by Sara L. White

Let's be honest, there are few things more absurd than sitting and watching a stranger apply their makeup while explaining the process in excruciating detail. Yet we makeup lovers regularly log on to YouTube to do just that. Now beauty vloggers are having fun with the form by getting boyfriends and family to narrate their step-by-step makeup application process. The whole thing adds a layer of lightness to something that can be laughably serious.

Toronto-based vlogger Lyn Allure recruited her African dad (she doesn't tell us what country she's from) to narrate her makeup tutorial, and the result is absolutely hilarious.

Her dad can't seem to get over the number of products she uses ("What is that girl?"), gives new nicknames ("Ms. Face Polisher") and loving jokes like, "The time I met your mom she never even wore makeup and she was pretty as anything. Now look at you today."

The entire thing is a must watch.

YouTuber Francheska bka Hey Fran Key is our natural beauty muse. Since we first encountered her videos years ago, we've been motivated to give natural beauty a try. She's used her growing platform to educate her audience on the benefits of eliminating chemicals and additives from our lifestyles and beauty routines. Along the way, she's shared a number of incredible DIY beauty products that are useful and easy to make. Thanks to Frank, we're going to give them a try.

Every society, culture and ethnic group worships their beautiful people. As well all know, in the mainstream west, beautiful is often believed to be white, eurocentric and thin. In the age old narrative of black women seeking to see their own beauty in magazines, film and on television screens, Coal Crown Creative has taken matters into their own hands. "Classically Beautiful “The Discussion”" hosted by Jasmine Mans (genius poet-scholar behind Footnotes For Kanye) explores the themes of black beauty, black womanhood and motherhood through the lenses of melanated queens. Screenwriter Amma Asante also graces the film with her interpretation of classic beauty.
When asked why Quest (visionary behind "Classically Beautiful") created the documentary, he had this to say, “After hearing about a New York Times journalist, who referred to Viola Davis as less ‘Classically Beautiful’ than Kerry Washington, I felt it in my spirit to do something, to say something. I thought to myself, ‘here is another attempt to divide and conquer’, it saddened and angered me. My feelings towards this issue were very natural, I grew up the only boy. I have two sisters. My younger sister is of a darker complexion than my oldest sister. Sharing the black woman's perspective, to me, means having representation of the many aesthetics that black women represent.”

Touché Quest. And representation is exactly what you’ll get in this thought provoking yet amusing piece because, every black woman has her own story and personality. If you’re looking to be enlightened & lit, check it out below!

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Poet Kush Thompson's poem "For Colored Girls Who Considered Yaky" is an ode to all black girls who've felt the need to change their natural coils.

Cut.com has released a new video depicting 100 years of Ethiopian beauty. The video which is just over one minute long shows looks from the 1910s to the 2010s on model Feven. Ethiopia is the first African country to be featured in the popular series, and each of the looks are based off of prominent Ethiopian women in politics and pop culture.

Poet Sha'Condria "iCon" Sibley shatters preconceived notions about makeup and beauty in the poem "In My Skin" performed at the 2015 Texas Grand Slam Poetry Festival.

In the poem "Master Piece" poet Salena Burch eloquently explains the thoughts that went through her mind when a classmate said to her, "I'd totally date you, if you weren't Black." These piercing words bring up thoughts of what Burch's ancestors went through for her right to sit in the classroom with this classmate who does not see that her African ancestry makes her a masterpiece.

Last year, New York Times writer Alessandra Stanley described Emmy winning actress Viola Davis as “less classically beautiful” compared to other Black actresses. This comment sparked outrage within the Black community and director Quest decided to do something about it.