yolauralikesbeauty

Hair is a Wasteland of Boredom So Let’s Dye it | Collab with Carolina

Beauty, Don't Touch My Hair0

I thought I’d kick off my hair care series with tips and a story from my friend Carolina Saco! She dyes her hair often, so I thought it’d be cool to get her feedback on what her hair means to her and how she takes care of it. Plus, she rocks literally every haircut and color she has. Enjoy her collab!

Hair AF

Hair is simply dead cells growing out of the scalp for some people. It represents beauty and tradition for others. They form a connection to their flowing locks. Hair is a wasteland of boredom to me. I love to dye my hair. I don’t think there’s anything more refreshing that dyeing my hair a new color when I’m feeling down. My hair just needs to match my moods. I feel blue some days and some days I feel pink.

Girl with bright pink hair

This may be a difficult concept for some to grasp. Public opinion towards unnatural hair colors has shifted in a positive direction, though. It’s not as positive as it should be, though. I still get stares all day and every day. I don’t care because I love my hair.  Even bleaching my hair and seeing it fall off and having to shave my head doesn’t make me hate it. I even loved it when its color has faded into 100 different shades.

However, I feel like I’m an expert after all of these terrible experiences. I found all kinds of helpful tips and tricks to maintain these colors, or fade them out when I’m tired of them. Plus, I also discovered how to keep my hair from literally falling off my head. I wish I had known earlier, but that’s why I’m here today to share.

Just Dye It

At-home hair treatments and box dyes might seem scary, but I haven’t died yet. That’s a testament to the fact it’s not scary at all, but you need to know what you’re doing. A common misconception is that you must completely damage your hair to dye it a weird color. It’s not true at all.  For example, you can actually only lighten your hair to about a bright orange for a vibrant pink, purple, or red color.

Unnatural shades normally come in semi-permanent dyes. They’re meant to eventually fade back to the shade you bleached it to. I tried various brands and my all-time favorite has to be One n Only Argan Oil. I usually pick up at Sally’s for under $10; prices matter when you switch colors as often as I do.

My Hair Isn’t that Big, But It Still Has Secrets

The trick to getting the most out of semi-permanent hair dyes is leaving them on for way longer than directed on the packaging. This is totally safe because they are completely natural, free of chemicals and actually more akin to food coloring than anything else. Of course, there are brands that cater to those who do not what to bleach their hair but produce a subtler result.

I usually leave the dye on for about 2-3 hours. I’ll sometimes leave it on overnight if I want to ensure that the color will last a couple months. I love using One n Only Argan Oil Hair Dye because the argan oil in this brand leaves your hair feeling great. It feels better than it was before being bleached.

Let’s Be Real

The secret to switching between multiple shades and not damaging your hair is to simply avoid bleach as much as possible. You don’t really need platinum blonde hair unless you are going for a more pastel vibe.

Aftercare is truly important. You must make sure to wash and condition your hair with products designed specifically for colored hair, or else, it will wash right out. Hair masks with avocado or coconut oil left overnight can also help diminish the damage created by the bleaching process, as well.

Ok Next Color

Fading out a color that you put so much effort into making last can be horribly annoying, but it’s easy. Just switch to a regular shampoo. This can take a couple weeks or sometimes months. If you want to rush the process, you can enlist the aid of dandruff shampoo to help dilute your hair color. The Vitamin C method works well, too. Just use Vitamin C to strip the color from your hair as much as possible.

In the end, it’s just hair. It’ll grow back and we’ll still look cute – even if you have to shave your head and cry about it a lot. But in the meantime, use your hair to make a statement, match your mood, match your outfit and match your keychain.

Carolina with blond hair in In-N-Out

Hope you enjoyed this collab!

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! ?

Sunday Brunch Outfit for Tap 42 Miami | Miami Fall/ Winter Outfits

Fashion, OOTD + OOTN0

We all need brunch every so often. It’s a perfect world when you’re chowing down on a hearty meal with a drink in one hand and friends on either side of you. But let’s be real – it’s not brunch without French toast, mimosas and a spectacular outfit. I did all of this for brunch yesterday, and I can gladly say it set the tone for this week. If I’m having a rough moment, I just gotta remember the banana French toast I had and my cute and cozy brunch outfit.

