BV on Beauty

Hello Kitty Gets Grafittied for MAC

Yannique Benitez — 2011-08-01T16:35:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup

After the success of the debut of the Hello Kitty collection in 2009, MAC has revamped the cat again with graffiti art. The new collection ranges from $18 to $49 and is currently exclusive to Sephora. Children and seniors alike get a kick out the Sanrio character, and these whimsical designs are sure to draw customers from a wide age range. The collection is complete with eye shadow duos, brush sets, rollerball lipgloss and a striking makeup bag

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Nicki Minaj and Ricki Martin: New Faces of MAC's Viva Glam 2012 Campaign

BV Staff — 2011-07-26T14:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup

From N ew York Daily News:

Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin and the latest stars to sign with MAC cosmetics to raise money for HIV/AIDS.

The two performers will represent the 2012 Viva Glam campaign, which will launch in February, according to a press release from the company.

Dear Iman: A Letter to the Beauty Icon

BV Staff — 2011-07-25T15:13:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

From Stylelist:

Copper-toned complexion. Statuesque neck. Gorgeous gaze. Iman, I am confident in my own skin partly because of you.

As a supermodel, actress, entrepreneur, humanitarian, mother and wife, you've reshaped the "universal perception of beauty" and allowed me to embrace and love the young woman that I am -- long legs, neck and all!

From the camera's viewfinder of famed artist/photographer Peter Beard to the runways of Thierry Mugler and Jean Paul Gaultier, you were able to walk away from the political unrest of your native Somalia and stride confidently into the fashion world. And I can't ignore how you've revolutionized this ideal of the black model when Yves Saint Laurent tapped you as the muse of his African Queen Couture Collection and coined you his "dream woman" -- paving the way for Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, Jourdan Dunn and Chanel Iman.

Read the whole letter as well as look back on her best looks here.

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Black of Ages: Celebrities That Have Aged Gracefully

BV Staff — 2011-07-14T12:30:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

From HelloBeautiful.com:

You know how the saying goes, "Black don't crack," well although I'm black I can't even front, I know sometimes this is a bald head lie, plain and simple. There are many African American's that just don't age well. Period. BUT, as a whole I have to say my beautiful people of color age pretty damn good compared to other races. While I don't want to make this out to be a black/white issue, posting posts and viewing pics of celebs all day long I can't help but see how gracefully we tend to age. Although I can't go through every single average Joe walking down the street, I can however pick out celebs.

12. LisaRaye, 43. Though she sometimes annoys me, I'd officially be a hater if I didn't give the woman her props. She is 43 and fabulous!

11. Common, 39. Proving that some of the high yella fellas still got it, Mr. Common sense will forever hold the subtle sex appeal of an African king and the wisdom of an old soul. I can't even front, I was surprised myself when I saw how close to 40 he is, it doesn't even matter because he still has "it."

Read the rest of the list here.

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Hazardous Hair: TSA Searches Black Woman's Tresses

Yannique Benitez — 2011-07-08T11:52:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends

Like many black women, Laura Adiele quit relaxing and straightening her hair to embrace her natural curls. But her choice had an unintended consequence.

After going through an Advance Imaging x-ray system at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport, she was told by Transportation Security Agency personnel that her hair needed to be checked.

"When I first heard her say, 'We're going to have to pat you down,' I thought she was talking about my body," Adiele told The Grio. "I was turning around and putting my arms out and she said, 'no, we're going to have to examine your hair,' and I said, 'no, we're not going to do that today and you're going to have to get security or your supervisor.'"

Adiele said an agent told her was their policy to check anything that "poofs from the body," but Adiele said she was checked while other non-black women with "big hair [and] ponytails" who were not.

"They put the gloves on and now they're really just digging around in my hair and I'm like, arrgg! Why is this happening?" she said.

She has since filed a complaint with the TSA. The agency's regional spokesperson said the TSA takes charges of racial discrimination seriously, but said that he was confident the security officers were just doing their jobs.

In the meantime, Adiele will have to live with this humiliating memory. But did the TSA go too far?

