AA, BB, & CC Creams (What's the Difference?)

If your a big makeup fanatic or just the typical makeup wearer I'm sure you've probably seen some of these letters in your local drugstore/makeup store on makeup packages. Lets start from the very beginning at AA.

AA: 

AA stands for Anti-Aging. This product is made to help reduce wrinkled, sagging, crows feet, and help with diminishing blemishes and battling discoloration. You will usually find AA cream in a cream or moisturizer.

Now onto BB

BB:

Now BB creams are usually the most common creams then of the rest. This is because its a beauty balm or blemish base. The BB cream works as a all-in-one product. This basically means that it has a moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, and a foundation. This  means you can essentially skip ll those other steps. The reason it does all of this is because it was originally made for those who had sensitive skin caused by surgery. 

And now we're onto the last one...

CC:

A CC cream is a color control cream. It's made to help with color correction and skin tones. These are different from BB creams because BB creams are made to basically just prevent skin problems whereas CC cream just works with current existing skin problems. CC cream has all the amazing ingredients of BB cream but they're just amped up a little bit. CC creams may help you more if you have dark under eye circles that are puffy, if you have acne, discoloration, and age spots. 

Now that we've finally gotten through that we can all go through our daily life without the constant wonder of what the ridiculous letters mean. 

Hope you liked the post. Comment what you thought and check out my other posts!

DIY Perfect Eyebrows

Where to Start-
First you want to find your eyebrow shape. For the start of your brown you want to grab a pencil and line it from the outside corner of your nose to the inner corner of your eye. Your brow should start where the pencil is lined up. Next for your arch you want to grab the same pencil and line it from the tip of your nose to middle of your pupil. Where the tip of the pencil lies/intersects is where the arch should go. For the ending of your brow take that pencil and line it from the corner of your nose and the edge of your eye, that is where it should properly end.

Filling in the Brow-

First fill in your eyebrow with eye shadow or a pencil lightly with a shade close to an almost exact matching color to your natural brow. (You don't want black eyebrows with a light brown hair color) Then you want to line your brows to the shape you want. If you have a eyebrow brush or you can even use your finger, gently brush out any harsh lines. Now not everyone does this but you can take concealer and clean up the top and bottom of your brow. Once all that is finished you are done and you have perfectly shaped and filled in eyebrows.

If you liked what I posted leave a comment below and check out some of my other posts! :)

Fake Friends vs. Real Friends

Real Friends will befriend you, be nice to you and even listen to your problems but fake friends will do all of that and tell everyone your problems, lie on you, talk about you and so much more. Now I've noticed that guys don't really encounter a lot of friend problems as much as girls do so this post is directed more towards the girls.

I am going to give you some tips/ examples on how to tell a fake friend from a real friend and how to detect a fake friend before they try to become your friend 

#1 If they say "You can trust me" before you even get to know them. 

It goes down like this, you had a bad argument with your parents this morning or you just found out your boyfriend was cheating on you and you decide to sit alone at lunch. The 'Gossip Girl' of your school sits down next to you and tries to console you. She asks you whats wrong and you tell her it's nothing even though it is something and she smiles and says "You can trust me..." 

Bitch no I cant. Weren't you the same girl who spread the STD rumors about Rachel and the same girl who told everyone that Nicole was pregnant even though you're her bestfriend? Right about now your *Fake Friend Alert* should be going off. Now sometimes this isn't true with everyone, some people are genuinely not going to tell anyone but this occurrence is rare and you should keep your private life to yourself until you honestly get to know the person. 

#2 Everyone Finds Out Your Secret. 

You just found out that your parents are getting a divorce or you just had sex for the first time and you need to blow off some steam, so you text your 'Best Friend' *insert Best Friends name here.* She is the only person you told and you made her swear on her life that she wouldn't tell anyone. 

The next day at school you see people looking at you and whispering. You hear someone's conversation and they are talking about what you told *insert Best Friends name here* last night. Now pause! Before you run into the bathroom crying think about this. You made this bitch swear on her life, so grab that Machete and... Im joking. No one wants to go to jail for murder. Im not saying Don't hit the bitch for running her mouth. Knock her out if you have to... :)

#3 She Makes All New Friends

This tends to happen to Freshman just entering High School. No lie, high school DOES change people. I've seen this happen first hand and from experience. 

Its your first day of school and you and your friend Chloe look an your schedules and you only have 3 classes together. By the 2nd week she had made friends in her new classes and is starting to feel comfortable. (Now I'm not saying making new friends is bad but don't forget who were your friends were from the start) Now its been a month and a half and she's completely started ditching for her new friends, she got a new popular boyfriend in her new group and she won't even respond to you texts. This is a tip to all teens entering high school. Hang on to what you know, don't change to be cool and don't forget who your friends are because some friend come and go but real friends stay forever." (BTW this is exactly what happened to me)

#4 Listen Around, You Might Learn Something. 

