Skin Care…the simple way.

People ask me all the time what do I use on my skin so today I’ll share what I use and where you can find each product based off what I used today.

My skin care “routine” falls in line with everything else about me which is simply less is best. I honestly believe that if you cover the basics and use the least amount of products you’ll be better off.

So before I start NO I wasn’t paid for my review and I purchased all these products with my own money.

Body Wash 

Yardley of London Creamy Body Wash

$4.49 at Walgreens (I purchased mine on sale for 2.50 so know sometimes it goes on sale)

Description from Walgreens Website

Size/Count  16.0 oz.

  • Gently cleanses and moisturizes
  • Combines healthy botanical extracts
  • Skin will feel silky smooth
  • Paraben free for gentle cleaning
  • Biodegradable formula

My opinion

I love this body wash. I was a bit skeptical at first only because i was initially looking for a fragrance free product but I couldn’t find anything that was inexpensive and didn’t contain such harsh chemicals, that is until I came across this. I’m not really a big fan of the pump but it’s not a big enough problem to stop me from repurchasing. This soap lathers nicely, gives a great clean and makes my skin feel so soft. While it has a great fragrance it’s not a overpowering smell. I’ve had this soap for about 3 weeks now and I’ve only made it through about half the bottle because I don’t have to use much to get the job done. All in all I’d recommend this product and I’ll be repurchasing.

Lotion

Shea Moisture Black African Soap Body Lotion

$8.99 on Target.com (can be purchased at select Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy and Shea Moisture direct website )

Description from Targets website

Size/Count  13.0 oz.

Shea Moisture’s African Black Soap Body Lotion hydrates, calms and heals problem skin.  Helps to balance oily skin for a clearer appearance. 
• Made with natural and certified organic ingredients.
• Oats help soothe irritated skin while absorbing excess oil.
• Aloe moisturizes and calms dry sensitive skin.
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant highly effective in protecting skin from free radical damage.

My opinion 

Simply put I love everything about this product except the package. Due to the thickness of the product it’s kinda hard to get out. I had a friend say that she runs it under warm water before using it to make it easier to come out. For me I just leave it upside down to make it easier to come out and I don’t try to squeeze it out the top anymore. To me that’s a small sacrifice to make for a great product with great ingredients. I’m a lover of the Shea Moisture brand and they have yet to let me down. Will repurchase without hesitation.

Deodorant

Jason Soothing Aloe Vera Deodorant Stick

$6.39 on Jason website (I purchased from Publix but cannot remember the exact price just know it was around $5 or so because it was on sale)

Description off Jason website

Our deodorant is clinically tested to effectively control odor for all day protection.  Zinc Ricinoleate, Corn Starch and Baking Soda neutralize odor while Grapefruit Seed Extract, known for its antimicrobial properties, helps fight odor-causing bacteria. Aloe Vera and nourishing Vitamin E soften and soothe your underarms.

Size/Count  2.5 oz.

My opinion

When I first purchased this product I felt like it didn’t work but didn’t throw it out because of the price i spent on it and because I realized I had to give my body time to adjust to using deodorants vs antiperspirants (will make a separate post/video about that experience). So for the past month or 2 I’ve been using this exclusively and have come to love it. I seriously put it to the test this Saturday at my nieces outdoor birthday party in the middle of the day in this humid FL heat and it passed the test lol. I will repurchase and probably try out the other scents just to switch things up.

IMG_20140804_160351

Straightening Natural Hair!!! Yay or nah?

I know there are a lot of naturals who are totally against straightening their natural hair and will even go as far to say that if you alter your natural pattern at all then you are no longer natural. Well I’m not one of those naturals and below I’ll explain just how I “safely” straighten my hair. I only do this about 2-3 times a year because it can be a tedious project and plus through experience I’ve learned that my hair is just healthier when I keep my heat usage to a minimum.

If you’re natural do you use heat on your hair? If so how and if not why not?

Straighten my natural hair a few days ago and I got the best results using these two tools and a little grapseed and extra virgin olive oil mixture. The wigo brush can be used to blow dry the hair but I have extra tight curls in the back and didn’t want to run the risk of unnecessarily breaking my hair. On wash day I did a wet bun and the next day I finger detangled my hair and then flat ironed with the Conair flat iron on 365 (my ends are colored so I wanted to do the safest heat setting) and did the chase method with the brush. I did one pass only and got very straight, soft and shiny hair. I’m all about keeping my styling to a minimum and keeping my hair safe as I can while still styling as I choose. 

The Wigo brush was $18.99 and I purchased it at Ulta and I received the Conair flat iron as a birthday gift but I’ve seenit retail for $29.99. I highly recommend both products for natural and relaxed ladies 🙂

tumblr_n9djm5vOY81tdx4coo2_1280

My hair after.

tumblr_n9djm5vOY81tdx4coo1_400

The Wigo straightening brush.

tumblr_n9djm5vOY81tdx4coo3_1280

Conair flat iron.