Month: March 2020

Beauty /

ESSENCE LAUNCHES NEW DIGITAL SERIES FOCUSED ON THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON BLACK AMERICA

ESSENCE Communications Inc., the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women, today announced a new digital series focused on providing Black women and communities with the tools and information needed to address issues arising from the COVID-19 global pandemic. The series, ESSENCE Wellness House: A Virtual Summit, Episode One: Taking Care in the Wake of a Global Pandemic, will include live online experiences that promote physical, mental, emotional, occupational, financial and entrepreneurial well-being during this unprecedented time.  ESSENCE Wellness House series will be powered by Quantasy.

ESSENCE Wellness House: A Virtual Summit will kick off with the first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness House on Tuesday, March 31st, and Wednesday, April 1st from 9:00 A.M.–4:30 P.M. (ET).  The ESSENCE Wellness House will be streamed live on ESSENCE Studios via Essence.com and will offer resources for physical, emotional and financial wellness.  The free, two-day virtual summit will convene some of the top wellness practitioners, medical professionals, and leading experts and influencers. All participants waived their honorariums in lieu of a charitable contribution that ESSENCE will make to the partnership effort between National Action Network (NAN) and World Central Kitchen to deliver thousands of hot and cold meals daily to those in need.

Transforming a key offline experience to an online platform, the virtual ESSENCE Wellness House furthers ESSENCE’s 50-year commitment to supporting Black women’s health and livelihood. The summit’s robust digital experiences will include meditation, wellness tips, cooking workshops, fitness workouts, storytime for children, virtual dance parties and more. Highlights of the virtual ESSENCE Wellness House include:

  • Morning Meditations led by Faith Hunter
  • Uplifting inspirational messages by Iyanla Vanzant, Michael Beckwith, and Pastor A.R. Bernard
  • Get the facts about COVID-19 and boosting your immunity with Dr. Patrice Harris, MD., M.A., and Dr. Lauren Powell
  • Get tips on how to stay mentally sane with Charlamagne Tha God and advice on how to handle your loved ones with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and Dr. Sherry Blake
  • Learn how to manage your money with Tiffany Aliche “The Budgetnista”
  • Discover hassle-free food recipes with Gina Neely
  • Get tips on fun DIY projects for your kids with Rosalynn Daniels
  • Get your body moving with Brukwine dance moves and body-sculpting workouts with ShaNay Norvell
  • And the bonus of a children’s storytime reading by LeVar Burton

“As we come together to safely get through the COVID-19 crisis, it is critical that we do not allow social distancing to morph into social disconnection,” said Richelieu Dennis, founder, and chair of Essence Ventures, the parent company of Essence Communications, Inc.  “So, ESSENCE is leveraging its platform and resources for the continued creation, convening and empowerment of the community.  We know that health disparities in our community have widened with the increase in economic inequality and that more prevalent underlying health conditions can increase the incidences of severe and potentially fatal cases of COVID-19.  We also know that necessary measures taken to reduce the spread of the virus, such as social distancing and business closures, are likely to have a more significant economic impact on our communities and small businesses.  So, more than ever, access to empowering information and opportunities is vital, and the health of Black women, their families, and our communities depends on it.”

Beauty /

JUNE AMBROSE & KIM KIMBLE JOIN TODAY’S #BETHOUSEPARTY IG LIVE

BET is engaging and supporting fans during the COVID-19 crisis with the launch of its daily curated content series, #BETHouseParty, designed to inspire, entertain, inform and empower our community. The BET Digital live series features programming ranging from musical performances and DJ sets to master classes, lifestyle hacks and more. #BETHouseParty joins ViacomCBS’ social distancing campaign #AloneTogether in partnership with the Ad Council and the U.S. government to support fans during the global pandemic. The series kicked off on IG Live, yesterday March 29, with the Grammy-award winning, Kirk Franklin, who presented an unforgettable praise party with special guests award-winning producer and best-selling author, DeVon Franklin, and award-winning gospel singer Erica Campbell. For the daily #BETHouseParty schedule, updates, and to join the conversation follow @BET.

Today, March 30, #BETHouseParty will feature ‘Real Talk,’ a conversation, with legendary stylist June Ambrose (@juneAmbrose) at 3 PM ET, and celebrity hairstylist Kim Kimble (@KimbleHaircare) at 3:35 PM ET who will both share some of their go-to tips and lessons they both have learned over their expansive career.

