Black Owned Makeup Products

I decided to go on a bit of a makeup shopping spree this past week purchasing all black owned makeup brands. I thought it would be good to support and to add good quality makeup to my collection. I purchased all my items from Ulta, which is one of my favorite makeup stores to shop from. At the time, there was a promotion for 10% cash back for Ulta on Rakuten. Every little bit helps to keep money in my pockets so I was excited to come across that great deal. Makeup is not so affordable especially when you are trying to purchase enough for a whole look lol! We are talking foundations, eye shadows, liners, lippies, concealers, etc. You can spend an easy hundred bucks on just a few items in your cart.

Thankfully, I already have a few Fenty Beauty products to add to my new purchases for a full look. Ulta had a whole category for black owned brands so it was easy to search through and find great products. I dabbled in the brands Juvia’s Place and Beauty Bakerie. Both of these brands were aesthetically pleasing from the packaging to the colors and array of shades. It allows people of all shades to find the perfect look for them and a lot of the eye shadows from Juvia’s Place were vibrant and beautiful. And the word play for the Beauty Bakerie products were very clever and well thought out.

For details on products purchased, check out my mini haul and tutorial YouTube video below using all the black owned makeup products that I have. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe. Thank you! ❤

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New DSLR Camera for Beginners

I am so excited for my new vlogging journey. For the first few weeks, I’ve been using my webcam and phone but I didn’t know how long that would last with the quality of my content. So I did some research in finding an affordable, first time around DSLR camera for my YouTube videos. Thanks to Amazon, I was able to snag a deal with the Canon EOS Rebel T7 DSLR camera bundle. I thought I would have been saving a few coins by getting the camera alone but it was actually the same price at other places without the bundle deal. It’s an 18pc bundle that comes with a tripod, carrying bag, lens, memory card, etc. You really can’t beat that deal.

I know it may not be the best on the market or the high end vlogging camera, but it will do for me right now. I have to build up skills with using a camera like this. So it is perfect for a beginners camera. And the bundle is a great start for all the things you will need to get you going. Later down the line I’ll be sure to upgrade to something that will fit my needs for editing and quality, but I could always use this camera. Have any equipment suggestions? Please leave a comment. If you would like to check out my first time filming with this camera, check out my video below. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe! ❤

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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GRWM

Hey Lovies! Check out my new GRWM YouTube video featuring the Morphe x Jaclyn Hill Palette Vol. II. This palette features a beautiful array of colors from mattes and shimmers in different shades. I did a nice pink look for the first time around and so far I love it. I will have to play in these colors a little more before I give my review on it. The colors I used for this look paid off pretty well and my full makeup look lasted the entire day. Stay tune for the product review. Video linked below. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe, thank you!

Curls and More Curls

To all my curlfriends that are probably struggling on their natural hair journey, I am here to share my easy wash and go products. I understand the challenges of having curly hair. Most may think it is easy but it is a ton of work to maintain your natural curls and not damage them by using certain brushes/combs, harsh chemicals or heating tools. I do not have all the time in the world to apply 4 or 5 different products or to go through a 2 day process. With kids, work and such, I resort to wearing my hair out and letting the curls do their own thing for the most part. Here I will share two of my favorite hair styling products for my easy wash n’ go look.

^{_{Don’t mind the almost empty jar. I use this product in real life lol}}

After washing my hair, I usually style it right away, soaking wet. I like to use Cantu Shea Butter Repair Cream leave in conditioner. This very inexpensive product coats my hair well and keep it from being dry by giving a lot of moisture. It helps with apply the product on wet hair in my opinion. I typically do not apply on dry hair and I co-wash my hair frequently. I’ve been using this product for years and I never experienced any damage to my hair or excessive dryness. So this will always be a stable for a go-to product.

One of my favorite styling product that I love to use for styling my curls is the Uncle Funky’s Daughter Curly Magic. This stuff is AMAZING! I haven’t ventured off much in the other products from this brand, but this one is everything for me. The price is a little high but a little goes a long way. The product has a gel like consistency so I feel there is a lot of product to use. I love the smell of it and it is best applied on wet hair. You can get a slight cast feel once the product is completely dry, but that can be fixed by smoothing and stretching out your hair with your hands to break the cast from the strands. You will have soft and fluffy curls.