Brunch outfit deets:

Jacket: Amazon

Bodysuit: Laura’s Boutique

Jeans: Fashion Nova

Shoes: Chinese Laundry (Nordstrom Rack)

It’s been getting chilly in Miami as of late! There’s currently a cold font. I wanted to rock an oversized sweater. I’ve been really feeling oversized tops as of late, so incorporating one into my brunch outfit went without question. Mind you, it wasn’t even that cold for brunch yesterday, but I get cold very easily and just wanted a cozy brunch outfit.

I kept my look simple. My favorite part of my outfit was the camo jacket. Camo has been a thing in Miami fashion for a while now. I thought it was tacky at first because I never found the right camo print for me. This one is ideal because it’s not tacky and the colors are perfect for fall. They’re rich enough to make a statement, but muted enough to not overpower a look.

I also loved the chunky bamboo platform wedges. It’s my first time trying out Chinese Laundry shoes and I’m impressed. The platform isn’t as heavy as it looks. The only issue is that the front of the shoe is curved upward. If I suddenly try to point my feet and stand, I WILL fall lol.

I love my bodysuit too, don’t get me wrong, but you know how I feel about Laura’s Boutique clothing ?

What do you think of this fall brunch outfit? How would you switch up your usual brunch outfits for chilly weather?

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! ?

Yes, I Still Relax My Hair in 2017 But That’s Okay | Intro to Hair Care

Don't Touch My Hair, Things are getting hairy0

2016 was all about eyebrows. 2017 is all about hair. This hair movement encompasses embracing natural hair and dismantling beauty standards. It’s about treating your hair with respect and keeping it healthy. It’s more of a self esteem and self love movement. Hair is closely tied to a person’s identity. That’s exactly why I still relax my hair in 2017.

Just cut my hair and got it relaxed! ?

This movement quickly shamed relaxing hair and anything that upholds European beauty standards. It’s totally understandable. People of color are denied opportunities because of how their hair looks. Many of them relaxed their hair because their natural locks were considered unkempt and protective hairstyles were seen as too thuggish.

This movement is a big deal to me because I am someone with coarse hair. I’ve been told I have kinky hair and just overall bad hair. It’s nappy, but I’m happy. My hair is pretty difficult to manage and coils tightly. It’s stiff and very dry.

People didn’t want to accept that I was fair skinned with different hair. I was quickly and constantly told I have N**** hair. I’ve been told I’m ugly for years. I had to deal with comments about my hair since I was in elementary school. You can safely assume my hair affected how I perceived myself.

I begged my mom to relax my hair in the second grade. I was the only girl in my class with my hair type. Everyone had straight hair and I felt like I didn’t fit in. No one complimented my hair. People just wanted to touch it or make weird comments. My mom has thinner and way more manageable hair than I do, so it was a relief for both of us.

My hair, my rules

I’ve never wanted to go back to my natural hair. I wouldn’t give up being able to style my hair how I wish and spend way less time on it daily. I’ve been shamed for still wanting to relax my hair and not go “natural”. What people don’t seem to understand is that everyone likes their hair a certain way and finds empowerment through it however they wish. On study abroad, my roommates constantly questioned my decision to relax my hair. They constantly worshiped one of our peers with curl hair and said I should have my hair the same way. Gurl, you’re NOT in my shoes. Unless you’re going to be the one tending to my hair, MIND YA OWN BUSINESS ?

My hair was never something I liked doing anyway. If I can make my life easier while keeping myself happy, why should I do something differently? Additionally, my roommates were POC with protective hairstyles. Their hair was readily taken care of each day unlike mine. If I were to get a protective hairstyle, I wouldn’t hear the end of it, despite my roots and heritage.

Relaxers make my hair easy to deal with and that’s all I want for my hair. I don’t even know how to do anything besides a simple braid or light curls with a curling iron anyway. How am I realistically going to invest so much time and money into hair if I’ve never really cared about it lol? And to the people that say relaxing solely damages the hair, I do it every 2-4 months and my hair is still soft and luscious ?

I still have curls even with relaxed hair. I can get more if I sleep overnight with a French braid like I did here! ?

