The Brown List

1. A beauty must-have all year long: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock 55+ SPF With Helioplex-think just because of you are brown, you don’t need to protect your skin? Think again! Prevent unnecessary damage, dark spots, scarring, and wrinkles by making Neutrogena part of your daily routine. Goes on dry and the Helioplex works extra hard to block out UVA/UVB rays. Approximately $10-$15 at any drugstore.

2. Be Brown AND GREEN! Getting take-out from a restaurant doesn’t just mean getting your food to go, but also large Styrofoam containers, paper napkins, plastic forks, and spoons. Many restaurants now gladly take your plastic containers from home to fill up for your take out and at the same time offer a discount on your meal. But, if you’re not into carrying around your own lunch pails, you can still help the environment by cutting back on take-out meals. Grab some friends, order some drinks, relax, and eat at the restaurant with real silverware!

3. Check out the new buzz: Indian Chick-lit has arrived. Is it any good? You be the judge and read Poonam Sharma’s new novel, Girl Most Likely To. Let us know what you think by sending in your comments to comments@browngirlmagazine.com.

4. Brown Girl Fashion Essentials: Check out our Beauty&Style section and read about fashion must haves for every Brown Girl. Upgrade your flip-flops, get in-style, and be bold this fall!

5. Get involved: Women for Women International is dedicated to empowering women survivors of war around the world, including Afghanistan and the Congo region. Currently, women in the Congo are battling against a brutal war where rape is used as a war tactic. Thousands of women have been brutally raped and left for dead. Women for Women International is helping to protect women and showing them ways to cope against the atrocities. Learn more about the Congo Region and its women at www.womenforwomen.org. Find out ways you can help raise awareness in your own community and sponsor a woman in need of help.

7. Movie Watch: Looking for a movie to make you think or delve deeper into your culture? Check out Brick Lane , based on the best selling novel by Monica Ali. Another interesting find is Hiding Divya , a movie that tackles the taboo topic of mental illness in South Asian families.

8. Rockin’ the Vote, the Brown Way: South Asian Journalist Association website (www.saja.org) has some interesting posts on how South Asians are involved with both parties this election season. You can help with “Desi Spotting” at both the DNC and RNC on www.sajaforum.org. (There’s a snapshot of Kal Penn walking around the DNC!)

9. Good eating: No, your mommy isn’t there anymore to make you a delicious home cooked meal anymore. But, you can still eat healthy! Skip the fast food and frozen meals by incorporating these healthy and tasty ingredients in easy pasta dishes, salads, sandwiches, and snacks:

• Bell peppers: Extremely high in Vitamin A and C
• Broccoli: Rich in Vitamin K and C
• Spinach: Really high in Iron and Magnesium
• Blueberries: Lots of Vitamin C and Fiber
• Cantaloupe: Extremely high in Vitamin A and C and Potassium
• Walnuts: Rich in Omega

For more healthy food ideas, check out The World’s Healthiest Foods!

10. Subscribe for the FREE newsletter! Get updates on the newest Brown Girl articles and features as they happen.

If you spot a trend, see some thing hip, or want to make a difference send it in to comments@browngirlmagazine.com and it could go in to the next Brown List!