Brown Girl Gumbo

Beauty Buy: ChapStick Hydration Lock

September 24, 2013

Now that temps are taking a slight dip, it’s time to protect our lips from the elements and keep them moisturized.

ChapStick’s new Hydration Lock is the perfect product to provide the ideal protection. A mainstay in the marketplace, ChapStick’s latest balm from its moisturizer line, promises to keep kissers hydrated for up to 8 hours! While I haven’t worn it for that many hours just yet, it did leave my lips super soft and smooth. Plus, it works as a great base for glosses and lipsticks.

And, if you’re a fan of vanilla flavored beauty buys, you won’t be disappointed. The light-weight balm is packed with Vitamin E and has just the right amount of vanilla flavoring to make lips lick-worthy!

Since giving birth tends to dry out lips, this particular ChapStick will definitely make its way into my hospital bag very soon!

ChapStick Hydration Lock available at drugstores nationwide for $2.99

* Disclosure: “The ChapStick® product and information have been provided by Pfizer Consumer Healthcare.”

Do you wear protective lip balms during the cooler months?

Beauty News: Celebrity Makeup Artist Sam Fine Reunites with CoverGirl!

September 24, 2013

Celebrity makeup artist Sam Fine is officially back with CoverGirl!

After working in the industry for over 20 years, the incredibly talented Fine has once again joined forces with the popular makeup brand.

As the Brand Ambassador, Fine will provide beauty advice, how-to’s and more to the CoverGirl community. Plus, be sure to keep an eye out for him on the new “Queen Latifah Show,” as he will surely partake in makeovers and other beauty-related show topics throughout the season. Also, if you’ve tuned in to her show since it premiered last week, you probably noticed how absolutely stunning and radiate she looks. Yep, that’s all the handiwork of Mr. Fine!

Just when some of us were still loving (ahem, definitely me!) his Fashion Fair products, we can only expect even better things to come now that he’s reunited with CoverGirl. Not only is he exceptionally good at what he does, he happens to be one of the nicest celebrity makeup artists I’ve met since I began covering beauty.

Congrats, Sam!

Are you a CoverGirl fan? If so, what’s your favorite product from the popular brand?

BGG Featured on Style31 Mag!

September 23, 2013

Today I am so honored to be featured on Style31mag.com!

Launched earlier this year, the site is dedicated to the encouragement of faith-centered women and is a reliable media source on the subjects of relationships, fashion, beauty, travel, health and business. The name “Style 31″stems from Proverbs 31, which focuses on Christian women’s ministries.

The day I got the request for an interview I was debating whether or not I should continue BGG. I took the extremely timely email from Style31’s editor as a form of confirmation that I should not give up. Like many women, I struggle with not giving myself enough credit and falling into the trap of comparing myself to others (in my case to other bloggers). I’ve since come to the realization that there is only one Brown Girl Gumbo and I can’t be anyone else!

That said, please check out the Q&A and bookmark Style31:

In this day of social media, do you ever fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others?

Category: Featured, Features, Gumbo Mix | 4 Comments

In Case You Missed It: Fabulous Celebrity TwitPics of the Week!

September 20, 2013

Check out this week’s fabulous Twitter and Instagram photos from some of our fave celebs!

Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union, Nia Long and Sanaa Lathan

Regina Hall, Gabrielle Union and Nia Long with Sanaa Lathan celebrating her birthday.

Kevin Hart

Savannah and LeBron James on their honeymoon in Rome.

Beyonce in Brazil

R. Kelly

Laz Alonso and Charli Baltimore

Young Jeezy, Snoop and Usher

What’s your favorite photo of the bunch?

Category: Arts and Entertainment | Leave a Comment

Beauty News: ‘Basketball Wives’ Star Tami Roman Inks Cosmetics Deal with Walgreens

September 18, 2013

Many of you know Tami Roman from the Vh1 hit reality series, “Basketball Wives,” but I remember her most from her days on MTV’s “The Real World” back in the early 90s.

Well, Ms. Roman is expanding her brand beyond reality TV and has inked a major deal with Walgreens to distribute her lip gloss and nail polish company, TR Love. The line is uniquely packaged including 10 light-up mirror lip gloss sets, which are named after women whom she admires including: Kim Kardashian, Wendy Williams and Cicely Tyson.

“I’m really excited about the lip gloss and nail polish because we just inked a deal with Walgreens so I’m one of the few people who was afforded the opportunity to take a private line into a retail situation,” Roman says in a statement.

According to the release, Roman founded the company as a result and a reminder of her past financial hardships. At one point in her life, the only luxury or pampering experience she could afford was a slather of nail polish or lip gloss to boost her mood.

TR Love cosmetics will hit Walgreens drugstores nationwide in December.

The line will be sold in 400 Walgreen stores nationwide starting in December. A portion of all lip gloss proceeds will be donated to the Akasha Center in Santa Monica, CA in honor of Tami’s late mother.

Will you check out Tami’s line once it hits stores in December?

Category: Beauty, Beauty News | Leave a Comment

6 Cute Moto Jackets Perfect for Fall

September 18, 2013

Fall, my favorite season, is finally upon us (although not officially) and I couldn’t be happier!

That means it’s time to break out our cute jackets and brave the cool air in style. While I’m usually a leather blazer kind of girl, this season I’m excited to give moto jackets a try. They’re edgy, yet versatile enough to be worn with dresses for a fun vibe or with jeans for a laid-back casual look.

Check out some of my fave picks in a variety of fabrics and styles:

Free People Cutwork Moto Jacket available here, $118

Gap 1969 Moto Jacket available here, $89.95

BB Dakota Johs Faux Leather Moto Jacket available here, $118

BCBGMAXAZRIA Asymmetrical Ponte & Leather Moto Jacket available here, $348

Forever 21 Street-Chic Faux Leather Moto Jacket available here, $24.80

Coffee Shop Faux Leather Moto Jacket available here, $55

Are you a fan of moto jackets?

Category: Fashion, Featured, Features, Style, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Must-See TV: Queen Latifah’s New Daytime Talk Show Premieres Today!

September 16, 2013

Back in 2011 when I interviewed Queen Latifah, I didn’ think it was humanly possible for the her to add one more job to her resume. Boy was I wrong!

The multi-talented entertainer, 43, is not only back with a brand new daytime talk show debuting today (check your local listings for times), but she’s also recently been named the new face of Pantene’s popular Relaxed & Natural haircare brand. Already a Grammy-award winning rapper/singer, Oscar-nominated actress, host, author, film/TV/web producer, and CoverGirl, Latifah is quickly becoming the queen of all entertainment.

Photo: QueenLatifahShow.com

Although this isn’t her first ride on the daytime talk show rodeo, Latifah will surely bring a fresh perspective to the new “Queen Latifah Show,” that gained fans back in the 90s.

Check out a clip here:

Will you tune in today? Did you watch “The Queen Latifah Show” back in the day?

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