Chelsie DeSouza

Two years ago I realized that for almost half the month I was miserable.
What I didn't know is that I had premenstrual dysphoric disorder.
This disorder affects about 5% of people who menstruate.
My whole life I've accepted that the week before my period starts I am depressed and irritable. It wasn't until two years ago, shortly after my 29th birthday, that things got much worse. I felt as though my life was deteriorating from the inside out.
The littlest inconveniences would fill me with rag...

“Where is baby brother?” My daughter said to me, wide-eyed and curious, shortly after her 3rd birthday. I wasn’t pregnant, nor was baby number two on my mind. I felt sheer panic, so I blurted out, “Baby brothers are currently on back order.” Don’t judge. I was truly at a loss at how to handle the situation.

Living with anxiety can be debilitating and consuming. Symptoms often manifest both mentally and physically, so working through anxiety in the moment can be difficult, even with a rolodex of coping skills. Having a partner that understands and supports you through it can make all the difference.
In a relationship when one person suffers from anxiety and the other doesn’t, simple phrases that seem harmless have the ability to invalidate the anxious person’s feelings. It’s important to be a saf...

The maternal mortality rate for those with sickle cell disease is 26 times greater than those without—particularly concerning for Black pregnant people who are more likely to be diagnosed with SCD.

When I decided to have a baby, I may have jumped to the decision rather quickly, but I was intentional. My daughter was planned. My partner and I were madly in love, and as with any serious relationship, we expected—or hoped—to be together forever. If you had told me eight years ago, when we met, that we wouldn’t be together today, I probably would’ve said you were crazy and didn’t know how solid our bond was. I never thought we would be where we are now. Sifting through resentments, navigati...

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Whether you do a full glam every day or opt for a "no-makeup" makeup look, foundation is a universal product that can be found in nearly every beauty bag. As someone with sensitive skin and hyperpigmentation, finding the best foundation for me takes a lot of trial and error. Now, af...

As someone with melanin, I had never *entered the chat* when it came to self-tanners. I always felt as though darker skin tones were excluded from the concept, and quite frankly, I didn’t really see the point.
Over the last few years, many self-tanning brands are becoming more inclusive with darker shades, making self-tanning more popular than ever — and I can totally see why. Not only does it give me a sun-kissed gleam that makes it look like I just got back from vacation, it also completely...

In the midst of the pandemic’s chaotic grip, when the world seemed to stand still, I found myself at a crossroads in my life. As a furloughed employee and a devoted mother, I sought solace in the power of the written word—my own words. With a newfound sense of purpose, I began sending my writing pitches to various publications, and to my surprise, experienced some success. Encouraged by this affirmation, I made the audacious decision to embark on a complete career change and pursue a degree i...

As a beauty writer, I’ve tested hundreds of products, from old-school favorites with cult followings to brand-new serums, moisturizers, cleansers, at-home peels, and cool devices. I never give my stamp of approval to anything I’m not obsessed with, especially since I have sensitive skin and easily break out. My approach to beauty? Less is more. I prefer fewer ingredients, light formulas, and fragrance-free products. Enter Good Weird, a relatively new skincare and makeup brand that quickly bec...

“Work as though we don’t have children and raise our children as if we don’t work.” An impossible feat.
Why is there a preconceived notion that we should pretend like we aren’t mothers at work? That somehow, being a mother makes us less competent, less focused, and less capable of being able to handle all of our professional responsibilities? As a mother, it’s infuriating!
Mothers are able to multitask with the best of them—if not better. It’s astounding to me that there is a stigma attached ...

“Inclusivity” may be a buzzword, but for anyone who has ever felt left out of conversations in the beauty space—it’s so much more. In Shades of Melanin, we celebrate Black beauty, support the brands and founders that are fighting for inclusivity in the industry, and unpack the issues that still need to be addressed.
We all remember that iconic scene from Bring It On, while the Toros are performing stolen routines at their football game and the Clovers pull up and reclaim what was originally t...

Homelessness is an extreme issue in our country. Oftentimes we are so desensitized, because of its prevalence in our society that we don’t talk to our children about it in a thoughtful way. And in order to raise empathetic humans, teaching them to see the world around them, those who are different from them with different circumstances, and having respect for others no matter where they come from is important.
Seasoned Moms Share Why This Is the Best Gift for New Moms
it's a win for both mama...

Before I became a parent, I didn’t have a healthy relationship with my faults. I had this mentality that I was the way I was, and you could take it or leave it. I was young and selfish, and although self-aware, I wasn’t quite ready to take a look inward. Who wants to admit the negative things about themselves? It’s not pleasant to associate any of your behavior with toxicity (writing it now is even difficult). Doing work on yourself is hard, but it’s necessary. I needed to do it—we all need t...

Long gone are the days that when we headed to the beach or pool, we only took a towel and our Nokia phones with us. Now that our sun care involves more SPF and hats, less body oil and burning, packing for the beach has taken on a whole new meaning.
With flowers in bloom, picnic season in full swing, and nap dresses taking the place of cozier layers, everything can feel straight out of a Jane Austen novel
While sunscreen is obviously a beachside essential, if you’re packing right, you should h...