Cup a Tea ( Black tea health benefits)

I use to look at my Gran and wonder how in the world she managed to drink 5 cups of Black tea a day. Personal I don't like the taste of tea but being the curious self that I am, I went on a research spree to find out what are the health benefits of my beloved Grans tea.

Black tea is one of the mostly consumed teas in the world, maybe because it is a good alternative to coffee as it is high in caffiene.

1. Cancer Prevention

Black tea is loaded with polyphenols. This is an antioxident which helps protect your cells from DNA damage. Research has shown that women who drink black tea have a lower risk of getting ovarian cancer than those who don't.


2. Immune system Booster

Tannins and alkylamine antigens are substances found in black tea. Tannins helps fight viral infections such as flues and the alkylamine antigens helps boost your immune system's response to viruses.

3. Increased Energy levels

Black tea is loaded with caffiene. The invigorating effect of caffiene found in the black tea is said to be more than found in coffee.

4. Help clear blemishes and uneven skin

Place a tea bag in warm water and let it steep for a bit. Then rub the teabag on to your face. Do this for about two minutes. The caffiene contained in the black tea will tighten your skin and lighten dark areas.

Black Tea list and prices. Order Now

Beautify your skin with tomatoes

Yesterday we learnt about the benefits of tomatoes for your body internally, today I will share with you a way in which you can use tomatoes to beautify your skin.

Whether you want to cure large pores or reduce acne and rashes or sooth a nasty sunburn or simply to revive the glow on dull skin, tomatoes are beneficial in many homemade beauty treatments.

To cure burnt inflamed skin...

Dice and mash half a tomato and mix it with two tablespoons of plain yogurt.
Apply it on face, neck, hands and feet.
Wash it off after 20 minutes.

Tomato brings a cooling effect to the skin and neutralizes the surface and the yogurt will give your skin a protein boost and leave your skin feeling soft.

Get rid of blackheads....

Slice a tomato into cubes and smash it with a fork or you can grate the tomato instead. Apply it to a clean face. Leave on for about 30 minutes.

The acidity in tomatoes will help clear up acne and blackheads and it will also help cleanse the skin from oils, dirt which cause acne by clogging the pores, heavy makeup and dead skin cells. Tomato juice even has the ability to shrink pores. This mixture is sure to give your skin a beautiful soft clear appearance over time.

DIY Banana hair mask and cracked heels healer.

Hair Mask (Treats hair loss,prevents split ends and breakage)

1 banana
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup natural yogurt

Mix all ingredients together. Mash rapidly for a couple of minutes. Let it stay on your hair for 15 minutes followed by hair wash with your favorite shampoo.

Heals cracked heels

 Banana is a good remedy for cracked heels. Take two bananas and  mash it into a smooth paste apply the past onto clean  feet. Leave the paste on your heels for 10 minutes and rinse the feet with luke warm water. Pat them dry and apply your favorite moisturizer ( mine is Coco Butter by Vasiline).The banana will live your feet soft and smooth.

A Banana a day keeps the Doctor away...

Its not just a banana after all. This yellow skinned fruit is not just deliciously sweet but it has so many unbelievable benefits for our body. Here a reasons why you should include a banana in your daily diet to kep the doctor away....

1. Aids digestion

Rich in pectin, bananas aid digestion and gently chelate toxins and heavy metals from the body. They act as a prebiotic, stimulating the growth of friendly bacteria in the bowel. They also produce digestive enzymes to assist in absorbing nutrients. Helps with relieving constipation and heart burn.

2. Prevents kidney cancer

3. Makes you smarter

Bananas make you smarter and help with learning by making you more alert. Eat a banana before an exam to benefit from the high levels of potassium.

4. Reduces Stroke 

Eating a banana between meals helps stabilize blood sugar. The potassium it contains is also helpful for reducing strokes.

5. Depression and stress

Bananas help overcome depression due high levels of tryptophan, which is converted into serotonin mood brain neurotransmitter.   When we are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium levels. Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat, sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body’s water balance.

6. Anemia

 High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin in the blood therefore helping in cases of anemia.

7. Smoking and hangovers

 Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking. The B6,B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Hungover? The banana calms the stomach and builds up depleted blood sugar levels.

8. For beauty

Banana contains Vitamin B6, C and a high percentage of water, which nourishes and hydrates the skin. These nutrients also help to maintain the elasticity of your skin.

PS: Banana's do not make you fat. The fiber content of bananas helps to control hunger much better for those who are trying to lose fat.

