Making My Very Own "BB Cream"

The hype over BB creams has been absolutely insane lately. Almost every major cosmetic brand and even some smaller ones have jumped on the coveted BB train; some brands have even gone so far as to re-package their already existing foundations and tinted moisturizers as BB creams. Crazy right? Well what if I told you that making your very own BB cream was as easy as combining some of the products that are already present in your makeup drawer?

If you're new to the BB craze, here's a little backstory. BB creams originated in Asia as an all-in-one or multi-purpose beauty product, the purpose being to make your skin look flawless by using less individual products, therefore saving you both time and money. These traditional BB creams contain foundation, sunblock, moisturizer, primer and sometimes a serum and some sort of skin whitening agent. The one flaw? They come in an EXTREMELY limited shade range, only two different shades at the very most. Naturally, once the BB craze came to America, the limited shades had to change and that's where everything else changed as well. American "BB creams" are hugely different from the original ones, to the point that they are really just tinted moisturizers and nothing more. They often don't contain any of the ingredients that made the original BB's so famous. Now, that doesn't mean that they're bad products, they just aren't on the same level that BB creams are known for.

As a person with dark acne scars, I've always been intrigued by BB creams but since I don't wear foundation they were a no for me. I do however use moisturizer, primer and pore filler so why not combine them? And that my friends is how it all started, my very own BB cream for my skintone and skin needs with no shopping or trying out additional products needed.

Please excuse my dry hands!

Always start with clean hands and materials! You can make this mixture in a jar, on a palette or the back of your hand. I don't have specific ingredient amounts, everything is completely custom and the amounts depend on what you specifically need for your skin.

Step 1: Start with your everyday moisturizer. I used my AHAVA Time To Hydrate and since I have combination to dry skin, I used more moisturizer than any other ingredient.

Step 2: Add your foundation. Since I don't use foundation, I used my trusty NYX Pore Filler which is tinted.

Step 3: Add your primer. The NYX Pore Filler is already considered a primer but for the extra oomph I added a bit of Smashbox Photo Finish (clear).

Step 4: Adding a serum. This is completely optional. I prefer my "BB cream" with just steps 1, 2 and 3 but, if you want to stick with the traditional route of using a serum, I added just a touch of my Philosophy Miracle Worker Anti-Aging Serum. I prefer my mixture without this because it's a lot less heavy.

Step 5: Adding SPF/Sunblock.This step is also completely optional. If neither your moisturizer or foundation contain SPF, you can add a touch of sunblock.

Step 6: Mix well.

So there you have it, I made my very own custom BB with ingredients that I already owned, used and were familiar with. The greatest thing is that no matter what ingredients or products that you use for your own mixture, you have peace of mind knowing exactly what you're using and you have the freedom to control the amount of everything. The final result of me using steps 1, 2 and 3 was a very light, silky mixture that made my skin look flawless and feel incredibly soft. Try it and see what works best for you!

As with anything, take caution and if any irritation occurs, stop.

Much love xo

Is Your Conditioner Lacking?

Hi lovelies! I know all too well how difficult the search is for a really great conditioner, and not only that, but one that doesn't break the bank. We've all bought them before, conditioners that didn't quite measure up or were just a little lackluster. Try adding these simple ingredients before you throw that bottle out.

Looks gross, I know! 

My last, not so great conditioner was the Nexxus Keraphix so that's what I will be using in this how-to. For my personal recipe: I took a small bowl with about 1/2 cup of conditioner, I then added two egg yolks, 2-4 teaspoons of honey, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and two tablespoons of my Organix Moroccan Argan oil. Mix well. I LOVE the way that this mixture smells, the honey really gives it a mild, pleasant sweetness which I very much appreciated because I absolutely hate the smell of the Nexxus Keraphix. This mix can get very messy so I recommend transferring it to a squeeze bottle. If you have any left over, this will keep in the refrigerator for 1-2 days before it goes bad.

I shampooed my hair and dried it just a bit so that it wasn't dripping wet. I then applied the mixture to my hair, covered it with a plastic cap and let it sit for about 45 minutes. Do not use heat because you might scramble the eggs (unless that's your thing lol) I rinsed my hair with cool water (cool/cold water seals in moisture whereas warm/hot strips it away) and applied a quarter size amount of John Freida Straight Fixation Creme and my Organix oil before blasting my hair with the cool setting of my hairdryer for a couple of minutes and then letting it air dry.

This mixture made my hair feel SO soft and silky! If you've read my past hair entries then you know that my hair is naturally BONE dry, and keeping it moisturized is a definite hassle. From the roots to the ends, my hair feels so good and hydrated after using this. I will be trying a banana and avocado mixture in the future to compare which I like most. Another great thing that I noticed after using this, my hands and cuticles felt so soft and hydrated, so I'm probably going to mix this into one of my body products as well (minus the conditioner).

Now, why should you add these ingredients? For starters, I'm a firm believer in natural hair care being the way to go, for anyone. Hair always seems to be healthier when less chemicals are involved. Secondly, I believe this method is cheaper, for you to add a few household ingredients to perk up your existing bottle of conditioner rather than tossing it out and buying something else.

