Aug 31, 2012

DIY Beauty Fridays: Moisturizing Face Mask

Photo courtesy of www.modeleweddings.com
2 weeks to go and not only is my skin breaking out BUT it's super dry and flaky. Seriously, I feel wretched!  Tonight is, without a doubt, a pamper-me-by-having-a-long-bath-and-scrubbing-my-face kind of night.

Since my skin is really flaky in addition to needing moisture, I will be using two different versions of the same type of mask, which has a yogurt base.  Yogurt is fabulous for moisturizing and by adding one extra ingredient to the mask, you can turn it into a great scrub too!

Photo courtesy of www.sheknows.com
Yogurt Face Mask

2 TBSP Greek yogurt (try not to use fat free in this recipe as your skin LOVES the fattiness)
1 TBSP Honey (unpasteurized)
1 - 2 TBSP Oatmeal (cooked and cooled - personally, I use rolled oats)

Mix all ingredients together and apply to cleansed face.  Let sit for 10 - 15 minutes before removing with warm water.  **NOTE: if you're wanting to make the scrub version, make a second batch and add in either brown or white sugar.  Ensure the mixture is completely cold or else you'll have a sugary disaster**

This is actually my go-to face mask and scrub.  I love the way it feels on my skin and the way my skin looks after the treatment is done.  It's easy, cheap and effective.  EXACTLY what I need with only two weeks till the wedding.

Happy masking ladies!


Aug 29, 2012

17 Days Till The Big Event: Advice Needed!

Photo courtesy of memoriesatthepines.com
Before I begin to try and explain how excited I am about the wedding, I wanted to take some time to thank all of my followers and readers.  (This means all of you!!)  First off, this blog wouldn't be anything without your comments and feedback and for this I am truly grateful.

Also, I wanted to thank you all again for your patience.  I've been slacking lately on writing posts and I feel extremely bad about it BUT can't seem to find the time to fix it.  Let me say that this wedding planning thing is SO HARD.  Kudos to the individuals that do this as a full-time job but, man, it's definitely not for me.  In addition to planning everything, making all the DIY finishing touches, I'm hardly sleeping AND can't seem to find time to make it to the gym.  Anyway, enough complaining!!  Thanks again for your support and I truly do have some awesome posts lined up.

So, I have 17 days until the wedding and only 2 more days after that till we board our plane and head to Bali.  So many exciting things happening in such a short time!  It's overwhelming, crazy, fun and scary, all at the same time.  I do, though, have a few questions that have been weighing heavily on my mind:

1) How do you (or did you) deal with stress on the day-of?  Any advice you can share?
2) Anything I should be prepared for in the next two weeks?

Whew, thanks for listening ladies!  You all rock!

Talk soon...

 

Aug 13, 2012

The Rumors Are True! I Have New Hair!

As I'm sure everyone knows, I've been growing my hair for my upcoming September 15th nuptials. Needless to say, my hair, which grows like an absolute weed, is now almost at shoulder level. (Well, the spot where your neck meets the top of your shoulders anyway.)

Me, sitting at my desk at the office.
The other weekend, Allan and I went to Calgary to visit my sister and her boyfriend for a few days.  During this time, the plan was for my sister to color/trim my hair and assist me in buying some extensions.  See, I've always thought I wanted long hair for my wedding and decided the easiest way to achieve this was with clip-ins.  Since it was my first time EVER buying them, I wanted my sister to be there as she would be the person to cut/color and style them for me.  So, we did just that and here's a look at me with some extra long locks...


Huge change right?
I should mention that my sister is a FANTASTIC colorist as the extensions we bought were highlighted with multi-colors and she was able to achieve the same look on my natural hair.  However, after all this time, effort and money, I'm starting to think that I prefer my hair shorter for the wedding.  I'm really undecided...

Have any of you ladies worn clip-in extensions before?  What are your thoughts on wearing them for a big event?

 

Aug 4, 2012

Excess Hair? Problems and Treatments

While for most women, hair removal is a constant and frustrating chore, there are a range of simple solutions. Hair on women has been considered surplus to requirements for so long that it’s simply standard practice to shave or wax on a fairly regular basis. However, for some women problem hair can cause a great deal of distress and have a very negative impact on their self-image, leading to depression and other associated problems. While recognised as a condition with a medical cause in many cases hirsuitsim (excess hair growth) is not normally treated by the NHS, although your doctor may be able to offer help and advice as to solutions. Excess hair growth affects both men and women and while society is generally more tolerant to excess male hair for women it is another matter.

