Jada Pinkett Smith, Solange, Karrueche Tran, and Kofi Siriboe: Essence Festival 2017 Event Recap

Essence Festival 2017 was exhilarating; packed with panel discussions, games, giveaways, and high-energy concerts.

Fashion editors, beauty bloggers, and celebrity stylists were present while the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was filled with beauty vendors such as Palmers, Creme of Nature, Cantu, Olive Miracle, and Shea Moisture. Attendees at the Palmers booth received free samples, demonstrations, and prizes.

The daytime main stage featured performances by India Arie, John Legend, Rhonda Ross, Afrika Mamas, Junior, and Diana Ross. Saturday afternoon guests included Jazmine Sullivan, Monica, Ari Lennox, Jill Scott, Chaka Khan, and Mary J. Blige. Solange, Trombone Shorty, Chance The Rapper, and Ithwasa Lekhansela were at the main stage on Sunday, July 2, 2017.

Additional conference expos included the Path To Power: Entrepreneurship and Business Conference, Essence Eats, and Shops at Essence; featuring global vendors with African print apparel, framed art, paintings, and jewelry.

Hollywood actors and actresses were interviewed in the pressroom. Spike Lee and Janice Bryant Howroyd shared millennial career advice while additional cast members and comedians discussed their upcoming projects.

Also known, as the “party with a purpose” Essence Fest is a must-go event!  To attend the 2018 star-studded weekend, check the Essence website and register for more details.

See pressroom photos below:

NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: (L-R) Ryan Destiny, Brittany O’Grady, Amiyah Scott, Jude Demorest and Miss Lawrence of ‘Star’ pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: June’s Diary pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Regina Barrow, Congresswoman Maxine Waters and Shanta Proctor pose backstage at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Iyanla Vanzant poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: (L-R) Spike Lee, Tonya Lewis Lee, DeWanda Wise, Anthony Ramos, Cleo Anthony and Lyriq Bent of ‘She’s Gotta Have It’ pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Ava DuVernay (C) poses with Omar Dorsey, Timon Kyle Durrett, Ethan Hutchison, Dawn-Lyen Gardner, Bianca Lawson, Tina Lifford and Dondre Whitfield at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: (L-R) Will Packer, Malcolm D. Lee, Kofi Siriboe, Larenz Tate, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 02: Brandon Micheal Hall, Yvette Nicole Brown, CeCe Winans and Roland Martin pose backstage at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Chante Moore poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Karrueche Tran and Niecy Nash pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Chef Huda poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Ta’Rhonda Jones and Bryshere Y. Gray pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Janice Bryant Howroyd poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Jada Pinkett Smith poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah pose in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 01: Kofi Siriboe poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 1, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 02: Craig Robinson poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 02: Kelly Price poses in the press room at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JULY 02: Yvette Nicole Brown and CeCe Winans pose backstage at the 2017 ESSENCE Festival presented by Coca-Cola at Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on July 2, 2017 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Paras Griffin/Getty Images for 2017 ESSENCE Festival )

 

 

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.

Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula – Product Review

Palmer’s has a new formula for skin care enthusiast!  They’ve expanded beyond the cocoa butter ingredient and infused a new product line with coconut oil.

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There are so many benefits to using coconut oil such as anti-aging and anti-viral properties.  This natural ingredient smells great and works on all skin-types.  I decided to review the new Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula due to my personal use of the oil substance.  My results are below:

Product Review – 

  1. The Coconut Oil Formula smells amazing!
  2. My face, hands, legs, and feet received an instant natural glow.
  3. The texture blends nicely on the skin’s surface.  This is not a greasy substance!
  4. After application, the formula doesn’t easily stain other objects.
  5. Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula gives an appearance of skin rejuvenation through the it’s natural agents.

Palmer's Coconut Oil Formula

The product line also come in various sizes (and quantities) which helps small skin care touch-ups.  For example, I keep the Coconut Oil Hand Cream in my purse to moisturizer the cuticles.  It’s also stated to have No Dyes, Sulfates, Mineral Oil, Parabens, and Gluten.

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On a scale of one to ten, I give the Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula a TEN and suggest everyone try this product for their summer beauty regimen!

Multi-Purpose Beauty Items for Holiday Travel

As you prepare your checklist for holiday travels, it’s no surprise that you might be forced to modify your beauty routine in order to travel light. Saving space in your luggage this holiday season is quite simple with these multi-purpose beauty items from a variety of beauty brands sure to please!