BET HOUSE PARTY

This week the series will feature a COVID-related health and wellness Q & A with Dr. Arabia Mollette, which will be followed by a dance/fitness class and more!

 

Birmingham /

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Launches When Resilience Speaks: A Community Response to COVID-19

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute has launched an online community participation project for people across all generations to share their views and experiences during the COVID-19 crisis. Called “When Resilience Speaks: A Community Response to COVID-19,” youth and adults can share their stories by virtually any medium including videos, social posts, telephone, email and through the BCRI website.
This participatory project seeks to attract people of all ages, races, and backgrounds to share their perspectives on the COVID-19 pandemic, mainly how it is transforming their everyday lives and how it compares with other historic events during the past 100 years. Stories collected through When Resilience Speaks will be shared with the community in real-time and could form the nucleus of an exhibition to be curated and exhibited in the BCRI at a future date.
The first question to the public is “How is the COVID-19 pandemic changing our community?” People can give their answers by:
BCRI President and CEO Andrea L. Taylor said the Institute has a great tradition of collecting oral histories about the experiences of activists and eyewitnesses to history here, as in exhibits such as “Foot Soldiers” and “Voices of Alabama,” which document history through the voices of the people who lived it.
“We believe this moment of social and economic upheaval is exactly the right time to gauge where we are as a society. We want the perspectives of people who have already lived through other crises, and the voices of young people who have such valuable input and new ideas about next steps,” she said. “The physical doors of our Institute may be closed right now, but we’re throwing open the doors to community dialog that technology affords us. It’s a key part of our mission to engage the public in meaningful dialog, and future generations will have the benefit of our having it documented as well.”
Taylor said “When Resilience Speaks” gets its name from the resilience shown by leaders of the Civil Rights Movement and other human rights struggles, and that similar resilience will be needed by the present generation to cope with crises like COVID-19. She also added that the BCRI consulted with a clinical psychologist on the efficacy of the project and to help frame social questions posed by the effort. Plans are also in development for the BCRI’s Legacy Youth Leadership Program to interview Civil Rights Foot Soldiers about their perspectives on this and other issues as well, she said.
About the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI). An affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, and part of the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument, the BCRI is a cultural and educational research center that promotes a comprehensive understanding of the significance of civil rights developments in Birmingham that changed our world. Celebrating its 27th anniversary, BCRI reaches more than 150,000 individuals each year through teacher education (including curriculum development and teacher training), group tours, outreach programs (school and community), award-winning after-school and public programs, exhibitions, and extensive archival collections. For more information, visit www.bcri.org.

Beauty /

GLAMOUR REVEALS WINNERS OF 2020 BEAUTY AWARDS

In times of uncertainty, there’s an undeniable comfort in the daily rituals that bring us joy. After months of testing, Glamour today revealed the 249 winning products of its 15th annual Beauty Awards.

New for 2020, we’ve introduced a sustainability category. Whatever beauty may look like for consumers right now, from prepping for camera zoom meetings to needed self-care beauty routines, Glamour has all the products covered from sunscreens to masks to lipsticks, and more.

The winners were selected by 47 judges at the top of the beauty industry including licensed esthetician and Then I Met You skincare founder Charlotte Cho, celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez, whose clients include Kerry Washington and Mindy Kaling, and New York Times columnist, Ellis Brooklyn.

Check out the full list of winners HERE, and the Reader’s Choice HERE.

Check out the Shopping Galleries below:

Beauty /

Quarantined Beauty Routine: How To Remove Dipping Powder or Gel Polish

At some point, we will leave our homes.  Why not enter the world with glowing skin and healthy nails?  During this time, it’s easy to become lazy.  The phrase that comes to mind, nobody will see me right?

Although that may be true, the effects of neglecting yourself can have an impact.  One simple self-care tip is to do a manicure at home.

Featured Photo from Good Housekeeping.com

Many people are puzzled about removing their previous nail applications.  Before being quarantined, everyone retreated to their favorite salon for either dipping powder or gel polish.  Now there’s a question, “How do I remove this?”

With a few simple steps, you can remove your dipping powder/gel polish and have a manicured hand from the comfort of your home.

Dipping Powder Removal
  1. File down the powder with a buffer block.  At least to the point, where the nail polish has been removed.
  2. Soak the nails in a bowl of acetone for 15-20 minutes or place acetone in a cotton ball and wrap with foil.
  3. Wipe away the solution as it soaks off.

Please note, the solution can be messy as it’s removed.  Be sure to place a towel underneath the nails!

