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Multiracial Mixed Woman
Me, myself, and margarita!
One of my recent margarita conquests
Did you know last Monday, February 22, was National Margarita Day? I know what you’re thinking – it’s not May, yet. Everyone knows the margarita's official holiday is on Cinco de Mayo.
If you missed the national holiday celebrating one of my favorite cocktails, don’t worry. Cinco de Drinko is only a couple of months away, and if you can’t wait that long, Taco Tuesday comes around once a week. Or I’m sure it’s 5 o’clock somewhere. What I'm saying is, don't limit yourself.
If it wasn’t obvious, I looove a margarita. Since my first one at 18, I’ve been hooked! Yes, 18, but I was in Mexico – calm down. There’s just something about that tequila mixed with simple syrup.
Growing up in California, it wasn’t hard to find a good Mexican food restaurant. Ugh, I miss good Mexican food. I’m in Washington now, and it’s just not the same….
Sorry, back to margaritas, I got sidetracked talking about food, but what’s new.
Picture of my margarita on 4th of July, last year
If you look on the Internet for the history of the margarita, you’ll find several different versions. It’d be cool to actually know the “real” story, but I’m not sure we're going to get it so let’s focus on my favorite "version" – el margarita grande. Ever heard of it?!
Ok, it’s a large margarita, but it’s the best! Actually, other than large, I like to order mine without salt. You have to keep it healthy, am I right?! No salt and just a house margarita on the rocks. I’ve tried the Cadillac Margarita, and other flavored margaritas, but I prefer the classic.
It’s been a few years since I’ve lived in California, but if you’re in the San Diego area visit any bar/restaurant with the word “margarita” on the menu, and you should be good.
In Washington, the best margarita I’ve had is at Cactus. They’re simple, not too expensive, and you only need two. Once, I was eating at another Mexican food restaurant close to a Cactus, and left after my meal to get another margarita from them. It's that good. Luckily, my fiancé tolerated the restaurant hop, but it was worth it!
"I prefer on the rocks, but blended is just as tasty. I've never met a margarita I didn't like."
"Margaritaville" - Jimmy Buffet
I was never one to completely acquire the taste of alcohol. My 20’s was filled with experimental fruity drinks to mask the taste of booze. I definitely went through my flavored shots faze, lemons drops, jolly ranchers and a few others that do not come with politically correct names, so I won’t mentioned them. I worked as a cocktail waitress to pay the bills while I was in school, so I got degree-worthy knowledgeable of mixed drinks as well.
Six years ago, I found out I was allergic to alcohol after taking a series of allergy tests. Looking back, there were always signs, but I ignored them like most 20 somethings do. I would get buzzed off of a few sips of a drink, I would get hives and the worst headaches that would linger for days. Now, I’ll have an occasional mock-tail, all the flavor and calories of a drink without the alcohol.
Honestly, I never was much of a drinker, so mock- tails are a perfect little treat for me. My go to mock-tail is a mojito. The combination of sweet, tart and refreshing mint hits the spot for me! The best part is you can add any muddled fruit to kick it up a notch.
Mojito comes from mojo, the Spanish word meaning to assemble or blend. Like many classic cocktails, the origins of the mojito are fuzzy, but legend claims it originated when Cuban plantation masters began adding highly alcoholic sugarcane distillate to slaves' energy-boosting sugar water. Over time, mint and lime were added. Fast forward a couple hundred years to the 20th century, and the easy-to-drink combination became the go-to cocktail at Havana's many bars and clubs, eventually making its way to the United States.
The difference between a perfect mojito and an average one is the quality of ingredients. Since rum is not regulated by an international body, there's controversy over the perfect recipe for making quality levels of the spirit. It follows that rum-based cocktails, like the mojito, are often tainted by subpar alcohol made with synthetic sugars, added to sour mixes. When added to premium rum, fresh mojitos are lower-cal, healthier and tastier.
“The mojito must be all-natural. It must have a rustic flavor, no metallics that ruin the simple taste,” says Henderson. And this guy knows what he's talking about; Cuba Libre features a dozen signature mojitos and 98 types of rum to accompany its Cuban fare. “Fresh is always best. And mojitos are not meant to be strong and knock you on your butt.”
