Mother's day at-home spa experience!

Hello everyone!

Tomorrow is mother’s day.  You can go the predictable way and give your mom a gift certificate to a spa, or you can take a unique approach and give her a spa experience in her own home.  Pampering your mom for mother's day is a fabulous and thoughtful gift she'll surely appreciate.  

At-home spa ideas:

• facial
• relaxing warm bath
• manicure and/or pedicure (Click here for DIY pedicure tips.)

Make sure you set the perfect mood for your mom's at-home spa experience!  You can make it visual with candles, use sound by playing soft music, use scented candles or  aromatherapy oils, and activate taste with relaxing herbal teas.

What are the benefits of creating an at-home spa?

An at-home spa experience allows you to relax at any time and is very inexpensive.  And sometimes people relax more at home.  

You can take the at- home spa experience all the way by making your own beauty treatments.

These are some of my favourite recipes:

DIY: Yummy facialscrub/mask

Not just an aspirinfacial mask!

DIY: Greek yoghurt,oatmeal and honey facial mask

DIY: Honey andcinnamon facial mask/spot treatment

…For more DIY beauty click here and here! 

You can also make this mother’s day a mother-daughter spa day!  What are your plans for mother’s day? 

Have an awesome weekend!

XOXO

Euphrasie85


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Make them shine...with a nail buffer!

Nail polish is not the only way to get your nails to look smooth and shiny.  Nail buffers are also used to smooth and polish the nail.

Most buffers have three sides and the three together create that salon finish in only a few minutes.  If you want to give yourself a manicure or a pedicure, a three-way buffer is essential.  Using a nail buffer is also great for men who don’t want to wear nail polish!

before and after buffing!

Here are some tips…

Step 1:

Remove your nail polish.  Use an acetone-free nail polish remover on a clean cotton ball.  Wash your hands thoroughly to remove any traces of polish remover.

Step 2:

Trim your nails with sharp nail scissors or nail clippers.  Do not use the buffer to sand away large amounts of length.

Step 3:

Use the roughest side of your buffer on the top surface of your nail.  Only buff until you've removed surface ridges.  Avoid overusing the gritty side of the buffer because it can weaken and thin the nail.

Step 4:

Use the second roughest side of the nail buffer to smooth out the nail surface.  Buffing can stimulate blood flow to the nail which encourages nail growth.  

Step 5:

Use the smoothest side to buff your nails smooth.  Use a vigorous back and forth motion across the width of the nail to create a glossy look.

Repeat the buffing treatment whenever you start to lose your shine or notice more ridges.

NOTE: The emery board nail file should not be used to buff the surface of the nails.

Do you use nail buffers?  Leave a comment!

XOXO

Euphrasie85

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Using an epilator

Hello everyone! 

Today I want to talk to you about my favorite hair removal method: using an epilator!

I’ve been using an epilator for eight years now and I love it!  Removing hairs at the root means that hair won’t grow back for weeks.  Plus, constant epilation reduces the amount of hair re-growth!

The coil springs in the epilator grab the hair at the root and pull it out.  It's one of the more affordable ways to remove hair, as you don't have to deal with the expense of shaving or waxing.  In addition, once you get the hang of using an epilator, it takes less time than shaving.

I've been using this model for 8 year!

Does it hurt?

I’m not going to lie, the first time I used it, it HURT and left my skin red and irritate, BUT by the second use the hair was thinner and it didn’t hurt as much!     

Always start epilating the areas where it's less painful.  The lower legs are the least painful area for most women (the underarm and bikini area are the most painful).  For reduced pain, stretch skin with your hand.  By the time you proceed to the more sensitive areas, you'll feel less pain as the pain threshold goes up and the skin gets used to epilation. 

How often you epilate depends on one's hair growth.  Epilating frequently has two benefits: your pain threshold increases and your overall hair growth reduces over time. 

Tips:

Exfoliate a couple times of week use a body scrub, loofah or ayate washcloth.  Always exfoliate both before and after epilation. 

I apply pure aloe vera gel post-epilation to sooth the skin.  Using thick lotions just after epilation could block pores and cause ingrown hair.  Using a skin toner after epilating can also aid in preventing ingrown hair because it helps close the pore.  For more information read Removing and preventing ingrown hair

Depending on your pain threshold and how sensitive your skin is, an epilator can be an excellent choice for removing hair. 

