Browsing Category: Beauty

Protect Your Hair From Sun Damage

protect hair from sun damage

I’m a firm believer in taking the necessary precautions to protect my skin from the sun by religiously applying sunscreen to my face and body before I expose it to the sun to protect it from UV rays. However, some people tend to overlook the fact that it’s just as important to protect hair from sun damage just as much as protecting your skin.

The best way to protect your hair from sun damage is to use products that are designed to do just that; protect your hair from sun damage. Therefore, you should look for and use hair products that contain UVB and UVA protection.

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Beauty Oils On-The-Go

on-the-go beauty oils

 

In the summer, my skin and I gravitate more toward beauty oils to help with all of our moisturizing needs. Since my skin is not as dry in the summer as it is in the winter, I replace my heavy creams for gentle oils. However, unlike the heavy moisturizing creams, most oils can be used for everything from moisturizing your skin to adding shine to your hair. Therefore, I tend to carry a couple of beauty oils in my purse in the warmer months and decided to share with you my current on-the-go beauty oils.

One of may favorite go-to oils is my organic marula oil by Acure Organics. It’s very gentle, soothing, and I also use on my to help mend my dry/split ends and soften my cuticles. Also, I recently added Nuxe Dry Oil to my collection, but it has been a instant love. It has a subtle scent that smells amazing on my skin. I’ve been using for my decollete area to add a subtle highlight to my chest area. However, since it’s loaded with Macadamia, Hazelnut, Borrage, Almond, Camellia and St. John’s Wort oil, it’s also really great for nourishing, soften and repairing dry skin and hair. Actually, the Nuxe dry oil is one of my current must-have beauty items I use practically everyday in way or another.

Coconut is BFF! It’s cures or aids in almost everything. One of the best things I recently discovered was that there are travel size single use pouches of coconut oil you can purchase. I get mine from Whole Foods and tend to by 5 at a time. I keep one in my purse, my work desk, my vanity area, my bathroom, and the glove compartment in my car. However, if you open it and don’t use it all, store the rest in a small ziplock bag since it melts easily. Nothing perfect.

beauty oils on the go

Are you an beauty oil fiend like me and keep one or more on you. If so, let me know which one, because I’m sure I can squeeze another one in my purse.

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Natural Deodorants

natural deodorants

I have an addiction to deodorants. Actually, it’s pretty easy to get addicted to deodorants. All you have to do is be a 8 year old girl who forgets to wear deodorant on a hot summer day in Memphis and for your older brother to exclaim (loudly) in front of all your shared friends that you’re “musty”. See? Simple. After that, prepare to spend the rest of your life carrying deodorants in your purse, no matter the season. So, yes, I’m addicted to deodorants. Ask my purse! However, in my desire to live a more natural product filled life, I’ve been exploring the world of natural deodorants.

In case you aren’t aware, most known deodorants on the market are loaded with strong chemicals and artificial ingredients, which aren’t necessary the healthiest thing to add to or on your body. Like me, you probably assumed that the point of deodorants is to prevent you from sweating and smelling. Well, that is true. However, in order for the traditional deodorants to do that, they use antiperspirants. Antiperspirants are typically aluminum, parabans, chlorohydrates, and other ingredients that are formulated to prevent you from sweating, but guess what? Your body is supposed to sweat. That’s why we are covered with sweat glands…to sweat. Sweat removes a lot of things from our body including excess water and toxins. So, you shouldn’t want those things lurking around in your body and good ole sweat helps us remove those things. Therefore, that’s one of the reasons I’ve started to use more natural deodorants.

There have been some studies about the negative side effects that those ingredients can have on your health (ask Google), but the main reason I decided to try natural deodorants is that I was more interested in exploring more natural and organic ways to live healthier lifestyle. Years ago when I first heard about natural deodorants, the main complaint was they didn’t work, because they would still sweat and smell just as bad (if not) if they wore no deodorant at all. Funny, but true. Natural deodorants have really evolved over the years and well as the market itself. There a crap load of natural deodorants out there and most have different scented options that are not only natural and break down sweat, but have fresh and fragrant options.

Ever since I added natural options to my deodorant collection, I’ve actually started to prefer my natural deodorants over the convenient antiperspirant deodorants. Below, I’ve shared some of my favorites that I feel are definitely worth trying. Even if you aren’t interested in natural products, you still my find your next favorite deodorant.

NATURAL DEODORANTS TO TRY

natural deodorants to try

  • LaVanilla  Deodorant – Available in unscented, but the scented ones are just as safe. Grapefruit and Lemon Vanilla are devine!
  • PiperWai Natural Deodorant – As seen on Shark Tank and the first natural deodorant I tried that made me a believer that all natural deodorant can block sweat body odor.
  • Tom’s of Maine Long-Lasting Deodorant – The OG of natural health care, especially their deodorant. What makes Tom’s great is that they are also available in different scents, have multiple natural scented options, and super convenient since you can find them in most drug and box stores like Target.
  • Weleda Wild Rose Deodorant – Weleda essential oil scented spray deodorants are free from antiperspirants. Warning, Weleda sprays are not intended for heavy sweaters, but for the typical low-key sweater will appreciate the fresh and crisp scents.
  • Schmidt’s Deodorant in Bergamont + Lime – Just used this for the first time this week and the scent alone makes it perfection. The fact that is natural and plant-based is the cherry on top. There are other scents available, FYI.
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Favorite Co-Wash Products

co-wash products

co-wash products

Now that it’s warming up, it’s time I give my flat iron a break and rock my head full of thick and natural curls. However, my flatiron isn’t the only thing moving to the back of my beauty closet, because my shampoo usually goes with it. Yes, it’s time to break out my co-wash products.

