Foundation ,Blush and contour! An inroduction!..by Vlogger-african export

Home remedies...

Ok, So I am very into finding natural home remedies that work...I miss the days where mums would pass on tried and tested remedies down the family line so here are a few that i have tried for anyone who cares. 
I like many people have oily skin...great for maintaining elasticity of my skin and youthful good looks. Not so great for occasional hormone induced breakouts and shininess. I  have fairly sensitive skin so i am always on the lookout for products that do not irritate or aggravate my skin. Anyway in the last month or so i have tried a few natural products that have made a world of difference.

Firstly, any one with oily skin needs to know what the words "non comedogenic" mean. I must admit, i did not know what this meant until recently but in a nutshell, it means, it does not block or irritate pores and cause comedones ( i.e. black heads or whiteheads) Now, when you start looking in stores you will realize that very few products out there are non comedogenic...so basically, most products can actually give you breakouts or acne. You'd think that would be less cryptic to find out huh???So i have tried to cut out as many of these products as possible. I have found an amazing product. Cetaphil cleanser  is non comedogenic , very gentle and does not strip all the moisture from your skin. A common misconception is that if you have oily skin, you want to get rid of all the oil from your skin. What you will discover is that when harsh cleansers do this, your skin will overproduce oil to compensate for it. You actually want moisture and some oil in your skin and stripping it will make it worse.

Secondly, a good moisturizer will also help with this. I recommend cetaphil moisturizer but even better, pure organic ROSEHIP OIL!!! I have been using it as a moisturizer morning and night. A few drops (like 2)  literally is all you need on cleansed skin and gently massage in and continue with your normal routine. My skin has never felt so soft and an added bonus...it also fades pigmentation and scars from breakouts. 

Last, but not least,...and yes, i saved the best for last...if you do have hyperpigmentation from break outs. By far one of the best treatments to fade them and even out your skintone is ...raw POTATO. Yup! Tried it for a week now and my skin looks so much better. Just a regular potato sliced thinly ( like 2 slices)  and rubbed directly on problem areas and left for about 30 minutes, rinse and moisturise....amazing!!!And cheap:)  I sometimes leave it on and just put the rosehip oil on top. The enzymes in the raw potato do wonders...

So there are my simple and natural remedies for today...enjoy.
-Sista Style

Simple makeup!

So i have just discovered this You tuber, Destiny Goodley and she is amazing at doing makeup tutorials and skin care tips as well. Being a woman of colour it is often difficult to find makeup and skin care products specific to my skin type...anyway, if you ever wondered about how to put on simple makeup...especially eyeshadow which i struggled with but when done properly looks amazing, check her out.

Style: My own designs

So fashion design has been a passion of mine for years now so i thought i would give you a look at some of my sketches. Enjoy!

 

Spirit:

"Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold..."
These words were from an old song my mother would sing around the house when i was a child and for some reason, they have stuck with me. . . I have been reflecting on the friendships i have built over my lifetime and realized how true these words are. As i have grown into an adult, there has been less time in my life. Life gets busy with careers and responsibilities and it highlights the need to make the most of the time we have. I find i have less time and must actively schedule in times to invest in my friendships. Every once in a while you meet someone along this road of life who you are blessed to connect with on a deeper level who enriches your life with such joy...they are precious silver..... , but old friends, they are gold. You slip into conversations like a comfy old sweater, well worn in. Those friends whose loyalty defies the time spent apart. When you see them, it feels like it was just yesterday and the relationship remains unchanged. Years may have passed and yet you pick up where you left off, finish each others sentences, get each others inside jokes. I am so blessed to have them in my life....pure GOLD!

Funny!!!

SOOO FUNNY!!!!

Hmmm....

OK...so what is it about a woman walking down a street that make random drivers feel like they have to catcall, honk at them, even yell from their cars at them? This unsuspecting young lady, going about her business is not going to magically decide,...
"WOW, sexy.....(* fill in the blanks* -sweaty middle aged truck driver who could be my grandfather; random man driving his car;prepubescent student driving with his friends)...you are the man of my dreams . Stop that vehicle, get off the highway and marry me. Because multitasking skills like being able to drive and yell at a woman on the street are exactly the sort of qualities i am looking for in a man!"
I think not...so next time, how about actually having a conversation with someone,because this is not working for you. Just me having a vent today.

STYLE: Harem Pants

Fashion comes and goes and some, i would prefer to go quickly. So my topic for today is harem pants. A cross between MC hammer and Princess Jasmine. I must admit that after having to wear a pair as a costume at a gig, i discovered that they are remarkable airy and breezy as most are made in cotton or linen, and breathe very well. Definetly great for lounging around the house. Anyhow,... i cannot reconcile them with everyday wear (costumes aside) because i still get the feeling that i am being haunted by the ghost of princess jasmine, no matter how comfortable they feel . Also,  being  a woman blessed with curves i think at times it may accentuate them too much. I must say though, that i do have a girlfriend who is model thin and suits them so perhaps it is a style that suits certain figures and not others. Your thoughts?

