“My skin wants to cause me trouble and break out so I always have to be thinking about that.” -Alicia Keys
The Grammy award wining superstar, took time out to explain her skincare night routine on youtube. She has been makeup up free since 2016 and has a glowing complexion to show for it.
Alicia says drinking water is important.
Before she applies any products, Alicia fills up a large mason jar with water. “Water—it’s a secret, it sounds so simple,” she says. “It is important.” She sips her water, sometimes flavored with fresh fruit, through a metal straw as she creates a relaxing atmosphere with candles and palo santo incense. “I am a candle fanatic,” Alicia adds.
She deep cleans her skin.
Alicia uses face wipes to “get the day off.” It doesn’t have to be an exact product. She says you can also use hot water and a washcloth. That’s for the start. Next, she uses the Osmosis Beauty Deep Clean Detox Cleanser, which she describes as “really strong.” She adds “boom” for emphasis.
Next, she applies toner.
Alicia sprays a therapeutic spray toner, Liv by Knutek Klar Toner, all over her face. “This one is more therapeutic,” she explains. It contains tea tree oil and honey, and antifungal and antimicrobial properties to help combat breakouts. Then she uses her fingers on her face, and always in an upward motion to apply products. “I think the contact is really important,” she says.
She spot treats blemishes with smelly lotion.
You know, Alicia struggles with acne, too. “My skin wants to cause me trouble and break out so I always have to be thinking about that,” she explains. “We all struggle with keeping skin clear, and I am very familiar with that struggle. My favorite trick is this crazy thing called The Advanced Blemish Lotion with Sulfur.”
The downside: “It smells like a fart,” she says. To use it, she dips a cotton swab into the bottle, swirls it around, and dots it over her active breakouts. “They’re dope, they have a lot of good products,” Alicia added.
Then, she piles on the moisturizers.
Alicia starts with Scottish Fine Soaps’ Au Lait Body Butter to mask the sulfur smell of her acne spot treatment. “It smells unbelievable,” she says, applying it on her arms and neck.
For her face, Alicia uses a moisturizer from Epicuren and Rosebud Salve lip balm. Both she says are longtime faves. “Anything with honey in it, fire amazing,” she says as she smells the moisturizer.
She wraps up with aromatherapy, essential oils, and tea.
Self-care is also important to her steps. Alicia’s She sprays a Sacred Rose Water aromatherapy into the air around her, and massages an essential oil blend on her forehead, wrists, and neck. “It’s really about bringing out your intuition, bringing out your inner voice,” she says. “I’m trying to be the most in-tune, in-touch individual. So I like little things that just remind me to think about that.”
Alicia’s final step? A cup of tea. Her favorite of the moment is Earl Grey with almond milk creamer. Alicia says, “I make a mean cup of tea.”
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Simi and Adekunle Gold have a wonderful friendship in their marriage. They prove this on and on, as Simi this time, sends a goofy message to her husband on his birthday.
Taking to her Instagram, she shared an amusing video of the both of them doing a special handshake and wrote:
Happy birthday Love mi. I promise to lick ur face, twerk for you, listen to your songs, let you lick my face, argue about stupid movies, tickle the f**k outta you, talk about nice books, strip, stop you from dancing, and tell you I love you as much and as often as possible. So help me God. i love you. in a big manner.
Watch the video below:
Fab Maven, is a movement created to help empower and uplift women. Chaya Kennedy-Burnettis the founder, a passionate volunteer and professional of women’s issue and spiritual and life coaching. After facing her own share of life challenges, she recognized the need for women to have access to a “pick me up” when one may otherwise be unavailable. A grassroots movement was kick started that is now Fab Maven,which has managed to reach women across the world from all races, genders, religions, cultures, and political backgrounds.
Women face battles, immense hardships and trauma, either in the present or from their pasts, and yet commit their lives finding opportunities to heal and move forward. “Fab Maven helps women from all backgrounds including those facing hardships and trauma from chronic illness, major loss, abuse, assault, and depression do just that by connecting through shared experiences”, wrote blacknews
Fab Maven is focused on women’s fashion and markets unique apparel and accessories with Fab Maven’s unique logo. They are committed to keeping prices low, reaching women from all walks of life. The company’s signature logo is a symbol of optimism and hope, empowering women by helping them to find their individual and collective voices.
