Entertainment
The black cosmetics brand Ami Colé’s has purchased another shade of lip oil
For Ami Colè, constructing community is crucial element of the brand’s DNA, which is why she is the founder and CEO N’Diaye-Mbaye diarrhea I desired to do something somewhat different: a version of March Madness called “The Ami Colé Cup.”
“We focus our community online because that’s where our girl hangs out the most, whether she’s looking at videos on Instagram or what’s currently trending on TikTok, she’s there, so we want to be there with her too,” Mbaye said Andscape.
With this in mind, the Mbaye team at Ami Colé reached out to their online community, encouraging them to vote for his or her favorite lip oil shade in a March Madness-style competition.
In 2021, Mbaye launched Ami Colé, her clean beauty brand specializing in melanin-rich skin tones, offering skin tone, HighlighterAND lip oil. Before starting her brand, Mbaye worked in marketing for L’Oreal and product development for Glossier. The Ami Colé product line now features a skin strengthening product foundation stickcream reusable stick lip and cheek products, mascara, eye shadow, eyebrow pencil, eyebrow gel and powder. Still, the lip oil – now available in six shades – might be successful.
“We’ve really grown so much in the last few years that I still pinch myself when I think about how much we have,” Mbaye said. “We are truly proud to give our community a front row seat to the world of Ami Colé. From the beginning to today, we have always given our community an inside look at the brand, especially through social media. Our community has followed us from the moment I first thought of Ami Colé in my apartment in Brooklyn, to now where we are available at our local Sephoras. It was a truly humbling and joyful experience to watch events unfold.”
Kamille Greenwood, head of influencer partnerships at Ami Colé, joined the brand in October and worked closely with the vice chairman of graphic development and head of graphic design to bring the bracket to life.
“March can be a slower month, so we talked as a team, as you can see March Madness is really important to some people,” Greenwood said. “I’m not up to date, but my boyfriend always has it on, so what a cool way for Ami Colé girls to participate.”
The goal was to rejoice with the handle and give attention to what landed in it Sephora cart since the Sephora Spring 2024 Sale is going on this month.
“We wanted the bracket to last a few weeks and be a short sprint,” Greenwood added. “So we said, OK, it has to last three weeks, so a minimum of 16 shades. We have divided the colours into shade families – pinks, browns and shimmers. From that moment on, what did our girl like? We know that Bliss is the best-selling shade. How can we vary the shade of Bliss but not deviate from Bliss in any respect? I just discuss with our product development girl and make certain every little thing is on par.
Greenwood said it was exciting to look at consumers interact with the lock. “It was cool to see the numbers go up,” she said. “I had no idea it would be successful, some days we had over 700 votes and over 20,000 views on our website.”
She also said she was surprised that more vibrant shades, corresponding to hot pink and a few shimmery shades, weren’t rejected in earlier rounds, while purple did not have long-lasting traction with voters. “I feel like black women tend to gravitate towards darker shades, so it’s interesting to see lighter shades have more reach.”
The Ami Colé Cup buckle is proof of the importance of listening to the general public because, as Greenwood said internally, the brand made predictions using its own brackets that bore no resemblance to the voting results. “We wanted, oh, everyone will choose Eggplant, Eggplant will be the winner. It ended up being something else.”
The winner was Brick Red, but it would only be available for purchase in 2025. “Many products will already be released this year,” Greenwood confirmed. “Brick Red will now be in the pipeline, we hope the winning color will appear in 2025. Now that we know the shade, we can start thinking about the formula and the exact shade of brick red we can achieve.”
When the lip oil was launched in 2021 in Excellence, the brand’s signature pinky-brown color, Black women were desperate to reach for it since it was the right nude shade, pigmented and non-sticky. Beauty author Tembe Denton-Hurst called it “Telfar lip gloss bag” due to his stylish and famous fans – the comparison blew Mbaye away.
“Talk about a stunning moment,” she shared. “I felt like Ami Colé really filled a void in the beauty industry where representation is necessary and has been missing for a long time. Growing up in Harlem, I was surrounded by this culture. From beauty to music to food, I’ve been immersed in it all since I left home. For Black women, lip gloss has always been a means of entry into the world of beauty at an early age.”
She continued, “I remember going to the sweetness supply store to purchase my extra shiny lip gloss in my favorite flavor — it’s pure nostalgia. We all know that feeling once you placed on lip gloss and feel such as you’re IT, so after I heard that lip oil had grow to be a staple for all girls, whether or not they were pulling it out at a brunch or an event, I used to be over the moon. “
Mbaye considered the praise, confirming that she was on the proper path.
