Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and this season you should cop some be-you-ti-ful gifts for your favorite beauty lover.
We all have at least one beauty lover in our life, so it's important that we know which items will place the biggest smile on their face. Finding the right present for an avid beauty junkie who is up on all of the releases can be frustrating because it may appear that they have it all. That's why our list is unique. We gathered some astounding products made by black-owned companies and most of them by black women. When it's for us and by us, the beauty just hits different.
For everything from lipsticks to brushes to eyeshadows, this list will supply with all you need for a fire beauty box from heaven.
Brushes: Taya Marin Beauty
Taya Marin Beauty
Face and Body Multi-Purpose Brush
According to beauty maven Taya Marin, these brushes are a must-have in your makeup kit. This large multi-purpose brush in particular is perfect for applying powder foundation, bronzer, blush, and highlighter.
Skincare: Zandra Beauty
Zandra Beauty
Almond Alfresco Vegan Bath & Body Wash
First of all, give it up for this Teen CEO who started her business at age 9. Zandra Cunningham started her plant-based bath and beauty company for pre-teens and teenagers to naturally nourish, heal and improve sensitive skin. This is ideal for the rising beauty extraordinaire because they can experience dope products with a splash of inspiration.
Toner: Aba Love Apothecary
Aba Love Apothecary
Petal Facial Mist
Toners are essential to any beauty enthusiast's routine. Aba Love Apothecary's Petal Facial Mist is great for all skin types. The mist is ideal for keeping you moisturized in dry environments, as well as soothing sunburn and sensitive skin. It also contains skin-loving ingredients like Bulgarian Rose water and organic aloe vera.
Lipstick: The Lip Bar
The Lip Bar
Liquid Matte Lipstick in "Bawse Lady"
A good lippie goes a long way. You can even wear a bare face and a bold lip on the days you don't want to beat your face. The Lip Bar has an armory of shades and tints that will blow your mind.
Gloss & Highlighter: FENTY BEAUTY
FENTY BEAUTY
Bomb Baby 2 Mini Lip and Face Set
Everything in Robyn Rihanna Fenty's beauty collection is worth throwing in the bag but since we don't want you to break the bank, start with the basics. The Gloss Bomb and Killawatt Highlighter are two staples in the collection. They get the job done and this gift set is perfect, especially in travel size. Your lips and cheeks will be perfectly luminized.
Foundation: Laws of Nature Cosmetics
Laws of Nature Cosmetics
The founder of Laws of Nature Cosmetics birthed the beauty brand in her kitchen while experimenting with cosmetic recipes to help women of color like herself. Jasmine Rose combined botanical ingredients and non-toxic minerals, creating a nourishing foundation and setting powder. Many customers rave about the seamless application.
Eyeshadow: Juvia's Place
Juvia's Place
The Warrior Palette
Juvia's Place is the G.O.A.T. so there ain't a beauty lover on this planet that won't gush over any of their palettes. The plethora of effervescent hues look like magic dripping on melanin skin. If you're not sure which product to snag, you can add a handy gift card to your cart and let your beauty lover choose for themselves.
Blush: Mented Cosmetics
Mented Cosmetics
Make You Blush Collection
Mented Cosmetics is known for its exuberant shades of lipsticks but it's time to try their blushes. "Blendable, buildable, and most importantly pigmented, the Make You Blush Collection allows you to sculpt and create perfectly flushed cheeks. With a touch of Vitamin E, this long-lasting powder formula means the product nourishes the skin and stays put all day." Longevity is everything when it comes to any product.
Beauty Organizer: See Me Beauty Organizer "Starter Pack"
We Are JOI
See Me Beauty Organizer "Starter Pack"
Every beauty lover needs an effective way to organize their products, brushes and more. I have a few of these bad boys and they really get the job done because you can easily find what you need when you need it. I am stickler for organization and these make me so happy! I love that they can be stacked on my vanity or even on the floor using the optional platform. This way you can give your collection room to grow while helping you maintain long-term organization.
