Bri Books

Welcome to Bri Books! This podcast episode is all about transitioning from winter to spring, and the products I recommend for jumpstarting your spring beauty routine. We're talking everything from serums to supplements and everything in between as I share my go-to's for the months ahead.  1:00 - Black Girl Sunscreen Make it Pop sunglass for lips - Formulated with SPF50, jojoba oil, and hyaluronic acid, this lipgloss will be my saving grace during the warmer spring days when the sun is starting to reach its full strength. Available for: $8.99 at BGSS or Ulta Beauty. 2:35 - Charlotte Tilbury Magic Body Cream - Inspired by the Magic Cream face moisturizer, this body cream perfect for moisturizing your skin as the spring sun starts to warm up. I love the smooth, gentle, and non-greasy formulation. Available for $65 at the Charlotte Tilbury site. 4:10 - Elemis Pro-Collagen Skin Future Supplements - The Elemis is formulated to improve the hydration, firmness, and elasticity of the skin. I love Elemis becaus

Looking for a signature scent? Bri Books has you covered. There's a lot of power in a signature scent--consider it the beauty counterpart to personal style. It can take a while to find a scent that resonates with you, so in honor of National Fragrance Day, I'm sharing my 10 top perfumes and fragrances for 2023 and beyond. These picks definitely deserve a spot on your signature scent wishlist.  PRODUCTS MENTIONED Clive Christian: 1872 Feminine, $595 REPLICA, Maison Margiela: On a Date, $125 Moodeaux: Worthy, $135 bundle Robert Piguet: Fracas Eau de Parfum ($185), Casbah ($215) Lush Cosmetics: Rose Jam Perfume ($22) Lake and Skye: 11:11 ($98) Boy Smells: Hinoki Fantome ($98) Amouage: Escape Discovery Set ($46) Frederic Malle: Portrait of a Lady by Dominique Ropion ($295) Tocca Eau de Parfum: Florence ($80) EPISODES MENTIONED 1. 5 Winter Skincare and Beauty Essentials (Clive Christian Art Deco Blonde Amber fragrance review at the 11:00 mark)   I hope you're loving Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, l

Welcome to Bri Books! February is in the rearview, and we're entering what I like to call the ‘winter fake-out period.’ There’s no predicting if we’ll have a mild entree into spring or if the snow will come at last. In this episode, I want to share the beauty essentials that have gotten me through from holidays, to deep winter, to now. This winter, I focused my beauty routine on clean, restorative, hydrating, natural, moisturizing, and ‘fatty’ products--I simply wanted my skin to hibernate for the season, and these are the products that made it possible. 2:20 - Soho Skin Travel dopp kit:  I reviewed it on a podcast episode about my summer travel-worthy skincare picks. I want to call out the lightweight serum. All winter long when I was traveling, this lightweight concentrate held my skin down, thanks to the super moisturizing niacinamide, pepetites and white bark extract.   3:40 - All things Charlotte Tilbury. In the winter, I reach for the Nudegasm face palette, Super Nudes lipstick, or the Matte R

Brace yourselves: the 2022 Cyber Week beauty deals are coming. Here's my curated list of the best brands products to buy during Cyber Week 2022. These are the picks I've been loving (and lusting after) all year, and with up to 50% off full-price items, now's the time to pounce Last year, I recorded a Bri Books episode about what to buy during Sephora's annual December VIB sale, and wanted to share a Cyber Monday-ready curated list. Here's what I'd stock up on if I were you: Caudalie - Cyber Week is here at Caudalie with up to 50% off select products.  I’d stock up on the Vinoperfect Instant Brightening Solution Set which comes with the Vinoperfect Essence, Vinoperfect Serum, and Vinoperfect Eye Cream. Merit Beauty - Merit’s offering 20% off sitewide, free shipping over $40, free signature bag with every first-time purchase, and free returns.  I recommend the La Fete Holiday Essentials. Bread Beauty Supply - 25% off site wide, free full-size Macadamia oil (for hair and body) with purchase. I recommend the de

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.  It’s July, and we are approaching high summer! I kicked off the season with a travel “bang”—a work trip to Johannesburg, South Africa for 9 days, during which I put my international skincare routine to the test. In this episode, I’m walking you through my 9 summer skincare essentials, AKA my summer skincare ‘empties.’ Listen to my recent episode about your 6 Travel Essentials for a Summer Holiday! 1:40 - Paula’s Choice Omega + Complex Cleansing Balm (Sephora, Paula’s Choice) - This luxe cleansing balm melts away everything from sunscreen to makeup as the lather transforms from an opaque liquid into a soapy, oily balm. This  Paula's Choice cleanser got me through my travels in Johannesburg, and I l

