January Favorites

Hello, lovelies! We survived our first month of 2016! The speed of time never ceases to amaze me. I have discovered some really great things: some are Christmas gifts and some are personal finds. It's a bit of a random bunch, but they are all worth sharing. Enjoy!

Pantene Beautiful Lengths Shampoo + Conditioner
It strengthens my hair and makes it feel so much healthier, and I've noticed my natural frizz has died down. It also smells like green apples, which is nice. I also didn't mind buying this before I finished my other shampoo and conditioner because Beautiful Lengths is also a program that helps women battling cancer. You can help by donating eight inches of hair or eight dollars, and since I don't have eight inches to donate, I bought the set to contribute. It can be your good deed for the day!

Zoella Beauty Scrubbing Me Softly Soothing Body Scrub
Where has this been all my life?! My skin is the death of me in the winter: dry, dull, lifeless, but this has helped me revive my poor neglected skin. I have put this on after a bath and rinse it off, or I just put it on during a shower (only once a week, though). First of all, it smells so good, and second, my skin is soft and basically glows after applying it. It is especially nice to apply to on days you know will be shaving your legs or applying fake tan. 

Zoella Beauty Foam Sweet Foam Shower Gel
Obviously, I cannot just have one Zoella Beauty product in my favorites. I got several products for Christmas, so I have to share my love for them. This smells the same as the body scrub, but I can get away with using it more often... Well, I guess it is expected that someone my age showers more than once a week... So it's probably good I'm using this. Continuing on... I love this fresh smelling gel, which is also really soothing and calming to wake up to for a morning shower or even one before bed.

Estēe Lauder Double Light Wear Foundation
This has been a great everyday foundation for this month. I have been trying to wear makeup, but I hate wearing a full face for 8:00 am classes. This foundation, which I wear in the shade Intensity 1.0, is very sheer, but it's great for when I just need some evening out in regards to the discoloration on my face. It actually feels more like a skincare product than a foundation because it is so light. If I am in need of a bit more coverage, I mix this with my Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Gobi, but this really has been a savior when I have twenty minutes to get ready. If you want to see this look, click here.

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara
I cannot tell you how impressed I was when I put a layer of this mascara on my lashes! I mean, I'm obviously going to try (hence this post), but I was especially speechless with this product. First of all, I love how buildable it is. I am very picky with this characteristic in mascara because I change my moods with how dramatic I want my lashes, so the fewer products that can achieve the most looks makes me happy. I can put one layer on and get separated, slightly lengthened lashes. If I add one or two more layers, my lashes extend further than I thought possible. It also has a nice fanning effect which is nice to keep lashes from clumping.

Benefit BADgal Mascara
I've actually been liking two mascaras this month. When I wasn't in as much need to lengthen my lashes, I would go for this volumizing mascara instead. This brush is... 'Big' is an understatement... It's HENCH. It is a big boy. But hey, whatever gets the job done. I have had days where I wear it and people think I am wearing falsies, which I never do, but I was flattered that they thought I put that much work into my makeup. Laziness strikes again!

Nike Barefoot Ride 5.0 Running Shoes
I actually have kept my promise to myself to go to the gym at least twice a week. I really could go three times, but I am REALLY good at making excuses. Oh well, you gotta start somewhere, right? Beyoncé wasn't built in a day! Anyway... These shoes are super comfy and perfect for the gym. I also will say that I am a fan of having black shoes instead of my old yellow ones because they match more of my outfit choices. 

Flax Chia Seed Mix
While I continue to (attempt to) be a health nut, I have been making more green smoothies. I've especially been liking strawberry, mango, pineapple ones. They really make me want to move to somewhere without snow. And trust me, it is hard to drink smoothies when it is -10 degrees outside. I have, however, added a new special ingredient that makes them a little more worth the goosebumps. This flax and chia seed mix has a greater amount of fiber, protein, omega-3 fatty acids, and other amazing benefits, which makes me feel great after a workout or just a long day of being a college student. 

Pillowtalk - Zayn
Okay, I know this is sort of cheating considering this song has only been out for three days, but I've already listened to it over 100 times on iTunes... so it's safe to say that it is a favorite. I was very upset, along with everyone else, when I heard that One Direction lost their best member (everyone is entitled to their own opinion), but FINALLY, Zayn has released his first single, and I was screaming. I immediately downloaded it and hit the repeat button. And I'm definitely not listening to it as I write this post... Nope... If you haven't heard it, go!

I mean, this post is basically over anyway.

