tips on Tuesday- hair, skin, & being healthier (1.10.23)

Happy Tuesday, friends! I thought I'd share a few tips on this beautiful Tuesday. You can already guess by the title as to what I'll be writing about today, but I'll share them again anyway—I'll be sharing about hair products, skin care lotions and oils that I love, and what I've been doing to be a healthier version of myself. If you see a link, I've included one that will direct you to Amazon so that you can check things out for yourself. 

I'll start with hair. Most of us have dry everything in the colder months of the year, whether it's our hair or skin. Because my hair is curly and long, I can get away with washing it every three showers. I will get it wet and use conditioner, but I only do that to help with the tangling. 

Did you know that really hot water can cause damage to your hair? I didn't know that and was told that by a hair stylist. Since I learned that, I don't use hot water to rinse my hair, I just use warm or cool water depending on the weather. I don't use expensive products on my hair, because I really believe that for every expensive brand of something, there's a dupe that's equally as good. So, I only use products that can be bought at Target or Walgreens. I use Tresemme mousse for my hair, and lately I've started using a curl cream—the Marc Anthony brand. Did you know that you don't have to buy detangling spray? All it is is about 1/3 parts conditioner to 2/3 part water, so I make my own, then I use a Wet Brush that looks like an old fashioned vent brush. Speaking of conditioner, my shampoo and conditioner are both from Amazon. Here's a link for the conditioner that I love. 

I think anyone can achieve some wave by washing their hair at night and going to bed while it's wet. This can be achieved by sleeping in braids, or you could make a loose top knot bun at the top of it after you put something in it to help give it some curl. You could use a beach spray type product like this one in the morning, and scrunch it after you've taken it down with your head flipped over as you get dressed in the morning. You could also try using a blow dryer with a diffuser, or even a beach wave curing iron. I feel like anyone can have wavy hair, but it's easier to do if your hair is dirty, so if it feels to clean, you  could try using dry shampoo to give it some texture. I do that sometimes even now, because my hair always gets frizzy when it feels too clean. These kinds of things would be great to try on your second or third day hair.

I love skin care products, but this is also something I don't spend a lot of money on. I've told you before that I use coconut oil to remove my makeup at night. I melt it in my hands, since it's a solid, and rub it all over my face and let it melt my makeup off. Any that is left on my hands, I rub all over my arms and elbows. I let it sit for a few minutes, then I wipe it off with a washcloth, or I let it "melt" as I take a shower. That's actually my favorite thing to do. I use some of the Thayer's witch hazel toner to remove any excess makeup after removing it with coconut oil. There is always some left over, so that's an important step. After all of that and when my face has air dried, I moisturize with Cerave. I buy this at Target or Walmart. I moisturize before bed and again the next morning before I put my makeup on. 

I know that this isn't technically a skin care product, but it has to do with what I want to say about your lips, which is to keep them moisturized. This is my favorite thing to use, or this same brand that is called Total Hydration. Even the best of lipstick brands can't cover up dry, cracked lips. Did you ever watch my lipstick tutorial video that I made at the end of 2022? You can find it here. 

Another thing that is important to do is to drink plenty of water. Drinking water is my cure for most ailments. If your head hurts, you're probably dehydrated. I guarantee you that you probably don't drink enough water. I don't either, and it's all I drink all day long, every day. This is why you always see me carrying my water bottle with the rope handle. This is before I started covering it with stickers, of which I just ordered more. Apparently, I spent too many years with teenagers, because I act like I'm one. 🤣 

Two more things having to do with skin care, and the first is that I am an oily girl. I add drops of oil to my makeup in the morning (pictured right below), I have added them to my moisturizer, and I use the oils in the second picture on my pillow at night if my stomach or head hurts. I love these from Amazon. 

I mentioned this cuticle oil last week, also from Amazon, that I use for my hands and feet. 

I've been talking about how I've changed my eating habits recently, because my husband has inspired me. He has lost over 65 pounds, and looks great. He eats low sugar, low calorie, and low carbs. Think lots of protein and eating every two or three hours. 

Though that is great for him, it does not work for me. So, I drink a protein drink for breakfast, I'll eat something snack-like for lunch (maybe some turkey slices from the deli, a little bit of cheese, some fruit and tortilla chips with guacamole or hummus), and a dinner with meat and vegetables or a starchy food, like a baked potato. I am also eating gluten free, since it's a well known cause for inflammation in the body. In cutting that out, I've not had aches and pains. If I need a snack, and I often do, I'll eat a handful of walnuts, almonds, or a protein bar. 

I do not drink my calories, I drink water or zero sugar drinks, and I've even perfected my coffee by using a tiny amount of raw honey, some cinnamon, and zero sugar refrigerated creamer. Additionally, we take vitamins and supplements. Each day we all take vitamin d3, vitamin c, I take calcium, we all take zinc, and Todd and I take turmeric, which is a natural anti-inflammatory. I'm refusing to step on a scale, so I don't know how much weight I've lost, but that isn't the point. The point is that I feel great, my clothes are getting big on me, especially my jeans, and I feel like everything looks better on me, including my hair and skin. I think it all has to do with eating healthier and in taking vitamins and supplements. I'm also moving more. I go upstairs more times during the day, I am getting up and walking more, whether outside or on our treadmill, and I'm not sitting for long periods of time. 

There isn't really anything here that you don't know or that's life changing, but I've just learned that some of these things work great for me. A lot of you are sweet to compliment me, and I appreciate your kind words. I love sharing what works for me right now, as far as hair, skin, and being healthier. Speaking of what works for me, you should come back tomorrow when I share about what is working for me so far this month, which is a new blog series I'm doing this year that I titled "words to live by". I hope this was helpful to someone today...I know I've been on the receiving end of that and it's nice to pass it along. Thanks for reading my blog, friends! Love to all. 

*I am an Amazon affiliate and make a small percentage of any purchase you make through using a link that I share. Thanks for that!