Welcome back to Bri Books! If you’re new to the show, leave a review of Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, and listen to Bri Books on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and SoundCloud! Please tell me where you’re traveling to by using #bribooks on Instagram and subscribe to the Bri Books newsletter at bribookspod.com/newsletter.   Summer is in full swing, and travel is ON. IIn this episode, ’m sharing my key carry-on essentials-- matter your destination, these carry-on travel winners will be everything you need for road trips, staycations, long weekends, and more! 1:13 - Calpak Packing Cubes 5-Piece Set - This 5-piece travel cube set is essential for staying organized and keeping track of your items during a trip. I use this set for shoe storage, important document storage, outfit storage, and so much more. I even use a separate cube for technology pieces—chargers, cords, external hard drives, etc. These travel packing cubes help you visualize where your items are, so you don’t have to go ripping through your bag in se

 If you’re interested in going in-depth on how I create this podcast, I'm sharing all of my tips, secrets and resources! All in the Bri Books Podcast Newsletter.   Today’s episode features @abeautifulnestTV, talking all about the book “Garden Fresh Cooking” by Judith Benn Hurley, and it’ll leave you longing for summertime! We’re infusing harvest-time healthy foods into our everyday menus. 1:40 - About @abeautifulnestTV - Sandria’s YouTube channel focuses on building strong relationships, growing as a family, ecohing truth and knowledge and teaching folks to love unconditionally. “Our YouTube channel is a family lifestyle channel. We focus on faith, family, inspiration and life. We believe in making a house a home. I love making a house a home. I want to infuse love and beauty in everything i do. I try to make sure that comes across in our videos. 8:25 - Sandria on authenticity in her videos: “People need to be able to relate to the real life things.” 9:25 - Sandria’s Soil Story: “I come from a long line of g

Today’s “Bri Books”  is a conversation with ABeautifulNestTV creator Sandria Kendrick, inspired by the book “The Garden in Every Sense and Season” by Tovah Martin. In this episode, we’re discussing our 2018 gardens, how you can inject green into your 2019, and more.   0:45 - Saying goodbye (for now) to The Bri Garden’s 2018 season. 2:30 – How a newsletter from urban farming company Square Roots led to “The Garden in Every Sense and Season.” 3:20 – How book is divided: Each of the four seasons are represented, with each individual season’s different sensational gifts–sights, sounds, touches, tastes, scents– woven into a story that explores the ever-evolving garden 4:00 – Meet Sandria, creator behind the “ABeautifulNestTV” platform on YouTube, online, and on social media. Sandria shares her story of homesteading with her family in Georgia, and how her love for the soil runs through her veins. Listen to Sandria’s season 3 interview on Bri Books discussing “Garden Fresh Cooking” 7:30 – Sandria’s 2018 garden cha

In today's episode, I’m sharing with you 5 ways to create the perfect relaxing bath. On these cold winter nights, there’s nothing I want more than to slip into a sea of bubbles and bath salts. I wanted to record this podcast episode to share with you some of my favorite bubble bath products, and my bathtime practices that pick up steam over the winter months.  2:00 - #1: Bath salts! Adding bath salts means I’m able to give my muscles a bit of a break and refresh. My favorite bath salt brand is Kneipp, especially the Kneipp Goodbye Stress Rosemary and Mint Mineral Bath Salt is one of my all-time favorites for everyday use. It’s an incredible blend of essential oils and helps to clear your mind and quiet overactive thoughts. 4:00 - #2: Bath bombs from Lush Cosmetics, especially Rose Jam, which is perfect for sensitive skin. It includes rose oil, rose absolute, lemon oil, geranium oil, and shea butter. My second favorite bath bomb from Lush is the Lemon Crumble bubbleroon which has an uplifting citrus-y scent

Happy 2022 from Brionna at Bri Books! In this episode, I’ll be sharing a few uplifting tips that’ll help you upgrade your wellness routine this year. I want to use this episode to bring optimism and hope to you as you build out your wellness routine for the months and years to come.  SHOW NOTES 2:15 - #1: Self-care activities! I take my self-care very seriously (here’s a link to an episode about how to create a relaxation routine!) Self-care isn’t limited to skincare masks and bubble baths. In my opinion, self-care activities include moments spent on things like daily prayer and meditation, journaling, massage, acupuncture, and other soothing practices--anything that helps to connect you to your internal self.    3:40 - #2: Sleep care! Raise your hand if you’ve fallen asleep with your personal tech within reach at least once this week. As you know, this isn’t the best thing for our bodies--you don’t want to see bright lights right before bed. Creating (and sticking to!) A sleep care routine is a great way to

