Monthly Archives: May 2015

5 Simple Rules to Prevent Breakouts

Posted in Skin Care by

I am sure you guys remember how a series of recent viral articles compared men’s beards to toilets, in terms of germs.

Whether it’s a true fact or not, it inspired me to write this blog post and share a few useful tips I learned over the course of my modeling career. I am not a germophobic person in any way, but I understand how a few simple habits can make a big difference in the way you look and feel. It’s not easy to stay pimple free and camera ready at all times. These tips work for me and have helped prevent unwanted breakouts.

Our face happens to be the most exposed part of the body. It takes in dust, absorbs air impurities and serves as a landing pad for germs and bacteria. If you don’t believe me just run a cotton pad with some toner on your skin at the end of the day, and you may be surprised with what you see.

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1. KEEP YOU HANDS OUT OF YOUR FACE

We wash our hands many times during the day. Unfortunately we can’t do the same to our face as frequently, especially with make up on. Most of us touch our face a lot without even realizing it, and that’s when the germs from our hands end up there and cause breakouts. You may say: “But I washed my hands after touching my dog”. Yes, but on the way to the bathroom you scratched your nose. Even if you wash your hands a lot, try keeping them away from the face throughout the day.

2. GET YOUR MAN TO WASH HIS FACE

A lot of guys are true “Big Lebowski” dudes, and even if they take a shower every day , it does not mean they wash their face before going to bed or kissing you. In other words all the oils and bacteria your partner accumulated throughout the day can end up on your face! Combined with little scruff that can give you a minor irritation it’s a great recipe for growing zits.  Get your man a nice foaming cleanser and a sponge, and explain to him the importance of cleaning his face before going to bed with you. You can thank me later.

3.  CLEAN YOUR MAKE UP BRUSHES FREQUENTLY

Dermatologist recommend sanitizing your make up brushes after each use, which is a bit excessive in my opinion, who’s got time for that? I try to shampoo my brushes every week or so, and use antibacterial spray in between uses. You can wash your brushes with anything from baby shampoo to Dr Bronners Pure Castille Soap. There are also a lot of antibacterial cleansing sprays on the market. I use one by Mineral Fusion Cosmetics, $12 online.

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4. DISCARD OLD MAKE UP

Most make up can be kept for up to 2 years. The general rule is 6 months for liquids and 2 years for powders and pencils. A dark wet environment of make up tubes is the perfect place for bacteria growth. I throw out my foundations after 6 months. Lip glosses and lipsticks are usually ok for a year. Pencils can go two years or longer since the sharpener removes the old surface. However don’t forget to frequently sanitize your sharpener with rubbing alcohol .

Mascara (as well as liquid eye liners) has the shortest life span of all make up because the risk of transferring bacteria back and forth from your eye into the mascara tube is so great.

When you are about to use new cosmetic product for the first time, I recommend writing the date on it with a black sharpie. That way you will know how long you’ve had the make up, and when it’s time to throw it away.

5. SANITIZE YOUR KEY BOARD, CELL PHONE, STEERING WHEEL

Our computer keyboard, phone and steering wheel are some of the most used items we often forget to clean. I use a clear Key Board Protector on my laptop, that’s very easy to clean. Much better than having to clean the surface of the keyboard.

If you like to talk on the phone and press it against your face you should clean it frequently.

I also like to wipe my steering wheel before I take my car out in the morning. Again, your hands and mine may be super clean, but how about the valet guys? I bet they don’t get to wash their hands after parking every car.

 

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Don’t forget to sanitize your door knobs in your home and office, change your pillow cases once a week, and keep you pets away from your pillows.

I promise, It’s not that hard to keep up with the things I mentioned above. Apart from staying pimple free some of the points I made will help you to stay healthy and feel great all around!

 

Photos by Jerry Garns, Jay Bartlett and yours truly.

The Golden Secrets Essential Oil by Jesse Golden

Posted in Bunny Picks by

I am long overdue to feature The Golden Secrets Oil in my blog. It was created by my closest friend, yoga teacher and holistic practitioner, Jesse Golden. Ever since I’ve known her Jesse never used conventional perfumes yet always smelled like she just walked out of a Spa. For years Jesse’s been making a unique blend of essential oils for personal use, and now her signature creation, The Golden Secrets Oil, is available for sale.    11054792_10152731447203848_1870065394863484100_n

Jesse says the tantric magic of this blend originated from Roman folklore, used as an attraction oil or aphrodisiac to stimulate romance. It’s signature aroma helps to strengthen the mind and body, guide you inward, attain clarity and focus.

My boyfriend and I have been using the oil for a while now, and the scent is different on each of us. The oil will adapt to your own body chemistry to create a secret aroma,  just as unique as you.

Does it really entice the romance? It does for us, but you would have to personally explore that subject.

