Wellness

Beauty, DIY, Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Wellness · August 3, 2020

Easy Steam DIY

Use this highly customizable facial steam to open your pores and prep skin for following treatments! When you sign up for our newsletter, you’ll receive The Boheaux Plant Magic Cheat Sheet featuring my top 16 plant ingredients to customize your DIYs!

One of my favorite, easiest DIYs to do is a facial steam. Steams are a great way to open up your pores and prep your skin for whatever treatment is coming after it. I often find myself sticking my head right over the kettle while I’m boiling water for tea (not too close though!) A little more recently, I started making facial steams with my favorite essential oils or fresh floral buds. Adding the buds absolutely makes my steam feel that much more luxurious, but I also love that the fresh essences open up to create a beautiful aroma while my skin soaks it in.

What You’ll Need

Hot water

A bowl

Rose buds (fresh from a bouquet or available here)

Lavender buds (fresh or here)

Chamomile buds (fresh or here)

A hand towel

Directions

Simply boil your water. Once boiling, pour into a heat-safe bowl and sprinkle in your fresh buds. Take your towel and hold over your face while you safely edge your head to the bowl. Use the towel to keep the steam on your face for 3 to 5 minutes. Do not dry face, but let the steam soak into your pores. Follow up with remaining skin treatments.

Thinking about trying this steam, or personalizing your own? There are so many variations to make with a plethora of herbs, flowers and essential oils. Many of my DIYs are highly customizable depending on what skin concerns you’re looking to address. The essence of plants, aka “plant magic,” can definitely be a bit overwhelming, so I’ve put together an easy reference guide including an alphabetical listing of my favorite skin plants and their specific benefits for you! The Boheaux Plant Magic Cheat Sheet will be immediately available for download when you sign up for my newsletter.This is my number one reference to use while I’m concocting any of my plant potions and DIYs and I can’t wait to share it with you as you create Boheaux DIYs with me!

Lifestyle, Reviews, Uncategorized, Wellness · June 26, 2020

My 3 Quarantine Sleep Savers

During quarantine, keeping a routine has been crucial to keeping some type of normalcy throughout all this. I’m a habitual person by nature, so when that’s thrown out of wack, so is everything else. My bedtime routine, especially, is crucial for my productivity the next day. I’ve put together three of my favorite things that help me get the rest my body craves. Keep reading for my quarantine sleep savers!

Hot water + Lemon – We all know that hydration is a key to a healthy, happy life and body. While I keep a bottle of lukewarm water on me at all times, before bed, I switch that our for a very warm cup of water and a squeeze of lemon. Warm water is a natural cleanser for your digestive system, which works a lot less while you’re resting than it does while you’re awake. Working with the lemon, it also helps to detoxify your system so you can wake up ready to expel and feel lighter all day.

CBD Oil – CBD might be all the rage right now, but it has an ancient history with calming the body and nervous system naturally. While CBD is derived from cannabis plants, unlike the THC also found there, it does not get one “high” in the traditional sense. Every night, I take a few drops of CBD oil and let it dissolve under my tongue for one minute. Not only has this nightly ritual helped to deepen my sleep, I’ve also found that I can recall my dreams much more vividly (which I write down in my dream journal!) There are so many brands to try, but right now, I’m loving the tincture oils from Qwin.

Essential Oil Linen Spray – Essential oils have been used for centuries to cure various ailments. While they’re not FDA-approved to “cure” sleep disorders, such as insomnia, or the ever more common anxiety disorder, those who partake in plant healing have said they have helped. I, for one, use a homemade blend of lavender and vetiver to help me to rest every night. A simple recipe of the oils, distilled water and rubbing alcohol, are all you need for a linen spray to lull you to sleep. See my recipe tutorial on IGTV.

This ultimate sleep trio has been my bedtime ritual for years, and really, one of the only semblances of pre-COVID sanity I can look forward to each evening. What about you? What’s the one thing you can’t sleep without? Let me know in the comments.

Lifestyle, Uncategorized, Wellness · June 11, 2020

5 Black Businesses You Can Support Now

Amidst a global pandemic that has rocked the world, we are also finding ourselves in what seems to be deja vu of the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement. All eyes are on America as people in all 50 states organize marches, sign petitions and put up signs (NO JUSTICE, NO PEACE!) On June 2, Instagram went dark as users vowed to suspend posting their everyday content, instead, opting to share a black box with the hashtag, #blackouttuesday. Launched by music recording industry executives, Briana Agyemang and Jamila Thomas, Black Out Tuesday was born with the idea that it would challenge an industry that has profited hand over fist from Black people and our culture. It quickly began to spread to all facets of world commerce, including the beauty and wellness industry. Big name brands like, Sunday Riley and Cocokind, put their money where their people are, pledging big bucks to the NAACP, The Loveland Foundation, and a host of other Black organizations.

