Looking Forward to the New Year

 

Hey Beauties! I can't believe that 2012 is actually coming to an end. I feel like this year flew by at lightning speed. I know, personally for me  I will never forget 2012 I experienced great highs and tragic lows. This year my family lost several significant family members, however, we topped off the year on a positive note with the birth of my niece December 23, 2012. Two days before Christmas she has been our greatest gift this year!

Looking ahead to the New Year we are super excited about the new products, services and slight tweaks to our over all look. Not to mention the Beauty Lounge that's currently under construction. Then this spring we introduce our first ever spokes beauty that will represent our brand! We have a lot on our plate this year and we can't wait to take it on.

Beauties I wish you all an abundant and successful new year!

XOXO...Nicole

Nidasii Check In

Hey Beauties... I know we have been M.I.A. lately, but, it's a for a great reason there are so many positive things happening for Nidasii right now. We're expanding and growing. In late January early February we will be in our newly renovated manufacturing studio and beauty lounge. I'm so excited about the beauty lounge because we will offer all kinds of custom beauty treatments especially for our Beauties. Can't wait for that!! But the holidays are here and we will be posting tons of informative beauty posts as well as a few behind the scenes look into our renovation process on our new space. So be sure to keep an eye out for all the great new content on here on our blog.

Nidasii Holiday Beauty Concierge

Hey Beauties! Our Beauty Concierge service is back for the holiday season. This year our Holiday Beauty Concierge service will be available  Monday December 3, 2012 to Saturday December 22, 2012 to satisfy all your Nidasii Beauty needs.

To learn more about our Beauty Concierge service visit our official page.

Nidasii Is Giving It Away

Hey Beauties,

Sandy has put our Beauties on the east coast through a lot this week. Even all of us here at Nidasii went through the storm, however, we did not experience the level of devastation our Beauties in lower Manhattan, Long Island and New Jersey have. This week as most of us begin to put the pieces of our lives back together we want to start the week off with a giveaway for our east coast Beauties.

Be sure to stay tuned to our Facebook page for details.

This special giveaway is for our Beauties in NY, NJ, CT, PA, MD, VA

Nidasii Spa: Papaya & Banana D.I.Y Mask

 

Hey Beauties! It's been a while but we're back with another D.I.Y. beauty recipe. I love do it your self beauty recipes because there's no exact science to them and you can tweak them to your specific skin needs. Today's beauty recipe is a Papaya & Banana mask that can be re-mixed into a body scrub. But, we'll talk more about that in our beauty remix section below.

Here are the ingredients needed for today's beauty mask:

1/2  Ripe Papaya
1 Whole Banana
1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Blender

Take a spoon and scoop out the seeds from the center of the papaya and place them on a paper towel to dry. I'll tell what to do with those in our beauty remix below.  Next, take a spoon and begin to scoop out the the flesh of the papaya into the blender. Next, place the peeled banana into the blender and begin to blend until you achieve a pureed consistency. Next, add 1/4 of a cup or 4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to the papaya & banana puree and blend for 2 minutes. The heavy whipping cream will help thicken the mixture allowing for a better application. Plus the lactic acid in the cream is a natural exfoliant. When done apply the mixture to face and relax for twenty minutes to let all the natural nutrients absorb into the skin. Be sure to place the remaining mixture in an air tight container and store in the refrigerator. I can usually get three applications from this recipe. This recipe also will last up to one week if stored in the refrigerator.

Beauty Benefits of This Mask:

This mask exfoliates, moisturizes and provides the skin with essential minerals and antioxidants.

The papapya contains papain an enzyme that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and natural exfoliant that has the ability to melt away the outer most layer of dead dry skin. Because the ezyme papain has anti-inflammatory properties its ideal for acne prone skin types.

In this beauty recipe the banana acts as a natural moisturizer with a host of essential vitamins and minerals.

The heavy whipping cream has many functions in this beauty recipe. It serves as an emulsifier, thickening the papaya & banana mixture allowing for a rich, decadent application. The lactic acid in the cream also provides gentle exfoliation. And, last, but certainly not the least, it provides tons and tons of moisture.

Papaya Beauty Re-mix:

Earlier in this post I told you I would get back to you  on what to do with the papaya seeds I instructed you to place on a paper towel to dry. So, here it is!

