Category: Style

#MustKnow, Beauty, Education, Featured, Health, Lifestyle, Opinions, Style, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Fresh Faced

shaniselene

Tomorrow marks the final day of my makeup detox and I must say that I see a significant difference in my skin. Although I absolutely enjoy being dolled up, I usually take pride in my, “Fresh Faced” days. Disciplining myself to go makeup free for an entire week was a slight challenge this go around because I am still recovering from the allergic reaction that I experienced about a month ago. I was so determined to stick to this detox that in the event that I had to run an errand or leave the house, I wore a medical mask to cover the areas from the sun (oddly enough, I still got hit on and approached, but that’s for another blog post lol).

This detox has allowed me to pinpoint certain products and ingredients that don’t agree with my skin and also served as an example for what happens when wearing makeup excessively. Typically, the longest I’d wear makeup is around eight hours, but between relocating within the last two weeks and entertaining guests that were in town, I wore makeup for thirteen hours over the course of three consecutive days and the irritation that I experienced was a clear indicator that this wasn’t something my skin was accustomed to. Initially, I thought that I was building an allergy to my foundation, but quickly came to the conclusion that wearing it more than my regular regimen. Most are unaware of this, but a majority of skin allergies stem from products already introduced to the skin. For example, you could be using a facial cleanser for ten years and the eleventh year, have an adverse reaction to it.

If you’re a product junkie like myself, I suggest doing an at home patch test if you’re unaware of ingredients that don’t agree with your skin. The area on your inner wrist and forearm are the closest to the skin on your face. Apply a pea size amount of the new product (label if it’s more than one) and allow to sit for (24) hours. If you notice any signs of inflammation or bumps, that is a clear indication of an irritant. If you’d like to take it a step further, you can ask your physician if they offer medical patch tests at their office or to direct you to a physician that does. The process is quite similar, but instead of (24) hours, a patch test panel is taped to your back for (48) hours. They can test anything from makeup to latex to decipher what you are allergic to. Since I am constantly asked about skincare, I also recommend getting your blood type tested. Once your blood type is identified, you can obtain a list of foods and ingredients that aren’t suitable for it. This serves as a great way to clear your skin if you are experiencing problems, but as always, I advise everyone who seeks my advice to speak to a Dermatologist; they are not only professional, but have the access to tools and additional knowledge to conduct further research and can confirm if your skin concerns are dietary, hormonally or cosmetically related.

Aside from giving your skin a breather, I encourage all cosmetic lovers to indulge in a makeup detox. My face is brighter, more even and supple. Not only is it great for your skin, but it helps fuel your self confidence if your suffer with insecurities of going bare. There is something empowering about not wearing makeup and living in your natural truth. For those of you who aren’t as comfortable going makeup free, this is a great way to start. As aesthetically pleasing as you may be externally, remember that beauty fades and at the end of the day, YOU have to be ok with what you see in the mirror when you wake up in the morning, so love yourself wholeheartedly; imperfections and all.

#MustKnow, Beauty, Careers, Community, Dating, Education, Faith, Featured, Health, Lifestyle, Love, Opinions, Relationships, Sex, Style, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Travel, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Likes for your Soul?

shaniselene

Social media platforms such as, Instagram, are not only updating constantly, but evolving on a tremendous level. As a blogger, it is important to consistently post quality content in order to maintain your brand, however, Instagram’s recent changes has made it extremely difficult to reach new accounts and engage with others on the platform; even your current followers have become more difficult to connect with due to the algorithm. 

Most of us would agree that the order in which your feed is displayed is one of the worst attributes of Instagram, but I believe the affect it has on the psyche and our self esteem takes the cake. Rather than utilizing this social media outlet to connect with family and friends whom you may not be able to engage with on a daily basis, it is now used to obtain followers, likes and views. To make matters worse, people are willing to do anything for attention; anything to get them seen. This includes paying ridiculous sums of money for advertisements and promotions to compromising their morals and values. 

For those of us like myself, who’s accustomed to being in the spotlight or characterized as the popular kid in school, attention isn’t something you crave when it’s always been handed to you. Please be advised that I am not excluding myself from experiencing a time of self doubt due to social media, however, the confidence and self assurance that I have both internally and externally play a major role in preventing me from falling victim to the psychological plague of Instagram.

Although I’ve received from flack from friends, outsiders and individuals with cyber courage that stated I wouldn’t be able to relate to certain struggles on Instagram because I meet a majority of the standards of beauty or been trendy before Instagram existed, my main goal is to educate and inspire others through my medical school journey, new ventures throughout my career and levels in which God has brought me to and places He intends to take me. I want others to know that He can do the same for them and not to allow the perception of society limit them to what they can do. 

