Commercials can be so persuasive. Tell me if this has ever happened to you.

You see an ad or an infomercial for a magical moisturizer that promises to cure your exact skin issue. You buy it, you use it for a while, and…it’s aight dawg. It doesn’t rock your world like you thought it would. And now you’re stuck with this bottle or tub of stuff that’s meh at best, but you don’t want to throw it out because you spent beaucoup bucks to acquire it in the first place.

I’ve been there. I feel your pain. And I don’t believe in throwing pricey products away. I’m a big believer in making things work, and you can definitely do that with skincare. It’ll mean spending a little more money, but in the long run this is a solution to make your products work even better than they already do.

What’s the secret to making your skincare work for you? I recommend investing in a quality skincare oil. What I love about the new breed of skin oils, you can use them by themselves for intense moisture and antioxidant properties, OR you can mix a few drops into your existing moisturizers to amp up their quality and make your skincare work on your terms.

How do you know which oils to reach for? Luckily, I just broke all of this down over at Glam.com – click to read my post on essential hair oils. All of those oils also work for your skin, but the viscosity of the oil may not make you want to use them in different ways. For example, I love this xoVain post on using castor oil + grapeseed oil for oil cleansing, but I wouldn’t necessarily use castor oil as an overnight face moisturizer (it’s a bit too thick for my liking).

I add coconut, sweet almond, or jojoba oil to body lotions and butters. For my face, I tend to be a lot more picky. I’ve tried so many different kinds of face oils and serums. Allow me to share with you five awesome, unique oil recommendations you may not have tried yet – pricey. yes. But worth it!

M. Steves Ultra Nourishing Boost – this is a concentrated rosehip seed oil that you can use directly on your skin for intense hydration, or add to your skincare products to boost their effectiveness.

Josie Maran Argan Oil – sure, argan oil is super popular now but Josie Maran has been ahead of this craze for a while now. Her argan oil products are beloved for their purity. Recommended for hair, skin and nails.

Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil – Maracuja oil is cold pressed passion fruit oil, and it absorbs effortlessly into the skin. I use Tarte’s oil on its own, or layer it under my night cream. It’s not cheap, but if you live in a cold climate you will feel and notice the difference.

Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil – wait, what? Another oil you may not have ever heard of? Tsubaki is another name for Camellia oil, a staple in Japanese beauty. It’s also known as tea seed oil (NOT tea tree oil, that’s totally different). It’s a great source of fatty omega 3’s, and is beloved as a skin hydrator.

Anita Grant Japanese Camellia Kissi Oil – my first introduction to Japanese Camellia oil was Anita Grant – Anita Grant has AMAZING oils for skin and hair, bellas. She recommends her Camellia Kissi oil for natural hair, dry skin, keloids and scar tissue. It’s intense and effective.

Those are 5 amazing oil booster products I’ve tried and tested – not cheap, but totally worth it if you’re stepping up your skincare regimen.

Are you into oils? Which have you tried and where should I be looking for them? Tell me your beauty secrets!

The post Make Your Skincare Work For You With These 5 Amazing Oils appeared first on Afrobella.

When I lived in the Caribbean and in hot, humid Miami, I had no idea how seasonal my hair would turn out to be. I didn’t understand how my hair’s needs would change depending on the weather, and I had no clue that my curl pattern would shift with the seasons. It turns out my hair loves spring and fall, and turns to frizz in summer. This is my season to switch it up and try out new, lighter products that still give my hair the moisture it needs.

Summer moisture is about nourishment. I find my hair needs more oil treatments for shine. Because my hair is growing out a color treatment, I need to condition it more deeply, and more often. I’ve been trying out a bunch of new stuff, and here are some of my latest favorite moisturizing products, conditioners, styling products, and cleansers. Let’s go!

Cantu Argan Oil Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream – This product is brand spanking new – so new, it isn’t on the Cantu website yet! It’s available for sale at Walmart, and I’ve been lucky enough to try it. Like Cantu’s other hair styling products, this is a white, creamy product with a clean, light fragrance. Unlike Cantu’s shea butter or coconut oil products, this is light to the touch. For my hair’s needs, the ideal texture for summer moisture. It’s making this wash n’ go girl very happy so far.

Hairveda Sitrinillah Deep Conditioner – I discovered this light yet deep conditioner via the awesome We Are ONYX beauty box subscription – if you aren’t yet up on this beauty box, bellas you need to check them out! I discovered SO many incredible hair, beauty and lifestyle products via We Are ONYX. Hairveda is all about moisture, but it didn’t weigh my hair down or have a ton of slip like other deep conditioners do. It made my detangling more manageable, but rinsed out quickly – almost like a cleansing conditioner in texture and feel. It left my hair so soft and fluffy – such a happy little cloud. It’s infused with coconut oil and castor oil, two oils my hair adores. Win win.

wen seasonal scents. I’m a big fan of Chaz Dean’s wen hair products in general, his cleansing conditioners give my hair the gentle moisturizing cleansing it needs, with the detangling power of a good regular conditioner to boot. For anyone who bores of the typical fig, cucumber aloe or sweet almond mintiness of it all, there are wen seasonal scents available on QVC.com. I’m partial to the Spring Gardenia Green Tea, but right now Summer Mango Coconut is available as a cleansing conditioner and Treatment Oil. It’s delicious!

Beautiful Textures Curl Definer Styling Custard – You already realize I’m a fan of this brand, otherwise I wouldn’t have repped them in London, but I’m here to tell you that this product worked great for me. When I posted the details on Instagram, some people mentioned they had flaking issues but that hasn’t been my experience. This is a lightweight, aloe based gel that would work great for twists or fingerstyling if you’re looking for a more creative natural style.

