Natural ADDICTees

I love going to natural hair meet ups and events for several reasons. Of course I go because I want to keep up with the latest trends in hair care. But I also go for the shopping. I shop for natural products, super big and unique earrings and T-Shirts.

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting Sonya L. Burks, one half of the mother/daughter team that created Natural ADDICTees.

Sonya (pictured with her niece Ciera) and her daughter Ashley created their line of T-shirts in order to inspire women to embrace their natural hair and to love themselves as "children hand crafted by God". Whether you are transitioning from the "creamy crack", teaching your kids to embrace their hair or if you have been natural all of your life, there is a T-shirt for you. Oh and you don't have to wait until the next natural hair meet up to get one. You can order online at http://www.naturaladdictees.com.

Below is a pic of my two favorite tees.

I think you know which one I own.

Make Up Case!!

I have make up everywhere. I keep it in the bathroom, under the bed, in multiple purses, coat pockets (you get the idea). It's everywhere and I either have a hard time finding something or I end up finding something I forgot about. So, I ended up at Ulta today and bought a make up case (Ulta and Ulta.com $42.00). Not just any case, but a leopard print case that was on sale for 25% off!

It's the perfect starter case. Yes, I said starter. Please see below.

It's almost full. I don't mind because it's serving its purpose. May I never lose a piece of make up again. Yeah right! LOL!

Tuesday Tresses!

Beautiful Textures Rapid Repair Deep Conditioner

If you don't know by now, let me tell you, I am a product junkie. I love trying new things. Make up, hair products, food...whatever. If it's new, I need see what it's like. So, when I was given the opportunity to try this deep conditioner for free...well you know the rest.

First, let me start by saying it smells amazing. This is probably because it contains Aloe Vera, Coconut, Olive, Soy, Argan Oil, Shea and Mango Butter. It has a thick consistency, but it is lightweight in texture.

So, I washed my hair as usual and added the conditioner. After about 30 minutes, I jumped back in the shower to rinse it out. Let me tell you, it rinses out with ease. Rinsing with ease is something I appreciate because I have thick hair and I do not like to double and triple check to make sure I rinsed everything out.

I have to say my hair was very soft and felt moisturized. Finger combing was a breeze. This product is definitely going to be added into the rotation.

Oh and before I forget, the Beautiful Textures line of products is affordable. Everything is under $9.00. Now, everyone can have access to quality haircare products without sacrificing their budget. Me likey.

Nars, Curls, Shea Moisture and L'Oreal

It's December and I am a little late on telling you what I've enjoyed in November. Eh, better late than never. Please forgive me.

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation

So, right now I am LOVING Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (http://www.narscosmetics.com, Sephora $42). Why do I love it so? I love it because my complexion can be difficult to match and this foundation is a perfect match. Also,it doesn't feel like I'm wearing foundation and it doesn't look like I'm wearing foundation. This foundation is lightweight with a medium and buildable coverage. It also claims to improve your skin with regular use. I can't say one way or another if this is true because there are too many factors that lead to skin issues and their resolution. The Sheer Glow Foundation is recommended for people with normal to dry skin. This foundation also comes in Sheer Matte. The Sheer Matte is recommended for people with oily skin. Now I have combination skin, but I bought the Sheer Glow anyway.

Look at Keven. Now look at me. Look at Keven again, and then me. What do you notice? If you guessed that it looks like I'm not wearing a ton of foundation, you are correct! I will admit the foundation is a little pricey compared to others, but the two things I will spend money on are foundation and eyeshadow. I'll run to the drugstore for everything else.

Here's one more pic.

L'Oreal Infallible Lip Color

So, I'm really loving this L'Oreal Infallible lipstick/gloss/color(CVS, Walgreens, Target, Walmart $11.99). It promises to stay put and it does just that. What I like most is, it does not dry out my lips. Not all long lasting lip colors can boast this feature. They may advertise it, but that definitely is not the case in real life not so much.

Shea Moisture Curling Souffle

As you may already know, am a fan of all things Shea Moisture. The Curling Souffle (Target and Walgreens $9.99) is no exception. Lately, I have been using this instead of my flaxseed gel and I love it just as much. Instead of mixing it with the Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie (Target and Walgreens $9.99), I mix it with Curls Curl Creme Brule (Target $9.99).

