Naturally Be-You-tiful
Beauty secrets and recommendations
I went to a skincare school some years back, which also offered a cosmetics class, and my instructor would always say, “The skin is a canvas, in which you must first work to have a clean slate before you begin creating art.”
Back then, I rarely saw much as an art, let alone cosmetics as one; cosmetics were more so a tool for me to mask my profound insecurity.
Overtime, though, I was able to truly understand what she meant, and found a passionate love for minimalism in such art form.
Achieving Natural Beauty
Step one: Know You Are Beautiful
To risk sounding utterly clichéd, every single being is beautiful and unique to their own.
Beauty “standards” are there for the mere reason of good business; understand this, and you are free.
When I still used social media (Instagram), I’d always give in to the newest trending makeup products and the hottest skincare lines, clawing my way to look like anyone but myself.
What I didn’t realize, though, these makeup brands and skincare lines were A) not on my side as though they seemed and B) not tailored for everyone.
I always felt like such a stranger in my own skin simply because I didn’t seek what my complexion demanded, I merely sought what “appeared” best on others that I found beautiful.
I say appeared lightly because social media truly is an illusion.
My nana always used to say, “If you want to feel awful about yourself, look at a beauty magazine,” and social media is just that: an endless sea of [illusioned] perfection and beauty if you’re looking at “where the magic is.”
Morgan Freeman said it best of misdirection:
When a magician says, “This is where the magic happens,” the real trick is happening over there.
Though, I understand that there is also authenticity still living on social media, and that’s what should be chased if you truly want to embrace all the beauty that is you with grace.
For example, if you have freckles covering your every inch of skin, in which you’re insecure of, seek those who openly celebrate and share their freckles, which can give you endless reason to do the same.
Besides, whoever truly dares to compare the Mona Lisa to Starry Night or Le Rêve to another is truly a madman suffering in a one-dimensional world — no piece of artwork is the same, yet still miraculous in its true entirety.
Between you and me, the beauty “standards” of today are vapid anyway.
Step Two: Prep Your Canvas
I’ll be honest, this step may take some time, so remember to make room for patience and perseverance.
It took me all through high school to find a skincare regimen that cleared me of adolescent, problem-prone skin.
When I’d break out in high school, I’d cover every inch in a deep sea of foundations and concealers, causing more of what I’d been running from to begin.
And when I finally found a routine that worked for me, it still wasn’t enough — I just oh, so needed to try the trending red chemical peel everyone was using on Instagram!
Two months later, my skin was ruined beyond repair for years after — I’d given myself Malassezia folliculitis, a skin-colored texture in one specified area.
And my “specified area” was everywhere; my perfected skincare regimen couldn’t save me this time.
If you struggle with Malassezia folliculitis, what saved my life was the De La Cruz Sulphur Mask (use sparingly and with patience!) ❤
Once I was able to, thankfully, rid if this pesky skin issue, I remained with CeraVe for some time; I love CeraVe for greater troubled skin, as its ingredients are on the stronger side of the spectrum.
As someone with combination skin, my regimen for a decent amount of time included:
- the SA cleanser on most days day and night to combat oil and blemishes
- the Acne Cream cleanser once or twice a week to maintain hydration
- the Resurfacing Retinol serum also once or twice a week to maintain a stable cell turnover
- and Pacifica’s Kale Luxe Oil-Free moisturizer after every cleanse
Why I didn’t choose a moisturizer from the CeraVe line is beyond me.
Though, within the recent year or so, I noticed that my skin was always itchy, dry, and irritated, realizing that it was time to find a gentler and less stripping regimen.
I absolutely loved the moisturizer I was using at the time, which is from a vegan line, and thought their products may be a great fit for what I’d been seeking.
I’m grateful to mention that this theory was proven correct and have been using Pacifica for almost two years now! (10/10 recommend)
I love their line because they use mineral extracts in some products in lieu of mineral oils in all (minerals oils and oils of all kinds in skincare is my kryptonite!)
As current time would have it, and what I recommend giving a try on your journey to find your perfected regimen, my skincare routine is the following (all by Pacifica):
- the Ceramide Extra Gentle cleanser, used mid-day and night (cleanse twice each time)
- the Kale Luxe Oil-Free moisturizer after every cleanse (a pea size amount; P.S. this isn’t sold on the Pacifica website or at Ulta anymore, I purchase mine from Amazon)
- the Kale Detox Deep Cleaning cleanser twice a week (every 3-ish days) paired with a drop or two of the Glow Baby Super Lit Booster serum mixed in with my moisturizer (both done only at night)
- the Ceramide Barrier eye cream every night
- and the Glow Baby Eye Bright cream every morning
I also use Garnier’s vitamin C micellar water, but it varies when I do so.
Frankly, if you listen to your skin and what it’s telling you as you would your body, I guarantee your skin will improve.
Most days I use the micellar water after coming inside from my morning coffee with nature.
One last thing I want to mention before moving on is eye creams.
The Ceramide Barrier eye cream from Pacifica, in all frankness, is not my favorite, as I still wake up with dehydrated and puffy eyes; I most likely won’t be repurchasing after I run out.
As for the Glow Baby Eye Bright cream, it does wonders for brightening over a period of a month or so, but as for the caffeine, I hadn’t noticed much of a difference in how awake my eyes feel.
