Monday, June 24, 2013

Knowing your skin type

June 24, 2013 0
A lot of us load our dressing table with different cosmetic brands that do not match our skin type. The resultant effect is such that we worsen the condition of our skin by using the wrong products for it.

For instance, someone with extremely dry skin using an alcohol base astrigent just because her friend uses it and its nice. The friend probably has oily skin and it works fine on that but it would increase the dryness of the skin of the other friend using it.

I have put together this 5 groups to help find your niche as well as enlighten us on this subject and as usual please feel free to contact me or leave a message if you are not clear on anything. 


    • (Group A)   You constantly have flakes on your skin, even after layers of foundation and powder, its mostly as if something always needs to be peeled. 15 minutes after washing your face, it feels dry and also looks dry, sensitive to sun, cold, wind and other weather conditions, break outs are very rare except in cases of allergy or irritation. Early signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles. This skin type is also fine and thin with almost invisible pores 

    • (Group B)   You can see obvious shine on your skin each time you look in the mirror, the pores on your skin are large and visible. Black heads and blemishes abound. frequent breakout cases and sometimes the skin has a dull appearance.Your skin mostly feels fine after washing with soap and becomes oily a little time after that. It feels great after you use a toner and very oily after you use a heavy moisturizer.

    • (Group C)   when you look in the mirror, the skin looks smooth, no obvious shine, pores dry or coarse look. 15 minutes after you wash with a cream cleanser, your skin still feels smooth to touch. Your skin rarely breaks out and rarely has allergy reactions, break outs may only occur some days to menstrual cycle. Skin looks great after applying a heavy moisturizer.

    • (Group D)   You have areas of dryness and visible shine on the skin surface. the forehead, nose and the chin (T zones) have oily feel while the cheeks and jawline have dry and flaky feel. The oily areas of the T zones  feel greasy and experience break outs while the dry areas exhibit all the features of the dry skin.

    • (Group E)   You always have to battle with inflammation, tingling and feeling of tightness after washing your face. break outs and other allergic reactions as a form of reaction to certain products. signs of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis are always present on the skin.

If you fall within Group A then you most likely have dry skin. Group B is oily skin. Group C is normal skin. Group D is combination and Group E is Sensitive skin 
I would be picking these skin types one by one to show us how to manage each skin type and get good results
 


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Sunday, June 23, 2013

that Aloe Vera Plant

June 23, 2013 0







We are probably all tired of hearing and reading about this plant by now, well I feel your pain because I was like you too at a time.


 Some years back, the hype was really great and I remember I got a pulp from my neighbour's aloe vera pot, tried it on my face for about two days and felt it wasn't really worth everything I heard or read about it.




 Now, I wonder why I came to that conclusion because I did not even know what aloe vera was supposed to do for me at that time, coupled with the fact that my skin had little or no challenges. 



In present times, one of my most treasures possessions include the pot of aloe vera in my balcony.


 I hardly go a day without including aloe vera gel in my skin care regimen.

aloe Vera as it concerns the skin.

 




Aloe vera has been known to soften dead skin cells and aid its removal leaving the skin smooth and bright. It has anti oxidant properties and boosts skin's cell renewal process, in other words aloe vera helps to slow down the aging process




It contains anti bacteria properties which fight against bacteria and anti -inflammatory properties that reduce skin inflammation. 



 Due to this numerous properties found in the aloe plant, it can be used as a good moisturiser, as an after shave by men since it has the ability to treat cuts sustained during shaving.



 It can also be useful in the treatment of acne, reduce visibility of stretch marks, improve the skin's natural firmness etc.
Pulp gotten directly from the aloe vera plant can rubbed on the skin and washed off after about 20 minutes, the pulp can also be used to mix facial masks or added into body wash jars for a moisturizing effect.

There are processed aloe vera gels sold in stores which has also been found to be equally good, but I would still advise us to cultivate at least a pot of this magic plant in our garden.



 
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Friday, June 21, 2013

Why Extra virgin Olive oil?

June 21, 2013 0




I could pass for a ''write-a-tive'' and not a talkative that's because once I begin writing, I never want to stop till I see its becoming way too much, this explains why I have two blogs and why I literally fill up every space with my never ending write ups. It makes me happy though to see that writing has become my identity, after all the pen is mightier than the sword so i'm kinda proud of it...........
Today's all about the much talked about magic oil EVOO. at the mention of this oil, my eyes always roll because its something that has become my friend more than any other cosmetic product.
The many wonders of EVOO include acne treatment, scar and blemish control, excellent moisturizer, reliable lip balm, fantastic hair conditioner etc.




I would concentrate on EVOO for acne prone skin today. 
I have always had to answer this question time and again which is why would you ask some one who is battling with oil on her skin, acne, acne scars and all to go ahead and apply some form of oil on that same skin again?



