Fantastic Feet | Essentials for healthy feet all winter long

Fantastic Feet | Essentials for healthy feet all winter long

Confession.  Every fall and winter, I do something horrible.  I allow the excuse of having covered feet to release me of my responsibilities... 10/30/2014

Confession.  Every fall and winter, I do something horrible.  I allow the excuse of having covered feet to release me of my responsibilities of caring for them.  They no longer become a priority once I put away my open toed sandals.

Months pass. Then suddenly, my desire for healthy looking feet takes over.  But by then, I've got to work double just make them presentable to the world again.  But this fall will be different. Instead of being neglectful, I plan on proactively carrying out a plan to nurture my feet.  Good thing I came across my new fave, Johnson's Baby Oil Gel.   Shout out to all of you who left comments on my previous post on using the Baby Oil Gel on damp skin for maximum effect.

Then of course there's good ole' fashion petroleum jelly for maximum moisture retention.  Rubbing a little petroleum jelly on the bottoms of your feet then putting on some comfy socks before bed does wonders for dry, cracked heels.  I opt to go for a natural alternative because I think there's something unique the bottoms of our feet. Meaning, I think they have they are likely to absorb chemicals into the body.  I read somewhere that our feet have large pores (that's why they sweat in hot temperatures).  I tried a weird fever home remedy once,  that involved wrapping bags containing raw egg whites around my feet.  

I reluctantly tried it because I was dealing with an uncomfortable fever and I was desperate. Once the bags were on my feet, I feel asleep. When I woke up, the fever was gone.  Although I didn't know what happened, I made the assumption that the bottom of our feet wasn't just old dead skin but was highly permeable.  Think about those foot detox pads.  They claim to remove toxins from the body through the soles of our feet.  Long story short, I prefer to use natural products like pure coconut oil or this Un-Petroleum Jelly, on my heels & the bottoms of my feet, whenever possible.

Last, but most certainly not least, my feet would be disastrous if I weren't consistently exfoliating on a regular basis.  Many thanks to "yasjecon" for her video that inspired me take on the habit of exfoliating every day.  Things haven't been the same since.  Exfoliating with a buffer pad every day in the shower has transformed my feet.  When the weather is extra dry I like to add a little of my Shea Sugar scrub to take things up a notch.  I also realized that I can utilize the Clarisonic Pro to aid in the war against dry feet.  This enhanced Clarisonic system comes with a body brush and extended handle that makes it easy to reach my feet while in the shower.  I realize that Clarisonic came out with a Pedi Sonic Brush system made especially for feet but I'll try this method out first before checking it out.

Next, I'm on to researching ways to create the healthiest toenails I can possibly have.  You bet I'll be sharing my tips on what worked for me once I experience results.

Be blessed.

Currently Craving.

Currently Craving.

I completely adore these lightweight trenches .  They just scream that "fall is here!" Best of all, they perfectly compliment what... 10/28/2014

I completely adore these lightweight trenches.  They just scream that "fall is here!" Best of all, they perfectly compliment whatever you are wearing without taking away from your overall look.  I need to have one of these before the year is over.  

I keep filling my Pinterest boards with collections of spaces with a simplistic, minimalistic feel.  Just looking at them clears my mind and brings tons of inspiration.  It's perfect timing because this is the time of the year when I like to declutter my space to make room for more.

I'm actually proud of how I've managed to stay disciplined with my handbag obsession.  But, if I were to add a couple more into my collection, I'd go for a Chanel Boy with gold trim.   But before I do, I'd definitely go for the Givenchy Antigona. A couple of years ago, I invested $200 into a quality work bag from  Michael Kors.  That bag has been through absolutely everything and still maintained it's quality.  I'd love to step my game up a little with regards to my business appropriate bags and this is just perfect.  I stopped by the Chanel store a while back and took a look at their offerings for business appropriate bags.  I told the sales agent that I wanted something that could hold my laptop.  He recommended a couple of options then I showed him a pic of the Antigona to which he replied that the Givenchy bag would better meet my needs.  I'd love to add it to my collection in 2015.