Those are the things I have especially been loving during January. What are some things you've been loving this month? Let me know in the comments! Have a great February!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page 

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Luminous Skin & Metallic Eyes

Hello, lovelies! We're drawing close to the last week of January 2016. This month alone has gone so quickly... What will the rest of the year be like? Since I am still adjusting to the "New Year, new you" phase, I decided I would create for myself a dewy and luminous makeup look to show off a fresh face along with this fresh start. This look features lots of highlighting, a sparkly neutral eye, and shiny nude lips.

If you want to see more of this look, keep on reading! Enjoy!

Face

As always, prime your clean and moisturized face with the Benefit The POREfessional primer. To get the ultimate luminous, but still medium coverage, I used Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in cheekbones and mixed it with Estēe Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation in Intensity 1.0. To dial down my under eye circles and discoloration, I used the Trish McEvoy Instant Eye Lift. For any other blemishes I have, I used my trusty CoverGirl Ready, Set, Gorgeous Concealer in Light.

Eyes

For eyebrows, I did the same old Too Faced Brow Envy Palette Brunette Powder and then followed that with Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep.

For eye makeup, I did something really different for what I normally do for my eye makeup. I started with putting Naked and Buck from the Urban Decay Nake Palette as transition colors in my crease, using windshield wiper and circular motions to blend. 

Here's the exciting part: In my Advent calendar from 2015, I got a couple of Tanya Burr Cosmetics Eye Shimmer Pots. I decided to give one of them a try. I used The Eye Shimmer Pot in Creme Brulee, which is a shimmery coppery-gold. It looks so beautiful in the pot and on the eyes. I think it would suit any eye color. Just a little tip, since these eyeshadows are not pressed powder, I would use water or some sort of setting spray to help the powder stick to your eyelid. 

To finish of the eyes, I curled my lashes and used the Benefit Bad Gal Lash Mascara for my top lashes and the Benefit They're Real Mascara for my bottom lashes. Feel free to use liquid eyeliner and lashes to dramatize this look, but I tried to keep this more relaxed, and if you know me, I cannot do eyeliner to save my life.

Cheeks

Now that the eye's are done, it's time to bring some color back into my face. Just imagine someone who looks extremely ill and ghostly... That would be my face before these next few steps. To start off, I use my handy-dandy Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil in Light/Medium to define my cheek bones and jawline, and I add some to my forehead and around my temples to add some color. 

For blush, I used Bare Minerals Sun-Kissed Blush, which was a little pinker than I expected for the look, but it still added a healthy glow into the mix, which I liked. 

To highlight, I used a few products, this time, around: On the tops of my cheekbones, I used Physician's Therapy Powder Highlight in Translucent Pearl. On top of that, I applied Benefit Watt's Up and then applied this on my cupid's bow and under my eyebrows. Then I took Benefit Highbeam and painted that on the bridge of my nose. You can interchange the products as you please, but I just liked using those products in those specific place. Everyone has their own preferences. Use what works best for you!

Lips

I am probably the last person that would go for a nude lip, but this isn't stark tan or nude. I used Bare Minerals Marvelous Moxie Lipgloss in Smarty Pants. This gloss has a slight opacity, but it is still natural and glossy, so some of my natural lip color pops through. The tilted doe foot applicator makes applying this gloss mess-free and creates a very lustrous look without taking too much time.

Almost finished...

This is the first time I've ever used a product like this, but I've been hooked ever since my first use. I finally got a setting spray--a monumental step in my makeup career. To finish my dewy and luminous makeup look, I used the Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Setting Spray which is long lasting. It is oil free and paraben free, which makes me feel good about putting it on my face. I have seriously seen a huge difference in the longevity of my makeup once I started using this. If you feel that your makeup slides off your face after awhile, I would recommend getting this product or something like it.

Well, this look was a little different for me! What did you think? Are there any other looks you would like to see? Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda
FabulousFX Facebook
Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Bad Beauty Regimen Resolutions 2016

Hello, lovelies! Happy 2016! I hope you are all enjoying what the new year has brought you thus far. As we all know, the new year is a time for reflection. It is a time to reevaluate the regrettable life choices we've made in the past. Bad beauty choices are not an exception. Here are ten skin care and makeup trends that don't need to be repeated in 2016. Enjoy!

Note: If you think these are exceptional strategies in your beauty regimens, continue doing them. This is not a documented law saying that you cannot. These are my own personal opinions.

