#BlackGurlBoldness

Happy Thursday!! I want to take a moment and applaud all my Kweens out there who are killing the game.  There is no dearth of think-pieces out there deconstructing #Lemonade and its exploration of the Black woman's journey of life.  Considering that the Black woman spends much of her life under heel of oppressive forces until she comes into knowledge of herself, it is imperative that Black women take a moment to embrace each other and amplify others that live boldly and wildly.  In 2016, makeup is still limited and regulated in the workplace.  Seriously, people still think red lipstick is taboo.  I say dash to convention and raise a glass to vivid colors that express the inner magic that is you.  Go Bold or Go Home!

Kept it simple using Too Faced Le Grand Chateau Paris in Love  palette.  On the lips is Too Faced Melted Matte in Bend and Snap.

MissRed Gal served it up Rossi Modo style in Orange You Cute!

Nicole is living fierce in Vraiment Rouge (Really Red) by Mary Kay

Check the fresh! Niama stunning in Smashbox Matte Lipstick in Bing

How do you serve up #blackgurlboldness? 

Send it blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

#Lemonade aka Limonad if you're Haitian

A moment of silence for our edges....I've said this about 10 times since Saturday I am not a Beyoncé Stan.  And I don't say that to be difficult, I say it to be honest.  I feel like to call yourself a real  fan you have to be ready to destroy in her name and I'm just not there.  And I wouldn't want the Hive to come for me on pretending to be one of them.  Let me just say I love angry B.  It's raw, it's unsettling, and it's enjoyable.  Although the lawyer in me couldn't help but think about all the laws she was breaking in "Hold Up," not to mention the lawsuit from the city after knocking off the top of the hydrant, but I digress. I also enjoy pained and hurt she's genuine, unrehearsed, emotional.  Aside from the music, the visuals of this album were stunning.  Beyoncé 's signature looks tend to be dramatic eyes and nude lips.  Whether it's heavy kohl-lined eyes, or bright colors, the focus is kept at the center, at the windows of the soul, with relatively neutral makeup.  Overall I loved every moment of #blackgirlmagic, from Serena's twerking to Quvenzhané Wallis to Zendaya and Amandla Stenberg posted up on that wooden stoop looking the baddest bitch team in the West. I've really only scratched the surface on this album but I look forward to drowning myself in the creativity.

This was really hard to recreate so I can only hope I came close.  On the eyes I used Kat Von D's Lady Bird and Chrysalis palettes to create an orange with blue accents look.  I also used MAKE UP FOR EVER Eyeshadow M-846 (Morello Cherry) to give it some extra something.  Kept it nude with Maybelline Lipstick in Warm Me Up and of course MAC Lipglass in Spite because I appreciate a glossy nude.

What were your favorite looks from this Opus of the Black Woman's experience in Love? 

Send it to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!!

Pinterest Challenge Day #7

Finally! Though I try to take a break on Mondays, I wanted to get this last look out the way before we got the whole week started off.  I have to say Pinterest isn't as terrible as I thought. Though I still don't understand the search algorithms, I learned that it helps to have a specific idea of what you are looking for when searching.  Rather than "black women makeup looks," having the name of palettes, lipsticks, or brands helps narrow down the field.  Also not to beat myself up if I doesn't look exactly the same, the point is to be inspired.  Albeit challenging at times, Pinterest was helpful in giving me some ideas, and I would definitely use it again.

For this look I used the Morphe Brushes 35B-35 Color Glam palette.  For this pinky nude, I used MAC Lip Pencil in Cork and NYX Liquid Suede Lipstick in Tea & Cookies

One word: #Lemonade. Send your favorite looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Pinterest Challenge Day #5 & #6

So my life is a hater y'all and so is my procrastination.  I actually did 3 looks off of Pinterest and never got a chance to showcase either of them, so I'm going to drop 2 looks here.  The third one I already forgot what I used and IRL I didn't like how it came out so I'll have a final one during the weekend.  As I'm sure you all know, the Earth caved in on itself and we're all in an alternate universe where Prince Rogers Nelson is no longer among us. So in honor of this genius among men, this eccentric being, I pulled this purple look from Pinterest.

Might not be 100% but I still liked this look.  For my eyes I used Make Up Forever I-524 (Pinky Beige) on the lid, Make Up Forever M-928 (Eggplant) in the outer corner, and Kat Von Ladybird palette in the crease.  Living my purple truth in Too Faced Melted Matte Lipstick in Unicorn and Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Violet Volt

Recreating this look I used Bonjour from the Too Faced Le Grand Chateau and Kiko Milano Cosmetics Infinity Eyeshadow in 257 for that extra sparkly gold look.  I used La Femme for the crease and outer corner also form Le Grand Chateau.  For the lips: NYX Cosmetics Liquid Suede Lipstick in Cherry Skies

Guys we made it!!!! I'm thinking of a glasses challenge for all my bespectacled beauties out there!! Any ideas send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!!

Pinterest Challenge Day #4

It's Friday, guys!! As the lovely ladies of the Another Round podcast say, "We Did It!" and it couldn't have come any sooner, this week was so real.  As for this challenge, I think I really do need a tutorial in Pinterest cause it's much harder than it needs to be.  I'm hoping by the final day I will somehow get it and be a Pinterest master.  We get 2 days to recharge, reconnect, rebrunch, whatever it is you need to get your mind right for Monday, use it wisely!

