Giveaway Time! – This Vegan Black Owned Company Vows To Make Your Curls Healthy Again

In recent years there has been a huge shift in hair product companies focusing on bringing quality products to the market. They have realized that these days women are savvy and are less romantic about pretty labels and fancy bottles. Instead, we tend to get more excited about what is in the product plus what the […]

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[Try This] The Layering Technique That Takes Your Highlight to the Next Dimension.

A little while ago, I shared a lash magnifying trick from a world renown makeup artist. Pat McGrath has decades of experience in the world of high fashion.  Her makeup looks have been featured on countless runways and editorials.

When Pat announced the launch of her own makeup line in 2015, anticipation was at an all-time high Shortly after the launch, everything sold out. I'm just now learning about Pat and her contribution to the beauty industry.   The instant I learned of Pat's Skin Fetish highlighter kits, I wanted one.  But since they were all sold out, I tried to be patient and wait for the next release.

Once again, I'm too little too late.   This morning I learned that Pat released her coveted highlighter kits on March 3rd (just two days ago). When I rushed to her website this morning, they were already gone.  Maybe a year from now she might release Skin Fetish again.  But until then, I'm determined to create a DIY workaround that produces similar results.
There are a billion highlighters and bronzers on the market.  Why does Pat's kit keep selling out so quickly?  It's because Skin Fetish creates such a natural highlight.  It helps you mimic the look of dewy/glowy skin.  Skin Fetish takes your highlight to the next dimension.

Check out this quick video to see exactly what I'm talking about.


Skin Fetish is actually a kit that contains 3 items.
// A Stick Highlighter + Balm Duo
// A Buffer Brush
// Pressed Pigment Powder (highlighter)

First, you apply the balm to the high points of your cheeks, upper eyelid, cupid's bow, etc.  Next, we use the highlighter side of the stick to accentuate where the light hits the face.  For a more intense look, you apply pigment powder.  In the final step, you can seal the completed look with a tiny bit more balm.  This softens the finish so it doesn't look like you just put sparkly powder on your face.  You can play around with the layering technique.  Balm first then highlighter or vice versa.

Or just use the balm alone if you wanna rock a glossy nude face.  The complete set normally retails for around $73.00.  You can easily find a few kits on Ebay for an over inflated price.  I can't bring myself to pay the extra markup so we're just gonna have to improvise.

Currently, the closest thing I could find to the balm/highlighter duo is Glossier's Haloscope.  Haloscope combines both balm & highlighter into one.  This makes it super convenient. But, to be honest with you, it doesn't produce the same level of dewiness as Skin Fetish can.   Pat's idea to separate the two steps makes sense.  The woman knows what she's doing.

If we want to recreate a similar result, we too must experiment with highlighter layering.

Recently, I picked up NYX's All Over Balm.  It's the perfect multi-purpose product that I recommend to everyone.  You can use it to moisturize your lips, on dry hands, or as a face balm.   I had the pleasure of playing around with layering NYX's balm and highlighter.  I mimicked Pat's technique of  highlighter then balm.  The results were magical.

In Pat's words "on the skin, the balm gives you that wonderful, gorgeous, sheer, kind of transparent glow."  That's exactly what I experienced.  The glow was transparent, it looked like my skin, only better.  Layering changes everything and the final look is perfect for summer.

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Everything You Need To Know About The Vibrating Flat Iron

Contents Why make a flat iron that vibrates? What do the reviews say? Best practices when using heat Remember years ago when we all had that one hair tool we couldn’t live without? For some of us, it was probably one of those barrel curling irons that could give us a few bumps right before […]

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How to Style Curly Hair from Winter to Spring with Curl Shoppe Butter'd Up Collection

4th day hair with Butter Styling Gel. Loving the shrinkage and frizz!

LA is in an identity crisis right now.

In the past few weeks, we've seen crazy winds, hot and sunny afternoons, iced over cars in the morning, and rain storms so severe, I've considered googling how to build an ark.

How exactly are my curls supposed to flourish when it's 80 degrees at noon, and 43 degrees at 9pm?

Sway don't got the answers, but I do.

Along with a moisture-centric wash routine, the key to keeping those curls poppin' when the weather is unstable as the U.S. government is thinking differently about how we use butters.

I love butters for colder weather -  they provide amazing shine while sealing in moisture, protecting my ends, and keeping my curls hydrated for days while forming a protective barrier against the cold. But when the temperatures heat up, applying butters directly to my hair becomes more infrequent. But with our weather having commitment issues worse than #hurtbae, I want my hair to have the benefits of butters without having to apply it to my curls directly.

