Editor’s Picks: The Best Products for Every Summer Beauty Need
So you can relax under an umbrella looking all glowy instead of anxiously studying labels at the drugstore.
A Clean Beauty Routine for Sensitive Skin
Amidst our busy schedules, establishing a routine can give you some much-needed solitude which can lead to a calm mind and body. An evening routine is perhaps the most crucial one of all—or at least just as important as a morning one. Research shows that consistent bedtime behaviors can increase sleep quality and duration. Any type of dedicated routine is somewhat beneficial, but a skincare regimen comes with an extra long list of benefits. The results that come from using the right products (hello hydrated skin!) can boost confidence and build self-esteem. Finding the right products? Well, that has its own challenges, especially when you have tough-to-treat skin that requires extra care. Luckily, we’ve done the tough work for you. Here’s your nighttime guide to glowing skin with clean, budget-friendly products. Plus, weekly additions for some extra pampering. These products were curated with extra sensitive skin in mind, but there is something here to benefit any skin type. Your Evening Routine Double Cleanse: Oil + Foam Over the course of just one day, your skin accumulates lots of unwanted pollutants. By double cleansing with an oil cleanser before you wash with a foaming cleanser will ensure you’re truly clean. Jurlique’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil is a natural blend of pure botanicals grown, harvested and extracted at Jurlique’s organic farm. Since oil attracts oil, it’ll draw out impurities like sebum while its natural-based antioxidants will help protect the skin. Follow with a foaming cleanser such as Indie Lee’s antioxidant-rich foaming cleanser (which is free of 1,300+ banned ingredients that are often the cause of irritation). Jurlique’s Nourishing Cleansing Oil, $34.00 Indie Lee’s Purifying Face Wash, $34.00 Toner To ensure your skin is squeaky clean, apply a toner with a cotton ball. A swipe of toner will replenish skin and provide a perfectly clean base for product application. Opt for an unscented, alcohol-free option like Thayers Witch Hazel &Aloe Vera Toner. Witch hazel will tighten pores and control oil production, while aloe vera will reduce redness and inflammation. Thayers Witch Hazel Toner, $10.95 Chemical Exfoliator: AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) Face scrub can feel rejuvenating, but chemical exfoliators are better than physical exfoliants for daily use. The word “chemical” can be intimidating to those with sensitive skin, but most chemical exfoliators are extremely gentle. BHA’s are safe for morning use, but you should use AHAs in the PM, as they cause photosensitivity (hence the importance of SPF!). Lather on Paula’s Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment every other night and see your skin transform. The product is made with glycolic acid, the most common of all the AHAs, which works to refine the surface of skin with gentle and non-abrasive exfoliation. A wonderful exfoliant, it’s also a hydrator! Expect a mix of antioxidants that help fight the impact of free-radical damage, plus ceramides and peptides to restore moisture. Paula’s Choice Daily Smoothing Treatment with 5% AHA, $37.00 Moisturizer Finish off your night with a creamy lotion. While you rest, Avegan Beauty’s Plant Based Night Cream will help replenish those precious ceramides that you washed away in the beginning of your nighttime routine. Ceramides are natural lipids that act like “the mortar between the cells” to build firm skin, so you’ll definitely want those back! It’s naturally preserved, vegan, gluten-free, and made with 55 percent organic ingredients. Given that most moisturisers out there solely cater to dry skin, your sensitive face will thank you for this one. Avegan Beauty Plant Based Restore Night Cream, $41.00 Tea Tree Oil Tea tree oil is a savior for easily irritated skin. It has antibacterial and antioxidant properties that calm inflammation, eliminate new pimples, erase scars, and prevent future blemishes. Unlike other toners and astringents, this hydrating Tea Tree Oil is mixed with nourishing ingredients like Vitamin E to create a dewy radiance. It’s paraben-, silicone-, GMO- and cruelty-free and best of all? It’s made with consciously sourced clean ingredients that won’t end in a bad reaction. Beauty Foundry Tea Tree Face Oil, $14.48 Just A Little More Pampering Fancy, yet effective hand sanitizer Though not a face product, an effective hand sanitizer may do wonders for your face. Our hands come in contact with so many surfaces, only to then spread those germs onto our face in one touch. Regular alcohol-based hand sanitizers can leave skin dry, cracked, and more prone to infection. Puracy’s FDA-Approved Hand Sanitizer includes a blend of purified water and plant-based moisturizers to help keep hands silky-smooth. Made with citrus and sea salt and wrapped in a beautiful sustainable packaging, it’ll pamper and protect. Grab the travel size pack to ensure you have a bottle everywhere you are. Puracy Gel Hand Sanitizer, $35.97 for a 3-pack Physical Exfoliator: Face Scrub While chemical exfoliators are effective, there’s nothing like a good scrub to shed dead skin remnants. Surprisingly, a lot of scrubs on the market are irritating because the particles are too sharp and rough for facial use. So, it’s best to make your own with ingredients you can trust like this Coffee Yogurt Mask. Keep in mind, your face will need an intense dose of moisturizing after a deep scrub. Oil-Control Clay Mask De-clog pores and rid of any excess oil with a weekly clay mask. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is an all-natural option with a cult following. It’s made from 100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay, which has the ability to improve sensitive skin conditions like dermatitis. Just like the scrub, top this one off with some moisturizer. Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, $14.95 (photo credit: Shutterstock and brands)
