Makeup Mavens Reveal How They Manage To Stay Beat All Day Long
We know that just because the calendar says it's fall doesn't mean the the weather will actually reflect that energy.
With that being said, depending on where you live, the temperatures are still hot and/or the weather gods are highly confused. It's the confusing time of year where you throw on a jacket because it's cool in the morning and then have to take it off by noon because you're hot. What we don't want is for you to have to do the same for your makeup. There are ways to stay beat with the baffling weather. From priming your face to using less makeup, we want to make sure you are equipped for whatever the degrees may be.
We got to chat with a few beauty gurus about how they maintain a good beat and this is what they had to share:
Kat @kxtbonifacio
@kxtbonifacio
Kat's Tips
1. Hydrate and radiate. "Living in Toronto, keeping a beat all day can be...a challenge. Two things that really help, especially if you're combination skin like myself, hydration and using less setting powder. I use a liquid primer as a base and water as a setting spray and it keeps my skin looking dewy and hydrated."
2. Less is more. "As for setting powders, I try to decrease how much I bake because oftentimes I'll sweat under the heat and crease! I'll use a VERY small amount on a fluffy brush and pat it under the eyes for that bright, fresh look but without the potential for cracking."
Taya @tayamarinbeauty
@tayamarinbeauty
Taya's Tips
1. Opt for a cream or stick foundation, instead of liquid. "My favorite go-to for lightweight, yet full coverage, is the Fenty Beauty Match Stix. It has great coverage but doesn't feel like you are wearing heavy makeup."
2. Set and prime. "Priming your face to prepare for makeup is always key to getting long wear. Always set your foundation and highlight with a translucent powder. When you're finished, always use setting spray. My faves are: Benefit Porefessional Primer, Too Faced Born This Way Translucent Powder, NYX Stay Matte Setting Spray, or Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray."
3. Try a bomb "no makeup" makeup look. "If you've gotten your summer tan poppin, embrace your natural glow with a 'no makeup' look. Just lightly fill in your brows, add some bronzer/highlight, a light lash, and some gloss. Throw on a hoop for a little razzle dazzle. My favorite highlighter right now is the Too Faced, "How Many F***s Do I GIve" paired with the iPanema Sunset Glow Body Oil that I use on my face and body."
Rhema @rhema.mona
@rhema.mona
Rhema's Tips
1. Use primer or moisturizer that has SPF in it. "There is this misconception the world of melanin girls has and it's sunscreen isn't something that should be in our skincare arsenal, which couldn't be further from the truth. Currently I'm using the UrbanSkinRX Dermshield Ultra matte primer and pairing it with OLEHENRIKSEN Banana Bright primer/moisturizer."
2. Use a powder foundation instead of liquid foundation to get the effects of a full beat but lightweight and less likely to melt. "Tinted moisturizers, may also work but I prefer the coverage that powder foundations provide. Currently I'm using MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NW43. Too Faced also just dropped a powder foundation line I recommend as well. If you want a tinted moisturizer I recommend NARS as the my go-to brand."
3. Blot before you start sweating. "Blotting papers are your friend. Going back in with powder or more product to cover up the sweat or accumulating oil, starts to just add more makeup to your skin to melt more. Blotting papers remove the oil/sweat and keep your face as is. Not removing or adding more product. Overall, the theory is less is more but you can make less look like a full beat without the work or the melt, by just switching up a few things in your routine."
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 Katiana/Instagram
Joce Blake is a womanist who loves fashion, Beyonce and Hot Cheetos. The sophistiratchet enthusiast is based in Brooklyn, NY but has southern belle roots as she was born and raised in Memphis, TN. Keep up with her on Instagram @joce_blake and on Twitter @SaraJessicaBee.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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I think we all can agree that social media really is a double-edged sword. What I mean by that is there is just as much bad that can come out of it as good. At the end of the day, it really is about 1) having your own mind, 2) finding balance when it comes to how much time you spend online, and 3) doing your own research instead of taking random people’s opinions as the gospel (i.e., facts).
Gee, I wish more folks did all of this when it comes to if a man needs to have a large penis to sexually satisfy a woman (he does not) and if a woman who has had multiple sex partners will ultimately end up with a vagina that is too large for smaller penises to please her (a lie).
Science totally has my back on debunking both of those things (more on that in a bit). Know what else does? A particular type of sex method that is becoming more popular by the day. One that just might convince you to, as they used to say back in the day, focus less on the “size of the wave” and ride out the “motion of the ocean” instead.
It’s called shallowing. Here’s what it’s all about.
What Is Shallowing?
GiphyIf there’s one thing that I wish folks would say more thoroughly when it comes to women and orgasms, it’s that when it comes to75 percent of women not being able to orgasm from only intercourse, the accurate statement is they struggle with achieving a vaginal orgasm without the assistance of some type of clitoral stimulation. Yeah, we’ve really got to remember that very few things in this life are a complete monolith — orgasms included (check out “U-Spot Orgasm, Fantasy Orgasm & 6 Other Orgasms You Should Try Tonight”).
