Aging gracefully or not.

About 3-4 weeks ago I realized that I'm starting to age. Although I'm going to be 36 in a couple of months and have had gray hair for a few years now, the thought of aging has never actually scared me. I figured it would happen and I would do it gracefully. After all, age is just a number and it's all about how you handle it.

Maybe vanity got the better of me, but I looked in the mirror and my eyes - my eyes!!!!! Suddenly, the circles were darker than I had ever recalled, there were fine lines and then these marks appeared near my eyes. What were they? I still don't know! They look like small burns under my eyes. Then one side of my face, near my eyes also, is suddenly much darker than before. It seems like my skin is changing color and the texture is not as smooth as it once was. All the while I'm still battling adult acne. Sheeeesh!!!!!

Am I alarmed? Yes!!!!!

I turned to Twitter in search of advice about under eye concealers. I got some good tips from Brittany at clumpsofmascara.com in terms of products worth trying, but also a simple reminder that I needed to get some sleep and rest a little. I heeded her advice and got some good rest, but I also headed to the store in search of something that may help. I got a concealer and I'm not really happy with it - maybe because I don't quite know how to apply "fancy makeup" (i.e. anything other than lipstick and some basic foundation). So back to the store I will go because it doesn't make sense that I spent about $100 in products and I still feel like I look like a raccoon.

Rather than continue in this state of flux, I have an appointment to see a dermatologist in the morning. I'll keep you posted.

Are you experiencing these "adult" issues too?

Adding memories to your daily ritual

I am by no means a beauty person but I've found a beauty staple that is doing the job while conjuring up some great memories. How many of you remember Noxema cream?

Growing up in Trinidad, Noxema was a staple in most households, including mine. It was the go to product for my late grandmother, with whom I spent a great deal of my childhood as we lived as an extended family for many years and even when my mom moved out, we moved about 5 minutes away. I think her entire beauty regimen consisted of washing her face with Noxema twice a day! What was even more alluring about Noxema was that it was the only "grown-up" product that my grandmother would allow me to use even as a child.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were talking about our family's skincare rituals and realized that both my grandmother in Trinidad and his in Pennsylvania, religiously used Noxema. Well, we got a bottle - just because. On the first night of use, hubby remarked about the wonderfully pleasant familiar medicinal scent of Noxema! I laughed because he was right, and much to his dismay, I have continued using it.

I have the cleanser and it's doing the job without drying my skin out. But, in all honesty, the real reason I continue to use it is because for that 137 seconds while washing my face, it reminds me of my childhood and it reminds me of my grandmother. What a wonderful ritual to re-institute into my daily regimen? I love that the scent takes me back on each and every use without avail. It makes the day so much more pleasant to be reminded of a loved one when time otherwise does not permit. I hope you can find something to re-integrate into your daily rituals that conjures up beautiful memories too!

Beauty Bootcamp: Body

"I don't have time for this! I just don't have time to relax right now!" I said as I walked into the spa this afternoon. All the way there I thought, maybe I should cancel and do it another time, I can't afford this, and I just don't have 1.5 hours to waste (on me ... that is).

Well, I am happy I changed my mind. I visited one of my favorite spas - a black owned spa here in DC called Soul Day Spa. I've been patronizing there for a few years now; but I can't say that I'm a good customer because I only go once in a while. Anyway, I always have good experiences when I do visit. So, today's treatment was a Tahitian Body Scrub with Vichy Shower - fan.tas.tic! The treatment included a full (head to toe) salt scrub, wrap, vichy shower (which is, according to the spa, "a pressure point warm water massage over the entire body. While lying on a massage table, rotating shower jets rain down a constant stream of pulsating warm water"). The shower was followed by a mini-massage of a shea butter body cream. It was wonderful!

I can't believe that it's been over a year since I last had one of these treatments and now my skin is radiant and super supple. Too bad those shower heads didn't melt away fat, but that's another post! When I walked out I thought that once in a while I've got to focus on the full body (which I often neglect), by either having a body treatment or a massage. The skin in those forgotten areas needs to be exfoliated and moisturized too. I will do my best to schedule these twice a year - I'm taking baby steps.

Here are a few other tips that I've picked up from here or there:

- apply lotion/cream while your skin is still damp

- substitute shaving creme with conditioner because your hair conditioner will do the same job as the shaving creme and save you a few bucks

- Try a body polish if you don't like the body scrubs. I have both and I've found the polish to be less abrasive and less oily than the salts - but I interchange them. I found a lovely body polish at Target by Soft & Beautiful (yes, the hair products line - they now have a skin care line too)

- a little glycerin and body lotion (I like Keri) is very moisturizing

- avoid scrubbing your skin with harsh material because it may strip your skin

- pat dry your skin (facial and body)

- if you don't like shaving (legs and private areas), there are a few hair removal creams on the market that work great. Make sure to use the product made for your body part though. And, be prepared to walk around for a few minutes with cream because you can't get it wet while it's at work

- waxing MAY lessen the thickness of newly grown hair (may be a wives' tale)

If you've got other tips, please share them with us.

