A New Year and A New You! How to use the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa to improve your life!

Do you know the meaning of Kwanzaa? It is an African-American celebration of life from 26 December to 1 January, created by Dr. Maulana Karenga in 1966 as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home.     Dr. Karenga created this festival for Afro-Americans as a response to the commercialism of Christmas. 

Many moons ago when I was an undergraduate at Kean University, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Karenga. I was only in the baby stages of self- awareness and I had no clue about the importance of celebrating our culture, both ancient and current. Now, I fully recognize that many of our issues within the Black Community begin with the LACK OF SELF LOVE AND AWARENESS!

As I approach 2020, The beginning of a New Year and New Decade I started to reflect on how I can better serve my community, my family and myself. So I decided to start with the 7 Principles of Kwanzaa as my Guide! Here are a few recommendations to start living your best life!

Day 1: Umoja: (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.

• Create a Family (OR Personal) Mission Statement.
• Host Soul Food Sunday Meals with Family and Friends.

Day 2: Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves. I love Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi, her refusal to wear a wig or a weave and embrace her natural hair and still win the crown is an inspiration to all of us to embrace our beaute' EVERY DAY!

• Create A SELF LOVE Affirmation board! 
• Pay a woman a compliment and mean it!
• Embrace Aging. 

Day 3: Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together. As a way to uplift the community my company donates $1.00 of every sale to a nonprofit that is dedicated to promoting education and empowering black girls. But giving back is more than just donating money! 

• Volunteer at least once a month. 
• Donate old stuff that you know you no longer need!

 Day 4: Ujamaa (Economics): To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.

• Support a Black-Owned business.
• Start your own Business!  

Day 5: Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness. 

• Bring traditions like Kwanzaa to the spotlight as a way to remind us of just how beautiful our heritage is. 

Day 6: Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.

• Recycle! Recycle! Recycle! Mother Earth Deserves it.
• Clean up your local park and neighborhood.

Day 7: Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. 

• Pray without ceasing!
• Meditate and listen to God.

Happy 2020! May God bless you and your family!

 It’s the most wonderful time of the year, but it can be stressful! Regardless of what you celebrate and how you celebrate, we can all agree on how hectic the holiday season can be. Between shopping, traveling, and hosting, it becomes easy to neglect ourselves. Here are a few selfcare tips to allow you to enjoy each moment in fullness and keep you looking Good, Beauté. 

 Stick to your routine and then some. Between flights and constant changes in scenery, it can be easy to slip up on habits, even if you’ve been doing them. It is perfectly fine to set reminders to complete your skin regimen. Late nights and even earlier mornings may through your schedule off. The key to keeping your skin supple and fresh is to be as consistent as possible in your skincare regime.  

1. Take off that makeup. It is no secret that the holidays are full of unconventional hours that result in passing out at the end of the night from sheer exhaustion. Before you crash, remember to remove your makeup. Allowing makeup from the day to sit on your skin as you sleep will clog your pores and increase the likeliness for acne and other unsightly blemishes. Use the Vita C Cleanser to gently exfoliates, dissolve dull surface cells, as it supports collagen, reduces dark spots, and nourishes your skin.
2. Baby, it’s cold outside, so moisturizing. Flights and cold weather together are a recipe for dry and dull skin. High altitudes reduce blood flow to the face, which can snatch your glow. Use two pumps of our Vita C Serum before your flight to keep the glow going.
3. Stay hydrated and Protected. Alcohol, seasonal drinks, and everything but water will be circulating. Be sure to maximize your water intake, at least 3 liters every day and wear your Vita C SPF 50 Moisturizer (even in a winter wonderland). Don’t let chilly temps, clouds or even snow fool you. Those UVA rays are just as damaging in the winter as in the summer. 

On a mission is to improve the lives of Black Women and their skin! 

This month marks a year since we launched the Good Beaute' Company! We've been so blessed to connect with you, listen to you, and grow our company because of your love and support. We are building our company on Kimberly's belief that black women deserve meaningful research, product development, and elevation in the Beauty Industry!

In Celebration of Good Beaute' Turning 1 Use Code: Celebrate to recieve 25% OFF Until 11/4/2019

God Bless you & Stay Beautiful!

