Beauty Tips I Never Knew! Including A Beach Hair Spray Tutorial

Pursuing around the interwebs I have found some beauty techniques that I never knew about and definitely want to pass along. So below are the top five health and beauty tips that are now part of mine routine and maybe will be part of yours!

1. Brushing your teeth for less than 2 minutes will not cure bad breath!

Mikey may be smiling - but does he smell??

Being a big garlic lover, this fact definitely hit home! I obviously brush my teeth, but (eeek, I'm admitting this online) occasionally I certainly leave the bathroom earlier and not scrub those pearly whites as long as I should. So once I read this, I ran to the bathroom and scrubbed! I mean by the end of this week I will most likely need a new brush! But if you don't have 2 minutes to spare at the sink, use mouthwash instead - it will beat bad breath for the time being and kill some of those nasty bacterium clinging to your chompers. 

2. You can make your own hair products. I mean, yoinks! most of you are probably like, of course! But usually when I read online tutorials of how to make your own lipstick or what natural products in your home can replace the chemicals on your bathroom shelf - I sadly skip over it. But something caught my eye. I have been wanting to make my long fine and thick hair more voluminous (without cutting it) and have been drawn to the beachy look. Many celebs sport the beach waves, including Kate Hudson, Mary Kay Olsen, Megan Fox, and countless others. But how do they do it?

Not Beach In Sight? No Worries!

 I found a beauty receipt online and altered it a little - but most of the items are already in your home! 

You will need:

**A Spray Bottle (I got mine at the drug store for $1)

**Warm Water

**Salt (I used sea salt, but I am sure any kind will work)

**Coconut Conditioner (or beach scent or your liking)

The spray bottle I found at the store was 12 oz. I put about 1 1/2 TBS of salt in the container and then filled the spray bottle up to about 1 inch from the top. Shake until the salt has fully dissolved and then add about 2 TBS of coconut conditioner (no need to by anything fancy I just purchased Suave) shake until there are no more conditioner chunks. The shaking takes longer than I thought it would but it's an arm work out! Once the conditioner is mixed in get ready to use it!

There you have it! Use this liberally or if you just want a little spritz. I have been using this everyday for little fixes. It helps with fly-aways, helping for the second day hair, and even keeping your bangs in place. The best way i found to get the just from the sand look is once you have gotten out of the shower towel your hair until it is almost dry. Coat your hair with the spray (make sure to get into all your layers) and then tie your hair in a knot on the top of your head. Let it dry (depending on how thick/long your hair is this could take a few hours). Then let down those locks! If you didn't shower in the morning, just dampen your hair and then spritz with the salt spray. I can do this first thing in the morning and then after my 45 minute commute let my hair down for my 9-5. It gives a little umph to my naturally stick straight hair while adding the volume I was looking for!

3. Washing your make-up brushes.

Eeeek - am I crazy for not knowing this? If that's the case read on nobility, but for the lowly commoners like myself I have a gem of information for you! You need to wash your make up brushes, some people even wash them daily! As I am just starting this crazy habit I have not gotten on the errr day habit but here are some tips on my favorite brushing technique::

Wash your brushes with soap and oil. You can do this by pouring soap on one half of a plate and olive oil on the other. The soap obviously will clean your brushes but the oil will retain the bristles and not dry out the hairs. On the plate simply mix the two liquids using a brush. 

When you rinse the brush use warm water! not hot or cold! If the hairs are shocked into too hot or too cold it could damage the glue holding it all together!

Dry your brushes with the bristles down. While not an ability or want for everyone, I am going to drill holes in my brushes. There are a few ways that people suggest online, but I think using my Dremel tool will be a nice quick fix. You want to make sure that you brushes are dried with the hairs downwards is because if you dry them with the hairs up, the handle may become waterlogged, and worse it may losen the glue and you could ruin your brush! eekk!

4. Eye drops can clear big red pimples.

This is a tip that I used instantly from reading it. Pardon the TMI, but I have been dealing with stress induced acne and have not found a quick cure. I poured on the Visine and did see results! It was not completely gone (if that was the case I hope I would have found out about it before I turned 23!!) but it was certainly helpful. I suggest this to anyone who got a pimple before  hot date, big presentation, or any big event. A big pimple never gave anyone a hand. I have not been able to test out how often you should or should not use this method, but I would suggest against constant application.

5. Vaseline: Makeup, Makeup Remover, Moisturizer, and more!

I know that this is tried a true method (so don't worry! I already knew this one guys) but I wanted to make sure that everyone else was aware of the magical powers of Petroleum Jelly!! 

>>>first>>>>

It can be used as makeup. No, this is not the most glamorous product you have ever put on your eyes. But the way it captures the light, keeps your eyes doe-y all day, and your lids extra moisturized, never hurt anyone! My favorite Petrol technique is coating my lids with a nice layer and THEN putting on my mascara. This method is awesome awesome awesome for girls on the run, when you are running late in the morning, and when you want to look put together. The Jelly will smudge with the mascara (not need to be to careful when applying the mascar coats) and you will look like you have lashes for days and have mastered the smudged eye look (no one knows that you are taking the easy way out!)

>>>second>>>>>

Just like you spread this jelly all over your eyes to apply make up you can do the same thing to remove it! PJ will take off any eye make up as well as any heavy lipstick. It offers a great way to scrub your lips or eyes without actually scrubbing too hard!

>>>third>>>>>

I am sure that you would have guessed this by now if tried my other two tips, but Petroleum Jelly is an awesome moisturizer. Your dry knees, elbows and heels can benefit from this little lesson. Rub on PJ like you would any lotion but wait for it to get a little less sticky. You'll find that it will not dry out completely like your lotion would because it is oil based, but even better! If you put on your socks over your just drying heels it will lock in the moisture! The big reveal will happen when you tug off those tube socks to your silk smooth feet!

>>>fourth>>>>>

I am sure that you will find many other uses for Petroleum Jelly, but be mindful that you should not use the PJ for a chapstick when you are heading to a sunny spot. Because of the big shine of the jelly you may attract more sun than you detract and will be left with blistered lips! Ouch!

Thanks for reading my few beauty tips and keep on keepin' on.