Putting Your Face On (as always, we are open to title suggestions) is a new recurring series with Official Toast Beauty Correspondent/Radiance Expert Adwoa Asiedu, who is a lovely and a talented delight. Please shower her with praise and also questions in the comments, because Nicole and Mallory’s makeup expertise begins and ends with “Have you tried blow-drying your hair? If you do that once or twice a year, it makes your hair look really different.” Enjoy.
This is the story of how an awkward, funny-looking teenager became an awkward (funny-looking but working it) woman who loves make-up, nail art and all things sparkly.
Now, darlings, when I say I was awkward, I feel like you don’t yet understand the severity of the situation. Please see conclusive evidence below:
Is that clearer now? May I direct your attention to the glasses which covered approximately 99% of my face? The half-up-half-down side pony? And I presume you SEE that scrunchie?
Growing up I just accepted that I was never going to be pretty. Instead I concentrated on quietly blending into the background. But you know how sometimes a person comes crashing into your life and shakes things up? When I was in my early 20s I became friends with an absolute glamazon. I was intimidated by her swishy-shiny hair and immaculate make-up, but she turned out to be lovely and warm. She took me under her wing, and one day she asked if she could try putting some make-up on me. Just this once. When she finally handed me the mirror afterwards I sat there in disbelief. It was me — but the best possible version of me. Defined. Glowing. I suddenly sat up straighter and lifted my chin. From that day on I stopped trying to blend in and started learning how to stand out.
I started asking for advice at beauty counters, and voraciously watching YouTube videos to teach myself tricks. As I gained confidence, I incorporated the tips into my everyday routine. Make-up is an art form, and your (gorgeous) face is the canvas.
But before painting your face, you gotta take care of that base (poetry, y’all)! I am a huge advocate of natural skincare, having grown up in a household where aloe vera gel was the answer to everything. Insect bite? Get the aloe. Rash? GET IT. Leg fell off? Child, what did I tell you about getting that damn aloe?
These are some of my natural skincare faves:
Aloe vera gel: Incredible for skin irritation and pimples. Always look for the purest gel possible — most wholefoods stores sell a 99% organic aloe gel. I use it every night as a sort of face mask. Avoiding the eye area, smear on a thin layer and let it dry before bedtime.
Tea tree oil: This antibacterial oil is also fab for skin irritations or minor infections. Because I’m hardcore, I get the 100% pure essential oil and use it neat. If you have more sensitive skin, look out for it as a blended oil. When I get those epic chin pimples I just dab this on directly, and the spot usually disappears by the next day. Quick note — this stuff is STRONG yo! Wash your hands after using it or you’ll forget, touch your eyes, and shriek in tingly burny agony.
Witch hazel and Rosewater: These are my favorite natural toners. The former is a glorious astringent skin cleanser. It removes excess oils and whatever grime may be lurking in your pores, waiting to cause trouble right before a hot date. The latter is pure vintage- you may remember seeing a bottle of Glycerine & Rosewater on your mum’s dressing table as a kid. I don’t need to tell you that mums are ALWAYS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING, including this toner. It gently refreshes and cleanses your skin without over-drying, and you’ll smell like an exotic rose garden. I recommend the witch hazel for oilier skin, and rosewater for the more sensitive gals. Remember — as always, look for these two in their purest forms! In fact, just take up residence at your local wholefoods store. The staff are usually nice, knowledgeable, and likely to feed you free almonds. [Ed. note – Adwoa is allowed to eat almonds, because we love her.]
Coconut oil: I cannot possibly overstate this. Coconut oil is everything you have ever needed. Frizzy hair? Gone. Dry skin? BANISHED. This miracle oil is a beauty all-rounder. Go and buy some, I beseech you. Ask for organic extra virgin coconut oil; it’s cold-pressed to maintain the nutrients. Not only can you baste yourself in it daily, you can also cook with it or eat it straight from the jar. The oil is solid at room temperature, so just pop the bottle in some hot water before use.
I actually make most of my hair and skin products out of these few ingredients. Making your own concoctions is fun, easy and cheap! Otherwise look out for great natural skincare ranges and always read the ingredient list. Remember they’re listed in order of greatest quantity first. So if you’re buying “pure aloe vera shampoo” and aloe is listed near the end of the ingredients, you have been caught in a web of DECEIT. Don’t stand for it, honey.
Now on to my two favourite looks!
