August 2020 Teen Brown Sugar Box Mini Magazine

AUGUST 2020

BE BOLDLY YOU When Going Back to School

beYOUtiful 101:

Connect to Your Beautiful Self

Skincare Routine 4 Ways to Level Up Academically Morning Vibes

Basic Busters

School Daze

Hold your head up. Straighten your crown.

Smile big. Wink at the camera.

You’re a queen, but you already knew that.

As you head into a new year of school, baby girl, please know how amazing you are. You have plans to glow up and show up as your most beautiful self, and we’re here for it. You’re taking this year to level up, and we’re behind you all the way. Even as you find new ways to make friends, learn from your teachers, and gain more independence, you’re going to shine bright and do well. In this School Daze Edition, you’re going to snag some fall drip to help you transition from summer cute to fall fabulous. Learn a cool skincare routine to try, get some tips on how to continue being a bold and beautiful you during this school year, and grab a few ways to level up academically this school year.

Set your goals. Grab your books.

Let’s head into School Daze.

Black Girl Booked Backpack (One of 2) It’s time to hit the books! Grab your books, planners, and pens (don’t forget your speakers), and make this school year one to remember.

The “Black Girl Booked” Backpack is everything you need to start the year off right and end it on top. Large pockets and cute designs are perfect in our “book”. Available in 2 styles: Fly Girls or Melanin Goddess.

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“Brown Sugar Supreme” Sweatshirt Unique. Cool. Brown Girl. This sweatshirt was made for you.

Geometric dopeness meets Brown girl flava in one place. Rock out this sweet “Brown Sugar Supreme” Sweatshirt whether you’re lounging or having a feel-good Friday at school.

“Melanin Drip” Socks (One of 2) Your melanin drip is so dope! We’re giving you something else to add to your back to school look. Whether you get the “Culture Confidence Soul”, or “Melanin Goddess’ pair, you’re going to show us how to make them a part of the fit. Available in 2 styles: Culture Confidence Soul 3-Pack or Melanin Goddess 3-Pack.

No Cap! Hat (One of 5) We don’t have bad hair days. No Cap! This cute “No Cap” Hat is perfect for your weekend wear.

Relaxing on the weekends is a real thing. Get your TikTok ready for this one. Available in 5 styles: Beautiful, Melanin Poppin, Queen, Magical, or Unapologetic.

Straight Up A’s Spiral Notebook (One of 7) Write it down, turn them up. We mean turn up your grades. Use the “Straight Up A’s” Spiral Notebook to take notes during virtual sessions or to complete your labs in the school building.

Who said your notebooks had to be boring? With 200 pages college rule, 8.5” x 11” paper and a fun design on each notebook, you’re about to get Straight A’s this year. Available in 7 designs.

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The Super Simple Back-to-School

Skincare

by Girl Tyler

Brown skin girl, your skin just like pearls. The best thing in the world!

Beyoncé sang it, so you know it’s true! Your beautiful melanin is the first thing that people notice about you. Because your skin goes through a lot of changes in your teen years, it’s important to adopt a consistent routine.

Nourish your skin by adopting a daily regime to help enhance your natural features. This back-to-school skincare routine is for all skin types and will give you an added glow in the morning and at night.

Remove your makeup before bed.

Sleeping in your makeup can cause buildup in your pores which leads to acne breakouts and nobody has time for that. DIY recommendation: Makeup wipes will do the trick, but to really go beyond the surface, apply a small amount of coconut or olive oil to a cotton ball / facial pad, and then gently wipe your face. Complete this step by washing your face with a cleanser.

Exfoliate. Exfoliate.

Exfoliate!

This process is just as important as cleansing. Exfoliation removes dead skin cells to give you bright and healthier skin. You should exfoliate at least once a week, but no more than two times. Rub, not scrub, your face with a gentle exfoliator in circular motions for up to 60 seconds. DIY Recommendation: Mix 1/2 cup of sugar (granulated or brown sugar) and a 3/4 cup of oil (olive, grapeseed, or virgin coconut oil) in a bowl to make an exfoliator.

Cleanse in the a.m. and p.m.

Facial cleansing removes make-up, dead skin cells, toxins, and excess oil. Cleanse once a day, or twice if your skin gets very oily or dirty throughout the day.

Product recommendation: Reach for a cleanser that moisturizes and hydrates your skin. If you have oily skin, try a gel or foaming cleanser.

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Moisturize daily.

Your skin is exposed to countless harmful environmental elements, including the sun.

Moisturizing is an essential step in skincare to protect and help your skin stay young. Product recommendation: Use a moisturizer with an SPF to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.

Routine

BASIC SKINCARE REMINDERS • • • • • •

Never share makeup with anyone.

