Thursday, March 31, 2011

My Birthday + $25 Sephora Giftcard Giveaway

Happy Birthday to Me!!! I'm the big 3-0 today! 
Though 30 is no where near old, 
I do feel that time is ticking in terms of things that I want to accomplish.
It seems like the world around me is moving at an accelerated pace 
and I'm trying to keep up.  LOL


Anyway, to celebrate my birthday I thought 
it would be fitting to host a giveaway
to win a 
$25 Sephora Giftcard
Giveaway Closed.
Winner is Amber H. - Congrats!








To enter is simple
 you must 
or 
(see sidebar or click the links above)


Let me know how you are following
by leaving a comment below this post.




Good Luck!
P.S. If you follow both ways - great!
It only increases your chances of winning.


Contest is open until 
Friday, April 8th.
Winner will be announced the following Monday.


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p.s. there will be more giveaways soon - stay tuned ;-)
Labels: 16 comments

Monday, March 28, 2011

Cute Allure Interview with Beyonce

Hey ladies, I read this cute interview with Beyonce over at Allure but I'll share it here with you all.  
 


How often do you wear fragrance? 
"Every day. I put it on as soon as I get out of the shower. I wear it onstage, in the studio, on dates."


How many fragrances do you own?
"I'm very loyal. I find one and wear it for years. I wear Heat and Heat Rush—I really do! It was important to me that they work for all occasions because I don't like to switch up. I like to have a signature scent so that when I walk past, everyone knows it's me. My mother always wore the same fragrance [when I was a kid] and every time I smell it, I think of her."


What perfume is that? 
"She wore 273. I remember it was the first thing that I wore because I used to steal it from her!"


Do you have any particular scent memories attached to 273? 
"Yes. I kind of put that fragrance together with stilettos—because I would smell it and hear her footsteps on the hardwood floor."


When you have your own perfumes, does everyone you know get them as gifts? Who have you given Heat Rush to? 
"All of my family. It's funny because I don't like to give my own CD to all of my friends—it feels a little strange. But I gave Heat and Heat Rush to all of my nieces and my extended family. A lot of them were like, 'You better give us those fragrances! Because we don't want to have to buy them!'"


What at-home beauty treatment do you find most relaxing? 
"There's a scrub by Carol's Daughter—Ocean Sea Salt Scrub—it feels like the beach and it has the most beautiful scent. I'm always rushing, and this scrub is moisturizing, so it cuts out a step for me because I don't have to completely cover myself with lotion."


What's your must-have beauty product?
"I love the Rosebud Salve in the blue can. [Ed note: It's Smith's!] I wear it with my lipstick. I did this trick last summer, when I was on vacation: I used it to prime my lashes before curling. It was like a natural mascara. It made the lashes hold the curl and look shiny. I use it for everything! And I love [L'Oréal] Elnett hairspray. It's very light and holds whatever hairstyle you want."


What's you favorite hair look from your real life—not from a movie or red carpet? 
"In real life, I like natural curls as opposed to 'I just put a curling iron through my hair'—almost bedhead. Not too perfect. I love when my color grows out a little bit and the tips of my hair look sun-kissed."


What's the best trick you've learned from a pro while in the makeup chair? 
"[Makeup artists] have a spray, it's an after-spray. They sell it in every line, MAC has one. [Ed note: MAC Fix+] After you put your powder on—I don't know how it does it—but it makes your skin look like skin again. It takes away the chalkiness. That always makes me look more natural—you can see my pores and the shine in my skin. I use it every day now. I won't wear a powder if I don't have that. I keep one in my purse!"


Who are your beauty icons? 
"I have many. I really appreciate Audrey Hepburn, and of course, Marilyn [Monroe]. I like risk takers like Cher and Diana Ross. I like people that find what looks really good on them. I think that's the most important tip. There are things that I love that I know won't work for me—these women found the perfect silhouette for their bodies, the perfect cut of suits and dresses, the perfect hairstyle. Their choices made them more beautiful rather than distracting from their beauty."




source: allure


I love rosebud salve too - in the gold tin :-)
Do any of you own/wear Beyonce's fragrance?


