Economy of Style
A notebook on evolving trends, fashion sense and cents

Review: Essence BeautyBox

I was recently invited by Essence to try its new beauty box subscription service. For $15 a month, the Essence BeautyBox delivers five sample or trial sizes of coveted beauty products curated by Essence  beauty experts, including Pamela E. Christiani, the Essence Beauty and Style Director.

I was immediately intrigued by the idea of exploring beauty products curated by Essence beauty editors because I knew they would configure the box with women of color in mind. To no surprise, I received the November box, and I loved it upon opening. My box was filled with products I’ve always wanted to try but never did because I didn’t want to commit to purchasing full sizes before testing them.

I’ve heard lots of positive things about DevaCurl products, and my box included the DevaCurl No-Poo and DevaCurl One Condition Decadence, DevaCurl’s ultra-moisturizing cleanser and conditioner. I’ve been a longtime fan of Black Opal products, and my box included the Black Opal Color Splurge Luxe Matte Lipstick in vampy red. I’ve been curious about hair fragrance mists, and I received the Fekkai Hair Fragrance Mist in Rose Fraiche. I’m very picky with mascara, so I was pleased to be able to test the Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara in jet black. There’s a lot of buzz about Moroccan organ oil, and the box included a trial size bottle of Suave Professional Moroccan Infusion Body Lotion.

As an added bonus, the Essence BeautyBox includes a fold-out card with product descriptions and tips for their use provided by the Essence beauty team.

Have you tried the Essence BeautyBox? It is available for $15 a month. The cost per box is less if you purchase a 12-month subscription upfront. Overall, my first box was a hit. From this box, I would definitely purchase the full-size versions of the Fekkai Hair Fragrance Mist and a few other colors in the Black Opal Color Splurge Luxe Matte Lipstick. The next box launches in mid-December, and I can’t wait to see what’s in it.

Disclosure: My subscription box was provided free of charge for review purposes. As always, all of the opinions, ideas, and images are my own.

Nourishing a Love of My Curls

This post is sponsored by Dove Hair

I remember the day clearly. I was in junior high when I finally convinced my mother to let me chemically relax my curly hair. I had been pleading with her for years to do it because I viewed my coarse, curly hair as unruly and unmanageable. I relaxed my curls, and my hair was pretty, but I soon missed all the things I once hated about my curly hair. The way my curls would shrink when wet. The thickness and fullness my curls created. The tightly coiled pattern of my curls that was unique to me. I missed my curls.

Eventually, I would garner the courage to cut my relaxed hair and start wearing my natural curls again. With products like the Dove Quench Absolute line, specially formulated to nourish curly hair, I grow to love my hair more every day.

As an avid user of social media and emojis, I was thrilled when Dove released its Dove Love Your Curls Emoji app packed with diverse, curly-haired emojis that reflect the beauty of curly heads. You can download the app for free in the App Store and Google Play. Standard data rates apply.

Today, I’m sporting one of my go-to natural hairstyles, the flat twist-out. I achieved this style using the Dove Quench Absolute Shampoo, the Dove Quench Absolute Conditioner, and the Dove Quench Absolute Crème Serum.

Dove Hair encourages all women and girls to love their curls. Download the Dove Love Your Curls Emoji for free in the App Store and Google Play, and show us how you #LoveYourCurls to help inspire the next generation. Standard data rates apply.

Celebrating Curls: Dove Quench Absolute Line

This post is sponsored by Dove Hair.

Eighteen years ago, I made the decision to embrace my naturally curly, coarse, and often unpredictable hair. At the time, there were very few products on the market that were dedicated to the care of my hair texture, a hair type that requires a lot of nourishment.

Today, as more women have braved the world with their natural curls, the market has responded with products designed to love those curls. Dove, one of my favorite product lines, recently launched its Dove Quench Absolute line, a collection of hair products specially formulated to deeply nourish dry, curly, coarse hair. Dove has gone even further with the recent release of its series of curly haired emojis. These emojis, which allow we curly haired women and girls to see reflections of ourselves, are available for free in the App Store and Google Play. Standard data rates apply.

 

I was invited to try Dove’s #LoveYourCurls product line, which is comprised of the Dove Quench Absolute Shampoo, the Dove Quench Absolute Conditioner, the Dove Quench Absolute Crème Serum, and the Dove Quench Absolute Restoration Mask. I, of course, obliged.

I washed my hair with the Dove Quench Absolute Shampoo, a conditioning shampoo that smells like a tropical heaven and left my hair feeling clean and soft. I followed up with the Dove Quench Absolute Restoration Mask, a deep conditioner. I allowed the conditioner to sit in my hair for about five minutes. I was stunned by how easy my comb glided through my hair while using the deep conditioner.

