Hey girl heyyy!

Look, cooler weather does NOT play fair with anybody’s skin. One day you’re glowy, hydrated, and moisturized, the next, your face feels tight before noon, your setting powder has got you looking a bit TOO matte, and your body lotion might as well be water. If you’ve ever looked in the mirror mid-winter and thought, “Why do I look so DRY even when I KNOW I put lotion on earlier??!”. You’re not alone! Cold air, indoor heat, and low humidity team up to pull moisture out of your skin, not put it in. But the good news? I’ve got a few intentional habits that can keep you radiant all winter long!

Let’s break down the changes that actually make a difference:

1. Strengthen Your Skin Barrier

Your skin barrier is basically your winter bodyguard. When it’s strong, your skin stays soft, smooth, and irritation-free. When it’s weak? Dryness, flakes, tightness, and that “I just moisturized… why am I dry again?!” feeling. Focus on products that rebuild and protect such as ceramides, peptides, and fatty-acid rich creams. This is the season to swap your lightweight moisturizer for something richer. And if your skin’s feeling extra sensitive, a barrier balm in your nighttime routine can be a game-changer.

For your face products, try: Paula’s Choice Pro Collagen Peptide Plumping Moisturizer

For your body products, try: Naturium Urea 5% Body Serum OR Naturium Bio-Lipid Restoring Body Lotion

2. Upgrade Your Cleanser

A lot of winter dryness starts with your cleanser. Foaming, stripping washes can make your skin feel squeaky-clean… but also tight, irritated, and dehydrated. That’s not gonna fly in the colder weather. During colder months, go for hydrating cleansers that keep moisture in while still getting the job done. Look for formulas with glycerin or hyaluronic acid to help your skin feel comfortable before you even reach for moisturizer.

For your face: CeraVe Hydrating Cream to Foam Facial Cleanser

For your body: Naturium The Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash OR Dove Deep Moisture Body Wash

3. Layer Moisture Like It Matters

One moisturizer is not always enough in winter. Especially if you want glow that lasts all day. Here’s the simple layering order that actually works:

• Start with a hydrating toner (like: Byoma Milky Toner)

• Follow with a rich cream (like: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Cream +)

• For the body, try a heavier lotion + a body oil if you want extra protection (like: Keri Lotion + Neutrogena body oil)

This combo traps hydration, keeps dry patches away, and gives your skin a healthy, plump look. It’s also the secret to why some people still look radiant even when it’s freezing.

4. Prep Your Skin for Makeup

A lot of winter makeup problems aren’t makeup problems, they’re actually moisture problems. If your foundation is creasing, looking patchy, or uneven, your base needs more hydration. Using a moisturizing primer or a winter-friendly cream can make your makeup blend smoother and last longer. Cream blushes and dewy complexion products also play much nicer with dry winter skin than powders. In the summer I use Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water gel but in the winter, I switch to Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Cream + which is the same product, full of hyaluronic acid BUT slightly heavier for the cold weather.

5. Don’t Forget Your Body

Winter body dryness is its own villain. Shins? Ashy. Elbows? Rough. Hands? Dry five minutes after washing. A thick body cream or body butter will save you. Bonus points if it includes shea butter, cocoa butter, or oils that lock moisture in like BodyVibez. And the timing mattersapply right after your shower while your skin is still slightly damp to seal everything in.

For the body, try a heavier lotion/body butter + a body oil if you want extra protection (like: Keri Lotion or BodVibez Body Butter + Neutrogena body oil).

6. Add Moisture to Your Environment

Sometimes your routine is perfect but it’s your environment that’s the problem.

A humidifier can make a huge difference, especially overnight. And while hot showers feel heavenly in winter, they strip your skin like crazy, so try warm instead of scalding hot. Lastly, we naturally drink less water when it’s cold, but your skin still needs it. Hydration starts from the inside out so fill up that water bottle girl! And chug it down!

The Bottom Line

Winter doesn’t have to be the season where your glow goes into hibernation. With a few simple tweaks, stronger barrier support, gentler cleansing, intentional moisture layering, and better body care, you can stay soft, hydrated, and radiant from December through March! Once you pick the right products, it becomes way easier. Start with one or two of these tweaks, then build from there.

Your glow can absolutely survive winter, you just need the right habits on your side! Check out the skincare routines on TikTok/IG to see skincare in action! You can do this! Let’s get glowing!

xo,

Keri

I know your makeup has been giving you grief so let’s get you together ASAP! Makeup is supposed to enhance your look and not stress you out but we both know, small mistakes can throw everything off. Once your makeup has started down a wrong path, it’s hard to get it back on track without ending up in tears and frustration. Been there, done that, hated it! So this post isn’t about shaming, it’s about quick, easy fixes that make your routine smoother and your results more polished. Now let’s get into it!

Mistake #1: Skipping Skin Prep

I think for a lot of people, having uneven skin tone or dark marks are why we want to use makeup in the first place. So in order to ensure that we are giving, “your skin but better” with our makeup, we must make sure our skin is well hydrated. If your skin is dry, your makeup could look cakey, flakey and dry as well making your makeup look unnatural and not appealing at all. We don’t want that chile. Well hydrated skin allows for your makeup to look natural, last longer and not look patchy/uneven.

• Why it matters: Makeup clings differently to dry vs. hydrated skin.

• Fix: Adjust your skin prep routine to include a moisturizer targeted to your specific skin type.

• Pro Tip: Well moisturized skin allows your skin to not interfere with your makeup products in a negative way.

Mistake #2: Skipping Primer

Look, I am the QUEEN of forgetting this one when I’m in a rush so if anyone is guilty of this, it’s me. Not putting on any primer prior to putting on a face full of makeup can seriously affect the length and look of your makeup. All primers aren’t created to do the same thing either so you’ll need to be sure of what you’re trying to convey with your “lewk”. For my oily girls, you’ll want a mattifying primer to ensure your naturally oily skin does not cause you to look dewy. Using a mattifying primer along with a mattifying foundation and concealer ensure that the length of time before you get dewy is long and strong. For my dry skin girls, you’ll want to avoid mattifying primers completely and focus on hydrating and illuminating primers to help ensure your makeup goes on smoothly and doesn’t cause a dry and flakey look.

• Why it matters: Primer is a barrier between your skin and the makeup ensuring longer wear.

• Fix: Find your prep routine to include a moisturizer targeted to your specific skin type.

• Pro Tip: “Think of it like painting a wall—you need primer before color.”

Mistake #3: Using the Wrong Foundation Shade or Undertone

I’ve noticed that a lot of women of color tend to get their colors wrong when it comes to foundation and concealer purchases. I need you to go and get color matched by a professional babe. Stop following behind influencers and content creators who are NOT your skin tone for what color makeup you need to be buying. Now that makeup has expanded to sooo many colors thanks to brands like Fenty Beauty, to ensure that everyone is able to find their shade match (or at least something close), you don’t have to hope to find your match. You more than likely will find it if you venture out and get color matched in stores like Sephora or Ulta. Once you’re matched, you can also take online quizzes from brands to find color matches that may be priced lower. (We’re always here for saving some coin, boo!)

• Why it happens: Lighting in stores, oxidation, or not knowing undertones.

• Fix: Go into an actual store to get color matched. Match foundation to your chest/jawline, NOT the back of your hand.

