My New Love Affair with Aloe Vera Gel

I suffer terribly with adult acne, which in my case causes blackheads & whiteheads. Every time I remove one, I'm left with scarring, bruising, and damaged skin ( irritation, peeling, & redness). I have very sensitive, oily, & acne prone skin. I had sought the advice of a dermatologist 11 months ago, I was prescribed all sorts of topical creams including bleaching creams to fade the dark marks, 10% Benzoyl Peroxide cream ( which cause severe drying, and peeling), Biotin, Prenatal Vitamins, Cetphil Face Wash, Cetphil facial moisturizer-in which none of them worked. Actually- my skin WORSENED *yikes*

The dark mark in the center of my forehead started my affair with products to lighten the dark spot and stop the peeling & dryness.

In recent months,I've become a slave to Dermablend. I inquired on Twitter about concealers and everyone responded to forget concealers- go for the Dermablend. I ran out, purchased the Dermablend and thought I have found the solution to my problems. Well- sorta... I've never been that chick to wake up and apply mounds of make up because of insecurities. My face had broken out so badly that I was embarrassed of my naked face. My nose was RED like Rudolph the red nose reindeer, I have hyper pigmentation all over my nose, and checks, and bottom line- I wasn't happy looking at myself with a bare face. If any of you are familiar with Dermablend- you know that its a full coverage face cream & very HEAVY. For me personally- I cant do Dermablend in this heat- I sweat+ its runs=NotAGoodLook.com

A picture of me in full make up wearing Dermablend

**Note.. When I had loc's I normally wore my hair away from my face- with my fro, hair typically touches my face- will start wearing my hair awayf from my face to aid in clearing up my skin**

I was discussing the situation with a girlfriend yesterday, she had never seen me without makeup and couldn't imagine what I was talking about. So I sent her a pic of my "naked" face. She instantly replied and said it wasn't as bad as I had made it sound and all I needed was aloe vera gel. O_o ( Bubbled Eyed GAS FACE)- Did you just say Aloe Vera Gel? The same stuff that I apply to my hair almost daily??? She said YES- it will soothe your skin and stop the peeling. ummmmmm ... OK, I've tried EVERYTHING else under the sun- WHY NOT..

** pic of nose-most troubled area-no makeup**
**naked face- no make up**

I went to my local CVS and purchased the CVS brand aloe -the brand I always use. When I picked up the bottle the first thing I saw was a quote that said " Cools and soothes minor skin irritations, abrasions and sunburns. Helps restore moisture to damaged skin and helps prevent drying and peeling." SAY WORD!!!!

As I strolled through the aisles I notice this weird looking tool. Its a blackhead/whitehead remover- wait- this is the same tool that the esthetician used on my face when I went to get a facial a few months ago? I sat in the aisle- went to you tube on my phone to see if there were any videos on how to properly use the tool- yep- there were videos with all the necessary instruction- so I purchased the tool as well.

When I got home, I watched additional videos on how to use the tool. In the videos , it was also suggested that you do a gentle scrub- which the dermatologist had instructed me NOT to do. Obviously what she instructed me to do wasn't working so- I went for it..




Step One
I steamed my face to open pores

Applied CVS Apricot Scrub with my finger tips and massaged it into my skin ( for 30-45 seconds)

Rinse face to remove all traces of the scrub

Step Two
I rolled the wire loop of the Blackhead Extractor across my face, applying light pressure ( I started with my nose), be sure to have a tissue or something handy to wipe away the secretions that's clogging your pores or white/black heads. ** this is not for those with a weak stomach- very disgusting**


Step Three
Apply Toner to face ( I use Rosewater and Lemon Juice mix)

Step Four
Apply Aloe Vera Gel generously all over my face. ** I paid special attention to my nose- since that is the area this is peeling, bruised, and red.**

