Monday, December 10, 2012

You're The Bomb!: Homemade Bath Bombs.


Bath Bombs. One of the most amazing experiences to recharge and renew the mind and body. Bath bombs can be simple to the creative and extraordinary. These simple yet luxe little bombs can give you the perfect spa night and can also make a great gift for any holiday. Bath bombs can cost anywhere up to $8 a bomb and I will show you how to make one bomb for under a quarter!

You will need: 
  • Baking Soda
  • Your Favorite Fragrance or Essential Oil 
  • Citric Acid - available online or any location that they sell beer-brewing supplies
  • Food Coloring of your choice
  • Epsom or Sea Salt
  • A mold: Ice Tray, Cupcake tins, any mold you wish
How to Make:
  1. Blend two parts baking soda with one part citric acid. Blend well so that the mixture is not grainy.
  2. Once blended, add the coloring and the essential oils..(a little goes a long way)
  3. Using a spray bottle, spray witch hazel into the mixture while stirring. Make sure your mixture does not become too wet for it will activate the bomb.
  4. When the mixture becomes congruent, press into the mold. The tighter you pack it, the better your bomb will be.
  5. After a few minutes, tap the bomb out of the mold and let air dry for two hours.
  6. Pop into your bath if you would like or wrap in a cello bag and ribbon to gift!
Lala xoxo


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

So Berry White! : Natural At-Home Tooth Whitener.


The star of this show is the strawberry. Did you know that strawberries are one of nature's natural brighteners? Strawberries contain malic acid. Malic acid assists in lifting surface stains from the tooth enamel. Here is a simple recipe that you can use once a week to lighten and brighten your pearly whites!

1 ripe strawberry
1/2 tsp. baking soda


  • In a glass, mash the strawberry and the baking soda together into a paste. 
  • Apply the mixture to your teeth with a toothbrush. Leave on for 5 minutes.
  • Rince and brush your teeth with your favorite toothpaste. 
Lala xoxo

Monday, November 12, 2012

En Line: Fool Proof Fashion Forward Liquid Liner.


This Holiday Season, the look is all drama and definition. One of the stars of the show is liquid liner in a big way. If you look at high impact liquid liner as intimidating but always wanted to rock it, here is a foolproof application technique to wear this look with ease and style. 

1. Apply an eyeshadow base and eyeshadow in a light cream color all over. 
2. Stencil out your liner with a black waterproof eyeliner. Fill entire upper eye lid from lash to crease with the black eyeliner. Then, draw out the line into a cat eye, angular shape. (Using the pencil to create the shape gives you more control and makes it error proof. The liquid liner is too hard to control at most times.)
3. Take liquid liner and use the liquid liner as a top coat to add definition and shine. 


Lala xoxo

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

Oats My Gosh!: Three Homemade Oatmeal Masks.


As Fall weather kicks in, our skin looses radiance and moisture. Oatmeal is a natural soother, contains moisturizing properties and is known to give skin a supple appearance while healing dry skin. 
Here is the basic recipe for a great oatmeal mask and two spin off oatmeal masks that are hand catered to specific skin types and concerns. 

Basic Oatmeal Mask.

You will need..
3/4 cup Dry Oatmeal (If you have a food processor, grind the oatmeal. If not, it is not necessary.)
1/3 cup Warm Water 

Mix the ingredients into a paste. Apply on slightly damp skin, leaving on until the mask dries. Remove with warm water. 

Agave Nectar, Lemon & Oatmeal Exfoliating Mask - Normal to Combination Skin. 

You will need..
3 tbsp. Agave Nectar 
2 tbsp. Oatmeal (If you have a food processor, grind the oatmeal. If not, it is not necessary.)
1 tbsp. Lemon Juice 

The agave nectar is a natural humectant, drawing moisture to the skin while the lemon juice is a natural exfoliant. 

Mix the ingredients into a paste. Apply on slightly damp skin, leaving on for 30 minutes. Remove with warm water. 

Strawberry, Apple, Agave Nectar & Oatmeal Clarifying Mask.

You will need..
1/4 cup Oatmeal
1/2 Apple
1/2 cup Strawberries
2 tbsp. Agave Nectar

Apple contains Malic Acid, a natural exfoliator that is gentle and ideal for breakout prone skin. Strawberries contain Salicylic Acid, a natural pore detoxifier and skin clearing ingredient. 

