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Fall is right around the corner, Queens. That means naked trees, boots with the fur, and the smell of Pumpkin Spice are all on the way. The beginning of Fall is the beginning of my favorite time of year, the holiday season. It means my birthday is upon us and Halloween is on deck. It means warm fuzzy scarfs and cute hats that are both fashionable and keep your ears warm. It means snuggling close to the ones you love and eating all the delicious food with all the stuff in it that's bad for you, but tastes so damn good.
I planned on giving you some Fall beauty tips today, then I was reminded of what Queen #JackieAina always says: the first step for flawless makeup is skin care. I believe this is true with anything you do, Queens. It's always important to start with a strong foundation that is prepped and prepared for all that you're about to put on top of it. For makeup, that's a strong skincare routine. For hair, that's clean moisturized hair with a healthy scalp.
So, before I share my tips for a #FlawlessFall, I thought I'd share some natural remedies, that I have recently added to my beauty routine, that will help you build a great foundation for beautiful Fall.
These natural remedies or ingredients on their own, or when mixed together have helped clear my skin, clean my hair, and moisturize my life. I am shariing them with you because I hope they will bring you the same results. However, keep in mind that all skin, hair, bodies are different. While, what I write here may introduce you to something, it's always important for you to do your own research before trying anything out for yourself.
So, here the are!
Jazzy's 5 Natural Beauty Must-Haves for a #FlawlessFall
1. Aloe Vera
Aloe Vera has worked for me in both my hair and on my body. Let me break it down for you:
Aloe Vera for Hair
Healthline.com states that aloe vera can be used to condition hair, treat dry and itchy scalps, strengthen hair, and promote hair growth. I use aloe vera to condition and strengthen my hair, treat my dry and itchy scalp and help my hair grow. On wash day, I mix organic aloe vera gel in with my co-wash and conditioner. I comb the mixture through my hair with a wide tooth comb, put a plastic bag over it and let it sit for forty five minutes.
When I rinse my hair, it is left feeling silky smooth and my scalp feels like it's been kissed by cool breeze. I chopped all of my hair off for the second time last Summer. The first time I did this, it took my hair two years to grow back to it's original length. This time, with the help of Aloe Vera, regular wash days, and also just giving my hair a break and letting it flourish in the sun on it's own, my hair has grown back in less than a year. My hair is stronger and better than ever. I don't anticipate another big chop happening anytime soon.
Aloe Vera for Skin
One day, I will have to do a whole video and blog post on my Sunday night routine, Queens. It really has become a weekly ritual full of self love, self care, and pampering. But first, Queens, I must remind you that I have a skin disease called hidradenitis suppurativa or HS. While this is not contagious, there is no cure for this disease. For the most part, it's invisible but that doesn't mean it's not a pain to have...literally. So, on Sunday night before taking my bath, I've taken to mixing together raw honey, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, and tumeric to help alleviate the sores and scars that HS leaves me with. In this mixture, the aloe vera helps to soothe the pain of my sores/ulcers. I usually mix all of these ingrediants in a bowl and use a concealer brush to apply it directly to problem spots. I let it sit on my skin for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off before getting into my bath.
Aloe vera is also said to be really good as a health aid or as exfoliant scrub (mixed with sugar and lemon) for your skin. It's also said that aloe vera is great to apply directly to the hair and scalp, right from the plant. These are three purposes I hope to try out in the future. I'll post another blog post with an update once I do.
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
Queens, if you don't have a bottle of apple cider vinegar in your house are you even living?For me Apple Cider Vinegar has many, many health benefits. But I use it mostly, for skin care and as a health aid.
Apple Cider Vinegar for Skin
As I said, on Sunday nights I put together a mixture of raw honey, tea tree oil, apple cider vinegar, aloe vera, and tumeric to help alleviate the sores and scars from my HS. In this mix, apple cider vinegar works as a natural toner. It helps to deep clean the skin and help get rid of any bacteria that is festering around my sores.
