Natural Remedies and Beauty Tips to Improve #ALLERGYFACE #AD

This post is part of a sponsored campaign on behalf of Latina Bloggers Connect and the makers of ZYRTEC®

About a month ago, I wrote a post giving you a few tips that can help those of you who like me, suffer from #ALLERGYFACE.  If you are wondering what "allergyface" is, let me break it down for you: Allergies affect not only the way we feel, but the way we look. There are so many women who suffer from symptoms that can be thought of as beauty challenges such as a puffy face, red nose, and watery eyes. These are three most common types of #ALLERGYFACE.

In that first post, I shared six smart tips that can easily help anyone combat these types of beauty challenges. You can read more about these tips, HERE.

Following suit, today I wanted to give you a few more natural remedies along with a few easy beauty tips that can help hide #ALLERGYFACE. 

Let's start with these natural remedies:

1. Keep a COOL HUMIDIFIER - set your humidifier on cool to help rid the air of allergens. The water from the humidifier will stick to the allergens in the air causing them to become heavy enough that these will fall to the floor rather than remain floating in the air just waiting to be inhaled. (sounds gross, but unfortunately this is true!)

2. Take VITAMIN C - In order for Vitamin C to be effective, most people need to take around 500mg of vitamin C, at least twice a day. My recommendation on this one is to consult this with your doctor first. If the doctor says it's okay, then give it a try - you should begin seeing results within a week or so.

3. Get yourself a big bottle of APPLE CIDER VINEGAR - you can drink it if you like, but I was thinking more along the lines of rinsing your hair with it instead. Try using 1/2 cup of ACV with 1/2 cup of water at least twice a week during allergy season to rinse out any allergens that may have fallen onto your hair while being outdoors.

4. EAT MORE FRUITS & VEGGIES - There are quite a few allergy fighting foods that you can eat to help tame those allergies from the inside out : citrus (oranges & grapefruit), berries and cherries, dark colored grapes, and apples.





Now that you a few natural remedies to try, let's talk about the different ways you can hide #ALLERGYFACE :

1. EYE DROPS - using eyedrops should become the very first step in your beauty routine. Dropping a few eyedrops to puffy eyes as soon as you wake up will help your eyes become whiter and much brighter by th time you begin to apply your makeup.

2. Put it on ICE - after using eye drops, grab an icecube or two, and rub them around your face. Make sure to use a gentle touch when doing this! Using icecubes will help alleviate a puffy face.

3. CONCEAL REDNESS - no one who suffers from allergies wants to walk around with a red nose. There a few simple ways to cover this: apply a little dab of Aquaphor onto your nose. Follow this by applying a yellow or green concealer to hide the redness.

4. Always, Always, KEEP YOUR BRUSHES CLEAN! - this tip cannot be stressed enough. Using a "dirty" makeup brush is the worse thing you can do if you suffer from #ALLERGYFACE. Bacteria is known to harbor in brushes and sponges. Clean ALL of your makeup brushes (and sponges) with either makeup remover or a igual mixture of antibacterial soap and olive oil.

For even more tips, check out this video Embracing Your Natural Belleza Latina with Carmen Ordoñez from VivaFashionBlog.com on YouTube (HERE). 

In this video, Carmen shares simple tips to help You look naturally beautiful when battling ALLERGYFACE. For example, she advises to "apply navy blue or cobalt mascara to help the whites of your eyes appear brighter". This will help to reduce the appearance of watery eyes. 

Once you get into the routine of using these natural remedies, then you can start planning on how to "hide" those telltale signs of allergyface. Just because we have to go through allergy season, doesnt mean that we have to let the whole world see it!

Visit ZYRTEC® on Facebook at Facebook.com/ZYRTEC to learn more about how to combat ALLERGY FACE™.

Now its Your turn: Do you use any of your own natural remedies or special beauty tricks to hide your #ALLERGYFACE? Please share them with us in the comments!


Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign on behalf of Latina Bloggers Connect and the makers of ZYRTEC®. All photos and opinions posted here are 100% my own. To see a full disclosure used by this website, please refer to our DISCLOSURE page at the top of this page. Thank you! 

photo credit: we heart it

MTV VMA's Beauty Takeover by COVERGIRL

Hopefully by now You are just as tired as I am from hearing all the news surrounding Miley Cyrus and her performance at the MTV VMA's. In my opinion, it is not the first time an artist pushes the moral envelope by their onstage performance and it certainly will not be the last.

There. I am done.

Now, let's talk about something positive about that night that was NOT mentioned at all:

COVERGIRL was the official beauty sponsor for this years VMA's.

DJs NERVO (Mim & Liv) were the official deejays on the red carpet. The newest CG on the block, Becky G, also attended the VMAs for the 1st time, and debuted her CVS ‘Back to School and Back on Tour’ TV commercial.

The amazing P!NK won the 1st moonman of the night before the awards even began! The legendary R&B queen, Janelle Monae, took home a moonman too for her Erykah Badu collaboration! And last but not least, Lionsgate helped COVERGIRL debut their official #CapitolCOVERGIRL collection commercial for The Hunger Games partnership.

Watch the video here:  http://youtu.be/ENQGWPNu690 
Check out COVERGIRL'S new Beauty Studio website  http://www.covergirl.com/capitolbeautystudio for everything Hunger Games glam!

Not only were these COVERGIRL's busy entertaining the crowds and winning awards, they were also rocking some fierce makeup looks.

Mim and Liv of NERVO’s Makeup Looks:

· For Mim, COVERGIRL Clean Whipped Cream Foundation in Natural Beige (340) was applied as a base, followed by blush and two different bronzers for defined cheekbones: the Clean Glow Blush in Roses and Clean Glow Bronzer in Spices, and also TruBlend Minerals Bronzer in Golden Sunrise. The blended colors provided precise definition.

· On the eyes, she started with COVERGIRL Ink It! Liner in Black Ink and drew from the inner corner of the eye to the outer, defining the eye lid into a full cat eye shape. Flamed Out Shadow Pot in Molten Black was used to fill in the space between the outer line and the lash line. The top water line was filled with liner to enhance the thickness of her lashes. To complete the bold eye, she finished with Clump Crusher Extensions in Very Black.

· On the lips, a pop of sheer color was added using Queen Collection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Pink Diamond (800).

· Liv’s beauty look was kept really simple with a striking cat eye. She used Clean Whipped Cream Foundation in Buff Beige (325) all over her face, and then set with TruBLEND Minerals Loose Powder in Translucent Medium (415). Clean Glow Bronzer in Spices was used to contour the cheeks and finished with Clean Glow Blush in Peaches.

· A dramatic cat eye was created using a nude shadow as the base. She started with COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers in Mink (750), and then wore LineBlast 24 Hour Liner to create the sexy cat eye.

· Liv’s look was finished with a beautiful lip created using LipPerfection in Rapture (280) with a touch of Smoochies Lip Balm in Luv Bug (245) for that extra gloss.

Becky G’s Makeup Look:

· On the eyes, Becky wore a shadow one shade darker than her skin color applied all over her lid, using a fluffy eye shadow brush. On top, she wore COVERGIRL Ink It! Liner in Black Ink on her upper and lower lash lines. The liner was worked into her lashes with a small smudge brushed to give her a natural smoked-out look. To finish, her lashes were coated with COVERGIRL Flamed Out Mascara to make them really pop!

· Becky’s skin was prepped by moisturizing and applying COVERGIRL Clean Whipped Creme Foundation. A bit of COVERGIRL + Olay Concealer Balm was applied under her eyes and wherever needed. COVERGIRL Clean Glow Blush in Roses was swept along her cheeks to finish her skin and powder was applied to keep the shine away.

· Soft lips are always a must! Becky’s lips were lined and filled with a soft berry liner and applied COVERGIRL Lipslicks Smoochies Lip Balm in Be Sweet, finishing with a layer of COVERGIRL Wetslicks Fruit Spritzers Lipgloss in Papaya Splash to give her a super juicy pout.