Have you ever used an epilator?  What was your experience?  Leave a comment!

XOXO

Euphrasie85

Photo from here.

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Sunscreen 101

Hello everyone!  How’s the weather?

Here in Malta it feels like Summer.  That’s the reason I’ve been MIA this week; I’ve been enjoying the good weather! J

Sunny days = High SPF sunscreen/sun-block days.  That means; it’s time to talk sun-blocks…

• Everyone, regardless of skin type, should be wearing a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 15 daily.

• The SPF indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning than you could with unprotected skin.  For example, if it takes 15 minutes for a person to burn without sunscreen, an SPF 15 will (theoretically) allow him or her to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning. 

• Sun-blocks should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure.  Even water resistant/proof sunscreens need to be re-applied every 1-2 hours. 

• A good sunscreen needs to cover both the UVA and UVB spectrum of radiation.

• The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma.  Malignant melanomas start as small brown/ black marks (look like moles).  They can also develop from an existing mole. 

• The best way to catch skin cancer early is to check your skin regularly.  You need to be looking for any changes in size, shape, texture, and colour of existing moles or birthmarks.

• Skin cancer can pop up anywhere, even between your toes, on your scalp, on your lips and in your ears, so be sure to apply sunscreen from your head to your feet.  (Some people look at me like I'm crazy when they see my re-applying my sunscreen at the beach.  Lol!)

Trivia:

Last summer my cousin’s bf told me I was “too pale” and that “I needed to go out in the sun more”.  Really?!  My answer to that was very similar to what Leonard once told Penny “I'm not indoorsy.  I just wear the appropriate sun-block because I don't take melanoma lightly.” (The Big Bang Theory 02x11)  And that I love my skin colour and don’t feel the need to change it as the seasons change!

Enjoy the good weather and take good care of your skin!

XOXO

Euphrasie85

Photo from here. 

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Can food allergies cause acne?

Many often associate acne with raging hormones and excessive sebum production; however there are lots of other things that can cause acne.  Did you know that food allergies are the number one cause of acne? Swelling and inflammation of the skin is one of the symptoms of allergies; acne is simply another kind of inflammation.

If you notice acne appearing after you eat a particular food, you may have a food allergy.  Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later.  Besides, acne doesn’t come and go quickly enough to be associated with food.  Other, more common food allergy symptoms include swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

Food allergies are caused by a hypersensitivity of the immune system to the proteins found in particular foods.  The allergic reaction occurs because the immune system mistakes the proteins as an invading substance, such as a virus or bacteria.

Common food allergens:

•   Dairy products
•   Eggs
•   Peanuts
•   Tree nuts
•   Seafood
•   Shellfish
•   Soy
•   Wheat

Any food allergy can cause acne.  However, the most common allergens that cause acne are dairy and wheat products.  A lot of people consume dairy and wheat products nearly every day.  For this reason, connection symptoms to food consumption can be tricky.    

One of the most effective ways to determine if your acne is related to a food allergy is to implement an elimination diet.  If your doctor determines that you have a food allergy, the most effective treatment for your acne is to permanently eliminate that food from your diet.  

If you suspect that your acne may be causes or triggered by a food allergy, eliminate that food from your diet for a few months.  If your acne does not improve, it's likely that other triggers are responsible for your acne.

XOXO

Euphrasie85

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STOP nail biting!

One of the most common and irritating stress relieving habits is definitely biting nails.  Biting nails can lead to broken skin on the cuticle which can lead to infection.  When biting your nails you are also transferring bacteria and germs from your fingernails to your mouth!  Nail biting is a bad habit that is not easy to quit.

WOW! These are my brother's NOTD ;)

Here are some tips that can help...


Identify triggers
It could be boredom, or stress or a particular time of day.


Love your nails
Get a manicure and paint the nails to make them look at their best.  


Artificial nails
These will protect your natural nails for some time until they grow out.


Make them taste bad
Apply a clear, bitter-tasting nail polish to the nails.  This is one of the most popular methods used to try to break the habit.