Bonus Tip: The last step, soak your nails in warm oil to restore the health of the nails.

Gel Polish Removal
  1.  File the nail until the top layer of the polish is partially removed.
  2.  Soak the nails in a bowl of acetone for 10-15 minutes.  The remaining polish will start to peel up.
  3. Use a metal nail stick to scrap the remaining pieces of polish.  If the polish will not bulge, use a file on the nails.
  4. Soak your nails in cuticle oil for 5 minutes to restore the health of the nails.

 

At-Home Gel Manicure Removal Video 

 

If you want to take at-home manicure to the next level, invest in a professional manicure/pedicure kit from Amazon.

This small machine ranges in price starting at $25.00 and up.  The longterm investment is that you can have a ready-made manicure any time!

Another trendy option, in the meantime, is to try Press-On Nails.

Accessories /

Homebound Survival Tips: Snakeskin Trendy Accessories #WIW or #OOTD

The last few weeks have been interesting.  Our nation was called to a state of an emergency due to the Coronavirus.  None of us anticipated being in our homes 24 Hours straight; let alone unable to shop for ordinary household items.

This has definitely a time period to reflect upon your priorities and not take simple things for granted.

How are we all surviving?  Some of us are keeping a positive mindset while others are missing the days of careless walks down the street.

Either way, there are moments in our life when we may have to stay home for extended periods of time.

When you have a baby, the doctor might prescribe being home consistently for a week.  When we’re suffering from an illness, depending on the severity, there could be much-needed time at home.

Take a look at the tips for surviving the highs and lows of being homebound.  If you can think of anything else, please share it with this site.

Homebound Survival Tips:

  1. Order groceries online from stores such as Amazon, Aldi, or Publix.
  2. Create menus for your family.  The reality is that we have to eat!
  3. Schedule time periods to watch the news; either morning or night.
  4. Video chat, text, or start a group communication channel.
  5. Gift little kids’ toys during peak time periods when they may become restless.
  6. Cut-back on normal portion sizes on items.  For example, if you would normally use 2 tbsp of coffee grinds use 1 tbsp.
  7. Find unconventional ways to use items.  An egg carton could hold craft paint or beads.
  8. Read inspirational books and incorporate prayer into your daily routine.
What I Wore or Outfit of The Day

In the photo below, I’m returning to my desk after a meeting.  This was taken weeks before we were quarantined to be in our homes!

I want to encourage fashionista’s to mix trendy accessories with your classic wardrobe.  This is a simple way to refresh your outfits and get a new look!

Snakeskin Booties:  JCPenney | Belt:  Express | Blazer:  H&M

If you like this post click here:  QUARANTINED BEAUTY ROUTINE: HOW TO REMOVE DIPPING POWDER OR GEL POLISH

Uncategorized /

Online Discounts From Unique Beauty and Wellness Brands: Self-Care

With so much uncertainty in the world right now, people need a way to cope with the stress and take their minds off the quarantine reality.

For me, I like to dabble in retail therapy when I’m stressed but as we all know, that’s a little difficult right now. Self-care of the body, mind, and spirit is crucial at all times, particularly through the next few weeks.   

Brands For Consideration:

Dionis Goat Milk Skincare: Receive FREE shipping on all hand soap purchases, use code FREESHIPMARCH

Offering FREE SHIPPING on their rich and creamy Goat Milk Hand Soap. The concentrated formula deeply cleans and moisturizes your hands without leaving them dry. Dionis Goat Milk Skincare products are made in the U.S.A. They’re free from cruelty, parabens, gluten, and sulfates.

Mer-Sea & Co. GET 10% OFF orders over $125. Code: SAVE10

Mer-Sea & Co brings the world to you through all of their beach wraps, candles, travel wraps, and sweaters. Whether you’re looking for a travel wrap or comfortable sweater to keep you warm and cozy on your flight (or WFH day), or you’re dreaming of the sea while lighting one of their hand-poured soy wax candles at home, they have something for you.

UNICO Nutrition – Stacks: Take $8.00 off any stack with code WINTER8.

Get faster results and save money with UNICO Nutrition’s optimized workout supplement bundles. Grab their top-selling Total Spectrum Stack for total body transformation, or the popular Daily Diva Stack for peak athletic performance.  UNICO Nutrition is a boutique wellness and sports nutrition company that makes premium meal replacement shakes, greens supplements, pre-workout drinks, vitamins, collagen, weight-loss supplements and more.