Beauty Bootcamp: Facial Skincare

I took a little hiatus this week as we ventured out to the beautiful and relaxing Shenandoah Mountains on our vacation, so I didn't get a chance to tell you all about my facial at the Aveda Institute last week. Before I continue, I must encourage you to visit an Aveda Institute if you live in a city with one. For about half the price of any regular salon, you can get almost any beauty treatment that you can think of as the students "practice" on you; plus your services are done with Aveda products only! Love it, love it, love it!

I bared it all in the picture at the right the morning after my facial where I took a shot without any make-up at all. I wish however that there was away for you to touch my skin because that was the real kicker. My skin was soft and subtle and felt perfect.

Anyway, there is not much that I can share this week because our skin types and issues are just as diverse as our skin color. I learned early on to make sure that I follow the three step facial skincare regime habitually - Cleanse, tone and moisturize.

Unbelievably I still have acne at my age, so my skin care regime is pretty basic - Proactiv. I used Proactiv a few years ago and my skin cleared up beautifully and then I stopped and you can guess what happened, so I'm back on it and it's working pretty well. Proactiv makes it pretty simple with it's 3 step process. Additionally, I use a tinted moisturizer with SPF 30 so everyday I'm pretty assured that I am also protecting my skin from the sun.

Whatever product line that you use, expensive or inexpensive, please make sure that you Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize and Protect your skin.

A few of my own tips - don't know whether or not they actually work; but some are worth a try:

- ALWAYS wash your make up off at night. NEVER go to bed with make up because the oils may clog your pores

- Witch hazel is a great substitute for toner

- A little hydrogen peroxide on a pimple may help get rid of it faster

- Mix a little oatmeal and water and use as a mask that will leave your skin soft and bright

- Apply mask before taking a shower and leave it on while in the shower because the steam from the shower will help the mask work a little better

- Make sure that you remove any unwanted facial hair either by waxing or using a hair removal creme because it's not a good look to have whiskers!

See you next week for body skin care - I have booked a spa appointment for a Vichy Shower Tahitian body scrub. I can't wait to let you know how that goes.

Beauty Bootcamp: Hair

I promised to tackle facial skin care today, but I’ve decided to address my beauty regimen in the same order that I’m getting “work” done. So, this afternoon I have a hair appointment and wanted to spend some time talking about the mystery that is our hair.

I have medium length hair that is fine and frizzes in the humidity. I have a lot of hair, but it’s really fine so when it’s straight it looks like nothing. My hair is curly/wavy and for many, many years I did not put any permanent chemicals in my hair – no color, no relaxer, nothing. If you watched RHOA last night, I have “swimmer’s hair” like Lisa Wu Hartwell - I can pretty much wash and go. That was perfect for my time in college and in law school because the upkeep was minimal. Yet, I was jealous of the ladies who got their hair “did” and looked all pretty. So, I started coloring it. My hair grows pretty fast, so the color didn’t do as much damage as I thought. I guess it was not damaging because I didn’t apply excessive heat to it on a regular basis.

When I hit about thirty I decided to put a texturizer in it. To be honest, that wasn’t so bad. I had the flexibility to wash and go, and yet, I could go straight when I wanted and I loved leaving the Dominican hair salon looking like a superstar. (I mention the Dominican Hair Salon specifically because no one else – even the very expensive salons – has ever been able to get my hair as straight as my Dominican lady. I would go there more often if the wait wasn’t so darned long.)

Anyway, about one year and half ago I decided to take the plunge and relax my hair – because I was a grown lady - And grown ladies have their hair done all the time and never wear pony tails (unless they’re working out) and there is no need to do the curly thing any more – because I’m grown!!!!

Now, I don’t have swimmer’s hair anymore. The curl is gone; when I wash it just blows up into a huge poof-ball. The only way it looks half decent anymore is when it is blown straight. I can do it by myself, but not only does it take a very long time, I end up blow drying and then flat ironing and then wrapping and all that jazz. And that brings me to this afternoon – I am going to the salon and I’m going to get some sort of conditioning treatment (deep condition or hot oil) and then I’m getting it roller set. I don’t want to use the flat iron especially since I have time today.

I need to start taking better care of my hair – because I’m a grown lady (period). And it starts here! I will share with you some tips that are stored at the left hand back corner of my brain that I rarely bring forward, as well as some tips that I’ve found during my internet travels.

