Eyebrows...don't forget them!

Eyebrows… there should be two!

I’m often asked how I do my eyebrows. Are they tattooed? No. Who does them? Me. 

Eyebrows are very under-appreciated in many women’s beauty regimens. It’s amazing how they can change your look with minimal effort. 

It's so subtle, yet effective :)

I started doing mine years ago when I had an unfortunate trip to the waxer’s. She cut them too short and waxed them too thin. It was tragic. Don’t ever get a cheap waxing done. It’s not worth it in the end. 

I’m not against waxing, I go and get mine done every few months, just to readjust the shape and then I upkeep them myself. The trick is to get to know your waxer, make sure they are using quality wax and let them know what you really want. My favorite place to go is European Wax Center. (There are locations all over) They use all natural beeswax and I swear it never irritates my skin. What’s also cool are the minimal tools (less risk for fungus). The wax hardens so they do not need to use sheets to pull away; they simply pull off the hardened wax. 

Now, for the upkeep, I will daily tug a few darker hairs (I have thick, dark hairs) so they’re out of my line of sight. I also try and set some time aside once a week or so (usually the day I do my weekly mask) to really get in there and pull all of the little nuisance hairs. 

Now for the aesthetic bit. 

I’m not a fan of actual eyebrow makeup; I have found it to be either too heavy or too waxy. Or worse, too pencil-y. My secret is an eye shadow that matches my hair color alongside MAC’s 266 small angle brush. I’ve tried other small angled brushes, but none compare to the maneuverability of this one. For eye shadow, I don’t splurge because, surprisingly, I don’t actually need to this time. My usual is ULTA brand eye shadow in Mink, currently (because there are no ULTA’s around me) I have Covergirl 740 Brown Smolder. The important part is finding one that is close to your natural color and that it has a velvet-y texture. The matte ones don’t work quite the same, and the texture doesn’t run on as smoothly. 

Do a few practice rounds without your full make up regimen on (that way you don’t have to start all over each time you mess up). It took me a few tries to get myself acquainted with my brow shape and what I wanted them to look like. You get to have a little creative freedom to truly frame your face the way it deserves. 

Once you have decided on an appropriate shape. (seriously, less is more… do NOT create non-eyebrow shapes for your eyebrow, everyone will be staring for the wrong reasons) it’s time to do your makeup. Once ready for your brows (I usually do mine after my face, but before my eye makeup), take your brush and dip it ever-so-slightly in a tiny bit of water, swipe your shadow, and get your final brow shape done. Using the tiny bit of water helps the shadow glide on easily. I prefer to shape the top line, then the rest of the outside, and then fill in the rest. Keep it simple and lightweight, you can always add more later. Use quick, short strokes to draw the lines and fill in. Remember to shape your face for your routine. 

Just take it one step at a time... less is more, and it gets quicker as you get more practice!

Before brows: I look tired, my shadow overpowers my face, leaving my forehead looking rather pronounced.

After brows: Completes the look, makes my eyes pop, & my forehead balances out.

 XOXO Kayla Rae

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

We all know from My Big Fat Greek Wedding the beloved papa Portokalos had one-and only one- solution to every ailment. Put some Windex on it.

That’s how I feel about Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).  It’s basically a miracle in a bottle.

I first discovered this while researching what I could do to get rid of my acne (as most of my research tends to be for).  I was going to be a badass and take the ACV drink twice daily. It is 1 tbsp. ACV in a glass of water. I put some agave nectar in it in a feeble attempt to kill the vinegar taste, grabbed a straw to protect the enamel on my teeth, and started to drink. Eyes closed, not breathing it in, just sucking that straw like I was going to down it so quick and be done with it. I open my eyes to approximately ½ inch of liquid gone from the top of my glass. I was a pansy.

This got my brain working. I just want to get my skin better, I thought. So I decided that diluting it in distilled water and using it as a toner after I washed my face was going to be a much better route. And it was! I noticed my skin starting to clear up and my complexion balancing out within a couple weeks. Yes, it made my face smell like salad dressing for about 2 minutes, but it went away. Not a big deal.

Over time, I’ve found many other useful ways to incorporate this product into my life. And now I use it for everything.

-          Facial Toner: Balances PH levels in the skin and helps detoxify and combat acne

-          Detox bath: Pour a couple cups of ACV into a hot bath, sit and enjoy. Let your body sweat it out for about 20-30 minutes. Great to use when you’re sick, or just have a rough case of “bacne”. It will also help soothe your muscles.

-          Make up brush cleaner.

-          Athlete’s foot fighter. Place about 1 cup of ACV into hot water in a pot and soak feet. This will help balance out the skin as well as fight off some of that nasty fungus.

