Preventing blisters in the shoes you have to have

We all have at least one pair of shoes that look amazing, but they aren't exactly comfortable. And lets face it, putting on a bandage doesn't always work, and it doesn't look that cute when you have a rolled up bandage hanging out of the back of your shoe. Dont just let those stunning shoes sit in your closet, wear them without pain. Have no fear ladies, here is a cheap remedy that will hopefully work for you.

"Band-Aid" makes a product called the Active Friction Block Stick. It is a silicone-based lubricant that you apply like a deodorant stick to the areas where you get blisters. It adds an extra layer of protection, so that you can put your shoes on, and ENJOY wearing them. This product is not limited to dress shoes, and its definately not limited to females only. For all you athletes out there, this is a great product to use to prevent not only blisters, but chafing as well. You can use it under the arms, between the thighs, on the heels etc. , to help prevent discomfort caused by friction (skin irritation caused by rubbing of the skin).

This product usually runs around $7, and it is totally worth it. You can find Band-Aid Active Friction Block Stick at participating Wal- Mart locations ($5.38) to check the availability in your area click here www.walmart.com/ip/band-aid-r-stick-friction-block-tm.34oz/12167313 and enter your zip code . And for the online shoppers, here are a couple of placed you can find this product: http://www.americarx.com/ ($5.53) or http://www.amazon.com/ ($6.99). Hope this helps to prevent painful blisters and chafing. Let me know how it works for you.

xo,

Christin

Refreshing tips for the summer

Hello everyone, sorry i have been missing for a little while. I have been working hard and learning lots of great new things to share with all of you. I will start blogging regularly again in August, but until then i will be updating you with simple little tips that I am learning throughout my summer job extravaganza. So here are the first 2.

1. Its hot out there and your skin unfortunately suffers the consequences. Here is a home made remedy for thirsty, sun drained skin. steep 2 packets of green tea in 8 oz of water for 2 minutes, add 8oz of cold water. Fill a spray bottle with water and pour green tea and water over ice. take with you to the beach and spray your skin for a refreshing and nourishing home made remedy for dry, thirsty skin.

2. when going to the beach or to the pool you may notice that your hair gets frizzy and dry. This is no surprise considering the combination of elements we are exposing our hair to (sun, sweat, salt, chlorine, ponytail holders). take a leave in conditioner with you to the beach and spray it on your beach blown waves to protect and treat the hair while having fun in the sun.

These may seem like common knowledge, but take the time to take care of your hair and skin, and you will always look beautiful.

Remember ladies most of the wrinkle causing skin damage occurs during your 20's, prevention is the key, and treatment is our defense. Enjoy!!!

Hair: Sun Protection and Beachy Waves

Its summer time and I know I am looking forward to spending some serious time in the sun, and on the beach. With all that fun in the sun comes the possibility for some serious sun damage on your hair and scalp. How often do you think about the skin on your scalp? I know that the only time I notice it is when it gets burned, and my scalp is tender and eventually flakes or peels. There are tons of products out there claiming to create beautiful beachy waves while protecting your skin and scalp, so I am here to narrow down a few for you.


Redken makes a Line of products called "Color Extend Sun", they are in the Orange bottle. The line includes ; After Sun Shampoo which removes minerals, chlorine and salt while repairing sun damage, After Sun Mask to replenish thirsty hair with intense moisture, Sun Sparkling Shield leave in Smoother which gives the hair a water resistant shield against UVA/UVB rays, chlorine and minerals while giving the hair a polished finish, and Sun Solar Sunscreen Spray SPF 12 which protects the hair and the scalp from the suns damaging rays. All of these products are great for maintaining healthy hair all summer! You can find these products at a Redken Salon or by looking up Redken Haircare products online. There are many beauty supply retailers that carry Redken products. The products run between $18 and $24, and they are totally worth it.

Now lets talk about Beautiful looking style in the sun. The Redken Sun Sparkling Shield leave in Smoother is great to use while the hair is dry, or if you just stepped out of the water. This product smooths the hair giving it a shiny finished look in the sun.

If you are looking for a product to give you those beautiful beach waves I love Alterna's Hemp Organics Summer Hair Rx line. Oddly enough it is also in an Orange bottle. The line has everything you will need to have great looking hair; A leave in conditioner Sun Recovery Spray (treatment) , a texturizing spray Ocean Waves (styling product) , and a lustre spray Spray Shine (shiny finish). Do you need them all? No, not really. If you are going for protection choose the Sun Recovery Spray, if you want flowing beachy waves choose the Ocean Waves, if you want shine go for the Spray Shine. My personal must have is the Ocean Waves, no matter where you go it gives your hair beautiful texture with a scent that will remind you of the ocean crashing onto the beach. You just spray the product in, scrunch your hair, and go. I love love love this spray!


