This year, a good friend of mine suffered a stroke (you can read all about her story in these pages.) She is young, successful and a health nut. This struck close to home for me ! ! $ $ always aware of as a possibility for myself. My grandmother died of a stroke, my uncle had a minor stroke and my aunt had an aneurism in her 40s. Living a healthy and stress-free life have become my goals to help reduce my chances of someday having a stroke. Knowing your risk factors and taking the proper measures can help reduce these risks, but also having a strong body $ Happy August and read on!
Creator of Wonder Curl Editor of Health, Hair & Happiness
Photo by Vaughn Dabney http://vaughndabney.com/photography/
$ ! ! This book was written a long long time ago, yet so much of the lessons in the pages are still very much relevant today.
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# $ ! $ learned into practice. # " $ ! $
! $ how it uses the power of the mind to create wealth and success. Click here for a free PDF and get started yourself! http://growrich.me/
Contributors planned her life out in 2nd grade. Two Psychology degrees later she realized she was insane, unhappy, and unrealistic. She got out of her head and began her happy. Find Jasmine at: http://www.eyecheated.blogspot.com/ Instagram @lyrical_prodigi
aka Tootieboots has been natural for 5 years. She is a natural hair enthusiast with a passion for encouraging others to explore their natural mane. She is by no means a professional natural hair expert but she enjoys sharing and exchanging healthy hair tips. Find Dayo at: free2bnaturelle.blogspot.com Instagram: @tootas_25
is founder of Fountain of Life Health & Wellness that helps its clients maintain a healthy lifestyle. She also works in a private rheumatologist office and cherishes her 5 beautiful children & happily married life. Find Jasmine at: Facebook.com/NaturalBkBeauty Instagram: @NaturalBkBeauty
a Jamaican girl, on the journey to lifestyle development and healthy hair. I am a DIY and hair blogger, aspiring model, motivational speaker and follower of Christ. Find Yulli at: http://kreamykurls.blogspot.com/ Twitter: @Blue_Grrl IG: @Kreamykurls
, owner of Makeup By Holly is a 15 year makeup artistry veteran. Located in Richmond, VA her services include Bridal, TV, Runway, Fashion shows and Photo shoots. Holly also freelances for Giorgio Armani and is a Certified Makeup Instructor. Find Holly at: http://www.makeupbyhollyb.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MakeupByHolly Instagram: @makeupbyholly
From Friends to Soulmates To describe my middle school experience as brutal would be an understatement. I was so far from the other girls in my class that it was ridiculous. While they were becoming more and more interested in boys, I was trying to figure out why I had to grow breasts! Sure, I noticed the guys in my class but mainly because they noticed me. My friends at the time could not understand me. Why wasn’t I sneaking around to meet boys at the mall? Why wasn’t I interested in fantasizing about when, how, or, if I would have my first sexual encounter? And I certainly was not concerned about the petty female drama that followed most of my counterparts. I just was not that girl. The only fantasy I had was getting the hell out of school and as far away from the confines of the small city that helped raise me. I was experiencing peer pressure from people I called friends. Surely, my friends were loyal enough not to make me into something I was not, right? I learned quickly that the friends I had in middle school were merely preparing me for a sisterhood I could grow with. My sophomore year, I became very close with two people in particular whom of which could not be any more opposite than me. However, there was a common theme between the three of us, genuineness. Not only did we respect one another but also there was an honesty that I hungered for in previous friendships. For the first time I could be me, the lame, the “bookworm”, and not worry about being laughed at, judged, or talked about behind my back. If anything, the women I speak of have no problem telling me to my face. When I entered college I thought I had my circle. I would never be able to become close to anyone outside of my “Day Ones”. But, I found three beautiful ladies who also accepted me for who I was. They held my hair while I hugged the dorm room toilet, skipped class when I was crying when “he” showed up to the party with another girl. They encouraged me and held me accountable. Candace Bushnell, Sex and the City, wrote, “Maybe our girlfriends are our soul mates…” If this is true then I am the luckiest girl in the world. I have 5 soul mates and my boyfriend is simply there for fun. I have 5 friends who know how I feel before I say it, finish my sentences, and can communicate with me through silence. Our friendship has stood the test of time. Here’s how: • • • • •
HONESTY! We are honest with one another regardless of the situation or whether the other wanted to hear it. Mutual respect for our differences. Room and space to just be in our feelings. WE all need time to just be. Encouraging and supporting personal, spiritual, and professional growth. Unwavering backing EVEN when we are senseless! Jasmine Price www.eyecheated.blogspot.com www.instagram.com/lyrical_prodigi
Effects of a Stroke How a Stroke Changed My Life
