REFLECTING THROUGH COVID-19

Let's just start by asking this... what is 2020? 

At the start of this year, I found myself mentally at one of my lowest points. While everyone wishfully made their new year resolutions, I looked back at my never-ending unchecked resolutions of previous years. Tip to oneself; do not look back on things not accomplished, move forward in having them accomplished. 

Then...

With hurricane-like winds came Covid-19, gushing out fear and worry in the lives and homes of every individual and family. On the contrary, Covid-19 brought me awareness. Awareness in the understanding of things out of my control, acceptance of disappointments and importance of multiple income streams. 

To the things I can't control, I let you go. 

To my many disappointments, everything happens for a reason. 

To my one source of income, I'm grateful but not complacent.

Awareness of such things brought me an improved mental state and a greater lesson in not accomplishing what I wanted to be accomplished. Since awareness tends to lead to action, hopefully, I can take action this year in doing something.

ANOTHER... NEW BEGINNING

I'm kind of at a point in my life where I am seriously sick of those 'New Beginning' or 'New Chapter' quotes, topics or conversations especially at the beginning of a new year. I just wish I could wake up one morning and my life can find a way to figure itself out on it's own.

Yesterday, I was texting a friend of mine and we were talking about how down I felt and how I'm not satisfied with where my life is currently and not accomplishing enough at my age (I'm 23 btw) and he had the nerve to say this...
"Didn't you say the same thing last year" 😱

Let us all take a moment of silence...

Now back to where we were.

Excuse Me? How dare you?

I was shooketh to the core of my soul. Absolutely no sympathy just shade and more shade. So what if I said that a billion times, can't you just help me, can't you just give me advice, can't you just pray for me or pray with me?

He honestly made me feel so disappointed in myself. And that's when I realised that time really does fly by, if I don't start living for myself today, I might be saying the same thing next year and I really do not want to. It's time to change things for a bit and start crossing things off of my bucket list. It's time to step out of my comfort zone and live a little. It's time...

REVIEW: MORPHE 35OM EYESHADOW PALETTE

As a gift to myself, I bought the Morphe 35OM Eyeshadow Palette for my 20th birthday and this has been one of my best makeup buys ever. The Morphe 35OM Eyeshadow Palette is the matte version to the very popular Morphe 35O Eyeshadow Palette. 

PROS: 

• You get 35 shades for $23 (USD), that's about $0.66 (USD) for each individual eyeshadow.
• It's the perfect everyday neutral eyeshadow palette.
• The darker eyeshadow shades are super-duper pigmented which is perfect for women of colour like myself.
• One of my biggest struggles with eyeshadows specifically more affordable eyeshadows is the way that the colour looks in the pan changes when I apply it to my brown skin tone, it becomes a dull and ashy version to the exact colour in the pan which can be very annoying, but with this eyeshadow palette the colour transfers exactly the same on my skin tone.

CONS:

• The lighter shades are not as pigmented as the darker shades.
• Some of the eyeshadow shades seem to be a bit repetitive, meaning that you get two of the same shades.
• The packaging is not the fanciest it's plastic and gets scratched and dirty very quickly. 
• I would love if the palette had a mirror, just imagine doing your eye makeup with this palette in your hand brush in the other hand and having to put the palette down each and every time to grab your mirror to see what you're doing, it can become a bit much.
• The shipping price is not your best friend, the amount of money I paid for shipping for this one palette is ridiculous. 

P.S: Click the name each product to get the direct link for purchase.

3 FAVOURITE DRUGSTORE FOUNDATIONS

Trying to find the right foundation is not as easy as it looks. Each foundation is unique in it's own way some are matte, some or dewy, some provide a full coverage and some provide a light coverage. For the past year, I have been switching out between three drugstore foundations that I've grown to love for different reasons.

MAYBELLINE FIT ME MATTE + PORELESS FOUNDATION 

I am in the shade 355 Coconut and I wore this foundation the most out of all three throughout last year and I love the way that it made my skin look. If you're looking for a foundation that's medium coverage, matte and lightweight, this is the perfect foundation for you. I did experience some oiliness towards the end of the day so I would suggest setting this foundation with really a good setting powder.

MILANI CONCEAL + PERFECT 2-IN-1 FOUNDATION + CONCEALER

 Towards the end of last year, I bought this foundation in the shade 13 Chestnut and I was so surprised the first time I used it. It is the perfect foundation for someone who loves building their foundation from medium to full coverage. Keep in mind that this is not a matte foundation and it takes a long time to dry or set into the skin so you definitely will have to use a mattifying primer for longevity. 

MAYBELLINE SUPER STAY BETTER SKIN FOUNDATION 

I love an easy effortless no-makeup makeup look and if you're like me you will love this foundation. It has a very light coverage, looks natural almost like your own skin and feels extremely lightweight. Maybelline has pointed out that the formula in this foundation can help improve the appearance of skin in just three weeks which is the main reason why I bought it in the shade 95 Coconut.


P.S: Click the name of each product to get the direct link for purchase.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS LIP PRODUCTS

Can you believe that the year is already coming to an end? I feel like 2017 just started and here we are celebrating another Christmas and waiting for a new year to begin. I just need time to slow down a bit so I can catch up, it's moving way to quickly.

I'm not the biggest fan of coloured lip products, I tend to stick to neutral and brown shades but since it's the Christmas season why not change things up a bit and show you three red lip products that actually goes well with my skin colour.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick (LAX) - I have gotten so many compliments when wearing this liquid lipstick, it's a very very deep red colour that looks amazing on my skin.

ColourPop Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick (Creeper) - At one point I hated bright red lipsticks but I don't know what it is about this colour it's the perfect bright red shade for brown girls, wouldn't mind comparing this colour to Fenty Beauty Stunna.

E.L.F. Matte Lip Colour (Rich Red) - Matte Lipsticks can be so drying on our lips, although this one says "matte" (which it isn't) it's still a pretty colour and it's very affordable as well.

Happy Holidays Everyone!! 

P.S: Click the name of each product to get the direct link for purchase.