No Weave. No Makeup. No Clothes.

2012-02-02 14:52:23.0

Ok, so one of my ongoing goals have always been to look and feel good with no weave, no makeup and no clothes...lol. Sounds simple right? Yeah...not so simple. Some people will literally not leave the house without a weave or their makeup. Some reasons may be hair breakage, unhealthy skin, or simply because they look better with those things. Really I don't know every woman's reason. But speaking for myself, I could say that even though makeup, hair and nails and all the rest of those things "enhance" beauty, I don't want to feel like I NEED it to feel good about my appearance. I want to be in my natural state and be good with that.


So, after a little self analyzing... I think I have the no weave part down. Of course, I love to wear weaves because they are convienent. However, I feel good wearing my real hair and its pretty healthy for the most part ( I will share what worked for me in the future). No makeup and no clothes is a completely different story though...lol. So, in the spirit of taking baby steps..I will focus on one thing at a time. Lets start with no makeup, which ultimately leads us to skin care. Here are some easy and affordable skin care tips you could use to start tackling your trouble areas and clearing your complexion. Hope this helps and if you have any skin care regimen, products or secrets that have worked for you...please share! Afterall, sharing is caring...lol :)

@lacenleopard
lacenleopard@gmail.com


Blemishes

Lemon is the best thing available in our kitchen to reduce the marks and blemishes from the skin. It can be applied directly on the skin or can be mixed in many other things and packs to be applied on the skin. Try this!
Lemon Olive Oil Mask


Ingredients:
1 teaspoon olive oil
A few drops fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup cooked instant oatmeal (cooled)
1 egg white


Directions
Mix olive oil, lemon juice, oatmeal and egg white until smooth. Spread on your face and neck. Leave on for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water. Follow with your favorite facial moisturizer.


Minimize Your Pores

Exfoliation

The most basic course of action to clear any oil, dirt, debris and dead skin cells accumulating inside these pores is exfoliation. You can start by using a daily facial scrub that goes deep into the skin to remove dirt as well as prevent acne breakouts.


The Magic of Steaming
Using steam on your face, if done carefully, will unplug your enlarged, clogged pores . Simply fill a basin with extra warm water but make sure that your “extra warm” is not scalding hot. To start steaming, hold your face over the basin for one to three minutes. Do not wash immediately because you must let the pores close naturally on their own. To speed up the closing process, dab some plain toothpaste on the blemished areas and leave it that way to dry



\ Sunscreen

That whole myth about Black women not needing sunscreen? It's just that... a myth! Our skin is just as susceptible to damage caused by harmful UVA/UVB rays — which causes everything from severely dehydrated skin to hyperpigmentation. Dermatologists recommend wearing a moisturizer with SPF every day, rain or shine, and choosing makeup products with SPF. Hitting the beach? Make sure you spread or spritz sunscreen all over your body.



Hydrate & Moisturize!

Many people spend their days in a state of mild dehydration. Consuming far fewer fluids than they should.
Adequate water rewards you with...

• Enhanced health
• Increased energy
• Bright, clear eyes
• A radiant complexion

The Mayo clinic suggests using "8X8" as a guideline...8 glasses, 8 ounces each, of fluid daily.

A basic law of beauty is that everyone, no matter her skin type, should moisturize. Even if your skin is oily, it will benefit from moisturizers. (The only exception is those with acne). Why? Moisturizers seal moisture into skin (Berg calls this the "Saran Wrap effect"). So how much should you moisturize? Your skin will tell you. When your skin is tight, it's crying out for moisture. Be careful not to over-moisturize, as this can clog pores. Lean towards a moisturizer that lists the things you’re looking for IE. Even tone, SPF, etc.


And these are the basics!! Start with this and I'm sure you will see an improvement worth noting. I am going to come up with a regimen myself and maybe even post some before and after pics. O_o Yikes!!! LOL


Sources:
www.essence.com
www.howtogetridofstuff.com
www.naturalskincaresecrets.com
www.beauty.about.com