Skin Care
Hydration. Do not underestimate the power water has for the skin and your general health. I have heard so many people say their New Year's Resolution is to drink more water, but what is "more?" Some people completely forget to drink water throughout the day. They start with coffee or orange juice in the morning and go straight to sodas and alcoholic beverages in the afternoon and evening. Water can help tighten the look of pores, brighten dark circles, and make you look more awake.

Stop the hot showers. Yes, I know, jumping into a hot shower on a cold, winter day may seem like the greatest idea, but it's not. Skin is more fragile than you think. When standing in a hot, steamy shower for a long period of time, it can cause your skin to lose its oil barriers, which causes dry and itchy skin in the long run. Using lukewarm water for a majority of the shower will suffice, but cold water is best to help tighten your skin without drying it, and your hair follicles will also benefit from the decreased temperature.

Don't skip the lotion. Especially if you are one of those people who can't live without a hot shower, keep this in mind. In order to remedy your dry, cracked skin, reaching for a bottle of heavy-duty lotion post-shower is a must. It's easily overlooked, but your skin will thank you once it is relieved its itchy and flaky self.

Over-exfoliating does exist. No one wants dead skin cells, that's a fact. We all are a fan of a good scrub or peel to rid our faces and bodies of dead skin cells to reveal the glowing, soft skin underneath, but there is a line that can be crossed when getting involved with a scrub. Over-exfoliating can cause cracked, chapped skin. Take caution when doing so and keep it to once a week.

Not all sunscreens are made equal. Whether you live in Russia or Australia, sunscreen is important. If you are ever exposed to the sun, carrying an SPF around is detrimental to your skin's health, and no, tanning oil does not count. Even if you "never burn," you should still be wearing, at least, SPF 30 when being directly exposed to sunlight to ensure your skin is protected. More is always better, and reapplying is also necessary to stay protected.

Makeup
Contouring is not required. Daytime makeup is very different than what should be worn to a party or the bar. Clown contouring, for example... I don't even know where to start. For the love of all things natural, please stop with the excessive facial mapping with random mismatched colors and pretending a Beautyblender can save your life. It needs to stop. Subtle enhancements cease to exist anymore. 2016 should be the year that you are happy to look at your bare face in the mirror without hating how you look. Let's declare body-positivity by wearing powder contour (if that's even necessary) to create more natural and subtle enhancements... notice how I didn't say changes. 

It's called foundation for a reason. Don't get me wrong, a good foundation makes the rest of the look come together. You want flawless skin to match your flawless eyebrows, cheeks, and lips, but you don't want the foundation to be the center of attention. Drowning your face in a full coverage foundation to go to work or classes is so unnecessary. This technique may look good in photos and videos, but not for real face-to-face appearances in a business meeting or a classroom. Use a natural foundation, and less of it.

Let's keep baking in the kitchen. 'Baking' your makeup has been around for a long time, but for some reason, is finally making its debut. Dancers, performers, even drag queens use the technique of layering heavy amounts of powder on their face to sit or "bake" on the skin. It gives a very strong, very prominent effect that looks great under large, bright stage lights. For a day-to-day basis... not so much. The problem with baking is that unless you have baby-soft, flawless skin, it will emphasize the fine lines or dry skin you are applying the powder to. Your skin will look worse than how it started.

Give it a rest, ombré lips. Makeup was created to enhance what you have, not to make illusions and confuse people. This look was invented to make lips look bigger and fuller, but it really just looks like you started with one color, put it down for a minute, and came back to it with a different color. Softer looks should come back into trend because you will always have the face you have, so the look is just timeless. But these days it's all about the definition and the creation of illusions. 

Matte brown lips can leave the building. I don't want to name any names, but we all know what I mean. The look is just super unflattering, no matter what skin color, hair color, or eye color you have. It's an incredibly aging look and does nothing to compliment other features. It's a very bland look. What happened to that "red lip classic thing that you like?" (Sorry had to throw some Taylor Swift in there!)

I hope that will help you make a few resolutions for 2016. I am most certianly going to do these things to prevent my skin from aging and becoming dry. Drink more water, take care of your skin, be happy with who you are! Love it all! What are some other New Year's Resolutions you have? Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

DIY Bath Bombs

Hello, lovelies! With it being winter, our skin is more vulnerable to being dry and cracked. Moisturizing is always good, but sometimes, we need to give our skin a little extra loving. 

I will be the first to admit I love myself a good soak in the tub: a deliciously scented bath bomb, a hair or face mask (or both), lit candles, and just my thoughts. It makes a tough day seem a little less stressful.

