FABULOUS FRIDAY

What in the world am I doing with curlers in my hair?

Today's fabulous friday is a topic I have struggled with for MANY, MANY years! As you can tell from some of my pictures, my hair is short one day and then long the next (thank you clip in extensions)! This is because I have been struggling for as long as I can remember with hair growth! I not only dye my hair blonde, I love to curl it and straighten it because my hair naturally is a kinky mess.

SUNLESS SUNDAY

I am getting ready for my wedding and doing so well! I am almost done just working on my beauty routine so I look FABULOUS for my special day! 35 days and counting...wow! I still can't believe it! I can't wait to share with you pictures of a life changing celebration! I have been working on my natural tan a bit and of course I got burnt! I know better...I own a sunless tanning business but sometimes you just want to be a bit tanner so here are some pre prep ideas you can use to lay out a bit before that special day and before your spray tan.

Sunscreen, sunscreen and more sunscreen! Rene Davis, who does my facials out here in Cabo, you can contact her at skintherapybyrene@hotmail.com has this wonderful sunscreen that I use daily on my face called Doctor D. Schwab Umbrella High Environmental Moisturizer and the best thing about this product is it does not clog my pores. All other sunscreens I used always ended up making me break out and I could never find one to protect my face daily that would keep my lovely pale skin pale haha*

On my body I use Resort & Spa Skincare which I got when I swam with the dolphins. The great thing about this sunscreen is its natural and biodegradable so I always use this when laying out. Since its only SPF 15 I apply it quite often during a lay out session.

I apply both products focusing on my face, shoulders and neck/chest area.

I than put a nice moisturizing conditioner in my hair as I figure since I put a hat on I should moisturize my hair while I am at it! I also think the heat from the sun helps the conditioner penetrate my hair deeper.

I suggest laying out before noon or after 3 PM. The sun between 12-3 is the harshest on your skin and who needs a burn or damaged skin cells?

I keep my face and hair completely covered as I figure makeup and a spray tan do the trick and I avoid sun spots, wrinkles and burning on my delicate face.

I drink at least a liter of water to keep my skin and body hydrated the entire time and I keep a water bottle near me as well (glass of course)

After I am done its moisturizing time. I heat up some coconut oil and mix aloe vera with it and apply to my skin to get a nice moisturized feeling. I damp up a cool towel and wipe off the coconut oil and apply aloe vera again. Seems like a lot but I promise its so worth it!

From this base tan, I plan to spray tan of course to get that gorgeous even glow which I love! Pictures coming soon :) 35 day countdown....

Hope everyone is enjoying Sunday and having tons of fun with April Fools!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Aloe Vera rocks! It is the ultimate beauty secret and so easy to grow and find! We all know if helps heal a sunburn but did you know it can help your hair grow, beautify your skin, anti-age you and its just all around an amazing plant. Aloe Vera also can help your digestive system, sustain blood sugars, help your joints out and clean out your ulcers. Of course is best in pure form, grown by yourself but there is also bottled versions at health food stores and even walmart. 

Some quick facts about this beautiful plant:

-An Anti-inflammatory and it has an ability to absorb nutrients in the digestive system.

-Strengthens and improves immune system because of the essential enzymes, vitamins and minerals it    contains

-45% reduction of blood sugar levels for diabetics proven by

-It is also said that aloe vera can help repaid elastin and collagen in the skin and joints.

The thing is there is one problem, you have to grow it yourself to get the FULL benefits. Sure you can take a supplement but what better way to test out your green thumb than growing your own beauty secret! If all else fails you can always just purchase a plant at Home Depot, this is much easier for those of you who don't have a green thumb like myself :)

Just be sure to get one that has matured a bit as the youthful Aloe Vera's may only have first aid properties. You really want one that has a ton of leaves because once you cut the leaf off it will not grow back. 

