Archives for 2016

December 1, 2016

The Mane Choice Haircare is my Main Choice

I love my latest find in hair care. It’s called The Mane Choice. I was intrigued by the fact that the line claims to “nourish, grow and retain hair”. Yes!!! You read correctly, Retain Hair! I really need this particular feature in a shampoo right now. Each time I wash my hair I notice more and more strands falling out…Yikes!

The Mane Choice Haircare Line  was created by a Physician and Registered Nurse duo (who are also husband and wife!)  offering solutions to common hair problems.

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What makes The Mane Choice line so unique is that it is infused with vitamins and essential nutrients including Biotin, Vitamin A, B, C, D, & E. After the first use, I felt my hair soft, silky and bouncy. I have very curly hair so I am quite fussy about the haircare products I use and The Mane Choice is a keeper.

Easy On The CURLS Detangling Hydration Shampoo worked beautifully for me. My hair is very dry so I do not wash it every day.  Easy On The CURLS Detangling Hydration Shampoo kept my hair hydrated until the next washing. The shampoo also aids in eliminating knots and tangles, which for me, is a huge reason my I lose hair in the shower. Easy On The CURLS Detangling Hydration Shampoo is infused with Biotin and Vitamin E which adds to the healthiness in your hair which I noticed after the first shampoo.

Compliment your hair washing routine with Soft As Can Be Revitalize & Refresh 3-in-1 Co-Wash, Leave-In, Detangler. This is a 3 in 1 conditioner that is a conditioner, a leave-in conditioner, and detangler. I found that the shampoo and conditioner worked so well I didn’t need to “leave-in” the conditioner but it is a good feature to have.

Applying hair masks is definitely something I need to do more of.  It was when I used the Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening & Restore Mask Treatment that I realized I need to use this product as recommended about every 1 to 2 weeks. After using the mask I immediately felt my hair having a softer texture. Green Tea & Carrot Deep Strengthening & Restore Mask Treatment is enriched with biotin, green tea, and carrot oil and the mask will immediately begin to repair and restore dry and damaged strands.

You only need an extra 15 minutes (with heat) or 1 hour (without heat) every week or so. This may seem like a lot of time especially if you don’t have a dryer like myself, but it is definitely worth it.  After shampooing, apply a generous amount from root to end and massage gently into  your hair. Cover your hair with a plastic cap and sit under a dryer for 15 minutes or leave on with a plastic cap (I used a shower cap) for up to 1 hour without heat. Rinse thoroughly and style as usual. The mask works great for natural, relaxed, permed, and colored treated hair. My 20-year-old daughter is using the mask too and loves it.

If you want to add a supplement to your hair care routine, consider Metabolism Plus. This is a daily complete dietary supplement formulated to grow hair on the scalp longer, thicker, faster and healthier.

The Mane Choice Haircare line contains an array pf products ranging from shampoos, conditioners,  an Ancient Egyptian line, Hair tools, and vitamins. You can find The Mane Choice Hair Care line at  www.themanechoice.com or at Target, Sally’s Beauty, Rite Aid and CVS Pharmacy.

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December 1, 2016

I am Mad about Mad Hippie

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My skin is very fair and sensitive, so I try to avoid harsh products that may have a lot of additives, but it can be hard to find products that are more natural but that also work well. Mad Hippie seems to have found a best of both worlds scenario with their products. Mad Hippie Vitamin A Serum is aimed at fighting wrinkles and sun damage, and while I don’t have many wrinkles as of yet, I’ve had freckles/sun damage since before I can remember. I followed the instructions which state to start out using it every other night for your skin to adjust, then move to every night. This regimen worked out well for my skin and I didn’t experience any over-dryness or red blotchy areas, which can sometimes happen with retinoid type serums on my skin. It has a nice natural scent and felt clean on my skin and didn’t leave any type of film or residue. After several uses, my skin looked a bit brighter and more balanced. As is with most serums, continual use is the key, so I’m looking forward to keeping up this regiment and seeing those freckles and brown spots fade away.