The Curling Souffle contains flax seed oil, coconut oil, agave nectar and other ingredients that are pleasing to my hair. I like it for the same reasons I like using flax seed gel. It's lightweight, doesn't leave my hair crunchy and it's overall natural goodness.

Please note: It can leave your hair crunchy if you use too much. Should you find yourself in a situation where you have Ramen Noodle hair, rub a little of your favorite oil or shea butter in your palms and scrunch your hair. This should soften the curls and relieve you of your noodles. Unless you like that. Hey, some people do.

If you try any of these products, let me know what you think.

Turbie Twist

I had to post about this. Now, I'm not one to try things you see on infomercials and whatnot, but I had to try this. It was calling me. I never towel dry my hair. But when I deep condition, I don't like putting a mega large towel on my head. It's heavy and I just don't like it. But I digress.

So, I always see them in CVS and I thought,eh, it's $7.00, why not. When I got home, I washed my hair and added deep conditioner. I then put on my plastic cap and whipped out my Turbie Twist. It really is impressive. The cool thing about it is the loop in the back. All you do is put the towel on your head, twist the front and insert the front of the towel into the loop in the back. That's it. You're done.

This stays in place, it's gentle on your hair and did I forget to mention it stays in place, even with all of my hair? Seriously, you can't beat this.

Clarisonic, Neutrogena, Revlon and more...

So I bought a few things this month and some stood out more than others. So, I thought I would share.

First up: Neutrogena Make up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (CVS $7.99)

I love the clean scent and it removes make up without leaving a sticky residue. One sheet usually does the trick, depending on how much make up you're wearing.

Second: Burt's Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream (CVS $8.99)

I've been a fan of Burt's Bees for a long time. After two years of trying different products, I came right back. I have combination skin and this cleansing cream removes dirt and make up while leaving my face feeling cool and refreshed. No seriously, there's a cool tingling feeling on my face after I've finished washing. Chamomile. Gotta love it.

I also like that it is 97.99% organic. I am not a fan of cleaning my face with cleansers that contain ingredients I can't, no don't want to, pronounce and include chemicals that have many uses such as making plastic, sealing pipes...ect.

Third: Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick (CVS $8.99)

The first one I bought was Fuschia and I immediately fell in love. I didn't wait to get home to try it. As so as I got in the car I cracked it open and put it on. The color payoff is beautiful. It's called ColorBurst for a reason. Fuschia was soon followed by Raspberry and Rosy Nude. Each color is as beautiful as the last.


Fourth and Final: The Clarisonic Mia (Sephora $119)

I have heard wonderful things about the Clarisonic Facial Cleansing system. I thought it was too expensive, so I decided to pass on it (although I secretly wanted to try it.) As luck would have it, I came into possession of a gift card. The Clarisonic Mia is the smaller, "travel size" version of the products. It rotates at one speed and has an automatic timer that turns off after the recommended one minute of use.

I've been using this at night before bedtime for the last week and I love it. For me it is one of the products I wish I purchased a long time ago. My skin is noticeably smoother and my face has a nice glow.

October was a good month.

My Weight Loss Journey

Last year I reached the heaviest weight of my life. According to some people, I was "thick". I never planned on being thick. I was always a thin person. But a little thing called complacency set in when I started to gain weight. A few pounds here and there weren't that bad because I didn't start off heavy and I kinda liked finally having some meat on my bones. I was always small and wanted to gain weight. I didn't know that once I started gaining, it wasn't going to stop. The weight kept coming because I wasn't paying attention.

When I started gaining weight, it really did sneak up on me. I liked to blame it on being happy, being sad, good food, blah blah blah. The excuses were endless. But really, I had nothing and no one to blame but myself. At some point I stopped paying attention and became complacent.

One day, I had a moment. That all defining moment that has to happen in order for someone to take weight loss seriously. I saw a picture of myself in what I thought was my favorite yellow dress. When I looked at the picture I thought this can't be me! How did I let myself get to this point? Why didn't anyone tell me? My cheeks were starting to eat my face.

No one is going to tell you you're fat. Either the people around you haven't noticed or they don't want to hurt your feelings.

I decided to do something about it. I mean really. I joined a gym that has exercise classes pertaining to my fitness goals and interests. I've tried losing weight before. I joined a regular gym and worked with a trainer. I know, I know, everyone either joins a gym or gets a trainer. I did both. But um..why did I gain even more weight with the trainer? It was during a time when I still wasn't paying attention and apparently, neither was my trainer. Either that, or he was paying attention and thought as long as I was heavy, he would always have a client. But I digress.

