yolauralikesbeauty

Tiffany Haddish Deserves All of the Awards for her Three-Peat

Celeb Inspo, Fashion0

I want to talk about the Oscar’s 2018 best dressed once more before we move onto to new topics. Tiffany Haddish was not featured in any of the best dressed articles I came across when deciding who to feature in my top 11 looks. Tiffany Haddish’s three-peat is iconic and it’s a shame it was excluded

She shamelessly rocked her white Alexander McQueen three times. Her first time wearing the dress was for the Girls Trip premiere. She rocked it the second time for SNL and lastly (or not!) for presenting an award at the Oscar’s 2018.

tifanny-haddish-girls-trip-premiere-2017

Tiffany recounted how her team advised her to not wear her white gown on Saturday Night Live. “…my whole team, they told me, “‘Tiffany, you cannot wear that dress on ‘SNL.’ You already wore it. It’s taboo to wear it twice. I said, ‘I don’t give a dang about no taboo.’” Typical Tiffany lmao, I lover her!

tiffanny-haddish-snl-2017

On SNL, Tiffany said, “I feel like I should be able to wear what I want, when I want, however many times I want as long as I Febreze it.” Where is the lie??

tifanny-haddish-oscars-2018

A friend actually brought my attention to this. At the end of my top 11 looks blog post, I asked readers to let me know who else they thought was dressed well. My friend told me that Tiffany Haddish was worth mentioning because she wore her dress three times. I found out that Tiffany wore a different dress for the red carpet to honor her heritage and late father.

tifanny-haddish-2018-oscars-red-carpet-eritrean-tribute

Photo by David Fisher/Shutterstock

“He said one day I would end up here and if I ever ended up at the Oscars to honor my people so I’m honoring my fellow Eritreans,” she said. This was also left out, pressing the question of why editors leave out iconic and sentimental decisions like this.

I think it’s very important to discuss and shed light on repeating outfits and media coverage of these outfits. American culture is very consumerist. Fast fashion reigns over the fashion industry, promoting a culture of “Oh I’ll get it because it’s cheap.” In reality, all of those purchases add up. Imagine for celebrities wearing a new designer garment for every outing. It’s exhausting. We all have those outfits we love to rock whenever we’re in the mood for comfort and familiarity. It’s okay to repeat an outfit ?

As for media coverage, it’s a shame no one really talked about Tiffany Haddish’s three-peat and tribute to her late father. If she wore a different dress when she presented the award, she would’ve ended up one either a best or worst dressed list. Same goes for her dress on the red carpet. Think about it, Joy Villa wore a dress glorifying the Trump Administration and she was given substantial coverage. Tiffany wears a stunning dress representing her culture and she’s overlooked. Honestly, it’s time to widen the view of celebrity fashion. After all, regular people get inspiration from celebrity fashion. This is another reason why I don’t like E News — a topic for another day!

What do you think of Tiffany’s look? Would you do the same as Tiffany if you were in her position? Let me know in the comments below!

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Oscar’s 2018: 11 of the Night’s Best Looks

Celeb Inspo, Fashion0

I tried reducing my top Oscar’s 2018 looks to 5, but that was impossible lmao. So many people were dressed so well this year; I had to give ‘em props!

I wanted to keep this fun and airy. Most outfit assessments (are they called reviews lol idk?) are scathing and judgmental. I just wanted to share my favorite Oscar’s 2018 looks, give the designers credits and just give everyone some outfit inspo. Fashion should be fun and inspiring, so let’s keep it that way ?✨

Lupita Nyong’o

The queen of Wakanda (in our hearts) looked like absolute royalty. She rocked a custom, gold Atelier Versace with a Versace bag, Niwaka jewelry and Alexandre Birman shoes. She graced the red carpet like always!

molly-sims-oscars-2018-getty-images

Molly Sims

I’ll be honest; I’ve never heard of her. However, I had to give her a shoutout. Molly is a vision in silver and gray Naeem Khan. I enjoyed the details of the gown and how it was the focus of the look. I love strong patterns/ designs/ details with minimal hairstyles and accessories.

betty-gabriel-oscars-2018-getty-images

Betty Gabriel 

Okay, now I’m in a trance. Seriously. This is my favorite look of the entire Oscar’s 2018. Betty in Tony Ward was the only thing you needed to see if you didn’t watch the Grammy’s tbh. Very happy Get Out won best original screenplay!

sandra-bullock-oscars-2018-getty-images

Sandra Bullock 

I feel like we’re back in 2003 looking at a young Sandra in Ms. Congeniality. She. Looks. So. Good. In Louis Vuitton and Zac Posen. I want to buy her time machine when I’m 50. Spill your secrets, Sandra!!

