Brown Girl Gumbo

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.

Me standing in front of the eye-inspired mood board at the Acuvue 1-Day Defined Contact Lenses press preview in New York City.

Me standing in front of the eye-inspired mood board at the ACUVUE 1-Day Define Contact Lenses press preview in New York City.

Would you try these eye-hancing lenses? Do you prefer contact lenses or glasses for better vision?

Category: Beauty, Featured, Features | 2 Comments

Product Review: Spa Sonic Skin Care System Face & Body Polisher

November 10, 2014

If you’re on the market for a good facial and body cleansing brush without breaking the bank, keep reading.

Last month, I was asked to review Spa Sonic’s Skin Care System Face & Body Polisher 7-piece offering of the popular pampering tool. Unlike other brands, this particular brush includes interchangeable heads for usage on your face, body and even feet!

Although I was unfamiliar with the brand, I was excited to give it a try. Prior to testing the Spa Sonic, I’d only used more expensive brands that boasted many of the same features, but didn’t include multiple heads. That’s why for a fraction of the price, I was anxious to see if it would work as well as the luxe brands.

Spa Sonic Skincare System Face & Body Polisher available here, $40

My first impression upon opening the box was not good. To be honest, the packaging was a bit flimsy and cheap for lack of a better word. Luckily, I didn’t let that stop me from giving it a spin. First up, I attached the small brush for my face. The bristles were softer than I’m used to, but still seemed to slough away dead skin. Pleased with the results, I was happy to move on to my body. The large brush worked beautifully leaving my skin incredibly softer. The only downside was that I couldn’t apply too much pressure otherwise the interchangeable head would come off. Next up: feet!

Since bi-weekly pedicure season has passed (for me at least), my heels were in desperate need of some TLC. The pumice stone attachment delivered just enough power to polish my feet effortlessly. The rotating stone nicked away stubborn callouses revealing a smoother surface.

For the affordable price and the perks of multi-usage, it’s a great alternative to more expensive facial and body cleansing tools.

Do you use face/body/feet cleansing brushes?

Category: Beauty | 1 Comment

Lupita Nyong’o Graces Glamour Magazine

November 3, 2014

Lupita Nyong’o, one of our favorite BGs, is covering the December issue of Glamour magazine.

The actress and Lanôme beauty ambassador, 31, is not only the magazine’s cover girl, but is also named as the Woman of the Year by the popular glossy. The annual Women of the Year issue honors women who have made significant contributions to society throughout the year. In celebration of the issue, the magazine will host its 24th annual Women of the Year awards ceremony in New York City November on 10th.

Lupita talks to the Condé Nast title about her meteoric rise in Hollywood and how she uses her platform to help redefine success and beauty standards.

Photo by: Tom Munro Be sure to check out more pics here!

Here are a few quotes from the interview with the Oscar winner:

Nyong’o on winning an Academy Award earlier this year…
“I don’t think I will ever be able to really articulate how bizarre it was to hear my name at the Academy Awards. I’d watched in my pajamas the year before! I felt numb—dazed and confused. I remember feeling light—weightless. More like limbo than cloud nine.”

Nyong’o on how her life has changed after winning an Academy Award…
“This is actually a conversation I look forward to having in 10 years, when all of this is behind me and I have some real perspective on what happened—because right now I’m still adjusting. I guess I feel catapulted into a different place; I have a little whiplash…. I did have a dream to be an actress, but I didn’t think about being famous. And I haven’t yet figured out how to be a celebrity; that’s something I’m learning, and I wish there were a course on how to handle it. I have to be aware that my kinesphere may be larger than I want it to be.”

