Beauty
DIY Summer Beauty Products Your Hair + Skin Will Love
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Long days at the beach. Family barbecues. Weekend getaways. Summer is finally at our doorstep, and it’s safe to say we’re all ready for that warm weather wave. But when the temperature rises, our skin (and hair) can suffer.
If you’re searching for a few natural alternatives to keep your beauty routine in check (wherever your summer travels take you) here’s three DIY recipes we can’t live without.
Coco-cumber Cooling Mist
Are beach days leaving you a little burnt out? This misty gem is the perfect cool down after a warm summer day. Remember to keep it in your fridge and use throughout the day to feel refreshed and re-energized!
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup coconut water
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1/2 small cucumber, sliced and chopped finely
- 3-5 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Combine the coconut water, aloe vera, and essential oil in a small spray bottle and shake until the contents are thoroughly mixed.
- Add fresh cucumber pieces to the bottle.
- Shake, spray, and walk away. Enjoy the instant zen!
1
Coco-cumber Cooling Mist
Are beach days leaving you a little burnt out? This misty gem is the perfect cool down after a warm summer day. Remember to keep it in your fridge and use throughout the day to feel refreshed and re-energized!
Ingredients:
- ¾ cup coconut water
- 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel
- 1/2 small cucumber, sliced and chopped finely
- 3-5 drops peppermint essential oil
Directions:
- Combine the coconut water, aloe vera, and essential oil in a small spray bottle and shake until the contents are thoroughly mixed.
- Add fresh cucumber pieces to the bottle.
- Shake, spray, and walk away. Enjoy the instant zen!
Orange Creamsicle Body Butter
Reawaken your sun-kissed skin with this citrusy, creamy delight! Apply all over your body to show your skin some *extra* lovin’ after those long sunny days.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup shea butter
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 7 drops of orange essential oil (depending on how strong you want the scent)
- 7 drops of vanilla essential oil
Directions:
- Add the shea butter and coconut oil into a double boiler on low heat and stir until melted.
- Pour mixture into a small glass bowl and allow to cool until about 75% solidified. You can speed up this process by putting the bowl in the fridge for about an hour.
- Add the essential oils to the cooled cream and whip by hand or with a hand mixer until the combination is light and fluffy.
- Apply to clean skin and feel the instant, moisturizing benefits!
Optional:
If your skin tends to be more oily, try adding a few pinches of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch to the mixture before blending to avoid that greasy feeling!
2
Orange Creamsicle Body Butter
Reawaken your sun-kissed skin with this citrusy, creamy delight! Apply all over your body to show your skin some *extra* lovin’ after those long sunny days.
Ingredients:
- ½ cup shea butter
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 7 drops of orange essential oil (depending on how strong you want the scent)
- 7 drops of vanilla essential oil
Directions:
- Add the shea butter and coconut oil into a double boiler on low heat and stir until melted.
- Pour mixture into a small glass bowl and allow to cool until about 75% solidified. You can speed up this process by putting the bowl in the fridge for about an hour.
- Add the essential oils to the cooled cream and whip by hand or with a hand mixer until the combination is light and fluffy.
- Apply to clean skin and feel the instant, moisturizing benefits!
Optional:
If your skin tends to be more oily, try adding a few pinches of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch to the mixture before blending to avoid that greasy feeling!
Sunny Day Leave-in Conditioning Spray
Sunshine + sea salt = split ends. No thank you! Break the dead-end cycle by throwing this must-have staple into your bag and try spraying it on your ends when they need a little pick-me-up. These three simple ingredients will leave your hair feeling soft and hydrated.
Ingredients:
1 cup distilled water
2 ounces of your favorite conditioner (I’m all about Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Conditioner)
2 ounces melted coconut oil
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients inside a recycled spray bottle and shake it up. Yep, it’s that easy!
3
Sunny Day Leave-in Conditioning Spray
Sunshine + sea salt = split ends. No thank you! Break the dead-end cycle by throwing this must-have staple into your bag and try spraying it on your ends when they need a little pick-me-up. These three simple ingredients will leave your hair feeling soft and hydrated.
