Easy to use

One of the great things about coconut oil is how easy it is to use. It is colorless and has a fresh smell. At room temperature, the oil is going to have a solid buttery form. However, once it reaches 77 degrees Fahrenheit it will melt to a clear liquid. You can just use your fingers to let it melt and apply, there is no need to heat it anywhere else.

The proven benefits

In 1999, the effects of coconut oil on prevention of hair damage were studied in Mumbai, India. The study found some interesting results. They found that coconut oil hair broke by the force of the comb, prevented the lifting of the surface cuticle, penetrated water into the hair, and provided a lubricating film…even on chemically altered hair. They found that it could reduce the protein loss for damaged and undamaged hair when used as a grooming product before and after washing the hair.

It serves as a conditioner

Because it has so many different proteins, it can improve the condition of damaged hair, promote healthy hair, and keep your scalp healthy. When it is applied topically, it can help prevent hair loss and hair breakage. If you apply it before you wash your hair, you can ensure that the shampooing process does not strip your hair of its natural oils. This gives you clean hair that still has the necessary oils to remain healthy.

It serves as a moisturizer

Coconut oil is a great moisturizer, which is essential for hair growth. Because coconut oil strengthens the hair, it lessens the chances of damage or breakage. This means your hair can grow much longer and remain healthy. You could use it as a perfect daily moisturizer for your hair. Using coconut oil also allows you to go a little longer between using some of the harsher chemical alternatives.

If you try coconut oil for your hair health, you are going to notice the difference yourself. After trying it for a month, you will never want to go without it again.

• Step one – Make sure that you shorten your fingernails so they all start growing at the same length. Make sure to file them smooth and use good, strong clippers. Only file in a single direction. This is going to help you minimize breakage.
• Step two – Make sure that you use a good hand cream whenever you wash your hands. You want to make sure that your hands do not dry out throughout the day. If you are getting ready for bed, massage a good cuticle oil such as Oil Cuticle Therapy into your cuticles. This is going to help you moisturize your cuticles during the night.
• Step three – When you wake up in the morning, use a nail hardener. Do this for a week (applying a new coat over the old one) and then remove all coats before starting anew. This is going to give your nails that little bit of extra strength that you are looking for.
• Step four – As your nails begin to grow, make sure that you leave them slightly squared off and that your nails have rounded corners. This is a strong shape that is not only easy to maintain on long and short nails, but also equally attractive on both.
• Step five – Always treat your hands as though you had just painted your nails. Do not use your fingernails to peel, open, or pry things. This is going to prevent you from breaking or otherwise damaging your nails. If you feel that you need a reminder, using a colorful polish is going to serve as a constant reminder.

Additional tips

Those steps are going to ensure that your nails not only grow stronger than before, but also remain that way in the future. If you want a few more tips, we have a few suggestions to help you on your way:

• If you want to provide an amazing moisturizing benefit to your fingers, soak your fingertips in warm olive oil once every week. Do that after you remove your nail strengthener and before you reapply it. You will not believe how invigorating this is for your skin.
• If you are going to use polish remover, limit it to once a week. Even the non-acetone formulas have a tendency to dry out your nails. This can leave them looking and feeling brittle.

Stockn’Go has a wide selection of nail strengtheners, base and top coats as well as trendy polish colors, check them out and get going on your at home manicure!

Shop today to take advantage of our Memorial Day Sale discounts…

What are they exactly?

After the man has shaven his face, the hair might be cut at a rather sharp angle. Instead of growing forward, the hair curls back into the skin. This results in the creation of an irritated bump. If the ingrown hair is not addressed properly, it might become an actual infection and be much more problematic. Fortunately, you can avoid them by changing your shaving habits.

The steps to a shave without ingrown hairs

Follow these steps and you should find that ingrown hairs are not going to trouble you anymore.

• Step 1 – Before you even start shaving, make sure that you wet your face with warm water. By using a warm washcloth or your hands, you guarantee that the hair is going to be soft and smooth rather than firm. This makes it easier to guarantee a cleaner, even shave.
• Step 2 – When you are shaving, shave in the direction of the hair growth. When you are shaving against the grain, you are going to cause skin irritation. That skin irritation can lead to the formation of ingrown hairs
• Step 3 – Make sure that you always use a sharp razor such as the Gillette Sensor Excel or Gillette Fusion. A close shave is imperative to avoid problems. If you try to skimp on using new blades, your skin is going to notice the difference. Also, make sure that you use a quality shave cream. Not using a shave cream such as Magic Mild Shave Cream Razorless is going to irritate your skin.
• Step 4 – Make sure that you apply aftershave immediately after you are done to reduce skin irritation and swelling. When the whiskers start to grow back, they are less likely to cause problems if the skin is irritation-free. A good scrub is also going to ensure that the new skin is constantly refreshed, thus reducing the odds of ingrown hairs. Scrub your face the next day after you are done shaving to ensure that you remove the outer layer of the skin and allow the hair to grow.

