OILY FACE

Have you ever stepped into a public restroom and see how reflective the light shines on your face? Gross, right? If you have no oil blotting sheets handy, consider stepping into the stall & grabbing a sheet of...

...toilet seat cover! You might be thinking 'gross' because the bathroom does not have a toilet seat lid, which can have bacteria fly 6 ft. away after a flush! Grab a sheet way in the back. It works just as well. Yes, I do it -- & it's FREE !

CANDLE WARMER ALTERNATIVE

Bought a candle warmer & now it's collecting dust? Here are a few alternatives in putting your candle warmer to good use!

BEVERAGES. From your Sake, coffee, hot chocolate, baby formula, herbal tea -- what ever it may be, keep your favorite hot drinks from getting cold. If your sitting outside cuddling with a good book, bring out the candle warmer & place your drink on it.

SMALL GARMENTS. Place small garments on the candle warmer while your in the shower on a cold day or a few minutes before leaving the house. Your socks, panties, bras, face towel or gloves will be warm waiting for you.

SCENTS. Besides using candles, I prefer using a cotton pad with a few drops of scented oils. It will fill your room quickly with the scent (unlike candles, in my opinion)! It last for a few days, but is worth it. Play around with scents for each room (i.e. kitchen with lemon or a food scent).

FOOD. As long as it's the right size & texture! Just place a napkin on your candle warmer and place your burger, brownies, or slice of cake right on top.

If your wondering if I really do any of these, the answer is yes. I use my candle warmer to keep my hot drinks warm. Currently, my candle warmer is in use to fill my room with the scent of coffee! But, what a tease it is. I have yet to try the Food & small garments.

Anyone out there have tried any of these alternatives or have any new ideas, leave a comment!

TEETH: TRICKS TO A BRIGHTER SMILE

We all want a bright smile. But, some of us can't afford to get it professionally done or buy teeth whitening kits. Besides brushing your teeth 2-3 times a day, flossing & visiting the dentistry, here are some (VERY) low-cost & easy tips to make your teeth look brighter. You may even find the things you need already in your home!

RED LIPSTICK (As long as you don't get any on your teeth). Red lipstick is always a great trick if you like to wear lip color. Avoid shades of Orange & Yellow. Choose your colors wisely. There are different shades of red out there that will suit your skin tone. Check out the difference from these 2 photos of Jessica Alba. *May had also informed me that wearing shades of pink / blushes will also make your smile appear brighter.

STRAWBERRIES. Brooke Shields has said her trick to getting her teeth brighter was to rub strawberries on her teeth. Strawberries contain Malic Acid which can remove surface discoloration. So when you're out somewhere eating Strawberries, rub them on your teeth to brighten them -- nobody will know!

WEAR DARK CLOTHING. When I say dark clothing, I don't want you to opt for the goth look (if that's you're thing, then that's fine). Just avoid wearing bright white clothing that can make your teeth appear more pale than bright. Compare both photos of Lucy Liu below. Fixate your eyes on her color of clothing & her teeth. Yes, there's a difference -- & It's not because of the lip color because they're the same.

SNACK RIGHT. Watch what you're eating. Certain foods & drinks will stain your teeth. Snack on fruits & vegetables such as celery, apples & carrots. Not only will this benefit your health, it will also prevent plaque to grow on your teeth.

BAKING SODA. Not only is it great for cooking, getting rid of odors -- it can removes stains. Just don't use it right out of the box daily, just occasionally. If you're afraid to use this right out of the box, try Arm & Hammer baking soda toothpaste.

Are there any other tricks that you might have? Leave a comment & let us know!

FACE: ASPIRIN MASK/EXFOLIATOR

If you're a beauty-tip addict, then you probably have already read this before. If you haven't, then keep on reading.

The aspirin mask is known to help reduce acne, scars, some redness and oily faces. Why? Aspirin is made of acetylsalicylic acid, which is a form of salicylic acid. Sounds familiar? This ingredient is found in many face cleansers for acne/oily skin.

*If you are allergic to aspirin, this is not for you.

Here is the basics of the aspirin mask:

What you'll need: A couple of Uncoated Aspirin (Uncoated for a better break down, but coated is also fine, it just takes awhile to crush), a few drops of water

Creating the mask: You may use a bowl for this. Add a few drops of water onto the aspirin & let it break down. Crush the aspirin & begin to create a paste by adding a few more drops of water. It should be able to stay on your skin without dripping off.

Directions: Avoid the eye area. Put all over face like a mask for a few minutes, 10 minutes max. When time is up, add a little water to exfoliate & massage -- DO NOT SCRUB. Rinse clean & pat dry. If your face gets dry, use a moisturizer.

That is only the basics. You may mix, match & create your own recipe to your face's needs. Many people add honey, tea, peroxide, oatmeal, or even yogurt. 

For other's recipes & questions, here's one of the many sites you can find: www.essentialdayspa.com - which I have already linked to the Aspirin mask forum.

If you are unsure, curious or want to know more, please search the internet for more information! 

*Trying this recipe is at your own risk! We are not responsible for your actions.

I have used this scrub & will in the future. I believe this is a great way to save money & is a savor for when you run out of your face scrub, like I just have! & when you need this, all you have to do is look in your medicine cabinet.

I only use this mask 2-3 times a week. This is a face exfoliator/mask, not a cleanser.

QUICK AND EASY FIXES FOR COMMON PROBLEMS

this is a p.s. from the previous post since i was on the topic of quick fixes/home remedies. i found the picture below from jessica mcdougall's blog and i thought i'd share it with you!
don't you hate it when you get those deodorant marks on your black shirts? well, don't just wipe it with water or wet cloth because it will come back. just rub the fabric together to get rid of those ugly white marks! i learned this while working at hugo boss early on in my life. i saw one my coworkers and i tried it myself. it works!

do you have any fashion emergency fixes of your own?