


Now for more of a polished look, you’ll just be adding one extra product and a few extra minutes into your schedule. You’ll also need a 1 1/4 curling iron.



If you are anything like me, you have worked your face off the past few weeks. Literally! High stress work environments during the holidays bring on such wonderful things like breakouts, dryness, and dullness. Gross. So now is your time to shine my friends! Here are a few things you can do to get your glow back…
STEP ONE: SLOUGH IT OFF!
With the dryness winter brings it’s as if your whole body develops are hard shell. You must break through all the nasty dead stuff to expose the beauty underneath.
FOR THE BODY: Make your own sugar scrub! Its super easy and you can find all the ingredients in your kitchen. Add some of your favorite essential oils if you want to make it a little special. Check out this awesome recipe I found on “Love Grows Wild”
FOR THE FACE: Which is a little more sensitive. I have discovered the holy grail of exfoliates! Blissoma’s “Glow” exfoliating powder is pure genius. Instead of scrubbing away dead skin cells, which can cause more damage than good, Glow contains natural enzymes that dissolves the dead skin! Also, you can mix this into your favorite cleanser or use alone with a little bit of water. Like I said, GENIUS!! For more in depth information on this product click the photo. Blissoma.com has so much valuable free information!FOR THE HAIR: You must remove build up of oils and product before you can feed your hair moisture. My absolute favorite clarifying shampoo is Davines SOLU shampoo. Solu refreshing solution shampoo has an innovative formula that effectively removes hairspray residues and other styling products, respecting the physiology of the hair and scalp. Thanks to its natural active ingredients, deep cleanses and instantly moisturize.
STEP TWO: GET GLOSSY!
Now that you have removed all that unnecessary gunk we can create the ultimate vibrancy and shine!
FOR THE BODY: As soon as I get out of the shower, before patting dry, I immediately spray myself with Davines’ DeStress lotion. It’s crazy how soft my skin feels after using this! It has the same effect as Rain-X has to your car windshield! The water beads right off exposing super soft-glossy skin! Its velvety texture ensures fast easy absorption. The formula is enriched with UV filter that protects hair & skin from damage caused by sun exposure. Hair looks soft and silky, and the skin nourished.FOR THE FACE: I can not go a single day without my Blissoma Restore oil! This is literally the only moisturizer that hydrates my skin properly and keeps my lips chap free in the winter. I recommend applying to clean skin in the am, adding a few drops to your foundation, and applying to clean skin again before bed.
“Young, healthy skin is protected by its own natural oils but as skin ages it produces less, leaving it vulnerable to environmental damage and stress. The right balance of antioxidant-rich seed oils offers regenerating nutrients without clogging or greasiness. Restore Oil Serum provides an elegant shield to keep skin looking firm and glowing.” -Julie LongyearFOR THE HAIR: Feed your hair moisture and it will give you incredible shine! When the hair is properly hydrated it is soft and reflective of light due to the cuticle layer laying flat as it should. The Davines OI products were designed for all hair types and textures to create softness, shines, and protect the hair from the environment and natural aging. Roucou oil, which is the most prominent ingredient in the line is responsible for prevent hair aging & having a strong anti-oxidant action.
As a beauty expert it is expected that you look the part. It is stressful at times and that’s why I leave my hair to other professionals. I DO NOT DIY when it comes to my largest accessory..my hair. Before my trip to New York Fashion Week I had my color done with perfectionist, Nina Lanasa at Thirteenth and Washington. She does a beautiful job creating a look that will evolve and grow out seamlessly. Knowing I would be making the trip to NYC I knew I def wanted to pay my friends at CUTLER a visit. So I did what any haircut craving woman in her right mind would do. I booked an appointment in advance!
Tyson Kennedy is not only a cool dude but also one badass mother cutter. He works for CUTLER salon in Soho and also is responsible for the creation of FATBOY perfect putty. Tyson is the epitome of “looking the part”. With his perfectly tailored suits, smart looking glasses, and cool hair you just know your going to look awesome.
SO YOU WANT TO KNOW “HOW TO GET AN AWESOME HAIRCUT”?
STEP ONE: BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
When I say book an appointment I mean call the salon or book online. DO NOT text or call your stylist on their personal phone. Think about it. If every one of their clients did that it would be highly agitating. Emails before your appointment are OK however there will be plenty of time to consult before your scheduled service. Save the back and forth changes of new cut ideas for your best friend.
