Disclaimer: Affiliate links are present in this post and the blog makes a small commision should you choose to use the links at no cost to you.
Today I will present to you a few stores where you can buy mostly Korean Fashion but also my own brand Ye Curly Shoppe, so I hope you enjoy the list. It will be short and sweet and mostly about the deals for black friday. This is the last post in my Black Friday shopping series unless I happen to find more time to write.
Ye Curly Shoppe: Here you can find original designs with motives representing curly hair and japanese culture (I live in Japan so it made sense, don’t come for me lol) it’s winter in Japan & America and Spring in Australia so I will show you my t-shirts and recommend you hoodies for staying warm this winter.
Yes Style: This is a site where I have spent a lot of money in Skincare and fashion but I digress, let’s discuss fashion. I have purchased a lot of knit dresses for this cold season and I have yet to be dissapointed sadly I don’t have many nice pictures wearing them and now it to late so I will simply share a few photos of a shirt, a cape and a dress I like and you can feel free to browse the site.
The black friday deak they are holding is 15% off with code: BLKFD21 and you can save up to 20% if you use my code SAKURA08 for an extra 5% so that’s a saving of 20% total while the offer lasts.
Kooding: This is another great K-beauty and K-Fashion store and they have quite a bargain for this black friday they are offering a Black Friday Sale of up to 50% off plus 10% off with code BLK21 until November 28th and for Cyber Monday Sale they offer and extra 15% off with code CYBER. They have a lot of Korean fashion brands to choose from but I definitively recommend checking out Envy Look and DABAGIRL
Disclaimer: Some links may be affiliate and the blog makes a small commission should your purchase from them.
Now for the good stuff, as I promised yesterday I would try to post some more about the products I love from Anita Grant so I decided to share my Rhassoul clay mask because it’s a double function clay it’s moisturizing but also cleansing so you’re getting the best of both worlds.
Mix together with a wooden spoon, then use a milk foamer to get an even, smooth, creamy consistency. You can mix it with the spoon only and it will be fine, I just like using the milk foamer.
I used these ingredients because they may have antiinflammatory properties and sebum regulation properties so I figured they would be good for an itchy scalp or just to gently clarify.
All products used are from Anita Grant except the tea.
Apply to dry hair and massage your scalp to remove product build up. Leave it on for at least 5 minutes and up to an hour. You can follow up with a shampoo like I do or your regular conditioner. For this wash day I used the Anita Grant Aloe Vera conditioning shampoo.
Rhassoul Clay Mask
I hope you have enjoyed this little recipe where I showcase some of the products I mentioned yesterday for the holiday sales.
Disclaimer: This post contans affiliate links, so a small commission will be made by the blog at no cost to you should you purchase using said links.
Today I will be listing stores/brands instead of individual products that have a nice selection of products and/or are offering good deals you need to know about.
Osocurly: UK based curly hair accesory brand that will for a fact have a significant discount. Normally with my code CURLYSAKURA for Osocurly you would get 15% off your order, but the discount is so significant that the codes have been deactivated during the sale, so you are in for a treat. What can you find at Osocurly? Mostly curly hair accesories such as Satin bonnets, Mist spray bottles and scrunchies. They also have satin pillowcases which are a dream to sleep on and are purported to keep your skin smooth while you sleep and these pillowcases will reduce breakage whether you have curly or straight hair, so I think they are a good investment. They offer products for adults and children. Please note that the store is closed right now and will open specially for the black friday sale, you can however sign up for early access via text messages.
Missha: This is one of my favorite Korean skincare and makeup brands, I highly recommend you check them out. They have an early access offer of up to 60% off so if you are looking to stock up on their legendary essence or are new to the brand and just want to give it a go this deal is actually quite good. What can you find at Missha? Things such as an extensive range of skincare and makeup. Don’t know where to start don’t worry I got you covered with my favorite products: MISSHA M Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++(50ml), Time Revolution The First Essence 5X, Sheet Masks (all their sheets masks are amazing but my faves are the propolis and guaiazulene ones, feel free to choose what you like based on your needs).
Sol de Janeiro: This an American Brand that specializes in mostly body care and is known for creating wonderfully scented products. Now is always the time to feel warm sunlight on your skin. Sol de Janeiro body-loving products are addictive, with delicious gourmand fragrances and luxurious textures that touch all the senses. The deals the are having at the moment are: 20% Off Orders $35+,10% Off Bundles, Free Hand Sanitizer until Dec 23rd. Don’t know where to start with this brand don’t worry I’ve got you covered with my favorites: Brazilian Bum Bum Cream (a cult classic, if you had to try a single product from this brand then go for this one), Brazilian Kiss Cupuaçu Lip Butter (not a well known product but it’s the perfect lip care for Winter), Brazilian 4 Play Moisturizing Shower Cream-Gel.
