ÉbèneNoire

Featured

Cyber Monday beauty deals

Published on November 26, 2018November 26, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

As there’s rarely any discounts when it comes to beauty, cyber Monday is when I indulge! Below I’ve listed my favorite beauty sites with discounts you should take advantage of if there’s some lipstick or horrendously priced serum that you haven’t been able to get out of your mind.

Glossier.com – 20% off the entire site

Ulta.com – $10 off $50 with code CYBERMON18

ASOS.com – 25% off their entire site

Bloomingdales.com – 10% off almost all beauty

charlottetilbury.com – 33-40% select items

Urban outfitters.com – $50 off $150, $25 off $100, $10 off $50

Glossier fans rejoice! Beyoncé’s Grammy’s eye shadows have dropped

Published on March 5, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

Remember that time at the Grammy’s when her majesty, the queen Beyoncé, wore an full face of Glossier and we all almost lost it because said face featured eyeshadows we couldn’t get our hands on? Yeah, ringing a bell? Welll time to rejoice because said shadows have officially dropped!

The product is called the lidstar (how stereotypical-ly cool you guys!) and is basically a liquid pigment in a tube!

Lidstar lights up eyes with a wash of soft, glistening color that lasts all day. The effect comes from a delicate proportion of ultrafine multicolor pearls suspended with coated pigments in a buttery base for the silkiest, most blendable formula. To apply, dab doe foot applicator onto clean lids and use fingertips to shape. The cream dries down to a sheer veil, locking onto lids with no creasing (no need for primer). It’s one-step eye enhancement you can do every day.

It reminds me of the colorpop eye shadows but with a very handy dandy applicator! It fits right into their brand with the no muss no fuss one step shadow with no primer needed.

The tubes are $18 each which is pretty standard, but a they have a cool offer where you save $6 if you buy a duo!

This sounds right up my alley as I’m eyeing up Herb a smoky green with yellow gold pearl and Fawn a cool smoky taupe with violet and neutral gold pearls. Top 2 shades below.

Welp, you know how it goes. Heading to the showroom after work and handing over some coins to Emily.

How about you guys? Are you getting tired of the Glossier launches? Or keep em coming???

PC 1 2 3

Black Friday Beauty buys

Published on November 25, 2018November 26, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

I promised myself that this black Friday I’d be doing nothing more than competitive shopping…It’s now 9:41 pm and I’m anxiously awaiting all the three packages of beauty goodies I bought online during the Black Friday discount.

The honest truth in the spirit of sustainability and being fiscally responsible, is that I really didn’t need more beauty products. Working in beauty means that I’m very lucky to sometimes get free launches. I still get tempted by new brands that we don’t carry and that’s how my justification for my Black Friday purchases came to.

Beauty Bakerie, Flesh beauty, dose of colors. These were the main culprits with hard to resist deals of 30% off during Black Friday. I bought lip products from all three brands and can’t wait to share my thoughts!!

I’m extremely excited about the lip whip from beauty bakerie as I’ve heard nothing but good things from the brand.

Dose of colors supposedly has the best liquid lip formula so I’ll also report on that. And the flesh beauty lipstick won an allure best in beauty award within months of launching so you know I had to pick it up!!

Hang tight for a review of all three!

Did you guys indulge in the Black Friday sale?

Fall skincare edit

Published on November 4, 2018November 4, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

The change in weather means it’s time swap out the skincare products in my bathroom shelf just like I would my closet. Below are my picks for the Fall.