Enter: CurlShoppe Butter'd Up Collection.

The Butter'd Up Styling Crew

The Butter'd Up Collection by CurlShoppe is comprised of 7 products, all of which feature shea butter blended with botanical ingredients like rosemary, lavender, rose water, and even seaweed. The Butter'd Up Collection is entirely water-based, which allows for proper hydration of the strands while simultaneously locking in all the good stuff with shea butter. This collection was designed specifically to moisturize and provide effective styling options for thick, curly-coily to kinky-ziggly hair (types 3C to 4C if you need to put a title on it lol).

Since we're talking about styling here, I'll be sharing my thoughts on the Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner, Butter Soft Pudding, Butter Jelly, and Butter Styling Gel.

Oh! And don't forget to check out my quick demo using my favorite combination from the CurlShoppe Butter'd Up Collection: The Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner paired with Butter Soft Pudding and Butter Styling Gel. The way I used these products in this video was totally different from how I normally style wash and go's - but I had one goal in mind: to get maximum moisture while not having to wait around all day for my hair to dry. Because wet hair is cool when it's 85 degrees during the day - but not cool at all when it's 52 degrees at night.

Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner
Cost
$9.95 for 8oz

Where to Buy
www.curlshoppe.ca

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Rose Water: Distillation of rose petals in water, done to harness the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, pH balancing, soothing, and blood-circulating properties of rose essential oils. 
• Glycerin: Vegetable-based humectant that draws in moisture to the hair.
• Behentrimonium Methosulfate: Gentle surfactant made from non-GMO rapeseed (canola oil), and is one of the mildest detangling ingredients out there. It doesn't cause buildup or irritation to the scalp.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.
• Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to soften hair and skin, and aid in moisture retention.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

The Good
First things first. The smell of Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner is addicting. I keep trying to figure out exactly what the smell is, but it's a hybrid of sweet, mixed with a hint of floral, and a dash of earthy. Whatever it is - I want to rub it on myself head to toe and walk around smelling just like it all day long. It smells THAT good.

LOVE this stuff SO much.

Consistency-wise, it looks and feels like a good quality lotion - with that velvety moisturizing action that leaves your hair feeling soft and smooth. The leave-in also gave me great slip and as you can see in the video, detangled my curls with ease. There was no snagging on the brush whatsoever after applying the leave-in, and my curls felt sooooo soft. My hair soaked up all the moisture from the leave-in, and even had the nerve to start clumping into curls without being soaking wet (again, something that I've never seen happen with my curls lol). I'm smitten, to say the least.

The Bad
One thing it took me a lil' minute to catch on to was the fact that I didn't need to use heaping gobs of leave-in. The very first time I played around with the leave-in, I used wayyyy too much and had an issue with the gels mixing. But that was totally user error - now that I know I only need a small amount, we good!

The Bottom Line
The Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner is a stellar foundation for thirsty hair in need of intense moisture without being weighed down. I loved every drop. (Yes, my bottle is empty now lol)

Butter Soft Pudding
Cost
$13.95 for 8oz

Where to Buy
www.curlshoppe.ca

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Castor Oil: Thick, highly viscous oil with antibacterial, antifungal, and humectant properties. It is also a great moisture sealant, and promotes hair thickening and growth.
• Cetearyl Alcohol: Considered "fatty alcohol" -- NOT to be confused with drying alcohols such as ethyl. Acts as a lubricant, thickener, and emollient. Also gives conditioner its velvety feel without making hair greasy. Is additionally used to keep product ingredients from separating.
• PEG-150 Stearate: Thickener and emulsifier (helps keep oils and water mixed together)
• Polysorbate 60: Vegetable-based fatty acid surfactant used as a thickener and stabilizer to aid in mixing ingredients that would normally separate.
• Aloe Vera Juice: Acts as a natural conditioning agent that restores the hair's sheen, luster, and shine. It not only makes the hair soft, but it also enhances strength and suppleness.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

The Good
Okay, you know that fragrance from the Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner? It's in the Butter Soft Pudding too. and I've been tempted to actually taste it more times than I'm proud to admit. But what really excites me about the Butter Soft Pudding is the ingredient profile and consistency. We're entering a new era in natural hair where butters don't just have to be all butter. Butter Soft Pudding is one of the handful of butters I've seen that looks, feels, and behaves like a true butter - but is actually water based. It's genius in composition, and delivers that one-two punch of hydration and sealing.