Want more stories like this? Sign up for our newsletter here and check out the related reads below:
Jhene Aiko Puts Us On How To Avoid Makeup-Related Breakouts For Good
Rico Nasty On Shaving Her Eyebrows & Other Beauty Hacks That Will Electrify Your Routine
Winnie Harlow Gives Us The Details On How She Attained The Perfect Beat For Fashion Week
6 Releases To Add To Your Beauty Collection This Month
Featured image courtesy of Jackie Aina/Giphy
- Holiday Gift Guide 2019: The Best CBD Beauty Splurges ›
- The 42 Best Beauty Gifts on Amazon Under $30 2018 | The ... ›
- Christmas Gift Guide 2019 - Beauty Gifts At Every Price For The Hair ... ›
- Christmas Gift Guide 2019 - Beauty Gifts At Every Price For The Hair ... ›
- Best Beauty Gifts in 2019 | Sephora ›
- Best Beauty Gifts for Makeup Lovers in 2019 — Holiday Beauty Gift ... ›
- 20 Best Beauty Gifts 2019 - Makeup and Skincare Gifts for Women ›
- 25+ Best Beauty Gifts in 2019 - Makeup and Perfume Gift Ideas for Her ›
- Holiday Beauty Gift Guide 2019 | Ulta Beauty ›
- Beauty Gift Guide | POPSUGAR ›
Why can’t (more) singles just be single and be okay with that? Good Lord. Why does there need to be some sort of relational play-on-words to make it sound like we’re with someone — even if we’re not?
Now masturdating? Even though it’s not even close to being a “real” word, it’s something that also brought a laugh outta me — although it was then followed by a genuine smile. The laugh because I almost immediately caught the play-on-words. The smile was due to the intention behind it all.
If you’re not familiar with what masturdating is and you’re curious about why you should even care, take a few moments to at least skim through what it’s about and why I think participating, as a single person, is a pretty cool (and effective) concept.
@knotlukas Masturdate: a date w oneself
What’s Masturdating All About?
Getty Images
Masturdating. Okay, so let the word marinate for just a moment. What does it sound like? Yeah…exactly. And since a huge part of masturbation centers around self-pleasure, it’s cool to explore how “self-dating” could produce similar (as far as pleasure is concerned in a broader sense) results. Because masturdating is all about spending quality time with yourself, pampering yourself, treating yourself— and yes, taking yourself out on dates.
Any of you who may think that masturdating is a consolation prize — and a pitiful one at that — for not being able to go out with another human being or get that dream $200 first date that social media was all in a tizzy about last year (bookmark that) — personally, I think that you’re the demographic who needs to try out masturdating first and the most. Why? Off top, I’ll share my three good reasons.
3 Reasons To Strongly Consider Masturdating
Getty Images
1. It’s an intimate way to get to know yourself better. I’ve been working with couples for a pretty long time at this point and if there’s a pattern that I see arise, OFTEN, it’s that two people are oftentimes so busy trying to “find their person” that they didn’t even know who they were. As a direct result, they found themselves in a relationship with someone who only complemented the “kiddie pool version” of who they were.
That’s why it can be so beneficial to spend time getting to know yourself on the “deep end” of things: what makes you tick, what your passions are, what you want most out of life, what are your interests beyond obvious things — and masturdating can help you to discover all of this. Whether it’s traveling alone or taking out a weekend to drink some wine and journal, the more you get to know yourself, the clearer you’ll be about who complements you on a romantic and friendship level.
2. It will definitely help to boost your confidence levels. I guess since I’m an ambivert, I don’t really get why people freak out at the mere thought of going to a restaurant or movie alone. Personally, I think it requires a helluva lot more energy and gumption to wait around and plan stuff with other people (#Elmoshrug). However, whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert, there’s no way around the fact that the more comfortable you get with doing things alone, the more your confidence levels will increase — no, soar — because of it.
One article that I read on the topic said that doing things alone can make you more creative, improve your mental health, and help you to be totally okay with being alone (so that you’re not “needy” for other people’s attention). A psychotherapist from a New York Times article on the benefits of spending time alone said, “Getting better at identifying moments when we need solitude to recharge and reflect can help us better handle negative emotions and experiences, like stress and burnout.” And when you’re able to stare negativity in its face without flinching, how could that not make you bolder, more self-secure, and hopeful about your life?
3. It will teach you to value your time more effectively. In every facet of your world, you’re gonna operate from a healthier place if you’re operating from a “full cup” rather than an empty one. When it comes to this topic, think about it — if you’re constantly waiting on someone to call you to go out or wishing for a dream date with some guy, all you’re doing is wasting precious time that you could be spending taking a cooking class or hell, hiring a chef to make you dinner at your own home.
Indeed, waiting has two sides to it: when it’s in the form of patience, it is indeed a virtue, yet when it’s wrapped up in the notion that you’re not really living life unless you have an audience…it is totally working against you. Choose wisely.
10 Solo Date Ideas To Help You To “Master” Masturdating
Getty Images
So, what if you’re someone who has either never considered actually masturdating before or you don’t really know what to do beyond dinner and the movies? Here are a few ideas to consider:
1. Attend a workshop or masterclass that you’re interested in. If there’s something that you’ve always wanted to learn, sign up for a workshop or masterclass. The cool thing about this option is there are probably some in your city, as well as some that you can find online (like here) that are convenient and affordable.
