Fall is here, and it’s the perfect time to refresh and renew—not just in life, but in your skincare routine too! 🍂 Chemical peels are a fantastic way to shed summer’s sun damage, revealing smoother, brighter skin for the cooler months ahead. In our latest blog post, we dive into the wellness benefits of chemical peels, why fall is the ideal season to get one, and how you can prepare your skin for a radiant glow all season long. Ready to learn more about the power of a peel? Click to read on!
We talk a lot about healing, but we don’t always talk about where it happens.
Healing doesn’t just show up because you want it. It needs room. It needs safety. It needs softness and intention. It needs a place where you can take a breath and let your shoulders fall without being afraid of what might fall apart around you.
We all know that self-care is important, but finding a routine that works for you can feel overwhelming. With so many options out there, it’s hard to know where to start. That’s why I’m sharing a simple yet effective self-care routine that you can adapt to your own needs and lifestyle. Whether you’ve got 5 minutes or 50, these tips will help you feel refreshed, relaxed, and glowing inside and out.
In life, there may be times when negativity seems to surround you, suffocating your dreams and destroying your hope. When that happens, many go through their day being saturated with negativity and accepting it as a way of life. While you can’t always control what happens to you, you can control how you respond to it. Seek to create a positive environment for yourself and you’ll begin to become more motivated to achieve your dreams and goals. Here are 8 ways to stay motivated through hard times:
Visualize the results. Sometimes you have to keep your eyes on the prize. Staying focused is going to be your biggest helper.
Focus on your own goals. Set goals for yourself, whether in life or business or both and stay focused on that alone.
Remember your why. This goes back to staying focused on your own goals. Remember why you started and keep working to fulfil that goal.
Be Consistent. You should be working on your goals in some capacity every day.
Break down bigger goals into smaller ones. Sometimes big goals can make you feel overwhelmed so breaking them down into smaller, more realistic goals can help you stay motivated to keep going.
Get help when needed. Whether it’s talking with someone about your struggles or simply getting an accountability partner, having someone in your corner can be the push you need to keep moving forward.
See the big picture. This step goes hand in hand with numbers 1 and 3. Remembering why you started and visualizing the finish line can be the push you need to keep going. In seeing the big picture, see yourself finishing your goals and get excited about how accomplished you’ll feel after crushing it.
Resist the urge to compare and compete. Nobody can do what you do quite like you so resist the urge to compare your journey to someone else’s. What’s for you is for you and your process won’t look or be the same. The same goes for competition.
In the end, staying positive is the key to self-motivation. You may not feel like it everyday but going through a few of these steps each day can keep you on track to reach your goals. #GoalGetEm!
As a beauty brand owner, designing products is the best part of my job. If I had to pick a favorite product it would be lip products all day. With all the options currently on the market, choosing a formula that is right for you can get a bit overwhelming. Some are for moisturization, some for all day wear and there are others that provide nothing more than all day shine. Much like skincare, to choose what works for you, you will need to know your lip type. Are your lips dry a lot? You need to exfoliate and will want to use something that moisturizes. Your type can also depend on what season we’re currently in. Taking all of this into account, here’s a few formulas worth mentioning:
Crème - This type lives somewhere between a matte and a gloss and are highly pigmented. They tend to be hydrating, depending on the formula and provide full coverage yet smooth wear.
Matte – Matte lipsticks have become extremely popular over the years with several brands offering smudge-proof, waterproof and kiss-proof wear but they tend to be very drying without proper lip care. The upside is that they are long-lasting and are usually highly pigmented for full color payoff.
Gloss – If you like a shiny pout, glosses are for you. Usually, color isn’t as important although they come in both clear and shades. Another added alternative is to purchase a gloss-based lip plumper for the illusion of fuller, plumper lips.
Lip Crayons – A combination of a lipstick and a lip balm, this product comes in many formulas but is mostly creamy and soft in texture. The color payoff is subtle as it’s more about moisturization than it is pigmentation. Choose this for a fuss-free flush of color and hydration.
Knowing your lip type and the finish/texture of a lip product will greatly reduce the chances of you losing money by choosing products that don’t work for you. If you’re anything like me and love the idea of building collections, at least do so by knowing what you’re getting and the best way it can be worn.
Happy Shopping!
One of the first steps to creating a skincare routine is determining your skin type. While this may sound confusing, it's actually pretty simple! If you already know what your skin type is, you can skip this section and move onto the next step (Yay!). If you're unsure of your skin type, don't fret; there are several ways to figure it out. Your skin type is just that: a category based on your genetics, age, geographic location, and other factors that determines how your skin looks and feels. Your skin type is different from your skin condition, which can include things like acne or rosacea. You could have a skin condition in addition to your particular skin type, but these conditions aren't always there. Your skin type is always there. The best way is to check with a dermatologist or your local Esthetician, who will perform an in-depth analysis of your skin and assess what kind of care it needs. You can also determine your skin type yourself—by looking at how your complexion reacts to a range of different products. For example, if you notice that certain products cause drying or irritation (or no effects at all), then that’s a good indication of what you should be looking for in skincare moving forward (i.e., dryness = hydrating products). There are five basic categories of skin types: normal, oily, dry, combination, and sensitive. It's possible that you might have more than one category of these skin types in different parts of your face (like an oily T-zone) but for the most part, there's one category that best describes what kind of dryness or oiliness your face has.