If I could find a quality fitted motorcycle jacket that looked as amazing as the one pictured here, I'd grab it in a heart beat.  My goal is to search high and low until it somehow finds its way into my closet.

Beauty Ritual | Creating bright, healthy skin daily

Beauty Ritual | Creating bright, healthy skin daily

Lately I've been thinking about how important it is for me to ramp up my daily facial routine.  This stems from my observation of countl... 10/23/2014

Lately I've been thinking about how important it is for me to ramp up my daily facial routine.  This stems from my observation of countless faces as I wander through crowded airports.  I see people with dull, lifeless skin and there are others who's skin gives off the appearance of life and vitality.  The difference between them is night and day.

I've made the unscientific conclusion that blood flow to the face is a major factor in the appearance of the facial skin. It just seems like healthy blood flow to the skin brings it to life!  Unfortunately, as time passes, our circulation slows which takes away the look of glowing skin. Healthy, glowing skin is  the end game so I've decided to incorporate a few daily actions to bring about that end result.

My goal is to allot a specific amount of time each day to promote healthy blood flow & stimulation to the face.  I've got some tricks up my sleeve that will make a world of difference. Especially since I've been operating with much less sleep lately.  These techniques will keep me looking well rested and fresh no matter what happened the night before.

Face Massage
Probably the most direct way to drive oxygen rich blood to the face.  Not only does massage help tone the face but it can promote the building of new collagen while delivering healthy blood flow to the skin.  My favorite is Tanaka Massage which also helps to stimulate the lymphatic system (which detoxifies).  When I do this daily, my face seems to appear more toned and lifted.  Best of all the entire process takes less than 20 minutes.  If I don't have 20 minutes to spare, I can always reach for my massage tools to help speed things up.

Steaming/Ice Facial
Hot and cold temperatures have an amazing ability to stimulate the blood.  Back when I took cold showers, my face always seemed to look fresh and healthy.  Our bodies rush blood to the area in an effort to combat the cold.  Let's not forget the fact that ageless rapper Pharrell owes his youthful appearance with his daily habit of using cold water on his face.  Heck, even Sanaa Lathan knows the power of using hot and cold therapy to promote youth.  I may dabble with using an ice cube  after washing my face to close up pores, creating that flawless finish. Another option could be to place my Evian facial water in the fridge before misting.

Yoga Inversions
Then, of course, you can always "force" blood flow to the face by practicing inversions.  Yoga is a perfect way to promote positions where the head receives the most blood flow.  As you may already know, inversions impact both the face and the hair.  Some say they've experienced as much as an inch of new growth in 7 days.  Earlier this year, headstands were a part of my daily routine.  I really need to start doing that again.


Water
Sometimes, when I'm sitting in a dull meeting, about to fall asleep, I reach for my water bottle and take the biggest swig.  Suddenly, I can feel the water rushing through my body and I'm no longer tired. When ever you think of increasing circulation, the first thing that should go through your mind is drinking lots of water.  Without adequate water in the blood stream, nothing can properly circulate.  Whenever I go a long time without drinking adequate water, I like to imagine that my oxygen rich blood is slowing becoming thick and sluggish.  That tends to motivate me to get things flowing again as quickly as possible.  Without enough water in your system, all those other things I mentioned in the post become null and void.   So, for the 15 trillionth time, drink more water.


P.S. The advice in this post should be paired with the exfoliation tips mentioned in this post to create the ultimate in perfect skin.

Currently Loving | Johnson's Baby Oil Gel

Currently Loving | Johnson's Baby Oil Gel

One thing I will be doing much more often is stopping random people in street for skin and hair care recommendations.  If I hadn't had t... 10/19/2014

One thing I will be doing much more often is stopping random people in street for skin and hair care recommendations.  If I hadn't had the courage to ask the beautiful flight attendant for her skin care regimen, I would never stumbled on this wonderful little gem.

If you recall, the stewardess was gushing over how much Johnson's baby oil gel softened her skin.  After gliding my finger across her forearm, I was sold.  At the very next opportunity, I skipped on over to the store to pick up a bottle.  Quite honestly, I was a bit taken a back when I first looked at the product.  It kinda reminded me of hair gel.  The last thing I wanted to do was rub hair gel all over my body.

