IS THE S oft Life AS EASY AS IT LOOKS?
(FOR REAL THIS TIME)
Brown Sugar Babes GET REAL ABOUT
SELF-CARE
Now, more than ever, it’s time to prioritize your self-care, so embrace the “relate, relax, release” vibes, sis! Pamper yourself on the daily because you deserve it. Yes, work hard but rest hard too. Take an hour out of each day to relax and have some “me time.” There’s no right or wrong way to practice self-care. It’s simply whatever you need to feel good about yourself. Treat yo’ self to the spa, have a spa day at home, or invite the squad over for a spa party. If it doesn’t make you happy, you ain’t got time for it. The Spa Daze Edition of the Brown Sugar Box is jampacked with essentials for you to get your self-care on! Live life carefree and continue loving on yourself because this is your season to shine, queen.
Meet your newest accessory that’s cute and versatile with poppin’ prints. Keep your makeup and beauty products organized at home and on the go. You’ll receive 1 of 4 styles: She’s Zen, Cultured Queens, Abstract Afro Beauty, or Brown Skin Love.
MELANIN LUXE SATIN KIMONO $45 (1 OF 4)
It’s the soft, silky satin for us! Tap into your Black girl luxury vibes with this kimono that’s ready for you to lounge in or style and profile for a night out. You’ll receive 1 of 4 styles: Rockin’ Her Afro Like It’s Golden, Soul Food Queen, Radiance Queen, or Melanin Art Beauty.
Make bath or shower time an experience as you lather up with your new soft and hydrating bubble bath gel. Cleanse your skin and smell good with delectable scents. You’ll receive 1 of 4 scents: Luscious Coconut, Cool Citrus, Sweet Vanilla, or Gorgeous Grapefruit.
(1 OF 2)
Get into classic ringer tees giving major nostalgia vibes! Say hello to elevated and stylish tees featuring illustrations of fierce Black women. You’ll receive 1 of 2 styles: Fly Afro Diva or Moonlight Goddess.
Prepare to hear “girl you’re glowing” from everyone around you, sis! This set includes a hydrating & soothing aloe facial mask, a collagen restoration facial mask, a charcoal detoxifier facial mask, and a shea butter moisturizing facial mask.
BY TIFFANY STEWART
Keeping your skin hydrated and vibrant can be a challenge, but it isn’t impossible! Consider incorporating these tips into your daily routine to keep your skin glowing even on the gloomiest days.
Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!
Who wants to carry dead weight into a new year? Not us! As we age, our skin cell turnover slows down, which causes it to leave excess dead cells on the surface of our skin, making it appear dull, rough, and discolored.
Facials are your friends!
A hydrating mask is the best way to reverse your skin’s dryness during the winter. Whether you use an Izzy and Liv facial mask or pay a visit to your favorite esthetician, make sure you activate the circulation in your skin to decrease those pesky fine lines and unwanted wrinkles. Facials allow your blood to flow and make new skin cells which is always necessary.
Exfoliating at least once a week is the key to improving your skin. The best part? You can make an amazing scrub for your face or entire body using ingredients you probably already have in your home.
As much as our skin suffers in the winter, so does our hair. Winter is the perfect time to give your hair the hot oil treatment it deserves. There is no shortage of treatment options, but whether you opt to go to the salon or do it yourself, make sure you’re using plant-based oils to seal your hair cuticle and strengthen that mane.
BY RACQUEL PARKER
2023 belongs to the self-care sistas because self-care is always the MOOD! In your world self-care isn’t just on Sundays, it’s an everyday vibe. Quite simply, it’s whatever you want it to be, as long as it makes you happy. Prioritizing your wellness over everything else is what it’s all about. Our Brown Sugar Babes share how they relax, unwind, and indulge in some serious “me time.”
“I go walking with my dog, take a nap, or talk to my family and friends or hang out with them. I like to chill with a glass of wine and watch my shows or a movie.” -P.
