As wrong as Akon in Trinidad

Hey pumpkins,
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!! Why? My sassy new teen novel, IT CHICKS, has been in bookstores for a month...and it's already selling out everywhere!! It's all because of my SYB Babes, I just know it. Of course, I don't even have time to die of happiness (or properly celebrate Jaslene's win), since my every waking hour is spent writing IT CHICKS Book #2. A couple posts back I cheated a bit by asking you to send in some plot ideas--and I promised to send my favorite ladies a signed copy of IT CHICKS, remember? Well, join me in congratulating the following literary geniuses on their brilliance: Malikah, Shay, Rukiya, Candice, Schanina, Aderonke, Zena, and Julie "Fergie-Ferg" Ferguson (and a couple others who asked not to be mentioned, as their bosses might not love finding out that they play on SYB all day)!! Check out some of their positively soap operatic plot points:

* Eden gets dissed by the rapper (can't remember his name) but gets invited to do a tell all on Wendy Williams!

* Some rival girls pour paint on each of the It Chick's cars in the middle of the night. The next morning the It Chicks, along with their parents, discover the scandalous event, and compare notes. And while they have a good idea of who committed the crime, the It Chicks decide to show up at school looking more fabulous than ever, laughing and carrying on in the hallway as if nothing happened....defying the evil doers instant gratification...until, of course, it's time for appropriate payback. [THIS REALLY HAPPENED TO THE WRITER. HAVE YOU EVER?]

* On a drunken rampage C.J. lashes out at Trey for "stealing his woman,yo."

* Tangie gets a once in a lifetime chance to spend a summer overseas training with the dance teacher of her dreams. Unfortunately, her mom/close relative falls ill, and she must choose between pursuing her dream or sacrificing the opportunity to be there for her family.

* Regina is starting to have second thoughts about being a full on lesbian and is becoming atracted to Nick. She starts to think that maybee she realy is bi just like he said. She decides to have Izzy give her a complete make-over from her hair to her face and,of course, her wardrobe. And of course, she turns out looking fabulous and better than ever.

Oh, I'm tickled pink by the brilliance!! But enough about me. Let's talk about you. Your beauty questions have been piling in, and I'm wrong--wronger than Akon in Trinidad--for not answering them sooner. Here, I solve your catastrophic cosmetics conundrums and it's about time. Love you madly!

xoxo,
T-Pain (not of "Buy you a Drink" fame but of the migraine kind)

YOUR TOP 5 BEAUTY ISSUES OF THE WEEK

SYB BABE: Bashful Beauty
QUESTION: "I'm getting married September 1st and I was curious about what scent is appropriate for the day? Me no likey Vera Wang. But I want to stand out!!"
TIA SAVES THE DAY: I agree, I think Vera Wang is a leetle too..."Arggh, I'm the bride, beeyatch!!" Way agressive. A fabulous alternative is Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker ($49.50). I know, I know, celebrity fragrances are beyond gauche--but SJP's sweet, sophisticate, just-exotic-enough scent is totally the exception. A super-pretty blend of lavender, orchid, paper whites and musk, the fragrance is romantic enough for your Big Day, but sexy enough for a throw-me-against-the-wall honeymoon. Congratulations, Bashful Beauty!! Send us pictures!!


SYB BABE: Lakrishia
QUESTION: "I'm attending the NABJ conference in August. It's in Las Vegas, so it's gonna be obscenely hot. Also, I want to make a good impression on the magazine industry people, but my advisor wants students to err on the side of overdressing. How do I balance being stuffy with being fresh and magazine-staff ready? Please offer some suggestions for a grad student's budget!"
TIA SAVES THE DAY: NABJ stands for National Association of Black Journalists and their annual summer conference is a big honkin' deal (particularly if you're a hot-to-network recent college grad). And yet I'm always surprised by the number of eager young networkers in boxy, ill-fitting suits and church shoes (perhaps they're in cahoots with your advisor?). Here's the thing, Kreesh. Journalism is a creative industry..."stuffy" is so not the order of the day! In fact, you'll get more attention for being relaxed, fashionable, CHIC. Skip the suit and pack crisp summer dresses, simple jewelry and killer heels. I'm really into the Cotton Chino Dress ($128, above) from Banana...pair it with a cheap woven belt from Forever 21, and you're good.

On a budget note, try Style & Co's Linen Shirtdress (on sale for $51.75)...it's super-fresh and hip, but still manages to mean business. Hate dresses? Go for tailored wide-legged slacks with a sweet, cap-sleeved blouse.




SYB BABE: Anonymous
QUESTION: "My face is having "fits." My parents have lovely skin, but when it comes to me...there seems to be no hope. I'm on meds now for my skin. Have you ever had any issues with your skin? For once in my life, I'd like to feel beautiful."
TIA SAVES THE DAY: Sugar, you're killing me! You are beautiful, "fits" or no. SYB does not attract ugly readers. Quick story: The other day, I was speaking to a high school class and this darling girl told me her Proactive wasn't working. I asked her if she was using the whole system--the cleanser, toner and lotion--and, of course, she said no. Girls, no matter what acne regimen you're on, it's sooo important to A.) use ALL the products and B.) stick with it. Even Proactive, which I believe is magic (my husband doesn't leave home without it), doesn't work if you don't do it right. Now, to answer your question about the state of my complexion...when I was 22 I had severe adult acne. But I used Neutrogena and, as I live in breathe, it SAVED MY FACE. Here's how: In the morning and night, wash withNeutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Daily Scrub ($6.29, above), and moisturize with Neutrogena Rapid Clear Acne Defense Lotion ($6.65). And at night, in-between the cleanser and moisturizer, tone with Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil-Controlling Astringent ($4.49). Your face will feel dry at first, but keep the faith!!!


SYB BABE: Brown Shuga
QUESTION: "The guy that I am dating would like for me to ask you what you would recommend for ingrown hairs on his neck and face."
TIA SAVES THE DAY: Well, BS, it's all about Tend Skin ($20)!! This stuff is like the Holy Gail for black men...who, though adorable and we love desperately, suffer razor bumps in a major way (it's because their hairs curl back into their skin...straight-haired folk don't really have this problem). Chock full of pore-unclogging salicylic acid and, weirdly enough, aspirin (surprise, it's an anti-inflammatory!), this stuff clears up bumps and ingrown hairs seemingly overnight. But here's the funny thing. Besides black men, guess who else loves Tend Skin? You guessed it, our Sisters on the Pole...because this stuff is heaven on the bikini line! Starting the day after you wax or shave, soak some up in a cotton ball and swipe along the area. PS...it also comes in deodorant form, which is great if you get bumps or rashes under your arms.


SYB BABE: Bijoux
QUESTION: "I'm graduating in a couple of weeks--what type of make-up I should go with? My gown is "Barney" purple, but I really wanted to go glow-y and radiant to bring out my brown skin. Any suggestions?"
TIA SAVES THE DAY: No one wears glowy and radiant like a brown girl!! Here's how you get glowing: On your eyes, go with a soft, luminous copper on the lids and a champagne shade on the brow-bone (try Smashbox Eyelights in Beam ($34, above). On your cheeks, you MUST go for Tarte's Cheekstain in Sunkissed ($28)--dab a bit of this bronzey push-up gel stick on apples of your cheeks, blend with your fingers, and glow, glow, glow! On your lips, all you need is a sheer pinky-brown shimmer gloss--right now, I'm way into Talk Smart Lipgloss in Soledad ($16), which smells inexplicably and deliciously like an orange creamsicle.