Like many of you, I have a hard time convincing myself to spend money on lipstick . . . when it's over $20. I have SO many red lipsticks in my collection, because it's my signature color. I always ask myself, why do you need one more? Truth is, why don't I need one more? At least my purchase led to this blog post!

I'm usually a true lipstick type of lady. You know? The kind that comes in the tube that you used to see your grandma putting on before that Sunday church service. However, I deviated from my norm and purchased a true red liquid lipstick.

I know it's been a minute since you've heard from me, but I've been busy trying to balance life. I'm in my fourth semester of graduate school, am still working full time, and am wrapping up a certificate program that I'll talk more about later, in addition to balancing life. It's just a lot. I'm starting to see a tiny bit of light at the end of the tunnel, however I'm reminding myself not to abandon myself while on the journey of reaching my goals. Hence, make-up therapy!

For the longest time, I have been wanting to create a series called "Our Black is BeauTiFFul" where I highlight black owned brands, with an emphasis on beauty. At the beginning of quarantine, I began researching black-owned beauty brands to fill my product gaps. I already had a decent amount of beauty products from companies that are black-owned, but thought to myself that there is no reason why I shouldn't have enough products from black-owned brands to be able to do a full face of make-up. So, I'm continuing to build my collection.

Guess what day it is . . . Guess what day it is!! Not only is it hump day, but it's also National Lipstick Day. That's right. A whole day dedicated to this beauty staple. I must admit, I'm an advocate for these national days, mainly because they come with discounts and sales. Before I get into sharing which brands are offering sales today, let's get into short story time. 

The other day, I did my make-up with a "light beat" and started thinking about something. This idea of perfection that so many of us have in our minds. I've been enhancing my make-up skills over time, which has been therapeutic since I view my make-up time as me painting the blank canvas that is my face. It's also a time during the day, where I can focus on self-care and get all philosophical at the same time. Nevertheless, it's truly about just starting, right? Making the decision that you want to do something and acting on that thought.

That moment when it's time to run Saturday errands, but you still want to be super casual and decide that a nude soft glow might detract from your wrinkled shirt. Disclaimer: I iron my clothes 99% of the time! When I was younger, it was a requirement for me to leave out of the house with my clothes ironed while looking presentable, and maybe on this day the presentable part was my make-up. To be honest, I didn't realize the intensity of the wrinkles until after I left out the door. . . of course. A reminder not to skip imperative steps, although perfection is overrated. 

Have you ever had that moment when you find a cool item through Instagram? It's like you know that you don't need it, but it could definitely be your style if you gave it a try. Then, because of how our cookies are set up, advertisements of that product keep popping up on your  feed, paired with a discount code then you're sold on making the purchase?! Yeah, so that might have happened to me with the Hipdot x Spongebob eyeshadow palette. This collaboration released around the same time as the Kyrie x Spongebob shoe collaboration and I got all excited thinking of ways that I could pair them together. 

Interconnected are health and beauty, right? Sure, there are times when all humans do not feel like the most beautiful or healthy, and personally that is typically reflected in my appearance. I haven't quite mastered the whole, "never let them see you sweat," mentality. That's a work in progress. I'm human, and most of the time don't have the energy to fake the funk. Truth is . . . most of us have rough days and rough patches, and it's okay if from time to time in my rough patches, I look rough. Take me as I am not how you want me to be so said she as in me.