pristina

Miracle in a bottle? I think yes.
Damage: $6.95

The story with my love for this little treasure is that it came out of the blue, a-m-a-zed me and left me really trying to figure out how and why I went so long without it in my life/beauty regimen. Lush has always, as it is for many, been a natural beauty haven. I find myself within its handmade aromatic clutches more frequently. While drooling over some of the latest bath bombs, someone pointed out that I smelled like vanilla and if I ever used Lush’s Vanilla Puff Powder. It’s funny because various people around me lately have mentioned my vanilla aroma that’s starting to become something of a signature scent of mine. So discovering this body powder was like “where have you been all my life dahling”.

Vanilla Puff Powder is large enough to last like 2-3 months with daily usage. And a small enough bottle to carry with you during the day. And in hot muggy NYC summer weather, it’s necessary. You can smooth a little bit over your body to absorb moisture from the atmosphere. Lush’s dusting powders contain absorbent natural properties that help blot up excess moisture, to contain it from the get-go. Each formula is different, but the foundation of each are powders like sodium bicarbonate (baking soda), charcoal, or other absorbers like magnesium trisilicate or magnesium carbonate. It doubles as a deodorant sans aluminum-based compounds or any other ingredient acting as an “antiperspirant”. It triples as possible dry shampoo also but my complicated curly hair prevents me from exercising that possibility just yet. I’ll try it in my hair when I want to stretch a blow-out. Honestly, I like it the best after a shower when I’ve just exfoliated and my pores are open, ready and willing to absorb this goodness. My skin feels so smooth and silky afterwards.

Can’t say I never shared any goodies with you guys. Seriously get this Vanilla puff powder or their equally superb Silky Underwear powder and thank me later. 

Its not aggressive for just being agressive-sake. Its being aggressive and going after what you want because it’s what you think you deserve. When you realize what you deserve and what should be yours, it is no longer aggressive. It’s getting whats owed to you.

Someone very influential told me something during our conversation that stuck with me. And I’m glad it did because it was what I needed to hear. He’s going to be my mentor, he just doesn’t know it yet lol. He said one day he heard a pastor tell a brief story of knowing who to eliminate from your life.

I knew that I was a 12 oz woman. I would tell my friends of my dreams, goals and what I wanted out of life. They couldn’t handle it. They were happy being 9 oz people. Not realizing what’s possible beyond their own world. They turned down my aspirations as silly and impossible. I got rid of my 9 oz friends and got 12 oz friends. Then my dreams and goals turned into my reality.

I needed to hear this message at the right time. And it’s loud and clear. I’m 12 oz, I have goals and dreams so big that it’s scares but excites me. If you’re 9 oz we will never work. I have to keep people around me that inspire and drive me to be better. You guys can keep that “no new friends” shit if you want. I’ll be late for that.

mckenzierenae:

Sometimes we just have to take things back to the basics. I follow Curly Nikki on Twitter, and noticed an interesting article she posted this morning about the pros and cons of washing your natural hair in both hot and cold water. This intrigued me because I’m the girl who showers in nearly scolding hot temperatures because I love the tinge it leaves behind on my skin (you can relate right?). Often times I wash my hair in the same temperature, so naturally I was curious to read this article on the benefits and setbacks of doing so. 

Here’s what I discovered while reading:

Hot Water

PROS: Rinses Away Dirt and Oil 

-Hot water and steam naturally open the pores, which is great for exfoliating and removing the oil from your skin.  Warm water allows the dirt and hair product that has accumulated on your scalp to escape the pores and be rinsed away. 

CON: May Result in Overly Porous Hair

-Hot water opens up the pores and the cuticle of your hair shaft. That being said, rinsing your hair with hot water too often can leave the hair overly porous, causing it to be dry and brittle. 
-Just as hot water helps to rinse away oil and dirt, it also strips your hair of its natural oils. 

CON: Causes Frizz

-Heat causes frizzy hair, and hot water is no exception. No matter what your hair type, the hair needs moisture to stay frizz free. Because hot water can strip the hair of natural oils, moisture escapes the hair shaft and results in frizz. If your hair is especially prone to frizz, you might want to turn off the hot water. 

Cold Water

PRO: Seals The Moisture In Your Hair 

-Opposite of hot water, cold water closes the pores and prevents from entering and accumulating on the scalp. Not only does it close the pores, it also closes the hair cuticle, sealing in moisture from the conditioner that you applied to your hair. 
-Don’t forget, more moisture means less frizz! Cold water retains your hair’s moisture, leaving your hair less prone to frizz.

PRO: Increases Shine

-Sometimes stylists like to finish blow drying with a blast of cold air because it leaves the hair shiny. The same concept can be applied to a cold water rinse. Cold water is known to smooth the hair by closing the scales of your hair cuticle, which in turn prevents frizz and adds luster to your locks. 

CON: Flattens Hair

-Because cold water leaves the hair smooth, it can also flatten your hair if you have a naturally thin texture. If your hair lacks in volume, or if you live in a particularly arid environment, rinsing your hair with cold water might result in flat hair and curls with no bounce. 

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So what’s the verdict? Hot or cold? 

Curly Nikki says to use both. She says, “cleanse, condition, and detangle your hair with WARM water, not hot. You don’t want to burn your skin and scalp.” She also advises, “when you’re ready to rinse out the conditioner, turn the dial to COOL and run it over your hair for a final rinse.”

These are great informative tips from Curly Nikki! To check out the entire article, visit her site here.