Let me tell you- today is the FIRST day in 11 months that my nose isn't peeling, and my skin isn't feeling greasy or looking like an oil slick!!!!! The Aloe Vera did the TRICK!!!!!! Let me find out that I've spent hundreds of dollars over the past 11 months and all I needed was aloe vera to stop the peeling on my nose. Normally, I wake up to cracked dry patches on my nose, followed by peeling after I wash my face or exit the shower ( just scabs of skin hanging there like a booger-disgusting). This morning, I washed my face with plain water ( no face wash, creams, or cleansers), I then applied a small amount of my rosewater toner all over ( with a cotton pad) and more aloe vera gel ( as a moisturizer). Today, my nose feels smooth-and its not as red. I'm feeling like I have hope and I'm on my way to skin recovery and healing. If Im seeing results like this after 1 application, Im excited to see whats ahead in 2 weeks, 6 months, this time next year!!!!!

DISCLAIMER: I am neither a doctor nor a licensed esthetician. Use at your own risk! Remember that my experience should not take the place of professional advice.

My Deep Conditioner Receipe

**Picture is after hair was DC and styled twist out**

Most of you know that I use very little commerical product on my hair. 97% of the items I apply to my hair, most of you have in your kitchen. I was making an egg white facial mask and didn't want to discard the yoke ( food is too expensive to disgard stuff). So I thought I would whip up a quick deep conditioner for my hair. The mixologist in me was experimenting and this is what I came up with.

1 egg yoke ( you can use the whole egg if desired)
1 tbsp of Raw Honey
2 tbsp EVOO ( Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
2 tbsp spoons of your favorite conditioner ( I used Garnier Fructis Haircare Triple Nutrition 3-Minute Undo Dryness Reversal Treatment)

Directions:
Beat (egg)yoke with a fork, add the remaining ingredients, mix until everything is well blended.

Substitutions:
* Feel free to substitute the olive oil for any natural oil of your choice.
* Add more oil for extra dry hair (e.g. 1 tablespoon).
* Add more honey for hair that needs more sheen (e.g. 2 tablespoons).

Instructions for Use:

* Section hair into 4 segments.
* Generously apply evenly to hair, from root to ends concentrating on ends
* Smooth hair into a protective style (e.g. braided ponytail, or bun).
* Put a conditioner cap or heat cap over hair
*let sit for 30-60 minutes
*Rinse, style as desired

Have you experimented with making homemade conditioner(s)?? I'm very curious to hear about your experiments and favorite homemade receipe- Lets talk about it!

Monthly Hit Or Dis(aster)

Product: GVP ( Generic Value Product) Tea Tree Oil Lavender Shampoo ** Sally Beauty Supply Stores**

Price: On sale 2 for $10 ( reg price $7.49)

Size: 16 Ounces

Hit or Diss: HIT!!!!!!!!

Comparable product: Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo

Product Info: Enriched with tea tree oil, Invigorating fragrance, Rich lather

Soothes scalp GVP Tea Tree Oil Lavender Shampoo is a moisture rich shampoo that hydrates dry hair. Enriched with tea tree oil, lavender and mint. Nourishes dry, thirsty hair, while adding body and shine.

I love this product. I accidentally purchased this product at Sally Beauty Supply, once I was home and realized my error, I figured I would try it anyway since it was on sale. I used it as a clarifying shampoo, and it worked wonderfully!!!! I wet my hair, applied a quarter size amount into my hands and worked it into my hair. A rich lather formed and I felt some "tingle" on my scalp. I repeated the process once more and rinsed with cool water. I then followed with my conditioning treatment and style.

Pro's:

• SAME ingredients as the Paul Mitchell Lavender Mint Moisturizing Shampoo



• My hair was SQUEAKY clean-removing all product buildup



• Price: GREAT value ( any 2 generic products for $10), regular price $7.49



• Serves double duty as a great cleanser for make up brushes!!!!!

Con's:

• If you are sensitive to the smell of Tea Tree Oil, Mint, or Lavender-you may find this item offensive. ( After I rinsed the product from my hair, I didn't notice the smell, but other reviewers complained of the "medicinal smell)



• If you are "particular" about the ingredients in your shampoo- this one isn't for you- it contains Sulfates.

