The Thing About Things

So..........it's no secret that there is some crazy stuff going on in the U.S. right now and tensions are, admittedly high.  The thing about things is they always kind of come to a head at one point or another, so it's important to address things as they come along.  Minority and/or oppressed groups often have a reactive response when blatant acts of oppression go unchecked.  If folks had had the opportunity to discuss things as they happen they wouldn't be coming to the boiling point that they are right now.  I'm pretty sure nearly every Black person in America is more or less at the point of kicking the next white person in the face that says Sandra shouldn't have had an attitude, or that Michael shouldn't have been walking in the street, or that Eric shouldn't have been selling loosies or whatever the hell excuse.  Please note: I DO NOT CONDONE VIOLENCE NOR DO I ENDORSE IT NOR IS THIS A REQUEST TO PERFORM IT.  The thing about things is, we have to address them before they become a thing.  So if you feel a certain activity, or statement, or person slowly morphing into a thing that you won't be able to deal with without throwing hot acid in their face (whether it be physical or metaphorical), do your best to nip it in the bud. Smiley face emoji.

Quizzical today using Too Faced's Return of Sexy Palette . On the lid is Hopeless Romantic, in the crease is Divorcee on the outer corner is Primadonna.  I added ColourPop in Dare to give it some depth.  In the lip department I layered Sephora Luster Matte Lip Stain in Deep Plum with Mulberry one to crease some slight ombre-ing.  I lined it all with Vino Lip Pencil by MAC.

Changing things up.  Hope to see some of your favorite looks in the coming weeks at blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com! 

 

Facebook Feelings

Facebook elicits real feelings out of people.  Not always sure why but I know I have a good feeling.  With more social media platforms popping up everyday where ppl can Gram and Tweet and Tumble and Quack each other, I feel like we're using those as replacements for interpersonal connections.  Do you ever wonder if you would be more offended by something a person says to you face to face or online?  Don't know why it impacts us in that way but people seem like they have an extra set of feelings when it comes to social media.  These extra set of Facebook feelings are an intriguing study.
Not that I purposefully antagonize people but it's interesting to see how defensive people get, as if you were squatting over their dinner table taking a dump.  In any event, don't let the online altercations keep up from joyous in-person interactions!

Feeling colorful today, I have on ColourPop's Coconut on the lid and Hammered on the crease.  I switched it up today and put Sephora MicroSmooth Baked Eyeshadow in Sunray in the inner and outer corners.  Nude lipped it today with Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up and MAC Cork liner.  

Black Super Gurl

And no this isn't a promo for the new show on the CW, because ya know there aren't enough shows with a white female lead but I'm sleep.  So I'm listening to this podcast my gurl put me on called The Read and it just giving me all kinds of life.  And so they were talking about Bree Newsome and her amazing black gurl magic and I just thought, Black women, we are really killing the game right now.  Now of course placing this within context we are still waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay behind our white counterparts.  However, we are coming into our own and I'm here for it.  We are being amazing and fearless and enterprising and  all around motherfathering bad ass and I just want us to take a pause and realize that.  So today make sure you let folks see the S on your chest and let them know that you're Black Super Gurl!

Also Happy National Lipstick Day! From me and over 50 tubes of lipstick I say flourish!

You already know that Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette had to make a return! On the lid I have on Dirty Sweet, in the crease is Whiskey and in the corner is Smolder.  For today I have on ColourPop Bichette and I threw ColourPop Yasmin into the mix  

As you know I love spotlighting the looks you ladies do.  Please send your favorites to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com

BBHMM

I feel like this is what Sallie Mae says every month to college grads around the country. Same goes for Sephora and the several different makeup companies I enjoy. That being said I am putting it in writing: I am not buying any more makeup until September 1st. Today is the last day. Which means y'all are gonna see some repeats but that's good. There's no reason to think you have to spend lots of money to look good or to get your makeup look you desire. I will need the help tho. Going cold turkey is hard enough, living vicariously might help me!

That windswept look you see is my AC cause it was hot as balls this morning.  On the lid I have on what's growing to be a favorite Kiko Milano #102 (Dark Pearly Gold), in the crease Drift by ColourPop, and Lace by ColourPop in the Outer Corner.  Now the lip.  I know it's a Fall red but I feel in love it's Maybelline Matte Lipstick in Divine Wine and yes hunny I feel divine.