Be sure to check out my video on YouTube if you would like to see how I apply these products. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe. Thank you!

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Makeup Must Haves

Today was the day to dive in my makeup and play around a bit. With a lot of places still not open to the public, I haven’t put on a full face in a while. Well enough was enough.I did not have anywhere to go lol but my face was getting some much needed love for the day. I’ll share a bunch of my favorite makeup products that I like to use together for a simple, lightweight look.

The key to a flawless look is a great foundation. One of my favorites is Fenty Beauty soft matte longwear foundation. It is a great long wear option that truly last throughout the day. The retail price is borderline, to be honest. Even though it’s not the most expensive wear, there are others that are more cost friendly. But sometimes you have to give a little extra for better quality. Personally, foundation is one product I cannot slip on so if I find what works for my oily skin, I stick with it.

I love my Morphe eye shadow palettes. You can get a nice variety for a good price. I own a few but my favorite is the natural glow palette, there are many beautiful shades to choose from that’ll give you a touch of color yet keep your look natural.

And let me say this, when you find an eyeliner that keep the wing snatched you will not change up on it. The Elf jet black eyeliner is thee best! Plus, it is very affordable and does not fail me ever. I am a faithful buyer of this liner. Another bombshell is none other that the L.A. Girl HD concealer. I swear this is a multi purpose product. It can be used for highlighting, concealing, correcting and I’ve even seen people use this product as a light foundation! Then use it to clean your eyebrows up and have them looking sharp. The cost is beyond affordable.

Check out my very first video below if you would like to see my finished look using these products and more. Also, don’t forget to like, comment & subscribe. Thank you and stay safe loves!

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But First…Tea

Photo by Olenka Sergienko on Pexels.com

Every day you hope to wake up on the right side of the bed. It can be a drag to get ourselves up sometimes especially during times like now but I’m here to tell you that it is a must to take a little time out of the day to perk yourself up. I’ll be sharing a few things I love to do for myself as a self motivating start to help get me going and pumped for the day.

I can accomplish all things my heart desires but first…TEA! Lol I have to start my day with a nice cup of green tea but lately I’ve been on the ACV tea kick. I use McCoy’s Orange Blossom raw honey, about 2 tablespoons of Bragg organic apple cider vinegar and I usually add in a lemon ginger tea bag. This really motivates me to stay on track with my health and to complete my work out routine for the day. Because who really wake up pumped for workout sessions? Certainly not me.

Another helpful note for me is gratification. I use a gratitude journal and you’d be surprise how much it can help with having a positive start for the day. Even on bad days, jotting down a little gratitude note helps me focus on all the good in my life oppose to zoning in on how bad I may feel or if I have a temporary situation going on. At the end of the day, you have to count your blessing for all the good regardless of any situation. I always remind myself that things could be worst. I mean, I’ve been through some troubling times but I have so much to be thankful for.

Also, I love to give myself a little pamper pick me up from time to time. Although this is not something I do everyday, I thoroughly enjoy giving myself a face mask. Bliss line have to be my absolute favorite to use, in particularly the mighty marshmallow whipped mask. It leaves my face feeling rejuvenated and glowing. I must say, this is a frequent “empties” product of mine.

I hope these tips help you in some way. Stay motivated and keep yourself going because sometimes we can only depend on ourselves to be our own cheer leader. Stay tuned for more tips and personal self care tips. If no one has told you today, you are amazing and keep shining even on a gloomy day!

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Wax On…Wax off!

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Brazilian waxes are a must for me and the moment I received notice of salons opening back up, I immediately booked my appointment! Nothing but sheer joy in my heart just the thought of having smooth, “everything’s gone” skin 🙌🏽. But babyyyyy when that day came, I was in for it. Talk about feeling like a newbie to the BW life. It felt like the very first BW I’ve ever had. All those weeks of not being able to go were brutal to my soul lol. I’m pretty sure a good layer of surface skin came right on off with the wax…just joking even though it is a form of exfoliation by removing dead skin cells along with the hair. I know once I am able to get back to my regular routine, it’ll get easier and less pain just like before. Regardless of the discomfort, BW are great.

