Features

6 Back-to-School Beauty Goodies for Fall

September 3, 2015

Back-to-school season is in full swing! In fact, most of the country’s kids are already back in class.

While I’m happy that my daughter will be entering kindergarten next week, I’m a bit sad too. So, if you’re like me and have a slight case of the back-to-school blues, treat yourself to a few “back-to-school” beauty buys.

Saying goodbye to summer and hello to fresh starts isn’t just for the school-age set. September is a great time to clear out your makeup bag and replace it with fresh new palettes and products for fall.

From chubby, crayon-like lip colors to eyeliner pencils and pretty palettes, check out these A+ beauty goodies!

jane iredale PlayOn Lip Crayons available in 7 shades here, $18; This lip colors are at the top of my list because they have long-lasting wear and the application is easy as 1-2-3!

Remember using graph paper for middle school math class? Well, now you can use this nostalgic Faux Leather Graph Print Lipstick Makeup Bag to store all your fall beauty essentials! Available here, $7

Want look-at-me lashes? This CoverGirl Super Sizer Mascara is in a class of its own! The bristles separate and had volume without clumping. Available here, $6

MUA Smokey Eye Shadow Palette available here, $14. You’ll feel like a kid playing in finger paint when applying these pretty, richly-pigmented shadows.

CoverGirl Intensify Me Liquid Eyeliner available here, $7; **This nifty eyeliner glides on like a pencil, but has the dramatic effect of a liquid liner. I’m so in love with this liner that it is going to be my first YouTube video…stay tuned!

Who didn’t use Carmex in high school? Instead of the yellow and red tubes, now you can treat and prevent cold sores in style with these fashionable MoisturePlus Lip Balms! Available at mass retailers, $2.49

Do you stock up on beauty supplies during back-to-school season?

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Event Recap: Curly Girl Collective’s CurlFest in Brooklyn

August 31, 2015

If you’re a natural girl in the New York City area and didn’t attend the CurlFest this weekend, you missed out! But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered.

Hosted by Curly Girl Collective, the second annual CurlFest took place on Saturday in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park. Dubbed a hair and beauty festival and picnic for curly girls, it was the perfect gathering to celebrate and rock our natural kinks and coils.

While there were food trucks onsite and picnic blankets aplenty, many were there to check out the picnic chats (guest speakers), hair stations and vendor booths. Throughout the day, online influencers and popular bloggers such as Jenell B. Stewart of KinkyCoilyMe.com and Naptural85 were there to talk about what else—natural hair! Set up with picnic tables, cute blankets and pillows, the designated picnic chat area was inviting and comfy.

In addition to the hourly chats, attendees had the option to see what the hair stations offered. Several leading natural haircare brands including Carol’s Daughter SheaMoisture, Dark & Lovely, Curls, Kinky Curly and Eden Bodyworks were on hand performing demos, express styles and braids. As a beauty blogger, I was already pretty familiar with the haircare brands so my main focus was picking up merchandise that celebrated and complemented natural hair. I picked up two statement tees and several unique twisty-tie headbands. From vintage pop-up shops to books all about Afros, there was something there that would fancy most curly girls.

The music, picnic chats, hair stations and vendors were all fantastic, but the overall good vibe is what I loved the most. The sense of community, camaraderie and admiration that was felt made me super proud to be a BG rocking my natural curls.

It was a gorgeous day and simply beautiful to see so many of us naturalistas fully embracing our beauty and celebrating it together!

Did you attend CurlFest? If not, what has been your favorite summer festival this season?

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BGG is COCOTIQUE’s Blogger of the Month!

August 10, 2015

I have some pretty exciting news to share…COCOTIQUE has named me their Blogger of the Month for August!

In case you’ve been living under a rock, COCOTIQUE is a monthly subscription beauty service that caters to us BGs. If you’re always on the hunt for the best beauty and hair buys, but aren’t sure you want to commit—this service is for you! Instead of purchasing full-size pricey shampoos or luxe liners that you’ve been eyeing, COCOTIQUE allows you to test out these products without breaking the bank.

Each month you will receive samples from skin care, hair care, fragrance, nail and lifestyle companies delivered to your doorstep for only $20/per month! How cool and convenient is that? Plus, it’s a cost-effective way to satisfy your beauty and hair product fix.

That’s why I’m beyond honored to have the opportunity to share my thoughts on blogging, style and of course beauty with the innovative, BG-owned brand. Be sure to check it out here and pass it on! 😉

Click here for the entire Q&A.

Do you subscribe to any beauty or hair subscription services?

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5 Tank Dresses to Take You from Summer to Fall

August 4, 2015

Is it me or is the summer zooming by?

Since it’s already August, it’s time to stock up on transitional summer staples. The end of season is the perfect opportunity to score sales on pieces that can take you from balmy nights to brisk evenings in a flash. One of my favorite items to rock in the summer straight into the fall is a versatile tank dress.