All-Natural, At-Home Remedies to Clear Your ‘Maskne’
Unfortunately, masks have become an essential part of our lives. This accessory has brought safety and comfort (to most), but also a pesky little problem known as “mask-ne,” AKA mask acne. According to the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 83 percent of health care workers in Hubei, China, are suffering from skin problems on the face. And I think many of us can relate. The moisture-rich environment underneath a mask practically welcomes bacteria, while pandemic-induced stress wreaks havoc of its own. But skin flare ups shouldn’t require you to dish out money on costly products—many are filled with ingredients that irritate the skin more anyway. Here are seven all-natural remedies to clear up that maskne right from your kitchen. Sip on Spearmint Tea A comforting cup of tea can work wonders for your skin, and spearmint tea is a science-backed sip proven to clear the skin. Out of whack hormones are at the root of acne, especially adult acne which appears along the jawline (exactly where maskne makes its debut). Drinking spearmint tea twice a day can significantly lower testosterone levels, thanks to it’s anti-androgenic effects. The mere act of drinking tea lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol, so it’ll ease the mind and the skin. Boil some to sip on during your skincare routine or while you watch The Queen’s Gambit. Cleanse With a Homemade Honey Face Wash After a day of mask-wearing, there’s sure to be a buildup of bacteria. Prevent your skin from harboring harmful grime by giving it a good wash. Making your own cleanser will give you complete control over the ingredient list, often reducing the risk of extra irritation. This homemade face wash combines the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and humectant power of honey with the gentle cleansing action of castile soap. It’ll gently kill the bacteria that contribute to inflamed pores all while leaving your skin feeling baby soft. Apply a Turmeric and Yogurt Mask Post-cleanse, go the extra step with this DIY mask that requires nothing more than a trip to the kitchen. Turmeric is an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial ingredient that can brighten skin through its yellow tint (goodbye scars and dark spots!). Yogurt adds to the mask’s anti-acne benefits, since it contains lactic acid, a compound that reduces unevenness and discoloration while shrinking pores. And of course, some more honey for an additional antibacterial boost. Steam Your Face As your mask sets in, draw out any last impurities by adding some steam. Steam opens up your pores and helps loosen any buildup of dirt for a deeper disinfection. The combination of warm steam and an increase in perspiration increases circulation, which will breath new life into your skin. After a steam, your glowing skin will be squeaky clean and ready to soak in some products. No need to invest in a machine. Steam over a bowl of boiling water or use a soaked, hot towel. Moisturize with Aloe Vera An aloe vera plant which adds life to a room, is perhaps the most helpful of all home decor (you can also easily buy it at the grocery or pharmacy). When applied to the skin, aloe vera gel can help heal wounds (like bleeding pimples) and fight inflammation. Aloe vera also contains salicylic acid and sulfur, two clear skin saviors. Simple scrape the gel from your aloe plant out with a spoon and apply it directly to clean skin as a moisturizer. Not only is it anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, it’s also deeply moisturizing because of its high water content. An all around winner and a great way to avoid the many pore-clogging moisturizers on the market. Spot Treat with Tea Tree Oil Once your skin is clean and moisturized, it’s crucial to spot treat. Both an anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, tea tree oil will aid in the healing of existing blemishes by keeping them free from new bacteria. Keep in mind that the magic ingredient is super strong and potent, so it should be used sparingly. Our best tip? Mix 1 part tea tree oil with 9 parts water to ensure it’s safely diluted, then dab it only onto pimples. Plus, prevent new pimples by applying the solution to the inside of your mask using a spray bottle. Let it work while you wear it. Don’t Sweat It This last one is less of an actual step and more of an important reminder. While good to treat, skin issues are not worth stressing about. The stress effect is real: worrying destroys your skin, not to mention your emotional well-being. Instead, see your new skincare routine as an activity to look forward to- a time to nurture yourself. A healthy shift in mindset may be just the thing your skin needs. Now, for a new mask to keep that skin happy and healthy. We recommend you go for a 100% cotton mask that doesn’t hug your face too tightly. Find your perfect fit here. (photo credit: Shutterstock)
16 Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies to Support Now and Forever
Since being diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases three years ago, I have slowly transitioned my everyday products to be clean, non-toxic, and non-irritating to my body. Anything with the potential to challenge my immune system has gone. As I was researching different companies and products, I must admit that ingredients were my main concern — who companies were founded or run by were not even on my radar. However, since the death of George Floyd, and the continual unfolding of the Black Lives Matter movement, I have given a lot of consideration about what it means to be an Ally and truly support the Black community, specifically in the wellness space. For me, it means ongoing commitment to education, donating to the cause, listening and learning, having hard conversations with family members, and supporting Black businesses. RELATED: 4 Simple Ways to Green Your Beauty Routine I have begun the process of transitioning all of my face, body, and hair products to those from companies run by Black women in support of Black Lives Matter. Here are sixteen of my favorites. Perhaps you can find one — or many — to try and make some of your own beauty brand changes. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: Face Ayele & Co Founder of Ayele & Co, Danielle Bahi was 21 when she started her organic, vegan, and cruelty-free line in her college dorm room in 2016. She told Forbes that her motivation was to make great skincare options that are still affordable. Try their crowd favorite Garden Serum. Epilogic-Skincare Epilogic Skincare was created out of Dr. Jeanniton’s philosophy that beauty is, above all, not just about looking, but about feeling your best. After years of working with a diverse array of patients at various ages, stages and aesthetic needs, Dr. Jeanniton combined ther knowledge with industry-leading research to create a different type of skincare line. Rose Skin MD Developed by Board Certified Dermatologist, Rosemarie Ingleton, M.D., each product in the ROSE Ingleton MD Skincare line is infused with a blend of natural fruit extracts native to her home island of Jamaica. Take their quiz to find out which products are best for your unique skin. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: Body Hanahana Beauty Hanahana Beauty is an incredible skincare and wellness brand committed to empowering women of color. They handcraft 100% all natural products + pay 2x the fair trade rate for shea butter sourced from the Katariga (Su an glo) Cooperative in Tamale, Ghana. In addition, they have created The Hanahana Circle of care, a social realignment that serves women from Katarigo, improving their economic health, environmental conditions and self sustainability within the shea trade. LIHA UK-based LIHA was born from the desire to create a luxe natural and organic skincare brand that blends the rich botanical life of West Africa with traditional English aromatherapy. Handmade in small batches in Cheltenham and Hackney, their products are natural, 100% vegan, cruelty free and free from parabens, sls and chemicals. Beneath Your Mask Suffering from an extreme case of Lupus, Beneath Your Mask founder and CEO Dana Jackson, created their line designed to restore, repair, and reverse the toxic effects of environmental hazards, health challenges, stress, and damage done from countless other unforgiving aspects of our lifestyles. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: Tea/Herbal Eleva Alma This small business in Northern California has become my obsession. Everything by Eleva Alma is handcrafted with Natural, Organic & Cruelty Free Ingredients that have been meticulously & thoughtfully created with the intention of offering an exclusive luxury healing experience. Their collection of holistic herbal teas offer support for both physical and emotional well being. Ivy’s Tea Co. Ivy’s Tea Co is owned and operated by first-generation herbalist and Tea Bae, Shanae. What I love about Shanae is that she is changing the way we see tea drinkers and is introducing more African holistic remedies into the health industry. Her goal is to make the industry as inclusive and reflective and accepting of all cultures as Hip-Hop. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: Makeup Blac BLAC stands for basic luxury for all colors. And that it is: a luxury makeup that is non-toxic and natural, something that founder Merced Boyce was searching for. Boyce’s company was created out of this need to find makeup that would stop irritating her face, while also supporting the unique beautiful shades of women of color. The Lip Bar Have you seen The Lip Bar at Target? Next time you are there, pick up a few as their brand is vegan and cruelty-free and exists to help change the way we think about beauty. Their beauty positive brand highlights the uniqueness in beauty, and spreads the message that we are all enough and deserve to be celebrated. Hi WildFlower Founder, Tanwi Nandini Islam created Hi Wildflower Beauty for women of color. The line features an all-natural range of lipsticks and nail polishes that are formulated with ingredients like sunflower seed oil, beeswax, and shea butter. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: SunScreen Unscreen After much frustration over the lack of options of clean sunscreen for women of color, Katonya Breaux founded Unscreen in 2016. The company provides clean, no-residue options that are kind to our skin as well as the environment. Their most popular product is their mineral tinted sunscreen for dark skin tones. Black Girl SunScreen With Black Girl Sunscreen, you won’t find harmful ingredients or that annoying residue. Rub it in, and just like lotion, it dries clear. Natural ingredients help rejuvenate your face and body while helping you to stay moisturized. Black-Owned Clean Beauty Companies: Hair My Sunday 2 Sunday My Sunday 2 Sunday designs their hair products around the active woman. Their unique blend of products are formulated to secure moisture loss due to sweat, buildup, and the environmental damage that takes place in between washes. Sienna Naturals Sienna Naturals is a clean beauty company whose main focus is the health and texture of your hair and scalp. What I love
Think a Facial Could Fix Your Skin? What You Need to Know
A top aesthetician’s guide to the popular skin-care treatment.
The Easiest Way to Prevent Wrinkles Naturally
Trying to prevent wrinkles? Bad news: even if you’re slathering on sunscreen three times a day and are being super careful about getting enough sleep, if you’re eating the wrong foods, you’re not doing your skin any favors. But there’s good news, too: Eating the right foods can prevent wrinkles and even reverse (yes, reverse!) signs of aging. In fact, your diet is the. most. important. factor when it comes to aging gracefully. In this video, I’m sharing three nutrients you should include in your diet every single day, and which foods you can find them in. Hey, restocking your fridge is way easier than scheduling millions of appointments with your dermatologist, right? Start fighting fine lines (and embrace the ones you can’t!), now. How to Prevent Wrinkles Naturally, With Food
