New Holiday 2013 Urban Decay 3 Naked Palette dupes

It's been a while since I posted about any makeup lately but today i composed a beauty list of Naked Palette dupes. 

First up, the Sonia Kashuk Holiday 2013 Limited Edition Neutral Eyes Palette:

 

Sonia Kashuk Holiday 2013 Limited Edition Eye On Neutral Matte/Shimmer Palette

(retail: $29.99 at Target)

this palette is not on the Target website as of the time of this post So if you can't find it in stores yet, hold tight. It should be there soon. As you can see, this palette features both the original Eye on Neutral Matte and Eye on Neutral Shimmer palettes, all together in one palette. Since those two palettes retail for $19.99 each, this is a nice value for $29.99 

Over at Ulta, there's the LORAC Holiday 2013 Rockin' Red Hot Pro Palette:

 

LORAC Rockin' Red Hot Set

(retail: $39 at Ulta)

This set features the regular LORAC Pro Palette, but it comes with a liquid liner and eye shadow primer for $39 (the original Pro Palette comes with eye shadow primer and retails for $42).

And last but certainly not least:

I want to take a moment to discuss the Holiday 2013 Profusion Twinkle Twinkle 5-pan palettes that are now popping up at Walgreen's for $1 each. Several of you have mentioned these to me in the past few weeks, 

If you know of any other recent UD Naked dupes that are not on this list, I would LOVE to hear about them!

4 Super Moisturizers for Natural Hair

Moisturizers serve two primary purposes. 1.) add moisture 2.) prevent loss of moisture. In this article I will identify 4 of the best moisturizers to include into your hair regimen.

Water

Water is the ultimate moisturizer. Water equals moisture. To introduce or retain moisture, water must be present in your daily hair routine and diet. That’s right, moisturize your hair and body from the inside out by drinking water.  Also, using water-based products will combat frizzy dry hair.  Limit any hair care practices that deplete your hair of water such as excessive blow drying or coloring.

Humectants

Humectants naturally draw moisture from the environment into the hair. One of the most common is glycerin. Make sure your humectants are present in the first 5 ingredients of your hair products. You can purchase vegetable glycerin at most grocery and health food stores. Other humectants include honey and agave nectar.I add a 4:1 ratio of water to vegetable glycerin to my spray bottle for a daily hydrating mist. When using vegetable glycerin its important to use a sealant. I recommend a natural sealant like shea butter.  This will lock in moisture.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is a natural moisturizer and pH balancer for hair.  It doesn't matter if you’re using the juice or the gel; the properties are the same. I like to mix Aloe Vera gel with my homemade flax seed gel or whipped shea butter.

Hair Penetrating Oils

Coating Oils or oils that are impermeable to hair are not moisturizers. And oil and water doesn’t mix but hair penetrating oils are the exception to the rules. These oils aid the hair by increasing its ability to absorb and retain water molecules. These oils are coconut, olive and avocado oils. (Also read: Why These are the Best Oils For Natural Hair) I like to mix all three of these oils together and moisturize using the LOC method.Read 5 Ways Coconut Oil Prevents Hair Damage

                                                

Three Juicy Recipes That Will Render Your Hair Growth Supplements Unnecessary

I try to make enough juice to last two days because I kind of need that extra day to get over washing all those parts on the juicer the day before.

Many of us take supplements to help boost our hair growth, and if you check, most the ingredients in the pills can be found in the fruits and vegetables found in your produce isle.

There’s really nothing special in your recently purchased ‘Super Gro’ hair pills, they are simply synthetic versions of what mother nature gave us naturally to nourish our bodies, hair included.

With that said what if we could make a juice that could replace all the drugs? Depending on your ingredients, there are some specific juice recipes that are totally geared towards the health of hair so since sharing is caring here are a few deliciously simple juicy recipes that can replace your hair growth supplements.

Hair Growth Magic Juice

1/2 Cucumber 5 Large Carrots, ends trimmed 1 Apple This recipe is magical because of the carrots and the cucumber, not only are these ingredients refreshing, but cucumber is nature’s natural silicon and sulfur source that is specifically geared towards hair growth and health. Carrots have vitamin A which is essential for growth and overall hair health as well. The apples add sweetness and even though carrots are pretty sweet when juiced, it is a ‘special’ kind of sweet so adding an apple helps take the taste to a new level.


                                                       Healthy Tresses Elixir




¼ Cucumber 4 Large Carrots, ends trimmed 1 Large Tomato A common ingredient for most of these recipes will be vitamin A, found in carrots and tomatoes it contains antioxidants that condition and moisturize the scalp. It also fights free radicals that break down the hair making it weaker and it adds body and thickness to your hair. In addition to the vitamin A found in tomatoes, they also contain lycopene which fights cancerous cells which is great not only for your hair but your overall health.


