The Beauty Carnival | Essence Beauty and Style Expo

The ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola® will hold a first-ever “Beauty Carnival” during this year’s Beauty & Style Expo, the ultimate experience in all things beauty and glam. As the premier beauty authority for Black women, Essence is expecting this new, interactive event to be one of the highlights of the Festival’s daytime programming at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, LA from June 30–July 2, 2017 daily from 10 am-6 pm.

Free and open to the public, the 3-day “Beauty Carnival” will feature exciting revelries for festivalgoers:

  • Beauty School: Tutorials, seminars on new looks, tools and styles from expert beauty bloggers and stylists
  • Beauty Boss: Hear from ESSENCE editors, beauty bloggers and celeb stylists on hot topics and trends
  • Street Style: Get styled to the hilt and walk the runway in a live fashion show featuring members of the audience
  • Plus, artist interviews with beauty & fashion icons and much more!

E! News Freestyle Host Zuri Hall will host the Beauty & Style stage, with appearances from WE TV personality & celebrity hair stylist Kim Kimble, unapologetically natural Mushiya, YouTube sensations GlamTwinz, natural hair vlogger MahoganyCurls, beauty vlogger and entrepreneur Ellarie, Grammy-winning musician India.Arie, singer-songwriter Tweet, Jillian Hervey of electro soul duo Lion Babe, celebrity hair stylist Vernon François and many more to be announced.

Beauty & Style sponsors & partners include: My Black is Beautiful, Walmart, Crème of Nature, Palmers, Cantu and Strength of Nature. Registration for the 2017 ESSENCE Festival®Beauty & Style Expo is now live! Download the 2017 Essence Festival App to register for the Beauty & Style Expo today.

Fourth Of July Packing Essentials

Be sure to pack your bag this Fourth of July with essentials that will keep the festivities going from the pool party to the fireworks show!

Cool off your sun-kissed skin using the KORRES Greek Yoghurt After- Sun Cooling Gel, an ultra-cooling cream gel that immediately provides long-lasting freshness and comfort to the face and body. Ideal for after sun exposure, nourishing Greek Yoghurt hydrates the skin, instantly relieving excessive heat and stinging. Cooling Gel helps reduce skin redness and prolong suntan ($26; Sephora.com).

Feel fresh all day with Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Deodorant Collection. Get superior odor protection with this award-winning, aluminum-free deodorant that is 100 percent natural, safe, and effective. Soothing essential oils blend with beta-glucan technology to fight odor effectively, while soothing, conditioning, and nourishing the delicate underarm area. It goes on clean, with no sticky wetness, and delivers long-lasting, luxurious results ($14; Lavanila.com).

Change up your look for the night with Hairdo’s Simply Straight Pony. Measuring 18″ long, this wrap-around piece instantly adds length, verve and volume to your ponytail. Easily place the pony high, low or to the side. This hairpiece features a strip of hair that wraps around the holder and fastens it in with a hook-and-loop strip to conceal where the ponytail meets your own hair. Made with Tru2Life® heat-friendly synthetic hair that can be flat-ironed, curled or blown out ($49; Ulta and Ulta.com).

Celebrate the holiday by popping Cuvée Beauty’s Champagne Spray! A styling spray that creates definition for a lived-in, tousled look. This signature product creates elegant movement and effortless waves for a piece-y modern silhouette. Our lightweight formula has a clean feel leaving you with second day hair every day ($45; Revolve.com).

It’s back and better than ever – Dana’s Bakery All American Pie Box featuring Cherry, Apple, and Blueberry Pie macarons just in time for Independence Day! Whether you’re the host of the party or attending a party, these macs are the perfect dessert for any Independence Day BBQ. Available now for pre-order ($35 for a box of 12 macarons; DanasBakery.com).

EveryHue Beauty Product Launch – Gizelle Bryant

Gizelle Bryant is a socialite and cast member on The Real Housewives of Potomac.  Her role on the reality show is a sassy, sophisticated mom with a goal of becoming apart of the beauty industry.

Aside from entertainment, Gizelle is an accomplished Hampton University graduate with a new business venture.  She has launched a cosmetics line for multiethnic women.  EveryHue Beauty offers a variety of products, starting with Tinted Moisturizer, Foundation Brush, and Beauty Sponge.

The tinted moisturizer comes in twelve shades ranging from fair to darker skin tones.  It’s an essential beauty staple in the summer months because of the moisturizer’s lightweight with nourishing vitamins.

Check out the website to learn more about the products:  EveryHueBeauty.com 

If you like this post, click HERE

NEW from Mally Beauty – Summer Product Launch

Mally Beauty Instantly Impactful Mascara

Mally Beauty Instantly Impactful Mascara is infused with avocado oils and vitamin B5 to condition and preserve healthy, strong and nourished lashes.