Use a clean washcloth or hand towel to wash your face.

Always wash your hand before touching your face.

Skip the sweets and fatty foods. What’s inside eventually comes out!

Aht! Aht! Stop popping pimples. Not only do they leave behind nasty acne scars, popping zits spreads bacteria which leads to more breakouts. Yikes!

Drink more water. Period. Drinking more water keeps your skin hydrated to prevent dryness and enhance your complexion.

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When going Back to School

by Saeeda Ruffin

N

ew year, same you...that’s not a bad thing. You can be whoever and whatever you want to be this school year.

But, being YOU is always the best option. So, Young Queen, when you walk through the doors of your school this year, stride with confidence, strength, and a love for yourself. That’s right, be boldly you and don’t make any apologies for it. Still need a few pointers? We got you. These tips might be just what you need.

Let Your Hair Be Free Your hair is an extension of who you are. Through your hair, you are able to express yourself and to have the look that helps you to feel most comfortable in your own skin. So, wear it well! This school year, don’t feel compelled to do your hair a “certain” way for other people to accept you. Whether you choose to go all-natural, rocking a curly fro or braids, or with a slick, sleek style, make it about you...periodt.

Put Your Best Foot Forward It doesn’t matter what grade you are in, your primary goal with going to school should always be to do YOUR personal best. You define “success”.

Once you figure out what you need to do to get a good vibe about the work you are doing, you will

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absolutely feel way more confident.

You will likely have less stress and that will mean that you are uber chill. It’s a win-win. Do your best and feel amazing about it!

Posse Up The thing about being and accepting who you are as a person is that it’s very liberating. That kind of self-awareness will give you an inner strength to go through the day feeling alright when others are stressing over the small stuff. So, how do you keep that positivity going? Posse up with like-minded people, remember you don’t have to ALWAYS be with that one group, either. It’s perfectly fine to float between friend groups, as long as you can be unapologetically YOU when you’re with your crew.

Know That You Are Perfectly You So, one of the issues that some young black women go through is that they feel pressure from “er’body” to fit into a little box when it comes to personality, style...just everything!

Uh, who made those people the Life Police? Being a young queen doesn’t mean that you have to only like one type of music or only dress one type of way, or conform to everybody

else’s expectations. Where is the fun in that?

You are wonderfully made... every part of you. You want to be good with knowing that. Sis, love YOU regardless of whether others appreciate you or not...and, Young Queen, be BOLD about your selfacceptance and self love! That’s really what’s up and THAT is how you go into a new school year.

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4 WAYS TO

Level Up Academically THIS SCHOOL YEAR

Y

by Girl Tyler

our greatest competition this school year will be the person you were last year. Stunt on your old habits by raising the bar in every area of your life. Your academic excellence and future success depend on your ability to go above and beyond the bare minimum. Push yourself beyond mental limitations. Harness your power by exploring new possibilities. Learning to step up your game after school will improve your performance classroom.

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Pick Up a New Skill

Learning doesn’t stop once class ends for the day. Use your spare time in the evenings and on weekends to develop an untapped talent. There are several organizations online offering free courses to fit your interests. YouTube is available as a visual guide to develop new skills. Use what you have to get started. For instance, you may be curious about photography. You don’t need a fancy, expensive camera.

Smartphones are designed to take stellar photos and there are endless apps to help with editing. Love to eat? Create your own dish. There are homemakers and chefs with blogs, video tutorials, and Pinterest boards to support your culinary aspirations. Interested in tech or thinking about designing a cool app? Seek out local organizations that teach coding to teens. As you venture out into new hobbies, you’ll become more enriched and able to contribute new insights in classroom discussions.

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Get Your Entrepreneur Game On

Your imagination is worth millions.

Why chase a bag when you can design your own? Get your coin, lil sis! If you’re not old enough to get a job just yet or haven’t found the right opportunity to suit your needs, get creative in how you can stack some cash. You don’t have to wait until you’re an adult.

Teens around the world are building their own profitable businesses from the ground up. Your favorite hobby could easily put more money in your pockets. Ask your parents or guardian for their help in brainstorming a legitimate way for you to earn money. Learning the fundamentals of entrepreneurship allows you to process and retain new information.

Adopt Healthy Study Habits

Develop a consistent study schedule at-home and stick to it. Knock out the most difficult assignments first and you’ll have more energy to effortlessly breeze through the rest. Eliminate distractions as best you can. If you have a big family, it may be hard to cut down on noise. Having a little background noise isn’t such a bad thing, however, the television and your phone are both competing for your attention. We know you’re probably afraid to miss a notification on your phone or laptop. Put it on do not disturb and unplug for a few hours each day. Soon you’ll develop discipline, sharper focus, and a newfound appreciation for your studies.

