CoverGirl Has Thrown Down the Gauntlet!

Have you seen the new advertisments from CoverGirl?




They claim to have dupes for your preferred high end makeup.

Bare Escentuals

Benefit

Bobbi Brown

Chanel

Clinique

Dior

Estee Lauder

Lancome

Lorac

MAC

NARS

Sephora Brand

Stila

The Balm

YSL

Find Your Match HERE

Hair Report - Relaxer Results - Growth Check

In July 2009, my hair was NL(Neck Length). I just relaxed tonight (3/19/2010).
It has grown to little past SL (Shoulder Length) in the back & to the collar bone on the sides. YAY ME!



I got some nasty tangles last week & decided 8 months of stretching was ENOUGH for me!

I prepped my hair last week. After I got out all the tangles, I co-washed with Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship. I used Aphogee Keratin 2 Minute Reconstructor Treatment. I followed that with Roux Porosity Control.

Today, I used Elasta QP Regular lye relaxer. (after having purchased heard it wasn't the best, but took my chances anyway.) I rinsed with IsoPlus Neutralizing Shampoo until there was no pink. I followed with Roux Porosity Control for like a minute. Rinsed that out & applied Organic Root Stimulator Olive Oil Replenishing Pak.



I baggied my hair & sat under the dryer for 15 mins to Deep Condition.
I rinsed that out. Next I detangled with Mane 'n Tail Detangler.
Following that, I used Ellin LaVar Thermal Protectant.
(It has alcohol. UGH I know that's a NO NO, but it was all I had on hand...gonna use it all b4 I buy something better).

Result...Under-relaxed. Why? As a protective style, I wear braids. When I go out I wear wigs. When I took out the braids, it was difficult for me to see where the new growth ended because it was ALL wavy! No biggie. I prefer to be texlaxed instead of bone straight anyway. My natural hair is kind of cottony (except in the crown). Being texlaxed makes my hair look fuller & have more body. Better pics 2mrw. I was so excited, I just had to share!

MAC Haul - LUSH Samples and Surprize Meeting with a YouTuber

Today was theee best day ever!
After having celebrated our 18th Wedding Anniversary last week, my husband & I decided to commit to going on dates more often. We set today to visit the city.

1st stop the book store, 2nd stop MAC (freestanding).
It was my first ever visit to a freestanding MAC store.
Previously, I acquired my MAC products from Macy's, MAC Online, or the CCO.

I was excited! I happend to bump into Marsha of BrownFaceTV on YouTube.
(check her out. Love her MAC hauls & her natural hair care talk!)
She was very friendly. I think I probably scared her because I recognized her but she totally didn't know who I was. Completely understandable. My husband said we were busting it up like we were old friends. I explained the concept of the UNIVERSAL Language of Makeup! We had a good laugh over that one. It was a pleasure to have met Marsha. I am sure I will probably see her again at a MAC event in the future. Check out her BrownFaceNews
BrownFaceBeeblogs.



On to the haul.



I picked up
a MAC empty 15 Eyeshadow Palette. I have two of the Coastal Scents palettes , but I wanted to upgrade/transition to MAC. The Coastal Scents ones are adequate, however they have a foam type substance surrounding each e/s well. It is difficult to keep this clean when shadow spills over onto it. I also watched an organizational video from EnKore on YouTube this morning.
In it he featured a $10 DVD holder which he purchased from The Container Store. It fit the MAC palettes perfectly.

I finally was matched correctly re: my foundation. Previously I had been wearing NC43. Matched at Macy's MAC counter. Waaaaay too light for me. My daughter is very light skinned & this is actually a better match for her. I used to mix it with darker colors to achieve the look I wanted. It just wasn't cutting it. How about I'm NC50. A big difference. The formula is Select SPF. I will be doing a tutorial per Vixxan's request at some point to show how I apply it. It dries really quickly.

from Liberty of London Collection, I purchased Perennial High Style lipglass and Ever Hip lipstick (Creamsheen).

After my husband took our photo outside of the MAC store, I gasped because to my delight there was a LUSH store directly across the street.



