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Learning to wear makeup was one of the things I enjoyed the most as a teenager — though my mom would only allow me to wear MAC’s clear Lipglass.

When I got to college, I started to wear more foundation, but it wasn’t until my mid-20s that I felt like I had to apply foundation each morning (even for grocery story runs) out of necessity. I had the good fortune of never dealing with teenage acne, but that all caught up with me in my 20s. I didn’t want to leave the house because my breakouts and dark spots had gotten so out of hand. Imagine running from a college classmate in the grocery store because you’re so embarrassed about your skin.

When I did go out, I’d apply so much foundation that I didn’t recognize myself. I found out after years of dealing with my massive breakouts that the pimples covering my jawline and neck were a result of my hormones. Since dermatologist visits were out of my budget at the time, I changed the things I knew I could: my diet, sleeping habits, and skincare routine. As I got my skin condition under some type of control (I still get hormonal breakouts), I wanted to stop hiding in my room. I went to the Bobbi Brown makeup counter at Nordstrom, and with the help of a makeup artist, I found a new routine that gave me the confidence to go out into the world, even with my perceived imperfections. As the artist put it, “it’s not about covering, but enhancing your natural beauty,” and I’ve carried that with me every single day. 

 

It’s not about covering, but enhancing your natural beauty.

 

Hyperpigmentation can make you feel a lot of negative emotions, but I want to pass along what I’ve learned through trial, error, and amazing beauty pros along the way. I also want to make sure you don’t feel like this article is meant to make you feel like you have to cover up — I just want you to have the tools you need in case you want to wear makeup, because as cliché as it sounds, you’re beautiful as you are.

 

 

Prep Your Skin 

I have a few staples during my daily routine. This may seem like a lot of products, but this combination has lessened my breakouts, keeps my skin hydrated, and has helped with my dark spots. My skin is honestly like night and day since I have carved out a set routine.

 

What works for me may not work for you, but a good pre-makeup routine with sunscreen is key. I was once someone that thought my dark skin had built-in sun protection, but sun exposure makes hyperpigmentation worse and undoes all the work your favorite skincare products put in. 

Now that the skin is prepped, we can get to the makeup application.

 

But First, Primer

According to Allure, primers create an ideal base for makeup application by smoothing fine lines and pores while helping products stay put all day. Those who are acne-prone or sensitive to silicone-based products should try a water-based primer like these:

 

It’s All About The Base

No matter your skin type, you’ll want to select a foundation that gives you medium to full coverage, because tinted moisturizers or sheer foundations can lead you to apply more without the coverage you’re looking to achieve. Fenty Beauty is my go-to because its matte foundation keeps my oily skin shine-free, and their formula is rich enough without being too heavy to help even out my skin tone.

The key to applying foundation without it looking cakey is to start with a little and build out. There was a time when I’d keep adding more foundation to cover spots, and I’d end up looking like a had on too much makeup. Now, when I find myself putting on too much, too fast, I take a beauty sponge, spray my face with rose water, and gently dab my skin, which usually works for me. These are the products I swear by:

 

 

Conceal

After applying my foundation, I can always see the dark spots peeking through. Instead of using more foundation, I take my concealer and dab each spot with the less-is-more tactic to build out. This concealer is my go-to because it covers and looks natural and I can drop it in my bag on the go. If you prefer a pot of concealer, MAC’s studio finish concealer is a great option to use with a brush or your fingers, and this formula comes packed with SPF 30. 

If you’re a pro, you can try color correcting as well, but since I’m not well-versed in that arena, I’ll keep things simple.

 

 

Ready… Set… Powder

Powder will set all of your hard work. I take it easy on the powder because when I overdo it, I think my skin looks older, and it draws attention to the pimple that decided to move in and not pay rent. This is the only powder I’ll ever use, and if you have dark brown skin like mine, it sets like a dream and gives no flashback.

 

Find Your Beauty Superpower

My final step on my journey to self-love — hyperpigmentation and all — is that I accent a facial feature I love. Remember that makeup artist at the Bobbi Brown counter I talked about? She gave me this advice. Some days, I look in the mirror, and all I see are my imperfections; but, I make myself find the beauty in something in that mirror.

I love my eyes, but if I feel they look too tired, I put on a bright lip — right now, these are my favorite:

 

The post How to Conceal Hyperpigmentation on Dark Skin: What I’ve Learned From Years of Practice appeared first on The Everygirl.