How to Cut off A leaf:

-Cut Away with a Sharp Knife

-Trim thorny edges and slice across its width

-The inner gooey gel is the good stuff!

-Keep reaching for more gel by scratching the surface with a clean knife to rupture more cells with more juices.

Enjoy your Aloe Vera :)

SUNLESS SUNDAY

 Sunless tanning is the ticket to achieving that perfect skin tone without harming your skin! Star Systemz uses cruelty-free, vegan all organic and natural products. This way you are achieving your perfect glow without being sprayed with harmful chemicals.

So before you start rubbing yourself down with self-tanner consider the fact that it might be harmful chemicals you are lathering onto your skin and not an all organic Star Systemz spray tan :)

Currently running specials, book your appointment to find out more details!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

 We all have a cabinet full of beauty products but did you ever think that what foods you are consuming promote beauty and can actually do more for you than that expensive face cream. When I entered high school, I always had acne and looking back it was most likely because all I consumed was Del Taco, McDonalds, and greasy pizza. Your skin is your largest organ and will tell you how your insides are doing if you just pay attention. Of course I was breaking out, I am allergic to cheese and the amount of grease and chemicals I was consuming was disgusting. Now I eat a clean, dairy free diet and my skin is clear and clean :)


Here are some foods you should add to your diet to create a healthier skin tone and get rid of that acne!

Avocados- Contain the fats essential for cell rejuvenation which is essential for the building blocks of new skin

Grape Seed Oil-Contains oligomeric procyanidine which improves skins elasticity 

*Add some grape seed oil to your vegetables, the great thing about grape seed oil is it doesn't smoke when cooked on high heat.

Millet-Highly nutritious seed which contains silica which is amazing for hair, skin and nails

*Cook millet and put some olive oil in there into a blender makes a great stuffing for peppers!

Apricots-Rich in phytochemicals and contain folate, calcium, vitamins a & c, iron and potassium which provide the vitamins to promote collagen
*Snack on them or add chopped apricots to give your salad a healthy boost

Brazil Nuts- Helps promote skin moisture and prevents sun damage

*Eat 3 (100 calories)  a day to promote skin moisture, eat as a snack

Cucumbers- Contain tons of Vitamin C and manganese necessary for increasing collagen production

*Add some to your sandwiches, salads, dip in hummus for a snack

Add these items to your grocery list and start seeing results as soon as 4 weeks! So much cheaper than those facial creams and a great way to add stuff to your salads and snacks!

Enjoy your weekend and have a FABULOUS FRIDAY!

SUNLESS SUNDAY

Tons of events are coming up! Its bikini season and its time to shine and show off that body you have been working so hard on! 

Nikki Beach White Party is April 13th and just around the corner! Feel confident rocking white and get a spray tan! White is such a difficult color to pull off unless you have some sort of glowing tan. Be the star shining at this party and book your appointment early! 

Host a party at your home before an event! Have a beauty pre-party and be the hottest group at the party! Star Systemz will set up the catering, drinks and spray tan appointments! Groups of 5 or more receive a discount! Contact and book an appointment at http://www.starsystemz.com or by emailing Courtney at courtney@starsystemz.com

Shine like a Star with Star Systemz!

SUNLESS SUNDAY

What are you doing to protect your skin? Did you use to lay out with baby oil all over and than burn to just peel and be tan? Have you developed sun spots or moles?

Its time to take a look at your skin and make a decision as to what you are going to do to save your skin! Skin is the largest organ on your body and unfortunately everyone can see what damage you have done to it. 

There are so many ways nowadays to be tan without damaging your skin. One way is spray tanning! Its easy, effective and quick. We all love looking like bronze goddesses but why do it the harmful, damaging way when you can just have a professional come to you and turn you into that goddess in less than 30 minutes!

Spray Tanning is like a 30 minute body make-over! Makes you look 10lbs thinner! Formulated with anti-aging ingredients, Camouflages cellulite & spider veins! very natural looking - no orange tint! A safe and healthy tanning alternative.”

