CeleBeauty Watch: Nicki Minaj Covers the July 2018 Elle

June 17, 2018 / No Comments

With a new album dropping August 10, Nicki Minaj is about to be front and center in not only the rap game, but fashion as well, as evidenced by her collaboration with Karl Largerfeld for the July 2018 Elle. In her interview, Minaj discusses the freedom of making her own decisions, now owing a thing to anyone because she worked her way to the top, rather than sleeping her way there.

Her interview is honest and enlightening and is available to read here.

Photos courtesy of elle.com.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY KARL LAGERFELD

I'd love to hear your thoughts!Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skin Care Review: Arcona Cranberry Gommage Exfoliant

Lately, my typically clear skin has become unrecognizable. My low-maintenance facial routine couldn’t contend with my new facial issues: erupting pimples all over, stubborn dry patches on my cheeks, and oily areas on my forehead and nose. My face went completely haywire overnight it seemed, and the usual routine just wasn’t cutting it! Confession: I’ve been slacking on my sloughing-—big time. Life has been so hectic lately that I’ve pretty much abandoned my regular exfoliation routine, and it shows. When a close friend suggested I give Arcona Cranberry Gommage a try, I figured it couldn’t hurt. Little did I know, it would not only return my blemish-free visage, but give me a more even, smooth complexion over time! About Arcona Cranberry Gommage $47 Exfoliant containing cranberry extracts, volcanic minerals and essential fatty acids, to cleanse and renew all skin types. Smells berry delicious. Cleanses, tones and decongests enlarged pores, leaving skin clearer, smoother and more refined. Unclog and minimize pores with cranberry and raspberry enzymes. Exfoliate and purify skin with salicylic acid, volcanic minerals and sucrose that work deep within the follicular wall and provide antimicrobial, antibacterial benefits. Protect skin with the anti-aging properties of antioxidants that prevent free radical damage. My experience: Fresh out of the bottle, Arcona Cranberry Gommage is a deliciously grape-scented, lavender-hued scrub. Suggested use is twice weekly, but I reach for this exfoliant daily! more often because it’s such a treat. I can feel the difference immediately after applying Arcona Cranberry Gommage to my face and neck. I use a gentle circular scrubbing motion with the pads of my fingers. Rinsing clean, my skin feels so soft and smooth and moisturizer just glides on once I’m out of the shower.. It only took about a week of using Arcona Cranberry Gommage for me to see the results. I received a number of compliments ranging from “your skin looks so good,” and “what do you use,” to “you’re glowing!” Nothing else changed in my regimen, so I have to credit the Cranberry Gommage! While I found the scrub gentle enough for sensitive skin, it also has the right amount of grit to be effective. The polishing action instantly brightens, leaving you with fresh, glowing skin after regular use. For this reason, if you aren’t into a scrub that actually scrubs, what’s wrong with you? Arcona Cranberry Gommage might not be the product for you. Arcona Cranberry Gommage is specifically recommended for normal to oily skin, but my wacky winter combo skin got great results. Don’t be afraid to try it out if your skin tends toward the dry end of the spectrum. Bling Factor: Pro: Gentle exfoliant, smells and feels amazing! Cons: Could be too gritty for some, but i loved it. Price: $47 Buy Again: Probably, will need a new bottle soon! Packaging: 4 Blings—Typical flip-top squeeze bottle. Overall: 5 Blings Hero Ingredients: Cranberry and Raspberry enzymes Natural/Organic/Vegan: Organic Cruelty Free: Yes SHOP:
...
Trending—Bad (Beauty) Habits: Wyminn Resolves to Keep Her Hair Moisturized

Blinging Beauty editor, Wyminn Boyington admits that she needs to keep her hair in better shape with moisturizing. With the current movement toward natural hair, we know that the number one need for hair is constant hydration. Start with moisturizing shampoo and conditioner and use grooming products that also encourage moisture retention in your hair. Moisturizing Shampoo & Conditioner SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo $10.99 Cleanses, hydrates and repairs dry, damaged or over-processed hair. Sulfate-free. SheaMoisture Raw Shea Butter Restorative Conditioner $10.99 Detangles, moisturizes, repairs and restores lifeless dry, damaged or over-processed hair. – Made with natural and certified organic ingredients. – Sea Kelp provides mineral-rich nutrition which seals and smoothes hair cuticle. – Argan Oil restores shine while helping promote hair elasticity. – Shea Butter deeply moisturizes while conditioning hair and scalp. Cantu Shea Butter Leave In Conditioning Repair Cream $5.29 Stops and mends hair breakage Leaves hair soft, shiny, and manageable, Formulated for severely damaged, dry, or coarse hair. An intensive deep penetrating leave in cream conditioning treatment that is made with pure shea butter and other natural oils to stop and mend breakage, repair split ends, and add manageability and shine with every application. Phytospecific Baobab Oil $40 This intensely hydrating oil can be used on hair, scalp, and body for softer skin and stronger, more manageable, elastic locks. It also provides sun protection for hair and protects against free radicals, which can cause damage and frizz. Shop:
...
Curvature—Curvy Girl Body Care: Indie Lee’s Java Fix—DIY Coffee Body Scrub