Anita Grant: A UK based brand I have been using for years and have lots of favorites to share with you, but I’m getting ahead of myself here. Anita Grant is an ethically sourced, ecofriendly and organic haircare and skincare brand that has been a staple in my routine since 2017; so when I tell you the products are good it’s because they are GOOD and have been tried and true. I don’t know yet if they will have a black friday sale but last year they had 30% sitewide for cyber monday, so I expect them to come up with something good this year too. I have a long list of favorites so I will do a separate post with more details (if time permits), but for now I will simply list my favorites over the years so you can have an idea of what to look for at the site. My favorites list: Bentonite clay for skin and hair, Creamy cafe Latte Leave-in detangle conditioner (read the review here), Organic Unrefined Mongongo oil, Rhassoul clay, Japanese Camellia Kissi Oil, Rhassoul Deep Condish (I have a recipe), Babassu Shampoo Bars (You can choose from a variety of bars, I’m currently using the coconut milk and honey one and I love it!) Co-wash conditioner (I’m very picky when it comes to cowashing and this is one of my favorite cowashes ever. I like the citrus mint version better, but you can choose whichever you like between unscented, rosemary mint and citrus mint), Organic Virgin Argan Oil, Vanilla Dry Oil (I love this for my skin specially in winter, but it smells so great I use it all year round), Aloe Vera Conditioning Shampoo, Ylang Ylang Floral Water (perfect for my rhassoul clay recipe, I like Ylang Ylang floral water better than rose water and we all know rose water is bomb). Whew Chile this was a long list of products I hope I didn’t bore you, if you made it this far congratulations and thank you for reading. We only have one more recommendation left and it’s the end of the post I promise.
Curlyellie: It’s a UK based Custom Crafted Plant based haircare brand for Curly, Dry, Damaged, Frizzy and Wavy hair created originally for children but basically anybody can use curlyellie because it’s hypoallergenic as well and smells delicious ( You know how much I enjoy a good sensory experience and you get that with Curlyellie). I just discovered this brand this year when they kindly gifted me products and I can’t stress enough how good these products are, even if they were gifted to me you know my opinions are authentic. I like the whole range but my favorites are the detangling spray, the hair mask and the shampoo. They also have a sister brand Curlyellie intense more specifically for adults and while I haven’t tried anything from this range yet I thought I would share just in case you’re interested, because I find the range intriguing. Now on to the best part I got you the scoop on the Black Friday deals from Curlyellie they will be offering 10 pounds off with purchases over 36 pounds and 25 pounds off orders over 75 pounds and the codes are FRIDAY10 and FRIDAY25 depending on how much you spend.
Please note that none of the curlyellie links are affiliate, so the blog doesn’t receive any commission if you click them and use the codes (I note this since these products were gifted) the rest of the links are affiliate so the blog does make a small commission if you choose to buy using the links provided (All products mentioned purchased by me, except for the clothing items that I think I will buy too during the sale).
Thank you so much for reading and happy holiday shopping.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links and the blog makes a small commission when you choose to purchase using the links, at no cost to you.
This a general post of products I have been loving in 2021 that would make a nice addition to your haircare, makeup or skincare arsenal; it’s in no way comprehensive because I’m doing this last minute but it includes products that spoke to me all year round or recently impressed me!
Innersense Organic Beauty Shampoo & Foam: I like the entire collection, but my standouts are the shampoo and the foam, if I had to choose something to try first it would be these two items. The Foam enhances definition and plays well with others and the shampoo cleanses gently but effectively.
I create lift Volumizing Foam
Pure Harmony Hairbath
My Innersense Collection
Nature Lab Tokyo Clarifying Scalp Scrub: My favorite scalp scrub, I use it about once a month with my shampoo brush and it helps exfoliate my scalp and feels lush and relaxing. Pictured here is the travel size because I ran out of the full size and I’m determined to use up my travel sizes before repurchasing.
Nature Lab Tokyo Clarifying Scalp Scrub
Makeup
For makeup I will share a few bits and pieces that I have been reaching out during the year and that I have been loving.
Huda beauty medium nude obsessions palette: I love this palette so much that I even attended a wedding wearing it, so it’s safe to say it’s among my favorite palettes. It’s travel friendly and I think it suits every skin tone.