I was thrilled! The sales person was uber helpful. I generated a wish list for future purchases. He was kind enough to share their catalog with me as well as couple of samples. YAY!

African Black Soap REVIEW

"There’s Nothing Basic About Africa ’s Black Soap

We’ve all been there before; you walk into a department store and head for the health and beauty section. You examine a wide variety of ‘cleansing bars’ and you choose one that seems to match your needs. It usually takes a few tries before you find that one soap that really works for you.


Have you ever stopped to look at the ingredients of this soap? You are likely to find triclosan, which can disrupt the thyroid hormone and increased exposure can contribute to the development of breast cancer. You will find fragrance, which is usually a safe word for pthalates, a chemical which can cause birth defects and liver damage.


There are so many chemicals that are used in nearly all ‘cleansing bars’ sold in stores today. One rule of thumb is that anything you put on your face you should be able to eat. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin! Whatever soap you use will be absorbed into your bloodstream through your skin. This is why African black soap and other natural soaps are suddenly getting more recognition today.

African black soap is an all-natural soap hand-crafted in Western Africa . There are more than 100 different varieties of African black soap. The production and recipe for the soap varies depending on the region of Africa that it is made. Most black soap is made with a blend of plantain skin, cocoa pod powder, tropical honey, and virgin coconut oil. African black soap is most commonly hand-crafted by village women in Africa who make the soap for themselves and to support their families.

The same women who make black soap choose to use only black soap on their babies, as its purity makes it gentle and non-drying for babies’ sensitive skin. In fact, black soap is generally the only soap used in most Western African countries.


What Makes Black Soap Different:

- Black soap is made with rare tropical honeys that are known for softening the skin and creating a smooth surface.


- Black soap is also a natural source of vitamins A & E and iron. This helps to strengthen the skin and hair.


- Black soap contains a high amount of glycerin, which absorbs moisture from the air and literally deposits it into the skin, making the skin soft and supple.

- For centuries, Ghanaians and Nigerians have used black soap to help relieve acne, oily skin, clear blemishes and various other skin issues. Many swear by it for skin irritations and conditions such as eczema and psoriasis.


- Women in Africa will use black soap during pregnancy and afterwards to keep them from getting stretch marks and to protect them from dry skin that is often accompanied by pregnancy.

- Black soap can also be used as a hair shampoo. The shea butter in the soap softens the hair, while the vitamins give it strength.


- Men can use black soap in shaving. The high shea butter content leaves the skin smooth and protected.

- African black soap is unique in that it contains no preservatives, color enhancers, or fragrances. African black soap creates a soft lather without the animal fat additives that are commonly used in soaps made in the US."

For More Information & Source Material Click HERE

I purchased mine from Coastal Scents.

It isn't the prettiest soap in the world, but it gets the job done!
It reminds me of meatloaf.

It is quite malleable.
I keep mine stored in plastic. Otherwise it would attract dust.
I suffer from eczema as well as very dry skin.
This soap has improved my condition very much. I love this stuff.
It has a clean smell. No fancy fragrances.
It lathers very well.
I cut off small pieces & form them into a ball for use.



Everyone in my home uses this stuff.
Don't get it in your eyes because it really stings terribly.

4 out of 5 stars. (because of the appearance & the stinging of eyes)

Check Out BlackOnyx77's Tutorial

Beauty Fitness Challenge

In Spring of 2009 my husband and I invested in a treadmill. We were able to get it for a really good price. Half price, actually from Sears Scratch & Dent in our area.
It was an impulse purchase. We were there to buy another appliance & bought the treadmill at the last minute. We didn't try it out. Fast forward, we got it home & it did not work. The tech came out from Sears Free of charge because the product was under warranty. As it turned out, there was no MOTHERBOARD in the treadmill. Yes, you read that right. LOL It was as if we were straight up gagged! I felt like I bought a box of bricks. Needless to say, the tech ordered the required parts & had the treadmill up & running during a future visit.

