DIY Beauty Projects from Los Angeles-based TV personality, Budget Travel and Lifestyle Expert: Lindsay Myers

Who doesn’t love getting pampered? But with this lockdown, we have had to figure it out ourselves! It’s always a great feeling to know that you can do it all if you have to! Here are some of Lindsay’s favorite DIY beauty projects:

Featured Photo from Domino Sugar

Natural Lip Scrub– I sometimes grab a pack of sugar and quickly exfoliate if I am in a time crunch. and need to apply some lipstick. But this is my new favorite natural way to get my lips super smooth!

Supplies:

1 TSP of Brown Sugar
1 TSP of White Sugar
1 TSP of Honey
1/2 TSP of Olive Oil

Directions: Just mix all the above in a small container. You can store and keep this for a while, but trust me after about 20 seconds your lips will feel amazing.

 

Bath Salts- I love a good bath, who doesn’t! This is really easy to make and a great way to unwind and get some self-care.

Supplies:

Coarse Salt

Epsom Salt

Baking Soda

Essential oil

Directions: Just take 6 part coarse sea salt and 3 part Epsom salt,1 part baking soda, and just a few drops of essential oil of your choice. That is it! This combo helps soothe the muscles, helps with skin irritation, and softens the skin.

 

Ombre Nail Manicure-I never go really big or bold with my manicure. But I have the time to figure out how to do it myself, why not!

Supplies:

2 different nail polish colors, and clear topcoat

Any sponge (you just need a bit, cut off a section from a larger sponge)

Plastic wrap

toothpick

Directions: Paint your nails with the lightest color. Let it dry. On the plastic pour our a little of each color right beside each other so they touch. Take the toothpick and swirl/blend just in the area where the two colors meet. Next, take your sponge and dab it directly over this mixture and then dab the sponge directly on your nail. Keep going on all the nails. If you want to go back over the nails to make the color stronger just make sure the first coat is dry first. Finish with a clear topcoat.

 

Hair Mask– It is SO easy to make a simple hair mask with everyday things in our kitchen. Why don’t we do it more? Maybe now we will!

2 hair mask options:

  1. All hair types:

Supplies:

Avocado

Honey

Directions: Simply scoop out half an avocado and mix it with a tbsp honey and apply it to hair. Leave this on for 20 mins. Rinse in the shower.

  1. Dry Hair Mask:

Supplies:

Eggs

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions: Mix 2 eggs with 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and apply to hair. Leave this on for 20 mins. Rinse in shower.

 

Facial: I have grown to love my facials, but they are expensive and now we just can’t get them. Why not learn how to do it yourself?

Supplies:

Chamomile Tea

Honey

Nutritional Yeast

Directions: Brew one cup of the tea with 2 tea bags. Let cool. Stir together 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tsp of nutritional yeast. Add just enough of the tea to the bowl to make a paste. You want to be able to spread it on your face, but not be watery. Let sit for 20 mins. This is calm and restores your skin.

 

 

The No Makeup Look: Top Picks for Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams

Although we’re coping with the COVID-19 pandemic inside of our homes, the weather is constantly changing.  One day it’s chilly and the next moment it’s hot!  That means it’s time for a new foundation in our make-up bags.

One of my personal favorites for the warmer months is the use of Tinted Moisturizers (or BB creams).  They hydrate the skin while giving a natural glow.  Basically, it’s a light foundation coverage and skin care moisturizer combined in one application.

Tinted moisturizers (and BB creams) are an easy way to even the skin without the use of heavy products.

Apply this product to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose!

Listed below are top picks for Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams:
  1. NYX Bare With Me
  2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
  3. Neutrogena SPF 20 in Medium to Dark
  4. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
  5. Black Radiance BB Cream

GLAMOUR REVEALS WINNERS OF 2020 BEAUTY AWARDS

In times of uncertainty, there’s an undeniable comfort in the daily rituals that bring us joy. After months of testing, Glamour today revealed the 249 winning products of its 15th annual Beauty Awards.

