Finish This Sentence:

I Know My ________________ is/are not so hot, but my _________________ is pretty awesome!

I know as women there are times when we look in the mirror and see everything that is wrong and nothing that is right. I work in an industry that constantly tells women that they are too fat, too old, too naive or just not enough, period. I don't know about you ladies, but I'm over it. There are bigger things in life to worry about than  looks. Most of the time, I go through life not having one bad thought about my physical appearance until someone points something out. I have come to the realization that what others think of me is not MY concern because I feel damn good about myself. Am I perfect? Nope. Will it keep me up at night? Probably not. At the end of the day, there is a whole lot of me that I do love. I know my legs are not so hot, but my smile is pretty awesome!

Your turn.

Don't Hate Me Because I'm Beautiful

Every once in a while, we see a woman that's beyond pretty. She's, actually, gorgeous. When you see that woman, what do you think of her? If you are that woman, what do people think of you?

A few years ago, in an Allure magazine article, Michelle Pfeiffer said that she had a hard time booking serious roles as an actress in the 1970s because she was too pretty. Pfeiffer took a lot of heat for that statement. I remember women rolling their eyes at the thought of a woman being "too pretty" for anything.

When I would listen to the chatter, I always wondered if they scoffed at Pfeiffer because they didn't believe her, or scoffed at her because she admittedly called herself pretty. To me, I think being too pretty can sometimes be a burden.

Yes. Sometimes, pretty women have an advantage. But when other women hate you because you are too pretty, things can get nasty. Especially in the work place. I work in the beauty industry, and I see it all the time. At one job, a new, simply gorgeous, six-foot-tall, big boobed girl was hired. When I saw her, I thought she was a model. I knew right away things weren't going to go well for her. Not only was she drop-dead gorgeous, but, admittedly, she couldn't pour piss out of a boot with instructions on the heel (to be fair, neither could most of my co-workers). 

Well, the six months that she worked at the job, the other women treated her like garbage. Every chance they got, they ragged on this poor girl. They talked about her walk (slightly awkward, duckish with a hint of mannish). They talked about her height (like being six-feet tall is ever a bad thing), and they talked about her, erm, lack of brain cells. What they never admitted was that she was incredibly...nice and sweet. Do you know how many times pretty woman are b*^$#es?

As a person passively watching this catty behavior, I saw women who were intimidated by another woman's beauty. It made me sick. So, one day, while sitting in the break room, pondering why my life sucked (I hated retail), the pretty girl walked in. We chatted a bit, and I asked her if she liked the job? Personally, I could only be friends with people who were like me and wanted to blow the place up, but that's neither here nor there. She told me that it was okay, but she didn't like our coworkers. She told me that every time she got a job with women, they treated her like shit. I could totally see that. Actually, I did see it everyday. Our coworkers went out of their way to treat her bad. Now don't get me wrong, I've been the mean girl, once (or five times), but I have never been mean to someone who didn't deserve it. And I have never been mean to someone because they are pretty. I simply can't be mean to someone who is...ugh...nice.

I let her vent. She ate her sandwich. I secretly thought of more ways to blow up the building. She picked up a pair of men's electric shavers and asked was it a cell phone. I gave her the side-eye. She continued to vent. Then, I gave her some words of wisdom. "Tell'em to go eff themselves." She laughed. I didn't because I meant it. I knew that they disliked her because men came in the store and stared at her boobies beauty. I knew they hated her because people constantly asked her if she was a model. I knew they hated her because they weren't her.

She thanked me. When she left the break room, I looked at the men's electrical shaver and wondered how in the hell she thought it was a cell phone. Then I thought, how could anyone dislike her. Unlike Michelle Pfeiffer, she had no idea how beautiful she was.

True confessions here. Have you ever disliked a woman because she was too pretty? Have other women hated you because they thought you were too pretty? Have you ever witnessed cattiness like this before?

Share.

Beauty Secrets from Around the World

JAPAN 

In Japan, they credit seaweed for women’s long, silky hair. Nori are thin, dried seaweed sheets. Nori sheets are used in many sushi dishes. Nori is rich in  iodine, which is essential for growing long, healthy hair. Seaweed is also rich in iron, zinc, selenium and copper. Japanese women either eat nori seaweed or boil it and apply it to their hair. You can find nori at any local Asian grocer or health food store. You can wrap it like a tortilla to make a veggie wrap, or crumble the sheets and sprinkle them on a salad, rice or stir-fry. Recipes here.