                                                         Hair Loss Love Potion

1 Cup Sprouts (alfa-alfa for example)

1 Cabbage Leaves or 2 Brussel Sprouts

1 Cup Broccoli Florets

1 (Medium) Carrot

2 Slices Red Onion

1 Medium Beet & Beet Greens

1/2-1 Clove Garlic

This will not taste great but sometimes we just need to either man up or add a couple of apples to make things sweeter! This juice contains plenty of sulfur for hair growth, beta carotene for overall scalp health and increased circulation to assist with growth, and thickness of the hair.

It is geared towards individuals who are experiencing hair loss and the benefits are that the vitamins in the juice will stimulate the follicles and increase hair growth and stimulate regrowth of lost hair.

Other great tips to keep in mind if you really want to try to replace your supplements, is juice often at the very minimum once a day to ensure that your hair is constantly getting supplied with needed nutrients for health.

When everything is working correctly your hair benefits even more. Another great tip, is to never skip meals but rather drink your juice along with your healthy meal the idea is not to starve yourself but supplement your existing diet with a refreshing juice for ideal nutrition. If your diet is less than ideal I would recommend adding in plenty of lean protein, large salads and cutting out a lot of the processed food products. Feel free to name your juices any catchy hair growth related name you like, just as long as you are juicing and enjoying the process.

 Happy Juicing! 

5 though 10 Homemade Beauty Products

#10 Go Brunette!

Go from mousy brown to rich brown in the privacy of your own shower. Take a bottle of shampoo, squeeze out half, then fill the remaining space with cocoa, and, finally, shake vigorously. Shampoo as you routinely do and admire your rich hues. Your friends will definitely give two thumbs up to your new ‘do!

#9 Super Simple Homemade Bronzer

This one is so simple that you may feel skeptical, but it’s awesome! Simply combine ground cinnamon and nutmeg with cocoa powder and cornstarch. You may notice that there are no measurements, and this is because it is entirely up to you and your desired color. Play around before you settle on the ratio perfect for your skin. Before you gift it to a girlfriend, remember to consider her skin tone and make necessary adjustments.

#8 Face Off: Blueberry Face Mask

Your favorite summertime lunch can now be worn on your face to repair and exfoliate your skin. Mash up ten blueberries and combine with one tablespoon of Greek yogurt then apply to your face. Sit still for 20 minutes to soak in the antioxidants then rinse off with warm water. Admire your new skin with the fervor of Narcissus and take on the day!

#7 Homemade Nail Strengthener

Get ready for the smelliest beauty remedy on the list! Take a bottle of clear nail polish and add one, finely crushed, clove of garlic. Let this bizarre mixture sit for at least a week, and then apply it for tough as nails fingernails. We recommend applying it as a base coat once a week (make sure to remove it before applying more) to increase your nail power.

#6 Face Off: Oatmeal Face Mask

Yum, breakfast for your face! Mix 1/4 cup of ground oatmeal (yes, we definitely recommend tossing this in a food processor first) with 1/4 cup of warm water and two teaspoons of honey. Resist the urge to eat this, and instead spread it over your face and sit still for fifteen minutes. Now you can rinse away with warm water and enjoy the freshness of your skin

#5 Homemade Solid Perfume

Solid perfume is awesome, no question about it. Make your own with equal parts beeswax and carrier oil (we recommend two teaspoons of each) and essential oil. Melt the beeswax and carrier oil together then add essential oil until you get the scent you desire. For a stronger scent, try a sweet almond carrier oil; for a lighter scent, stick with a nice olive one.

Finding a Scent that going with your Favorite Seasons

Finding a fragrance that’s right for you can be a rather overwhelming process– especially if you walk into a department store and mulitple sales people start attacking you with bottles. Today we’re going to talk about how to get the most out of scent shopping. I want to share a few tips and tricks that I’ve learned along the way that can help narrow down your choices.

1. Try to go to a perfumery that specializes in helping you find the right scent. Search your area for a perfumery or apothecary, and if you can’t find one then opt for the nearest department store. It’s worth searching for one because the people who work in a perfumery or apothecary tend to be very passionate about what they do. You you want that when you invest in an expensive bottle of bliss! I go to Aroma Workshop in Chicago. I love walking in there because these people know their stuff. If you go, look for Maria– this Lady has got all your answers. She’ll ask you some questions about what you typically find yourself attracted to (if you don’t know they’ll help you figure that out, too!) and then She’ll walk you through variations in that fragrance family.
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4. Maria Says:  
   “Be open
      
