The Fabulous First Date

Before I get started, let me clear the record. This is, nor will it ever be, a relationship blog. I am not going to lie, relationships are my one weakness in life and I am no expert. So if you are looking for relationship and dating tips, I am sure there is a blog out there by someone else for you, but this is not it. Whew! Now that I have that out of the way, I will tell you how to go about making that first date fabulous.

My first recommendation is to select a restaurant which is intimate and sets the mood. The ambiance will help you with your nerves and will encourage interaction with your date. If the place has candles on the table, even better.

Always pick a restaurant that serves small plates. If you select a place with large entrées, you may spend more time eating than talking and getting to know each other. However, if your date is talking while eating, this may be a sign that the relationship will not work (at least it is to me). The other reason for this tip is because you do not want to go to a place that serves large entrées and you eat everything on your plate because your date might judge you negatively.

When drinking cocktails, always remember there is a two drink maximum. No exceptions! I know alcohol is liquid courage, but if you consume too much alcohol, you may slip up and divulge too much information too soon or simply embarrass yourself.

Lastly, pick a restaurant with a nice and intimate environment. This may require some research because you want to go to a nice restaurant where you are able to hear each other and not have to yell at each other because the restaurant is too loud. Trust me, I have done this before and it did not result in a good first date.

When it comes to deciding what to wear, I say wear your Sunday’s best or buy something new. You want this person to see you at your best, and when they tell you how good you look, play humble and act like it is an old outfit you just threw together. I know this may sound vain, but you want the person to have the best visual of you in their mind and this is how you make that happen.

Another reason why I do this is because I am a little high maintenance (okay, maybe a lot). Getting myself all “fabed up” is my way of non-verbally communicating this message because I cannot wait three months later for this to come out and then he runs for the hills. If he is able to deal with me being more high maintenance than a Range Rover, he will automatically earn some extra credits points.

But really, I know first dates are very nerve wracking, so just be yourself. If you are on a date and they are unable to appreciate how fabulous you are, this is a sign they are not meant for you. If you are currently going through a dating drought, get all dressed up and go sit at the bar of your favorite restaurant. You will probably meet someone this way and the person is there for a reason, so they probably like the restaurant as much as you do.

You know, being fabulous is nice and all, but it is even nicer to be fabulous with someone else. If for whatever reason you have told yourself you do not want to date or are not ready to date, go on a date. At the end of the day, living fabulously is about taking chances and having fun, so call up that person you have been avoiding and take them up on their offer to go out on a fabulous first date.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Never Envy the Fabulous of Someone Else

A smart person told me a long time ago, “You may see my glory, but you do not know my story.” What they meant by this is you see how fabulous I am on the outside, but you do not know what I had to go through to get here. This phrase changed my life because from that moment on, I never wanted what anyone else had in life.

Growing up we all admire the nice clothes, cars, and houses of others. But what we do not know is what it took to obtain these accoutrements. I am sure if we could interrogate the fabulous wardrobe, house, and cars of some of the most fabulous people in the world, they would have a story to tell.

When you see that woman walking down the street in her Louboutins, Chanel suit, and getting into a Lexus, you do not know what is really going on in her life. You do not know many nights she could not sleep because she could not afford to quit the job she hates or the countless days she spent working overtime so her Lexus would not get repossessed. We do not know the whole story because I am sure there is more there than meets the eye.

Maybe she has the fine man who looks like he just walked off the cover of GQ, but the relationship is empty. Maybe he has the perfectly chiseled body, but he has cancer. The cover of a person’s story may be appealing, but the actual story may be a gut wrenching, tear jerker.

Everyone has a story; we just do not always know it. I am not saying there is anything wrong with admiring someone and wishing you had their lifestyle, but be careful because you do not know what they had to go through to get where they are in life. People often tell me I seem like I live a nice life. In my head I am thinking, “Do you know what I have to go through to keep it up?” It is a lot of hard work.

I bring all this up to say that sometimes in life you should stay in your own lane, at your own pace. Do not worry about what everyone else has or is doing because you do not know what they went through to get it and the price they had to pay for it.

