DIY WINTER BATH BOMBS, HAND SCRUB, & SALT SOAK

If you're a long time reader you've probably heard me talk about my obsession with the perfect bath. I take bath time very seriously! And like any bath connoisseur knows- it's the 'add-ins' that make all the difference.

I love a good

LUSH bath bomb

, just like the rest of them- but let's be honest... those suckers are expensive. So I save them for special occasions, and often ask for them for gifts (ahem, honey).

Today however I am sharing a few of my tried and true bath add-in recipes. And when I say tried, I mean it! It took me a long time to figure out the right ratios to get the perfect bath bomb at home. That's a lot of wasted epsom salt people, good thing it isn't too costly.

Holiday Bath Trio Recipe: [

video

]

Honey Bath Bomb

(yields 6, 2inch bombs)

  • 1 Cup Dr. Teals Milk & Honey Epsom Salt

  • 1/2 Cup Baking Soda

  • 1/2 Cup Citric Acid (sometimes hard to find in stores, but will be located in the 'canning section')

  • 1tsp. Water

  • 1-2 tsp. Almond Oil

  • Food Coloring to Preferred Color

  • Liquid Dropper

  • Spray Bottle with Water

  • Molds (also use ornaments or plastic Easter eggs)

In a large bowl mix all of your dry ingredients together with a whisk, set aside. Next, in a small bowl mix together Water, Almond Oil, and Food Coloring. Use your dropper or very carefully use a spoon to add a few drops of your liquid to the dry ingredients. (Adding to quickly will cause the bubbles to activate and then you won't have any fizz in the tub) Whisk the drops in, and a few more and continue till the mixture is fully combined. It should be crumbly but also compact-able, like fresh brown sugar.

Next scoop your mixture into your molds and compress them very tightly so that no air pockets or cracks form. Use your spray bottle to lightly spray the two sides of the mold so that when you press them together you get a nice seal. You can also use the spray to keep the mixture in the bowl at the right moistness while you're working.

Let the molds set for about one hour to harden, then gently remove the bombs and place them on a towel to harden and dry out over night. Enjoy your bath! 

Peppermint Salt Soak

(yields 8oz of soak)

  • 1 Cup Epsom Salt

  • 1 Tbsp. Baking Soda

  • 4+ Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil to Preferred Strength (I like it strong!)

  • Red Food Coloring to Preferred Color

  • Jar or Air Tight Container

Easy as pie! Mix dry ingredients together in a large bowl, and then add your preferred amount of Peppermint essential oil to scent. Next, divide into two bowls, and add red food to one of the bowls to desired 'pinkness'. Finally, scoop alternating layers of white and pink salts into your favorite jar for a festive presentation.

Gingerbread Sugar Scrub

(yields 8oz of scrub)

  • 1/2 Cup Raw Washed Sugar

  • 1/2 Cup Granulated White Sugar

  • 1/2 Coconut Oil

  • 1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

  • 1/2 tsp. Gingerbread Spice

  • 1/2 tsp. All Spice

  • 1/2 tsp. Cinnamon

  • 1/2 tsp. Nutmeg

  • Jar or Air Tight Container

In your mixer combine all ingredients and mix on medium until the coconut oil is softened and whipped into the sugars. Take a deep breath and smell that yumminess before scooping it into a small mason jar with an airtight lid. (shelf life is 2-3 months) 

Do you have any DIY bath recipes I should try? Let me know in the comments below- enjoy your bath! xo

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MAKE YOUR OWN BATH MELTS JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY- AN EASY DIY RECIPE

Salt of the Earth Bath Fizz, Salt of the Earth Bubbling Salts, Lush Bath Bombs, Lush Bubble Bars

I have always been a 'bath person'. I think you either

are

, or you

aren't

... but this time of year when it's cold outside I find myself using my bath at least three times per week. I just love a good soak, and I know I am not alone, so today I am sharing a few of my most preferred bath products. Plus my

recipe for a DIY bath melt that is perfect for Valentine's Day

. You can get extra details in the video with Studio5 TV,  

plus enter to win my favs over on instagram

(details below) 

Best Bath Bubbles

  • Salt of the Earth Bubbling Salts- This product combines the goodness of natural sea salt and the luxury of froth bubbles into one amazing experience. You can customize the scent from more than 50 different options, and every product boasts 72 trace minerals from The Great Salt Lake. (My home town, yo!) I love the 'Strawberry Champagne' flavor.