Ojon Damage Reverse Hair Serum – Ojon’s products and my hair just GO together, for the most part. I adore their restorative hair treatment and hair conditioner, and of their hair oils, the Damage Reverse Hair Serum is my FAVE. It’s both weightless and penetrating, and it’s ideal for adding shine to my dry looking natural hair in the summer. I love a product that looks like it’s working because it IS working. Know what I mean?

Alikay Naturals Lemongrass Leave In – I love a good leave in! I was new to Alikay Naturals, but they generously provided gift bag samples for Blogging While Brown in Austin, and so they came into my life and I’m so happy for the experience! This is a lightweight leave in that works as a lovely curl refresher on hot wilted frizzy days. It’s got such a light, pleasant fragrance and effect on my hair! I’m in love. Next I’ll be trying Alikay’s Caribbean Coconut Milk Shampoo. I’m excited already!

Those are my latest summer hair loves. See anything you like, or would like to try? Happy Friday, bellas!

The post Deep Impact – New, Super Summertime Moisturizing Natural Hair Products appeared first on Afrobella.

Once upon a time, travel was glamorous. The experience was about luxury amidst the clouds. Passengers dressed up in their Sunday best to fly, sauntered through the airport, and smoked their duty free cigarettes on the airplane (ever notice how there are still tiny ashtrays on the armrests in so many airplanes to this day? Weird). Those days are long gone, baby. I can tell you from experience, modern day travel is frequently about STRESS. I’ve experienced more than my share of travel-related stress sweat. Thanks to Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response, I think I’ve finally got it beat.

Fun fact! There are three main causes of sweat – activity, heat, and stress. I’m a frequent victim of all three, but stress sweat is the wooorsssst </Jean Ralphio>

Why does stress sweat smell the worst? It comes from the Apocrine glands, which release sweat that’s 80% water and 20% nutrients (lipids and proteins). The sweat from heat and activity comes from the Eccrine glands, which release 99% water. The bacteria that naturally occurs on our skin feeds off the nutrient from stress sweat, which = Body Odor.

The more you know!

Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response’s formula includes technology that traps and locks away odor, neutralizes it, and releases a fresh scent – the most important thing to protect you from stress sweat. As we all know from unfortunate experience, covering it up with fragrance can make things smell even worse.

Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response kept me protected from all three causes of sweat – because I’ve been going through all kinds of travel related stress sweat situations in my latest travel adventures. Let me tell unburden my soul and share some of my latest travel stress sweat situations with you. These are 5 times in my recent travel history that Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response came to my rescue!

The Airport Security Stress Sweat Situation – I mentioned this in my Heathrow post earlier this week, but let me paint you a picture of how this went down. When you go through airport security – especially if you’re in a foreign country – you want things to go as smoothly as possible. At TSA in London, I removed all electronics and 3 oz. liquids, took off my belt and hoped for the best. And then my bag triggered something on the X-ray. I knew I had done nothing wrong, but my body immediately went into internal high stress chaos on the inside. Churning stomach, palpitating heart, and instant stress sweat! It turns out my external phone battery charger looked dodgy to the security officials. As soon as they removed it and realized it was a leopard print phone charger, everything was fine. And thanks to Secret, I sailed through security smelling like summertime after all.

The Impromptu Event Stress Sweat Situation – During my last trip, the first morning I woke up in London I immediately had to get dressed super cute and go rock it at an awesome hair event. YIKES. Having to hit the ground running can be stressful enough, but overseas travel + not being a morning person + having to look my best and take photos with a ton of people + the stress I always feel before I appear on stage anywhere = instant stress sweat situation. Without Secret Clinical Strength, I wouldn’t have wanted to give as many hugs as I did that day.

The Fancy Dress Stress Sweat Situation – Picture this. You’re on the way to a wedding, and you’re wearing a fabulous dress in a light color. Your well-meaning husband says, “Forget it, we don’t need a cab – it’s a beautiful day for a walk.” So you’re walking to this wedding when you realize waitaminute, this thing doesn’t begin at 4:30 pm – it starts at 4! And why is there never a cab available when you need one? Learn from my mistakes, bellas. The next time you’re wearing a light colored dress on a hot summer day and you want to make it there without stress or sweat? Take a cab. I wound up having to walk 12 blocks, and without Secret, there would have been a regrettable pit stain situation that I thankfully managed to avoid.

The Long Bus Ride Stress Sweat Situation – My recent trip to the UK included a stay in London and an obligatory tour on a red double decker bus. It’s like a rite of passage. Visit London, do the bus tour, sit on the top deck. Fun! It really was for the most part, until the end. A two and a half hour tour started stretching into three and a half hours, when our double decker bus got stuck in horrendous traffic. (A word of advice – traffic along the Lower Thames Route seems to be a mess pretty often. Avoid if you can). A bus tour is relaxing and fun, until you get stuck on it without a bus stop or public restroom in sight. I could feel the sweat situation increasing in threat level until we made it to a stop near Hyde Park. Clean, well attended public restroom FTW! Sweet relief (and I smelled awesome the whole time).

The I-Might-Miss-My-Flight Stress Sweat Situation – I married a man who prefers to get to the airport two hours before a flight, and it’s been a good practice to adopt. But at London’s Heathrow airport we spent so much time window shopping that we had to book it to our airport gate. Isn’t it ALWAYS the case that when you’re the most in a rush at the airport, that your gate is the furthest away? It was a brisk walk to say the least. Lucky for me, Secret protected me from stress, heat and activity sweat. I made it on the plane in sweat-free condition.

