SMOKE+MiRRORS

  The summer scaries are here. The summer scaries are that sinking feeling in your soul when you realize that it's the end of August and the last few weeks have been punctured by notes of "I can't believe summer's over" and "it went by so fast!". If you're a student then you're probably most affected, as August begins to feel like one long Sunday as you lament replacing free time with study time, and returning full throttle into a hectic semester. Even if you've worked, as many of us have, all summer long, back to school mentality is a...

  Benefits of Bergamot essential oil include mental benefits like increased confidence and a happy mood and supplement the body with physical benefits for cold and flu, skin and hair. Vellum's Bergamot oil is steam distilled from the peel of nearly ripe bergamots in Italy. Check out the different benefits of Bergamot below:  ENERGY Bergamot essential oil boosts energy levels and combats fatigue. This is because Bergamot oil contains the active compounds alpha-pinene and limonene which improve circulation throughout the body and send positive signals to the olfactory system. This induces feelings of joy while lessening feelings of anxiety, and helplessness...

  Almond Oil Benefits for Skin, Hair, Nails, And More Winter is around the corner (we tried so hard to not say winter is coming) and while the season signals a calmer approach to life, if you live in temperate weather, it wreaks havoc on everyone's skin. Moisture is key in the winter, as harsh conditions and wind chill dry skin out, leaving pores exposed to the elements. The result of worn winter skin is chapped, cracking skin that is unsightly and painful. Using a nightly moisturizer helps to moisture lock the skin, and Sweet Almond oil is the best...

  Music is way beyond words and harmonies. Music is a time warp, taking you back to different eras in your life, it's also a global passport, allowing you to tap into different cultures and rhythms, without getting on a plane. Six years ago, a new sound infiltrated rap and pop music. With an upbeat twang, layered drums and synth, Afrobeats, a genre originating in West Africa made its way into the West and it wasn't long before our biggest artists began experimenting with the sound. Drake accidentally took credit for popularizing it and Beyoncé recorded an entire album of...