On December 20 of last year, my life changed drastically. I was rushed to the hospital after losing control of most of the left side of my body, it was determined that not only was I suffering from a stroke, but CAT scans and MRIs showed something else… Apparently I had suffered at least 4 strokes previously. I am 42 years old. I do not have high blood pressure, hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes. I have never smoked or used drugs; I only occasionally have a glass of red wine with dinner. I don’t eat pork, red meat, chicken, beef or fried foods. I don’t like the taste of soda, and I mainly eat non-bottom-feeding freshwater fish. I do, however, have iron-deficiency anemia (due to fibroids) and Graves Disease (which is a hyperthyroid autoimmune disease), but I’ve been in remission for over a year and I was not overweight. It turns out I had suffered a TIA stroke earlier in the week before I was hospitalized with the ischemic attack. My earlier strokes were a mix of ischemia and TIAs. In my case, the brain had to shut down operations on one side of my body to right itself again. I went through countless tests, got a blood transfusion, was visited by numerous doctors, and December 24th I was transferred to a rehabilitation center to learn how to start walking again and to get my left hand working properly again. The week of my stroke I felt weak off and on for a few days and a little lethargic. My cycle is usually pretty heavy because of the fibroids so this is kind of normal for me. Early in the week, while at work one afternoon, I decided to get a cup of coffee and when I went to stand up I felt dizzy and sat right back down. The only way I could describe what I felt next was “heavy”, almost as if someone was standing behind me, pushing down on my shoulders. No pain, but all of a sudden I felt like I weighed 300 pounds. When I tried to drink some juice, I missed my mouth and hit my cheek. I looked back at the bottle and this time it went where it was supposed to. After drinking the bottle of juice, the heaviness went away and I felt lucid again. The entire episode felt like it lasted an hour but in reality, it was only a few minutes. I figured that my electrolytes had just gotten really low, resigned to drink more juice for a few days and to call my doctor the following week when I got home… That was a mistake.
For the next few days I continued to feel exhausted. I would leave work at 6pm, have a small dinner and just get in the bed. I only would get up to use the bathroom or drink water. By Friday, I felt pretty wiped out, but since it was my last day on the project, I went to work anyway. Then around lunchtime I tripped. I didn’t fall, but it was as if I’d tripped over my own feet and had trouble regaining my balance for a few seconds. Later, it felt like I had gum on my shoe or something that kept making my shoe stick to the carpeting as I walked. It wasn’t until around 4pm when a co-worker stopped me in the hallway, asked me why I was limping that I realized that things might be more serious than I thought. I was suddenly very aware of my left leg and as I caught my reflection in the glass office doors I saw that I was leaning to the left, when it felt like I was standing straight. I quickly said my goodbyes for the Christmas holiday and headed back to the hotel, all the while trying to stay calm until I could get back to my hotel room and take a good look at myself. Half a block from the hotel I tripped again. But this time, I couldn’t recover. I had to actively think about moving my left leg forward and that feeling of “heaviness” was back, but this time it was focused on my left side. Things were worse when I got back to my room. I couldn’t seem to get my left hand into my pocket to get my keycard out. First, I couldn’t find my pocket and then when I did, I
couldn’t grip the card. It was as if my whole left side was shutting down and that’s the first time actually thought, “I’m having a stroke.” Rehabilitation is key. That’s why it is imperative that stroke patients start moving around as soon as possible after a stroke, to start “rewiring” the brain again. In my own rehabilitation, I’ve done physical therapy, occupational therapy, tai chi, chi kung, mirror therapy and visualization to get me back on track. What caused my stroke? In my case, I didn’t fit the “normal” profile of a stroke patient and doctors struggled to figure out what was going on. What I do have is a family history of stroke, and two of the most stressful years of my entire life now behind me. On the stress side of things, I’ve been going through a divorce, renovating a 120 year old brownstone, managing tenants and running a blog all outside of my regular freelance job. I had also been driving back and forth to New Jersey from New York for over a year helping my mom care for my dad who eventually succumbed to a series of strokes and their subsequent damage by summer of last year. I remember the psychologist in the rehab center asking me if I could think of anything stressful going on my life and telling her that 30 minutes wasn’t enough time to tell her half of what I was dealing with. I don’t suffer from high-blood pressure. But that doesn’t mean that my blood pressure couldn’t have been spiking at random intervals whenever I got stressed out. My paternal grandfather died of a stroke before I was born and every single one of his children, save one, has had at minimum a TIA, and at worst a series of very debilitating strokes (which is what happened to my Dad). My hematologist has determined that I suffer from a type of hypercoagulative blood disorder, but the jury is still out on which one. What this means is that my blood has the ability to randomly clot and just throw the clots around my body. This condition is also hereditary. I was so disappointed. Besides trying to follow a healthy lifestyle, I run a green, healthy living blog called Savvy Brown. At that moment I honestly felt like a bit of a fraud. I figured if someone like me can have multiple strokes while following a low cholesterol, clean diet, what’s the point? I said as much to my doctor. He smiled at me and told me my healthy lifestyle is probably what saved my life.