I am going to be making adjustments to the blog and would love to hear your ideas.  As you know I love spotlighting the looks you ladies do.  Please send your favorites to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com

No Adulting Today

I am not adulting today. I don't give a French horn what happens.   I am tired of paying bills, and waking up at 6 a.m., and wearing pants.  So I'm just gonna do it today.  I'm running down the street soon as I get out of work, gonna run with my dog and maybe prank call some ppl.  It's crazy when you're 16 you can't wait to be 18, and when you're 18 you can't wait to be 21, and then somewhere right around 25 you're soul dies just a little bit and you just want to stop the adulting.  I remember when I thought being an adult meant staying up late and not having to listen to anyone.  IRL being an adult means thanking God for going to sleep on time and hoping to Gawd you have a good boss.  I am just not doing it today so in case anyone else is over adulting I invite you to find a coloring book, some crayons, and a juice box.  Down with adulthood!

New lipstick today! Loving Maybelline ColorSensational Rebel Bloom Lipstick in Orchid Ecstasy.  For eye makeup I have on MAC pigment in Melon, in the crease I have ColourPop in Hammered, and Password in the outer corner from the UD Naked Smoky Palette

It's Friday y'all! Make sure to check IG: blackgurlzboldlips and Twitter @Bgurlzboldlips for closer looks!

No Title

I had major writer's block today, in addition to actual work. Good thing Blogger suggested a title for me. S/O to you Blogger for providing the alley where I had no oop.  Now that I think about it, "No Title" is probably the best title for today.  Some things happen in life that you have no words for.  Whether it's a certain self-betrayal, or that strange feeling you get when you scratch the bottoms of your feet, or when people die in police custody and we're just supposed to believe it.  As a logophile, I pride myself on being able to always describe a situation or a certain emotion.  But I guess today no title will work cause there are things that are going on that just have no words.

Boobies! Now that's out of the way.  Today I went all Kiko Milano on the eyes. Lid #102, Crease #135, Outer Corner #134.  For the lipstick, an oldie but a goodie, Hourglass Opaque Rouge Lipstick in Icon

All It Takes is One

It's been a funky two days but that's okay. You know how sometimes you feel like folks just aren't getting you? Or all your efforts at work are yielding nothing? Or somehow even your outfits or face isn't working (this is not that day, thank you Heavenly Father). When things are in the poop it's hard to get out of it. And then like a flood of angels on gilded wings comes something or someone that makes it all better.   I was having dinner with a lovely friend of mine and she said some really positive things about me.  And it just made these last two days nothing to sweat.  When you're a misunderstood individual or an introvert like me, you often wonder if people are seeing you for your intentions and not just your actions.  Yes actions speak louder than words, but how often do people see what your intentions and unspoken qualities are?  It's those kind of situations or people that come in and make everything better, even if for a moment.  When in the poop know that all it takes is one to get you out.

Sunlight is the best light! Today's lipstick is Sangria Color Statement Lipsick by Milani Cosmetics.  On the lid: MAC Pigment in Rose; the Crease and the Outer Corner both come from the UD Naked Smoky Palette, crease Dirty Sweet, outer corner Whiskey

You guys know the deal? Send your favorite looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com! 

Time and Effort

Time and effort.  A procrastinator's worst nightmare.  Seriously they are.  Not that I don't like to do things are make things happen, I do, I just love to take my time to do it.  The thing about that is, things always look better when you take the appropriate time and effort. Because I've added new steps to my morning makeup routine (which took it up 117 notches!) I've added in at least 2 extra minutes.  I could skip it all but then I would just be alright.  I wouldn't be this beaming pillar of caramel deliciousness that you see before you.  Anything good requires time and requires the effort to make it good.  When considering what can take you from good to gooder to goodest (yes, I know those words aren't real, plz don't come for me thanks.) try a little more time and effort.  It just might help. 

I'm glad I'm finally sharing this lipstick with you guys! It's Wild Child by Pink Diamonds Cosmetics.  Of course I'm wearing Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette.  On the Lid: Thirteen; in the Crease: Radar; on the Outer Corner: Black Market

StanChelle took one of my suggestions (yay!) and finally tried Flat Out Fabulous by MAC.  I think it looks good, yes?

 Don't forget to follow on ID (blackgurlzboldlips) and Twitter (@Bgurlzboldlips) for closer looks
 
So I'm completely stanning over my Urban Decay Smoky Palette.  Do you have any favorite looks?  Send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!!

Into the Shadows - Info Post #2

In case you missed the last info post on the best application methods for your eye shape check them out here.  There are several different ways to wear eyeshadow but it's always important to know what the best looks will be when trying them out.  Some things to consider when wearing eyeshadow is time of day.

Daytime 

For daytime looks, subtle colors and flesh-toned shades create defined looks that don't scream Saturday night on Monday morning.  For all my black beauties out there, golds, taupes, coppers, green-golds, burgundies, cranberries, browns, lavenders, any variation of these colors in mattes and shimmers are perfect for day time looks.  You can either do a solid color, a solid with the crease , or a solid with a crease and outer corner trio.  Anything more and it might look too busy.  

