Not to put Pharrell on blast, but the guy is 42. FORTY-TWO. Wrinkles clearly do not exist in his life (or he’s got the best derm in town on speed dial). Since he hasn’t copped to that, we’re left with these little gems he told us back in 2013:
“You have to clean your face. You can’t sit around and assume it’s going to be OK.” Basically, don’t sleep in your makeup. Pretty standard. There has to be more. In the absence of anything else straight from the source, we’ve resorted to second-hand advice:
“I only wash my face with cold water, but I got that from Pharrell, who got that from Naomi Campbell. I heard it on a radio show—it keeps things tight,” Yashua Simmons said in his Top Shelf.
Then there’s the reliable Google, which will provide searches with the irresistible SEO headline “Pharrell Williams denies being a vampire.” Riley Montana asked Google and Google answered for Pharrell. “I’ve been trying Cetaphil, and it actually helps a lot. I got that from Pharrell. He looks so young—I had to know what he did, so I Googled it. And I drink a lot of water—that came from Pharrell, too.”
Simple—no grandiose blood-of-virgins here (disappointingly enough)—but while not exciting, effective it is. And if that’s enough for Pharrell, no one’s complaining about going to CVS and buying a bottle of $5 cleanser.
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If you’re ever feeling pretty blah as you go about your day, you may want to consider if your diet could be the culprit. A lack of certain nutrients in the diet has been associated with depression, so it is important to eat an overall healthy diet on a daily basis. If we eat better foods like lean proteins, whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and fish, we short circuit the junk food cravings and have higher energy levels and sharper mental focus, says Rene Ficek, a registered dietitian who is also the Lead Nutrition Expert at Seattle Sutton’s Healthy Eating. Eating certain foods (outlined below) may not put us in an instantly great mood, but can give you a mood boost!
Walnuts and Fatty Fish
When it comes to omega-3 fatty acids, no food source is better than fatty fish like tuna, mackerel, bluefish, and salmon. These fats have specific brain boosting properties to fight depression, and as an added bonus they improve circulation and reduce inflammation and your overall risk of heart disease, says Ficek. If you are vegetarian or vegan, reach for the walnuts because they are the richest plant based sources of omega-3 fatty acids.
Eggs
A number of studies have found an association between low vitamin D levels and mood disorders including depression, PMS and seasonal affective disorder (SAD), says Rise coach, Lori Rosenthal, MS, RD, CDN. Egg yolk is a good source of vitamin D, along with fatty fish and fortified cereals. Tip: Limit yourself to 1 egg yolk per day.
Whole Grains
High fiber carbohydrates found in whole grains can leave you feeling good and doing your body good at the same time. Whole grains, brown rice, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, and whole wheat pasta are all good choices since they assist the body with release of serotonin, the feel good hormone, says Ficek.
Water
Adequate hydration is essential for our body to run smoothly. When we are dehydrated, our bodies have to work harder, leaving us dragging, says Rosenthal. Getting enough fluids will help boost your mood and energy levels. Tip: Sugary drinks, including juice, soda, and sports drinks not only can lead to a energy crash, but also contribute to diabetes and obesity. Try to hydrate sugar-free.
Green Tea
Green tea is rich in the amino acid, theanine. This amino acid naturally found in tea leaves provides an anti-stress relaxation benefit to drinkers. Plus, green tea gives a boost of relaxed alertness rather than the boost of tension or anxiety that coffee drinkers report, says Ficek.
In fact, a new study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, found that tea consumption may be linked to improved mood, mental alertness and problem solving! Think of that the next time you are cramming for that big final exam.
MORE: Late-Night Snacks That Won’t Make You Gain Weight
Turmeric
If you’re feeling down, this bold spice found in many Indian and Asian curry dishes can help boost your mood. It’s loaded with anti-inflammatory properties and contains the active compounds turmerones and curcuminods, which also provide a wide variety of health benefits, says Ficek.
Chocolate
A lot of us turn to chocolate when we’re having a bad day, and it may be instinctual! Eating dark chocolate has been shown to reduce stress hormones, including cortisol, according to this study done at the Nestlé Research Center in Switzerland. This could be due to the antioxidants in chocolate, but it’s delicious and makes us feel better, so we’re happy it’s good for us, too.
Spinach
Leafy green vegetables, including spinach, are packed with health promoting nutrients including folic acid, which has been found to positively affect mood, says Rosenthal. Beans, asparagus and oranges are also good sources of folic acid.