Viola Davis 

I know how Viola Davis gets away with murder. It’s with these killer looks. Seriously. Who told her that she’s allowed to slay so hard?! I didn’t even recognize her until after the show. Viola is killing it in Michael Kors Collection and with a Roger Vivier bag. I need her to be nominated every year so I can keep getting these looks!!

eiza-gonzalez-oscars-2018-getty-images

Eiza Gonzalez

Someone else I’ve never heard of ? but it’s cool because her look speaks for her. I’ve been on a yellow kick lately (for like 2 – 3 years lol), so this dress spoke to me. I thought Ralph Lauren was dead, but they proved they’re not with this gown. She brought them back to life with this electrifying dress, Chopard jewelry and Brian Atwood shoes!

timothee-chalamet-oscars-2018-getty-images

Timothée Chalamet

I didn’t know I loved white suits until I saw Timothée Chalamet in Berluti. This is the dove Noah was waiting for after being on the ark for so long. It’s the all-white look Dej Loaf was talking about when he was feeling godly. This is it, folks. You’re welcome.

Armie Hammer

I want everything in wine except my wine ? (don’t judge; I like my sparklings ✨) This Giorgio Armani suit (or tux? ?) is the reason why everything wine colored is a trend. It’s fresh and nearly intoxicating. Wine isn’t going anywhere, so get with the program!

chadwick-boseman-oscars-2018-getty-images

Chadwick Boseman

This outfit is fit for the king of the greatest country on Earth (yeah, I said it!!) Givenchy needs to give Prince William a call and do him a favor. Chadwick’s look is ethereal. Any dissent is punishable, ok?!

tom-holland-oscars-2018-getty-images

Tom Holland

Even though Tobey Maguire is the only Spider-Man in my heart, I can show some respect for our backup/ runner-up Tom Holland (I said what I said!!) This custom Hermès and Piaget jewelry swept me off my feet!

ansel-elgort-oscars-2018-getty-images

Ansel Elgort

Ansel Elgort? More like Ansel EL GOAT in Tom Ford. I die for velvet; I just don’t like buying it because it’s a lot of upkeep, but I doubt Hollywood sensations have that problem lmao. Is it me, or is this green? Nonetheless, it’s a great spin on a classic look!

*****

I gotta say, I’m pretty pleased with the Oscar’s this year! Guardians of the Galaxy 2 was robbed nominated for best visual effects, Get Out won a nomination and a Mexican director Guillermo del Toro slew (paste tense of slay) so hard with the Shape of Water.

And to top it off, there were many amazing looks. Which were your favorite Oscar’s 2018 looks that I didn’t mention? Let me know in the comments below!

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Beginner Couponing Tips | 6 Items for $20 + 2 Free Wet N Wild Products!

Beauty0

Once you’re a broke college student, you remain one for life. Money is always on our mind and we’re always learning. That’s great though because our good spending habits will come in handy when life gets too expensive. I apply this to makeup and stumbled across couponing. My mom and I started watching some YouTube videos on beginner couponing and got some makeup for the low!

Beginner couponing is a great way to build a makeup collection. You can get many good deals on skincare, hair care and beauty products. Household items can be scored for good prices too — my mom basically got Arm & Hammer Laundry Detergent for $1. If something is on sale, there’s usually a good offer attached to it with coupons so you can save even more! Watch the channels I recommended; they’re super helpful!

Here are our tips:

  1. Sign up for CVS and Walgreens cards. The app lets you add digital coupons and see the weekly ad. CVS lets you rack up Extra Bucks Rewards depending on what you buy. For example, the current weekly ad has an for offer for $5 Extra Bucks when you buy $15 worth of e.l.f. cosmetics. It’s basically cash back for you to spend at CVS on almost anything (alcohol, gift cards and cigarettes are excluded).
  2. Download Ibotta and Flip. Ibotta allows you to scan the receipt to receive some cash back. You can only cash out when you reach $20 and you can link it to PayPal.
  3. Get the Sunday newspaper (yeah, that’s still a thing lol). It costs $3 at easily accesible places like Walgreens, but the amount of coupons you get basically makes it free. And once a month, P&G releases a bundle of great coupons. Act fast; the newspapers run out fast!  x
  4. Watch couponing YouTubers. These YouTubers also give additional tips for beginner couponing and make it easy for anyone! They’ll tell you all the coupons you need and in what order to give them to the cashier to scan.
  5. Elaborating on the last point, be mindful of the order of the coupons. Dollar off totals (e.g. $3 of $12 of  cosmetics at CVS) go first. Percentage off coupons (if you have them) go next. Lastly, coupons for individual items follow!
  6. If you have coupons that give you a gift card based on a purchase amount (e.g. $5 gift card at Target for a $20 beauty purchase) give it first if its a print coupon. Places like Publix need it first because the cash register won’t recognize it at the end even if the total purchase amount before coupons met the requirement. If it’s a digital coupon, the cash register will automatically apply it.
  7. Coupons don’t waive taxes. Even if your order is totally free, you will still be required to pay for taxes. P.S. CVS Extra Bucks can’t be used to pay for taxes!

