Showing posts with label coconut oil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coconut oil. Show all posts

Get the Glow for the Holidays! - "Mari Christmas" ep.2

Hello everyone and welcome to the second post of "Mari Christmas" series. Today I want to share with you some simple but very helpful steps you need to take before the holidays approach. The end of the year is always known as the busiest time of all. So many things to do - shopping, decorating, cleaning, cooking... shopping again. But the most important of all are the events; office parties, friends' get-together, family dinners and the list goes on....

It is very important you look your best wherever you go and what ever you do. And yes, I know this is also the most stressful time of the year but you HAVE to relax. So find yourself sometime and recharge your batteries. Don't forget I am here to help ;)

I put some thought into how I should pass on my advice and I figured the best way to do so is to take you along with my skincare and pamper routine. Let's get started, shall we?


Everyday routine

My mornings are very simple when it comes to getting ready for work. I wake up 6 a.m and have to be at work by 7 a.m (including a 20 min drive). The first thing I do is head to the bathroom. Wash my face with cold water to help me wakeup and brush my teeth. Then straight to the "Beauty Department".

Skincare tips

Start with the basics. Clean your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser that contains brightening elements. Then use a good moisturizer with a little bit of sun protection. Winter sun can be brighter than the summer one. The wind and the cold dry the skin and a good moisturizer will provide the much needed hydration. Use a natural 100% organic oil for better results. When it comes to the rest of the body, there are so many lotions to choose from. They are all amazing for sure, and the scents are to die for, but no matter how many of them I use, I'll still go back to Vaseline. The most hydrating of all.


Scrub and Exfoliate - It is the only way to remove the already-dead skin and dry patches in order for the new fresh/radiant skin to grow back. I exfoliate my face every two or three days and my body once (maybe twice) a week. Please don't forget to scrub your lips. Chopped lips are not fun or sexy at all.



Take short warm showers - who doesn't love to have a long hot bath listening to music or reading a favorite book while drinking some wine? And those long hot showers when you start thinking about everything going on?  I know...story of my life! But this is a no-no for winter time.  Hot water will dehydrate your skin and make it lack even more moisture (which will lead to dryness). So keep your water temperature low and if you still feel like spending some time in the tub...well make it quick - the water will cool down soon after all.

Mask yourself - It is my favorite moment of all. Trying a new mask or just using my favorite is always so relaxing and peaceful.  I love the feeling of fresh cream product on my skin, its process of hardening or drying ( I know it's funny and weird) and I love how good my skin feels afterwards. It's like I have become a new person :P All the dirty pores are crystal clear, full of vitamins, minerals, hydration and all that good stuff. I would definitely recommend a hydrating mask or deep cleansing like the mud-ones.


Shiny hair - It is not only the skin who gets dry, hair does too. It becomes frizzy and tangled if you don't take good care. For those with color-treated hair who need smoothness and repair, I would definitely recommend a sulfate-free shampoo. Sulfate can irritate your scalp and even damage the hair follicle. I am currently using the L'Oreal EverSleek and I am loving it. After that I would use the John Frieda Frizz Ease Leave-in Conditioner and brush through my hair. I prefer to let my hair air-dry - it is always the best option - but if you really need to dry if fast than try to use medium heat of even the cold one; it might take a couple more minutes but it will be worth it.
One important part of having shinny healthy hair is treating it with masks. My number one all-time favorite product is coconut oil. Nothing beats it. I spread it all over my hair, avoiding the roots and concentrating on the ends, leave it on for a couple of hours while doing other activities around the house, and than wash it with some warm water ( not hot). I guarantee you will see difference immediately. This is a ritual I would do twice a month. For shorter periods I like using protein masks like Keratin. Really powerful and amazing.


Well ladies, this are all the products I use for my pampering rituals. I hope my tips are useful for you too and you Get the Glow for all the parties you are attending these holidays. Let me know your opinion and I would love to hear any advice coming from you! :)

Until the next post,
xoxo Marjana


April Favorites!

Hey guys!
I know I have been away for long but hey! it's finals' season so please excuse me! I found some time this weekend and I worked on my favorites' post. This month I had a lot of new products that I have been loving and I wanted to share some of them with you (as always). Let's get into it!

Skin and body care

One face product I have absolutely been loving is the COVER FX mattifying primer with anti-acne treatment. This is hands-down an amazing product. I got this product on my Ipsy bag, it is a sample-size product so I do not use it everyday, but when I do use it... I get the most flawless, matte finish I have ever had on my face. I am a little bit oily in my T-zone (nothing too crazy) and this product helped the oil not show at all. I had it on my face just yesterday when I had a very important event and I wanted to look good all day and this primer did not disappoint me at all. I also wanted to talk about the anti-acne treatment. Girls it really works. I do not have the clearest skin, nor do I have the worst acne in the world, but this primer has helped my face get better and my skin has improved a lot. All in all, if you are looking for a good mattifying primer...here you have it! 


The second fave has to do with hand-washing (really random). I have been loving these Bath and Body Works foaming hand soap in Sweet Tangerines. It smells amazing AND your hands are so soft after using it. 



Make-up

First are these NYC Sparkle Eye Dust. I do not think these are the best eye-shadow s in the world but they are a good choice for an everyday-fun-eye-look. My choices are Golden Champagne 880 and Aquamarine Sparkle 886. These are just some bargain eye-shadows you could use if you do not want to spend a lot of money. 



 Next I have been loving the CAILYN tinted lip balm in Apple Pink. I got this product in my Ipsy bag too. The reason I have been loving it its natural color. Being a lip balm I expected it to be moisturizing but unfortunately is it not that much. It has a matte finish actually, but I like it again :) It is perfect for everyday natural lip. 



Clothes and Fashion accessories.

Have been hunting for a nice pair of sneakers that I could wear with any kind of outfit and I finally found this cute lacy Keds pair. I love them so much; i can wear them with jeans, pants, skirts, dresses...anything. The only thing I am not crazy about is the white color which sometimes gets a little dirty but if you take care of them, you should be good ;)


Baggy Aztec pants from Rue21. Lovely color, cute prints and super comfortable. That's it!
(I am sorry I can not find them online)


Random

I decided to put this one at the random section because I could not decide if this was a skincare or a makeup products. I personally think this is a universal beauty and health product. Coconut Oil, the Holly Grail for everything (stay tuned for a post dedicated to it and its uses). I am not going to talk too much about it because I want to give you a full info on the upcoming post. The only thing I want to say is: "This stuff is amazing!" Thanks to my dear friend Nastila from pearlsandparsley who recommended it to me. Thank you darling!


And last but not least is my lovely NuMe InVogue flat iron. I used it more than usually this month and I did not notice any harm on my hair; although I do have to mention that I have used heat-protector and I have taken care of my hair a lot lately. I do not see any steam from my hair when I straighten it and the result is amazing. 

My favorite show: Vikings

My favorite songs

The released-not-to-long ago: Beyonce - Pretty Hurts
Katy Perry - Birthday
Pharrell Williams - Marilyn Monroe


Those are all the products my friends! I hope you enjoyed it and I will talk to you later!

Love you,
Marjana