There are many things you can do to help end human trafficking, but one key way is to educate yourself about the different forms of human trafficking and what to look for. In the video below, Apple Rose Beauty's founder discusses some signs to look out for. You can forward to timestamp 3:30 in the video below for the myths and signs of human trafficking.

Apple Rose Beauty is an anti-human trafficking social enterprise that creates and delivers high-performance, luxurious, natural and organic face care and beauty products that work for the most sensitive skin and supports organizations involved in the rescue and rehabilitation of victims. Click here to learn more about our story.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day is an annual event that is observed on January 11th. The purpose of this day is to raise awareness about human trafficking, which is a global issue that affects millions of people around the world.

People around the world wear blue to bring attention to this issue and to encourage individuals and organizations to take action to combat human trafficking. It is a day to remember the victims of this crime and to honor the work of those who are fighting to end human trafficking.

Click here to see why Apple Rose Beauty cares.

Did you know that human trafficking is NOT the same as human smuggling? Watch the video below to see the difference.

Can you relate to this? 

The weather is getting cooler ...

Your lips start feeling more dry than usual.

You add an extra layer of lip balm and find yourself re-applying more and more throughout the day.

One day you wake up and your lips feel rough and cracked.

You look in the mirror and notice your lips are peeling.

You panic, start scrubbing and it seems to only make it worse.

You're frustrated because they hurt and it feels like you deal with this struggle every year.

Here's the deal. 

The skin on our lips is very thin and when it is exposed to cold air outside and dry, centrally heated air inside, it can lose it's flexibility and become sore, cracked and scaly.

The solution? 

You want a lip care regimen that doesn't just moisturize, but also exfoliates, hydrates, increases the elasticity and adds a protective layer to prevent your lips from drying out.

That's why our Vitamin C Lip Care Trio is so special.

The Sugar + Marula Lip Scrub exfoliates your lips while leaving them moisturized.

The Sunflower + C Lip Repair hydrates while promoting collagen production to improve the elasticity of your lips. It also leaves an occlusive layer that prevents your lips from losing moisture. No more constant re-applying.

The Sangria + C Lip Tint also hydrates and improves the elasticity in your lips while bringing out the natural color in your lips.

This Lip Care Set is different. It's powerful and made with the sensitive skin on your lips in mind.

Having oily skin can be stressful. You spend hours perfecting your makeup to only look like a frying pan 3 hours later. Or you look at photos from your night out and all you can see is your shiny forehead.

The fact that your skin is producing nourishing oils is a good thing. The issue is that, for some of us, it’s the gift that keeps on giving - and not in a good way.

Whether you have oily skin or combination/oily skin, this blog is for you. Continue reading to get our best tips on managing your oily skin. 

Why Does Your Skin Get Oily?

First things first. Why does your skin get oily?

Well, oily skin is caused by a natural oil, called sebum, produced from your body to hydrate the face, however too much can lead to oily skin and acne. 

There are a variety of factors that can affect the oiliness of your skin.

For instance, dry skin can cause the body to create more oil to hydrate your face, making your skin oily throughout the day.

The oil produced by our skin is actually used to protect the skin from bacteria, therefore, if you don’t maintain a good facial cleansing routine, this can also lead to oily skin.

Even if you do have a regular cleansing routine, the products you use can also lead to oily skin!

If you use harsh chemicals, such as those in synthetically fragranced skin care, the harsh chemicals can dry out your skin, and can sometimes cause the face to produce more sebum.

Other factors such as the products you use in your hair or hormonal changes in your body can also impact how much sebum your face produces.

What Can You Do?

Once you have established the cause of your oily skin, you can get down to fixing it.

1. Get a good cleansing routine.

Washing your face regularly can help you avoid oily skin, add it into your routine along with brushing your teeth. Once in the morning, and once before you go to bed.

2. Avoid harsh chemicals.

Stick to natural, hydrating face washes and stay away from fragranced products, as those contain unnatural compounds, to which the body may react sharply.

3. Moisturize your face after washing. 

Avoid using face washes that strip your skin and make sure to moisturize, even if you have oily skin. Moisturizing your face after cleansing is the best time to add moisturizer, as it allows the body to soak more water into the face, leading to better hydration. Hydrated skin sends a message to your oil producing glands that your skin does not need more sebum.

