Lucky Magazine's March CoverGirl

The Amazing Lupita Nyong'o is Lucky Magazine's March 2015 cover girl, so of course yours truly had to check out the interview and fashion spread, and in a mediascape that is often  littered with interviews that can feel predicatable at times, Lupita's interview was not only refreshing and entertaining, it also contained some noteworthy quotes which may prove inspiring. For example speaking on the subject of makeup she says "....It's something I do to adorn myself. I don't do it to hide myself" and on pursuing our dreams she states: "Our dreams belong to us. We owe it to ourselves to try to realize them". Here are a few of my favourite looks from her spread, mad props to the stylist on the shoot, the yellow and turquoise colour block look is SLAYING. You can read her full interview here

Photographed by Patrick Demarchelier, Lucky Magazine 2015 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Daily Look Inspiration

Hey Lovelies, the focus of today's daily look inspiration  is the combination of black and white which has been a fashion staple for decades. A pairing that is elegant and timeless, it will add refinement to your look. You can find some of the items pictured in the collage above at the following sites:

Slimming dress
romwe.com

Joseph crepe blazer
$680 - net-a-porter.com

Flared skirt
sheinside.com


Stay Gorgeous and Awesome!
XX,
Malika

Haircare 101: Using Hair Oils

Hi Loveys,

Since moving to St. Lucia I have been searching for a hairdresser who takes haircare as seriously as my hairdresser Victoria in Trinidad does (Victoria, if you are reading this, I miss you desperately). I found a great hairdresser  who is excellent at styling and flat ironing my hair ( I will keep going to her for that), but sadly, when I asked for a protein treatment, I was told I could either get "a steam, or a keratin treatment". Presented with  only two options (and being advised by Victoria that my hair needs protein, as well as hair repairing masks etc), I realized that I will have to go it alone, until I can find someone here in St. Lucia who specializes in hair care.

And so, with haircare firmly on my mind, today I decided to share with you the importance of using oil on your hair.

Why Should You Use Oil on Your Hair

People have been using hair oils for centuries as oil has an innate ability to soften and condition, and provides a hydrating effect when used on one's hair. Takeaway: if you suffer from dry hair, introduce oil. 

According to Jacqueline Flam Stokes, vice president of retail marketing and sales for Klorane, “Oils mimic the natural action of sebum production by protecting and also maintaining hydration to avoid water loss....when choosing an oil, look for something that’s very concentrated with triglycerides (present in vegetable and fruit oils and have a similar action to the sebum in the hair) and use it sparingly. Stay away from mineral and paraffin oils which can make the hair greasy,”

So Loveys, whether your hair craves an oil daily (if it’s dehydrated) or you just like to use one as needed (for shine and moisture), hair products with oil can make a world of difference. Just be sure to find one that doesn’t leave your hair looking greasy. You can either use this oils in their pure form, or you can use hair products containing these oils, depending on the needs of your hair:

Argan Oil: For smooth and shiny hair. Argan oil protects the hair and makes it smoother, softer and less frizzy.

Olive Oil: To revive dry hair. Olive Oil is good for dry hair, olive oil helps restore elasticity and shine but may be too heavy for those with thin or fine hair.

Sweet Almond Oil: To improve hair health.The blend of vitamins A, B and E in this type of oil helps add shine and body to thicker hair types.

Coconut Oil: To reinforce hair. A long-standing oil that’s been used to improve hair, coconut oil penetrates deep into the hair shaft to strengthen weak spots.

Avocado Oil: To fight breakage. Rich in amino acids, vitamins and fatty acids, this vegetable-derived oil improves strength and makes hair shiny and more resistant to breakage.

Thanks for stopping by Loveys, if you've a know a great hairdresser please feel free to make a recommendation.  Be sure to add me to you Google+ circle if you're on Google, and please follow me on instagram @fromstluciawithlove so we can keep in touch via that platform.

Have a fantastic week.

XX

Malika

MAC Round-Up

Foolproof Papaya Shrimp Cocktail Recipe

Hey Loveys,

One of my goals for 2015 is to become a better cook. Growing up I was never very interested in the kitchen, it was only when I was at university, and found myself living on my own that I became a little interested in cooking (to save money and avoid the trap of eating junk food daily), and my repertoire consisted of, wait for it...salad, Ramen noodles, pasta, and minced beef. Simple things. I still consider myself a Ramen expert actually.