What really makes it special is not just the scent alone, but the intention and the energy that goes inside of each bottle. It’s a very small production, Jesse bottles the oil herself by hand, and blesses every single one of them with tantric chants.

The oil bottle is 5 ml, and it my look a bit small, but trust me, it will go a long way. It’s pretty strong, so you only need a few drops.

What does it smell like? Well, the exact formula is Jesse’s secret, but I sense citrus, floral and earthy top notes.  It’s not heavy or musty, and  gives you an instant clean feeling,  keeps you refreshed and energized all day long.

A lot of people underestimate the power of essential oils.  You don’t have to be a hard core yogi to reap the benefits of it. A scent can easily influence people’s moods and emotions, and affect work performance.

Personally, scent is a very powerful memory trigger for me. I enjoy creating happy memories that are linked to the use of the oil. And if I’m having a bad day, once I inhale my Golden Secrets Oil it instantly brings back the happy times associated with the smell and puts a smile on my face.

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My girl friends and I love the oil, and use it more than in just one way. Here are a few of MY FAVORITE USES OF THE GOLDEN SECRETS OIL:

  •  As an all natural every day unisex perfume – Dab 2-4 drops on the inside of your wrist. Then rub inside of wrists together and delicately rub wrists on the sides of the neck and behind your ears…and just below the navel, if you desire.
  • Use it during meditation and yoga practice to find your focus and balance.
  • Apply during your morning affirmations.
  • As a scent enhancer for your body lotion or massage oil – I love putting a few drops in my Kiels lotion bottle to make it more special.
  • As a room fragrance – Just put a few drops in your aromatherapy oil diffuser .
  • As a car freshener – I use it in aromatherapy car diffuser to stay calm and patient in LA traffic.
  • As a laundry fragrance – Place 2 drops on a cloth and place in the dryer for great smelling clothes.

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Visit www.thegoldensecretsoil.com to purchase.

As a gorgeous model, devoted mother, holistic practitioner and a yoga teacher, Jesse is a true inspiration for so many people. She shares her light and a life journey in her blog www.thegoldensecretsoil.org . Be sure to follow her for wellness tips and spiritual advice.

Instagram @JesseGolden and @TheGoldenSecrets

Facebook @TheGoldenSecrets

Twitter @JesseGolden

A Few Thoughts Before Mother’s Day

Posted in Bunny Thoughts by

Ever since I moved away from home 19 years ago, I have a different perspective on holidays. Most holidays don’t have the same meaning any more, because I refuse to go by what the TV commercials and the calendar tell me, I go with my heart. When it comes to Mother’s Day, I choose to treat my Mom as it was Mother’s Day all year round.

Screen Shot 2015-05-04 at 5.06.17 PMIn the United States every holiday is just another reason to advertise and push the merchandize. “Buy this, buy that,
make you Mom happy this Mother’s Day…”, and so on.
I am not encouraging to ignore the holiday. I am just saying that Mother’s Day brunch reservations in the fanciest place in town may not be what you should focus on. How about taking your Mom to brunch twice a month? How about giving her flowers for no reason, not just on Mother’s Day?

The most valuable gift you can give your Mom is your time. Because you can’t buy time and mail it in an envelope. Time is priceless and you can’t get it back. Time spent with your Mother is a true gesture of appreciation of her, who gave you a gift of a life time.

Expensive gifts on Mother’s Day will not make up for the rest of the year. Let your Mom know how much you love her every day, spend time with her, spoil her. Because you don’t want to have any regrets, and wish you did all of these things when she was still around.

IMG_2508-2I miss my Mom, and she lives half way across the world. I don’t have the luxury of taking her out for lunch, or driving over for a week-end. But I am in touch with her all the time, and I cherish every moment we get to share together. As difficult as my Mom can be sometimes, I treat her with a great amount of patience and respect all year round, not just on Mother’s Day.

May be I just turn into a big sap as I get older, but it’s so very sad for me to see that some people I know don’t give their mothers the attention they deserve. We all use “I am so busy, I don’t have any free time” excuse. Well, I just don’t buy it.  In my opinion if you find time for gym, nail appointments, concerts and such you sure can sacrifice a few hours a week out of your busy schedule to spend with your Mom in person or via Skype.

I understand, it may be very hard sometimes to witness our parents get older, talk about their health problems and give them the moral support they need. We tend to subconsciously avoid things that cause us mental pain, make us feel sad and helpless. We just don’t want to deal with the emotions that are hard to control, and build a wall of excuses as to why it’s not a good time for a phone call right now or a trip to see Mom this week-end.

IMG_0528Do you know what will hurt even more? The endless regrets about the time you did not spend with your parents when they were still around.

You have to learn how to be strong,  to be able to be there for your Mom and Dad in the down times when they need you the most.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner. Think about giving your Mom a gift of your time for as long as she is around.