Beauty Tips Tuesday - Breakouts Bumming You Out?

We all know how much of a bummer it is to be plagued with an occasional breakout, but how totally frustrating when you struggle with it on a daily basis! Believe it or not, many persistent bouts of acne are exacerbated by common things like phones, pillow cases, and dirty make up brushes. They all can harbor insane amounts of bacteria, (not to mention styling products, make up residue, and oils from your face), and they are items we generally use everyday.
Touching your face with your hands can be a huge culprit too. Just think of all the things your hands come in contact with! By touching your face needlessly, you are inviting pore clogging bacteria to wreak havoc on your skin.
So make sure to wipe down your cell phone, (I like to use those handy little wipes made to clean computer monitors), change your pillow case often, (if you have a bad case of acne, use ea. side of your pillow once and then change), make sure to avoid touching your face (this includes picking/popping!), and wash your make up brushes often (click here for a how-to).

Like the cell phone b l i n g ? The photo is courtesy of Crystal Icing, and their site can be checked out here.

Coordinated Finds

1. Paper Biscuit cell pouch 2. The Glass Chef cupcake charm
3. Cucio cell case 4. Candy Bead purse charm

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Color me new!

No need to buy a whole new warm weather wardrobe! Wake up last year's summer staples with a few well placed pops of color. Whether you are wearing jeans and a tank, shorts and a tee, or a light weight summer dress, adding colorful accessories will help to breath new life into what you already own!

Zelaya hand bag - $72

Chelsea of the Sea silk scarf - $25

Eastern Sky cotton bangles - $12

The b-line scarlett ring - $19

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Wash that Brush!

Having problems with breakouts? When was the last time you washed your cosmetic brushes? If you answered "I'm supposed to wash my brushes?", then there is a good chance that they are to blame for your skin woes. Proper skin care extends far beyond your daily dose of lotions, potions, and serums! It is also ensuring that the tools you use to apply your make-up are well kept and clean. Your brushes can harbor insane amounts of bacteria, aggravating sensitive and problem prone skin. Good brush care equates to washing your brushes at least every two weeks with a cleanser specifically made for brushes, (once a week if you are acneic). Not only does washing your brushes rid them of ick, but it also prolongs the life of the tool. Brushes are not cheap, so why not protect your investment? Any quality brush should last you upwards of 3 years with proper care, not to mention clean brushes have softer bristles and apply make-up more evenly. So suds up!

Follow these simple steps and beat the blemish blues!

* with very warm (but not hot) water, wet your brush (do not soak)

* put a dime size amount of brush shampoo in the palm of your hand (this is enough for multiple eye brushes or a larger kabuki style brush)

* "paint" the brush back and forth on your hand and use your fingers to work the cleanser through the bristles to fully emulsify the dirt and debris (do not swirl or mash, as it can cause bristle damage)

* holding your brush at a downward angle, rinse until the water runs clear

* using your fingers, squeeze any excess water from the brush (make sure there are no suds remaining), reshape (closed tulip shapes for face brushes), and lay flat to dry.

Eye brushes will dry in just a few hours and face brushes should dry overnight. It is important to not use water that is too hot and to hold your brushes at a downward angle, in order to prevent damage to the binding glue. Additionally, using clarifying shampoos made for your hair on your brushes can strip natural bristles and make them dry and feel straw like on the face. It is best to stick with one that is specifically made for brush cleaning, as these cleansers often have moisturizing agents to keep bristles s o f t.

Coordinated Finds!

1. candyglam (shadow trio) 2. punchanella (brush roll) 3. LaLa Bloom (face brush)

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Soda Pop Saga

Good bye Coke Zero. Farewell to thee and all of your soda friends. This chick has finally come to her senses and realized that a six pack a day is truly an addiction. No more will I reach for you in the early hours of my day for a jump start and then every 2 hrs after. No more will I scour the sales adds to find you for the cheapest price, and bring you home in bulk (you take up a heck of a lot of room you know!) Yes, I have decided to give you up. Let you go. Be set free from this madness! I know that you have compromised my teeth due to your sweet acidity. I know that my bones are suffering and my skin is not as radiant as it could be, (thanks to all of that water purging caffeine of yours). I won't even begin to touch on your suspect ingredients list, I have enough on you to know that I need to reacquaint myself with my Brita pitcher. Interestingly enough, my addiction to you started when I began a weightloss program some two years ago. You seemingly helped me along my way to losing 38 lbs. But back then I didn't depend on you so much and well... now I depend on you a lot and I gained back 15 of those lbs! So today it begins. It is already mid afternoon, and I have only had one Coke Zero. That is a good start I think. I know it to be wise to slowly wean yourself off of caffeine, so I have stocked up on coffee and tea. What to do about that insatiable desire for carbonated loveliness? My wonderful husband came home armed with some bubbly H2O to help strengthen my defenses! And so it begins...
who wants to join me?

