Radiant Cosmetics - Makeup Monday

Hello beauty babes! Today on Makeup Monday I have a wonderful guest...

Nicole is the amazing woman behind Radiant Cosmetics.

She is here to talk to you about RC and just how she is using makeup

to bring awareness to and help to end slavery and human trafficking.
~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~♥~

What does makeup have to do with human trafficking? 
This is one of the most frequently asked questions when people ask about my company, Radiant, whose vision is to end human trafficking.

The answer; makeup has a lot more to do with human trafficking than you may think. How many of you have at one point or another felt worthless? Whether others made you feel that way, or you simply felt that you couldn’t live up to an expectation.

Have you ever felt ugly? I think as women, we can almost all answer yes to that question. Growing up, I was beyond insecure about myself. How I looked, my weight, my red hair, the gap between my teeth. You name it. I wanted nothing more than to look like someone else. The pretty girls I saw in magazines. I just wanted someone, anyone to notice me. Makeup became a way for me to mask and change things I didn’t like about myself. Pounds of foundation to cover my freckles, eyeliner to change the shape of my eyes and I never left the house without it.

Some of these same feelings, of worthlessness, feeling ugly and not being wanted are the same feelings that many women trapped in sexual slavery feel and even led many girls to being trafficked. Please don’t hear that having those feelings means you’re going to be trafficked because there are many factors that can contribute to that. I’m not belittling the feelings of victims. I encourage you to educate yourselves on this issue.

However, feeling worthless has put many women at risk to being trafficked. It’s why we hear stories of young girls being trafficked from men they’ve met on Facebook, because someone paid attention to them. I’ve had the opportunity to meet women who’ve been trafficked themselves and my heart aches hearing their stories. Many were told by their own family they were worthless, they didn’t believe they were pretty or special. We live in a world that focuses so much on a woman’s beauty and a standard that most of us can’t live up to.

So today, for Makeup Monday, stop believing lies about yourself. That you aren’t good enough, aren’t pretty enough, aren’t whatever enough. Because you are. Makeup has taken a huge turn in my life in the last few years as I’m no longer ruled by it. For me it’s a form of self-expression, it has become fun and not a means to hide. I pray you discover the same thing. Another challenge for Makeup Monday; do something for yourself.  Do you love bold lipstick? Does an eye shadow feel fun? Wear something you want to, not because you feel like you have too. I encourage you, if you’ve never gone out without makeup, to try that out, because it feels good.

 *Note: I encourage you to read the story of Radiant’s beginnings and many of the other reasons they believe in fighting human trafficking. You can visit their Website, find them on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram.
And also do not forget to enter the Radiant Cosmetics GIVEAWAY! There is only ONE day left to enter, so link up your beauty posts below, then head on over here to enter!

Please be kind and visit/comment one or two (or more) other links.

This link up is for makeup/beauty related posts only!

This includes but not limited to beauty reviews, how-to's, hauls, giveaways, mani's, and look inspirations.

If you do not have a blog, but showcase beauty elsewhere like instagram or flicker,

you are still welcome to link up as well, please just link to a specific photo, though, not your whole account! :)
Also, be sure to Subscribe to the Makeup Monday newsletter to stay up to date about the link up, features, challenges and giveaways! 

And dont forget we have our FIRST Challenge next week!
Its to have your husband/boyfriend/brother  or male friend do your makeup!
Show the before and after! Or even do a video showing the "during".
I had The hubs do mine, and took photos the whole way through!
Its pretty hilarious, and I cant wait to share, and to see how everyone else will look. :)

RULES:

1. Link to a specific Blog Post, not your entire blog

If you do not have a blog, feel free to link to an instagram or flicker photo!

2. Please grab a button or link back to Andrea or I

3.* Follow Agape Love Designs & Shabby Kitteh

4.* Tweet about this linky using hashtag #MakeupMonday 

Tag @mariagridley & @shabbykitteh

*Not Mandatory but appreciated

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Much Love & Hugs,

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