My Must Have Beauty Products

As a reformed product junkie, I had to cut back on buying beauty products. I had to cut waayyyy back. The amount of beauty products I possessed was crazy. Let me put it to you this way, if the zombie apocalypse hit, I wouldn't have but a few cans of food, but my hair would stay moisturized and tangle free. And should I find clean water to wash my face, it would be #flawless. I would be the cutest zombie in these streets (cause lets face it, I can't run and I get squeamish cutting up chicken so I'm not going to last very long.)

So, since I decided that 1- the zombie apocalypse is not a real thing and 2- my bank account was suffering, it was time to scale back to just the essentials. I want to share with you my 3 must have beauty products: Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Dickinson's Witch Hazel and Olay Complete. 

Dermalogica Daily Micro is a water activated exfoliate that balances uneven skin tones by gently removing pore clogging dead skin cells. It has a plethora of good stuff to help smooth and refresh, including salicylic acid, grapefruit, green tea and colloidal oatmeal. It does not have any artificial color or fragrance and is just about the only exfoliate I use. It does carry a hefty price tag of $55 at Ulta for 2.6 oz, but it's worth every drop-(or grain- it's in powder form.)

Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel is an oldie but a goodie. It's been around for years and has 1 ingredient- "all natural distilled witch hazel, containing natural grain alcohol 14% and witch hazel extract." For those who know nothing about toners, what it does is brings the ph balance back to your skin so that you don't leave your pores open and more susceptible to bacteria and breakouts. I use this to get every last bit of makeup off and my skin feels smooth and not in the least bit dry. At only $6 for 16oz, you would be crazy not to at least give it a try.

I have been using Olay Complete since my teenage years. So long so, that it was called Oil of Olay when I first started buying it. I use Olay Complete as my daily moisturizer and my skin loves it. It moisturizes, has SPF 15 for UVA and UVB protection and is lightweight, but effective. I will send out a small word of caution though because it has to be the regular formula for me. I tried the sensitive formula with the SPF 30 and it was so chalky it made my skin look sallow and gray. Because I don't do returns, I sometimes will mix it with my foundation if I'm having an extra dry day. And at around $7, Olay Complete is a great buy.

Those are my essentials, what are yours?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,
Rhonda

Skin and Hair Care Resolutions

We are in the 2nd week of a  new year and in true fashion I am taking this time to reflect and determine the things I want to do better in this upcoming year. I want to be better mind, body and soul and since I work daily on my soul and I focused on mind/life goals via my Passion Planner in my last post, I figure it's time to focus on body today.

I'm not saying my body is perfect, but I really don't focus on it like I used to. My curves are in all the right places and I physically feel good 80% of the time, but stress and bad habits have had my skin and hair suffering lately. With that being said, here are a few skin and hair care rules I plan to live by this year. 

I will wash my makeup off every night. Why is this so hard to do? Cause your girl be tired, but I will try my best.

I will drink water everyday. I don't think an explanation is necessary with this, it's just a healthy thing to do.

I will do more mole checks. Dark skin can get skin cancer too, so doing monthly checks on those new moles that keep popping up will pay off in the long run.

I will exfoliate twice a week. Nothing keeps that skin looking baby fresh like scrubbing that tough layer of rough skin off.

I will not become a product junkie. I repeat, I will not become a product junkie. Because of the way my bank account is set up, this shouldn't be a problem, but I still have to remind myself.

I will stress less. Easier said than done.

I will not pop my pimples. Again, easier said than done. Popping them makes them worse before they get better but it is so satisfying when you do. #struggles

I will always keep my eyebrows on fleek. Yaaasss!

I will continue knowing that what works for some may not work for me. And that's okay. All skin and hair was not created equal.

I will wash my hair more often. Once or twice every two weeks is my usual schedule. Anything past that and it's a mess to deal with.

Water will be my main moisturizer. Water is my friend.

I will wrap/ cover my hair nightly. Even if I do look like Aunt Jamima, I have to protect my hair at night. And for added protection, a satin pillowcase will help too.

I will learn the true meaning of protective styling. Braiding my hair up and not cleansing or moisturizing my scalp defeats the purpose.

I will stop being lazy. See above.

And most of all, I will love the skin I'm in and rock whatever texture grows out my head.

Those are my skin and hair care resolutions. What are yours?

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty,
Rhonda

Foundation in a can?

