Your Epifany

Good morning, a lot of questions come out on my mind, regarding this mineral oil. I'm a certified user of this product, recently I find out that every time I move, its as if my body flakes. Is this an effect of mineral oil? I need a possible answer asap. Thanks..

Anon. Zamboanga City


Dear Anon,

Well it could be a number of things. I'm not sure what you mean so I'm guessing that your skin is starting to flake. This could mean that your skin is now stating to starve.

Has your diet changed recently? or maybe the weather? constant temperature changes? Changes in soap or clothing?

As I say in my article about mineral oil, it is nothing but a film that protects the skin from dryness but it doesn't add moisture to the skin as it doesn't pass through the skin.(that's why it always says to apply to damp skin or after a shower as water is moisturizing!)

So if for example you have a poor diet your skin will become dry thus leaving the mineral oil with nothing to cling on to, resulting in a flaking effect. If you had used something like almond oil it would have added moisture to the skin and then you would not have had a flaking effect, even though you still had a poor diet. But I must add that your skin even though no longer flaking will not look healthy.

Looking after your body inside is just as important as the outside or even more.

I hope this helps

Pros Conditioner detangled hair very well, lots of slip and moisture
Cons Shampoo dried and tangled hair into a hot mess, didn’t clean scalp very well. Smell from both products was over powering
Price £ 9.49 Shampoo was free great price/ deal
Recommend? Yes but only the conditioner



Ingredients
The Shampoo

Deionized Water , Coconut Oil-Corn Oil Soap , Hydrolyzed Soy Protein , Organic Aloe Vera , Carrgeenen , Vegetable Glycerin , Organic Shea Butter , Bitter Almond Oil , Pimenta Leaf Oil , Allspice Powder , Sweet Almond Oil , Jojoba Butter , Mango Butter , Organic Coconut Milk , Aubreys Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract , Vitamins A , and , E )

The Conditioner

Coconut Fatty Acid Cream Base , Organic Aloe Vera , Wheat Germ Oil , Almond Protein , Extracts of Fennel , Hops , Balm Mint , Mistletoe , Camomile , and Yarrow , Organic Coconut Milk , Jojoba Butter , Organic Shea Butter , Horsetail Extract , Coltsfoot Extract , Aubreys Preservative (Citrus Seed Extract , Vitamins A , and , E) , Vegetable Glycerin , Organic Rosemary Oil , Pimenta Leaf Oil , Allspice Powder , Organic Sage Oil , Carrot Oil

After immense hesitation, looking at other people reviews, and finding out that Organic Surge is no longer stocked in my local store, I decided to give this a go. I was seduced by the packaging, which showed a black woman with her beautiful, natural kinky hair, a huge smile and the words of ‘Buy One, Get One Free!’ (the shampoo came free with the conditioner) and at £9.49 it was a bargain.

As soon as I was ready, I jumped into the shower and opened the shampoo bottle; unfortunately I was greeted with a strong medicated, herbal smell. I almost nearly threw the bottle to the side but I eventually gave in and put a small amount in my hair. After all, it is ‘Organic’ you can’t go wrong, right? My mother always told me that the products that smell the worse, works the best. Wrong! This shampoo made my hair really dry, it had no slip, and so it was extremely difficult to rinse my hair without it getting tangled into a hot mess. The smell was making me feel really sick so I couldn’t really continue using it, further, the bottle was nearly finished, as I couldn’t get my scalp clean.

Afterwards, I was at the point of praying that the conditioner would rescue my hair. Again the smell was the same, maybe even worse, who knows… anything used after that shampoo would seem worse to me… I slathered a lot of the conditioner on my hair with the hope that I could detangle my hair. With luck, it detangled very well and with the final rinse my hair was super soft with defined curls. The conditioner saved my hair and scalp!

Overall I found that the conditioner worked better than the shampoo. The shampoo foams up really quickly but it felt really drying on the hair. It took too long to wash my hair and scalp as it tangled immediately and I almost felt nauseated by the smell. I would recommend using the conditioner as it was very moisturizing and gave a good slip when detangling but based on the smell I wouldn’t use these products again.