We'll walk you through a few simple steps to help determine which category fits you best:
Normal skin has small pores and is not overly oily or dry.
Normal skin has small pores and is not overly oily or dry. It looks and feels healthy, smooth, firm, and even.
In normal skin, the sebaceous (oil) glands are active but not overactive. They produce adequate amounts of natural oils to keep the skin soft, smooth, supple, hydrated (moisture-rich), and protected. The surface cells under the top layer of the epidermis are tightly packed together like tiles on a roof. They form a barrier that keeps moisture in and environmental pollutants out.
Normal skin has an even tone with few blemishes or blotches.
Oily skin is often shiny and prone to blackheads, whiteheads and pimples.
People with oily skin often have large pores as well, which can become clogged with dirt and oil that can lead to blackheads and whiteheads.
Oily skin also makes people more prone to pimples and acne because dead skin cells mix with the oil and clog the pores. That's why it's important for people with oily skin to cleanse their face regularly.
Experts generally agree that your diet doesn't affect how much oil your body produces, though it might make you break out if you're eating too many greasy foods.
Treatments for oily skin include:
cleansing the face regularly.
moisturizing regularly to keep the glands from producing too much oil,
exfoliating,
using a mask,
changing pillowcases frequently
Combination skin means you have different kinds of skin on your face — for example, oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
Most people have combination skin, which means you have different kinds of skin on your face — for example, oily T-zone and dry cheeks.
You may have oily skin around your nose, forehead and chin, with dry skin on your cheeks and around your eyes.
Your skin type can change with age, as you get older you may produce less oil and your skin may become drier.
Dry skin is flaky, scaly or rough. It might be itchy or irritated because of its dryness.
Dry skin is flaky, scaly or rough. It might be itchy or irritated because of its dryness. Dry skin is common in older people, who may have a natural tendency to lose moisture more easily. Dry skin can also be caused by washing too often or using harsh soaps that remove the natural oils from your skin. You're more likely to get dry if you live in a cold, dry climate with low humidity levels.
Sensitive skin needs special care because it reacts adversely to some products that aren't a problem for other skin types.
If you have sensitive skin, taking care of it is not as straightforward as simply using products that work well for you. You need special care because your skin will react negatively to some ingredients and products that may be okay for other skin types. It’s important to always use gentle products and avoid those with fragrances. Every day, use sunscreen, moisturizers and gentle cleansers in order to keep your skin hydrated and prevent irritation.
Knowing your skin type will help you take better care of your skin.
Considering your skin type is an important part of choosing the right skincare products. Knowing your skin type will also help you to avoid triggers that make your skin problems worse.
Skin type is genetic. You are born with it, and you may notice that all the women in your family have similar personal experiences with their skin. Skin can also change as you age or because of environmental factors such as stress or the weather. For example, you may have dry skin now but oily in the summer months when your sebaceous glands are more active. Or, if you have sensitive skin, going through a stressful period might cause a flare-up. Our skin tends to change over time so regularly "checking in" with your skin and adjusting your routine and products accordingly will keep you on the right track in obtaining healthy skin.
With love,
When it comes to beauty, there's a lot of debate about what's worth spending money on and what isn't.
The beauty industry is massive and is constantly developing new products that promise to make our lives easier, more attractive and glamorous. But with so many products available, how do we know which ones are worth the price tag?
Whether you're looking for something affordable or high-end, here are some pros and cons of each type of product:
Affordable Beauty Pros: Affordable beauty products tend to be more accessible than their high-end counterparts. They're also usually cheaper in general, making them an easy way to get more bang for your buck! Affordable products are also great for those who are just getting into the world of beauty. With so many options out there, it can be hard to know where to start. Affordable products allow you to experiment without feeling like you're spending too much money.
Affordable Beauty Cons: Some people prefer paying a little extra for premium quality. While affordable beauty products may be less expensive upfront, they can end up costing you more in the long run because they don't last as long or perform as well as pricier alternatives.
High-End Beauty Pros: High-end beauty products are usually more expensive than their affordable counterparts. However, they're often better quality and can last longer than cheaper options. For example, some high-end makeup brands contain fewer ingredients than their drugstore counterparts, which means there's less chance of irritation or allergies developing as a result of using them.
