As I write this, my skin is a scaly mess because I decided I wanted to get the best tan possible while laying naked on Negril's Seven Mile beach. Mind you, this is weeks later. Now, I know that belief that black women can't get sun cancer is a myth even with our built-in melanin protection. Luckily, I was smart enough to apply Supergoop's Glow Stick Sunscreen to my face. But, I hadn't accounted for the sunburn I got on my boobs or the peeling alligator skin I am now trying to figure out how to manage because I didn't apply any SPF to my body.
Which is what brought me to writing this round-up — ya girl needed soothing, healing options fast, and I figured I am not the lone brown girl out there in need of giving their skin a little TLC from the summer sun. With that, I've rounded up a list of products you can use from head to toe (including your scalp) after a day (or days) of fun in the sun.
*This list is specially curated by the xoNecole team and some links are affiliate links. If you purchase an item from an affiliate link, xoNecole might earn a small commission.
*Some links are affiliate links. If you make a purchase, xoNecole may earn a small commission.
Eau Thermale Avene Soothing Sheet Mask
Eau Thermale Avene
I am a huge fan of Avene. Their products are made with sensitive skin in mind. When I saw their sheet masks, I knew I had to give them a try. They do not only lend themselves to self-care, but their hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic, fragrance-free masks soothe red, irritated skin in no time.
Base Butter Radiate Face Jelly
Base Butter
Aloe is always a must-have after you've overdone it in the sunshine, and Base Butter's holy grail moisturizer is made with aloe as a key ingredient along alongside lavender and witch hazel which balance and soothe distressed skin.
Aspen Kay Oatmeal Soap Bar
Amazon
One of the best ways to cool your body down and ease sunburn is a cold shower. Using a bar of soap or body wash with oatmeal can calm and nourish the skin, think about how oatmeal can soothe the stomach; the same applies to our skin.
FRESH Brown Sugar Body Polish
Nordstrom
FRESH is one of my favorite beauty brands because their products are made with good ingredients that warrant an elevated price point. Now, I wouldn't recommend scrubbing blistered, or skin that is broken as that would make things worse. Once the pain subsides, you'll want to get the damaged layer(s) of skin off with a gentle scrub. Made with brown sugar crystals and jojoba oils, this scrub will help revive troubled skin.
SheaMoisture Manuka Honey & Yogurt Skin Renewal Recipe Body Scrub
I would like to personally thank this scrub for soothing and getting my flakey skin together. This scrub feels more like a yogurt and honey creme with a hint of exfoliation, which was just what my skin needed.
Hanahana Beauty Eucalyptus Shea Body Butter
Eucalyptus Shea Body Butter
With shea butter and eucalyptus as ingredients, your skin will thank you. If your scalp got burned, you could use this to oil it as well.
Ceramedx Restoring Body Lotion
Ceramedx comes highly rated by skincare professionals. Thanks to its blend of plant-based ceramides and hyaluronic acid, it helps soothe everything from allergic reactions to eczema.
One word of advice. Don't be like me. Be sure to protect your skin with sunscreen daily.
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While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
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The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
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