Month: September 2023

Click Here to Shop More Oribe Products

Originally posted at: Madison LeCroy’s Hair Products

There are plenty of skin products and health advice available today that it’s enough to confuse you. It’s no wonder if you’re overwhelmed.

Lotions, potions, exfoliates, botanical oils, anti-wrinkle creams, Vitamin A, E and C. It’s confusing if you don’t know what you need to care for your skin. As you grow in years, feeling beautiful naturally comes with taking good care of yourself.

Over the years, many things affected your skin, and let’s be honest, your complexion is a mirror into your health.

Your Largest Organ

Your skin is your largest organ and extremely susceptible to environmental toxins. Just consider that in a single day your organ is exposed to many elements, including pollution and chemicals.

Lifestyle habits are more important than genetics in influencing your rate of aging. But, what you put on your skin is incredibly important too.

Way too often, the actual products we use contain toxic ingredients. Chemicals not only affects the appearance of your skin, but if your body can’t eliminate the toxins, they end up getting stored in your fat cells!

The Effect of Chemicals on Your Skin

The cosmetic industry regulations are lax, so it’s no wonder that many cosmetic ingredients aren’t actually healthy.

Just think about it – anything you put on your skin is absorbed immediately into your bloodstream. That’s why it’s essential for you and your health to treat your skin correctly by using products that are chemical-free and good for you.

Detox Skin Care Products

Hundreds of toxic chemicals are added to skin care products and makeup. If you are interested in reading the full list of products, the EWG is a vital website to explore. The most common toxic ingredients you should look out for are:

• Parabens
• Phthalates
• Lead
• Petrolatum
• Octinoxate

If your products contain any of these chemicals, do yourself a favor and toss them in the trash. You don’t need these harmful chemicals in your bloodstream, and you certainly don’t need those chemicals to look beautiful.

Here are six ways that can help you look and feel beautiful naturally.

Charcoal Soap

Activated charcoal is made from coconut shells and is fantastic for your skin. The incredible thing about it is that it absorbs toxins from your body and gunk from your skin. Using soap with activated charcoal is lovely, especially when you know the toxins are being washed right down your drain.

It’s also known to be exfoliating and moisturizing. I love charcoal soap so much that I make my own and share it with others.

Drinking a Lot of Water

When it comes to water intake, how much is enough? Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day. Water naturally heals your skin and is necessary for your body to release the toxins in your bloodstream. When your liver and kidneys are hydrated, toxins flush out of your body. So – drink up!

Taking Your Vitamins

Vitamins are essential for many reasons, but when you are deficient in some – it will show up in your skin. If you don’t get enough from your food, you may run out of nutrients. Check with your doctor first, but an excellent high-quality daily multivitamin is an essential option for skin health.

Regular Exercise

Daily exercise plays a vital role in healing and detoxing your skin. You already know activity gets you breathing, which expels toxins, burns fatty tissue where toxins hide, and jumpstarts your digestive system which pushes toxic waste through your body more quickly.

Dry Brushing

Have you tried dry brushing? It’s a simple way to remove dead skin cells while stimulating your lymph system. Dry brushing plays a significant role in ridding your body of waste and toxins. Best results are noticed with a natural bristle brush used before you shower.

Brush your skin in the direction of your heart, using long strokes. Start at your feet, up your legs, hands, and arms and finally your torso. You will be amazed at how refreshing it will feel.

Epsom Salt Bath

Epsom salt is a beautiful, relaxing addition to your bath and is fantastic for your skin. The magnesium in Epsom salt increases your circulation and feeds your cells while removing waste from your skin.

The combination of Epsom salt and warm/hot water makes you sweat which also rids your body of toxins through your skin.

Luckily, there are many things you can do to make sure you are using safe products on your skin and detoxing your body at the same time. They say beauty is only skin-deep, but harmony and health go much deeper than that.

Beauty comes from deep inside – then out. One of the best ways to keep healthy is to rid your body of toxins and stop placing chemicals on your skin.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Do you read the labels on your cosmetic products? Have you heard of the harmful additives and toxins mentioned here? How do you detox your body and skin? Please share the approach that works best for you!

We have all had decades at our hands to understand exactly what foods
we like to eat. So, keeping Pooh’s point in mind, it should be easy to choose
to eat less of what we don’t like.

“Pooh always
liked a little something at 11 o’clock in the morning, and when Rabbit said,
‘Honey or condensed milk with your bread?’ he was so excited that he said,
‘Both,’ and then, so as not to seem greedy, he added, ‘But don’t bother about
the bread, please.’”

—A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

Cut Out on Foods You Don’t Enjoy

For instance, Leslie enjoys a pasta dinner, but the sauce is the
best part. Taking a smaller portion of noodles and using a little more sauce
reduces the calories she consumes by one-third or more.

