Botanical beauty - Tomato benefits

Recently I have been wondering why tomato is such a super tasty recipe in making delicious meals, this prompted me to dig deeper into knowing the benefits of this fruit/vegetable.
It is not surprising to know that tomato is not only healthy for our bodies (good health), but also for our skin and hair because of its rich red colour and the softness in its pulp. Tomato is a very good source of vitamin C and Vitamin A, it helps to get rid of acne and promotes great healthy skin.
The acid in tomato helps to balance the skin tone, reduces excess oil, and fights against dull skin and acne breakouts.
 

Here are different ways you can incorporate tomatoes into your daily beauty routine for younger-looking and healthier skin:

CURE ACNE WITH TOMATO PULP
Mash a fresh tomato and apply the pulp liberally to your face.
Leave on skin for about 30 minutes then rinse and moisturize.
Do this every day for several days and your acne will disappear.
For a quick pimple vanish, dab a bit of tomato paste on the spot.
This will draw out excess oil and lessen redness.

COMBAT OILY SKIN AND CLEANSE YOUR SKIN AND MAKE AN ASTRINGENT
Cut a tomato in half and rub it on your face. Press into blackheads. Rinse and moisturize.
Yes that's all you have to do, so simple! Isn't it .Pay special attention to the areas, where you are prone to blackheads.
This is certainly the simplest of all the tomato secrets for you to try.
In particular, with their high Vitamin A and C contents, tomatoes have been shown to combat oily skin without drying it out.Also, to combat oily skin, mix tomato paste with cucumber juice and apply to skin as a face mask.
Let on for about 15 minutes before washing off.
Tomatoes is a good astringent, has cooling properties which helps to brighten the dull skin in a jiffy
and gives your skin a natural glow in an instant. While cucumbers contain potassium and vitamin E
which serves as a natural cleanser.

Tomato-and-avocado mask is great for combination skin (oily, normal, and dry) it combines the astringent,
blackhead and oil-reducing benefits of tomatoes with the antiseptic and moisturizing properties of avocados.
This super-rich mask also contains vitamin A, C and E, all of which are essential for healthy skin.
To make this soothing mask, mash tomato and avocado together in a bowl.Mix well and smooth on your face.
Rinse after 20 to 30 minutes with lukewarm water.
 

CLOSE UP PORES WITH TOMATOES AND LEMON
Make a mix of fresh tomato pulp with few drops of lemon. Apply this mix to your face and emphasize mainly on your nose, chin and forehead as these are the areas where pores are mainly at their largest. Let it dry for 10 minutes and then wash your face with water to shrink pores, and moisturize.
 

GLOWING SKIN WITH TOMATO PULP AND HONEY
Mix honey and tomato juice and apply to your face and neck. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly. Your skin will be smooth and glowing!
 

USEFUL FOR WEIGHT LOSS
If you want to lose weight, the important tip is to eat fresh raw tomato early morning everyday or
ten to twenty minutes before you eat, as this reduces your appetite. It really works!
And it stops the fermentation process through which sugar and alcohol is produced leading to more weight. Tomato helps to stop the process, and the result you lose weight!

GREAT FOR BEAUTIFUL SHINY HAIR AND TO COMBAT DANDRUFF
Applying tomato juice or tomato paste to your hair enhances the natural PH of the hair and helps
in getting back its natural colour. Tomato acts as a conditioner and brings shine to luster less hair.
Squeeze 1 Orange and blend with 2 whole tomatoes, use it to steam your hair for 20 minutes, then rinse off.
To get rid of dandruff apply tomato pulp to your scalp and leave it for half an hour and then shampoo your hair.
This is a very effective way and time tested remedy to get rid of dandruff by using natural treatment.
 

SUNBURN
Apply tomato paste on the sunburn affected area. Also the skin can be easily prevented from sunburn if you include tomato paste to your diet and eat it regularly.
It is believed that the nutrient lycopene in tomato helps to a great deal in protecting the skin against the harmful ultra
violet rays. Mix a tomato with some natural yoghurt for a great soothing and cooling mask. Use this mix not only on your face but all over your body to prevent yourself from sunburn.

So now that you know the infallible usage for tomatoes, I'm sure you'll do a quick fix on your skin in your kitchen while preparing that super delicious meal with tomatoes.


 

Bukola was celebrated.......

The whole of  Ile Ife in Osun State stood still on the 13th and 14th of April to witness and celebrate the solemnization of this two love birds; Ayokunle and Bukola and of course Swan Beauty was there to add colour and style to Bukola's look with our unique touch of sophistication.

Because she has a smooth, clear and healthy skin which is a good canvas for makeup, plus she is very beautiful, we didn't really need to do so much work before we achieved her desired wedding day look.

 Enjoy the pictures....