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 THROUGH FAITH, FITNESS, & FOOD

I love vacationing in Martha's Vineyard; it is the one place that I can relax and where every day feels easy like Sunday Morning. The only downside is the five pounds that I bring back with me from too many lobsters, libations & back door donuts. So when I returned home on Sunday, I had a bad case of the vacation blues, I felt bloated, tired, and out of sorts. So I decided to do a quick detox! At first, it was about only losing five-plus pounds, but I quickly realized that I needed to get my whole life back on track through Faith, Fitness, and Food! So my goal is to become my BEST SELF, by my next Birthday OCTOBER 23RD!  

Dear Black People, 

Your Melanin is beautiful, but it will not protect you from Melanoma Cancer, #FACTS!

Melanin enriched skin is beautiful beyond measure and as powerful as our skin is, we must take precautionary measures to protect it at all costs. 
Yes, we can get skin cancer too! Contrary to popular belief, people of color should use an SPF every day! Our minds tend to automatically associate it with caucasian skin who spend their days at the beach in the sun or frequent tanning salons. We fail to remember that people of color can be susceptible to the harsh UV rays. BLACK PEOPLE  are 1.5 times more likely to die from melanoma than Caucasians. 

How to protect yourself? SUNCARE = SELF CARE

USE CODE: SPF50 For 50% OFF

1. The first step is to use SUNSCREEN daily! Yes, even on cloudy days! Clouds filter out sunlight but not UV rays; the bad ones that cause aging and cancer. The Skin Cancer Foundation says that clouds block as little as 20% of UV rays — so on a cloudy day you're still getting up to 80% of the sun's harsh effects..
2. Step 2, Choose the right Sunscreen. Use sunscreens that provide “broad-spectrum protection.” Board spectrum protection is something that will be advertised on the product label, and this means that the sunscreen will protect against both UVA and UVB rays – which are linked to skin cancer and sunburn, respectively.
3. Step 3, Use SPF 30 or Higher. No sunscreen can block all UV rays, but what we do know is: SPF 15 blocks 93% of UVB rays, SPF 30 blocks 97% of UVB rays and SPF 50 blocks 98% of UVB rays. 
4. Step 4, Apply, and Reapply! Keep in mind that you need to use an adequate amount, and you may also need to reapply depending on how long you’re outdoors. The basic rule of thumb: You should reapply sunscreen every 2-3 hours, and if you go swimming or get in the water, you should also reapply more sunscreen after exiting the water. 
5. Step 5, Know your skin, and visit your dermatologist! Understanding and knowing your skin is vital! 90% of Melanoma cases could be prevented if people took better care of their skin and recognized the signs and be aware of the ABCDEs melanoma detection.Make sure that you are checking for new spots and marks for Asymmetry, Borders, Excess Diameter, and Changes. As people of color, it is important to be diligent in examining our skin for any abnormalities.
6. BONUS TIP: Did you know the sun isn’t the only dangerous light in your life? Our cell phones, laptops, and other gadgets emit blue light that can be damaging for our skin. In our fast-paced society, we spend a great deal of our time locked in with our devices, whether in work settings or our leisure. Blue light can weaken the skin's surface, which makes signs of aging more apparent as it leaves room for wrinkles and fine lines. Check to see if your devices offer a setting to reduce the amount of blue light your screen emits and protect your skin with Vita C Moisturizer with Broad Spectrum 50. 

Hydrate to Glow 

Did you know that your water intake can make or break your overall health? There are so many bodily functions that rely on strong water intake according to blackdoctor.org to function properly, all the cells and organs of the body need a minimum of 8 glasses of water a day. Given our skin is our largest organ drinking water helps retain moisture and is helpful in reducing signs of aging. I drink 3-liters of water every day; I am always running to the bathroom but believe me it is worth it!

Here are a few tips:

1. Start your morning off with an 8 oz glass of water with lemons before you have breakfast or that morning cup of coffee. 
2. Whenever you feel hungry 1st drink water before you grab a snack. Often hungry can be mistaken for thirst. 

Protect to Glow

Sunscreen is for BLACK WOMEN, too. Although there is power in melanin (both literally and physically), it needs to be protected at all costs. Yes, we all know the saying #GOODBLACKDONTCRACK, but we are not exempt from the damage that the sun can cause which means that sunscreen is a MUST. You should use sunscreen every day, even when the sun isn’t shining. Try our invisible daily VITA C moisturizer with broad-spectrum 50 protection. It hydrates and protects against sun damage and premature aging. While helping to prevent discoloration and dark spots. 

