Final Blog Post
March 12, 2013
.
Farewell, my amazing readers! This is the last blog post for Breakthrough Beauty. It’s been a blast and I’ve enjoyed interacting with you all. Each of you are incredible, talented, gifted, unique, special, beautiful, and necessary – and you were BORN THAT WAY!!!! \o/ It’s been my honor and privilege to share this piece of cyber-space with you, no matter how small or large our interaction may have been.
Beauty, Peace, Life, Love and Transformation to you! \o/
Cheers! xx
~^~ Katie ~^~
“Behold, the winter is past . . . ” Song of Songs 2:11 <><
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Instagram | Bloglovin | Youtube
© 2013 Katie Regan
5 Ways to Recycle Roses
February 19, 2013
.
Go to my Facebook page and enter my MAC Giveaway here: http://tinyurl.com/bjpg9de
.
- Roses From My Love Muffin <3
.
So you got some lovely roses for Valentine’s Day and now they’re fading. Don’t toss them just yet! There are so many ways you can still reap an aromatic harvest of benefits from these power-packed lovelies. Let’s discuss five. (You can use these methods for other flower varities, as well, not just roses.)
.
Experiment with adding other plant products to your rose bath concoction — herbal teas tossed into your mix are wonderful and medicinal!
.
1. ROSE BATH: Toss the petals into a steamy bath. Fast, easy, beautiful and a GREAT way to relax after a long day. For added luxury and skin-nourishment, pour in a cup or two of milk. Hey, it worked for Cleopatra!
.
.
2. ROSE FACIAL MASK: Rose petals, honey, plain yogurt — that’s all you need for an amazing, skin-rejuvinating, DIY facial. Use a food processor or grinder to grate the petals into small pieces. (Alternately, you can rip them, cut or chop them until crushed.) Add roughly a tablespoon each of yogurt and honey until it reaches your desired consistency. Apply to face and let sit for 10-15 minutes. Voilá! Visibly cleaner, smoother, brighter skin.
.
.
3. DIY DRIED ROSE KEEPSAKE: The first year that Love Muffin and I were married, I dried the petals of a bouquet of roses he’d given me, then placed them in an empty (washed and dried) bottle of wine that has special meaning to us. They’re pretty to display and a sweet reminder of special memories.
.
When you’re drying your own flower petals, let them sit on a paper towel for several days. Choose any kind of pretty bottle that you would like to display. You can even add dried leaves, fruit rinds, or other plant products that you think of.
.
.
.
4. ROSE WATER FACIAL MIST/TONER: It’s easier than you might think! Instead of spending scads of hard-earned $mula$ on high-end facial sprays, make your own. Make sure you use organic or home-grown flowers to ensure your product doesn’t have pesticides or other chemicals in it!
.
Start off with a glass bowl full of your rose petals. Pour enough boiling water (distilled or purified) into the bowl to fully cover the petals. Cover and let sit until it’s cooled off completely. Strain the pink water into a pretty jar (if you’ll be applying with a cotton ball) or a misting bottle. That’s it! This doesn’t have a preservative, so use it up within a week. Keeping it in the fridge will prolong it’s life and will also be a refreshing treat for your skin in hot weather.
.
.
5. Rose Salad: Toss your petals into your next salad! No, I’ve not gone mad…..not entirely, anyway. ;D According to Livestrong.com, eating rose petals and other flower varieties is common place around the world in both cuisine and medicine! Again, be sure your flowers are organic. You’ll find that different colors and varieties have different flavors and sweetness levels, plus different types of vitamins, minerals and healing nutrients!
.
Which idea do you like best? What are YOU going to do with your leftover holiday flowers?!
.
Cheers! xo
.
~^~ Katie ~^~
“Behold, the winter is past . . . ” Song of Songs 2:11 <><
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Instagram | Bloglovin | Youtube
© 2013 Katie Regan
Neutrogena®, Norwegian Formula Hand Cream
February 6, 2013
.
Friday is the last day to enter my Urban Decay GIVEAWAY!! Go to my Facebook page and click on the Giveaway tab at the top! Good luck!
If you’re on a mobile device, use this mobile-friendly link .
.
.
Happy mid-week, people! Today, we’re talking about skin. DRY skin.
I have normal to dry skin, which means that I always amp up my skincare routine during cold winter months — HANDS AND BODY, too!!! Thanks to BzzAgent.com, I got to test Neutrogena®, Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream. I use and enjoy other Neutrogena products, so I had no hesitation in taking this little honey for a test spin.
.
.
“Neutrogena® Hand Cream delivers effective relief for dry, chapped hands.