Intro to Hair Care Series

I don’t need my natural hair in an afro to love myself for who I am. European beauty standards are detrimental if I were to dress and style myself to uphold them. I present myself however I’m most comfortable. Sure, my hair is apart of my image, but it’s not who I am. Hair is just hair to me. I don’t have to love myself the same way you love yourself. If you’re really about women feeling comfortable in their own skin, you’ll let me relax my hair in peace ✌️

I want to introduce a hair care series to discuss all kinds of important hair decisions. I also want to share hair care for everyone. Let’s embrace the hair care movement without policing someone’s hair choices, unless you’re culturally appropriating. That’s a topic for another day ?

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! ?

Anniversary Date Night Outfit + Makeup | Date Night Outfit Idea

Beauty, Fashion, Makeup looks, OOTD + OOTN0

I made 3 years with my boyfriend in the first week of October. Can’t believe we’ve been together for so long! I thought I’d share my anniversary date night outfit and makeup to give some inspo. It was a struggle to find an appropriate outfit because I wanted to look good enough for the restaurant we went to without overdoing it. I wanted to feel comfortable and elegant, ya know?

Outfit

Dress: Laura’s Boutique

Shoes: Charlotte Russe:

Necklace: gift from my boyfriend ?

Purse: Amazon

I picked up this lil dress from Laura’s Boutique a few weeks ago. It’s beautiful and so comfy! It’s very flattering, even while I rock my food belly lol. One thing to keep in mind is that the quality of Laura’s Boutique is decent. It’s a little pricey for what you get sometimes, but she has discount codes ranging from10 – 20%. I usually get good results with the durability of her clothes if I machine wash it cold and let it air dry. Also, her clothes usually run small, so size up! This dress is a medium.

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Makeup

Eyes: Urban Decay Naked 3 and Inglot Gel Eyeliner in #77

Lashes: Pur Cosmetics Diva

Lips: Jouer Cosmetics Lip Topper in Rose Gold

Face: Becca Backlight Priming Filter, Fenty Beauty Pro Filter Foundation in 170, Physician’s Formula Butter Bronzer in Bronzer, Fenty Beauty Killawatt Highlighter in Fire Dust/ Lightning Crystal and BH Cosmetics 10 Color Blush Palette

I used my trusty Urban Decay Naked 3 palette for this look. My boyfriend gave me this for our first anniversary lol. I love this palette and it matched my anniversary date night outfit perfectly!

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My biggest tip for date night is to ultimately feel comfortable, confident and beautiful. If you have simple outfits, play it up a little bold with accessories. if you want to rock a bolder outfit instead, simple makeup glam can do wonders. you can obviously do both bold eyes and a bold outfit; just feel yourself doing it!

If you’re interested in more date night looks, check out my Pinterest board.

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

Thanks for reading! ?

My Experience at Miami Makeup Expo 2017 | Worth it or not?

Beauty0

I went to my first makeup show!! I attended Miami Makeup Expo 2017 on Sunday Oct. 22. I’ve been dying to attend one ever since I saw beauty YouTubers go to LA, NYC and Vegas for them. They look super cool and fun! They also seem like a great networking opportunity. As my blog keeps growing, I’ll try to attend larger shows!

Miami Makeup Expo is an annual makeup show held in Miami. It premiered last year. YouTubers like Viva Glam Kay and local brands selling discounted products made created some buzz. It was the start of something beautiful in Miami. Miami has the potential to become a hub for creatives, not just beauty ones. Miami Makeup Expo is paving the way for larger, well-renowned shows in Miami.

I wasn’t sure to expect. The whole event occupied maybe like ⅙ of the convention center. Here’s a video. No more than 10 companies were present. Macy’s and The Makeup Club FL were the most distinguishable companies there.

The smaller brands I enjoyed and bought products were DNA Cosmetics, G4E Beauty and Sophy Cosmetics. The people at these booths were so sweet and eagerly spoke about their products. It was nice seeing people so passionate about their brands. I picked up at foundation stick from DNA Cosmetics, glitter from Gorgeous 4 Ever and a highlighter from Sophy Cosmetics! Check out videos of them in action on my Instagram.

DNA Cosmetics

The girls at this booth were super nice! Their demo video made all of their products so tempting. I only picked up the stick foundation in creamy beige. Their liners also looked promising. They were very creamy and are blendable enough to be used as stand alone eye shadows! Also, the foundation stick is very full coverage; I’m excited to use it!

