Beauty tip: My homemade body butter

A while back I mixed up my own body butter and it's worked wonders for my skin. The ingredients are great for evening out and brightening the skin, as well as keeping it nice, smooth and supple, especially in these colder and dryer months. Check out the recipe after the jump!

Beauty tip: Clay masks

Going to school in the middle of a city does a real number on my skin. The dirty city air can really clog up my pores and the hard water leaves my skin looking oily and sad. No bueno! Thankfully, I've come up with a method that helps to combat this problem, and keep my skin looking relatively normal!

Tinted lip balm

Have you ever worn tinted lip balm? This Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment comes in a ton of amazing shades (including coral, which is great for summer), giving you a fresh wash of color and lovely, moisturized lips! I'd love to try the 'Sugar Plum' shade, which is one of those shades that looks great on everyone!

Hair tip: 'Baggying' for dry hair!

'Baggying' is a little trick that is great for dealing with dry hair and retaining length, especially for those of us with curly or kinky hair. This method helps the hair retain moisture by trapping water that would normally evaporate under a plastic cap, and allowing it to penetrate the hair shaft. The addition of a moisturizer or oil helps to further nourish the hair. All you have to do is...

What's your favorite perfume?

A good perfume can make you feel so pretty and luxurious. It's been a long while since I've spritzed on a bit of my favorite scent, but I'd love to try something new. Any suggestions? I've heard wonderful things about Daisy by Marc Jacobs, which is said to have a floral-citrusy scent that's reminiscent of carefree summer days. How inspiring!

What's your favorite fragrance?

(image via electric wave)

Hair tip: Honey + olive oil hair treatment

Here's a quick way to bring some life back to your parched tresses! Combine equal parts extra virgin olive oil with equal parts organic or all-natural honey (start off with 2 tablespoons of each, then add more if you need to). Next, heat the mixture for about 30 seconds. Apply it to damp hair that's either clean or dirty, and cover with a plastic bag or cap for at least 20 minutes. Then rinse, shampoo, or co-wash the mixture out and enjoy your soft, moisturized and shiny hair!

(W+D)

In-flight beauty tips!

Before the Moms and I zip off for our beach vacation, I wanted to pop on by and let you all know about the beauty routine that I plan on implementing en route to Jamaica. Even though my flight will only be about three hours, I figure it's still a good idea to act as though I'm preparing for a long-haul flight by so that I emerge from the flight with fresh-looking skin and well-moisturized hair.

Monday lips

This is the lipstick that my mom got for Mother's Day (in 'Le Orange'). The color is stunning and packaging is absolutely exquisite. What better way to start off the week than with a bold, beautiful lip?

What's your favorite going-out lip color?

Yesterday, I came across this beautiful lip gloss in Black-Tie Plum by Dior while looking for something to wear to my Senior Banquet. Typically, when look for lip colors, I lean towards subtle roses, plums and browns, so this is right up my ally! The color is a deep burgundy plum with a subtle shimmer throughout. It's also very buildable, which means it can be worn as a stain or a full-on lip color. Normally if I go anywhere nice, my go-to lip is a nude-y gloss with a subtle shimmer, but this plum lip would be such an elegant alternative, don't you think?

What's your favorite lip shade for special occasions?

Do or don't: Orange lip color

During our recent shopping spree, my mom and I stopped in Sephora to check out some eyeshadows. While we were there, she came across 'Wonder' by NARS, which the NARS website describes as a "sheer mandarin orange with pink and gold shimmer". It looked great against her warm skin tone and would look even greater over a orangish-red lipstick like 'So Chaud' by MAC. 

Would you wear an orange lip color? What about something orangey-red? I just think it looks so bright and fresh for spring and summer!

(Top image via W&D)

Red nails

I love red nail polish. It's such a bold, yet classic, no fail color. And even with all of the newest hues, finishes and textures floating about, there's just something so beautiful about a glossy red nail varnish.

What's your favorite color to have on your nails?

(Via)

Quick hair tip

If you're planning on flat ironing your hair, prep your hair by doing a a protein treatment, rich in hydrolyzed proteins, followed by a moisturizing deep conditioning treatment. The hydrolyzed proteins will penetrate the hair shaft, compared to other proteins that just sit on the surface, which will fortify your strands and help to minimize heat damage and breakage. The moisturizing conditioner with impart moisture, improve elasticity, and give you tons of shine!

P.S. I especially love this for protein and this for moisture!

(Via)

Beauty tip: Rosemary oil

I started growing my hair out two summers ago, and one product that's definitely helped me do that is rosemary essential oil. Not only does it smell beautiful, but it also helps stimulate hair growth, soothes a dry or itchy scalp and slows down premature hair loss and grey hair. I put a few drops in just about everything I use, and it seems to work like a charm!

Do you have any favorite natural hair products?

(Image via Katie)

Shopping-day hair

Check out this super simple headband DIY...perfect for wrapping through around your hair so you can head out for some day-after-Christmas shopping!

Speaking of Christmas, what did you find under the tree?

What are your beauty secrets?

I try to be as natural as possible when it comes to what I put on my face and hair. A couple of months ago, I started using Fruit of the Earth Pure Aloe Vera Gel on my curly hair to make my strands soft and smooth. Not long after, I discovered that it's great for acne, too! At night, after washing my face, I apply a thin but generous layer all over my face and go to bed. In the morning, I wash it off in the shower, moisturize my face and off I go! I've found that it works just as well as, if not better than, any prescription medications I've every taken in the past. Plus, it's great for mid-day spot treatments!

What about you? Do you have a beauty tips to share?

(We Heart It)

Red lipstick

I think red lipstick is so womanly, classic and versatile. Plus, it's the perfect way to amp up a simple look, as this pretty girl proves wonderfully. Do you wear red lipstick? What's your favorite kind?

Color Block Make-up

Apparently the trend that defined the Gucci Spring/Summer 2011 Collection isn't solely reserved for clothes. Nicola from Pixiwoo recently did a Katy Perry-inspired version of the color block make-up trend. Check it out! It's amazing. Would you ever try this look? 

(Photo via accidental encounters and Pixiwoo)

Watermelon on a Stick

What a refreshing idea for summer! The fruit looks so ripe and fresh. It reminds me of Volupté Sheer Candy in Succulent Pomegranate.

(Photo via A Lady's Findings)