The Beauty Essentials You Should Be Keeping In Your Office Drawer.

When I got my first real job in corporate America, I couldn't wait to work my butt off and climb the ladder to success.  Working towards promotions meant taking on more responsibilities which also translated to more stress.

I remember coming home, some days, looking like I had gone through it.  Once I realized what was happening, I decided to put a stop to it. I had to devise a strategy to keep me looking polished & refreshed all throughout the workday.  

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I made a few changes to my workday routine and it made a world of difference!  This was years ago. If I were to go back into the workforce, I'd make it a priority to execute a mini-beauty and wellness routine throughout the workday.  

Here are just a few beauty habits that I'd incorporate.

Beyonce Has Mastered The Anti-Aging Makeup Look....Let's Discuss

Remember when you were younger and you couldn't wait to start wearing makeup.  It seems like nowadays younger girls are highly skilled at makeup application thanks to the beauty guru boom on Youtube.  Many of the self-taught, self-proclaimed makeup artists were wearing a full face beat while still in their teens.  They're able to get away with it because their youthful faces, combined with layers of makeup, created an interesting contrast. 

They'll soon realize that once they enter their 30's and beyond, a full face of heavy contoured makeup will have the opposite effect that it once had.  I'm starting to notice that celebrity women who are no longer in their 20s are leaning towards "no-makeup-makeup."  The reason for this is because everyone looks younger when wearing a fresh face. 

Recently, Beyonce released a series of images to celebrate another year of life.  In one pic in particular, she looked much younger than her age.  I'm sure photo was retouched to show Beyonce in her best light.  But that doesn't take away from the fact that Beyonce has perfected the clever strategy of using barely there makeup looks to appear forever youthful. 

You've OverIndulged on Sweets...Now What?

Although I don't have as much of a sweet tooth as I used to, overindulging on sweets is still very much a concern for me.  I noticed that, as I get older, my body doesn't respond to sugar the same way it used to.  Once upon a time, I could feast on sugar confections without having to worry about gaining weight, enduring any sugar crashes or headaches.  Nowadays, I really feel the effects of consuming too much sugar.

My theory is that, as we get older, our cells aren't as efficient at properly removing the high levels of sugar from the bloodstream.  Simply put, the older we get, the more obvious the consequences from a sugar overload.  I'm not ready to give up all sugar just yet, so I asked myself if there's anything I can do to minimize the negative impacts of sugar on the body. 

I came up with a few strategies that can really help word off some of the worst side effects of too much sugar.

How To Turn Your Daily Cup of Tea into the Ultimate Anti-Aging, Beauty Brew.

Not long ago, I shared a timely reminder from Halle Berry to incorporate a certain food into your diet as a part of your anti-aging and beauty regimen. Her favorite youth-inducing food just happens to be bone broth.  I'm sure Halle consumes lots of freshly brewed bone broth on a routine basis.  Bone broth advocates recommend that we indulge in this superfood every day.

That's a wonderful idea in theory but is it practical?

I love a homemade cup of broth as much as the next guy but it's really time-consuming.  After spending a few moments in reflection, I think I finally came up with a suitable alternative that will easily allow me to get my dose of collagen every day.

Work Hard, Play Hard. The Recipe for a Successful Life?

I spent the better part of yesterday binge watching vlogs of a young couple who have a 7 figure net worth.  Their wealth comes from a variety of sources.  He was once a professional extreme sports athlete that drew endorsements from well-known brands. He then went on to launch a successful travel bag company.  She's a high earning influencer with over 1 million followers.

Their daily vlogs share a glimpse of their lifestyle.  I'm sure that most of their audience tune in to see their luxury lifestyle and travel adventures.  I took the opportunity to look for what I call "success clues."  I wanted to find any takeaways that I could apply to my own life.

Therapeutic Hobbies That Cost Less Than Your Psychologist

*Guest Post Written by SL Thomas of http://BeautyBiche.com
Founder of https://TheBICHE.com "The Beauties In Color Here Everyday"
Instagram: iamslthomas*

There's no shame in admitting that we don’t feel our best 24-7. Some days we are excited to get up and start the day and other days we can feel our energy level and ability to smile more difficult than it seems. “Smile, it isn’t that bad” someone says. All you're thinking is, 'How can I smile when life keeps throwing me monkey wrenches?' But guess what? Those people are correct. Life really isn't that bad when you think about it because every circumstance is temporary.

