DARK BERRY BEAUTY | A Public Beauty Diary

Change Must Come: Bangs and Buh-Byes!

2012-10-08T21:30:00.000-04:00

This will be my last post...ever. Don't cry! Don't wail! Be happy! Change is good!

I've come to terms with the fact that I just can't keep up this bombing-ass blog while maintaining an even more kickass full-time job. It hurts. It really does. But the truth is, I must move on. You can keep up with my budding career HERE on my semi-profesh/semi-personal bloggy blog...that I sporadically update.

This was really a hard decision because I love you all. From your emails to your comments, you've all been such wonderful fans. I never thought 10,000 of you would be tuning into my stupid bantics (beauty antics) every month.

And being that my first post was about my hair, it only felt right to close it with a hair story. So, here I go!

I recently got bangs (as you can see above). They swoop my face and are a real pain in my you-know-what. Alas, I love them. I needed a change in my hair. Ron worked his magic and va-va-voom! I feel like Aaliyah—Are you that somebody??

One last black hair lesson from my mastermind of a hairstylist, Ron:

Only shampoo your hair once a week and wash mid-week with just a conditioner. It will do WONDERS for your hair. Seriously. It's called cleansing. When you shampoo, you strip your strands of essential oils. By only conditioning, you will restore said oils (and gain bounce!!) to your hair.

Last note: I'm no longer Anemic. Between the birth control, iron supplements, and my obsession with broccoli, spinach, and flax, I rid myself of Anemia. Huzzah!

Hit me up on Twitter or email or whatever to stay in touch. Mwah!

Fall Inspired Nails

2012-10-01T01:22:00.002-04:00

It's the first day of October! How the eff did that happen?! 2012 is zooming by!

I decided to give my nails a touch of my favorite season: fall. The bottom coat is Riveting from China Glaze, a sparkly orange/red mix. The top coat is Rina from Zoya, a green confetti-esque polish. This combo was inspired by the autumn leaves!

What do you think?

NAILS: Still On A Press-On High

2012-09-11T12:56:00.002-04:00

This nail color is called Stiletto. What do you think?

TMI Thursday: How I Got Rid Of My Ingrown Hairs For Good...Sort Of

2012-09-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

After my first bikini wax, my ingrown hairs returned with a vengeance! Granted, I didn't follow the beauticians advice to exfoliate my lady bits. Oops.

So during my second wax session, the girl waxing me off (insert inappropriate joke here—ha!) mentioned that a lot of my ingrown hairs were cystic meaning a possible infection. Gasp! She tried to peddle some product the spa has, but ultimately said Tend Skin would do the job as well...but I had to get into the habit of dabbing it on my girly parts daily. Not a newbie to daily beauty routines, I knew this was something I could do.

To take this new regimen a step further, I bought Skin Tight Clearing Cleanser (Skin Tight products are the shiiiiiiiiit!) and used the cleanser down thurr before I used my body wash.

I've been doing this for a month and half and the combination of Skin Tight and Tend Skin has really diminished the amount of ingrown hairs I have. It's so wonderful!

So ladies, do yourself a favor and try this routine of mine:
Use the Skin Tight Clearing Cleanser in the shower and swab some Tend Skin on as you get dressed. Your va-jay-jay will thank you.

QUICK TIP: Get A Skin Screening!

2012-09-04T01:01:00.001-04:00

Back in July, I had a skin screening for possible traces of skin cancer. Luckily the Dermatologist didn't find any moles that I should be worried about. However, I did walk away with an interesting piece of info:

For people of color, malignant moles show up in the hands and feet first.

Thus, reiterating the importance of sunscreen for everyone—no matter your skin color. So if you spot a suspicious mole on your hands or feet, go and see a doc!

I'm Back! I'm Back!

2012-09-03T21:34:00.000-04:00

Sorry I've been missing the past couple weeks. Like I said in my previous post, I've been sick and suffering from (but working through) extreme exhaustion.

I took the time off from blogging to get my sleeping schedule and health back on track. And I'm happy to report it's been a success! I've been getting more that five hours of sleep a night and am beginning to feel like my old self.

