Beauty of Coconut Oil for Summer

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Hey Beauties tomorrow, June 21, 2013, is the first official day of summer and that got me to thinking about my number one favorite summer ingredient, coconut oil. The scent alone makes me think all things summer, especially days at the beach! Although its been well documented that if stranded on a desert island with only one beauty product it would my EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). However, when summer, my favorite season arrives, I like to switch things up a bit and incorporate coconut oil into my beauty regimen. Here’s how.

SKIN: During summer I like to use Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as my moisturizer from head to toe. I especially love the way its natural fragrance incorporates with my body chemistry giving off a refreshingly sweet aroma. Not only does this amazing oil have the ability to absorb deep into skins surface. It also has the ability to naturally prevent burning from the sun. So using it as a moisturizer before applying sunscreen will actually give your skin extra protection against sun burn.

HAIR: Coconut oil has the ability to provide hair with moisture and shine. Not to mention it’s the number one ingredient most naturalistas and curlistas incorporate into their hair care regimen. I love to use it on my hair during summer for the fragrance. Of course it provides my hair with shine and moisture, however, I like to use a blend of EVCO (Extra Virgin Coconut Oil) and grape seed or almond oil to moisturize my scalp and ends.

How do you incorporate EVCO into your beauty regimen?

Hot oil Beauty Re-mix

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Hey Beauties,

It’s been FREEEEEZING in NYC this week. All week long I’ve been awaking to temps of 10 and 7 degrees! Those temps don't exactly make a girl want to jump out of bed in the morning. So needless to say I’ve been blasting the heat all week drying out my skin. This weekend I decided to give my skin the treat it needs. A hot oil treatment! Yes, you read it correctly, I gave my skin a hot oil treatment. Who says hot oil treatments are only for hair. In fact, I actually re-mixed this Beauty DIY with one of our products. Here’s how you can benefit from this special treatment.

As always my moisturizing process begins after a shower on moist skin.  It’s truly the best way to deeply moisturize because it penetrates beneath the skins surface and this is how you maintain all day moisture.

Before you go into the shower take your favorite oil ( this weekend I used a blend of  coconut oil and avocado oil) and place it into a heat safe container. Next, place the heat safe container into a hot water bath to allow the oil to warm. I usually take the oil in the hot water bath into the bathroom with me and have it heat up while I’m in the shower. After the shower I slightly blot my skin  making sure  to leave it moist.

Now, here’s where the fun begins. I would normally apply the hot oil treatment to my damp skin. But, this is how I re-mixed this beauty DIY. I first applied the hot oil treatment to my skin. Oh  my goodness!!  It  feels and smells amazing. After I applied the hot oil treatment I massaged our Cocoa Commotion Body Butter into my skin to provide an additional layer of moisture to my dry skin, as well as seal in moisture. My skin literally drinks in the moisture and I have luminous, glowing skin.

Want to give this Beauty DIY a try? Here’s what you will need.

·      Your favorite oil or blend of oils

·      Heat safe container

·      Hot water bath

If you give this beauty DIY a try stop by and let us know how it worked for you.

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Tumblr Tuesday

 

Hey Beauties it's Tumblr Tuesday stop by our Tumblr page and check out what's going on this week!

Spring Fling Beautiful Skin

Not only is Spring officially here but the weather has been a bit summerish and that makes me soooo happy! That's why I wanted to share my two staples for plump hydrated skin. This is actually part of my daily routine all year long, but, it's especially effective during the more humid days of spring and summer.

I feel like I've said this a million times on this blog, but, I have extremely dry skin!! So over the years through much trial and error I discovered what works for my skin. Here's what I do.

*First I apply olive oil to my damp skin in the shower
*Second I apply vegetable glycerine to damp skin as well in the shower
*Next, I apply one of our Nidasii body butters to seal in the moisture...at the moment I'm using Mango-go.

Double Duty Beauty: Moisturizing Hair Mask

It's official the Double Duty Beauty series is back! This week I show you how I create my own version of a moisturizing hair mask. This beauty recipe also works great when you incorporate it with your favorite conditioner, especially if you desire more of a detangling agent.

