Tag Archive | Health

Skin Care Review: Previse

It’s that time of year again… Spring is here! With a new season comes new skin care needs and sometimes issues if you haven’t created your year round regime. Thankfully Previse came out with their new baby, Previse SunSheer at the perfect time and MMNYC has been privelaged enough to try it out along with skin care tailor made to meet my needs. Can you imagine finally a company gets that its possible to have normal to combo but also have dry skin sometimes or any combo you can think of?!

Here is a simple blurb about Previse that really grabbed my attention about the amazing lifestyle line:

More than just an anti-aging line, Previse takes a proactive approach to skin health and a conscious effort toward skin fitness. “By taking an active roll in the health and fitness of our bodies largest organ, we are preventing the unwanted signs of aging and reducing the risk of skin problems including skin cancer,” says Sean Patrick Harrington Founder and CEO

Aviva Drescher member of “The Real Housewives of New York City and Founder and CEO Sean Patrick Harrington

So here the skinny on why I love Previse!

Review:

Customizable skin care that is based on my needs no matter what time of year.
My skin wasn’t irritated by any of the products whatsoever
Purify Step 1.0: Remove Impurities leaves my skin feeling brand new not dry or flaky just perfect
Nutrify Skin Type 6 Liposomal Tonic is AMAZING! After cleansing my face and using the tonic I was left tighter pores, and mattifyed skin which was a perfect canvas for my makeup application.
Defend Skin Type 6 Epidermis Plus was the cream on top moisturizer that moisturized but didn’t make me feel greasy and further nurtured my skin.
Now the pièce de résistance the SunSheer Sunscreen which at first application I wasn’t in love with because of the white film that it left immediately but after a minute it absorbed into my skin and then I felt it… tingling the good kind that make me look at the bottle and say “Whoa this is cool!” It took me back to my first spa facial that I had and that feeling I instantly thought how awesome I could have a spa facial everyday of the year.

SunSheer Sunscreen

Overall: I am so very pleased with the results that I am receiving with Previse three step regime and the SunSheer Sunscreen my skin has never felt so good and has been breakout-free the entire time of my use. I’ve noticed tighter pores and even fresh blemish marks getting lighter with time. Only thing I’d change if possible is that the SunSheer didn’t go on so white but its not at all a deal breaker. With a great price point, great community on their website and customer service that trumps most companies, you’ll never be left in the dark.

Merli says: Go get it!

Grade: A+

Would you like to try the line out? Let me know the more comments the better the likely hood of fantabulous giveaway to my readers.

: SunSheer Sunscreen

: Aviva Drescher member of “The Real Housewives of New York City and Founder and CEO Sean Patrick Harrington

Spring Cleaning: Makeup Bag Overhaul

Mar28

How many of you have a makeup bag that looks like a bomb went off in it and left a disarray of lip pencils without tops, unsharpened, powder pieces at the bottom of your bag, and brushes that look like you’ve been dragging it to the mud?Maybe something like this….

A Bomb went off in your bag time to say BYE Boom!

If that’s you it’s time that you say bye bye to that makeup and whose life has already passed on and continues to be the sole reason why you break out every time you apply makeup. The truth of the matter is that all of your makeup has an expiration date and after that you’re just harboring a germ infested fugitive and reapplying it to your skin, your lips and your eyes.

How do you know when to throw away, cleanse or sanitize your products? Well I’ve made a simple chart for you to know. Mark your calendars, set an alarm in your phone, smell your products, and your products believe it or not will become ineffective.

Below you’ll find a helpful chart that will assist you in knowing when its time to chuck somethings while, keeping certain things nice and clean will add life to your prized special edition colors from MAC (yup I understand)

Here are a quick few tips to keep in mind:

Wash your brushes every week
Keep a bottle of alcohol in a spray bottle and spray your bottles and wipe once a week if you can.
Sharpen pencils before every use and even if its just you wipe your point with some alcohol as well
Ladies your lipgloss can harbor so much germs before reapplying make sure your lips are clean and give your lip gloss wands some cleaning love as well.
Smell your products they’ll tell you and show you when they aren’t good for you anymore, let em Go!