2. Binge-read at a local coffee shop. Aside from their coziness and oftentimes inviting scents, I once read that a lot of us gravitate to coffee shops because we can be around people without having to actually socialize with them. So, if you want to “hang out” while still being able to enjoy a bit of solitude, take a book that you’ve been trying to finish to a local coffee shop, order your favorite latte, and sit in a big-ass comfy chair. Usually, you can sit there for hours, and the staff will be just fine with it (another bonus).
3. Have a spa day in the next town. You can never go wrong with a spa day. And while going with a friend can be fun, sometimes there’s too much talking transpiring to be able to fully chill out and relax. So, go off of the grid, get a change of scenery, and hit up a spa in the next city (or town). There are lots of studies out here supporting that day trips or “daycations” can actually be really good for your long-term health and well-being.
4. See a community play. Some of the best solo dates that I’ve ever been on consisted of taking in some of the local arts in my city. What’s really cool about this particular option is, oftentimes, they are extremely inexpensive, if not totally free of charge (in exchange for making a donation or putting money into a tip jar).
5. Plan a trip. Whenever people say something along the lines of, “If you don’t expect anything, you won’t be disappointed,” I know that they low-key have some (additional) healing to do from past disappointments. There’s simply too much intel out here to support that anticipation (of good stuff) makes us more motivated and optimistic, keeps our dopamine levels up, and makes life more exciting overall.
Since traveling alone is more cost-effective, gives you the freedom to do whatever you want (when you want), and increases the possibility of meeting new people and having new experiences on your journey — why not devote a day this weekend to planning a solo trip? All the way around, it’s good for you.
6. Try your hand at your own “$200 date.” Uh-huh. Roll your eyes if you want to, but it’s real easy to talk left about how a man should be able to just drop $200 like it’s nothing…until you actually try to do it. So yes, while taking yourself out on this type of date could serve as a bit of a reality check, it can also “scratch the itch” of waiting on some dude to do it for you. It’s also way less emotionally draining because, at least when you’re taking your own self out, it’s guaranteed that you’ll enjoy the company…right?
7. DIY some pampering. When you get a chance, check out “5 Reasons You Should Unapologetically Pamper Yourself,” “Want To Love On Yourself? Try These 10 Things At Home.,” “I’ve Got Some Ways For You To Start Pampering Your Soul,” and “When's The Last Time You Actually Pampered Your Vagina?” The bottom line here is pampering is all about, not mere self-maintenance; it’s all about treating yourself to levels of EXTREME SELF-INDULGENCE. So, if nothing else tickles your fancy on this list, at least consider doing that, chile.
8. Feed your creativity. Something that I used to be really good at is art. That said, one of my goddaughters is insanely talented, so she has reminded me to tap back into it. Also, a big part of what got me into the writing world is poetry; I actually used to be a house poet at a local spot. Sometimes, my best quality time moments with myself have been revisiting these creative sides of me — and this is definitely easier to do (and enjoy) alone.
9. Try some stargazing. When’s the last time you took a blanket into your backyard, laid down on it, and just stared at the stars for hours on end? While some say that stargazing can teach you to be mindful, others say that being in that form of nature reduces stress, while others believe that looking up at the universe at night can increase your attention span. All solid reasons to give it a shot, if you ask me.
10. DO. ABSOLUTELY. NOTHING. Let me tell you something that nobody will ever be able to make me feel bad about: doing absolutely nothing. I’ve got data to back me up. Good Housekeeping shares that doing nothing can help you decide how you want to respond or react to certain things. I like howThe Guardian says that taking this approach helps you to regain control of what you give your attention to.
TIME magazine says that it can ultimately make you more productive.BBC offers up that it can help you tap into your ingenuity.Henry Ford Health says that it can make you kinder and a better problem-solver. So, if you want to invest in yourself, do nothing sometimes.
Closing Thoughts from the Lovely Javicia Leslie
While some of y'all may know Javicia Leslie from being the former Batwoman, I discovered her back in the day from the indie series Chef Julian (and yes, "Julian" was right to say that "Mo" looks like Tatyana Ali...the real ones know). Sometimes I'll hop on her IG to see what she's got going on and this story popped up within a few hours of me penning this...so, I took it as hella confirmation.
TREAT YO SELF. WAIT FOR NO ONE.
WAIT FOR NO ONE. TREAT YO SELF.
RINSE AND REPEAT.
_____
Sooo…what kind of masturdating plans do you have for this coming weekend? While going out with others has its perks, hanging out with yourself has a ton of ‘em too. Enjoy!
No…for real. ENJOY!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by FOTOGRAFIA, INC./Getty Images
