dark skin

3.23.2016 / , , , , , ,

Fashion Feature| Diamond



1. What are your favorite stores or places to shop?
My favorite place to shop, because I love treasure-like hand me downs, is this local thrift store in my city Lowell, MA called St. Vincent. Or just any thrift store really. Although a good portion of my clothes are from there Forever 21, Target, Marshalls and Journey's (for shoes) are my other go to spots.

2. If you could have anybody's closet, who would it be?
It'd be a mix between Solange, Alexa Chung and Will Smith/Tatyana Ali (fresh prince era)

3. What is your "go-to" fashion piece and/or hairstyle?
It's hard to have just one go to hair do. I'm always switching my hair up whether it's box braids, my natural hair or weaves. When my natural hair is out I always do Bantu knot twist-outs and sport a cute fro. My favorite fashion piece would have to be my older sister's big faux pearl earrings that's she's never getting back (ha ha).

4. Based on the fashion, if you could live in any era [or any place] which one would it be?
A mix up between the elegant 50s-60s looks and the expressive 80s -90s looks.

5. What are your essential fashion items?
High-waisted bottoms!! You don't have to worry about a crack slip and they aligned nicely with curves.

6. Fashion advice or favorite fashion quote?
In whatever we wear I believe we should have J Alexander's voice in our head "walk like it's for sale and the rent is due tonight." Be comfortable in all things you wear, own it.

7. How would you [or others] describe your personal style?
If I had to describe my style I'd say it's a relaxed tomboy chic look. Comfort is a priority. Others say I dress pretty boyish. If I really think about it, more males ask where I get my clothes from rather than females which I'm not bothered by at all because after all I shop in the men's section and have borrowed my older brothers' clothes ever since I could dress myself. Growing up I was like Donny from The Wild Thornberry’s. Free. So that kind of stuck with me in a fashion sense.

8. Favorite thing about www.sarahfarma.com?
What I love most about sarahfarma.com is the free expression that it contains. The elephant in the room kind of topics are discussed such as race, sex and natural hair. This blog is very insightful and altogether a good read.





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Fashion Feature| Diamond

3.23.2016
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1.28.2016 / , , , , ,

10 Melanin Goddesses Share Their Secrets to Perfect Skin, Self-love & Confidence


#BlackGirlMagic, #Blackout, #BlackGoddess. Every day there’s a new empowering movement proving to people that representation matters and the beauty of Black girls is just as beautiful as the next. Hashtags like #MelaninMonday fight to destroy twisted ideologies that dark skin doesn’t have any value or visual appeal. Unfortunately many girls begin to hate their skin color only to start their journey to self-hatred. I got the chance to feature some Melanin Goddesses and they’re going to tell you how they achieved self-love, how they promote it and some of their favorite skin products.

Diamond @diamonddnomaid

Her favorite makeup products: Rimmel London's GlamEyes Mascara and on my lips I wear NYC's mahogany lipstick. If not that then it's the cute, mini, pocket-sized Vaseline cocoa butter that'll leave your lips smooth and kiss ready.

“To those who hate darker complexions and favor lighter complexions, I don't hate you. I hurt for you. However you're not going to make me think twice about what beautiful is. The Rihanna’s and Beyonce’s look great...and so do I. There was a time in life where I felt so aware of my dark skin and I always wanted to know what skin tone gradient I fell under. Then I realized that it shouldn't even matter. If my outer appearance bothers you and you've yet to converse with me, it's best we need not to be involved with each other if you're choosing appearance over character anyway. I pray one day you'll be able to love all beautiful things around you especially when it differs from the media's set standard.”

Victoria @finesselori

Fav Makeup Brand: 'BlackUp' is absolutely great and flattering for dark girls! The first time I used it I was so obsessed with it because I couldn't get over how rich it is and it makes our skin look ever more like chocolate (than it naturally does!). I think the contour kit they sell is amazing; I've never come across a contour kit that was perfect until I bought this one - I highly recommend it!

Fav Skin Product:  I can never go without my cocoa butter lotion.  I absolutely love it because it's always been the key to my smooth skin and it's so hydrating. If melanin had a smell, cocoa butter would be it! 


Tayquana @Zdtay

I've disliked my skin for many years. It all started one day, during my 6th grade year, when I had a huge crush on a guy in my English class. Someone ended up telling him and the person that told him, came back to me and said "He says he doesn't like dark skin girls".  After that day, it all of a sudden surfaced everywhere. I saw it all around social media. It never occurred to me that my skin was such a problem until I was hit with that line. When I met my first boyfriend, he loved EVERY inch of me. He made sure he told me I was beautiful every chance he got. Since I've met him, I was over the whole "I'm ugly because I'm dark". You shouldn't need a man to tell you you're beautiful, but that helped on so many levels. Even seeing other beautiful chocolate girls made me feel better about myself. 

My response to Black Men & Women that hate on darker complexions and glamorize lighter complexions: You have a certain preference for what you're attracted to and that's okay but don't ever let a person that doesn't fit your criteria feel bad about their skin. You have a different outlook of beauty but you haven't met EVERY dark skin human so please save the criticism. You're very ignorant if you think the color of your skin determines beauty.

“When I bore a beautiful, chocolate baby girl/boy, I promise to let them know how gorgeous they are from their golden dark skin to their coily kinks and to never let anyone make them think twice about it!”

Faithy @blackpowerprincess

They need to decolonize their minds. Colorism within POC communities is detrimental to it's growth. This way of thinking is decisive. Willie Lynch wrote about how to control slaves without shackles or violence by dividing them by color, features and hair textures. These ideas still permeate our communities today and it makes us look foolish. Darkskin vs Brownskin vs Lightskin is stupid. All Black is beautiful and we should try to recognize that more.