Another great thing about this product - a very tiny bit goes a long way. I laughed when Curl Shoppe sent me a 2oz jar. I don't buy 2oz of anything - because my hair is greedy. But listen when I tell you - a tiny finger dollop per section is all you need. And that 2oz jar I laughed about? Is still more than half full in spite of how many times I've used it.

The Bad
Literally, nothing. It's creamy, smooth, whipped to perfection, potent, and does exactly what it says it will do.

The Bottom Line
If you're looking for a butter that can hold it's own as a leave-in, moisturizer, or styler (for twist-outs, etc), then you definitely want to check out Butter Soft Pudding!

Butter Jelly
Cost
$9.95 for 8oz

Where to Buy
www.curlshoppe.ca

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Rose Water: Distillation of rose petals in water, done to harness the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, pH balancing, soothing, and blood-circulating properties of rose essential oils. 
• Maltodextrin/VP Copolymer: Naturally derived hair styling polymer.
• Polyquaternium-7: Polymeric quaternary ammonium salt used as an antistatic agent and hair fixative (for hold).
• PVP: Fixative used to hold hair together, can cause buildup if used in large quantities
• Shea Butter Oil: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to soften hair and skin, and aid in moisture retention.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Freshly styled Butter Jelly curls. 

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

The Good
The first thing you might be wondering is why there are two different gels in the Butter'd Up Collection. Well, the geniuses behind CurlShoppe (Natasha and Rowan) realized that different naturalistas have different preferences with gels - and those preferences can vary by the day. More often than not, I opt for heavier gels with stronger hold (in this case, the Butter Styling Gel). But there are some times when I don't want to wait for day 2 to roll around to achieve touchable, soft curls. That's where Butter Jelly comes in. It's CurlShoppe's medium hold gel for touchable, soft definition.

3rd Day Butter Jelly hair

By comparison, Butter Jelly is less wiggly-wiggly and more creamy to the touch. It's smooth and slightly thick, and in no way tacky or sticky. For the time being, I'm over sticky gel and I can totally appreciate that Butter Jelly wasn't one of those.

It worked beautifully with Butter Milk Leave-In Conditioner and Butter Soft Pudding, leaving behind no weird clumpage or flakes. My hair dried beautifully curly and voluminous with some frizz - but that's what I expect from medium hold gel.

The Bad
I don't know that I have anything bad to say. I could say the frizz was bad, but I know my hair, and I know how it reacts to medium hold styling products. My hair is disrespectful AF. There was bound to be frizz. Cute, somewhat defined, voluminous frizz. And I can't be mad at that.

The Bottom Line
If you prefer lighter hold and a gel with tons of moisture (but no stickiness!) that'll leave your hair soft on day 1, then Butter Jelly is definitely the move!

The Trio of Dreams

Butter Styling Gel
Cost
$11.95 for 8oz

Where to Buy
www.curlshoppe.ca

Active Ingredients

• Water
• Rose Water: Distillation of rose petals in water, done to harness the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, pH balancing, soothing, and blood-circulating properties of rose essential oils. 
• VP/VA Copolymer: Polymer used as a film forming fixative (aka cast forming gel).
• PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil: Polyethylene glycol derivatives of castor oil used to help form emulsions by reducing the surface tension of ingredients, also acts as a solvent to help ingredients mix that normally would not.
• PVP: Fixative used to hold hair together, can cause buildup if used in large quantities
• Shea Butter: Emollient fat from the nut of the East or West African shea nut tree used to soften hair and skin, and aid in moisture retention.

Protein Free?
Yes!

Curly Girl Friendly?
Yes!

The Good
Butter Styling Gel is bae. I don't mean to play favorites, but between the two, Butter Styling Gel is definitely my pick. It's thick and wiggly, not at all snotty or sticky, and has the same smoothness of Butter Jelly - but with more of a gel-gel vibe.

With a label designation of "max hold", I was thinking that my curls would be stuck to the sides of my head and never separate. I was wrong!  My curls were well defined, touchable, but with a slight cast - just what I was expecting. And quite honestly, just what I like to receive. As I've said several times over, I don't chase that big hair train that everyone else is hopping on. You won't catch me picking my curls within an inch of their life just for likes on Instagram. Not knocking anyone who does, but that just isn't my style. My curls will naturally expand and achieve volume in the days following. No need for me to rush the process, and jeopardize the health of my curls along the way.

The Bad
Ummm nothing! In case you couldn't tell in the video, I LOVED my results from the Butter Styling Gel.

