Thursday, January 20, 2022
As you might already know, I’m a believer in the idea of “going to bed greasy” by sealing the skin with an oil or ointment before bed. This practice is also known as slugging by Reddit’s beauty community. I’ve seen the benefits of using Vaseline long-term with my very own eyes. My neighbor is in her late 50’s and looks so much younger thanks to her faithful practice of sealing her skin with Vaseline every night.
@lexniko Reply to @angeladefina idk where this @cerave healing ointment came from but it’s incredible #cerave #healingointment #skintok #fyp #tiktokmademebuyit ♬ original sound - lexniko is for the girlies
I’ve always wanted to get into this routine but, deep down, I’ve been a little apprehensive of putting a thick ointment on my face not knowing how my skin will respond. I want to experience all the benefits that long-term vaseline users rave about but haven't been brave enough to take the plunge.
Then, one day, I happened to be scrolling through TikTok when I was introduced to a product from CeraVe that changed my mind about everything.
What's important to note is that CeraVe's Healing Ointment seems almost identical to Vaseline but with one obvious difference....it contains ceramides. Beyond ceramides, CeraVe's Healing Ointment also contains various types of ceramides, hyaluronic acid, panthenol (vitamin B5), and vitamin E.
The moment I learned about this super-ointment, I immediately purchased a tube so I could see what the fuss was about. As soon as I smoothed a small amount over my dry lips, I became a believer. My lips felt instantly softer, more nourished. Then I tested a tiny amount on my legs which tend to get really dry this time of year. But, instead of using Cereve on both legs, I used Aquaphor on the other. Both are good, but Aquaphor felt greasier, less nourishing on the skin. Both products immediately eliminated all signs of dryness but CeraVe's ointment felt a bit more nourishing...hydrating even.
Although I instantly fell in loved with my new purchase, I was still hesitant to wear it on my face overnight. Days went by until I finally took the plunge after noticing flaking from reintroducing retinol to my routine. Before bed, I applied a thin coat of CeraVe's ointment and woke up to wonderfully hydrated skin. I tried to tell my husband to give it try but, little did I know, that he was already on the bandwagon and had been using the ointment on his face for days. He had nothing but glowing remarks after switching from Aquaphor to CeraVe.
With this healing ointment in my corner, I plan on finally pushing past that "awkward phase" where my skin peels uncontrollably any time I go near retinol. I'll also slather it on all the areas that tend to suffer the most this time of year (heels, lips, hands, etc). This is easily one of my favorite recent finds and, for that, I'm grateful.
Monday, January 17, 2022
Thursday, January 13, 2022
Isn't the skin on the scalp just as important as the hair on the face?
Actually, our scalp health might be even more important because our scalp health is directly related to the health of my hair. Flaky scalp is bad enough but if we ignore the issue for too long, we're leaving the door open for unwanted hair loss.
So I've decided to try scalp exfoliation again. Years ago, I attempted to exfoliate my scalp using products with tiny beads or even sugar scrubs. That was a huge fail. Huge. Not only did my scalp not really feel different after use, the tiny beads often got stuck in my thick hair and became a pain to remove. I almost gave up on scalp exfoliation altogether until I realized that there was another way I could approach this...
Acids toners work wonders on my face, wouldn't they also do the same for my scalp?
To experiment, I grabbed a bottle of The Ordinary's 7% Glycolic Acid solution and poured a little on a cotton round and proceed to rub it into the visible areas where I noticed obvious signs of flaking. Like magic, the tiny flakes began to disappear, allowing my scalp to look normal again. I have several acidic, exfoliating toners in my arsenal but I find this one to be mild enough to use on my scalp without fear of adverse side effects.
Acids are great because they gently remove dead skin, dirt and oils without aggravating the scalp. I suspect that, with regular scalp exfoliation, I'll probably experience a reduction in shedding and healthier hair growth come summer.
The only issue I seem to have is accessibility to the parts of my scalp that I don't see. Instead of using a cotton round, I think it's time to graduate to using a spray bottle to mist my scalp directly. Years ago, I used tiny misters to spray diluted ACV directly to my scalp. That method worked like a dream. I only stopped doing it because it was darn near impossible to mask the scent of my scalp being lightly coated in apple cider vinegar. But with the Ordinary's toner, I don't have to worry about such a thing which makes it easier to seamlessly integrate it into my regular rotation. I plan on doing this pretty regularly until my dermatitis calms down, but if your scalp isn't as troubled, but you still want to treat your scalp a facial, you tack on this step on wash day as part of your pre-shampoo routine.
