I have so much admiration for sistas who are out there doing it for themselves, entrepreneurs making a name in the cosmetics biz by specializing in makeup made for bellas like you and me. The ethnic market has become big business, and many of the leading cosmetics lines are offering makeup for a deeper and…
Skin
Ask Afrobella — A $5 Makeover??
If you’ve been on this Afrobella journey with me for any length of time, hopefully you’ll realize — I am all about bellas on a budget. I believe that just about every woman wants to feel beautiful every now and then, whether they’re stacking lots of paper, or struggling to get by. These almost-recession days…
Satisfy Your Thirsty Skin
In my previous Ask Afrobella about oily skin, a lot of you had really great feedback, advice, and comments. Quite a few of you mentioned that — contrary to the typically discussed issues of black skin care — you actually don’t have oily skin, and therefore, the way I’d explained the oft-repeated “black don’t crack”…
Ask Afrobella — That Furry Feeling
I am ashamed at how long it’s taken me to slog through these Ask Afrobellas. I need an intern! I am literally drowning in e mail. Mea maxima culpa, bellas who have asked questions in 2008. I will make it up to you! Here’s one I’ve been meaning to get to from a regular reader….
Ask Afrobella — Help For the Shiny Bella
For some of us, it’s a perennial problem. For others, it crops up when the weather grows warmer and humidity rises in the air. An attack of the shinies is never cute, and it’s very common among women of color. Here’s a recent Ask Afrobella question about what we in Trinidad call “fry bake syndrome.”…
Valentine’s Day Hangover
Thursday was Valentine’s Day, and it’s such an over-the-top, retail-driven celebration. You either love it or you hate it. I personally enjoy it, but this year we were too busy to even celebrate Valentine’s Day on Valentine’s Day. Today is my V-Day, so I’d like to wish a happy belated day of love to everyone!…
Sandra Hordatt’s Tips for Carnival Wow!
At the risk of not sounding like a true Trini, I have a confession to make. I haven’t been home for Carnival in a decade. TEN YEARS! What can I tell you? College, then the workplace, then financial constrictions always seem to conspire against me. I must admit, I feel very left out and more…
Ask Afrobella — Easy, Breezy, Beautiful… Worth It?
Heyo! I got a recent Ask Afrobella question that dovetails nicely into this review/giveaway I’ve been working on. Away we go! I just came across your website yesterday. It is indeed great! I found it through temptalia’s website (ed — which I adore. Check em out for makeup tips!). Anyway, I did come across on…
A Unique Casting Call
Cancer doesn’t care what color your skin is, but there is a perception that black people don’t need sunscreen as much as our Caucasian counterparts do. Not true at all. The melanin in our skin provides some protection from the sun’s UV rays, but smart bellas should use sunscreen every day to protect against melanoma….
Clarisonic: How I Cleared Up My Skin Without Really Trying
True story. The month before Thanksgiving, my face was a total mess. Stress, sloppy skincare, and bad eating led me towards an almost teenage state of acne. I tried everything in my skincare arsenal – clay masques, strong cleansers and scrubs. Nothing offered a lasting solution, and I was becoming extremely frustrated. Desperate times led…