DIY: Sweet & Sexy Body Scrub

What you'll need:

• 1/2 cup Organic Brown Sugar
  
• 1 Tbsp. Honey
• 1 Tbsp. Jojoba, Coconut or Your Favorite High Quality Oil
• 1/4 tsp. Fresh Lemon Juice

Instructions:

Begin by lightly stirring your sugar and oil together, just until combined. Next, add the honey and lightly stir again. Lastly, pour your lemon juice in and mix it all up until you're happy with the consistency. And that's it! You can add the mixture to an airtight container, such as a mason jar. Sweet & Sexy Body Scrub creates a sumptuous take-the-spa-home experience and can make the perfect gift for couples with instructions on how to lovingly give your partner a sexy scrub down. Tie with a ribbon and your handwritten tag:      

Dear Marisa & Jerry, this body scrub/polish has been lovingly created from organic and natural ingredients to keep you both soft and smooth through the winter months, a perfect accouterment to cold, rainy days. Simply rub into each other's skin... and then rinse one another off in the shower, keeping in mind this stuff is edible and quite delicious in tiny licks. The rest is up to you... Made With Peace & Love from your friend Heather

Deal of the Day!

I lurked this GORGEOUS forever21 deal of the day while doing some last minute Christmas shopping!  

Symbol DB Coat
$39.80!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

A heavyweight coat featuring a felt-like exterior with 4-rows of double-breasted buttons and matching buttons at the collar. Other features include a removable belt with a polished rectangle-shaped buckle, 2-front pockets, buttoned arm cuff straps, satin lining, padded shoulders, and a finished hem. Metallic-covered plastic buttons with a shield design and "World Symbol Lichten Stein" phrase. - 32" approx length from high point shoulder to hem, 15" shoulder width, 36" chest, 24" sleeve length from shoulder ridge, 2.0" wide belt (2.5" tall buckle) - Measured from Small - 54% wool, 46% rayon, lining 100% polyester with 600MM 100% PU backing; Dry clean only - Imported ProductCode: 2052738693

MAC Cham Pale Collection - December 2010

MAC Cham-Pale Collection. The MAC Cham-Pale Collection collection hits stores Dec 26th the same day as the Stylishly Yours Collection. This collection is pretty much the opposite of the Stylishly Yours collection in that it has very soft & nude colors. Look below to see what's in the collection.

From M.A.C:

The ultimate luxury when only the finest will do for the New Year: a cuvée collection that's cause for celebration...a Champagne smash, colour and skincare shimmering with all the bubbly optimism & golden glow of the best that's yet to be.

Paint Pot- 6.5 g / .23 US oz, US$16.50
A highly pigmented eye colour that goes on creamy but dries to an intense, vibrant finish. Long-wearing, colourfast. Creates seamless coverage without weight or caking. Blends smoothly over the lids. Cream-based, can be mixed with M·A·C shadows and liners.

Chilled on Ice - Frosted white gold
Let Me Pop - Frosted light copper
Vintage Selection - Frosted dirty peach
Dangerous Cuvée - Frosted cool grey 

MAC Lipgelees- 0.50 oz, $14.50
Bubble Lounge- sparkly pink peach
Luxure- off-white with pink pearl
Sin-tillation- sparkly pale icy pink
Straight to the Head- sparkly bronze brown

Nail Lacquer - 10 ml / .34 US fl oz, US$13.00
 

Revolutionary new high gloss formula. Three long-wearing finishes - Cream, Sheer, and Frosted. Visibly different. Provides no-streak/no-chip finish. Contains conditioners and UV protection. 
Soirée - Sparkly light bronze gold
Very Important Platinum - Dirty platinum

Fix + Lavender - 100 ml, US$18.00

The soothing, calming, chill-me-out scent of lavender is at the heart of this limited-edition Fix +. Like the original, wakes up, refreshes and conditions the skin while providing tired, thirsty skin with a quick, hydrating boost. Use as an on-the-go pick-me-up or a setting finish after makeup. 

The MAC Cham Pale Collection is GORGEOUS and I can't wait to get my hands on a few pieces! And the nail colors, I'm OBSESSED! What do you think about the collection?

 

 

Beauty Tip of the Day!

Aloe Vera gel as facial moisturizer. It's simply FABULOUS and cheap! Aloe is so light and breathable, yet moisturizing at the same time. Based on a recipe from Better Basics for the Home, that called for 1/2 cup Aloe Vera gel and 1/8 cup Glycerin, I did a little experimenting. I came up with the perfect formula for my skin and for the current weather. One great thing about making your own products is that you can adjust them as needed. Another thing is this recipe is so cheap!

Facial Moisturizer

• 2 tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel (drinkable kind)
• 1/2 teaspoon vegetable Glycerin
• 3 drops Jojoba oil
• 6 drops Lavender oil

Place all ingredients in a small glass jar. Shake before each use. After washing your face while it is still damp, apply with your fingers. It will feel wet at first, but as it dries and absorbs, you will be left with silky soft skin. You can adjust this formula to meet your skin needs. Use less glycerin if it makes your skin feel sticky. Use more glycerin to increase the moisturizing ability. You can eliminate or increase the jojoba oil or try a different oil. You can also eliminate/change the lavender oil (I like lavender because it is antiseptic and antibacterial and it smells great). Better Basics for the Home describes a similar recipe for homemade baby lotion. The recipe calls for 1/4 cup Aloe Vera Gel and 1/2 tablespoon Glycerin. So if you invest in buying Aloe and Glycerin, they have multiple uses! 

 Health Benefits of Aloe Vera

"Extracts of Aloe Vera first became popular as a proven skin healer. Aloe is said to improve collagen repair, heal burns and prevent wrinkles. It is a powerful detoxifier, antiseptic and tonic for the nervous system. It also has immune-boosting and anti-viral properties. Research has proven that adding Aloe Vera to ones diet improves digestion. As a general health tonic, there are benefits in taking a measure of Aloe Vera each day"

Patrick Holford, Founder - Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION) (Source: Metro Magazine August 2000)

Here are few benefits of Aloe Vera:

- Studies have shown that Aloe Vera speeds the healing process, particularly in burns, including those from radiation. It is also used by dermatologists to speed healing after facial dermabrasion, which helps remove scars from the top most layers of the skin. The other health benefits from the use of Aloe Vera include helping to soothe skin injuries affected by burning, skin irritations, cuts and insect bites, and its bacterial properties relieve itching and skin swellings.

- Aloe Vera possesses incredible moisturizing properties. Studies show that Aloe Vera improves the skin's ability to hydrate itself, aids in the removal of dead skin cells and has an effective penetrating ability that helps transport healthy substances through the skin.

- Aloe Vera is also known to help slow down the appearance of wrinkles as it can actively repair the damaged skin cells that cause the visible signs of aging. Components of Aloe Vera have been found to reverse degenerative skin changes by stimulating collagen and elastin.

I hope you enjoyed my lil Beauty Tip of the Day! Have you ever tried Aloe Vera as facial moisturizer? What were your results?

Deal of the Day!

Run, don't walk to your nearest Forever21 for their blending sponges $1.80 found in accessories (I couldn't find them online but I will keep looking) and stock up on these sponges for applying foundation and for other uses.

I got three of them and plan to get more. I use the large sponge for applying foundation, blush and sunless tanning mousse to my face. The design of this sponge is awesome. The small sponge can be used to get in the corners by your eyes for applying concealer or foundation. These sponges you can use with a stippling action and it is great.