Have you ever stopped to read the label on your moisturizer and wondered, "Are these unrecognizable ingredients safe?" Many consumers ask themselves the same question, and consumers are increasingly opting for natural, organic, and preservative-free products instead. Choosing natural products also means changing storage habits, or improperly stored items can quickly become more dangerous than their chemically packed predecessors.

What Ruins Natural Products?

Consider warm temperatures, fluctuating humidity, and direct sunlight the kryptonite that will swiftly sour natural beauty products. Without the typical chemical reinforcements, harsh conditions quickly degrade natural alternatives into ineffective goop while the naturally occurring plant sugars and moisture-inducing humidity create fertile breeding grounds for bacteria. Unfortunately, these changes are rarely visible, and severe infections can occur.

The Silent Beauty Killer: Air Flow

Improper air flow also has a significant impact on both natural products and general health making it the secret assassin wrecking your beauty routine. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, weak air flow draws moisture indoors during the summer months which promotes the growth of harmful molds.

Do you reach for blankets during colder months to escape the draft? That tell-tale chill indicates improper air flow which evaporates skin's moisture as it pushes moisture outdoors during winter months. Hair and skin are left bone dry no matter how much moisturizer you reapply.

How to Store Natural Products

Natural products must be handled with a little more care, so keep them safe by storing them in an optimal environment. Antioxidant-rich items are best stored between 54-59 degrees; however, don't worry about refrigerating them. Natural beauty experts like Kristina Holey simply caution that steamy showers and sunny windows make bathrooms the worst storage choice with constant humidity and temperature changes. Choose a dark, dry alternative with proximity to the toilet like the bottom nightstand drawers.

Correcting Air Flow

Because air flow has such a substantial impact on products and health, work with a trusted expert to determine what your home requires. Companies like Provincial Heating offer humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and other airflow solutions, and they will help you understand what equipment benefits your home and why.

Opting for a natural beauty regimen has never been easier or more rewarding. Since products eliminate unnecessary preservatives, a few adjustments to previous storage practices will maintain product safety. Protect your health investment by updating storage conditions in your home, and enjoy the benefits of your natural products with confidence in their security.

Sources

U.S. Department of Energy

Vogue

Provincial Heating

5 Secrets to Get Your Makeup to Pop Behind Your Frames

Wearing glasses used to be considered unattractive or unpopular, but with a larger variety of styles available, glasses have become something of a fashion statement. However, when you are working with glasses and makeup, it can get a little tricky to balance. Here are few secrets to help your makeup pop, even when you have to wear your glasses.

Go Bold

Understated makeup may look washed out or even non-existent underneath glasses. To make it stand out, use bold colors on your eyes or go a little heavier on the application. A smoky eye would look perfect behind your frames, but make sure you don’t overdo it. Anything that is extending beyond the frame is going to look at little weird, so make sure you know how much space your glasses cover on your eyes.

Enhance Where You Can

Eyelashes can change a person's entire look. Many mascaras will add volume and curl to your lashes, but nothing makes them stand out like extensions do. Extensions are made from both synthetic and natural materials. There are offerings from temporary to semi-permanent, which can stay on for up to four weeks. Be careful when selecting the length of your extensions. You want something long and beautiful, but you don’t want eyelashes so long that they brush your glasses when you blink.

Pick the Right Frames

Choosing the right frame for your face is crucial. Finding prescription glasses that match your look can add so much to your style. If you choose a frame that is too overpowering or doesn't fit with the shape of your face, they will not only be uncomfortable to wear, but they also won't look good. Bring a friend with you when picking out frames, or ask the advice of a salesperson when making a selection.

Focus on the Brows

Full, manicured brows are the latest trend right now. Microblading has become a very popular option for those looking to enhance their brows without applying makeup every day. If you weren't blessed with perfect brows, make sure to tweeze excess hairs away and fill in with a brow pencil or powder to make them stand out.

Don't Forget the Lips

You may think focusing on the upper portion of your face is how to get your makeup to stand out, but the lips are just as important. If you are self-conscious about your glasses, highlighting your lips can be a great way to go. Make sure to apply a color that matches the style of your frames to achieve an even look. If you have daring glasses, wear a dark red lip color to balance it out. If your frames are more subdued, a neutral lip color will go perfectly with them.

Wearing glasses doesn’t mean that you can’t look stunning, especially if you use the proper techniques to highlight your features. Find a look that works for you and rock that.

1. Keep a supply of water for washing brushes and sponges between faces.
2. Use clips & hair bands to keep hair away from the face
3. Cut sponges into wedges to give you a fine edge, as well as a broad surfaces
4. Rest a hand on the head of the Face Paintee, to keep their head steady
5. Apply lighter colors 1st and allow the 1st color to dry before applying the next color
6. Keep designs simple and age appropriate, remembering that small children may not sit still for long!
7. Keep strokes even & continuous (avoid the temptation to sketch!)
8. Don't hesitate to use stencils if you’re not confident at painting free-hand
9. Consider mixing different paints to create your own colors & shades!
10. For younger kids, describe what you are doing to help reassure them.
11. Keep a mirror nearby. The occasional peak in a mirror will help keep their attention.
12. Add glitter to give designs a finishing touch!

Bonus Tip: Face paint can also be used elsewhere on the body! Use Kiss Freely Face Paints to paint on royal jewels, tiaras, tattoos and hand puppets!

Face painting is not just for kids! Paint yourself & your family (your dog?) and have a great time!

To be perfectly honest, I didn't care how the cake tasted.  Starting at age 3, my daughter asked for a cake with Abbey Cadabby.  Then butterflies, superheroes and peace signs. I have zero artistic ability.  I sincerely struggle to create a straight line. 

My answer has always been, "Sorry baby, I don't think I can make it look like that." We always settled for the icing being the color of the theme. And my daughter was so good about it.  Which somehow makes it worse.

So when I was introduced to Safe Sweets.  I had some hope.  Not a lot of hope but some.  My daughter's allergy list makes cooking and baking pretty challenging.  Spurred on by thoughts of being able to say "yes" to my daughter and fantasies about not baking 2 dozen more cupcakes, I contacted Sherry at Safe Sweets.  After providing the list of allergens, Sherry said she could make a safe cake!  Thinking this was too good to be true, I launched into the usual grilling about cross contamination and ingredients. Sherry totally gets it.  Her own son suffers from celiac disease.  I was getting excited! This might really happen.  My daughter looked at a ton of pictures and picked out a cake covered in peace signs.  She just kept saying, "Can I really have anything?" She was beyond thrilled!  And I did what most allergy moms do, I cried!  (A few hours later I did do a happy dance about not baking more cupcakes but mostly I cried!)

My daughter loved her cake and loved feeling included.  And it tasted great!

With Valentine's day just around the corner, Sherry and I talked about the challenges of inclusion for our kids and kids just like them.  As a result of that conversation, I am thrilled to announce Safe Sweets and Kiss Freely have created a Valentine's Day bundle with adorable top 8 free owl cookies and heart shaped lip gloss.  Stay tuned for details!

Kiss Freely is thrilled to be mentioned along side these fabulous brands. 

http://blog.ctnews.com/vanwilliams/2015/12/06/stocking-stuffers-gifts-for-the-girls/

Our local rec center decided to host cupcakes wars as a fund raiser.  I did what any allergy mom would do, made a mental note to avoid the rec center that day, then got mad and then entered! I am now in the process of coming up with a top 8 free recipe to make for Saturday.

Wish me luck and stay tuned for how it goes!