The Fab Maven apparel and accessories are available for purchase on Amazon.com
About Fab Maven
Fab Maven is on a mission to educate, uplift, and empower women who have endured traumatic experiences, yet are striving for complete healing. By providing a safe space and judgement-free zone, resources and workshops, Fab Maven equips women with tools that promote spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Learn more at FabMaven.com
A short video of a cute 9-month old baby washing the dishes has gone viral on social media.
Arabia-Iman Tillery, the baby’s mother, posted the video on Twitter. In the video, the baby can be seen laying on the counter washing off utensils and sucking a green pacifier while his grandmother is on the phone.
“My mom has my 9 month old son doing dishes,” Tillery wrote. “My mom got him to work already,”
People all over the world are impressed and amused over the little boy who has started early on with his household chores.
The video has gathered about 5 million views since it was posted.
Tillery said it was all a plan to get him to stop fussing so he can take a nap. Arabia-Iman Tillery tells Fox News that during a recent visit to see Tillery’s mother in Maryland. Tillery’s mom, Denise Jackson, then suggested they set up Chase at the sink, to occupy his attention before putting him down.
“My son was getting a little fussy before a nap, like he usually does,” . “[My mom] figured he might as well play with water and ‘wash the dishes’ a little, and it worked really well.”
Tillery said she intended putting up the video just for laughs and was surprised it gathered so much attention.
“I think the funniest thing of all is that clearly he’s not actually washing, he has no idea what’s happening.”
Watch:
Arabia@Arabiaxo
At the tender age of 7, Melissa A. Marshall’s dad was sentenced to prison. Now 35 years old Melissa has decided to become a mindset coach, to help and empower women who are fatherless..
Her best-selling book, Mind Over Matter, offers guidance for girls and teens who are growing without a father in their life.
“This book will show you how one decision – the decision to change your mind – has the unlocking power to not only free you, but to change your life. You heal better when you feel better!” says Melissa.
The pain of having a dad in prison can have hurting impact on their kids. The daughters feel a sense of fatherlessness which is harsh.
Young girls growing up without a father are four times more likely to be pregnant before turning 20.
Melissa’s book Mind Over Matter addresses this issue well. Women who have grown with their fathers serving time in prison and those who were raised without a father at all.
Although this book is for any who has been through painful periods in their life. The book tells readers how to break free and grab the key that lies within and unlock the doors to the future.
As a nurse by profession, she uses her knowledge and personal experience of growing up fatherless to empower women of all walks of life to live a purposeful life. She has helped women across the globe to deal with theri daddy issues as an empowerment and mindset coach.
Melissa Marshall’s new book, Mind Over Matter Book is available on Amazon.
For more information about Melissa, visit: http://www.iammelissamarshall.com/
Mikayla Simpson otherwise known as Koffee in the music industry on Sunday carved her name in the history of Reggae.
Koffee made history as the youngest and the first woman ever to win a Grammy for Best Reggae Album.
According to eDaily, Koffee, 19, won the award for her Reggae EP ‘Rapture’ released last year.
The EP featuring among other songs, her biggest hit ‘Toast’ debuted at the top spot on the Billboard Reggae Albums chart. It held that position for 32 weeks.
A singer-cum-rapper, Koffee was born in 2000 and raised by her single mother in Spanish Town, just the outskirts of Kingston. She sang in a church choir as a child and taught herself how to play guitar at the age of 12.
Koffee started writing lyrics in her early teens drawing inspiration from Jamaican reggae stars – Chronixx and Protoje.
Koffee released an acoustic version of her song “Legend” about Jamaican runner Usain Bolt in 2017, and the video quickly went viral on Instagram. Her next single, “Burning,” featured her original take on Upsetta Records’ “Ouji Riddim” and topped several reggae charts in the U.S.
In 2018, at only 18 years old, Koffee performed with both Protoje and Chronixx, joining the latter on a BBC broadcast from Kingston’s legendary Tuff Gong Studios and later on a tour of the U.K.
According to Allmusic.com, Koffee’s status as a rising star grew even brighter when she signed with Columbia U.K. and released the singles “Toast” and “Ragamuffin,” both of which appeared on her debut EP, Rapture, in 2019.
