The Princess and the Pea

Beauty sleep is very important to me...here is an article I wrote about a natural sleep aid a few weeks ago...it helps restore my muscles after yoga, it gives my skin a chance to heal and it keeps my immune system up which is important for my lupus. On chill Friday nights like this, spent watching movies with Mona my dog, I feel like it's very relaxing and healthy to have that "me time". I'm very excited for the weekend ahead of me filled with yoga, hopefully a bike ride if the weather permits, and maximum chill time to catch up on my magazine reading :) I've included a few links to some interesting sleep study articles.

SELF Magazine's sleep benefits article
Lauren Conrad's tips to sleeping your way to skinny

JFDI: Oil Pulling

I'm not going to write a long post about oil pulling, there's way too much info about it on the internet....the skinny is to swish oil in your mouth, like mouthwash, for 15-20 minutes and spit it out in your trash, not down your drain because oil hardens. Coconut oil is antimicrobial and has a mild taste, so I use that. I've seen testimonies on the internet that this type of oral health practice has not only freshened breath and removed plaque, one person claims it cured an already formed cavity. I've also heard that it pulls toxins out of your entire body through your mouth, so it "cures" hangovers! Sounds pretty win win to me. Try it!

Repunzel, Let Down Your Hair!

 I've been getting tons of views per day on my post on how to care for YOUR hair, plus a few e-mails asking for more tips and one girl asked "you really aren't wearing extensions?" The answer, my dear, is no I'm not. This is au natural! I'm not above extensions, the clips ins are fun for a night on the town, but the sewn in weaves and the ones where they bond separate pieces of hair to your roots are harmful to your hair and will damage it...leaving you with less hair, when taken out, then you started with. The questions I've been getting are how do I grow my hair so long...most girls say their hair grows to a certain length, then stops. I'm not sure if your hair KNOWS how long it is...do the ends talk to the roots and one day say "ok it's time to stop producing more hair!". Nope. I reckon girls that think that probably just get frustrated at some point and eventually chop it. The key to long luxurious hair is one word: consistency. I take my Hair, Skin and Nails multi vitamin every night (the magic ingredient in those for hair growth is biotin, so find one with the most mg of biotin and you are set). I've also mentioned I have not used sulfates on my hair in years, I prefer Wen, a cleansing conditioner, but their are others out there as well as sulfate free shampoos that you can choose from. Something else I do is brush Moroccan oil or coconut oil into my hair at bedtime, which means I wash my pillows more frequently, but it keeps the ends strong and split end free. Also, I don't ever sleep with my hair in a bun or ponytail because that causes breakage where the rubber band meets the hair. I may braid my hair, then loosely fasten it with a soft ribbon hair tie because that's less stress on your hair. Castor oil, as I've also mentioned before for oil cleansing face washes, is known to increase hair growth. I put that on my eyebrows and eyelashes every night and once or twice a week, I'll rub some into my scalp at bedtime then wash it out in the morning. Don't be scared this will make your hair look greasy, oils don't cause build up like conditioners do. The most expensive thing I own for my hair is my hair brush. I use a Mason Pearson brush, which costs a whopping $200 but it's lasted me for years. Why is it so important thus expensive? It uses all natural bore bristles for one, which are thin and don't pull on hair too much to detangle. Secondly, it's rubbery base that holds the bristles is cushiony, which is meant to message your scalp AND spreads natural sebum produced by your scalp all the way down the shaft of your hair, which strengthens it. Sold? Thought so. 

