Hi everyone! Welcome back to my blog. In this post I really want to focus on addressing the pressing topic of dark under eyes and how concealer can be used to make a true difference in your appearance. The right concealer will brighten and rejuvenate your tired or stressed eyes!!

Dark under eyes are a common woe for many of us, whether it’s due to genetics, lack of sleep, or just life’s daily stresses. But fear not, because with the right techniques and products, we can banish those dark circles and embrace a fresh, well-rested look!

Let’s start with the hero of the hour—concealer. This magical product comes in various formulas and shades, designed to camouflage imperfections and brighten up the under-eye area. But before we delve into the application, let’s talk about finding the perfect shade match.

Shade Matching:

Finding the right shade of concealer is crucial for achieving a seamless, natural-looking finish. Ideally, you want a shade that matches your skin tone or is slightly lighter to counteract darkness under the eyes. When testing shades, swatch them on your jawline or inner wrist to see how they blend with your skin.

Remember, different areas of your face may require different shades of concealer. For under eyes, you may opt for a shade slightly lighter than your skin tone to brighten and counteract darkness. However, for concealing blemishes or discoloration on other parts of the face, you’ll want a shade that matches your skin tone exactly.

Popular Concealers:

Some popular concealer loved by people around the world include:

1. Tarte Shape Tape Concealer: Known for its full coverage and long-wearing formula, this cult-favorite concealer is perfect for concealing dark circles and blemishes.
2. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer: Affordable and effective, this concealer offers a natural finish and comes in a wide range of shades to suit every skin tone.
3. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer: Loved for its creamy texture and buildable coverage, this concealer brightens and hydrates the under-eye area while concealing imperfections.

Concealer Placement:

Now that you’ve found your perfect shade, let’s talk about how to apply concealer to banish those dark circles effectively:

1. Prep the under-eye area: Start by moisturizing the under-eye area to ensure a smooth canvas. This will help prevent the concealer from settling into fine lines and creases.
2. Apply concealer in a triangular shape: Using a concealer brush or your fingertips, apply the concealer in a triangular shape under the eyes, with the base of the triangle along the lower lash line and the point extending towards the cheekbones. This technique helps to brighten and lift the eyes.
3. Blend, blend, blend: Gently blend the concealer using tapping motions with your fingertips or a damp makeup sponge. Be sure to blend the edges seamlessly into your skin for a natural finish.
4. Set with powder: To lock in your concealer and prevent creasing, lightly dust translucent powder over the under-eye area using a fluffy brush.

Remember, less is more when it comes to concealer. Start with a small amount and build up coverage as needed to avoid a cakey or heavy look.

With the right shade of concealer and proper application techniques, you can bid farewell to dark under eyes and embrace a bright, refreshed look. Don’t forget to pamper yourself with some self-care, because you deserve to feel confident and radiant inside and out!!

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be doing a deep dive into foundation, an essential element of creating a flawless base. Foundation serves as the bae any and all makeup worn after ward and can truly change the overall appearance of your final face. Whether you prefer to wear your a thicker, full coverage foundation, or a lightweight skin tint, if applied with care and precision, any of these options will be great choices for elevating your look. Shopping in the makeup industry can be incredibly stressful, but I’m hoping this blog will point some of you in the right direction.

High Coverage

When it comes to choosing a high-coverage foundation, there are several compelling reasons why people might opt for such a product. First and foremost, high-coverage foundations offer unparalleled camouflage for imperfections, including blemishes, scars, discoloration, and uneven skin tone. This level of coverage provides individuals with the confidence to address their skin concerns and achieve a flawless complexion.

Additionally, high-coverage foundations can serve as a versatile tool in any makeup routine. They allow for buildable coverage, meaning users have the flexibility to customize the level of coverage based on their specific needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a sheer veil of color or a completely flawless finish, high-coverage foundations can deliver the desired result with ease.

Ultimately, high coverage products provide you with a lot of flexibility in your make up and provides versatility. Some of my favorite brands for high coverage products are  Estée Lauder and  the Maybelline Fit ME line.

Mid Coverage

Little to No Coverage

Hey everyone, welcome back to my blog! Today, I will be doing a deep dive into lashes; An element of your appearance that can truly elevate your makeup game and overall physical appearance. Whether you prefer to wear your natural lashes, semi-permanent lashes, strip lashes, mascara, or get your lashes professionally done, this post is for you.

