How to Make the Next Decade The Best One Yet!

 I can't believe summer is almost over.  Since we're now in the back half of the year, I thought it would be a great time to do some reflection.  What makes this year interesting is that it marks the end of a decade.  A new decade is like the start of a new era.  I don't know about you but I want the next 10 years to be even better than the last.

So how do we make that happen?

The Ordinary's Salicylic Acid Clay Mask is Coming for Your Acne Breakouts

I love clay masks. But, instead of using them regularly, I find myself reaching for masks only when their service is needed.  Typically that means that my skin is ultra congested or I have a few breakouts that need to be addressed immediately. 

The clay masks I own are pretty good.  But they aren't at the level they need to be.  What I truly want is a clay mask that contains active ingredients that address multiple skin concerns at once.  Thankfully, the folks at The Ordinary have the ability to read minds.  'Cause they just launched an affordable mask that has the power to transform your skin.

This is How to Still Enjoy Carbs on Your Weight Loss Journey.

There's this girl I follow on social media.  She's a successful entrepreneur who's constantly growing her brand. Although I don't follow her very closely, I can say that she's had an amazing journey over the years.  But, there's one thing I notice....every so often she's discussing a new diet plan to help shed some of her excess weight. 

One time she consumed mainly vegetable juices.  Recently she decided to go keto.  But the last time I visited her page, it seemed as if simple carbs had entered back into her life in a big way.

I don't fault her. Carbs are a tough food group to eliminate.  They're filling, satisfying and taste so good.  It's nearly impossible to give up carbs long term. But losing a decent amount of weight requires some form of carb management.   Since the keto diet is so popular, many are opting for carb elimination.  Eliminating carbs works!  But is almost 100% temporary.

You will reintegrate carbs back into your life....and you will likely gain all the weight back once you do.  The true key to weight success, in my opinion, requires carb management, not carb elimination. 

Here's Why Body Balms Are Your Next Must Have Beauty Purchase.

Sometime last year I started to amass a small collection of balms.  Not lip balms, the kind that comes in little canisters meant to be used on the body.  I bought them 'cause I knew it was the right thing to do.  But, honestly, I had no clear purpose for them.  Because I didn't really think of how to put them to use, they pretty much just sat around.

Now I'm realizing that I'm allowing potentially great products to go to waste but I can't let that happen. So I did a little brainstorming today and came up with a bunch of specific ways to utilize body balms in my beauty routine.

The Best Selling Sheet Mask in the World is Finally Available in the US!

Even though  I talk about sheets masks incessantly on this blog, I don't really use them all that frequently.  My sheet masks are pretty much "out of sight, out of mind" until winter."  Heck, I didn't even bring any with me on a recent trip to California.  I figured that since we're in the middle of summer, my normal moisturizer would suffice.

Wrong.  I was completely wrong.

That extra-long flight combined with lowered humidity really dried out my skin.  Luckily, a friend randomly offered to share some sheet masks she picked up on a trip to Japan.  Thanks to her intervention, my skin was saved.  Once again I made a verbal commitment to never forsake my sheet masks again.  This was perfect timing as I just learned that the 1# selling sheet mask brand in all of Korea has finally launched in the US.

Rave! Meet My New Favorite Beauty Accessory.

When it comes to summer, one thing I really hate is how the hot, humid weather messes with my skin.  My skin gets really congested thanks to all of the oil production, dirt, and dead skin working together to ruin my life. 

One solution that I'm using this summer to address this problem is a nifty little beauty accessory that's been a total lifesaver.

Daily Muscle Activation // A Key Anti-Aging Strategy

Today I want to talk about a really important topic.  I've discussed this before but it's time to bring the conversation back once again.  As I prepare to celebrate another birthday, I've made a commitment to incorporate wellness habits that will serve me well as I age.

I mentioned in the article on lymph massage that I've been on a mini-weight loss journey.  As of this morning, I've lost 5lbs.  Pretty good right?  As the weight comes off, one thing becomes increasingly clear. My body is changing.  Yes, it's getting smaller....but something else is happening behind the scenes.

I'm losing muscle.  And I've been doing so for over a decade. Sure, I'm able to fit in the same pair of jeans that I wore years ago, but my body composition is now very different.  Although I'm considered a slim person, I'm fattier than I used to be.

I'm not fat per se,
I'm fatty.
Does that make sense?

Manifesting Everything You Desire in Your Spare Time

When I was younger, I noticed that television commercials would urge viewers to develop skills to launch a new career in their spare time.  They made it seem so easy to earn a degree simply by reallocating excess time.  The idea of taking on a huge undertaking in just a few minutes a day didn't seem realistic.  

