Saturday, August 31, 2013

GGLF Banana-Cran Smoothie!

Tired of being pissed off and getting cramps during that time of the month?  Here's a delicious treat to help boost your mood and give you glowing radiant skin.

The GGLF Banana-Cran Smoothie has so many health benefits and as an added bonus it's a great meal to have during that time of the month.  Having cranberries during your period is good for the urinary tract, bananas help with cramps and make you happy, and this smoothie helps with your sweet tooth craving.

What you need for two smoothies:

  1. 2 cups soymilk (half the calories of milk)
  2. 1 tablespoon honey (all natural sweetener and anti-bacterial)
  3. 1 ripe banana (great source of potassium)
  4. 2 handfulls of Fresh/Dried/Frozen Cranberries (filled with antioxidants and is an anti-inflammatory)
  5. 2 dashes of cinnamon (helps cure bloating and great for weight loss)
  6. 1 cup of ice
In a blender add all of these ingredients and blend just the way you like it.  If you use dried cranberries like I do, you may want to mix the smoothie up for longer.

If you are drinking alone cut the ingredient amounts in half.

For another delicious smoothie try the GGLF Peach & Blueberry Smoothie.

Hope you enjoy!!



Friday, August 30, 2013

Sky High Lashes Without The Falsies!

I'm such a fan of huge, long, big lashes but a girl can't wear false lashes everyday and the upkeep on lash extensions are too much on my piggy bank.  To get the appearance of extra long lashes I use two or more mascaras at a time.  

The look below was created by Maybelline "The Colossal Volum' Express Mascara" in glam black and Covergirl "LashBlast Clump Crusher Mascara" which are both available at drugstores for under $10 bucks each.  


When doubling up on mascara it is good to have two or more mascaras that do different things.  There are mascaras for volume/thickening, length, anti-clumping, curling, etc.  Pick different ones and go to town.  Some mascaras dry fast so don't wait too long to apply the second or third type of mascara because it can get flaky.

Let me know which pairs you come up with and share your favorites with me and the rest of us!

Thanks gorgeous! XO ;)

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Cleanse With Coconut Oil

How many washes does it take to get all my make-up off when using soap or a cleanser? 
  • Two-three to make sure I got it all off 
How many washes does it take to get all my make-up off with coconut oil? 
  • One!!

When in its liquid form it makes such a great cleanser.  The oil breaks up and dissolves all of my make-up and wipes away completely with a warm washcloth.  After, my skin feels soft and completely clean.  Using coconut oil is beneficial for your skin because of its anti-bacterial properties and moisturizing effect.  

When purchasing coconut oil look at the ingredients and make sure the only ingredient is coconut oil.  Not only can you remove all your make-up and get that nice clean feeling but you can also use it for your hair and to cook with. 



Let me know how much you love this little tip down below or on my facebook page!

XO


Rain or Shine Its Heel Time!

Ever get ready in the morning or at night and your outfit looks phenomenal.  Then you put on those killer heels and it's like your looking at a picture on Pinterest only to have your outfit ruined by the rain?  Well not anymore with this amazing invention.  


When I was in the Philippines I came across these little rain coats for your heels.  You slip them over your shoe and they keep your pumps from getting soaked. 


If you want a pair the brand is called Fashion and I got mine at Market Market in Makati, PI.  

Thanks Philippines!



Monday, August 26, 2013

Trend Alert: Slouchy Pants!

When I was in the Philippines last month I saw women everywhere in slouchy pants.  They were surprising flattering and came in all different prints.  When I asked how long these pants had been in style for, ladies said they had been wearing them for the past couple of years.  I grabbed a few while I was overseas because they were everywhere I went.  Two years later, the trend is finally hitting the states and you too can get your own unique pair.

I spotted slouchy pants this weekend on my shopping trip to Nordstrom but I haven't seen them in that many places yet.  I personally pair mine with a short flowy top or a loose tank and tuck it in.  For a polished yet fashionable look these pants look great with a blazer and heels.