In the spirit of getting our future mojitos made correctly, we asked Henderson his best tips for making a classic mojito. Here's how it's done:
Always start with white rum. Rum, which is made from molasses, sugarcane juice or cane syrup can be white (unaged), golden or brown (aged in various types of wooden barrels). Since aged rums change a classic mojito's flavor with woody character, start with white rum for the purest expression of sugarcane. Once you experiment with various fruit mojitos and learn your rum preference, then change out the white with a higher proof or aged rum for spins on the classic.
Use guarapo rather than simple syrup. Squeezing the green-colored juice from sugarcane stalks is the most authentic way to sweeten a mojito. Stalks can be purchased at some natural food stores, such as Whole Foods, peeled and extracted with a high-powered electric juicer. When making fresh guarapo is not possible, combine one part raw or unprocessed sugar with one part water on a stovetop until dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool before mixing into the mojito.
Tear, rather than muddle, fresh mint leaves. When shaken with ice, torn mint releases its essential oils more easily, becoming more aromatic. Muddled leaves, on the other hand, retain much of the fresh flavor characteristic of the drink. The quality of mint also counts. Henderson recommends Israeli mint when possible, which contains more oils. Make sure mint leaves are not dry or browning.
Avoid bottled lime juice and sour mix. Limes are widely available most of the year and easily extracted for fresh juice, whereas bottled lime juices contain unnecessary preservatives. Choose limes that are somewhat firm and roll one to loosen juices before squeezing.
Ready to get your real mojito on? Here is a classic recipe courtesy of Cuba Libre in Washington, D.C. and resident mixologist and bar manager, Vance Henderson.
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ ounces white rum
2 ½ ounces guarapo (sugarcane juice)
1 ¼ ounces fresh lime juice
6 mint leaves
1 splash soda
DIRECTIONS
Combine mint, lime and guarapo in a shaker. Add rum and ice. Shake vigorously and pour in a collins glass. Splash with club soda and garnish with a lime wedge.
Almost every country has their liquor or drink of choice. Russia has vodka. Italy has grappa. America has whiskey and bourbon. Peru has pisco. Produced in the winemaking regions of Peru from distilled grape wine, pisco was developed by Spaniards in the 16th century to avoid importing spirits from Europe.
My in-laws introduced me to Pisco Sours my first trip to Miami. The combination of tartness, sweetness, and the frothiness of a latte had me hooked. We’ve made them from scratch and some of the Peruvian markets have mixes. The recipe below is from FoodandWine.com. Enjoy!
Ingredients
· Juice of 1/2 lime
· 1 tablespoon pasteurized egg white
· 2 tablespoons sugar, or more to taste
· 1/4 cup crushed ice
· 2 ounces Peruvian pisco (1/4 cup)
· Angostura bitters
In a blender, combine the lime juice with the sugar and mix to dissolve the sugar. Add the pisco, egg white and ice and blend at high speed until frothy. Pour into a sour glass, add a few drops of bitters and serve.
*We like to sprinkle the top with cinnamon.
Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade
I'm a Whiskey and Bourbon gal. My all time favorite cocktails were at the YardBird in Miami Beach, Florida.
I don't usually go for mixed drinks; been there done that, too many hangovers. I learned my lesson the hard way. Me and martinis don't mix. However, the YardBird is taking Whiskey and Bourbon to a whole new level.
Blackberry Bourbon Lemonade – made with Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Fresh Lemon and Cardamom. Tart, sweet and bitter. I could drink a gallon.
Southern Revival – Wild Turkey 81 with Passion Fruit and Basil.
Yardbird Old Fashioned – Bacon Infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Angostura Bitters and Maple Syrup.
It's a really good thing I don't live anywhere near YardBird otherwise, I'd probably become an alcoholic.
