Over my self created, partial Christmas break, my sister and I went to Houlihan’s. Like far too many restaurants, it was severely underlit, to the point that when a woman I’d went to high school with brought us our food, I didn’t realize she was someone I knew. She had to put us on blast before we realized who she was, “Ya’ll don’t recognize me?” I squinted and leaned in.

“Oh, Aeriel! How are you?” I reached my hand out to touch her arm and when I felt her skin, I could not let go. If this sounds like it’s about to turn into an sensual novel, please know that it’s not. I couldn’t let go of her arm because her skin, in the dead of winter, was newborn baby smooth. As I continued to stroke her arm, I had to ask “What do you use on your skin? It’s soo smooth!”

Source: Shutterstock.com

Olive Oil

Olive Oil was her secret. She said that she applies the regular cooking olive oil to her skin while she’s still in the shower and partially rinses it off before she steps out and dries off. As you may know from your excursions in the kitchen, olive oil can be a bit on the pricey side. Luckily though, when it comes to your skin a little goes a long way.

Source: Shutterstock.com

Even though I’m a winter baby, and my birthday is on the universal “Get Turnt Up” day (New Year’s Eve), something about the winter time is straight booty to me. The sky is the color of gruel, it’s cold, it’s rainy, it’s snowy, everyone is sick. Walkways must be salted. Ugly boots wit da fur must be worn to keep away frost bite. In short, winter is the worst.

A trip to Brazil last year may have corrupted my mind because before then I didn’t really know any better. I never thought about the fact that winter is not the same everywhere. While all my friends were freezing their fannies off in DC with snow storms, I was sipping mango juice out of a coconut and slathering my body with sunscreen.  After I came back my mind was completely blown by the beauty of the place, how everyone carried on like it was normal to be 81 degrees at Christmastime. Ever since then I’ve loathed even a hint of chilliness. Summer is my lover, winter is my foe, and so here are my laments against the coldest months of the year:

• Dry Skin is the name of the game – no amount of essential oils, shea butters, or Vaseline can keep me moist enough during the dry winter months. It’s like clockwork: put on protective layer of oil on all exposed skin, step outside, look like an ash zombie from “The Walking Dead.”  Not a good look, especially since I am trying to serve ‘Robin-Givens-in-Boomerang’ young professional realness.
• Dry Hair will have you looking like a Dr. Miracle commercial – See above. I have locs, so they tend to look dusty in the side-long glint of winter light.  And it takes too long and is too cold for my hair to dry when I wash them, so I don’t get to bake them in them in the sun like in the summertime. So no interesting hair dos, no bouncin’ and behavin’ locs. Just straightbacks that have me looking like Bob Marley.
• IT’S FRIGGIN’ COLD – I’ve lived in the bitter heart of cold country – Pittsburgh, so I know what that snow shoveling life is about. Who wants to go outside when it’s colder than a witch tit? Not moi. And it takes longer to get around. And your car needs servicing. And heat and gas bills. Bleh
• Post Holiday Blues – After the joy of the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays have passed, there are really no breaks until the beginning of spring (with the exception of MLK Jr. Weekend). People are usually bunkered down after the new year, trying to pay off those credit card bills that financed Christmas and batten down the hatches against blizzards. Miss me with allllll of that.
• The clothes are atrocious – in the wintertime the imperative becomes survival and warmth over supple and sexay.  So nobody can tell that underneath that bubble goose down and hiking boots is a beautiful bombshell. Dressing for holiday parties are a hassle too, because unless you have a floor length mink coat to cover your teeny weeny New Year’s Eve dress, your timbers will be shivered from the time you step out of your car until the time you get into the party. No bueno.

The only positive thing I can think to say about winter time is that it gives the earth (and people) a time to rest from the constant growth of spring, summer and fall. That’s poetic. But if it was up to me, I’d take all of the sunshine/light clothing/sweet drinks/heat of summertime over the cold of winter any day.

Source: cultureoushock.wordpress.com

If you’re like me, I’m sure you spend a good minute every day, post-shower, moisturizing your skin up and down so that ash is not the first thing people can see when you walk in the building. As great as all those lotions and butters are, putting them on in the heat is not as fun as I would like it to be. But I’ve found that if you don’t have all that extra time to waste, a scrub is a great replacement for the greases and lotions. They exfoliate, make your skin supple and can give it a great shine (not to mention, it can do wonders for some hard feet!). Here’s a few we would recommend for these upcoming steaming days and nights.

Shea Moisture’s Organic Olive Oil & Green Tea Body Scrub – $14.61 (plus shipping)

This very helpful scrub is supposed to help big time with its anti-aging capabilities, but I love it mostly because it not only smells good, but the mix of organic olive, green tea and avocado makes my skin shine like no other! I started using it on my feet after I noticed they were looking mad ashy and feeling like bricks, and the Shea Moisture scrub lubed up all the unsightly cracks, exfoliated my skin, and kept it moisturized for the whole day. After much pedi success, I started using the product on the rest of my body, and every time I do, I save a good ten minutes in my daily regimen since I can ditch the cocoa butters and creams! This product can usually be found in Target stores, but if not, it’s available online.

Source: v-fashionwise.com

Caudalie Paris’ Crushed Cabernet Scrub – $29

Looking for some spa quality ish without having to dole out spa-service money? Well Caudalie has a crushed cabernet scrub that is hard for your skin to resist. Made with grape seed oil, honey grapeseed oil powder, rosemary and a bevvy of other snooty booty but useful ingredients, the scrub can make your skin feel fresh and new. Plus, some even say it helps in the fight against cellulite, but if I can just get it to keep me from looking and feeling like Ashy Larry, that’s all I need.