I'm not the only one singing the praises of chemical scalp exfoliation, there are countless folks online who have experienced this for themselves. My recommendation is that you start with a gentle acid toner that you already use on your face. If your face responds well to it, chances are your scalp will too. Not long ago, I discovered that our scalp is aging more rapidly than our face. We routinely exfoliate our faces to keep the skin young and vibrant, doesn't our scalp deserve the same?
Friday, January 7, 2022
Before I knew it, I was standing in front of her, saying hello. She eagerly treated me with her English accent. After exchanging pleasantries, I informed her that I was a novice when it came to fragrances. She took the opportunity to share her background. This woman was no ordinary Neiman Marcus associate, she was a representative visiting directly from the fragrance house. In fact, she had decades of experience working with various Parisian fragrance brands. She delighted me with stories of how she's traveled the world representing well-respected perfume empires. She then invited me to sample some fragrances from Atelier. The scents are heavily citrus-based. Because I was looking for a fresh, everyday, summery scent, I was sold. I grabbed a bottle of their signature scent, Orange Sanguine, and one that was scented like deliciously sweet lime.
Prior to completing our transaction, the lovely woman demonstrated, in full detail, how to properly apply cologne for maximum effectiveness. She instructed me to take a "bottom-up" approach. This meant that I should start by misting behind my knees then work my way upward to the inner elbows, wrist, and finally behind the ears. Although I listened closely, I had no intention of following her advice. Instead, I continued to spray perfume directly on my chest like a barbarian.
....and guess what happened.
I was likely triggering breakouts on my chest. I've suffered from acne pretty much all of my life. But I've been focused on the pimples on my face that I didn't stop to reflect on why I also dealing with chest breakouts. Looking back, it makes sense that my fragrance application technique was flawed and likely caused my skin woes.
Perfumes can sometimes contain synthetic oils and alcohols that can dry the skin. Couple that with friction from clothing and suddenly you have a potential breeding ground for acne. When covid first became widespread, I spent more time at home than ever. Which meant that I wasn't really wearing any fragrance. Whenever I wanted to wear a scent, I'd opt to use a rollerball and wear a little on my wrist. It took me a while to realize but, over time, my chest acne pretty much went away. The scars from past breakouts are now fading into obscurity.
I just wanted to share my experience in case anyone might be dealing with the same issue. Following that nice lady's advice could've solved a lot of my issues. From now on, I'm only applying my fragrance like a french girl.
Thursday, January 6, 2022
I don't think that anything could top lemon water, but I may have found a formidable alternative.
Monday, December 27, 2021
Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream never lets me down, but recently, I've been craving a little more hydration. Instead of hopping over to Sephora's website in desperate search of yet another product, I decided to get a little crafty and figure out a way to transform my Kiehl's cream into the ultimate moisturizer.
All it took was a quick-thinking to formulate an ultra-hydrated version.
How did I do it?
Simple.
I added a couple drops of my favorite hyaluronic acid serum to the facial cream, infusing it with maximum hydration.
Monday, December 20, 2021
After a little bit of research, I compiled a list of various supplements to support brain health. After many months of being consistent use, I noticed a clear improvement in my family member's memory and mental clarity. The change was undeniable.
Not long afterward, I realized that, although I hadn't suffered a brain injury, my mind wasn't operating at an optimal state. Specifically, I had the hardest time focusing on my work and could barely get anything done. I knew that a routine of daily meditation could solve all of my problems but I couldn't even focus enough to do it.
So I decided to take the path of least resistance by asking myself "what's the easiest thing I could do right now to improve my brain health?"
...the answer was....nootropics.
Nootropics are supplements geared at improving brain health and cognitive performance. If you've seen the movie, Limitless, you've seen nootropics at work. Limitless was fictional but there are supplements on the market that improve our focus and brain function. After seeing the effects of nootropics on my family member, I had to try them for myself.
I bought a few bottles of various brain supplements and combined them in one jar to create my very first nootropics stack. Last week, I started this experiment where I took a few of the supplements at once to combine their power for maximum effect. I'm really impressed with the results. For instance, I've noticed a clear difference in my mental clarity within hours of supplementation. I shared a quick glimpse on IG and got a few messages from people wanting to know more so here's a brief rundown of some of the supplements I'm taking at the moment:
-Pterostilbene - A natural molecule found in fruits and veggies. Blueberries are very high in this compound. Many people compare this compound to resveratrol which has awesome health benefits. This compound is said to be able to help DNA to repair itself and improve brain function. In a few animal studies, pterostilbene was demonstrated to have a positive impact on working memory while reducing the effects of aging.