What do each of these ingredients do for you? Well each addition definitely serves it's own purpose.

• Honey: This ingredient is a humectant. In short, it helps to seal in moisture.
• Olive Oil: Like many oils (shea, jojoba, coconut) this ingredient adds essential fats, shine, moisture and nourishment to your hair (your body as well!) It also strengthens the hair follicle to decrease damage and breakage
• Bananas: These are no longer just for breakfast. Bananas add moisture and softness to your hair. (You must mash or blend the bananas thoroughly otherwise you'll end up with banana chunks in your hair!)
• Avocado: Just like the oils. Avocado's add fats and proteins to your hair to not only strengthen it but to add shine and body as well. Also great for hair that tangles easily! 
• Egg Yolks: Like avocados, egg yolks add proteins and moisture.

So you see, all of these ingredients have some really amazing benefits, and I'm positive that at least one of these attributes is something that we all look for in a conditioner. So try it! Most of these ingredients are probably already in your kitchen. I'm sure some of you are a bit weirded out by the idea of using food as hair care, but think about it, before all of these chemicals and pre-made things were invented, these are the types of ingredients that people used. It's important for you to cater to your specific hair needs and try what recipe works best for you, everything is completely customizable. These recipes can without a doubt work alone, no existing conditioner needed. And as always, please if you have an allergy, skip that ingredient. 

Comment below and tell me if you've tried any of this! I would love to know how it worked.

Much Love & Happy New Year's Eve! xo

JUARA Skincare- A Review

As the winter months are vastly approaching, I've been on the hunt for new and awesome things to add to my skincare regime. You can imagine my excitement when I stumbled upon Juara skincare. I had honestly never heard of this company before I joined the MakeupTalk forums and started really getting a lot of suggestions and advice.

After hearing some amazing things, I contacted the company and explained my specific skincare needs in hopes that they might offer some suggestions of the best products to try out. I explained that I had dry/combination skin with an oily t-zone and dark spots and acne scars on my face. After settling on the Rose & Willowbark Blemish-Free Mask, Rice Facial Cleanser & Turmeric Antioxidant Mask, I was sent small samples of each to see what I liked before I made a purchase. I've always been a girl who prefers natural, homemade beauty remedies but lately, I've been starting to enjoy a lot of store bought skincare like the Philosophy Miracle Worker line and the DDF Brightening Cleanser (links to both of these reviews will be at the end of this post) I realize that some things can't be made at home.

Juara prides itself on products without animal testing, parabens or sulfates. Everything sounded perfect until I actually received the products, I'm sad to report that these products sent my skin into an uproar! About 10 minutes after using the rice cleanser my face started to itch horribly and sure enough, later that night I had pimples and redness everywhere, my face was also extremely oily. I know it was this cleanser because I hadn't seen a breakout nor oiliness since I started using my DDF Brightening cleanser. I don't know exactly what ingredient caused this but something certainly did not agree with my skin. Before this happened I had actually really liked the cleanser, it was very light, silky and creamy with a nice, soapy floral smell. It was very gentle and left my skin feeling soft, clean and refreshed. Another perk was that it did not make my face feel tight or dried out or flaky up until the breakout. Another con that I have with this is that the sample bottle I received did not have a pump and the bottle could not be squeezed so it is very difficult to pour out and use. The full size includes a pump however and can be purchased here: Rice Cleanser. I'm glad I got to try this product out but because of the reaction this had with my skin, I definitely will not be purchasing the full size.

After the rice cleanser made me breakout, I figured there was no better time to try out the Rose & Willowbark Blemish-Free mask that I was also sent to see if I saw any difference. The mask is lilac colored and grainy. I'm also sad to report that just like the rice cleanser, this mask did not agree with my skin whatsoever. After putting it on, it immediately made my face feel hot and like it was burning. OUCH! In Juara's defense, I don't know if this was because my skin was already irritated from using the rice cleanser or if my skin was going to react to the mask this way regardless. I started by splashing my face with cold water, I did not by any means want to cleanse my face again because it was already so irritated. Next, I applied a thin layer and let it sit on my face for about 10 minutes before washing off in cool water. While my skin did look and feel a little better, it was a lot softer and it got rid of a lot of the redness, it caused a few dry patches around my nose later on and overall did not give the results that I was hoping for.

All in all, it seems like Juara skincare is a big no no for my skin even though I really really wanted to love this brand. It's not that the products are necessarily bad, they just did not in any way agree with my skin. So if your skin is like mine, dry/combination, oily t-zone, or acne prone. I would probably stick clear of the rice cleanser and the rose & willowbark mask. As for the second mask that I was sent, which was the turmeric antioxidant mask, I think i'm just going to put it away in my stash for a later date for now. Not only is my skin way too irritated at this point but I am admittedly a bit hesitant. I won't throw it out but I will definitely be cautious about using it in the future.