 

My Coupon Hauls Hehe

Keeping these beginner couponing tips in mind, I was able to get 6 items for $20 about 2 weeks ago at CVS. I got 2 Garnier Sheet Masks, 2 Garnier Skin Active Face Washes, L’Oréal Lash Paradise and L’Oréal Brow Stylist. First, I used a $4 off $12 of L’Oréal Cosmetics and the whole brand was buy one get one 50% off. Next, I used a $2 off $7 Garnier Skin Active purchase. Lastly, I used a 20% off total purchase coupon that was mailed to me.

garnier skin active moisture bomb sheet mask loreal lash paradise loreal brow stylist flat lay

Aaaaanddd when my mom bought the Sunday newspaper, it brought some Wet N Wild coupons. I got their Lash Renegade Mascara and new cushion foundation for only 84¢!!! I used a $4 off $10 of Wet N Wild coupon, a 50¢ off any Wet N Wild product coupon and $2 off any Wet N Wild foundation. Luckily for me, Wet N Wild was buy one get one half off! Also, I used $5.50 in CVS Extra Bucks. My order was free so all I had to pay for was tax ?

wet n wild cushion foundation-wet-n-wild-lash renegade mascara flat lay on table


Let me know if you like these kinds of posts! I can share my mom’s and I’s mini coupon hauls as they come up.

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

4 Reminders to Help You Practice Self-Love

Beauty0

Happy Valentine’s Day, friends ?

Yes, it’s a happy day. Feels like everyone on Instagram is sharing flowers, candies, their amazing outfits, their lovers and sweet gifts. Feels like it’s an exclusive club for people that got lucky. Anyone that mentions other forms of love is seen as bitter. As someone in a long-term relationship, I’m here to let you know that you’re not bitter. Even when you’re happy with someone else, you have to remember about love for YOURSELF. Even if all you have are friends, you can’t forget about YOURSELF. All love is celebrated on Valentine’s Day, but the important love today and for the rest of your days is love for YOURSELF.

Self-love is complicated. Our biggest critic is ourselves. The person that knows us the best is ourself. We’re the one that cares about ourself the most. We make the decisions for ourself at all times, and we are the one person always there for ourself.

It took me a long time to learn to love myself, but now that I do, I’m my biggest fan. I always think of ways to improve, and I try to embrace myself at all times. However, the one thing I seem to struggle with is accepting things about my appearance. It’s silly. I feel ugly over stupid lil pimples on my face lmao. I get sad when I can’t zip up my stupid Fashion Nova jeans when they were only made for Instagram baddies (direct quote from Reyna Noriega). I also feel insecure when my hair doesn’t reach my waist when in reality, I love short hair.

To deal with my qualms, I made a checklist for self-love. These are my mantras and processes for feeling like the fierce woman I am. I created it based on the order of my biggest insecurities. This is my V-day gift to you all!

  1. Pimples are little reminders that you gotta slow your roll and chill out, you gotta eat better or die, or you have another bodily issue and they’re kindly telling you to get it checked out. Pimples aren’t evil; they’re just like the naggy TAs in class helping out your very busy body. Appreciate them before the semester ends!
  2. Stop comparing yourself to other girls. It’s not healthy, and I should be rooting for them. They either got lucky with their genetics, afforded killer surgery or worked out hard for it. The human body is a vessel for your own life and maybe another life one day. Do your best to take care of it and slowly work towards reaching the ideal body you want.
  3. Your hair crowns your lovey head full of knowledge and every other amazing thing in your mind. You don’t have to have curly hair if you don’t wanna; it’s a lot of work anyway and you’re busy conquering the world. Besides, your hair doesn’t define you; it’s dead lol. You control your destiny AND your hair!
  4. The mirror mirror on the wall doesn’t have to remind you that you’re the fiercest of them all. Beat that lovey face of yours, rock your comfiest outfit and strut into the word as confidently as you can!!

I hope you enjoy the rest of your night!

Happy Birthday, Mom! | My Mom’s Beauty Tips, Thanks Mom!

