my new product for ALL THE THINGS!

Well hello there. It's been a while.  A LOT has changed since my last round of posts; living in a different state, new job, new place, and a new outlook on the products I use as well. I discovered MindBodyGreen this year and have read nearly every article on the site it seems. So, its only natural that my choice in beauty products has gone more...well natural. My favorite and new go-to for everything in the bathroom (and kitchen) is COCONUT OIL.

Here's a typical day in the life of me and my gigantic bottle of coconut oil:

• I rise & shine and get my coconut oil pulling on (use a teaspoon like Listerine) Cleanse your mouth of bacteria and take care of your gums. Make sure to spit it out in the trashcan and rinse out twice with water.
• While oil pulling, I like to gently massage my eyes with a tid bit of coconut oil. Makes them look ALIVE and gets blood flowing in order to decrease puffiness.
• I then occasionally make my warm lemon water with a  splash of coconut oil. This helps activate your thyroid gland and energizes you naturally.
• Scrambled eggs with avocado is perhaps my favorite breakfast. It's much healthier AND tastier when cooked in coconut oil instead of butter or olive oil.
• Coconut oil makes the perfect makeup remover!
• When I need to relax my sore muscles I soak in Epsom salt and a handful of coconut oil. When you get out of the tub- your skin feels and smells incredible....and your pets will think you are delicious.
• Shaving is much smoother using coconut oil than shampoo (I'm cheap).
• The perfect pre-bed time moisturizer is...you guessed it! COCONUT OIL. As it may stain some clothing before it soaks in your skin, let it dry before crawling under the covers.
• While I'm dousing my body in the stuff, I go ahead and coat my slightly damp hair in coconut oil for an overnight conditioner. Rinse with shampoo twice, skip the conditioner, and HELLO HEALTHY HAIR! 

I really can't say enough about it. I tell pretty much every human I come in contact with about it.
A note on what kind to purchase: you need ORGANIC! I have used and loved Nature's Way, Nutivia, and Nutrigold.

Here' s a great article my BFF wrote about it too! SHARE THE LOVE!

Red wine bath time.

If you have lived with me- you know that I only do baths. Like- all the time. I love them. I do shower to rinse- no worries. But I take a bath daily. Not a long one every time (especially since the hot water in my apartment runs out after about 3 inches have filled up-ugggh) but every once in a while I like to soak for 30 minutes to an hour.  

Bubbles are great and all- but they really do nothing for your skin. Recently, instead of drinking red wine, I’ve been bathing in it. Just about one glass to half a bottle in a tub is PLENTY. My skin feels SO soft immediately after drying off and has stayed that way (with the use of moisturizers everyday as well of course). Red wine is full of antioxidants and yeast which hydrate your skin.

I also let my hair soak in it for a while. This is only a good idea if you have dark / red hair. This will accentuate the color of your lovely locks!

Here are some of the best recent articles on Beauty:

The Best Makeup Shades for All Skin Tones: 

10 Makeup Shades That Look Good on All Skin Tones 

via Hello Beautiful

Find Your Perfect Foundation:

A Guide to Types of Foundation Makeup

via Makeup for Acne and Sensitive Skin 

Find Rankings for Online Beauty Schools: Rankings for Online Beauty Schools 

which was featured on online business degrees

Pretty Hairstyles:

5 Sexiest Hairstyles for Spring 

via Cosmetique Blog

guest post: casey cline. top 10 pretty little products.

When I first started wearing makeup and learning how to do my hair, I was a little tornado of disaster.  First of all, I have crazy wavy baby hairs that never grow out.  I didn’t understand back then that I should first apply some sort of healthy product to my hair, then blow dry, and then, if I have to, use a flat iron.  Instead, I was flawed in thinking that I could straighten my hair while it was still wet.  That meant a lot of sizzling, smoke, and bad terrible hair days. 