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Expert Skin Secrets Revealed

Yannique Benitez — 2011-06-29T17:15:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care

From Essence:

You could be sporting the most flawless makeup, but if your skin isn't on-point, it's all for naught! To ensure you present a clean canvas to the world, we asked celeb dermatologist and Black Opal consultant Dr. Cheryl Burgess to reveal her top ten Black skincare secrets. Say hello to a radiant, clear complexion!

1. Fight Aging With Sunscreen

"Fight the signs of aging with with sun protection, cosmeceutical skin care products and a diet rich in antioxidants."

2. Use Mineral Makeup in the Summer

"Use mineral makeup in the summer! Black Opal Mineral Brilliance Powder Foundation ($9.95, walmart.com) has natural SPF and gives a youthful glow."

Read more here.

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Beyonce's Brow Guru

Yannique Benitez — 2011-06-23T13:46:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty

Damone Roberts is a celebrity makeup artist who's worked on everyone from Beyonce, Megan Fox and Vanessa Williams to Robert Downey Jr. He's currently based out of his Beverly Hills, CA salon and is a regular contributing beauty editor for Oprah.com. You may have seen him on BET, the Style network and CNN.

Roberts was the man responsible for creating Beyonce's brows on the 'I am...Sasha Fierce' album cover, and for her secretive wedding day too, reports W magazine. He even has Beyonce's stamp of approval and blessing on the bathroom wall of his L.A. salon.

The brow king would likely tell you to ditch the tweezers, as he's famous for crafting strong arches and full brows that impossible to effect by just plucking. He has salon locations in New York City and Los Angeles and plenty of products available on his website, so you can get at least a sense of how you might be able to create your own Damone Roberts brows.

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Dare to Be Dark: My Trip to a Tanning Salon

BV Staff — 2011-06-15T18:08:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care, Interviews

From Coco & Creme.com

Heading home from my gym in the Chelsea section of Manhattan, I had often passed a luxury tanning salon courting new customers. I would brush off the marketers who seemed to waste my time and theirs by trying to hand me coupon cards for discounts on luxury tans. But I became more and more curious each time. What was it like to go to a tanning salon? Determined to spread the word about their services like church people handing out ministry tracts, they drew me in. On a whim one day, I finally took one.

Read more here.

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Solange Knowles: New Face of Rimmel Cosmetics

Yannique Benitez — 2011-06-08T11:45:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, Celebrity Beauty

Although she could easily get lost in the shadow of older sister Beyonce, Solange Knowles has always been her own person and is for sure, a beauty in her own right. Her eclectic style attracted the attention of Rimmel London cosmetics, for which the younger Knowles will serve as the company's new face. Check out the photos from her advertising campaign.

"When I announced my role with Rimmel, I felt really proud to see such a positive response especially being that I represent someone of color, a single mom, an artist...and that I don't have to compromise my views to do so," she said in an interview with the company.

Her advice to women is "be healthy, be happy, be beautiful, be whole-heartedly you!"

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Beyonce and the New Black Feminist Movement

Geneva S. Thomas — 2011-05-27T16:45:00 00:00

Whenever Beyonce releases new music, she elicits strong reactions from fans and haters alike. Recently, the streak-haired R&B songstress has sparked a vibrant debate in the black blogosphere about whether her latest video single 'Run the World (Girls)' can be considered a legitimate feminist statement.

'Essence' editor Demetria Lucas argued in her story, 'Is Beyonce Sending the Wrong Message?,' that the video merely inspires male lust. Responding to a reader comment on gossip blog, 'The Young, Black and Fabulous,' which compared the pop star to feminist icon Gloria Steinem, Lucas said there's a difference between "p-popping and actual empowerment."

The post sparked considerable reaction among the young black female writer set on Twitter and Facebook.

Soon after, Arielle Loren penned a reaction piece for Clutch Magazine online, 'Is Beyonce the New Face of Contemporary Feminism?' in which she wrote: "Like Lucas, women pushing the traditional hyper-sexual critique have been focused on the 'male gaze' for far too long."

Clearly struck by the title of Loren's Clutch piece, Jamilah-Asali Lemieux responded to the notion of contemporary feminism by stating, "I think the 'new face of feminism' should be able to articulate what feminism is."