Blend together in food processor or blender. Mix the ingredients into a paste. Apply on slightly damp skin, leaving on for 30 minutes. Remove with warm water. 

Lala xoxo

Monday, October 15, 2012

Long Lashes: At Home Lash Growth Treatment.


The trend in pharmaceutical  cosmetic treatments is lash growth treatments and serums. While these serums do increase lash growth using the key ingredient Bimatoprost. Bimatoprost is a fatty acid that helps to bind prostaglandin receptors that are responsible for growth, strength and stimulation in the hair follicle. Incredibly active and efficient, it also comes with a price tag and even some possible side effects of discoloration of the eye.

As a Do-It-Yourself girl, I get asked often if there is an alternative and you will be amazed at how simply you can stimulate lash growth at home.

A night time routine utilizes Green Tea and Olive Oil.  Green Tea is rich in flavonoids which support healthy lash growth. Olive Oil is rich in omega fatty acids which help to strengthen and condition.

After washing your face at night, saturate unsweetened chilled Green Tea on a cotton ball and apply to lashes and lid. Do not rinse, allow the Green Tea to be used as an eye serum. Apply Olive Oil on lashes and around eye area. This routine is best when used each night continuously as your night time routine.

Enjoy!
Lala xoxo

Friday, October 5, 2012

Make Your Eyes Pop!


Does the thought of applying eyeshadow leave you baffled? Where does that go? What brush makes it do that? What color is right for me? ..I know, I know..it is the number one thing that intimidates women around the world. Here is a simple highlighting technique that fakes out the look of multiple shades of shadows in a simple natural and eye opening finish that only requires one light shimmer shadow.


1. Apply light shimmering shadow to the inner corners of your eyes. 

2. Apply shimmer to the lower lash line, concentrating on the outer corner. 

3. Apply shimmer shadow along the brow bone. 

4. Finish with mascara. 

Lala xoxo

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Glow On! : How To Sunless Tan.


Summer. Glowing skin, radiant complexions, healthy tones...all of these things come with the season. As we transition out of the Summer and into the Fall our skin cell turnover changes speed and the lack of exposure to the outdoors we loose that lustre. There is no need to lose that healthy glow that you acquired this summer with the help of sunless tanners and gradual tanners. Here is a guide on what they are and how to use them.

Have you ever asked yourself, how does a sunless tanner work? Sunless tanning products contain dihydroxyacetone..but let's just call it DHA. DHA is a colorless sugar that interacts with the dead skin cells located above the top layer of skin cells and creates a protein chemical reaction that changes the color of the dead skin cells. On the market, you have a choice of how tan you would like to be ranging from just a sheer glow to a dark tan. That is all based upon how much DHA is in the product. DHA is also the ingredient that gives sunless tanners the oh so lovely stench that they are famous for. Recently cosmetic chemists have found a way to encapsulate the DHA in a fragrance molecule, lessening the scent of the DHA and making it more pleasant. Also, most sunless tanners no longer turn the skin orange as they have also put a color correcting pigment in their formulations, leading to a perfect bronze.  At any given time, each person has up to 40 layers of dead skin cells on their epidermis. As the top layer of dead skin cells exfoliate and slough off, so does the look of the sunless tanner.

So now that you know how a sunless tanner works, let's talk about the options to apply and what is best for you and how to use them.

Gradual Tan: This is great if you just want to maintain a healthy glow and a great option for those that do not want to sport a tan in the fall but want to have a little lustre to their skin. You would apply gradual tanner as your daily moisturizer. Gradual tanner has the lowest amount of DHA in it so it is more flexible.

Spray Tan: A personal Favorite of mine..because I want faster results and am pretty lazy about it. For a successful spray tan, simply shower and exfoliate. It is recommended with this method to exfoliate and shave so that the spray evenly adheres to the freshest layer of dead skin for even application. Moisturize and let the moisturizer set on your skin for about 15 minutes. Cover your hair in a shower cap and spray skin. Spray behind your back, your sides and do not rub in. That is the benefit of this application as you do not need to rub it in and you can get the hard to reach places. Let it dry for 5-10 minutes and then you can go about your business.