You may not be able to live a Louboutin life yet, but there is nothing wrong with that. Aspire to someday be able to purchase a pair, but be content with a pair of shoes from Steve Madden in the interim. With hard work and dedication, anything is possible. So at the end of the day, never envy what others have because their stuff may be fabulous, but their life may not.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

It Is Time to Get Rid of All Your Fabulous Excess Baggage

After a recent discussion I had with one of my friends, it made me think about all the excessive emotional baggage we carry around with us on a daily basis. Some of us have our emotions in plastic bags while others of us have our emotions in designer bags. In those bags may be some stuff we ourselves did not even put in there, so we want to check for any stowaway issues and remove them. Unfortunately at the end of the day, we are all carrying around some excess baggage, so it is time to let it go.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

The Fabulous Role Friends Play in Your Life

After watching Meryl Streep’s acceptance speech on the Oscars, it became clear to me the important role friends play in this fabulous life of mine. I had actually started writing a blog article a month ago about friends and how they serve as a support system. And Then I became stuck. It was not until that moment when I saw the emotion Meryl felt when discussing her friends and colleagues that it made me think about me and my friends.

I really do not talk too much about myself on my blog. If I do, it is just to show how experienced I am in an area and to provide my resume on a topic. In all actuality, I live a busy and hectic life. I work an exhausting 9-5 (even though I actually work in the evenings and sometimes miss social events), I am in school pursuing a Masters degree, and I have this blog. Some days I do not know how I do it, but I just do.

A big part of my life is my friends. I am an only child and they mean the world to me. As busy as I am, I always manage to pencil my friends in because the time I spend with them brings me joy and keeps me grounded. I have managed to cultivate good friendships over the years and it is so rewarding.

As a homosexual, it is so hard to find good friends to trust. This lifestyle is very difficult to live for a multitude of reasons, so to have friends that are on the same walk of life I am means the world to me. I honestly have a remarkable circle of friends who are all established in their own right.

Because of my friends, when I took a break during my undergraduate career, they inspired me to go back to school and finish. At one point in time I never thought I would have a Bachelors degree and now here I am pursuing a Masters degree because of them. We all inspire each other in different ways which is good.

Some of my other friends serve as a catalyst for my inspiration. We were just emailing each other today about where we are in life so far for the year and what we plan to accomplish for the remainder of the year. We inspire each other to truly live and pursue our dreams, no matter how impossible they may seem.

When living a fabulous life, your friends should always inspire you to become more fabulous than you already are in life. If you are the smartest, prettiest, most successful, most fabulous person in your circle of friends, it may be time to change your circle.

When you take a look around, you should all be on different roads leading to the same place. Friends are the people put in place to help you live this thing called life. When everything turns upside-down, people walk out, and you have know idea what is going on, your friends are the ones you should be able to count on to be there for you. Mine are!

If for a second you think you are able to be fabulous on your own, you are deceiving yourself. Just like the African adage which says it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a fabulous circle of friends to help keep you fabulous.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: Oscars Edition 2012

I am not going to lie, it was hard to decide who was Fabulous and who was Faux Fabulous at tonight’s Oscars. The ladies who I selected for my Fabulous list really soared above the rest and stuck out to me. The ladies whom I picked as Faux Fabulous were not cited for too many fashion violations, but there were some small details which caused them to be featured on my Faux Fabulous list. See all the ladies who made my Fabulous or Faux Fabulous Oscars Edition list after the jump.

Click "read more" below to see the entire list.

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: Chanel Fur Muff Purse

A few weeks after giving birth to Blue Ivy, Beyonce was spotted out wearing this black fur Chanel muff purse. The purse, I mean muff, I mean muff purse (I am so confused) reportedly retails for somewhere around $4,500. It holds your most intimate belongings while keeping your hands warm all at the same time, so it is well worth the price to me. Who said fashion isn’t functional? In addition, I love fur. A designer could come out with a fur covered chapstick case and I would buy it. Of course I am talking about faux fur because I live in the D.C. area and those PETA extremists have been known to throw paint on people. I just wanted to put that out there before the local chapter adds me to their “throw paint on” list. Now back to the topic at hand. I think this bag is fabulous, and for the most part, Beyonce can do no wrong in my eyes. What do my FABs think and make sure you vote in the poll to the right?

Face Fabulous

In the gay community when someone has a flawless face, it is called “giving face.” The truth of the matter is we all have some flaws or imperfections we would like to hide and it takes some work for us to appear flawless. There is no denying this, but some people are scared to use make-up because they believe in going au naturale while others need help making their face beat (another gay term) with the make-up they already have in their make-up bag.