Tips from the back corner of the brain (not a large arsenal at all - that's why I need help)

- Egg and mayo treatment leaves your hair naturally shiny, smooth and soft. Just mix an egg and about 1-2 tablespoons of mayo together and apply it to your hair. It’s going to be gross but it works. Leave it in for at least 15 minutes and then wash and condition as usual. Your hair will have a tremendous sheen and softness all for under $1.
- A little coconut oil in your scalp is great for shine.
- What ever happened to the hot comb?

Tips from around the net (many tips from jazma.com)

- Always do your color after your perm.
- Split ends cannot be repaired by treatments or conditioner. If you have split ends you must trim them before they continue down the hair shaft.
- Always style your hair using a wide toothed comb. The teeth should be rounded on the ends to avoid scratching the scalp.
- When you blow dry your hair before curling, blow dry it to a point where there is still a slight bit of moisture left in your hair. By not blow drying your hair completely dry before curling and styling, this will allow you use less heat for less time in order to curl your hair.
- My husband will love this one, never go to bed with your hair in rollers or pony tails because the tossing and turning during sleep with rollers or pony tails may cause the hair to pull and break.
- Use a satin pillow case to sleep.Refrain from putting your hair in pony tails because the bands (especially elastics) put too much stress on the hair.
- If you want a longer hold for your style when using a curling iron, try spraying the hair before you iron with a thermal styling spray.
- If your hair is colored and you plan to swim in chlorinated water you must protect your hair. Wear a bathing cap or thoroughly wet your hair before you go in the water and apply some conditioner and don’t rinse.
- Avoid using shampoos that will strip your hair and leave it squeaky clean.
- After shampooing your hair, press the water from your hair, first with your hands and then with a towel. Always avoid rubbing the hair at all times, as your hair is at its weakest when it is wet.
- Leave in conditioners help protect your hair from airborne pollutants, the weather and helps prevent damage from thermal styling tools.
- Mineral oils clog pores.
- Avoid overuse of products with mineral oil or petroleum. They tend to block the pores and are not readily absorbed. If your mother used Vaseline on your hair, stop.
- Do a protein treatment at least once a month.

Next week I'll tackle facial skin care.

Beauty Bootcamp: Feet

Feet – those poor old tired feet! As you saw from my post I don’t pay much attention to them. I get pedicures every other week during the summer and at least every three-to-four weeks in the winter. Other than that, I don’t really remember them other than to look down and say “gosh…they’re getting crusty!” To be fully honest, I don’t even soap them in the shower – yikes, TMI, right? I believe that the soap from my body will flow right on down and get those bad boys clean. Being totally frank again, I don’t like touching them. Did I just say that? After I get a pedicure they’re soft and pretty and I’ll touch them, but give them a few days, and I refuse. That doesn’t even make any sense, right? Not touching your own body! Strange and true! (BTW, now you know a little something about me that you probably wished you didn’t know).

So, our first week of Beauty Bootcamp focuses on feet. I’ve spent a couple days researching the do’s and don’ts and tips of the trade and I’m scheduled for a pedicure this afternoon. I go to an around-the-way nail salon, so there are no rose petals in the water; heck they barely even soak your feet – it’s a wham bam thank you ma'am kind of service. But, today I’m going to request that they spend a little more time with me (I will admit that I rather appreciate their expediency in most cases). I could also do one at home – but why?

I am walking with some peppermint oil of my own and I am going to get them to soak my feet for at least 15 minutes before starting my service. Also, I learned a while ago to limit the use of those shavers to scrape off dead skin on the heels and balls of your feet because they strip the skin and it leads to the skin growing back even thicker and harder than before. That’ll explain the crustiness, right?!

I’ve accumulated the following tips/facts and I’m going to start trying them out starting today. Hopefully you get some good tips too:

• Soak your heels in lukewarm water and use a pumice-stone to scrub off dead skin to smooth the heels or use a foot scrub after soaking the feet in lukewarm water. Smear the bottoms of feet with Vaseline petroleum jelly and put on socks just before bed. You will see a difference in the morning when you take off the socks.
• For extremely dry feet, lather on a layer of cocoa butter to each foot, slip your feet into plastic bags and pull on a pair of oversize socks. Leave on overnight while sleeping and when you awaken the next morning your feet will feel smooth, silky and soft.
• You could also heat up some coconut oil, add some wax into it and after cooling apply it onto your heels.
• Another solution for dry feet is to melt paraffin wax and mix it well with little mustard oil. Apply on the affected area of your heels. Wash it off in the morning. Do this for 10 or 15 days and see the difference.
• The secret to finding a good moisturizer for your feet is not by price; more expensive doesn't mean better. Read the ingredients and avoid products with alcohol or alcohol derivatives. Generally, lotions contain alcohol to make them absorb faster, but the alcohol hinders the product's ability to moisturize your skin. The best dry skin products tend to be creams without alcohol. These are gooier and absorb slowly, so apply them just before going to bed.
• Add a teaspoon of lemon juice for an exfoliating footbath. You can even add a few drops of lavender essential oil for relaxing footbath.
• Peppermint oil is supposed to help increase the circulation in your feet so add a teaspoon to the footbath or try a foot creme with a peppermint base.
• You can use plain warm water or add a tablespoon of any salt product including baking soda, sea salt, or Epsom salts. The salt will help soften and cleanse your feet.To keep your feet smelling good and looking fresh dust some deodorizing talcum powder onto your feet every morning.
• You need to exercise your feet. Walking is a good form of exercise for the feet.
• When you get back from a long day, soak your feet alternatively in hot and cold water. Add some salt to this water.
• If your feet are itching, then apply some lemon juice and vinegar.