This has become my trusty go-to everyday deodorant, because let’s be real – you never know when stress sweat will creep up on you. Click here to get yourself some Secret Clinical Strength and smell as sweet as you are all summer long.

Share your stress sweat moments with me! When’s the last time you felt that oh-no-I-hope-my-deodorant-is-up-for-this-job panic? Tell me in the comments, or on Twitter – use the hashtag #StressSweat to share your story!

You can check out Secret on Facebook or Twitter @SecretDeodorant.

Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Secret, but these sweaty confessions and opinions are all mine!

The post Stress Sweat is REAL. 5 Times Secret Came To My Rescue appeared first on Afrobella.

My husband has learned over the many years of our marriage – I’m not one for generic jewelry. I’m not one who wants him to go to Jared and I don’t believe every kiss begins with Kay. I don’t generally go gaga for the pieces you see on display at the department stores. What I love, is handcrafted, unique, statement jewelry. I love inspired earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces where you can tell that the craftsperson behind it has a distinct vision and voice. I love pieces that inspire conversation and spark the question, “Where did you get THAT?”

The jewelry curated in this collection is by a range of designers of various ages, genders and ethnicities. Some create jewelry that’s bold and tribal. Some create jewelry that’s elegant and classy. Others create pieces that are fun and trendy. These are pieces that I’ve been rocking with pride lately, sent my way by a variety of creators. Allow me to share some of my favorite new jewelry for you to get into!

The designer – Mishakaudi Jewelry – www.mishakaudi.com

The aesthetic – Mishakaudi pieces are so perfect for summer concert festival season! They’re bold and bright, so you can either make their necklaces and earrings your main outfit statement or use them as a complimentary accent. Think of bright beads of turquoise, triangular motifs, and the kind of jewelry Pocahontas might want to wear if she was a modern girl headed to Bonnaroo.  Layer them on for a distinctive, trendy look, or go for one big piece (like the Cumbra Necklace, which I LOVE and get compliments on whenever I wear it). Designer Marissa Lewis is proudly vegan and so Mishakaudi jewelry is completely cruelty free – no leather, no feathers. Just gorgeous geometry meant to accentuate your look.

For more visit the website www.mishakaudi.com and check out their Facebook and Twitter.

The designer – Rocks Paper Metal – www.rockspapermetal.com

The aesthetic – youthful, vibrant, and NEON are the watchwords for Rocks Paper Metal. Their earrings are like little bites of sour gummy candy made in colors designed to make any outfit POP. Their pieces are fun, affordable, and increasingly popular – just recently I was thumbing through Fitness (verify) magazine and saw cover girl Kelly Osbourne rocking these Sorbet Zig Zag Drape Earrings. They make the kind of jewelry that you can instantly recognize and appreciate, and I love that. And their price points are amazing – these Neon Yellow with Turquoise Pave Crystal Teardrop Earrings are just $20! Love. I want them in every color combination!

Their website is www.rockspapermetal.com and you can check out RPM on Facebook and Twitter.

The designer – tweak boutique – www.tweakboutique.com

The aesthetic – unique, classic, just a little funky and meant to compliment. Ontario based designer Caroline Bruce creates pieces that fit effortlessly into your collection – pretty accents to add style to your ensemble. I love her Hooked Charm Earrings, they appeal to the Pisces in me! I love Caroline’s personal style (and hair), and I find myself wearing her pieces with everything from my favorite chambray shirt to my elegant dresses for evening events. So versatile!

Check out tweak’s website: www.tweakboutique.com and they’re on Facebook and Twitter.

The designer – Lexi Jewelry

The aesthetic – it’s all about making a subdued yet elegant statement. Miami based designer Lexi Segre uses gorgeous stones and pure metals to create jewelry that is feminine and tasteful but still unique and cool. I was immediately drawn to her 14KT gold filled aquamarine dangly earrings – aquamarine is my birthstone and I haven’t seen it done justice by many in jewelry design along the way. I’m a big lover of raw stones and their innate power, and her Amethyst Stalagmite Long Necklace is the perfect showstopper to add an individual touch to your ensemble.

The website is www.lexijewelery.com, and this is the official Facebook page.

The designer – Theorem.

The aesthetic – Theorem designs “party jewelry for high fashion ladies” and if you’re making waves on the social scene then you’ll love their pieces! Edgy, bold and trendy – and affordable. Their Gunmetal Waterfall Earrings are favorites of mine, I’m a fool for chain earrings with a difference!

Check out their website: www.theorem-jewelry.com, and on Theorem is on Facebook and Twitter.

I’ve been proudly rocking pieces that I was sent by these up and coming designers, and the responses I’ve been getting are phenomenal.

And there you have it, five brand new jewelers you may not have heard of before. See anything you like?

The post Gorgeous New Jewelry For You To Get Into appeared first on Afrobella.

And now for something COMPLETELY different and a topic I don’t normally address…but this week I feel compelled to because of what I saw.

Red calendar via Shutterstock

Picture this.

I’m stuck at the back of a crowded bus headed down a busy downtown Chicago street. I look out the window and see two teenage boys make the ewww face at each other, and they seem like they’re in disbelief at what they’ve just seen. I look past them and they’re gawking at a 30-something year old woman. She is wearing a pastel colored mini skirt. She is slowly walking up the street, staring at her phone and texting…totally oblivious to the stares from everyone around her and the giant blood stain spreading all over the back of her skirt.

OMG. Nightmare by proxy.

I so wanted to jump off the bus and be like noooooooo!