Lashes play a really pivotal role in shaping your face and overall appearance. They can frame your eyes in subtle or dramatic ways that can completely change a look. But how does one go about achieving these different styles or finding a method that works best for them? Here, I’ll be breaking down some of the most popular techniques, sharing tips, tricks, and product recommendations.

All-Natural

The first approach for lashes its simply to go natural! We have all been blessed with beautiful lashes. When making the choice to wear your natural lashes, the look will be generally more natural looking. For those insecure about their natural lashes (which you shouldn’t be!), utilizing lash serums is a great way to grow your lashes. Here are some amazing product recommendations I have used in the past, or heard great things about!

Mascaras

A low maintenance option is to make use of mascara. Various formulas available on the market that can increase your lash length, volume, thickens, and dramatic appearance of your lashes. As for choosing a mascara that works best for you I recommend selecting colors that look natural to your face (or dramatic to fit the occasion). Be sure to curl your lashes prior to applying mascara. Brands like Maybelline, L’Oreal, Too Faced, and Essence provide amazing options that accommodate for all budgets. Remember to apply coats in a neat way to prevent the product from crumbling and looking scary…

Semi-Permanent Lashes

Personally, these are my favorite approach to styling my lashes. There is A LOT of freedom and customization options with these options, with limited required maintenance, and generally low costs. The first option within this category is to work with a professional service to get lash extensions or a lash lift. These processes can involve attaching individual synthetic lashes onto your natural ones to create a fuller and longer appearance. There are many many options to customize this choice for your needs so , it can range from incredibly dramatic lashes to simple and natural appearing lashes.

The second approach to semi-permanent lashes includes at home (DIY) lash extensions. This system involves using a lash glue to attach individual clusters onto the upper lashes, followed my a seal to take away the tackiness of the glue and seal the lashes. Again, this option is one of my favorites and allows for customizability in the appearance of your lashes. Lash kits can be purchased at Walmart or Amazon and the application process is incredibly simple!

Ultimately, whether you’re opting for the long-lasting semi-permanent lashes, mascara, or your natural lashes, the world of lashes offers something for everyone and I hope this helped open your eyes to the multitude of options on the market.

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog!

In this post, I want to break down the first step of my makeup routine, brows!! While deemed as a skill that’s hard and difficult to master, I personally believe that with time, patience, and practice, everyone is capable of achieving consistent brow looks that flatter their face shape.

As the first step of a good makeup routine, brows really set the tone for the rest of the look and can either make or break the final product. For this reason, I want to begin with brow care and prep.

To maintain a proper, clean, and ‘tame’ look to the brows, there are many different approaches that people may utilize. For some, they may hire professionals to wax their eyebrows. This is a luxury-ish service that costs around $20. Another option is to thread the eyebrows, a technique that originates from eastern cultures in India and Iran. Another approach is to get your eyebrows laminated and/or tinted. This procedure semi-permanently laminates, shapes, and darkens the brows to make them appear thicker and crisper for about 4 to 6 weeks. With this technique, most people don’t need to do their eyebrows when they do their makeup. However, if you choose any of the other techniques or choose to let your brows grow out on their own, doing them with your makeup routine is a great option!

To achieve a flawless eyebrow routine, their are a few products that I would recommend:

1. A spoolie
2. A gel or pomade
3. A brow pencil that matches your brow color (be sure not to use black!)

As for recommendations for spoolies, anything will work. It doesn’t need to be high end or special, all spoolies do about the same thing, so save your money in this department. Anything from amazon, target, or even the free samples from Sephora or Ulta will work just fine!

As for the gel and pomade, this is a more crucial aspect of the final appearance. Ideally, you want a product that will secure your brows into place for the whole day, while not peeling up, causing white build up, or discoloration in your brows. While people have varying opinions on the best brow pomades, there are two top recommendations.

1. The ELF putty primer (about $6)
2. Anastasia Beverly Hills – Brow Freeze Gel (about $13)

Both of these products have good reviews and are well liked while being incredibly affordable options. I encourage you all to explore with a few products and determine which works best on your brows, but for me the ELF putty primer has been amazing!!

