Scroll through the beauty diary of Louisiana based teen makeup artist, Taylor Jones! 

What city do you live in?
I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana!

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?
Two beauty trends that I’m currently loving are glossy eyelids and A BLINDING HIGHLIGHTER!

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?
If I only had 15 seconds to grab three beauty products they would be my favorite lashes Malia V-Lux by ienvy, my favorite lipgloss Maybelline Shine Shot Prismatic Lip TopCoat, and my Laura Geller Highlighter Gilded Honey.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?
My ultimate beauty icon has to be Aaliyah Jay. I’ve been watching her youtube since she started and has always loved her personality. She recently posted that she’ll be more into editorial makeup now, and that’s something I want to venture off into so I’m looking forward to that.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your book bag?
One beauty must have that will stay in my book bag is lipgloss!! I always keep lipgloss or some type of lip balm.

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?
My number one beauty rule is love yourself with and without makeup!

Follow MORE of Taylor’s beauty tip here!

Instagram: @dnamestay + @makeupbytrj

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What a whirlwind life can send you on! Things are changing in the blink of an eye. One day it’s your freshman year of high school and the next you are applying for college and scholarships. You need a break. It’s time for a reset. Summer is here and everything about you needs to say that you are ready. You’ve been cramped up in the house for months, thanks to little Miss Winter. It is time to get activeand knock off those cobwebs. Enjoy being able to hang outside. Go for walks with your friends, join asummer softball league, or do yoga in the park.  Lucky you, you’re young and your metabolism is in overdrive (compared to what it will be later in life—trust me, I know). It doesn’t take much to tip the scale in your favor. Give yourself 20-30 mins, 3 times a week. That little bit of winter weight will wilt away.

The temperatures are rising and everybody is rocking crop tops, skater skirts, and high waist denim shorts. Don’t get caught with the burger bloat.  As the new season settles upon us, you should also take the time to cleanse your body. A good starting point is to remove the junk food and fried food from your diet. Indulge in seasonal fresh fruits and veggies and fire up the grill for your meats. These are sure ways to get good sources of antioxidants and vitamins while keeping your bad fat intake low.

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Two things that collect dust: your wardrobe and your make up brushes. Take the time to clean and organize your closet. Obviously, you want to remove winter’s heavy coats and thigh high boots, but you also want to make sure you give those summer clothes a good wash. Everyday your face sheds dead skin. That dead skin is spread to your make up brushes. If you don’t have a consistent cleaning regimen for your brushes, the new season is a great time to incorporate the habit. You don’t have to buy a fancybrush cleaner; all it takes is a little soap and water. Run the brushes under hot water.  Add your soap,lather, and rinse. Repeat. I highly recommend Dr. Bonner’s Castile Soap for a deep, deep clean.

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You can purge your body, move your muscles, and dust your closet, but the reality is a reset isn’t official until you’ve done something different to satisfy yourself. I am not talking about going for ice cream or hanging with friends—something extraordinary. Take a trip, visit a theme park, or lay on the beach for hours at a time. Doing your different doesn’t have to break the bank, but it does have to be a everlasting memory. Celebrate your life and the fact that you’ve attained goals you set out to achieve.

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You deserve it!

Here’s to a good reset, health and beauty!

-Heidi Thomas

Hello again C.O.R.E readers! In this contribution, I’d like to discuss a few aspects of beauty that are often overlooked: Good hygiene, getting plenty of rest, cutting down on stress, and (of course) exercise!

CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN! -Hygiene plays a CRUCIAL role in achieving and/or maintain beautiful skin and hair. Good hygiene consists of doing things like washing your hands before touching your face, making sure that you remove your makeup before bed, and not going too long between wash days for your hair! (Too long being more than 2 weeks!)

CATCH THOSE Z’s -Most of us fail to realize the importance of a good night’s rest. Beauty sleep DOES exist, and 8 hours a night is the recommended amount! If you’re experiencing bags or puffiness under your eyes, or even lacking your youthful “glow,” a lack of sleep could definitely be the culprit!

R-E-L-A-X– Balancing school, work, fun, and relationships can be stressful to say the least. While a certain level of stress is unavoidable, it is important that we’re careful not to overdo it. Make time to relax and unwind. Pamper yourself with a bubble bath; lay back and dive into a good book or magazine; try whipping up your favorite meal or dessert! Spend at least 15-20 minutes a day doing whatever it is that is relaxing to YOU*

WORK IT OUT! -Nowadays, exercise doesn’t necessarily mean you have to hit the gym. Dancing around your room to your favorite song, walking the dog, and taking the stairs ALL qualify as “physical activities” …make sure that you’re getting at least 30 minutes of activity a day!

