Beautiful Skin is In!

You know I can't hold out on my fellow Curlies. I've started a new skin care routine and I'm noticing IMMEDIATE  results! Christine over at Temptalia.com interviewed Renee Rouleau, an esthetician who warns against over-exfoliating facial skin with the Clarisonic. Instead, she suggests alternating weeks of chemical and physical exfoliation, and using adequate moisturizer. Click here for the full interview.

Here's what I've been using for my dry skin. Make sure you choose products for your skin type.

Week 1
Cleanse with Philosophy Purity Made Simple
Exfoliate with Philosophy Microdlivery Peel (day 1)
Apply Reviva Labs Glycolic Acid facial toner (vitacost.com)
Moisturize with Philosophy Hope in a Jar Dry, Sensitive skin

Week 2
Cleanse using Oil-Cleanse Method
Exfoliate with Honey Olive Oil Sugar scrub, 2-3x/week  (3 TB Olive Oil, 2 TB Honey, 1/2 C sugar)
Moisturize with Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew serum and
Philosophy Hope in a Jar

My skin is so clear, virtually pore-less. My face looks healthy and glowing. Old acne scars are fading and I don't need to wear foundation, just a bit of concealer. I am sticking with this routine, and I hope it works for you if you give it a try. Always remember to eat well, drink water, exercise and rest. Vitamins can also be a great supplement. Leave a comment and let us know what works for your skin!

*UPDATE* NEW! Shea-loe recipe

I was so bummed when the last batch of shea-loe I made molded (ewww!), and the aloe vera separated from the shea butter. What a mess! I've since learned a few new things about mixing up this wonder-butter that heals my babies' eczema and softens my dry, winter skin and hair. Read on to learn more.

Recipe
1 C shea butter
1 Tb coconut oil
1/3 C combined oils- I like to mix vitamin E, a natural preservative (5,000 I.U), avocado, olive, almond and castor
1 Tsp honey, preservative
1/4 C aloe vera gel
10 drops tea tree e.o (preservative. no mold!)
10 drops rosemary e.o (preservative)
8 drops grapefruit and lavender e.o (fragrance. helps to balance the smell of tea tree and rosemary)

Create a double boiler by placing a glass bowl over a small pot of boiling water. Be careful not to let the bowl tip into the water. This will ruin your batch.

Add shea butter, coconut oil, 1/3 c oils to glass bowl, and allow to melt. Add honey while oils are hot. Stir gently. Remove glass bowl from heat and place on a surface for mixing. Add aloe vera gel to warm oil and mix using a hand mixer (often used for mixing cake batter).

The key to blending the aloe with the shea is mixing! Blend on low, then high, making sure to get air into the mix. This creates a fluffy, finished butter. Blend for about 15 minutes, then place glass bowl in the freezer for 10-15 minutes. Remove from freezer and blend again with mixer for about 2-5 minutes, or until the desired consistency. Add e.o and stir them in by hand. Transfer mixture to a clean, air-tight container with a lid. Place in refrigerator to set-up for a few hours.

I also like to label my batch with the date, so if it starts to look or smell funny, I know when to toss it. My last batch was January 12, so ar so good! Good thing everyone in my house uses it- it's almost gone!

Best of 2009!

Happy New Year, Curlies! Better late, than never, right?

I still love you, I just want to make sure I'm giving you the best information I can, so I write when there's something exciting to write about. 2010 will be full of new product reviews, updates, beauty, skincare, videos and more! Before we jump into the new, let's recap some of the best products of 2009. Here we go......

Overall Hair Care: Curly Girl Method, "Baggy", and Sealing

Eliminating sulfates and -cones in my hair products has been the single best thing I've done for my hair in 2009. It retains moisture better, it's softer, shinier, and it simply looks healthy. For more info, check the tags in the side bar.

Shampoo: Aubrey Organics White Camelia

This cleanser is sulfate-free, but still does a great job cleaning my hair and scalp. I only use this product once every 2 weeks, focusing mainly on my scalp.

Co-Wash Conditioner: Trader Joe's Nourish Spa

Deep Conditioner: Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose

I get much better results with a damp washcloth over my hair, plastic cap, and a hooded dryer for 30-45 minutes. Makes detangling a breeze!

Leave-In Conditioner: Desert Essence Jojoba Conditioner and Taliah Waajid Protective Mist Bodifier

Moisturizer: Shea-Aloe (with a KinkyCurly Twist)

Follow the recipe for basic Shea-Aloe. Once the oils have cooled, add 1/4 C of conditioner (must be silicone and protein free) and 1/4 C Taliah Waajid Bodifier. Mix until creamy

Oil(s): Auromere Pre-Shampoo Conditioner

This Ayurvedic oil is a blend of Indian herbs, coconut, and wheat germ oils. It gives my hair nourishment and amazing shine. For an amazing hot oil treatment- saturate hair with oil, pop on a plastic cap, and sit under a hooded dryer for 20 minutes. Wash and style as usual.

Styling Product: Taliah Waajid  Lock It Up "gel"

This product defines curls like a traditional gel, without the drying alcohol. It's also made with nettle, hemp, and Taliah's Black Earth formula.

Routine: Check these    posts

Skin Care (For my dry skin)

Cleanser: Oil Cleansing Method (All skin types)

100% African Black Soap

Moisturizer: I love experimenting with the ingredients that I have on hand. This winter, my skin has been loving shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe vera gel mixed in the palm of my hand.

