Seal a Weft, save a Weave

This is totally random, but I promise it's helpful. You know how we spend tons on the Brazilian, Peruvian, Madagascan etc hair(lol) and you go to get it installed, and they cut the wefts so it can have a streamlined look? The disadvantage about that is the weave starts to unravel. And that's quite annoying not only because you leave hair everywhere, but with another install you may have to buy another pack. Which in the long run isn't cost effective... That's when you find it shedding so badly. There is a remedy which a dear friend shared with me. Buy super glue, even from the dollar store. When they stylist cuts the weave, ask her to put just a drop of the glue at the cut ends. It seals the weft and will not let your weave unravel. This works for synthetic hair too. Just ask the stylist to be extremely careful while sealing and make sure it dries before putting it on your hair. Try it, tell me what you think!

Ashy? No thanks!

With summer being unnecessarily hot this year, most folks want little or nothing on their bodies, teeny bum shorts, tiny tanks are the rule. With lots of skin being exposed, you don't want your skin looking rough and ashy/ dry. Rule is, scrub scrub exfoliate ur skin till it's sore(jk) Divas want to know what they can use to keep things glowing. I have a few recommendations, and even a homemade solution.

Arbonne Awaken Sea Salt scrub- awesome product, medium sized tub. What I love about this scrub is not only does it have sea salt know for it's exfoliating, Rejuvenating and healing benefits.  It is also anti-ageing for those who wanna prevent the signs of aging on the body.
But it contains essential oils, which smooth and soothe the skin during the process. For my Divaz that have no access to arbonne, you can actually make your own with seat salt and olive oil, or almond oil. These will not clog your pores but never use them on the face. Salt scrubs sting when you have minor cuts from shaving so you can make a scrub with sugar too.  Price $28

Scrub gloves are a dime a dozen, but I find the best ive tried are the ones from the body shop.  First they are oh soo cute and quite cheap.$5 a pair in different colors. They are sturdy and you can use them with your favorite bath gel in-shower.  Exfoliating like this also helps with ugly razor bumps from shaving, just dont exfoliate the same day you shaved so you dont get irritated.
Always concentrate on knees and elbows, and you can exfoliate your feet too. Just be careful in the bathtub or shower, so you don't slip...

Carols Daughter Sweethoneydip Chocolate brown sugar scrub (sounds yummy) and feels even yummier. Its a must have at all costs. it simply does what it says and more.  Where to buy? Sephora $34

Good old St Ives is more common, and I find it works well also,but be sure to moisturise thoroughly after use.
For a more polished effect, use the gloves with any of the scrubs, it's easier on the hands.  Key is, some kinda scrub HAS to be in your shower.
So Divaz, has anyone tried a body scrub and liked it? Please share. Ciao ciao!!!!

Would you go for a spray tan?

For dark skinned beauties,  that seems like a question that we would never answer 'yes' to.  I never considered it until I went for one of the trade shows organised by Esthetique International group. I was browsing thru the stalls and passed by a Spray tanning booth, of course I glanced the other way quickly. Then this Rep grabbed my arm and asked if i would like to spray tan my legs. I almost swatted her away and she was like, just try it.  I said I dont want my legs darker for any reason, lol.  she said they wld look different for sure, but not darker. Since I like to try new things so I stepped into the tanning booth.  While She worked on them, of course we had a small crowd gather to see this phenomenon.  When I stepped out my legs were a very rich, golden hue.  She said its best used for black skin( esp for ashy legs) when you have to go out and want a warm golden glow.  I was pleasantly surprised, and would totally do it again....what are your thoughts? Will you dare try?

Get rid of dullness fast!

Skin dullness and lack of radiance is one major problem a lot of people face, and women are more worried about how to fix it with lasting results. My earlier post dealt with basic skincare for maintenance, but treatments give more rewarding results. I discovered this gem of a treatment, called Neostrata intense Skin brightener. This product promises to even out skin tone, eliminate dullness and reveal younger looking skin in as little as 3-4 weeks. It contains vitamin C(a powerful antioxidant) in a stabilized form which is usually quite difficult to achieve in packaging other than a time release capsule. It works by mildly exfoliating the dead skin off your face, and boosting cell regeneration. It works for all skin types, and best use is at night. Used and recommended!!! Where to buy? Shoppers drug Mart.
$78.

