Friday Favorites Linky Party Week 401

Hi everyone! Happy December! Thanks for stopping by for this week’s party. I’m still recovering and regrouping since giving birth to my son a couple of weeks ago, so there will be no features this week, but I welcome you to link up your posts and visit our other hostess’s to see what they are featuring this week.

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

The Quest For Truth: Skincare, Beauty & Makeup Myths

When you have an industry as large as the beauty, makeup, and skincare industry, it’s inevitable that a few myths are going to emerge. These myths come from “common knowledge”; old wives tales; stories you hear online and are repeated so frequently they begin to sound real… but should you listen to them?

Let’s look through some of the most pervasive “truths” that surround this industry, so you know which advice to follow, and which you can ignore…

MYTH: MakeUp Is Bad For Your Skin

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The Claim

Makeup is bad for your skin because it can clog pores. Additionally, makeup can irritate sensitive skin.

The Reality

Is it possible to wear makeup that’s bad for your skin? Sure; it’s possible to find a bad version of pretty much anything in the world. However, for the most part, makeup isn’t bad for your skin at all– even if you’re laying it on, and wearing it every single day.

A makeup and skin care manufacturer will do their research. They know which ingredients to avoid. The last thing they want is for their products to gain a reputation as being bad for skin, because they would instantly lose a huge number of customers. So you don’t need to worry about your makeup being comedogenic; it has been ruthlessly tested to ensure this isn’t a factor.

The ‘sensitive skin’ claim is a little more difficult to define. Sensitive skin, by its very nature, is sensitive. It can react to makeup products, but it can also react to skincare products, your mood, or weather conditions. However, it isn’t fair to claim sweepingly that all makeup is bad for sensitive skin, because plenty of women with sensitive skin manage to wear makeup just fine.

Conclusion

The good news: you don’t need to worry about makeup being bad for your skin if you’re concerned about makeup clogging pores. That’s a myth that is thoroughly debunked; you can use makeup and still have healthy looking skin, so don’t worry!

The not-so-great news is that, if you have sensitive skin, makeup may irritate the issue. The best way of resolving this is to learn about ingredients and, by the use of a process of elimination, avoid ingredients that are liable to irritate your skin. As a starting point, try this great starter list of ingredients that those with sensitive skin should avoid, and work from there.

MYTH: Skincare Products Can Cure Wrinkles

The Claim

If you’re trying to buy a skincare product, then you will be inundated with claims of said product’s efficacy in regards to reducing expression lines and wrinkles. If you believed the claims on these products, it’s possible — through a few applications — to achieve the kind of skin that will wipe 10 years off your face, all through the wonder of a cream in a jar.

The Reality

First and foremost, anti-aging claims are tough to verify, and are usually based on “clinical studies” that were funded by the company who make the product. As you would expect, these studies tend to find favorable results only– often by cherry-picking. These studies are not rigorous, often fail the accepted scientific method, and are essentially little more than a marketing tool– so don’t be swayed by them.

Secondly, it is outright insincere to suggest that a face cream can combat wrinkles and expression lines. These lines appear because of the constant movement of facial muscles and the loss of collagen in our skin as we age. The problem is far deeper than can be addressed by a topical cream. If you truly want to tackle wrinkles and lines, then you would have to turn to treatments such as those available at www.yeildingmd.com/botox-orlando/ and other dermatologically-proven options. A cream or serum is simply unable to address issues like wrinkles, as they cannot penetrate deep enough into the skin to make a difference.

The Conclusion

Moisturizers and serums have their use, especially in regards to fine lines, but they are largely powerless against deep wrinkles and expression lines.

MYTH: Expensive Makeup Brands Are Better Than Drugstore Brands

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The Claim

Expensive high-end makeup brands invest more into their products, thus the products are always going to be superior to budget options. Eyeshadow will have a better pigment; lipstick will have a longer staying power; foundation will provide better coverage… and so on and so forth.

The Reality

Expensive does not necessarily mean “good”. In fact, many skincare brands also offer drugstore lines which are largely made from the same product.

Consistently, tests find that drugstore brands are just as good as their high-end counterparts. The “dupe” market means you can capture a look or wear a trend without having to spend a fortune and, for the most part, you should.

What are you actually buying when you buy a high-end product? The answer is… the brand. The name. The packaging, which is almost always glorious. You are buying the experience of a high-end product, but there’s absolutely no guarantee that the product itself will be superior. Will the packaging look nicer on your dressing table than a drugstore alternative? Yes, but this is about the only true benefit you will experience– and you have to ask yourself if the increased cost is worth such a small reward.