Natural Remedies?

Hair is obviously a natural part of life for us all. Excess growth of hair in women is often caused by an imbalance in hormones and can occur during pregnancy and/or later in life during the menopause.  Excess male hormones known as androgens can occur in women for a number of additional reasons and these can cause hair to grow excessively. While androgens do occur naturally, imbalances in their levels can be caused by some medications and they are also likely to be stimulated when you put on weight. Excessive levels of androgens in men can also cause excessive hair growth and, again, weight can be a factor. Traditional treatments for hair removal are normally considered appropriate to resolve the problem and these include:

  1. Shaving; one of the oldest techniques and one that most women and men will be very familiar with. Hair does grow back quickly and shaving can cause ingrown hairs which create lumps and bumps on the skin. Stubble will grow back quickly and this can be uncomfortable and unsightly. For those with more serious problem hair, shaving is rarely a solution.
  2. Bleaching, waxing, plucking and threading; all of these techniques have been used throughout history. Bleaching does not remove hair but disguises the appearance by lightening the hair, while waxing and depilatory creams “melt” the hair away. These solutions can cause skin irritation in some cases but the results last for a number of weeks.  Plucking and threading remove the hairs individually and are only suitable (and affordable) for small areas of hair, such as the eyebrows.
  3. Electrolysis removes hair permanently and works on all skin/hair tone combinations.  This may sound like the simplest solution but there is a catch. The hairs must be treated individually and the process can take up a great deal of time as a result it is, of course, costly.  Although suitable for most people it has been known to cause scarring or change skin colour.
  4. Laser hair removal, although not considered permanent is believed to reduce the amount of hair on a long term basis. For those with lighter skin tones and dark hair colours this is often the most effective solution. Salon treatments require several sessions, depending on the area to be treated, but the effects last many months. Laser hair removal also has been shown to weaken hair on a more permanent basis. Additionally, home laser hair removal systems are now available on the market.
Medical Intervention?

Although it is not possible to get hair removal treatments through the NHS your doctor may be able to offer advice on the suitability of the cosmetic treatments. In some cases doctors may be able to offer treatments using medication if your condition is causing problems that are affecting your quality of life. Depression, anxiety and even eating disorders are not uncommon side effects of the low self-esteem caused by excessive hair growth, in these cases doctors may consider medical treatments to reduce hair growth if they believe it will contribute to your overall recovery. You should consider medications carefully along with the advice of your doctor, as they can themselves have side effects. Whichever method of treatment you choose it’s important to understand that problem hair growth is a common issue that affects both men and women. Simple treatments, including home laser hair removal, are available at affordable costs and can help to reduce the appearance of hair over time, leaving you free to get on with your life.

Author Bio

The TRIA Home Laser Hair Removal System can help to reduce problem hair which for many people
can be a cause of distress and low self-esteem. More effective than traditional methods of hair
removal it can also be a realistic alternative for those with more difficult problem hair conditions.

PS - Thank you so much for this super-informative, well-written article.

Aug 3, 2012

DIY Beauty Fridays: Patchouli Anti-Acne Moisturizer

Photo courtesy of www.auspaaromas.com
Sometimes, weird beauty tips show up in my inbox from various friends. Sometimes, these tips are so great that I feature them on DIY Beauty Fridays...Like this tip, from my pal Bronwen.

Imagine, getting rid of acne AND wrinkles with patchouli oil.

Patchouli, aka the "hippie scent", is actually a bush plant that grows in the tropical asian countries. This plant, which doesn't like direct sunlight, is harvested for not only it's essential oil but also its seeds.

Patchouli Oil Moisturizer

10 drops of essential patchouli oil 
10 oz almond oil

Mix oils together and apply to cleansed skin.  Keep mixture in a sealed container in the fridge OR in a cool, dry place.  (I usually keep things like this in the back of my closet.)

Why this works?:  Patchouli is thought to be a natural acne remedy and the oils keep your skin moisturized without being overbearing.  I mean, let's be honest, there's a reason hippies have such great skin!

Happy Friday ladies!



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