the B. spot

Some of you know that I was recently part of an expert panel for WebMD magazine to review shampoo/conditioner combos over several categories.  While the panel as a whole came up with a favorite and runner up for each category- one product came out on top for me- Garnier Fructis Fortifying Triple Nutrition  Shampoo for Dry and Damaged Hair!  Let me explain something to you, I have searched high-and-low, far-and-wide for a shampoo that didn’t leave my hair hard and brittle or a tangled mess.  My hair tends to be veeeeery dry, I mean like a desert at high noon dry, and breaks by just looking at it the wrong way.  Please believe me when I tell you that this shampoo left my hair feeling so incredibly soft and tangle-free that I was almost tempted to forego the conditioner- I said almost, but that’s how good it felt! 

I’m a chemist and as I told you before, I am quick to go in the lab and mix something up really quick, but I can’t do that with a shampoo because the level of conditioning agents and emollients have to be balanced where it doesn’t leave my hair heavy and flat- so I had a nearly orgasmic experience when the lather had enough slip to allow my fingers to untangle my hair without much effort (keep I mind I do this under running water which helps a great deal).  The lather was rich and lubricious, oh side bar…

you do know that a shampoo can clean without lathering up right- the amount of lather has absolutely nothing to do with cleaning your hair!

But I do understand that it is part of the hair washing  experience and Garnier Fructis Fortifying Triple Nutrition  Shampoo didn’t disappoint- and for only about $4 for a bottle- I’ll buy it again and again and again….you see where I’m going with this right:-)

Science Behind It

So what makes Garnier Fructis Fortifying Triple Nutrition  Shampoo such a great shampoo for people with dry and/or damaged hair?  The answer lies in their chosen conditioning system that consists primarily of polyquaternium-10 and amodimethicone;  olive fruit oil, shea butter, black current seed oil, and avocado oil are emollients that help but are not in the formulation at a substantial level.  Individually these ingredients are in here at no higher than 0.5% (in my opinion) and that’s even a stretch- especially for the shea butter in this clear system.  But collectively they make up about 1.5-2.0% of the formulation and being that they can be substantive (sticks) to hair some it the blend is left behind after rinsing leaving your hair soft and smooth. 

Best,

Ni’Kita

Hey B. spot, I know we usually get together to talk about beauty related issues but please allow me to indulge on another matter for one post.  As you all know, yesterday we lost the King of Pop- Michael Jackson and one of Charlie’s Angels- Farrah Fawcett.  Those are high profile individuals who have touched the hearts of millions around the world.  Bui also two weeks ago, my first romantic love,Abu Hason, passed away without warning;  Wanda lost yet another aunt (Vicky) suddenly; and my sister’s neighbor,Davon, was killed in a senseless murder…They may not have touched lives all around the globe but they left a hell of an impression on those that knew and loved them!  I say all of that to say that this has been a tough month and those who have gone on will be greatly missed, but I am so happy to have had the opportunity to know these people (in reality and in my mind) and blessed by the fact that although they are gone- they will forever live on in my heart.

Abu and I at my senior prom…

Life is short and time is precious- lets take time to appreciate the beauty of living and loving life to the fullest because tomorrow is not promised to you…

Do you notice how everyone becomes a philosopher during times such as these?  I know I ruined the mood but I can’t dwell in that state of mind- for my own personal well being…

Usually I’m humble, right now I don’t choose

You could leave with me or you can have the blues

Some call it arrogant, I call it confident

You decide when you find  on what I’m working with

“D” I know I’m killing you with them legs

Better yet them thighs

Matter a fact it’s my smile or maybe my eyes

Boy you a site to see, kind of something like me

It’s too big, it’s too wide

It’s too strong, it won’t fit

It’s too much, It’s too tough

I talk like this ’cause I can back it up

I got a big ego, such a huge ego

But he love my big ego,  it’s too much

I walk like this ’cause I can back it up…

In honor of my girl Bey (Beyonce for those who don’t know her like I do in my mind), I dedicate this post to her- Sasha fierce- who tore up Madison Square Garden last night!  I calculated that it would take me 3 red bulls every 30 minutes to match her energy and intensity during one of her concerts- that girl is amazing!

While we can’t all sing like Beyonce, it is not impossible to match her radiant complexion!  One of her secret weapons is Natura Bisse Diamond Cream, “I put this on every morning and every night,” she told InStyle magazine.  Diamonds are certainly a girls best friend, especially if you have $265 to drop on a 1.7 ounces of a cream that firms, lifts, reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, restores softness and suppleness, helps even out your complexion, increases luminosity all while feeling silky smooth and uber lux!