Finally, the final piece to tie together the brows is a thin and precise brow pencil. These help to add the illusion of additional brow hairs and can be used to make the brows appear darker in color. In this step, it is imperative that you select a brow color that matches your skin complexion and brows and isn’t too dark nor too light. 

Some of my favorite products and recommendations include:

1. NYX Micro Brow Pencil Vegan Eyebrow Pencil (about $11)
2. Maybelline Total Temptation Eyebrow Definer Pencil (about $9)

Once again, these products are well liked and personal favorites of mine. I recommend giving them a try and finding one that works for you!

The application process of a good brow routine involves laying the brows down with a good gel being sure to shape them with a spoolie. Once the gel has dried and set to your liking, fill in the brows with thin strokes using the brow pencil. For a more detailed video click here.

Ultimately, brows really set the tone for your face, so I strongly encourage anyone intrested to give them a try. Most products are budget friendly and if you practice, you will get better!!

I hope y’all enjoyed!

– Yeems <3

I wanted to take a step back and discuss the skin prep that needs to be done prior to obtaining a flawless beat. As I find myself scrolling through social media, I find that I am constantly bombarded with skin care products, hacks, and techniques. Skincare shouldn’t be stressful or overwhelming, so here, I’m going to breakdown skincare, give practical step-by-step routines, and product recommendations.

SKINCARE

Maintaining a proper skincare routine makes it easy for your skin to remain clear and fresh, despite the dirt and debris that can accumulate throughout the day and while we sleep. Effective skincare cleanses the face of oil and dirt, prevents pesky acne and pimples from popping up, and makes sure your skin is looking its best. 

As much as skincare is viewed and treated as a luxury, it’s actually not, and rather a vital part in taking care of the largest organ on the human body, the skin. Maintaining healthy practices and sticking to an effective routine will allow us all to achieve healthy, plump, and refreshed skin. 

BUILDING A ROUTINE
Step 1: Cleanse

Using a cleanser is pivotal in preparing the face for other skin care products, or a full face of makeup. There are two main types of cleansers on the market, oil-based and water-based. The main differences between the two are that oil based cleansers remove oil-based impurities and cleanse deep beneath the skin. In contrast, water-based cleansers remove water-soluble impurities and target the outermost layers of the skin.

Hi everyone and welcome back to my blog. For this new semester of class, I will be continuing to consistently blog on this page. However, rather than continuing the original blog topic from last semester, the crosses, similarities and differences between Nigerian culture and African American culture, this semester I’ll be changing some things up.

Specifically, my blog will be transitioning into a makeup journey and inspiration blog. Over the past few months, makeup has become something more prevalent in my life, and I have taken a great interest in improving my skills and learning more about the craft. So, I’m hoping to use this blog to share my journey with experimenting with makeup, documenting my growth, and sharing tips to help others who may be interested in the subject as well.

As for the vision of the blog, I really want to use the platform to really highlight the makeup journey from a Black perspective, taking the opportunity to highlight brands who work to create inclusive product lines, and discuss the struggles and strengths in learning to do makeup with limited access to appropriate complexion drug store products. I also want to use this platform to showcase Black makeup artists who defy odds and excel at the craft, and use social media platforms like Tik Tok, Instagram, and Youtube, to share their skills with Black communities around the world.

Some topics that I hope to touch upon include, finding an appropriate shade match, building a flawless base, understanding different products, analyzing differences between powder, cream, and liquid products, bold and beautiful lip combinations, and many other interesting topics related to makeup as a whole.

Source Link

As excited as I am to document this semester-long journey and share my findings with all of you, in this first post, I would really like to emphasize the idea that makeup is never a necessity for one to be deemed as beautiful. We all have beauty within ourselves and our unique features, and makeup simply provides us with the opportunity to enhance and play with our features as we desire. Makeup is not a need, but rather an art craft and form of expression.

                          

Through this blog, I really hope to emphasize that whether one chooses to wear makeup or not is a personal choice, and nothing is wrong with either option. Makeup is free for us all to experiment with and learn from and I’m really excited to have the opportunity to do this in a safe and supportive environment.

I really hope you all have an amazing semester, and stay tuned for an amazing semester of fun colors, looks, and experimentation on this journey.