4. Use facial masks.

Facial masks can really help hydrate, and you can even create your own facial masks at home if you are not willing to spend the money!

Using hydrating facial masks once every 2-3 days can really help with oily skin.

5. Avoid harsh materials.

Stay away from rough materials, like washcloths when washing your face, as the irritation can cause your body to produce oil!

The Best Products To Use 

Here is a list of some of the best products to use for oily skin

1. Aloe vera based moisturizers

Aloe vera is really good when it comes to hydrating the skin, so getting a moisturizer with aloe vera, like Apple Rose Beauty’s Turmeric + Aloe Moisturizing Treatment, can help reduce natural oil production. 

2. Cucumber

Cucumbers are very hydrating to your skin, so if you ever peel any cucumbers, don't throw them away, place them on your skin for extra hydration!

 3. Clay Facial Masks

Clay facial masks, like Apple Rose Beauty’s Charcoal + Hibiscus Exfoliating Mask, are really good for absorbing oil from your face! Use these no more than 3 times as week and always moisturize after as you don't want to dry your skin out, thus creating more oil!

Conclusion

The oil produced by your body is in fact, something natural that is meant to keep the skin as healthy as possible.

A number of factors, however, can lead to excessively oily skin, which can be frustrating.

For this reason, we do advise you to try some of the products/tips we mentioned in this article and see what works best for you.

Click here for therapy resources

The events of yesterday (January 6th) have been bothering me a lot, and other than them being shocking, I wasn’t quite sure why I was so bothered until I did some reflection.

Some of you may not know this, but I was born and raised in the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago.

30 years ago, as a child, I witnessed an attempted coup in the parliament in Trinidad.

I still remember seeing the images on my TV.

My brothers and I were watching cartoons and our regularly scheduled programming was interrupted to report that gunmen had stormed in while parliament was in session.

Videos were shown of elected officials ducking under chairs as they feared for their lives.

I remember being afraid and wondering if my Dad was ok, since he worked in the country’s capital.

Fast forward several years and I was on a mission trip in Thailand (the same trip where I met Apple and Rose).

My team and I were heading to the red-light district to befriend victims of human trafficking when we learned that a coup had begun and a curfew was set.

We had to quickly return home.

The images of Thai military in riot gear are still seared on my brain.

I realized that the images of yesterday’s events in the US Capitol were not just shocking for me, they were familiar, traumatic and sad.

Sometimes we don’t realize how traumatic and triggering national events can be until we are faced with them.

Trauma can often take up residence in our bodies that can later manifest as physical symptoms.

In working with human trafficking survivors, we are always mindful about operating in ways that are sensitive to the traumas they’ve experienced.

Today I’m tuning out the news and focusing on practicing ways to deal with the recent trauma.

I wanted to share some of those ways with you:

1. Pause – sometimes we are so consumed with the information coming at us that we are not tuned in to how it’s affecting us. Pausing helps us to become more attuned.
2. Breathe – when we’re anxious we tend to take shallow breaths. Consciously focusing on breathing deeply helps to calm us.
3. Pray – praying/meditating reminds us that we are not alone in what we are experiencing. I believe in God, so praying reminds me to release the things I can’t control to him. Whatever your belief system, remember that feelings of isolation can cause us to experience deeper levels of trauma.
4. Talk – talk to a trusted friend or therapist. If after some prolonged time, you find that it’s difficult for you to engage or perhaps perform at work or at home, please seek out a resources.

Hopefully, you find one or all of these helpful. How do you handle traumatic events? If you have other tips feel free to reply and let me know your thoughts.

When this arrived, the first thing that hit me was that it didn’t smell like curry! Neither did the yellow of the spice stain my skin! It is a rich cream that smooths, refreshes and feels luxurious but healthy! I was hooked."

Aging is a natural process of getting older. Wrinkles and other signs of aging are also normal. We often talk about aging gracefully, however, many women are opting to get botox, facelifts, and other invasive treatments. According to the Society for Plastic Surgeons, cosmetic surgery was up to 5% last year.

