NO MORE TOXIC BEAUTY!

Many well-known beauty products are filled with harsh chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors, fragrances and in some cases, carcinogens. Did you know, many personal care products we apply to our skin are ABSORBED into OUR BLOODSTREAM?

While the average female is aiming to improve her skin and hair condition, she is unknowingly HARMING herself each time she uses toxic ingredients, including deodorant, soap, shampoo, moisturizer, body wash, mascara, foundation and the list is ENDLESS. According to the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database, "Some companies use ingredients that may cause cancer or that are associated with developmental problems. Many cosmetics ingredients penetrate the skin. People ingest those used on lips and hands and inhale sprays and powders. When risky and unstudied chemicals are used in cosmetics, the stakes are high."

As a Licensed beauty professional with over 25 years experience in the beauty industry, I'm taking a firm stand to say, "NO MORE TOXIC BEAUTY!" The most IMPORTANT KEY to ensuring safe, pure and non-toxic ingredients is EDUCATING ourselves. If you are uncertain of which ingredients are safe or unsafe, check out SKIN DEEP COSMETICS DATABASE to learn more. What I love about the Skin Deep Cosmetics Database is the amazing information right at my fingertips! Their link is http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ and sign up for their free email to receive informative updates.

Another non-toxic personal care business I highly recommend is AVA ANDERSON NON-TOXIC BEAUTY, which was developed by a savvy 14 year old who discovered the hazardous health effects of harsh chemicals contained in personal care products. Rather than expose herself to toxic ingredients, Ava Anderson began researching companies who claimed to be "pure" and "organic", yet, the bottle labels read otherwise.

After Ava exhausted all efforts in search of safe, organic ingredients, she launched out to create her own 100% non-toxic line of products. In December 2009, Ava’s personal care company was launched and it has been GROWING and GROWING ever since!

Girly Girls, we only have ONE life to live....let's choose NON-TOXIC!

To learn more about Ava Anderson Non-Toxic, please visit: http://avaandersonnontoxic.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzZOmbToVTg&feature=share



Copyright © 2008-2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved. No part of this blog can be reproduced, copied or distributed without express written permission of the Author.

Beauty Regime: LESS is Best!

How many females are slaves to their hair? I used to be, but for the past six years, I only shampoo and condition my hair every three days. This promotes my hair color to last longer, less heat damage to my hair/via the hair dryer, which means LESS work, time, energy & money! An EXTRA bonus is your beauty products last even longer! When I need to dash out the door with no time to spare, I opt for natural bouncy, curly locks, instead of smoothing my hair with a flat iron. It not only saves time, it provides a much softer appearance!

Makeup: If I'm planning on staying home, NO makeup; only lip balm or gloss. To keep my makeup to a minimum on days I'm rushed, I quickly apply one "eye brightening" shade of eyeshadow, a few coats of black mascara only on the top lashes and I skip eyeliner. This little makeup trick creates the appearance of larger eyes and is excellent for smaller eye shapes. If I'm planning on working, going out or to an appointment, I do apply makeup, but it could be the bare minimal to a full makeover, depending on exactly where I'm headed! For a wedding or Girls Night Out, I go all out! :)

Hands & Feet: My toenails are ALWAYS painted.....it's just one of those things I do, but my fingernails are rarely painted.....too much time, too much work & my hands are in water so often it causes frequent chipping. What I prefer is a basic manicure with a strengthening base coat and a shiny top coat. Hydrating hand creme is essential and I love the brand Kiss My Face in the yummy flavor peaches & creme!

Teeth: Brushing & flossing my teeth is probably the #1 essential routine that I practice consistently. I have the stain-fighting Go Smile Touch Up ampoules to whiten & brighten my teeth. The tiny ampoules are convenient for a smile-on-the-go and they are mint-licious!