Its formula is intensely pigmented, while its wand separates each lash for the perfect definition without clumping or flaking

Price: $20.00

Where to Buy: www.mallybeauty.com

Mally Beauty Evercolor Brow Defining Gel

Mally Beauty’s Evercolor Brown Defining Gel has a long-wearing, water resistant and matte finish formula that holds brows in place without smudging. The product’s packaging has a special mesh cover that dispenses the right amount of product every time. It comes with a double-ended spoolie and brow brush for flawless application.

Available in: Everyday Nudes Palette and Everyday Deep Neutrals Palette

Price: $31.00

Where to Buy: www.MallyBeauty.com

Mally Beauty Open Up! Eye Shadow Quads

Mally Beauty Open Up! Eye Shadow Quads are formulated with nourishing coconut butter and talc free powder that lasts all day for any look. Each quad contains matter and shimmer shades to create gorgois looks every day. The shades are universally flattering, while they also are made to highlight, shape and enhance eyes.

Available in: Taupe, Medium Brown and Sable

Price: $28.00

Where to Buy: www.MallyBeauty.com

Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Eye Shadows – Velvet

Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Eye Shadows – Velvet are a primer, eye shadow and liner all in one. Now available in a velvet matte finish, the Evercolor Shadow Stick Extra Velvet blend perfectly without dragging or tugging your eyes. They are the perfect products to subtle contouring and highlighting. Its formula leaves a smudge-proof, crease-proof and transfer-proof look that lasts all day.

Available in: Dusty Rose, Slate, Peacock and Sand

Price: $25.00

Where to Buy: www.mallybeauty.com

ESSENCE ANNOUNCES FESTIVAL¹S STAR-STUDDED CELEBRITY LINE-UP FOR DAYTIME EXPERIENCE

The talent line-up continues to heat up for the 2017 ESSENCE Festival® presented by Coca-Cola®. The Festival will offer even more celebrity access, television and film sneak peeks and exclusive performances than ever before, rounding out the event’s daytime experience—which is free and open-to-the-public—taking place June 30-July 2 in New Orleans.

JUNE 30-JULY 2, FREE—ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER

IYANLA VANZANT                      JADA PINKETT SMITH                CONGRESSWOMAN MAXINE WATERS                      AVA DUVERNAY

MARY J. BLIGE          REGINA HALL            REV. AL SHARPTON QUEEN LATIFAH                         MASTER P                  ISSA RAE

TINA KNOWLES-LAWSON                          CECE WINANS           JOHN SINGLETON                      MARA BROCK-AKIL

LARENZ TATE             BRYSHERE Y. GRAY                   MONICA                   INDIA.ARIE                 MC LYTE                    TWEET                        TIFFANY HADDISH                     MICHAEL ERIC DYSON                                JAY ELLIS                           XSCAPE                                        JOSEPH SIKORA                          TA’RHONDA JONES                                                       YVONNE ORIJI

LETOYA LUCKETT                       CORY HARDRICT                                          BJ THE CHICAGO KID                                  ELLE VARNER            SYBRINA FULTON                      PHAEDRA PARKS                       EMILY ESTEFAN                                         DONDRE WHITFIELD                 RUTINA WESLEY                         CISSY HOUSTON                                          KOFI SIRIBOE             TINA LIFFORD                             DAWN-LYEN GARDNER                             BRANDON BELL

KIM BURRELL                             KELLY PRICE                                GALLANT                                     JUDE DEMOREST

RYAN DESTINY                           DEMETRIA MCKINNEY              BRITTANY O’GRADY

 

For more information, visit www.essencefestival.com, follow us on Twitter @essencefest #EssenceFest and become a fan of 2017 ESSENCE Festival on Facebook.

The 2017 ESSENCE Festival App is now available for iPhone and Android users.

Sponsors of the 2017 ESSENCE Festival® include presenting sponsor Coca-Cola and major sponsors Ford, McDonald’s, State Farm, Verizon, and Walmart.  Superlounge sponsors include Coca-Cola, Ford and Walmart.   The All-Star Gospel Tribute is sponsored by Walmart.

Scent Trunk.com | Customizable Summer Fragrance Review

If you haven’t heard of Scent Trunk, you can thank me after this post. Scent Trunk is an innovative company that allows customers to create their own individual fragrance.  It’s an intriguing process, especially for those with seasonal allergies or seeking a unique smell.

Featured Photo from Fragrantice.com

After receiving the kit, start by taking the scent (or sniff) test, select your favorite fragrance, and log the information into your account. 

