Tag: honeybee gardens

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Summer is finally here!  Our calendars are filled with much-anticipated beach vacations, gardening, outdoor sports, picnics and other fair weather fun.  I am a true sun worshipper, but we all know that too much sun exposure causes dryness, wrinkling, premature aging and even skin cancer.  What is a sun lover to do?

Keep Skin Exfoliated and Hydratred:  Exfoliation removes dead, dulling skin debris to prevent congestion and improve hydration from toners and moisturizers. Exfoliating the facial skin by means of a homemade scrub prepared using half a cup of yogurt, five tablespoons of ground oatmeal, a dash of turmeric and six drops of rose water can prove to be an effective option.   Perform in the mornings prior to toner, moisturizer, SPF and make-up application. Tip: Make-up will last longer on an exfoliated skin.  As an alternative to traditional moisturizers, juice extracted from cucumber or watermelon may be used for moisturizing facial skin.  Toners are a refreshing moisturizer prep, working to even out skin porosity. Our Alcohol Free Facial Toner made with rosewater and witch hazel is gentle and effective  Tip: Refresh with a revitalizing HydroSol spritz at your desk, in the car, at the gym, on the plane!

Keep Your Inside Hydrated:  Higher temperatures and more time outdoors leads to internal dehydration, which can result in headaches and dizzy spells!  Eight 8-ounce glasses of plain, filtered water every day help maintain critical moisture balance of the body and skin, and assist in detoxification. Tip: If you drink caffeinated beverages, you should triple the amount of water you drink!

Stay Dry Too:  As the mercury climbs, we naturally sweat.  Sweating is good.  But no one wants to be stinky.  So apply deodorant in the morning as usual, but keep some on hand if you know you’ll be swimming or participating in active sports.  Avoid chemical antiperspirants that keep your body from sweating (sweating is a good thing).  Our Deodorant Powder is the perfect solution.  We’ve combined the natural deodorizing properties of baking soda with the superior absorbent properties of cornstarch and arrowroot. The result is a clean, soft, delicately-scented natural powder with the odor fighting capabilities of the toughest deodorants on the market.

Apply & Re-Apply: It’s not enough to just apply sunscreen; you must apply enough, and apply frequently.   Studies indicate that most people do not apply nearly as much daylight protection as they should.  Make sure that the sunscreen used is applied at least fifteen to thirty minutes before stepping out in the sun.  There is always confusion over which SPF number to use. The truth is an SPF 30 only offers 4% more protection than an SPF 15. You would have thought it was double the protection, right? As you get up in the higher numbers (SPF 45, 50, 70+) that percentage comes down, but you’re also exposing your skin to more chemicals which might result in a negative reaction on the skin. The key to protecting your skin in the sun is to re-apply your sunscreen generously at least every two hours.   Tip: Stay out of the midday sun from mid-morning to late afternoon whenever you can. HBG recommends natural nonchemical sunscreens with “physical” blockers like titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, not chemical sunscreen formulations.  The benefit of a physical sunscreen is that it acts like tiny mirrors deflecting all spectrums of the radiation away from the skin, including the dangerous ultraviolet [UV] rays.  Wear sun-protective clothing and seek shade when you can.  One blistering sunburn doubles your risk of melanoma.  Remember to get a yearly skin exam by a doctor and perform a self-examination once a month to detect early warning signs of carcinomas and malignant melanoma. Look for a new growth or any skin change.

Take Care of That Sunburn:  Hard as you try, sometimes you wind up with a sunburn.  Apply cooling preparations generously over-exposed skin, preferably at the first sight of a pink glow.  A common misconception about soothing a sunburn is that you should keep re-applying lotion (especially aloe vera-based lotion) to keep the skin moist.  But layering lotion on sunburned skin traps heat, keeping the skin red longer.  Skin must breathe to let out heat. Cold plain yogurt applied to the skin works as an anti-inflammatory and heat remover. Apply, let dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every hour.  If that’s too messy for you, you can use my favorite remedy – a cold, wet wash cloth.  Unfortunately I have lots of experience with sunburns, and over the years I have found that soaking a wash cloth in COLD water and applying it to the burn does wonders to pull the heat out.  Once the wash cloth gets warm (and it will) soak again in cold water and reapply.  Do this until the burning sensation goes away.  Looking for an internal remedy?  Recent research reveals that consuming green tea and curcumin (an anti-inflammatory compound found in the curry spice turmeric) may help combat skin cancer. Packed with potent antioxidants, green tea may also reduce DNA damage to skin cells when applied topically, according to animal studies.  In addition to choosing green-tea-infused sunblocks and lotions, drinking 3 cups of green tea daily and regularly including turmeric in your cooking may provide protection, says integrative physician David Rakel of the University of Wisconsin’s School of Medicine and Public Health.