Fall skincare edit.png

Makeup remover- La Roche Posay Micellar water- I picked this up when I was on vacation three months ago and have loved it since! It takes off all my makeup and leaves my skin feeling soft.
Cleanser- La Roche Posay Purifying cleanser- This cleans my thoroughly and however doesn’t leave it feeling tight.
Toner – The ordinary glycolic toner- I’ve loved this toner for almost two years and raved it multiple times. It’s a great treatment for my hyper pigmentation and always keep it in my rotation
Vitamin C – The Ordinary ascorbic acid + alpha arbutin toner – This has been a life send for my skin. I went through a really bad phase of going to sleep with my makeup on and this reversed all the side effects. This is my favorite vitamin c serum that I’ve used so far.
Hydrating serum – Botanics hydration burst serum- I love this affordable serum from Target! It feels amazingly hydrating without feeling too greasy.
Moisturizer – Origins energy boosting ginzing moisturizer- i’m not crazy about this moisturizer but I find it perfect for sealing in all the layers of product that
SPF- Glossier invisible shield – This is the best SPF I’ve ever used. It doesn’t leave a white cast which for my ebony queens is a miracle to find in an SPF product! It also never leaves me feeling greasy and I love the neat and neon packaging.

What products have you added to your routine with the change in season?

Sun’s out Glow’s out!

Published on May 14, 2018May 14, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

New York’s still pretending we’ll never get summer with these drab 50 degree days but I choose to believe that any day now, I’ll be ready to get out my reformation summer dresses and all the straw bags I didn’t need to buy for the summer. To make the change from spring to summer official, below are five swaps I’m making to get my skin summer ready!

Primers, Primers, Primers!

This is the biggest change I make when it comes to my makeup! Since I’ve been cursed with the oiliest of T-zones, I always get the most mattifying primer when the weather starts heating up. The one I’ve been using is the Becca matte primer which doesn’t leave a dry white caste like most matttifying primers.(*ahem *ahem Makeup forever and Urban Decay primers *ahem *ahem). The Becca primer is amazing for both liquid and powder foundations and keeps me matte for the entire work day!

Holy Grail MUFE velvet matte foundation

When I die, kindly slather me in my holy grail foundation please. Not only does this give me the medium full coverage look I look for in foundations, it also has a velvet matte finish (just like the name suggest!) and has me feeling confident each time I leave my house. It doesn’t last alllllll day long, but I don’t mind blotting during the day as its finish is heavenly! Ladies, run don’t walk to your nearest Sephora to get yourself a 1 oz tube!

De-greasing toner

I love my skincare staples like any beauty junkie. However toners are an item which I always tend to forget!! I know I know, how can I forget my skincare ABCs aka cleanse, tone, serum, moisturize, eye cream. It’s not that I forget per say, it’s that I’m so excited for my serums that I skip right over toning. I’ve however been training myself and went ahead and switched over to the very summer appropriate Murad hydrating toner to prep my skin for my cosrx serum. Now you might be thinking, “Sameera, why on earth would you be using a hydrating toner when you’re trying to be matte?” Because lovely reader, adding hydration to the skin actually helps combats le grease. When I give my skin the moisture it so thirstily needs, it doesn’t work as hard to create “moisture” in the form of oil. If my words don’t convince you to grab a bottle of this toner, maybe a stamp of approval from the godmother of skincare Caroline Hirons might?

Anti-Clogging Clay Cleanser

While every Sunday Riley fan might be losing it over the brands new influencer foundation (review coming soon), I actually am losing it over her ceramic slip clay cleanser! Now the $45 price tag is nothing to laugh at so THANK YOU MACYS EMPLOYEE DISCOUNT! However, the cleanser is performing well above my expectations. I was a little skeptical after reading its rating on beautypedia, so I’ve been thoroughly and pleasantly surprised at how well I’m liking the cleanser. The reason why I forked out for this pricey 5oz cleanser was because of the fact that it contains clay which is great at deep cleaning and getting rid of clogged pores which is essential in these hot and muggy New York streets! My final opinion is that this cleaner is great for the summer when you need to keep those pores tight!

Summer Scent

I love my deep, musky spicy winter scents but even I put them on the shelf once the highlighters and rompers come out. Changing my scent to a lighter, fruitier version always gets me in the mood for rooftop happy hours and park picnics. My summer scent during my high school days consisted of victoria secret and pink body splashes but I’ve since graduated to longer lasting perfumes. This summer, my go to flirty summery scent is none other than Chanel’s Chance au Tendre. It’s the perfect blend of fruity and sweet without being too sickly. I always get the 1oz bottle and it lasts me exactly all summer long!