The Bottom Line
Can I make #ButterBae a thing? Because if y'all will let me, I'll make it a thing. Butter Styling Gel can definitely be #ButterBae. I love everything about it - and if you're a true gel girl like me, then you will, too!

What are your plans to keep your hair on track while the weather transitions? Let me know in the comments below - plus tell me what CurlShoppe products you want to try!

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If You're Serious About Hydrated Skin, You'll Definitely Want This Beauty Gadget

As I get older, one thing I need to be really obsessive about is the moisture level of my skin.  I'm one of those people who have naturally oily skin.  Sometimes we oily skin girls don't moisturize adequately because we think our skin doesn't need it.  This way of thinking is flawed and only perpetuates the problem of dry skin.

 I've had professionals look at my skin up close and tell me that I need to focus more on moisturizing.  But I don't really listen.  I've done stuff like buying various facial mists and making sure there's always a humidifier nearby.  But I don't really take topical skin moisturization all that seriously.

Yesterday, something happened that changed all of that.
A young lady shared an Instagram story that featured her getting her external skin moisture tested.  There she was, sitting patiently as someone held a skin moisture analyzer to her face.  Yes, you heard me correctly.  Someone actually invented a tool that can measure hydration levels of your skin. 

It works by sending an undetectable electrical current to your skin.  That current then travels back into the device while measuring water content.  The more water contained in the skin, the faster the current travels back thus creating a higher moisture reading.  

Keihl's offers this as a complimentary service when you visit their stores.  But after a little digging, I learned that they sell these nifty little gadgets on Amazon from under $20.00.  I want one badly.  Having one of these around will serve as a clear reminder no never neglect the moisture levels of my face.  After watching a few videos on how this moisture monitor works, I immediately grabbed a few of my neglected moisturizers and slathered on a thin layer.  

Instantly my skin looked and felt better.  Better isn't a strong enough word, my skin looked dewy and healthy.  I also noticed that my oil production seemed under control that day.  I guess the experts were right when they say that our skin sometimes over produces oil in an attempt to self-hydrate.  It can't produce water so it uses it's only available resource.  

  Once I have the moisture monitor in my possession, I plan on running a few experiments. 

 For instance:

1.) I want to test if drinking lots of water truly impacts the cells at the surface level. 

2.) I'll also use it to assess which of my moisturizers produce the highest moisture readings.  

3.) I'm curious to see which moisturizer(s) maintain moisture levels on the skin the longest.  

This summer, my skin strategy will be very different.  Instead of avoiding moisturizer and laying my skin with a bunch of matte inducing products, I'll try to keep the skin cool and hydrated.  Hopefully, this will produce the dewy summer skin that I so dream of.  

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Do This To "Erase" The Effects of Your Bad Eating Choices

I'm having some work done on my home.  My stove to be disconnected for a couple of days.  I used this as an excuse to cheat a little on my diet.  Out of convenience, I treated myself to a frozen cheesy flatbread pizza. Out of greed, I finished my meal by enjoying ample amounts of caramel gelato.

As soon as I was done, I questioned my choices.  I imagined my arteries becoming clogged with all of the sugar and fat now floating around in my bloodstream.

Instead of regretting it and making a promise to myself never to do it again, I went online to see if there's anything I could do to minimize the impact.  Moments later, I learned the solution that could help balance out my high-fat meal.
I learned there was something I could do to prevent some of the damage from what had just taken place.  After eating a high-fat, high carb meal, real changes happen in our body.  The composition of our blood changes as it becomes laden with fat.

Did you know that after a heavy meal, your arteries look like that of someone who has heart disease? Yep, the thick sluggish fat impairs the arteries' ability to function properly.  This outcome is relatively temporary lasting for around 6 hours but if you're always eating high-fat meals, you're keeping your arteries in a constant state of impairment.   That's not a good thing.

But researchers have found a way to reduce the impact to our arteries.  All we have to do is go for a post-meal walk.

They took a look at the arterial impact of eating an extremely high-calorie meal.  Healthy 25 year-old participants enjoyed a rich breakfast consisting of eggs, sausage, and hash browns (945 calories).  Two hours later, they were asked to walk on a treadmill for 45 minutes.  After examination, they found that arterial function was vastly improved.  In fact, it was even better than before the participants ate.

The same benefits were seen in managing blood sugar as well.  We all know that after eating sweets or meals consisting of highly refined grains, our blood sugar spikes.  Eating pasta, bread, and rice is pretty much equivalent to eating sweets as far as the body is concerned.  That spike in blood sugar is potential energy for the body.  Unfortunately, most of us are fairly sedentary after a meal/snack so all that extra energy is quickly stored as fat.