Pat likes the texture and flavor of bread and mayonnaise in a
sandwich, but what’s in the middle is less important. A low-calorie option is
to substitute a stack of lettuce and a slice of tomato for the calorie-rich
meats or cheeses.

Making your sandwich topless – even PB&J – is a good
tactic if you don’t care about the bread. Cutting out a slice of bread will
save you some calories.

Identifying what you really want is an opportunity to introduce
mindful awareness into your meal planning process. It’s a strategy that pays
off twice: you get more satisfaction while you take less in.

Tasty Food Is More Satisfying

The
better your food tastes, the more fulfilling the experience of eating will be.
Just a few bites of something really delicious can be more enjoyable than a
plateful of less flavorful food. Top quality foods can be expensive, but they
are worth it if you can eat smaller portions of them and be equally satisfied.

You
also get more enjoyment from food that looks beautiful. That’s why arrangement
on the plate is such a big deal in fancy restaurants.

It
will help you take less in if you opt for quality foods and take a few extra
moments to prepare and set them out in an attractive way.

With
mindful awareness, focus on the taste and texture of each bite. Eating more
slowly helps you savor the flavor, which makes it easier to eat smaller
portions.

Helpful Hints to
Enjoy Your Meals

If
you need more practical tips, here are three that can improve your eating
habits:

Take Smaller Bites

You
get to enjoy the flavor longer when you take two or three small bites rather
than one big mouthful.

Take It Slow

Remember
to put your utensils down after each bite. Slowing the momentum of eating gives
you the time to relax and fully appreciate the flavors.

Stop Sooner

When you savor the flavor, just a few bites of a treat can
satisfy you. Save what’s left to enjoy another time.

How to Do It Every Day

See how many bites you can get from a 100-calorie portion
of one of your favorites – two, three, four, or even more.
This is a great way to maximize enjoyment of a special treat with minimum
damage and minimum guilt.

Think of five of your favorite dishes and decide what you really
want from each. Be creative in coming up with lower calorie versions. Use more
of the ingredients you like best and eliminate or reduce the rest.

If you find success with these new and improved recipes, go ahead
and create satisfying low-calorie versions of all your regular dishes at home.
When eating out, it can’t hurt to ask for substitutions that get you more of
what you really want.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

How often do you eat just to be full? Do you enjoy your food? What
can you do to make your meals tastier and to add enjoyment to this everyday
task? Please share your thoughts with our community.

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Even though the Real Housewives are known for over the top style the women are also on board with the Quiet Luxury trend. And if you’re not sure where to start, here are 5 essential quiet luxury wardrobe staples to add to your closet

Trench Coats Wide Leg Trousers Classic Sunglasses Loafers Investment Bags without Logos

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Tank / Pants / Belt / Sunglasses / Sweater / Shoes / Bracelet / Bag / Earrings

Flowy trousers are a must have for a quiet luxury closet. Pair them with a tank and a slouchy sweater worn over your shoulders, which can also be worn on and loosely tucked in. Top the look look off with classic accessories of the same tone.

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Turtleneck / Pants  / Bag / Trench / Earrings / Sunglasses / Lip Balm / Pumps

Monochromatic dressing is a major part of the quiet luxury trend. Look sleek and sophisticated in all black and layer up with a drapey trench if there is a chill in the air.

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Turtleneck / Pants / Belt / Heels / Earrings / Bracelet / Sunglasses / Bag

If you don’t love one color head to to toe pick two colors to mix to create a quiet luxury look. Combining neutrals and white or black are an easy way to stay consistent with the trend and ensure you look put together.

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Coat / Dress / Boots / Sunglasses / Earrings / Lip Balm / Bracelet / Bag

Monochromatic neutrals are a quiet luxury staple. The tones can vary slightly but be sure they all compliment each other. A structured bags, dainty bracelet, luxe leather knee high boots and pearls also add to the aesthetic.

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Sweater / Pants / Hat / Sunglasses / Watch / Shoes / Bag

Build a casual quiet luxury looks with preppier pieces like a classic, rich, ivory cable knit sweater. An unmarked hat in tan or black has also become a staple of the trend.  A dainty gold watch can also top off the look.

Click Here to Shop This Erika Girardi Inspired Look via @Shop.LTK

Originally posted at: Celebrity Inspired Quiet Luxury Looks from Saks

To feel like a queen requires neither a palace nor servants nor a big bank account. It simply means to be fully supported by the space you call your home.

Within her home, the queen has all she needs to be the best version of herself. She is the sovereign commander over her empire, from ground to ceiling.

The queen strives for the best yet is fully relaxed about the outcome. She knows who she is. She is not needy for external recognition. As a queen, she stands in her own bright light.

Does your home make you feel like a queen? Are you the commander of your realm? If not fully (yet), try these 3 inspirations and many tips on a budget.