Offering the ultimate in double-duty beauty finds, brands such as Palmer’s, Thicker Fuller Hair and Zero Frizz cater to the woman on-to-go, looking for travel-friendly products making her beauty routine easier than ever before. Please see below for a selection of 2-in-1 products:

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Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick
o All-in-one moisturizing powerhouse!
o Ideal for dry skin touch-up on the face and body as well as cracked, chapped lips. (Retails for $2.70)

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Rosehip
o Perfect all-over moisturizer that targets all types of skin concerns!
o Helps overall appearance of skin, improving unwanted scars, stretch marks and wrinkles. (Retails for $9.99)

Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Dry Oil Mist
o The ultimate go-to hair product!
o 8-oil blend mist works great as a spot shine treatment or to quickly tame flyaways, while instantly restoring moisture to dry hair giving dull, lifeless locks the perfect glow. (Retails for $8.99)

Thicker Fuller Hair® Weightless Volumizing Hairspray
o Aids in volumizing without extra product!
o Formulated with caffeine to prop up hair strands and invigorate the scalp for a weightless all-day hold. (Retails for $4.99)

Zero Frizz® Keratin Smoothing Shampoo
o Eliminates the need for leave-in conditioner or smoothing products!
o Nourishes strands, detangles ends and tames frizz all while leaving your follicles clean and moisturized. (Retails for $3.99)

Palmers Products: Beauty Buys to Combat Hair & Skin

Let’s talk about beauty products you need to have in your life! As several of you may not know, I suffer from dry skin…all year long. I am constantly searching for something to help combat my never ending skin care issues.

I was contacted to try Palmer’s new products, ranging from dry mist oil to spray lotion. I have a history of using Palmer’s throughout my pregnancy and for minor blemishes. Eager to open my box, this package lived up to my expectations and more!

But it wasn’t just about the packaging, every product was outstanding and I have three favorites: Rapid Spray Moisture Lotion, Cocoa Butter Formula Heel Repair, and Skin Therapy Oil.

The Rapid Spray Lotion definitely comes in handy when you’re busy and need to apply lotion quickly. And you can carry this bottle in your tote if you need to re-apply. After trying another brand’s spray lotion, I personally feel this is the better option because it lasts longer and makes the skin glow due to having Vitamin E, Cocoa Butter, and Aloe.

The Cocoa Butter Heel Repair can also be used in between pedicures and with your nightly beauty routine along with the Skin Therapy Oil (for your face) but I’ve also applied this to other skin blemishes.

To purchase Palmer’s products, visit your local drugstore or online at Palmer’s.com

PRODUCT LISTING:

Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Dry Oil Mist– This 8-oil blend mist works great as spot shine treatment or to quickly tame flyaways. This product instantly restores moisture to dry hair giving dull, lifeless locks the perfect glow. ($8.99)

· Palmer’s Olive Oil Formula Strengthening Leave-In Conditioner– Treat your dull, damaged hair to an intensive blend of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Vitamin E, Keratin and Silk Proteins, guaranteed to nurse sun-scarred hair back to health. This product helps control frizz, adds shine, reduces split ends, detangles and acts as a heat protectant all in one bottle! ($9.70)

· Palmer’s Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack– The sun and salt water can strip your hair of its natural moisture and leave it dull and lifeless, this concentrated treatment repairs the follicle from the inside out, infusing it with strengthening protein and vitamins. ($2.00)

· Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Rapid Moisture Instant Cooling Spray Lotion– This Cocoa Butter and Aloe based spray lotion is the perfect after-sun moisturizer leaving skin feeling soft, smooth and instantly refreshed ideal for relieving pain from sunburnt or sun-starved skin patches. ($5.99)

· Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Heel Repair– The perfect problem-solution product specifically formulated to soften and smooth dry, cracked heels and feet. In a convenient no-mess stick applicator, this product is a must-have to repair dry skin patches caused by summer month activities. ($6.95)

· Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Skin Therapy Oil Face– Containing 10 restorative oils, this powerful blend helps moisturize and smooth fine lines and wrinkles while improving and brightening skin tone and texture including key ingredients such as Retinol and Vitamin C – providing the ultimate in complexion perfection! ($9.99)