Gold Medal Beauty Products!

We just got through the Olympics this past week and I really enjoyed the events I got to watch via the mess of a broadcast that was NBC. However, there are a few beauty products I feel would deserve gold medals of their very own.

The Urban Decay NAKED palette is one of the most versatile palettes I own. For any day or night look I reach for this palette the most.

SugarPill Cosmetics loose eyeshadows go on so smooth and soft. The colors are very pigmented and stand out on any makeup look.
 Rimmel London Eye magnifier is the perfect "fake lash look" mascara.
Wear this and you won't be reaching for false lashes for a while.

 

MAC MatchMaster foundation is a great matte finish foundation. 

If this could get 10 gold medals it deserves it. 

It glides on smooth and has a perfect matte finish

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow pencils are great for beginners. Although they can crease if applied to thickly, they make amazing bases for eyeshadows.

The GO Palette in Beijing from Coastal Scents is great for on the go makeup application and eyeshadow touch ups. 

It fits perfectly in your purse for over night travel as well.

The NYX retractable eyeliners are great for persons that hate having to sharpen eyeliner pencils. They are very pigmented and glide on smoothly.

Shoe Love: Just Fab "Sarada" Wedge

I need to some wedges to satisfy my shoe fix last month and decided to purchase from JustFab. Sign up here for Just Fab.

JustFab is a monthly fashion subscription site where you take a personality quiz, they pick shoes based on your answers, and every month a stylists pics shoes, accessories and handbags based on your style answers. All shoes are roughly $39.95 and you can skip a month if you don't like what was picked or browse the whole site. There is no annual fee. However, if you forget to skip the month, no worries! Just Fab will just place the $39.95 as a credit to your account to purchase anything you like :)

These are the Sarada wedge. These are very high (just how I like it) and are easy to walk in. However, they do need to be broken in as the toe area is kind of small. I will be stretching these babies out shortly.

Shoe Specs:

Heel Height: 6"

Runs True To Size (toe area needs to be stretch)

Synthetic Upper

Man Made Sole

Platform Height: 2"

I thought this was an interesting to note: the ankle strap section where the buckle needs is not suede like the rest of the shoe but a faux leather. This is great as with all the friction from the buckle, the suede wouldn't hold up at all.

SO. What do you think of Sarada?

Love & Hip Hop: Karlie Redd Inspired Makeup Tutorial

I'll be the first to admit that I enjoy the "Love & Hip Hop" reality show on VH1. I do have my favs and others that just urk me to death (Stevie!). However, Karlie Redd has intrigued me during the show and I have been loving her makeup. I was inspired to do a makeup look that I think she consistently is rocking during most of the episodes.

She keeps it neutral with just a touch of a smokey eye. She also has a very contoured nose and jaw line. Her hair is also for the most part always long and bone straight.

Watch the Tutorial

Products used:

Sedona Lace 28 neutral palette

MAC "Carbon" eyeshadow 

MAC " radiant rose" prep + prime highlighter 

MAC "Ring of Saturn" mineralized blush

Lime Crime "Top Hattie" 

Faux "Gaga" lashes

Wet n Wild "902" lipstick

NYX lip pencil in "Expresso"

Jordana Black eye liner 

Maybelline eye studio gel eye liner in "Blackest black"

Sigma E25 blending brush

Sigma F80 Flat top Kabuki

Misswigs.com Lace Front Wig "Miss A" 

Misso 303 by MissWigs.com

I have a number of wigs from MissWigs.com but this is my first purchase from the Misso Collection.
The Misso Collection has a number of special features different from the other Miss Wigs synthetic lace front wigs. The Misso Collection wigs offer:

• 3" to 3.5" of parting space
• Heat resistant up to 400 degrees F
• W-shaped natural hairline (widow's peak) 

I purchased Misso 303 in the color 1b for $46.99. The curls are very nice and the hair is soft. This is the perfect summer look and a great look for the office.

Specs:

• Hair Texture: 100% Premium Fiber.( Heat resistant)
• Hair Line: W shape ( see the  cap construction)
• Parting : Lace 3”- 3.5" in the front and 1.5" - 2”on the side.
• Lace Type: Soft Swiss Lace
• Lace Color: Transparent, Medium brown.
• Cap Size: Medium.

Check out Misso collection's #303 here Misswigs misso 303

Top 5 Natural Hair Mistakes

It seems that all the rage is going natural these days. Don't get me wrong, I love that more women are embracing their natural hair, but from a few of the questions I get, things I see and hear other naturals talking about sometimes, I feel there are little things that can throw us off coarse in our quest for healthy, natural hair.