Lessons on how to take the best pictures with makeup

 

So my favorite beauty guru Temptalia posted about a topic that bothers a lot of people.  And thats taking pictures without mishaps...(that randomly tagged facebook picture that you would NEVER post on your profile).  A lot of us African sisters are affected by it especially,  as a result of the wrong foundation, etc.  The post was so spot on,  that I had to put it on here.  I'm sure everyone can benefit!
ENJOY
.............
Confidence is totally killer when it comes to pulling off any makeup look, whether it’s eyes done to the nines or just a bit of foundation. It’s important to wear products and colors that you’re comfortable wearing. Don’t let anyone push you into wearing more (or less!) than you feel happy wearing. If you don’t wear a lot of makeup and hate the way it feels on the skin–don’t think you have to wear full coverage foundation just to look good in photos. I also recommend, if you feel like you’re going a little out of your comfort zone, wearing the look prior to your special occasion to really see if it works for you.

Perfect the Skin

One of the things most often noticed first in photograph is skin, which really does round off any look you wear–it’s all about having a great canvas to work off of. Keep in mind that products that promise dewy finishes do not always work well in photographs, particularly flash photography, because they can give skin an oilier look. Another product to watch for is sunscreen, such as those with physical sunscreens, because they reflect light back, and this is what gives you a washed out look in flash photography.  You may also want to test out any translucent powders you use, too, which can sometimes give a white cast in photos.  If you’re not sure, try taking a few photos at home with flash and seeing how it goes.
Whether you apply eye makeup before or after foundation, make sure to remove any excess fall out, because you do not want any additional shadowing on the under eye. Eye brightening products and concealers are good for adding lightness to tired eyes, too, which can often be apparent in photos. However, make sure you really pay attention to blending so that the transitions between products and shades is natural and seamless.

Long Days, Longer Prep

For special occasions that span hours, such as weddings, proms, and the like, make time for proper prep to ensure longer wear out of your makeup. A lot of this entails layering products, which helps products adhere and stay on better and longer. Begin with moisturizer and allow it plenty of time to really sink in (typically 20 to 30 minutes), and then follow with a foundation primer, which will help smooth the surface of skin. Many primers also help combat oiliness, but it can depend on the formulation.
Depending on your skin type, you may also want to consider using a cream or gel blush, and if you really want to go the extra mile, set it with powder (or a similar colored blush). Foundation should also be set with powder (loose, pressed, translucent, whatever!), and for long days, carry around a pressed powder compact for touch-ups. It is with great hope that you won’t need to touch-up, but oilier skin types may still find it necessary. Just a slight application of more powder can help take down any oiliness and give skin a fresher look.
Lips can go through a layering process, too, or you can simply reapply as necessary. Exfoliate lips the night before, and apply a good lip balm to moisturize lips about an hour before you go to apply any lip products. Before you apply colored products, gently remove any excess balm that didn’t absorb (I usually just kiss the back of my hand). At this point, you can fill in your lips using lip liner in a shade that matches your natural lip color or that of your lipstick. Using a brush tends to provide more precise color application but also helps to cover lips in a very even layer. For longer wearing lipsticks, opt for matte, semi-matte, or satin finishes. Drier finishes tend to cling more to lips and therefore last longer. Similarly, darker colors (such as reds) tend to last longer than lighter colors (such as nudes).

When in Doubt, Test!

Whenever feasible, consider testing out your look at home or at some point in time before the special occasion takes place. If you have a camera, you can take your own photos to see how everything looks and make adjustments as necessary.

information culled from
http://www.temptalia.com/

Blushes

Blushes are great for finishing a look.  They make your entire look polished and pulled together.  They also give the illusion of more chiselled cheekbones. Too much,  and you can end up looking like a clown.  There are soo many to choose from,  and I doubt you can every really go wrong with a colour once its well applied.
I know 2 major types,  Cream blushes and Powder blushes.  Anything else falls into these 2 main categories.

• Cream Blushes: I personally think these are best for Oily skin,  and for those who would like a less intense look.  I would advise if you are just starting to experiment, try a stick blush first,  they are easier to manipulate.  They can also be used as a base for powder blushes,  to intensify a look,  or make the blush last longer.  I would not advise that you use a creamy formula if you have large pores or extremely oily skin.  It's just going to make the pores look larger.