Mousse and Lotions: You will still want to cleanse and exfoliate your skin however most formulations do not require you moisturize but have built in moisturizers into the formula. A best practice is to apply your sunless tanner with a sunless tanning glove/mitt for even application. You would apply your sunless tanner to your glove/mitt (or you can use your bare hands as well, just ensure you are keeping your hand closed in a cup formation so that your fingers do not create streaking), then rub in the sunless tanner starting with the largest part of your body and blending it out to the smaller parts of your body. Example, start with your thigh, then move to your calf and ankle, then with the left over product on your mitt lightly brush over your knee cap. Knees and elbows should be saved for last and applied with leftover product residue from the hand since there are more layers of dead skin and those areas tend to grab darker.  Wash your hands, let your body dry for 10-15 minutes and then you can go about your business.

A final tip as well is to sunless tan before you go to bed so that your sunless tanner can develop generally undisturbed. DHA takes between 6-8 hours to develop completely with the protein in your dead skin cells. Avoid contact with water and solutions before that time period. In the morning, you can rinse off the sunless tanner and enjoy your sunless glow for about 3-5 days.

Glow on!
Lala xoxo

Thursday, September 6, 2012

When Life Gives You Acne..Make A Lemon Mask!



Lemon Juice & Aspirin Blemish Mask. 

Nothing can ruin a day quite like a blemish attack. Here is a very easy and efficient way to clear up blemishes at home.

You will need:
Lemon Juice- To brighten the skin
Aspirin- For the Salicylic Acid benefits and acne treatment
Baking Soda- For texture and to neutralize the salicylic acid

1. Mash up 6-12 non-coated aspirins and combine with freshly squeeze lemon juice.
2. Let the aspirin dissolve until it turns into a paste.
3. Apply the mask to your skin and leave it on for 10 minutes.
4. Remove the face mask by dipping a cotton round in some baking soda and some water.
Enjoy your bright complexion!

Lala xoxo

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Trend Alert: At Home Caviar Manicure.


The hottest nail art trend this year is the Caviar Nail. The Caviar trend is using a Glass Micro-Bead as a top coat, creating a glamourous and luxe effect. This look is great for special occasions or when you just want to be extra fabulous. Here is the simple steps of how to create your own at home Caviar nail art look.

1. Apply a clear base coat.

2. Apply a coat of a full coverage base color that coordinates with the same color as your beads. Nail polishes with no shimmer that are more opaque work best.

3. Apply a generous, thick second coat of your polish one finger at a time and sprinkle the glass micro-beads on your nail. (A best practice is to have a bowl beneath to catch all of the micro-bead fall out from your nail.)

4. Press the beads gently in to set, then move on to the next nail.

This fashion forward manicure will last between 24-48 hours for your special occasion and will turn heads!


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Waves: Three Ways To Beach Hair.



Sexy, tousled tresses are all the trend this season and as the cherry on top of this style, it's also very easy and user friendly. Here are three ways to sexy beach hair.

Salt Sprays. 
Spritzing on a salt styling spray acts as a curl and wave activator and gives that stylishly yet controlled messy look of spending all day at the beach. Many companies make these salt based sprays however, you can make them at home as well. In an 8 oz spray bottle mix 3 teaspoons of salt and a drop of either hair shine serum/oil or even a pinch of hair conditioner. Fill the bottle with water, shake and spritz.

A best practice is to use on dry hair, then scrunch. There are no rules so just have fun and try new things!

Barrel Curling.
Taking any traditional curling iron and wrapping your hair around it while the barrel remains vertical. Traditionally curling hair is where your hair strand remains in place where the barrel clips on and rotates around the hair strand. Barrel curling for looser curls works in the opposite way and gives a more modern look.

Hair Buns and Braids.
Wash your hair and then section it of into fours. Create four buns or two braids and secure them in place. Allow them to dry for 8 hours and then unwrap them, loosening the waves with your fingers. You can then add a pinch of salt spray for even extra definition.

Lala xoxo

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Eau My!: Do It Yourself Fragrance.


The start of a day is not complete without a touch a fragrance.  Here is a great easy way to make your own fragrance at home with your favorite scents.

Find any esscential oil you like at your local health food store in the beauty isle. Experiment and smell to find a scent that you like. In a bowl mix 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of vodka and 5 drops of the essential oil of your choice. Mix the ingredients together and pour into a glass container. Store in a cool, dry place.

If you are feeling creative, try mixing some of your favorite essential oils together to create your own creation!

Lala xoxo


Monday, July 9, 2012

Perfect Ink: Steps To Flawless Liquid Liner.