Lately though, I have found myself being inspired by the different textures and flavours of food, and so, I decided that 2015 would be my year of cooking. I've gotten some cookbooks, and have started obsessively looking at YouTube Videos and apprenticing in my mother-in-law's kitchen, since she is the best chef I know. This weekend my mother-in-law and I made a papaya shrimp cocktail, it was super easy to make, absolutely delicious, and most of all, it is 100% foolproof, any novice in the kitchen (like yours truly) can make this with ease :-). See recipe below:

Ingredients:

1 lb shrimp (cleaned: washed, peeled and deveined)

1 lb papaya (also known as pawpaw. peeled, seeds removed, sliced in quarters and then thinly sliced crosswise)

1/4 cup mint (approximately 10-15 mint leaves, chopped in small pieces)

1 celery (thinly sliced, celery is optional)

1 small purple onion (peeled and cut into small cubes)

1 tbsp pepper sauce / hot sauce (this is optional, use if you want to add some heat)

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tbsp grated  ginger (use fresh ginger)

salt to taste (use a pinch, or more according to how salty you want it)

Directions:

In a bowl add your papaya/ pawpaw (which has already been sliced), add your shrimp to this (you can steam your shrimp for a few minutes in water, please avoid over steaming the shrimp as this will result it the shrimp becoming 'hard" or "rubbery"), add your mint, add your purple onion.

Then in a separate bowl, mix your olive oil, grated ginger, pepper sauce/ hot sauce, and your salt

Just before you serve your shrimp cocktail, drizzle your olive oil vinaigrette over your shrimp cocktail (after you drizzle it you use a spoon to mix it / work it further into your cocktail),and voila, it is finished, serve it with love, and enjoy.

Thanks for visiting my blog Loveys, I will be updating the blog with new posts each Monday and Thursday from now on (i.e. new posts twice a week), in the meantime, you can follow me on  instagram at @fromstluciawithlove for daily posts on beauty (makeup, skincare etc), fashion and lifestyle.

Have a fantastic week.

XX,

Malika

Take Care of Those Hands!

Hey Loveys,

Today's beauty post focuses on... hands!! Why? Because it is said that hands reveal a person's  true age. I guess you can take the best care of your face, neck, and decolletage to fight or slow the signs of aging, but ultimately, if you ignore your hands, they will "sell you out" and reveal your true age. That is, hands can reveal your true age  as  the skin on your hands loses its firmness over time, and leaves them susceptible to wrinkles, sun spots other signs of aging (I wonder if this is why Madonna wears those gloves all the time? hmmm #FoodForThought).

Here are 5 tips to take better care of hands and nails:

1.  Keep Hands Moisturized and Sun-Protected: To remain supple, your hands (like the rest of your body) needs moisture, so keep them moisturized. Further still, given the fact that sun damage can cause wrinkles and dark spots, protect your hands from the sun's ravaging effects by using a  sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Cheeky side-note to all my chocolate and mocha sisters out there: us coloured girls  need to use sunscreen too! Just cause we're not tanning, or just 'cuz we don't tan, does not mean that we do not need to use sunscreen, we need to use sunscreen ladies. It is an absolute must for every person of every ethnicity,  if you chose to go without it and want to take care of your skin, then, at least avoid, or reduce the amount of time you spend in the sun.

2. Take Care of Your Cuticles: Nails, like hands, need to be moisturized, moisturizing your nails and cuticles keeps those areas more pliable and less at risk for cracking, tearing and hangnails, which can open the door to skin infections.  I will be honest with you, I need to take better care of my cuticles. If you already take care of yours, I salute you, and will be joining you. If you don't, let's start doing this together then! You can moisturize your cuticles by rubbing your hand moisturizer into the base and sides of your nails, including the cuticles. If your cuticles are very dry, you can consider applying nightly cuticle oil to give it an extra dose of moisture.

3. Wear Gloves During Chores: Protect your hands by wearing a pair of cotton-lined rubber gloves when you are doing chores since hot water can strip the skin of its own natural oils (perhaps this is why it is suggested that you immediately apply lotion or oil to your skin after you've had a shower), and some chemicals in certain cleaning products can cause contact dermatitis. 

4. Remove Polish: It's important to remove your nail polish after a week of wearing it rather than leave it on for weeks at a time, and then apply a fresh coat to it when it starts to fade or chip, because an old coat of nail polish (especially if it is a darker shade of polish) can cause your nails to become discoloured and/or yellow, and can also weaken your nails. Side-note: Use a non-acetone polish remover, as it is gentler on your nails that a nail polish remover with acetone.

5. File Your Nails: I've just one tip to share for filing nails, and that is simply, to file nails in one direction only—using a sawing motion can create microscopic tears that make nails more likely to split.

Now, loveys, after all of this talk about nails,heading off to give hands some tender loving care, and hope you will be treating your hands to the same as well. Until my next post,

XX

Malika

Happy New Year

Hi Loveys,

Happy New Year to each and every one of you. I know that its been a hot minute since my last post, and I hope that you will forgive me for the delay. The holiday season was  hectic (as I juggled the demands of work and holiday tasks) and wonderful . This was my first Christmas and New Years in Saint Lucia, and whilst I love the soil on which I was born (Trinidad & Tobago)  I am so fortunate to be able to say that I truly am able to call my adopted land of Saint Lucia home.