Pros Great moisturizer when used as a leave in, smells scrummy and less to no breakage
Cons 225ml bottle doesn’t last long
Price £9,99
Recommend? Yes








Ingredients
Aqua, Simmondsia chinensis (Organic jojoba oil), *Aloe Barbadensis, *+Cetyl alcohol, *Behetrimonium methosulfate (and) *Cetearyl alcohol, Olea europaea (olive) oil, Equisetum arvense (horsetail) extract, Urtica dioica (organic nettle) extract, Althaea officinalis (organic marshmallow) extract, Lavandula angustifolia (organic lavender) extract, Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl glycol, *Citric acid, Fragrance (made from blend of natural plant extracts and essential oils)

I saw this product by accident, surfing on the Internet, reading up on my favourite topic... hair. I found Crown pride’s website and was interested in their products as some of them are ecocert certified. With much thought and anticipation, I decided to buy their Organic Milk as I liked the ingredients used in the product. Jojoba oil as a second ingredient is a major plus point for me.

I first used this product as a wash out after my shampoo, but I found out that my hair was a little on the dry side afterwards. So on a daily basis I put a small amount of product on my hair and it was very moisturized. I did this for a week and at the weekend I washed my hair with a simple shampoo brand and my hair had major slippage! I was impressed; it was like doing the daily ritual of moisturizing my hair had prepped my hair like a pre shampoo treatment. I had super soft and shiny hair with very defined curls and no breakage through combing.

The heavenly smell was so good enough to eat, I love products that have sweet or flowery smells, a very good reason for me to buy this product again next to the moisturizing properties that worked. From now on I will use this as a daily moisturizer/ pre poo treatment. I gave this 4.5 out of 5 because it’s a shame that it doesn’t last very long. I might have to buy a larger size bottle.

Pros Removes dead skin, lightly moisturises, good for eczema, lasts a long time, affordable
Cons After a while is just stopped working…..
Price £6.95
Recommend? Maybe,







Ingredients
African Black Soap (Saponifed Wildcrafted Virgin Shea Butter, Coconut Oil & Cocoa Pod)*, Organic Rosewater (Rosa damascena), Frankincense Essential Oil (Boswellia carterii), Patchouli Essential Oil (Pogostemon patchouli).

I was looking for a product that didn’t have SLS to wash my body with. I use to use Sanex in the yellow bottle but eventually my skin became overly dry, itchy, flaky and tight. Especially during the winter months so I found this website called Akamuti. Where they sell only pure products with no man- made chemicals and they try to source all their products ethically and fairtrade. I decided to buy the Famous African Black soap that everyone raves about. For a while this product was heaven, The smell was pleasing, I only need a dime amount for it the disperse on my pouf with water over my skin. I had super soft and clear skin, my scars were fading away and my boyfriend who had dry skin on his face especially around his nose, used some which worked a treat. I teamed this soap with the usage of coconut oil and we had problem free skin for a while.

But out of the blue something happened. My boyfriend continued using this the products with no issues as it kept on working for him, but for me my skin just suddenly changed. The soap was no longer removing the dead skin. I found my self going back into the shower each time I saw dirty flakes coming off on to the towel. After using the coconut oil on my skin, within minutes my skin would look dry and flaky, especially my lower legs. I thought maybe my showers were too hot so I changed to warm ones but I had no success. I checked the ingredients to see it anything had changed since I bought the very first batch. No change. After checking other possibilities and and another month of usage, I just had to admit that it was not working for me anymore.

It’s a real shame really because this was the best soap I ever had used and now I have to use Dove shower cream which fortunately for me has glycerin as the second ingredient and SLS as the 5th.

From sheer frustration of having bad advice, hair dressers destroying my hair, sales assistants with no experience of my afro hair and skin, trying endless amount of creams, and shampoos that do not work, pulling my hair out traveling miles to find the products that I needed. I suddenly decided to create a blog to make life easier for women of colour. Where you can take out your frustrations on the web and find a better understanding of how to look after your natural self. Its high time that women of colour shop proudly like everyone else and rock their true natural and beautiful self.

Please feel free to leave comments or email any questions at: yourepifany@hotmail.com

We can help each other to be proud of our selves.

The word Epifany is derived from the word 'Epiphany' meaning: A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization:

"I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself" FRANK MAIER.