1. Stand in Your Brightest Light. Upgrade Your Royal Smile

In terms of light sources, the famous design principle “less is more” fails completely. With light, MORE is MORE.

Place light in every corner of every room. Yes, every corner. An abundance of light sources upgrades your home territory significantly. It creates the empowering stage set for the queen in you.

What Kind of Light Sources?

Mainly mobile light sources such as table or floor lamps. Yes, you may skip ceiling light fixtures or suspension lights.

Should your home have royal light optimizing potential (meaning you don’t have enough light sources yet), there are 2 ways to approach this enlightening project:

If the queenly budget allows for “the sky is the limit” shopping, congratulations and go for it. If the budget is a natural concern: YES, YOU CAN STILL DO IT.

Light Sources on a Budget

• Shop at thrift stores, Craigslist, exchange or no-cost stores. The selection may be limited, and you may not get an expensive designer piece for free or at a great discount. But that’s OK because the first concern is with the light source, not the design.
• Shop at home! Or at someone else’s. Your attic or basement (or someone else’s) may hold forgotten treasures, all ready to assist in boosting the queen’s enlightenment.

If You Don’t Like the Light Sources You’ve Got

• Change whatever you can change. Take the lamp shade off, just use the fixture with the light bulb. Or create your own lamp shade. Keep what you’ve got (for lighting purposes) and continue looking for light sources that better fit your taste. They will show up.
• Quick fix or first aid for a not-so-terribly-attractive lamp: Hide it behind a plant, a bookshelf, a chair, the prince consort or any other larger object.

True Story: Gloria

Gloria attended my “Fix your Home, Fix your Life” workshop. A former model, with no new job offer in sight for quite a while. Gloria was sad, broke, lonely, disappointed and had put on considerable weight. She complained about not being seen by anyone anymore.

This is how she described her entrance area in a conversation we had:

“There is only one ceiling light. The light bulb has been broken for months. I have not replaced it.”

“Why not,” I asked.

“Because there is a mirror in the entry area, and I don’t want to see myself being overweight. Also, on the wall, there is a beautiful runway photograph from my model days in Paris. When I look at it, I cry. I feel that I have lost everything. So, it’s a good thing that the room is dark.”

“Isn’t it too dark, since there are no windows?”

“I don’t mind,” she replied. “I am used to it. Better than having to see the runway photo or my reflection in the mirror.”

In the course of the program, Gloria realized that darkening her present wouldn’t help her re-create the sparkling past that she was mourning over. Not to be able to see herself in full light reflected her situation in the outside world: She felt invisible.

From Invisible to “Framed in Gold”

Gloria was a smart queen. She replaced the broken light with a brighter one, put in two additional table lamps and replaced her superstar Paris photograph with a watercolour drawing by her little niece. Thus, Gloria exchanged the lost past for a resource of love in her current life. In the new light, she found out that she liked herself with her full curves.

Gloria went back to school. She started applying for side-jobs other than modelling. She proudly hung her graduation certificate in a gold frame next to her niece’s artwork. She now has a job in communications because she really likes speaking with people face-to-face.

Brighter, Larger, Happier

With light sources in every corner of your home, you will be amazed at the uplifting, cosy and abundant atmosphere. More light makes your queenly rooms smile and look larger than they are.

• A variety of light sources enables you to modulate the mood in every room for any time of day or night exactly as you wish. No need to turn every light on every time. By increasing your lighting options, you create a wider range of choices – metaphorically speaking as well. Isn’t this great news?
• The mobility of table and floor lamps helps you to adjust light sources to any specific occasion – whenever and wherever light sources are of service. Also, they are easy to move to another home.
• Unless it is a sparkling chandelier, a truly exquisite (heritage?) piece, or a thoughtfully designed built-in fixture, I recommend ditching ceiling lights. Do concentrate on corners.
• Neon lights are a no-no. Use LED lightbulbs to save money and energy. Enjoy candles in winter. They are great mood lifters and also help raise the room temperature.

The perfectly modulated light brings out the best in the queen on her own home stage. It boosts the healthy glow in the queen’s complexion and lets her power radiate out into the world.

2. Perfect Imperfection. Learn from a Shining Star: Cindy Crawford

The queen is not loved for being perfect. She is loved and appreciated for being true to herself. She dares to show her true colours, her soul’s beauty. The concept of imperfection does not disturb her inner peace.

DoesYour Home Look Like a Museum?

Is your house so perfectly arranged that a guest would feel that wherever they put their coat, bag, or themselves, they would inevitably destroy your state-of-the-art interior design equilibrium?

