Category: fashion and beauty

2015 Ultimate “FITMAS” Gift Guide

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‘Tis the season of giving, and time for our 2nd Annual Ultimate “FITMAS” Gift Guide!  We can’t think of a better way to spoil your loved ones than with an gift that will motivate and encourage them on their quest to live a fit and healthy lifestyle.

I love giving thoughtful gifts to show my friends and family how much I care, but figuring out that perfect gift can sometimes be stressful too! We’ve scoured the internet to find our favorite health and fitness items, and compiled them into our 2015 Ultimate “FITMAS” Gift Guide in hopes that it will give you some great gift ideas for all the fitness loving friends & family members on your holiday shopping list. With everything from apparel and shoes to workout and kitchen tools, we’ve included items to match every budget.  This list is SURE to have something perfect for anyone who’s  fit and fabulous!  And the best part…you can skip the crowds and click your way to the perfect gift.

Plus, if you’ve been really good, you can add a few of these things to your own wish list and hope that Santa gets the memo that you’d love a Merry “FITMAS” too!

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The Shopping List:

  1. Cute Sassy Workout Tanks $26 from Moxie Fitness Apparel – How can she not be motivated to go to the gym when she has these adorable, sassy tank tops to wear?  From the bright colors to the fun sayings, Moxie has tank tops that will make her smile while she crushes her workout.
  2. Lebert Fitness Equalizer Bars $123 from Amazon (includes DVD) – A fun and unique piece of equipment that any home gym needs!  The Lebert Equalizer is a simple, portable, yet multi-purpose and versatile piece of strength training equipment that works arms, chest, back and core muscles like no other can by using your own body weight as resistance.  Plus, we LOVE that they come in PINK!
  3. Fruit Infusing Water Bottle $16 from Moxie Fitness Apparel – Hydration has never been so motivating!  This fruit infusing water bottle makes your water as delicious as it is cute. Just add water, and something fun…strawberries, melon, cucumber, mint, lemon…be creative! Cheers!
  4. The Combo Yoga Mat $68 from Amazon – The perfect gift for any yogi on your list!  This mat is not only bright and adorable, but is actually two awesome products in one. The ultra absorbent microfiber top layer (designed to grip better with sweat) is bonded to a 3.5mm naturally biodegradable tree rubber mat bottom for a lightweight, extra durable and well cushioned support. You no longer need to bring a separate mat AND towel to class. Our favorite part…it’s machine washable!  See ya later, stinky yoga mat!
  5. Asics GEL-Fit Sana Cross Training Shoes $80 from Amazon – These shoes are SUPER comfortable, lightweight and versatile. Dance. Lift. Sweat. The Asics Sana training shoe is ready to take on almost any workout the gym can throw at you. It’s ultra-lightweight design is perfectly balanced with a Flexible Fit upper that gives you support in every direction, as well as the flexibility for intense dynamic movement.  Plus, they come in a variety of fun colors!
  6. Print Workout Leggings $68-74 from Moxie Fitness Apparel – Good bye boring black…HELLO pretty prints!  Spice up your workout with some bold prints and bright colors.  Available in capris or full length leggings, these adorable pants are both flattering and fun!  These are cute enough to wear both in or out of the gym.
  7. Fitbit Flex Wireless Activity Tracker $79 from Amazon – Make fitness a lifestyle with Fitbit Flex—a slim, stylish device that tracks all-day activity like steps, distance, calories burned and active minutes. See how every day stacks up with LEDs that light up like a scoreboard as you get closer to your goal. Then wear it at night to measure your sleep quality and wake with a silent, vibrating alarm. Day or night, Flex fits comfortably around your wrist, is water-resistant, and has a 5-day battery life. It also syncs to computers and 150+ leading smartphones, so you can access your stats anywhere and see your progress in charts and graphs.
  8. Muscles & Mascara Long Sleeve Dolman Top $35 from Moxie Fitness Apparel – Something cute & sassy to wear to and from the gym.  Who ever said girlie-girls don’t love to be strong, anyway?  With cute gold foil embellishment, and a wide neck fit, this is definitely a “must have” to keep you fashionable on your way to and from the gym!
  9. Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer $29 from Amazon – The possibilities are endless with this healthy kitchen gadget.  Turn almost any veggie (zucchini, sweet potatoes, beets, etc.) into healthy “noodles” and give your favorite recipes a makeover.  Need some inspiration? Check out some of my Fit & Busy recipes like Zoodle Bolognese or Healthy Scampi, or include a great Inspiralized Cookbook ($11.99 on Amazon).
  10. Beats Solo Wired Headphones  $157 from Amazon – I mean, bright pink Beats headphones?? Yes, please!  These are definitely a bit of a splurge, but for a fitness loving gal who has everything, this is a gift that can’t miss.  The sound quality and comfort can’t be beat, and they’re bright pink!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Waterproof, Sweatproof, Humidityproof, Hot Flashproof MakeUp Must-haves!

