5 Summer Essentials

Summer is here, along with the heat, the dry skin, the sunburn…ahhhh!!! But it doesn’t have to be all crisp and no fun. There are my five beauty essentials I have to help get you through this sweltering season looking naturally beautiful.

I’m a very simple and clean beauty kind of person, especially in the summer because I don’t like all those extra layers clogging my pores and making me sweat even more. All of this stuff is very lightweight and is meant to protect from the damages that come with summertime.

1.     Light, oil-free face lotion with SPF something. It’s a good idea to have a face lotion with sunscreen in it all year long, but especially in the summertime when you are bombarded by the sun. An oil-free moisturizer will prevent oily and clogged up skin, and brands like Neutrogena are good on those with sensitive skin like me.

2.     Essential Oils. Essential oils can me used for so many purposes. If you want a light body spray mix it with some water and spray away. Need to relax? Add some to your bath and enjoy. Essential oils are a base to so many good things you can make, or if you don’t feel like showering right away dab a little or spray some all over and smell fresh and clean without the musk of perfume.

3.     Natural/organic sunscreen. I know this is a no brainer, but really I cannot stress enough the importance of sunscreen. I know it’s the tanning era, but it’s not all glitz and glam when you’re covered in wrinkles or getting skin cancer (I don’t mean to sound rude but it’s true.) So put on sunscreen! You really don’t need higher than about 30 and as always opt for the natural ingredients that are better for sensitive skin and won’t clog your pores.

4.     Coconut oil? Yes, coconut oil. Our skin and hair goes through some nastiness during summer and can end up really dried out and malnourished. You can use coconut oil on your skin as an intense moisturizer mixed with some essential oil. Coconut oil can also be used as a hair mask for dry and damaged hair. In addition, coconut oil is a delicious and healthy substitute for cooking or can be used as salad dressing, and we all know that we are what we eat. Actually, beauty all starts with eating healthy. Remember that this summer when you reach for the junk food and sodas.

5.     Witch Hazel. Now if you’re around my age you may be wondering: what is this stuff? I didn’t know until about three weeks ago, so you’re not alone. Witch hazel is an old Native American plant that is, like many things on this list, multi-purposed. If you are like me and receive scrapes and bruises over the course of the summer, it’s a great natural cleanser for wounds and also soothes burns if you get sunburned. It also can be used as an astringent for the face to clean up dirt and oil at the end of a long summer day.

So there you are. The most important thing about summer, besides taking care of yourself, is of course to have fun. Look up beauty products, and recipes using these on your own and have a healthy beautiful summer!

Much love, Sarah Jasmine 

How To #1

 Head scarves are my go-to for a bad hair day or when I'm in between washes since I don't wash my hair everyday (because it's curly it tends to dry out). I love the classy look and fits with pretty much every outfit. The scarf I'm using is a big silk square scarf. This technique works on pretty much all square scarves. Here is how I tie my head scarf:

First, I put my hair up in some sort of messy bun. My hair is pretty short so I can't make very fancy buns but I know this look would be adorable with some sort of sock bun or something. I leave my bangs down but you can clip them up as well to make a poof in the front of your scarf. Second, lay out your scarf. Third, fold it diagonally into a triangle. Fourth, begin folding it towards the point in a semi-even fashion. You're product should look like photo Five. The little left over fabric can be tucked in once the scarf is on your head. 

 Next, carefully pull the scarf around your head back to front with the little flap facing your head. Tie the two ends together once like a shoelace and then add a knot like in the third photo.

 Finally bring your two ends back around your head (They should be going to the opposite side they came from) and make a knot in the back. tuck away any loose hairs or fabric.

Ta da, all done! For me it's a perfect way to turn a bad hair day into a cute hair day. Come back for more how-tos later on... much love, sarah jasmine

Daily Outfit?

 What started off as a simple outfit post in my room turned into photos of me posing in various parts of my room, turned into daily life photos, turned into photos of random objects and me on my rug. I haven't used my camera in a week so I think I go a little carried away. Overall though, these photos display the wonders of my room and how much I'd rather take a bunch of photos than do my homework and work on scholarship applications. enjoy.....xoxo sj.

outfit details: dress//frencesca's, tights//target, boots//DSW, socks//old navy

My Children

The Starry Bow

I know the title is a little silly but it's true. These bows are my children and I'm so proud to finish sewing up the first batch. My bestie Pamela came over and modeled the bows for me. They will be going up in my Etsy shop when it opens later this month. Here is a preview of some different styles. 

Sophisticated Paisley Bow

Edgy Velvet Bow

The Ballerina Bow

The Classic Chicken Bow

The Yo-yo Bow

Didn't pam do a good job modeling? These bows each have their own personality to them. They are perfect for jazzing up every outfit! Prices will vary based on style and size. Also, I can create custom bows as well. Which one is your favorite?

xoxo. Sarah jazzmine. 

The Evolution of My Hair

So if you’ve been paying attention you may have noticed my hair has gone through a few changes this summer. I didn’t really draw attention to it because I wanted to wait till I knew how it was going to finally turn out, but I’ve finally reached that point so here is a post, about my hair…

My hair is one of my favorite assets, (which is why I’m pretty obsessed with hair accessories) My mother has an afro and my dad has thick dark hair so naturally my hair is curly, dark, and amazingly thick. Even though I love my hair, I’m very impatient and indecisive with it. I started dying my hair when I was 7, since then I’m always dying or cutting, or restyling it. Curly hair can be pretty hard to handle at times and keeps me from doing certain hairstyles and I’ve learned to live without those styles, but this summer I wanted ombre, dip-dyed hair so bad. It was a dream. Of course, curls are not the easiest for that chic look. So after bleaching my hair once realizing the ombre effect was pretty impossible I decided that I wanted cotton candy blue. Which would be nearly impossible with my dark hair but I didn’t care. So I went from a fading brown to an orange blond which was the result of two bleaches. 

My godmother who saw my home adventures with bleach via facebook offered to take me to her hairdresser in Austin. After telling the hairdresser that I wanted blue she refused to do it for the sake of my hair. Though it was hard to take since I had so many dreams of cotton candy hair, I knew she was right. We would have had to bleach my hair at least another two times and I could already tell my hair was getting a little worn out. So instead of blue, we went to my natural hair color (which I didn’t even have before my bleaching adventure) black, black. It’s no blue, but I like it. And she added a bit of red in the back just for the heck of it. 

I really love this look. I honestly can’t remember the last time my hair was its natural color because I tend to lighten it brown. Perhaps after all the mess my hair has been through I’ll take a dying break for a while. I’m sure my curls would appreciate that, and I’m making it a goal to eat natural and stay away from harsh chemicals which I guess includes dyes....

Thanks for listening to my hair adventure. What do you think of dying hair and bleaching? Are there any natural alternatives to bleaching and dying if I want lighter hair? What experiences have you had dying hair?

Xoxo sarah j.