Ingredients
Plain Yogurt
1 Whole Avocado
1 or 2 Eggs
Olive Oil

Why Each Ingredient is Great For Your Hair

Yogurt - the natural probiotics found in will draw impurities from the hair & milk protiens will help strengthen the hair

Avocado - a rich in many vitamins like A, B6, C and K. But what makes avocados so great for the hair is the ability of their natural oils to penetrate the hair shaft and thoroughly moisturize hair.

Egg - Eggs contains proteins that strengthen hair and add moisture

Olive Oil - Contains fatty acids that are essential for nourishing hair with moisture

Beauty Recipe Remixx

If you desire more of an intensive deep conditioning treatment for your hair try mixing
one whole avocado or two hass avocados, with two egg yolks and olive oil. Apply this mixture to damp or wet hair and cover with a plastic cap for 30 minutes. When done you should have well moisturized coils.

What Do You Use in Your Hair?

Hey Beauties!! I hope your enjoyed the weekend. It's Monday and I have a new post to share I hope you enjoy it.

This weekend before heading to my nieces birthday party I met up with a few friends that are helping me plan a spring event. As I leaned into great each one with a hug they all said "uummm your hair smells good....is it coconut?" and I said yes. The thing that puzzled me was I have been putting coconut oil on my hair for a few years now when I wash or cowash and they just noticed the aroma? I think I must have gotten a little heavy handed when I applied it to my hair that day. In a rush to get out the house and my hair still damp I slathered the creamy coconut oil into my hair and let it drink up its oily juices while I pulled it back into a neat bun. It's no secret that I love, love, love coconut oil. So I wanted to share this video I found last year although its two years old.

Have a great day......20 more days to spring!!!

Kinky Curly Tip #4

Todays Kinky Curly Hair tip was supposed to be about protien. But, after yesterdays scenario, I'm going to switch gears and write a quick post about coconut oil. I hope you enjoy it.

Yesterday while I was out and about, OK I was really at the gas station filling up my tank and buying gum, when the woman standing behind me said "your wearing a lovely fragrance; it has a soft hint of coconut". At the moment I instantly became emabarrased because all I could think about were the days when my mom would braid and grease my hair then send me off to school with my entire head smelling like a jar of hair food!! Some of you reading this post know just what Im talking about. But, I remembered my manners and thanked the woman for her kind compliment. Little did she know that it was the EVCO ( Extra Virgin Coconut Oil). The night before I applied the EVCO to my hair and scalp with the intentions of washing it out the following morning. However, the following morning I was running a bit late so I pulled my hair into my favorite hairstyle....the pony tail....LOL...and proceeded with my day.

Here are 4 reasons why I use EVCO:

1. Hydrates hair and scalp
2. Defines my curls
3. Absorbs quickly into hair locking in nutrients
4. Excellent oil to use for Pre-poo (application of oils to hair & scalp before shampooing)


Is EVCO part of your haircare regimen? If so let me know. Do you hate it or love it?

My Eczema Trials & Tribulations

Well I got some really bad news from my dermatologist a few weeks ago. Here’s how it all started.

Back in early November I came down with a minor outbreak of my good ole eczema. Now, ever since my early teens every few years I will get what I call an eczema patch. Usually in the bend of my arm, back of my knees or somewhere on my thigh. When this happens I would normally cut out all the acid and dairy in my diet for about two weeks. For me that means no citrus juices, tomato sauces, ketchup, milk (Cow milk) and eggs. In the past if I stuck to this diet and applied my ointment concoction to the affected area I would be OK in no time. But, you got it, this time it was different. Instead of breaking out in one area I developed three patches that seemed to be getting worse instead of better. The affected areas became slightly inflamed and the itching intensified. So this when I broke down and decided to schedule an appointment with my dermatologist.

On the day of the appointment I got dressed and reluctantly headed out to the appointment. Don’t get me wrong I love my dermatologist. I visit her once a year for my annual skin cancer screening. But, I was convinced all she would do is pull out that prescription pad and start prescribing all kinds of topical steroids. But as I sat there in her office and explained the details of my most recent breakout, she of course opens my chart, jots down her notes, takes another look at my arm and looks back at me to say “ Nicole, it’s like I’ve told you before it’s the fragrances they are irritating your skin”.

