AN INTERVIEW WITH ANA DELAGILLO OF PRESSEDBBY

Hello beauties, it’s time to shed more light on women who are doing great things in the world. Today, we are super excited to announce our newest segment for BeautyLeeBar.com: a recurring interview series dubbed Ladies Who Inspire. Ever so often, we will spotlight one empowering beauty who is making an impact in the digital realm. These are ladies you’ll want to get to know and learn from. No matter the skin color or the job title, we are always delighted to partner up with women who inspire us daily.

Today, we introduce Ana Delagillo of PressedBby.com. Is the name sounding familiar? That is because last week we shared luxury pressed on nails that you can do at home for an affordable price which happened to be one of Ana Delagillo brands. Ana is a makeup artist and business owner who is inspiring her supporters through beauty and fitness.

Here’s what Ana had to say about her journey so far…

Let’s start from the beginning. How did you transition from being a Makeup Artist to being a fitness influencer then into running your own company?

This is a complex question, lol! So, makeup and fitness have always been huge for me. Makeup artistry helped me express my creativity and boost my self-confidence, which is something I had an extremely hard time with growing up due to bullying. Fitness, on the other hand, was my savior in terms of keeping me healthy. I was on a ton of medication for depression and PTSD in the past that caused me to gain an extreme amount of weight so working out also helped my self-confidence and self-esteem. As I grew on social media, I noticed that my passion wasn’t only makeup artistry or fitness, but helping young women feel empowered overall. Once I figured this out, I started posting my fitness journey on Instagram and noticed it was helping a lot of people start their journeys. I felt like I wasn’t doing much by just posting my progress on socials so I decided to start my own companies to further cater to my audience whether it’s through Pressed Bby or Peach Wear (which I’m still working on).

What has been your favorite makeup look that you have created whether it was on yourself or a client?

My favorite makeup looks that I have created has to be on my clients. All the looks I do for my clients have a place in my heart because they always leave my chair feeling confident, empowered, and like they can conquer anything! I had a wedding client a couple of years back and it was the most special thing ever because she cried and told me how beautiful she felt. That’s honestly the most gratifying thing about being a makeup artist.

How would you describe your style in terms of being a beauty influencer?

My style, I would say, is very raw. I don’t try to fit in! I’m just my authentic self and I hope to inspire others to be their authentic selves no matter what anyone might say or think!

Can you share some tips for people looking to enter the social media world?

The biggest thing is not to compare yourself to others! Not going to lie, I struggled with this when I started my influencing journey. I get it, it’s hard not to compare yourself to others with more likes, and followers, etc. but that’s not what matters! What matters is that you’re putting out content that you genuinely love, no matter the analytics! Also, don’t feed into the negativity! People will leave rude comments, it’s life, but remember it’s always a reflection of them and NOT you.

What advice would you give to young entrepreneurs who want to follow their dreams and start their own company?

Let go of the fear! Fear is the biggest thing holding many, many people back. Life is about risks and taking that leap of faith. Yes, you’ll make mistakes, especially as a young entrepreneur, but that’s how you learn! That’s how you grow, so as hard it may be, take those mistakes as a blessing! If you didn’t make mistakes, you would never know what to improve on.

Ana Delgadillo

We are huge fans of your Instagram. Do you have any tips or tricks for achieving an aesthetically awesome Instagram page?

Thank you!! I love planning out my posts, so using Photoshop (or anything similar) to plan my posts ahead of time and making sure they all look cohesive is extremely helpful in achieving an aesthetically pleasing feed!

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What is your favorite part about owning your own company?

I think it has to be how much you learn! Nobody in my family has ever leaped starting their own business so I love expanding my knowledge and knowing that I CAN do it. Aside from that, it’s super gratifying to see your business start growing and knowing YOU DID THAT!

What is the biggest lesson you have learned since launching your own company?