Southern Revival
YardBird Old Fashioned
This week we are all sharing our favorite cocktails! I love collecting interesting cocktail recipes on Pinterest, I'm kind of a recipe hoarder. Oddly I never actually make any of them, because I pretty much only drink red wine at home but they sure are pretty to look at:)
One of my favorites I have come across is this Grapefruit-Rosemary Mule that originated on the Domesticate Me blog. Moscow Mules are so refreshing and grapefruit is one of my favorite flavors, plus copper mule mugs are always a bonus!
Cheers! What is your favorite cocktail to make?
Trying to pick my dream destination is like telling me to go into my favorite ice cream spot and only get one flavor of ice cream. I'm gonna go with... Thailand and Vietnam because I've never been. I have visited Central America, The Caribbean, Paris, and Italy but never Asia.
Maybe I've just watched too many Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmermin TV shows, but every time they go to one of those places they eat the most amazing looking foods. Can we just say Asian Night Market?
Almost two years ago, I had the opportunity to visit Ireland for a week. On my second to last day, after a long bus ride, we visited the Cliffs of Moher with our tour group. I thought about not going, because I was so tired from the drive, but I’ve never been so proud of myself for sucking it up. Honestly, visiting that place has made me a better person. Seeing that kind of beauty in the world, is a very humbling experience. I feel truly blessed to have seen it, in person.
A picture I took of a horse while on my hike.
The Cliffs of Moher are simply, magical. The views are unbelievably gorgeous, and the experience is spiritual. Pictures don't do it justice. I can only compare what I felt to the feeling of visiting the Vatican for this first time, and driving through the Highlands.
There’s a trail you can follow along the edge of the cliffs that’s 8km (5 miles), and it’s divided into two sides. Imagine a fork in the road where you can either go left or right. The trail isn’t for the faint of heart. If you’re afraid of heights, this maybe isn’t the best experience for you; hang out in the gift shop. If you aren’t afraid of heights, there’s a point at the beginning of the trail (on the left side) where it says, “Please Do Not Go Beyond This Point..” Meaning, beyond this point there isn’t a guard rail or anything to stop you from going over the edge. I’m not crazy about heights, but when you’re in Ireland, and are faced with such an incredible view; you keep going.
Picture near the edge of the cliffs.
Their website says, the trail takes 4 hours, but you really need to plan for more time than that. You need time for pictures, and just time to take in the view. Unfortunately, I didn’t have 4+ hours to hike the whole trail, but I’ll be back. I’m obsessed with this place, and you will be, too.
Slainte!
Tip: Bring some headphones, and play “Warning Sign” by Coldplay or anything by Florence and the Machine.
Another picture from my hike.
Salvador, Bahia
One of my favorite travel experiences was going to Brazil with my boyfriend and his parents. The country is rich in history, culture and diversity. One facet of Brazilian culture that is underappreciated is the multi-ethnic population.
My favorite city in Brazil was Salvador, which means “Salvation” in Portuguese. Historically, the city was the center of slave trade under Portuguese colonial rule; however, today it is the center of Afro-Brazilian culture.
A 2010 census of Salvador revealed 2,480,790 people residing in the city of Salvador with the following self-identification: 1,382,543 persons identify as pardo (multiracial) (51.7%); 743,718 as Black (27.8%); 505,645 as white (18.9%); 35,785 as Asian (1.3%); and 7,563 as Amerindian (0.3%). The Pardo and Black ethnicities drive the culture of Salvador and created a unique and rare experience for me, as a multi-ethnic American.
I am writing about this little city because it is the last big trip I went on with my family and the first trip with my daughter out of the country. We traveled to Cartagena for my brother-in-law’s wedding last May. The town was such a surprise, a little enclosed jewel located on the northern coast of Colombia on the Caribbean.
Cartagena was “discovered” by the Spanish in 1533, but indigenous people date back to 4000 B.C. A strategic site for trade due to its large port, Cartagena was under constant threat of invasion for centuries. This finally led to multiple forts and a wall being built around the city. We stayed in Old Town, behind the walls, with beautiful Colonial architecture surrounding us. Our hotel, Hotel Boutique Las Carretas, was an old colonial building, outfitted with modern conveniences with a rooftop pool overlooking a romantically dilapidated, ivy-covered building next door. Our balcony gave view to the narrow cobblestone streets where you could hear the trotting of horse-drawn carriages with tourists in tow. The service at the hotel was top-notch. Our concierge noticed it was our daughter’s birthday from her passport and arranged for a cake and balloons to be delivered to our room. It was truly charming.
