End of Summer Lovin’ with Dove

It’s hard to believe that we’re now in September, but the summer isn’t over just yet!

To celebrate the end of the season, Dove invited beauty bloggers and editors to a morning of manis at the chic Valley nail salon in the Lolita neighborhood of Manhattan. Since my digits were in desperate need of a little TLC, I was stoked for the sunrise pampering session.

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Prior to getting my nails painted, I was treated to a relaxing hand massage and scrub. To get my skin soft and supple, the nail technician used Dove’s limited edition Summer Care Body Wash. The nourishing formula gently exfoliates and sloughs away dead skin leaving behind a smooth and moisturized surface. Plus, the smell alone is enough to make you want to slather it on outside of the shower. It’s a fresh mix of fruity citruses and lemongrass that creates a tantalizing clean scent.

As a last hurrah for the summer, I decided to get a white hot polish with a beautiful tribal-like detail. To me, there’s something about white nails that just scream summer. My mani was top-notch and was chip-free for much longer than most manicures I’ve had.

dove-body-wash-summer-careIf you’re able to get your hands on this body wash before it leaves the shelves for the season, stock up—it will satisfy your winter-ridden skin soon enough! So before summer’s officially over, treat yourself to this luxurious body wash and a mani or pedi at the Valley (if you’re in the NYC area)!

What’s your signature summer nail color? 

Event Recap: Curly Girl Collective’s CurlFest in Brooklyn

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.

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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.

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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?

Crazy for jane iredale’s New Lip Crayons

When it comes to press events, jane iredale’s beauty launches are always a treat to attend.

To celebrate their new lineup for fall, beauty editors and bloggers not only got to play with their new “PlayOn” lip crayons, but also with REAL paint. Yep, we had the opportunity to learn about their latest mineral-based makeup offerings while unleashing our inner Picasso!

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While my “masterpiece” proved that I’m no Vincent Van Gogh, I am a pro at spotting great lippies and these are must-haves!

Available in 7 striking shades, these creamy lip crayons are easy to apply and pack a bold punch of color. Plus, they keep lips super moisturized and conditioned thanks to their Castor Seed Oil and Vitamin E base.

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jane iredale “PlayOn” Lip Crayon available here, $18 each

And who said crayons were just for kids?  😉

What’s on your “back-to-school” makeup list for fall?  

BGG is COCOTIQUE’s Blogger of the Month!

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! 😉

Cocotique

 

Click here for the entire Q&A.

Do you subscribe to any beauty or hair subscription services?

 

5 Tank Dresses to Take You from Summer to Fall

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.

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American Apparel Ponte Tank Dress available here, $58

topshop-tank-dressTopshop Ribbed Bodycon Midi Tank Dress available here, $38

nasty-gal-tank-dress

Nasty Gal Ribbed Tank Dress available here, $24

shopbop-tank-dress

Sundry Tank Dress available here, $108

enza-costa-ribbed-tank-dress

Enza Costa Ribbed Tank Dress available here, $132

What are your favorite go-to transitional pieces?

My Secret to Staying Fresh & Dry All Summer Long!

I think it’s safe to say that a large portion of the country is experiencing a pretty intense heat wave.

When temperatures reach the ‘90s and beyond, staying fresh and dry become even more of a top priority. That’s why deodorants are crucial to maintaining our overall personal hygiene. As we attempt to beat the summer heat, our sweat glands produce a not-so-pleasant smell, which can be the pits (pun intended)!

Luckily, there’s no shortage of antiperspirants to choose from—but unfortunately, we know that they’re not all created equal. Staying with the tried and true brands can be a smart move. Secret has always been a staple in my bathroom. It’s been at the forefront of the market for decades and for good reason.

Throughout the years they’ve mastered a formula that manages to keep underarm body odor at bay, while incorporating cutting-edge innovations to also keep us healthy and fresh.

Their latest offering, Secret Clinical Strength, has been my go-to for most of the summer. Its “Adapt & Respond” technology stops bacteria in its tracks reducing smelly sweat from even starting. It glides on easily and doesn’t irritate my skin. Plus, it has a pleasant scent that isn’t overpowering. It comes in three different forms: Clear Gel, Invisible Solid and Smooth Solid—but, Clear Gel is my summertime fave.

If you want to get in on the secret to staying dry and odor-free, definitely check out this new line of antiperspirants!

Secret-DeodorantSecret Clinical Strength “Adapt & Responds” Clear Gel available here, $8.79

What’s your go-to deodorant?

Take the My Black Is Beautiful ‘All Together Beautiful’ Challenge!

With Misty Copeland becoming the first African-American principal dancer at the American Theatre Ballet last week and Serena Williams making history with her four consecutive Grand Slam titles in Wimbledon this past weekend, we know that black girls rock! There’s no denying that we can accomplish any feat and break down any barrier placed before us. We are smart, beautiful and powerful!

That’s why Procter & Gamble’s (the company behind beauty brands such as Covergirl, Pantene and Olay) My Black Is BeautifulAll Together Beautiful” campaign is the perfect way to celebrate us. In a world where beauty is often defined by the outer exterior, this challenge invites Black women and girls to redefine the standard of beauty as a standard that defines beauty by – integrity, strength, character and spirit, as well as values positive actions, and celebrates those who are reaffirm this standard everyday.

Far too often neither our inner nor outer beauty is appreciated or acknowledged in mainstream media, TV or films—leaving it up to us to honor ourselves.  And, while self-love is great, it’s just as important to support, uplift and encourage our fellow BGs too! That’s why I’m thrilled to share this “pay it forward” challenge with you!

ESSENCE relationship editor Charreah Jackson is one of the editors who has embraced the "All Together Beautiful" campaign.

ESSENCE relationship editor Charreah Jackson is one of the editors who has embraced the “All Together Beautiful” campaign.

Simply follow these 3 easy steps:

1. Record a video that celebrates a woman who you believe is “All Together Beautiful”.
2. Share this video across your social media pages using hashtags #MBIB & #AllTogetherBeautiful
3. Challenge another woman by tagging them on social media to do the same for someone else.

Check out the video below to hear whom a few editors and online influencers believe are “all together beautiful!”:

Who do you believe is “All Together Beautiful?”