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Time Tested Beauty Tips

For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with knowledge that you will never walk alone.
People, even more then things, need to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody.
Remember, that if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and one for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole, but true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

This poem is widely known as one of Audrey Hepburn's favorites. In fact, Audrey loved it so much, that many people mistakenly think she wrote it. However, these true words of beauty wisdom were lovingly written by Sam Levenson for his granddaughter.

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Nix makeup meltdowns!

Undoubtedly, many of you have already gotten your Spring Cleaning projects well underway. Raking yards, cleaning garages, starting seeds, and preparing flower beds. And I am certain there are a few of you that have already completed the seasonal wardrobe swap of packing away the mittens and scarves and bringing out the umbrellas and rain boots. But have you cleaned out your cosmetics drawer? With the changing of the seasons, I swap out my colors like I do my clothing. I have quite the collection at this point and though most of my eye, face, and cheek colors are loose minerals (so they don't go bad), I do have to sort through my mascaras, lipsticks, and glosses. Here is a link to an article that lets you know when you should replace what.

After tossing out your old stuff you may find that you are in need of some replacements. With the warm weather months just ahead of us, it is a good time to pick up products that are hassle free and resistant to meltdowns. For those of you who find concealer isn't enough and are in need of a summer weight foundation, I highly recommend a tinted moisturizer like Korres Watermelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturizer $28 or Laura Mercier Oil free Tinted Moisturizer $42. Both provide a good amount of coverage and broad spectrum sun protection, (SPF 30 Korres/SPF 20 Mercier. Though Korres is less expensive, it is only offered in 3 shades (but has a higher SPF), where as Mercier comes in 7.


Another great option (and the one I personally use year round), is to go with a mineral foundation like bareMinerals SPF 15 foundation $25, from Bare Escentuals. It is lightweight, naturally water resistant, and provides a physical, non-chemical SPF 15 barrier. Offered in 15 colors, you shouldn't have a problem finding the perfect shade.
Another perk: Since it is basically made of rocks, and rocks don't have the ability to harbor bacteria, you don't have to worry about it going bad. Just make sure to shampoo your brushes regularly.


As I announced last night, I am guest blogging over at We Chirp this week (I'm so excited!), and you can check out today's post "5 Summer Musts to Avoid Make-up Meltdowns!" for more great warm weather recommendations!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Cardigan Empire for fashion, style, etiquette!

Spring break has arrived and I have both my little kiddos home with me this week which limits my computer time. So for today's beauty bit, I send you over to get some fabulous fashion advice from Reachel Bagley over at one of my personal favorite blogs, Cardigan Empire. She has such great style and offers up recommendations for women based on body shape. For those that feel they could use some serious advice in this department, you can purchase a personalized virtual consultation and get a look book designed just for you to take with you shopping. Think of it as a personalized shopping handbook of sorts. She also offers 60 minute virtual shopping sessions and is always offering up budget friendly finds from places like Kohls and JC Penny's. Like the graphics below? Feel free to click on them and it will link you to a page that has the code. This will allow you to proudly display one on your blog!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Spring Must Haves!

For today's Beauty Tip I bring to you my top Must Haves for Spring! These versatile accessory pieces can breathe new life into last year's warm weather wardrobe basics, and they won't break the bank!

Denim jackets are a classic and they never go out of style. Chances are you already own one and it is time to dig it out! They are the perfect transitional piece to get you through the cooler days of Spring, and denim is the ultimate neutral that can be worn with just about anything in your closet.
If you have already tossed yours out, or your jacket somehow fell victim to any sort of bedazzled, bejeweled, bead attack, let it now be junk. You can pick yourself up a new one with little impact on your pocket. I like this one from Eddie Bauer for $59.50.

These aviator style sunglasses from ALDO are the perfect accessory at the perfect price! At just $12.00 a pair, it makes keeping up with the trend more affordable then ever!