Whether you want to go for a casual laid-back look or a dressy style for a fun night on the town, a tank dress is a good bet. It’s no secret that accessories can transform this wardrobe staple in an instant! During the summer, pair with sandals or sneakers for a cool, carefree getup. Once the days shorten and the temp starts to dip, opt for a oversize jean jacket and boots for a pulled-together fall ensemble.

American Apparel Ponte Tank Dress available here, $58

Topshop Ribbed Bodycon Midi Tank Dress available here, $38

Nasty Gal Ribbed Tank Dress available here, $24

Sundry Tank Dress available here, $108

Enza Costa Ribbed Tank Dress available here, $132

What are your favorite go-to transitional pieces?

Category: Fashion, Featured, Features | 2 Comments

Get Lifted: 5 Inspirational Books to Help Combat Winter Blues

January 13, 2015

After the holidays, cold and gloomy winters can get even the most optimistic people down. I’ve noticed that my typically upbeat attitude tends to take a slight dip during this time of year.

In fact, according to reports Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)—depression caused by seasonal changes, affects over half a million Americans. Far too often we’re beginning to hear about how devastating depression can be for us BGs. That’s why it’s important to keep our mental health in check in any way we can. Whether speaking to a professional therapist or spending time with a close friend, finding an outlet has to be a top priority during those depressing times.

For me, curling up with a good self-help book that inspires, motivates or encourages me helps combat those winter weather blues and boosts my mood.

Check out these five uplifting reads:

“100 Secrets of Happy People” by David Niven, Ph. D. available here, $14

“What I Know For Sure,” by Oprah Winfrey available here, $19

“A Real Life: Restoring What Matters; Family, Good Friends and a True Community,” by Ferenc Máté available here, $18

“10% Happier: How I Tamed The Voice In My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, And Found Self-Help That Actually Works—A True Story “by Dan Harris available here, $19

“Essence Presents Better Than Alright: Finding Peace, Love & Power” by Ledisi available here, $13

**If you are depressed, feeling suicidal or need to talk to someone, please click here or call 1-800-273-8255

What do you do to keep yourself in good spirits? What are some of your favorite inspiring reads?

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Raw Coconut Oil: The Only Moisturizer You’ll Ever Need

December 3, 2014

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to embrace the whole natural coconut craze.

My fellow naturalistas and bloggers have been buzzing about it for a while, but now I’m finally boarding the bandwagon—better late than never!

For the past week, I’ve been using Vita Coco Coconut Oil on my super dry, brittle hair and haven’t been this pleased with a product since…I can’t even remember! This 100% raw, pure organic, cold press coconut oil has been a savior to my moisture-starved hair. It coats my kinks and curls without making them feel overly greasy or sticky. Plus, it doesn’t seem to create that nasty build-up that other moisturizers produce.

Vita Coco Coconut Oil available here, $9.99

And if you’re wondering about the smell, you guessed it—it smells downright heavenly. The scent is so tantalizing that my 4-year-old daughter asked if she could taste some. To her complete and utter shock, I said, “yes,” because the chunky wonder oil can be used for cooking or as a dietary supplement. While she wasn’t exactly anxious to eat more than a smidgen, it was quite refreshing to use something on our hair that’s actually edible. Also, as if this oil couldn’t get any better, it even soothes my eczema and winter-ridden skin! There are plenty of products and lotions that I like, but can’t use frequently due to my sensitive skin.

If you’re looking for a rich, multi-purpose oil this is IT!

Are you a fan of coconut oil? What’s your swear-by moisturizer?

Category: Beauty, Featured, Features, Hair | 1 Comment

ACUVUE Introduces An Eye-Opening Trend in Beauty

November 19, 2014

There’s an eye-opening innovation about to sweep the beauty scene.

Forget liners, shadows, false lashes and mascaras—ACUVUE’s 1-Day Define Contact Lenses with Lacreon Technology is the latest way to enhance eyes. Creating a well-defined dark line around the iris (limbal ring), these lenses provide dimension and depth without compromising one’s natural eye color. The iris-inspired designs have light-effect patterns that make eyes look brighter and more defined.

They’re the first brand of contacts to provide this unique, beautifying quality to eyes in the U.S. In fact, they’ve been popular overseas for over a decade, but now it’s finally our turn to hop on the eye-catching trend.

1-Day ACUVUE Define Contact Lenses prices vary by doctor, but are approximately $75 per month. Click here for more information.

Last month, I had the opportunity to try them on during a press preview and was blown away by how much of a difference they made. Even though I wear glasses and aren’t familiar with contacts, they were a breeze to put on and surprisingly comfortable. They instantly gave my eyes a deeper appearance that I liked. Granted, it’s a subtle change, but definitely noticeable. It’s one of those beauty tricks that will have people guessing what you did differently (in a good way)!

If you’re looking to accentuate your eyes’ natural beauty, give these lenses a try. Don’t get them confused with those cheesy colored-contacts from back-in-the day because these aren’t colored lenses.

They’re available in three styles: Natural Sparkle, Natural Shimmer and Natural Shine (the ones I tried). Plus, they provide UV protection by blocking 81% of UV-A radiation and 97% UV-B radiation.