         With the Stick,  you don't really need a brush to apply,  you can dot it on the apple of your cheeks,  and blend upwards with your fingers,  toward your lower hairline.  Always remember to smile while applying your blush--Other than the fact that smiling is good for you,  it helps raise your cheekbones for easier application, and a more natural look.  There are brushes that are most suitable for applying cream blushes.  The best I have seen (and used) so far is the MAC 130 (Image to the Right),  or you can find something that looks similar,  if you are on a budget.

• 
  
  Powder Blushes:  These are my favourite as they don't require much thought, you can slap it on,  blend,  and off you go!  The best shades for darker skintones are Coral,  Plum, Brick or Rust colored ones.  Peachy and Earthy tones work well though,  but it has to be a well pigmented blush to show up.

Application:  After your foundation, or tinted moisturizer....  You can use your setting powder but avoid using the setting powder on the cheekbones.  This allows the blush sink into your skin,  and of course last all day.  I find that if you use the setting powder all over,  it slightly changes the color/intensity of the blush for some reason,  and by mid-day the colour fades off.  To apply,  swipe brush in the pan,  tap off the excess ( very important) and SMILE :)

Dot along the cheekbone, and angle up towards your hairline. Blend in a circular motion for a more natural look.  If you make a mistake and have applied too much,  you can use a Kabuki brush (Right) to blend out your mistake.  What are your favourite tips and tricks to applying Blushes? Please share :)

Concealers

What's a Concealer?  I stole this definition from Wiki,  Its sums it up: A concealer or colour corrector is a type of makeup used to mask pimples, dark circles and other small blemishes visible on the skin. Concealers usually do a good job of hiding blemishes by blending the imprefection into the surrounding skin tone.


Unless you have perfect,  blemish free skin,  Concealers are the best way to fake blemish free skin.  And of course while we are on the path to achieve clear skin,  we need all the shortcuts we can get in order to 'fake it till you make it'.  In order to get the perfect match,  you have to know your undertones first (Your 'true' skin tone) and I just learned that you also have to know the color of whatever it is you are trying to cover on your face or body.  For example,  are you trying to cover acne scarring? Those black spots..or something more severe like hyperpigmentation (like a sunspot)?

All these questions are necessary before you take a trip to the beauty store.  Otherwise you will spend your cash on something you will never use.  You must also pick up the best concealer brush you can,  because your fingers alone may not get the desired effect.

Undereye concealers are very good for covering dark circles under the eyes,  and gives you the ' I just slept for 10 hrs' look.  Pat them on with your brush after applying foundation.  Its usually advised that you get one that is just a shade lighter than the color you would normally use to cover the blemishes on your face,  though that is not absolutely necessary.  Good examples are Mac Select Cover Up,  Clarins Instant Light,  Smashbox Camera Ready Full Coverage Concealer.  For Darker Skin tones I prefer Iman Corrective Concealer, or Bobbi Brown's Corrector.

When applying concealer on blemishes,  its advised to put it on after foundation,  use the concealer brush to lightly pat it on, until you have covered the blemish...blend outwards and then you can set your makeup with setting powder.


There are concealers that also cover pimples and dry them,  a good example is Revlon Colorstay Blemish concealer, It ranges from $7.99-$10 at any drugstore.  It contains Salicylic Acid,  which heals the pimple even as it covers.  Another one is Proactive's,  but I can't vouch for their color selection.

Happy week!

Body Butter(Yumm)!

I just got this totally scrumptious body butter from Winners,  Delon Intense Moisturizing Body Butter($5.99)....Coconut flavor.  Have always loved things that smell good enough to eat and this is no exception.  I have tried quite a number and for me, this seems to be the best as it gives my skin the silkiest feel..smooth and comfy.   The best thing is that there is really no need to reapply during the day,  I only do that just cos I love the way it feels on my skin.

Its less expensive than the ones from Body Shop,  and I like that coconut oil is the second ingredient on the list.  They have Mango, Raspberry, White Cocolate, Asian lily and Peony.  Definitely  not as many choices as the Bodyshop,  but I find the quality and efficacy of these better.  They are not as heavy and the sink into the skin leaving it nicely moisturized.  I also got the coconut body scrub,  looving the way it makes my skin feel.  I actually had a lady walk up to me (yikes) and asked to smell my skin.  P.s. Go get some!

