Beauty Blog Posts

Easy & Affordable Everyday Makeup for Black Women with Oily Skin

I have very oily skin. Because of that I get lots of blackheads and breakouts which leads to dark marks. For my everyday makeup, I like looks that cover up those dark marks, keeps me matte, and looks as natural as possible. Don’t get me wrong, I love an over the top makeup look as much as the next girl, but for everyday, I try to keep it simple.

I also try to keep it affordable. 99.9% of the makeup I own is from the drugstore. I want makeup that works, but I’m not trying to break the bank to get it. If any of this sounds like you too, keep reading for my tips, tricks, and products that I turn to on a daily basis. (more…)

Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Exfolliant Review & Giveaway!

I was fortunate enough to receive the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfolliant free from the company to test out. Overall I really enjoy using the product. Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid claims to works on all skin types and:

Rapidly exfoliates the skin’s surface and inside the pore, reshaping the pore lining, unclogging pores and improving skin cell turnover rate
Reduces redness and irritation thanks to green tea extract
Dramatically improves skin’s texture for radiant, even-toned skin
Is clinically proven to hydrate, brighten and reduce fine lines
Stimulates collagen production for smoother, firmer skin
Is 100% fragrance- and colorant-free, with no added dyes or irritants
Is never tested on animals

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February Natural Hair & Beauty Favorites

I’ve been loving quite a few things that I’ve discovered (or re-discovered) this past February. From beauty products, to new found Youtubers, keep reading for a list of all my February Favorites & why I love them…
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Colour Pop Review & Swatches for Brown Skin Girls

I love lipsticks, especially lipsticks that are matte and lipsticks that last all day. ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid lipsticks do just that. Their super matte formula glides on like water and lasts all day. Plus, these amazing lip products are just $6!

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipsticks are a lipstick lovers best friend. The only problem with these lipsticks (if you even want to call it a problem) is that they look different on every skin tone. Due to the high opaqueness of the product, one color can look like a completely different color on a different skin color.

To help out my fellow brown skin lipstick lovers, I have a few pictures below of me wearing LAX, Be-Dazzled, Limbo, Guess, Chi, More Better, and Kapow….
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Two Products You’ll Love! Quick & Easy Ombre Lips for Women of Color

Right now, I’m loving the Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Shine in Berry Couture with the Nicka K Auto Lip Liner in Indigo (AA12). They not only create the perfect ombre lip, but they leave the lips feeling moisturized and soft. I’m a sucker for a matte lip, but in the winter months when my skin and lips are already dry, it’s nice to keep them soft with a creamy lipstick.

This combo is perfect for women of color. I love the way that purples look against my skin and other women with a darker complexion. The deeper lip liner mixed with the lighter lipsticks gives the lips great dimension and is very flattering.

In addition, these lip products are very affordable. At just $8.39 for the lipstick and $3.70 for the lip liner if you buy them online, they’re a cute look without breaking the budget. I’ve linked the cheapest prices I could find to these product above.

Hope you love this look as much as I do. If you purchase or recreate this look, be sure to use the hashtag #PassionMeThis so that I can see, like, and share! (more…)

Privilege at the Ulta

For many African American people in America, white privilege is alive and apparent every day of our lives. We see it everywhere we go, all over our televisions, in politics, etc. A day never goes by that doesn’t remind us that life in America might be a little easier if we had fairer skin.

I’ve recently gotten into wearing makeup. When I’m heading to a party, or out for a celebration, I like to dress up my outfit with an amazing full face of makeup. I love it. But what I don’t love, is my oily skin causing my flawless finish to shine. Nothing is better than a matte face, so I visited my local Ulta in a hunt for an oil-free foundation at a decent price. Since Ulta carries many drug store brands, I knew that a representative could give me some good advice for an inexpensive product.

When I walked in, I had no problem finding someone to help me look for a foundation, nor did the representative and I have problems finding foundations made for oily skin, but the problem we did face was finding a foundation dark enough for my complexion. The representative, a young, blond, caucasian woman, was so shocked. She couldn’t believe how limited the color selection was. We paced from alise to alise, brand to brand, only to find one brand with a color in my shade. The representative couldn’t believe it. She even made a comment that she usually “just picks up her color with ease” so she never realized how difficult it could be for someone of my complexion to find a foundation in their shade. (more…)

August We Are Onyx Box Review

We Are Onyx is a beauty box tailored to women of color. It is a $25 monthly subscription of hair, skin and nail samples shipped right to your front door that always includes at least 5 regular, deluxe and/or full size samples. The total for all of the items shipped will always exceed the $25 paid for the box. Four samples are picked by their beauty editors and one sample is left to the subscribers to choose what they would prefer. When a person signs up for a We Are Onyx box, they are prompted to fill out a profile indicating their skin and hair type, so no one should be left with a product they can’t use.

I have been getting We Are Onyx boxes for 2 months now. It’s so exciting to get home each month to find a box full of new goodies waiting for me to try. So far, I’ve loved everything that I have tried from my Onyx boxes, but I must admit that I have yet to try all of my products. There’s just never enough time in a month.

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