Open Letter to Men: We don't wear makeup for You!!

Since getting into the beauty industry, I have noticed a major trend amongst men on social media. Majority of them hate makeup. And I totally get it. You want to see the woman for who she truly is, not with something that can be removed from her face. Ok, that's a valid request. Here is where it becomes annoying. It becomes highly irritating when guys either:

A. Automatically assume that we have low self esteem because we have one a full face of makeup.
B. They bash the entire idea of it and will talk about or completely disrespect women from wearing it.


So here is where the title of this blog comes into play: We Do Not Put Makeup On For You. I'll be Charlie Brown if I was to sit here and spend AN HOUR putting on a full face of makeup for a man who can't name a high end makeup brand other than MAC. Makeup isn't put on for you guys. Sorry to burst your bubble. Here is what you're seeing when you see these transformation pics or videos on social media.

1. The pic is almost ALWAYS of a professional makeup artist OR a client that a professional makeup artist applied makeup to. It is almost NEVER of someone who is new to makeup. To be able to highlight and contour takes skill. You're literally sculpting your face so that it looks normal when the natural light or flashing lights hit your face. It's basically art, and our face is the canvas.

2. Nine times out of ten, we're usually not going anywhere when we take the pictures. I can definitely speak for myself as well as some more popular Beauty Bloggers when I say, we literally apply makeup to take a picture of it, post it to social media, then take it off. Why? That's apart of our job description! Lbvs. I can count how many times I have walked out of the house after doing a look. And half of the products I use, I would never wear on a normal day. The colors are super fun and I have a wonderful time using them. But if I was not blogging, I probably wouldn't do half of what I do now. I can honestly remember a period of time where I wasn't doing makeup professionally, and I probably wore a full face maybe once every 3 months. It's just not something I think is necessary for me to do every single for no reason. Being a Beauty Blogger gives me a reason to put on makeup every single day. When I'm not working, I'm not wearing it.

3. This makes us happy. You know how you have your sports and beer and hunting and fishing and what not? You know the crap that some of us ladies think is stupid, but we let you all do it anyway? Same thing with makeup. Those things make you happy. Makeup makes us happy. I know I always hear angels singing when I walk into a Sephora. And don't let me have gift cards. Talk about a straight up haul!! But this is something that I truly love. I love being able to try and test out products, then telling my followers what I think. It's like I have 3K + best friends and I can talk and share stories and swap secrets. I suffer from anxiety. Putting on makeup forces me to concentrate on that, which calms me down. I may not even be going anywhere. But if I'm in a bad mood, I can always count on playing on makeup to make me happy. It never fails.

Notice, not once in any of these scenarios were you men mentioned. Why? Because we don't do it for you. If anything, we'd much rather chill with you without wearing any makeup at all. We don't feel like we have to do that for you all to love us. We would be so willing to do that as long as you simply respect what it is that we do. You don't have to like it. Just be ok with us loving it. We know we don't need it to feel beautiful. We already know we are. We just like playing in it. Creating masterpieces. Let us be great please and thank you!


Much Luv,

Aly

Top 10 Favorite Makeup Brushes

Hey my loves!

If you missed it, I uploaded a video earlier this week about my Top 10 Favorite Makeup Brushes. The video featured several brands such as BH Cosmetics and Morphe. If you are interested in buying the brushes I discussed in the video, here are the links to them:

Morphe:
M441- http://www.morphebrushes.com/products/m441-pro-firm-blending-crease
M439- http://www.morphebrushes.com/products/m439-deluxe-buffer
M404- http://www.morphebrushes.com/products/m404-small-duo-foundation
E48- http://www.morphebrushes.com/products/e48

Bella and Bear
Cat's Eye Set- http://www.bellaandbear.com/products/the-cats-eyes-eyeshadow-brush-set

Lorac Pro Contour Palette (Includes Brush)
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod12541013

It Brushes for Ulta Velvet Luxe Powder Brush #307
http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod11061136

E.L.F. Eyeliner Brush- Local Drugstore, Wal-Mart, or Target
http://www.elfcosmetics.com/p/eyeliner-brush?Dept=tools-single-brushes

The video is linked below. Please like and subscribe to my channel. Don't forget to comment down below.

Until Next Time,

Aly

Top 10 Favorite Makeup Brushes

GRWM: Greatest Party Story, Wack Comparisons, It's Not Always About You

Here is my latest video! Use the link below to access it. Like and don't forget to hit the subscribe button.

GRWM YouTube Video 1/20/16

GRWM is up on my YouTube Channel!!!

My latest video is up everyone! The link is below per usual. Like, subscribe and leave comments!!! 

http://youtu.be/pSVMhPOXvIU

Real Techniques Sponge vs Beauty Blender

Writing the title of this blog makes me want to yell out THIS IS SPARTA!!!!!! Lol! Like for real, the Beauty world is so competitive. And I have heard so many people say to me that they like the Beauty Blender over the Real Techniques Sponge or vice versa. I haven't seen all out wars, but I'm sure they have happened. But here is my opinion on both and which one I like better:

Let's start with the Beauty Blender. Honestly because I got this one first lol. I bought it like several months ago and instantly fell in love with it. Like I don't know how I lived without that thing. What I love about the Beauty Blender is its size.  I love that it small, but the minute you soak it in water, it doubles in size. Blending out my concealer without it now is like forbidden. I have tried it once or twice because I was too lazy to go dampen it and...... No. Lol. 