Product	Throw it Away!
Mascara	Every three months
Foundation	One year
Concealer	12-18 months
Powder	18 months
Blush/bronzer	18 months
Cream blush	12-18 months
Eye shadow	18 months
Eyeliner	18 months
Liquid eyeliner	Six months
Lipstick/lip gloss	18 months
Lip liner	One year
Nail polish	One year
Makeup sponges	Wash after each use, then throw away after a month.

Up Close and Personal With Taren Guy

Feb24

The term “Nappy” what does it mean to you?

I feel like where was the word derived from, where did it come from.we know it was meant to be a negative term. Even though we have proud to be naturals who come out

now and say “Happy to be nappy!” I feel like just thee, from the original intent of the word it makes you cringe for a reason because you feel it there is a stigma attached to it. It’s going to be hard to separate that at this point, while I can hear the girls say I’m happy to be nappy, when a guy says I love your nappy hair…. how about let me call my own hair nappy. Whether its contradictory or not its just the way it is.

Do you think that men have caught on to the natural hair movement or are they still pro perm hair?

I feel like they are catching on. I feel like they are a few who were already on even within the black community itself. A lot of people say the white guys they’ve always loved our hair. Most black guys have been a little slow to catch on but I do feel like its a different kind of black guy that appreciates it and its just what it is. They can be either very cultured… I don’t want to put a stereotype on “That Guy” but you know what I mean, like that guy I don’t want to say who is burning incense, creating music and painting. But seriously he is that guy into all that stuff. And then there is the other guy who is very industry, very pretentious, and its all about the video models and gucci and their appreciation (for us) is gone. Its just a different kind of guy and race has nothing to do with it.

Love Melody Ehsani earrings!

What was your proudest “Natural” Moment?

I have two, my first one was when I did the big chop in the middle of my natural hair journey. It wasn’t to go natural but simply I’m getting rid of this long hair because its damaged and I’m ready to start fresh, and really take care of it; the way I want to take care of it. Just to make that decision was serious because I was very attached to my length, that was a big move for me. And the second time As my hair started growing not fretting over my curls being perfect cause that was definitely me. If you watched my videos pre-big chop it was all about the kinky curly custard, and define this, and this curl is out of place. The appreciation for my hair really grew after the big chop. So now I’m in a very carefree space and I love it. Those two are big for me.

Any tips or suggestions for the current naturals who are ready to go back to the “White Crack”?

Ooooh! Who are ready to go back? I feel like they didn’t go back (to natural) for the right reasons then. Those People who go natural make that decision because it is a trend its so shallow that any little thing will make them go back (to natural) but when you do it for a deeper reason and more like self acceptance and I don’t care I want to be me then you’ll stay. Its just as simple as that, cause a lot of people like to jump on bandwagons and then they just jump right off.

Wow!

After our interview Taren would face a sold out crowd at The Harlem School of the Arts, packed with naturals from all over, even international as far as London. They were all ready to hear the amazing panel that included, Dickey Founder and Creative Director of Hair Rules and Michaela Angela Davis, Image Activist and Editorial Brand Manager at BET, Nakesha Smith youtube natural hair vlogger, as well as other naturals hand-picked from the audience.

The Panel Taren, Dickey, Michaela, Nakeisha, and three audience members

It was a sight to be seen over a hundred natural haired women and there were a handful of men as well all celebrating and learning about who we are… naturally.

The crowd was packed out. Now that’s love.

Taren Guy is taking her show on the road through the U.S. and Internationally. So get ready to see her in a city near you.

To see even more photos than what are posted here “Like” my Facebook page and comment.

Posing with the super tall Taren

Pink lips and natural hair don’t care! With the fabulous @ahsiek1118 during the event at Harlem school of arts the turnout was massive. #llyourhair #naturalista #curlygirls #blogger #bblogger #vlogger #style (Photo credit: MissMerli)

: That hair honey!! @Lis_Lii

: mommy to be the beautiful Ellen of @eldenwadesigns77

: The live band turned it out.

: All the colors and styles of the rainbow @clothesconscience @michaelaangelad and @queenofangola

: In love with the outfit and the hair get it!

