FENTY SKIN IS HERE & HERE'S WHAT I THINK!
“That Rihanna reign just won’t let up!” (The navy knows what it is!) Fenty Skin came and SHOOK THE TABLE in the beauty world! Honestly, Rihanna can do no wrong in my eyes. She is dominating the beauty & fashion world and I just love to see it. When Fenty Skin launched, I knew I had to try it. I love skincare almost as much as I love makeup! Good makeup doesn’t exist without having good healthy skin. I was also impressed by how inclusive the launch was. I knew she would have women of all skin tones but she also included men in her promotional video! Given my experience working in the beauty and skincare industry, I know that men buy skincare! However, I know that many skincare products aren’t marketed to men. It is an assumption that men don’t care for skin care and don’t want to be bothered with too many grooming steps but that’s not the case. Men like many women, just want products that are easy to use and that work. So this review is for anyone out there who just wants a skincare line to understand that not everyone wants to do a million steps to get good looking skin. Oh, & I would love to add that this line is vegan as well! I personally have tried skincare from all kinds of brands. From indie brand, drug store to high end. I have tried it ALL so my review will be based on a few things.
Obviously, the quality! Does it live up to the cost & does it actually do what I says it does.
The packaging. Is it easy to use? Is the quality of the packaging worth the money for the item.
The target market for this item. Who I would recommend the product for based on what the products claim to do.
How does it compare to similar items on the market for similar price points.
Total Cleans’r Remove-It-All Cleanser
Before I give you my final thoughts, I will tell you what each item is and I will tell you what the website claims these products do and then give you my personal opinion on how they perform. Fenty Skin launched a 3 step skincare product routine (you can use them separately if you chose) that can be used day and night. The first item in this 3 step skincare routine is their, Total Cleans’r Remove-It-All Cleanser. It is a daily cleanser that you can use to also remove your makeup. (I will give you my thoughts on how well it removes makeup later in this post) The formula starts out like a creamy-gel like texture and with water turns into a decadent lather, “that won’t strip skin or dry you out.” Now I’m going to pull the list of “active” ingredients from the website and post below. This is what makes this product stand out from other products on the market.
Made with:
✔ Barbados cherry (acerola): Every cherry is loaded with more vitamin C than an orange to help brighten
✔ Ginkgo biloba: A tree commonly used in ancient Chinese healing techniques; helps control oil and clarify skin
✔ Green tea: Rich in antioxidants to help defend against environmental stressors
✔ Fig: A desert-loving fruit that’s rich in antioxidants
✔ Quince: A rare fruit—think apple meets pear—that thrives in rough, dry climates; infused with minerals to help condition
As you can see from the items listed above, this product has a lot of products that are rich on antioxidants and what that means is that it will help decrease the risk of sun damage. The sun is the biggest cause of premature aging for the skin. Major antioxidants are found in vitamin A, C & E. Vitamin C is commonly found in skincare products however the Barbados cherry claims to have more antioxidants than vitamin C. This is very impressive! This cleanser is very creamy & actually very conditioning on the skin while also doing a great job at removing dirt, sweat, etc. on the skin. I found that this product had a great lather. I really enjoyed that about this product. I love seeing my cleansers lather up. It makes me feel like it’s really working into my skin.
Another thing that I want to add is the scent. It has a mild vanilla scent which is fine for me. Scents are commonly found in high-end skincare products. They don’t bother me as long as it isn’t overpowering and I found the scent to be very enjoyable and added a bit of luxury to the experience. Because YES, Skincare should feel like an EXPERIENCE HONEY! Overall I really enjoyed this facial cleanser and would recommend this for anyone looking for a great everyday cleanser that leaves skin moisturized but gives you a deep clean. I want to talk about its claims on makeup removal. I wear heavy makeup and I found that I needed to double cleanse (which I always do to remove makeup). If you use this twice, it will remove your makeup very well. I still would recommend if you wear full coverage, long-wear makeup; to use an oil cleanser first and then use this cleaner to really remove your makeup properly. If you wear a minimal amount of makeup, cleaning your skin once should do the job for sure!
The next step is their Fat Water Pore-Refining Toner Serum. This product claims refine the look of pores because as we know, you cannot change the size of your pores. It also claims to reduce the look of dark spots, evens skin tone & fights shine without stripping skin. It’s also oil free so it’s a noncomedogenic, which just means that it’s doesn’t clog the skin. Now let me share what key ingredients are in this product.
