: Camellia oil
Worried about stretch marks? Camellia oil is one of the most common cooking oils in southern China, but it's also renowned for its ability to prevent stretch marks and discoloration.

Mexico: Tepezcohuite
The bark of this tree has tons of astringent tannins in it, making it great for preventing infections and keeping scars from forming.

The Dominican Republic: Garlic
Here's a smart secret from the DR for strong, healthy nails: chop up some garlic, throw it in a bottle of top coat, and then, after letting it soak for about a week, start using it as normal. It makes your nails stronger and also has antifungal and antimicrobial properties.

India: Neem
Want glossy, strong hair? A weekly head massage with neem and coconut oil is Indian women's go-to treatment for gorgeous hair and a healthy scalp. Recipes for the combination have a long history in Ayurvedic medicine.

Japan: Sake
Want an easy skin softener? Try a sake bath. Sake is high in kojic acid and enzymes that soften skin and help reduce hyper-pigmentation.

New Zealand: Manuka honey
People have been using honey for its antimicrobial properties (and its deliciousness) since prehistoric times. The Kiwi type of honey, however, is even better as an antibacterial and antimicrobial than the regular kind, and it's even used in poultices to protect wounds.

Ghana: Black soap
This great Ghanian soap is legendary for its gentle cleansing properties and skin-softening abilities. It's made with plantain skins, which have loads of vitamins A and E, and moisturizing shea butter. What you get is a cleanser that removes dirt and oil but doesn't strip skin of any natural moisture.

France: Milk
Milk is full of gentle lactic acid, which exfoliates and softens without the harshness of stronger acid types. Pour some fresh whole milk or cream into your bath along with honey or lavender to get a gorgeous glow.

Morocco: Argan oil
This antioxidant-packed oil is great for hair and skin, and it absorbs much more easily than common skin oils like apricot and avocado.

The Amazon: Passion flower oil
Passion flower oil, aka maracuja, has been used in the Amazon for thousands of years because of its anti-inflammatory abilities, but it's also high in fatty acids and vitamin C.

<3Mindy

BEAUTY SCHOOL: MAKEUP PRIMER

Hi everyone! Yesterday my younger siser is asking me what face primer is. So now I want to share some about face primer. enjoyy! :D

Makeup primers are a veeery useful but often ignored product that can make a world of difference for your face. Primer is the ultimate makeup multi-tasker; it controls oil production, fills in fine lines and wrinkles, provides an extra layer for the pigment in the rest of your face makeup to adhere to, and acts as an invisible buffer between your skin and the elements. Not only will the color of your foundation or tinted moisturizer look better, but it will also last longer throughout the day.

Primer is applied after sunscreen and moisturizer and before any foundation or tinted moisturizer. I love wearing primer if I don't feel like wearing a ton of makeup but need a little bit of coverage–just throw on a little bit of pressed powder, and you'll still look glowing and radiant!

Do you use a makeup primer? Tell me how it works for you in the comments section!

<3Mindy