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By Guest Blogger Tiffany Lee Bymaster, aka Coach Glitter

Chalene-World-Record

My long time (nearly 10 years now) amazing client, Chalene Johnson is the Guinness World Record holder for appearing in the most fitness videos! Hmm…that could very well make me a front runner for the makeup artist who has worked on the most fitness videos! I know a thing or two when it comes to long wearing, waterproof, sweatproof makeup! I really have no idea how many i’ve actually worked on but i’ve worked on the shoots for ChaLean Extreme, Turbo Fire (that was the sweatiest one of the bunch), Insanity instructor DVD’s (that was crazy sweaty too), PiYo (there’s literally a workout called “Drenched”), Turbo Kick, Hustle and i’m sure others that i’m forgetting. I’ve also worked in the editorial and TV world and have worked on shoots where we literally drenched the models with buckets of water/glycerine mixes, Pam cooking spray (for the glossy effect) and in a pool underwater for America’s Next Top Model. So yeah, I’ve had to become an expert at finding the right beauty products that will not make my life on set a nightmare. Plus I’m a bit of a workout freak myself and have done some crazy sweaty workouts as well.

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I have a ton of different products but these are my “tried, tested and true” faithful few that have permanent residence in my pro kit plus one brand new addition (as of February 21, 2015) that has impressed the heck out of me and the best in it’s category.

  1. It Cosmetics, Celebration Foundation – Full coverage powder foundation that is very long lasting. I love that it’s super fast and easy to apply and you can build the coverage from medium to full depending on how much you want or need.
  2. It Cosmetics, Bye Bye Eye Under Eye – Technically this is a cream concealer that is completely waterproof, full coverage but can be sheered out if you like. I also use this a lot as foundation on extra sweaty shoots or even to contour and highlight with! It’s quite the multi-tasking product!
  3. It Cosmetics, Live, Love, Laugh Vitality Face Disc – Wow, that’s quite a mouthful but this is the product that i’ve been using the longest in my kit as far as waterproof products go. It’s still my very fav and nothing else compares to it! This ginormous sized disc has a beautiful matte bronzer, shimmery highlighter and slightly glowy natural blush color in the most flattering pinky-peach shade that is flattering on nearly every skin tone. Plus like every product from It Cosmetics, it’s designed to be flattering on every age unlike many other brands that only work if you’re under 22! The ingredients include anti-aging ingredients including hydrolyzed collage peptides, Vitamins A, C, E, Grape Seed, Green Tea and Aloe. Although this is a pressed powder it doesn’t make the skin look drier or older like other powders can because it doesn’t contain moisture sucking talc like all the products in their line.
  4. It Cosmetics, Build A Brow – So this is my newest waterproof fav find! It’s a gel/pomade hybrid waterproof stain for your brows. Don’t be scared by the stain part because it cleanses off and just helps with the longevity of the product through sweat and heat. What I love is that this product is very easy to use. You just sketch it on with an angled brow brush in one step and you get a beautifully groomed and shaped brow. I love the Universal Taupe shade which works for nearly all hair colors and for darker color hair you simply apply the products in a few layers!
  5. Urban Decay, 24/7 Eye Liner – This is a super silky, creamy eye liner that doesn’t tug or pull on your delicate skin around the eyes. While it’s supposed to be waterproof, I don’t find it to be 100% waterproof unless you use a waterproof primer underneath. That’s where the next product comes in!
  6. Mally Beauty, Evercolor Shadow Stick – This cream shadow in a stick is the holy grail of industrial strength waterproof eye products. Although it can be used alone as a simple swipe of gorgeous color for your eye lid or even a wider liner to create an easy smokey eye, I almost always use it as a primer with powder eye shadow on top. Mixing & trying to blend more than one cream texture eye shadow in general is a recipe for a muddy mess in your eyes so I recommend using it as a primer and then using as many powder shadows that your heart desires. This primer is like super glue for all your eye products from your shadows to your liner. It’s amazing even for the most oiliest eye lids. If this product doesn’t work, I honestly don’t know what will! There’s over 25 colors to choose from but my two favs are Saddle Shimmer which is a bronzey gold and Dusk which is the most beautiful plummy deep taupe but regardless of what shade you use, you really can use any color powder shadow on top.
  7. Dior, DiorShow BlackOut Waterproof Mascara – The lineup of DiorShow mascaras have been amongst my favs for over 15 years and the original DiorShow Waterproof has been my Holy Grail of mascaras that volumizes like no other product and makes the most out of all 9 of my sad, puny, stick straight lashes. If you are not a fan of waterproof formulas because you’ve found they make your lashes dry and you get flaking under your eyes, this one is the best of the best! Plus the tube doesn’t dry out fast like other waterproof mascaras. It not only helps to keep the curl in hard to hold straight lashes with it’s waterproof formula but it has never bothered my eyes or any of my clients and comes off with a waterproof makeup remover (I use Neutrogena wipes in the blue packaging and labeled for use with waterproof products).