Made with:
✔ Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3): Helps reduce the look of dark spots, even skin tone, and fight excess shine
✔ Barbados cherry (acerola): Every cherry is loaded with more vitamin C than an orange to help brighten
✔ Australian lemon myrtle & witch hazel water: Help reduce oil and refine pores
✔ Japanese raisin tree: It’s been used for over 1,000 years in Asia as a recovery treatment from long nights of partying; helps detoxify
✔ Cactus flower: Thrives in the desert; helps hydrate
✔ Green tea & fig: Rich in antioxidants to help defend against environmental stressors
The ingredient line up on this product is quite impressive. Niacinamide is the new product of 2020. Niacinamide is a water-based vitamin that works with your skin's natural substances to help improve the look of pores, tighten those lax pores, improve uneven skin, soften fine lines & wrinkles, as well as brighten the skin. Niacinamide is especially great for people with oily skin! Niacinamide works great with other active ingredients like Hyaluronic Acid, Retinol, peptides, AHA’s, BHA, Vitamin C & other kinds of antioxidants. It’s water-based so it absorbs amazingly on the skin and works well under a lot of these active ingredients. This is important because if you already have a skincare regime using any of these active ingredients, you can add this into your skincare routine without any issues and you may see some faster skincare results.
Now that I filled you in on their star ingredients, I want to let you know how I feel about this product. I have to say I have never tried anything like it. It is a cross between a serum, a toner and an essence (because of the way it is applied) but It feels very light but feels great on the skin. You are suppose to just apply this on the palm of your hands and apply onto your skin. This product is thicker than an essence or toner which usually has a water like texture and has to be used with a cotton round. It feels like a cross between a serum & an essence/toner. After I use this product, my skin looks instantly hydrated and healthy! It doesn’t feel heavy or sticky on the skin which I really liked because I’m very particular on how skincare feels on my skin. I have to say this step really does put 3 steps in one! It is a toner, serum & an essence all in one step. My skin gets those active ingredients that will help improve my skin over time while also leaving my skin looking and feeling amazing!
Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen
The last step to this skincare routine is the Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen. This product claims to have light as air hydration with invisible sun production. Defends & brightens skin while reducing the look of pores. It also comes with a refillable packaging. You can get a refill on the moisturizer without buying the whole packaging again. I have to add how much I love that this product helps reduce waste buy having this packaging. Now let me post some of the key ingredients of this product.
Hydra Vizor Invisible Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen refill and case
Made with:
✔ Kalahari melon: A wild watermelon that’s rich in antioxidants and vitamins; helps hydrate
✔ Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3): Helps reduce the look of dark spots, even skin tone, and fight excess shine
✔ Hyaluronic acid & aloe: Help hydrate, soothe and condition
✔ Baobab: An African tree that bears nutrient-rich superfruit; helps hydrate
Now here are my thoughts. All of these products have a scent but this product in particular has the strongest scent. Now, personally, it doesn’t bother me. However, fragrances are one of the biggest irritants for the skin. So if you are someone who breaks out easily with fragrances in their products, I won’t recommend this.
Now fragrance aside, I am really impressed by this product. I have used it more than once and love not only how it applies on the skin but also how hydrating, bright and healthy my skin looks after application. It is oil-free which is a bonus for me because I have combination skin and tend to get oily in my T-zone. Therefore having an oil-free moisturizer is truly the best thing for me. On top of that, it has sunscreen. Now I have no issue using sunscreen in my daily skincare routine but I know many people do. Finding the right sunscreen that works great on your face is a challenge for many people. Most sunscreens are oily and don’t work well under makeup. Also, some sunscreens leave brown skin looking chalky and unflattering. This moisturizer doesn’t do this at all. I felt very good wearing a nice outfit with no makeup & just these skincare products on my face because it made my skin just look really freakin good and healthy!
Now let’s talk price point. I would have to say the price point in my opinion is good for the packaging and the quality of the products. Especially because the products are unlike anything I’ve tried before I definitely think that is worth the price because every product has a very unique formula. I’m on the fence on how I feel about the moisturizer with the refillable packaging because the price difference isn’t that much! To buy the product with the packaging and the refillable is $35 and to buy just the refillable product is only $30. Call me crazy but if it was $28 I think that would be a better price! I enjoyed the cleanser (retails for $25), I am someone who loves a good facial cleanser and I have tried many cleansers in the $20-$30 range and this is really great compared to some of the similar products (FRESH Soy Facial Cleanser, etc)! I have to say that I can see myself purchasing the cleanser over and over again until I find something else that I like. The Fat Water (retails for $28) alone kills my skincare routine time in half so I can see myself purchasing it again if I see improvement in my skin over time after using it.