Now that the seeds are dry. I need you to crush them. This can be done a number of ways. You can use a rolling pin to roll over them a few times for a rough chop consistency, coffee grinder or mini chopper....you get the idea. Next pour the crushed seeds into the papaya and banana mixture and mix well. I like to pour them into what's left after I apply my facial mask. This makes the most awesome body scrub that will leave your skin looking, feeling & smelling AMAZING!!!

Be sure to look out for more papaya goodness in part II of this post Wednesday!

Amazing BOGO Wednesday Offer

 Hey Beauties! Today when you purchase a Mango-go or Cocoa Commotion Body Butter at our online store you will receive a FREE FULL SIZE (8 oz.) jar of Sugar Rush Scrub. That's a savings of $20.00!!

Be sure to shop early there are a limited number of Sugar Rush Scrubs. Offer ends today September 19, 2012 at 11:59 PM EST.

Perfect Image of Nidasii Beauties

When I saw these two images posted on my Tumblr dashboard  I had to write this post because they instantly reminded me of our Beauties. Nidasii Beauties are naturally chic, expressive, always on the go, efficient multi-taskers and most of all they love wearing pieces & colors that reflect their inner beauty.

Back To Campus

Hey Beauties! It’s that time again. Either you’re a Beauty heading back to college or you know a Beauty who is. This week we have a special back to campus edition for our Beauties heading off to college. We know our collegiate Beauties are stocking up on all the fav’s they won’t be able to get while away at school.

Stock up on all your favorite body butters and scrubs when you shop online.

Come Out & Join Us!

Hey Beauties! Come out and join us Saturday August 18th, 2012 at the Hester Street Fair. We will be there 11AM - 6PM. This weekend we have great sales on your favorites body butters and scrubs. So be sure to stop by if your in the neighborhood we would love to meet you!

Beautiful Beach Skin

Hi  Beauties there were so many challenges trying to record this video. We were supposed to record outside, but, the thunder and lightening made us have a change of heart...especially the lightning! So we came in doors to record this weeks video regarding the three items you should have in your beach bag to maintain Beautiful Beach Skin. I hope you enjoy todays video and as always please leave your comments below.

Tumblr Tuesday: Curlista Edition

Hey Beauties every Tuesday is "Tumblr Tuesday" here on our blog. Each week we give you a peek at what we're currently posting on our Tumblr page. This week it's all about natural hair.

Nail It...Pics From Our Pinterest Board

Hey Beauties here are a few of my favorite nail designs posted on our Pinterest board Nail it.  I'm so in love with all the cute and trendy nail designs. Did you know nails/nail art is now the fastest growing sector in the world of beauty? Everyone seems to be hooked and it's not hard to see why. We would love you to stop by and join our board.

Source: nails-art.fr via Nidasii on Pinterest

Source: pshiiit.com via Nidasii on Pinterest

Source: pshiiit.com via Nidasii on Pinterest

Source: tumblr.com via Nidasii on Pinterest

Source: ocean-blooms.tumblr.com via Nidasii on Pinterest

Nidasii Update

Hey Beauties, we're back! We know its been a while since we posted our last video, but, there's so much going on here at Nidasii and we can't wait to share it all with you. We plan to post vlogs, behind the scenes footage as we prepare for events, more Double Duty Beauty videos and tons more. Look out for a new video every Friday. So leave us a comment and let us know what you think.

Tumblr Tuesday

 

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

Nidasii Beauty Tip: It's Summer & I ❤ It Skin

I have gone on record numerous times already proclaiming my love of the hazy, hot & humid days of SUMMER! Generally from May through mid September you can find me sneaking in every way possible to enjoy the beautiful warm weather outdoors. Don't be surprised if you see me lunching at an outdoor cafe in Harlem or Soho, jogging along the Hudson river taking in the beautiful view or meeting up with one of my besties for a stroll through her D.U.M.B.O. neighborhood. But, if you're like me and you become a bit more outdoorsy than usual your going to want to your skin to look and feel it's best! Here are a few tips.

EXFOLIATE

Are you really surprised by this one? If you want your skin to glow this summer your going to have to get rid of last seasons dull, dead skin. In order to do that you MUST exfoliate. Exfoliating removes dead skin found at the surface of our skin. When the dead skin has been removed the younger, vibrant skin beneath is revealed giving you an instant summer glow. Be sure to exfoliate from head to toe once or twice a week to keep that summer glow! Nidasii Beauties love Mango-go & Coconut Punch Sugar Rush during summer months.

