PLAN AHEAD LIKE A *DIVA*

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Essential Diva Beauty

Never leave home
without them!

I told you  about how I remembered  phasing into wearing makeup as a teenager. It used to be a way for me to cover acne and of course look pretty like every other teenage girl I swore who looked better than me. It seemed I was the only one who had bad skin back then but it wasn't true. It was also a way for me to learn how to spend money wisely on personal items. Thankfully, cosmetics are much easier to find nowadays, there are more brands to choose from and there is a wider price range to suit everyone's budget.

I still have my occasional bouts of adult acne especially when stress levels are high or I've given in to too many sweet, salty, oily temptations. I don't use makeup to hide behind anymore instead I use it to cover and even out any spots or discolorations. I like to define and enhance my appearance when using cosmetics. I prefer a more natural look with hints of color.

Whether or not you do a full application process using every liner, stick, powder, and blush or you're just a one tool carrying girl, we all have our basic essentials----'glamorous at a drops notice.' hidden somewhere in that bag. They stay there and you will definitely dump EVERYTHING out to get to them.

LA COLORS EYELINER/BROW PENCIL

Here's what's usually included in my on-the-go-kit:

• Black Eyeliner (of course)
• Eyebrow/Lash Brush
• Tinted Lip Gloss
• Face Powder
• All Over Shimmer Stick

 I don't buy long eyeliner pencils anymore, because they always broke in my bags. I usually wear jet black, but have tried many other colors such as midnight blue and grape purple.
A sharp point is a must for your eyeliner to give you the defining lines you want. Its better to  purchase an eyeliner that comes with its own sharpener or is self sharpening.

Lip balm is also a great substitute for lip gloss and it's healthy for your lips. Rub a little on your finger and use as a spot moisturizer.

What do you DIVAS keep in your on-the-go-kit and never leave home without? Let us know.

Diva Beauty on a Dime Budget

I've always enjoyed wearing makeup.

 As a teenager I first starting using my face as a canvas to hide all the image destroying zits that sparsely covered my forehead and formed in patches on my cheeks. Naturally, at the time of my face painting phase, I was unaware of the scientific improvements being made to treat acne that would eventually appear first in the doctors office as Retin A. Meanwhile I continued to strip all the natural oils from my skin by over washing my face with soap, and further drying it out by applying rubbing alcohol to my zits. This is not a good idea. Sometimes my face was so tight and dry in places it hurt and then I ironically ended up applying some kind of oil (petroleum jelly aka Vaseline or regular baby oil) to soothe and restore the obviously necessary moisture back to my skin. Yes, the teenage years; I've since learned much healthier skincare methods.

Cosmetics always have been and still are an expense for most women when adapting a budget. The Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) jobs I worked as a teen enabled me to start purchasing make up on my own. When I got my first close up look at the price of cosmetics, I realized getting pretty was going to be pretty expensive, and as expected, along the way, there were a few expensive mistakes made. How I wish the idea of the tester trays had caught on more back then.

 In the early eighties, most cosmetics were sold in chain stores like F.W. Woolworth (now Footlocker) or major department stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's or the more affordable Alexander's (I'll reminisce about Alexander's another blog). I didn't even know places like Sephora existed and any local store or neighborhood bodega had a very minuscule stock and basically nothing for someone of  medium to darker skin tones such as my own. I may have been gainfully employed, but at age 14 I really still wasn't allowed to go shopping in a store alone and really wasn't supposed to be buying makeup, thus began what I called my "Teenage girl's mission to go shopping for---".  As soon as I got paid I hit the stores.

Now fast forward to present day. While the business of beauty is booming unfortunately the economy has not been wonderful to all of our pockets. Still if you shop around you can find products to fit every budget.

When you have an extremely tight budget, you should focus on your best features and spend your money on the products that will enhance them.

Five Tips for Budget Beauty 

• It's always good to experiment, but when you find a brand you like, stick with it. This way you'll have an estimate of what you will be spending when you run out.

•  Check the Sunday news for health and beauty store sales like CVS, Walgreen, or Rite Aid. Look for discounts and coupons in magazines....yes, I said magazines like the paper ones which I still prefer because they come with lots of free samples. Store circulars also carry coupons for cosmetics and of course all that annoying paper that person keeps stuffing in your mailbox is worth looking through sometimes.

• Know your skin type before you buy and take the time to read the ingredients. Why buy something if it makes your skin look and feel worse.

• Purchase multi-functional products like an all over cover stick and buy in bulk when you can.

• Stock up as much as possible so you can still look good in hard times.

 Whatever the amount of your beauty allowance, invest in the products you apply the most, and go less expensive on items you may only use for special occasions.

 Stay looking good in a tough economy.

Check out your local Dollar Tree for many of these products for one dollar!

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The Sweet Smell of a Diva (YOU)

Suddenly being or becoming a housewife is considered glamorous. A far cry from the perfection of the Donna Reed era, housewives have come a long way from the frumpy Roseanne Barr days.

Popping up all over the country,  from Beverly Hills, to Jersey, to Atlanta, housewives are no longer wearing sweat pants and mom jeans. Instead, the latest attire for making a grocery stop is a pair of skinny jeans and sexy stilettos and lets not forget the Jackie O sized sunglasses with the fabulous housewife hair. You can be assured when they are occupying the same space as you, a whiff of a special scent will delight your nose.

Which housewife (scent) are you?

Chic and Sophisticated*

Hot and Raunchy*

Sweet and Sassy*

Wild and Sexy*

 Love these perfumes?

Describe what makes you match any one of the four beloved scents shown and you could receive one FREE!!!

*Just pay $7.99 shipping

Limited to product availability

Note: Masquerade by Bob Mackie is a scented lotion not a perfume.

Diva Lynn Skin Care

Seasonal Skincare Tips for Healthy and Beautiful Skin

Caring for your skin properly is a year round job. Depending on your skin type: Dry, Normal, Oily, or Combination, the weather can put stress, wear and tear on your epidermis. No matter which is your skin  type, Diva Lynn has some simple tips for warm weather  skincare.

Tip#1
Help care for and protect your skin with a gentle cleanser. Try not to use body soap.

Tip#2
Regular exfoliating using a mild facial scrub will remove dead skin cells for a smoother feel.

Tip#3
Diminish the look of large pores with a skin toner such as witch hazel.

Tip#4
Always follow up with a moisturizer and continue to apply throughout the day.

Over exposure to the sun can have lasting harmful effects on your skin. Apply sun screen with an SPF of 30 or more.

Diva Lynn recommends giving yourself a home spa treatment.   

Covering up in the winter doesn’t mean ignoring your skin. The cold weather can be brutal on your skin with wind and cold, drying it as much as the sun. To keep your skin looking healthy and beautiful all year long,

remember:

• cleanse
• exfoliate
• tone
• moisturize 

Try an essential to get you started and receive a free facial puff

 

AVAILABLE NOW!

$4.00

plus shipping

Get Your Diva Drink On

It can't be said enough if you haven't already heard it before. Drink plenty of water throughout your day. You probably drink a lot more water in the warmer months but drinking the same amount of water all year round keeps your body well hydrated and helps to release all of the yucky toxins that our body doesn't need. Plus it has no calories! What can be better than that? Whether it's bottled purified, spring, or straight from the tap it all taste good. And if you must have flavor, add a low calorie sugar free sweetener.

Still the best drink in town

• try to drink between 6-8 glasses a day
• Always carry an empty bottle to fill whenever thirsty
• Keep flavored low calorie-sugar-free sweeteners handy