Summer, summer, summertime is here! We are ready to indulge in everything fun in the sun and make the most of the season. As the weather changed, so did our styles and beauty routines. There are a lot of rumors going on about what is best for black girls during the summertime and we are here to debunk the myths! 

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Melanin and SPF| Sunscreen needs to be your friend all year round, but especially in summer. The sun doesn’t care what color your skin is; it will burn you all the same. Your melanin cannot protect you from the strong rays of the sun by itself. You still need extra protection with sunscreen! 

Bright Colors| This is a season for bright colors. Neon is especially big this season so don’t miss out. Black girls of all shades look dope in all different hues! Wear that neon green dress, that yellow eye shadow, or that blue lipstick. Wear them all at the same time if you want to.  Do you boo! 

Bronzer| It’s untrue that black girls don’t like bronzer or should stay away from bronzer. We like to have a warm golden tone during the summer too. It’s a nice alternative to contouring that softens the face. Embrace the glow – and add some highlight too! 

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~ Tia Banks, Contet Editor

Scroll through the beauty diary of mua + YouTuber, Naomi Ajala:

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

Usually, when I’m in a rush for school and I’m so tired and even late to apply anything on my face but I still want to look good and comfortable, a gloss and liner lives in my bag definitely. 

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

My number one beauty rule is to be confident in yourself. The way you walk, dress, talk and act should be fiery. Most importantly, not letting people tell you how you should look.

Find more of Naomi’s looks here:

Instagram

YouTube

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of video creator + MUA, Aminat!

What’s your name + where are you from?

My name is Aminat , I’m from Nigeria but I currently reside in Ukraine.

I’m in love with graphic liners because you can do them in so many ways and it allows me express my creative side. However, you can never go wrong with subtle nude makeup.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab beauty products, what would they be?

Firstly lip gloss! Highlighter and eyeliner.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

I absolutely love Jackie Aina, Ronke Raji and Layefa beauty. Because these are amazing black women that have influenced the beauty industry to create a wider range for us.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

Lip gloss always!

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

My number one beauty rule is to find what works out for you and be comfortable wearing it .

Follow more of Aminat’s amazing looks here:

Instagram

#KinkyHairMatters is not just a hashtag but an empowering lifestyle that is perfectly embodied by natural hair + texture activist, Celai West! From runway model to entrepreneur, this young queen is boldly making a point to shred beauty stereotypes by embracing her natural crown and blazing a trail for girl + women!

Let’s #AskAnActivist with Celai West….

Photography by Julian J. Peeples

As an impactful texture + natural hair activist, why is it important for you to embrace your natural texture + encourage other girls to do so as well?

I think it’s very important because I was born like this. If God has given me this hair, I should love it. I think that everyone else should love it too, because He didn’t make any mistakes.

Your love for speaking + your stunning natural hair gave birth to “The Chatty Chick” T-shirt collection! How does your collection help others speak up against stereotypes often put on black girls and their beauty?

Well, I started out with only natural hair tees to help girls like me feel more empowered by our big hair. When I would wear them, they would make me feel like I’m showing everyone how much I love my hair, and I want other girls to feel the same way too.

www.thechattychick.com

Your activism simply doesn’t stop at fashion! Every t-shirt sold is a tree planted with Trees For The Future, why is it essential for your generation to understand and protect + care for the environment?

I just feel like it’s super important that we take care of our planet. I’ve traveled to places that don’t offer recycling, so I wanted to find a good way to help reverse some of the damage we cause to our planet.

Being a runway model + producer, what has been the most encouraging compliment or feedback that another young girl has told you about your movement?

We get lots of messages from parents, teenagers, and even older adults, in the U.S. and overseas, saying my pictures have helped them (or their kids) to start loving their big hair and that makes me feel really good.

(Photography by Julian Peeples)

What does rockin’ your beautiful + glorious afro mean to you?

Rockin’ my fro means I love my hair and it shows that I don’t have to change it or conform just to fit in. This is how I was born, and it’s perfect the way it is.

We know that “ACT” is the keyword in ACTivism, what’s one ACT you would tell girls to do to embrace self-love?

I would definitely tell them to BE YOURSELF. They are already perfect, so just own it!

Follow more of Celai’s journey here…

Celai West

The Chatty Chick

Instagram

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of teen beauty blogger, Madison!

What’s your name + where are you from?

My name is Madison Bitten. I am from Atlanta, Georgia, but I currently reside in Alabama. Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun!

What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

I love the “makeup, no-makeup look”! It’s easy, cute, and super quick to do. It’s also really light so it’s perfect for those days that you don’t really want to have a beat face. Dewy makeup with blush and bronzer is another natural look that I adore.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

I would grab mascara, Fenty highlighter, and lip gloss!

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

My ultimate beauty icon is Jackie Aina! She has really broke the barrier in the beauty industry for darker women. There’s a lot of division within the industry that no one wants to talk about, but she does. She’s honest, funny, and gives amazing tips. I’ve learned a lot from her.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

Lip gloss is a must-have!

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

Skin care is important! Especially for makeup application. You should take good care of it before and after your makeup!

Follow more of Madison’s beauty tips here!

Instagram

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of teen blogger, Bernice!

