(Tenor.com)

The Struggles of Having Dark Skin in the Makeup World

~ By Mariam Sikiru, Teen Blogger

The makeup industry is starting to become diverse, but how much of the makeup industry is changing. Every Year black women spend 7.5 billion dollars on beauty products and that number continues to grow. The beauty industry is valued at $532 billion and In the U.S the cosmetics industry made 93.5 billion dollars in 2019. African Americans have a 1.7 trillion spending power but, have no representation in the fields they spend their money in. In the makeup industry, it’s hard for dark skin women to be able to find makeup that matches them, they often have to mix two shades or use contour as a foundation.

A story that hit home was when an influencer named @okaysophi talked about having to use black eyeshadow or black eyeliner to contour her face for some time. But, after the release of Fenty beauty’s new contour stick called “caviar,” she found her shade of contour and has been using it ever since.

(We Heart It/ Duckie Thot)

These success stories are made possible due to brands being inclusive and not putting the same three “medium-dark shades” for a group of people who should be boxed into 3 shades. The majority of the time those shades have warm, or orange undertones making it very hard for black women to even use them. It turns their skin ashy and sometimes pale white. Many brands started to become inclusive after the successful launch of Fenty Beauty, starting with 40 Foundation shades and developed 10 more shades. Rihanna set the tone for the makeup industry and many began to follow suit. 

(Nyma Tang, Tenor.com)

Some Influencers that shed light on the discrimination and the lack of diversity are Jackie Aina, Nyma Tang, Shanygne is also known as Ya Girl Too Much, and many more people who don’t revise recognition.

Here is a list of 10 Brands that are very inclusive  and have shades for darker skin toned women.

1. Fenty Beauty – https://www.fentybeauty.com/
2. UOMA Beauty – https://uomabeauty.com/
3. Flesh Beauty – https://www.fleshbeauty.com/ 
4. NARS – https://www.narscosmetics.com/
5. Beauty Bakerie – https://www.beautybakerie.com/
   
   

   (Mariam Sikiru, Photo by E.J. White)

6. Anastasia Beverly Hills – https://www.anastasiabeverlyhills.com/
7. Too Faced – https://www.toofaced.com/
8. Mac Cosmetics – https://www.maccosmetics.com/
9. Elf Cosmetics – https://www.elfcosmetics.com/
10. Revolution Beauty –https://www.revolutionbeauty.com/us/us/home

It’s 2020, put your money where your mouth is, don’t spend your money on brands that don’t support you nor the values that you hold. 

~ Mariam Sikiru, Teen Blogger

Scroll through the teen Style Diary of L.A. based fashion-lover, Mechellé!

What’s your name, age + the city you’re from?

My name is Mechellé pronounced Me-shell-lay, I’m 15 years old, and I live in Los Angeles, California but I’m from Richmond, Virginia.

Style is showing who you are with out having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?

My top 3 trends this season is long oversized jackets (I have this super long puffer jacket that goes down to my ankles and it’s the best thing ever), leather pants are so cute right now, and lastly, corset tops.

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?

I can’t leave the house without earrings! Earrings and jewelry make you look like you put a lot of effort into your outfit when you really didn’t. Next, I would grab some platform sneakers to add some spice to it. Lastly, I would take a denim jacket for some extra warmth and because they’re cute lol.

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?

I love Rihanna or Bella Hadid for their edgy street style. I think it really shows their personality and plus they both look stunning in them!

Getting ready in the morning can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?

My go-to look is probably a graphic tee and jeans with a statement jacket or shoes to spice it up.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?

My number 1 rule is…wear what YOU want to wear! I’ve found myself in a lot of situations where I want to wear something but don’t because I’m afraid of people’s opinions. But I realized it doesn’t matter what people think. Be different, be you!

Follow more of Mechellé + her style here:

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Scroll through the beauty diary of Atlanta based teen blogger, Haley!

What’s your name + city do you live in?

My name is Haley Cencere and I currently live in Atlanta, Georgia.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?

One trend that I am loving to see is how women are now more comfortable wearing their natural curls. Many women on social media have embraced their natural hair as well as their natural face and I am living for it. Beauty can be seen in many shapes and forms and I believe this trend is truly spreading that message. Many celebrities are now posting bare face pictures and it is truly inspiring. I am also in love with glossy eyelid trend that has been on seen on celebrity such as SZA and Kylie Jenner. I am in love with the effect that it gives to their makeup, it simply gorgeous!

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?

I would definitely grab lash glue, my favorite foundation and definitely a moisturizer like shea butter or cocoa butter.

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?

