Category: Beauty

Beauty /

Kinkistry Customized Extensions: Protect Your Natural Hair and Avoid Breakage

I am so excited to introduce you to Kinkistry, designed for women of color! Learn to love and protect your every curl, kink, and coil with Kinkistry–the ultimate all-natural hair solution designed for women of color.

From clip-ins and wigs to wefted hair and drawstring ponytails, their 100% Virgin human hair extensions are made to blend in seamlessly with your hair’s texture so you can achieve the style you want while indulging your inner naturalista.

Their quick and easy design takes the fuss out of your beauty routine so you can focus on picking the perfect dress for date night, cramming in your last study session before class, or for busy professionals looking for an easy stylish look without spending hours at the salon.

Kinkistry Details:

Designed exclusively to accentuate the hair of women of color

Available in 7 textures ranging from 3a-4c

Can be twisted, braided, or bantu knotted

Made with 100% Virgin human hair

Protect your natural hair and avoid breakage, heating tools and chemicals

  • Available in 4 product lines:

  1. Clip-Ins – Most popular and versatile solution – fill in and add volume in a snap!
  2. Wefted Hair & Closures – Longer-term protective style to boost your look.
  3. Drawstring Ponytail – No time? No problem. Look glam in seconds.
  4. Wigs –  Create instant wow.

Aren’t sure which curl pattern matches best? Kinkistry is the only natural hair extensions company to offer Personal Texture Matching so you can get the perfect natural look!

About:

Kinkistry is the brainchild of Angela Fite’, an African American Naturalista on a mission to wake up the beauty industry to the needs of women of color. Kinkistry delivers customized hair extensions for accentuating your every curl, kink, and coil.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty /

First-Ever Virtual Festival Includes Two UNSTOPPABLE Weekends of #ESSENCEFEST

WHAT:​           ESSENCE, the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women and communities, today announced new additions to its stellar line-up for the 2020 ESSENCE Festival of Culture: Unstoppable Virtual Experience Presented by Coca-Cola. Taking place June 25-28 and July 2-5 (Thursdays-Sundays) and streaming on ESSENCEStudios.com, the multi-day experience will extend to a global audience of viewers and feature virtual performances, summits, panels and more including leading musical artists, influencers and experts from around the world.

For the first time in the Festival’s 26-year history, the much-anticipated celebration – which annually draws more than 500,000 attendees and contributes almost $300 million in economic impact over July 4th weekend in New Orleans–will be produced as a fully virtual experience spanning two weekends of programming that entertain, empower, inspire, educate and mobilize. This year, in partnership with Michelle Obama’s national, nonpartisan organization, When We All Vote, ESSENCE will share voter registration and voting resources. The Festival will also include a benefit initiative to raise funds to support the critical needs and sustainability of Black and Brown entrepreneurs, micro and small businesses, and organizations focused on racial equity across the U.S. For an up-to-date artist lineup and schedule, click here.  The 2020 ESSENCE Festival is presented by Coca-Cola.  Major sponsors include Ford, McDonald’s, Walmart, My Black is Beautiful, P&G. For more information and to register, visit www.essencefestival.com.  Join the conversation via social @EssenceFest.

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WHO:​              NEWLY ANNOUNCED: First Lady Michelle Obama; Kerry Washington; Naomi Campbell; Lena Waithe; Ayesha and Stephen Curry; Rev. Al Sharpton; Marc Morial; Tamika Mallory; Tarana Burke; Jon Batiste; Chronixx; Michaela Coel; Wyclef; Iyanla Vanzant; Sarah Jessica Parker; Iman Shumpert & Teyana Taylor. PLUS: Marco Borges; Jemele Hill; Misa Hylton; Jeanette Jenkins; MC Lyte; Jodie Patterson; Michael Jai White & Gillian White; Ebonie K. Williams; and many more.

