Category Archives: Wellness

My Twin Pregnancy Beauty Must Haves

July 6, 2018

As a 5’3 125lb woman, the moment I knew I was having twins I knew I had to get ahead of the inevitable stretch marks. Pregnancy is new territory for me and a huge learning curve however, I at least know when it comes to products that I’m going to be rubbing all over my body I want them to be more natural. For stretch mark prevention I am loving Basq Resilient Body Oil. The Lavender scent is calming after my evening shower and the oil easily absorbs into my skin. I focus this oil on my entire belly area and hips.

For all the other areas of my expanding body I love using Shea Moisture’s Raw Shea Butter body lotion with Frankincense & Myrrh.

Luckily I wasn’t too nauseas in my first trimester but not all are so lucky. For those of you who find yourselves making out with your toilet seat on the regular, I highly recommend these lovely damage-free ribbion hair ties!

Not only are these hair ties great for gently holding your hair back damage free, they also work great for holding your shrinking pre-pregnancy pants up!

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Hormones determine a lot of different things during pregnancy. My hormones decided they wanted my hair to be dry, limp, and brittle. To combat this unfortunate circumstance I use my Davines Renewing serum mid strand to ends daily. This serum contains antioxidant-rich spinach extract and maqui berry to protect the youth of the hair and scalp.Some women develop “pregnancy mask” which is hyperpigmentation of the skin on your face due to the higher levels of estrogen. Knowing this was a possibility for me my esthetician recommended that I use Iluma intense lightening serum. I had already been using this for acne spots and was amazed by its performance so I was very relived to hear it was not only safe to use during pregnancy but it was also a great preventative measure.
Dry hair, dry skin, and dry lips I can’t seem to get enough water in my system! Burt’s Bees lip balm is my absolute favorite!

Dark spots are not just a result from hormone imbalances. Dark spots can appear when you’ve been exposed to the sun. I LOVE Image skincare’s oil free prevention SPF. It does not make your skin look white and it dries smooth to the touch. I wear this EVERYDAY.

Last but not least WATER is the most important beauty & wellness must have during pregnancy and just life! Drinking half your weight in ounces daily is ideal. Doing this keeps you, your baby/babies, and skin in the best condition possible. This is a no-brainer I must say.

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What seeds of change have you planted?

January 8, 2017

2017 is here and with each New Year year the pressure of becoming the greatest version of you weighs down on us all. Resolutions are not my thing. I’m just not into self inflicted pressure just because the date changes overnight. If you’re full steam ahead on your resolutions, great! I am happy for you. It’s just not for me.

I see the change of a year as a time to declutter my mind, home, and soul. A time to plant seeds of new thoughts and inspiration. Nothing in life that is truly wonderful happens overnight.

Here are a few things I plan on working on in the New Year. Blooming gracefully…

Taking care of my mind and body

2016 flew by like a tornado ripping through a small town. Before I could blink each day was ending before I could eat a healthy meal or take a sip of water. So far I have started each day with a glass of lemon water and ended each night with at least 10 mins of gentle yoga.

Simplifying my surroundings

Any form of clutter has always had a negative affect on my productivity. This year I have started Spring Cleaning early. I have purged my closet and workspace of things that no longer speak to me making room for the things I love & space in my mind to create!

Create a vision board

My vision board is a blend of an actual board that I can hang inspiration on and my good ol Pinterest account. This past week I actually took time to look through the things I’ve been pinning and read the articles associated with the image. It’s always fun to delete the Pins that you actually accomplished too!

Like I said earlier, change doesn’t happen overnight however the decision to be self aware and in the moment can. I choose to live each day for that day and enjoy the simple things in life. Doesn’t that sound way better than stressing over what I should have done by the end of 2017?

Happy New Year!

Top Five Beauty Resolutions for 2016

January 2, 2016

ONE: Avoid Hot Water

Hot water is the best way to strip your hair of healthy natural oils, cause frizz, and fade your haircolor at a rapid pace. Have you been experiencing dry hair and skin? Your shower is probably to blame. The winter has a way of luring us into a steaming hot shower, the problem is our skin and hair can’t handle it.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying you should take the ice bucket challenge every time you bathe. Just be mindful that your hair and skin are delicate. Warm water is great to open the pores of the skin and gently lift the cuticle layer of the hair to remove excessive oil and buildup, followed by a cool rinse to seal & close everything back down.

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TWO: Deep Condition Weekly

Your hair will be in optimal health with weekly conditioning treatments. Pick up a great deep conditioner such as Davines MINU mask or EVO Fabuloso deep treatments. Pick a day each week that you take a little extra time to pamper yourself. I like to do my treatment on a Sunday evening.

Shampoo normally and skip your daily conditioner. You will then want to gently detangle your hair with a wide tooth comb (Yes, before the conditioner.) Squeeze out the excess water and if you can keep a 100% cotton t-shirt nearby, it’s a great way to blot the hair dry. Apply about a nickel size of your deep conditioner from scalp to ends but focusing the saturation on the mid strand and ends. Work it into the hair like you would when applying a body balm. You really want to feel the hair absorb the product. Comb through, clip your hair up, and leave in for 10-15minutes. Rinse with cool water and your hair will reward you with shine and smoothness!

