True Beauty

I am very thankful and blessed to now understand what true beauty is all about. 

To tell you the truth that it was not until I asked to be made more beautiful I know exactly what being beautiful is all about. I recently told someone the reality about the insecurity withing myself in the past, "People would always tell me how beautiful or all the other big words for being attractive but I did not believe I was beautiful. The thing is that being beautiful has nothing to do with a look but a feeling, and now more than ever I feel beautiful."

People can give compliments of how great you look but when you are not feeling good than being beautiful can not be your truth. The best thing about being beautiful is that you choose to love yourself and when you have self-love than loving others is as easy as 1-2-3. If there is anything that we owe each other, that would be love and anything less is unacceptable.

As a make-up artist I deal with the superficial and enjoy giving people a fantasy but the truth is that true beauty comes from within and is nothing but love. I have been grateful and happy to be touched by some of the most beautiful souls and that is because they were all about true beauty. The dress size, inches in someone's waist, amount of make-up or skin color does not determine what makes someone really beautiful and so many do not realize that. Attraction or being easy on the eyes is different than being truly beautiful.

I am loving the October issue of Essence magazine because on the cover there is a topic of "beauty: inside and out".

Everything on from what I am seeing on the cover is showing how much beauty starts and can be found inside. What an amazing feeling to be able to give love coming from a pure heart. 

All the bullying and abuse that goes on is just coming from people who may feeling ugly and have chosen to oppose loving themselves as well as others. Now that I accept beauty I am always willing to fight against anyone abusing their "power" and love is what I choose all of the time. Beauty is to know as well as see that other's are hurting and take action to help them.

Love is life and that is the simple, most beautiful truth.

Vibrant Color

I missed my purple haircolor so much I had to go back to it. There is just something so irresistable about vibrant rich hue and purple really fits me well. I was going for a deep purple like grape jelly but mines came out more of a cherry pie filling color.

Not my photo, but the perfect purple that is more on the deep blue side.

my results

Looks very red-purple and more cherry depending on the light

All choices from Kiss Express

This is the key to getting your hair color to last and stay vibrant. Yes, I really do love L'oreal products because they work.

24/7 Freshness

Yes thank God that I am fresh and the fact it is Friday as well. This entry was really meant for my wellness Wednesdays but now is the perfect time to share in my great experience of discovering The Coupe located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of DC. I was looking for a good place to eat at any day of the week and this is like a upscale diner that feels compfortable as though you could be at home. 

I looked at the menu and was amazed how everything was perfect for me to taste and try. Really I wanted to start of light so I just gravitated to the soups, salads and sides. The main dish for me was the Cucumber Salad and what really caught me was the ingredients of pickled Watermelon. I decided on the Mac & Cheese because I knew that something warm would be good but the best of that night was the Cucumber Salad with Red onion, jalapeño, mint, cilantro, tomato and yogurt brûlée which was so good. Overall, the ingredients are fresh and full enjoyment is guarenteed. Oh, and this is a kid friendly place because they also have movie nights on Mondays which I might catch sometime. 

A week later and I am sharing my wonderful experience that was completely natural feeling and I had no make-up on what so ever, only a moisturizer.

Sunny June

I am looking and feeling just like sunshine with MAC's Pro Longwear eyeshadow in Always Sunny which is the only way to be. The good thing about this brand is that it basically is good for being water-proof and delivering good results of lasting 24 hours plus. Also, I used Revlon Pink Cloud Shine (801) lipstick which is filled with moisture. (Do not mind the marks left on my nose from my sunglasses.) What a sunny June day that will becoming to a close with a bang.

I actually have the CC cream on my face, which is below

Looks like I am in a haze but really it is a heat wave and having a higher power watching over me.

Art of Living

Recently, I went to a meditation session at Sri Sri Center for Peace and Meditation, 2401 15th Street NW Washington DC 20009 which was so wonderful; and the good thing about meditation is that you do not have to be a rocket science, only be able to breathe. Just to stop and pay attention to how you are breathing and feel that is the art of living. Just to take the time out to meditate and refocus on what you want and being aware of one's surroundings is a great feeling. As hot as it was today and I could feel the sun scorching on me I did not break a sweat and I am amazed at some of the progress around me.

So I see the flyer for Sri Sri Ravi Shankur Evening of Meditation at the Washington DC Convention Center which already past on April 2, 2013 but the good thing is knowing finding true peace comes from within. Here is more on all that you can enjoy with Meditation in the DMV area. From the Mayo Clinic this is what meditation is all about and when you learn the different techniques than you can stress less or not have any turmoil coming from all the energies people put out phase you. What peace and joy life brings when you can live above distracting influences to be well with serenity.

Naturally breathing and beautiful on a sunny day

Neurodermatitis

Recently this past Wednesday I was blessed with the chance to do a back treatment on a firefighter who had been in service for over twenty years. I gained hands on experience with a skin condition that I have never really seen before. In my Milady textbook I have read about dermatitis and seen pictures but nothing such as this. There was a darker patch of skin right at the center of the spine that appeared leathery just like football skin, literally. After careful exfoliation using a natural scrub and a clay mask to draw out impurities the leathery patch was still there. Besides that spot there was discoloration lower down on the spine which was removed from my treatment. There was a lot of dead skin that needed to be removed and the results of my service was refreshed skin that amazed me. 

This is a before picture and I would love to share a after photo when a second back treatment has been performed. 

The top blemish is a example of neurodermatitis and the second blemish was a build-up of dead skin

This is how skin will look and feel when someone has neurodermatitis

Neurodermatitis is also known as Lichen simplex chronicus (LSC) which is chronic itching that causes thick, leathery, brownish skin. All ages, races and sexes can have this skin disorder but it is much more common in middle to older aged adults. You can view the overview of Neurodermatitis by checking this link.

• It may begin with something that rubs, irritates, or scratches the skin, such as clothing.
• This causes the person to rub or scratch the affected area. Constant scratching causes the skin to thicken.
• The thickened skin itches, causing more scratching, causing more thickening.

From all of the listed solutions or medication, the best thing is to moisturize extensively and use a strong astringent such as Sea Breeze and applying a cortisone cream.

I offer a deep exfoliation back treatment that is much more extensive than the normal back treatment, ask about this just email me at buymyartwork@aol.com

Or find me on twitter @jasloveart