Before I started my natural deodorant journey, I had no idea the amount of chemicals that are found in aluminum-based deodorant. It wasn’t until my mom kept harping to me about the dangers of them that I started to do my own research. There are obviously mixed reviews and opinions on whether the aluminum in products is dangerous. My opinion is that it doesn’t hurt to do without, and I haven’t looked back since I made the switch.  

Advice on Making the Switch

1. Start in the winter months.

I feel like this goes without saying, but you tend to sweat more during the hotter months of the year. Aluminum-based deodorants are antiperspirants, which means that they actually stop you from sweating. So when you’re making the switch, it can be quite an odd feeling to sweat, and you may feel a little anxious about it during the process. It’s natural to sweat and just because you sweat doesn’t mean that you have a body odor too.

2. Allow time to do an underarm detox

When you make the switch to all natural deodorant, it can take a little bit of time for your body to adjust to the change. Think of it like this: antiperspirants block your sweat glands so when you make the switch, you’re unblocking your sweat glands that have been plugged up for a long time. Initially, you may sweat more in the first few weeks of switching over. To help with the underarm detox process, you can make your own armpit mask or use a product like Megababe Happy Pits to help with the transition.

3. It’s okay if you’re feeling anxious

Did I mention how odd it is to actually feel yourself sweat? After you make the switch to aluminum free deodorant, your body naturally overcompensates for the change, and you may find yourself sweating more than you normally do. This can cause a bit of anxiety and worry thinking that you stink even more than you actually do. That’s okay to feel that way. I was so anxious and worried that I would stink up a whole room when I switched over. I would run home after class and jump in the shower because I was so nervous about the funk. Over time, it gives better, and your anxiety goes down once you find a product that works for you.

My Favorite All Natural Deodorants

Kopari Coconut Deodorant – $14

This vegan, plant-based deodorant is by far my number one favorite all natural deodorant. I’ve been using this one consistently for probably over two years now, and it’s the one that I consistently go back to whenever I need a refill. The coconut oil in the product is a natural anti-bacterial powerhouse that helps prevent odor-causing bacteria to collect in your underarms. It comes in 5 different scents (including a fragrance-free option for people with sensitive skin). The only downfall of the Kopari Coconut deodorant is the fact that because it is made of coconut oil, it’s hard to travel with. The coconut oil base melts pretty easily in warmer temperatures so just something to be aware of.

Nubian Heritage Deodorant – $9

If you’re looking for a great aluminum-free deodorant that you can travel safely with, then take a look at one of my old favorites’ deodorant brands, Nubian Heritage. The one that I currently have in my travel bag is the Honey Black Seed 24 Hour deodorant, which leaves you not only smelling good but also moisturized too. They have 7 different scents to choose from that prevents you from stinking in different ways. I will say that all of the scents I’ve gotten from Nubian Heritage give off a very earthy/natural scent. Maybe even a little woodsy scent. I personally don’t mind the smell as it keeps me smelling clean all day.

Play Pits Deodorant – $12.99

Because we love to support POC-owned businesses over at UM, I wanted to share with you a black owned deodorant company called Play Pits. Started by a mother and son duo, Play Pits is an all natural deodorant company that is perfect for both kids and adults. After I switched over to more natural products, I really wanted to get Nci also on board, so I ended up getting both the King and Queen scents for the both of us to try. Nci is very much a happy camper when it comes to the King deodorant. I personally am a little mixed in my review. As my Queen deodorant came a little bumpy so it wasn’t comfortable to apply. But the scent is amazing, and it does work to keep you smelling nice all day. I think I might’ve just gotten a bad batch as Nci didn’t have that problem with his.

The post How I Made the Switch to All Natural Deodorant (+ My Favorites) appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

What is a Voxbox?

A Voxbox is a box filled with mostly full-sized products that you get the chance to review and keep. The boxes are usually themed by seasons or around a product launch. Sometimes the boxes come with only one product while other time you’ll get a few pieces. Each Voxbox can contain up to hundreds of dollars, from large accessories to makeup to food items. Some of the brands that I’ve gotten are before are Marc Jacobs, Bite Beauty, and Venus Razors.

How to Join Influenster

You can join Influenster by making your own account via email or through Facebook or Instagram. You’ll then receive a link in your email requesting that you fill out your profile. The best part about Influenster is that it’s completely free to join!

How does the whole process work?

Once you sign up for an account and connect all of your social media platforms. Influenster will generate an Impact Score for you. The Impact Score tells Influenster how much reach and influence you have in your network, which will pay a big role on whether or not you’ll receive a Voxbox. On the app, there is also a section for Snaps, which are questions that allows for Influenster to get to know more about you, your habits, likes, and dislikes.