The Girl Next Door
This is my standard, everyday look. The idea is to look fresh, glowing and effortlessly fabulous, so much so that people will exclaim “Gosh, you’re looking well!” And you can nonchalantly flick your hair and say “Oh, these old rags?” The key to this look is luminous skin, flushed cheeks, and a nude lip. I’m usually a MAC gal but you can easily recreate this look using any of your fave cosmetics! Products used:
MAC Pro-longwear concealer in NW50: I start by using this darker concealer shade to cover any blemishes on the darker parts of my face, like under my chin.
MAC Studio Fix Foundation fluid in MW47: I then use this lighter foundation shade to conceal any other blemishes.
Bare Minerals Loose powder in Golden Deep: Set the concealer with a mineral powder and fluffy powder brush. Mineral powders give light coverage with a natural glow.
MAC Mineralize Blush in Love Thing: This is a pinky shade with subtle gold shimmer. Swirl on the apples of your cheeks and then arc upwards along your cheekbones for a sculpted finish.
Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in Black/Brown: Use tiny strokes and follow your natural arch. Start from the outer ends first and work your way inwards, lightening the strokes for a natural gradient effect.
Maybelline Volum’Express Cat-Eyes mascara: Concentrate on the outer top lashes for a wide-eyed look.
Maybelline lipstick in Pink Sizzle: A very subtle nude/pink with a tiny bit of shimmer — just slick this on over some lip balm.
You’re done! Go on with your bad self!
The Pin-Up Girl
When I want to crank up the glamour, I go for a vintage bombshell look. This look is all about immaculate skin, big defined eyes, bold brows and a perfectly lined red lip. Products used:
MAC Pro-longwear concealer in NW50: As above in the girl-next-door look, darlings.
MAC Studio Fix Foundation fluid in MW47: Again, as above.
MAC Studio Fix powder in N9: For a sophisticated look like this one, go for a powder foundation, which will have more coverage than a sheer powder.
MAC Sheertone Blush in Ambering Rose: Use a warm neutral toned blush for this look, as the focus should be on the eyes and lips.
Benefit BrowZings kit in Dark: Define those brows, girl — I love this kit because it comes with a dark wax to shape, and a matching powder to set!
Rimmel Masterliner in Black: You want a winged eyeliner with this look. Subtle or bold, it’s up to you. Gently pull your closed eyelid taut with your finger while you apply.
Benefit Bad Gal Lash mascara: Use the lushest, most voluminous mascara you have, or opt for a set of thick falsies.
MAC lipliner in Cherry and Maybelline lipstick in Red Revival: Roll up your sleeves and sharpen your lipliner — it just got REAL in here. Start by carefully lining your cupids’ bow. If you want to exaggerate it for a more pouty look, why not? Outline the rest of your lip shape, using small strokes. Tip: Fill in your lips completely with the pencil, focusing on the inner corners, because these are the areas that wear off first. Then follow with your lipstick. Blot on a tissue and reapply your lipstick for maximum staying power.
Done! Go and stand on a conveniently placed air vent in a flowing white dress.
Now let’s talk about my love for nail art. I was always an art geek and it was a natural progression to start experimenting with colour on my nails. My mum (who is one of the most incredible and glamorous women I know) used to have this huge tub chock-full of nail polish. I always had my hot little hands in there, and would re-do my nails several times a day. I would paint each nail a different colour, dust them with glitter, glue on gems. I then started using trimmed paintbrushes to add patterns and shapes.
I feel like nail art is just another mode of self-expression, another way of saying “HEY WORLD, I’m here and this is what I’m about.” And it’s really not as hard as it looks! Here are a few of my favourite designs so far:
So my dears, I’m really looking forward to sharing some more of my tips with you! I am by no means an expert; I’m just in it for the love of the game.
For me, make-up has never been a mask to hide behind. On the contrary, experimenting with it can actually teach you to make the very best of what you’ve been blessed with. In my case, it helped a painfully shy girl come out of her shell.
Love,
Adjpants
Tags: adwoa asiedu, beauty, femmes, makeup, moms are always right, nail art, oh these old rags, putting things on your face
You are the absolute cutest. I am so sad that coconut oil costs like double to triple what it does in the States, because I wanna put it all over my dry, easily irritated epidermis. Especially today, when EVERYTHING ITCHES BECAUSE IT IS REMOTELY DRY OUT.
Hiii! Oh my goodness thank you! I am BEYOND excited to be here! Boo to expensive coconut oil. Perhaps Ebay can be of assistance?