Labels: 1 comments

Friday, March 25, 2011

Beauty Alert: Creme of Nature adds 5 New Products to Argan Oil Collection

Creme of Nature is doing big things in the ethnic hair care market.  Last time I mentioned CON it was August of last year to let you know of their Argan Oil collection.  But, guess what?  They've added some new products to that same line.  Take a look at the ad:





























































The new products in the line are: 


1.  The nutrient-rich Oil Treatment (3 oz). Likely the most affordable of its kind, this high-quality, certified organic Argan Oil treatment is comparable to the more expensive versions on the market; yet,  it appears at the suggested retail price of only $8.99 at mass retailers.   This precious, alcohol-free oil maximizes hair strength and provides intense conditioning.  It protects against breakage and repairs dry, damaged hair.  It absorbs instantly for long-lasting shine without an oil residue, while smoothing over the cuticle layer to reduce frizz, leaving hair silky soft.


2.  The restorative Moisture and Shine Shampoo (12 oz, $5.29) which brings back the traditional classic sulfate-free Creme of Nature shampoo formula and enhances it with Argan Oil for super hydration and conditioning.  This classic shampoo with a new twist restores moisture and delivers intense shine while it gently cleanses the hair.  The non-stripping formula will revitalize and strengthen thirsty hair while it detangles and leaves hair soft and manageable. It’s a return to what has made Creme of Nature a consumer favorite for years.
{I am especially eager to try this! I am a fan of the original formula & scent so I anticipate this will not be lacking in effectiveness, or so I hope}


3.  The breakage-preventative Intensive Conditioning Treatment ($5.29) which debuted in a packet.  Now, by popular demand, the ultra-rich, deep moisturizing treatment can be purchased in a 12 oz. bottle.  {I didn't know this, but now that I've read it - yay! You all know I'm a deep conditioning junkie}


4.  The Strength & Shine Leave-In Conditioner (8.45 oz, $5.29) is a unique two-phase formula that combines Argan Oil liquid shine and a strengthening protein complex that improves hair strength. Shake it up to activate the product, and watch the protein complex combine with Argan Oil to protect against damage and adds luminous shine and moisture.  


5.  The Oil Moisturizer (8.45 oz, $5.29) is an oil-rich formula, enhanced with Argan Oil that restores moisture, nourishes deep, protects against the effects of heat styling and strengthens damaged hair.  It gives long-lasting softness and shine brilliance.


Do you like what you see?  Do tell. 


Labels: , 2 comments

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Clutch Me: Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin is pretty much synonymous for red bottom soles but his craftsmanship is also evident is his latest purse collection.   


Photobucket




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Thursday, March 17, 2011

Product Review: Pratima Skincare's Lavendar Clay Mask

I mentioned some time ago that I'm trying a more natural/holistic/ayurvedic/DIY approach to my skin care routine. Well, a few weeks ago I ordered a Lavendar Clay Mask from PratimaSkinCare.  


The skincare line is created by Dr. Pratima Raichur, a leading Ayurvedic physician, chemist, and botanist. She's also the author of Absolute Beauty, the book I mentioned I am reading.


Absolute Beauty is absolutely worth reading if you are interested in Ayurveda relative to beauty and skin. It will have you rethinking dermatological products that are used to prevent, diminish, or halt skin issues like acne.


The Pratima Skincare line contains 100% herbs, roots, flowers, fruits, plants and minerals. They are certified organic, cruelty free, paraben free, free of synthetics, free of metals and dyes. So the product you are getting is pretty much mother nature at its best.  


Product Description:
Nature’s own purifier with healing earth clay, rich minerals and potent astringents of Lavender, Rosemary and Camphor help draw out impurities, absorb excess oils and leave skin deeply clarified. 


PRATIMA Herbal Masks offer concentrated nutrition that work deeply on a therapeutic level to support healthy cells, visibly improve complexions and rebalance skin conditions. 


Ingedients:
BLACK CLAY, NEEM EXTRACT, ORGANIC ESSENTIAL OILS OF LAVENDER, ROSEMARY. 




Price: $32



My Experience:
So let me just say I really like the packaging. I can definietly get a good sense of what the Pratima Spa in NYC is like just by the aesthetics of the little jar.


The scent however leaves much to be desired.  But, what did I expect from clay? Besides I was more concerned with the results more than the scent.


The first two times I used the mask I applied it all over my face and the third time I used it I only applied it to the specific area that I wanted to target which is around my jawline (I have some stubborn spots/blemishes there). Each time I left it on for 20 minutes while lying down.  


Pratima's Tip: Whenever using a mask, Pratima always recommends lying down. This helps to not only bring circulation to the area, but also prevents the skin tissue form being stressed by gravity and enables you to take a few moments for meditation. 


When I use it I could feel that it is working because my skin starts to tingle a bit and as the masks dries I can feel it tugging at my skin signifying that its drawing out the impurities, excess oil, and crap that is trapped within the pores and walls of my skin.  