Now rumors are bad and I hate them but sometimes whats bad is also sometimes true. Now Im not saying to go and spread rumors or to go and listen to every rumor and think they're true but just listen to them. Be careful. If you hear that Nicole and Destiny aren't friends anymore because Destiny stole Nicole's boyfriend and come to find out that Destiny is actually dating Nicole *ex* Boyfriend. You might want to be wary. Just listen and keep tabs :)

#5 She doesn't believe you. 

Lets say worse comes to worse and your bestfriends boyfriend tries to kiss your or maybe even... Rape you. You try to tell her but she gives you a dirty look and is quick to call you a liar. She doesn't even bother to ask him, she just assumes your a jealous whore. Now If you tell anyone this they might be in disbelief but after telling them over and over a real friend might consider your telling the truth. Fake friends like the one in the example who assumes your a jealous whore who wants her ugly ass boyfriend. 

Now I hope these tips/ examples help you out. Comment below telling me if it helped or a time that you realized you had a fake friend. Love you guys. 

-Live Life Freely

Oh yeah! Follow my new Instagram @ InfinitySpirits. Thanks!

How To Not Procrastinate

As the queen of procrastination. I figured I'd give you some tips on how I deal with it and how I get things done.

Step 1: Asses The Situation

You need to realize that you have something to get done and if you don't get it done on time or properly then you are SOL

Step 2: Confront The Problem 

Why are you procrastinating? If it's something you can fix then fix it. If its because you just don't want to do it and or it's boring, tell yourself to grow the fuck up and just do it. So what if you don't like it or its boring. Not everything's going to be fun and interesting. 

Step 3: Just Do It

Trust me, once its all over you'll have time to do more fun and interesting things. This is just a minor set back in your "Awesome Life." Just get it done and you'll feel much better afterwords, especially since you don't have to worry about it.

Hoped you guys like my tips. I tried not to be as brutal as I usually would be. If your sitting there like, "Well your the queen of procrastination. Why are you telling us to grow up? Shouldn't you follow these steps to?" I already do! I give myself a nice lecture before putting myself through the torture of a boring project or studying for an exam. Anyways , I will be posting more posts soon. I don't know when, I just will. Love you guys and thanks for reading :)

-Live Life Freely 

Getting That Bikini Body

Have you always wanted the perfect beach body or just wanted to be fit for summer? Well I'm here to help with a few tips on how to achieve the perfect bikini body.

Daily Routine

1. You want to start out with a few stepping lunges for 1 minute.

2. Next you want to jump those split lunges for 1 minute.

3. After that do 20 burpees, jump really high!

4. Take a breather whenever needed, next you want to hold a plank for 1 minute.

5.Do the Spider Man 20 times, then go quick for 30 seconds.

6. After that you do 20 pushups and then mountain climbers for 1 minute.

7. Next you do the downward dodging cobra 15 times.

8. Almost done, now do a plie squat for 1 minute.

9a. In-and-Outs 20 times & make sure to stay low.

9b. Out-and-Ups 10 times & jump high.

10. Finally hold a narrow squat for 1 minute.

Tips For Maintaining Health

1. Go for a walk, it's one of the best forms of exercise and it's free. You can do this by parking you car as far away from the entrance as possible, walking your dog, and taking the steps instead of the elevator.

2.Skip the fast food & cheap restaurants.Although fast food is convenient and cheep, it's loaded with calories & fats that can be bad for you in your future. Swap this out with healthy home cooked food, not only will you be able to control whats in your diet, you will save money over time.

3.Eat smaller portions. This is simple but can be hard for some people, you can do this by using smaller plates and cutting restaurant portions in half and taking the rest home for another meal.

4. Drink loads of water. It's healthy for you and it helps drain all the toxins out of your body.

My Daily Skincare Routine

Now I noticed how much you's have been enjoying the acne remedies and the skincare tips so I've decided to let you guys in on my daily skincare routine and how I deal with my acne. 

#1

Cetaphil Face Wash

I just recently bought this after watching a girls morning routine on YouTube. After seeing her recommendation I'd figure i would buy it. I mean i had put worse things on my face and it wouldn't hurt to try it it. Plus i needed a new cleanser. I bought the exact one in the picture, gentle skin cleanser for all facial types because i have T type or combination skin. My face is oily on my nose, in between my eyes, and on my forehead but its dry everywhere else. I've been using it for about a month and it really does do some good.  I use it when I first wake up, after coming home from outside, and right before bed. 

