Summer is almost upon us and just like the weather changes up so should your beauty routine. The main beauty themes are bright-faced, bronzed glow and getting it as natural as you can. Below are some of the prods I’m looking to get familiar with the summer.

1. Since the NARS Cosmetics tinted moisturizer came on the beauty scene I’ve heard AMAZING things about it. The only downer about it (for me at least) is the SPF. Kind of allergic to it. But whatever, I’m still going to try it out. In the swealtering heat who wants to pile on serums, moisturizers, concealer, powder or foundation? This product describes itself as cutting out all the steps since its all-in-1 and thats perfect! And it promises to improve the skin’s appearance over time…need I say more?

2. So this Tarte Gifted Amazonian Clay mascara will definitely be a staple in my cosmetics routine. It supposedly delivers a 406% increase in lash volume and long-term reparative, rebuilding, and strengthening benefits with each swipe. Natural, with no parabens, sulfates, nor other harsh ingredients. I’m zero’d in on these.

3. You guys are probably tired of me talking about this conditioner but I love it so much. Nothing gathers my curls together like the Hair Rules Curl Quench conditioner . The aroma is alluring, it leaves the hair shiny and healthy. Its actually perfect for those mornings when you want to run conditioner over your hair and just let your curls air dry as the day goes on.

4. The LORAC TANtalizer Lipgloss is infused with antioxidant açai berry, pomegranate extract, and vitamins C and E. Not only will it help to nourish the lips, the formula will also protect lips from the sun and keep em supple.

5. Deborah Lippmann’s latest collection has the perfect palette of hues for summer. Simple.

6. Mixed Chicks leave in conditioner is another one of the great natural hair must-haves. The formula in this conditioner is another good choice for the hotter months.

7. Shu Uemura cleansing beauty oil is one of the top-rated cleansing oils on the market. This product contains gingko leaf extracts, green tea extract and depsea water. Its strong anti-oxidant and micro circulation properties act to deep clean and enrich the appearance of the skin.

8. Ojon’s Rare Blend Oil bottle automatically makes me think of the tropics so it falls right into place on this list. Basically its a triple blend of special oils from tropical Tahiti to Kalahari Desert in Africa, remote rainforests of Central America and beyond.

9. Guerlain By Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder & Blush combo is quite luxe and was added to the list because like who doesn’t like bronzer? This hybrid bronze and blush powder offers a universal harmony of four shades, which is perfect when you’re trying to build up your tan.

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• beauty
• products
• Ojon
• Deborah Lippmann
• NARS
• Tarte
• Hair Rules
• LORAC
• Guerlain
• Shu Uemura

Around early April I visited the Hair Rules salon for the “experience”. I got my color done by Aimee, deep-treatment, cut & straightened by Monique. The salon felt nice & warm. I guess perhaps because everyone in there were rocking a mane similar to mine so it was like an aura of comfort over the place upon entering. Also wasn’t as “stush” & “shi-shi” as I thought it might be. I’m a control-freak over everything having to do with my being so dealings over my hair are not to be neglected. This was my first activity in a salon since deciding to go natural almost 3 years ago. So I knew that if I was going to go to a natural hair care salon I was going to go to one of the best in the city. Dickey, Hair Rules founder and owner was so nice and funny. My color was great and I’m so glad Aimee almost forced me not to go straight into blonde since my natural hair color is so black. Like jet black to blonde would have been 0 to 100. We decided on a deep/rich chesnut brown with random honey highlights. Then I received my treatment and thats when I was introduced to their Quench conditioner…but I’ll get to that later.

At the time I was apprehensive of the cut I was going to receive. I mean dude after my hair was straightened it reached past BSL (above photo). But the cut & shape Monique did was just what my hair needed. My hair is around an inch & half above BSL now but my ends feel much healthier and smoother than they felt pre-cut (below photos). 

Currently, I’ve been protective styling my hair under “other” hair (photo below). Somewhat for vanity reasons, I was missing long straight hair. I also wanted to take a break from twisting & curling etc. So this is what the mane is until June then its back to my big curls.

onto le conditioner that I adore…

Hair Rules Quench Ultra Rich Conditioner

What’s In It? Water, cetyl alcohol, cyclopentasiloxane, behentrimonium chloride, behentrimonium methosulfate, butyrospermum parkii (shea butter), cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, cyclohexasiloxane, honey, hedychium, coronarium root extract, cymbopogon schoenanthus extract, humulus lupulus (hops)extract, coix lacryma- jobi seed extract, gardenia tahitensis flower extract, butylene glycol, isopropanol, dimethiconol, dimethicone, polyquaternium-10, ceteareth-20, hydroxyethylcellulose, fragrance, disodium EDTA, citric acid, DMDM hydantoin, iodopropynyl butylcarbamate

Why you’ll love it? Its ultra-rich conditioning and softening properties promote suppleness, manageability and shine. Ingredients like shea butter, coconut and olive oils, with extracts of avocado and jojoba help to get kinky, curly hair healthy and lustrous. 

Damage? $15, 8oz

Honestly, the best conditioner that I’ve ever used. Ever. The scent is amazing. Amazing! This is really a conditioner that makes your curls pop even after you rinse the conditioner out. The shrinkage is minimal and curls elongated…at least for me it is. If I was the type of person to like how “wash & go’s” looked this conditioner would be perfect to set the curls before adding a gel or curling cream. I’m mad it took me so long to even get on the Hair Rules boat, so to speak. The only thing that turns me off a bit is the price for the quantity and the “glycerin”. Since glycerin tends to suck moisture out of the air and into the hair follicle, I wonder if it is a good or bad thing to deal with that in the summer when its already humid out. Moisture retention is probably a good thing either way I guess.

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• Hair Rules
• Hair Rules Salon
• natural hair
• beauty