Not only did these GC's makeup look flawless and fierce, but they also rocked some easy trendy nail art.

Mim and Liv of NERVO’s Nail Looks:

· For Mim, the base was COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond, Snow Storm, Forever Fawn, and Golden Opportunity. To make the look really funky, bold accessories were added including studs, a diamond bow and gold chains. She even donned an MTV flag on one of her nails to pay homage to the VMAs!

· For Liv, the look was kept simple, starting with a base of COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Black Diamond and Snow Storm, with cool designs on each to give the look some edge.

Becky G’s Nail Look:

· COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Snow Storm was applied as the base, and embellished with the bright Outlast Stay Brilliant Glosstini colors including Bahama Mama, Lemon Drop, Sangria, and Blue Hawaiian. She wore a graffiti design, very reminiscent of the tagged Brooklyn buildings, which was achieved by tapping a sponge on the nails while they were still wet to mix the colors.


Disclosure:  All links provided in this article are NOT affiliate links. These are provided to help you read more information about the specific COVERGIRL product mentioned in the article.


Now its Your turn:  Did you watch the MTV VMA's? If so, what was Your favorite makeup look of the night?  Let us know in the comments! 

Fall Beauty Trends and Healthy Skin Tips using Neutrogena #NTGbeautifulInsideOut #Ad

This is a compensated campaign in collaboration with Latina Bloggers Connect and NEUTROGENA.

Fall Beauty: Smoke Signals by latinflavadesigns featuring Neutrogena

During these last few days of August, all I have been thinking about is how much fun transitioning into the upcoming Fall season is going to be. I truly love summertime and the heat, but there are two Fall beauty trends that I cannot wait to wear again in the next few weeks:

Classy Smokey Eyes -

I cannot help it. I am a die hard smokey eye fanatic. I cannot wait to wear a dark smoked out eyeliner. So, once the temperature gets a little cooler, I will be bringing out a few powder shadows and eye pencils in black, brown and dark purple.

TIP: Use both eyeshadow and eye pencils in similar shades to create a velvety look. Just dip an angled brush into the powder, then go over the line you created on your eyelids using the eye pencil. The final touch is to smudge out the color with a dry brush.

Dewey Pink Blush - 

Blush is one of those makeup products that once applied, it automatically brings life to your face. Wearing a flesh-toned pink blush looks more natural on the skin, especially during the crisp Fall weather. For me, the easiest way to get this “flushed” look, is by applying a cream blush in pink, followed by a swipe of  Neutrogena's Healthy Glow Blush & Bronzer Duo in Rosy Glow.

TIP: When using a cream or gel blush, apply a powder blush in a similar shade on top. This will prolong the wear of your blush for an all day romantic look.


I am sure that there will be more beauty trends that I will end up trying, but even before thinking about what makeup I will wearing, I always make sure that my skin care routine is helping my skin stay clear from breakouts.

In order to keep my skin (which is oily and acne prone) clear, I have been using Neutrogena Oil Free Acne Wash. This wash is gentle but very effective at deep cleaning pores while treating breakouts with every use. I tend to use this wash immediately after removing any dirt or makeup with Neutrogena's makeup remover cleansing towelettes.

TIP: Neutrogena's Oil Free Acne Wash contains salicylic acid, an ingredient needed for acne treatment. Although the formula is gentle for everyday use (morning/night), anyone who may be allergic to aspirin (such as myself) should limit their use to once every few days.

Right before going to bed, I always take a few minutes to apply an anti-aging serum or lotion. Neutrogena's Rapid Wrinkle Repair moisturizer is lightweight (will not clog your pores) yet helps remove the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The consistency is perfect – not too thick or too watery.

TIP: Make sure to apply your night time serum/moisturizer to your neck and chest area. The neck and chest area tend to show signs of aging before our faces do!

By the time morning arrives, my skin feels soft, supple and looks refreshed. After washing my skin, I am then ready to sit down and work on my makeup. On most days, I only need three products:

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Primer 
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Liquid makeup in natural beige 
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector in light.