Getting rid of your ingrown hairs does not have to be a complicated problem, follow the previous four steps and you are guaranteed a smooth, soft skin without problems.

Memorial Day is only a few days away and Stockn’Go has some great sales with UNBEATABLE prices, check them out…

Perfume – What’s Your Perfect Fragrance?

The global perfume industry is worth around $25 billion, with hundreds of new scents launched every year. Striking it lucky with a perfume brand can be extremely profitable – a bottle of classic Chanel No.5 sells every 55 seconds around the world. So, it’s no wonder that celebrities are keen to join the perfume bandwagon as a lucrative sideline.

With such a huge range to choose from, picking your perfect perfume is no easy task! You could spend hours wandering the aisles of perfume stores, spraying different scents on to every part of bare skin you can find – only to end up even more confused than when you started! After smelling a few perfumes your brain will “switch off” and lose the ability to recognize new scents, so try not to go on a spritzing spree! Use the paper strips in store to sample several perfumes, only spraying on your skin once you have found one you like.

Don’t be too hasty with your decision – allow the perfume to develop on your skin for about an hour before making your decision. The initial top note of a scent only lasts a few minutes before the middle and base notes develop with the heat of your skin, altering the overall fragrance that will last for the rest of the day.

Perfume is subjective – what one person loves, another may detest. Don’t forget, fragrances will also smell different on different people, due to your individual body chemistry. It’s more important to find a scent you truly love, rather than be influenced by its designer label or celebrity endorsement. Don’t feel obliged to find a signature scent and stick to it – with such a diverse range of perfumes out there, why limit yourself to just one?

What’s Your Type?

Perfumes are generally classified into four categories. You will probably find yourself more drawn to certain types more than others – everyone is different and has their own personal preferences.

Floral/Fruity

These are the most popular scents – fresh, feminine and with universal appeal. Try:

Red Door by Elizabeth Arden

Vera Wang for Women

Energizing/Zesty

Great for daytime, these light, fresh and airy scents are easy to wear, such as:

CK One Calvin Klein

Chloe for Women

Light Blue by Dolce & Gabbana

Spicy/Oriental

These are sensual, warming fragrances that can be rich, heady and exotic. Ideal for evening wear:

Hugo Boss Intense for Women

Calvin Klein Euphoria

Woody/Musk

These deep, earthy fragrances are rich and intoxicating, with musky base notes. Examples include:

CK Be

Samsara by Guerlain

Top Tips

• Don’t be tempted by imitation designer brands – they are often poor quality without long-lasting fragrance. Cheap perfumes are also more likely to irritate the skin or cause a reaction.
• Perfume can sometimes cause skin reactions when exposed to the sun, so spray your perfume on your hair or clothes instead.
• For a fragrance that lasts all day, layer up with a body lotion in the same range as your perfume.

Perfume makes such a perfect gift for any MOM, and right now you can save an additional 20% using coupon code: MOM20

So, perhaps your New Year resolution was to fall in love – but Valentine’s Day has come and gone without a trace? Don’t worry – there is still plenty of time to fall in love in 2013!

Finding a potential partner has never been easier thanks to modern technology. In the past, the lonely hearts column was your only route to meeting the love of your life. These days, online dating has opened up a whole new world of opportunities and everyone is doing it! Yes, even “normal” people just like you!  It is estimated that around 40 million Americans have tried online dating at some point, so it’s no wonder that this has become a billion-dollar industry.

Social media also offers an easy way to network and meet new people, using websites like Facebook and Twitter. It’s free and easily accessible – whether you’re at home, at the beach, at the gym or (shhh don’t tell!) even at work!

Now, we’re not suggesting that looks are everything – but if you look good on the outside, you will feel great on the inside. Remember, confidence is attractive! Anything that helps you to feel confident will help you in your quest to fall in love. A positive outlook is essential – it’s easy to lose heart and give up after one or two disastrous dates. But sometimes you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince!