• Pro Tip: If you’re in between shades, mix — don’t settle.

Mistake #4: Not using any Contour/Bronzer to bring warmth back to your face

Skipping the process of contouring and/or bronzer can leave your makeup looking flat. No one has skin that looks exactly the same shade over their entire face. We need a contour and/or bronzer to help bring the warmth back to our face. I personally am a fan on bronzing because it is very quick and effective for creating a good look of warmth without having to be precise in what you’re applying. Contouring needs a little more detail as you’re looking for the areas of your face where shadows live. Bronzing is about adding warmth to the places the sun would naturally hit your face. Using either one or both of these will help ensure you don’t look flat and one color all over as it’s very unnatural and gives casket sharp. We don’t want that at all.

• Why it happens: You think foundation/concealer by itself is enough to get the job done.

• Fix: Choose a bronzer to “warm” your skin where the sun naturally hits or a contour to emphasize your face’s natural shadows.

• Pro Tip: Use cream products for a softer, more natural look before you use powder to set for good.

Mistake #5: RUSHING

I hate to tell you but this is the BIGGEST makeup mistake I see people making: your makeup is NOT hittin’ because you are RUSHING through the process. You’re starting your makeup with 7 minutes to spare, you aren’t giving your primer enough time to dry down, you’re trying to do new techniques and use new products before you’ve even looked at em good and then you’re mad your makeup isn’t coming out like the girls on TikTok and Instagram. You have to master your makeup techniques FIRST in order to do them quickly. While I am the queen of saying, “makeup isn’t hard” (because it ain’t), I can’t lie and tell you that makeup only takes 5 minutes from jump. You have to take your time if you are trying to get yourself to the level where you can get it down to 15 min or less. You have to experiment with things to see what works best for your face. And these things take TIME. So to fix this, you must add more time to your “get ready” system. My personal system gives me 15 minutes MINIMUM to get my makeup done and I plan out the rest of my get ready plan calculating time backwards from when I need to be leaving the house. If you need an hour, ok! Give yourself an hour! Do what you need to do to ensure you can look and feel your best. Doing so will ensure your confidence is on point so you can stand out for good reasons! Not because people are like, “ooh chile, her makeup looks crazy”.

• Why it matters: Knowing how to do your own makeup takes time and knowing how much time to take will ensure you always EAT on that beat!

• Fix: Add more time to your “get ready” system instead of trying to throw your makeup in as a last minute thing. Give it it’s own time frame.

• Pro Tip: Start with giving yourself an extra 30-45 to leisurely do your makeup. If you finish early, you’ve got more time for selfies before you head out the door!

At the end of the day, makeup should feel fun, empowering, and like a boost of confidence. NOT a source of stress. Now that you know the makeup mistakes to avoid and have some fixes up your sleeve, your overall look will start working for you instead of against you. Because remember: the goal isn’t perfection, it’s confidence. When your makeup routines are solid, your prep is right, and you give yourself enough time to actually enjoy the process, your makeup becomes a reflection of the best version of you.

And look, if you need to take this even deeper, there might just be a makeup masterclass coming in 2026 that will walk you through how to create a flawless routine with no overwhelm and definitely no endless YouTube rabbit holes. You’ll leave with techniques you can use every day to feel polished, radiant, and confident in your own skin.

Because real life > curated life, every time. And confidence? That’s always the best part of the look.

P.S. Want to see these fixes in action? I walk through my go-to techniques in the full video on YouTube; watch it here.

xo,

Keri

Hey girl heyyy!

It’s been a minute, ain’t it? 😅

Keri Kontours is BACK and I’m better (word to Bryson).

If you’ve been here a while, you certainly know me as the girl who loves a good face beat, a cute outfit, a decent skincare routine, and a playlist for literally every mood. That hasn’t changed. But I had been craving something deeper for a long while here. Something more real. Less filtered and polished. Less “perfect”.

Because honestly? Life isn’t always curated flatlays or perfect lighting with minimal backgrounds and luxury everything. It’s the late-night self-talks, the “what am I even doing?” moments, the “whew girl, that’s out of my budget” realizations, and the reaffirming that “I’m THAT girl” after the breakdowns. PLUS all the cute additions that you can make real to your REAL life.

That’s the space that I want to start holding here.

So, consider this a little reintroduction into the “new era”. We’re still talking beauty, style, music, lifestyle — but through a lens that feels a lot more like your real life out here, OFF of the internet.

October is the official relaunch (yes, I’ve been working behind the scenes, and it’s giving “NEW new” tease 🔥). But for now, I just wanted to pop in and say: I’m back. And it’s only up from here.

See you soon, honey. ✨

P.S. If you can’t wait, check out my links page here for a sneak peek… And remember, your REAL life is greater than an overly curated life, every time.

xo,

Keri

You know, it’s so crazy to me that, “in the year of our Lord”, 2025, it feels like we live in a world where everything feels like it has to be “post-worthy.” There’s this pressure to make life look flawless from the outfits we’re wearing, to the vacations we’re going on and especially the food we’re eating and drinking out with friends. Everything has to have the right aesthetic. We’re supposed to convince the world that everything is “picture perfect” even when it isn’t actually that way. Somewhere along the lines, I realized that chasing the curated version of life was draining the joy out of my real one.

So I pressed pause.

That pause was uncomfortable at first because I felt like I had failed. Not “showing up” for something that a lot of people knew I was pursuing, felt like failing everyone who believed in me. In that stillness though, I remembered something that we all know deep down: some of the BEST nights hanging out, laughing with your friends, pitting your monthly budget against your social calendar (while trying to avoid FOMO) and trying the craziest skincare fads and makeup trends aren’t always IG worthy. The unglamorous, unposted, un-algorithm worthy moments were the ones that actually made me feel alive.

Stepping back reminded me that real life is far greater than an overly curated life every time. And as I return to this space, I want to create content that celebrates that truth, and not some unsustainably fake and filtered version of that.

Next month, I’ll be sharing more about what this shift means for me (and maybe for you too). But for now, I’d love to know: when was the last time you chose living a real life over your ideas of a curated one?

If you’ve been feeling the same pressure to keep up, consider this your reminder: you don’t have to perform for anyone. The most important parts of your life aren’t always meant to be shared with strangers online. They’re meant to be lived as the fullest version of you.

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be rolling out a few things that I’ve been working on behind the scenes that are less about perfection and more about connection. If you’ve ever craved content that feels like an exhale instead of another checklist to judge yourself against, you’ll want to stick around to have a lil look see.

Be sure you’re following along on Instagram and TikTok, and if you want to be the first to know when things go live in October, join my email list here.

Real life is where all the good things happen and I can’t wait to explore that with you.

xo,

Keri

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]]>The Case for Choosing Real Life Over A Curated OneKeri KontoursSun, 14 Mar 2021 15:21:32 +0000https://www.kerikontours.com/blog/vhdolikmkq9ggw48ctwusdpx1a85n95f011a32efc1926f9abc5084:5f01305b524a1c2b65141598:604d5feae89f7c5141622ea4

In my Instagram stories the other day, we ALL agreed (100% of the pollee's) that we have indeed gotten a little plumper than usual during this pandemic. And honestly? It's to be expected! All the extra sitting around and inability to stay on the go this past year has resulted in a lot of eating out of boredom and less than average motivation for exercise. I have 100% told myself to get up and go workout and just didn't because there was no light at the end of the tunnel. It seemed like we were never going to get to the end of 2020 and these panorama shenanigans.

