DIY | Beauty and Fashion Tech

May 3, 2013

5 Relaxing Bath Solutions You Can Do for Practically Nothing

May 3, 2013 By Carleenp 6 Comments

We all love to take a relaxing bath but things like bubbles, oils and store bought solutions can get expensive. Don’t you wish there was a way that you could make your own bath solutions form things you already had around the house? Well, you can! Here are five relaxing baths that you can make with little effort or expense:

Rosewater and coconut milk – This simple bath fills the air with the beautiful scent of roses and sooths your skin with the nourishing creaminess of coconut milk. Just add a quarter of a cup of each to your bath water. To make your own rose water take the petals from a rose, the more fragrant the better, and add to very hot (almost boiling) water. Let steep and then strain and store in a bottle. One large rose can scent up to four cups of water. Coconut milk is inexpensive and available in a can at most grocery stores, usually in the international aisle.
Bath salts – Making bath salts at home is very simple. All you need is to mix together two cups of Epsom salts, one cup of sea salt, one half of a cup of baking soda, and a few drops of essential oils. You can use lavender oil for relaxation. This recipe will last you several baths and can be stored easily. The salts scrub away dead skin while the baking soda balances your pH and the oil fills the air with fragrance.
Dried lavender and chamomile –If you have some dying cut flowers about or if you have a garden and dry your own flowers than this could be just the bath for you. The petals from two sprigs of dried lavender and two bags of chamomile tea added to your bath water fills the air with a wonderful relaxing scent and smoothes away wrinkles and skin irritations. Gentle enough for everyday use.
Lemon and honey – Honey is known for its antibacterial properties and lemon restores skin so between the two of them this relaxing bath will give your skin a smooth and healthy glow. Just add two teaspoons of lemon juice, preferably fresh, and one tablespoon of honey to a very warm bath. Swirl around until honey is dissolved and then relax.
Milk and vanilla – Milk baths have long been used to get rid of dead skin and revitalize the body. Adding in the calming scent of vanilla just enhances the effect. Two teaspoons of vanilla extract added to two cups of powdered milk can be mixed into the bath until dissolved. Then take a long soak and feel the lactic acid working to remove all the imperfections from your skin.
These five baths are easy to make and inexpensive. You may even have all the ingredients already on hand. Just mix up a batch and get that hot water ready. Take a long soak and think about all the money you saved while still pampering yourself!

Author Bio:

Jason Miner plays a vital role for www.blogcarnival.com. He is an expert in writing topics of different categories. He is helping the carnival team to grow & working on making this an even better place for bloggers.

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Filed Under: Bath and Body Tagged With: Bath, DIY, Spa

Oct 5, 2012

A Simple DIY Shoe Dye That Is To-Die-For

October 5, 2012 By Carleenp 1 Comment

So, you found The One, he’s dropped down on bended knee, you’ve bought THE dress, and now all you need are the shoes. Of course, just like every bride-to-be, you have a picture in your mind of the perfect shoe, coloured the perfect shade, but where is it?

You know when you go to the mall with a particular item in mind and you just can’t find it? Yes, this is that moment, but it’s worse because it’s about to be your big day and you will settle for nothing less than perfection. Obviously.

As a raging perfectionist and bride-to-be myself, I can absolutely sympathize with you. After many sleepless nights and a few completely justifiable meltdowns to my incredible fiancé, I realized it was time to take matters into my own hands.

How do we solve this little debacle? A simple DIY, of course!

How To Dye Your Shoes

The best part about this DIY dye is that not only is it simple to do, but it’s cheaper than spending big money just to buy the shade of shoe you want. Just follow along...

Step One - Find Them

First of all, you must find the shoe you want to wear. Don’t focus so much on the colour, as much as the style. You will need to use a shoe that is lighter toned, preferably white or cream, to be sure that the dye actually works its magic.
If, however, you already own the shoes you want to wear, this next step is a pre-dye must.

Step Two - Clean Them

The cleaner the material, the better the dye will work. Use a gentle, lint free cloth and a mild soap for the best results.

Throughout this step you are basically cleaning your shoe to ensure pre-existing dirt or fluff doesn’t end up showing up after you’ve dyed those stilts.

Step Three - Dry Them

Once those shoes are squeaky clean, give them the opportunity to thoroughly dry out. If you can wait 12 months for your big day, you can wait a few hours for your shoes to dry.

