Hellooooo 2016! So happy to welcome a brand new year, a fresh start. I hope you all had a festively warm holiday season and a happy new year! I'm looking forward to another year here with you sharing my beauty faves, working on new techniques and looks while celebrating beauty!

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist nor do I pretend to be. The posts in this series are from research I've done online and my own thoughts. If you or your child are experiencing any skin concerns, please seek professional help.

Coconut oil is what I would call a miracle multitasker. It has so many uses from internal medicine to beauty that the list goes on and it continues to grow as we speak. After posting about children's cleansing I got to thinking about this oil as a cleanser for that list as well. It would make the perfect companion for baby to kindergarten and beyond. It works well with its antimicrobial properties to gently cleanse away dirt and germs while leaving behind a moisturizer. You can also use the coconut all over the face then take a warm wash cloth and pat away the excess oil left behind if moisturizer is not needed.

I can see this working on children with sensitive skin or normal skin just like adults. I love to use it for my eczema or dry skin. It can also make a fabulous all natural lip balm/ lip protectant or chapped nose soother during the cold winter months!

* Make sure to purchase a cold pressed, organic coconut oil to make sure you are getting the purest form.

#banthebead is a campaign that Lush has been advertising about recently. Many exfoliating products from the drugstore and so on have used these small beads in their products. One of my favorite drugstore exfoliators from Neutrogena uses them. I never once thought that using that scrub would be harming the Earth. Those little beads are actually made from plastic. What? I had no idea. While other cleansers wash down the drain never to be thought of again those plastic beads linger forever and can even end up in our bodies. Ouch.

there are natural solutions!

This month has been another lazy/basic makeup month. I was really busy gardening and getting stuff done around our house that makeup wasn't a priority. :( There are a few products though that I have stuck with and still continued to love throughout this past month. My goals for June are to wear more makeup again and go for walks! What are yours?


Yes To Coconut Hydrate & Restore Protecting Hand & Cuticle Cream - It is perfect for daily moisture needs. I am constantly typing and going through paperwork during the day so this keeps my hands in tip top shape! Plus it helps to avoid paper cuts (tip: moisturized hands have less of a chance of getting cut on papers).

Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm - This has been a favorite of mine since college. It's basic and gets the job done. My favorite part about this is the honey scent and the fact that there is no peppermint in it. Peppermint balms like the original just dry my lips out more I've found.

Keratin Complex Keratin Treatment - THE best thing I can do for my hair, especially this time of year. It lasts me all year and makes my hair super manageable, shiny, smooth, and best of all frizz free! It is an expensive treatment but to me, it's totally worth every single penny.

Maybelline Bronze BB Cream - I talked about this more in depth in my last Friday Favorite but this is a great complexion warmer for this time of year. It makes a great companion for quick makeup.

Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunscreen SPF 50 - The perfect light weight everyday facial sunscreen. This stuff is amazing. No breakouts, no oil, no scent, no white cast. Seriously, check this out!

L'Oreal Glow Renewal Oil - It's no secret I love facial oils. I find myself overwhelmed sometimes by all the bottles I own because I love them so much. This one is really nice. I've been using it at night after my Eve Lom cleanser. I warm up my face with the muslin cloth to open my pores and then press the oil into my skin for ultra absorption.

Organic Lavender Essential Oil - I've put one drop in my mascara tube and I do think it makes a difference in my lashes. I feel like there are more lashes to work with and the length has gotten better. Plus it doesn't bother my eyes!

Covergirl The Super Sizer Mascara (Brown) - I was looking for a brown mascara to try out and decided to test out Covergirl's new mascara. I love the brush on this mascara! It's a little bigger than L'Oreal's Telescopic but has a skinny design which I tend to like for precision. If you are looking for a good drugstore mascara try this out.

got2b Powderful - I have been loving this for months now. It is great dupe for Sexy Hair's volumizing root powder. It helps lift from the roots and really gives all over volume for a fuller hair appearance. A must have! Plus it absorbs oil on your scalp to get a few extra days out of that blowdry!

Benefit Gimme Brow - A longtime favorite, I actually just picked up my second tube last night. I find this to be the perfect brush, perfect formula, perfect color, etc.

St. Tropez Self Tan Luxe Face Oil - This is a great self tanning oil for your face. No streaks, no orange hue, and the scent reminds me of Fruit Loops. I'm about a quarter of the way through my bottle after two months of usage so I think this will last me through the Summer. It's not a deep color but I think it's a perfectly subtle tone that adds glow which can be used year round. It's not oily in the greasy way either. This is a dry oil so it sinks right in with no leftover residue!

Younique Splurge Cream Shadows - These are perfect for a quick swipe of color and shimmer! Really a perfect beach makeup product.

We all know or at least should know the saying, "you are what you eat". Fountain Beauty takes it to another level with their beauty molecules. Beauty molecules are liquid supplements that are for targeted ailments such as lackluster locks, a dull complexion, and even to perk up a frown.

I saw these in a couple different places and the packaging alone makes them intriguing. I love the graphic design here and the colors! For those of you that don't know, I have a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. I take an extra microscope to art and design when looking at different products. It's definitely part of my passion. Cosmetics and makeup artistry are a form of art and I love the fact that art is such a broad topic just like the beauty industry.

But I digress....

Hyaluronic acid is found in almost every single one of these elixirs. After spotting that I decided to look up the ingredient, here is what WebMD had to say, "There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging. Some people apply hyaluronic acid to the skin for healing wounds, burns, skin ulcers, and as a moisturizer."