Here's my before and after, followed by what I did to lose weight.

1. I figured out why I wanted to lose weight and decided fitness is going to be a way of life and not a temporary solution.

2. I found workouts that pertained to my interests and fitness goals.

3. I didn't go on a diet. I changed my diet.

4. I found THE BEST fitness friend in the whole world. It's a great idea to find one if you can. My friend and I do not belong to the same gym, we have never worked out together and we don't live near each other. We just keep each other accountable.

5. I made exercise a part of my life.

6. I stopped making excuses.

I took about four months to lose 30 pounds and I've kept it off for the last six months. I have a few more to go and I believe I will accomplish my goal before 2012.

The Benefits of Rosemary Oil

Ok, so I thought rosemary and rosemary oil was only good for cooking. But as I continue my journey to learn how to take care of my hair and body naturally, I am discovering more and more that God was serious when He said He is the supplier of ALL of your needs.

Have blemishes? Try a little lemon juice and honey. Need to exfoliate? Cut a tomato in half, dip it in sugar and scrub away (gently of course). We'll talk about all of this at another time.

Right now, I'm focusing on rosemary oil. Utilizing the benefits of rosemary oil is a great way to give your hair a little assistance in the hair growth department. Here are three reasons why rosemary oil is beneficial for hair growth:

1. Stimulates blood circulation for hair growth
2. Cleans the scalp and removes dandruff
3. Covers gray hair

I apply a rosemary and olive oil mix to my hair an hour before I wash my hair. Of course there are other essential oils that mix well with rosemary oil; but I like to use olive oil. Rosemary oil should not be used alone and should be mixed with another oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil, or tea tree oil.

There are two ways to create the mix I use: The Quick and Dirty Way or The Long Way.

The Quick and Dirty Way

You will need:

An air tight container (preferably glass)
1 1/2 cups of olive oil
Rosemary oil

Pour the olive oil into the container. Add about 20 drops of rosemary oil to the olive oil and store in a dark place for about an hour. After storing for an hour, massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in until you wash your hair. I leave it in for an hour; however it's ok to leave it in overnight. Just don't forget to wash it out.

The Long way

You will need:

Air tight container (preferably glass)
1 1/2 cup of olive oil
Two tablespoons of dried rosemary (fresh rosemary will spoil)

Place the rosemary in container and pour the olive oil into the container. Store the mixture in a dark place for about 4 to 5 days. After storing, drain the rosemary and place the oil back into the container. Use as directed above.

You may experience a tingling sensation while using rosemary oil. I can definitely feel the stimulation of my scalp.

If you try this method, let me know what you think after about 30 days.

Hello Swarovski!

Two of my favorite things in the whole wide world have decided to combine their powers and create a line. Swarovski and Hello Kitty. *happy sigh.

This fall, Swarovski developed a line of Hello Kitty accessories that includes jewelry, crystal figurines, a purse and business card holder. Of course I want the jewelry and the business card holder.

Whether you are six or 66, there is something for every true Hello Kitty and Swarovski fan. I wonder which one I will buy first?

Urban Decay - All Nighter

So, I had to work at a music festival this summer and that meant being outside all day and all night with no chance of touching up my make up. I heard about All Nighter make up setting spray from Urban Decay; but I never knew anyone who tried it. According to the website, it can help your make up last up to 16 hours. I was a little skeptical about trying it because there are so many products out there that promise the world and deliver nothing. I also discovered it comes in a sample size. I thought hey, it's a sample. If I don't like it, as least I didn't buy the full size.

The next day, at 9am, I applied my make up as usual and sprayed on All Nighter according to the directions. Let's just say it exceeded my expectations. My make up lasted all day and ALL NIGHT. The only thing I had to touch up was my lip gloss. As for the rest, all I had to do was blot the sweat off of my face and my make up was like new. I couldn't believe it!

So, the next time you go to a festival, New Year's party or any function that will not allow you to touch up your make up properly, I highly recommend Urban Decay's All Nighter make up setting spray.

Mascara!!!

