@downtownpepper

As Is: The MPB Team Celebrates Women's History Month

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These are not Before and After photos
Because I am myself regardless of the presence of lipstick
These are here and now photos
Because my mind is always present

These are not Natural versus Glam looks
Because there is nothing more glamorous than my bare smile
And applying mascara  comes naturally
I have got bigger battles started for me

I am told that I don’t need to wear makeup
While a woman next to me is told that with some blush, her eyes will really pop
The woman next to her is told she wears too much makeup
Neither of us is enough

We always seem to be too much
Yet never enough

Painted lips
Flushed cheeks
Contoured Jaw
Have never made me

I still look cute, tho.
And
I never asked you. 

-Danyelle Valentin (@bufferingbetty)
 

Pepper B. 
Believes that she "came out for the womb" with a smokey eye. Leo with an Excessive Smoky Eye.

Pepper on Instagram

My name is Pepper B! Beauty is like an accessory for me. I use makeup as an outlet to spice up the day but it doesn’t make my day. I thrive on having good skin so my favorite part of the day is taking my accessory off and wearing Bare Skin. I work in the beauty industry and it is very visual so I use makeup to polish up my look. I do believe that taking care of your skin allows you to have a better makeup application. I love myself with makeup but I love myself without makeup even more.  

“Without us there is no universe. People are drawn to chaos and controversy. They are afraid to put us in power because everything we touch we set on fire! We are resilient, trailblazers and life creators. The true definition of beauty & the beast. There is no recipe we just serve! I can try to define what it feels like to be a women but there aren’t enough words” 
- Pepper B 

Deanna
Mantra: Follow your passion as this will make your dreams become reality! Giving you the most informational product review you'd ever want.

Deanna on Instagram

"Everything has beauty but not everyone sees it"

"The things you wear don't make you beautiful: they accentuate the beauty that is already there"

Kayla
If it's skincare, she cares. Teaching all of the skincare DIYs

Kayla on Instagram

“Phenomenal woman, that’s me”- Maya Angelou

“I am a woman. I am clothes in strength & dignity & pride.” I first began to like “beauty” when I saw photos of my mom and aunts with amazing bright colors on their eyes- what I then learned was called eyeshadow lol. I loved how I had these beautiful women in my life & they could use these products to emphasize that and tell a whole new story of themselves. 

Amanda
Awkward Tomboy Glow Queen Channeling Brooke Shields Circa Blue Lagoon

Amanda on Instagram

Red lipstick is my secret super power. It will help me conquer the world one day.I am very passionate about body confidence. 'Magic Makeover' is something I would do with my Mother (who I would call my Warrior Queen) who lost her battle 4 years ago [to cancer]. Making her feel beautiful would lighten up her day and I would love to make all of the warrior queens feel that way.

Danyelle
Doesn't send nudes. Lives in fuchsia lipstick + blush. Loves how her makeup looks but probably can't recreate it.

Danyelle on Instagram

After all those years as a woman hearing 'not thin enough, not pretty enough, not smart enough, not this enough, not that enough,' almost overnight I woke up one morning and thought I am enough" - Anna Quindlen

"If you retain nothing else, always remember the most important rule of beauty, which is: who cares?" - Tina Fey

The beauty industry has given more than I could ask for from lipstick. It has nothing to do with actually wearing makeup, though, of course, I love to indulge. I have found a side of myself that I knew was there but never gave room to flourish. If you ever have looked at a beauty blog and thought of it as vapid -first, of all, goodbye. But truly you don't understand the time and effort that went into a product  reveiw. The amount of research that goes into an informative post. Beneath it all is passion and a vulnerability that must be admired. To end Women's History Month, just remember that everyone watching you will have an opinion. None of them will matter more than your own. 

Taylor
Boho Chic, Party Girl, + Sparkle. Knows what formula is definitely an all-nighter.

Taylor on Instagram

 

 


 

On My Radar: Top Fall Beauty Trends with The MPB Team

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Take the runway to your vanity with these top Fall beauty trends that emerged from Fashion Week hand picked by us! Each of us on the Meetpepperb Team have a different style that rings true in what caught our attention this fashion season. Fall is more than the classic warm tones and dark lips. It's beautiful but don't forget to have fun with your makeup! Keep reading to find out our top picks for beauty this season! You can also save your favorite looks to Pinterest!

@bufferingbetty's Pick: Modern Victorian

Once you get past the powdered face of a Victorian look, what remains is a minimalist usually cool-toned smokey eye paired with flushed cheeks and lips. What I love about it is that there is a secrecy in the look. A wide-eyed doe sweetie who is blushing because... a tryst in the garden? Stolen glances? It is romantically guilty! To modernize this look, scale back the total matte-ness of the era. Go for a natural skin-like finish. Use a berry stain on lips topped with a gloss. Skip the cheekbone highlight and make the look pop with a color mascara!

@Twist.it.tea's Pick: Floating Space

A mix between mod and minimalism has me in love.  Everything I've been told about coloring in the lines has gone out the window.  There are no rules to a floating liner and it can come in many shapes, shades and sizes.  Bold, lines and colors that remind me of a Piet Mondrian painting, or metallic liners and shadows creating a futuristic cat eye -- negative space on the lids isn't just high end runway wear, the beautiful imagery can be translated for a less dramatic event with a simple line above your lid. 

@acevallee's Pick: Gilded Lids

Whether painted or sleekly lined, glittered, shimmery or matte, GOLD is the perfect accent to make any look Luxe. Mostly seen with minimal makeup on the runway, the golden lids make a grand statement. I adore metallic beauty looks, especially gold because it's glamorous and looks like jewelry on your eyelids and is just as eye-catching. Gleaming gilded lids can even glam up sweats, a tee and a pair of sneakers, it's that powerful. Some looks I fell in love with on the A/W runways early this year varies from more simplistic glittering gold lined lids paired with a bold brow as seen on the model at Nicholas K to a more shimmery, bold and geometric eye look at the Alexis Mabille show to a light pale yellow gold with matching nail accents at Laura Biagiotti. 

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@Downtownpepper's Pick: Extremely Glossy Lip 

The time is now to let matte lipstick go! I mean it is great for special occasions or date night. However, I am thrilled that the wet lip trend is back this is a go to for me when I am on shoots or even when I translate it to my personal life. The wet lip is minimal and sexy all in one! The wet lip gives you leg room to be as dramatic as you want with your make-up or highlighter. To be honest I thought Rihanna helped bring this lip trend back with Fenty's universal nude gloss. but NO! Glossier has been ahead of the trend! Also I've been trying to track down this beautiful clear gloss from Sephora collection with holographic glitter (Starlight) for months and its been SOLD out every store I check! Fall and Winter will be here way before we know it. Skin appears so much more fresh and can tolerate full coverage make-up that will stay, however dry weather and dry lips don't mix so do yourself the favor !!! 

Which Look Will You Add To Your Fall Routine?

None of the photos used are property of meetpepperb.com