In conclusion, you definitely win and lose some when it comes to skincare. I'm glad that I tried these products but I will definitely not be purchasing either and hopefully tomorrow I can go back to my trusty DDF and all will be well. I think Juara is a good company and I think that they offer a lot of really good products but in my opinion I believe they are going to be something that you either love or you hate and I definitely suggest inquiring about the samples before you make a purchase just in case.

As with any new product, if you experience any irritation then immediately discontinue use. 

You can find these products and many more at Juara Skincare

Much love xo

UPDATE: This morning I woke up and my skin was a lot better from yesterday. Most of the pimples and redness are now gone so maybe the rose & willowbark did help with that. I however, still would not purchase but i'm happy to see that it did at least produce some results. :) 

DDF Brightening Cleanser- A review

Sweet holy cannoli !! I have now found my favorite new face cleanser. I received this in my October Birchbox and I officially couldn't be any happier.

I was initially very excited to try this because I have acne scarring and dark spots on the sides of my face but upon looking at a few reviews online I became a little hesitant. It seems the product is one of those things that you either despise or you can't live without it (i'm happy to say that i'm the latter) The product itself is a clear liquid with an almost gel type consistency and has a light, pleasant smell. I can't seem to pick up the licorice smell that the product claims to have. A little goes a long way with this, I use about a nickel to quarter size amount and it lathers just enough. This bottle is definitely going to last a long time.

Ingredients list

I truly love this cleanser for multiple reasons, even after the first use my skin was significantly brighter and more fresh and awake looking, because of this I especially love to use this in the morning. After about a week of using this product daily, my acne scarring definitely looks better and has started to fade just a bit. I AM THRILLED! Another pro to this cleanser is that for me, it controls the oil on my T-zone, as i've stated before I have combination skin but a severely oily T-zone which I absolutely hate because I love a matte face. After washing my face with this product it keeps my face matte throughout the entire day, I can even go so far as to say that I haven't seen any oil on my T-zone since using this cleanser. I have also seen less pimples/spots and a more even skintone since using this.

This product contains both salicylic and glycolic acid (AHA) which can increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun so use with caution and protect your skin! As with anything, if you notice any irritation then immediately discontinue use.

I wasn't sure if this cleanser could be used all over the body so I did a bit of research and it can! The DDF website states: "Excellent for face and body as part of an overall hypigmentation program" For this I am especially grateful because like any other plus size girl, I experience chub rub, so this will be a great way to keep those areas from turning dark.

Brush is by Earth Therapeutics ($2.99)

How I use this product: personally I have always washed my face with cold water (the world lets out a collective GASP!) I know that a lot of people are strictly against using cold water as well as water that is too warm but I have found that this works for me and I have experienced no ill side effects as of yet. My routine is very simple, I start by wetting my complexion brush and squeezing a small amount of cleanser directly onto it, I splash a bit of water onto my face and then clean and exfoliate for 3-5 minutes before rinsing off. The brush is gentle enough to use daily. Depending on your skintype, this cleanser can be drying so be sure to use a moisturizer afterwards.

In short, I honestly can't thank birchbox enough for sending me this. I've always been curious about lightening creams/cleansers because of my acne scarring but was too afraid to try anything but i'm glad that I have now! I encourage anyone with similar skin troubles to atleast give this a try! The full size retails for $38.00.

Much love xo

Fixing Broken Makeup

Mac Blot Powder in Medium Dark

Makeup wearers unite! We all have that sad, sad day where one of our powder compacts just completely shatters and you're left wondering, "how do I move on with my life?". Kidding of course but seriously we all hate when this happens. If you're like me, way back when I had absolutely no knowledge of what to do in this situation. Do you throw the product out? Maybe give it a tearful goodbye or do you try and put it into another container? While both of those are options that you can do, I suggest trying out this ultra simple trick before you let your broken compact go.

Start by taking a baby wipe or an alcohol towelette and cleaning your compact, wiping away all of the debris. Next, take a clean spoon or a makeup spatula and break up the chunks, it should look something like this





After your makeup looks like the picture to the left, get out your clear rubbing alcohol (I used 50%) and add a couple drops directly to the makeup. Depending on what size your compact is it could take more or less. I used about half a teaspoon, maybe a little less. There should be no excess liquid. Now, take a spoon and smooth out your makeup as if you were putting icing on a cake.

Finally, get a round object (a coin, glass, can) and sanitize it. Take a clean piece of tissue and lay it directly on your makeup, followed by your choice of object (I used a one dollar coin) and now we just press! Apply firm but not overbearing pressure for a few seconds at a time until your compact is smooth and flat. Remove the tissue, close the compact and allow to dry for at least a day, I let mine dry for 3 just to be completely safe. Now your beloved compact is as good as new! Sadly, on mine the coin I used wasn't large enough to create a completely smooth surface but it's usable!

TIP: If you are worried about the alcohol staying inside the product, don't be! The alcohol will evaporate, which is why I suggest leaving it alone for a couple of days. The higher the alcohol concentrate, the faster it will dry. The odor will also dissipate and leave nothing behind.

I hope this helps some of you lovelies out there, I know it definitely helped me. Much love xoxo