Beauty starts Inside: Green goodness for perfect skin (no juicer needed)

Juicing and cleansing seems to be one of the most trending things to do nowadays but aside from providing great benefits to your figure and workout plans it has great beauty benefits. 

I am way too busy to make any complicated meal plans and elaborate fancy rolled oats from a parisian blog. All i really have time for is a quick snack in the morning sometimes i eat in my car , as bad as that sounds a girls gotta make it work. Since i have found this is the easiest way to make a meal/snack and also the healthiest i have been hitting myself in the head for getting off the green goodness wagon this past month . 

I had a major epiphany yesterday at work when i saw a gross blackhead! I said...but this is not me!?

and guess what ladies all those fast snacks and bad breakfasts really like revenge. 

So, i have decided to take on the habit of drinking this smoothie. 

EVERYTIME i take on the challenge of taking it every day i get compliments on my SKIN and HAIR. no lie. 

I am no scientist so i canont explain to you if all that fiber from the spinach and the nutrients in the fruit or the fact that it acts as a body cleanser makes the winning difference..all i know is that THIS WORKS. 

(while it may not work for some...it definitely works for me)

On top of the great benefits of great skin and shiny fast growing hair you may lose a couple of pounds!!

+

SUPER EASY TO MAKE 

(you don't need a juicer or anything fancy , just your good ol' blender )

1 glass of water ( less water thicker consistency) 

1/2 a cup of frozen fruit (the one with NO SUGAR added)

1 HANDFUL of pre-washed spinach  ( the more spinach the greener it looks)

        TAH- DAH! easy huh?

      enjoy!

Hows starting this new routine with me? ...you know what they say with little steps in the right direction , one walks far. 

<3 

Beautiful TEAs that saved me.

Ive been wanting to write this post for a few weeks now since I've been very into TEA experimenting and falling in love with it. I thought id share why it saved me and why i love it so much.

Tea is one of the most common things my mom would always give me as a kid when i had an upset stomach or had an itchy throat and now as i'm an adult i have come to realize tea is so much more than just simple remedies. Its nature in a cup!

Lately i have been relying on tea for many things and it has literally saved me. I must confess i have a lot of anxiety problems and i have found some great herb infusions that have helped me manage my nerves and offered me a lot of comfort

 I have been buying the tea leafs at my local health food store and mixing it in this picture i have a few of my favorite ones. 

 Here is a few FUN facts about the herbs that have saved me: 

 CHAMOMILLE : This little plant has to be a girls best friend. It reduces cramps and abdominal pain that time of the month. (for real) Also it can be used to treat an upset stomach, indigestion and on top of it all it helps as a sleep aid. 

CINAMMON: A common remedy for sore throats since forever  and also a natural aid to regulate glucose levels for diabetics. It is also helps fight bacterial infections and diseases. It is also reduces fatigue + it has a natural sweet taste! 

SEVEN BLOSSOMS: This tea infusion is my FAVORITE my stress and anxiety levels are very normal since i take this almost every night. It is an infusion of chamomile, passiflora, valerian root, roses, orange and licorice root. All this ingredients help give you the best natural night sleep or it is awesome after a stressful day at work or before major finals season. 

GREEN TEA: Where do i begin? Green tea is the king of awesome. It is packed with anti oxidants that make your body endure illnesses like cancer, I've read that countries where green tea is taken very seriously the cases of cancer are very low. Green tea boosts your metabolism in a natural way so it is great for weight loss. Also it can prevent heart disease. It also has caffeine so you can naturally add a kick to your day. 

BLACK TEA : It is also a great source of anti oxidants like the green tea. It also helps relieve muscle tension after a work out. It helps prevent heart health and guess what ? it can prevent cavities and give you fresh breath! it also has caffeine so this is a great alternative to your morning coffee. 

WHITE TEA: If you still want to get your antioxidants without the caffeine kick white tea is awesome for that. My favorite infusion is white tea and rose. It is also good for fighting viral infections like the common cold as well as helping with aging! so what do you say? forever young? i think yes!

CHAI: Is an herb infusion that contains clove, cinnamon, anise, ginger and nutmeg etc which is said to be believed in ancient Ayurvedic medicine to be mind clearing, vitalizing and calming. Plus it makes some of the BEST lattes in the whole wide world. 

Chai + Cinamon TEA with Almond milk Latte (my new favorite kind of latte) and two of my favorite teas Brewhaha Super Happiness Tea and a Mexican version of Seven Blossoms. Oh and a gluten free blueberry waffle. Breakfast of Winning queens!

So this area  few facts on how this little herb infusions have saved me and keep lifting me up every day. I love tea for many reasons but now that i understand all the goodness that comes from a cup full of nature i love it even more. Plus you can't beat having a great excuse to always play with your favorite china sets!

Hope this info helps and you too become a tea fan like me! 

now who's down for a tea party?!

xo,

cindilu 

radical skin!? Yes plz.

THE WEEKEND is here! 

well for most of you, for me i am working a full on week since last friday because i am taking a little vacation this upcoming week.

Some people do not consider it a vacation if you don't leave town...but in my case being at home with family, trying on different masks and having time to clear my head sounds like the perfect vacation to me. 

I want to share with you today what i consider one of the BEST exfoliating products I've come across in EVER and my companion for this vacation and probably always...

RADICAL SKIN CARE makes this beauties called "age-defying exfoliating pads" and let me tell you  if you are in your twenties ... you need to start defying age ! not just with white lies at the bar when you try to flirt with a cute college boy, but with some GOOD skin care. 