Luckily, things are looking up and we MIGHT get a real summer this year! Bay-bay! It's prime time to get back fine! I've been intermittently working out since January but I'm pledging to be more consistent in the next 8 weeks. I want to see legit results that aren't deterred by slipping back into old quarantine habits. We are about to be free y'all!!! Gotta be ready when we officially get to “the let out”!

If you're reading this, I hope you're able to commit to your fitness goals for this upcoming time period and beyond! I want us all to be fine as wine for the summer time. I created this playlist at the beginning of the year and it's kind of morphed into a series of motivational songs that I listen to when I need a boost so check it out here and on Spotify here. I titled it Affirmations because it's truly a lot of things in these songs I'm affirming for myself. 2020 was a doozy but it's time to make up for all that in 2021! I can't wait to see y'all outside!

If you need help staying consistent, hit my dm (IG: @kerikontours) and I'll connect you with a free fitness group who can help. I want us to all win so let's get it!!!

Until next time!

XO,

Keri

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Last night on Closet Chronicles, Jess and I discussed staple shoes should have in your closet. From sneakers, to sandals, these are all the kicks you should acquire. Every link in this post is shoppable so if you decide you like something here, make sure you use them! I get a commission on each purchase so I’ll definitely appreciate you!!! Enough of all that, now let’s get into it!

My number one type of shoe that I personally love is the interchangeable low sneaker. My preferred shoe is the Converse Chuck Taylor in white as it is a very minimal type of shoe. I am able to wear a cute little dress in the summer with these without it looking bulky or strange. The juxtaposition of the flirty style of dress with a casual shoe gives it really relaxed vibes while still being really cute and girly. If you’re in the market for interchangeable sneakers and need more support, you could try the low white Nike Air Force 1’s, Vans SK-8 low, or shell-toed Adidas Original SuperStars. All of these shoes are comfortable and cute with the ability to transition into the rest of your closet’s pieces.

High top sneakers are also a good look especially with the rage that Jordan 1’s have been causing the past two years. Styling these with shorts and high socks have become a staple “streetwear” fashion look in the more recent years. I personally love them but they are hard to get your hands on so be aware that the drops will be something you’ll need to plan for if you want to cop. If you like mid top sneakers, try for the Vans SK-8 high tops or any of the many variations of the Nike Blazer which are actually a mid height shoe but still y’all know what I mean. These are a really cute yet easier-to-cop type of sneakers if you aren’t necessarily into sneakers yet want something on-trend.

If you know me and have been around the Keri Kontours Instagram for a while, you’ll know, I HATE the cold. My next favorite type of shoe that you will find me in is a sandal! I love and live in sandals in the summertime. If you catch me outside the chances of my toes being exposed is HIGH! Sandals that have a platform or some kind of foot support are really important to me. Not only for function but for the look as well. I hate to see someone’s foot basically half an inch off the ground because the sandal material is so thin. Therefore, I love a medium platform style of sandal like these from Target and a really cute “dad” sandal. Those are so comfortable and easily able to style year round. The addition of chunky socks with a dad sandal can help you transition from spring into summer or summer into fall. Having a mixture of sandal colors is also key as well. Find some crazy colors to mix in with those neutrals! Make it fun and let your sandals do the talking in those warm months! Neutral prints are also a great way to go like these snake skin platform sandals from Target here.

Moving on to shoes that I loved when I was younger but as time has gone on, I have started drifting away from: high heels. I really expected my life to be non-stop Sex in the City-Carrie behavior with high heels and uhhhh…. that is not the case lol. My job doesn’t require them and I really only go “clubbing” during Howard Homecoming soooo yeah. Heels are further down on my life list especially now that we’ve been trapped in a global pandemic but maybe they’ll make a comeback in these “roaring 20’s”?? Maybe. Anywho, here are a few of my staple heels that I for sure will always keep handy. You will always need a medium height strappy black/nude/neutral heel. That will always be great to have for a special occasion like a wedding or a warm-weather date night. For the cooler months, I’d suggest having two different types of heels: a closed-toe heel with a medium height and an ankle height bootie style boot. That way you can swap one in or out, depending on the outfit. The size and width of heels that I choose nowadays are thicker instead of skinny stilettos just for an extra secure level of comfort for myself.

So that’s it for me guys! Let me know what shoes you feel everyone should have and catch the replay of our shoe talk on Instagram here! Make sure you're there for our next chat, every other Wednesday night at 8pm EDT!

Until next time,

xo,

Keri Kontours

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If you’re following me (@kerikontours) or Jess (@indyacejr) on Instagram you’ll know that we have Closet Chronicles on Instagram Live every other Wednesday night at 8pm!

If you missed this week’s episode, we talked about the many wonders of cosmetic enhancements! It’s truly amazing the options that we have available to us to enhance our bodies. As we discussed in the live, we all agreed that we loved our bodies but having that little bit of adjustment would make us love our bodies even more!

We covered many different procedures but the general consensus was if you’re considering any type of enhancement: Don’t be cheap! Do your research! Find a reputable doctor!

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Liposuction had a big following for our group as Jess is looking into Smart Lipo and I am interested in lipo as part of a slim BBL procedure in which they will take harvested fat from my torso (and other areas) and place it in my buttocks. We suggest doing the research on the procedures you’re wanting by watching YouTube vlogs of people who have had the procedures done themselves. These vlogs are really great because they give you a first hand experience through someone else’s complete documentation of the process. I personally love these kinds of videos as they have opened my eyes to what cosmetic procedures fully entail.

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Another big topic of the night was breast augmentation in which some of my followers expressed interest in via an IG story I had posted the day before. If I could share my boobs with all of you I would as I feel like I’ve gotten a smidge too much. The funny thing is getting a reduction is out of the question for me but I would love to just hug people and give them some of my boobs through osmosis. But since that isn’t a reality, the conversation led back to the main premise we have about enhancements. Make sure you do your research and make sure you are being worked on by a qualified professional. You can take a look at doctor’s instagram results and well as possibly hiring a cosmetic enhancement consultant like @kosmeticsbykrys on IG. She has a wealth of information about things to look for when choosing a doctor but if you want specific questions answered, you’d have to pay for those services.

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It’s better to pay more and get it done right in our opinion so save, save, save! Make sure you have done all of your research and aren’t going to some back office/basement “surgeon” to get any sort of work done. This is your body! You only get one. Don’t jack it up trying to be cheap and get a deal. I promise you after watching E! Network’s “Botched” series, it will NOT be worth it. Just save your money until you can afford to get it done right.

Watch the full IGTV here for information on some of the procedures we discussed and I was so happy with that safe space that we cultivated in which we all discussed our wants with no judgement! Removing the taboo nature behind cosmetic surgery/enhancement allows for people to truly live their best lives. If you want to enhance yourself, I suggest you go for it! Self love is the best love and whatever makes you love yourself more is always a win in my book.

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Hey hey hello!

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If you’ve been keeping up with my Instagram stories this week, you’ll know that I had a BIT of a fiasco with one of the brands that I wrote about last year in this post about brands you can try while waiting on Telfar to restock. In short, I ordered a bag from a brand in July 2020 and did not receive it until February 17, 2021.

