We Aim To Slay

As I sit on the couch wearing my favorite gel eye mask with a steaming mug of coffee in my hand, I can’t help but look back on my experiences in 2019 and think excitedly for 2020 and the decade that will follow.

A lot has changed for me since 2009: I’ve graduated from high school and college, was chosen to participate in two amazing internship opportunities, founded this blog, started my career as a professional writer, and watched myself undergo a metamorphosis both aesthetically and personally.

And in true Taylor fashion, I began preparing for New Year’s Day two days prior: brainstorming outfit ideas and makeup looks, and giving myself an at home spa night to ensure my skin would be entering the new year looking as happy as I felt. Armed with

one of my favorite Christmas presents – the Bestope Blemish Extractor Tool Kit – I made a facial steam containing Epsom salts, thyme, rosemary, lavender, orange sunflowers, and orange peels.

After steaming for about 10 minutes I used the Bestope Kit to deeply clean my pores before applying this Sephora green clay face mask  (left on for about 30 minutes), and finishing up with Earth Therapeutics Recover-E Kiwi Eye Pads and the gel eye mask on top of that (this eye mask is one of my go-to beauty tools for so many reasons, such as it’s ability to soothe a headache and reduce under eye puffiness).

And in no time at all, it was New Years Eve!

Choosing my outfit was simple. Because I knew I would be staying out late, I wanted to be comfortable above all else. And while my gut reaction is always to reach for a pair of perfectly broken-in jeans,  I decided to wear this vibrant red sweater dress from Francesca’s, just one of the adorable outfits from my Christmas haul!

I paired the sweater dress with black tights and my trusted Charming Charlie’s black booties. Because these booties have gold studs along the laces, I knew I was going to want gold accessories. This then lead me to selecting a black and gold metallic Ipsy Glam Bag pouch as my clutch for the evening. And because I was wearing red, I knew I would want to finish off my makeup with a red lip.

I created the base of my look by using the Maybelline primer, Urban Decay color corrector, and Clinique concealer. I mixed my Fenty Beauty and Urban Decay Naked Skin One & Done foundations to help create an almost perfect shade, and because the Fenty is a matte foundation it helped to keep the look shine free all evening. Then I baked my under eyes and set my foundation with Coty Airspun powder, applied my Tarte blush and Urban Decay highlighter, and filled in my brows with my new favorite brow product – the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in shade ‘Ebony.’

To create a reddish smokey eye, I turned to my Morphe 35H Hot Spot Artistry Palette – first used to create these makeup looks worn by my sister and I while attending a concert this past summer.

I used the shades ‘Siesta’ as my base color, ‘Papi’ as my lid and inner corner highlight,

‘Firestarter’ as my main shade and to line my bottom lash line, and ‘Chillax’ to add some depth. I then lined by eyes with the L’Oreal Infallible Longwear Eye Pencil in black, which I smoked out using a small angled brush. Then I applied a healthy coating of my go-to mascara – Maybelline Lash Stiletto.

To help keep my makeup in place all night, I used several spritzes of the Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray. I started using setting spray within the past year and let me tell you, I’ll never wear a full face of makeup without setting spray ever again.

I completed the look with my all time favorite red lip – the NARS Matte Velvet Lip Pencil in shade Cruella.

Next I slipped on my party outfit, piled my curls in a slightly less than messy bun, and finished off the look with a pair of golden leaf earrings that I got from Francesca’s.

And right before my eyes, I saw the start of my third decade on this planet, surrounded by the friends I’d made this year, with my lifelong friends and loved ones in my heart.

I’ll conclude this week’s post by sharing my 2020 resolutions in the hopes of keeping myself accountable, and hopefully to inspire a few of you as well!

1. My first resolution is one that I was skeptical about sharing with all of you, but I think it’s important, and I truly hope it will help some of you as well. If I accomplish nothing else on this list, I hope to quit smoking cigarettes by the end of 2020.
2. Exercise at least five times a week, and at least three of those sessions should be in the gym. If I’m not able to make it to the gym because of scheduling, then I will start the morning with yoga or by going for a run (weather permitting, of course).
3. There will be a new We Aim To Slay post published every Wednesday morning. To do this I plan to spend several hours each Sunday either writing, shooting photographs, doing research, or brainstorming upcoming post ideas.

And this is where I’ll need your help, faithful readers – if you come across a topic, product, idea, or anything that you feel I should write about, please let me know! You can do so by commenting on any previously published post on We Aim To Slay, by contacting me through social media (Facebook – We Aim To Slay; Instagram and Twitter – @RealTGallagher), or by sending me an email – weaimtoslay@gmail.com.

Together we can make 2020 the best year yet! As always, my trusted readers, remember to SLAY each and every single day! I can’t wait to see what the year has in store for us!