So much beauty to cover where do I start. Well since it is spring lets start with body care a few things to remember to get your body back to that healthy glow. Start with exfoliating your skin this is a simple process but it does take time. Use a salt or sugar scrub that you like. My pick Carols Daughters Salt Scrub any scent. It doesn't get any better than this scrub. Its perfect for that night out and you want to look radiant. To keep your healthy glow during the spring/summer months use a oil after you shower here's a couple of suggestions avocado oil, coconut oil, and almond oil(LOVE) combined with the water from your shower after a few pats rub this in and your skin will look sun kissed, healthy, and will have that glow. On a recent MAC shopping spree with friends I was hipped to the mineral line(LOVESIT) Currently I use the Minealized skin finish in natural very soft and a very beautuiful soft powder and great for deep skin tones. I noticed my friends gravatated to the eyeshadow and the blush. My favorite thing this week is the Pysicans Formula Organic Wear mascara and Sally Hansens Natural Butter Lip Shine in Lush, Sally Hansen Comfort Shine Lip Glaze in clear. Before I go I make salts give me a holler at leahstpl@msn.com if you want a jar.

you must get this

Hello All,

I wanted to tell you about my latest and greatest product. I have been battling acne since about 11 years old and have tried many lotions and potions. Everything from bending over my Auntie Barbra's knees and her picking out my black heads with a serialized bobby pin:) to high end garbage from a well known "African American" dermatologist. Any way I found out at 34 what works. These products are the truth along with diet and exercise lets not forget that. Mario Badusco products. I surf beauty blogs like I'm getting paid(not) and this product lines keeps coming up. SO I gave it a try first with the Glycolic Acid Face Wash(love) and I had a few samples of a couple of moisturizers the buttermilk moisturizer and the collagen moisturizer. Still on the fence with the moisturizers I am faithful to my Hope in a Jar to me nothing is better. Any way the the stuff that made me fall in love was the Special Healing Powder. Okay this stuff will have your skin looking flawless and it will improve your skin in any condition at the time I have a mild breakout on my forhead like I am 14. I wear it under my make up and I swear I haven't seen my skin look like this since I was 10 minus the tiny crows feet:)Okay this powder is blended to heal existing acne and prevent acne it is magic flawless dust. For more information go to http://www.mariobadescu.com/ You can find these products at Nordstroms in the Mall of America.

DRY HAIR

Hello all its been a while since I posted anything. The Holiday and New Year has been very busy for me. During this harsh winter season I have noticed a change in my hair so this post is dedicated to dry hair. What I have found is that you have to find a conditioner to fit your hair type. To find out more about your hair type log on to http://www.healthytextures.com/ Very helpful to help you figure out what your hair type is. What has been helpful to me is adding a booster so to speak to my conditioner like coconut and avocado oil to my conditioner. For the last 7-8 months I have used a Dominican Hair conditioner called 10en 1 the bomb yall . You can find this conditioner at Variety Beauty Supply on Lake street in Minneapolis. Other wise you can go to http://www.roundbrushhair.com/ This site has a full array of Dominican Products. But going back to the avocado oil and coconut oil, when I wash my hair or go into the shop I add these oils to my conditoner for an added boost. The befits are that the oil conditions the scalp and promotes hair growth and your hair will become softer and manageable. What I like most about oils is that is conditions from your hair shaft to the tip. Sometimes I skip the conditioner all together and pre-condition with an oil. Shampoos can be tricky since we all have been convinced to clarify, shampoo,re-shampoo with all the lather. What I have found is that this is damaging for your hair and the lather of the shampoo strips you scalp and hair of essential oils that are necessary for our hair to grow, shine, and to be manageable. Instead look for shampoo that will not lather or have harsh chemicals that will wreak havoc on your scalp and hair. On my list of Leah's Favorites there are a few companies that have shampoos that are great and are nourishing for the hair. The one I really like is from the company Oyin Handmade. Sometimes I use a conditioner as a Shampoo this has helped me alot when my scalp becomes dry in the winter. Okay from the inside out to combat this is very important omega oil, fish oil supplements and also eating foods with this fatty acid in it such as fish, almonds, and green leafy vegetables. Also in addition to lots of water. A few picks of conditioner ideas. 10 en 1, Mario Badiusco conditions can be found at Nordstroms, avocado oil, coconut oil can be found at your local health food store and last but not least shea butter. For deep condoning its best to use a steamer instead of heat at times heat dehydrates the hair. But just using a plastic cap or saran wrap helps deep conditioners the hair the heat from your body is sufficient in most cases. Leave in conditioners still on the fence with this concept. To keep you ends in tip top shape use an oil just on the ends to seal moisture. Let me know some of your favorite conditioners and tips for dry scalp and hair.