Once Influenster decides that a campaign may be a good for you, they’ll receive a more specific survey in your inbox that will ask you questions pertaining to the items you may receive. After you complete the survey within the destinated time frame (usually a few days), Influenster will make the final decision on the group that will receive the Voxbox. If you’ve been selected, you’ll receive an email, and the box will arrive on your doorsteps within a few weeks.

After your box arrives, you’ll be given a list of tasks to complete about the products that you received. An example of a task that you may have could be sharing a photo of the item on your Instagram or leaving a review on the brand’s website. They are usually pretty simple to do and don’t require a lot of time on your part.

The last thing that you have to do is send in proof of the activities, which you can upload straight from the app on your phone. If you complete enough of the destinated tasks, you can win badges. The more badges that you earn will give you a higher chance of getting another Voxbox in the future.

7 tips to improve your chances of getting your first Voxbox

Personalize your profile

Once you finish signing up for Influenster, take a few minutes to fill out your profile and really make it personal. When the team at Influenster is selecting people for a Voxbox, they are looking to see your likes and dislikes to figure out what products to send you.

Connect your social media accounts

After filling out your profile, the next thing that you want to do is to connect your social media accounts. Influenster uses the information to calculate your Impact Score, which is a deciding factor on whether or not you’ll be receiving a Voxbox. The higher the impact score, the higher chance that you’ll be selected for a campaign.

The social media platforms that you can connect include Influenster, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Foursquare, Blogger, Tumbler, WordPress, Pinterest, and Google Plus. If you still have a low impact score after connecting all of your social media platforms, here are some things you can do to increase it:

• Increase your social media followers
• Invite your friends to join Influenster
• Add the Influenster widget to your blog

Write reviews on products that you already have

When you’re first getting started on Influenster, you’ll want to start by reviewing any items that you have laying around. It’s super important to review items in the categories that you want to get sent free products. For an example if you want to get sent free beauty items to test out, then you’ll want to focus your reviews on beauty then. By being active on Influenster, you’ll have a better chance of getting selected for Voxbox.

Ask and answer any questions

Another way to improve your chances of getting selected for an Influenster Voxbox is to ask and answer questions on some of your favorite products or products you’re interested in testing. Influenster has a really great community that is super helpful and welcoming, so don’t be nervous about getting involved in the community! Before I make a new purchase, I always check out the reviews on the Influenster app to see the consensus of how people are liking the item, especially for beauty items.

Always answer any snaps on your dashboard

Once signing up for Influenster, there is a selection to answer these questions called “Snaps”. These are more detail and different questions to further get to know you as a person and what you’re interested in testing out. They usually ask what brands, products, or tools that you recently bought and what you’d be interested in buying. This allows the team at Influenster to get to know you better and allow you to be selected for Voxboxes that are centered around products you’d enjoy and haven’t tried before.

Check your emails frequently

If you are selected for a campaign, Influenster will shoot you an email with a short time frame to fill out a survey with more information. The survey will usually ask you a few questions that are specific to the items that Influenster will be sending you, such as hair texture, foundation color shade, etc. The answers to this survey will be the deciding factor on whether or not you get selected for the box.

Don’t forget about the final survey after receiving a Voxbox

After you receive your first Voxbox (Yayy!), Influenster will send over a final survey for you to fill out. This survey basically helps Influenster figure out if you enjoyed the products you received and your thoughts on the items individually. If you forget the survey and don’t fill it out, you will be disqualified from ever receiving a Voxbox again! Aka no bueno!

Influenster is literally the best platform for anyone looking to test out new, full-sized products without having to spend your own money first. Hopefully with the tips that I shared in this blog post you’ll be on your way to getting your first Influenster Voxbox! When you do, please leave a comment below about which one you received!

This post was originally published in July 2017 and has been completely revamped and updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness.

You may also like: My Favorite Budget-Friendly Highlighters, My Top 6 Nude Lip Products, and 10 Fun Date Ideas for A Summer Evening

The post The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Your First Influenster Voxbox appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

With this self care challenge, I hope that it can help you re-focus your energy and inspire you to implement daily acts of self care beyond the 30 day challenge. Before we jump into it though, I just want to stress that you can do this self care challenge in any order. It really doesn’t matter as long as you do something every single day for the next 30 days!

Day 1: Read a book

Is anyone else getting tired of watching TV all day? Turn off the tv, put down the phone or other electronical gadget, and pick up a book. I really enjoy doing this on the patio to get some fresh air and a beautiful scene.

Day 2: Do a cleansing face mask

My favorite cleansing masks are the Glamglow Super Mud and the Origins Active Charcoal Mask. Pick a mask that pulls out all of your black heads and really cleans your face for an instant refresh.

Day 3: Go out for a walk

Take a walk around your neighborhood or on a trial nearby to get some fresh air. A breath of fresh air is a sure way to lift up your spirits!

