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I have combination skin and have been struggling to keep up with it. What can I do to keep my skin clear?

If you think that you're the only one with a face that's partly oily and partly dry, think again. You've got combination skin and there are several ways to care for you skin without damaging other parts of it. 

Cleanse: Use a mild cleanser on your entire face up to twice a day.

Moisturize: Use a good moisturizer on the dry areas only.

Balance: Look for toning products that normalize your skin, such as those that contain alpha hydroxy acids or the vitamin A derivative retinols.

Control: Use oil-absorbing makeup on oily areas to control shine.

Protect: Use a sunscreen daily (mimimum SPF 15).

Just remember these five tips and your skin should be glowing and gorgeous in no time!

Beauty Bio: Beyoncé

Birthday: September 4, 1981, born and raised in Houston, Texas (which she makes abundantly clear in her song "Daddy Lessons").

Relationship Status: Married to rapper and mogul Jay Z with their daughter Blue Ivy, can you believe she's already 4?!

VMAs Highlight: Uh, everything about her Lemonade concert that took over the awards show. It was a showstopper and what performers should aspire to, and of course we loved the girl power ;)

Style Staples: Sparkles, body hugging pieces, show-girl chic, which she recently has been pairing with more natural hairstyles and intricate braids.

Beauty Bio: Britney Spears

Birthday: December 2, 1981, born in McComb, Mississippi, but grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana.

Relationship Status: Britney's doing Britney, and is the proud mom of her two kids Sean and Jayden.

VMAs Highlight: Britney being at the VMAs to take the stage again, after a marring performance in 2007, took guts. She gave a redemptive show that brought back the pop Britney we know and love, that she undoubtedly has been cultivating at her residency in Las Vegas. You go Brit Brit.

Style Staples: Go-go diva boots, and glimmering performance leos contrast her generally simple silhouettes for the red carpet.

Ingredients:

1 4oz. Bar Unscented, Uncolored Glycerin Soap

2 Drops Food Coloring

20 Drops Essential Oil

Toy of choice (Rubber duck, diamond ring, toy soldiers, etc.) 

Steps:

 1. Melt the glycerin soap in a saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until liquefied.

2. Remove from heat and stir in food coloring and fragrance oil until will bended. Spoon a thin layer of soap mixture into the mold. 

3. Add your toy object.

4. Pour the remaining soap mixture into the molds. Let set for 3 hours or until hard. 

5. Remove the soaps from the molds and wrap individually in plastic wrap.

Should I try a color shampoo or conditioner?

Color shampoos and conditioners are great if used correctly.  They are designed to intensify or maintain hair color, help neutralize undesirable tones and enhance overall color and shine.  

We Love: Claypac by Altobella for their awesome colors and amazing shine!

Beauty Bio: Aly Raisman

 Birthday: May 25, 1994, born in Needham, Massachusetts

Stats: One of the two returning members of the 2012 London “Fierce Five,” Aly is a two-time team captain of the Olympic Women’s Gymnastics team. She is the oldest member of the squad at 22, and finished Rio with 1 gold medal and 2 silvers.

Best Events: Aly is a powerhouse on many events (say hello to her silver all-around medal), but her floor routine is truly something to watch. Her first tumbling pass in the routine seems to go on forever, but, in true Aly form, always manages to stay inbounds.

Beauty Bio: Simone Biles

Birthday: March 14, 1997, born in Columbus, Ohio but her hometown is Spring, TX

Stats: Simon is officially the most decorated American gymnast ever (she even has a move named after her, the”Biles”), with a crushing run in Rio earning her 4 gold medals and 1 bronze medal.

Best Events: How about everything? Simone is definitely poised as the best gymnast in the game right now on nearly any event, but she especially shines in Vault and Floor Exercise (two of her 4 golds).

Beauty Bio: Gabby Douglas

Birthday: December 31, 1995, born in Virginia Beach, Virginia

Stats: Gabby first appeared in the Olympic spotlight in 2012 as part of the “Fierce Five” and was the first African American ever to win the women’s individual all-around. She’s had an admirable run in Rio as well, earning a gold medal as part of the team final.  

Best Events: As a former individual all-around gold medalist Gabby is also pretty well-rounded, but she really soars in Uneven Bars (fun fact she got her nicknamed "Flying Squirrel" from this event).

Beauty Bio: Laurie Hernandez

Birthday: June 9, 2000, born in New Brunswick, New Jersey but her hometown is Old Bridge

Stats: Laurie is the youngest member of the “Final Five” at 16, and this is her first Olympic competition. She’s done well for being a newcomer to the Olympic scene, leaving the games with 1 gold medal and 1 silver.

Best Events: She got a silver medal in this event, so it’s safe to say Laurie Hernandez is pretty great on the balance beam. Her floor routine is also a delight to watch because it reflects her fun-loving energy.

Beauty Bio: Madison Kocian

Birthday: June 15, 1997, born in Dallas, Texas

Stats: Madison has been a key member of the U.S. National Team for the past 2 years, and proved invaluable still at the Rio Olympics earning 1 gold medal and 1 silver.  

Best Events: “Effortless”, “elegant”, and “free-floating” are all words used to describe Madison’s beautiful work on the uneven bars that ultimately got her to the Olympics and it earned her a silver too.

My hair is so dry, so why does my conditioner weigh it down?

Studies show that most people list dry hair as their biggest hair problem. But that may not be the problem at all. What you are calling dry hair may be fine, limp hair, without body. If you do not have a permanent wave, or permanent color and you wear your hair short, you may need a volumizing conditioner! A bodifier may be a better choice, such as a mousse or root lift. If your hair is weighted down, skip the conditioner, get a lighter conditioner like a spray leave-in, or a bodifying conditioner. You don't have to use the conditioner every day, try it every other day or once a week.

Ingredients:

One 4 oz. bar unscented glycerin soap

1/3 cup dried oats

15 drops raspberry fragrance oil

1 drop red food coloring

Steps:

1. Place 1/3 cup oats in a food processor and grind until it becomes powdery. Set aside.

2. In a small saucepan over low heat, melt your bar of glycerin soap until liquefied.

3. Remove from heat and stir in ground oats, raspberry fragrance oil and food coloring.

4. Pour soap into a mold and let set for three hours or until hardened. This easy-to-make soap is great for the complexion!