DIY Seaweed Mask

Whip up a spa treatment at home — and save serious moolah

The cost of a typical seaweed treatment at a high-end spa: $100
The cost of tipping your therapist: $20
The cost of tipping the valet: $5
The cost of making your own seaweed treatment in the privacy of your own home at a fraction of the cost: priceless!

 Check out my easy, must-try recipe below:

What you will need:

• Kelp powder. You can find this at your local health food store in bulk.
• Aloe vera gel. She prefers to use aloe squeezed straight from the leaf to avoid weird preservatives.
• Distilled water.

How to make your own seaweed mask:

1. Mix 2 tablespoons of kelp powder with about 1 tablespoon of water. Mix until you have a paste.
2. Add the juice from one aloe leaf.
3. Mix everything together.
4. Apply to face and leave on for about 15-20 minutes.
5. Remove with warm water and pat your face dry. Follow up with a moisturizer.

I promise that your skin will feel incredibly soft and refreshed!

xx, Beautyqueen

P.S. Did you know that a seaweed wrap is the number one beauty treatment during Hollywood’s awards season? Read more about the beauty and health benefits of the sea algae.

In the Red

Whether it’s auburn, strawberry, or burgundy, keep it vibrant with some simple hair care tips

Fiery temperament aside, redheads can’t help but girl crush on the reigning redheads in Hollywood. Leading ladies like Emma Stone, Julianne Moore, and Christina Hendricks have the most uh-mazing covet-worthy sexy locks. That said, going red is tough to pull off, not to mention maintain. So in honor of all the Irish redheads out there, I will tell you about how to get gorgeous red hair:

Why is red hair so hard to color and keep?
Exposure to environmental elements including the sun and chlorine water can contribute to overall hair color fade. Red hair in particular tends to fade the fastest due to smaller color molecules that slip more quickly from the hair cuticles.

Can anyone go red?
Yes, anyone can be inspired by the red palette, but it all depends on what your current hair color is. For women going only one to two shades away from their current hair color, they can easily color at home. If you’re making a more drastic change, such as going from blonde to red, you should consider visiting a salon as it may take more than one trip to achieve your desired look.

I do recommend certain shades of red for certain skin tones
Red shades are warm by nature and therefore work with most skin tones. Women with cool undertones should opt for a bolder red, such as a strawberry or auburn, while women with olive and yellow undertones look great with golden and apricot hues rather than a true red. You can test out how various red shades will match up with your skin tone with Clairol’s Try It On Studio. This digital makeover tool will help take the guesswork out of your hair color results and let you see how different shades look on you before you commit.

What are a few key tips to help my red hair color last longer?

• Use shampoos and conditioners specially formulated to help protect color-treated hair
• Treat your hair to a deep conditioner once a week to help lock in color and replenish moisture
• Apply a heat-protector spray prior to using heat styling tools to help shield your hair
• Reduce exposure to the sun and chlorinated water

My pre-color tips when going red:

• Remember to stay within one to two shades of your current hair color for best results
• Overexposure to heat styling and environmental elements can weaken hair strands, so make sure to condition your hair to help lock in moisture prior to coloring
• If your hair is over-processed from bleaching, I recommend waiting until your natural hair grows in as the red hair color will take better and evenly cover the new growth

Are there any products that are particularly good for redheads?
Color-retentive products are gentle on hair and their moisturizing properties help prevent fading by sealing the color molecule into the porous hair cuticle. I recommend using Garnier Fructis Color Shield Shampo once a week to help seal the cuticle and keep hair shiny.

Is there anything that redheads should avoid to prevent fading: sun, certain products, treatments, etc.?
Redheads, or anyone who colors their hair, should reduce exposure to the sun and chlorinated water as these elements quickly strip hair of its natural oils and speed up hair color fade. If you’re going to be in the sun, always wear a hat; if you’re swimming, condition hair prior to jumping in and always rinse with fresh water afterward.

We read that soaking your hair in tomato juice can help liven up red locks. Any truth to this?
Tomato juice may help enhance and brighten red hues, but may also be drying, so I’d recommend a good deep conditioning treatment afterward. Cranberry juice is also a great way to richen light auburns and dark red hair, but it washes out easily.

xx, Beautyqueen

Gadgets to Get Fit

Amazing devices for every active gal

In today’s world, technology is everywhere. Looking to sync your boss’s alarm clock to your HTC Vivid, BlackBerry Bold, Samsung Galaxy, or LG Nitro? Probably feasible. Need help building a canoe? There’s most likely an app for that. What about a machine that instantly transforms you into a cross between Gisele Bündchen and Warren Buffett (wait…that could get weird)?

