Beauty secrets?Want to share?

Ha, I thought I was weird for squrting a little lemon juice in my water! Fortunately, I do love drinking water but its nice to get a flavor variation. My wedding day has come and gone so now its all about maintenance. As far as a beauty secret, I try to work up a good sweat as often as possible...it helps my skin stay clearer by getting rid of impurities. I can never say enough about sticking to a beauty regimen, its not always easy but the results are amazing. And a little on the naughty side, having regular *ahem* sex does my skin wonders. Ok, and my last tip is similar to Platinumstyle, watching what I eat or drink...everything in moderation:)

Hi ladies.....here's a little tip. My uncle was a chemist for Estee Lauder for 22 years and he had lots of interesting information about what actually makes skin healthy, soft and smooth from the days as far back as Cleopatra. The secret is Pond's Cold Cream. He said the 6 ingredients have not changed and the compan swears by its success. My older sister was the guinea pig...we have all been hoodwinked by _roactiv, _ary Kay, etc.. we both used those products but unfortunately the skin becomes dependent on the chemicals and once the body has asborbed its maximum levels...you either go back to the 1st stage which is the visibly impure and bumpy or you hit a plateau..and the skin will not bounce back by having enlarged but "clean" pores. So we set out to have her try it...process is simple...before u go to bed.....start by washing face with warm water...to open and wake up pores...use a mild soap...he recommended _ove. Once you have lathered...rinse with cool water to tighten and close pores. Cover entire face with the cold cream like a mask....and leave on..completely rub it in after a few mnutes...(u won't have a white face)the stuff smells heavenly....next morning same ritual...except use a warm washcloth to remove old product..after face is clean...place a small dime sized ball of cold cream in hand...warm it up bt rubbing hands together and put on like a moisturizer.
My sister had very large pores...now her complexion is flawless....She has been doing this since August...(mu uncle passed shortly after) but we are very appreciative for the information. The secret ingredient that Cleopatra swore by was the glycerin. I have since used this regimen, and my cousins all swear by it now.

by the way...yes u can put your makeup on right over the cold cream..I know many of you probably already use it, but the key is consistency...good luck

It is my intent to lose some (Platinum gurl, I'm trying to lose 30 - 40 pounds -- your situation is a blessing I wish you the best!). I get up in the morning and put on some gospel music and sister works up a sweat doing a little dancing for about 15 minutes. It has made a difference. I have stopped snacking. I drink lot's of water and have incorporated more fruits and veggies in my diet. The weight is coming off slowly, but surely -- and it won't be too hard for me to maintain this regimen after I get married. As far as my skin regimen, I wash my face with Noxema (soap breaks me out)and use a little natural shea butter (at the suggestion of one of the vibriders). My skin is flawless and I don't have any acne. IslandBride you may be on to something with the Pond's Cold Cream, my mom has been using it since I was much younger and she has beautiful skin.

Islandbride girl I am going to try that regimen. Often times we tend to neglect the old faithful products to try the "new" thing on the market that does not work. I knew about ponds and have seen it on shelves but didn't think it works so I will difinitely be trying it. I was using this Hollis product for couple months now and I really do not see a difference, the breakouts were still coming and I just could not understand why. Ponds here I come...oh and thank youfor the vivid discription of how to use it.

Once again a ViBride sistah does her thing and we are all blessed!!

I think I may try the ponds cold creme too. My skin doesn't really give me much of a problem. Now, if we are talking about shedding pounds, that's my category. Platinumstyle, you are more than welcome to have 15 of my pounds and plenty more if you wnat them...LOL. I want to lose about 25-30. I have been saying this since last Feb, but recently decided to get serious about it. I drink A LOT of water, and plenty veggies. I don't have a regimen, but I make a conscious effort to get some excercise daily. I take the stairs at work, I park my car further away in parking lots, sometimes, I just turn on the music and dance. These little things work. I see a difference in inches more so the pounds, but whatever works...i'll take it.

A little goes a long way Nlbostic. I see a difference also and two people at work actually said to me "Are you losing weight?". I was stunned, because I didn't think it was noticeable. Ladies we are beautiful from within where it counts the most, but I send you all much love & support in you weight lose/gain endeavors. Keep up the good work, I am encouraged!