My new outlook 8 months later, I’m doing much better. I started off the year in a wheelchair, then moved to a walker, and now a cane. I can walk around unassisted and not worry about getting knocked over. My idea of fitness has been completely turned on its head. It’s no longer about being a size 6, it’s about walking straight. Instead of going on 4 hours of sleep, getting up at 6am to try to get in an hour of P90X, I’m more focused on getting rest and getting up for a walk early in the morning. I also do yoga a couple of times a week and I hope to get back to doing tai chi and pilates soon since they were such a great part of my rehabilitation. I still have a bit of a limp and I can’t wear heels yet, but I’m working on it! I am also cutting down on things in my life that cause stress. I’ve learned to ask for help when I need it and turn down extra work or projects when I just don’t feel I have the energy to commit 100%. I am one of the lucky ones. My stroke wasn’t hemorrhagic, I can think, speak, hear, see, reason and understand. So many people who have strokes can’t do that. I might have a little hitch when I walk, but hell, I’m walking. The most important thing I’ve taken away from this entire experience is gratitude. Every day, I am truly thankful for the little things and being able to actually appreciate them. Karama Horne is a stroke survivor, green living blogger, writer, and film and video editor who lives in Brooklyn, NY in a very old house with two very bad cats. Savvy Brown - http://savvybrown.com
What is a Stroke? What is a stroke? There are several types of stroke. Ischemic, Hemorrhagic and TIA. An ischemic stroke happens when blood flow in the brain is momentarily stopped or disturbed due to a blood clot and the brain compensates by rerouting around the blockage. This is the most common type of stroke. A Hemorrhagic stroke or a “bleed” happens when a blood vessel actually bursts in the brain. These are usually caused by uncontrolled hypertension. A TIA, or transient ischemic attack is basically a temporary blood clot in the brain. With any type of stroke neurons are damaged, cut off or are rendered useless while the brain does what it can to right itself and get blood flowing around your body again.
What does a stroke feel like? A stroke feels different for everyone, but some of the common symptoms are extreme tiredness, shortness of breath, blurred vision, prolonged dizziness, migraines, facial droop, slurred speech and numbness or loss of functionality of certain limbs. The person suffering from the symptoms might not notice.
How are Strokes treated? Usually strokes are treated with blood thinners in order to keep the blood thin enough to make sure it won’t clot. Because of my anemia, I can’t take anything stronger than a baby aspirin every day. (Yes aspirin is a blood thinner). For those patients with high blood pressure and high cholesterol, statin drugs and other pressure regulating medications are prescribed. Remember those neurons that I mentioned earlier? Well, although they might have been shut down or damaged in the region where the blockage occurred, they can be rebuilt.
