Black women in luxury is the aesthetic we love to see this summer. No matter how you define luxe for yourself, the whole point is to surround yourself with people, places, and things that make you feel fabulous and indulgent. Adding luxury to your life doesn’t have to break the bank- even when you’re adding designer names into your life.
One way to start building a luxury collection and having an indulgent routine is to add a few luxury beauty items into your arsenal. Since we’re slowly venturing back out into these streets, we have the most perfect luxe beauty items that will make you feel opulent and are also the coin to elevate your life. Keep these 5 items in your handbag for the ultimate, indulgent beauty experience all summer ‘21 and beyond.
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Dior Rouge Dior Refillable Lip Balm
Keep your lips soft and supple with this lip balm by Dior. Employing peony and pomegranate flower extracts, this balm promises to keep lips hydrated up to 24 hours—perfect for these busy summer days ahead. It’s also perfect to layer under a perfect lipstick or with a touch of lip liner.
Rooftops and patios are the hot places to be, and those summertime winds may have your hair blowing every-which-way. These combs, handmade by Kenyan artisans, are perfect to add to the bag to give your hair a little zhuzh.
This hand lotion, made by the legendary luxury fashion house, screams opulence all around. From the sleek egg shape to the soft and sweet smell, this lotion is not only a recognizable name, but a super hydrating cream. This is perfect to replenish moisture after repeated washing and sanitizing of hands.
Aside from being able to give you a relief from anxiety, this peppermint CBD tincture is a an amazing way to freshen breath when you’re on the go as well. Just plop a drop or two under the tongue and not only will you have minty fresh breath, but you’ll also add a little zen to your day as well. Keep this on the bag for when you need relief on-the-go.
Being back in the sun is going to take a toll on skin. Aside from the sunscreen you should be adding into your beauty routine, having a little face mist in your bag will help refresh skin throughout brunch. This mist by Dr. Barbara Strum will not only add the hydration you need, but it also is backed with ingredients like aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to plump skin as well.
If you’ve ever been to ESSENCE Hollywood House, you know it’s more than just a series of panels—it’s a gathering of visionaries. A space where Black creatives and leaders come together to share stories, strategies, and solutions. This year’s conversation, Let’s Talk About LA: Preserving Our City, presented by AT&T, was no different.
The discussion brought together three voices, each deeply invested in shaping LA’s future: D. Smoke, the Grammy-nominated rapper and educator; Olympia Auset, founder of SÜPRMRKT, a grocery service tackling food apartheid in LA; and DJ HED, a radio personality and advocate for independent artists. Though their paths differed, their mission was the same—creating opportunities, protecting culture, and ensuring Black spaces in LA don’t just survive but thrive.
For Olympia Ausset, the work she’s doing with SÜPRMRKT goes far beyond providing fresh groceries—it’s about laying the foundation for a stronger, healthier community. “The LA we love, the cultural beacon it’s known as today, was built by people who worked hard to create their own spaces,” she shared. “The reason I do what I do is because it’s essential. We can’t achieve any of the changes I want for my community without being in good health and having access to affordable, organic food. Without places where we can gather, heal, and support each other, none of the other goals will be possible. It starts with taking care of ourselves and building those spaces together.”
From Olympia’s focus on wellness and accessibility to DJ HED’s belief in the power of self-worth, the discussion explored what it means to dream beyond individual success and invest in collective progress. “I see a lot of people who aren’t proud of where they come from, what they look like, or where they’re at in life,” he said. “I had to learn to give myself grace, to grow. I grew up in Inglewood, raised by a single mom. We lived in a car, we were on welfare, but I knew I wanted to be bigger than my circumstances. That’s what dreaming in Black is—believing in something greater and nurturing it until it grows.”
DJ Smoke also touched on this, emphasizing the importance of intention and fulfillment. “You don’t want to climb that ladder and realize you went real high in the wrong direction,” he warned. “A lot of people in LA are ambitious, but if you don’t understand your ‘why,’ you can get to the top and still feel empty. The goal isn’t just to make it—it’s to make it mean something.
Sometimes, as Black creatives, we only dream as far as the next gig or the next check, but dreaming in Black means going beyond that. “It means thinking bigger than what’s right in front of you,” said host Donye Taylor.
This conversation was a call to action – a reminder that preserving LA’s Black culture means investing in community, honoring our history, and building a legacy that lasts.
