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 

Flourishment

There are two things about today that is just total awesome sauce: (1) OITNB (if you not on it yet get your whole life), and (2) it's Friday.  Friday in real life means you get to count the hours until booze time, but in work life it means do actual work until 2 and then count the hours until booze time.  I really enjoyed yesterday's look so I wanted to try it with another nude look.  A light top makes the eye color pop and gives the nude lip space to breathe.  All of that leads to a state of greatness known as flourishment.  Flourishment today also includes getting everything on my list done today.  If I can do that then I will be in a full state of flourish.  Cheers to getting everything done, bomb eyeshadow and a great Friday!

Today, on the lid I have ME-728 Copper Red) by Make up Forever, on the crease I have on Fur Elise from the Lady Bird palette from Kat von Don the outer corner I have on Coconut Super Shock Eyeshadow by ColourPop.  On my lips I have on Maybelline Colorsensational lipstick in Pinkalicious, lined with MAC Cork and glossed with Starlet Sand Colorlicious lipgloss by Covergirl Queen Collection

Looking for your favorite eye looks and some of your favorite products.  Send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com

I Can't Make a Sexy Face

We all have our strengths and weaknesses in life.  I am really good at words and remembering information, but I suck at making sexy faces.  I've tried it and each time it looks like I have paralysis in my face.  So to ease the burden of my non-sexy having face I fake it with dramatic eye make up.  As a round/slightly almond eye-shaped gal I can pretty much do whatever I want.  The goal is to create depth and dimension that make the eyes stand out and draw attention to your face.  For today's look since I'm wearing a darker color I thought I would do more drama in the eyes and a nude lip.  Because I'm at work I didn't want to wear too heavy a face.  Even though I can't make a sexy face I go with what strengths I do have--the power to blend and an awesome smile.

Today's rundown includes: MAC Amplified Lipstick in Half n Half lined with MAC Chestnut.  On my lid I have Drift by ColourPop,  MAKE UP FOREVER D-652 (Celestial Earth) in the crease and M-928 (Eggplant) in the outer corner

Looking for your favorite eye looks and some of your favorite products.  Send them to blackgurlzboldlips@gmail.com