The liquid liner..one of the most intimidating cosmetics known to womankind. From smudging the application, making skips, wobbly lines and mastering symmetry from one eye's look to the next..it can be scary. The good news? There are ways to cheat and get a flawless liquid line that will make your hand look like a steady eddie!

Step 1: If you have oily lids, then no matter whether you’re wearing shadow or not, it’s best to apply primer and some powder onto the lids to keep them dry so your liner does not smudge or break down over the day.
Step 1: If you have oily lids, then no matter whether you’re wearing shadow or not, it’s best to apply primer and some powder onto the lids to keep them dry so your liner does not 
smudge or break down over the day.


Step 2: This is the cheater's way of doing it! Take a regular eye pencil and lightly sketch out your line. This is easier to gain a steady hand with and if you make a mistake is easier to remove. Tip: Always start with they eye that you are less comfortable with first!


Step 3: Apply your liquid liner as a top coat over your pencil sketch. This adds a sharpness and shine but is easier to top off. It also will hide any skips and uneven lines. 


Then practice makes perfect! 


Lala xoxo





Thursday, June 28, 2012

Beauty Oil Breakdown: What is right for you?


Beauty Oils are all the rage right now. Where in the 1990's the trend was removing oil from all products, cosmetic chemists have tapped into the idea that it is not about removing oil from products but rather adding the right kinds of oils into products. Your skin and body needs oil to look plump, young and fresh. Oil is one of the building blocks of your cell membrane. Omegas, amino acids, vitamins and anti-oxidants..you can get all of these benefits from finding the right oil for you. You can use this guide to look and find these oils in the products you wish to apply or even, to get maximum results, you can replace your evening night cream with the oil that is appropriate for you skin type and concerns. 


Normal/Combination Skin: Jojoba Oil. A very lightweight oil that nourishes and hydrates the skin while mimicking human sebum. It absorbs well while creating a protective barrier over the skin that is breathable. Giving skin the opportunity to renew itself in a stable environment and allow the pore to appear tighter and smaller. Jojoba oil even breaks up sebum in clogged pores. This is a gorgeous oil for all skin types and in most cosmetic formulas that it is prevalent in are listed as "Oil Free" for Jojoba is classified as the oil-free oil due to it's pliability. You can purchase this oil in any health food store for under $10 for a 3 month supply. 

Oily Skin: Sweet Almond Oil. A lightweight and smooth oil, known for rebalancing oily and acneic skin. With essential fatty acids, it is perfect for getting rid of breakouts, balancing out oily skin and even preventing and correcting fine lines and wrinkles as well as strengthening capillaries under the eye and removing the appearance of dark circles. You can purchase this oil in any health food store for under $10 for a 3 month supply. 

Sensitive Skin: Apricot Kernel Oil. With similar properties to Sweet Almond Oil, this is better suited for sensitive skin. It is rich in fatty acids that help to repair the breakdown in cell membrane that brings about sensitivity. This oil can actually heal the cell membrane enough that over time, there is no more sensitivity to the skin period. Imagine, a life without sensitive skin and using a vast array of products with no worry! This oil can rebuild your skin cell structure so that is a reality. It is also an anti-inflammatory and can also heal boils and burns. You can purchase this oil in any health food store for under $10 for a 3 month supply. 

Dry Skin: Olive Oil. Olive Oil is one of the most widely used oils. It helps to maintain the skin's elasticity and structure with even richer amino acids, essential fatty acids and antioxidants. This oil is great for dry and aging skin not to mention great for aging hands, neck and décolleté. This oil is truly not recommended for skin that is break out prone or thin. You can purchase this oil in any health food store for under $20 for a 3 month supply. 

Very Dry, Aging Skin: Avocado Oil.  Ideal for mature and sun-damaged skin. It is rich in vitamin A, B1, B2, D and E. It also contains lecithin, amino acids, sterols and other fatty acids. This is great for hyper pigmentation and sun/age spots, deeper lines and wrinkles and loss of firmness. This oil is also ideal for healing psoriasis and eczema. You can purchase this oil in any health food store for under $20 for a 3 month supply. 

Lala xoxo

Monday, May 28, 2012

Oat Yes! : Homemade Oatmeal Cleanser.