AFRICA

Shea Butter is derived from nuts from the karita tree, or shea tree. African women have been using it for years to take care of their skin. Shea butter adds shine when added to hair products. It reduces facial wrinkles and fine lines. It is also a natural sun protecting oil, and can be used on stretch marks and dry skin. It has anti-inflammatory properties that make it a good pain relief for sore, achy muscles. Better quality shea products  are made with minimum processing and no unnecessary chemicals and preservatives. Check out

Alaffia

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Want strong, hard nails? Dominican woman swear by garlic to keep their nails tough. They chop up fresh garlic, add it to a bottle of clear nail polish and let it marinate for 7 to 10 days.  The juice in fresh garlic strengthens and hardens weak, brittle fingernails. Yes. The scent goes away.

Do you have any beauty tips you'd like to share?

What Makes You Feel Beautiful?

Makeup is scary. When I do it myself, it's just mascara, and sometimes I forget even to do that ~ Sandra Bullock

I'm much like Bullock. Makeup scares me. But I will say this, I will not leave the house without my lipgloss. NEVER!

So, what makes you feel beautiful?

The Truth About Black Skin

Black skin can and will burn with prolonged hours of sun exposure. Though black people have high levels of melanin (the substance which gives skin its color and some level of protection from the sun), they still need sunscreen. If you plan on hanging out at the beach or lounging around the pool, load up on sunscreen, just like everyone else.

Tip: Grab a chemical sunscreen that contain chemical compounds like Avobenzone and Octinoxate. These sunscreens are usually more pleasant to use, light-weight, less greasy, and do not leave the “whitening” or ashen effect on brown skin the way some physical sunscreens do.

Black people can get skin cancer!

Don't be fooled. Though, on average, black skin has a natural  SPF of 13, and the likelihood of getting skin cancer are far less than lighter skinned people – Yes! – getting skin cancer is still possible. Melanoma is the deadliest of all forms of skin cancer, particularly for people of color because it isn't always  caught in time.

Tip: Look for a broad spectrum sunblock with UVA and UVB protection, and a SPF rating of at least 30. These are generally gentle enough to use daily.

Cleavage Wrinkles

Halle Berry is giving great cleavage in this picture, right? Her skin is glowing. It's nice and smooth. This is what cleavage is supposed to look like. But did you know that you can get wrinkles in between your breasts?

To be fair, chest wrinkles are a middle-aged woman's problem (though young women can develop chest wrinkles from sleeping on their side). A wrinkly cleavage is something most women never think about in their 20s and 30s, then one day, they look down and see the lines.  When the wrinkles begin to develop, they can be an less than attractive.

Many women are so embarrassed by this problem that they won’t put on a bathing suit, or wear a low-cut shirt or dress anymore. Not good if you want to wear something sexy.

While we have no control over aging, we all have control over other factors that cause chest wrinkles. Some of the things that contribute to the onset of chest wrinkles include:

• tanning
• gravity
• cigarette smoking
• excess weight loss
• lack of exercise
• reduction in hormone levels
• sleeping on your side

Like most skin issues, it's all about prevention. Here are some products that can save your sensitive decollete:

ChestSavers,  Decollete Pads,  Intimia Breast Pillow

Hope this helps

 

What Make You Feel Beautiful?

“A dress is not a dressing. It is made to be worn. One wears clothes with the shoulders. A dress should hang from the shoulders.” ~ Coco Chanel

I haven't put on a little black dress in a long time. Actually, I can't remember the last time I dressed to feel sexy. This must change.

So, what makes you feel beautiful.

5 Beauty Myths Debunked!

Myth 1: You can shrink facial pores

No, you can not! Though pores can appear larger if they’re clogged with dirt, oil and bacteria, they never really grow or shrink. Retinol and alpha hydroxy products can make them appear smaller. Try using a pore minimizer that contains salicylic acid and alpha lipoic acid. These ingredients gently exfoliate and tighten the skin while removing dirt and oil.

Myth 2: You can get rid of cellulite.

Ladies, save your money. It doesn't matter whether you're curvy or skinny. THERE IS NO WAY TO ELIMINATE CELLULITE ―not even liposuction! Cellulite is fat deposits that are trapped between the fibrous bands that connect the skin's tissues. These bands squeeze the fat under the skin, resulting in that orange peel texture. You can temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite with firming creams that contain caffeine to tighten and smooth the skin, a basic moisturizer will also work to hydrate and swell the skin, making cellulite a little less obvious. Also, darker skin camouflages cellulite so try using a self-tanner.