Fav Makeup Brand: NARS/Bobbi Brown
Cannot live without… Coconut oil


Nyzeire

Can’t live without… Black Soap hands down

I love my… red undertones

I used to not like my complexion at all. I wanted to be lighter so bad because it was all I saw in school, videos, TV, etc. I didn't really start loving my skin until my junior year in high school. My mom played a huge part in me regaining my confidence but it was ultimately up to me to look myself in the mirror and remind myself everyday how beautiful I was.
Stéphany (@Young.godess)
Can’t live without… my Black Soap. I don’t really like applying to many products on my face but that is my holy grail. It leaves my face with a natural glow.

I’ve never disliked my complexion but I did not embrace it as much as I do now. Before I wouldn’t really just say to myself, “Wow your skin is so beautiful!” I would just go about my day but when I would go to school many guys would go for the lighter complexions [girls]. They would go as far as calling a dark skin girl dirty because of her skin tone. So I wouldn’t say I disliked my complexion but it was mostly what was being said around me that made me feel as though my complexion did not matter or have as much value as others. It didn’t make me feel like I should even take the time to embrace my skin tone as much as I should. 
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10 Melanin Goddesses Share Their Secrets to Perfect Skin, Self-love & Confidence

1.28.2016
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6.14.2015 / , , , , , , , ,

Teen Magazines Lack of Hair Diversity



“est.since1997 @teenvogue you guys don't even include all of the different curl types and this is the issue. It’s really annoying. You guys exclude people with naturally kinky/curly hair. Our hair type is still considered curls too so there is no reason why we should be excluded from the cypher. Everyone comes from different backgrounds and still reads Teen Vogue Magazine. The young girls who have kinky/curly hair will feel like their hair is not appreciated in society. We already have that now but reading this makes the issue really stand out. It points out that our hair is undesirable. Next time, how about you guys include #EVERYONE that has natural curls. If the #editors haven't realized it that includes coily, kinky and loose curls.”


Jesus Christ,these magazines have no clue what they're talking about. Can someone tell me why they keep using celebrities with curly weave to represent natural hair? I mean I know natural hair is a wide range to cover but it's about time they get like 2 or 3 girls with different natural hair types to share their advice. In 2012, the natural hair trend wasn't as popular as it is now which gave them enough time to jump on the bandwagon. Now when Seventeen does put out natural hair advice it's always girls with loose curls. It is so rare that I see a girl with an Angela Davis afro. This is one of the main reasons I started blogging - because of the lack of representation. I get that magazines have to pertain to a certain audience (White girls) but you are a huge publication. Girls from all background, skin colors and hair textures read your magazine. It would be nice to see something that I can actually do. And no, don't tell me to read Essence or Jet because I am a teenager and I need help for prom and my first internship (no shade on Essence or Jet). 

Don’t get me wrong. I enjoy reading these magazines and they’re great publications but when I open the page, I find a sea of photos targeted towards girl's whose hair cascades down their back like a waterfall. For some of us our hair stands are closer to the tall sunflower family. We try to re-create the styles to our best ability but just end up in pure frustration and disappointment.  In the November 2012 issue of Teen Vogue, star hairstylist James Pecis said, “Some girls fight their texture so much that they’re just destroying their hair.” Well we are not those girls, and if we can embrace our natural texture why can’t the magazines do it too? It’s bad enough that curly hair is rarely represented, but when it is it always seems to be a model with bouncy curls and no trace of a kink or coil. It looks like stereotypical European hair that has been curled with an iron.

All I’m saying is that by neglecting a huge demographic they’re hurting us and themselves. They’re missing out on the beauty and empowering message behind ethnic natural hair.  James also said, “You can create amazing shapes and styles with textured hair that you can’t do with straight hair. Embrace It!” Well, Mr. Pecis, I couldn't agree more.





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Teen Magazines Lack of Hair Diversity

6.14.2015
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4.29.2015 / , , , , , , , ,

Review| Maybelline Dream Fresh vs. Dream Pure


I might be, actually I am pretty late on this but whateves. I’m sure it’ll help someone. As I’ve been trying to find foundation for my skin, I have been using BB crèmes in the meantime. I’ve gotten the chance to try both and I decided to review them.

 Packaging, Price and Availability. The Dream Fresh is a cute pink theme with the shade on top. It has a glossy finish which I just realized sort of correlates with the consistency and texture of the product. It ranges from $6 - $7 (not including tax).  The DreamPure is a calming baby blue (I sound like such a blogger). It has more of a smooth matte finish. It ranges from $8 - $10 (not including tax). Both products are 1.0 Fl oz. They can be found at any beauty supply, drugstore or superstore.

Consistency. The Dream Fresh is so runny! It’s literally a liquid. I feel like I’m putting thick water on my face. I haven’t used it in so long and I bought it in 2013. The Dream Pure has a thicker creamy-like consistency which I tend to be drawn to.

Shade Collection.  No shocker here, there isn’t a wide variety. The Deep shade is still a little dark for me and the medium deep is too light. I’m talking tan.  I read reviews where people with fair skin even said the lightest color was too dark for them. As for the Dream Pure, it matches pretty well if I blend it with my beautyblender but there still isn’t a wide variety. The perfect shade for mewould be a shade lighter than the deep.

Overall Thoughts. The Dream Fresh didn’t do anything for my skin. I had to pack it on so much before I could see any results and I don’t like that feeling. I’ve used it various times over the course of 3 years and I’ve never grown to like this product. The DreamPure is the only facial cosmetic that I trust from Maybelline as my skin reacts very badly to their products. I would repurchase the Dream Pure as a good quality [and inexpensive] BB crème. If you’re darker than me, you might be out of luck as they don’t go very deep into shades.


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Review| Maybelline Dream Fresh vs. Dream Pure

4.29.2015
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