Self love is so important but we’re all human and there’s always going to be a part of our personality or appearance that if given an opportunity, we would jump to fix it!

Some wish for beautiful glowing skin so they treat themselves to an intense facial or even laser, others want a better body so a better eating plan and exercise or even lipo can help them achieve their goal.

Personally, I’ve always had a complex with my most prominent feature on my face, my ethnic Middle Eastern NOSE!

As a child, I always HATED it… why god, why!!! I always looked people head on so they didn’t see the profile of my long nose

As I got older, I noticed that people actually found my nose some what attractive, even my own brothers! And my brothers are always up front with me. If I needed to lose weight or fix my hair, they would always be the first to call me out on it.

I’ve been going back and forth the last few years about my pinocchio nose, and even visited a few plastic surgeons to discuss the procedure. Every time I sat in the consultation room, I had little panic attacks and questions ran through my head “Do I really hate my nose? Will I look like a different person?”

So, after the last panic attack at the doc’s office, I decided that I was going to give up on this idea of a rhinoplasty and embrace what my mama gave me!

To fully embrace my nose, I decided to get my nose pierced with a cute little stud!!! No more running away from it!

So here’s how the day went…

I was in Chicago a few weeks ago for business and was having dinner with my beautiful California Girl Andreana. It was our last night and after an amazing meal, we started discussing piercings. We both pulled out our phones and started searching for tattoo and piercing shops and reading the reviews. After searching and calling around, we decided on INSIGHT STUDIOS.

We paid our bill, hailed a cab and arrived at the location. The place looked gorgeous!!! The interior was bright white and looked super clean. A cute young guy started walking towards us and introduced himself as BOB.

According to the reviews, BOB was the man! Everyone loved him and raved about how great of a painless piercer her was.

Bob had us fill some paperwork and waived us to follow him in the back room where all his scary piercing gadgets were.

OK… now, I was freaking out a little bit inside. I told Andreana that I had to go first, because if I watched her, I might run out the door!  So, I laid on his cute little chair and closed my eyes while Andreana held my hand and rubbed my arms me to calm down my heart rate. OMG.. I’m such a wuss!

“Bob, please don’t narrate this procedure. I’m closing my eyes, and I just want you to do your thing please ” Ha ha ha… NOT! Oh boy…

”

1…2…. 3…. and there it was … a cute little stud on my cute big nose!

Tears ran down from my right eye on to my cheek. Bob quickly grabbed the cutip and swirled it around to catch the tears and fixed my smeared makeup. Turned out, Bob went to cosmetology school too! Awesome! I would have never guessed that!

Now it was Andreana’s turn! She was so calm and took it like a champ! Her nose ring looked so beautiful on her face. She said mine looked cute too, but I had to get used to it for myself.

Bob walked us to the front and gave us some organic cleanser and spray to maintain our piercings and prevent infection.

Bob was sooo sweet that he gave us both a discount for coming together and even made a call to a good friend that owned a popular bar near by and told him that we were coming by and to take care of us.

We love  you Bob!

I looked at Andreana and said, “next trip, we’re getting tattoos!”

Since the piercing, I only had one day of soreness but it wasn’t bad at all. I didn’t even experience redness or irritation. The only bad thing was that I kept forgetting I had a nose stud and almost yanked it out a few times… ouch..well, not really, it wasn’t even that bad when I yanked it.

If you’re ever in the Chicago area, and in need of a piercing or two, I highly suggest Insight Studio for tattooing and piercings. Tell them Ghada of Smallworld Beauty Referred you!

INSIGHT STUDIOS

1062 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60642
773.342.444

YAY!!! I LOVE MY NOSE!

Disclaimer: anything I feel or say today may or may not change as the days go by. I’m only human A nice human

I was driving to work last week and heard a commercial for a natural breast enhancement cream.

 

Supposedly, the cream was all natural and promoted a ½ “ in growth every month.

 

The cream works by attaching to the fat cells of the boobs and making them grow. When you get to your desired size, you can stop applying the cream and the results will last forever!

 

Oh my! I needed a good laugh that morning so I decided to call.  The phone rang and a young lady got on the phone. She introduced herself and the product and asked me if I wanted to go ahead with the purchase.

 

Whoa buddy, chill out! I need to know what this Snake Oil consists of first, and if it really works before investing my money.

 

Working in the beauty industry, I consider myself very knowledgeable when it comes to ingredients and how to scope out a bogus product.

  

Here are the questions I asked the lady & the answers she bounced back:

Me: What’s in it?

Lady: Natural ingredients. There are no side effects

Me: Do you have clinical studies?