Gorgeous 4 Ever

It was cool how the owner was present at this booth. Her partner at the show (I’m not sure about his exact role) was soooo passionate about the brand. He eagerly spoke about every product. Swatches were available for every product. He won me over when he demonstrated how awesome the glitters were. I bought a glitter and my mom bought a satin lipstick.

Sophy Cosmetics

Sophy, the brand owner, was also present. She introduced herself and excitedly told my mom and I about how great her highlighters are. I enjoyed how confident she was about the performance of her products. She shade matched my mom and I to her highlighter shades that’d suit us the best. Her highlighters were stunning.

*****

Interacting with every company and shopping took about an hour. Some people may not like that. Some booths left early because the event wasn’t like exciting last year. DNA cosmetics left first. I was able to buy a foundation stick right before they left. They were a bit disappointed with the event turnout. It was their first year, too. Booths agreed that the event poorly marketed. Miami Makeup Expo was only advertised for about 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, I agree withe everything I heard. I attended Miami Makeup Expo with an open mind. It’s a young event. The logistics may not be totally sorted out yet. Nonetheless, I like supporting small businesses and interacting with people in the beauty industry. I would’ve been heavily disappointed this year if I went last year. I got a good taste of the event, though. Also, the show’s pow attendance made it less intimating for me. I was able to have more personal  and comfortable experiences with each booth.

Miami Makeup Expo’s organizers should learn from their mistakes and make the event better. The lack of foot traffic and small size of the event was noticeable. I’m sure they’ll receive complaints from the participating businesses. The ticket was only $20 and I think it was very worth it. I’d definitely go next year. it’s important to note that the even took place on a Sunday; last year it was on a Saturday.

By this time next year, I’ll have more followers! I’ll share information about the event and confirm my attendance. I really want this event to grow!

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! ?

e.l.f. cosmetics Exfoliating Scrub Review

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

Something that’s often overlooked for dry skin is exfoliation. It helps combat dry skin by removing dead skin cells and smoothing dry, textured patches on the skin. It can seem intimidating because exfoliators are generally made to be deep cleaning and pore reducing. Those two terms are generally a dry skinned person’s worst nightmares lol. That immediately correlates to even drier skin. I like simple claims and that’s why I was intrigued by the e.l.f. Exfoliating Scrub.

I’m still navigating my way around the drugstore to find the best exfoliators for my dry skin. I really enjoyed the e.l.f. illuminating Eye Cream, so I thought I should give the rest of their skin care a try!

Here are the claims:

  • This Exfoliating Scrub leaves your face nourished with its purified water, walnut, apricot, and vitamin E enriched formula. Enjoy healthy and radiant skin after every use!
  • $5

I really enjoy this scrub! It’s very gentle, but it’s exactly what I need. Every scrub I use dries out my skin. I’ve only used the St. Ives scrubs before. Even the most gentle versions of these scrubs are a little too rough. This is gentle enough for me to use every 2 days instead of once a week! It’s ideal for when my skin is more congested or drier than usual.

These claims are pretty straightforward. I feel like it perfectly matches what the scrub does! It’s a simple scrub that keeps my skin healthy and smooth. Honestly, it’s not supposed to work wonders because it’s meant for normal to dry skin types.

However, the e.l.f. Exfoliating Scrub might be too gentle for some people. You might want to skip this if you have more severe skin issues. The exfoliating beads are very fine and dissolve too quick for it to do any heavy duty work. I think it can be great for sensitive skin and possibly combination skin for dry patches, though.

I really work the scrub into my skin and target my chin and forehead. These tend to be my most problematic areas. Fortunately, it doesn’t dry me out whatsoever. The scrub helps me remove teeny tiny bumps. It’s great for breakouts!

I rate the e.l.f. Exfoliating Scrub 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Have you tried any of e.l.f.’s skincare? What’s your holy grail scrub! I’m always down to try new skincare products!

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! ?

Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser Review

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

I am eternally on the hunt for the perfect face wash. My skin is super dry, as you all may already know if you’re a regular reader here. Every face wash, even “hydrating ones”, dry me out at some point. I usually only try drugstore face washes. 

I stumbled across the Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser a few months ago. I was checking out the latest products at Target and came across the Yes To section. I’ve tried out two of their sheet masks before – coconuts and cucumbers. I gave them another shot even though the sheet masks didn’t necessarily impress me.

