Before college, Erika interned in the beauty department at Seventeen magazine. Using her experience at Seventeen, cosmetology classes, and lessons learned through her extensive work in television and modeling, she created a beauty guide that served as the foundation for Bonding Over Beauty. Though the guide initially targeted young women, after joining several parenting groups Erika soon realized many mothers were unsure of how to bridge the generation gap when dealing with the beauty and hygiene issues their daughters faced. Believing that a parent’s job is to nurture their children’s self-esteem and happiness, she turned her beauty guide into a valued resource for moms that contains advice and numerous bonding rituals that can ease the difficulties faced by young girls growing to physical and emotional maturity.
Bonding Over Beauty focuses on encouraging and strengthening the mother-daughter relationship through simple, fun, and intimate activities such as teaching your ‘tween basic beauty rituals like painting her nails or making an organic face scrub from scratch. The book also helps mothers navigate sensitive topics that often arise with tween girls, from dealing with unwanted body hair to menstruation, and everything in between.
A graduate of Dartmouth College, Erika lives in New York City with her husband and two children.
Eyebrow waxing- I think if a girl has a unibrow, shaving between the brows is a good way to get rid of the hair without the pain. However, if she is okay with the pain and the eyebrows look like a character from Sesame Street, I am all for it. But, moms should not insist on something as painful as waxing in the name of beauty especially before puberty. In my book, I explore alternatives like shaving and depilatory which are painless. But, I personally would not leave the unibrow nor any other facial hair on a young girl.
Trish McEvoy mascara- never ends up under my eyes
Laura Geller or Lancome Tinted Moisturizer- love the coverage while still feeling so light
Cover Girl Wetsticks Minty lipgloss – minty and fabulous
Jo Malone Orange Blossom body cream- smells like heaven
Mario Badescu Bee pollen night cream- I swear it’s why I don’t have wrinkles
What is your definition of Beauty? Beauty is a confidence you exude when you walk in a room. Look at the most beautiful models and actors. Often times their nose is a little too big, their smile is not even, and yet they are beautiful because they walk in a room as if they own it. A woman who walks with her shoulders back and her head high will always trump someone who is slouched over and peering out at you under her hair.
Any final words? When discussing beauty related issues with your daughter, keep the conversation light, tell funny stories about yourself and your friends so she understands she is not the only one in the world going through this difficult time. To learn more about Bonding Over Beauty, please go to my website at www.bondingoverbeauty.com. My book is available online and at bookstores nationwide.
You can also find Erika on Twitter and Facebook