In addition to warmer temperatures, longer hours of daylight and more time outside, one of the many perks of Summer are fresh crops of fruits and vegetables. MasqueBAR presents an extensive collection of delicious fruit masks that offer these healthy nutrients to the skin, including:

Banana Sheet Mask (SRP: $4.99) – from the Naturals collection, it is made with fruit extracts and infused with banana to hydrate and illuminate. The Naturals Masks also come in Rose, Coconut and Green Tea and are available at CVS, CVS.com and www.masque.bar

Watermelon Masks (SRP: $4.99) – available as a sheet mask or jelly mask to help cool, refresh and hydrate the skin. Available at CVS, Kohl’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and www.masque.bar

 Blueberry Masks (SRP: $4.99) – available as a sheet mask or jelly mask to help hydrate, replenish, rejuvenate and revive the skin. Available at CVS, Bed Bath & Beyond and www.masque.bar

Jeju Tangerine Masks (SRP: 4.99) – available as a printed sheet mask or jelly mask to brighten the complexion, tighten pores and soften skin. Available at CVS and www.masque.bar

Banana Honey Cream Mask (SRP: $2.99) – from the IN.gredients collection, this nourishing face mask contains Banana and Honey extracts to leave skin feeling soft and replenished. Available at www.masque.bar

Coconut Water Cream Mask (SRP: $2.99) – from the IN.gredients collection, it helps moisturize and remove excess oil while also minimizing the appearance of pores for a more refined and even complexion. Available at www.masque.bar

Avocado Mud Mask (SRP: $2.99) – from the IN.gredients collection, it contains avocado extract to help moisturize and hydrate the skin, as well as minimize the appearance of pores. Available at www.masque.bar

MasqueBAR’s IN.gredients collection offers many more mouth-watering masks to indulge the skin, including: Greek Yogurt Cream Mask, Tumeric Cream Mask, Soothing Mango Sleeping Mask, Black Pepper Cream Mask, Sea Salt Cream Mask, Chocolate Eclaire Cream Mask, Chocolate and Raspberry Cream Mask, Whipped Cream & Strawberry Cream Mask, Coffee Cream Mask, Egg Cream Mask, Kale Cream Mask and Seaweed Sheet Mask.

Tag us: @mymasquebar

Acne not only dents your self-esteem, but it can also be painful and uncomfortable. The skin condition also isn’t limited to the face, as it is common for many people to struggle with acne on their neck, chest and/or back. In fact, the issue can affect all body parts apart from the soles of your feet and palms of your hands.

If you are struggling with oily spots that are hot or painful to the touch, you will likely be eager to resolve the condition as soon as possible. Read this informative guide to improving acne-prone skin.

Exercise Regularly

Many people living with acne tend to avoid exercising, as they believe sweat will exacerbate their oily skin. However, regular physical activity will not only help you remain fit and healthy, but perspiration can unblock your pores. However, to avoid an outbreak, wash your face and body immediately after a workout, ideally before the sweat has had time to dry on your skin.

Hydrate Your Skin

Water not only hydrates your body and increases energy levels, but it can also combat acne. Good ol’ H2O is vital for every bodily function, including the liver, which controls hormone production. It is an effective tactic for teenagers who are experiencing hormonal fluctuations. Reduce the blemishes by drinking a minimum of two liters of water per day or more when exercising.

Consider CBD Oil

CBD oil is becoming an increasingly popular option for treating various types of acne, as it is believed to adjust how the body produces sebum, which is an oily substance created by the skin. As CBD oil has various anti-inflammatory properties, it can successfully prevent a breakout and protect the skin. CBD oil is also viewed by many as a natural form of pain relief, which can be sourced from CopeCBD.com for wholesale and bulk purchases.

Avoid Excessive Showering

While a shower can revitalize your mind and body, excessive showering can play havoc with acne-prone skin. It can cause inflammation in the body, which can amplify acne symptoms. So, don’t shower multiple times per day to avoid an unwanted breakout. You also should not shower with hot water, which can strip natural oils from your skin. Ditch the loofah, too, as they can be a haven for bacteria.

