The Science of Survival: The Prickly Pear Cactus and Its Healing Beauty Benefits

 

Timeless Beauty Rituals That Still Inspire Us Today

 

The Beauty of the Ritual

 

Dewy Skin, Simplified: Your 4-Night Skin Cycling Routine with Glow Recipe

 

Sunscreen: The Beauty Secret You’re Probably Skipping

 

If I had to reveal just one beauty secret, the kind that’s made the biggest difference in my skin’s texture, clarity, and glow, it would be this: wearing sunscreen daily! And yes, I mean every. single. day. Rain or shine, indoors or outside, sunscreen is the real MVP in my skincare routine. Also let´s let go of the old timey thinking that because you’re a person of color, you don’t need sunscreen, that myth has been debunked!

Glow Getter

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

The beginning of the year has a way with reminding us to reset and refresh. This time of year can be invigorating—a time when you think anything is possible and you have some momentum and inspiration to really go for it. As you focus on big goals like maybe finishing a new passion project, learning a new language or discovering a new hobby, there is something you can do to face this fresh new perspective with a little extra pizzazz, get a fresh new face (by boosting the one you already have that is)! After all you have to put your best face forward. Just like makeup, a good skincare routine can enhance your features and best part is you can integrate glowing additions without having to go to a spa or break your budget.

Mothers

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti 

It hasn't been until recently that I started realizing how important family is. For me as a woman of South American descent, most of my family unfortunately do not live in the same country. As a kid I always wondered why my family's reunions were always so small and then going to friends' family reunions were such a big difference. Growing up in the Dominican culture taught me a lot, especially about mothers. As I've grown older, I've come to understand my mother so much more and vice versa. The way a family grows stronger with time, it is a beautiful way of blooming. My mother is inevitably getting older, even though her spirit is so young that she may seem not much older than myself! I know time flies and I want to make the most of the time that I have with her, she is in fact, my favorite person. And I owe so much of who I am to her. As an adult, I want to give her everything. Even more than what she has given me. Because she definitely deserves it. My family life is a unique experience, and I feel blessed to say that it is mine.

Spring Cleaning

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Winter is finally looking like it's coming to an end, the days are longer, the layers are lighter and i'm sneezing a little bit more! With the dawn of the new spring season comes the daunting task to 'spring clean' and not just your wardrobe but also skin/ hair routine. As a naturally kinky/ coily haired woman, switching up my routine can be quite overwhelming because you don't quite know what to expect since naturally textured hair can have a mind of it's own! Honestly, having coily hair is a lot of work, not even going to lie! Additionally, the fact that people tend to take women of color less seriously when their hair isn’t "maintained" and there you have a nice cocktail of social, societal, and personal pressures to look "decent" at all times. Even today, in 2019, hair is still constantly politicized, which is ridiculous to say the least, but at the same time, we don’t really have a choice but to take good care of our hair because of how different it is. Hair routines are a big part of being a WOC since our hair is part of our identity. You have to take care of your waves, kinks, and curls. And adjusting your hair care routine for the season is just as equally important. This season I'm taking it a bit further by trying to stick to all natural products for my hair, for which i'm secretly telling myself, "Buckle up, cuz this venture is going to be a long ride!"

Keeping Up With Health Through Winter

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Despite the coming joys of the Holiday season, there is still plenty to be weary of this winter.
Cold weather provides a whole new set of obstacles for our health and can wreak havoc on our
bodies. However, with the right preparation, you can show winter who’s boss! Below are some
of my favorite tips to ensure your mind and body are in their best possible
state to combat the harsh elements.

A Menu For Your Skin

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Most of us know, to have a flawless complexion we need to have a skincare regimen for day and night. For me, it's essential to have a regimented routine especially because many of my family members suffer from adult acne. Sometimes we get lazy and use a makeup wipe or a facial wash without correctly removing the makeup from our skin, been there- done that! Sorry ladies and gents, but in order to have firm and glowing skin we need a little more than a wipe. Here is a menu of skincare needs to incorporate into our day and night skincare routine especially now that that the weather is getting significantly cooler!

Everyday Makeup Routine

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

When it comes to routines, we tend to stick with what we know. From the choice of morning food choices to how we pick out our clothing options for the day, it's as if everything is a some how predetermined. It would be an understatement to say that I like makeup, not a makeup professional in the least but I genuinely enjoy it. One of my favorite ways to do my makeup is via the "No Makeup, Makeup" look, which is a bit of an oxymoron moron! 

Beauty Bit, Daytime Skincare

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Routines are ever changing, especially when it comes to skincare. Young women and men are always seeking to find that holy grail product that they can't live without, I myself am always on the look out. While I may have a few haircare and makeup products that I absolutely can't live without, my skincare regime changes as often as the season does. Skin is finicky and subject to change without a days notice which is why I'm always having to adjust. My skin, especially during the summer months tends to be on the oilier side which means I have to work on controlling that before anything else. You can't have "poppin" makeup with bad skin so check out what I do to keep the skin at bay.

