FOTD// the Blushing Lip.

For the past few months, I've been on the lookout for the ultimate pink lip stick.  One that matched my skin so beautifully that it didn't even look like I was wearing lip color. My intention was to procure the ultimate product that could enhance the look of my natural lip while creating a beautiful blush pink tone.

When fall rolls around, everyone starts to break out their wine and burgundy lip shades.  I have something else in mind.  What if, instead of reaching for our dark rouge matte lipsticks, we try a soft pink lip for winter?

Working At this Time Creates The Most Optimal Fat Burn.

For years now I've struggled with finding a way to work out consistently.  I think one of the issues is that I haven't really set aside a dedicated time to exercise on a regular basis.  I've dabbled in working out in the mornings, as an afternoon pick me up, and sometimes at the end of the day.

Thanks to a study published in 2017, I now realize that not all workout times are created equal. It turns out that workouts, when done at a certain time of day, actually have the power to greatly crank up your fat burning abilities.

Why Black Radiance's Lip Sculptor is One of My Favorite Beauty Finds

I haven't made too many beauty purchases in 2018, but if I were to identify my favorites, included in the list would be Milk Makeup's hydrating oil stick, products from Body Shop's vitamin C line and Black Radiance's Perfect Tone HD Lip Sculptor.

The HD Lip Sculptors were purchased on a whim.  I just happened to be at a drug store and thought I'd check out their makeup selection. When I saw the sculptors, something deep down inside urged me to take the plunge.  As I left the store, I was under the impression that I  purchased just another lip product. Little did I know that I was in possession of a product that would revolutionize my lipstick routine.

Try This// The 30 Day Feel Good Manifesting Process

We're entering the last month of the year. Ready to try an experiment?  This could be the experiment that could possibly change your life.  I make this bold claim because this exact process was able to change the life the man who faithfully practiced it. 

I tried an experiment that was very similar to this and achieved extraordinary results.  Now, I'm ready to do it again. This time, I'll be more consistent throughout the duration of the 30 days.  This guy's process was a bit more systematic than mine. As a result, he was able to manifest masterfully. 

If you're with me on trying out this 30-day Feel Good Manifestation challenge, here's exactly what we're going to do for the next 30 days.

May I Introduce You to the Toner of Your Dreams?

For decades, I've suffered from a skin condition that causes excessive flakiness and peeling all over my face and scalp.  It got so bad at one point that I actually sought the help of a dermatologist to address the issue once and for all.   Unfortunately, he wasn't able to provide me any valid strategies to treat the condition.

Sometime later, I stumbled on an all natural solution in the form of apple cider vinegar.  For years, ACV has been my daily toner. The acidic nature of apple vinegar is exactly what my skin needed.  Throughout the years, I've been able to manage my seborrheic dermatitis as long as I relied on the healing properties of ACV.

This past weekend, I stumbled on a possible alternative toner that may be even more amazing for my skin.

EVERYONE Swears By These Two Products To Eliminate Breakouts + Acne Scars

One of my favorite pastimes is scrolling through my Pinterest feed. There, I immerse myself in endless amounts of inspiration.  But, sometimes, I come across valuable content.  My favorites are the beauty secret reveals. Whenever one shows up, I take note and move on.

But, every so often, the same recommendation will pop up from several different sources.  That's when I sit up in my seat and take notice.

Today, I bring to you one such example of a little-known beauty secret that comes highly recommended.

Could This Be The Reason For Your Dark Under Eye Circles?

While shopping not too long ago, I happened to catch a glimpse of myself in a brightly lit mirror only to discover that my worst nightmare had occurred.  Starring back at me were tired looking eyes with visibly dark under eye circles.  At first, I didn't know what to think. Should I chalk it up to age?  Is this something that automatically happens once a person enters their 40's? 

Eventually, I was at peace with knowing that I could never leave the house again without undereye concealer.  But then I wondered if there was something else at play.  Could there have been another reason why suddenly my under eyes looked the way they did?

How Shorter Days Offer A Huge Advantage in Raising Our Productivity.

I'm not a fan of fall daylight savings. Everyone is excited about the extra hour of sleep while I mourn the loss of our longer days.  In my mind, shorter days equates to a loss of productivity.  There's less time to get everything done.

This year, instead of getting bummed out about losing several hours of sunlight, I'm going to take a different approach.   If done right, we might actually be able to leverage these shorter days to get a ton more accomplished...and I'll tell you exactly how to do that.

How Obsessing Over Moisture Might Be A Winning Anti-Aging Strategy.

I just shared an article detailing the results of a study conducted to determine the technique that created the highest moisture retention over the course of 8 hours.  It turns out that the most effective method of long-term moisturization involved the repeated application of product every couple of hours.

This makes total sense. But to some, it may sound unreasonable or inconvenient.  But what if I told you that at least one celebrity over 50 swears by this method to help keep her looking amazing.

Study Reveals the Exact Method to Keep Your Skin Hydrated Longer.

We're getting incredibly close to the dryest time of the year....winter.  Every year I suffer through the discomfort of dealing with excessively dry skin.  But, this year, things will be different.  I'm already planning a detailed strategy way ahead of time.  And, thanks to the findings of a recent study, I just may have another way to keep my skin's moisture levels exactly where they need to be.

If you aren't doing so already, chances are that you'll be layering products this winter in order to experience maximum hydration levels.  Layering products is great but is it the most effective technique?

The Fall Drink that Helps You Keep Your Summer Body.

Tis the time of year when we start to notice a shift in the types of beverages we consume.  Instead of reaching ice cold water, our cravings are leaning towards warmer, more festive drinks.