Huda beauty medium nude obsessions
Lily Lolo pressed bronzer in Honolulu: This has become a quick favorite of mine in the last couple of weeks, so I thought I’d share it with you. This shade looks pretty dark in the pan but it’s actually very buildable and well suited for Light-Medium (my skin tone) to Tan skin but they have 2 other shades that might suit lighter and deeper skin tones than mine.
Lily Lolo pressed bronzer in Honolulu
Rituel de Fille Metamorphic highlighter in The Siren: This is a very pretty cream highlighter that I find myself reaching for frequently. The first time I used it I dipped my dirty highlighter brush in and it changed the beautiful shade to what it’s shown in the picture but on the skin it looks great now that I use my fingers to apply it, it has a bit of a learning curve but it’s my fave.
Rituel de Fille Metamorphic highlighter in The Siren
Rituel de Fille Metamorphic highlighter in The Siren
Missha perfect cover BB cream SPF 42/ PA+++ No 27 Honey Beige: This was my go to BB cream all summer and now in the colder months it’s still a staple of mine. It offers medium coverage and it’s very lightweight giving that second skin feeling that I love.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian kiss cupuaçu lip butter in Doce de Leite
Skincare
To not make it too long I’m including just a few skincare products that have really impressed me and hope they impress you too.
100%pure Bright Eyes: This eye mask is just golden it does what it promises: depuff and brighten and I enjoy using it. They come in a pack of 5 and this is my last one! I need to get more because I love it.
100%pure Bright Eyes
Missha Propolis Mascure sheet mask: This mask is my favorite as it gives a wonderful glow right after you use it. I also find the experience quite enjoyable, I also like the guaiazulene mask but I didn’t have one at hand and in all honesty this was the only sheet mask I have ever photographed when I received it.
Missha Propolis Mascure sheet mask
Missha Time Revolution The first treatment essence Rx: This is a cult classic and what better moment to stock up on it than black Friday. It’s a very lightweight essence, that brightens the skin and refreshes the complexion. I have been using this for a long time and even though I have tried other essences this one is still my favorite for some reason.
Missha Time Revolution The first treatment essence Rx
Real Barrier Extreme Cream: I recently won this moisturizer in a giveaway and it’s just so lovely I had to include it my black Friday Recommendations because I think it’s perfect for winter. It has a thick texture, is fragrance free (ideal for anyone with sensitivity, not my case but I still mention it in case that’s important for you), absorbs easily into the skin and leaves it well moisturized.
Real Barrier Extreme Cream
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 play Moisturizing shower cream-gel: This product is a very recent discovery, but I include it as a bonus because the scent is fantastic. Everyone knows the bum bum cream scent is delicious, well this one is better and I’m just in love with how this shower gel leaves my skin feeling. I bought a travel size but I highly recommend you get the full size as you are bound to love it if you like fragrant, relaxing experiences in the shower like me.
Sol de Janeiro Brazilian 4 play Moisturizing shower cream-gel
Well, that’s it for my impromptu black Friday Recommendations post, I hope you enjoyed it and happy shopping!
Disclaimer: This blog post contains affiliate links for which the blog makes a small commission at no cost to you should you choose to purchase using the links included.
I’ve been trying Innersense Organic Beauty for a while now with a few bits and pieces here and there but had never done a full wash day using only Innersense until today.
My full collection of Innersense Organic Beauty
Let me tell you I’m impressed.
The latest additions to my collection are the I create hold gel and the Quiet calm curl control they both have a very pleasant scent, I have used the gel twice and today is my first time trying the curl control and my hair looks hydrated and juicy. I just know this will be a good wash day.
Now about each product…
Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Harmony Hairbath: It’s a delicately fragranced low foaming cleanser that manages to cleanse well the scalp while not tangling the hair and it’s very enjoyable to use.
Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Harmony Hairbath
Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Hair Masque: This product smells amazing and a little goes a long way, just leave it on for 10 minutes and you will have the softest of tresses. I just love this product.
Innersense Organic Beauty Hydrating Hair Masque
Innersense Organic Beauty Pure inspiration Daily Conditioner: Another great product with lots of slip and good bang for your buck as a little goes a long way, does a great job detangling and can be used by itself or after the Hydrating Hair Masque.
Innersense Organic Beauty Pure Inspiration Daily Conditioner
Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave in Conditioner: You don’t need this product but you might want it, because the scent is just amazing. It detangles well although after the conditioners there aren’t many tangles left but what is really striking is the delicious sweet scent of this product.
Innersense Organic Beauty Sweet Spirit Leave in Conditioner
Innersense Organic Beauty Quiet Calm Curl Control: I apply this after the leave in and it gives me a great curl definition. I normally don’t use creams on their own so I find that adding just a little bit enhances my curl pattern quite a bit.
