2020 has done a number on every single one of us. We’ve been pushed out of our comfort zones and many of us are finding ourselves away from family (or stuck with family), out of work (or working from home), and in a national state of madness. None of this is comfortable, and yet, I am content.
Read MoreDear Black Girl,
It is time to run towards the sun instead of away from it. To applaud the deepening of our shade as the magic that only our skin can so easily do, rather than a punishment from the sun, meant to be avoided. This summer, like every summer I will continue to wax deeper and browner, and I will love every minute of it.
I invite you, too, to embrace your summer shade, and here are a few sunscreens that will help you get the job done! We all need SPF to protect us from sun damage, no matter our skin tone, and these sunscreens will help you do it without that frustrating white residue. So go ahead black girl, get a tan!
Read MoreWe get a peek into emotional zeitgeist when we look at our eye makeup choices. We’re dying for nostalgia — taking us back to the glitter of our childhood and the pastels we saw our favorite pop stars rocking in the early 2000’s. We’re all on a search for dewey wellness and a glow up that is both figurative and literal — making dewey eyelids a moment we’re collectively here for. And then there are the bursts of color, that no matter the outfit, are a proud claim to femininity and the acknowledgement of womanhood.
Read MoreRather than buying clothing cheap and often, with a new outfit every weekend that won’t last passed the current season, I’m on a mission to invest in building a wardrobe that will last. I’m on a hunt for storytelling pieces that come from makers who care. Some of these pieces will last a lifetime, and in the long run, the quality, ethos, and aesthetic are well worth it.
If you’re ready to begin (or continue) investing in pieces that will last long enough for your daughter to call it vintage, take a look at these other brands that are doing it and doing it well.
Read MoreAs women, skincare is either a total obsession for us or a complete afterthought. For me, it was always the latter. I was fortunate enough to never experience any real issues with my skin for most of my life. Besides the blemish or two that I would get around my monthly cycle, my skin was always pretty clear and I never really appreciated how amazing (and lucky) that was until recently. About two years ago, I experienced one of the most traumatic times of my life. I was in a relationship that took a toll on my physical body, my mental health, and my emotional state. I’ll spare you the juicy details, but it wasn’t until I removed myself from this toxic situation that I had to face the impact and all of the crud started to surface — with it’s greatest toll manifesting on my skin.
Read MoreI’ve always wanted to see the city of Nashville, but I never imagined that it would happen in the midst of a nationwide pandemic and protests. When COVID-19 and layoffs put a dent in my summer plans, I settled into the idea that I would likely spend my birthday weekend in a virtual Zoom party like so many others. However, after spending over 2 months of quarantine and social distancing with my family in South Carolina — away from my Harlem community — my boyfriend Jamel and I decided enough was enough. We chose to meet in Nashville, Tennessee and make the best of it, and we were greeted with friendly faces, thrift shops worth visiting, and black owned vegan restaurants that I’m still raving about.
Read MoreLong before a nationwide quarantine caused us to prioritize comfort above all, I began to notice a generation of women that no longer cared to be one monolithic version of a bombshell. Brands began to cater to a woman that embraced her body beyond super model standards, and a new category has arrived. Somewhere between lingerie and loungewear, we’re seeing comfortable intimates designed to be both flaunted and cozy. Let’s call it “loungerie”.
Read MoreMy love of skincare grew from my love of the women who raised me, our time together, and my love for making people feel good. Watching your face change everyday and knowing that you’re responsible for that glow is a beautiful journey and we all deserve to experience that — we just might need to be loved through it.
Read MoreOnce my mom became a wife and a mother, her style completely changed. She always told me that it was because she wanted to set an example for me. As I’m riding out the wave of my late 20s, I wonder if my style too will change as I begin the next chapter in my life of getting married, killing it in my career, and perhaps kids…
Read MoreWe’ve always imagined that extra time at home would look like more of our favorite teas and cozying up with new books. But in reality, it’s looked like living in loungewear and juggling multiple zoom calls with existential crises. We figured we’re not alone in this feeling, so we caught up with four creators to ask them our favorite cocktail question, What Are You Reading?
Read MoreI genuinely do love who I am inside and out, and I’ve learned to have confidence in my own skin — but not without a harsh inventory of my physical presence compared to the one I’ve idealized in my mind. I can’t help but feel that my looks are somehow a direct representation of how well I’m doing in life. When I gaze in the mirror, I either congratulate myself for a week well spent at the gym or I feel regret for that second quesadilla.
Read MoreMonique Rice is a Physician’s Assistant (PA) in New York City. Upon graduating from PA school, she was excited to work alongside doctors in the emergency room setting. Little did she know that her first year on the job would include the first widespread pandemic we’ve seen in our lifetime.
Read MoreIt’s been a quarter-century since the world lost the Mexican-American icon that was Selena Quintanilla-Pérez, but her impact is relevant today. From her voice to her style, Selena still inspires us. We rounded up 25 of our favorite photos of Selena in honor of her legacy. May her looks live on forever!
Read MoreEverything is cancelled. As non-essential businesses have shut down and social distancing is encouraged, many of us are finding that staying fit while staying indoors is a battle. Since we refuse to gain the “quarantine 15”, here are a few accounts to follow to stay inspired. This roundup includes micro-influencers, studios gone-virtual, and established vloggers. Whatever works best for you, stay motivated and, of course, stay home!
Read MoreI’ve always wanted to go to Africa. For a while, it didn’t seem like a thing to prioritize, but the desire resurfaced as I was introduced to Afrobeats. I felt like the music was pushing me to go, and when 2019 happened to be The Year of Return, Afrochella, and Afronation — it seemed like the perfect time. Hearing other people’s stories and seeing their trips back to The Continent made me want to take my own journey to Ghana. The music might have created the spark, but something deeper was calling me home.
Read MoreHave you been in a creative block? Are you seeking more discipline to accomplish your goals without realizing that all you actually need is more freedom?
Read MoreIt’s easy to attribute all of the goals you haven’t met to a lack of discipline, but discipline isn’t a genetic trait that you either have or don’t. It’s a muscle that we can choose to work — and most of us simply aren’t directing our discipline towards our goals. So what’s missing? Here are 5 reasons that you’re probably not accomplishing your goals. We suggest you take notes!
Read MoreRei Kawakubo, creative director of the Tokyo/Paris-based luxury brand, Comme Des Garçons, is known for pushing the boundaries of creativity — but is her depiction of corn rows on the runway of her Paris FW 2020 show an ode to black culture or a mockery?
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