How to Achieve a Natural Glow

Natural Skin Care

In today’s society where beauty is considered to be plastered on with what looks to be 10lbs of makeup, how do you maintain beautiful skin naturally? The answer is very simple… meal planning and water.  I know that sounds like it’s too good to be true.  What you put in your body comes out through your hair, skin and nails. So make better decisions on what you eat and drink.

Meals that are well balanced and heavier on vegetables will give your skin the glow you’ve always wanted. I mean did you really think that fried foods, cakes/pies and sodas was going to have looking flawless like Beyonce’, Rhianna or Kim K.? Ensure that your meals include a spectrum of the rainbow. Colorful meals not only look good on a plate but they also provide an abundance of vitamins and nutrients that will aide in beautiful skin naturally.

Take a moment and think of your favorite plant or flower. Now would you nourish that plant or place those flowers in soda or juice?  So why do you feed your body those overly sweetened drinks?  The key to elasticity in skin is consuming plenty of water, at least a gallon a day or as close to it as possible. Keeping hydrated with water significantly reduces the aging process, which curtails wrinkles and saggy skin. Combine with a regular exercise routine and you can look young forever.

Now for those of you that have indulged in unhealthy eating habits and your skin shows it by means of acne, scars and etc. there are some topical remedies that will help. But first you MUST adhere to advice that was aforementioned in order for it to work.

Keep the following items at home as they will help to achieve radiant skin and reduce the visibility of scars:

-       Fresh Lemons

-       100% Pure Tea Tree Oil

-       Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JBCO)

-       Coconut Oil

-       Ground Cinnamon

-       Raw Honey

-       Greek Yogurt

-       Turbinado Sugar

By mixing a combination of these ingredients you will notice smoother, blemish free, glowing skin, which will almost eliminate the need for any makeup.

Lemons are acidic and have natural lightening affects.  By applying fresh squeezed lemon juice to scars on a regular basis, it will over time lighten scars and blemishes.

Tea Tree oil is antibacterial and will help to alleviate acne. Tea tree oil MUST be diluted with a carrier oil such as JBCO or coconut oil when applied to the skin. Best result when used at night before retiring to bed. Or it can be applied then steamed into the skin with a hot towel.

JBCO is used to help reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. It provides a amazing moisture to your skin and aides in keeping that youthful look.

Coconut Oil has a ton of uses and its antimicrobial. It provides a light UV protectant from the sun.

 

Ground cinnamon when mixed with turbinado sugar and raw honey will give you natural looking pink lips. Not only that but it will make you lips softer and more kissable, so pucker up and scrub away! Blend ingredients with fresh lemon juice to lighten dark lips.

Greek yogurt contains natural bacteria that will reduce inflammation and the severity of acne breakouts. It is an alpha hydroxy acid that will exfoliate dead skin cells. Mix with honey and lemon juice to lighten and moisturize at the same time.

These tips, will over time, work with consistent use to give you that “I woke up like this” look, naturally. Eventually you will reduce the need for makeup and be beautifully you from the inside out!

Choosing Products for Locs

With the growing trend in the naturals community more and more people are deciding to rock locs. Also with that increase there are an exorbitant amount of products marketed for locs, braids and twists. Interesting enough as I stated in an earlier blog “Exposing Deception in Natural HairProducts” some of these lines simply add a mere drop of “catch phrase”/ “Trending” natural oils or butters to lure you into purchasing their hair care product.

I know many of you do your own locs at home; either for cost reasons, trust issues, or simply a preference, its really hard to see and reach the back of your head, which leads to you not being able to tell the full extent of what you have going on with your tresses. You can always ask a friend or complete stranger (as their answer will be unbiased) to be brutally honest and tell you what they see going on with your hair. Although they may not have a trained eye and know what to look for, it may help you to get a better understanding of what’s really going on with your locs.

Understand that a little goes a long way. So when using products usually the equivalent of a nickel will cover one entire row of locs and the size of a quarter will do two and a half rows. Some of you go waaaaaay overboard and use hair care lines in excess. You should have learned in elementary school, that anything in excess is not good (or did you? Inserts wide eye blank stare SMH) Also learn ingredient scientific names this way you won’t be deceived. (Exposing The Deception in Natural Hair Products explains this in more detail)

There is this HUGE MAJOR debate going on about what products to use on locs and what products to stay away from. OMG, if I see one more person say that they use XYZ line, I’m going to scream… Aaaaaaahhhhhh  (woo I just saw another post, rolls eyes) Here’s my take on hair care lines… If you like it keep rocking with it. BUT (and that’s a HUGE BUT) if and when you decide to choose a professional loctician to care for your locs and they say you have build up and need an ACV soak for an additional charge, just fork over the duckets and don’t get in your feelings.

If your locs have an ashy or gray cast to them, then your sir or madam, definitely have build up.  Go straight to your nearest sink for an ACV soak and do not Pass Go this step, LOL, But serious. ACV soaks should not be done on a regular basis just as needed. Vinegar will strip hair of natural oils causing hair to become dry and brittle especially on color treated locs if done too often.  I would recommend doing it once every 6 months if you are not active and don’t sweat a lot. For my active loc stars, those that play sports, work out, or just sweat profusely, I recommend once a quarter or every 3 months. This will help with removing that sweaty smell from your locs.

Just be cautious of what you are putting in your hair, locs, dreadlocks & etc. Those unnatural ingredients (made in a lab and not in nature) are also being absorbed in your skin. That skin on your head is called scalp, which is really close to your brain. IJS (that might explain why some are a little… well ummmm… you know) LOL  Use whatever works for you. There are a plethora of hair textures and curl patterns, so what works for one may not work for others. Choose your products wisely, the less you do and use makes it S.imple to K.eep Y.our H.air H.ealthy!