Various estheticians and  cosmetologists would give you different reasons for this, some would say it''s based on the theory of oil dissolves oil, others would say the EVOO is a non comedogenic oil (not pore clogging) I would like to mention a few things that would provide adequatae answers to this question.
This magic oil contains antibacterial properties and we know that bacteria goes a long way in encouraging acne growth on the skin, it cleanses deeply by penetrating into the pores to loosen dirt that might clog the pores hereby leading to break out. It is also loaded with antioxidants. 



 Some other uses of EVOO include; 


it can be used in place of shaving cream and gives a soft silky feel, used to relief dry scalp, make up remover and face moisturizer etc



How to use EVOO in your acne battle




place your hand in a bottle of EVOO and rub it lavishly on your face in circular motion. leave for about 25 mins, place a clean wash cloth into a bowl of hot water, wring out and place the wash cloth directly on your face, leave it on the face till the wash cloth cools out and then remove to repeat the step again, this second time, rub the wash cloth all over your face to remove dirt, make up residue and excess oil, do this as many times as you can and then take a little oil to rub on your face and go to bed if its in the evening or apply your make up if its in the morning. You can do this once every week, I won't advice you to do it more often because steaming your face every time can damage it, however, you can rub in evoo everyday after washing your face. The method of cleansing your face with evoo is called the oil cleansing method (OCM) and it's one of the best methods for getting rid of acne.

Buying the right EVOO;

 

do not buy evoo that has used more than a year on the shelf, check the shelf life on the bottle before you purchase.

 cheap olive oil will not work be sure to purchase original evoo 

Keep bottle away from direct sunlight as light can weaken the properties causing it to loose effectiveness on time. 




 After reading this, you may have questions, please don't hesitate to ask, I am always here to answer.
Sorry this post is lengthy so I would not be able to include any side tip today...... till my next post
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Monday, June 17, 2013

Olay Quench Body Lotion

June 17, 2013 2
I got a message from 18 year old Shade asking me to please review this product because she was contemplating getting it and needed expert advice. This is actually a product I love hence the eagerness to do a review.




First things first thanks for considering my opinion worthwhile and I promise to do my best to touch on all major things about olay quench body lotion.






I will start by saying olay is a brand name with credibility, they have over the years stood the test of time which is a great quality to look out for when considering actual purchase of any brand. 





Olay quench is majorly directed at dry, cracked skin. its a form of rescue for people with dry skin who desire that soft, silky feel and really, after a few weeks of continous use, the difference becomes noticeable.






It also has this shimmery effect after use that gives an overall appearance of soft, silky, glowing skin (don't you just love this?) 

The ingredients include;

 

 

 


 Vit E, vit B3 and Shea butter which are excellent skin moisturizers and provide the needed protection from the harsh weather conditions.

Its a product I will repurchase over and over again though I do not really have dry skin but its good for my normal skin

My advice:

 

 


 please be careful in purchasing this product if you experience mild to serious case of body sweat during the day as this may aid it, asides this please feel free to purchase as many bottles as you wish. 
once again thanks for writing to me about this product and I hope you and other readers have found this review helpful.




 Till my next post.........



Side tip:


 Whipped Shea Butter

 Here's introducing another DIY moisturizer that I fell in love with.

 We have problems having to smooth out raw shea butter on our body and then the smell too (eeewwww) so here's how to do it better.

 Things you'll need;

Raw unprocessed shea butter, hand mixer, any body oil of your choice, (vit e, castor oil, almond oil, extra virgin olive oil EVOO, and others)

put your shea butter into a bowl and use the hand mixer to mix thoroughly, when you achieve the desired texture, add in your oils and pack neatly in a sealed container. 


Voila, you have your self-whipped shea butter for use as body or hair moisturizer. 






 
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By at June 17, 2013 2 comments: Edit

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Boots traditional Glycerin and Rosewater

June 16, 2013 8
I'm literally loving this product ( considering the fact that I am a cosmetic junkie, you'l be bumping into this phrase a lot on this blog) but really, boots traditional glycerin and rosewater does it for me.

 




Back to business, this product is a toner which is appropriately applied immediately after cleansing and just before you moisturize. lots of people have concluded that toner is a ''no-no'' for them because they feel its useless. like I always say, if it works for you, go for it.







Ingredient listing:





Aqua



Glycerin



Isopropyl alcohol

methylparaben

sodium citrate

citric acid

parfum

Eugenaria caryophillus leaf oil




It comes in a plastic bottle with minimal opening so it won't spill and although I am really loving this, I don't really like the way it makes my face sticky after use so I always apply it sparingly and wait 10 minutes before applying moisturizer.



This toner is great for dry skin especially because of its moisturising property, although some people find it a bit drying due to its alcohol content so I may not really recommend it for people with sensitive skin.

 




It also improves the overall appearance of the skin as it gently reveals smooth, soft skin as you apply over a period of time.







Here in Nigeria, it sells between 1,200 - 2,000 Nigerian naira and as usual please buy from a trusted store so as to get the desired result.