See you all soon,

Yeems <3

For the final RCL post, I have chosen to analyze this image and the emotional impact that it has on the viewers. The image was shot by the photographer Laurel Chor for Getty Images. The protest took place in Hong Kong in 2019 to protest the government’s ban on face masks. 

In this post, I will be analyzing the construction of the image, the focus, and the surroundings. For construction, we can clearly see the focus of this image is what appears to be an Asian woman in a white shirt. She is raising her hand in protest, wearing a mask, a clean white t-shirt, and her face has the expression of pain and discomfort. 

To start, the image’s composition is striking. The Asian woman is placed at the center of the image, which speaks volumes to the situation that the world was in at the time. It is unclear whether this photo was staged or not, regardless, the woman’s positioning in the center of the frame, surrounded by the blurred crowd of people behind her creates a dynamic background to the image and adds depth to the narrative that the image is striving to push. Specifically the narrative, that the focus is tired and emotionally strained by the condition of the world. It also speaks to how she is directly impacted by the condition of the world and evokes readers to feel similar emotions to hers. 

Furthermore, the woman’s choice to wear a mask symbolizes her protest against the government’s ban on the usage of face masks. This exhibits defiance from the woman in the center, but also from all of the others who surround her and can be seen behind her. The clean white shirt that she is wearing also differs strongly from the dark and chaotic looking background that engulfs her. The choice in color may symbolize that despite the intense emotions and turbulent emotions for the time, she is a source of innocence and strength; a source that will not be silenced by the government or other entities. 

In addition, the woman’s clear expression of pain and discomfort conveys a ray and unfiltered emotion that can be felt by viewers. It is clear that her discomfort is not only physical, but emotional and psychological as well. The emotion of her face invites viewers to empathize with the protesting woman and allows us to build a somewhat personal connection with her. Furthermore, the other faces in the image are blurred out and unclear to the eye. The background individuals are faceless, which leads me to assume that they may all be expressing similar discomfort to the protester who we can see. Thus leading us to believe that the discomfort and need to protest is not just about one person, but a collective struggle. 

All in all, the image uses symbolism, emotions, and construction to allow its viewers to feel the emotions of the protester and those around her. As a whole, the image conveys a powerful message about unity and strength and the importance of protesting and raising our voices against injustice. 

Hi everyone!!!

My first semester here at Penn State is officially coming to an end. I almost can’t believe it, but it’s true. The semester has flown by, been filled with ups and downs, random adventures, and crazy experiences. 

One thing that has consistently occurred throughout this semester has been writing these blog posts and doing a deep dive on each of the topics of my choosing. Initially, I was nervous about taking on this task. I had never done anything like it and wasn’t sure where I wanted to go with the blog. Despite my fears and worries, here I am at the end of the semester writing my final blog post. 

So, to recap, in my passion blog, I hoped to do a deep dive into the many different elements of Black American culture, Nigerian culture, and my own experiences, and compare and contrast the three from my perspective. This blog has given me the opportunity to learn so much more about topics I knew just a little bit about, and exponentially increase my knowledge on the topics. 

Across my passion posts, I analyzed: 

1. The differences between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation 
2. African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and its usage
3. The significance of Hair
4. The importance of jewelry in Yoruba and African American culture
5. Music and Dance in Yoruba and African American culture
6. Black Representation in the Media
7. The Divine 9 Fraternities and Sororities

Each of these topics have been so interesting to research, learn more about, and write posts on. I have also greatly enjoyed providing my personal experiences and taking on the topics I discussed. This opinion based writing towards the end of each of my posts provided me with the space to reflect on the information I wrote about. 

With this blog, my goal was always to complete all the necessary posts. But I have gained much more from the blogs. I’ve learned a lot more about Youruba culture, Black and Latino culture, as well as Black representation. All aspects that can help me improve as a person and make me more accepting and tolerant of people who are different from me. 

As enjoyable as it has been for me to write this blog, I hope that my readers are able to take something away from it. I hope that the blog has taught you something or simply allowed you to laugh while reading it. 

This is the end of this blog, but do not fret, as I will be back very soon. Next semester, I will be back with more information, blog posts, and content so stay tuned!!

A blog on the African American experience in the United States would certainly not be completed without a discussion on Greek Life and the Divine Nine. 

The Divine Nine is the name given to historically Black Greek-letter organizations. They hold a significant place in Black American history and culture and include the following organizations:

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. 

