Every Beauty DIY You Need to Know to Look Great Now!
LA has been on quarantine for over a month now, and we’ve got another month to go! If you are used to getting regular salon treatments, I’m sure things are starting to look and feel a little rough. Even if restrictions on social distancing start to ease up next month I don’t suggest you immediately run out and book a salon treatment. Safety needs to remain priority number 1, and beauty may just have to wait! But that doesn’t mean you have to look like you’ve been in quarantine for 60 plus days. Here are my tips for maintaining your beauty routine while stuck at home. I know this may seem trivial in the face of a global pandemic, but I know that personally I feel better when I look better. After all, beauty is a form of self-care and we all need some of that right now!
How to Do a Basic At Home Manicure
Nail salons will be a no go for a while. If your nails are starting to show the effects of the coronavirus quarantine, polish them up at home! If you’ve been wearing old acrylics or gel polish, soak it off with acetone and give your nails a few days to breathe. Shape them up with a nail file and buff the surface to smooth any ridges or nicks. Don’t forget to show your hands some love with a good exfoliation, hand cream massage, and dab of cuticle oil. If you can’t paint your own nails, I love these nail stickers from Color Street. They are super easy to apply and come in dozens of fun colors and patterns.
Easy DIY Quarantine Hairstyles
There is a lot of variance with what you can do with your hair while in quarantine, especially depending on your hair’s texture and length. Clip on ponytails or braided headbands are a foolproof way to glam up your look in just a few minutes. Just look for a set that matches your hair color and texture. You also can’t go wrong with a wig, especially for those super lazy days when you can’t even think about washing your hair. And if you have natural hair, a set of cute chunky twists is the perfect protective style.
How to do an At Home Facial
I’ve only had 2 or 3 facials in my life, so I can definitely live without them. I had an amazing one at Threo Spa in Pasadena, which I will definitely repeat once quarantine is over. Even though I’m not big on salon facials, I always do my own weekly skin treatments at home. Start with steaming your face to open pores before applying a mask of your choice. I have a few in rotation, depending on how my skin looks and feels that week. After the mask, I layer on a few serums and moisturizers, followed by a few minutes of facial massage with my rose quartz roller.
Hope these tips help you look and feel more like yourself. And remember, beauty is supposed to be fun! These are hard times, and you may need the distraction. Or you may feel like looks are the absolute last thing on your mind and that is totally fine. Focus on whatever you need to stay sane and get through this!
Beauty Secrets to Know: How to Get Rid of that Pesky Cellulite!
Let's talk about cellulite! You guys know I love blogging about all things beauty, and taking care of those pesky dimples is an important part of my routine. Cellulite can affect anyone no matter how thin you are. It's not about how much you weigh, but is really caused by fat deposits pushing through the connective tissue in the skin. It can happen anywhere on your body but is most common in the thighs and butt. And while we are living in a day and age of body positivity and accepting your flaws, I'm still of the school of thought that if you really don't like something about yourself you have every right to try to fix it. And while I applaud the women who embrace their cellulite, this is a beauty blog, and I'm still very dedicated to my routine that keeps it away. So if you want to learn my tips for how to get rid of yours, keep reading!
1. Prevention is Key
As with anything skin care related, prevention is the first and most important step of treatment. I have been using anti-cellulite products since college, really before I had much of anything to worry about. And as I've gotten older and my body has changed, I firmly believe the routine I've stuck to consistently over the years has helped prevent my cellulite from really developing. If you already have some don't worry too much! You can definitely reduce it's appearance significantly even if you don't get rid of it completely.
2. Layer on the products
My holy grail system has been Bliss Fab Girl Slim and Fab Girl Sleep. They recently rebranded slightly, but it seems the products are the same ones I've used and loved. I've used that duo day and night for years and it has definitely made a difference in keeping my skin smooth and dimple free. If you are just starting out they will take a few weeks before you see a difference, but consistency is key if you are going to see results. They also make a tummy toning gel called Fab Girl Six Pack which I have used off and on, mostly just because I like the tingly feeling when you put it on. And when I need an extra smoothing, firming boost, I use the Body Shop Moroccan Rhassoul Body Clay Mask. It's a firming mask that tightens and tones for extra smooth skin. I've found the best way to apply it is to smooth on a thick layer, then wrap your butt and thighs up in Saran Wrap, then hang out looking ridiculous for 20-30 minutes while it does it's thing. Yes, it sounds silly, but hey it's totally worth it!
3. Get a temporary glow
If you are looking for a quick fix before a vacation, the best thing you can use is the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. It smells incredible and will temporarily tighten skin, plus it leaves a very subtle shimmer that will give your bod a natural looking glow. I keep a mini version in my beach bag at all times! And tools like dry-body brushes and suction devices can give you some temporary relief!
4. Take it Up a Notch
If you've got deep set cellulite and are really desperate to get rid of it, you may want to look into some non-invasive treatments to get rid of it. Lasers can work wonders on pretty much any beauty concern, and there are also newly FDA approved treatments like Cellfina. Do your research and ask a cosmetic dermatologist to weight in on any procedure you are considering.
Let me know in the comments what you'll be trying!