What’s your name + the city you live in?

Bernice Ndegwa and I live in South Plainfield.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

Two beauty trends that I absolutely love this year is less is more and pops of color on a bare face. For the majority of my life, I didn’t like the color of my skin and when I hit puberty I hated my dark spots even more. This is something I still struggle with to this day  but one thing that has helped tremendously is the wave of positivity that has come with showing your natural beauty. I still love makeup just as much as the next girl but being able to step into the world and be comfortable in my bare skin is the most important thing to me. Another trend that I have fallen in love with is the pops of color in makeup. Whether, a bare face with some pigmented shadow or a bold lip, this trend has really stolen my heart. To me the basis of makeup is to express yourself and this trend does exactly that. I love seeing the thought process of someone’s look just by observing the color and how they used it in their look.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

I would grab tea tree oil, vaseline, and some falsies.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

My fashion icons are Kiitan A., Zendaya, and Jackie Aina. These three women carry such elegance and confidence in their day to day lives and are so unapologetically black that it’s hard not to be completely mesmerized by their presence.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

My absolute must have is chapstick. Whether that be carmex, vaseline, or any other brand I’m trying at that particular time. I always make sure to have a lip moisturizing product on me because having chapped lips is one of my biggest pet peeves

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

My number one beauty rule is a saying that my mom always says to me when I’m feeling a bit self conscious. Look good, do good, be good, feel good. I live by these words and to me if I look good than everything else can’t be that bad.

Follow more of Bernice beauty inspo here!

Bernice Ndgewa

Instagram 

 Scroll through the Beauty Diary of College Youtuber + Blogger, Dorian!

What’s your name + city you live in?

My name is Dorian Clark and I live in Memphis, TN.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

One beauty trend I am loving this year is the bold & weird combination of color choices for eyeshadow and lip color. It makes the look more unique and interesting to study. Another beauty trend I am loving this year is that makeup artist are creating art pieces within their makeup looks. Meaning, they are expressing their style through art on their faces.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

If I had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, I would grab an eyebrow pencil, mascara, and my favorite lip gloss!

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

My ultimate beauty icon is Jackie Aina because she express her love and passion for the black community through her love for makeup. She also gives her supporters helpful tips for makeup application and has relatable content. You can tell she has a genuine passion for creativeness. She also has an awesome sense of humor!

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

One beauty must have that lives in my bag is chap stick. You can’t be cute with crusty lips!

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

My number 1 beauty rule is to ALWAYS have fun while doing your makeup. When creating different makeup looks, you have to have fun with it and put on your hat of creativeness. Also, don’t care what others may think of your weird combination of color choices!

Follow more of Dorian’s beauty tips here:

YouTube

Instagram

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of College Youtuber + Blogger, Kaela!

What’s your name + city you live in?

My name is Kaela Moore. I’m from Atlanta, Georgia but live in Tallahassee, Florida and attend Florida A&M University aka FAMU. Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun!

What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

Normally, I’m a minimalist when it comes to makeup. I always gravitate towards nudes or girly pink makeup looks. For 2019 I am looking forward to lots of color. I want to explore out my comfort zone and try more bold, careful, daring eye shadow looks.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

Chap stick. Clear or sheer pink Lip gloss. Lash glue if I’m wearing lashes. Literally in that order.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

For makeup my favorite beauty icons are MakeUpShayla and AaliyahJay. Their youtube tutorials are always thorough and they were the first mua’s closest to my skin tone that I looked up to. For hair my ultimate beauty icon is NaturalNeiicey. I’ve watched her in the beginning of her hair journey and my hair journey. Her hair texture and curl pattern was similar to mine so it helped me throughout my hair journey.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?

I always have lip gloss and mascara in my bag. Those are my two must haves every day. 

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

My number 1 beauty rule is to be authentically you. Be authentically you in any hairstyle, makeup look, or outfit your in. Your inner confidence enhances your look and always remember another woman’s beauty is not the absence of your own.

Follow more of Kaela here!

Instagram

Youtube

Scroll through the Beauty Diary of College Blogger + Youtuber, Nia!

What’s your name + city you live in?
My name is Nia Lackland, but I go by “KeepingUpWithNi”. I currently attend Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA… however, I live in Chicago part time.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?
I am really loving the beauty trends of this year! This year has been all about embracing your natural beauty. I love the trend of natural eyebrows rather than the “ombre” eyebrows that were popular in the recent past. Also, I love the inner eye glow with gold eyeshadow or highlighter. It just brightens up and brings more attention to your eyes.

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?
OMG! I would definitely grab foundation, concealer and natural hair curling cream! I just think these are the basic essentials for a cute quick look.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?
My ultimate beauty icon has to be Alissa Ashley. Alissa is so relatable and humble. I truly enjoy watching her videos and being able to follow her journey as she expands her brand. I love the fact that Alissa stresses that she is a regular person but she also knows her value.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?
My beauty must-have is definitely lip gloss. I CANNOT leave my house without my lip gloss, it just makes me feel pretty.

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?
My number 1 beauty rule is literally one word, versatility. I love to switch things up and try new styles. I try not to wear the same style for a long time. Otherwise, I would get bored and tired of my look.

Follow more of Nia here!

YouTube

Instagram