I made a cheesecake over the holidays, and will be posting the recipe over the weekend, in the meantime here are some snapshots of my holidays:

Cheesecake

Christmas Lunch

Our Table

Yours truly: meeee ^_^

Spent New Years Eve/Old Years with family in PJs having  #Caviar #Shrimp #Cheeseplate #Champagne

How were your holidays Lovelies? Let me know in the comments section below.
See you over the weekend with my post on my cheesecake (pictured above).

XX
Malika

Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

Hi Lovelies, 

Does anyone feel as if Christmas has snuck up on them? Christmas is right around the corner, and while some have long completed their Christmas shopping, and already have their gifts nicely wrapped, there are those of us, who are still finalising our shopping. I for one, still have a few things to get for Christmas (chocolates being one of them, hehe), and I haven't even begun to wrap my Christmas presents yet. Since no one seems to think I am domesticated (really, it is starting to pain me when my friends express doubt in my abilities to learn this art) I have been looking up gift wrapping ideas in order to have beautifully wrapped presents (my rationale is pretty much that since I'm not cooking for Christmas I might as well excel in one area, right!).

Today, I share with you a few of the photos I found online that are presently serving as my holiday gift wrapping inspiration. 

Happy Holidays Loves!

xx,

Malika

Beauty Benefits of Honey

A few years ago I had a kitchen accident and suffered a few facial burns as a result and I was introduced to honey as a beauty tool for fading the scars  by my older brother, who told me that he had read that honey fades scars, and that a friend of his had used it after suffering some pretty bad burns. I decided to trust my brother, and used both honey and vitamin e oil to fade the scars, and I am very happy to report that all the scars faded. Given the benefits of honey it is little wonder that my brother loves it so much, he is so committed to honey, that our house would never be out of honey. 

To this day I still use honey, and thought I would share the beauty benefits of honey with you dolls today.

Benefits:

1. Prevents Acne: Honey's anti-bacterial properties make it an excellent cleanser for acne. Apply some raw honey to the affected area and rinse off after 10-15 minutes (if you prefer to leave it on longer, you can do so). 
2. Fades scars: Honey has a bleaching effect, thus, regular use of honey on the affected area can dramatically fade old or new scars. Side note: there are some scars, where the affected area becomes raised above the rest of one's skin when the scar has healed, these scars can become painful and you may have to visit a dermatologist for treatment to ease the pain etc.
3. Moisturizes skin: Honey not only attracts water but it helps absorb and retain it on one's hair and skin.Use raw honey by itself or with other ingredients such as milk, or lemon, to create a DIY facial mask.
4. Hair Conditioner: Honey's moisturizing and softening properties (mentioned in number 3 above) makes it a superb hair conditioner that will give shine to dull hair. Simply mix 1 tbsp raw honey with 2 tbsp extra virgin oil, and use yours hands to disperse the mixture through your hair. Leave in your hair for 20-30 minutes (you may cover your hair with a steam cap) and then rinse the honey/extra virgin oil mixture off. Side note: Try to use a sulphate free shampoo, since sulphate strips one's hair of moisture/ dries one's hair. 
5. Deep Cleans Pores: Whilst the best way to get rid of clogged pores is to get facials regularly, to follow a good daily skin care regimen, and invest in good quality skin skin care products (please try to avoid products with mineral oil if you can, as mineral oil does can sit on the skin and assist in creating clogged pores), honey can be a powerful tool in your arsenal. Honey is known to reduce excess oil on the skin and tighten the skin pores, plus, it will help keep your skin hydrated (as mentioned in point 3 above). 

I hope that you enjoyed today's post on honey, which is truly an amazing gift from nature. If there are any posts you want to see relating to skincare, please  feel free to leave your questions in the comments below, and I will do a blog post on it for you. 

Happy Holidays (5 more days to Christmas *YaY*).

xx

Malika

Perfect Your Look for the Holidays

Although work has been pretty hectic this past week and a half, and I haven't been so well, yesterday, it finally dawned on me that the Christmas holidays are here, and with it, come the invitations to attend numerous parties, giving us all an excuse to glam up. Since a big part of our holiday high-glam look has to do with our makeup, I decided to put together this collage, which shows you the different shades you can use on your eye. As always Dolls, the key is not just to apply the eye shadow, but to blend it out carefully using the right brush, or, your fingers (which works pretty well for some people). This collage is only intended to serve as a guide/ inspiration board, feel free to switch  the colours up, in keeping with the palettes you may already have. 

As always, thanks for visiting my blog. Love you all lots. 

XX,

Malika