Accepting the award, Koffee thanked hеr producers and fеllоw muѕісіаnѕ Јulіаn Маrlеу, Ѕtееl Рulѕе, Ѕlу аnd Rоbbіе аnd Моrgаn Неrіtаgе “fоr аll thе іnрut thеу mаdе іn rеggае іnduѕtrу аnd thе muѕіс. І’vе lеаrnеd а lоt frоm thеm аnd frоm оthеr оldеr реорlе іn thе іnduѕtrу аnd thаt’ѕ whу І’m hеrе; thаt’ѕ whаt brоught uѕ аll hеrе.”
She added: “Ѕо І јuѕt wаnt tо ѕау thаt thіѕ оnе (hоldіng uр аwаrd) іѕ fоr аll оf uѕ; thіѕ оnе іѕ fоr rеggае, thіѕ оnе іѕ fоr Јаmаіса. Тhаnk уоu vеrу muсh аnd blеѕѕіngѕ.”
Speaking to Guardian, last year, Koffee said she counts Bob Marley as an influence and that the pace that “Bob Marley set in reggae music, on such a positive and widespread level, is something that I want to emulate and carry on.”
“I want to honor his legacy in that sense.”
Koffee describes her sounds as “youthful”.
“Positive … Me nah know. It’s kind of difficult to describe sound as positive, but I feel like music has feeling,” she said.
Source: Woman Africa
Senegalese born, Harlem-native Diarrha N’Diaye is launching her own line of products . She kind of hinted at this in her 2019 interview with BN Style.
In an interview with Byrdie.com she opens up about why she decided to start and building a beauty business.
On her inspiration for starting Ami Cole
“For a very long time, I didn’t know beauty outside of this bubble,” she says. “The idea of my mother’s shop was to transform someone into their most beautiful self, and that’s what I saw. Girls would travel to our salon with their cut-outs and Hype Hair magazine and that was our pinnacle of beauty. It wasn’t until I hit the ‘real world’ where I realized that wasn’t represented.”
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On her industry experience (as a social media strategist at L’Oréal and on the product development team at Glossier)
“We were afterthoughts, even in terms of formulation,” she shares. “Many vendors catered to the same people and brands. So out of habit, distributors are creating products in a certain shade range (catered to light skin), and then throwing in a darker shade to accommodate a ‘woman of color.’” N’Diaye adds, “The formulations didn’t have us in mind from the beginning. I always felt like I was being squeezed into a space. There wasn’t much thought about how we influence culture or how we influence spend.” “Many times, I was the only one on a team of 50, or even 100, having to explain why the brand’s key messaging or particular imagery was not appropriate for us. I am black, yes. But, I don’t represent every single experience. I felt very tokenized in some instances, but also felt the need to also be an advocate for all of us. It was a tough space.”
On why she started Ami Cole
“People want their skin, but better.” Her initial collection is set to provide a skin-enhancing tint, an illuminator, and a lip treatment. “I thought it was important to offer these products because there aren’t a lot of options. I loved Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer, but they didn’t offer my shade until two months ago. Brands weren’t giving me the tint I wanted. Each of the products are going to have a skincare first approach.”
Credit Bellanaija
Abimbola Craig is up with some relationship advise for the unmarrieds though.
While addressing a fan who asked, “How do I communicate no sex before marriage to my boyfriend without sounding off?”. She shared her thoughts on the question, saying, “sex has to be communicated. There are no in-betweens. Nobody should pressure you into doing what you don’t want to do. If and when you decide to, you should communicate that to him as well but on your own terms.”
Watch her vlog below:
Ghanaian female musician Mzbel, cries out about the state of her career in music, saying her involvement in Politics has affected the promotion rate of her songs.
She was an avid supporter of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2016 general elections.
For 16years she has been a hit but has been experiencing a few support from fans after her political involvement. According to her, an attempt to promote her song three years ago failed, which has made her to put music on hold for now.
In an interview she had with Graphic Showbiz, Mzbel said, “Music is kind of on hold for now. The main reason is that when I released Tongues, promoting it was difficult. It was right after the general election (2016) and I had shown my face as to whom I supported, so, there was hatred. I went for a nationwide tour but it still didn’t work.”
“As things stand now, if I release a song, I won’t be able to promote it and I won’t get gigs because of political reasons. I have about 11 or 12 songs to be released, so, I put them on my website,” she stated.
Mzbel has chosen to focus on her pub located at Tema West at the moment.
“At the moment, I am focusing my energy on my pub and other things,” she said.