Beauty0

I’m lucky enough to have been introduced to makeup, YouTube and fashion by mother. She was more stylish and iconic than Kim Kardashian before she was even born and made her notorious rise to fame. Coincidentally, today is her 21st birthday ? I thought it was appropriate to share my mom’s beauty tips as a way to honor her.

If it weren’t for my mom, I wouldn’t be writing this blog post! She actually pushed me to write my blog because she thought I was a talented writer.  Here’s a toast to the woman that fueled my love for beauty and the start of my career ?

My mom’s beauty tips are:

Drugstore makeup is good. Don’t feel pressured to spend money.

My mom would buy makeup at the flea market in Dominican Republic because there just wasn’t enough money to be wasting on makeup. My mom remembers that all makeup was pretty bad back in her day anyway. She has seen the evolution of drugstore makeup’s quality.

Never throw away makeup – use it differently or pass it along to someone else.

I’ve had many products that I didn’t like on the first try. I took a break and approached it different way. To my surprise, I ended up falling in love with those products and becoming borderline obsessed. If a product just wasn’t meant for me, I would pass it to my mom or hold onto it until I had someone else to give to. Now, I can just donate it if someone I know doesn’t want it. There’s no need to be wasteful and get rid of products so easily! Check out Project Beauty Share!

Be creative with it.

My mom doesn’t experiment much with makeup looks, but she does encourage me to be bold with it. She tells me that virtually any color looks good on me. She even sends me makeup inspo pictures. She’s actually the one that showed me how to use Pinterest. Mom, what would I do without you?!

Don’t be so harsh with your eyebrows!!

I can’t tell you how many times my mom looked at me and straight up told me that my eyebrows look awful lmfao. She’s very honest and I appreciate that. I could think my brows look amazing and my mom would bring me down to reality. She’s told me that brows are one of the first things people see on your face. I made it my personal goal to improve my eyebrow skills. It’s safe to say that my mom hasn’t pulled me aside for the talk in a while!

Take care of your skin.

My mom has been telling me since birth that I look like a porcelain doll because of my skin lmao. She introduced me to face wash and moisturizer. Her compliments about my skin really got me into taking care of my skin and I can’t thank her enough for it. Strangers compliment my skin often, too. Of course, I have her genetics to thank ? thanks for inspiring Skincare Sunday, mom!

What are some things your family taught you about beauty? How have trends changed?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

yolauralikesbeauty’s 2018 Blog Goals | New Year, BETTER Me

Blog Updates0

Happy New Year! I hope your 2018 has started off right. There are 360 days left for that to change, plus the rest of your life ? I decided to start this year a little differently and prepare goals for my professional life, personal life and blog. This laundry list would help me achieve what I’ve been wanting for some time! Let’s get started with my 2018 blog goals:

Better Website
  • Update site to my exact preferences. Now that I pay for hosting, I have more access to a variety of themes and plugins. I want my blog to become a resource for all things beauty. I want someone to mention a product or beauty topic to me so I can say, “Read about it on my blog!”
  • Switch to WP hosting. I currently use Site Ground, but to my surprise and dismay, some of the coolest plugins and features I want are only available through WordPress hosting. I’ve read many articles online saying how WordPress hosting is mediocre, but I think it’ll be a good option for me until I’m well-versed with running a website!
  • Perfect blog SEO. Truthfully, I’m set on growing my blog this year, I want to reach new horizons. Better SEO will lead to more people finding my content and social media channels. I want to disseminate information and create conversations on things people gloss over. I’m ready to conquer the beauty world in 2018!!
Better Content
  • Start YouTube channel & upload at least once a month. Yes, I want to start a YouTube channel. Women with beauty channels on YouTube are like men being SoundCloud rappers lmao. I wanna hop in on the fun and improve my videography and content creation skills for my career. I actually have a lot of footage for a few videos, but I’ve been afraid to edit and upload them hehe. Also, reaching a milestone like 100K subscribers and obtaining a plaque from YouTube would be so sweet. One day!!
  • Pre-write blogs at least 2 weeks in advance. This would help me become more organized and keep my blog running well! I just want to be prepared regardless of what occurs in my life.
  • Follow blog calendar. This ties back into my previous goal. I made a very in-depth calendar in 2017 and had trouble following it. I want to make my ideas come to life in an organized and realistic way and time frame.
  • Host giveaways. I want to host my first giveaway a 1K followers! Stay tuned hehe ?
New Opportunities
  • Monetize blog. I’d love to make some money off of something I love! I’ve always wanted to run my own business, so I think this would be a good start. Plus, extra money can lead to additional resources to create even better content for my blog. I hope to reach 10K views on YouTube as well, so I can make money from there!
  • Increase Instagram and FB followers. I enjoy my content a lot and I’d like to share it with more people! Plus, I’d have more access I’d have to better opportunities for my blog and professional career with more followers.
  • One collab a month. I love partnering with others and featuring their work on my blog. I’ve had success with collabs in 2017, so I’d like to keep them going!
  • Work with at least one brand/ company. It might come off as ambitious, but I’m determined to work one brand this year! Whether it’s a free or paid review or just creating content for that brand, I want to be able to show what yolauralikesbeauty is capable of!