Will you be sporting this trend or do you think it's absolutely awful?

Let me know gorgeous!

XO




Neon Blonde Destroyer Slouchy Pant- $78 available at Urban Outfitters
  
Blu Pepper Slouchy Pants- $48 available at Nordstrom


Rebecca Taylor Slouchy Pants- $275 available at Nordstrom

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Beauty Tip: Hair Growth

Do you want long luscious locks?  Massage your scalp before your shower or at night before going to bed.  This will stimulate your scalp causing cell turnover which leads to hair growth.

For more tips and tricks go to my facebook page Good Girls Looking Fabulous.

XO

Friday, August 23, 2013

Beauty Tip: Naturally Shiny Hair

Brush your hair starting at the roots and go all the way to the tips of your hair.  This will distribute your natural oils throughout your strands making your hair soft and it gives it a healthy looking shine.   

For more tips and tricks check out my facebook page at Good Girls Looking Fabulous

Have a good hair day!

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Snail Facial. Is It For You?

There is a salon in Tokyo, Japan that is offering the snail facial.  The facial is an hour long and a beautician places snails on your face to crawl around leaving their slime on your skin.  The slime is supposedly great for moisturizing the skin but I kind of cringe thinking about it.  I'm all about trying new skincare approaches but at $250 a facial I think I'll pass.

Would you give the snail facial a try?  Leave a comment below or go to my facebook page and join in on the poll!

To find out more about the snail facial go to http://www.theguardian.com/world/video/2013/jul/18/snail-slime-facials-japan-video



Get Your Best Eyebrow

Your eyebrows can completely transform your face.  The shape of your eyebrows make you look slimmer or fatter, wide awake and alert or dull and boring, etc.  Finding the right eyebrow shape for you is just like picking out sunglasses.  You want to find a brow shape that compliments your face. 

For instance my face is naturally round so I would want to have brows with a high arch.  I try and avoid those rounded eyebrows, you know the ones that are shaped like a rainbow.  That look isn't cute on me.  The goal is to find out your face shape and find which brow is best for you.  My tip would be to go to a professional and have them help you decide.

If you haven't had your brows professionally done a great place to go is ULTA at the benefit brow bar.  It takes about 20 minutes to get your brows done and they draw all over your brows, color them in, and show you what the finished product will look like before they start the waxing process.  I love how they use a gentle wax and don't double dip.  They also give you a free brow wax on your birthday so take advantage and see how you like it!

When you get your brows done speak up and ask questions.  Those girls or guys are professionals and will walk you through the steps of achieving your perfect brow at home.  If you're still hesitant about going to a professional and you like to do things at home check out benefit cosmetics for eyebrow tips and tricks.

http://www.benefitcosmetics.com

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Don't Wait Until the End of the Day to Wash That Face

It is an absolute must to go to sleep with a clean face.  At night your skin repairs itself and if you leave your make-up on it just sinks deeper into your pores causing breakouts and dull looking skin.  When night time hits though, it can get really hard to drag yourself to the sink or your vanity for a little TLC on that gorgeous face of yours.  My suggestion would be to not wait until the end of the day to do your night time skincare routine.  

Wash your face with clean hands when you get home from work/school or right after dinner.  It is also best to apply any night time creams at least an hour before you go to bed so it has some time to seep into your skin as opposed to applying your creams and having them wipe away on your pillow. 

Hope this little tip helps with your beauty sleep!

Saturday, August 17, 2013

Dry, Chapped Lips?

Have your lips been extremely dry and chapped lately? Well I have got just the solution for you!

Now I hate dry chapped lips.  The dryness shows through your lipstick, they hurt, and it is so not cute.

My solution for getting soft, silky, kissable lips is to turn your shower on and get it nice and steamy.  While your shower is heating up take a chapstick, lip butter, etc. and apply all over your lips.  Really butter up those puckers.  Hop in the shower but don't get your lips wet just yet.  Give it a minute or two for the steam to do its magic.