Who Is At Risk for a Stroke? The people at highest risk for a stroke in the US are African Americans above the age of 55, have a history of smoking, are overweight, or obese, have high blood pressure, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. The interesting thing about strokes is that in most cases, your body sends out a warning signal, usually in the form of one of the symptoms listed above, or by the body suffering from a TIA. Once you’ve had one stroke, (no matter the type) you instantly are in a higher risk category for another one. If diagnosed early enough and dietary/lifestyle changes can be made, further strokes are preventable. The thing is, many times we miss the warning signs. African Americans are at the highest risk for stroke because we tend to have less health insurance, go to the doctor less and when we’re in pain or ill or dizzy we’ll “walk it off” rather than explore our symptoms further. As women, our symptoms are often “masked” or confused for symptoms of other, non-threatening illnesses. By Karama Horne National Stroke Association - http://www.stroke.org/site/ PageNavigator/HOME
Diet Changes Eating Well After a Stroke A poor diet is a major risk factor for a stroke. High fat foods can lead to the build-up of fat plaques in your arteries and being overweight can lead to high blood pressure. Making healthy food choices can assist with controlling blood pressure, body weight, and reducing a person’s risk of having a stroke. Preventing a stroke and staying healthy can be achieved when you take the appropriate steps to control your weight and blood pressure. A low fat, high fiber diet is recommended, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables (five portions a day) and whole grains. Limiting the amount of salt in your diet is key to preventing a stroke because too much salt increases your blood pressure. You should aim to have no more than six grams of salt a day. Six grams of salt is equivalent to one teaspoon. There are two types of fat, saturated and unsaturated. You should avoid foods containing saturated fats because these will increase your cholesterol levels. Foods high in saturated fat include: meat pies, sausages and fatty cuts of meat, butter, lard, cream, hard cheese, cakes and biscuits, and foods that contain palm oil. A balanced diet should include a small amount of unsaturated fat, which reduces cholesterol levels. Foods high in unsaturated fat include: oily fish, avocados, nuts and seeds, sunflower, olive and vegetable oils. There are a variety of things that can be done to reduce your risk of a stroke. Incorporating a variety of foods each day is a great way to get started. Aim to eat a rainbow of colorful foods at each meal, that way you can reap the health protective nutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Choose an array of fruits, vegetables and legumes, go for dark reds, oranges, vibrant yellows, deep greens, blues and purples. By choosing a rainbow of color you will be sure to get in a wide range of nutrients. One way you can get your recommended serving of vegetables and fruits, is to incorporate juicing in your everyday routine. Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. This is important because most of us have impaired digestion as a result of making less than optimal food choices over many years. This limits the body’s ability to absorb all the nutrients from the vegetables. Juicing will assist to pre-digest them for you, so you will be able to receive most of the nutrition. Juicing also allows
you to add a wider variety of vegetables in your diet. Many people eat the same vegetables every day, but with juicing you are able to add a variety of vegetables that you may not normally enjoy eating whole. One recipe that I recommend for those recovering from a stroke is: 3 leaves of fresh basil, 4 medium carrots, ½ fresh lemon (skin removed), 2 medium peaches. Having a stroke is very serious, and it is important to recognize the signs. Face droopingis one side of your face drooping or numb? Arm weakness- Is one arm weak or numb, or does one arm drift downward? Is your speech slurred? Are you unable to speak of hard to understand? If you are experiencing any of these signs, or even if the signs go away, call 911 immediately. While we may be able to reduce the risk of having a stroke, it may be inevitable. Keeping your body at its optimal health can minimize the impact of the stroke and help your body to heal itself and get you back on the road to recovery. Recognizing the signs, understanding your family history and living a healthy lifestyle are all a part of staying educated about your risk factors. By Jasmin Kearse
Recipes V8 Style Smoothie When I became obsessed with tomatoes, I also started enjoying V8. When I really started paying attention to ingredients, I decided to buy the organic vegetable juice at my local grocer. Well, now, I’ve decided to take it even one step further by making it myself. To make the v8 Style Smoothie, I used: • 2 celery stalks • 2 organic carrots • 1 large beefsteak tomato • 2 garlic cloves • 1/2 beet • 1 lemon
• Worcestershire sauce
• 1/3 cucumber
• Cayenne pepper
• 1-2 handfuls spinach
• Filtered water
• Kosher salt
Blend well. Place in cute bottles and enjoy. This made about 32ozs which I will be enjoying all week.
Spicy Smoked Tomato Jam
Think gourmet ketchup that is sophisticated and bold. Couple spicy smoked tomato jam to your burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches and you’ve created a meal that’s too yummy not to get seconds. To make Spicy Smoked Tomato Jam, you will need: • 3-4 large beefsteak tomatoes (or 6 Roma tomatoes) • 1/2 cup brown sugar (more or less depending on taste) • 1-2 tbsp olive oil • 1-2 cloves of garlic • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes • Sea salt (smoked optional) • smoked paprika • Cayenne pepper • Liquid smoke (optional) • Smoked hickory seasoning (optional) Chop the tomatoes coarsely, I wanted my jam to be chunky like a chutney, but you can chop it in the food processor if you want it to be more smooth. Chop the fresh garlic.
