Since it's the last day of the year, you're probably doing some reflecting and focusing on the year ahead.  Typically, we tend to look back at everything that didn't go as planned and make promises to make different choices for the upcoming year.  This is a solid strategy that most of us are familiar with.  But since we're close to entering into a new decade (a new era in our lives), may I offer up another alternative?

Not long ago, I wrote about focusing on "healthy drinking" when our diet isn't up to par.  Literally days after publishing the post, I was introduced to my newest healthy beverage.

While casually scrolling through Instagram stories, I happen to land on an image that featured a glowing review for a single ingredient green beverage.

In my opinion, very few experiences compare to the feeling of looking in the mirror immediately after masking.   Because masks have such a profound ability to impact the skin in such a short period of time, I've always had a love for them.

I've tried to stay abreast of the up and coming masks that appear on the scene.  'Cause you never know when you'll stumble upon something remarkable.  An interesting looking mask has been popping up on my Pinterest feed lately. What first stood out was its unique color.  Eventually, curiosity got the best of me and I just had to know more about this mysterious mask.

A couple of weeks past, and wouldn't you know it, someone shared an IG story showcasing their face covered in the elusive teal mask.

Finally, the mystery has been revealed.

My diet has been terrible lately.  I've literally allowed myself full permission to eat everything I want.  I don't say this proudly because I'm pretty ashamed of how I've behaved lately.  Not just because I know that my indiscretions have resulted in a few unwanted pounds.  But because I think about the effects of my choices on my health and vitality.

I won't be able to continue eating like this forever.  Ideally, I'd wake up tomorrow and swear off sweets and fatty foods forever!  But I know that probably won't happen.  My taste buds and cravings are already way off track.   Instead of relying on the power of my non-existent willpower,  I'm going to take a totally different approach.

I've done my fair share of hunting for amazing skin products.  At one point I stopped and asked myself,  "is it possible that instead of looking for the next best thing that I should seek out the ideal method of delivery?"

For the most part, we all apply skin care products using our hands.....and there's nothing wrong with that.  But what if we could enhance the experience (and results) by incorporating other methods that could be even more effective?

For a while now, I've been desperately on the lookout for the perfect pair of jeans.  But now, my attention has turned a bit.  Yes, I could buy another pair of jeans but would they create the same level of impact as a great pair of slacks?

A new year is fast approaching.  The upcoming year means new goals! Or perhaps you might still be working on goals that seem to be lingering around for years.  I thought about the goals that I chased for years and wondered why they remained stagnant for so long.  After a bit of reflection, I realized that all of my outstanding goals had one thing in common.

Although I seemed well versed in various law of attraction principles I still had challenges in manifesting certain outcomes.  What was confusing was that I was still manifesting wonderful things in my life, but some of my desires wouldn't budge.

What was the difference?

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In the day and age of social media, we're constantly bombarded with inspirational quotes, images, and testimonials.  In fact, a lot of these public online figures purposely utilize the strategy of living an aspirational life to draw you in. 

It's easy to crave a lifestyle that resonates with you and based on carefully crafted images.  But I want to talk about what it will take to bring that lifestyle into reality. 

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.

source

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. 

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.

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.

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.

*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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

It's July, which means we're already halfway through the year.  It's also the perfect time to check in and see how we're doing with our goals.  It's been a while since we set our goals back in January, which is why a mid-year check-in is necessary.

I've had several conversations lately with friends and acquaintances who feel unmotivated and lost.  We've all been there.  We feel like our lives aren't moving forward nor it doesn't look like the vision we have for ourselves.

If you find that you're feeling frustrated and unmotivated, here's my suggestion of what you need to do.

This winter I worked really hard to maintain a consistent habit of drink warm tea each morning.  But once warm weather arrived, that routine quickly fell by the wayside.  Lately, I've replaced my morning tea with room temperature water.  So far, this routine has been working out well for me.  But, I've recently learned that there's a way to make my morning water routine even better.