The Perfect Winter Cleanser

Cold, harsh winter weather often brings us a whole new set of skin issues than we have to deal with the rest of the year.  Add to that less time spent outside enjoying the sun, and we’re generally left with a dull complexion.  Dull skin occurs when dead skin cells pile up and makes us look tired, lifeless and older.  If you experience drier, more irritated skin due to cold air and wind, and wear slightly heavier makeup during the winter months to counteract the effects of the weather, excess dead skin cells piling up on your face can only add to your dry skin and clogged pores to cause further irritation and breakouts.  The best way to brighten up your face is to exfoliate, but you need to be extra gentle so as not to irritate your skin even more.  Here is where a new cleanser can help!

Powder cleansers are cleansers that start out as a powder then lather up and become foamy when combined with water.  They clean skin just like any other cleanser, but the fine powder acts as a gentle exfoliant to buff away dead skin cells and leave you with a glowing complexion.  They won’t leave your skin raw or flaky like a grainy exfoliator, plus the combination of an exfoliator and cleanser means you can skip a step in your routine and save time getting ready!  Gently massage the cleanser onto your face every morning to get rid of built up dead skin cells and wash away any oil from the previous night, and your skin will look brighter and more youthful all day.  (If you have really sensitive skin, you may choose to use a powder cleanser only a few mornings a week, or at night followed by a thick night cream, as any exfoliation may be slightly irritating.)  These are a few of my favorite powder cleansers:

·      Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Power C x 30™ Vitamin C Brightening Cleansing Powder- This powder cleanser has Vitamin C for extra brightening qualities.

·      Boscia Tsubaki Oil-Infused Exfoliating Powder- With a little bit of oil, this cleanser hydrates as it exfoliates.

·      Sephora Collection Metamorphosis Exfoliating Cleanser- This is a powder than can be used on its own for an occasional deep exfoliation or mixed with a daily cleanser.

~Alyssa

Healthy Recipe and Exercise of the Week

Now that our resolutions have started, I have decided to do a weekly series on healthy foods and killer workouts that you can do to help you meet your goals. Let’s start off with a protein filled breakfast and a workout!

Bagel with Cream Cheese and Lox

This is really simple to make and is very, very yummy!

Ingredients:

A wheat bagel

Low-fat cream cheese spread

Salmon lox, or a filet or smoked salmon (If you get the filet you will just have to cut the salmon filet into thin slices.)

Red onion, thin slices (optional)

Directions: Cut the onion and get the salmon ready. If you buy lox, just separate them a bit so they are easier to handle. Then cut your bagel in half and toast it. When that is done, spread on cream cheese and top with the lox and onion. Finally, enjoy with your coffee or juice, and water!

Planks

I have a really simple plank exercise that takes 20 minutes at most to do.  Start off with a normal plank, hold for 30 to 45 seconds. Then do three push-ups. After that, put yourself back in plank position, but instead lift one leg. (Make sure your leg is a little bit higher than your foot on the other leg.) Hold this for 30 seconds and repeat with the other leg. Do this exercise for 5 minutes then jog in place for 2 minutes, or walk around the room for this time. Repeat this workout two to three times.

~Katrina

Organize Your Life: Social Life

One way to get on track for the New Year is to get your social life together. This can be as simple as managing the amount of social media you use, to finally seeing which people are the most important to you. We have some simple tips!

Managing Your Friends List (the real one)

Having a lot of friends is an amazing feeling, but we must watch out for those toxic friendships. If you have noticed for a considerable amount of time that you have a person in your life that puts you down more than helps to improve your life, it may be time to cut them out of your life. (You know those people that will ask for your help, but go running when you need them most.) It's not always easy, but here are a few options:

     -If you both seem to feel it's time to move on (maybe neither one of you really mesh well together anymore), you might be able to let the friendship fade away on its own.  Don't text or call, and don't make plans with this person.  It's not necessary to announce the end of a friendship if neither one of the friends questions the growing distance.  If your friend still occasionally calls or texts, maybe respond a little less each time.  Hang out less and less as well (or not at all).  Just don't make a big deal out of the end of this friendship (or any new replacement friendships!)

     -If your friend does not seem to feel the friendship is coming to an end (or questions why you aren't around as much), I would suggest just telling them that this is the decision that you have made through a text message in a sophisticated manner. (Like be nice and explain you have appreciated your friendship but do not think it is healthy/can’t be friends anymore because you fight too much/don't support each other/no longer have much in common...  But don't say you don’t like your friend anymore; there's no need to place blame here.) After you talk with them, do not contact them anymore. I would suggest just deleting their number and their information, and from social media as well. Once you get rid of the bad people, try to then embrace the good relationships in your life.

     -Maybe you don't particularly love having a certain friend around anymore, but don't necessarily want to cut this person out of your life completely.  In this case, try talking to your friend in a similar manner as in the point above, but this time explain carefully (and nicely) that you just need a little space.  Maybe you don't want to hang out quite as often as you have been, or this friend blows your phone up way too often.  Again, don't make this a personal issue and place blame in any way, just say you need a little time to focus on yourself/your family/your studies/work/etc.