I just finished my bottle of this face wash. Finishing an entire bottle must be good news, right?!

Here are the claims:

  • Smooth, richly creamy and decadent no, we’re not talking about chocolate!– the Yes To Carrots Cream Cleanser gently cleanses and nourishes your beautiful skin. 96% natural and made with organic carrots, aloe vera and shea butter, it is the “”cream”” of the crop in facial cleansing luxury. So go on, go decadent, you deserve it!
  • Retails for $5.99

I gotta agree that this face wash nourishes and cleanses my skin. My face always felt refreshed after using it. It was gentle enough to use more than once a day; my face never felt tight. However, I felt like it didn’t cleanse as well as it could’ve. This is the right face wash to use after I remove my makeup; it’ll clean the little leftover bits. This face wash doesn’t really move a full face of makeup well, though. If I’m too lazy to carefully remove my makeup, I’ll use a makeup removing face wipe all over my face and wash off the residue with this face wash.

If you need a daily face cleanser, the Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser is a great option. I think it even works well on oily skin types because it gives a provides a great amount of hydration without being oily or greasy.

I give the Yes to Carrots Daily Cream Facial Cleanser a 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I’m still on the hunt for my holy grail face wash! Until then, I’ll keep reviewing the ones I’ve tried. What face wash works best for you?

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! ?

Is Ipsy worth your bucks? | collab with Budgetgirl

Beauty, Makeup Product Reviews, Makeup tea0

Hello this is Budgetgirl and I am taking over yolauralikesbeauty’s blog to give you guys some info on Ipsy and my personal thoughts for including this on my monthly budget.

Well, what is exactly is Ipsy you may ask? Ipsy is a monthly makeup subscription box that is $10 a month. This box includes a make up bag with 4-5 different products. The items are mostly full size products, which is great! I am not much of a makeup girl so when I receive these items they are great for me because they hook me up for the month. All you really need is a good lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow and bronzer and you’re set!

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Benefits:

  • You get to try out new products
  • Products are small and travel size
  • You get the essentials; mascara, lipsticks, eye liner
  • You get more than what you pay for
  • Cute new makeup bag every month

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So is it worth the price?

Absolutely! You only pay $10 and you get 5 items! That is an amazing deal, and trust me you will use everything you have. I have not had to purchase a new Mascara for months! All the sample products I’ve received have lasted me for ever. I got a shimmer stick that I literally use every day.

I’ve received products from:

  • Smashbox
  • Tarte cosmetics
  • Benefit
  • Ciate
  • And so much more…….

Customizable:

You can include your skin tone, eye color, level of expertise with make up and so much more. Each Ipsy bag is catered to you! Do you like skin products? Well you can include that when you choose what products you are interested in.

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Thank you so much laura, for collaborating with me! Two budget girls with awesome taste just HAD to join forces. Keep doing you girl!

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Here is a review I did for my March 2017 glam bag;

https://www.budgetgirlife.com/single-post/2017/03/16/IPSY-March-2017-glam-bag-review

Check my out on in the interwebz:

Blog: https://www.budgetgirlife.com/

Instagram: @Budgetgirlife_blog

Racism in the Beauty Industry #1 | Kathleenlights is Racist

Beauty, Makeup tea0

There has been A LOT of drama in the beauty industry as of late. Most of it is tied to racism. These are conversations we need to have because YouTubers and beauty gurus think they’re devoid of criticism because they label it a mistake. They weren’t actually sorry; they’re just sorry they got caught. At this point, there’s no need for crocodile tears.

This is the case with esteemed Miami YouTuber Kathleenlights. She said the N word on Jaclyn Hill’s SnapChat. This is the reality: Jaclyn Hill is a snake. She claimed she didn’t hear Kathleen and her husband telling her to not post the SnapChat. If your “friend” is saying something risque or problematic, chances are you wouldn’t’ post them doing that, right? This isn’t slander; this is REALITY.

Kathleen went on Twitter to address the fiasco and as expected, fans weren’t happy. She apologized, BUT it was faulty ?‍♀️ This is why:

(1) She said that’s a word that’s not in her vocabulary and that she was just drunk ? Um, no lmao. You don’t say words that are not in your vocabulary when you’re drunk. Chances are, you’re very true to yourself when drunk. Your true colors come. Her colors point she’s racist. NEXT ?