I love a great scarf! In my opinion they are the ultimate accessory piece because of their versatility. I am never caught without one while traveling! One really great scarf can be used so many different ways; as a cover up at the beach, a blanket on a plane, a shawl when it's chilly, a casual skirt on vacation, a head wrap, a nursing cover, and in a pinch (and if water compatible), a towel. A scarf can also add a serious punch of color and can instantly pull together an outfit. I found these lovely scarves at Nordstrom for $32.50 ea, but scarves can be found just about anywhere in all price ranges. Just take a look around!



A great tote in a vibrant color will not only hold all your Spring essentials, but add a visual punch to your ensemble as well. Like I said before, the right accessories can really update clothes you already own, saving you time/effort and most importantly, money! I love the color of this bag and in my opinion is the perfect size. Not keen on the hue? It comes in many juicy colors and is handmade. It can be purchased at bayan hippo for $32.



After a long drying winter, lips will likely be a bit chapped and in need of hydration. Spring is about renewal and so is this lovely lip treatment by Fresh. Chalked full of antioxidants, reparative oils, and delectable real sugar, this treatment will get your lips back in shape in no time. Not to mention it contains an SPF 15, so that combined with the antioxidants will protect your luscious pout from further damage. Just remember it is a treatment and not a chapstick and reflects that in the price. It costs $22.50, but I feel it is a worthy investment for those struggling with chronic winter dryness!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Why bake when you can fake?

A sure sign of warmer temps is less clothing and more skin. I have already given you tips on protecting your assets from the damaging rays of the sun, so this week I thought we would talk about the safest ways to say goodbye to those shades of alabaster and hello to the JLo Glow!

So many of you out there are probably aware of the dangers of tanning beds. However, I suspect that many of you also think that if you don't use them often or only use them to get your "base tan" that you will be safe. Wrong on both counts. First of all, the concept of building yourself a "base tan" so that you won't get burned will at best give you a SPF of 4. Which in terms of sun exposure is practically nothing. You might as well be unprotected. Secondly, your skin accumulates damage. So it doesn't matter if you are outside unprotected 5 min here/5 mins there while running errands, or at the beach unprotected for 45. Your skin collects this damage. Additionally, it is worth mentioning that these newer high pressure tanning beds that tout about not "burning" your skin, are seriously misleading. They work by filtering out most of the UVB rays that burn your epidermis (outer layer of skin), but give you a more powerful blast of UVA rays which also burn, but on a much deeper, less detectable level. Burning, as a matter of fact, is our body's way of warning us that we have had too much UV exposure. With out that visible alarm, we may sustain higher levels of damage with out even being aware, and of course this damage is inherently what takes away from our youthful appearance. Loss of elasticity/tone, skin discolorations, wrinkles, and in a rising number of super scary cases, skin cancer.

But why bake when you can fake? Why take the risk if you don't have too? There are plenty of of products that will give you that perfect glow and the technology behind these self tanners is improving every year! With these few tips in your back pocket you will be on your way to a new bronzed beauty you, and far away from looking like this orange Umpa Lumpa.

First things first. You need to prepare your skin. The dry wintry weather has undoubtedly left your skin parched, so I always recommend using an exfoliating scrub to smooth (paying special attention to knees and elbows), and following up with a great moisturizer. I recommend hydrating for a few days before your initial application of self tanner for best results. Need some pointers/recommendations? View my previous post. Smooth, well hydrated skin will give you a more even application and give you less of an opportunity for unsightly streaking.

For lotion/foam/gel applications:

1. Layer! Do not do a heavy application to start. Do a light application and layer to achieve the desired depth of color. (Especially important if you are fair skinned!)

2. If you are very fair or skittish, mix a bit of body moisturizer (in your hand) with your self tanner to dilute it.

3. Apply a very light layer of moisturizer to your knees, ankles, and elbows just prior to application. These areas tend to have dryer/thicker skin and are prone to absorbing more product.

4. Work in small sections and work fast. Divide your body into sections and do one at a time to ensure even coverage. (ie. lower leg, upper leg, lower arm, upper arm etc.) Work quickly so the product doesn't sit in any one area longer then another giving an uneven appearance.

5. Brown hands? Put a layer of sunscreen on them before you start. This will help keep the sunless tanner from absorbing into the skin so quickly. Additionally, I always have a pumice stone by the sink and use it on my palms with warm soapy water.

