expert tips for using coconut oil

if your skin is struggling to recover from the cold, miserable winter {or dry, practically rainless "winter"}, no worries…you’re definitely not alone. there is hope, of course, found in an all-natural resource: 

coconut oil!

and it's not only great for skin, but hair, nails…well, actually every part of your body, from head to toe…

Josie Feria, director of operations at Lapis Spa at Fontainebleau Miami Beach recently shared her suggestions on how to utilize this hot beauty multitasker, and the best part? you can find it as close as the grocery store.

take a look at Josie’s tips below and your skin will be back in gorgeous shape in no time...

intensive treatment for dry hair work into wet hair, cover with a shower cap and leave on for up to 30 minutes; rinse and shampoo as usual.*

stimulate hair growth by massaging a bit into your scalp*

to fight frizz use a small amount in your hair for instant control.*

use as makeup remover on your face:, including eyes and use in place of lip balm to treat lips.

massage into cuticles to eliminate dryness and stimulate nail growth

as a body moisturizer, use as you would a normal body lotion for overall treatment, focusing especially on dry elbows.*

 mix with sea or rock salt and exfoliate {mix with sugar for sensitive skin} for a skin-pampering treat.

apply to skin daily to prevent stretch marks and avoid scarring during pregnancy

 apply to skin affected by poison ivy, oak or sumac to soothe irritated skin

rub on feet to hydrate and condition skin; fights athlete's foot and low level fungus.



tell me: do you use coconut oil? if so, how do you incorporate it into your daily routine?; if not, are you going to try any of these ideas for yourself?

many thanks to Josie for sharing such fabulous tips to help us get our most gorgeous skin. here's to the  beautiful spring/summer season ahead!

*ways i've used coconut oil {and i also sometimes cook with it} :)

hair therapy: Jenny Balding shares solutions for the 5 common hair issues

 with over 18+ years experience, Cutler/Redken stylist Jenny Balding {on twitter @jennybalding1} has graciously shared how you {and i} can overcome 5 most common hair issues.

take a look...

#1: lack of volume
"this is caused by a variety of reasons but mostly using the wrong shampoo/conditioner for your hair type, followed by using conditioner all over instead of just the mid-length to ends. it’s an easy problem to fix and makes a huge difference ~ talk to your stylist about the best regimen for your hair." Jenny suggests trying Redken Body Full regimen.

Jenny Balding

#2: damage control

"an easy way to prevent damage is simply being gentle when detangling your wet hair. use a large toothed comb or a brush designed to detangle wet hair as wet hair is very fragile and most damage can be created at this point."

#3: dulling hair

"product buildup can cause dull hair when a lot of product is used constantly overtime. make sure to use a clarifying shampoo {like Redken Hair Cleansing Cream} once a week to rid of buildup and this will bring back life into your color and bounce back into your hair."

#4: constant split ends

"even if you love to keep your hair really long, make sure you are having it trimmed every 8-12 weeks as this will really help to keep it in healthy condition as dry, damaged ends split, and travel further up the hair shaft if you don't remove them."

#5: i just want healthy hair

how can you make your hair more lustrous, thick and healthy? "it really makes such a difference if you eat a healthy balanced diet, drink plenty of water and take a multivitamin each day. like your skin, your hair represents what you put into your body."

many thanks to Jenny for her hair-loving tips ~ i love sharing and hope you've learned something new!

you can learn more about Jenny by visiting her page at redken.com {which features a fabulous q & a that includes everything from what inspires her, must-have hair tools, and personal questions like fave color, place to visit and so on…love it!}