I’m a girl who clicks around the Internets, and I’ve noticed something — whenever there’s a list of “bloggers we want to see in bikinis” or “most beautiful bloggers,” there’s a distinct lack of melanin in the women featured on the list. What’s with that?
It’s noticeable to me because I am part of a vibrant and growing community of beautiful bloggers of color. So instead of sitting idly by and observing these totally subjective male-decided top ten beauty lists go by, I decided to start my own celebration.
There are so many beautiful black bloggers out there with beauty tips to share. Allow me to introduce you bellas to some of them — beginning with the one, the only Zandile Blay of The Blay Report!
Zandile hails from Ghana, and she’s made a big name for herself as a style and culture writer. Her articles have appeared in InStyle, Vibe, the much-missed Vibe Vixen, and Seventeen magazine, and she’s styled shoots for Lucky Magazine and Polo.
I had originally reached out to Z. Blay for her tips on this Ask Afrobella especially for dark skinned bellas, and right after a jaunt to Milan for Fashion Week, she took the time to tell me about her beauty regimen. And she sympathized with New Beginnings, who had a tough time finding makeup in her perfect shade.
“I definitely feel her pain. I don’t know what she means by “dark skinned” as it’s all really relative – but i know what its like to go to a makeup counter where the shades just don’t match. That’s probably one of the main reasons why I avoid make up all together and just focus on skin care,” Zandile explained. She takes a more holistic approach to beauty.
“Instead of layering on foundations and bronzers, etcetera, I just make sure that I stick to a skin regime that keeps my skin looking fresh, radiant and as flawless as possible.” Sensible and smart! Any favorite products?
“My brand of choice is 3Lab skin care. i use their face moisturizer, skin toner and face wash daily.”
I had never heard of 3Lab before Zandile mentioned it, and this stuff sounds great! But it’s not cheap, at $65 for 2 oz of shine stop moisturizer, and $45 for a 6 oz bottle of cleansing gel. So I assume this stuff is beyond amazing – look at how her skin just glows!
Alright Z – tell me about your makeup!
“I limit myself to lip gloss , my fave brand is Shu Uemura. And mascara — Dior Show.”
I love Shu Uemura’s glosses myself — the deepest purple is so hot for this season. And
I’ve been meaning to treat myself to Dior Show for a minute now — might have to spring for that limited edition only in Sephora plum shade for the holidays!
And bellas, that’s the beauty gospel according to Zandile Blay. You can catch up with her over at The Blay Report. And keep on reading Afrobella for more tips from your favorite black beauty bloggers!
Thanks for the head’s up from regular Afrobella reader ceecee — Zandile has a great interview on YouTube that she didn’t mention! So gorgeous.
I may have to take her up on that – her skin is amazing!
She is gorgeous! Have you seen her youtube clip?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzNic8kRuEU
lol I didn’t realize you had it embedded in your post.
I didn’t have it until you sent it! See? I gave you credit. Thanks ceecee!
she is beautiful, and has even more beautiful skin..
She truly exudes black beauty and her skin is “FANTABALOUS”(fantastic and fabulous).
She does have a beautiful face w/ gorgeous skin & seems very intelligent & up on it, but what’s up with her flinging those weave tracks all over the place?! Is that supposed to be fabulous? Is that what’s hot on the streets right now? LOL…
Beautiful skin!!
OMG Flygyrl72 you just took the words outta my mouth!
That girl is GAWG-eous but I was so sad to see her flinging about the (poorly done) horse hair. The first pic posted really is way more beautiful.
THANK YOU Flygyrl72 and 4bTrini…I completely agree. And that’s all I’m going to say on the subject…
Her skin is gorgeous. As a dark skinned bella myself I really focus on skin care and keep my make up simple
Truly one of the sweetest young women you’ll ever meet. Humble, helpful and very ambitious. I love that she is proud of her culture and with a name like hers I’m sure there are many great things to come for her.
She is beautiful! I’ll have to give that Shu Uemura gloss a try. I’ve been looking for a purple gloss.
Great post, Bella!
Her skin is really beautiful and that gloss looks niiice. I see what I’ll be doing this weekend.
I am not going to get into the hair hateration – I will just add that Zandile sent me the photo above, and I believe it is recent. The video seems to have been done in 2007, so I don’t think her hair is presently in that style.
I have a lot of respect for Zandile, she’s cool people. This post was intended to just big up another beautiful black blogger on the scene, and to share her beauty secrets.
That is all. Have a great weekend, bellas!
she is gorgeous. if anyone has anything to say about our dark skinned sisters they would have to shut their trap after seeing her. beautiful! as soon as she said she was going to school in england i knew she would say central st martins. it’s like the top school. i wanted to go but…oh well. i’m glad a strong black woman could go. i’ll have to find my own route, but i will!
Her skin is flawless!!!! Love it! but I do agree with Flygirl72. She could have done without the flipping. The hair takes away from her gorgeous face and her real personality. I want to see all the NATURAL BEAUTY shine through… Don’t rest on the extensions. You’re beautiful.
She has alot going on under that hairstyle, smart girl.Go Zandile!
Way to go, Zandile! Wishing you all the best 😀
Yeah…I personally didn’t care for the hair swinging either, but really and honestly SHE’S HAVING FUN! She swings her hair the same way she plays with her dresses (which are FLY esp the yellow one! I want one!) so to me that’s all it’s about. I pray you enjoy your life, Zandile, and make the best out of all the blessings you’ve received.
Sistas:
One of the reasons I stopped visiting nappturality.com and a few other natural sites is because I felt there was too much “nappy self-righteousness.” I’ve been natural off and on for the better part of 20 years but I do it because it is MY CHOICE. My hair hates chemicals and when I’ve relaxed in the past, it’s stayed straight for about 20 minutes before Mother Africa came back and said “Yeah, right.”
I saw this sista’s picture and thought: “I’d give my left eye, my Ipod and two of my three sisters away for that complexion.” Her choice of hairstyle never even crossed my mind. Again, it’s her hair, her choice.
It’s 2008, ya’ll. Isn’t it about time we get to decide for ourselves how we want to look, who we want to date or marry, where we want to live, without being called out for it? Black women have lived their lives on someone else’s terms for too long.
My two-cents.
On the hair flinging, you know the director may have asked her to do that, and yes she could have said no but how many people put that much thought into spur of the moment actions?
Thanks for putting up the video bella 🙂
Gorgeous! Just beautiful! Go Zandile!
this is awesome. she is beautiful!
I love how as black women we can find anything to put us down…what some of yall said was pretty much the equivalent of she’s pretty for a dark-skin girl imo…She’s gorgeous and it makes me sad that instead of just saying that you find something/anything to nitpick.
… I will hold my thoughts on the yaky. However that industry does not need any more of our money. Just my 2.
Hey Bella!! I’ve met Zandile before and one of the first things I noticed about her is how flawless, even and smooth her complexion is. She is definitely a true beauty with a personality to match! I must agree w/ her though, I also LOVE 3Lab- I use their cleansing facial scrub every morning.
Tell it, Afrobella! Tell. It.
Zandie is a doll. Her skin is nuts.
She is so beautiful. She has made me rethink this new obsession I have with makeup.
Wow! This could be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We have ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I am also a specialist in this topic therefore I can understand your effort.