beauty recipe: oatmeal foot mask

the fall season has officially started, so i'm sure many of you have already pulled out your favorite booties, boots and ballet flats, all of which cover up those feet and toes you meticulously kept looking fabulous for the past several months… 

but just because your feet will be covered, you shouldn't neglect them! 

i live in socal, so i see my feet and toes a lot more than most in the fall and winter months {i love peep-toes}. i love to pamper my feet between pedicures with at-home treatments, and you can too. this easy-to-do recipe, courtesy of Skyy Hadley, owner of As U Wish Nail Spa, is a fabulous way to bring luxury to your feet without taking a trip to the salon.

take a look...

Meal for the Heels Mask

1. mix 1 cup of regular oatmeal and 1/2 cup of regular milk into a small pot.

2. heat up over the stove, stir until cooked.

3. add 2 tablespoons of sugar to thicken the mixture, and then let it cool off a bit.

4. once the mix has reached desired temperature and thickness, apply to feet.

5. leave on for 5 - 10 minutes.

6. oatmeal soothes dry, itchy or irritated skin, and the milk acts as an exfoliant to help slough away dry and dead skin cells.

7. apply with a moisturizer, like pure shea butter, a a final step to moisturize. 



hope you'll try this recipe soon, beauties ~ happy autumn!

3 Simple {Thanksgiving-Inspired} Beauty Recipes

thanksgiving is just a day away, beauties! most likely you're looking forward to indulging in your favorite foods, spending time with friends and family and enjoying time off in general.

no matter how many people end up at your gathering, there always seems to be more than plenty of leftovers. Erika Katz, the gorgeous beauty expert and author of Bonding over Beauty, has created some fun, easy and fabulous DIY recipes to turn your holiday extras into an at-home spa day for you and your beauty-loving loved ones.

these recipes are all-natural, will leave you looking amazing...

Banana Cream Pie Mask

sure, with the following ingredients you can make a pie {gluten-free flour for me, please}, but why not use them to also pamper your skin? this mask combats dry skin that comes along with cold winter air.

1 mashed banana
3 tbs. heavy cream
1.5 tbs dark honey
1.5 tbs white flour

to make: mix all the ingredients and put into a pretty jar. when ready to use, apply to face and love the results!

Clementine Hand Scrub

hands also gets dry and brittle from the cold winter {and loads of hand-washing!}, so a gentle hand scrub is always a treat. delicious oranges are rich in vitamin c and alpha hydroxy acids which help to remove dead skin. honey and olive oil moisturize skin, while baking soda acts as a gentle exfoliant.

1 tbs clementine juice
1 tbs honey
1 tbs sugar
1 tbs olive oil

to make: mix together all ingredients; gently wash your hands with the scrub, breath deeply and enjoy this simple beauty ritual. you'll love the difference it makes. :)

Cranberry Mask

yummy cranberry juice is detoxifying for the skin and particularly helpful for those with oily skin, are acne-prone or suffer from psoriasis. cranberries also aide in reducing skin inflammation, redness, and itchy, irritated skin.

1 cup fresh cranberries
1 cup seedless red grapes
2 tsps grapefruit juice
1 envelope unflavored gelatin

to make: mix ingredients until it becomes a paste. cover and refrigerate for 45 minutes to let the mixture thicken. remove from the fridge, apply and let sit before rinsing off for about 10 minutes.


 i truly hope you'll take the time to pamper yourself a bit this thanksgiving {if not on the actual day, at least this weekend!}; and do remember, loves, that while life is far from perfect, there's always something to be thankful for!

many thanks to Erika Katz for the info. be sure to visit her website, bondingoverbeauty.com!

beauty recipe: Pumpkin Cream Pie Facial

fall flavors, especially pumpkin, are my favorite this time of year. and they're not just good for your taste buds, but also quite fabulous for your skin! Cecilia Wong, founder of Cecilia Wong Skincare in nyc has shared her divine recipe with me {and now you!} for an at-home facial treatment featuring the season's best flavors, designed to exfoliate, boost collagen production and hydrate skin. the recipe is simple...

2 teaspoons of fresh pumpkin

1 teaspoon papaya

1/2 teaspoon raw honey

1/4 teaspoon organic milk

2 teaspoons organic plain greek yogurt

dash of cinnamon {optional}

mix all the ingredients together, until it forms a paste; apply to skin and let sit for 10-15 minutes {the perfect amount of time to sip a cup of spice chai}; massage gently on skin for a minute before rinsing with cool water.

hope you'll try this soon ~ i've already tried it myself and my skin was left looking all a-glow, feeling fresh and definitely pampered. here's to a gorgeous autumn season!

Cecilia Wong Skincare, founded in 2009, can be experienced in person at the new york city salon or at home through her natural, cruelty free product line. visit her website, ceciliawongskincare.com.

beauty on a budget: Give Yourself a Manicure at Home

if you're like most people, you're doing what you can to save money. doing your own nails at home is a great way to do that, but you don't have to give up your regular manicures altogether. by learning to do your own at least twice a month will help you keep money in the bank.

here's a fabulous formula for giving yourself an amazing mani at home:



**first, remove any polish that you have on your nails. i recommend any Cutex brand. i do use acetone to remove darker polish especially if it has a glitter or shimmer to it-- it just works faster. make sure to get in between the cuticle and the nail to remove any remaining polish that is hidden. continue this process until all the old polish has been removed.

**using a nail file, smooth and shape your nails. once you've done this, soak your nails in warm water to soften up your cuticles. if you are short on time, use a cuticle remover and gently push your cuticles back using an orange stick.

**once this step is completed, i like to use a cuticle oil (or olive oil) and hand moisturizer. not only to pamper my nails and cuticles, but it helps to keep the polish from sticking to my skin later on. before moving on, be sure to swipe a polish remover over each nail to remove excess oil from them-- oil and polish do not mix. :)

**next, it's time for a base coat. Seche Ridge Filling Base Coat works fabulously. this will ensure your manicure will last as color will have something to adhere to. also, a base coat will protect your nails from discoloration.



**once the base coat is dry, it's time for your color. if you're a newbie to at-home manicures, practice with lighter nail colors, as they are easiest to work with (when applying, remember that thin coats are better than thick ones-- it will dry quicker and prevent the dreaded bubbles). to apply, place the brush about half-way down your nail, push downward (this causes the bristles to fan out) until you almost touch your nail bed, then reverse and sweep upward. repeat on each nail.

**for the second coat, start by sweeping the brush horizontally across the top of your nails-- this basically creates an edge of polish and helps prevent chipping (if you get it on your skin, you can remove it when you're finished). after this, apply your second coat of polish, paying close attention to creating a smooth even surface. allow a couple of minutes to go by if you decide on a third coat.

** now it's time to apply the top coat. this important step will not only help make nails appear shinier, but it will protect your manicure.

and that's it! at least my version of it. do you have any tips or tricks you use for giving yourself a manicure? share in the comments!

xo