  • Lush Bubble Bar- You've probably tried one of these, but in case you haven't- it's a must do. Crumble a small piece under running water and watch as the bubbles form and the color of your bath turns into a pastel haven. Try the orange and chocolate flavored 'Yuzu & Cocoa' Bubbleroon.

Best Bath Fizz

  • Salt of the Earth Bath Fizz- I love the effervescent experience of this product and the way it fills the air with the scent... my fav is the 'Eucalyptus Grapefruit'. Your skin is left silky smooth and moisturized. Win-win!

  • Lush Bath Bomb- The one that started it all! Watch and listen as your bomb moves, fizzes and changes colors in the bath water. They are just too fun not to splurge on every now and then. And yes, the 'Sex Bomb' is my top choice! ;)

Lush Bath Melt Recipe, DIY Bath Melt, Best Bath Products, Top Bath Soaks

DIY Bath Melt Recipe

Ingredients:

Process:

  • Use a knife and carefully break apart the Cocoa Butter into small chunks, then measure out approx 2oz.

  • Add the Cocoa butter to a crockpot (I use a slow cooker liner for easy cleanup) or to a double boiler [A shallow pan with 1 inch of water in the bottom, then a glass bowl inside the water will also work as a makeshift double boiler]

  • Next, add your Almond Oil or Shea Butter and heat over medium heat stirring every now and then until the mixture is melted and all of the chucks have disappeared

  • Carefully pour the mixture into molds (I recommend silicone baking cups, but cupcake tins work too) keeping the mixture less than 1/2 inch thick

  • Drop 2-5 drops off your Essential Oils into each mold, depending on how strong you like the scent to be

  • Add your optional Dry Ingredients to each mold

  • Allow the molds to cool in the fridge for about 1 hour until they've hardened and become opaque. Then pop the melts out of the molds and store them in a cool dry place until use

Only one melt is needed per bath, and remember they can make the tub slippery so use caution when getting in and out. Yield: about 5 medium sized melts

Thanks so much for stopping by today! I hope you'll take a little time to relax and pamper your self with a nice bath sometime soon. Now for the

GIVEAWAY!!!

I'm giving away these amazing Lush bath products and

Salt of the Earth

is giving away some awesome goodies too. The fun is happening over on

Instagram

- so don't miss it! xo

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FALL HAIR REVEAL // SLEEK AUBURN LOB

Fall 2014 trends: sleek, blunt haircuts with red tones

Howdy Snoopers! Happy Monday- can you believe how fast the month has gone by?!

With every changing season I love to switch up my locks, and bring you along for the ride while I do it. Fall 2014 is the season for sleek and blunt-edged haircuts, and celebrities like Halle Berry and Whitney Port have both opted for blunt LOB haircuts too.

Take a look at the

video

below to see how I took my hair from Summer to Fall, and let me know in the comments below if you have any plans to switch up your hair this season as well.

Products & Tools used:

Sam Villa Blow Dryer

(save 20% with code: '20FORUT')

GHD Coral Flat Iron

Body Up Brushes

Unite Hair Oil

The Gnarly Whale Detangler Spray

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to enter my Beauty Blender giveaway

here

 if you haven't already. xo

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THE MAGIC MAKEUP BRUSH CLEANSER YOU'VE NEVER HEARD OF

magic makeup brush cleanser, makeup brush cleaning techniques, hot to clean makeup brushes, makeup brush cleaner DIY

Pin Me!