Yeah. It took that long to receive.

It was a major learning experience for me in recognizing that I will no longer blog about companies before I try them myself because bay-BEH! That would not have made my list at all. Especially because there was ZERO communication about the bag still being on its way. I honestly thought I had been scammed and was just going to take the L but alas, it arrived… 7 months later.

Anywho, I want to tell you all about the AMAZING brands that I have purchased during that same time frame (while waiting on that other bag). These brands have such quality products as well as quick and efficient shipping AND communication.

First, we’re going to start with the QUEEN: Mia Ray and Glam-Aholic Lifestyle. Now, I stan Mia not only because of her bags but also because of her ability to openly and honestly communicate with her audience on social media about a multitude of subjects. Mia keeps it real about her personal financial story as well as how she got to where she is with her brands. The small business information that she provides is extremely enlightening even if you do not have a business. She provides her customers with all the information that you need to shop for her drops as well as going live before the drops to give you full rundowns of what’s going to be available for purchase! It’s like her own home shopping network experience before the website is open for shopping every time. 10/10. Highly recommend! I have purchased the matte black AND the metallic pink travel sets (duffle + monogram bag), the monogram fanny pack, the matte black monogram travel toiletry set, and the metallic pink compact card set. Am I done purchasing items? Nope. If you’re reading this when it’s being posted, there is a drop TONIGHT, February 19th at 8 pm. Be sure to check out her live on Instagram at 7 pm to see all the products “in person” before purchase. Also, for those on a budget: Mia has AfterPay available for use on all her purchases! That’s how I’ve been able to accumulate so many items in less than a year. I AfterPay everything! Even if I have the money in the bank chile. It’s just easier on my spirit to not see big chunks of money come out of my account at once.

The next brand I’d like to mention is one that is new to me but quickly moved up on my list of faves. Brandon Blackwood NYC has these really cute mini bags that I adore. I realized after finding him that I had actually seen his bags before but didn’t know who made them. His ESR bag- short for “End Systemic Racism”- had gone viral on Instagram in 2020. I found him in late 2020 around Christmas and realized that I loved his pony hair dalmatian print Kuei bag. I found him literally on the day that he was having a drop which was lucky for me because I was able to pre-order a lavender pony hair trunk bag as well. I love the color choices, the quality of the pony hair, the fact that there is a matching detachable strap that goes with every bag, and the price. I ordered the lavender bag in December for preorder and it was supposed to be delivered in mid-February but my girl showed up a few weeks early in late January! I was ecstatic. She’s so fly and I know I will be expanding my Brandon Blackwood NYC collection because he has such fun and fabulous colors. His brand also offers AfterPay so if you’re on a budget you can cop and pay over time. He has had several drops since the one that I purchased from so you also will always have an opportunity to shop.

Finally, we’re going to talk about the bag that all the gworls were clamoring over and the reason why I even created the first blog last year about black owned luxury brands: Telfar. So in that post, I discussed how bots had taken over Telfar’s drop and how they were combating the issue at that time. One of the actions that they took was having a guaranteed program where if you ordered in August 2020, you would guarantee that you’d receive the bag you ordered without having to wait on any other drops. The only catch was that you’d have to wait for your bag to be made and that could take months. The latest you’d receive the bag(s) you’d ordered would be January 2021. Now, for some people, that may have been a deal breaker. For me, it was not. My mom wanted a Telfar and I figured boom, I could handle Christmas shopping early! So I took the plunge and got her a bag, and myself two bags as well and paid all of them off before Christmas even came around so bloop! She won! I purchased a red medium shopping bag and a brown medium shopping bag, as well as a small orange bag. Now the bags are cute but the only thing I wish that they had were detachable straps! I did not realize that the long straps were attached to the bags so the small bag doesn’t have that much room in it if you stuff the longer straps in while carrying it. Be sure you are ok with that before copping if you haven’t already. Otherwise, the medium bag is going to be perfect for when I’m on the go with my computer and all my notebooks that I carry around for meetings and etc. I’m hype to strut in my Telfar!

So yeah guys, this is my round up of black owned luxury brands that you should try for travel and fashion bags! Let me know if you already copped and/or what you will be copping from their upcoming drops! Be sure to follow the brands on social media to get a heads up on the drop dates and times so that way you don’t miss them!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

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Hey y’all! Back at it again with the 2nd part of the makeup 101 series so let’s get into it!

Understanding your undertones in relation to makeup shades really helps you figure out where you fit within the makeup world but let me tell you it isn’t easy. There are 3 undertones that you can fall under: cool, neutral, and warm. Me personally, I fall under a mostly neutral undertone but I feel like when I’m good and tan, I lean more “warm”. If you don’t know your undertone, here is an article I found about how you can decide where you fit in. Now you have to remember, these types of tests are created by people with less melanated skin tones so the one about your veins may be harder to use.

There are differing schools of thought around how to shade match once you’ve gotten your undertone down. My suggestion would be to use your chest to assist in color matching and not any other part of your body. I’ve seen people shade match using their cheek, their wrists, and the back of their hands to color match their makeup. I don’t think those are the best options for you to take. Especially your wrists and your hands are more than likely a completely different color than your face/chest. My suggestion is to use your chest to shade match being sure to blend out the color onto your chest. Whichever one disappears, is your shade match.

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I touched on this in Part 1 but be sure you know your skin type to help you choose the correct formula for your skin! If you have oily skin, you want to stay away from dewy foundations and concealers because you’re going to look greasy. If you have dry skin, stay away from the matte foundations and concealers because you’re going to look cakey. The skin type quiz is within this blog post so take that here.

Take a look at the full YouTube video below for my number one tip on how to ensure you know that your concealer is the right color! It’s honestly the easiest way to figure it out as it’s the number one way the rest of us can tell that it’s all wrong from our perspective. Yikes! Nobody wants to look like a ghost! Like I said in the last video, casket ready makeup while you are yet living, is NOT cute!

Back at it again with part 2 of my Makeup 101 series! I think this is probably the hardest part of full face makeup: choosing the correct foundation and conc...

That’s it for me this time guys. Let me know what else you’re interested in learning about and be on the lookout for part 3!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Hey, y’all! Last night on Closet Chronicles, Jess and I discussed all things hair. As black women, we are blessed to be able to change our hair in so many different ways meaning we have so many product and style options to make ourselves look bomb! Here’s the link if you missed any of our other episodes and below I run down some of the hair products we love and discussed last night!

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We briefly discussed the “Obama bundles” that our “Forever Flotus” Michelle wore for the Inauguration last month and talked about protective styles in which additional hair is added. Getting a nice little wig situation for when you don’t feel like doing your hair is legit my go-to. I have two wigs that I love currently and will certainly be expanding my collection. Jess discussed her wig and stated that it was from Amazon! You do not have to spend a lot of money on a good wig! Make sure you do your research as you don’t want to get swindled but do a search on the brands via YouTube reviews before buying! A company that I’ve bought from that have cheap (although most are synthetic) but “starter” wigs, is Divatress.com. As Jess said, it’s a low investment for yourself in going to a cheap route but if you want a more expensive type of wig, you can try www.gorjesswigs.com. That’s where I got my black wig from that you see on Instagram. Black-owned, woman-owned, and offering AfterPay if you want to pay for your wig over time! Here for it!