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Sticking with BW treatments and exfoliating your skin does wonders. It can help to even out your skin tone, typically does not cause irritation which is common when using razors and helps prevent harsh bumps. So not only does it look better, your skin is well maintained. Be sure to properly prepare yourself before your appointments and post care is just as important. This includes cleansing the area with a mild wash and gently use a scrub exfoliating cleanser. I would recommend exfoliating 3 or 4 times a week. One of my favorite inexpensive scrubs to use is by Tree Hut. They have different scents to choose from and your skin will feel AMAZING afterwards. Treat your lady parts well and your skin will appreciate it.

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The Return

My Resting Work Face lol

Well Sunday night was my return to work in the midst of COVID-19. The relief on my co-workers’ faces…priceless lol. That was just a visual of all that I’ve missed. Then a few stated, ” I’ve never been so happy in my life to see your face again”, definitely gave me a good laugh to start my shift. The staff I relieved barely exchanged notes with me, because they were ready to run out of there. In all actuality, it was the same chaos that was going on before I took the time off. I think I expected it to run more smooth as far as a routine or clients being more understanding of the situation for essential workers. Sadly, nothing has changed. It is a fiasco, people are short fused over the pandemic and taking it out on the ones that are still here to help and provide services to them.

“When we tell people to do their job, we get workers. When we trust people to get the job done, we get leaders” – Simon Sinek

Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action https://amzn.to/38chX7i

Even though I didn’t consider myself being off with having to homeschool my kids, I felt sorry for what my fellow co-workers were going through. In the end, people should be more mindful that we are all in this together. There is no time for clashing when everyone should be working together to get pass this pandemic. I love the clinic that I work at and I couldn’t ask for a better crew to work with. So with all that is going on, I would rather have them to work with. It is a struggle for all of us but we continue to work together, laugh and keep each other going. So despite my rough transition, I am glad to be back with my work family.

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Benji’s Beauty Faves

So I’ve cracked a few of Benjamin Button’s ageless beauty hacks and I am here to spill the tea! We all want that dreamy glow, youthful skin with no wrinkles, blemishes or cracks. In my younger days, I didn’t take too much into consideration when it came to my skin. Nothing outside the normal acne washes and lotions that were at hand. But now I can no longer fall back on my “I was born with it” luck. Since being in my 30’s, I’ve taken extra steps to ensure my skin is at its’ best, healthy and glowing. Give your skin what it thirst for.

Upon my search for everlasting youthful and heathy looking skin, I’ve discovered my new found love for serums and it has been a blissful journey for me and my skin. Often, people would tell me that I look younger than my actual age, but about mid last year, I’ve noticed a bit of a difference in my skin. With my busy life schedule, graveyard shift work and school during the day, it took a toll on my skin. I looked tired all the time and my skin was dull. But I am here to share my little miracles by Tree of Life. It is affordable and my skin is happy from the change.

Every morning and night I set aside time to pamper my skin. After my morning cleanse, I apply my Tree of Life vitamin C serum before apply my face lotion. And after my nightly cleanse, I use the Tree of Life Hyaluronic Acid and Retinol Serums. Together these serums work wonders and trust me, you want your hands on them. These items are so affordable and amazing that I signed up for subscription so I’ll never run out lol. To happy and healthy skin! Click the affiliated link below and thank me later.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014PGEEO2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=bitoflove-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B014PGEEO2&linkId=a8b59aeae8fa039c7fd2cd68d24b2ede

Stay tuned for more beauty tips and full care routines!

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The New Norm

A late night turned early morning with little to no sleep at all. Tossed and turned with much excitement of all my future hopes yet approaching fear as I plan my return to work. I’ve decided since my kids school year is over and now that their birthdays are out of the way, I will jump back in full force this coming week. It is refreshing to get back to the normal way of life…then I ask myself, “what is normal?”. What was once normal to us months ago has passed like a worn out trend. So even though it is a bit exciting to leave my hole and being turned into physical property of my kids, I will suit up as I make my way back to working. Masks and gloves stocked up and ready to go. And it is nice to finally see hand sanitizers and rubbing alcohol on shelves for purchase. Yes!, we are getting somewhere lol. Stay safe loves and to all essential workers, you are greatly appreciated!

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