Their crazy life is not yours |Life Interspection | More Than Makeup | Afrkahs Perspective |

Iylana Vansant did a lecture on this subject for OWN,and it struck a nerve with me. In regards to the friendships, family dynamics and my own romantic  relationships. 


As, she was talking I sat back and said to myself how many times have I done this to myself. How many times have I allowed another person's crazy to become my own, to the point were I put my own life on hold. Funny thing, I wasn't always like this. ... I remember back when I first had my daughter it was a crazy time for me. I had a mixed bag of emotions, frayed family relationships, and a strained relationship with my daughter's father, and instead of dealing with my mess. I was so afraid to come grips with my new reality. I went above and beyond the duties of a friend buying a car, helping with utility bills, court dates, babysitting, moving, bailing them out of jail, helping (paying) with their wedding. Not to mention,  I was the emotional dumping ground for everyone's life problem. 


I was so consumed with their crazy and when it all went away I didn't even attempt to clean up my crazy. I subconsciously took on another crazy mess, after another, it was like I was the Queen of Captain Save a Messy Life. When I needed to be saving myself from my own crazy that I created by taking on problems that had no relavance in my life. I really had to sit a question myself on why I made other's mess my own. 

Why would I make the conscious or sub-conscious decision not to value my own life the way I did others. Better yet, why was I so afraid to clean up the mess. Why was so afraid to come to myself?

I had to admit to myself that I was not my best fan at the time. I was looking at myself as someone who failed. Instead of embracing what I created. Drowning myself in my own thoughts put me down a path of going through the motions. When I should have been growing through the experience.

Once I admitted that to myself and took an inventory of my life.  The only goal that I had on mind was to strap on my boots and clean up my mess and put me first. Doing this was the best thing I ever did for me. Yes, I lost friends, romantic relationships, and removed my self from toxic family dynamics.  My circle is smaller, but it not as draining nor can I get lost in their mess. Because, I will always put myself first.


This was Afrikah 

Stay Blessed 

Springtime Glow | Beginners Makeup | Becomming My Own MUA | Afrikahs Perspective

In the midst of the storm, I find refuge in creative spaces. 



I decided to really take the time and beat my face. Using all the skills that I have learned from Makeup artist, bloggers, and enthusiast on various Social Media platforms. I was going for a spring glow inspired by one of my favorite beauty bloggers +Jasmine Rose. I have been inspired by her spring looks as of late and wanted to try my hand at it.  An added bonus I was gifted some Clinique eye shadows and Tarte  products which I used for this makeup look.

My main objectives are: create an eye look that is seamless in the color transitions, my foundation has a skin like finish, and glow it up. 

Now let's get into the look. As always, I start out with a freshly washed and moisturized face. I primed my face with L'Oreal Magic Perfecting primer, and started with my brows. I recently learned a new technique from +Queenii Rozenblad  eye brow routine. Let me tell you it has given a new level of defined brows without the caterpillar brow look. I will link her brow video routine below.  

I used E.L.F. brow kit (drk. brown), to outline the shape of my brow and filled them in with Wet N Wild (The Naked Truth), drk brown eye shadow.    
Per usual I used L.A. Girls ProConceal to define my brows dark cocoa for the top of my brows and chestnut for the brow bone highlight and to help even my eyelid color. 

Next, I went into concealing all my blemishes,I used L.A.Girls (dark cocoa, chestnut) with a mixture of Almay's concealer (darkest shade). I do this to even out my face, it also keeps you from using a lot of foundation. Since, you concealed most of the most prominent blemishes.

After, I started with my eye look. I used L.A. Girls (toffee) for my eye shadow my eye shadow "primer" .For my transition color I used a combination of Clinique All About the Shadows Trio (06 Fig),

NYX blush (cinnamon), 
and Wet n Wild (The Naked Truth dark brown).

I made sure to blend till I couldn't blend anymore. I wanted to bring back the dimension  to my eyes. Next I worked on my outer 'V' using Wet

n Wild (lust, purple shadow), also making sure to blend. I wanted to reach my goal, and have a seamless transition of colors on my lid. For the lid color I went back for Fig and applied making sure to blend it into the corners so there is depth and transition. For the bottom lash I went back to the Lust palette for the two shades of purple and blend that into my outer 'V'. I wanted to keep the eye look soft and complementary to my skin.  

 Now for the face I used CoverGirl Ready Set Gorgeous (soft sable)as my foundation, and since I put concealer on I did not have to use a lot of the foundation on my face.  Making sure to buff the foundation into my skin so there are no lines of demarcation. Next it was time to highlight, I used L.A. Girls ProConceal  (chestnut) under my eye, cupids bow, chin bridge of my nose, and forehead. I like using this color it gives me a natural highlight something that I tend to go to more often when doing my makeup.


I set my undereye with E.L.F. HD Powder (translucent) and dusted the rest of my face with Black Radiance Finishing powder, making sure not to use to much, I did not want to have a chalky appearance to my makeup. For contour I used Wet N Wild The Naked Truth Palette (drk. brown) to bring back the dimensions to my face that the foundation and powder took away.

As with the highlight I made sure to blend out my contour, I did not want any harsh lines. Once that was done I used NYX

(cinnamon) and Tarte (pampered) for my blush and 


CoverGirl Tru Blend Loose Mineral Powder (440)to make that cheek bone pop and to add a little pop to my cupids bow.

For my lips I used a lipstick from Clinique (Punch Pop)along with a lip pencil from Jordana (currently).

 









For a quick video of me transforming to this look. Watch my video below, if you know others that are challenged in makeup like me please share,like and subscribe to this blog and YouTube channel. 

 Queenii Rozenblad "Natural" Eye Brow Tutorial