5.10.2010

Bad habits that age you quicker?

It's not comforting to know that a lot of the things I enjoy are some of the things that can make me look up to 12 years older than I am.  That scares the bejeebs out of me, so I've decided to cut down on the things that will make me look like a leathery hag by the time I'm 40.  The three most important to me: smoking, drinking, & lack of exercise.  There are a bunch of other bad habits people have that age them much quicker, but those three are the ones that I (and apparently, over half of America's population) have trouble with. 



There are 5 main bad habits that can age a person's body and skin more rapidly: smoking, excessive drinking, greasy / fatty foods (a lot of them, for years), lack of sleep, and lack of exercise.  To learn more about how these bad habits affect your body, read this article.

The following is an excerpt from a CBS news report on bad habits VS. your age -

"The risky behaviors were: smoking tobacco; downing more than three alcoholic drinks per day for men and more than two daily for women; getting less than two hours of physical activity per week; and eating fruits and vegetables fewer than three times daily.

These habits combined substantially increased the risk of death and made people who engaged in them seem 12 years older than people in the healthiest group, said lead researcher Elisabeth Kvaavik of the University of Oslo..."

12 years?  That's awful.  That's a lot of years, your entire childhood is pretty much a solid 10 year span, and most of your life's memories occur in that time.  Imagine looking like you were born almost an entire generation earlier?! Ew.

So, the verdict's in and I'm going to quit smoking, I'm changing my diet, and I'm (probably) going to drink less.  If I already have a problem with these dark bags under my eyes, I can just imagine what my problems will be when I'm 30 and a heavy smoker. Yuck!

**webcake xoxo

4.18.2010

Completely eliminating animal testing in cosmetics...







Okay little guy, hold still. This might hurt a little. It might also kill you. 



So, yeah, humans still test cosmetics on animals.  I don't like it, nobody really likes it, but aside from heaps of people complaining about it and even boycotting most products, there isn't much anyone can do about it simply because of how often it's "necessary".  The biggest thing animals are tested for in the cosmetic industry is skin allergies, because we don't want to use products that could harm our skin.  (Let me take this time to add that in most parts of the world, even in our own country, cosmetic products are sold that contain possibly harmful ingredients that are simply there because the required testing was not done, or was done and overlooked.  I don't approve 100% of the efforts the FDA puts forth in determining which cosmetic products are safe for use, but if you're interested in what sorts of things they look for, check out this page.)
Since January of this year, great breakthroughs have made it possible to now administer the skin allergy tests and other similar tests to a chip that can simulate the necessary conditions needed for proper results.  
"The chip is intended to replace a local lymph node assay, that is often done on new chemicals used in cosmetics. Today, the tests are generally performed on female mice. (Though some labs use an older method involving guinea pigs..."
 Skin allergy tests in most animals are done by detecting allergic responses by stimulating T cells, all of which is done within the lymph nodes and lymphatic fluids.  This means this tiny chip that could possibly be not only easier, but far cheaper than animal testing, may soon be able to replace tests on many, or ALL animals in the cosmetic industry.  This is just the sort of breakthrough that the Humane Society has been just dying for, because it can, and hopefully will, save thousands of animal lives every year.

A good read into the GEARI website (Group for the Education of Animal-Related Issues) will make it clear that there are many alternative ways many companies can do their testing without harming animals or even using them in any way.  Check it out!  ♥

4.11.2010

Sweet spuds for your skin! ♥

Solanum Tuberosum, the noble and helpful potato...it's been used for centuries to help get rid of skin problems like blotches, scarring, and any other discoloration.  It's also very useful for lightening your skin tone in certain areas, making it ideal for getting rid of those pesky under-eye circles. Another awesome thing these cool tubers can do is soak up any excess oil from your face.  They can even help soothe your skin after a difficult sunburn too!

 

There are lots of products you can buy at the store or online that contain taters, like many different varieties of wrinkle creams, skin tone lightening (or bleaching) products, acne products, and many clarifying and firming face washes and masks.  Neutrogena's Oil Free Cream Face Wash is my favorite product using solanum tuberosum because it pairs with salicylic acid, a beta-hydroxy acid that's used to help clean and revive your skin.  I also LOVE Fil-Lup Potato Essence Mask.  There's another great product using solanum tuberosum, LUSH cosmetic's Volcano Foot Mask, which makes your tootsies feel like you spent a long day at the spa.  Awesome.