Last fall, I really got into drinking a lot of tea.  I also developed a love for warm matcha lattes.  There's a slew of benefits associated with drinking matcha tea but I recently learned of another benefit that might convince me to become a daily matcha drinker.

Rave// The Product Line I'm Counting on to Even Out My Skin

Last year, I connected with a PR agency that sent me a bunch of products from the Body Shop.  I hadn't used Body Shop products in years so it was nice to get reacquainted.  The first set of gifts I received were a wide range of masks.  That was when I was first introduced to their Himalayan Charcoal mask which, in my opinion, is the perfect GlamGlow dupe.

Their masks were incredible but I wasn't expecting to fall completely in love with their vitamin C sunscreen.  It was the only sunscreen I owned that made my skin look better.  Once I squeezed the last bit of product from that tube, I immediately rushed to replace it.  Little did I know that the rest of their vitamin C line would completely steal my heart.

Do Something That Sucks! How To Fight The Resistance That Holds You Back.

We're close to entering the last 60 days of the year.  This is the perfect time to do a little reflection on those goals that we set months ago.  Two months is more than enough time to get hyperfocused and make huge progress on manifesting our intentions.

But, in order to make up for lost time, we have to utilize a certain strategy.  This strategy, when applied properly, can completely change everything.

7 Ways to Use this Most Perfect Product to Create "Crazy Soft Skin!"

Months ago, I walked into Sephora with one plan in mind...to find the perfect skin highlighter that would give me the most natural glow.  My current collection of highlighters all have some type of golden tint.  The product I wanted would contain no glitter or shimmery hue.  What I had in mind was a product that would replicate the look of dewy skin.

Before walking in, I said a silent prayer to myself in hopes that the sales rep would know exactly what I wanted.  The first person I spoke to was no help.  Lucky for me, she enlisted the help of a peer who led me to the product of my dreams.

Friday Feeling // How to Prepare for Your Best Weekend Ever!

Fridays are the best part of the week.  What makes them so great is their association with a potentially awesome weekend.  You're off for two days and you have complete freedom over the next 48 hours.  Friday is the perfect time to make plans....better yet, Fridays are perfect for setting intentions.

The reason why we want to be intentional is because those 48 hours will fly by.  On Sunday night, you want to feel refreshed & rejuvenated before the start of the new week.  Let's talk about how to do that.

Model Leomie Anderson has Poreless Skin Because of This....

I was scrolling through my phone, checking out old pics, when I came across some screenshots I captured from Leomie Anderson's IG story.  I hadn't seen these pics in a while and I was once again blown away by how flawless her skin was. 

As I zoomed into the pictures for a closer look, I was absolutely astounded by how poreless her skin was.  Not one flaw in sight.

Of course, the next thought that came to mind to dissect her skincare routine.  As luck would have it, there are at least two videos online detailing her skin reggie.  Years ago, before becoming a Victoria Secret Angel,  Leomie shared a skin favorites video on her little known YouTube channel.  The most recent video has a much higher production value but her regimen has pretty much stayed the same.

After analyzing her skin routine, I realize that her perfect skin isn't really just a result of hitting the genetics jackpot.  She uses a few specific products that work hard for her skin.

You vs. You. [The Art of Overcoming Mediocrity.]

Happy Monday! Ready to start a new week?  Today marks the beginning of a new month but chances are that not much has changed in your life from last month and the one prior.  I can say this with confidence because I believe that most of us (including myself)  are operating in a state of mediocrity. 

That statement might offend some folks.  But, if you fully digested this message, you would probably agree with me.  When most of us think of the word mediocrity, we often associate it with a negative connotation.  It's viewed so negatively that we rarely think of our lives as mediocre.  I'm here to explain why & how you are living a mediocre life and exactly how to break free of it.

How to Make Your Paper Sheet Mask Perform Like a Fancy Hydrogel

Cold, dry weather will be here before we know it.  If you're like me, you're already planning to tackle dry skin with the help of a hydrating sheet mask.  Have you noticed that sheet masks have been evolving lately? It appears that the paper-based masks are being replaced for ones made of gel.

These newer masks are often referred to as hydrogel.  At first glance, you can easily spot the difference between these and their paper-based counterparts.  I made the correct assumption that gel masks would probably run a bit steeper than your run of the mill sheet mask.  After contemplating whether I should invest in a few gel masks, I realized that I already discovered a sheet mask hack that could work even better.

Three Ways to Walk for Flatter Abs

In an ideal world, I'd be able to get to the gym 3-4 times a week.  But sometimes my schedule doesn't permit. Whether we work out regularly or never make it to the gym, there is on exercise that all of us do every day.  And that is walking.

You may not think of walking as a legit exercise but there are countless testimonials on Youtube that paint a different story.  There are entire weight loss journeys based on the simple premise of getting fit one step at a time.  Today, come to you with additional strategies that transform every day walking into a tummy trimming workout.

This is how I exfoliate my scalp now....and it's magnificent!

The moment when summer transitions into to fall, I'm hit with the realization that soon I will be battling my greatest enemy--dryness.  Low humidity weather hates me!   My skin gets obscenely dry and itchy. My lips are dry, my cuticles are dry.  But none of that compares to the level of dryness that occurs to my scalp.

I don't just experience dry scalp.  Low humidity weather actually causes my seborrheic dermatitis to flare up.  This type of dermatitis induces the skin to peel on the face.  Worst of all, it completely takes over my scalp.  Think of it like a bad case of dandruff...on crack.

My hairline usually suffers the most.  It gets so bad that I lose hair around the area where flaking is present.  Typically, the hair loss isn't permanent but who walks to walk around with a sparse hairline?

This year, I'm not having none of that! I've come up with an ingenious plan to keep my scalp as healthy as possible this fall & winter.