Previously announced performers include:

Headliner Bruno Mars plus: Amanda Black, Andra Day, Bell Biv Devoe (“BBD”), Burna Boy, Common, D-Nice, Damian Marley, Diamond Platnumz, Doug E. Fresh, Elephant Man, Estelle, India.Arie, John Legend, Ledisi, NAS, Patti LaBelle, Raphael Saadiq, Rapsody, Sauti Sol, Shaggy, Swizz Beatz, and more, hosted by Loni Love.  Leading a special tribute to the city of New Orleans will be Mayor LaToya Cantrell, PJ Morton, Big Freedia, Irma Thomas, Tank and The Bangas and Big 6 Brass Band.  Also, featured in the popular Sunday gospel Get Lifted celebration are Anita Wilson, Bri Babineaux, Erica Campbell, Fred Hammond, Greater Sound of Greater St. Stephen FGBC, Jonathan McReynolds, Kierra Sheard, Kirk Franklin, Koryn Hawthorne, Marvin Sapp, Tamela Mann, The Clark Sisters, The Walls Group, Tye Tribbett, and more, along with Sunday sermons from Bishop Paul S. Morton and Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Other culture-leaders and influencers raising their voices to speak include New Orleans, LA, Mayor LaToya Cantrell; Atlanta, GA, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms; Chicago, IL, Mayor Lori Lightfoot; Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser; Ferguson, MO, Mayor-Elect Ella Jones; San Francisco, CA, Mayor London Breed; Don Lemon; Ryan Michelle Bathe; Kirk and Tammy Franklin; Lori Harvey; Ryan Destiny; Lexi Underwood; Egypt Sherrod; Lisa Nichols; Master P.; Shaun T.; Tabitha Brown and more.

*Artists and schedules are subject to change.

 

WEEK 1 (6/25-6/28):
Beauty /

Miss USA, Miss America and HBCU Queens Speak on Black Beauty and Freedom

Guests Include Carole Gist (First Black Miss USA), Ericka Dunlap (Miss America 2004), Miss FAMU and Miss Jackson State

Miss USA, Miss America, and HBCU queens join together for a meaningful conversation about the origins of Juneteenth traditions and the intersection of Black beauty and Black freedom. The event is hosted by The Museum of Black Beauty.

WHEN: Thursday, June 18; 7 pm EST

WHERE: Via Zoom Meeting: https://zoom.us/j/95520342774

Meeting ID: 955 2034 2774
Via phone:

+13126266799,,95520342774# US (Chicago)

Beauty /

TEYANA TAYLOR ANNOUNCES NEW COLLECTION WITH M·A·C COSMETICS

M·A·C Cosmetics is excited to announce a highly anticipated, limited-edition makeup launch in collaboration with one of the most versatile entertainers of her generation, Teyana Taylor.

M·A·C  x Teyana Taylor collection has been over a year in the making, born out of a partnership between M·A·C and Teyana stemming from her authentic love for the brand and its artistry.

As a powerful, creative artist, Teyana taps into the spirit of individuality, is a trendsetter, and a true embodiment of M·A·C’s creative compass. Inspired by her love for classic 90’s fashion and beauty, Teyana worked alongside M·A·C to create her exclusive, multi-product collection – from the products, packaging, product names, and even the photoshoot. “I was inspired by the 90s and the heart & soul of Harlem and wanted to show that through the shades and packaging.” – Teyana Taylor.

Teyana has been a true fan of the brand since she was 15 years old and began mixing, matching, and playing with M·A·C products to develop her own finishes, colors, and textures. Her first memory was receiving a gift box filled with M·A·C products from special-deco collections like Hello Kitty and the iconic Alexander McQueen collaboration. The M·A·C x Teyana Taylor Collection was created to embody a new approach to beauty; encouraging fans to create their own version of her style and vibe.

“I’m very excited to be partnering with a company like M•A•C who I’ve watched collaborate with strong women of color over the years. I’ve been a fan of M•A•C ever since I was 15 years old and started experimenting with makeup, it was the first brand that made me like makeup. I’m so grateful and excited to be sharing this beautiful collection I created with the M•A•C team but also hoping to inspire other young women that anything and everything is possible.” – Teyana Taylor. “As a longtime friend of the brand, we’ve grown to know and love Teyana for having a style unlike anyone else.

She’s fierce, bold and unapologetically herself, no matter what she’s wearing – all qualities we stand for at M•A•C, and are so excited to bring to life through this new collaboration.” Ukonwa Ojo, Global Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, M•A•C Cosmetics.