“I want Ami Colé to be a big sister who always keeps you informed about the latest trends and always keeps you informed about what is the best product at the moment. When I heard this headline, my belief was confirmed. Lip care oil has definitely taken our community by storm. Initially I thought it would be our skin enhancing shade which also performs very well and is very loved by our community, but the girls took the lip oil and ran with it!”
Entertainment
An attempt to save the image of Jeff Bezos’ future wife backfired after weeks of outrage and ridicule over her skimpy outfit
Lauren Sánchez has apparently gained a popularity for her fashion hits and misses as social media users began following her every move.
Billionaire Jeff Bezos’ current fiancée stepped into the highlight long before she met the Amazon co-founder, after years spent as co-host of “Good Day LA,” a reporter for “Extra” and host of “So You Think You Can Dance,” and he even starred in a number of movies like “Ted 2.”
She faced criticism for posting a sultry selfie in November in a negligee-inspired gown by designer Laura Basca. In October, the 54-year-old again faced backlash when she showed off her latex Halloween costume as Catwoman.
Now, weeks after being deemed “cheap” and tasteless, the founder of Black Ops Aviation has turn out to be a subject of discussion.
On December 5, Sánchez and the business mogul attended The New York Times’ DealBook event in New York City. For the occasion, she wore a white Alexander McQueen suit and a white lace corset. The beaming bride-to-be sent two mirror selfies of her outfit, which she signed: “winter white.”
One follower particularly was stunned by the whole look he ejaculated that she was “very attractive and beautiful, gorgeous and stunning, charming and fantastic young lady, sexy, charming, charming and elegant” in the photos that Sánchez took.
Two other people swooned over the photos and wrote: “So chic and elegant!” and “You look great.” But as you would possibly expect from online viewers, not everyone was impressed.
Jeff Bezos’ fiancée, Lauren Sanchez, cropped a photograph of him in a jumpsuit and then set Instagram on fire with her look.https://t.co/n7YNGctQFE pic.twitter.com/DNKP2i9o9C
— Sean Joseph (@sjoseph_sports) December 2, 2024
When Page six published paparazzi photos from the trip, the critic commented: “It’s 30 degrees in New York and she gets out of the limo in a white Miami smock, her bra visible to everyone. No taste. Nothing. A cashmere turtleneck, flannel trousers and a wool jacket can be classy.
Someone else sharply asked: “Who can be the first to tell her that she looks tacky and not elegant and refined? Does she even know what sophistication means? A 3rd person noted: “She looks more like she’s wearing a bathrobe.”
Lauren Sanchez 2003 vs. Lauren Sanchez 2024
Nothing to see here, people, move on#LaurenSanchez pic.twitter.com/mgr4vj6mFq
— Occam was right (@OccamWasRight) November 21, 2024
Another person wrote in a comment from a licensed pilot: “White means…” possibly referring to rumors that Sánchez and Bezos are scheduled to exchange vows over Christmas. At least one person doubted the couple would have the opportunity to say “I do.” This person said: “This will be the longest engagement ever. They will NEVER get married and we all know why!!!!”
Sánchez told the “Today” show hosts that she was in the process of planning the big day last month. She didn’t comment on speculation about exchanging Christmas vows.
Renewed interest and scrutiny of Sánchez has increased as the pair have been spotted in various locations in recent months. The couple reportedly began dating in 2018. Their engagement was announced five years later, in May 2023. Their upcoming wedding can be a second journey for each of them.
Sánchez was previously married to celebrity agent Patric Whitesell, with whom she has two children. She can be the mother of a son, whom she shares with Pro Football Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez. Bezos was married to the mother of his three children, Mackenzie Scott, for 25 years once they divorced in 2019.
Entertainment
Apart from the song with singer-songwriter India Shawn – Andscape
India Shawn is a contemporary muse with a chilled nature, crafting love stories and heartfelt tales in smooth, charming songs. With over a decade of experience in the music industry as a singer-songwriter, Shawn has incredible strength. She was born in Los Angeles, and her musical roots reach throughout the country. Beginning her profession in her hometown, Shawn eventually found herself in Atlanta, where she immersed herself in the city’s deep-rooted R&B scene, further shaping her artistry.
“I transferred to ATL, I was in 10th grade, and that’s when my music journey really started,” Shawn told Andscape. “I met people who were trying to get by, so I ended up recording and learned what songwriting was really early on.”
