Last last week, Tarte and Sephora both released collections that left people of color asking “Where is my shade?” Tarte’s Shape Tape Foundation was highly anticipated within the beauty community. Then they went and released 15 shade. FIFTEEN! 12 shades of beige with 3 “deep” shades thrown at the end. The colors are so fair that some people can’t even mix colors to find a match. Really Tarte? Shortly after, Sephora released a photo on their Instagram of their new Bright Future Skin Tint. AND once again….where is my shade sis?!

In a world where Rihanna released FORTY shades on her first launch I don’t understand how a brand can release 15 and consider themselves “inclusive.” Fenty Beauty’s foundation sold out within the first week! So clearly when brands include us in the beginning we show up and show out! Not to mention, POC are the trendsetters in the beauty and fashion industry. We’re human. We don’t want to be and shouldn’t be an afterthought! And to make matters worse, in a statement after the release, Tarte stated that they focused on lighter tones as warmer colors tend to be “seasonal” and 10 more shades were coming soon. Really? Being a woman of color is NOT seasonal. I’m black in the winter, spring, summer, and fall. Even MakeupShayla, a very popular beauty influencer who worked with Tarte plenty of times, couldn’t find a match that was a fit.

Related: Small Black Owned Businesses

And beauty isn’t the only industry that is leaving us out. Denisse of thugnanny & Jessica of thecatchmeifyoucan both exposed brands for excluding people of color in the travel industry. In her blog post, Denisse talks about how popular clothing brand Revolve didn’t include any influencers of color in their most recent press trip. Jessica takes it a step further and shares an email she received from The Four Seasons location in Nevis which states her “demographic is not in line with [their] brand.” I guess people of coloring traveling is just as seasonal as our skin tones huh?

Picture from PopSugar Beauty

If you don’t understand what influencer marketing is, it may seem like not such a big deal to you but it is. But let’s not get it twisted. These influencers aren’t “complaining” about free product or “begging” for free trips. They simply want to be held at the same standard of their fair skinned counterparts. In a society where less people are listening to radio and more people are listening to podcasts, influencer marketing is very important! You can make 6 figures on YouTube when it takes most people a lifetime to achieve that. But just like anything else, influencers of color get the short end of the stick. And it’s time to say enough is enough in all aspects.

We have to start deciding which brands we want to shop with and support brands that support (and value) us! When you look at Revolve’s Instagram account you see the same thin, blonde hair, blue eyed models. It’s as if they have just ctrl+C ctrl+P repeatedly! The same thing happens when you look at Tarte’s Instagram. You have to scroll a few times before you see someone with darker skin. This should be a sign! We don’t quite fall “in line” with their brands so we definitely shouldn’t spend our money with them. It does not hurt to be inclusive but I also don’t think we need to beg these companies to put some RESPECK on our complexion.

It’s time to start holding these brands accountable. Whether it’s in beauty and fashion or travel. Two of my favorite YouTubers teamed up to talk about their Tarte PR packages. At the end of her video, Alissa Ashley gave suggestions for more inclusive brands and this is the example we should be following! I’m making it my mission to start seeking out more inclusive brands and you should to!

Have an inclusive brand you think I should check out? Leave it in the comments below!

The post Where is My Shade? appeared first on Running Erins.

Over the years I have developed a passion for makeup. And by passion I mean if you look at my bank statement you would think Ulta and Sephora are bill collectors. I watch tons of YouTube videos (AaliyahJay, MakeUpShayla & Naturally Sunny are my faves) but I wanted to learn more about this hobby. I had learned lots from YouTube (AaliyahJay’s eyelash tutorial saved my life) but I wanted to make sure that I was comfortable enough to work on other people. Maybe even turn it into a way to earn extra income.

In most states, Maryland included, there is no such thing as a licensed makeup artist (MUA). You can be a licensed esthetician which means you’re skilled in skincare, facials, waxing, etc. But not strictly a makeup artist, which is why most MUAs proclaim that they are self-taught. You can also earn a certificate in makeup artistry and that is what I did to help develop my self-taught skills.

When I told people I was taking a makeup class, their first question was always “Where?” And they always seemed shocked at the answer. Which led me to writing this post because more people should know about the resources in their backyard.

I earned my certificate from Prince George’s Community College. I usually call it the 13th grade when it comes to education but it can be a great source for continuing education courses. You would be amazed at what you can learn at your local community college. Most offer courses in a variety of topics that can help you expand your expertise or find a great side hustle. It also helps that they often cater to the working adult by offering classes on nights and weekends. From hair braiding, photography/videography, or event planning there’s tons of things you can learn.

To earn the makeup artistry certificate, I had to take 2 courses both 4 weeks long. The classes were once a week, 3 hours long, and I went after work which made it convenient. The teacher was contracted meaning that she wasn’t just someone who created the class. She is a working MUA who also teaches for a company outside of the community college. She was able to share her portfolio along with information on what works for her. For example, her bridal contract and how she prepares for her clients.

All the makeup looks we created on ourselves so we didn’t have to worry about someone else making us look like a clown. It was a great experience to be in a room full of girls who were also interested in makeup. (Girls who love makeup can sit and talk for days together!) We were able to share information on products we’ve tried, our favorite indie brands, or even our creative processes. We were also able to share tips and tricks to help each other out. At the beginning of each session, the teacher would ask what we were interested in learning as a group that way she could focus on the areas that were difficult for us. There was also time at the end of class to ask questions if you struggled with something. For example, I HATED smokey eyes going into the class (my eyes are already dark like raccoon eyes) but they instructor showed me how to do it in a way that was a little less intimidating for me.

Overall, the class was pretty fun. I’ve been able to practice and take what I learned to apply it to other people, other skin types, and even give recommendation to my friends who aren’t as skilled in makeup. I would recommend continuing education classes to anyone who wants to strengthen their skills or even if you are interested in a new hobby. You should never stop learning and taking a class with an expert may help strengthen your confidence in your skill.

The post Continuing Education Classes appeared first on Running Erins.