We were only there for five days, but we could have easily occupied ourselves for two weeks weaving in and out of the little village streets, shopping, and eating our way through the city. The Del Rosario archipelago lies just off the coast, so island-hopping is another fun option to spend your day. Word of warning, I would strongly suggest you speak Spanish, or at least have a friend fluent in the language traveling with you, as outside of our hotel, the people did not speak English. Also, make sure the boat you charter to go island-hopping has life jackets on board for everyone, or bring your own – the same laws that govern our safety in the U.S. do not always apply in foreign countries.
So with that, please enjoy my photos…
THE LAND OF SMILES
In 2012, my husband and I packed up and moved to Thailand to teach English for 6 months.
At first, Thailand was a frustrating place to live. When we first arrived, our senses were immediately assaulted by sights, sounds and smells that we had never experienced and were not pleasant. It was hot, dirty and loud. Everything we ate made us sick, except the boring hotel food. The town that we taught in was small and barely anyone spoke English. It was an incredibly difficult adjustment from our lives back in the U.S.
After about a month, Thailand really started to grow on us. We learned some of the language, we figured out what foods we liked and didn’t like. We spent every waking minute of our free time travelling the country and experiencing the real Thailand. Our experiences always landed us in some situation where we needed help and the Thai people never let us down.
Thailand is called “The Land of Smiles” for a good reason. The Thai people truly are some of the nicest people I have ever encountered. We drove a moped (motorbike as they call them) around and it broke down on numerous occasions. We hitched rides with people and they fixed our bike so many times we lost count. We never felt unsafe and they never ripped us off or made us feel like idiots. From the people that helped us with our moped, to the guy who helped us find the McDonald’s in Chiang Mai, the Thai people are one of the many reasons we fell in love in their country.
We also love Thailand because it’s endlessly beautiful. Whether it’s the beaches and islands in the south, or the mountains and national parks in the north, Thailand does not disappoint when it comes to natural beauty. The country is also relatively easy to navigate with buses and trains that run daily to every destination in the country. It’s also the main travel hub to other Southeast Asian destinations such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. And the price just can’t be beat! It will set you back a bit to get there, but once you are there, your money can go a long, long way. There’s a reason it’s one of the top backpacker destinations in the world.
Thailand is an incredible place filled with lovely people, delicious food, beautiful temples and awe inspiring scenery. If you ever get the chance to go to that area of the world, put Thailand on the top of your list of places to visit. And spend as much time there as you can. It was one of the best decisions we have ever made and we will definitely be going back to our second home!
You can read about our 6 months in Thailand here!
This week we are sharing our favorite movies, focusing specifically on movies with diverse casts.
I’m not a huge movie person. But every once and awhile I scroll through Netflix or On-demand and see what pops up. One night that movie was Belle. Belle is a beautiful period film from the 18th-century based on the life of a biracial woman named Dido Elizabeth Belle.
The movie is a true story and follows Dido’s life from the time her father, navy captain Sir John Lindsay, introduces the child as his own to his uncle, Lord Mansfield. The Lord and Lady then agree to raise the child as their own as she is brought up with another grandniece, Elizabeth Murray. Sir John then leaves to go back to battle and dies, never seeing Dido again.
The movie quickly skips to the time the 2 young women are of age to be paired up for marriage. Dido struggles with finding her place in her world as a member of a privileged family, yet without the same rights as Elizabeth. She asks the Lord “Papa, how may I be too high in rank to dine with the servants and to low to dine with my family?”
The movie’s most compelling scenes come from Dido learning about a horribly real case involving the Zong Slave Ship in which there was a mass murder of African slaves who were then claimed for life insurance purposes. The Lord is Chief Justice and for much of the movie Dido as well as a young lawyer, John Davinier, are on the opposite side of the issue. Since it is a true story I don’t think I am ruining anything by telling you the decision the Lord Chief Justice made forever changed issues in Britain regarding slavery.