SoapCreek Company: Free Shipping on All Orders of $50.00 or More

As a certified organic company, SoapCreek Company is dedicated to making the world better, one bar at a time.  Each bar of soap is handcrafted in the U.S.A and has generous amounts of additives sourced both locally and worldwide.  Their motive is to create the very finest natural body care products. Each batch of soap is meticulously mixed by hand then lovingly shaped into a unique artistic design. SoapCreek products are not only pleasing to the eye but are brimming over with completely natural essential nutrients and luscious moisturizing agents.

SmileNV: Free Shipping on All Orders

SmileNV has been producing whitening gels for dental professionals for over a decade now.  Until the launch of SmileNV, the patented formula was only available to buy through your dentist but now, the next generation of teeth whitening can be delivered straight to your door.  SmileNV is the only at home dentist-approved whitening gel powered by CP+, SmileNV’s patented formula. This whitening gel is twice as effective when compared to a whitening gel that doesn’t contain CP+ and takes a lot less time and you get much faster results.

Beauty /

ESSENCE DIGITAL COVER: BLACK WOMEN IN BEAUTY

ESSENCE’s newest digital cover features 17 game-changing Black women working in the beauty industry who demonstrate that pretty can be powerful in business as well as in everyday life. In the story Beautiful Minds, ESSENCE shines a light on beauty bosses who are each positioned at some of the biggest brands in the world and making their presence felt. Meet these inspiring executives and learn why their efforts mean so much to them–and to women of color everywhere. For more on this latest issue, visit ESSENCE.com.

Entertainment /

STATEMENT ON THE 2020 ESSENCE FESTIVAL OF CULTURE

“We know that we are all focused on the health of ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities, and with 16 weeks until the scheduled 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, we wanted to provide an update to our community and partners regarding our plans in light of coronavirus/COVID-19.

Our first priority will always be the safety and well-being of our Festival-goers and everyone who contributes to making the Essence Festival of Culture such an enriching, entertaining and incredible experience, and we will continue to evaluate the situation and use all available resources and intelligence to that end.  We are closely monitoring the unfolding developments and updated information from the World Health Organization (WHO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), public health agencies and our partners in the City of New Orleans and State of Louisiana. 

Based on the latest information, including increasing public health interventions and measures being implemented domestically and internationally, and the considerable amount of time to assess and respond to developments between now and July, we are planning to proceed with the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture as currently scheduled, July 1-5 in New Orleans.  Still, as a precautionary and proactive measure and with health as the foremost consideration, we are also identifying and securing alternate dates to ensure that we can adjust as quickly and seamlessly as possible in the event that circumstances require.  Should that happen, we will honor all tickets sold for prior scheduled dates.

In the meantime, we are excited to share more about our daytime empowerment programming and our nighttime concert line-up — including headliners Bruno Mars and Janet Jackson — as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of ESSENCE and look forward to seeing everyone in July.

‘ESSENCE is a multi-cultural, multi-generational treasure in the City of New Orleans and this year, with the return to Ghana, we’ve come full circle,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell, Mayor of New Orleans.  ‘However, with the commemoration of our past, we must lean on wisdom and sound judgement to shape our future.  Public health and public safety will always remain top priorities.  As we continue to monitor the spread of COVID-19, know that we are taking every precaution to operate in the best interest of the attendees who make ESSENCE what it is.’

ESSENCE will continue to provide updates to our valued community of Festival-goers and partners regarding any new developments.”

Accessories /

Faux Fur Jacket and Seamless Fleece Leggings: #WIW or #OOTD College Alumni Mixer Event

There’s something about getting a bit older that makes you become sentimental.  You began to reminisce about the carefree days of hanging out with your best college crew!

Those days involved hitting the laundry mat, unsolicited dating advice, and last-minute cramming.  To help us stay better connected the alumni group hosted a pop-up event.  As always, I didn’t know what to wear because I was getting over a cold and had a busy consulting week.

The Furget Me Not Jacket I’m seen in is from Zeal Boutique; it was purchased while attending another event.  Don’t be misguided, it’s actually one of the warmest jackets in my wardrobe!  The texture is soft like a blanket and the outer fridge adds a touch of style.

Again, the goal was to stay warm, so I ordered a pair of fleece-lined leggings, draped camisole, and wore my snakeskin booties.

We had a great night and my outfit was fashionable and functional.  Yes, I have several maroon pieces because it’s the colors of my alma mater.

Faux Fur Jacket:  similar | Cami Top:  Amazon | Seamless Fleece Leggings:  Amazon | Snakeskin Booties:  similar