Day 4: Do a digital detox

Use this extra time at home to do a digital detox from social media. With all of the news reports about the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard to get away from the news unless you get off your phone for a day.

Day 5: Unfollow people on social media

Remove any negativity in your life or really anything that doesn’t bring you a joy. Every few months go through your social media and unfollow people who don’t either make you laugh, inspire you, or make you feel good about yourself.

Day 6: Start a journal

Something about writing really helps calms your nerves and relaxes your mind. Start a journal today and write about whatever you want.

Day 7: Facetime a friend or family member

Social distancing doesn’t mean that you have to lose touch with your friends and family. Set up a few Facetime dates throughout the week to get re-connected and some face-to-face interaction.

Day 8: Delete unnecessary apps from your phone

Clutter in your life including your cellphone can make you unnecessarily stressed. Because the environment around you is a direct representation your mental space and well-being.  Take today to delete all of the apps that you no longer need or haven’t used in awhile.

Day 9: Write out 5 life goals for yourself

I’m highly goal-motivated; there’s something so fulfilling when you can cross off a goal of yours. Spend today writing down your goals and making a plan to achieve them. When you write things down, you’re more likely to achieve them. Because there’s a thing called manifestation that comes in handy too. An example could be paying off your student loan debt or becoming the manager at your job, etc.

Day 10: Declutter your closet

Like I mentioned earlier, clutter in your home and in your life has impact on how you feel. Spend today to get your closet in order. I’ve written a helpful guide to get you started, and I promise it won’t take up your whole day.

Day 11: Paint your nails

When’s the last time that you painted your own nails? Yea me too! Grab your favorite nail polish in your collection and have a fun day out of painting your nails. Go for a classic mani or play around with some fun designs.

Day 12: Try a new workout

Sometimes self-care isn’t about lounging around the house in your pajamas but actually getting your body moving. During this time, I’m focusing on improving my endurance and getting a good sweat in. Today, try a new workout to get your blood pumping! Some free at-home workouts you can try are Barre3, Fiton app, and Youtube!

Day 13: Organize one space in your home

Not going to lie: cleaning during this time has been very therapeutic for me. Now that I’m spending more time at home, the extra clutter has really been bothering me. In the past few weeks, I’ve already decluttered my closet, my bathroom, and working on the kitchen now. Take 1 hour a few times a week to finally organize a problem spot in your home.

Day 14: Plan a future vacation

While you can’t travel right now, you can 100% plan for a future vacation. Make a budget, set a timer, and see where your imagination goes. You’ll be surprised of what you come up with when you’re not in a rush to plan. Check out Pinterest for some travel inspiration!

Day 15: Make a plan to save for the vacation

Now that you’ve planned your future vacation, use today to make a savings plan to reach your goal with a little bit extra for fun. I love using the Qapital app to help me save money without me having to think about it (read this blog post for more details on how I use the app!).

Day 16: Light a candle and take a bubble bath

Unwind after a long day and pour yourself up a bubble bath. Go a step further and a light candle for an easy at home spa day experience. You totally deserve a relaxing night!

Day 17: Watch a documentary

My fiancé really enjoys watching documentaries, and I won’t lie, but it’s actually kind of fun. Just to sit down for an hour or two to learn about something new that you wouldn’t normally search for. Some good ones to watch on Netflix are Drugs Inc., Our Planet, Dirty Money, and the Pharmacist.

Day 18: Write down 1 thing that you are grateful for today

Sometimes we forget about all of the good things happening in our lives, which is why today I want you to write down 1 thing that you are grateful for. It could be simply waking up this morning or getting that apartment you wanted. Whatever it is, write it down.  

Day 19: Buy yourself flowers

More time at home means more time to smell and enjoy a fresh cut bouquet of flowers.

Day 20: Brain dump all of your ideas

Once a week, I like to schedule a 15-minute brain dump of everything that I’m thinking about. Being a creative and thoughtful person, I tend to have a million things running through my head at a time. A brain dump allows for me to get all of my ideas out of my head, which helps me to relax and reorganize my thoughts. Use today to do that for yourself.

Day 21: Write a letter to someone

I really wish people wrote more hand-written letters like they used to, but alas usually time and convenience is the problem. Now that you’re stuck at home, spend time writing a letter to someone that you love, miss, or just don’t get to see as often anymore. I promise they’ll be so excited and appreciative of seeing a letter in the mailbox. Want to get fancy? I love adding a wax seal to my letters to make them stand out even more.

Day 22: Do a DIY

Have you been postponing a DIY or project that you’ve been meaning to do? For me, I need to create Titi’s graduation shadowbox with all of this extra free time. Grab the supplies that you need next time you’re at the store and get started!