Keep you hands occupied
In case the problem is stress or boredom related try another activity that uses the hands.


Increase calcium and magnesium intake
Calcium and magnesium strengthen the nails.


Chew gum
Chew gum to keep your mouth busy.


Clipper and file
Carry a nail clipper and a nail file with you all the time. 

Healthy fingernails will boost your confidence!  However, to kick this habit, one requires patience.  KEEP TRYING! 

XOXO
Euphrasie85

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Shaving tips

Today, women are increasingly opting for epilation and laser hair removal.  However, shaving remains the most popular form of hair removal.

Here are some shaving tips and tricks:

• Do not shave dry skin.  Shaving is a natural exfoliator and if you shave dry skin, you risk clogging up the razor with dead skin.  This may result in nicks, ingrown hair and razor burns.

• Only use shaving cream recommended for women, not soap!  Leave the shaving cream on for 3-4 minutes to soften up the hair.  

• Experiment with razors until you find the perfect one for you.  Look for a razor with lubricated strips, pivoting heads and multiple blades. 

• Be sure to change razors or cartridges on a regular basis; a dull blade can lead to nicks and irritation.

• Be sure to exfoliate your skin before shaving.  This gets rid of dead skin cells, allowing a closer shave. There are several ways to exfoliate.

• Since your leg hairs grow down, start at your ankles and shave up.  For your underarms, shave in every direction since the hair there grows in at different angles.  

• When finished shaving; rinse, pad dry and apply moisturiser.  

• Ingrown hairs are caused when the hairs curl back under the skin.  Avoid ingrown hairs by exfoliating daily.  Read this post for more information: Removing and preventing ingrown hair

• If you have coarse hair, consider waxing or sugaring.  You'll find that in time, hair won't grow back as fast.  Read this post for more information: Sugaring vs. Waxing

Hope you found this post useful!  

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XOXO

Euphrasie85

Photo from here.

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At-home hair dye tips

As I told you in a previous post, I colour my hair.  When I used to have highlights, I used to colour my hair professionally, but for the last few years, I’ve been dying my hair with an at-home hair dye kit for a fraction of the cost of professional hair colour.  

If you want to cover gray hair, or do a couple of shades lighter or darker, home hair colouring is for you.  But if you want a drastic change or you have damaged/chemically processed hair, then it's best to go to a salon. 

If you’re still hesitant to give it a try, follow these steps and you’ll achieve great results.

Step 1: Select a colour

Check the colour guide on the box, which is an indicator of the results you can expect based on the colour of your hair.

Step 2: Condition

Two days before colouring, apply a deep-conditioning treatment/hair mask to help strengthen hair.

Step 3: Preparation

 In addition to your home hair colouring kit, you will also need a few supplies.

·         a wide-tooth comb

·         hair clips

·         petroleum jelly (optional - to apply along your hairline to protect your skin from staining)

·         an old shirt

·         a kitchen timer 

Step 4: Read the instructions

Sounds obvious, but this step is the most ignored.  If you haven't used the particular hair dye before, you should do a patch test.

Step 5: Colouring

Optional: Apply petroleum jelly to your skin all around your hairline to protect your skin from the dye.

Put your hair in a bun.  Then put on your gloves, and prepare your dye as directed in the instructions.  Begin applying all around the hair line.  This should be easy if your hair is in a bun. 

Next take your hair down.  Take sections of hair and apply generous amounts of dye.  Continue to apply until all the hair is saturated. 

Start the timer for the amount of time indicated on the box.

NOTE:

After your first time, dye only your roots: You will damage your hair and your colour will become patchy, if you recolour your whole head every four to six weeks.  Again, follow the instructions to touch up your roots!

Step 6: Rinse

When the time is up, rinse your hair according to the instructions. 

Tips:

• If you are new to colouring your hair, select a temporary or semi-permanent hair colour rather than permanent.
• Dry your hair to see the final shade (hair looks different when wet).
• After you colour, wait 24 hours before washing hair; you want the pigment in the dye to fully settle into your hair. 
• Maintain with the right shampoo; select a formula created for coloured hair. 

Have you ever dyed your own hair?  Did you like the result?  Leave a comment and let me know.

XOXO

Euphrasie85

Photo from here.

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