It’s not flawlessness or perfection that attracts us to other people. It’s the authentic, relaxed state of being, presented with grace. Make your home look lived in and liveable:

• Allow for diagonal settings. They bring in a dynamic feeling.
• No need to upholster every old armchair or sofa – as long as it is clean and smells OK. The bleached out charm of an old pattern may outshine the looks of a new one.
• Arrange chairs so they look off-placed, not rigid.
• Make that exquisite throw look like it has just been used for a cosy nap on the sofa.
• Let a beautiful old area rug unfold its unique history and character by visible signs of wear and tear. After all, you got a few wrinkles in your face – especially when you smile. They don’t take away your beauty. On the contrary, they are testimonials to your precious life journey and countless smiles. Also, people feel more welcome and comfortable walking on (or being surrounded by) objects with soul.
• Display a basket of fresh fruit on a table. Make it inviting for yourself – and guests to serve themselves – by placing napkins and plates next to it.
• Have a carafe of fresh water on a sideboard, ready with glasses. Many people prefer water at room temperature.
• Proudly let your own artwork (pottery, painting, etc.) be the shining star over your fireplace.
• Have a teapot (or a wine glass, or an open book with reading glasses) visible on a table, even when you’re not having tea.

Top model Cindy Crawford’s impeccable beauty became a unique trademark when she exposed the dark birthmark next to her mouth. Show your “flaws.” Make yourself and your guests feel welcome – and not an imposition to your perfect royal furniture arrangement.

3. Take Full Control Over Your Airspace. Up-Scent Your Home!

For practical reasons, a little sidestep to the prince consorts.

A study with male participants showed that cologne can boost male self-confidence to an amazing extent. After putting on expensive cologne, these men were photographed. Then, their photographs were shown to women who rated the images in terms of (sex) appeal.

Photographs of men without cologne were in the picture mix as well. Turned out that men with cologne were rated higher by women – without the women being exposed to the actual scent. Their judgement was strictly based on images.

The conclusion of the study: The cologne-induced high male self-esteem spoke through the photographs alone.

Sometimes, It Is the Invisible That Crowns Our Presence

Transfer the results of the above experiment to your queenly home:

• Increase your oxygen supply. Open all windows at least twice daily to bring in fresh air. Stale air is unpleasant and unhealthy. It makes a room feel stuffy and speaks of stagnation.
• Uplift your living room (or bathroom) with potted fragrant herbs: Fresh basil, rosemary, peppermint, salvia, lavender or the like. Potted herbs are very affordable and usually keep up longer than a flower arrangement. Plus: You get to use them in your kitchen!
• Display a bowl of oranges, lemons or other fruits with an intense fresh scent.
• Fill a diffuser with a pleasant fragrance. The scent of citrus fruits is said to work as an anti-depressant. Rosemary, sage and juniper are powerful disinfectants and smell wonderful. Cinnamon and cloves make for a cosy feeling in the winter months. Use only natural scents as artificial ones may give you a headache.
• Learn from real estate agents: They utilize the smell of freshly baked bread or cookies to make clients feel “at home” and encourage sales. Especially after returning from any longer absence, make yourself comfortable at your royal home by placing a batch of prebaked baguettes in the oven. Only 5 minutes will unfold the feel-good magic.
• Shop your kitchen spice rack: Bring a pot of water to boil, add orange peels, cloves and cinnamon bark. Enjoy the scent that will fill the air for hours to come. I learned this trick from my friend Tamar. She would boil cloves and cinnamon in water every time she prepared fish in her little studio apartment. It made the fish smell go away fast and outlasted it. (Well, most of the time…)

Scent Creates the Realm in Which the Queen Feels Unique

Feel-good fragrances boost our self-esteem – and that of our home: We attach ambient scents to the space we experience it in. This is why there is a whole industry of branding scents. Especially luxury brands or hotels use custom made signature scents to create a recognizable fragrance experience that their customers instantly feel “familiar” with.

What do we learn from luxury brands? A scent helps to discern us from the outside world.

• Do you have a signature scent, a favorite eau de cologne or parfum that speaks of you even after you have left a room? A special fragrance can derive from your favorite skin care. It embraces your personality like a precious cashmere shawl. You will be recognized by it.
• Your royal fragrance doesn’t need to be by Chanel or custom made for you. A high quality natural lavender, rose or juniper scent may create and crown your unique air space.
• Generously place your favorite fragrant soap bars in your wardrobe, your bed linen and towel cabinets etc. Every time you open cabinet doors or drawers, a lovely subtle scent will fill the air. The fragrance will also attach itself to your clothes, bed linen and towels, making them extra pleasurable to wear or use. Some fragrances (like lavender) even help to keep moths at a safe distance.

Remember that a feel-good scent creates the realm in which the queen feels unique and at her best, and is where she walks in grace.

Let’s Have a Discussion:

Have you felt the queen inside of you lately? Is your home your best stage set for the queen in you? Share your story. Let´s talk about what boosts our self-confidence.