All about Primers

What's a Primer?  A Primer really is anything used to prep skin before makeup is applied (not shirley biko! hehe) And it makes your makeup last all day.  Its not a very necessary step,  as some may skip it..  but if you are so inclined, its has awesome benefits.  For one,  it creates an invisible barrier between your skin and the foundation/powder.  And that in turn protects your skin from the aging (yes I said aging) long term effects of makeup.  A primer in essence will make your makeup sit ON your skin without creating any damage like clogged pores for example.

There are 3 types of Primers known to woman (JK)

Face Primer: Moisturize thoroughly after cleansing,  let it sink in for at least 2 minutes and then spread a thin layer of primer all over your face and neck.  Let it sit for another 5 minutes while you--(curl your hair, brush it or put on your lace wig, lol) Then put your foundation on over it and get your groove on.

 Just make sure you find the right Primer for your skin type.  A mattefying (Oil reducing) Primer is best for oily skin types,  it keeps your face from producing excess oil,  therefore saving you the task of touching up your face several times a day.  A tried and true example is Makeup for Ever HD Microperfecting Primer.  It comes in about 7 shades that correct and cover at the same time.  It will  not change the color of your foundation,  rather it corrects and conceals imperfections.  I also love the primers Smashbox carries.

Eye Primer:  Use after your eyecream ( I find that this makes the base go on smoother.)  This makes your eye makeup last all day without smudging or budging.  It intensifies the eyeshadow also ,  if you use a similar color as the base ( I didn't mention that eye primers could be clear,  or come in different colors that can be used as an eyeshadow as well.)

The best I know about for now is Urban Decay Primer Potion.  And Mac has several paint pots that last a very long time.  Another Primer/base for eyes is the one for lashes,  and you can put this on before your regular mascara,  to give an effect of false lashes.  I personally have tried false lashes,  and my eyes just hated them! I woke up with gunk all over my lashes.  My tried and true Faves are Lancome Oscillation Power Booster( All you do is place them on your lashes and it does all the work by vibrating),  and Loreal Double Extend with lash boosting serum.  I think I actually like the 2nd one better,  and its cheaper too!


Lip Primer:  Not as common,  just because its such a pain to use all this stuff! I personally think you can prime your lips for lipgloss/ lipstick with chapstick or any lipbalm ...They work as well.  If you need to get your lips in a favorable condition before applying lipstick,  use your toothbrush or a wet washcloth to massage away dry, chapped skin.  Be careful though because you can hurt yourself if you use a firm hand.  Make sure your lips are wet while doing this.  Once its smooth,  apply a lip balm to prevent it from drying out.  A lip primer I have used that made my lip stuff stay on through a drink or meal is Mac Prep+Prime Lip.  I'm not too crazy about the texture though,  it made me lips drier later.


I sincerely hope you find this post informative,  if you would like to add anything,  or ask a question,  please feel free to post your request in the comment box.  Ciao!

40 Very random facts about me :)

How tall are you? 5 "2
Do you have any siblings? Oui. 2 Brothers.
Do you have any pets? No. 
What is your favorite color? Anything that makes me look good.
What is your dream car? The latest toy that BMW turns out..
What is your favorite restaurant? Any great seafood restaurant...yumm!
What is your favorite drink? Lemonade or Cranberry juice
What is your favorite gum? Stride
What is your favorite snack? Peanuts
What is your favorite dessert? Banana Cream Pie
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream? Vanilla/ Banana
What is your favorite movie? Avatar
What is your favorite tv show? Nothing really,  I rarely watch Tv
When did you get into makeup? When I was 10
If you won a million dollars, what you buy first? A house,  and invite my family to stay with me.
What side of the bed do you sleep on? Left.
What is your dream job? Owning Spas all over the world.  I guess that would be an entrepreneur..?
If you could take a spontaneous trip somehwere, where would it be? A remote island in the Caribbeans
If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be? Aruba
What is your favorite day of the week and why? Friday is my fave day, cos I can stay up until 4am and not worry about getting up early.
What is your favorite holiday and why? I'll say Christmas.  Just because.
Name 3 sites online that you love or visit frequently.  Bella Naija,  Temptalia and JoyceMeyerMinistries


