It’s black history month and my loose connection here are the complexion issues of people of color.

I get a lot of questions from all kinds of people with all kinds of skin types but every day this week I’m going to focus on some of the main problems facing this particular group.

Monday – Dry Skin

Wednesday – Brighten, Don’t Whiten!

What to do? Well, the cosmetic industry has evolved well, let’s face it, they’ve reacted to the pressures consumer wallets are putting on them to come up with better, non-toxic ingredients, and have indeed discovered some amazing ingredient substitutes. In clinical tests, promising ingredients that create real, visible results and an overall radiant glow without side effects include: licorice root, arbutin (actually bearberry), songyi mushroom, lemon peel and resveratrol (a powerful grapeseed extract – think red wine for the skin).

But helping these ingredients along with a strong commitment to a daily routine is essential. I highly recommend jump-starting your “bright skin routine” by first having either a microdermabrasion and/or a professional peel procedure performed. This will remove a lot of the top layer of dead and dull skin and refresh your complexion, getting that radiant glow started!
But to keep that glow going, you must follow a diligent day-to-day routine that enables healthy skin functioning, collagen turnover and fabulous even skin tone.

Allow 3 days for your skin to heal from your professional procedure depending on how deep the therapist went in, and how sensitive you are, then start my recommended home regimen:

1. Exfoliate daily with your favorite manual exfoliate (scrub).
2. Use 2-3 drops of a medicinal brightening serum before your moisturizer and after toning. Always looking for a combination of the above ingredients in all your leave-on products.
3. Use 1-2 drops of 100% pure, botanically-based facial oil while moist from toning and using your serum.
4. Apply your moisturizing cream, infused with actives like the above suggested for brightening.
5. 1-2 times per week, use a masque specifically formulated for brightening the skin.
6. I also highly recommended using an at-home facial peel at least 1-3x per week to continue with the removal of dead skin, to purfy pores, continue to ensure collagen production is amplified and that skin is at it’s ultimate in radiance, smoothness and evenness.

It’s pretty simple. Use premium, non-toxic ingredients, in the right combination, with diligent attention, and you can overcome most skin issues and achieve most of your skincare goals.

Speaking of which, check back tomorrow for my tips for oily skin!

Waxelene 
Petroleum jelly alternative – Waxelene contains only natural & organic ingredients that moisturize, protect, and soothe skin. $6.99 – $15.99
https://waxelene.com/

My recommendation for dry skin in winter, and I only recommend this to folks of color, is to use a salve or butter – very similar in texture to a Vaseline product but healthful and nourishing! Some tips: don’t over apply the product, use about a fingertip amount for your face each day before going out into the cold and wind, and choose an all natural brand that isn’t oily or greasy or too heavy.

I will say that because salves have “hard oils” like cocoa butter and beeswax in them, they can be comedogenic (can cause breakouts), so this is why I hesitate to EVER recommend this type of product for the face, but in some cases I will recommend it because it does work so well for dry skin.

This skin type tends to be a bit thicker and the dryness factor overshadows the slim threat of blemishing in the short term, just don’t tempt fate and use everyday ad infinitum! I think you’ll find your skin actually is smoother, softer and imparts a lovely glow as well.

Give this product type a shot and let me know how it goes for you.
It’s the time of the season…when dry skin rules, so do what you must and see and feel the fabulous relief….ahhhh

Badger Damascus Rose Antioxidant Body Oil
Gentle, soothing, highly absorbent oil moisturizer for the body. $27
http://www.badgerbalm.com/p-474-damascus-rose-antioxidant-body-oil.aspx

Botanical Paperworks
Eco-friendly paper products including stationery, invitations, and wedding favors that grow into wildflowers or a variety of culinary herbs when planted.  $0.99 – $24.95
http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/

Anyway, I was perusing the web as part this week’s eco-lingerie theme, and I was really blown away at the incredibly beautiful designs out there!

Reminiscent of old movies (actually I thought of Henry and June specifically with one) there are such exquisite laces and colors, in styles and cuts I’ve never seen the likes of in places like VS or even La Perla!

Anyway these brands land in my top 5 for being yes, hot, sexy, AND responsible.
Check them out and make every day a day to um, know thyself, in the biblical sense.

Monday: Daisy & Elizabeth

Tuesday: Only Hearts

Wednesday: Eberjey

I love this brand because of course it’s close to my philosophy again from the belief that the layer worn, “next to our hearts should express happiness, love and confidence – all the things that make a woman truly beautiful.” Very cool yes?

Eberjey founder Ali Mejia always joked that someday she would design underwear for laterally challenged, flat-bottomed women like herself (I can totally relate being one myself and buying specifically flapped pocket pants to make me look like I HAVE a booty!) so that’s what Eberjey did first, but that was just the beginning. Thongs, bralets, and camis soon followed, along with pj’s, loungewear and swimwear as women fell in love with the girly-sexy-comfy style and look of Eberjey.

Along with Mejia Co-founder, Mariela Rovito has grown Eberjey into a worldwide lifestyle brand but it’s initial goal remains – to create “must-have pieces that flatter every-body and feel amazing while expressing life, love, and above all JOY!”

I totally dig it…lingerie you wear everyday that makes you feel extraordinary! That’s the whole point, to me…

Check them out at: www.eberjey.com

This brand’s philosophy warms my heart.  They want to make them look and feel feminine in every aspect of their lives all over, inside and out.

Helena Stuart started Only Hearts 33 years ago with her first innovative theme shop on Columbus Avenue in NYC. 11 years ago Kaya joined and today they work as a team on what they call “inner outerwear” (TM 1981).

All the clothes Only Hearts sells are designed and made in the garment district in NYC.

They like to wear what people consider lingerie as “regular clothes” and are often found wearing lingerie on the outside themselves, in innovative, stylish ways.

Owner Helena says she’s always been fascinated by the layer that touches the skin, and always felt it was a pity not to show, or even hint at it the delicate skin. Partner Kaya says Helena’s taste can sometimes push the boundaries of provocation, and that she as a balancing force, tends toward more classic conservatism but Helena shows her how to loosen up and show a little collarbone! Sounds hot…

Check out Only Hearts offerings at http://www2.onlyhearts.com/

Brand founders Daisy Hartmann and Elizabeth NeSmith met in New York both studying intimate apparel design at F.I.T.

As friends, roommates and admirers of each other’s work, they naturally became business partners.

Daisy’s designs are inspired by her fascination with yoga and holistic remedies as well as her love of second-hand shopping, re-imagining new from the old. Elizabeth’s creations spring from her dance training and love of costume design and dance performances.

In an industry where trends are fleeting, Daisy and Elizabeth saw a need to create a line of lingerie that would blend timeless beauty and effortless fit with sustainable fabrics and unique designs.

To Daisy and Elizabeth, sustainability is more than a slogan—it means creating pieces that are not only made with natural and renewable resources but are able to withstand time, wear and short-lived fads.

Each piece in their collection is designed with this duality in mind, allowing for many of their garments to be worn anywhere from office to a night out on the town to retiring to the bedroom.

And, with the aid of natural and renewable resources, daisy & elizabeth intimates bridge the gap between sexy and sustainable while satisfying a wide array of tastes, from gamine to girly.