My makeup and skin routine wasn’t much better.  I remember buying those Noxzema cleansing pads and using those to remove my makeup.  Now, I don’t know if you recall this or not, but those pads were strong and sometimes burned (and I have ultra sensitive skin).  Imagine using at least 5 every day to take off caked-on makeup.  Yikes.  No wonder my skin was dried out and blotchy red.

Fast forward a few years and I’m thankful to admit that I’ve learned how to take care of my hair and skin properly.  It doesn’t hurt that I’ve also learned about other great products along the way.   

So now let me present to you a few of my favorite pretty little products (and a few other extras I enjoy).

1. Pond’s Cold Cream:  A far cry from the Noxzema pads, this cream is timeless.  A makeup remover that simultaneously moisturizes?  Yes, please.  Plus, it has bonus sentimental value for me: my mom has always used Pond’s, so I can’t help but think of her every time I use it.

2. Essie Mint Candy Apple: This nail color is part of the Winter 2009 Essie collection and I’m still obsessed.

3. Walgreens Twisted Peppermint body lotion: I found a bottle of this in my Mom’s bathroom when I was home over Christmas, and I had to steal it (Sorry Momma!).  The smell is sweet, but not overwhelming.  But the real kicker here is how amazing it feels on your skin!  The hint of peppermint makes it go on smooth and minty fresh.  I’m not sure if this is still even available, but I know Bath & Body Works has a version that I’ve yet to try.  Hopefully it holds up to the Walgreens.

4. Moroccan Oil: This is on the pricier side, but worth the splurge.  Not only does it protect your hair from heat damage, it keeps fly-a-ways smoothed down (without weighing down the rest of your hair) and smells incredible.

5. Rosebud’s Salve (in a tube): I was first introduced to Rosebud’s Salve by a friend back in high school, and have been a fan ever since.  Imagine my delight when I realized they’d started selling it in tube form (so no more messy lip gloss fingers)!

6. EBoost: A yummy alternative to Emergen-C, my boss discovered EBoost and I have to admit I prefer it.  My favorite flavor is acai pomegranate.

7. Grapefruit:  I’ve recently fallen in love with this fruit, even going so far as to buy a special sectioning knife and grapefruit spoon.  Grapefruits are relatively low in sugar (compared to other fruits) while simultaneously low in fat and high in fiber.  Oh, and they’re delicious.  Win win win win.

8. Black coffee: I know there is a lot of back-and-forth regarding whether or not coffee is good for you, but as an avid drinker, I’m surprised to admit that after years and years of adding milk and/or cream and sugar, I’ve converted to black.  It’s been a very recent change, but somehow my taste buds have adapted and I’m now a big fan!  Whether or not you think coffee is healthy, at least the lack of sugar and milk is.

9. Body Pump: Straight from the website: “BODYPUMP™ is the original barbell class that strengthens your entire body. This 60-minute workout challenges all your major muscle groups by using the best weight-room exercises like squats, presses, lifts and curls. Great music, awesome instructors and your choice of weight inspire you to get the results you came for – and fast!

I’m starting to realize how important and effective strength training is, especially as we ladies start to get older.  Adding light weight-training to your regular workout produces faster and more beneficial results.  If your local gym doesn’t offer Body Pump, I suggest any similar class or even buying a few light dumbbells and looking to the latest issue of Women’s Health magazine for workout ideas you can incorporate on your own or even at home.

10. The Steam Room: I fell in love with the steam room at my hometown’s YMCA and was thrilled to find that my new local gym has one as well.  Going into the steam room for 10-15 minutes after my workouts is like the icing on a good exercise cake.  It opens my pores and relaxes me to the max.  I always leave feeling refreshed and at ease.

meet casey samantha cline. she is 25 today by the way!

and she lives in NYC> super jealous.

love her genuine laugh here.

breaking it dowwwwwn.

my high school ladies.

what happens in vegas...

Featherbands by KatBeckDesigns.