And if you get a little antsy and are ready to jump the gun early, resist the urge. Pull out your I Do To-Do list and tackle a few tasks then revisit your shoes!

Step Four - Make Space For Them

Your heels are clean, so it’s time to prep your dye zone. There’s no point in making a big mess so lay out some newspapers or plastic bags so you don’t dye your floor.
Being accident prone myself, this is one of the most important steps!

Step Five - Dye Them

Once you’re all ready to go, mix your dye. Depending on the brand of dye you purchased you may have to mix solutions together, but if you follow the label and you should do just fine.

Now that the dye is ready to go, use a soft, clean sponge to apply the colour to your shoe.

Evenly apply the colour all over and allow it time to dry. Since you are aiming for a particular shade, play around with it a little.

Want it dark? Apply a few more layers. Want it subtle, take it easy on your first few applications, but always make sure you let each coat dry in between applications so you can really see what shade you have.

A word to the wise, most dyes emit terrible fumes, so if you don’t have a face mask handy then be sure to put your shoes outside to dry.

And just like that you’ve cleaned, dried and dyed your dream wedding shoes!

Now to make sure you don’t nick them, scuff them, or smudge them wait solid 24 hours before even trying them on, that way you can ensure they are perfectly dry.
That being said, this DIY is obviously not to be done the day before the wedding. So always be sure to plan ahead bridal babes! The last thing you need is shoe dye running off onto that expensive dress! I sweat just thinking about it!

Et voila! A simple and affordable solution for all you brides-to-be looking for that perfect shoe to complete your already gorgeous wedding look.

AUTHOR BIO:
Jill is an antsy bride-to-be who is knee-deep in planning her upcoming wedding to the love of her life. When she isn’t stressing about last minute details she is writing for her shoe blog where she covers all sorts of topics, including why you need the Nine West Danee, as well as countless DIY tips and tricks!

Filed Under: Accessories, Shoes Tagged With: DIY, Shoes

Sep 14, 2012

Home Beauty Tips that Won’t Break Your Bank

September 14, 2012 By Guest Post Leave a Comment

Who says you can’t make yourself beautiful with the help of things you can find inside your home?

You see, at this age when the prices of almost everything are skyrocketing like crazy, it’s not a smart move to spend thousands of dollars on purchases and services that are meant to keep yourself looking fresh and stunning. This is especially so if you don’t have much money to burn on such expenses. And even if you do have cash to spare, why still spend a fortune when you can have the beauty you’ve always wanted by just raiding your refrigerator or kitchen?

So, take a quick read at these simple, yet highly effective beauty tips at home that are guaranteed not to burn a hole in your pockets:

• Puffy eyes? Get Olive!
Now, I don’t mean Popeye’s beloved Olive—but olive oil. It’s been tried and tested that in cases when your eyes get all too puffy due to crying or irritation, dabbing olive oil around the affected areas will help soothe your puffy eyes and reduce the swelling. You can easily get a bottle of olive oil in the supermarket for just a few dollars, instead of spending bigger amount on a salon trip.

• Prepare a home-made mask for dry face.
Does your face feel like sandpaper because of the cold weather? Then prepare a face mask composed of orange and yogurt. Just squeeze fresh orange and mix the juice with a cupful of vanilla yogurt. Stir the concoction until it becomes milky. Then, lather it to your face on a massaging motion. Let the mask stay for ten minutes before finally rinsing it well. You’ll be pleasantly amazed at the smooth and fragrant skin that you’ll get after.

• When life throws you dry hip bones? Go get some lemons.
Among the nasty woes women and men have to deal with are dry hip bones due to constant rubbing with jeans and other rather coarse fabric. The trick is to slice a lemon and then gently rub it over the dry part of the skin. The acid will act as an exfoliating agent that will peel the dry skin to reveal a smoother layer. This same process is applicable to other dry areas of your skin.

• Dry hair? Apply apple cider vinegar or coconut oil.
One of the nastiest beauty woes is dry, fuzzy hair. To improve your mane’s health, you can try putting on apple cider vinegar once a week after shower. This will give your hair volume and shine. Meanwhile, apply coconut oil at least two times a week to improve blood circulation on your scalp. This will help keep your hair shiny as it can ‘breathe’ better.

Just follow these simple tips and you’re on your way to beauty minus the financial headache.

Beverly Houston aside from her dream of becoming a Fashion Designer, also wanted to be a fashion magazine editor. She loves reading and blogging topics about fashion updates, latest beauty news and celebrity gossips.