Curly Girls to Follow On Instagram

Amandla Stenberg - Curls served with feminism and a side of of #BlackLivesMatter

A photo posted by amandla (@amandlastenberg) on Apr 10, 2016 at 5:10pm PDT

Ashly D - She posts detailed tutorials with pictures and videos that are straightforward and easy to recreate.

A photo posted by Ashly (@actually_ashly) on Apr 2, 2016 at 11:42am PDT

Diana Veras - Curly hair and a tumblr-like vibe you can vicariously live through

A photo posted by diana veras 🦁 (@mynamesdiana) on Apr 1, 2016 at 2:35pm PDT

Natural Beauty Staple : Apricot Oil

Not the St. Ives stuff. My dermatologist (a salesperson at Sephora) says the beads are just plastic and they're too abrasive on your face and we know salespeople at Sephora are omniscient. 

I have tried many oils in my journey to use more natural beauty products. Coconut remains my favourite because of its multiple uses but it does not work on my face. Almond is a also favourite for my hair but I was looking for one I could use for both skin and hair that wasn't too thick and didn't leave my skin looking extra oily. Enter apricot oil. This oil is so light it absorbs quickly into the skin without leaving a heavy film of oil.

How I use it:

Face moisturizer: After cleansing my face, I rub a few drops of apricot oil between my fingers and massage onto my face, neck, and brow bone which tends to be really dry.

Hair sealant : After I wash my curls, I add a pinch of oil to the ends of my hair to retain the moisture from the water.

Face mask: When I need a quick hydrating mask, I mix a little apricot oil with rosewater, leave the mixture on my face for 20 minutes and rinse it off. The result is amazing, it looks like you just got a facial done

Eye make-up remover: If I'm out of wipes, I simply use this to remove the 100 layers of mascara on my lashes.

You don’t have to love your first job

I’ve been to many graduations and heard countless commencement speeches, some good, some bad. I’ve even heard one inspired by R. Kelly. The resounding message these speakers were giving young adults who are entering a new phase in their life is to “Love what you do!”, or “It’s not work if it’s fun”. This advice is just wrong. In this economy, there are few jobs available. It took me over a year to find employment post graduation. Opportunities are scarce and competition is fierce. Telling people, to only get a job because they love it is just irrelevant in our times.

Workout clothes for cheap

My sister is a health-nut, workout freak who is as passionate about quinoa as she is Lululemon, you get the type. I on the other hand am pretty happy if I've worked out more than two times a week and still don't see the appeal of quinoa (a.k.a fake rice, a.k.a tiny flavourless rocks). One thing we do agree on is that cute workout clothes are a major motivator to go to the gym. While my sissy looks very cute with her matching Lulu gear, there are budget friendly options that can still encourage you to turn off Netflix and get your butt into the gym.

1. Kyodon - This Montreal brand is one of my favourites for affordable athletic wear. Their moisture-wicking pants keep me dry during intense workouts which is a pretty big accomplishment because I sweat a lot. Seriously, I left a bucket of sweat behind on the floor after my last spin class. I buy them at Winners or Marshalls.

A photo posted by #ITALLSTARTSHERE (@kyodanactive) on Feb 3, 2016 at 10:18am PST

How to be a better co-worker

Remember when L.C. and Whitney "worked" at Teen Vogue 

You're finally out of the unemployed recent grad category. You found a new job - maybe it's exactly in the field you wanted, maybe it just pays the bills. Either way, your co-workers are going to be the people you spend most of your day with. Seriously, I've seen our I.T. Bob exponentially more that I've seen my dad in the last few months, and Bob is literally always hiding. Being a good co-worker is essential to maintaining a healthy work environment which in turn leads to increased productivity and a less stressful day (I don't have stats but my personal experience will suffice here). Co-workers don't have to be your friends, however being friendly can improve workplace interactions. I've been working since I was 15 (when is retirement, y'all) and I've made and continue to make many mistakes in the co-worker field. Here are few lessons I learned that helped me become a better co-worker:

1. Always say good-morning - Your parents would be proud and so would the Head Nun from your primary school (again, trust me, from personal experience). A co-worker can see you walking by their cubicle and not saying high as you being rude and already form a negative opinion of you. So say hello to everyone, it cost nothing and takes like 3 seconds out of your day. At one internship I would simply rush to my desk and hide from everyone and I overheard people sayinh I was rude, but really I was just shy and felt like an unimportant intern.

Lush Favourites

1. Ayesha Fresh Face Mask - Yes, I got this product because I'm vain and it has my name but thankfully it was worth it. The second ingredient is honey which gives you a post mask glow whilst also leaving your face moisturized.

2. Retread Conditioner - As a curly haired person with dry hair, I try to use shampoo as little as possible and co-wash my hair with a moisture rich conditioner instead. This conditioner contains yoghurt which adds protein to my hair so it doesn't look brittle. It also contains a few oils (avocado, olive, jojobo) which keep my hair moisturized and leave my curls poppin'.