The movie is very moving. Beautifully directed and shares a true story that I had never heard before. You can probably picture me, red wine in hand, weeping during many points of this story. This is a must see for anyone, but especially those of us with biracial or multiracial children. It is rated PG so while it is a difficult piece of history to discuss, it is suitable for children who are old enough to understand the subject.
Here is the trailer which will showcase what a beautiful performance Gugu Mbatha-Raw gives as Dido.
The movie is directed by Amma Asante.
I first encountered Ruud Van Empel’s work during Art Basel Miami in 2009. I turned a corner and in the center of the wall was a little black girl, her skin as rich as chocolate, in a beautiful sequined chartreuse dress, daintily holding a little purse with her lace-gloved hands. The colors were so vivid, the environment was so utopian. The texture of the dress seemed so tangible and the artwork seemed like a more beautiful, perfect version of real life. I was hooked. The work of art was Ruud Van Empel’s World #27.
His subjects are all so interesting. His models are as diverse as the color palette he uses and they are styled to perfection. The settings are always interesting and idyllic. Every time you look at one of his pieces, you find something new, so much thought and detail have gone into Van Empel’s work. All of this detail and beauty comes from a technique Van Empel developed after graduating from Art School in the Netherlands in 1981. Van Empel photographs models and nature, taking the most perfect aspects of all, then cuts them out and pieces them together through Photoshop. None of the models he uses is a real person, but an amalgam of features from many models. The environments he creates are created from a perfect leaf photographed maybe five years ago and a perfect flower photographed yesterday, pieced together to make a heavenly forest.
A great interview with Van Empel can be found HERE. He explains his thought process and why a boy who grew up in a small, mostly white, Catholic town in the Netherlands decided to use very diverse subjects.
This week on Obsessed we are all sharing artists that inspire us. Some of us are sharing fine artists and others musical artists. I was especially excited about this topic because I am literally OBSESSED with art and street art. I am the person who pulls over the car multiple times a week to snap photos of new murals that have popped up. Luckily for me I live in Los Angeles and am exposed to numerous artists. My office is in Downtown Los Angeles, near the Arts District, which is heaven for people like me who appreciate the endless walls full of street art.
My favorite artist is Hueman. I discovered Hueman’s work a few years ago when I saw a mural she has on Rose Avenue in Venice, CA. I was very drawn into the colors and the femininity of this piece and had to know more about the artist.
Allison Torneros, who paints under the moniker ‘Hueman’, grew up drawing and painting in Northern California, and received her degree in Design | Media arts from UCLA in 2008. Whether she is creating delicate visions on canvas, or crushing massive walls with a spray can, she often draws on the human condition to create colorful mashups of the abstract and figurative, and the beautiful and grotesque. Hueman’s unique freestyle process involves creating tightly refined compositions from a spontaneous beginning of paint splashes, drips, and sprays. Through this methods she is interested in creating motion and dimension on flat, two-dimensional surfaces, and her layered works can be seen on public walls and in galleries worldwide. Her work has caught the attention of media outlets and publications such as Juxtapoz, Hi-Fructose, CNN, the History Channel, Complex, and the LA Times.
Since seeing the original mural in Venice, I started noticing other Hueman works around town and started stalking her Instagram page on the regular to see her creativity in action. The colors she chooses are intoxicating. I am a person that loves super colorful art and her pieces all just have such an amazing depth. I also love that women are central in her work and they often appear to be in a dreamy, inspired state.
I have always been drawn to the beauty and details of kaftans. I would see them worn during my travels and in fashion magazines. I became particularly fond of Moroccan kaftans when, a few years ago, a best friend gifted me two handcrafted kaftans during her trip to Morocco. The wonderful thing about kaftans are the many variations of style, color, fit and detail that makes every woman looks fantastic and one of a kind.
