Hey there, I am me. Me am I. A black beauty am I. The sun smiled at my body and turned my skin into its own little chocolate factory. Several shades of a dazzling dark complexion. A black beauty am me. As I walk, the view of my curves captivates the attention of all those looking on. Wow they say, **** isn’t she fine. A black beauty am I. People often underestimate my potential but they don’t know that there’s more to me than meets the eye. My intelligence allows my voice to be heard because I excel at everything I do. A black beauty am me. A warrior, a fighter, a lover and a friend. I am a black beauty who believes in the power of sisterhood to uplift rather than tear down; to encourage rather than discourage; to dream rather than to fight. Not only am I beautifully black but I am me and me am I…Black beauty….
Beautiful woman this poem is for you Full of beauty and grace Rare black Queen sitting high on your throne No one can take your place Your heart is full of pure gold Never to be played with Bought or sold Your Love is Patient Your Love is kind Always trying to bring joy to others even when you can’t do it for yourself And keeping them close in mind A good woman is what you are A woman to whom is proud of who she is and what she stands for Never seeking definition from whom she is with A strong woman is what I see when I look at you One who can pick up the small pieces of her broken heart And carry on as if she was never hurt in the first place. When talking about this woman I can’t help but smile Knowing the woman that I can speak so highly of is ME.
When a makeup lover goes on a trip, even if it’s just for a weekend, she puts a lot of careful thought into what gets packed. Between storing all of the tools necessary for completing a full face beat, to squeezing in a few multi-use, all-in-one palettes just in case, there’s a lot of precious (read: valuable) cargo in tow. Luckily, shopping for the best travel makeup bag can actually be really fun, especially when they’re as cute as this.
Consider your products protected in this hard shell cosmetic case from Calpak. It comes complete with three internal pockets for easy organization, a shoulder strap, a luggage trolley sleeve and to top it all off, is available in nine chic colorways.
The trait you didn’t even know you needed in a makeup bag: temperature control. Anyone who’s ever opened their cosmetic case after a long flight or car ride to find a melted lipstick knows the struggle. This leather traveling case uses renewable energy (no batteries) to keep your products safe and at a stable temperature during your journey.
What better way to ensure your makeup doesn’t get mixed up with anyone else than to monogram your initials on the case? This customizable clear travel case holds all of the essentials for an extended weekend away and makes a great gift.
This waterproof nylon carrier is the ultimate travel companion. Not only is your makeup safe in the cloud-like case, but it features an easy-to-clean lining and is ultra-lightweight — perfect for your carry on.
Say goodbye to digging around in your bag to find that one missing lipstick that’s lodged itself way at the bottom. This clear vinyl travel bag is large enough to hold a fair share of makeup and best of all, is easy to clean.
Are you a brush finatic? Same. This weekend makeup bag contains removable center panels with an organizer for all of your tools and multiple zipper pockets to hold everything you need.
Sleepy girl makeup emerged as one of NYFW’s softest beauty trends at Sandy Liang’s FW26 show. Created by makeup artist Romy Soleimani in collaboration with Rare Beauty, the look focuses on luminous skin, pastel pink blush, subtly emphasized under-eyes, and glassy lips for an intentionally undone, just-woke-up effect that’s surprisingly wearable in real life.
Societal standards of beauty are ever-changing and have come a long, interesting way from the ideals of ghostly white powdered skin, strong Roman noses, and tiny, pinched pouts of ladies painted with love and lust in Renaissance imagery. The past several decades have shifted toward ample lips that practically beg to be kissed.
We tend to think of beauty as an ownable entity, and that everyone’s unique look is what makes the beauty spectrum subjective and exciting. Besides, confidence outshines and outlasts any societal beauty expectations, so we say start there. The root of feeling confident starts with a healthy dose of self-love, and your lips’ fullness potential comes from a little TLC—so treat your kisser to a little extra care.
Exfoliate.
A dry, pale, shriveled lip is no canvas for lip color, nor exactly a beckoning call for a smooch. Exfoliation will rid your lips of any dry, scaly flakes and bring circulation to the area. This extra blood flow naturally fills a few cracks for an instant plump, and brings a flushed and rosy tint to your natural lips for a little color on their own. A lip scrub is perfect for the task, and most of them on the market are sugar-based, so if a little gets in your mouth (and it will), it’s perfectly safe and probably a little sweet. Try our DIY lip scrub recipe here.
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Strategically line.
And, never forget a plump pout’s best friend, lip liner. Not only does this help keep your lip color contained in the right perimeters (aka not bleed out for a Joker-style grin), but it also lends you a little creativity about where you want to define your lip line. We definitely suggest that subtlety is key here—going too far outside your lips toes the line of drag or even clown makeup. Both of which have their time and place, though it might not be at your office job or out on a casual date.
A very impactful difference can be made by penciling in just barely outside your lip line, mostly at the center edges of your lip and coming in closer to your true, natural lip at the corners of your mouth. Exaggerating just the cupid’s bow can make a world of change in the shape of your final look. It’s doll-like with reds, deep pinks, and berry hues, or sultry with a spectrum of nude shades.
Add a gloss.
The same way that exfoliation smooths things out, a gloss will help your lips reflect light for a larger look, too. If glossy isn’t really your thing, try just applying it to the center of your lips, so the shine is contained but creates a serious highlight.
Subtle contour.
A little bit of bronzer at the bottom part of your lower lip—right where a natural shadow occurs—can help. Use an eyeshadow brush to create a thin line just at the center point beneath your lower lip to exaggerate the shadow and make your lip appear more voluminous.
Try a stimulating balm.
If you prefer to go completely natural and want your full plump potential sans lip color or makeup, a stimulating ingredient in a balm or lip oil can help bring that coveted circulation back to your lips for easy reapplication all day. Peppermint and cinnamon are both incredibly stimulating—you can even feel the tingle. Look for products that already have them in the formula, or simply add a drop of the essential oil to your favorite lip balm. If you’re not sure of any sensitivities you may have to either oil, test on a small patch of skin on your arm, first.
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