Rony you are so correct and the trick is wanting to lose weight for "YOU" and no one else. You must be motivated to want to change for you, how you want to look and feel, its not about the wedding day or even the husband to be its about Charlotte or Rony, or Platinum or Bossie or Islandbride or Niquey or Rosey...you see what I mean. Self motivation is the best therapy...nah go get em vibriders :-)

Charly now you have gone and dropped another Pearl of Wisdom!

Cheesing like Whoopi Goldberg :-)

hey ladies...glad to be of help...try the pond's...it works...it is a white jar, with a lime green colored top....walmart has it for just under eight bux for the large one.

As for weight loss....oh well. size 14 and I have come to the conclusion that I'm a big girl...with style...lol...I am actually taking that exotic dance class (strip aerobics)....if nothing else..Ill have some more sexy moves to work with *cheesin like a fat rat in a cheese factory*

Just got back in the house, had my last counseling session with our Bishop. I am ready yall....he suggested to blend our families, since I have 2 kids and FH has 2....we will be doing the sand ceremony...right before we are introduced as husband and wife, we will let the kids the layers of sand in the vase....then we will display the vase at home...we want to be introduced as the "______" family, instead of Mr and Mrs so and so......so often in the planning, I think children are strung along and dressed up cute, and given little jobs but its nice to involve them as well.

Islandbride girl I am loving you...you are truly an asset to this site and your words are full of wisdom. I agree with the role people put on their children....my children will definitely be a MAJOR part of my wedding...he will be marrying the total package, they will feel as thou they belong.

hey Charlotte..glad that u find some encouragement...my stomach is already sick..days are counting down. FH has booked 3 limos and I am really mad that he is spending so carelessly. One is a Hummer...with a laser light show inside *so mad*an escalade and a jaguar...we had a major blowout last night about it and he broke it down....so ladies please include the guys..its their day too. He said that when he proposed he knew that people would have been shocked by the ring..but the haters have taken this thing to a whole new level....and he wants the same effect for him and his groomsmen...and that the day is ours..not just mine, he was really hurt.

Thank you IslandBride, you are right, it is important to include the men. I had to learn a similar lesson not so long ago. Wishing you guys all the best.

Island....he is correct but I know how you feel about the spending...I am sure he has things in prospective. What day is your wedding?

Feb 18th....fannin* my self....ah cant wait....lol...had to throw it out in my accent...my stomach gets knotted up when i play the wedding cd i made for the sound tech at church...i keep listening to it...and almost tearin up...im sick lol...

Girl...yeah mon!, I know wa ya mean by the accent ting!....relax thou, you will be beautiful and I wish you the most happiest and God's riches blessings on your new union

Yes IslandBride, I'd like to wish you the best also. I tell you I will be in your shoes in 282 days. Girl I am so excited -- so I know you must be!!!!

Rony at least you have still have time to do a lot of stuff whilst Island only gat days......Ok Ok Island no to frighten you...just an observation :-)

So true Charly and I have all of you wonderful ladies to chat with for all of those 282 days!

go 'head make jokes Charlotte your turn will be sneakin up on u!

I will continue to be on here even after the fact...I love the fact that we can maintain a friendly place...and incorporate helping one another

I'll be honest and tell you that the minute we started talking about day me stomach started to rumble with a little fear...but hey!...I focus on ya'll with the couple days and now I am alright....not teasing or anything like that, just taking the focus off me :-)

Islandbride you are a godsend, thank you for that truly descriptive beauty regimen. I suffered from an addiction to "name brand" beauty products and noticed that after a few months, they seemed to stop working and I'd have to switch it up. Now I know that I wasn't losing my mind, just wasting my money, and most importantly, I learned why that happens. I remember how both my mother and father (men gotta look good too..lol) swore by Dove and Ponds and they're skin is still fabulous to this day. They also dig Nivea! Thank you for taking me back to my roots. Out of curiosity, do you have any thoughts on baby powder? Since my early teens, I've used it to help control shine on my face...a lil dusting on the forehead nose and cheeks. I'll appreciate any input.

