My Full Face Makeup Routine

Hey beauties!

So I wanted to stop by and share my full face makeup routine because as a complexioned woman, I struggle with finding the right shades and tones for my skin. I have starting utilizing drugstore makeup and lately it has been working in my favor. If you click the link below, I have listed a group of products throughout the video that work for my skin tone. I hope you find this video helpful and if you have any questions or comments please leave them here or under the video. Don't forget to comment, like, and subscribe to my YouTube channel.

Full Face Makeup Routine

As always 

XOXO -Charley Renee

Do's & Don'ts of Girl Code

Hey dolls! My apologies for leaving you all in the shadows. I have uploaded two videos on YouTube that I am sharing here.

The first is the Do's & Don'ts of Girl Code where I have highlighted some rules and guidelines that I follow within my circle of friends. If you have a rule that I've missed then feel free to comment and on my next video I will definitely include it! Click the link below to view the Do's & Don'ts of Girl Code. 

Do's & Don'ts of Girl Code

See you next time. 

XOXO -Charley Renee

The Power of Positivity

Hey ladies! I first want to say, Happy belated National Woman's Day! Sorry for the wait. I've just been so busy with the projects that I have in store for Melanationn so please be patient with me. Which brings me to the topic of today's post; the power of positivity.

You never know who you could be an inspiration or motivation to when you speak and I realized that when I had the chance to listen to a coworker's story at work last night. It actually bought me to tears to hear someone that I barely know, tell me about their trials and tribulations. She was brave enough to share her hardships with me and we held a very deep conversation that left me feeling optimistic.

I am the middle child of three and the second to attend college out of a single parent household. My dad wasn't around for my growth and development and sadly, this is the ugly truth for many. A lot of people don't understand the emptiness that a child feels when a parent is out of the picture. But anyway, my dad is now trying his hardest to be apart of me and my sister's life. While his efforts definitely don't go unnoticed, I just don't feel like any reparations will suffice for the absence of a father figure in my life as a child. So I shared my story with my coworker and expressed how I felt on the many occasions that my dad made promises but didn't show up. There were times that I would lash out, shut down, and even become depressed.

After hearing my story, my coworker was in disbelief that I didn't have both parents at home putting me through college. She told me that she is proud of me for being the person that I am; inspiring others, sharing knowledge, and not allowing the absence of my dad deter my future. Hearing those words motivate me to keep pushing through this journey called life.

Therefore, I challenge every melanated beauty who reads this post to KEEP PUSHING! I promise if you take every negative and turn it into a positive you will see results. The light is always at the end of the tunnel.

Lastly, I want everyone who reads this blog to know that you are a work in progress. Don't let the negative obstacles that you will and have encountered, discourage you. Becoming the person that you want to be will feel so good when you can look back and say I did it.

XOXO - Charley Renee

Sandals in February

Did someone say SANDALS in FEBRUARY?! I am loving these warm temperatures right now, looks like spring came early this year. I sure don't mind a little sun on my skin. Just keep that setting spray near! I'd hate for those beat faces to run lol. Enjoy the weather beauties 

Xoxo - Charley

Chatting with Charley Survey

In efforts to learn more about my readers, I've created a short survey. Comments are more than welcomed. Please complete using the following link.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BWF9GYV

Lady of the Week

Lady of the week goes to Lakisha Lee! I love your individuality and carefree spirit. You are beautiful! Keep it up Queen 💋 #beauty #blogger #melanin

Complexioned

For a long time I didn't like my skin tone. I let the names that I had been called in middle school and through high school along with society's perception of beauty depreciate how I felt about myself. I always wanted to be lighter and whenever someone complimented my complexion I was hesitant to thank them. Since then I have learned to love the skin I'm in.. literally. I am still learning to love and appreciate my features and that's why I started this blog. I know I'm not the only girl who has struggled with learning to love their complexion. I constantly struggle with finding the right beauty and makeup products. Most foundations and concealers are too light or look ashy after applied. Now that I'm becoming familiar with what works for me, I decided to start a blog that would help boost the brownies who haven't quite learned to appreciate their chocolate skin.

Lust for Lashes

Hey lovelies! I have found a great new makeup product. They are Kiss' new lash collection. I never really liked the idea of false eyelashes until I realized how well they complete the look. I've tried several brands including elf and I didn't like them. Most brands look fake like plastic and are overly dramatic. When I started using lashes by Kiss, they became my go to lashes. Now I always keep a pair in my makeup box. Kiss' new collection of faux mink lashes Lash Couture are the best ever! They feel so real and soft. I chose the style Gala because they are the exact kind of lashes that I look for. They're thick but have multiple lengths and angles and they aren't extremely dramatic. I absolutely love eyelashes by Kiss. They almost make me want to wear them forever. I will definitely be wearing these for NYE! Find the Kiss collection at your nearest Walmart. 