Ingredients:
1 cup distilled water
2 ounces of your favorite conditioner (I’m all about Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Conditioner)
2 ounces melted coconut oil
Directions:
Combine all the ingredients inside a recycled spray bottle and shake it up. Yep, it’s that easy!
Beauty
Black-owned Beauty and Wellness Businesses to Know
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February is Black History Month—a celebration of the achievements and contributions of African Americans in society. As the beauty and wellness industry becomes a more welcoming and inclusive space for all, we are taking this opportunity to continue to shine a light on the gap of inclusivity and diversity in our industry, and take action to promote, empower, and honor the Black community that shapes and grows wellness.
While the beauty industry is making improvements—it's important to showcase and support Black businesses and the creatives in this space every day. To honor them, we're shouting out some of our favorite Black-owned beauty and wellness businesses to support.
1. Beauty Bin
Beauty Bin is a full-service day spa and dry bar located in Asheville, NC. With a focus on inclusivity for people of all backgrounds, genders, and races, their MO is to match the outer beauty of every client to their inner beauty. From eyelash extensions and hydrafacials to waxing and massage, Beauty Bin is a one-stop-shop for all the spa services.
2. KIKA Stretch Studio
The KIKA Method® is a gentle assisted stretching process that loosens up tight muscles freeing your body from pain and stress. By practicing this method, clients can experience decreased muscle tension, increased energy, enhanced flexibility, a substantial reduction in stress, improved posture and relaxation, and increased mental clarity. While its headquarters is located in Las Vegas, NV, they have multiple locations sprinkled throughout the US, including Atlanta, New York City, and Dallas—just to name a few.
3. Kimberly Coleman Salon
At Kimberly Coleman Salon, their philosophy begins with promoting healthy tresses, elegant sets, unique accouterments, perfect pampering of hands and feet, and precision cuts. Known for working with models and celebrities, they fully appreciate and celebrate the diversity of their clientele which also includes super moms and warrior dads.
4. Pressed Roots
Pressed Roots was developed with the simple concept in mind—that everyone deserves access to easy, and quality hair care. What started as a single pop-up shop in Boston, grew to a multi-city pop-up tour, and is now slated to be the largest national hair salon franchise specializing in the care and styling of highly textured hair, they launched their first flagship location in Dallas, TX.
5. SW3AT
Jersey City resident, Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez started SW3AT. The company began as a fitness apparel line in 2015 but evolved into a sanctuary catered to health and wellness now known as SW3AT Sauna Studio—the first infrared sauna studio in Jersey City. The healing power of infrared heat therapy is a phenomenal option for holistic health proven to strengthen the immune system and provide relief from joint stiffness and muscle pain. It is also supportive of any fitness program as it aids in weight loss (you can torch up to 900 calories in a 45-minute session) while also detoxifying your body from some of the most harmful toxins.
6. The TEN Nail Bar
Kelli Coleman and Anika Jackson opened The TEN Nail Bar in Detroit to address a void in their city. They saw a need for a quality, modern nail bar that could also serve as a fun social space for Detroit’s residents and professionals. They designed the TEN to provide their clients with a #Perfect10 experience—where you can relax, enjoy music, a drink, your friends, a clean and precise manicure, and a much-needed break from all your hectic days.
7. Bettye O Day Spa
Located in the beautiful downtown Hyde Park Chicago area, Bettye O Day Spa specializes in first-class treatments. They aim to nurture and relax each of their clients with individualized and innovative therapeutic techniques. From body wraps and massages to facials and hydrotherapy, this day spa promises to be a safe place for healing to occur.
Looking for more businesses to support? ClassPass has also created a list of Black-owned business to check out all year-round. While both of these lists are a great start to get you familiar with many of the Black-owned businesses either in your neighborhood or around the globe, we have only scratched the surface. We'd love to keep these lists growing.If you have any businesses you'd like to see on this list, click here to submit a Black-owned business we should be highlighting as well!