Before releasing her debut EP in 2012, Shawn wrote songs and collaborated with artists similar to Chris Brown, El DeBarge, Keri Hilson and Monica. In 2013, she gained much more notoriety when Solange Knowles published her song “I’m Alive” on the Saint Heron compilationmarking her as an artist value watching.
Following the release of the single “There Must Be a God” from the Andscape soundtrack, she caught up with Shawn to learn more about the muse behind the vibes.
Name:
India Shawn
Hometown:
Los Angeles
Artistic soundscape
Airy, soft, telling a story, multidimensional, soft, mysterious, atmospheric
The oldest musical memory
Shawn’s soulful sound is deeply rooted in her upbringing, with influences drawn from her childhood memories and the musical culture of her church. “I sing with my sister all the time, and I also grew up singing behind my mom in church. She was the leader of praise and worship. So I feel like most of us R&B kids have that experience,” Shawn said. “I had these little solos in church, and I believe what made me consider in it was that after the service people got here as much as me with tears of their eyes and said, ‘You really moved me while you sang.’ “These early moments of connection with music and audiences laid the foundation for conveying depth and sensitivity through her music.
Influences
For Shawn, music, especially R&B, has all the time held a special place in her life. “Me and my sister are harmonizing in the living room, just picking some of our favorite songs, including for me Mariah Carey, Babyface, Boyz II Men and (and) Brandy,” she said of her early music memories.
Creative process
Shawn often draws inspiration from real-life experiences and relationships that influence her music. She weaves this into the authenticity and atmosphere of her songs, but she didn’t immediately recognize where her inspiration got here from. “It’s funny that it took me so long to make that connection, but I realized that I was telling my whole story and presenting my business through my music,” she said. “It took me two albums to realize, wait a minute, I’m giving people a lot to understand here… these aren’t just songs. This is truly the life I live.”
Challenges and development
As Shawn’s profession grows, so do his moments of appreciation and reflection. “I literally just thought about a very gradual progression of my career. It’s like step by step, but there are more breakthrough moments. My first tour, which was so beautiful, I just knew I could pack a room and people knew my lyrics and sang my songs to me. Those moments that make the waiting not in vain.”
Shawn has plenty of recommendation for up-and-coming singer-songwriters. Her biggest sacrifice? Collaboration is essential. “I think (cooperation) is really why I’m still here. So find your people… you’ll know when it feels right, you’ll have that freedom and fluidity, and you’ll be able to really create things and create without having to think too much.” He also shares the importance of patience. “Just be patient during the journey. This has been a theme throughout my profession. Let it develop. I feel like more things come from being in that flow and being present reasonably than forcing all of it.
Current project
“There should be a God”, the lead single from Andscape , now streaming on Hulu, also serves as a teaser for Shawn’s solo album. “(This song) is such a manifestation of God’s love,” she said. “I think when you find yourself in a place of waiting, you can feel very hopeless. So when you see glimpses of God’s love again, or the fact that you know there is a higher power, there is a source that is thinking about you, has you in mind, has a perfect plan for you, it’s just like the clouds parting. And this is the moment, I understand. I understand that I had to go through all this to get here. And that’s exactly what I felt in the studio that day.”
Entertainment
ICYMI: Tessa Thompson’s Mocha Lip, Danielle Brooks’ Updo and More – Essence
With just a number of weeks left until the tip of 2024, the celebrities are setting the tone for the brand new 12 months this week. And although mocha mousse is anticipated to be fashionable in 2025, neutral shades in darker tones have gotten more and more popular. Paired with an array of beauty eras – from elegant Twenties updos to 2000s-style round pink, the brand new Hollywood showcases its best 12 months-end beauty moments.
Tessa Thompson and Issa Rae are the newest to debut mocha lips holiday shade near the season, and Coco Jones’ lipstick was cranberry red. Doechii’s perforated suggestions and signature face-lift tape made it probably the most avant-garde look of the week, and within the sweetest moment, Chloe and Halle Bailey’s round pink cheeks made pink cheeks a winter styling staple.
From makeup to hairstyles, Sabrina Elba and Alva Claire opted for light, coffee colours, and Jourdan Dunn’s short hairstyle proved relevant at any time of the 12 months. Meanwhile, Lupita N’yongo, Danielle Brooks and Venus Williams’ braided buns showed just how classic this style may be.
In case you missed it, take a take a look at 17 of the very best celebrity beauty moments from the week below.
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