Here’s a quick DIY recipe if you have some spare time or if you are a DIY hobbyist.

For those of you who are unsure as to the uses of setting/refresher spray, refer to the end of the post!

Let’s get right into it….

What You’ll Need:

• Green Tea – Make sure to brew it in boiling water so that it can release the caffeine in the green tea.
• Distilled Rose Water – Anti-inflammatory and soothing.
• Aloe Vera Gel or Glycerine – Adds moisture into the skin.
• Distilled Water – Do NOT use tap water as this will cause more harm than good.
• Tea Tree Oil – Antibacterial, anti-fungal and can help alleviate symptoms of acne.
• Lavender Oil – Has a calming effect and relieves anxiety. Also anti-bacterial.
• Spray Bottle

How to Do It:

1. Make 1 cup of green tea in boiling water (either on the stove or with a jug). Leave to cool.
2. Add to the green tea mixture 4 drops of tea tree oil, 2 Tbsp of rose water and 2 drops of lavender oil. Stir.
3. Into a separate glass, mix 1-2 Tbsp of your glycerin or aloe vera gel with 6 Tbsp of distilled water. This step you may need to fiddle around with depending on whether you have dry or oily skin. Oily skinned ladies, maybe start with slightly less of the glycerin or aloe vera.
4. Combine the 2 mixtures and decant into a spray bottle of your choice. You can usually find these at your local pharmacy.
5. Try it out for a few days and if you don’t like how it’s interacting with your skin, play around with the quantities to suit your skin type. You can also add some different essential oil’s. Just make sure they’re safe on the skin.

***

What is setting/refresher spray?

This is a spray usually used once all your makeup is applied. As powder makeup usually sits on the surface of the skin, setting spray moisturizes the powder beads so it fuses more with the skin allowing it to last longer into the day.

You can also use the spray as a refresher spray throughout the day to give your skin a radiant glow and sheen. If you are lack with timing, there are plenty of good mist toners out there too.

Happy….setting and refreshing!

Well, the temperatures are finally falling for us Southern Hemisphere folk and we must remove our cute summer dresses and swimsuits and replace them with our fav cozy, chunky knits and jeans. So, to get us all in the mood for this new season, I thought it fitting to give you all some beauty-spiration with a quick look at some of the latest beauty trends!

In The Nude

Though our summer tan may be peeling away, that doesn’t mean we can’t keep looking naturally radiant and flawless all year round. The nude face trend isn’t disappearing off the runways anytime soon. So, put your best face forward by keeping the focus on concealing under eye bags/circles and other imperfections, using luminous face creams and making sure keeping hydrated throughout the day.

Get the Look with Alexami’s Mineral Illuminating Powder, Perfect Puff Mineral Foundation, Vegan Lip Gloss, Herbal Mineral Mascara and a Microfibre Facial Cloth to exfoliate and clean the skin.

Look at Me Liner

Black liner will never become an obsolete beauty product. Bring it into the new season by using it as the focal piece of the face by either using the boldest black you have in your beauty pantry or by winging it out so much people will think you can probably fly. Take note of how Lanvin did it this year but tone it down to suit your style and occasion. Wear it with a bare face and nude lip for the day time or a darker plum lip for the evening.

Get the Look with Alexami’s Mineral Matte Eye Shadow in Black (mix with jojoba oil or water to make into a gel/liquid liner) and Herbal Mineral Mascara.

Up In Smoke

Every woman loves a smokey eye when hitting the town but the runway for this season have been showing that the smokey eye can easily be worn during the day too. Just make sure to steer away from the vibrant blacks and browns and towards softer colors that compliment your skin tone. Green eyed ladies, think a scrumptios eggplant purple. Blue eyed gals, opt for earthy grey-browns.

Get the Look with Alexami’s Mineral Matte Eye Shadow and Herbal Mineral Mascara.

Turn Around, Bright Eyes

(For our more daring ladies)

This final trend is for the less conservative ladies out there who want an easy but attention grabbing look – The colored mascara! Seen on a few runways over the past couple of seasons, we’re wondering if this look will catch on like it did back in the late 80s/early 90s. For now, we’re loving the way Stella McCartney used it in her F/W12 show. Play it up to your skin tone with different colors (we’re thinking dark purples and golds).

Make your own colored mascara by warming up a eye pencil of your choice with a lighter then depositing the color onto a spoolie or disposable mascara wand. Before the formula dries, apply generously to pre-curled lashes. Voila! Cheap colored mascara!

•••

I hope you have gained some inspiration from these looks. Show us if you’ve tried out any yourself in a comment or on our Facebook wall.

Happy Autumn everybody!