In a medium size pot on a medium heat, add olive oil, tomatoes, sugar, garlic and sun-dried tomatoes, stirring occasionally. Add your seasonings and taste until it’s the flavor you want. Add more cayenne to make it more spicy. Allow to simmer until most liquid has cooked out of your jam and it’s a thick consistency. Remove from the pot and into your canning jars. For the proper canning technique, you can read this.
Tai Chi Tai chi: A gentle way to fight stress Tai chi helps reduce stress and anxiety. And it also helps increase flexibility and balance. By Mayo Clinic Staff If you’re looking for a way to reduce stress, consider tai chi (TIE-CHEE). Originally developed for self-defense, tai chi has evolved into a graceful form of exercise that’s now used for stress reduction and a variety of other health conditions. Often described as meditation in motion, tai chi promotes serenity through gentle, flowing movements.
What is tai chi? Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. Tai chi, also called tai chi chuan, is a noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching. Each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion. Tai chi has many different styles. Each style may have its own subtle emphasis on various tai chi principles and methods. There are also variations within each style. Some may focus on health maintenance, while others focus on the martial arts aspect of tai chi.
Who can do tai chi? Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is low impact, it may be especially suitable if you’re an older adult who otherwise may not exercise. You may also find tai chi appealing because it’s inexpensive, requires no special equipment and can be done indoors or out, either alone or in a group. Although tai chi is generally safe, women who are pregnant or people with joint problems, back pain, fractures, severe osteoporosis or a hernia should consult their health care provider before trying tai chi. Modification or avoidance of certain postures may be recommended.
Hair Regimens Creating a Fall Hair Regimen The change in seasons has always confused me. One day I am doing the LOC method, the next I am good with just Aloe-Vera juice and oil, then somewhere in between I am experimenting. And then, I realize nothing is working and I need to go back to what actually works. How do I know what works? I create a hair regimen!
Why Hair Regimens are Important According to Dictionary.com, A regimen can be defined as “A regulated course or manner of living, intended to preserve or restore health or to attain some result”. To yield optimum results, retain length or restore health back to our hair, we must be consistent. You can never truly benefit from something if you don’t stick with it. With a regimen, you can keep track of your successful processes and have some kind of structure. It prevents you from going crazy on your next washday. With all the products, tools and processes (LCO, LOC, pH balanced etc.) out there, it can be a bit overwhelming. You get sucked into doing something you already know wasn’t for you. You want to keep on the “You” track and not on the “In Thing” track. Of course, creating any regimen involves a good amount of experimenting (trial and error) and time, but I believe it is well worth it. So, as summer slowly comes to a close and fall slowly creeps in, we know the heavy winds and cooler temperatures are right behind, bye-bye extra moisture in the air. So lets start fall off right. I have included my regimen below for you to build on and tweak. Now, understand that no two heads are alike. What works for me may not necessarily work for you and viceversa. That’s why it is important for YOU to create a regimen for yourself. Keep in mind that regimens should be simple.
Sample Regimen (Section Hair (4)) Daily/Every Other Day 1. Moisturize hair with a water based leave-in or water-aloe mix and seal with oil mix and butter (LOC/Butter) 2. Oil ends 3. Twist/Braid 4. Put on scarf and satin bonnet Weekly 1. Mud wash 2. Deep condition with a mild protein conditioner
(Steamer or Plastic Cap) (Every other week) 3. Saturate hair with a slippery and moisturizing conditioner (Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle, Herbal Essence Hello Hydration) Monthly 1. Oil Treatment with heat (Steamer/Plastic Cap) (Increase to bi-weekly as needed) 2. Shampoo with a clarifying and moisturizing (Sulphate Free) shampoo 3. Deep Condition with a protein conditioner (Steamer)
Hair Regimens (continued) Weekly/Monthly Steps 1. Finger Detangle (my preference) in the shower under running water 2. Apply oil mix and further detangle 3. Spray with cold Aloe-Vera juice 4. Twist hair under running water 5. Apply water based moisturizer on wet or damp hair 6. Style
• Twist/Braid after sealing with butter or castor oil. Focus on ends. Use rollers on the end to keep ends stretched and moisturized.
• Protective styling (high/low buns, updo’s, mini twist). I try to let my hair out on the weekends.
• Curlformers – Sit under hair dryer – Fluff Braid- Braid-out (Bi-Weekly).
In summary, the following are important for a healthy fall regimen 1. Seal in layers: Water Based Leave-In, Oil and Butter.