Doing your research beforehand! There’s so much that goes into creating your own company, so having a list of all the things you need to do before actually starting your business is KEY! For example, the why behind your company, who is your target audience, what are your differentiating factors, etc.

What has been the best moment of your career so far?

I would say the fact that I can just see myself growing into the person I’m meant to be! All the experiences I’ve had thus far, both positive and negative, are all equally as important to me. They all teach you lessons!

What’s your favorite part about doing collaborations?

My favorite part about doing collaborations is working with others! Whether I’m doing collaborations with a brand or another influencer, you always learn so much!

Ana Delgadillo

Words to live by?

Dreams don’t work unless you do!

What is next for Pressed Bby and Peach Wear?

I’m currently rebranding Pressed Bby and adding some new exciting things to the website! As for Peach Wear, I’m hoping to launch by the end of this year or the beginning of next year! When that’s complete, I plan on doing events and workshops to meet new people and continue my mission to empower young women!

Is there any woman who inspires you? Why? (In life, fashion, beauty, etc)

Oh my goodness, there are so many! First of all, my mother. She came to this country with nothing but the clothes on her back and me as a baby and managed to make sure my sister and I never needed anything. She taught me to always strive for better and that everything is possible no matter what happens along the way. The second person, I would say, is Nastassia Ponomarenko. Watching her motivational videos and seeing how she was able to create a successful company at the age of 16 was the push I needed to throw my fear out of the window and start my own! I know the next person isn’t a woman BUT he inspires me so much, Gary Vaynerchuck. I listen to his podcasts every morning and the insight and knowledge he gives out to people, willingly, honestly changes your perspective on so many things!

Do you have any upcoming events that we should watch out for?

No events at the moment, but hopefully in the next couple of years I can launch a secret project I’m working on to help young women all around the world who have gone through similar hardships as I have, and set up workshops so we can all come together and help them get through it ️🤍 I can’t give more details on this special project, but it’s something to watch out for!

Define beauty in your own words?

Beauty, to me, comes from the heart & not appearance. I know it’s super cliché to say, but I genuinely believe that a person’s heart is much more valuable than their looks! It’s the way you interact with others, how you see the world and how you treat yourself.

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What have you learned from being around other beauty creators?

I learned that we all have a unique voice! I struggled to find my “differentiating” factor in the industry but with a little time and a little analyzing, I realized that we’re all unique. We all have our own experiences that make us stand out from the rest. If you’re struggling with this, just know that your experiences are unique to you and it shaped you to the person you are today. I’m kind of going on a tangent but this also helped stop comparing myself to others because we’re all supposed to be unique ️🤍

Do you have any beauty and skincare routine that you follow religiously? If so can you tell the viewers some tips on how to get beautify like you!

SPF! I feel like sunscreen is super overlooked and many people believe that you don’t need it if you don’t go out or if the sun isn’t out, but girl! UVA & UVB rays are everywhere and they do not discriminate lol sun or not. Wear your sunscreen and drinks LOTS of water! OH, and don’t sleep with your makeup on lol!

Before closing out, what would you like for BLB readers and your supporters to know about you?

My supporters already know this lol, since I’m always saying this! There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, whether you’re having a bad day, a bad week, or a bad month; things will ALWAYS get better. You’re stronger and smarter than you know!

Keep up with ANA DELGADILLO amazing work on her YouTube and on Instagram here!

Who would you like to see me interview in my next Beauty Who Inspire?

Chat with us in the comments below.

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CANDLE SPOTLIGHT: 125COLLECTION

When it comes to decor, every element of your home’s design is a reflection of who you are. No matter if they’re big statement pieces like beds and sofas, or small ones like cabinet door fixtures and door stoppers, every item adds life and personality to your home.

Certain things will always be cherished as simple pleasures. One of those things is the feeling when you walk into a room and love the way it smells. Shouldn’t we feel that more often? I’m going to go ahead and say definitely. Candles are a simple way to brighten your most sacred space and fill it with delicious scents and positive vibes. 

