Five secrets to look younger

We all want to look younger...no one can deny that.

We all want to look fresh, glowy and healthy.

Some say these "looks" come from within depending on how happy you really are.

I think is a combination of this PLUS a few simple tricks I have learned along the way.

1.Fuller Eyebrows

It is a proven fact that eyebrow hair can thin from aging just like scalp hair does. It is a result form years of plucking, rubbing or painting them with pencils and makeup.
Go dig some old photos of yourself when you were a teenager and there is a high chance you had fuller eyebrows and now you don't, either because you repeatedly plucked them because thinner eyebrows were "in" or because they naturally thinned out.
So, I think if you stop plucking them thin...and maybe let them grow fuller you will get a more youthful effect.

google images

Homemade Facial Scrub-n-berries

I had been meaning to make this as fellow blogger Sara from Aqui which is one of my favorite blogs, not only cause she rocks but she also lives in Hawaii and wait, not only that, but she has so many exotic fruits growing in her backyard! (geez, who can blame me for being jealous huh?? :)

She posted a while ago a fruit scrub like this one. I was hesitant at first, since I had already tried it once a few years back and the scrub always ended watery and the sugar dissolving. Then another blogger saved the day and took the time to explain to me step by step! Thanks Amber!

Spring Nails & Blossoms

Spring and Summer are my favorite seasons

Something is different in the sunlight

the smell of the flowers in the air

the colors of the sky.

Back to the 80's

Like I had told you all before on my last post,I bought a CK mascara in electric blue. I decided to try it with the liquid eye liner from Stila (midnight).
And since it reminded me so much like the 80's, I decided to go all the wary with this fuschia lipstick from Sephora. I don't know the name since it came in a makeup kit, so sorry!
What do you think?

Trying beauty products!!

Just came from Ulta, and as usual, I bought more items that what I actually needed ( of course) but who can blame me? With a whole new set of priorities on my list,I hardly go shopping anymore, so....I deserve it!
I went to buy a concealer because my favorite one from Mac had ran out like a month ago and all I was using was my amazing BB cream from Boscia. I wanted to try to be a risk taker and check other brands. I tried several from Benefit, all of them leaving me with concealer creases around my eyes ( ugh) and tried others from two other (very expensive ) brands that had great coverage but in two seconds left me with those ugly makeup creases that make you look wrinkled and old ( yikes). Lets face it, when people talk to you, they look at your eyes more than anything ( unless you are Angelina Jolie that is)
Anyhoo...one of the girls at Ulta introduced me to this primer from Benefit Stay don't Stray and as soon as I put it on,I knew I had to take it. And it works as a  concealer too!! No creases! And that has been four hours ago.
So what do you do at Ulta when you finally find what you were looking for? Keep looking for more stuff of course! (duh!)
So I bought this luscious mint lip balm from Eos, this Stila major lash mascara, O.P.I. Matte top coat and this It's a 10 miracle hair mask which I have never tried.
I will keep everyone posted on how good this mascara and hair mask really are in a future post.
But in the meantime, what do you think of this matte top coat? I wanted to try it in different colors...yay or nay??
Have a great weekend!!

5 shades of matte

Ok, so it's really only four shades of matte, and one that is glossy, which makes me wonder...this post should've been named " four mattes and a glossy"...

ooh well! I know for a fact that you ( yes, you who reads this blog) already know by now how crazy, and aloof I can be, to the point I sometimes forget what day it is ( my last post is the perfect proof of this).

Anyhoo, I have a new obsession...

My obsessions change from time to time...

I am so loving matte right now! 

 I just think it really draws attention to your lips.

Which one of these shades from Revlon do you like best?

Hair trouble!

If you are like me, the way your hair looks will contribute in a positive or rather negative way in how WE will look. Am I right?

I sometimes wish there would be something, anything, 

that would make my hair look shiny without having to apply some form of heat to it...

I have tried the mayo mask, the avocado mask, the coconut deep conditioner, the keratin serums..

just about everything. 

Don't take me wrong, they work and I always see the result after I either blow dried or ironed my hair. 

Oh how I wish I could let my hair dry naturally without I being afraid of people thinking I am the Real Mufasa!

I am currently using these products, however I would love to know which products 

you use that leaves your hair shiny after the shower, 

without the need of the blow drier nor the flat iron.

Come on, help this crazy lady with the mane now will ya?

Let's Party and Sparkle!!

The last day of 2012 everyone!

I am excited to say goodbye to this year and start a new one.

I love new beginnings and I love all types of celebrations.

Tonight my nails will sparkle with the most spectacular

silver glittery nail polish from Essie

I used Essie 's "LadyLike"

as a base to give the silvery sparkle a boost while

still looking delicate and feminine.

Gold is for Christmas..Silver is all about New Years!!