But there was no way I could do anything. And when I was finally able to see this poor lady’s face, I fully expected her to look confused or disturbed…something to explain why NOBODY had seen fit to tell her “excuse me ma’am, you have a situation that needs to be addressed urgently…” and she looked perfectly normal. Just preoccupied with her phone, is all.

As the bus rolled away I found myself dealing with my feelings. Although nothing like that’s ever happened to me **knock on wood**, I can just imagine how that would feel. And that lady I saw isn’t alone – when I shared the story with a few friends the embarrassing personal stories came flooding out (so to speak). So many of us had experienced prior incidents that left us feeling ashamed and self conscious. And so many of us hadn’t shared these stories before, instead they remained bottled up inside. Maybe I couldn’t help the woman I saw on the street, but I can try to help others, right?

Aunt Flo. The crimson tide. The curse. The red accident. We all know what it is, and we all deal with it. And it’s no fun but it is what it is. Here’s how I deal with mine.

Best time-of-the-month apps

The Smartphone is the best thing to happen to women dealing with their menstrual cycles since the disposable tampon was invented. Thanks to Smartphones, we can now keep track of things without having to think much about it.  This thing doesn’t have to be a surprise.

For iPad and iPhone there’s MANY to choose from. My Days has the best reviews, and users claim it’s incredibly accurate in terms of assessing ovulation, and you can use it to add text, remember if you took your pill, and more.

Pink Pad is a period tracker and social media network unto itself, where you can discuss women’s health issues in a safe space and get answers from users like yourself. Also now there’s a shop with carefully curated fertility items

Mood Horoscope and Period Tracker is exactly what it sounds like, but instead of sassy humor it gives you sensible advice, like how much iron you need to ingest and what exactly your hormones are doing to cause the emotional rollercoaster you’re experiencing.

For Android phones, there’s Period Tracker which is cute and discreet, Period Calendar which is popular, and MyCycles, which is basic and very…floral.

The products I always turn to

This isn’t the kind of shopping I spend a whole lot of time thinking about. I have an order of preference, and that’s entirely based on durability of product and cost. In general, my order goes like this:

Stayfree

Always

Tampax

Kotex

I keep a collection of pads and tampons on me at all times, so no emergency situation can get the best of me. This is ESPECIALLY essential when traveling. I speak from experience.

Also, it’s a sensible bit of advice to wear super comfortable shapewear or bike shorts during your time, to avoid accidents like I witnessed. It’s not always going to work depending on your outfit, but it’s valuable insurance for the menstrual cycle unsure and insecure.

Best tips for unfortunate laundry of this nature

Seeing the woman on the street made me so sad for her emotions and for her wardrobe. To add insult to injury, that cute mini skirt may have been ruined. Here’s what helps when you’ve got to deal with unfortunate laundry of this nature.

- blot the stain. Don’t rub. Blot. Use a paper towel. Absorb as much of it out as you can.

- only wash the stain with COLD water. Hot water will essentially ensure that it won’t ever come out.

– there are several methods you can try, including saltwater, detergent, and ammonia. This Wikihow page is very helpful.

– Remember that these things happen. You’re not the first person this will happen to, and you won’t be the last.

Not a fun subject to tackle, but a necessary one – and one I don’t think many of us are discussing enough. Those are my top tips for the woman I wish I could have helped.

What’s your advice for that time of the month, bellas? I want to hear your stories too!

The post Every Woman’s Worst Nightmare appeared first on Afrobella.

I’ll admit it, I had a pre-existing prejudice against Las Vegas. It was cemented by the reputation the city had built for itself, branding itself as a perpetual bachelor party that catered to those interested in gambling and indulging in extreme, excessive inebriation. A place for people with something to escape and something to hide. What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas. All of the negative cliches that go with that cast an impression in my mind. Even after numerous visits (my sister in law lives out there), I still was unable to shake the mental image of Vegas = The Hangover. And yes, if you’re into The Hangover type hijinks, you can find all that and more in Las Vegas. But if you’re a woman who’s more into glitz, glamour, good food and pampering than shots, shenanigans and stacking up the chips in a smoky casino, then you might need to reconsider Las Vegas. There’s so much more you can experience!

Last month I got to experience a whole different side of Vegas during a one of a kind blogger trip, and my eyes were opened to this other Vegas experience. The people at MGM Resorts put together an amazing trip for a group of carefully selected influencers to “Live The MLife.” As I Instagrammed every amazing activity, people kept asking me, “WHAT is the MLife?” Finally I’m here to elaborate.

Vegas is all about access – access to the best seats in the more renowned restaurants, access behind the velvet ropes at the hottest nightclubs, access to the most luxurious and futuristic amenities you won’t experience anywhere else. The MLife is a stratified card system that allows visitors to MGM Resorts properties and partners, to experience that. If you’ve got an MLife card, you’ve got access to insider offers at some of the best resorts in Las Vegas, including the Bellagio^®, Aria^™, Vdara^™, MGM Grand^®, Mandalay Bay^®, THEhotel^®, The Mirage^® …and the list goes on. Look – check out the list of opportunities the card allows.

For this trip we were given Sapphire cards, but we got to live life like the more prestigious cardholders do, and it was EVERYTHING. Seriously, it was so hard to come back from this trip. It was like seeing some kind of promised land where the other half lives, where you experience the best of everything. We ate at the best restaurants and got VIP access to the coolest clubs. We went to the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Invitational. We met cast members of Cirque. We lived LARGE for like 3 days. Coming down off that cloud is hard!