#2

Clean & Clear Deep Cleaning Astringent

I use this after i wash my face with the Cetaphil. I don't tend to use it everyday for reasons. It usually can throw my faces  pH balance off balance and sometimes leads to my face being overly dry or causes my face to produce to much oil and makes it extremely oily. I use it when I have a bad break out or i use a cotton ball and use it in just the areas that tend to break out a lot (my forehead). It helps get rid of the acne and its good if you use it to the extent you would like. 

#3

Moisturizer 

Now i dont use this currently because they don't sell it at my local drugstore anymore but i used to use it and it worked for me. The one i use is a Rite Aid brand moisturizer and it has 2,100 I.U of vitamin E. I use this everyday after i cleanse my face and especially on the days after i use the astringent. I makes my face extremely soft and it actually works for a drugstore brand moisturizer. 

#4 

Exfoliant 

I usually use this before i cleanse and everything but i put it last for a reason. 

1. I don't use it everyday. 

2. I use it hours before i use the cleanser. 

I usually use this everyone in awhile. There is no schedule in how i use this. If i feel like i should exfoliate one day, then i will. It's more sporadic then planned. The reason i use it hours before my cleanser is because usually when I decide to use it its in the middle of the day and i don't want to mess with my cleanser schedule. If you want to know how to use this you can visit my 5 DIY Acne Treatment post. I'll have the link in here. 

Thanks you you reading this if you did. I hope you enjoyed it and it hopefully helps you. 

Comment what you think below and tell me what your daily skincare routine is like. 

~Live Life Freely~ 

Types of Acne & How to Get Rid of Them

Comedones

(White heads & Black heads)

(Black head extractor)

You can easily tell the difference between the two types just by the color. White heads are whitish looking & black heads tend to be skin colored or darker. Now the difference between these two are where they are located, white heads are under the surface of the skin and black heads are on the surface. Now treating them is just simply practicing good hygiene. You can use a mild cleanser or scrub 1 or 2 times a day and stay away from oil based makeup, you can also use benzoyl peroxide. Removing black heads can be slightly more difficult but there is a good way to remove them, you can purchase pore strips or a blackhead removing tool from your local drug store.

Papules & Pustules 

(Papule on left, Pustule on right)

Papules are raised bumps on the skin that don't contain and pus or liquid where as a Pustule is the complete opposite. Pustules are infected papules and contain pus. This is usually what people consider to be pimples. These can treated similarly to comedones, it's simply practicing good hygiene and maybe using benzoyl peroxide. I recommend not messing or trying to pop your pustule, this can actually slow the process of having it gone.

Nodules & Cystic Acne

(wont post picture because it's nasty, google it if you want)

Nodules and Cystic Acne are severe forms of acne, Nodules are large painful lumps, this is cause when the hair folicle is torn and it lets in dirt and debris. Cystic acne is just a nodule with a cyst under it, the bad thing about this is the cyst can remain there for the rest of your life, getting inflamed at unknown times. Now there is really no good way to treat these, there are treatments for cystic acne but it almost never works completely and it can come back with in a year. Nodules can be preventing by using benzoyl peroxide cream and stopping it from getting to this point in the first place.

Hope these help, comment if you would like more on this.

~Live Life Freely~

5 Tips To Get Hair to Grow Longer

After cutting my hair much longer then I would like, I spent the last 2 years looking for ways to  grow it back quick & non expensive. Here are some of the things I recommend doing for it to grow back quicker & healthier.

#1

TRIM!

I know how you feel about this, you probably want to stop reading right now, but i'm not going to be the one to tell you to cut all your hair off. I'm just saying get rid of all the dead ends. Cutting 2 inches off every so often isn't going to help it. Split ends move up your hair shaft so if you leave them there, then can get worse & damage more of your hair. So cut them ALL off while you can. My hair was past my but & I cut it a little past my shoulders so all my dead ends were WAYYY gone.

Picture of Before & After Haircut, and Now

#1

Eating Healthy

No I'm not saying you don't already but a well balanced diet can ensure your hair gets all the necessary nutrients for it to grow healthy, smooth, and strong. I'm also not saying you can't have your favorite junk food but I'm saying if you want to eat it, eat it every so often. Not everyday or every other day. Make your you get protein in your diet, eat lots of meat or whatever you do to get protein. This is basically what your hair is made of.

#3

Scalp Massage

This is real simple & it can benifit by adding almost a quarter of an inch of growth to your hair a month. Someone else doesn't have to do it for you, this is a simple one person task. Just let your hair down and gently rub your hands along your scalp, kind of like your scratching it but not as hard. This helps distribute the oils throughout your hair and scalp.