First up, we discussed our favorite cleansers and moisturizers!

For Jess’s choice, her favorite product line DevaCurl was discussed. Now there are some controversies with the brand but you can do your own research on that via YouTube. Jess luckily did not experience any of those issues but I want you to decide if you’d like to proceed based on your own. The two products that she loved are the Wash Day Wonder Pre-Wash Detangler and Melt Into Moisture Deep Conditioning Mask. Jess said that she was able to detangle her hair so much easier with using these particular products than with others.

Just me reviewing Mane Choice's Tropical Moringa Moisturizing products line. Have you tried this product or any Mane Choice Products before? Sound off below!...

My choice included some good old faithful’s that started me off on my natural hair journey, Giovanni’s shampoo, conditioner, and leave-in conditioner. These were all the rage during the first few years that the girls went natural but I still love them to this day. It smells so good and is so moisturizing! Another brand that I love is The Mane Choice. They have great products that smell great and are extremely moisturizing. I previously did a video on their Tropical Moringa line as well as their Ancient Egyptian line as well so you can check those out to get my in depth responses to those as well!

I came across two videos on IG with similar looks to this one so I decided to mash them up and recreate this look on myself. I AM NOT A BRAIDER and really on...

Talking protective styles, Jess and I both love a good braid up. Neither of us can cornrow so finding a good beautician and braider to help give your hair a break is imperative! Feed-in braids are a personal fave of mine but like I said I cannot braid so I have to venture out to get those done. If you are wondering how you can find a great braider in your area, you can do a search on Instagram for whatever style you’re looking for + the city you live in or live close to. That’s how I found my braiders when I lived in Atlanta and I was satisfied with both ladies work after thoroughly stalking their IG pages. If you’re like me and don’t always feel like sitting around the beauty shop, you can try your hand at easy DIY protective styles. I’ve embedded my video of my putting in box braids using the rubber band method for you to try if you’re interested in taking matters into your own hands! Also, if you search on YouTube, you can find a lot of great in-depth tutorials to help you create any style, even if you are a beginner and aren’t skilled (like me!).

Finally, Jess walked us through her experience with going blonde! Now we loved her results but she warned of the dangers of bleaching your hair. She noticed her hair suffered a lot of damage after having prior color and then bleaching her hair on top of that. We discussed the Olaplex hair products as they are products that can recreate the bonds that chemicals like bleach, break during the coloring process. I previously experienced that same type of damage when I dyed my hair in high school. If Olaplex had existed it might have helped my hair recover from the damage faster so thank goodness for technology! Anywho, if you don’t know what Olaplex is, check out my YouTube video below where I explain the product and how to use it in depth below!

This was my first time trying out the Olaplex products and I was able to snag the bundle for No. 0 with a mini bottle of No.3 when it came out. This bundle i...

So that’s it guys! Let me know of any products we may have missed! If you missed the video, once again, check it out here and every other Wednesday night on IG Live at 8pm!!! We’d love to chat with you live! PS. Never put Gorilla Glue in your hair. NEVER.

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Since we have v-day coming next week, let’s start with makeup!

• Mented Cosmetics - Mented, short for “pigMented” was created by two friends, KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson, to fulfill a need that was missing in the beauty world. Where were the “nude” lipsticks for women of color?? These two women took on the task of creating nude lipsticks for women of all tones and complexions. With a shade finder to help you figure out what tones work best for you, you can’t go wrong. Mented started with lipsticks but has been expanded to include foundations, concealers, bronzers, and more. My Mented must-have bronzer is in the “Yacht Life” along with their Skin by Mented Foundation in the color M20.

• Beauty Bakerie- Created by a single mother who conquered breast cancer and now dominates in the makeup world, Cashmere Nicole founded Beauty Bakerie in 2011. Beauty Bakerie is a force within the beauty community with high-quality products. If you’ve been around for a while, and/or have seen our Closet Chronicles series on IG Live/IGTV or any of my YouTube videos, you would know my favorite translucent powder is made by them. The color I use is Cassava/Yellow but they do have a great number of other colors for those of all shades. We love a brand with inclusivity!

• The Lip Bar/TLB- If you’re an avid watcher of Shark Tank like I am, then you have definitely heard about this brand. After going viral for their presentation on that show in which one of the “Sharks” called them “cockroaches”, owner and creator Melissa Butler did not stop. The Lip Bar is a vegan, and cruelty-free brand which started with lipsticks in colors that were not like any of those provided in the drug stores. Bright purples, blues, and hues that popped on melanated skin were the initial standouts for the brand. Now they have expanded into foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, and beyond! You can create a full face using their Fast Face Kit that features 6 full-sized products to create one beat face in they say, 7 minutes. Now that’s what I call efficient! Use my discount code for a percentage off your next purchase: kerikontours !

• The Crayon Case- The owner of The Crayon Case, Raynell Stewart, better known on Instagram as @SupaCent, created the brand in 2017 which immediately went viral. She was able to sell $1 million dollars worth of product in 90 minutes during Cyber Monday the very next year. With a focus on the colorful eye looks, her #crayoncuties create beautiful makeup looks using the brand’s eyeshadow palettes, lipsticks, glosses, and more! If you’re into colorful makeup looks, look no further. You can find just about everything you need from The Crayon Case!

• Fenty Beauty- Blasting onto the market with the backing of its creator, the megastar, Robyn Rihanna Fenty, Fenty Beauty made its mark by boasting inclusivity for all. Releasing a foundation with over 40 different shades really made everyone stop and pay attention because it was truly unprecedented. Women of color had long been looking for brands to support and create colors for all and Fenty Beauty fulfilled that need on the first day out! Other brands saw the successes of what inclusion did for Fenty Beauty and have since been focusing on including more shade ranges for all. Fenty Beauty really changed the makeup landscape in a matter of a year. Fenty is a complete makeup brand with products that range from concealers to lipsticks to brow products and beyond. My favorite lipstick that they have is the Mattemoiselle lipstick in the color “Thicc” and if you pick up any color Gloss Bomb you cannot go wrong.

• Propa Beauty- Founded by Victoria Ndeshimana Fazio, Propa (pronounced Prop-paa) Beauty was created to ensure that black women’s skin tones were at the center of their beauty innovations. With beautiful color ranges and highly pigmented formulas that have a lightweight feel and a satin finish. If you’d like to try out Propa Beauty out for $FREE.99, here’s a text link for a free lipstick below!

Get a free lipstick on us. Lipstick that actually gets undertones.

So that’s the wrap up for me y’all! Let me know if there are any other black-owned makeup brands that you know and love that I missed! I’ll see you back here next week for my next set of black-owned faves!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

We all have to start somewhere and for those who have already started, we know the mistakes that were made chile (looking at you completely incorrect concealer colors and harsh brows…). I want to save as many people as possible from the terrible looks and get you on the right track from the start!

Watch the video below for my four tips on what you should and should not be doing at the beginning of your makeup journey! Below the video, there are links to the products that I reference in the video as well for you to explore!

Get a free lipstick on us. Lipstick that actually gets undertones.