Transitioning to Natural Hair: 9 Things I Wish I Knew Before Transitioning to Natural Hair I’m recording this episode inspired by an article I wrote at Glamour.com about transitioning to natural hair. In this episode, I’m sharing the 9 things I wish I knew before transitioning to the natural hair world. 0:45 - My natural hair origin story 2:00 - Tip #1: Be patient and kind with yourself--and your hair, and make sure you’re in a good headspace before starting your hair routine.  3:15 - Tip #2: You still need regular trims. “It's really important to cut your split ends on a regular basis, especially in the first few years,” says Takisha Sturdivant-Drew, the stylist behind Kerry Washington's immaculate curls. 4:15 - Tip #3: You don’t have to big chop if you don’t want to. It’s up to you which road you take, as long as you keep your new growth deeply moisturized. Remember, if you choose to transition your hair, your strands will essentially be two different textures. Opt for protein-rich and moisture-packed hai

Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com. In this episode, we sit down with Amelia Duffy, a junior and Research Associate attending the School of Information at the University of Michigan School of Information. Amelia and Brionna chat about how to leverage interests and hobbies in order to build a portfolio career for yourself postgrad, and the power of having multiple interests when it comes to the working world. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter. SHOW NOTES 0:00-2:20 - Intro 2:45 - Meet Amelia Duffy

SECRETS TO FINDING A JOB AS A RECENT GRAD Welcome to the Bri Books ‘Career Crash Course' mini-series! I’m sharing all the tips needed to help recent grads navigate the confusing yet exciting ‘real world’ after college. Join me as I discuss career topics that most students don't learn in college--like how to actually land a job--and go deep on lessons learned from my own career across tech, social media, and journalism. In this episode, we sit down with Ameenah Rashid, an Associate Analyst at eCommerce startup Profitero, and Tufts class of 2021. Ameenah and Brionna chat about navigating post-grad life and how to make those first crucial career decisions after college. For job search coaching questions and partnerships, email at bri@bribookspod.com, and follow @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter.    SHOW NOTES 2:45 - Meet Ameenah Rashid, 21, Associate Analyst at Profitero, an eCommerce startup in Boston. Here’s the story of how Ameenah navigated those first decisions post-college by leaning on her interdiscip

It’s finally fall! Time to bring out your inner cozy girl and build your relaxation routine. In this episode, I’m sharing my relaxation rituals and tips on how to build a routine of your own, along with my go-to relaxation techniques for stress management. What’s a Relaxation and Stress Management Routine? Your relaxation routine is whatever you want it to be. Maybe it’s an hour per day spent in your own company or a weekend per month off the grid. Basically, whatever helps you turn off one part of your mind and dial into another, that’s the cornerstone of your relaxation practice. Here are 5 ways to build a relaxation routine all your own: 2:25 - Be intentional and selfish about your energy and routine. Plan for it! Take a moment and look ahead on your calendar to set aside dedicated time to practice your relaxation routine. By being selfish with your energy and being intentional about taking your relaxation routine seriously, it’s easier to get back on the horse if you fall off. 3:35 - Romanticize your

Today, I’m sharing my ultimate fall refresh essentials--everything you need to start the cozy season off right. Any change in the seasons and calendar is an opportunity to reset, reflect and refresh and get into the coziest, comfiest fall state of mind. Let me know what your autumn refresh routine looks like at @bribookspod on Instagram and Twitter, and by using #bribooks while you listen! 1:37 - #1: A notebook! Every autumn, I go to Paper Source and Barnes and Noble to scour the Leuchtturm1917 notebooks, which come in every hue under the sun. I love the bullet journaling approach (here’s an episode of Bri Books about how to start bullet journaling!) I’m starting your fall reset with a notebook because you have to know where you want to go to get to where you want to be. Having a designated place to dump thoughts, plans and problems alleviate mental clutter. (Here’s a link to my favorite Leuchturn1917 notebook.) 3:20 - #2: New tote bag! The CALPAK Haven laptop tote has taken the place of my everyday canvas

