Black Owned Beauty Month, Day 7: Winged Victory

Sometimes, a good wing can really pick you up. That was my lesson on Thursday night, when, after a particularly challenging day, I opted for a pop of color to hopefully brighten things up. Suggested Reading Steve Harvey’s Gorgeous $15 Million Once Owned by Tyler Perry Joy Reid: Fascism is Coming, Whether You Voted For…

Sometimes, a good wing can really pick you up. That was my lesson on Thursday night, when, after a particularly challenging day, I opted for a pop of color to hopefully brighten things up.

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Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?
Trump’s Tariffs Might Stick Around. What Should We Buy Now?

My weapon of choice? An exaggerated wing drawn with Black Upโ€™s Matte Waterproof Eyeliner in ELM04. I purchased this shade on a whim at Sephora for 50% off the original price of $24. But right now, you can get it and several other shades for a slightly lower $11.76 during the lineโ€™s online flash sale. (Seriously, Black Up may not be long for this world, so if youโ€™re into these shades, stock up).

The exaggerated wing admittedly takes concentration and precisionโ€”a welcome distraction from an otherwise bad mood. To add impact to this lookโ€”which was equal parts โ€˜60s-inspired mod and โ€˜80s-downtown glamour, I loaded on several coats of Beauty Bakerieโ€™s Icing Mascara ($18) and lined the eye with my new go-to, Fenty Beautyโ€™s Flyliner in Cuz Iโ€™m Black ($20). I kept the rest of the look nude with Fentyโ€™s Pro Filtโ€™r Foundation ($34; Iโ€™m wearing shade 340) and concealer ($26; also in 340). Pat McGrath Labsโ€™ โ€œ1995โ€ MatteTrance Lipstick ($38 for full tube; $25 in a trio of Mini MatteTrances).

Honestly, despite the major drama of the look, itโ€™s one Iโ€™d happily attempt again. But the best part was how it made me feelโ€”glamorous, fun and in control of an out-of-control day. So to those of you who love to lecture and advise about how we โ€œdonโ€™t needโ€ makeup to be beautiful, remember that sometimes, itโ€™s okay to sit back and let people just enjoy things.

Because sometimes, a little play can go a long way.

Straight From The Root

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