THREE: Get a Shine Treatment once a month

Think of a shine treatment like the clear top coat of your nail polish! My absolute favorite is the EVO Temptress shine treatment. This is a simple service you can ask for in the salon. This shine treatment will leave your hair smooth with a glass like shine, not to mention it will add a day or two to your blow out!

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FOUR: Use Great Products

Sure you can go the cheap route and purchase whatever liters are on sale at Target or Ulta, however when you purchase from a professional salon your products are not only more concentrated but also better for your hair in the long term. Most products have a “cosmetic repair” where professional grade products such as Davines contain ingredients like Roucou oil that heal the hair and don’t cause build up. When you purchase retail from your stylist you’re guaranteed to see the results the products promise and if your not feeling it, your stylist will happily exchange it for something that suits your needs a little bit better.

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FIVE: Prebook your beauty appointments

Not sure what your doing tomorrow? Prebook your appointments anyway! On January 1st I take out my calendar and block off vacation time, dentist & doctor appointments, and then my favorite to plan beauty appointments. When you plan these types of appointments well in advance you learn to build your life around them. To be completely honest maintaining these particular appointments are important for your physical and mental health. Consistency allows us to keep things in check. When we let certain things go for far too long it can cause stress, low self esteem, and always larger financial burdens. Hands down the best part of prebooking is choosing the perfect appointment times, such as your birthday or the prime time during the holidays!

Live in St. Louis? Schedule your beauty appointments with me by clicking here 🙂

Natural Cosmetics in the Lou

November 23, 2015

Are you concerned about the ingredients in your skincare and makeup products? If so, you have to stop in Blissoma‘s first brick and mortar all natural cosmetic shop! The shop is located at 2730 LaSalle on Floral Row in St. Louis, MO. This little gem has everything from all natural skincare and candles to nail polish and makeup!

Not only does the shop contain beautiful products that are extremely gentle but the outside is also beautiful and inviting.

When walking in you will be in awe of the historical charm complimented by organic decor elements.

The staff is wonderful and knowledgeable! They were more than happy to answer any product ingredient questions I had. Blissoma also plans to host beauty and natural health seminars in their super cute hands on center!

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When you think of all natural nail polish you might assume the color selection would be limited. With the Aila nail polish line the color spectrum is modern and fresh! I can’t wait to try the all natural nail polish remover!

The color options for eyeshadows, lipsticks, and blushes were also equally impressive.

By far one of the coolest things about this shop is the fact that all the Blissoma skincare products are created in house. You can see the products being mixed and packaged for shipment.

Julie is the owner and one of the most genuine people I have ever met. She knows the ins and out of natures ingredients and is always excited to share her knowledge with anyone eager to learn. I have no doubt that her business will flourish at a rapid pace.

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I picked up a few goodies while touring the shop. Blissoma’s Free Gel Cleanser is my go to when it comes to washing my face. It not only leaves my skin feeling balanced but also removes my makeup. It even takes off my waterproof mascaras with minimal effort. I also scored this beautiful whipped foundation by Lauren Brooke. The formula glides on your skin leaving it even in tone and luminous. For my eyes I purchased a black mascara by Alima and two liquid liners in caramel & navy. The thought of all natural ingredients on my entire face gives me such peace of mind.

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As a little incentive for Blissoma’s new customers I have dropped off Complimentary Haircut certificates. Spend $75 and receive a complimentary cut with Amber Perry a $39 value or spend $125 to receive a complimentary haircut with (myself) Kristen Linares a $59 value, at our salon Thirteenth and Washington located in downtown St. Louis!

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This is the perfect time of year to treat yourself and your loved ones to quality products! #AlwaysSupportLocals

Good Enough, is Just Fine.

September 15, 2015

So many women sit in my chair in awe of my ability to style their hair. They say things like, “Can I take you home” or “Now if only I could do this myself!”. My response is always the same. You can absolutely recreate this blow dry if you simply have the time, products, and patience.

Here’s the problem for most women. They just don’t. They don’t have the time because life is crazy. They don’t have the products because although their stylist will recommend exactly what they need, they buy a cheap knock off that is garbage elsewhere. Last but not least, patience. Ha! Who has that?

Just stop. Stop criticizing yourself. Stop telling yourself you can’t take time or have patience for the most important person. You.

This is the big secret. Are you ready? Good enough is just Fine. The least you can do is try. Try to recreate what you’ve learned from your stylist. Maybe not everyday but perhaps try once a week. Most people learn overtime. I know I didn’t learn how to do hair in one day, that’s for sure.

Also, these days disheveled bed-head or maybe I just had sex hair is what people are after. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I promise no one judges you more than you do. So do yourself a favor and just try your best and after a few weeks you might find yourself bouncing around with a “good” blowout that you did all by yourself!