Cheap Beauty Tips

In this troubled economy people everywhere are looking to save money. I’ve compiled a list of ways to be beautiful by spending little or no money.  Take a look…

1. When you get to the bottom of your perfume or cologne and it won't spray out anymore, pour it into your body wash or an unscented moisturizer to get more use out of it

2. Shave with conditioner instead of shaving cream. You can buy cheap conditioner for less than a dollar. Spread a little bit on your legs, shave, and in one motion, you have smooth and moisturized legs. It softens the hair, moisturizes the skin, and does not clog the razor. For a shaving cream alternative, always buy the cheapest shaving foam/cream, even men's! It doesn't matter what the bottle looks like or what it smells like because it gets washed off anyway. 

3. Take a bit of honey and spread on your face in an upward motion, rinse after a couple of minutes. It will give your skin a glow and moisturize your face as well. 

4. Exercise is free. Thirty minutes of exercise five days a week will enhance all aspects of beauty. Endorphins are released and your skin glows, muscle tone improves and attitude is enhanced. Exercise helps you relax overall, which in turn eases tension in your face (think fewer crow’s feet and expression lines). 

5. An apple-cider vinegar rinse works like a clarifying shampoo and leaves your hair with great shine.

6. Use regular olive oil to get skin super soft. Put a few drops on a cotton ball, and dab on flaky spots, avoiding any breakout zones.

7. If you saw a video of yourself sitting at your computer or watching television, you'd probably be surprised by how you hold your face. Make an effort to soften your expression, since over the years your face will carve itself along those lines. As Coco Chanel once said, "Nature gives you the face you have at twenty. Life shapes the face you have at thirty. But at fifty you get the face you deserve." 

8. Give a new life to an old pink, rose, or peach lipstick (depending on your preference and skin tone) and dab with fingers like a cream blush on the apples of your cheeks (blending well, of course).

9. A drop of olive oil rubbed nightly into your nails will help them grow long and strong and is cheaper than shop-bought manicure oils.

10. Dry brushing the skin (whole body) before showering or taking a bath exfoliates, detoxifies, stimulates circulation, tones, tightens, invigorates and helps with cellulite. All you need is a soft natural fiber body brush with a long handle. ( You can get one at Walmart for just a few dollars.)

11. In ancient civilizations, they used milk in their bath water to soften their skin. You can try this trick, too. Use powdered milk in your bath and you’ll find that your skin feels softer.

Do you have any tricks to save money and still be beautiful? 

Wordless Wednesday

Voted one of the world's best beaches. (Oregon)

Wordless Wednesday

Thank you to all the Little Free Libraries for encouraging us to share our favorite books!

Sun Safety

One way to be safe is to avoid tanning and use a self-tanner. After seeing a co-worker with streaks down her legs, I thought I’d offer some tips for getting the perfect “tan”.

**Take a quick shower or bath (don't soak) and exfoliate your skin, either with a washcloth or body scrub. Don't over scrub, but do pay extra attention to your knees, ankles, feet, elbows, and neck. This will help achieve a uniform appearance since self-tanners grab on to dry surface skin cells. Your tan will look more even and will last longer. Now is the time to shave your legs if you have to, because you shouldn’t shave or wax your legs for a few days after the application of a self-tanner. 

** Your skin must be completely dry to get the best results. Do not apply self-tanner in a steamy, hot bathroom or on a humid, hot day. The heat and moisture in the bathroom can cause you to start to sweat and the self tanner can melt and drip which will cause streaks. Also,wait until your body has cooled down after your shower. Hot skin will have the same affect.

**Apply a thin layer of lightweight moisturizer over the areas where you will be applying self-tanner. This will help the self-tanner glide on without clinging to dry patches.

**To avoid streaks on your legs when using a self-tanner , rub on tanner in a horizontal motion, rather than a vertical one.

**Wait AT LEAST 15 minutes before getting dressed. Remember that self-tanner can stain clothes. Color will show up after approximately 2 hours, not immediately

**For a realistic-looking tan, skip body parts that wouldn’t tan in the sun, like your inner arms.

**Dilute by half on the areas prone to dark spots. Your knees, ankles and elbows are usually first to show if you don’t apply correctly. Mix half self tanner and half moisturizer for a more natural look.

**Never apply body self-tanner, tanning lotion or body bronzer to your face. Buy a special facial self-tanner.  After tanning your face, take a wet cotton swab to eyebrows and rub out any tanner residue. Also, rub a moistened cotton ball across your hairline where tanners tend to build up during application. This will ensure a no-tell perfectly tanned face. Never wear foundation, face powder, eyeshadows or lipstick when applying self-tanner.

**To maintain your new tan and to make it last longer reapply the tanning product every week or every three to four days.

** To keep self-tanning color from staining nails, cuticles and palms, coat your hands with petroleum jelly.

WHEW, that’s a lot of information. Hopefully, you’ll be able to get a tan that looks like you just stepped off the plane from Hawaii!  It’s guaranteed to be better for you skin than sun-bathing or using a tanning booth.

Happy Mother's Day

Sandal Weather is Here!

     Are your tootsies looking their best?  Here are some tips to give yourself a pedicure at home.  It feels so good and your feet will look great!

*Take a bowl or dishpan and fill it with warm to hot water. Give yourself the hottest water your feet can take for optimum softening of the tough heel skin, and to promote relaxation. 

*While feet are wet, use a foot scrub to soften the calluses built up during everyday exercise and ordinary tasks. Be gentle. If the tough skin on your feet has been building up over a few years, realize that it may take a few weekly pampering pedicures to bring your feet back to softness. If feet are really rough, a pumice stone will also help. 

*Rinse foot scrub off feet. Feet can soften in the footbath for a total of about five minutes, or until water is too cool for enjoyment. Gently dry off feet with a towel. 

*While skin and nails are soft, take a few minutes to gently push back toe nail cuticles with an angled cuticle stick. Use big toe nail clippers to cut toe nails straight across. Don’t clip them too short for this can cause problems with ingrown toe nails as the cut nails grow back. 

*Now for the foot massage. If you are giving yourself a pedicure, don't skip this step. Massaging feet increases blood circulation, relaxes muscles and relieves aches and pains. Any lotion or cream will do but using a peppermint oil foot cream brings added benefits: the peppermint also promotes blood circulation in the foot, and overpowers lingering foot odor.  

*When polishing toe nails start with a clear base coat. This will help to prevent  yellowing on the toenails resulting from dark polish painted directly on the nail. Two coats of color will help the nails stay attractive for up to two weeks. Finish with a protective top coat to keep your pedicure looking great.  If you are really creative, you could add some nail art before your last top coat!

Words to Live By

ANYWAY  

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.  
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.  
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies. Succeed anyway.

 If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway.  
What you spend years building, someone may try to destroy overnight. Build anyway.  
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous. Be happy anyway.  
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow. Do good anyway.  
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough. Do it anyway.  
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God.  
It was never between you and them, anyway. - Anonymous

This seems like a great list of easy things to do to make life better for all!