Here are some links for the items referenced for quick access here:

• Maybelline Fit Me Liquid Foundation + Maybelline Fit Me Stick Foundation + Maybelline Fit Me Quiz

• Colourpop Foundation + Colourpop Concealer

• Makeup Revolution Foundation

• L.A. Girl Pro Conceal HD Concealer

• Finally here is a skin quiz that you can use to figure out your skin type if you don’t know it!

Let me know what you think of the video and the plan of action that I’m suggesting here and let me know how it goes! Send me a DM on IG or shoot me an email! I’m excited to hear how it goes for you!

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Hey, y’all! I’m late to blog but if you’re following me on IG, you’ve seen that we kicked off this year’s Closet Chronicles with an in-depth chat about SKINCARE. If you weren’t able to join in and watch live, I’ve taken the liberty of linking all of the products we referenced in the video here for you! Click this link to watch the full video!

Make sure you know your skin type! If you don’t, here’s a skin type quiz you can take in case you aren’t sure where you fit! Also, if you’re looking for more melanated skincare influencers, check out this blog post here! Several, if not all of those mentioned in that post are estheticians themselves which is just perfect. Now, let’s get to the products mentioned in the chat!

Jess and I’s favorite toners:

• Fenty Skin Fat Water Pore Refining Toning Serum

• Murad Environmental Shield Essential-C Toner Refreshing Facial Toner Mist

Tip: Do not overdo it with the toner! You do not have to tone every single time you wash your face. There is a chance you will cause more dryness if you do since a lot of toners have alcohol and witch hazel in them. We suggest using them sparingly so you don’t dry your skin out.

Getting rid of dark spots and discoloration:

• Chemical exfoliants/chemical peel via an esthetician

• Glycolix Elite Treatment Pads 10% (goes up to 30%)

• Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant

• Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel

• Ole Henriksen Glow Cycle & Good Night Glow Retin-ALT Duo

Tip: If you’re new to chemical exfoliants, start low with the active ingredients. Do not start out using a high percentage as you do not know how your skin will react. You want to avoid ruining your skin barrier and causing more breakouts. Make sure you follow the instructions to the T and wear your sunscreen!!!

On chemical peels:

Jess discussed the process of getting a chemical peel by a professional.

• Be sure you are going to a professional! Do not use just anybody to apply these products! Your esthetician should ask you about your allergies, common skin reactions to certain products and etc before servicing you.

• Make sure if you are melanated that your esthetician has experience with melanated skin! That way you can be sure the results will be what you really want.

• A chemical peel DOES burn. You have to know it will be an uncomfortable situation at times. Jess said her regular experience is 5/10 on the level of burn but has had an experience where it was an 8/10. So you have to be aware of what you’re getting into.

• The number of times you’ll need a chemical peel depends on the person. You want to go until you achieve the results you want. For maintenance purposes, you can do it once a quarter.

Physical Exfoliants:

• Good Molecules Pineapple Exfoliating Powder

• Tatcha The Rice Polish Foaming Enzyme Powder

Vitamin C:

• Ole Henriksen Truth Juice Daily Cleanser + Brightening Moisturizer (linked set)

• Lumene Valo Vitamin C Arctic Berry Cocktail Brightening Hydra Oil

• Lumene Valo Vitamin C Glow Boost Essence with Hyaluronic Acid

To combat Keratosis Pilaris (KP or“permanent goosebumps”):

• Glytone Exfoliating Body Wash

• Salt scrubs/Sugar Scrubs

• Cerave Salicylic Body Wash

Moisturization for the body:

• Keri Lotion (! I love this stuff)

• Neutrogena Lightweight Body Oil for Dry Skin, Sheer Body Moisturizer in Light Sesame Formula

• L'Occitane Cleansing And Softening Almond Shower Oil

Our “can’t live without” skincare products:

• The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid + B5

• Brown Sugar Scrubs (Jess makes her own: brown sugar+coconut oil)

• Sephora Lip Masks

• Neutrogena Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel Daily Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin, Oil-Free, Non-Comedogenic & Dye-Free Face Lotion

So that’s all of the products we referenced on last week’s episode! If you have any faves that we didn’t discuss be sure to leave me a comment and/or shoot me a DM (IG: @kerikontours) so we can talk about it!

Make sure you check out our Closet Chronicles on IG Live every other Wednesday night at 8 pm EST! We can’t wait to see you there!

Until next time,

xo, Keri

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I’ve said it more than once that this year, as many of you, was not my favorite year in the history of my life. Since we’re closing out the year, I’ve decided not to focus on the things that weren’t my favorite but to focus on the things that I am truly grateful for.

#1. Good health.

This past year, prior to the pandemic, there were some health issues within my close family that had us concerned we’d possibly not share any 2020 holiday together. Thank the Lord, that was not the case. I’m grateful that we all were in much better health in 2020 than in 2019 and have been able to stay healthy, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

#2. Time spent with family.

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This whole global pandemic thing we’ve been living through has resulted in my being locked away with my folks + nephew for over a year. I moved back home to help take care of my family during that health scare in November 2019. While it has had its moments, since I spent many years before this living completely alone, I’m grateful that I was able to be here with them as an adult. The unexpected quality time was good because I much preferred that over being alone in my apartment in DC for 6-8 months. Skype, Zoom, Houseparty, FaceTime so on and so forth has allowed me to stay in touch with extended family and friends during this time so shout out to technology!! I mean could you imagine how this would have gone without the advent of internet?? Whew chile. The struggle of those in 1918.

#3. The ability to continue working.

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I was already working from home most of the time before the pandemic happened so the work from home lifestyle was not new for me. Luckily my job also allowed me to permanently relocate to help take care of my family this year. That was a huge surprise because when you aren’t in a position for very long, the expectation was, I’d have to jump through hella hoops to get my request granted. Thankfully my manager was insanely understanding. Also, after hearing how many people lost their jobs this year, I am grateful that my accommodations were granted and that I am even able to have a job this year. Things are rough for a lot of people right now so this is one I have to give a lot of thanks for. Grateful is an understatement!

#4. The opportunity to refocus.

If you’re like me, being home has had its perks for new creative endeavors. Since we couldn’t go out and spend time doing other things, this time has really helped me refocus on quite a few things that I had been meaning to give more of my time and attention. I am happy to have had to time to do so because it put me in such a great mental space for 2021 and have lots of plans and goals to accomplish because of it.

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#5. You.

Yes, you! For reading, watching, liking, sharing, and commenting on any and everything that I’ve put out here on Al Gore’s internet under the Keri Kontours brand. I’m really grateful to have gotten so much support in everything that I’ve done this year from you because I tell you, it has been tough trying to keep up since social media changes so much! I’m grateful that now, I have a better idea of what I want my brand to be so that I can give more to you in the coming year!

And so, that’s my wrap up for the year! What are you grateful for this year??

Make sure you’ve taken a look at the things you can do over the next few days to get yourself mentally prepared for the new year in past blog posts here and here. Also, make sure you check out the final Closet Chronicles on Wed, Dec 30th, on Instagram Live on looks we would have created for New Year’s Eve! Here’s a link to our past episodes so you can catch up. See you there!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Hey y’all!

Since we’re a few weeks from a new year and I know some of you might be getting ready to hit your fitness goals, I have GOT to share my review of the SheFit bras as they have become a true staple for me. FYI, this review is in no way, shape or form sponsored.