** What products or methods have you tried? **

**Where they a hit or a dis(aster)?? Lets Dish**

Wynetta Wright & Jaylin Wright ( Rest in Enternal Peace)

WYNETTA SHAMONTA WRIGHT
JAYLIN ARIEL WRIGHT

Wynetta is the loving daughter of Wyvette Wright and Everett L. Tucker; beloved mother of Janiya and the late Jaylin Wright. Also survived by brothers, Damont, Michael, Vernon and MarKeith; grandparents, Maddie and Everett Tucker, Cynthia and Samuel Wright; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Jaylin is the loving daughter of the late Wynetta S. Wright and beloved sister of Janiya.

Family will receive friends on Friday, June 10 from 10 a.m. until time of service 11 a.m. at Temple of Praise, 700 Southern Ave. SE. Bishop Glenn A. Staples. Interment Glenwood Cemetery. Services by FREEMAN.

Click Here to share your memories, express your condolences and add photos in the Guest Book for Wynetta S. Wright.
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Wynetta Wright’s ex-boyfriend, D.C. police officer Richmond Phillips, is charged with murdering her and her daughter, Jaylin. Phillips, 39, is charged with killing 20-year-old Wynetta Wright. He is also facing manslaughter charges in the death of Jaylin Wright. Phillips was ordered held without bond at Monday’s hearing.

Wynetta Wright, who was found dead Thursday, was killed by a shot in the head. Her 1-year-old daughter Jaylin Wright died of heat exposure inside a car, autopsies of the two bodies have revealed.


Phillips, the father of Jaylin, has been a vice detective with the Metropolitan Police Department since 2003. He worked as a narcotics officer.

Phillips is apparently married to another woman and already has a 12-year-old daughter.
Police claim they have video evidence that, before Phillips shot and killed Wynetta Wright and left her baby girl to die in a hot car, the couple spent seven hours talking at a picnic table.
It was the night before a paternity and child support hearing and friends say Phillips had asked Wright to come to a park to talk just before 11 p.m. last Monday.

Police believe Phillips lured Wright to the woods behind a Hillcrest Heights community center Monday night and killed her. He then left the baby to die strapped in her car seat in 100-degree heat, police believe.

Police say that Wynetta was found lying in Oxon Run Stream Valley Park in the 2300 block of Oxon Run Drive on Thursday. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Shortly thereafter, Jaylin was found abandoned and dead in a vehicle in the 2400 block of Southern Avenue.

“It's a tragic incident obviously. We would hope that no one would have to endure this type of incident and anybody that's guilty of it needs to be punished to the fullest extent of the law,” said Lt. Col. Gary Cunningham.

She says Wynetta and the child's father were scheduled to attend a custody hearing the next day. Wright's green Saturn SUV was recovered in a parking lot near the intersection of 24th Street SE and Southern Avenue.

Wright had been a member of the Prince George's Sheriff Explorer program and wanted to become a deputy in the department, a sheriff's office spokesperson says. She was planning on applying to the academy.

Portions of this post is courtesy of ABC7 News

North Carolina Natural Hair Expo- June 11th -12th

What is “1 Loc, 1 Luv” North Carolina Hair Care Expo?

This is an exclusive collaboration of Bornatty Clothing (North Carolina) and Dreadz N’ Headz Natural Hair Center (Baltimore, MD). It is the third stop of the 8 – Statewide Natural Hair Care Expo tour, “The Exodus II”.

This serves as a “tickler” event for the North Carolina attendees in Raleigh – Durham. This Expo is comprised of various LIVE entertainment, artistic flare from surrounding salons, jewelry makers, lecturers who specialize in holistic health, mind, body, and spirit.

“1 Loc, 1 Luv” is an Expo bringing people together, families, and the communities of North Carolina, bringing more “flava”, and product volume to attendees looking to transition their lifestyles, chemically treated hair, and gain more information on the natural beauty that exists in the Black community.