Images via weheartit, Tumblr, Style and NYT

We all love our mineral powder but there are times in our lives the call to have a good liquid foundation on hand. Well, what if I told you that you could have the best of both worlds and find it in the same makeup product? Today, I’ll be sharing with you how to turn your mineral powder into a liquid foundation! Sound like fun? Then keep reading…

Things You’ll Need:

• Mineral powder of your choice (I used Alexami mineral powder Ivory)
• A face oil (almond, coconut, baobab, jojoba, tamanu) – it depends on your skin type
• A mixing cup
• A small spatula
• Optional: Essential oil (make sure you know the oil is safe on the face first!)

How to:

1. Pour as much powder as you desire into your mixing tub.

2. Add facial oil. Ratio of powder to oil is 2:1. Stir with spatula until no lumps remain. Remember to add more powder or oil depending on the consistency you’d like.

3. Add 2 drops of your chosen essential oil and stir again.

4. Apply mixture to face with a sponge, foundation brush or fingers.

5. Finish it with another layer of dry Alexami mineral powder or with Alexami translucent powder  if desired. Setting powder is especially recommended in humid climates or on oily skin.

6. You’re done!

Below are my results from applying one layer of my new foundation by blotting it on with my sponge. I love the coverage and it gets rid of my unwanted redness. Please excuse my awkward face!

Also note that mine looks quite oily as I used coconut oil. If I had it around, I would have used jojoba as it is more delicate. It’s all about experimenting to find what works best for yourself and your skin.

Hope this inspired you guys to try it out for yourself!

Until next time

Lara

Image via weheartit.com

Hello all!

Well, it’s Thursday and getting to the end of a long and busy week. With all the madness of the Silly Season in full swing, I thought it fitting to give you guys an excuse for some weekend pampering.

I’ve come up with some easy face mask recipes, made with products you will usually find in your cupboard and are both healthy for you and affordable. So, why not take half an hour out of your hectic schedule and give them a try!

Note that you may amend the recipes slightly to allow for desired consistency.

♦ The Blemish Banisher ♦
For Oily or Acne-Prone Skin

Ingredients

• 3 Strawberries
• 1 Tbsp of lemon juice
• 3 Tbsp of honey
• 1/4 Tsp of activated charcoal (optional)
• A few drops of essential oil (optional – tea tree or lavender)

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients together until at desired consistency.
2. Place a warm damp cloth over the face for 2 minutes.
3. Apply mixture evenly with the back of a spoon or a brush, making sure to avoid the eye area and putting focus on the oilier parts of the skin (i.e. the I or T zone).
4. Leave on for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Wipe face clean with a damp cloth.
6. Spritz face with toner (See Extra Tip below).

♦ Moisture Magic ♦
For Dry Skin

Ingredients

• 1/2 of an avocado
• 1 Tbsp of olive oil (or other nut oil)
• 1/2 of a ripe banana
• A few drops of essential oil (optional – lavender, rose, sandalwood or ylang ylang )

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients together until it is a smooth paste.
2. Apply to face with a brush, the back of a spoon or your fingers.
3. Leave on face for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Spritz face with toner (See Extra Tip below).

♦ The Summer Soother ♦
Sensitive or Sunburnt Skin

Ingredients

• 1/4 Cup of oats
• 1/4 Cup of natural unsweetened yoghurt
• 1 Tbsp of aloe vera gel
• A few drops of essential oil (optional – lavender, rose or chamomile)

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients together until it is at a desired consistency.
2. Apply to face gently with your fingers, being extra careful over very sensitive areas. Make sure to not rub these areas to hard as this will cause even more sensitivity.
3. Leave on face for 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
5. Spritz face with toner (See Extra Tip below).

♦ Exfoliating Mask ♦
For most skin types (except sensitive skin)

Ingredients

• 1/2 Tbsp of natural sea salt
• 2 Tbsp of natural honey

Directions

1. Mix the ingredients in a small container.
2. Place a warm, damp cloth over the face for 2 minutes.
3. Using your fingers, gently apply mask all over the face in circular motions, allowing the salt crystals to exfoliate the skin.
4. Leave on for 15 minutes.
5. Rinse off with a warm, damp cloth.
6. Spritz face with toner (See Extra Tip below).

♦ Milk ‘n’ Honey ♦
For Normal or Combination Skin

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp of natural unsweetened yoghurt
• 2 Tbsp of natural honey

Directions

1. Blend all ingredients together until it is at a desired consistency.
2. Place a warm, damp cloth over the face for 2 minutes.
3. Apply mixture to face gently with your fingers, the back of a spoon or a brush.
4. Leave on face for 15 to 20 minutes.
5. Wipe clean with a damp cloth.
6. Spritz face with toner (See Extra Tip below).

♦ Extra Tip ♦

For a totally relaxing at-home facial experience, put two green tea bags into boiling water then put into the fridge or freezer until they’re cold. Remove the bags and put them over your eyes while your mask is setting to diminish puffiness and soothe the skin.

With the tea formed from the tea bags, put into a spray/misting bottle and put back into the fridge. After you have used your mask, spritz on some green tea as an all natural (and inexpensive) toner and skin refresher.

Enjoy your weekend everyone! And let me know how the face masks go!

Lara