Looking for more information on spuds and how they help your skin?  Try this article, and you can also check out this article for useful tips on using potatoes and other natural stuff in your kitchen to get rid of dark spots and blemishes.

 

3.28.2010

Salicylic acid: What does it do for your skin?




If you check the ingredients list on many of your favorite and most effective acne treatments and face washes, you'll find an ingredient that tops almost every list.  Salicylic acid, a weaker beta-hydroxy acid, is fantastic for getting rid of many troubling skin conditions because of it's natural ability to hasten and replenish the desquamation process. This process is the natural way in which your skin cells are "sloughed away and replaced." (Need more information about what desquamation is and how it works? Read here and here.)

When your skin has a lot of trouble healing and / or recovering from bad bouts of acne, you probably have a problem with your skin's desquamation process.  This means that the rate at which your skin should be replenishing itself is either too slow, or could possibly not even be happening if you keep piling on products like heavy or thick cosmetics.

Salicylic acid, a lovely extract from willow bark and other completely natural and green sources, is not only the way we get rid of acne, oily skin, and blotch problems.  Salicylic acid is also how we create something great for our bodies AND skin -- aspirin!  (Remember aspirin face masks?  Bring them back, cause they work!  Try this video from Michelle Phan, and this article from yours truly. )

"Products that use salicylic acid normally boast the ability to help cure (or completely cure) cases of mild acne, dandruff, and psoriasis, among others. Since it is extracted from willow bark, salicylic acid is considered an organic ingredient in many aspects and is a key ingredient in many natural skincare products, as well as shampoos, conditioners, and acne-friendly moisturizing products as well. When this ingredient was extracted at first, it was used to help ease pain of injury and illness, giving us what aspirin is today. Aspirin is made by utilizing a reaction that occurs within salicylic acid, so using aspirin based recipes for your skin can also greatly improve an existing condition like acne..."
 (Read more of this article on salicylic acid and your desquamation process here.)


Looking for some products that contain salicylic acid?  Here are a few you may already be familiar with:

Neutrogena Acne Rapid Clear Daily Treatment Pads
Olay 7 in 1 Anti-Aging Salicylic Acid Acne Cleanser
St Ives Swiss Formula Medicated Apricot Scrub
Psoriasil Body Wash from Tao of Herbs


As always, there are people that have sensitivities and reactions to certain beta-hydroxy acids.  Make sure you check with your dermatologist if you have any serious skin conditions before you start a skincare regimen using products heavy in salicylic acid.

I hope this helped out! webcake xoxo

3.23.2010

Fruit & Your Face ♥



The best thing for your skin, especially the skin on your face, is something 100% natural.  You need something gentle and effective, something that won't irritate your skin, and something that can help prevent skin issues in the future.  You also need something full of vitamins, minerals, and natural moisturizing properties.

It's really (really!) hard to find products that are completely natural, with nothing man-made in them at all.  But there's one thing you can always count on to help revive that natural beauty inside of you -- fruit!

There are plenty of ways to use fresh fruit to get great skin right at home, and you don't need anything else other than what's probably already sitting in your cupboards and fridge.  Here I'll make a quick and simple list of fruits and which skin types & conditions they are best used for:



Acne
Lemons
Apples
Strawberries
Grapefruit
Kiwi


Dry Skin
Bananas
Guava
Olives
Melons


Discoloration / Dark Circles
Tomatoes
Grapes
Orange
Tangerine


Wrinkles / Sagging
Any Citrus fruit
Papayas
Blueberries
Pineapples


These fruits all contain antioxidant properties, and also can help naturally cleanse and refresh your skin.  Another reason these fruits are great for your skin's health is because they contain alpha-hydroxy acids.  Find out why AHA's are good for your skin here.  For more information on how these fruits and others are helpful for your skin, check out this article from DivaVillage.

For some awesome home-made facial recipes using all natural ingredients like fresh fruit, check out these articles:

Exfoliating Grapefruit Facewash
Refreshing Banana & Orange Face Mask
Cucumber & Melon Face Mask
Deep Cleansing Lemon Face Scrub

Have fun and stay cute ♥ xoxo



2.14.2010

Using hemp & hemp seed oil to vastly improve your skin's health!