Innersense Organic Beauty Quiet Calm Curl Control
Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Lift Volumizing Foam: This is the product that got me interested in Innersense in the first place it works well on its own to deliver curl definition but with the gel it’s out of this world.
Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Lift Volumizing Foam
And finally the Hero product for curls
Innersense Organic Beauty I Create Hold: It’s one of the best gels I have used for curly hair, it gives amazing strong hold, smells great, it’s flexible doesn’t leave the hair crunchy and the curl definition is beyond beautiful. If there is one product you have to try from Innersense is this one!
Innersense Organic Beauty I create Hold
I hope you have enjoyed this review of my now complete collection of Innersense Organic Beauty. I have received several of this products as gifts with purchase in the past that’s why you see a lot of trave sizes but this must be my second or third bottle of them. They rebranded some time ago and some products are from the old collection, but because I’m a product junkie I never got around to trying them. Now that I got the gel I’m hooked on the entire line.
NOTE: There is a 25% off sale going on at Safe & Chic using code Innersense25 for a limited time, so it was lucky that I decided to wash my hair today with this brand and blog about it!
Fine mist Spray bottle: this bottle offers a continuous, ultra fine mist to make refreshing your hair 1000 times easier, ever since I purchased it I have started to enjoy refreshes. I used to hate them, now they are a breeze. This is because the mist saturates the hair without making it overly wet and there is no mess afterwards.
Shampoo brush: I’ve been using a shampoo brush almost since the beginning of my journey, but this shampoo brush from osocurly is definitely my favorite. It gives a very gentle scalp massage while applying shampoo. The correct way to use it is in a left to right or viceversa motion without bunching up the hair at the top of the head, this way you avoid tangles and breakage. Remember be gentle. The objective is to exfoliate a bit and relax a lot with the massage.
Satin Scrunchies: If you have curly hair and are NOT using satin Scrunchies, then you need to start now. They are gentle in the hair and don’t pull and tug at it. You can also tie your hair for sleeping by taking all your hair to the front and using a single loop of the satin scrunchie to put it all together.
Today I feature my favorite cleanser of all time, The Jordan Samuel Skin: The After Show Treatment Cleanser.
It is a gel to oil formula with a citrus/fruity scent, not overpowering Just sensory enhancing.
Cleansing my face is a pleasure with this. It includes ingredients such as olive, jojoba and grape seed oils which are perfect for a first cleanse used in removing makeup, other notable ingredients are sugarcane, willow bark and apple extracts which provide gentle exfoliation.
I use it as a first cleanse most times but I also use it as my second cleanse sometimes. It’s a very versatile & enjoyable product! I just repurchased a bigger size replacement as this one is empty. (Pic was taken before opening, also love the elegant packaging)
Have you tried Jordan Samuel Skin? Let me know in the comments
For mental health awareness month share with you some facts about depression a common illness worldwide with more than 322 million people affected according to data from the world health organization.
Depression is not just a temporary blues or a usual mood fluctuation and short lived emotional response to challenges in everyday life, it is an illness that often goes undiagnosed because of lack of awareness and stigma. Depression can be mild, moderate or severe and can seriously impair the ability of a person to function at work, school or in the family.
There is no blood test or imaging technique than can give us a diagnosis of depression so we need to rely on the symptoms to make a diagnosis, some of these symptoms are depressed or sad mood, loss of interest and enjoyment, and reduced energy leading to less activity for at least 2 weeks. If you feel you might have depression do not be afraid to contact your healthcare provider to seek treatment.
You are not alone and it can be treated and you can feel better. Treatment options include:Â medication, therapy and group therapy. Your healthcare provider will help you decide which treatment option is best for depending on the type and severity of depression you have and can help you have an accurate diagnosis which is key to receiving treatment. Say no to the stigma around mental health, because mental illness has a biological origin just as any other visibly physical illness.
Please know that depression is not a flaw of character and it does not have to last forever. If you have any questions, leave them in the comments, as you know I’m a physician and while no blog post can replace a medical consult I’m here for you, you’re not alone.
A useful resource is the ADAA (Anxiety & Depression association of America) if you live in the United States. #breakthestigma
This blog post contains affiliate links, at no cost to you it will help support the content of this blog.
Once you have started your curly hair journey you might start noticing what your hair likes and needs.
One of the things transitioning hair likes and needs is protein. How much and how often will depend on each individual but since there is heat damage to contend with, the odds are that some amount of protein will be beneficial.
The reason protein is important is because it helps replenish your hair from the inside out, helping to fill in the gaps of damage created by heat and as a by product it will help make your hair look curlier.