From just browsing youtube today, I came across a useful video that I'm sure will help a lot of people. Especially those women I see out on the street with barely any eyebrows, looking scary like a mad witch!! yikes..

Enjoy!
:c)

First of all I wouldn't go out and get a curly perm because that could create future problems. You might notice more shedding and breakage than before and there is not many professional salons that still do them. I wouldn't do a perm myself and there could be numerous reasons why the front of your hair is straighter than the back, which can be easily resolved. It could range from you having 2 different hair textures, which means that they just have to be treated differently or you might have the dreaded heat damage, as you say that the ends do not curl at all. I know with my hair that I flat ironed it once in the past and the back was fine after being washed but the front was a hot mess, especially the ends so I had to cut and grow it out to start again…

Another reason could be that you have product build up which in this case you need to clarify your hair. Product build up can make the hair have a looser curl pattern and weigh the hair down. In this case using lighter oils/ creams (e.g. coconut oil, almond oil, shea butter), gels, and sulfate–free shampoos or apple cider vinegar, baking soda and moisturizing conditioners in the area should help. I know when it comes to products less is more, try not to put a lot of product in the front of your hair and check your product regime, as certain products contain bad ingredients that weigh down the hair or alter the texture pattern (Sodium Hydroxide).

You say that you barely have any breakage or shedding so maybe that is your hair’s natural state. Was your hair this texture before you started perming it? If this is the case then there’s nothing wrong with your hair and you just have to learn ways to style your hair better. Most likely the twists don’t stay in because you often trim your hair so the ends are too straight to hold!

There are a lot of hairstyles you can do so that you don’t notice the obvious texture difference. For example you could have a hump (not sure if this is the right term) in the front clipped down at the top and the back hanging down or slick down the front/sides with a side part , Denman brush and shea butter, clip behind the ears with small comb clips, rocking an afro.

You could also try a straw set on the front of your hair (freshly washed hair), using straws that produce similar width/size curls as the back. Add small amounts of gel or setting lotion before putting each straw, air dry and after you remove the straws, separate and twirl each curl with your fingers to create fullness. Once the hairstyle is achieved just wrap the hair at night with a satin scarf and spritz daily so the style lasts longer.

There is a girl on youtube called "prettydimples01" you should look her up as she often does these types of hairstyles. Click here for her page.

I hope this helps.

Readers do you know of anything else I might have missed?

ACV has been used as a natural hair care product for women with curly to promote healthy and shiny hair. Its acidity is very close to that of natural hair, it’s a good conditioner and cleaning agent as well as an anti-bacterial agent (germ killer).


Rinsing with ACV will balance the PH of your hair and remove build up that can result from the use of heavy styling products and harsh shampoos. Rinsing will also close the numerous cuticles scales that cover the hair shaft thus creating shiny smooth and easy to manage hair. The cuticles mostly open because of hard water and Sulfates, which creates the dry, rough and dull looking hair. It is also a natural anti-bacterial agent to helps combat dandruff.

If you’re wondering about the slight smell if you use it in your hair, it goes away when the hair is dry.

Note
Try to buy raw ACV which is very dark brown as this one has the most benefits to the hair and the lighter brown ACV have been filtered, distilled and manipulated to look that way, removing the benefits!

" True, raw, natural Apple Cider Vinegar should be a brownish liquid containing a gelatin-like substance that appears as little cobwebs floating in the vinegar. This is known as "the mother of vinegar," oasisadvancewellness.com

Make your own after-shampoo rinse
You’ll need
-ACV the cloudy, dark brown one
-Water
-A spray bottle

Mix 2 teaspoons of ACV and 2 cups of water into the spray bottle (you can add 1 tablespoon of baking soda to clarify further if you have oily hair)

Wash your hair with your normal conditioner (no-poo routine) or shampoo then spray the ACV mixture in your hair and leave it for 3 mins then wash out.

Then follow with a leave-in conditioner.

You only need to do this once a month for dry hair, every 2 weeks for oily hair because anymore and your hair will become very dry! It is also possible to add essential oils to use as a shampoo or leave in a teaspoon of ACV in your hair after using your normal shampoo for extra conditioning.