A rule of thumb for me is to only provide information on subjects I know first hand. With that being said, I do wear make-up and have since I was twenty-one, so I consider myself somewhat of an expert by now. Trust me, it has taken time for me to figure out what works for me and how to apply my foundation so I do not look fake, so I would like to share my acquired knowledge with all of you.

Before applying any type of make-up to your face, you need a good primer. This helps your make-up last longer and provides a smooth canvas for foundation application. My favorite primer is Smashbox’s Photo Finish because it comes in different formulas for a variety of skin types.

When selecting a foundation, keep in mind that powder foundations usually settle in fine lines and may look chalky. So if you have dry skin or are starting to age, this is not the foundation you should choose. Most cream or liquid foundations work the best because they provide your face with a fresh, creamy appearance.

Selecting the correct shade is the hardest part. The key to finding your shade is to dab on a small portion and then blend it in. If you are barely able to see where you applied it, you have your shade. However, wait about an hour because some foundations oxidize and the shade will darken. If the red undertone in your foundation turns orangy, this is a result of the oil on your face, so make sure you use a silicon based primer to combat this problem.

Most people finish their face with powder (even though I had a friend who never needed it), so I recommend always using a translucent powder for the best look. Keep in mind that power is your frenimy: you look perfect if you apply the right amount, but if you apply too much, you look like you just returned from a tour at a chalk factory.

Hands down, my favorite powder is MAC’s Prep + Prime Finishing Powder. I recommend originally setting your face with the loose powder and then using the pressed powder for touch-ups. Honestly, this is a miracle powder! The best part is it does not contain talcum (talc) powder, so it does not make your face appear white when you take pictures.

You could search the world over for tips and recommendations on how to beat your face, but these are my best recommendations for a fabulously flawless face. So show everyone your fabulous face and make sure you do it right.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Always Maintain Your Fabulous

We are only two months into the New Year, and even though the calendar year has changed, that does not mean your situation in life has changed. It is important to know that whatever your situation in life may be, you should never look like it.

Being fabulous does not take a vacation. I do not care if you are unemployed, depressed, your man or girl left you, whatever. The best revenge against this thing called life which will try to rid you of your fabulous at every given chance is to always maintain your fabulous at all times.

I know this first hand. Some years ago I went trough a fiscally challenging period in my life, but I was determined to not look like it. I did not have the money to go shopping, so I went shopping in my closet and wore clothes I forgot I had and clothes I had not worn in a long time. I also could not afford to get my haircut regularly like I used to, so I bought some hair gel and used the gel to bring out the small curls in my wavy hair.

I say all this to show you how when times get hard, you have to reach into your fabulous bag of tricks and throw a wrench in life’s plan. You have to think outside of the box and redefine your fabulous. What I went through was definitely a defining moment for me and why I say it costs nothing to be fabulous because I know this first hand. Of course with money we are all able to get nicer things, but for those of you experiencing fiscal challenges right now, this is my way of letting you know you are still able to be fabulous.

All my FAB ones out there, it is our responsibility to help keep each other fabulous. When your associate in fabulous is going through something, help to make sure they maintain their fabulous and let them know when they start to slip. At one point in time or another, we all need a little support, so it is our duty as FAB ones to ban together and serve as a support system. I know whatever you are going through may be painful, but always remember the fact that you feel pain is an indication you still have life left within you, so strive to live fabulously no matter what.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

FAB Alert: Adele Covers Vogue

About two years ago when Adele released her debut album 19, it was rumored that she was to cover Vogue magazine at that time, but she did not because Anna Wintour thought she was fat. We all know how Anna abhors “fat” people and even went as far as suggesting the camera man for “The September Issue” documentary about the legendary mag work on his stomach a little bit. She is not the only one because Karl Lagerfeld (say it ain’t so Uncle Karl) even recently referred to Adele as “too fat” and soon after said his comments were taken out of context. It is no surprise how the fashion industry feels about anyone larger than a size “0,” but even Vogue has to admit that Adele is the most talked about cover from them in months and has garnered them a lot of publicity. Furthermore, this will probably be one of their top selling issues this year (next to the September issue of course).