You can view the ingredients highlights of the Vitamin A Serum HERE

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I also tried out the Mad Hippie Eye Cream, which had a light, non-greasy feel to it. I could almost immediately feel the cream hydrating the skin around my eyes and was so refreshing, I almost used it on the rest of my face. It also comes in a pump bottle, which I like so much more than the pots that you need to open and stick your finger in each time you want to use it.
You can view the ingredient highlights of the Eye Cream  HERE
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Guest post by Antonia Rutter

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December 1, 2016

beauty starts with confidence on the inside — and it shines on the outside

I was 15 the first time I waxed my eyebrows.

It was the ‘90s. Everyone wanted super skinny brows like Drew Barrymore. My beastly unibrow, though, made me look like Peter Gallagher.

It all changed the moment I walked out of the JC Penney salon, my skin streaks of red where most of my eyebrows had been. I knew then that nothing would ever be the same.

I was right. My eyebrows were never, ever the same. Years of waxing in my youth has left my brows sad and puny. I fill them in before I even consider leaving the house these days.

It seems like nearly every woman has her “thing,” a staple in her beauty routine she swears by. Thick or thin, grooming my eyebrows is something I’ve done for years to look my best.

But the more I thought about it, the more I started to wonder: What do most of us really know about looking our best? My high school eyebrows, after all, made me look perpetually shocked, and I thought they were the best.

It was time to seek out the pros. Scheduling an appointment with a makeup artist is a terrific way to learn whether you’re on the right track or making a huge beauty blunder. A professional also can show you tricks to help play up your prettiest features.

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Leesa Simone

I reached out to my friend Leesa Simone, a makeup artist in Los Angeles who works in film and television. I asked her what advice she gives to clients who want to look their best even when they’re not on the red carpet. Leesa told me she preaches “less is more.”

“Women, especially young teenagers, are wearing too much makeup nowadays,” she said. “Social media formats are very influential and profitable for the company and consumer, but I feel this is making women feel like they have to walk around with a mask of makeup.”

It’s important to balance your look, Leesa cautioned, so you don’t look overdone.

“Want to have a smokier eye? Wear a softer lip. Want to showcase your glowing skin? Wear less on your eyes and lips and really let your skin be the star,” she said. “Want to wear a bold lip? Learn to balance the makeup properly to showcase the features you want to stand out.”

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Brielle McKenna

 

Brielle McKenna is a LA-based makeup artist who makes everyone from models to brides-to-be look flawless. She advocates classic makeup looks — picture old Hollywood glamour seen in starlets like Marilyn Monroe and Rita Hayworth.

“We live in a world where trends multiply by the minute, and we try to wear everything at once,” Brielle said. “I adore and always gravitate toward classic looks … pick colors that work for you personally and always emphasize your best features. Trends don’t always work in favor for everyone.”

Where was Brielle 1992 when I needed her?

Makeup can do wonders, but the real key to looking your best is good skin, Leesa and Brielle agreed. And that goes even for you lucky ducks who have a genius like one of them making you camera-ready every day.

“The base for any beautiful face or makeup comes down to how we care for our skin,” Brielle said. “Well-pampered and hydrated skin will always look so much better, no matter what goes on top of it. It truly shows when someone takes care of their skin by exfoliating and moisturizing properly.”

Even if you’re out late partying, they said, don’t blow off your nightly skin-care routine.

“The most important time for your skin and body to rejuvenate is when you are sleeping,” Leesa said. “Take off your makeup, use your skin-care products and go to bed with a clean, moisturized face. And don’t forget your neck!”

I always forget my neck.

What’s so cool about women like Leesa and Brielle is that while they are a wealth of information, their most important message is simple: Whatever you put on your skin, lips or eyes — work it, own it and feel amazing doing it.

The truth is, trends come and go. Our look changes as we grow older and (hopefully) wiser. But beauty starts with confidence on the inside — and it shines on the outside.

