Breezy Beauties

Embrace your beauty on your own terms

Red Lipsticks For Dark Skin

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

black

Red Lipstick In American Culture

Red lips are iconic. Throughout modern American history, they have come to symbolize power, femininity, and sensuality. For many women, red lipstick is a tool that helps them tap into their strengths and tackle the world with confidence and poise.

I’ve had seasons of being intimidated by red lippies. Why? Negative messaging in media and culture. Growing up, some would say that red was unflattering next to deep brown- clownish even. I’ve heard it be referred to as loud, garish and even promiscuous.  Interestingly enough, these sentiments were only expressed when the bold color was worn by black women. Let’s pretend to be shocked. 

Rejecting Stereotypes About Red Lipstick

Throughout my twenties, I’ve been intentional about rejecting those ideas. Deep brown beauties can wear any color with style and grace. Let me tell you, I’ve seen some black and brown girls wear the heck out of a red lipstick. If you’ve been toying with the idea of going for a bold red, this is your sign to just go for it. 

Red Lipstick Inspiration

On the fence? Check out some amazing looks featuring red on women of color. PS. I threw in a personal example – plus a quick tutorial to help you achieve my favorite red combo! You can also get inspiration from this list of iconic red lipsticks from Harper’s Bazaar!

Rihanna

Rihanna stuns wearing a red lipstick from her brand Fenty Beauty

Janelle Monae

Janelle Monae stands out with a red lip at the Met Gala

Lupita N’gyong

Lupita plays with color wearing a bright red lip and powder blue suit

Zoe Saldana

Zoe Saldana holds an award on the red carpet- wearing a sporty black dress and a red lip

Brianna (@thatbreezybeauty)


My Favorite Red Lipstick Combo

I’m wearing my favorite red lipstick combo. I’ve been obsessed with lining my lips with Beauty Bakerie’s Bite Sized Lip Whip, in the shade Truffle. It’s a rich, deep brown. Then I fill in my lips with Beauty Bakerie’s Cake Pop Lippie in the shade Apple Acai. The result is gorgeous and really complements my skintone.

Do you have a favorite red lipstick?

5 Powerful Affirmations to Help You Build a Beautiful Mindset

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Image of Woman Relaxing/ Meditating/ Affirming Her Beauty

What is an affirmation?

Many believe in the power of positive affirmations. An affirmation is a statement repeated until the message resonates. In other words, we repeat the message until we believe it. Once we truly believe it, we operate differently and we see results.

The Power of Mindset

 Speaking positivity can be powerful. What we focus on has a tendency to magnify. Our words matter.  As Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits”. It’s important to be intentional about our words. 

Build confidence with a beautiful mindset

Confidence has more to do with how we feel than how we look. Breezy Beauties’ goal is to help women embrace beauty on their own terms. Primping by doing your hair and makeup can be fun, but it doesn’t make someone beautiful. With confidence, you’ll feel like a million bucks with or without a full face. 

Your value is not connected to your beauty. These affirmations are here to remind you that your character, intellect and personality make you special. Being pretty is just a bonus. 

Use these reminders daily to work on your mindset and feel beautiful and confident. 

  1. I am radiant. Others see my joy and confidence.  
  2. I love howI look-the way I walk,talk, think, act.
  3. I embody beauty and grace. 
  4. I am loved , valued, and respected. 
  5. Beauty is my name. 

What do you think of these affirmations?

9 Highly Rated Black Owned Makeup Brands to Check Out ASAP

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

These black owned makeup brands are top notch.

People of color, specifically black women, are oftentimes overlooked in the beauty world. Many brands neglect black consumers by launching complexion product lines with limited (if any) options for deep skin tones. Other times, the offense is subtle; creating 15 shades of pale pink lipstick or “nude” products that only reflect the natural shade of European descendants. 

Not only is the experiencing frustrating, it can make black beauty lovers feel like outsiders and reinforce the many voices in western culture that calls African features less desirable. As a black woman, I felt like this many times from a very young age. One of the reasons I’m passionate about beauty, is its connection to self-concept. We should love ourselves regardless of our appearance but we should also redefine what is beautiful and fall in love with our own aesthetic. 

In my journey to do this, I’ve found some great beauty brands that have recognized and celebrated black beauty from the beginning. While I love seeing mainstream beauty brands include more comprehensive color options in their in their product launches; I make a point to support black businesses who have made this a priority since day one. This is a list of black owned makeup brands that have top rated products. Some of them, I’ve tried. Others are on my must try list.

Beauty Bakerie

Beauty Bakerie was founded in 2011. It offers a wide variety of bakery themed makeup products. I’ve tried quite a bit from this company, including their long-lasting lip whips and several eyeshadow and blush palettes. If you like highly pigmented products and a bit of whimsy, this is a brand worth checking out. 

The Lip Bar

The Lip Bar is known for stunning lipstick shades. Founded in 2012, this brand is close to my heart because its founder is from my home state of Michigan. Founder, Melissa Butler, is a HBCU grad with a degree in finance. After working as a stockbroker, she decided to launch a line of vegan lipsticks. After being rejected from SharkTank, the company managed to negotiate partnerships with Target and Walmart. We love to see the black girl magic!

