girls night in | VINAZINE

New Year’s Eve has come and gone and your party outfit back to its dutiful spot in your closet. As our calendars turn a new leaf to 2019, it’s time to invest in you so you can put your best foot forward. The first thing on the agenda? Looking the part. Read on for a head-to-toe DIY treatment that will have you feeling lush and ready to take on the world!

LUSCIOUS LOCKS

To keep tresses hydrated, mix 1 tablespoon each of honey, castor oil and coconut oil with 1 tablespoon of egg. Mix well. Keep hair mask on for 30 minutes (or longer, max one hour). Rinse with cold water. Apply to scalp and hair 2 to 3 times a week. Pro tip: add a little lemon juice to your water in order to get rid of the excess oil and egg—leaving you with a beautiful glow. Shampoo as usual. A conditioner is usually not necessary after a mask that is this rich in oils. Not only does this help with soft, beautiful, bouncy hair, it also increases hair growth and repairs damage.

VIBRANT VISAGE

For the face, used ground coffee beans is an absolute saving grace. You can mix 1 tablespoon of coffee with the following to make your skin look and feel amazing:

1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon coconut oil and 1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1 teaspoon honey

Caffeine, as you know, wakes you up and does the same for tired skin. Honey locks in moisture for bouncy, youthful-looking skin. Coconut oil prevents premature aging, amongst other things. Sugar is a natural humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the environment into the skin as well as doubles as an exfoliant. The baking soda and honey combo act as a gentle exfoliant and moisturizing cleanser.

Another great one is cocoa, sugar and a drop of milk to turn it into a paste. Apply generously to your face, leave on for about 10-15 minutes and rinse off with cold water. Pat your face dry with a towel. The antioxidants in cocoa help prevent premature aging by fighting free radicals.

If you suffer from dry skin, this is a great one, especially if it’s winter time. Grate half of an unripe, firm avocado and mix a teaspoon of coconut oil in before you apply. You can keep this on for a good 20 minutes if your skin is really dry. Do this at night before bed and wipe off with a rag. Make sure not to rinse.

BODY TALK

For the body, make a quick and easy bath bomb by mixing 1 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup citric acid and 1/2 cup Epsom salts. Then in a separate bowl, mix 1 teaspoon water, 2 teaspoons vanilla essence and 3 teaspoons coconut or olive oil. Mix dry and wet ingredients and put into molds (cupcake pan works just as well). Try one of your bath bombs immediately and let the rest dry. Make sure to pair it with a nice wine and smooth music for a meditative session.

For the eyes, used rooibos tea bags are phenomenal. They soothe tired eyes and cool down any puffiness. I usually dip them in icy cold milk right before I lay them on my eyes. The insides can also be used as a scrub. Mix it with honey and any essential oil you like to create the ultimate scrub.

What are you waiting for? Give your body the attention it deserves with these easy, home-made recipes!

Gather up your favorite vinas and create a “Home Spa” event on Hey! VINA for the ultimate girls’ night in!

So it’s Saturday night and you’re just not in the mood to go out – we’ve all been there. But that doesn’t mean staying in has to be a drag. That’s where your vinas come in. Keeping things super chill has major potential to be super fun! Check out these 8 ideas to make your gals night in a night to remember!

1. MOVIE NIGHT

This is a classic for your vina’s night in. Maybe even pick a theme like rom-com night, or fright night flicks! Grab some wine or a batch of virgin cocktails (whatever you prefer), and get the corn popping! All that’s left to do is enjoy some good movies and laughs with your vinas. How can a girl say no?

2. SPA NIGHT

Picture this: your nails are a mess, you’ve got a totally annoying breakout, and you’ve had a crazy stressful week. No time to schedule a slot at the salon? No big! Call up the girls and get a spa night going! Nobody knows how to relieve your tension and cheer you up better than your vinas. Make this one a night complete with fluffy robes, nail equipment, face masks, hair braiding – the whole nine yards. If you’re feeling really spoiled, throw in a bottle of champs!

3. KARAOKE NIGHT

Ok, this idea is not as complicated as it may sound. And no, you don’t have to leave the comfort of your living room. For those of us without a classic 2000’s era karaoke machine, it may seem a little over your head. But fear not! YouTube has a fix for everything. Look up your fav classics or current hits and tack on “karaoke version” and you’re in business. Play it from your laptop, TV, or even your phone. Crank the volume and sing out (on or off-key) in a judgement free zone!

4. GAME NIGHT

This one can mean Monopoly and Twister, Super Mario Kart, Never Have I Ever and Cards Against Humanity, or even Call Of Duty and Mortal Kombat if you’ve got a group of serious gamers on your hands. And let’s not forget our classic card gamers. Gin, Rummy, even Uno! Or better yet, call up the vinas and get a poker night started. You can play for nickles and dimes, or make it high stakes with some bigger bets – whatever the group is willing to play for. Grab some chips and dip, a deck of cards, and put on your best poker face. Game on.

5. TAROT NIGHT

You don’t have to be a self-proclaimed psychic to get in on the fun of tarot cards. If no one in the group is experienced in reading tarot, do a quick Google search. Or if one of your vinas knows what she’s talking about, have her give the rest of you a crash course. Learning about it together doubles the fun! Grab your crystal ball and take a look into your BFF’s future for a night! This is bound to be one you won’t forget.

6. MUKBANG NIGHT

So if you haven’t heard of Mukbang, look up a couple videos and you will find that this is one of the hottest trends out right now. It’s basically eating food in front of a video camera, either alone or with a group. Fun right? And it’s totally sweeping the web, why not bring it to your girls night in? Mukbang videos gained their popularity in South Korea in the 2010’s and have since become a favorite in the US. The Mukbanger’s are seen recording themselves eating large portions of food while interacting with their viewers. Go live on Insta or Facebook, or record a video just for you and the girls to watch back! Pick a cuisine that all the vinas agree on, order several dishes off the menu, and stuff your faces while discussing various topics of interest! Fair warning: this one may have to be a sleepover considering the food coma you’re about to slip into.

7. MAKEOVER NIGHT

I am all for the glamour, honey. I love to get dressed up, even if I’m just sitting around the house. Think about this, instead of getting glammed up for another club night, bring the nightlife to your place! Pool your fav makeup together, or head to the local drugstore and pick up some products to try your hand at that smokey eye you’ve been dying to rock! Get that LBD out of the back of your closet and prepare to get glam and dance all night, vinas! If you’re feeling daring, turn it into a photo-shoot, have fun with it!

8. HENNA NIGHT

I have at least 6 tattoos, but for those that want something a little more temporary, Henna is a great option! Plus it’s super fun to do with your vinas, and so easy to learn. Head to a craft store and grab some DIY henna kits, then draw up some beautiful henna designs for you and your friends. This is an inexpensive and super cute way to bond with your girls. Get yourself inked minus the pain and money!

A night in with your girls has never looked better. Each of these ideas vary in price, effort, and interest, but whatever you choose, it’ll totally be worth it! Let’s make staying in the new going out. All you need is a little creativity, some snacks, a bottle of something, and the will to have a great time! Oh, and your vinas, of course!

Download Hey! VINA and find your group of gal pals to take on girls night in!