Melrudo06 - MELZIMSTAR

Black Girls… Always remember: It’s so easy, and it takes very little effort, to be like the next person. Don’t insult yourself like that. Be yourself! Walk YOUR walk. Talk YOUR talk. Be uniquely YOU in everything that you do. A confident woman who has a strong sense of self is quite beautiful. Allow your light to shine from the inside out. Self-love is the greatest love of all. Love, respect, and be good to yourself, first! You matter! You count! And you’re important, too!

- Stephanie Lahart

Great Ingredients To Look For in Skin Care

In all skin care products there are a few ingredients working behind the scenes to make your skin clear, beautiful and smooth. With so many products and so little information on these products it can be very daunting walking down that skincare isle. Every product is filled with ingredients targeted at solving a different need… anti aging, acne, dryness, wrinkles, sun spots, etc. To avoid aimlessly trying products you think may or may not work for your skin, you can educate yourself on the ingredients themselves to better customize and adapt your skin care routine to fit your unique and fabulous skin.  

Vitamin E

Vitamin E, also known as Tocopherol, is a skin healing antioxidant. Best in low amounts combined with other potent ingredients (combine with Vitamin C for great results), known to help reduce and prevent the appearance of scars. Vitamin E is also great at preventing sum damage, so if you enjoy your time outside consider incorporating Vitamin E into your skin routine. Pure Vitamin E oil can be a bit excessive and actually cause more harm than good, so look for it as an ingredient in other products or use with caution. Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Moisturizer is a great one!

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is filled with potent antioxidants that will shield skin from sun damage, pollution, etc, all outside elements that age the skin. Vitamin C also promotes skin radiance by helping fade dark spots, reduces inflamed skin and boosts healthy collagen production (firm skin yay!). Try products like Ole Henrikson Truth Serum Vitamin C Collagen Booster or Glossier Super Glow Serum. 

Retinol/Vitamin A

Retinol is the name for the entire Vitamin A molecule. It’s known for it’s anti aging properties because it tells your skin cells to function normally and healthy even if they are damaged or aging. Retinol in clear or jarred packaging will quickly become ineffective because they’ve been exposed to air, so if you do decide to purchase products with retinol, buy accordingly! Try products like Peter Thomas Roth Retinol Fusion PM and Paula’s Choice Resist Intensive Wrinkle-Repair Retinol Serum.

Ferulic Acid

A plant based antioxidant that provides sun protective properties as well as protects against other free radicals. Works by re-enforcing the skin’s cellular wall strength. Ferulic Acid works well with Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Try products like Dr Dennis Gross Ferulic Acid + Retinol Brightening Solution and SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic (link goes to Dermstore which always has 20% off!)

Niacinamide

This improves skin’s elasticity, diminishes discoloration while improving skin’s tone and texture by strengthening cellular bonds and tightening skin. Niacinamide will help make your pores smaller and help with wrinkles, great universal and anti aging skin ingredient. Like eating greens for the skin, keeps everything healthy. Try products like First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Hydra Firm Sleeping Cream or Paula’s Choice Resist 10% Niacinamide Booster.

BHA/Beta Hydroxy Acid

BHA is an ingredient in Salicylic Acid, known to gently exfoliate the skin while being mildly anti bacterial. Great for acne prone skin or those who want a light chemical exfoliant with little irritation. Try products like Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2 Percent BHA Liquid Exfoliant. 

AHA/Alpha Hydroxy Acid

Some of the most effective AHA’s include Lactic Acid and Glycolic Acid. These ingredients work to exfoliate skin cells by breaking down the substance in skin that holds skin cells together. Great for aging and discolored skin. These ingredients have minimal impact in rinse off products like cleansers because it doesn’t give the ingredients enough time to get their job done. It’s best to buy these ingredients in forms of toners, serums, oils, etc. Check out products like Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment, Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner or Paula’s Choice RESIST Weekly Resurfacing Treatment With 10 Percent AHA.  

Hyaluronic Acid

This ingredient retains moisture and keeps water from leaving the skin making it great for aging or dry skin. Youthful, plump skin is usually known for it’s high moisture content, replicate that look with Hyaluronic Acid! This ingredient is most effective in the form of serums and moisturizers. Try products like Paula’s Choice Ultra Light Super Antioxidant Serum with HA, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2%, Derma E Hydrating Night Cream.

Don’t underestimate the power of the tongue.

https://www.instagram.com/adutakech/

Michaela DePrince

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with

compassion kindness, humility gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

Harsh truths we need to accept to move forward?