Reduces Cellulite Appearance (DIY Coffee Body scrub)

As I shared in my last blog the benefits of coffee are more than just our favorite wake up boost. Today I share how coffee can help reduce the appearance of cellulite by plumping up your skin. If you check the labels, caffeine is in many of those very expensive cellulite creams ( so why pay more when you can do it yourself at home?). Here's an easy DIY Coffee body scrub that will not leave a dent in your monthly beauty budget :)

What you'll need:

1/2 cup ground coffee
1/2 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp sea salt

Mix the ground coffee with the brown sugar and sea salt. Add the olive oil mix well. Quick and easy coffee body scrub DONE!

Blueberry DIY Face Mask

In my last blog I talked about the great benefits of Blueberries and what they can do for your skin and your body as a whole. Today I will share with you my DIY Blueberry Facial Mask recipe.

This face mask will assist in the elimination of acne, blemishes, pimples and uneven skin tone problems. It will also help in slowing do the aging of your skin. Here's what you'll need...

1/4th cup dried crushed oats
1/4th cup of blueberries
2 tablespoons each of rose water
2 tablespoons each of honey
A pinch of turmeric and lemon
1 tablespoon of olive oil

Instructions

Blend everything together into a smooth paste. Apply to your face and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash of with lukewarm water.

Your face will feel soft and smooth... Enjoy....

Dark Beauty. ( Bright lipstick for dark skin)

Many dark skinned woman think they can not wear bright lipstick. Here are some tips on how to wear bright lipstick:


1. Keep eye makeup minimal. Wear only champagne eyeshadow, a little bit of black eyeliner, and a coat of mascara. And if you're wearing a very saturated lip color, don't top it off with gloss bright and shiny lips can look cheesy.

2. Use a thin nylon brush to outline your lips with concealer (choose a dry formula). This keeps lipstick from smudging or settling into lines around your mouth and doesn't look harsh, the way a lip pencil can.

3. Pat lipstick onto your lips with your finger to get a soft, stained finish—it's more flattering and less maintenance than an opaque layer of color. (Use your ring finger—the pad is smaller and more precise, and you won't apply as much pressure as you might with your index finger.)

My favorite color is Lipstick n 20 - Matte Finish from Black UP.

Anti aging and skin lightning Face mask (papaya)

As promised yesterday.. Here I share with you my favorite Papaya homemade facial recipe. It will keep your face smooth and soft and also leave it even toned.

What you'll need

• 1/2 a ripe papaya—peeled, seeded, and sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon of tumeric

Mash the papaya in a bowl with a fork until evenly mashed, mix in the other ingredients by hand. Spread over your face, be careful that no mixture gets into your eyes. Let it sit for 15 - 20 minutes. Wipe or rinse your face clean with warm water.

Other products that  contain papaya:

Papaya Body Balm by June Jacobs  - R 490


This unique synergistic action works to soften, protect and penetrate the skin as it replenishes lost moisture. Not only is the papaya scent intoxicating, but it leaves the skin refreshed and revitalized.

For the best result, apply the June Jacobs Papaya Body Balm daily after showering to keep the skin fresh and supple.

The Papaya Glow

Papaya is a very nutritious fruit with many benefit to the body. It contains a special enzyme called papain that can kill dead cells and cure skin impurities and is a good source of Vitamin A which acts as an anti-oxidant.
Direct application and eating of papaya will help you achieve smooth, supple and soft skin.


Bellow is are the benefits and ways to use papaya on you body :

• Use mashed papaya for cracked and sore heels.

• Applying raw papaya on the face for about 20 minutes helps reduce those nasty pimples and other unwanted blemishes on the face.

•  Regular consumption or application of papaya also provides a  long lasting shine to the skin.

• Because of the  Vitamin A papaya helps the skin by reducing the aging signs on the face.

• You can rub the inside of the peels of papaya on your legs to whiten them.

NB- Tomorrow I'll share my favorite Papaya DIY facial....

Chocolate for a healthier you

Dark chocolate has a number of health benefits but  is also high in fat but some of the fat contained in dark chocolate is healthy.. Bellow are 4 Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate...

1. Dark Chocolate is Good for Your Brain

It  increases blood flow to the brain as well as to the heart, so it can help improve cognitive function. It also helps reduce your risk of stroke.

2. Dark Chocolate is Full of Antioxidants

Antioxidants help free your body of free radicals, which cause oxidative damage to cells. Free radicals are implicated in the aging process and may be the cause of cancer, eating antioxidant rich foods like dark chocolate can protect you from many types of cancer and slow the signs of aging.