My ultimate beauty icon is supermodel Duckie Thot, she is beautiful and is always stylish. She has been a rising supermodel this year and I believe her imagine inspires many girls of a darker complexion to embrace their melanin. In my experience growing up as a darker complexion often times, I found people addressing my beauty being prefix the terms of you’re a beautiful dark skin young lady. Instead of just saying I was beautiful.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your book bag?

Lip Gloss is always a must have at all times. I will NEVER leave the house without my lip gloss because it is an easy touch up for a plain face or for a made up face. I am in love with MAC’s glass or you could go to your local beauty supply store for lip gloss.

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?

Embrace your truth and natural beauty. Find beauty in your insecurities. I have always wanted to spread this message to woman all over the world because I lived in my own shadow for years not embracing my unique beauty mark. I have a birthmark on the right side of my face that covers the entire right side of my face and I used to try to hide it by covering it up at a young age. The day that I embraced my beauty mark was the day the world around me embraced it and I am now known for having this very unique trait. I stand for a platform that promotes “ find beauty in what makes you uncomfortable or different because that is simply what makes you, you.”

Follow more of Haley’s beauty inspo here!

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Scroll through the style diary of college blogger, Tumi:

Style is showing who you are with out having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?
I don’t really wear or follow trends all that often because I find that most of the time it doesn’t align with my own personal style. Also, most of the time I find that I’m not cool enough to pull the trends off, lol. But this season I have to say that romantic silhouettes like ruffles, puffy sleaves and frills have been all the rage for me. I also really love the emphasis on masculine tailoring and the 50’s and 60’s throwbacks that I’ve been seeing in stores.

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?
If I only had 30 seconds to grab 3 of my favorite pieces, I would have to grab my vintage check high-waisted ciggerette trousers, my blue leather moto jacket and a crisp white button down.

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?
My fashion icon is a toss up between Rihanna and Victoria Beckham. One I love Rihanna because she is so bold when it comes to her style and she has no problem oozing straight sex and overt femininity. And two I love Victoria Beckham because she has found the perfect way to balance female elegance in an often masculine persona and attitude, all while making it sexy.

Getting ready in the morning can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?
I usually go for a pair of loose fit jeans(vintage or boyfriend cut), a button down shirt, jacket and white sneakers. I’m always wearing my masculine gold watch and layered necklaces and if its cold I switch the shirt for a large chunky knit sweater.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?
My number one rule has to be that if it doesn’t feel right then it’s probably not going to look right. When you’re insecure in your outfit it shows, so I make it a rule to trust my instincts.

Follow more Tumi’s style here!

The Tag Hag

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Scroll through the style diary of college blogger, Kazia:

Style is showing who you are with out having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?
I love oversized shades and different and fun frames, I feel like they are needed accessories.

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?
A cool pair of clear/reader frames , slip on sneakers , and a nice jacket to finish the look.

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?
Since I’ve started blogging and creating youtube content, I’ve been so interested in other creators. AnnieDrea is my favorite youtuber and her fashion sense really pushes the envelope. She’s never afraid to wear anything, which is how bold fashion is.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?
I love to look effortlessly put together so I’ll throw on a college paraphernalia shirt or sweatshirt, and a pair of ripped jeans with slip on sneakers. This look is also comfortable for class.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?
Wear whatever you want to wear, and make it flattering.

Check out more of Kazia’s fresh style here!

Five Fridaze

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Scroll through the beauty diary of  UK based beauty teen blogger, Sharifah Taiwo Ojeniyi! 

What city do you live in?
A small town in Kent, England.

Beauty is all about being comfortable in your own skin + having fun! What are 2 beauty trends you’re loving this year?
I am currently loving the glittery eyeshadow and the gold highlighter, especially from Fenty beauty!

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?
I would grab my eyebrow pencil, false lashes, and liquid eyeliner which is my number one favourite!

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?
My number one beauty Icon is Jackie Ania because she is really honest when it comes to reviewing beauty products and relatable to girls like me. Also, Instagram makeup has inspired me to create my makeup look because I really like how it appears on photographs.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your book bag?
False lash glue and lip balm, in case my lips are dry!

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?
Always be satisfied with your makeup look before you go out!

Scroll through the style diary of Canadian fashion blogger, Tiffany:

Style is showing who you are without having to speak! Name your top 3 trends you’re feeling this season?
My favorite trends would have to be knee-high boots, velvet boots and of course, I can’t forget the fur. Knee-high boots have always been my favorite, they’re simple but can bring together any outfit. I’ve also been slowly falling in love with velvet. Velvet pieces have been becoming quite popular lately but for me, velvet boots (especially velvet ankle boots) have become my favorites. Lastly, fur has been making it’s come back but what really made me start loving fur – Fur cuffed jeans. I’m in love with those.

