Tips & Tricks Tuesday | I'm Wide Awake

Ironic title for someone who is running on only a few hours of sleep right now, huh? Regardless, it's that lack of sleep that inspired me to write this post. Here are a few quick fixes that I've gathered over the years to help you look more alert, even if you just can't wait to jump back into bed!

• Stick two metal spoons in the freezer the night before. In the morning, put them under your eyes to reduce puffiness. Plus the shock from the cold should give you a little jolt of energy. 
• If cold isn't your thing, try warming things up. Make yourself a nice cup of tea and save the tea bag! A warm tea bag can also reduce under eye puffiness and redness while the antioxidants and herbs soothe tired sockets.
• If all else fails, makeup can do the trick. To appear alert you need to highlight and conceal. Use highlighter in the innermost corner of your eyes, or the tear duct area, to open them up. Take the concealer to cover up any under eye darkness. For an extra highlight, make sure to use a concealer about a shade or two lighter than your foundation in order to appear brighter and refreshed.

Again, these are just quick fixes. Nothing can replace taking care of your body and getting some rest. While sometimes it may not seem like sleep can fit into your schedule, for your health's sake, you have to make it fit. 

Do you have any beauty tips to help you look your best on groggy days? Let me know in the comments below!

Tips & Tricks Tuesday | Keeping Your Hair Moisturized

For all of my natural hair ladies out there you know how important moisturizing your hair is, especially during the upcoming colder months. However, it can be a bit of an inconvenience. Having a busy schedule can definitely get in the way of taking the time to properly moisturize your hair for the fall and winter. Also, managing wet hair while combating the cold temperatures can jeopardize your health. Luckily there are a few quick remedies that you can use in between conditioning to combat dry, brittle hair.

• Spritz! Instead of always completely wetting your hair, give it a good spritz. Doing this lightly before bed will keep your curls soft. It's also great to do in the morning. It aids in the process of shaping your style while refreshing the curls. For a little added benefit, mix in a bit of your favorite conditioner. It will make your hair smell great and add an extra moisturizing boost.
• Seal. This is a key (and simple) step that can often be overlooked. Keeping a small container of your favorite oil or shea butter next to your spray bottle ensures that you won't forget this step. Also, a little goes a long way. You don't want to over-moisturize because that can lead to product buildup and a greasy scalp. Focus your product on the ends and use a small amount. You can always add more later if you need more moisture, but you can't take the oil away if you've overdone it. 
• Style dry. I feel that many girls are still under the impression that you have to completely re-wet your hair every night in order to style it. That's simply not the case. Re-twisting or braiding your hair dry not only makes your hair even bigger and bolder, but it decreases your chances of getting sick from possibly waking up with a damp scalp. Just remember to lightly spritz and seal. If your feel your ends are the problem, go ahead and soak those, brush in some leave-in conditioner, and seal as if it were a fresh style. No one will know the difference!

If you have any other quick ways to moisturize your hair during the colder seasons, I'm sure other Best, Jordan readers would love to know! Share them in the comments section below!

P.S. If you liked this post on natural hair care and want to see more posts like this, let me know either in the comments or mention me on Twitter. 

Weekly Wishes #4 - Zzzzz

It's Monday, which means it's linkup with Melyssa and The Nectar Collective day. I didn't make any wishes last week to catch you up on, so I'll jump right into my wish for this week.

My one and only wish for this week is to get some sleep! I have a pretty busy schedule that doesn't leave a lot of wiggle room during the day. But one thing I have noticed about myself is the small pockets of time I do have, I fill up. Why must I torture myself? Instead of complaining about always being tired or having to spend money on endless cups of coffee, why don't I just take a break? It's not a radical concept, but so far it has been to me this semester.

I need to take better care of my body and I already started today! I have an hour break after my first class so I decided to head back to my room and take a 30 minute nap. It was luxurious. I may still yawn here and there, but I'm much more alert than I typically am around this time of day. I'm going to keep this up all week and monitor how my mood, health, and alertness improves. Something tells me I may just become the Energizer bunny by Thursday.

My Top Five Essentials

If I could only live with five beauty products for the rest of my life, here's what they would be and why.

1. Benzoyl peroxide. I don't care what form this ingredient is in as long as I have it in my life. Nothing I have ever tried keeps my skin as clear as benzoyl peroxide. I will take it with me to the grave.

2. Lip balm. If you asked me this question maybe a year and a half ago, my answer definitely would have been lip gloss. I never used to use lip balm. Not sure why exactly. Now, I can't even go to sleep without applying lip balm. Dry lips just make me feel like my whole face is sad.

3. Face wipes. Even if I don't take the time to do my full routine, I always make sure to at least clean my face with a wipe. It's refreshing and it gives my skin a chance to breathe a little more.

4. Fragranced body cream. I was very specific with this item for a reason. I prefer a body cream or butter because my dry skin requires plenty of moisture. Also, I like to use a fragranced cream because it stays on much longer than a fragrance mist or perfume and I don't have to worry about reapplying it throughout the day.

5. Hair removal cream. I've simply preferred this method of hair removal for a while now and there is just no way I could live life without shaving...ever...anywhere...that's nasty.

So that's basically everything I need in this life of sin, just me and my cosmetics.

*Note: List is in no particular order.

Tips & Tricks Tuesdays: How to Nip a Cold in the Bud

Since I've just recovered from a cold in about four days, I think I can give my expert opinion on this subject. 

The best advice I have is to stay active and to stay hydrated. This was one of the few colds that I've had that made me physically weak. Just going to grab something to eat proved to be a task. But when you do have a burst of energy, use it. Try to keep your strength up. When it comes to staying hydrated, make sure you drink plenty of water and orange juice. Not a fan? Just keep drinking anything with a ton of vitamin C. Staying hydrated will help flush your system of germs and vitamin C will help boost your immune system.  

Also, just keep clean and away from others as much as possible. I know that can be difficult, especially if you're a college student like me, but it's definitely best for a speedy recovery.

Stay healthy and bundle up!