Personal hygiene is crucial to feeling confident from within. Stock up on deodorant for those first-date nerves and choose a perfume that you find appealing. For daytime dates you may prefer something light and fresh like Lovely by SJP. Heavy, musky perfumes are more suited to evening dates, when you might choose something seductive like Sheer by Paris Hilton.

Getting glammed up before a date is all part of the fun. Enjoy pampering yourself and you’ll feel like a goddess when you step out of your front door. De-fuzz with Gillette’s Venus Divine for silky-smooth legs. A slick of nail polish adds instant glamour and is the perfect way to finish your outfit.

Make sure you’re prepared for a goodnight kiss by freshening up with whitening toothpaste before your date – and don’t forget to carry some Trident gum in your bag for those post-garlic whiffs! Most importantly, always remember to stay safe by carrying your own contraceptives in case things get passionate!

It’s not easy to fall in love, but if you don’t succeed at first then keep trying! Over 60% of people end up marrying someone they meet through work, so this is a great place to start. If this is not an option, widen your social circle as much as possible to increase your chances of meeting that special someone. Be realistic and don’t waste your life searching for Mr. Perfect – he doesn’t exist!

Like any New Year’s resolution, it takes persistence and courage to reach your goal – so stick with it, and you CAN fall in love in 2013!

Want to show that special someone that you care? Check out our Gift Center full of bundles, packs and other great gift ideas…

How to… Stay Fit and Healthy

It is estimated that around two-thirds of American people are overweight or obese, so it’s no wonder that many people want to get fit and lose the extra pounds. Staying fit and healthy isn’t always easy in a world where it’s quicker to grab fast food and drive to work, rather than find the time to exercise and cook healthy meals from scratch. But don’t worry – you CAN stay fit and healthy by making small changes to your daily lifestyle.

Get active

Maybe you don’t have time for the gym, but you can introduce exercise into your life in other ways. Remember, anything that gets your heart rate up can count towards exercise, even if it’s three 10-minute bursts each day.

• Vacuuming, carrying heavy shopping bags or scrubbing the kitchen floor will all help to boost your circulation and burn calories!
• Getting off the bus a few stops early provides a chance to incorporate a brisk walk into your daily commute.
• Take the kids out on their bikes to let off some steam and enjoy the fresh air.

If you’re new to the idea of exercise, ease yourself in gently and remember to warm up before each session, to prevent muscular strains. Keep a Thera-Med Hot Pack handy to soothe aches and pains.

Eat right

We all know what we should be eating, but let’s be honest – at the end of a long day we don’t always feel like preparing a salad. A life without treats is not worth living, so you can still have the occasional cake or ice-cream if you try to eat healthily the rest of the time.

If you feel like you’ve over-indulged recently, try cutting back on those salty and fatty snacks that are full of calories with little nutritional benefit. If you suffer from digestive problems, try using Pepto-Bismol and limit your intake of rich foods. Make a snack-box of ready-chopped carrot and celery sticks and store in the refrigerator for when you need a crunchy snack. Curb your sugar intake by using Splenda sweeteners wherever possible.

Stay healthy

Stave off those winter bugs with Afrin Nasal spray or Vicks Vapo-Inhaler to reduce congestion and fight off the symptoms of a cold. Make sure you get plenty of rest to give your body chance to fight off the infection – you might be too busy to stay in bed, but try to have a few early nights and take it easy if you’re feeling under the weather.

Give your internal system a boost with omega 3 fish oils, which are essential for a healthy heart, joints and immune system. Try to include a range of fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet to prevent nutritional deficiencies, which can affect your health and appearance.

Hand-washing is essential to combat the spread of germs, so get the kids into good habits by practicing what you preach. Choose a gentle, moisturizing soap that is suitable for all the family.

LOOSE WEIGHT! It’s on the top of everyone’s list almost every year.  All of the treadmill and ellipticals at the gym are suddenly filled once again, and the television and internet are inundated with segments on diet and exercise.  Well here’s another one for you because heck there’s no such thing as too much information and encouragement.

It is one thing to make a new years resolution… its KEEPING it that’s the hard part.  The most important factor when making a resolution is that the goal be one that you really want and are willing to make changes to get.  If you only “wish” you could attain that goal, then everything in your life will suddenly become an excuse as to why you can’t make it happen.  Small steps can make a huge difference so don’t think you have to jump all the way in the pool at once.

