weekly beauty tips, upcoming products, the highlighted product(s) will be featured on my block!  if you have any suggestions or if you would like for me to give my personal feedback on a requested product or tip, feel free to leave a comment.  I love hearing for you all!  #beautytipsThursdays

how to start your skin care routine

are you afraid to try new skin care products because you think you’ll “break out?  Or the product lines are too expensive?  my i suggest that you start off small – try the travel size!   most professional skin care products such as dermalogica, bliss, la mer, aveda and naturopathica all have travel sizes and samples that you can test before diving into a large purchase.

when you purchase the travel size you’re able to play around and test them.  the travel sizes and samples have the same ingredients as the larger size, but much less expensive.   I suggest going inside of the store to inquire about the types of products with one of the professionals.  this will assure a more accurate way to select a product.  they may even give you free samples!

aveda is a great produc, but it is more catering towards the holistic side.

lush never disappoints in sharing the love! i encouage you to visit their store and bowse around. if you’re in atlanta, go and see my sister, Seneca at lenox mall inside of macy’s

no more drama

bacterial vaginosis is usually not serious and often goes away on its own. however, it’s always a good idea to treat it as soon as symptoms start. here are a few easy at home remedies that can help you get rid of this annoying problem. also, even if you don’t suffer from bv, these are excellent alternatives to douching!! i love using the organic milk!!

1. coconut oil – my favorite! it has natural antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties that can kill the germs that cause bacterial vaginosis and prevent it from recurring. try this: apply organic coconut oil on the affected area about two to three times daily until your condition improves. soak a tampon in organic coconut oil and insert it in the vagina. leave it in for a couple of hours. cleanse the area with lukewarm water thoroughly after removing the tampon. i’ve found this works best after my period is over.
2. apple cider vinegar – an excellent home remedy for bacterial vaginosis. its acidic nature, apple cider vinegar helps increase vaginal acidity – which makes it difficult for bad bacteria to survive and creates a good environment for good bacteria to live and survive. add one to two cups of apple cider vinegar to your bath water. relax in the bath water for about 15-20 minutes.
3. organic milk – milk contains lactobacilli bacteria – a good bacteria! milk helps strengthen the immune system, as well. dip a tampon in chilled organic milk and insert it into your vagina. keep the tampon in for one to two hours and then remove it. do this once daily for several days to relieve symptoms. once again, you may not have bv, but this is a wonderful method of douching. i do this once or twice a month now. you may also add one teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of warm milk and drink it.

my favorite oils

sweet almond – has a rich nutty aroma to any blend. sweet almond oil is high in oleic acid that may help to improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  this oil can improve the complexion of your skin by adding a small amount with your daily moisturizer. it also will aid in chapped lips and dry skin.

coconut (cold-pressed) – imparts a sweet tropical note to massage oils. coconut oil is the richest natural source of lauric acid, and is considered to be one of the best oils for promoting healthy skin and hair.  the proteins in coconut oil keeps skin healthy and rejuvenated, both internally and externally. proteins also contribute to cellular health and tissue repair, along with a wide range of other essential activities within the body.

grape-seed – has very light scent. grapeseed oil dries faster than other plant oils because to its high concentration of linoleic acid. grapeseed oil can help regulate your natural oil production.  plus, it’s packed with antioxidants, including skin-brightening vitamin c.

jojoba – offers a very slight nutty aroma. jojoba oil oxidizes slowly, thus it has a much longer shelf-life than many other plant oils.  also, because it is similar in chemical composition to the oils naturally present in human skin, jojoba oil absorbs quickly and leaves behind very little residue.  as an anti-inflammatory—jojoba oil reduces the painful swelling and redness that so often accompanies a skin injury. its anti-inflammatory properties also make it an effective treatment for acne.

olive oil – possesses a rich, verdant aroma. olive oil is high in oleic acid which can improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  a warm olive oil bath for nails is a great way to strengthen them. It takes only 5 or 10 minutes. just soak your nails in slightly warmed up olive oil. do this treatment once or twice a week and enjoy strong, shiny and healthy nails.

do it urself massage oils

sleepy edwards baby oil:

5 oz. sweet almond oil (or any of the carrier oils listed above)
2 TBSP. each calendula and chamomile flowers
lavender, ylang ylang, patchouli eo mix (blend below)

directions:

infuse herbs into oil (directions below)
strain and scent with essential oil mix below.
essential oil (eo) sleepytime blend: 3 drops lavender eo, 5 drops ylang ylang eo, 2 drops patchouli eo
bottle & store.  be sure to place a label on it!

here are a few other recipes that i love!

for congestion:

4 t. carrier oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
2 drops eucalyptus essential oil

for circulation:

4 t. carrier oil
2 drops ginger essential oil
2 drops marjoram essential oil
1 drop rosemary essential oil

for pms :

4 t. carrier oil
2 drops clary sage essential oil
2 drops geranium essential oil
1 drop rose essential oil

infusing your herbs:  here is a quick way to infuse oils, which is sometimes necessary when herbal oils need to be created in a pinch, is the quick method which utilizes heat.  much care needs to be taken when creating herbal oils this way because you do not want to fry your herbs! put herbs in crock-pot or a double boiler then cover with one of carrier oil of choice listed above.  leave at least an inch or two of oil above the herbs. heat the herbs over very low heat.  for 1-3 hours until the oil takes on the color and scent of the herb. turn off heat and allow to cool. once that the oil is ready, strain using cheesecloth, and bottle into dry and sterilized amber bottles for storage. Store in a dark and cool place, vitamin e oil can be added to prolong the shelf life of the oil.

