HAIRCARE – Her Own Skin

DIY SKINCARE!!! HOMEMADE & NOURISHING!

November 19, 2015IKA Leave a Comment

I have been the queen of product obsession for years. The list of skincare, haircare, cosmetic brands in my aparment can go on for days! But lately I’ve revisited my once LOVE for DIY (DO IT YOURSELF) products for the skin. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t thrown out my Mario Badescu Glycolic Foaming Cleanser, let’s not get carried away, but here’s a list of my favorite DIY products. All made in my kitchen and a surefire way to embrace an all natural living 😉

1. Daily Moisturizing Body Oil (Summer): I love a light misty oil in the Summer. You don’t want anything too heavy in the hot months but strong enough to keep the skin dewy. Mix coconut oil and rose water in a small spray bottle. This combination creates a light fragrance and keeps the body feeling fresh. If it’s solidified, place the bottle in a cup of warm water while you’re showering. It’ll be ready to spray on your damp skin shortly after.

2. Daily Moisturizing Body Butter (Winter): I mean, just talking about this makes me happy! I’m probably happier in the winter months just becuase I get to use the heavy stuff! With Winter knocking on our door, I’ll be busy for the next few months. Here you go; super easy: Mix raw shea butter, coconut oil, and almond oil in a small jar. Boom, done! This combined with an exfoliator (see #3) during the harsh winter months will have your skin feeling like a baby’s bottom!

3. Weekly Exfoliator: HELLO! Have we met? You should already know this is my favorite. My DIY Brown Sugar Scrub not only tackles dead skin cells on my dry skin, but is highly requested by my friends and family! I’m going to start CHARGING! Mix raw brown sugar, coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil and honey(optional) in a small jar and keep it in your shower. I can tell you from experience this is a great gift! It comes from the heart!

4. Weekly Hair Oil (Pre-Shampoo): I’m convinced that this concoction of oils makes my tresses thick and healthy. Get a bottle with a nozzle for easy application and mix grapeseed oil, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, avacado oil, rosemary essential oil, tea tree essential oil together for a hair treatment that has you wanting more! This particular mix is for before shampooing. The rosemary scent is quite strong and isn’t recommended for everyday use. For an even deeper moisturizer, warm this mix up and create your own hot oil treatment.

5. Daily Hair Spray (For Braids, Locs, Twists): A few months ago I was sporting Senegalese Twists in my hair which I absolutely LOVED, btw. It’s important to treat my hair underneath styles like this so that it isn’t too dry and brittle. I created a daily spray that boosted the moisture up and kept my twists looking fresh. In a spray bottle, add 3 parts water and 1 part vegetable glycerin, tea tree essential oil, and jojoba oil. I LOVE THIS MIX! For natural textures, moisture is essential, regularly.

6. Daily Post-Workout Scalp Spray: So this is super important; especially when you’re in a protective hairstyle. After a workout or simply when you feel your scalp needs a little something extra without the hassle of washing, it’s crucial to freshen the scalp and keep too much buildup from happening. We all can’t wash our hair every single day so here’s a trick I do for inbetween washes. It’s simple! Mix 100% pepermint oil with a little bit of jojoba oil. Don’t overdue the jojoba; the point is to avoid buildup. What the peppermint does is breaks up the salt from the sweat on your scalp! Amazing right? It’ also gives a little tingle and cooling sensation which can feel quite refreshing after a hard workout!

7. Sugar Lip Scrub: Have you seen my lips? SOFT! LOL 🙂 Here’s the trick: Mix Brown Sugar (or white sugar) with a little bit of olive oil (you can also use coconut oil or honey) and pop it into a small jar. If you scrub your lips every other night, you’ll see a major difference! Trust me, this is an all year round essential!

I hope my list inspired you to get in the kitchen and start mixing. We love healthy skin and hair. There’s no better way to improve them than using what comes from the earth. Work on it! 😉 You know you want to! What are some of your favorite DIY skincare/haircare products? Share with us!

xo IKA

AUGUST 2015 OBSESSION

August 30, 2015IKA 1 Comment

This Product did it for me in August! I’ve been rocking Senegalese Twists for past month and a half. Girl + Hair Underneath haircare made life easy. I came across this lifesaver at the grand opening of Vivrant Beauty in Harlem. I instantly fell in love and so will you!

