Tuesday 12 August 2014

Lips, hips and fingertips: Natural skincare talk 101- Read and shop.



Clear skin via mother nature

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

I'm two years into a foundation ban and all the pictures above were taken with varying amounts of makeup on including top right and left where I have nothing but eyebrows on. The top middle is a fully delivered facebeat with no mercy and again foundation free. I must say my pictures (the bottom three being shameless selfies) thrive on good lighting, I took notes from Tyra Banks about finding you light honey yasss! Even in my professional shoots I make sure I'm flatteringly positioned with the light. This may enhance the appearance of these photos and my skin however the fact remains, good natural skin care gives you something to work with. 

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

Over the last year and half to two years I've been on so many medications, I've had so many drugs intravenously administered from anesthetics to blood dyes and in pill and liquid form. It has his definitely left a mark on my body internally and externally ranging from horrific hair loss to dry skin. I remember my days of having oxygen masks to aid breathing and Entonox mouthpieces for pain relief having the driest most sore lips. It didn't help that I was mostly unwell during the winter months when anyone is fair game for dry and chapped lips. I would always have vitamin e oil and it worked miracles on my sore lips.

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

I whipped this cream up for myself a few months ago during spring time when winter had left an indelible dryness in my skin and I've been since been inching closer  and closer to baby butt smoothness ever since. Since its made from oils it can make your skin/makeup get oily quickly so I've reserved it to only be used at night time when it can permeate through and moisturize my skin as I sleep! This is after I either wash my face with natural black soap or do a natural facial. Its simply made from coconut oilshea butterwitch hazel watervitamin e oil and the only non oil component to cut through the oils- tea tree toner! I literally just measured it by eye based on what I needed, most probably a tablespoon of each product and then a bit more toner to make it less stodgy. I whisked everything with the tail end of a comb till it was white and whipped and then transferred the mixture into my old shea butter container. I'm still using it in August since May because I only have to use the smallest amount at a time and it does the trick! 


My 7 Natural Tips For Good Skin: 

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

Water is known to be one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle, a water filter jug is one of the least expensive ways to make it even safer and beneficial. The recommended amount is widely known and its 2l but my cardiologist advised me to drink up to 3 litres when its very hot and I'm doing anything physically demanding so I don't get dehydrated. I'm also an avid water infuser I even did a blog post about it! Check it out  on my food blog.

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

The idea of dead skin is not the most pleasant nor is the way it feels and how it clogs up your pores causing blackheads and such. I've found most exfoliators for women to be too fine for the kind of deep cleanse I need for my skin. My mother and I started collecting beach sand when ever we go to the beach, bringing it back home and mixing with a facial wash for a good cleanse. The top jar has sand from the isle of white and the lighter coloured sand is from a beach in Cape Town South Africa.

WARNING *Wash your face in a bucket when using sand and then throw the sandy water outside because  IT CAN CLOG UP your sink/bath. 

My skin strives on these two astringents very much. First of all, I'm prone to blemishes and dark spots and I'm also naturally freckly with my two signature freckles on my bottom lip, it just gets too akin to polka dot for me! I rely on dabbing blemishes and with lemon juice over night and it even worked in fading an adult chickenpox mark on my forehead now I'm just left with a dent for my sorrows. 

Anyone who knows me knows my love affair with Dudu Osun black soap! I use it for my skin and hair and its been a faithful friend since I started using it. I guess my obsession with it lies in my quest for only using natural products on my skin. The ingredients for black soap arePure honey, Shea butter, Osun (Camwood), Palm kernel Oil, Cocoa pod ash, palm bunch ash, Aloe Vera, Lime Juice, Lemon Juice and Water. These are all natural and mostly organically grown in Africa. 

photo credit: Kymmiisha 

These two topical waters are amazing and effective if used individually but mixed together they make and amazing skin toner. Individually they boast many qualities including reducing inflammation, soothing sunburn and maintaining overall good skin health. 
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photo credit: Kymmiisha

Our skin has naturally occurring oils some good and some bad for our overall skin health and appearance. However in the process of washing and cleansing, using soaps and astringents we lose some of these oils and then there becomes a need to put oils back into our skin. If you select your oils well, you could cut out lotions and products that include parabens, fragrances and other potentially harmful ingredients. Here are some of the products I swear by and the links to them so you can try them out yourself: castor oilraw shea butter, coconut oil, and vitamin e oil. I've linked all the products to the retailers I get them from through amazon.com
photo credit: Kymmiisha 

You can really make some effective changes to your skin care regimen by implementing things that are already in your fridge and in your cupboards. I've used things like yogurt, honey and aloe vera as well as avocado for facials. 

Lemon is great for brightening up dark spots and eggs do much more than completing a fry up! Separated, eggs have unique qualities that are good for your skin. The egg white if whipped up a little bit (pictured above) applied to your skin and left to dry for up to twenty-thirty  minutes can rid your skin of all dirt and clear your pores. After washing the egg white off, apply the yolk which is rich in fats and proteins that moisturize your skin and leave it feeling soft after washing it off.


photo credit: Kymmiisha 

Last but not least, sleep! Sleep often, sleep long and sleep well! During the time I was unwell, in recovery and hospitalized I slept a LOT and I believe it contributed to my quick recovery. When we sleep our bodies produce new tissue, protein and rebuild cells that help our skin look good. I guess that's where the term beauty sleep comes from!! Happy sleeping beautiful people!




I hope you find this post helpful! Follow me on twitter and instagram- @kymmiisha and hashtag  #kymmiishadaily with any of your natural skin care tips and if you try and of the tips and like them!!

Lots of love and forehead kisses
Kymmiisha
XO

P.S.....you can start your natural skin care journey right here. Take your first step and substitute one of your usual product for something natural. Let me know how it goes!


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