Wear Mineral-Based Makeup – Or Skip It Altogether

Many people living with acne often turn to makeup to hide their blemishes, which can increase their self-confidence. However, the beauty products could be causing your skin harm more than good, as they can block your pores. If the thought of not wearing makeup fills you with dread, wear mineral-based makeup instead, as the products will not feature additional oils that can irritate your skin and increase inflammation.

It is also essential to remove your makeup before you go to bed each night. Wash your face with water and a ph-neutral soap. It will allow your skin to breathe and you will be less likely to wake up with oily, blemished skin that will make you avoid your reflection.

Never Touch Your Acne

It can be difficult not to squeeze, prod or poke at your spots when looking in the mirror, but you should avoid doing so. Touching your blemishes will lead to new bacteria on your skin, which can enter your pores and cause inflammation. Consequently, your unwanted whiteheads and blackheads might become sore red spots that could dent your self-confidence.

So, if you want to enjoy clear, pain-free and smooth skin throughout the years, you should follow the above tips on how to improve acne prone skin.

PopMasks are the brainchild of British jetsetter and beauty maven Louisa Booth, who tired (literally) of trying to sleep on international flights, and also hated looking less than fresh upon landing.  So she invented something she calls “calm in a pouch” – a self warming eye mask that refreshes and relaxes at once.  Its warmth increases circulation, plumping skin around the eyes for a more rested appearance, while also encouraging the mind to quiet itself, let go of tensions and maybe even drift off to sleep.

PopMasks are made of non-woven cotton and contain heat cells with naturally occurring ingredients (iron powder, vermiculite, activated carbon, salt and water) that activate when the mask is removed from its pouch and exposed to oxygen. The warming effect lasts more than 20 minutes.  It’s vegan, cruelty-free, biodegradable and all packaging is recyclable.  And each one has convenient ear loops so they stay securely and comfortably in place.

PopMasks come in Starry Eyes (fragrance-free), Jetsetter (infused with jasmine oil), and coming soon Sleepover (rose-infused.) They are available as singles for $5 each or in value packs of 5 for $20.  They’re no muss, no fuss, and perfect on-the-go or at home.

Your favorite song was playing in the background, candles glowing bright, hand in hand with your better half. Or maybe it was just the two of you in a quiet spot by the river? Or perhaps it happened in front of your family before Christmas dinner? Or was there a flash mob at a shopping mall? 

No matter how it happened, you said “yes,” and you are thrilled. But the ‘what’s next’ part can be quite overwhelming as you start planning for your fairytale wedding. 

Wedding planning can be a daunting task. There are a lot of things you need to think about and do. But if you organize your tasks and make a checklist, wedding planning can be easy.  

Set a Budget and Stick to It

The first step in planning your wedding is the budget. Knowing how much you have to spend on your wedding is the most significant decision you should make. Ask your parents to help you out. Otherwise, if you rest it solely on your shoulders it could prove to be stressful. Having a fixed budget will help you make decisions easily throughout the planning process.

Sit down and put together a guest list but only estimate numbers at this stage. Also, ensure that you overestimate by a handful of guests. You will need the guest list when setting a date, picking a wedding party, and venue. The number of guests you plan on inviting will determine the venue size, how much you spend on catering, among other things.

According to statistics, only 33% of weddings take place in a religious institution, and this number continues to drop. So while there is the option to get married in a religious institution, you can also opt to find a different location to host it. A venue can be costly, so make sure to do your research on what options you have before you visit them.

Once you set the date and choose a venue, you will also need to start planning who you want to cater your wedding as well as looking into hiring a photographer (and possibly a videographer) and what type of music you want (DJ or band). All of these things will need to be taken into consideration when determining your budget.

Make Your Wedding Your Own

The best way to make your wedding your own is to inject it with a shot of personality. Is your wedding day going to be filled with the overused mason jars, the classic rose petal littered aisles, the popular donut bars, or the unique cocktail hour for your fur babies? 

At this stage, choose a theme, pick the colors, flowers, and décor that will make your wedding truly stand out. Design and start sending save-the-dates and invites to your big day. Start looking for wedding party outfits, decide whether you want to have a flower girl and ring bearer, and choose the best outfits to fit your wedding theme.

