Earth Appreciation Month
~ Various Methods of Homage ~
By Dr. Marchette Richardson-Smith
Copa Style Magazine Lifestyle Columnist
Earth Appreciation Month; Two Days Exploring Skin Care & Makeup and Two Days of Gardening & Donating
I treated myself to two days of pampering; my expedition began at Sephora. I scheduled an hour-long appointment to learn about achieving and maintaining healthy skin, hair, and eyelashes. I am not the type of lady who wears makeup or goes beyond the local drugstore to purchase a moisturizer. However, since moving to Maryland, I have begun participating in pageants, walking the catwalk, and attending galas and charitable events. Thus, I must conquer the art of skincare and makeup application. A lady needs always be prepared.
I treated myself to two days of pampering; my expedition began at Sephora. I scheduled an hour-long appointment to learn about achieving and maintaining healthy skin, hair, and eyelashes. I am not the type of lady who wears makeup or goes beyond the local drugstore to purchase a moisturizer. However, since moving to Maryland, I have begun participating in pageants, walking the catwalk, and attending galas and charitable events. Thus, I must conquer the art of skincare and makeup application. A lady needs always be prepared.
When I arrived at Sephora, I met my beauty consultant, who ensured I was comfortable and reviewed the reason for my visit. Out of nowhere, she informed me that April is earth appreciation month. As an academic, I knew that Brad Follett (a marine biologist) created the term Global Cleanup in June of 1968, and that April is earth appreciation month; I had no idea that the cosmetology and beauty industry greatly supports the platform. Maintaining focus on earth appreciation, the consultant cleaned my face with Fresh Soy Hydrating Gentle Face Cleanser. The ingredients contained in the fresh soy face wash gently balance, nourish, and support overall skin health without exposing skin to harmful chemical additives. Next, the consultant introduced my skin to True Botanicals. A cleansing product free of fillers and harsh chemicals that have become ubiquitous in the beauty world. The product consists of nourishing formulas powered by plant-derived peptides and antioxidant-rich oils. The last cleanser I sampled was TrueSkin C Vitamin Brightening Cleanser. The cleanser comprises vitamins E and C, tea tree oil, rosehip oil, and aloe vera.
The following day I went to Ultra Beauty. The associate introduced me to Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave in Nourishing Treatment. It moisturizes hair without weighing it down. As a woman of color, I must master frizz control without drying out my hair. This formula contains natural ingredients such as almonds, coconuts, and olives. Preserving my hair is essential, but what about strengthening my eyelashes? Lashfood Phyto-Medic Eyelash Enhancer aims to improve lash density, fullness, and length without synthetic dyes, fragrances, or dangerous chemicals. Ninety-nine percent of the ingredients are from natural origins, and 25 percent come from organic farming.
Finally, the consultant began bringing makeup brands over. Selena Gomez produces a clean beauty brand (Rare Beauty). The vegan and cruelty-free makeup line offers formulas that are easy to blend and build. After sampling Selena's foundation, I tried True, Jessica Alba's makeup brand. True is a vegan makeup line with amazing lipstick and powder blush colors. Noticing my interest in clean beauty products, the Ultra Representative brought out R.E.M. (Ariana Grande's line) and PUR (a subsidiary of the Astral Health & Beauty fancies located in Atlanta, GA). I was like a kid in a candy shop. I purchased excellent products which look fantastic and are environmentally conscious.
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After cleansing my face, the consultant introduced L'Occitane Shea Ultra Rich Body Cream. The cream contains linseed, tapioca starch, Armeniaca, sweet almond, honey, and apricot oils. The product also consists of 25 percent shea butter, which comes from the nuts of the Shea and Karite trees. Next, I sampled Kiehl's Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. I purchased this product. It is a rich cream made with all-natural ingredients. The cream is perfect for sensitive skin or under the eyes before makeup application. Creams are only one way to moisturize the skin; serums are also popular and equally eco-friendly. Serums are lighter, absorbent, and contain more active ingredients than face creams. Flora + Bast Age Adapting CBD serum is an oil-only serum with over 300MG of CBD. This now popular ingredient helps to reduce redness and restore the skin's youthful appearance. The serum is free of sulfates, parabens, and formaldehyde. My consultant then introduced me to Oil Divine, Age-Delay Lifting Serum. The serum is rich in vitamins, organic acids, and amino acids that work together to support natural skin cell renewal and strengthen the skin's natural barrier to help repair dryness on the skin's surface and maintain hydration.
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I spent days three and four of my earth appreciation experience at the opposite end of the spectrum. It was time to get my hands dirty. My daughter and I enjoy horticulture. We planted eight trees, several shrubs, and numerous daffodils. We donated funds to The Nature Conservancy. Over the past 15 years, TNC has grown more than a billion trees. The organization has planted trees from the Atlantic Forest of Brazil to the mangrove forests on the African coasts. Help them reach their goal of planting 15,000 trees to celebrate their 15th anniversary by donating to plant trees today: https://www.nature.org/enus/getinvolved/howtohelp/plantabillion/#:~:text=The%20Nature%20Conservancy'%20Plant%20a,climate%20change%20and%20biodiversity%20loss.
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