 scrubs

as i embark on my skincare line, eFlat, i’m reminded as to how essential body scrubs are to our daily body cleansing.  one of the reasons why i chose to make a coffee-coconut body scrub was for all of the beneficial factors involved.  coffee is rich in antioxidants, making it an awesome anti-inflammatory ingredient. coffee contains caffeine, which draws out excess moisture from your skin, causing it to look and feel smoother and firmer. In this scrub, coffee acts as a mild exfoliant, removing dead skin cells and exposing fresh, soft skin.  coffee can help eradicate cellulite because when caffeine comes into contact with the surface of your skin, it helps redistribute fat cells and decrease the formation of more cellulite and small varicose veins because the caffeine in the scrub acts as a vascular restrictor, something which shrinks blood vessels, thus helping to reduce varicose veins. coconut oil is one of my favorite natural beauty ingredients over here. it is incredibly moisturizing and filled with vitamins and minerals, which it locks securely into your skin. so be on the lookout for la Vida coco coming your way soon!  to pre-order please email enbb@evidencenbb.com

this is lush‘s ocean salt. now one of my favorite body scrubs.  the minerals in sea salt softens and scrubs away dirt, dead skin and blockages for a brighter complexion. the ingredients are avocado and coconut that will hydrate the skin. the lime and vodka helps to deep clean and tone the skin.  no wonder they call it self-preserving!

the smell is amazing. the shea moisture’s lemongrass and ginger scrub is great, without being too oily.  i don’t feel like I have to wash my shower floor afterwards so I don’t slip. let me warn you that you may find little clumps of sugar due to the fact that this is a natural product.  i would suggest using a spoon or a small mixing spatula to mix the product better.  i turn it over on its head every couple of days so the oil can resettle.  if you are sluggish in the mornings, this will be a must for you. as soon as you open it, your senses wake up.

the bushy brow
full eyebrows are a sign of youth and vitality, but that doesn’t mean you can’t shape them up a bit. your face will look polished more than a set of well-groomed brows.  if you desire a thinner shape, try tweezing the underside of your brows to open up the eye area.  always tweeze with caution- you do not want to look scary and harsh.  if you like your brow shape but it’s the individual hairs that are unruly, trim with brow scissors rather than tweeze.

if you’re in a pinch and need to groom, use a brush-on eyebrow gel to smooth the hairs into a cohesive shape. it’s easy and simple, but it will instantly make your face look pulled together.  a friend of mine and another brow expert here in the Atlanta area, Caroline Green, has developed her own line of brow gels and powders.  as a product junkie and a true supporter of women in business,  i have tried them all and i can say that her line can be placed amongst the best of them! Yay, GG!!

the thin brow
having well-groomed brows frame a face, but if yours are thin or sparse, proceed with caution.  there’s nothing quite as horrifying as tweezing your eyebrows, just to look up and realize you went way too far. over-tweezing is the most common problem. always use a regular mirror and not magnifying mirrors. having an up-close view encourages over-tweezing.

next, have a shape in mind before you start, then tape a photo of an ideal brow on the mirror. this can be a little problematic if your brows have been over-waxed and/or over tweezed.  i always encourage new clients to come to me when all of their brows have fuller grown back before i touch them.  brows naturally thin over time, so full brows scream youth. if yours are looking sparse, lightly fill them in with a brow pencil or brow powder.

panty care

it is easy to toss your panties in with the rest of your dirty laundry because its effortless.  however, if you are wanting longevity for your panty apparel, may i suggest you do these simple steps?

1. hand wash with a mild detergent.

2.  hang to air dry.

you will thank me later!

bra carebuying a bra is an investment in your comfort and appearance.  and, you want your investment to last!  how long your bras live depends on several factors:

how well you care for your bras how you wear it the bra size don’t hang your bras by their straps.  that will help assist with the damage on their longevity. hand wash your bras if you want your bra to last longer, how you care for it is most important. Washing machines and dryers are death on bras. the agitators bend the wires, the pumps cause the smooth surface of t-shirt bras to look like an orange peel, and most detergents are too harsh for the fine fabrics and special materials in today’s bras. the heat from the wash water and the dryer break down the fabric fibers and shorten their life. use a gentle laundry wash i love using victoria’s secret lavish laundry for my intimate apparel.  all detergent is another great brand.  and i can’t forget to mention baby detergent too!  follow the manufacturer’s instructions.  before you wash, check for color fastness.  dip a corner in water, hang it over a clean, white cloth (use one that you do not mind possibly staining) and check to see if any dye drips off.  many dark garments normally release some dye the first few washings so be careful that other garments washed with them are not tinted by the dye.

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rotate your bras

if you wear the same bra everyday, the lycra (or spandex or elastane) fabric will not have time to recover from being stretched during the day.  over time, the band will lose its elasticity and will no longer fit properly.   the more bras in the rotation the longer they will last.

can you wash your bras too much?

yes! excessive washing will shorten the life of your bras, so how often should you wash them?  excercise having a balance between keeping your lingerie fresh and not over washing them, and where you live often determines how often you should wash your bras.

thanks for reading!

~robin~