Have a wonderful night

full of future dreams,

positive friends

loving family

and lots of good champagne!

Beauty Product Must Haves

I do not know if I have mentioned before that I am subscribed to Birchbox and every month I receive a box with some beauty products.

This last box I received two products that have literally changed my life! 

Like always, I believe that we should share the products we love with one another so we can all benefit.

Sunlight

Sun Hat: Target

Boots: Steve Madden

I haven't been to the beach for a while now..and my shin is as white as can be.

Even though I kinda dig my shoulder freckles, I think I am done with suntanning.

Wow, I even feel kinda weird saying this out loud.

I AM DONE.(yikes!)

I am not getting any younger and my skin can really use a break from the powerful blond

From now on, lots of sunBLOCKING, sunglasses and hats...like this one!

PS. Of course I will use sunless tanning creams..DUH!

xx

Dark Spot Solution

Happy Monday everyone!

Just wanted to make a quick post on two products that I highly recommend to erase dark spots.

Even though I love the beach and sunbathing, I have noticed that through the years, my face was covered with dark spots from the sun, and every time I dared to go to the beach without sunblock, I would get these dark patches, especially on top of my upper lip.

I was mortified.

This meant that if I ever wanted to have a tan, it would have to be from the neck down.

Tanned body, white face: Awkward!!

Still, that is just something I will have to deal with.

I discovered that a good makeup bronzer is something worth investing.

I had found the solution to that problem.

Still, My dark spots where there.

Palmers Skin Success is a Hydroquinone based cream that helped me erase my dark spots.

It has its fair share of bad reviews, as a suppose other great creams do too. Some don't like its smell, some say its toxic.

All I know is that at a cheap price, my dark patches were gone. and it didn't take me more that 5 months.

Concha de Nacar de perlop is a funny story. This cream is quite famous in Puerto Rico and other Spanish speaking countries and the ads for it were just so CORNY!

I still decided that I didn't have much to loose by giving it a try.

It consists of oyster shell powder which is known to aid in tissue regeneration, promoting and accelerating cell renewal.

It also contains lemon juice, salicilic acid among others.

Its recommended to be left for 30-60 minutes on your face.

A picture of me back in 2010.

You can easily see my dark spots.

With my mom back in 2010.

I had to use a lot of makeup, especially darker blush to try to disguise my patches.

Recent picture of me and my hubby.

Without a lot of makeup in plain sunlight

I have no expertise on beauty products.

I am just a woman who is willing to try PRODUCTS at an affordable price before going to the expensive ones...

I like to recommend what has really worked for me.

I am aware though that we all have different skin types and that our results may be completely different.

But we will never know that until we try them.

 xx

Glitter Love

Just added a new color to my nail collection.

It just screamed at me.

I'm serious.

When this kind of thing happens to me in the middle of a store, I just obey.

I hope she blends in with the "others" on my nail polish bag, something about her makes me think she is an attention seeker.

Drama on its way...for sure!

Dig it?

xx

DIY Make-Up Remover

A few months back, I have been trying to look for natural alternatives to everything I use for my face.
I posted the Strawberry Facial Scrub a few months ago and now I have made my own makeup remover.
Since I was chiquita, my mom used to use Witch Hazel on her face to freshen up.This has been known to reduce blemishes and spots, shrink bags under eyes and tighten pores. She always maintained a bottle of it in the fridge. It was so refreshing!! So I have kept using it as well.

Extra Virgin olive oil is one of the most nutritious items you can have in your kitchen. Especially if you use it on the skin. You can use  Organic Coconut oil instead of the Olive oil, just make sure it is Virgin and unrefined. I decided to mix both of these two miracle potions and tried it for a month. I will never go back to using expensive disposable makeup remover pads that are filled with perfumes and other "stuff" I really do not know about!!

all images from Google

Basically, all you got to do is mix some of the EVOO (or Coconut oil) in a container with the witch hazel.

Oil and water will not mix, even though I tried whisking it slowly like chefs do to do dressings. This is not important though, you will shake the container with the two ingredients vigorously every time before you use.

Pour the Make-Up Remover on a nice big cotton ball.

Start with your eyes since usually is the area that we apply more makeup, including mascara.

Let the makeup remover settle for a few seconds so its starts to break down your makeup and then swipe.

Do this to your whole face until cottons come out clean.

Since Witch Hazel is an astringent it will mostly cut out the greasiness of the olive oil and you will end with a refreshed and moisturized face...

and CLEAN!

Do you have any favorite makeup remover?

Do you dare to try this one or do you feel skeptical about it?

Share your ideas!

xx

Nails Just wanna have FUN!

My nails have gone for a ride!

I mean it they are determined to have fun this year...cause I must admit I have neglected them enough.