Conclusion

If you want to buy high-end makeup, then you should– high-end brands tend to have a touch of luxury that is tough to resist. However, you don’t have to buy high-end products; nor should you expect that the products you buy will be inherently superior due to their higher price tag.

MYTH: You Should Use An Eye Cream In Your Skincare Regime

The Claim

If our eyes are the window to our soul, we’re going to want our eyes to look as good as possible. Sadly, it’s all too easy for our eyes to experience issues such as lines, dark shadows, pigmentation issues, crow’s feet, and other signs of aging.

The answer? An eye cream! These specially formulated creams can target the problems you experience with the skin around your eyes, and no skincare regime is complete without them.

The Reality

Eye creams are, for the most part, a waste of time.

Does this sound like sacrilege to you? Well, bear with it– because this simple busted myth could save you a fortune. The skin around your eyes is no different to the skin on the rest of your face… so why does it need a special cream?

If you are thinking an answer along the lines of: “because it’s not safe to put normal moisturizer around your eyes”, then this might be true, depending on the moisturizer that you’re using. However, eye creams can and do irritate the eye as well, and most eye creams will contain a disclaimer advising you not to use the product too close to your eyes.

Furthermore — just like the previously-discussed wrinkle curing products — many of the issues that eye creams attempt to solve are beyond the reach of a topical cream. Those dark eye shadows? They’re caused by your skin thinning as you age, and there’s very little you can do to prevent this outside of invasive surgery. Crow’s feet are caused by expressions, such as smiling, which — again — can’t be prevented with a topical cream.

ven more worryingly, http://www.byrdie.co.uk/skincare-myths makes it clear that eye creams often contain a number of distinctly Not Nice ingredients. These ingredients — which can include skin-clogging mineral oil and petroleum byproducts — are definitely to be avoided, as they can clog pores and create issues such as milia.

Conclusion

You don’t need an eye cream. Use your existing moisturizer as close to your eyes as is comfortable and get a good night’s sleep if you want the skin around your eyes to improve. Avoiding thick, heavy eye creams — which can often do more harm than good — will save you a small fortune, and your skin will thank you too.

In Conclusion

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There is no doubt that the beauty, skincare, and makeup world contains myriad myths that can be debunked with a little research. If you find yourself hearing a new idea, or a warning that a certain product or ingredient will have a dramatic impact (be that a negative or a positive impact), then it’s worth taking the time to research for yourself. These industries are not particularly well-regulated, which can mean that you find yourself persuaded by claims which are not verifiable by scientific fact.

No one knows better what works for your skin, your makeup techniques, than you do. If you find a product that you love, then its price or the “studies” behind it are largely irrelevant. Pay attention to your skin and your experience, relying on empirical proof of what works for you rather than what these industries claim will work for you. Furthermore, always be skeptical about claims of a product being excessively harmful or causing damage; do the research and see if the science backs up these claims.

If you can keep the above in mind, you will be able to craft a beauty regime that truly works for you, based on fact rather than hearsay. Makeup and skincare should be fun, so don’t let yourself be impacted by myths that can ruin your experience. Enjoy, experiment, and trust your instincts above all else– good luck!

 

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 400

Hi everyone! Welcome to this week’s linky party. If you came by here last week and didn’t see the party, I apologize. I checked in to the hospital last Monday to have our son (pictures to come later), and although we arrived home on Thursday, I was unable to post the party on time with all the excitement, as I’m sure you can imagine! Things are still a little bit crazy here, so I will not be doing features this week, but I invite you to head over to the other hostess’s blogs to see what they are sharing this week.  I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving!

 

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

How To Profit From DIY Upcycling

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The trend of upcycling looks like it’s here to stay, and presuming you’re even a little bit handy when it comes to DIY, upcycling offers a creative, cheap and environmentally friendly way to add a personal touch of character and depth to your home.

There are significant environmental benefits to upcycling, as it minimises the volume of waste being sent to landfill whilst also reducing the need for raw materials (such as wood) which leads to a reduction in air and water pollution, less deforestation, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

The social benefits of producing your own items are significant, as upcycling creates a sense of accomplishment and pride whilst being a fantastic channel for self-expression and creativity; the end result being a world away from the mass produced machine made products you would find in most modern homes.  Upcycled products add a layer of depth and character that machine made products rarely contribute toward.

Okay, so we know that upcycling is a cool trend that clearly adds value to one’s home, but is there any money to be made in upcycling from a commercial perspective, and if so, what do you need to get started?

Well, in short, the answer is yes.  With sites like etsy boasting over 30 million items for sale that are hand crafted (some of which upcycled) by people just like you – the time to make money from upcycling has never been better!  This article is going to sum up the five fundamental aspects you require to profit from upcycling.

