To say Usher Raymond’s maturation into manhood was an easy transition would be a complete lie. His journey from a smooth, dancing preteen crooner in 1994 to an international superstar in 2010 has been met with turbulence. It has shaped him for his newest body of work, Raymond v. Raymond, a win-win situation for all.  Much…

When it comes to success, some find it through persistance and perseverance; others stumble upon it by simply being at the right place at the right time. But for Michael C. Martin, a former MTA worker, his big break came in the form of a major car crash. Martin, 30, originally from East New York,…

Wintertime for African-American skin can be harsh. And, while Vaseline might’ve been the cure-all for dry skin growing up, the remedy for your rough patches have evolved. L’Occtitane En Provence’s Shea Butter Collection ($10) provides the balm for your hands, elbows and knees to withstand the winter. And this fall, the French company developed a…

There was a time when becoming a greener person was optional, but now its a necessity. As everyone strives to be even more eco-friendly, it would be great to have a gadget to monitor and assess how green you actually are. Black and Decker thought the same, when developing to Power Monitor ($99.99), a device…

Your home can be just as multidimensional as you are—conservative and professional by day, edgy and free-spirited by night. Philippe Boulet isn’t a conventional interior designer, and his Lumintherapy creations are far from ordinary. Boulet, a French designer, is continuously inspired by what he calls a “magical atmosphere,” and in that place he creates furniture for…

Everyone has that shoebox: The one on top of the closet, behind your old comforter, but in front of those books from college. Inside the box? A gang of photos from the pre-digital era, with millions of negative strips to match. You know the ones you have to hold up to the light to see,…

Remember that feeling? The first day of school, slipping your feet into a fresh-out-the-box pair of penny loafers—no one could tell you anything. And, apparently no one can tell fashionista Chloë Sevigny anything either. The actress known for her roles in American Psycho (2000, Lions Gate) and HBO’s Big Love has funneled inspiration from her Connecticut…

Attention, laid-back candle lovers: Finally, you can “burn” your flambeaus all night (and day) without worry. Mooncandle ($50), the first-ever, flameless color-changing lamp, functions exactly like a candle—sans the fuss. No need for matches or lighters or holders—AAA batteries will suffice. Even more convenient, the messy wick of the candle has been replaced by a color-changing LED…

H&M does it again: a brand-new Jimmy Choo line made for H&M. The British designer notoriously known for its designer shoes will strut in 250 Hennes & Mauritz stores worldwide on Nov. 14 with premiere women’s and men’s shoes, bags and accessories. It’s almost super-exciting to imagine a black-zippered leather “Lydia” bag ($99.90), and a silver-toned…

It is possible for hair to be glossy and shiny—Jane Carter Solution has the remedy. Established in 2005 by CEO Jane Carter (who has 20+ years experience in the hair industry), the brand was created  specifically to answer the desperate calls about dry, brittle hair. “Hair is hair,” says the company literature: And the word is these products work beautifully on strands of all…