#4

No Heat or Tight Hairstyles

None of this ridiculousness! Straightening, curling, crimping, etc. No tight buns, tight ponytails, etc. Now I understand how hard it is for you to let go of this if it's a daily part of your life. I also have trouble letting go of this, like in the before, after, and now picture of me. I have my hair straughtened in the now picture. I can't go a day where my hair is curly, I just can't handle it sometimes, especially since I have bangs. It's too much. I have broken my self out of this habit, I found a natural hairstyle that is simple, easy to do, and lasts all day. But this hairstyle is a tight bun, which restrictive, so nothing actually benefits. But at least I'm not damaging it with heat.

#5

Patience & A good Shampoo & Conditioner

Now patience is key to this whole process. I know you want your hair back or you just want it all longer now, but it doesn't happen overnight. Your hair grows on a average of 1/2 a inch a month. So in just 1 year it's going to grow about 6 inches, and if you trim it every 2 1/2 months like your supposed to, It'll grow about 4 inches, depending on how much you cut off. I cut off almost 2 feet of hair, so it'll take my hair about 4 years to grow completely back but I have noticed progress. Also your hair can grow quicker if you have a good shampoo & conditioner. Something that is non toxic & doesn't strip your hair of all it's natural oils. I recommend using Mane & Tail. It's GREAT, now i know I have a different texture of hair, but this works for about everyone I know. Caucasians, Hispanics, Blacks. I'm mixed & it works for me. Try it, it wouldn't hurt, it took me almost 2 years to find a good shampoo & conditioner that works, and its this one. Save your self sometime. Also I recommend getting a deep conditioner, helps your hair retain moisture after a wash.

Comment some of the ways you help your hair grow longer & what you think of this. Also comment if you want more hair tips

~Live Life Freely~

5 Cute Hairstyles for 2013

It says it all in the title. Here are 5 of my favorite hairstyles for 2013.

Braid Bun Bang

Low Ponytail

Side Swept

Half Up-Do

Quick & Easy Up-Do

Comment below on what you think & add the links to your favorite hairstyles for 2013. If you want more of these, or if you want this for a certain hair length, leave a comment below. 

~Live Life Freely~

5 DIY Acne Treatments

There's the old toothpaste trick & expensive acne face washes but there are much cheaper & effective ways to get rid of acne...

#1

Exfoliation

It's plain and simple. Exfoliating gets rid of the dead layer of skin and dirt and it helps fade previous acne scars! You can make your own exfoliating scrub out of Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract, & Coconut Oil. It smells great and it can be used all over your body.

#2

Baking Soda Acne Mask

You're more then likely to have baking soda in your home, probably sitting in your refrigerator or pantry somewhere. This is great way to get rid of acne. Once again, it's also an exfoliatior, you can kind of pick up on how important exfoliating is to keep acne off your skin. There is more then one way to make this but its all the same basic Idea, I mix Baking Soda & water together to make a sort of paste. Don't let it get to runny, have it pasty. I add a tiny bit of vanilla extract for smell because just baking soda & water alone smells terrible, plus vanilla extract has a tiny bit of alcohol in it so I help with your acne. I would start out not using this more then 3 times a week, slowly moving into using it more often. This allows your skin to get used to it. Don't exactly rub it in to much but let it sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse & dry. Your face should be silky smooth.

#3

Egg & Tissue Blackhead Removing Mask

Yeah I know this is about acne but blackheads are also a common problem in people who also have acne problems. This helps with your acne & it removes blackheads. That's a plus! First you seperate the yolk from the egg white, you can do whatever with the yolk. Your only using the white. Apply a good layer of the yolk all over your face, leave some for later. Make sure your face is clean beforehand. Take your facial tissue & divide it in 2. Apply the pieces all over your face. You can use more then one tissue. Then apply a thin layer of egg white over top of the tissue, let it dry for about 30 minutes then peel off. BAM! Blackheads should be removed.

#4

Lemon Juice

Your mother probably knows about this neat little trick for acne. Lemon juice is know for its natural skin lightening properties that help fade acne scars and preventing acne. It's also great for chest & back acne. Apply some to a paper towel and pat on your face for about 5 minutes and then let it dry. You don't have to wash it off, it doesn't affect anything. The acne fading isn't going to happen immediately but after a month or 2 of using it you will see results.

#5

Ice Cubes & Green tea

Green tea is well know for it's antioxidants that help your body, it can also help acne. Take a warm (NOT HOT!) green tea bag and apply it to your blemish. It reduces the size of your blemish & it tightens your pores. You can finish this off by apply an ice cube to your face, it shrinks your pores also, preventing any unnecessary dirt and oils from getting into your pores. Or you can meet the best of both worlds & make green tea and freeze it into ice cubes.

Comment what you think below. If you have any other acne idea's post them below! Let me know if you like these and want more.