JUST SOME FYI ON 2 OF MY PICKS.

I WANTED TO SHARE SOME REASONS WHY I PICKED SOME OF THE PRODUCTS LISTED IN LEAH'S PICKS. THEY ARE NOT WELL KNOWN BRANDS BUT THEY SHOULD BE. I SEE THEM AS HIDDEN TREASURES AND THEY ARE SO WONDERFUL AND NATURALLY MADE.

1.ARY'S NATURALS: VERY EMOLLIENT SHEA BUTTER AND SO HEALTHY FOR YOUR SKIN MY PICKS ARE THE BODY BUTTERS IN MANGO YUMYUM AND THE HEALING SKIN IN TROPICAL. OKAY YALL THIS STUFF IS AMAZING. SOME UNREFINED SHEA BUTTERS ARE STIFF AND DO NOT GLIDE ON BUT THIS ONE IS THE EXACT OPPOSITE IT GLIDES ON PERFECTLY AND THE SMELL IS GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT. IF YOU HAVE DRY SKIN OR WANT TO KEEP YOUR SKIN IN TIP TOP CONDITION THIS IS YOUR BUTTER AND IT IS HANDMADE.

2. AHA OMEGA SCALP NOURISHING OIL OMEGA 369 THIS IS AN AMAZING OIL AND I USE THIS ONE ONE A WEEK BEFORE I GET MY HAIR WASHED. THIS IS A GREAT PRE-CONDITIONING OIL AND IT LEAVES MY HAIR SOFT AND IT PROMOTES HAIR GROWTH . THIS OIL IS NOURISHING FORM THE FOLLICLE TO THE THE TIP. I KNOW SOME OF YOU MAY HAVE HEARD HOW FATTY ACIDS ARE SO HEALTHY FOR YOU AND OMEGA OIL BEING THE BEST THIS OIL CAN BE FOUND IN FISH SUCH AS SALMON AND IN SOME NUTS LIKE ALMONDS. BUT FOR YOUR HAIR THIS IS THE BEST AND IT DOESN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO ADD THIS TO YOUR HAIR CARE REGIMEN.

JUST THOUGHT I WOULD GIVE YOU SOME BACK GROUND ON TWO OF MY MUST HAVES AND THAT I USE ON A REGULAR BASIS. FOR YOU DRUG STORE DIVAS VASELINE INTENSIVE CARE IN COCO BUTTER THE BOMB YALL.

WINTER SKIN

Let talk about winter skin being that it is 13 degrees outside I thought that I would kick off my new blog talking about how to combat dry skin. Dry skin can cause your skin to crack,chafe,itch, and develop dry patches. There are several things that you can do. Here are some helpful ways to find relief and keep your dry itchy skin at bay.

1. Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily this is essential to hydrate from the inside out.
2. Do not take long bathes or showers. The steam from he hot water causes your skin to dehydrate and that causes dryness.
Pat your skin dry after a shower and leave some of the water on your skin. Rub in your favorite oil. Some of my personal favorites are coconut oil, avocado oil, and jojoba oil. All of these oils can be found at your local natural food store. For extra dry skin layer with a body butter or lotion. My picks are Ary's natural body butter in the Orange Clove scent.
3. Do not use harsh soaps use something very gentle on your skin and that is very moisturizing. My pick would be DOVE moisturizing beauty bar and also African Black/Shea Butter soap in Mango.