As a Dancer, Choreographer, Actress, Model, Fitness aficionado, Songwriter, Producer, Director, and now M·A·C’s newest collaborator, Teyana embodies artistry boldly, originally and without boundaries. Stay tuned for more details about M·A·C X Teyana Taylor, coming soon.

 

Beauty /

Father’s Day: Gift Dad the Cure to His Quarantine-Beard Woes

Whether his facial hair is familiar or newly sprouted, chances are Dad’s whiskers are looking worse for wear. Thankfully, just in time for Father’s Day, men’s grooming leader Wahl has the cure for quarantine-beard woes:
You can’t ‘mess up’ by gifting the Wahl Lithium Ion Vacuum Trimmer. It wrangles wayward whiskers from coating the sink or covering the counter. It crushes the competition with the highest air velocity in the industry, capturing virtually all hair trimmings. Clean up is also a breeze with a hair canister that can either be removed and emptied, or popped open and dumped. MSRP $79.99 (available on Amazon)
With a little help from Wahl’s Beard Care Bundle, Dad’s whiskers can become worship-worthy. It includes a Beard Wash, which unlike regular shampoos, won’t strip away the moisture needed for healthy whiskers and skin. Next up, the Beard Softener takes mere seconds to deep condition coarse whiskers from within. And Beard Oil is the finishing touch for a shiny and polished looking beard. Bundle MSRP $39.99 (available on Amazon)
Accessories /

Saks Fifth Avenue Reopens Birmingham

On Tuesday, May 12, Saks Fifth Avenue will continue its phased approach to reopening stores with its location in Birmingham. The store will reopen with enhanced health and safety protocols and modified services to ensure the safest and most comfortable shopping experience for our customers.

“The health and well-being of our associates and customers remain our top priority and the driving force behind our strategy for reopening. Saks has the opportunity to set the standard for offering a safe, easy and personalized shopping experience once stores reopen,” said Marc Metrick, President, Saks Fifth Avenue. “We will continue to evaluate store openings based on our own analyses, which take into account the expertise of local government and health officials, economics, and community sentiment. We truly look forward to welcoming customers back to Saks Fifth Avenue.”

To ensure a safe and comfortable in-store shopping experience, Saks has implemented a number of measures upon reopening, including adding enhanced cleaning protocols, regularly sanitizing high-touch areas, such as fitting rooms and point-of-sale areas, and implementing social distancing measures. Associates will also be required to wear face coverings and undergo health screenings. Stores will continue to serve our customers digitally with virtual shopping appointments available to book through saks.com.

Stores will operate with reduced hours Monday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m and Sunday, from noon to 6 p.m. Moreover, Saks Fifth Avenue is offering curbside pickup and returns at most locations for those who prefer a contactless shopping experience, and an adjusted return policy whereby any purchase made after February 15, 2020, can be returned to Saks Fifth Avenue stores within 30 days of reopening.

Details about specific store reopenings and adjusted hours can be found through the store locator on saks.com. 

ABOUT SAKS FIFTH AVENUE (@saks) As a leading shopping destination for the all-channel luxury experience, Saks Fifth Avenue is renowned for its coveted edit of American and international designer collections as well as its storied history of creating breakthrough, experiential environments. Its exemplary client service has made Saks a global authority in the category, a focus since the brand’s inception in 1924. As part of the HBC brand portfolio, Saks operates in 43 cities across the globe, its online experience―saks.com, and its mobile experience―Saks App.

For more information, kindly visit saks.com, Instagram.com/saks, Facebook.com/saks, Snapchat.com/saks_official, and Twitter.com/saks.

 

Accessories /

Mother’s Day 2020 Roundup For The Fitness Lover, Shopping Addict or Green Thumb

Mother’s Day is right around the corner, take a look at a few considerations for the special woman in your life!

