BEAUTY BITES

post + photography + graphic design by Norah Curlee

So, it's post-dinner and about that time where the sweet cravings kick into high gear. The Ben & Jerry's carton is basically knocking down the freezer door trying to make its way into your bowl. Want to go for a dessert that's just as delicious and packed with healthy, beautifying goodies? Peep our chia seed pudding complete with yummy accessories! Something magical happens when you mix chia seeds with almond milk...you're are left with a delicious pudding that you can sweeten with honey and vanilla and add healthy toppings. The best part? It is sans sugar, high fructose corn syrup, artificial ingredients and all the other junk found in the pre-packaged stuff. J-E-L-L-NO. Here's how you make it!

Curious to know the beauty benefits? Let's break this down...

1. Chia Seeds: You've seen our love for this superfood during snack time, but in this sweet treat they are the star ingredient. Just one of the many benefits of chia seeds, they have a high concentrate of vegetarian omega 3 fatty acids. A diet rich in omega 3s can aid in nourishing hair follicles which will combat brittle ends as well as a dry scalp. Hello lustrous locks! Studies also show that these essential fatty acids can reduce acne and inflammation, boosting the skins natural glow. And we are ALL about that.

2. Coconut: This ingredient is buzzing in the beauty world these days. Coconut oil and coconut water are incorporated into all sorts of beauty regimes. The same benefits occur when munching on some raw coconut! And we think eating this tasty little gem is more fun than topical application. Duh. Raw, unrefined coconut contains antioxidant properties that can help slow the aging process by protecting our bodies from free radicals (one of the main causes of tired/aging skin). Not to mention it's filled with electrolytes that can keep you nice and hydrated. We all know that hydration is the greatest beauty secret of all!

3. Almond milk: This super delicious dairy alternative is a major source of protein. Protein, being essential to the body's growth and development, helps with...you guessed it...hair and nail growth! Want longer, stronger hair + nails? A protein rich diet will do just that. Almond milk is also packed with vitamin E. Remember those pesky free radicals we discussed? Well, getting your daily dose of vitamin E helps to fight off premature aging. Pour us another!

4. Pistachios: We are nuts for these. (See what we did there?) Not only are pistachios super yummy and fun to crack open, they are packed with vitamin B6. Among the long list of B6 benefits, hormonal balance is one of them. Do you ever get annoying breakouts around...ahem...that time of the month? That is most likely due to a hormone imbalance. Studies show that women who have high levels of vitamin B6 are less likely to breakout during that time. Crack on to clear skin!

5. Carob chips: Choco-holics, this little number goes out to you! As a healthier alternative to chocolate, carob tastes just as sweet but with some souped-up health benefits to boot! The biomolecules in carob can bind to inactive toxins and inhibit the growth of bacteria. Sounds super science-y but its really simple. It gets rid of the junk! A body free of toxins/bacteria glows from he inside out!

6. Honey: The sweetest of them all! We've raved about this ingredient in the past due to its countless beautifying properties. But let's be honest, it tastes so good that the benefits are just bonus points!

7. Vanilla: Ok, we are talking PURE vanilla extract, or better yet a vanilla bean/pod. None of the imitation stuff if you can help it! Vanilla, in our opinion, is the perfect ingredient to add full flavor to any dessert/treat and a little goes a long way! In keeping with the theme of antioxidant rich foods, vanilla is no different. The antioxidants found in natural vanilla can fight off oxidative stress which can lead to premature aging. Case in point, bring on the antioxidants!

8. Bananas: It's no secret that bananas are packed with potassium, as we all learned in 6th grade science class! Even though that's a well known fact, potassium is one of the most common deficiencies. More reason to un-peel and chow! Not to mention, this mineral is a key player in skin hydration. It maintains electrolyte balance and internal fluids keeping skin cells hydrated and skin internally moisturized...something your body butters and facial hydrators won't do!