Also if you suffer from dandruff try adding undiluted ACV to the scalp and leave it for 30mins before washing the hair! Again you can add other ingredients like tea tree or lavender to soothe itchy scalp.

Hello Readers

Its that time of the month again where you can submit your picture of your best hairstyle styled by you to win BOTM. Remember the deadline is the 22nd of every month and I need max 6 participants to start the voting!

For rules read more...

Madame Pepper, 22, from London,UK

Give me one word to describe your hair?
Unique

What fav hairstyle do you wear the most?
Pin up do.

How does wearing natural hair make you feel?
Free

What 3 products can you not live without?
Water, olive oil and glycerin.

As a natural sister, have you always been natural and why?
I relaxed my hair twice between the ages of 11 and 12. I begged my mum to let me do it all through childhood but she didn't give in till her sister came to visit from the U.S. Virgin Islands and told her that all the girls in the States were doing it. But my Mum would not let me redo my re-growth on a regular basis - although she had chemicals in her own hair she did not agree with my auntie relaxing my hair. So, I always had loads of re-growth and my hair pretty much looked natural. I gave up the creamy crack quite willingly just because it became really pointless with all the new growth and a lot of it fell out.

I started twisting my hair when I was about 12 or 13 years old and did not chop off the relaxer. My hair was a decent length for doing lots of styles but never felt completely healthy so I decided to do a big chop to get my afro shaped and finally trim off my chemically altered ends aged 20 in March 2008. My first proper cut was lovely it was done by a Cameroonian Barber in Kentish Town, London who took his time and got the shape perfectly round. My ends felt so healthy. However, I made a mistake by going to a different barber in July 2008, who I didn't know, for my second cut and I got messed up by their inexperience, ignorance, and impatience with shaping afros (I say their because 2 barbers cut my hair in that sitting and neither one knew what they were doing).

Now, I'm completely in love with my head of completely natural new growth and I've decided to never let anything harsh touch my hair and skin again. I figure that the only way to insure that, is to make my own skin and hair products. I have learnt a lot from the internet so I decided to put everything I'd found together on this network on Ning (naturallykinky.ning.com) the numbers are growing and we are very much open to handy tips for hair, beauty and general wellbeing as well as pictures, videos and stories about personal journeys so please add.

I see that you’re a musician, why did you decide to become a singer?
I decided to study History in University but quit after one year and realised that I wanted to do music full time. I’ve been writing since I was 14. I’ve been singing in choirs since I was 10 and performing as an individual since I was 17.

What is your music style and what do you mainly sing about?
Soul, sometimes looped or backed by guitar or a full band. I mainly sing about love, unrequited love and perverts in clubs.

How did you get into the music industry and was it difficult? Was there any support?
I just took myself out to open mics and started learning to play the guitar so that I could back myself from the age of 16. Now I get asked to perform at nights and I’ve found support amongst a collective of DJs, musicians and singers called the Spredluv Collective.

As a performer, is there pressure to stay natural?
I guess there can be a pressure to stand out with your music, your personality and your appearance because you are trying to be noticed. I do feel that my natural look helps me to stand out just because it helps me to create a unique look for myself which I don’t believe I could have created back when my hair was relaxed.

Do you have any advice or tips for people transitioning or natural?
Water will help to make everything easier. Try to soften the water before using it with a water filter and mix it with some glycerine in a spritz bottle and dampen the hair before styling.

Any last words regarding your hair?
I remember after having a lot of my hair chopped off I felt like there was not much progress especially at the back, which I thought had stopped growing. But I found that tracking my hair’s progress in pictures really helped and also giving my hair a bit of a rest by keeping it in twists and keeping it wrapped in a satin scarf when I didn’t need my hair out, also helped.

Everyone should know that water is the best moisture for your hair and skin, without it the result would be damaging, but your home’s water might be the culprit for dull lifeless frizzy, hair or itchy skin. I’ll tell you why…

What is Hard Water?
As describe by Wikipedia, hard water is water that has high mineral content (mainly calcium and magnesium ions) (in contrast with soft water). Hard water minerals primarily consist of calcium (Ca2+), and magnesium (Mg2+) metal cations, and sometimes other dissolved compounds such as bicarbonates and sulfates. Calcium usually enters the water as either calcium carbonate (CaCO3), in the form of limestone and chalk, or calcium sulfate (CaSO4), in the form of other mineral deposits. The predominant source of magnesium is dolomite (CaMg(CO3)2). Hard water is generally not harmful to one's health.