 I will definitely buy more of this in future.







Side tip:


DIY  skin toner




since I did a toner review today, I decided to leave you with this simple but equally effective toner recipe (the joy I derive from making my own products is greater than the joy I derive from purchasing them )

Cucumber Toner (Glowing skin)


 cut a whole cucumber into pieces and blend together to form a paste, sieve this paste to extract the juice (I normally use a white handkerchief for this) cut lemon into two and squeeze in half of it (great for oily skin) or add three tablespoons of pure honey (dry or normal skin). pour this into a jar and keep refrigerated. This toner can serve for one week without going bad if refrigerated. 

Thanks for stopping by.......... hope to read from you soon




 
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Friday, June 14, 2013

The Dr Miracle ''SCAM''

June 14, 2013 20
So this lady contacted me concerning a few concerns about her skin and as routine demands I asked her to supply details of her skin care regimen plus a list of products involved and then she mentioned Dr miracle skin toning soap and skin toning whitening milk among other things (SUprIse) 





For a moment I forgot about professional ethics and was like wow "I didn't realise Dr miracle had such products in the brand" she was like yes (and she was really happy to be able to supply the information)
I eventually logged on to the official website and there was nothing like that................ to cut short this already short story, Nigerian market is filled with soaps, shower cream, body cream, body lotion etc all claiming to be from the Dr miracle brand.

Please note: Dr miracle brand specialises strictly in hair care products of various types and the only variation to this is there ''my goodbye acne system'' which is a complete acne rescue pack.


To further buttress my point, here is a disclaimer I lifted from Dr Miracle's facebook page concerning this issue







''Good morning and thank you for bringing this to our attention. No. Dr. Miracle's does NOT manufacture any product called Body Toning Lotion nor do we manufacture any skin whitening products.''


https://www.facebook.com/DrMiraclesFans/posts/400243642091  (here is a direct link to the page)

In essence please let's always try to find out details about any new product before we go about the purchase.




side tips:

do you know that:

 

 

a tinted moisturizer is like a foundation just lighter and let's your skin breathe. 

 

 

it will cover just a tad of your blemishes but will still be noticeable.  so it is recommended for people with blemish free skin who need light coverage

 
   


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By at June 14, 2013 20 comments: Edit

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Dudu Osun

June 13, 2013 1
yes, same old dudu osun....... there's actually something so unique about the african black soap though it sounds quite funny that i'd one day be the one to admit this because while growing up, up till my university days I was the ''eeww....... I can't touch this black thing'' type and fast forward 4 years after and i'm praising dudu osun.
I guess people change and thats why I am here today at this time doing a favourable review on this product.




ingredient listing





Lime

 Honey

 Shea butter

 Camwood

 Palm kernel oil

 Cocoa pod ash









 The above ingredients apart from being 100% natural all add benefits  to our skin.. The shea butter provides moisture and tones the skin. lime tones the skin, so also palm kernel oil asides from the healing properties it also contains
Dudu osun also has the ability to cure eczema, pimples, spots etc
withing my first week of use, I found it to be a bit drying and atimes I had a tingling/stinging sensation with each use but after the first week I noticed changes even in my skin texture, it started becoming noticeably soft and my skin colour was getting restored.




i'd recommend this product for use for all skin type because of its deep cleansing and healing properties but above all, I recommend it for acne prone skin.




side tips

 

 

 

a short peek into how I use dudu osun.

, I make mine into liquid soap so I can use it as body wash and shampoo and this is how;

 3 packs of dudu osun bar soap (200 Nigerian naira each)

 1 cup boiling water

 1 teaspoon vit e oil (preservative)

5 tablespoon aloe vera gel

spray bottle 





pour the boiling water in the soap and leave overnight to melt, by morning add other ingredients and pour into the spray bottle.




voila our liquid black soap is ready..... be sure to shake bottle before each use.




thanks for reading........ till my next post




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Wednesday, June 12, 2013

intro-post

June 12, 2013 0
Hi yáll, it is sincerely out of necessity that i decided to create this blog. I am a privileged beauty consultant who's been in the position of advising numerous people on their choice of cosmetic products, introducing and educating them about different products and their skin issues at large and then I noticed one problem kept popping up frequently among these clients
The issue of purchasing fake cosmetic products at about the same price that the original sells for and even on a few occasion the fake sells higher than the price of the original.
we have being able to solve the issue of fake make up products to some extent by recommending that you purchase from make up artists, franchise dealers or the company itself. also online purchase has come in handy in this case, but its not that easy when it comes to other products such as body cream, soap, hair care products etc.
Therefore it is for this sole reason that a blog like this exists......... to help us understand the cosmetic market and help us identify and if possible recommend possible places where you can purchase products with relative trust.

 I beg you to join hands with me as I delve into this world to wage war against FAKE products especially in the Nigerain market.


.........Debbie T Ibiyemi
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