When I started to lose my weight, people would ask me how I was doing it. “Are you going to the gym?”; “What are you doing?” It’s not hard to lose weight without exercising at all, but you do have to be consistent. Here’s 5 tips on how to lose weight without exercise.
It’s favorites time! Now that it’s officially summer and things are heating up, I wanted to share some of the things I have been loving for summer and just in general lately.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
I found the cutest DIY on Pinterest via missrenaissance.com — DIY gold foil clay pots for succulents. I thought that this would be perfect for spring and I love succulents so I made my own! I didn’t have any gold foil handy, so I used glitter instead and made spring glitter succulent pots & I love how they turned out.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Matte makeup looks are supposedly really on trend this summer. I was really excited to get this matte color stick from NARS during the Spring Social Event at Sephora. I chose the color Altai because it looked like the perfect contour color for my medium toned skin. I had seen some pictures on Instagram & it either looked amazing or really orange, but I decided to give it a try.
I’m really happy that I did because it is not orange at all but instead, it’s an amazing natural bronze color that is perfect for contouring.
It is $40 for only .26oz, but it will last you a long time. Altai is very pigmented. You can apply it directly to your face or lips for a very strong color payoff or you can apply it with a wet applicator for a more sheer look. I use it directly in the hollows of my cheeks and blend out for a more natural contour.
The formula is very smooth and creamy; very easy to blend but not greasy at all. I love the consistency. It lasts all day for me and looks flawless over my Tarte Airbrush Foundation. I really like Altai and how it’s so easy to apply and blend in but for the price, I don’t think it’s worth a repurchase.
Have you used any of the Matte Multiples? Which colors are your favorite and will you be repurchasing?
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
It’s still snowing in some parts of the US, but in just a few days it will officially be spring! Which means that, for some of you, Spring Break is here or is just around the corner!
As you dig your bikinis and flip flops out of storage, it’s important to remember these Spring Break Beauty Tips whether you’re going to Cancun or hanging out with your family by the beach!
1. Drink plenty of water. Water is your best friend. It’s important to stay hydrated especially when out in the sun for extended periods of time. But also, if you’ll be traveling for your break, nothing will help your body acclimate faster than staying nice and hydrated.
2. Give your skin a break + let it breathe a little during your vacation. Try out some “no make up” looks if you choose to wear makeup. Otherwise, go for a natural sunscreen + chapstick only dewy look.
3. Try a fresh and fruity cleanser. Clean & Clear has this oil free pink grapefruit foaming scrub. I love the way this cleanser smells; so clean and fruity! It’s awesome and has these gentle exfoliating beads that help smooth away rough spots. It also contains salicylic acid which helps clear my skin up!
4. Use Sunscreen. Lots of it. Everyone wants to come back from spring break with a nice healthy glow, but be mindful about how long you’re in the sun. Sunburns are serious so apply a UVA/UVB sunscreen often and wear a hat or stay in a partially shaded area. Make sure to use it on your face and body.
5. Try some no-heat hair styles. If you’ll be in the sun but out of the water, opt for some fun braided, no-heat hairstyles. Braids are a soft, feminine way to keep your hair out of your face while giving you a nice, put-together but beachy look.
6. Try some new hair ties! Hold your braids together with cute, fun hair ribbons. If you haven’t used these ribbon hair ties before, definitely give them a try. They prevent breakage and come in a variety of colors. Check out some of the different varieties: here, here, and here.
7. Lock in the moisture in your hair. The sun + chlorinated or salty water can dry out your hair. If you’ll be in and out of water, try first to wet your hair and coat the ends with conditioner to lock in moisture.
8. Exfoliate. Pre, during, and post Spring Break. Exfoliating is the best way to keep your skin super soft and vacation ready. Before you embark on your journey, exfoliating will help you apply sunless tanning lotion evenly and prevent streaking. During your excursion, exfoliating will keep your skin from peeling or flaking from being out in the sun. And once you’re back home, it will help keep you looking glowy and fresh! I like to use the brown sugar and oatmeal body scrub from the San Francisco Bath Salt Company.
9. Get a Mani/Pedi. Nothing says Spring Break more than fun bright nail color! I like neon and bright pink nail polishes. Bright nail color can help you look extra tan. I really like Collide by Ilamasqua.