Oh hello friend! You are in for a treat today- I am sharing my

MAGIC technique for cleaning those pesky makeup brushes

. You will never use dish soap or alcohol again, when you see what secret ingredient I discovered that makes makeup JUMP out of your brushes. It's amazing! Check out the quick

video tutorial

below, and let me know what you think.

What you'll need:

Fractionated [liquid] Coconut Oil-

DoTerra

 or

Nature's Way

Liquid Cleanser-

Beauty Blender

or

Method Foaming Hand Wash

Hope you'll try this

new secret method of cleaning makeup brushes

- it really is the most amazing technique, and I'll never go back to anything else. Science rules! xo

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THE BEST AT-HOME FACIAL PRODUCTS & ROUTINE

DIY facial, at home facial

Last week I shared my love for

luxury spa facials

, and the amazing results they yield for your skin and well being. But not everybody has the ability to treat themselves to a spa visit- and as a busy working mom, I understand that sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day to make pampering a priority.

If you can't hit the spa- but you'd still love to get the great benefits of a facial, take a page from my book, and put those kiddos to bed so you can

indulge in my signature at-home facial

.

You can certainly use the products you already have at home, but if you need to fill in any holes you may have in your arsenal- these are my favorite products that I always go back to time and again. Follow the order listed above to get the best results, and you'll be feeling brand new in no time!

1-Cleanse

Start by gently removing your makeup and preparing the skin to receive all of the goodness coming its way. I swear by the

Triple Oxygen Foaming Cleanser by Bliss

- it's foams to a beautiful creamy consistency, has a pleasant citrus smell and is gentle enough to use on your eyes.

2-Steam

By far the best trick I know, is to borrow your slow cooker/crock pot from the kitchen (or buy a second 

cheap crockpot

if you don't like the idea of duel usage) and prepare some hand towels to use for steam therapy. Take a few large wash cloths or hand towels and run them under hot water until saturated. Ring them out and then roll or fold them till they fit nicely into the slow cooker. Place the cooker on high and let the towels heat through for about 20 minutes with the lid on. After your cleanse, take a hot towel (test the temperature first) and place it over your face leaving your nose and mouth exposed for breathing. Press the towel into your skin while taking a few deep breaths- you can add a few drops of essential oils to the towels for added zen. After the towel has cooled, gently wipe from side to side to remove any additional makeup or cleanser from the face.

3-Exfoliate

Next up...exfoliation! I love to alternate between my

Clarisonic Mia Brush

, and a good old fashioned sugar scrub. But remember not to use both in one session because you could cause some damage. The sonic brush is so quick and easy- and it does all of the work for you. While the

Suki Exfoliate Scrub

takes a little more effort, the scent is enough to take you to heaven and it leaves your skin truly polished.

4-Hydrate

This step in the facial is all about relaxation and rehydration. Apply your favorite masque and let it go to work for 10-15 minutes, while you kick back with a magazine or paint your toe nails. I love the

Boscia Blue Calming Masque

- mostly because I think it is fun to peel it off afterward! It is very hydrating though, and leaves the skin quenched. A second steam towel is great post masque as well!

5-Tone

Toners are designed to balance the pH in your skin after you've cleansed which helps so you don't have that 'tight' feeling that can occur. I just discovered the

Pixi Glow Tonic

, and I am hooked! Use a cotton round to liberally apply your toner and then let it sink in for a minute or two before moving on.

6-Replenish

Americans are just coming around to the idea of using oils in our haircare and skincare. We've been such a 'clean' obsessed nation, that we've dried ourselves out by stripping away natural oils. Thank goodness the trend is reversing and we are finally seeing the beauty behind supple skin and hair.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

is one of my favorite beauty secrets. (in fact I can't believe I'm telling you about it, cause I really wanna keep it all for myself!) Press a few drops into your skin especially on dry areas like your under eyes and cheeks. Your face will soak it in, then it will scream "THANK YOU!!!"