Today, BeautyLeeBar has 125 Collection in the spotlight for a very good reason. 125 Collection is a Black-owned candle brand, not only Black-owned but 125 Collection is a FEMALE BLACK-OWNED brand! 125 Collection sells wonderful fragrance scented candles that display sweet, spicy, and spiritual quotes on each candle.

Quote candles by The 125 Collection are created to inspire, motivate and make you laugh. Made with a soy blend wax and a lead-free, cotton wick. Produced with premium fragrance oils created by a top perfumer in NYC. Proudly made in the USA. These candles set the mood. So not only does your space get to stay lit, but your support will help your fellow sister shine, and that’s the definition of #BlackGirlMagic.

ABOUT: The 125 Collection is an urban luxury candle brand that was created in Harlem and based in NYC that fuses fun, style, and individuality into its products. Founded by two friends in the beauty and fashion industries, they created this brand because they love candles but also because they wanted a product that encourages self-expression and self-love. Constantly inspired by NYC and pop culture, they created these candles to empower, inspire, and make you laugh. The 125 Collection name celebrates the legendary “125th Street” located in the heart of Harlem’s bustling community

Just FYI, each candle has a Fragrance profile that gives clear understandable description of the vibe that the candles will provide depending on which scent the consumer choices. Scroll down to find which 125 Collection are my faves:

Do No Harm
$35.00
¡Wepa!
$35.00

Fragrance profiles: 

Lavender & Sage: Cuddle up by the fire and retrieve into the comfort of soothing lavender & sage. Enveloping musk creates the perfect zen moment alone or with friends. 

Tobacco Flower & Vanilla: Indulgent, textural warmth, a woody gourmand expression that is frothy, creamy and elevated with tobacco & whipped vanilla balance with white woods. White musk & touches of coffee notes fueling an addictive, edgy sillage.

Spicy Blood Orange: A new freshness with unexpected warm, refreshing yet addicting, inspired by your favorite cocktail drink. A seasonless fragrance combines “fizzed” blood orange with a touch of spice balance with comforting warm notes of praline wood and vanilla.

Candle Specifics: Volume: 10.5 ounces Approximate burn time: 70 hours Candle Jar Dimension: 4.25 inches (tall) x 3.25 inches (diameter)

Do you have a scent you just can’t live without from a black owned brand? We’d love to know!

BEAUTY Glow Recipe Has Juicy News

THE BRAND IS RELEASING THE PERFECT PRODUCT JUST IN TIME FOR VALENTINE’S DAY.

Popular clean skincare brand, Glow Recipe has just dropped their newest watermelon-inspired beauty product: Watermelon Glow Lip Pop. The new lip product is a hybrid 3-in-1 lip balm, scrub, and tint; that is intended to smooth and hydrate the lips, with a versatile pink tint. The product is half makeup, half skincare, and everything your current lip balm isn’t.

Fruit is the muse for this fun brand, but not in a juvenile Lip Smacker sort of way. Glow Recipe is proving to the beauty industry that fruity flavors and colors can indeed be chic by focusing on the produce’s many skin-benefitting properties. Its moisturizers, masks, and mists are inspired by power ingredients like blueberry, banana, pineapple, and avocado.

The balm is designed to help with uneven texture and dryness on the lips. It is formulated with watermelon seed oil, watermelon extract, coconut oil, coconut flower sugar (hence the exfoliation) , and AHA extracts derived from hibiscus, wild pansy, and hawthorn. The formulation of the lip product has an exfoliating sugar texture, that melts upon application. The balm is also designed to react with the pH of the lips, and give off a customized pink lip tint. The lip balm is infused with Coconut oil and jojoba esters that deliver long-lasting moisture (because unlike the rest of the skin on your face, your lips don’t have oil glands, which makes them extra-prone to chapping).

