Category: #lifestyle

Whaaaaat’s Up?

It has been oh so long since I have written. Why? I can’t really say. So many reasons, no real reason at all. Mainly it was the pandammit (pandemic). It really did take a lot away from many of us. Some people lost loved ones, some people lost their jobs, some people lost their sanity. The vast amount of uncertainty with the added stress of news reports, to vaccinate or not to vaccinate and everything in between. It has been exhausting.

Figuring out a new way of living and navigating daily life has been hard. Really hard. Wearing a mask everywhere you go. Not the phony half smile, pretend mask we used to wear, but now we are actually wearing masks. Everywhere. All day everyday. From the time we leave the confines of our homes until the time we return…masks. And to be honest being nervous if you forget to mask or being in the presence of someone without a mask. Life as we know it is just different. The more things change, well the more they are changing.

I was able to change jobs during the pandemic. Moving from working from home 100% to being in an office 99% of the time. In the midst of a pandammit. It appears that COVID is not going anywhere and we just have to figure out how to live with it. Kind of like a chronic recurring boil that never really healed and never really left. Just there waiting to come back at the most inconvenient time, whenever it wants to no matter what you think or feel.

Photo by Christina Morillo on Pexels.com

So my absence wasn’t personal or neglectful. It was necessary. COIVD caused a mild depression to kick in. Then there was the stress of the old job, then the stress of changing jobs, then the stress of the new job. So much going on, while still learning and navigating the new normal and the new way of living.

Photo by ANTONI SHKRABA on Pexels.com

All that to say that I am back. I have missed blogging, missed my audience, missed the interaction. There is so much to get caught up on and so much to share, so stay tuned.

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Celebrating Black History (Black Beauty)

Black Beauty brands have been taking the world by storm. After years of having a difficult time finding colors and shades that compliment the rich and warm hues of African American skin tones, these makeup moguls have taken the world of beauty by storm and not only have they created products for all women, they have done an amazing job making sure that women of color can find make in the shade no matter how dark, light or in between. This Black History we celebrate the following African American women who are moguls in the beauty world.

Pat McGrath

Pat McGrath

Dame Patricia Ann McGrath is a British makeup artist turned makeup mogul.  McGrath is the makeup artist to the stars and has been called the most influential makeup artist in the world.  She was also included on Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People’s List. 

McGrath’s makeup line hosts a variety of colors for face, lips, eyes as well as exclusive merchandise. Pat McGrath has makeup for everyone. Encouraged by her mother to experiment with mixing pigments, the billion-dollar McGrath brand has something for everyone from the earth tone nude makeup lover to the person who enjoys experiment with pigmented colors. 

Melissa Butler

Melissa Butler

Melissa Butler launched the Lip Bar from her Detroit kitchen in 2012.  Frustrated with the beauty industry, Butler decided to create her own lip line.  Fast forward to 2021, Butler’s line is carried by Target and Walmart and includes selections not only for lips, but face and eyes as well. 

Her new product Fast Face offers customers the ability to complete a full-face look with all of the products included in the kit.  The customized color pallete allows women on the go to get everything they need for the fresh, flawless, full Fast Face. 

Fenty Beauty

Robyn Rihanna Fenty took the makeup world by storm when she introduced Fenty Beauty to the world.  Fenty stated that she used makeup as her weapon of choice for self-expression and a way to radiate her ever-changing mood.  She decided to launch a makeup line where everyone can be included.  The focus of the brand was on difficult to match skin tones and skin types. 

For the first year and a half that Fenty was on the market, many of the foundations were out of stock.  With colors and options for lips, eyes and face, Fenty Beauty has definitely become one of the world’s top selling beauty brands.  With colors and options for everyone, Fenty Beauty is definitely here to stay.

Juvia’s Place

Started by Nigerian Chichi Eburu, Juvia’s Place was founded due to Chichi’s struggle to find makeup for her deep skin tone.  Named for her children son Juwa and daughter Olivia, Juvia’s Place offers highly pigments colors for eyes, lips and face.

 Launched in 2016, Juvia’s Place places Black Women and Black Beauty at the center of their brand.  With palletes named the Nubian, the Saharan, the Warrior and the Zulu, you know that this is a brand for women of color, but that could be worn by anyone. 

Crayon Case

Created in 2017 by Raynell ‘Supa Cent’ Steward, the Crayon Case was literally an overnight success.  Steward gained popularity by demonstrating her makeup tutorials on YouTube.  Supa Cent grossed over $1,000,000 on Cyber Monday in 2018 in 90 minutes.  It has been nothing but a success story from that moment on. 

Known for the creative look of her products and the play on traditional school supplies, the Crayon Case comes with the brightest of bright colors as well as options for people who wear more subdued makeup choices, the Crayon Case is brand to be celebrated.