Hey yall! It’s been a minute since I wrote a blog post. Life has been so busy. I can’t believe the year has come to an end. 2023 was a beautiful year, I cannot wait until 2024. I hope you all had a great year as well. If not, I’m claiming you will in 2024. I want to share my top beauty products I used in 2023 that I will continue to keep on deck in 2024.

1. Makeup By Mario Surreal Skin Foundation: love this medium to full coverage foundation. It glides on the skin nicely and you only need a half a pump to cover your whole face. Best for normal to dry skin.

2. Biossance Omega Repair Cream: this is my baby. This cream does not irritate my skin. It’s light weight yet effective and hydrating. During Fall/Winter I do add Shea Nut Oil to it for extra hydration.

3. PlantLife Shea Nut Oil: ughhh, when I mean this cold pressed oil has stolen my heart, I enjoy it more than sweet almond oil. It is so hydrating and leaves the skin dewy and hydrated . I unfortunately cannot use Shea butter on my face, so this is a great alternative for me. I use this in my hair as well.

4. PlantLife Sweet Almond Oil: love this cold pressed oil as well. I love using it during spring and summer. I will use it in my hair, on my face, and on my body. It absorbs quickly and leaves the skin hydrated and glowy.

5. Fenty Glosses: the best glosses on the market. I don’t care what anyone says, these are the BEST in the game and I cycle through them often. I have hot chocolit, fussy, Fenty glow, and glass slipper. All of these glosses are comfortable on the lips and last throughout the day.

6. Rare Beauty Liquid Blushes (Dewy): I have encourage, believe, and joy. Used these blushes throughout the year. They are extremely pigmented and dewy. Easy to blessed and buff out with a buffing brush.

7. Rare Beauty Mascara: love this mascara. Easy to use. Makes the lashes look long and full. Great color pay off and does not flake off.

8. Anastasia Beverly Hills Lash Brag Mascara: great to pair with the Rare Beauty Mascara. Provides volume and length. This is more of dry mascara.

9. BareMinerals Pureness Gel Cleanser: my holy grail face wash. I keep 2 or 3 bottles on deck. It is perfect for my dry sensitive skin. It is hydrating as well.

10. Original Jamaican Castor Oil: I use this oil for my eyebrows and it works wonders. It grows my brows within weeks and makes them full and fluffy.

11. Aloe Vera: my baby who keeps me hydrated at night. I use fresh aloe vera every night after I wash my face. It keeps my skin hydrated, clear, smooth, and reduces any irritation and inflammation I have when I try out a new product and does not agree with my skin. Adding aloe to my skin has been a total game changer. Aloe also has helped my brows grow

12. La Roche Posay Lipikaur Baume Cream: this product is awesome when you have a compromised skin barrier. I can’t use it all the time, but when I do it soothes and hydrates my skin. It can be pore clogging so beware.

13. La Roche Posay Ciciplast: love this beautiful gem. This has helped combat some of my acne. I typically use it when I’m about to start my menstrual cycle. I will apply this after I apply my Biossance Omega Repair Cream. It provides extra hydration and soothes my skin barrier during that time of the month.

I hope all have a wonderful new year and enjoy your time with your family and friends. Cheers 2024. Goodbye 2023. You were so good to me.

Happy Sunday folks. I hope you all had a great weekend. I went to see JMSN in concert on Friday, and it was marvelous. He was such an amazing performer. Okay, so I’m ready to talk about one of my favorite foundations right now. It is the Makeup By Mario SURREALSKIN Foundation. I have been using this foundation off and on for five months, I’m hooked.

At first, I did not like this foundation. I felt like it was extremely oily. For me to say that, and y’all know I have the driest skin, that is major for me. I started reading reviews on this foundation and other people stated the same thing. It also would separate on my skin. Once I found the proper way to prep and apply this foundation, it turned into magic on my skin.

With this foundation, I find it best to apply with your fingers or use the Real Techniques Blend & Blur Foundation Brush. A little goes a long way with this foundation, so you only need half a pump to cover your whole face. After you complete your makeup look, you NEED to set this foundation with setting powder. This is key to keep the foundation in tact. I don’t set this foundation with any setting spray. When I did it made me look so oily and my foundation separated. I use MAC FIX+ setting spray and it does not pair well with this foundation.

This foundation is extremely hydrating and nourishing. There is Grapeseed oil and Squalane in this product. When you apply this foundation, you will see little specs of mica in it. The specs are gorgeous. I am shade 23O in this foundation. This foundation is $42.00 and to me, is the worth the price. This foundation is best for normal to dry skin. My combination and oily babes, stand clear from this foundation. This foundation will be amazing during the fall/winter. I can’t wait to use it even more during the holidays.

Have any of you tried this foundation? If so, how do/did you like it?