TIP: The best aspect of these three face products is that each contain SPF. Most people are under the impression that SPF is only need in the summer months, but that is not true! You need to protect your skin from the sun every day! 

Once I have applied these three essentials, I am confident that my skin is radiant and ready for any type of beauty trend I choose to wear for that day, no matter what season we are in.

I hope you found this article helpful. A very special thank you to Latina Bloggers Connect and Neutrogena for supplying us with these amazing products! 


Now it's YOUR turn: Are there any Fall Beauty Trends you are excited to wear? Do You have any tips on keeping Your skin healthy during the seasons? Let us know in the comments!

New Things that are Coming to the Blog!

So, what's are these NEW things coming to the blog?

For starters, during the past few weeks we have been meeting with several different buyers and wholesalers looking for new pieces to add to our boutique's Fall 2013 Collection.  This is the main reason why this blog has not been updated as usual - and for that I do apologize.

Good news is, in the next few weeks there will be new content added to the blog:

• Our second sponsored post for ZYRTEC's #ALLERGYFACE campaign 
• Product reviews for Hydroxatone's Anti-Aging BB Cream and HYD for Men
• We were selected by Eclos to join their Dare to Go Bare skin care 2-week challenge 
• A new beauty spnsored post for Neutrogena's #NTGbeautifulInsideOut campaign 
• We are going to be Brand Ambassadors for TOM'S Shoes 

One new addition to this blog that You may have noticed is a new page called "Blog Sale" that is now listed.  

The Blog Sale was created as a special addition to the blog specifically dedicated to help You find great products at the best pricing possible. As many of You may have noticed, I have partenered with quite a few Brands as an Affiliate, which is how I get a tiny commission from certain items that You may buy when these are recommended to You in our posts. (This commission helps keep the blog online, buy stock photos, keeps our network up, ect....)

Now, let me to say this: please DO NOT EVER feel obligated to buy something from my links. The main reason why this Blog Sale is in existence is: to share items that are in popular demand but that can be offered to You at a great price.

Here at the offices, we tend to receive packages almost daily! I can attest to that mainly because I
am the one making ALL the orders!!  The way I see it is: 

If we can get pretty things at a great price, why shouldn't YOU?! 

Now that I'm out of the "closet" with my shopping addiction, I will make it PRIORITY #1 to keep this Blog Sale as current as humanly possible by updating the page every weekend ;)

Please take Your time browsing through this page - If at any time, You have a product suggestion that You want to see featured, feel free to let us know via email: info@latinflavadesigns.com


Now it's Your turn:  Have a fantastic weekend! Don't let anything distract You from having tons of fun over the weekend!! 

PS. 
If You have time, check out the first photo in the sidebar to Your right. We are in the process of designing a new fashion/beauty online boutique.  We are offering something very special to everyone who joins the VIP Maven List!! I don't want You to miss out on this - it's going to be an amazing new venture!! 

photo credit: stand magazines stock photo by www.pixmac.com

Back to School: Super Speedy Skincare

TGIF Dolls! The weekend is officially here...finally!

This week was dedicated to providing you with basic beauty tips - especially for those of you who will be going back to school this month. To recap, here is what was featured earlier this week:

Back to School: Tools of the Trade {we hand selected which beauty tools you should have in your beauty kit for flawless makeup application}

Back to School: Five tips to a better shave {who wants to run around in gym with knicked legs, right?}

The last post for this mini-series is going to help you get in and out of the bathroom in three minutes or less...Say what? Yes! It's possible!!

Check it out:

Super Speedy Skincare in three minutes or less: 

0:00 - Wash your face messaging the cleanser into skin using circular motions.

0:50 - Rinse face off with tepid water - patting dry with a clean soft washcloth.

1:00 - Using a cotton pad, apply toner onto skin. Give it a few second to dry.

1:30 - Tap a pea size amount of eye cream to the tops of cheekbones working your way up to the lower eyelashes. Use your ring finger to do this and for the love of God, DO NOT rub!

2:00 - Now it's time to moisturize. Smooth your daily face cream or serum all over the face and neck area - avoid the eye area. Let the moisturizer do its thing and sink into your skin.