The scrub-slash-balm leaves you with a glossy, light-pink pout. It can be used on its own or as a primer for richer lip color. The Watermelon Glow Lip Pop is Glow Recipe’s first-ever lip product. It’s joined in the fruit basket by a watermelon sleep mask, a moisturizer, and a mist. The lip balm is vegan, cruelty-free, and ‘Clean at Sephora’ (formulated without blacklist of 50 harmful ingredients). The balm is also free of parabens, mineral oil, sulfates, phthalates, and drying alcohol. Who knew that a summer melon could be so useful for curing winter chapped lips?

The 3-in-1 lip hybrid comes in a twist-up stick form package. It is priced at $22.

You can now view and shop the new Glow Recipe Watermelon Glow Lip Pop at GlowRecipe.com and Sephora.com.

WHY YOUR BLUSH LOOKS SPLOTCHY — AND HOW TO FIX IT

Patchy, streaky and blotchy blush is certainly not ideal. It happens to the best of us: One minute, you have rosy cheeks, and the next, you have hot pink product clumps that resemble clown makeup. While a botched blush job can leave much to be desired, the correct blush application and products can help give you a naturally flushed, rosy and fresh complexion. To help you say goodbye to blush mishaps once and for all, we’ve listed our top tips for avoiding too-pink, streaky cheeks, ahead. 

Blush Tip #1: Exfoliate Your Skin

One of the best ways to ensure smooth makeup application is by creating a smooth base. If your skin is dry and flaky, your blush — or anything else for that matter — will look streaky and uneven. Lightly exfoliate once or twice a week with a gentle scrub like the Lancôme Exfoliating Rose Sugar Scrub. It will help remove dead skin cells and flakes that could be messing with your makeup.

Blush Tip #2: Prime Your Complexion

Make sure to moisturize. A hydrated base helps create a supple canvas for makeup. To take it a step further, use a pea-size amount of primer to help blur imperfections and give you a more flawless foundation application that will stay on and look fresh throughout the day. Recently, we’ve been loving the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer. 

Blush Tip #3: Use the Right Tools for Application 

In the same vein of keeping things smooth, it’s important to have an even base of foundation before applying your blush on top. We like to use a beauty sponge or foundation brush, like the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7, so that the product is distributed evenly across the face. (Pro tip: If you have naturally oily skin, opt for a matte foundation so that your skin’s natural oils don’t interfere with cream or powder blush.) 

Blush Tip #4: Select the Right Cheek Product 

Selecting the right formula can have a big impact on how your product applies and wears throughout the day. If you have dry skin (thanks, winter!) look for formulas that are cream or liquid and easily blendable to help your complexion stay hydrated throughout the day. We’re obsessed with the Maybelline New York Cheek Heat. It gives a natural looking flush, comes in six different shades, is buildable and leaves behind a gorgeous glow. 

Blush Tip #5: Use a Clean Brush

Blush brushes are designed to have tightly packed bristles for splotch-free application. They’re normally tapered or angled for even distribution and a naturally blended look. But, if your blush brush hasn’t been cleaned in a while, all the excess makeup and oil from your skin will build up on the bristles and keep your blush from going on smoothly. Be sure to wash your brushes around every two weeks. If you’ve cleaned your trusted blush brush and are still experiencing splotches, it may be because the density and shape of your brush may have changed. Try switching it out for the IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Boutique Blush Brush #4 — our personal favorite. 

Blush Tip #6: Blend it Out 

After applying blush to the apples of your cheek, make sure you blend out the product with your brush or a makeup sponge (ideal for gel or cream products) to create a natural, diffused look. If you’re using a gel-like blush, you can also use your fingers.

Blush Tip #7: Set it! 

As the day wears on, your blush tends to wear off. Once the flush fades away, it can start to look blotchy as the pigment breaks down. To avoid this, after blending your makeup, set everything in place. Do a quick spritz of setting spray before walking out the door. We’re loving the Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Setting Spray

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