Jennifer Aniston was quoted in "InStyle" magazine stating that she protects her skin with sunblock and uses spray tanning to keep that youthful glow. 

One question I usually get is "will I turn orange?" 

With my specialized formula that fits your skin tone, even the palest girl can be a bronzed goddess! Star Systemz knows what will work just for YOU and uses the best product on the market! Each session is catered to make YOU the Star and "red carpet" ready for that special event or just an everyday shine!

Try it out today and check out http://www.starsystemz.com for more information and to book your appointment. 

Wedding Spray Tan

Glowing, blushing and gorgeous the bride looks fabulous hair done, makeup done, with tan lines and bright red. Why is this? She wanted to be tan for her wedding so she spent hours worshipping the sun to find out that she needed to put sunscreen on after she was burnt. To hide a burn is very difficult as the skin is already irritated and dry sometimes even chapping.

Don't look like this on your wedding day:


Take the easy way out and go for a spray tan! Spray Tanning is a safe, quick and an effective way to get the desired color you are going for! Why risk it? Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life and unless you are a model the most amount of pictures you will probably take in your life so why not look your best? Sure the sun is free but the time you waste and the chances you take really outweigh the cost.

The best time to get a spray tan is one or two days before the big event! You won't be orange especially with my specialized formula and I have a satisfaction guarantee! I am certified and trained by the top spray tanning technicians and will provide you with the color you desire!

Why not give it a shot? You sure don't want to look like a pasty white bride or a burnt tomato!

Book your appointment now!

Contact: courtney@starsystemz.com
or check out my website at http://www.starsystemz.com for more information!

SUNLESS SUNDAY

PROLONG YOUR TAN

Getting a tan is the key to looking healthy, young and vibrant! Getting a tan and keeping it is the hard part. Even with a spray tan you can risk the color by not taking care of your skin properly. Here are some tips on prolonging your tan and keeping your perfect glow for as long as ten days!

-Moisturize day and night

-Pat dry your skin after the shower

-Use baby oil instead of shaving cream

-Avoid exfoliants of any kind

-Avoid chlorine as it reacts to the DHA in the spray tan and causes dry skin

Try out a spray tan and see how you can make your skin tan and glow without damaging it!

Check out http://www.starsystemz.com for more information!

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Happy Friday and we all know what Friday means....it is time to get FABULOUS :) Naturally of course! This weeks pick is apple cider vinegar. I am sure a ton of you have heard of this magical potion and know that tons of celebs kick start their days with this stuff or do crazy cleanses of just apple cider vinegar but did you know it also has beauty properties? I am about to give you two easy recipes that you can add to your routines or just when you want an extra oomph to your look :)

Apple My Swell Away

Many of you come home from a long day of work with swollen feet and hands. Or how about those who wear heels ALL THE TIME? (that being myself ;)) Your feet probably hate you by now but I could never take my heels off EVER!

Apple Cider Vinegar has come to the rescue!

Just take your bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar and take a Warm towel and massage the apple cider vinegar into your hands and feet. Now relax :)

Thats it!

This one might surprise you but it works I have done it the day after I had a few glasses of red wine for years.

Whiten Me Cider

Take Apple Cider Vinegar and place on a tooth brush.

Slowly massage apple cider vinegar onto teeth.

Take some water swish around and spit out.

Now you can rock your new white smile stain free :)

Enjoy your weekends!

SUNLESS SUNDAY

Ever see one of those older ladies whose skin looks like an old leather purse? Stop the damage now because you missy will be there one day if you do not stop laying out with that baby oil and no sun protection!

Protect your skin when laying out and realize that your skin is actually an organ!