No, I am not exaggerating when I say you can "vastly" improve your skin's health using hemp products and extracts!  There are many products made using hemp oils and hemp seed oils that are used for severely dry skin, as well as skin conditions like eczema, excessive acne problems, and problems with blotchy skin.

There have been testimonials of people for years and years (since it became legal to grow the crop again in Canada in 1998, anyway.)  of people that have had fantastic results with hemp seed oil and hemp oil.

The craziest part about it though, is that when you search the internet far and wide, you can only find very minimal negative reviews of hemp seed oil products, and it's almost ALWAYS by someone who's a puff-chested anti-drug that can't muster the brain cells to tell the difference between hemp and cannabis.

I won't go into all the hemp plant's many other uses that could not only enrich our lives, but stimulate a dying economy, so instead I'll just focus on it's great uses in the beauty world.  I wrote a helpful article on using hemp oil &  hemp seed oil at home yourself to greatly improve the health of your hair and skin.  You can read it here.  If you're interested in what popular high-rated products use hemp seed oil and/or hemp oil as a main ingredient, here are a few:

Body lotion and bath products from Yaoh! Organic Products
Hempz Haircare Products (AMAZING products.)
Good ol' Burts Bees hemp Res-Q lip balm
GiGi Hemp Skincare Products  (Ultra-moisturizing wax & lotions)

There's plenty of simple ways to use the extracts and oils of the hemp plant right in your own home to get great results.  If you've got a skin, hair, or other condition and it's possible to cure it with hemp oils and extracts, shouldn't you give it a try?



Yes, that is a hemp wiimote. Stay cute, smart, & green! ♥ xoxo

2.10.2010

Great & cheap beauty buys that don't suck! ♥

So, yeah, it's tough to buy all the cool stuff that I want, what with the economy in shambles and all.  Luckily, there are a few companies that continuously pump out the quality products at a wallet-friendly price.  Cosmetic & skincare companies like e.l.f, Rimmel, and Alba consistently keep my attention with new good quality, affordable stuff.  Here, I'll name and briefly discuss a few of the very best beauty buys I've been able to find...


Cosmetics

e.l.f Luscious Liquid Lipstick
(Favorite shade: Ruby Slipper)

They smell nice, they go on glossy and smooth, and they last a surprisingly long time.  The applicator is a sponge type point that filters slow shots of liquid lip color up from the tube and through the soft sponge.  It's unique, it's good quality, and it's CHEAP.  Yeah, I mean cheap.

Price: $1.00







Rimmel Lasting Finish (16hr) Foundation
(Favorite shade: True Nude)

This is another great find, a long lasting foundation for under $10.00.  I use the 10 dollar mark on foundations, because the quality for me seems to halt at 10 dollars.  It doesn't get any better after that mark, and all the rest of the money you pay for a brand over that is just fluff name-spank that I don't care about at all.

Rimmel is a drugstore beauty brand, and it's a great one.  I own this foundation and I still buy it every time I run out.  It's thick and creamy, and it stays on for a while.  Sure, 16 hours is a pretty big push, but I have experience with it lasting over 6 hours without even fading, so that's pretty darn good.

Price:  $7.29




Application

e.l.f Kabuki Brush

I own this brush.  It's awesome.  Like most Kabuki brushes, the way the bristles are set up has a lot to do with how the handle is shaped.  Kabuki brushes boast the ability to cover huge areas of your face as flawlessly as possible, and a small stocky handle makes it easier to apply using this big fan-type brush.  It's a high quality brush for an incredible price.

Price:  $5.00





e.l.f Sugar Kiss Eyelash Curly Tool

A high quality eyelash curler that's not put together like any other cheap curler.  It doesn't squeak, the handles are soft and easy to use, and it has no harsh tug.  It's a great find, and certainly a great buy.

Price: $1.00









Skincare

Alba Deep Sea Face Mask

I have to say that this face mask is one of my favorites.  That's saying a LOT for me, because I'm a huge advocate of DIY beauty routines at home.  The face masks that work the best (and are obviously the most natural and best for your skin) can be made at home, where you know EXACTLY what's going onto (and into) your skin.  This is one of the few product exceptions, mainly because it's got so many goodies from the sea in it.