Now it’s time to get into the target market and who I would recommend these products to. I think these products would be amazing for someone who is struggling with finding a skincare routine. These products are great for someone who really just wants to start taking care of their skin and wants to do it in a few easy steps. The target market for these products I think is young adults, people who don’t quite have a clear understanding of skincare and what they might need for their skin. I also need to add that these products work great on every skin type. Whether you have oily, dry, normal, combination skin, this line works to hydrate and balance the skin. If you are someone who has a very in-depth skincare routine using the active ingredient, you may not be amazed by the product line. Most people who have an in-depth skincare routine already have a cleanser, some sort of serum and already have a moisturizer & sunscreen to seal it off. However, if you’re not crazy about some of the products that you already have in your skincare line up, I would say try swapping out one of these items for whatever item you find that you’re missing in your skincare routine because I think you would like it a lot! I think that the skincare routine is easy to understand has great active ingredients that claim to do great things for the skin. And it is marketed very well and is extremely easy to use!
I also need to add how much I love the packaging. Everything is packaged in a way that reduces waste because you don’t need to use any of the products with a makeup wipe or apply cotton round. Also, none of these items has an open and close closure. You have to twist it open and closed which makes it a MILLION TIMES easier to use and lessens the likelihood of the product spilling while traveling or while it sits on your sink/shower.
This is all that I have to share on Fenty Skin. I hope you all enjoyed this in-depth post on my review of the Fenty skin launch. Fenty Skin is currently only available on the Fenty Beauty website. I will be posting a YouTube video showing how these products perform. Stay tuned for that. When it is posted, I will link that video down below with this post. I hope you all found all of this information helpful & will talk with you all very soon!
The Perfect Day Time Skincare Routine
Welcome back to my site! The last time we talked, we discussed our skin type. Now that you have figured out your skin type, let’s get started on creating the perfect skin care routine to get your skin looking it’s best. During my days working at Sephora, it used to be a struggle to get clients to buy a skin care product along with their makeup products. As frustrating as it may have been to get people to understand the importance of skincare; I totally understood why people would often avoid the skincare section unless they were coming to buy a specific product. Skin care can be extremely intimidating. There are tons of different products that promise to do a lot of the same things and let's be honest... skin care can be very expensive. Most people are not willing to invest the money into their skincare if they don’t exactly what their skin type is and what their skin needs.
In this post I will give you a daytime skincare routine for each skin type. Below I will list all the steps and the order for a perfect skin care routine. I will also describe what each step will do for your skin and what skin types will benefit from each step.
The order that you should apply your daytime skincare routine is:
Cleanser : Oily Skin/Combination Skin - Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser Dry Skin - Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, Sensitive Skin - Caudalie’s Instant Cleansing Foam
Toner : read below on my thoughts and recommendations on toner.
Serums : read below on my thoughts and recommendations on serums.
Eye Cream : read below on my thoughts and recommendations on eye creams
Moisturizer : Oily Skin/Combination Skin - Belif The True Cream Aqua Bomb , Dry Skin/Sensitive Skin - First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration
Sunscreen - read below on my thoughts and recommendations on sunscreens
If you have Normal Skin, you can use whatever products you want. Lucky you! Prevention is key, use ingredients that help keep your skin healthy.
Now I know what you’re thinking, this may seem like a long list BUT trust me, there are some steps that can be skipped, combined together or even not necessary based on our skin type. So don’t get scared now, listen up! I got you.
It is extremely important that you cleanse your skin every morning and night. You have to use cleansers that will deep cleanse your pores. You have to de-clog your pores of dirt and oils. Foam and gel cleansers are great for oily skin. It will remove dirt and oils without stripping your natural oils. Ole Henriksen The Clean Truth Foaming Cleanser is one of my personal favorites for BOTH oily & combination skin for that reason. If you have dry skin or sensitive, I recommend using Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, it is a cream texture and it leaves the skin filled with moisture. We all know that if you have sensitive skin I would recommend using a cleanser with more natural clean ingredients. I love using Caudalie’s Instant Cleansing Foam on all my clients because it works great on all skin types. It’s a natural, soap free cleanser that makes it harsh free. Your skin is left completely cleansed and your skin still feels very moisturizing
Toners WOULD be the next step and are used to help balance out the pH level of the skin. Toners basically refine your pores. When your skin is balanced, it is less likely to produce extra oils or too little oil. This can lead to oily or dry skin. However most cleansers specifically a gentle cleansers will help balance out your pH balance anyway. If you enjoy toners and/or have toners in your daily skincare routine, that’s okay! It’s not bad for your skin. However there are different toners for different skin types and skin concerns. Witch hazel is a very commonly used toner, however it does contain astringent and alcohol which can be very drying on the skin so be very mindful of that. Below are great toners for all skin types if toners are something you enjoy.