While changes in our skin are normal as we age, we think it's important to do what we can to age as healthily as possible, by keeping our skin hydrated, maintaining collagen levels and elasticity as well as naturally addressing wrinkles and signs of aging. Taking care of your skin naturally means that you can combat wrinkles in a natural and healthy way as well. Here are some natural ways to age healthily and keep wrinkles at bay:

1. Antioxidants: Eating a diet high in antioxidants helps fight harmful free radicals and build healthy skin cells. Skin cells are constantly renewing themselves so why not address wrinkles from the inside out through a healthy diet? Foods high in flavonoids and antioxidants like berries are great for promoting beautiful glowing skin from the inside out. 

2. Herbal Tea: Many herbs are filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which can be steamed into teas. You can also use these same herbs to create a gentle facial steam to lock in moisture and also harness the healing power in the plants. The polyphenols found in herbs such as green tea also provide anti-aging benefits. 

3. Vitamin C: Applied topically it is great at renewing skin cells to reveal fresh new skin. It also helps with collagen production, improving skin's elasticity and minimizing the appearance of wrinkles. Vitamin C can also help your skin recover from sun damage, smooth the appearance of fine lines, and lighten age spots. Our Bloom Beautifully Vitamin C serum has 20% pure potent Vitamin C to smooth skin and visibly tackle signs of aging. 

4. Love: It sounds so simple but it is oh so important. Love yourself and embrace all that you are; age and all. Age gracefully by loving on yourself and practicing self care. Those fine lines of your face have come from a life lived. It is important to embrace any changes that aging brings while trying to continue to live as healthily as possible. Believe you are beautiful now, well, because you are. 

What are some ways you age gracefully, naturally?

We live in a very stressful world that can be toxic for our mind, body, and even skin. As a result we are less focused and burned out. As we enter the Spring season and embrace renewal, I urge you to commit yourself to recognizing when you need a mental break. Here are 3 simple ways to manage stress and relax. 

Breathing:  You may be unknowingly holding tension in your chest. Stress shows up differently in everyone. Never underestimate the power of proper breathing. Breathing techniques are one of the easiest and most powerful ways to relieve stress. Harness the power of deliberate breathing, including deep breaths, and slow inhales / exhales to help you feel calm and in control. 



Relaxing Playlist: Music is healing to the soul and it can shape our moods and thought processes. Music can promote relaxation of tense muscles when coupled with relaxing exercises like yoga. Music is a simple and fun way to promote spiritual healing. It is also great for meditating or getting into a spirit of worship. 

Take a Walk: When things get to be overwhelming for me I like to go for walks out in fresh air. Any sort of movement like short walks or jogs are natural stress relievers. Sometimes you have to force yourself to get out of the office and get moving. Walking also promotes blood flow to your brain and it can reset your mind and thought processes. While walking you can also practice the breathing techniques we discussed earlier. 

What are some techniques you use to relieve stress? 

Love and Romance are common Valentine's Day themes but what about Self Love? Can you truly say you love yourself? If so, do your actions and the way you treat yourself reflect love? Negative self talk and lack of proper self care are unhealthy, so this Valentine's Day show yourself some love in these 4 easy ways:

EAT- I've talked a lot about how proper nutrition is the best way to fight acne and skin issues from within. The foods you consume is also a reflection of your self esteem. If you're depressed or discouraged you may try to cope in unhealthy ways by consuming extra sugars, sweets and junk food. Love on yourself by trying healthy new recipes that nourish your body. 

THINK- As a person thinks so they are. It all starts in your mind. Remove that negative self talk by thinking good thoughts about yourself. Speak positive reinforcement over your life. Sometimes we may need a little help in this area. When was the last time you read a good book? I like to read inspirational books that not only feed my spirit but also help me to gain new insights on life. 

MOVE- Exercise is very important in self care as not only does it improve circulation in the body but it also releases endorphins and remove toxins. Getting your body engaged in some form of exercise helps ease tension and anxiety. If you're struggling mentally try incorporating regular movement into your self care habits. 

USE- I'm a big supporter of non-toxic beauty including makeup. Try using makeup products that treat your skin and not harm. This is what Apple Rose Beauty is all about; clean and safe ingredients. This week use the code: LOVE2020 to save 20% off any full size bottle of Apple Rose Beauty organic skincare on the website.