Blaq Vixen Beauty

I am.

Baze Mpinja, beauty editor at Vibe Vixen, Suede and now Glamour, used to be until she took the Fake Lash Challenge last year. After writing that she was taking a break from false lashes, a reader wrote in to say that she was "shocked" that a beauty editor would shy away from falsies.

I can understand where Baze is coming from though. I know falsies have been around way before the glamorous days of  Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe but still.  Furthermore, Essence has said that lashes with unexpected shapes are in this season, especially if you want to be a Makeup Diva.

When I read that, I was like, "I still haven't mastered Lashes 101 and now you're telling me I should be hitting up Shu Uemura to upgrade my lash game? Are you kidding me?!" Yeah, I was losing it until I chatted with Tia this afternoon.

Shu Uemura false lashes

She was telling me that she had fallen in love with NYX lashes. I told her that I wanted to try them as well but every time I muster the courage to apply lashes, it always looks a hot mess.

nyx lashes

She asked me how I apply them. First, I apply glue on the band. I wait a few seconds, and then I try to fit them to the curve of my lash line with tweezers. That's where I mess up. Even with the Revlon Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Self Adhesive Eyelashes, I still had trouble. However, my sister were able to apply them perfectly. This aggravated me to no end. Why? Because her specialty is hair, not beauty, yet ol' girl were able to get a flirty look within seconds. Hmph.

revlon fantasy lengths

However, Tia recommended the Sephora Brand Lash Placement Kit. This soft-tipped applicator promises to "provide the perfect placement of lashes and then, removes them with ease." It has a soft, anti-bacterial storage stand that retains the natural lash curve. You'll save time and you won't have to worry about making a mess.

Lash kit

Do you know that when I purchase this, it'lll be my first purchase from Sephora? Ever? Please, no photos! I know that might be unheard of but I'm used to being the exception. Maybe I'll inspired me to build my beauty bank...who knows?

Back to Baze. Inspired by Baze's previous "too thick, too long and too distracting" fiasco with falsies, Glamour challenged her to embrace the trend once more. She wrote that she was relieved that the false lashes in Glamour's beauty closet looked real and she settled on Sugar Cosmetics Flirt False Lashes in Angel, $9. Click here to read the rest!

Image via Fatima Siad's Facebook page

Vintage Glamour Icons: Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe

I received a pitch for vintage glamour icon, Marilyn Monroe. Six days ago, on August 4, marked the 47th anniversary of her death.

As you might have read, Marilyn Monroe and Dorothy Dandridge were good friends. Myra Panache, editor and founder of the Panache Report, wrote that "after Dandridge would finish performing with the Desi Arnez band in Hollywood, she would call Monroe. They would talk for hours about their careers, problems with men and racism in Hollywood. Dandridge, Monroe and Ava Gardner often went to parties together."

Panache added, "Monroe never tried to hide her friendship with Dandridge. Since it was so unpopular for white to have black friends during those segregated times, white media outlets refused to report on their friendship, even if they were peers in the same field.

Lena Horne dubbed Dorothy Dandridge "our Black Marilyn Monroe." This year, on September 8, will mark the 44th anniversary of Dorothy Dandridge's death. So in honor of the friendship that these two vintage glamour icons, let's talk about how to get their flawless skin, bedroom eyes, and perfect pout.

You want to be legendary too, right?