I have been waiting for this day since the original rumors began and I am so glad it has finally come. After looking at the photos, I am sure Grace Coddington directed this shoot because it has her name all over it and she did Adele justice. When I first saw the picture of her on the cover, I was literally speechless and just starred at it for a minute. She looks so fabulous! Of course there is a little air brushing, but who has an air brush not helped from time to time? So when the magazine hits newsstands, make sure your pick it up to show your fabulous support because this is as fabulous as it gets. Now that you are up to date on all things fabulous, back to our regularly scheduled fabulous programming…

Click "read more" below to see all of the photos.

Being Fabulous Does Not Equate to Being Stuck-Up

I often get told that people are shocked I am so nice because I do not seem like I would be. After thinking about this for a moment, I figured out why: most people who are considered fabulous act stuck up, so these two terms over time have become synonymous.

When I described my blog I said, “I do not think I am more fabulous than life.” But truth be told, there are some people who do. Being fabulous in no way means a faux fabulous attitude is required. Humility is imperative no matter how fabulous you are at the end of the day because we all put our pants on one leg at a time.

It really does not matter which designer clothes you wear, the car you drive, or the size of your house. These things are all nice (trust me, they are), but they are just things. At the end of the day, being fabulous requires no external assistance. There is nothing wrong with employing the accoutrements of a fabulous life, but to be fabulous, it is really all about you.

Let me tell you, if you put on a trash bag and walk outside and you are really fabulous, people will still see how fabulous you are in life. So stop getting caught up on the images portrayed in the media of fabulous and define it for yourself.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: Grammy Edition 2012

Honestly, there was not much to choose in regards to fashion from this year’s Grammy awards. A lot of the attendees played it safe, but some stood out from the rest in a positive way, while others stood out from the rest in a not so positive way. See all the ladies who made my Fabulous or Faux Fabulous Grammy Edition list after the jump.

Click "read more" below to see the entire list.

How to Have Fabulous Skin in Winter: Part Three

Since I have discussed winter skin care for your face, hands and feet already, the only aspect left to talk about is your body in general. People often forget to take care of the skin on the rest of their body for some strange reason, but they should make sure this is a part of their daily regimen.

A primary skin issue in the winter visible on the skin of African Americans is their skin becomes “ashy.” When your skin is ashy, it is dry and a white hue reminiscent of chalk appears on your skin. If at anytime your skin becomes ashy, this is a visible sign from your body that your skin is dry and needs some special attention.

Pay attention to this sign because if you have never noticed, your skin is easily irritated by clothes and almost anything when it is dry. Your skin is also more susceptible to cuts and skin tears when it is dry because the cells are more rigid and more likely to easily separate on the cell level, so make sure you use lotion to avoid having this happen to your skin.

For some reason when I meet people they are always amazed at how soft my skin is and usually tell me so without hesitation. When they compliment me, I always think in my head, “Do most of the people you know have rough crocodile skin?” I of course use a scrub to help keep my skin soft, but I also use Dove’s Gentle Exfoliating Soap which helps to remove the top layer of dead skin by revealing softer, fresher skin each time I use it. Dove also has a Winter Care Soap which I heard works wonders, so you may want to consider trying this to help with your seasonal dry skin.

I know it is tempting to take a hot and steamy shower to warm you up in the winter, but this may cause more harm than good. People often use the steam room at the spa to remove impurities, so this is the exact effect the steam shower has on your skin in the winter, but it is removing essentials oils instead. In order to reverse this process, make sure you apply lotion once you finish your shower to reinvigorate your skin with the moisture it needs.

And while we are on the moisture topic, it is often a good idea to purchase a humidifier and use it in the winter. Because the heater in your home pumps out dry heat, it is often necessary to infuse some moisture into your home. The use of a humidifier ensures the moisture you do have in your skin does not simply evaporate into the atmosphere. However, a humidifier is not a magical solution, you will still need to moisturize.

I am not sure what it is, but people usually forget to apply lotion to their elbows for some reason. Since you often put a lot of pressure on your elbows and they rub against surfaces, you have to make sure you focus on this special area. One of my biggest pet peeves is an ashy elbow, so please make sure you take care of this problem and tell a friend when you see their elbows could use a little lotion.