1.png (2) She said she’s very sorry she did it, BUT she never said why it’s wrong. She was quick to beg for forgiveness, but not address the issue of the word at hand. White passing Hispanics can be racist, and I say that as a fellow Hispanic myself. YES, the N word makes you racist. It’s a derogatory term and it isn’t permissible ☝️

2 (3) A few days passed and she started saying that at the end of the day, she and her loved ones “know her heart”…so they know you’re racist? Congrats lmao ? NOT AN EXCUSE. We all have that one racist family member that we love dearly, but we know they’re in the wrong. They can be great, but they’re racist, and that makes them less great ?‍♀️

3.png However, her white fans came to the rescue to kiss her ass and shelter her. They also made it clear that they forgive her and that she’s amazing, even though that’s not their place and her “amazingness” is besides the point ?

4.png Having black family, being half-black or being fully black DOES NOT doesn’t give you permission to excuse people for saying the N word. YOU DO NOT SPEAK FOR AN ENTIRE GROUP ?

65 Other fans admired her too much to call her out, but wanted her to acknowledge what she did wasn’t okay:

7.png I was pissed and commented on her video that she needs to address this issue. And yes, you guessed it; more white fans came to her rescue! ?‍♀️?

910111213 Listen, Kathleen is a grown ass woman. I don’t care about what kind of anxiety she suffers. Mental illnesses are not excuses for racism. Hiding behind your fans and not directly discussing the matter on YouTube, which is her largest platform, proves she’s a coward and a racist. As seen in the comments from her fans above, they said she apologized on Twitter, but she made her account private…so much for an apology lol…

I couldn’t care less if it’s harsh; it’s the truth. She’s someone famous who had a massive slip-up and can’t even address it. PR students, this is a great example of what NOT to do in a crisis management situation lmao. Whoever manages her failed. She’s NOT a victim; don’t fall for her game of victimization. This extends beyond the beauty industry and has always existed within the makeup community; they’re capable of great damage and MUST be held accountable. Mark my words, this WILL happen again, and next time it won’t be as innocent as she’s playing it off right now.

Hold your favorites celebrities accountable. We all have problematic faves, but there’s a line. You choose who you support and watch, but remember this. If you keep watching a racist on YouTube, you’re making that racist richer. Use your time and dollars wisely ?

What do you think of Kathleenlights and what she did? How do you feel about this series so far? Who or what else needs to be addressed?! ??

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! ? 

e.l.f. cosmetics Illuminating Eye Cream Review

Skincare, Skincare Sunday Reviews0

e.l.f. Didn’t come to play in 2017. The drugstore brand has been taking over our drugstore and makeup storage at an unbelievable pace. Its newest additions include skincare, ranging from cleansers, face masks, tools and moisturizers.

I love e.l.f.’s makeup and brushes, so I decided to give their eye cream a chance. The e.l.f. Illuminating Eye Cream retails for $10.00.

These are the claims:

  • Minimize dark circles with the Illuminating Eye Cream.
  • This rich formula nourishes and deeply hydrates the skin with jojoba, vitamin E, and cucumber.

It has a very lightweight consistency. It doesn’t irritate my skin when I pat it into my under eye area. That’s a relief because I felt a urning sensation under my eyes when I’ve tried other eye creams. This feels like a literal splash of water under the eyes. It doesn’t feel oily whatsoever, too.

It was hydrating, at first. I really enjoyed it and I thought I found the answers to my creasing concealer and Saharan desert under eyes. But of course, it was too good to be true. Overtime, my skin felt drier and the eye cream’s hydration didn’t penetrate my under eyes enough to quench my dryness. My eyes still felt dry the next day if I applied it overnight and after a few hours if I applied it in the morning, though.

I feel like this eye cream is great to use for prepping your under eyes for concealer, but not for overnight hydration. If you just need a normal level of hydration, this would be great for you. If you have very dry under eyes, you’re going to need to reapply this several times; it’s not potent enough.

I would repurchase this concealer to use it under my eyes before concealer. However, I need something more hydrating to wear overnight. If you have normal skin, this is a great way to keep your under eyes hydrated without over doing it! If you have oily skin, I suggest you try this as well because it’s the right amount of hydration for your skin type and it’s not greasy.