Price: $7.65






Freeman's Beautiful Face Peel-Off Masque
(Favorite: Cucumber)

This is another great face mask that goes above and beyond when it comes to end-result and price.  It's cheap, and it's got lots of natural goodies inside, which makes me not hate it.  Also, it smells GREAT, and leaves your skin completely smooth with a light fragrance.

Price: $3.99









Well that's about it for my great beauty buy post...there's lots more that I've found, so stay tuned.  Happy shopping!  ♥

2.01.2010

Valentine's Day makeovers & making the day special! ♥



It's almost Valentine's Day!  It's the time of year where people that barely tolerate each other buy expensive, useless gifts and eat disgusting, chalk-like heart candies.  (Why do those things still exist? Ew.)  This "holiday" gives many people the world over a warm, loving feeling.  There's lots of ways to show the person you love just how much they mean to you this Valentine's Day, even with the economy still wobbling on it's last leg.  You don't need to go buy your lady a Benz, and you certainly don't need to give your guy a Rolex.

If you have a wallet full of cash or if you've got nothing more than good wishes and smiles to share, this three-step Valentine's day formula can simply NEVER FAIL. ♥

  1. Look Pretty.   Valentine's Day is about all things pretty, sweet, cuddly, and cute.  You want to be ALL of those things, so your significant other will be more inclined to treat you like a queen.  Use that beauty routine that you use when you're going out.  (You know what I mean.  OUT out, not shopping at Target out.)  In other words, put your best face on.  For some totally sweet Valentine's Day Makeup tutorials, check out this one from RiceBunny, and this one from FaffinetteX3.  Also, here's some quick extra tips on making your lipstick/lipgloss last through dinner, and choosing the perfect shade of Valentine's pink.
  2. Cook GREAT food.  Me, I can cook with the best of 'em.  But not all cutie pies can whip up a fancy, delicious feast for their lady/man unless they are taking it out of a take-out box and arranging it on a plate. (Mrs. Doubtfire flashbacks.)  Never fear, talentless beauties!  Here are some easy and elegant recipes that will make your Valentine's Day dinner a complete success.  And, they're idiot-proof, so if you're the type of girl who burns toast, you should be fine with these.  
  3. Don't break the mood!  This is usually the hardest to do on Valentine's Day.  After food (and most likely, some of the most generous sex you've given your partner all year), things tend to wind down and turn the romantic day into just another evening at home.  This could include anything from retiring at about 7pm to having to hide upstairs while your fella's buddies come over for leftover lamb and wine.  You can't let that crap slide, girlies.  So instead of letting the mood die and letting your partner become disinterested in the day you've planned, remember to bring out a tray of goodies and a movie you two haven't seen.  Try surprising him with a bottle of some sweet dessert wine and frosted egg biscuits.  NOBODY can say no to liquor and sweets.  Get him/her nice and tipsy, and fall asleep together, cuddling to whatever lame movie you picked.




Following my patented 3 step Valentine's Day guidelines will not only prove successful, but you won't have to buy anyone anything expensive.  And that's really the point, isn't it?  Oh, and love.  Yeah.  ♥

For some extra super sweet Valentine's Day makeup tutorials, try this look for blondes by ZoeeBella, or this look for dark haired beauties by BeautyBargainHunter. 

Happy Valentine's Day!!  ♥webcake

1.25.2010

Sexy bɨtches spotlight ♥

Well, as usual, I get agitated when all I hear about are thin blondies and heiress blowhards getting all of the media attention because they're so beautiful. A lot of people forget what makes a real beauty beautiful - a whole lotta tits and ass. Curvy women obviously rule, and there's some sexy ladies getting some (not always so positive) spotlight recently that have curves to match their confidence. I decided to choose one of my favorites to spotlight, since she's been looking positively scrumptious...



Nicki Minaj




Yeah, she's ghetto. Yeah, she's fly. And yeah, she's got half of the people that know her name absolutely HATING on her. But hey, every fly ass lady has a parade of haters behind her, that's kinda like a rule. Just because a girl wears some boss Barbie bling and has an ass that rivals a Sealy Tempurpedic mattress, everyone tries to make her look like a fraud. So maybe she got some puff added, and maybe she didn't.