Jackson“I take a detox bath filled with lavender, Epsom salt, ginger, vinegar, milk, and oil or a bubble bath.”
-Michelle K.“I started a hobby of creating essential oils and aromatherapy. I make loose tea blends and do diamond art.”
-Raina A.“It’s facial steaming for me!”
-Marcella R.“I use aromatherapy in my bath or shower, place fresh sheets on my bed, light a candle, grab a glass of wine and watch a movie or read a book.”
-Marvel
P.“I meditate and journal, watch my fav TV shows, drink a warm cup of tea, treat myself to a healthy meal, or window shop.”
-Na’Shota
L.“I’m slowly getting back into yoga. I have a self-care coloring book and a journal. I have a group chat with two friends, and we check in with each other regularly and offer encouraging words.”
-Nicole M.
“I put my earphones in, tidy up my home, and then light a candle. I take a nice bath to calm my mind and journal to set intentions for weeks to come. I also love reading books if I’m not watching a good series. Peace and quiet gets me right too!”
-Mal G.A soft life is the “It” thing for 2023, but what exactly does it mean to live a “soft life”? If you search the hashtag on Instagram or TikTok, you’ll find examples of women traveling to exotic locations, purchasing luxury goods, and tapping into selfcare with massages and other spa basics. It’s always good to see Black women receiving the best, but when you’re a hardworking, overly dedicated woman, crossing over into the soft life trend may be easier said than done.
The term “soft life” originated in Nigeria to define living a life of comfort and low stress. To say you want to live a soft life is to welcome a life of enjoyment with minimal effort while receiving maximum comfort. Many people hear this new term and immediately think of it as women wanting to be “kept” or “taken care of” when it’s so much more. The soft life trend is for those women who tend to be overachievers, the most responsible, the ones always sacrificing their happiness for others, to allow themselves access to a better life.
There’s nothing wrong with being an overachiever, just make sure you’re also working towards short-term goals of happiness, like a spa day or a shopping trip, or simply a day of doing nothing. Whatever it looks like, lean in. Being the most responsible is a gift but, as you try to get softer, take at least one day a week for yourself, even if that means throwing the phone on DND for a few hours. If you’re always making sacrifices for others, take time to really learn what makes you happy, then, no matter how big or small, aim to do that as much as possible. The idea is not to view a soft life as this fantasy but instead, as a destination where all Black women deserve to rest their weary hearts -- because who’s more deserving than us?
It’s no secret -- everyone wants to be loved. It’s at the core of the human experience. To love and be loved is everything, and the person we spend the most time with deserves our purest love. As quiet as it’s kept, that deepest connection isn’t with your partner, your friends or even your kids – it’s with yourself. Developing a loving relationship with yourself is critical to your overall well-being and mental health, and there’s no better time than the present to work on that relationship.
Digital creator and lifestyle influencer Amani Richardson (@amanirakeia) calls this the “meantime” period of our lives.“ In the meantime, I’m working on deepening my spiritual practices. In the meantime, I’m choosing discipline over comfort. In the meantime, I’m protecting my mental space by keeping a clean physical space. And in the meantime, I’m no longer wasting time by eagerly thinking about the things that are waiting on me.”
As much as we crave intimacy and companionship, take this time to love the most important person in your life: you. In a world where we’re raised to put others first, self-love can often feel selfish. It’s also a big reason why we tend to seek love from external sources. The problem with that is it can be taken away at any moment. When you set aside time and dedicate yourself to building a strong foundation of self-love, nothing or no one
can interfere. Believe it or not, self-love is the most selfless thing you can do because you teach others how to treat you best. So, spend some quality time just getting to know yourself. Take yourself on dates every now and then. Love yourself deeply and without guilt. The rest will follow, and it’ll be everything you deserve, and more.
Izzy & Liv customers truly are THE BEST! We love seeing your social media posts sharing your boxes each month. Here are a few highlights from December 2022.