I got introduced to SheFit due to Instagram constantly showing me their products. You know how it is. Once you click on one promoted post, they’re going to inundate you with a million more smh. So anywho, I was drawn in by the fact that the models were of many different sizes. Specifically, they were promoting VERY BUSTY models who I can certainly relate to.

If you didn’t know, though I’m certain you’ve noticed, that I am a busty gal. I am also someone who is relatively into fitness and personal health. Therefore I had a conundrum. If you’re like me, you know big boobs plus a lot of jumping around all over the place, do not mix. In the past, I have had to wear multiple sports bras to keep “the gals” from bouncing around too much and extremely difficult to get off my sweaty body afterward.

Bali and Playtex Bras as low as $18.99 or 2/$36!

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When I saw SheFit’s zip front design with adjustable straps, I was certainly intrigued. The ability to not only adjust the straps beside the neck plus the straps around the base under your boobs is great for when you lose weight so it would adjust to your body as time goes on. The zip front also made it seem as though it would be a breeze to get on and off after a really sweaty workout and avoid the fight that I usually had taking off all other “over the head” sports bras I own. The final testament for me was being able to take a quick quiz to help choose the best bra for you through their online quiz.

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The bra that I chose was “The Ultimate Sports Bra” and the size that the size quiz gave me was 2 Luxe which is a few sizes up from the size I would have personally chosen (and would have been very wrong lol- TAKE THE QUIZ before buying!). I was not mad at that, as long as it fit! The great thing about their sports bras is well is that the sizes are so inclusive! The sizes range from an XS to a 6 Luxe. I’m a 2Luxe and am over a DDD bra size. I don’t know the cup equivalents but based on the size range, these are great for people with much larger bosoms than me.

I ordered two different colors to start. When I received them, I was impressed by the few perks I got that I wasn’t expecting to come with every bra. You get a free laundry bag plus measuring tape for you to re-measure yourself if the bra doesn’t fit. That was genius to me because taking great care of the bras are important to ensuring they last long! They are made to go in the washing machine, which can be a bit rough on bras in general (you should wash your regular bras in a lingerie/laundry bag) so that was a great addition to me.

ABOUT THE BRAS

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They are made of a thick, quality material that lead me to believe it is durable. You can also adjust almost everything around the fit for these bras which is unprecedented. The band underneath the bust can be tightened or loosened for comfort as well as the lift of how high your breasts sit in line with your comfort. The cups allow for there to be space in between the boobs as well so you don’t get the dreaded middle boob look or excessive sweat accumulation. The velcro for the adjustable areas is very strong and there are extra hooks behind the zipper for easy zipper closure.

After using these bras, I don’t think I will be going back to the double bra wear any time soon. They are so durable and comfortable, that I truly believe they will be around through many uses! When doing bootcamp and jumping workouts, I feel completely secure and don’t have to worry about any excess movement, making it so much easier to focus on what I’m doing in my workouts instead of worrying about my boobs. I am definitely going to buy more so that I can get rid of the over the head back up bras that I am forced to put on when both my SheFit bras are dirty and implore you to try them out if you’re gearing up for your new year fitness plans! Take a look at the YouTube video below for what it looks like on!

Get 20% off when you sign up for exclusive sales and offers!

Hyper active, audience driven Twitch streaming channel that focuses on unique RPGs

Let me know if you’ve tried them before! If not, click here to get a discount code that you can use to try them out with a few coins off. They are $65 but they do have AfterPay and Klarna available (which was how I paid for mine) so you don’t have to take the brunt of the purchases if you buy more than one at a time like I did. Like I said earlier this isn’t a sponsored post so I don’t have an affiliate code. This is me seriously just giving you a free discount code since you took the time to read this review! Go you!

Until next time,

xo,

Keri

Over it. Done. Finito. Dassit. LET US MOVE ALONG. My mood in a visual, below.

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I am too ready for the new year so I decided to create a full-on visual aid for myself so that I am able to stay on track with all of the things that I have planned for 2021. I am really excited about all the things that were DELAYED (but not denied!) by the global pandemic in 2020. I was sad that I could not accomplish or do them, but, I knew that waiting can result in greater things than I could imagine happening. I am grateful to be healthy and safe during this time when so many others have endured so much. I believe in the phrase, “it’s always darkest before the dawn” so I am very hopeful for everyone’s 2021. Because we all have been through it in one way or another chile. Whew!

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In manifesting, you always want to think of things that you think you can achieve. Things that YOU will really want to happen. You have to be sure of what you want and really EXPECT for whatever you’re asking for to happen for you. If you don’t think it’ll happen/you can’t achieve them, then you’re right baby. You put that negative stance out there, you can certainly bet your bottom dollar you’re going to get your way. Don’t be that way though. You have to have faith that things will happen, not on YOUR timeline but on the timeline that is for your greatest good. Believe and receive my loves! Believe and receive! You can and will have it all if you put forth the work and the effort associated with what you’re manifesting. Visualizing your goals via a vision board is how you manifest those goals into your reality.

Above is the full video explanation of how I chose what to put on MY vision board BUT if you’re not a crafty gal like me, take a look below for some apps that will be really helpful to you to create your own electronic version!

• Canva has a mobile app but is also computer accessible. Just create a free account and you can use the free photos they have in stock photos to create your vision board.

• Pinterest has both a mobile app and a computer accessible site that you can use to create a “2021 Vision Board” of your own interest and goals. You will just have to search through their pins, or find and add your own to their site to create your own mobile board.

• Vision Board App is a free mobile app that has been named the top vision board app so it might be bomb y’all! I haven’t used it but it claims it allows you to create unlimited vision boards where you can upload your goal images and set a goal deadline. That’s really good! I talked about having a deadline in this blog here so I’m here for that!

• Corkulous Professional is a free mobile app that you can use to create your own vision board. Since I haven’t used it I can’t vouch for it but if you do, please let me know if it worked!

• If you search in your app store for “Vision Board” I’m sure you’ll find one you like that will work for you. The goal is to just ensure that you can see the vision board daily. My suggestion would be, if you’re going to do an electronic one, make it the background to your phone so you see the vision you have for 2021, every day, several times a day!

Be sure you check out some of my old blog posts to help you figure out other ways to prep your mental for the new year! Let me know if you plan on creating your own vision board and if anything from mine is something you’re manifesting too!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Back at it again with another playlist!

Everyone on my email list got the jump on this playlist so if this is your first time hearing about it, baybeh— you need to make sure you’re subscribed! All of the early info of what will be happening month to month is sent out via my email blasts! I can’t wait till you join! Shout out to my initial subscribers because y’all didn’t even know what the heck you were signing up for but yet, you did. You the real MVP!

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December is the month where we’re in the full swing of daylight savings which is meh… I don’t think anyone loves this time of year for this reason but if you DO??! I’m side-eyeing you for LIFE.

I hate that it gets dark so early but to help keep the positive vibes, I made this playlist for y’all! I found some upbeat alt-pop + a smidge of fly girl rap just to mix things up and try something new.

via GIPHY

Some of the artists you might recognize are the gorgeous Kelly Rowland and the ultra-talented Ariana Grande. You may also recognize a few tracks that we’ve all heard a million times that have gained popularity from TikTok like Fousheé’s “Deep End” and Royal & The Serpent’s “Overwhelmed”. Other artists such as Ray Blk and VÉRITÉ have been on my playlists for years before so I’m glad to hear their new tracks and if you like what I’ve put on this playlist, you need to go check their older music out!

