YogaWorks Body Slim Review!



I've always loved this workout DVD, and waking up sore this morning rekindled the fire! This yoga exercise is 40 minutes of cardio/slow burn rotations. This workout is great for beginners (as it features a modifier), and intermediate participants alike. The moves are easy to get the correct form, yet insanely effective. The instructor talks you through the moves so there are no excuses to "take a break to watch what she's doing." There are 3 cardio sequences and 3 slow burn sequences in rotation in about 5-7 minutes long each. The full workout builds strength, and about half is cardio. The cardio will raise your heartrate and shorten your breath, but I do not personally feel that this DVD can replace regular cardio. Overall great workout and I plan on doing it once a week or whenever I can't get my daily run in. I purchased this for less than $15 at Barnes and Noble.

Obsession: NYX Xtreme Lip Cream

I love my opaque lip products, but I hate how drying they are to my lips. Perfect solution: NYX Xtreme Lip Creams. These are super opaque, creamy, and dreamy lip glosses. The texture is perfect, and hydrates lips as well. They are similar to OCC Lip Tar but cheaper and more hydrating. However they don't last near as long. Most opaque pigments gather on my dry, flaky lips, but these do not. I bought these months ago during a Buy 2 Get 2 sale at Ulta. The swatches below are a little brighter in the pictures than they are in person.

Skin Tone

Buttery Nude (this is almost identical to OCC Trick)

Pinky Nude

Bonfire

Great colors and at $5.99, I can't wait to get more. Hope this was helpful, thanks for visiting!

Recognizing MSG in products



We've all heard the buzz about the harmfulness of MSG. MSG is a toxin also known as Monosodium Glutamate. Symptoms from exposure occur similar to an allergic reaction, and can effect every system in the body. Its important to cut this dangerous toxin out of our diet, but where to start?
Here is a list of ingredients where MSG is hiding:

• Monosodium Glutamate
• Hydrolyzed Proteins
• Autolyzed Yeast
• Yeast Extract
• Caseinate
• "Natural Flavors" (If an ingredient can't be listed, they're hiding something!)

source: www.holisticmed.com

Products that commonly contain MSG are processed and not part of a clean diet. For a list of products and restaurant items that have MSG visit http://www.3fatchicks.com/4-foods-commonly-containing-msg/. If one of your favorite products contains MSG, limit yourself. (I personally hate completely depriving our body of a craving/certain food).


Hope this helps jumpstart a healthy diet! Thanks for visiting!

Fourth of Jul-Eye Makeup!

This super easy All-American Look can be accomplished with a sticker! Just place the sticker on after primer and before applying shadow. Do not blend too vigorously to avoid bending the corners of the star. Here I used a frosty white Ben Nye shade and a bright blue, both part of the lumiere palettes. Pair with a sexy red lip! Im wearing MAC Russian Red. Thanks for visiting! Leave questions/comments/requests below!

Wearable Ombre Lips

Its the hottest trend this year: Ombre. Ive always loved this look for lips and so glad it's now socially acceptable =). In this tutorial I will be using OCC Lip Tar, but any opaque, creamy lip color will work. (In love with NYX Xtreme Lip Creams as well)

Step 1: Apply darker color as a liner. I used OCC Vintage

 Step 2: Blend using back and forth motions with lip brush.

 Step 3: Apply lighter product to center of lips. I used OCC Hush

 Step 4: Blend by stippling with your finger.

 Step 5 (optional): Apply clear lipgloss carefully. Be sure not to blend darker color anymore. I used MAC Lipglass.

Hope you found this helpful! Feel free to leave questions or comments below.

Look of the Day: Plums n Roses



FACE:

MAC Face and Body in N1

MAC Mineralize SF in Light

MAC Sculpt

FLIRT! bronzer in Foxy Bronze

EYES:

UD Primer Primer Potion

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Porcelain Bisque and Light Bisque

Fyrinnae Primer Powder

UD Shadows in Virgin, Sin and Toasted

Tarte Shadow in Plum

MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder

Maybelline Falsies Mascara in Black Drama

MAC Shadow in Espresso (brows)

LIPS:

MAC Lustreglass in Sinnamon

(Note: This look is more violet in person!)

Money Saving Tip for Shopaholics!

