DIY all-natural foundation

 Recipe brought to you by: Scratch Mommy

When it comes to makeup, foundation is one thing you definitely want to make sure is made of natural ingredients. An abundance of foundations on the market are filled with not-so-natural ingredients, potentially harming more than just your skin. But not this one.

Here’s what you need:

Ingredients:

• 1.5oz Almond Oil (or unrefined, raw, organic carrier oil of your choice; learn more about carrier oils here and purchase them here)
• 1oz Shea Butter (organic, raw, unrefined shea butter like this)
• .5oz Cocoa Butter (organic, raw, unrefined cocoa butter like this)
• .5oz Beeswax (this is by far my favorite beeswax)
• 1/8t Vitamin E (make sure it’s not from GMO sources; this is my favorite Vitamin E)
• .5oz Zinc Oxide (make sure it is uncoated, non-nano, and not micronized; purchase the zinc oxide here)
• Cocao Powder (organic cocao (or cocoa) powder like this)
• Cinnamon (organic cinnamon like this)

Tools:

• Double-boiler (I just make my own with a glass bowl over a pot of shallow simmering water)
• Kitchen scale (this is my favorite kitchen scale)
• Whisk
• Container for finished product (see more below re: container choices)

Make It:

• Using your scale and the tare function, measure and combine the first five ingredients into the glass bowl into your double-boiler.
• DO NOT add the zinc oxide, cocoa powder, or cinnamon!
• Completely  melt the first five ingredients, stirring occasionally with your whisk.
• Remove from heat and allow time to cool a bit (a few minutes…and wipe excess moisture off the outside of your bowl, too).
• Place your bowl back on the scale, hit tare, and add in spoonfuls of zinc oxide until you get to .5oz. This gives you approximately a 20 SPF coverage. Whisk to completely combine.
• Add 1/8t cinnamon; whisk to combine.
• Add cocoa powder a little at a time and whisk to get to the color you need…
  • 1/2T cocoa powder is a light foundation
  • 1/2T plus 1t is a medium foundation
  • 1/2T plus 2t is a medium-dark foundation
  • Simply start with 1/2T of cocoa powder, whisk to combine, check on your wrist for a color match, and add more cocoa powder (1/2t at a time) until you reach your perfect color
• Pour into your selected container and allow to cool.

Outfit of the Day

Let’s start off with how much I adore this cute sun hat (purchased at Earthbound)
Ever wonder how to dress down a look? Add a casual fedora or sun hat to turn your classy look into a fun and casual duo.

Journey to a new world

My followers I apologize that I’ve been gone for such a long time without notice! For the past three weeks, I’ve been in the most beautiful country Thailand. It is really hard to describe how spectacular my journey to Thailand was, it is really something that one has to experience for themselves. Going to a place like this, you not only learn things about the country, but you immediately learn to appreciate what you have at home and you gain a new outlook when volunteering. I will never forget the children i’ve worked with and the relationships I’ve built during my stay in Thailand. Returning to all the homes and orphanages I visited is on my to do list!

On a another note, Thailand has a great sense of fashion! Some trends I’ve noticed are similar to trends we have in America. Sophistication and comfort are the key roles in Thailand.

Expect more from me

T

What You Don’t Know: Urban Outfitters and Free People

Back in the 1970’s, a young man named Dick Hayne planted a seed in the maze of streets and trees that make up West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  He opened a store and called it Free People.  Free People nurtured the young who lived there and shopped there, who looked for a little of their own freedom in the clothes they wore.

As Dick’s store grew from one to two, the name was changed from Free People to Urban Outfitters. Whoa! You thought they were two separate stores didn’t you?

In time, his wife Meg came on to tend Urban’s private label division, which supported product exclusive to Urban Outfitters.  Demand was almost immediate and to meet this overwhelming need, she and Dick decided to create a wholesale line.  It was very well-received, so much so that Dick separated the businesses.  For a while, the wholesale line took on many personalities:  Bulldog, Ecote, Cooperative, Anthropologie, and then in 1984 a new life was breathed into the name Free People.

Free People shed its junior image and evolved into a more mature, contemporary brand. (Which a junior figure may also strut)  This allowed women in their 20’s to appreciate the line of clothing that catered to their intelligence, creativity and individuality, while keeping with its great quality and affordability. While Free People have reached out to post junior qualities, Urban Outfitters has stood out to teenagers and young adults nationwide.