Have you tried cocoa butter? It works quite well, and is cheap and easy to get in Montreal and Ottawa.
I haven’t seen it around in Toronto, but I haven’t looked. I’ve used stuff WITH cocoa butter in it, not the pure stuff. (Andit made me itchy.)
I’ve found it at Super Store in the organic section for $6 (big jar). It might have been on sale.
Oooh my mom always had tea tree oil and it worked so well! I need to find that again.
Trader Joes sells it in little jars!
Also here! http://www.amazon.com/doTerra-Melaleuca-Essential…
This is what I use morning and night and it has changed my skin completely. I also use it as a spot treatment.
Bonus: It’s antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial, so it’ll cure just about any skin problem you have.
Amazon sells it at a decent price! (Well, as long as you don’t mind buying 4oz, which will last forever.) I buy the Now Foods brand. I usually just use it for cleaning, but judging from the reviews, people use that brand cosmetically as well.
This is exciting! Make-up tips from a WOC? All about this. Loving the first look.
I really hope Adwoa tackles contouring. Like, I know it’s a thing, but with my round cheeks I have no clue what to do.
Yes! I want to learn too!
http://rebeccashoresmua.blogspot.com/2013/10/tuto…
This is a pretty good tutorial for light everyday contouring. You can definitely get more dramatic but I really like this look for just being out and about. Really you just need some sort of product that is a couple of shades darker than your skin tone and another product that is a couple of shades lighter. Depending on your skin tone, that could be a matte bronzer or a dark liquid foundation. And then BLEND IT OUT! Blend downwards and it will look more natural.
I believe it was the great RuPaul who said “Don’t blend in; blend out!”
YOU WIN for a) posting that fabulous link and b) quoting Ru Paul. YES HUNTY!
Hi Nina! Thanks so much for the warm welcome! I’m also gagging to learn how to contour- I’m fearful of accidentally painting on a dashing beard HA. I’ll study up- look out for
a future post x
SO in love with the Mondrian nail art, that’s basically my dream.
Also I had no idea about the coconut oil and the aloe! I’m going to go to the natural-foods store and see if they have them, that solves several of the problems I’ve been having now (mostly hair, I’ve suddenly realized that it’s long and I want it to look good but I don’t know what to do with longish curly hair and it’s frizzy all the time because winter in Holland and ugh. Seriously, what do I do with my haaaair.).
Looking forwards to this column! I’ve sort of over the past year become way more interested in makeup & stuff but I have no idea what I’m doing, so more advice is always the best.
Darling! Thank you for the warm welcome. All you Toasters (Toasties? Toastinis?) are so lovely! Yes coconut oil is a godsend for frizzy hair! For an overnight treatment, just melt a tiny bit in the microwave and apply to the ends of your hair. Pin your hair up and wrap in a silk scarf. Go to bed, rinse out and style in the morning! instant gorgeousness!
You and me both! I love having my hair long, but it’s also curly and the ends are prone to lots of frizz. I’ve been using coconut oil on my skin, but haven’t tried it on my hair yet. Let’s try them together! Good luck!!
I have started becoming a bit evangelical about it, but I have been using the “curly girl method” on my hair and it has been lovely. It was recommended on a thread at the hairpin. My looks significantly better, even now when I am in desperate need of a haircut and I have been kinda extra lazy with my hair and whatnot, it still looks pretty darn good.
Yay! I’m so glad The Toast has a beauty section. It is hard for me to trust again after so many women’s publications (and certain websites) have used beauty content to sell, sell, sell, but I have faith in The Toast. I mean, DIY and drugstore products in the first post! Love your awkward pic, too.
I recently cut my hair and need to use product in it now, but it’s not great for my scalp if I wash my hair more than 2 or 3 times a week. I’m mostly using curl definer and texturizing cream. Suggestions? I feel like it’s kind of gross to sleep on hair with stuff in it, plus it gets greasy faster.
I’m in a similar situation. I try to use dry shampoo (I find Batiste to be a cheap, effective option) to help me go more days without washing. Plus side — other than reduced greasiness — is it adds some texture while styling.
Batiste is the best best best. I love the one that has some color added in, because it helps conceal my white hairs between dye jobs.
For the record, though, we are thrilled to sell things Adwoa recommends if advertisers give us money.
Oh, I am totally in favor of The Toast making money! It just bothers me when beauty content has no real point of view besides “here are some lipsticks we chopped in half” or “look who sent me samples that I have to plug.” But again, really liked this.