What are the swaps you make for the summer?

PC 1| 2| 3| 4| 5| 6

Some black excellence at tonight’s 90th Academy Awards

Published on March 5, 2018March 5, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

Top 5: February

Published on February 28, 2018February 28, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

Hermès: Eau de Rhubarbe Écarlate

This has been my winter fragrance and I’ve loved dousing myself in especially thsi February. It’s fresh yet fruity, soft yet commanding, and sensual yet not too overpowering. Plus the bottle and packaging are very adorable. $130 for 100ml

Bare minerals bare pro foundation in Truffle

I’ve been UBER lazy when it comesto putting on my makeup this month so this has been my saving grace. All I do do is sweep it all over my face and it blurs everything, and give me a glow I do not deserve. Run and buy it @ $30 a pop!

SMASHBOX: LIQUID LIPSTICK IN GIRL GANG

You see that little smirk on my face above, that’s the face you make when you find the perfect plum/fuschia lip colour you’ve been searching for since eternity! I love using this paired with Mac lipliner in Nightmoth or Color pop’s Ellarie for an ombre look. The smashbox liquid lip lasts FOREVER and doesn’t dry out my lips AT ALL. You know the deal…go run and buy $24

ABH: CLEAR EYEBROW GEL

9361305_fpx

Already a cult fave, not a lot of words needed. This simply keeps my brows in check and helps my lazy self leave the door looking like a ~~high~~ functioning adult.

SELF MADE SHEA BUTTER SOUFFLE

I love using Shea butter as a body moisturizer in the winter months. I however also find the raw version very hard to use, and not very exciting. I then discovered a line called Karité sold by a lovely pair of Ghanaian sisters in Dekalb market, and fell in love with their shea butter body cream. The $50 tag for their cream is a little steep to repurchase every month, so I looked into making my own Shea butter body cream. I simply add some essential oils and whip it into a consistency I love and voilà! My very own body cream.

What have you guys been living this month?

PC: 1 2 3 4

Getting back to basics

Published on February 23, 2018February 20, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

Over the past couple of months, I’ve neglected my skincare routine. I know, shameful. Y’all are free to drag me. It wasn’t something that happened suddenly but slowly over the winter months. I wasn’t wearing much makeup or going out much so I kept convincing my self that going to bed without washing my face was no big deal (*** insert GoT shame gif)

After really looking at my face over the weekend, and seeing the damage my laziness has done, I’m slowly trying to get myself back to a semblance of a skincare routine. Below are a few tricks I’ve used to motivate myself to go through my routine, when I’d literally rather be doing anything else. 😥

Play a Youtube video while doing your skincare routine.

I recently got a pop socket for my phone and it’s been a game changer. It helps me watch videos while doing chores and especially while washing my face. My favorite people to watch at night while going through my bedtime routine are Fleur, Estee, and Amelia. They’re so chill and inspirational in terms of skincare routines, that I have no choice but to plow on with mine

Facetime a friend who’s also into skincare

This is a little unusual but it has helped me so much! My friend and I have the same schedule and love catching up before bed. This way, we also get to see what we each use during our routine. We tend to face time on Sundays as we both have more time to chat and catch up on all things fun, like the thirst levels produced by the box office hit that is Black Panther 😛

Do it right after walking through the door

I tend to have ~~a lot of~~ more energy as soon as I get home compared to at 10 pm when it’s time to go to bed. For that reason, I immediately walk myself to the bathroom when I know I don’t have to leave my apartment for the night and take off my makeup. It makes the rest of my night feel like a Sunday.

Use multipurpose products to make the process go by faster

I’ve found I get exhausted just thinking of the 4-5 serums or the 10 steps in my routine, so I’ve tried cutting down the process. One way I did this was in using products that are muilti-functional. For e.g. my beloved toner which has 7% glycolic is already a treatment because of the high % of glycolic acid. Therefore I feel satisfied to use a basic serum afterwards and then a moisturizer instead of using two serums (one to prevent oiliness and one to target hyper-pigmentation) so my routine goes by much more quickly.