Social Media Use

Some of us need to manage our pages and what/how often we post things. Your social media accounts are a reflection of you, so it's important to post carefully and thoughtfully.  It's also important to not get too wrapped up in social media!

     -Try to develop a filter of what you post/tweet about. Do not post everything that happens in your life! I would say to post the good things for everyone to see (but be honest and humble.  No one likes to see someone boasting on Facebook, especially if it's clear the post was embellished) and only allow certain people that are close to you to know about the bad things. (If it's a serious matter, like the death of a loved one, and you want to share some information online, definitely make sure everyone close to the matter is personally made aware before posting for the general public to see.)  Generally speaking, no one really wants to see you go on and on about that one boyfriend you broke up with (and can't let go).  Plus, you probably don't want all the things that upset you at different times immortalized on your wall. 

     -Try to also only post things that are important to you. (No nonsense like "I had cereal today!"  No one cares.)  The little things can be fun and interesting at times, but constant updates are overkill.  

     -Keep the negativity at a minimum.  We're all entitled to some criticism here and there, but constant negative comments are just annoying for everyone.  Plus, negative comments about the people in your life (and on your friends list) definitely don't belong online.  Whether or not you name names, I guarantee everyone will notice your childish and catty behavior when you're calling someone out for talking to your boyfriend or glaring at you at that party last weekend.  

     -Try to limit your time on social media. (This, just like exercise, can be done with goals and through a gradual process.)  Too much time spent checking your Twitter feed can create distance in important real-life relationships (especially when you check Snapchat more often than making eye contact with the person you're having lunch with), and those real friendships are certainly more important than funny Vines!  Also, it's much more fun to be present and enjoy the moment while hanging out with friends than to stay up to date on Facebook notifications.  (They'll be there later, promise.)

~Katrina & Alyssa

Organize Your Life: Closet

One of the most popular resolutions people make for the New Year is to get more organized.  Whether or not this was your resolution, it’s always a good idea!  We’ll give tips throughout the month on how to organize all different areas of your life, starting now with your closet!

·      First, de-clutter!  Go through your entire closet (and your dresser, your shoes, scarves, bags, etc.) and take out everything you don’t wear.  Don’t hold on to anything you don’t need.  Take out clothes that have gone out of style and aren’t going to be in style again anytime soon (all those trendy things you got cheap and only wore for one summer); take out anything that doesn’t fit you properly (be honest!  There’s no shame in getting rid of clothes that used to fit but are too small now.); and take out the things that you never wore (and won’t) but still have tags on them (it happens).  Sell anything that isn’t too old, give items to friends and family that want them, or donate!  Just make room for a fresh start.

·      Now organize your dresser.  I like to put casual tees and tanks, camisoles, sweats, cardigans and thick/heavy sweaters that can’t be hung up in drawers.  Designate different drawers (and parts of drawers) for different clothes.  (It should never be a guessing game as to which drawer has your purple tee.)  Putting anything that can be folded and piled up in drawers without getting too wrinkled clears a ton of space in your closet!    

·      Organize whatever is left in your closet by type as well.  Depending on the shape of your closet you may have different sections for different styles of clothing, or you may just have to work in a straight line from left to right.  Either way, I like to start with tops, specifically tanks.  Next, short sleeve tops; three-quarter to long sleeve tops; lighter sweaters that can be hung up; then blazers/light jackets.  Tops are followed by shorts, skirts, pants (keeping jeans separate), then dresses.

·      I like to go further by organizing clothes in each section by color, too, so I know exactly where to look for what I need.  (This isn’t necessary, but if you choose to organize by color, don’t get too hung up on putting different shades of colors or patterns in a specific place.)

·      If you have a smaller closet, get some bins or boxes for storing out of season clothes, and switch out your wardrobe when you need to.

·      As for other items, I like to hang scarves on hooks on the wall, in color order, so I know where to find the ones I’m looking for and I don’t have to dig through a pile in a drawer.  Bags are best kept on a shelf, not stacked on top of each other, if possible, to preserve their shapes (with nice bags in their dust bags!); smaller bags, like crossbodies, can be hooked on a hanger or a few and hung by your clothes.  More pairs of shoes can be fit on a single shelf if each pair has one shoe facing out and the other facing in toward the back of the shelf.

~Alyssa

Easy Ways to Fit a Workout in Your Day

Now that the holiday season is over, everyone is going back to their busy lives. This means you will have another challenge: keeping on track with your workouts and balancing everything else! Well fear not, I have some tips to help you incorporate some exercise into your day. 

        

  -I hate to say it, but if you are a morning person, I would suggest just waking up an hour earlier to get your workout in. This extra hour can also give you a bit of time to relax in the morning before you really have to get your day going.

       

  -If you can, maybe three times per week, try to walk to school or work. If you are afraid of looking sweaty or anything, have someone drop you off at the desired location and walk home from there. If this isn’t possible, try to do some power walking on your breaks, to help keep you active throughout the day.

     

  -Do you find it relaxing to watch TV? If so, you can exercise in this relaxing time. During your favorite shows you can do pushups, sit-ups, etc. while the commercial breaks are on. Start out with a low number, like 4 of each exercise per commercial break, to be sure that you aren’t pushing yourself too much. The only thing that you have to make sure of with this type of exercise is that your form is right.