What are some of your goals for 2018? Feel free to share them; someone might feel inspired to do the same thing!

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

C. Booth Charcoal Foaming Dry Body Polish & Cleanser

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

Did you know that skin on the rest of my body is also dry? I always talk about how my face is dry, but my whole body is actually dry lol. I need to exfoliate regularly, so my skin doesn’t become like sandpaper. I’ll usually gravitate towards sugar scrubs for this, but I think I found something better: C. Booth Charcoal Foaming Dry Body Polish & Cleanser.

The skin on my body is pretty sensitive. I avoid soaps and bath gels with scents. I’ll start breaking out if I regularly use a bath product with a scent. I also easily get bumps when I shave. The skin of my arm started developing little bumps that I could sort of pop like pimples (I know, gross lmao), but they weren’t. I thought it could’ve been chicken skin. I’m not totally sure. The only thing that really helps with the bumps is a physical exfoliator. (I’m testing out chemical exfoliators as we speak and I’ll report back!)

I picked up the C. Booth Charcoal Foaming Dry Body Polish & Cleanser because I saw @beauddiction rave about it on her Instagram story.

Here’s the product breakdown:

C-Booth-Charcoal-Foaming-Dry-Body-Polish-Cleanser

  • Price: $8.99 (currently on sale at Target for $6.74!)
  • Size: 6 oz.
  • Claims: Finely granulated Charcoal and Pumice are reminiscent of a soft-powdered beach between your fingertips. These detoxifiers get right to work, polishing and purifying for a perfectly so-smooth finish. Work over skin to form a delicate foam for the added benefits of a detoxifying cleanse-in-one purifying step.
  • Instructions: Dispense a small amount over wet skin and apply in circular motions to polish and deep clean in one step. Rinse and follow with a c.Booth Body Butter or Lotion.

When I first tried out this product, I thought it was weird lol. It felt too rough for a few minutes. I realized that I picked up too much product. Unlike the sugar scrubs I’m used to, this is straight up powder. There’s no liquid or jelly-like consistency that makes it feel hydrating. Also, the beads/ granules in sugar scrubs are typically dispersed. This product is entirely made of granules to exfoliate.

 

This feels very rough if you take too much at a time. It exfoliates very well if you use the right amount, though! My skin doesn’t feel tight or very dry afterwards. I only have a little bit of redness after because I scrub too hard lol. I rub this between my hands as well, and they feel significantly softer. The granules in this product are nearly microscopic, but it’s so powerful that I only use this once a week at most.

I follow the instructions whenever I use this product. I make sure that this is the last step during my shower routine. Starting from my neck, I’ll go over my shoulders and then work my way down. I scrub my legs very gently, but scrub more rigorously everywhere else. I’ll even pack this onto a back scrubber sponge to get every part of my back. My back has more bumps than my arms sometimes. If your skin is similar to mine, I recommend that you pick this up while it’s still on sale!

I give the C. Booth Charcoal Foaming Dry Body Polish & Cleanser a 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m now interested in trying C. Booth’s body butters and lotions!

Have you tried this scrub or any for that matter? Have you tried any other C. Booth products? Or do you have other alternatives for dry skin?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask Review

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

PSA: This is your periodic reminder that I have dry skin and I’m always on the hunt for very hydrating products ? With that said, I had to pick the Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask when I heard Kathleenlights talk about it. I used to watch her channel religiously, but those days are over now ? anyway, let’s continue this post!!

Luckily for me, my skin isn’t sensitive. I’m always open to trying new skin care products. I particularly like masks and oils. When Kathleen said that this product was a must-have and nearly a staple in her skincare routine, I picked it up immediately. I HAVE NO RAGRETS.

But before we get to that, Here’s the product breakdown:

  • Price: $27.00
  • Size: 3.4 oz
  • Claims: This intense moisture replacement mask with avocado and apricot kernel oil deeply and instantly quenches compromised moisture reserves and builds a reservoir for tomorrow. Best for dry skin types, Japanese Seaweed repairs skin’s barrier to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging.
  • Instructions:  Twice a week or as desired, gently massage into clean skin at bedtime. Tissue off excess.