A woman who identities herself only as NineteenPercent, called Beyonce's proclamation - "Who run the world? Girls!" - a lie. She added that Beyonce is merely trying to lure impressionable young women into feeling a false sense achievement, and "distracting them from doing the work it takes to actually run the world."

And Natasha Theory from BeGirlManifesta, a site that asserts that every woman is "multifaceted, complex, and nuanced," chimed in too. In response to NineteenPercent, Theory wrote, "I think Beyonce is an artist doing what artists do...creating her vision of what reality should be."

This isn't the first time Beyonce's version of feminism has been called into question. Back when she was still a singer with Destiny's Child, Beyonce and her bandmates belted out girl-power anthems like 'Bills, Bills, Bills,' and 'Independent Women Part 1,' and suggested a kind of kinship with the black female performance tradition popularized by Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Aretha Franklin. There was much debate then around whether Destiny's Child was male-bashing or offering up a new brand of sexual politics.

Now even as a solo artist, Beyonce seems to be fueling similar discussions. A few years ago, Princeton professor Daphne Brooks claimed in the 'Nation' magazine that Beyonce, beauty and sexy dance moves notwithstanding, "delivers a unique version of black female dissent in pop and R&B music culture." Brooks' point made about the singer's 2006 album 'B-Day' could just as easily describe Beyonce's significance today. Brooks adds, "Beyoncé is part of a tradition of black women's musical expressions of personal and political discontent ranging from singers like Nina Simone (pictured below) and Odetta to MCs Lauryn Hill and Jean Grae to the brilliant new artist Keyshia Cole."

To dismiss Beyonce's lyrical sassiness or the 'I will never disappoint' message in her 'Me, Myself, and I' does us a gross injustice.

As Loren argued in Clutch, there is something that happens when a Beyonce record plays - it's visceral and empowering at the same time. We feel a connection to these songs and they command us to get up and dance. And we react in the affirmative when she says "Who run the world?" just like when we scream "Hell yea!" after a DJ shouts, "Do my ladies run this muthaf**ka?

These black female voices like Lucas, Loren, Lemieux and Natasha Theory, among others in the social media space may recall the debates about how women should define themselves that Patricia Hill-Collins (author of 'What's In A Name? Womanism, Black Feminism and Beyond'), Alice Walker (pictured below), Barbara Omolade, June Jordan and Sherely Ann Williams had in previous generations. Are we feminist, black feminist or Womanist? Or all of the above?

However, perhaps it's time to broaden our definition of feminism so we can transcend the idea that the easiest way to pick a fight is to wear stiletto heels to a conference on feminism. In that case, Beyonce may doing her job.

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Dove Racist? Eh, Not Really.

Mark Robinson — 2011-05-25T12:20:00 00:00

In my line of work, I often talk and write about ads that I feel are culturally clueless or offensive, but alas, I don't believe that the Dove ad qualifies for that group.

The suggestion that Dove might be trying to express some subliminal message about beauty by showing the progression of skin tone from dark to light is the kind of desperate-for-controversy stretch that usually sends my eyes rolling.

Generally, when an advertiser gets into trouble, it is because they have strayed unconsciously into perpetuating a stereotype or sometimes slyly and cynically trying to exploit those perceptions. In this case, however, there is no racist stereotype that would help Dove sell the benefits of its moisturizer. If anything, the colloquial truism that "black don't crack" would suggest that black people naturally possess ageless, moist skin and have little need for their product.

It's been my experience that when an ad is racist there's no need to debate guilt or innocence. The offense is usually pretty obvious on its face, at least to the group being offended. So if black people (or whichever aggrieved group) isn't entirely sure if the ad might be racist, that's a pretty good indication to me that it's not.

In my opinion, the Dove ad is guilty only of being painfully mediocre. The ad is for a moisturizer; if you want to showcase beautiful, young-looking skin, perhaps it is a good idea to have three different attractive models. But then why are they standing ten feet from the camera? I can barely tell that they have skin, much less judge its quality.