{Selfie!}

How To: Use Aromatherapy in an Easy Way

One simple pleasure I enjoy in my home is an ultrasonic oil diffuser. I bought mine at Hi Health for under $40 and use it every night. This little dome uses high-frequency ultrasonic electrical vibrations, not heat, to create the aromatic mist. It not only turns off automatically after the water is gone, it cycles through colors and I love using it as a nightlight when I sleep, and all you need is to fill it with water and 10-15 drops of whatever scent you love. I use lavender at night to relax me and eucalyptus during the day to give me energy. It adds a tad bit of moisture to the air, which is needed in dry Arizona weather, but not as much moisture as a humidifier does which can sometimes be harmful to computers or tv's in the room. I use mine right beside my bed and it's just something that I love and wanted to share. Scents and aromatherapy can often be underestimated, or some don't know how to use them properly, but this gadget is well worth it and fills the entire room with wonderful smells! 

Beauty in the Buns

It's no secret that washing your hair too often will dry it out. I haven't used sulfates in my skin or hair care for a few years...it's what creates bubbles in soaps and shampoos, but it also is what dries out your hair actually making it produce MORE oil, making you think you need to wash it more often. I've said a bit about my hair care in this post, but here is another trick. On days when you are between washes, try getting creative with your style instead of the tell tail "I didn't wash my hair today" pony tail. Something fun and simple that I do is the triple bun. It's very easy but adds something extra when running around town. It looks best with a side part. Braid one side back, then create 3 low pony tails in the back { I like using these hair rubber bands because they are clear } then wrap all 3 pony tails into buns and secure with bobby pins. If it's messy, it actually looks better that way. Voila! You're finished!

 {Sweater by Free People}

{If you want to get REALLY funky, try this style I saw Rihanna rock once!}

Bon Soir

In the last year, I've developed problems sleeping. As an anxious person, if I have ANY additional stress, it keeps me awake at night. Or if I do fall asleep, I often have nightmares about whatever is troubling me and I wake up sometimes up to ten times a night, then having to try to fall back asleep is frustrating. I feel like I cant get into that deep sleep that lets your body heal and your emotions and thoughts you've had throughout the day disperse. I had recently had a rough couple of weeks, so I turned to a psychiatrist who prescribed me RX sleeping pills. They did not work. I started taking them earlier in the evening, thinking that maybe my metabolism was slow and I should give them time to kick in. That did not help. I'm just one of those people that doesn't respond to sleeping pills. I tried binaural beats with a sleep app on my iPad, but falling asleep with headphones on is uncomfortable to say the least. I still fall asleep to guided relaxation meditations I find on youtube, but I've FINALLY found something else that helps me sleep throughout the night naturally. Transdermal, or topical, magnesium has benefits such as relaxation, help sleeping, stress reduction and improved moods. Research shows that the American diet is very deficient in magnesium, but taking it orally can upset your stomach as it acts as a laxative. Applying it therapeutically as an oil on the skin helps it absorb into the cells more efficiently. Magnesium allows muscles to relax and decreases the discomforts of muscle cramping. It is known as the anti stress mineral. It is a natural tranquilizer, even used by some as a deodorant because it relaxes your arm pit glands that produce sweat. For sleep, I put it on my feet, then I add a few drops of jojoba oil and put socks on. I've had the best sleep in my life and it's much needed for me because if I don't get enough sleep I look horrible and my lupus symptoms increase. Hope this helps you, sleeping beauty!

xo, L

How To: Care For YOUR Hair Type

Everybody is different. Some skin and hair care that may work for me wont work for everyone. The first step in determining how to tailor your hair care is to figure out what type of hair you have. Obviously, it's easy to tell just by touch if your hair is thick or thin. But the most important thing you need to know to get the best out of your hair is if you have porous or low porosity hair. A simple trick is to get a bowl of room temp water and drop a piece of your hair lightly on top. If it is still floating on top of the water after 2-5 minutes, your hair is not porous. If it sinks, you have high porosity. Neither one is better or worse, it's just important to know so you can treat your hair accordingly.

