Good Morning, it's Sunday, March 16. Brain spas are real, there’s a pill for endometriosis in the UK, Nayanthara has let us into her home in Chennai and Cosmelan is the latest chemical peel obsession. Also, for St. Patrick’s Day we’re bringing you a local Belfast travel guide.
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🇹🇼 When Plans Backfire: Taiwanese actor, Darren Wang, allegedly used forged documents to get exempted from the one-year compulsory military service but has now begun conscription service.
🇺🇸 Black Women in Office: For the first time, two Black women, Sen. Angela Alsobrooks and Sen. Lisa Blunt, serve in the US Senate at once, with over 61 women of colour in the 119th Congress.
20 Most Polluted Cities: A report by IQAir states 19 of the cities with the world’s highest rates of air pollution are in Asia, with the 20th city being Chad’s capital, N’Djamena.
🇲🇽 Documenting Mexican Women: Sembrando Luchas, or “Those Who Sow The Seeds of Struggle” is photographer Mahé Elipe’s six-year long project, documenting the lives and challenges of Mexican women.
Laser Clinic for Melanated Skin: Diamond Skin Aesthetic & Laser Clinic by Shantelle Clarke is the London-based clinic prioritizing aesthetic treatments for skin of colour.
Cosmelan for Hyperpigmentation: Cosmelan is the internet’s latest chemical peel obsession. But how effective is it? Dr. Aparna Santhanam has answers.
Progress on Better Pulse Oximeters: New research shows pulse oximeters provide less accurate results on darker skin, with corrective efforts underway. However, scientists are worried the US’ current administration may halt progress.
Gabrielle Union’s Beauty Secrets: If you’ve ever wondered how Gabrielle keeps her skin so good, she’s finally letting us in on her routine. Hint: She loves beauty devices.
India’s Resulook Serum: Re/do Beauty has now launched what it claims is India’s first Resulook-containing eyelash serum with peptides for better lash density and growth.
Sensitive, Kitchen-Made Skincare: Drawing from her experience with eczema, Mulanga Naturals offers natural skincare products made for sensitive, irritated skin.
COSRX’S Barrier Repairer: COSRX’s latest release is the Ceramide Skin Barrier Moisturizer which soothes, hydrates, and repairs irritated skin.
Best Mineral Sunscreens for Darker Skin: We’re saying goodbye to ashy, white casts with these no-cast-guaranteed sunscreens.
Body Makeup for Darker Skin: The reccs for dark skin are Dermablend’s Leg & Body Makeup and Fashion Fair’s Creme to Powder Foundation.
Textured Care by Colors & Care: KISS Colors & Care has just released three new collections for textured hair, including a three-step regimen for hair growth and a heat protector collection.
Daily Pill for Endometriosis: In the UK, the NHS has approved relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone, a daily pill that blocks causative hormones and replaces the need for regular injections.
Retiring in Style: We’re saying goodbye to conventional homes for our older loved ones, and trying out new experiences, like these resorts.
Ben & Sophie’s Green Nursery: Get an intimate look into the home of the new parents, with a nursery that merges her half-Korean heritage with a love for green.
Jason Heyward’s Family Home: The baseball player let us into his family-focused home with a boys playroom and a prayer room for family evenings.
Nayanthara & Vignesh’s Chennai Studio: Modern rustic vibes in this sprawling studio with tropical elements is remodelling gold for inspo.
Asma Khan is the founder of one of London’s favourite Indian restaurants, Darjeeling Express. And in her latest cookbook, she’s sharing her wealth of experience and knowledge on various Indian recipes for every season.
The OG Mexican Health Spa: Visit Rancho La Puerta, one of the first resorts to merge wellness and travel, with a lacto-ovo pescatarian diet and daily exercise rituals.
Black Travellers in Napa Valley: Kelly E. Carter is the founder of Napa Valley Noir, an experiential company that curates wine experiences for Black travellers.
To commemorate St Patrick’s Day tomorrow, we’re bringing you a guide to Belfast.
To take you through the city of green charms and drinks, we spoke to Cassie Quinn, the Chinese-Irish founder of the regenerative fabric lab CQ Studio. Cassie now lives in London and is an ardent fan of her childhood city Belfast.
Also, engage with Cassie’s incredible work on sustainability and join her Earth Day special with workshops and drop-in sessions at her studio in Hackney, London. A new piece will also be going on display at the Lab E20 in April.
Her Childhood in Belfast
I really love the people and community in Belfast. Any time I go back, it feels so welcoming.
A particular memory for me as a child was on most Sundays, my family and I used to take a car ride to Killough (a village in Northern Ireland) and spend time on the beach and pick willicks. Spending time in the fresh air and by the water is so relaxing for me and I’m really fond memories of these times.
Must-see Spots on St. Patrick’s Day
You should definitely check out the Saint Patrick’s Day parade in town of course. If you drink, grab a pint of Guinness in Maddens. Also check out Kitsch Sister’s Belfast, a creative studio for embroidery, cookery and creativity — they have a lot of amazing events around the time (and throughout the year!)
What to Do on a Weekend Trip
I recommend booking a nice restaurant in the city. The food scene is amazing in Belfast and there’s so many different cuisines and amazing restaurants. You should also check out the Titanic Museum. Take a trip up to Giants Causeway, which is a nature preserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
And if you drink, you should definitely do a pub crawl, especially on Cathedral Quarter. Some pubs to note are the Duke of York and John Hewitt. I would also recommend booking a black taxi tour to really understand the culture and history of Belfast.
Where to Stay
If you have a higher budget, I recommend the FitzWilliam or the Merchant, both 5-star luxury hotels. Of course, there is the Europa, which is the most bombed hotel in the world.
Generally, the city centre of Belfast is great because you can walk around a lot and see as much as possible.
Coffee, Lunch & Brunch
For a fancy meal, The Muddler’s Club is amazing.
General Merchants, a coffee shop in Belfast, is great for lunch and brunch.
And if you like Chinese food, I love the Lee Garden Restaurant for dim sum or Same Happy for take-out.
Beauty Stuff
For spas and treatments, I mean the spa at The Merchant Hotel is the best in town. but if you like massages, try Mandarin Massage on Botanic Avenue!
POC Artists in Belfast You Should Know
Macy Stewart, a fashion and portrait photographer and creative director in Belfast.
Ruth McGinley, one of Ireland’s most prominent contemporary pianists.
Njambi Njoroge, portrait and event photographer for NJAMBI Photography.
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