All in all, check out that Apple Music playlist here, and I hope it gives you all the good vibes that you want and need!

As promised to my email subscribers, here is a SECOND playlist here I have for you all as well! This playlist is more R&B based with a splash of pop and rap with well-known artists such as Ariana Grande, Ella Mai, Sam Smith, Ty Dolla $ign, and H.E.R. I included some “less mainstream but been around a minute” type artists such as Jessie Reyez and THEY. along with some new lesser-known artists like Blxst and Giveon. Overall we’re really eclectic in who goes on what playlist around these parts! So, take a listen and let me know which ones are your faves from either playlist!

Make sure you check out some of my older playlists here and here and share them with anyone you think might like the vibes! Until next time y’all!

xo,

Keri

I was in the first group who had early access to the Adidas app at 5pm on 11/17 for “the black pack” and while I’m not sure how I got that access, I won’t question it! Adidas had one group who had access at 5p and another at 630p EDT. I only knew about that drop being later because I had a friend who showed me her timer and mine was a whole hour and a half ahead of hers. This was a great addition to their “dropping” items because during the prior release of Drip 2, it seems that everyone shopped at the same time which resulted in items being snatched out of carts while trying to check out. Drip 2.2 was much easier for me since that didn’t occur and literally everything that I had in my cart went through which was a mega surprise for me.

Here’s what I got:

Mesh Panel Tights in L

High-Waisted Shorts in L

Hooded Cut-Out Dress in L

Mesh Sleeved Bodysuit in L

3-Stripes Tee (Gender Neutral) in XL (which I should’ve gotten in a L)

I was lowkey hoping that I would have gotten a few of the items SNATCHED out of my cart like what happened during the first drop but no lol. My luck was great this time and I got everything pahaha. Things always work out that way don’t they? Smh. The first drop I got the bright green fanny pack and the sneakers (which are a half size too big but I may keep them instead of selling… unless someone gives me a good price).

I wanted to create a YouTube video of this haul but things didn’t work out that way chile so the best I got for ya is a Reel on IG. Head over to my page @kerikontours on there to check that out! I loved everything that I got from the black pack but the only items that weren’t absolutely perfect were the mesh panel tights and the gender neutral t shirt. Now, the leggings certainly fit and they do pull me in in the waist but I don’t know… there’s something about the fit of the waist that is a little odd. The issue with the t-shirt is my fault because since I am busty, I figured the large would be too small for the oversized look I was going for so I bought the XL. Unfortunately, due to the length, the XL shirt covers the biker shorts so much that it makes it look like I don’t have pants on. I’m going back and forth about selling that because of that reason. We shall see.

Also, Jess and I discussed our purchases from both Drip 1 and Drip 2 and 2.2 on Closet Chronicles so be sure to catch up on that if you weren’t with us LIVE last night! Check us out on IG Live every other Wednesday night at 9pm with all replays available under Jess’ IGTV! What did you think about this release even if you didn’t get anything? Let me know below in the comments!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

AFV: Over 1 million videos aching to be gifs. Watch, every Sun night at 7 on ABC.

Y’all!

2020 has been a DOOZY of a year. So many of us have experienced loss on such high levels this year and the grief and struggle has been a lot. Living in fear of a global pandemic, being confined to our homes, social justice reform coming to a head and a whole presidential election (and senate races— looking at you GA) taking over our lives. It has legitimately been A LOT. And those are just the things that we dealt with on a macro level. Let’s not forget people trying to work, deal with your loved ones and going to school. Whew chile!

I, like I’m sure you do, want to put this year in the past ASAP. And while I know Jan 1st isn’t going to just magically make everything perfect, here is a list of things (I’m going to do and) you can do to get ready for 2021. You don’t have to wait on the year to get started to get things poppin!

1. Spend some time manifesting and getting clear on what you want.

I wrote a whole post about it here BUT honestly, you have the next 30 days to get clear and decided what you want your life to look like from here on out. Only focus on the actions that you have control over. Don’t get discouraged by things you cannot. Seek positive opportunities and insights that will push you further into favorable conditions and push past any of the negatives.

2. Once you know what you want, make a plan of how you’re going to accomplish it. Not a goal. A PLAN.

Plans are much less vague than a goal. A goal and/or “new year’s resolution” are really easy to blow off and/or just forget about because you say it, it’s on a whim and boom— it’s gone. A plan is harder to brush off if you’ve actually created one because you have to map out the steps of what’s going to happen and HOW you’re going to make it happen. Make your plans following the SMART model. The plan has to be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound.

Goal: I want to lose some weight by spring break.

Plan: I’m going to lose 15 pounds by March 15th by going to bootcamp 3x’s a week. I will start this week on Monday.

Much better right? Be as specific as possible in your plan and set some check ins for yourself along your goal timeline to keep up with your progress on whatever the goal may be. Use the next 30 days to make your plan. Then, EXECUTE. You’ve got this!

3. Make a vision board so you can see what you want for 2021 and beyond what is right in front of you.

Discover & share this pictarine GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.

I guess most people don’t get magazines anymore to do the formal vision board but that’s my number one way of completing this task. Cut out some pictures from an old magazine you may have laying around with not only pictures but words that convey what you want your new year and beyond to look like. Another option would be using an app like Canva or PicsArt, using some of their stock art to create a collage that you can make the screensaver or background on your phone. That way you see your visions of the future right there on your phone all the time so you can stay focused. Having those visions regularly in your face will help ingrain those things that you manifested and keep you on track to achieving them!

So those are the 3 easy things that can help you get ready for 2021! I’m excited about 2021 because I have a lot of great and exciting things that I have planned so it’s lit!

What is something you’re excited about for 2021? Tell me in the comments and hit me on IG: @KeriKontours about your plans!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri

Satin pajama pants just scream luxury to me. They’re super comfortable but also give you the luxurious appeal since they look like they could be silk with a satiny finish.

If you’re old enough, you remember the TLC “Creep” video and how bomb the silk pajamas looked so that’s what I thought about when I bought these pants. Add on top that they were a beautiful caramel color for fall and I was smitten.

I paired this look with a white tee from CottonOn that is kind of a hi-low shape creating a sort of cropped look. I tucked it in on the front to keep with the clean look that I was going for. I’ve had this tee for a few years and it looks like CottonOn no longer has it BUT any white tee that’s somewhat fitted will do. I only paid $9 for it so a good white tee from Target should run you about the same.

Finally I finished it off with this gorgeous kimono from Shop Iccon since there were a few colors within it’s design that matched the color story within the tigers and the reeds. It is a piece that I was expecting to just wear in the house but when my dad asked everyone to “look nice” on Thanksgiving, I had to do the most! LOL!

In the future, this kimono will be seen regularly as I do my makeup and lounge around my home. I cannot wait for 2021 to continue to display all the rich auntie luxurious vibes in my own space!

So that’s how I styled these pants for our social distanced Thanksgiving with my close family. As we get past this pandemic, I hope to bust these bad boys out in the real world and give them a whirl. How would you style these pants? Give me ideas in the comments!

Until next time!

xo,

Keri