Fast forward to Spring 2010. The treadmill became a clothes horse. The family used it only about 20% of last year. We made the decision to move it to a better place in the home. (Insert out of Master Bedroom HERE) so that all could enjoy it.

I'm committed to improving cardio health as well as overall fitness.
If I happen to lose a bit of weight along the way, that is a plus.

Today, I had thee best workout EVER! I felt like I was at a college party with my friends back in the day. Yes, I got my sweat on today. I had a ball.
Just sharing a couple of ipod selections that kicked up my workout & made it more fun. If you don't have a treadmill, get up & dance. You can burn beaucoup calories!

- George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic Not Just Knee Deep 15 minutes, 21 seconds
- Shanice (featuring Sheila E) Get Up 3 minutes, 41 seconds

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

After my workout, I jumped in the shower & CO-washed my hair with Herbal Essences Long Term Relationship Conditioner. (My new Love!) CO-washing is washing your hair with conditioner. As my hair is generally quite pourous, it tends to be dry.
Curly & ethnic hair benefits from co-washing. You can rinse out the sweat while retaining moisture.



Today I did a walk/run routine on the treadmill. I covered a distance of about 2 miles. Ultimately, I would like to be able to do 5 miles in an hour. Baby steps.



Some of my fitness inspirations are:

justme of yepanotherone.com"


Fitness Posts from her Blog

BlackOnyx77 of YouTube



Tracey of KISS Great Day @ the Gym Blog Post

If you are interested in improving your overall fitness and or losing some weight,
I encourage you to surround yourself with like minded people.
If you are inspired by anyone on YouTube, please leave a comment. Thanks.

Got Split Ends? Unsure? Check This Out

I was thrilled to find this chart on KeepItSimpleSista



For More Hair Care Tips, Consider

1. Following Tracey's Blog

2. Joining the KISS network

Other Blogger's MAC GiveAway - Spiced Beauty

"To celebrate 300+ followers & her new domain Spiced Beauty Jenn decided to give away the Little Darlings: 5 coral Lipglass / Lustreglass set!



Spring 2010 is all about the color lippies! The best thing is they suit all skintones! You can mix and match to get that perfect color. This is an amazing trend which you can get free :)

Contest rules:

•This an INTERNATIONAL contest!
•One random Winner
•You must be a follower of my blog
•You must be 17+
Contest ends: April 17 2010
Winner announced: April 19, 2010 ..items shipped the next day :)
You will not get the red holder sorry LOL
How to enter:
-Leave a comment on her Contest Post telling her what is your favorite post she's done! (e.g fashion, makeup..etc)
This will give me an idea what kinda of post to do in the future.
(1 entry)

- Follow her (@JennMUA) on Twitter and tweet the following "@JennMUA from Spiced Beauty is giving away 5 MAC lipglasses @ www.spicedbeauty.com" Comment on this entry letting me know you tweeted <---LOL
(2 entries)

-Blog about this contest with a link back to my giveaway(with pic)... wherever you want.. add the giveaway at the bottom of your regular posts or sidebar. Comment on this entry letting me know you blogged about it.
(2 entries)

Hopefully this is straight forward! Wishing You Success ladies!"

Enter Her Contest HERE

New Exciting Milani Products

MILANI 3D Glitzy Glamour Gloss $6.99

New soft and brilliant Glitzy formula filled with super shiny polymers and the next generation of pearls to create the illusion of 3D depth for fuller, sexier, looking lips.

Available in spectacular 7 shades. NET WT 0.12 OZ/3.48g

Movie Star
Fashion Diva
Starshine
Stylish
Designer Label
In Vogue
Leading Lady

TIPS & TRICKS:
- Apply to both top and bottom, following the shape of your lips. Can be used alone or over your favorite lipstick shade.
- Tip: For full lips lightly apply a second layer on the center of bottom lip.



MILANI 3D Holographic Specialty Nail Lacquer $4.49

New specialty nail lacquer that exhibits a unique 3D Holographic effect that no other nail lacquer has ever achieved. The nail lacquer appears to color-shift as the illumination source or the viewing angle changes.