-          Hair rinse:  I prefer a small spouted bottle, shampoo hair normally, then squirt ACV into hair and work through scalp to ends. Rinse with cold (yes, COLD) water. No need to condition, product build-up has been removed and your hair will comb out smoothly as if you did use conditioner! The cold water will seal the hair shaft, resulting in very shiny, healthy hair. 

*UPDATE: My new ACV hair rinse is 2 parts ACV to 1 part water, along with rosemary and lavender essential oils. I'm in love with this mix!!!

-          Warts: Soak a cotton ball in ACV and tape (Band-Aid) to the affected area. Overnight, you should see some difference with it drying out. Keep going every night until it is gone!)

-          Smelly garbage disposal: pour some ACV and hot water down the drain and run your disposal for a little bit. The vinegar should help clear up some of the bacteria and smell.

If you are up for the challenge, the ACV drink is great for maintaining healthy body sugar levels, making your dieting much easier since you won’t be lusting over the sugars. Studies have shown it effective for someone who is pre-diabetic.  It is also a fantastic detox, without harsh propriety blends or the dehydration factor, it is rich in vitamins and nutrients to supply your body while (excuse the visual) pushing out the sludge. It should also improve your digestion, so the other very healthy foods you are eating will actually benefit your body better!

I'll be sure to update when I discover more amazing uses! I love this stuff!

XOXO Kayla Rae

Bless and Release

Bless and Release.

Not exactly a "beauty" related post... but inspiration enough to make a beautifully organized closet!

This is not something new to me. I have always had too many clothes. I love clothes. My problem is that I don’t know when to let go and get rid of old clothes. My mother used to always say “Bless and release” to all my old toys/clothes/anything growing up, because I would always try to think of a way I could keep it and keep not using it.

Since being with my fella, I’ve definitely downsized my wardrobe. It’s definitely liberating, but I can have my little bouts of retail therapy when I forget I have some perfectly good pieces at home with the sale tag still on them. We live a simple life in a 400 square foot studio apartment with our three kids. We have Rowdy (my 2 ½ year old Pembroke Corgi), Kimber (his 1 year old German Shepherd/Husky mix) and Danni (our 3 year old rescue kitty). Most of the time, it feels like we live in a little shoebox, but we’re happy. Things can be pretty crammed, pretty quick. So I have decided to be responsible and get rid of a ton of pieces in my closet I truly don’t wear or use.

Look at all this jewelry I've collected over the years and haven't gotten rid of! Most of it never worn! Bless and release!

This can be a daunting task for anyone. First, collect some large bags. Start small, I went to the dresser and went one drawer at a time. Does it have a tear or stain? In the bag. Have I neglected to wear it in the last 6 months (seasons permitting)? In the bag. Have I only worn it once and can’t come to wear it again? In the bag, woman!  Drawer by drawer… until we reach the closet.

He's such a good helper.

Take breaks, have some fun and try on some pieces to see if they are worth up-cycling or actually wearing. If not, in the bag. It took me darn near 3 hours to successfully go through my drawers, my closet, my jewelry, and my shoes. I wound up with 4 very large bags of perfectly usable clothes that I didn’t need or never wore!

Spring cleaning: Rowdy approved.

I am a huge fan on selling old clothes to recycled clothing shops; I used to do it all the time.  I am also a huge fan of donating my clothes, which is my course of action with this cleaning frenzy. Only throw away your clothing if it is ripped or stained, or are old undergarments. Everything else can be donated or sold. I feel so much better getting it all out of my place! There is so much more room and my clothes can actually breathe in my closet now!

XOXO Kayla Rae

                       

The Eyelash Experiment.

The Eyelash Experiment.

I’ve seen the products out there for us to lengthen, strengthen, and overall boost our lashes. There are plenty of products at the beauty supply store that you apply to your lash line at night and wait for the effects. Upon looking at many, some have water as the main ingredient (big whoop) as well as herbal extracts that are great ideas. Here’s the kicker, most have denatured alcohol in them (listed as alcohol denat.). Denatured alcohol is basically added so the concoction isn’t drinkable and smells bad. Also it is used as a fuel source for your camping stoves. Yes, it is basically a fuel source. How about we just be smart and not think to drink our beauty products? So gross. You really want that so close to your eyes? No thank you.

There is also prescription based products for sparse or thinning eyelashes. Really this is only for those in extreme cases. This is not meant to be something for the average person. The theory behind it is to lengthen and darken your lashes by swiping one drop of the prescription on the lash line daily. As with most prescriptions, the side effects and adverse effects outweigh the benefits. One is liquid filled cysts on the eye area, one would be pigmentation that is not removable in the eye area, and one is even allergic reaction to your precious eye area. I’d rather get good mascara and call it a day, thank you!

