0 Smell like me!

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Guess who plans to have a new scent sometime next year?!

Oh, you could tell already from the picture? You mean we didn't have to yell from the rooftops?

The obsession with Celebrity Worship has spiraled out of control and the business world is cashing in on it. If a famous celebrity wears something, people who follow these kinds of trends will be racing out of the house, credit cards with the chip ready to slide in the slot and take home the dress/jewelry/shoes/wig that the celebrity wore. This is the basis on which the *yawn* website *yawn* that Jay Zizzle created was spawned.

For decades now, celebrities have stood in front of cameras peddling some scent, lotion, kitchen appliance or dinky little thingamajig to add to your collection of knick-knacks collecting dust and causing the indomitable Peter Walsh to come over to your house.

I'm not quite sure what would make me want to smell like Nicki Minaj or Britney Spears or Celine Dion for that matter. Unless, of course, it is going to bestow their cash (let's leave the notoriety out of it) upon me I will pass. Thank you very much.

Are you curious about a Nicki Minaj scent? Which celebrity scents have you purchased? Do you like them?

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0 Black Women Rocking Grey Hair

Whether they started greying in their teens or are at the cusp of the middle years, many Black women are choosing to rock their greys.

Does grey hair make you feel old for your age?

Do you think it makes a Black woman look more distinguished (think Donna Brazile)?

While you may not obsess about it, most of us need practical advice whether we choose to dye our greys or keep them untouched.

In general, black hair can be vulnerable to over-processing. If you are like most of us, you are processing your hair in some way (either straighteners, hot combs, or a combination). If you have a weave, you'll find yourself watching out for new growth AND greys.

What can a Black woman do to keep her grey hair untouched beautiful and healthy?

- Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! Make sure that you use natural oils such as olive oil and coconut oil in addition to your store-bought moisturizers.

- Get a great hair cut or style! Just because your hair is grey doesn't mean that you should have a dowdy cut.

- Keep your trims up to date! Grey hair can be dry and break easily.

- Accessorize! Get fabulous with a beautiful scarf or ethnically-inspired jewelery.


Image Courtesy of Glamspirit and Stylist.com

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0 Advertising to Black Women

If your address is not

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Mr. & Mrs. Black People

2466 Under a Rock Street

USA

then you've heard the controversy being drummed up about the famed Carol's Daughter campaign featuring Solange, Cassie and Selita Ebanks. Part of the ad campaign is pictured here.

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Many black women feel that the caption on the picture "Beauty in Diversity" is not reflected in the ad. Also because this limited view of "acceptable black women" chafes because in some light it perpetrates what black women have been trying to fight for a long time. Indeed ALL women have been trying to fight the standards of beauty put upon us. For white women it is the Barbie stereotype they fight, choosing to keep the natural color of their hair and embrace their body in whatever shape it comes.

This fight, however, seems to be a little more personal for many of Carol's Daughter's clientele who feel slighted because they don't feel represented in the "Beauty in Diversity" campaign. The blogosphere is a-buzz about the campaign and here are some examples

• Dirty Pretty Thangs believes something is missing.
• Brown Bombshell Beauty thinks the message of the campaign is misleading.
• Clutch Magazine Online promotes the campaign, the interesting commentary is in the comments section.
• BLGH presents the campaign as well allowing women to comment on the story.

In a World where a few items on the market are geared specifically towards the unique needs of black hair care, skin care and makeup, it is easy to get possessive about the few products that have thought of us a primary group to market products too. We've all walked through stores and seen the tiny little section at the back of the store that has a few bottles of TCB, Palm Olive oil products, two boxes of African Pride relaxer and the Ginseng Hair Oil. Unless you are willing to go to the Asian owned black hair care stores there are very few options left for women to run to.

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There are two points we have to remember to consider when we start the fight for products like these.

• Companies have to grow. It is entirely possible that Carol's Daughter believes that they have already successfully marketed their product to the vast majority of women in the African American community. I believe this ad was created to INCLUDE women who consider themselves to be bi-racial or poly-racial but have hair issues just like ours.

• Advertising has not presented reality in a very long time. Every time you see an ad on TV, whether it is food (like the article we tackled), beauty products, dish washing soaps, blenders... whatever it is, it is always being exaggerated. The product never works the way they say it is going to and you never look like the people in the ads. If you have watched America's Next Top Model, you have seen the women get extensions in their hair, pictures being airbrushed, props and hops and loops and goop... it does not end. 

In this case I think Carol's Daughter may have made a mistake in using "Diversity" in their campaign slogan when they were trying to include bi-racial sisters and hopefully they will be able to redeem themselves. We will be watching closely!