If your main point is to feature the (before & after) product demo, having three models is both distracting and confusing and creates unnecessary questions rather than answers. And they have taken the product demo and removed it from any human context and turned it into a pointless abstraction. Giant patches of skin on the wall is only compelling if you're watching 'Silence of the Lambs.'

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10 Commandments of Anti-Aging

Yannique Benitez — 2011-05-23T11:20:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care, How-To

From Allure.com

Forget praying for younger-looking skin. These rules - handed down by the top dermatologists in the country - are guaranteed to deliver brighter skin and fewer lines.

1. Wear sunscreen-and not just at the beach.
Rain or shine, "liberally applying a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains both UVA and UVB protection every day is the single most important thing you can do to prevent sun damage and skin cancer," says New York City dermatologist Doris Day. We love Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid Sunblock SPF 50 (for normal skin), Kate Somerville Protect SPF 55 Serum Sunscreen (for oily skin), and Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen SPF 40 (for sensitive skin).

2. Quit smoking.
In addition to causing cancer and bad breath, smoking cigarettes "destroys collagen and elastin and decreases levels of estrogen, which is necessary to keep skin firm," says New York City dermatologist Fredric Brandt.

3. Use a retinoid.
It's the best way to slow down the clock with a cream. "Retinoids minimize the appearance of existing age spots and fine lines and prevent new ones from forming," says New York City dermatologist Heidi Waldorf. Try Dermadoctor Poetry in Lotion Intensive Retinol.

4. Stay hydrated.
No, Diet Coke doesn't count. "The more hydrated your skin, the better your wrinkles will look," says Montclair, New Jersey, dermatologist Jeanine Downie. "Drink lots of water, cut back on coffee and soda, and moisturize regularly." Try L'Oréal Paris Youth Code Day/Night Cream (for normal to dry skin) or Philosophy On a Clear Day Oil-Free Moisturizer (for oily skin).

5. Sleep well.
The expression "beauty rest" actually has some science behind it. "Not only does your skin require downtime to repair itself, but sagging skin and puffiness around the eyes make wrinkles look much worse," says Great Neck, New York, dermatologist Jeanette Graf.

Read the rest of the tips here.

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Creator of Girl's Skincare Line JOON, Talks Natural Products for Kids

Yannique Benitez — 2011-05-20T13:43:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care, Interviews

When Tameka Linnell left her corporate career in advertising five years ago, she decided to venture into entrepreneurship with her husband Gary, and the two created JOON, a company offering healthy skincare products for girls.

She had noticed that children often experiment with their mothers' cosmetics which regularly contain harmful chemicals, so she created her line of natural products to provide girls with a healthy way to have fun with makeup. JOON caters to girls aged 6 to 12 and includes face wash and creme, body wash and a sparkly lotion. The products are offered at affordable prices ranging from $6 to $10.

We talked with her recently about how she built her company.

Yannique Benitez: What was the basis of founding the company?
Tameka Linnell: It was being a mom. I have a six-year-old son and three-year-old daughter, and when I read about the BPA [acronym for the chemical bisphenol that hardens plastic and has been linked to prostate cancer in mice that were exposed to the chemical in early stages of life, reports ABC News] in bottles and the phthalate [chemicals found in soft plastics] in plastics, I became concerned about what to feed my children. So I started cooking their food from scratch.

I left my job at the agency where I was working, and in thinking about something to do, I always wanted to create something on my own and the idea of natural skincare products for kids seemed natural. As a marketer, I noticed there was a big gap [in this area]. There are natural products for babies and natural products for adults, but when kids start experimenting, particularly girls, they want crèmes, they want sparkles, they want to paint their nails. The alternatives are licensed products, Bath & Body Works, they shop at Victoria's Secret and they'll buy those body crèmes and body washes, but there's nothing natural for them to experiment with.