But I stepped forward anyway.  Squeezing a little into my hand and rubbing along my dry skin.  Knowing that the driest months are ahead, I was hoping this could provide deep moisture where I need it most.  Johnson's Baby Oil Gel did not disappoint.  Yes, it's thick but somehow manages to glide on easily and evenly.  Once rubbed into the skin, the gel leaves behind a really nice shine. A little bit really goes a long way. And yes, my skin is left soft and pretty like the gorgeous flight attendant.  I adore Johnson's baby oil gel.  It eradicated my horribly dry skin in just moments and left it feeling moisturized for a very long time.

If you battle dry skin each winter, do me a favor and grab some of this.  Your skin will thank you.

Two techniques to eliminate puffiness and under eye bags.

Two techniques to eliminate puffiness and under eye bags.

This post is a result of a special request from one of my beloved Facebook group members.  She's checked out my past "celebrity sec... 10/18/2014

This post is a result of a special request from one of my beloved Facebook group members.  She's checked out my past "celebrity secrets" posts and wondered if I came across anything regarding to under eye circles and puffiness.  I was delighted to receive that request because, as a person who often goes with little sleep, healthy under eyes are constantly on my mind.

As far as celebrity secrets go, I'm sure many of you have heard the recommendation of using Vaseline under eyes to help ward off wrinkles.  I think there's value in keeping the eye area lubricated.  If you think about it, that part of our face moves more than any other.  All of that movement is bound impact the surrounding skin if we don't take precautions.  After reading of the amazing skin benefits of using coconut oil, I think that could serve as a viable alternative to petroleum jelly.

Now, let's talk about puffiness. I'm of the belief that other concerns could be related to under eye bags.  Obviously lack of sleep is a huge factor.  Whenever I'm sleep deprived, I feel it most around my eyes.  They feel strained, like they're stressed out. Aside from little sleep, I've actaully experienced greater under eye concerns when my diet is off.  Eating wheat gave me huge eye bags. I'm sure all the inflammation in my body had something to do with it.  Once I move towards more of a plant based diet, things shifted.  The first tip in minimizing under eye puffiness is to do whatever you can to promote an alkaline pH and manage inflammation.  This means minimizing sugar, fried foods, stress, wheat etc. You can further counteract inflammation by drinking lemon water, eating greens, drinking smoothies and lots of water. 

Now let's get to the nitty gritty.  I have a couple of techniques to address current under eye circles, puffiness and even wrinkles. 

Technique #1: Lymphatic Massage
Lymphatic massage saved my life whenever I woke up with puffy morning face.  My favorite is Tanaka Massage.  There's a part in the video where we do lymphatic massage on the eye.  This helps to drain any fluid that collects under the eye.  The whole experience helps move toxins away from the face where it can eventually be eliminated.  Try this technique as your regular morning routine.  Trust me, you will notice a difference.


Technique #2:  Pinching Massage
This technique is a little more aggressive than Tanaka Massage.  Here's the thing, all of your life you've been told to be gentle around the eye to avoid causing wrinkles.  I'm of a different belief.  There are those who have noticed that rigorous massage round the eye actually can help promote healthy blood flow to that area (which can help eliminate dark circles).  Not only does the blood flow improve, but this "pinching massage" is said to also have the ability to actually thicken the skin around the eye by promoting the formation of new collagen.  The result?  Fewer wrinkles, and more youthful looking eyes. 

I am an avid user of the pinching massage technique.  Unfortunately, I don't have any video demonstration so I'll try my best to explain.  Basically, I take my thumb and middle finger (or thumb and pointer) and pinch around my eyes.  I take a little skin and roll it between my finger tips(NOT USING MY NAILS).    I also do it on my eyelid to promote thicker skin.  I pay special attention to the corner of my eyes to avoid crows feet when I smile.  When I first began this practice, I was gentle around the under eye and, as time passed, I was able to increase the amount of pressure.  Don't go crazy until your skin gets used to it. You do not want to cause any bruising to the skin.