The Alterna products run about $15-$20 a piece, you can get them online at www.brightonbeautysupply.com/alterna-hemp.aspx ((use coupon code BBS5P for 5% off of your order (limited time)), or you can go to http://www.alternahaircare.com/ and look for a salon near you that carries the products.

You may find both of these brands in several beauty supply stores, salons, or on beauty supply websites, I just wanted to give you guys a few options. Get your supplies now, and enjoy healthy, protected, beautiful hair all summer.

xo,
Christin

Amazing Nails

I don't know about you, but i don't always have the time or money to get a manicure. I am satisfied painting my own nails, but i don't always have time to do that either. Many of you may agree that a good manicure looks good, doesnt chip easily, and lasts at least a week. This was never the case for me. My hands are always in water, gloves, hair color, and more. Nail polish doesn't stand much of a chance on my nails. I had given up on having amazing nails, until I saw an add in InStyle magazine for a new product for your nails. This Sally Hanson Nail Shield claimed to cover and protect your nails for up to 14 days, so I decided to put it to the test. If this claim is true I will be a very happy girl.

It is now 9 days later and the Shield has held strong. There was some chipping at the front of my nails, but i think that some of that was caused by user error :) oops. It did protect my normally brittle nails from peeling or breaking, and they are longer and stronger now. They didn't last a whole 14 days, but without the abuse i put them through they might have made it. My overall opinion; they are a great option to quickly and easily dress up your hands, and bring back a natural beauty to your nails. The best part about the Nail Shield is that your nails look freshly painted with no drying time. You should give them a try.

The Sally Hanson Nail Shield comes in 3 natural colors (sheer blush, sheer nude, and sheer shell. You can get them at Ulta http://www.ulta.com/, CVS or most drugstores. They cost around $8.00. They pack gives you 16 custom match strips. Here is a little tip, if your nails are short enough you can cut the strip in half and have 2 whole sets of strips.

Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy!

xo,
Christin

Beautiful Skin

Ok, so i get a lot of questions about how to make skin look smooth and youthful. There are a lot of products out there, so here is one of my favorites. The product is Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel. This product is amazing! It provides radiant, smooth, youthful results for all skin types. It is gentle on your skin, provides a toning effect, and you can use it a couple times a week.
The Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel should be used along with your regular skincare regimen. I like to use it once or twice a week to brighten and tone the skin on my face, neck, chest, and hands. This product is also an amazing addition to your regular cleansing if you are doing something special, and you want to have that beautiful GLOW to your skin. If your skin is feeling dull, dry, and/or flaky this is the perfect product to revive your skin.
The Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel is designed to "...eliminate dry, dulling surface cells and toxins responsible for irregularities in texture and tone. " Regular use of the enzyme treatment will also aid in the optimal penetration of your regular skincare products and makeup. Papain, a plant based enzyme is activated when you add water to dissolve impurities and cellular buildup without harsh abrasives. Milk sugar is also used to soften and smooth the skin. Green Tea Extract and Allanotin protect against skin sensitivity by adding a soothing and calming effect when using the peel.
When using this product the directions say to use about a cap full of powder, but you really only need about half of that. When you add water, literally only add a couple of drops at a time until you get the right consistency. And make sure that you keep the cap closed tightly, and out of the shower. If water or moisture gets into the product it will ruin the whole bottle. I learned the hard way :( . This product runs about $60.00 and you can purchase it from http://www.sephora.com/.
The Amore Pacific Treatment Enzyme Peel is a great addition to any skincare regimen, and you can use it on any skin type. Pick up your bottle today and feel the smoothing, toning, and brightening effects instantly. Hope you enjoy.

Deodorant Marks

OK, this is a little random but I thought this might help someone else out there like it does me. So I think we have all experienced this at some point in our lives. You wake up, and its a great morning. You take a shower, get ready for work, and have some breakfast. So far everything is going smooth, or so you think. As you get out of your car at work you realize you have a huge white line running along your ribcage, all the way across your black shirt. Don't panic my friends, I have a solution. And it wont cost you a penny.

We all know water doesn't work, that just draws more attention to the HUGE deodorant stain on your shirt. So here is what you do. Take the fabric and rub it together, I swear it works. I have tried it with several different types of material, and success almost everytime. The only fabric this hasnt worked for me so far is silk. Good luck with that one. If anyone knows a trick please share. Hope this helps someone out there. Unfortunately for the woman in front of me at Starbucks this morning, she didnt know the secret trick. Have a great day.

xo,

Christin

Spring Hair Trend

Spring is here, which means for most of us that we will be outside enjoying the beautiful weather. Heat and humidity play a huge roll in how your hair will look, and wear, throughout the day. Here is a fun way to tame your tresses during the months to come with a fresh and trendy look.