“Studies have found if you buy…all of the makeup…at Walgreen’s that they have their, your skin will be so good. So good, your skin will be. Full of the makeup. How much to buy? Yes. All of it.”
SPONSORED BY WALGREENS
SO FULL OF ALL THE BEAUTY!!
Hi! Yay I’m so glad to be here! Try a nice DIY hair spritz to add moisture without adding grease. Just mix aloe vera juice (like the pure gel but in liquid form) wih some rosewater, a few drops of olive oil, top up with water. Store in a plastic spray bottle for a quick fix! Then you can seal with a little curl definer- nice and light ♥
I’ll try that, thanks!
Strongly recommend dry shampoo, BUT! use it at night before you go to bed. Not a lot, just put some in your hands and smear it into the greasy parts. Don’t brush or anything. It will naturally blend in overnight. In the morning? Not greasy. if it is, use the teensiest bit more. But not a lot!
This may be a silly question – but does coconut oil smell like coconuts? Coconuts make me sneeze like crazy, so the idea of basting in it…my sinuses are getting all tense just at the idea.
No! I have a jar I cook with (and that I will try to occasionally baste myself in, now) and it smells very little like coconut flakes or an actual coconut.
I live in constant rage and disappointment that coconut oil doesn’t smell more coconutty. I want to smell like Club Tropicana. At ALL TIMES.
no… but you sound like you might be allergic to it. maybe go with the shea butter instead!
Refined coconut oil smells almost nothing like coconuts, but the virgin stuff does smell (to me, at least) very coconutty.
Related, refined coconut oil makes THE BEST popcorn cooking medium.
Hmm might have to find me some rosewater.
This is great, I am glad it will be recurring! I humbly request some nail art tutorials in the future 🙂
Yes, please! Because I have tried some tiny things in the past and really it looks like weird swirly swooshiness done by a toddler. And, um, once I tried stripes and my big toenails looked like the punchline to the “What time is it when an elephant sits on your fence?” joke. So, tips??
LOL!! Gals I would be more than happy to do some nail art tutorials- watch this space!
I’m as low maintenance as you can get (I rarely wear make up) so I’m excited for any tip and trick that reflects that 🙂 I’m off to hunt down coconut oil now…
You are naturally ravishing! Look out for more natural DIY skincare coming your way ♥
you’ve actually inspired me to shake up my makeup routine (POETRY! AGAIN!). The looks you posted were so fantastic, and glowy, and HEALTHY, and yet really natural looking.
INSPIRING!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!! I may love you already. Please keep me posted if there’s something you’d like to see!
Two things I would like to learn about –
rocking a red lip (I have discovered that I can rock a red nail and I see girls with coloring similiar to mine rock a dramatic red lip but I am afraid that it will be like a neon sign pointing out that my teeth are not movie-star white)
eye makeup & glasses. I know how to apply eye make-up, but I always feel like it is then hidden by my glasses & I tend to avoid mascara b/c then my eyelashes hit my lenses (I know there are worse problems to have).
Ooh yeah, how do you figure out which shade of red lipstick won’t be all “ding ding, yellow teeth ahoy!”?
I’m the opposite of make-up knowledgeable – as in I wear it 5ish times a year and only lipstick and eye makeup – but I just went to the drugstore, found a red that wasn’t too orange-y (for some reason this seemed “scientific” to me since I have pinky skin, so I thought orange-y red would look terrible). And then wore it! And I LOVE how it looks, I get compliments on it when I wear it, and I have never noticed anything funky with my teeth. Go for it!!
It’s a bit of trial and error, but generally lipsticks with blueish undertones make your teeth look whiter. I tend to think reds with a little bit of plum in them make teeth look great. On the flipside, anything orangey or yellow-based can really bring out the yellow in your teeth.
The main trick to wearing red lipstick though? Just wear it. You might feel like a clown the first day but you will get used to it and it will start to feel more normal!
See, I have relatively good color sense, I think, but I have no idea how to pick out a red that has blue undertones. I already avoid anything with yellow or orange whenever possible because it makes me look like the poster child for hepatitis awareness. I guess the answer is “go to Sephora and try all the samples”
Everything Shirley said! Yes to blueish plummy undertones for whiter-looking teefs! Also yes to oodles of confidence. The first time I wore red lipstick outside, I thought people would point and laugh and maybe throw rocks at me. None of those things happened and I felt fabulous!
