Sunday, June 27, 2010

A Little Sunblock Never Hurt Anyone


A little sunblock never hurt anyone. In fact, the exact opposite is true.
It's officially summer! And with summer comes the propensity to tan and participate in more outdoor activities, and thus, increased exposure to the sun.

I am one who loves a good tan, but I am also very aware of the harmful effects sun exposure can have on your skin...not just during summer months, but year-round. So, i decided to share with you the top 5 things I think you should know about the affects of the sun on the skin and how you can protect yourself.

#1 You can use a daily sunscreen, in moisturizer form to limit sun exposure that can lead to burning, skin cancer, premature aging and wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, etc. Moisturizers containing sunblock come in various formulas from oil-free to light-weight lotions depending on your skin type. Many foundations, lipsticks, hand lotions and powders contain SPF as well.

#2 SPF refers to the Sun Protection Factor in sunscreens. A higher SPF indicates greater protection from the harmful rays of the sun. If you use a sunscreen with an SPF 15, you can be in the sun 15 times longer that you can without sunscreen before burning. The SPF number is also an indicator of how often you should reapply. For example, an SPF of 30 should be reapplied every 30 minutes.

#3 Contrary to popular belief brown girls/guys need sunblock too. As mentioned in a previous post, darker skin contains more melanin, a natural SPF making the chances of burning are less likely, but still possible. It also means that the signs of skin cancer are harder to detect (irregularities in moles, abnormal growths on skin, etc.).

#4 There is a difference between sunblock and sunscreen. Sunscreen contains chemicals that absorb UV rays before they damage the skin. Sunblock contains particles that act as a physical wall against UV rays. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to sun exposure and sunblock begins working immediately. Experiment and see what works best for your skin.

#5 Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States. More than 3.5 million cases in two million people are diagnosed annually. Melanoma is now the most common cancer in women age 25 to 29. About 90 percent of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. Up to 90 percent of the visible changes commonly attributed to aging are caused by the sun.
For more facts on skin cancer visit The Skin Cancer Foundation

Thursday, June 17, 2010

The Art of a Woman


There's still time to get your tickets!
Successful Women in Media, Art, Publishing, Fashion and Entertainment Celebrate “The Art of a Woman”| This Saturday at District Lounge


(Washington, DC) – The Art of a Woman on Saturday, June 19 is gearing up to be an extraordinary celebration of fashion, art and creative, successful women. Author Helena Andrews of the new memoir “Bitch is the New Black,” will join event host and rising supermodel Marisa Elise; R & B songstress Paula Campbell; Mrs. Maryland Globe 2010 Tiffany Parker and DJ Heat from WPGC 95.5 FM to celebrate “The Art of a Woman.” This is a fashion, art and shopping event presented by Think Brown INK and HoneyComb Set LLC., on June 19 from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. at District Restaurant and Lounge, located at 2473 18th Street NW, Washington, DC.

Attendees will experience new fashion and art, mingle with empowering women and learn about media, starting an art collection, publishing and beautifying one’s home. Ticket price is $15 in advance at http://theartofawoman.eventbrite.com and $20 at the door.

The Fashion
The fashion show will feature gorgeous new swimwear by Atlanta-based Lara Epps, clothing and accessories by Maryland vintage boutique DMVntage and culminate with the couture collection by New York-based designer Dominique Auxilly. Accessories and urban wear by Black Collection, Traci-Lynn Fashion Jewelry, G-Style Gems, and more will spice up the fashion show.

The Art
The Art of a Woman will include a charity silent art auction with work by Glen “Foo” Brown to benefit The Warford Foundation, which supports military widows and single mothers. Artwork by James Terrell and The Abstract Princess will compliment the art exhibit.

The Speakers
Author Helena Andrews, of the highly acclaimed memoir “Bitch is the New Black” will read an excerpt from her new book. Additional speakers include journalist and host of “At Home with Victoria,” Victoria Gaither; Sharon Burton, CEO of the online art gallery Authentic Contemporary Art, and Sherry B. Ways, Principal Design Specialist at Design Scheme Interiors, LLC.


Media sponsor for The Art of a Woman is W.O.W. Radio, which will broadcast live from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at http://www.wowuradio.net/
Ticket price is $15 in advance and $20 at the door. Please purchase your tickets here

Sunday, June 6, 2010

Post-Waxing Cure


While reading some excerpts from Susie Galvez's (esthetician, makeup artist, cosmetic product formulator, and author of eight books on beauty and lifestyle) book Ooh la la! Perfect Face, I came across this natural, at-home recipe for soothing your skin after being waxed.



Its a pretty simple recipe and I'm sure many of you will thank me for this.


What you will need:
3 cups of chamomile tea
cotton guaze
cotton ball
water (as required)
milk (as required)

1) Make chamomile tea following the instructions on the packet
2) Allow it to cool completely
3) Pour mixture into ice cube tray and freeze
4) Once frozen, wrap in a cotton guaze
5) Gently rub the frozen cube over waxed area for about 5 minutes
6) Dip cotton ball in plain milk and rub over area for 5 minutes
7) Enjoy