New for 2020, we’ve introduced a sustainability category. Whatever beauty may look like for consumers right now, from prepping for camera zoom meetings to needed self-care beauty routines, Glamour has all the products covered from sunscreens to masks to lipsticks, and more.

The winners were selected by 47 judges at the top of the beauty industry including licensed esthetician and Then I Met You skincare founder Charlotte Cho, celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez, whose clients include Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling, and New York Times columnist, Ellis Brooklyn.

Check out the full list of winners HERE, and the Reader’s Choice HERE.

Check out the Shopping Galleries below:

Beat Face Alert: Kiss My Lash Mirror Bundle from GoodJanes

GoodJanes’ Kiss My Lash Mirror Bundle has expanded retail distribution across the United States. The Kiss My Lash Mirror is now sold in 650 select Kroger Marketplace and Fred Myers stores across the United States, select Drug Emporium stores, Walmart, select beauty supply stores as well as salons and spas in Dallas and Colorado.

The Kiss My Lash Mirror is a triangulated mirror that lets the user see both the upper and lower lashes from all angles for effortless make-up and false eyelash application. The Bundle includes a custom-made stand so the user can attach the mirror to the stand for hands-free make-up application.

Janelle Friedman invented and patented the Kiss My Lash Mirror as part of her national beauty company called GoodJanes. Known for being an avid lover of all things natural, healthy and good for the body, she created GoodJanes to deliver health-conscious, fashion-forward products made with naturally-derived ingredients.

The GoodJanes mission is to bring fresh innovations and environmentally-friendly ingredients to the industry using essential formulas and cutting-edge technology.

Besides the Kiss My Lash Mirror Bundle, GoodJanes also sells a large selection of handmade eyelashes made with 100% cruelty-free, mink fur collected from natural shedding. The eyelashes can be reused up to twenty-five times. Divided into three categories of lashes, popular eyelash selections are:

In the GLAM LOOK LASHES category: BOMBSHELL, COOL CHICK & LASH-A-HOLIC

In the DRAMATIC LOOK LASHES categoryWHIPLASH, LASTING IMPRESSION & HOT MAMA

In the NATURAL LOOK LASHES categoryBUTTERFLY KISSES, ABOUT LASH NIGHT & FLIRTY GIRL

Silk lashes are also available made of synthetic silk which mimics the feel of real mink fur and is vegan-friendly. The lashes are stored in clear protective trays. With proper care, each lash can be reused up to three times.

The company also sells two luxurious mascaras that are vegan-friendly made with naturally derived ingredients: EYE LIKE IT LONG and EYE LIKE IT THICK.

The company also features the GoodJanes Skin Care Line with products made with naturally-derived ingredients and infused with a plant, vegetable and fruit stem cells that are vegan, cruelty-free (never tested on animals) and contain no sulfates or harsh chemicals.

Popular skincare products are: Eye Swear eye cream, Deep Tox Charcoal Cleanser (a potent cleanser that protects the skin from oxidation with the butterfly bush stem cell), Face Gift and the Full of Grit Oatmeal Scrub.

DEADLINE FOR ESSENCE+ULTA BEAUTY BEAUTIFUL POSSIBILITIES 2.0 #ESSENCEGirlsUnited

The application deadline is quickly approaching for ESSENCE + Ulta Beauty Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities 2.0!

As previously announced, ESSENCE and Ulta Beauty will partner once again for this powerful mentorship initiative, where six young women (ages 16-19) will embark on a journey of tapping into their entrepreneurial and creative spirit and discovering their personal potential. The women selected for this program will have the opportunity of a lifetime—including the chance to work on a special capsule collection for Ulta Beauty, being mentored by top beauty industry leaders and influencers, and receiving $10,000 that can be put towards college.

 Applications are open until this Sunday, November 30th. For more details on ESSENCE Girls United: Beautiful Possibilities 2.0, visit http://www.essence.com/BeautifulPossibilities, or join the conversation on social #ESSENCEGirlsUnited #BeautifulPossibilities.