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If you’ve been on the hunt for a great pressed powder foundation for African American women, search no more black ladies! IMAN’s Pressed Powder matches your skin tone, removes shine and provides full even coverage for your black skin.
Hello Classy Black Ladies! I am very pleased to provide you with this review of IMAN’s Luxury Pressed Powder.
I have been searching high and low for a pressed powder foundation that will not only match my skin tone but also *not* make me look like I just stepped out of Michael Jackson’s thriller video shoot! I like my dark skin tone with its golden undertone and I want it to look that way whether I have foundation on or not.
It seems that I visit the beauty section of my local pharmacy every month looking for a new pressed powder. I’ve tried powder foundations by L’Oreal, Maybelleine and all the major brands, but they do not match my skin tone and do not provide even coverage.
I’ve also tried liquid foundations, like Maybelleine’s Dream Liquid Mousse (my last brand) but they just made my face look greasy and uneven.
About a month ago I was sorting through my foundation options in the beauty section of my pharmacy yet again, and picked up a new powder press foundation by one of the majors. I sighed, knowing that it would probably not work out, as I walked toward the register.
Then, like a beacon of light, I happened to look back toward the beauty section and saw a display for IMAN cosmetics. I’d never seen her beauty products in Fontana before.
I went over and picked up her Pressed Powder in Earth Dark. I went home and immediately tried….. the results??
WOW! I was truly amazed. The color didn’t seem like it would match my skin tone when I looked at it in the case, but when I put it on my face it blended perfectly. The pressed powder provided full coverage over my skin and didn’t make me look like a Black Zombie! Yay! It looked like my own natural skin tone.
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NEW! IMAN Skin Tone Evener BB Crème SPF 15….skin care and color combined to even, protect, tone and compliment YOUR skin tones like no other BB Cream ever has!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOszrKVOfXI
Evens with Skin Tone Evener Complex enriched with Acai, Licorice & Grape Seed
Protects with SPF 15 & antioxidants
Hydrates with Kokum, Almond, Aloe and Vitamins A, E & C
Paraben-Free
Compliments your skin tone with a hint of color in 5 perfect-match shades
IMAN Skin Tone Evener BB Crème SPF 15 not recommended for acne prone skin.
Buy it in store or at Fontanapharmacy.com
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Most beauty bloggers I know love make up. They spend ours in Fontana and plan shopping trips to just to get the best deals. I like make up, it’s fun to wear but it’s not on the top of my shopping list and I purchase it accordingly. And no, this isn’t coming from a place of “Oh, I’m a natural beauty so I don’t really need make up”.
Like many women I know, I just stick to the basics of some foundation, mascara and lip color. I can have my face done in 10 minutes or less. Concealer confuses me, and I find contouring to be false advertising. So, again, I’m not a beauty blogger, or an expert; you can take what I say with a grain of salt but as I walked into Fontana the other day and saw that they now stocked Iman BB Creme a girl got a little excited.
Let’s start off with what a BB cream is. A BB cream is a beauty balm (sometimes blemish balm is used interchangeably) promoted as an all in one cosmetic product. Think of a moisturizer, primer, foundation and sunblock in a single tube. Many bb creams also boast skin perfecting properties such as clearing up blemishes and evening skin tones. They gained popularity in Asia, and have recently taken the Jamaica by storm. But the problem with the beauty industry (as well as the entertainment industry, and basically every industry) is that since their target customers are white women, us ladies of color would have a hard time reaping it’s talked about benefits. Which is why when Iman Cosmetics created their own BB creams specifically for darker shades, it was highly anticipated and talked about.
Recently launched, Iman Cosmetics Skin Tone Evener BB Creme SPF 15 comes in six shades, from light tan to deep brown. It’s free of Paraben, a preservative used in many cosmetics to extend it’s shelf life, but some experts believe there is a link to breast cancer & fertility issues with this compound. It also contains fruit and plant extracts and is packed with vitamin E. Now that you have an idea of what it does and doesn’t contain,
I suggest you visit Fontanato get a better feel on which is right for you. In store, the display has a variety of models that you can compare your skin tone to for a perfect match. I selected Clay Medium Deep as my color. Fotana’s cosmetics experts are there to make it easier, the package itself has a little opening that shows you what the color looks like.
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Oily skin is a pain! I have suffered with oily skin for as long as I can remember, despite having clear skin. Yes, I know they say people with oily skin age slower. However, no one wants to deal with their face looking like a disco ball by lunch time.