Being in LA, I have also seen a plethora of salons offering eyelash extensions nowadays (I’m sorry ladies; most of you cannot pull them off… especially the fair skinned blondes and redheads). I know you want big, beautiful lashes, I want them too! But I am not about to let someone use a glue with lord-knows what chemicals and bonding to stick them on me.

As I noted in an update with my Oil Cleansing Method post, my eyelashes started holding their own about two weeks into my oil cleansing. I did a little research, and it turns out some oils are very beneficial for your lashes! Take Castor oil; aside from its healing properties on your skin, it has plumping properties for your hair. Coconut oil is great for softening and penetrating the hair, making it stronger. Jojoba oil is the most universal of oils because it is lightweight and is safe for all hair types and skin types.  I decided to combine the three in an old mascara tube and begin my experiment for really taking my lashes to the next level.

Here is the fun part… getting all the gook out of an old mascara tube. I know we all have one lying around, the mascara is pretty much useless, but what if there is some sort of national mascara shortage and you need it!  I consulted my fella about how I could get all the crap out of the tube. We decided that putting the tube back and forth from boiling to cool water would be effective. I’m pretty sure we did all the wrong things, but it was fun. I added coconut oil to the boiling water (as it is great for removing makeup from your  face) to help loosen up the goop. Then took tongs and went back and forth, pouring out old mascara and rinsing… it took forever. I really recommend buying an empty tube (I can only find them online) or getting a wand from your local beauty supply store and a sealed jar to keep your mix in.

Once I got my tube empty, I added equal parts of the coconut, castor, and jojoba oils and stirred it up. I apply the mix to my lashes at night before bed (usually about 2 coats) and then I’ll do a coat before I apply my daily mascara. It’s not easy to tell if things are working, mostly because you see your face all day every day. I take pictures; it helps me compare side-by-side.  I decided this one is best compared weekly. By week 2, I already noticed a difference in the pictures. Ben already decided he wanted in on the action too. Who says men don’t want to feel pretty too?!

Here is a week by week rundown of the eyelash experiment:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Sorry for the creepy, up close and personal eye shots... but I really noticed my lower lashes started coming together very nicely! They've always been a little sparse... but they're doing well! None of these shots are my eyes with any mascara! I'm definitely going to keep this one up.

XOXO Kayla Rae

DIY Lip and Cheek Stain (think “Benetint”)

Bears. Beets. Beauty Products.

I love Benetint from Benefit Cosmetics. It’s amazing. However, being on a budget doesn’t allow me such luxuries anymore. You know what though? I don’t miss it too much. After all, isn’t it great to know it can be made in the comfort of home for a fraction- seriously a small fraction- of the cost? I find some peace in that.

This one is super easy! I tried two different recipes; I like both fine… but have some amazing testers so I will let you know what one they liked best.

Option 1:

Beets

Vegetable Glycerin

Vodka

Grab a double boiler (or my fav, a bowl inside a pot). Chop beets into small chunks and place in bowl with a small amount of vegetable glycerin. Start boiling the water.  Let the beet’s color run in the glycerin, while stirring, for 15-20 minutes. Drain the beets, keeping the liquid. Put a splash of vodka in the mix and let it continue to cook for a few more minutes (this will kill the alcohol part, letting it absorb on your skin better). Then place in your container and put in fridge. This should stay stable for a while, but keep it in the fridge for best results.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Option 2:

Beet

Water

Vodka

Chop beets into small chunks and place in pot of water. Start boiling and let the color of the beets get all up in the water. Drain the beets, keeping the red water in the pot. Add a splash of vodka and boil a few more minutes. Place in container and pop it in the fridge.  

Look at that glorious color!!! (The tube is the Benetint)

There's no difference in color! This is one of the finished products.

I made sure to date it, in case I lose track of time.

*Side note:  I added a teeny bit of peppermint essential oil in it to kill that beet smell, totally up to you.

Now, I would highly recommend you practice a little common sense and don’t try to wear it when you just made it… it will be hot so wait until it cools. Trust me, it’s not going anywhere. You should have just made yourself more than enough, so you don’t have to be so judicious with your stains anymore!  You’ll know it is going bad when the smell changes, it is a food product after all, it’ll go bad. Many places I read said up to 90 days of use. So I’ll let you know when mine goes bad.

I might recommend finding an empty nail polish tube from the beauty supply store to keep this in, very portable (there will be more than enough for a few jars, easy gifts!) as well as easy application with the wand. I used some cobalt glass droppers and I use a cotton swab to apply.