Soooo, if you are my facebook friend- you have probably seen my posts about KatBeckDesigns shop on Etsy, as well as the fabulous photography by Angela Cox of my beautiful friends rocking my featherbands. I am SO excited to finally get the shop up and running and so PUMPED to tell my little blog world about it. If you look up top, there is a page with links to everything you need to order- just click "featherbands!" 

I am happy to do custom orders- adults and kids. If you email me katbeckdesigns@gmail.com I will send you a custom order form and you can fill it out and I'll price the product for you. It will be between $15-$20 and then around $5 (or less) for shipping.

Just a little background on the product. My best friend, Megan, was visiting in late October and we were shopping around the boutiques in Denton. I saw these beautiful feather headbands I thought "I can totally do that and would actually really enjoy it." My spontaneous side (that only comes out with Megan) prompted us to head to Michael's- where I spent enough money to make my first batch of headbands. I went home for Thanksgiving break and met my other best friend's (I do have quite a few of these, but they are truly my besties) roommate photographer, Angela Cox. Being a fan of feathers and fashion, she asked to take photos of us in the headbands. The next day we were in a random field in Greenville doing the photo shoot. Probably one of the best hours ever. We had way too much fun. I am SO lucky to have an awesome aunt (and namesake, whom I aspire to be when I'm all grown up) with a precious gift shop in Clemson, Razzberry Fizz. They bought some of my featherbands and now have a display in the shop.

I've sold about 40 featherbands already and feel SO LUCKY to have such awesome friends who relentlessly promote my product. It's a dream coming true. I am a perfectionist and I love to create- so this is an ideal artistic outlet for me. I have priced the bands rather low so that anyone can afford them. I am a bargain shopper myself. Thanks for your interest and I hope you make some purchases! 

Va-va-VOLUME

 
Quote from my lovely sister, Victoria "I like reading your blog but it makes me want to buy things which isn't healthy for a college student."
 
Hahaha- so what do I do? I make her buy three products as she is on the phone with me in Wally World ONLY because she asked how to make her fine, thin hair look voluminous. However- these are CHEAP products.  Treseme's line of 24 hour body products work. I really like the root boosting spray and finishing spray. They give you lift and smell wonderful. If you have really fine and thin hair I recommend using a moose from the line before you blow-dry your hair. This will thicken it up. Finish off with Velcro rollers when your hair is 90% dry. Leave them in as long as you can and apply just a little heat. They will not give your curls- simply VOLUME. My best friend Brittany straightened her hair and then put them in before work. It gave her a little twist to her everyday look.
 
Now- if you want to spend a little extra I HIGHLY recommend Big Sexy Hair products. Ummm- they are incredible. The "play and spray" hair spray is the best hair spray on earth. I used to carry a sample bottle in my purse when I would go out so all my ladies and myself could give ourselves a quick touch up. Not sure how but on one of these occasions it fell out of my clutch 2 floors up and into the streets of downtown Greenville. Ashleigh and Alicia knew how much it love this stuff so they actually went and rescued it. Sorry for the random unnecessary story but it always comes to mind when I think about Big Sexy Hair.  

$8 hair cut?

Ummm...heck yes! Hair cuts are ridiculously overpriced most of the time. To save money, I go to hair salon schools. In Dallas I go to The Salon Professional Academy. Their instructors come around at beginning and end to check on their work. All the services are SO CHEAP it's incredible. I only get cuts but my girl Brittany has gotten some fabulous color and highlights done there. Of course it depends on the student, but generally, I think they are all very trustworthy. If you need to cut some expenses- this is the way to go!

to dye for.

i haven't change my hairstyle in ohhh around 6 years. i keep it long with layers. maybe change the length of the bangs every now and then. but it's the same cut.  sooo to spice things up i LOVE to color my hair at home.  Naturally I am pretty sure my hair is a golden dirty blonde/brown.  I prefer to be brunette and I also like to do semi permanent hair color.

