It's Already April, Time to Get Ready for Summer!

Hi Loves! Happy second day of April! I wanted to apologize that I haven’t been writing as much as I usually do - March was an extremely busy month!

Today the weather was absolutely gorgeous.  I was fortunate to get out of work at a decent time and able to get outside and run 5 miles! A month ago if someone had asked me to run even one mile outside I would have thought they were absolutely crazy. I am following a ten week running program and this week is week number 6! The purpose of all this running is that I am participating in a 10 mile race the first weekend of May and I have about a month left! I am super excited and it’s a great way for me to get in shape in time for summer. The days that I don’t feel like running I always think to myself that I don’t want to be that person who doesn’t finish the race while all my friends are done!

So some of you might be thinking “Okay Sharan that’s great and dandy but how does this relate to your beauty/fashion blog?” We let me tell you...

A healthy diet and exercise translates into clearer and healthier looking skin and it doesn’t stop at just that.  Watching what you eat and exercising makes you less at risk for heart disease, osteoporosis, type-2 diabetes, high blood pressure and cancers. You will also have more energy, less stress, sleep better, higher self-esteem, and just plain old have a sense of being healthy and just feel good about yourself.

Additionally, getting plenty of anti-oxidants can diminish the appearance of aging and help to keep your skin clear. Eating a diet full of leafy vegetables, whole grains, and greens can also help to keep your skin looking and feeling healthy. It’s also important to drink plenty of water because it removes toxins and waste from the body and also helps to hydrate. 

As I always say, good skin comes from within!

Indian Face Mask for Glowing Skin

Indian women have gorgeous skin and tend to look younger than they really are. Indian women have many skin secrets and alot of them have to do with using natural ingredients on the skin and avoiding harmful chemicals that are found in a lot of products.

I received Herbal Ubtan Powder and Rose Water from India and was super excited to try them out together as a facemask! Ubtan powder is a mixture of powders that act as a natural skin cleansing agent which leaves your skin feeling smooth and glowing.  As an added bonus, ubtan powder also helps to prevent acne and pimples. Lastly, an interesting fact, is that this powder is usually used by brides and grooms to make their skin look amazing for the big day.

To use this powder as a facemask here's what you need to do.  Mix the powder and rose water together into a bowl.  Basically you want to form the two ingrediants until it turns into a paste.  The paste should be dark green/brown in color.  Then spread the mixture onto your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes or until the paste hardens and turns light green in color.  Lastly, rinse off with warm water and pat dry your face.

After using the paste my skin felt sooo smooth an my acne started clearing up. I will definetly being using this facemask again and again!

DIY Strawberry and Honey Mask for Acne and Soft Skin

Hello my beauties! For today's DIY Friday I wanted to feature a fruit that reminds me of springtime.  Can you guess what it is? It's Strawberries! I know you're asking yourself... strawberries on your face... wait what?!  Yes, my friend, that' true. Today's DIY is not only tasty but it will make your skin clearer, brighter and smooth! 

Take 4 ripe strawberries, cut the top off, and rinse the strawberries under warm water.  Then dry off the strawberries and place them into a small bowl.  Take a fork and mash the strawberries until the consistency is smooth. Then add in 1 teaspoon honey and mix together!  The consistency should look like this... mmm...

Then, take a clean brush (this can be a clean foundation brush) and dip the brush into the mixture and spread mixture around your face.  While you wait for the mixture to dry, lay down and take a quick 15 minute nap.  After 15 minutes are up, head over to the sink and rinse your face off with warm water, pat dry, and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.  

After doing this I can say that my skin felt soooo smooth! Has anyone else tried this face mask?

Product Review: Bumble and Bumble Straight Shampoo, Conditioner, Blow Dry Cream

I'm always on the hunt for shampoo, conditioner and blow dry styling balm that will leave my hair looking like a movie stars, you know - silky, smooth and straight.  I unfortunately have typical indian hair which is coarse, thick, and wavy.  Basically it's a crazy mess when it's not tame.  When I was at Sephora two weeks ago their 500 point gift was the BB Straight Set with comes with the Shampoo, Conditioner, and Blow Dry Styling Balm.  The Straight Shampoo (retails $31.00 for 8.5 oz) , Straight Conditioner ($34.00 for 8.5 oz) and Straight Blow Dry (retails $16.00). 

The shampoo and conditioner smell amazing!  I used a little amount of shampoo in my wet hair and it worked into a great lather.  As an added bonus, the shampoo is sulfate free.  I then rinsed the shampoo out and followed with the conditioner by leaving the conditioner in my hair for a few minutes before rinsing.  Although I did like these products, I think I could have achieved the same great smell and feel with other cheaper products.

The blow dry styling balm is lightweight and heat-activated.  I am extremely picky about the straight creams I use in my hair since they are expensive and rarely seem to work.  I always have to bring out my straightening iron for that sleek look.  However, by using this product I am able to cut out the straightening time as this product leaves my hair straight, silky and smooth.  Also, you just need a little bit (pea size) to work into your hair.  If you use to much your hair will instead look oily and greasy. 

Overall, I am glad I tried this product.  I would not invest in the shampoo and conditioner since I can use a lower cost option to achieve the same result.  I would however invest in the Blow Dry Styling Balm as it left my hair straight, smooth, and silky!

DIY Tomato Mask and Tomato Scrub for Amazing Skin

Hello beauties! Today's Friday DIY is all about how to achieve flawless and fabulously looking skin.  I don't know about you - but I do not have 100% perfect skin and I don't know many people that do! I would just LOVE to have smooth, tighten and flawless looking skin.  Wouldn't you?!

That being said, today's DIY features the fabulous fruit (... or vegetable?) tomato! Tomatoes not only contain vitamins and antioxidants, but they can make your skin look amazing! Below is a mask and facial scrub you can make in your own home using all natural ingrediants.

Tomato Lime Mask:

What you need:
 - One small tomato
 - One lime

In a blender, combine the tomato and juice from the lime.  Then puree ingredients and pour mixture into a bowl. Take a brush (you can use a clean foundation brush) and spread the mixture on your face and let it dry for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and follow up with your favorite moisturizer.

Tomato Facial Scrub:  
 
What you need:
 - 1/2 Cup Diced Tomato
 - 2 Tablespoon Yogurt (Plain)
 - 1/4 Cup Sugar

Mix all three ingredients together in a bowl.  Make sure your face is clean and a little damp.  Apply the mixture to your face in a circular motion.  Let mixture sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. 

For both DIY recipes above the good news is that leftovers can be stored in the fridge! (As always, test out a small portion on your skin before putting all over your face for allergies!)