Get a Glow without the Wrinkles:  The #1 cause of lines and wrinkles is sun exposure. If you want to look young, avoid the sun. It’s really that simple.  But there are those of us who still think we look better with a summer glow.  Fake it!  There are lots of fake bake products on the market (self-tanners) that can give you the look of a suntan without having to lay out for hours.  Or use a bronzer instead.  A bronzer will darken the complexion subtly and “warms” your skin tone without making it look fake.  Our Health Glow Mineral Bronzer gives you the flexibility to cast a hint of sun or give you that beach babe look.

Don’t Have a Hair Emergency:  Exercising in the scorching heat or swimming laps in the pool can zap the radiance right out of your locks. Boost your shade with these DIY tips:

Blondes –  Counteract brassiness and remove product buildup by mixing together a quarter cup of mild shampoo and one tablespoon of baking soda. Coat dry strands with the paste, leave it on for 10 minutes, and then rinse.

Brunettes –  After shampooing and conditioning hair, combine a quarter cup each of white distilled vinegar and distilled water and two drops of peppermint oil (to offset the vinegar scent). Saturate damp hair with the leave-in mixture before blow-drying to add instant vibrancy.

Redheads –  To reignite your hot hue, boil a quart of water and drop in three chamomile tea bags; steep for five minutes. Remove bags and cool the liquid in the fridge. Then spray the infusion on clean, damp hair and sit in the sun until hair is dry.

So get out there, have fun, but stay protected.  ENJOY YOUR SUMMER!

Make Up Tips for Your Big Day

June is a very popular month for weddings. I love it when brides do minimal makeup and go for the more natural look. It’s so important for you to look like YOU in your wedding pictures. After all, these are going to be pics you’ll look back on for the rest of your life! Your fiancé should at least recognize you when you walk down the aisle. There are tons of ‘wedding looks’ and tips out there on the internet, but I’ve made a list of a few I think are important.

Try it: Don’t be afraid to try a few new looks before you’ve decided on what you’d like to do, and be sure to leave enough time to do this. Once you’ve decided on a look, make sure you have a makeup trial before your big day. You want to feel confident in the look you’ve chosen. I suggest your trial should be done in the morning to see how well your look will last throughout the day. Take a photo in natural daylight with a digital camera (not a camera phone) as soon as you have had a makeup trial. The makeup needs to look good on camera as well as face to face. The camera doesn’t lie! It also doesn’t help to get a close friend’s opinion. Or a sister’s. They never lie either!

Big Close Up: We all want flawless skin on our big day. Whether you choose to do a primer and foundation or go au natural, make sure you set your look with Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation. It will keep your skin looking fresh and even without ever getting cakey.

She Has a Glow: While there are some interesting “shine” products available to give a dewy complexion, I would advise against them. In photographs it will be easy to mistake the “glow” for sweat – not nice. Instead, try our Healthy Glow Mineral Bronzer to give you a natural-looking sun-kissed complexion. Apply this to your forehead, cheeks and chin (also your neck if you’re slightly paler there) and apply a little more on the cheeks as a blush.

Don’t Forget Eyebrows: Have them professionally shaped (and if necessary, tinted) before your big day, and enhance them with a neutral brow pencil such as our JobaColors Eye Liner in Brown Sugar. Eyebrows frame your face and it can make a huge difference if you have them professionally shaped.

Perfect Lipstick: It’s an art and a science. Start with clean lips (seems obvious). Personally I tend to have dry lips, so I apply a thin coat of our Orange Mimosa Lip Balm and allow it to penetrate for about five minutes. Next, use our JobaColors Lip Liner to line your lips AND fill in the entire lip. Having a color base will help your lipstick to last longer. Then apply our Truly Natural Lipstick. Some say that applying your lipstick with a brush helps it to last longer, but I disagree. Use a tissue to blot your lipstick gently. Don’t put it between your lips and press down; you’ll remove too much product. Rather lightly dab the tissue against your lips. Then apply a second coat. Some ladies actually do this a third time (dab, reapply). Make sure you don’t have any lipstick on your teeth. Finish with a light application of Luscious Lip Gloss.

Finally remember on your big day to have the following to hand:

  • Cotton swabs to wipe away any smudges under the eyes
  • Tissues which come in handy for wiping tears and blotting oily spots
  • Your lipstick should you need a touch up
  • Your Pressed Mineral Powder Foundation to blot away any sweaty patches
  • Breath freshener (you will be doing lots of kissing – alcohol breath is not very attractive!)