This method counteracts traditional advice out there telling you to use only your pinky finger to gently pat that area.  I'm of the belief that everything atrophies unless it receives the right amount of blood flow and stimulation.  Stimulation promotes life!  This eye pinching technique works extremely well for me.  But alas, if I'm not consistent, things start to go back to the way they were.

I'm drafting a post on stimulationg the entire facial area as part of a daily beauty routine.  Make sure you don't miss it!

The one time when protein overload may be a good thing

The one time when protein overload may be a good thing

For the past week or so, I got a little lazy with my moisturizing routine.  In an effort to save time, I skipped a few steps. Instead of app... 10/14/2014

For the past week or so, I got a little lazy with my moisturizing routine.  In an effort to save time, I skipped a few steps. Instead of applying liquid, then moisturizer then oil, I only did two steps.  First I misted my hair with Evian Facial Mist spray then finished up with coconut oil.  This routine was pretty much repeated daily since I traveled all week.

While all of this was happening, I wasn't thinking about the eventual outcome of using coconut oil every day.  As you might recall, coconut oil is said to have the power to provide the hair strand with protein.  Each day my hair was essentially absorbing protein. By the time the week was over, my hair was feeling stiff and didn't absorb moisture as well.

On Sunday I decided to touch up my roots (p.s. my last touch up was about 3 months ago. Normally I like to wait 4 months but I experienced quite a bit of growth from taking bamboo tea regularly during the late summer months) .  At the start of the relaxer process, I put a little coconut oil on my hair to help protect the hair from the relaxer run-off.  It wasn't until half way through the relaxer process that it dawned on me that the stiffness I was experiencing was probably a result of all that layering of coconut oil.  But here's the thing.  By the time I rinsed the relaxer out, I realized just how great my hair felt.  The stiffness went away but my hair still felt strong and resilient.

Then I thought, perhaps the additional protein within my strands added another layer of protection during the chemical process.  Typically, after a touch up, I go through this rebuilding phase where I pamper my hair with protein rich products to put strength back into my hair.  This time was different.  I should mention that I still did the responsible thing by adding a little pure protein + silk amino acids to my relaxer mix.  Everything worked together to create a wonderful symphony of strength.  Heck, I didn't need to break out my Tiger Reconstructor spray. 

I will definitely pay close attention to my protein levels prior to relaxing in the future.  One thing I'll do differently next time will be to provide as much protein lovin' to my roots as to the rest of my length.  After all, that's the hair closest to the line of fire. A day or so has passed and everything is just peachy keen.  Now that my hair feels pretty balanced, I'll go back to my regularly scheduled moisturizing routine.  At least now I have a strategy for when next wash day comes around.

New In | Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails gummies

New In | Nature's Bounty Hair, Skin & Nails gummies

Immediately after featuring this product in a past Instagram Beauty Secrets post , these interesting looking biotin treats were placed on my... 10/12/2014

Immediately after featuring this product in a past Instagram Beauty Secrets post, these interesting looking biotin treats were placed on my wish list.  A little time passed but I'm happy to say that I finally have a these biotin rich gummies within my clutches.

Let me just start off by saying these are REALLY good.  Too good to be considered a nutritional supplement.  I'm ashamed to say that I have taken way more than the recommended dosage.  Not because I'm trying to ramp up my nutrition but because these gummies are so good, I can't stop eating them.  Honestly, I can't tell you which tastes better, these or NeoCell's Beauty Bursts. Actually, they're both perfect.  

I'm just happy to have go to options whenever my sweet tooth kicks in.  Not only do they satisfy my cravings but they help support my hair regimen as well.  What more can I ask for?

Three things to do after a trim to prevent new split ends

Three things to do after a trim to prevent new split ends

This whole micro trimming thing has really got me thinking.  Since I'll slowly be eliminating a decent amount of length, I want to make ... 10/07/2014

This whole micro trimming thing has really got me thinking.  Since I'll slowly be eliminating a decent amount of length, I want to make sure the process is as effective as possible. What I want most is to protect the hair after each trim to ensure that retention is at its highest.

