Category: beauty

Get a Beach Body Stat By Cutting Empty Calories!

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It’s that time of year again when everyone is trying to drop pounds as quickly as they put them on back during the luscious Christmas holidays (ya know we were all guilty of packing away cakes, cookies, and chocolates and downing it all down with gallons of eggnog).

But have no fear! Here’s a quick and easy way to shed some pounds without going too overboard or fasting (never cool).

What causes most of us to gain weight is empty calories. Meaning, these are calories that hold no nutritional value to us, so eating them not only doesn’t apply to making us healthier or giving us energy for the day, but rather are very detrimental to our health. These calories are usually low in proteins and dietary fats, but high in carbs (simple sugars). But we’re all human, so cutting out ALL empty calories is unrealistic and would also be kind of sad (seriously who wants to bid farewell to sweets forever? Not this gal!).

So here’s a nifty chart for you to take advantage:

The USDA MyPlate Limits empty calories to the following:

Women/Ages 19-30: 260 calories

Women/Ages 31-50: 160 calories

Women/Over 50: 120 calories

What constitutes as empty calories?

The following foods contain empty calories:

Cake, cookies, pastries, sodas, cheese, pizza, sports drinks, ice cream, hot dogs, bacon, jam, chips, French fries, syrup, and donuts

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Try to fill up on fruits and vegetables instead, where you’ll end up feeling more full for a longer time with less calorie consumption, and limit your empty calorie intake to half a serving or one serving a day, and you’re bound to see some results in your waistline!

Let me know some of your tips and tricks for shedding pounds in the comments below!

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Korres Pomegranate Balancing Cream-Gel Moisturizer

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I’ve previously tried products from this brand before, and I truly loved it. I like how they use all-natural ingredients, and from the products I tried, they’ve actually made my skin way better in both look and texture. So bonus points for that!

Being someone who’s always had oily skin, trying to use moisturizer has been almost impossible as all the ones I’ve tried tended to be too rich and break me out. And who wants to look like a pepperoni pizza, right? So when I received this moisturizer made specifically for Oily-Combination Skin in my Allure Beauty Box, I was tempted to give it a go.

What It Is: Cream-Gel Moisturizer for Oily-Combination Skin types

What It Does: Delivers ultra-hydration whilst minimizing pores and creating a matte, yet luminous complexion.

Active Ingredients: 5% Pomegranate water, Pomegranate Extract, Alpine Willowherb, Tannins, and Polyphenols

Verdict: Oily-acne prone skin gals, this product is for YOU! This moisturizer is THE BEST I’ve ever tried. Not only does it keep my skin hydrated, but it also mattifies the skin without it looking dull, but rather refreshed. From the very first application the cream felt luxurious and thick, but when applied it actually felt rather lightweight. It also has a very faint, yet clean smell to it. The packaging is simple, yet sleek. I really love how it makes my skin feel less oily, but plump with hydration and ultra-fortifying. I don’t have issues with big pores, but this product also helps with minimizing pores and giving them a smaller appearance. I highly recommend this cream if you’re looking for a moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin.

Price: $34

Where To Buy It: https://www.korresusa.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Secrets to Gorgeous Hair!

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We all know that one girl, ya know, the one with the incredible locks, who has no bad hair days, ala Blake Lively or Megan Fox. Instead of getting hair envy, you too can achieve luscious, shiny locks with some secret ingredients that you may already have lying around your home! Beautiful hair shouldn’t be unattainable, so read below for some tips and tricks on how to get that perfect mane!

Next time you lather, think about adding these key ingredients in your shampoo:

Take one cup of baby shampoo (I prefer Honest) and mix in the following ingredients depending on your hair type:

If you have dry hair:

2 tablespoons olive or coconut oil or 1 egg

If you have oily hair:

2 tablespoons lemon juice or aloe vera gel

If you have normal hair:

¼ cup beer or flat champagne

Is product build-up causing your hair to be flat and dull? Then consider this trick:

Rinse your hair with ½ cup baking soda dissolved in 2 cups of warm water. What this does is remove all the product build up you have in your hair, such as hair spray, dry shampoo, or serums.

Are you suffering from dandruff? Then this trick is for you:

Rinse your hair with 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of warm water. The vinegar will help zap away any oils and shed those dreaded flakes for good!

Let me know if you try any of these tricks or let me know some of yours in the comments below!

By: Azzurra Nox

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Beauty In Breakfast: Strawberry Kiwi Smoothie Recipe

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Are you running late and only have five minutes for breakfast? Put down that Pop Tart or doughnut and opt for this nutritional and skin-healthy option instead!

This smoothie not only is it uber simple to prepare, it’s also jam-packed with Vitamin C! And we all know that Vitamin C is essential in skincare, especially since it promotes collagen and prevents wrinkling. Who wouldn’t drink to that? Plus, the honey in the smoothie aids in preventing inflammation (meaning it lowers your chances of getting pimples, BONUS!).

Prep Time: 5 mins.

Total Time: 5 mins.