I woke up late so I really did not have the time to really research my makeup to achieve this but I pulled Smashbox Full Exposure, ColourPop Eyeshadow in Game Face, and Too Faced Return of Sexy palette. For the lips I went with Marc Jacobs Lip Creme in Dashing and NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella

Pinterest should pay me for the advertising I'm doing for them.  Are you taking the challenge?! 

Send your looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Pinterest Challenge Day #3

Running on fumes. Li'trally.  I really wish this week wasn't draggin its ass like it is but it's cool I'm already over it.  The challenge of this Pinterest challenge is 1) finding great looks (I'm convinced it's because Pinterest's algorithms sucks) and 2) actually putting the looks together so they are work appropriate.  I take encouragement in knowing that the weekend soon come and I can use all of the pinks, purples, shimmers, glitters, and vampy reds without worry.  I may suck at searching but I notice there aren't too many boards dedicated to makeup looks for black women in a cohesive way.  It may be time to create a Pinterest board for the blog so there are more looks out there for other women to use.  Happy Thursday and cheers to completing challenges.  

Pulled out Kat Von D Chrysalis palette to work the eyes.  Keeping it neutral with ColourPop Lippie Stix in Mosh Pit with MAC Lip Glass in Spite to top it off

Gabs is awesome using Morphe 35N Color Matte palette and Coastal Scents shadows Jewel Teal and Laguna Green. 

On the lips is Colourpop Ultra Matte Lipstick in Zipper

What will be the Pinterest look you pull off for Friday? 

Send it to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com! 

Pinterest Challenge #2

Day 2 y'all! So rather than struggle like I did yesterday, I decided to keep the 12Ps in mind and properly prepare, which is why I was able to promptly put my makeup on.  So far I've learned that Pinterest is actually a lot easier than I thought but still complicated AF.  It helps if you have some products in mind and then use that as an anchor to get yourself moving. Sidenote: I worked out 2 days in a row, so God is great and so is my #journeytoabs.  I'm looking forward to keeping the moment moving in my direction!!

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette on deck! In the Inner Corner is High; on the Lid is Armor; in the Crease is Radar; and in the Outer Corner is Dagger. On the lips I have on Too Faced Melted Liquefied Lipstick in Chihuahua topped with NYX Cosmetics Butter Gloss in Maple Blondie lined with MAC Cosmetics Lip Pencil in Cork

I need buddies on my challenge! 

Scour a look on Pinterest and email it to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Pinterest Challenge #1

Y'all, I don't know how use Pinterest or is Pinterest like a verb, and you just Pinterest? Either way I'm not good at it and I've had an account for a year.  After being sent a look from Pinterest I decided to take on a week-long Pinterest challenge.  I've noticed that much like most beauty boards it's mostly whyte women with the perfect blending technique and glitter that looks like Jesus put it on there himself.  I want to invite all of you ladies to take up a the Pinterest challenge with me, so you can learn not to be intimidated by makeup and to dazzle the internet with your beauty. 

Starting off easy, I used colors from the Morphe Brushes 35O Color Nature Glow palette on the eyes.  For the lips I used MAC Matte lipstick in Lady Danger lined with MAC Lip Pencil in Chestnut

I plan on pulling this off and would love to have you ladies be a part.  Scour Pinterest for some looks you'd like to wear and send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com with photo and product info!

Vision Bored

You ever wake up some mornings and think "Is this what I'm supposed to be doing with my life?"  I do sometimes, and I have to wonder if it's because I'm not dreaming big enough.  You know how they say if your dreams make sense then you're not dreaming big enough, or something like that, do you guys think that's true?  It always seems just a little difficult to get myself off the ground because my dreams are huge and procrastination is delicious.  Creating small goals for myself has helped me a bit but I can always use the encouragement, even if it's to get to work on time (which I have yet to accomplish this week) or finally work out on a consistent basis.  Even when it comes to makeup, I feel like I'm in a color rut, and I need some new combos to brighten up the day.  Maybe recognizing it is a small step in making changes and getting a new perspective. 

ColourPop all over: Lid: Game Face; Crease: Drift; Outer Corner: Plaid. On the lips is ColourPop Ultra Satin Lipstick in Prim

What color combos are you looking forward to this Spring? Send it to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com!

Wimminz Work

March was real; and unfortunately that millionaire oil baron that was supposed to come and take me away from this life didn't show up, so there's that. But I did get new makeup, thus life can move on.  Life requires so many things from us: time, patience, compassion, maturity, commuting, not walking out of work, not sending in a bag of poop to Sallie Mae HQ, etc.  It's important to remember in the work that you do, to devote some of that work to yourself.  Your boss, boo cakes, lil ones, younger sibs, Mee Maw n' dem are only good if you're good to yourself, so take the time to engage in some wimminz work and make sure that woman is you.

New stuff alert!! Went with ColourPop's Empire with ColourPop's Telepathy in the inner corner for some color on this windy day.  On the lips I have Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in Patina lined with MAC Lip Liner in Chestnut

Willl I blog tomorrow? Let's hope.  It always helps when I get submissions. Send your favorite Spring looks to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com