Talking about anything aside from current events feels trivial. To be clear, I’m not fatigued by these necessary conversations, nor am I yearning for a sense of “normalcy” that never should’ve been a baseline in the first place. I was simply unsure of my place in this movement—but what I’ve come to realize is that I need to be okay with taking small steps. This fight isn’t about ego: it’s about keeping the momentum alive in the every day, no matter how diminutive those actions may seem.
This shift in perspective has helped lift the hopelessness. I’m not, nor do I need to be, a loud voice admist the revolution: my role (and that of allies) is to amplify and support. In an age where we’re told we’re the star of our own show (hi, Instagram), we forget the power in everyday commitment—and that the world exists outside of a figment in the digital space. Change depends on community and conscious choices. On daily decision-making. On us embodying the change we want to see in this world (as someone wise once said) in order to affect it.
Moving towards progress includes opening our eyes to analyze how we consume. What we use, buy, cherish aren’t just extensions of ourselves, but a tangible vote in who (and what) gets visibility. Money leads and consumption speaks, and while capitalism is flawed, we can use it to our advantage. Purpose is larger than the objects we own, but consuming with intention can help us align our internal compass with our external selves: it becomes a tool in creating the world we want to see. Representation isn’t just what’s on-screen or in magazines; it’s what lives on shelves across the country, too.
Of course big-picture perspective is important—but there’s power in the individual and intention in the everyday. Even in decisions as (seemingly) small as the makeup we choose.
… only it’s not, because this Danessa Myricks compact is a generous disc of morning dew glowiness that lifts. Adds light. Brings life to an otherwise dull complexion, lackluster from four months of (actually abiding by) lockdown guidelines. Hydration and highlight are delivered in a silky balm for a fresh-faced glow. When products like this exist, how can we return to a life dominated by the Bobbi Browns, Lauders, and L’Oreals of the world? The only way forward is to actively seek out innovation and invest in it. If we have the luxury to choose, we should exercise it to its fullest potential, not just because gatekeepers (mostly men, rarely POC, usually cis-gendered) have determined what is “right” for us. Beauty is just beauty at the end of the day; however, who we choose to support decides how we see ourselves. Big box brands may be expanding their color ranges (at long last) but unless they’re working with and curating with women of color, tones beyond the ubiquitous pink-toned beige are never quite right.
This type of representation matters with products beyond foundations and concealers. Everything else—including highlighters—requires an understanding of tone, texture, and light. It takes a woman like Danessa Myricks, a makeup artist whose eponymous line centers around versatility and freedom, to create something that takes all three into consideration. (All of her formulas, in fact, are designed with blending and customization in mind: the products are informed by IRL needs and created with options for all skin tones.)
That glow, though.
Back to this highlighter, though. Morning Dew Dew Wet Balm is the your-skin-but-better luminizer of dreams. It’s a light balm that melts on touch and glides across cheekbones with ease, leaving a dewy, ultra-hydrated (not greasy) finish. No tack means the product feels near-weightless on skin—but you still get a lovely sheen that stays put without settling into pores or breaking down makeup. Glossier’s famed Haloscope (which I’m a fan of; I’ve owned and used all three shades ’til the very end) is similar in concept, but what sets Danessa’s balm apart is the pigment-free base and fine, golden-champagne shimmer. The specks are just light enough where they don’t pick up as glitter, but also not so invisible where light-reflection is imperceptible to the naked eye.
Hellooo, glass skin.
Apply it to your cheekbones, lids, and (the tiniest bit on the) cupid’s bow for a natural sheen. A touch of concealer and tinted brow gel adds the polish you might want for the office, but it’s certainly not necessary: Dew Wet Balm is beautiful on its own.
And a tip: If you’re oily like me, avoid using this to highlight your nose, but do try it across your lids. I’m still loyal to Jillian Dempsey Lid Tint for its clean formulation, but this Danessa Myricks highlighter gives a similar, sheer dewiness without collecting in your crease.
I can’t get enough of it. #BuyBlack. Champion women and support small businesses. We need new voices—especially theirs.
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xx
Your turn. Thoughts?