SKIN TIGHTENING

DO THEY REALLY WORK?

There’s quite a bit of debate on whether skin tightening massages are actually helpful. However, there’s a significant number of specialists in support of adding skin tightening massages into your daily selfcare regimen. If you’re looking for a dazzling and glowing dermis, you shouldn’t miss out on the appropriate massaging techniques.

Tightening massages are not only relaxing but quite beneficial as well. There are many keys to youthful skin, this includes the removal of toxins, opening up of blood vessels, removal of dead skin and proper circulation of blood.

The Effects of Skin Tightening Massages There are certain ways in which skin tightening massages help life up your dermis. When done properly, such massages increase blood flow to your face. This, in turn pumps up the slack skin. This encourages lymphatic drainage, draining the toxins out and away from your skin so that there’s space for nutrients to reach your skin.

Massaging your skin in an upward motion will prevent your face from sagging and fully suffuse the blood with your skin tissue. Healthy skin brimming with vitality is almost guaranteed with such face massages. You can say goodbye to a dull complexion as well!

There are also plenty of other benefits of tightening facial massages. People have experienced anti-aging effects from such massages. Wrinkles tend to get nailed out as well so the overall appearance of your skin will improve! Other more serious issues such as acne and illnesses effecting jaw joints and its ligaments such as in TMJ can also be efficiently reduced with the right skin tightening massage tactics.

If you’re looking for even better results than trying out such massages with various ingredients as a home remedy will improve your skin even more. For rejuvenated skin use tightening techniques with Almond oil, Pomegranate seed oil, Mango or Kokum butter.

Get ready for a revitalized look!

Everybody’s Homegirl RASHAN ALI

Rashan Ali is a revered multimedia personality who has spent more than a decade as a local Atlanta radio station host, a freelance sports reporter, and a host on various nationwide television outlets. Most recently, she co-hosted the daily talk show Sister Circle Live. Currently, Rashan hosts Cool Soror, a podcast highlighting exceptional men and women in Black Greek lettered organizations. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

AMBITIOUS. DETERMINED. RESILIENT.

By Kaye-Ann Sadler | Photography Nick Nelson

Those are just a few words that SHOULD be used when describing Rashan. She’s had many accomplishments in her years as a multi-media professional, but her recent triumph as a bikini competitor is what is garnering attention lately.

Rashan has never really been a stranger to the fit life. She started swimming at five years old, then played soccer, and was also a jazz, tap, and ballet dancer. Rashan swam competitively at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and maintained her athletic build post-undergrad, but in 2021 she decided to take on the challenge of training for her very first fitness competition. It has always been something that she aspired to accomplish and what better way to get rid of a little post-pandemic pudge than to get on a strict diet and begin a rigorous training routine. And baby she did that and some!

Most people need a “get pumped” playlist to fuel their workouts, especially on days they really don’t want to do it. When asked about her workout playlist, to my surprise, the Atlanta native admits it’s usually west coast singer/rapper, SiR, R&B music, or a Podcast (Earn Your Leisure or her Podcast, Cool Soror, to be specific). Rashan’s musical palette in general is pretty diverse, so outside of the gym you can catch her listening to anyone from the UK band Portishead to Jeezy.

Let me tell you something, training for a bodybuilding competition is NOTHING like working out (I mean no offense to anyone not training). There’s just a different degree of dis-

cipline required. Even as a former collegiate athlete, Rashan admits competition training tested her discipline levels like never before. Factor in being a woman of a certain age (forty-five plus), a wife and mom of two, and juggling a career and you’ve got a superwoman in the making!

Rashan wears many hats – and wears them well I might add – but the most important one of them all is the mom hat. As a “girl mom”, she strives to portray a positive image for her girls in all that she does. Because these kids are sponges! They see their mommy exercising, working, nurturing and spending time with them, attending their extracurriculars, AND making time to entertain or go out with her friends. That is so important! Gone are the days where moms are expected to relinquish all aspects of their social lives for motherhood. Little girls need to see that women can do it all – pursue successful careers, take care of home, and take care of themselves.

As a multi-media professional, Everybody’s Homegirl, as she’s been dubbed, has built her career around using her voice, whether on the radio or tv, or hosting an event. Once she was able to dig deep and find a level of authenticity and use her voice, she’s been far more impactful and influential. Rashan thinks that women in all positions and stages of life – whether you’re a celebrity, a teacher, a janitor, or you’re in a cubicle at a corporation – have the opportunity to use our voice to make a difference. We all have the power to shape our own narrative and to use that influence to change other people’s narratives.

WE PLAYED A GAME OF THIS OR THAT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER LIKES AND KRYPTONITE:

Q: TV or Movies? A: TV

Q: Indoors or Outdoors? A: Outdoors

Q: Walking or Running? A: I used to run so much, but I just really enjoy walking now – especially walking my dog.

Q: Hip-Hop or R&B? And you don’t have to count today’s hip-hop! A: LOL right, right. I like both, but I’ll go with R&B.

Q: Dancing or just vibing? A: Dancing

Q: Wine or tequila A: Tequi— OMG! I’m going to say wine, but it all depends. I learned to like tequila. But I enjoy drinking wine so much that I had to give it up to maintain this look.

Q: City or Country? A: City

Q: Cooking or eating out? A: Ohhhhh man. Eating out. I actually love both, but I looooove fine dining. Q: Salty or sweet? A: Salty

Q: Beach or Pool - I know this answer is going to be a given A: Mannnnnnn. Beach. – (This answer completely caught me off guard given her history as a swimmer, but Rashan explained sitting next to a pool with a

When recollecting the prep and training experience, Rashan says, “The level of discipline I was able to really experience, those transferrable skills, the go get it attitude, I’ve always had it! But it’s definitely next level now, “ ”

cocktail is great but there’s nothing like God’s pool. I can’t argue with that at all.)

Rashan is putting a pause on competing for now, while she focuses on getting her Podcast, Cool Soror, to the next level. She’s determined to find a home for it on a major network and attributes her current level of determination to the lessons learned from competing. When recollecting the prep and training experience, Rashan says proudly, “The level of discipline I was able to really experience, those transferrable skills, the go get it attitude, I’ve always had it! But it’s definitely next level now.” She recalls, “I’ll have those skills for life, and I will forever be grateful for all of it, because I learned so much about myself.” “Now I feel like I can almost be a counselor for women who went through the process because I endured so much – even though I only did it for a year and I may do it again – but I understand the mental piece of it and how important it is to have a support system. People only think about the physical. That mental piece is probably even bigger.”

Without a doubt, Rashan is a powerful force to be reckoned with. Using her voice is not a new concept for her. But through her actions, being bold and unapologetic, I can guarantee she will be heard on levels she aspires to reach. As a “girl mom”, she strives to portray a positive image for her girls in all that she does. Because these kids are sponges! They see their mommy exercising, working, nurturing and spending time with them, attending their extracurriculars, AND making “ time to entertain or go out with her friends. That is so important!”