Grab your face towel and get it a little damp and wipe off your chapstick.  Your dead dry skin comes right off leaving your lips oh so soft.

Now all you have to do is find someone to smooch with ;)

Kisses!



Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Sephora Haul: Oldies But Goodies!

Sephora is one of my absolute favorite stores.  I love being able to choose my beauty products from so many great brands.  Instead of spending the usual hour or two in Sephora, I just went in and grabbed some of my favorites I've been using for years.






Dior Airflash- $62



Dior Airflash Spray Foundation is seriously an obsession of mine.  I use it in Medium Beige 300 year round and during the summer months I go through two cans of Honey 400 which I use for contouring or when I get really tan.  This will always be one of my favorite foundations because I love that dewy flawless look.  Lots of ladies use it on their wedding day because it gives you that healthy glow and offers coverage.


Benefit High Beam-$26

Is there a better highlighter out there than high beam by benefit?  Not that I've found or heard of.  This is great for using all over the eyelid and underneath the eye for a luminescent and glowy look.  If you want to have a ballerina or angelic look this item needs to be added to your beauty bag as well as the blush below.   

Benefit Dandelion Soft Pink- $28
This blush is perfection when you want to look light and fresh.  You can use it as a soft shimmery highlight or a gorgeous soft pink blush.  When partnered with the high beam shown above you will look absolutely radiant!




Clarisonic Brush Head Value Pack- $75
I own a Mia 2 clarisonic brush and it really gets my face clean and brushes away all the impurities.  This value set will last me for a whole year and I like that I get a deep pore cleansing brush and everyday sensitive ones.  On all of the brush heads it has a sticker so you can write the date when you first started using it.  This will let you know when to change your brush heads.

Single Ribbon Hair Ties- $1.50

These hair ties are so much better for your hair than the elastic ones.  I use these for my workouts or to hold my hair back when I do my skin care routine.  They keep my hair back, don't rip out any of my hair out when I take my hair down, and it doesn't leave a massive crease in my hair like all the other ponytail holders.  I purchased mine in pink and green and keep them all over my house and car.

Full Blown Volume Lash Building Mascara- $24

Whenever I want to sport that healthy and natural look I like to use this mascara.  It lengthens and separates very well and doesn't smudge or flake.  This is a perfect summer time or day mascara.  The brush isn't very thick so you can really get into those tiny little lashes at the corner of your eyes.  It is also a good mascara to build off of if you want to combine it with another one for a more dramatic look.



I hope you enjoyed some of my summer/all year round must haves.  These products are all favorites of mine and I love using them!

What's on your list for your next make-up shopping spree and what should be on mine?  Do tell!

Thanks gorgeous!!





<script type="text/javascript"><!--
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4324346227402781";
/* GGLF AD */
google_ad_slot = "1677481951";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript"
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">

</script>

The Benefits of Argan Oil and How to Pick the Right One

Argan oil comes from the nut of the Argan Tree which is only found in Morocco.  There are women's co-ops set up to provide women with jobs, wages, and good working conditions while making this oil.  Argan Oil helps with your hair and skin and is edible too.  A product that is all natural, good for you, and helps better living conditions for women gets an A+ in my book!


Purchased at Whole Foods
I just started adding argan oil to my beauty regimen and I love everything about it except for the smell.  I use it daily on my face and hands and sometimes as a lotion for dry spots on my body. 

When looking for argan oil you want 100% organic argan oil.  The ingredients should say organic argan (argania spinosa) kernel oil, organic argan oil, or argania spinosa kernel oil and nothing else.  When I went to some health shops I saw bottles that claimed to be 100% argan oil but there were numerous ingredients listed on the back so make sure you check.  Also, purchase your argan oil in a dark bottle to preserve all of the benefits of the oil.