**My biggest tip for keeping even your waterproof, sweatproof makeup products in place is to get into the habit of blotting off your sweat with a towel vs. wiping which will take your makeup off along with your sweat. Waterproof means that it has been tested to show that water will bead off the skin without taking the makeup off with it but nothing is wipe off proof! I mean, even waterproof has to come off somehow too, right? So blot, blot, blot, no wiping!

If you found this blog helpful you should check out my full length, step-by-step makeup tutorial videos where I walk you through many  of my most requested makeup techniques! They are totally free but available exclusively to my VIP’s. If you’d like to sign up it’s super simple. All you have to do is go to CoachGlitter.com and enter your first name and email that you actually use and check. I will send you my series of makeup videos along with all the new ones that I continue to create. I promise never to flood your InBox and I only send out the occasional email if it’s something really cool that I want to share with you!

Muah! xoxo! Tiffany, aka Coach Glitter

5 Beauty Secrets Your Hairstylist Isn’t Telling You About

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By Guest Blogger Mandi McGee

5 Beauty SecretsBeauty is in the eye of the beholder right? What is your definition of beauty? Maybe it is the uniqueness that makes all of us different. It could be that beauty is found only in our outer appearance and physical body, or it’s a state of mind, or a combination of all three.

Working as a hairstylist and make up artist for the past decade has taught me many things about the average woman’s standard of beauty and it’s this:

We want clear, unwrinkled, glowing, soft skin. Strong, shiny, un-frizzy, hydrated, perfectly voluminous, easy to maintain hair. Glossy, un-brittle, trimmed and polished toes and fingernails. We want a tight jawline and high cheek bones, along with a slender, pore-less, perfectly oval face shape. And the last but certainly not least, is an outgoing positive ,on top of the world, self-confidence that effortlessly lights up a radiant smile that’s contagious to everyone she’s around.

Often times during a hair or makeup consultation, my clients never fail to point out very common issues. The dryness in their hair, it’s brittle, breaking, dull and doesn’t grow! The skin on their face and even scalp is either flaky or overly oily. Chapped lips and crusty cuticles along with never ending episodes of pimples , blackheads and uneven skin texture. For the most part , all of these common beauty downers can be alleviated in one day at the salon and spa. We can give you a deep conditioning treatment along with a coat of fresh hair color, snip off the dry ends then send you over to the nail tech to trim, hydrate and apply some nail strengthener and lastly checking in with the aesthetician to get a facial that will clean out your clogged pores, apply a hydrating mask then slap on some anti wrinkle cream, load up on your products for home and voila! You’re good to go! For 6 weeks… When my clients ask me in the salon about their dry skin or flaky scalp, the first thing I always ask is “ Are you drinking enough water?” This question always seems to turn up eyebrows and usually throws people off. Our beauty products that promise hydration and shine are only HALF of what we need to actually see the results. The other half is what we fuel our bodies with on the inside!