    

  -The last thing that I can suggest is nighttime exercising. If you find that you stay up late every night, but can’t get up early, then around 6 to 7 p.m. do your workout. 

~Katrina

Disney Princess Nails: Jasmine

A whole new world…  These nails are inspired by the princess Jasmine from the movie Aladdin (1992).  Each month I will bring you a new set of nails based on a Disney princess, in the order of their release.

You’ll need:

Base coat

Top coat (I prefer Seche Vite)

Striper brush

Light teal, dark teal, orange, nude, deep blue, gold, black, light blue, medium pink, white and magenta (or any bright jewel tone) nail polishes (I used: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in 280 Jazzy Jade; Sephora by OPI Nail Color in Teal We Meet Again; NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in 112 Times Square Tangerine Creme; Sephora by OPI Nail Color in I Gotta Blush On You; Sally Girl Nail Color in a royal blue; Love My Nails in Gold Dust; Sally Hansen in Hard as Nails in 880 Black Heart; OPI Nail Lacquer in Can’t Find My Czechbook; Sephora by OPI Nail Color in Three Way Mirror; Sally Hansen Hard as Nails in 110 Hard to Get; and Covergirl Outlast Nail Gloss in a shimmery magenta)

Start with a base coat.  Paint your pinky dark teal, ring finger orange, middle finger light teal, index nude and thumb deep blue.

On your pinky, use your striper brush to create a gold oval shape.  (I did this sideways on the nail for more room.)  Then add a small lid, base, handle and neck for the magic lamp.

On your ring finger, use your striper brush dipped in black to create a tiger print.  There’s no specific way to do this, just make some random lines coming out from the sides of your nail toward the center.

The middle finger will have the top of Jasmine’s head at the base of the nail.  Create a sort of elongated half moon shape at the base with your striper brush in black.  Use that brush to put a curved light blue line through the black section, for her headband.  Add a small deep blue oval right in the center of the light blue line and a small triangular shape in nude at the center of the base of your nail.  Then outline the deep blue oval in gold.

Now, for your index finger, use your striper brush in light blue to make the outline of the genie’s head.  I have no idea how to explain this shape in words, really, but I put one tall, pointed ear on the right side and a small pointed cheek on the left.  Add a light blue outline inside the face shape for the mouth.

Next, fill in the entire face shape (excluding the mouth outline) with light blue.  Fill in the mouth section with medium pink.  Use your striper brush dipped in white to add small lines, one at the top of the mouth outline and one at the bottom, for teeth, and add two white ovals for eyes.

Now use your striper brush in black to add all the details!  I put a couple squiggly lines in the ear for definition, one curved line at the top of the mouth for a smile line, and one at the bottom of the right eye for the same effect.  I outlined the shape of his nose, added pupils to his eyes and some slightly arched eyebrows.  Outline the entire chin area in black for his beard and add the curved goatee part.  Then put a curved black ponytail at the top of his head and add a gold dot where the head and ponytail meet.

Keep it simple on the thumb and use your striper brush to write “a whole new world” or any other phrase you like from the movie.  I wrote it in a magenta color, but any jewel tone would look nice!

Finish each nail with a top coat and you’re done!

~ Alyssa    

December Favorites

We’re all upset that the holiday season is coming to an end, but the New Year means lots of new posts and products!  (As well as new favorites!)  Here are a few of our favorite things from December!

·      Covergirl Full Lash Bloom mascara- This was a late discovery for the month, but it’s amazing!  The brush is smaller than most volumizing mascaras so there’s less of a chance of getting mascara on your eyelid, but still just one coat creates huge lashes!  (And no clumps, so far!)  I used this mascara in my New Year’s Eve Makeup Look post so you can see it!

·      Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee- I got the mini stocking stuffer bag to try it out at first, and it’s delicious!  It kind of has a dark chocolate note, in my opinion.  Unlike most coffees, this one didn’t have a really strong acidity that bothered my stomach after a while.  (However, they made a Christmas Blonde roast with a lower acidity if you’re really sensitive.  I haven’t tried that one, but it sounds great!)

·      Crown jewelry- This month I really loved looking for crown-inspired jewelry, like earrings and rings.  It adds a nice, small, royal touch.  ;-)

·      Cookie Butter- We made a post on Christmas cookie butter, but right before Christmas we made Oreo cookie butter too, and O. M. G.  It’s so good.  Follow the same directions as in the Christmas cookie butter post, but use one package of Oreos instead.  Delicious.  (We used all of the Oreo cookies, but only about half of the frosting from inside the cookies for ours.)

·      Heeled booties- Sine we didn’t have much of a white Christmas in our area, I’ve been loving booties with about a three-inch heel.  (No ice, no problem.)  Usually the winter means nothing but flat (snow) boots for me, but I’m taking advantage of this weird weather!  The heels dress up any casual outfit just a bit, plus you get a little bit of a calf workout throughout the day!

They weren’t raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, but those were a few of our favorite things!  What were your December favorites?

~Alyssa (& Katrina!)