Is It Time to Say Goodbye?

I owe many of you an explanation. Some of you may have been wondering where I've been. Here's the truth: anywhere but here.

It's really that simple. I just haven't wanted to blog or film anything. At first it was really simple: I'm a teacher and the school year started.

Let's rewind to September 2016.

The beginning of the school year is always super busy and it's hard to manage being back in the swing of things at work and then also filming, editing, and uploading videos for my YouTube channel.

I had already filmed a three-part Back to School series that I hoped would get me through the first month of school. I would take two weeks off and then get back into the swing of things. That was the plan.

Then something happened that October that I haven't talked about on the internet AT ALL because it just didn't feel right. It wasn't my way of doing things and I didn't want to look like I was just trying to get attention or looking for sympathy.

My grandpa died.

It was heartbreaking and I didn't feel like doing much of anything creative for awhile after that. And here's the other part you don't know: The entire summer prior I had been working on starting my own business. 

So fast forward to now:

Over the past few months I have gotten back on track and have been working on my business. As cliche as it may sound, it's my dream, passion and what I've always wanted. It's also A LOT OF WORK.

This blog and my YouTube channel were about having fun, playing with makeup, and sharing some tips and tricks that I've learned over the years with all of you. That isn't going to change.

Instead, we're just moving the party over to eightyfive beauty, my business website. I'm still here to be your #beautybestie. I'm just going to be doing it while also providing you with some of the best beauty products from incredible brands. eightyfive beauty is a place where black women can feel seen, valued, and prioritized.

And that doesn't mean you have to be black to enjoy it!

In the next few weeks I'll be unlisting my YouTube videos and transferring the most helpful ones over to my website. I'll also be changing my Instagram handle, so follow me at @thebeautybuzzwithkee while that's still my name!

The shop on my website isn't open yet but while you wait, I've got three jobs for you:

1. Go to www.eightyfivebeauty.com and sign up for my newsletter. 
2. Follow me on Instagram @eightyfivebeauty
3. Follow me on Facebook @eightyfivebeauty to get catch me on Facebook Live and chat with me about all of your favorite beauty products.

Thank you all so much for your love and support over the years. Just because this chapter is over does not mean I'm going away for good. Just moving. . .

Stay fabulous,

Keela

Back-to-School: Girl Next Door

I've officially been back at school for inservice (teacher prep and meetings before the students arrive next week) and I'm beat! Every single year I have this rush of adrenaline and excitement for starting a new year that carries me through the first 1-3 days. This time I petered out after 1.75 days. Done. Tired. Feeling like Lucille Ball from I Love Lucy after the umpteenth take of the Vitameatavegamin commercial. "Do you pop out at parties? Are you unpoopular?"

"Well. . . Are you?!"

All of this means that I have less time and energy for my beautiful bold red lip. Which takes me to the perfect fast and easy look: The Girl Next Door or as I like to call it, "The I Woke Up Like This. . .But I Didn't. . .But Man if I Could?!" This is the second makeup tutorial from my Back-to-School series and there are still two more videos to come! Comment below and let me know how your back-to-school is going.

Makeup in this video:

Rimmel Stay Matte Primer

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer 

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer
Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Setting Powder in Soft Custard

L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Pencil
Rimmel London Brow This Way Brow Styling Gel

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion
Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette
Fiona Stiles Ultimate Lash Icon Volumizing Mascara

MAC Blot Pressed Powder

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Champagne Pop 

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep

Milani Baked Blush in Bella Rosa

MAC ProLongwear Lip Pencil in Bittersweet
Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Nude Collection Lipstick in 47
Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Beso

Back-to-School Glam

Back. To. School. 

Depending on what roles you play in life, those three words strung together can either bring memories of childhood fun or anxiety of what's to come! If you're a parent, you may be excited to finally have routine back in your home. The kids aren't asking you what they can eat every 10 minutes. You don't have to come up with a ridiculous list of activities to keep them occupied, or camp/babysitter/visits to family to keep them cared for while you're working. If you're a teacher, like me, the commercials started far too early ("Hey. . . I JUST got into this summer thing! Shhhh!) and back-to-school marks the end of your leisure time. But then this wild thing happens and "teacher mode" kicks back in. You get excited to shop for you new classroom, eager to label ALL THE THINGS, and nervous about putting on real clothes again. *One of my absolute favorite things about summer is that "inappropriately" short shorts, tank tops, any other clothing that shows I'm a lady with lady parts become acceptable wear again. . .whenever I want. You have NO idea how difficult it is to dress oneself when thinking about being appropriate around 9-year olds when standing, sitting in a chair, sitting "criss-cross applesauce", out on recess duty with the "Warm Wind" blowing, and the thousands of other ways you haven't yet thought of that can lead to a wardrobe malfunction you aren't prepared to explain to the principal and students' parents. Yikes!*

With all of that going on, I feel a little overwhelmed, excited and slightly out of control. My only way of finding order and balance in that situation is to fall into makeup. Obviously! Back-to-school means one precious thing that will get me through: Back-to-School SHOPPING!

Yes, I picked up a few new outfits but that's not what we're here to talk about. Back-to-school means that we all get to decide the answer to my favorite question come late August, "Who do I want to be this year?"

It hits my intrinsic motivation to put makeup on every time I sit in front of my vanity. *Have you seen that thing? It is my happy place. I'll insert a picture and video link for you.*

My favorite thing about makeup is that you get to decide how you want to present yourself to the world and it can be different every single day, if you want! The beauty of that never ceases to astound me!