Rihanna by Rihanna: First Visual Autobiography Featuring Intimate Moments of Her Life Published

Rihanna is a large-format, lavishly produced 504-page book with more than 1,000 photos featuring intimate moments from her life and creative journey.

Look inside the book here

This first book by Rihanna is an exclusive, inside look into her world. Rihanna, a stunning visual narrative from the international cultural icon, is to be published by Phaidon. From her childhood in Barbados to her worldwide tours, from quintessential fashion moments to private time with friends and family, the book showcases intimate photographs of her life as a musician, performer, designer, and entrepreneur. “I am so excited to share this collection of incredible images. I’m very grateful to the talented photographers and artists who contributed. We’ve been working on the book for over five years and I’m really happy to be able to finally share it with everybody,” said Rihanna. Phaidon’s CEO, Keith Fox, said of the project, “We are excited and proud to publish this incredible book by this extremely talented and influential woman.

Rihanna is such an important and groundbreaking artist, style icon, and entrepreneur and we are looking forward to sharing her fascinating life with a larger audience.” The large-format trade edition book (12-5/8 x 16-1/2 inches) includes more than 1,000 photographs, many being published here for the first time. Impeccably produced, this sumptuous 504-page book also contains 11 special inserts, including a removable poster, and 7 gatefolds.

The cover features a stunning color photograph and wrap-around cloth binding. Weighing in at 15 pounds, the book comes in a printed black carrying case and is available wherever books are sold. In addition to the large-format trade edition of Rihanna (October 24, 2019), Phaidon and Rihanna have collaborated with The Haas Brothers on three limited editions. “This Sh*t is Heavy,” the Fenty x Phaidon edition (October 10, 2019), includes a copy of the book that features a cover with two black and white photographs, a cloth binding, and a custom-designed tabletop bookstand inspired by Rihanna’s hands.

The Luxury Supreme edition (November 20, 2019) is signed and numbered by Rihanna and The Haas Brothers. The book for this edition is bound in a custom-made black fabric with an inset, matte black, laser-cut steel grille, completed with the “Drippy + The Brain” stand, a gold-toned, cast-resin tabletop bookstand covered with a bespoke black vermiculated fabric. The book and stand together weigh 126 pounds.

These editions are exclusively available at TheRihannaBook.com. The three artists also collaborated on an Ultra Luxury Supreme edition, entitled “Stoner,” a custom-sculpted marble pedestal to showcase the Luxury Supreme book. Each pedestal, in the edition of ten, is exclusively designed to cradle the book and is hand carved in Nazaré, Portugal from a unique piece of solid Pele de Tigre marble, with a soft eggshell finish.

Three Brands Giving Back This October for Breast Cancer Awareness

Did you know that 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives? With Breast Cancer Awareness month coming up, it’s important to give back. During the month of October, The Better Skin Co.Belli Skincare and Sterling Forever jewelry will be donating proceeds they earn from the items to iGoPink.org.

iGoPink is a national non-profit focusing on educating, empowering and encouraging all men and women to become proactive in preventing breast cancer and, if diagnosed, surviving breast cancer. Through their free program services, iGoPink is able to educate, teach and provide the latest accurate information about integrated cancer care, cancer prevention, recovery, treatment, early detection, and survival.

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

The Better Skin Co. is donating 100% of their October proceeds from the sale of Better Skin Super Shield Serum.

THE BETTER SKIN CO SUPER SHIELD ANTI-POLLUTION SERUM (TheBetterSkinCo.com, $38): Guard your skin against air AND computer pollution. The Better Skin Super Shield is a natural pollution defense system powered by White Horehound (herb) designed to fight visible and invisible pollution damage while creating a more youthful-looking, radiant skin. ▪ Naturally fortified with Turmeric, Eggplant, Aloe, Henna, and Pearl Powder ▪ Scented with aloe and Rose ▪ Assist in protecting against blue light (computer light pollution) ▪ Hydrates quickly for more supple skin and assists in renewing skin for a healthier glow Belli Skincare is donating 25% of their October proceeds from the sale of Pure Radiance Sunscreen SPF 30.