If you had 30 seconds to grab your 3 favorite style pieces, what would they be?
I love adding scarfs to my outfits so those have to come first. Next, I would get a denim jacket because you can never go wrong with a denim jacket. Lastly, I would pick high waisted jeans, they’re comfortable and easy to work with, so you gotta love them.

Style inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate fashion icon + why?
My fashion icon would definitely have to be Rihanna. I just love the touch of boldness incorporated into her outfits. Whether it be the thigh-high boots or the bright colors, she is always able to make a statement with her outfits. Rihanna’s outfits are always unique and I think show a true reflection of herself. I like to put the most into every outfit and always add my own touch to every look because I want to portray my character and creativity as much as I can through my style.

Getting ready for class can be fun but stressful if you’re in a time crunch, what’s your go-to look if you’re in a rush?
My go-to look is an oversized jumper, comfy jeans, and high boots. I try to go with the warmest and most comfortable option, and when it comes to a nice oversized jumper you can’t go wrong. To keep things simple, I pair it with plain jeans. I really big fan of boots and I will admit I’ve got a few, so I head straight for my boots. Naturally, boots are not much of an option during the warmer months so my pair of white converse would be my​​ summer go-to footwear.

What’s your number 1 rule when it comes to style?
When it comes to style I think it’s important for people to try and stay true to themselves. If there is a certain style that you really like and you feel comfortable in, never hold yourself back. Style yourself in what you love and feel your best in. Everyone has a different perspective on fashion, so embrace it. Use your opportunities to express what fashion really is to you because you are you and no one can take that away from you.

Follow more of Tiffany’s fresh style here!

Tiff x Tish

Instagram

Scroll through the beauty diary of  New Jersey based beauty vlogger, Toni Bryanne!

What city do you live in? Roselle, NJ

If you had only 15 seconds to grab 3 beauty products, what would they be?
Eyebrow pencil, lip gloss, and BB cream

Beauty inspo is everything! Who’s your ultimate beauty icon + why?
My ultimate beauty icon is Rihanna. She’s drop dead gorgeous and could probably make a trash bag look good. From reviews I’ve heard about Fenty Beauty, I know it’s diverse, affordable, and very high-end. I haven’t had a chance to get my hands on Fenty Beauty yet, but I know I must!

You did an empowering vlog focusing on how black girls + women are stereotyped. How do you continue to embrace who you are + confidently love yourself?
Being a young black women in a society constantly telling me I’m not good enough pushes me to want to do better. I know my brown skin is beautiful and I have to remind myself I am not the vast stereotypes held against black women and black beauty. When I posted that video I was afraid of holding the stereotypes as the “angry black woman”, but I knew I had to speak my truth no matter how many views I received or how many people felt that stereotype fit my persona. Loving myself is loving others and teaching black women around me their beauty and strength they have. I know myself and black women are destined to take over the world and inspire people worldwide.

Hair can be such a fun accessory! What’s your fave hairstyle to rock + why?
One thing about me is that I always like to keep my hair very simple. I would say my favorite hairstyle is a sleek side part low ponytail. I like this look because while my hair is tamed and neat, the side part adds a fierce component to the look. Although I am ashamed to say I don’t really like unleashing my curls in a fro, twist out, or braid out as much as I used to a few years ago, I can say I have always been natural and truly love and embrace my curls. I prefer natural hair over straight hair any day.

Being a girl on-the-go can be stressful, what’s one beauty must-have that lives in your bag?
One beauty must-have that lives in my bag is lip gloss. If I leave my house without lip gloss in my bag, I have a mini breakdown. Chapped lips is a no go for me!

If you’re easing your way into makeup, where’s a good place to start? Eyes? Lips?
The best place to start when starting makeup is the eyes. Start off with trying different mascaras and work your way into using eyeliner first and then eye shadows. One tip I can give to girls starting to get into makeup is that it takes practice, and it’ll most likely look a little crazy the first time (trust me I know)! Don’t compare yourself to these experienced makeup gurus!

What’s your number 1 beauty rule?
My number one beauty rule is to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND! Blend your concealer, blend your contour, blend your eye shadow, just blend everything! I promise you’ll thank me and love me after you take that advice!

Follow more of Toni’s fresh beauty regimen here!

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(Photo via Tumblr)

Time Management…oh how I love the thought of doing it successfully. The reality is that many of us are struggling. We have so much to do but we have little time to do it.…scratch that. We have so much to do and we aren’t aware of all the time we have to do it.…That’s better. School has begun. Many of us are entering a new stage in our lives. Becoming a freshman…becoming a senior. Though we are diving head first into these new experiences, there are a few things we can keep in mind in regards to managing our time.

via GIPHY

Assignment written. Assignment complete! Many of us are guilty of pushing back work with the hopes of completing it at a later date. This can be problematic because realistically we find that the time spent watching YouTube or on Snapchat, could have been spent starting, and possibly completing, a paper. So I advise you to complete your assignments when given.  This leaves you with more free time later.

