Get The Green Tea Glow!

Hi! 

You all know that I’m not one to forego my morning cup of coffee. 

It is a staple in my morning routine and I look forward to the flavor and the caffeine that wakes me up each morning. It is especially important to me since I have insomnia most nights and can rarely fall asleep earlier than midnight. BUT…that said, I am going to try and tackle a new challenge this upcoming month… I’m going to try to make the switch from coffee to green tea! 

According to Natural News, green tea naturally contains caffeine. It’s not nearly as much as a cup of coffee, so it will reduce my caffeine intake by about 70%, which I think will help regulate my energy levels throughout the day. I started doing some research about the goodness of green tea and I found some facts that got me really excited to make the switch. Read them below—you just might be tempted to take the green tea challenge along with me... 

•  Green tea has tons of antioxidants. 

 Antioxidants, which can help prevent cancer, are so important for our bodies, according to WebMD. Sip up for a healthy body and a longer life! 

•  Green tea boosts your metabolism. 

 Livestrong reports that green tea can increase your 24-hour energy levels while burning fat at the same time. So, if you can’t make it to the gym one day, sip some green tea and reap the benefits. 

•  Green tea gives your skin a glow. 

 Those antioxidants that also help you fight off diseases will also fight off free radicals that cause skin damage and cause breakouts, according to LaurenConrad.com. This means that brewing a cup of green tea will help to calm your skin if it’s that time of the month or if you are recovering from a bad sunburn!  

How could you not want a cup of this miracle tea after reading those fun facts?! Do you drink green tea? Will you take my challenge and make the switch from coffee to green tea? Get your glow on!

xoxo,

Sharlene

The Best Cake Eyeliners

Frequently used by professional makeup artists, cake eyeliner delivers a dynamic, defined look to any eye makeup. Worn thin, the liner looks chic and classy. Worn thick, cake eyeliner adds instant drama and flirty sex appeal. The best cake eyeliner should not only be easy to apply, but also maintain its precise perfection throughout the day.

Brand

As with any beauty product, what works best for one fashionista might be a fashion disaster for another. Typically, the more expensive a product, the better the quality. While that statement might ring true with certain luxury beauty brands, you’ll certainly be able to find plenty of budget-friendly options that give you a perfect eyeliner look. If there’s a particular brand of eye makeup you always use, you might find that their cake eyeliner works best for you. If you’re not loyal to any specific brand, test a few different brands to find your perfect match. Many beauty stores and departments allow you to test products before you buy.

Texture

Cake eyeliner has a thick, dense texture and a rich, bold color. If the term “cake” conjures up images of soft, fluffy birthday cake, you might be confused on the texture. The texture of cake eyeliner is more like the texture of the dirt that’s caked onto your favorite riding boots. The texture is similar to eyeshadow, yet slightly smoother and denser. The best cake eyeliner has a soft, velvety texture. When mixed with a liquid, it should turn into a thick gel for easy application.

Application

Apply cake eyeliner with a thin eyeliner brush. While some cake eyeliners can only be worn wet, the best cake eyeliners allow two main options for wear. For a subtle smoky look, apply the liner dry. For a cleaner, more sophisticated look, apply it wet. The instructions guide you to use either water or a specialized sealing liquid. Add just a small amount of liquid to the liner on the back of your hand and swirl around until you get a smooth gel. Look for a liner that requires very little liquid to achieve the perfect consistency -- this saves you valuable time and money.

Wear

There’s not much worse than glancing into the mirror at work or during your date to find that your eyeliner has turned into an awful mess. As with all beauty products, there will be some cake eyeliners that stay perfect on your pretty little lids -- and some that don’t seem to stay put for longer than five minutes. Unfortunately, it takes a bit of trial and error to find your perfect match. Look for a cake eyeliner that stays in place throughout the day without smudging, smearing, running, collecting in the corner of your eyes or completely wearing off. When testing out cake eyeliners before you buy, don’t simply test out the ease of application and the immediate look. Instead, spend the whole day in the eyeliner and re-assess before you wash your face for the night. If you still love the look, a quick trip back to the store is all you need to acquire the newest item in your beauty arsenal.