As a kid and teenager, I spent hours in my bathroom grooming myself. Looking back, that might have seemed a little vain, but it was less about vanity and more about curiosity. I loved experimenting with new products even if the ads on television and in magazines weren't reflective of my skin and hair needs as a young Black girl. But at the time, as I absorbed all of the stories and images in the magazines I begged my mom for in the checkout line at the grocery store, I knew I wanted my career to be like the names I saw in the bylines on each page.
Now, here I am, but in the digital version. And, I have to say, I'm often in awe that this is my career. How many of us actually get to do what we love for a living? And, I know for sure little B, who used to sit in her room with a Brandy CD on repeat, reading each page of a teen magazine from cover to cover, would be in awe too. Well, at least, I hope she'd think I was kinda cool.
These days my beauty needs go well beyond glittery lip glosses and hair gels to lay my baby hairs. As I lean into my late 30s, my goal isn't perfection or defying aging. Instead, it's about caring for and loving myself as I am, and all of my holy-grail products are a reflection of that. So I hope you find something in this mix that helps you do the same!
If there's one product I'm always going to have on my nightstand, in my purse, and in my office drawer, it's this derm-recommended ointment. I use this for everything from chapped lips to healing brittle nails after I remove gel or acrylic nails.
Growing up, I was always diligent about taking care of my skin. But for some reason, I couldn't get enough of trying all the different face washes I saw in commercials, and my skin went haywire. So these days, I've learned to stick with one cleanser. I love this one from Shani Darden because it gently cleanses without stripping my combination-sensitive skin.
Before I became a beauty editor, I didn't fully grasp the concept of oil cleansers. How on earth could an oil cleanser be good for my combination skin? Well, after chatting with a wealth of dermatologists for hundreds of stories, it finally made sense. However, finding one that I really loved took some time. With one cleanse, this vitamin-E-rich oil rinses away the day (including eye makeup) and doesn't leave any pore-clogging residue behind.
Gosh, I've come a long way from using harsh exfoliators on my skin that would make my hyperpigmentation so much worse. For me, this is probably the only exfoliator I'll be using because it truly brightens my skin without overdoing it. And the formula is so gentle; using it with my nighttime actives doesn't cause irritation.
Where has this mask been all my life? This masque has truly changed my skin, as it's a lot less oily in my t-zone, and over time, the clarity of my skin has brightened.
Microneedling is now my new skincare BFF. However, finding the right hydrator to use post-treatment is essential. For at least five days, I exclusively use this HA to combat flaking and dryness, which is often a side effect of in-office microneedling. My skin soaks it up and stays supple as it heals from the treatment.
The entire line of Ranavat products has been fantastic for my skin. But there's one product I use weekly: the resurfacing saffron masque. It's a gentle exfoliator that packs powerful brightening results you can see with use over time.
I started using this SPF in 2019 and haven't given it up since. It protects my skin from the sun (without leaving a cast), and is an excellent makeup primer.
Before using this on my coily, color-treated length, I would have said there was no way this would work for my hair type. Boy, was I wrong! I don't complete a washday without this, unless my hair is in a protective style. My hair has been retaining length over the last year, and I'm sure using this weekly as a pre-poo treatment is playing a significant role in my hair growth.
Excuse me. May I have a megaphone to share my love for this treatment mask? Please and thank you. Since this launched, I haven't gone a wash day without it. After using it for 20 minutes under a hood dryer, my low-porosity curls feel revived, and my wash-n-go's are lengthened without me stretching my hair.
I grew up using Mizani. As I went natural, I moved away from using salon products, because I thought they were bad. However, I realize that salon products will always have a place in my routine. I use this leave-in exclusively because it keeps my hair hydrated all week long, and I can use it to refresh my hair even when it's in box braids.
Getting my 4-type curls to look good past day one of my washdays felt impossible until my curly stylist introduced me to this honey-infused gel. It has been a total game-changer for me. My curls stay defined for up to four days without any touch ups.
This masque is another treatment I use weekly alongside heat. My curls absolutely soak up the murumuru and mango seed butter blend.
I'm not wearing much makeup these days, but I reach for this stick foundation when I do. For starters, the color offerings perfectly match my deep skin tone, and I don't feel like I'm wearing a mask of coverage.
Concealing my hyperpigmentation is among my main concerns when I'm applying makeup. With this formula, it both color corrects and covers my spots. Then, before blending it out, I let it dry down for a couple of minutes, and I get flawless coverage.
Fun fact: I last had my brows shaped three years ago. Wanna know why? Well, the last time I went to get my brows threaded, the woman gave me lopsided brows. However, that's where Boy Brow became my brow hero. Since that brow mishap, I only let Boy Brow touch my brows, and I think they look pretty good!
I'm a Victoria Beckham Beauty fangirl and love everything the brand drops. But this liner is the one. I used to adore using a liner to compliment my almond-shaped eyes, but they'd always turn bloodshot red after a night out. But once I gave this one a try, I was hooked! The formula is so creamy I can use it across my entire eye, but it always dries down and doesn't budge. And the best part: my eyes don't get irritated.
My lips are naturally dark, and finding a neutral gloss that matches my lip color has been impossible until this treatment oil. I line my lips with Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Unforgettable Lip Definer in New Naked, swipe this on top, and feel immediately pulled together.
If I apply complexion products, I like to contour my face lightly. I typically use bronzer, but since my introduction to these complexion pencils, I have used this exclusively. The formula is very pigmented but blends out seamlessly.
Dove is my OG body product, and their body washes and scrubs are always in my shower.
OK. So I'm only sometimes the person that moisturizes their body after a shower. I know. Not a good beauty editor look. But I've been doing a lot better with this body oil in my routine, because I slap it on and keep it moving without having to sit in and rub it in for more than a few seconds—and my skin is supple without feeling like an oil slick.
I don't leave home without a tube of this in my purse. I tend to overwash my hands, and this shea butter-infused formula helps keep my skin and cuticles from becoming dry and cracked.
Because my skin is a combination, finding a clarifying mask that sucks up excess sebum without drying my skin out is a priority. This red algae-infused mask does just that and acts as a blemishing-busting spot treatment when I'm dealing with a hormonal breakout. I'll apply a dot of this on the pimples overnight, and my pimple is less angry the next morning.
Next up, for $2.53 per wash, you can now have the best-smelling hair on earth.
