My most recent and favorite black-owned purchases, aligned perfectly for the very first article of SYD Magazine. These small yet significant purchases have become essentials and instant favorites of my frequent and daily use. Buy black, this month and always. Listed alphabetically:
Virgil Abloh, an innovator and inspiration to myself and most in creative fields. "Abloh-isms is a collection of essential quotations from Abloh." Originally sold out, I couldn't find available copies anywhere. I eventually came across Cafe con Libros, a black-owned feminist bookstore located in Brooklyn, New York. The book was available for backorder and I needed a copy to read and lay amongst "Nike ICONS," "Virgil Abloh: Figures of Speech Special Edition," and "Insert Complicated Title Here." For me, it’s vital to own something of those that I am inspired by. When I am inspired by one, I carefully pay attention to the words they spoke and or wrote. It’s motivating to look back and have pieces from those individuals, especially if they have departed. I began to study Virgil Abloh a few years back; a brilliant mind. He has made history, changed the view of luxury fashion, and has opened doors for upcoming designers. "Virgil was here." A pioneer who fulfilled his dreams and it was beautiful to see. Virgil Abloh, thank you for sharing your incredible mind with the world. Your influence and impact is indescribable. Rest in power.
Meaningful music is always refreshing. I began listening to Cordae around three years ago, he's such a skilled artist. I recently experienced his new album From A Birds Eye View and immediately added songs to different playlists. Storytelling moments in music always capture my attention, and it starts with "Shiloh’s Intro." I appreciate albums that I can play without skipping songs. Although the album has been on replay from beginning to end, when listening to an album for the first time, I always make note of my favorites:
1. "Super"
2. "Want From Me"
3. "C Carter"
4. "Sinister" feat. Lil Wayne
5. "Chronicles" feat. H.E.R. & Lil Durk
6. "Westlake High"
7. "Gifted" feat. Roddy Ricch & Ant Clemons
Clear handbags are always an appropriate option to have. It makes the wearer intentional about what they carry inside. Whether it’s a cardholder, lip care product, or something unexpected, I think it’s interesting to see the specifics of what one has stored inside. While purchasing, I instantly thought of summer and winter white to pair with the purse. I am content with the weight of the bag and immediately placed a few items inside after unpackaging, to get the feel. Which were four black-owned beauty products, Fenty Beauty by Rihanna: Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer: Glass Slipper, Portable Touchup Brush 130, Invisimatte Blotting Powder, and Invisimatte Blotting Paper. I love the overall sizes of Fenty Beauty products and that mini and travel sizes are options.
I discovered "Native Son" feat. Billz Egypt & Teodross Avery which led me to listen to the entire album. "I aspire to inspire which is given and required so what good is a baton if you don’t pass it on… Be inspired, you can do anything you want or desire, fly to the moon to the stars, keep the hustle alive where you are... Don’t be blind to your truths…" Again, I love when I can listen to an album from beginning to end and thoroughly enjoy it. It’s difficult to pick my favorite songs but I’ll list the songs that I initially gravitated to:
1. "Euphoria" feat. Teira Lockhart Church
2. "Alive" feat. Thandi Ntuli
3. "Here We Go" feat. Rae Khalil
4. "African Chop House" feat. Rippy Austin
5. "Heal and Chill"
6. "2 Minutes"
7. "Fa You" feat. Joi Starr, VCR & Javonte Pollard
8. "Sol Train"
Yes, I’m aware there are ten songs on the album, but it truly starts and ends beautifully. The songs I listed above each gave me that instant gut feeling when I automatically love a song. I have a specific list of albums that I plan to purchase in vinyl and I’ve added “HARRIETT" to that list. This piece of work was such a substantial discovery. I've been listening regularly as I execute and crucially work on my dreams.
Two words, beyond belief, the products are amazing. Beatrice Dixon, the founder of The Honey Pot Co., stated "an ancestor visited me in a dream and gifted me with a vision to heal myself."
