Beautiful places. Interesting things. A life well considered.

BELLA NOIR

For a life well considered.

BEAUTY ARCHIVE

Bella Noir began as a beauty blog. Here you’ll find a small, curated selection of stories worth keeping from the original years.

Weekend in New Orleans

I hadn’t been to New Orleans in seven or so years before being reunited with my favorite city in the entire country!…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2023

Makeup

Bold Brows and Nude Lips

This summer has been a season of nude lips and bold brows. I have found myself more amenable to brown lip liner,…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2023

Hair

Back to the Office Hair and Makeup

It seems like working from home might be ramping down and I’ve got the perfect hair and makeup for return to the…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Hair

Blonde Passion Twists on Dark Skin

Let’s get the burning questions out of the way: Yes, I did them myself! And boy, was it a process! First thing’s…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Hair

5 Reasons You Should Be Tightlining

Tightlining has been around for centuries. If you’re not familiar with the process, it’s basically using eyeliner to line the inner portion…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Makeup

New Dior Nail Polish For Spring

Allow me to introduce two new nail polishes I picked up for spring from the Dior Beauty Spring Collection: Riviera (440) and…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Makeup

My Top 3 Favorite Mascaras Right Now

Today I have a little round-up of my top three favorite mascaras right now. I’ve been using all three of these for…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Hair

Self Care Sundays: Reflections

I want to try to make this a thing, but I am going to forgive myself right now if I don’t. I…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2022

Makeup

Dior Makeup Holiday Collection Picks

Here’s a sneak peek my picks from the new Dior Holiday Collection. Everything is so beautiful and elegant, it was so hard…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2021

The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm Review

I’ve been using The Inkey List Oat Cleansing Balm for some time and have a little write-up of its performance. My skin…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2021

Makeup

Tropical Paradise MOTD

It’s been quite warm and humid around here, so I was inspired to create a tropical look to match my mood –…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2021

Hair

Top 3 Summer Sun Care Favorites

Summer is in full force in my neck of the woods and the sun and humidity are pretty unrelenting. Here’s a little…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2021

Makeup

Tag Team Champions: Best Base Makeup

There are many foundation/concealer combos that are wonderful, but the one I have been reaching for a lot is the Kevyn Aucoin…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Makeup

7 Candles I’m Obsessing Over

While things in the makeup world have slowed down considerably for me, I find myself very excited about all the new, and…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Skincare

Checking In | Beauty and Life Updates

Stock Island, Key West In the middle of this cool, brisk, October in the DC metro, I can’t help but wonder where…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Makeup

Back to Basics #MOTD

This makeup look is all about light, basic, natural makeup, a favorite of mine during full-blown summer. Look Breakdown Make Up For…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Nest Rose Noir & Oud Candle | Review

Staying at home means burning more candles. I picked up the Nest Rose Noir & Oud hoping it would smell similar to…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Hair

When You Find a Gem, Share the Gem! #MOTD

Came across these photos and I am loving eveything about it from the haircut to the bright red lipstick. Take me back!…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2020

Antica Farmacista Iron Wood Candle

You know, I was going to clean up this photo some; stage it to look aesthetically pleasing, but I changed my mind.…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2019

Makeup

Ravishing Raisin #MOTD

For this look, I wanted something low maintenance but still quite radiant with a bit of color. Raisin has always been a…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2019

Makeup

Light & Fresh Makeup for Spring

Base Bobbi Brown Skin Longwear Foundation (reviewed) Mac Powder Foundation – Dark (reviewed) Eyes Lancome Monsieur Big Mascara (reviewed) Brows Benefit Skinny Brow Pencil Lips…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2019

Makeup

Benefit Hoola Toasted Bronzer on Dark Skin

Outstanding! Magnifique! I really like the look of bronzer and have only really been able to enjoy it when it’s shimmery. The…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2019

Makeup

Dior Lip Glow to the Max

Sooooo much better than the Matte Lip Glow! I just had to start this post off by saying that because if you…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Skincare

Review: The Ordinary Marine Hyaluronics

It’s been a while since I talked about The Ordinary. Now that things have seemed to calm down with the brand, I’m…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Astral Lip Balm

I first saw the Pat McGrath Lip Fetish Astral Lip Balm on Instagram. Of course, the lips didn’t look anything like mine,…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

Fly AF with Fenty Beauty Flyliner

I always carry low expectations when it comes to eyeliner because of my oily lids. I picked up the Fenty Beauty Flyliner…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

Wear That Blue Eyeliner to Work, Girl!

