Dear Woman: Care to share your daily beauty regimen?

Mrs Somi Obum, business development manager at LaserDerm Clinics, Lagos did me the honour of sharing her beauty regimen on my blog. I found it interesting that she wanted to share because some women just don't want to. 

Now the bit about seeing a dermatologist is important especially if you have a skin condition. I can't stress that enough

Here is her piece. Enjoy..

I never knew how important it is to take care of ones skin until I started working at an aesthetic and laser skin care centre.It's amazing how a little exposure can awaken you to a whole world of possibilities. There I was minding my business when my sister walked up to me and said "Your face is getting rather dark, or should I say black".I said to myself that's not possible because I stayed out of the sun as much as I could and I used a cream that had 'Fade Out' boldly printed on it...how could I possibly be getting darker on the face.

Mirror Mirror on the wall..omg! Wait, who is that girl??

Ah! My 'skinny like this' days are so over.

I used to exercise at least four times a week. I was all into squats, belly crunches, using the treadmill and jogging. I loved the idea of doing some physical activity to burn some fat which only seemed to stay in my lower body. Then I stopped because I felt I was at my ideal weight and even got skinner than I wanted. (Oh you know that saying 'You can't get too rich or too skinny'? I only believe the 'Can't get too rich part')

So last week, I discovered that I had gained 7kg and my tailor confirmed that my normal (and somewhat stable) statistics had changed.(Yep, a sister drifted from 36-28-39 to 36-29-42).And I decided to start exercising again.

Now this is for people who do not have a lot of time (or loads of energy) but want to lose weight (not lots of it). This is what I do now and it works.

Before anything use a body cleanser. Now some stuff that people sell as 'herbal cleansers are not to be joked with. If you are in Lagos, you will see many hawkers selling stuff in bottles and it claims to cleanse and cure. If used excessively, a doctor told me it would stress your liver. That is why I favour the Aloe Vera gel from Forever Living. One can hardly go wrong with pure aloe Vera gel. So I take a small cup of this first thing in the morning and last thing at night. Then I exercise for 10mins 5 days a week. Belly crunches, squats, then 5mins on d treadmill. I do this before I have my bath in d morning and face my day. I am not big on breakfast. I usually do green or black tea when I feel like it. It doesn't have to be a total gym work out at first. You build on it. 5mins today, 10 mins tomorrow until you are huffing and puffing in the gym for hours. I am barely watching what I eat to be honest but I have cut down on the sweet stuff. Watching what you eat is important.

After a week, you should see a difference. I did. I have lost more than half of what I gained and I sort of like where I am now so I am not in a hurry to lose the other half.

Happy new month guys and I wish you the very best in all you do.

Lily Johnson

Posted via Blogaway

Product review: CLEAR CELL Medicated Acne Scrub.

I have always had issues finding a good facial scrub for my acne-prone skin; one that will not break me out even more or leave my face feeling sore. I got this product and here is my review.

About the product and how to use it.
Use this Sea Salt and Benzoyl Peroxide cleansing scrub to kill bacteria and exfoliate dead skin cells. Oils that clog pores will be scrubbed away with micro exfoliant beads, leaving skin looking refreshed and renewed.

This scrub is excellent for back acne and ideal for acne and acne prone skin. It only takes a small amount, gently massaged into the skin for one minute for a fresh, shine free finish. Rinse off with cool water.

Stronger than the other cleansers,
this can still be used daily, both morning and evening. Benzoyl Peroxide serves as an anti-bacterial and Micro-Exfoliant Beads slough off dead skin cells. Comfrey Root is soothing to irritated skin. Arnica Montana and Horse Chestnut are both Anti-inflammatory ingredients.

I found Clear Cell Medicated Acne scrub to be better than facial scrubs I have used in the past. I like the minty cooling effect you get when using it. My face was smoother and the acne less obvious with each use.

You need just this much to scrub your face so the bottle should last a while.

Microdermabrasion: All you need to know and more.

Microdermabrasion is a light cosmetic procedure that uses a mechanical medium for exfoliation to gently remove the outermost layer of dead skin cells from the epidermis. It is a non-invasive procedure and may be performed in-office by a trained skin care professional. It may also be performed at home using a variety of products which are designed to mechanically exfoliate the skin.

Many salon machines and home-use machines use adjustable suction to improve the efficacy of the abrasion tool. Recently, cosmetic scrub products that contain fine grit made from the pits of various fruits and from other materials are using the term microdermabrasion in their marketing.