But, this morning I read about a manifestation story that completely supports the theory of changing your entire life....in your spare time. This guy was able to impact his life in a major way.  He did so by supplementing his day with activities that attract abundance.  Thanks to his efforts, he was able to manifest "a ton of money."  

Let's talk more about what he did and how we too can manifest in our spare time.

Mirroring Your Muse. The Process That Led to My Glo Up

One of the most popular articles I've written was that time I shared how I became pretty and it changed my life.  To this day, that has been one of the most effective experiments I've ever done.  Today I want to touch a bit more on the process I took to actually facilitate my glow up. 

There's an At-Home Device That Injects Hyaluronic Acid Directly into the Skin without Needles

Hyaluronic acid is great.  I've written several articles on how much  I adore this moisture-inducing powerhouse.  I've even amassed a small collection of wonderful hyaluronic acids products that do a wonderful job of moisturizing.   Applying hyaluronic acid topically is pretty awesome but there are a slew of folks out there who swear by HA injectibles to create the look of firmer skin and ward off wrinkles.

For most people, HA-based fillers are expensive and unattainable.  Others aren't comfortable with injecting fillers into their skin.  If you fall within one of these two categories, you may want to pay close attention to what I have to share.

Using the "If/Then" Strategy to Help You Reach Your Goals.

Let's face it, going after your goals isn't easy.  We start off with good intentions but have a tough time following through.  I can't tell you how many times I've made huge plans concerning what I'd love to accomplish in a week. But when Friday rolls around, a lot is left undone.

Actually, I do get stuff done, but I often struggle with incorporating NEW habits into my routine.

 Can you relate?

One reason why I often make little progress when it comes to tackling new challenges is because there's no contingency plan in case things don't go as expected.  Thankfully, I've stumbled on a solution.  It was developed by a psychologist who theorized a goal achievement method that produced a high rate of success.   I love this method because it's super easy and we can all start implementing it today!

The All Natural Alternative to Silicone that Your Hair's Been Waiting For.

Summer is in full gear which means that I'm now dealing with my arch nemesis--humidity-induced frizz.  Every summer I dream of wearing strappy sundresses and bouncy flexi rod curls.  And every year my plans are foiled thanks to super moist air.  In a short amount of time, my pretty curls mutate into a frizzy mess.

As I search for solutions, one suggestion that keeps popping up over and over again are silicone laden serums.  That's because they provide an excellent barrier against moisture.  Essentially, silicones can help keep the moisture in the air from penetrating the hair follicle.  But, on the flip side, 'cones are notorious for promoting product buildup. That same layer of protection that prevents frizz can also create a "plastic-like" layer on the hair keeping your moisturizing products from working as intended.

Silicones have been on the market forever and everyone knows about their drawbacks. So I wondered if there an alternative to silicone had been discovered.  Much to my surprise, I learned that an all-natural, plant-based silicone like oil already exists.

This Vitamin Helps Your Skin Glow while Accelerating Fat Loss.

Summer is officially in full swing.  One thing I'm obsessing about this summer is having glowing skin.  Obviously, I'll make sure to use products to combat acne.  But, what I'm really trying to do is create skin that radiates from the inside out. 

How do I plan on doing that?  By implementing a nutritional supplement that most people aren't thinking about when summer rolls around.  Not only will this vitamin give me brighter, healthier looking skin, it can also help me reach my summer body goals as well. 

I recently reimplemented this supplement into my routine and I feel like I'm already noticing the effect.  It got me so excited that I just had to write about it.

Lymphatic Massage Update // Weight Loss & Other Benefits

Yesterday was the second installment in a series of lymphatic massages that booked after seeing the transformational power of these wellness treatments.  I actually didn't intend on booking a series, but after my first experience, I had to go back for more.

Now that I've multiple experiences, I'd like to share some updates on the benefits I've received thus far.

Feature// An Aesthetician Explains How Chemical Peels Are the Key to Perfect Skin.

I'm a sucker for amazing before and after skin transformation pics.  So when I stumbled on an Instagram story featuring a woman's skin that seemed to win the battle of hyperpigmentation, I stopped in my tracks.  The pictures were shared by a someone I followed and interacted with in the past so I immediately sent a DM.  

Turns out, the images belonged to a client. My curiosity peeked.  After a few follow up questions, I realized that she was very knowledgeable of the skin care questions I was throwing her way.   Eventually, I asked the obvious...."are you an esthetician?"  Once she confirmed that skin care was her job, I immediately got excited and mustered up the courage to ask she would answer some skin care related questions....specifically on the topic of hyperpigmentation and how to address it.

If you're curious about the most effective method to even-toned skin.  Keep reading.