Origins-Drink-Up-Intensive-Overnight-Mask

I LOVE THIS MASK. Now that I let that out of my system, I’ll explain why. I love applying thick moisturizers before I go to sleep. I feel like that’s how I hydrate my skin the best. When I wake up in the morning, my face feels great. I hate waking up with a tight and dry face; my skin basically hurts when that happens.

My face completely absorbs this mask. I don’t tissue off the excess because I feel like my skin enjoys every bit of this mask. Even when I’ve overdone it, this mask doesn’t have adverse side effects on my skin. I’ve only woken up with some residue of this mask a handful of times. That’s how dry my face is!  Even when there’s residue, it’s not sticky. It just feels like a moisturizer.

I agree that this is for dry skin. It does a great job at deeply hydrating my skin. When I first bought this mask, I used it every night for a week lol. My face reacted well to it, so now I only use it 1-2 times a week. I even applied a bit of this under my eyes to help with the dryness, and it didn’t irritate my eyes.

I already used one full tube of this mask and it lasted over 6 months!!!! That makes the price point worth it. Trust me, it’s a good investment. I used this often, so I was very surprised it lasted so long. A little definitely goes a long way. It feels a bit thick but applies thinly on the skin. It’s lightweight and feels almost cooling, too. Also, I love how it doesn’t have a white cast. I can apply it and go run quick errands if I need to. I’m going to keep buying this for the rest of my life!!! My dry skinned peeps MUST pick this up.

It’s no surprise that I rate the Origins Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask a 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ I’m in love with this, so I’m definitely trying more Origins skin care!

Have you tried this mask? Would you try an overnight mask? Is there anything else I should try from Origins? I’m kind of eyeing their Super Spot Remover™ Blemish Treatment Gel and Original Skin™ Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay.

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?

*****

Also, tune in every day for the rest of December for Blogmas! I’m posting a product review every single day!

This was Blogmas Day #3.

Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion Review

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

Breakouts are upon us. Finals week looms by and the stress of planning out the holidays envelops us. Our worst enemy – pimples – take this as their chance to strike an attack on our soft, supple faces. They’re the type of painful pimples that set deep under your skin and take forever to remove. Luckily, I called in the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion to come to our rescue!

Lol, jokes aside, my skin seriously feels like it’s under attack. I’ve been having stress breakouts around my chin, and it’s driving me crazy. I’ve been trying several products to kill these pimples quickly. I decided to pick up the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion based off a Twitter recommendation.

Here’s the product breakdown:

Mario-Badescu-Buffering-Lotion-flat-lay

  • Price: $19.00
  • 1 oz
  • Details: A lightweight, quick-absorbing spot treatment specifically designed to target large, under-the-surface bumps or cystic acne breakouts. Buffering Lotion works overnight to help reduce the appearance of existing bumps. Gentle ingredients (like allantoin and niacinamide) help normalize skin and improve the look of troubled areas.
  • Instructions: Shake well before applying directly onto affected areas with clean fingertips. Use every evening. Do not apply anything over the Buffering Lotion (such as moisturizer or night cream). Do not use this as a preventative product; it should only be used when necessary on active blemishes. Do not apply to eye area. If product gets into eyes, rinse well with water.

Let’s get to it — I dislike this product lol. Just like the Briogeo hair mask I just reviewed, this product worked at first, and then stopped. When I first applied this product, it was excellent. I saw those painful pimples that were waiting to form under my skin disappear. It was like this for about a week. When I used this the following week, I had a lot of dryness, and I felt like my skin was breaking out even more.

I’ve noticed that using this led to more chin breakouts. I usually only breakout from stress or when I get lazy washing my face and sleep with my makeup on. I’ve been struggling to get rid of these chin breakouts. I’ve tried 2 products that have been helping, which I’ll review towards the end of December ?

I used this product according to the instructions at first. First, I would wash my face, use toner, apply a vitamin C serum and then a little bit of moisturizer. Lastly, I would pour some of the product on the back of my had dab it onto my pimples with my ring finger. When that stopped working, I ignored the instructions and tried applying the buffering lotion first and then my vitamin C serum and moisturizer. I even added a dab of tea tree oil. That seemed to work for a bit, but then I ran out of tea tree oil. I also thought it was pointless because I would see the same effect as if I were to use tea tree oil alone.

This product is marketed towards oily and combination skin types. The friend that recommended it said it removed her texture. I wanted the same for my chin, but this was hard to work with. Even though I have dry skin, not all products for oily and combination skin types have negative effects on my skin. I decided to pass it along to another friend!