Now that I’ve seen the glories of Vegas baller life, I can share some of the most magnificent, worth it, must-try experiences in Sin City. Let me get into my Vegas recommendations and favorite experiences, hopefully this will help you plan your next trip!

The Stay

I stayed at the Aria Resort and Casino and it was an absolutely gorgeous, luxurious experience. You notice the difference as soon as you enter the lobby – a heavenly fragrance of vanilla and sandalwood surrounds you as you approach the check-in desk. Everything is serene, elegant, and beautiful. And then you get up to your room and WOW. Check out the room!

I was so impressed by the amenities, the service, the remote control that allowed me to open my curtains, turn on the TV and the lights from my bed…all of the things!

The rooms at Aria are just decadent and fabulous. These are the regular hotel rooms – we got a sneak peek at what’s called a Sky Suite and that’s just blow your mind fancy. What I loved about Aria was the ambiance of luxury. Yes, the downstairs area is a giant casino but its not overpoweringly loud and smoky as other casinos are. The access to the pool, spa area, shows and even the clubs , is away from the casino floor. So you don’t have to be That Person in a bathrobe and a bikini who’s walking through the casino (unless for some reason, you want to be).

I’ve stayed in quite a few hotels, but the experience at Aria blew me away – top quality service and beautiful surroundings. I completely cosign JohnnyJet’s post, in case you need additional reasons to stay at Aria.

Amazing Vegas Experiences

Vegas has something to offer to suit just about anyone’s interest.More and more it isn’t about just gambling (although, when in Rome). Your Vegas experience can be whatever you want it to be. It can be highbrow and artistic, or base and debauched. Or both! For the highbrow and artistic experience, I can’t recommend Cirque du Soleil enough. Many of Vegas’ top hotels boast of a Cirque show in-house. There’s O at the Bellagio, Love at The Mirage, Ka at the MGM Grand, Zarkana at the Aria, and at the end of this month (May 2013), Michael Jackson One will open at the Mandalay Bay. I’ve been lucky enough to see many Cirque shows, but during this MLife blogger trip we got to go backstage and briefly meet the cast of Ka, and then members of the Zarkana cast came to meet us and that was so random, unexpected and amazing! Zarkana is an incredible show and I’d actually go see it again the next time I’m in town. Definitely a recommended experience.

If you’re into art, you will just love the Bellagio in general – the place is dripping in artistic inspiration, from the incredible Chihuly installation to the photography of Jeff Mitchum, on display in his own gallery. We were so lucky to meet Jeff Mitchum himself and hear about his inspiration, his methods, and the behind-the-scenes stories on the photos he’s proudest of – such an inspiring experience. I was truly honored and moved by some of his stories. If you’re in the Bellagio, definitely stop by and check out his work.

Eat Here

During this trip, the MLife bloggers were treated to multiple feasts. Decadent, fabulous, ridiculous feasts. I’ve eaten well in Vegas before but this was next level. These three restaurants were OUTSTANDING in terms of quality, presentation and ambiance.

Sensi – get the butter chicken, and the sorbet for dessert from Chef Royden Ellamar’s restaurant. The intent here is to serve a variety of international cuisines at a high quality level. I’m a big Indian food lover and a sushi obsessive, so I adored the Sensi rolls and the samosas and the butter chicken the most. Everything we tried was absolutely delicious, however.

Aureole – this restaurant is all about the ambiance. Charlie Palmer’s Vegas branch of Aureole was inspired by a key scene from Mission: Impossible, where Tom Cruise rappels down a glass building. They’ve created a wine tower – 14 feet, 4 storys worth of wine. “Wine fairies” fetch your bottles, strapping them safely into high tech fanny pack belts. All that and the cuisine is delicious. The photo you see above is  Executive Chef Vincent Pouessel preparing their signature French onion soup. TO DIE FOR.

American Fish – gorgeous décor and incredible, fresh, sustainably served fish procured from American waters. If you’re a seafood lover this is a Vegas must. Absolutely loved this dining experience.

Treat Yoself

In Vegas, I got to see what the life of a baller was like, and it is everything you might have imagined. One of the most unforgettable experiences took place at Hyde, a swanky cocktail lounge/nightclub that’s located right behind the Bellagio fountain. If you go, I’d recommend you go early and try to get a spot where you can appreciate the majesty of their fountains . As an MLife card holder, one of the special insider offers includes choosing a song from the choreographed fountain list. Aly chose Viva Las Vegas. JD of EarthXplorer chose Luck Be a Lady. I chose Billie Jean. Such an unforgettable night! If you go to Hyde, I recommend you get that back seat so you can enjoy the fountain and order their killer cocktails.

There’s shopping in Vegas – which is already ridiculous – and then there’s The Shops at Crystals, which is shopping on steroids. In this high end shopping center, I saw stores I didn’t know existed as physical stores. Gucci, Fendi, Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Kiki de Montparnasse, Hermes, Lanvin, Prada, Cavalli, Cartier…the list goes on. Just for gawking’s sake, you should check it out.

Everything’s bigger, better and more over the top fab in Vegas and that includes the spas.

I was able to indulge in treatments at the Spa at the Bellagio and I was lucky enough to experience the private spa suites at Aria. I will elaborate on the amazingness in a future post but I just need to say this – YOU SHOULD GO. It’s an incredible space, and you will get the pampering you deserve. Get yourself a massage at Aria. You won’t regret your decision.

All that AND I got to kick it by the pool and soak up the sun for an hour or so. It was FABULOUS.