Sunblock is vital when heading outside even if it is cold out! SPF actually stands for sun protection factor and people these days are not getting enough sun protection from your standard sun screens. The difference between sunblock and sunscreen is crucial when shopping for new sun protection. Sunblock contains particles that physically block the suns UV rays while sunscreen absorbs the UV rays before they damage the skin. One thing to be aware of is that an SPF lower than 15 will do you no good and any sunscreen with an SPF higher than 30 does not protect you anymore.

How do you know you are applying enough?

The volume of a shot glass is the correct amount when generously applying sunblock to your skin

Make sure your sun protection is sweat proof and water proof and that you are re-applying every 2 hours or so. Most sunscreens take about 30 minutes to completely absorb into the skin so take that time into consideration before exposing yourself to the sun. Sunblocks can be applied right before walking into the sun so take that into consideration!

I hope you take into consideration how valuable and precious your skin truly is!

Try one of my custom spray tans out and see how amazing and tan you can be without damaging your precious skin :) Check out http://www.starsystemz.com and book your appointment now :)

FABULOUS FRIDAY

I went to the market yesterday and noticed an abundance of avocados! I said to myself, why am I spending money on this Olay anti-aging stuff when I know about this wonderful fruit! Not only is it an amazing facial remedy it also provides a significant amount of moisture to your hair and skin!

Tips on Avocados

• Avocados are very perishable so when making your magic potion use right away
• Fully ripened avocados will show you the best results
• To ripen an avocado faster place avocado in a brown paper bag with a banana for two days
• After cutting avocado in half squeeze a lime, wrap in plastic and store in refrigerator

Peel Me Beautiful Face

-1 avocado skin

1. Take the skin of the avocado
2. Rub it and massage into face for 2-3 minutes
3. Leave the oil from the skin on your face for about 10 minutes
4. Wash your face and pat dry

-The peel contains many oils that will help moisturize the skin

-This remedy is great for the winter as skin tends to be dryer during this season

-Try doing this while making guacamole

Green Hair Machine

-1 avocado

-1 egg yolk

-1/2 teaspoon olive oil

1. Take a shower and just wet hair
2. With damp hair mash 1/2 an avocado in a bowl
3. Add olive oil and egg yolk and mix until constancy is that of a conditioner
4. Place mix starting at your ends and working up into hair
5. Massage and leave on for 30 minutes
6. Rinse and shampoo as normal with luke warm water

-Avocados being rich in polyunsaturated fats and protein is ideal for hair rejuvenation. The fats and proteins will help bring dead, dull hair back to life and fill the breakage with natural fats and proteins.

Have an amazing weekend and I hope you enjoy some natural, organic beauty this weekend!

SUNLESS SUNDAYS

Reasons YOU can Benefit from Sunless Tanning

• SAFE-UV free, 0 exposure to harmful UVA and UVB rays
• APPROVED-by the FDA and recommended by dermatologists and The Skin Cancer Foundation
• QUICK- it only takes 10 minutes to finish your body and you are tanned immediately instead of many hours laying out in the sun.
• STREAK FREE-the airbrush gun will apply the solution evenly with a smooth finish that cannot be mimicked by self-tanning lotions, with no odor, no streaks and no orange appearance
• BEAUTY-it makes you look and feel great - your teeth look whiter, you look healthier and skin imperfections are hidden.
• CONFIDENCE-It will make you feel better and give you more confidence about yourself.

Start 2012 off right and book an appointment and see the amazing results a custom made solution and glow can do for YOU!

Hope everyone is ringing in the new years safe and sound and with much ambition and hope!

Love and Shine,

C

-HAPPY NEW YEARS-

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Oatmeal is the word and it is not just for breakfast or for some of you baking junkies cookies! Oatmeal is a FABULOUS beauty product so run to your pantries and make some of these recipes for a fabulous NEW YEARS weekend :)

Acne Be Oatmealed

-1 cup oatmeal

-1 cup water

-blender

1. Pour oatmeal and water into blender

2. Blend until mushy

3. Lightly spread over skin

4. Leave on for 15 minutes

5. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry

The oatmeal will remedy some of that acne oil and make your face clear and nice.