YB: What would you say to people who think cosmetic products for kids encourage vanity?
TL: Walmart received a lot of backlash for launching the Geo Girl line of Color Cosmetics - parents were saying girls are growing up faster. My thoughts on that are, girls need a healthy way to experiment. Girls have always experimented with products. I'm 37, and when I was growing up it just happened to be Hello Kitty and the Barbie perfume maker machine, so I don't think that's changed. The reality is that girls are growing up faster, but not just because of media, that's part of it. They're literally growing up faster physically because of the hormones in products and foods that they eat, and because of the phthalate and endocrine disruptors [a synthetic chemical that when absorbed into the body either mimics or blocks hormones and disrupts the body's normal functions, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council]. So girls out there that are going to experiment either with their own stuff or their mom's products. We need to be smart and be a part of a positive conversation with these girls and offer them something that's healthy. We also want our brand to be affordable to the masses, not just for moms. We're working on getting the prices down. If girls are out and they have some allowance money, we want them to pick up our products.

What about boys?
So many moms ask that. The truth is if there were a market for boys, we would cater to them. But boys really don't care that much. My six-year-old son uses these products and he doesn't care that he smells like vanilla or apricot - that's if I can get him to take a bath at all.

YB: Any plans to create a line for women?
TL: Absolutely. Right now we're starting with girls because of the endocrine disruptors - it's important to get them into a healthy lifestyle and make them aware of what's good for them.

YB: What are your bestsellers?
TL: Launching in Whole Foods has been great - unlike most stores, they allow you to go in and demo your products, and about five days a week we're in some Whole Foods store with a table and giveaways for the girls. When we see moms by themselves, the face wash and face crème are the best selling products, because they want their daughters to start washing their faces more and they like functional products. When girls are in the stores with their moms, they like trying the products and they love the body crème with the sparkles. They love the body mist because they're starting to experiment with perfume and ours isn't alcohol based, it's water based. They like the fun.

YB: What are your immediate plans for the brand?
TL: We're in the Florida region of Whole Foods, we are planning a summer launch in the Midwest region of Whole Foods, and we're in talks with mass retailers. Our goal is to make natural products accessible and affordable to everybody.

YB: Is there anything else readers should know about JOON?
TL: African American girls tend to have higher rates of early maturation, and they go through puberty at earlier ages. It's the foods that they eat, it's the products that they use, and an article I recently read attributed some of it to the chemicals from the relaxers they're using [for their hair], starting as early as three. So, it's important for our brand to have a voice with everybody.

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Rihanna's Top 5 Endorsement Deals

Yannique Benitez — 2011-05-17T13:19:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty, Photos

At only 23, Rihanna already has seven number one hits since she released her debut album 'Music of the Sun' in 2005. Her new single 'California King Bed' just hit the airways and her unique style, striking beauty and mainstream popularity has helped her land lucrative contracts with top beauty and health brands.

Here are a few that we like.

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Rihanna's Beauty Endorsements

On the heels of her hit single 'S.O.S.,' Rihanna landed a CoverGirl contract, joining the ranks of the cosmetic giant's other celebrity spokesmodels including Queen Latifah, Molly Sims, Christie Brinkley and Keri Russell.

Covergirl

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

Rihanna landed a CoverGirl contract on the heels or her second album "Good Girl, Gone Bad" and her hit single"S.O.S." She joined the ranks of Queen Latifah , Molly Sims , Christie Brinkley and Keri Russell .

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

In 2008, the singer got on board Gucci's campaign to benefit UNICEF a "when we decided to dedicate a full ad campaign, more than just creating products, to really come out and show our commitment to UNICEF, I felt a musician and a beautiful woman was the perfect icon for this campaign," said Frida Giannini .

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

Rihanna's latest perfume Reb'l Fleurwas launched in April 2011 and is currently available in stores. The sexy scent combines hints of the Hibiscus flower, violet, tuberose, and coconut water and the 3.4 oz retails from $59.

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

Nivea was announced as the company's new brand ambassador this May 2011 and she participated in the company's 100-year anniversary campaign.

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

The Bahamian singer signed on to endorse the healthy tropical drink Vita Coco that Madonna endorses and said "Rihanna is a natural fit for the Vita Coco brand and I'm so happy to have her
on the team."

Rihannas Beauty Endorsements

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Achieving the "No Makeup" Look

Yannique Benitez — 2011-05-12T13:14:00 00:00

Filed under: Makeup, How-To

The "no makeup" look is underrated -- beauty doesn't have to be over the top or always include bright red lips and cakey foundation. Here's how to achieve a natural glow without all the hype.