Benefits for hair

  • adds shine
  • adds moisture
  • calms frizz
  • moisturizes dry scalp
Hair tips: 
  • If you color your hair at home add 5 pumps into your color dye.  I do this for my mom to help protect her hair from all of the chemicals.
  • If your scalp is dry, apply a few pumps with your fingertips and leave on for an hour or overnight and rinse it out in the morning.
  • Use argan oil mixed in with your conditioner for an extra moisturizing feeling.
  • Use argan oil on your hair after a shower.  I apply from the middle of my hair, where my ears are, down to the ends of my hair.  This makes my hair shinny and more manageable.

Benefits for skin
  • moisturizes dry/sensitive skin
  • anti-aging benefits due to the Vitamin E
  • anti-inflammatory
  • helps reduce the appearance of scars
Skin tips: 
  • I have combination to oily skin and this product has helped reduce my breakouts.  By putting more oil on your skin you are actually tricking your skin into thinking it has too much oil.  Your body will stop producing as much oil.
  • Use as an all over body lotion to stay moisturized in the winter or whenever your body needs it.
  • Use as a daily moisturizer at night, in the morning, or both. 
  • If you have a scar or scab gently rub the oil in to reduce the appearance of your scar/prevent scarring. 
Argan oil is an absolute must in my skin care and hair care routine.  As for the smell it goes away after a minute or so.  A lot of people don't notice the smell so maybe it's just me.

I hope these tips help you when purchasing a bottle of your own. 

Stay fabulous!!




Monday, August 12, 2013

Peaches are in season!!

The peach tree in my backyard has been giving me delicious peaches for the past couple weeks now and with a huge supply of these tasty fruits I have been able to experiment and create my very own recipes.  Down below is one of my favorites! 

Benefits of peaches:

  • Excellent for fighting wrinkles
  • Good source of fiber
  • Good source of antioxidants
  • Gets rid of toxins in your body
  • Full of vitamins A, C, and E


GGLF Peach & Blueberry Smoothie
  • 2 peaches cut up
  • 1 cup blueberries
  • 1 cup ice
  • 1 cup apple juice
  • 1/2 cup greek yogurt (optional)
Put these ingredients in the blender and enjoy!



**Peaches are in season in California until September so make sure you pick one up the next time you go grocery shopping.

Saturday, August 10, 2013

The Right Way to Dry Your Kabuki Brush

I got home tonight and was in the mood to wash my make-up brushes.  There are many ways I wash my make-up brushes but only one way I dry them.


If I wash my make-up brushes at night I will do so an hour or two before bed then right before I go night night I rotate the brushes.   Before drying my brush I squeeze the water out then lay it on a towel so it can absorb some of the water.

When drying a kabuki brush it can be habit to place it standing up shown on the first picture below but I don't do that.  The reason I lay my kabuki brush flat is because I don't want any water getting into the ferrule, which is the silver portion of my brush.  When water or moisture gets into the ferrule it weakens the glue that holds the kabuki brush together and causes your brush to shed more often.

Brushes can be very expensive, so wash them regularly and dry them correctly.

Have a fabulous weekend my beauties!!



Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Whole Foods Haul!

Since the first time I walked into a Whole Foods I have been a fan.  I love that when you go in you don't have to spend forever looking at labels because the store only puts top quality products on their shelves.  It takes all the guess work out of if something is truly good for you.  

In college I had the worst breakouts and my esthetician said I should start shopping at Whole Foods for my beauty products.  I went through a Whole Foods stage where all my make-up, hair care, skin care, laundry detergent, etc. came from Whole Foods.  So this week I went back to one of my favorite stores and had an amazing time.  Below is what I bought and I just wanted to share with you all what I got.