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Basic Busters Back to School

by Saeeda Ruffin

This year is going to be different...for a lot of reasons. But it can still be all good for you and with your back to school gear. No need to stress.

Girl, you can still get into the school flow while looking great. Don’t let nothing and nobody stop your flow. That being said, this school year, say “Bye” to “same-old-same-old” with these 4 back to school Basic Busters.

2. Pack With Pride

1. Mask Out!

Who said that you can’t look like THAT GIRL with a mask on? Uh, they must not know. Everybody understands that the mask is a necessary part of life right now. So, embrace it, fix that thing up, and wear it regally, like the young queen you are. Make the most of this moment in time by coordinating your mask with your outfit. Mix and match your mask with your earrings or a headwrap. Just be sure to wear a mask that YOU LIKE and that makes you feel comfortable.

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When it comes to carrying your school supplies, what do you have in mind? Backpacks are great, but there are other options, also. Some young women prefer to carry their books in larger purse-style bags or messenger bags. You want to stay organized and have a bag that can hold your things. Now, if you have an Izzy and Liv backpack, that’s another story all together. Of course, you will want to put that gorgeous backpack on full display, Sis! Otherwise, choose a bag that you believe is functional and that you can carry with pride. Remember, you’re going to spend a lot of time carrying that bag. You can take things beyond basic while making sure that your bag is a total fit for your own personal needs and style.

4. Take It Back To The Motherland 3. Flex In Your Own Fashion

You are an individual and the clothes that you wear should represent that.

Not that everything that you wear has to be “non-conforming”, but if it is..OK. The key to flexin’ in your own fashion is that you dress for your own taste. Also, you may want to consider taking your look up a notch by adding a few custom pieces, that are created by actual designers, to your wardrobe. Then, you will really OWN your look!

Afrocentric gear is definitely fire, especially right now. Girl, get you some! Wearing African-inspired clothing may make you feel an even greater sense of pride in your culture. That pride, coupled with your confidence, will have all eyes on you, for real. You can even add small African print details to the more “traditional” school outfits.

It would be super cute to add a African print belt to your jeans or printed bangles up your arm, or even replace your boring old shoestrings with a swath of African fabric tied into a bow. Yes, Queen!

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beYOUtiful 101:

by Girl Tyler Class is in session! The first course of this school year is about you. BeYOUtiful 101 is a quick way to help you connect to who you really are deep down inside. You have so many pictures and ideas coming your way, so we want you to take this quick test to help you connect to your most beYOUtiful self. You’re going to get 100 on it, so don’t worry. This test is about how wonderful you see YOURSELF!

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Answer the following questions about YOU. When you’re finished, create a pretty vision board and include your beYOUtiful statements on it.

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What do you love most about yourself?

2.

What’s the one thing you do amazingly well?

3.

What makes you super unique?

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What is the one word to describe who you are inside?

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What is the one thing you can help others learn to do?

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What activities boost your confidence?

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What name would you give your own television show?

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Which subject in school do you love the most?

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How would you finish this sentence?... I am a great friend because...

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I am beYOUtiful because I love to...

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Mor ning Vibes

PL AYLIST

by Girl Tyler

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Y

ou’ve had ample time to sleep in over the summer and now it may take a bit of adjusting to get back into your regular a.m. routine.

Are you still coping with the reality of the new school year? We got you, sis. The Morning Vibes playlist has you covered. These songs will give you ample energy and confidence to slay the day. Get moving in the mornings on a high note from a few of our favorite Queens. This assorted mix of dance tracks and positive affirmations will keep you shining from sun up to sundown.

• Mood 4 Eva by Beyoncé feat. Oumou Sangaré • Do It by Chloe x Halle • Girl Gang by Ciara feat. Kelly Rowland • Black Mermaid by Esthero • Slide by H.E.R. • Glow Up by Mary J. Blige, Quavo, DJ Khaled, Missy Elliott • Frequency by Jhené Aiko • Blk Girl Soldier by Jamila Woods • Black Woman by Danielle Brooks • The Glow by Victoria Monét • Yoga by Janelle Monáe feat. Jidenna • Black Girl Magik by Sampa The Great feat. Nicole Gumbe • Coffee by Kelly Rowland • Rollercoaster by Ivy Sole • GOAT by Ari Lennox • Brown Skin by India Arie • Feel Good Song by Solange • Bad To You by Ariana Grande, Normani, Nicki Minaj • Savage (Remix) by Megan Thee Stallion feat. Beyoncé • Melanin by Ciara ft. Lupita Nyong’o, Ester Dean,

City Girls, LA LA

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