Hi babies. Happy October 1st. I cannot believe it’s almost holiday time. 2023 has been moving along quite rapidly I tell ya. I hope you all had a fabulous weekend. Mine sure was! Okay, I’m ready to talk about one of my favorite foundations of the year. It is the NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation. This has become one of my favorite foundations I have ever owned. Y’all know, I have a love/hate relationship with NARS. I noticed they have been revamping their products. Some products are better and some are worse! I’m also a picky anal little baby and I feel like, why try fix something that isn’t broke? 🙄

The NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation is a medium buildable coverage foundation that provides a natural finish. This product blurs out imperfections such as dark spots, redness, and blemishes. Because of the skincare in this product, it helps protects your skin barrier from environmental factors. No, it does not have SPF in it, so you will have to apply your SPF before applying this product on your face.

This foundation is light weight and dewy. It is best to apply this foundation with your fingers then buff out with a fluffy foundation brush or sponge. This product is best suited for people who have normal, dry, or sensitive skin. Combination skin may be able to use this product but it does get dewier throughout the day and cause your T-Zone to get oily. My oily babies, stand clear from this foundation. This is not for you🤣

I am the shade Macao in this foundation. I have noticed Macao has gotten warmer over the years. You will need to test out the shades in store to find your match. You can purchase this product at Nordstrom, Ulta, Macys, NARS online, and Sephora. This product is $50. A little goes a long way so you don’t need to much to get a full face. I also like mixing this product with the COVERFX Luminous Tinted Moisturizer and it makes my skin look flawless. If you are looking for an alternative to the NARS Natural Radiant Foundation, this is it. It doesn’t transfer all over the place like natural radiant does.

Have any of you tried this foundation. If so, how do/did you like it?

Happy Fall Everyone. I hope you all have been well and enjoyed your Summer. I sure did. Fall is here which means it’s time to switch up your skin care routine once again. I love when the season changes and I can add more occlusive and cream base products to my routine. I live for it. Since I have dry skin, I need hydrating products.

So, I was able to get my hands on the La Roche Posay Lipikqr Baume AP+M (Canadian version) ! Shoutout to my bestie for snagging this baume for me. I’m so in love with this product. Unfortunately, the American version of this product does not absorb in my skin (Triple Repair Cream) and it caused me to breakout. I’m so happy the Canadian version works for me. It’s a thick cream that is hydrating and gives a beautiful glow. It pairs well under makeup as well. A little goes a long way with this product.

This baume is packed with hydrating ingredients such as niacinamide, Shea butter, and Aqua Posae Microresyl. I love any product that has Shea butter in it. This product is best for someone who has normal, dry, or sensitive skin. If you have a damaged moisture barrier, this will be a great product to invest in. When my skin is irritated, I put this product in my face and within a couple days, my skin is feeling less irritated and inflamed. This will be one of my holy grail products during the colder months.

Have any of you tried this product? If so, how did you like it? Also, I forgot the price of this product. Sorry y’all! Just know, anything in Canada is more expensive LOL.

Happy Sunday bebes. The weather in the PNW has been immaculate. The sun has brought me so much joy and makes my skin very happy.

I want to update you on one of my favorite face creams I use pretty much throughout the year. Last year, I informed y’all I use the Biossance Omega Repair Cream and add Marula Oil. That was a nice combination, but it didn’t give me the hydration I needed.

I now add cold pressed tamanu oil in and glycerin in it. There is glycerin in this product so adding a bit more helped with my hydration. This combo is ELITE. I use it year round and makes my skin so happy. On top of that, I be looking dewy asf. When I add these oils, I don’t measure them btw. I just add little by little, mix it up, and apply to a small area on the face until I feel it is moisturizing enough.

The Biossance Omega Repair Cream is one of the few face creams I use on my dry sensitive skin. The price is steep, ($60-$78 depending on size) but totally worth the price.

What face creams do you all enjoy using? Have a great rest of your day.

Happy July babies. Can you believe we are half way through the year? Time is just flying by. It’s been a minute since I posted so I wanted to introduce you to a product I’m loving during the warmer months. I have been searching all year for a tinted moisturizer my skin loves. I finally found it and it’s the Cover FX Luminous Tinted Moisturizer. I love the fact it doesn’t have SPF in it because majority of the tinted moisturizers I tried, irritate my skin do to the SPF them.

Cover FX is an OG brand that was popping from 2014-2016. I used their cream foundation and custom glow drops. They are not as popular anymore but I will always give Cover FX there flowers. This tinted moisturizer is extremely luminous. It’s light weight and has shimmer in it. I mix this tinted moisturizer with my NARS foundation and a little bit of concealer. I don’t like wearing full coverage foundations In the Summer. If you’re looking for a tinted moisturizer that is medium coverage, this product is not for you. You will need to mix this tinted moisturizer with another product to get better coverage.

I honestly can say, I don’t think I would wear this product by itself because it is very luminous. Well, unless I’m on a beach somewhere, then I’d mix it with SPF for the ultimate glow. This product has four shade ranges to choose from. For the breakdown, you will have to visit Cover Fx website. I am shade N90 in there cream foundation so I chose the shade “tan” for the tinted moisturizer.

This product is great for all skin types. It isn’t dewy or matte. It is more of a satin finish. If you like to mix your products together, you’re new to makeup and want something light and fresh, or simply and teen this product would be awesome for you. Have any of you tried this product? If so, how do you like it.

This product costs $39. You can order it off Cover FX website.