SUNSCREEN

Now that you have exfoliated from head to toe you need to protect your precious glowing skin from harmful UV (ultra violet) rays so be sure to apply and re-apply your SPF several times a day. I believe, no matter how dark or light you are we all should use an SPF of 50 especially during summer. And, ladies I know most facial moisturizers on the market don't seem to have an SPF higher than 30. During summer we are exposed to the suns rays for a longer period of time  so it's extremely critical we make sure our faces are protected by using a sunscreen with a SPF of 50. If your facial moisturizer is not available in an SPF of 50  I recommend using a sunscreen that may not be designed specifically for your face and dabbing it lightly onto your face. You don't have to be as heavy handed with it as you would all over your body if your concerned about it feeling too heavy on your face. I also recommend using a sweat proof formula......trust me on this one. As the tag line to this blogs states "I'm a Product Junkie" & I've tried it enough times to know if you don't use a sweat proof formula as the day goes on and your skin becomes a tad oilier it can get into your eyes. If you have sensitive eyes like me lets just say it's something you don't want to experience if you don't have too. To avoid this you can apply a pressed powder to keep your face oil free. Pressed powders are translucent so if your going Au Natural it won't leave your skin with an ashy cast. Before I end my rant on SPF I want all of you to make sure your using a broad spectrum SPF that says it protects against both UVA and UVB rays. If an SPF lotion is marked as "Broad Spectrum" it MUST also indicate that it protects against UVA and UVB rays. It's not broad spectrum if it doesn't.

MOISTURIZE

Now that you've exfoliated and protected your skin it's time to moisturize! I know we all have our preferences about our body moisturizers during summer months. Some like to use creamier shea butter based creams & butters while others opt for something lighter. No matter what your preference be sure to keep your skin moisturized because the sun can also be drying to skin especially in less humid regions.

HYDRATE

Last, but definitely not least. Be sure to drink plenty of water daily to keep your body hydrated. Dehydration is a major issue during summer months so it's extremely important we remain hydrated. It beautifies from the inside out.

Beauty Benefits of Oatmeal

Beauties I ❤❤❤ what oatmeal does for my skin. I use it almost daily to wash my face in the morning. Sometimes I use it alone by pouring some in my hand and placing my closed fist under running water. Then sometimes I mix it with my daily facial cleanser. I will tell you one thing since I made oatmeal a staple in my daily beauty regimen I've had no break outs! That's right NO break outs. And I can't forget to mention my skin tone has become more even. Not to mention that my skin appears and feels highly hydrated.

BEAUTY BENEFITS OF OATMEAL

1. Moisturizing - Oatmeal contains tons of healthy fats that naturally add moisture to skin
2. Saponin - is a soap like foam that oatmeal forms when it makes contact with water or any other aqueous solution. It acts as a natural cleanser. (Take a look at the photo attached)
3. Pore Cleanser - The saponins found in oatmeal gently remove oil and dirt from pores

DID YOU KNOW

The proteins found in oatmeal form a natural barrier when applied to skin. That means it keeps all the pollutants and free radicals out. By forming this barrier it helps skin retain the natural oils it produces. Which results in moisturized skin.

OATMEAL BATH SOAK

Did you know you can create your own oatmeal bath soak by grinding oatmeal into a fine powder and pouring it into your bath water. This is an all around must for all skin types, however, it's ideal for anyone suffering from eczema, like I have as a child, or any skin irritations. Oatmeal is naturally calming for all skin types because of it's anti inflammatory properties.

BEAUTY REMIX RECIPE:

1. Grind oatmeal to fine powder in a food processor or coffee grinder
2. Pour oatmeal powder into a glass container or bowl
3. Add honey to the oatmeal powder & mix until both honey & oatmeal powder are combined
4. You can add a bit of warm water if it becomes too thick for your liking
5. Next apply to damp or wet skin

This recipe can be used on both face and body. If you want to create an exfoliating paste try mixing in a few whole pieces of oatmeal to this paste for the best soothing & calming treatment for your skin.

10 Healthy Summer Hair Tips

CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION
 Conditioning hair during summer months is critical because it not only keeps the hair moisturized it also acts as a barrier against the drying effects of sweat, salt water & chlorine.