We also happen to think this is the perfect treat to make during your next girls night in and share with your besties. If you decide to give this recipe a go, snap a pic and tag us on insta! @thebeautydept

the nailasaurus luxe paisley manicure

The Nailasaurus’ luxe paisley manicure.

essie fall 2012 mini 4 pack 17 nordstrom com

Essie ‘Fall 2012’ Mini 4-Pack, $17, Nordstrom.com

the racing stripe nail art at monika chiangs

The racing stripe nail art at Monika Chiang's spring show. Photo: Courtesy of Lancome

disney princess nail decals

Disney Princess nail decals

VELVET NAILS WITH FAUX STUDS

photos/post/design: Kristin Ess

When it comes to beauty, we like to get experimental around here. Last week I was playing around with this new velvet nail polish I bought. I was going to make a gold metallic heart on top of the velvet, but quickly realized the gold metallic polish “beaded up” when I put a drop on top of the velvet. I’ve always wanted to do a studded nail tutorial but I feel like micro-beads are hard to work with. Picking them up and placing them just right can be pretty difficult. THIS quickly became my new favorite alternative. (Side note– I thought this whole velvet nail thing was going to feel really weird but it doesn’t! You get used to it so fast.)

The steps are simple…

• One by one, give your nails texture with a velvet nail polish. If you can’t find velvet nail polish in your area, you can always find “flocking powder” on a crafting website or just google it. First you’ll paint on the base color (which should match your flocking powder) and then shake flocking powder on the wet polish. Let it sit for 10 min and then dust off using an old blush brush or eye shadow brush.
• Next, using the mechanical pencil trick or a dotting tool, make metallic dots on top of the velvet polish. The dots will bead up and appear raised making them look a little more like studs than dots.

As you can see in the photos above, I practiced a pattern before I started applying my dots. You can do just one nail or you can do all 10. Good luck!

Nailed it… literally (26 photos)

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COMME des GARÇONS INSPIRED MANI

photos/post/graphic design: Kristin Ess

As most of you know, New York Fashion Week is wrapping up, but that doesn’t mean it’s over– there’s still London, Milan, Paris, Tokyo, etc... To get into the spirit of Fashion Weeks around the globe, we’ll be sporting this COMME des GAR ONS inspired mani! Not only is COMME des GAR ONS a super-chic brand, but it also has the cutest/coolest little heart logo. This is a very simple mani and since the heart shape is not supposed to be perfect, even the most uncoordinated can do this! Here we go!

1. Start with clean, bare nails.
2. Using a rich red color, make a rounded diagonal stroke on one corner of the nail.
3. Now repeat that on the other side of the nail and make sure they connect in the middle.
4. Clean up around each nail.
5. Throw a black heart in there for good measure!
6. Use a bobbypin to make the whites of the eyes. Make a dot, then drag it out a little on each side. Remember: this shouldn’t look too perfect. If you google the COMME des GAR ONS heart, you’ll see that the lines aren’t perfect.
7. Use a skinny hairpin (or U-pin) to make black dots in the center of the white.
8. Give it a good topcoat!

Hope everyone enjoyed NY Fashion Week!

Special thanks to my awesome friend Leon for giving me this idea.

THE TAPE TRICK

photos/post/graphic design: Kristin Ess

We get so many emails + comments regarding the tape mani. I’ve heard that many of you have trouble peeling the tape back without messing the mani. So here’s the simple trick!

1. Paint your base coat and let it dry for a full hour. Remember– you never want to make the base coat too thick because the thicker it is, the longer it takes to dry.
2. Take a piece of tape and blot the sticky side on your fingers and on the palm of your hand. When you do that, the oils from your hands stick to the tape making it significantly less sticky and easier to peel off the base coat.
3. Paint your nail, wait about one minute and then peel. Personally I don’t like the polish to dry too much before I peel because it gets “stringy” when you peel it. On the other hand, you don’t want to do it right away because if it’s too fresh, it can run.

Another option is to use painter’s tape. It’s designed to be less stick and to not peel off the paint that you stick it to. This is just a DIY option! Good luck ladybugs!

UPDATE: Here are the colors used in this tutorial- silver is by Obessive Compulsive + licac is by Essie.