Coconut Oil : An All In One Product

Coconut oil is an incredible product that can be used in multiple ways to amp up your beauty routine.  It makes a fantastic body moisturizer, and is surprisingly quick to absorb.  I also like to slather it on my face before bed when my skin is feeling a bit tight and dry.  Coconut Oil can also be used as a deep conditioner or hair treatment.  Simply coat your locks and leave it in for twenty minutes or so, and then shampoo and condition as normal.  I tend to use it on the length of my hair, not the scalp because it can leave your hair greasy if you apply it near the roots.  You can also use a small portion of this magical stuff on the very ends of your hair in place of a hair serum before heat styling.

Perhaps my favorite way to use coconut oil is as a body exfoliant.  Mix a bit of this with some sea salt or kosher salt and scrub away the dead skin on your body in the shower.  The abrasiveness of the salt mixed with the moisture of the oil will leave your skin feeling smooth and soft.  You can also mix this with a bit of brown sugar for a lip exfoliant.  Salt would also work on the lips, but speaking from personal experience, brown sugar tastes much better because lip scrubs have a way getting all up in your grill.  Coconut oil also smells amazing, although the scent does not last terribly long on the skin.  At around ten dollars for a tub of this stuff, you can't go wrong.  Give it a try.  You know you want to.

-Petra

My Favorite Red Lipsticks

I am a bit obsessed with bright lipsticks (much to my husband's dismay).  I love hot pinks, purple hues, oranges...but my heart lies with red.  I can't get enough of red lipstick, especially as the weather is warming up.  Bright lipstick is a great way to instantly look put together.  I love that I can just slap on a bit of tinted moisturizer and mascara and have the focus be on the lip.  Five minute makeup, BOOM.  Here is a list of my favorite red lip colors!

Nars Heatwave Lipstick  is my all time favorite red.  I read in a magazine a few years ago that this is one of the colors makeup artists used on JCrew models and have always loved the bright poppy lips the girls sport in the pictures.  I have been hooked since.  Heatwave leans towards the orange side of things, so it really stands out.  Another spectacular choice if a true red is what you are after is Nars Jungle Red Lipstick.The texture of these lipsticks is amazeballs.  They have a semi matte finish, so they stay put for several hours without being too drying.  Excellent work, Nars.

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil is another home run.  The shade is a classic bright red with blue undertones which makes your teeth look incredibly white, and who doesn't want that?  The texture is matte, but doesn't crumble on your lips or get stuck in the crevices as easily as most true matte lipsticks do.  The pencil like shape of this lipstick makes application a dream.  I don't usually bother with liner because I personally like the slightly lived in slap on and go look of applying red lipstick without one.  It makes it feel more casual and day time appropriate.  However, when I am concerned with a truly perfect application, this product makes it so easy!

Hourglass Liquid Lipstick in Raven is a beautiful matte orange red color.  This is one of the longest lasting products I have ever tried.  It does feel quite drying on the lips, so I tend to reserve this for when I won't be able to reapply often.  You can put this stuff on and it will stay with you through hours of dinner and drinks.

Aqualillies for Tarte Amazonian Clay Lipstick in Timeless is fairly new in the rotation, and unfortunately is limited edition.  It is a coral red with a semi matte finish.  The color is gorgeous, and is easier to wear than the previously mentioned colors because it isn't quite as in your face.  The staying power is decent, although you will need to reapply after eating and drinking.  It feels fairly moisturizing for a semi matte lipstick, and I have been really enjoying this product lately.

(From Left to Right)

Nars Heatwave, Nars Jungle Red, Nars Dragon Girl, Hourglass Raven, Tarte Timeless

I would suggest checking any of these incredible shades out, but if you aren't sure you can commit to a full on lip, stay tuned!  Part two of this post will be coming soon and will feature lighter, more sheer alternatives.

-Petra