When it comes to the lifestyle-beauty link, time management is a major factor. It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but you’d be surprised to see how easy (and enjoyable) it can be once you get into your own routine! 🙂

-Ashleigh Thornton

Summer will be here sooner than you think! Yes, warm days come with no school, memories with friends and mornings that you can sleep in past 7 am! But also with warm weather comes with dry hair days too! To make sure your hair stays healthy and fresh this summer, check out a couple of tips of how to keep your hair moisturized this summer!

For Natural Hair…

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For Relaxed Hair…

Good morning, girls!

Waking up, rushing out the door, and making it to 1st period  on time is hard enough, the last thing you want to be concerned with is if your hair looks cute before your crush spots you in the cafeteria. Trust us, we completely understand and we have exactly what you need to help you knock your hair stress to the side! Great hair starts with having great products and we have to say Dark & Lovely Beautiful Beginnings line is awesome! Not only will your friends ask you why your hair smells so delicious but will ask you all the secrets to your healthy strands since their products have Coconut Oil & Shea Butter in them! Check out a few of our faves!

Time to wash! Dark and Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Shampoo gently cleanses and moisturizes your hair & scalp without  the constant burning of eyes (always a plus). Your fly hair will be left feeling clean, soft, and ready for some feel good conditioner!

Did someone ask for moisture? We have the perfect dosage of Dark and Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Deep Conditioner for you! It replenishes hair with 2X Conditioning Power to moisturize, soften, and prevent hair breakage by eliminating tough tangles. After using this rock star conditioner, your hair will be easy to comb!

Bring out the comb! We know all the faces you make when trying to detangle your hair but now you will have nothing but a smile when you comb  your hair with Dark and Lovely Beautiful Beginnings Detangler.  No more tangles, knots or stress!  Plus, it strengthens your hair and protects it against split ends.

Check out more here…

Dark & Lovely Beautiful Beginnings

“Ugh, what do I wear today?? My hair is not doing what its supposed to do! Are these jeans getting tighter?? Am I gaining weight! Gross, I feel soooo ugly!” are the thoughts you mumble to yourself before you head out the door in the morning. You finally make it to school but paying attention to Mrs. Williams 1st period Health Class is the last thing on the mind. Even though you do not want to look “vain” you feel you have no choice but to pull out your compact from your bag and keep asking for a hall pass to give yourself another look over before you even think about opening a book. All day you go back and forth thinking about how you look, looking from side to side admiring everybody’s characteristics except your own. Now to make things worse, your secret crush just walked by as you try to turn your head quickly in the other direction since you already assumed in your head he will never look your way. You finally make it home throw your half read books on your bead and ask yourself “Am I Pretty??”

Of course you are! Now I know you’re saying yes that’s what I’m suppose to write but it’s TRUE! Now, it’s just your job to believe me and yourself. Three ways to get there

Say Something?– “Sticks & stones may hurt my bones but words stick in your mind forever.” Yes, that was my remix of that saying. We definitely do not give words enough credit. Especially what we tell ourselves over and over about ourselves. Even though you might not understand the damage of a short comment of “Ugh, I feel soo ugly today” but you just determined your mood the entire day. Even if you may not feel like it the next time you’re in the mirror tell yourself “I am gorgeous with our without make up. I’m just too fly to be stressed!” Trust me once you plant a new seed you’ll see a difference.

Look to Your Left– Left, right but never center are where your eyes go. You constantly compare yourself to other girls around you, secretly wishing you had their characteristics. Well that stops now. It’s normal to but just make sure to appreciate and love your own beauty just as much as you appreciates the girl next to you.

Discover, Define, Do– Yes just like a 3 step program Discover, Define & Do! First you have to discover your OWN beauty. Beauty is not one right answer. It comes in all shapes & sizes so you first must embrace your own beauty! Once you find out the traits that make you stand apart of the crowd,define it and play it up! If you have killer cheek bones or a great smile rock it hard and make it your own. The last part is to simply do you! Be comfortable and do you.

Beauty ultimately is just inner confidence shining through on the outside, so once you understand that you are simply priceless your beauty will have no choice other than to beam across to everyone!

Ooooh Winter is almost here!! Are you ready? Yeah, we’re not either. But instead of complaining about the cold it’s time to get prepared. Not only should you start bundling up with the cute scarves, hat & gloves sets but make sure your hair is protected too! To make sure your hair stays healthy and fresh this Winter, check out a couple of tips of how to keep your hair moisturized this Winter!

For Relaxed Hair…

For Natural Hair…

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