Do you ever think to yourself that for something to have efficacy it has to be complicated? Most of the time, especially in the Cosmetic Chemistry field that is the case..however once in a while, I  stumble across basic and simple ingredients that bring about natural beauty. Allow me to introduce you to one of my favorite homemade cleansers for all skin types and just in case that did not sound good enough..it only has two ingredients.

Homemade Oatmeal Cleanser.
Take a handful of oatmeal and mix it with a few drops of water until it becomes a paste. Massage paste onto damp skin and rinse.

Easy. Natural. Effective.

Lala xoxo

Monday, May 14, 2012

Meow!: The Perfect Cat Eye.



Have you ever wanted to wear the retro-sexy and chic cat eye but had no idea how to get your liner on and where to even begin? Here is an easy guide to creating the perfect cat eye!


Step One: Start With Black Liquid Liner
Line the inner corners of the upper lids all the way to the outer corners, flicking the line up at the end.  For extra drama, add a straight line under the eye.


Step Two: Add White Pencil
Line inside the lower lash line with a white pencil liner, extending the line out over the eyes' outer corner.  


Step Three: Define Brows & Add Mascara
Define and fill in brows with short feathery strokes, then finish with a coat of mascara.

Lala xoxo

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Balancing Act: DIY Balancing Facial Mask.


Oily T-Zone, dry cheeks, random breakouts, dry patches, uneven skin tone and texture..you name it and it is the season of unbalanced skin. As the season changes, lifestyles and stress levels change our skin gets out of sync. Here is a simple facial mask that is easy to make and has soothing rebalancing properties to get your skin cells synchronized and back to giving you a radiant, hydrated and even complexion.

Balancing Facial Mask.



1 small avocado, mashed (about 2/3 cup)
1/2 small cucumber, finely grated (about 1/3 cup)
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
Combine all ingredients in a small bowl, using a fork to blend. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. Apply a thick layer of the mixture to clean, dry skin on your face and neck, avoiding the eye and lip areas. Keep fairly still for 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the mask to dry in place. Wipe skin clean with a damp cloth; splash with cool water, and pat dry.
Enjoy the balance!

Lala xoxo

Thursday, April 19, 2012

Magic Wand: Maximize Your Mascara Wand.






Mascara wands...it can make your head spin in picking out which wand is right for you. There are thin, long wands..big, fat, monstrous wands..Spiky rubber wands..and not to mention now, wands in the shape of a tiny ball. Confused yet? Let me break it down for you in the top three wands to shop for by the look you are going for!

The Skinny.  If you are looking for longer lashes but don't want more thickness and volume, this is the brush for you. Thin and long mascara wands are designed to give you ultimate length. I love this style of wand for shorter lashes that are already a little thick naturally. This will enhance the natural thickness in your lashes and extend them out naturally.





The Multitasking Medium. If you are looking for length and thickness but not the clumping, this brush is for you! The perfect medium brushes are thick in nature but have thinner rubber bristles that separate the clumps while allowing you the flexibility of getting the product to the base of your lash. I love this style for lashes that have average length and thickness and want to enhance them and add drama.



The Big Bang. If you are looking for maximum volume and thickness, this is the brush for you. These thick brushes are designed to pick up mascara formulas that have larger molecules and polymers so you can get the most dramatic product evenly distributed on your lash. I love this for long, thin lashes. This really adds depth to and deep drama. I do not recommend this kind of brush or any volumizing formula for short lashes, for it can lead to clumping and making the lashes actually look shorter and stumpy. This formula and style is a must have for the longer, thinner lash.





Rock those magic wands ladies!

Lala xoxo

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Bronze Beauty: How to Bronze.


Nothing puts an extra sass to your step like having bronzed, beautiful and glowing skin. Bronzer can completely contour and structure your facial features while giving your skin tone a healthy warmth that displays youth and health. Here is a simple application that can give you that bronze beautiful look with some do's and don'ts.


Application:

  • If you have always wondered, "When do I put this on?"..Your bronzer goes after your complexion products (foundations and concealers) but before your blush.
  • Choose a brush for application that matches what you want out of your bronzer. If you want your bronze to look more natural and deposit less pigment, choose a brush that is softer and fluffier. A large powder brush is perfect for you. If you want the bronzer to be more noticeable and deposit more color, choose a brush that is more compact and the brush hairs more concentrated.
  • To begin your application, swirl your brush in your powdered bronzer and tap off the access. From now on, think of only circular motions. You will buff your bronzer on in the shape of a "3" along the side of your face. The middle of the "3' being your cheek, your temple being the top and your chin being the bottom.
  • Begin buffing your bronzer in the middle of the apple of your cheek and continue sweeping the bronzer up towards your temple, back towards the apple of your cheek and back down towards your chin, sweeping the bronzer along your jawline.
This application technique will give you a beautiful, structured contour while also giving you the perfect warmth of color.