Definitely a Dupe

Hey Queens! I have just discovered a lippie dupe! If you know me then you know that I love, love, love earth tones. As you brownies know, I only use inexpensive makeup. I usually go for drug store, clearance, and online deals. Well today I was wearing one of my fave NYX matte lippies in the shade Minx and my mom surprised me with an early Christmas gift; the MAC matte lippie Stone. When I looked at the stick, I immediately thought "oh this is going to show up brown against my skin." Well to my surprise it was basically the same color as the NYX lippie Minx. Minx is probably my most frequently used lipstick, especially when I am aiming for a lip darker than nude. I absolutely love both of these colors. They go on smooth, last long, and my lips never feel dry and cracked like some other matte lippies. Goes to show that you don't have to break the bank to get the same great look. You can find NYX matte lipstick in the shade Minx on NYXcosmetics.com for $6. Better get you one!

Pictured below:
Left: MAC Stone
Right: NYX Minx 

My first wig

So as promised this blog post is all about the wig pictured below! When I purchased this wig and wore it for the first time, I received so many comments and compliments on it. No one believed it was a wig lol. But yes, this was my very first wig. I wear wigs as protective styles and when I don't feel like styling my natural hair. This wig is burgundy on top and black on the bottom. At first I was scared to try this color because I like to play it safe but I'm glad I stepped out of the box. I don't remember the name of this wig but I did purchase it in Emporia, VA at my local beauty supply. It is a regular wig, no lace, no parts. I would suggest that if you buy a wig with no lace or part, get a curly one. Remember, big curly wigs are the easiest to conceal if it doesn't have a part. Later beauties 💋 #makeupblogger #naturalhair #protectivestyles #teamnatural #blackgirlmakeup

New Year's Hair and Makeup

Happy New Year and thanks for stopping by. I hope everyone enjoyed bringing in a new year. New Year means new beginnings and I hope you ladies are ready to do great things this year. I have so much I want to accomplish this year and I am glad that I have the chance to share things with you beauties through Melanationn.
New Year's Eve was a chill night for me so I didn't do too much with my hair and makeup. I chose a simple, shoulder length, blunt cut bob with a middle part because I wanted to look cute and do something a little different from my usual bob with the feathered swoop.
As for my face, of course I couldn't resist those Kiss Mink lashes along with a light coat of foundation. My contour and highlight was done with the Black Radiance medium to dark contour palette. For eyeshadow I am wearing two golden shades from Maybelline's nudes palette. For lipstick I used a dark brown NYX lip pencil along with MAC matte Stone and for the ombré affect, I used NYX soft matte in the shade Cairo.
I really enjoy doing my own makeup because it makes me feel creative. Doing my makeup is almost like completing a painting. You have different tools, brushes and colors that allow you to achieve different looks. What do you like most about makeup?
Later lovelies. 

 

It's Christmas time again

Hey ladies! I'm back with more inexpensive tips that will have your makeup looking flawless for the holidays. First off, I hope everyone had a very merry Christmas. I enjoyed seeing my family, eating those homemade dishes that I've been missing and of course opening gifts. However in preparation for the occasion I had to do my makeup. This time around I stuck to eye makeup and lipstick only because I wasn't really in the mood for a full face. Sometimes all you have to do is slap a little cocoa butter on that pretty brown skin and keep it moving lol.
To achieve this look, first I used a dark brown eyeliner pencil from my local beauty supply store (which was only a dollar), along with a dark brown shade from my maybelline nudes pallet and LA pro girls concealer for my brows. If you need help with your brows, check out my YouTube channel. For my eyeshadow, I used three shades from the elf earth tones eyeshadow pallet. The first one is a nude color for the base, a bronze for the eyelid, dark brown for the crease and outer corner of the lid. For the tear duct I used a bright gold shade also from the elf eyeshadow pallet. My eyelashes are by kiss of course and this time I used a different style. They are layered and come with a self adhesive strip. I do recommend using eyelash glue! For my lippie I am wearing MAC matte in the color Stone along with an NYX lip liner in the color Dark Brown. Elf setting spray ties this look together for long lasting wear. I hope you ladies enjoyed this look. Happy Holidays beauties!
:::
Dark brown pencil (purchase at your local beauty supply)
Dark brown eyeshadow: Maybelline Nudes pallet
LA pro girls concealer: (at your local beauty supply)
*Your concealer should be at least one to two shades lighter than your skin.
Elf eyeshadow pallet (CVS pharmacy, Walgreens, Target)
Lippie: MAC matte Stone & NYX dark brown lip pencil
-NYX can be found at pebbles and CVS
Kiss layered lashes (Walmart)
Elf setting spray (Target)
For an easy eyebrow tutorial check out my YouTube channel Charleyy Renee
https://youtu.be/w8vkDXEiYeg

Transylvania Lip

This look really gives me that Fall feeling. I love when the seasons change and it gets cold outside. That's when I get to play with Fall colors and find the right shades for my skin tone. Often times it's hard for women of darker complexions to find colors that look good on our skin. Therefore I usually stick to what I know but sometimes I step out the box and wing it.

To achieve this look I used:
Tarte foundation in the shade rich honey
LA pro girl concealer in fawn
Elf eyebrow kit
Master precise pen for a winged eyeliner
Lippie: NYX soft matte lip cream in the color Transylvania

I love how the foundation and concealer gave my skin a clean and clear covered finish. Hope you all enjoy the look!