My lovelies, sleep is important. Nonetheless, I'M BACK!

TMI Thursday: So... Sleep Is Important

2012-08-16T23:01:00.000-04:00

The past two weeks have been hell, or well, close to it. Last week I had literal exhaustion. This week, I got sicker than I've ever been before. Between the dizzy spells, fevers, and fatigue, I lost my mind.

As a person who exercises more than the average American, eats healthy, drinks a lot of water, and takes their vitamins, I don't understand why I keep getting sick. Or well, I don't want to admit to myself why I keep getting sick. But today is the day I admit I have a problem.

Hi, my name is Dara and I don't know how to get enough sleep at night.

You know you're a true night owl when your friends always assume you'll be up at midnight, just because. My problem isn't sleeping. I sleep like a baby. It takes me less than 10 minutes to fall asleep. Once I turn my head on the pillow, I'm out like a light. My problem is getting myself into bed because I can always find something to keep me up at night. (Can you say workaholic?)

A good friend—okay, all of my friends—flat out told me that the reason I keep getting ill is because I don't get enough rest. On a good night, I get five or six hours of sleep. On a bad night, I get three hours. It's a habit I need to curb! And as my best girlfriend shouted at me, "Vitamins do not equal sleep!"

Lack of sleep can lead to weight gain, slow you down, and damage your health in so many other ways.

So on that note, I'm going to bed.

So Obsessed With My Press-On Nails!

2012-08-01T00:00:00.000-04:00

Like I said, I've got an abundance amount of fake nails that I can stick on my fingers. I've gone through about 8 boxes, but here a couple of my most recent wears. You like?

25 Pounds Down - Feeling Like My Old Self

2012-07-31T00:00:00.000-04:00

As I power walked at 5 mph, I pushed the treadmill to 8.5 on incline.

The sweat plummeted from my head and onto my Kindle Fire. Streaks of success stained my tablet as I tried to wipe it clean. I let out a cackle in between my heavy breathes. My eyes were glued to the chuckle-worthy book I was reading, Feminista by Erica Kennedy. Kick Up The Epic Motherfucker by Dada Life echoed in my ears and I felt at peace. I was finally having the hard workout I had been craving but couldn't really do when I was 25 pounds heavier. "How did I get here?" I thought. It took a while, but I got here.

My big secret (besides Bikram Yoga) is I mainly eat three meals a day. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Sometimes I snack, and if I do, it's fruit. I tried the eat five small meals a day thing and that didn't work. That's too much food for me and I think it takes too much effort to remember to eat FIVE times a day—haha. I pretty much trained my tummy to get used to eating smaller portions and it's doing my waist line wonders! The key is that those three meals must be healthy, filled with the right amount of protein, veggies, and grains.

Eat right, workout, and the fat shall die.

Got any weight loss tips?

How To Pick The Right Scalp Oil

2012-07-30T00:00:00.000-04:00

BB's Super Gro" border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4I3NS_RQcU8/UBXbyXLHwJI/AAAAAAAAB6M/mXY2szOby2Q/s679/scalp-oil-bb-supergro.jpg" width="575" />

When it comes to oiling my scalp (#BlackGirlProblems), I've been a Sulfur 8 devotee for many years. It kept my crusty dandruff scalp in check...for the most part. However, I recently started noticing it wasn't doing the job (flakes, flakes, falling everywhere).

I asked Ron, my hairdresser, which type of scalp oil I should get. Never one to claim one product as the end all be all, he grabbed a jar of the stuff he uses on my hair and asked me to touch it. Ron said that it was best I feel the texture of the oil to know what I should be looking for, stating that it's important for the the product to at least contain vitamin a, e, and d.

And so, I was on the hunt for a new scalp oil. I did the touch test (should feel light, not thick) and checked the ingredients. A big fan of the yummy coconut-y smell in BB's Super Gro, I chose it. So far, so good. My scalp hasn't been that itchy or full of flakes. Apparently, it's also great at growing hair, but I'm not using it for that reason. My hair grows at a rate I love!

