Prepping for cold season - Power Drink

Working in a salon, I come in very close contact with up to twenty different people a day, five days a week, face to face. Especially with cold season right around the corner, people are already getting sick so I tend to start to boost my immune system around this time.

This is a remedy my mother and I have been using for the past several years to beat colds, coughs and stay energized during the winter. I love this drink because it works, it's healthy and it's easy peasy to make. I actually recently learned that this drink is a popular Ayurvedic medicine.

What you'll need:
1 cup of hot water
1-2 slices of lemon (I use half a lemon for colds)
1 tsp. of shredded ginger (I use a tbsp for "extra strength")
1 tbsp. of honey (try not to get processed honey, raw is best or Manuka)

Directions:
To save on time, I shred the ginger into my mug, then squeeze the lemon while the water is boiling. I pour the water into the mug and let it is sit till it is at a drinkable temperature. That's when I mix in the honey (high temperature can destroy the antioxidants and nutrients in the honey). 

Benefits:
Ginger: A powerful root with anti-inflamitory and antioxidants properties. Ginger aids in indigestion and stimulates saliva and bile production which helps move food and fluid through your GI tract (an organ responsible for digesting food, absorbing nutrients and expelling waste)
Lemon: High in vitamin C and other anti-oxidants can help boost your immune system in fighting colds or the flu. Any food high in vitamin C also help in the absorption of iron.
Honey: Traditionally used as an Ayurvedic medicine has many benefits, it was thought to be effective in fighting imbalances in the body. It has anti -viral and anti-microbial properties. Helps alleviate coughs and is known to help alleviate allergies as well.

During cold season I tend to drink this once a week and for a quick immune and metabolic boost I'll sometime just shred some ginger, add hot water and drink it on my way to work. When I first started drinking this it definitely took some time getting used too the taste. Now I actually love it because I know of all the benefits that I'm getting and it's keeping me healthy.

Beauty Monday: December Favourites

During December I've had some products really stood out! Here they are!

1.  My number ONE is Benefit's High Brow highlighting pencil. Great for highlighting right under your brow for some height as well as in the inner corner of your eyes to brighten up!

My number TWO is Urban Decay's Eye Primer is perfect for your holiday shimmers! Keeps your shadows in place all day & all night! If you feel like going a little bit more natural for a day, this is perfect to apply alone, along with some mascara.

My number THREE is Makeup Forever's Limited Edition Studio Kit, this is a fun one! I love this for the holidays! And you can totally rock these colours for January & February. It comes with some nice natural ones and some really nice fun ones! It even comes with a booklet of which colours to combine for makeup newbies!

These are my top 3 favourites for December! If you'd like to find out about my whole list of December Favourites check out my video here:

 

Beauty Monday: November Favourites!!!

November is coming to an end, so what better way to end it then to talk about some of my favourites from the month of November. So excited to share with you all!

My number ONE : Formula X Nail Polish, awesome for the on-the-go girl! No chip for at least 5 days. Why do I prefer this nail polish over Shellac or Gel? Because even after you take it off your nails are in perfectly good shape! No wear & tear which is my fav thing about it. It is a 4-step process, but don't worry, it dries super fast! It comes with a Nail Cleanser, Base Coat, Colour & Top Coat.

My number TWO: I did feature this mascara on my blog last week, but I couldn't help myself but post about it again! I absolutely L-O-V-E "It's A Long Story Mascara"! It help grow my lashes, my lashes are healthier than they've ever been & it coats my lashes beautifully! If you would like the full article on the mascara please click on this link: http://nomadicbeauty.blogspot.ca/2014/11/beauty-monday-batting-my-lashes-with.html
                                 


My number THREE: Arbonne's Tinted Moisturizer, as the seasons change my combination skin does become dryer. So before I apply my "Got You Covered Powder Foundation" by Arbonne, I dab a bit of this tinted moisturizer to help with the dryness.