My biggest peeve is that everyone's going nuts over what they think are "butt pads", and then in the same instance referencing her fluctuating weight. Well....if she gains and loses weight so much, how hard is it to believe she's just got a naturally phat ass?!

She's not claiming she's 100% natural. She's completely straightforward about her plasticy image and she (and her hoards of fans) don't seem to mind. She calls herself a Harajuku Barbie, and shapes her image around colorful makeup, hot hair, and outfits that accentuate all those lovely assets.

Nicki's favorite makeup item? According to this interview, it's MAC's Pink Nouveau Lipstick! Want to get some looks from her videos, or Nicki inspired makeup tutorials?

Check out this one from the "Bedrock" video. (Hate that song, love the makeup.)
Here's another awesome Nicki Minaj makeup tutorial...
And a super sweet Barbie-yumyum Nicki inspired tutorial here.

Interested in her music? Listen to her here, on Pandora Radio.






1.15.2010

Bee & Flower Rose Soap & some new pretty things ♥

Hello again! The other day, I made a small purchase that I'm absolutely loving. I was at the natural foods store and found some Bee & Flower soap, one was sandalwood and the other was rose. I'm obsessed with anything rose, and it was only 99 cents, so I got it. It's a vegetable soap and uses no animal related products, and it's super easy on your skin. Not only that, but it smells SOOOOooo good. It actually leaves a light scent on your skin too, without a nasty film or anything gross like that.




Another perk is it's beautiful packaging! It's very neatly wrapped in an ornate little pocket type thingy with pretty flowers and Chinese writing all over it. You can smell it right through the package. I have no idea where this soap is normally found, but if you find it, BUY IT!

As for the pretty things I made:





Those round pretty green orbs are Green Aventurine, and sporadically dispersed amongst them are sets of three sea glass chips. I looooove this, I wore it yesterday.




This one is basically on the same idea, but with only sets of 1, 2, 3, and 4 grade B Lapis Lazuli chips. It's also a little longer, and I made earrings for it too. I only have one shirt that matches, but I love it anyway. Both of them are on basic silver plated double link chain and have silver plated barrel clasps.

Well that's my piece for the day. I'm about to play some CoDmw2 until my eyes bleed. ♥ xoxo

1.11.2010

Hard Candy's GINORMOUS Lash Mascara & Maybelline Dream Mousse Shadow ♥

Hello beauties! ♥

I recently discovered two items that go so perfectly together, I had to spotlight them at the same time. Behold the poor quality of my sidekick camera:




Those two blurry awesome things are Hard Candy's GINORMOUS LASH MASCARA! I put it in caps because it truly does make your lashes friggin' GINORMOUS! The color is Carbon Black, ofcourse.

This mascara does exactly what it says it's sup
posed to do.

When I first used it, I expected big fat clumpy lashes that would go great with my dark gothy eyes that day, but what I ended up getting was something so much more wonderful, and far less clumpy.

In fact, there are no clumps, at all! (Not that I've seen so far in almost a week, anyway.) I believe it has something to do with the shape of the brush. I can't take a picture that shows anything on my awful camera, so I'll just say that it's pointy, properly bristled, and PLASTIC.

So, plastic applicators haven't always been my favorite thing, but when it comes to smooth application of a thick-ass mascara like this one, plastic totally fits the bill.

I've also noticed that it adds length to the tips of my lashes without adding sticky residue that would otherwise come off on my upper cheeks. That didn't happen, and it dried quickly on my lashes without flaking.

This mascara takes the cake. And we all love cake.

Oh, and if you're looking for some shots of what this looks like applied, check out the Muse's November post on this product here.


The other little pot that's there is Maybelline New York's Dream Mousse Shadow in Black Spice. Though I absolutely love this shadow, I have to be clear before one of you go buy it, open it, and wonder how the heck I wear it every day when it looks (and feels) so clumpy.