Pre-Application
Before you apply any makeup, make sure your skin is clean and moisturized. Your complexion will look healthier if your skin is supple, not greasy, so go easy on the moisturizer. Try Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($24.50, Sephora.com) or Eucerin's Everyday Face Lotion with SPF 30 ($8.99, Drugstore.com) for extra sun protection.

Foundation
The key to the natural look is the appearance of a near perfect complexion. If you weren't blessed with a completely blemish-three complexion, use makeup that helps your skin look like you were. Revlon ColorStay Foundation (12.99, Drugstore.com) or Mac's Studio Fix Fluid ($26.80, MacCosmetics.com) are two great options.

Concealer
Camouflage your blemishes and dark spots with concealer. Skip foundation if your skin is in good condition, and just apply concealer over the imperfections. Try Black Opal's Fade and Conceal ($6.75, BlackOpalBeauty.com) to fade and hide scars, or Iman's Corrective Concealer ($9.99, Walgreens).

Clear or Tinted Gloss
No lipstick needed. Instead, go for a clear gloss to highlight the tone of your bare lips, or try a pink or pinkish brown color that is similar to your natural lip color. Check out NYX's Lip Gloss w/Mega Shine in clear ($5.49, Ulta.com) or Nivea's A Kiss of Shine Lipgloss ($3.79, Soap.com).

Bonus Materials
If you have the time and want to add a few extra touches, you can dab your tinted lip gloss on your cheeks for a subtle pop. And for picture perfect eyebrows, groom your eyebrows with an eyebrow brush and fill them in with a pencil like Cover Girl Brow and Eyemaker Eyebrow Pencil ($3.59, Target). Then you can coat your lashes with a clear mascara like E.L.F.'s Clear Mascara ($1, EyesLipsFace.com) to open up your eyes.

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Laila Ali Launches New Hair and Skin Care Lines

Yannique Benitez — 2011-05-04T18:25:00 00:00

Filed under: Skin Care, Celebrity Beauty

Knockout Laila Ali continues to show the range of her talents. The new mom is known for the boxing skills she inherited from her famous dad, but outside of the ring she's in touch with her feminine side and recently launched a haircare and skincare line.

Her skincare line Laila Ali Derm Essentials and hair care line Laila Ali Professionals are made of 100 percent organic materials and specifically created for women of color. The hair products are all professional grade quality and sulfate-free so that your hair won't be stripped of moisture. Both lines are budget friendly, priced from $13 to $18, and all of the products are currently available online now, but are scheduled to hit drugstores this fall. Treat yourself to an age defying cream, tone equalizer, ultra-hydrating body lotion and daily face wash and moisturizer, or choose from a wide range of haircare products including a curl defining gel, purifying shampoos and repairing conditioners in the lines.

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Trend Alert: Orange Lipstick

Anamarie Shreeves — 2011-04-07T13:00:00 00:00

Filed under: Trends

When the words 'orange' and 'makeup 'are used in the same sentence, it's easy to flashback to Blossom (character of hit T.V. show of the same name) and best friend, Six, prepping for an early '90s school dance. Orange is one of the brightest hues in the color spectrum, but there are makeup choices that can look playful without requiring a chaperone.

Some of our favorite celebs, including Solange Knowles, have taken cue by smearing tangerine and apricot colors all over their lips. YUM! With the recent burst of spring weather, this is the perfect time to try a radiant color. We've arranged a gallery of perfect examples of orange lips, from pastel corals to intense neons.

Try Bobbi Brown's Salmon lip color for a soft peach color. This is great for work with light makeup or weekend brunch. For an electric lip, base lips with Make Up Forever's Aqua Lip Waterproof Lipliner Pencil in bright orange then cover with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetic's Lip Tar in Safety Orange.

Not sure how orange will look against your skin tone? Check out how celebs and models do it in the gallery below.

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Top 20 Unconventional Beauties

Shirea L. Carroll — 2011-04-04T11:38:00 00:00

Filed under: Celebrity Beauty

Beauty is always in the eye of the beholder, and celebrities are no exception. In fact, there are quite a few celebrities who don't exactly fit the standard ideal and mold of what we've been brainwashed to find attractive. These "weird" beauties don't all have the 100% perfectly symmetrical faces, toned athletic bodies or the flawless skin, smile and style.