Microdermabrasion is a fairly simple, easy, painless, non-invasive, skin rejuvenation procedure using a combination of a fine abrasive tip or crystals and vacuum suction applied to the skin. Typically there are no needles or anesthetics required for microdermabrasion. The vacuum pressure and speed are adjusted depending on the sensitivity and tolerance of the skin.

Typical microdermabrasion sessions can last anywhere from 5–60 minutes. Minimal to no recovery time is required after microdermabrasion and most people immediately return to daily activity after a session. Makeup and non-irritating creams can usually be applied within a few hours or right after microdermabrasion.

Dear Woman: To effectively fight acne, you may have to ditch your soap.

Dr Jeremy Clapp did me the honor of sharing this valuable information on acne, a skin problem millions of people have dealt with or are still dealing with around the world. Many companies manufacture medications, creams and lotions to deal with acne and some of them really leave more to be desired. 

Source

He talked about natural products and skin health instead of skin care in dealing with this disturbing problem.

Read his article...

Acne is a problem that affects many of us in various ways throughout life. It is not only the acne attacks that are important but the scaring and blemishes that may stay with you for life. So many people think that acne is solely a teenager facial problem but back acne and acne affecting adults into their 30’s is quite common. How can we fight all these aspects ?

The debate, on whether natural, chemical or drug treatment is best, continues to rage. I strongly believe that where there is a chronic problem that nature normally has the treatment and that is the place to start. Natural treatments tend to be far less abrasive on the skin and are just as effective in terms of positive results.

Dear Woman: The real reasons why some skin care and anti-aging products are all ‘hype’ and no results.

Tracy Blatter of Raisin Face did me the honor of sharing this valuable information about skin care and anti-aging products on my blog. Some of the information I got from her piece are quite revealing. Women spend a lot of money on cosmetics and most times, we are clueless about what we are buying. Now you can at least, know what you are paying for.

Here is her piece…

Skincare is a multi-billion dollar business.  There are thousands of companies producing tens of thousands of products so it’s no surprise that women are undecided regarding what to buy.  The larger companies work to entice you through expensive ad campaigns also known as 'hype'.These campaigns often use airbrushed pictures of supermodels in their late 20’s to sell anti-wrinkle creams to women in their late 30’s and 40’s

However, a list of ingredients is the first thing you should look for in a product if you plan on applying it to your face.  If a list is not available, there’s a reason why it’s missing.  Usually, it means the manufacturer doesn’t want you to see what goes into the product.  Be a wise consumer and put the item back on the shelf.  If the next product has a list of ingredients, note the order in which they are listed.  

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires that ingredients be listed in descending order. The component which weighs the most is listed first, and the ingredient weighing the least is listed last. Therefore, nine times out of ten, water will be number one on the list and a healthy antioxidant or peptide will be close to last.  Although this is helpful, note that the  percentage of the ingredient being used is NOT required.  This is unfortunate, because some very expensive creams contain more than 50 percent water and just a few drops of “something beneficial”.  

Top 5 natural oils you should look out for in anti-aging and skin beautifying products.

There are millions of skin products out there in form of creams, butters, lotions etc. While some companies use mostly chemicals in manufacturing their products, others have embraced these natural goodies and use them in their products. They have been found to be effective and have no side effects unlike chemicals and steroids.

Some people just buy products without bothering to read their contents. It is a habit one must cultivate so that if you have any skin reaction, you would be able to find out why it is so. Also check out for banned and harmful chemicals. Especially in skin brightening products.

These 5 natural oils are effective when used in anti-aging treatments, skin brightening and beautifying products. 

#1 Shea butter: Shea butter is a solid fatty oil made from the nuts of Karite Nut trees that grow in the semi-arid savannah regions of West and Central Africa.

It contains beneficial vegetable fats that promote cell regeneration and circulation, making it a wonderful healer and rejuvenator for troubled or aging skin. 

Source

It also contains natural sun-protectants. It is very beneficial in the treatment of stretch marks and other skin conditions.

#2. Argan oil: Argan oil is produced from the kernels of the Argan tree and is one of the rarest and most expensive oils in the world. Berber women have used Argan oil for centuries to protect and nourish their skin, hair and nails from the harsh conditions in which they live. 

It has extremely high levels of Vitamin E and 80% fatty acids which make it perfect for healing many skin ailments as well as protecting against premature aging caused by oxidation.

#3: Emu Oil: Emu oil is gotten from the fat of the emu; an Australian bird. Emu oil has been shown to reduce the depth and length of fine lines & wrinkles in many studies as well being moisturizing and a natural skin softener.