7-Repair

Finish with your favorite moisturizer or serum like my cult favorite

Image Vital-C Anti Aging Serum

. Be sure you work all the way down your neck as well. You may need to apply a

lip balm

and

eye cream

as well to repair any moisture lost from the steamy hot towel action.

So there ya have it, my routine for a perfect at-home facial. And while it may seem like a lot of steps, you can certainly cut out what you don't have and substitute what you do. But if you build up your supply of high quality products, you'll be able to get amazing skin results just like the pros do. If you can schedule this routine in twice a month, you'll notice a huge difference in the way your skin looks, and how your makeup wears. Cheers!

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***Be sure you check to see if you won the

Hair Compare

and

Lumist

Giveaways.

ASK THE EXPERT: WHY DO STYLISTS HATE AT-HOME BOX COLOR?

Recently a reader of mine, Mary, sent me this question: 'Why do hair stylists hate at-home color so much? I get a complex when I go in for my haircut and she asks what I have put on my hair, only to see her disappointed face when I say [

brand name X

]...'

Well, Mary- great question! There are two main reasons stylists are weary of at-home color:

1- It's formulated TOO STRONG for most users- and causes unnecessary dryness

2- USER ERROR in application causes uneven pigment and over-pigmentation

Let's dive into the science a little here so you know exactly what I mean. Permanent hair color is made up of two parts: The Color and The Developer.

The color

ranges in levels from 1-10, where 1 is black and 10 is pale blonde. There are also variations of tones within these levels such as cool ash, neutral, gold, and copper.

The developer (hydrogen peroxide) 

is the agent the transfers the color from the outside of your hair to the inside of your hair. It ranges in strength from 10-40 volume (or 3-10% for those outside of the US) 10 volume is the weakest strength and is used to change hair color by 1 shade, while 40 volume is the strongest and can change hair color up to 4 shades.

[1] Here is where we run in to a problem. Store bought color is designed to work for the MASSES- therefor it is formulated to be very strong (40 volume) whether you need that much power or not. So for the average person coloring their hair a shade or two darker, or just to cover a few grays- you are using 4X's the amount of hydrogen peroxide as you need! And as you can guess this results in unnecessary dryness and breakage. When you visit a salon, your hair is assessed by the stylist and your color is mixed to the strength needed to get the job done. This customization and expertise is what you are paying for, and the structural integrity of your hair remains intact.

[2] Often at home color-users apply their color to the entire head of hair EVERY time they color. Layering artificial color pigment over-and-over itself again is completely unnecessary and causes over-pigmentation. Over pigmentation happens when there is too much color in the hair and it becomes opaque. Light cannot reflect off of the hair or shine through hair- the result is lack luster and dull locks. Another user error happens when color isn't applied evenly. It is easy to color the hair that is visible in the mirror, but areas in the back of the head are often splotchy or missed all together. When a stylist is faced with this type of color job, it will take multiple formulations and several hours to cover and correct the unevenness.

If you simply cannot afford to visit the salon?

Follow these rules to get better results when coloring your own hair at home: 

-Pick a box color that is only 2 shades lighter or darker than your natural color. Trying to a make change bigger than that is risky and not recommended.

-Apply your color only on the new growth for touch ups. Recoloring the entire head of hair will cause dullness and drying. If the color has faded beyond the new growth- apply the color to the lengths of the hair during the last 5 minutes of processing only.

-Rinse with cool water to add shine and keep color from fading in between color jobs.

-Condition with a

healing mask

every other week to keep hair soft and pliable.

-Use a buddy to help you apply the color evenly especially in the back of your head.

So there you have it- I hope this answered some of your questions about at-home color.

Got another beauty question you want answered? Leave a comment or send me an email. Please follow along on

facebook

and

instagram

too.

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