Calories per serving: 206

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cup cold apple juice

1 ripe banana, sliced

1 kiwi, sliced

5 fresh strawberries (or frozen)

1 ½ teaspoon honey

Directions:

Place the apple juice, sliced banana, sliced kiwi, strawberries, and honey in a blender. Blend until smooth. Place in a glass or portable mason jar if you’re on the go!

Strawberry-Kiwi-Smoothie

Photo courtesy of:  https://www.wellplated.com

Let me know what you think about this refreshing smoothie if you try it!

Check out my previous installment in this mini-series: Beauty In Breakfast: Tomato Omelet Recipe

By: Azzurra Nox

Split-Ends? Oh no! How to Avoid & Prevent them from Happening

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It happens to the best of us. No matter how careful we are in handling our locks, or how often we go to the salon for a trim, split-ends are bound to happen, especially if you use hair dye or heat. We’ve all envied those models in shampoo commercials with the perfect shiny tresses (newsflash: most of the time those models are wearing wigs or extensions!). But envy no more!

I’ve tried numerous remedies that promised to eliminate split-ends, and sad to say, 95% of them have been grossly inefficient.

But every time, I fall for it again. With starry eyes and hope in my heart, I think, maybe this will actually work! Well, recently tried a home remedy that does deliver and it doesn’t cost that much! And apart from it being fairly inexpensive, it’s also easy-peasy (I’m all about avoiding complicated methods).

Split-Ends Rescue Remedy

Ingredients: Cup of flat beer

Method: Pour beer into a spray bottle and spray into the hair.

Leave in hair for an hour, then rinse out with a mild shampoo.

Why This Works: The proteins and natural sugars in beer bond to your hair, helping to strengthen and mend damaged follicles.

How to Prevent Split-Ends: Do not wash your hair more than three times a week.

Do not brush wet hair.

Avoid heat and chemicals.

I hope this is helpful! Let me know if you try this method and what you think of it!

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Lancôme DRAMA LIQUI-PENCIL Longwear Eyeliner

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If there’s one makeup product that’s a staple in my makeup bag, it’s eyeliner. I’m always changing it up between pencil and liquid, and this new one from Lancome promises to combine the intensity and precision of a liquid eyeliner, but with the fool-proofness of a pencil liner (which is more forgiving especially if you’re in a hurry or putting on makeup early in the morning whilst being in a hurry as I do when getting ready for work).

What It Is: A long-wear highly pigmented liquid pencil eyeliner.

What It Does: 24-hour wear, blendable formula, no smudging!

Verdict: This liqui-pencil is absolutely phenomenal! I LOVE how pigmented the eyeliner is, and the fact that it’s very forgiving and fool-proof to apply when you’re strapped for time. It is precise and doesn’t budge all day. Even when I swatched it, it was difficult to remove (I had to use both makeup remover AND cleanser to get it off). So you’re assured that this eyeliner will stay on your lid and not migrate half way down your eyes by the end of the day. It’s also sweat-proof (no running eyeliner when you’re hitting the dance floor or gym!), and even if you forget about wearing liner and rub your eye, this liner isn’t going anywhere! This liner comes in various vibrant colours ranging from blue, black, brown, and purple, but I got the blue and find it such a fun way to have a pop of colour on your lids whilst wearing nude eyeshadow.

Price: $23

Where To Buy It: Sephora

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By: Azzurra Nox

Beauty In Breakfast: Tomato Omelet Recipe

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Breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day, so why not make it the perfect opportunity to eat foods that will give you beauty benefits?

“You can put on all the makeup and concealer in the world, but unless you’re eating a diet of beauty foods, your skin will not look its best,” says Lisa Drayer, MA, RD, the author of The Beauty Diet.

In this mini-series I will provide you with some easy and healthy-skin breakfast options!

In order to have a healthy-glowing skin you need to not only use the right products for your skin type, but you need to be eating foods that boost your skin’s health.

“Sugar may contribute to wrinkles, and there’s research that shows that following a diet lower in refined carbs improves adult acne,” says Drayer.

Throw out your Pop Tarts and Toaster Strudels and give your skin a break.

“Tomatoes are the number one skin-friendly vegetable,” says Jessica Wu, MD, a Los Angeles dermatologist and author of Feed Your Face. Eating bright red vegetables may help fight sunburn, boost collagen, and reduce skin roughness.

Not to mention that eggs are loaded with Vitamin A (your number one skin-friendly vitamin!).

So put down the doughnut and read below for an amazing Tomato Omelet Recipe!

Ingredients:

2 Eggs

1 Medium Size Tomato Finely Chopped

½ Onion Finely Chopped

¼ Finely Chopped Cilantro or Parsley

A pinch of pepper

A pinch of salt

A pinch of Chipotle Pepper

1 Teaspoon Olive Oil

Directions:

  1. Add one teaspoon of olive oil to a pan and heat up.
  2. Beat two eggs in a bowl.
  3. Add the finely chopped onion, tomato, cilantro or parsley, salt, pepper, salt, and pepper to the bowl and mix the ingredients.
  4. Then place all the ingredients in the pan and fry until golden.

