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Masks Off: 10 Women Share Their Favorite Neutral Lip Combinations
Very early, at the beginning of a statewide mask mandate, I realized my go-to lipstick would simply not cut it. I was on a beautiful outdoor dinner date and by the time we said hello, walked to our table, and sat down, I realized my lipstick was all over my mask and my face. Quickly excusing myself to the ladies' room, I learned very quickly that my beloved 'Lady Danger' lipstick was too much of a hassle, prompting me to seek mask-friendly smudge-proof lipstick alternatives.
While most are abandoning makeup altogether these days in favor of a more natural look, traditional lipsticks have been on a steady decline yet subtly stained lips in neutral tones are on the rise. It's no secret that beauty evolves over time aligning with current events which, in 2021, brightly pigmented lipsticks are last on the list of essential beauty needs. With there being no end in sight to protecting ourselves and others by wearing the newly required facial accessories a.k.a masks, natural-looking lips have seen a recent surge in popularity. Although some would suggest a brightly-colored matte lipstick as an option, the winter season already increases dry cracked lips, so a matte lipstick would do anything but help with the much-needed moisture our lips crave in the cold winter months.
Since wearing your favorite pigmented lipsticks underneath a mask can get extremely messy, I've found the neutral lip replacements that won't fail you. With nudes, it's subtle differences that determine specific shades flattering a range of different skin tones. Easy to quickly and discreetly reapply for an effortless and natural lip, scroll to find 9 shades of nude created with inexpensive color options, beauty tips, and product breakdowns from young women online.
From barely-there to soft and subtle, these are the lip colors setting the tone now until the foreseeable future:
Kaela Randolph
"I used Morphe Creme lipstick in the shade 'Whipped' and then I used Maybelline Lifter Gloss in the shade 'Stone'! It has been my go-to combination lately!"
Hanna
"The lip liner is Morphe 'Trendsetter'; it's actually not listed as a lip liner, just a regular liner but many use it as such and it works perfectly. The lipgloss is KIKO in the color 02. I also add a little bit of Morphe lip liner in 'Sweetheart'."
The products she used to achieve this look:
Line outside lip contour with Morphe in "Trendsetter"'
Line inside lip contour with Morphe in "Sweetheart"
Finish with KIKO Hydra Gloss in "02: Natural Beige"
Angelica
The products she used to achieve this look:
MAC Lustre Lipstick in "Fresh Brew"
MAC Lipglass in "Oyster Girl"Taylor Marie
"It's a Sephora Rouge gel lip liner in 'Brown' (#17 Molasses) and Fenty Beauty 'Fenty Glow' Lip Gloss."
Khalila Schneider
The products she used to achieve look:
Kianna
The products she used to achieve this look:
Pat McGrath Permagel Ultra Lip Pencil in "Contour Beige Brown"
Topped w/
Brittany Davis
"The first step is Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in 'Fenty Glow'. The second step is Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in 'Glass Slipper'."
Kandi Joseph
The products she used to achieve look:
NYX Professional Makeup Lip Liner in "Intimidate"
Cynthia Perez
"I was using NYX Cosmetics Eye and Eyebrow Pencil in the color 'SPE 902 BROWN' (I was wearing it as a lip liner) and it's no longer available. I applied the brown lip pencil over most of my lips then added the gloss on top until they became one. Then I clean it up with a concealer to perfect it!"
The products she used to achieve this look:
NYX Professional Makeup Slim Eye Pencil in "Brown" (Formerly "SPE 902 BROWN")
Dior Addict Stellar Lip Gloss in "Color 354 Diorsolight"
Shahirah Ahmed
"As for me, I'm loving Astra Beauty lip gloss, a black-owned luxury cosmetic company offering vegan, cruelty-free and clean beauty products energized with crystals to positively impact your mood. Line lips with MAC lip pencil then apply Maybelline Super Stay Matte ink to inner lips. Finally, adding Astra Beauty Natal Nude to complete the look."
The products she used to achieve this look:
Astra Beauty in "Natal Nude"
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink in "55 Driver"
MAC Lip Pencil in "Cork"
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Featured image courtesy of Taylor Marie
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This article is sponsored by Hulu.
UnPrisonedhas returned for its highly anticipated second season, delving deeper into the complex dynamics of the Alexander family.
The series premiere comes a year after its debut season garnered rave reviews from fans and critics and earned record-breaking ratings for Hulu's Onyx Collective brand. UnPrisoned's success can be attributed to its raw, relatable themes and comedic appeal.
Inspired by creator Tracy McMillan's life, the show follows Paige (Kerry Washington), a therapist and single mother whose life takes an unexpected turn when her father, Edwin (Delroy Lindo) --who was released from prison-- moves in with her and her teenage son, Finn (Faly Rakotohavana).