Smooth My Oats

-1 cup of oatmeal

-blender

1. Blend Oats on a high setting

2. After about 3 minutes take a spoonful out and place in warm water

3. Oatmeal will be powdery like, If water turns a milky color they are done

4. Place in lukewarm bath and mix around as not to clump up the mix

5. Relax

This recipe is great for those with itchy or irritated skin.

Oatmeal works wonders for your skin so pull it from your shelf and make use of this wonderful ingredient!

Have a FABULOUS FRIDAY and enjoy your New Years parties!

Love and Shine

C

FABULOUS FRIDAY

Indulge in that eggnog than rub it on your face! Just kidding..but this weeks fabulous friday is all about the EGG!

Eggs are Eggcelent for your health and an easy beauty treatment! One thing for sure is the health benefits of the egg, just remember the yolk is high in cholesterol so be careful and stick to the whites! Whites are low in calories and very nutritious!

Tighten My Skin

-1 egg

1. Place the egg white in a bowl and the yolk down the drain
2. Next, place the egg white onto your face with a clean BBQ or paint brush
3. Leave on your skin for 15 minutes
4. The egg white will harden on your face. Once done remove with lukewarm water.

This mask will smooth out your skin and tighten the skin just like a pore strip.

Star Studded Hair

-2 eggs

1. Mix 2 egg yolks with 2 tsp. caster oil
2. Take your hands and coat and smooth through just like you would a brush
3. Avoid the root and work towards your ends
4. Leave on for 10 minutes
5. Rinse out

This mask coats your hair with protein and nourishment from the yolk and will help you grow and keep a strong mane. Be sure to do this over a sink or bathtub as it can get very messy!

Eye Puff Be Gone

-1 egg

1. Separate the egg yolk from the white.
2. Use your fingers and put a small film of egg white where the puffiness and darkness under the eye appears
3. Leave on for 10 minutes and lightly pat warm water until completely off

This eye mask will tighten and de-puff the eye area.

I wish all of you a happy holidays! I am excited for what Star Systemz has in store for next year!

Love and Shine,

C

Most people would like to be tan year round and who really enjoys laying out in the sun for hours and hours on end? Within the last 20 years, we have learned about the damaging effects the sun can have on our skin. Sure laying out for 15-20 minutes usually won't cause too many problems especially to those who lack Vitamin D. Spray tanning or sunless tanning provides a perfect glow without the damaging effects but how does it work? How does spraying sugar make me tan?

• Let me give you a little background on the discovery of DHA.

DHA was discovered by accident in the mid 1950's in a children's hospital at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Eva Wittgenstein was testing large doses of DHA on children who had glycogen storage disease. The dosage of DHA was dripping onto the children's skin and creating brown spots all over their skin. Dr. Eva decided to try it on her own skin and from there DHA was discovered and used in self tanners and other tanning products.

Airbrush tanning is the application of self-tanners through a spray gun or HVLP (high volume, low pressure) system. Self-tanning spray includes DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), which is a colorless sugar that makes the magic happen in the self-tanning process. DHA color is derived from the sugar-cane plant and is FDA approved for cosmetic purposes since 1973.

• How does DHA turn the skin brown?

DHA reacts with skin proteins, including amino acids, in the outermost layer of skin. The reaction develops brown skin coloring that looks very similar to a natural tan. The tan fades as the dead layers of skin slough off, just as in normal tanning.

Some sunless products contain an immediate cosmetic bronzer which shows an immediate tan after being sprayed. This color is not permanent and will wash off with the first shower. However, after the shower you will see a different tan which was developed by the self tanning solution (approximately 6 - 10 hours later depending on the solution being used).

I customize solutions depending on your personal skin tone and skin texture. Book your appointments now at http://www.starsystemz.com or by emailing me at courtney@starsystemz.com

Love and Shine

C