GO SULFATE FREE Sulfates are detergents found in some shampoos that not only strip hair of dirt and debris they also strip hair of its natural oils. When shampooing hair this summer opt for a sulfate free shampoo. It won't leave your hair feeling stripped, dry or crunchy. Then follow up with a nourishing & hydrating conditioner.

KEEP HEAT AWAY FROM HAIR Summer is the best time to embrace your natural hair texture. For starters, there are the wash and go styles and twist outs. Not to mention...FREEDOM...you don't have to run for cover at the first hint of rain. When you keep heat away from hair it always appears healthy & shiny because its retaining moisture. So even on those days when you throw on a head band and decide to let your hair do its own thing its going to look cute because your curly coils will be defined and shiny.

USE NATURAL OILS Now this is more of a DIY tip, but, you know I'm the queen of beauty DIY's. This summer I encourage you to create hair masks by adding a few drops of nourishing oils like avocado, macadamia or olive oil to your regular conditioner. With most conditioners this will create a slightly creamier texture making it an ideal leave in conditioner.

MASK YOUR HAIR BEFORE A WORK OUT Since summer has unofficially started many of us are working hard to keep our bodies tight and toned. Even more of us are working out doors exposing our hair to the drying effects of sun and sweat. Even worse, this drying combination can lead to unwanted breakage. Protecting hair with a mask like the one mentioned above in step 5 will help you avoid this. This tip is especially useful if your gym has a steam room. Sitting in the steam room for at least 10 minutes after a workout will not only do wonders for your muscles it will do wonders for your hair! If you give it a try be sure to use a plastic cap. Your going to love the end result!!

AIR DRY This summer refuse the temptation to use your diffuser or hair dryer. Instead, air dry your hair. After you shower wrap an old t-shirt or towel around your hair to absorb excess moisture. Then remove and allow your hair to air dry. This is ideal for those wash and go days.

LOAD UP ON WATER & PROTEIN Believe it or not everything we ingest orally eventually makes it's way to our hair. Drinking plenty of water will not only plump our hair with moisture it will also transport vital minerals and nutrients to our hair shaft. Eating healthy proteins such as eggs and fish are a great way to strengthen hair from the inside out.

 USE NIGHT TIME PROTECTION At night be sure to protect natural hair by styling it in protective twists or up do's, moisturizing ends and covering with a satin scarf or bonnet. This will keep your hair tangle free allowing you to retain length and prevent breakage.

SEAL IT After hydrating hair with a bit of water and applying a cream or oil to add moisture be sure to use castor oil or shea butter to seal ends. Our mango-go whipped body butter is our favorite summer time hair sealant. We know that's a shameless plug be we couldn't help it!

 DUST ENDS If your unfamiliar with dusting it's when such a small amount of hair is cut it actually looks like dust. Many naturalistas do this to help maintain length by removing only strands with
broken ends.

Peace of Mind

I was listening to Mary J. Blige- “No more drama” the other day. Towards the end of the song, I heard her say “I need a peace of mind”. That statement caught my attention and got me thinking. I came to the conclusion instead of needing, I will take it a step further and figure out what I can do, to bring about this peace for myself. First I came up with going on a vacation. However, I am balling on a budget so I thought even deeper. Then I realized the sound of rain, calms me. The noise is so beautiful; it could put me to sleep. Time stops whenever I pray and I am happy and stress free. Listening to music helps me to keep moving and it relaxes me. Lastly when I play the piano, it brings about my focus. The only thing I’m concerned about is hitting the right keys. All these little things, give me serenity. What do you do to clear your mind? The stress of today and the worries of tomorrow are overwhelming. Since our mind is where everything starts, we have to make sure it’s clutter free. It’ll make everything in life so much better. Therefore the Queen’s advice is: turn off the cell phones and other distractions, lie down, and/or sit down & seriously think of only you. I know this must sound absurd right?! For just fifteen minutes, figure out what makes you happy. If you aren’t sure what makes you calm, think about what you do that makes you feel invincible... What makes you have a peace of mind? Then like Nike, just do it!! Have a happy Tuesday! & Leave comments/tips on what you did or will do, to escape ☺ By: Queen S. Ofori

WELCOME!

Hey Beauties! Please help me welcome our newest team member Queen Ofori. She's going to post for us here on our blog from time to time. Please stop by and show her some love by leaving her your comments.

Beauty Concierge Launching Soon

In a few days we're going to launch our Beauty Concierge Service. Be sure to tune into our FaceBook page for the exclusive details.