Source

It has been proven to be the fastest and most penetrating oil into the skin, as well as a trans - dermal carrier for any other added therapeutic ingredients or skin care. 

Dear Woman: Have you tried Aloe Face and Hand Liquid Soap?

Aloe Hand &Face Liquid Soap is a rich, pearlescent, moisturizing hand and face cleanser with a generous amount of aloe. It creates a luxurious lather, leaving the skin feeling clean, smooth and silky, while minimizing the irritations experienced with some bar soaps. Its mild formula also makes Aloe Hand & Face Soap an ideal shampoo for children and adults alike.

Biodegradable, pH-balanced and non-irritating, it is mild enough for daily facial, hand, hair or body cleansing, and is suitable for those with sensitive skin.

• Mild formula
• Moisturizing cleanser
• Mild and non-irritating
• Pump-action dispenser

 

What do I think about this product?

Aloe Face and Hand Liquid soap can be used to wash the whole body because it is so gentle on the skin. It has this beautiful fragrance that stays a while on your skin. It is so thick that just a little on your sponge can go a long way so a bottle lasts for weeks!

Stay beautiful.

Lily Johnson

Dear Woman: To age gracefully, you need more than expensive anti-aging creams.

My guest writer Sonia Crystella, an Australian based skin care enthusiast did me the honour of sharing her thoughts on anti-aging, anti aging products and general skin care. 

Here is her piece...

In the near future more people will realize how we need a combination of body, mind and soul connection to age well. All the Botox, face lifts and expensive skin creams don’t work unless you are fuelling your body with super foods and high quality supplements.

As you know ECOCERT doesn’t guarantee all ingredients in products are organic so we need to be careful of GMO additives in skin care. Several years ago, I discovered some of the skins tightening creams make the skin less elastic, for whatever reason when you stop, the skin become worse than it was before.

 I have been studying anti-aging since I was 21. The reason for this is that I was born sick, so at 21, I stopped meat sugar and alcohol.

Every one’s DNA is different. You notice some people have no wrinkles but terrible bodies, or visa versa. The skin care market has become more about money than what is best for the body although I must say that some companies strive to formulate the perfect product.

Sonia is 56 years old! Wow! Looking good really.

At different stages of aging, your skin responds in different ways. It recovers better when you’re young this is why many products work for a while, but as you get older unless you have fuelled your body with nutrition and love, the skin care stops working  at the same level.

26 years ago I was a guinea pig for the supplement COQ10. This is the best anti aging nutrient and toner when applied to the skin, but!! MOST don’t work because of the way they have been manufactured. I was reading some blogs on skin care reviews and one woman stated that some companies use twenty year old models for anti-aging products. People are not stupid. They want to get value for their money they want to see what really works.

I have learnt that the love in one’s heart is not enough to halt ageing. People can visualize all they like but what people really need is a combination of good nutrition, love and meditation and no matter how much stress you have in your life, you have to let it go

Dear woman: Have you heard about Royal Jelly?

Some of us may have heard about Royal Jelly and used it. However, there are some people who haven’t. Royal jelly is a milky-white secretion produced by glands of worker honeybees to induce the superior growth and development of the queen bee. Royal jelly is the principal food of the honeybee queen. This substance is believed to be the reason the queen bee lives a long life and is so fertile it lays over 2000 eggs per day.

Royal Jelly is also believed to be of benefit to humans especially women. Listed below are some of them.

• Aids in cell regeneration, has great benefits for the skin and reduces the effects of ageing.
• Improves the skin texture and clarity.
• Boosts the immune system.
• Useful in the prevention and the management of liver and kidney disease.
• Very vital for fertility.
• A mild aphrodisiac.
• Helps to combat stress and its effects.
• It contains Vitamin A, B complex, C, D and E.
• Enhances metabolism and eliminates fatigue.
• Useful in breast health. 
• Especially useful to menopausal women

It does sound too good to be true but people who have been on Royal Jelly for months would tell you that most if not all of it is really true. It contains all the eight essential amino acids and ten secondary amino acids which is why it is dubbed ‘the complete food’.

Remember, to look good, you have to take care of the ‘inside’ just as you take care of the ‘outside’. If you go through the list of benefits again, you would see why every woman should think about having it in her cabinet.

Read more about Royal Jelly here

Keep looking beautiful and have a fabulous weekend.

Lily Johnson

**There would be a seminar on Makeup application, Facials, Weight loss tips, Cancer prevention and much more tomorrow Sunday 23^rd September by 2:30pm at Eagle hall 21/23 Aromire Avenue off Allen Junction, Ikeja, Lagos.

I am Phabiluscious...