Nyong’o on the standards of beauty that she grew up with…
“European standards of beauty are something that plague the entire world—the idea that darker skin is not beautiful, that light skin is the key to success and love. Africa is no exception. When I was in the second grade, one of my teachers said, ‘Where are you going to find a husband? How are you going to find someone darker than you?’ I was mortified. I remember seeing a commercial where a woman goes for an interview and doesn’t get the job. Then she puts a cream on her face to lighten her skin, and she gets the job! This is the message: that dark skin is unacceptable. I definitely wasn’t hearing this from my immediate family—my mother never said anything to that effect—but the voices from the television are usually much louder than the voices of your parents.”

Nyong’o on her role models growing up…
“Oprah played a big role in my understanding of what it meant to be female and to really step into your own power. I wouldn’t even call her a role model; she was literally a reference point. You have the dictionary, you have the Bible, you have Oprah.”

Nyong’o on her mother’s influence…
“I come from a loving, supportive family, and my mother taught me that there are more valuable ways to achieve beauty than just through your external features. She was focused on compassion and respect, and those are the things that ended up translating to me as beauty. Beautiful people have many advantages, but so do friendly people.… I think beauty is an expression of love.”

Nyong’o on “The Lupita Effect”…
“I’ve heard people talk about images in popular culture changing, and that makes me feel great, because it means that the little girl I was, once upon a time, has an image to instill in her that she is beautiful, that she is worthy—that she can… Until I saw people who looked like me, doing the things I wanted to, I wasn’t so sure it was a possibility. Seeing Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah in The Color Purple, it dawned on me: ‘Oh—I could be an actress!’ We plant the seed of possibility.”

For the full interview visit Glamour.com or be sure to pick up the December issue which hits newsstands November 11th.

Want to see more Lupita? Check out this behind-the-scenes footage from her cover shoot.What are your thoughts on the cover?

Category: Beauty, Fashion, Featured, Features | 3 Comments

Palmer’s Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October 28, 2014

Although October is almost over, I’d be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This disease has devastated my family, which is why I feel compelled to raise as much awareness about it as possible. Despite losing several aunts to the disease, I know that it doesn’t have to be a death sentence. Thanks to early detection, my sister is living proof that you can be a survivor!

That’s why I wholeheartedly appreciate and support companies and brands who donate portions of their proceeds (from certain products) during this month to help raise funds towards finding a cure.

Instead of only giving back during the month of October, Palmer’s, the popular cocoa butter line will donate 15% of the sales prices (with a minimum of $100,000) from specially-marked bottles of its core Cocoa Butter Formula products to Susan G. Komen from now until June 2015!

I’ve been a huge fan of Palmer’s for years, but the fact that they’re going pink and donating funds well beyond October makes the brand even more appealing.

Palmer’s is available at most drugstores nationwide

**For more information on breast cancer, please click here.

Have you purchased “pink” products this month? Have you been personally affected by breast cancer?

Category: Beauty | 1 Comment

7 Stylish Tights to Keep Legs Cozy & Comfy for Fall

October 21, 2014

It’s that time of year again—tights and leggings season!

As soon as fall arrives, one of the first things I do to update my wardrobe is buy new hosiery. Whether ribbed, patterned, denim or classic opaque, eye-catching tights and leggings can instantly add warmth and style to ensembles. For those super cold days, I double-up on black tights to keep my gams covered, as well as provide a less sheer, more saturated look.

Tights and leggings are such a fun and cost-effective way to relish in fall fashion without breaking the bank. Plus, they’re incredibly comfy!

Back in the summer, I got a sneak peek of No nonsense’s fabulous autumn offerings. They have a great selection of colors and styles to suit your taste.

Check them out below:

No nonsense Corduroy Leggings available here, $18

No nonsense Bold Diamond Tights are available here, $7

No nonsense Opaque Tights available here, $6.59

No nonsense Textured Basketweave Openwork Tights available here, $7

No nonsense Animal Print Tights available here, $14

No nonsense Super Opaque Control Top Tights available here, $6.59

Have you stocked up on tights this season?