I have not tried or tested any of these yet. But I just couldn't help sharing with you guys because they are an interesting idea for supplements and "the fountain of youth" theory of beauty. Has anyone tried these yet?

Fountain - The Beauty Molecule is a concentrated beauty supplement with Resveratrol and Hyaluronic Acid to promote health, youth and longevity.

Fountain - The Hyaluronic Molecule is a concentrated beauty supplement with Hyaluronic Acid to keep your skin looking plump and happy from within.

Fountain - The Super Green Molecule is a concentrated beauty and lifestyle supplement of alfalfa chlorophyll, kelp and our Hyaluronic Acid matrix.

Fountain - The Phyto-Collagen Molecule is a concentrated beauty supplement with Hydrolysed Collagen, Wild Phytoplankton, L-Glutathione and our Hyaluronic Acid matrix to supplement your own collagen and support new collagen formation to keep you looking youthful from within.

Fountain - The Hair Molecule is a concentrated beauty supplement with our liquid complex of Silicon, Biotin and our Hyaluronic Acid matrix to support your hair from within to grow strong, healthy and full of shine and brilliance.

Fountain - The Geek Molecule is a concentrated beauty and lifestyle supplement with Zinc and Gotu Kola to support cognitive function and mental stamina.

Fountain - The Happy Molecule is a concentrated beauty and lifestyle supplement with a very happy GABA carrot complex and our Hyaluronic Acid matrix to keep you happy and counteract the effects of chronic and short-term stress.

Fountain - The Energy Molecule is a beauty and lifestyle supplement with  a concentrated energy complex of Creatine, Vitamin B12  and our Hyaluronic Acid matrix to provide sustainable lasting energy.

Fountain - The Glow Molecule is a concentrated form of a reactive type of Glutathione that is completely stable with extraordinary bioavailability and no sulphur after-taste. The high concentration of our reactive Glutathione in pre-oxidized form brings out a bright, youthful-looking glow within a week of use with continued improvements.

Fountain - The Beauty Extra Strength Molecule is a concentrated beauty supplement with Resveratrol and Hyaluronic Acid to promote health, youth and longevity.

Lately I have been finding myself becoming more and more curious about all natural beauty and skincare. More brands are coming along with amazing products that have ingredients as organic as what is in your fridge. If you don't want to purchase pre-made products there is also the world of homemade beauty products and skincare. We are talking food grade skincare people! Oatmeal for my face? Sure!

I have my mother in law and one of my best friends Kendall to thank for getting me more involved with healthy skincare and cosmetics. It's such a huge part of the beauty world and I am just touching the surface of this wondrous place! This series of posts will concentrate on homemade and all natural products from lipstick to facial oil. I hope to help people become aware of this growing industry and find great products along the way!

Now I am not planning on going full on organic/natural in all of my beauty products. I do still have tons of items in my collection that I love which are not organic or natural. I am expanding my horizons and dipping into healthier products. All types of beauty interests me so this includes the natural section as well!

I read on a few different blogs and Pinterest that lavender essential oil is great for keeping your lashes long and strong by adding it to your mascara. Of course I had to go out and purchase some to get started. I will put putting a tiny bit of lavender and possibly the rose hip oil into my Younique 3D Fiber Lash mascara and will definitely keep you guys updated on my thoughts/results. So exciting!

Have some natural beauty and skincare favorites of your own? Share them below, I would love to check them out!

I have talked about this product once before in my dry skincare series but I wanted to revisit it because now is when we are all looking for products to help our skin as the weather turns cold.

My sister in law actually reminded me about this product (though it is a staple in my purse). She had been using it on my niece's face because she had a scratch. It healed the scratch quickly and left her face clear of any remaining marks. When I say this product has so many uses I am not kidding!

It can be used from head to toe and because it has all natural ingredients I feel better about putting it on my skin. The certified organic ingredients include things like sunflower oil, beeswax, olive, coconut oil, shea butter, and chamomile among a few others. It is formulated without petroleum, mineral oil, lanolin, gluten, parabens, phthalates, fragrances, dyes & common allergens.The texture is greasy/oily but it does absorb. You only need the smallest amount since it is a rich product.

I started using it on my hands in hope it will help my horribly dry cuticles and a few spots of eczema. I will post an update here and let you know how it works for these purposes.

After reading what seemed like hundreds of reviews on Instagram I found myself intrigued by the benefits of a coffee scrub. Supposedly the scrubs help eczema, stretch marks, cellulite, dry skin, and psoriasis. I knew I had to test it out. Being affordable doesn't hurt either ($17.95 and free shipping for the coconut one) and if it will help improve my skin then I am all for it.

Frank is an all natural scrub made of fresh coffee grounds, sea salt and depending on the version you choose, coconut oil and almond oil. I chose the coconut grape seed version because I love coconut. The scent of this one is heavenly. It is a mix of coffee and coconut with a hint of salt that smells to me like a delectable morning dessert. I could not stop smelling myself after I showered. lol














The website says "lets get dirty" and they aren't kidding. It will cover your shower in coffee grinds and the water will turn a brownish color. Don't be alarmed, as it washes down the drain and leaves behind the smoothest skin you will ever feel. I was alarmed at how my skin felt and after just one use too! It felt super moisturized and comfortable with a "glow" I could not ignore.

Right now I can't say if it has helped improve my skin tone or anything since I have only used it once but I plan to continue using this product. An update will be posted in a month or so to let you know how it's going. For now, I highly recommend this scrub and you can find it here.