  1. 365 Citrus Grapefruit Shampoo for Oily& Normal Hair- I love this shampoo because it gets my hair clean and I like the smell.  It is also Sulfate-Free, formulated without parabens, and it is super cheap.
  2. 365 Citrus Grapefruit Conditioner (Moisturizes and Restores)- Sulfate-Free, No Parabens
  3.  Aura Cacia Pure Essential Oils Relaxing Sweet Orange Aromatherapy Mineral Bath- I used this for the first time last night and it smelt amazing.  It has a blend of sweet orange, ylang ylang, and roman chamomile.  After my bath I had numerous compliments on how good I smelled.
  4. GIOVANNI eco chic hair care Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Shampoo- I love this brand and this specific shampoo is for all hair types. No parabens/sulfate
  5. GIOVANNI eco chic hair care Tea Tree Triple Treat Invigorating Conditioner-No parabens/sulfate
  6. GIOVANNI Smooth As Silk Xtreme Protein Hair Infusion for dry, damaged hair- I bought this for my mom who has been looking for something with protein to hydrate and rejuvenate her hair
  7. GIOVANNI Root 66 Max Volume Shampoo- for limp, lifeless hair. No parabens/sulfate
  8. GIOVANNI Root 66 Max Volume Conditioner- for limp, lifeless hair. No parabens/sulfate
  9. PACIFICA Hawaiian Ruby Guava Body Butter- This stuff smells amazing!  I don't like to eat guava but I love the way it smells and feels on my skin.  This is going in my hand bag.
  10. Earth Therapeutics Natural Body Brush- This can be used in the shower but I am going to use this for dry brushing to exfoliate my skin.
  11. Organic Aura Cacia Rejuvenating Argan Oil Morocco- Not going to lie but the smell is a little off putting for me.  I added some to my bath last night and my night time hair and face routine and I really liked it.  It made my skin and hair softer.  The smell goes away after a minute.  It has one ingredient, Organic Argan Kernel Oil
  12. Simplers Botanicals Rose Geranium Therapeutic Hydrosol-  This is a mist used for itchy, red skin, sunburns, fatigue, stress, sensitive skin, hot flashes, and a daily face mist.  It has one ingredient, 100% pure rose geranium hydrosol and it feels so refreshing which is perfect for the summer time.
  13. Pineapple- a healthy sweet treat
  14. Cioppino- One of my boyfriends favorite soups.  It's a seasfood stew that is absolutely delicious.
  15. New England Clam Chowder- This is extremely high in calories but I couldn't resist having this for dinner! Yum!
Hope you liked reading my Haul.  If you have any questions on a specific product mentioned above just leave it in the comment section below and I will get back to you!

Thanks!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Make-Up Dupe: Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 vs. COVERGIRL Clean Whipped Creme Foundation

I like using higher end make-up because I think about the long term effects they have on your skin.  The ingredients are usually better for you and they tend to not break me out as much as drugstore make-up.  Even though I prefer department store make-up, I have been really into trying different brands and items at the drugstore and am loving them!

Yesterday my man and I walked/jogged all over Fresno and stumbled into a Rite Aid for some water.  In Rite Aid there was a COVERGIRL display for their new Clean Whipped Creme Foundation.  I believe the color I used was shade 320 and it didn't match my skin color at first but when I rubbed it in it settled very well and I loved the feel of the foundation.  It reminded me exactly of Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer SPF 20 I am currently obsessed with.

Both of these foundations have a light feeling on the skin and make skin feel softer.  They are easy to blend and both cover flaws but neither one offers a full coverage foundation.  These foundations are perfect for the summer because they don't feel caked on and they give you a natural look.  The end result is a matte finish.

The differences between these products is that the Miracle Skin Transformer for face has an SPF in it which saves you a step in your morning skin care routine but it is not a broad spectrum SPF.  I also like how the Miracle Skin Transformer comes in a tube so it wont get contaminated by your fingers but you can always use a make-up spatula or plastic spoon to get out the COVERGIRL product.  The COVERGIRL foundation comes in at half the price for the same effect so if you're on a budget this option is perfect and honestly feels the exact same. 

Places to get COVERGIRL Clean Whipped Creme Foundation

  • RiteAid
  • CVS
  • Target
  • Walmart
Places to get Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer
  • Sephora
  • Amazon
  • MiracleSkinNow.com
There is also Miracle Skin Transformer for Acne Prone skin which offers more coverage but doesn't have SPF and a new product that just came out by them that offers Broad Spectrum Coverage which I can't wait to try.