I would also like to know this, as I have glasses. Eye makeup in general, kind of? Like, how do I know what are good colors?
You may just be in luck because I wear glasses (and contacts) too! The trick is to widen and brighten the eyes as much as possible. So not too much heavy dark eyeliner etc. Future post, methinks!
I would second (third?) that request! I always feel like eyeshadow, especially, is a waste of time because I’m just going to put glasses on and hide it. I’d love some tips for that!
I would love this! I love buying ALL THE EYESHADOW because the colors are so pretty, but then I can never figure out where and how I should be putting it on my lid, exactly. Like, I want a little map that’s like use these colors here and use a fluffy brush here and a flatter brush there. And I wear dark glasses so I’m never sure how intense to go.
but i am a goth
I can’t whiten my teeth because my two front incisors are crowns (thanks, little brother throwing a GI Joe at my face!). They’re not like ogre-teeth, they’re a perfectly normal human-being who sometimes drinks red wine color. But then everyone started Crest Whitestripping all over the place & I was really self-conscious about them for a while, but then I decided that I love bright lipstick, fuck everything/body else.
But reds with a blue rather than an orange undertone are supposed to make your teeth look whiter if you care.
Boys and their GI Joes. I was having a perfectly normal sandbox war with my bro’s Joes and then lo and behold, I turned into Godzilla and some of them may have gotten buried and you know what that little fuck did? I’ll tell you what he did. He hit me in the face with a fucking SHOVEL. No broken teeth, just a broken nose.
I got my revenge months later by pushing him off the roof and breaking his leg.
Yeah man, the whole teeth whitening thing is a TOOL OF THE PATRIARCHY! All those strips do is fill your teeth with holes that’ll gather even more plaque. I’ve been trying to take a grumpy stand against any whitening products but it’s really difficult to find toothpaste that doesn’t advertise its whitening properties.
One tip I’d give glasses-wearers is to work on your brows. Having a nicely shaped, slightly stronger brow will help balance out your frames (especially if you’re rocking horn rims). There are a lot of brow tutorials online, but your best bet if you’re an absolute novice is to have a professional waxer or threader do your brows for you. Then you’ll just need to maintain the shape they give you.
Depending on whether your lenses magnify your eyes or not, you might want to adjust how heavy your eye makeup is. If your glasses tend to make your eyes seem smaller, then you might need to wear more exaggerated liner and shadow to compensate. Eyeliner in particular is a good substitute for mascara. Dot the pencil or pen into your lash line and blend slightly. This will make your lashes look thicker and subtly define your eyes. Google ‘tightlining eyeliner’ for examples.
If you curl your lashes before the mascara, they don’t hit your glasses.
I am not even a makeup wearing person, but I am going to read every single installment of this! Yeah for tea tree oil! (It’s also good for wiping grease off your face. GoJo just hurts.)
Thank you so much Dana! I can’t wait to get to know you all better ♥
Coconut oil is the bomb dot com. When I’m the shower, after I’m done washing up and stuff, I turn off the water and rub it in everywhere. I feel it sinks in better after my pores are all relaxed and happy from hot water? Then, I turn the water back on for a second to get some of super greasiness off and then towel off. I smell like a cookie. It’s great.
Also good for shaving..
Oooooh how did you do those mint and gold nails? Please share!
I love this! I need some freshness in my makeup habits, which have been basically unchanged for a couple years. I’ll be trying these looks for sure. 🙂
Also. I’ve been making my own laundry detergent for years, but I’m just dabbing my toe into the homemade skincare/beauty products (I started with oil as a facial cleanser, which I love! But which, if we can have real talk, I’m too lazy to do every day). Can we have a future column about recipes and tips and what have you?
Last also: Stampeding to the store to get some aloe.
You can TOTES have a post about recipes! I’m so thrilled you gals are interested!
Oh, the glasses covering the top half of one’s face. Where would an American girlhood be without them?
I was probably in my 30’s when I discovered that smaller, rectangular frames were so much better on me… then again I don’t think they starting MAKING those frames till the ’90s…
They definitely didn’t. They had some little kid glasses back then, but you age out of those pretty quickly. I went from having cute little purple glasses as a second-grader to rocking laughably enormous maroon frames as a third-grader.
Then I got older and my problem changed from overly large frames to overly small ones. My face is too damned big for some of the modern styles out there.