However, what they do have is character -- something about them that even without oozing sexy makes us look a little longer. These "non-traditionally" hot celebrities are adored by many for their unconventional attractiveness. These rare gems are often mislabeled negatively for their looks, but what one person may see as blah is someone else's ideal of beauty. At the end of the day, it's all relative anyway.

Take a look at the top 20 celebrities in the world of music, fashion, sports and entertainment that many consider conventionally unattractive, but we think there's something about them that makes them a looker.

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Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

The talented actor, with the right haircut and killer smile, makes us say, "Awwww."

Christopher Polk, Gucci / Getty Images

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

The talented actor, with the right haircut and killer smile, makes us say, "Awwww."

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

The actor/singer/dancer/rapper is many things, and beautiful is one of them. Even with her maneful of curls and dramatic style, Teyana has true girl-next-door appeal.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

When you do multimillion-dollar business deals, have the hottest chick in the game wearing your chain and the word "swagger" was invented primarily because of you, you wouldn't care what people said about you, either.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

Woodard has it going on for a more mature woman. The actress embraces her age and experience, and when everyone in Hollywood is trying to look younger, Woodard would rather look wise.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

We bet if he took the tats off his face, gold teeth out his mouth and shaved his dreads, a very dapper rapper would emerge.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

Mr. Lee's coke-bottle glasses and forever glued-on New York Knicks jersey are only two of the things that made the filmmaker the notable character he is today. We don't want him to change!

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

Hounsou looked pretty rough in his role as a slave in 1997's 'Amistad.' However, in those 2007 Calvin Klein ads, you know that Kimora Lee's hubby is anything but unattractive.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

The non-glam Regina King is your basic plain Jane around-the-way girl, and that's the best thing about her - it's her down-to-earth vibe and captivating eyes that make you look twice.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

Khloe gets a lot of slack from the media, but we think her statuesque build, sultry glare, and great hair make her pretty cute!

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

Even before her 60-pound weight loss and new hairdo, Marsha was a pretty good-looking gal.

Unconventionally Attractive Celebs

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The 5 Best Makeup Tutorials for Women of Color

Juwon Ajayi — 2011-03-30T06:00:00 00:00

Filed under: How-To

Makeup can be very scary.

Not everyone grew up wearing it, so for the uninitiated, the world of lip stains, eye shadow primers, highlighting, contouring and bronzing can be overwhelming.

So what's the solution? For those of you all who are already straight on makeup, very good, but for the rest of us, there's YouTube. From tutorials to product reviews, YouTube has videos that are fantastic for anyone who wants to learn how to apply makeup or just try something new.

Here are some of our favorite beauty tutorial videos for women of color and some helpful hints on finding your own favorite vids.

1. Miss Vanisha, AfricanExport

Not only is AfricanExport vlogger Miss Vanisha's tutorial on applying E.L.F products on darker skin great for a basic everyday look, it's easy to follow. Miss Vanisha explains what she's doing every step of the way, which is incredibly helpful for beginners.

2. Krishna, EyeLuvMakeup

We love how Krishna makes even the most daring eye shadow colors look wearable on her EyeLuvMakeup page. This tutorial on applying purple eyeshadow is a great alternative to a traditional smoky eye, and it's a great spring trend!

3. Ebony, ColouredBeautiful

It's no secret that orange blush looks amazing on brown skin (and it's another big color for spring). We love this video because vlogger Ebony, of ColouredBeautiful, shows viewers exactly how she applies the skin-warming color. She also suggests great alternatives to more expensive brands, which is great for makeup beginners and those on a budget.

4. Andrea, AndreasChoice

Everyone applies makeup a little differently, and for that, we love AndreasChoice vlogger Andrea, for her foundation routine video. The tutorial is pretty straightforward, and the routine is perfect for those events when we want to look absolutely flawless.

5. Destiny, DestinyGodley

It's hard to find the perfect concealer for brown skin. In her video, Destiny, of DestinyGodley, recommends a bunch of concealers that are perfect for women of color. We love the fact that she gives so many options and explains why and how each product works.