Let me tell you a few good facts about age defying-pore minimizing- skin brightening magic potion little pads. 

I have been using them for a few weeks and if you MUST know i will not review a product unless i have been using it enough to say LOVE it! anyway this past few weeks I've been using it at night time after my face cleaning routine and i must add that the first time i used them it burned a little and i realized it was because i was using an exfoliating cleanser. OUCH. don't make the mistake of exfoliating twice like smarty pants here did. I would recommend a gentle cleanser to remove makeup and dirty so you can later go over with the pads and do the deep cleanse. 

one tiny pad is responsible for removing dead skin cells as well as impurities. Their new technology of age defying agents and antioxidants deposits and concentrates on your skin while you sleep tightening your skin over night giving you an awesome morning glow! 

PLUS

it minimizes your pores! 

What that means to you? well that the smaller the pore the less chance for BLACK HEADS!

I had been having issues with my chin and nose area getting a little greasy during my period and well i found the solution, they also took care of that for me. 

so when i say magic potion you better believe it. 

I also want to mention i love this brand so much more because of the two sisters that found it

it all around GIRL POWER

Lucky for you this magic pads can be found at sephora or their own page at radical skin care 

This Weekend you need to drip in GOLD

Anyone that knows me knows three basic things about me ,which tend to be the most important and easiest ways to understand me. 

#1 I'M A LEO

#2 I love GOLD/SHIMMER everything

#3 I HATE tans

With that being said here we go.  

I don't think i mentioned here but i did mentioned on my twitter @cindilove  i finally went to LUSH. That organic, hand made cosmetic store where soap is 19 dlls a pound. I'm not going to say bad things about the store only that  i just feel that being a "happy hippie" (name of one of their body washes) is EXPENSIVE and a bit pointless. The entire time i was in the store  I was mainly trying to figure out what i was looking at and what i was smelling. After many surprisingly bad smells, odd textures and pricey soaps ...... i tried this thing called LUSTRE. 

OH -EM- GEEZAAY from the heavens. 

(i legit said that)

Its this little bottle of soft shimmer? i can't really describe the texture but the smell is amazing. It smells like pure desire in a bottle. (btw it does also have a warning that the smell puts the 'lust' in lustre) 

I grabbed the bottle and spread it though my arms and legs  the shimmer was so nice ,  it was not the glittery 13 yr old glitter shimmer (which i do also love..don't judge) it was more like a fake tan shimmer. 

Knowing what you know of me guess what?...i didn't even freak out when i saw that my skin looked healthy sun kissed , smelled amazing AND having that shimmery look.

Trust me i have tried MANY shimmery lotions, liquids, powders etc; i have not ever liked one as much as this. The price well.. still very expensive hippie and i'm not even judging.  I'm just hoping in the back of my mind that it was made with unicorn smiles or something amazing like that. 

This is my beauty obsession of the week ! I don't feel like going out this weekend but showing off my perfectly sun kissed skin might just make me change my mind. 

What body shimmers are your favorite? do share with me !!! plz! seriously. 

survive the madness

Here in Texas we are all preparing for one of the most exciting events in town SXSW an interactive festival around town where everyone from music lovers, movie directors, celebrities, local celebrities, fashion enthusiast and all sorts of creative people unite to celebrate, listen, watch and enjoy each others talents not to mention the great networking + FREE stuff everywhere.

All of that sounds like a lot of fun and games but in reality it takes A LOT of walking, sun exposure, hair madness and wardrobe malfunctions. This is why i have gathered a quick list of the MUST have items to survive this SXSW. 

This 6 little items are essential to be picture ready in 1 minute!

1. First things first, you NEED a lot of sunscreen specially because the texas weather has been so crazy you never know what kind of change you will encounter and you need to make sure your skin is not going to suffer consequences.  I recommend an SPF of 30 to be the least just so you don't have to be re applying over and over. 

2. Dry shampoo is so so so so great and handy dandy i truly love the new Paul Mitchell Dry Wash it literally makes your hair feel fresh and clean in less than 5 minutes. It gives an amazing volume if you have your hair down or wavy its a perfect way to keep it that way. If you have had it in a bun for the first half of your day, feel free to bring it down as the day cools off and add some Dry Wash and keep enjoying the show. No need to go back home! (remember parking sucks)  You can get your hands on this product at any paul mitchell salon or you can always come and see me at Transformation salon for travel sizes! 

3. My favorite thing that is a staple in my purse before i leave home is bobby pins! they will save you from the crazy little hair standing up  or make it easy for you to clip away hair from your face when you are about to walk into a photo booth. They are truly life savers!

4. Why makeup remover wipes? because you will sweat, and its an easy way to reset your makeup in a quick stop. Wiping your face clean will help you avoid any blackheads caused by the dirt and heat of the day. Just simply wipe, remove dirt, reapply sunscreen no big deal.

5. Tinted Moisturizer is a great way to get a quick even coverage with a very natural look and it has a shield also against sun (the more protection against sun the better !)  instead of carrying a full on foundation + powder i recommend bb cream or tinted moisturizer. Quick and simple. 

6.  Last but not least... Deodorant ! it is always safe to keep a travel size deodorant on your bag because you always want to be hug ready in case you run into your favorite celebrity , a long lost love or maybe even your future husband. You don't want to be caught off guard. Ever. 

This is what i usually carry when going on sxsw adventures or even music festivals and it has made my 

adventures so much more pleasant. Remember you always want to be picture ready, your memories are being made every second  and you have to look the part.

Hope this helps! if you have any questions or additional suggestions for all our readers feel free to comment below.

Happy South by girlfriends!

xo,

cindilu