I had the pleasure of interviewing beauty expert-turned-author and fellow Glam.com winner, Tia Williams this week. The former Beauty Director of Teen People has also worked at prestigious fashion magazines such as Glamour, Elle, YM and Lucky. She currently writes the must-read beauty blog "Shake Your Beauty". With all that experience under her belt it was only right and proper that she share her superior beauty wisdom with us mere mortals. We are not worthy…What is the number one beauty mistake black women make?
Ashy foundation! It’s so important to choose a foundation or concealer that’s yellow-based—it’s the most natural shade on brown skin.
What is the best beauty advice you can give black women?
If you’re stumped when picking out a lipstick or gloss, stick to sheer bronzes, coppers, and gold-flecked neutrals. You can’t go wrong with a soft wash of metallic shimmer on your lips.
What are your top five beauty products right now?
Narciso for Her perfume, Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Raisin Glaze, Nars Blush in Taos, Creative Nail Design Nail Polish in Passionfruit Poppy. (See stockists below).
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m a mix of classic and bohemian. Basically, my uniform is a flowy top, gold flats, and skinny jeans (or a mini in the summer). Not groundbreaking, but it works when you spice things up with a great bag or fabulous earrings!
Where do you see "Shake Your Beauty" in 5 years?
It’s so sad, but I’m incredibly computer illiterate. I think I’ll still be happy with my weekly beauty posts! Hopefully, I’ll be totally global by then...and maybe I will have figured out the whole podcast thing.
Tell us a little about your new book "It Chicks."
My new book, IT CHICKS (Hyperion/Disney, April 07), is the first in a series for teens! It’s centered around a group of sophomores that go to a prestigious Manhattan performing arts academy. There’s a dancer, a singer, a rapper, a grafitti artist—and each one’s more spotlight-hungry than the last. IT CHICKS a super-juicy summer read, filled with competitive drama, a hot love story, sexy boys, and bitchy girls. And even though it’s geared toward high school students, it’s fast becoming a guilty pleasure for women in their 20s and 30s, too! IT CHICKS Book #2 will debut in Spring 2008.
Click here for more beauty tips at Tia Williams' award-winning blog “Shake Your Beauty.”
Tia’s Top Picks: Narciso Rodriguez “For Her” Eau de Parfum, $72 - $94, www.nordstrom.com; Nars Blush in Taos, $25, www.narscosmetics.com; Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raisan Glaze, $7.99, www.walgreens.com; Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler, $18, www.sephora.com; Creative Nail Design Nail Polish in Passionfruit Poppy, www.creativenaildesign.com