After reading multiple self-help articles and quick therapy sessions with psychologists in the office break rooms, I've learned that the best form of therapy is engaging in hobbies that you love. When you do what you love, it takes your mind off of the areas of life that cannot be controlled. That being said here are my top 4 endorphin releasing hobbies that could almost count as therapy.

[style obsession.] The Above Ankle Length Dress

A section of my closet is dedicated to a small collection of maxi dresses that I've collected over the years.  For some reason, I'm drawn to them.  Once I find one that fits, I'm pretty much going to buy it.

So now I own a decent amount of maxi dresses that I barely wear. I couldn't figure out why I suddenly lost interest in my beloved dresses...until now.

Quench Your Hair's Thirst With This Ultimate Moisture Mister

Fall is still several weeks away but I'm already thinking about how much I'm not looking forward to the drier air. At first, the lower humidity feels like a much needed break from sweltering temperatures. Eventually,  I'll start to notice the effects of the dropping humidity as my skin and hair begin to suffer.

I know what's coming so I'm planning ahead.  This year, I'm a little less apprehension about maintaining moisture levels in my hair because I've just stumbled on a product that moisturizes my hair like none other.

Leverage. The Key to Your Financial Breakthrough

 

Now that I've entered a new decade in life, I find myself thinking more about my financial future.  Recently, I was reminded of a conversation I had with a former co-worker which may hold the key to my next breakthrough.

She shared her words of wisdom during a time when her job position was in jeopardy.  After working for the company for nearly a decade, she was about to be fired with very little notice.  Instead of being overcome with feelings of uncertainty and anxiety at the thought of losing her job, she was filled with a sense of peace.  Before her last day, she explained that she was looking forward to having her life back.  When I asked how she was able to be so positive about this transition she said the following "if you have an apple tree, you have to make sure that you plant some of the seeds back in the ground so you can always have more apples."  I knew exactly what she was referring to.  It was an illustration to explain that it was foolish to spend an entire paycheck without setting aside money for the future.

I'm a pretty decent saver.  So I didn't really view her advice as new information. I've always saved a portion of my earnings for a rainy day.  But, then I realized that her planting seeds analogy could have an even more powerful meaning.

Go To Bed Greasy with this and Wake Up with Even Toned Skin

It won't be long until fall arrives again.  Soon we won't have the luxury of high humidity summers to help keep our skin soft and supple.  We'll have to gravitate to oils and other emollients to help seal in moisture.

One of my favorite traditions for fall and winter is to practice the habit of going to bed greasy  to wake up somewhat hydrated.  Going to bed greasy is a foolproof way to keep the skin looking healthy and young. But it's time to level up by using oils that can actually address skin concerns.

Halle Berry's Secret to Eternal Youth is Finally Revealed!

A couple of winters ago, I went public with my newfound love for an up and coming superfood.  Unlike most superfoods on the market, this one isn't an exotic fruit found natively in an exotic jungle.  Arguably, it's one of the most nutrient dense superfoods known to man.

Bone broth has lots to offer from a nutritional support perspective.  What's interesting is how bone broth is emerging as one of the most powerful anti-aging foods available. You'll be hearing a lot more about bone broth now that one of the most beautiful women in the world swears by it as her beauty secret.

[lifestyle design.] How My Friend Quit Her Job and Traveled to 9 Countries in a Year.

A longtime friend and I were catching up one day when she informed me of some exciting news.  Her friend, Kisha, made the life-changing decision to quit her high paying career to travel the world while building her business.  I was overcome with joy after hearing the news.  I had spoken with Kisha a few times and knew of her desire to leave corporate life. 

Once Kisha aid goodbye to her high-level marketing position, she jetted off to Africa.  I assumed that she would only be there for a little while before returning to the states to launch her marketing company.  I was wrong.  Over the course of a year, her getaway turned into an adventure.  I followed along on Instagram as she traveled from country to country meeting fellow entrepreneurs while experiencing the local culture.  The more I followed her journey from afar, the more I wanted to know the intimate details of how to live a life of travel while building a brand.

I felt compelled to reach out to her for an interview after speaking with another woman who expressed an interest in living a similar lifestyle.  I think many of us would like to experience long-term travel at some point. But that type of lifestyle may seem out of reach.  That's exactly why I reached out to Kisha to see what we can learn from her experience. 

Advice from a Millionaire: Create "Unique Emotion" Experiences.