2. Real Techniques Sponge. This was a straight up impulse buy at Ulta. I knew at some point I was going to make it my business to buy it for the sole purpose of giving you all an honest comparison. So I got it. Took it home. Took it out of the packaging. Squeezed it. And was like.... Well this feels like a brick lolololol. My Beauty Blender was way softer than this when I squeezed it. (I'm saying this in my Cardi B from Love and Hip Hop Voice btw, lolololol) So after I was done being snooty and a ride or die fan of the Beauty Blender, I took it into my bathroom and ran it under water...... Not only was it mad softer than the Beauty Blender, but it retained moisture longer!!!!! I used the Real Techniques Sponge on my LOTD last night and the Beauty Blender on my LOTD on Tuesday. Let the comparison begin! 

Makeup with Real Techniques Sponger

Makeup with Beauty Blender

Ok so now, I can totally tell a difference. It's not a huge difference as far as looks are concerned. Both sponges do a fantastic job at blending out concealer. What the Beauty Blender lacks from the Real Techniques Sponge is the ability to really get into the corner of the eye and the ability to soak up more access product. And I mean it's not a whole lot. It's very very very slight. The Real Techniques Sponge also retains moisture longer than the Beauty Blender. I have gotten up many a times from my floor vanity (yup I beats my face while sitting on the floor) to go back to my bathroom to re-dampen my Beauty Blender because it has dried out. So that's what 2pts for the RTS and 0 pts for BB. Now, the Beauty Blender, however, comes in a wide range of colors. I can get a pink, black, or lime green one. Real Techniques only choice is orange. So RTS loses that battle to BB. 2-1. I will award both sponges points for the opposite ends of the sponge. Both blend out evenly on the ends of it. I can't say the flat bottom is better than the round bottom. They're about the same lol. 3-2. Price? Sorry Beauty Blender, but RTS wins hands down for its amazing price point of $5.00 vs $20. 4-2. 

So, it appears that the Real Techniques Sponge wins this comparison! But I would still recommend both. To be honest, I needed a new sponge because my Beauty Blender was getting really beat up. But at some point, I will buy another Beauty Blender. Why? Because it is still an amazing sponge and my RTS won't last forever. I also wouldn't be a true Beauty Blogger if I didn't own EVERYTHING. I always say, do what is best for you. Both sponges are amazing products. This was probably one of my more fun blogs to write! 

Until next beauties! 

Aly

I've been doing the baggy method this whole time!!!

Ok so you all know that I was an accidental naturalista by now lbvs. So it should come as no shock to you that my method of pre-poo is actually the baggy method. I have been doing my hair like this for over a year now. Then all of a sudden, I look up and poof! What I'm doing has a whole term. But everyone does theirs differently. So here is what I do. 

1. I wash my hair every 4 days. When I say wash, I mean co-wash. I physically shampoo my hair once a month. (I'm going to transition to every 6 weeks though because my hair is starting to get longer and become more of a pain in the butt to wash. Lol) the shampoo I use is by Shea Moisture and it's the Strengthen and Grow Shampoo. 

2. For Co-Wash, I'm not that picky. I'll use either cheap conditioner or some type of co-wash brand. I know I know, they should steal my natural hair card right now. I just feel like they all do the same thing. And as long as the goal of my hair being clean is achieved then why stress about what's going in it? Lol. Right now, the one I'm using is by Palmer's and it's called co-wash cleansing conditioner. 

3. But before I even touch my hair with either of these products, I do the "baggy method." Now the baggy method consists of using your favorite conditioner and hair oil and allowing it to sit under a shower cap or plastic grocery bag for an hour or overnight. I typically do it how I feel. Sometimes its overnight and sometimes it's an hour. Sometimes it's all day. Lol like I will get real lazy or distracted and realize several hours later I still have this bag on my head. The products I use for my baggy method are Herbal Essence Hello Hydration Conditioner, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, and Peppermint Oil. I put all of them in a container. Several pumps of the conditioner, two cap fulls of olive oil, and about 4-5 drops of peppermint oil. I mix them together, throw it in the microwave for about 15-20 seconds, stir again, then apply to my hair. The reason I heat it up is because the heat forces the hair folicles to open up so that the product can truly soak into the hair. This leaves my hair super defined and moisturized longer. I have low porosity hair and color in it as well. So if I don't want it to fall out, I kind of have to do it this way. You see why I let the conditioner sit so long. It really is a process. Lol. 

It only took me 2 years to figure out the best products for my hair. The best part is that the products I use for the most part are fairly inexpensive. Shea Moisture and Carol's Daughter are probably the two that are pricy. Oh and the peppermint oil. But I've had that since like August 2015 and I won't be running out any time soon. Really quick, the purpose of the peppermint oil is to open your pores in your scalp and stimulate growth. Sometimes, your hair won't grow due to blockage. Peppermint oil cleans that out. You HAVE to use a carrier oil with though. It is very strong. This isn't your typical peppermint candy cane. The best carrier oils are olive oil, coconut oil, and almond oil. 

If you decide to try my method of the baggy method, leave me a comment below and tell me how you like it. Feel free to use what works for you as well! I know people who swear by coconut oil and my hair doesn't like it. Lol. Can't wait to see you all's results!!! 

Much Luv,

Aly

January Haul Video Posted

Happy New Year Beautiful People!!!

My latest video is up on my YouTube Channel. Please Like and Subscribe to my channel.

Much Luv,

Aly


January Haul