Low Porosity Hair Care:

If your hair is not very porous, it means it has a hard time holding onto moisture. You need to be using light hair products with humectants. Heavy conditioners are not for you, they will sit on top of your hair making it feel waxy and weighed down. If you love hair masks, like I do, utilize heat (wrap a wet towel around your hair that is hot) because heat opens up the pores, letting the hair absorb the mask. Another trick is using a pre-cleansing treatment. I do this all of the time. Using a hair penetrating oil, like coconut oil, several hours before you wash your hair can add softness and moisture to your hair. But because you wash it after, it doesn't turn out greasy. Oils don't create build up like conditioners can, which is good because hair with low porosity tends to easily get build up when using the wrong products, like thick conditioners. If you often get tangles in your hair, jojoba, sunflower or grapeseed oils are great for that when used as a pre-shampoo treatment.

High Porosity Hair Care:

If you have this type of hair, you may find it tends to get frizzy, especially when exposed to humid weather. The trick to keeping high porous hair smooth and frizz free is to use anti-humectant products, that way hair doesn't absorb any moisture in the air. Because this type of hair can also lose moisture very easily, it is important to use leave in conditioners, moisturizers and sealers before styling. Another thing to keep in mind, which is the exact opposite to low porous hair, is that heat is NOT your friend. Your hair cuticles are already open so over styling with blow dryers and curling irons make your hair damaged easily. To get the most out of porous hair, you need to use things to fill in "the gap" so try an avocado deep conditioning mask. And when choosing products, look for things high in protein such as aloe or wheat protein. Another trick for protecting high porous hair is to shower before you get in the pool. I know it sounds counterintuitive, but your hair will soak up the water from the shower easily leaving little room to absorb chlorine.

{ Here is me with my low porous hair! No matter what type of hair you have, use a hat to protect it if you are going to be in the sun! }

No Yoga, No Peace. Know Yoga, Know Peace!

I started doing yoga in college and ever since then it's been a constant savior in my life. I love hot yoga, so I go to Sumit yoga where the instructors are incredible and kind plus they play music so when I feel like I can't take it anymore, the music is a huge motivator. Every day I do yoga is different. Some days, it's a breeze. Then my next class feels like torture! One particular time, I was having a rough class, it was just harder for me than usual, so my mind kept obsessing over leaving early. Just at that moment, the instructor said "If you feel like leaving early, you probably need it the most". WTF? I had no idea yoga instructors could read minds, but apparently they can! What yoga is for me is a time of reflection. Literal reflection, as you lock eyes with yourself in the mirror, and also inner reflection when I try to leave my worries behind and just focus on breathing. It helps me sleep, calms my nervous energy and gives me a great sense of accomplishment. I've recently started Transcendental Meditation and I feel that wouldn't have been possible for me if I didn't have years of yoga practice under my belt. It's trained my brain to have the discipline to make it through 90 minutes without fidgeting and the shavasana relaxation with no thoughts is much like my state of being when I'm meditating. If you've never tried yoga, I urge you to go and I dare you not to get hooked! Here are some photos of me doing yoga in Sedona, AZ. 

The little blondie is my sister who just got recognized as the Sumit Yogi of the Month #proudsister :) Namaste!

 { The Light within me honors the Light within you }

 { above, dancer's pose or bow pulling pose. below, flipped downward dog }

 { My little sister! She gets up and makes it to the 5:30am class before school. So proud of her! }

 { All yogi wear is LuluLemon }

Love is in the Hair!

Many friends of mine ask me how I can grow my hair so long. They say their hair only grows to a certain point than stops. In my opinion, that problem can be solved by two things. First, using sulfate free shampoo ( I prefer Wen ) makes your hair stronger thus letting your hair grow longer because the ends aren't breaking off. Also, adding coconut oil or Moroccan oil when it's wet or when you are done styling helps prevent breakage. The second trick I use is vitamins! I have seen that Kim Kardashian has been promoting a specific brand of hair vitamin (check out her instagram) but I use a traditional one that you can get at any health food store called Skin, Hair and Nails. It's a multi vitamin and the magic ingredient that makes your hair grow is Biotin. The key is consistency! I remember to take my vitamins every night and I truly see a difference in how fast my nails and hair grows as opposed to the months when I've been forgetful about taking them. I've tried it all, the hair extensions, the Brazilian blowouts....but I've ultimately learned that less is more when it comes to hair. Wen is a tad pricey, but it's technically a two in one since it's a cleansing conditioner. And when I have nothing to do and nowhere to be, I'll put coconut oil on my ends, put it in a bun and let it soak in overnight! For people wondering how I style my hair in my "Hollywood curl" look, I use a curling wand (a curling iron without the clamp) then I brush it out. No need for hairspray if you have thick hair, and if you have thin hair I recommend L'oreal Elnett because it smells great, it's light hold and it's French!
Hope this helps all y'all who are wanting fab hair!