But hey do NOT judge me, my nails behave sooo bad that they don't even deserve a post...they chip all the time, and manicures do not last me more than 2 days.

This year I am trying to embrace coloring my nails every 2 days instead of frowning upon with a big pout.

With all the cute colors that have come out recently from baby blue to bright yellow, I have decided to not hold a "grudge" and let them party. After all, they do deserve it once in a while right?

Who doesn't??

Farah

10 Beauty Products I Swear by

Good Morning everyone! I wanted to make a post of some of the products that I use religiously. Most of these I have discovered by accident, while others by reference. Let me start by saying that I am well aware that we are all different. We have different needs and desires in terms of hair, skin and beauty, but in my opinion they have worked in a very positive way and wanted to share them with you, cause if we cant help each other out, who will eh?

Mac Select Cover -Up

This little tiny bottle can last you, well, if I told you it lasted me a year would you believe me? I knew you wouldn't, that's why I was so hesitant to tell you, but hey, its true.

Just a tiny drop on each eye will do the trick. It is magic and covers up in a very natural way.

Voluminous Mascara by Loreal

Ok! Here is the thing: I have good lashes,they are long enough and thick enough. Still, I have tried plenty of mascaras that promise longer and fuller lashes. I always end up regretting I didn't stick with my voluminous mascara. I always receive compliments on my lashes and trust me, with other mascaras, my lashes don't look half as long or full.

Crest Complete Scope Outlast

Whoever wants to jump out and say "hey! toothpaste is not a beauty product!" I will say to them "hold your horses!" If you look like a diva, but have yellow teeth and bad breath, you can forget about everything else.

This toothpaste I swear, is the BEST! It is like a mouthwash, toothpaste and whitener at the same time.

Its freshness is long lasting and once you try it...you wont go back to your regular one.

Yes! You are reading correctly!! Sally Hansens Lip Inflation Extreme

I discovered this magical lip gloss by accident one time I was in a hurry and I saw the nice nude color and decided to try it...thank god I did that!

The gloss, the color, the taste, I love everything about this product and it plumps your lips and you really notice it! I have tried $15-$20 lip plumper and have done nothing to me.

St. Ives Hydrating Vitamin E

Let me just say, I love body creams.

I love the ones from Victoria's Secret, and the ones from Bed and Body Works. Still, this one wins for the following reasons:

1. It hydrates deep within your skin.It absorbs quickly, your skin feels hydrated but you wont have that greasy residue creams usually leave behind. Now, if you sweat, you will feel the cream coming out. 
2. This would be the perfect cream to put on after a sunburn. It has even prevented me to peel when I go overboard taking sun. 
3. Its large vase will last longer and it is usually cheaper than other creams. 

Ion Healing Jojoba Flat Iron Cream

I must admit I have too much hair in my head to use the flat iron that often and I can be very lazy in terms of my hair, but I have always admired women that can turn their hair from curly, frizzy thick hair to silky completely straight and FLAT! I was desperate! I had used everything and I never got this result unless I went to the beauty salon, which I am so lazy for that as well.

This product will do the trick!

You just put some small amount in your towel dried hair and let your hair dry naturally. Later pass the flat iron and you will have silky smooth and straight hair...LOVE IT!

PS....and it smells soooo good!! ;))

Believe it or not, this beach bum "TRIES" to look for safer methods to suntans...I love sunbathing, but I have to admit that either I cant go to the beach every day or my conscience keeps nagging that I shouldn't continue taking sun like a teenager. Jergens Natural Glow is the only cream I have used that does not leave streaks and gives you a nice natural color with a few days of using it daily. oh and it also firms and tightens...that is never bad.

Chi Silk Infusion is a product that I use every time I finish either blow drying or after using the flat iron.It gives the extra polish and it smells so nice you will actually believe you are coming out of a beauty salon...well, at least for me :)

Palmers Skin Success Even Tone Fade Cream

It has the perfect amount of Hydroquinone (2%) that helps erase dark spots caused by age, sun and even surgery but it wont irritate like a higher does could. I also put it on my elbows ;)

Paul Mitchell Shampoo and Conditioner.

Not only it comes in this huge container that will last approximately 5 months or more, now the conditioner comes in a smaller one which is very convenient because I always finished the shampoo first and then was left with 1/8 of conditioner floating around. At $25 for both I find its a very good prize.

It does not make my hair greasy or dull, It's just PERFECT!

Do you have any beauty products that you can swear by?

I would love to add some to my list!

Have a lovely day!

Besito,

Farah

Mutliple ways to wear one scarf

  I found this scarf a few days ago and the colorful pastels just captivated me. It has like five different patterns that makes this piece of cloth more versatile. You can wrap it around the specific pattern that you want to show. I think scarves like this, are a wonderful way to finish any outfit.

The classic headband