Throughout UnPrisoned's first season, viewers witnessed how Edwin's incarceration deeply affected Paige's life and relationships. In the series, Paige unpacks her trauma through interactions with her inner child and her online followers. Meanwhile, Edwin is overcoming specific struggles with his own past that led to his life of crime, including a dysfunctional upbringing and his mother's arrest. As the Alexanders attempt to reconcile, new challenges arise.
This new season promises to further explore their unconventional family dynamic. Here are several compelling reasons why season two of UnPrisoned should be on everyone's watchlist.
The Alexander Family Life Is Still In Shambles
UnPrisoned's second season resumes where the series left off, with Paige grappling with the fallout from her troubled therapy practice and Edwin navigating life independently after moving out. Meanwhile, Finn faces his own challenges. The teenager is battling anxiety and seeking information about his father—a topic Paige avoids discussing.
The Alexander Family Are Attending Therapy To Resolve Their Underlying Issues
Amid the chaos in their lives, the Alexander family decides to mend their bond by confronting their past traumas. They seek professional help and attend therapy sessions with a “family radical healing coach,” played by John Stamos, a new cast member. This collective effort aims to unravel the complexities of their shared history and strengthen their relationships.
The process of unraveling each character's internal conflicts and their potential impact on future relationships may clash with Paige's textbook therapy approach. While Paige is used to being in the therapist's seat in both career and family, this forces her into the unfamiliar role of a patient during therapy sessions. This shift would compel her to look in the mirror and try a radically different approach.
The Alexander Family Learned A Big Lesson During A Therapy Session
In therapy, the Alexanders are tasked with addressing their individual traumas to salvage their remaining relationships. One of the family therapist’s eccentric suggestions was an exercise involving a family wrestling match. During this session, Paige faces tough questions about her refusal to share information about Finn's father.
While it's unclear whether this scene is reality or fantasy, the image of the family duking it out in the ring certainly makes for hilarious yet compelling television.
Paige Tries Dating Again Following Failed Relationships
Amid her life's chaos, Paige decides to step back into the dating field. However, her many attempts have left her with mixed results. The dating apps have turned out to be a fail, and an outing with her ex Mal (Marque Richardson), who is also her father's parole officer, doesn’t go quite as expected after he brings an unexpected guest – his new girlfriend.
The situation takes an awkward turn when Mal's new partner learns why the former couple split, partly due to Paige's self-sabotage.
UnPrisoned Is A Perfect Balance Of Comedy And Drama
As a dramedy, UnPrisoned takes a comedic approach to its heavy subjects. The show takes us on a ride with Paige's dating misadventures and navigating a friendship with her ex.
Other lighthearted moments include Edwin's attempts at CPR based on online videos and, of course, the antics of the Alexander family's unconventional new healing coach.
The second season of UnPrisoned is now available on Hulu.
UnPrisoned | Season 2 Trailer | Hulu
Feature image courtesy
Tubi has been gaining popularity due to its free sign-up and a vast selection of series and films. According to Deadline, the FAST (free ad-streaming television) service has seen a 14.7% growth from May and now has similar numbers to Disney+. So while many people have joked about Tubi having low-budget movies, the numbers don't lie.
In fact, I was one of those people who didn't get the appeal of Tubi, but the more I watched it, the more I enjoyed the content. They have some of our favorite TV series, such as Scandal and Star, as well as big films like the Fast and Furious franchise and cult classic Love & Basketball.
Tubi even has its own original movies and series that are just as entertaining. But while Tubi is on the come up, some of the low-budget movies and hood movies are still a must-watch. From Tubi originals to the hood movies, we've put together a list of shows and movies to add to your watchlist.
Cinnamon
Cinnamon is an original Tubi movie that stars Hailey Kilgore (Juke from Power Book III: Raising Kanan), Damon Wayans, and Pam Grier. It's a love story gone awry after a robbery turns deadly, and a young couple faces many challenges to make it out alive.
The Dirty D
The Dirty D is one of the first things I watched on Tubi, as many people highly recommended it. It's a series set in a Detroit club, and it has all the drama you can think of. Murder, drug dealing, cheating, greed, and more.
Black Men Don't Cheat
In this film, a young woman grapples with the death of her husband while also discovering his secret life, which puts her in danger.
Mother May I
This movie fully captivates the overbearing mother. However, the ending will shock you as she goes a little too far.
The Stepdaughter
When a young girl moves in with her dad and his new wife, a series of unfortunate events occurs. This Tubi original will keep your attention with every turn.
These Men For Everybody
These Men For Everybody is a film that highlights the tangled web of friendships and relationships and how you can't trust anybody.
Best Friend
What happens when your best friend is obsessed with you? This movie, which stars Serayah and Marques Houston, answers this very question and takes us on a ride in the process.
What's Done After Dark
What's Done After Dark shows us that everything isn't always what it seems. The twist at the end is a real doozy.
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