My Demon's Within: Beauty Tips

White Sugar: According to Dr. Patricia Wexler, exfoliating is one of the most important things we can do for the health of our skin. Best-selling author and makeup artist Carmindy reveals that plain old white sugar is one of the best exfoliators around. Keep a jar of it in your shower. Take a handful and gently massage your entire body with it, using a soft washcloth. Rinse and the sugar crystals simply melt away down the drain. So much better than eating it!

Olive Oil: The ancient Romans knew what they were doing when they slathered olive oil on every part of their bodies, saving a little for their hair. Keep a plastic ketchup bottle (the kind you see in old diners) filled with olive oil in your bathroom. Add a few drops of lavender oil (or whatever fragrance you prefer). After exfoliating, pat your skin until it’s almost dry, then massage a small amount of oil all over your body. Result? Skin like velvet. After your hair is dry, massage a few drops of oil in your palms and, bending over, scrunch a bit of it into the ends.

Honey: Who knew that honey is equally effective for treating colds and improving your looks? Applying honey all over your face is beneficial, since it contains vitamins and moisturizes. It’s also a natural antibiotic that can kill bacteria. Add a little white sugar and exfoliate with it in the shower, too.

Lemon Juice: There are so many things you can do with lemon juice (preferably freshly squeezed). Soak your nails in them (without polish) to reduce yellowing, and brush your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and lemon juice for whiter teeth. And best of all, take a tablespoon or two of freshly squeezed lemon juice and mix into a tall glass of warm water. Drink it before ingesting anything else, first thing in the morning. It’s a great way to hydrate and jump-start your system.

Crisco (or some other vegetable shortening): Crisco is a surprisingly effective makeup remover, and it’s also highly effective in treating eczema. Apply the shortening to infected areas, and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse, and apply a little olive oil.

Yogurt: Yogurt is a highly effective treatment for the common skin condition rosacea. It has the ability to soften the skin while calming the redness — especially after eating something spicy or enjoying a little too much heart-healthy red wine. Simply apply it as a mask, and leave on for about 15 minutes. Rinse, and apply a light layer of olive oil.

Parsley and Mint: Bad breath is common, and usually avoidable. Steer clear of the store-bought mouth rinses and gargles, as they tend to make matters worse. Simply brush your tongue when you brush your teeth, drink lots of water to keep your mouth hydrated and chew on a few sprigs of parsley or mint, since studies have shown that these freshen breath instantly. Keep a plastic bag filled with the sprigs in your purse at all times.

Green Tea Bags: Green tea is one of the best things you can drink (along with lots of water, and red wine in moderation). For a great de-puffing eye treatment, try soaking a few bags in water and sticking them in the freezer. Place on your eyes, lower the lights and … relax.

Apple Cider Vinegar: Exfoliating is one of the best things we can do for our skin. Chemical peels done at your dermatologist’s office are highly effective, though often expensive. But a simple application of apple cider vinegar works, too. Soak a cotton ball in it and apply all over the face, keeping away from the eyes; leave on for at least 45 minutes. After you rinse, follow with a light application of olive oil.

Lovely Crinkly Edges: Which celeb body could you have?

crinklyedges: Which celeb body could you have?

I’ve bolded the celebs/models who are close to my height (5”9). I’m going to use this as inspiration to get to my goal weight (127 lbs). If they can be 110, I can be 127. Right now Mariah Carey and I are almost EXACT body sizes.

• Blake Lively, 5’9”, 123 lbs.
• Calista Flockhart, 5’6”, 97 lbs.
• Cameron Diaz, 5’9”, 120 lbs.
• Cate Blanchett, 5’8”, 120 lbs.
• Catherine Zeta Jones, 5’8”, 130 lbs.
• Drew Barrymore, 5’4”, 125 lbs.
• Eva Longoria, 5’2”, 104 lbs.
• Gwyneth Paltrow, 5’9”, 112 lbs.
• Hillary Duff, 5’1”, 105 lbs
• Jennifer Aniston, 5’6”, 110 lbs.
• Jessica Alba, 5’7”, 118 lbs.
• Jessica Biel, 5’8”, 110 lbs.
• Julia Roberts, 5’10”, 125 lbs.
• Kate Beckinsdale, 5’8”, 115 lbs.
• Kate Hudson, 5’6”, 115 lbs.
• Katie Holmes, 5’9”, 118 lbs.
• Kirsten Dunst, 5’4”, 100 lbs.
• Lindsay Lohan, 5’5”, 105 lbs.
• Meghan Fox, 5’6”, 114 lbs.
• Miley Cyrus, 5’4”, 104 lbs.
• Nicole Kidman, 5’10”, 120 lbs.
• Nicole Richie, 5’1”, 98 lbs
• Pam Anderson, 5’7”, 105 lbs.
• Paris Hilton, 5’9”, 110 lbs.
• Penelope Cruz, 5’6”, 109 lbs.
• Reese Witherspoon, 5’6”, 122 lbs.
• Salma Hayek, 5’2”, 115 lbs.
• Sandra Bullock, 5’8”, 110 lbs.
• Scarlett Johansson, 5’4”, 115 lbs.

• Adriana Lima, 5’10”, 112 lbs.
• Gisele Bundchen, 5’11”, 115 lbs.
• Heidi Klum, 5’9”, 120 lbs.
• Kate Moss, 5’7”, 105 lbs.
• Naomi Campbell, 5’10”, 110 lbs.

• Beyonce Knowles, 5’5”, 130 lbs.
• Britney Spears, 5’5”, 105 lbs.
• Carrie Underwood, 5’3”, 110 lbs.
• Christina Aguilera, 5’2”, 100 lbs.
• Faith Hill, 5’8”, 120 lbs.
• Fergie, 5’2”, 105 lbs.
• Gwen Stefani, 5’6”, 115 lbs.
• Jennifer Lopez, 5’6”, 125 lbs.
• Jessica Simpson, 5’2”, 120 lbs.
• Madonna, 5’4”, 100 lbs.
• Mariah Carey, 5’9”, 140 lbs.
• Shakira, 5’2”, 105 lbs.
• Taylor Swift, 5’10”, 120 lbs.