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I’m sharing the 7 best sunscreens for dark skin. It’s the dog days of summer: when temperatures start to soar around sunrise. I’m somewhat on the sunscreen beat, you could say, thanks to my writing about SPFs at Glamour.com. My stories include a review of Black Girl Sunscreen and ‘11 Women of Color on the Best Sunscreens for Dark Skin.’   1:30: The fact is, anyone, no matter skin tone, can get sunburned. Repeated unprotected sun exposure can cause skin damage, hyperpigmentation, and even skin cancer. It’s no secret that historically the beauty industry hasn’t made slathering up with SPF an enjoyable experience--far too many formulations aren’t made to blend in on dark skin. I’m sharing with you my holy grail picks that don’t leave a greasy residue or ashy tone behind. 2:55: #1: Black Girl Sunscreen’s founder, Shontay Lundy, was having a beach day in Miami and had a hard time finding a sunscreen that didn’t leave residue on her skin. At that moment, BGSS was born as a solution f

Welcome to Bri Books! Today we’re jumping into the best new makeup products to buy at Sephora! Listen to part one here, “The 6 Best New Skincare Products at Sephora.”  1:25: #1: Merit Beauty, a luxury clean, minimalist beauty brand, just launched at Clean at Sephora! I was able to test out Merit products while at Glamour.com (here’s a link to my Glamour.com article reviewing the Merit Minimalist Makeup kit) Their seven-piece collection is a curated chorus of everyday products, including foundation sticks, eyebrow gel, mascara, lip slicks, cheek tint, a makeup brush, and highlighter. I think Merit’s products are perfect for what I call a ‘Zoom beat,’ and they’re perfect to just grab and apply during the summer months. My favorite shade slick in shade Sangria looks phenomenal on deep dark skin, along with the Day Glow highlighter! The Merit Beauty Day Glow highlighter is $30 at Sephora.  4:40: #2: Charlotte Tilbury Nudegasm Palette: Finally, a Charlotte Tilbury palette that works flawlessly on my deep brown

Welcome to Bri Books! Today I’m sharing with you the best new products at Sephora--this summer’s best new Sephora launches that are worth your time, energy, and coin. My intention is to inspire your fall beauty routine, so I’m breaking it down into the best skin care products at Sephora, the best makeup products at Sephora, and the best new body care products at Sephora. I’ve included links to all the products in the show notes and on bribookspod.com! 1:55: #1: Augustinus Bader Rich Cream: Originally released in 2018, the Rich Cream quickly attained unprecedented status among the skincare elite. I was able to review The Cream as part of a beauty story for Glamour.com. After that experience, I got the hype! For the 2021 update, Prof. Bader and his researchers returned to the lab to create a new version that focuses on cellular renewal. Since I've been using the original The Cream for a year, after trying out the updated formulation, I did notice a visible reduction in the pollution and clogged pores I had.

What does 'luxury' mean, and how can you create a truly luxe home? In today's episode, we're sitting down with Dominique Brielle Fluker, who is a content strategist and storyteller by day, and most recently, founder of DBF Interiors. With DBF Interiors, Dominique brings her interior styling talents to modern professional women. Dominique believes luxury is truly experienced when one feels inspired to slow down, embrace a sense of ease, and enjoy life. In this episode, we get into the nitty-gritty of it: what it means to be an entrepreneur while keeping a 9-5, how to upgrade your space, how to make your home feel bigger, and how to create a ritualistic presence about your home. If you're looking for design inspo or ways to redesign your space, this is the episode for you.  4:30 - Dominique's earliest design and decor memories from childhood 6:30 - How to cultivate a mindset of luxury  9:00 - The story of DBF Interiors 13:00 - Two easy ways to upgrade your space  21:00 - How to inject personality, sanctuary, a

Today we’re talking with wine and food creator/ enthusiast Sarita Chaves. If you’re all about your wine, spirits, and food, you need to meet Sarita. She’s a DC native with a love for food, wine and city living. Sarita’s the founder of the Swirl Suite podcast, a cohort of Black women who work in the wine and spirits industry. She created her blog ‘Vinemeup’ in 2013 after years of working at a local winery in Maryland and highlighting unique wines on social media. Currently, she cooks and creates wine pairings in her own kitchen which you can watch play out on her Instagram and on her Instagram Stories.    In this episode, Sarita teaches us how to pair the wines with the seasons, shares her own history and journey through the wine industry, and reveals to us the striking similarities between winemaking and farming.   PS: The Vinemeup Activity Book is almost here! For those that desire to celebrate  Blacks in Wine in a most creative way. Whether you are a seasoned oenophile or someone who is still learning what