A Trip Downtown

City Hall Bus Stop; Paterson, NJ | Photo Credit: Joe Moore

I've always loved my city. 

When I was younger, I didn't always appreciate it, but the love was always there. Like most inner cities, Paterson is a little rough around the edges. Shit, it's rough around a few parts. But quite honestly, I'm not sure if I'd be as resilient, sharp, or mature as I am today had I not grown up here. 

When deciding where I'd shoot, I contemplated between different locations in Manhattan, of course. Mirroring the millions of bloggers who make NYC the backdrop to their Instagram-worthy pics seemed like the only option. When I bounced ideas off of my photographer, he suggested going Downtown Paterson instead. At first, I shot the idea down out of fear that there would be no inspiration, or scenery, and ultimately, no likes on Insta. But the more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Why pay money (fifteen bones to be exact) to go to the city, just for a backdrop? Don't get me wrong, NYC is filled with fashion, skyscrapers, and cool locations, but I felt an obligation to highlight my own city, a place that's often overlooked outside of the occasional Trap Queen references. 

Photo Credit: Joe Moore

This whole idea of utilizing your current resources or, "using what you got, to get what you want," has been ringing in my head as of recently. While watching one of the many reruns of The Players Club on BET, I realized that maybe there is some value in stripper-hoe proverbs. For those who aren't familiar, The Players Club is about a single mother, played by a young Lisa Raye, who uses the strip club to pay her way through college. The quote was originally used to lure Lisa's character into the dark world by a seasoned stripper, but ends up being a reoccurring theme throughout the movie and quite frankly, throughout life.  In our twenties, we're always reminded of how much we don't have.

"I'd have an apartment if I had more credit."

"I'd travel more if I had more money."

"If I had more experience, I'd have a better job."

"I'd work out if I had more time."

Yes, money is tight and yes, I've only been working for a year and a half but I refuse to let that be the reason as to why I don't succeed. When talking to my peers about what I want to do, I always bring up how hard it is to catch a break, especially in editorial. I usually start my rant with how the industry is oversaturated with bloggers and influencers, and how no one appreciates good writing anymore, or knows how to write for that matter. Then I usually end it with something along the lines of, "but I'm still looking" or, "I'm sure something will come along soon,"-- not completely sure how much I even believe those words.  

Photo Credit: Joe Moore

So here I am, creating my own opportunities instead of waiting for something to come along. Here I am using my own talents, my own resources, and my own platform to do what I want to do. Although I'm sure my path is paved with opportunity, (at least somewhere down the line) but for right now, I'll just make my own. 

Sink It: My Skincare Routine

For those of you who may or may not know, I'm very particular about my skin. My acne started around puberty and it's been rearing its ugly head ever since. Over the last ten years, I've probably tried every acne go-to and gimmick there is; Proactive, Murad, prescription topical and oral meds. Needless to say, I've done the light-work and these are currently the products that work for me. 

Before I get into these, I want to first state a few disclaimers. Like I mentioned before, I've been dealing with acne for some years now so I'm very in tune with my skin and what makes it react.  I've had my fair share of dermatologist visits so I've taken a few pointers from them, in addition to what I find generally works for my skin. Another huge factor to include is that I am currently on birth control. Since I suffer from hormonal acne like a lot of women do, birth control has helped ease my hormones, especially during that time of the month. So overall, I don't have a lot of cystic breakouts which makes it easier to keep my skin clear. Knowing my skin type, I make sure to include a lot of products that are mattifying or products that remove excess oil from my skin.  Lastly, I made some changes to my diet which I found made a big difference in the amount of breakouts as well as the severity of them. I no longer drink milk and I try to stay away from foods that contain a lot of oil. For instance, I always found that whenever I ate Chinese food, I would breakout; I could literally feel the oil secreting from my pores while I was eating. I say all of this to say, that products aren't the only key to clear skin, it may also include modifying your diet. 

1. CLEANSE: Sephora Cleansing and Exfoliating Wipes - I use these as I need them. If I've been wearing makeup, I use them to wipe the night away. Other times, I use them to cleanse my face if I'm feeling lazy. Don't judge. 

2. CLEANSE : Ole Henriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser - I've been using this for about two years now and I still love it. When I was younger, I had a hard time finding cleansers that got rid of dirt and oil without over-drying, which can ironically lead to more breakouts. It also includes loads of antioxidants and Vitamin C to brighten up and even out your skin tone. 

3. CLEANSE: Clarisonic Mia 1 - I got this bad boy a year ago and it's the best investment I've made throughout my skincare journey. It's definitely a steep price at $129 but it has made a world of difference with my skin. It exfoliates while minimizing the size of your pores. It gets deep into your pores where a lot of the dirt you don't see hides. It was almost disgusting when I initially saw all the dirt that I wasn't getting from just using my hands. Gross.

4. TONE: Neutrogena Clear Pore Oil Eliminating Astringent - Like I mentioned earlier, I felt it necessary to include a toner in my regimen because it also removes whatever excess dirt or oil that didn't get picked up by my cleanser. It also is a must because it has salicylic acid in it which kills bacteria in pimples, especially cystic ones that lie beneath the surface. 