A kaftan or caftan (Arabic: قفطان qaftân) is a variant of the robe or tunic, versions of which have been worn by multiple cultures around the world for thousands of years. The kaftan is often worn as a overdress, usually reaching to the ankles. It can be made of wool, cashmere, silk, or cotton, and may be worn with a sash. The caftan is of ancient Mesopotamian origin, and is still worn by many middle-eastern ethnic groups.
The kaftan has evolved to include different cultural styles, purposes, and names. In many regions with a warm climate, the kaftan is worn as a light-weight, loose-fitting garment. The kaftan has served as a symbol of royalty in some cultures and as a symbol of marriage in others during some parts of history. In the United States and modern Western cultures, a variation of the kaftan is a symbol of educational ascension (graduation robes) and judicial power (judge’s robes)
Created after the 2003 documentary bringing to light the Black presence in American punk culture, Afropunk Fest is one of the most multicultural festivals in the US. The festival brings together people of all different backgrounds for music, art, fashion, film, and more. Their efforts encourage diversity in the media and access to the arts through volunteerism in under-served communities. Past performers during the festival include Lenny Kravitz, Kelis, Grace Jones, and Lauryn Hill.
While the festival sounds amazing – promoting multiculturism, the arts, and philanthropy, I am particularly obsessed with the festival-goers’ fashion and style. From the array of prints, to all of the natural hair, to my favorite, tribal face paint, the partiers are on point in creativity and originality. I want to rock tribal face paint every day in suburban Dallas, Texas after seeing the photos; but considering I get perplexing stares when I rock my simple afro in public, I might have to save the tribal paint for when I finally attend the festival one day.
For more information about Afropunk Fest: www.afropunkfest.com .
Visiting India in 2001, I was enamored with the never-ending range of color worn by the women. Deliciously hued saris and salwar kameez, draped effortlessly on city dwellers and rural residents alike. The intricate details of the native garb oozed femininity and I couldn't image how all of the work in these garments was truly handmade. But an adventure to an underground loom shop revealed artisans chanting to keep track of the stitch, color and pattern. At shift change, the fresh craftsman knew exactly where to pickup without missing a beat. I was hooked.
In 2009, I landed a job with an unknown women's couture label whose mission was to combat sex trafficking. I learned the sobering facts:
Committed to saving lives, my new bosses had been developing their line for two years. Completely created in India, this American mother/daughter duo designed and imported nearly 1000 one-of-a-kind handcrafted masterpieces to the US. Dresses, coats, pants, shorts, jackets, jumpsuits in cashmeres, cottons and silks in every color imaginable. Simple daily wear, red carpet worthy--and everything in between. My philanthropic boss presented me with a new wardrobe so I could properly represent the company. There is a palpable energy in ethnic fabrics that draws people in. Hanging at a Lakers game, I unexpectedly caught a certain Kardashian giving my black embroidered cashmere shawl the side-eye.
The company was eventually sold due to the owner's divorce and but continues its mission. I moved on to become a stay-at-home-mom but to this day, I rarely leave the house without wearing something from India. If I want to make a lasting impression, I wear Scarlet Poppy Arte. Shoppers in NYC can see the line by appointment only. There is a small fraction of the line is available online. Brace yourself--it's pricey. Queen Bey would have a field day in their showroom. The Ganesh Dress took six months to make and Zendaya could rock it on a red carpet. Would love to see Zoe Saldana in the Sunset Kimono.
All dresses are from Scarlet Poppy Arte, from L: Gnesh Dress, Sunset Kimono, Aqua Gala Gown, and Envy Lounge Coat
Thank goodness it's easy for the rest of us to incorporate the flavor of any culture into a wardrobe without breaking the bank. Shawls, bangles, earrings add texture and color year around. I usually keep it simple--detailed pants with a chunky turtleneck, all black anything under an embellished coat or a wiggle dress with glitzy bangles and animal print shoes. Ethnic designs keeps things fun and virtually guarantees no one will have an outfit like yours.
This week we are all sharing ethnic clothing trends that we are loving. I was super excited about this because I have been crushing on the Zuvaa Instagram page for so long! Zuvaa is an online marketplace for African inspired fashion. The founder and CEO, Kelechi has said Zuvaa's mission is to shine the light on African fashion.
