The Magic of Coconut Oil

I started using coconut oil in my homemade body scrubs a year or so ago. This stuff moisturizes like nothing I have ever used before! I, unfortunately, have inherited my mother's dry skin so I have been on the hunt for most of my life for the perfect moisturizer. I do believe I have finally found it!

In certain parts of the world women have long since been using coconut oil on their hair and skin. Why is western society just now catching on? We've always been told that oils and fats were "bad for our skin" and "bad for our hair". Why do pacific islander women have such beautiful, shiny hair and glowing complexions? Coconut oil!!!

This jar has lasted a year for me!

You can buy coconut oil at any health foods store. Be sure to get 100% virgin, natural, unscented, unprocessed oil. It will be solid at first so you will need to heat it up in hot water, in the microwave or in a double boiler. After it cools it will return to solid form.

Here are some ways to start using your new favorite product:

Hair: When you need a deep conditioning treatment, heat up your oil and apply it to your hair while damp (root to tip) and leave it on for 15-20 minutes or overnight. Then shampoo your hair and style as you normally do. You can also use it as a leave in treatment to tame frizz or fly-away hairs. Remember that a little goes a long way. You don't want to walk out of the house looking like a greaser.



Body: As soon as you get out of the bath or shower, while your skin is still damp, apply the oil all over your body to lock in moisture and give you superior smoothness. I like to add a little bit of oil to my bath... but don't plan on shaving or washing your hair with oil in your bath- yuck!


Face: Throw out your old, ineffective, water-based moisturizers and use coconut oil instead. Again- a little goes a long way! You will be amazed at how well your makeup blends and how much softer your complexion is! It is supposed to be good for acne prone skin as well. A word of caution- if your pores are clogged it will cause you to purge for a week or two. Don't despair! It will clear up once  your skin gets used to it!

Building Your Makeup Kit

I guess it has been nearly a year since my last post. So many things have happened including the launch of my own business here in Houston, TX. Check it out at www.kenzieandco.com!

As a professional makeup artist many people, including my clients, ask me what my favorite makeup items are so I've decided to put together a list:

Foundation:  M.A.C. Studio Fix (pressed powder)


Blush:  NARS "Orgasm" (Looks great on almost everyone!)


Bronzer/Contour: Benefit "HOOLA" (This is a fantastic mid-tone, matte bronzer!)


Eyeliner:  M.A.C. Fluidline "Blacktrack" or Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Pencils "Zero"


Mascara:  Maybelline Great Lash "Very Black" Water Proof (Old faithful)


Lip Wear:  Clinique "Rootbear" superbalm moisturizing lip balm (This is a great, natural looking lip gloss!)

             
Eye Shadow:  Urban Decay Naked and Naked II palettes


My tip for you would be to gradually build up your makeup collection. Start with one item, aquaint yourself with it and perfect your look. Then move on to the next one and do the same.

Scrub-A-Dub-Dub

What woman doesn't want soft, glowing, perfectly moisturized skin?

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE exfoliating scrubs! I've done some research and found some great Do It Yourself homemade scrubs that are really easy and inexpensive to create.


Brown Sugar Vanilla Coconut Scrub


This one smells a lot like suntan lotion! It's a great summer scent!

• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup coconut oil. 
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Container to store your new favorite body scrub (you can use a canning jar which you can purchase at most grocery stores or plastic containers (which is what I use) from Hobby Lobby, Michael's or most craft supply stores.

Start by adding the brown sugar in your container. Mix in the coconut oil until the mixture is even. Finally, add in your vanilla extract, stir and close tightly.

Soothing Scrub2/3 cup ground nuts or seeds (walnuts are great for oily skin)

Great for peeling, rough, sun tanned skin!

• 1/3 cup oatmeal
• Enough liquid to make a paste (water, rose water or aloe vera)
• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon lavender
• Container with lid

Combine the dry ingredients in a blender until they are reduced to a coarse meal. Pour the meal into a glass jar with a screw top. When you want to have a body scrub, scoop out about 1/4 cup‚s worth of the meal, and place it in a bowl. Stir in enough of the liquid to make a paste. Store in your favorite container and freeze.

Chocolate Souflee Scrub

• 1/2 cup white, granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup of Cocoa powder
• Container with lid

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl, then slowly add the oil and mix until completely blended. Store in a container with a tight lid so that it doesn't solidify.

You can add any your favorite scents with essential oils which can be found at most health food stores along with the coconut oil and rose water.

Have fun and get creative with your scrubs!
 

 

10 Minute Easy Evening Beauty Regime

All of us want to look young and beautiful.  As they say, Rome wasn't built in a day, and if you want to look your best you should follow not just an efficient beauty regime, but also a regular one.

Instead of spending money on artificial and expensive treatments, here is a simple schedule to groom yourself naturally. Just before you go to bed, allot a period of ten minutes which is all it takes to keep you looking young and fresh.