There is a wide selection of lotions to choose from for your skin, but make sure it is a thicker one in the winter months and contains a lot of natural oil ingredients. The natural oils in lotions work best with your skin because your skin absorbs them easier and these oils last longer in your skin. Ever used a lotion which makes your skin feel good for the first five minutes after you apply it and then your skin feels dry again after this five minute period elapses? In this situation, the lotion has a lot of artificial ingredients and water which does not last long, so always try to use lotions which contain natural ingredients for this very reason.

As I have said in the last two parts of this series, dry skin is a serious issue, so if you have tried all the processes I recommended and your skin continues to be dry, please consult a dermatologist so they are able to prescribe you a medicated product to combat this problem.

After reading this three part winter skin care series, you now have everything you need to know in order to make it through the winter with fabulous looking skin. Your skin plays an important part in being fabulous because people often judge how you are based on your skin. When your skin looks tired, they think you are tired. When your skin looks fabulous, they think you are fabulous. Just because it is winter outside is not a reason to not have radiantly fabulous skin, so make sure you put the same effort towards keeping your skin fabulous as you put towards everything else fabulous in your life.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

How to Have Fabulous Skin in Winter: Part Two

In continuing my winter skin care series for the week, I would like to focus on your hands and feet today. Winter skin care is all about taking care of your skin by ensuring it is hydrated throughout the winter. In this series I am focusing more on the process of taking care of your skin and not so much on the products. I will mention a product here and there, but what good is the product if you do not have a good process in place to make sure your skin is getting what it needs when it is cold outside.

When it comes to your hands and your feet, you should always pay special attention to them. In many ways, the skin on your hands and feet is somewhat like the skin on your face. Your hands are a little different because they are exposed to the elements and in use often, so they take quite a beating on a daily basis in comparison to your feet.

Have you ever seen someone’s hands and they just look old and tired? (Be honest, we have all seen this before.) Their hands look this way because they have not taken care of them throughout the years.

Another reason why it is important to moisturize your hands is because you wash them a lot. Whenever you wash your hands, you wash away the natural oils your body produces to keep them moisturized. So if you wash your hands frequently, make sure you use lotion right after to help lock in the moisture.

I said I would not talk much about products, but when washing dishes, I recommend using Dawn Hand Renewal with Olay Beauty. This product helps to ensure your hands do not dry out after the skin dehydrating process of washing your dishes. Some people like to use a specific dishwashing detergent, so use gloves to protect your hands if you are not willing to give this product a try.

However, if you are like me, just throw those dishes in the dishwasher (I mean, that is what it is there to do). I am not sure who invented the dishwasher, and sure I could Google it to find out, but I would rather just believe it was a woman who did not want to dry out her hands or ruin her manicure.

When working with paper, if your hands are dry, this may be a reason why you are so prone to getting paper cuts. Whenever I am dealing with a lot of paperwork or stuffing envelopes, the first thing I do is make sure I put on some lotion because it helps to prevent getting paper cuts.

If dry skin lotions are not working for you, but your skin is not bad enough to go see a doctor, use Crisco Shortening. I know this sounds crazy, but it actually works and Victoria Beckham is rumored to do this herself. Put your hands and feet in an old pair of gloves or socks after applying Crisco. Do this for about an hour a couple days a week and you will see a difference in your skin. Octavia Spencer’s character in “The Help” referenced this process when in the kitchen talking about fried chicken because it actually works.

When it comes to oil, there are few things on this earth as oily as Crisco, so this is why it works so well as a means to repair dry skin. The heat your body naturally generates helps to break down the Crisco and get it in your pours. Once you remove the gloves or the socks, do not wash off the remaining Crisco, just wipe it away with a towel.

Another good way to combat dry skin in the winter on your hands is using a good scrub. I recommend a sugar scrub instead of a salt scrub because it is less abrasive and less likely to dry out your skin. I talked about sugar scrubs in my “Fabulous State of Relaxation” blog article and recommend the Carol’s Daughter Brown Sugar Scrub. If you use a scrub other than this one, make sure it has a good amount of oils in it so the scrub not only removes the dead and dry skin, but it also moisturizes your skin once you finish using it.

When shopping, there are after a lot of lotions to choose from like Jergen’s Ultra Healing Dry Skin Moisturizer and Aveeno’s Daily MoisturizingLotion which both work well and do not leave your skin feeling greasy afterwards. These are just a few that come to mind, but when walking down the lotion aisle of any store, you will see a lot of products made specifically to address your dry skin needs.