Oily skin can be a result of a number of problems be it genetics, hormonal, seasonal or poor use of skincare products. Now, there are a couple skin care myths I must dispel for your own good before we talk about at home remedies. The first being- washing your face a million times with a harsh cleanser. This will over dry your skin and have the adverse effect where your skin will actually produce more oil. I would recommend a gentle oil free face wash.
The second would be not moisturizing. This is a no go. Oily skin does not mean you don’t need a moisturizer, you do. Just choose one that is oil free, simple.
Now that we covered those myths let’s move on to at home fixes for oily skin. My go to cure is at home face masks. I’ve recommended a few of my favs in a previous post.
My go to mask to target my oily t-zone is an egg yolk mask. I just use one egg yolk mixed with corn starch and honey. I usually go in with my homemade toner which consists of ¼ cup of raw apple cider vinegar, ¼ of distilled water and a few drops of tea tree oil. I then follow up with an oil free moisturizer. Another important step is to exfoliate the skin. This helps to unclog your pores which help to eliminate excessive oil production on the face.
Also be reminded that your diet is also important to the condition of your skin. Therefore, your need to drink more water, avoid oily food and exercise…
Lovelies, let me know how these tricks and tips work for you…
Until next time…Stay gorgeous…
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Fun Trends: Pastel Hair for Spring
A new season is upon us and I’m sure most of us will be making some changes. I’ve decided to ditch my dark locks and go for something lighter. Spring is the perfect time to experiment with your hair because the weather is not too hot or too cold. It’s the perfect time to start over.
One trend I’ve noticed dominating the beauty scene is the pastel ombre and I love it. Mind you, I don’t think I’m brave enough, but, it’s a great way to push the envelope and have a bit of fun. The good thing is that you can opt for a lighter or darker pastel shade with highlights or ombre, to your liking. The most popular is the Kylie Jenner green pastel hair colour. I have to say I am tempted to try. Hey, if you don’t want to colour your hair, you can always opt for extensions. Either way, have fun with it.
Now, before you decide to colour your hair please ensure you consult a professional to assist with colour selection and advice on how to use the product.
Fontana carries a wide range of hair products in store and online to include L’Oreal, Dark and Lovely, Nice n’ Easy and Garnier…go check them out.
Okay my lovelies, colour your Spring with lighter shades and have fun with it…until next time, stay gorgeous
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Get rid of dry dull hair…
Nobody wants to have dry dull hair, it’s not cute. I coloured my hair recently and I noticed that two days after washing my hair, it would appear so dull and dry. I consulted my hair dresser and did a little research of my own and concluded that my hair was lacking moisture, and need lots of it. Being the frugalista that I am, I tried to find affordable ways that worked to address my dull dry hair. Some products I found in my kitchen, others I found at the beauty hub, Fontana.
Based on my research, I decided to make a couple hair masks. I knew I needed to add some protein to at least one of my treatment mask. The first mask I made I used an egg, an avocado, mayonnaise and some olive oil. I applied the mask to my hair, used a steam cap to cover it and left it on for about 30 minutes. My hair was so soft and shiny after.
The second mask I made was the real deal. I used Jamaican castor oil and coconut oil, melted Shea butter and honey; left the mask on for about an hour each time. Listen, this little concoction worked miracles. I used this mask once per week for four weeks and my hair has never been better. My hair has transformed into a shiny, bouncy goldie locks and I’ve never been happier. The castor oil adds so much body while the coconut oil and Shea butter gives my hair the shine and lustre it needed.
Lovelies, I strongly recommend you try some of your own at home remedies and share in the comments section. I mean who doesn’t want gorgeous hair without breaking the bank?
Until next time, stay gorgeous…
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A matte lip is a go to for me. I’m not a huge fan of glossy lips simply because my face is already an oil slick. However, a matte lip can be tricky sometimes. For me, achieving that even application is dependent on how moisturized and smooth your lips are.
One must prepare the lips properly before applying a matte lipstick because this could leave your lips looking a dry crumbling mess. Don’t panic just yet, we’ve got you. The key to achieving baby soft lips is to exfoliate. I usually mix a little sugar with olive oil or honey and gentle apply to the lips in a circular motion. You can also use a soft tooth brush or wash cloth in the same way to get rid of the dead skin on your lips. Also, a recent discovery of mine is the Elf exfoliating stick; it is just like a lipstick.
Here is a tutorial demonstrating how you can achieve baby soft lips for the perfect matte lipstick..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eajIxcf0ZZA
Perk up those baby soft lips my lovelies… All the products mentioned are available at Fontana Pharmacy, your beauty hub.
Until next time, stay gorgeous…
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