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

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!  ♥

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

Winter makeup tips!

Happy winter from webcake! xoxo

When the weather starts to get cold and the wind starts to sting your skin, you know you're going to need a bit of extra protection against the elements. Get a head start on things by making sure you moisturize properly with oil-free moisturizers and face creams.

Using moisturizers with vitamin E, aloe, and shea butter can help improve your skin's texture through the day if you are often exposed to the cold weather. (See why vitamin E is good for your skin here.)

Aside from making sure you moisturize enough, you also need to make sure you don't use a foundation that dries too quickly. (The cheap ones unfortunately seem to do even more damage in cold weather.) If the wind makes your cheeks cold and puffy, it can completely mess up your complexion and make all of that time you spent in the morning completely worthless. And that...is very annoying.

If you're like me and you live somewhere that gets pretty darn cold in the winter, you'll notice that your beauty routine almost completely changes with the seasons. Once it starts to get colder, there are just some products we can't wear.

For example, I've noticed mousse or cream eye shadows and foundations (or anything with a light whipped type consistency that you put on your face) seem to disappear when chilly wind hits your face for extended periods of time. Either that, or they start making strange lines and seeping into whatever is left of your skin's natural oil, making streaks on my eye lids.

You also want to make sure that the soap and/or body wash that you're using is doing it's job properly, and not over drying your skin. Your soap can't tell when it's winter, so you have to adjust how and when you wash accordingly. Also, just because it's winter doesn't mean you shouldn't use your moisturizer with an SPF! The sun is still beating down on your skin, even when it's cold.

Looking for some products that are specifically made for your skin in cold weather? Lucky you, because I've scoured the internet for them so you don't have to!



First, I'll start with Clinique's Moisture Surge moisturizer. It's incredibly easy to apply and goes on so very smooth, you can feel it absorbing right into your skin! Also, it's suited for long wear and can last through the elements, keeping your face properly moisturized and keeping you from getting those big red puffy cheeks.





Next, I'm crazy about e.l.f tinted moisturizer. I use it a heck of a lot every day on the circles under my eyes and on the shadowed parts of my forehead and chin, because those places seem to get dry the quickest. This not only blends easily into my foundation and powder, but is actually a really great moisturizer for the price.







It's blue, it's chunky, it's in an ugly little tub and it smells like menthol and camphor! Surprise! It IS menthol and camphor! It's Blistex's Lip Medex, and no winter would be complete without this little blue pot of menthol lip balm. It cools your lips when they're dry and chapped, and keeps them moisturized for a good amount of time. It's not cute to whip this out all the time, but before you leave the house it's a good idea to put some on. You can find it at pretty much every drugstore ever.


Keep your hoods on and tie them closed so a lot of snowy, chilly, winter wind doesn't directly contact your skin. Use spot treatment moisturizers as much as you can, and never skimp on the chapstick!

Looking for some more makeup tips from the pros? Here's a recent good tidbit from ELLE on keeping your skin healthy in winter.