Wanting a more natural feel to your beauty routine?

Of course you do!  The good news is that you can create natural spa treatments right at home with the ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen! (Making your own skin care products is also an easy way to go green!)

Whipping up a simple face wash requires only three ingredients: almonds, milk or cream and lemon juice. Begin by grinding one eighth of a cup of almonds (a regular coffee grinder will do) add in two tablespoons of milk/cream. For the finishing touch, add a tablespoon of lemon juice. Mix them all together and you’ve got the perfect wash for any complexion!

Looking to go deeper with your treatment? How about an all-natural mask? Banana based masks can be very effective in combating oily skin. You’ll need one banana, preferably ripe.* Mash the banana in a bowl then add one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon orange or a lemon juice. Mix all of this together and you have a perfect remedy for your oily skin!

If you struggle with an overly dry face (especially with the fall and winter months looming), avocados are the perfect ingredient for natural facials. Simply combine half of avocado and one fourth of a cup of honey. Put these ingredients in a bowl and mash together and then apply to your face. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes, and rinse off with cold water. Use this mask as much as you feel needed to keep your skin feeling moisturized and beautiful throughout the cold wintery months.

Making your some own spa-style products is a great, not to mention, economical, way to get a fresh and naturally beautiful glow.

* Note: you can keep ripe bananas in the freezer. Let thaw before using

I’ve always been a wanna be girly-girl.  I adore makeup and I covet brand names.  I am a bit of a makeup junkie.

I blame my obsession introduction to higher quality products on my pal Margy.  Margy and I used to work together (way) back in my music industry days in Nashville.  She always seemed to be on top of the makeup trends.  I remember watching her flip through the latest In Style Magazine and identify new products that she wanted to try.  I would just watch her in action and take mental notes.  And when our company would send us to NYC on assignment, I would follow her around Henri Bendel’s like a puppy.  Margy was my first introduction to true style and brands like MAC, Lorac and  Smashbox.

Fast forward to present day with two kids and a tighter budget…. obviously I am not jetting off to NYC on a regular basis.  But I still want to finagle a way to afford the good stuff, if you know what I mean.  Because the $1.99 bargain basement eye shadow is just not cutting it.

And now I have found a way:  There is a terrific site online called Beflurt.com. This company buys overstocked, name-brand makeup and skin care items from  beauty retailers, and then sells them at reduced prices.  (Seriously, ladies… Some products are even 70% below retail!) You can find companies like  Chanel, Clinique, Smashbox, MAC, and Lancome on the site along with others.  The products come quickly, they are packed beautifully and there is 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

The only catch?  You have to get them while you can.  Once they are gone, they are GONE.

As a beauty-holic myself, I am thrilled to be able to offer you guys an even BIGGER DISCOUNT on BeFlurt items.  If you enter the code HipAsIWannaBe you will get an additional discount of  15% off of all orders over $50 through the end of June. I know, right?  You’re welcome.

If makeup and skincare are your thing, I really hope you give this site a try… you won’t regret it!

FTC Disclosure:  I was provided with items to review for this post.  I believe in the site and products 100% and will gladly shop there in the future. No kidding.