Best Moisturizers for the Winter Dry, Ashy Skin!

Yes 'tis the season for snowy weather, fur jackets and ashy skin. Yep! With the winter weather comes the harsh skin conditions and heavy and frequent moisturizing is a must do to keep skin from chaffing and forming the ghastly pale shadows of ashiness. More importantly than freqent moisturizing is selecting the ideal moisturizer for body and face to keep skin dewy, soft and glowing even during harsh winter months. Even with my oily skin, during the winter weather I notice that I tend to get peeling from dryness around my mouth, nose and eye areas so moisturizing even for oily skin might be necessary during the cold months.

I have outlined my top picks for winter moisturizing.

1) Palmer's Cocoa Butter: smells great and goes on very smooth.

2) Nivea Original Creme: This is your grandmother's moisturizing creme that was so good it is still on the market because it does the job.

Nivea Creme, 6.8 Oz (192 G), (Pack Of 3)

3) Avon Meet Mark Self Sanctuary Chocolate Orchid Body Butter: smells and feels so yummy, it was so tempting to eat this lotion, but beware it is not edible! Feels great on the skin too!

Self Sanctuary Chocolate Orchid Body Butter

4) Vaseling Intensive Care Total Moisture: This is a classic body lotion and has great moisturizing abilities.

Vaseline Total Moisture Conditioning Body Lotion with Vitamins E & A, Packaging May Vary, 24.5oz. . (Pack of 3)

5) Baby oil: yep, the age old baby oil is ideal for wintery skin and I like to mix it with my other lotions and body creme. I also like the oil in the gel form. Check out the Vaseline cocoa butter oil!

Vaseline Cocoa Butter Vitalizing Gel Body Oil, 6.8-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 3)

6) All natural Shea butter is an excellent treatment for dry skin. I like to use pure, unrefined Shea butter and if it is too thick, it can be mixed with other carrier oils or essentials oils to soften it.

For the face:

1) Aveeno Ultra Calming Moisturizer with SPF 15-30 and Aveeno Positvely Radiant Daily Moisturizer. I love this moisturizer it is ideal for oily skin during the winter. It is very light and non-greasy.

Aveeno Active Naturals Positively Radiant Daily Moisturizer SPF-30, UVA/UVB Sunscreen, 2.5-Ounce Bottles (Pack of 2)

Enjoy!

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The Inexpensive Miracle Toner for clear, flawless skin

Toning the skin after cleansing is a necessary step especially if you suffer from blemishes because it removes excess dirt and grime that your soap or cleanser might have missed and clears out the pores. Toning also balances the pH level of your skin. Balancing the skin's pH level is important to keeping skin in healthy condition because this will enable it to fight off blemish causing bacteria, normalize oil production, prevent premature aging, skin damage and maintain its natural glow.

There are all kinds of toners in the market and the best toner that I have found thus far is good ole' inexpensive witch hazel. Witch hazel can be found at most department and drug stores and my absolute favorite is T.N's Dickson Witch hazel which retails for about $2-$3. This is an excellent toner and I apply with a face towel or cotton ball and immediately I will see the left over dirt and soap residue left on my face which can clog more pores and lead to spotting. Also after applying the witch hazel toner my face feels instantly cleansed and refreshed. Try it and you will shocked at all the nastiness that is left over on your skin.

Something important to note is that distilled witch hazel consists of a mixture with alcohol, some brands have a higher alcohol base, which can be too drying for some skin types. I find it suitable to use brands with lower alcohol base, which is why I like my Dicksons.

Witch hazel is an expensive but effective beauty product and it is one of my beauty must haves. It is ideal for especially oily, acne prone skin types like myself and gentle enough for even sensitive skin types. It will keep your skin clean and prevent nasty breakouts.

Enjoy ladies!

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Flaxseed Oil for Great Skin and Health

I was introduced to the great benefits of Flaxseed oil while browsing through a Whole Foods store by one of their representatives. I am always looking for natural health and beauty enhancing foods and supplements and while discussing with the rep, she pointed me in the direction of Flaxseed oil and she stated that the oil is loaded with alpha-linolenic, essential fatty acids that promotes healthy skin, hair, nails and even supports hearth health. Convinced, I purchased the 365 Organic Filtered Flax Oil and incorporated it into my daily routine. I take two tablespoons of the oil, it has a nutty flavor which isn't too bad, and it can also be sprinkled over salads and other dishes to absorb the taste.

After taking the flaxseed oil for about a week or so, I noticed a difference in the way my skin felt all over. It felt much more soft and silky than usual. After the third week, I noticed a more dramatic effect, my face had a very beautiful glow and the texture had greatly improved. For those with dry skin, flax seed oil, flaxseed oil can be mixed with honey and applied over the face for a great moisturizing treatment, oily skin types like myself might not like the oily feel of topical application but internally it does wonders for health and skin.