Great eyebrows don’t hurt, either.

unnamed-10Guest Post by Maggie O’Brien

 

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December 1, 2016

From the Pros: TOOTHPASTE MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE

FINDINGS SUPPORT THE HYPOTHESIS OF REDUCTIONS IN HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES

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The prestigious American Journal of Medicine (The Green Journal) published the results of the study titled, “Randomized Trial of Plaque Identifying Toothpaste: Dental Plaque and Inflammation,” in their October 19th issue which found that Plaque HD®, a plaque identifying toothpaste, significantly reduced dental plaque in the mouth and inflammation throughout the entire body.

In this study, 61 healthy subjects aged 19 to 44 years were randomized to Plaque HD® (n=31) or placebo (n=30) for 60 days. Changes from baseline to follow-up in dental plaque and hs-CRP were accessed:

  • Plaque HD® significantly reduced dental plaque when compared with the placebo toothpaste
  • Plaque HD® significantly reduced hs-CRP when compared with the placebo toothpaste

Inflammation is intimately involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is accurately measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a sensitive marker for cardiovascular disease. Heart attack is the No. 1 cause of death in the world and the United States, killing over 370,000 men and women each year. Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death in the United States, killing nearly 129,000 men and women each year.1

The senior author was Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.P.H., who also authored the seminal article on inflammation, aspirin and heart disease published in 1997. In addition to conducting his groundbreaking research, Dr. Hennekens is the first Sir Richard Doll professor and senior academic advisor to the dean in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, and the coauthors included investigators at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Dentistry and the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Last month, the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine noted that his 1997 study, “Inflammation, Aspirin, and the Risk of Cardiovascular Disease in Apparently Healthy Men,” was their most influential over the last 20 years. That original research from the landmark Physician’s Health Study, in which Dr. Hennekens was founding Principal Investigator, was the first to demonstrate that C-reactive protein, a sensitive marker of inflammation, predicted future heart attacks and strokes.

Dr. Hennekens stated, “the observed reduction in inflammation among those assigned at random to Plaque HD® supports the hypothesis of a reduction in risks of heart attacks and strokes.”

The Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Medicine, Joseph Alpert MD, a renowned cardiologist, took the unusual step to write an accompanying editorial: “Can a toothpaste reduce risks of heart attacks and strokes?” He opined about the relationship of oral health to heart attacks and strokes which he first learned from his father, a dentist.

“I am pleased and inspired by these results which suggest that the use of Plaque HD® can help reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes,” commented Lawrence Hier, DDS, MS, the CEO of TJA Health LLC and inventor of Plaque HD®. “Plaque is dangerous and an enemy of dental and overall health. Dental plaque has long been suspected to be a contributor to heart attacks and strokes.”

Plaque HD® is the first plaque-identifying toothpaste that reveals plaque so that it can be removed with directed brushing. In addition, the product’s proprietary formulation, Targetol Technology®, contains unique combinations and concentrations of cleaning agents that weaken the core of the plaque structure to help the subject more effectively remove the plaque.

“The direct test of the hypothesis that Plaque HD® reduces risks of heart attacks and strokes requires a large scale randomized trial of sufficient size and duration designed a priori to do so,” stated Dr. Hennekens. “We are already preparing an investigator initiated research grant proposal to the United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) with coauthor Patrick McBride, MD, MPH, Professor of Medicine and Senior Associate Dean at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health as Principal Investigator.”

Dr. Hennekens added, “this trial is important and timely because a positive finding would have enormous clinical and public health implications.”

For more information about Plaque HD®, please visit: www.plaquehd.com.

ABOUT Plaque HD®: Plaque HD® is the first professional plaque-identifying toothpaste. Plaque HD® uses Targetol® Technology to highlight the plaque missed while brushing, giving you that fresh-from-the-dentist feeling every day. With regular brushing, the 1-step, easy-to-use Plaque HD® formula fights cavities, freshens breath, and helps prevent gum disease. By brushing daily with Plaque HD® toothpaste, in addition to improving your oral hygiene, you are also enhancing the health of your entire body since plaque in the mouth is closely linked to many systemic diseases, such as heart disease and stroke.