BELLI SKINCARE PURE RADIANCE SUNSCREEN SPF 30

Belli’s Pure Radiance Sunscreen SPF 30 ($24, belliskincare.com is clean, moisturizing shield protection and primer for your skin with a mineral-based formula, allowing it to be one of the healthiest sunscreen options you can choose. Think of the harmful rays of the sun like a beach ball being thrown at your skin over and over, with the protection of Belli’s Pure Radiance Sunscreen SPF 30 Broad Spectrum, it allows those rays to bounces right off your skin.

Sterling Forever is donating 25% of their October proceeds from the sale of their Pink Jewelry Collection.

QVC Special Beauty Value: Josie Maran Cosmetics

The Josie Maran Resurface & Hydrate Argan 4-piece Anti-Aging Kit was yesterday’s QVC Special Value beauty pick!
Until Saturday (8/24), the kit will be available for sale directly through QVC with Josie Maran herself.
The Resurface & Hydrate Argan 4-piece Anti-Aging Kit is available for purchase on QVC.com for only $69.95 (a $203 value if sold separately)!

 

Josie Maran Resurface & Hydrate Argan 4-piece Anti-Aging Kit
Price: $69.95 (a $203 value if sold separately)
Where: Exclusively on QVC.com
When: Now – August 24th
Includes:
1-fl oz Pure Argan Milk
0.85-fl oz Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum
1.6-oz Divine Drip Argan Oil and Honey Sleeping Nectar
0.27-fl oz Argan Black Oil Mascara

 

How To:
  • Reinvigorate your skin with this four-piece collection of Josie Maran essentials.
  • Shake Pure Argan Milk well before use. Massage three to five drops onto clean face in the morning and evening.
  • At night, apply two to four drops of Argan Smooth Skin Resurfacing Serum to clean skin.
  • Apply Divine Drip Argan Oil and Honey Sleeping Nectar nightly to face, neck, and decollete. Use alone or layer over Pure Argan Milk.
  • Lovingly apply Argan Black Oil Mascara from your lash root to tip.

HOW TO RESUSCITATE A BROW OR LASH EMERGENCY AT HOME OR IN THE SALON

As women, we are pretty familiar with how to handle skincare 911’s, blunders with our hair, shaving mishaps, and how to correct makeup mistakes.  When it comes to brows, this particular part of our face is a bit more mysterious.  Many of us grew up simply waxing, tweezing or leaving them au naturel until brows became the hottest “accessory” on our face with a multitude of options of ways to groom and improve upon them. What happens when you face a brow emergency? There is no better expert to turn to for advice than Umbreen Sheikh, a licensed cosmetologist, and founder + CEO of Wink Brow Bar and Salon in New York City.

Featured Photo from The EveryGirl

 

Problem: Overplucking your brows-

Almost every woman has gotten too close to that magnifying mirror and been overzealous with a tweezer. Umbreen says, “Don’t fear. You can fake it till you make it with subtle makeup tricks that will help to create the illusion of a fuller, thicker brow. This can be done with Wink’s own Brow Perfecting Quad.”   https://winkbrowbar.com/collections/our-products/products/wink-brow-perfecting-quad  Brush the two powders through, then brush through again to blend for a natural-looking finish. Finally, use a highlighter to camouflage any random hairs. Umbreen says that “Drawing a straight line under your brow will help minimize the appearance of strays.  This will also lighten and brighten the entire eye area, drawing more attention to the eyes.”

 

Problem: Creating a too wide eyebrow gap

The obvious solution to this is to fill in the points closest to the bridge of the nose to lessen the gap. This can be done via microblading. Microblading is a semi-permanent tattoo technique used to create the illusion of fuller brows. With this method, Umbreen can create almost any look and shape.  First, Wink technicians consult with clients about the best brow shape for their face and choose a color that matches the natural hair color and skin undertone. The brow area is then cleaned and numbed for the treatment. Instead of using a tattoo machine, a handheld tool manually draws hair strokes. This all can take up to 30 to 40 minutes.  Results can last anywhere from one to three years, depending on your skin type (the ink fades faster on oily skin), products, and lifestyle. It’s also an ideal procedure for women who have lost brow volume due to age, menopause or chemotherapy.