My face is too big for a lot of frames too. I’m a really big fan of all these pretty delicate frames, but the last time I got new glasses, none of the pretty ones fit my face and head at all (never mind my prescription). I ended up with more substantial frames that I really love, but… I still really want cute delicate frames. I haven’t even bothered with the chunkier ones that are really popular because I’m certain they wouldn’t be wide enough. Sigh.
The Mondrian nails! Awesome.
This is all way above my pay grade, but I really need someone to sit me down, look deeply into my eyes, and teach me how to french braid my hair. I feel like I missed a critical period as a child where all the girls learned to do this.
My mother never could, and so I taught myself when I was younger and then she would always ask me to french braid her hair. It was a weird, sort of melancholy role reversal.
My mother has had short hair most of her life so she just never put my hair up. So I never really put my hair up. Now I am almost 30 with only the faintest idea how to do anything more than putting my hair in a low, messy ponytail. I need someone to teach me all the hair stuff. A friend tried to put my hair in a braid and declared it basically unbraidable, but how about everything else? How does a curling iron work? What do all those strange toothy clips in the hair aisle of the drug store do? What the hell do all of the 100000 products in the hair aisle do and will one of them give me volume without having to blow dry my hair?
I cackled at this!! *Sits down, puts a gentle hand on your shoulder* Everything is going to be ok. Together we can do this.
Not above your paygrade. I only learned because the school mean girl was the resident french braider for the cheerleading team and she refused to braid my hair. I washed it and everything! But then I was the only one on the team without a french braid. Bitch.
So I taught myself.
To the hippie district health-food store! HIE!
(Er… that was a _supportive_ HIE! in that I totally love that we have some really solid appearance-and-cosmetics tip. Internet tone. Working on it.)
I totally sensed the passion and support in your comment! TONIGHT- WE RIDE (to the mung bean store)
Girl, YES. I worship daily at the shrines of coconut/ tea tree oil. And yay, look out for some ludicrously simple nail art tutorials!
YES to coconut oil; YES to homemade concoctions using coconut oil (here is my current favorite); YES to all of this. Looking forward to more installments from Adwoa!
witch hazel is the best! this column is the best!
also i have questions: foundation? how? like what if you touch your face (i touch my face constantly)? and how does it not make you break out? is it just countered by faithful application of witch hazel?
Generally, foundation won’t make you break out if it doesn’t contain comedogenic (pore-clogging) ingredients and if you thoroughly remove it at night. If you’re wearing an oil-based foundation, then it’s best to use an oil-based cleanser (this can be as basic as smearing cold cream or olive oil on your face, then wiping it off with a very warm face cloth).
As for touching your face…you kinda just get used to not messing with it. Sort of like how nail biters will paint their nails in order to curb their habit. You want the end result to be so pretty that you’d rather not mess it up. So wearing makeup may be helpful for acne-prone people since touching your face can introduce dirt and bacteria that can trigger breakouts.
Oh YOU are the best! Thank you! I also touch my face constantly, and therefore smear everything and everyone I love with foundation. Yes I think breakouts are just no match for Mother Nature’s cleansers! BAM
Another tip for not-breaking-out: wash your powder brush! This is where a lot of the breakouts can secretly come from.
I wash mine every 2-3 days with running tap water and a few drops of Dr Bronner’s. Shampoo is also a good option, but if your brush has synthetic bristles, you can use any old soap. When washing, make sure the water doesn’t run above the firrule of the brush and then the bristles will stay in for longer because getting the glue wet can loosen the bristles and make them fall out.
I love this. Tea tree oil was a big thing at The Body Shop when I worked there.
I also want to second using oil as a cleanser if you have oily skin. It sounds counter-intuitive, but I have the greasiest of oily gross skin (like a thin oil slick at 2pm. Every day.) but I started using Villainess’ Datura oil cleanser every other day, and it’s honestly helped. It’s very gentle for my sensitive skin, and because it doesn’t strip any oils from my skin, my face stops trying to overproduce oil in retaliation.
(I think like that. That my face is actively conspiring against me. I’m not ok.)
Le gasp! You used to work at Body Shop? I used to loiter there, smelling things and layering a thousand body butter testers on myself! Ooh what’s in the Datura oil? P.s. your last sentence made me snarf with chuckles.
I did! I worked there for about 8 months as a 2nd job. I LOVE their eye makeup remover and their body butters still. Their makeup was kind of lousy though.