Day 23: Meditate for 10 minutes

Self care starts in your mind so spend today mediating for 10 minutes to help you relax and re-center yourself. If you’ve never meditated before, definitely try the app called Headspace! It’s beginner friendly and a great resource to get started.

Day 24: Try a new makeup technique or look

On an every day basis, I tend to go for a simple makeup look, but now that I have all this extra time, I’ve been dabbling and playing around with more colorful looks and different application techniques. It’s a great time to get creative and expand on your makeup skills.

Day 25: Recite some positive self-affirmations

Pick out some of your favorite self-affirmations and repeat them to yourself throughout the day. You deserve to be happy, to feel strong, and to love yourself.

Day 26: Create a bucket list

With this task you can be as adventurous and creative as you’d like. In your phone or laptop, write a bucket list of the places that you want to travel to and adventures you want to take. One idea on my bucket list was to swim with the dolphins, which I did a few years ago on a trip with my mom!

Day 27: Blast your favorite songs

There’s something so therapeutic about blasting your favorite music throughout the entire house. Make a playlist and see where the day takes you.

Day 28: Clear out photos/videos from your phone

Something that has been on my to-do list for awhile now is to clear out my photos and videos on my phone. I currently have around 2500+ photos on my phone that I desperately need to download on my external hard drive. If you need to do the same, then definitely use today to get the job done!

Day 29: Reflect on this past month

At the end of the month, sit back and reflect on this self care challenge to figure out what worked for you and what didn’t. Utilize this time to think about what you want to learn next and where you want to focus your energy more. Trust me, a good reflection moment keep me motivating to keep this new self-care routine going.

Day 30: Make a game plan on how to maintain your self care

Now that you’ve thought over this past month, make a game plan on how you’re going to keep your self-care routine next month. Is there something that you want to learn or getting better at next month? Maybe you want to take more baths or spend more time reading. Whatever it is, make a plan that you can stick to!

I hope that you found this post useful and helpful during this crazy time! Even if you only have a few minutes or the whole day, doing something for you every single day is so important to keep your mind clear, happy, and focused. If you would like to download a calendar for the 30-day self care challenge, you can grab it down below!

Before you go just remember that we can’t change what’s happening in the world,

but we can control how we respond to it.

The post 30 Day Self Care Challenge to Decrease Anxiety appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Now that I’ve been at home more often, I’ve been trying to do life better. As cliché as it sounds, now that I’ve graduated from college and am starting my first “big girl” job, I really want to create structure in my life. I’m almost 25 years old (this year!), and this will be the first year in my entire life that I don’t have to study or turn in homework. So with that being said, I figured that the easiest place for me to start doing that is by creating a nighttime routine that allows me to feel well rested the next day. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my current nighttime routine!

Tidy up around the house

One of the first things that I try to do every single night is tidy up around the house before I go to bed. And no I do not mean clean the entire bathroom top to bottom, I just mean I tidy up so that your space doesn’t look messy and cluttered. I usually will tidy up the kitchen by putting the clean dishes away, cleaning the dishes that I cooked dinner with, and putting things away that were left out throughout the day.

I promise that waking up to a tidy home makes a world of a difference in your mood! I’m a big believer in the less physical clutter that you have, the less burden you have on your mind. If you’re looking to start this as well, I recommend doing one easy task in the afternoon for a few weeks and then add on something else to your tidy up list. This way it becomes a lasting habit!

Loosely plan the next day

I always like to have a game plan of what I want to get done the following day. So before I lay my head done, I like to either mentally write or literally write a small list of things that I want to do the next day, starting from the hardest to the easiest. This way I can mentally prepare as well have a game plan for the next day.

Make sure to clean my teeth

Growing up, I had the luxury of getting braces to correct my smile. While it wasn’t the worst experience ever, I definitely do appreciate my smile more than when I was a child. So every morning and every night, I make sure to brush and floss my teeth and rinse my mouth out with LISTERINE Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash.

A few weeks ago, I picked this product up in Walmart because 1) I was obsessed with the packaging (I mean it’s basically my brand colors) and 2) It’s an ADA accepted mouthwash that is formulated with anti-plaque & anti-gingivitis essential oils, which promotes gum health and freshens breath at the same time. So you can say hasta la vista to bad breath!

Shop the link above to purchase the exact product that I use daily from Walmart!​

What I love about LISTERINE Gum Therapy Antiseptic Mouthwash is that it cleans below the gumline so even if I don’t do a great job at brushing, I know my mouthwash has me covered. Plus you know it also helps reverse the signs of early gum disease, which is always a plus! If you haven’t added a mouthwash to your dental hygiene routine, then you’re definitely missing out on some truly wonderful benefits! I know I can feel the difference in my smile. 