Sad to give 2 bad reviews in a row, but I give the Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion 2/5 stars ⭐⭐ I’d give it 3 stars if it didn’t dry me out so badly.

Have you tried any of Mario Badescu’s products? What do your recommend? I love one particular product, and I’m reviewing it soon ?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

 

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Mask Review

Don't Touch My Hair, Hair product reviews0

This is my first hair care product review and Blogmas post on my blog!! I’m so excited to share my thoughts on the Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask. I’m going to be calling this hair care series Don’t Touch My Hair because my hair isn’t something to play with just because it’s different and I don’t want to dirty it lol.

I decided to start taking more care of my hair because hair is everything in 2017. Everyone got over the constant straightening and frying of their hair. Everyone is trying to forget those bad ombres and box dyes altogether. We’re onto better hair care regimens and kissing damaged hair goodbye!

The latest in hair care regimens are hair masks. We’ve all seen recipes for homemade ones on Facebook and Pinterest. They’re great,but could be messy and a little too much work sometimes. New hair masks can now be applied after you shampoo your hair and and chill in your hair for about 5 – 10 minutes until they go into effect.

A popular hair care brand is Briogeo and they have a pretty famous hair mask. I got a full-size tube of this hair mask in my August Boxycharm box. I was excited to try a coveted brand and product.

Here’s the product breakdown:

  • Price: $20.00
  • 2 oz
  • Claims: Works in minutes to restore essential hydration and natural vibrancy to dry, brittle, over-processed, and otherwise lackluster hair. Formulated with Briogeo’s unique NOVA Complex, this mask delivers an optimal blend of transformative nutrients from B-vitamins, rosehip and argan oils, algae, and biotin to replenish damaged hair to a shiny, healthy-looking, and lustrous state.
  • Directions: After shampooing, massage evenly throughout hair. Leave in for 5 to 10 minutes before rinsing. For even deeper conditioning, cover the hair in a plastic cap to retain moisture while sitting under the dryer for 20 minutes, then rinse.

I’ll be blunt — I hate this hair mask lol. It does the exact opposite for me. I have never dyed my hair; I’ve only used temporary hair color. I would use Manic Panic Vampire Red. I didn’t even have to bleach my hair!

The hair mask is white and not as thick as I anticipated. It felt like it wasn’t creamy enough. I usually put oils or very creamy products into my hair. This felt like a body lotion at most. I still approached the product with an open mind and hoped for the best!

My hair’s biggest concern is that it’s very dry and thick. I need constant moisture. My hair is too dry to wash more than once a week. I do everything possible to preserve my hair’s natural oils. I always looked for anything hydrating. My scalp is also dry, so that explains my dandruff. I basically need my entire head to not be thirsty lol.

With that said, this hair mask made my hair very stiff. I tried this mask for a month and in different ways. When I first used it, I shampooed my hair and then left it in my hair for 5 minutes. It worked and my hair felt nice. The following week my hair felt stiff and was harder to detangle. In the third week, I left it for 10 minutes and it felt stiffer than ever before. During the fourth time, I left it for 3 minutes and it was less stiff, but it barely hydrated my hair.

Never tried the 20 minute deep conditioning recommended on the tube because my hair was already a nightmare for less than half the time I used it. I didn’t want to risk it becoming more stuff and unmanageable.

I was pretty disappointed because this product is so expensive and it’s highly regarded on YouTube. Maybe my hair texture and type wasn’t the ideal one for it. Aside from having dry and thick hair, my hair is very coarse and coiled. Even though I relax my hair, it still has curls.

Sad to do it, but I’m giving this product a 2/5 stars ⭐⭐

Have you tried any of Briogeo’s products? What do your recommend? I’m not totally ousting Briogeo just yet. I’m going to do research and if they have products for my hair type.

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

*****

Also, tune in everyday for the rest of December for Blogmas! I’m posting a product review every single day!

This was Blogmas Day #1.

Don’t Police My Face! | Collab with Reyna on Beauty Standards

Beauty, Makeup tea0

When in the creation of mankind did we get the idea that we were put on this earth to determine how others would live? Where did we get the idea that we needed to seek acceptance from anyone but ourselves? This is what beauty standards do to us.

But that’s the world we live in. We want to control others bodies and preferences and every detail down to what opportunities the other is worthy of.

I write, a lot. On an ongoing basis, I write blogs that encourage others to find inner peace, happiness, and self-love. I urge others to let go of all the negativity that comes with focusing on the wrong things. So that’s what this piece for yolauralikesbeauty will focus on. I’m no makeup expert by any means. I know the difference between fleek eyebrows and not so fleek eyebrows, and I know when makeup isn’t blended right but that’s about it. I’ll leave Laura to teach you all the good stuff ?

