Sponsored – Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge: Part 3

Who says you’re ever too old for preschool TV programs? While, I’m well beyond the playground crowd, I’m still enlightened by shows that my toddler watches. Recently, I heard Barney – the beloved purple dinosaur, singing about the importance of brushing our teeth without letting the water run.
Call it a minor “Aha” moment,” but before Barney belted out that catchy green tune I’d never thought twice about how ecologically irresponsible I’d been throughout the years. For as long as I can remember, I always kept the water on while I brushed my pearly whites.

                                      New AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair. Learn more here http://bit.ly/A1cjWg “Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®”
How do you incorporate being green into your daily beauty, health, or household routines?

Since that eco-edification, I’ve made a conscious decision to turn off the tap while tending to my dental hygiene routine. Plus, I also use that same water-saving practice when I wash my face in cold water to get my blood cells flowing for healthy, clean skin.

I now realize just how smart and easy it is to conserve our precious H2O by making slight adjustments to our daily household and beauty routines.

Pretty Pastels

There’s no denying that bold and rich saturated gemstone shades and neons are still the dominating trends right now, but the preferred color-wheel is slowly shifting toward pretty pastel hues. The paler candy-colored options have been cropping up in tops, dresses, skirts, accessories, and more for the spring and summer seasons.

Mint green, soft yellow, cotton-candy pink, light lavender, and baby blue hues exude femininity and daintiness so it’s no wonder that stores are stocking their shelves with the ladylike looks.

Perhaps, Easter will help usher in the pretty, sherbet-like picks.

Check out some of these chic pastel choices:

Are you a fan of pastel shades?

Beyoncé Launches Tumblr Page

Who needs the paparazzi when stars share personal snapshots for the public to view? Thanks to Twitter and Tumblr, some of our favorite celebrities have been giving fans a glimpse into their glamorous lives via photos on social networking sites.

Now, the typically super private, Beyoncé Knowles, is the latest star to showcase her intimate moments. That’s right, the Queen Bee has finally decided to join the digital age with  the launch of her special Tumblr page in conjunction with Beyonce.com. The site currently features incredibly artistic photos of her lounging with her sister Solange, canoodling with her hubby Jay-Z, and more.

In a message to fans, she writes, “it’s been a long time coming – but I finally have my own place on the web.”

Courtesy: Beyonce.tumblr.com

Will you check out Beyoncé’s site?

Cute Carry-Ons for Seasonal Getaways

With sky-high baggage fees and the overall hassle of traveling by air, getting to your spring and summer destinations can seem more like a dread than a dream.

In an effort to ease my traveling experience, I pack strategically so that I only bring a bright and bold carry-on to avoid standing in those never-ending check-in lines and avoid those ever-increasing baggage fees. 

Opting for a fashionable, roomy bag will make for a more seamless and affordable B-line to your vacation getaway. 
Check out a few of these cute carry-ons:

Samsonite Bright Lite 29″ Hardship Spinner available at www.samsonite.com for $160
Lacoste Gymnasium Roll Bag available at www.zappos.com for $166
Rebecca Minkoff Carry-On Oversized Bag available at www.amazon.com for $795
Kipling USA Brixen Wheeled Luggage available at www.zappos.com for $230

The Crown Edition Crown-X 30″ Hard-sided Spinner Suitcase available at www.sears.com for $399.95

Tumi Super Leger International Carry-On available at www.6pm.com
American Tourister iLite Carry-On-available at www.samsonite.com for $80.99
Do you typically carry-on or check your bags when traveling?

Video: Paula Patton Gets Camera-Ready with COVERGIRL

Paula Patton seems to be on the fast-track to becoming one of Hollywood’s hottest stars. While there’s no denying her natural beauty, the new mom does get a little help to keep her looking camera-ready.

Celebrity makeup artist, Ashunta Sheriff has worked with the starlet to enhance and maintain her gorgeous glow since joining the Covergirl team. Below, she shares a few tips on how to get the Covergirl Queen Collection Brand Ambassador’s lovely look.

From perfecting your pout to dramatizing your gaze, the following beauty tutorials are a terrific way to master specific makeup applications.

Check out the videos below:

Click here for more videos!

Do you frequently visit YouTube for beauty how-tos?

Sneak Peek: “Sparkle” Trailer Featuring Whitney Houston

This morning Today exclusively revealed the first sneak peek of the much-anticipated Sparkle movie. Scheduled to be released in theaters August 17, the remake of the 1976 film is directed by Mara Brock and Salim Akil (creators of The Game) and stars the late Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Tika Sumpter, Derek Luke, and Mike Epps.

Jordin Sparks and Whitney Houston in the movie, Sparkle.

Watch the trailer below:

Are you looking forward to seeing this film when it’s released in August?

Sponsored – Aveeno’s Beautiful Change Challenge Part 2

We’ve all seen those tabloid spreads, “Stars Without Makeup,” but unlike some who scrutinize and ridicule celebrities who are caught out there without their “game face,” I find it empowering. When these women step out in the midst of paparazzi without a stitch of makeup I think it shows that they’re secure in their own skin, which is admirable. OK, some of them may not exactly intend to be plastered on the cover of these publications, but they still walked outside their homes without the help of a glam squad.


As women we all have days when we’d rather skip our beauty routines and brave the world bare-faced or throw on a baseball cap to cover our unpresentable strands. But, many of us have to take baby steps, namely me!  Once I decided to take part in this Aveeno challenge, I reflected on my daily beauty routine and recognized that I spend an unnecessarily long time getting ready.

In an effort to simplify, switch, and speed up my morning beautifying routine, I decided to give my hair a break and opt for a one-sided braid. It’s super easy to do and it’s a refreshing change from my usual topknot or two-strand twists. I’ve also simplified my daily makeup application. For a few weeks I’ve been using tinted moisturizers with SPF 30 instead of concealers or foundation. Admittedly, I can only do this because I’m not currently suffering from any discolorations or hyper-pigmentation.

Me wearing a side-bun and braid. 

New AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL™ lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair. Learn more here http://bit.ly/A1cjWg

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by AVEENO® via Glam Media. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of AVEENO®”