Braids are not a new trend, but they are a consistent trend in the hair world. As mentioned in the April 2010 issue of InStyle magazine Shoulder grazing braids are popping up everywhere. The great thing about this trend is it's easy, and there really isn't a right or wrong way to wear a shoulder grazing braid. You can add a distinct side or middle part, to give a sleeker look, or you can just lightly sweep your hair to the side for a more tousled beachy look. Either way, it looks great.

To the right you will see a picture of my long time client and friend, actress Jenna Dewan-Tatum attending a Women in Film event in Los Angeles. As you can see Jenna is leading the style trend, on the red carpet, with her Shoulder Grazing Braid. For this event Jenna wanted something sophisticated and fun, so we decided to go with the shoulder grazing "Fishbone" braid. Our choice was a hit!

To produce this look I swept the hair to the side, keeping the sweep nice and loose and used a light cream polisher to tame any fly aways. I then braided the hair about 3/4 of the way down, leaving enough hair at the bottom to add a little fullness at the end. To give fullness on the bottom, I took the loose hair at the end of the braid teased it,and used some hairspray to hold the fullness. This is a great trick to keep the end of your braid looking full, instead of thin and stringy.

Match your hair to your mood, if you feel like looking dramatic and polished go for something sleek and clean like we did with Jenna's hair. If you are feeling fun and flirty go for a more tousled and swept look. There are several different types of braids. If you need some ideas here is a link to a great resource on how to do different braids

http://www.dreamweaverbraiding.com/braiding_tips.htm.

With beach season around the corner, its a perfect time to experiment with this fun trend. Good luck!!

xo,

Christin

MAC Zoomlash Mascara

Looking for a new Mascara? MAC Zoomlash (color: zoomblack) is my personal favorite. There are so many choices out there when it comes to mascara, how do you choose? For me a mascara has to wear well all day with no smudging, it has to be gentle on my eyes, and easy to wash off, and it HAS to make my lashes look AMAZING. MAC Zoomlash Mascara is all of these things and more. Mac describes this mascara as "..... a velvety formula that builds density and conditions. Feels light and supple. The Ultra Sculpted Brush has three-sided fibers to embrace and separate each lash..... coats in one stroke. No Smudging". This mascara gives a full thick look to your lashes, without looking clumpy. If you like the clumpy, or caked on look to your mascara this one may not be the best choice for you. Zoomlash Mascara coats and separates each lash individually and spreads your lashes out as you apply.

At the end of the day when it is time to wash my makeup off, I want to be able to GENTLY wash my face and eyes and not walk away with burning swollen eyes. This mascara comes off pretty easily without a lot of fuss. My trick is to lather up a small dot of shampoo in my fingers and lightly rub it through my lashes. After all, shampoo is designed to cleanse hair right? We should all know this, but i have to say it. Make sure you keep your eyes closed, and dont rub hard. Just lightly wash the lashes only, you dont need to rub your skin. If there is any shaddow left under my eyes i remove the rest with a moisturizing eyemakeup remover and a q-tip. I hope this helps some of you.

This mascara is only $13.00, which is very reasonable in comparison to some of the other brands out there. I use this every day and each tube lasts me well over 3 months. You can purchase this product at any MAC store and online on their website.

Here are a couple of things you might not know. 1. The MAC website offers some great makeup tips and tricks under the Artistry tab. Just click on Artistry, then go to M.A.C. Looks and you can see what products the artists use and where to apply these products. Its a great tool to give you ideas to update your own look, or just to try something new for a night on the town. 2. Save your empty MAC containers. With every 6 empty (plastic, or glass) makeup containers you can get a free lip gloss. Just bring the empty containers back to the a MAC store and enjoy your new product. It might take a while, but its always nice to get something FREE!

Hope you enjoy this product, please comment and add any of your favorite brands to this blog.

xo,

christin

Clarisonic Skin Clensing Brush

This facial Cleansing Brush is AMAZING!! I have been using this brush for about 6 months and I see some noticeable changes in my skin. My skin feels smoother, and looks healthier than it has in years. I am writing about this product now because recently my Cleansing Brush stopped working. I was in a bit of a panic. "What will happen to my beautiful new glow, without my Cleansing Brush". I contacted Clarisonic and within 10 minutes they took the product number, my information, and a new brush was on the way. This was one of the best experiences I have ever had with a retail company. They were very polite, and even apologetic for any inconvenience this may have caused. I received my brand new Clarisonic Skin Cleansing Brush 5 days later, and my skin is back to looking healthy and vibrant. I Have the Clarisonic Pro, but there are several sizes, colors, and price ranges. The prices range from $145 for the new "Mia" to $225 for the Clarisonic Plus. It doesn't matter which one you choose the products are all great. You can purchase this product at www.Clarisonic.com , www.Sephora.com , or if you enjoy shopping you can buy them in the sephora store as well. My advice is make the investment and purchase one of these today. Your skin will thank you for it.