I like my salad tossed but...

That doesn't mean I want to smell like one!

I've been reading in a lot of magazines lately about DIY body scrubs and I think it is a great idea. Body scrubs are very easy to make and there isn't too much a store-bought scrub can do that a homemade scrub can't. One thing I thought was puzzling was that most of the articles recommended using olive oil in a homemade scrub.

While olive oil is a great moisturizing oil, I don't think there are too many of us that want to smell like a salad or pasta when we are done moisturizing (unless your boyfriend is into that sort of thing ;)).

For a sweeter, more feminine, less "Olive Garden" smell to your scrub, try adding jojoba oil or sweet almond oil to natural cane or brown sugar. Remember, you want enough oil to give it a nice, slushy consistency, but not so much that they sugar is swimming in it. Use the same guidelines except with salt to create a muscle relaxing scrub (just watch those cuts and scratches!), or with coffee grinds to make an invigorating scrub that is said to help reduce cellulite and prevent varicose veins (I will definitely have to investigate this).

If you have any experience with at-home scrubs please share! And if you've tried coffee grinds let us know if the caffeine is really as much a miracle ingredient as it is made out to be! Have a great Thursday, just remember the weekend is right around the corner.

love, iCandy

After Work Survival Kit

I don't now about you, but I like to think of myself as spontaneous. The problem is, it's hard to be spontaneous when your girlfriends call you up right after you get off work to come and have a girl's night, or when your boyfriend surprises you by picking you up from work for an impromptu dinner date. So what do you do in a situation like that? Freak out, cry, laugh it off? Normally I would do all of the above, but since life doesn't stop for anyone, I decided I have to start rolling with the punches. And then it hit me, just like everyone should have an emergency and first aid kit in their car, us ladies should also have a date night/girl's night/look fabulous no matter what kit with them at all times!

I can't even count the number of times I've had to embarrassingly go out in my work clothes and without my mascara (gasp!). So, in order to prevent a catastrophe like this from happening again I have made a list of things that can take any girl from wilted to full bloom in just a few minutes. These items will help you be a modern-day Super Woman, you'll be able to go from work-day frump to nighttime glam in no time!

Item #1: Push-up Bra/Flesh-Toned Thong/Boy Shorts
Yes, I know that the first item is really three, but undergarments can all be in one category. The foundation of your outfit is what will make you look and feel your best, and you want to be prepared for anything, so I think these are a must when transitioning from work to evening. You don't want to be stuck in your "comfortable" bra and panties if you are on a date! Find great options at Macys.com.

Item #2: Skinny Jeans
There are very few items of clothing that can up your sexiness quotient quite as much as the perfect pair of curve-hugging jeans. I can only speak for myself, but the right pair of jeans can transform me from a tired bore into the life of the party! Looking hot is all about feeling comfortable and confident at the same time, and skinny jeans (as long as they don't cut off your circulation) do the trick. You can always find great deals at Forever21, and if you have a fuller figure (like me!) Guess Jeans always fit great.

Item #3: Sexy Tee/Flirty Blouse
Because, duh, what else are you going to wear with your jeans?

Item #4: Heels you can walk in & Comfy flats
Both because you never know how far you'll need to walk, or how sexy you need to look!

Item #5: Travel-Size Deodorant, Baby Powder, & Body Spray/Perfume
Even if you work in an office and sit all day, you probably don't smell amazing after work. If you don't smell good, you won't feel good! I use Baby Powder to lightly dust my flats before I wear them because you don't want your feet or your shoes to be smelly.

Item #6: Dry Shampoo & Bobby Pins
Although I don't believe there is a single dry shampoo out there that lives up to its claims, I do think that they are valuable in a certain setting; the setting being that you have to go out and either don't have time to shower or don't have access to a real shower. Dry Shampoos are great for smoothing frizz, controlling excess oil, and making stale strands smell fresh! My favorite is Ojon Rub-Out Dry Cleanser To-Go $10 Sephora.com. The bobby pins are just in case you need to pin your bangs, create a sexy braid, or whatever!

Item #7: Blotting Papers/Cleansing Face Wipe
No one looks good with a shiny face! Sephora's Lab Series For Men Oil Control Towelettes (not just for men!) $15 for 30 towelettes, are great for removing that end of day sweat sheen and keeping oil under control!

Item #8: Eyeliner/Mascara/Eyelash Curler
Do I even need to explain why?

