GUEST POST: Top 5 Celebrity Beauty Secrets from Louise at Feelgood Style

**Louise Ryan from the blog Feelgood Style sent me a fabulous article and I knew I HAD to share it with you all.  So, without further adieu...Here are the Top 5 Celebrity Beauty Secrets as written by Louise!**

Hollywood is alive with budding actors and movie stars all looking their best – but how do they stay so glamorous? Of course many celebs opt for boob jobs and Botox, but here are 5 more Hollywood beauty secrets:

1.  Lash extensions

Eyelash extensions have become incredibly popular of late and are adored by the stars. They’ve become a must-have and help make lashes thicker, fuller and more beautiful. They’re made from silk, mink or synthetic materials and are designed to match your existing eyelash colour. They come in numerous different textures and are applied to natural lashes using a special bonding agent.  Katy Perry and Victoria Beckham are believed to be fans as are Nicole Kidman, Lindsay Lohan and Gwen Steffani

2.  Microdermabrasion

Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical procedure that’s popular with the rich and famous. Tiny abrasives work to polish the skin and reveal a soft, smooth and rejuvenated complexion. Blemishes, wrinkles and fine lines are removed and frequent treatments improve sagging or severely scarred skin. The whole process is pain free and any redness fades quickly meaning celebs are ready for the red carpet in no time – what could be better? 

3.  Detox package

Many celebrities opt for a detox package before a big event to help revitalise and replenish their skin. They enjoy a specialised seaweed treatment which helps rid their body of toxins before clearing their pores in a sauna. They then book in for a massage to stimulate their circulation before detoxing their body with water and green tea.

4.  Egyptian Magic

A host of well-known stars can’t get enough of Egyptian Magic, an all-purpose, healing skin-cream that’s meant to heal scars, relieve skin ailments and nourish hair. Made from olive oil, beeswax, honey and royal jelly this sough after product is even designed to soothe sunburn and helps get rid of rashes. Kate Hudson reportedly said “I slather this all over my face on overnight flights to keep my skin hydrated” and supermodel Gisele Bundchen is also a fan.

5.  Heels and lipstick

It might sound a bit Desperate Housewives, but many celebrities rely on heels and lipstick to feel glamorous. Strictly Come Dancing presenter Tess Daly reportedly throws on a pair of stilettoes to do the school run and feels more attractive in an instant. Many working mums devise tricks to look fabulous and even celebs need a confidence boost now and again.

So there you have it, 5 Hollywood beauty secrets that can help you feel great in no time. 

PS - Thanks again, Louise, for your awesome post.  Check out her BLOG, ladies, if you haven't done so already!

The Top 3 Budget Mascaras

Photo found here

Mascara is one beauty product that I can't live without.  Honestly, I've tried.

About 7 years ago I had laser eye surgery and part of the healing process was no eye makeup for 6 months.  Waking up everyday and not wearing eye makeup was the hardest thing, ever, because I felt naked.  After those 6 long months passed, I got back on the mascara horse and have never looked back.

I don't know about you but there are quite a few things I require from a potential mascara and if it doesn't deliver, I move on to a different type/brand very quickly.  I need my lashes to be volumized, the mascara formula needs to be non-clumpy, a brush that separates the lashes AND lengthens them all the while not breaking the bank.  Here are my top three budget-friendly picks that meet my extensive must-have list...

Photo found here

1. Maybelline Great Lash Blackest Black Mascara (Curved Brush)

I wrote a REVIEW about this mascara before and, since then, have incorporated it into my daily beauty routine.  This mascara separates lashes, lengthens, volumizes AND doesn't clump.  Such a bargain at only $7.

Photo found here

2. Rimmel London Lash Accelerator Mascara in Extreme Black

I also reviewed this mascara HERE quite sometime ago and nothing's changed since then... I still adore it.  I use this product every morning as my first two coats.  I love this mascara because it lengthens my lashes extremely well and doesn't leave any added build-up.  The only issue I have with this mascara is that it doesn't fully coat the lashes in one stroke.  (You have to double-dip the wand in the container.)  Aside from that, every couple months I have no problem paying $8.99 for this mascara.

Photo found here

3. Avon SuperSHOCK Mascara in Black 

This mascara has surprised me the most.  First, I never usually like abnormally large brushes (and this brush is HUGE) but for some reason it works extremely well.  Also, it's one of the most volumizing mascaras I've used in quite some time.  The only downfall is that it can be a bit clumpy if you're using more than two coats.  Either way, it's a steal for $4.99

Have any of you ladies tried these mascaras before?  What are your thoughts?

Montagne Jeunesse's Colorful Face Masks: Review

I was sent a colorful assortment of Montagne Juenesse face masks from Farleyco, a national distributor for the brand, and was extremely tickled when I opened the box.  I don't know if you're as familiar with these masks as I am but I can recall MANY times using these masks during my spa-at-home days.  Needless to say, I was really excited to start mask-ing again.