Exfoliator: Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel

Worth every penny! Vitamin C crystals and lactic/salicylic acid gel combine to exfoliate and resurface skin revealing glowing, just-had-a-facial skin. This will last months-a little goes a long way.

Five Minutes to Gorgeous!

With two boys, three jobs, and no time, it's sometimes a challenge for me to look as glam-tastic as I would like. These are my absolute must-have products and accessories that keep me looking  my Kinky-Curly best- in a hurry.

1. Moisturizer- If you're opting for a foundation-free face, make sure skin is primed and moisturized. Choose a product that suits your skin type. For my dry skin, I love a mix of jojoba oil, shea butter and aloe vera gel.

2. Groomed Brows- It literally takes seconds to fill in brows. They frame your face and keep your look polished and pretty. I love Maybelline's Define-A-Brow, or a brown eye shadow like Cover Girl's Brown Smolder.

3. Lush Lashes- Simple enough. Curl lashes and apply 2-3 coats of mascara. I love Cover Girl Lash Blast. Go for a brown mascara for a very natural look.

4. Gloss, Gloss, Baby!- Slick on a moisturizing balm, then apply your favorite color. The choices are endless. I'm loving cocoa brown shades of lipstick and gloss this season. Some to try: MAC's Touch l/s, 3N l/g, Mad cap l/g, NYX's Echo l/s, Cover Girl Queen Collection Shiny Cinnamon l/s.

5. A Cute Coif- Check out my hair routine post for details. I love wearing my 2x twists in a retro updo. No need to worry about frizz or weather-worries. Just secure with pins and add oil for shine.

6. A Pop of Color- Scarves are great all year long. A bright orange or purple scarf transforms jeans and a tee into a sophisticated uniform for Curlies on the go. Choose wool blends in winter and sheer cotton in summer months.

Now, I'm ready for errands, playdates, and lunch with the girls- whatever the day brings, I'm game! Make sure you are too. Until next time.....

I Like My Men and My Soap- BLACK

 African Black Soap, 100% natural


Actually, I'd be an equal-opportunity dater (if I weren't already married to a delicious Black Man), but it made a great headline.


I've been using this for a year to cleanse my face. I bought it from a woman named Zee at Discover Mills, in Georgia. She now has her own store, Zee Craft, where she sells the best Shea Butter as well. She told me Black Soap would clear up my skin, and it did. Wanna know what else? It is a GREAT shampoo! I just pinched of a small piece and lathered it over my hair in the shower. Once my hair got really wet,  I rubbed the soap directly onto my hair, and worked it in.


Product reads:
African Black Soap is made in West Africa from palm oil, palm kernel oil, and water. The aroma and deep rich color result from the centuries old extraction process that blends the two ingredients together, resulting in the finest skin cleanser available.

Usage:
Relieves acne and removes blemishes, prevents rashes, itching, dry, and scaly skin from developing
Cleans pores and rejuvenates the skin
Clears up eczema
Body cleanser

This soap is dark brown in color, like the photo above. IT IS NOT BLACK! If you are using a black (dyed) bar of soap, THROW IT AWAY! This soap is soft and maliable, like Play-Doh. You can pinch of a small piece to use. One tub will last forever.

Killah' Combos

I was catching up with old chums on Facebook (Go Eagles!), and I saw a pic of my college homie sportin' some bangin' curls. If I had to guess, I would say her hair type is 3a/b/c. Here's her killah' combo:

Mixed Chics Leave In Conditioner and Kerastase Oleo Curl. Nice! Haven't tried these products myself because I'm 4a. Just sayin'.

I do, however, have several makeup/skincare killah' combos. Like to hear 'em, hear they go:



Everyone in my family has loooong lashes. Even the baby boys. My killah' combo of Cover Girl Lash Blast and Maybelline Great Lash mascaras (both in Blackest Black-this name just made me think of CB4. You know you saw it, too. LMAO. Chris sure has come a loooong way) make them look fake! Like lash extensions. I'm not kidding. It's sick. Try it.

Equal parts Apple Cider Vinegar (a weak acid) and Water to help with acne. I mix 1 capful of each, moisten a cotton round, apply all over face, leave on 5-10 min, then rinse thoroughly with cool water. This step is done after cleansing and before moisturing.

Aloe Vera Gel/Glycerin/EVOO as a serum or face mask. I have dry skin. Really dry. Like, I apply 3 layers of face cream in the winter dry. I use this mix of 1 tb AVG, 1/2 tb EVOO, and 1/4 tb Vegetable Glycerin (mixed and stored in a travel-sized container) as a serum applied lightly over my face cream (currently using Jason Vitamin E Creme. LOVE!). When I have more time, I slather on a generous amount as a face mask. Let sit 10-15 min, then remove with a warm wash cloth. This makes my skin so soft and radiant. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows. LMAO.

I'll leave you with one more juicy beauty tidbit. The best killah' combo, EVER!- mixing fragrances. Now, I'm not new to this, I'm true to this. There are rules and regulations to this beauty science. Please continue reading before you go and mix Angel with Romance.






Research fragrance families

Discover your fragrance personality

Layer lotions, shower gels and body splashes in exact (or complimentary) families as your fragrance to intensify your scent and make it last all day and night.

Off to enjoy the sunny weather! Until next time...