Blog Posts by Carol Belanger

There are numerous beauty tips shared among the Shine community and I really enjoy the posts and the writer sharing what works for them and what doesn't. The beauty tips range from using common ingredients in the home such as baking soda, olive oil, etc., to beauty tips on the right application of makeup. With that in mind, I thought I would share some tips I have learned over the years and hope you find them useful.

1: To quickly dry your fingernails after polishing them, dip in ice cold water. I have found that no matter how long I try to sit still I always smudge my fresh polish, so this tip works well for me.

2: I am a firm believer in toner. I keep my toner refrigerated so that it gives my face a blast of cell circulation. In additon it tones, tightens and closes the pores after cleansing. However, when I am out of my homemade toner I always splash my face with cool water to close pores before applying any lotions or creams.

3: For a clarifying shampoo I use apple

Read More »from User post: 10 Beauty Tips Everyone Can Use

If you have never tried a bath bomb, you do not know what you are missing. They are easy to make and make great gifts for all occasion. Additionally, you can customize to your favorite fragrance and add moisturizing ingredients.

This is my first video and I hope to make more videos on making your own skin care products such as toners, lotions, etc. Hopefully as time goes on the videos will improve with practice.

So hope you enjoy this bath bomb video and I look forward to hearing from you!


For more skin care articles and skin care recipes visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Many skin care products use essential oils in their ingredients. For instance I saw a Paul Mitchell Tea Tree line of shampoo and conditioner recently advertised on Shine. It made me wonder if people really knew the significance of what tea tree oil has to offer and other essential oils in skin care products. Tea tree oil has natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties and is very effective countless skin aliments, skin spots, acne and dandruff. Thus by understanding the properties of tea tree oil I could understand why they chose tea tree oil to combat dry scalp.

This seems like a pretty good deal, $43.99 for 2 whole liters. Color safe and great for all hair types including african-american.

Understanding the properties of essential oils will give you a great advantage when selecting skin care products for you skin type or skin ailment. Below are common essential oils and their propeties which are commonly used in skin care products.

Carrot Oil - has a

Read More »from User post: Properties of Essential Oils in Skin Care Products

With Christmas just around the corner, I am sure you have starting considering gift ideas. However, have you thought about eco-friendly gifts? Giving the gift of "green" sends the message that you are an environmentally aware consumer and that you care about our planet. While there are probably many people that think "green living" is just some sort of catch phrase, in reality "green living" does lessen our footprints on our planet.

So, with that in mind I have comprised a list of "green" products that are great Christmas gifts and easy on the environment. The recipients of these gifts will be pleased that you have made a conscious choice to care about our planet.





soy candlesSoy Candles - Looking for a candle to burn that will fill your home with delicious aromas but won't burn a hole in your pocket. Our scented soy jar candles are the perfect choice for quality and cost conscious consumers. Our soy candles will burn longer than typical petroleum based, wax candles. These 8oz soy candles

Read More »from User post: I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas - eco-friendly gift ideas!

Did you ever notice that some people just have a glowing complexion? It is not their makeup that gives them that glow it is the canvas on which they started. A great complexion that has a natural glow starts with proper skin care and a healthy diet.

The condition of your skin can be a good indicator of your overall health. For instance a poor diet and bad habits such as smoking and too much alcohol can lead to a dull complexion, baggy eyes and even a yellowish tint. Additionally an improper skin care routine or no skin care program at all can lead to premature wrinkles, sagging skin and patches of dry skin.

So what are the steps to brighten a dull complexion? First and foremost understanding your skin type is the first step for proper skin care. By understanding your skin type, i.e. dry, combination, oily, sensitive, you can begin to select the right ingredients that are the most beneficial to your skin.

Cleansers - Get a facial cleanser specific to your skin type. Your

Read More »from User post: Easy Steps to Brighten a Dull Complexion

Patches of dry, flaky and itchy skin are common during the fall and winter months. While they can appear on almost any part of the body there are typically common on the legs, face, and hands. While there are many skin conditions that cause dry patches such as eczema, psoriasis, and fungal infections, this article will deal with dry skin patches due to environmental factors, such as cold weather and low humidity and the lack of hydration to the skin.

Below are some simple steps to help you treat dry skin patches:

1) Limit the time you spend in the bath or shower. If you like extremely hot showers, adjust your water temperature down. Showers and baths strip the body of its natural oils thus causing the skin to become overly dry.

2) Apply an emollient rich cream on dry patches while skin is still damp. Continue to apply cream frequently throughout the day. I have used Eucerin and I find that body butters work great too. Other options are Vitamin E and oils such as olive oil, avocado

Read More »from User post: Simple Remedies to Eliminate Dry Skin Patches

Acne is the most common skin disorder in the United States. It affects those in there teenage years to early 20's. Acne usually affects teenage girls on their face, while boys are usually infected on their backs. While there is no cure for acne, there are numerous skin care products and gentle herbal home made recipes to reduce the outbreaks of acne.

Acne is a skin disease that can cause psychological impairments as well as physical. In some instances of severe breakouts it can lead to the person becoming withdrawn and depressed. Severe acne can also leave deep scars and that can lead to the person becoming self-conscious or have lower self-esteem. Fortunately there are many medications available today that can reduce the amount of scarring that acne can cause.

Below are common causes of acne:

1) Genetics, if one of your parents had acne, chances are you will too.
2) Hormones, during puberty oil glands become more active thus producing more oil to the skin. For some

Read More »from Causes and Treatment of Acne

A combination skin type is a condition whereas part of the face is overly dry and other areas are oily. The oily condition usually occurs in the T zone, which encompasses the forehead, the nose and chin areas. These areas are prone to breakouts (blackhead, whiteheads, pimples) more often because of the higher percentage of sebaceous (oil producing) glands.

A skin care program for combination skin can be frustrating as you need to treat both oily skin and dry skin. However, there are simple skin care steps you can take which can reduce the oil in the T zone and still moisturize and hydrate the dry areas.

As with any good skin care routine cleansing with the correct product for your skin type is vital. For combination skin, consider a cleanser that has a pH balance of 7 or less. Those cleansers with a higher pH balance have a tendency to strip the skin of its natural oils thus further drying out the dry area and prompting the oily areas to produce more oil.

Check out this

Read More »from Caring for Combination Skin