Cold weather essentials

It's that time again! cold and dry weather- thank you Cali! I've already been feeling this season change, affect my skin and hair.  I remember last year my face was dry and  breaking out and nothing was helping so this year I decided to get a head start.   So here are a few essentials I can't live without:

Caudalie Huile Divine - Love this product! Multi-use for hair, body and face.  I mainly use it for my face twice a day it gives me a glow and evens my skin tone.  Keeps face moist but I STILL moisturize.
Aquaphor - can be used on skin I use it for my lips
Shea Butter foot cream - never really used foot creams before but I received this from my pageant days and now I love it because it really gets rid of dry and calloused feet without a greasy feeling
SachaJuan over night hair repair - this product smells amazing and I apply to my ends at night to help with breakage from this dry weather
Neutrogena body oil - can you say heaven? I apply after I shower and sometimes will mix it with my body lotion.  Make your entire body glow with this!
Sally Hansen nails and cuticle cream -  I get embarrassed to show my hands when I have cracked skin especially if you wash your hands constantly like me.  this product is a life saver it soaks into your skin and lasts all day

xo
M

Jewel Tat obsession

Since I'm afraid of the real deal I get my dose of Jewel Tats! Temporary tattoos to spice up my style.  Reminds me when I was 8 years old - stick tattoo face down, soak with wet towel, and peel, tada! They last for a week and I'm just loving these metallics <3   You can purchase them at www.jeweltats.com

lace and leather

More pics from yesterday's outfit.  I was wearing an actual dress (knee length) with lace details at the bottom, not a dress shirt, and accessorized it with a leather belt.  My favorite combination is lace and leather! You get both, a feminine and masculine touch :)
xo,
M

No Lipstick Zone - Perricone MD

All I ever wanted in a lipstick/lip balm is to mimic the natural color of my lips and keep it moist.  I came across this product formulated by Perricone MD called No Lipstick Lipstick and its exactly what I've been looking for!  It has many perks to it other than just a lip balm and it was perfect for summer because it kept my lips hydrated and also includes SPF.  Most importantly it contains no chemicals and it's anti aging.  I noticed a difference within a few weeks of using this product that it keeps my lips soft, non flaky, and plump, due to the ingredient in there that targets the appearance of lip lines. 

xo
M

muahhh

Yesterday

Exactly a year ago I started my blog to share my journey to optimal health and now this… I cannot stress how important the immune system is to your health!  I thought I was doing great until I had a few different incidences back in February and June.   My doctor warned me about this a year ago and I was too stubborn to do anything about it because I didn’t see it coming.  It’s so interesting the way the human body reacts to any infection or a virus entered into your system.  As it tries to protect and heal itself first which is why we come across symptoms, it needs a strong immune support to combat these toxins.  There’s not enough amount of antibiotics to kill and destroy ONLY harmful agents in your body if it’s severe enough.  Because I take a very holistic approach towards my health sometimes it gets the best of me when I’m faced with obstacles that I fear.  IV ozone therapy is a treatment that destroys all pathogens and doesn’t harm the good cells and antioxidants.  Any form of bacteria, infection, parasites, toxins and so forth cannot live in purified oxygen therefore the healthy cells don’t get destroyed in this process.  This treatment is not as simple as just popping antibiotic pills but I would much rather keep my good cells from being destroyed because that’s so crucial for your immune system and the reason why I’m in a recurring cycle of being sick.  A lesson I learned from this is to be proactive and to face my challenges and live life to the fullest with health! Fear and challenges is not to make me bitter, but gives me a different look on how precious life is. 

 

healthy living

xo

M

Dry Brush to Detox Inside and Out

Dry Brushing - What I like to call outside detox for the skin! Since I’m all about getting rid of toxins inside and out dry brushing is so beneficial to your body as a whole.  It gives your skin a nice complexion and also stimulates organs in your body and circulates blood flow.  Let’s just say your skin does not get the attention it needs therefore dry brushing gives it a wakeup call.  I prefer to dry brush in the morning because it gives me energy and then I jump in the shower after.  At first I was a bit harsh on my skin but there is no need for that, it still does its job with gentle strokes starting from your ankles brushing up towards your heart.  Because dry brushing awakens your inner beauty as well it’s also useful to manage bloating because it helps get rid of the excess water and toxin build up from the bloat.  (For ladies that have to deal with this once every month its a life saver!)

Happy dry brushing

M

Dry Brushing Guide

Instant hydration facial mist!