My favorite shades from The Lip Bar are Savage and Drama Queen but I can’t wait to try more. They’re super pigmented and the color options are amazing. Recently, they’ve added complexion products to its product lineup.  Visiting their flagship store in Detroit is definitely on my bucket list. 

Mented Cosmetics

I haven’t personally used Mented Cosmetics yet but they’re definitely a hot black owned brand to watch. 

Mented Cosmetics offers a full range of makeup products, but is most known for its lipsticks. They offer a great selection of nude lippies. They also have a variety of red shades that complement deep skin. 

Iman Cosmetics

No black owned beauty brand list can omit Iman Cosmetics. Founded by model Iman in 1994, Iman Cosmetics is known as the first company to specifically cater to women of color.While I haven’t tried this brand myself, it’s been going strong for over 2 decades. 

Fenty Beauty

Fenty Beauty was created by music and fashion icon turned entrepreneur Robyn Rihanna Fenty. Rih Rih, who has a passion for inclusivity, revolutionized the industry by launching her makeup line with 40 shades (they currently offer 50). The makeup is arguably as iconic as Rihanna herself. 

Since we’re talking about black owned businesses it’s worth mentioning that the company is only 15% black owned. Fenty’s parent company is LMVH, a Parisian company that specializes in luxury products (think Louis Vuitton, Givenchy, etc.). French billionaire, Bernard Arnault, is the majority owner, while Rihanna acts as CEO. 

Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Labs falls under the category of high end makeup brands that I’m dying to try. Pat McGrath is a black British makeup artist who created makeup lines for Giorgio Armani and other luxury fashion houses prior to releasing her own makeup line. McGrath was dubbed the most influential makeup artist in the world by Vogue. She has worked with notable celebrities such as Oprah and Madonna. 

I could definitely use a bit of luxury in my life and the fact that it’s black owned and HIGHLY RATED puts it on my must-try list. 

LYS Beauty

If you like “clean beauty”, you definitely need to check out LYS Beauty. It’s a black owned cosmetics brand committed to offering plant-based, vegan beauty products at an accessible price point. Everything in its product lineup is under $30. The company goes beyond the typical requirements of clean beauty. According to LYS Beauty’s website, none of its products have ingredients like talc, mineral oil, fragrances, gluten, or SLS. It also claims to include ingredients that actually improve common skincare concerns. 

I haven’t tried this brand yet, but it certainly sounds impressive AND the packaging looks so luxe. 

BLK OPAL 

Black Opal or BLK OPAL is an OG in the black beauty game. It’s been making makeup for black women since 1994, however it just recently became black owned. 

Black Opal was founded by a chemist named Niko Mouyiaris.  Niko saw how limited makeup options were for his wife Carol, a black woman of Jamaican descent. Niko passed in 2019 and Carol now owns the company with the help of fellow black woman co-owners, Desiree Rogers and Cheryl McKissack. 

It’s just as important to have accessible drugstore and luxury options. Thankfully, the new owners, who have crazy impressive corporate pedigrees have landed distributorship deals with major retailers like Walmart, Target and Rite Aid. Easy to find options are always a good thing. 

Uoma Beauty

Uoma Beauty was founded by a Nigerian woman, Sharon Chuter, in 2018. Uoma means beautiful. According to its website, the company values self-expression, colorful living, African pride, and inclusivity and strives to create an “empowering tribe while igniting a “beautiful rebellion”. Fans of Uoma love its wide shade selection (51 shades from super deep to very pale in a variety of undertones). 

Beyond complexion products, the brand has lipsticks and eyeshadow palettes that look amazing. I currently have my eyes on its Coming 2 America collection. It’s all so stunning. 

These are just a few of the many amazing black makeup brands that are out there. As a bonus to those of you who like to “shop small” many of these brands are also small independent businesses. Black queens from across the globe are running these brands. I’m thankful that the internet creates a global economy which results in a plethora of options for you and I. 

Which black owned brands do you love? Tell me a black owned product that I NEED to try. 

Simple Everyday Skincare Routine

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Today, I’m sharing my 2021 skincare routine. With 2021 proving to be only slightly less hectic than 2020, you’re not alone if your skin is going through it. 

All of us want to feel confident. Even makeup lovers need to be able to love the skin they’re in. Part of this is a mindset. Embracing your authentic self is a choice. The other part requires spending time and energy finding a skincare routine that helps your skin flourish. 

Maskne (mask related acne) is my most recent arch nemesis. My current job is in retail sales. That means that I skin at least 8 hours a day, 5 days a week – wearing a mask. I don’t say this to complain.  COVID can be scary and I’m all for taking necessary precautions. The reality of situation, doesn’t mean I like my newly acquired crater face. 

A few months ago, my younger sister- who struggles with cystic acne Facetimed me to show off her radiant, makeup free glow. She’s always gorgeous, but I stunned to see how clear her skin was. She told me about her recent decision to try Curology. Impressed by her results; I decided to try Curology out for myself. 