However, the price of those LUSH bath bombs can add up quite quickly, leaving poor college students suffering. To fix this problem, here is a bulk recipe to make some customizable DIY bath bombs that will cure your winter-chilled skin. 

What You Need:

2 cup baking soda

1 cup citric acid

1 cup Epsom salts

2 tsp. water

4 tsp. essential oil

6 tsp. olive oil

food coloring

----

2 glass bowls

Whisk

Bath bomb molds

Directions:

Step 1: Mix all dry ingredients in a glass bowl and mix evenly with a whisk.

Step 2: In the other glass bowl, mix all liquid ingredients together.

Step 3: Put a small amount of your liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. Mix until all the liquid has been absorbed by the dry ingredients. Continue adding small amounts of the liquid mixture until it has all been used.

Step 4: Put mixture in the molds. In an ornament mold, put a little more than what it holds on both sides and press it together until the two molds touch (they don't have to clip together). In half molds, press tightly so bath bombs are solid.

Step 5: Once it is pressed, gently tap out with a spoon or hands to loosen the bath bomb.

Step 6: Let your creations dry for 1-2 days.

It's so easy! Using different food coloring, essential oils, and molds create an endless variety of bath bombs. If you want to go all out, write cute notes and laminate them to give a cute message to the receiver of the bath bomb or put flower petals in the center of the bath bombs for a nice flower bath. 

I hope you enjoy your DIY bath bombs! What scents, colors, and molds do you like? 
Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Festive Make Up Tutorial

Hello, lovelies! Four sleeps until Christmas! It's so close! For this post, I will show you how to create a beautiful neutral eye with a staple red lip for the festive season! Whether you have Christmas parties to attend or you just want to doll yourself up for when you open your gifts, this is the look for you. 

P.S. This look really could work any time of the year, but a red lip especially looks nice during this time of year! Enjoy!

Face

For a flawless looking complexion, I did my normal skincare routine and moisturized with Estēe Lauder DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme. 

Then I primed my face with Benefit The POREfessional Face Primer. For foundation, I used my go-to Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in the shade Gobi. I have not been putting concealer under my eyes, but an eye brightener. I use Trish McEvoy Instant Eye Lift in Shade 2 to cover the darkness under my eyes and lift my lovely under eye bags. To conceal any spots or redness on my face, I use CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer in Light. 

To ensure my foundation and concealer stayed in place, I powdered my face using my trusty Rimmel London Stay Matte Pressed Powder in Transparent. 

 

At this point, my face was whiter than Santa Claus' beard, so I added some definition to my face with some Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Light/Medium. To bring some color back into my cheeks, I used my NYX Powder Blush in Mocha.

Brows

For eyebrows, I'm pretty much doing the same thing I always do. I used the Too Faced Brow Envy Kit. I swipe on the setting wax to give my brows a general shape, then use small controlled strokes to fill in the sparse areas with the brunette shade. Once I've covered the bare areas, I use the Benefit Gimme Brow Vomumizing Gel in Medium/Deep to cover any lighter hairs and to define my arch a little more.

Eyes

Before I apply eye shadow, I always apply my favorite eye primer, the Urban Decay Origninal Eye Shadow Potion Primer in Nude to help the shadow last longer and not crease.

For this neutral eye look, I tried to keep it pretty simple since I want the main focus to be on the lips. I used NYX The Natural Eyeshadow Palette, using the three colors on the right side of the palette. I applied the first color, a very light tan color, in the crease with a blending brush to be the transition color. I then applied next color to the right, a shimmery coffee brown, all over the lid. I really packed that color on to emphasize the sparkle and warmth. Finally, I used the furthest color to the right, a deep brown in the outer third of my crease. I applied only a small amount at a time, blended it out, then added more, and kept blending until I liked the gradient. I highlighted my inner corners with L'Oréal Infallible Silkissime Eyeliner in Highlighter, which really brightened up the look.

To finish the eyes, I layered up Benefit They're Real Lengthening Mascara in Black. I think putting on more than one coat of mascara emphasizes the length of your lashes. Focusing it mostly at the base of the lashes also helps them become more volumized, even with a lengthening mascara. It also covers your butt if you can't apply liquid eye liner (like me).

Lips

For the main event... The lipstick! For this festive red lip, I used Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in Shade 107. This, my lovelies, is the holy grail of red lipsticks. It's creamy, pigmented, and just the absolute most gorgeous red to be bestowed upon my lips. I might be acting a little dramatic, but it is seriously a great lipstick to try out if you're in the market for a new red. I used a lip brush to outline the lips with this color, then applied the color straight from the bullet to my lips to get a more prominent color.