5. SEAL: Ole Henriksen Truth Serum - Serums are to help seal all the goodness and moisture into your skin. They also give supplemental ingredients that may not be in your cleansers. This truth serum has collagen-boosting agents as well as vitamin C to help even out your complexion. As a person who suffers from hyper-pigmentation, this is key.

6. MOISTURIZE: Sephora 8 Hour Mattifying Moisturizer with SPF 20 - I find this moisturizer gets the job done without leaving my skin all greasy. I will say that I wish there was a higher SPF but for now, this is what I'm using. For women of color, I would suggest using something that has an SPF of 30 or higher. 

7. MOISTURIZE: Clinique Pep Start Eye Cream - Nothing fancy shmancy, just something to wake up my eyes in the morning. You can put this under or over make-up, but I usually put it on after my moisturizer. It brightens and hydrates so no one can tell what kind of night I've had. (Which most times involves binge watching Gossip Girl--wild, I know.) 

8. MOISTURIZE: Vaseline Lip Balm - Vaseline has been a staple in my beauty regimen for as long as I can remember. This balm leaves your lips so soft with the right bit of sheen. Most days, I wear it as lip gloss. This is the Rose flavor but I also own the Cocoa Butter one too. 

My skin routine is pretty simple and I try my hardest to keep it that way. When it comes to your skin and hair, less is always more. If anyone knows of any moisturizers that are high in SPF but mattifying, please leave them in the comments section! 

Rock Out With ROCKSBOX

I don't wear a lot of jewelry. 

I wanted to preface this post with that statement because I feel it's key to know that this isn't your typical plug or promo. A few weeks ago, a friend gifted me with a free month of Rocksbox, a monthly jewelry subscription. When I read the subject line, I almost immediately left my emails to draft up a text to ask my friend, asking her what the hell she had signed me up for. Fortunately, this text was not sent and I read on. The rest was history. 

Studded earrings: House of Harlow 1960, Telluride Earring Set

As a person who like I mentioned, doesn't wear a lot of jewelry, a jewelry subscription initially sounded like a waste of my hard earned coins. But when I dug deeper, I realized that this is probably perfect for me (Or for anyone, honestly). When it comes to jewelry, I don't need a lot of pieces but this subscription gives you the freedom to have options without necessarily committing to one. 

How It Works: 
You sign up and Rocksbox prompts you with several questions about your style. From there, you can browse pieces and add them to your Wish List for future sets and that's it! Your first set ships within days and before you know it, you're shinin'. When you're ready for a change, you can send the set back in its entirety or you can keep and purchase the pieces that you want. 

(From top to bottom) Kendra Scott, Elisa Necklace in Platinum Drusy | Necklace duo: Aldo Accessories

These particular pieces are very representative of my signature style. Most of the items on my wish list are similarly composed of a gold, dainty chain and a small pendant. There are some statement pieces on there as well, and of course, all gold plated. Don't wear gold? There's silver alternatives to almost all their pieces. They covered all their bases. 

What I think separates Rocksbox from the millions of other subscriptions is that it contributes to something that is always changing: your style. Beauty and hair boxes are useless to me because I am very loyal to the products I use. I don't dibble and dabble in much when it comes to my skin and hair. However, this is very useful because I get the option to try new things without adding to the bulk of jewelry I already don't wear. And for only $19/month, I'm not spending all my hard earned coins. 

It's freakin' genius. 

If you're feeling froggy and you want to try a free month of Rocksbox, use my code: shanellebff1

Tougher Than Leather

My feelings toward the month of March are very mixed. On one hand, it shows us that spring is almost here, teasing us with scattered weeks of beautiful weather. On the other hand, it never fails to humble us and remind us that winter is not quite done yet. Similar to situationships, we end up in a gray area, not really knowing which season to commit to. 

Boots: Steve Madden

On days like these where the sun is peeking out, but not enough to bare it all, I usually grab my leather jacket and chelsea boots. They've been a staple in my wardrobe this past fall and winter but I think they also work well in the early weeks of spring. Aside from the fact that they go with almost anything, they have the ability to add grunge and badass-ness to any outfit.

Jacket: H&M | T-Shirt: Urban Outfitters | Jeans: Brandy Melville @ Pacsun | Bag: Forever21 (Couldn't find the exact one I got from F21, but here's one similar) 

This outfit is my style in a nutshell: comfortable and chic. I live for minimalistic pieces that transition through the seasons and are perfect for everyday wear. When it comes to my accessories, I like to be daring at times but for the most part, I keep it pretty simple. I wear a lot of dainty jewelry to keep the focus on my actual outfit. 

One of my favorite aspects of this outfit is this bucket bag I found at Forever21. I saw this during the beginning weeks of fall and I had to have it. Aside from the fact that it's one of the best Mansur Gavriel knock-offs I've seen, I absolutely love bucket bags! Big enough to fit a small tablet or a bottle of water, they're perfect for the girl on-the-go. They make it easy to be stylish, while being slightly disorganized. (Cues Fab's, "Throw It In the Bag")