Lastly remember that the day goes by VERY fast. This is YOUR day. Take the time to do things at your pace, and make sure you’re enjoying yourself.

I’m Having A Meltdown!



Yesterday the temperatures were in the 60s. Today, highs are in the 90s. Welcome to Spring in the Northeast. Having a heat wave in your area? If so, here are some tips to help you deal with the crazy weather.

Don’t keep lipstick/lip balm in car: This one seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many folks forget. Within an hour, the temperature inside a vehicle sitting in the sun can easily reach 120 or 130 degrees. High temperatures can cause liquids to separate and break down. It can affect the active ingredients in make-up. Plus you don’t want hop into your parked car, pop open the lip balm cap to apply and have an oily mess wind up on your lap.

So should I keep my make up in the fridge on a hot day? When it comes to making cosmetics last longer, lower temperatures are generally better. That’s because chemical reactions occur faster at higher temperatures. Makeup is prone to oxidation reactions since they contain oils that can turn rancid. Keeping them in the fridge can slow down that process. However, there can be a few potential problems with storing beauty products in the fridge. For example, you may see beads of “sweat” on your lipstick. These are drops of oil coming out of the wax and rising to the surface of the stick (it’s a phenomena called “syneresis”). If too much of this sweating occurs, the lipstick won’t spread properly on your lips. Also, you can’t let your products freeze, as too cold temperatures can also affect the chemical composition of a product. If it’s crazy hot in your apartment, stick your lipstick in the fridge until temperatures cool down. Otherwise, just be sure to keep your make up in a drawer or another location out of direct sunlight.

Frizzy hair on a hot day: My long straight hair starts to find its natural curl when the heat rises. Unfortunately along with the subtle waves comes unsightly frizz. So how do you control your hair if you know you’re going to be out in the heat? There are a few things you can do.

A. Put your hair up. Braids are HUGELY popular right now. Log on to our Pinterest board for some really cute up-do looks.
B. Moisturize. Condition your hair at least twice a week to help control its tendency to frizz. Just don’t overdo it, or you’ll wind up with limp locks.
C. Flat iron. Don’t even let your hair think about frizzing. Flat iron it in the morning and seal with our vegan Herbal Mint Hair Spray. I haven’t used any other hair spray (natural or not) that handles humidity as well as this product.
D. Be proactive. If your hair goes lank halfway through the day, apply a bit of hairspray to the roots. Hold hair up straight with a brush while the spray dries. Then gently brush off your face and slip on a headband.
E. Keep your head on straight. Don’t flip your head upside down to dry your hair. Sure it will add volume, but will also increase your chances of getting frizzy. Instead use a warm (not hot) setting and a large round brush to gently dry hair. Finish with a cool setting to seal the hair shaft.

Control the sweat: We’ve had some customers use our Deodorant Powder as a dry shampoo. Say you’ve been outside in the morning and now have an afternoon meeting, and no time to shower in between. Flip your head upside down (it’s okay in this instance) and sprinkle the powder over the top of your head, especially in the areas that tend to get oily, like your bangs and part. Use your fingers to distribute it. If you wish, brush your hair so the powder is distributed down the length of the hair shafts. Focus mostly on the roots, but if the rest of your hair needs freshening up, add a little more to the tips. Wait 5 to 10 minutes for the powder to absorb the oil from your hair. If you have particularly oily hair, it may take a little longer. Turn your head upside down and brush out all of the powder. You can use a hair dryer to help the process along.

What is your hot weather make-up tip? Email me to share: melissa@honeybeegardens.com.

Am I Warm, Cool or Somewhere In Between?



Choosing the right lipstick shades can seem as daunting as picking the perfect wedding dress. Luckily Honeybee Gardens offers sample sizes on our web site, so you can play around a bit before committing to a full sized tube. But you probably want to narrow the search when selecting samples.

When it comes to lipstick shades, there are three different categories: cool shades, neutral shades and warm shades. And there are three methods to finding out which one is right for you. First is the color test. Find some make-up that is orange-y and another that is either a pink or light purple. Take the orange and apply is to your cheek. Do the same with the pink/purple on the other cheek. Look in the mirror. It should be obvious that one doesn’t look “right” on you. If orange looks good, it means warm shades will be best for you. If the purple or pink looks better, stick with the cool shades. If it’s neither or both, neutrals may be your answer.

Method two is the vein test (it’s not as gross as it sounds). Look at the veins on your inner wrists in natural light (go outside or stand near a window). If they appear bluish, you have cool undertones. More green? You’re warm. Somewhere in between? You may be neutral.