-Vitamin B Complex- A couple years ago, I had bloodwork done to determine my nutritional deficiencies. One area where I was lacking was in my b vitamins. Shortly thereafter I got serious and invested in B12 & B6 injections. One immediate side effect was that I often felt motivated and energized for a few days afterward. So then I looked into the cognitive benefits and learned about the connection between b vitamins and the brain. Studies have shown that populations that don't consume enough b vitamins in their diet will often suffer from lower brain function. In fact, low levels of B 12 is associated with poor memory and decreased brain volume.
-Bacopa Brahmi - An Ayurvedic herb with cognitive benefits. Helps to improve age-related cognitive decline. Studies were done using this herb resulted in the study group experiencing higher memory scores and lower instances of stress and anxiety.
-Ashwagandha- When your mind is all over the place, and you have a lot to get done, your anxiety levels might rise. That's where ashwagandha comes in. It's an herb that's known for its ability to reduce cortisol, reduce anxiety and increase mood. This herb isn't just for our mood, it's also been shown to help improve attention span.
-Ginko Biloba - Ginko was one of the main additions to my family member's regimen because it's been shown to promote blood flow to the brain. Blood flow is especially important to someone with a brain injury. Where blood flows, nutrients go. Blood flow and improved circulation are also healing to the affected area.
-N-Acetyl-Carnitine- An amino acid that enhances the production of a neurotransmitter that supports brain function. This supplement really makes a difference in the elderly. Amazon reviewers often take this in the afternoon to avoid that late afternoon energy slump.
-Fish Oil - Prior to adding the standing nootropics to my regimen, I noticed increased mental clarity whenever I added high-quality fish oil to my routine. When I took fermented cod liver oil, I had the most vivid dreams ever. My brain was crystal clear.
The world of nootropics runs deep so the list above is far from complete. I'm still learning and researching other supplements to add to my stack. Since taking brain supplements I feel more like I'm the observer of my actions which allows me to make conscious, clear decisions on my actions versus feeling like I'm stuck in an endlessly repeating loop.
We routinely take supplements for healthy hair, for gut health, or to strengthen our immune system, so why not feed our brain with the nutrients it needs to operate at its peak?
Saturday, December 18, 2021
@greeneggsandglam OKAY NEW FAVE EYE PRIMER @milkmakeup ##makeup ##sephora ##eyeshadow ##GiveWithAllYourHeart ##NBCAnnieLive ##beauty ##viral
♬ FEEL THE GROOVE - Queens Road, Fabian Graetz
@roseandben I really didn’t expect this 😱💫 @milkmakeup ##viralmakeup ##makeupreview
♬ original sound - Rose Siard
Purchasing this single product could end up saving me countless dollars on my eye shadow budget. Milks Eye primer is a must-have.
Friday, December 17, 2021
After watching that TikTok, my very first thought was "where's her sheet mask...how is her skin so glowy?" That's when I realized that Jessica was using the silicone mask as a tool to trap the moisture and hydration from her skin routine.@jessicaalba Our @Baby2Baby annual Gala is back! Celebrating 10 years! Committed 2 supporting families living in poverty. Head to ##Baby2Baby 2 c how u can help🤗
♬ took some time off to rest and now its game time - emm.
Thursday, December 9, 2021
DRINK WATER FIRST THING IN THE MORNING
1. Drinking water first thing in the morning is the perfect way to increase your daily water intake. I like to drink at least 2-3 liters of water a day. It's really hard to fit in 3 liters if you don't start drinking early. When I start my morning with a full liter, I'm 1/3 of the way to my goal. Even if I don't drink much water throughout the rest of the day, I've still had much more than if I skipped my morning bottle.
2. If you drink a full glass or bottle of water first thing in the morning, you kick start your digestion. This time of year, our circulation slows down and one of the easiest ways to increase blood flow and circulation without actually moving your body is by drinking a full glass of water. If you have sluggish digestion, I invite you to start each morning by flooding your body with hydration.
DRINK WATER BEFORE YOUR MEALS
WATER BEFORE BED
Tuesday, December 7, 2021
A few months ago, my elderly dachshund started having trouble walking. Every time he tried to take a step, he seemed to fall over. I rushed him to the emergency vet who informed me that my dog had suffered a back injury that would require minimum $10,000 surgery. Another vet confirmed the problem and even suggested that I didn't do surgery because it wouldn't be worth it due to his age (she also subtly implied that I may have to put my dog down because he would never improve). Discouraged, I went searching the internet for ideas on how to treat disc disease as his condition began to worsen. Before long, I compiled a collection of supplements aimed to help heal his back.