Do you have a scalp oil you like to use?

Been There Done That: Caviar Manicure

2012-07-24T00:39:00.001-04:00

I finally did it! For a while I've been meaning to try this look, and I'm happy to report it's pretty simple to execute.

All you have to do is use the polish provided to coat your nail and then pour on the caviar pearls. I did notice that you couldn't paint all your nails at once, and then dab on the tiny balls because the polish dries within a matter of seconds. Either way, the steps are as simple as this:

*Paint your nail
*Apply the pearls
*Repeat

I probably didn't wait long enough for the polish to dry, but the balls began to sprinkle off rapidly, so I removed the lacquer. The good part is that the caviar pearls come off swiftly with nail polish remover.

Have you tried a caviar manicure?

Sorry I Haven't Been Putting Up Posts

2012-07-17T23:38:00.000-04:00

I think I have carpal tunnel. Womp. A certain muscle in my arm hurts/burns/feels sore all the way down to my middle finger. Anyone ever have carpal tunnel? Either way, I need a break from typing. I will be back next week with a Dove giveaway!!

I'm in Love: Dove VisibleCare Toning Body Wash

2012-07-09T03:03:00.000-04:00

I love, love, love, loooooooooove Dove. That's no secret. I stupidly strayed away from their body wash, but um, came crawling back as my skin was ~~cracking~~ crying for the Dove touch.

For the past month, I have been using their new VisibleCare Toning Body Wash. It claims to restore your skin’s elasticity and strength. The body wash is enhanced with vitamin e and the highest concentration of NutriumMoisture—Dove's patent moisturizing complex that nourishes deep into the skin's surface.

I was skeptical, y'all. I seriously did not expect my already smooth skin—I've been moisturizing every. single. day since I was a kid—to look and feel better than it already does. Nonetheless, this body wash is worth a try!

How You Can Get Ziana For $20

2012-07-06T00:00:00.000-04:00

When I switched to Ziana back in October, a reader told me her insurance stopped covering the acne gel. I never ran into the issue of having to pay an arm and a leg for the topical until now.

I pulled up to the pharmacy drive thru to grab my filled prescription a couple weeks ago and the Pharmacist said, "That'll be $250."

I almost choked. How did Ziana go from costing me $50 to $250?! WHAT IN THE WHAT WHAT?! Needless to say, I didn't fork over the money. The Pharmacist was nice enough to let me know that I could get a coupon online. And she was right! Here's how you do it if you have insurance. There's a way to do it if you don't have insurance, but I'm not quite sure of that procedure.

1. Click here to sign up for Ziana's Medicis MediSAVE Program.

2. Call MediSAVE to "activate" your card, which means just giving them you and your doctor's information.

3. Call your Dermatologist and have them fax over a prescription to MediSAVE. They should have the information. If not, ask MediSAVE.

4. You will be charged $20.

5. A tube of Ziana will be dropped off at your doorstep.

6. Repeat the third step when your tube is finished.

Now that's what I call beating the system.

Relaxed Hair Tip: Do Not Air Dry!

2012-07-05T00:53:00.000-04:00

I got a perm over the weekend and as always it turned into a learning session with my stylist, Ron. This time he reiterated the importance of blow drying my hair.

I told him that I air dried my hair the week prior and he was not happy. He already scolded me in the past for not blow drying my hair completely, so I saw this coming. Ron said that relaxed hair looks the way it is dried. Air dry it and your hair will look frizzy and brittle. Blow dry it and your hair will look shiny and strong.

In addition, air drying permed hair doesn't allow the bonds from the chemicals to react properly. Thus, leaving you hair susceptible to breakage. We don't want broken strands, do we?

I'm Going To Be Wearing Press-Ons For Days!

2012-07-05T00:46:00.001-04:00

They're baaaack! I got my ~~hands~~ fingernails on a bunch of imPRESS press-on nails. Remember theeese?! Aaand, I will be sticking them on and off for the next couple weeks. I'm just so amazed at how real-looking they are.