Her traditional colours were Chocolate and Cream which suited her perfectly because of her complexion.

The beautiful bride keeps looking out for when she'll be called upon to meet her groom who is patiently waiting....

It's my wedding day.....

Irresistible me.......

 

Here she comes.......all smiles

Wedding day makeup......

BOGO 50% costume jewelry

Blushing her up.....

Bronzing her t - zone to illuminate her face....

She's ready.....

So excited.....

Awwww, here comes the bride, up and ready to face the world and testify her love for her husband .

There you have it, Bukola and Ayokunle's wedding day, what do you think? Waiting for your response.

Ciao!

Coconut oil... multipurpose oil for all.

Coconut oil is an edible oil drawn from the kernel of matured coconuts harvested from the coconut palm trees through different means;
Aqueous Processing, Ram Press, Mechanical Centrifuge, Ghani Extraction and  Expeller Method.
The Ram Press and Mechanical Centrifuge processes are considered the best because they are used to obtain virgin coconut oils, that means the oils from these processes requires no further refining.

The benefits of coconut oil cannot be over emphasized. It helps in weight reduction, provides moisture to the skin (especially very dry skin), For silky long hair and healthy scalp, It is also beneficial for stress relief and it aids digestion.

Weight reduction:

Coconut oil helps in reducing cholesterol level because it contains short and medium-chain fatty acids that help in taking off excessive weight.
It is also easy to digest and it helps in healthy functioning of the thyroid and enzymes systems
thereby burning out more energy and helping obese and overweight people reduce their weight.
   
Tip:
To increase metabolism and lose weight, mix a tablespoon of coconut oil in warm water. Have the drink before working out.
By consuming coconut oil, you control your food cravings. The oil is rich in carbohydrates and calories which are helpful for controlling appetite.

Skin care:

Coconut oil works as an effective moisturizer on all types of skins including dry skin leaving you refreshed. The fat in the oil helps reduce the appearance of wrinkles without any irritation.
It is also a good massage oil for the body, it's aroma relaxes the body system
Unlike mineral oil, there is no chance of having any adverse side effects on the skin with the application of coconut oil. It is therefore a safe solution for preventing dryness and flaking of skin.
It also delays wrinkles, and sagging of skin which normally become prominent with age. Coconut oil also helps in treating various skin problems including psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema and other skin infections.
Therefore coconut oil forms the basic ingredient of various body care products such as soaps, lotions, creams, etc., used for skin care. Coconut oil also helps in preventing premature aging and degenerative diseases due to its antioxidant properties.

Try this easy, inexpensive recipe for a great honey and coconut oil moisturizer.

Honey and coconut oil have both long been used to moisturize the skin.
Combine them with this method and you have a super luscious body butter that will leave your skin soft as a cloud.
So while this formula does wonders for moisturizing your skin, it can also arouse your senses with yummy tastes and soothing texture.
2 tablespoons coconut oil (extra-virgin, unrefined)
1 tablespoon of your favorite raw honey
2 drops vanilla, peppermint, or sweet orange essential oil (optional)
In a small bowl, whip together all ingredients. This sweet treat is now ready to use.

Take several bath towels (enough to cover your body) and dampen them with hot water
(as hot as comfortable for you to touch) in an empty bathtub. Get in the tub and rub the honey and coconut oil mixture over your body,
recline and cover yourself with the hot towels. Sit, relax, and enjoy until the towels are cool and you are ready to rinse.
Rinse, pat yourself dry, and follow up with some plain coconut oil.

Hair Care:

For a growing , silky healthy hair, Coconut oil is one of the most nutritious products you can put on your hair. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair.
It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams.
Massage a bit of the oil onto your scalp and presto – no more dandruff. Since it provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair, it’s used in a ton of over-the-counter hair products anyway. Why not cut to the chase and skip all the unnecessary chemicals?

Healing:

When applied on scrapes and cuts, coconut oil forms a thin, chemical layer which protects the wound from outside dust, bacteria and virus.
Coconut oil speeds up the healing process of bruises by repairing damaged tissues.When applied on infections, it forms a chemical layer which protects the infected body part from external dust,
air, fungi, bacteria and virus. Coconut oil is most effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.
Coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections due to its anti-fungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties.
According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS, etc.
It also kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea, etc.
Coconut oil is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash, etc.
Plus, it smells a lot better than anything from the pharmacy.


Stress Relief:
 
Relieve mental fatigue by applying coconut oil to the head in a circular, massaging motion.
The natural aroma of coconuts is extremely soothing thus helping to lower your stress level.

Digestion:

The saturated fats in coconut oil have anti-bacterial properties that help control,
parasites, and fungi that cause indigestion and other digestion related problems such as irritable bowel syndrome.
The fat in coconut oil also aids in the absorption of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, making you healthier all around.

