Tag Archives: beauty blogger

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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Make your AM Beauty Routine a Breeze, with 3 Simple Steps.

November 20, 2017

Getting ready in the morning can be overwhelming and easily skipped. When we throw ourselves together it’s common to feel less productive and lack self-confidence. Those are two traits that directly affect our success and growth in both our personal and professional lives. They are definitely areas we should all want to improve upon daily. So why is preparing ourselves to be our best version so hard? Check out 3 Simple Steps to creating a routine you look forward to and find out what you might be doing wrong… Linares_Home-39

STEP ONE: CREATE A SPACE THAT YOU LOVE

Finding a place in your home that is clean, bright, and organized is key. If you have the ability to set up your beauty area near a window that is ideal. If not invest in a mirror that has ample lighting and mimics the neutral tones of natural daylight. When choosing a surface to work on, consider something with storage so you can have everything you need with in arms reach.

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STEP TWO: DISPLAY YOUR DAILY PRODUCTS

It’s common to collect an abundance of hair and makeup products. To make your routine quick an easy only display the products you use on a daily basis. Store specialty items in a cool dry space. Also, check your labels for shelf life. Most hair products are only good for 12-24 months and makeup can range from 3-24 months. Do not hang on to something that is expired just so you can “use it up”. Old products breed bacteria, which is bad for your health and just straight up gross.

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STEP THREE: KEEP IT CLEAN

A clean space is inviting. If you consistently avoid cleaning up after yourself you will find you avoid the space altogether. If you don’t have a proper daily brush cleanser create your own by mixing water and rubbing alcohol equal parts with a few drops of lavender essential oil in a small spray bottle. I keep a clean washcloth in my space at all times. It’s great for cleaning my makeup brushes and wiping my hands after using haircare. Don’t forget to wipe your makeup containers off as well!

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**A pro secret from makeup artist Amber Perry, ” Bathe your brushes weekly in a blend of dish soap, olive oil, and water. The dish soap deep cleans and cuts the oil residue from the olive oil while the olive oil simultaneously acts as a conditioner for your bristles.”

These simple tips will keep your daily routine organzied and inviting! Start your week off right with making these adjustment to your space, you will be so glad you did!

Overnight Beauty Perfection

September 21, 2017

On a daily basis, we are overwhelmed with beauty ads that claim to transform our every flaw into overnight perfection. The truth is, it is, and always will be a complete lie. Unless someone is truly a magician with undeniable superpowers, perfect hair and skin will never happen overnight. So how does one achieve beautiful hair and skin?

Here’s the big secret…

Great hair & skin is the result of consistency in care and the quality of ingredients in the products being used.

When it comes to ingredients I personally love to keep my products as natural as possible. What I mean by that is, the stuff has to work too so if it’s not 100% natural I’m not going to die. For haircare I choose Davines every time. Not only do they care about their impact on the environment but their ingredients are carefully selected to perform and are gentle at the same time. I have been really impressed by the new branch of their Natural Tech line, Renewing. A pea size amount of shampoo creates a rich lather and beautiful aroma to cleanse the hair from environmental stressors. This line was designed to slow down the aging process and create an optimal environment from scalp to ends for healthy hair. The conditioner is extremely light. I find it to be best for fine hair textures. The serum is the ultimate dose of nourishment for hair that feels dull, lifeless, and dry. Over a 4 week period using this system at least 2-3 times a week, you will notice shine, bounce, and overall strength.

With skincare, I am a little more selective with ingredients. Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs everything we slather on it. For years I’ve used Glo Beauty and dipped into Image skincare, which are both really great lines who pride themselves in scientific skincare technology, but then I met Trenna. Trenna is a salon client who introduced me to her line of 100% natural skincare products that actually work! The line is called E&M apothecary. I would simply describe this line as food for your skin.

Many skincare lines are abrasive and lead you to believe in the motto, “No pain no gain”. That saying is the furthest from the truth. Since our skin is on our bodies to protect our vital organs, we must treat it with respect. Using a line that is formulated to protect and rebuild the acid mantle of the skin will result in a hydrated youthful glow. You can’t beat the amount of good stuff packed in this highly concentrated formula. Her line is packaged in beautiful amber glass bottles, which protect the powerhouse ingredients inside from sunlight. Although results don’t happen overnight, these products will, however, give your skin an instant glow! No matter what lines you love, always give your skin and the brand a fair chance to perform. This means have a consistent regimen am and pm for at least 4-6 weeks.

