Fast Fix

10 Beauty Tips and Spa-like Treatments Using Baking Soda

October 11, 2011 · 1 comment

Most of us know that baking soda can be used for baking, deodorizing and cleaning but did you know it can also be used for beauty?

Here is a list of 10 beauty tips and treatments you can make using baking soda:

1. Baking Soda as a face wash

Use a diluted solution of baking soda to gently wash your face and remove skin impurities. This also a great way of removing old makeup from your face.

2. Baking soda to clean your hair

Add 1/2 tsp of baking soda to your shampoo to remove residue that styling products or shampoo may leave behind.

3. Dry Shampoo

When you don’t have time to wash your hair, use baking soda to absorb oil and freshen up your hair instantly. Just sprinkle baking soda, a bit of baby powder on to your hairbrush and comb through your hair.

4. Revitalize and exfoliate skin

Make a gentle, invigorating body scrub by mixing 3 parts baking soda with 1 part water. Rub the mixture in circular motion all over your body and wash it off using warm water. Works great to deep clean and smooth rough skin areas like elbows and knees.

5. Prevent Body Odor

No deodorant? Use baking soda! First you need to eliminate odor-producing bacteria by washing your underarms with soap and water. Then dry your underarm area. Brush or pat baking soda directly to your underarms. Apply as much as you think is necessary.

6. Clean your combs and brushes

Combs and brushes not only pick up loose hair, they also get oily and accumulate a lot of product buildup. Clean them at least once a month by soaking them in a solution of warm water and baking soda. Soak combs and brushes for a few minutes, rinse with clean water and air-dry.

7. Teeth Whitening

Wet your toothbrush with water and dip into baking soda. Brush your teeth for two minutes, spit out the baking soda and rinse your mouth clean with water. Another way you can whiten your teeth using baking soda is to mix baking soda with hydrogen peroxide or create a paste with lime juice and baking soda.It really does work!

8. Nail Care

Soften your cuticles and clean your nails by applying baking soda to your nail brush. Then scrub your nails and cuticles with the brush. You will have great looking nails in no time!

9. Foot Care

Give your feet a treat by mixing 2 tablespoons of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of salt in a basin of warm water. Soak for 15 minutes to remove any embedded dirt and grime from your feet. Use baking soda and water to make a paste. Use mixture to gently scrub your feet and heels.

10. Relaxing Bath

For a relaxing bath that will leave your skin feeling refreshed and smooth, add 1/2 cup of baking soda to your bath water.

Note: If you have dry skin, make sure you rinse well, as alkaline residue may irritate skin. Also, apply moisturizer or lotion as needed.

So next time you want an easy, inexpensive spa-like beauty treatment grab a box of baking soda!

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Fast Fix: Apply your Makeup in 5 Minutes or Less

September 3, 2011 · 0 comments

in DIY,Fast Fix,Guides,Makeup Tips 101

Here are some tips that will help you apply your makeup in five minutes or less!

1. Start with a tinted moisturizer that has SPF in it.

This will eliminate three steps from your makeup routine: moisturizer, sunscreen and foundation.

2. Use a cream blush.

Again you can take care of three things with one product. Simply dab a bit of the cream blush to your cheeks, lids and lips.

M·A·C, Cover Girl, Revlon, Stila, Laura Mercier

Eyeliner by Revlon
Face Tinted Moisturizers by Laura Mercier

3. Eyeliner
Use an eyeliner pencil to line the eyes. Use brown instead of black for a subtle look.

4. Mascara
Put two coats of mascara to the upper lashes and use what is left on the wand to apply to the lower lashes.

5. Final Steps:

Dust your face with translucent powder to set your makeup and apply some clear gloss over the cream blush you put on your lips.

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Ewwwww…What’s That in Your Makeup Bag!

August 24, 2011 · 0 comments

in DIY,Fast Fix

makeup case Are you really putting effort into cleaning out your makeup bag? Well, take a look at your makeup bag. Is it free of junk? The makeup? Is it clean? Nicely organized?

Or are there nasty looking makeup products? Could someone go into your makeup bag and think to themselves “dirty and ruined?” When was the last time you replaced your mascara?

Have you gotten sloppy? Have you bought new makeup and forgotten about the products you already had? Maybe you never really liked that last lipstick you bought? Maybe you didn’t really need another blush? Over the years, you probably have accumulated a lot of unnecessary makeup.

I know I did!

Here are some easy tips to get your makeup bag back in shape:

1. Wash, wash, wash! Your makeup bag that is. Or if after you looked at your bag you think “wow, theirs no way I’m ever getting that friggin black stuff off the sides!” Then replace it with an old purse or buy a new cosmetic bag.

2. Throw out makeup that is expired and everything that’s dry:

Discard anything that is liquid or cream (ie. cream foundations, lipsticks, bronzer, and cream eyeshadows) after one year.
Throw out all of your powder products (ie. loose powders, blush, pressed powder, and eyeshadows) after two years.
Mascara and liquid liners last up to six months.
Eye pencils, lip pencils and brow pencils are good up to three years.
Lipsticks, lip color pots, and lip gloss can be used for a total of two years.