The Mayo Clinic conducted a study which assessed the blood sugar levels of healthy individuals after a meal.  Four hours after eating our blood sugar rises to over 100% higher than normal. But those who walked at a comfortable pace post meal didn't experience that same spike.

Basically, walking after a meal can help lower blood sugar and reduce the amount of fat in the bloodstream.  Instead of flooding the blood, that extra sugar is diverted to the muscles where it can be used as energy.  This news made me so very happy.  I could actually do something proactive to help protect my body against the negative consequences of my eating choices.

 I've been putting this theory into practice by taking walks after meals and I've noticed that I haven't been experiencing feeling sugar highs and crashes.

It's also good to know that benefits are still accessible when I do mild physical activity.  We don't have to rush to the gym after a meal we just have to get active so the body can process the excess sugar & fat.  This doesn't mean that we can gorge on sweets and high-fat food all of the time. If you still eat more calories than you burn, you'll still gain weight.  I'm not advocating that you eat horribly. We are fully responsible for eating healthy, nutrient rich foods that feed our cells.

 But it's nice to know there's something we can do to reduce the possible internal effects to our bodies from the foods we eat.


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A Mid-Day Refesher//Creating Perfect Moments in a Stressful Workday

When I held an office job, I developed a set of routines and self-care rituals that I'd incorporate throughout the day.  It was my little way of getting reconnected with myself in a crazy, hectic environment.  By the end of the workday, I'd leave the office looking refreshed, unphased and unbothered by the craziness of the day.

Once I left the office environment, I'd forgotten about my little routine and how amazing it was. I realize now that I absolutely need to create an updated version.
The plan is to incorporate the steps that worked well in the past while adding a few new gems into the mix.

Looking back, one habit that served me well was carrying around a small bottle of my favorite lightweight hair oil to reapply mid-day.  Back in those days, I was desperate to climb the corporate ladder. At one point I realized that people in the office reacted differently to me when I wore my hair down.  So I wore my hair down more often. And to combat the destruction that occurs from having my ends exposed, I'd freshen it up with a little oil.  This worked so well. The compliments flowed in. It continued even after hours when I left the office and went to night classes.  One day, a coworker asked me to divulge my secret so I pulled the little bottle out of my desk drawer. Till this day, I have a reminder on my phone that notifies me at 2:30 pm to moisturize and seal.

Another part of my mid-day refresher was taking a mental inventory of how much water I consumed so far.  Normally, I'll have a large bottle of water first thing in the morning.  Then, the day gets busy and I forget all about it.  At the of the day, I realize that I barely touched my water bottle for hours.  Midday is the perfect time to rehydrate.  Perhaps it's been a few hours since your last meal, enjoying a full bottle of water can help ramp up your metabolism.  You might even consider chasing the water with a cup of green tea to ward off afternoon cravings.

I used to purposely drink lots of water to increase the frequency of bathroom breaks.  Every time I visited the restroom, I'd do 10-20 squats. There were a set of stairs nearby and I'd knock out a few flights of stairs every bathroom break.   That extra activity adds up.  I desperately need to start doing this again.

The other day, I received a tip that we should reapply our sunscreen late afternoon.  Maybe you're in an office environment all day but chances are you're going to drive home in the harsh evening sun.  Are you sure that your sunscreen is still hard at work?  If not, it might be a good time to touch up.  If you're concerned about sunscreen ruining your makeup, maybe mix it with your foundation.  I'm looking forward to trying NARS' powder foundation which has SPF, controls shine, and minimized blemishes.  It's the perfect product for a late afternoon touch up.

Another important mid-day refresher, for me, was a mental refocus.

The first part of the day is always hectic. If I'm not careful, my mind gets consumed with the stresses of the day.  I realized that I have to combat the emotional rollercoaster otherwise I bring all that home with me.  One thing that worked for me is to take a moment and review everything that's gone well so far.  It doesn't matter if the positive aspects were minuscule, I still add it to the list.  This reignites my motivation for the second half of the day.  Another cool technique I did was to visualize for a couple of minutes in the middle of the day. This reconnects me with my intentions.  When you're working for someone else, you lose a sense of your personal goals.  When I focused on my intentions during the day, I was excited to make plans on my drive home about what I'd work on that evening.  Instead of coming home feeling defeated and stressed out, I was reenergized and ready to make moves.

I need to get back to implementing the daily refresher routine ASAP. Starting with what worked in the past and building from there. I tend to lose some steam in the afternoons, this might be the strategy I need to boost my late afternoon productivity.

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