When going to school or casual events I like to keep my make-up simple. One of my beauty staples is clear or sheerly tinted lip gloss. It’ll give you a cute look without having to spend a lot of time. I like to buy those that have moisturizers like VitaGloss20 by Bonnebell ($3.95, right). Not only does it give a big boost of shine, it also has Vitamins A, C, D & E.

Great scents are also nice like C.O. Bigelow’s Mentha Lip Tint from Bath and Body Works ($7.50, left). This gloss has a slight tint but still looks natural, and the minty scent makes it really refreshing!

Here are a few of my favorite products for natural hair or just about any type of hair. These selections will keep your hair looking shiny, bouncy, and they smell great too!

1. Lisa’s Hair Elixir by Carol’s Daughter ($19) – A little goes a long way with this hair oil that helps to moisturize your hair and scalp. According to the website it’s also a favorite of Jada Pinkett Smith.

2. Creme of Nature Kiwi and Citrus Shampoo ($4.99) – This shampoo creates a nice lather and my hair is really soft after using it.

3. Miss Jessie’s Curly Meringue ($7) – This hair styler helps define my natural curls and makes it feel soft.

4. Miss Jessie’s Baby Buttercreme ($7) I love the sweet smell of this light conditioning hairdress!

5. Elasta QP Mango Buttter ($6) – This mango butter is really rich and helps to protect your hair from damage during heat styling.

Stylin’ Natural Hair
Here’s a quick hair styling tip for natural hair: After you wash your hair and while its is still wet, apply a setting lotion or cream moisturizer all over your hair. Section off the hair into small pieces and either braid, twist or spiral twist the sections (this might take a little while, so pop in a good movie while you’re at it!). Sit under a bonnet hair-dryer on a medium setting for about 20-30 minutes, then let your hair air-dry if it’s still wet. When it’s completely dry, untwist/unbraid your hair. It should have a nice curly pattern to it when you’re done. Style it however you like, or just fluff it out and go!

Keeping our skin beautiful and healthy is smart, because it’s the covering we wear everyday! Take some time to pamper your entire body every morning and evening after you shower with rich moisturizers. These help keep your skin looking fresh and feeling soft, and smelling great as well. It’ll also keep your skin looking young as you get older.

For your face, make sure you wash your face before bed to remove oil and make-up that can clog your pores and cause break-outs. A good face moisturizer like can help keep your face fresh, and will help if your face is too dry, or too oily (because your face makes it’s own oil and can become shiny when it’s too dry).

Another important but often overlooked part of your skin care regimen is using sunscreen, especially when you are going outside for long periods, and if you live in hot areas. People with darker skin should use sunscreen, even if we don’t sunburn as easily, because the sun rays can still damage our skin. This is truly important because skin diseases are often more aggressive to treat in darker skin when they do occur. You can try lotions with built-in sun-block.

Remember, true beauty begins with the confidence you have and the way you care for yourself. Start with the skin you’re in and everything else will just be an addition to the natural beauty that radiates from you!

Did You Know…
• Our skin is the largest organ of our body

• If the skin of a typical 150-pound (68-kilogram) adult male were stretched out flat, it would cover about 2 square yards (1.7 square meters) and weigh about 9 pounds (4 kilograms).

• Our eyelids have the thinnest skin, the soles of our feet the thickest.

You can find out more cool facts about skin HERE.

Facts Source: KidsHealth.org

A pepper of polka dots can be an interesting and lively addition to your outfit. Here are some spotted choices for casual clothes and accessories:

1. Polka Dot Hair Clip Set, Forever21.com, $2.80

2. Junior’s Dot/Stripe Reversible Hoodie (Bright blue, grape, yellow, fuchsia), Delias.com, $48.50

3. Polka Dot Headband, Claire’s Accessories, $4.00

4. Dot Bot Tee, WetSeal.com, $12.50

5. Ecko Zoo York Polka Dot Hoodie, Ecko.com, $49.50

6. Pro Model Polka Dot Twister by Adidas, DrJays.com, $85.00

7. Adidas Men’s Superstar II TL DOT Sneaker, Macys.com, $55.99

8. The Yankees Reflect Dot Hat, DrJays.com, $31.99

It’s hard to show off your unique style when you’re all bundled up in layers of clothing, but you can still liven up your look during the cooler months with some cute scarves. Not only will they keep you warm, but they also come in a variety of colors and fabrics that you can match with different outfits (or outerwear) for a cool touch. Here are some cute looks below:

These zebra scarves from Delias.com can add a little safari flair to your outfit. ($19.50)	Play a different tune with this piano key scarf from WetSeal.com. ($12.50)	Look cute in this brightly colored Brynn Chunky Knit Scarf from Delias.com. ($22.50)
This purple lace scarf from WetSeal.com can be worn as a sophisticated accent. ($7.50)	Shine brightly with these sheer silk super star scarves from Forever21.com. ($5.80)	These plaid scarves from Forever21.com give peek of color and pattern. ($5.80-$8.80)