Scent Trunk will ship your personalized fragrance in a few days.  I had a lot of fun creating my scent and excited to receive the package.  

My fragrance smelled wonderful!  For an authentic review, I decided to wear it for an outside family barbecue.  It’s safe to say I smelled amazing and no need to reapply.  Living in a warmer climate, your body has a tendency to change and need a fragrance that will withstand the weather.  

Try it for yourself, visit ScentTrunk.com and let us know your experience here!

Ride the Waves with Bed Head this Summer

The beach isn’t the only place you can enjoy the waves this summer. With Bed Head’s exclusive Waver Tools, you can create envious waves anywhere you go.

The A Wave We Go Waver and the Wave Artist have endless possibilities for luscious waves, whether you desire a tousled, loose, or defined look. With tourmaline ceramic technology, you can expect soft, shiny waves are bound to turn heads. Get ready to ride the waves with Bed Head!

A Wave We Go Tourmaline Ceramic Adjustable Waver (MSRP: $39.99) The Bed Head A Wave We Go Tourmaline Ceramic Adjustable Waver lets you take control of your waves by rotating the adjustable barrel to the exact level of wave you want. Available at Ulta.com, Target.com, Amazon.com.

Wave Artist Tourmaline Ceramic Deep Waver (MSRP: $29.99) For distinctive masterfully sculpted waves that has everyone talking, the Bed Head Wave Artist Tourmaline Ceramic Deep Waver turns your hair into a work of art with softer, shinier waves without frizz.

 

Essence Festival 2017 – Media Passes & Lineup

Essence Festival 2017 is only a few weeks away and we have received official media passes.  What does that mean?  Style + Life + Fashion will share behind the scenes style photos, celebrity interviews, and video clips.

Aside from real-time micro blogging via social media (don’t forget to follow the hashtag #EssenceFestSLF ) there will be an official event recap sharing details from the Beauty and Style Expo, Entertainment Access, and much more.

The 2017 Lineup will include:

If you like this post, click here – What To Wear:  6 Tips For Music Festival Season

7 Do’s for a Sexy Decolletage

For women of all ages, sallow, dull, or creppy skin can make the chest area or décolletage appear older than it is. Factor in side-sleeping where for hours at a time, your breasts are at battle with gravity leading to deeper lines in the neck and chest. Luckily, there are advancements and solutions available to bring back the glow to the beautiful feminine décolletage. Dr. Lenny Hochstein, world renowned board-certified plastic surgeon based in Miami, Florida and owner of the city’s newest state-of-the-art Hochstein MedSpa, and his team of licensed aestheticians, offer insights on how to achieve and maintain a sexy décolletage.

  1. Go topical.

There are plenty of things women can do to prevent chest area skin from aging such as applying high-quality, medical-grade skin care products. There are plenty of wrinkle creams on the market. The key is to look for ones with alpha and beta hydroxy acids, retinol, Vitamin C and E, and growth factors. These will reduce the appearance of wrinkles. “This is great for prevention and maintenance. Using creams in your 20’s and 30’s really does help skin retain elasticity and its ability to produce collagen,” explains Larisa Belyakova, Hochstein MedSpa licensed aesthetician.

  1. Consider lasers.

Lasers will certainly offer that healthy glow, since they are the most powerful tool to address both discoloration and texture imperfections.

“One of the lasers we have had success with in the chest region is the HALO treatment, the world’s first hybrid fractional laser. It’s strong! Results to skin tone and texture are visible after the first treatment,” explains Dr. Lenny Hochstein who prides himself on being incredibly selective about the results-driven treatments he offers. “The HALO is a type of a fractional laser which allows us to obtain optimal results with reduced healing time,” he adds.

There are other options as well. “The other device used for chest rejuvenation is called BBL (broad band light). This treatment is the most effective on the market for clearing up sun damage spots and reducing redness,” adds Jenya Titova, Hochstein’s certified Physician’s Assistant who vast expertise in lasers spans 12 years.

An issue of concern to women are stretch marks to the breast area. “Another laser often used on the chest area is E-matrix. This technology reduces the appearance of scars and stretch marks on the breast,” Jenya adds.

  1. Try a chemical peel and/or a microdermabrasion.

If the skin itself is supple, microdermabrasion could work very well to address skin elasticity, texture, tone and overall appearance. It’s a less expensive option than lasers. Chemical peels work at the cellular level, smoothing the fine lines in the chest area with very little downtime. There are varying strengths available so it is very important to have an experienced person administer peels. Microdermabrasion and peels are usually recommended in packages of 3 or 4, performed several weeks apart.

