Four Favorites: Multi-Purpose Balm

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More concentrated than most creams or lotions, these versatile salves can tackle two or more problems at once. Great to keep on your nightstand or in your handbag/gymbag these multi-purpose balms will cure – honestly – whatever ails you… soothe cracked heels, chapped knuckles, sunburn, windburn, minor scrapes, post-peel irritation, skin irritation, chafing, chapped nose, scratches, dry elbows, rough cuticles, between toes, post-wax skin, post-shave skin, dry patches, earlobes, blisters, ring fingers, tattoos, hairline prior to coloring, stretch marks. extra dewiness, tame flyaways, rebellious eyebrows, makeup mistakes and split ends. Whew!

Here are my current four favorites:

Rodial Glam Balm MULTI: A brilliant multi-use anti-aging balm that feels luxurious and solves all manner of beauty woes from flaking skin to dry knees. This cult product has been ordained “The Swiss Army Knife of Beauty Products,” for it’s wide variety of uses. The new formula “MULTI” has added the anti-aging benefits of 3D Hyaluronic Filling Spheres to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Favorite use: In-flight moisturizing mask. FULL REVIEW OF RODIAL GLAM BALM: HERE

Egyptian Magic: Living up to it’s namesake, this olive oil and honey-based balm works magic on elbows, knees and everything in between. Formulated with all-natural ingredients this magical balm has been used for centuries to care for and nourish the skin. Favorite use: a moisturizer to help extend your summer tan. FULL REVIEW OF EGYPTIAN MAGIC: HERE

Dr. Lipp Original Nipple Balm for Lips: (Yes, you read that right…) Recommended by midwives, this balm was originally designed to relieve the dry, painful nipples associated with breastfeeding. Makeup artists discovered many other uses: hydrating skin and lips on the fly/highlighting cheek bones/eye gloss – and it soon became an industry secret. Formulated with 100% medical-grade lanolin, this balm reduces skin roughness by up to 40% in an hour. It also acts as a barrier to prevent any moisture from escaping or bacteria from entering. Favorite use: Eye cream.

The Balm – By Nieves:  This concentrated balm is made with all-natural ingredients that moisturize, heal and soothe the skin; softening coconut oil, antioxidant-rich sesame oil, calming virginia cedar, healing lavender and balancing ylang ylang. Orange extract releases an uplifting and zesty aroma and provides a healthy glow to the skin and hair. The buttery texture melts effortlessly into the skin restoring softness and elasticity immediately. Great for both man and woman, The Balm is safe to use anywhere on the body. Favorite use: Moisturize dry ends and fix fly-aways.

Drink Your Vitamins: Vital Earth Minerals

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The best vitamin for you is the vitamin that you will take every single day on a consistent basis. Weather in tablet or liquid form, it really does not matter which brand or type is the best – if you are not taking them.

I am a big believer of drinking my vitamins. I find I am much more consistent with a daily regime when my vitamins are in liquid form. Also, liquid vitamins are more effective because they can be assimilated immediately into the blood stream. The liquid form can also be three to five times more concentrated than vitamin pills. This more concentrated form can lead to higher therapeutic benefits and a healthier outcome.

My favorite liquid vitamins and minerals are Vital Earth Minerals. The three major advantages to all Vital Earth liquid products are high potency ingredients, 98% absorption (due to liquid form) and the addition of a unique component – Fulvic Minerals.

Fulvic, the “miracle molecule,” is rapidly becoming one of the key elements in many health and scientific breakthroughs of the 21st century. Fulvic Minerals have occurred naturally in organic plants and soils since the beginning of man-kind. It is created by microbial activity at the roots of plants. Its function is to dissolve and convert the metallic and clay based mineral molecules that are in soils into a form that is usable by plants animals and people. Once the minerals are dissolved, plants uptake, through their root system, the powerful fulvic substance that is loaded with dissolved minerals and trace elements.

Benefits of Fulvic Minerals:

• Makes all nutrients more absorbable which means you get greater benefit from all your nutrients – whatever the source.
• Transports nutrients right into the cells.
• Increases absorption of oxygen and decreases acidity.
• Changes the pattern of metabolism of carbohydrates.
• Helps rebuild and stimulate the immune system.
• Extends the time nutrients remain active.
• Increases energy.
• Is a powerful de-toxer.
• Is the most powerful natural free-radical and antioxidant known to science at this time.

Realizing that Fulvic enhances all the nutrients it comes in contact with, Vital-Earth uses it as the base for all their products.

