Source: Keyaira Kelly / Keyaira Kelly
I consider myself a novice when it comes to skin care and the beauty industry. Taking the time to vet out what products to try, what ingredients to avoid and what brands are best for women of my complexion can get super intimidating for a non-expert like myself. But over the weekend, I found the holy grail of skincare in the form of face masks. I had the pleasure of joining The Graffiti Collective at their pop-up mixtape activation at AfroPunk in Brooklyn and finally discovered a fun way to keep my skin popping without the stress, or the mess.
I was introduced to Sheila Patel, the dynamic owner of the skincare line, who has spent the last 15 months figuring out a formula for the best combination of natural, gentle ingredients on the market. She has four face masks in her product line which cover the gamut of your skin needs: Street Rose to even skin tone, Pure Grit for gentle exfoliation, Clean Slate for clean pores, and Hustle & Glow for hydration and radiance.
What I loved most about these masks is that they are so gentle you can wash them off, or wipe them off (no need to sit and arduously peel plastic off your face!) Plus, you can use mostly all of them, every single day (except the exfoliating one). You can say goodbye to masking once a week and make it an every day self-care ritual, if you want! Your skin won’t feel tight and drawn out because of the masks, and you can mix and match which one to use each day depending on your needs. As Sheila told me, “You don’t have to dry your face, or burn your face, to clean your face.” Amen to that!
Source: Keyaira Kelly / Keyaira Kelly
The brand also works closely with artists to truly create a welcoming community of creatives and innovators. Her packaging is designed by artists whom she hand selected. Aside from her love of the visual arts, Patel is also a hip-hop junkie! As an ode to her love of music (and 90s mix tape nostalgia), Patel launched her new Mixtape collection, that allows customers to mix and match travel size portions of their favorite masks from the line. I opted to grab two Hustle & Glows (because, in this hot girl summer, a glow is mandatory), and the Clean Slate to help my pores stay unclogged (I wear makeup, a lot).
Source: Keyaira Kelly / Keyaira Kelly
Hustle & Glow is my favorite of the line, because you don’t even have to rinse it off! You can use it for a spa-night in, or opt to slather it on before applying makeup. The hue was so vibrant I slathered it all over my arms and legs and shined all day!
If you are looking for an easy solution to skin care woes, give the Mixtape a spin.