3. Dark Chocolate is Good for Stress Reduction

Dark chocolate also helps combat beauty’s public enemy number one: Stress. Cocoa helps reduce stress hormones, which means less collagen breakdown in the skin, and fewer wrinkles.

4. Dark chocolate can Protect your Skin

German researchers have found that the flavonoids in dark chocolate absorb UV light. This helps protect and increase blood flow to the skin, and improve skin’s hydration and complexion.

How to shop for a good chocolate:

"Buy dark chocolate that has 70% or more coca. Anything with sugar or milk  as the first ingredient will not contain 70% or more cocoa." Thierry Muret, Godiva Executive Chocolatier.

Try these Chocolates for a health treat.

 

French Braid Bun

The bun has become the most popular hairdo for this season. Here's an easy way to add a twist to your donut bun...

Introducing the French Braid Bun

What you'll need:

• a brush
• elastic bands
• bobby pins
• bun sock ( the one you used for the hair donut post)

Step 1

Gently brushing your hair to remove any knots.

Step 2

Divide your hair by making a part from your left ear across the crown of your head, to the right ear. Secure the top part of your hair with a clip and this should make braiding the lower half much easier.

Step 3

Flip your head upside down, and then gently brush the hair again. Start the French braid at the nape of your neck, and braid all the way to the crown of your head. Then secure the hair with an elastic band, and leave the ponytail free.

Step 4

Remove the clip from the top part of your hair. Tie the hair and the ponytail left from the braid together in a high ponytail.

Step 5

Now make a bun. For this you can use a bun roll. Slide it over your ponytail, arrange your hair around it, and then gently tuck it under the roll, and secure with bobby pins.

You'll love it!!

Acne Free Skin

Does your skin break out every time you stress? No need to worry. Here's an easy face mask to relive you from you acne whoos..

What you'll need:

1 teaspoon of fresh milk
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of turmeric
warm water

Instructions:

Mix one teaspoon of honey, one teaspoon of fresh milk and one teaspoon of turmeric together in a bowl.

Apply to skin.

Leave for 15 - 25 minutes. Then rinse off with warm water and pat skin dry.

Benefits of honey on skin:

It hydrates and locks in moisture to your skin and it also has anti - bacterial and anti - inflammation properties which makes it the perfect ingredient for problem skin.

Benefits of turmeric on skin:

Its high in antioxidants that slow down cell damage. Also helps reduce skin pigmentation and evens out skin tone.

Heat Free Curly Hair... Method 1

Curly hair looks gorgeous on ever face shape and hair type but we know how damaging hair dryers, straighteners and curlers can be to our hair. Here are simple steps to curl hair without using heat....

All you need is a headband, hairpins and dry towel.

Step 1

Get hair wet and blot it dry with a towel.

Step 2


Choose a soft elastic headband, one that wraps all around your head. Take sections off the hair and wrap the hair around the headband and use hairpins to pin ends in place. Continue until all hair is wrapped around the headband.

      

Step 3

Go to sleep wearing the headband so your hair can completely dry.

Step 4

Unpin each section of your hair and let the curls fall. Remove headband and scrunch curls with a dollop of mousse and spry very lightly with hair spray.

Sexy, Classic, Smokey eyes...

They say the eyes are the window to ones soul, I agree.... That is why I'm willing to share my smokey eye secret with you. Here it goes...

You'll need:

• An eyeliner ( Black)
• Gold eye shadow 
• Black eye shadow
• Mascara 

Step 1

Fill intire eyelid up to the brow with a gold eye shadow

Step 2

Fill eyelid with eyeliner. 

Step 3

Smudge the eyeliner using your finger and blend out the edges.

Step 4

Brush black eye shadow onto outer lid and blend.

Step 5

Brush black eye shadow under the eye.

Step 6

Apply eyeliner all around the eye. Do not forget to apply some under the eyelashes.

Step 7

Apply mascara to top and bottom

Done!

Sexy,Soft and Plump Lips.

                            


Winter makes our lips dry which causes peeling or cracked lips and we don't want such lips, do we ladies? Many of us also don't want to spend loads of money on lip moisturizers and plumbers that aren't really proven to work. Here's a money saving and effective trick you can use...

You'll need:

• Petroleum Jelly or Vaseline 
• A tooth brush 
• A dry towel

Step 1
Drink loads of water

Dehydration cause your lips to peel and chap.

