Saturday, May 15, 2010

Janelle Monae.



My favourite new soul singer, Janelle Monae. She is incredible. I love her natural hair and androgynous style. And her music. I obviously have a new girl crush..... Anyway check out her amazing new single and video "Tightrope" featuring Big Boi of Outkast fame where she channels James Brown. Her debut album "Archandroid" is released on 18th May.

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Teni Promised Land



Rehearsal at the House of Makeda........

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Rhassoul Clay.



Rhassoul Clay is a sweet smelling gentle clay that is simply great for the skin and hair. Rhassoul can be used as a face mask, facial cleanser and hair mask. It clarifys and exfoliates the skin, smoothing out wrinkles and dry skin. I use it as a cleanser and occasional mask. Some people use rhassoul to wash their entire hair and body instead of soap! It comes from Morocco where it is used as part of the hamman bathing tradition with hamman soap (olive oil and eucalyptus soap) for cleansing, rhassoul clay for toning and exfoliating and the divine vitamin E rich argan oil for moisturising. Try it at home some time! Nothing like a bit of decadent, exotic luxury!

My favourite Organic everything!




I'm a complete purist when it comes to what I put on my skin and in my hair. So not only does my skincare have to be 100% natural, I also prefer it to be 100% organically grown. Meaning no carcinogenic or harmful pesticides or fertilisers were used in growing the plants and also no chemicals used in processing or manufacturing. Such products usually come with Soil Association (UK) or USDA (US) certification.

Sunscreen: Kimberly Sayer antioxidant cream with spf 25 is at least 95% organic, uses natural sunscreen ingredients, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, is light and does not contain too much alcohol (which is often used as a preservative in natural skincare). Paula Abdul uses this too!
The best organic sunscreen for the body is by Soleo Organics spf 30, hands down! It protects from the sun without leaving a white cast on even brown skin.

Soap: I love Tisserand soaps because they are made with organic palm and coconut oils as well as other nourishing organic plant and essential oils. My favourite is the sweet orange and jasmine! I use it on my face and body. Trevarno Organics also make beautiful 100% organic soaps. Dudu Osun is a Nigerian black soap that has fans of all races, all over the world, it is rich in formulation containing aloe vera and honey which attract moisture to the skin and lemon oil which brightens skin tone.

Body oil: Weleda is one of my favourite organic/biodynamic brands for body care. I use all the Weleda body oils and organic babies looove the Calendula baby oil and complete range. Even using olive oil from the kitchen is better for your skin than many chemical-laden commercial body lotions.

Face care: Dr Hauschka is amazing! Slightly more expensive than it's German counterpart Weleda but I can't live without my rose day cream! All the models and magazine editors rave about this one and the dewy glow it gives your skin. The normalising day oil is also a must for me. I have normal to dry skin and it's meant for bringing balance to oily skin but works fine for me too, brightening and evening out the complexion with carrot oil. Once again, olive, sunflower, avocado, coconut and sesame oil work well for the skin, you just have to find which is best for your skin type.

An American line I love for face care is Juice Beauty's USDA line which consists of a face wash, moisture concentrate and face mask. This is currently in my skincare arsenal as well on rotation with everything else!

Eminence Organics, a Hungarian company loved by Alicia Silverstone and countless other celebrities have the most amazing face masks. I'm currently using the lime stimulating masque which is hot as hell and gives you a beautiful glow, the stonecrop masque which evens out the skintone and the yam and pumpkin peel. These masks are freshly made with real plant extracts and they smell heavenly! I want the pink grapefruit masque next! At home you can try using a puree of vitamin A rich carrots or tomatoes or some vitamin C rich lemon or lime juice to bring a glow to your skin.

Luxury: Spiezia Organics is a Cornwall based company that makes heavenly handmade 100% organic skincare. Their facial cleanser has been called the best in the world, I personally love their rose and chamomile facial scrub and nourishing moisturiser. They also make a delectable sugar scrub for the body and the most sensual, divine smelling body oils and balms! For ultra dry or pregnant skin try some shea butter mixed with a few drops of your favourite essential oil and even olive oil for extra moisturising, nourishing power and also a fabulous home salt or sugar scrub using salt or natural AHA, brown sugar mixed with olive oil and some essential oils. Fabulous and silky smooth!

Natural makeup: Jane Iredale simply has the best and most extensive line of natural makeup. I also use Prescriptives mineral foundation powder with spf 15 which i have found to be the best because it does not need any finishing powder over or primer underneath and stays on all day. You just brush some on and go! A little goes a long way too.

My favourite plant oil: I love organic rosehip oil! Amazing for regenerating the skin, smoothing out fine lines and scars because of it's high levels of vitamin A. Olive oil is readily available, potent and great for dry and mature skin. Geranium is simply the best essential oil because it can be used for many purposes from increasing circulation to balancing oily and dry skin to healing acne and scars and uplifting mind, body and spirit. Love geranium!

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Fela on Broadway!


What a beautiful, afrocentric experience on Broadway, celebrating the legendary icon Fela Anikulapo Kuti! I went shortly after it opened in November 2009. It has been nominated for 11 2010 Tony awards! Quite simply awesome and it's coming to London too. Not to be missed! And the Fela movie is coming soon! Can't wait!

Keziah Jones!


Went to a Keziah Jones gig at Jazzhole in Lagos on Friday. It was quite simply amazing. There are few musicians that can hold my attention for that long. I've said it before and I'll say it again he's an afro rock god that plays the guitar like a man possessed! His albums are available at Jazzhole, Awolowo rd, Ikoyi.

The M studio.






The M studio is a Dance, Yoga and Pilates studio where you can take classes in Bikram yoga, Afro dance, Latin dance, street dance, belly dance, Pilates, and Capoeira. Our yoga and pilates classes and some dance classes are women only and thus geared to building strong, graceful and shapely bodies and also preparing the body for pregnancy and childbirth. We are located in Ikeja and Ikoyi and will soon be open to the public. For more enquiries, do send me an email.