Beauty Discovery: African Black Soap

A few months back, I had watched a YouTube video raving about the benefits of black soap. Obviously having no idea what this was, I did a little research of my own and found that black soap originated in Africa from natural ingredients  as a way to cure common skin problems/conditions like acne, oily skin, eczema, and even psoriasis. 

If you have followed me for awhile, you know that about a year ago, my normally clear skin, suddenly started breaking out. I couldn't figure out what was causing it, no matter what I tried.
After seeing the YouTube video on black soap, I found out that Target carries a form of black soap.
A year ago, the only black soap product that had was a body wash (image below). When I tried this product, my Shea Moisture, it seemed to help my skin, but the product itself smelled HORRIBLE. It was hard to rub my face with something that smelled as close to tar & African-American hair grease as I had ever come in counter with. Along with the smell, the product produced these huge bubble that were very impractical for washing your face.
I finally realized that while the product was still a form of black soap, it was meant to be used as a body wash & only a body wash.

In a recent trip to Target, however, I stumbled upon a whole LINE of black soap products by Shea Moisture. Including a mask, scrub, face wash & even a facial bar.

Since the last black soap attempt was such a fail, I decided to only buy the black soap bar. The product was only a couple of dollars & I ended up buying the bar as well as a travel soap holder for under $5.00!

Of course I had to give the product a stiff first, and I am happy to say it smells WAY better than the body wash. It even has a hint of a fruity/clean smell that I can only describe as the smell of a car wash. 

Every one of the black soap products contains only 11 all natural ingredients: African Black Soap Base, African Shea Butter, Oats, Aloe, Plantain Extract, Vitamin E, Essential Oil Blend, Vegetable Glycerin, Palm Ash, Rosemary Extract, & Iron Oxides. 

Each Shea Moisture package also has the company's story on it.

For just a couple of dollars, I'm very interested to see if this product performs the miracles its supposed to. 

Stay tuned & I'll keep you posted!

Product Rave: Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream

Being the beauty nerd that I am, a few months back I did my research on the best rated drugstore skincare products. If you have been following my blog for awhile, you know that skincare is my weakness. Anything that promises brighter skin, or less oil, or smaller pores, or anything else that seems unobtainable, I must have it. Immediately.

One of the most raved-about skincare finds at the drugstore, was one found at Walgreens: Alpha Hydroxy Face Cream.

Now, I don't know about you, but those chemical-sounding words make me a little cautious to rub something all over my face & hope for the best.. So like any good beauty nerd, I did more research.
I found that while the name may be a bit intimidating, the chemicals themselves actually do wonders for the skin.

Alpha Hydroxy Acid is a chemical exfoliant, that when applied to the face in a cream form diminishes fine lines and wrinkles, helps with uneven skin tone, and hyper-pigmentation.

I knew I had to run out & scoop up the product myself.

The product itself is a fragrance free, white cream that I apply in a thin layer over my face before I go to sleep at night. Following my regular skincare routine, of course. 

The results have been amazing! I'm assuming the product just eats off my dead skin cells while I sleep, because every morning when I wake up to wash my face my skin is so incredibly soft.

Weird old-lady wrinkles on my forehead? Nearly gone.

Skin appearance? Amazingly soft & glowy.

Dry skin? Gone.
Skin tone? Even.

It's like magic in a little plastic tub for for $6 at Walgreens.

Go try it!

Seriously.
NOW.



To read the rave reviews for yourself:

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/walgreens-alpha-hydroxy-face-cream/ID=prod5822041-product

Fallen In Mascara Love

I have discovered the greatest mascara combination to ever grace eyelashes!

I've always had pretty long, eye lashed. The strange thing about them, is that they are two-toned: blonde at the root & dark on the tips.

Though it may sound like it’s pretty cool. It’s actually not. At all.

It’s usually really hard to get a clean coat of mascara from root to tip without smearing the mascara all over my eyelid. Not cute.

I was always taught to play up your biggest asset in the beauty world. Mine just so happens to by my big ol’ eyes; lashed included.

The one thing I have tons of is mascara. Every time I see a new one advertised, I scoop it up.

For some reason beyond me, I never thought to combine two mascara… until now.

After watching a YouTube video or two on a mascara by Prestige called My Blackest Lashes, I went out to my local Rite Aid in search of it.

What I found was a combo pack of two mascaras by Prestige: By Blackest Lashed & My Biggest Lashes.

Seeing that L’Oreal was on sale, I picked up another popular mascara I had heard of on YouTube called L’Oreal Voluminous False Fiber Lashes: Black Lacquer.

I was not disappointed in the least on either of my purchases! In fact, I may have fallen in mascara love.

The combination of Prestige My Biggest Lashes & the L’Oreal mouthful of a mascara made my lashes the thickest and longest they have ever been.

The false fibers in the L’Oreal mascara build your lashes up, coating them, and extending them with black fibers.

My Biggest Lashes over the L’Oreal mascara plumps your lashes up, filling them out.

The combination has left my lashed the most “fake” they have ever looked.

Give them a try & tell me what you think!