To know if you have hard water the telltale signs are:
* Dull,dry, brittle frizzy hair that feels like a film is on it
* Soap scum in the bottom of sinks and bathtubs
* Bathtub rings
* Dry water spots on dishes, shower doors and foundation taps
* Soaps and detergents that don’t foam up quickly (resulting in using too much to get the foam, dry hair/skin etc…)
* Clogged pipes from build up of minerals
* Off white scales in your kettle or iron
* Clothes that has a sticky film and feels slippery after been washed with fabric softener and tears easily
* Itchy white skin- caused by soap scum and water

What should I do to prevent this, you ask? Well there are several options available…

Water Softener
A process called ion-exchange removes water hardness. It’s a system that is added to your boiler so that your home water supply is softened.

Water Purifiers/Filters for your shower
This is a cheaper option than getting a water softener as you attach the device to your shower head. These filters provide PH balanced water that is chlorine free and prevents heavy metals and harmful minerals from passing through your shower head.

Use a clarifying shampoo
This is for those who cannot add filters or water softeners (non-homeowners or financial reasons etc…). These shampoos remove the build up of minerals and old hair products as washing your hair with normal shampoo in hard water does not remove all debris. You’ll find that after using it your hair is more manageable, bouncy, cleaner and shinier. DO NOT use it on colour treated hair, as it will fade your colour!

Use Vinegar for your washing machine and skin!
No you won’t smell like fish and chips or pickle! I swear to you that if you put white vinegar in your wash instead of fabric softener, your clothes will feel super soft instead of sticky and will smell fresh! You’ll also notice that your washing machine smell better to as the vinegar cleans the soap dispenser and removes lint. Not only that but the colour will last longer (especially whites) and your clothes will have less friction in the dryer so there will be less tears and. My mum washes her towels with vinegar and they come out fluffy, soft and bouncy, they never go flat, fall apart or hard which is common with hard water and fabric softener.

As for your skin you could have warm showers or baths instead of piping hot ones or after your shower/bath rub white vinegar on your skin to restore the PH balance and remove the itching before towel drying! (The smell goes away, honest).

Lately I’ve been trying to find and buy products that are non GM (genetically modified), but I didn’t really pay much attention to the fact that there is a difference between organic and natural products and how they are labeled. I’ve noticed that there are still a lot of people who confuse the two and end up buying the wrong type of products or are just misinformed.

Organic describes a ingredient as grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers and are processed without man-made chemicals

Natural refers to ingredients that can be derived from petrol, plants, minerals and algae. They are non- GM (genetically modified)

Some people find the labels confusing. “What products are organic? How do you know if the product is really organic or natural? "

Well we have certifying bodies that help our search for organic or natural products. They analyze the products then give a mark of approval depending on the ingredients. For example the Soil Association say that they only give the approval of using the “certified organic” logo if the product has a minimum of 95% organic ingredients and if there is up to 70% they add the “made with xx organic ingredients” logo (the rest of the percentage make up natural ingredients).

In the EU all products have to be certified in order for them to be labeled “organic” but unfortunately it doesn’t extend to beauty products. You still find products that could only have 1% organic ingredients with other harmful ingredients like SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and are still labeled organic! So you really have to be careful, however the Soil Association would not approve this!

The best thing to do when sourcing organic or natural products is to find out what ingredients the certifying bodies don’t accept and look for the official logos of the certifying bodies. In case you don’t find any and it is labeled as “certified organic”, check the ingredients on the back because chances are that it has only small amounts of organic ingredients. If that is the case, then you make a choice for yourself. As for me its pointless buying something like that especially when the whole point was to avoid GM ingredients! The same technique should be applied to natural products as well.

Here are some certifying bodies that you might want to look at, they list companies that sell certified products as well as brands. Plus they inform you on the ingredients they do not approve. (Click on images)




BEWARE
As a final note be careful when looking at the products with certified labels as sometimes they may have lookalikes on them that claim to have approval of the certifying bodies! (these obviously haven’t been through any certification procedure)

As an experienced editorial and celebrity makeup artist, Todra tells us about her makeup theory workshop, her work experiences, tips for achieving flawless beauty and her thoughts on natural products.