 

Featured Photo from Men’s Health

 

For the fitness lover:
  • Everlast – The preeminent brand in boxing since 1910 and the world’s leading manufacturer and licensor of boxing, MMA, and fitness equipment, Everlast can provide the fitness buff the equipment they need. Everlast has boxing gear from training gloves to the HydroStrike heavy bag and fitness equipment from the Evergrip Weighted Jump Rope to the Flex Slam Ball that can help mom stick to her new year’s resolutions of staying in the gym and continuing her fitness journey.
  • FitTrack – Help mom stay on track of her fitness journey with FitTrack, creators of the most accurate Wi-Fi smart scale (Dara), and the fitness smartwatch (Atria). FitTrack products are a simple and effective solution to stay motivated on her wellness journey, at a remarkably low price. With 17 detailed metrics that measure, track, and trend her health data over time, FitTrack can help mom better understand her progress with the informative insights needed to be the best version of herself.
For the organization lovers:
  • MakeSpace – MakeSpace offers storage without the struggle — picking up, hauling, and storing your stuff, then delivering it back to you when you need it. Their goal is to make storage convenient and easy so that you never have to visit a storage facility again. To help stressed-out moms manage cluttered homes and stressful lifestyles, give them the gift of space this Mother’s Day.
For the shopping addict:
  • Jane – Jane is a boutique e-commerce marketplace with daily deals on hundreds of products from women’s fashion and accessories to home decor and tech gear – there truly is something for everyone! Give the special woman in your life the perfect Mother’s Day gift to brighten up her day with something personalized or something comfy to help her relax while staying at home.
For the green thumb: 
  • Rachio – The world’s first smart sprinkler company delivering easy-to-use technologies to control your outdoor sprinkler system from the palm of your hand. Their latest product expansion includes the Rachio 3e Smart Sprinkler Controller, a budget-friendly version of Rachio’s renowned and first-ever smart sprinkler, the Rachio 3 Smart Watering System. With it’s lower pricing, the R3e makes saving the planet a bit more affordable for everyone, while still boasting a myriad of features such as weather intelligence based on historical weather data from 30,000 weather stations, dual-band wi-fi with Alexa compatibility, full control, and monitoring with the Rachio app, and more.
For the mom who brightens your life: 
  • Nanoleaf – A smart lighting pioneer, Nanoleaf’s range of light panels allow users to create beautiful, customizable designs with the flexibility to change-up the scene and layouts for any season or occasion. Whether mom is looking to decorate her home office, spruce up the house for family photos, or create the perfect welcome home entrance, Nanoleaf is a fun, low-maintenance way to personalize your space.
Beauty /

DIY Beauty Projects from Los Angeles-based TV personality, Budget Travel and Lifestyle Expert: Lindsay Myers

Who doesn’t love getting pampered? But with this lockdown, we have had to figure it out ourselves! It’s always a great feeling to know that you can do it all if you have to! Here are some of Lindsay’s favorite DIY beauty projects:

Featured Photo from Domino Sugar

Natural Lip Scrub– I sometimes grab a pack of sugar and quickly exfoliate if I am in a time crunch. and need to apply some lipstick. But this is my new favorite natural way to get my lips super smooth!

Supplies:

1 TSP of Brown Sugar
1 TSP of White Sugar
1 TSP of Honey
1/2 TSP of Olive Oil

Directions: Just mix all the above in a small container. You can store and keep this for a while, but trust me after about 20 seconds your lips will feel amazing.

 

Bath Salts- I love a good bath, who doesn’t! This is really easy to make and a great way to unwind and get some self-care.

Supplies:

Coarse Salt

Epsom Salt

Baking Soda

Essential oil

Directions: Just take 6 part coarse sea salt and 3 part Epsom salt,1 part baking soda, and just a few drops of essential oil of your choice. That is it! This combo helps soothe the muscles, helps with skin irritation, and softens the skin.

 

Ombre Nail Manicure-I never go really big or bold with my manicure. But I have the time to figure out how to do it myself, why not!

Supplies:

2 different nail polish colors, and clear topcoat

Any sponge (you just need a bit, cut off a section from a larger sponge)

Plastic wrap

toothpick

Directions: Paint your nails with the lightest color. Let it dry. On the plastic pour our a little of each color right beside each other so they touch. Take the toothpick and swirl/blend just in the area where the two colors meet. Next, take your sponge and dab it directly over this mixture and then dab the sponge directly on your nail. Keep going on all the nails. If you want to go back over the nails to make the color stronger just make sure the first coat is dry first. Finish with a clear topcoat.

