Monday, January 19, 2009

CLEANSE AND HEAL THYSELF





"Do you not know your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own: you were bought with a price. Therefore honor your God with your body." 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Even though this scripture pertains to sexual immorality, it also pertains to how we choose to care for our bodies. I began my second phase of healing when I made a commitment to go napptural. The first, was when I allowed God to reign over my life!

I discovered that the ingredients found in hair and skin products that I was using pre-napptural, was damaging and polluting my skin and scalp.


I began to research and rediscovered natural products. I began using natural oils, butters, and essential oils on my scalp, hair, and body. I enjoyed making shampoos and skin butters. I had no idea through my loc journey, that I would be so enlightened.


I started strengthening my hair two months before I locked by drinking wheat grass smoothies. I found the recipe when I was lurking on Blaqkofi`s blog. At first, it taste like grass. After I adjusted the recipe, I drink it every morning!






Wheat Grass Recipe


8oz. organic soy milk
1 banana
1/2c wild blueberries
4 strawberries
1tbs powdered protein
1tbs lecithin granules
1tsp wheatgrass
1tsp spirulina
1 packet of stevia



I`AM A VEGETARIAN!
In October of 08, I decided to become a Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian. ( A vegetarian who on occasions eats dairy and egg products) I chose to transition to lacto-ovo, because I love cheese and ice cream. I `am not an egg person, but I use them mainly in recipes.

I was not a red meat eater. I ate chicken, turkey, and fish in very small portions. It was easy for me to drop meat. As a result, in six weeks, I had dropped 10 lbs!

As a vegetarian, I have prepared and eatened vegetables that I would not consider, Spaghetti squash. Who knew? I stay in the kitchen, now. I was not a kitchen person. I love a beautiful and large kitchen.I used it for everything except to cook. Now you can`t keep me out! Who would have known that vegetarian food taste so good!

Every Sunday, I pick two new dishes to prepare. I freeze one for the middle of the week. I can`t cook every day! My sons love the dishes that I cook and they do not miss the meat. They told me as long as I continue to cook, I can make what ever I wanted. Since my baby boy is still growing, I prepare a meat dish for him every Sunday.

Transitioning to vegetarianism is a health choice, but you have to eat the right combination of food to curtail protein, iron, and calcium deficiencies.

I bought a vegetarian book, and three vegetarian cook books to help me with my vegetarian diet!








BODY, MIND, AND SPIRITUAL CONDITIONING.


Regular exercise help to tone up your mental, physical, and spiritual senses! Exercise helps to firm and tone your body, burn calories, digest food, and de-stress, and unclutter the mind. Everyone should exercise at least 30 minutes a day.

I`am a step aerobic freak! I had to recently modify my aerobic routine to prevent knee injury. I do low impact aerobics followed by Nautilus weight circuit training. I also practice Hatha yoga and Tai-chi to help channel my spirit to the "Almighty Creator".

By keeping our spirits, souls, and bodies in tip top shape, then, we can truly do God`s work!






Friday, January 2, 2009

My New Hobby: Makeup!





I wait until I become almost 48 years old to play with makeup! I never cared much about makeup as a teen or a young adult. In college, I wore fashion fair and Flori Roberts cosmetics. I wore lipstick, blush, and mascara. I alway admired how some women took time in the morning to flawlessly place makeup on their face.

One woman I worked with, would come to work with her face looking like a super model everyday! I`am saying to my self, how in hell does she find time to do this? It looked like she spent at least an hour to look beautiful. I work in a operating room. We wear mask. The damn makeup wears off. Any how, who has time to put a full face of makeup and met the high demands as an operating room nurse?


When I locked my hair a year ago, I began to experiment with eye shadow. My locs were short and I did not have long hair anymore to accent my face. I began experimenting with eye color. My BF and my co workers loved it. When I did not wear it, my co-workers would notice right away! My OR mask did not get in the way of my eye makeup.So this became my trade mark!


Last month, in December, I celebrated my first locaversary. I was so excited about my milestone, but I was so bord with my hair. Twice I almost took them down. To distract me from my locs, one day I was reading More magazine for women over 40.


A light bulb went on! I`am not a spring chicken anymore! I will be a half of a century in 2 years, if God allows it! I have been blessed with oily skin, no wrinkles and great genes. How long will that last? I`am perimenopausal and I have noticed that the skin under my neck is thinning. Time to get a skin care regime in place!





