VIVmag to feature beauty tips and Garcelle Beauvais this month

The all-digital luxury magazine VIVmag will offer helpful summer beauty tips in its July/August issue. The magazine will also feature fasionista Garcelle Beauvais who opens up to readers about her life and her struggle to overcome stereotypes as a Haitian woman living in the U.S.

Editor-in-chief Anne M. Russel said a statement that this issue with deal with important topics relevant to the summer, and also inspire readers during the hottest months.

"VIVmag is about staying beautiful, both inside and out, and cover girl Garcelle radiates confidence and beauty as she opens up about her lust for life, healing from a broken marriage, grieving for her home country of Haiti and overcoming stereotypes," said Russel.

Beauvais is no stranger to heartache, the actress divorced last year and is still recovering from the loss of her mother. She's seen as an inspiration for her ability to remain a strong and beautiful woman in the face of adversity.

“Women feel so much pressure to multitask all the time,” the actress told People magazine. “I’m trying really hard to be in the present and not be worrying so much about what I should have done or what I’m going to do.”

Women looking to get glowing skin like Garcelle Beauvais should consider using African American skin care products.  

Melanoma may be more deadly in African American skin

Skin tone is relative to the amount of melanin in the body. While this pigment does provide a modicum of protection for individuals with brown skin, skin cancer may be much more severe when it does develop in this population.

Researchers at the M.I.T. in Cambridge, Massachusetts have found that when melanoma cells are deprived of leucine, it may be lethal to these cancerous cells.

Leucine is among the nine essential amino acids that humans do not synthesize naturally, but must ingest through diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins used in all cellular functions. Nutrients such as amino acids are regulated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. When there is a low level of an amino acids, this pathway is turned off, which initiates the autophagy process.

Autophagy functions to elevate the amino acid levels by the break down of protein into its smaller constituents. However, in the absence of leucine, autophagy is not activated in melonoma cells. A nutrient shortage is registered, which results in cell death. This holds promise for therapeutic remedies.

While more melanin adds one layer of protection against the sun, compared to individuals with less pigment, the use of sunscreen for dark skinned individuals cannot be overemphasized. Dr. Susan Taylor, African American dermatologist, recommends a minimum of SPF 15 for everyday use. 

Essential tips for proper ethnic skin care

There exist many misconceptions about ethnic skin care. Whether your skin is a very dark or its tone is lighter brown, the rules of thumb are similar.

The best advice is pure and simple - choose skin care products that are designed for ethnic women. General facial care supplies may induce discoloration that may linger for months or even years. Darker skin is much more sensitive, and it can be quite reactive if treated improperly.

Another useful tip is to cleanse your face daily with ethnic skin care products. Depending on whether your skin type is oily or dry, you will need to wash it more or less frequently.

One of the most common misconceptions about darker skin is that it's not affected by the sun. While higher levels of melanin provide an additional layer of protection, skin cancer - if it develops - can be more dangerous in deeper toned skin. A minimum of SPF 15 for everyday wear is suggested by Dr. Susan Taylor, African American dermatologist.

Darker skin's sensitivity stems from not just environmental factors, but also hormonal and chemcial changes in the body. These alterations include, but are not limited to, menstruation, stress and medications.

These tips may be readily adapted to any skin care routine. Its important to concentrate on ethnic skin's unique attributes in order to care for it properly. 

Mary J. Blige's big finish at the Essence Music Festival

July 3rd, 2011 was celebrated in style at the Lousiana Superdome in New Orleans during the Essence Music Festival. Towards the latter part of the evening, half the audience had taken a seat, according to www.nola.com. However, spirited singer Mary J. Blige led the show to a strong finish after getting most of the spectators back on their feet.

Although she has a track record of success and wealth, she readily taps into her painful past with purposeful lyrics from the heart, the news source reported.

And engage the audience she did, with her glimmering tone that resonated from her voice to the goosebumps on her skin.

You, too, can experience a transformation of your own. African American and other ethnic skin can experience increased tone, firmness and brightness that boost overall glow with proper skin treatments.

Any African-American woman can shimmer as brilliantly as Blige did as she celebrated the country's 235th birthday. By using high caliber black skin care products, you'll be able to unleash your inner diva wherever you set foot.