Do's:
  • Do find a bronzer that matches your personality. From light to matte all the way to deep and sparkly.
  • Do concentrate most of your pigment where you want to structure and slim your face most.
  • Do feel free to place a little bronzer to contour the sides of your nose, making it look perkier and slim.
Don't:
  • Don't place bronzer on the flat of your forehead or bridge of your nose. This causes a flat look to your face.
  • Don't use light, highlighter style bronzers along your jawline, this makes it look broader.

Bronze away ladies!

Lala xoxo

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Stay In Place: Tricks To Making Makeup Last All Day.


Today's Woman runs around. I hear it all day, every day no matter what lifestyle and what demographic..Women are managing to run around from the early morning through the late evening. As our days stretch out, we find our makeup does not follow us but rather ditches out on us halfway through our day.

Luckily there are tips, ingredients and steps to lock your makeup in place so you look just as fresh at the end of your day as you did at the beginning. Here are the basic steps to have a stay in place complexion.

1. Prime: If you have not tapped into this amazing product yet, I highly suggest you do for it makes all the difference. A primer serves two purposes. It is usually a silicone or dimethicone (by the way, do not even get me started on one of my must have, favorite smoothing ingredients 'dimethicone'..it is literally a miracle ingredient.) base that acts as a smoothing agent. This breathable smoothing agent lays on your skin so that your foundation and powders lay on the primer rather than getting stuck in those fickle lines, wrinkles and pores. So, it makes your skin look young and perfect! Primer also protects your makeup from the enzymes in your skin that are designed to breakdown dirt and debris. Your poor enzymes do not know the difference between a spec of dirt and the powder that you just spent your hard earned dollar on applying to your skin. This all helps create a perfect stage for longer wearing and even makeup!

You will place a pea size amount on your fingertips and massage the primer onto your skin.

2. Foundation: If you wear a liquid foundation, apply your foundation with a foundation brush. It makes a world of difference for the actual look of the application but more so, applies the product in a way where it has longevity.

3. Conceal: If you wear a concealer, apply your concealer after your foundation. I get asked which should go first as one of my most asked concealing questions. There is no wrong or right answer however if you are looking for the most coverage and the longest wear time, artists suggest placing your concealer on after your foundation. This gives the larger molecules in the concealer a chance to bind on top of the smaller molecules of the foundation, creating more coverage and longevity. I also suggest you use a brush for this application as well. It will ensure you have the most smooth look and natural look.

4. Set: For a long wearing complexion, powder is not an option but rather a must-have. A common mistake clients make when setting foundations with powders is buffing it on in hard or circular motions. This disrupts all of the hard work you just did in smoothing out the skin. The best technique is to pat the powder lightly on top of your makeup. Pat versus rub or buff.

I also must give a very large shout out for another product I can not live without as I am a girl on the go and need to lock my makeup down even further. Setting Spray. After my makeup is completely done..eyes, cheeks, lips...I use a Makeup Setting Spray and generously mist my face and allow a moment to dry. Makeup Setting Sprays are designed to seal and protect makeup for the rest of your day. You can also carry Setting Spray in travel size in your purse to touch up spritz while you are on the go. It feels amazing and makes you look fresh!

So run those errands, be that super woman and order your makeup to stick along with you for the ride!

Lala xoxo

Monday, March 5, 2012

Chocolips: Homemade Chocolate Lip Gloss.


Chocolate Lip Gloss
  • 1.5 Tbsp. cocoa butter
  • 1/2 Tbsp. cocoa powder
  • 1 Vitamin E capsule
  • A few drops of Stevia for sweetness
  • For some extra umph: a few drops of peppermint oil or vanilla extract (totally optional)
Melt the cocoa butter in a glass cup. Stir in the cocoa powder until it’s well blended. Add the Vitamin E capsule and Stevia and give it a final stir before pouring your homemade lip gloss into a new or used lip gloss pot. Allow it to chill in the fridge for a couple hours and enjoy!

Lala xoxo

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Illuminate.