6. Refrain from or limit the use of self tanners on the face. Unless you are really experienced at self tanning and don't have sensitive skin, I wouldn't. Additionally, many women who exercise proper skin care are most likely using products on their faces that are made to exfoliate. This means that the color on your face will end up fading much faster then that of your body and you will need to reapply daily to keep up. I would just pick up a stellar bronzing powder and use that instead. It will give you a much more natural finish anyway, (unless you are going to be frolicking in the H2O), then I would pick up a sunless product made specifically for the face. Just be warned, as DHA (the active ingredient in sunless tanners) can cause breakouts.

Clarins Self Tanning Instant Gel ($32)

Bare Escentuals Faux Tan Gel ($22)

Neutrogena Sun Fresh Sunless Foam ($10) (Ulta is offering $3.50 off any $10 purchase right now!)

After achieving your perfect tan, make sure to extend the life of it by keeping up with daily applications of body lotion. Also, I recommend using a moisturizer that is advertised to give you "gradual color" in between full color applications. These are basically just lotions that contain small amounts of self tanner. Because they have less, you don't have to be so careful and it will help to maintain your color while keeping you hydrated. WIN WIN!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Winter skin woes?

Getting winter skin summer ready is something that is probably on every one's mind. We all yearn for that youthful glow but are many times unsure just how to get it. With these simple tips, you can achieve it in no time!

Wake up a winter face by kicking exfoliation up a notch! To uncover healthy skin, you must clear away the dead, dry, wintry stuff. Removing dull cells reveals the new skin underneath, helps keeps pores clear of trapped debris, and makes moisturizers and anti-aging products penetrate your skin better. To help tackle this rougher, tougher skin, you need something strong, like a cosmeceutical strength weekly at-home peel treatment. I like MD Formulations My Personal Peel System, which allows you to effectively whisk away dead skin cells and customize your professional treatments according to your own skin's concerns and changing needs. I however do not recommend it if you have very sensitive skin, and would instead recommend that you use the Sensitive Skin Repair Complex daily (also by MD Formulations).

As I mentioned in a previous post about body care, removing dead skin cells is only the start! Another factor in winter skin is the seasonal dip in the production of natural lipids (skin oils that seal in moisture). A simple way to replenish this loss is with hydrating masks. They are fabulous in helping maintain optimum hydration levels because they contain humectants like urea and sodium hyaluronate that attract moisture as well as occlusive ingredients that seal in moisture, so skin stays dewier longer. I recommend using Perricone MD Hydrating Nutrient Mask or MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Treatment Masque several times a week for the perfect "super-hydration" treatment. Both will sooth and calm the skin while providing vital moisture and potent antioxidants that will rebuild the skin's protective barrier to help defend against environmental damage.

Another way to pump up your hydration levels is by using a facial mist. I personally am never caught without one! I keep travel size bottles in my purse and gym bag that I use throughout the day, have a bottle in my make-up drawer in the bathroom, and keep a bottle in the refrigerator for when it is hot outside.

Moisture mists are so SuperFabulous because they are multi-taskers. Not only do they give you a great shot of hydration anytime of the day, but they also set your make-up, cool and de-stress, have the ability to freshen up your hair, and tame static/flyaways in a pinch. But it doesn't stop there! If you choose one with the right ingredients, it can also help fight off free radicals and environmental stressors. There are of course a lot of really great mists out there, so just keep your eye on the ingredients and look for ones that have oil free hydration, humectants, really light non irritating fragrances or fragrance free (nothing minty or citrusy on the face if you are sensitive), and antioxidants. I recommend Bare Escentuals Rare Minerals Facial Mist, Jurlique Lavender Hydrating Mist, and MD Formulations Moisture Defense Antioxidant Spray. You can buy the little travel containers at any major retailer in their travel isle or sometimes they can even be found at the dollar store. I recommend stashing the travel sizes on you everywhere to encourage use. Oh! and they are especially great during travel. Airplanes can be TERRIBLY drying and having a small 3 oz travel bottle in your carry on can prove to be a life saver! I assure you, if you follow these tips, your skin will be glowing in no time!

Next week I tackle Self Tanners and make recommendations on how to get that beautiful Faux Glow!

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Sizzling save your skin accessories!

Mother nature has been teasing me the last few weeks . . . showing off her bright sun rays and melting snow, only to swirl in fresh flakes and cold temps on the tail of a warm breeze. It makes me antsy. . . hard to sit still. Makes my mind whirl with the planning of warm weather fix up projects. Like painting. Lots of painting. The garage, the house trim, the front door. And landscaping. The planting of flowers and herbs. Oh and those sweet little baby peas that my 4 yr old insists we grow, and not because she like peas, but because they are her imaginary friend's favorite! So many things to do, only if Spring would officially arrive. Though Spring is undoubtedly well on her way, many of you are not likely to wait. The itch, the cabin fever, it runs rampant this time of year and the most common cure is to plan a little warm weather getaway. With that in mind, I thought it best to talk about sun protection this week.


