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‘Tis the Holiday Playlist You Never Knew You Needed

Published by Yegide Matthews

If you’re like me, the holiday countdown to Christmas and New Year’s day begins right after Halloween. First, I’ll make a quick stop for Thanksgiving celebrations, but after that, I’m moving full speed ahead to all the lights, ribbons, and holiday songs!

I polled the editors of YHM, and together we curated the ultimate holiday playlist for 2019. Head over to Spotify to listen to the #YHMHolidayMix playlist. From Shaggy and Gene Noble’s Caribbean mix “Christmas With Friends” to Frank Sinatra’s classic hit “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas,” the 61-song-playlist is sure to make you feel merry and bright.

As a Christian, I had to include a few melodies to celebrate the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. After all, Christmas is “both a sacred religious holiday and a worldwide cultural and commercial phenomenon.” Nonetheless, this playlist is not just for Christians, and it’s not only about Christmas. It’s about the good vibes of the holiday season: spending time with your family and friends, ringing in the new year, and being totally into the winter wonderland thing even when it’s below zero degrees outside.

Use the hashtag #YHMHolidayMix to tell us what you think. We hope the playlist is a soundtrack for all your holiday moments this year. It features loved-up bops, 90’s throwbacks, classic hits, and more. Happy listening and rockin’ around.

Story and artwork by Yegide Matthews

Editor’s Letter

Published by Yegide Matthews

Autumn/Winter 2019 | #YHMLoveWhatYouDo

I want to be as confident as ZaZa.

You know her name. It’s Zahara “ZaZa” Bean. If you don’t know, you need to check out @redcarpetgirlz on Instagram. A few months ago, the four-year-old bad and boujee—her words, not mine—stumbled across my feed with her full of confidence dance moves and sass. I kept thinking, “she is the coolest person ever, and I hope my future kids are this cool.” ZaZa has picked up magazine features to an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show this past summer. She’s busy living her best life with poise.

We talk a lot about confidence at Young Hot & Modern, and ZaZa represents much of that at a young age. While we should all have her level of confidence, ZaZa also stands out because she’s having a ball doing what she loves. That’s what I’d like us to embrace this season. Here’s why.

My first experience in fashion started with a high school talent show. I loved mixing a mini runway presentation in the middle of my school’s annual talent performances. At fifteen-years-old, I had fun acquiring fashion sponsors such as Charlotte Russe and Joyce Leslie, a subsidiary of Rainbow, for the looks. These brands trusted me with their products to style of-the-moment looks and bring in sales somehow. That’s mind-blowing to me, but hey, I was living my best life like ZaZa. It’s crazy and cool that I still get to do all that and more at the magazine today.

As we usher in fall and winter holiday shenanigans, let’s remember to have fun doing what we love, surrounding ourselves with good people (and food), and letting our passions encourage us to do great things.

Until next time,
Yegide Matthews

Editor’s Letter

Published by Yegide Matthews

Spring/Summer 2019 | #YHMGoGetter

The idea of girl power is to instill a sense of confidence, intellect, pride, and joy in young girls that will continue throughout womanhood. My mother did an amazing job of that in me. Her mother did the same for her and her sisters. The women in my family are passionately independent, go-getters. This perspective of girl power fuels my reason for pushing YHM forward.

I refer to YHM as many things: a side hustle, a small business, a hobby, and a passion project. Whatever the definition, I hope to continue telling stories about women, individuals, and brands empowering the next generation of female entrepreneurs, trendsetters, scholars, policymakers, and more! From #BlackGirlMagic to #BossBabe, we can all get our girl power fix by tapping on a few hashtags.

Team YHM is here for all of it, and we hope to connect women in conversation and action. We love celebrating confident, intellectual, and joyous girl power moments. We take pride in that. So let’s all share those empowering moments on social media while using the hashtag #YHMGoGetter as our mantra. Plus, check out our girl power playlist on Spotify for a little motivation.

Until next time,
Yegide Matthews

It’s Time to Step Up Your Skincare Regimen

Published by Yegide Matthews

As a little girl, I remember my mother teaching me the importance of a good skincare routine. I grew up using Noxzema’s deep cleansing cream and any lotion that was in the apartment. For a long time, I focused my skincare regimen on my face. I didn’t share my beauty products with friends, no one was allowed to touch my face, I didn’t pop blemishes in fear of a scar, and I washed my face in the morning and at night. I was serious about having a fresh face.