I rate the e.l.f. Illuminating Eye Cream a 4/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I think I would need to venture into Sephora and pick up a high-end eye cream. What are your recommendations? I have Belief. It Cosmetics, Kiehl’s and Origins on my radar!

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! ?

e.l.f. “Flirtatious” Luxe Lash Kit

Beauty, On Fridays we wear falsies0

What better way to start off the weekend than with some falsies?!

I had an e.l.f. haul a few months ago and saw that they had some new lashes. They’re AMAZING. Wayyy better than House of Lashes imo ??‍♀️

These are the e.l.f. Flirtatious Luxe Lash Kit. I also think that these lashes compliment my eye shape and look great with winged eyeliner. I feel like I run into my lashes not matching up well with my eye makeup.

These lashes are also very lightweight! The band is the perfect thickness and I feel like these are easy to pop on. I sometimes feel like some lashes I own don’t stick regardless of the glue I use.

How do you feel about this lil series? Maybe I should make this consistent and recommend my favorite lashes and pair them with kinds of eye looks!

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! ?

NY Itinerary for Makeup Lovers, Museum Geeks + Foodies

Beauty, Things besides the glam, Travel0

As you might’ve seen, I went to New York for Labor Day Weekend. I made makeup shopping one of my trip’s main objectives ? I also threw in some clothes shopping. Below is my itinerary and some tidbits from the stores I visited!

Day 1

  • e.l.f. Studio

SO BEAUTIFUL! Wow, this store was breathtaking! It was tiny, but it suited e.l.f.’s vibes and product range. e.l.f. has a lot of products, and I feel like the store layout emphasized that. Is it weird that their store reminded me of their website lol?

  • Superdry

This was across the street from the e.l.f. Store. The Japanese letters on the outside caught my attention because my boyfriend visited Japan and loved it. I wanted to go inside to see if I found him something, and I ended finding things for myself instead lmaooo. Got him something, too ?

  • SoHo

OH. MY. GOODNESS. SOHO IS A DREAM.

I didn’t stay for long because I was hungry, so I went to get some food. I came back afterwards.

  • Tacombi Fonda Nolita

BEST MEXICAN FOOD OF MY LIFE. HANDS DOWN. AND AMAZING SERVICE. Learn, Miami!! It was very spicy. I can’t even handle mild spiciness lmao, but it was delicious!! I don’t even know how I handled it. It was the perfect touch for my quesadilla.

I also had the BEST guac of my life here. So fresh and so perfect. I’m so speechless. Chipotle guac feels soooo mediocre now compared to this. This food was so authentic overall and now I can’t settle for faux Mexican food.

And I tried my first Modelo beer. I’ve had better lol, but it was still a great touch for the meal!

And we’re back to shopping!

  • Uniqlo SOHO

I loved this store in France. I prefer that one over this one in SOHO, but it was still nice to look at. Maybe it’s because all the winter clothes were rolling out here, and I don’t need that in Miami lol.

  • Forever 21

Cutest Forever 21 I’ve ever been to! It has an additional floor below, which was so cool to me. There was so much variety and even the men’s section had a great selection. I like this one more than all of the ones in Miami.

  • Ricky’s NYC

It’s been a dream of mine to visit Ricky’s because they’ve liked my Instagram pictures a few times. When I say this is makeup heaven, I’m not exaggerating! So many great online and professional brands are sold here. The staff is also super friendly and knowledgeable.

The best part of all is that mostly everything was in stock! Similar stores to this back home, like The Makeup Club Fl. in Hollywood has almost everything out of stock consistently and that’s so annoying ?

  • St. Ives Mixing Bar

I was super excited to visit the St. Ives Mixing Bar, but I was gravely disappointed when I realized the products were over the carry on travel limits. I traveled with a carry on because it was a weekend trip.

You can basically create your own lotions, face scrubs and face washes here!

I love St. Ives’s products, so I was nearly crushed that I couldn’t make my own products lol.

  • Artists & Fleas – Chelsea

I was also super excited to come to Artist & Fleas to buy some Pamela Barsky (@pamelabarsky) goodies! I found her on Instagram, and I love her work. She makes the cutest pouches with hilarious phrases. Check her out!

