Facing Stigma: Inked Nation

Recently, I encountered something I have only ever heard of. I suppose it was only a matter of time before it happened, but I never expected it to happen to me personally. I never expected to face this kind of stigma, let alone have someone my age be on the other end of it.

Ever since I was little, I have been in love with tattoos. I used to sit glued to the TV watching artists like Ami James and Chris Garver sharing their art and their clients' stories on TLC's Miami Ink. I knew all about the kinds of negative perspectives on tattoos and their artists, but something inside me always knew that would never stop me. In the past, tattoos have always been given a bad rap because of stereotypes about those with tattoos.

I never thought I would be stereotyped against not only for having my one tattoo, but for my plans to have more as the years go on. But the most shocking part of it for me was that it was someone my age who had said something about it. My tattoo is the most meaningful thing I have ever had done, and with every hardship I face it has been given that much more meaning. Every tattoo I plan to get has the utmost personal meaning behind it, but that hardly matters to naysayers who still believe that only criminals and rebels have tattoos. To those kinds of people the only thing my tattoos will be is meaningless blobs of ink that suddenly make me a criminal, incapable of professionalism, and a horrible parent (when I have kids) or role model to others. Because of this stigma, I have been very careful to only get the tattoos I want that won't be able to be seen by prospective employers so that I can hopefully avoid these issues when in the work place. I personally don't feel like I should have to be worried about whether this will come up in conversation, but for the sake of employment I'm willing to wait to get my arm tattoos done for a while.

My hope has always been that as the younger generations like mine grow up, these old stigmas would die out, but I was shocked to find out recently just how wrong I was. It surprised me to learn that a man no older than myself who I adore, suddenly is uncomfortable with the idea of dating me, not because I have a tattoo, but because I plan to have more of them. It was heartbreaking to find out that my tattoos, both present and future, could keep me from having someone in my life. It made me feel like I have to predisclose that I have tattoos before someone truly knows me in case they will be upset by it later when they find out. But this isn't fair. As long as they aren't vulgar it shouldn't matter to anyone whether I have them or not. It's my body and I can do with it what I want. To know me is to truly understand the meaning behind my tattoos, and to be able to see past them and into who I am on the inside.

Fit Me Foundation: Battle Royale

I took it upon myself to try out both of the Maybelline Fit Me Foundation lines in order to determine which would be best for someone like me with pretty much normal skin. I have my occasional dry patches, but wasn't sure which foundation would work best. Personally, I've always been a fan of the matte finished face, so the Matte and Poreless version was my natural first pick. It made my face have a chalky appearance that I had been struggling with when trying out matte foundations. I went ahead and bought the Dewy and Smooth version instead, and was pleasantly surprised as to how lovely it sat on the skin without looking cakey or chalky. I fell in love with it after several uses and it's now my go to foundation every day. I'm surprised that my skin does not work well with mattifying foundations, but at least I know it wasn't how I was applying it that was the issue. I love using my sponge to apply these, but I've also been known to use a brush as well. I use my Matte and Poreless to cover small areas and add a slight highlight since it is one shade lighter, but o will never again use it on my whole face. I love the formula of both as well as the coverage they offer. They are build able coverage from medium to heavy coverage. I wouldn't say full coverage because my freckles and scars still show through after several applications one over top the other. All in all this foundation is a total win. Both formulations are lovely, however my skin prefers the dewy to the matte version.

Keep warm and Stay beautiful, ladies.

BNB

Oldie But A Goodie

I found out today that I'm almost out of my favorite nail polish by Revlon. I can't even tell you how old it is, but it's a gorgeous duo chrome silvery purple that in some lights comes across almost green. It's a long time favorite of mine for my toes when I just need a little shine. Unfortunately, they no longer make the shade "030 Silver Switch". It must have been a seasonal shade because the whole "color illusions" line is gone. It makes me sad to know that once it is gone I can't get any more of it, but it will give me a reason to hold on to it a little tighter and use it less. They have a color out now called "Wild" that seems similar but it's darker and shows mostly green based on pictures. I will be picking it up and comparing them soon. I would love to see Silver Switch make a return to shelves so I can stockpile it.

The Perfume Trials

Over the years I've received various perfume samples with my orders from beauty companies. Though I've been hooked on my current perfume for years and I never wear anything else on the shelf, it felt like maybe it was time to try a few other options and see if I've picked the right one. I'll tell you what decision I came to at the end of the post, but for now here is the list of samples I tried.