Here are 5 more Beauty Secrets that go far beyond the mirror:

1.) Work up a sweat– Working out does more than just getting us swim suit ready, its a powerful component to our mindset and all around beauty! Regular exercise (3-5 days a week for 30 mins) has been proven by numerous studies reduce stress, cure anxiety and depression, improve your sleep and boost self esteem. One major benefit of an intense sweat session is sweating detoxes your body and skin. Each time you workout, sweat literally pushes junk out of clogged pores, releasing toxins that cause pimples and blemishes. Always remember to wash off those toxins after your sweat session . Exercise also boosts oxygen to the cells in our skin and scalp, creating a radiant glow and healthy hair follicles.

2.) Eat the Rainbow- “ You are what you eat “ is a concept that everybody has know for decades. Consuming fresh fruits , vegetables and water is where beauty begins. Incorporating more of these foods into your diet and less of the crappy foods (you know what they are.. fast food, soda, fried foods, chips, candy, blah, blah, blah..) You will slowly start to decrease the harmful effects these foods do to your body and the healthy, nutrient rich foods with actually have a chance to take over and beautify from within, leaving you with plump, glowing, collagen rich skin and new, strong protein and mineral rich hair and nails. Look for all different colors of fruits and veggies. The different colors leave different clues as to what vitamins, nutrients and minerals they’re made up of!

3.) Meditate- The beauty benefits of meditation are astounding! As we know, stress is a burden do our body and our cells, which can either make us age faster or make us age with grace. Deep breathing allows your facial muscles to relax while at the same time increases the oxygen in your blood , allowing your beauty nutrients to flourish throughout your body. Teaching your mind to work with you and not against you is the key to self love, confidence and all around beauty! If you’re new to meditation, you can always listen to a guided meditation to walk you through the basics. 4.) SleepA third of our life is spent sleeping, and for all good reasons! When we hit the pillow our bodies turn into mini health and beauty factories. During sleep, all of our natural anti-agers kick into overdrive boosting our cell activity to promote collagen in our skin, reverse skin damage and repair our body just in time to wake up refreshed and rejuvenated! Your sleep is important to your overall health , happiness, beauty and wellbeing. You can’t cheat your way through sleep and money sure won’t buy it! Just as you set an alarm to wake up in the morning, set an alarm on your phone that tells you to go to bed at night! This will ensure you’re getting to bed early enough to get the beauty sleep you deserve!

4.) Sleep- A third of our life is spent sleeping, and for all good reasons! When we hit the pillow our bodies turn into mini health and beauty factories. During sleep, all of our natural anti-agers kick into overdrive boosting our cell activity to promote collagen in our skin, reverse skin damage and repair our body just in time to wake up refreshed and rejuvenated! Your sleep is important to your overall health, happiness, beauty and wellbeing. You can’t cheat your way through sleep and money sure won’t buy it! Just as you set an alarm to wake up in the morning, set an alarm on your phone that tells you to go to bed at night! This will ensure you’re getting to bed early enough to get the beauty sleep you deserve!

5.) Think on the bright side- Having a positive mindset give you the ability to control all the thousands thoughts that pass through in minds in a day. Life is spontaneous, filled with unexpected situations and we all have the choice to react two different ways. We can either let a problem dig at us all day, or we can choose to brush it off our shoulders and move on. How does this have to do with beauty again? When we plant positive thoughts into our minds, they reap incredible powers that portray in our appearance. A smile is the most beautiful thing on anybody, and you can be assured that there is always a positive thought behind that grin. Being able to see the bright side of any situation will leave you happy and confident. And confidence is what makes everyone look beautiful!

So the next time you visit your beauty professional, let he or she know just how much you appreciate that they are there to take care of the other HALF of your beauty. Your Hairstylist, Aesthetician, and Nail Tech are all there to provide you with all of the knowledge, skills and expertise to supply you with everything you need to improve your outer beauty, so they will be thrilled to know you’re taking the effort to meet them half way when you take action to beautify from within!

Mandi McGee
Beauty Life Expert, Hairstylist and Health Coach.

If you would like to learn more about how to look, live and feel beautiful inside and out, visit mandimcgee.com and sign up for email updates!