Lady: No

Me: Do you have before and after pics?

Lady: No

Me: Ok. Do you have a site or information you can send me?

Lady: No. We will send you some when you place an order.

Me: No thanks!

 

Everyone has a website! I was so frustrated at the fact that this company was selling Snake Oil and had nothing to offer its customers as proof. Do women really fall for this? They must if this company has enough money to run ads on national radio stations.

 

I got online and started doing research on non-surgical breast enhancement treatments. You’ll be shocked to what I came across.

 

Non-surgical treatments ranged from topical creams, natural herbs, pills, lasers, push up bras and get this.. BREAST SLAPPING.

 

Breast Slapping? Are they serious? Yes, breast slapping is an officially approved method of breast enhancement.

 

 

Khemmikka Na Songkhla, a Bangkok beautician invented the method of breast slapping that was eventually approved by Thailand’s government health board in 2003 as a natural alternative to surgery.

 

 

Breast slapping is a well known treatment in Thailand and continues to generate more customers.

 

The treatment involves a kneading action that massages fat from surrounding areas around the breasts, and pushing them towards the breasts. The fat from other areas of the body eventually fill the breasts to create a fuller appearance and size. Breast slapping can be relaxing, stimulating and painful.

 

Hundreds of women were pleased with their results. Reports show that breast slapping can increase breast fullness by 4” within 3-6 months of continuous treatment.

 

What do you think? Real or powerful placebo?

While I wait for your thoughts, I’ll start the procedure on myself and keep you posted on the results. I’m a B cup shooting for a D! Wish me luck.

 Love,

Ghada

 

I have had my share of experience in the hair and beauty industry, so I have learned to ignore genius marketing strategies and purchase items that I truly love and that work best for me.

 

The products that I have featured in this article are just a few of my “can’t live without” items. I understand that everyone’s preference is different so I expect that some may or may not love my choices. At the end of this article, I would love for you to send me a list of your favorite day to day products. I am always up for testing new things!

 

# 1 I “can’t live without” ACNE FREE

I have suffered from acne all my life and tried everything from Differin Gel, ProActive to Birth Control pills. And the winner by a long shot is: ACNE FREE!

Ladies, I truly love this product. I noticed an improvement in my overall skin condition in only a few days. The only negative about this product, is that I have to continuously apply it daily or I’ll produce more oil and break out again. I’m oily, acne prone so I have to deal with it. And ACNE FREE has really made it simple for me to control my skin.

 

You can purchase Acne Free at any drug store (CVS, RiteAid, Walgreens etc).

The kit will run you $19.99 and lasts a month or two. Acne Free also offers a GIANT cleanser that I like to use in conjunction with my body wash.

 

 

# 2 I “can’t live without” MEG 21Advanced Formula

You’ve heard that sugar is bad for you, but have you heard that it is also horrible for your skin? Sugar’s harmful effects include inflammation, loss of collagen, cross-linking of elastin and collagen, free radicals and so much more.

 

My #2 favorite product is MEG 21! This amazing moisturizer contains a patented active ingredient called Supplamine that works to fight sugar’s harmful effects leading to great skin.

So let me tell you a personal testimonial about MEG 21.

 

First of all, I was offered a job by Dynamis, the makers of MEG 21 a few years back. I promised myself that I would never sell a product that I did not 100% believe in. before committing to the position, I requested if I could test the cream and read more about it. I fell in love with the Dynamis Story.

 

MEG 21 was unexpectedly discovered through Diabetes Research and helped target sugar in the skin. I was hesitant to use the cream since I had oily, acne prone pizza face skin and anything would cause it to break out.

 

From the first application, I fell in love with MEG 21. This product felt so soft and creamy, ultra hydrating, and soothing. My face did not break out at all, but instead it felt calm.

I have been using MEG 21 for over 2 years now and I swear by it. My skin has never glowed like this. The texture of my skin is smooth and radiant.

Ladies! This product is amazing under make up! Everyone thinks I have beautiful skin.. and I really don’t. You can ask my mom. 

If you’re looking to improve moisture, firmness and overall skin tone and texture, I suggest giving this product a try.

MEG 21 is distributed through aestheticians, plastic surgeons and dermatologists. Log on to www.DynamisSKinScience.com and find the closest seller near you.

 

 

# 3 I “can’t live without” St. Ives Apricot Scrub

Exfoliation is very important to me. Even though the skin naturally sheds every 25 days or so, a gentle scrub can assist with getting  any excess dead skin off. Exfoliation will also help better penetrate any other skin care products in to the skin so you can maximize the benefits.