What are your own thoughts on the campaign?

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0 Demystifying Skin Products

The quest for younger looking skin has plagued women the World over for centuries. Many cultures have developed their own skin care products using materials available to them. The Himba of Namibia use red clay to keep their skin moisturized and their skin glows with health and beauty.

Himba Woman

In the 20th Century (and now the 21st) the beauty industry has exploited this search by creating an endless line of products that line both sides of an aisle in pharmacies and other superstores like Walmart.

Cosmetic Aisle in a superstore.

I know I've struggled to understand what products are best and which to use where and just how much and how often. Many times I have ended up looking like a teenager in the throes of puberty because I used something I shouldn't have.

After some research, it was interesting to discover some of the things I had probably taken for granted.

Skin products typically use 3 different substances. Humectants, Occlusive Agents and Emollients. To understand how these substances work on our skin, refer to the cross section of the skin below.

Cross section of human skin

Humectants are hydroscopic substances, which means it attracts water. If you use a humectant on your skin it will attract water either from the atmosphere or from the DERMIS of your skin.

Occlusive agents are hydrophobic substances, which means they don't allow water to pass through them. If you use an occlusive agent on your skin, it will stop water from coming into your skin from the airand will stop your skin from losing water to the air.

Emollients improve the appearance of the skin by flattening raised skin cells (which give that ashy look).

To find out what purpose the different substances in your skin care products perform, click here.

It is important to remember that healthy skin starts with a healthy diet. Skin care products should be used only to enhance the regimen you already have. Help your skin maintain its moisture by drinking lots of water, eating tons of vegetables and lots of fruits. 

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0 Coming out of my scalp

So... a few years ago, after a bout with a polluted city and stress a crop of resilient white hair began to emerge from my scalp. While it seemed spread all over my head, it congregated at the front of my scalp to announce to the entire world that I was no longer a teenager (shut it!). I did something about it. L'Oreal and Clairol were staples in my hair routine. It seemed that I had to get my hair done every two weeks and the chemicals in the products started to weaken my hair.

Last week I decided to try something else.

I mixed it up, let it rest, soaked my hair in it and then rinsed it out.

The dye went EVERYWHERE and the entire process took so much time I thought I'd never be done with the hair! Anyway, it was a mild success, of course my roots are already showing and some of the hair turned a weird reddish brown, but over all I'd say I was successful.

Have you tried using black henna on your hair? How did it work out for you?

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0 Celebration Saturdays: The Quest for Perfect Skin

The quest for beautiful skin can be as elusive as the quest for the Holy Grail. Unlike Indiana Jones, I'm not one to go seeking solutions in hot deserts or have an unlimited cache of money set to achieve that goal alone. Sometimes I gotta eat too!

Searching the internet for products that cater specially to black skin is cumbersome, and although there are many companies and businesses out there that promise the goodness we all expect, how do we sort out the chaff from the wheat? Frankly I've given up on popular cosmetics on the shelf, but one thing I have learned from people with beautiful skin, simpler is better.

Here are a few things to remember:

1. Don't let your skin dry out. No matter what the season or the weather, excessive dryness is the quickest way to wrinkles and skin troubles. The cells of our bodies are turbid (or taut) when they are full of water. You CANNOT get water from a little bottle on the shelf! Drink LOTS of water and splash your face with water at least three times a day. Seal in the moisture with a good moisturizer (note again, they cannot ad water to your skin, just protect it from drying out) before applying your makeup.
2. Allow your skin to breathe. Our skin has lots of tiny little pores all over it. Sometimes the makeup we use clogs up the pores preventing the skin from "breathing". 
3. Remember the popular adage, you are what you eat? Vitamin E, biotin and folic acid are the skin miracle drugs. Don't believe labels of cosmetics that claim to have vitamin E in it. It cannot be absorbed by the skin. Instead INGEST these food groups. Nuts and dark leafy greens are your best bet for getting these nutrients into your body and all the way to your skin.
4. Keep your hands off your face and make sure you wash them whenever you can. We pick up germs from the most benign places. Door handles, elevator buttons, computer keyboards, shaking hands, picking up products in the store. All these germs get deposited on your skin with one touch. If you keep hand sanitizer and a hand moisturizer in your purse, you will be able to decrease what germs get to your face.
5. Finally, take some time to relax. Take a day off from your daily rigorous routine and listen to your favorite tunes, watch your favorite TV programs or have a girls day in and pamper yourselves. Stress can cause breakouts!

Enjoy your Saturday!

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