Skin Care: If there's one area, which I refuse to skimp, it's most definitely skin care. We are only young once so we better make the most of it, while we have it! Therefore, I always cleanse my face twice; once in the morning & once in the evening. Then I apply my favorite eye cream, moisturizer and skin primer for a flawless complexion. At least 1-2 per week, I use a facial scrub to exfoliate and remove dead dry skin.

Adult Acne/Blemishes: For annoying monthly blemishes, I apply Proactive Face Mask ONLY to the blemished spots and I leave it on for the entire night. The following morning, when I cleanse my skin, I gently remove the Proactive Face Mask. Usually, it takes 2-3 consistent applications before the blemish heals. The secret ingredient is sulfur & it works great even on the most stubborn acne!

Beauty regimes do NOT have to be time-consuming, confusing or cost a fortune. It's just a matter of determining what works well for you, your lifestyle and putting it into practice! When it comes to looking and feeling great, LESS is best!

Copyright © 2008-2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.

True Beauty Begins WITHIN

Finding our true beauty begins WITHIN....not the way our secular world portrays beauty, which is distorted. Rather, true beauty begins by looking within OURSELVES to see who we are through the eyes of our Heavenly Maker.

Unless we fully understand true beauty, we may find ourselves critically comparing our outer appearance to the perfect models plastered throughout the media. Without being aware, we may suddenly encounter negative feelings about ourselves not measuring up to the worlds standard of beauty.

Not surprisingly, females of all ages have fallen into the devil's schemes to think beauty consists of flawless skin, hair, teeth, nails and a perfect "10" figure. The media is the primary target for deception, which lethally takes root within our mind and soul to fill us with shame, doubts, jealousy, insecurities, false beliefs and a plummeting self-esteem.

Not a day goes by without observing lifelike billboards, fashion magazines and beauty advertisements with drop-dead stunning models plastered upon each page! Of course, advance image editing software, such as Adobe Photoshop, magically erase all imperfections, such as unsightly scars, birthmarks and blemishes.

Underneath an exquisite model's trendy fashion, sultry pose and dazzling smile is just an ordinary female. Yet, today's teenagers and adult women are fooled into thinking they must lose weight, schedule breast augmentation, compulsively seek fad diets and spend a fortune on every imaginable beauty contraption. All for the quest to look the best!

When will we take a firm stand to admit, "Enough is enough?" Will we stop this nonsense to take a good look at God's word and begin filling our minds with HIS biblical truths, instead of distorted lies set out to destroy us?

Psalms 45:11 proclaims, "The king is enthralled by your beauty; honor Him, for He is your Lord." Just close your eyes and imagine....Your Heavenly Father is downright ENTHRALLED with your beauty! Yrs, in His eyes, you are BEAUTIFUL, RADIANT, ACCEPTED, CHERISHED AND ETERNALLY SIGNIFICANT.

Finding our identity in Christ will FREE US from negative feelings, which surface when we falsely believe our worlds idea of beauty. Prayerfully, we can let go of the worlds distorted view of beauty to become more confident in GOD'S WORD about TRUE beauty, which begins WITHIN.

I challenge you today to step out in faith with your head held high in confidence that YOU are truly beautiful in God's eyes, no matter what size, shape or color. For it is only when we clearly see ourselves through GOD'S EYES, we are able to look beyond our outer appearance to suddenly discover deep within the core of our heart and soul who we really are.

For more information about true beauty and finding your identity in Christ, visit
Find Your True Beauty at http://www.teen-beauty-tips.com/.

Copyright © 2008-2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.

BEAUTY REVIEW: SEPHORA LIGHT TOUCH HIGHLIGHTER

Five years ago, I was on a quest to find the BEST under-eye highlighter. As a passionate Makeup Artist, I wanted to find an under-eye highlighter that would brighten up my eyes without appearing dry or cakey. In addition, I wanted a highlighter to provide top quality coverage for early mornings when I needed an extra "pick me up" if I accidentally missed my beauty sleep the night before.