I have discovered that these nails only work if you have short nail beds. Sorry long nail bed girls, you get no press-on love. :(

Been There Done That: Mattifying Gel

2012-07-05T00:45:00.000-04:00

I was recently introduced to mattifying gel and I am wondering (well, singing), "WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN, ALL MY LIIIIIFE?!"

Between my cleanser and OC8 Mattifying Gel, my face has never been more oil-free than ever. EVER. E-V-E-R. I've been using it sparingly because I am very wary about what I put on my face and I don't know if my skin will fight the mattifier by making my skin more oily. But for now, this product is doing my skin justice.

Do you use a mattifying gel?

Dara Gets Fit: 20 Lbs. Lighter

2012-07-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

The month of June was not a good month for me in regards to yoga. I went a handful of times, instead of my normal three-days a week sessions. I got caught up with work, but this month I am putting my ~~foot~~ mat down. Yogi Dara is back.

In other health news, I lost 20 lbs. It's taken me almost a year of exercise and healthy eating to finally tip the scale, but it's going down and it will keep going down. I've picked up a new exercise routine with a combination of 90 minute yoga and 60 minute cardio. Not all in one day of course.

I also found that portion control when eating has seriously helped. I've gone from being the person to finish a meal fit for two, to being satisfied with a child-size plate.

I don't have a goal weight, which is bad. You're supposed to have one when dropping the pounds. Really, I just want to feel healthy and like what I see in the mirror. I'm amazed at how different I feel from just dropping 20 pounds.

Dara gets fit is doing WERK.

Anemia Tales: Iron Tablet Tummy Troubles

2012-06-28T00:03:00.000-04:00

Remember when I mentioned my wretched heavy flow made me Anemic? Well, since then I have been on iron supplements and they have been working fine. After the first month of trial, my levels came up and my doc was pretty impressed with the rapid change. That was about six months ago.

This past week my stomach started bothering me, a lot (read: loose bowel movements). And I seriously couldn't figure out why. I eat almost the same thing everyday; it's how I've been able to drop the pounds. I'm not much of a food-adventurist. I'll try something once, but I am a picky person when it comes to food. ANYWAY...

I did some research and it turns out that if the dosage of your iron supplements are too high, it can irritate your stomach and cause diarrhea. Noticing that I have been feeling exceptionally well the past couple months, I thought this might be the cause of my tummy troubles. I stopped taking the pills, loaded up on the yogurt, and changed to a lower dosage. So far, so good.

Perhaps going on birth control curbed my Anemia, causing my iron levels to go up and reducing my need for the supplements.

NAILS: Blue & Glitter Color Block

2012-06-27T00:00:00.000-04:00

Not sure if you want to call this a complete color block, but whatever. I really wanted to wear blue lacquer (SpaRitual Circle of Life) and decided to spruce up my finger nails a bit by painting two with OPI Spark De Triomphe.

After I was done painting, I realized the color combo pays homage to my alma mater.

Wuddup, big blue!

Orbit White Gum Does Wonders For Your Teeth

2012-06-26T01:53:00.002-04:00

It's no secret I love my teeth. If you had braces for a long-ass-time, you'd be freakin' obsessed too. TRUST. ME.

Often, people ask me how my teeth are so white. I usually spill a couple secrets, which you can find here and here.

You see, when it comes to having white teeth, I will try almost ANY-THING...that seems safe. Ha! Having white teeth really isn't that big of a deal, alas, I still strive to get my brightest smile. Like I said, obsessed with my chompers.

In the peak of my white teeth obsession four years ago, I discovered Orbit White gum. It claims that "chewing 2 pieces of Orbit White after eating and drinking helps remove stains and whiten teeth. Based on an 8-week clinical test." I chewed the gum for at most three months and saw an amazing difference! I'm dead serious. I was shocked, because I actually thought it wouldn't work.

Back when I was hoarding this gum like it was water in a drought, it only came in the car friendly container. I got sick of carrying that clunky case and decided to stick to the regular Orbit gum. Now it comes in an easy convertible pack and I am so excited to start chewing it again to maintain my pearly whites!