No shade to the accounts that have reached large pinnacles of success, but most of them eat, live and sleep Instagram and have nothing else going on for themselves outside of it. When you begin collaborating with other bloggers or influencers, receive deals from major companies and network with successful individuals in the industry, you learn that IG is not all it’s cracked up to be. It isn’t REAL. The more you begin to focus on all of the positives in your life, what you currently have and cultivating the things in your world, the hype of Instagram will begin to fade and eventually, you won’t even notice it. Remember to water your own grass rather than sprinting in a never ending rat race chasing something unobtainable.

#MustKnow, Beauty, Careers, Community, Dating, Faith, Finance, Health, Lifestyle, Love, Motivation, Opinions, Relationships, Sex, Style, TheMBG, Thoughts of a Black Girl, Uncategorized, Urban Issues

Self Love

shaniselene

There comes a point in time where life events take place that affect our self esteem. Whether it’s being laid off from your job, you’re experiencing a random breakout or grieving a traumatizing breakup, it all has an impact on our self esteem. Based on my experiences, if it wasn’t for the love and value I possess for myself, I would not have survived certain situations.

Being confident in who you are gives you the freedom to refrain from subjecting yourself to what others think. I stumbled across a suggested page on one of my social media handles and the young lady posted a video responding to negative comments about her weight. She politely stated that she is aware that she is, “skinny” and is satisfied with her size. The young lady also rejected any suggestions that have been made to gain weight similar to her sister’s. My favorite portion of the video was when she made it a point to elaborate regardless of the number of hate comments she acquired, the bottom line is, “I love me”.

Most of us have a difficult time admitting this, but only a portion of us can actually agree with her statement; some of us actually aren’t satisfied with who we are. The minute our skin is compromised, we start to wonder if our significant other would still view us in the same light or if our peers would respect us in the same manner if we decrease our weekend outings due to a job loss. We all have insecurities, as we should because it keeps us humble and we are human, but we should not allow the things that we aren’t pleased with to dictate our overall perception of ourselves. 

It may be hard to stomach, but self love doesn’t happen when everything is going well; it takes place during hard times. The stages that take place before obtaining true self love can be perceived as boot camp; it’s there to strip away remnants that no longer serve a purpose and mold you into the person who you are within. If you are reading this, love yourself on your good days and even more on your bad days, reward yourself for all of your accomplishments regardless of how minor they be, stop looking for validation from others because you are your biggest competition and always remember that no one will love you like YOU.

Beauty, Business, Careers, Lifestyle, Style, Uncategorized

Babe On A Budget

shaniselene

As a fashionable modernista, it’s an absolute necessity to have my monthly mani-pedi. Depending on the color, length, polish and style desired, nail appointments can become quite pricey. Before you know it, you’re spending $80.00 per salon visit; not including the tip. I’m not sure about you, but I feel incomplete when my nails aren’t done. As a post undergraduate adulting while prepping for school, it’s very important that I keep my expenses at bay. After a painful visit that caused nail damage and searching for a less expensive alternative, I resorted to doing my manicures myself. I purchased a box of colorless nail extensions as well as my favorite, “Miracle Gel” polish by Sally Hansen and shaped my nails to my liking. The process may take more time, but I’m in total control of how I care and style my nails. The best part about this, “DIY” project is that it only cost $12.00!

Although I am thankful for my form of employment and level of income, I’m a firm believer that it is in your best interest to live beneath your means when the end result is to build your career while investing. This may include skipping a retail therapy day at the mall or substituting your high end boutique with a local clothing store. If you’re like me, thrifting has always been my go-to when I want to save a dollar all while channeling a vintage style. Every event or invitation brought to your attention does not always warrant a, “yes”; it is ok to say, “no” sometimes. As an entrepreneur and blogger, saying, “no” has been one of my biggest challenges because I love to network. I’m also not the best at balancing my time between working and having a social life, so whenever an opportunity presents itself, I cease it.

BabeOnABudgetAs an advocate for utilizing time to the best of your ability, I’ve conditioned myself to put every decision into perspective; how will it benefit me in achieving my heart’s desires? When you change your mindset and hone in on what’s important, it simplifies your choices. There will be times in which you may have to eat leftovers for (3) consecutive nights rather than dining at Ruth Chris even though you can afford it; this is what you call, “sacrificing”. Yes, this may require discipline and until you build the habit, it may be difficult at first, but it is possible. Thinking about my future and the longevity in which all of these practices will bring only motivates me to continue. We all yearn to have nice things, but accessing those things doesn’t mean that you must be left empty handed. Keep your eyes on the prize, make intentional decisions, be economically savvy and be a babe on a budget.