With summer around the corner keep your skin refreshed and alive! Here is an alcohol free, organic facial mist you can make at home:

A few drops of vitamin E for moisture mixed with coconut water for hydration and you can also throw in your favorite antioxidant fruits and tadah! I try to stay away from citrus fruits because it goes directly on my face but its a beneficial use of vitamin C. I love chopped cucumbers and berries to go in mine.  You can also blend and extract the water of such antioxidants and include that in your mist.  It instantly refreshes your skin and wakes you up, also can be used on your body.

Most facial mists contain water and that tends to dry your skin therefore my preference is coconut water and the vitamin E will help balance the skin's moisture level which makes a good combination for the skin.  Vitamin E is also used to help preserve the life of the antioxidants in your homemade bottle just make sure to keep it cool in the fridge at all times. 

xO,
M

Homemade Facial Mist

Say NO to plastics!

What is BPA anyway?  Bisphenol A aka BPA. I believe the FDA just banned this chemical that has been used in plastic packaging and what not but I wanted to share this tad bit of information because most people might not be aware of this.  It has not yet been confirmed but BPA can have possible effects on the brain, hormones, heart problems, and increase risk of cancer.  We are said to have a lot of BPA in our bodies right now due to the accumulation of using plastic containers that we eat or drink from and even inhale!  If you think about it, almost everything includes the use of plastic, and this chemical! Although most companies are now stating their products are "BPA Free" the replacement of this chemical may still have the same affects as BPA if not worse. 

Here are some tips to combat this if you must use plastic:

- Don't heat your food in a plastic container
- Use less canned foods or package products
- Avoid plastic with number 3, 7, or 2, and 4 recycle codes

Last but not least avoid ALL plastics if you can of course, you will not be consuming BPA if you use glass, porcelain, or stainless steel.

Xo

Juice it or Blend it?!

That is the question! Ok so I had to get to the bottom of this since its such a trend right now and only because I am curious and would like to do things the right way if I'm going to do it.  I see this all the time, where juiced or blended fruits, and veggies are suppose to be of some health benefit to you.  Whether you want to lose weight cleanse your system or just get your nutrition in a bottle.  After much research, both are beneficial to the human body in their unique way! Juicing removes indigestible fiber from fruit and vegetables and extracts the vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients in juice form.  This helps absorb the nutrients faster into our bloodstream leaving the fiber out and helps cleanse our liver. Blending however includes all fiber and nutrients from the fruit and vegetables.  By preserving the fibers, blended drinks help the digestive track by pushing out toxins and leaving you with the good bacteria in our gut needed for a healthy and regular digestion.  There is still debate whether some blenders create too much heat and destroy the enzymes however some researchers have found that to be the opposite! Regardless, I invested in a cold press juicer and a good quality blender.  To get the most benefit out of this I juice on an empty stomach, usually in the mornings and blend when I need something hearty during meal time. (My book coming out soon will give details on how to prepare nutritional food to help shed pounds, get rid of toxins in your body and support a healthy digestion system)

 

Xo,

healthy living

M

Cleanse and exfoliate!

Currently my two favorite products I use that brings back life into my face are:



Vibrating Cleanser



Microdermabrasion Scrub

 I apply a dime size of the derma e microdermabrasion scrub on the foaming pad (disposable) that is attached to the wave then I gently massage over my damp face.  I make sure my face and the foaming pad is somewhat wet to activate product.  Immediately after you rinse your face you will feel a difference.  The texture of your skin will be soft and smooth as it scrubs away dull surface cells.  Applying foundation afterwards (which I don't recommend) gives you a flawless airbrushed look.

xo
M

Hello deep REM sleep Zzz

The most favorite part of my bedroom is my bed! Starting off with my pillow... I always was very picky about where my head would rest as a child. Over the past couple years I don't even put my head against a pillow anymore I just sleep resting my head flat on my bed.  Of course that resulted into having a sore neck in the morning and poor sleep.  After a few pillows later I realized which works best for me.  I've narrowed my search down to the "natural latex pillow"  its extremely comfortable and flexible. I use the shredded version which is literally shredded latex. You can shape it however you want and make it as firm as you want.  Although natural latex absorbs moisture its hypoallergenic and anti-microbial which prevents mold and mildew.  My second favorite is the kapok pillow it reminds me of goose feathers. The fibers come from a tree that gives it a silk like feeling and keeps away moisture.  If you are more old fashioned organic pure wool is another good pillow to rest your head.  Again, you will get a dry sleep it locks heat yet keeps away moisture something you can use all year round summer and winter. It keeps your head cool which means less tossing and turning and more sleep!  All my pillows and bedding have been purchased online for organic purposes.