Take Care of Those Tootsies!

Feeling terrible after a tiring day? As soon as you return home, soak your feet in a tub or bucket of warm water mixed with a handful of fragrant bath salts. After 10 minutes, wash your feet with soap and water. Follow up with some of your favorite lotion (I like a peppermint lotion for my feet) and cover those doggies with your favorite, comfy socks.

Exfoliate the day away!

Cleansing your face before going to bed is essential to take away the dirt you might have picked up during your hectic day. Walnut scrub is ideal for oily skin. Make sure you scrub your face in a circular motion and rinse with cold water to close the pores. Always follow up with moisturizer. For those of us with dry or sensitive skin dab on a little bit of baby oil after you rinse and follow it up with a light, unscented moisturizing night cream like Cetaphil (my favorite).

Tame That Mane!

While oil is not the elixir of life to hair, it is an essential part of keeping it well conditioned and supple. Heat a little amount of oil (olive oil, almond oil, or plain old coconut oil) by placing it in a small container and swirling it in hot water. After the oil gets considerably hot, massage the scalp with your fingertips for at least 8 - 10 minutes. Leave oil overnight and wash in the morning with shampoo to get better results.

Eyes, Eyebrows and Eyelashes Oh My!

Applying pure castor oil to your eyebrows and eyelashes, particularly those with scanty growth, will make them grow thicker and longer. For tired or puffy eyes, place a cotton pad soaked in chilled rose water or apply thin slices of chilled cucumber to sooth those puffs away.

A Little Lip Service Is Sure To Go a Long Way!

Brushing your lips with your toothbrush just after you've brushed your teeth will help to exfoliate your lips and prepare them for a smoother lipstick application or for some kissing action. My husband always comments on how soft my lips are! A little smear of Vaseline on your lips at bed time will have you wondering why you never used it before...

And the winner is...

Congratulations, Alex! You are the winner of the January beauty product giveaway! Thank you for reading and enjoy!

Pretty Princess Hair Styling Tutorial

This is the first installment of many hair styling tutorials to come.

I had such a cute little model to work with this week who was so excited to get her hair done... can't tell by her face... ha, ha, ha!

She had no input on a specific hairstyle she wanted to try so I decided that with her gorgeous, long, incredibly straight hair that I would give her what I call the "Pretty Princess" style. I drew my inspiration from the movie "The Princess Bride". (see picture below)

I will use my lovely hair mannequin, Gwen, to demonstrate how we achieved this adorable look.

Supplies: Medium to large barrel curling iron, hairspray, tail comb, brush, bobby pins, 4 clips to section hair off and a head of hair to style.

Step 1:  Hair must be dry and detangled. It is best to work with hair that is not freshly washed because clean hair tends to be slippery and not as easily manipulated. It is always good to have a little product in the hair as well.

Step 2: Using the tip of your tail comb part bangs down the middle and clip them up and out of the way. If your model does not have bangs then section off the area just in front of the ears (at the front of the crown) and above the ears as shown in the picture below.

Step 3: Create and clip out of the way the hair at the crown of the head and another section just below the crown and about 2 inches above the nape of the neck.

You should now have the front of the hair (bangs) parted in the middle and clipped out of the way and 2 sections of hair clipped up with the last section hanging down and ready to curl.




Step 4: Starting with the bottom section of hair pull out about a 2 inch section of hair to curl. Start with your barrel at the top of the hair near the scalp to create body. Hold this position for a couple of seconds and then with the hair still in the barrel pull the iron down and roll it back up. We are going to curl the hair in the direction away from the face. Working from the bottom section up, curl all of your model's hair. Wait a few minutes for the hair to cool completely and then spritz with light hairspray for hold.

                        

For a wavy look leave about 1.5 inches of hair out of the barrel.

                          

Step 5: Before letting your bang/front sections down clip the hair behind it back and out of the way. Begin your braid at the top of the part. French braid the section until you run out of hair to pull from then, continue braiding normally until you have about 4 inches of hair left. Pin this hair up and out of the way and do the other side.

Step 6: Bring both braids to the back of the head and cross them over one another. Using two bobby pins pin the hair in place. I use a crossing pattern because it is a more secure hold and.... it's kinda cute. 

Step 7: Lightly tousle the hair to loosen the curls and spritz with a light hold hairspray. Now you have the "Pretty Princess" look!

                         

What a doll! She looks happy now! She was twirling around after our session exclaiming, "I just LOVE my hair!"

I hope you have enjoyed this tutorial! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask. As a side note, I'm thinking the next tutorials will be in video form....

Hair Tutorials

This weekend I will post the first of my hair tutorial sessions. Stay tuned for more... Be sure to sign up as a member or follow me via email to get your updates.