It was hard leaving the MLife behind for the R Life (R being regular). I had a blast in Vegas and this last trip inspired me to go back. It showed me possibilities I didn’t know were there. The next time I’m planning a bachelorette weekend or girls getaway, I know exactly what to recommend.

This media trip was totally enhanced by the fact that some of my favorite fellow bloggers came too, and I made some great new friends! Special shout out to Aly Walansky, Nadine Jolie, Amber Katz, and my new friends Zippy Sandler, JD, Johnny Jet, Shannon and Nancy. You’re awesome!

Thanks to the MLife team for such an unforgettable press experience.

Trip was sponsored by MLife and MGM Resorts but these opinions are all mine.

The post Experiencing A Different Side of Vegas. Inside The MLife Experience appeared first on Afrobella.

Because I grew up in Trinidad, I didn’t grow up reading American literature. It was pretty much all British and Caribbean lit until I moved to America and started doing college literature classes. Naturally The Great Gatsby was an early essential, and from the first time I read it I had strong feelings about it. I loved F. Scott Fitzgerald’s lush depiction of jazz age excess, but I found myself hating many of the characters. I saw Nick Carraway as a passive observer of life, the person who lives vicariously, never truly living at all. Tom Buchanan was cartoonish and loathsome but Daisy was worse, and even in the book I couldn’t comprehend Gatsby’s deep, destructive love for a woman so shallow and selfish.

Before I get into this review, I feel like I should disclose my feelings about the film and the source material. I’m a big Leonardo DiCaprio fan, and I think Baz Luhrmann has a truly individualistic and brilliant eye for cinematic possibilities. I loved Romeo and Juliet – and that soundtrack included some absolute gems that have become classic songs (the end credit song, Radiohead’s Exit Music for immediate example). The fact that Jay-Z produced the soundtrack added to my intrigue. I went into The Great Gatsby screening with high hopes, based on the actors, the director and the buzz surrounding soundtrack. I didn’t counterbalance that with my feelings about the source material, so I’ll admit that from the beginning.

There were parts of this film that I loved, and that made me feel absolutely transported into the era. Let’s start with what I loved.

The costume design is absolutely to die for and it’s no small surprise that The Great Gatsby has become a merchandise marketing machine, with brands like Tiffany and Brooks Brothers coming on board to create Gatsby-branded collectors items seeking to capture that glamour for themselves. The party scenes are just as dazzling as you might have imagined them to be. And speaking of dazzling, show us that smile again Leonardo -

YES. HEY LEO, HEY.

Leonardo DiCaprio is the cat’s meow and he is gorgeous and convincing as Jay Gatz AKA Jay Gatsby. He took a role that could easily skew towards caricature, fleshed it out and made it as whole as possible. He’s the biggest draw in the film and ladies who are headed to the theater based on their love of Leo most likely won’t leave disappointed. He’s great in this part.

The soundtrack was hyped so much as an essential and modern twist to the classic tale, but I’ll be honest – it didn’t add much to me, and in some scenes I felt that it detracted, or was used as comic relief (for example, the IZZO scene). Some songs worked way better than others. I loved Emile Sande’s jazz age version of Crazy In Love enough to want the soundtrack on Spotify.

This version of The Great Gatsby is so NOT East Egg – it is lurid, over the top, drenched in ostentatious fashion, style inspiration and dazzling visuals. I loved all of it. But amidst all of the ostentation, I lost the thread of plausibility and the negative aspects that bothered me about the characters in the first place came glaring into the spotlight. Let’s get into what I didn’t like.

It is a daunting and enormous task to bring an American literary classic to life, so I appreciate the reverence that Baz Luhrmann demonstrated for the book. Having said that, some books are just better as books – the written word more powerfully conveys the emotions that explain the plot of The Great Gatsby than this movie was able to, IMO. It seemed that Luhrmann knew that as well, since he used memorable passages of Fitzgerald’s prose, typewritten by Tobey Maguire’s latter period Callahan in a classic film cliché. Fitzgerald’s words are superimposed upon the screen and then they fall away like melting snowflakes, the first few times the effect was used I found it charming but at the film’s end I viewed it through a different lens, and I found it to have worn its welcome. It seemed more like a crutch, issued forth in the hopes of reminding the audience that behind the spectacle and the sets, there is vibrant literature here with a message meant to speak to the death of the American dream.

There were moments where I felt beaten over the head by imagery, like yes, the billboard with the spectacles, YES WE GET IT. I see what Luhrmann was trying to do, but it didn’t work for me, or for the audience it seemed.

I observed a lot from the audience’s cues – by the film’s third act, every time Gatsby called someone “old sport,” the girls in the row behind me started giggling and it occurred to me that The Great Gatsby “Old Sport” drinking game could be a success in the DVD release. The affectation was that ubiquitous.

Fitzgerald’s book is slender but staggering, and the writing keeps the characters three dimensional. That didn’t work for everyone in this film. Carey Mulligan didn’t convince me that Daisy was worthy of Gatsby’s undying, doomed love. Tobey Maguire stayed true to Callahan and reminded me of what drove me nuts about the character in the first place – he’s a device meant to observe but not disrupt the plot, the narrator who only exists to tell someone else’s story. Joel Edgerton’s Tom Buchanan was all bluster and machismo – in some scenes, I found him reminiscent of Bluto from the old Popeye cartoons. And to continue cartoon comparisons, I found Isla Fisher’s character to be equally one-dimensional – a Betty Boop-era flapper with hypersaturated makeup, whose final scene was reminiscent of a music video.

