February 16, 2010

Diva Skin Care – Avocado Pulp as Bedtime Facial Treatment?


What exactly is Holistic skin care?

Simply put, it involves using natural products to pamper yourself with. The concept behind this principle has something to do with the way nature works to preserve a woman’s beauty through the components and ingredients found in organic products. Also, how treating the whole body with natural products can help the skin look and feel better… that is, BETTER than when you use synthetic products.

Here’s an example of how you can apply the principle of holistic skin care … Use Avocado Pulp as a facial mask.

You can always count on fruits to provide the natural products that can nourish skin. For this reason, the people you see applying crushed avocado on their skin to soften it aren’t crazy. They’re actually taking advantage of avocado’s natural moisturizing properties. The equivalent of this is lathering your face with layers of moisturizing lotion every night, and still not get the same effect. This is because the natural grits in the avocado pulp also act as soft exfoliants that can cleanse your skin as you massage in the pulp.

Open up one avocado and use half to pamper your skin (you can always use the other half to make a quick dessert, just add milk!). It helps of your avocado fruit has been refrigerated prior to use. Crush the pulp and apply to skin for thirty minutes before you go to sleep. Rinse very well with water afterward.

Note that this doesn’t apply if you have acne or overly sensitive skin. The pectin in the fruit pulp might cause inflammation, or worse, the fruit residues might get stuck inside the inflamed pores if you don’t wash it off properly.

Now, before you rush off to buy avocados, remember the second thing you need to know about holistic skin care. Get only ORGANIC products (or those that aren’t genetically modified or inundated with synthetic pesticides). Some of the more popular fruits get genetically altered to produce more sugar or nutrients, so they may have different substances in them compared to completely organic fruits.

Essential Wardrobe for a Diva: Basic Clothing You Must Have in Your Closet

Clothes create a person’s image. Without anyone telling you, you already know the importance of clothes for divas like you. You have so many options as far as style is concerned but there are basic items you absolutely must have in your closet.

On top of your ‘must haves’ list is a white shirt. It’s a classic wardrobe item you can wear if there really isn’t anything else that goes with that new skirt or pair of shorts. It can be worn with denims for a casual look and a balloon skirt for creating an instant summer ensemble. I need not say that your basic white tee must fit extremely well. Take your time trying on several designs, and always mind the neckline.

If your face is round-shaped, wear a white tee with a vee neck rather than a rounded neck (vice versa if you have an angular face).

It can also be used with trousers of any color and design for a business casual clothes. The best thing about white tee shirts is that they’re available in lycra and cotton. Lycra is recommended for better fit, but cotton is a lot cooler on the skin.

Next, the tiny black dress.

Each girl must own a tiny black dress that can be worn just in case an emergency party comes along and you have to be ready in two shakes! You can modify your look using accessories, since your black dress is the perfect blank canvas for any look. If you’re not very funky and want to stick to the very basics, out on just a few accessory items for that classic look. For a more outgoing style, use big accessories with beads and all the trimmings. Your black dress is plain and wearing flashy accessories is ok.

Lastly, have a well-fitted pair of denims around for when you have to run to the store or you’re out of other clothes. Denim can be worn several times prior to washing (just mind the smell) because of the durability of the material. In most cases, you don’t even have to iron it, unlike trousers.

January 9, 2010

Diva Hobbies: Homemade Soap Making

If you’re like me, you probably want to see a video tutorial on soap making before you even start buying your ingredients. Here’s a good Soap Making Video Tutorial for you. Click the link!

We all use soap. In the old days, most people made their own. Today, we are much more likely to buy it from the store. There are lots of brands to choose from, and each brand has various formulations and scents.

But making your own soap has some definite advantages. One of the most significant is the price. We can make soap much cheaper than we can buy it. Making it ourselves also gives us complete control over the ingredients, so we can create a soap that’s perfect for our skin type in a scent of our choosing.

How to Make Homemade Soap?

Making soap is much easier than you might think. It is, however, important to take certain safety precautions. Here’s a basic recipe:

Ingredients

* 12 cups lye crystals
* 5 cups softened water
* 6 pounds lard

Instructions

1. Put water in a glass or plastic bowl. Carefully pour lye into water, stirring constantly with a plastic or wooden spoon. This should be done outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, because it produces caustic fumes.
2. Mixing lye and water produces heat. When the lye is completely dissolved, set the mixture aside to cool.
3. Place lard in a stainless steel or enamel pan. Melt over low heat.
4. Allow both the lye solution and the lard to cool to room temperature.
5. Slowly pour the lye solution into the lard, stirring slowly and constantly with the plastic or wooden spoon.
6. Continue stirring after all of the lye solution has been added. Drizzle a small amount of the mixture into the pot periodically. When the soap keeps its shape for a moment before sinking into the mixture, you can add scent, color and herbs.
7. Pour the soap into a mold greased with Crisco. Wrap in a towel, and let set for about 18 hours or until completely cooled. Uncover and let set for 12 more hours.
8. The soap may now be unmolded and cut into bars. Let the bars cure for 3 to 4 weeks before using.

Customizing Your Soap

There are lots of different ways you can customize your soap. To make the best soap for your skin type, you may want to use different oils. Some that are commonly used include olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter and shea butter. The correct amount varies depending on which oil you use, so look for recipes online or in books until you get the hang of it.

Essential oils have therapeutic properties and add fragrance. Oatmeal, cornmeal and other grains can be added as exfoliants. And skin-safe colorants may be used to produce the desired color. These ingredients should be mixed together and added to a cup of the soap mixture, then stirred into the rest of the soap mixture immediately before pouring into the mold.

Making your own soap is easy, and it can be lots of fun. Coming up with the perfect concoction for your skin is rewarding, and sweetly scented homemade soaps make wonderful gifts for any occasion.

Check out this video tutorial on soap making before you buy your ingredients! Here it is… Soap Making Video Tutorial!

November 13, 2009

Themed Holiday Glasses for the Diva

Who would have thought that there was a place that sold Holiday Fun Eyeglasses? It’s a good idea for any diva out there who loves attending Christmas and New Year parties. Some of the New Arrivals on Zenni include Christmas themed glasses like the one below.

themed glasses

What’s surprising is that these glasses are pretty cheap. After all, these are from the same company that sold $8 Prescription Zenni Glasses worldwide. Check them out yourself and choose one that suits your party mood during the Holidays.

Have a Merry Diva Christmas!

November 2, 2009

Want to Add Bangs to Your Hairstyle? – Two Tips

Every diva wants a perfect haircut! We find ourselves poring over magazines searching for the cutest hairstyles on our favorite celebrities. But, beware. What looks good on someone else might not look good on you due to several factors. If you have ever had a hairstyle backfire on you, read on…

One main issue in hairstyling is the bangs. First of all, do you need one? The shape of your face may have to be considered if you want to add bangs. Remember, the wisps of hair that frame your face can also be considered accessories that may enhance your beauty or hide it.

Things to Consider If You Want to Add Bangs to Your Hairstyle

#1: Your Hair’s Texture – If you have ultra straight hair, you can add bangs. However, curly-haired divas need not fret. You can add longer bangs that should be layered to frame your face.

#2: Forehead – The volume of bangs you want to add to your hairstyle depends on how flat or dome-like your forehead is. Longer bangs, plus sidebangs, are ok for a big forehead, while bangs that originate from the crown can suit someone with a small forehead.

One rule of thumb to adding bangs is the skin sensitivity of the diva. If you are prone to breakouts, you might want to do away with bangs. Hair covering your forehead might irritate the skin under it, particularly if you use styling products on your hair. Also, repeated combing and styling of your bangs may be abrasive to skin

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