It sounds well and good, but  if you don’t have $265 or just are not willing to spend that much on a facial cream, I’m going to let you in on a little secret- you don’t have to!  Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to recreate the luxury experience that you get when using a $265 cream but you can get similar end results for a fraction of the price!

Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Creme ($125)- The name says it all, Capute Totale can do all of the things that Naturea Bisse Diamond Cream can do but for less money!  “Powered” by Longonza, a revitalizing plant fond only in Madagascar, Capture Totale will bring your skin back to life!  Fyi, it also contains peptides and other ingredients for firming and lifting- Longonza has a nice story but it’s not doing the work all alone!

Bliss Youth As We Know It ($79)- If you’re looking for firmer skin that retains more moisture,  fewer dark spots, reduced fine lines and wrinkles and increased luminescence for less than $100- look no further because this is it!  Youth As We Know It contains a cocktail of high tech and botanical ingredients for instant and long term benefits.  Fyi, for better results, I always formulate with ingredient cocktails.  There are so many different things going on (many modes of action) that you need to address each one on some level for maximum efficacy.

Boots No7 Lifting and Firming Day Cream ($19.99)- This little gem can be found in your local Target store!  For less than twenty bucks you can get the some of the same end results of Natura Bisse (minus the lux factor)- you can’t beat that!  It evens out your skin tone and fades dark spots with instant tightening- need I say more?

Do you wish that you could have stocked up on it before it disappeared?  Oh B Spotters, do I have news for you!  Yesterday I met up with Trae Bodge, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, a great company that started as a custom blending service for lip products and a few varieties of  ready to wear lip color and pencils.  Today, Three Custom Color Specialists has blossomed into a company with 250 ready to wear products and an arsenal of over 9,000 discontinued shades of color cosmetics!  Trae and her partners Chad and Scott have over thirty years experience in the beauty business and hand blend each and every product in their pristine color studio (I’ve been there and there was not a speck of color out of place- very impressive)!  Their ready to wear cosmetics can be found in retailers across the country and online at www.threecustom.com.

I normally don’t endorse things like this but I have to tell you- Trae made a concealer/foundation that matched my skin- perfectly- I feel the need to say that again- she matched my skin PER-FECT-LY!  I was blown away because she did it in about 10 minutes and when I need to re-up, it will be less than forty bucks.  Now I know that there are a lot of women of color out there who have a difficult time finding a foundation that is just right for them.  You may like playing bathroom chemist and blending 3 different foundations together to get the right shade but doesn’t that take time and money?  I sound like a commercial but I was so impressed and trust me, impressing me is not an easy task (I have a jaded view at times)!  I know what you’re thinking- can’t you get the same from prescriptives?  Well you may on the very first day but try getting the same product consistently- color matching is an art and believe me, not everyone hired to do the job of matching your concealer or favorite lip stick has the eye for it.  I would put my trust in the people who have been doing it for 30 years rather than the chick at the counter who is on summer break from college.  Don’t get me wrong, some of them are very good at what they do and I don’t want to take any credit away from good people- but they are the minority (kudos to those of you who kick @$# at color matching)!

Check them out to see how they can help you- I am hooked!

Best,

Ni’Kita

After writing Celebrity Beauty Scoop for Sister 2 Sister magazine, I’m going to let you in on a little secret- celebrities use the same skin care that you do (sometime:-)  While it is true that some get facials from top of the line spa’s and indulge in high priced creams, they also use products that are attainable to the masses.  If you can’t use the same products, then at least you can look for similar ingredients/products that may work well for you- benefiting your skin and your wallet!

Jessica Alba

Jess (we’re good friends in my mind), anyway Jess relies on super fabulous Kate Somerville to keep her skin radiant.  One of Kate’s secret weapons is the Clarisonic Skincare System that retails for about $195 (really, $195 for a brush? really?)  I also happen to know that songbird Tamia looooooves that brush so it may be worth the money.

But, if you don’t have the cash for a oscillating brush that deep cleans your skin better than any plain cleanser while exfoliating your skin for a baby butt finish, here is an alternative.

Pretika SonicDermabrasion Facial System- $49.99 at target.com

So for $50 bucks you can use Pretika’s brush getting the same skin benefits without paying the hefty price.  You don’t have the luxury of changing the brushes if it’s too rough for your skin and it has only one speed, but there are ways that you can get around that.  Use a light hand with this brush, remember you are not scrubbing the floor so gently graze the surface of your skin and use a creamier cleanser.