I invited my friend, Bronwen, over for a spa evening (she's the face behind the blog Rubyna AND the creator of the Wedding Wednesday posts) and after perusing the selections, she chose the Dead Sea Mud Pac while I settled on the Chocolate Masque.

After a quick cleanse of our faces, we applied the masks and were both, instantly, blown away by the smell.  Mine actually smelled like a delectable chocolate bar and hers like fresh seaweed or the ocean.  Either way, it was a great first encounter.  Both masks were easy to apply, though extremely messy, and spread evenly over our faces with no irritation.  (This is very unusual for a packaged mask, as I'm sure you know).

We left the masks on for about 15 minutes and then rinsed them off with warm water.  Our thoughts were:

Pros:

Extremely smooth skin

Fresh looking complexion

Masks were very deep cleaning

Pores were left much tighter and less noticeable

Cons:

Drying (lots of moisturizer was required)

Despite the tight skin and dryness, these masks are absolutely worth it.  The true test came the next day, though, when my skin was blemish-free and still glowing.  I've always known I liked these masks but it was nice to remember why.  I will definitely try these out again.

Have any of you ladies tried these masks before?  If so, what are your thoughts?

DIY Beauty Fridays: Avocado Face Mask (Dry Skin)

Photo courtey of http://www.drgranny.com/

Masks are my absolute favorite product to treat my skin with.  Not only do they make your skin feel and look amazing but they buff away flakiness to reveal a more radiant complexion.  And, masks do absolute wonders for your skin during severe weather conditions. 

For those not living in Vancouver, I should explain that our winters consist of rain.  I say rain but I literally mean torrential downpours spanning the course of weeks, and if it's really bad, months.  However, this year has been quite different.  One day you wake up and the weather is sunny but extremely cold/dry and the next day it'll be slightly warmer and raining.  (We've even had wind storms and snow which doesn't happen too often.)  Needless to say, this crazy weather is making even my normal/combination skin extremely dry.  Hence the need for avocados....

Photo courtsey of latinofoodie.com

Avocado Face Mask

1/2 medium ripe avocado

1 TBSP honey

1 TBSP yogurt (again, use the all-natural greek kind)

Remove avocado from skin and mash (to form a thick paste) in a bowl.  Add in both the honey and yogurt and mix well.  Apply mask to cleansed skin and let sit for 15 minutes.  Rinse off with warm water.

Why this works?: Avocados contain a deep penetrating vegetable oil that is perfect for dry skin.  They are also chalked full of nutrients and vitamins which make your skin healthy and radiant.  The addition of yogurt (or lactic acid) actually smoothes and softens the skin all the while tightening and wrinkles and refining pores!

Try this out ladies!  Even if you don't have dry skin, it's a great way to relax after all the shopping you're doing this weekend....ha



My Interview With Laura From Applied Glamour

Photo courtesy of Applied Glamour 

My fabulous blog pal, and fellow beauty junkie, Laura from Applied Glamour sent me some questions to answer for a guest spot she's hosting on her amazing blog..

And let me tell you, some of those questions were VERY hard to respond to!!

Click HERE and find out which hard questions she asked AND which ones I found difficult to answer.

Thanks again, Laura, for featuring me on Applied Glamour and I hope you'll do a guest post for me very soon!

Adele Is A Beauty

Adele is a beauty by redlipgloss featuring satchel bags

So not only is she a talented songstress, a style guru and a makeup aficionado but Adele is absolutely jaw-dropping gorgeous!  I love women that have the confidence to wear, or look, whatever and however they feel and Adele does this to a tee.  The best part is though Adele is a huge star, she doesn't feel the need to change herself for anything nor does she hide her voluptuous figure.  Honestly, this is a lesson we should all take from her book.  (Ahem, love ourselves no matter what...)

Now, being the makeup junkie I am, I just have to comment on her flawless complexion.  Man, what I would give for even one hour to hang with her.  I would definitely ask her what her skin care regimen is....ha.

XO Christina

The Revlon Suede Rhapsody Multi-Use Palette Is Mine....!!!

Photo courtesy of www.saleevent.ca

As you all know, I recently purchased the Revlon Limited Edition Lip Palette and blogged about it HERE.  In that post, though, I spoke about last year's palette called the Suede Rhapsody Multi-Use Palette and, after an active eBay search, found a new one and purchased it for only $7.95 (including shipping.)  I know, AMAZING.  And, guess what showed up at my doorstep on Friday????

How gorgeous is this right?  What's better than a tiny clutch-sized eye/cheek/lip palette?  This little palette has two eye shadows (the burgundy and grey in the bottom row), two blushes (the white highlighter and peach in the top row) and a gorgeous red lip gloss.  I was kicking myself last year for not buying this palette so the fact that I actually found an unused one is just amazing.  Sigh, such a good deal.

Now, for a little sneak peek into Christmas at my house.  I should begin by saying that Christmas is my favorite holiday of the year and if it wasn't frowned upon, I would begin decorating at the end of September.  But, since it IS frowned upon, I waited until the middle of November, instead.  So, this past weekend I put up my Christmas tree.  (Since Thanksgiving in Canada is in October, I guess we get into the Christmas spirit a bit earlier.)  Anyway, my Christmas tree is filled with tons of different snowmen because snowmen are my absolute favorite thing to collect over the holidays.