If you could have one famous person as a sibling who would you choose? TD Jakes
Do you have any piercings or tattoos?  My ears are pierced.  That's all.
Money or love? Both.  Lets be realistic here, lol
Things you can't leave the house without? Common Sense.
What are your turn-offs in a guy? Long nails (eek!) and a poor dress sense.
What superhero power would you want to have? Telepathy.
Are you a morning person? Naah!!
What do you do first thing when you get home? I sing and make lots of noise.  Then take off my makeup.  Not necessarily in that order :)
Do you sing randomly? Ohh yes,  I make up songs all the time.  In the shower on a blessed day maybe.
Left of right handed? Rite
Anything particular you wear everyday? Perfume
Where were you born and raised? Raised in Niaja
What did you look like as a baby? An alien
What countries do you want to visit? Europe for sure.
What does your purse/bag look like? A purse/bag,  duh. 
What kind of phone do you have? Berry
Do you have any bad habits? I'm always picking @ my hair.  Nasty
Do you have a twitter? Yes
A random fact about you..When I was a little girl,  what I wanted to be when I grew up was a...(drumroll) Back up singer...what a lol

Its Summertime...Hydrate!

Hydration is the real McCoy when it comes to preventing anti-aging. Its very critical as the less hydrated your skin is,  the more prone to fine lines and wrinkles you will be.  It does not matter how young or old you are.

You can start by Drinking lots and lots of water! Just kidding.  I know that sounds boooring already but,  Water is essential.  Though the 8 glasses rule has hardly worked for me,  Plus...more bathroom breaks y'all.  I generally have a flask and I make sure its filled at least 2ce a day at work.  Anything else na jara.  Lots of fruits also contain a large percentage of water,  and make it a habit to hunt them down and eat!.

If you cleanse/ wash your face too much I guarantee it will dry out...making oily skin more oily and dry skin...well..I'll let you be the judge ;)
With my regimen I wash my face at night but when morning comes,  I use a toner only.  And if I notice i'm getting a bit dry,  I use a facial mist like Vichy Thermal Spa Water  (which is really nothing more than mineralized water in a bottle),  and it also contains humectants (moisture binding ingredients) that boost any moisturizer you use after it. 
If you cant stand water,  go for flavored water, there are a lot to choose from.  On a last note,  when its hot and dry,  we lose water more.  Enjoy the sun!

Pampering your body

We tend to neglect our bodies more and concentrate on the face,  since thats what people see at first glance.  Along comes summer and there is panic as the dry,  scaly winter skin is EXPOSED! in bikini's and short summer dresses. The trick is to do the work when no one can see it..I'll tell you how.

Invest in a good body scrub,  body oil  and a long handled body brush.  You will also need a loofah sponge,  those of us from Nigeria already have those rough (sometimes painful) loofah sponges.  I cannot emphasize the importance of a good moisturizer,  and it does not have to cost a lot to do the job.  To ensure you are getting a good one that does what it says,  look at the list of ingredients at the back..i'll give you an example.  If it says Aloe Vera is one of its key moisturizing elements, look at the list.  if Aloe is listed as number 5 instead of,  say,  2 or 3,  then you can be sure it may not do as much as it claims.  I have seen instances where the main selling factor/claim of a moisturizer is aloe,  and its the last thing on the list.

Body skin is the worse for accumulating dead skin cells,  and regular brushing/exfoliating will reveal soft, smooth skin underneath.  The body brush is good for your back and hard to reach areas,  and it doubles as a very good circulation booster.  Use with a hydrating shower gel or a piece of soap.  Brush gently but firmly,  from your legs up- towards the general direction of your heart.
Use the scrub once or twice a week.  Once you step out of the shower, pat your body but don't dry it off entirely.  Leave it damp and apply your moisturizer immediately.  That locks in the moisture for good.
I like body oils a lot because they keep the skin silky and smooth.
Happy summer ladies!!

Skin 101

Look at your skin as a canvas. I don't know any Artist that does not enjoy having a clean surface to paint on (no makeup pun intended lol). The skin is the largest organ of the body, and also the one we can be most guilty of neglecting! Its simple really.
There's really no hard and fast rule to the approach you use in your daily routine. There are shortcuts, but in the long term, they don't pay off. Here's my 2 cents :)
The first step is knowing your skin type.
There are five basic skin care types: Oily, combination, sensitive, dry and sun-damaged. Your skin type is determined by how much -- or how little -- oil your skin produces, age, environmental agressors, hormones etc.
A simple, basic facial routine includes:


1. Cleanse:
I find that soap can be very drying, matter of fact any dermatologist will tell you that soap should not get anywhere near your facial skin. You may not be able to tell the effects of using toilet soap now, but if it dries your face out, chances are that in the long term it accelerates the aging process(My thots).
Liquid, Gel and foaming cleansers are great, for oily skin I would recommend a gel cleanser, and for dry skin, a foaming cleanser. There are also clay cleansers, but those are for extremely oily skin.