Do my skincare routine

Next I try to always make sure to clean and moisturize my face before bed. I have pretty dry skin (especially my T-zone) so it’s imperative that I make sure to keep my skin hydrated, otherwise I’ll be extra crusty the next day. While I’m still figuring a solid skincare routine that my skin loves, I do enjoy the process of cleaning my face and giving it that extra TLC it needs.

Read a book

Right before I go to sleep, I try to read a few pages of the latest book that I’ve picked up. Growing up, I used to be obsessed reading. It had gotten to the point where I was ordering books for the library to have because I was running out of books in the teenage section of the library. But as I’ve gotten older and of course, college, I’ve fallen off the bandwagon of reading. My goal by reading before bed is to create a new habit of spending time alone by myself doing something that I enjoy but isn’t work.

What is your nighttime routine and what helps you feel well-rested the next day?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

The post My Relaxing Nighttime Routine appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

For someone who wears their natural hair all the time, I rarely ever talk about it on the blog. I’m not really sure why, but I decided that I wanted to change that and talk more about my curly hair journey. I’ve partnered with Maui Moisture for today’s blog post to talk about my curly love story and share how I grew to love my curls over the years.

SHOP MAUI MOISTURE HERE!

Click here to get quality, affordable, vegan hair care products! I’m also going to share what I use on my hair to keep it moisturized, defined, and healthy using only the best products. So let’s get into the story…

This may come as a shock to most of you, but when I was growing up in middle school and high school, there wasn’t a natural hair movement taking place and it was cooler to have straight hair than to have curly hair. I remember sitting down between my mom’s legs as she braided up my hair, and I would complain very loudly about how much it would hurt. I was very tender headed, but I enjoyed how easy it was to wake up and go in the morning without worrying about my hair. Which I’m sure is the reason why my mom kept my hair braided all those years.

But once I hit high school, my mom told me that it was time for me to learn how to take care of my natural curly hair and I had no idea what to do with it. Most of my classmates had straight hair except for a few, and the ones that had curly hair straightened it every day. So of course, I did what everyone was doing and would wake up a few hours earlier just to straighten my hair before school.  I literally fried my hair so much that I completely changed the curl pattern of my hair! 

I did this same routine up to until halfway through my sophomore year when I tried to embrace my natural curls and learn how to manage them. It was a slow progress of transitioning, but I did it. And then I had the great idea of dying just my bangs blonde (at home!). Alas I obviously damaged the front of my hair doing this at home bleach job. It wasn’t until my senior year when I did my first big chop that I learned how to love my curls for what they were. My crown.

In my senior year of high school, I organized a hair drive to support kids with cancer, and I challenged my high school to get 25 donations at my event. If I did, then I would shave my entire head and donate what I could for cancer. When I tell you, it was the most freeing experience I’ve ever had I truly mean that. I’ve shaved my head twice now for different reasons, but each time was a special memory. When I shaved my head, I grew an appreciation of my curls and learned to appreciate me as person. I learned that my hair didn’t define who I was, and my beauty didn’t come from straight or curly hair. It came from within.

Skip to 2020 and I, of course, love my curly crown and have finally found a brand that works for my curls. I’ve been using the Maui Moisture Heal & Hydrate + Shea Butter line for a few weeks now, and my hair has been loving it! The reason that I love this line, which you can find online during these trying times, because it’s vegan, silicone and paraben-free, and it leaves my curls feeling moisturized. Plus it even has Aloe Vera as the first ingredient, which we already know is nature’s miracle worker. 

CLICK HERE TO ADD MAUI MOISTURE PRODUCTS TO YOUR CART!

For me, I only need to wash my hair once or twice a week. Any more than that, my hair gets very dry. I like to start off my curly hair routine by using the Heal & Hydrate Shea Butter Mask all over my head. To make sure I get every curl, I like to section off my hair into 4 parts and lather on the product from the tips up. The ends of your hair are typically the driest part of your hair because those strands are open more often to the elements, which is why they need the extra love. 

Next I go in with the Shea Butter shampoo and conditioner to cleanse and moisturized my scalp. This set does a great job of refreshing my hair while leaving it feeling hydrated and bouncy. After my scalp is cleansed, I use the Combing Cream to detangle my hair with a detangler brush. 

I highly recommend checking out Maui Moisture, if you’re looking for a new curly hair brand to test out. You can find all of their products online in the multicultural hair section.

SHOP NOW!

The post How I Fell in Love with My Curly Hair appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

When it comes to the cooler seasons, my lips are the ones that instantly suffer from the dry temperatures. My lips and skin become dry as the Sahara Desert and as rough as crocodile skin in the winter. I’m sure I’m not the only one who suffers from dry, chapped lips when the seasons change. Am I right? Cracked lips are not only super distracting throughout the day but can also put a damper in your self-confidence.