Step 2

Apply a generous amount of Vaseline or Petroleum Jelly on to your lips.

Step 3

Use the tooth brush to work the Vaseline in to your lips by gently moving the brush in circular motions along your lips. Do this for a minute or so...

Step 4

Wash the Vaseline off your lips with cold water and dab dry with towel.

Step 5

Apply your favorite lip gloss.

Good to go :)

Bow or Bow Down....

Turn everyday hair into a work off art. All you need is a hair band, hair pins and of cause your gorgeous hair.

Here is the know how...

Step 1

Brush hair properly to remove any tangle. Decide on where you would like your bow to be before creating a pony tail. then brush and create the bow accordingly.

Step 2

Pull hair into a pony tail. Instead of pulling the pony tail all the way through, pull it half way forming a loop. Leave a loss end.

                            

Step 3

Divide the loop hair into to even sections. These sections will form the sides of the bow.

Step 4

Create the middle piece of the bow by taking the loose strand of your hair in front of the bow and pull it back over the middle of your bow section. Then tuck the hair strands securely into the hair band. Try to stuff as much of the top strand as possible. You may need to use hair pins to secure it by pushing a few into the strand and hair band.

Step 5

Use your fingers to fluff out or shape the bow.

Done :)

Be the Queen Bee (DIY Beehive hairstyle)

The beehive hairstyle is a tricky affair to master but everything can be made simple, right ladies? Unlike our lovely celebrities who have a little help with getting the perfect beehive hairdo, we normal girls can only stare in aah. I say... NO MORE!!!

Here's a trick I have up my sleeve for the perfect beehive glam you have always wished for:

What you'll need is :

• A piece of fabric that matches your hair color ( one that you can tie into a ball)
• A rubber band
• Hair/ bobby pins

Step 1

Tie the piece of fabric into a ball and secure any pieces left by rolling the rubber band around it.

Step 2

Pull one small section off hair forward ( leave unteased). Gather a second section about 1- 2 inchs, tease/ comb downwards. Repeat with 2-3 more sections until your hair looks something like this:

Step 3

Add the ball of fabric to your hair. Wherever you place the ball will be where the bump will be. Cover the ball with pieces of hair and pin each piece down. Make sure you cover the ball from all directions until the ball is completely covered.

There its easy as 1, 2, 3

Sexy Hand all Year Round

It's winter, and the cold, dry air can wreak havoc on your soft, delicate hands. And we know that we want sexy hands all year round. Don't we ladies? And gents.

Just a few steps on achieving gorgeous, sexy hands:

Step 1
Protect them from the cold.

Wear gloves every time you go outside and make sure you change them if they become damp from rain. There are so mean fashionable styles out there from cute colorful knit gloves to the classic leather gloves.

                 

Step 2
Wash them often.

Not only will washing your hands help keep them clean but it will also prevent you from spreading those nasty flu germs. Always use warm water, nothing too hot or cold and use gentle soap. Rinse well and pat dry.

Step 3
Moisturize them

After washing your hands use a little hand lotion. try one with coco butter to make your hands soft
and beautiful.

Step 4
Don't bite them.

Biting your nails is a bad habit, which make hands not so flattering. Whatever the reason, now is the time to stop TODAY. In only a week you'll be rewarded with pretty nails.

Step 5
Maintain them

Make it your daily priority and develop a that will take just a few minutes, so it will be easy to stick by it. After you bath or shower, gentle push your cuticles back with your towel, file any snags, them apply lotion.

Easy - peasy <3*

The Perfect Hair Donut

We all want that perfect bun which is not always easy to master.. Here are a few simple steps which will make your donut  turn heads:

Supplies:
One sock (the longer the sock the bigger the bun - once we've gotten over the idea of attaching our footwear to our heads.)
Two hair bands
Some hairpins ( four or more)

Step 1

Take a sock that almost matches your hair colour. Cut a R5 size hole in the toe and role the sock until there's nothing left to role. - This should resemble a swollen hair band.

Step 2

Pull your hair back in a ponytail at the spot you want the centre of your donut to be, tie hair tightly with one thin hair band. Pull your hair through the centre of the rolled sock, and make sure you leave any of the hair behind.

Step 3

Spread your hair over the sock in all directions so that none of the sock shows. When the sock is fully covered secure your hair with a hair band around your hair and sock.

Step 4

The last step is pin the ends of your hair after they've been wrapped around the outside of the bun.

Wala the perfect Donut Bun :)