1American Heart Association “Heart Disease, Stroke and Research Statistics At-a-Glance.” Available online at: https://www.heart.org/idc/groups/ahamah-public/@wcm/@sop/@smd/documents/downloadable/ucm_480086.pdf

Last accessed on October 7, 2016

 

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November 30, 2016

A National Examiner IAGT Beauty Box “Win It”

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Pick up your copy to enter to win! There will be 3 winners chosen.

Brands participating in this fabulous Beauty Box include:

Miss Spa
Gerard Cosmetics
Pura d’or
Petal Fresh

You’ll love to win this! Thank you to the brands above for making this possible!

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November 29, 2016

Halos “The Mandarin Fruit” Workout

Halos Workout by Elizabeth Colen
(Chairs needed)

Standing Bent knee Crunch
Stand with legs hip width apart place the Halos behind left knee and bend the knee. Place your left hand behind your head and your right hand on chair for balance if need. Bring left leg up to meet left elbow. You are doing a standing crunch.
Recommended:
10-20

Butt Kick
Stand with legs hip width apart place the Halos behind left knee and bend the knee. Place your left hand on hip and your right hand on chair for balance if need. Bend at waist, Push your foot towards the ceiling. Pulse. This movement is very effective you will feel that butt cheek burn!
Recommended:
10-20

Twist
Stand with legs hip width apart place the Halos behind right knee and bend the knee to squeeze the fruit. Place your left hand behind your head and your right hand on chair for balance if need. Bring right leg up to meet left elbow, in a twist. You are working that waist!
Recommended:
10-20

Do all three movements then repeat on the other side.

Halo Fruit

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November 29, 2016

Donna’s List of Natural Beauty Concoctions for Face & Hair

As many of you know, I use natural remedies on a regular basis and have shared some of them before but I thought I would share many of them in a list.

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Donna Spangler simple beauty

I like to start out with an exfoliant.bowl-with-baking-soda-paste

Do you want to get your skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom? Nothing polishes the face better than the fine granules that baking soda is made of. I love to use this simple and inexpensive home remedy to smooth the skin, especially on the face. It’s quick and easy.donna-baking-soda-scrub

putting the baking soda paste on in a circular motion
It also travels well, dry in a sealed plastic baggy.

First, take a scoop of baking soda and add a small amount of water just enough to make a paste. Then, take the paste and put it on your face rubbing in a circular motion. Cover the whole face and stop when you feel that your face is fully cleaned and polished.

Lastly, run warm water and rinse. Make sure you get all the granules off.

Your skin will feel smooth and polished

Another natural exfoliant is honey. I keep a container in my bathroom so I can use it to wash my face when I take a bath or shower. It takes off the dirt and is a natural antibacterial. It does not strip the skin of natural oils and balances the skin. Even if the honey has started to turn more coarse and sugary I use it as it has a great exfoliant texture. In addition ,it is inexpensive!

 

Below are other options:

Banana oatmeal skin exfoliant
mash a banana with a small amount of oatmeal
blend well and apply to face for 20 minutes and rinse with warm water

Banana Peal acne relief
use the peal of a ripe yellow or yellow/ brown banana
put the inside part of the peal to the face where you have acne problem
rub over area for about 10 minutes till inside turns brown
leave it on an do not wash off for about one hour till you go to bed
you can however leave it on overnight
repeat daily until redness goes away.