Eat to Glow

Sleep to Glow

Did you know how much your sleep can impact your skin health? In a society that is built around constant productivity, we tend to underestimate the importance of getting enough sleep. Sleeping is a time for the body to restore and repair. When asleep your body has time to rehydrate and recover moisture. Getting an adequate amount of sleep increases your collagen production which means your chances of wrinkling is reduced. Sleeping the proper amount also prevents puffy, tired eyes. Your bed should be your sleep sanctuary! Make sure your sheets and pillowcases are always laundered. Dirty bedding can lead to breakouts and other skin issues. Also, make sure you are washing your scarf as it is easy for dirt and product to build on them.

Exfoliating to Glow

Exfoliating is not just for your face. Exfoliating dead skin is a must for the entire body. Try making a sugar scrub with three simple ingredients and your skin will begin to GlOW! 

1. All Natural Coconut Oil
2. Essential Sweet Orange Essential Oil
3. All Natural Raw Sugar  

(BLEND AND KEEP IN A COOL PLACE) 

Skincare in Your Twenty's- Confessions From a College Student! 

“Girl, it doesn’t matter. My skin always bounces back. And even if it did matter, black don’t crack so I’m good.” The words of a twenty-something when asked about how she felt about skincare.  As much as we’d like to think the decisions we make while we’re young don’t matter, the reality of it is that they do. Although most of us are far from being completely independent, we’ve taken baby steps into adulthood. Adulthood to us right now means that we can do whatever we want, even the things we know we shouldn’t. We make silly decisions with the idea that they won’t impact us solely because we’re young. Choosing not to take care of our skin is one of those decisions. 

• Drinking is almost a staple of any university setting. Whether done casually or in a party setting the consumption of alcohol is almost inevitable. In addition to alcohol, most drinks are full of syrups and sugars that wreak havoc on skin. Excess alcohol can lead to dehydration, breakouts, hormone mix-ups and so on. Next time you drink,  try to consume with your skin and overall health in mind. As a rule of thumb try to counter every drink with a glass of water to stay hydrated and know your limits. Moderation is key!

• You’ve got one body, act like it. A common misconception is that in our young age is that we don’t have to maintain our bodies. Having an exercise routine, healthy diet and water intake is vital to making sure your black doesn’t crack. Nourishing your body from the inside out is essential to having flawless skin for the rest of your life.

• Go to the doctor. Your parents are no longer there to make your appointments and it’s easy to neglect that aspect of your life. Good skin is reflective of good health. It is important to regularly visit the physician. If you are struggling with skin issues there may be an underlying health concern that can be diagnosed by a physician or dermatologist. Don’t wait until symptoms arise or become unbearable to pay your doctor a visit.

• Minimize stress. We get it. Asking you to minimize stress at this point in your life would be like asking you to stop breathing. Life right now is full of long days and even longer nights, but excess stress is known to age skin and cause breakouts at the very minimum.

• Beat faces need breaks too. There’s nothing like your makeup being on point. It highlights your natural beauty and leaves you looking even more flawless already than you already are, but your skin needs a break from time to time. Going bare a few times a week won’t hurt. In addition to going bare, cleaning makeup brushes is vital. Our tools accumulate germs and product build up over time which will result in preventable breakouts.

• Nighttime routines are a must. Establishing a skincare routine is a must. Repeating a regimen or even having a nighttime routine is skin care must. Wild nights out or busy long days result in wanting to hit the sheets as soon as you make it back home. Falling asleep with makeup on is a major NO in terms of skincare. Make sure you cleanse the day off your skin every night. To reduce breakouts and skin problems even further, always make sure you are sleeping with clean pillowcases and headscarves.

Being young is full of limitless possibilities and new experiences. While it is a time full of discovery, it’s also a time for establishing good habits. Creating skincare now routine will keep you looking forever young.

International Women's Day is celebrated annually on March 8th, focusing on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy and action. The hashtag #balanceforbetter is all about building a gender-based world.

GOOD BEAUTÉ CELEBRATES 5 AMAZING WOMEN that are breaking barriers, and shaping our world today! 

Written By Nicole Paul