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We try alotta stuff. Here's what's worth it!
So first, you should know that as a beauty editor, I get A LOT of beauty products. Like, basically every single day. That being said, I'm not that easily impressed by products because I've seen a bunch. So the fact that I've been writing about Black Moon's Liquid to Mattes since I was first introduced to them two years ago says a lot. They are simply the shit!
The formula's everything you want in a matte: moisturizing, smooth application, long-wearing, pigmented, flexible, and so on. What I particularly love about this shade Ghost, is that even though it's this soft lavender situation, it still doesn't have to be worn super girly or feminine if you don't want it to be. It has this sort of gray/"ghostly" tint that gives it an edge that can easily look grungy and badass AF. Ghost is one of the new shades, and I'm so ready to wear it this fall in my fro and head-to-toe black.
Formula currently available in 12 shades. —E.G.
Get it on Black Moon Cosmetics for $18.
Most of my shades have been bought either on some random street corner for $5 or from a trendy retail store like H&M. Why? Cuz I always lose them. I never understood the point of indulging in designer shades until I tried on a pair of TNEMNRODA at this year's AfroPunk Festival. Founded by designer Samantha Smikle, this luxe eyewear and jewelry company has something for everyone, from the badass, to the wild spirit, to the diva.
Samantha's personal style is #goals and I wanted to step outside my comfort zone, so I asked her to style me in three shades at the festival: (left to right) I'll Be Rich Forever, At Your Best, and Crush on You. I may or may not be writing this from the afterlife because I pretty much died after Samantha gifted me with Crush on You, which are my absolute fave. You can't tell me NOTHING when I'm wearing them, which is pretty much 24/7. Long story short, TNEMNRODA has THE coolest shades that I'll make damn sure I never, EVER lose! —P.P.
Get them on TNEMNRODA for $98.
Other prices vary by style.
I have naturally dark brows which means the early 2000s were terrible for me, but now I'm finally on trend!!! But it's not all sunshine and butterflies over here. I have a couple of problems with my brows:
1) They have little bald spots.
2) My hair is very straight, so my brows are always out of place and I constantly have to brush them up.
In the past I've used Anastasia's brow pencil, and Glossier's Boy Brow, but I was looking for one product which would fill them in and keep them in place since they wild out from time to time. I've been a fan of Reina Rebelde for a while. Their red lipstick is my everything, and I love to support Latinxs doing great things in the beauty industry. I recently tried their Rebel Eye Paint brow pomade in the shade "Frida," and I'm happy to announce my brows have found their soulmate. This brow product makes them look darker and fuller, it conceals the bald spots, and it gives them a natural look that I love. I am personally not a fan of perfect Instagram brows, so I love how using this product alone makes them look great, but not so perfect they look photoshopped. Also I am lazy AF, so the less products, the better.
Eye Paint is a versatile product and it can be used as eyeliner too. It comes in two shades: "La Doña" (it means Mrs. in Spanish), which is named after María Félix, a Mexican actress with iconic brows, and "Frida," named after the chicest unibrow badass there ever was, Frida Khalo. —D.C.