Hair Happenings

Hello My Curly Cuties!

Penny here with a new hair product trial. For quite some time I had been reading about a line of products for natural hair called HAIR RULES. I read good things but wanted to wait until my Mixed Chicks products were done, before trying it myself. To my surprise the ULTA beauty store near my house just recently began selling Hair Rules and my stylist said her clients loved it. Penny's curiousity was peaked,and since this summer has turned out to be extremely hot and humid, Penny and her naturally curly hair have not been acting like BFFs. The constant humidity has made it impossible to wear a blown out (straight) style without it turning into a hair helmet within an hour of exposure to the outdoor elements. *sigh*  So Penny has decided to find a way to get along with her crazy curls. ...(read full story...)

Skintastic!

Hello Beloveds!
Penny's back. I hope you missed me. LOL! So sorry for the delay in posts...but sometimes we have to pause for a cause.

So what does Penny have to share with you today? Skincare trials. Yes...some old products, some new. Penny was recently diagnosed with melasma and had to make significant changes to her skincare regimen. Over the past year or so I noticed dark patches on my face which I thought may have been sun damage from years of being a self-proclaimed sun goddess. But none of the over-the-counter fade creams/gels worked. Melasma is a skin condition that causes hyper pigmentation usually on the face, and it is exacerbated by the sun. Here is the medical definition.

Melasma -- Pigmentation of the face, most commonly on the malar area (the upper cheek), bridge of nose, forehead, and upper lip, that occurs in half of women during pregnancy. Melasma darkens from sun or any UV exposure. Sunscreens are essential. They should be broad spectrum.

Sometimes called the 'mask of pregnancy,' melasma can also be caused by birth control pills; and women who are neither pregnant or on birth control can sometimes have melasma. In order to get rid of the frustrating dark patches on my forehead, outer corners of my eyes and upper cheeks, my dermatologist prescribed Tri-Luma. This prescription strength (4%) hydroquinone cream contains tretinoin, and fluocinolone acetonide. It did a pretty good job of fading my discoloration. I have been on the treatment for almost two months but will stop treatment by the end of August before going back to the dermatologist in September. Because the medicine is fairly strong, it is not prescribed for more than 2-3 months at a time. It is recommended that you stop treatment for about 6-8 weeks before using it again. It is an expensive medication that is often not covered by medical insurance...my sale price at the dermatologist office was $113. Ouch! It was not covered by insurance and would have been anywhere from $120-$160 if I took the prescription to the pharmacy. But the .30g tube will last more than a year for sure; it is a spot treatment. (read full story...)

Nail It!

How many of you have Penny's penchant for nail polish? Well, I couldn't be more excited when I heard about Zoya's Nail Polish Exchange program in support of Earth Day. This special progam began on April 22nd and ends on June 30th. I know...I know...Penny's a little late with the news but that's because it took some time to go through their 300 colors and pick out the ones I wanted to buy at half price!  LOL! Remember that Zoya is a toluene, camphor, and formaldehyde free polish that is also vegan friendly. Here is how the program works.

For a limited time, kicking off on Earth Day (April 22, 2010 - 12 PM EST), Zoya Nail Polish will exchange your old, out-of-style, unwanted nail color and replenish your nail polish supply with fresh Zoya fashion colors. Simply send in six or more bottles of old polish - any brand other than Zoya, Qtica or Nocti, new or used - and we'll send you the new Zoya colors of your choice in a bottle-for-bottle exchange.

The new Zoya Polish is not free but 'half price'...so for $3.50 each you get as many polishes as you send them. You have to register online and make your selection/purchase. But they don't charge your credit card or send you the new polish until they receive your old polishes to be recycled. So Penny dug up 12 bottles of old polish and went shopping! (I still have at least 40 bottles of polish in my 'active' drawer. Ssshh! Please don't call the polish police on me. LOL!) (read full story...)

Could You Please Pass the Jelly?

Penny apologizes once again for letting 'life' get in the way of her blog action. I miss you guys!

A few weeks ago a friend brought to Penny's attention that Carol's Daughter had a new product that sounded fun...Body Jelly. Now who wouldn't want to try something called 'jelly' for the body?  LOL! Penny was on it! With skin like a desert oasis Penny had nothing to lose. This natural, unscented alternative to petroleum jelly promises to moisturize the skin, remove make-up, protect against minor scrapes, soothes sunburns, and is gentle enough to prevent diaper rash on babies.

Body Jelly contains natural ingredients like sweet almond oil, soy oil and jojoba oil. Benefits as described on the company's website include:

• Sweet Almond Oil, a natural nut oil high in fatty acids, alleviates dry, irritated or itchy skin and preserves moisture
• Soy Oil, a protein-rich emollient, replenishes and improves skin’s natural texture and glow
• Jojoba Oil, an excellent moisturizing agent, leaves a rich, non-oily feel while preventing water loss and enhancing suppleness (read full story...)

Bye Bye Dry

Hello Beautifuls!
Penny has found her way back to the drawing board. I know...I know...shame on me for not blogging more regularly...I sincerely apologize but 'life' got in my damn way. LOL!
After this rough winter many of us experienced, its now time to prep your skin for the seasonal changes that will occur. For Penny that means getting rid of this dry winter skin, complete with eczema patches, and blemish marks. In addition to exfoliating (w/ brown sugar body scrubs) and and occassional spa treatment, I've been trying to find rich body creams to help maintain my skins moisture all day.