Tomato Facial
cut a tomato in half and rub the half all over the face in a circular motion
rinse with warm water and moisturize

For a sunburn
tomato juice and /buttermilk delight
2 parts tomato juice and 4 parts buttermilk
mix together then put on sunburn let it stand for 30-40 minutes rinse

Facial MASKS

Sweet Banana Yogurt Mask
banana
yogurt
honey

Sweet Strawberry Honey Mask
3-4 small mashed strawberries
2tbl yogurt
1-2tbl honey
Combine ingredients put on face for 20minutes and rinse with warm water

Sweet Blueberry nourishing mask
1/4 cup Blueberries
1tbl honey
1tsp olive oil
mash berries add honey and oil and put on for 10 minutes rinse off with warm water

Hair Remedies

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Vinegar rinse-
wash hair and rinse with 1/3 cup vinegar and ? cool water

Rich Avocado treat
mash and avocado and add 1/2 cup olive oil blend well
apply the mixture to your hair wrap up in a towel for 20-30 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Deep conditioning Cucumber
1 egg
1/3 cucumber blended
1/4 cup almond oil
mix above ingredients well and apply to the hair for 20-30 minutes and rinse well with warm water

Healthy Hair Beer Rinse
take any type of beer at room temperature and rinse it onto your hair after it has been cleaned. Leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes and rinse well so there is no beer smell. It will leave the hair shiny and healthy looking.

Honey Avocado Hair repair
2tb honey
one egg yolk
2tbl olive oil
mix ingredients and slather over the hair let stand for 20-30 minutes then rinse with cool water

Overnight Coconut oil treatment
put on the coconut oil on scalp and hair before bed. Wrap up Wash it out in the morning.
This treatment can be done a few times a week.

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November 29, 2016

Keep your Kid’s Head warm with a little Glam from Pebble by Kahiniwalla!

 

unnamed-3The Fall weather brings some chills and with Winter air just around the corner, you need to make sure your kid’s are warm for the season! Pebble by Kahiniwalla has you covered with the most adorable and one-of-a-kind hats you and your babies will love! View the line at  www.kahiniwalla.com/shop

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Kahiniwalla is a business which distributes Fair Trade products and tells the story behind those products. They care about the quality of their products, how they’re made with the bigger picture in mind. Pebble is one of these products designed by Samantha Morshed, a social entrepreneur based in Bangladesh. Samantha’s vision for Pebble of providing a place close to rural homes in Dhaka where women could work flexible hours was just what over 12,000 rural women were looking for. These rural workplaces provide a welcome alternative to women moving to a large city to work in the garment industry leaving their families behind and making themselves vulnerable to unsafe, unjust and sometimes violent situations.

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November 29, 2016

Chloe Bridges & Narcos’ Martina Garcia’s Chic Casual Looks this Weekend!

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LOS ANGELES – November 21, 2016 – Actresses Chloe Bridges and Martina Garcia stepped out for the Chiara Ferragni Pop-Up Shop Grand-Opening at The Grove in Los Angeles this weekend wearing Lili Claspe and Armadio! Chloe Bridges showed off an edgy chic look with a denim skirt and graphic tee accessorized with Lili Claspe’s Vega Choker in Silver ($100, www.liliclaspe.com)
LOS ANGELES, CA - NOVEMBER 19: Model and actress Martina Garcia (L) and fashion designer Chiara Ferragni at the Chiara Ferragni Pop-Up Shop Grand-Opening at The Grove in Los Angeles at The Grove on November 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Bezjian/WireImage)

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 19: Model and actress Martina Garcia (L) and fashion designer Chiara Ferragni at the Chiara Ferragni Pop-Up Shop Grand-Opening at The Grove in Los Angeles at The Grove on November 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Bezjian/WireImage)

Narcos’ star Martina Garcia completed her casual chic look with Armadio’s Maia Handbag in Black ($219, www.armadiofashion.com).
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November 27, 2016

On Trend Magazine Editor Favorite 2016

Pura d'or in On Trend Magazine

Pura d’or in On Trend Magazine

On Trend magazine chooses Pura d’or as a 2016 product fave!

PURA D’OR Hair Loss Prevention Therapy Intense Moisturizing Masque

http://www.purador.com/hair-loss-prevention-therapy-intense-moisturizing-masque

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