Twice a month, I give my self an At-Home facial followed by a mud facial mask. After I rinse my face with lukewarm water, I use a clarifying herbal astringent containing witch hazel. Daily, I use earth science clarifying facial wash followed by earth science clarifying herbal astringent, completed by earth science almond-aloe moisturizer with sun protection. My skin care products are by earth essentials. They are hypo-allergenic. http://www.earthessentials.com/



I learned before I was to experiment with make up, I needed to do my home work! I watched youtube videos, read books for women of color, and surfed the web. I discovered that before I bought my makeup, I needed to purchase tools of the trade, makeup brushes and wedge sponges!







HOW TO USE COSMETIC BRUSHES



I bought:

1. Powder brush : To dust loose powder or bronzer.

2. Blush brush: To apply and blend blush or bronzer,

3. Concealer brush: To apply concealer.

4.Wedge sponge: To apply and blend foundation.

5. Shadow brush: To highlight, accentuate, and sweep color over the eye.

6. Lip brush: To apply lipstick or gloss




FOUNDATION
Shelf life: 6-12 months/6 months for liquid and Creams.




The easiest way to finding a foundation color for you, is to visit a cosmetic counter. The young man at the MAC counter quickly identified my color by looking at me. He applied a cream to powder foundation to my face. I did not like it. I looked too made up. (Cream to powders offers medium to maximum coverage). He then applied a liquid. It looked more natural. (Liquids offers light to medium coverage).


I did not believe that the color he chose was the color for me so I made him do the classic steps for trying on foundation:



1. Pick three shades: One that seems just right, a lighter color, and a slightly darker one.

2.Place each on your jawline.


3. The shade that disappears or matches your skin color is the color for you!

I waited for my skin to absorb the color. When I looked in the mirror, MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation:NW45, was the color that the young man had picked for me!

I wanted a neutral color for my blush, the young woman behind the MAC counter recommended, SheerTone Shimmer Blush, Sweet As Cocoa







FOUNDATION PRIMER


Foundation primer is the new craze. Apparently it has been used and praised by makeup artist, and has been recently introduced to the cosmetic world for mass production. Foundation primer acts as a barrier against your skin and your makeup. Since the main ingredient is DIMETHICONE, a silicone, It allows your makeup to glide on with ease. The primer fills in any lines or large pores giving you a smooth, fresh finish. You use less makeup. I was happy to read that! My MAC foundation is $26 a bottle, so that works for me!



Foundation primer is expensive! The price is about $30 for a 1oz tube! The best primer is Smash Box, MAC, and Laura Mercier.



Makeup addicts are raving about MONISTAT CHAFING RELIEF POWDER-GEL. No its not associated with yeast infections. Its a skin protectant. The same ingredients used in the #1 primer, Smash Box Photo Finish Foundation Primer.




I did my research. As a nurse, I always compare ingredients in health and beauty products. Why pay for a name brand product, unless consumer report says its superior and it works! Reading reviews, a minority of people said it cause them to have cystic acne.


I have oily skin. I tried the monistat for a few days.I had no problems! I use products that contain salicylic acid, an acne treatment. I use a blemish concealer on areas on my chin where I`am prone to breakouts. Again, I had no issues.

The monistat works very well! I will continue to use it until I have problems! I`ll keep my Smash Box in the drawer and use it for special events!



CONCEALER

Shelf Life: 4-8 months


Concealers are used to hide dark under eye circles, pimples, and dark marks.

You should choose a concealer one shade lighter than your natural skin color.Use a yellow- based concealer. It is the most natural looking on skin of color.

Use a concealer brush to apply the concealer. Apply some concealer to the back of your hand to warm it up. It will glide and blend very well!


POWDER
Shelf life: 8 months/8-12 months for loose powder.


The purpose of powder is to set your foundation and to control shine. If you want to control shine, Use loose powder. It is sheer. If you need more coverage to even out your skin color, use a pressed powder. It is opaque.


SHELF LIFE


Eye Shadow

6-12 months for powder and cream.

Mascara

3 months

Lipstick

3 years



In my opinion, foundation, concealer and powder are the most important when it comes to makeup. If you get those wrong, you will look jacked up!


Here are some makeup books that are a must!


The Beauty of Color by Iman

Essence Beauty basics & Beyond

Making Faces by Kevin Aucoin



HAVE A FUN AND BLESSED NEW YEAR!