What an incredible part of her brand’s story, clean feminine products that have changed the game. I have extremely sensitive skin and must be selective with the products that I use on my body overall. “Natural, plant-derived feminine wellness products” is what intrigued me. My personal favorites are The Honey Pot “Sensitive Feminine Wash” and “Organic Cotton Herbal Overnight Pads."
Cleansing cuffs are a new essential within my skincare routine and face mask removal process. Water dripping down my arm while washing my face has been uncomfortable, I had no idea there was a product to prevent it. I came across a reel on Instagram of a demonstration of the cuffs being used and purchased a pair. A simple solution that makes my skincare routine more enjoyable.
LYS Beauty founded by Tisha Thompson, which stands for love yourself, is the first black-owned clean brand available at Sephora. The clean stamp makes me comfortable with trying products from new brands, specifically face products. As of now, I have acne-prone skin, I'm on the journey of learning my skin and staying clear of certain ingredients. It was exciting to come across a black-owned brand offering clean makeup essentials for full-face application. I purchased the Triple Fix Serum Foundation,Triple Fix Brightening Concealer, Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush, and Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil.
My top two favorites are the Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil and Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush.
There are certain lip products that I must have at reach at all times. I purchase two to three at a time to insure that I don't run out or come across the products being out of stock. Speak Love Glossy Lip Treatment Oil, is a must-have and is officially a part of my lip care essentials. I love the triangular applicator, especially when applying the product on my cupid's bow. The lip oil is extremely hydrating with a thick consistency, I can't stop applying it. I could tell the difference within my lip texture when the oil is freshly applied and after removing my mask. There is also a mini version available on the brand's official website.
The "Higher Standard Satin Matte Cream Blush" in "Self Love" is amazing. I prefer cream blushes over powder and the creamy formula is spot-on. I applied the blush with my fingers and blended it with a beauty blender. A little goes a long way, one dab on each cheek was the perfect amount. This blush has become a go-to, "Confident" and "Inspire" will be the next two colors that I order. A perfect product with positive names, you can't go wrong.
The Triple Fix Serum Foundation in "TN6" is my current shade and matches my skin tone perfectly. I was impressed after applying, we all know about the unsureness of color matching online. The foundation has a natural finish, is skin-like, buildable and gives light coverage. You’ll achieve the “no makeup” makeup look, it's perfect for daily wear. My first impression of the Triple Fix Brightening Concealer is that it blended flawlessly. It gives the perfect natural look and would also be great for contouring, for a slightly sculpted finish.
Overall, the prices, products, and packaging are great. All products range from four to twenty-eight dollars. The brand's concept is amazing, clean plant-based ingredients with skincare benefits, triangular packaging that represents change, and is also 30% Post-Consumer Recycled. Lastly, the uplifting names of the products. I'm glad to see new black-owned beauty brands entering the market, especially with products that are beneficial towards skincare. I'm looking forward to future launches and will make sure that I'm stocked on the lip treatment oil, including the mini version.
Uno is my favorite card game, I own almost every version and usually carry a deck in my purse for gatherings. I came across this partnership with Nina Chanel Abney and Black Ambition Prize via Pharrell on Instagram. The original plan was to keep the box closed and the deck sealed but after reading the back of the box, that plan changed. Besides the art, there’s another unique aspect of the deck of cards. Abney created Nina’s "No" Rule, in other words, "Wild No" Card, "if someone plays either a Draw 2 or Wild Draw 4 card on you, lay down this card to force them to draw the cards instead." If you enjoy the game of Uno, you know firsthand this changes everything. I couldn’t wait for the opportunity to drop a "Wild No" card in silence, with a smirk during a game with friends and family. I should’ve purchased two decks but it didn’t cross my mind at the time. Nonetheless, if you’re able to get a deck of these cards I’m sure you’ll enjoy the abstract artwork and the new card addition. Although this card game was purchased last year, my first time playing a game of Uno with this deck of cards was earlier this month. Unfortunately, the card game is no longer available on Mattel Creations' website but is available on Stock X.
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