And the third method I tend to disagree with, usually because jewelry is more a matter of taste than what looks best on a person. BUT go to the jewelry counter and pick up both a gold and a silver chain. Hold them up to your face. Which looks better? If it’s silver, you have a cool skin tone. If it’s gold, your skin tone is warm.

Naturally, warm colors tend to look best on skin with warm undertones. Mediterranean, most Hispanic, Latino and warm African complexions look fabulous with salmon pink, coral, or golden brown lips. Warm Honeybee Gardens shades include Aztec, Celestial, Karma and Desire.

Surprisingly, 80 percent of women fall into the cool category. Cool pastel shades look more natural on women with pinkish European complexions. Cool shades also work well on African skin with red undertones. Cool Honeybee shades are Soft Kiss, Valentine, Burlesque, Camelot, Goddess, Risque, Tuscany, Superstitious and Vintage Merlot.

Neutral colors are the most universal. Indeed, the most flattering lipstick shades for any complexion, pale or dark, will be on the boundary between the cool and warm palettes. Neutral lipstick colors, from soft mauve shades to true red, are also easy to wear with outfits in warm or cool shades. Popular neutral Honeybee shades include Dream, Paradise, San Francisco, Bombshell, Cherokee, Romance and Seduction.

Always remember, don’t match your lipstick with your clothes! This is a pretty common mistake, and it seems like it would be a logical thing to do, but don’t! Matching your shade of lipstick to your clothes could turn out completely disastrous. Your lipstick is supposed to compliment your skin and draw attention to your lips. It has absolutely nothing to do with your clothing choice. It is possible that your lipstick will match your outfit once in a while, but don’t do this on purpose.

How Do You Wear YOUR Eye Liner?



There are more ways to wear eye liner than Carter has liver pills. No, I haven’t lost my mind. I’m just incorporating a phrase my grandmother used to use on me, “You have more excuses than Carter has liver pills!” I guess Carter made a lot of liver pills.

Anyway, there are lots of fun ways to wear your eye liner, beyond the standard solid line on the lower lash line. Let’s take a look at a few.

The Cat Eye



The Cat Eye is a the go-to glam eyeliner technique for a polished look, both day and night. This is an eyeliner trick that every beauty buff should master. Simply trace eyeliner along upper lash line and let the tail extend a little further past your lid (think Audrey Hepburn, a la Breakfast at Tiffanys). The Cat Eye doesn’t have to be basic black or brown. Play up this look with bright liquid eyeliners and keep the rest of your makeup neutral. Is this look a bite too tame for you? Go ahead and make that line thicker for added drama.

The Winged Eye



Think of the Winged Eye as the Cat Eye’s flirty cousin. The trick with this technique is to turn the bit of liner past your lash line upward so it mimics a thick eyelash. Want the look of fake eyelashes without the actual fake eyelashes? Try this: Add an extra wing to your eyeliner line to give you some spice!

Is there a difference between the Cat Eye and the Winged Eye (a hotly debated question)? Honestly the difference is subtle. The Cat Eye has a wing effect which includes eyeliner on both the top and bottom lid, while the Winged Eye is more of a day time look, and requires liner on the top lid only. I really like the Winged Eye for a daytime look. I’ve been playing with this look a lot lately, pairing a nude eye with a subtle wing. Meaning I keep my shadow nude, using colors like Flirtatious and Chai (or our NEW pressed colors coming this Fall, Porcelain and Tippy Taupe), with our Jet Set liner on both the top and bottom lash line. My wing is VERY subtle. But I know it’s there. It’s a very classic, non-made up yet glamorous look.

The Drop Eye



This technique consists of lining your entire upper lash line and the outer half of your lower lash line. Keep the lower lines thinner to prevent a clown look. The tighter you can keep the line against your lashes, the more natural the look. You can add a wing to the top line if you choose.

The Colorful Eye



Trendy colorful eyeliner can work on anybody! Apply color to ONLY your upper OR lower lash line. Keep the rest of your makeup more neutral. For more subtle color, try applying regular eye liner (like Jet Set or Belgian Chocolate) and go over top of the eye liner using a coordinating PowderColors shade. For example, you could apply Belgian Chocolate, and then Sedona over top of it on your upper lid for some added sparkle. Or try using PowderColors alone as eye liner. Wet an eye liner brush and dip it into the powder. Then line. When doing the Colorful Eye, keep the rest of your eye in the same color family, if you’re not going for a neutral look.

Just because you’re applying eyeliner doesn’t mean it has to be a show-stealer. Eye liner can be applied in a very thin line to give your eyes just a bit of pop and put the attention on another part of your face, like you lips. Remember, doing the same thing yields the same results. Try something different with your liner. You just might like it!