Hi Taunyana....glad the post was helpful. As for the baby powder I will ask my older sister to check on it...she has access to alot more info. I think the baby powder would leave to heavy of a coating, resulting in clogged pores but let me find out for you.

Went looking for the Ponds but could not find any and I am a lil upset about that, but I will continue to look. I agree with Island about that baby powder, I think it will clog your pores, so I would not go there but lets just wait for Island to do the research.

Hey Island...thanx for getting your sister on the case too, I certainly appreciate you and the effort you've put in to help enlighten all of us.

Yes IslandB thanks, it is just wonderful how we ladies are always looking out for one another!

Island what is the verdict on the research.....our faces are depending on you!

hey there...sorry took so long.. sister had so many negative things to say about..had to get the facts straight then she led me to a website that I am going to paste just a few lines from....the verdict is a bad one...p.s. walmart sells the pond's coldcream go to the facial products/cleaners to find it...look on the bottom shelf..lime green colored cap...

talc powder/baby powder info listed below.

Talc is toxic. Talc particles cause tumors in human ovaries and
lungs. Numerous studies have shown a strong link between frequent use
of
talc in the female genital area and ovarian cancer. Talc particles are
able to move through the reproductive system and become imbedded in the
lining of the ovary. Researchers have found talc particles in ovarian
tumors and have found that women with ovarian cancer have used talcum
powder in their genital area more frequently than healthy women.2

Talc poses a health risk when exposed to the lungs. Talc miners have
shown higher rates of lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses from
exposure to industrial grade talc, which contains dangerous silica and
asbestos. The common household hazard posed by talc is inhalation of
baby powder by infants. Since the early 1980s, records show that
several
thousand infants each year have died or become seriously ill following
accidental inhalation of baby powder

and those indications listed above are for both external/facial use and for down below uses as well....

Lord have mercy...thank the lord I do not use talc. Listen what about those feminie spray like FDS...I love that so much but some of them have talc powder so does the same principle applies? And we aint get no Walmart over here :-(

well I got Walmart.knart.shopsmart..lol..so na na na boo boo dat Charlotte lol.

ok here is a serious post...the veil...u guys wearing one?
Mine is a cathedral...and my brother is giving me away half way up the aisle...then my son will come from standing with FH and meet me at the half way point...and walk me up..question..should he lift the veil and kiss me then give me over...or should he kiss my hand and hand me off.....help me out on this one...he's 11 and thinks he's a lil player lol

Thanks for the detailed information on Talc and the effects of using it Island. I am wearing a 1 tier veil with rhinestones all over it. I don't really like veils, but my mom (true church mother that she is) is not having it! It is a small compromise so I don't mind.

I love the veils with rhinestones!
Did yall know that Star Jones' veil was 27 feet long? She was at the altar gettin married and her veil was down the road lol.

IslandB, love the description of how you will enter...that's really nice how everyone gets to play a part. No I didn't know that Star Jones had a 27 feet veil. She should've rented another church just for the veil (lol)!

now we just working on him and his 2 left feet...need a song for my lil prince and i to dance to..

Did you say Star Jones or Princess Dianna...anyway..Island are you wearing a viel over your face?...I thought one is not allowed to wear a veil over face at a second wedding? Rosey...I need you on this one.

girl...lol...my first wedding was a courthouse boogie...im wearing it on..lol.

Star Jones....longest in history...longer than Princess Di...God rest her soul.

I hear ya Island, although this will be your second marraige, technically it's your first wedding. Gurl do ya thing!!!!!! Is your veil a 1 or 2 tier veil Island????

2 tier

Don't get cheeky missy.....you too Rony! or it'll be the corner for ya'll along side me :-)

Island, thank you for the detailed info on talc, I don't think many of us were aware of those potential dangers. and Charlotte, my GYN once advised me agaisnt using FDS and other such fem. sprays/ douches etc as they can alter the natural pH balance which for me led to a bacterial infection. I stand by that advice to this day.

Charly if we are all in the corner, we can just throw a party!! Taunyana, you're right, we ladies have to be careful and thoroughly investigate the products we use.