AFOKOSKIN

I always have and always will be a Shea Butter Baby. Shea butter is a proven moisturizer for skin and has countless soothing and anti-aging properties that help improve the appearance of skin. It is an ingredient that you need to know, and here’s why: Shea butter is a fatty butter that is extracted from shea tree nuts originating in West Africa. The color resembles ivory and the texture is deliciously creamy making it easy to spread onto your skin. Shea butter’s high concentration of vitamins and fatty acids make it an ideal cosmetic ingredient for softening rough and dry skin and sealing in moisture for hours. Shea butter also has anti-inflammatory and healing properties, making it an effective ingredient for those dealing with acne, psoriasis, eczema, or dry skin. What are the benefits of shea butter as a moisturizer? Here are 10: Moisturizing Won’t Make Skin Oily Helps Reduce Appearance of Scars & Stretch marks Helps soothe irritation and sunburn Anti-inflammatory, Anti-fungal, & Anti-bacterial Helps Boost Collagen Promotes Cell Regeneration Promotes Wound Healing Safe for all skin types Antioxidant rich Shea butter should be used as the final product in your body care routine. For best results, use a body scrub to exfoliate the skin before applying shea butter for better penetration. After cleansing, apply cream lotion and/or oil as desired before applying shea butter to lock in all of the hydration. Our personal favorite body care recommendation is AFOKOSKIN’s The Body Kit, which includes Coffee Body Scrub, Black Soap Body Wash, and Whipped Body Butter. Is Shea Butter Good for the Face? It is important to note that due to the high fat content of shea butter, it is a comedogenic ingredient, meaning it can clog your pores. It is a highly effective moisturizer when used on the body, but is likely too heavy to use directly on the face. We recommend using a cream/lotion moisturizer that contains shea butter as a listed ingredient if you’re interested in using shea butter on your face.   In short, give me shea butter and give it to me now!

Facial oils can have a variety of benefits for all skin types when used correctly. Facial oils are typically formulated with non-comedogenic botanical oils and essential oils. They help lock in moisture and prevent water loss while also nourishing skin with their rich nutrients. Benefits of using facial oil include strengthening the skin barrier, evening out skin complexion, softening skin texture, reducing acne breakouts, treating eczema, rosacea, and skin-rashes, regulating oil production, soothing sensitive skin, neutralizing free radicals to support anti-aging effects, and more. To experience the incredible benefits of facial oils, it is important that you understand how to properly incorporate it into your skincare routine.  Our top pick for a facial oil is AFOKOSKIN's Dream Serum. This oil based serum was formulated for nighttime use to restore and repair skin overnight for glowing skin by morning. If desired, AFOKOSKIN's Dream Serum can be used both morning and night. Here are 5 guidelins you’ll want to follow as you incorporate Facial Oils into your skincare routine: Combine Facial Oils with Serums + Moisturizers. Facial Oils serve as an additional barrier to the skin ensuring nutrients and moisture are locked in. Pairing a facial oil with treatment serums and hydrating moisturizers can effectively enhance the performance of these products. Apply Based on Your Skin’s Needs. Depending on skin type, you may want to use a facial oil in both your morning and evening skincare routing or limit use to once per day. Also depending on skin type, it may be beneficial to use facial oil overnight to provide protection from light sensitivity and allow time for skin time to absorb the oil. Pat into Skin. It may come natural for you to rub your facial oil in like you would moisturizer, but it’s better to pat facial oils onto the skin in order to push them down into your pores allowing for faster nutrient absorption. Less is More. Your facial oil contains concentrated amounts of nutrients, so a little goes a long way. About 3 drops of your facial oil should be enough to deliver nutrients to your entire face. Use before SPF. Since it acts as an occlusive, your facial oil is recommended to be the last step of your skincare routine in the evening. In the morning, it should be followed by an SPF and applied before makeup. Your skin type is an important factor to consider as you incorporate facial oils into your skincare routine. Identify your skin type to maximize Facial Oil Benefits.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "Sunday should come with a pause button?" I mean, sometimes I just dread the feeling of a Sunday coming to an end. You know that feeling you get on a Sunday night... thinking about the week ahead full of alarm clocks, to-do lists, deadlines, zoom meetings, bills, masks, and whatever else life decides to throw at you? To combat the Sunday Evening Blues, I've gotten in the routine of taking some time for myself on Sundays, to embrace those last moments of relaxation and get my mind and body ready for a new week.