As I said with your face, you may need to switch out your lotion in the winter as well if you notice it is not keeping your hands and feet soft and moisturized. The needs of your skin change during this season, so make sure your lotion is providing your skin the moisture it needs.

Once again, keep in mind that dry skin is a serious issue, so if you have severe dry skin, please consult a dermatologist so they are able to prescribe you a medicated product to combat this problem. All the solutions I have discussed here are to help you if you have dry skin temporarily due to it being winter.

Taking good care of your skin has many rewards which include keeping your skin looking youthful. Just like people look at your face, they look at your hands as well. No one wants to see dry, cracking hands or to touch them either. This is the truth, so make sure your hands and feet are always fabulous, even in the winter, by implementing the processes I discussed into your skin care routine.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

FAB Alert: Louis Vuitton's Revelation Keep-All Bag

Recently I saw this Louis Vuitton (LV) bag I wanted, so I am online searching for it because it is not shown on the LV website and I am singing to myself, “I’m getting a new Louis, I’m getting a new Louis!” I finally pull up the information on the bag, get my wallet, and pull out my credit card. Then I see the bag is part of a special collection only sold at the LV flagship stores with a price tag of $4,040. When I tell you I have never put my credit card back in my wallet so fast ever in life. The Revelation Keep-All bag came with a revelation that if I purchase it, I may wind up evicted from my apartment in a month or two, so I have mentally put the bag on lay-away in my mind. I like exclusive things, but I do not think there is space for my sofa, dinning room table, big screen TV, and at least my bed in there. Seriously, the bag is fabulous and seeing how Valentine’s Day is next week and my birthday is just around the corner, I thought I would drop a few hints in case someone wishes to gift this to me. As I said in my “Reasonably Fabulous” blog article, being fabulous is about living within your means and knowing when you should really splurge on an item. Even though I am able to buy the bag, at this point in my life while I have a lot of other goals I am working on achieving, it is not an item I need to purchase because it will distract me from achieving my goals. The bag moved me in some kind of fabulous way though, especially with its red interior, so I wanted to share this fabulous item with you all. Now do you all see why I like it? Whew! Now that that is out of the way, back to our regularly scheduled fabulous programming…

How to Have Fabulous Skin in Winter: Part One

We are almost halfway through winter officially, but because this is the time when your skin needs the most attention, I decided to do a winter skin care series dedicated to taking care of your fabulous skin during this particular season.

I know it has been quite warm this winter on the east coast, but this does not mean you should avoid changing your regimen because the nights still get cold and this has a major impact on your skin. For Part One of the series, I would like to discuss your face.

The skin on your face is different, primarily because it is exposed to the elements more, so it needs special attention unlike the rest of the skin on your body. It is important to take care of your skin continually because it helps your skin look fresh and youthful as you age.

Whenever it comes to skincare for your face, I always recommend reaching deep into your wallet because it will cost you. All the products will not be expensive, but some of them will be. However, do not believe the hype that all products from the top department stores are the best because they are not always. I myself use Neutrogena’s Visibly Even and have done so for the last seven years. It is my tried and true moisturizer (raises hand to the sky).

Recently when I was discussing how I was going to write a skincare series, one of my friends from college was excited because she said my skin always looked “silky smooth.” It took me some time to make this happen because to this day I still have oily skin which used to break-out constantly until I started using Proactiv.

I went through almost every product on the market which was either too abrasive or left my sensitive skin dry. I then started using Proactiv, but still had some issues with my skin being dry until I used the Neutrogena in combination with it. I am not suggesting everyone run out and purchase Proactiv solely because I use it, but I am using it as an example to show how you have to find what works best for your skin.

Because the chemistry of everyone’s skin is different, different brands and products respond differently. For example, I love Clinique, but its acne cleanser was not strong enough for my skin, but I know people who swear by it. Determine what problems your skin has and then try to find a product which focuses on fixing your skin’s problems.

As we all know, the body naturally makes oil, but the oil your face produces often clogs your pores resulting in blemishes or it settles on your face and makes it extra shiny. As a result, this is why you should always use oil-free moisturizers on your face because oil is your face’s sworn enemy.

Few people know this, but when the skin on your face is dry, it may break-out in fine bumps. You may also notice you wake-up and your skin is really tight. These are all signs that your skin is dry and needs some special attention.