Though, I absolutely love the FortifEYE Toning eye patches by Pixi for this!
I recommend keeping them in the refrigerator; I wear them for roughly 15 minutes when I’m in need of an eye boost, and towards the end of the 15 minutes, my eyes get a rush of a cool, tingling sensation, that (not to be dramatic) makes the world appear brighter.
As much as I love these eye patches, though, I’ve been on the market for a undereye gel that can do a similar job.
Step Three: Highlight
As I ceased in seeing cosmetics as a tool for [illusioned] poise, I began to see it as something greater that changed my perception with myself as well.
We all have something within our complexion we’d like to change; for what seems as if since the beginning of time, I always wanted a different nose — I desired the Cindy Lou, perfectly buttoned and pointed kind of nose.
And my nose, not merely being at the center of my complexion, but also my attention.
I used to spend most of my time carving out my nose as a jack-o-lantern on Halloween with endless use of bronzers and highlighters from creams to powders.
Though, once my skin was at a stage in which I felt comfortable with, I desired ditching foundation altogether, which also meant the creams and the varied shades of powders.
Regardless of what skincare product I use, my prominent issue will forever remain with discoloration and redness due to lack of care in my early teens and sensitivity lingering from said lack.
I’m thankful to have found the Dr. Jart+ Color Correcting Treatment a few years back, as I’ve stood by it ever since!
It’s more on the sheer side of coverage, rarely covering any prominent blemishes, which, overtime, I’ve actually found more comfort in leaving in their prominence as opposed to gorging myself in anxiety trying to hide them; I’m human, why hide it?
It’s taken some trial and error with cosmetics in regard to my skin as well, but have finally got it to the science I’ve needed:
- Nyx’s Bare with Me Hydrating Jelly primer on my most irritated areas, and on those I wish to highlight most (upper cheek bones and lower cheek area, the center of my chin, the creases on the sides of my nose, as well as the tip of my nose)
- the Sephora brand Mattify + Refine primer on my most vulnerable areas to oil (my forehead) and to sculpt any areas with contrast to the highlighted areas (the sides of my nose and the sides of my chin)
- Dr. Jart+ Color Correcting Treatment (I do one “dot” of product on every area of my skin, blend out with my fingers, let it set, and add more where/if needed thereafter)
- Lastly, I go over my most oily-prone area and sculpted areas with a brush of translucent powder to ensure a maximum highlight-matte contrast
I’ve never felt more confident with my skin (and nose) in my entire life than I do with this cosmetic routine!
With cosmetics, I find that (if you’re favorable towards minimalism) it’s enlightening to see it as a highlighter — picking out your favorite physical features of yourself and highlighting them, as a result, your least favorable will almost fade into obscurity entirely.
Personally, my favorable features of myself are my eyes and my brows.
As pretentious as it sounds, I have 3 levels of eye highlighting depending on what the day holds before me.
Level 1
Most days I remain on this level, which merely consists of curling my eyelashes (pressing the curler 3 times), brushing through my eyebrows with a brow comb, and calling it a day.
Level 2
This level is engaged when I feel like getting ready but am also not enthusiastic enough to put much time into it.
- A quick and small flick of dark brown pencil liner from the outer corner of my eye outward
- 3 pressed curls of my eyelashes, followed by a brush through them with my oldest Wet n’ Wild Mega Length mascara (one that has barely any product in it)
- A few coats of a newer and fuller bottle of Wet n’ Wild Mega Length mascara on the outer corner lashes (let dry for a few minutes then add another few coats with the same bottle)
- Brush through my brows with the older bottle of Wet n’ Wild Mega Length mascara, using the newer one to bring my inner brow hairs to life
- Blend throughout the entire brow with Wet n’ Wild Mega Clear mascara
Side note: I use mascara in my brows because my eyes are practically black, and I also love the hold mascara has on them!
Level 3
I desire getting ready on a level 3 more often simply because I enjoy the process as I would painting a picture, and I also feel like walking on a cloud when I am entirely ready for the day.
Level 3 consists of something vastly similar to Level 2, I just add a small section of false lashes to the outer corner of my eye as well, which I can only tell you that I buy in bulk on Shein; unfortunately, I haven’t a clue what the name or number of them are.
- I also do my inner-corner crease with a medium pink shade, blended out with a softer pink and sparkles from the Sweet Talk palette by ColorPop
I try to make my bottom line a little dark shade of pink, and of course, sparkly!
- My favorite part in this level is highlighting my inner corner with the sparkliest champagne shadow that I’ve had for too long to remember what it’s called, but I have a similar one from Kylie Cosmetics that I’ll be using soon
To complete any level of look I choose for the day, I either use Eos chapstick if I’m not in the mood for color, the mini Vaseline lip moisturizer in Rose if I’m desiring a hint of color, and I believe it’s L.A. Cosmetics lip liner in a bright red that I score on the center of both lips, blending out with an Eos chapstick for that natural “I just drank Kool-Aid” effect if I am feeling a little bold.
I am currently on the hunt for a sustainable lip stain to maintain lasting color throughout the day…
Contrary to popular belief, beauty is a complexity beyond what meets the eye.
And for that, I feel that beauty is one of the many important aspects in which must be defined subjectively.
Beauty itself is an art form and should, unapologetically, demand variations. Otherwise, it loses its substance entirely.