Kelechi, Zuvaa CEO/Founder
I am very drawn to the colors and the graphic patterns. Some of my favorite pieces are the long maxi dresses and maxi skirts. My style generally goes in one of two directions depending on the season. In the cooler months I pretty much dress in all black. But in the warmer months I live in colorful maxi dresses and skirts.
On their site you can filter by occasion or by fabric. The fabrics are Ankara, Dashiki, Kente, and Kitenge. All are beautiful. Zuvaa also activates Pop Up Shops across the country, you can go to their site for locations.
These are some of my favorite styles that I would definitely rock. All of them can be found on https://zuvaa.com/ and are very reasonably priced.
All photos are from https://zuvaa.com/ and the @shopzuvaa Instagram page
We all desire glowing, even-toned skin. As we get older our skin is affected by the environment. UV damage, age and hormones can cause dark spots and hyperpigmentation.
I have been using Dermalogica PowerBright TRx three-step system for six weeks and am seeing significant results of increased skin brightness and lightening of hyperpigmented spots. This system is great for both sensitive/dry and normal/combination skin-types and uses gentle, hydroquinone-free ingredients to correct dull, uneven skin tones. This is both a day- and night-time regimen to fade hyperpigmentation and brighten your skin tone.
C-12 Pure Bright Serum: A lightweight serum (only use one or two pumps) spread evenly onto face (neck and décolleté, if needed). This serum contains Rice-derived Phytic Acid, Zinc, Glycerolate and Algae which help control hyperpigmentation triggers. Oligopeptides-51 combined with Oligopeptides-34 are the the new synthesized peptides used to prevent hyperpigmentation. For best results, use both morning and night.
Pure Light SPF50: This is a medium-weight daytime moisturizer (only use one or two pumps.) This keeps skin hydrated with Hyaluronic Acid, which guards against water loss, and reduces the appearance of dehydration lines. This sunscreen utilizes a new Oleosome technology, consisting of moisture rich spheres made from Safflower seeds, which boosts SPF protection while using lower concentrations of sunscreen. The result is a product that is more wearable and less likely to cause skin reactions. For best results, use in the morning.
Pure Night: A nourishing overnight moisturizer, (only use one pump.) This treatment moisturizer helps control melanin production, restore skin luminosity and maximizes the serum’s effect while the skin is as rest. An active blend of Oligopeptides-34, skin brightening Vitamin C, Cranberry and Raspberry Seed Oil optimizes skin hydration. For best results, use in the evening.
You will eventually learn I am one of the laziest and cheapest frugal people when it comes to taking care of myself. I have acne-prone, sensitive, combination skin. For years, I would not leave the house without blotting papers on-hand. I was afraid to use moisturizer for fear of getting a gazillion pimples. I always broke out on my cheeks, not in my T-zone like normal combo skin.
I don’t like complicated, multi-step skin regimens (Jenn, I don’t use toner, I’m sorry, and I know I will regret it some day). I don’t like spending lots of money (although Biologique Recherche is AHHHH-mazing if you have the dinero, it’s no joke, and I will do a post on that some other day). SPF during the day is non-negotiable, but I needed a night-time moisturizer.
One of my dearest friends, Lori, of SkinHairBeauty, told me to try jojoba oil back in 2006. She told me it was the closest oil to the natural oils in skin. I felt like putting oil on my pimples would make them bigger and the fear of having scars or hyperpigmentation from breakouts sounded like a nightmare, so I never tried it. Six years after that first conversation about jojoba oil, I was a stay-at-home mom trying to save money. I was at Trader Joe’s and saw a bottle for $6.99. Bought it, liked it, and I’m still using it as my night-time moisturizer three years later. In those three years, I have probably purchased four bottles total that is including the time I used it on my belly while pregnant. So not only am I only enjoying a two-step, wash/cleanse process in the evening, I am only spending an average of about $9 per year on night–time moisturizer. I easily used to spend an average of at least $200 per year. Eventually, I will need to incorporate a retinoid or AHA/BHA to combat wrinkles, but until my son sleeps through the night and is out of diapers, I’m ok with saving time and money.