Tag Archives: natural beauty

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 ❤

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.

shower

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!

276629_aae2fc8705c54185bc6c12c002750643

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.

davines-gamme-more-inside

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!

12272774_10205031561458376_1395664108_n

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.

12305879_10205031561618380_124956738_n

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.

12306022_10205031565338473_645531689_n

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!

12282800_10205031561818385_1529808286_n-2

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

Beauty Haul: Endless Summer

August 19, 2015

I am not ok with the fact summer is almost over! Therefore I will ignore all signs of the weather getting cooler and more tolerable. These are a few products I have stocked up on to give my face a natural sun kissed glowing effect.

I have been searching for a primer that not only minimizes my pores but also hydrates my skin. I love the STEP ONE from Makeup Forever! It is perfect! Afterwards I blot on with a stipple brush Laura Mercier’s smooth finish flawless fluid. This foundation has moderate coverage without feeling heavy. Of course as I’m only browsing for face products, I stumble across FRESH sugar honey lipgloss! How could I resist a beautiful gloss that would not only keep me on trend but also hydrate my dry summer lips. It smells delicious.

You can’t be taken seriously until you have good brows. Anastasia is the go to line for perfect brows these days. For years I have sworn by eyeshadow to make my brows look natural, however Anastasia’s pomades are simply amazing. Instead of brow gel and shadow just go with a pomade for a natural long lasting look.

Last but not least my end of summer look would not be complete without a new scent. I chose Elizabeth and James, Nirvana. This perfume is a blend of violet, sandalwood, and rich vanilla that is the perfect balance between masculine and feminine. I loved the idea of having a roll on scent with me at all times.

JORD raises the bar for natural fashion!

May 17, 2015

As I opened this beautiful wood box I fell deeply in love with JORD. Everything about their timepieces says, attention to detail. Not only is this a beautiful accessory but that fact that each timepiece is one of a kind is just too cool!

I chose to wear the “ELY” series in natural green and maple. The wood is super smooth and comfortable to wear. I love that I finally know what time it is without looking at my iPhone. This series also has the date display which is super helpful!

It was so fun to examine this watch. JORD was sure to add as much detail as possible. On the back of my watch is a beautiful engraving of the logo and also the phrase “Born in St Louis”. Supporting local businesses has always been wildly important to me.