   . Some commonly used notes in perfumes come loaded with assumptions (old ladies wear roses, hippies wear patchouli, musk is dirty). Perfumery is a complex and subtle art. One material used in one way will not even slightly resemble the same material used in another composition. Forget what you think you know and let yourself get lost in the smell.”
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7. Use the little paper tabs that are provided. It’s of course important to spray a perfume on your skin, but until you find one you’re really excited about and potentially want to purchase, you should only spray the tabs. When you spray the perfume on the tabs, avoid making contact with your nose. The scent will stay on your skin as you’re smelling every other fragrance.
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10. Learn about different notes! Everyone’s body chemistry is a little different so you can’t make a general statement about top, middle + base notes but… Typically the top note is the first thing you smell when you spray or dab perfume on the skin. It lasts about 5-15 short minutes so enjoy it! Next you’ll get the middle or “heart” notes which last about 30-45 minutes. Middle notes are intended to mask base notes that can sometimes be unpleasant alone or if they haven’t had time to settle in. Then the base notes which is what gives a fragrance it’s depth.
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13. Don’t smell coffee beans, smell you. I was always taught that smelling coffee beans between perfumes was a bad idea. I was taught that the best way to neutralize your nose was to smell your own bare skin. Sounds silly, but I typically turn my head and smell the skin near my shoulder because I don’t wear perfume there. It actually works and coffee beans just tend to confuse my nose.
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16. Find your family. The list below will help you identify your favorite fragrance families. It’s good to know this when you walk in to talk with someone.

It’s important to find your signature scent. Doing so should be on every woman’s bucket list.If you've  found yours, spill it! Would love to hear about your favorite perfumes and what you love about them in the comments below. If you want to do a little more research on fragrance.

Finding our Namaste

Ladies, it's National Yoga Month, so we have to pay homage to the spiritual and health benefits of the historic practice of yoga. It's a workout that should be an equal priority to cardio and weightlifting, but many of us don't put it on the top of our lists. Why? Perhaps there is a lack of access or focus on the benefits of yoga. With it being "Back to Health" season, now is the time to revisit our thoughts on yoga and how we can incorporate it into our workout regime.

Yoga benefits include:

• Reduced stress
• Increased flexibility
• Proper balance
• Cleaning our blood of waste material
• loosen muscles and joints that are ignored in our day-to-day lives

I personally prefer a class called Body Flow. It's a mix of yoga, Pilates  and tai chi! It's choreographed to nice relaxing music and ends with a few minutes for mediation. It's the perfect way to start a Sunday morning before heading into the work week!

Access to yoga is now easier than ever! You can go to a class at your local gym, buy a DVD, or use your cable programming right in the comfort of your living room.

I challenge each of you to try a Yoga class at least once this month in honor of National Yoga Month. If you already practice yoga, I challenge you to invite a friend to join you to spread the namaste!

How to grow longer eyelashes naturally

It is said that the real beauty of the eye is defined by its lashes. Long, dark and beautiful eyelashes have some sort of appeal that the eye looks absolutely gorgeous. For this many women die to have long and thick eyelashes, and this choice drives them towards the purchases of various lashes enhancing formulas. Mascaras are one of the most adored women cosmetic because it provides a layer of style and beauty to the eye. Similarly, the trend of wearing fake eyelashes is also widely seen. There are ample artificial ways to fulfill the desire of getting bold eyelashes, but how about trying to get the same effect naturally?

 Swap through all the natural medications and remedies and get beautiful eyelashes naturally;

Use of oil:

Make a habit of applying either castor or olive oil each night before to end up in bed. In order to do this, you just need a pair of clean mascara brush and apply it in the same way as you wear mascara. In case, you don’t have a mascara brush, you can just use your fingers for applying the oil. Next morning you can simply wash and face and get rid of sticky oil on the lashes and wear whatever makeup you do.

Use petroleum jelly:

You have to leave the petroleum jelly on the eyelashes overnight and follow the same procedure that used for applying olive or castor oil.

Use egg white:

You may have the complaint that you lose your eyelashes frequently. If you are intending to make them stronger, then just use the mixture of egg white and castor oil. Use 2 drops from both the mixture and mix them together, apply with the lashes brush and leave it overnight.

Minimize the time of cosmetics:

Your eyelashes would always need fresh air, so try to remove the eyeliner or mascara as soon as you are home from the occasion. Also, keep your eye lashes free from cosmetics most of the time and make sure the applied cosmetic gets removed properly.

Avoid the use of fake eyelashes:

It is said that fake eyelashes harm the natural ones, so try not to use them, if not necessary. Also, many use Kohl on a daily basis; however, it is said that should be used because it contains lead which affects the eye health.

Check for eye dandruff:

Eyelashes get badly affected with eye dandruff, so make sure you are not having one such issue. It weakens the eye hair and leads to eyelash loss.

Healthy eating:

Make sure your intake of food is healthy. Try to consume fresh fruits and vegetables so that intake of vitamins and proteins inside the body increases. Also, add whole grain items in your meal. Fish, red and white meat is also very essential for the health and growth of eyelashes. Indeed, a better health inside increases the beauty of the body outside.