Artist of the day

Today's artist is a singer called ADELE...surprisingly soulful voice. My favorite song at the moment is "Someone like you " it is on repeat on my iPod Its one of those songs that gets stuck in your head. . Check it out

!

"Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt , Dance like no one is watching, Live like its heaven on earth"

So this is one of my all time favorite quotes...I try to live my life by it.

Work like you don't need the money-
I think in the world today we are so caught up in peoples expectations of what we should do. I am generation x/y...who knows really ...but i have always been someone who has never wanted to do the daily grind. Whats the point of being in a job where you spend( lets face it), most of your adult life only to hate what you do???? It boggles my mind. I think in this day and age of opportunity...the world is our oyster. Do what you love and when your heart is in it, you will be extraordinary and the money will work itself out. Life is too short.

Love like youve never been hurt-
So i was talking to a friend the other day about "first love." That crazy emotion when the other person literally consumes your thoughts on a daily basis and you feel elated at the sound of their name. They could be the total opposite of what you want or need in your life, but to you they're flawless. ( By The Way, that's the chemicals in the hormones talking and believe me they wear off!!!) But at the end of the day when that first love ends it can be devastating. The beauty of it is that usually, first love is fleeting and True love is forever. So don't judge your true love by the failings of your first love. Love like you've never been hurt.

Dance like no one is watching.-
There is nothing so exhilarating as being swept up by music. So consumed in movement that you forget where you are. There is something so beautiful and innocent about having the freedom to dance and not care who sees you or who is around. I dance as much as i can...its refreshing. Try it

Live like its heaven on earth-
Live each day like it was your last. Give generously , love others passionately , laugh deeply,  and have faith!

Spirit:

A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.( pr 17:17)

So this is a really interesting proverb that i think is so true.In this global village of ours so many of us are separated by distance from our family members and as a result our friends who we let into our lives have become family to us. When i think of my closest friends i know that i would do anything for them . ..(i think i have even promised some our first born child) . We've laughed and cried with them .Loyal??? Absolutely!Then there's your family. Especially your siblings who know the real you. From beginning to end. When you wore those geeky glasses in primary school or didn't have a fashion sense to save your life.They know what buttons to push to make you lose your mind. They say the things no one is game to and often what you don't want to hear. But here's the great part about family...although they may be on the sidelines for a lot of whats going on, the minute you are in need, there they are. Distance be damned, differences pushed aside,opposing personalities forgotten. "A brother is born to help in time of need."

Artist of the day :

So, Our artist for the day is none other than Natasha Bedingfield. One of my favorites. She is a mix of pop and r&b and has some amazing dance anthems thrown in the mix. Enjoy!

 

 

Style: Leggings

I just wanted to say that i understand that the legging phenomenon is sweeping the world at the moment but they are NOT pants! Ladies, let us all invest in a long T-shirt or tunic or sundress when reaching for leggings so that the general public isn't embarrassed for you as you walk down the street with your VPL, not to mention the muffin top phenomenon. And please, for the love of all that is good, Opaque stockings/ pantyhose are also not pants......( I had an unfortunate viewing of opaque stockings worn as pants that left me gobsmacked and traumatized). A long t-shirt or shirt/dress over  leggings at least makes it look like you did not walk out the door and forget to put on the rest of your clothing and generally , a neat skinny dark denim jean will suffice and you will look classy in them. I'm out!

Artist of the day

Christina Perri is an amazingly emotive singer. I first heard her song "Jar of hearts " While watching an episode of So you think you can dance . Her song was used for a contemporary piece and after hearing it, i looked her up. Check her out at her official you tube video for "Jar of hearts."

Did you know???

FRINGE

So a new host of new T.v. series are starting up and being a huge fan of series in general i am impressed with the way that creators are investing in creating amazing story lines that not only entertain the audiences but also makes the audience really think and problem solve at the same time. One of my ALL time favorite shows is "FRINGE". I must start with the disclaimer that i am not a fan of science fiction and have never been into shows like X- files but fringe sucked me in. At first, it appears to be a series of stand alone episodes of an investigative team investigating bizzare events and i must say the gore factor does come into play on occasion but then all of a sudden, at the end of the first season...they tie everything together and the audience gets a glimpse of the wider plot and it gets AWESOME!!! I was sold...and it just got better from there. The characters are quirky and endearing and make you love them as much as you do the series as a whole. Joshua Jackson has come a long way since Dawson's creek and holds his own as a lead actor and the Aussies Anna Torv and John noble highlight the outstanding actors coming out of Australia these days. A shout out to series creator J.J. Abrams as well. A phenomenal storyteller who has carved quite a name for himself in the movie and t.v. industry. I still love his series "felicity". One of my all time favorites. So if you are in the mood to check out a new series...try FRINGE. 

http://www.fringetelevision.com/ 

http://www.fringetelevision.com/