Well, it's a mousse by name, but more of a cream by texture.
It applies easily if you use a small eye brush, or in my case, a flat lip brush. (I have oily eyelids.) Now let me name a few things about this shadow before I say how much I love it:


  • Not good for finger application. This is a bit iffy for me, because when it comes to any shadow that isn't dry packaged, I like to apply with my fingers.
  • If you tip it over, some of it will actually fly out. And it stains. Bad.
  • Sometimes the sparkles clump together, and take a bit of evening out before you get the "starry sky" look instead of the "i put crayons on my eyelids" look.
Those things being said, I can now elaborate on why it's better than it seems:

  • Using a small brush, the application is MUCH easier. Takes a few minutes, but it's easier.
  • The color lasts ALL DAY. It doesn't fade, and it's a PERFECT BASE for many other dark gothy shades.
  • It's SUPER SMOOTH, so if you want to give the ends of your eyes a little wing action, you can easily just use a small lip brush and get profesh looking eyes from a $3 eyeshadow pot.
  • It's sparkly black. Love.

Super sexii right?? So go out and buy both of these right now!! ♥

webcake xoxoxoxo

1.09.2010

Super Cute Blog Spotlight!

I spend a lot of time every morning and every night browsing the blogs of other beauty writers and fellow cutesy junkies. Though I love each and every blog I read (for the most part) and have enjoyed having such wonderful ladies on my BlogRoll, there are two that are super sweet and keep me endlessly entertained!


The following two ladies are cool (and totally lucky) enough to receive my 2nd ever blog award, the SUPER CUTE BLOG AWARD! Wicked original, right?



The first, a super cute blonde (and the only blonde that I don't secretly despise) and fab blogger, Chloë! Check out her blog at Makeup Princess! ♥ I would also like to add that she's having a really neat giveaway right now, including prizes like Rimmel's Max Volume Flash mascara & some delicious chocolates! Yum!


The second is a fellow gamer, a really sweet and chic gal who's also worlds away from webcake's stomping grounds. She's Anastasia, at Lipsticks & Lightsabers, and she rules! Some of the stuff I like best about this girl is her brutally honest rants. She holds nothing back, and isn't afraid to speak exactly what's on her mind about a product, whether it's good, bad, or ugly. (Not normally ugly, since she's so cute. ♥)

Congrats ladies! Feel free to show my awesome award on your blogs. You don't have to, but it's really cute so you totally should.

Keep being so super cute!
xoxo webcake <3

1.04.2010

Sweet special things!! L'Oréal Vive Pro & Harajuku Lovers LOVE fragrance ♥

I hope everyone had a beautiful and happy holiday! I plan on sticking to my resolution this year. I hope everyone else does too...and honestly, I usually completely space mine and never do it anyway. But this time, it's different!

So let's take a quick look at some of the neat stuff I've received recently. I got two things in particular that were my favorites!

First, is the absolutely magnificent Harajuku Lover's perfume in LOVE.


First is the super cute doll bottle and the little mini. And get this, that little mini slider is full of solid perfume...and it's shimmery! It's a transluscent shimmer and it smells so sweet!

LOVE is Gwen Stefani's scent, and has hints of Rose, Peach, Pink Pomelo, Ylang Ylang, Watery Peony, Bamboo Leaf, Jasmine Sambac, Creamy Paperwhites, Egyptian Jasmine, Musk, Blond Wood, Vanilla, Bergamot, and Nectarine Blossom!

It all comes together to smell sweet, soft, and tOOoooOOotally sexy. There's a peeve I have with it though...that it doesn't last as long as I would like. I love it when pretty scents cling to my sweatshirts, and have people saying how good I smell *all* day when I only apply it in the morning. Other than that, it's wondersextastic. I totally recommend it if you like a soft combination of floral and woodsy.

Another neato thing that I got was L'Oréal Vive Pro Glossy Body Boosting Shampoo! It's for fine hair, which I certainly have. My hair is totally thin and gets dry and oily way too easily depending on what's in my shampoo...so it's totally hard to find something that I can use continuously. (Other than Dr. Bronner's Rose.)


See that? Glossy Volume! Automatically I thought "greasy heavy mess", but I was way wrong.

This stuff works GREAT! Usually my problem is that shampoo meant to give body to hair usually adds a lot of weight to it too. That's really counterproductive in hair like mine, it's just thin and flat. This shampoo doesn't seem to do that though, it just adds some gentle bounce and softness, and it even makes it look shiny without looking greasy!

There's never a gross film when I rinse this stuff out in the next shower, either. That's usually why I can tell shampoos aren't great for my hair, because they still leave a residue later at night or the day after.

Well, that's all for now! Hope everyone enjoys coming down from their new year's festivities ;)
 

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