Source: samples4free.co.uk

The Body Shop’s Shea Body Scrub – $19

If you just have to have shea butter involved in your daily routine, you should check out the Shea Body Scrub from the beloved Body Shop. The salt grains and organic sugar (if you put on softly and not rough) leaves you moisturized and smooth without feeling oily when it’s all over. Many scrubs can have you slipping and falling out of your tub and make you feel like you jumped in shortening, but this Shea Body Scrub keeps you covered in a light but luscious way.

Source: getpeachy.com

Tree Hut Body Scrub – $7. 49

If you don’t have $20+ to spend on a simple scrub, you can still get great stuff for the low low. For instance, this body scrub by Tree Hut is less than $10 and comes in varying scents. The great thing about it is that it’s not too heavy on the skin and preserves your skin’s natural moisture. All the natural extracts infused in the scrub really help this inexpensive product go a long way for a long day!

Source: polyvore.com

Bliss Hot Salt Scrub – $36

For the baller with a LOT of ash, I would also recommend Bliss’s hot salt scrub. It’s another product that provides you with the spa experience for less, and will do more than most by providing comfort and warmth to tight muscles that could use some stretching. The dead sea salt and glycerin along with the rosemary, eucalyptus, and lavender pack a pretty powerful punch. It definitely helps you unwind in a hot shower, or get nice and exfoliated (and shiny) after a cool one. Enjoy!

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From StyleBlazer.com

As the temperature gets warmer, you usually swap your skinny jeans for cut offs, but it’s also a great time to rethink your skincare routine. From the products you use to the treatments you receive, you should revamp your regiment, since your skin has different needs in the summer than it did during the cold winter months and rainy spring days. We’re sure you’ve been using your favorite cleanser for months, but it may be time to ditch it.  Also, did you know it’s possible to over-wash your face? Kristina Veller, an aesthetics professional at New York’s Skintology, gives us the dish on what we should and shouldn’t be doing to keep our skin looking baby smooth.

Make sure you’re not making these mistakes. Check them out at StyleBlazer.com. 

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Exfoliation is a key step that many of us unfortunately skip. Women often don’t realize the quest for youthful looking skin begins with a weekly exfoliation of their skin. Not only does it rid the skin of dead skin cells, it promotes the production of new cells. Overtime, it will aid in clearing the scars left behind from acne marks. It is recommended that we exfoliate a minimum of once per week. I guarantee it will leave your skin feeling smoother, healthy, and most importantly, youthful. If you’re not sure where to start, read on for recommendations on the different types of exfoliators that work best with your skin type.

DRY SKIN

For dry skin, the best route is using an exfoliator designed for dry skin – doing this will help decrease the chances of causing further dryness.

fresh Sugar Face Polish: $55.00

ORIGINS Modern Friction 1.7 fl./oz.: $18.50

OILY SKIN

When it comes to oily skin, look for exfoliators with BHA, it will exfoliate the skin’s surface and inside the pores.

St. Ives Apricot Scrub: $4.00

CLINIQUE Exfoliating Scrub: $18.50

COMBINATION SKIN

If you have combination skin, use exfoliators that help to balance your oily and dry skin, so that you aren’t left with a parched tight feeling on your face.

boscia Smoothing Facial Polish: $25.00

LUSH OCEAN SALT 4.2 oz: $19.95

SENSITIVE SKIN

Those with sensitive skin should avoid exfoliating products with a high concentration of glycolic acid. Opt for exfoliators designed specifically for your skin.

Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub Oil-Free: $7.00

CLARINS One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser: $35.00

(Tips: Always remember to research products before purchasing. Also, remember to use the product on a small surface of your skin before using on your entire face.)

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The time has come. We’ve been hinting around for long enough for you all to know it’s time to get your feet ready for the Spring. During the winter, it’s oh so easy to neglect your toesies. But if you haven’t already, now is the time to strip off the socks, clean out the toe jam and make sure the toes are ready to make their warm weather debut. If you can’t stand the nail shop, have a fear of the bacteria lurking in those tubs or don’t want to wonder if somebody is talking about you in another language, take the steps to do your feet in the comfort of your home.

As much as we try to hide it, being a woman isn’t as glamorous as we’d like to make people believe. We’re human and sometimes that means dealing with life’s little nasties. While we often point to men as being dirty there are some common, womanly issues that we’d rather men not know about. Check out the short list and if you’re honest with yourself, you might just get a good chuckle out of them.

You never want your man to see:

1…you leaning in the bathroom mirror ferociously plucking your chin, nose, or upper lip hairs.

2…you bent over the bathroom sink washing remnants of the red dragon out of your drawers.

3…all the dry skin that comes off your feet when you finally do get that pedicure.

4…you looking after you wipe.

5…masturbating. (Most guys would get off on this but if you don’t intend for him to see you, it’s all bad.)

6…peeing on yourself.

7…picking your nose. (You may say you don’t but we know you do.)

8…removing your Diana Ross weave to reveal your Amber Rose cut

9…what a yeast infection really looks like. *shivers*

10…you in the tightest of fetal positions receiving a colonoscopy.

Ewwwwwww! What disgusting, potentially embarrassing things would you add to this list?

Black women aren’t exactly busting down the doors of their local dermatologist’s office. But maybe we should. Instead of relying on fruitless skin care practices passed down from generation to generation, try talking to a professional. Your dermatologist may have a solution to that burning question you’ve always had about the largest organ in your body: your skin.

You can’t be cute and ashy at the same time. Dry, dull, flaky skin needs intense hydration and tender loving care. Check out Madame Noire’s five favorite lotions and potions to pamper your skin.

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