A couple of weekends ago, I invested a little time into watching videos on YouTube that featured wealthy individuals.  I'm not talking about the nouveau-riche that put on the illusion of wealth. I'm talking about people who have experienced true financial success (long-term).

In one video, a guy driving an ultra high-end luxury car was stopped on the street for an impromptu interview to find out what he did for a living.  Interestingly enough, the guy never answered the question.  Instead, he offered his philosophy that may offer us a clue as to what some wealthy people do to attract this type of lifestyle.

Your Exfoliating Acid Toners Are Useless Without These.

If I had to give props to one type of product that has saved my skin this summer, I have to shout out exfoliating acids.  If you have hyperactive skin like me, you're shooting yourself in the foot if you don't have a few acid based products in your arsenal.

In my opinion, the easiest way to incorporate skin beautifying acids into your regimen is acidic toners.  With just a few swipes, you can remove dirt/oils, unclog pores, and help minimize discoloration.

 Glowing skin isn't possible unless exfoliation is part of your routine.   This summer, I relied heavily on acid toners to help keep breakouts at bay. The products I had on deck were decent but I didn't experience their full potential until I paired them with the perfect accessory.

The Brightening Mask That Draya Michelle Recommended to Olivia Culpo

Whenever a random beauty secret is revealed on Instagram, I always grab a quick snapshot to refer to later.  The beauty reveals that get me most excited are the ones that appear to be genuine favorites people swear by.

The one I recently captured is a bit exciting because this influencer, Olivia Culpo, claims that she started using the product thanks to the recommendation of reality star Draya Michelle.  This really peaked my interest. I assume that if Draya is telling others, it's because she's absolutely loving her results.

Always Be Creating // The Mantra That Will Change the Direction of Your Life

I've been practicing the law of attraction for over a decade. Over the course of those 10 years, I've tried out a bunch of different LOA techniques.  Some just seem to work better for me than others.  I'd like to share one of my favorite methods with you today.

The tactic I'm referring to is pretty simple. So simple that it's very easy to forget.  When I do forget to apply this method, I often find that things quickly go south. I clearly recall the first time I ever realized the importance of this technique.  It was during a time when it seemed like everything that could go wrong, was.  For weeks, my mind was consumed with replaying every detail of the undesirable situations that invaded my life.

Then, one day out of the blue.  I decided to try something different.

[Video] The Face Fitness Treatment That Will Keep You Young Forever

You guys know that I'm huge fan of alternative anti-aging treatments.  Too much filler and botox will have the face looking unnatural.  Instead, I prefer to explore options that help preserve the look of youth for as long as possible.

I believe that the underlying cause of facial aging is the change that occurs in our facial muscles, bones, and skin.  Unfortunately, most products and procedures on the market only focus on improving the look of the skin.  This approach is a tad bit incomplete because it completely ignores the importance of maintaining a strong foundation to support the skin.

 Until recently, not many people touched on the subject of maintaining a strong facial muscle tone as a solid anti-aging strategy.  But now the news is out and one beauty spa is making it their mission to address facial aging from a fitness perspective.

Kahlana Barfield Revealed the Brand of Her Signature Red Lip

When I first discovered Kahlana a couple of years ago, I had no idea that she was a Beauty Editor at Large for one of the biggest Style Magazines.  Honestly, I thought she was just a woman with amazing style.

The first thing that drew my eye to Kahlana was her bold red lip that was one of the main elements that make up her signature look.  Kahlana's makeup is typically understated. Her skin is flawless so she highlights her favorite feature, her lips, in a stunning red shade.  

Since she' able to wear a red lip so effortlessly,  I always wondered which brand she chose as her holy grail red lipstick.

5 Skin Actives that are Taking My Skin to the Next Level

After sharing an image on my Instagram story of my favorite new skincare accessory, I received messages asking to share details on which actives I've experimented with.  The list is currently a work in progress but so far, I'm happy with the results thus far.

I'm going to continue to experiment with various raw ingredients but these are the one's that are currently in rotation.

The Tiny Beauty Accessory That's Transforming My Skin Routine.

The older I get, the more I realize that I need to stay on top of my skin regimen.  I've decided to really focus on products and ingredients that truly have the ability to impact my skin.  Instead of purchasing a bunch of new products, I've decided to take on a completely different strategy.

Basically, it involves enhancing my current favorite products so they become even more powerful. How do I do that?  With one simple tool that elevates even the most mediocre of skin products.