I still am, however, as I got older I expanded my focus to my entire body beyond using a flower-scented bath wash and Palmer’s Cocoa Butter lotion. After my Noxzema phase—I still love them—I transitioned into all things Neutrogena. These drugstore brands worked perfectly for my skin and budget.

Our digital magazine is all about the everyday woman, and we want to stay true to that. I asked my editors to share their favorite skincare products, and they didn’t hesitate to chat up their tried-and-true favorites. We’re continuously fine-tuning our skincare regimen, especially as we get older in search of the best age-defying eye serum or toner. We mix-and-match drugstore products with higher priced items, and that’s what you’ll find here. In the beauty of sharing, tell us about your skincare routine using the hashtag #yhmbeautybook on social media.

Cleansers

Neutrogena, Deep Clean® Invigorating Foaming Scrub
Origins, A Perfect World™ Antioxidant Cleanser With White Tea
Fresh, Soy Face Cleanser

Masks

Fresh, Vitamin Nectar Glow Face Mask
GLAMGLOW, GRAVITYMUD™ Firming Treatment Mask
Origins, Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask To Clear Pores

Serums

The Ordinary, Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion
Estée Lauder, Advanced Night Repair
Bobbi Brown, Skin Clarifier No. 75 – Pore & Oil Control

Face lotions

Neutrogena, Oil-Free Moisture Broad Spectrum SPF 35
Origins, A Perfect World™ SPF 40 Age-defense Moisturizer with White Tea
Clinique, Dramatically Different™ Moisturizing Gel

Lip care

Arbonne, Intelligence® Lip Treatment
Bobbi Brown, Lip Balm SPF 15
Mary Kay, Satin Lips® Set

Body care

Olay, Ultra Moisture Shea Butter Body Wash
Neutrogena, Body Clear® Body Scrub
Arbonne, Rescue & Renew Detox Scrub
Aveeno, Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
Neutrogena, Body Oil
Clinique, Deep Comfort™ Hand and Cuticle Cream

Feature photo: Madison Inouye / Product photos: courtesy of brands

Get Jenna Jordan’s Runway Inspired Look

Published by YHM Editors

As we find ourselves eyeing bright hues and floral prints for our spring wardrobe, let’s not exclude another popular trend from the Spring/Summer 2019 runway shows in September of last year.

Tom Ford Spring/Summer 2019

Rochas Spring/Summer 2019

Givenchy Fall/Winter 2018

Taking on subtle accents to wilder tones, animal print is the no-matter-what-season design that you can’t go wrong with. Style it sexy or keep it low-key like Jenna Jordan of Trendy Not Spendy.

Our runway dreams feel complete with winter and spring collections from Tom Ford, Rochas, and Givenchy. From handbags to vests, these designers make animal print an effortless move to accent any look.

Our look book collaboration with Jordan brings that runway trend to street style. We love how she paired an animal print trouser with a soft white t-shirt and sneakers. What’s your spring go-to look?

Photos: Jenna Jordan by Grace Finlayson / Givenchy: © IMAXtree.com, Rochas: © IMAXtree.com, and Tom Ford: © IMAXtree.com

Editor’s Letter

Published by Yegide Matthews

Winter 2019 | #YHMGetItDone

I recently came across an Instagram post that read “I need to figure my sh*t out and get back to creating some work I feel excited about.” I instantly felt the need to comment “same.” However, I would be admitting that I’m not so happy with how things are going.

So here it goes. I need a change which I often confuse with “I need a break.” Does that happen to you? There are times when I fall into a creative slump here on YHM. I feel the need to retreat and reflect, but to be honest, I regularly reflect on YHM. I think about what we get right and what we can do better all the time.

As we usher in the new year, I’m going to take all that reflection I did in 2018 and get stuff done. I don’t need a break. I need a change—a change of pace and a change of purpose. That’s why I’m committing to a New Year’s resolution of positive change.

A few weeks ago my church held an interactive Christmas event. I volunteered to help kids build a do-it-yourself Christmas tree ornament. Of course, I had to make one for myself! Inside each ornament was a handwritten prayer for 2019. My prayer asked God to get rid of anything in my life that’s not purposeful: actions, emotions, people, etc.

Out with the old; in with the new. In a nutshell, that’s my New Year’s resolution. I plan to do the same here on YHM. We’ve been sitting on some incredible stories and talents. It’s time to shine a huge light on the people, ideas, and movements shaping our world. Oh, I’m excited about this journey, and I’m even more excited to share it with you.

Until next time,
Yegide Matthews