Beauty 101

While doing this Victoria's Secret challenge it's not only about loosing weight it's also about taking care of my body. So I've decided to put together some of the tips and guidelines I'm following:

The Detox Bath:

Add 5-10 green tea bags to your bath while the water is running. The green tea will detox your body, relax you, and give your skin all the minerals it needs.

http://greentea.autocontentwriter.com

Use Protection:

Okay, yes that sounds sexual but I'm taking about your skin. You should always wear sunscreen even if its cold and cloudy outside, your skin is still vulnerable to harmful UV rays. The healthier your skin looks the younger and healthier you look.

Morning Wake Up:

To get you up and going in the morning start off the day with a nice hot cup of water and lemon. The lemon will wake up your sense, soothe the throat, and purify your body. The vitamin C also cuts down the amount of free radicals in your skin which makes it healthier.

http://www.winkyboo.com/blog/healthy-boost-for-the-week-warm-lemon-water/

Exfoliate!:

This is so important! You should exfoliate your skin (including your legs) twice a week. There are lots of great recipes at home you could use and I recommend these anyways since most store bought ones have harmful chemicals in them. Here are a two of my favorites:

1. ¾ cup coffee grounds, ¼ cup brown sugar, and a dash of olive oil. This helps fight cellulite, exfoliates your skin, and gives it a healthy glow while moisturizing it.

2. 2 tablespoons honey, 2 tablespoons oatmeal, 2 tablespoons lemon. Leave on for 15 minutes, rinse with warm water. Oatmeal is a natural exfoliator, honey soothes the face, and lemon minimizes pores.

http://www.thebestmakeupproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/exfoliate-your-body.jpg

Face Beauty:

I have an obsession with face masks! They always make my skin so soft and I get a glow after. Plus my skin looks and feels healthier. Here are a few of my favorites:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198580723689/

1. 2 teaspoons honey & 2 teaspoons lemon. Leave on face for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

2. 3 parts baking soda & 1 part water. Make into a paste and apply in a circular motion & rinse. Another version of this would be 1 tablespoon of honey mixed with 1 teaspoon of baking soda. Add a few drops of water to form a paste and apply to face. Leave on for 1 minute and rinse with warm water.

Fake It:
That's right fake it! Fake tans are the safest and look just the same as if you spent hours in the sun. With this said there are healthy and harmful ways to fan tan. Lotions, some spray tans, and DIY home tans are usually healthy whereas the tanning bed is not. Research some of the ways to get your fake glow on!

www.beautylish.com

Keep Off:
Stop touching your face! The skin on your face is the most sensitive on your body. The more you pull and pick at it the worse it will get. Plus the oils on your hands could cause you to break out. So keep off!

Cut it Close:
We've all had the razor bumps, cuts, and stubble left behind so try this for soft close shaven legs! Shave regularly, then use an olive oil and sugar scrub, shave again. This removes the dead skin cells and leaves skin smooth and soft. You can also try shaving with baby oil gel instead of shaving cream. This also leaves legs super soft and stubble free.

For Long Lashes:
Every girls dream is to have naturally full and long lashes. Well try this: clean out an old nail polish bottle. Fill ¼ of the bottle with castor oil, ½ the bottle with vitamin E, and a ¼ the bottle with aloe vera gel. Use a cleaned old mascara wand and apply to lashes before bed for a month and see your results! The castor oil thickens lashes, aloe vera gel lengthens lashes, and vitamin E accelerates growth.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198582357125/

White Toes:
If you're like me you hate your feet/toes. I've always been so self conscious about them and having my toe nails painted makes me feel 1,000 times better about my feet. But this is pretty cool because it naturally whitens your toes. Mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Brush onto your toes and then let toes soak in paste for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. It may take a few times to get the white you desire but it works!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198582210494/

Soft Feet:

Feet get dry and cracked especially during hot summers and dry winters. Try this to keep your feet nice and soft! Mix ¼ cup of Listerine (any kind but I like the blue), ¼ cup of vinegar, and ½ cup of warm water. Soak feet for 10 minutes and when you take them out, the dead skin will practically wipe off!

Silky Hair:
A deep conditioner is a lifesaver for dry damaged hair. Try adding olive oil to your regular conditioner:

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198582077448/

Dry Shampoo:

Let's be honest we don't always have time to wash and dry our hair. Dry shampoo is a life saver. Try this DIY dry shampoo for when you're on the go: 6-10 drops essential oil (lemon or lavender), 2 tablespoons corn starch, 2 tablespoons rice flour, and 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder. Put this mixture in an old salt shaker and sprinkle on roots.