The list above is only a guideline. Because if you’re anything like me, you probably bought makeup used it once or twice and never ever used it again. Now, you wouldn’t throw it away just because you’ve had it for six months or a year. Would you?

I wouldn’t!

3. So, why not do a makeup swap with your friends and family? This is a great way to get rid of makeup you don’t use or never really liked. And maybe you’re lucky to exchange it for something you’ll truly love.

These are simple steps you can follow to clean out your makeup bag and free it of products you don’t want or use.

Fast and simple!

What are some of your favorite tips to clean out a messy makeup bag?

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Fast Fix: 6 Easy Ways to Hide a Bad Haircut

May 2, 2011 · 2 comments

in DIY,Fast Fix

Just because you have an awful haircut doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Not that it doesn’t feel like it, because it does. Hell, I’ve fallen victim to an unflattering cut. I was mortified by the thought of having bad hair days until who knows when.

But it happens, you know?

Overall, an unfavorable haircut is the result of an inexperienced stylist or it just wasn’t the right haircut for the shape of your face. Whatever the reason is, it’s a situation that needs to be fixed immediately.

Here are 6 easy ways to temporary fix a bad haircut:

1. Switch Parts.

hair-hairstylr-side part hair

Switching your part can instantly change your look and it can add a sense of freshness to your style. Just grab a comb and switch sides or center your part for a high fashion look.

2. Ponytails hairstyle-ponytail-pony tail-tank top- brown hair Ponytails are an easy way to hide just about any kind of hair disaster. Put your hair in a high ponytail for a fun, sporty look. Or in a low ponytail for a clean, chic look. And if your hair is too short to pull back, try a temporary hair extension such as Vibralite clip-in extensions.

3. Scrunch it

Straight hair tends to make a bad haircut more noticeable but curly hair will hide it. Scrunch your hair and create an undone, beachy look. Flip your head forward then add hairspray or mousse and with your hands scrunch your hair. Flip your head back and scrunch your hair a little bit more.

4. Put it in a Bun.

hair-hairstyle-hair in a bun-black hair

Just put your hair in a bun at the nape of your neck, or just off to the side. And to complete the look, add a headband.

5. Accessorize.

hair-acessory-hair scarf

Headbands, hats, clips, and flowers work great to hide unsightly hair.

6. Pinup.

hair-hairstyle-pin hair back

Trying to cover up a bang or fringe mishap? Simply pin your bangs to the side or for an edgier look, tease the crown of your hair and pin it straight back.

Whatever you do do not cut your hair shorter! Be patient, it will grow out.

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Top 6 Beauty Products To Always Keep Handy

December 23, 2009 · 1 comment

in DIY,Fast Fix,Guides

Nowadays, theirs so many great beauty products to choose from. Yet, it’s amazing how sometimes the most useful beauty items are the simple things.

Here’s the list of beauty products to always keep handy:

1. Headbands

Headbands are the perfect accessory to cover a bad hair day or keep your hair out of your face.

Every girl should own at least one headband becuase when you’re doing a home facial, removing or putting on makeup, it will help keep your hair dry, clean and out of the way .

2. Hair Clips

They also keep your hair out of your face and they come in handy when you’re going to straighten, curl or dye your hair.

Just divide your hair into equal parts and use a clip to secure each section. Remove one clip, style or dye the hair in that segment. Repeat until you’ve styled or dyed all of your hair.

I love hair clips and just in case I want to put my hair up in a bun or something, I always keep one in my purse.

3. Petroleum Jelly

Theirs just so many beauty related things you can do with petroleum jelly. It can be used to protect, heal and moisturize just about any part of your body.

During the cold, winter days you can protect your lips from chapping by applying a small dab. Wear it alone as a clear lip balm or mix it with an eyeshadow to get a hint of color. Or it can be used to tame unruly eyebrows and frizzy hair.

4. Q-tips

Again, Q-tips are one of those products that can be used for just about anything you can imagine. Not only do they clean your ears, but they’re an excellent beauty tool.

You can use a few Q-tips to apply your eye makeup. Or you can dip a Q-tip in a little makeup remover or nail polish remover to clean any smudges or mistakes you might have made.

5. Baby Wipes

You can clean just about anything with baby wipes, even your face!

I have a little girl that still wears diapers, so I have baby wipes around the house all the time. So yeah, I use these wipes for more than just cleaning my little girls butt…hahaha.

These are just as good, if not better than any of those more expensive face wipes. Most baby wipes have aloe vera, and using them to remove makeup or dirt will help keep your face not only clean but super soft.

6. Baby Powder

Do you know what to do when your hair is oily and you don’t have time to wash it? Use baby powder, duh! The powder absorbs all of the excess oil from your hair and scalp. Simply sprinkle a little powder into your palms and rub it against your scalp.

Baby powder is a great alternative to a dry shampoo. But if you don’t like the idea of using baby powder, you can always purchase a dry shampoo and spray it onto your unwashed hair.

So what do you think about my list? Did I forget something? Don’t be shy and let me know in the comments.

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