Every single day I followed a regimen, that I developed for him, in hopes that I'd see my dog walk again. In the span of around 2.5 months, he went from not being able to move or stand on his own, to fully walking again.
What do I owe for this unexpected result?
CONSISTENCY + DURATION.
Monday, December 6, 2021
Winter is the time of year when I start paying any mind to my scalp. I have no choice but to pay attention because, every winter, I'm always dealing with excessive shedding and dryness. Dry scalp is an issue but today I want to deal with a more pressing concern.
The other morning I was doing a face massage aimed at toning and lifting my cheeks. That's when I speculated that some of the facial sagging that I was experiencing probably originated at my scalp. I thought to myself "I wonder if the scalp experiences aging and how it compares to the skin on the rest of my body" (particularly the face).
Moments later Google informed me that our scalp does indeed age and it does so at a rate much more rapidly than our face. So while I'm trying to tone and lift my face, the scalp could be losing laxity and strength.
Rapid scalp aging could result in unwanted side effects such as sparse, thinning hair and (theoretically) sagging skin on the face. So now I have to develop an anti-aging strategy for my scalp.
Fundamentally, one of the potential causes of scalp aging is the reduction of blood flow to that area. As we age the size of our hair follicles starts to shrink. With that comes reduced blood flow and fewer nutrients being delivered to the hair strand. This is the main culprit of age-related hair thinning.
I've decided to make increased blood flow to the scalp a priority. In the early days of my hair journey, I incorporated scalp massages and even scalp brushing into my routine. But once I reached my hair goals, I gave up on scalp massages because I felt that there was no real need. Now that I'm older, I've come to the realization that scalp massages are even more necessary than ever before. So now I will dedicate a few minutes a day to promote scalp stimulation using a massage technique that involves moving the scalp vigorously for maximum blood flow.
Scalp massages are great but I might take things one step further by bringing inversions back into my routine. Inversion is simply the process of promoting increased blood flow directly to the head and scalp by hanging upside down. I used to hang my head off the couch or bed for a few moments at a time. Youtube is filled with videos from folks who've skyrocketed their hair growth via inversion paired with other growth-promoting hacks like drinking bamboo tea.
As you can tell, increasing blood flow will be a priority. Next on the list is lymphatic drainage. Scientists are beginning to understand the link between a healthy lymphatic system and hair growth. Fundamentally, proper lymphatic drainage is key to anti-aging. If you're a believer in gua sha facial massage then perhaps you experiment with gua sha scalp massage. Proper lymphatic drainage will keep the blood vessels healthy which will enhance the results of my circulation increasing activities (scalp massage).
Knowing what we know about how a reduction in blood flow impacts the scalp and hair, it's no wonder that one of the first signs of aging we experience are the changes in our hair. We wear sunscreen every day to prevent facial aging but what are we doing to slow down aging where it's happening the fastest?
Increasing the blood flow and circulation to the scalp is step 1 in the overall strategy. We'll talk more about the next steps in future articles.
Thursday, December 2, 2021
Over the years, I've tried a lot of techniques.
-I've placed my jade face roller in the freezer to cool before using.
-I've purchased one of these handheld facial ice rollers from Amazon. They didn't seem to hold the cold temperatures long enough.
-I also bought the glass cryotherapy globes but predicted that I'd break them so I saved myself the heartbreak.
With each attempt at mastering an easy way to bring ice therapy into my daily routine, I brought myself one step closer to finding the ultimate solution....a silicone-based ice facial mold.
Here's an example of one that makes a perfectly round ball of ice you can use on your face.
Notice how easy that was for her to use? Silicone protects the fingers from getting too cold which allows time for you to do a proper facial. I opted to purchase a larger, dome-size mold that holds enough ice for several sessions without having to refill it over and over.
The very first time I used my new silicone ice face roller, I knew I stumbled on something special. I kid you not, my skin was glowing by the time I completed the very first session. Even my hubby mentioned my glow when he came home from work. This ice facial roller is the real deal, unlike other tools that cool stone, plastic, or metal, you're exposing your skin directly to the freezing cold temps of ice.
BENEFITS OF ICE FACIAL ROLLING.
Since I have found the world's most perfect ice facial tool, my search is now complete. Every day, I can treat my skin to a simple routine that will enhance blood flow to the face. With blood flow comes additional oxygen and precious nutrients that keep the skin looking young and healthy.