With more secrets and history from Free People to come

xoxo, T

Gold: Rules Before Applying and Mask Recipes

Golden rules to follow before applying a face mask

1. Pull back hair, pin it up, and tie it.

2. Cleanse your face before applying the mask.

3. Always apply with fingertips. Apply it over the forehad, cheek, nose, chin and neck.

4. Never apply the mask around the eye area. The eye area is really sensitive, so leave gaps underneath your eyes.

5. Try to relax when you have put the mask on, try not to talk, and lie down. The best time to apply a mask is when you are soaking in a bathtub!

6. Leave on the mask for the recommended period of time, and not longer. Leaving masks longer than needed will not clean your pores more efficiently

Now time for the recipes!

This is excellent for dry skin!
What you need:
1 egg
1 teaspoon of almond oil

1. Beat and mix egg and oil thoroughly
2. Apply on face evenly and leave it on for approximately 10-15 minutes.
3. Rinse mask off with cold water.

This facial mask leaves a glowing face for dry-skinned people since almond oil is known to play miracles on any sort of dry skin.

The next time you’re tempted to squeeze and pick your face into an irritated mound, stop. Instead, use this gentler, smarter, at-home zit cream I’ve experimented and perfected.
What you need:
cotton swab
hydrogen peroxide
½ oz. powered oatmeal
½ T. fresh lemon juice
¼ c. egg whites
3 drops honey

Directions:
1. Dab cotton swab in hydrogen peroxide and cleanse the infected area. (This will keep the infection from spreading.)
2. Mix everything else in a small bowl.
3. Cover blemish with mixture and leave on for twenty minutes. TWENTY. Not thirty.
4. Rinse with warm water.
5. Store leftovers in fridge for up to one week. Apply twice daily and watch that pimple of yours, disappear!

Favorite trends of last year

We often choose our favorite trends without really thinking about it. Some people tend to purchase the same items or similar items, creating our “look”. For example, my closet is filled with stripes and button down shirts and blouses. With that being said, my absolute favorite trend that seem to become popular? Prints of stripes and floral.

Ways to wear stripes and floral:

Floral maxi and that striped quarter length knit sweater that every girl has in their closet.

Floral skirt with striped blouse/top tucked in.

Floral matching tips:

The most contrasting and complimenting color with floral is…. NAVY BLUE. When having problems choosing your striped top, go easy and go blue.

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With more favorite trends to come,

xoxo, T

Steps to a Melt-proof face

Looking into a mirror halfway into your day and discovering your makeup is beginning to melt down your face makes it to the top list of: Female Problems
Hash tag with or without.
Whether you are going to a concert festival or a prepping for a sunny getaway, adjusting your routine is a must. Especially when temperatures rise. Ensure that your mascara won’t run, be confident that your makeup won’t cake, and be sure your flaunting that gorgeous face of yours!

FIVE steps to a melt-proof face:

PREP WITH PRIMER. For a fresh complexion that truly lasts, always prep with primer before applying your foundation. Look for affordable primers that contain the ingredient “silicone”. This acts as a barrier between heat/humidity and your skin.

SILICONE BASED FOUNDATION. As with primers, you want a silicone based foundation to create a barrier between humidity and your skin. Silicone based products are usually the longest wearing and best option to block off moisture.

CREAM. Try going cream instead of powder. Cream eye shadows and blushes have become more and more popular. Why? Cream products give you a more natural look instead of the cakey look as powder products do.

WATERPROOF CONCEALER. Most likely, the only waterproof product in your makeup bag is eye liner and mascara. Well it’s time for a change! A good dense waterproof concealer will do a better job at covering dark eye circles and blemishes.

And of course, WATERPROOF YOUR EYES. No one wants to look like a two-legged raccoon. That never looks cute. Ever. Be sure to restock on your waterproof liner and mascara.

More tips:
-Two words. Blotting Papers. Piling on extra powder will only temporarily fix oily appearances and look cakey
-If you’re looking for steps to a melt-proof face, you’re most likely currently meeting contact or will be meeting contact with the sun. Don’t forget the SPF!!!
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Xoxo, T

File: Fashion Icons

When it comes to historical fashion icons, my list is topped by the likes of Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly, and Pierre Cardin. All dreamers, as many are, Hepburn, Kelly, and Cardin tossed aside all limitations in their style and designs. Favoring their own personal approach and inspiring what fashion is, today. Now don’t forget Mr. Jacques Cartier: Jewelry expert. Everyone encapsulates a style they effortlessly adore.

Who are your top fashion icons?
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Xoxo, T