It’s worth mentioning that I have no affiliation with Curology. All thoughts are my own and reflect my personal experience with the product. 

I’ve been using Curology for about a month and a half. The company uses an online assessment to pair subscribers with a dermatology PA. They take the assessment and submitted photos to prescribe a custom prescription formula. My kit included a cleanser, moisturizer, body wash and prescription medicine. 

My Routine

My skincare routine is pretty simple. In the morning, I wash my face with my Curology cleanser. I follow up with my moisturizer… and DONE.  I add one extra step at night. I wash my face with the cleanser, apply the medicated face cream and finish with the moisturizer. Of course, I use the body wash in the shower to address any blemishes on my body. 

My Prescription

Let’s take a look at my prescription.  According to the website, my custom formula was designed to address acne, hyper pigmentation/ dark marks and skin texture. The cream uses ingredients like azelaic acid, clindamycin and zinc pyrithione to help me meet my skin goals. 

During the past several months, my skin woes have been concentrated to my chin and cheek.  That is one of the reasons I attribute my breakouts to my mask. In addition to being more intentional about my skincare, I started wearing a silk mask. I wanted to ensure that I was doing what I could to be gentle on my skin.

I definitely took several weeks for my breakouts to calm down. Curology told me to expect results from the prescribed active ingredients with 6 to 8 weeks. At week 5 or 6, I’m just starting to see results. I also notice how soft and moisturized my combination skin feels. I’m hopeful to see dark marks lighten with continued use. 

I discontinued use of all other skincare products (including facial masks) to let my skin adjust to my new routine. I’m looking forward to incorporating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose water and aloe vera. 

My Results

Take a look at my progress over the last month or so. 

The photos I took for Curology to assess my skin. I look rough. Mask related acne and stress were significant factors.
Approximately 1 month of use. Experiencing less flare ups, however I still have significant scarring.
A better look at the scarring. I’m noticing that I’m not very good at taking makeup free pictures on flare up days.

Challenges

Using the right ingredients to target problem areas is an important component of any skincare routine. What’s more important, in my opinion, is consistency. Your products can be perfectly curated to address your concerns, but if you don’t use them as directed, when directed you won’t see the results you’re looking for. 

Using these products has actually allowed me to improve consistency. In the spirit of transparency, I’ll disclose the truth; it’s still a work in progress. I definitely have missed n occasional morning or evening during the past several weeks. 

Skincare Tips

I’ve found a few things very helpful in my quest to become more diligent and consistent with my skincare routine. 

Reminders

Utilizing the reminder/alarm system on my smart phone is super helpful. I set up a recurring note on my calendar with an alarm. It’s definitely helped me minimize my instances of forgetfulness. 

Leave It Out

As an extra safeguard, I keep my skin care products in a prominent location. Keeping my core skincare products on the sink helps me remember. I’ve had moments where I’ve gone to the restroom during the middle of the night. As I wash my hands, I see my skincare products by the sink. I realize that I skipped doing skincare and mistakenly snoozed my alarm. 

Doing your routine at 2 AM is better than not doing it all. 

Don’t Get Discouraged

It’s easy to feel like giving up if your miss a day of skincare. Don’t do that. If you had a busy morning and forgot, still do your evening routine. Shoot for progress, not perfection. 

It’s a journey…

That’s what I’m doing for my skin this year. Has the pandemic (stress or masking) changed your skincare needs? 

I’d love to hear what you’re doing to get or maintain your glow. Have you tried Curology or any other popular skincare system? Did you see results or did you think it was overhyped?

As, I continue my skincare journey, my biggest goal is to get rid of acne scars and hyperpigmentation. Leave any hacks you think I should try in the comments. 

Regardless of what your skin looks like, you’re beautiful. Enjoy the process and take care of yourself. 

ELF Bite Size Palette: Budget Friendly Beauty

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Does Budget Friendly Beauty Exist?

If you’re a beauty on a budget, you may be looking for makeup that won’t break the bank. I love premium brands as much as the next girl, but their price tag can be painful. Is it possible to find gorgeous palettes that cost less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks (or your coffee house of choice)?

As a makeup lover, it’s very difficult to have too many eyeshadow palettes. You need a wide variety of shades to create the looks that your imagination dream up. At $18-$40 per moderately priced palette, adding to your collection can get pricey very quickly.

I was in Ulta and decided to try out this small $3 palette from E.LF. Yay for fiscal responsibility. Now let’s get into this budget friendly makeup!

Budget Friendly Beauty-ELF Bite Size Palette

Budget Friendly Beauty- ELF Bite Size Palette
Hot Jalapeño Bite Size Eyeshadow Palette
Budget Friendly Beauty- Bite Size Eyeshadow Palette
Hot Jalapeño Bite Size Palette Swatches

E.L.F. sells “Bite-Size” eyeshadow palettes with four shades. I purchased Hot Jalapeño. It has various shades of green and yellow. Two of the four shades are matte, the other two are shimmer. The color payoff isn’t amazing. Expect to add a lot of product- especially when using the lighter matte green shade. The shimmery colors were decent. I was able to get better use of them by spraying my eyeshadow brush with my Farmasi mineral water spray before pressing my brush into the shadow.