Item #9: Sexy Lip Gloss/Lipstick/Lipstain
If there's one thing that can drive men crazy (at least on our face), it's a full, sexy pout, so never leave home without it! As we all know, I love CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain, but I also love Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Lip Gloss from Target which is shiny, smells like cupcakes, and helps plump lips!

So, that's what's in my emergency kit! Have something else you can't hit the town without? Let me know!
love,
iCandy

Downsize your beauty routine!

We all know I am a die-hard beauty addict (if you are reading this, odds are you are too!), but it's not always necessary, or practical, to spend more than ten or twenty minutes (guilty!) getting ready in the morning. In certain situations (such as an impromptu trip to Las Vegas) it's downright silly! So, how does one shave precious minutes off her beauty routine?

Well, let's start with the obvious; Using a one-time use cloth or wipe to cleanse your face is a quick and easy way to make sure your complexion stays clear and fresh even when you're on vacation or pressed for time. A great, wallet friendly pick is Sephora's FACE 25 Makeup Removing Wipes with Vitamin E and Shea Butter (only $8 for 25 wipes at Sephora.com). For those who can afford to spend a little more, Josie Maran Bear Naked Wipes, which also contain Vitamin E, along with aloe vera, cucumber, and chamomile, are a great choice for your face as well as for the planet (They're biodegradeable)! It is $12 for 30 wipes at Sephora.com, and a portion of the proceeds from each package go to help saving polar bears (an endangered species).

The logical next step is moisturizer. When you're on the go or in a hurry, it's best to combine a few steps into one such as moisturizer and foundation. If you have the skin to pull it off, just use a moisturizer suited to your skin type; I love Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer from Sephora, although it is a bit pricey ($65 for 2 oz) and since it doesn't have SPF, layering with sunscreen is a must. A more affordable alternative is Aveeno Positiviely Radiant Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15, which is oil-free, proven to improve skin tone and texture, and has UVA/UVB protection. Even I'll admit that it seems to blow Perricone MD out of the water, but hey, different strokes for different folks, right?

If you don't feel you have the skin to pull off just wearing moisturizer, or just feel more comfortable with a little coverage, then use a tinted moisturizer like Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer from Sephora. It isn't the most affordable moisturizer ($42 for 1.5 oz) , but it is a best seller (all of the reviews I saw gave it 5 out of 5 stars!) and it comes in a wide variety of shades so you're sure to find the right one for you, not to mention that it also offers SPF 20.

After your face is clean and moisturized, blush is an absolute must! The key with blush is to apply it in the right quantity, in the right place. I see a lot of women who use too much blush in all the wrong places. Remember, you want it to look natural, the goal is to recapture that teenage glow that we all took for granted in high school. I love Sephora Brand Blush Me Twice in Coral/Bronze ( $8 at Sephora.com it also comes in Hot Pink/Bronze, it works perfectly on my medium/tan skin, the bronzer and shimmery coral blush blended together give me a great, sun-kissed glow!). Another great blush that really lasts is L'Oreal Paris Bare Naturale Blush, I use pinched pink. The mineral formula blends seamlessly into my skin and gives me the perfect amount of color. When I apply blush, I start just behind the apples of the cheeks and make a "C" shape along my cheekbones, right where the sun would normally hit my face. The biggest thing to remember when using blush is that a little goes a long way! You want people to notice your healthy glow, not notice that you are wearing makeup.

Last but not least are the eyes! You may be able to get away with removing a few steps from your beauty routine, but eyeliner and mascara are always absolutely necessary. Before I do anything else, I apply a light, champagne colored highlighter ( I use the highlighting shade in Rimmel's Colour Rush Quad Eyeshadow Palette 005-Chocolatine because it suits my skintone, plus I use the darker shade as a contour in the crease just above my eye) along my brow bone, along the top of my eyelid, in the corners of my eyes alongside the bridge of my nose (the tearduct), and a sweep directly underneath my bottom lashes. Next I use a lighter eyeliner (purple, dark brown, or navy, depending on my mood) to generously line along my top lashes and just a touch in the outer corners of my bottom lashes, and follow up with a long-lasting black eyeliner (L'Oreal Infallible Never Fail Eyeliner is one of the best I have ever used!) as close to the lash line as possible just to polish the look.

Of course the final step is mascara (on curled lashes, of course), and I am a huge fan of Benefit's BADgal Lash Mascara for day and night. I used this routine to get ready in less than 5 minutes in Vegas (I even kept up with the boys!),and if I can do it, I know you can! So next time you are stuck in a hotel or without your complete stash of beauty products, just make sure you have these essentials with you and you will be able to create a sexy look in less time than it took you to read this post.
love,
iCandy