Black love is a beautiful thing. There’s nothing like it! We’re talking about deep love you can feel way down in your soul. Love is happiness, warmth, and joy all wrapped into one. You know, that old-school love that’s unbreakable and stands the test of time. It’s the personification of wearing your heart on your sleeve. The Endless Love playlist is a collection of classic Black love songs from the 80s ,90s, and 00s for the lover in you. Press play and enjoy the sweet, sultry, and soulful ballads straight through no skips, sis!
1
Can I change my size preference for future boxes?
Yes, you can do so inside your Brown Sugar Box account on izzyandliv.com, or you can email us at support@izzyandliv.com to update your preferences for you.
2
When will I be billed for next month’s box?
You will be rebilled on the 1st of the month for the next box. You will not be billed for the next box until after the box from the current month has been shipped/delivered.
5 Can I skip a month without cancelling?
Yes, you can skip a future month delivery and not be billed for it, without having to cancel your entire subscription. Once logged into your Brown Sugar Box account at izzyandliv.com, you will need to open the “Delivery Schedule” tab. There you will see all upcoming deliveries for your subscription. To skip a delivery you just need to click “Skip” to the right of each relevant delivery. This will only skip that one delivery. To skip multiple deliveries you will need to click “Skip” next to each relevant one. Alternatively, you can email to have us skip deliveries for you.
The Sweetest Taboo by Sade
Let’s Get Married- ReMarqable
Remix by Jagged Edge, RUN, Lamarquis Jefferson
Between The Sheets by The Isley Brothers
Sweet Lady by Tyrese
Always Be My Baby by Mariah Carey
Endless Love by Lionel Richie, Diana Ross
All My Life by K-Ci & JoJo
My Girl by The Temptations
Lovin’ You by Minnie Ripperton
My Love Is Your Love by Whitney Houston
Always and Forever by Luther Vandross
When I See You by Fantasia
Love by Musiq Soulchild
True Love by Faith Evans
Pretty Wings-uncut by Maxwell
Nothing In This World by Avant, Keke Wyatt
Can You Stand The Rain by New Edition
Make It Last Forever by Keith Sweat, Jacci McGhee
Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye
The Lady In My Life by Michael Jackson
Love, Need, and Want You by Patti LaBelle
Love You Down by Ready For The World
Forever My Lady by Jodeci
Weak by SWV
Nice & Slow-Radio Edit by Usher
3
What is your cancellation policy? Your subscription can be cancelled at any time in your Brown Sugar Box Account Settings at izzyandliv.com. If you’ve already been billed for the next box (1st of month), your cancellation will take effect the next billing cycle. To cancel your subscription, login to your account and click on the Subscription tab, then click “edit” next to your subscription. You can also email us to request that we cancel for you.
4
Can I exchange or return items in my box?
We cannot accept returns at this time for Brown Sugar Box items, but we welcome your feedback to improve. Email us at support@ izzyandliv.com to share your thoughts. We value your feedback and our mission is to ensure every Brown Sugar Box is worth your while! Your feedback will help us to make sure we make this box amazing and valuable as it can be. As far as the item(s), you can always gift them to a friend, coworker, or family member- these items make GREAT gifts!
6
How can I share photos or unboxing videos with you?
Yes! We live for customer feedback & reviews! Just post your pics, or videos on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, or YouTube, and hashtag #brownsugarbox or #izzyandliv or tag us @izzyandliv. You can also leave a photo review on the Brown Sugar Subscription page! If you make a blog post email us with the link. If your social media is private we will not be able to see your post, so feel free to email us to let us know where to check it out!
7 Something went wrong with my order/ delivery what should I do?
Should you have an issue with your box items (damage, received wrong size, etc) you must notify us at support@izzyandliv.com, with photo(s), within 7 days of receipt of your package. After 7 days, we will not be able to process requests related to this month’s box. If your box was returned due to consumer error, please reach out to customer service for reshipment at an additional cost.
8 I have feedback or questions, who do I contact?
We can be reached at support@izzyandliv.com.
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