The current steps in my routine consist of the below

Makeup remover-Bioderma
Cleanser: M-61 Glycolic cleanser
Toner: The Ordinary 7% GA
Serum: The Ordinary Buffet
Moisturizer: Glossier priming moisturizer

P.S, I ditched using a separate eye cream recently and instead take my already potent night cream and take it up high.

What are some tricks you use to motivate yourself to go through your skincare routine.

PC|1|2|3

Worth the hype? Glossier’s NEW solution

Published on February 21, 2018February 20, 2018 by SameeraLeave a comment

Now I’m here for brands snatching my edges every once in a while, and a brand that I will let take my wig along with my edges, is none other than Glossier. The brand once again proved they know their customer base and its needs when they dropped a brand new product called SOLUTION, with nary a peep to the general populace.

Girls went crazy as you’d expect, and the launch in a manner very similar to their fragrance launch, has drawn a wide range of reviews (eye emoji, eye emoji, eye emoji). I took myself to their showroom once again and picked up a brand spanking $24 bottle, in the hopes of giving my own two cents.

The toner claims to transform skin in four weeks by

Gently sloughing dead cells away through chemical exfoliation, dissolving the bonds gluing problematic dead cells to the healthy skin beneath.

With daily use, expect cleared acne and blackheads, smaller pores, and reduced redness. Skin’s texture will be smoother and softer, and the fabled glow of balanced, healthy skin will be in full force.

They honestly had me at “smaller pores” and the rest of the things it does sounds mighty great. My my main excitement however was on the beautiful list of key ingredients. Y’all know how I feel about glycolic acid so guess how excited I was to see the below.

I already love my AHA + BHA mask and my 7% Glycolic acid toner from The Ordinary so I’m super excited to see what this does for my skin. Fingers crossed it DOES NOT unseat my current HG toner from The Ordinary because I’ll take $7 > $24 any day!!

Have you guys tried the solution from Glossier? Did you like it, love it, want to marry it?

PC GLOSSIER

The Ordinary: top picks

Published on February 20, 2018February 20, 2018 by Sameera2 Comments

The ordinary recently opened a location in Soho and while browsing in their Uber cool space, I made a list of what to try if you’re new to the infamous brand.

1) Glycolic acid toner

This is my HG toner. I’ve been on a mission to find the best toner and I’ve found it in this toner with a 7% glycolic acid content. We all know how much I love glycolic acid so this isn’t a surprise. This toner doesn’t irritate my sensitive skin and helps gently exfoliate while helping all my other products penetrate deeper into the skin.

2) Coverage foundation

This $7 foundation that broke records for the longest waitlist in the beauty industry was indeed worth the wait. It gives me the perfect amount of coverage while not being too heavy. It comes with a pump and has beaten out all my other drugstore foundation favorites.

3) AHA + BHA peel

I was late to this peel party. The main reason I was skeptical was due to the purple content and I’ll be honest, because of the word “peel”. I’ve seen too many YouTube videos of women with recovering faces who had peels which made me run in the other direction the first time I saw this. I’ve completely changed my tune though as this peels isn’t anything to be scared of. It felt slightly tingly the first time I put it on but after I rinsed it off after the recommended 10 minutes, my skin was glowing!

4) Buffet

For all my girls out there who can’t be bothered to slather on a cocktail of serums each night, this one’s for you! The store associate claimed this serum like the name suggests is a buffet of all the best skincare ingredients. I use it in the mornings and have been loving the results.

5) 2% Retinoid

This is another HG in my skincare cupboard. As a skincare junkie, retinol has been something I’ve been dying to incorporate into my routine. It’s one of the few things that actually works on the skin but my skin always had adverse reactions to any kind of retinol I tried. That was until the beautiful people at Deciem created the retinoid which does everything a retinol does, without any of the irritation. I use it religiously and love how smooth it keeps my skin.

What are some of the products you guys love from the brand?