The "Cocktail Goddess" lives on a school bus.
Welcome to Beauty Around the Clock, Marie Claire's weekly peek into the daily lives of the most influential women in their industries. How do these women get their work done in a day?
Denisey Taylor (open in new tab), founder of Cocktails by POP (open in new tab), educates her clients about black culture while enjoying her cocktails and personalized cocktail experiences. Here she shares her beauty routine, business know-how, and what it's like to live on wheels.
I have a Great Dane, so when I open my eyes, I see a horse. I let the horses out, open the shades on the school bus where my partner and I live, make our beds, and drink hell water with a little apple cider vinegar.
In the morning I spend at least 30 minutes on beauty. I start with a homemade face wash made with cucumber puree, sea salt, tea tree oil, and pure cane sugar. I make this weekly. Once my face and neck are clean, I spray my skin with rose spray (open in new tab) and apply body whip (open in new tab) as soon as I get out of the shower.
I am full of black girl magic, so I usually have braids, beads, afros, and shells in my hair. I grease my scalp most importantly and create a holy edge with Happy Edge (opens in new tab). Hair is really important to me: growing up with my mom in a hair salon in Los Angeles, hair is my way of expressing myself, and the art of setting hair makes me feel nostalgic. [Bacon, Creole tomatoes, avocado slices, pickled red onions. Best for. On weekends, I add a touch of St. Germain to my champagne.
Most mornings, I take the Great Dane's Cammanet for a walk. It's so hot in New Orleans right now that early morning or late at night is the best time for a walk.
Red lips (open in new tab), dewy skin, braids to my waist, and the scent of a thousand roses. I have freckles, so I don't usually wear makeup except for mascara (open in new tab) and highlighter (open in new tab).
Interestingly, the rose spray I use on my face also doubles as a body spray for me. I love the smell of roses, so it's perfect. I also use jasmine oil from an incense shop in my hometown of Inglewood, CA.
Nia Long. She has aged like the finest cognac. As a child, I looked up to her, and becoming a woman has not changed that. Her looks and professionalism show that she is truly beautiful inside and out. She is iconic.
If I feel overwhelmed in any situation, I just say HELL NAW. Sometimes when you're in business, you feel like you have to please everyone. So a "no" is a "no."
I hate the news; I listen to Bondy Blue (opens in new tab) on YouTube. Because the mix of news and pop culture makes me feel like a real adult.
Teyana Taylor. She is a true Harlem artist, hustler, and entrepreneur.
Living in a school bus. Instead of focusing on paying rent and mortgage, she wanted the opportunity to own something she could actually afford, travel, and make better business decisions. Imagine removing everything you have learned about living and integrating your entire life. Even the simplest purchases require a lot of thought because space is limited.
There was so much I did not learn about my culture in school. As an adult, when I could find information on my own, I wanted to give my work some meaning. I thought that if I could entertain while sharing dope knowledge, my business would have an impact. Great black artists and contributors from the African Diaspora have inspired our business. For example, we are working on a Holy Spirits series based on cultural influences in cocktails and a cocktail mixer series based on iconic African American films and artists of the 70s.
I start with shoes and lipstick. Once that's decided, I pair it with a slinky, silky top and denim.
I always curl my hair. Then I cleanse my skin with hot water and rose lotion.
Before I go to sleep, I listen to soul music. My favorite is Anita Baker. There is no other voice like hers.
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