Before I cleanse, I like to steam up a small, rough towel with warm water and place it on my entire face and neck..this opens up the pores and loosens the dirt and oil, which allows your cleanser to work more effectively. If I used foundation during the day however, I prefer to use baby wipes (less harsh for sensitive skin) BEFORE cleansing.
Follow with your preferred toner, then moisturizer.
Here are some tried and true examples;
Skinlogics cleansing gel(normal to combination)
Neutrogena Deep Clean facial cleanser
Dermalogica dermal clay cleanser
I'll update this list later.


2. Tone:
In the past I did not really care for toners, simply because I thought they were an unecessary step, but I find that my skin has improved in clarity, simply by using a toner 3ce a week! Be careful not to overdo it though...that could dry out your skin and defeat the purpose od balancing . Toner's are a mild exfoliant (lightly remove dead skin cells) and they balance the PH of your skin. For people who have enlarged pores, a toner (as well as splashing ur face with cold water after cleansing) will help to tighten pores.
A toner will also help you to remove the last traces of make up, and is best used last thing @ night before your night cream. I use it in the morning sometimes in place of washing my face, and splash some cold water on my face before I moisturize. (I tend to wash my face once a day)
Make sure to identify a toner that is good for your skin type.
Avoid the ones with alcohol if possible, and if you find that your toner is drying you out a bit, by all means wet a cotton ball with warm water before adding a few drops of toner and wiping your face with it.

3. Exfoliate (Using Facial Scrubs):
Exfoliation is the removal of the oldest dead skin cells that cling to the skin's outermost surface. For all skintypes except oily skin, its best to exfoliate only twice a week. Doing it more does not have any benefits, except from aggravating your skin. What an exfoliant does is break up the dead cells and slough them off, voila! new skin.
It's less powerful than microdermabrasion, which will be on another blog.
It makes the skin smoother and fresher looking, and also prepares it for any serum or moisturizing treatment you use.
Popular ones are St. Ives, Clean and Clear Morning burst(mmmm yumm!)
Tried and true; Dermalogica prep scrub, Clinique 7-day scrub cream
Lush Ocean Salt Cleanser, All Ages Skinlogics Facial Scrub.


4. Moisturize:
Drink for the skin yay!! We all know the benefits of moisturizers, since that's probably one of the first things we learned about skin care. The biggest mistake though, is using a moisturizer thats not right for you. It can gross out your skin, and of course you know what unhappy skin does! My co-worker just told me she found out she had de-hydrated skin, as opposed to DRY skin. She had been using a dry skin formula, and I tell you, just that little bit of detail means a lot to her skin now. So. Make sure you at least find out the type of skin you have, before going ahead to purchase. If you have found a good one that works, by all means stick to it. Make sure though, it contains an SPF of at least 15 and above.
Some people say black skin needs no SPF, actually black skin has the highest amount of the pigment melanin, which can act as a sunblock of sorts....but, definately not enough to venture outside without one. Sunscreen allows some of the suns rays in, enough to tan...but if you are like me, and hate the sun touching your skin....buy all means get a sunblock instead, that way you dont get a tan when you are exposed to the sun.

In conclusion, Drink lots of water, Get enough sleep, enjoy your colored veggies and Exercise!!! Enjoy the outdoors more...enjoy life.

Remember, great skin is a compliment to beauty! See ya l8r lovelies!
Please feel free to add your suggestions/comments. I'd love to hear what works for you!

Welcome!

Hi!! I'm new to this so bear with me :)
My blog, Made Beautiful, is a place where you can come to for beauty tips, advice and generally speaking, to be your awesome self. These days, with all the hustle and bustle, It becomse very easy to let yourself go. It is just not enough to let yourself 'get by' without being your absolute BEST at all times! I'm also in the learning process, so of course I will welcome any suggestions happily! Be the best you can be all round..we will focus first on keeping your skin in the best condition, since everyone is very unique. What works for a someone else may not necessarily be the best for you..and so on. So enjoy.