 

  1. Hydrafacial

 

This is of the newest treatments that brings out the healthy radiance and glow to the skin of the décolletage area. “It is a high- tech equipment operated procedure that includes several steps, such as deep cleansing, exfoliation, antiaging light treatment and application of powerful antioxidants. Well hydrated and nourished skin on the chest is the immediate and lasting result of this treatment,” explains Hochstein MedSpa Licensed aesthetician, Capri Colello.

 

  1.  Micro-needling

 

Micro-needling is a process where a small roller is rolled over the skin creating tiny punctures in the top skin layer. This phase of the treatment triggers a wound healing response in the body. Collagen levels are boosted as the skin regenerates itself leading to skin thickening, scars fading and smoothing of fine lines. Peptides and antioxidant serums are applied and massaged into the skin at the end. “What’s interesting to note about micro-needling is that the skin is essentially put into a healing, rejuvenation mode lasting for several months after the first session takes place. Skin looks better over time. To maintain results it’s advised to repeat the treatment at least 3-4 times,” advises Hochstein.

  1. PRP (Platelet Rich Plasma)

Microneedling described above, can be enhanced with a very powerful collagen building treatment using your own plasma. “The treatment requires that we draw a small blood sample to extract the concentrated platelet cells out of it. These cells have a natural ability of healing by building new elastic and collagen layer. Fine lines and wrinkles on the chest respond wonderfully to this procedure, with no discomfort, side effects or downtime” says Dr. Hochstein.

  1. Get smart about sunscreen.

Regardless of what treatment option you choose optimal skin protection is key. “You go through a series of treatments. The last thing you want to do is damage skin and get into this cycle of damage, treat, damage treat,” explains Dr. Hochstein. “You can’t invest $6000 on skin treatments and think a $9.00 bottle of basic sunscreen is going to protect you,” he adds. Any physician will suggest using a sunscreen that offers broad spectrum UVA and UVB protection. “The best results are found when the patient ‘protects the procedure’ and takes preventative measures recommended by their skin care professional,” he recommends.

About the experts:

Dr. Lenny Hochstein is a board certified plastic surgeon in Miami, Florida. World renowned for his meticulous attention to detail, symmetry and overall excellence, including published scientific papers, awards, early entry directly into medical school where he graduated valedictorian; Dr. Hochstein has two decades of experience, over 23,000 surgeries with breast augmentation as his main specialty. His dual accreditation of American Board of Plastic Surgery and American Society of Plastic Surgeons speaks to his high standards and reputation of providing exceptional care to all his patients. In 2017, Dr. Lenny Hochstein added Hochstein MedSpa to his Miami practice to offer lesser invasive treatments and anti-aging solutions adhering to the same values of high standards and quality. Anyone selected to be on his team must be exceptional, credentialed and committed to offering excellent care.

Jenya Titova, board certified Physician Assistant with 12 years of experience in aesthetic field, is Dr. Hochstein’s right hand at Hochstein MedSpa. She is highly skilled in areas of laser medicine and injectable treatments. His wonderful licensed aestheticians, Larisa Belyakova and Capri Colello are also great assets of his skin care team, delivering personalized, quality-driven approach to their patients.

Get the Look – CFDA Awards Hairstyles

One of the biggest nights in fashion, The CFDA Awards, was a star-studded event which celebrated the achievements of the most talented individuals in fashion. Recreate some of the best hairstyles from last night and channel your inner celeb with Hairdo Extensions and Accessories!

Get Bella Hadid’s look in an instant with Hairdo Clip-In Bangs! These bangs blend seamlessly with your own hair. This 5″ long blunt cut bang with 9 1/2″ face-framing sides can be trimmed by a professional stylist if needed, and is available in a variety of salon-inspired colors. Going out with a bang has never been so much fun—or so commitment-free! ($29; Extensions.com)

Rock full, long locks like Ashley Benson with the Hairdo Invisible Extension. Get mega-watt length and volume in seconds with this 20″ halo extension. Just slip it on like a headband and pull your own hair over it—the ingenious and inconspicuous design blends in seamlessly. The synthetic Tru2Life® fibers can be heat-styled to create any look ($79; Ulta and Ulta.com).

Recreate Hailey Baldwin’s tousled pony with the Hairdo 23” Long Wave Pony! This 23” Long Wave Pony features Tru2Life® heat-friendly synthetic hair that can be flat-ironed, curled or blown out, and has a long, smooth band of wrap-around hair that securely attaches with a hook-and-loop fastening strip for a look that’s seamless. ($59; Ulta and Ulta.com)

*Note: These celebrities are not wearing Hairdo products, but we wanted to show you how to get the look by using them.