Anyone that knows me well, knows that I am a huge advocate for protecting your skin against sun damage. I do this for mostly vain reasons, but also know it is good for my health. As a make-up artist, almost all beauty concerns from my clients stem from sun damage. Seriously!! Aside from blemishes and the rare skin disorder, ALL concerns are damage caused by UVA and UVB rays. Wrinkles, enlarged pores, hyper pigmentation, texture problems, elasticity issues, etc. Women will sit in my chair and want a quick fix but not heed my warnings of applying SPF daily, protecting themselves from over exposure, and using tanning beds. They will be taken with the make-up, but not give the sunscreen a second thought.
Cosmetics can do very little if the texture of your skin is less then lovely. Make-up really only looks as good as the skin that it is applied to. This is where a couple good skin care products and a consistent routine can help reduce some of the damage, but long term benefits relay on prevention. So while you are planning your warm weather getaway, consider packing a few of these great save your skin accessories!

Luxury Divas - Cherry Red Wide Brim Cotton Floppy Beach Hat $18

Luxury Divas - Black and White Wide Brim Straw Beach Hat $25

Dior "Glossy" Sunglasses - $240

Lulu's - All the Glitz and Glam Sunglasses $8

J. Crew - Beachcloth Belted Tunic $59.50



Victoria's Secret - Scoopneck Flyaway Cover up Dress $88



Bare Escentuals - bareMinerals SPF 30 Natural Sunscreen $28



Azur - SPF 40 Face & Body $21

Beauty Tips Tuesday - To pluck or not to pluck?

Today we tackle brows. I am sure most every woman has either seen, heard, or experienced a bad brow job. And by "job" I mean either self inflicted or the unfortunate "victim" of an under trained/unskilled brow tech. But lets face it, bad experiences or not, every woman's brows should get at least a little attention! A well shaped brow can not only define, highlight, and open up the eye (read, make you look more rested and youthful) but also frame the face. Before digging out your tweezers though, there are a few things you should know.
First of all, thin is NOT in! I am not sure who started the whole fad (my Mom says she used to pluck her brows withing an inch of their lives back in the 70's.) And though many amazing fashion trends came from that era, tweezing your brows to the sparsest of lines should have stayed there. Naturally full brows are a much better look and less work to maintain. If you have never had your brows shaped, then it is always my recommendation to seek out a great brow technician at a reputable salon to shape your brows for you. After that, you should be able to maintain the shape yourself fairly easily, only needing to make a trip to the salon a few times a year for "clean-ups".

Word to the wise, do not skimp on your brow tech! I would rather pay more knowing I am in good hands, then sit, hold my breath, and hope for the best. Just because the local "snip and save" is running a deal doesn't mean you should take them up on it. I did this once (and only once) when I was much younger. I ended up asking my brow butcher how she got into the "business" and she said, "Oh, well none of the other stylists really like doing waxes, so my manager gave me a shot at it. But don't worry, I have watched this done many times before." I had asked this only after she had already completed a brow, and hot wax had been applied to the other. I am sure you all can imagine how that turned out.

So to keep your brows in tip top shape, you need only to follow a few simple steps and some great visual pointers!

Trimming Yes, get out the snips! Believe it or not they do actually sell little scissors just for this purpose and I recommend picking up a pair. Using a set of mustache or manicure scissors works well also, and they can be found almost anywhere. Start by combing the brow hair straight up and clipping those that extend passed the natural hair line. This may only be necessary for those with long brow hairs. Do the same in the opposite direction (down) and trim. Then use a clear brow gel to groom your brows (hair gel/clear mascara works in a pinch), so that all the hairs lay in the same direction. Get your tweezers out. A good pair of pluckers will get you better results, (they grab more easily and don't break the hair before the root). I recommend those with a slanted edge because they aid in getting at the itty bitty new hairs just as they are coming in. Use these to clean up any strays above and below your arch, and in between your eyes. (DO not, I repeat, DO not go overboard!)