So, let's talk Back-to-School videos! I have prepared three new looks for you that will be coming out over the next week. Allow them to serve as inspiration as you work out who you want to be this year. The beginning of the school year is a fresh start. Maybe you've always thought yourself more glamorous than you typically portray. Own it and rock it this year! Maybe you are interested in softening up your look and sharing a more inviting aspect of your personality. Let's do it! Perhaps you want to be that mysterious being that everyone spends a month saying, "What did she do this summer? Something's different about her and I just can't put my finger on it. But man, she's fabulous!" I've got your back!

Today we're starting with GLAM! What are your favorite back-to-school memories or essentials? Comment below and let's chat!

Makeup:

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

L'Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Pencil

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Chocolate Suede

ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Drift

ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in Game Face

Rimmel London Magnif'eyes Kohl in Back to Blacks

L'Oreal Infallible Laquer Liner in Blackest Black

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara

Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Setting Powder in Soft Custard

BlackUp Loose Powder in PLI 3

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Candle Light

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Deep

e.l.f. Cosmetics Blush Palette in Dark

Jouer Long-Wear Lip Creme Liquid Lipstick in Fraise Bonbon

Anastasia Beverly Hills: Modern Renaissance Eyeshadow Palette Review

Eyeshadow palettes are everywhere you look lately. So many new product launches from makeup companies include a new "Must Have" palette and quite frankly it leaves me a bit confused! Those of us who are on a budget (trying to be) need to be really decisive about which items we splurge and save on. I had ZERO intention of buying the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Palette. . . and then I touched it.

WHAT?!?!

I had no idea! That palette is EVERYTHING! Splurge, baby, splurge!

Here are the basic details:

• 14 shades
• A mix of ultra-matte, satin, and metallic finishes
• Neutral and berry tones
• Cost: $42

In the video I talk about how I came across this beauty in the first place, and also share a sneak at a tutorial that will be coming up soon! Basically, I would grab this baby in a heartbeat! The only thing I didn't mention is that the shadows are really soft and can create some fall out if you don't tap your brush before applying and blending. Other than that, I call this a WIN!

Adele: Always Flawless

Every single time I see Adele I am blown away by how beautiful she looks. She just does it right! Her new video for Send My Love (To Your New Lover) premiered during the Billboard Music Awards and I knew I had to do a makeup tutorial on her new look. I hope you enjoy it! Let me know if you try this look and share your pics with me on Instagram @thebeautybuzzwithkee.

Makeup:

Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Foundation

Estee Lauder DoubleWear Foundation

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade

L'Oreal Paris Brow Definer Stylist pencil

Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Black Up Loose Powder

Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Setting Powder in Soft Custard

H&M Beauty High Impact Eye Colour in Orange Ochre

Colour Pop Cosmetics Super Shock Shadow in Game Face

Colour Pop Cosmetics Super Shock Cheek (KaePop Collection) in Glo Up

MAC blushes in Blunt and Raizin

LORAC Pro Matte Eyeshadow palette: Corduroy

Rimmel London Magnifeyes duo pencil in 003 Queens of the Bronzed Age

elf Blush Palette in Dark

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NW50

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in 4 Deep

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow palette in Comfort Zone

L'Oreal Paris Laquer Liner in Blackest Black

Ardell 110 Lashes

CoverGirl The Super Sizer mascara in Black

ColourPop Cosmetics Lippie Stix in Chi Chi

Essence Cosmetics lipstick in 04 On the Catwalk!

Classic Black Eyeliner

Sometimes I sit at my makeup vanity *squeal* and open up the drawers thinking, "What shall I put on my face today?" It is hands down one of my favorite things about the morning. I love pulling out the products and figuring out what "look" I'm going to wear that day.

I love to experiment and try different makeup looks completely based on my mood and how I feel. However, some classic looks just don't go out of style!

Here's a classic black eyeliner look that you can pair with whatever lip color you like.

Makeup used in this video:

Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Foundation

Urban Decay Naked Skin Weightless Complete Coverage Concealer

Cinema Secrets Ultralucent Setting Powder in Soft Custard

BlackUp Poudre Libre in PLI3

ELF Cosmetics Blush Palette in Dark

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Dark

LORAC Pro Matte Eyeshadow Palette

L'Oreal Paris Infallible Extra-Intense eyeliner in Carbon Black

MAC Eyeshadows in Print, Carbon, & Smut

Urban Decay Naked Palette (1st)

Maybelline New York The Falsies mascara

MAC ProLongwear lipliner in Bittersweet

MAC Lipstick in Creme in Your Coffee

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in 06

100 Buzzes!

I began my YouTube channel 3 years ago, took a break for awhile and have been back at it for the last year. Suddenly, I looked up and saw that I was about to record my 100th video!

Wow!

That happened quickly! I spent some time thinking about how I wanted to celebrate and even got some great ideas for future videos from my nieces and nephews. *Thanks guys!

Finally, I decided to do what I do best. . . shop for makeup! However, this time it is not to keep but to give away. . .to you!

I appreciate all of you who watch my videos, follow me on social media, and read my blog. My way of thanking you and growing our little community is to do a giveaway!

 Below you will see all of the items that are included in the giveaway, but in order to enter, you have to watch the video and go to the description box below the video. *If you can't find it, there is a little down arrow below the video next to the title. Click on it and the description box will open up.

Watch the video below to see how to enter!

I can't wait to chat with you all on YouTube and Instagram. Tweet me, too! Good luck guys!

Love,
Kee