This expo is a journey, and an experience, thus, bringing life into the colorful community and culture of North Carolina, taking responsibility for “our” people’s health, mind, bodies and spirits, on June 11th and 12th. Martone Evans (Owner and Founder of Bornatty Clothing) and Malaika Tamu Cooper (Owner and Founder of Dreadz N’ Headz Natural Hair Care Center) are committed to bringing an event like never before to North Carolina. This is authenticity at it’s best for families!

For additional information please visit the website: http://www.northcarolinanaturalhaircareexpo.com/

Product Review: Target Brand Eye Make Up Remover

Product: Up & Up (Target Brand) Oil Free Eye Make Up Remover

Price: $3.50

Description:
Effective & gentle
Removes even waterproof mascara
No oily residue

This dual-phase 100% oil-free liquid activates when shaken to gently whisk away even waterproof eye makeup without any tugging, pulling or stinging. Your skin is left feeling clean and fresh with no oily residue. Aloe and cucumber extracts soothe skin.

On a recent shopping trip at Target, I found the Up&Up (Target store brand) Eye Make-Up Remover which said it was comparable to the Neutrogena brand on the label. I checked out the ingredients and it has the same formulation! It works so great its ridiculous! 1-2 swipes with a cotton pad removes everything off my eyes and its gentle enough to rub across my face for any residue my towelettes leave behind! Its also great at removing makeup reside and glue from lashes, allowing you to get multiple usage from 1 pair of lashes. It didn't burn and the skin around my eyes actually felt moisturized.

I LOVE THIS STUFF!!!! This is my first experience using an eye make up remover product. I normally use Vaseline or EVOO ( extra virgin olive oil) to remove my eye make up. I've recently become obsessed with eyeshadow-the brighter the color the more I want to pack on ( lol..lol..) and lashes ( squeals) I love the look natural eye lashes gives me. I just feel so sophicated and flirty. Since suffering from so many skin issues I've become a skin care product junky. My skin is urber sensitive, so I will only try something once, if it start to burn, itch, or cause any other irritation- I'm D-O-N-E. I will defiantly purchase this product again, and include it as a staple in my skin care regime.

Have you tried any eye make up removers? what was your experience? Lets chat!

My Dominican Salon Experience-YIKES!!!!!!!!!

I was having a moment and decided I was going to pamper myself and go get my hair done. After much thought, I settled on visiting a Dominican Salon. I figured if I was going to go through the motions of straightening my hair, I mine as well get it as straight as possible. Several of my co workers go to Luisa’s on the regular basis, and their hair looks GREAT!

I called to get pricing, I asked what was the price for a wash and blow dry on natural hair. The receptionist (I assumed she was the receptionist), began to yell and say “I’ve already told you ma’ma I have to see your hair, I can’t give you a price over the phone” [insert gas face RIGHT HERE] – I said, “excuse me, you haven’t told me anything because this is my 1st time calling!” The receptionist began to apologize profusely *apparently a lady kept calling demanding price over the phone* once she realized I was a “new” customer, she explained that the price is $45 for relaxed hair, $55 for natural hair (hair that hasn’t had a relaxer in +3 months), $10 additional if they have to flat iron the hair, and $10 additional if the hair was past shoulder length. Ok, I digest all of that and go to the salon as soon as I got off work.





I went to the location in Columbia, MD (7 minutes from the job). The salon is located in an office park across the street from the Columbia Mall. It was rather hot & humid that day, so I was stunned to see that the AC wasn’t on-but they had the front door propped open. As soon as I walked in, the receptionist- said hello, asked me if I wanted a wash & blow dry, I said yes, and she told me to have a seat at the sink. {I was surprised that I didn’t have to wait, everyone around me looked comfortable). The shampoo girl began to wash my hair, it was the BEST hair wash I’d ever had. She wasn’t afraid to get to my roots!!!! While she was washing my hair, she said something in Spanish to the receptionist – the receptionist then asked if I wanted a conditioner, I said yes, a deep conditioner. The lady applied the conditioner, massaged it in, put a cap on my head and took me to a hooded hair dryer. {Thinks to self} these dryers aren’t that bad… I can do this… 15 minutes later, I was back at the sink getting the conditioner washed out.