xo, L

{ Here's a pic of me + my hair from a Love Bullet photo shoot! }

Castor Oil: The Miracle Maker

I've had problems with my skin for ages! From Lupus rashes to breakouts, it's been a constant struggle for me since I was a teenager. When I would break out, I thought the way to cure it was with drying agents such as toners, sulfur, or benzoyl peroxide which only made things worse by making my skin flake out and making the problem harder to cover up with make up. I would have never believed you if you told me that putting OIL on my skin would make things better. The truth is quite the opposite. When you dry out your skin, it over compensates by producing even more oil. But really, oil dissolves oil! And when you are using Castor oil, it not only is moisturizing, but it is anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory. The concept behind oil cleansing is that the oil you rub on your face will dissolve the oil and impurities stuck in your pores and the steam of the hot water on the wash clothe will open your pores and help get rid of the bad stuff. For this cleansing method, you only need 3 things: Castor oil, a secondary oil (I use Jojoba) and a wash clothe. The reason for the secondary oil is because Castor oil itself is so thick, it needs another oil in the combo to help it absorb into your skin and moisturize it. The mixture should be 1/3 Castor oil and 2/3 the other oil of your choice...I choose Jojoba oil because it is less likely to cause break outs. Here's the drill:

 { Mix 1/3 Castor oil and 2/3 of the secondary oil in the palm of your hand. Rub them together in your hands, which warms them up }

 { Massage the oil mixtures on your face and neck for about two minutes, rubbing them into the places on your face that are especially oily or have blackheads, such as your nose. Let the mixture of oils sit on your face, doing it's magic, for 5 to 10 minutes }

 { Run hot water and put it on the wash clothes..put it on your face -as hot as you can stand it -to help open your pores and remove the hardened oil  and toxins }

 { Take the ends of the wash clothe and remove the rest of the oil...it's ok if you still feel a tad of oil still on your skin, it wont clog your pores, it will help moisturize it . I also put straight Castor oil on my eyebrows and lashes as it helps stimulate hair growth... I'll blog more about that later }

{ Voila! All finished! }

Work with what your Mama gave ya!

Welcome to my new blog Beauty is a Biotch! My name is Lauren and I am just a regular girl who has figured out what works for my beauty and health regimen over many years of trial and error. With so many beauty blogs out there, why trust me? My main concern has been my skin since 5th grade. After many dermatologists appointments, severe prescription creams, which only made my skin drier and harder to cover up with make up, AND prescription pills such as antibiotics which upset my stomach and never helped...I've finally found what works for me now that I just turned thirty. In my early twenties, I discovered I have Lupus, which explains why I am so sensitive to the sun, why I get rashes when I am stressed, and why my skin has always been a problem. I've tried $100+ creams, thousand dollar weeklong raw food workshops, you name it! I'm finally finding a balance between a healthy, spiritual lifestyle and giving myself cheat days with my diet and keeping the fun in life! Lately, I've been finding the things my friends and I chat about the most are new healthy recipes for ourselves and our dogs, all natural face masks, and all things that enhance your health and beauty. Since no woman is the same, I love comparing notes with them and I will share their advice as well as have plenty of guest bloggers! Welcome to my journey of becoming the best version of myself so here's to health and wellness!