A simple step in any beauty routine that goes without getting much attention is a highlighter. Something as simple as a quick application can take you from drab to fab, looking young and vibrant. Highlighters can be a cream if you have a normal to dry skin tone or a powder if you are normal to oily. Both look gorgeous so long as the texture of the highlighter that you have chosen match your skin type.

How to highlight in a pinch!

1. Apply your blush as usual. For a soft look, apply your blush on the apple of your cheek and then sweep it up and back like a Nike Swoosh. For a chiseled look, apply just below the cheekbone and back.

2. Take your highlighter and apply it to to top of the apple of your cheek and blend up along your cheekbone and around the side of your eye.

Once you see what a huge difference that can make in your look, you can then look back to earlier posts on more advanced highlighting and how to maximize your glow.

Shine on ladies!

Lala xoxo
 
 
 


 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Eye Have It Under Control: DIY Eye Treatments.


The eyes...it is the most looked at part of your features and yet can make you or break you. It is the first place that we show stress, fatigue or aging. So take a moment, lock yourself away from the world and pamper your peepers with an eye treatment.   

Cucumbers and Tea.  You will prep the night before. First steep chamomile tea for a half an hour in a cup. Allow the tea to then move to room temperature while sitting. Then, slice cucumbers and set them in the cup to marinate. Place the cup in the fridge overnight.


The next day or evening, pick the saturated cucumbers out of the tea and place them on a clean eye for 15 minutes.


After the 15 minutes, remove the cucumber and blot dry lightly. Apply olive oil on top to seal in the tea and also to replenish your moisture in a lightweight and rebuilding way.


Enjoy!

Lala xoxo
 

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Crayons: Color Outside The Lines.


An eye trend that is sweeping across the industry right now is the waterproof eye shadow pencil. These chunky pencils are part eyeliner, part eyeshadow and all the rage! You have the simplicity of a pencil and the flexibility of smudging it into an eyeshadow with the reliability of a waterproof. Here is how to utilize this gift from the beauty gods!
  • Line and fill. Line your eye as usual with the chunky pencil. Then, fill in your entire lower lid.
  • Smudge and Blend. With an eye liner brush (in a pinch you can always use a Q-Tip as well), smudge the liner, blending it out to soften.

It is honestly that easy! You will look smokey, sultry and in a look that will last all day in two simple steps!

Lala xoxo
 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Faux Flirting: How To Apply False Lashes.

Have you ever flirted with the idea of wearing false lashes but had no idea how the hell to put them on? Look no further ladies for this intimidating application is as easy as one, two, three! 
 Fitting and Trimming. If your false lash strip is wider than the shape of your eye (and it always is) you will trim your lash strip to fit the shape of your eye. Trim your lash from the inside of the strip. A good rule is that your lash strip should begin 1/8th from the inner tear duct.
Glue it. Place a thin line of adhesive to your lash strip and wait 30 seconds to let the glue slowly settle so that it is not too runny or too thick.
Adhere it. Using tweezers, grab the middle of the lash from the tip of the lashes. This is better than your fingertips for you can truly get a better handle on your application without the width of your fingertips getting in the way. Place your lashes on, concentrating on the middle of the lashline to create an anchor then securing to the outside, then securing the inside.
Finishing touches. Now, using your fingertips, press your lashes and the lashes together after they have dried for about 10 seconds. Add mascara to finish the bond and cohesiveness of your natural lash and your false lash.
Voila! Bat those lashes ladies and try not to stop traffic too much if you can help it..
Lala xoxo

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Quick Eyes: Simply Purple.


Eyeshadow always looks so complicated. It is one of those things that looks like rocket science but truly is more bark than it's bite! Here is my favorite "looks like I spent and hour on it" 5 minutes eye looks..

Prime it! Apply eyeshadow base all of your lid. Bonus points if you find an eyeshadow primer with a little bit of built in eyeshadow that is cream shimmer colored. Primer kills two beauty birds with one stone..it creates an even looking canvas for your eyeshadow to lay and also keeps your shadow from creasing throughout the day.
Color it! With a Medium Eye Shadow brush, sweep your plum color all over your lower lid and then blending it along your crease where your bone is.
Highlight it! Take a light Eye Shadow color and sweep it under your eyebrow arch.

Add some liner, mascara and get on your merry way! It's simple and yet when you are finished looks as if you spent the better part of a decade creating it!

Lala xoxo