We are in the throes of winter and that means that we layer more clothes and may tend to neglect steps to keep our skin it’s glowing best. For best summer skin, exfoliation and moisturizing are essential for glorious skin. Well, when you take it all off, don’t you want the same silky soft skin you were showing off last summer? Of course you do. It can be prohibitive using a luxe body scrub on a daily basis, so why not save your precious body exfoliatior for a special occasion, and instead “cook up” one in your kitchen that’s just as effective and delicious. Indie Lee, founder of the all-natural skincare line Indie Lee & Co, shares one of her at-home recipes for an all-natural scrub containing her favorite ingredient: coffee. The caffeine works to dehydrate fat cells and when broken down, acts as a natural exfoliant. The upside? The caffeine helps reduce the appearance of cellulite! Caffeine Addiction at Its Best: Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite and Exfoliate Naturally What You Need: · ½ ounce of sweet almond oil · 2 tablespoons coffee grinds (espresso roast) · 5 tablespoons coconut oil · ¾ cup of arrowroot powder (natural alternative to talc powder) How to Make It: 1. Combine coffee grinds and sweet almond oil in a large bowl and mix. 2. Add coconut oil and mix well. 3. Fold in the arrowroot powder. Make sure all the coconut clumps are gone. *Indie Tip: She likes to keep the mixture refrigerated for a day to make it easier to scoop out, like butter. If you are a lazy girl, you can shop here for a lovely body scrub: body scrub About Indie Lee Indie Lee is a natural ingredients advocate, who has devoted her life to educating consumers on the dangerous contaminants that consume our lives. Following her recovery from a life-threatening brain tumor, likely caused by environmental toxins in food products and cleaning and skin care products, Indie left her corporate suits and lifestyle behind to re-dedicate her life to educating consumers on the hidden dangers of chemicals in cosmetics and personal care products. She took it upon herself to provide a healthy, non-toxic alternative. From this notion, Indie Lee & Co. was born. Indie Lee & Co. was founded on the principle that women everywhere deserve to have access to a luxurious, all-natural alternative to the artificial, chemically-laden products on the market today. The line is specially formulated to meet the growing demand of health-conscious consumers who long for toxin-free and effective skincare products. Each of the six cross-functional collections provide a natural alternative to common skin conditions such as rosacea, blemishes and dry skin.
...
Baby It’s Cold Outside: Best Moisturizers for Winter Skin Care

Every woman needs a go to fur (faux) and moisturizer for these winter months. It’s cold outside. We wrap up, blast the heat and even stoke the fire to keep warm. But the fact is that indoor heat as well as outdoor cold can all wreak havoc with our skin. Protect your skin from the harsh ways of winter by keeping moisture level in balance; perhaps bumping up your moisturizer a notch. Even oily skin benefits from the protection of hydrators that keep skin nourished and balanced. My moisturizer picks: 1. Best Anti-aging Moisturizer NeOvadiol Gf Day Densifying Re-Sculpting Care $48 Benefits (to which I can attest) Refined jaw line, toned neck, plumped cheeks, skin is nourished with features appearing smoother and a subtle green tea fragrance. The feel is nothing less than luxurious. 2. Best Moisturizer for Combination Skin Ole Henriksen Herbal Day Creme SPF 15 $35 This moisturizer combines grape seed oil and antioxidants that gives skin a luminous glow while it protects against environmental aggressors. 3. Best Moisturizer for Acne Prone Skin Go Clear Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF 15 $33 A fast-absorbing, oil-free, moisturizing sunscreen that provides UVA / UVB sun protection, complexion-enhancing botanicals, and a matte finish. 4. Best Moisturizer for Oily Skin Kinerase Lotion $63 This rich, gentle daily hydrator offers phenomenal antiaging effects courtesy of Kineten (0.1% N6-furfuryladenine), a plant-derived ingredient that helps delay signs of aging, delivers improved tone and texture, and visibly minimizes the look of lines, wrinkles, dark spots, blotches, freckles, and uneven skintone. 5. Best Moisturizer for Sensitive Skin First Aid 5 in 1 Face Cream SPF 30 $38 This blend is allergy tested, fragrance free, and dermatologist recommended; it excludes harsh chemicals and colorants. Photo of Naomi Campbell courtesy of huffingtonpost.com. Shop:Face Anti-Aging by KineraseSkin Care at drugstore.com
...
Trending-Winter Beauty: Try These Products When You Are Stuck Inside!

Has cold weather got you in the house with nothing but time on your hands? Well, why not treat your skin and hair to some spa-worthy treatments? Treat your skin to a clay face mask… DDF SULFUR THERAPEUTIC MASK (SULFUR 10% ACNE TREATMENT) A clay mask and spot treatment with sulfur and purified clays to absorb oil and help keep pores clear ($45, ddfskincare.com) Help your skin recover with an intense moisturizer… Lumene Bright Now Vitamin C Sleeping Cream Restores skins natural balance because it’s packed with antioxidants to help brighten, nourish and vitalize tired and dull skin. ($19.99, CVS and Ulta) Revive your hair with a coconut oil and banana pulp leave-in… Sun Bum Beach Formula 3 In 1 Leave In This spray enriched with Coconut Oil, Banana Pulp and Peel, Banana Leaf, Quinoa Protein and Sunflower Seed Oil will protects, detangle and condition your hair while enhancing and restoring its natural body. ($14.99, trustthebum.com) Don’t forget to brush this product through your hair after applying! Use a Conair Ultra Detangling Wood Cushion Brush Professional quality wood cushion brush that glides through wet or dry hair. ($12.99, Ulta.com) Shop:
...