Despite the slightly chalky formula, I was able to make a gorgeous eye look using shadows from ONLY this palette. We’re calling this look “She’s Spicy”

I’m loving this look and I can honestly say, none of the eyeshadows in my collections could have created this look. It was definitely worth the $3 to add some variety into my collection. It’s worth noting that this palette is 0.12 oz. In contrast, one of my favorite palettes,”Breakfast In Bed” by Beauty Bakerie, includes nine .05 oz pans (.45 oz in total) and retails for $38. The E.L.F. palette is a comparative steal.

Read further for more makeup deets!

I wanted to complement this bold eyeshadow look with a neutral color palette. On my skin tone, that means browns, muted reds and orange tones.

“She’s Spicy” Makeup Look

I started by priming with my Farmasi VFX Pro primer. I find that it helps my foundation go on more smoothly (aka, my skin looks like butter!). Then I use a flat head kabuki brush to apply my foundation. My current go-to is Farmasi’s VFX Pro Camera Ready foundation. I wear the shade Latte.

My concealer of choice these days is Revlon Candid. It’s so easy to blend. A little goes a long way. I apply it to my forehead, under my eyes, nose bridge and chin to highlight places light would naturally touch my face.

The dark, chocolatey shade from BeautyBakeries‘ Brownie Bar makes for an excellent contour for my skin tone. I like subtle contouring. I apply my contour under my cheekbones and at the top of my forehead. After blending, I use the orange/ terracotta shade from the Brownie Bar as a blush.

For my lips, I used Savage from The Lip Bar. The shade is a rusty brown, not quite nude. If you re-create this look, and you’re not close to my skin tone, I’d recommend choosing a lipstick that is nude. It might be a bit too intense of a lip and eye combination on lighter complexions.

And now the eyes! I used the Hot Jalapeño Bite Size Eyeshadow from E.L.F. This look is super simple but so HOT! I started with the dark green shade. Put the dark green in your crease and BLEND. It is dang near impossible to over blend. A slightly fluffy brush is an awesome tool for this. I took a less fluffy brush (really technical…I know, right?!) to pack on the lighter matte green color on my eyelid. I blended out the color on my lid into the crease shade.

My Farmasi Mineral Water Spray really helped my shimmery shades stand out. I sprayed the mineral water on a dense, flat eyeshadow brush before dipping it into the light green shimmer shade. This color went on the first 1/3 of my eyelid, slightly past my inner eye.

I finished my shadow look with the shimmery yellow. I grabbed my fluffy brush and lightly applied the color under my eyebrow arch. So spicy!

I couldn’t call a look “She’s Spicy” without turning up the heat with some lashes. I used my newest magnetic eyelashes from OpulenceMD Beauty. The Lust style lash is thick and voluminous mink. It screams luxury and is anything but shy.

I took my liquid magnetic eyeliner and applied it as close to my lash line as possible. I like to apply 2 coats. I adjust the lash to ensure the magnets are sitting as close to my lash line as possible. Just like that “She’s Spicy” and *in my Tiffany Haddish voice* “She Ready!”.

Budget Friendly Beauty
Budget Friendly Beauty
Budget Friendly Beauty
Budget Friendly Beauty

Have you tried any of E.L.F.’s Bite Size Eyeshadows?

How did you like them? I’d love to see you recreate this look. If you do, use the hashtag #thatspicybeauty and mention me @thatbreezybeauty.

Sparkly Unicorn Makeup Tutorial -Easy

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Photo by Jose Martinez via Unsplash

Does anyone else love sparkly unicorn makeup?

One Saturday afternoon. I was trying out “Snappees”, a hair tie brand made specifically for kinky, curly, coily hair. I decided to put my hair up in a faux hawk. It hits me—- this would be a perfect time to try out a unicorn inspired look. I pulled out all my favorite pastel and sparkly makeup to create this whimsical look. 

A Strong Foundation

Every good look starts with a good base. I used my Hydrating Calendula Face Cream and Age Reversist Eye Cream from Farmasi’s Dr. C Tuna line. I followed with my Farmasi VFX Pro strobe cream primer. The base of my face is VFX Pro Camera Ready foundation is a mixture of shades 8 & 9. I used Farmasi’s Stay Matte foundation in shade 105 as a brightening shade under her eyes.

Unicorn Cheekbones

Have you seen a unicorn lately?! They have some sculpted cheekbones. I wanted my unicorn look to be authentic, making a fierce contour absolutely necessary.

My Farmasi 3-In-1 Face Palette was my go to product to bring this look to life. I used the contour shade to chisel my face and give it dimension. You’ll want to apply the contour below your cheekbones. Then I used the palette’s blush and followed up by sweeping the highlight shade over my cheek bones. 

Sparkle Time

Then I turned an everyday face into a unicorn. 