RAW MATERIALS

To upcycle, you need to start with something.  This can become a fun scavenger hunt whether that’s roaming around the beach, through thrift stores, or even dumpster diving!  

DIY TOOLS

The first thing you’re going to need are some tools, as there’s a limit to what anyone can achieve without the correct tools, particularly a decent saw.  In a recent article, Total Nerds compared the latest circular saws looking at the contrast between circular saws and table saws.  In addition, a decent sewing machine can come in very handy if you are working with fabric.

DIGITAL PRESENCE

The majority of things you are going to sell will be sold via the internet – in particular sites like etsy.com offer a wonderful opportunity for makers to tout their wares, eBay is a huge marketplace, Amazon has some exceptional technology to connect you with the right buyers, and shopify makes selling anything super simple.

CAPTIVATING PHOTOGRAPHS

You’ll want to capture your item in the best light, and one of the most effective ways to do that is to frame it within a suitable context that makes people want to buy – in particular, this context should be one of aspiration and luxury.

A NICHE

Having a niche that you become known for is a great way to position yourself as a boutique leader within a particular subsection of the market; as an example, perhaps your theme is focused on driftwood.  You could take that one step further and focus solely on driftwood mirrors, but the point is, the more well known you become for producing top quality items within a particular category the more recommendations you will get; meaning the more money you will make.

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 399

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Holiday Prep with BIZ

Disclosure: I am a brand ambassador for BIZ and have received compensation for today’s post. The opinions are my own.

Many of us dedicate November and December to holiday preparations. This includes decorating, shopping for groceries and gifts, and holiday baking.  Of all the things on our holiday to-do lists, I believe that cleaning is probably the least exciting, but sometimes you have to take the good with the bad!  As I work to clean my home for company coming over, I try to remind myself that it’s all for a good cause.  I remember just how much I enjoy hosting holiday events and how much everyone seems to enjoy themselves, and that makes things seem a little easier.  Another thing that makes the work easier, is having the proper cleaning products and supplies on hand. For our laundry needs, I am happy to have BIZ® as my little helper!

All year I’ve been partnering with BIZ and telling you, my readers, how much I like having this product as part of my laundry routine, and when it comes to holiday prep, there is no exception.  Today I’m going to give you a few examples and tips on how BIZ can assist you with your holiday cleaning and preparations.

[Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 398 – With Table Decor

Hello everyone! Welcome to this week’s linky party.  And Happy Veteran’s Day to all of our men and women in uniform, past and present.  We appreciate your service!

We’re going to be doing things a little differently for a few weeks. As some of you may know I am currently pregnant. Actually as of this Friday, I am 39 weeks along, so things could happen at any time!  That being said, I wanted to make sure that the party goes on every week without a hitch, so for the next few weeks, each party hostess will be sharing their own party post with JUST their feature pick(s).  Normally we compile all of our feature choices together in to one big post, but I wanted to make things as easy as possible on the hostesses.

When you link up your post it will still be part of a linky party that will be shared on ALL of our blogs, so there’s no change there.  Anyway, I just wanted to make a note of that, so that you guys wouldn’t wonder about the sudden change in format.  Alright, let’s get to it!  This week I’ve selected 3 tables to feature.  Two of these are Thanksgiving tablescapes, and one is a DIY project that I thought looked just awesome!  Hope you enjoy!

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

Easy Hacks To Make Your Bedroom a Sleep Haven

There are so many studies that confirm that the environment that we sleep in has a big impact on the quality of the sleep that we have. But even when we all know this, there are so many of us that still sleep in super cluttered, messy, and uncomfortable bedrooms. So here are some easy hacks that you can do to make a change to your room, to make it a proper sleep haven. Try them and see the difference for yourself.

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Eliminate Natural Light

Natural light is all good for our Instagram snaps, but when it comes to sleep, we want to have the room as dark as possible. When you have a dark room it will mimic the natural setting of the sun, so it will help your body and your brain to give a signal that you should be ready for sleep. You could choose some thick drapes or curtains, as well as blackout blinds to help to mimic this. It can make a massive difference. [Read more…]

Finding Your Office Narnia – My Escape to the Smokey Mountains

Do you daydream at work? Do you get sidetracked thinking about your very own Narnia? Perhaps you wish you were at the beach or the spa, or just sitting at home relaxing on your couch.  The infographic below shows a few great escapes that just might tickle your fancy when it comes to thinking about your office Narnia.

 

I’m personally a homebody by nature.  When I’m working, I mostly think about spending time with my husband.  I think about us going out to one of our favorite restaurants or just sitting at home cuddling on the couch, but when I think of an actual escape, as in a romantic getaway, I like to think of us taking a trip to Gatlinburg, Tennessee or somewhere else in the smokey mountains. [Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 397

Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]