Remember when everyone said all the products we used had to be oil-free? Oil was made out to be an enemy of your beauty routine, especially if you had acne-prone skin. Your cleansers, foundations, moisturizers, and serums were basically ruled ineffective if they had even a drop of oil. 

Because I remember that time so much, I also vividly remember the first time I saw a skincare routine in which a woman put oil on her face. I gasped so hard at the mere thought of putting the very stuff on my face that I work so hard to remove every night. Then, in 2015, I tried my first cleansing balm (I remember it like it was yesterday), and I never looked back from using oils in my skincare since. 

If you’re somehow living under a rock and new to oils, here’s the rundown. Basically, oil attracts oil (#scienceissexy), meaning using an oil cleanser on your face or scalp/hair will help remove the oil already there. When our hair or skin is dehydrated, it often means that our bodies are overproducing the oil to make up for what it lacks. Therefore, using an oil to cleanse deeply moisturizes to not only remove the oil, but prevent it from coming back. This is what makes the cleansing oil craze real — and our editors, myself, and many others have jumped on the bandwagon and have no plans of looking back. 

After seeing a few hair cleansing oil shampoos on the market, I decided to take the plunge. I made sure to try it on a day that I wouldn’t see anyone in the event that it went badly. (I vividly remember trying to use olive oil as a hair mask before my eighth-grade exit interview, and I walked into school with hair that looked eerily like Kim K at the Met Gala except not cute.) The first time I tried, I mixed a little bit of hair oil into my shampoo. I shampooed once with the mixture and then did a double cleanse with my shampoo once more. The next time, I went all-in — I covered my head from scalp to ends in a hair oil. I let it sink in for a few minutes and washed my hair twice with my regular shampoo. The former was a gentle-but-deep cleanse that left my hair feeling clean and bouncy. The latter, however, was truly life-changing. 

I never thought I’d say this, but slathering my hair with oil before a shower might be the best thing I’ve ever tried. I’ve been doing this to my hair for about a month now — and the difference I’ve noticed is extreme. My fine, straight hair usually can barely go a day in-between washes. My second-day hair is filled with dry shampoo, and it looks limp, dry at the ends, and lifeless and greasy at the roots. Oil cleansing my hair twice a week has given my hair new life, and I’m here to share the experience! 

 

My hair before:

 

This photo was taken after a workout, so my hair is pretty bad. This is my hair when I haven’t oil cleansed. It’s lifeless, and the ends are like your mouth when you wake up at 4am after drinking and can’t get to water fast enough. 

 

 

My hair with the oil in it:

 

I used an equal parts mixture of an Aveda hair oil and hemp seed oil and slathered it all over my hair. Seriously. I coat my hair from roots to tips, and I focus on my scalp, massaging the oil into my scalp with my fingertips. Then, I hop in the shower and shampoo twice. Sometimes, I’ll use a gentle shampoo first, and follow with a purple shampoo and conditioner; other times, I’ll just use a clarifying shampoo and a deep conditioner. 

 

Then, I get out of the shower, use my leave-in products, style my hair as I normally would. And here, I present:

(Yes, I know my highlight is ~en fleek~, I’ve already raved about it here!)

 

Now that you’ve seen the process, here’s a little more about why I love it so much:

 

I have to wash my hair less (and use less dry shampoo)

I can get away with washing my hair every three to four days now, which is a huge improvement from before. This has cut my morning routine basically in half. I also am able to use way less dry shampoo which helps with preventing build-up and honestly just saves me a little bit of money! 

 

My hair holds a curl better

My fine, straight hair barely holds a curl, but I’ve noticed that when my hair isn’t muddled with dry shampoo and texturizing spray and wave elixirs that my curl stays a little bit longer. I especially notice that in my day-two hair. My hair has had a little time to settle, but it isn’t greasy and gross either. My curl stays insanely well these days, and I usually just have to lightly touch it up the next day for casual, loose waves. 

 

My hair feels stronger

I have color-treated hair that gets heat-styled on almost a daily basis. I also use regular hair ties, sleep in a ponytail, and never eat my greens. I know, I’m a garbage person. However, even with all that in mind, oil cleansing my hair has made it feel stronger, sleeker, and just overall healthier. This could be a little placebo, but I’ve even gotten compliments from people that my hair looks different. I’m going to take that as a “keep doing what you’re doing.”

There are some oil cleansers on the market, but I’ve noticed the best results using hair oil. I’ve also seen articles and videos where people have even used facial oils. Argan, coconut, avocado, and hemp seed oil have also worked really well for me. 