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.

Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.

These organizations were created at different times, different universities, and for different purposes. Despite this, they collectively offer Black college educated students across the United States the opportunity to experience a sense of community and pride in their Blackness. In addition to the brotherhood and sisterhood offered by these organizations, they are committed to making contributions to specific communities and society as a whole. 

Key pillar points of these organizations include service, social justice, and education as they reflect the determination and strength required by Black Americans throughout history to pave the path that we walk today. Collectively, these Divine Nine organizations have shaped and continue to shape Black culture and social ideals in the United States. 

So, you may be wondering what makes these organizations different from the other Greek organizations you may see on campus. For one, they are composed of majority Black men and women, a trend that is often not seen with other fraternities and sororities. There are several other differences between the two types of organizations, but one element that I wanted to focus on was strolling. 

If you are unfamiliar with what strolling is, it is an organized dance that is usually performed in a line which represents power and unification. Strolling is a right of passage for members of these fraternities and sororities and has been passed down for many years. It’s highly respected and not performed by members who are not part of these organizations. 

In the stroll, the specific movements and line formations typically hold historical value to the organization, however their specific meanings are often not shared with members outside of the organization. The kind of secrecy and tight knit information helps to create a closer community and develops a greater sense of trust between members in the organization.

As of now, I am not part of any of the Divine Nine organizations, however I do have connections to the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc as my brother crossed into the organization earlier this year. The sense of community, brotherhood, and sisterhood that I have seen through these organizations is unlike anything I have ever seen before. The strolls performed at parties, cookouts, and large events are also super impressive and always fun to watch. 

These organizations have played a large role in Black culture in the US and my life in the past  year and I hope this has helped you learn a bit more about Greek Life for Black students!

In this week’s passion post, I want to focus on the film industry in the United States and Nigeria. Specifically focusing on black representation in Hollywood, and Black domination in Nollywood.

So, what exactly is Hollywood and Nollywood?

Hollywood: the film industry of the United States which is largely known and recognized by many. Each year hundreds of movies are produced from Hollywood centered around political issues, violence, controversy, life and more.

Nollywood: the Nigerian film industry that produces hundreds of movies primarily focused on drama, social, and political issues, while avoiding majorly controversial topics. 

Starting with Hollywood, some of the world’s most well-known and loved movies have originated from Hollywood. Some of these include the Spider-Man and Star Wars series. In this post however, I want to highlight movies and shows like Us, Get Out, Blackish, Black Panther, and That’s So Raven. 

You may be wondering what each of these have in common, and that is that these productions highlight incredibly talented Black actresses and actors in Hollywood. Unfortunately the film industry often fails to showcase Black talent, with just about 11% of leading film roles going to Black actors, and films with largely black casts are more often to receive lower investments in production and promotion.  

These unsettling statistics and the lack of Black representation in film, makes situations where Black actors are featured more powerful and impactful on the Black community. For example, Black Panther, which came out in 2018, was Marvel’s first Black-led superhero film. It successfully brought attention to Afrofuturism and the progression of technology with the evolving African diaspora. The movie also helped to draw attention to incredible Black actors, providing them with opportunities to shine on-screen. 

Personally, I remember when Black Panther originally came to theaters and watched it with my family. I also recall when the second movie was released, my high school planned a trip for members of the African American Student Association to watch the film. Both films greatly impacted Black communities positively. 

Furthermore, I distinctly remember watching shows like Blackish and Grownish with my mom. It wasn’t often that shows featured Black actors and could accurately discuss and draw attention to Black issues and the Black experience in the United States. These shows and films however opened the doors to introducing these kinds of productions to Hollywood, which is incredibly necessary for the future of the US.

On the other hand and across the world, Nollywood has continued to produce movies and shows like The Set Up and Jenifa’s Diary. Entirely Black casts are not uncommon in Nollywood productions as they are produced in Nigeria, a country with a high Black population. 

Despite these differences, the constant refreshing Black representation in film productions from Nollywood and the continuously increasing Black representation in Hollywood movies is significant to Black American communities and Nigerian communities. Experiencing a sense of belonging and relatability to the media we consume is incredibly important to every community, so it’s nice to see the representation of people who are like me on the big screen. And as always, more representation would always be appreciated!