 

Hair Mask– It is SO easy to make a simple hair mask with everyday things in our kitchen. Why don’t we do it more? Maybe now we will!

2 hair mask options:

  1. All hair types:

Supplies:

Avocado

Honey

Directions: Simply scoop out half an avocado and mix it with a tbsp honey and apply it to hair. Leave this on for 20 mins. Rinse in the shower.

  1. Dry Hair Mask:

Supplies:

Eggs

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions: Mix 2 eggs with 3 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil and apply to hair. Leave this on for 20 mins. Rinse in shower.

 

Facial: I have grown to love my facials, but they are expensive and now we just can’t get them. Why not learn how to do it yourself?

Supplies:

Chamomile Tea

Honey

Nutritional Yeast

Directions: Brew one cup of the tea with 2 tea bags. Let cool. Stir together 1 tbsp of honey and 1 tsp of nutritional yeast. Add just enough of the tea to the bowl to make a paste. You want to be able to spread it on your face, but not be watery. Let sit for 20 mins. This is calm and restores your skin.

 

 

Beauty /

ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Virtual Summit and New Voices + Target Accelerators $100K Pitch Competition

As the novel coronavirus continues to spread across the nation and the world, Black communities are being impacted at drastically disproportionate rates. However, while the impact of COVID-19 shines a spotlight on the already fragile health and economic ecosystems of Black communities and Black-owned small businesses, economic recovery efforts – such as the quickly-depleted initial $349 billion Paycheck Protection Program in the CARES Act – are not effectively reaching many of the entrepreneurs and businesses most in need. To help address this, ESSENCE, the leading media, technology, and commerce company serving Black women, today announced the creation of the ESSENCE Benefit Seriesä to Fight COVID-19 to assist Black-owned small businesses and organizations across the country impacted by the pandemic.

The ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19 kicks off with the first-ever ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Virtual Summit and New Voices + Target Accelerators $100K Pitch Competition – which will be streamed live on ESSENCE Studios on Friday, April 24th, from 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM ET. The Entrepreneur Virtual Summit will equip Black business owners with valuable tools needed to navigate this unprecedented time, including access to capital, practical insights, and critical resources. The Summit will also include the New Voices + Target Accelerators $100K Pitch Competition, featuring 10 women entrepreneurs pitching their businesses to receive critical funding combined with coaching, mentoring, and personalized business skills development.

The Entrepreneur Virtual Summit will feature informative sessions with some of the most influential business leaders across industries, covering topics including Navigating Coronavirus Relief; Raising Capital Right Now; Adapting During Crisis; Managing the New Normal; Developing A Winning Playbook: Now & Post-COVID and more. Speakers include Robert F. Smith, Chairman, Vista Equity Partners, LLC; Caroline Wanga, Chief Diversity, and Inclusion Officer and Vice President of Human Resources, Target Corporation; Bozoma Saint John, Chief Marketing Officer, Endeavor; Marcus Samuelsson, Chef and Restaurateur; Melissa Butler, CEO, The Lip Bar; Elisa Shankle, Wellness & Lifestyle Expert; Nicole Valentine, Chief Executive Officer, Synergy Business Development; Robin McBride, Co-founder, McBride Sisters Wine Collection; and more.

During this Summit and each to follow in the Benefit Series – as well as throughout this crisis, virtual attendees will have an opportunity to support Black-owned businesses that are in critical need of access to funding and resources by donating to the New Voices Foundation. The New Voices Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization driven by its PACE (Purpose.Access.Capital.Expertise) model and founded by serial entrepreneur and social impact investor Richelieu Dennis, is committed to creating a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem and currently has 13,000+ women of color entrepreneurs on its platform. Offering leadership development, flexible funding, skills-building and networking opportunities to build, grow and scale their businesses with purpose, the Foundation operates with a multi-pronged approach and services that entrepreneurs can access free of charge, including mobile accelerators, coaching and mentoring, pitch competitions, online masterclasses, and more.