High-End Beauty products also tend to have a higher concentration of active ingredients and other beneficial compounds, which can make them more effective than their less expensive counterparts. For example, some high-end face masks are formulated with ingredients like charcoal or green tea, both of which are known for their ability to draw out impurities from the skin.
High-End Beauty Cons: While it's true that some high-end beauty products contain fewer ingredients than their drugstore counterparts, they're also typically more expensive. So, if you're on a budget, opting for a cheaper product may be a better choice. In addition, not all of the claims made by high-end beauty brands are necessarily backed up by scientific evidence—and sometimes those claims can even be misleading. So, while it's true that a product's price doesn't always correlate to its quality, it's important to be mindful of what you're buying.
How to Choose Between High-End and Drugstore Products: If you're trying to decide whether or not a high-end beauty product is worth the money, ask yourself these questions: Why do I want this product? What kind of results am I looking for? Can I get those same results with a cheaper alternative? Read lots of reviews before you buy a product and be sure to check out reviews of the cheaper alternatives as well. If a product seems too good to be true, it probably is. Don't fall for marketing hype—try before you buy!
XO,
African American skincare and beauty is often overlooked by mainstream media, but it's time for us to put our best face forward. It’s time for us to celebrate our beautiful, melanin-rich skin. It's time for us to join together in the fight against colorism and all of its many facets, including beauty standards and how they affect women of color. This is the time for us to celebrate our beauty and honor our heritage. It’s time for us to be proud of who we are, where we come from and what makes us different.
Black skin has long been a source of pride and beauty for African Americans, and there are many misconceptions about how to take care of it. We want to set the record straight on what it means to have black skin and how you can make sure your skin stays healthy, radiant, and full of life. Black skin is beautiful, and it’s just as important to take care of as any other type of skin. Unfortunately, mainstream skincare doesn’t always cater to our needs. Many companies don’t consider the unique needs of black skin when developing their products—and that means many African Americans are left with products that don’t work for them. Black skin is a unique asset, and it’s important to take care of it. There are certain things you should know about black skin and how to take care of it.
What is Black Skin?
Black skin refers to any shade of dark brown or brown-to-black pigmentation that occurs naturally in people of African descent. It's also called "melanin-rich" due to its high concentration of melanin (a natural pigment). This pigment produces your unique color and protects your hair from UV light damage.
Why is Black Skin Important?
Black skin is important because it helps protect us against sun damage by absorbing harmful rays before they reach our fragile skin cells. While all humans need some form of protection from UV light exposure, those with darker complexions tend to burn more easily than those with lighter ones—especially in areas where there's less melanin present (e.g., face/forehead).
African Americans have a unique skin type. They tend to have more melanin than other races, which means they have darker skin and can experience more hyperpigmentation than other races. This can be due to genetics or environmental factors such as sun exposure or pollution. Skin color for African Americans can be a bit complicated and therefore skincare is sometimes overlooked. Health concerns such as hyper-pigmentation, hydration, and sensitivity should be taken into consideration while also taking into account environmental factors such as acne, fine lines/wrinkles, and dryness. As with any product or ingredient that you are introducing to your body, it is critical to know what works best for your unique skin type.
Skin cancer is a major concern for people of color. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, men who are African American have the highest incidence rate of melanoma, at 43 percent higher than white men. In addition, women who are African American have double the risk of melanoma when compared with white women. The melanin particles protect your body by absorbing harmful UV rays before they reach your cells, but there is still a small chance that some rays will pass through undamaged by melanin and cause damage if they're not protected enough by sunscreen or other preventative measures like staying out of direct sunlight when possible, during peak hours (10am-4pm).
Even if your skin isn’t dark, you can still get melanoma and other types of skin cancer. The risk is slightly lower in people with darker complexions, but it's not a guarantee that they won't develop the disease.
How to Protect Your Skin from the Sun
-Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher.
-Wear protective clothing: hats, long sleeves and pants.
-Seek shade whenever possible. The risk of melanoma is also increased in people with a history of sunburns, especially if they were younger than 18 years old when they experienced their first sunburn.
It's important to note that these are just general guidelines and not everyone will experience the same levels of risk. The increase in melanin production is not the only way that your body reacts when you're exposed to UV radiation. Sun damage can also cause changes in the elasticity of your skin and a breakdown of collagen, resulting in wrinkles, fine lines and sagging. The UV rays from the sun are also thought to contribute to further development of skin cancer as well as other health conditions such as premature aging and cataracts.
It's very important that African American women tend to their skin in a manner consistent with the harshness of their environment. There are many ways to take care of our skin such as: use sunscreen, drinking plenty of water, do not purge your skin from its natural oils, avoid direct sun exposure and much more. The first step is to take inventory of your individual skin needs and concerns and then take action by seeing your local esthetician/dermatologist for an individualized treatment or prevention plan but also educate yourself on how what you use on the inside and out affects the quality, health and appearance of your skin.