It doesn't take much to reach the top.

If you decide to get on your floor right now and do 10 push-ups, you will have done what 80% of women will refuse to do. If you turn off your phone 20 minutes before bed tonight, you will have done what 90% of young people in the modern world refuse to do. Most people are addicted to self-sabotaging behavior. We all know that eating crap and not exercising is bad for our bodies. We all know that scrolling on social media for hours each day is bad for our mental health. We all know that buying items we don't need isn't going to make us truly happy. Yet we choose to continue these habits because we don't want to feel uncomfortable. And there's actually a neurological reason for this: when we try to break a habit we've grown used to, our brain literally does everything in its power to stop us as a self-protective measure. So we have to work really hard to do what we know is good for us.

It's harrowing to understand that most people are willingly ruining their chances of success and happiness, but it's also a powerful realization. Why? Because you can use that knowledge to your advantage. If you commit to making really small changes every day to become just 1% better than you were last week, you will propel yourself MILES ahead of the curve. Stop trying to force yourself to change your entire life today. It's not going to work because your brain will reject it and you will be left feeling distraught. Instead, try to implement a single change into your life every week. It can be turning off your phone 5 minutes before going to bed instead of scrolling through reels for 30 minutes in the dark. It can be watching a 3-minute guided meditation every morning. It can be only drinking water instead of soda. Whatever that thing is, just stick with it and trust that by taking really simple and small actions, you will surpass the vast majority of the population.

This is why you're struggling to change your life.

How many times have you seen a video that offered advice that you committed to taking in order to change your life? How many times have you actually followed through and implemented those changes? We live in a world that gives us access to some of the best and most revolutionary information out there. In this day and age, we can go on youtube and learn EXACTLY how to become an entrepreneur, get a six-pack, meet our dream partner, and make millions of dollars. And while we don't have any issue watching these videos and being inspired by them, seldom do we actually make a move. The reason is that, once again, our brains like to play games. We subconsciously accept that if we are cognizant of the things we need to do to change our lives, our lives will magically change without us actually having to do those things.

So just understanding that we need to be in a calorie deficit to lose 15 pounds makes us believe that we have the power to lose 15 pounds. I mean how many times have you heard someone say "I know I have to lose weight, I just have to get started" and subsequently lose no weight at all? How many times have you told yourself you have to start meditating and yet never started or failed to meditate more than a couple of times? It's easy to learn how to change, but it's incredibly difficult to actually do something with that knowledge. But here's the thing: In order to actually change your life, you have got to get off your ass. Just knowing that you have to make a change is not going to cause that change to take place. You have got to take action.

Stop being a victim.

Playing the victim isn't just saying things like "I can't trust men because my father never showed me love", but it's also saying things like "I'm single because the men out there are trash" or "No one takes me seriously because I'm a Black woman." Whenever you say things like this, you're disempowering yourself immensely. And guess what? The world doesn't care that you've had a hard life. The market doesn't care. No one is going to give you an award or a bag of money because your life isn't fair. Yes, many of the men out there are gaslighters and cheaters. That's not the reason you're perpetually single. YOU'RE the reason you're single. Yes, people are racist. That's not the reason you can't find a job. YOU'RE the reason you can't find a job.

The people who can acknowledge their setbacks and move forward regardless are always going to be the ones who win in the end. I know women who are fat, objectively unattractive, and downright unintelligent who STILL ended up with the love of their lives. I know of people who are dyslexic and have incredibly low IQs who STILL ended up becoming CEOs. How did they do it? They stopped making excuses, accepted the fact they would have to work a bit harder than everyone else, and got to work. You need to look at yourself in the mirror and admit that every failure in your life is a result of your actions (or inactions). You need to STOP blaming others. It's you. It's always been you. And you know what? Understanding that is a beautiful thing. After all, the first step to self-improvement is self-awareness.

Lovingly,

Elle

Perfectionism is not your friend. It’s rooted in the fear that what you do won’t be good enough. It’s over-valuing others’ opinion of you and your work.

Perfectionism leaves you paralyzed, waiting for the perfect conditions so you know it’s safe to act. Unfortunately, if you’re waiting for the perfect conditions, you may wait for the rest of your life.

If you can learn to fall in love with the process, rather than the product, you’ll be free to chase your passions unrestrained. Don’t let perfectionism keep you from moving. After all, you can’t steer a parked car.