Psoriasis

Psoriasis on Kim K's legs

On Sunday July 24, 2011, Kim Kardashian psoriasis became breaking news. I watched as Kardashian panicked about the red splotches that mysteriously--and suddenly--dotted her million dollar skin. The spots were unsightly, and very noticeable. Outside of my field of aesthetics, I hardly ever see psoriasis, but according to the National Psoriasis Foundation psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S., and affects 7.5 million Americans. So what is it?

Psoriasis is a disease that is characterised by scaly, itchy rashes and redness on the skin. This disease (which has a large hereditary component) takes on many patterns. The most severe form of psoriasis is called erythrodermic. Erythrodermic affects the entire skin. The most common form of the disease is chronic plaque psoriasis. People with chronic plaque psoriasis will notice flat plaques on their elbows, knees and lower back.

Some people will notice the disease on their scalps while others experience Flexural psoriasis. Flexural psoriasis affects the body folds and you can see smooth, well-defined patches in those areas. People that are sensitive to the sun will experience photosensitive psoriasis.

Acute guttate psoriasis is a very serious type that creates widespread small patches on the body. If the psoriasis affects your mouth, it is called intraoral psoriasis and if the symptoms are seen only on palms and soles it is called palm-plantar psoriasis.

How is psoriasis treated?

Psoriasis on Kim K's legs

Because there is no cure for psoriasis, treatments run the gamut. Mild psoriasis, such as the form that Kardashian seems to have, can typically be treated with creams and ointments. There are also laser treatments that are effective in some cases. Pills taken orally, injections administered by the patient at home or by a nurse at a medical facility, and things like stress reduction techniques are also helpful.

If you notice these rashes, you should consult a doctor immediately.  

What Makes You Feel Beautiful?

Beauty Parlor: A place where women curl up and dye ~ Aiken Drum

It's been a minute since I've gone to the beauty shop. Boy, do I miss the camaraderie of sitting around and having great conversations with women that were similar to me. We were all being held hostage by our hair dressers and we didn't mind.

So, what makes you feel beautiful?

Banish Back Acne

Breakouts on the back aren't just painful, they're unsightly, too! So what causes them? The usual: body oil, bacteria and now that it's hot and humid outside--sweat! So what can you do short of dropping $65 at a ritzy spa to get a back facial? Well, make sure that you wear loose clothing and take off sweaty bras immediately, and if that doesn't work, do what you would do if you got a pesky pimple on your face. Spot-treat it with a cream that has benzoyl peroxide and switch to a body wash that contains salicylic acid.

Check Out These Products:

3 Ways To Ruin Your Skin

If You're Doing All 3...STOP!

SMOKING

I know. You're sick of hearing it but,  seriously—give it up! Not only are you putting yourself at risk for cancer, but you'll develop crazy deep wrinkles and blotchy skin. In fact, every decade of smoking results in about an extra 2.5 years of age, and who wants to look old?

DRINKING TOO MUCH

Wait! I'm not saying that you can't throw a few back every now and again. Everyone knows that I like my margaritas, but drinking more than one cocktail a day, will make your skin suffer. Alcohol increases the level inflammatory agents in the bloodstream—which can put you on the fast track for saggy skin.

TANNING

Bronzer? Cool. Self-tanner? Great. The real thing? Girl, please. When you tan, your skin thickens and produces melanin, in trying to protect itself from continued exposure to the sun. Any pigment change from UVA or UVB light can cause premature aging and increase the likelihood of skin cancer. And tanning beds are the worst! They emit concentrated UVA light, which penetrates deeper than the combination of UVA and UVB rays found in sunlight. Hello! Do you ladies hear me? It's simple. Just protect yourself. Apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a minimum of SPF 30 every day, and if you're chillin' by the pool, reapply every two hours.

reapply

Hope This Helps.

Stretch Marks

Did you know that they were hereditary? Yep. They run in some families more than others. So, what are they? Stretch marks are almost like scar marks. You get them when your body is growing faster than your skin can handle.

During pregnancy, for example, when you are more likely to experience rapid weight gain, the skin stretches too rapidly. So, if you are pregnant, monitor your food intake so you don't gain weight too quickly. But stretch marks aren't just a woman problem, stretch marks also occur during other periods of weight fluctuation as in bodybuilding, yo-yo dieting and adolescent growth spurts.

So, is it possible for them to go away?