Here are a few helpful hints. How do you know where your brow should start and where it should stop? Simple! Take a pencil or eye shadow brush and place it vertically against your nose (that is up and down people), so that it runs the length of your nose and crosses over the inner corner of your eye. This is the starting point for your eye brow. Next, (using your nose as the pivoting point) place the pencil diagonally so that it runs from the center of your mouth, skims the corner of your nose/nostril (pivot pt), and runs across to the outer edge of your iris (colored part of the eye). This is where your natural arch should be. Lastly, pivot the pencil so that it the it runs to the outer corner of the eye. (Make sure the tip of your pencil is not at the corner of your outer eye, rather the edge of the pencil should skim your eye and the pencil tip should rest on your brow bone.) This is the ending point for your eye brow.

Wow that is helpful, but what if I don't have much brow to speak of? As a make-up artist, this is one of the most common issues and one of the most simple to fix. There are many lovely products available on the market designed just for you! I personally do not recommend using brow pencils to fill in thin areas, as pencils are most often made of waxes and usually leave you with that "drawn in look" and tend to fade and smear with heat. I much prefer powders because of their more natural result and staying power. Here are two great options.

Bare Escentuals - Essential Brow Kit (comes in many color options) - $32

Tarte - Tarte the toolbox: brow know-how - $32

Working within your freshly measured start/arch/finish guidelines, take a stiff angled brush (both kits provide one), and fill in sparse areas with feather light strokes. Always begin application in the center of the brow working your way towards the front (starting point), to eliminate a harsh "edge" at the front of your brow from a freshly "loaded" brush. Set your color with either brow gel or brow wax (depending on the kit). As a last little FYI, a closely matched eye shadow will work in a pinch and in some hard to match cases, is the best way to find your perfect color. voila! ♥

Beauty Tips Tuesday - Give your locks some love!

Whether your hair is long or short, straight or curly, thick or thin, natural or chemically processed; harsh Winter conditions can take a toll on one's lovely locks. But taking care of your tresses doesn't have to cost a fortune. A few ingredients from your kitchen is all you need to get your strands back into shape. This time of year most hair is in desperate need of moisture. Frizzies, static, and dullness tend to be prevalent, and many women slather on heavy products that coat and further weigh down their hair making it even more lifeless and dull. To fix this, you need to do just a few things.

Do an apple cider vinegar hair rinse (regular vinegar works well too). I know . . . vinegar smells something awful, but once it dries you can't smell it. Why Vinegar you ask? Well, vinegar removes build-up and residue from the hair shaft and closes the hair's cuticles. Additionally, vinegar restores natural pH balances and helps prevent/soothes itchy scalps often caused by dry wintry weather.

Directions: Mix 1-2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar with 3 cups distilled water. (I say distilled because a lot of women have heavy minerals in their water and this too contributes to build up on the hair shaft. Pour over your hair as the final rinse. It will leave your hair feeling soft (and stinky until dry). Great for all hair types.

Do a rosemary olive oil conditioning treatment. OK. This one smells way better! Olive oil and rosemary stimulates, nourishes, conditions, and improves the strength and elasticity of your hair.
Directions:

• 1 bunch of rosemary leaves
• 1/2 cup olive oil (soybean oil works too)
• plastic bag/plastic wrap
  
• warm towel
• bowl
• strainer
  

Take the rosemary sprigs and remove the leaves from the stems. (discard the stems)
Combine rosemary leaves and oil in a small pan/double broiler. Heat until the oil is warm. Use a strainer to separate out the leaves and apply the prepared oil mixture throughout your hair, paying special attention to the roots and ends. Wrap your head with plastic wrap, a plastic baggie, or a shower cap, and then wrap your head in a towel to secure. Let the treatment sit in your hair for at least a half hour, or better yet, let it sit in your hair overnight. (Wear a shower cap to bed and lay a towel down to protect your pillow!) Shampoo out and lightly condition. In the mean time, you can also rub a little olive oil into your cuticles to soften and condition them. After rinsing your hair, push cuticles back with an orange stick, and apply a thick hand cream.

In addition to these two treatments, you always want to make sure you are rinsing your hair with cool water. Cool water helps to make the hair shiny by making the cuticle lay smooth. Also, you want to wash your hair as infrequently as possible. Most women wash their hair too often, causing excessive drying and unnecessary breakage.

Love the idea but want to leave the food in your cupboard? No problem! Why not try Ojon's Restorative Hair Treatment for $55. It is a fabulous product (one I personally use) , and is a multitasker. Great for skin and nails too!

Or how about Pretty in Green's Rosemary Lavender Hot Oil Treatment for $7.50? It is sure to pamper your senses!