My Eyes

I started with Farmasi’s Eclipse pigment powder. This will cover the entire lid. Eclipse is a beautiful blue shade. The shade is not quite a powder blue but it plays really well with pastels.  

Then apply the Violet pigment starting in your inner eye. You’ll end up covering about 2/3 of your lid. 

I used 3-In-1 Palette’s (it’s literally SO versatile) highlight shade. Use a fluffy blending brush to apply it under your eye brow and in your crease. You’ll blend it out so that it creates a pretty gradient effect  with the pigments. 

I took pencil eye liner to make the look POP just a bit more. My pencil liner was a silver color. I’d suggest that or a white liner.  You’ll smudge the liner into your upper and lower lash line. 

I figure that real life unicorns are pretty active. Think about it: they’re always flying and running through meadows. So a quality waterproof mascara is a MUST. I used my BE FIT mascara on my upper lashes. 

Lips

I lined my lips with  Farmasi’s 226 lip liner. It’s a pretty purple lip pencil. You’ll want to line your entire lips. Then I put on a Miss Sparkle lip gloss in the shade of Honey Pot. 

Unicorn Dust:

If you’re gonna be a unicorn for a day, you have to take really level up your level of sparkle.  

I finished my look with more concealer. You’ll use your brightening concealer over your the bridge of your nose, cupid’s bow, forehead and chin. Then put your highlight over these areas using a fan brush. Take the Lavender pigment and sweep it over your cheek bones using your fan brush. 

Sparkly Unicorn Makeup
Sparkly Unicorn Makeup

And voila! Ladies, you have a unicorn.

Do you like this look? Try it for yourself. Post your unicorn selfie in the comments. Interested in trying any of the products I used? Shop here!

Proof Is In The Puddin’ Eyeshadow Review

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Proof is in the Puddin’ palette from Beauty Bakerie

Eyeshadow can completely overhaul your makeup look. I absolutely love bold, bright colors but quality palette of neutral tones is essentially for creating beautiful blends and gorgeous everyday eyeshadow looks.

Proof Is In The Puddin’ palette from Beauty Bakerie

Beauty Bakerie is a black-woman owned independent makeup brand which I’ve been a fan of for the past few years. I recently got its “Proof Is In The Puddin’” eyeshadow palette on an insanely good BOGO deal. 

The eyeshadow colors are named after various puddings. Shades like Rice Pudding, Warm Cocoa, and Almond Jelly allow makeup lovers to create a variety of looks. In total, the palette includes 9 shades that range the spectrum from beige, tan, and brown. The palette typically retails for $38.

Proof Is In The Puddin’ palette

As a woman with deep brown skin, it’s super important that neutral eyeshadow colors be exceptionally pigmented. If they’re not, they simply don’t show up well. I was skeptical about shades like Rice Pudding and ‘Nana Puddin’ working for me at all. I was pleasantly surprised.

Swatched shades (listed from top to bottom): Rice Pudding, Chia Pudding, Bread Pudding, Butterscotch’d, Spiced Caramel, Mango Pudding, Nana Puddin’, Warm Cocoa, Almond Jelly

Check out this eye look featuring The Proof Is In The Puddin’ Palette:

Proof Is In The Puddin Palette
Proof Is In The Puddin' Palette

I used Warm Cocoa, Mango Pudding, and Spiced Caramel. I sprayed my Farmasi Mineral Water spray on my shadow brush before applying Spiced Caramel. I finished the look with my magnetic gel eyeliner and magnetic lashes from OpulenceMD Beauty‘s limited edition Warrior Lash set.

Overall, I’m pleased with this palette. The color pay off was better than I expected. The palette has enough variety to make a beautiful look by itself or combine with shadows from other palettes. Price-point wise, the palette provides a great value. Approximately $4.22 per .05 oz shadow pan.

As I mentioned previously, the brand is still independently owned and was founded by a black woman who refers to herself as “head baker”. All the products have fun whimsical packaging based on sweet treats. It’s adorable and worth checking out if you like supporting independent businesses, minority owned businesses, or are just fan girl-ing over its superb branding.

Have you tried the “Proof Is In The Puddin’’ palette yet? How did you like it? I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on this look and the “Proof Is In The Puddin’” palette. Let me know what you think! 

New Year, New Hair. Curly Hair Tips

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

It's January, so I know you've already made some goals, but you may have to edit them after reading this epic list of hair goals and life advice.

Hey there beautiful,

If I haven’t officially told you yet, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New year, new hair. Curly hair tips

Is anyone hoping and praying that this year is NOTHING like last year? Yeah, ME TOO! We expected 2020 to be new growth, but got split ends and breakage instead. Curly and kinky-curly haired girls understand what I’m talking about all too well.

I’m not here for it this year. I’m claiming growth, strength, and retention in all areas of my life. It’s funny how hair goals can go hand in hand with life goals. It may sound like a bit of a stretch, but stay with me.

I made a list of 2021 hair goals that are also words to live by in 2021 and beyond. Check it out!