 

The post I Started Oil Cleansing My Hair, and I’ll Never Go Back appeared first on The Everygirl.

Was anyone else totally deceived about the whole idea that acne only happens in your teen years? Well guess what, The American Girl’s Guide to Puberty — here I am, 24 years old and acne is still a dark cloud over the storm that I call my life. The worst part is it’s not just pesky face pimples and nose blackheads. I’ve learned how to control face acne (or at least cover it up) by now. The part of adulthood I did not sign up for? Body acne — the dreaded breakouts over the body, most commonly found on the chest, back, or butt (or as I lovingly refer to as chestne, backne, and buttne… for the sake of time, of course!).

While body acne can be the same as face acne (clogged and irritated pores), it’s most commonly not acne at all, but actually something called folliculitis, which is an infection of the hair follicle. However, clogged pores and folliculitis can often be treated with the same methods, plus a few different tips and tricks. After all, we’re shattering glass ceilings, climbing corporate ladders, and living fulfilling lives – the last thing we need to worry about is a back pimple or butt breakout. Here’s how to banish body breakouts once and for all:

 

Avoid body washes and lotions with fragrance

Of course we all want to smell good, so I’ll give you the bad news first: the fragrance in scented body washes and lotions (especially when it’s artificial) can cause skin irritation that leads to breakouts. Here’s the good news: there are many natural and fragrance-free options out there that will moisturize just as well as your go-to french vanilla lotion or citrus-scented body wash. Look for “fragrance-free” on the bottle, or pick all-natural options that use essential oils for smell. You can also make your own lotion by combining coconut oil or shea butter (super moisturizing and will not clog pores) with an essential oil (tea tree oil helps with inflammation!).

 

Cleanse the right way

If you have super oily skin, using an active wash (like one with glycolic or salicylic acid) that’s not too harsh will likely clear up any body breakouts. However, you can’t just quickly rub a dime size amount all over under the shower like you would with other washes. These active ingredients take time to sink in, so for best results, coat the areas that need to be treated and wait a couple minutes for the acne-fighting ingredients to work their magic. Spend a few minutes letting it sink in while shaving your legs, scrubing your face, or singing the bridge of “Shallow” until you nail it — I don’t judge your in-shower ritual! If your breakouts are more irritated and/or come with dry skin or itchiness, using a gentle, fragrance-free body wash with tea tree oil or aloe will calm irritations.

 

Slough away dead skin cells

The skin on the body is much thicker and more durable than the skin on the face. Dead skin cells can often build up over our body from dryness, products like faux tanner (guilty!), and being exposed to less exfoliation than the skin on our face (I mean, do you wash your body every night with a Clarisonic brush and apply an acid treatment?). The dry skin can not only clog pores and cause breakouts, but can actually prevent active ingredients in washes from going deep enough. Try an acne-fighting body scrub before you wash, or dry brush your whole body before hopping in the shower (bonus: it boosts circulation!). If your breakouts are more prone to irritation and redness, cleanse with your normal cleanser and a body puff once a week.

 

 

Shower after a sweaty workout (or at least change clothes)

Sweat is mostly water – alone, it will not break you out (and there’s no need to avoid your favorite intense pilates class or heated gym session!). However, if sweat sits around for too long (on your skin or on your clothes), the bacteria that naturally lives on your skin mixed with bacteria from sweat is what clogs pores and causes irritation – lovely, isn’t it? It’s often why the skin on your butt (tight leggings) and chest area (*cough cough* boob sweat) is most prone to breakouts. Shower as soon as possible after a sweat session (or a particularly hot day). If a shower immediately after is not an option (i.e. rushing to work or a long day at the beach), at least change into clean clothes and carry body wipes for acne-prone areas post-sweat.

 

Try the occasional treatment

It’s 2019, and it’s not too extra to put a mask on your butt or a pimple patch on your chest acne. Sometimes stress, PMS, or excess sweat lingering for too long (curse you, hot yoga!) will cause a massive breakout or pesky pimple that a wash and scrub just cannot get under control. This means it’s time to call in the big guns — have larger-sized pimple patches on hand for chest or back pimples, and treat yourself to a treatment meant for body acne like a clay mask or body sheet mask to treat or prevent acne once every couple weeks.

You can also try applying spot treatments, but be warned – the ingredients in many spot treatments can cause fabrics to bleach, so let it fully sink in before putting on clothes and laying in your sheets, or for extra safety, wear a pair of shorts and a T-shirt you don’t care about getting bleached (yes, I do have a pair of cheap pajama shorts specifically for butt breakouts).