Do you suffer from severe dry skin? Eczema? Psoriasis? Well, Penny recently tested two good body creams you might want to try. Vanicream Moisturizing Skin Cream and CeraVe Moisturizing Cream have both been recommended for severe dry skin by various dermatology sites. I tried them both and liked them both for different reasons. Here is my list of pros and cons: (read full story...)

Keratin Kare

***Just an F.Y.I. for those in the Maryland/DC/VA area.***

Many of you beauties are quite familiar with the rave about Keratin Hair Treatments, but Penny is a novice and has never had one herself. This is the treatment that claims to straighten and smooth your hair, as well as elminate frizz for several MONTHS at a time, without the constant use of blow dryers, flat irons, and other hot tools. The treatment must be done by a professional initially; then they will instruct you on how to care for your hair so that it lasts as long as it should. You do have to take particular care of your hair, and at home products are usually sold at the salons that offer the treatments (and online of course; you all know how Penny loves her online research). LOL!  The Brazilian Keratin treatment I've heard many "warnings" about, and most have stayed away from this form of the treatment. However, the Coppola Keratin Complex (Smoothing Therapy) treatment is supposed to work very well without the use of formaldehyde and the harsh chemicals found in a regular chemical relaxer.

Apparently these treatments can come at a high price and vary from state to state, and salon to salon. The purpose for this post is to let Penny's Posse members know that ULTA Salons are once again offering a special to first-time customers starting at $185-$195 depending on the location. Call the ULTA salon nearest you if you're interested; go to http://www.ulta.com/ for locations. Just a few weeks ago these same salons were charging $225-$250 for this treatment; so I say if you're interested, now is the time. Not sure how long this offer will last, or how much the maintenance care products cost. I have had friends get quotes for $300 and $400 and paid that much for these treatments that last the same amount of time and work as well as the Coppola treatment.

Just sharing....

Be blessed. Be beautiful.
P

Put Your Best FACE Forward

Penny's Positively Radiant!
That is because last Friday evening I had one of the best facials I've ever had! (And you know Penny has had her fair share of spa treatments. LOL!) Germaine Williams, founder of The Red Bloom Wellness Spa in Bethesda, MD is amazing! (http://www.theredbloom.com/) This was a wonderful experience in relaxation, meditation and education. After a brief consultation and examination of my skin, Germaine provided me with a thorough, soothing, rejuvenating and hydrating facial with a few minor extractions. The upper body massage (complete with hot stones) was the icing on the cake! Fabulous! (Penny has always wanted to try a hot stone massage...what a fantastic sensation; will have to ask if they do the hot stone body massage...hmmmm).

I started this blog the night of my facial but was too relaxed and sleepy to finish (that's a big deal for this insomniac). LOL! I also realized that I learned so much in my one visit that I needed some time to pull it all together. One of the things I love most about The Red Bloom is that they use treatments with approximately 90% certified organic ingredients, and they have a commitment to natural skincare. Some of the brands currently sold include Hylunia-Sensitive Skin Specialists; Osmosis-Pur Medical Skincare, 80 Acres, and Diana B. They are a new business so they will be introducing new products and maybe services in the coming months as well. Just call and ask if you're interested in a particular product or procedure (301-907-9001).

Many of the products might be considered to be a little pricey, but Penny is used to paying for 'quality' products; and some of these lines can only be purchased in a spa or doctor's office. Pssst! Penny also did her usual research on some of the products I bought and the prices at spa were the same as online, so that was nice to know. Penny believes that no matter how fabulous your spa facial may be, if you can't afford to keep up a healthy regimen with the products that are best suited for you, your visits could be a waste of time and money...as you will be starting over each time, trying to achieve the same goal. This doesn't mean that you have to shop every time you go to the spa; but at least jot down the products that provided good results and maybe look for budget-friendly alternatives. Or simply budget to make a purchase at your next spa visit and buy one product at a time. [Note: If you purchase any products at The Red Bloom, ask about their recycle program].

Now to the specifics of my facial. (read full story...)

The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)

Hello folks!
Penny is not going to let almost two feet of snow make her glum. This self-proclaimed sun goddess is in need of warmth in a bad way, but will have to settle for a cup of tea and my blog. LOL! I will simply plan to spend most of the night researching facial moisturizers online. Not sure why it is so difficult for someone like Penny with combination, dry, sensitive skin to find a moisturizer for day with SPF and one for night with hydrating qualities. I have received great suggestions, but cannot try several of them due to the citrus oils they contain (I'm allergic).

Speaking of oils...Penny would like to share with you a homeopathic method of facial cleansing and massage that I have been successfully practicing for the past couple months. The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) was introduced to me over a year ago, but I had not tried it right away. Then more recently a couple of my colleagues reminded me of it and encouraged me to try it. Once I saw how well it worked on them, and being reminded daily of my dry, patchy, and irritated skin, it was an easy option to choose. I was also searching for a sulfate-free, paraben-free cleanser to use daily. Not to mention, it is fun going into my "kitchen" to whip up a batch of my favorite cleansing oil. Please keep in mind  that the OCM is not only for people with dry skin like Penny's...it can also be used on oily or acne-prone skin, and may be the answer to achieve better balance for all skin types.  Some may think that oil alone will cause blemishes, but oil dissolves oil. Blemishes (acne, whiteheads, blackheads, etc) are a result of several different factors including hormones, bacteria, dead skin cells and the combination of these factors. Your skin naturally produces oil to help lubricate, heal, protect, and moisturize it. However, many of our traditional cleansers tend to strip skin of our natural oils, causing irritation and an unhealthy appearance. (Read full story...)