10. Hydrate your skin with an After Sun Lotion. I really like this lotion from Hawaiian Tropic it has aloe and feels nice and cooling on your skin after a long day in the sun. Your skin will thank you.
What are your plans for Spring Break? Share your Beauty Tips in the comments!
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
Urban Decay is coming out with a new eyeshadow palette that promises to be electric!
The palette is going to be full of fun bright colors — a nice contrast to the Naked palettes! I’m really excited to see these new electric shades for summer.
UPDATE: Alleged swatches from the Electric Palette.
UPDATE: ^ It’s real. They are “pressed pigments” and some of the colors are “neon” and shouldn’t be used on the immediate eye area. :/ Kind of a deal breaker for me…what do you think? Check out this review by Temptilia. The Electric Palette will be released on March 18th for $49 at Sephora, Macy’s and Ulta stores.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
The Sephora by OPI gelshine™ At-Home Gel Colour System is do it at home gel nail kit. It costs $160 and you pick your own color to include with the kit. Additional colors are $17.50.
The kit comes with:
Gently buff the surface of the nails with the Buffing Block
Spray some Nail Spray onto one of the Nail Pads and clean the nails
Apply Base CoatApply a thin layer of the Base Coat to your thumb. It’s super important to use a thin coat!
Cure the gel polish under the LED light
Cure the thumb first, then apply Base Coat to the other finger nails and cure them. The polish isn’t going to “dry” on it’s own, so you’ll want to do the thumb separately so it doesn’t smudge before it cures.
I used a super pale pink “Bare to be Different”, but Sephora offers 14 different shades on its website.
Thin coats! If you apply the polish too thick, it won’t last as long. Your manicure should last up to two weeks. Cure after each application of polish
Cure your top coat and clean nails with the Nail Spray again to remove the tacky feeling.
This Gel Nail kit is awesome! You no longer have to wait for your nails to “dry”. After 30 seconds under the LED light, your manicure is safe. You can tell by the formula that it is professional quality. Use thin coats of polish to get a professional, long-lasting manicure.
I would like to see Sephora offer more colors of gel polish, but really you can use any LED gel polish you want.
In fact, I’ve done a gel base coat, a layer of regular nail polish, and then sealed it with a layer of gel top coat. Just make sure that if you’re going to layer in a “regular” nail polish, you let it dry completely before applying the gel top coat.
This post may contain affiliate links; all opinions are my own. See Disclosures here
With summer just around the corner, it’s extremely important that you are protecting your skin from the sun.
Here are 5 ways to protect your skin.
1. Stay out of the sun.
“But it’s summer! I want to be outside!” You can still be outside, enjoy the pool, have fun at the beach — whatever you want to do, but be smart about it.
The sun’s rays are most harmful between 10am and 2pm, so avoid being outside at those times if possible.
2. Wear SPF clothing
If you’re going to be out and about, cover up your body to prevent sun exposure. Coolibar makes clothes with UPF 50+ fabrics. SPF clothing is great because it is lightweight and breathable; it’ll wick away moisture and protect you from the sun.
3. Wear a hat and sunglasses
Wearing a hat will keep you cool but also protect the sensitive skin on your face. Plus, don’t forget about your scalp and hair; you’ll want to keep them protected too! Same goes with your sunglasses — wearing them will protect your eyes from wrinkles due to sun exposure and from squinting in the brightness. And don’t just wear any old pair, make sure you use a pair that has UV protection.
4. Wear SPF lip balm
Dry, burned and peeling lips are no fun for summer, so prevent that with a nice SPF lip product.
This balm from Jack Black protects against UVA and UVB rays.
This balm from Kiehl’s come in different tints for sun protection with a touch of color!
5. Wear sunscreen!
Of course you should wear a sunscreen everyday, but especially in the summer when you’re more likely to be outside. Ensure you are using a sunscreen with a SPF of at least 30. Apply it generously and often — especially if you’re going to be in and out of water. Make sure you use a broad spectrum sunscreen that protects against UVA and UVB rays.
I use Neutrogena Dry Touch Broad Spectrum SPF 70 because it’s light and not greasy. It almost has a powder-like feel to it when it’s rubbed in.
Don’t forget to apply it on your hairline, and your ears too!