Beautiful

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Period.

There is no getting around that. Five people can look at the same thing and you will get 5 different reactions.

I have always considered myself a fairly attractive female. I know my strengths and weaknesses. I've never suffered from self esteem issues all though Taylor Dayne a singer/song writer in the late 80's and early 90's ("tell it to my heart") had me trying all sorts of lipsticks and rollers because I was obsessed with the fullness of her "look" till I snapped out if it and said "hello Mari, you're Spanish she is White. You have different features and texture".

I've never fully put focus on another woman to then beat myself up about not measuring up. Instead I've looked and admired and tweaked to fit me.
I've talked about my hair several times on my page and about my daughter's and I've said that if we didn't work with what we have our lives would not be stress free.

I feel the same way about so called beauty products.
I ran into 2 blog posts this week and the amount of products these ladies were using on their face to either clean, stay youthful or enhance was unreal.
One of them shared a picture with what had to be at least 11 different lotions, serums etc...
I am not sharing their info that would be way too rude.
But shortly after I read them I thought about my own routine.

This is my share. This is what I use at age 43. These are my tips and tricks.

First, I will STRESS less is more. If you are piling stuff on your face you are NOT going to look youthful.
Second, work with what you have lean towards natural. If you are going to add make sure it enhances what you already have not that you will walk around like a crazy clown.
Third, foundation is your friend ONLY if you are using the right shade for you and on your face not your collar or your significant others shirt or blouse.

My mother was a Mary Kay Consultant and also sold Avon during my teenage, early adult years.
I loved watching the parties she would host and all the goodies that were available BUT I wasn't sucked in and always stuck to 2 products...Mascara and Eyeliner.

Yes I've tried it all eye shadows, lip liners, rouge, foundation, blush you name it I have tried it but I always came back to my 2 tools. I should make clear that though I had access to all this makeup I really didnt care to use my two tools till after the age of 18, I didn't want to waste my morning time putting on makeup. My house rules for my daughter was 16 and in moderation and she didn't and still doesn't go past lipstick if that.
Simple and easy to maintain.
Who wants to invest time "putting on their face" before dropping the kids off at school? I don't.
Who wants to mistreat their face with all the tugging and wiping to get the makeup off? Not me.
Who wants to have a quickie with their sweetie and when your done your face is down your chin? Ummmm, not me!

I'm going to picture share what is in my makeup drawer and what I use to take care of my face.
Also what I use to care for my hair.
I want to shout out the follow products in no particular order and this is my own opinion no one paid me to use their stuff, it's just great and worth the money.

-oatmeal, any brand will do
-baking soda, any brand will do
-wash towels
-head wraps
-mascara, any brand the more the merrier
-eyelash curler
-q-tips
-eyebrow brush and gel (optional)
-eyelash comb/wand
-eyeliner, a variety so you can try different looks
-Eos lip balms
-blistex lip balm (you don't have to have blister issues, it's just great for your lips and compact)
-cvs brand extreme hold gel
-göt 2b hair products
-Queen Helene pink styling gel
-raw honey
-coconut oil
-luke warm water

I only use  mascara and eyeliner as I commented and I wash my face with oatmeal 2x's a day. I make a paste out of a small amount. I also leave it on as a mask twice a week for 20 minutes.
Sticking to DIY home remedies and natural products has changed how my face feels and the breakouts I experience.
Less is more on my hair has helped with dryness, damage and split ends. After all when I go to the Salon I am under the drier for more than an hour, plus blower afterwards and then the flat iron.
That is a lot of heat so I must be kind to my hair on my off days.
When I decide to leave it curly I use Queen Helene and when I go slick back and crisp I use the glue gels to keep the little hairs down.

If you look at some past posts on hair you will see I've gone from long to short and now growing back for second round of donation again. Its past my chin now so we are coming along.

Feel free to ask me specific questions if you wish. Now tell me what is in your tool bag for your natural beauty routine? Care to share a DIY body, hair or face scrub recipe?

Always stress free xo.