Flaxseed oil is extracted from the seeds of the flax plant and it is an excellent source of Omega 3s, essential fatty acids and lignans, chemical compounds that have been shown to provent certain types of cancers. According to The University of Maryland Medical Center, Omega 3 acids are essential to human health but it is not produced by the human body and has to be obtained from food. Omega 3 has been shown to prevent and treat conditions such as menstrual problems, HBP, heart disease, diabetes, skin disorders, eating disorders, certain cancers, bipolar disorders and others.

Here's to good health!

Enjoy!

info source: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/omega-3-000316.htm

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Chocolate Girl Guide to Deliciously Smooth, Dewy Skin

There’s nothing like the feel of baby, soft and smooth skin that’s dewy to the touch and radiates a healthy glow. Beautiful skin is healthy skin and healthy skin can be achieved with the proper beauty routine and maintenance.

Caring for chocolate skin requires regular exfoliation to slough off dead skin and rich, deep moisturizing to get rid of the dreaded ashy skin. Also knowing your skin type and purchasing the right products that treat and provides the right moisture is a big ‘Yes’ in having that creamy, brown skin
 
After years of experimenting with a variety of products, one thing I’ve found is the fewer products you use on your face, the better. Some skin types might require more than the usual to treat certain blemishes however use what you have to and do not get lured by the thousands of products that offer sexy promises. Find what works for you and stick to you it.
 
Let’s begin. What you will need: cleanser (African black soap), loofah, sugar and honey (equal parts of both mixed together), toner (with hazel), skin lightening cream, facial moisturizer and body cream (100% Shea body butter) and sunscreen.

Step #1: We begin with a cleansing treatment. A great natural cleanser that really deep cleanses skin is the African black soap. You can get it at most beauty stores and even drug stores. Apply the soap to a loofah or brush; this is necessary because it acts as an exfoliant, and massage all over your body. Rub the soap onto your palms and massage all over your face.

Next: while still in the shower, take the body scrub or a sugar and honey combination and massage all over the body in a circular motion. I do this once every day, but sensitive skin types might only do it 2x a week. Taking some of the mixture, apply in a gentler, circular motion to your face. Rinse off thoroughly. Towel gently to remove excess water.

After stepping out the shower or tub, apply body moisturizer while body is still damp. Shea butter is an excellent moisturizer especially for our chocolate skin because it provides deep moisturizing. The Shea plant is unique to West Africa and is the secret behind the beautiful skin of many African women. Try to use natural Shea butter versus the processed one because they provide better moisturizing and is better for your skin. I also apply petroleum jelly all over my feet, elbows and knees because as we know these areas are quick to get ashy and require extra moisturizing.

Now onto the face, using a cotton ball, apply toner all over face. Witch hazel makes a great, natural toner and they cost pennies at drug and beauty stores. After applying toner, dab lightening cream onto and dark spots and areas. Be careful using hydroquinone based products because many health studies have discovered that they can cause health problems. It is recommended that it is used on and off over several months.

Next apply facial moisturizer, sunscreen, and Shea butter to lips with petroleum jelly over it and Voila! Sticking to a daily beauty regimen of cleansing, toning, exfoliating, treating and moisturizing will have your skin looking so chocolaty smooth and delicious. For night time, I do the same thing except I replace the facial moisturizer with a night cream, I also apply a facial exfoliant after applying skin lightening cream for deeper exfoliation, and of course I skip the sunscreen ; )

Enjoy!

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Glowing Skin with Sugar!!

There's nothing more attractive than beautiful, glowing skin! Achieving glowing skin requires the right, daily skin care routine and the right products consisting of natural ingredients.

To achieve glowing skin, it is necessary to exfoliate at least 2x a week to help your skin shed dead skin cells and reveal the healthy skin underneath. There are many ways to exfoliate, and a simple and natural way to exfoliate is with....Sugar!

Yes, Sugar granules are gentle on the skin and will help slough off those dead skin cells.

What you will need

* 1 tbsp of sugar
* 1 tsp honey
* few drops of grapeseed oil (can be subsituted with other types of carrier or essential oils)

1) Combine all the ingredients in a bowl
2) Cleanse face thoroughly and wipe off excess moisture. You can also steam your face
3) Apply mixture gently all over face and neck in a circular motion (sensitive skin types, be very gentle)
4) Wait ten minutes
5) Rinse off and pat dry
6) Follow with tea tree oil and Shea butter.

Those with sensitive skin might want to do this twice a week.

Enjoy!

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