 

Problem: Unruly Brows-

Bold, feathery brows are in, but messy is an adjective you never want to be associated with your arches. “If your brow hairs are “wonky,” you need a game plan for controlling them,” says Umbreen.   If your arches do need a trim, Umbreen suggests brushing your brows up towards the top of your ear with a spooly brush and cutting only the tips off the long hairs pointing the scissors down, (not parallel to the brow). “This gives trimmed brows a natural look, because none of the hairs are exactly the same length,” As a finishing touch, mist a spoolie with hairspray and brush it through brows—directing the hairs up for a lifted look.

 

Problem: Matching your brow color to your hair exactly

In the case of the hair on your head and your eyebrows, you “don’t want to match the curtains to the carpet,” says Umbreen.  Very often, a hair colorist will suggest that you tint your brows much lighter if you are going blonder. Umbreen disagrees with this. “Darker brows will act as a frame for the face and enhance your eye color. Generally, it will give you the appearance of a lot more brow.” If you have gone too light or too dark, “eyebrow tinting is the process of applying semi-permanent dye to enhance, shape, and define your brows. This can be done at salons such as Wink. “It gives the appearance of thicker, more youthful-looking brows,” says Umbreen. An average session takes only about 15 minutes and the color should last anywhere from 3-6 weeks. It’s instant gratification as your new eyebrow color will be immediately apparent.

 

Mistake: Plucking brows too short

Eyebrows that are too short can make your eyes and nose look too big. If you have plucked them or waxed them so that you look like you have half an eyebrow, of course, you can spend the time to pencil them in every day but that if time-consuming and takes skill to make both brows symmetrical. Or… you could get eyebrow extensions. Similar to eyelash extensions, eyebrow extensions are done with tiny fibers of mink or synthetic hairs. The brow extension fibers are then attached to either bare skin or to existing hairs, giving them a fuller, stronger look. The service is from 25 mins to 90 mins depending on thickness or amount of work required.

 

The Problem- You’re so squeamish for waxing or you bruise easily

You would be hard-pressed to find a woman who enjoys the tear of a strip of wax against her eyelid to remove tiny eyebrow hairs, but yet we put up with it in the name of beauty.  For anyone who has ever deviated from their regular waxer on a vacation or business trip, you have most likely ended up being cut or bruised by overly aggressive waxing.  There is a great alternative for everyone called organic threading. As Umbreen explains, “With its origins in Asia centuries ago, eyebrow threading is a simple process that is often considered to be one of the most painless (and least invasive) options for shaping brows. The threading process is simple and typically involves a single piece of cotton thread, After wiping the eyebrow area clean with alcohol, the thread is “twisted and pulled along areas of unwanted hair acting like a mini-lasso, lifting the hair directly from the root without the use of any chemicals or unnecessary tugging on delicate skin. As opposed to waxing, tweezing, or lasers, threading is considered one of the safest and most precise methods of hair removal, especially in the delicate areas surrounding the eye. “Threading allows our specialists to have greater control over which hairs are removed.” The technique is also “100 percent natural,” which means there are no artificial waxes, chemicals, or invasive techniques used during the procedure.

 

The Problem- You’ve made your brows too big and bold.

Don’t assume you have to wash it all off. Instead, take a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover and carefully trace your brow’s natural outline. Remember, brow product should be applied within the brow’s hairline, not beyond it. Cotton swabs will remove any unwanted shading that has ventured too far outside the lines.

 

Trying at home to make both eyebrows symmetrical

This is one of the most common mishaps that Umbreen hears from clients who tried to ‘go it alone at home.’ Umbreen offers, “When you obsess over making your eyebrows look exactly the same, you can wind up over-plucking them.  Too-thin brows are much worse than ones that are just a tad different. Your eyebrows are supposed to be sisters, not twins.