       Find yourself spending too much money? On things you don't even (really) need!? Buying gift cards for yourself is a great way to limit your spending and cut down on impulse buys. This works best if you buy one for the whole year. For example, Victoria's Secret is a big temptation for me. At the beginning of the year, I purchase a gift card for $250 and tell myself "this is for 1 set of new undies, 1 swimsuit, and one bra." This works great as long as I wait a few months in between purchases. Holding out for annual sales works great too! And since you purchase the gift cards all at once, your bank account looks much nicer throughout the year. If you can't make a purchase like that, hold out for tax returns and that can be the start of your fiscal shopping year. Hope you guys try this and let me know how it works for you!

STOP! Before you go to the Dermatologist, try this!

Have acne and not sure how to get rid of it? A dermatologist should be your last resort. Many factors go into the presence of acne, and tweaking certain things in your routine can help you get to the bottom of the issue.
1. Know your skin type. I cannot stress this enough! If you do not have an acneic skin type and use a harsh acne cleasner, you will get acne. If you start getting oily within 3 hours of cleansing, you have an oily skin type. A gentle foaming cleanser should be used (I like Dermalogica’s Special Cleansing Gel). If your skin stays dry most of the day, a creamy non-foaming cleanser should be used (I like Dermalogica’s UltraCalming Cleanser). If your skin has large, painful blemishes 75% of the month, a medicated cleanser is appropriate (Murad’s Acne cleansers are my favorite).
2. Wash your skin morning AND night. Throughout the day, makeup, oil, and debris build on your skin. This needs to be washed off before laying on your face all night! Washing your skin in the morning also insures a fresh makuep application.
3. Always use moisturizer after cleansing. Cleansing skin inevitably strips oils. This moisture needs to be replaced or your skin will over-produce oil (not to mention look red, flaky, and irritated). Look for moisturizers without salicylic acid or other AHA’s. Don’t think you have to get oil-free, most oils do not cause acne. (Skin Smoothing Cream by Dermalogica is my HG moisturizer and absolutely perfect for all skin types).
4. Exfoliate! Salicylic acid exfoliants are great for acne. They speed up recovery by removing dead layers of skin, (this can get lengthy, so I will explain more about it in another post!) Avoid harsh scrubs as they can exacerbate acne. Chemical exfoliation is best for acne (I like Origins’ Modern Friction and Dermalogica’s Daily Microfoliant).
5. Weed your “skin cabinet.” You could be making your skin angry by harsh products. Limit your exfoliants (ANY salicylic acids or other AHA’s) to one daily product and one weekly product. Do not under any circumstances use ProActiv, Origins Checks and balances, St. Ives Apricot Scrub, or anything with soap. These products severely damage skin.
6. Examine your daily habits. Do you touch your face alot? Is the acne along your hairline? (could be caused by dirty hair or hair products). Do you switch your pillow cases frequently? Have you started new medication? Could you be pregnant? Are you keeping up with the above routine daily? Do you have digestive or other internal issues? These are all questions to ask yourself to get to the root cause of your acne.
If the steps above lead nowhere nowhere, you may be a candidate for medically prescribed exfoliants or antibiotics that can be prescibed by a dermatologist. They are not products to mess around with as they can cause other issues, so take with caution and follow ALL of your doctors instructions!
Heres to curing acne! - :) Brittany

Sunscreens You'll WANT To Use!

Hey guys! Summer 2012 is around the corner. Fight the sun and repair your skin at the same time! Below are some great sunscreens with added benefits:
Ahava Anti-Aging Moisturizer is extremely long lasting and full of added anti-aging benefits and antioxidants. Ultra waterproof -Only washes off with a cleanser! SPF 50 and $29.00 USD at ahava.com. Also available in a facial moisturizer.
L’Oreal Sumblime Sun Advanced Sunscreen is available in a Hydra Lotion Spray that makes application a breeze. Has added grapeseed extract to prevent cellular destruction throughout the day. $8-$10 USD at drugstores. Also available in a lotion and facial moisturizer.
Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Instant Mineral SPF 45 is formulated with vitamins A C and E along with peptides to make this translucent powder truely a multitasker. Brush applicator makes it great for daily touch ups. $32 USD at peterthomasroth.com