HEY, IT'S OK...

...to love fruit, but not quite enough to count it as a dessert,

...to start a new job and anoint everything in your closet "new" too. Your coworkers haven't seen your clothes!

...to put your boyfriend in a Speedo-just so he'll understand the whole waxing/shaving/sucking-it-in thing once and for all.

...to say no to any shot of booze that has to be lit on fire before you drink it.

...to take beauty tips from the contestants on RuPaul's Drag Race-those queens have skills!

...to set your out-of-office email response the day before your vacation starts. (Ballsiness points for two days!)

EVERYWHERE | THURSDAY JULy 4, 2013

Ban That Bloat! Top bulge-fighting foods for swimsuit season Getting ready for swimsuit season is a completely different experience for men and women. Men grab a pair of board shorts and are ready to scream, “cannonball!” Meanwhile we're convinced we're on track to looking like Brooke Burke-Charvet by eating broccoli crudités and hummus. Sorry Charlie, but even super foods like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and beans can turn you into a gas-producing machine, causing unwanted belly bloat! It’s a cruel, cruel world isn’t it? No need to run for cover or return all your bikinis in favor of a muu muu. We have created a go-to list of anti-bloat foods that will have you looking and feeling your best this swimsuit season. So grab your shopping list and keep that sunscreen handy, because these foods will transport you straight from bloat city to beach babe town! Banana The potassium-rich fruit counteracts water retention from high-sodium foods. It is a perfect, grab-and-go beach snack too! Yogurt Active cultures add good bacteria to your gut, which means better digestion and less bloat! Asparagus These stalks have diuretic properties that help flush excess fluid from your body. Try them with a splash of lemon juice! Cucumber Cukes are loaded with water, which is key to reducing bloat. Almonds This protein-packed snack will keep you full while keeping your stomach flat! Papaya The colorful fruit contains an enzyme that helps your body break down food more easily.

Chevron Nails: Take the Chevy to your nails.

Take the chevy to your mani

It’s the night before your big party. You’ve got everything set to go: outfit, blowout appointment, waxing appointment. You think you really nailed it this time. And then it hits you…your nails. You forgot to get your nails done. Nooooo!

With no time to get into the nail salon, you’ve got to take matters into your own hands (literally). I've discovered an easy-to-follow DIY nail kit to complete your look. In just a few easy steps you will take your mani from drab to fab!

One of my clients took it upon herself to experiment with this kit, and if she can do it, anyone can do it! Not only does this absolutely uh-mazing nail kit come with fun summer colors (including sparkly gold and silver), but it also provides you with sticker stencils to make your very own Chevron design!

See how she rocked the Chevron Mani, and made it her own with their bright summer colors!

1. Chose two different colors, one as your base (we picked hot pink!) and the other for the chevron design (we went with nude). Paint the base coat and let dry for 10-15 minutes. Then place chevron sticker on top and paint over with second color and leave on for 1-2 minutes.

2. Remove the sticker slowly and carefully (the design should look similar to the one shown in the picture above) and repeat these steps for the rest of your desired nails.

3. And voila! In just a couple quick and easy steps you have given yourself a salon level manicure! Now sit back and let the compliments roll in!

xx, Beautyqueen

Posted on July 2, 2013

4 Natural Acne Scar Remedies Common Sense Prevails

When there is acne there are acne scars and for those who do not want to use conventional acne medicines due to allergies or because they do not work well for you, you can utilize natural acne scar remedies and there are many to choose from. If you are not sure how to get started in using natural acne scar remedies, you can visit a natural health store to get advice and you can also talk with friends who use natural acne scar remedies. Beware of gimmicky remedies that are advertised on different websites because some of those remedies could be dangerous.

 

1. Olive Oil

 

This is a good natural acne scar remedy because it has anti-inflammatory qualities and it soothes the pain of the scars as well as reduce the redness of acne scars. To get the best results, you should first wash your face with a good moisturizer for your skin type and then after this you can apply a few teaspoons of olive oil to your face each night before you go to bed.

2. Baking Soda and Water

 

In a medium bowl you need to combine a few teaspoons of baking soda and water then you would apply the mixture to the acne scars. The good thing about using baking soda and water as a remedy is that baking soda is inexpensive but it does just as good of a job in reducing acne scars.