When it comes to eyeliner, soft brown or a gentle hand with black liner can set the look together.  For daytime you generally don't need to line the top and bottom.  Lining the top should give you the look you want.

Nightime

Nightime is where you can lose with freaking mind (within reason of course).  I personally love shimmers and metallics for nighttime.  Somehow that camera flash always picks up the right flecks. in the makeup that makes your eyes pop.  Some really great colors for nighttime are blues, icy grays, purples, metallic dark greens, metallic coppers, golds, blacks, silvers and teals.  Eyeliner looks great at night, here is where you want to pull out black eyeliner and line your top and lower lids.  Colored eyeliner is also great here.  I usually use colored eyeliner on the lower lid to accentuate eyeshadow.  A couple coats of jet black mascara also works great here. 

Any tips, suggestions, or colors you would like to consider?  Send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Friday Forever Boo

When I opened my eyes and hit the snooze button for the 3rd time this morning I stared up at the ceiling and said "Thank you Lord it's Friday."  I swear the older you get the more you start to fall in love with the weekend.  It starts off as puppy love in elementary and junior high, and slowly grows in high school.  Then it becomes a drunken love affair in college.  You don't quite appreciate it as much because Captain Morgan or Bacardi Razz is messing up your vision but you still enjoy a good tumble.  It isn't until you're in your 20s until Friday really becomes bae and you start having those marriage thoughts in your mind.  I love Sundays because they're relaxing, I love Saturdays because they're fun.  But there's something about Friday that always wants me to give up my other hoes and settle down.  Friday is my forever boo and I love you.

P.S. I got the new Urban Decay Smoky Palette and I'm feeling swatchy.  Anyone interested in getting the lowdown on colors?  Send your favorite looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Urban Decay Smoky Palette is finally here! On the Lid: Radar; In the Crease: Smolder, in the Outer Corner: Dagger and in the Middle Lid: High.  I went with a slightly nude lip by Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural in N9 (Copper Pink) 

4am

IRL I can't wake up before 5 am no matter how hard I try.  I had to get up this morning because of course a woman's work is never done but I'm glad I at least got up at 5 am. When I think about what I could accomplish if I just got up an hour earlier or actually on time, it almost astounds.  I think that's one of the struggles of Type B personalities like me. We would be monsters if we weren't so laid back.  One of these days though I'm gonna wake up at 4 am and I'll be unstoppable!

 

 

What's your best face at 4am? Send in your favorite looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com

 

Today I have on ColourPop in Dare on the lid, MakeUp Forever D-926 in the Crease and Kiko Milano #178 in the Outer Corner.  On my lips I have on Anastasia Liquid Lipstick in Heathers.
 

Work with It

I bought some new makeup recently, so it goes without saying I've been super pressed to use it. Despite that, as I was getting ready for a conference today I went back to some oldies but goodies. Rather than turn away from the old stuff I decided to work with it. New and shiny is going to be great (I have a palette on the way for Friday) but it's always good to look at the old and see how you can work with it. There's always a new look or a new challenge you can take on with the things that are familiar to you.

Today I wanted golds to shine! I have on Makeup Forever ME 728 on the lid; ColourPop Drift in the Crease; and M7 from Smashbox Full Exposure Palette in the Outer Corner. On the lip I have on one of my new loves MAC Matte lipstick in D for Danger 

Serena is the Jam

I am not a tennis fan but I am a Serena fan. I pretty much love both Williams sisters. Serena really is a powerhouse champion.  It's unfortunate that one of the world's top-ranked athletes still has to put on a dress to let her male detractors know that she's a woman.  Somehow her actual body isn't enough so she has to put on a dress and some sass (if you've never seen Serena tell the crowd not to try her--do your life a favor) so they'll be less-inclined to talk about her physique or her height.  Straight up, y'all are lame for that.  It's crazy that women have to dance the fine line between being successful and being feminine because somehow in the male mind the two are mutually-exclusive (this is where my voice went down indicating the highest levels of sarcasm).  Makeup would seem like one of those other tools in the "I am Woman, Don't Play Down My Accomplishments" arsenal.  It's a silly practice in 2015 we still have to engage in however, regardless of the short-sightedness makeup still rocks and Serena is the jam.