Beauty Bit, Micellar Waters

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

I've read many beauty articles that claim French women have the best skincare, i've always wondered why that is? Could it be their effortlessly simple makeup routine, or their natural glow from within, dew? I've actually learned recently that their secret weapon of choice is micellar water, this magical water is a skincare game changer and I knew I had to try it out for myself!

Beauty Bit, Bold Weekend Look

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

When it comes to doing your makeup, Monday through Friday is pretty bare and minimal. Going to work means looking like a "normal" human being that can function in the world. If you were to discover a new beauty trend throughout the week that would mean holding off on it until the weekend. For example when Fenty Beauty dropped (Tuesday), unicorn eyebrows, contouring, glitter eyeliner, moody lips, as lovely as all of these trends are, all are unfortunately inappropriate for the office. As soon as 5pm on Friday hits, it's game on with my makeup. All rules are broken and no beauty trend is off limits! I've been using a lot of It Cosmetics products, so naturally I like to play around with my looks utilizing their products.

Beauty Bit, Fall Skin Redo

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

As the season changes, so does my wardrobe and as my wardrobe changes with the seasons, so does my skin care routine. Colder weather means drier skin, or at least for me it does! With that said, I have to make sure to keep my skin looking and feeling dewy. One of the best ways I work on achieving that goal is by keeping my routine hands free, or mostly hands free which means having an arsenal of brushes and sponges around to keep my face from picking up any unwanted extra oils. When it comes to my makeup routine it's makeup brushes galore (more on that soon!) but for washing my face one face towel just wasn't enough. That's where the Clarisonic Mia 1 comes in!

Beauty Bit, Autumn Rotation

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Let's be honest, perfect skin is a myth! With everything that we do to try to achieve that perfect glowing, smooth, pore less complexion how can there actually be perfection? For my skin I definitely go through a process. From different types of exfoliators to moisturizers and brushes, don't even get me started on how many different kinds of primers and serums I have, whole other blog post! If ever there were a perfect time to figure out your skincare routine, it would be at the start of a new season! Here's a look at what I've added to my rotation....

How To Fake The Wake

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Admit it, you're busy. It's ok to come to that realization, we all have things to do and things we want to accomplish. Mornings are tough, from avoiding the snooze button to making sure you look somewhat well groomed, you also need to make sure you get out the door on time! Incessant Netflix Originals and Hulu Show marathons, to demanding deadlines and passion projects, it's easy to understand why morning feel like a necessary evil. Unfortunately sleeping starts to feel like a thing of the past as you get older, like an elusive product of a special club that you're not a member of. I do my best to get as much REM sleep in but alas, life gets in the way. Time is precious and that's why I've figured out how to mask the sleeplessness because no one likes to hear, "You look tired!" Here's how I wakey- wakey....

Coco- Loco

Illustrations by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

It's pretty wild to think that just a few years ago the term "eco" for beauty products was considered just a fad. Now, I can't think of one friend that isn't on the natural bandwagon! Green and eco conscious beauty is having a major moment, because no one wants to apply toxins to their bodies. Everyone is smartening up to the natural brands because by supporting them, they're also supporting the environment. What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by using those goods that provide radiant results without harming the environment or your health. I've switched up my beauty routine to include Promise Organics to give me Earth Day ready results!

Beauty Bit, Night Shift

Illustrated By Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Every winter, without skipping a beat, my skin loses all traces of moisture and hydration. The chilly winter air is harsh and drying on my complexion, with the results of this being tight skin, itching, and dry, flaky patches that are anything but glamorous! As soon as my skin starts to react to the cold weather, I switch up my routine to put the focus on infusing my skin with ultimate moisture and soothing my skin. The most important time of the day for your beauty revival is at night, that's when I make sure to do the most for my routine because when we sleep it allows the vitamins, minerals and all the good stuff to do it's job. Here's a look at what's currently in my arsenal to battle old man Winter this season....

Drink Yourself To Great Skin

Illustrated by Jacqueline Davis Moranti

Most people know that drinking water is the best way to heal your mind, body and soul. Water is essential to life, even our bodies are made up of 70% water and the earth is also mostly a large body of water. Did you also know that drinking more water can also help you with your skin? I tend to drink the amount needed everyday, at least a gallon of water to keep the doctor away! As easy as it is for me to just drink straight up room temperature water, I know that not many of my friends or family can do the same. A lot of my friends tell me that drinking water gets boring and then get tempted to drink a caffeinated beverage. While most dermatologists and doctors, like Dr. Christoper Calapai D.O. the anti aging expert and long time health advisor to the New York Rangers hockey team, preach the benefits of drinking more water it might be much more exciting to reach for something else, fortunately I tried some healthy and delicious water recipes to help remind you of just how delicious water really is!