Tip Tuesday – One Man’s Trash…

This isn’t the usual beauty or fashion tip, but I think it’s a useful one nonetheless.  I recently became aware of a trade-in program that Amazon is offering for used books, dvds, and video games.  Basically, you can sell back items that you no longer want, and Amazon will add the amount to a gift card balance that you retain on your Amazon account.  The prices they are willing to pay vary greatly.  For example, one exercise dvd that I checked the trade-in price was $1.50, while another one was $8.25, so I would imagine it just depends on what is more in demand.  The items must be in good condition, and if they are deemed not to be in acceptable condition, the items will be returned to you.  Also, Amazon pays all the cost of shipping.  I think it’s great!  I have so many books and dvds that I purchased, read/used, and now have no use for them, so they’re going to Amazon.  Lastly, the items don’t even have to have been originally purchased from Amazon!  Visit Amazon’s Trade-In Store today!

Tip Tuesday – Tied Up in Knots

Ever spend way too much time trying to untangle a knot from a necklace?  Try this trick.  Place a towel on a hard surface, then apply a few drops of baby oil (Yes, baby oil!) to lubricate the knot.  Use a safety pin or needle to gently pull apart the tangle.  Wipe the oil off of the necklace, and you’re ready to go!

Tip Tuesday – Pineapple Express

I don’t know about you, but my lips get SO dry during these winter months, so much so that even lip balm won’t do the trick.   Try rubbing a fresh slice of pineapple over your lips.  The bromelain in pineapple breaks down the dry skin cells to reveal the softer skin underneath.  As a bonus, pineapple is known to improve digestion, so when you’re done with your lips – eat it!  Got to love these double duty products!

Tip Tuesday – Fresh Breath & No Blisters?

I love products that do “double duty”.  Did you know that antibacterial mouthwash can help heal your blisters faster?  Apparently, the thymol that’s contained in mouthwash is a powerful healing ingredient.  Just put some mouthwash on a cotton ball and apply to your blister several times a day until healed.  Your feet will be “heel-ready” in no time!

Tip Tuesday – Another Great Use for Vaseline!

Apply a light layer of vaseline to your wrists, then spray your fragance on top.  The scent will last from morning to night!

Back to Basics – Cetaphil

I try a lot of different skin care products.  One I always go back to is Cetaphil.  Cetaphil is a basic, gentle cleanser for the face.  Nothing fancy, and it works on all types of skin.  It works especially well on dry, sensitive skin.  It’s reasonably priced (around $10) for a large pump bottle.  I recently got a pack of two at Costco for around $8.00 (great deal!).  I use it morning and evening.  Since it has no exfoliating properties, I also do an exfoliating scrub a couple of time a week, just to get the dead skin off.

Tip Tuesday – Skin So Soft

Here’s another product that helps with dry skin this time of year – Aveeno Moisturing Shower & Bath Oil.  This stuff is incredible!  I use it just before I’m getting out of the shower (after I’ve shampooed and washed), and I also use it when I take a bath.  If you have really dry skin I wouldn’t say this takes the place of lotion, but used in addition to body lotion – it works great!

Tip Tuesday – 101 Uses

I don’t know about you, but my skin gets SO dry this time of year, especially that delicate skin under my eye.  One thing I found that really helps is at night, after I’ve washed my face and put on my moisturizer, is to apply a thin layer of vaseline over my eye cream.  This helps “seal” in the effects of the cream, and in the morning, my eyes are nice and moist.  Also, vaseline has tons of other uses, try googling it sometime!

Tip Tuesday – Be a Dirty Girl!

For those of you that color your hair, here’s a tip for helping the color last longer.  Color your hair when it’s dirty!  Not super dirty or oily, but wait a day or two after you shampoo.  The natural oils from your scalp help the color adhere better to the hair shaft.

Tip Tuesday – Save the TaTas!

I recently had a scare when my annual mammogram came back showing an abnormality in my left breast.  Today, I had a diagnostic  mammogram and an ultrasound.  The test showed that there were no issues, and to come back next year for my regular mammogram.  I was SO relieved.  I spent the last couple of weeks imagining the worst, but hoping for the best.  My mother died of breast cancer at age 60, so you can see why I would be extra sensitive on the subject.  My “tip” for everyone reading this is to make sure you do a monthly self-exam of your breasts, and get your annual mammogram.  Breast cancer, when detected early, has such a high survival rate now, so there is NO good excuse for not taking care of your “girls”.  October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month.  If you have not scheduled your mammogram yet, do it now!  Also, take care of your entire body by maintaining a healthy weight, exercising daily, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, limiting alcohol consumption, and of course not smoking.  All of these healthy habits have been shown to reduce the risk of all kind of cancers dramatically.