1. Stretch Yourself, But Be Careful Not to Snap

2021 is about knowing when to stretch yourself (you definitely should go beyond your comfort zone) and when you’re about to break. This beauty chat is dropping life gems. Who would have thought? 

This life advice translates directly to haircare (particularly textured haircare). There are many benefits of stretching your hair without heat or excessive tension. On textured strands, each kink or curl is a fragile point, that can easily snap and fall victim to breakage. 

Many stylists recommend wearing hair in stretched styles, so that it does not break as easily. Know when to stretch yourself and know when you’re using too much heat. Mastering this concept will help you save more than just your tresses. 

2. Begin with the End in Mind

I’ve been familiar with this phrase, coined by Stephen Covey, in his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People”, since my teen years. Covey speaks about intentionality and making choices that help your end goal a reality each and every day. 

I have a haircare related spin on this. Love your ends. Baby your ends. Moisturize your ends. If you’re applying product, saturate your ends first.

You might be wondering why. The ends of your hair happen to be the oldest part of your hair. They are comparatively weak and fragile. They need the extra moisture and TLC or else they are likely to split or break off altogether. 

3. Take Your Time

Slow and steady wins the race. If you rush, 1 of 2 things will happen. You’ll burn out or you’ll move recklessly. Neither of those are good options. 

Recklessness isn’t good for hair or for life. Take your time, sis. Detangle gently. Don’t rip through your hair. The “time saved” can reverse months of growth. Take your time and retain those inches. 

4. Consistency Yields Results

Consistently good habits beat occasionally great habits. You don’t have to follow every rule or deep condition every week. Commit to a few manageable yet impactful habits. You will see results more than if you tried to do something incredibly extravagant or time consuming once in a blue moon. 

The life lesson here is to commit to routines that make sense for your life and lifestyle. If you can’t do it consistently, it’s not a viable strategy. Doing something extraordinary once a quarter, followed by doing the bare minimum for the next 3 months, will not help you achieve lasting change. 

5. Your Journey is Yours and Yours Alone

Comparison will only drive you crazy. Your goals should not be about being as good as or better than the next person.

Beauty Fact

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the average person can grow 6 inches of hair per year. Be realistic with your goals. You’re not going to go from a fade to waist length hair overnight. Treat your hair like the valuable, fragile crown that it is. 

What do you think? Can hair goals teach us life lessons or is this a major reach? I want to hear your 2021 hair goals. Whatever your goal may be, I’m wishing you an abundance of GROWTH this year. 

Hair Dye Without Damage- Easy Temporary Hair Color Tutorial

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

I dyed my hair a bold green shade without any dryness or damage. You can too.

I know you’re here for the hair story, but first I have to share a quick life update.

We made it to 2022. It’s a big deal. 2 years into this panorama. It’s wild . I’m honestly so grateful. Everyday is a blessing. Tomorrow isn’t promised. My goal is to live my best life now by living life on purpose.

I’m excited to use this platform to do just that. This year, in addition to beauty inspiration – you can expect even more self care, mindset and motivational content. After all, feeling beautiful starts on the inside with confidence and boldness.

I’m excited, I hope you are!

While we’re talking about being excited…

I forgot to share some amazing news. As of December 2021, I am a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. I’m honored to be a part of the oldest Black sorority because of it’s amazing legacy of supreme service to all mankind.

That also means that on January 15th I celebrated my first Founders’ Day. If you’re a regular reader of Breezy Beauties you probably know how much I love going all out, so it shouldn’t be very surprising to hear that I did a hair and makeup look for J15.

What I used: 

Poise N Ivy Green hair wax

Clinique Even Better Foundation 

Dose of Color – Pretty Cool Eyeshadow Palette

Beauty Bakerie 👩🏾‍🍳-Do It For the Graham palette

Beauty Bakerie 👩🏾‍🍳 -Brownie Bar palette 

M.A.C.  lipstick – shade Sultry Move

NYX Lip liner- shade Downtown Beauty 

Farmasi – Satin Pink Lip Gloss

Tag a friend who’s a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Coily Hair Essentials – 3 Must Have Products

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Check out my list of must-haves for textured haired beauties. 

As you beauties know, I have short to medium length kinky curly locks. Kinky, curly, and coily hair is gorgeous, but it requires a little more TLC than our straight-haired friends. Kinky and coily hair (my hair type) is considered the most fragile. Each curl on the strand is weaker and thus more vulnerable to breakage. If you’ve ever seen a strand of coily hair up close, you know that there’s a lot of opportunity for it to snap off. It’s very tightly curled – hence the term coily. 

I’ve been embracing my natural texture since 2012- that’s nearly a decade. I’ve tried many techniques, hair styles and special tools over the years. These are my favorites that leave my hair feeling soft, moisturized and ultra-defined!