  • Carlo’s Bakery – Hoboken, NJ

I’ve seen snippets here and there of Cake Boss and I was also curious about his desserts. I decided that if I were to visit the Cake Boss, it had to be the original one ?

I took a PATH train to New Jersey and eagerly waited in line to try his cannoli. He’s said on his show to try it. There was even 2 TV screen inside on loop talking about the shop and how the cannoli is a must-have…It was okay lmao. It was my first cannoli ever, but i expected more ☹️

  • Whitney Museum of Art

I was the most excited to visit the Whitney Museum of American Ar! I’ve seen some of their pieces thanks to my Instagram feed, and I was so intrigued.

The museum was way better than I imagined. The first floor I visited, the top one, had Alexander Calder works. I nearly died!!! I’ve been dying to see his art. I wanted to see his exhibit at the Tate. I had no idea his works were in NY, so I was pleasantly surprised.

The other floors were just as amazing or even better. This museum chronicles pivotal moments in American history. There’s even works in reference to the Black Lives Matter movement and police brutality. It was beautifully curated and displayed. These works are so relevant and capture the triumph of socio -political movements. It’s interesting to see the year these were made because some of these issues and movements still persist. This is a must-see. It totally puts the American experience for non-white folks into perspective. It’s an amazing way to expand your horizons, so check it out if you’re ever in New York!

Even the stairs showcased an exhibit!

  • Vinnie’s Pizzeria

After a long day of shopping and indulging in fabulous art, I scarfed down the best pizza I’ve ever had. This lil spot is almost easy to miss because it’s tucked into a shopping center. There aren’t many seats inside, so I was lucky to snag a booth. The only downside is that they only accept cash, but they conveniently have an ATM right inside the restaurant. You gotta have the chicken parm pizza and barbecue pizza like I did! ?

Don’t forget the garlic knots!

Day 2 – Sun. Sept. 3

  • Food Tour of NYC — Murray’s Cheese Shop

I really wanted to do something different in New York this time around. I wanted to learn more about New York’s culture and history, so I stumbled upon Foods of NY Tours. I actually searched for things to do a second time in New York.

I’m a very picky eater, so I was looking forward to expanding my horizons! I was pretty nervous if I must be honest lmaooo. I also wanted to have New York’s best eats and this was great way to do it.

Meatball in marinara sauce

Eggplant rollatini

Chocolate chip cookie

Cannoli

I won’t share the names of these places just so you can check out the tour. Support a local business! ?

This tour shows how New York came to be the melting pot it is today. My tour guide Steven was excellent. He was very informative and made the tour very lighthearted. He had great recommendations outside of the food tour as well. I also enjoyed interacting the people on the tour. They were so friendly!

I highly recommend the specific tour I did — Greenwich Village. It’s some of the most diverse and delightful food I’ve ever had!

  • SoHo

Of course I went back to look at what else I can snag ?

  • Palma

Steven highly recommended eating at Palma. He said it was so romantic and the type of place you take the love of your life too lol. I agree with him. It’s such a nice and sultry atmosphere. The ambiance feels so chic. I felt important there lmao. The service and food were fantastic. I also had the best rosé I’ve ever had here.

I left my heart in Greenwich Village! ?

Day 3 – Mon. Sept. 4

  • Joe’s Pizza

I thought Vinnie’s Pizzeria was the best. Girl, I was wrong. Joe’s Pizza is on another level. I loved it so much on the food tour (only place I’ll share lol) that I had to have to again. It’s indisputable why this is considered the best pizza in New York. And of course I had it for breakfast [upside down smiling emoji]

  • Sephora

You know I had to visit Sephora on this trip. Naturally, I had to go big, so I went to the one in Times Square ?

Biggest one I’ve ever been in!

  • Superdry Times Square

And of course I had to visit Superdry…again… ?

  • MET Museum

And the last thing I had to do before jumping on a flight back home was visit an art museum. I checked it different exhibits this time around — Chinese art, Japanese art, Korean art, Egyptian art and some Australian art. I swung by for a bit around the modern art exhibit and found some works I didn’t see last year in New York.

I love you, New York!

What are your favorite thing to do in New York? Do you love it as much as me and want to plan an annual trip lol?

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! ?