beauty tips for the most beautiful person (you)

here are some beauty hints and tips that i've learned along the way and have come in handy. i hope you enjoy. (also know these may not work for everyone, so take from this whatever may work for you.)

1. the first tip to looking beautiful is knowing that you are beautiful no matter what. God made you and everything that He makes is so purely covered in beauty. no amount of make up, hair products, or clothing could make you any more beautiful than you already are.

2. do not brush your hair. i know you are probably thinking "is she crazy???" (and maybe i am a little crazy) but not brushing my hair has helped it tremendously. when i used to brush my hair after showering, it would dry weirdly and end up looking frizzy and dead. i stopped brushing my hair about four years ago and it has never been healthier. after you take a shower, ring out your hair and let it air dry however it decides to lay. *it may take a couple of weeks for your hair to get used to this*

3. have acne? Acne Free face wash = life saver. Acne Free is a $20 three step face wash that has literally saved my life. it will last you about two months so it is worth every dime of its price.

4. eye liner hack. ever since i have started wearing make up i have never found an eye liner i truly love. pencil and stick eye liners rub off so easily, and liquid eye liners are sometimes hard to make straight lines with. i quit wearing eye liner for months because i had so much trouble with it, but i finally came across a solution. apply black (or whatever color eye liner you wear) eye shadow to a very thin make up brush and use that as your eye liner. apply it to your eyes how you normally would apply eye liner. (rachel enochs actually taught me this, so rachel if you're reading this you get all the credit).

5. if you have oily hair, this one's for you. my hair is so weird and will randomly get really oily. one way to help this is by not applying conditioner to the top of your scalp. only apply conditioner from about by your ears and downward. conditioners contain many oils in them and not putting it directly on your scalp will help a ton.

6. get plenty of rest. a good nights sleep can cure so many things going on inside and outside your body. it can help with acne and blemishes, make those dark rings under your eyes disappear, force your muscles to relax, and get you back to feeling 100%.

7. pore strips and face masks work wonders. i have recently been using Biore's pore strips and face masks and i love them so much. the pore strips clean out the dirt you had no idea was hiding in your pores and get rid of and prevent black heads. homemade face masks work well, too. you can find an organic face mask cleanser on pinterst or google. *i don't have a certain one that i make every time, because i like to mix things up, or else i'd share it with you.*

8. try to get your hair trimmed about every 3 months. obviously this will be different for everyone depending on how fast or slow your hair grows, but around 3 months is when small dead ends begin to grow.

9. dry shampoo > baby powder. enough said.

10. recycle your old clothes. i know that buying new clothes is exciting, but it can end up being ridiculously expensive. turn your old jeans into a new pair of shorts with scissors, paint and patches. old shirts can easily be tie-dyed or cut to transform into something new. d.i.y. clothing projects are fun and affordable!

11. soft, smooth, and silky. apply lotion to your legs, tummy, and arms after showering and you will feel soft and smell wonderful for the rest of the day. if you continue to apply lotion for several months, your skin will adapt to it and start becoming soft even without lotion.

11.5. apply chap stick or lip facial care to your lips before bed each night. it will make your lips soft and prevent any cracks during the cold weather months. just trust me.

12. drink lots of water and watch what you eat. now, i am not telling you to go on a diet or lose weight. drinking plenty of water and eating healthy foods can help clear your skin up and refresh your insides. it also helps with overall health and how you feel about yourself. but by all means eat the cupcake, girl.

13. nail polish. if you need your nail polish to dry instantly, run your nails under cold water for 2-3 minutes. (i promise this seriously works, i do it all the time. and no it does not make your polish wash off.)

14. do not compare yourself to other girls. i repeat, do not compare yourself to other girls. comparison is not only the thief of joy, it is the thief of self-love, progress, and your author's artwork. if you spend less time criticizing how God made you, you can spend more time embracing the fact that He created you to be so different and so much more. you are so much more worthy than that of comparison.