It’s honestly taken me a few years and lots of trial and error to find a routine that works for me. Now that I’ve found something that works, I won’t be looking back at dry lips any time soon! Here are my tips and products that saved my winter dry lips more than once.

MY WINTER LIP ROUTINE

WHAT I USE FOR EXFOLIATION 

Raise your hand if you’ve ever had little pieces of skin peeling off your lips when they get super dry. Don’t worry I’m raising my hand too. To combat that, you can use an exfoliant to literally scrap off all of that excess skin on your lips.

I love wearing lipsticks all year long (read my favs here!), but I tend to go for more of a satin finish (not exactly matte but not glossy either). But if you enjoy more matte finished in your lipstick, then you know those formulas literally suck all of the moisture from your lips in minutes. A moisturizing exfoliant will be the answer to your problems! I picked up the St. Ives Lip Scrub in Sweat Peach from Target a few months ago, and it has been a game changer. I typically use this product 2-3 times a week, depending on how dry my lips are feeling, before I head to bed. It smells like a sweet treat, and it makes my lips feel smooth and plump.

WHAT I USE FOR HYDRATION

The biggest tip to keep your lips feeling moisturized during the winter months is making sure you stay hydrated, hydrated, and hydrated. My favorite lip balm that is great for hydrating your lips is the Kopari Lip Glossy. I apply it in the morning before I leave for work, and I don’t have to reapply for hours later. At $13, it’s not the cheapest lip balm but its not the most expensive either. Either way, it’s worth every dollar.

When looking for a hydrating lip balm, you’ll want to look for products that melt into your lips. Some lip products will sit on top and suffocate your lips, instead of moisturizing them.

WHAT I USE FOR OVERNIGHT MOSITURE

The Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask is probably one of the most overhyped products on the market last year but for good reason, it’s actually phenomenal as an overnight lip moisturizing mask. I picked up this product a few months ago, and it’s been an instant staple in my nighttime beauty routine.

I apply a little bit of this product on my lips right before bed, and in the morning, I have plump moisturized lips that are super soft. This lip mask also smells heavenly with a slight berry scent that feels great on the lips. A little bit of this product goes a long way so I’m sure the jar that I have will last me at least a year or two before I run out.

What is one lip product that you can’t live without, especially during the winter time?

The post How to Combat Dry Lips in the Wintertime appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Believe it or not, I’ve never owned an electronic toothbrush before, at least as far as I remember. I might have had one when I was a child when I was still learning how to brush my teeth. Recently despite brushing and flossing twice a day like I’m supposed to, my teeth just haven’t been feeling as clean as I wished. I’m a sweets addict and an avid soda drinker so my teeth tend to take a beating every day and need a little more TLC than most.

My fiancé, Titi, has an electronic toothbrush and swears by his, but of course, I didn’t want the same one as his. I wanted something that was more aesthetically pleasing and that worked phenomenally. Bonus points if it also had an option to whiten my teeth during the cleaning process.

A few weeks ago, BURST Oral Care reached out to me to see if I wanted to review their toothbrush, and since it fit the bill of what I was looking for, I said yes! Since I received my new toothbrush in the mail, I’ve been using it every day and all I can say is “wow!”. My teeth feel just as clean as if I went to the dentist every day for a professional cleaning.  

SO WHAT IS THE BURST BRUSH?

BURST Brush comes in three colors currently: black, white, and rose gold. It’s a sonic powered toothbrush that removes 6-7 times more plaque that a regular manual toothbrush and helps fight again gingivitis at the gumlines. With its charcoal-coated bristles, it also makes your smile whiter and brighter within days of use.

Features:

• Charcoal Bristles: The bristles are soft charcoal infused PBT nylon, which is designed to help remove surface stains and make your smile brighter with regular use.
• 2 Minute Timer: Dentists recommended brushing for 2 minutes. After the dedicated 2 minutes is up, your toothbrush will automatically cut off and you’re good to go.
• Quad-interval technology: Every 30 seconds you’ll feel a gentle vibration to remind you to switch to a different side in your mouth to continue brushing.
• 3 Brushing Modes: The 3 different modes are whitening, sensitive, and massage.
• Long-Lasting Battery: With 1 hour of charging, it’ll last up to 4 weeks with regular use.
• 33,000 Sonic Vibrations Per Minute: With that much power, the Burst Brush proves you the deepest clean without any harm to your gums.

What comes in the box:

• BURST sonic toothbrush
• USB charger
• Wall socket
• 1 toothbrush head
• Travel case

MY THOUGHTS

I honestly couldn’t be happier with my new toothbrush.  From day one, I was immediately impressed with how clean and smooth my teeth felt after using the BURST brush. My teeth haven’t felt this clean since my last appointment with the dentist, which was only a few months ago. I’ve tried out all three modes, and the most comfortable one for me for everyday use is the sensitive mode. I currently use the whitening mode about once a week for a whitening treatment and for a deeper clean. It can be pretty intensive for everyday use, but it does actually work so I like the setting.