Cotton T-shirt by Clean
Imari Mystique by Avon
Bali Bliss b Avon
Just Play by Avon
Far Away Dreams by Avon

Each of these perfumes were very different in scent profile from my normal perfume with Imari Mystique being more similar to my favorite perfume with musky and floral notes. Cotton T-shirt is a very subtle clean, fresh scent very different from my normal scent profile. It seems much more suited to someone who doesn't like floral or fruity perfumes. Just Play was a more fruity note with a clean and fresh finish somewhat similar to cotton T-shirt, also suitable for someone who doesn't like strong perfumes. Far Away Dreams was a very powdery fresh scent, almost like baby powder. Bali Bliss was a floral fresh scent

My perfume is a musky, slightly spicy, floral perfume from Avon and Fergie called Outspoken. I am completely in love with it after many trials of perfumes in the first few years of wearing perfume and buying makeup. The perfumes I've bought have all come from Avon or companies affiliated with them, like Mark. The only perfume close that I tried before Outspoken was Rebel Rose by Mark, which was a lovely musky, rose scent but it was missing something that Outspoken has which made me fall in love with it and made it my holy grail perfume for years now.

This Month's VoxBox: Sally Hansen

Airbrush Legs Makeup Smooth on Perfect Legs in Light

I was sent this product for free from Influenster and Sally Hansen as a VoxBox for trial and rating. I had no part in purchasing this item and I am also not being sponsored in return for a positive review.

I had thought of trying the original spray on version of this product, but was instead sent the cream version as part of the review program for Influenster. Unfortunately, I'm not very happy with the way the cream turned out on me, and it really turned me off to trying the spray can as well.

First, the color was tanner than I am, which would be fine if I intended to apply the product all over my body, but with how much darker than me it is it would be way too noticeable. Next, the color oxidized on my leg and turned very orange, looking like a very bad fake tan. It goes on very sheer as well which was unexpected considering the claim that it will make my legs perfect. It was unable to cover bruises and scars, and even worse it settled into my pores all over my legs making me look spotted. Also, It claims to be water resistant and to not transfer once set, but unfortunately when I applied it and left it to set for 5 minutes, at which point it wasn't tacky at all, before putting a piece of tissue over my leg and gently rubbing the product came off. It also states that it can be removed with water and a rag, so I'm not sure if water resistant is a truthful claim. I'm very sad to say that as much as I had high hopes for this product I cannot say I would recommend this product to anyone who needs any kind of major coverage like I do, or to anyone who spends as much time outside and around water as I do either.

I intend to try the Airbrush Face makeup in the near future, but I will be passing this sample on to someone who will get better use from it than I will. I'll let you guys know what I think of the Airbrush Face product when I have time to pick it up and try it.

Stay beautiful, Ladies!

BNB

New! From the Drugstore

So you guys all know that Loreal released their Lumi line recently. It was super exciting to finally see a product in the highlighting realm released by a drugstore brand. The price was a bit steeper than I had expected for the brand, but with a couple coupons to bring the price down I walked out of the local drugstore with both the True Match Lumi powder in Ice, and the Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer.

Now, I've probably said this a hundred times on my blog, but shimmer isn't usually my thing and this powder highlighter has a lot of it. But it's good to try things outside your comfort zone once in a while, and I have kept glitter and shimmer a t a distance for so many years that I figured maybe it's time I gave it another chance. So here I am, trying a shimmery highlight, and a glowy primer. I'm not sure if I'll use the primer all over the face, or if I will select a section of the face where it looks best, but I'm going to give it some different tries before I give up or, hopefully, fall in love with it. I'm not sure what undertone my skin is, but Ice is for cool undertoned skin, so I will have to see if the one that called to me was the right tone for me.

After a few weeks of testing, I'll give you my full opinion on both products, but I'll tell you now that my hopes are to see a nice dewy radiance in my skin that isn't shiny, or glittery looking. Since so many people rave about it, and it looks so great on my YouTube friends I'm hopeful I will enjoy it, but not every product works for everyone so I'm giving it my best go.

Live Life and Stay Beautiful.

BNB

Influenster Campaign

Head and Shoulders Instant Relief Oil Control Shampoo and Conditioner

Ladies... I'm totally in love with this one. I've been struggling to find a shampoo that does something for my hair. I kid you not, it's been a losing battle for me until Influenster and Head and Shoulders were nice enough to send me full sized bottles of this new shampoo and conditioner set for free, as part of the VoxBox program. As you guys may or may not know, as a reviewer for Influenster, I am occasionally sent products free of charge with the intention of me giving my honest opinion both on the company's sites as well as on my own personal social media and blogs. First let me say, I was excited to receive full sized products as my first box from Influenster (which I received a few months ago and never managed to get a post up until now), since I had heard that often they only send you sample sized items.

I've always loved the way Head and Shoulders products make my hair feel, but this product is beyond that feeling. They weren't kidding when they said you can instantly feel the oil being taken out of your hair as you massage it in. You can feel a fresh sensation and the scent is amazing. It contains mango and citrus, and smells kind of like limes. Every time I use this I feel like my hair is absolutely buildup and dandruff free, and the oily feeling in my hair doesn't return for days. I tend to rinse my hair every day, but only use shampoo about every 3 days, and with this shampoo I have been able to do this more comfortably without my hair feeling oily and dirty or looking like a greasy mess. I will definitely be repurchasing this one for years to come, because I have never been happier with a shampoo and conditioner than I am with this one. If you've got dandruff or oily hair, and you need a new shampoo I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Stay Beautiful, Beauty Queens.

BNB