STEP TWO: KNOW WHAT YOU LIKE & WHAT YOU DON’T
For instance when I sat in Tyson’s chair I said, ” I like having long hair however I want you to cut what looks dead. If it needs to be a bob that’s cool just not a pixie please. I want healthy hair. It always grows. Also, I wear my hair messy. I like a tousled beachy look that isn’t too much fuss.” Tyson decided a long bob would be appropriate and I should maintain the length until my bangs grow out fully. He then used a straight blade razor to add texture, volume, and establish my new length. When you have no opinion whatsoever it is hard to know what may make you happy.
STEP TWO: ARRIVE ON TIME
The easiest way to get an OK cut is to show up late resulting in a quick consult and maybe not even enough time to style. With a fresh do it’s extremely important to learn how to recreate the style. Tyson instructed me to twist dry my hair and mess it up with FATBOY putty once dry. SUPER EASY! 10 to 15 minutes early is perfect. Relax a little read a magazine this is YOU time. I don’t know about you but the shampoo experience is always my favorite part. I would never want to be rushed through that!
You would think using great products is all you need to do to keep your hair healthy. Unfortunately there’s more to the puzzle my friends. Think about the water you’re using to wash that beautiful hair. Have you ever traveled and wondered why your hair looked like complete s#*!% after showering? Then maybe you’ve spent the night at a friends place and left the shower with gorgeous mermaid hair. WTF right? Here’s what happened. During your travels you were exposed to hard water which consists of way too many minerals that dry out, weigh down, and straight up ruin your hair. Now your friend, she’s smart. Your friend has either invested in a water softening system or a less expensive approach, a shower head with built in filter.
HARD WATER CAUSES:
-Dryness
-Color Fading
-Buildup on your scalp
-Lack of Lather… which means your wasting your shampoo!
Freaked out? No worries! You can totally beat hard water! Here’s how:
STEP ONE: Install a showerhead with built in filter.
This one is from Culligan and is $28.49 with an Amazon Prime account. The filter lasts about 6 months!
STEP TWO: Use a clarifying shampoo once a week.
Davines’ SU Shampoo has a rich formulation which restores hydration and softness to the hair. It carries out an immediate restructuring action and eliminates residues of salt and chlorine, restoring sun damaged hair to its optimal condition.
STEP THREE: Use a styling product that has a built in treatment.
OI/ ALL in One Milk Benefits:
adds shine
adds softness and silkiness
has an excellent detangling power
facilitates combing of dry and wet hair
controls frizz
has an exceptional conditioning effect
gives body without weighing hair down
moisturizes hair
facilitates blow drying
heat protection
provides a longer-lasting hairstyle
As a blogger there are so many great sponsored opportunities that come your way! Recently I was invited by ALIVE magazine to attend a private, sit-down dinner with 10 of St. Louis’ most influential food, fashion and lifestyle bloggers in promotion of Ruth’s Chris’ Sizzle, Swizzle & Swirl and Pre-Fixe menus and the company’s St. Louis locations. We were asked to cover the dinner and our overall experience. I am always more than happy to give my opinion on food!
I don’t know about you but I am one of the most indecisive people when it comes to what I want at a restaurant. This Sizzle, Swizzle, & Swirl menu is great for people like me! I didn’t have to think about what to eat. All I had to do was enjoy it, which left me more time to focus on the great company I had with me!
This is a great way to start any evening and an even better way to catch up with your closest friends! I invited my good friend Emily Lane to join me. We were immediately impressed with their drink selection. I chose a mojito and it was AWESOME!
This was my first time having a wedge salad! It was delicious!
Need another drink half way through your meal? We did. They gave us an Ipad to make our selection! Oh how I love visual-modern menus!
My entre included Stuffed Chicken, Crab Cake, Steak, and a Roasted tomato. YUM.
I am a HUGE fan of dessert! This mini cheesecake, berries, and Rosé were perfect!
ALIVE is giving YOU a chance to win a family style dining experience, for you and four of your friends. YOU CAN’T WIN IF YOU DON’T ENTER ;P !!
The Downtown St. Louis location of Ruth’s Chris will be serving all items on the Prix Fixe dinner menu. One winner will be chosen at random on Aug. 21 at the end of the business day. One entry per person please. Multiple entries will not increase your chance of winning. Dinner does not include alcohol, tax or gratuity.
Big thank you to Ruth’s Chris for sponsoring this post! This was a wonderful experience and a great way to spend a Thursday evening with some of my favorite people!
Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/stlruthschris
Ruth’s Chris website: http://www.ruthschrisstlouis.com/