When I have the masks on I can hardly wait for the 20 minutes to be up just so that I can see the difference in how my skin looks and feels, which is clean, a bit of a glow, decreased size of pimple (s) and definitely smoothness all around.


I wish I was more consistent with using this twice a week though because I know that if I did those breakouts along my jaw line would disappear for good.  I hope to be more disciplined in doing so.


As with any skin care routine, consistency is key otherwise it’s like taking two steps forward and then 3 steps backwards.


This was my first product purchase from this line and I expect to purchase a few other things especially because I like the fact that they are handmade with great organic ingredients.


If you suffer from any skin ailments and have tried everything under the sun, you may want to try a different approach.  A more holistic or natural approach and if you do I think this  may be the best place to start.


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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Hair's My Natural Beauty: Manneck

Welcome to another edition of Hair's My Natural Beauty - a series of informative/inspiring/insightful Natural Hair interviews showcasing the various textures of natural hair.  This week's Natural Hair beauty is..


Name:  Manneck 


Location:  Haiti


How would you describe your hair? 
Well, I really dont know. Before, I used to look for what it could be (mix of 3c-4a-4b). But as my hair gets longer, the texture changes. So its not an issue anymore. I just love the way it is and embrace it fully.


How long have you been natural?
I’ve been  completely  natural since 2009.  My last relaxer was in December 2007. Since I haven't looked back.


What prompted you to "go natural"? 
After I saw one of my girlfriend wearing her beautiful natural  hair.  I was a little worried  by  just thinking about it… but her hair obsessed me so much.  
I had the opportunitiy  to make the step.
As an architect, I used to supervise/ visit sites I was in charge of.  I didnt have time to style hair, and wind, dirt, didn't help.   So I wore protectives styles (braids extensions, twists extension, cornrows etc).  As my natural hair  was growing out, I was amazed to see and feel how my real hair was. After 1 year wearing protectives styles, in Janauary 2009, I just decide to cut it.  I just felt free after that.


What is the main difference between having natural hair vs chemically relaxed hair?  


Oh,  there's a huge difference. First of all, I dont waste money and time  :o)!!!! I wear perm for about 15 or 18 years, I used to have long relaxed hair (bra strap. back lenght), and staying all day long at my stylist was frustrating. I wasnt "free". Now I'm in my element, I can do everything with my hair, whether I wear straight, curly, or a beautiful afro.  its so versatile.  I do love it!! And also, I'm more concern about my health, what put on my hair and inside my body.


What hair styles are you fond of to style your natural hair? 
Im definitely  a fan of  twist/ twist out.  I still have a good result when I wear  both of  them.  But after the last day before wash,  I pull my hair in a bun or ponytail.  But I would like to try other style like bantu knot.
Once per year I straight my hair by using hot comb or flat iron.  I love my natural hair!!


Do you accessorize your hair?  What accessories do you use?  
Usually I accessorize with head band, scarf, clips.


What hair products work best for your hair?  
 I usually use cheap products, like VO5, suave, tresemme, mane and tail.  Most of them are conditioners.  And as shampoo, I only use creme of nature (the red bottle) once or twice per month to get rid of all dirts from products I used during the week.
To style my hair, I use cantu shea butter, unrefined shea butter, coconut oil, olive oil, and my favorite, the castor oil.  I keep it simple.  


What is your hair regimen? How often do you wash/co-wash?  
I usually wash my hair every week or every 10-15 days, depending of my mood.  During the weekend, when I let my hair down,

I always prepoo with olive oil-honey mixture. I co-wash hair, deep condition (Pantene), put my leave in conditioner (infusium 23), then style (coconut, cantu shea butter).  Every month I use CON (crème of nature) to clarify hair, then deep conditon, leave in conditioner then style. And during the week I oil scalp and moisturize the hair.


What resources, tools, books, videos, etc helped you along your natural hair journey?  
After I cut my hair, I thought I should deal with it as if it still relaxed, bad mistake.  Nobody could help me at home, as I was the one and first to embrace the natural hair world.  Then, I went through the net to learn as much possible i can. It was worth it... and I still learn. I keep googling.  Youtube helped me a lot, as I saw I wasn't the one who struggled during transition and after hair cut. the blogs like Fotki, curlynikki, black hair media etc... do help also


Hair's my natural beauty...
because its freedom.  It’s one of the best positive thing I ever did for myself: I  embrace the real me, I feel fierce,  full of beauty 
  
Are you a Natural Hair beauty? Send an email here.


Labels: 4 comments

Friday, March 11, 2011

Aloe Vera and its Amazing Benefits

There are more than 300 species of the plant, with a whole range of properties beneficial to both healthy and damaged skin.



Regeneration and anti-inflammation

Natural aloe vera extract is excellent to soothe irritated or burnt skin as it has great regenerative and anti-inflammatory qualities. The secret is that it reaches deep into the skin because of its vitamin content – A, B1, B2, B6, B12 – plant sugars, glucomannan, pentose, hexose and galactose.





After-sun benefits

Thanks to its calming effects, the plant is widely used in after-sun products and treatments for skin irritations. It also helps to destroy dead cells, regulates the pH of the skin and  eliminates toxins. On top of all this, it also has moisturising properties, which makes it effective for dry skins.





An ally against stretch marks

A further area in which it aloe vera useful is in the battle against stretch marks, as it can help with prevention and concealment.





A friend to your hair

Hair and skin are closely related, so maybe it's not surprising that your locks can benefit from this wonder plant: many shampoos include it to revitalise and add shine, strength, and flexibility.





These are just some of aloe vera's cosmetic properties, but there are also studies that suggest its medicinal properties make it effective against intestinal problems and inflammation of the eyes.





How I've used aloe vera: drink it, mixed it into hair products, used it on facial pimples



Labels: 0 comments

Monday, March 7, 2011

Got Skin Problems? Try Flax Seed






Gorgeous!


Recently I've started to incorporate more natural products into my skin care regimen and I can honestly attest to them because they ARE working.  For instance, I've revisited flax seed oil post pregnancy and though I can't stand the aftertaste it is a small price to pay for the benefits to my skin.  





Here's the main thing you need to know about flax seed (oil) as it relates to skin care benefits, it is: an excellent source of essenial fatty acids, the Omega 3s





Quick note about EFAs - they are extremely important components to overall health because our body cannot manufacture them on its but needs them to perform at its optimal level.



Benefits of Flax Seed (Oil)



(1) It's those EFAs that provide the benefits to improving skin tone, texture, and ailments.  For example, if you suffer from eczema (itchy patches of skin), psoriasis (severe form of skin disorder that can cause pain & itchiness), or rosacea (skin redness & inflammation) these skin issues respond to the anti-inflammatory components that EFAs have.  





(2) Promotes clear skin because the essential fatty acids help thin out the oily sebum that causes clogged pores





(3)Promotes hair growth & nail growth due to the EFAs as well as protein and fiber found in flax seeds



I try to take 2 tablespoons of Organic Flax oil each night but sometimes I forget.  The first time I took flax oil though I noticed a difference in my skin almost immediately. Seriously.  This is why I've reincorporated it into my daily supplements.  





Edited to add:  Flax seed is available in many forms: pills, oil, milled, etc and the benefits are evident in all forms. 



Labels: 5 comments

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Celebrity Girl Crush - Kim Kardashian Is she yours too?





I like Kim Kardashian you can tell because I've written about her several times.  But, she her body makes me sick.  I mean God her physique is so ridiculous.  What does a girl have to do to get her post pregnancy body to that level?  LOL  I'm serious.  


Anyway, she has another fragrance that launched at Macys recently.  


I love this look that she had going on -  from head to toe and of course her makeup was flawless.  


Is she your celebrity girl crush too? Let me know.   


Labels: 2 comments

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Hair's My Natural Beauty: Eryn

Welcome to another edition of Hair's My Natural Beauty - a series of informative/inspiring/insightful Natural Hair interviews showcasing the various textures of natural hair.  This week's Natural Hair beauty is...



Name: Eryn   Location: Dallas, TX





How would you describe your hair? My hair is mostly small coils like the kind inside of a pen. They get a little bigger towards the crown. I also have a random patch of kinky, coarser hair in the back. It's a melting pot of hair on my noggin'!





How long have you been natural? I've been relaxer free for 11 months and fully natural for 6 months.





What prompted you to "go natural"?  I like big hair, end of story! LOL  Actually, I'd have many, many failed transitions since 2005 because I was still wrapped around that "good" and "bad" hair thing. I also didn't have one lick of knowledge on how to maintain it. I was very dependent on my stylist and when I told him I wanted him to help me grow out my relaxer, he raised all kinds of cane about how nappy my hair would be and I'd beg him to relax it again. Yes, he's black.



