Tag Archives: Davines

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 ❤

Is Your Hair Dehydrated?

July 28, 2017

Summer is in full swing which means, so is the sun. Your hair takes a beating between pool chemicals, more frequent shampooing, and sun worshiping. If you highlight or color your hair this time of year can trash all that beautiful work your stylist spent countless hours on. Fear not, there are ways to rehydrate, protect, and heal those poor strands. Here’s a list of my favorite products and services for quenching your hair’s thirst.

O&M DETOX Shampoo

Do you ever leave the pool feeling like your hair magically transformed into hay? If so this Shampoo will change your life! Detox removes product build up, chlorine, and stubborn oils. My favorite thing about this product is the invigorating peppermint oil. Your scalp feels clean, cool, and refreshed. Unlike most clarifying shampoos, Detox leaves your hair nourished, hydrated, and soft.

G L O S S it up!

Glaze, toner, gloss, are all the same. Keeping your strands glossed every 4-6 weeks protects your hair from heat styling and the sun. It also is a great way to reduce brassiness and revive the shine and saturation of your color.

EVO FABULOSO Platinum

Don’t have time for a gloss? Revive your blonde and kick brass at home with EVO’s FABULOSO Platinum deep conditioner. The bottle says to leave on for 3 mins however, I always suggest my clients leave this brass killer on for a minimum of 10. Your highlights will be bright and hydrated.

OI oil

Unlike Argan Oils, this is a super lightweight holy-grail of shine and softness. OI is good for all hair types. Davines Oi oil contains Roucou oil which is light yet powerful. I recommend using this on your ends every night before bed. This bottle can last at least 6 months when used properly. For the average head of hair less than the size of a pea is more than enough. Oi has healing properties and can be used on wet or dry hair. You will wonder how you ever lived without this. Did I mention it smells amazing?

NOU NOU Mask

Every woman should have a deep conditioner to use at least 1-2 times per week. I prefer to deep condition after I have used my Detox clarifying shampoo. It makes the most sense to do a “deep” cleanse before a “deep” conditioning. NOU NOU mask not only hydrates the hair but it also strengthens weak over worked strands.

OLAPLEX

If you haven’t heard of Olaplex you are being deprived of something truly amazing. Olaplex was the first of its kind in the beauty industry. This take home is the 3rd step after your stylist performs steps 1 & 2 during your color service. This is not a conditioner. This is a bond multiplier which has been designed to prevent breakage during your color service. Basically, it’s an insurance policy for your hair’s health. Use #3 weekly on clean damp hair to maintain the added strength.

P.S. All of these goodies can be found at my salon Thirteenth and Washington in downtown St. Louis 🙂

Is your Hair too Hot too Handle?

March 7, 2017

We all love the option of having the best of both worlds. From beachy waves to smooth sleek strands, any style is possible with the right hot tool. Hot tools make our hair look amazing but too much of anything can be bad. Right? Too much heat overtime can leave our hair dull, lifeless, and damaged. Yuck! Heat protectants are not an option they are a must. I mean unless you’re cool with jacked up hair. You’re not? That’s what I thought. Here are a few of my favorite products for guarding your hair from the heat demon…

Davines Melu Shield $36

Whether you’re blasting the blow dryer or smoothing strands with a flat iron, this nourishing spray defends against thermal damage and is perfect for all hair types. Enriched with lentil seeds and panthenol, it repairs strands, enhances shine, & adds much-needed moisture. Plus, the multi-benefit formula even cuts down blow drying time.

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Cutler Protectant Treatment $24

A weightless spray for all hair types that moisturizes while it adds a barrier of protection between heat and hair. This weightless styling spray contains heat-activated polymers that will detangle, protect and treat hair from styling and sun damage. The multi-active polymers, panthenol and avocado oil deliver manageability and shine.

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Mizani Therasmooth Smooth Guard $34

Lightweight, leave-in thermal protecting serum for natural hair. Buffers against heat styling damage and facilitates the use of heat tools by providing extra glide for easier manageability. The advance C3 Smoothing Complex with cationic polymers is designed to shield and polish while hair is being smoothed.

You’re beautiful hair deserves to live a long healthy life. Treat it and pamper it by investing in great products and tools. We get few chances when it comes to retaining the health of our hair. If you get to a point where you have trashed your hair, your only option is to cut it off and start over. No amount of Olaplex can work that type of miracle!

If you are a flat iron lover check out this amazing in depth study my friends at Reviews.com conducted. They tested 132 different flat irons and picked the top 3 so you don’t have to waste time searching!

Pretty awesome if you ask me!