So what do you do?
I'm a makeup artist/wardrobe stylist/beauty blogger, In transition (soon to be in Southern California)

Tell us a little about yourself and if you attended school or are you a self taught makeup artist?
I became a makeup artist by assisting top makeup artists, Laura Mercier & Brigette Riess Andersen on shoots and at Fashion Week shows. I also worked as a freelance makeup artist under Bobbi Brown.

What is your favorite or most exciting aspect about your job?
I love how my job is different every day. Even though I no longer work in the glamorous fashion arena, I still get to make my hours and create my own work. Between commercial advertising jobs and my workshops, I am on the go. I need that. I don’t do well going into an office, sitting in a cubicle under fluorescent lights every day. It kills my spirit.

Why did you start Makeup Theory Workshops?
Originally, I started my workshops because there just isn’t enough professional ad work in the area where I now live, but as the workshops (which include overall image and self esteem messages along with makeup techniques) grew in popularity, I began to realize how much I enjoy teaching women the tricks of the trade. So many women get their makeup advice from a source that is trying to sell them a product or service. You have to wonder how self-serving that advice is. Women pay me to come and give them unbiased opinions on brands, colors and techniques. I’m not sponsored by any brands. I don’t sell products. What I endorse in my workshops is truth for me. I won’t push something just because a brand sends me a box of free products. As a result, my clients trust me.

What individual makeup products and brands are you "addicted" to at the moment and use on a daily basis?
Well, I’m really into natural and organic Indie brands, like Priia Cosmetics and Eve Organics, so most of my personal color choices revolve around these two brands. Skin Scentuals is my skin care line. As for work, I try to stick to mostly natural brands, but that’s not always realistic based on what I need a product to do on set. Face Stockholm has amazingly fun and long lasting eye shadow colors and I’ll never part with Nars Orgasm blush because it works on so many skin tones.

What are some of the most basic but effective skin care tips that you have that are really important?
I am not an esthetician, I am a makeup artist – I deal primarily with color, creating a look. But naturally, I have to deal with the consequences of how a model/client takes care of her skin. When I attempt to apply color and it drags or looks blotchy, I know the woman isn’t taking good care of her skin. So I always ask her about her routine. If exfoliation isn’t a part of it, I recommend that she consider it. Getting the dead skin cells off goes a long way. Skin looks healthier and makeup goes on easier.

What are the biggest skin care don't s?
I’d say don’t buy skin care just because it’s expensive or hyped by some celeb. I use very simple things on my skin – all natural brands and homemade concoctions like raw honey and Greek yogurt. It’s not expensive, but my skin is in top condition.

Have you had an extreme, crazy or bad experience with a skin care product or during a makeup session? If so, what happened?
Actually, no I haven’t. I use good brands that are made from the most basic ingredients. At least in skin care. Makeup I’ve applied hasn’t caused any issues either, thank goodness. I’d hate for a model to have a reaction to something I used on her face.

What do you find to be the most common mistakes women make with makeup?
Hands down – not matching foundation correctly. I cringe when I see that telltale color line around the jaw. I always start off my workshops by explaining that foundation is supposed to match the color you are, not the color you wish you were. Most of my clients are white and a common complaint I hear is “I’m too pale,” so she buys a darker foundation. No, don’t do it. Match your skin and then use a bronzer or blush to add warmth and color. I hear that black clients want to use lighter foundations (I’ve never had this in fifteen years of work, but I hear it a lot from other artists) but the same rule applies. Don’t change your natural coloring with foundation. It will look ashy and weird if the foundation is too light.