 I am moving the contents of Phabiluscious to this blog. So you’d be seeing some reviews on beauty products and fashion stuff.  I would also feature some beauty and fashion businesses once in a while. And fashionable people too.  I figured I could do that here without the stress of managing another blog.

Click here for more information.

Have yourselves a fantastic weekend.

Lily Johnson

Foods that are great for the African skin.

It has been said that you don’t get a glowing skin by just using cosmetics. Nutrition plays a major role too. So I stumbled on foods that are especially good for the skin while looking for materials for a project. I made more research and it seemed like most beauticians/nutritionists agree that these food items should be eaten by every woman especially the African woman as often as she can for that glowing skin.  I must say I didn’t know some of this information and this isn’t a comprehensive list. Just the three I didn’t know about.

Spinach: When I saw this I remembered with mixed feelings the way my mum used to make us eat spinach stew on some Sundays. We would all sit at the table and she would unleash a healthy looking cane and warn us to finish eating our ‘green stew’. We would eat in tears and wonder why we had to eat ‘green’ when we can have the delicious ‘red’ stew we were sure kids all over the world were having at that time. 

That was many years ago though. I totally love it now. Spinach contains lutein. Lutein, a nutrient known to be involved in eye health, has now been found to also play a role in the health of the skin. Lutein improves skin hydration, elasticity and lipid content. Lutein gives us healthier skin, provides deep protection from the harmful blue light of the sun, and may help prevent skin cancer.  Lutein is also found in eggs. In fact, its bioavailability from an egg is higher than from spinach. But I do know I would indulge in vegetables. I am not really an ‘egg’ person.

Skin lightening injections; your opinions please!

Believe it or not, I got to hear about the existence of skin whitening injections and pills about two months ago.[I don carry last abi?]. I decided to write about it because I read in a magazine that it was becoming very popular in Nigeria. Some weeks ago, a pop singer and her ‘friend’ had issues and the issue of skin whitening injections came up. [ Some secrets of these....{fill in the gap} are out there yeah?]

It is said that this injection would give a uniform complexion without knuckles, cures acne, fades scar marks and makes the skin soft and supple. I did a bit of a research and saw that a lot of companies mostly in Asia are marketing these injections and pills.

Got to do it? Smile at it!

Sometimes it is frustrating to want to do a lot of things not because you just want to but because you know you can! Okay what am I talking about? Well, let me use ‘yours sincerely’ as an example. I am a writer. I have written some short stories and published them too. I am a songwriter. I have written and composed music for the choir of my church and I can proudly say that I have a lovely deep voice. It kind of reminds you of Toni Braxton (Don’t believe me but I believe myself. And so does my family. And my friends. And my man. And the guy that featured me in his album. And the guy that is going to produce me some day. I could go on you know).

I have a Diploma in Public Relations from a college in the UK. I am about to get a Bachelors’ degree in Marketing. I know quite a lot in fashion and beauty. In fact, so much that people think that I would be wasting my time pursuing a career in Marketing. I should own and run a beauty business. I was thinking of having my own skin care and make up line. You know I would just look stunning and talk about my ‘moderately priced’ cosmetics and all the stuff that entrepreneurs like Iman and Kimora do. I would just love doing that. Just as I would love autographing my books (collections of short stories mostly). And singing on stage with my fans screaming for more. And having a successful Public Relations outfit that I run with so much finesse, elegance and determination.

Now that I am so sure you don’t envy me, I have also tried modeling. Yes. It is the one thing that I don’t know if it quite agrees with me. I can’t keep a fake smile for more than five seconds and I have been meeting psychos that pose as agents. I have taken loads of pictures and believe me; some of them are not really flattering. Some were just horrible

Why am I telling you this? Well, I know some people blog because they have nothing else better to do. Some do because they want to talk about something. Some do because…people they know have blogs and it would be cool to have one too. Some blogs are for business. Others for pleasure.
I blog because just like I can do all the things mentioned above and want to do it too; I really want to do this. Being a woman who wants to be successful in every sphere of her life is the most challenging thing ever. Every waking moment is a battle. Every move you make is got to be on point. And you have to find a balance to everything. (Like I am preparing dinner as I am typing this. Seriously).

It is not easy. But you got to do it. Just like I write stories and songs, read for my exams and beauty recipes, try to find a job as a PR person, find time for my man and family, and write here when I can. But you know what Miss Girl, I love it! So don’t whine and bitch about all that you have to do. Just do it and find a way to love it all.

This doesn’t have to make sense to everyone so if it does to you, I deeply respect you!

LILY JOHNSON