Anywho, fast forward 5 years and I finally got the nerve to do it because he burned me really badly with a relaxer. He didn't base me, he took a phone call while he was relaxing my hair, and he didn't fully rinse when I insisted I was still burning and could feel the relaxer. I figured I can burn my own scalp so why am I paying him to do it?! I self-relaxed one more time after that (Feb 2010) and that was the last. I started doing me.





What is the main difference between having natural hair vs chemically relaxed hair?  My natural texture was foreign to me, so getting to know it was physically and mentally challenging. It's truly a process that doesn't end when you cut the relaxer off.



Also, my natural hair is much, much smoother. The a strand of my hair, although coily/kinky, is clearly in better shape than my relaxed hair. It's much more vibrant. My hair color is richer than I thought. My hair is not really porous either. It takes a lot longer to completely saturate my hair. I feel like it can be alot healthier as long as I treat it right. This isn't to say relaxed hair can't be so, I'm just speaking on mine.



What hair styles are you fond of using to style your natural hair? Since my hair is still short, I wear it in twists for a few days. I'm glad I can finally do that because my twists at the beginning were a boiling mess! LOL I do twist outs and chunky fro for the most part. When I get lazy, I put in kinky twists and wear them for a few weeks for a break.





Do you accessorize your hair?  I don't really do much with accessories. They're cute, but they're not me. At best, you'll see me with an elastic band, but that's about it. My hair is my accessory.



What hair products (shampoos, conditioners, styling aids) work best for your hair?  

I accidentally developed a Curly Girl friendly regimen that my hair LOVES, so I rarely shampoo. I'm not against it, I just find I don't need it as often.



My absolute staples are: Tresemme Naturals conditioner, Giovanni Direct Weightless leave in, coconut oil, Ecostyler gel, water (daily moisturizer), and any butter mix I'm loving at the time. I can do all of my styles with a combination of these products. My product regimen is very simple.



Every now and then (mostly now - don't judge), I splurge on mail order products. I don't like to be dependent on those because the cost can add up. I try to keep my staples locally available and under $10 per item.



What is your hair regimen? How often do you wash/co-wash? I cowash 2-3 times a week or when my hair needs it. I'm not on a set schedule. If my hair needs a refresher and I don't feel like washing it, I just mist it with water, seal, and restyle. Easy peasy.



When I do wash, here's my regimen:

Cowash: Tresemme Naturals Moisturizing Conditioner

Deep Condition: one of many deep conditioners, usually Lustrasilk Shea Butter Cholesterol or Pantene Curly Series treatment

Leave in: Giovanni Direct Weightless Leave In

Twists/Twist outs: Whatever butter I am loving

Seal: Whatever oil I have on hand

Wash n go: Whatever oil I have on hand

Gel: Olive Oil Eco Styler



Daily maintenance for twists/twist outs: Mist lightly with water and retwist. I use a light cream (Hydratherma Naturals Daily Growth Moisturizing Lotion or oil to seal. I don't heavily apply my product anymore for best results.



What resources, tools, books, videos, etc helped you along your natural hair journey? I go to Youtube alot and search for quality videos. I also use Fotki for hair styling ideas. I document my journey on my blog Hair2ToeBeauty.com. Keeping it documented serves as a great reference because I can forget what I did or how I felt about a product.





Hair's my natural beauty because....... I don't have to depend on anyone else to maintain my hair and to make it look good. It grows out of my head this way and I've learned to love it and accept it for its' own characteristics. It doesn't need to be corrected, it just needs care that works best for it. It's my natural beauty because it's mine.

==================================================================



So many of us can relate to getting burned (literally & figuratively) by those harsh relaxers.  

Can/do any of you relate?  Thanks Eryn for sharing your informative & insightful interview.  





Are you a Natural Hair beauty? Submit your info here.
Labels: 5 comments

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Snap Crackle Pop Nail Polish Trend

The new nail polish trend these days is the crackle polish - its like special effects for your nails.  It gives your nails a shattered or cracked look.  The two most popular crackle polishes are the Black Shatter from OPI and Black Mesh from China Glaze seen below.    




Photobucket
What you do is polish your nails with any color of  your choice which serves as your base coat. Once the base dries you apply the crackle polish over it and voila you have perfectly shattered nails.  Keep in mind the crackle polishes can come in different colors depending on the brand - I just chose to highlight the "black" crackle polishes.  











I, myself have yet to get my hands on any of the crackle polishes but if you're interested in getting the Black Shatter from OPI for free then head over to Living Fly on a Dime. <<<- Just click on the link to enter the giveaway.


What do you think of the crackle trend? 

Like it or Loathe it?



Labels: 2 comments
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