: Posing with Michaela who said wow you’re beautiful. Thank you gorgeous lady.

: The Panel

: The panel

: Wow!

: Dickey giving his knowlege and making us die in laughter.

: Taren Guy speaking

: Michaela Angela Davis

: Power to the beautiful naturals

: All black and natural everything!

: The beautiful Keisha G. aka @ahsiek1118 find her at www.naturallyahsiek.blogspot.com

: The crowd was packed out. Now that’s love.

: I love Joy’s fro and her tee @BKMilkShake

: The Hair Rules amazing team who makes it all happen

: Posing with the super tall Taren

: Love Melody Ehsani earrings!

February 2013 Curly Girls I’m Loving

Feb21

In my search for my next hair style, or just to admire the beautiful style of my curly sisters I’ve some amazing women, some I know personally and others I don’t but probably will in the future. If you know any of these ladies tag them via comment (be descriptive and include twitter or instagram name) and I’ll be sure to update. Enjoy the gallery of beauties here.

photo credits: Essence online, Nicole Marie Melton, Hannan Saleh, Tora Jones-Carter

Kenecia Lashae @Passport2pretty on Instagram

Brandon Sun NYFW Fall 2013

Feb16

Boho chic got a modern twist at the Brandon Sun fashion show, Elizabeth Arden and Red Door created the easy breezy look. Master stylist Zahir Ziani created a chic bohemian bun using the Resistance Double Force by Kerastase (one of my fave hair products) to create a firm but sexy bedroom hair. For makeup the focus were bold and dark brows think Beyonce’ with dewy skin and a matte lip. A great everyday go to look was created using Elizabeth Arden Pure finish Mineral Tinted Moisturizer, along with color eye shadow in shimmering copper, beliini, and truffle were utilized to create that sun kissed look. Along with the ceramide cream blush in pink and ceramide ulta lipstick in Cameo to finish off the beautiful look.

Merlot Skin Care Launches My Daily Beauty Kit

Feb6

Merlot Skin Care, the best-selling natural grape seed-based skin care brand, announces the launch of their “My Daily Beauty” campaign. If you don’t know I’m a huge fan of the organic company that continues to raise the bar when it comes to everyone’s skin care routine.

Merlot Grapes (Photo credit: cight)

You can check out my review here. Their new campaign is to help create a easy to follow skin care routine that leaves nothing left to guessing just easy as 1,2 and 3. Merlot’s “My Daily Beauty” kit is a three-step skin care routine: cleanse, tone, and moisturize. Merlot Grape Seed Cleanser, Hydrating Toner, and Merlot Moisturizer with SPF that come in a recyclable box, and that you can purchase at merlotskincare.com but only for a limited time. Here is some info about the kit which retails at $38 dollars. Not to shabby at all.

“My Daily Beauty” kit includes:

Grape Seed Facial Cleanser – one of the gentlest cleansers available. Softens skin and removes impurities with a non-drying, soap-free formula.
Hydrating Toner – freshens and firms skin. An alcohol-free way to clean pores and prep skin for deep moisturizing.
Merlot Moisturizer – a lightweight, anti-aging formula with SPF. Fragrance-free, absorbs quickly; the perfect pre-make-up primer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Spotlight & Review: Tweezerman

Oct12

Did you know that your everyday beauty tools can battle breast cancer too? Let’s not only do it in October but everyday. With breast cancer continuing to wreak havoc on the lives of so many all over the world it is imperative that we all take more aggressive steps to prevent, and to help find a cure.

One company helping to fund the effort is Tweezerman who has taken their wildly popular slant tweezer and gave it a pink overhaul in a pink enamel color finish along with the Breast Cancer Awareness ribbon logo which is blinged out in Swarovski .

Proceeds from each sale will go to breast cancer charities so what are you waiting for get the curing and start shopping!

Quick Review: These tweezers work like a dream. I tweezed two of my clients in a matter of two minutes so precise and sharp in a safe way and my hands didn’t cramp up or slip up. These tweezers are perfect and certainly worth the 22 price tag in general. A must have in your beauty bag

Merli says: Go Get it! A+

Working on a client with tweezerman’s cancer killing tweezers

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