Clairol's Natural Instincts let's me do this WITHOUT over drying or damaging my long hair. You can only go darker with semi permanent home color (to be safe). If you want to go lighter, go to a professional (just be sure not to say you want to go from dark brown to white blonde, trust me, it results in tears- it takes MULTIPLE trips to your stylist to reach that level of blond).  The lighter your hair is, the more the color will stick and stay around. FYI- while it is semi permanent color- it doesn't really fade completely. I just went red- Medium Auburn Cinnaberry. Never done it before- but I think I'm loving it. Here are  all the shades I have tried. Never disappointed.

for the bobby pin addicts.

I don’t know how I would live without the bobby pin. Not kidding. But since I discovered Goody’s Spin Pin- I realize THIS product is even better. These two twisty things have the power of 20 bobby pins. My vacuum is already celebrating. Any of these celebrity styles are achievable with this simple tool. I'm rocking the side bun myself today. Check it out.
1. Gather your hair at the nape of your neck (no ponytail holder needed).
2. Twist your hair into a tight bun and tuck in the ends.
3. Spin one pin in from the top and the other up from the base, taking care not to interlock pins

hair repair.

Here are some conditioners that save your hair from the heat, chlorine, and lake water. Once a week (especially in the hot summer months) you should treat your hair to some amazing products that moisturize and smooth your lovely locks. Here are 3 products with insanely descriptive long names that my hair dies for:

• VO5 Moisturizing Hot Oil Treatment

click to buy.  (i do this at the end of summer to get hair looking healthy)

• Aussie Moist Treatments Deeeeep 3 Minute Miracle Moisture Treatment

click to buy. ( i do this couple of times a month- smells sooo good)

• Garnier Fructis triple nutrition 3 minute undo dryness reversal hair treatment

click to buy.  (i do this weekly. you can feel the avocado seeds and it is so refreshing)

i want your waves.

Tips for achieving the curls you desire.
1. brush before showering to detangle
2. don’t over-lather when shampooing too much to avoid tangles
3. DO NOT BRUSH hair after shower.
4. squeeze damp hair with towel 5 min. out of shower (same manner as you would scrunch)
5. apply your favorite scrunching gel/mouse/cream. Here are mine!

 Garnier fructis Wonder Waves & Curl Definition lines
 John Frieda Curl-boosting mouse
 Aussie Sprunch collection

6. If you need your hair to dry ASAP- blow dry with a diffuser. This will also give your hair body like whoa.

*If you have hair has absolutely no scrunching abilities I have found a great option. My friend Ashleigh just flew out to Texas and first thing I notice about her is this amazing volume and wave she’s sporting right off the plane. What did she do? A body wave. I really haven’t seen many but hers was done right and looks natural. She says straightening is more difficult now but she has INSANE volume when she blows out her hair.


Tell me if this works for you!

How to have healthy hair...

Shampoo/Conditioner- the starting point for whether you have a good or a bad hair day- that is if you actually wash your hair every day. The biggest tip I can give when it comes to keeping your hair healthy/shiny/free of split ends- DO NOT WASH YOUR HAIR DAILY. Grease (to an extent) is good. The natural oils are GOOD for your hair. I wash my hair 3-4 a week. In between washes, the key is dry shampoo. Tresemme just came out with a great one for under $5- just shake, spray, wait a minute, and brush. Instant refresher. Another (obvious) tip is to wear your hair up. I love wearing my hair up because I hate when my hair gets in my face. My hair MUST be comfortable or I will fidget with it all day. Practice makes perfect and that is the only way you will learn how to do your hair. A little hair spray on an updo always helps. Back to washing- when you DO shampoo/conditioner, they key isn’t exactly to find one amazing shampoo and stick with it for life. In my shower, I have over 5 pairs of shampoo/conditioners that I alternate each time I wash my hair. This keeps your hair from getting dull and flat- which is what happens when you use the same shampoo every day. Try it and tell me how it works for you!