Detox Waters:

I'm all about cleansing the body, and these simple recipes will do the trick plus they taste great! You can make your own combinations of these fruits and herbs. All you need is 1-2 liters of cold water and any of these:

1. Cucumber

2. Lemon

3. Mint

4. Watermelon

5. Lime

White Teeth:

Everyone wants that pearly white smile, and yes you can always buy the whiten strips in the store but for an at home DIY version try this! All you need is a little bit of toothpaste, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and a ½ teaspoon water. Mix thoroughly and brush onto your teeth, leave on for 2 minute then rinse. Do this twice a week until you reach the results you want. After you've got your results limit this routine to once every month or two. You can also dip a cotton ball in a lemon juice and baking soda solution and rub onto teeth, leave for 1 minute and then brush teeth to remove acids. I saw results the first time I did this!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198581185803/

Spa Day:

Who doesn't love to get pampered and have a spa day? Try these!

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198580363395/

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/16818198580346252/

Lip Scrub:

Mix brown sugar, honey, and olive oil together to get super soft and smooth lips! Mwah!

Sea Spray:

I love the way hair looks after being in the ocean, that beautiful wave look. Well here's how you can make it at home. 1 cup warm water, 1 tablespoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon coconut oil, and 1 teaspoon gel. Mix, shake, and spray on your hair. 

From Around The World:

I love hearing beauty secrets from all over the globe. Different cultures use different remedies and me being a beauty tip fanatic I LOVE it! Here are a few that I've found that are my favorite.

Australian Hair:

This is super simple but really works! Plus its natural. Try putting a few drops of tea tree oil or eucalyptus oil in your shampoo. These oils will eliminate dandruff and hydrate your scalp, leaving your hair healthy.

Spanish Dark Circles:

I have always had dark under eye circles and I HATE them with a passion! I've tried lots of different things but the spanish beauties really know how to get rid of them. Instead of using cucumber slices they use thin slices of potatoes. Leave on your eyes for about 10-15 minutes. The potatoes actually lighten your skin which makes the bruised look fade.

Brazilian Booty:

If the brazilians are know for two things its their coffee and their booties! Brazilian ladies are known for their great butts and lack of cellulite. This is their secret: sand. Yup that's right sand. Women from Brazil rub sand all over their bodies. The sand stimulates your skin and aids in eliminating cellulite.

Indian Hair:

Women from India have such long, thick, and shiny hair. How do they do it? Coconut oil! It can strengthen your hair if it's getting thinner. All you have to do is heat up coconut oil and massage it into your hair once a week. Sleep with it in a shower cap and rinse the next morning. You'll definitely see results! Your hair will be thicker, shinier, and healthier in no time!

Italian Luscious Lips:

When I think Italy I think romance, with romance comes kissing! No wonder these Italians can't keep their hands…or lips off each other when they have such soft kissable lips! These ladies use olive oil to rub on their lips (Greek women use it as well). The olive oil not only softens your lips but hydrates them as well.

Scandinavian Skin:

It's well known that Scandinavian women have beautiful skin. Their secret is super simple. Water. That's it just water. Not only do they drink TONS of it but they bathe their faces in it as well. The secret is it has to be ice cold water. Splash your face about 20 times with ice cold water everyday to get that beautiful healthy skin. 

China's Anti-aging:

To keep skin young and healthy Chinese women drink lots of white tea. It purges skin form free radicals and keeps you healthy!

Latin Super Fruit:

South American and Latin beauties know that avocados are one of the best kept beauty secrets of all time. Avocados give the hair a lustrous shine, enhanced growth, and make your skin glow. The monounsaturated fats in avocados are the secret weapon of this fatty fruit. Avocados are also full of Vitamin E, folate, magnesium, chlorophyll, potassium, and fiber. As well as a great source of plant protein. Eating avocados enhances your hair, skin, and your weight since the fats help keep you fuller longer which prevents overeating. 

French Nails:

Every woman knows what I'm talking about when I say nail stains. Those ugly yellow stains from nail polish. French women use lemons to get rid of them! All you have to do is remove nail polish with a nail removal as usual then soak nails in lemon juice for 10-15 minutes, and voila! No more stains.

Brazilian Glow:

Another thing Brazilian women are known for…their beautiful glowing tans. There secret doesn't lie with the sun, its carrots! These Brazilian babes drink 4 ounces of carrot juice a day. It gives your skin a natural glow and can even clear up acne. Beta-carotene is a wonderful nutrient that slows aging and causes skin to look golden tan. Just don't go over board, or you might end up looking orange! You can also get the same results by eating three servings of carrots, sweet potatoes, or winter squash a day.

Indian Skin:

Turmeric is said to work miracles for all kinds of problems, including brain, skin, tummy, and heart health. This is because of the rich sources of antioxidants that the orange spice turmeric contains. It's the main spice used in curry. Indian women use turmeric to energize their skin. They do this by creating it into a paste with water. This enhances circulation to the skin and the body. It also removes bacteria from the skin. To get all the benefits, use turmeric masks on your face and eat it as well. Try is in tea, soups, or with other seasonings.

Italian Egg Wash:

Italian women use egg whites to moisturize their hair. The egg whites give their hair a glow while hydrating it. All you need to do is whip up two egg whites, apply it to your hair, leave it in for 10 minutes, then rinse and wash hair normally.

Hope this helped! And here is one of my favorite blogs and reference guides! It's 101 Beauty Tips every girl should know and they are absolutely great. It's like a beauty bible!