Happy Sunday babies. Can you believe it is already June? We are almost half way through the year. Yesterday, I attended a friends 30th birthday dinner and I had a FUCHSIA moment y’all. From my lipstick to the outfit, I felt like a little pink panther and I wasn’t mad about it.

Okay, so let’s get into it. I had to do a major throwback and wear one of my favorite lipsticks from MAC. I use to rock Flat Out Fabulous in 2014 during the Spring and Summer. Fuchsia is one of my favorite colors and it was only right to pair this lipstick with my fuchsia outfit. Flat Out Fabulous is a bright fuchsia lipstick with a complete matte finish. The color is extremely intense so if you’re not use to vibrant lipsticks, this is not for you. The formula is pretty comfortable on the lips but it is a bit drying after 4 or 5 hours. You will need to reapply after you eat or drink, but that is normal with any satin or matte lipstick.

When I bought this lipstick I paid $16. Now the lippie $22 which is a bit high to me but worth it. This lipstick will suit all skin tones. If you’re looking for a fuchsia lippie, this is the one. You can purchase this lipstick at MAC, Ulta, Macys, and Nordstrom.

Happy happy Sunday y’all. I hope you had a fantastic weekend. Can you believe tomorrow is already Monday? Where did the time go? Sooooo, let’s get into this topic. When that menstrual cycle comes along my skin gets sensitive and dehydrated. At times, it can get extremely inflamed. Most of you all know you can experience breakouts as well. I usually break out on my forehead and around my draw line.

Before and during your cycle, you need to give your skin a little extra love. Studies show that women usually experience sensitive and dehydrated skin 7-10 days before their period. I know I do. During this time you should use gentle cleansers such as bareMinerals Pureness Gel Cleanser, Aveeno Calm and Restore Cleanser, or your favorite brand of Micellar water. There are other gentle cleansers you can use, I just wanted to name a few. Manuka Honey and fresh Aloe Vera masks are great to provide extra hydration to the skin. Opt for facial creams and facial oils to add hydration to your skin and apply day and night.

Things you should not do while on your period are:

• Exfoliate. This will inflame the skin. Do not exfoliate your skin a before your cycle or a day after.
• Get facials. You don’t want to get peels, extractions, microdermabrasions, or dermabrasion. this can irritate and inflame your skin.
• Skip washing and moisturizing your skin. Please wash your face once day and moisturize. You want your skin to be hydrated and plump.

Remember to be extra delicate with yourself during this time. Your body is going through a hormonal change and you need to give yourself all the extra love.

Happy Sunday everyone. I hope you all had a wonderful relaxing weekend. Okay, I can’t wait to talk about this new product I picked up. If I could rate this a negative zero I would. Now, Kiehl’s is one of the top brands in the skincare community, but I cannot get jiggy with them. When I mean this facial lotion burned the SHIET out of my skin, my skin was FLAMING. MY MOISTURE BARRIER WAS WRECKED. SENSITIVE SKIN, STAND GUARD FROM THIS PRODUCT.

This product is definitely for someone who has normal to combination skin. I’m not too sure why people say this is a good alternative for sensitive and dry skin because I think other wise. It burned, it dehydrated skin, and was not moisturizing at all. I have been trying to find a cheaper alternative to my Biossance Omega Repair Cream but I played myself. It was very sticky as well. I was reading reviews online and some customers stated they change the formula.

I don’t think KIEHL’S is a bad brand as a whole, but this product is trash. I’ll be sticking to my Biossance Omega Repair Cream and La Roche Posay Cream.

Have any of you tried this product? If so, what do you think about it?

Happy Sunday beauties. I hope you all had a fabulous and relaxing weekend. I’m currently battling a nasty cold that I’m trying to get rid of. I have not been this sick in such a long time y’all. Okay, let’s get into it. I was so EXCITED to try out the Ami Cole Skin-Enhancing Tint & Concealer but baby when I mean those two products burned the shhhhh out of my skin, it BURNED like no other.

I was so sad because the two products together were gorgeous on my skin. These products would’ve been awesome to wear during Spring/Summer. They definitely gave me contact dermatitis on my eyelids for days. Luckily, I keep fresh aloe Vera and Manuka honey on deck so within a week my skin was back to normal. Y’all already know I have the most sensitive skin so anything can disrupt my barrier.

Ami Cole is a clean beauty brand that caters to the black and brown community. They use natural ingredients such as Baobob Seed Oil, Hibiscus Flower Extract, and Desert Date Oil. The skin-enhancing tint was breathable, buildable, and left the skin looking radiant. I added a bit of concealer on top for more coverage and it was chef kiss kiss. The color match was perfection. The two products are very natural and blend into the skin effortlessly. For those of you who have sensitive skin, use this product with precaution. I think the hibiscus flower extract irritated my skin.

This products is suited for all skin types. Sensitive skin use with precaution and read the ingredient lists before applying to your face. The skin-enhancing tint is $32 and the concealer is $24. I purchased these products at Sephora. I am deep 2 in the skin tint and deep 1.5 in the concealer.

Have any of you tried these products? If so, how do you like them?