2:30 - Skin is now prepped for some SPF. Yes, you need to use SPF everyday...and I mean E.V.E.R.Y.D.A.Y.! Apply it to your face, neck and hands.

3:00 - Your done!! Now you can either start priming your skin for makeup, or just run out the door...your choice, but make sure you're fully dressed before runnning outside!!

And..that's how it's done!

Give this super speedy skincare morning routine a try. Who knows..You may just amaze yourself at how quickly you can get ready in the AM!

PS. Don't forget to check out the amazing back to school offer from Sigma Beauty: 

Back to School Promo: 15% off all eye shadow bases and Synthetic Precision 4 brush kit

When: Thursday, August 15-Thursday, August 29

Discount: 15% Off

Code: B2S2013

Where: SIGMA BEAUTY.COM

Now its YOUR turn: How long does it usually take you to get ready in the morning? Let us know in the comments!

[photo credit: weheartit.com]

Back to School : Five Tips to a Better Shave

This past Monday we started a "back to school" mini-post series where we shared our top five tools of the trade that every student needs to have in their survival beauty kit. If you missed it, you can read all the details by clicking on this title: Back to School: Beauty 101: Tools of the Trade

In the spirit of keeping these posts short and sweet, here are our 5 tips to a better shave:

1. Exfoliate - this is the best way to prevent ingrown hairs. Exfoliating will clear your skin from dead skin cells before shaving. Tip: Try this DIY scrub: 2 tbsp pure honey, 2 tbsp olive oil (or coconut oil) and 4 tbsp granulated sugar (or brown sugar).

2. Soften - the ideal time to shave is when you are taking a shower (like you didn't know that one, right?). For best results, soften your hair/stubble with warm water for about three minutes before breaking out the razor.



3. Lather - contrary to belief, using bath soap to shave is a HUGE mistake. Bath soaps even hair conditioners can clog your razor as well as dry out your skin. Instead do this: layer a shaving lotion or gel onto skin. Tip: if your skin is super sensitive, use grapeseed oil as an alternative.

4. Skip the Scents - it is imperative to AVOID all of the following: fragranced creams, deoderants (yes, you read that correctly: deoderants), and perfumes for at least an hour after shaving. The only product you should apply immediately after shaving is an unscented lotion to seal in the moisture.

5. Stay Calm - every once in a while after shaving your skin can feel "burned" - when this happens, it's time to pull out a bottle of Mylanta. Pour a little bit onto a cotton pad placing it directly onto the razor burn for at least five minutes. Another calming regimen is placing a slightly chilled, damp chamomile tea bag onto affected area - this will help calm any swelling.


Please keep in mind that all of these tips can be applied to all body areas that are being shaved - not just your legs! Taking the extra time and effort in following these five tips will help you become a shaving mastah!

Enjoyed these tips? Check out these two other related articles for even more tips:


Avoiding Common Under Arm Blunders (Part I)
Avoiding Common Under Arm Blunders (Part II)


Now it's Your turn: Do you have any tried and true tips for shaving? Let us know in the comments - or facebook - or twitter ... We want to hear from YOU! 



{photo credit: Image courtesy of marin/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net}

Back to School : Beauty 101 : Tools of the Trade

The next few mini-posts are going to be to all the wonderful ladies who are getting ready for the new school year.

Going back to school usually means you will be spending time at the department stores shopping for supplies, stocking up on pencils, notebooks and paper..... buying new clothes, shoes and hair accessories.

Although you may have all the school essentials taken care of, today I want to help you refill your beauty supply kit with a few must have essentials that are sure to help you move forward onto the fall season.

The most important part of your beauty supply kit are going to be your key makeup tools. There are five "tools of the trade" you are going to need:

Back to School Beauty 101 - Tools of the Trade

1. Foundation Brush or Beauty Blender - these are key for getting flawless coverage. Tip: when you use a foundation brush, swirl the product in circles to avoid streaks.