MAY FLASH GIVEAWAY'S

Mani Monday: Protect Your Hands

Hey Beauties, I know we all love our mani’s. I know I sure do. But, last week when I went for my bi-weekly mani I had a major revelation while waiting for my nails to dry. I noticed my normal nail boutique swapped out their traditional nail dryers for individual UV nail dryers. I immediately thought of the major health risk the UV lights imposed on our skin. As we all know UV (ultra violet) rays has been known to cause skin cancer, skin damage and premature aging just to name a few. So Beauties if your regular nail boutique currently uses individual UV nail dryers you can do one of two things. You can turn off the UV lights and let the cool air blow since most offer this option or you can be sure to use an SPF 30 or higher to protect your hands from the harmful rays.

Today's Extended Sale...Body Butters

Great news Beauties! Our Earth Day Sale has been extended for another day. You have until midnight tonight to order your favorite Nidasii body butters. Our body butters can be used to moisturize skin, as a hydrating hair styling aid and our Cocoa Commotion body butter is ideal for spot treating minor scrapes & bruises due to it's high content of organic cocoa butter! All Body Butters purchased at our website are $15 until midnight....normally $25. Great time to stock up & save! http://www.nidasii.com/index.php?pr=Body_Butters

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.

Who's Pinning?

It's no secret that I'm completely in love with nail art! All of the creative designs amaze me. Makes me wish I didn't have itty bitty nail beds because I would be all over these amazing designs. What I love so much about this current nail art movement is that some of the designs are very subtle & can be worn in a fashion forward work environment what do you think. Here are some of the designs we posted to our pinterest board. Are you pinning?

It's Spring Again

Hey Beauties! Spring is finally here and you know that makes me HAPPY. Since I'm in a happy mood wanted to share a video that always makes me laugh....my little sister may call this an old video, but, I prefer vintage...LOL. Let us know if this video made you laugh in the comments below.

Biz Markie has a way of always making me laugh!

My Look Of The Day

Winter Day Out & About by nidasii featuring crystal earrings

Theyskens theory wool cardigan
$255 - stylebop.com

Marc by Marc Jacobs disco shirt
$220 - stylebop.com

Jane Norman white winter coat
£50 - janenorman.co.uk

Miss Selfridge skinny leg jeans
£36 - missselfridge.com

ASOS suede wedge boots
$70 - asos.com

Michael Kors leather handbag
$895 - net-a-porter.com

Mango oversized ring
£11 - mango.com

Marni string jewelry
$153 - thecorner.com

Roberta Chiarella crystal earrings
$68 - maxandchloe.com

PASHMINA ART cashmere scarve
€41 - pret-a-beaute.com

I've been told that, although, I loooove color during winter I retreat to my typical New Yorker ways wearing blacks, browns & greys with pops of color. After looking at this style board they put together they're right because this is exactly what I would wear on any given day running errands around the city....Only thing is the bag could have been bigger. I'm a short girl but I always have a BIG bag!

What's your look of the day?

How Ironic

When you get to be my age and you haven't popped out at least one kid everyone wants to know what your waiting for...that can be answered in several blog posts, But, I will digress for the moment. Actually, a few weeks ago someone asked what kind of mom would I want to be? My exact words were "I want to be a mogul mom.....like Kimora just not as outspoken....OK...I really said loud. She oversees several businesses all while raising her family. Not to mention her daughter Aoki reminds me soooo much of my oldest niece. Then while searching for a clip of Kimora's show for this post I discovered this interview from the early 90's & guess what I discovered....we have the same last name....at least her maiden name.....how ironic!

Winter Nails Regimen

First I let my nails soak in warm water with a few drops of tea tree & lemon essential oils to soften my dry cuticles. Then I gently pushed them back before letting them soak in EVOO that I heated in the microwave for 5 to 7 seconds. You want the oil to be warm enough to comfortably let your nails soak for as long as you desire. I love doing this because I feel like I'm making my nails smile. My nails break very easy during the winter so soaking them in EVOO seems to keep the dryness & brittleness at bay. Now, we don't want anything to go to waste so add salt, sugar or cornmeal to the excess oil to create a scrub for your hands. When your done soaking your nails in the oil massage the scrub onto your hands. If your nails are a little too oily try adding a dime size amount of a mild hand soap while scrubbing your hands. I think your hands will thank you in the end!!