Call me melodramatic or a drama mama, but, tears started to well up in my eyes. So of course I sat there quietly listening to her babble on. But in my mind I was fuming. I kept thinking to myself “what does she mean no more fragrances? Is she really serious? Does she not realize I am a scent-o-holic?” Everything I apply to my body (except for my face) has a fragrance. Wait a minute, let me re-phrase that everything in my life has a fragrance attached to it and that means everything from body creams right down to the air in my home. At this very moment the air in my home smells like a tropical fruit basket. As you walk from room to room your senses are greeted with aromas of mango, guava and papaya that pleasantly blend together.

But, getting back to my Doc. She knew that I would be reluctant to give up fragrances forever so she did recommend that I go the “fragrance free” route on my body creams, soaps and laundry detergents for at least a month. And she did prescribe a topical gel that is hydrocortisone in a base of aloe vera gel. I was extremely happy about that. Especially since the patches seemed to disappear within two days of using the gel. She also made it clear to me that when I experience these breakouts I must not only watch what I eat, but, stay away from all allergens or irritants to the skin.

I have to admit I am the worst patient when it comes to medication. I never filled the prescription for the medication. I only used the samples she gave me and miraculously I had enough to heal the irritated patches. I also tried going fragrance free with my body creams and soaps for about a week. However, since I make all of my body care products I just replaced the fragrance oils with citrus essential oils. In case your wondering why citrus? It’s because my skin is sensitive to floral and some herbal based essential oils. Most of my products contain a blend of fragrance and essential oils. As for the laundry situation. I’ve been sticking to the fragrance free detergents, but, tonight I will perform my own little experiment on what I call “B Class” laundry (old Cathedral H.S. sweats, tees, pajamas….you get the picture) by adding my own blend of fragrance oils. I will let you know how it goes.!!!!

I hope my little episode has been helpful to anyone with eczema. What’s your story? In case you didn’t notice I had to shout out my High School, Catherdral in NYC. I saw one of my BF’s from high school over the weekend in DC!!!! All Catherdralites feel free to post your comments….LOL.

Nidasii Beauty Tip: Dry Winter Skin

I think every family has at least one out spoken relative. There are several members of my family that are quite out spoken. They often say what’s on their mind. Recently one of them asked, “Nikki, how come your skin is never dry anymore.” My kind response to this relative of mine was “what do you do after you come out of the shower? Do you apply lotion or some kind or moisturizer to your skin right away?” She said no. So I let her know what the remedy was for my dry winter skin.

It takes three levels of moisture to relieve my dry skin and keep it hydrated for most of the day. Here are the steps for relieving my dry winter skin.

1. Do not take long hot showers. The hot water is very drying to the skin and it will only help to dehydrate the skin further. This is the first step, but, I must let you know that although this true I never follow this step. I always spend waaaay to much time in the shower so to compensate for this I use moisturizing soaps like handmade soaps or Sugar Rush because they do not contain the detergents that most commercial soaps do that will strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture.

2. When I come out of the shower I quickly blot my skin dry. Then apply an oil to my skin. Most of the time I use Jojoba oil, but, I also use olive or avocado oils. They work just as well.

3. After my skin slightly absorbs the oil, for me this is immediately. I apply a rich cream or lotion to my skin. At the moment I use a formulation that I am testing, it seems to work really well for my skin. However, before I started developing my own creams and lotions the Product Junkie, remember that’s me, would use a drug store brand cream designed for dry skin and mix it with a dab of glycerin. This was like heaven for my skin because when I applied the cream and glycerin mixture to my skin it feels and looks totally hydrated and smooth!!!

4. Next, I seal in the moisture by applying shea butter to my skin.

5. Bonus Tips:
•Exfoliating the skin at least once a week will not only help your skin retain moisture by sloughing away dry dead skin. It will also look brighter and healthier. It usually does for me.

•Sleeping with a humidifier on at night can also help to alleviate dry skin. The key to hydrating dry thirsty skin is to moisturize as soon as you exit the shower.

The key to keeping dry thirsty skin hydrated is to moisturize as soon as you exit the shower. I know this regimen is not for everyone. But, what can I say. I can’t stand dry skin and this regimen works for me. Does it work for you? Do you have a regimen for dry winter skin?