2. Kabuki Brush - this is perfect for applying blush, bronzer, or powder.

3. Fan Brush - using a fan brush is ideal for applying a tiny bit of highlighter to the tops of your cheeks.

4. Eyelash Curler - look for a curler that has a flat "bite" so you can get as close to the lash line as possible. Crimp lashes three times: at roots, mid-eyelash and tips.

5. Eye-shadow Brush - try to look for a full brush with close-set brushes as this will help you apply color all over the lid. A second brush you will need for eye-shadow is a blending brush, one that is preferably domes shape.

Special Bonus: 
Get the Precision Grip Teardrop Blender {here} for under $5! 
All the brushes in the pic-collage can be purchased by clicking the Sigma Banner below - Don't forget to use the coupon code: B2S2013 for your discount! 

Now it's YOUR turn: What are Your top favorite "tools of the trade"? Let us know in the comments!

Stay tuned for more Back to School : Beauty 101: Tips coming this week. Next we are sharing our tips to getting a better shave!

How to Achieve the Perfect Bridal Makeup

Although the official summer season is close to its end, there is one event that will continue moving forward into the Fall and Winter months:

Bridal Season.

A few weeks ago, we started a series of bridal related articles where we shared skin care tips as well as a few suggestions on what you could wear if you were attending a wedding this summer.

1. Beauty Tips for Brides
2. Skincare Tips for the Bride-to-Be
3. Apricot Collection - Wedding Guest Edition

To finish our bridal series, we will be offering You a few more tips on how to achieve the perfect wedding day makeup.

• If you are having a facial done, make sure it is at least two weeks prior to your wedding.
• If your skin is prone to breakouts, see your dermatologist 3 or 4 months before your wedding.
• Staying hydrated is important to keeping you looking refreshed. Drinking lots of water will also flush out impurities from the skin.
• Eyebrows should be shaped 5-7 days before the wedding. Be sure not to pluck on your wedding day because you could land up with unattractive red bumps that are difficult to cover.
• On your wedding day blend your makeup well and let set. You do not need extra makeup to please the camera that's a myth.
• Choose a lipstick that lasts. Apply just prior to walking down the isle. Go easy on the lip liner. Line and fill mouth with a neutral pencil to make lipstick stay on longer.
• To lengthen wearing time of your lipstick, apply a light layer of powder over your lipstick then apply another layer of lipstick.

• If you are doing your own makeup, see a beauty consultant and purchase your make up at least 3 months in advance. Then practice until you've got the perfect makeup.
• Waterproof mascara is a great idea just in case you get a little weepy.
• A very light application of facial powder will set your makeup.
• Keep your powder, mascara, and lipstick in your purse so you can freshen up at a moments notice.
• If you discover that dreaded pimple on your wedding day, do not squeeze it! Just apply a few drops of Visene to get the red out, cover with concealer, and apply foundation.
• Avoid glittery or dewy looks - these are not very receptive for photographs and you may come out looking oily or too shiny.
• If your wedding is outside be sure to apply sunscreen BEFORE applying your makeup.
• Water based foundation looks most natural in photos.

• For eye contouring, apply a dark but neutral in the crease of the eye. You can line the upper and lower lids (optional) with brown or grey shadow, smudging the outer corners. If you need to make your eyes look wider or brighter, use a white pencil to line the inside of the lower lids.
• Don't get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns, peeling skin and tan lines can sabotage your special day.
• Make certain your wedding photographer is "not" using grainy film, because no matter how good your makeup is, with grainy film it will not look good! Instead, make sure your wedding photographer is using high quality film so your photos can do your wedding makeup some justice.
• For your makeup to look good in your photos, it must be completely matte and in neutral tones. Add color by applying makeup in pastels - these shades look soft and pretty. Try to avoid glitter, shimmer and frosted eye-shadows.
• Shine is the #1 enemy for photos. Have a few blotting sheets available in the event your skin feels a little oily.

And....there you have it. An entire list of easy, yet very important, tips to help you have the perfect wedding day makeup. After all, it's your day! You deserve to look absolutely beautiful!


Now it's YOUR turn: Do YOU have any bridal tips that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments!!

Searching stock photo by www.pixmac.com