Oily Skin - OLE HENDRIKSEN Balance Oil Control Toner
Dry Skin/Combo Skin - Fresh Deep Hydration Facial Toner
Sensitive Skin - Caudalie Moisturizing Toner
Hyperpigmentation Skin - OLE HENDRIKSEN Glow2OH Dark Spot Toner Combination Skin - Youth To The People Kombucha + 11% AHA Exfoliation Power Toner
Serums are not very common with people under the age of 40. Serums are often marketed to treat issues like fine lines, wrinkles and dark spots, however if you know that these issues run in your family; I recommend using a serum as young as 20. For the daytime, I like using a Vitamin C serum during the day. Vitamin C is the BLT. Its the BRIGHTEN, LIGHTEN, TIGHTEN ingredient that makes all the difference in your skin care regime. Drunk Elephant C-Firma Vitamin C Day Serum is one of my personal favorites. A cheaper alternative would be L’oreal Paris Revitalift Derm Intensives. These two products can be used on ALL skin types. Also don’t be afraid with using more than one serum. You may have multiple skin concerns, so pack it on. For example, there are serums that specifically created to target the eye area. If you have concerns specifically in this area and you want to see fast results; packing on serums is a great idea. Just don’t use more than 3 because it’s not only costly and time consuming but it will also hinder the chances of the ingredients actually penetrating into the skin.
I didn’t start using an eye cream until I worked in beauty. I didn’t think I needed it because I thought I was too young to use it. To be truly real with you, if you’re eye cream doesn’t have ingredients retinol to treat wrinkles, fine lines or hydroquinone to treat dark circles; you really don’t need to use it. An eye cream is basically a moisturizer and if you use the skincare tips that I’m giving you; you will be moisturized enough. Don’t fall into the hype of marketing. Myself being the product junkie and beauty lover that I am does enjoy using an eye cream but I have honestly seen no difference in using it than on the days when I skip that step.
Moisturizers are so important and body lotions are not equivalent to a face moisturizer. Face moisturizers often have ingredients that help your natural skin look more radiant and more hydrating throughout the day. Hydrating moisturizers are great for people with dry and oily skin. Most hydrating moisturizers have a gel like consistency and aren’t heavy on the skin. Belief ‘s the True Cream Aqua Bomb is a great moisturizer for oily, dry and even sensitive skin. People who have sensitive skin or reactive skin may have a hard time finding products that don’t cause them irritation. First Aid Beauty’s whole skin care line is great for sensitive skin. Even if you have normal skin and you happen to use a product that causes your skin to break out, use First Aid Beauty product line and your skin will go back to normal in no time!
SPF is essential no matter what season. Most people don’t care about SPF until it’s the summer time; however as long as the sun is out… you need to protect your skin from uv rays. One great way to incorporate SPF into your skincare/makeup regime is to use moisturizers, tinted moisturizers, CC creams that include an SPF over 30. It suggested that using SPF on its own will help it perform better however if you have to add in your SPF with your moisturizer, or foundation; its better to do that than to not use it at all. Supergoop! has AMAZING products with SPF that are Black Girl Friendly! You will not look like a grey ghost after using their products. Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 40 is one of the best on the market. If you are spending more than 2 hours out in the direct sun, make sure you reapply.
That is it for my daytime skin care routine. next post will be all about what products you can change for your night time routine. Stay tuned and make sure to comment, share and subscribe.
What Is Your Skin Type?
I thought it was important to start off with skincare because it is almost impossible to create a beautifully natural makeup look without understanding and taking the best care of your skin. Knowing as much as you can about your skin and your skin type will also help you when you purchase skin care products like facial cleanser, face moisturizer, etc. All skin care products aren’t created equally and don’t be fooled by price tags! Just because a product is expensive; that doesn’t mean that it works better. I’ve tried some amazing drug store/lower priced skincare products that worked amazing on my skin. Some worked just as good as luxury items or even better! So don’t be intimidated by skincare if you feel like it’s out of your price range. There is great skincare for every price bracket.