Can there be spoilers in reviewing The Great Gatsby? That would be almost like saying there could be spoilers for Titanic, or Romeo and Juliet. I don’t want to ruin the film for anyone who hasn’t yet read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, so I’ll just end the review by saying this – I didn’t expect to leave the theater rejoicing, by any means, but I did feel a tinge of emptiness and vague, unsettled disappointment after seeing The Great Gatsby. Seeing this movie made me want to read the book again and then see the movie again to better grasp what I felt was missing. So I guess, in the grand scheme of ticket sales and DVD rentals, it’s all to the good. This film was initially intended to be released in Oscar season and now it ushers in the summer blockbuster period – but it fits well here. For all of the over-the-top scenery and 3D delight, it works and I think it gives the audience what it wants. Glitter, glitz, fashion and Leo. And the fact that the movie opened to $51.1 million this past weekend, indicates that maybe America got what it was looking for.

What did you think of The Great Gatsby?

Full disclosure – I cohosted a Great Gatsby screening and that’s where I saw the film.

The post Afrobella Film Review – The Great Gatsby appeared first on Afrobella.

What with the proliferation of natural hair brands taking over retail store shelves at places like Target and Walgreens, it’s even easier these days for aspiring naturals to enter into the world of natural hair products (and potential product junkie-ism). There are indie brands who have made it big, big brands who continue to grow, and brands that really focused more on relaxers in times past who have come to realize the wisdom and profits in natural hair sales. Ahem.

There are great brands to be found in mainstream retail stores and they are also amazing brands that have not yet been discovered by those mainstream retail stores. Some of these brands are ready to be prime time players, others will continue to thrive in a handmade mom-and-pop capacity. That’s the beauty of entrepreneurship!

I wrote a similar post to this in 2012 – click here to read Natural Hair Products – Who Got Next – and it was so cool to look back and see which brands made it to the mainstream! So now let me tell you about five of my favorite little independent hair brands that are doing it big in terms of quality and integrity. Some you’ve read about here before. Others you may not have heard about yet! All are worth your attention.

Coco Curls is intended to be the ultimate multi-use styling product for natural hair. Made by Jeannell Darden, the product came about after she dealt with damage after relaxing, drying and blow drying her hair into a frenzy. Jeannell went natural and found that there were too many products out there confusing and cluttering the market. Her engineering background came in handy in creating her Curly Styling Aid – the only product in the Coco Curls family right now. I love it as a hair moisturizer and styling product, especially in cooler months. Click to buy!

OBIA Natural Haircare is all about the moisture! Every product I’ve tried has been fabulous in terms of delivering the hydration my hair needs. Their Curl Moisture Cream and Curl Hydration Spray are both awesome. And for men who need natural hair care, there’s a men’s line too! Great quality everything. Click to buy!

Anu Essentials stepped into the natural hair arena with credentials galore. Created by renowned natural stylist, Anu Prestonia, founder of the Khamit Kinks salon in Brooklyn, these products simply deliver. Anu Essentials has specialized hair care for natural needs – I’m loving her Moisturizing Curling Cream right now! But the brand doesn’t stop there. Body butters, soaps, perfumes – is there anything Anu can’t do? (I doubt it)! Click here to shop!

Komaza Care is building a big, fabulous reputation in the natural hair community!  I was introduced to them by my homegirl Felicia Leatherwood of the Loving Your Hair With Natural Care Workshop. She put me onto their Coconut Hair Pudding when I was out in LA visiting last time, and she was so right – my hair fell in LOVE. I was sleeping on this brand, but I’m not anymore! Click here to shop!

Soultanicals has the whole package, if you ask me. Innovative products, cool packaging, and a genuine aesthetic for natural hair. Created by Ayo Ogun McCants, the Soultanicals credo is all about fresh, handmade, afro vegan LOVE. I’m a big fan of the Hair Sorrell Knappylicious Kink Drink. My hair loves it just as much as this Trini girl loves sorrel at Christmastime!

Add these to the list of national brands that I think have got next, alongside Koils By Nature, Naturalista cosmetics, Oyin, Cara B and so many other brands!

Those are my latest favorites of the independent natural hair brands that I have been blessed enough to try. Do you have any new favorites that I need to know about, bellas?

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For 40 years, women of color have known and loved Fashion Fair Cosmetics. The venerable beauty brand based in Chicago was a staple in my formative years and I know I’m not the only one who remembers that familiar pink marbleized compact being on their mother’s dresser. The brand has been through so many changes through the years and now Fashion Fair is on an upswing in a new era, thanks in major part to the efforts of Creative Makeup Director Sam Fine. His debut collection set the bar high for makeup lovers and now, to celebrate their 40 years of creating beauty products for women of color, they have released the Fashion Fair Four capsule collection. It’s available in stores and online right here, right now!

Each collection is beautifully packaged featuring stunning images by photographer Victor Skrebneski. Each package features a woman who represents an era of Fashion Fair history on the cover. Via HuffPo:

The 1970’s Foxy Capsule Collection: A tribute to our founder Eunice W. Johnson, containing feminine soft pink pallets to inspire the Fox in us all.

The 1980’s Fresh Capsule Collection: Dedicated to the legacy of the hip-hop era, containing a set of sumptuous warm pink colors evoking fresh beauty.

The 1990’s Sensuous Capsule Collection: Reflecting a new evolved era of beauty featuring rich, modern, and bright pink pallets celebrating the sensuality of a woman.

The 2000’s Divine Capsule Collection: Capturing the latest and hottest trends in beauty; featuring glamorous and bold pink shades that embody the divine power of beauty. (PS: the colors in this particular photo above are a bit brighter than what I experienced in person).