  1. Silk bonnet and pillow case. 

You need both. This might seem a bit excessive but hear me out. The purpose of using a silk or satin head covering or pillow case is to protect you strands. Silk and satin materials are gentle on hair and help decrease breakage. Unless you sleep like a princess (ie. no tossing, turning, rolling, etc.) it’s a good idea to use both. I sleep on a silk pillow case and have a silk turban styled bonnet for bed time. This means that if the bonnet comes off OR if I roll off my pillow- I’m covered. Silk and satin pillowcases are also linked to better skin.

  • Eco Style Gel

Most naturally curlies are familiar with this brand. I always emphasize the fact the no 1 product is great for EVERYONE. That said, this is hands down the best gel out there for my curls. Eco style gel is thick with a medium to hard hold. My hair does not respond well to light weight gels. This product consistently gives me my most defined wash and goes, twist outs and braid outs. I use the original, Argan oil and flaxseed versions of the product. Flaxseed and Argan oil are tied on my favorite list.

  • Micro Fiber Towels

Microfiber towels are worth all of the hype! I’ve used regular old bath towels (the standard method) and the trend of using an old t-shirt. The microfiber towel wins- hands down. Microfiber is less likely to snag your hair, compared to a traditional cotton towel. When I use microfiber, I experience less frizz and a faster drying time. So many brands sell them nowadays! I highly suggest grabbing one ASAP and introducing it into your wash day routine.

Hey Naturals! Y’all still greasing y’all scalps?

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Real question to my fellow black girls, naturalistas and kinky, curly and or coily baes. I’d like to get a consensus. Do you still use the old school hair-care technique of greasing your scalp?

For those of you who didn’t live a 1990s black American childhood, it used to be common practice to use hair grease on one’s scalp. I’d dare say every black household had at least one jar of Blue Magic at all times. Whether the style was twisted pig tails with barrettes and knockers or a cute braided hairdo with beads your mom would slather grease on your parts.

As a teenager, I moved away from these traditions. I processed my hair and there is a whole other set of rules to caring for relaxed strands (which I don’t recommend – but alas it’s your life, girl). During my freshman year of college, I transitioned to my natural texture and wore it out – AS IS- for the first time ever. 

I discovered the natural hair movement and an entirely different set of haircare mores and paradigms. I think I’ve tried every mainstream curly hair technique out there. From shingling to plopping (which is an utter flop on type 4 hair), following the curly girl method, and even being the girl buying up most of the produce section to make homemade deep conditioners. The mineral oil laden grease was not a major player in this movement that inspired black women to embrace the hair that grows out of their scalp. 

Almost 10 years later, I’m a little less radical about my hair. I still believe you should be at peace with your natural God given appearance. I think chemicals are crazy harmful and the practice of hair straightening can be damaging to our psyches when it becomes a beauty standard. I love variety, so I’m the type of natural who switches textures via wig. All the fun, none of the commitment- or heat damage. I guess you could say that I’ve mellowed in my “old age”. 

Despite having seasons of being extremely meticulous about my hair, I have yet to see long hair. Mid back length (when stretched) is my goal. I’m revisiting some of the methods I’ve tried over the years to find what works and omit what is taking too much time and yielding minimal results. For the past month or so, Blue Magic has been back in the mix. In addition, I’m using a hair steamer to make sure moisture can penetrate the shaft of my low porosity strands I’m also using a method I read about years ago but didn’t have the guts to do until now.

I guess my approach is “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”. We’re committed to the cause forreal, forreal ✊🏾😂

I want to hear your thoughts on using hair grease vs natural oils and butters. Are you team old school or new school or are you taking a hybrid approach?

Bright and Vibrant Sunflower Inspired Makeup Tutorial

     Bri Fitzpatrick      Leave a Comment

Affiliate disclosure

See how my summer’s going (quick life update) plus a fun tutorial to help you create a vibrant Sunflower inspired makeup look.

“Me: Hey beauties. What’s up?

You: So, are we gonna pretend like you haven’t ghosted us for the last 3 months…

Me: See, what had happened was…”

Yeah, so about that; I’m so sorry. I’ve been MIA for the past few months. Life has been a complete whirlwind. It’s still kinda crazy but it’s mostly a positive kind of crazy at this point and I’m embracing it and adding blogging back into my crazy life. I’ve missed you guys so much, so I thought I’d take a little time to catch up with you and give a summer 2021 life update. I’m also sharing a bold and vibrant sunflower makeup look(full tutorial), because those are the vibes we need as we head into August.

—–Keep reading for my life update, or skip ahead to the sunflowers—

SO- this whole year has been crazy. I mean truly NUTS.  I lost one of my grandmother’s in November of 2020. My other grandmother passed in March. Needless to say, it was a bit overwhelming and I chose to take a step back from blogging so I could focus on keeping everything else in my life together. 

A lot happened during my blogging break. My sister had my nephew in late May. He’s such a handsome little guy. He’s brought so much joy into my family’s life.  After a sad period of time, it’s so great to have something positive to focus on. So grateful! I’m in love. Of course, my nieces are still auntie’s little princesses / diva’s in training. 