This color phenomenon is based on Holographic Image Technology that makes a very thin, bright, embossed metallic flake look like a rainbow. It allows the color to travel from red, orange, yellow, green, blue,indigo, and violet; seven distinctive colors of the color spectrum.

• Innovative formula with metallic particles.
• Creates a prism like rainbow effect for dazzling nails.
• DBP, Toluene & Formaldehyde Free.
• Available in 6 shades.

HD
3D
High-Tech
Digital
Cyberspace
Hi-Res




MILANI LIQUIF EYE Metallic Eye Liner Pencil $5.49

Extremely smooth eye pencil with the application and feel of a liquid liner that delivers true color payoff, in a metallic finish with a long-lasting wear.

Available in 5 shades. NET WT 0.04 OZ / 1.2g

Black
Silver
Gold
Aqua
Brown

TIPS & TRICKS
- Draw a line along both bottom and top lashlines from the inner to the outer corner of your eyes. Tip: Remove with eye makeup remover.





MILANI Tantastic all over baked bronzer face and body $8.49

A baked marble bronzer with multidimensional coverage pays off not only in color, but in subtle highlights that enhance a natural glow. Infused with Macadamia and Jojoba oils, this product helps keep skin hydrated and soft while providing a healthy bronze glow and silky smooth application.

Available in 3 radiant shades. NET WT 0.24 OZ/7g

Fantastic in Gold
Fantastic in Bronze
Fantastic in Sun Glow

Tips & Tricks
- Swirl brush across product and apply all over face and body for an instant sunkissed tanned look.
- This product can be used dry for a sheer, natural glow, or used wet for a darker intense look.

I'm EXCITED about this. It looks like a MAC MSF (Mineralized Skin Finish) dupe.
The Macadamia & Jojoba Oil are added bonuses! I'd love to pick up all 3 of these items.




MILANI Nail Art Lacquer with precision brush $3.99

Nail art allows you to do your very own custom nail designs. A high quality precision striping brush allows for detail work, creating the perfect French tip that makes nail art fast and easy. Your nails are your canvas and you are the artist!

Available in 10 shades. NET WT 0.25 FL OZ/7.4ml

Art of Gold
Art of Silver
Black Sketch
White Canvas
Draw in Pink
Blue Print
Yellow Design
Green Sketch
Purple Outline
Orange Graph

Apply Milani Nail Lacquer of choice, let dry, choose coordinating Nail Art Lacquers.

Apply thin light strokes of Nail Art Lacquer, let dry between application, choose as many shades to create a more elaborate design, let dry then apply Milani top coat for a finished look. For a classic french, choose natural shades of Milani Lacquer, let dry, use Nail Art White or colored if desired, gently stroke tips of nail to create the perfect smile lines, let dry for at least 1 minute, apply Milani Quick Dry Top Coat for the perfect finish and shine.

Check your Local CVS Pharmacy for these items. I am not sure if they are in Walgreens yet. If neither store is available to you, try Cherry Culture

New Award

Apologies, This is waay overdue. (See #3 & #4)

I was nominated by Kulchikk.
Check Out her Blog. She's an amazing Artist!

I am sharing 7 random facts about me.

1. I love listening to Smooth Jazz!
2. I just celebrated my 18th Wedding Anniversary this month.
3. I have a neglected cooking blog
4. I am a BIGTIME procrastinator!
5. I have a green thumb, but only silk plants in my home. LOL
6. My favorite online game is Boggle
7. My favorite flowers are Birds Of Paradise

Tagging whomever wants to do this. :O)

Coastal Scents CreativeMe Sale

Click HERE for More Information

NORSTROM Shoes Free Shipping

Spring Greens e/s Look (MakeupbyTiffanyD)

Tiffany is one of my FAVORITE Makeup Guru's on YouTube.
Check out her channel. She's having a Sigma Pro Brush Set Give Away

I'm totally going to rock this look. Using dupes, of course. LOL

Ulta 2 Free Urban Decay Pencils With Purchase

Shop Current Ad NOW

RUFFLES - Spring 2010 Fashion Trend

Check Out Trends at Newport News.com