I've been vacationing in the plushness of the Bahamas this week. The tropical surroundings breed beautiful, lush greenery balanced with the floral beauty of flowers, like hibiscus and purple lignum vitae. Very diverse as you can imagine, just like the culture.
I wanted to get some insider or outsider (depending on how you look at it) info about the beauty culture here, and what the people of the island subscribe to on the daily. Some of it may surprise you.
I spoke to a lovely woman, Sandra, who works at the spa here. She is a native to the area, and enlightened me about some natural, and not so natural ways, of cultivating beauty in the Caribbean. Bahamians practice 'bush medicine' - which means they use their natural environment's bounty of plants to ward off ailments and create their daily beauty regimes.
For your own natural skin and beauty products check out my article on DIY makeup recipes.
Age-Defying Aloe
Aloe is very popular for medicinal uses, like after sunburn care, helping with pain related to headaches, and with coughs and itching. But, here in the Bahamas they also use it as a skincare product. They use aloe as a facial mask to rid away wrinkles... The proof is in nearly every face that crossed my path, here on the island. This may be an older generation cure, but it is still as popular as ever!
Lashes and Brows
When it comes to beauty, the younger generation is virtually modernized. There are MAC and Estée Lauder stores, and other common makeup brands available. But, what I really noticed the most was how women maintain their lashes and brows. Lash extensions and well-manicured brows are a staple here, for most. And let's face it, the Bahamas are hot and humid so face makeup is not as popular as those lashes and brows. I completely understand!
This gorgeous woman I met in the candy store had on point lashes and brows, and glam braids!
Perfect Hair
And last, but not least - braids! Everywhere you look, women have their hair braided... So, when in Rome! It's a fast and easy way to get hair ready on the daily. It doesn't hurt that braids are soooo on point right now either. :)
Bahamian beauty is alive in the exuberant island spirit that I encountered everywhere... The warm smiles, natural dewy skin and happy hearts made their beauty a stand-out to me!
Heather Coopersmith
With almost two decades as a professional makeup artist working on film projects, tv shows, photo shoots and weddings, LA based Heather Coopersmith brings some serious skills and knowledge to the Glad Lash Blog with her guest posts. Heather sees her art (and her hair!) as a creative outlet, and says "My world is a visual experience and I want to make you a part of it!" We're super excited to have Heather brightening up our world. You can reach out to Heather on Instagram @makeupthebride
A smooth, flawless wax can leave your skin looking and feeling incredible, but proper aftercare is essential to maintain those results and keep your skin healthy. Freshly waxed skin is more sensitive and needs extra attention to avoid irritation, redness, or ingrown hairs.