Holographic glosses, high intense pigmented lipsticks, 3D illuminators, foundations and more. Jay Manuel, the makeup artist of our beloved America’s Next Top Model show, has brought his vision and expertise in the beauty biz to life. Stocked with very to-the-point makeup options, like black lipsticks and blushes for all shades, the line is pretty much…
Read MoreMelanie Yvette
Nutritionist Julianka Bell on Growing Up Black + Filipino
“I think growing up it was tough and it was very confusing because there weren’t a lot of bi-racial families when I was growing up. There were a lot of eye stares and I really didn’t quite understand it and I didn’t have any bi-racial friends. And so I feel like I was always torn…there’s…
Read MoreMarjani is a New Brown Online Beauty Store by Another Black Woman
This is my prediction: soon (and very soon) women of color will collectively realize that we pretty much share the same beauty issues as one another and will begin to look for multiple ways to work together to demand inclusivity in the beauty industry. It’s pretty ironic, but many of us still separate our beauty concerns…
Read MoreOndrea Lee, Social Media Manager, Cocotique
My name is Ondrea Lee and I’m the Social Media Manager at Cocotique. I’m Black. But if you want to go deep, my mother’s side of the family is Cherokee and white and Black, and my dad’s side is Black. I’m not engaged with my [Cherokee] culture, unfortunately, because most of my family members who…
Read MoreI Secretly Love Dropping Money on Pat McGrath’s Makeup, Because #BlackGirlMagic
I went back and forth about spending $130 (yes girl, $130) on the new Dark Star 006 eye kit, sitting across from my co-worker and friend-boo in real life, Sarah. We both literally kept asking each other if we should buy it. It was so much money, but there’s something so significant and exhilarating for…
Read MoreKalisha Hall, Fashion Designer of K. RaShae
My name is Kalisha Hall and I’m a fashion designer. My brand is K. RaShae Collection. I started designing wanting to make a difference because I grew up not loving myself and not wanting to be brown for a long time. All of my friends had very light complexions, and I’d always hear “oh, you’re…
Read MoreAfter Trying Luv Scrub, I’m Never Using a Wash Cloth Again
A week ago, I rushed to dinner with Ghanaian (Massachusetts-born) entrepreneur Caroline Ansah and our fabulous girlfriend Lauren Napier (owner of CLEANSE facial wipes) in FlatIron for some good R&R. I sat down, all wiped out from rushing around NYC, and immediately noticed how fabulous Caroline’s skin was. Given that she’s the owner of my…
Read MoreBrown Girl’s Guide to Understanding Foundation
Foundation: it’s the base of our makeup routine and still kind of confusing for women to figure out. Let BB offer a simple breakdown of the types of foundations. Matte Finish What: Lightweight texture that looks and usually feels natural on the skin. Coverage: Typically buildable. Pros: Good for oily skin types. Great for women…
Read MoreThe Beginner’s Guide to Having an Actual Skincare Routine
They say you’re supposed to really begin the journey of skincare in your early 20s. But you’d be surprised at how many brown women still haven’t honed in on their perfect skincare routine, even in their 30s and 40s. Skincare is simple, to some extent. It’s about 1) understanding your skin’s needs, 2) finding products…
Read MoreFLAUNT is a New Pro-Aging Face Wipe by a Black Woman
I’ve always hated the whole “anti-aging” campaigns we’ve seen done over and over again. They seem forced, inauthentic and honestly kind of tone deaf. In my opinion, the fact will always remain that we’re all going to age at some point. There’s nothing we can do to stop that. No matter how many creams, serums…
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