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Shut it off and Tune in! As briefly mentioned before, many of us are active on various social media platforms and some of us have a small addiction to it. Your ability to shut off your device and tune into your work is a challenge but I believe you can do it. When you think of time management think of discipline. Your ability to control your bad habits not only helps with time management but also in life.

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Charts. Calendars. Timers. Timing is key. Literally. If managing your time is spent complaining about lack of time, it is time to get a planner and calendar. You can track all your assignments and put them in time slots. This is where discipline is needed. Though you will not receive penalties for going over the time you’ve given yourself, the stress that will result will be punishment enough.

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Help me! Help me! This one is simple. If you spend your time looking confused at your homework-get help. Work in friend groups, get tutoring. There are many different methods one can use to get help. You are never limited in your resource when you have access to the internet. The time spent will help you greatly in the long run. The key for time management is staying focus.

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–Written by teen blogger, Brynn Hutchinson

Trendy + stylish are just a few of the fab traits that UK teen Myah Rebecca possesses as a  blogger! With her fashion forward taste and her distinct eye for all things beauty, Myah is on the road of sharing her inspiration to the world through her readers. She covers beauty, fashion, style, entertainment, health, interviews and much more!

As she continues to share her voice to the world her motto is (which we love!)  “It’s a long road but I’m dressed for it.”

Let’s get to know Myah a little better…

You’re a fly teen blogger hailing from the UK! What made you want blog about fashion & beauty?

-I started reading blogs like fashion toast and Blogging was something I’ve always wanted to do. I love fashion and beauty and it seemed to be the perfect thing to blog about, as it’s always changing and progressing and its individual too. I felt it was the best thing for me to blog about when I spend 80% of my time online shopping and the other 30% real life shopping.

Blogging is a great outlet to share your journey, how does your site allow you to express yourself and your dreams?

-Well My blog is hosted by WordPress, and WordPress is very flexible as there’s and app so I can blog on the go, it’s super easy to make pages and change themes which allows me to put just about anything I want to online so I’ve created a trends page where typically monthly I post what trends I’m loving in order to express myself.

Style is a way of expressing yourself without speaking, how would you describe your personal style?

-I’d like to think that I have quite an on trend style. I’ll be honest I love shopping for the latest items, I love predicting the trends too and beating everyone to it. I honestly get joy out of buying a new item and seeing it a few weeks later in magazines and on my favourite celebrities. Always makes me think that I’ve inspired them to wear it, ahaha I know I haven’t though.

Being young and having responsibilities can sometimes get to be a bit overwhelming, how do you motivate yourself when you’re feeling a little defeated?

-A good little list always helps me to be able to put my problems into perspective. My responsibilities is school, work and my blog. I have recently started a job and I don’t know why I thought it was a good idea based on how little time I have to do anything. School always goes first so homework, course work and revision is always a top priority. Blog posts no matter how much more I’d rather be doing them comes second. When it feels like I’m drowning in work and can’t get a blog post out anytime soon I get in contact with guest bloggers so there’s always something on my blog for my readers to read and know I haven’t just fallen of the face of the earth and I wait till the holidays and schedule posts then for later on when I may not be able to write for a while.

We tend to pull characteristics from others in our lives or from people we admire, who inspires you and why?

– It’s going to sound typical and soppy but it’s true, my mum is my main inspiration in life because she’s so driven and creative and understanding, for example when ever we would have fancy dress days in primary school if I wanted to be an octopus she’d help me make the best octopus outfit, we did win best dressed every year. Doing things like that from such a young age I feel really gave me the confidence to do creative hings on my own such as my blog.

We are all about empowerment, what does EMPOWERMENT mean to you?

-Empowerment to me means that I am independent and strong. Typically being in a society were racism is such a big issue yet I am able to feel important, respected and on par with other women of different races. Not to say that the world is accepting because that’s one thing it certainly isn’t however there are communities where you can feel accepted and the teen blogging community so far feels like it’s opening up.

Time for faves! Celeb Crush? Artist? Food? Movie?

-My favourite Artist would have to be Beyoncé for obvious reasons like she’s the queen of everything.

– My favourite food would have to be pizza, bbq base though it’s the future.

-To be able to pick a fave movie is such a hard thing to do. My favourite movie at this moment would be untouchable it’s a French movie but I there’s always subtitles. It’s the sweetest movie ever. Another movie I’m really loving and have been for a couple of years now is attack the block it’s the funniest thing you’ll ever watch it’s full of wanna be gangsters and aliens, also it was one of John Boyega’s first films.

Check out more about Myah ….

Myah Rebecca Blog

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