Yes, there is and it's actually a great find. I have been using this for a while on and off and have finally decided whether I like it or not. It is Maybelline Dream Nude Air Foam Foundation. Here are the stats:



16 Colors (Mine is Cocoa)
SPF 16
$8.44
Lightweight and comparable to air brush foundation

Pros:
- Who doesn't love lightweight foundation, plus the coverage was just enough to cover some pigmentation.
- Easy to use for those of us who don't mind using our hands. I can put on foundation either way. But, I will admit it got a little messy because my faucet knob was brown from turning it on with the hand with foundation all over it.
- The price is phenomenal. A good foundation under $10. You can't beat that.

Cons:
- I would only recommend this product if you have normal skin. It is just like airbrush in the case that if you have dry spots, acne, hair or any texture on your skin, it will show and it will not look good.
- It dries quickly so you have to move fast when applying.

Overall I would say that if you have normal or combination skin that is not too dry, that this would be a good foundation to try.

Wishing you Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty

Beauty products sent to my door?... Yes, please.

I don't know what's more dangerous- window shopping or internet shopping. With window shopping, I almost always find something I just have to have. But, with internet shopping it's so simple and convenient. You put your cloths/shoes/accessories into the "cart", enter your payment info (I suggest paypal) and in a few days, your item comes right to your door.

Well, there have been some people who have taken internet shopping to a whole other level with monthly subscriptions. For those of you who read my post about my shoe subscription, your gonna love this.  There are several options out there to sign up to a monthly subscription for health and beauty products and here a few that I'm considering. It's great way for product junkies like my self to try before I buy.

The Look Bag

Membership Program Options: Yearly or Monthly

Cost: $110/Year, $10/Month, can also transfer to a friend or gift it for 3. 6 or 12 months

What's inside: 5 luxury beauty product samples 

Extras- Spearheaded by renowned Eyebrow King Damone Roberts

            - Samples sent are according to results from your personal beauty profile

            - You get 20% discount off merchandise on thelookstore.com

            -Previous bags included products like Shadow Shields or Damone Robert's Brow Highlighter

Beauty Army

Membership Program Options: Monthly

Cost: $12/ Month

What's inside: 6 beauty samples

Extras- You get to pick what samples you want

            - Previous samples included products from La Fresh, NYX and Rapid Lash

Birchbox

Membership Program Options: Monthly, Yearly or gift for 3, 6 or 12 Months

Cost- $10/ Month

What's inside: Samples from a long list of brand partners including Dermalogica, Bliss and Wei

Extras: You can get a sample box for men's products for $20/Month

 My Glam

Membership Program Options: Monthly *At this time there is a waiting list

Cost: $10/  Month

What's inside: 4-5 Full sized products

Extras- Created by YouTube makeup vlogger Michelle Phan

           -Products based on beauty quiz results

           - Comes in a cute makeup bag

           -There are videos featuring the month's beauty products and users are encouraged to upload their own reviews

 New Beauty Test Tube

Membership Program Options: Tubes are available 4 times a year

Cost: $29.95 plus 8.95 S+H

What's Inside: Deluxe and full size products

Extras- Gift cards to spend on spalook.com

           - Past products include Moroccanoil, Mally, Skin Ceuticals

           - Subscribers will get video emails about products

Sample Society

Membership Program Options: Monthly *There is a waiting list

Cost: $15/ M

What's inside: 5 deluxe size samples

Extras- $15 coupon towards a $50 Beautybar.com purchase

          - Free one year subscription to Allure Magazine

          - Collaboration between Allure Magazine and Soap.com' Beauty Bar

Glossy Box

Membership Program Options: Monthly *Will be coming to the US soon, currently in UK

Cost: $10/ Month

What's inside: 5-6 deluxe samples

Extras: Have option for men box as well

I even found one for the nail enthusiast!

Julep Maven

Membership Program Options: Monthly 

Cost: $20/ Month

What's inside: $40 worth of customized products including never before released colors

Extras- In introductory box you get the Julep Facial for Hands Glycolic Hand Scrub

           - You receive 20% off purchases from Julep Maven Boutique

           - You have the option to skip the month

           - All nail polishes are free of carcinogens, formaldehyde or DBP

And you know I couldn't leave out my natural hair divas.

Curl Box

Membership Program Options: Monthly *Subscriptions are sold out right now

Cost: $20/ Month

What's inside: 5-7 samples and coupons

Previous boxes included products from Hair Rules, Ouidad, Shea Moisture and Curls

Curl Kit

Membership Program Options: Monthly

Cost: $20/ Month

What's inside: 5-7 samples and coupons

Previous kit included products from Carol's Daughter, Shea Moisture and Uncle Funky's Daughter

In a perfect world, I would subscribe to all of these, but I did the math and it ain't pretty. So, I'll choose 2, or 3 and keep you posted. 

Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty

Did you see it yet? The newest edition of HER Detroit Magazine.

So, for those of you who don't know, I am writer for one of the hottest local publications in "The D", called HER Detroit Magazine. I write a skin care column called The Redden Report, and this past issue, I did a story on the flyyest sisters of Naturally Flyy Detroit. I am literally floating because I got to write about two of  the things I absolutely love- skin and hair.

Please check it out and let me know what you think. Your girl is trying to do big things (praise God from whom all blessings flow) and so grateful for the opportunity (shout out to my editor, Natashua Sanders).

Click on the magazine cover to see full digital version of the mag, or to jump straight to The Redden Report, click here, for the Naturally Flyy Detroit article, click here.

Due to printing space, I had to edit my original article to fit for print. But, because I think it's share worthy, here it is.

Being Naturally Flyy in Detroit

By Rhonda Ware-Redden

I know you’ve seen them. From the Eastside to the Westside- Old Redford to Midtown, the city streets are filled with black girls rocking their natural hair. Take a look in a magazine or on television commercials nationwide and you will see women with their locs, twist outs or TWA’s (teeny weenie afros) proudly representing team natural.

There’s a natural hair movement taking the city by storm started by two native Detroit sisters, Jennifer and Espy “Ettafly” Thomas. Their group is called Naturally Flyy Detroit and it was created in 2010 as a way for natural haired women to come together and get advice on products, ingredients and natural hair styles. Jennifer, who has worn her hair natural for over 8 years, recalls looking to the Internet initially for help when looking for ways to style her natural textured hair. “I noticed that girls in other states were having little group times together where they could meet at a restaurant or coffee shop, or somebody’s house and I was like, I want to have that. I want to talk to people about natural hair …if I’m going to wear my hair like this I need to have all the information so that it can be cute and I can feel good.”

So after the date was set, they decided to make an events page on Facebook and hold the meeting at their family’s business, Sweet Potato Sensations. All of a sudden, a meeting they thought was going to be around 20 or 30 people, turned into one hundred guests as the RSVP list kept growing and growing. The first meet up was a success and over a year later they are still going strong as a welcomed event in the natural hair community.

The last event in October was moved from their family business to The Artist Village across the street. It was a bigger space to meet the demands of the hundreds of naturalistas that swarmed parking lots and stopped traffic with their head turning do’s. Espy, whose natural journey started 12 years ago, wants people to know that it’s not just a meet up, it’s a sister hood and it covers the untapped territory on being natural. “I think it was something people wanted, but it just wasn’t going on here,” says Espy, “and a lot of times, especially with black women, our hair is so important to us. People really want to have hands on experience and talk to somebody else…it’s like a safe space to do that. It’s no negative energy, it’s peace and people get ideas. And I think it’s something that people really want to connect on a level of sisterhood like that, they just haven’t had that chance before.”

Well, the chance will come once again in February for the next meet up. The official date has not yet been set, but they expect to have more vendors, the product and accessories swap, live demonstrations and a few other surprises that they have up their sleeves. One feature that a lot of women are looking forward to is the discussion panel, The Men’s Forum Part 2. This is where a panel of men, ranging in ages talk about their love, or dislike of women with natural hair. Espy believes that the panel is important and says it’s a very frank discussion with everyone respectfully saying what’s on their minds. “In order for us to cultivate good relationships and family, we need to keep this open dialogue with our black men,” she says, “women are the silent leaders anyway, so if your confident in your natural hair, he’ll be confident with it too.”

But, don’t think that they will be checking hair at the door, all hair textures are welcome. These meet ups are about empowerment and just to let women know that they have other options. “We always try to encourage people when they say ‘how do you do that’ or ‘I don’t have time for that’. This is the easiest thing in life, ever. But, you have to take the time, have patience,” adds Jennifer. “When we used to call the girls hair (good hair) back in the day in elementary school it was because her hair could be worn curly or straight. That’s what it was to me. That’s what this is.”

Both Espy and Jennifer take pride in not only bringing more people to the area, but also being able to dispel the myth that black women can’t work together. They are glad that Naturally Flyy Detroit has encouraged conversations and friendships. Although it starts with the hair, ultimately they want women to focus on their values “from the crown down”- how you think, how you speak, the clothes you wear down to how you present yourself to the world. They just launched Naturally Flyy Denver in August, but make it plain that they are more concerned about growing in ideas, than growing in numbers.