Ready to get your makeup on? Here are some tips on getting the best out of your YouTube tutorial experience:

*** Be specific. Looking for makeup tutorials on YouTube can be overwhelming and time consuming, but it's totally worth it. Type in what you're looking for in the search engine. A great place to start is "makeup tutorial for black women" for a broader spectrum or keywords like "smoky eye tutorial" for specific looks. You can also check the words a video is tagged with (dark, makeup, black, women) to find similar videos. Just remember, the more specific you are, the less videos you'll be able to choose from.

*** Figure out what works for you. If you're a beginner, you may prefer a tutorial where the vlogger explains what they're doing every step of the way. Some people prefer videos where the vlogger has the steps listed instead. It's really about preference.

*** Don't be afraid to look at tutorials even if the vlogger isn't a woman of color. Makeup is makeup is makeup. Just because a vlogger isn't a brown beauty doesn't mean her technique for a sexy date night look won't work for you -- just use an alternative color!

*** Find out who's popular. A great way to find other tutorials is by looking at the channels your favorite vlogger subscribes to. The YouTube beauty community appears to be very supportive of one another; there's a good chance your perfect "mineral makeup application" tutorial is friends with your "Valentine's Day look" tutorial.

*** Don't stop at just makeup tutorials. There are hundreds of videos on skin care and hair care as well. Take the guesswork out of shopping by checking out product reviews. Learn how to clean your makeup brushes or remove eye makeup without irritating delicate skin. Learn how to thread your own eyebrows or trim your own hair. The sky really is the limit!

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Abercrombie's Push-Up for the Preteen

Alyson Mance — 2011-03-28T18:34:00 00:00

These days, who needs to earn self-confidence when you can buy it?

As breast implants are a pretty expensive option for the hopeful preteen, Abercrombie Kids, the miniature version of the wildly popular, hyper-sexualized former sporting goods retailer, has fulfilled every child's dream -- and every parent's nightmare -- with the padded push-up bikini top.

There was once a time, long ago, when little girls wished for their periods and a full cup size, which were the most significant symbols of bona-fide womanhood. Now, it seems, dreams of womanhood have been replaced with fantasies of growing a set big enough to score a Maxim cover and a spot on coveted quality television programming like 'Girls Gone Wild.'

It wasn't always this way. Then, again, the only thing a young girl was guaranteed to look forward to back then was a husband, dog and 2.5 children -- white picket fence optional. Yet somehow women's liberation and independence came with a crazy price, some sort of ass-backward package deal involving the right to vote at the cost of determining one's self worth based on T&A. We want to be on par with our Y-chromosomed counterparts, yet we're also quick to remind them, in the indomitable words of Destiny's Child's 'Bootylicious,' that they're not "ready for this jelly."

While we encourage young girls to keep their legs closed, apparently that doesn't mean they can't give their fellow prepubescent boys something to look forward to.

In high school, this makes sense: A teenage girl is young enough to receive positive guidance from respected elders, yet old enough to handle some decisions about sex, love and everything in between. What is a prom dress without bust-enhancing chicken cutlets? I, for one, have never been opposed to glorifying one's short-lived, cellulite-free existence with a miniskirt, but my mother certainly was.

But what exactly would an Abercrombie Kid even be pushing up? How does a parent win the age-old "they'll grow" argument when their daughter can just run out and buy a bust-enhancing bikini? How do we prepare girls for the far rougher roads ahead when they're concerned about achieving the perfect bikini body by age 6?

Perhaps the fact that we no longer procreate for utility has a lot to do with the over-glamorization of today's youth -- having children was once essential for keeping a family's home and finances in order; today, kids are one of America's hottest accessory. And what better way to show off your new ~~Chloe bag~~ child than in matching mommy and me swimwear? Clearly, what's been lost on Abercrombie here is that kids are... kids.

Long gone are the days of wishing for B-cups over birthday candles, and obsessing over how one must, must, must increase one's bust. Today, even the littles have the option of sexing up and showing out. If only their target audience knew what a hard-on was.

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