 

Conditioning with the Dove Quench Absolute Restoration Mask

After rinsing out the Dove Quench Absolute Restoration mask, I towel dried my hair and then applied the Dove Quench Absolute Crème Serum in sections. The serum is a lightweight, leave-in treatment for the hair. I then blow-dried my hair, flat-twisted it, and went to bed. The next morning, I had the best twist-out ever! Check out my curl definition.

No hat required on a great curly hair day.

Dove Hair encourages all women and girls to love their curls. Download the Dove Love Your Curls Emoji for free in the App Store and Google Play, and show us how you #LoveYourCurls to help inspire the next generation. Standard data rates apply.

Design Essentials and My Natural Hair Protective Styles

I’ve been using the same hair regimen for years. You can read all about it in Updated Natural Hair Regimen. At the end of last year, though, in an attempt to resist the urge to cut my hair in my usual tapered afro, I started wearing protective styles. You’ve probably seen my go-to flat-twist updos in a few posts (like here and here). The natural hair stylist that does those protective styles uses Design Essentials products to transform my thin hair into full-looking twists. Let’s just say, I instantly became a fan of the products.

During my recent TV segment, I shared the Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi Hair Collection as a must-try product for hydrating your hair during the spring and summer. This collection includes my favorite products for styling and maintaining my protective styles. Here’s a look at the entire collection.

Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi Oil Collection (L to R):

Deep Moisture Milk Soufflé

Coconut Water Curl Refresher

Weightless Shine Oil Mist

Moisture Milk Oil Creme

Deep Moisture Oil Treatment

My stylist uses a combination of the milk soufflé and Design Essentials Natural defining creme gel (not shown above). The soufflé moisturizes my hair and plumps my twists up, while the gel adds a little hold. I rely on the curl refresher and oil mist to refresh and maintain the shine in my hair when wearing the twists for about two weeks.

I haven’t used the moisture milk oil creme product in the coconut & monoi line much because my fine hair just loves the milk soufflé. Naturals with much thicker hair, though, may prefer the heavier creme. The deep moisture oil treatment is a versatile product. It can be used as a moisture sealant, a daily treatment, or a hot oil treatment. By the way, if you haven’t smelled these products, you ought to head to Target to give them a whiff. They smell like tropical heaven in a jar.

My latest flat twist style completed with Design Essentials products

Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post. I received the entire Design Essentials Natural Coconut & Monoi collection for free to share in the segment. This collection has been such a great addition to my hair regimen that I wanted to share it with you.

Head & Shoulders for Textured Hair?

This post is sponsored by P&G. I was invited to try Head & Shoulders’ brand new Moisture Care line, a system specially formulated for textured hair. The line comprises a 2 in 1, co-wash, and scalp soother. Each of these pH-balanced products includes vitamin E-rich almond oil and coconut essence to provide moisture for the scalp and hair and to eliminate dandruff. 

During the winter months, my natural hair is especially dry. Before trying the 2 in 1, co-wash, and scalp soother, my hair had been in a braided updo for about a week and a half. As a result, my hair was dry and a tad flaky, providing the perfect challenge for the products in the Moisture Care line. I started with the 2 in 1, a shampoo and conditioner in one product. It smells amazing! It produced a rich lather that felt both cleansing and hydrating. I rinsed and applied the 2 in 1 again because I usually shampoo twice. I then applied the co-wash, a really thick conditioner that instantly bonded with my curls. I knew immediately I would like it. After working it through my hair, detangling was such a breeze.

Detangling with the Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Co-Wash

After rinsing the co-wash out of my hair, I towel-dried my hair and sectioned it in preparation for a blowout. At this point, I applied the Head & Shoulders Moisture Care Scalp Soother directly to the parts I had made in my hair and worked it through the scalp. It felt cool and refreshing. I envision reaching for this product when I’m wearing braided or twisted styles to give my scalp a quick refresh. I then blew out my hair and flat-twisted it in preparation for a twist-out. See the results below.

The blow-out followed by a flat twist-out is one of my staple styles. Conditioning my hair prior to starting that process is so crucial to the overall look and feel of my hair in the end. Let me tell you. I’m impressed by how well the Head & Shoulders products performed. My hair feels soft. It has body. And, my curls look healthy and shiny. My hair smells so amazing too.

Head and Shoulders scientists explored the unique needs and characteristics of African American hair and found a drastic need for moisture and protection. Head & Shoulders NEW Moisture Care collection, with Vitamin E rich almond oil and coconut essence, provides moisture for scalp and hair immediately and also over time, eliminating dandruff and leaving you 100% flake-free. For more information, visit Head & Shoulders on Facebook (www.facebook.com/headandshoulders) and follow @HeadShoulders on Twitter.