2. Use creamy butters (Whipped Shea butter, Camille Rose Naturals Almond Jai Twisting Butter) and Shea Butter as styler. 3. Minimize the use of gels. No Wash n Go styles. 5. Deep Condition Weekly (Protein-Moisture Balance). 6. Increase protective styling. Keep your ends protected: Seal ends regularly and keep them tucked away as often as you can. Creating a regimen is a process. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have one right away. Regimens are like puzzles. You fill in the pieces as you learn things along the way. Document your regimen, as it will help you remember each step. Include the type of products you use, what you did more of and what does not work and why. Dayo Lewis Free2bnaturelle.blogspot.com IG: tootas_25 Tootieboots@me.com
DIY Treatment DIY: 10 in 1 Leave-in Treatment Have you found a leave-in that tackles not one but all of your hair needs? If not I am going to get you set for life, with this 10 in 1 leave-in treatment made from aloe vera and pomegranate. This treatment will balance the ph of your hair and scalp, encourage moisture retention, promote growth, reduce itchiness, dandruff, scaling, scalp inflammation, reduce frizz, add shine and repair dry hair. The alkalizing properties of aloe vera incentivize the ph level of the scalp and hair. Hair that has a balanced ph (potential of hydrogen) is less vulnerable to lifted cuticles, fungi and bacteria. Thus ensuring less damage, dryness and the hair will have its natural vibrancy. Additionally, a balanced scalp will result in moisture retention and the promotion of hair growth. Due to the presence of amino acids in aloe vera the hair is strengthened, frizz reduced and a boost in luster. As for the pomegranate it strengthens the follicle, accelerates growth and helps combat dandruff. While rose hip oil helps with cell renewal and damage.
What you’ll need: • 1 Aloe Vera leaf • 1 Large pomegranate • 1 cup of water • 7 drops of rose hip oil (optional) • Mess Level: Minimal Instructions 1. Cut aloe vera open to assess the pulp of the plant and remove the clear substance. 2. Slice pomegranate in half and remove the seeds 3. Place both items into a blender with water and blend 4. Strain, removing debris and place in to fridge for 5 minutes. 5. Spray onto hair and scalp Putting the leave-in into a spray bottle provides better control. A good idea is to make this the night prior for less hassle on wash day. The consistency will be that of a jelly-liquid so this can serve has a setting product for curly sets such as flexi rods, curlformers, bantu knots and perm rods. This portion will fill a 12oz bottle
Makeup No-makeup look There are days when you may not want to look like you are wearing makeup, but you want to look pulled together and not overdone. It is the look models wear in commercials when they are promoting a skincare product and they want to appear as if they are not wearing anything…but, we all know better. Today, my morning started at 3:15 AM, so the thought of putting on a full face of makeup was a no-no; however, I still wanted to look flawless. After I cleansed my face, I followed up with a primer and a tinted moisturizer. Primer is great for minimizing pores and fine lines. It also allows your makeup to go on smoother and to help your foundation last longer. My all-time favorite primer is Laura Mercier’s Foundation Radiance Primer. It adds a beautiful, natural glow to the skin. Tinted moisturizer is the best product (in my opinion) to give you that natural, no-makeup look. It’s lightweight, has SPF for sun protection and it has a hint of coverage to even out the skin tone. My favorite brand is Laura Mercier. Afterwards, I followed up with a light application of translucent powder, to set the tinted moisturizer. It’s great because it doesn’t change the color of the tinted moisturizer. One of my personal favorites is Laura Mercier’s Invisible Loose setting powder. I followed up with a swipe of cream eyeshadow on my eyelids. A flesh-tone color is perfect because it mimics the natural tone of your skin. A favorite is Laura Mercier’s caviar sticks. Then I applied a coat of mascara. Black is always my preference; however, to truly pull off a no-makeup look, you can opt for clear mascara. I followed up with a white eyeliner which I applied to my waterline. Tip: This is a great product because it makes your eyes look brighter and well rested. I used a matte bronzer on my cheeks. Tip: you can also use bronzer on your eyelids, if you are trying to minimize the amount of products you use. A suggested favorite is Laura Mercier Bonne Mine bronzer. I finished the look with a matte, nude lip color. The next time you see a skincare commercial, just remember, you can also pull off the no-makeup look. Looking flawless is something you can achieve, even when you don’t have a lot of time to put on a full face. Until next time…stay beautiful!!! Holly Byrd Miller www.makeupbyhollyb.com