#1 DRINK MORE WATER!!!  If you think you are drinking enough water, you are probably not.  Drink at least 8 glasses a day, that’s 3/4 of a gallon to a gallon of water!  You will be in the bathroom every 20 minutes but its worth it.  For your digestion, for your weight, hydration, hair, skin and nails.  A body without sufficient water is like a wilted plant.

#2 EAT BREAKFAST – I know, I know, you’re not hungry in the morning, you don’t have time, breakfast makes you sick, I hear the excuses loud and clear, and as strange as it might seem to add another meal to your day that you don’t typically eat, a healthy breakfast helps jump start your metabolism and prevents you from eating more throughout the rest of the day.  Start small, make it quick and easy and after a few times it will be painless and something you will come to look forward to every day.  The best breakfast options are: egg whites, oatmeal, green veggies and a piece of fruit.  Make it happen.

#3 EAT 5-6 SMALL MEALS PER DAY.  Eating 5 SMALLER meals throughout the day will prevent you from getting starved, thus overeating at lunch or dinner and will keep your metabolism from slowing down in between meals, which will help you to burn more calories all day long.

#4 HIT THE GYM.  Could it be any more obvious? The more you move the more calories you burn.  So get up and start moving as much as you can.  Coincidentally the more you move, the more energy you will have as well.  So although it might seem like you are just too tired at the end of the day.  Force yourself the first few times and then after that you should find that it gets easier and that you have more energy throughout the day because of it.

STEPS TO MAKING YOUR RESOLUTIONS STICK…

STEP 1: make realistic and measurable goals.  Be specific – don’t just say “I want to loose weight” say “I want to loose 2 lbs each week for the next 10 weeks, and I will accomplish this by making diet and exercise changes such as..”

Setting your goal is a great first step but you’ve got to give yourself a path to get there otherwise it can be a dead end road.

STEP2: make a plan of action.  Your chances of meeting a goal are greatly increased once you start taking action, rather than just thinking about it or speaking about it.  START NOW!

Be sure to check back next week for more great tips!

Essie’s fashion-forward colors are always chic and elegant.  Not only does Essie offer fun and fashion forward nail colors but the company has won many awards for “Best Nail Polish”, “Best Bright Polish”, “Best Long Lasting Polish” and more! Check out the selection of Essie colors at Stockn’Go and get an extra 30% off!

Stockn’Go currently has over 65 different Redken products in stock and is offering up to 28% off ALL Redken Brands!! Take advantage of this HUGE sale on one of the best hair product brands in the market.  Redken offers a complete line of Redken Shampoos, Conditioners, Styling and Finishing Aids, all guaranteed to deliver a promising fashion sense.  Here are a few hair tips from Redken.com on how these products can fit your every need!

Sun Protection: Protect your hair with Color Extend Sun’s Solar Screen SPF 12. Apply at least 30 minutes before sun exposure for optimum protection against the effects of damaging UV rays.

Hot Tools Protection: Everytime you use a hot tool you should always start with a heat-protection product as the high temperatures of our devices can cause damage and breakage to your hair.  Check out the appropriate Redken heat styling product, to maximize your hair safety.

Shower Maintenance: Redken’s haircare systems contain a unique technology that that repairs hair from the inside out with an exclusive blend of ingredients including Keralink, amino acids and protein.  As a result, Redken’s shampoos and conditioners have a progressive effect on the hair, with benefits accumulating as long as there are damaged areas of the fiber for the ingredients to be attracted to. With repeated chemical services, the use of heat styling tools, plus everyday wear and tear from washing, brushing and environmental aggressors, damage is an ongoing concern that Redken’s products are formulated to address.

Refresh & Detox: Break free from the daily haircare routine, detox and replenish to rebalance hair.  Redken’s Nature’s Rescue system helps maximize the effectiveness of other professional haircare products and is designed to be used daily, weekly or on alternate days with your other favorite Redken haircare regimen for a complete, healthy-looking hair solution.

At Home Deep Conditioning Treatments: Within each of Redken’s haircare family, Redken offers treatment products that range from deep conditioners to products with styling benefits. These at home treatments continue the salon-experience by fortifying hair. Hair loses protein over time which can be accelerated by mechanical and chemical damage. As a result, hair becomes porous and straw-like in feel and appearance. When hair is damaged, cuticle fibers stand up away from the hair shaft making hair dull and frizzy. Redken at-home treatments deep condition to help smooth and flatten the cuticle layers replenishing protein without buildup for hair that has a smoother, shinier, healthier appearance.