At first, I was nervous that the bristles would be too soft and that the brush head would be too big for my preference. Apparently I have a smaller mouth, so I typically use a child’s toothbrush, which allows me to clean even the toughest parts of my mouth. This brush system works perfectly for me! I don’t have any issues with the brush size or the bristle softness. Since I’ve been using it, I have noticed a subtle change in the color of my teeth. Nothing dramatic, but I’m thinking about ordering their new whitening strips to see if those make a more dramatic change for me.

If you’re looking to buy a sonic toothbrush, then I highly recommend ordering the BURST Oral Care toothbrush. The quality of the system is amazing, and my teeth have never felt this clean before at home. I totally thought I was doing a great job of cleaning my teeth before with my manual brush, but after the first use of this one, I realized that I had been barely scraping the surface. I can’t wait to see what’ll happen after a few months of regular use with this new brush. I’m hoping for no more cavities and an even whiter smile.  

Have you ever used an electronic toothbrush before? What are your thoughts on them? Do you love or hate them?

BTW, you can use the code “BURST10” for 10% off your order!

You may also like: 12 Instagram-Worthy Murals in Charlotte, NC and Fall Basics that I’m Loving

The post My First Sonic Toothbrush Experience with BURST Oral Care appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow

When this gloss launched, I knew I had to have it! It’s the perfect gloss consistency without the stickiness to it. It has a little bit of sparkle that gives your lips the look of being fuller and plump. You can’t feel the sparkles at all by the way! It also tastes and smells like vanilla aka heaven. This product comes in three other shades, but Fenty Glow is the perfect rose nude for anyone’s skin tone.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Lolita II

This one is literally my absolute go-to for any Instagram or blog shoot that I’m doing. It’s super creamy and just slides right onto the lips with no issues. It’s also long wearing, and I’m obsessed with the satin-matte formula. My favorite nude is the shade, Lolita II, because it’s the perfect terra cotta nude color for my skin tone . It’s more of a pink nude, than a brown nude, but I’m still absolutely obsessed with it.

Essence Longlasting Lipstick in Cool Nude

Essence is one of those brands that’s overlooked regularly because of how cheap the products are. But just because the prices are low doesn’t mean the quality is too. I bought this lipstick on a whim one day when I was shopping at Ulta, and I haven’t looked back since. The color “Cool Nude” is exactly what the name says that it’s a cool-town brown, slightly pink nude. It’s a gorgeous color!

Flower Beauty Mix n Matte Lip Duo in Bronze Envy

I’m obsessed with this combo product because for 1) the color is stunning and 2) you get a lipstick and a matching gloss for one price. The color that I have is Bronze Envy which is a deeper brown/pink nude. The lipstick side is a creamy matte while the gloss is a pearlized gloss that is not sticky. Both products are comfortable on the lips and last all day long.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Zurich and Stockholm

The soft matte lip creams from NYXs have been around forever it seems. They really took the world by storm with the color Copenhagen, which is a deep matte plum color. While that color is stunning, it’s unfortunately not a nude color. The nude colors that I’ve been loving are Zurich and Stockholm. The shade Zurich is a matte muted rose color, and Stockholm is a mid-tone beige pink color. The best part about the Soft Matte Lip Cream line is that they come in 36 other shades, so you’re bound to find the perfect nude for your skin color and maybe a few others to add to your cart.

NYX Liquid Suede Cream Lipstick in Sandstorm

I’ve also been loving the Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks by NYX and specifically the color, Sandstorm. It’s a rich brown nude color that fits a lot of skin tones. This formula does dry down to a matte finish and once it sets, you won’t have to worry about it budging all day. On the website it says that this formula is also waterproof, but I’ve haven’t actually tested that theory. So I would say be careful if you’re attempting to take a swim with this lippie on. The Liquid Suede Cream Lipsticks come in 24 shades from your brown nudes to your bright corals and pinks, so you’re bound to find something that you like.

What are your favorite nude lippies at the moment? Do you love a matte look or a glossy look more? Share your favs below! I’m always on the hunt for more nude lip products to try!

You may also like: My Favorite Budget-Friendly Highlighters, The Beginner’s Guide to Getting Your First Influenster Voxbox, Adorable Summer Finds from Target 

The post My Top 6 Favorite Nude Lip Products appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

I always put highlighter on the high points of my face in the exact spots that the sun would naturally hit, as if I was actually sun-kissed. Nobody has to know the wiser.

Cheekbones: I apply my highlighter slightly above my blush and pull it towards my temples for a nice, even glow to the skin. This is a traditional spot for highlighter because your cheeks are what touches the sun first.