The packaging is gorgeous! It’s absolutely the kind of thing that anybody would be proud to display on the dresser. I’m so proud of Fashion Fair! The collection itself is beautifully presented, but how you feel about the items within entirely depends upon this question: Do you love pink? Do you really really love pink?

If so you are going to go crazy for this collection. Each package comes with a lip teaser, lipstick, nail lacquer and blush – all in shades of pink, evocative of the vintage Fashion Fair packaging swirls of marble.

In terms of packaging, the 1970′s “foxy” box featuring a woman with beautiful large afro is my favorite. In terms of the products within, I must admit I found the pinks to be a little subdued for my personal taste. I like a hot pink. A deep pink. So the 2000’s Divine Capsule was my fave in terms of color – the Divine Pink lipstick has a deeper hue and a violet undertone, and the Divine Pink lip teaser is bright, fun and summertime chic!

I love this new direction that Fashion Fair is heading in and I hope to see them continue to innovate their brand and draw from their rich history. I hope to see them continue to celebrate black beauty for years to come! The overall look of this collection is really encouraging — between this and Sam Fine’s outstanding makeup collection, I feel that the future is very bright for this classic legacy brand.

Is this particular collection made for me? Not so much, but that’s just because I’m not really that into pink. But if you are a diehard pink lover then you should run — don’t walk — to your nearest Fashion Fair counter. And if you’re not that into pink, I hope you’re not sleeping on those Sam Fine collection lipsticks, because they are to DIE for. Click here to shop!

What you think bellas? Are you here for the Fashion Fair Four capsule collection? Or is this a little too much pink for you?

The post Fashion Fair’s 40th Anniversary Collection — All Pink Everything appeared first on Afrobella.

I slather it on every day as soon as I get out of the shower. Some days it’s a cream, some days it’s a butter, some days it’s an oil. As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to realize – daily body moisturizer is essential. When I was a teen and in my twenties, I knew I should’ve been taking better care of my skin but I didn’t get it yet and I didn’t care. Now I’m a woman in her early thirties, living in a climate that’s cold for a hefty chunk of the year. My skin has let me know that daily moisture is required – if I don’t moisturize my skin, it feels itchy and uncomfortable and it will literally look dry and ashy. This didn’t used to me when I was younger. More signs of needing a grown woman’s skincare regimen, right? It doesn’t just stop at the face.

The same way I take care of my face and neck, I take care of the rest of my body. Let’s get into a few of my recent favorite body moisturizers that I’ve been reviewing, and where you can find them!

Drugstore

Shea Moisture makes many amazing products for hair and body, and their Lavender and Wild Orchid Body Lotion with Calendula Flower lotion is one of my drugstore faves for sure. It smells amazing. It quenches and nourishes my skin with a combination of shea, cocoa and mango butter, plus “orchid extract intended to fight the signs of aging and prevent moisture loss.” Well hey. It smells amazing and it works well. I recommend it.

I always go back to the classics, and I am an unabashed fan of Johnson’s Baby Lotion. I love its newer incarnations, especially the Creamy Cocoa and Shea Butter variety. I still go back to good old baby oil and lotion often, but the richness of this particular formulation makes my skin super happy.

I used to think of Dial as an antibacterial brand but they’ve really stepped it up in terms of fragrance varieties and skin-improving additives. I didn’t expect to love the Dial 7 Day Moisturizing Lotion Skin Therapy with Himalayan Pink Minerals as much as I do. But I do! The scent is light and refreshing, and the moisture lasts all day. I have yet to discover afternoon ashiness while using it.

Fancy department store

When I think of body moisturizers from the department store that I traditionally adore, Kiehls, Lush and The Body Shop come most immediately to mind. And yes, most def – Crème de Corps, Dream Cream, and that Body Shop Cocoa Butter have earned a place in my heart. But I was sleeping on Clarins Body Lotion. It is deliciously decadently efficient and moisturizing. My skin adores it.

For a more highly scented body moisturizer experience, I have to recommend Agent Provocateur Luxurious Body Elixir in Petale Noir. It’s as decadent and luxurious as you would imagine it to be. It’s a special occasion lotion. A date night lotion. It leaves a lingering sensual fragrance and a little goes a long way. Enjoy. You’re welcome.

Indie and online

There are so many awesome indie, online body lotion and butter companies! I’ve written about my love for BelleButters often, and via Twitter many of my readers have told me they love indie brands Whipped and Ixora. And if you search on Etsy there’s a whole world of homemade body moisturizing goodies to discover. Here are a few recent favorites I’ve tried, that are available online.

Itiba papaya lotion came to me all the way from St. Croix, and when I use it apres-shower, it’s like I’ve kissed my skin with the scent of home. I love a sweet, delicious tropical body lotion experience, and Itiba’s has no fillers, no parabens, and it’s 100% aloe vera based. Love. I’ve got my eye on the Midnight Rain fragrance next!

Do you like to choose your lotion according to your mood? Then get all the way into Lifetherapy body lotion. The brand is all about fragrance as scent memory, evoking beautiful experiences and emotions for the lotion lover. Lifetherapy’s offerings come in a variety of amazing fragrances based on your mood, with names like Chill, Escape, Flirt, Play and Vacation. It makes picking a body lotion kind of a choose your own adventure experience, which is fun. And every single one smells great. I’m a fan!

I’ve got to rave over Georgia NY once again – Jodie Patterson’s indie bodycare line is just THAT good. The Gold Luxury Skin Cream is just beyond amazing. And the Luxury Skin Oil truly feels and smells like luxury.

Those are some of my latest favorite body moisturizers. See any of your faves? What do you use?

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