In June, I started a new job. It’s a new exciting position with lots of opportunity for growth. I feel so blessed and fortunate. The company is amazing. Of course, with any job, there’s a learning curve. I’ve been devoting a lot of time and energy into my work and developing my skills as a professional. So much of my free time is spent listening to audio books on sales, leadership and business. Applied knowledge is power and I for one am trying to APPLY PRESSURE… OKAY. 

In July I took a few days off for a family wedding and mini vacation. We stayed in a gorgeous luxury cabin in Hocking Hills, Ohio for 5 days. 20 plus family members, many of whom I just met recently. I literally gain 6 (I’m counting their significant others) DOPE cousins. It was such a good time. I even played Spades for the first time. It’s an experience that I would not trade for anything but it also left me playing catch up the rest of the month. 

  • Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills, Ohio
  • Old Man’s Cave in Hocking Hills, Ohio



I’m hyper aware that thirty is right around the corner. At 28- almost 29, I have roughly a year and a half to achieve my flirty thirty goals. There are so many things I want to accomplish. I know I don’t have to have everything in place, but I want to have the ground work laid. These years are foundational. I’m really working to elevate myself both spiritually, mentally and financially so that I can be a better person for myself and my future family. I don’t want to be one small emergency away from stress and struggle, so I’m sucking it up. I’m learning how to adult in hopes of rewarding myself with mimosas on the beach once the world is fully reopened. 

One thing I have been extremely consistent about these last few months is my exercise routine. I think it’s kept me grounded and given me a sense of control. If you’re following me on IG, you’ve seen some of my post workout selfies. It’s nothing too complicated but I’m thinking of sharing some breezy workouts on the blog. After all, looking good and feeling good go hand in hand. I’m down to share anything that makes stuff that’s typically daunting, overwhelming and difficult feel breezy and approachable, so I‘M DEF HERE FOR IT.

Let me know what you think and what YOU want to see more of. My goal is always to make content that enriches this community. Just ask, and I most likely GOT YOU. The goal is to finish the rest of this year out strong. If you’re not already doing so, please take a moment to join my email list. You’ll get beauty inspo, updates and other cool tings. Anddddd, you’ll never miss a makeup challenge, product review or giveaway.  

I think I got most of the life ramblings out of the way. Thanks for “listening”. I know that a lot of you are going through strange seasons of life as well. Believe it or not, makeup is an artistic escape for me. I find it extremely relaxing. It helps me decompress. You would not believe how often I put on a full face, BEAT TO THE HEAVENS at 10 pm, snap a few pics and proceed to wash my face and throw on my bonnet. They say practice makes perfect. Because it is my go to way to destress, I can honestly say I get plenty of practice. It’s crazy to see my growth in skills –even compared to summer 2020. 


Okay, enough about me and life and goals. Let’s talk about sunflower vibes. It’s giving us- “we’re literally outside”, glow from within, skip through a field ENERGY. Like sis, ISSA VIBE. Almost as much of a vibe as Issa Rae eloping with her boo in Southern France.

What I love about this look is how forgiving it is. It’s very easy to correct mistakes. If you decide to attempt this look –1. TAG ME. 2. Blend, blend and blend some more. Going back to your transition shades (I used Mango Pudding and Warm Cocoa from my Proof Is in the Pudding Beauty Bakerie palette) if you over do a bright shade or if it looks too harsh will be incredibly helpful.

One tip that I did not use, but HIGHKEY wish I did was using tape. A lot of makeup wearers will use a piece of clear tape- think Scotch or 3M to tape off the outer corner of their eye to their temple. Once they’re done applying shadow they remove the tape and have a cleaner more polished look. Definitely not a necessity but oh so helpful.


Tell me what you think of this radiant look!  I challenge you to recreate this look. Post it using the hashtag #breezybeautysunflower. I’ll share it on my IG (@thatbreezybeauty)!

Ready to recreate this fire look and play hide and seek in a field of sunflowers? Of course, you are. Checkout my YouTube video to see exactly how I did it.


Full Product List:
Primer- Supergoop! Glowscreen SPF Primer (A radiant sunflower glow starts with sun protection!)

Foundation-IL Makiage Woke Up Like This Foundation

Concealer-IL Makiage F*#% I’m Flawless Concealer, Beauty Bakerie Aquaglass Concealer

Eyeshadow Palettes- Beauty Bakerie- Proof Is In The Puddin’ palette (shades Mango Pudding, Bread Pudding and Rice Pudding), Beauty Bakerie – Sugar Cookies Palette (shade name Dip Baby Dip), E.L.F- Hot Jalapeño palette (yellow shimmer … no cutesy name for this one).

Lashes- Magnetic lashes from OpulenceMD Beauty*. Style- Unicorn. Used with magnetic liner from OpulenceMD Beauty*

Eye Liner- IL Makiage Ink Liner

Lips- The Lip Bar- Savage and Heartbreaker

Blush/Bronzer/Contour- Beauty Bakerie Brownie Bar

Setting Powder: Beauty Bakerie Flour Setting Powder– Shade Caramel/Plantain


I hope the rest of your summer is a vibrant as my eyeshadow!

XOXO,

Bri

*denotes affiliate relationship