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This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ZYRTEC®.

5 beauty tips for dealing with seasonal allergies

Every spring it starts with a sniffle. Then itchy eyes. Once the itchy ears start, I know it’s officially allergy season. I’ve suffered from them since I was a teenager, and sadly they haven’t disappeared. Over the years, I’ve learned to plan ahead and pick up my ZYRTEC® so I avoid the puffy eyes and red nose look of ALLERGY FACE®. Somehow there are still times when I’ve forgotten to take it and pay the price with never-ending sneezing. As a busy mom, I don’t get a day off to recover from a tough allergies. At least ZYRTEC® starts working in an hour!

So what do you do if you end up with ALLERGY FACE® and you have a big event to go to, like a graduation or a wedding? Or just heading to the school pick up line? Here’s the plan from Jamie Greenberg, a celebrity makeup artist, who has created six makeup “looks” perfect for allergy sufferers trying to look their best

barest beauty makeup look

5 Tips to Help Allergy Sufferers Look their Best

  1. Clean your makeup brushes. Soak them in some castille soap and water for about 20 minutes and let them dry thoroughly.
  2. The 1-2-3 rule: keep blush no more than one year, mascara for about two months and check your lipstick for discoloration every three months.
  3. To compensate for irritated eyes, look for a concealer two shades darker than your skin tone. Be sure to pat on the concealer with your index finger or brush.
  4. Color correct redness by dabbing on a green-tinted concealer. The green tint can help combat redness. Lightly apply a skin-colored concealer over the green and any other uneven areas.
  5. Drink lots of water! Hydration is key to improving the look of your skin.
1-2-3 Beauty Rule

Pin this for later when you can’t remember the rule!

 

I had no idea that green tinted makeup could help alleviate some of the redness on my face.  Physicians Formula has a green-tinted concealer that has an EWG rating of a 2.

Also, a good moisturizer is also helpful when the skin around your nose gets a little chapped. I swear by Aquaphor for when anyone’s nose is in need of a little TLC during allergy or cold season.

 What do you do to save face during allergy season?

 

 

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of ZYRTEC®.
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As I continue my maternity leave this month, I wanted to share this recipe from Kristina, the writer behind The Greening of Westford. I am a huge fan of coconut oil; it was my belly butter of choice during my nine months of being pregnant. This is an easy recipe and I hope you find it useful!

If you are looking for more natural replacements for beauty products, I have THE ONE!  Coconut oil is an amazing ingredient.  You can cook with it and use it as part of your beauty routine! It is becoming a regular item on grocery store shelves as well.

This little mixture can be used as a moisturizer, eye makeup remover and eye cream.

Coconut Oil Moisturizer
Ingredients

1/2 cup Coconut oil
1/2 tsp Vitamin E (optional)

Directions

Place the coconut oil and vitamin E in a bowl.   Whip with an electric mixer until it is like whipped cream or frosting (about 5-10 minutes).

Vitamin E oil is used as a preservative.  However, if you don’t already have some, don’t bother.  Coconut oil has a pretty long shelf-life as is.   Some people find it easier to melt the coconut oil first, and then whip it as it cools.  If you prefer this method, you can melt the coconut oil in your microwave or over a double boiler.

Place in a pretty jar and you are done!

Uses

I put this on my body as a moisturizer after showering.  When I remove my eye makeup at night, I put a small amount on my eyes and wipe the make-up away.  A little remains which moisturizes that delicate skin around your eyes beautifully.

In the summer, this mixture may turn to liquid.   You could store it in the fridge to keep it more solid, but totally your preference.  In colder months, you may have to scrape at it a bit, but it melts quickly with the warmth of your hands.

Have you tried coconut oil in other beauty treatments?

About the Author

Kristina Greene is the founder and editor of The Greening Of Westford blog.  She focuses on practical eco-friendly actions anyone can do to save time, money, aggravation, oh, and the planet!  Connect with her through her blog, facebook and twitter.

I have been testing out a new product called De Odor Works as an alternative to commercial deodorant/antiperspirant. I’m sure many of you have heard at some point there is some possible link to the aluminum in deodorants and breast cancer.  While I believe that has not been completely proven, I like the idea of using a more natural product.  Plus, so many of the deodorants on the market are not easily recycled. I already keep a small stainless steel bar near my kitchen sink because it’s one of the only things to get rid of the smell of lobster off my hands. I never thought it would work for other body odors…

De Odor Works is a stainless steel bar I used in the shower for 30 seconds under each arm to eliminate odors caused by bacteria. The bar itself is easy to handle, even under the running water.  It’s light weight, but made a racket when I knocked it off its shelf in the shower!  I tested this product for two weeks and I decided I’m going to keep using it.  Here’s why:

1. It really did keep odors away, even after taking a long walk in hot weather.
2. My white shirts didn’t turn yellow, which they always do from regular deodorants.
3. My underarms are smoother now since my pores are no longer blocked from regular deodorant use.
4. In case I forget to put deodorant on in my haste to get out the door in the morning, I’m covered!
5. I have tried the all natural salt deodorants before, but was never happy with the application of it.

One note, this product is not an antiperspirant, not does it claim to be.  When going to a hot yoga class, use some back-up protection!  I just felt a little too “au naturale” after sweating for 90 minutes.

If you are interested in this great product, you can purchase it at Amazon
The bar is $29.95 (plus shipping) and may be the last time you need to purchase a deodorant. The company also offers a refund if you are not happy with your product.  Happy shopping!

Disclosure: De Odor works provided me with a sample for review, however, the opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. No compensation was received for this review.