If you know me, you know I have a problem with mascara. I love it. I love trying new brands. I love to discover if it adds up to the advertising. I will keep it for the recommended three months and then I move on to the next brand. Why do I love it so?  There's something about the way a really good mascara can transform your eyes. Check out my current favorites.

They're Real by Benefit

This product promises to not only give you extra curl, great length and massive volume, but it also promises great separation. Does it deliver? Absolutely. This is my current favorite and a mascara that I will definitely buy again. I love the ball shape at the tip of the wand. This allows for additional separation of the lashes AND it's great for coating your bottom lashes. *sigh. I love this mascara!

Diorshow

Seriously. Do I have to say anything else? It's Dior. This mascara is the blackest, richest, most delicious mascara. I love it because if I wear it alone my lashes can be seen from a mile away and if I am wearing a dark smokey eye, my lashes are not lost in the make up. It doesn't get any better than that.


L'Oreal Million Lashes

I really like this mascara. It does an excellent job of lengthening and separating lashes. The really cool thing about the packaging is the tube was created to remove excess mascara. Why is this so cool? It eliminates the clumping issue or the need to wipe off excess product from the brush. This means no spider lashes and no product waste. It's already the least expensive of the three and then it helps you save even more money. Does it really give the illusion of having millions of lashes? No. But Thousands of Lashes doesn't really roll off of the tongue.

The Satin Bonnet

Satin Bonnet. Scarf. Doo Rag. Whatever you call it and whichever you use to cover and protect your hair at night, please know it is one of your hair's best friends. Sure, your man hates it and sees it as a mood killer. Heck, you might hate it and see it as a mood killer. Please remember, this unattractive piece of fabric is one of the necessary hair care measures that keeps your hair luxurious and breakage free. Yes, breakage free.

Why is it a great idea to wear one of these at night? Well, simply said, the fabric of your traditional pillow case sucks the life and moisture out of your hair. Curly hair craves moisture. Curly hair needs to retain as much moisture as it can.  Cotton depletes moisture and the friction from tossing and turning  opens the door to breakage, split ends and eventually hair loss. 

If you do not like to cover your hair at night because you are worried about your cover slipping off at night or you just don't like it, I recommend investing in a satin pillowcase. Protect your hair. It will love you for it.

Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie

I am always on the hunt for new and exciting products to use for styling my hair. However, I do have my staple products and Shea Moisture Curl Enhancing Smoothie is absolutely one of them.


First of all, it smells fantastic! It's a thick and creamy, but it's not too heavy for my hair. A little definitely goes a long way. I use it prior to adding my flaxseed gel or Miss Jessie's Quick Curls. Also, it's a great product to use for other styles such as Bantu Knots or braid/twist outs.


The top four things I like about this product are:


1. It keeps my hair soft.
2. It doesn't flake.
3. My hair doesn't feel heavy.
4. It doesn't have a heavy scent.


The Shea Moisture Line of products can be found at Target and Walgreens.

Flaxseed Gel. Who knew?

If you told me last year that I was going to start making my own hair gel I would have given you a small chuckle and said, "Yeah, right". With so many wonderful hair products out there, why would I want to make my own? Why would I even think to? Besides, hair gel is a complex and mysterious concoction that requires a degree in Chemistry and a multitude of ingredients with names no one should attempt to pronounce, right? Wrong. Here's what you need:


1/4 cup of flax seeds
2 cups of water
An air tight container (I use a glass jar) 
A strainer or nylon sock
Tongs


Suggested ingredients:

Rosemary Oil
Vitamin E
Basil Essential Oil


Add the water to a pot and bring to a boil. After the water begins to boil, add the flax seeds and stir for seven to ten minutes. After a few minutes, the water will start to thicken. When you are done boiling the seeds, drain them into your container using a strainer or nylon sock. If you are using a nylon sock, use the tongs to squeeze out the remaining gel. Once you have squeezed your gel into the container you can add the suggested ingredients or leave it to cool. Once the gel cools down, it will be ready for use. That's it! No seriously. That's it.


What I like about this gel is the fact that I know exactly what I am putting into my hair, the gel doesn't flake,  it is extremely cost effective and it seems as though my hair air dries faster than with conventional gel.


The only time I do not use flaxseed gel is when I'm in a hurry and I need to blow dry my hair.


So if you are short on cash or interested in an alternative styling gel, give flaxseed gel a try. 


P.S. It keeps in the refrigerator for about three weeks.