Above the brows: Since Rihanna started doing the highlighter “C” where you attach the highlighter above your brows to your cheekbone highlight, I’ve been totally obsessed. It just gives your face a “wow” factor that is really cool and unique. This can be a lot for some people, but honestly my curly bangs cover my face, so you can only see it when the wind blows anyways.

Bridge of my nose: Right between the eyes is my sweet spot for dabbing a little highlighter. It’s such an attention grabber!

Tip of the nose: This spot is a very classic place to swipe a little bit of highlighter. I love doing this because it’s so pretty and highlights an attractive part of the face.

Cupid’s bow: I love putting a little bit of highlighter above my cupid’s bow right before I line my lips and fill them in with a matching lipstick. It really highlights the curve of your upper lip and gives it a fuller look.

Under you’ll find my current favorite highlighters that I’ve been using no-stop for the year:

Maybelline Master Chrome Metallic Highlighter in Rose Gold ($7.50-$10)

I actually discovered this gem by watching a review from Tati Westbrook on Youtube, and it looked so stunning on her that I knew I had to have it for myself. It’s a very smooth, but powdery highlighter that just glides right over the skin. The best part about this highlighter, besides the amazing price (less than $10), is the color rose gold. The name is perfectly matched, and I love it on my skin tone.

Becca Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop ($20-38)

This is another one that I picked up due to the media hype around this product, and the hype was totally well-deserved! I was not disappointed in this product at all. It’s definitely a more glitter-y highlighter, but the texture isn’t chunky at all when it goes on the skin. Becca has several color options for this highlighter, but I love champagne pop because it’s a beautiful gold color. I actually picked up the travel of this just so I could test it out before splurging on the big size.

Smashbox x Casey Holmes Spotlight Palette in Gold ($35)

If you’ve been following me for awhile, then you know I love Casey Holmes and I’ve been following her channel since I was in middle school (I know long-time supporter of her). So when she announced that she was coming out with a trio highlighter palette, I knew I had to snatch it up to support her in her endeavors. Of course, it’s the perfect little trio for traveling and for my everyday makeup looks. This palette comes in two colors, silver and gold, but I’m a gold-gal so I had to pick up that version.

Anastasia Sun Dipped Glow Kit ($39)

I told you that I love me some gold highlighters, and this fits that category perfectly with a few differences. I love highlighter palettes because you get so many options to choose from and you’re only paying $10 a color. My favorite colors are Tourmaline and Bronzed for my cheekbones and above my brows, but I’ve been recently using Moonstone for the tip and bridge of my nose.

That’s it for now! There are a ton more highlighters out there that I want to check out, but we’ll see if they make it to the master list of favorites. What are your favorite highlighters and where do you light to shine the most? Let’s chat in the comments below!

You may also enjoy: My Top 6 Nude Lip Products and How to Create the Perfect Spa Day

The post My Favorite Budget-Friendly Highlighters appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.

Here are my tips that have helped me avoid hair salon anxiety and have the best experience getting my hair done by the professionals…

Do your research

Don’t get too stuck in the research phase, that you never take the leap to actually go to the hair salon. I’m going to be honest that this is the part that I get stuck in. I do so much research that I never feel like I know enough. But trust me when I say, you’ll learn more about the salon when you actually call the salon or go into the salon in person to see the way the shop runs. If the person on the phone is really nice and helpful, then that usually calms my nerves and makes me trust them more. The same goes when I walk into the salon with a ton of questions and everyone is super nice when replying to my essay.

Look at photos of the hairdresser’s work

A picture says a thousand words, right? Same goes for pictures of a hairdresser’s work or the salon’s work. You can see what the beginning and ending of each hairstyle, including if you like the results. I always look to see if the hair stylist can do amazing work on different types of hair textures. With my curly hair, I need a pro to make magic happen.

Read any reviews

I always check out Facebook and Instagram for the true reviews of the artist’s work. Nothing tells it all if there are stunning reviews from former customers posting about their new do. Plus that means I get to see more angles and more photos of their work, so it’s a win-win.

Make sure to discuss every aspect of the hair cut or style before they start

During the last haircut that I got, I made sure to ask every question that I had and my stylist made sure to walk me through everything that she was doing. Every snip or turn, I knew exactly what and why she was doing what she was doing. That calmed my nerves so much, and I really enjoyed myself. So ask away!

Making sure that you’re comfortable with the salon and the individual hair stylist is the best way to levitate any anxiety that getting a haircut gives you. Knowledge is power, and it’s the same for learning more about who’s going to take care of your hair. Truly see what you like and don’t like it before making a decision. Going to the hair salon doesn’t have to be scary!

The post 4 Tips to Avoid Hair Salon Anxiety appeared first on Uniquely Mickie.