It’s a little kitty cat eye I made with Make Up For Ever Aqua Paint (L22). I started in the middle of…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

Graduation Day Makeup #MOTD

Good day to you. Here’s a look I put together, perfect for a day-long event such as a graduation, where you don’t…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Skincare

Supergoop But First, Sunscreen Kit

Starting next week, it’s officially going to start feeling more like summer spring (and I’m sooo ready!). What better way get ready…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Hair

A Soft, Feminine Look

Here’s a soft, feminine look I put together while experimenting with Laura Geller’s Baked Blush in Malibu. I picked the blush up…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Review: Sephora Rose Moisturizing Cream

I love the Sephora Collection and I love roses so when I saw the $8.00 Sephora Rose Moisturizing Cream, I was skeptical,…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Son & Park Beauty Water

If micellar cleansing water turned you off to beauty water, let me just try and change your mind here. First of all,…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

Sephora Lipstories Lipsticks Reviewed

So I have had a chance to properly test the Sephora Lipstories lipstick I posted swatches of a couple weeks ago. What…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2018

Makeup

The Blue Eyeliner Everyone Can Pull Off

Remember that blue eyeliner I swatched a while back from Laura Geller? Well, I have been wearing it a lot since I…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Hair

Boss Brows with ColourPop Brow Boss Pencil

My brows are probably the thing I change about my face the most. As someone with sparse brows, I manage to experiment…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Earth’s Mighty Treasures | #MOTD

I just want to be the best person I can be by taking care of myself, my mental state, my body. Be…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Naturalista: Pulling off Dewy Matte Makeup

Dewy skin has always escaped me and my oily skin. I just don’t feel quite comfortable with the dewy look because I’m…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Sephora Cream Lip Stain Set

I picked up the Sephora Cream Lip Stain Set ($12.00) recently, remembering the full-sized version I picked up and loved. The set…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Super Swatch Sunday, Vol. 2

I realize that it’s Monday, but I fell asleep before I could publish this post last night, so we’re doing it today!…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Review: ColourPop Blotted Lip On a Stick

I’ve previously reviewed two other Blotted Lips from ColourPop ($5.00) and my feelings remain the same on them: conflicted. I love using…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Review: Ren GlycoLactic Radiance Renewal Mask

The Ren GlycoLactic Radiance Renewal Mask really impressed me. It’s one of the products I picked up when I went to England…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Review: Neostrata Bionic Face Serum

Neostrata is a brand that continues to impress me. Their no nonsense, basic, and effective approach to skincare has made me a…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Review: AmorePacific Treatment Toner

The Amorepacific Treatment Toner caught my eye because of the fancy ingredients. I’m not a huge moisturizing toner person, and usually go…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Review: The Ordinary Alpha Lipoic Acid 5%

The Alpha Lipoic Acid from The Ordinary has got to be the “strongest” at-home acid I have ever used. And to think,…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Hair

Keranique Marula Oil Hair Treatment Mist

My hair type 100% natural, kinky/coily, super dry but elastic and bouncy once moisturized properly. I need a pretty thick moisturizer for…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Viseart Petit Pro Palette

I picked up the Viseart Petit Pro Palette ($30.00) after it had been sitting in my Sephora cart for way too long.…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Review: Kiko Unlimited Stylo Lipstick 04

I hadn’t bought anything from KIKO in a while and decided to stop in the store and maybe pick up a few…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Review: Nars Loaded Eyeshadow Palette

The NARS Loaded Eyeshadow Palette ($59.00) is a very warm palette and it’s very brown — almost boring you can say, but…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Sephora Soko to Tokyo is Back!

I almost pushed “Checkout” on my Sephora cart without going through my “Loves” list. Glad I did, too, because Soko to Tokyo…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Review: Dior Addict Lacquer Sticks

Hey guys! Today I have my review of the Dior Addict Lacquer Sticks. I ended up picking up two colors, Indie Rose…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Topshop Glow Stick – Otherworldly | Review

If you can believe it, I have a love/hate relationship with highlighters. I love looking at them but I strongly dislike people…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Joseon Dynasty Cream

People were going nuts over the Joseon Dynasty Cream a year or two ago and I found out about it quite late. I…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Skincare

Clarins Multi-Active Jour Day Cream SPF 20 Review

I was introduced to Clarins Multi-Active Jour Cream SPF 20 ($54.00) via a deluxe-sized sample. The sample of this moisturizer convinced me…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

Pat McGrath Labs Metalmorphosis Copper Edit

The Pat McGrath Labs Metalmorphosis Copper Kit ($60.00) is the most artsy makeup in my collection, and I’m sure that has something…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2017

Makeup

A Visit from The Muses (FOTD)

The Muses came to visit me Underneath the Ambrosia Tree I took a bite and I felt fright But then they came…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2016

Essie Topless and Barefoot

Essie Topless and Barefoot ($9.00) is described as a soft beige pink. On me, it is exactly that, and let me tell…

From the Bella Noir Beauty Archive · 2016