If you have any good make-up dupes you have discovered let me know about them!




Sunday, August 4, 2013

The Dishwasher Is Your Skins New BFF

Sunday is always a good day to catch up on cleaning and get those dishes done.  My favorite part about doing the dishes is the awesome steam bath my face gets!  For an easy at home DIY facial the dishwasher offers one of the best skin experiences out there.  

While I am waiting for the dishwasher to heat up I'll dance around, do other chores, and clean my face.  After I give my skin a good wash I press the stop button on the dishwasher and open it up.  By this time the dishwasher has been going for a while and it is hot and steamy.  I stick my face right in all the action for a good minute.  

Now if you have ever had a facial you know they give your skin a deep cleanse and then steam it.  The steam opens up your pores and makes those blackheads easier to remove if you have any.  

For my at home facial I cleanse my skin, steam it with the dishwasher, put on a mask, splash my face with cold water, use a toner, and then moisturize.  If you want a quick facial just steam your face then splash it with cold water.

This tip is quick and easy and you can do it while you clean.

Happy Sunday gorgeous!

http://www.kitchenappliances123.co.uk

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Sulfate-Free Shampoo: Use It or Loose It.. Literally

How did I spend my Friday night? I spent it with my lovely boyfriend who took me out for dinner and drinks but what did he make the mistake of doing? He told me he needed to go to Target and pick up some shampoo for his shower.  You don't tell me you just need to PICK UP a beauty product.  Oh no.  I want to be involved in the process and look at everything.  I have to go up and down every aisle and look at what the shampoo does and check its ingredients.  So an hour and a half of shampoo shopping later reminded me of a tip that I wanted to share with all of you beautiful people.

When it comes to my hair, I want the best for it and that is why I like to limit the use of sulfate in my shampoos and conditioners.  Sulfate is a chemical used in lots of shampoos and while it gets your hair clean and may feel great while you use it, it also strips away natural oils from your hair, makes hair dry and brittle, it takes away some color and shine, is irritating to the hair and scalp, AND this chemical makes more of your hair fall out.  Yeah that's right FALL OUT!!! Oh helllll no. 

Take a look at the ingredients in your shampoo to see if it contains sulfates.  The ingredients you should look for are sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate, and sodium lauryl ether sulfate(SLES).  Even though I don't like sulfate in shampoos I do use some shampoos that contain sulfate with the ingredient ammonium lauryl sulfate which has greater solubility in water compared to SLS/SLES.

My absolute favorite sulfate-free shampoo is by Enjoy and it is their Sulfate-Free Luxury Shampoo.  It feels so luxurious and oh my gosh it is on my Christmas List every year.  

www.enjoyhaircare.com
I never use just one shampoo at a time because I like options.  That is why I always have 2-4 different bottles of shampoo in my bathroom.  My current shampoos include:
  • Aveda Black Malva Shampoo for dark shades. (They have shampoos for every hair color)
  • Aveeno Active Naturals Sulfate-Free Pure Renewal Shampoo
  • Organix Nourishing Coconut Milk Shampoo
The picture below are the ones I just purchased for the boyfriends shower.  They include:
  • L'oreal EverSleek Sulfate-Free Reparative Smoothing Shampoo
  • L'oreal EverSleek Sulfate-Free Intense Smoothing Shampoo
  • Aveeno Active Naturals Sulfate-Free Pure Renewal Shampoo
He barely has any hair but I don't want his hair falling out any time soon and I want to be able to have a shampoo for myself too.  

If it is your first time using sulfate-free shampoo it may take a while to get used to it.  It doesn't foam up like shampoos that contain sulfate and may not feel great the first couple times while your hair is getting adjusted but after that you'll be hooked and when you see what it does for your hair you will never want to go back to shampoos with sulfate.  

Side note: Burts Bees has some sulfate free shampoos but I haven't found one I like.  If you know of one that moisturizes your locks let me know!


Available at Target and Drugstores