 

 

Examine your diet

By now you probably know that the foods you eat can either cause or cure acne and irritation, and that goes for your body breakouts too. Unfortunately, there’s no magical acne-clearing diet that works for everyone, but there are two common irritants that can cause acne and inflammation: sugar and dairy. Try cutting out dairy or watching your sugar intake to see if it clears chronic breakouts, and stick to organic foods that don’t contain hormones and antibiotics (any added hormones can change hormones in the body).

Also play around with food intolerances – I once read that gluten intolerances can show up as butt acne, and since limiting gluten, that dreaded butt acne has seriously cleared up (thank god for that, right!?). Also load up on leafy greens, berries, and orange produce like carrots or sweet potatoes for good-for-you antioxidants that can help clear up skin.

 

Pay attention to what your breakouts are telling you

Like other signs of inflammation and irritation, breakouts can often be signs of imbalance in the body. You might have heard of face mapping, or a holistic method of understanding the cause of acne that comes from Ayurveda and ancient Chinese Medicine. Well there’s also such thing as body mapping, which claims that breakouts have different causes based on the area of the body. For example, shoulder acne might mean stress, chest acne might mean digestive issues, and back acne might mean problems with the nervous system. If you’re cleaning properly, body mapping might be worth looking into as the source of your body acne. Talk to your doctor about reducing stress, checking for hormone imbalances, or easing digestive issues.

 

The post We All Have Body Acne—Here’s How to Deal appeared first on The Everygirl.

Giving beauty products the old college try pretty much comes in our job description as editors. Every time there’s a new launch, we’re ready to take it on. Our vanities, makeup bags, bathroom cabinets, and closets are pretty much bursting at the seams with new products to test and review. It comes with the territory, and we’re always happy to fulfill this duty for the good of the company. With trying all of these products, we also are pretty in-tune with what our favorites are. You can’t call yourself a “wellness guru” or a “skincare enthusiast” on the Internet and not expect to get a flood of questions asking for your recommendations and favorites. 

The one thing all of our beauty-obsessed editors have in common? We spend our coin shopping at Sephora — because where else would we find our favorite brands for makeup, skincare, hair, wellness, and more all in one place?! 

Our beauty-loving hearts skipped a beat when we saw the big news: Sephora’s Summer Bonus Beauty Event is here!

 

From 8/20 to 8/27, Sephora VIB and Rouge members can shop and receive a 15% (VIB) and 20% (Rouge) discount on hundreds of items! 

VIB and Rouge members can use this offer as many times as they want, in-store and online using the code SUMMERSAVE .

 

Becoming a Beauty Insider at Sephora is basically the key to unlocking all your beauty-loving dreams. Once you’ve signed up, you’ll receive points for every purchase to redeem on samples, full-sized products, and more. You also can unlock the other tiers (VIB and Rouge), which have perks such as special discounts and events, free makeovers, and more. 

From the highlighter I’ve been telling everyone to buy for months (seriously, people, do it), the shampoo and conditioner you can’t live without, the perfect fall lip color, a new skincare ingredient trend you’ve been dying to try, and more. 

Our editors are sharing their favorites, what they’re hauling from the event, and the product they think is worth the splurge. Plus, we’re giving you a glimpse into how we all store our makeup collections. Scroll on!

 

 

 

Recommended From My Arsenal…

 

The Product I’ve Been Dying to Try…

 

The Splurge Worthy of the Sale…

 

 

 

Recommended From My Arsenal…

 

The Product I’ve Been Dying to Try…

 

The Splurge Worthy of the Sale…

 

 

Recommended From My Arsenal…

 

The Product I’ve Been Dying to Try…

 

The Splurge Worthy of the Sale…

 

 

 

Recommended From My Arsenal…

 

The Product I’ve Been Dying to Try…

 

The Splurge Worthy of the Sale…

 

 

 

Recommended From My Arsenal…

 

The Product I’ve Been Dying to Try…

 

The Splurge Worthy of the Sale…

 

 

Please note the product exclusions: Not valid on The Ordinary products. Clients are limited to the purchase of one Dyson item, three Drunk Elephant items, five Morphe items, and three Tatcha items per SKU per transaction.

 

This post was in partnership with Sephora, but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board.

The post What Our Editors Are Buying From Sephora’s Summer Bonus Event appeared first on The Everygirl.