The most important step in planning your wedding is searching for the perfect wedding dress. The search for the perfect wedding dress can take longer than you might anticipate. Thus, it is better to start looking sooner rather than later. 

Start trying on a variety of different dress styles and shapes. This will help give you an idea of your preferences as well as what style suits you the best. Remember, it can take up to six months for a dress to be custom made so you might be better off purchasing a dress that is ready to purchase. Then you can have it tailored to fit you. 

Get Organized 

Now that the major decisions are out of the way, it is time for you to perfect the details.  At this stage of planning your wedding, you will hopefully have your guest list confirmed. Now you can start creating a seating chart and make or order customized place cards. 

Also, create a website and fill it with your engagement story, wedding logistics, registry, and more. Your wedding website will be the first thing guests would be looking for when you announce your wedding. The site should include all the pertinent information for your wedding guests, including lodging options and if there will be a shuttle to and from the wedding venue.

At this point you should start finalizing your honeymoon plans. If your budget is tight, the easiest way to save money on your honeymoon is to stay at the same destination where you will be tying the knot. You can also head to a nearby city or island to keep things fresh. 

Regardless of whether you are staying put or venturing to a faraway place for your honeymoon, make sure you have everything planned and booked now. 

Enjoy Yourself

One of the most critical steps in planning a wedding is to remember to relax and have fun. So take some time away from your planning notebook and excel spreadsheets and spend it doing normal stuff like a night on the couch with some coffee and a good book, or a cinema night with your friends.

Lastly, make sure to enjoy every festivity associated with your wedding from the bridal showers, bachelorette party, and the rehearsal dinner. 

Wedding Day To-Dos

Your big day has finally arrived. Your guests are here, and the venue is amazing. As everyone’s eating, laughing, dancing, and you looking stunningly fabulous, shake off any remaining stress and worry. Smile, and enjoy yourself!

This attention-grabbing collection includes sports bras, hoodies, tanks, leggings and more all in flattering designs and vibrant colors. It’s been product tested by female athletes … ladies who demand performance from their gym attire and themselves. And it’s designed by a team of artists to accentuate the female form, meaning the cuts and patterns are tailor-made for every curve.

Violate the Dress Code uses custom fabric blends that are buttery soft and feel so good on your skin at a price point that’s half that of better-known brands. You worked hard to get those curves, Violatethe Dress Code will make sure your efforts won’t go unnoticed!

Top Sellers by Violate the Dress Code:

Luxe Black Scrunch Butt Leggings – Your Booty Will Thank You! Everyone’s favorite stretchy, non-fade fabric with the added scrunch giving depth to your curves! Features pockets too.

Amore Black Seamless Leggings – a sexy, laser-cut design with 7/8 length that won’t bunch up around the ankles and is great for petites.

White Camo Leggings – Made of a strong, yet luxurious, sweat-wicking fabric, these leggings will stop anyone dead in their tracks! This standout custom camo designed fabric won’t turn white when stretched.

Luxe Black Scrunch Butt Shorts – It doesn’t get any hotter than this! Made from the highest end Nylon/Spandex fabric blend so these shorts will never fade and won’t lose their shape no matter what kind of workout you put them through!

Red Sugar Shorts – So hot the color is called sriracha! An updated look on these classic, retro-style shorts that are sexy and functional.

About Violate the Dress Code:

What started as a part-time project to deliver the highest quality, best performing and most fashionable workout gear around quickly grew into a popular highly sought-after brand that demanded more staff and full-time effort. The brand founders believe in confidence and feeling beautiful inside and out. They also believe in giving back to charity and have donated to non-profits that support injured veterans, cancer victims, animals in need and the homeless. They are a team of people that pride themselves on building together.

The Bath Bean’s genius is it prevents slipping. So, mom stays put. No more sliding around in the tub. No more having to hold herself up. No more accidental slipping under the water and ruining a good hair day. And no more discomfort caused by her tailbone resting against a hard tub surface.

The comfy pad simply suctions to the bottom of the tub and voila. Mom will have her hands free to talk on the phone, sip that glass of wine or read that book. 

But the Bath Bean isn’t just for moms, it’s great for kiddos and anyone who enjoys a good soak. And while it’s a godsend during our present quarantining at home, it’s a gift mom and everyone else will enjoy even when life goes back to normal.