I suppose my quest to find the best under-eye highlighter was far more challenging than I had anticipated, but I suppose being a "perfectionist" didn't make it easier? I confess, as a true makeup junkie, I NOT only desired a product that would successfully conceal dark under-eye shadows without creasing or settling into the facial lines, but I expected this magic wand to produce younger, brighter, flawless eyes!

After three months of searching high and low for a top notch under-eye highlighter, I surprisingly discovered the product that met my strict credentials. After sampling, demonstrating and purchasing one highlighter after the other, my FAVORITE OF ALL FAVORITE under- eye highlighters is Light Touch Highlighter by Sephora.

With a gentle swipe of the pen, Light Touch Highlighter instantly diminishes dark circles, fine lines and imperfections. One of the benefits of Light Touch Highlighter is that it's a lightweight, creamy concealer and brightening highlighter all in one!

After sampling, demonstrating and purchasing one highlighter after the other, my FAVORITE OF ALL FAVORITE under-eye highlighters is Light Touch Highlighter by Sephora. With just a gentle swipe of the pen, Light Touch Highlighter instantly diminishes dark circles, fine lines and imperfections.

Whether your skin color is as light as a fairmaiden or as dark as chocolate, Sephora has six shades to choose from. Keep in mind, when you are highlighting your under-eye area, it's beneficial to choose one to two shades LIGHTER. Also, if your skin is dry, dehydrated or has fine lines, it is a great idea to FIRST apply a hydrating eye cream onto the delicate under-eye area BEFORE applying the Sephora highlighter.

All it takes is a little twist and once there is a dot on the tip of the brush carefully apply under each eye. Use your ring finger, which is the weakest finger, to gently pat the delicate under eye area to blend evenly and you will instantly look refreshed, radiant and ready for a night on the town!

To locate a Sephora nearest you or to check out their wonderful website, go to www.sephora.com.

Copyright © 2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.

NO MORE RACCOON EYES!

At last, NO MORE RACCOON EYES! As a lifelong makeup lover and an experienced beauty professional, I have used every imaginable eyeliner available from pricey high-end department stores to budget-friendly drug stores.

There is nothing worse than spending BIG bucks on fancy eyeliners retailed from prestigious cosmetic companies who claim to "stay in place and never budge." Yet, by mid-afternoon, you look into the mirror to unexpectedly discover a scary raccoon staring back at you!

If you've been searching for an affordable eyeliner that will not end up looking like raccoon eyes, look no further! For ONLY $8, mark No Place to Run Longwear Eyeliner, retailed through Avon, sets in minutes to provide long-lasting and smudge-resistant eyeliner available in eight brilliant shades.

To order mark No Place to Run Longwear Eyeliner, please visit their website at www.avon.com or contact your local Avon representative.

Copyright © 2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.

CONCEALER RX BEAUTY REVIEW

Hey, girly girls, if you need to diminish dark under-eye circles, stubborn sun spots or annoying blemishes, try CONCEAL RX PHYSICIANS STRENGTH CONCEALER by Physicians Formula. Several months ago, I discovered this MIRACLE concealer by pure accident at Rite Aid and I am excited to share my beauty review with you!

While I was browsing the beauty aisle at Rite Aid, I noticed a selection of cosmetics by Physicians Formula that had the label RX for physicians strength. (Hint: The RX truly steps it up a notch!)

What caught my immediate attention was the remarkable photograph on the box, which displayed a dramatic "before" and "after" picture. The woman in the "before" picture had dark under-eye circles with fine lines, but in the "after" picture, her under-eye area appeared youthful, bright & flawless.

I admit, the amazing difference between the two photo's most definitely had me curious enough to purchase it. Yet, it takes MUCH MORE than a pretty picture advertised on a package to win me over!

Quite frankly, I typically purchase high end concealers that are usually on the pricey side. However, as a true makeup junkie, I am always up for a beauty bargain, especially if it's a GREAT PRODUCT for a GREAT PRICE! (For ONLY $7.95, this is worth stocking up!)