• Try massaging some onion juice between the toes. This will relieve itching and athlete's foot.
• Barefoot walks help tone the muscles of your feet, keeping them young and strong. An early morning barefoot walk on cool, dewy grass is refreshing and invigorating for the entire system, not just your feet. Do walk barefoot as much as possible to help the bone structure of your feet function according to its natural shape.
• Keep your feet dry, because dampness around your feet, specifically between your toes, can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
• A good tip to keep your feet, and especially your toes, free from moisture is to use a foot powder enriched with zinc or menthol, or even both. A sprinkle a day will not only keep toes from perspiring, but also lessen odor. Beware of nail polish and acrylic nails. Nail polish and acrylic nails trap moisture, increasing the chance of fungus infecting toenails, causing the nails to thicken and turn yellow or, in severe cases, black.
• When shopping for shoes, comfort is the operative word. Ill-fitting shoes which are too tight have really high heels and pointed toes are largely responsible for the 'ill-health' of your feet. Your shoes must support the arch of your foot and also provide enough room to accommodate your toes.
• The secret to making sure shoes fit properly is to shop for them late in the day when your feet are likely most swollen. When you walk in the shoes you try on, try to avoid the soft, plush carpet found in most shoe stores. If you're in a mall, leave the shoe store and walk on the mall's tile floor. Most importantly, if shoes hurt in the store they will hurt when you get them home--a shoe should never need to be "broken in."
  

Next week we'll be working on facial skin care...see you then!

Beauty Bootcamp

I have six weeks before my job heats back up so I want to take a little time for ME during this break, so I'm taking a beauty bootcamp! This is not a real program, nor is it even a real term (I don't think), but it best describes what I want to do.

I take moderate care of my hair, but I want to deep condition it every week and fuse my split ends back together. There is no reason that my elbows are so dark, dry and crusty all at the same time. Same goes for my knees. And, let's not talk about my feet (see photo -yikes!). Although I get a pedicure every 2 weeks my heels look I've been walking barefoot in the sand and let's not even start to talk about my corns. I am 35 years old (and trying to be a grown woman) and don't know how to apply make-up.

I want a make-over and I want to start learning about beauty and various things that I can do to improve a different part of my body every week. I'm working on the fitness/health element through Better U, so now I need to pair it with the beauty element.

I'll definitely keep you posted on my journey and when I get a few tips, I'll let you know. If you're joining me at Beauty Bootcamp, let me know. Maybe there'll be enough of us to get a coach!

Shower Yourself Beautiful with Suave (It's a Giveaway!)

Let's face it - we're busy. More often than not, we barely have time to get through our daily to-do lists let alone carve in time for pampering. (I wish!) Sometimes, the only "me time" we get is those few moments alone in the shower. Why not take that time to Shower Yourself Beautiful? Suave and Holly Robinson Peete want you to indulge and rejuvenate yourself and are giving you the chance to to just that!

Suave sent me a fab Shower Yourself Beautiful gift set to try out and one to giveaway to a lucky MamaLaw fan.

The gift bag contains the following New Suave products:

a 12 oz. bottle of Naturals Wild Cherry Blossom Indulgent Body Wash infused with cherry blossom extract;

a 12 oz. bottle of Apricot Exfoliating Body Wash infused with apricot and coconut extracts; and
a 18 oz. bottle of Suave Skin Therapy Advanced Therapy Moisturizer.

Check out this piece of awesome - Suave is so convinced that you'll love their skin care line, that they have a "beautiful skin guarantee." Get beautiful skin, or get your money back. You can't beat that with a stick!

Thanks Suave, for "getting" moms and meeting our needs!

To win, all you have to do is (1) become a follower on this blog (if you aren't already) and (2) leave us a comment with a quick tip on how to pamper yourself when you're pressed for time. Add our button to your blog and/or tweet about this giveaway for an extra entry and come back to let us know. Giveaway ends Sunday, July 26 at midnight.