More To Love About the Bath Bean:

Dishwasher Safe

Easy to Use, Easy to Remove

Keeps Your Hands Free

Eliminates Body Tension

Improves Your Bathing Experience

About the Bath Bean: The Bath Bean was invented by Tanya, a mom of two who loved taking baths during long Michigan winters, but hated the uncomfortable feeling of her tailbone hitting the bottom of the tub, the tension of having to hold herself up and the hassle of getting her hair wet when she’d inadvertently slip underwater. Her young daughter had similar problems because her legs weren’t long enough to brace herself and prevent slipping. So, Tanya designed the Bath Bean to eliminate slipping and make the bathing experience enjoyable … like it’s supposed to be! Thanks Tanya!

https://www.bathbean.com

It’s been a quite a while since I introduced my husband to a new shampoo. He is very honest about what he thinks about the products he uses on himself. He was the perfect candidate to try  Goodhead Shampoo by Ballsy. This new shampoo  is anew, natural, paraben- and sulfate-free air care formula. What could be better?  Oh yes, it smells fantastic!

From what I can see, men have different criteria than women when is comes to the shampoo and conditioner they use. In my household of 3 men, as long  as the shampoo doesn’t dry their scalp, leave it looking oily and it smells good they are satisfied.

The Goodhead Shampoo is a nourishing, growth stimulating formula harnessing the benefits of “superfoods” like quinoa and green tea and botanical oils like soft, smoothing argan, bracing tea tree and their signature active charcoal.

Goodhead Conditioner  features hibiscus oil, olive oil, tea tree and SalCool (provides cooling effect and refreshing tingle) to help nourish, hydrate, strengthen and protect hair.

“This new hair care duo was developed because the Ballsy customers loved their other chemical-free, high-end botanical formulations so much that they started asking Ballsy for a head-to-toe grooming line. Recognizing that great hair was another source of male pride, the company obliged with Goodhead! “

Only $24 for the Shampoo and Conditioner set!!!

Stress Relief for Challenging Times

How Essential Oils Can Help You Find Inner Calm

Vitality Extracts crafts the finest essential oils that are pure, safe and free of chemicals making them the perfect aromatherapy oils for optimal natural healing. Each of its oils is tested to ensure it’s 100% contaminant free! While the company is unwavering in its commitment to provide products that are beneficial for its customers, it’s equally committed to protecting its workers and the planet as a whole. The company’s collection of products is sourced from generational farms around the world, helping preserve and protect a vanishing way of life. Farmers and the artisans who lovingly create Vitality Extracts are paid a fair wage and work in an environment guided by ethical practices.

Along with essential oils for migraine relief, stress relief, energy and more, Vitality Extracts makes stunning diffuser bracelets from natural stones, each as beautiful to look at as it is good for your soul! With all the stress in the world right now, be good to yourself – and the planet and find some grounding with Vitality Extracts.

Top Picks for Stress Relief:

Immunity – a powerful way to help support the proper function of your immune and respiratory systems. In addition, it can help purify the air and disinfect surfaces to provide a cleaner environment for you and your family, while reducing anxiety and helping with mental focus.

Inner Peace – a lovely combination of oils that gives a spiritual calm even when you’re most stressed. This refreshing combination of citrus oils helps to restore energy, relieve tension and boost the immune and circulatory systems. 

Breathe Easy – designed to increase the lung’s capacity to breathe and clear the sinuses. It can also help purify the air in the room and ease congestion and sinus pressure, reduce inflammation and promote a healthy immune and circulatory system.

Diffuser Jewelry – Pyrite, rose quartz and African turquoise are just some of the beautiful and beneficial stones in this collection. Each bracelet or necklace features natural stones paired with lava beads to soak up the oils and provide long-lasting benefits in a beautiful package.

About Vitality Extracts:  Vitality Extracts was created by a group of health and wellness enthusiasts who firmly believe in the natural healing of essential oils. The company crafts products of the utmost quality and offers them at affordable prices to ensure everyone can enjoy the benefits of better health. The company is so confident its products exceed expectations it offers a 100% satisfaction guarantee!