The Super-Multi is a high-potency formula packed with a combination of vitamins, amino acids, anti-oxidants with a fulvic mineral base. Just one capful per day provides the body with over 100 nutrients. It has a passion fruit flavor that tastes great and is easy to take.

The Fulvic Mineral Complex contains the highest concentration of fulvic found on the retail market. It should be added to almost everyone’s supplement regime, especially if you are facing a health challenge, are recreational athletes (sweating minerals out of the body) or want to take extra preventive measures. It has absolutely no taste and a balanced alkaline pH of 7.0 to 7.8.

Vital-Earth has a wonderful selection of liquid vitamins and minerals. They are of the highest quality and potency. At the end of the day, it is still a matter of, hand-to-mouth, the act of taking a vitamin every day. If you are like me and tend to get lazy with capsule-form vitamins, try a liquid form – I guarantee you will stay consistent.

How-To: Ombré Hair

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The word Ombré is French for shading or graduating. Hair stylists have coined this terminology to describe a color technique used in salons. Ombré hair can range from a subtle and natural effect to really dramatic and edgy. For a natural “end-of-the-summer” look, color should blend from dark to light with no harsh transition line.

Ombré hair is great for many reasons: it’s highly economical, incredibly low maintenance, and works with any texture or tone.

Almost always, bleach is the key ingredient to create the ombré effect. This is the reason one should go to a professional. Find a stylist that specializes-in or has created this look before.

Ask your stylist for lots of beachy highlights concentrated on the ends, no higher than your chin in most places. Frame your face with a few subtle pieces that are only a shade or two lighter than your natural color and then go as light as you want on the ends. To maintain the look, use a color-safe shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner. Light ends can dry out, so use a nourishing protective oil from your chin down. Try these: Enjoy Haircare.

Love the ombré look but afraid to commit? Here is your solution…

‣ Purchase a set of hair extensions – Try these: Milani Hair Extensions

‣ Choose the color you want your ends to be – not the color of your hair. When coloring hair extensions – always dye dark, never light (bleach).

‣ Choose an at-home box color that matches your roots.

‣ Dye the tops of the extensions to blend with your hair.

‣ Clip-in and go. Ombré Hair

How To: Glitter

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Sparkle this holiday season with a little glitter.

Application of glitter can go terribly wrong… fast. It is messy and can look too theatrical if not careful. To make glitter appear chic and sophisticated, use only a small amount in a concentrated area.

Start with product. The Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadows by Chanel are by far my favorite. They have intense pigmentation and provide a classic shimmering effect with one easy-to-use swipe. They can be used with fingers or a very dense brush for perfect application. If actual glitter is desired, loose pigments/glitter are best. Make Up Forever Glitters are soft, concentrated and finely-milled for super sparkle.

How To Apply Glitter:

➺ On clean eyelids, apply eyeshadow primer from lash line to brow bone. (Favorite: Urban Decay Primer Potion)

➺ The glitter will need something to adhere to, apply a cream eyeshadow to the lid. This can be nude or a color that compliments the glitter. (Favorite: MAC Paint Pot)

➺ Using a small synthetic brush, dip into the glitter. Tap off excess.

➺ Press the glitter onto the lid in a dabbing motion. Do not sweep.

➺ Mist a setting spray gently on the eyes and wait to dry. (Favorite: Skindinavia Makeup Finishing Spray)

✴ If this technique is still too messy, on the back of hand or artist’s palette, mix cream eyeshadow and glitter together and apply to the lid. With glitter application, fallout is expected. Make sure to do eye makeup first and face makeup second. Dab the fallout with scotch tape to clean any loose particles.

Gardenia Bath: Kai Bathing Bubbles

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Kai Bathing Bubbles

As a bath fanatic, I am always on the hunt for luxurious bath products that nourish the skin and indulge the senses. Kai Bathing Bubbles satisfy all of my bath criteria with it’s intoxicating scent and moisturizing properties.

Kai is a fragrance created by Gaye Straza Rappaport who wanted to capture the aroma of her vacations in Hawaii. The scent is a blend of gardenia, jasmine, tuberose and lilly with gardenia being the prominent note.

When added to a hot bath, this product creates foaming bubbles that perfume the entire room. The bathing bubbles formula blend moisturizing argan oil with coconut and sugar to leave the skin hydrated, supple and glowing.

When drawing a bath, I tend to add a lot of product to produce a sufficient amount of bubbles. However, Kai Bathing Bubbles is very concentrated and a small squirt will engulf the entire tub.