I love St. Ives Apricot Scrub because it has a gentle grittiness to it and smells great. This scrub is very affordable and lasts me a few months since I only use it a few times a week. Over exfoliation can lead to more sensitive and irritated skin.

 

 

# 4 I “can’t live without” QUEEN HELENE, MINT JULEP MASQUE

Part of my weekly skin care regimen is Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque.

I like to apply a clay mask to help clean my skin from trapped dirt and toxins. The clay mask attaches itself to dirt in your pores so that you can easily wash them off. The mask also helps with shrinking pores. Queen Helene’s Mint Julep Masque is so cheap and efficient. It feels so cool and tingly on application and lasts me almost a year since I only need a little bit once a week.

 

 

# 5 I “can’t live without” LING RICE & WALNUTS IMPERIAL SCRUB

I like to take care of my entire body not just my face. My favorite body scrub is Ling Skin Care’s Imperial Body Scrub.

 

The perfect blend of rice, walnuts, and honey, Ling’s Imperial Scrub smells delicious! It really tastes sweet too. You can purchase the scrub at Ling Skin Care in New York or just order online. www.lingskincare.com Check out their handmade soaps too. They carry blends of black charcoal, jasmine and lemon grass soaps. Tell them Ghada sent you!

 

# 5 I “can’t live without” PALMER’S COCOA BUTTER

As I mentioned in the About me article, I also suffer from stretch marks all over so I like to treat my skin with nature’s cocoa butter. I love Palmer’s but any brand should be fine.

Cocoa butter is so thick and moisturizing, great for post showers. I like to apply it to damp skin so it will penetrate better and I won’t have to use as much.

Recent research indicates that massaging the skin with cocoa butter may help relieve stress, boost the immune system, and even prevent cancer.

 

# 6 I “can’t live without” HERBAL ESSENCES Hair Care

 

During my college years, I worked at a beauty salon that sold high end hair care lines such as Matrix, Nexxus and Back to Basics so I’ve had my experience in sampling many shampoos, conditioners and treatments. More and more companies are replicating the famous brands to offer it at a cheaper price.

Herbal Essences has done just that. I love this line especially the “color me happy” set, since I color and hi-lite my hair every 6-8 weeks. When I feel good about my looks, I project more confidence and energy. I love life more and my hair smells great! OMG! Just kidding, I really don’t talk like that.

  

 

# 7 I “can’t live without” BIOSILK HAIR SERUM

After a great shampoo, I have to prep my hair for a sleek blow dry. My hair tends to lean more towards the frizzy curly way. If I don’t apply a frizz control, forget about it. I look like the angry frizzy haired girls in the shampoo commercials.

 

Farouk System’s Biosilk is an unbelievably smoothing serum for any hair type. Other hair serums and shines can turn my hair greasy if I accidentally apply too much. Biosilk doesn’t seem to do that. I’m not too crazy about their shampoos, but the Silk Therapy always has a space on my beauty shelf. Try this serum as a body oil. It really feels like silk.

 

What are some of your “can’t live without” beauty products! I would love to see what’s on your beauty shelf.

 

Coming Soon… Part 2 where I share my favorite make up findings!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Smallworld Beauties!

So how did I come up with the Smallworld Beauty?

As I mentioned in my bio, I used to work in New York City for a few years. If you have ever visited the Big Apple, you have probably noticed the crazy melting pot that it is. I loved people watching whether it was while walking or taking the subway. I was so mesmerized by anyone that passed my way. Everyone was so different and fascinating. Every time that thought ran through my mind, the song “It’s a small world after all” would play. That was it!

 

Smallworld Beauty would be the brand I would soon create.

I have been fortunate to meet so many inspiring individuals during my journey. Every interaction, touch, smile and verse from another person  left an imprint on me. I am continuously evolving as I meet more and more people.

I have learned to love hard! I have learned to stop judging others for the way they live their lives. I have accepted all my faults and imperfections. I have learned to respect other people’s views while sharing mine.  

 

One of my favorite quotes is from Mahatma Gandhi’s “My life is my message”

 Just like everyone else, I aspire to be happy in this life. I will try my best to be the best person I can be to myself and others, and hope that my actions will be inspire people around me.

I am just another girl in this small world. I am blessed with so many great things but I also deal with normal issues that every other woman experiences. I experience love, joy, sadness, irritability, discontent, insecurity and all that comes with female hormones!

The purpose of my blog is to be your new girl friend. 

I would love for you to join me as I share my findings, experiences and stories with you. In turn, I would love for you to share your journey with me.

I love you my Smallworld Beauties!