There are other variations I’m going to try in the future, such as berries for a darker color.

I’m already a huge fan! It doesn’t absorb as quickly as my Benetint, but for the price, I’m not complaining. It goes on a much lighter color too, so you don’t have to risk going too drastic at first try. Use it on your cheeks for a subtle rosy tint, or put directly on your lips for a “just bitten” look.

XOXO Kayla Rae

The Oil Cleansing Method (Part 2)

The Oil Cleansing Method (Part 2... see Part 1 here.)

I did it! Two whole weeks on this amazing new cleanse for my face!  I can honestly say, it has been the biggest surprise. I love it and will keep it up, possibly changing up my secondary oil for my next batch (I think I have another 2 weeks left from my first batch). 

Here is the second week of my OCM:

Some key takeaways that I noticed:

• My makeup goes on so much smoother now, I definitely don't need as much.
• My eyelashes are all plumped up and are looking more plush these days.
• My acne is well under control and is hardly even there. I haven't had a harsh cyst in just about two weeks... I think that is a record for me!
• My skin did not get oily and gross at any point of this adventure. It looks amazing, even my team at work noticed (and they're a bunch of boys!)

Let's see how I started and how I finished:

Yes, I got a little sun as well, don't underestimate small doses of sunlight on your skin! Get that vitamin D going!

If you decide to give the OCM a go, I'd love to hear from you about your successes! I welcome pics too!  Like us on facebook Cheers to Beauty and feel free to share some pics of your journey! I'll be with you every step of the way!

Cheers!

XOXO Kayla Rae

Hot Oil Hair Treatment

Hot Oil Hair Treatment.

Sometimes, your hair just needs a little boost. You have got to be aware, however, of some “deep treatments” that could potentially contain chemicals designed to give your hair instant gratification, but cause long term dryness. You want some good natural oils to really get in there and keep your hair healthy and happy. Why do you think men and women of native tribes far away have the most glorious hair you’ve ever seen? They use the real stuff!

Materials:

2 parts Coconut Oil (for me, 3 tbsp.)

1 part Jojoba Oil (1 ½ tbsp.)

1 part Avocado Oil (1 ½ tbsp.) *Note: you may also substitute for 1 mashed up avocado

1 part Castor Oil (1 ½ tbsp.)

Shower cap (I definitely learned this one the hard way… it runs everywhere!)

Why these oils? (Besides the fact I already have these in my cabinet)

Coconut oil- it is completely absorbed by the hair; gets all up in the shaft root to tip. It helps retain those important proteins and seals in the moisture. It also helps protect your hair follicle (help resist thinning hair!) and is great for frizz control.

Jojoba Oil- Very gentle and is essential for dry hair as it mimics the scalp’s sebum (that waxy glory keeping your hair healthy and moist). It creates a barrier for the follicle so it remains moisturized.

Avocado Oil- Here is where there is a difference, the act of creating avocado oil actually diminishes the proteins from the avocado (hence the option to mash one up if your hair is really damaged). But, it is still full of vitamin E and omega 3’s. It will help protect your hair and could stimulate stronger, healthier growth.

Castor Oil-  This can act as a hair thickening agent, it absorbs easily into the shaft and scalp to promote stronger hair growing in. It treats each strand individually, plumping them up with its goodness. It also acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungicidal which can help deter any infections that could lead to hair loss.

No need to worry, each oil is safe for all hair types and help prevent dandruff too! Now, in case you haven’t read my Oil Cleansing Method post, let’s be clear. Natural oils are your friend. They mimic your scalp’s natural oils. It’s ok if you tend to have oily hair.

What you will now do…

Warm the oil mixture double-boiler style. I just put a bowl over a pot of boiling water to warm it up (not too hot, we’re not looking to burn your scalp off). Pour your mixture on your scalp first, massage it in, and then pour along the rest of your hair. Massage for a few minutes, wrap it up in a bun with the shower cap over it and sit for 30 minutes. This is a great time to get your weekly face mask going since most take about 20 minutes (10 minutes prep) relax and then jump in the shower!  Shampoo a couple times to get the oil out (took me 3 sets of shampoo), then condition and be on your way. I would probably limit this one to weekly for damaged hair and biweekly for normal hair.

I let my hair air dry as much as I could stand (I’m very impatient and the bangs wait for no one!). I put a little Argan Oil in to tame any remaining frizz and used my Velcro rollers on the top half of my head to pump up the volume. Once my hair was completely dry, I did very minimal curling with a 1 ½ inch barrel iron and let it be! My hair is so crazy soft to the touch and very healthy looking! Cheers!

After all is said and done.

Super shiny and healthy!

XOXO Kayla Rae