the "no makeup" look aka embrace yo face :]

I truly believe every woman is b-e-a-utiful without makeup ... but instead of embracing what the good Lord gave us lol, we tend to obsess over our flaws- those wrinkles formed by laughing too much, scars from squeezing every little pore as a teen, cray cray eyebrows that are near impossible to tame...

When I was younger, I used to obsess over every flaw on my face- my pores are so big (cries)! my eyebrows are bushy! (cue that scene from Mean Girls haha). Now that I'm in my late 20's, I've let go of those tedious obsessions. I try to focus on the good things- my almond eyes, bushy eyebrows (now I like 'em lol), and high cheekbones (thanks umma!).

Instead of nit picking over things we really have little to no control over (unless you're daring enough to go under the knife- different topic for a different day), I genuinely hope YOU (whoever's reading this) will embrace your face for all the good and the bad! You only get one face...screw what society says about what's beautiful and LOVE YO FACE =D

For this "no makeup" look, I kept it simple by using a light base (tinted moisturizer + a bit of concealer) and just a wash of color on the cheeks and lips. 

Step 1: Love your skin! 

I know this is probably the hardest part for most of you and I totally get why! I used to break out so bad when I was in high school/college (I still have scars from back then) and instead of being gentle on my skin, I used harsh stuff and caked on foundation >.< Once I switched to more gentle products (click to see post on my skin care), started drinking more water and sleeping like a normal human being, gradually I started to see a difference. Your skin is never going to be perfect, but that's okay! Once you accept that fact, you can be free from the constant obsession- trust me, it's a good feeling.

*If you have any questions on skincare, feel free to reach out and I'll do my best to help =]

Step 2: Use a light hand 

Like I mentioned earlier, I used to use foundation on a regular basis. After switching to lighter products, I really hate the feeling of makeup on my face. Depending on what you're comfortable with (whether you use a full coverage foundation or powder foundation), try using a bit less of what you normally use. Instead of putting foundation all over your face, try this- take about half of what you usually use, place the foundation where you need it most (for most women, this is the center of the face where there is redness). Concentrate it where you really need it, then blend it outward. By doing this, you can cover what you want to cover and still look natural. 

Step 3: Enhance

Look at your face. Like really look at it lol. What do you like the most? You're not being vain by doing this, I promise! God created us in His image so embrace the art of how He has made you! If you like your eyes, enhance them by using a wash of shimmery eyeshadow or define them with some eyeliner. If you have some bushy eyebrows like me, enhance them by plucking (just a little bit) and highlighting the brow bone. My general rule is- choose one or two features of your face to enhance; let your natural beauty shine through versus hiding/burying your face underneath makeup.

Here are the products I used to enhance mah face ;]

L to R: Maybelline Fit Me concealer & Lash Discovery/ Tarte BB Tinted Moisturizer/ Marc Jacobs Gel Liner/ Tarte Lip Tint in Elite & Tarte Bronzer Blush Duo

Couple tips n' tricks- I used the gel liner with an angled brush to create a softer line/ I used a bit of the bronzer on my eyelid for definition/ Curl your lashes, ladies! 

embrace yo face!!

<3yaeinn

(Ecc3:11)