What celebrities do you consider are good examples to follow in terms of their make up style?
Um, most celebrities don’t do their own makeup. I know because I was one of the artists who worked with celebs. I did Mariah Carey, Donna Karan, Sigourney Weaver, Soledad O’Brien, Kimora Lee and many others. I can suggest great makeup artists to follow. LOL

As a fellow Afro-American how would one go about finding the correct match for foundation and particular brands that work the best?
Matching foundation colors is the same for women of all ethnicities. Do the famous three-stripe test with three foundation colors close to the jaw. Wait about three minutes (foundation changes color on the skin) and check to see which color seems to “disappear” into the skin. That’s the correct match. I’ll add that women of color have a harder time doing bargain makeup. It takes more precision to make brown colors than it does beige colors. Drug store brands don’t always get it right and the amount of Titanium Dioxide that they use tends to create gray, ashy tones. Stick with good brands like, Priia, Becca and MAC.

What are your thoughts on organic/natural makeup? Do you use and/or would you recommend them?
I try to use as much natural/organic products in my work kit as possible. I only use organic and/or natural products on myself. It’s really important to me that I don’t add potentially harmful chemicals to my body just so I can look good or save a buck. I don’t even use commercial hair products. I make my own. When I learned to understand the ingredients in beauty/hair products, I swore off everything mainstream. Also, be aware that everything labeled “natural” isn’t. Read the ingredients list.

Are there any beauty secrets that you can share with the readers?
Look outside the big department store lines to the Indie lines where women with small businesses are creating healthy, beautiful products that don’t cause harm to people or the environment. I think that’s the most important beauty secret. To find such brands, go to www.Indiebeauty.com or purchase Organic Beauty Magazine.



Todra has a blog called makeuptheoryworkshops.com where you'll find information for all types of women and make up beauty.

Hello fellow readers, these are the first 6 participants for hair BOTM. Are you fond of the big afro or maybe wavy long hair with a bang? Well I'll leave the voting up to you guyz, vote for your favourite style!


To vote choose your fav hairstyle on the poll section on the far right sidebar! voting will close on the 30th!

See the previous BOTM (May) here

Garrett Augustus Morgan, born in 1877 and died in 1963 stumble across a hair straightening cream when he was working in his clothing shop. He created a original lubricating liquid for his needles to prevent static on the garments. It is widely thought that one day he wiped the liquid off his hands on a piece of woolly cloth when he went to dinner, only to find when he return that the fibres on his cloth had straighten.

He later experimented on his neighbour’s dog (Airedale- has curly fur) to see if the dog’s fur would have the same effect and it worked. The dog’s fur was so smooth that apparently the owner did not recognise his own pet and shooed him away!

Satisfied with his experiment and trying it on his own hair, Morgan later went on to selling his own product called G.A Morgan’s Hair Refiner. From this evolved a wide line of products (including skin bleaching creams, hot combs, hair pomades and more) and was later claimed to be the only complete line hair preparations in the world!

Garrett Morgan later created the first gas mask and patented a traffic light system. To find out more information about him and his other creations click here

Having named my blog ‘Your Epifany’ I find it only normal to share with you my latest epiphany brought on by a conversation with my boyfriend whilst he was playing FIFA 09 on his Xbox 360. Now before I continue let me give you a scenario…

Imagine you are shopping around for a car. You have a particular family car in mind and come across a car salesman. The salesman shows you several options and you finally find the best family car according to the salesman. With no more than a convincing smile, the salesman says the following:

“This car has 7 seats, a spacious boot, air conditioning, central locking and power steering, but please note that it has no seat belts, a missing window, no hand brake and the petrol tank is tied with a string to the top of the bonnet. Plus there is no guarantee that you’ll manage to drive the car for a few blocks and actually survive. All of this for £650 and I’ll let you drive off with it the same day”

Now what would you say? I hope you would say “not a chance!” because it sounds like a death trap. I mean, jeez there’s a dodgy petrol tank, no handbrake or seat belts! You wouldn’t buy a car with all these problems now would you? I would assume that you would wait for the car to be fixed with actually proof that its safe to drive. Well that was exactly what I was comparing the ingredients that are found in beauty cosmetics to.

I have read a lot of articles and websites about the ingredients Paraben and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Having seen both sides of the story, I came to the conclusion with my boyfriend today that if I don’t see any concrete evidence that these products don’t cause any long/short term illnesses, then why should I buy them? I would rather avoid these ingredients then to use them. Saying that there is no evidence is like saying that it’s not safe to use either.

My motto is: Dangerous till proven safe!

Here are some links for further reading:
Sodium Laureth Sulfate
SLS
Paraben