I am an artist and I respect art in all forms. I considered make-up artistry right up there with the rest. Though I wouldn’t spend more than 10 minutes of my own, I appreciate it and it pains me when other choose to tear it down rather than celebrate it or at the very least, focus on their own face.

Bye Alicia

I was annoyed when the Alicia Keys situation blew up. So she decided to stop wearing makeup, it seemed to bring the connotation that she was BETTER than other celebrities for choosing not to.  I wanted to respect it as a bold move for female empowerment and a positive change in beauty standards but the media found a way to spin it an ugly way. Of course, Alicia Keys with her smooth tan skin was an acceptable display of “natural beauty” and often I noticed light traces of “natural” make up on her and I wondered, how would the narrative change if she sported blemishes, dark circles, and barely-there eyebrows.

You are not the epitome of goodness for being natural. I have always been a firm believer that nothing should define the person you are beside the person you are. Not your skin tone, not your sexual orientation, not your body size, not your bank account and DEFINITELY not whether or not you wear makeup.

If I am good at doing makeup, and enjoy it why should anyone else have a say? If I’m not as talented at applying make-up as some of the gurus I see on Instagram, should I feel less beautiful?

Love the skin you’re in and don’t let anyone determine how you feel about the way you choose to live your life and express yourself.

My Face, My Rules

Sometimes we fall into this pattern with significant others. Most men will say they prefer their woman natural, most women would tell you we don’t wear it for the men! I don’t think there’s something wrong with a man loving the natural you and celebrating it, but attempting to police my image will only make me resent you.

I change my look a lot and it feels good when my significant other opens their eyes a little wider in awe at the switch up. I also appreciate when I look a mess and he tells me that is when I am at my best.

But I have been through situations where a guy would try to police my choices and my style based on their own ideals. I would feel guilty when putting on makeup and try to wear as little as possible to avoid the crude remarks. Or I feared what they’d think if I cut my hair or tried something new. It didn’t make me feel any more beautiful in my natural state; instead, it made me want to hide parts of myself from them.

Instead, when I am shown unconditional love, I am more inclined to feel good in my skin, with or without my winged liner.

It’s a tough habit to break through. Judgments sometimes seem to just roll out. “Why is she wearing so much makeup?” “It’s like a mask.” “She could use some concealer and eyeliner honestly” Unfortunately those words have come out of my mouth in the past and it took some self-reflection to break that habit. The habit of feeling superior to other women based on different choices we may make.

We have the right to self-expression however we please. So natural faces and makeup gurus alike, celebrate you, celebrate each other and lets uplift those around us, even if they aren’t the same.

Follow my girl Reyna! @reynanoriega_ on Instagram. Be sure to share your thoughts with her in the comments below or on Instagram. Tweet her, too! @reynasnoriega.

Thanks for reading! ?

Photoshoot at Wynwood with Alexa | Things to do in Miami, Florida

Beauty, Glamshoots, Things besides the glam, Travel0

I’ve gotten super into photography lately! By lately, I mean for a few months now lol. Study abroad pushed my interest. I wanted to capture my trip well, so I can look back to these images and relieve my experience. I went to Wynwood with my cousin Alexa a few weeks after my study abroad trip and ended up having a small photoshoot with her.

For those that don’t know, Wynwood is a poppin’ lil art district in Miami, Florida. Think of it as an outdoor museum. Several galleries are housed in this area. Many local artists showcase their art in these galleries, getting their first big break. The Walls have stunning art that periodically changes. It’s a hot spot for street artists. Iconic artist Shepard Fairy even left his mark there. If you study, make or even simply appreciate art in Miami, chances are that you’ve taken a trip to Wynwood.

There are many small business and creatives contributing to the grandeur of Wynwood. The most popular businesses happen to be restaurants and food trucks. Among some of the most popular are Kush, Coyo Taco and Panther Coffee. If you want a good taste of this lil district, visit when the Art Walks are taking place the second Saturday of every month. Or stop by during the week of Art Basel. Wynwood is a place you must visit on a trip to Miami despite what locals think!

The Glam Photoshoot

Hope you enjoyed this lil photoshoot! What are other cool places great for photoshoots in Miami? If you live outside of Miami, what areas near you that are similar to Wynwood?

Be sure to share your thoughts on my posts with me in the comments below or on my social media pages: yolauralikesbeauty on Instagram and Facebook; yolauraisfierce on Twitter.

Thanks for reading! ?