For a while now, I've nagging question about whether I should take additional actions right after trimming to prevent new split ends from forming.  Last week I picked up one of those mini sewing kits.  I had quite a difficult time threading the needle so I tried trimming off the end of the thread to make it easier.  But each time I cut a bit off, the end of the thread began to split. When I trimmed off the split, the same thing happened again.



Then I wondered if this was happening to my hair without my knowledge every time I trimmed. Next I reflected on what I could do avoid that dreaded outcome from taking place.  My very first thought was how glad I was to have found Nexxus' ProMend products.  If you recall correctly, they have the ability to actually bind split ends together, preventing them from moving up the shaft.  That would be a perfect post trim treatment.

If I want to take things to next level, I could cauterize my ends using an actual flame.  After first learning about this technique of permanently sealing the ends, I became super curious.  Curious enough to try a couple of times. No. My hair didn't burst into a huge ball of flames, like I first thought it would. My assessment is that the technique is effective in preventing splits from moving up the shaft.  So, if I wanted to use an extreme method of split end prevention, this would be it.



One last thing that I MUST do to protect my ends is practice heavy sealing.  Keeping the ends highly lubricated is the secret to retention.  This fall and winter I'm going to step it up and reach for thicker oil for my ends.  Maybe shea butter, castor oil or vitamin E.  Whichever the case, I'm sure my  newly trimmed ends will love it. Basically, I will be babying my ends before, during, and after each trim to make sure that everything stays on track.   And I vow to stick to this routine even if I know that I'll be trimming them off anyway.  This is so I can maintain the habit even as I slow down the frequency of my trims.

The end goal is retention, retention, retention.  I see this whole micro trimming thing as a serious weapon in this war on breakage.  Especially if you aren't big on protective styling like me. 

Crodabond CSA: The blend that claims to seal your cuticle layer shut.

Crodabond CSA: The blend that claims to seal your cuticle layer shut.

I get all excited whenever I learn about a new hair care ingredient that promises to significantly impact the health of the hair.  There... 10/01/2014

I get all excited whenever I learn about a new hair care ingredient that promises to significantly impact the health of the hair.  There's a company by the name of Croda who manufactures active ingredients to improve the effectiveness of products.  I've been following them ever since I first learned of 18-MEA.  They were one of the only manufacturers who offered 18-MEA to hair care companies for use in their formulations.

Well it appears that the good people of Croda has done it yet again!  This time, they've developed a blend by the name of Crodabond CSA.  What is Crodabond CSA? It's probably the most revolutionary ingredient in cuticle protection since the creation of synthetic ceramides.  Actually, Crodabond CSA appears to behave in a way that is very similar to ceramides but seems to have longer term benefits.  Check out what they have to say about this amazing compound.

Crodabond™ CSA is designed to combat lifted cuticles. It was specifically engineered to seal down hair cuticles that have been damaged through coloring, bleaching, perming or thermal straightening. As an oligo ester derived from sebacic acid and hydrogenated caster oil, Crodabond™ CSA adheres to the lifted cuticles, cementing them together and smoothing out the hair fiber.

  According to this article, the wonderful effects of a smooth, intact cuticle layer can last for up to 14 days after treatment.  That's super impressive.  Can you imagine having smooth strands two weeks after washing?  Imagine how that could impact your breakage levels in between washes?   Unfortunately Croda doesn't manufacture its own commercial products nor do they sell their formulas to consumers.  So I asked myself, "how do I get my hands on Crodabond? I need to have this!"  So far, I was only able to find one brand featuring Crodabond.  Tigi Hair Reborn Sublime Smooth seems to contain a myriad of Croda formulations including their 18-MEA formula, Crotein Cashmere, which is a keratin blend made from wool fibers, and of course Hair Reborn also has Crodabond CSA to lay that cuticle layer down.

The more I contemplate on Hair Reborn, the more I desire need it.  Where else can I get such a wide variety of Croda's healthy hair cocktails in one bottle?  I'm not even phased by the price because this one bottle has so many amazing properties.  I can not pass this up.