3. Lemon Juice

 

Lemon juice is a good way to reduce acne scars because it prevents new acne from appearing on your face. If you plan to use lemon juice for treating acne scars, you want to dilute it with some water because the acid in lemon juice will sting the scar, particularly if the scar has itchiness and redness in it.

4. Aloe Vera

 

Aloe vera has many medicinal properties and one benefit of aloe vera is that it relieves acne scars and repairs damaged skin cells that caused the acne scars. You can use aloe vera gel, aloe vera cream or a topical aloe vera oiuntment. The best places to purchase aloe vera are at natural health food stores, drugstores, mail order catalogs and online retailers.

Megan's Health Tips

Eat to beat bulges

Pick bright bites

Colorful veggies are loaded with vitamin C, which is essential to preventing collagen breakdown. Collagen is the skin's support structure; as shown in the diagram on page 145, strands of the tissue running through fat attach skin to the underlying muscle layer. When these strands weaken, skin loses elasticity and fat can pop up and bulge against the skin, rendering the bumpy layer underneath even more visible. (Beach bum alert: Excessive sun exposure also contributes to collagen breakdown.) Vitamin C is linked to collagen synthesis,  the super vitamin can help you blast up to 30 percent more fat during exercise. Aim for at least 75 milligrams of C daily.

Healthy Summer Dates

Because cocktails and miniskirts sometimes don’t mix when your booty doesn’t feel right!

Ladies, we all know it's almost summer, and with it comes late nights, multiple drinks, and skimpy-impy skirts. When drinks and dinner aren't quite fulfilling your healthy quota, here are a few alternatives to the routine.

Get Some Fresh Air: Many studies show that simply being outdoors improves mood, lessens stress response, and increases happiness! Take your summer date nights outdoors and attend popular movie or music in the park nights, or street festivals to heat up your love life!

Keep It Fresh: Nothing quite beats combining fresh, organic food with romance. Check out your local farmers market for local cheeses, fruits, and bread, and have a total French affair with your lover over a romantic picnic!

Sweat It Out: Get multiple items checked off your to-do list by combining your workout with your date night! Go hiking around a local park or grab your bicycles and hit up the local trails for sights and sounds out of this world!

Ice Ice Baby: Nothin’ says summer like a little ice cream in the park! Find your inner youth by grabbing some probiotic-rich, low-sugar froyo, and laugh your worries away at the local playground. Plus, all that jumping around burns off extra calories! Score!

Slip Sliding Away: Too hot to move? How about float? Grab some tubes and head to a local creek where you can stay cool all day long! Finish the day off with a cool drink with your man for a great summer day!

10 Foods to Stop Eating Now

These munchies are not kind to the waistline!

Whether you’re trying to lose a few pounds or simply clean up your diet, we all know that eating more fruits and vegetables is the way to go. But what shouldn’t we be eating? Conflicting messages are all around us, but here are the top 10 definite foods to stop eating now!

1. Soda: Soda consumption has been linked to allergy development, tooth decay, and osteoporosis. Plus, all of that high fructose corn syrup can cause obesity, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. Water, please!

2. Anything Fried: Fried foods, especially fried meats, nearly double a person’s risk for bladder cancer, not to mention clogged arteries, higher risk for asthma, sleep apnea, and heart disease. You can’t get healthy with a fried chicken leg in your mouth.

3. Fast Food: The average fast food meal clocks in at 830 calories (if you need a reminder, the average woman only needs about 1,800 calories each day). But fast food should really be regarded as edible chemicals since it’s chock-full of preservatives, trans fats, and food dyes.

4. White Flour: It starts out as a wonderful, whole grain but then gets stripped of all its nutrients, then pumped up with chemicals, deodorized, and bleached. It causes a spike and then a crash in blood sugar — a vicious cycle that can lead to pre-diabetes. When it comes to grains, stay whole!

5. Treats at the Coffee Shop: Commercial baked goods are everything that white flour is, but with a lot more sugar, butter, and fat. And all of those delectable toppings are actually vats of chemicals, preservatives, and oodles of trans fats. So not sexy!