The non people of color of the Instagram clean beauty community have been especially vocal about the injustices against Black people, and creatively thinking of other ways to check their privilege and support their friends and followers. There’s been an overwhelmingly positive information dump of Black businesses to support shared across stories and posts all over the ‘gram. As I too continue to read and share, I’ve rounded up 5 Black Wellness Businesses You Can Support Now.

Real Raw Shea – Launched in 2019 by Ghanian-American partners, Aisha Suraz and Alfred Glover, RRS sources their ingredients with a cooperative of 1,000 Ghanian women. Their shea butter, sold from 3.4 ounces to 55 pounds, is raw and unscented, making it the perfect base for your own DIY essential oil concoctions. Real Raw Shea is a staple in my house at all times. Pro tip: Use a leftover (or new!) tin can to fill with RRS and make a handy mini travel balm.

Sidebarre – This high-intensity, low-impact class is a workout that always has my muscles burning for more! Black, technically trained ballet dancers, Jillian, Maya and Alexis, alternate teaching these heart-pumping sessions to my favorite hip-hop vibes in the Washington, D.C. area. Not in the DMV? Their Three Sixty program will keep you updated via newsletter with online classes and other health-conscious content to keep you well from top to (pointed) toe.

Absolute Joi – This clean skincare line for all types and tones, was founded by Dr. Anne. When she and her daughters realized that many products in the market didn’t address their melanin-rich skin concerns, such as hyperpigmentation and uneven skin tone, Dr. Anne decided to address it herself. Absolute Joi includes single and multi-step solutions derived from natural ingredients. With their recyclable packing, there’s not much more you could ask for in a skincare company.

Vinyl and Vinyasa – “Give up hope? Nah, namastay advocating for my people!” Nigerian-American, Mary Mbaba, hosts and teaches an all levels flow the first Saturday of every month at Songbyrd in Adams Morgan. With a DJ spinning Nipsey Hussle on the basement stage, this is not your Bethesda moms’ yoga class. Bring your own mat and arrive a bit early to grab some space!

Nola Skinsentials – Nola Skinsential’s owner/founder, Jane, was tired of overpriced brands with no attention to melanin skin. When she said to herself in 2017, “If I want something the right way, I have to do it myself,” she created her company. Their product line covers all genders, and has some of the most chic packaging I’ve seen as of late! Not sure of your skin type and where to start? Take their skin quiz for some guidance.

As we all navigate the revolution happening right now, supporting Black companies and businesses is crucial. We are your neighbors, we are your friends, we are you family and we are here to stay. I’d love to hear more about other Black businesses you can support now. Drop your favorites in the comments!

Beauty, DIY, Uncategorized, Wellness · June 11, 2020

3 Step Clarifying Mask

I’m always getting asked about my favorite products and skincare hacks. Amongst my friends, it’s no secret that I’m a product junkie and have a high-low collection from CVS to Goop. Truly though, I’m super basic when it comes to my weekly routine, and I’m into keeping it reliable, no-fuss and inexpensive.

Most Sunday evenings, I whip up a potent, skin clarifying DIY treatment. With its primary ingredients being Bentonite clay and activated charcoal, this powerful mask packs a green beauty punch for your skin!

Bentonite clay is nature’s not-so-secret weapon to naturally detoxify skin. It’s not only packed full of minerals to control natural oil production, but it also has a strong negative electrical charge that attaches to impurities to yank them out of your pores. Yes, an electric charge! Aztec Clay is a cult favorite amongst green beauty gurus, and is also what I use for this mask.

Activated charcoal is a holy skin grail in its own right too! It has a gritty texture which is a great gentle exfoliant, as well as antibacterial properties to deeply cleanse your skin.

I’ve more recently begun studying the ancient medicine of essential oils, which led me to add Frankincense and lavender to this treatment. Uneven skin tone is a constant struggle for me, and adding these oils has been a game-changer! On top of smelling divine and creating a mini aroma therapy experience for your DIY spa night, they also target scarring and dislocation, making them a perfect ally for this powerful mask.

What You’ll Need:

1 small bowl

1 non-metal spoon (This is important! Metal reacts poorly with the clay’s electric charge. I use a small plastic spatula)

1 clean wash cloth or towel

1 Tablespoon Bentonite clay

1 Tablespoon activated charcoal

1 Tablespoon water (Optional: Switch for apple cider vinegar for even more detox power)

3 drops Frankincense oil

3 drops lavender oil

Instructions:

Mix dry ingredients together in small bowl with non-metal spoon. Slowly add in water or apple cider vinegar until you create a slightly thick paste. The paste shouldn’t be watery. If it is, no worries. Just add a bit more of your dry ingredients until you reach desired consistency. Next, add in your oils and mix all together. Use non-metal spoon to apply to your face and leave on for 10-12 minutes or until mask is dry. Rinse off with warm water and dry wash cloth. Follow up with toner and moisturizer.

This clean, homemade masks is truly one of my secret weapons. If you’re looking for a simple introduction into diversifying your skincare with greener ingredients, I’d definitely recommend starting here. What other types of skin remedies would you be interested in? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!