Follow my blog for follow up posts on both Davines and E & M Apothecary products ❤

Hot water is killing your haircolor!

March 28, 2016

Have you ever thought, “Hot water can’t be THAT bad for my hair.” Think again. As a Beauty Expert I decided to do a little science experiment that was featured on Great Day St. Louis this morning. Check out these results…

STEP ONE: All six wefts of hair were colored using Davines A New Colour with a level 6 golden copper.
STEP TWO: These wefts represent fresh haircolor however the left strand was rinsed using professional grade Davines NOU NOU shampoo and the right strand was Suave from Walgreens.

STEP THREE: These two strands were shampooed 5 times using extremely hot water. Left strand shampooed with NOU NOU and right strand Suave. This is the misunderstanding most people have. Most people think just using professional grade shampoo will maintain their color regardless of any other factors. The truth is professional grade shampoo will maintain the color and keep the hair healthy as long as you’re not abusing your hair with scolding hot water and hot tools. If your hair is trashed to begin with, professional products will help it feel a bit better but in all honesty the best thing for severely damaged hair that doesn’t hold color is a haircut. Bye Bye crap hair. Your hairstylist is dead serious about that “no magic wand” thing.
So does that mean you should go the cheap route since you’re not willing to sacrifice your lava shower? Hell no. All the more reason to use a high quality formula! Cheap brands will leave waxy residue and truly dry your hair out with prolonged use. The good stuff is in fact that, good. Professional shampoos not only contain gentle cleansers but also nourishing factors to make your hair healthy and bouncy. It’s like going in for a serious surgery and expecting over the counter drugs to help with the healing process. Haircolor is surgery on your hair and you will want “the good stuff”.

STEP FOUR: Now this is eye opening! These strands have been shampooed 5 times with NOU NOU (left) and Suave (right). Look at how little these faded in comparison to the hot water! The reason cool water is so much better is because cool water allows the hair’s cuticle to stay calm and in an almost closed state. Hot water and tools swell the cuticle allowing the dye molecules to slip out easily.

STEP FIVE: Watch my morning segment by clicking the link below to see how 400 degrees from your beloved flat iron strips the color right out of hair! It’s crazy! Keep your hot tools at 350 or below ladies and ALWAYS use protection. Heat protection that is 😉
http://www.kmov.com/clip/12319104/hair-confidential-fight-the-fade

Find your Spring 2016 Haircut

March 21, 2016

This season expect to see clean shapes with a soft interior delivered from styling products and tools. Your hair should look healthy and styled. Here are some ideas for different lengths….

“LONG HAIR” aka Long Bob with or with out sweepy bangs.

Long hair is actually not THAT long right now. These medium length styles are strong and keep your ends looking fresh like Spring should be!

MUST HAVE TOOL: Natural Boar Bristle Brush

MUST HAVE STYLING PRODUCT: EVO Water Killer Dry Shampoo Spray dry shampoo on second day hair and work through with your boar bristle brush for volume and texture.

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“THE SHOB” aka Short Blunt Bob 😉

The look of longer in the front to shorter in the back is starting to level out. Women who have ventured to the titled cut are now feeling ready to go shorter and make a statement. Your stylist can add texture to the interior of this cut with a razor so you have soft-weightless strands.

MUST HAVE TOOL: 1inch curling iron. Wrap the hair around the iron with the clamp open leaving out the last inch of the strand.

MUST HAVE STYLING PRODUCT: Davines Sea Salt Spray Mist finished waves with Sea Salt Spray and blow dry hair with medium heat on a low speed to set the style.

“SHORT SHORT” Just go for it, it always grows back!

Then there are those women who are way more confident than most…This cut is a perfect balance of softness and edge.

MUST HAVE TOOL: Filtered shower head or Water Softener. Hard water weighs down your hair, dehydrates, and fades haircolor. Having a filter makes a HUGE difference in the way your hair and skin feel. Trust me. You will be glad you did.

MUST HAVE STYLING PRODUCT: FATBOY Perfect Putty Apply a dime-nickel amount in the palm of your hand. Warm up the product by rubbing both hands together and massage into dry hair for a matte finish with second day texture on day one!

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