The ice also seems to magically erase pores as the surface of the skin constricts in response to the cooler temperatures. But my absolute favorite benefit of doing at-home ice facials is how firm and taut the skin becomes. When it's cold out, our body prioritizes blood flow to our internal organs leaving our extremities to fend for themselves. I believe that lowered blood flow to any area of the body is a precursor to aging. Maybe that's why our hands and face tend to show signs of aging before the rest of the body. My mission in life is to promote healthy blood circulation to my face as much as possible....and I can't think of an easier way to do it than using this.
One benefit I've noticed personally is that if I do an ice facial before using a microcurrent device, I can feel the tiny shocks of the current. This leads me to believe that the moisture levels of my skin are higher allowing the electrical currents to better penetrate. Ice also helps minimize inflammation which is perfect if you're suffering from breakouts. Someone also mentioned that her makeup stays on longer when she does an ice facial as a priming step.
The benefits are endless.
Cold showers aren't your thing? Get yourself a silicone ice facial massager.
Tuesday, November 30, 2021
In the past, my lip care routine only consisted of 1 or 2 steps. That may have worked when I was basking in 100% humidity but it won't cut it now. Five steps may seem like a lot but it barely takes any time. Even if you skip a step or two, you'll still have more hydrated lips than if you only applied balm.
STEP 1: The Lip Scrubber
The first step on the road to soft, healthy lips is exfoliation. If your lips are visible dry and flaky, you don't want to skip this step. I was first introduced to silicone lip scrubbers by reality star Nikki Saint Claire. This tiny scrubber was specially made for gentle exfoliation. With lip scrubbers, your lips are instantly softer and ready for the next step of your ritual.Step 2: Facial Essence
Once you have been prepped, the next step will be to add hydrating essence to your lips. Basically, we're going to follow a routine that's similar to what we would do with our skin. Facial essence has the consistency of water without over-drying as it evaporates. Plus it has some pretty nifty anti-aging properties that dry lips can really benefit from.Step 3: Moisturizer
Next, we move to the moisturizer step. I first learned about applying moisturizer to the lips as a tip from a celebrity makeup artist. Adding this extra step changed the game for me. There is nothing like the feeling of happing truly hydrated lips. The problem I have is that if my lips feel dry, I start to lick them. And we all know what happens when we lick our lips. The saliva evaporates quickly making them feel even dryer than before. I find that by using a moisturizer, that feeling of dryness is gone and so is the underlying urge to lick.Step 4: Facial Oil
Now we move on to a critical junction in this 5 step lip routine. This is a step that I haven't included before. Instead of jumping straight to lip balm, I urge you to nourish your lips with a couple drops of your favorite oil. Unlike balm, oil is meant to be absorbed into the lip infusing it with yummy micronutrients and fatty acids. It's also the first step that seals in all the work you've done so far. Please do not use a high shine gloss for this step, you need to use an actual plant oil. Preferably one that your skin already loves. Lightweight oils like squalane work well but if you live in a particularly dry, cold area, go for a more nourishing option like vitamin E.
Step 5: Lip Balm
Finally, we move on to the step that we all know and love. Our winter lip routine is not complete until we break out the lip balm. I recommend thicker balms like Aquaphor, Vaseline, or Glossier's Balm.com. These products are designed for optimal lip protection. Their job is to offer maximum protection for all the steps the preceded them. A lot of people make the mistake of applying balm to dry lips thinking that all of their dry lip problems will be solved. Unfortunately, they find themselves reapplying balm non-stop hoping to experience some semblance of moisture. If your lips aren't already moisturized (not with saliva) lip balm can only do so much.
Monday, November 22, 2021
I've been on a lifelong quest to find little hacks that help extend the life of my nail polish. I envy those women who are able to enjoy unchipped nail polish for days or weeks at a time. Whenever I go to the salon, I try to buy the exact polishes they used in hopes of recreating a similar outcome but never seems to work out for me.
HACK #1. CAP YOUR TIPS WITH POLISH.
@sonailicious Reply to @natimcmack this is how I do my nails to make my manicure last... ##nails ##diymanicure ##nailtok ##nailtutorial ##diynailsathome ##foryoupage
♬ Fire for You - Cannons
HACK # 2// FLOAT YOUR TOPCOAT
Topcoat floating is the art of applying your topcoat in a way that creates a greater protective layer to prevent chipping. I had to pay close attention to the video to spot the difference between normal topcoat application and the "floating" technique. While "floating" she barely presses down with the brush. This produces a thicker layer of topcoat. A thicker layer means greater protection which leads to longer-lasting nail color.@ibdbeautyofficial Try this topcoat technique called floating! This makes your nail polish last longer! 💅🏽 ##nailcheck ##nails ##selfcare
♬ death bed (coffee for your head) - Powfu & beabadoobee
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