One of the simplest ways to fix this is switching your moisturizer. When it comes to moisturizers, you should have a different moisturizer for summer and winter to address the different needs of your skin during these seasons. Summer moisturizers tend to be lighter and let your skin breathe while winter moisturizers are thicker and supply more moisture for your skin. Some moisturizers work all throughout the year, but you will not know this for sure until you give it a try.

Whenever you try a new product, always give it about 45 – 60 days to determine if it works because it takes time for your skin to adjust to it. If you see redness, severe dryness, or develop a rash, I recommend you stop using that product immediately.

Keep in mind that dry skin is a serious issue, so if you have severe dry skin, please consult a dermatologist so they are able to prescribe you a medicated product to combat this issue. All the solutions I have discussed here are to help you if you have dry skin temporarily due to it being winter.

Skincare regimens are costly and time consuming, but they are necessary because they invest in making sure your skin stays fabulous for a long time. If you are unwilling to take care of your face now, you will definitely see the less than favorable results as you age. Make sure you take care of the fabulous part of you people see most by making sure they are able to see the glow you have inside of you on your face.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: J. Lo's White Fur and White Pants

Last week Jennifer Lopez was spotted out in NYC wearing a white fur and white pants. In regards to women’s furs, I usually like them to be a little bit more fitted to show off their figure and recommend adding a belt to give it more of a shape. When it comes to stark white in the winter, I still think it is Faux Fabulous. My recommendation is an off white or a winter white, but you should never wear stark white in the winter which is Rule No. 5 in the “All Things Fabulous” rulebook. I will have to give this look a Faux Fabulous because as the saying goes, “two wrongs don’t make a right.” What do my FABs think and make sure you vote in the poll to the right?

The Esteem of a Fabulous Person

When I met one of my best friends years ago, he thought I had low self-esteem because I always wore designer clothes and looked pretty fabulous. He was a little off the mark and he eventually told me his initial judgment of me was incorrect.

Let me just tell you, fashion is my middle name and fabulous is my game (I know, this is a little corny, but I like it). I always make sure I look good because I am a brand; I represent Daryl J. at all times. I always knew this, even at a young age. So even though the designer clothes are not representative of my insecurities, it does not mean I possess the highest self-esteem.

Honestly, I am just like anyone else. I question if what I write will be read, if the clothes I put on will make a statement or just make me look a fool, and how good I look to others. These are all things that run through my mind from time to time and I am sure I am not the only one.

I know my strengths and play off of them. By no means do I think I am a “10,” but I know I have a “10” personality and am fabulous. In this world where there is always someone better than you at something, you must focus on your strengths and let those strengths serve as the foundation of who you are in life.

I learned a long time ago from Reverend Watley at my church that horses do not have good peripheral vision, so while racing, they wear blinders so they are able to focus on what is ahead of them instead of the distractions surrounding them.

So in the race of life, I challenge everyone to put on your blinders to block out that which distracts you from being fabulous and impedes the process of discovering who you are as a person. There will be distractions along the way, but they will only distract you if you pay more attention to the distraction than the goal ahead.

Because to be fabulous, you have to know what makes you fabulous!

Fabulous or Faux Fabulous: The Louis Vuitton Condom

If someone ever pulled out a $68 Louis Vuitton condom in the heat of the moment, I am going to be upset because that is money that could go towards sponsoring a new Louis Vuitton bag for my collection. On a side note, I have never had a sponsor, but if a man were to decide he wants to willingly sponsor me without any prompting, I have never been one to turn down a charitable donation. Now back to the topic at hand. All I have to say is this: you get no FAB points from me with this one. In my book, I give this one a Faux Fabulous. What do my FABs think, is this Fabulous or Faux Fabulous? As always, vote in the poll and let me know your opinions below in the comments.

Bond No. 9 "I Love New York" Fragrance Video

Last week I picked Bond No. 9 "I Love New York For All" as my FAB alert, but I was recording another video and then decided to talk about this fragrance. I edited the video and thought I would share it with you all because it is good. Watch it and let me know what you think below in the comments section.

It Is Never Fabulous To Be Ignorant

After watching the RHOA where Marlo used the "F" word, I decided to briefly discuss the use of this word and how fabulous people should always make sure they never say something they regret. Let me know your opinion on this topic below in the comments section.