Combat Thinning: Thinning hair is a common occurance but the solution is out there. If this applies to you or someone you know, be sure to talk to your stylist to find out if Redken’s Intra Force System or Redken Thickening Lotion is right for you.

Stockn’Go is an online shopping site  that offers popular beauty, health and household products at a ridiculously low price. Stockn’Go happens to be my go-to source for all of my favorite products from start to finish.  I never actually realized how many different products I use until I started making this list, below is a recap of my morning ritual and the products that I use.

Of course the first thing I do in the morning is hop in the shower.  I wake up my tired eyes with Clean & Clear Facial Cleaner (the one that has those little beads in it), I love the way it feels on my skin and the slight abrasion really helps me feel awake and refreshed.  After I’ve rubbed the chin, the cheeks, the forehead and even the neck, I move to the body wash.  I alternate between the fresh smell of Irish Spring Bar Soap (which also happens to be one of the few deodorant soaps that I can find) and the moisturizing body wash by Oil of Olay, I love the smell and it makes my skin feel super soft.  I personally like to keep a variety of products available so that my skin and my hair doesn’t get too used to one thing, also, sometimes I want a deep clean and other times I want to moisturize, so it’s good to have options.  Once the face and body are clean I move to my hair.  For hair products I love, love, love Kerastase.  I love the Kerastase Bain Volumactive for deep repair and the Kerastase Nutritive for deep conditioning.  Not to sound like someone from the Style Network, but these products honestly changed my hair from drab to fab.  I have never used a product I was impressed with as much as Kerastase.  Athough the price tag can hurt, it helps to go through Stockn’Go to make it more affordable.   Once I have lathered the conditioner in my hair, which I only apply to the bottom so as not to get the top greasy,  I let it sit for a few minutes while I work on the ever dreaded shaving of the legs.  My weapon of choice is the Venus Razor, which has little pads of soap on each side of the razor – this is very helpful if you run out of shaving cream.  I am sure many people use these pads of soap completely in place of the shaving cream, which I have done many a time, but the best clean cut shave that I ever get is when I use the Venus Razor in combination with a shaving cream such as Skintimate Gel – together they leave the skin silky smooth!!

Now I don’t know if I’m the only one this happens to, but when I get out of the shower I look like an owl with two black eyes.  My mascara never seems to come off, or comes off but settles underneath my eyes.  I think part of me never wants to get too close to my eyes with the soap, so I am left to deal with it later, which is fine I’m used to it by now, it’s just my roommate who gets a shock every time I walk out of the bathroom.   Because of this, my one product I can’t go to a sleepover party without is my Almay Eye Makeup Remover (the oil free kind).  Whether its before I go to bed, when I wake up in the AM, or after I get out of the shower, these little cleaning pads are my “owl eye” savior.   After I wipe the mascara remnants off with my Almay pads, I then swipe under the eye with a Q-tip that I have moisturized with my Oil of Olay Eye Lifting Serum.  To me this is like killing two birds with one stone: I scoop up any remaining remnants of eye makeup that might have been lingering and I also reap the benefits of a cream that smooths, firms and brightens my tired eyes.

In the winter months my skin is so painfully dry, and no one wants to see dead, dry skin, so lotion is a must – all kinds of lotion! On my body I like to use Jergens Ultra Healing Lotion , this is great for both dry weather and in the summer months as well.  On the face I use Jergens Natural Glow, it works as a daily moisturizer but also gives you a buildable tan that looks natural and offers a great healthy looking glow, I use this pretty much every day in the winter.  In the summer months I get a ton of sun and color just from being outside, so I like to supplement those damaging rays to my face with a wrinkle reducing cream such as Oil of Olay Regenerist.  As you might have noticed, I tend to use Oil of Olay for a lot of my products, they always get great reviews, are available at an affordable price AND since they are offered through Stockn’Go on a regular basis, I am able to pick them up at an even lower price.  WIN, WIN!

If I paid full price for all of these products I would have spent $161.12.
Lucky for me I went online to Stockn’Go and only spent $114.87.

$46.25 SAVED, THANK YOU STOCKN’GO!

From a loyal customer,

Carrie

(image taken from www.gettyimages.com)