My number FOUR: Totally in love with Josie Maran's Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil. This past month my lips have really taken a beating from the dry weather. And by that I've been trying to stay away from lipsticks that sometimes tend to dry out my lips. So that mean no to colour:( 

But with this Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil I could have a sheer colour while still moisturizing my lips!!! 

P.S I've become obsessed with berry!

My number FIVE: Ok, I CANNOT rave ENOUGH about Benefit's High Brow in Champagne! LOVE LOVE LOVE! Perfect to highlight right underneath the brow and when I need a quick fix in the morning or just have a day of running errands I apply this pencil in my tear duct area to give my eyes a bit more luminosity and finish it off with so mascara EST VOILA! Perfect makeup in 5 minutes. I think this fat pencil has become a staple in my personal makeup. 

That's all for my November Fav's! I'm curious to see what products I'll discover for December! Stay tuned!

Nomadic Beauty

Benefits of eye cream, the difference between eye cream & face cream.

Regardless of how old you are, skin care is extremely important. Cleansing (especially at night), exfoliating (ONCE a week if you're under the age of 30), and of course moisturizing.

We all know about face creams and more or less why we should use them. But what about eye creams? What's the difference? Until I started using an eye cream I struggled with dark circles under my eyes. Now, along with proper sleep and hydration, I don't need to use concealer anymore!

The skin around our eyes is much thinner than the rest of our skin, which makes it more delicate and prone to show signs of ageing. When the area underneath the eyes gets dark circles or puffy, it is a sign from our body that tells us we are dehydrated or not getting enough sleep. As a result, this area begins to age more quickly. Since it's the only place on the skin that doesn't contain oil glands, they need extra hydration, not only from drinking water, but topically as well. This is where the eye creams come in.

Eye creams contain more emollient than regular face cream (emollients help hydrate the skin and help keep moisture in). They also contain collagen, and antioxidants such as Vitamin C & peptides that aid in retaining collagen. You may also want to use an eye cream instead of your face cream under your eyes because some facial creams can contain ingredients that are too powerful for the delicate eye area. 

Tip: Apply your eye cream a few minutes before your makeup so that it can properly absorb into the skin .

I always recommend that you do research on your skin care products and make sure that they are safe for you. But here are two of my favourite products that I switch between:

I love the RE Corrective Eye Cream! Even though it's anti-aging it's still ok to use it under 30

It's a bit thicker & super moisturizing which I LOVE for the dryer/colder seasons.

I like this one for the warmer/humid months. It's not as thick but still packed with all the good stuff

& meant for the younger generations. 

Nomadic Beauty

Off the plane & off to shoot!!! How does this makeup artist stay healthy and sane?

The day after I landed I was booked the next day early morning for a photoshoot with ACF Magazine (check them out, truly an awesome magazine featuring Canadian designers and artists http://www.amazingcanadianfashion.ca/) & as well as the day after that.

It can get chaotic.

First thing I can suggest is that you get some sleep on your way home. If your one of those people that can't fall asleep on planes or cars or buses, then at least close your eyes for a few hours and let your brain rest.

Second, pack so that your not scrambling through your suitcase at home looking for that specific clothing item that you need. Pack everything you need right away on top of everything else so that you can just grab it and go.

Day of travel? Eat healthy. Give your body the fuel it deserves, so that adjusting to time zone and environment changes is that much easier.

Make sure to eat a proper breakfast before you start your day (not cold cereal) . Your body needs something warm to start off it's metabolism and some sugar to help it's brain function.  

1 egg & 1 egg white is great for protein, with a bowl of 2 tbsp of oatmeal & 1/2 whole wheat toast with honey. 

Your choice of tea or coffee. Grab a fruit on your way out. Take only 15min out of your morning to make.

You also want to prep a lunch for yourself as well. If I don't have time to make one I always grab a shake with me. I love Arbonne's Chocolate plant-based meal replacement! Shake bottle fits like a glove into my purse. 

Another awesome product I LOVE is Arbonne's Energy Fizz Tabs. Works like coffee, but without the gitters. Pop a tab into your water bottle and you are good to go! 

This was just a bit on how to stay healthy and keep it easy while on the go!