Isn't it adorable...

PS - Sorry for the strangely yellow pictures.  Allan used the camera for some bike pictures over the weekend and I have NO idea how to change the settings......boooo.

DIY Beauty Fridays: Scrub and Salt Glow for the Body

I realize that I've neglected our bodies when coming up with DIY recipes lately.  Shame on me, I should know better.  Our bodies are just as (if not more) important than our faces because they take an incredible beating everyday.  Let's be honest, all those extra hot showers, cheap bar soaps, and scented laundry detergents can really be terrible for our skin.  So, today is the day to pamper your body ladies!

Coffee Body Scrub

2 cups coarse ground coffee 

1/2 cup raw sugar (any non-processed sugar will do)

3 Tbsp olive oil

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.  Take a nice warm bath or shower to open the pores and hydrate the skin.  Rub the mixture in small handfuls into your skin and, when fully covered, rinse off in the shower.  Apply a moisturizer when complete.  **Coffee is known for tightening and rejuvenating the skin so you'll notice a major difference in the texture and feel of it once done.**

Lemon Salt Glow

1/2 cup sea salt 

1/2 cup sweet almond oil 

1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest

Combine all ingredients together being extra careful not to get any water in the mixture.  (This will dissolve the salt).  Place in a tupperware container with a sealed lid until ready to use.  Before showering, swirl your finger in the mixture to mix the items and apply to the body in firm scrubbing motions.  Rinse off in the shower when fully covered.  **Sea salts bring an amazing glow to dull and dry skin.**

Take some time out from your busy day and pamper your skin.  You know you want to....Oh and let me know what you think of the recipes should you try them out!

The Gorgeous, and Pregnant, Hilary Duff

There is something so interesting about Hilary Duff.  I should probably begin with saying that I've adored this girl ever since Lizzie McGuire.  (Yes, I used to watch that show.)  She has such a bubbly personality, fantastic style and again, hair to DIE for.  Yes, her acting may not be that great nor her singing voice be absolutely perfect but she just has that star quality.  Plus, she's PREGNANT!!!

Look at her all pregnant and adorable!  I love that she is still wearing body hugging clothing AND rockin' the high heels.  Congrats to Hilary and Mike!  Can't wait to see pics of the baby boy...

Fall 2011 Favorites: Lipstick!

Lipstick makes me happier than ribs slathered in my favorite BBQ sauce.  Honestly, I'm just sayin'.  As scrumptious as ribs (or any BBQ food) are there is a certain je ne sais quoi about a fabulous colored lipstick.  Well, for me anyway.  It adds a bounce to my step and can sometimes make me feel fabulous even on the worst day.  With that in mind, here's a list of my favorite lipsticks that completed my looks this fall:

Maybelline Fifth Ave. Fuchsia #160

I'm swooning just looking at this picture.  There is nothing sexier than rocking a fabulous fuchsia lip with some killer over-the-knee boots.  Honestly, this was my staple color for about three weeks.  I love this one by Maybelline because the color lasts a long time, the smudging is minimal and the actual color of the lipstick is divine. 

Bite Beauty Luminous Creme Lipstick in Bouquet

I love the Bite line because it has an all-natural ingredient list.  Plus it's jam-packed with antioxidants that leave your lips smooth and moisturized.  This color is one I wear to the office a lot because of the sunny pink tone.  It's not too overwhelming as a color but gives your lips a nice pop color. I highly recommend this color and product line.

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Berry, Berry Nice

I bought this by accident.  I thought I ordered a wine color but instead received a bright red berry tone which has actually taken the place as my favorite red over Youngblood's Crimson.  (I know, shocking.)  Either way, this color suits my skin tone to a tee because it's blue-based.  I have honestly been on the hunt for a blue-based berry red for so long and it's crazy to think I found it for under $4.  This lipstick is rich in color, wears well, doesn't smudge too much and looks great on.  I do wish that the color would last a bit longer on my lips though.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Pink #435

I find the name of this color funny because, once on, it almost looks a bit orange.  Either way, this color is on the list for a reason.  I apply this color a couple times first thing in the morning and the color lasts all day, even through lunch.  I love the feel of it on my lips and my lips obviously love it since they stay moisturized all day.  Plus, it was on sale and I bought it for only $3.99...such a steal.

I should probably mention that I use a nude/natural lip liner with all my lipsticks, not a colored one.  I like nude lip liners because they hold the color of your lipstick in place and don't leave a horrible line around your lips when your lipstick fades.  My go-to is Rimmel London's 1000 Kisses Lip Liner in Natural.  I definitely recommend it if you're on the hunt for a bargain.

What are your favorite lipsticks for fall?  Have you tried any of these before?

PS - It's time for another Wedding Wednesday Post so check it out at www.rubyna.com