And voila! You have a very festive Christmas look! I hope you enjoyed this look! What looks do you like to wear around the Holidays? Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Gift Wrapping Ideas

Hello, lovelies! Only seven sleeps until Christmas! It has undoubtedly been a stressful few weeks trying to get gifts sorted out and wrapped in time to exchange them. I usually am one of those people who wraps with the same old Santa gift paper or throw it in a festive bag wrapped in tissue paper, but I really wanted to try something different to make my gifts stand out when sitting under the Christmas tree!

This year, I decided to try a very simplistic, yet festive style of wrapping. All you need to try this wrapping is plain brown wrapping paper, twine, red ribbon, bows, stamp set, red ink, and some gift tags.

Plain brown wrapping paper is so cheap but helps create some pretty wrapping that will make the receivers feel special... it's like you actually tried this year. But with the help of some ribbon, stamps, and gift tags, there are endless ways to wrap gifts for the ones you love.

Enjoy!

Give the gift a rustic look by using twine instead of ribbon.
Make simple tags with festive gift tags and individual letter stamps.

Skip the tag and stamp straight onto the brown gift wrap.
Keep it festive with red ribbon and bows!

Personalize tags with cute nicknames.
Customize gift wrap with fun stamps around the paper.

How have you been wrapping gifts for this Christmas? What are your go-to materials? 

Let me know in the comments!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

My Favorite Christmas Songs & Films

Hello, lovelies! I hope you're having a fabulous December! Only a few weeks until the big day! I think a great way to get into the Christmas spirit is by blasting the festive tunes and watching Christmas films. There's so many to choose from, but here are some of my favorites!

Christmas Playlist

Baby It's Cold Outside

Idina Mendez & Michael Bublé

All I Want for Christmas Is You

Mariah Carey

Fa La La

Justin Bieber ft. Boyz II Men

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Jackson 5

Santa Baby

Eartha Kitt

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

Michael Bublé

Mistletoe

Justin Bieber

Christmas Without You

OneRepublic

Christmas Lights

Coldplay

All I Want for Christmas Is You

Michael Bublé

Christmas Films

Love Actually

Elf

Dr. Suess' How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas

The Polar Express

Frosty's Winter Wonderland

What Christmas songs and films do you enjoy during the season of giving?

Let me know in the comments!

I hope your days are merry and lovely.

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Happy HAULidays!

Hello, lovelies! I hate to be the one to point out the obvious, but Thanksgiving is over. But hey, the rest of the holiday season is still ahead of us. The holiday season is great: the food is always amazing, family time is alright, but my favorite part is the shopping! 

I am one of those people who starts a countdown to Black Friday after the last piece of pumpkin pie has been devoured. I have window-shopped, price-checked, sized, ordered, and re-ordered just within the last few days.

It may sound crazy, but I found some great gifts for myself, too. Below are some things I have found within the past few weeks that I can't wait to use during the HAULidays!

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Benefit Eye Set

Benefit Cosmetics always comes in handy when needing a great eye look. This set includes They're Real! Lengthening Mascara {Beyond Black}, They're Real! Push-Up Liner {Beyond Black}, and They're Real! Remover. The trio helps to achieve the biggest, sexiest eyes with long lashes. 

This is a sampler set, so the products do not contain as much as the original products, but if you are looking around for a new eye look, this might be the products for you!

Nail Polish

I definitely am in need of a fresh mani/pedi for the holiday season. I found the Essie Ravishing Red Festive Mini Set, which I now adore. I've always loved Essie nail polishes mainly because there is a wide range of hues and the lacquer stays for at least a couple weeks, and the packaging is just really freaking adorable. The set contains four beautiful colors, including Toggle to the Top, Beyond Cozy Double Breasted Jacket, and Blanc. 

Toggle to the Top is a sparkly maroonish-purple polish that will look great for a New Years mani! Beyond Cozy is a sparkly silver lacquer that also screams, "NEW YEARS!" Double Breasted Jacket is a cherry red color, perfect for Christmas. Blanc is white and could accompany any of the other colors to create a festive mani/pedi.

Left to right: Toggle to the Top, Double Breasted Jacket, Blanc, Beyond Cozy.

Advent Calendars

I saved the best items for last! I have always loved Advent calendars, but I've only had chocolate or toys inside them, not beauty products. When December 1st comes, this will be 24 days of heaven for me!