In fact, it was while I was reading up on pairing — a word that is used for when clitoral stimulation transpires during penetration — that I decided to do some deep-diving into shallowing (because it was mentioned inone of the articles that I read).And what is it? Shallowing is when a penis, finger, tongue, or sex toy of some sort is used in order to ever so slightly penetrate the vaginal opening of a woman.
And why is shallowing not just a current sex trend but something that every woman on this planet should try? It’s because of what I’ve said, more than once, on this platform: it focuses on the most sensitive part of a woman’s vagina, which isthe first two inches of her vaginal opening.
When the emphasis is placed there, not only does it increase your chances of experiencing “the big O,” but it can also build up anticipation, which can intensify your orgasms too — yes, shallowing can also be seen as a form of edging.
Another thing that’s cool about shallowing is — and it really and truly can’t be said enough — something that makes vaginal and blended orgasms easier to achieve for some women really has little to do with the size of a man’s package or even his technique; it’s straight up anatomy. Yep, the closer that a woman’s clitoris is to her vaginal opening, the easier it is for a penis to stimulate both. So, science makes it possible for vaginal orgasms to be easier for some women than others.
At the same time, shallowing can make it possible for more women who want to see what a vaginal orgasm actually feels like (because it’s easier for the head of the penis to stimulate the opening of the vagina while the shaft can rub up against your clitoris; based on the position that you are in, of course — the missionary with some pillows propped under the lower part of your back is ideal for this).
Now that you see what shallowing actually is, do you get why I said that penis size doesn’t matter when it comes to doing it — and getting the kind of orgasms that you want? Contrary to popular belief, your vagina is only around four inches. In fact, some health experts say that it ranges between 2-4”. Anything larger, your body literally has to stretch out to accommodate; this includes penises and babies. So, if your vagina is “making room” for more than four inches, why in the world do you think you need a 10-inch man? Yeah…exactly. It really is time to get over the silliness. The average penis continues to be 5.5”. Makes sense when you take it all in (no pun intended).
Aight, so now that you know what shallowing is all about, let me try and hard sell you on why it’s a sex technique that you should try as soon as tonight (if you possibly can).
1. It takes the pressure off of you and your partner.
I’ve been working with couples for almost 20 years at this point. This means that the topic of sex comes up quite a bit. And if there’s one thing that continues to be an issue is inconsistent orgasms (check out “Why Do Orgasms So Often Seem Like A ‘Hit-Or-Miss’ Experience For Women?”).
Listen, no matter how many articles you read or sex positions you try, if you’re anxious, stressed out, or overthinking, it’s gonna get in the way of you experiencing high peaks of pleasure on a consistent basis. Since shallowing is something that can easily be done even in foreplay (via fingering and/ororal sex) if you get that first “release” off, that makes it easier to just sit back and enjoy the ones that (hopefully) are to follow.
2. It teaches you more about your vagina.
A part of the reason why I keep repeating certain facts about vaginas in these articles is that it’s amazing how little certain things are discussed en masse — like the size of the vaginal tube. And since shallowing helps you to stimulate the nerve endings at the entrance of your va-jay-jay along with your G-spot (which is housed a little ways from your opening), shallowing is a great way to explore that area of your body as you figure out what truly works for you and…what doesn’t.
3. It’s the perfect merging of foreplay and intercourse.
When you really stop to think about it, shallowing is like the bridge between foreplay and intercourse because you can use so many different things to do it. So, if you want to experiment with a new sex toy or you want a bit more time to “warm up the engine” before full-on penetration begins, shallowing is one of the most sexually arousing compromises there is.
4. It can help to increase your partner’s stamina.
A few years back, I penned an article for the site entitled, “We’ve Got Some All-Natural Ways To Increase Stamina & Sensitivity.” Listen, even though I onceread a GQ article that said that over 60 percent of the people they polled were fine with intercourse lasting no longer than 5-10 minutes — that poll doesn’t speak for all of us, chile.
So, if you would like your man to build up to going longer, shallowing can help to make that happen. Since he’s barely putting beyond the tip in, he can learn how to be in you for longer periods of time without being, well, in you.
5. It helps you to appreciate whatever “package” he has.
Again — and it really can’t be said enough — if shallowing is all about exploring the mere entrance of your vagina, you don’t need a man with BDE (check out “BDE: Please Let The 'It Needs To Be Huge' Myth Go”) or honestly, even anything close to it.
I mean, even though, reportedly, the size that the average woman says gives her the most orgasms is eight inches — I bet those women have never really tried shallowing before. 10”, 8”, or the average 5.5” can certainly get the job done. And well.
6. It feels A-MAZ-ING.
Okay,so now that you know about shallowing, I promise that if you put the word into your favorite search engine, you’re either gonna see articles on golfing (LOL) or sex, especially as of late. That’s because more couples are trying it out and getting mind-blowing results from it. So, if you’re looking for something new to try, give shallowing a shot.
Hey, anything that’s designed to stimulate your most intense vaginal nerve endings has got to be something for the record books. I mean, how could it not be? Lawd.
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Featured image by Juan Moyano/Getty Images