Let's Talk: Brown Women and "Ashy" Lipstick

Hey all! This is the first installment in a new series I want to start called "Let's Talk" where I address makeup issues, whether it's application, colors, or even products, and tips on how to fix it! The very first issue I want to address is one that has been weighing on my spirit for a while. As you can see from the title, it is the "ashy" lipstick look on black women. Some of our sisters that are not of color may be unaware of this issue, so before getting into it, let's talk about the cause. Black women, especially my darker skinned sisters, pale, frosty lipsticks are not our friends. Shimmery = yes, glittery = YES honey, Frosty = NO MA'AM. Here are a few examples of frosty lipsticks below.

Now, just looking at these colors, you can see why they would be a problem for darker skinned women. Not convinced? Look at this...

It's not exactly the most flattering color. With a less frost and a little more warmth, this color would have been awesome. Many of us have been guilty of wearing "ashy" looking lip colors from time to time, it's a part of the makeup learning experience, especially for those of us with darker skin looking at makeup colors called "nude" that are the color of the palms of our hands instead of the back of them. So the next question is, how do we choose complexion appropriate nudes? Well first, if you're a darker skinned, black woman, DO NOT buy lipsticks that say "Nude" anything. That is the nude shade of our fairer skinned sisters, and it's not even suitable for all of them. Here are my personal tips for choosing the best nude and neutral shades for your complexion.

1. Learn your undertones, and choose colors accordingly. Are they yellow or red? Cool, warm, or neutral?

2. Choose colors that are close in color to the concealer that you wear.

3. Avoid frosty shades of brown like the plague.

4. The internet is your friend! There are tons of helpful YouTube videos by awesome beauty gurus on how to choose the right nude for you.

5. Ask around! If you see a woman close to your complexion with a lovely nude or neutral color, don't be shy or afraid to ask her the brand and where she got it.

6. Buy a plum colored lip liner to mix with colors that may be a shade too light, it will help darken the color and enable you to make it work!

7. If all else fails, use your concealer and a gloss. It's effective and nearly foolproof.

My chocolate sisters, let's please stop with the poorly chosen, frosty nude lipsticks. There are many appropriate nude and neutral shades for us, it's just a matter of learning how to pick them to avoid looking like Tyrone Biggums (from a comedy sketch of Dave Chapelle) ;). Good luck!

The Importance of NOT Sleeping in Makeup (And Changing Your Pillowcase...)

Let's admit it, most of us have fallen asleep a time or two in our makeup, right? What are the effects on your skin the next day? I've heard, and personally experienced, everything from complaints of trigger happy sebaceous glands to breakouts to rashes. The skin is the biggest organ that the body has. That's right, your skin is an organ. It functions in covering the other important organs and organ systems in the body to prevent them receiving from external damage and also from the bacteria, viruses, and pollutants found in the air and on surfaces that the skin touches. Despite the beauty and wonderful effects of makeup, it is a foreign substance to the skin. There are some makeup items that can aid in improving our complexion, preventing breakouts, etc., but aside from those, we're placing essentially foreign substances onto our skin. Throughout the day, our skin is accosted with all sorts of problematic bacteria, fungi, and pollutants. In addition to that, those of us with oily skin fight with our sebaceous glands throughout the day. Those of us who don't have oily skin are faced with sweat beading and sitting on our faces, especially during the summer months.These issues, in addition to the makeup on our skin can be breeding ground for problems ranging from breakouts due to bacteria, to clogged pores, to premature aging! It's also important to change your pillowcase. I recommend changing your pillowcase (or pillowcases) at least ONCE a week. As lovely and soft as our sheets may feel, they hold onto everything that sits on top of our skin. Imagine if someone is sleeping in their makeup AND not changing pillowcases frequently! Two of the many blessings of skin are its resilience and regenerative qualities; however, it's best to avoid causing problems in the ways that we can. Our skin is a precious, beautiful organ, take care of it well! I leave you with this, the British woman in the picture below slept in her makeup for a month, and these are the results. Do you REALLY want your skin to look like this? Love you all, and Happy Holidays!

Source: Daily Mail UK
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2380419/What-sleeping-make-does-skin-Our-shocking-experiment-exposes-happens.html