The following day, after I applied moisturizer to my freshly cleansed face along with my favorite anti-aging eye cream, I gently applied the CONCEAL RX PHYSICIANS STRENGTH CONCEALER with my synthetic concealer brush to my under-eye area. Right away, my stubborn sun spot and dark under-eye circles suddenly disappeared as I carefully blended the product.

Thrilled to see fabulous results, I applied CONCEAL RX PHYSICIANS STRENGTH CONCEALER with my synthetic concealer brush to my blemish on my chin. Once again, as I expertly blended in the concealer by patting it with my finger, the concealer successfully diminished my imperfection.

In my personal and professional opinion, CONCEAL RX PHYSICIANS STRENGTH CONCEALER by Physicians Formula provides full coverage, blends wonderfully, looks natural, lasts all day and is a terrific value. I've tried almost every concealer on the market and this one not only diminishes dark under-eye circles and blemishes, but it also conceals scars, birthmarks, age spots, bruises, broken capillaries, rosacea and hyperpigmentation.

This beauty review was extremely enjoyable and Girly Girls Beauty Guide gives this OUTSTANDING concealer a THUMBS UP!

Copyright © 2010-2011 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.

BEAUTIFUL! BEAUTIFUL!

This morning, after I woke up from a deep sleep, feeling rather groggy, I caught a quick glance of myself in the mirror. Shocked at the complete mess of my hair standing on ends every which way, I looked away from the mirror. Silently, I was thinking every imaginable negative thought possible!

As I carefully made my country-themed bed, I could not help, but question when on earth the time clock struck "SO LONG YOUTH & WELCOME MIDLIFE?" Quite frankly, midlife has not been exactly welcoming to me!!! That is, unless you consider puffy eyes, dark shadows, crows feet, sparse eyebrows and thinning hair with gray roots a HAPPY WELCOME!

After 23 years working in the beauty industry, I am still mystified that an adult female could have dry, dehydrated skin along with teenage acne at the exact SAME time! Whatever happened to aging GRACEFULLY or is that a special trait ONLY for MEN?

This morning, while I was fluffing my pillows, I turned on my favorite radio station, K-LOVE, when the song "Beautiful, Beautiful" by Francesca Battistelli began to profoundly speak to me. Soothingly, my self-doubt began to softly melt away.

It was as if at that very moment, time stopped.....It was as if at that very moment, my Heavenly Father lovingly walked into my country styled bedroom.....And Jesus automatically knew my heart was troubled so He gently wrapped His strong arms around me to comfort me with His grace.....

As tears suddenly slipped down my cheeks, Jesus reassuringly whispered, "MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU." (2CO 12:9) Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I humbly turned my eyes away from myself to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.

With my eyes relaxed and closed, I joyfully embraced the brilliant beauty of my Heavenly Father. Eagerly, I knelt beside my bed and immersed myself in His amazing, omnipotent presence. Tenderly, the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord graciously poured forth His compassion, mercy, love and grace, which swiftly washed away all of my self-doubt, frustration and inadequacy.

The next time you glance at yourself in the mirror and find yourself thinking unpleasant or negative thoughts about yourself, STOP what you are doing. Stop all criticizing & name calling! No bad mouthing your hair, skin, teeth, thighs or fanny!

Instead, fill your mind with confident, positive, uplifting thoughts on the Lord! Soak in the radiant beauty and glory of God!

Take a slow, deep breath....As you exhale, let go of the self-sabotaging thoughts....

Take another slow, deep cleansing breath....While you exhale, let go of the negative attitude....

Sit up straight, take another slow deep breath in....Allow yourself to feel the almighty presence of the KING OF ALL KINGS to REJOICE in HIS BEAUTY!~



Copyright © 2010 by Dana Arcuri. All Rights Reserved.