#5 Thinking It's Going To Be Easy

When some people transition, they think it's going to be easy. Natural hair in my opinion, does what it wants. The 2 textures (natural and relaxed) are going to be competing with each other. They feel as though curls are easy to work with because they basically style themselves and this is far from the truth. Curls need attention, which makes your job harder. You have to put in the work to maintain the health of your hair.

#4 Using Too Many Products

I can say this because I've been there. i was trying to figure out what my hair wanted, but would still jump on band wagons. Make sure to stick to products that your hair enjoys and not confuse yourself with too many products. This helps your hair and your wallet.

#3 Over manipulation 

Your hair likes to be left alone. If you constantly bother your hair (twirling the hair in your fingers, using heat daily, combing every day, etc.) you may be more prone to breakage and frizz. I find it helpful to do a hairstyle that keeps my hair off my face and neck with the ends tucked away which helps me keep my fingers away. I also style my hair at least once a week which also helps me not to over manipulate the hair or stress it out.

#2 Not Moisturizing Enough

Some may feel like if they moisturize ONLY on wash day, then they are good until the next wash day which is totally the opposite. Natural hair craves moisture. It does not have to be a grease fest every day. Take a spray bottle with water and maybe some olive oil mixed in and use that a little for daily moisture or use Shea butter (or your favorite butter) to moisturize and seal with your favorite oil at night. It also helps with frizz and makes your hair not look dull.

#1 Setting High Expectations After The Big Chop

Some persons feel as though if they see someone with a texture, their texture may be the exact same way. Or they may see one texture appear during the transition in a section of their head and feel as though their entire head is going to be that texture. These expectations can cause us to miss out on appreciating our own unique hair qualities and miss out on what our hair really is- A special part of us and our heritage. 

Remember that going natural is NOT a race. Focus on your own hair health at your own pace and your hair will thank you for it. 

Hair Product Staples

I'll admit, a small part of me is a product junkie- an open minded product junkie who is willing to try different things. That's not to say that I go stark crazy every single time a new hair product comes out promising amazing results. So here are a few of my hair staples that I literally use on a weekly/monthly basis to take care of my hair. Have you tried any of these products? Which are your favorites for hairstyles, conditioning, etc.?

Styling Products

Eco Styler Gels: Used for wash and go's 

HairVeda Whipped Gelly: Used for wash and go's

HairVeda Herbal Green Tea: Twists (outs) & Braid (outs)  

Qhemet Biologics Alma and Olive Heavy Cream: Twists (outs) & Braid (outs)

Moisturizing Products

Organic Root Stimulator Jojoba Oil: Sealing in Moisture

Qhemet Biologics Burdock Root Butter Cream: Moisturizing

Raw Shea Butter: Moisturizing

HairVeda Whipped Creme ends hydration: Moisturizing

Now Foods Virgin Coconut Oil: Sealing in Moisture, Shine

Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor oil: Moisture

 Conditioning Products

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Leave In Conditioner: 

Used as a leave in conditioner

Aubry Organics Primrose To Go: Used as a hair refresher

HairVeda Vatika Frosting: Used as a pre-poo

Tresemme Fresh Start Refreshing Mist: Used as a hair refresher

 Deep Conditioners/Cleanser

Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Conditioner: 

Used for detangling & Co-washing

HairVeda Moist Condition 24/7: Used for conditioning & detangling

HairVeda Sitrinillah Deep Hair Masque: Used as a deep conditioner

Dove Daily Moisture Shampoo: Used for cleansing scalp and hair

MAC Heavenly Creature Haul

I got a chance to purchase a few items from this collection & I must say I love what I got.

Here are swatches of the mineralized blushes Solar Ray (left) and Ring of Saturn (right). I chose both because I feel they will work best for dark skin tones out of all the other mineralized blushes from this collection. Ring of Saturn is so gorgeous in person!! It may be more on the rose/pink side but it is definitely a fall must have blush. Solar Ray is very bright and you get more of the golden color than you do the pink so this would make a great highlight as well.

Price: $23.50 at maccosmetics.com

The only lipstick that caught my eye was Venus. Venus is a lustre finish with more of a neutral pink tone and in my opinion is the most versatile and wearable.

Price: $14.50 at maccosmetics.com

Victoria's Secret ♡ Haul

I love me some Victoria's Secret! I got a chance to get in on the Semi Annual Sale and snagged some goodies! The ones I got are listed below the video.



Lotions:
Be Seduced
Coconut Passion
Midnight Mimosa
Lost In Fantasy

Fragrance Mist:
Sheer Water Lily
Vibrant Peony
Blooming Violet
Passionate Kisses
Pure Seduction
Berry Kiss
Luscious Kisses