Category: Beauty

Beauty, gwenhair

My Curl Hair Girl Journey

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Everyone who knows me since I was 11 knows me as the curly hair girl.

And I use to hate.

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I hated it.

I despise it.

I often wondered why am I stuck with the unwanted hair.

I grew up in an age where silky-straight-flat-hair stuck to your face like some gothic chick or what they called (and still) Japanese Straight Hair, was the cool, nice hair everybody wanted.

And then there’s me, the total opposite.

At the age of 14, I was allowed my first rebonding permanent Japanese hair straightening, I was THRILLED. 😁

Wore it proudly everywhere refusing to wash my hair and smelled heavily with chemicals that I just got used to it.

Fast forward 15 years later, I’ve owned 6 straighteners, 8 curlers, bleached, dyed, shopped and basically everything I couldve done to my hair.

  1. Straightening became part of my daily routine.
  2. I was a professional in a salon blow-out style.

And then one day, I woke up and decided I needed to stop ruining my hair and basically stopped using heat on a daily basis.

But my hair would frizz… A hair dryer won’t work!!

So, I have decided. Enough is enough

Came out of the shower with wet hair, air dried it and…

The curls are back!!

At this rate, I’m 3 weeks in my curly girl journey. I’m still at an experimenting stage trying out techniques and products. Cutting down on heat and allowing my hair to air dry as much as possible.

On some days, they are fine.

One some other days, it struggles.

You could see the waves but isn’t as curly.

Looking into the curl types, I’ve learnt that I am a 2C/3A

Doesn’t show much ey??

Guess this would be better

Currently my hair isn’t bouncing to it’s natural state, but it’s siting at 2B/2C. once it. Bounces into natural state, it. Would bea 3A.

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Lesson I’ve learnt (wish I knew earlier), I’f you’ve got frizzy hair, you could be curly. 😊

Embracing change is not easy, but it’s good!

Beauty, gwenbeauty

7 WAYS TO PREP YOUR SKIN FOR WINTER

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“The temperature is cooling down and winter is around the corner. Just like you change your wardrobe when the weather turns chilly, now is the time to change your skin care routine.”

 

During the winter months the skin is often forgotten about and left unprotected. This can cause significant dryness, itching and redness. While we can’t stop winter from coming, we can counteract the effects that this season has on our skin with a little preventative care. This can go a long way in helping keep our complexion glowing and healthy.

 

Check out our top tips to help you keep your skin soft and supple this winter:

Step 1: Moisturise

It is important to change your light weight moisturiser for thicker products that quench your skin’s thirst and rehydrate  your skin. Moisturisers are a critical component of a skin care routine, as they help keep skin dryness at bay. Add a protective layer to your skin today.

 

 

Step 2: Exfoliate

Regularly exfoliate your face and body to remove dead skin cells  and allow moisture to absorb into the skin quicker and more effectively. Use an exfoliant that is non-abrasive to ensure that it feels comfortable on your skin.

 

Step 3: Use a hydrating mask

To bring back radiance and softness  to your face, use a soothing hydrating mask. Use this twice a week before you go to bed, and let it do its magic for 10 to 20 minutes.

 

Step 4: Apply lip balm

To get rid of the dead skin that’s messing with your lip look, try using a lip balm to add moisture. This will help protect against chapping  and rejuvenate the delicate skin. After using a moisturising lip balm your lips will look and feel smooth. Get yours today!

 

Step 5: Protect your hands from the cold

Some parts of our body are more sensitive to the weather than others. During winter our hands get chapped, cracked and irritated because we are using them for every task, all day. Our hands are so important; however, we often forget that they need the most care. To prevent ageing and dryness of your hands it is important to use a moisturiser every morning and night.

 

Step 6: Have cooler showers

While hot showers are a welcome relief in winter, they tend to dry out skin and hair. It is important to reduce the temperature of your showers and apply a rich moisturiser after.

 

Step 7: Wear Sunscreen

It is important to always protect your skin from the harsh rays of the sun, even during the winter months. Sunscreen should be used for all seasons, so make sure you apply it every day as part of your skin care routine

Beauty, gwenbeauty

Vitamin C in your skin

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Vitamin C serums are legendary for a reason: They work!

Uneven skin tone, rough texture, fine lines, acne scars, general dullness — you can name just about any common complexion concern, and there’s a good chance that vitamin C (and the skin-care products it’s featured in) is a recommended treatment.

How does the ingredient work on the skin, though?

Are the brighter, smoother results thanks to the same potent antioxidant found in the orange juice you drink when you have a cold?

First, What is Vitamin C?

As far as your skin is concerned, vitamin C is “a potent antioxidant that can neutralize free radicals,” explains board-certified dermatologist Patricia Wexler. “Because of its antioxidant properties, vitamin C aids in your skin’s natural regeneration process, which helps your body repair damaged skin cells.”

So, in the same way, that consuming antioxidant-rich foods aids your body in fighting off free radicals, topical antioxidants do the same for your skin by helping to offset daily aggressors like UV damage and exposure to air pollution.

A quick refresher course on antioxidants: They prevent or reduce damage to our cells by neutralizing the production of highly reactive molecules called free radicals. In other words, antioxidants help keep our body and our skin cells healthy.

How else does Vitamin C benefit the skin?

  • Antioxidant
  • Skin-healing properties by accelerating the production of collagen and elastin. (we all know the benefit of Collagen and Elastin)
  • Promote collagen production
  • Prevent premature aging
  • Prevents hyperpigmentation and dark sports

How can you include Vitamin C in your skincare routine?

Dermatologists agree that the best vitamin C skin-care product to use is serum, because “serums are more effective than creams or toners”

As a general rule, serums should be layered underneath your moisturizer.

My personal favourite is The Body Shop Vitamin C range.

I personally own the The Body Shop Vitamin C Skin Boost and the Face Mist and I love it! I’ve been a user of the Skin Boost for almost 8 years and I can’t love it anymore.

 I have tried a variety of Vitamin C ingredient skincare, and the one thing I would advise is to try it out. Get a sample if you can, try it out on your hand if you can’t get a hold a sample.

Reason being, the scent, texture and consistency of different products vary.