Then another lady (not sure what all she does, for the purposes of this post Im’a refer to her as the roller lady), escorted me to her station. She whips out a comb a IMMEDIATELY started to rack my hair from ROOTS {I jumped up) and said NO! that hurt!!!!!! She said something in Spanish- I said in English-“ you can do that to my hair!!!!” she tried to take it easy- but honestly I’m tender headed and she was heavy handed, and everything she did HURT!!!!!!! I know it took her 60-90 minutes to detangle my hair, and roll it. I was taken to the dryer, handed some ear muffs { I’m confused, never seen anything like it before, I look at the other girls and they had them over their ear, so I put them on my ear, and the roller lady tied a net thingy around my head. I was under the dryer {literally stuck-COULD NOT MOVE} I guess I had too many rollers in my hair.. Then all of a sudden … I WAS ON FIRE!!!!!! My skin was burning, my scalp was burning, I was trying to get from under the dryer –and I let out a scream { the metal roller pins, was laying on the side of my neck and was burning me!!!!!!} ** the skin actually blistered on my neck!** whew lawd.. That dryer was SO HOT, that when I stuck my hand under the hood to move the pin, it burnt my fingers!!!!! { now, I’m embarrassed-I’m the only one acting a pure fool.. everyone else is calm cool and collected} the roller girl comes over, said something looked at me and SHOVED my head back under the dryer.



My hair dried in 30 mins (a record). I was woozy, skin stinging, and I’m afraid of the heavy handed roller girl. She takes out the rollers.. applied some oil on my hair.. and LAWD-SHE WHIPS OUT THAT ROUND BRUSH AND SHE WAS WHIPPING MY HEAD BACK AND FORTH!!!!!!!! LORDY HELP ME JESUS… The smoke that pillowed out that hand dryer clouded up the salon. THEN.. [hold ya self} some salsa music sound came on.. JESUS.. SHE WAS DOING THE SALSA DANCE TWIRLING AROUND, SINGING AND WHIPPING ME BACK AND FORTH ALL AT THE SAME TIME!!!!!!!! She was FINALLY FINISHED-right? NOPE! Now she comes with the flat iron. That wasn’t too bad, but my head is pounding, my scalp and skin is burnt and I’m READY TO GO!!! FINALLY after 3.5 hours of TORTURE- I’m finished!!!!! Get to the register- my bill was a whopping $75!!!!!!! [screech]. I paid it and left. Mid way to my car……. THE SKY OPENED UP AND IT POURED ON MY HEAD!!!!!!! **TEARS** I got soak and wet and bushed up my newly flat ironed hair!!!!!!!! I get in the car- look in the mirror.. and I can see waves forming in the front of my head. Now all I smell is burnt hair!!!!! {yuck}. I just drive home, snap a few pic’s , wrap it up, and went to bed. Needless to say- I wore my hair straight 2 WHOLE DAYS!!!!!!! Yep, 2!!!!!!!

I went to my cousin April Crawford, and had her to trim my hair, cut in layers & bangs, and re flat iron my hair. She did an awesome job and I was very happy with the look after she was finished. ( The pictures was taken after April did her thang). **THANK YOU MZ. APRIL***



The Good: I finally got a MUCH needed trim, and becasue of the layers, my hair falls very pretty into "shape".

The Bad: Luisa’s was NOT gentle enough for me. I hadn’t had my hair blown out in 6 years, and anybody with any experience with natural hair KNOW you start detangling from the ends to root- NOT root to ends. If we are paying extra for having natural hair, we should be given " extra gentle treatment".