Category: Fashion | Leave a Comment

Get Rid of Grays with Black Opal’s Retouch Root Concealer Spray

October 16, 2014

There might be a gray hair movement taking place amongst celebrities, bloggers and fashionistas alike, but that’s one trend I won’t be partaking in.

I’ve been plagued with premature graying in one spot since I was 5 and have never liked my silver streaks. So, as soon as I was old enough to dye them, I did just that. However, since giving birth last year, I’ve steered clear of dyeing my hair to give it time to replenish and get back to normal.

In the meantime, I’ve been using Black Opal’s Gray Root Retouch Concealer Spray. I didn’t know they offered products beyond their lovely cosmetic line, but was pleasantly surprised. I simply spray it 2-3 inches from the pesky patch and it instantly covers my unruly grays! Plus, it dries almost instantly (give or take a minute or two).

Black Opal Gray Retouch Root Concealer Spray available here, $9. It comes in two shades: Medium Light Brown and Black/Dark Brown

Thanks to the illusion of thicker hair that the darkening formula creates, the spray also helps conceal the post-partum hair loss I’ve been experiencing around my edges (where my problem gray area happens to be).

Before (left) and After (right) – Black Opal Retouch Root Concealer Spray helps hide my grays, as well as camouflage my post-partum hair loss.

An added bonus is it doesn’t come off until you wash it out; no worrying about it smearing or smudging onto pillowcases, scarves or satin bonnets! It’s been my go-to for months and I will continue using it in between my dye touch-ups once I go back to permanently coloring my hair and when my post-partum hair loss ceases.

If you’re looking to cover up unwanted grays, this spray is a great buy!

Do you dye your hair to hide grays or do you embrace your pigment-free strands? Did you suffer from post-partum hair loss?

Category: Hair | 1 Comment

Book Buy: ‘Vintage Black Glamour’ Showcases Stunning Rarely Seen Photographs of African-American Female Entertainers, Poets, Actors and More!

October 13, 2014

If there’s one quirky thing about me that most people don’t know, it’s that I LOVE looking at old photos. I can get lost for hours poring over vintage photos from my family and friends or even historical shots of my beloved hometown Chicago. Heck, I was even a photo editor for a national magazine once upon a time!

That’s why I’m so excited that the highly anticipated book (of the same name) as the popular blog, “Vintage Black Glamour,” by Nichelle Gainer is finally available for purchase. The sleek, hard-cover book features dozens of fabulous rarely accessed photos from some of our most acclaimed female African-American socialites, actors, writers, dancers and entertainers who worked during the 20th century.

VINTAGE BLACK GLAMOUR will be published on October 14, 2014 and is available from Rocket 88 Books, only at vintageblackglamourbook.com, $70

Greats such such as Eartha Kitt (who’s the book’s cover girl), Dorothy Dandridge, Diana Ross and a host of others grace the pages. While some of the women featured are nothing short of iconic, the book also boasts a bevy of lesser-known beauties as well.

Opera singer Margaret Tyne, who performed with Duke Ellington in the 1950s. Photo Courtesy: Vintage Black Glamour

In fact, the author, whom I’ve chatted with throughout the years was inspired to create the blog-turned-book by her great aunt and opera singer, Margaret Tyne, who performed with the legendary Duke Ellington during the 1950s. Gainer curated the book (and blog) by visiting libraries and combing through countless archives and photographs of glamourous black women.

Dancer Adelaide Hall. Photo Courtesy: Vintage Black Glamour

Actress and singer Lena Horne. Photo Courtesy: Vintage Black Glamour

Jazz singer, songwriter Nina Simone. Photo Courtesy: Vintage Black Glamour

The stunning photographs are each accompanied with enlightening profiles providing readers a glimpse into the lives of these talented women.

If you admire old school style and sophistication that only we BGs can bring, then this coffee table book is a must-have! It will make the perfect gift for the upcoming holiday season for all the BGs on your list.

Who’s your favorite “vintage black glamour” star or is she someone in your very own family?

Category: Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment