J.Lo Realizes A Big Dream

J.Lo has announced that something new is on the way for her. In 2021, she will officially realize a long-time dream.

It was announced several months ago that she was coming out with, you guessed, a skincare line. This is a no-brainer. She’s long been known for having beautiful, glowing skin along with a serious skincare regimen. J.Lo definitely realizes the importance of taking care of her skin. It has served her well.

Her brand, dubbed JLo Beauty (of course!), will launch on January, 1, 2021 on its respective website. The brand will launch with eight skincare products including eye cream, a dietary supplement, and sunscreen.

J.Lo is pretty amazing and I expect that this product will be no less. One product she mentions that is used in her brand is olive oil. She says that the oil is part of her mother and aunt’s beauty secret. To be honest, it has been one of my long-time favorites to because it’s really an oil made for the skin. The prices vary for each of the launch items. So far, there have been rave reviews from those who were fortunate enough to test the products before they are released to the public.

Save ya coins so you can be part of this brand’s historic launch in a few weeks!

Clarisonic Says Goodbye

On September 30, 2020, the iconic brand known for revolutionizing skincare is shutting its doors.

Clarisonic, a brand that started out independently, was bought out by L’Oreal in 2011-after introducing the world to sonic brushes that deep clean the skin. It is well known in spas and by consumers alike. It will be interesting to see how this will play out in the days to come.

In the last few months, the brand put its products and accessories on sale for 50% off and announced that it would be closing in September. If you haven’t found any brush heads, there may still be some out there somewhere-though you may be hardpressed to find any. Instead, I would suggest that you find some other sonic brush brands, such as Michael Todd Beauty. The brush has solid reviews and brush heads that are about $20 each.

KVD comes to Ulta!

We are finally going to see KVD Vegan Beauty (formally Kat Von D) at Ulta!

This has been a long awaited collaboration and it’s a pretty big deal. Up until this announcement, the brand could only be purchased in-store through Sephora. (There is always the option to purchase through the KVD website or Sephora’s website) It looks like the long-standing beauty brand will no longer be exclusive to the brick and mortar stores of Sephora.

KVD will be available starting Sunday, August 23rd. That’s only in a few days. This is a great move for the brand as it will provide longtimers convenience while also exposing newbies to brand.

I have found it to be one of my personal favorites. As a matter or fact, I just purchased two lip colors for the upcoming fall season from KVD. It’s long wearing and the color payoff is excellent. What I like most about this brand is that it not only has quality products but it also provides fun, funky, bold colors that allow for full- on creative and artistic expression.

Guest Blogger Brad Krause on Self-Care

6 Ways to Take Control of Your Mental Health with Self-Care  

by Brad Krause

 When taking care of your mental health feels like a constant battle, it may be time to make some changes in your life. More importantly, it may be time to make some positive changes when it comes to your self-care habits. Even the smallest shifts in your self-care routine can make a major impact on your mental health, including these simple and doable daily practices. 

 End Self-Care Struggles 

 If you struggle with self-care, your troubles may stem from how you define the term “self-care.” Social media can be especially misleading when it comes to self-care, and influencers often define self-care as “prolonged pleasurable time resulting in peace, happiness, and beauty.” While that sounds truly amazing, the type of self-care used to manage mental health is much more basic and attainable than that. These consistent self-care habits are also more effective. 

Eat Mood-Boosting Foods 

 Your new self-care routine can start with what you put on your plate in the mornings. Eating depression-fighting foods, including bananas, dark berries, avocados, and chia seeds, can provide the boost your brain needs to keep your mood upbeat and balanced. If you need to take your breakfast on the go, you can always blend a few of these foods into a superfood smoothie. 

Fit in Regular Exercise 

If you want an extra dose of self-care and a mood boost in the mornings, try to get some exercise before you start the rest of your day. Research has found that people who get moving for as little as 15 minutes each day are less at risk for depression and anxiety. So lay your workout clothes out the night before and go for a brisk walk before you have your brain-boosting breakfast. If you prefer to stay inside, you can also try a short yoga practice. 

Explore Therapy Options 

Even though the stigma around mental health is slowly fading, you may find it difficult to seek the counseling and other professional services you need. It may help to think of it this way: counseling is to your mental health what regular checkups are to your physical health. If cost is a concern, you can also check in with your insurance to see if counseling is covered. Be sure to review your health coverages annually to see if changes are needed. 

Discover Inner Balance  

When your life feels “out of whack,” your mental health can be at risk. Unreasonable self-expectations, misaligned priorities, and feelings of shame/fear/guilt are what lead to these feelings of an unbalanced life. To re-establish balance and take back control of your mental health, you just need to work through these issues with a focus on what makes you feel content. Taking on far too much can also make you feel out of balance. So, avoid overcommitting yourself to others by learning to say “no” and establishing boundaries to preserve your time. 

 Establish Financial Security 

In their most recent survey on stress, the American Psychological Association found that nearly 62 percent of the population feels stressed about money on a regular basis. Some steps you can take to ease this tension include keeping track of your spending and creating a plan to pay down debts. If you own a home, you can also think about refinancing your home loan. Refinancing can help with financial stress by reducing the equity you’ve built to free up cash or decrease your monthly payments, which in turn will allow you to pay down other debts. 

 Self-care shouldn’t feel like an extra burden. After all, self-care is meant to manage and protect your mental health. So, if you feel overwhelmed by your emotions, adapting your daily routines to include more simple self-care could provide relief. Just be sure to tailor these practices to suit your specific needs and lifestyle. Because self-care should always aim to balance the self.  

Photo Credit: Unsplash                      

More about Brad

After spending most of his time in a corporate setting and neglecting his own self-care far too long, Brad embraced his calling and decided to become a full-time life coach. He now spends the rest of his life helping people get a better foothold on their wellness above all else.

Netflix Just Announced This

Yesterday, Netflix announced that some major classic shows are coming to the popular streaming service.

Over the next 3 months, we will have access to these shows (let the binge watching begin!). I, for one, am looking forward to this and I know I am not alone. Shows such as Moesha, The Game (limited seasons), Sister, Sister, Girlfriends, The Parkers, Half & Half, and One on One will be lighting up our Netflix accounts as we approach the end of summer and start to say hello to autumn.

Thinking of the impact of these shows, Girlfriends comes to mind as a lesson in makeup for me. Makeup Artist Rea Ann Silva really nailed beauty-consistently. When I look at the series, I see beautiful women, not (heavy) makeup. Everything flows so well that the show still serves as an inspiration. The makeup accurately compliments the hair and clothing of each cast member. Silva created what we now know as the Beautyblender while on the show out of a need while working on set. I’d say the show has served her well.

So grateful for all of these shows and the cast and crew of each of these shows that made such great television.

See the upcoming dates below:

August

Saturday, August 1st- Moesha

Saturday, August 15th- The Game (seasons 1-3)

September

Tuesday, September 1st- Sister, Sister

Friday, September 11th- Girlfriends

October

Tuesday, October 1st- The Parkers

Tuesday, October 15th- One on One

Here’s to happy watching!

Weddings in Pandemics: Elaine Welteroth Gets Hitched!

We need to enjoy and embrace the good things, the positive things every time they show up. Life in 2020 has completely shifted for all of us-and it’s keeps shifting. It’s easy to lose sight of good things, those things that make us smile (especially if we aren’t always surrounded by positivity). Good things are still happening all around, we just need a person (or people) to show us.

To say that the last few months have been a whirlwind is an understatement. For many expectant brides, they’ve had to postpone wedding plans—some indefinitely, due to the events and uncertainty of a worldwide pandemic.

When faced with this situation, Elaine Welteroth decided that she was going to get married “come hell or high water” on May 10, 2020. And the best-selling author and history-making editor did just that. Initially, the couple considered many different places for their nuptials (both in and out of the United States). The pandemic, however, changed all of that and it looked like all of their dreams would be postponed. Instead of being down about it, Welteroth stayed determined.

As she set her mind on her goal, ideas flowed and she knew exactly how to pull everything off. It came to her to have a virtual wedding at her home followed by a virtual block party. Doing so meant friends and neighbors could be involved.

The two lovebirds used their Brooklyn stoop to exchange vows. It was beautifully decorated with a stunning and colorful floral arragement. Welteroth and her now husband were very creative and resourceful in the planning of this event. Using what they had and thinking “outside the box” allowed for a beautiful wedding. Both the bride, groom, and their friends were all decked out in white. Welteroth gave beachy, Bohmemian vibes in her flowing white gown and lowkey makeup and hair. She was simply ethereal.

The photos were absolutely beautiful—vividly invoking the sense of a warm, inviting celebration of love and beauty. Technology allowed for out-of-town friends and family to participate. Notice the tablet in the photograph. The bride and groom are happily smiling into the camera showing off their rings to their audience.

Congrats to the beautiful couple!

Celebrating Women Series: Remembering Katherine Johnson

When I think of the contributions of someone like Katherine Johnson, I’m always reminded that delay is not denial and for the hundreds and thousands of celebrities and famous people we know as members of the general public, there are thousands-dare I say millions-who go down in history unknown on a big scale that shape or have shaped the world we know and live in right now.

Katherine Johnson was born August 26, 1918 in West Virginia. Her extraordinary life started out with meager beginnings. She passed away February 24, 2020 at the age of 101. She worked for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) many years and retired in 1986. The book, Hidden Figures, by Margot Lee Shetterly highlighted the stories and accomplishments of amazing and innovative women in science. The book was published in 2016 and later released as a film under the same title in early 2017. I am so grateful to authors and writers who are passionate about getting stories told. The movie brought people together in the way that only art can.

It was so touching to witness her being honored in the national spotlight. While one could argue that this recognition was long overdue, it can also be argued that maybe it was right on time. In her 90s, she was able to attend these shows, be recognized and be loved on by a completely new generation of admirers. Dreams and rewards don’t have expiration dates. Life doesn’t have to stop or slow down at a certain age.

From my artist standpoint, I must say that she was always quite beautiful. She had age appropriate makeup that wasn’t heavy or overly done. Her makeup enhanced her beauty and she looked great on camera. Her beautiful gowns were always the right color and she had a very regal elegance about her.

To hear she had passed was a bit sad, yet, I had gratutide for her and her accomplishments. Today, she will be laid to rest with a memorial service at Hampton University. May we always remember her and speak her name.

Happy Women's Month!

This month, we celebrate ALL things women!

We’ll take a look at a few women who have had a substantial impact on society in one way or another. This month started as a way to recognize the efforts of women and to bring them to the forefront in a conscious way by celebrating all month.

Here’s to you and all the beautiful women in your life!

Remembering B. Smith

Over the weekend, we received news that the legendary and beautiful B. Smith passed away. The annoucement came via her husband, Dan Gasby’s, Facebook page.

As the condolences started to make their way around, I thought about my own experiences with her and her impact on me.

I first remember seeing the iconic model, author, restuaranteur and history maker on her television show, B. Smith Style, where I spefically remember the segment on how she cared for her makeup brushes (of course that had me hooked!).

I knew she was a model and that she’d made history in the 70s as the first African American model to grace the cover of Mademoiselle but I didn’t know a lot about her brand and what she offered. All I can say that is I’m glad to have experienced it in some way.

In addition to watching the tv show, I also attended an event where she was also in attendance, along with her husband here in Richmond. They were very personable and down to earth. It’s one thing to see people on stage or from afar and another to experience them up close and personal.

Later, I had the opportunity to eat at her restaurant-both the DC and NYC locations. The fare was different at each spot-both eateries were upscale and simply elegant. I enjoyed my food and her interpretation of each dish was both culturally and regionally befitting.

I am so grateful for the beauty icon that we knew as B. Smith. She will be greatly missed.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHT: The Lip Bar Turns 8!

Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar cosmetics company started the brand from her kitchen while working in New York City in the financial industry.

I have had the pleasure of watching this entrepreneur’s story grow and seeing the brand expand over the years. I was first introduced to the brand on Twitter.

Originally, the brand sold about five lipsticks or so, all named after drinks-like cosmo, for instance. Cosmo is a beautiful red. I recall thinking about how different this brand was-I particularly liked what what the brand stood for and the packing was nice too. The Lip Bar started out by providing completely vegan lipsticks at a price point of $20. While there were other brands out there that were health conscious and earth conscious, I must admit that I wasn’t always impressed. For one, the pigment was not that great. In fact, it was waning and caused me to look elsewhere for product.

One day, Melissa went on the show Shark Tank. I didn’t get to see the show but I was able to see a recap. The show was very popular at the time and fit the entreprenurial wave that America was experiencing. With the rise of social media and technological advancements, it was easier than ever to become a successful entrepreneur. It was the first time brands could really directly engage with a large group of consumers in a more organic environment, really shifting and shaping the perspective of potential buyers. To Melissa’s advantage, her brand was doing this all the time and Shark Tank would be a catalyst to get her brand to a even larger audience and into mainstream.

The cast of Shark Tank couldn’t grasp the vision and they turned her down. My gut told me that this was just a stepping stone. So, I remember shortly after her television experience, she had a sale blitz. It was my first purchase and I think I bought at least five lipsticks. To say that I am a fan is an understatement! This stuff is awesome! It quickly became a go-to brand for me and I always tell clients about it.

There are so many things to love about this brand. Besides it being vegan, The Lip Bar delivers! The product payoff is phenomenal. The price point is at about $13 for lipsticks. The brand continues to grow and has now added a line of full-face products so that women on the go can confidently start their day with a complete face of makeup in under 10 minutes! That’s pretty impressive-especially coming from someone who is not an artist. She is a total visionary though and she knew how to seek out those who could help her carry out her vision of an all inclusive brand that is changing the beauty standard.

While she was not chosen on the show, she took that opportunity to build her brand into a multi-millionaire dollar beauty empire that continues to grow by the second. Keep inspiring us, Melissa! I can’t wait to see what you do next.

In honor of its 8th birthday, The Lip Bar has every product on sale today. Click here to go to the website.