This clinically proven, highly concentrated formula rapidly heals dry hands. It noticeably improves the look and feel of your skin.
Hands feel soft and smooth after just one application.
** Long-lasting
** Glycerin-rich
** Concentrated” Neutrogena.com
.
The product comes in two fragrance options: Original and Fragrance-Free. Both are quite agreeable to me; I can’t discern a scent in either of them.
.
.
The squeeze bottle is very hygenic, fast and easy. The lid screws on for a secure closure = safe to tuck in your purse with no worries of spills!
.
.
As you can see in the photo above, the product is a translucent white-ish cream. The texture is silky smooth with medium thickness. It glides on easily and soaks in right away, leaving no oily, greasy or slippery residue. The best part, though? IT WORKS!
.
I go through so many lotions and potions each year, many of which, leave my skin dry, tight and itchy hours later. Not this one. It helps keep nails and cuticles smooth and healthy, too! This will definitely stay in my regular routine, in my purse and next to my sink for every hand-washing session!
.
.
Thank you, BzzAgent for another great find and thank you, Neutrogena! This is why I love you both. 
.
Cheers! xo
Disclosure: I received Neutrogena® media samples free of charge, from BzzAgent.com, in exchange for honest feedback. All blog content is always my honest-to-goodness opinion, observation and experience.
.
~^~ Elizabeth ~^~
“Behold, the winter is past . . . ” Song of Songs 2:11 <><
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Instagram | Bloglovin | Youtube
© 2013 Elizabeth Regan
How to Get Lighter Skin in 4 Days
January 12, 2013
.
Seriously. Four days. At least, that’s my experience.
.
Everyone on the quest of conquering age spots, lightening hyper-pigmentation and maintaining a brighter complexion knows that even though Vitamin D made from sun-exposure is good for you and necessary, that same healing, nurturing, life-giving sun can age facial skin. Did you know that even light bulbs stimulate pigmentation production? That’s why facial sunscreen is a good idea even when you’re going to be inside all day, even when . . . everything!!!
.
I got my hands on a bottle of Neutrogena, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. They’ve got SPF 70, 85, even 100+ . And baby, do these high-SPF products make a difference FAST. In as little as four days, my complexion was significantly lighter, brighter and age spots were finally under control and decreasing.
.
Morning and night. That’s how often I use this now. The texture is smooth and light, like a thick lotion or a light cream. It absorbs quickly leaving a matte finish that’s perfect for underneath makeup. Or bare, whatever floats your boat.
.
If you’re concerned about pigmentation issues, go nab some high SPF sunblock like Neutrogena, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch. It works. =)
.
.
Cheers loves! xo
.
~^~^~ Elizabeth ~^~^~
“Behold, the winter is past . . . ” Song of Songs 2:11 <><
© 2013 Elizabeth Regan
Ole Henriksen, Lemon Strip Flash Peel
January 3, 2013
“A one-step express peel powered by lactic, glycolic and fruit acids that go to work in three ways to exfoliate and resurface skin, while algae extract soothes and calms. This spa grade treatment increases cell turnover, brightens skin tone and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother, younger looking complexion.
ingredient benefits
lactic, glycolic, and fruit acids – work to exfoliate and resurface the skin
algae extract – calms and soothes the skin
licorice extract – brightens, reduces dark spots” Olehenriksen.com
.
.
The product comes in a sturdy jar with a fluffy, white brush for smooth, easy, no-mess application.
.
.
With almost 2 oz. of product, you’ve got a whole season’s worth of use, and yet the half-moon brush and container are small enough for easy travel. Very nice, quality items.
.
.
The product itself is a smooth, transparent gel with an invigorating lemon twist aroma.
.
Directions (Click photo to enlarge)
.
As expected, there is a slight tingle with this product. It easily rinses clean and reveals fresh, youthful skin. It’s truly a pleasure to use and has become a regular part of my maintenance and corrective routine. I definitely recommend this lovely product for those who wish to correct sun damage, age spots, etc., as well as anyone desiring a spa-like exfoliation session in the comfort of your own home. Now my appetite has been wet for more of Mr. Henriksen’s skincare secrets!
.
Have you experienced Ole Henriksen’s skincare line? What do you think?! His products can be found at Sephora, Olehenriksen.com, among other lovely places.
.
.
**** Samples were kindly sent to Breakthrough Beauty for review. Blog content is always my honest-to-goodness experience, observation and opinon. Thank you for reading!
.
~^~ Katie ~^~
“Behold, the winter is past . . . ” Song of Songs 2:11 <><
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest |Instagram | Bloglovin | Youtube
© 2013 Elizabeth Regan