OK, so maybe technology can’t do everything, but we can still use it to our advantage — with our workouts, that is! Fitness is at our fingertips now more than ever, and lucky for you, we’ve gathered some of our favorite cutting edge gadgets that are sure to motivate you to put that extra pep in your step:

Nike Training Club: This app is just like having your own personal trainer at your disposal (if only Jackie Warner really could follow us around every day). Tailor your workout to your fitness level (we know watching TV technically burns calories, but “sedentary” doesn’t count as a fitness level) and choose from 85 different workouts. Lea Michele and Olympian Shawn Johnson are just a couple of the big names you can workout “with.”

BodyMedia Core Armband: Endorsed by fitness guru Jillian Michaels, the Core Armband is proven to boost weight loss by three times (too bad a Venti Vanilla Latte doesn’t do the same). This super smart lightweight gadget takes into account calories burned and consumed (gone are the days when we could justify eating chocolate while walking), and also tracks your quality and quantity of sleep. The BodyMedia Core is a part of her badass new 360° Weight Loss Navigator system that helps manage your weight, meet your health and fitness goals, and live a healthier life with a custom cardio and fitness planner, meal planning and recipes, challenges, community support along with customized daily feedback personalized by Jillian herself. 

Oster MyBlend: Forget the Magic Bullet, this sexy contraption (you know you’re getting old when you think of a kitchen appliance as “sexy”) not only acts as a mini blender, but its blender jar is actually an easily removable sports bottle. MyBlend is perfect for healthy treats such as smoothies and protein shakes, especially for you gorgeous gals on the run.

Nike+ SportBand: If you’re an avid runner, then this is the gadget for you. The Nike+ SportBand allows you to monitor your distance, speed, and calories burned, making your runs more efficient. Set goals (fitness goals that is — this band does not double as a life coach), review your weekly progress and challenge friends through the nikeplus.com web component.

Motorola Motoactv: A favorite amongst celebs (Mario Lopez, Chad Ochocinco, and Sara Rue are fans), this baby does it all. The Motoactv allows you to track everything from distance to speed to calories burned. Not only that, but it also works as an MP3 player and can determine which jams really get your blood pumping (anything by Nicki Minaj, obviously).

Let’s do it, ladies — get connected and get going!

xx, Beautyqueen

Answer Me This: Skinny Snacks

The healthiest options when hunger strikes

Dear Beautyqueen,

I’m always starving late afternoon and again late at night but I’m sick of all my healthy snack choices. Hummus and carrots are great but I’m getting tired of them! Any suggestions?

Carolyn

Dear Carolyn,

I am a bit of a snack monster myself and I’ve been known to scoop up hummus faster than Pauly D scoops up hair gel.

Just like shoes, bags, and hairstyles, we need snack variety to keep us satisfied. But before you reach for that Snickers (their tagline is so deceiving, isn’t it?) check out my fave new skinny snacks that will keep all your cravings at bay!

Kale Chips: I am so obsessed with kale. It’s tasty and just really healthy. My fave snack secret is making kale chips at home. It’s super simple — just tear up a head of kale, drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 and voilà — you have crispy, crunchy perfection! If you don’t wanna make them you can always buy them at T.J.’s or Whole Foods.

Celery and Light Cream Cheese: This is a fun deviation from hummus that always brings me back to being a little kid. I love the crunch from the celery and the light cream cheese adds protein. Use light veggie or scallion cream cheese for extra flavor.

Lydia’s Bars: My new fave, must-have bars — I carry one with me everywhere! The super delish bars are made with all raw, organic, vegan ingredients so you can always feel good about what you are putting into your body. I love the lemon ginger and tropical flavors.

Berry Parfait: So simple but so good. Simply take low-fat yogurt (I am still all about the Greek Fage) and layer with a variety of berries — strawberries, blueberries, raspberries — anything you want. A perfect breakfast or late night sweet treat.

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Just because Thanksgiving has passed does not mean you should pass on pumpkin seeds. Packed with antioxidants and fiber, put these babies in a Ziploc and take them on the road.

Hard-Boiled Egg: Protein is a great way to fight hunger and hard-boiled eggs are a perfect source. Some trainers I know recommend buying a carton of eggs at the beginning of the week, hard-boiling them up, and keeping them in the carton to use as a snack throughout the week. You could do one whole egg and one egg white per snack. 

xx, Beautyqueen