What is a “co-wash”, you may be wondering”? Well, co-wash is short for conditioner wash and it’s the go-to method for curly hair ladies to cleanse their hair without stripping it of any moisture from shampoos. Some people may be shocked to know that conditioners have enough ingredients to clean your scalp, but without all the ingredients that suds up your hair. The ingredients that causes shampoo to lather and suds are the usual culprits that strips your hair of its natural oils and moisture.

When I first started researching how to maintain my naturally curly hair, co-washing was one of the first things I incorporated into my life. The conditioner of choice for me back then was Suave Coconut conditioner, because it did a great job at cleaning my scalp and moisturizing my hair. Plus, it was super cheap and super effective. That was also the first time I discovered my hair’s BFF, coconut oil. What a time.

However, a lot has changed in the past 10 years. Now there are more brands that create products exclusively for curly and wavy hair. Also, some of the mainstream brands have created lines for us curly hair girls, too. Therefore, most (if not all) of these lines include a product that is exclusively designed to co-wash your hair. Some have added and/or removed certain ingredients that allow you to thoroughly clean your scalp and hair, but without stripping process. Curls need all the moisture it can get at all levels of their hair regimen.

If you are having a hard time moisturizing your thick, wavy, and/or curly hair, you might want to embrace co-washing. It’s one of the best things I’ve done for my hair.

Co-Wash Products To Try

co-wash products

  • DevaCurl No-Poo Decadence Cleanser – Devacurl products has become of my favorite brands, especially their Decadence line. My current go-to co-wash product is their One Condition Decadence Conditioner, but their new No-Poo Decedence Milk Cleanser is amazing. I just tried it this past weekend and I was floored with my results.
  • dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse – Before co-wash products, us curly hair chicks would use apple cider vinegar to help clean our scalp of product build-up. Now, there’s an ACV rinse that also infused with oils and other moisturizing ingredients.
  • Pantene Pro-V Color Preserve Cleansing Conditioner – This is a great product for us curly girls who dye our hair. This co-wash cleanses and conditions without stripping your hair of moisture or color.
  • Shea Moisture Superfruit Multivitamin Conditioning Wash – My sister’s hair is more wavy than curly and this is the only product she uses when she just wants to wash her hair and go. It’s really gentle and moisturizing. Plus, it’s another great product to use is you have color-treated curls.
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My On-the-Go Nail Kit

on-the-go nail kit

One of the things that love to do in my downtime or when I’m bored at work, is pull out my on-the-go nail kit. What is that? Oh, it’s just a little cosmetic bag full of essential items I need to maintain my nails when I don’t have the time to stop by the nail salon, which tends to be more times than I would like.

However,there is something so instantly calming about filing, buffing, and polishing my own nails. I recently cut down my natural nails from long and oval to short and square, because spring and summer is the season for bright and colorful polishes, which tend to look better on shorter nail. However, I am slowly going them back. Therefore, I always make sure that I’m in reach of my bag of nail tricks otherwise known as my on-the-go nail kit.

Check out the complete list of the nail maintenance items that I keep in my nail kit bag.

ON-THE-GO NAIL KIT ESSENTIALS:

on-the-go nail kit

  • Nail File – I’m always buying nail files left and right. My personal favorite are the 4-1 files that are designed to file, shape, buff, and shine. However, I keep a simple 2-sided file in nail kit bag, because I usually only have to smooth any rough or uneven edges.
  • Cuticle Remover – Dry cuticles are the worst. So, I try to apply cuticle oil to my nails and cuticles throughout the day. However, for those times when my cuticles are out of control; I apply this cuticle remover, let it sit for 15 seconds, gently push my cuticles back with cuticle pusher (not pictured, because I need to replace it), and wash my hands with warm, soapy water to remove the excess. Pretty simple and quick to do.
  • Nail Polish Remover Wipes – Portable nail polish wipes are ingenious gems. So far, the best one I’ve used are these Cutex one, because they aren’t super saturated and don’t drip remover everywhere. Plus, one wipe is strong enough to remover polish off of all 10 of my nails and that was with red polish. Super impressed.
  • Nail Clippers – keep nail cuticles and clippers, but I learned to leave cuticles to the professionals and applying cuticle oil to my nails have really helped me no longer need them. However, a mini pair of nail clippers not only help me when I break a nail and decide to even up the rest of the gang, but also great at snipping away those horrific (and sometimes painful) hang nails.
  • Nude Polish – As you might already be aware, I stan for nude nail polishes and always keep one in my personal nail kit. There’s always a bottle of Wet n Wild’s Private Viewing in my bag. It’s simple, glossy, and dries fast. What more can I look for when doing my nails on the go? Nothing.

Do you keep certain nail products in your purse? If so, what are your must-have nail essentials in you bag? Share below!

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