Upcoming virtual experiences in the ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19 include the first-ever ESSENCE Festival of Culture: The Virtual Edition (July 4th weekend), as well as other summits, focused on entertainment, personal finance, technology, essential heroes and more.

 “We have long known about the systemic healthcare and economic inequities that are causing Black communities and businesses to fare worse than others during the COVID-19 global pandemic, but we also now see that we are in danger of losing critical progress as a community unless urgent and meaningful actions are taken,” said Dennis, also founder & chair of Essence Ventures, the parent company of ESSENCE. “Black-owned businesses serve as economic engines in our communities across the nation, and entrepreneurship and ownership remain the most viable paths to bridging the abysmal wealth gap and creating generational wealth. Yet, as critical initial stimulus funding ran out without reaching many of those who need it most and with new funding not guaranteed to reach these same businesses, not enough is being done to help ensure their post-pandemic financial survival and the long-term health of our communities.”

Dennis continued, “The ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19 and each of its virtual summits are a direct response to this dire need. While ESSENCE has used its platform over the past 50 years to support entrepreneurs and provide commerce opportunities for Black-owned businesses, we have accelerated these efforts – particularly with investments in digital and technology innovation – since returning the brand to 100% Black ownership in 2018. Now, operating under our Community Commerce purpose-driven model of elevating communities by providing access and opportunities that lead to sustainable economic empowerment, this is how ESSENCE will continue to serve our community in this crisis and beyond. We’ve always been able to count on each other – and that is more important now than ever.”

ESSENCE’s cultivation of entrepreneurship and commerce within Black communities has previously included supporting more than 3,000 small businesses at the ESSENCE Festival of Culture Marketplace; featuring more than 100 small businesses on the Shop ESSENCE platform; engaging hundreds of small business owners in Louisiana to participate in the Pipeline Initiative to grow entrepreneurship and technical career opportunities; and more.

At the outset of the global pandemic designation in March, ESSENCE created the ESSENCE of the Matter: COVID-19’s Impact on Black America digital platform to provide Black women and communities with the tools, information, resources, solutions, inspiration, and empowerment needed to address the multitude of issues arising from the novel coronavirus crisis. The ESSENCE Benefit Series to Fight COVID-19 will now become a central part of this effort, which to date has included the first-ever virtual ESSENCE Wellness Houseä and ESSENCE CARES Act information sessions. In addition, the ESSENCE editorial team produces daily content on a dedicated page to educate the community on the coronavirus, its impact, and how to survive and thrive in this time.

The ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Virtual Summit is powered by Microsoft and brought to you by SheaMoisture and Advancing Black Pathways by JPMorgan Chase. To register for the ESSENCE + New Voices Entrepreneur Virtual Summit or for more details, visit ESSENCE.com.

About Essence Communications Inc.

Essence Communications is the number one media, technology, and commerce company dedicated to Black women and inspires a global audience of more than 20.2 million through diverse storytelling and immersive original content. With a multi-platform presence in publishing, experiential and online, ESSENCE encompasses its signature magazine; digital, video and social platforms; television specials; books; as well as live events, including Black Women in Music, Black Women in Hollywood, Street Style and the ESSENCE Festival. Essence Communications is owned by Essence Ventures, an independent Black-owned consumer technology company focused on merging content, community, and commerce to meet the evolving cultural and lifestyle needs of people of color.

Beauty /

The No Makeup Look: Top Picks for Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams

Although we’re coping with the COVID-19 pandemic inside of our homes, the weather is constantly changing.  One day it’s chilly and the next moment it’s hot!  That means it’s time for a new foundation in our make-up bags.

One of my personal favorites for the warmer months is the use of Tinted Moisturizers (or BB creams).  They hydrate the skin while giving a natural glow.  Basically, it’s a light foundation coverage and skin care moisturizer combined in one application.

Tinted moisturizers (and BB creams) are an easy way to even the skin without the use of heavy products.

Apply this product to the cheeks, forehead, chin, and nose!

Listed below are top picks for Tinted Moisturizers and BB Creams:
  1. NYX Bare With Me
  2. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
  3. Neutrogena SPF 20 in Medium to Dark
  4. NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
  5. Black Radiance BB Cream