There are 3 types of hair classified by porosity (not the topic of this post, but I want to give you a small idea). Low porosity hair is hair that doesn’t need a lot of protein, in fact protein can have a negative effect for this type of hair. Medium porosity hair can handle protein well without detriment. High porosity hair needs a lot of protein, usually heat damaged hair is high porosity; but don’t just assume that because you have heat damage you will have high porosity hair as this is very individual.
I’m writing this post with the assumption that high porosity hair = heat damage but that is not always the case. If you want more details on porosity leave me a comment and we can discuss the topic further on a separate post.
My hair is low porosity now so I no longer use any of the products I’m listing except for the shampoo and sometimes the gel, just an FYI.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Shampoo: This is a sulfate free shampoo that will leave your curls clean without stripping them, while cleansing the scalp very well. It can be used as often as you like or feel you need to.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Conditioner: This conditioner will prepare your hair for your deep treatment mask as it will help you detangle your hair before applying the intense repair conditioner. It’s an optional step in your routine, but I highly recommend it.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Treatment Masque: This Masque will intensely repair your hair by helping in filling in the gaps in your curls created by heat damage, you can leave it on for 30 minutes covered with a plastic cap then rinse fully and proceed to style.
Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen & Restore Leave In Conditioner: The leave in conditioner will help maintain moisture and hydration to your locks. How to use: On soaking wet hair, divided in 4-6 sections, apply a small amount of the leave in conditioner, you can then follow up with a gel.
Eco Style Black Castor & Flaxseed Oil Styling Gel: I used to love this gel during my transition, it contains the perfect balance between protein and moisture. The protein that this gel contains is Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, any product with this ingredient contains protein. How to use: Once you have applied your leave in conditioner apply in small sections using your fingers either in a hand praying motion or raking them through your strands.
I hope this list of protein rich product basics can help you in your journey; if you are unsure as to whether or not a product contains protein, look for the word “hydrolyzed” which usually accompanies protein. Also look for products that are repairing or strengthening as this usually means they contain protein.
Where do we start our curly hair journey? Well, if you have made it this far, it means you have decided – or are close to deciding – to wear your curls natural and that you are no longer considering using heat or relaxers. But where to begin?
There are a couple of questions I get asked often enough in my socials: Which products should I use? How do I use them? Where should I start? That is what I am about to write today:
My Favorite Products for Beginners in the Curly Hair Journey
Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave in Conditioner: Its purpose is to detangle and condition your hair right after you have washed it. This is easily my favorite product in the whole world. It is my holy grail that I use religiously up to this day to keep my hair happy and hydrated.
Kinky Curly Knot Today Leave in Conditioner
Kinky Curly Curling Custard: Its purpose is to give definition to your curls and make them last for more than one day. You first apply the leave in conditioner, then you apply a small amount of curling custard to your hand and glide your fingers through your hair while shaking them ever so slightly.
Kinky Curly Curling Custard
Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo: Its purpose is to cleanse your scalp – and your scalp only. The right way to shampoo your hair is important when you have curly hair. Do not bunch up your hair on top of the head, because this causes tangles. Instead, massage the regular amount of shampoo you would normally use on your scalp and, if you can, get a shampoo brush to help with the process of cleansing your scalp. The hair strands will be cleansed by the foam as you rinse your hair. There is no set frequency of washing, but I recommend using this shampoo no more often than once a week to keep the scalp clean. If you wash more frequently, I can recommend other shampoos than you can use more often. Just leave me a comment!
Kinky Curly Come Clean Shampoo
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Masque: The purpose of deep conditioning is to intensely moisturize and strenghten your hair. Apply the Masque right after the shampoo or conditioner (optional but highly recommended) and leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour, depending on how dry your hair feels. I recommend starting with 30 minutes and increase the time on the next wash day, if your hair still feels too dry.
Shea Moisture Manuka Honey & Mafura Oil Intensive Hydration Conditioner: Its purpose is to detangle and prepare the hair for the Deep Conditioner. Apply it right after the shampoo, and detangle using a tangle teezer. Divide your hair into four sections, and detangle each section by starting at the ends and working your way toward the roots.
I hope this post has been helpful in getting you started with a few essentials for your curly hair routine. The process of finding the right product is a little more complex than one single shopping list, but we have to start somewhere, right?
These are all products that I regularly use and that I have been using for years without any problems. I find them ideal for any beginner in the curly hair journey.
Just remember that each curly head is different. What works perfectly for me might not work for you, and that is perfectly normal. The more you know your hair, the better your chances are to find the right product for you on your own. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave me a comment.
The Hair Lab 