“Girl and Hair (G+H) is the premier destination for modern women to find luxury hair extensions and products.”
UNDER HAIR CARE is the first natural hair product line formulated for nourishing your natural or relaxed hair while wearing protective styles.

It helped! It’s EVERYTHING! Try it and let me know!

xo IKA

JUNE 2015 OBSESSION

June 30, 2015IKA Leave a Comment

This month has been all about the SHEA! I’m not new to this formula but for some reason I’ve been OBSESSED with it all month.

Shea butter has many uses. I currently use it on my skin; all parts. Full body and face. I’ve also used it in my hair to add extra moisture and shine. I works wonders!

Some people might not like the thickness. You kind of have to rub it in a bit and emulsify because of the consistency but it’s worth the work. My skin never looked to supple.

Here’s a little trick, try adding a dab of coconut oil to your shea butter jar. The coconut oil, also a great moisturizer, helps soften the shea a bit, making it easier to apply.

HERE ARE SOME OTHER USES:
-Fight skin inflammation
-Pucker up! Soften thoses lips
-Fade stretch marks (add a little olive oil to this mix and rub, rub, rub!)
-Cracked heels? Work that shea butter in!

I wouldn’t steer you wrong. Let me know your uses for Shea butter. I want to know!

xo IKA

LONG WEEKEND PACKING!

May 21, 2015IKA 4 Comments

Coach Leather Weekender – J’ADORE

Let’s be clear, I’m not going anywhere special for the long Memorial Day weekend! 🙁 I’ll be entertaining guests at home. But for those of you taking a quick trip, here is a little guide for long weekend essentials. I’d say you’d be good to go with a bag full of must-haves 😉

1. Personal Items: If you’re going to a hotel, you won’t need to bring items like soap and shampoo unless you can’t live without your favs. But there are a few things that should always be in your weekend bag so that you don’t need to make an extra trip to the drugstore.
-Basic Toiletres such as a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, moisturizer, facial cleanser, makeup remover, hairbrush
-Feminine products shouldn’t be left behind. Even if Aunt flow isn’t joining you on your trip, keep one or two light days in the bag just in case!
-Over-the-counter medications. You can fit all of the necessities into one box. Allergy pills, Aleeve, Vitamins, etc

2. Clothing: Here’s where it gets tricky. It’s hard not to over pack because you feel like there might be a reason for an extra stiletto. But for a quick weekend getaway, these items should be sufficient and make the cut for a medium sized bag.
-Underwear quantity should be double the days. That’s my personal opinion. I don’t know guys…I feel like you could never have enough panties! lol Underwear doesn’t take up too much space so we’re safe here.
-Shoes are important. It’s just a few days; we really only need one pair of shoes right? WRONG! 😉 Listen, how do you know if your feet are not going to be too tired for heels? Keep two pairs of heels as an option for evenings and a comfortable flat just in case this mini vacay calls for mostly being on your feet. One pair of flip-flops works for beach get-a-ways, and a pair of sneakers works if you plan on working out while enjoying your time off!
-Sweaters or Cardigans help! I personally like to choose one basic cardigan or sweater that can go with everything. You may not use it but it’s nice to have in case the evenings are chilly or you end up with an overly air-conditioned room. Try something in heather grey, or navy blue. Yellow even! We don’t always have to bring black!
-Sleepwear is super essential. I’m a one light weight and one heavy weight PJ kind of gal. You never know what the temperature will have you feeling like so it’s important to pack both in my opinion. I’m a sucker for pajama sets. You don’t have to be. Wear what’s comfortable for you 😉

3. Accessories: These are always in my travel bags. I’m that girl with jewelry options. A few pairs of earrings, rings and bracelets are kind of a need for me. Pick a moderately sized pouch that can fit a few pieces and you’re set. A key piece of mine would be a statement necklace. Some funky bracelets would be a bonus. And let’s not forget a bold ring!

4. Makeup: Makeup is on me wherever I go. But for a long weekend, I would add one or two fun eye-shadow colors and definitely a few bold colored lipsticks to jazz up one or two or ALL of my outfits. Try a blue or green eyeliner on your lower lid for a different effect! Don’t forget a pair of false eyelashes!

I hope these packing tips help. Here’s a site I found that gets into more detail about ways to perfectly pack for getaways: The Minimalist Packing List Check it out and let me know what you think! What will be in your bag this weekend?

xo IKA