Olufunmi's white wedding pictures

Hello there! Sure your day is going on smoothly.
Okay! This is to bring to you some of Olufunmi's white wedding pictures, unfortunately, I don't have them all ready yet, but I promise to get them up as soon as I lay hands on them. You have seen the traditional wedding makeup pictures; how lovely she looks in purple *smile*

Well the ones I have ready, I couldn't wait to put them up on the blog myself, she looks absolutely adorable in her white dress with a simple and stylish makeup and a hair do that goes solely with her facial structure.( Many brides should take that into consideration as well)

Oh! her chief brides maid looks awesome as well. She is a dark complexioned beautiful lady whose facial features were accentuated with the right makeup products and techniques while not straying from the color theme of the wedding.

Awwwww, see her stealing glances at herself through the mirror.

* Hair and makeup styled by Swan Beauty*
* All thanks and appreciation to Picture Magic Photography*

Talkin Natural body care.

Cucumber

I chose cucumber today because, over time, the green cylinder-like edible plant has proven to be just what every lady should have or use as part of her beauty regimen especially the women of colour in order to maintain our skin, which is mostly sun burnt because of our weather.

Here are some of the great benefits of cucumber.

• Cucumber helps to flush toxins and other unwanted substance out of the body, cleansing the body from within, there by the skin looks radiant, glowing and flawless.
• Because it's seeds has potassium and vitamin E, it is effective in the cure of rashes, sunburn and inflammation. Here is a tip: If you always have shaving irritations, just rub a cucumber juice on the affected part of the skin.
• Since cucumber is a cleanser, it helps to reduce excess oil from the face, so the face looks, younger and healthier. 
• For puffy eyes or dark circles around the eyes, cucumber works like magic. Just a slice of cucumber on the eyes, reduces the puffs and the circles, it also gives a soothing and relaxing effect , taking stress away. Another tip: A juice of cucumber mixed with potato juice and applied on the face and around the eyes for 15minutes is a booster in making the face look so flawless

Try this out and get back to me, I love to hear from you.
Catch y'all later.....*wink*

Olufunmi's wedding

Hi there!  How was your Easter break? Sure it was cool, mine was fun because I visited people.
Let us not forget the reason for the season though......*smile*

So we're back to work, and we still have like 2 to 3 months ahead before the next holiday. Let us just give our best to whatever job we do while having fun with it.

Okies here are pictures from Olufunmi's traditional wedding.
She wore the royal color purple and cream, It was a good combination for her and also for me because I enjoyed mixing the colors on her fine bulgy eyes plus she has very lovely eyebrows....

Let me not say too much, see the pictures for yourselves and let me know what you think by making your comments.

Want it Wednesday: $19.99 plus & $17.99 misses Capris

                

Did you see me and my lovely bride? Her mother was beholding her face as well....awwww beautiful.
Aii, friends, watch out for the white wedding pictures.
*wink*

SOME LAST YEAR WEDDINGS...........

I remember I haven't put up these pictures on the blog, they are some of the brides I did last year and they are pretty. Check out the double head gear.... both brides had the double head gear. It comes out nice, especially with dull and bright colors. It can even be done with Aso Oke especially if the Aso Oke is made of silk and too soft to stand alone like we have in Mrs Udoh's case.

Here we go!

This is Mr and Mrs Nsikan Udoh

And this is Mr and Mrs Luther Abegunde

Hope you like them....

More to come!

Swan Beauty is the Official Makeup Artist for Model of Africa Fashion Party!

It was a well organized event with nice music playing and all the models and designers trooping in from all direction to Ember Creek, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi Lagos for the Model of Africa Thank you/Fashion Party.

The event was put together primarily to appreciate the sponsors, media partners, friends, and well wishers who has played key roles in the success of the Model of Africa Vision and to celebrate the Model of Africa winners and top models for their achievements.

Swan Beauty Makeovers was the official makeup artist at the event and it was a great experience. They were all guys and it was cool, doing makeup for guys Knowing that they'll still look cool and not "over-painted".

We started out with cleaning their faces; then we applied foundation lightly over their faces to cover their imperfections, and to avoid adding too much color, we applied on them some translucent powder, a soft lip balm to keep their lips supple and brushed their eyebrows, beards and hair to shape. For some of them, we gave them a little bit of an artistic or dramatic look because of the outfit they'll be showcasing for their designers.....It was an awesome experience altogether.

Here are some of the pictures.. Enjoy it! 

That is Funke working on a model

This is Shade doing her thing...

 That's me.....*smile*

 There are more.....

 *winks*

Okay there you have it!

All the fun with all the swags......

Opps! I forgot to say a big thank you to Funke and Shade. You guys are tha' bomb!

Catch ya'all later.