You can't really tell but I have #102 Kiko Cosmetics which is Gold on the lid, ColourPop Drift (Cranberry) in the Crease and #135 Kiko Cosmetics in the outer corner which is sparkly gray.  On the lips I have on Milani Matte Confident lipstick

You guys keep me going, send me your favorite eye looks! Blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com 

Fannie Lou Said

It's been a long week.  Emotionally.  The great labor and civil rights leader, Fannie Lou Hamer, once said "I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired." If she were alive today, I'm pretty sure she'd say "fcuk this shid" (but she was saved so she might not).  Everyday WOC combat erasure.  The insidious process by which everything about us gets minimized, mitigated, washed away or flat out ignored. Our pain is ignored, our struggle is ignored, our truths are ignored.  In no place do we get ignored more than the beauty world. Model Nykhor Paul nicely handed white makeup artists their asses to them in an IG post where she summed it up succintly, "Dear white people in the fashion world! Please don't take this the wrong way but it's time you people get your shit right when it comes to our complexion" She also said that makeup is art and art is never racist (that's debatable but you get the idea).  I love makeup, we know this.  What I would love more is more black and brown faces in print magazines, in ads, on the runway, on blogs, on YouTube, alladat.  A cover with 3 black women isn't cutting the mustard.  No shade Teen Vogue but in addition to perpetuating poor body images of young girls, y'all don't know that black women come in more colors than just beige?  Fa'real? Am I supposed to applaud y'all cause y'all finally realized Black Gurlz are magic, in 2015? Vogue, bye!  Fight against the forces that tell you you're too black, or brown, or olive, or yellow, or women, or feminine, not feminine, and would rather see you wither on the vine than thrive and be alive.  And don't forget your mascara when you do it!

Today I used the Kat Von D Chrysalis Eyeshadow Palette.  Lid: Lifelike, Crease: Mezzanine, Outer Corner: Tornay.  For lipstick I have on Clinique Berry Pop

Yesterday I used Too Faced's Return of Sexy Palette. On the lid: Ingenue, Crease: Innocent, Outer Corner: Casting Couch. For lipstick I have on MAC in Damn Glamorous lined with MAC Beet Lip Pencil

Tuesday I used the MakeUp ForEver Makeup Artist Palette.  On the lide:I-524 Pinky Beige  Crease: D-926 Blueberry Outer corner: ME-930 Black Purple.  For lipstick I used ColourPop Lippie in Fighter

Warrior Paint

So every once in a while some woman will do the no makeup challenge, or do the half no makeup or whatever to challenge notions of beauty and self worth and blah blah blah. It's funny to me that people get shamed for wearing makeup everyday because it seems like we're being untruthful, or we're ashamed of how we look. For many of us, that couldn't be further from the truth.  When I wear make-up I feel empowered.  Aside from the fact that I look pale when I awaken in the morning, makeup give my face vitality, and color, and general brightness.  All of that becomes a part of me when I'm wearing make-up.  I couldn't tell you the times I resisted tears because I was wearing mascara.  It made me stronger in those moments. Many cultures engage in face paint or warrior paint because they believe it will give them magical powers and allow them to defeat their enemies.  My makeup gives me magical powers and allows me to defeat my enemies. So for all the anti-makeupers, don't catch me in my warrior paint cause I'm coming for you. 

On the eyes: I did a lot today but thankful it's all from one palette.  It's the MAKEUP FOREVER Artist Palette.  On the lid: I-550 (Olive Gray), in the crease: D-652 (Celestial Earth), in the middle of the lid I have one 2 colors: I-524 (Pinky Beige) and ME-728 (Copper Red) and finally (whew!) I have on ME-930 Black Purple  on the outer corner.  On the lips: I have on Knockout from Pink Diamonds Cosmetics, a black-owned biz from a lovely lady in San Diego and I have on MAC lip liner in Vino to give it an ombre look. 

What are your best warrior faces? Send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Two-Fer

Y'all..... June was so real. When you are good at blogging, you can blog when you travel or when you're actually working at work. But when you're "not bad" at blogging, you end up on an unintentional hiatus. I know I've said I'm back before but this time I mean it. Read my lipstick! So get ready to send me pics of all your favorite eye shadows and lipsticks cause I'm here for it. I'm starting July off with a Two-fer: What was supposed to be yesterday's look and today's. I also decided to do some glasses on glasses off for my fellow 4-eyed ladies.

On my eyes I have ColourPop Dare on the lid, Make Up Forever D-926 (Blueberry) in the crease and Make Up Forever  ME-230 (Peacock Blue)  in the outer corner.  On the lip: Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Pinkalicious lined with MAC in Cork

On my eyes I have a new SEPHORA Collection MicroSmooth Baked Eyeshadow Trio I have the lightest shade on the lid, the mid on the crease and the darkest on the outer corner.  On my lips I have MAC Matte Lipstick D for Danger lined with MAC Lip Pencil in Beet 

Bad weather is a great time to experiment in your makeup.  Send your favorite looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com