I have also used diluted apple cider vinegar as a natural toner and it's worked just as well as witch hazel or actual toner.
Apple Cider Vinegar as a health aid
Queens, as you know I am on my fitness journey. I'm coming up on a full year of the journey and for the past six months, I have drank a cold glass of lemon water with apple cider vinegar every morning. The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar helps to promote weight loss by regulating your metabolism and kicking it into full gear. The same with the lemon and the cold glass of water. Together, these have helped me kickstart my morning. I'm close to 50lbs lost too (which doesn't hurt) and I feel great! All I do is fill a cup with water before I go to bed. In the cup, I'll add a table spoon of apple cider vinegar and a few lemon wedges. Then in the morning, first thing, I'll drink the entire glass before my morning protein shake.
At one point in my life, I was using apple cider vinegar in my conditioning mixture to help really clean my hair. Every now and then, I'll still add a few spoonfuls to the mixture.
3. Tumeric
Queens, Tumeric is another one of those natural health aides that are said to be very useful for many different reasons. However, I can't stomach the smell of tumeric and even worse, I hate the risk that I take of staining my walls, carpet, or tub whenever I use this. So, for now, I only use tumeric for my skin.
I shake a few table spoons of tumeric powder into my HS skin mixture. The tumeric is said to have anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. In english, that means it helps to keep my skin from getting irritated and calms sores already on my skin. It also helps to fight the bacteria that are causing the sores and the inflammation in the first place.
4. Milk & Honey
Queens, you have not taken a bath, unless you have taken a bath with warm milk and honey. My god, my skin has never felt more smooth and supple. It's a game changer. I actually couldn't wait to share this with someone and I'm glad it's you all.
Stylecraze.com says:
A milk and honey bath leaves your skin supple and soft. The protein and fat content in the milk enriches your bath water and helps exfoliate the skin. The lactic acid present in the milk cleans the dead cells and hydrates the skin, thereby preventing dryness.
All you need to do is pour a half a gallon of milk into a sauce pan and bring it to a boil. Once, the milk begins boiling, lower the heat and add 3 teaspoons of raw honey. Stir and let it sit while you run your bath water.
Once your water is ready and you've already added your bath salts and oils, pour your warm milk into your bath.
I usually soak for 30-45 minutes and, Queens, after exfoliating, these milk and honey baths are exactly what my skin needs to add nourishment to the new skin I've just exposed.
5. Coconut Oil
Again, Queens, this is a game changer. Like most things on this list, there are many health and beauty benefits of using coconut oil. However, what I use coconut oil for most these days, may throw you off. It's going to sound gross at first, but hear me out.
Oil Pulling
Yes Queens! I use coconut oil to clean my teeth in the morning. I know. I know! Sounds gross. But it has helped me to deep clean and whiten my teeth significantly in the two months that I have been doing this.
Medical News Today states that the benefits of oil pulling include killing bacteria, helping to fight bad breath, teeth whitening, preventing cavities, and aiding in gum health. I oil pull with coconut oil for teeth whiting and a deeper clean.
In the morning, before brushing my teeth, I put a tablespoon of coconut oil in my mouth and swish it around in my mouth, like it was mouthwash, for ten minutes. While I'm swishing, I'm washing my face or putting on my clothes. Then I spit out the coconut oil and brush my teeth. It's recommended that you use a different tooth brush for after you oil pull. It's also recommended that you only oil pull once per day. I usually pull in the morning and just brush my teeth normally at night.
Well there you have it! My game changing secrets to building a strong foundation for natural beauty in the Fall. In a few weeks, I'll post my top 10 beauty tips for the Fall that will help you have a #FlawlessFall. Look out for that coming soon. In the meantime, let me know, in the comments below, which of these natural ingredients you were shocked to see or will be trying in your beauty routine soon?
It's going to be a Great day to conquer the world. So step into the Queen you're meant to be and SLAY!
Queen Maree
ORIGNALLY PUBLISHED ON SEPTEMBER 4, 2020