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Writer Yaminah Mayo on That Time She Shaved Off Her Eyebrows

She gives some pretty sage advice to her younger self.

Makeup
Writer Yaminah Mayo on That Time She Shaved Off Her Eyebrows

Writer and creator of the Girl on the Glo podcast Yaminah Mayo—aka Spicy Mayo on Instagram—is a beautiful combination of curls, freckles, and orange matte lipstick. And while her routine is straightforward—with a minimal Solange-inspired approach to makeup and a Trader Joe’s-friendly skincare routine—she’s not afraid of color and seems to have the hair routine thing down pat. Lucky for us, Mayo gave us her whole beauty and self-care rundown, including the all-natural face soap she’s been using since high school (dedication), what she’d tell her younger self (yup, it’s eyebrow-related), and where she stocks up on eye masks.

 


What does your skincare situation look like?

“I’ve been using a great facial soap for YEARS since about junior year in high school, and it still works! It’s Rhassoul Clay & Yogurt Natural Complexion Soap by a company called Chagrin Valley. It’s amazing. I tone with Thayers Alcohol-Free Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner. I moisturize with Jojoba oil from Trader Joe’s. I used to use watermelon seed oil, but I don’t have the same access to it like I do Jojoba.

“At night, I use a rose clay soap by Chagrin Valley. If I’m wearing makeup, I’ll wipe that off with some Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes then wash my face. I always do a two-step clean when wearing makeup (hair flip), but Ashley Weatherford of The Cut just confirmed that taking that extra step is necessary, so I’ll continue.”

 

Okay, and what about *those* curls?

“I went back to being natural in high school. I just hated wasting perfectly good Saturdays at the hair salon. I currently have my hair routine down pat. I use Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Shampoo then condition with Trader Joes Tea Tree Tingle Conditioner. I follow the L.O.C. [Liquid. Oil. Cream.] method of moisturizing with Miss Jessie’s Leave-In Condish, coconut or jojoba oil, and Oyin Hair Dew.”

Any beauty disasters?!

“Other than shaving my eyebrows off at 13...I’m grateful to say no.”

What are some of your self-care traditions?

“I love reading. I do A LOT of affirmations. I love Pilates, and I used to exercise a lot, but now I have a job that requires I wake up at 5:00 AM, so my gym days have dwindled.

“I love a good smoothie, I usually make one when I get home from work at 2:30 PM. I also love aloe vera gel and eye masks (Sephora has some GREAT in-house ones).”

 

What would you bring to a desert island?

Simple Face Wipes, I think they’ll be a good multi-use product.”

What feature do you love most about yourself?

“I love my lips. When I give them a good swipe of lipstick, they usually pull a look together.”

And who inspires you?

“I’m a fan [of] Solange’s beauty looks, I love her use of color. I also love Nikisha Brunson and Thelma Golden. They’re extremely beautiful and love a good lip, but they’re pretty minimal in the makeup looks.”

Go-to lipstick color?

“I’m a Nars girl, so ANY color is a winner. Right now, however, I’m living for their color Red Square. It’s determining a lot of my looks.”

What advice would you give your younger self?

“Just chill. The people that matter think you’re gorgeous already. STOP SHAVING YOUR EYEBROWS!”

 

Photos: Courtesy of Instagram/@spicy.mayo 

Part of the series:

My Beauty Mo

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