Being that I am so into makeup now, I am not afraid to try a lot of products. Sometimes I buy off impulse and other times I’ve heard great things about a product. One of the things that I can’t seem to stop buying is foundation.

I have extremely oily skin. I tend to blot a lot through the day and I HAVE to wear a powder or else I will shine. So today I’m going to share some of my favorite foundations! Below you will find a mix of high end and low end foundations that I love. I will stick my disclaimer here and say everything isn’t for everybody. Just because something works for me does not mean it will work for you. You have to be willing to try different products to find the right fit. Pro Tip!: Sephora offers samples of products for free so be sure to check them out if you want to save coins.

These are my top 5 foundations for oily/acne prone skin (in order):

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation ($25)
   Since this came out it has been my go to foundation. It goes on smooth, it’s fairly inexpensive compared to other high-end foundations, and there is a shade that matches me perfectly! The only downside is that my shade is very popular. It’s always sold out in stores and online shipping is always delayed *cues dramatics*.
   My shade: Cool Golden
   
   
2. Maybelliene Fit Me Matte & Poreless ($6-$8)
   If you’re like me and prefer buildable or full coverage, drugstore foundations can be a hit or miss. The Fit Me collection is awesome because it has a good range of colors for a low price. It’s also easy to find because you can get it anywhere including Ulta, Target, Walmart and Walgreens. So if you run out of foundation you can quickly grab a bottle.
   My shade: Classic Tan 335 (fall/winter) Spicy Brown 338 (Summer)
   
   
3. Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation ($34)
   I know you’re probably thinking I’m going to hype Fenty Beauty up and you are absolutely……correct sis! Rihanna blew me away with her makeup line. The foundation is lightweight and has a wide range so it’s possible for more than 1 color to work for you. It also has nice coverage but it oxidizes so you have to be careful when choosing your shade. The deeper shades have been sold out since launch, however, I did notice that some of them are available on Sephora’s website.
   My shade: 380
   
   
4. MAC Studio Fix Foundation ($29)
   Holy grail! When I first started wearing makeup MAC was all I knew. I was scared to try other brands because MAC is such a universal name in the makeup world so how could you go wrong with it? The Studio Fix is still one of my favorite foundations to use, in liquid and in powder form.
   My shade: NC47
   
   
5. Milani Cream to Powder ($7-$9)
   It’s so funny how I came across this one on a whim and it ended up being a fave. As the name suggests, its a cream to powder foundation which I had never heard of. It goes on quite smooth and gives off a matte finish. The downside is that the only place I have been able to find my shade is Walgreen’s but it is also available online.
   My shade: Spiced Almond
   
   

Let’s chat! Have you tried any of these foundations? Let me know your favorite in the comments below.

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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.

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The days leading up to her launch had me on edge! I mean her line was set to drop at is 3am EST and I was contemplating all week if I should stay up for it. You know most celebrities will put out something and it is so limited that you have to be one of the first 5 people online. I was even willing to be late for work the next morning because I just couldn’t miss out. Clearly I was not thinking straight because of course it was also going to be in Sephora stores which is where I eventually bought it. And you know I didn’t wait until I got off work; I went right to the Sephora in JCPenney’s across from my job.

I was literally in awe of the entire line. I said forget lunch and spent my entire break admiring the collection. I got matched for the Pro Filt’r Foundation (my shade is 380) and ended up walking out with the “Killawat” highlight duo in “Moscow Mule/Ginger Binge” too. I also really wanted the “Trophy Wife” Killawat but I could not give RiRi all of my coins y’all!

Seeing the commercials and pictures showed how truly diverse Rihanna’s line would be. Black women spend the most money in the beauty industry (80% more than non-black women) BUT we are also the most underrepresented. So seeing a line that was specifically catered to make sure every woman found a match was truly amazing. I tried out the whole line but found that the foundation and highlighters were my favorite items. The foundation has a great consistency with buildable coverage and a nice smell. The highlighters are great but just like anything else you have to find which ones work for you (you will see in my swatches that some of them did not appear too well on my skin). I have oily skin so the primer was too soft for me; I like a very matte coverage. And the lipgloss was nice (with an amazing smell) but it was slightly small for the price in my opinion.

All in all I will stan for Rihanna and any other black woman who wants to represent black women! Her first launch went amazing by selling out all of the dark shades in the foundation. I cannot wait to see what she will do next.

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