THE UGLY: The burns, and extreme heat. That cant be healthy or safe!!!!!! in addition to getting drenched in the rain 3 minutes after leaving the salon- PRICE- $75 was STEEP. I was a regular at the Dominican salon in Jersey ( 15 yrs ago), and the MOST I ever paid was $25. I didn’t expect to pay $25, but I damn sure didn’t expect to pay $75 for a wash, conditioner, blow dry, roller /flat iron.

If I ever have to endure THAT again for straight hair, I will forever remain a CURLY head!!!!!!!!

Monday Look: Me & Mini Me

Mini Me:
Products: Sally Generic Brand Tree Tea Oil Shampoo
Conditioner: Mz. Sixx Mix w/ Banana Baby Food mixed with EVOO
Styling Aid: Mz. Sixx Lemon Twist Souffle
Style: Puff
Tools: Fingers, Denman Brush, Ouchless Head Band




Mz. Sixx
Products: Mz. Sixx Lemon Twist Souffle
Stayling Aid: Water mix with Rosemary EO, Coconut Oil
Style: Dry Twist Out
Tools: Fingers, Denman Brush
** Ignore the little fly away piece at the top- when I straightened my hair I had bangs cut, not thinking they would be super short when I went back to my curly style, and I pinned them over to the side..**

Why I Write

Wow, it’s funny how things happen and make you think and realized your true gifts & talents. I had been having a debating with myself about picking up my blog, dusting it off and get back in to it. I hadn’t posted in months, mainly because I’d gotten bored and ran out of things to talk about. There are so many blogs available; I didn’t think 1 more blog with pretty much the same information you can find anywhere/everywhere would be missed. BOY WAS I WRONG! I started my blog to share my experience, journey, joys, and lows with natural hair. I’ve went from TWA, Loc’s, to a full afro during the course of my natural hair journey. I hadn’t really received many comments about my blog postings, so I didn’t think that anyone was interested in what I was blogging about. I began to get emails, DM’s (tweets), and FB questions regarding natural hair do’s and don’ts and product suggestions. I’ve realized that although I may not have gotten a lot of commentary regarding what I was posting, my followers did enjoy my postings and felt I could speak intelligently on the natural hair care subject. Over the past few months, I’ve been contacted by several PR agencies to do product reviews, and offer giveaways, I’d been wrestling with the thought to host a natural meet up in DC (I’ve never attended one nor am I sure how to conduct one), and I wanted to include a segment on my blog about my skin issues and whether or not my hair and or products were the culprit. Then today I was tagged in a post by @coilyEboniqueMe WOOOOOWWWWWWWWW!!!!!-ok, HINT is taken and I’m bringing my blog back to life!!

I’ve always been a writer. My notebook and a blue Bic pen were my best friends when I was young. Growing up the youngest of 6 children, I was often left alone to entertain myself (my siblings are 15-20 years older). I always wrote stories, poetry, and was awarded several awards in high school for my writing abilities. I recall being teased for loving to write L. I allowed the teasing to stop me from growing as a writer, and I feel that over time, I’ve lost my “style”.

As CoilyEboniqueMe has stated on her blog (http://coilyeboniqueme.wordpress.com/) “So when it comes to my natural hair, I write to TEACH people about what I have learned myself during my journey. I RELAY the message that they are not alone in this process, and last but not least I write to COMMUNICATE with others.” My writing is meant to be taken as conversations and lessons between sister- friends.



Three Peals of Wisdom

1. Don’t be afraid to share your experiences- the Good- the Bad- the Ugly.



2. Embrace the power of writing and words.



3. Relax.. Relate.. Release ( whooosah!)
   

@ CoilyEboniqueMe Thank you for tagging me :-) Ya'll please check her out http://coilyeboniqueme.wordpress.com/and with that I tag @AuNaturalle85, @curly365, @bossygirl1980, @silverlips, @deepqueendiva (tag! you are it!). Ladies please tell us in a post, Why You Write? Please also tag 5 others and offer them 3 pearls of wisdom for other writers/bloggers :-)

Thanks for reading :)