For more information about Naturally Flyy Detroit, go to their group and fan pages on Facebook, or their website www.naturallyflyydetroit.com.

Benefit They're Real Mascara Review

I love Mascara! If I leave home without a stitch of foundation on (concealer is a must), I'm going to at least have something on my lips (lip balm will do) and my eyes (mascara and/or eyeliner). Although I do wear false lashes more often these days, sometimes I don't feel like caring for them (sleeping pretty, cleaning eye area with q-tips, etc.). So the next best thing is mascara that makes you look like you have naturally long, luscious lashes.

I was watching one of the home shopping channels, as I often do, and they were showcasing Benefit's They're Real Mascara so I decided to give it a try. Here's the lowdown.

I've always said the success, or lack there of, of a mascara for me has very little to do with the formulation, but mostly in the make of the brush. So when I saw the way the brush was made, I knew that it would be interesting. The round tipped brush helps get those small lashes on the edge and bottom lashes that are hard to reach and it curls them.


The Pros:
Defined each lash and separated them
Round tip brush helps get corner lashes better
Curls lashes
Lengthens
Didn't smudge or run throughout the day

The Cons:
Didn't thicken the lashes like I like- they were more spikey
Had to use two coats
The price- $22 (and if I'm using two coats w/ each use, it's gonna go fast)

Final Thoughts:
The product details for this mascara don't say that they are waterproof, but it didn't budge using facial wipes. When I used my Dermalogica Pre-Cleanse, that I often use for makeup removal, it was not a problem. If it weren't for the price, I would definitely recommend this mascara, but for a diva on a budget, I don't know if a $22 mascara is budget wise.

For that, I give this mascara 3 out of 4 smooches.




Love, Peace and Soul Deep Beauty

Soul Deep Beauty TV

So, I know I've been in business for over a year and a "welcome video" sounds 12 months too late, but better late than never ;) It's just a brief overview of my business because I had to get my feet wet for what I hope is to come. (Fingers crossed on both hands)

Six secrets to great skin

During my skin consultations that I have for my clients, I ask each client what their skin care goal is, and almost everybody says they want clear, more even toned skin. Although genetics and environmental factors have a lot to do with the conditions of our skin, there are 6 simple things that everybody can do to head down the road to healthy looking skin. 

1. Wear SPF daily. I don't care if it's cloudy or you only have to walk from the door to the car, sun rays penetrate through clouds and glass, and they can be very damaging to facial skin. Where did that freckle or mole come from? More than likely, it's sun damage. This applies to black women too. Most skin care brands have combined SPF in their products like moisturizers, foundations and lip balms, so there is no excuse.

2. Drink plenty of water. I am guilty of not drinking my 8 glasses of water a day, but if I don't get at least 2-3, my face will tell the story. Dehydrated skin is lackluster, dry, more prone to sensitivity and accentuates flaws and blemishes like a highlighter. So drink up.

3. Get plenty of sleep. They don't call it beauty sleep for no reason because it's during that rest time that your skin is at work repairing itself from all the stress you've caused it all day. Why do you think night creams work so well? That's the only time where you can put something on your face and not have the product fighting against makeup, sun, rain, wind and other environmental factors and it can just do what it was made to do. Plus, having droopy and tired eyes is not a good look.

4. Wash your face at night. Sometimes I'm so tired at night I can barely hold myself up in the shower, but I found the best thing to use even if I'm already laying in the bed: facial wipes. It's a quick fix to the ugly problem of clogged pores. As mentioned above, your skin needs time to rest and rejuvenate at night, but it can't do it properly when trying to fight through layers of sweat and makeup.

5. Exercise. Yes, I know you've heard it a thousand times, but you're going to hear it at least once more. Exercising and keeping your body moving helps your skin by getting that blood flowing and helping with skin cell production. Plus, as many experts say, those feel good hormones are released in the body with exercise and we all know that when you fell good, you look good. You can't help but to glow from the inside out. Yes, it may be a struggle and you may find that you're pressed for time, but start with something, anything. It's good for your health.

6. Find trust in a skin care professional. Now, I don't just say this because I am a skin care therapist, but because it is true. Having someone who is on your side and wants to help you reach your skin care goals can be such a positive thing. Your skin care expert can help you with a regular at home regimen, as well as recommend different treatments that can help jump start skin recovery. If putting your best face forward is important to you, then realize that that having a skin care professional is a necessary luxury.

So there you have several easy steps that you can do that are not only simple, but doable. To find out more about my skin care business, Soul Deep Beauty Skin Therapy, just click on the link.