  5. Enjoy!

     

Photo by PhotoMIX Company on Pexels.com

Review: Wet N Wild Photofocus Concealer Correcteur

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Dark undereye circles have been the bane of my beauty regimen since I was twelve years old. I have hereditary dark undereyes (being half Italian and being said that anyone from the Mediterranean is predisposed to them there’s not much I can do about them), so in other words, I’ve come across numerous concealers. Some work okay, some work very well, and some don’t work at all. What makes a concealer perfect for me is blendability, the ability to disguise the actual darkness, and no creasing factor. Throughout the years I’ve used sticks, creams, and even powders. I’ve tested high end to drugstore, and I’ve recently discovered a concealer that not only does it conceal and not crease, but it’s also very economical.

What It Is: Concealer for any light condition

What It Does: Tested Under 7 Light Conditions: 1. Clear Blue Sunlit Sky, 2. Outdoors PM, 3. Indoors PM, 4. Electronic Flash, 5. Fluorescent, 6. Bathroom Light, and 7. Nightclub Light.

Verdict: This concealer instantly brightens the skin, making it appear more awake and rejuvenated. It’s also excellent at concealing any imperfections without looking cakey or creasing. What I love the most about this concealer is that it blends like a dream. It also lasts over ten hours without creasing! It works wonders not just for dark undereye circles, but even for any acne, acne scars, or any discoloration you may have. It comes in six shades in full coverage. You can say goodbye to photo flashback and let your inner beauty shine on the outside!

Perks: Cruelty-free (always a plus when a cosmetic brand doesn’t test on animals!)

Price: $3.99

Where To Buy It: https://www.wetnwildbeauty.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Review: Too Cool For School All-In-One Egg Mellow Cream

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If you follow my blog, then you’ll know that I swear by Vitamin A for having good skin. Having said that, one of the key ingredients in this moisturizer is egg yolk (which is rich in Vitamin A and proteins that nourish the skin). The nutrients found in eggs not only help nourish dull skin but it also brightens it. It also gets rid of acne (again, because of the Vitamin A) and because it also contains a natural antibacterial that fights acne. Since egg yolk is mostly made up of water and fats, it actually helps lock moisture into your skin cells, leaving skin feeling incredibly soft and supple. What more could you ask from a single ingredient?

What It Is: Firming Moisturizer

What It Does: This moisturizer is supposed to work as a serum, priming moisturizer, eye cream, neck cream, and sleep mask. It also targets dryness, dullness and uneven texture, and firmness.

Active Ingredients: Egg yolk, Collagen (great for anti-aging), albumen (egg white), Niacinamide, and omega oil for proper hydration that visibly plumps the skin.

Verdict: As you can tell, I have quite an obsession for overnight masks (you can check out more here), mostly because I suck at waiting out the 15-20 minutes required for face masks and who doesn’t want to wake up to amazing skin? This moisturizer (that also acts as an overnight mask) has fives uses and is packed with multiple benefits in one convenient package. I mostly use this on my face and neck, but it could also be used for the eyes. This cream has a pleasant scent (anyone who has ever used egg on their face knows how sticky and smelly it can be!). What can I say? The moment you apply this cream, your skin will look visibly plumper and will be insanely soft. But don’t worry, the effects last until the following morning. I woke up to softer skin and with no sign of redness or inflammation whatsoever (which can sometimes be the case for us acne-prone skin types). This moisturizer is a godsend to those of you that have dry or flaky skin, but it’s light enough that even those of us with extremely oily skin (as myself) can reap the benefits and won’t clog your pores!

Price: $36

Where To Buy It: Sephora.com

By: Azzurra Nox

Is Blood the new anti-aging secret?

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Elizabeth Báthory wasn’t too far off when she used to bathe in virgin blood to maintain her youthful beauty. New studies have shown that teenage blood, when injected in older subjects, reverses the aging process with significant changes. The founder of Ambrosia, Jesse Karmazin, MD, tells New Science that it’s the healthier proteins present in younger plasma that is the key. Patients who were treated with the plasma treatment also presented lower levels of carcinoembryonic antigens (these antigents can signal cancer), and also displayed lower blood cholesterol and decrease in levels of amyloids (which could help prevent Alsheimer’s disease). The downside to this anti-aging procedure is the staggering cost: $8,000 a session and it’s recommended to do it twice a year.

 

Another blood treatment has been Blood-Infused skincare creams, which pretty much incoporates your own blood into moisturizers (supermodel Hailey Baldwin is said to use this skincare routine from Dr. Sturm). Again, the costs of such a skincare routine are elevated as a moisturizer could cost you around $1,400.

 

A few years ago the web went wild when Kim Kardashian showed off a cosmetic procedure on Instagram dubbed the vampire facial. What this procedure consists of is a doctor takes a few vials of blood from your arm, centrifuges the blood so that it separates out the plasma and platelets from the red blood cells, and then adds the platelet plasma back into your face using small needles.

 

If all of this makes you feel woozy, don’t worry, as Marilyn Manson said years ago, the media sells fear so that you’re made to spend thousands as a way to prevent from losing your youth. Truth is, it’s probably about time that people began to accept the cycle of life, and embrace the aging process gracefully such as badass icons like Helen Mirren.

 

Would you try any of these anti-aging techniques? What do you think about them? Are they too extreme?

By: Azzurra Nox