Been There Done That: BB Cream For Dark Skin

2012-06-25T03:13:00.001-04:00

WTF is BB Cream ANYWAY, RIGHT?! For some reason, it is all the rage in the beauty world right now. Bottles of this stuff are flying (not literally, that would be dangerous) off shelves as ladies try to grab their hands on the best bottle of BB Cream.

In a nutshell, it's a lazy girl moisturizer aka tinted moisturizer...and then some. BB Cream is a multi-purpose face cream. Depending on the brand you get, it usually has foundation, anti-aging elements, brightening skin formula and etc.

I recently got my hands on Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream, which is available in five different shades and has eight different skin improving elements in it.

While I love that it's light on my skin and leaves me oil-free all day, I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of BB Cream in general. I'm very cautious about what I put on my face and I just don't fully understand what's in BB Cream to want to wear it everyday under my foundation. I do think it's perfect for hot days. In the summer heat, I like to wear no makeup and this is a great alternative to achieve (some) coverage.

Do you use BB Cream?

Anti-Aging Nail Polish?

2012-06-18T01:55:00.000-04:00

Dermelect ME in Above It

Y'all. I'm tripping (nail polish) bottles over here. The beauty industry really does think of everything, don't they?

This here new nail lacquer by Dermelect is called ME. A new polish of its own kind. It's infused with a peptide (pure protein) and comes in six luscious colors. The product's formula is suppose to restore your nail's health while providing protection against UV rays, water and detergent.

I think you're supposed to use it alone, but I used it with my base coat and top coat out of pure nail junkie habit. I know it's only been a day since I used it, but I can feel my nails harden. The best part about the polish is its glossy shine and fast drying time.

I say you can never have too many good nail lacquers out there to use. What do you think about this new product? Necessary?

TMI THURSDAY: My Completely Bare Bikini Wax

2012-06-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

DO NOT READ ON if you wish to not read in detail about my first bikini wax experience. BUT, I encourage you too take a peek. It'll be educational. I did this as an attempt to tame my ingrown hairs. Jessica Coba, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of European Wax Center confirms this theory saying, "Waxing can reduce ingrown hairs and blemishes."

Alright, let's go!

"We should treat our vagina like our face," said my Aesthetician (V is her name) as she ripped off the waxing strip from my lady bits.

I didn't flinch nor scream. I continued our conversation. "Oh, really? I guess you're right."

I then thought, the skin down there is very sensitive and deserves the right tender, love, and care. (Pun intended!)

The waxing procedure I went with was the Completely Bare, which is exclusively at Completely Bare spas. This meant I was getting every piece of hair off (EV-ER-Y. PIECE.) with their painless wax.

During the entire session as I laid there spread eagle with my hoohah in the beautician's face, I was laughing. It was not out of nerves, it was out of pure enjoyment. I know. I'm sick. I mean, I told you guys last week I love getting my eyebrows wax because I find it relaxing. I just so happen to be really ticklish around my tummy area, so when she laid her hand on my stomach I roared out school girl giggles.

She was confused as to why me, a first-time waxer, was having a blast. I didn't even take any painkillers beforehand. Freak-of-nature I am.

After V was done, she informed me of the importance of exfoliating the skin and using an astringent (like Tend Skin) or acne spot cream. Both will help fight irritation and bumps.

Post-wax, I booked my next appointment. Yes. I think I am going to be a regular waxer. Ingrown hairs begone!

Do you get your bits waxed regularly?

I Put My Sally Hansen Salon Effects on My Toes!

2012-06-13T01:03:00.000-04:00

Last night, I gave myself a very quick mani and pedi. I used my newly acquired Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips in Rock N' Roar. (I'm no stranger to the power of the strip!) After all was said and done with my manicure, I realized I had two giant-sized extra lacquer stickers.

I looked down at my big toes and said, "Why not! They fit...sort of." The strips don't exactly cover my entire toenail, but I'll take it. Thus, the creation above.

No nail strip left behind, I say!