Most skincare products are created for people with these 5 different skin types, oily, dry, normal, combination, sensitive. People with oily skin usually are more prone to getting pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. They may have large pores and find their foundation not lasting throughout the day. They may notice their face being very oily in their T-Zone area. People with dry skin may often feel like their skin gets itchy and tight especially after cleansing. Their skin may get rough, flaky, or red patches sometimes. People with combination skin may be dry in the cheeks and oily in the T-zone. They may also find that some products work well in one area on their face but may irritate another area on the face. People with sensitive skin may get irritated easily. They may have allergic reactions to some beauty products, sunburn easily. People with normal skin often find that their skin is just feels balanced and looks supple without using a moisturizer. They almost never get breakouts, they aren’t easily irritated by products, and they have a very even skin tone.
Many people of color have hyperpigmentation as well as having any of these 5 skin types. Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of the skin in patches or all over. Hyperpigmentation is commonly found around the eyes and the mouth. Hyperpigmentation can just be hereditary or be caused by some type of trauma on the skin such as sun exposure, acne, burns, etc.
When going off to buy skincare products; it's important to use products on your skin that will help it thrive and be the best it can be. Buying products that cater to your skin's needs are extremely important because it is easy to do harm to your skin by using the wrong products and it’s even more common to use products on your skin that do nothing at all for your skin.
There are some key words to be mindful of when buying skincare products. If a product is hydrating; this is usually a great product for someone with dry and oily skin. Both dry and oily skin is a sign of lack of hydrating, therefore one skin type is overcompensating and producing too much oil (sebum) while the other isn’t producing enough. Oil free products, especially oil free cleansers and gel or foaming cleansers are great for someone with oily skin and combination skin. Cream, oil cleansers will be great for someone with dry skin because it will give the skin some moisture without stripping it of its natural oils. Exfoliators are great for people with hyperpigmentation so that they can remove the layers of the dark marks on their skin. Be mindful on what kinds of exfoliators that you do use because MOST exfoliators on the market are extremely harsh on facial skin and can cause a lot of irreparable damage. Stay away from nut exfoliators, or very rough beeding exfoliators because they create micro tearing on the face causing us to have premature fine lines, wrinkles, even scarring which leads to MORE HYPERPIGMENTATION and trust me, no one wants that. People with sensitive skin should stick to more natural or “clean” beauty products. Products that are vegan friendly and even cruelty free often are great for people with sensitive skin. These products are often created for people who like to look at the ingredient list of products and know exactly what is in their products. This is no shade to the people who aren’t as picky when it comes down to buying skin care, but people who have sensitive skin have had to learn the hard way over the years about what ingredients to avoid; therefore they happen to be more cautious when picking up beauty products. Skincare products often are labeled that they are great for people with sensitive skin but if they are not; try to stick to products that have more natural ingredients like natural oils, shea butter, honey, milk, aloe vera, etc. People with combination skin need to stick to gentle products that help balance out skin.
I hope all this information is helpful and makes it easier to figure out what exactly your skin is telling you by how it behaves. In my next post we will talk about what a basic skin care regime for all skin types consist of. I will even recommend products for your specific skin types needs. Make sure you’re subscribed, comment, like & share! I’ll see you in my next post! Thank you all so much for reading!
Welcome
Hello beautiful people, my name is Naomi. I am a freelance makeup artist with over 4 years of experience in the beauty industry. When I started my career, I quickly realized how under represented people of color were throughout the industry. There were very few products that catered to our skin concerns. We didn’t have the range in foundations that we have now. The only place that most people of color could find makeup in our shade was in drugstores. Now that there has been an influx of beauty products on the market for people of color (Thanks to the launch of Fenty Beauty), it actually has become quite overwhelming as a consumer to buy products. On both my blog and YouTube channel, I will help you navigate this beauty industry as a consumer. You will able to make smarter and more informed purchases. The more you know about products and how they work, the less likely you are to buy beauty products that don’t work the way you hoped. Let’s get excited about buying beauty products. I will teach you different makeup techniques through tutorials that will help spark your inner makeup artist.
“Never forget that beauty is inclusive and you should never feel like you can’t find beauty products for you no matter your skin color, your age or your gender.”
I am thrilled to share amazing content with you all. Make sure you’re subscribed to my blog as well as my YouTube Channel . I will be posting videos that compliment my blog post. I’ll be posting twice a week, so make sure you stay notified when I post new content. Don’t be shy, chat with me in the comment section and follow me on my Instagram to stay up to date with my day to day beauty finds. Never forget that beauty is inclusive! You should never feel like you can’t find beauty products for you, no matter your complexion, age or gender. There are changes happening in the beauty industry and we are all a part of that change. Consumers hold the power! How we shop, and what we support will effect what beauty products make it to store shelves.
If you live in the NYC area you can also book me for any of your special occasions, including one-on-one makeup sessions where I will teach you how to apply makeup on yourself like a pro. Click the link to my booking site for further details.