The Datura is awesome! It’s here: http://www.villainess.net/datura-slick.html
and the ingredients are:
“Organic rosehip oil to penetrate the skin and smooth away fine lines and wrinkles. Jojoba oil, nearly identical to human sebum, lets skin breathe while softening pore blockages. Castor to draw impurities, Grapeseed to repair tissue, antioxidant rich Cherry Kernel oil, and Monoi de Tiare – pure, unspoiled coconut oil fragrant with tiare blooms. As a bonus? Orchid extract, loaded with free radical scavengers, exotic Frangipani extract, Helichrysum essential oil to heal, and Roman Chamomile to relieve tension and facial rigor.”
It’s a little pricey but a little really does go a long way and it’s SO worth it. She sells through her own site (where you can accumulate points) and a couple of other online retailers.
You are beautiful and oh so knowledgeable about makeup and its application. I am a beauty product addict and will eagerly learn at your feet.
My toner is: Thayer Witch Hazel Toner-Rose Petal. IT IS WITCH HAZEL AND ROSEWATER IN ONE.
Boom.
Also if you wanna exfoliate I really cannot speak highly enough of Avalon brand Lavender Luminosity Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub. Its pricey-er than ST Ives, because it’s much nicer to a sensitive face, but wayyyy cheaper than most shit, and organic, and all the ingredients are recognizable things.
A really nice esthetician recommended these two items to me based on having sensitive allergy freak out skin and a hatred of spending money or time on my face, and it has been perfect. I almost never wear foundation even.
For face cream I use a mix of a floral smelling organic goats milk lotion I bought in little ethiopia swirled with your standard neutragena sensitive skin facial sunscreen.
And I put a dab of pure tea tree oil on zits.
I’m excited to add aloe vera to my routine.
These are some great tips for skincare. Aloe vera is great for hair too–it makes mine silky and shiny. I’ll caution people about coconut oil, though. There are some people who break out from it. If you find that’s the case, I would suggest substituting jojoba oil, which is lighter and about as inexpensive. Bonus: it has a slightly mattifying effect.
I’ve also never used an acne treatment that is as effective as tea tree oil (and as an acne-prone person, I’ve tried them all). I’ll dab a small amount on a pimple and the next morning it will be noticeably reduced in size It’s way more gentle than benzoyl peroxide (which inflamed my non-pimply skin) and salicylic acid (which left me with dry, flaky zits…sorry for the mental image). Going back to basics has probably been the best thing I’ve done for my skin. I would definitely recommend it for acne sufferers or anyone who has sensitive skin.
Seconded! I started using tea tree oil about a month ago and it’s like night and day on my oily, acne-prone skin. I can’t believe I waited so long to try it.
Seconded! I started using tea tree oil about a month ago, and it’s like night and day on my oily, acne-prone skin. It even prevents and heals the terrible, hormone-fueled cystic acne I get every month. I only wish I’d discovered it years ago!
I dunno I like the look in the first picture.
Pro tip: if you happen to schedule a major tattoo appointment the day before you leave on an international vacation, and you’re not totally sold on the idea of washing your new ink in the airport/airplane bathroom, you can use witch hazel to clean it instead. It even feels kind of soothing!
a Toast beauty column? YAY!!! I heartily endorse both tea tree oil and aloe vera, two of my old reliables when it comes to beauty products.
Can we talk hairstyling at some point? I’m just growing my hair out and have recently realized that I don’t even know the basics of how to make braids that will stay in, do cute stuff where half of it is up and half down, any of that shit.
I love coconut oil but it is NOT for everyone, even me. My hair really likes it but I get scalp breakouts if I overuse it and it can give people major comedogenic breakouts in general. Everything in moderation, try before you buy, etc.
On my face I have better luck with jojoba oil, which Trader Joe’s sells for a fairly reasonable price.
Yeah my hair hated it (it made it dry and velcro-y and straw like) but grapeseed oil worked really well. I use this shave oil actually. I bought it to shave my legs and then one day I was out of conditioner and used a drop of it on the ends of my hair and it worked so well I never bought new conditioner again.
I recommend looking at thelonghaircommunity.com, they have a whole section on hair oils and you might be able to find one that works with both your scalp and your hair.
I use different oils on different parts! Coconut oil is wonderful for my dry legs but I’d never touch my face with anything but jojoba, which is a miracle substance that I worship as ancient peoples worshipped the sun.
Yay!
1) I think I may have had glasses from the same line. They were that exact shape and overwhelming size, but they were BLUE for some reason.