First, I got the Benefit Cosmetics Party Poppers 12 Days of Gorgeous Set. I'm not typically one for surprises (trust me), but I have forced myself to not look at what is included inside each calendar. I can say that the packaging is glamorous and edgy, and it sings the Benefit version of "12 Days of Christmas."

I then had to complete my 24 Days of Christmas with another 12-day Advent calendar. I purchased the Tanya Burr Cosmetics Deck The Hauls 12 Days of Christmas Beauty Calendar. This was available at Superdrug and Feel Unique, but it's sold out! Tanya Burr is one of my favorite makeup artists, so I am thankful to have snagged one of these calendars. Once again, I didn't check to see the contents of the set, but I will see when the time comes to open it!

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I am planning to open these two calendars every other day, and will be posting the contents throughout December. Let's call it... Blogmas! Cool? Yes, it is! The goal is to also incorporate the items into my beauty regimens, but no promises. The holiday season is also the season of finals. Gross.

Let me know what you all are planning to use during the holidays, whether it be health, beauty, food, etc. I love hearing your feedback! Have a great December!

xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore

Hot Chocolate for the Holidays

Hello, lovelies! It’s that time of year: the air is getting crisper and the nights are getting darker. After a day of long classes or a night before a stressful test, it is always a good idea to have a cup of cocoa by your side. After awhile, though, we can’t always be drinking the same hot chocolate and marshmallows; it’s time to mix things up! After all, isn’t that what college is for? It’s time to try something new. Here are four hot chocolate recipes to add to your brisk evenings!

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Ingredients

1 cup of milk

½ cup chocolate chips

5 peppermint candies or 2 candy canes

Pumpkin Spice

Ingredients

1 tsp. maple syrup

½ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1 cup whole milk

1 tsp. unsweetened dark cocoa

Caramel

Ingredients

½ cup milk

5 oz. milk chocolate, chopped

¼ heavy cream

3 Tbsp. caramel sauce

Vegan

Ingredients

1 cup vanilla almond milk

1-1/2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder

2 tsp. coconut palm sugar

For each of these recipes, heat on medium-low heat until chocolate is melted and everything is evenly mixed together. Feel free to top them off with marshmallows, whipped cream, a cinnamon stick, or caramel.

Enjoy something warm as the days get cold. Let me know what you think of these recipes in the comments below! 
xx Amanda

FabFX Facebook Page

Twitter & Instagram:@amanda_wymore

Homemade Pumpkin Face Mask

Hello, lovelies! Happy post-Halloween! As you read in my Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe, Zachary and I carved pumpkins a couple days ago. Keeping the Halloween theme alive just a little bit longer, I decided to make a festive pumpkin face mask.

There are a lot of beneficial qualities in pumpkin...

Pumpkin contains vitamins A, C, E, and K, alpha- and beta-carotenes, and minerals, including magnesium, potassium, and iron.

It helps fade sun spots and age spots.

Is a potent antioxidant that fights wrinkle-causing free radicals in your skin.

Contains enzymes that help to dissolve dry skin.

How incredible?! You learn something new every day!

I used to think pumpkins were just great for Halloween and pumpkin pie.

...and honey!

I decided the sidekick in this mask would be something just as beneficial for the skin. 

It's counterpart, honey, is also crazy good for your skin! 

Honey is naturally antibacterial. 

It does miracles for those who are suffering from acne. 

Just like pumpkin, honey contains antioxidants. 

It is moisturizing and a good ingredient to use for those with sensitive skin. 

Honey also does a really good job of opening pores and helps clean out dirt and oil.

Here is the recipe for this delightful concoction!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon cooked pumpkin (I used the pumpkin guts from the pumpkin I carved)

1 teaspoon honey

***If you are prone to excess acne or oiliness, replace the honey with 
1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. 

Directions:
Mix and mash all ingredients together and apply to skin.

Leave on skin for 15 minutes.

Rinse with cool water and cleanser.
•••
That's all there is to it! Not too difficult! 
Don't be intimidated by the orange; it won't dye your skin!

•••
Love this mask? Make a huge batch and freeze for later use!
15 oz. can of organic pumpkin puree
3/4 cup of honey

Mix and store in an ice cube tray to freeze. Each cube is one application! 
Store in freezer for up to three months!
•••
Need a good scrubbin'? Make an exfoliator by adding 1 tsp. of cane sugar to apply after washing off the mask.
•••
So versatile! Bravo, pumpkin!
Enjoy! Happy fall! 

xx Amanda
FabFX Facebook Page
Twitter & Instagram: @amanda_wymore