2) You look great and I look forward to learning more!
I ALSO HAD BLUE GLASSES. But mine were totally round, Sally Jessy Rapheal style.
Legitimately gasped at how shiny her hair was in the first look, and instantly became a loyal disciple.
Mallory and I have a very long email thread about how shiny Adwoa’s hair is and what we would do if our hair was that shiny.
Spoiler: nothing. We’d just flip it around in the sunshine.
I love coconut oil and use it for everything. It’s a great make-up remover. I find I don’t have to heat it, just scoop it into my hand and it melts within seconds.
Adjpants, welcome! So excited to have a beauty columnist here. Thanks for the skincare tips. Two things:
1) I’ve never been a fan of the nude lip look, given that my lips are horrible pale shadows of their former selves, but it looks so FAB on you that I’m willing to reconsider.
2) MONDRIAN NAIL ART. I’m in love.
Adjpants, welcome! So excited to have a beauty columnist here. Thanks for the skincare tips. Two things:
1) I've never been a fan of the nude lip look, given that my lips are horrible pale shadows of their former selves, but it looks so FAB on you that I'm willing to reconsider.
2) MONDRIAN NAIL ART. I'm in love.
I am SO GLAD you are spreading the jobs of witch hazel!! After years of terrible skin (acne and skin that was somehow both greasy and dry all the time at the same time) I switched to using witch hazel instead of facewash (and moisturizer) and it has been so great. I just wash with water in the shower (and exfoliate with a clean washcloth) and then when I get out I use a cotton pad to rub on the witch hazel. It’s great to use in the middle of the day to, it’s cooling and grease removing in the summer and it’s moisturizing and soothing to dry skin in the winter. The kind I use is alcohol free, I think that’s the key. Also mine has lavender water, apparently plain witch hazel smells kind of bad (there are versions mixed with rosewater too).
I AM SO INTO THIS. Rosewater + glycerine! Be still my heart!! That is my favorite thing in the universe. Mine is in a little spritz bottle and there is nothing more refreshing and delightful.
Grrrrrrrl! Look at you! You’re an absolute star. Love this. Looking forward to the next installment.
What do you all use as a makeup remover?
I use coconut oil.
Adwoa, I love you! And I think your “awkward” photo is precious.
I wouldn’t mind watching an Adwoa YouTube beauty channel either. Just saying.
My most recent awesome product discovery is George’s Aloe Spray mister. Something like $4 for an 8 oz .bottle from Vitacost. I went a liiiiiiiittle crazy on that website and on iHerb this week. But they are inexpensive and have tons of high-quality natural products.
Rosewater! I found some at a grocery store and have been using it as toner–and have been feeling extra vintage and classy, as well as seeing some better skin.
Amazon sells it at a decent price! (Well, as long as you don't mind buying 4oz, which will last forever.) I buy the Now Foods brand. I usually just use it for cleaning, but judging from the reviews, people use that brand cosmetically as well.
a. You are adorable, always.
b. Your childhood look is a lot like my now-look, glasses included.
c. Please post makeup and pretty things all the time because it’s fun and nifty.
d. I am now going to find some witch hazel and rosewater.
but i am a goth
Literally the only thing missing from that ingredients list was "tears of a thousand cherubic angels" I need to track down that stuff IMMEDIATELY! Adjpants xo
Why was I not informed about this before: WITCH HAZEL AND ROSEWATER IN ONE! Erm-a-gawd! Is it amazing? Adjpants xo
RIGHT? Lawd I remember those awful teenage years of salicylic acid-laden products. They were useless and harsh and awful, and all the products smelled like devastation. Huzzah for back to basics skincare! Adjpants xo
Ooh yes we can totes talk hairstyling! All of the aforementioned shit can be covered. Adjpants xo
Thanks! I'm thrilled to be here! Look out for the Mondrian nail art in a future tutorial! Adjpants xo
DAHLING! How did I only just see this?! Thank you so much for reading! Adjpants xo
Aww THANK YOU! So excited to be here. Re: YouTube beauty channel- eek! I fear I would spend hours making a video, only to find that I've recorded a small corner of my chin.
That Aloe Spray Mister sounds like the BIZNESS. Refill it on the cheap though! Just mix some aloe juice with water and re-use the bottle! Adjpants xo
Thanks for the awesome tips! Could you help me out with spf stuff? Like do you recommend a face or body lotion?