Archive for Beauty

Do It Yourself :: Fix Your Broken Powder

How many times has your powder/blush broken in its compact, leaving you with nothing but a BIG mess?  I know for myself , this has happened numerous of times, and I have been forced with the decision to either waste money by throwing it away, put the compact and leftover powder in a plastic sandwich bag, which can be very messy, or dish on more bucks by buying a loose powder container.

Luckily, I came across a solution from fellow blogger, Katrina Lomidze on “How to Fix Broken Powder Makeup” by simply using rubbing alcohol.

I know you’re probably wondering about the odor and if the alcohol will cause your skin to dry, but as Katrina mentioned in her post, alcohol dries quickly, so it will evaporate and the odor will go away.  Also, the more alcohol concentrate, the faster it dries, but if you leave it out to dry overnight, any percetnage can work.

One of my favorite MAC bronzers had broken and saving it was creating a mess, so following Katrina’s steps by using rubbing alcohol, here’s what I did:

Applied several drops of alcohol to the compact.

Then using my fingers, I began to mix the alcohol with the powder.  You’ll notice it will start to turn into a paste, which will make it easier to smooth it out.

Finally, I let the powder sit overnight to thoroughly dry.

It isn’t as perfect and as smooth as when I purchased it, but at least it’s all in one piece.  So the next time your powder brakes, just use these easy steps to help salvage it and save you money!

Feature Friday :: Braxton Family Values

Last season, I was really disappointed in the Braxton sisters hair and makeup choices (read Braxton Family Makeup Faux Pas).  From the bad wigs, to the excessive amounts of blush, it all just seemed too over the top,  and with divas like Toni and Tamar, I expected so much more.

Well, I finally peeped an episode of this season’s Braxton Family Values .  I was happy to see some improvement with the sisters.  It seems as though they learned a lot from last season — better wigs/weave, and they even toned down the heavy makeup, just a little.  The award for most improved  has to go to both with Towanda and Traci.  Those two have come a LONG way.

Remember in the first season, Towanda was always rocking the two ponytails and/or micro minis and frosty eye shadow.  Well, with season 2, Towanda has stepped it up with curly locs and opted for more warm and neutral tones.

Traci was all over the place  during the first season.  She was another fan of frosty eye shadow and her wigs just weren’t up-to-par as a professional cosmetologist. During this season, almost like an inconsistent boyfriend, sometimes she gets it right and the other times, well, she doesn’t.

All of the sisters looked fabulous during Toni’s induction to the Georgia Hall of Fame. Take a look at the episode:

What do you think?

Feature Friday :: Zooey Deschanel’s Tuxdeo Nails Tutorial | President Obama “Let’s Stay Together” 2012

Happy Friday Beauties!  It’s that time of the week again…Feature Friday! Check out our favs of the week.

President Obama serenaded a crowd at the Apollo Theater in Harlem Thursday evening, when he broke out with Al Green’s “Let’s Stay Together”.  The legendary soul singer was among the 1,400 in the audience cheering President Obama on.

I’m so in love with him! lol

Actress, Zooey Deschanel’s tuxdeo nails were a hit at this year’s Golden Globe Awards.  If you’re looking to follow the trend, take a look at this tutorial from Pop Sugar TV on how to recreated the look at home.

Finally, if you’re looking to do something special for your loved one  or even for yourself for Valentine’s Day and are in the DC area, Melanie Joy Photography is offering a Valentine’s Day Special, which includes:  1 hour photo session, makeup artist, retouched photos and a private online gallery for only $285.

The special ends on February 2nd.  Email Melanie at mjoyphoto@yahoo.com to book your slot.

Mikki Taylor :: Commander in Chic

I had the privilege of attending beauty and style afficando, Mikki Taylor’s book signing for her new book, “Commander in Chic:  Every Woman’s Guide to Managing Her Style Like a First Lady” at Barnes & Noble in Washington, DC.

As you should know, for 30 years, Ms. Tay­lor served as ESSENCE Magazine’s ground­break­ing Beauty & Cover Direc­tor, and in addi­tion, she is the Founder and Pres­i­dent of Mikki Tay­lor Enter­prises, LLC.

I missed most of the open forum, but I was still excited to meet Ms. Taylor.  She has a graceful aura and a radiant glow that’s simply contagious.  It’s no wonder why so many women look to her for inspiration.

The book covers some of her personal tips and tricks to keeping your beauty and style simple, yet chic.  I encourage you all to go out and read it!   Stay connected with Mikki Taylor on Facebook and Twitter.

5 Easy To Keep Beauty Resolutions

We’re just three days away from the New Year and aside from picking out the perfect party dress and planning the celebration, we have the unduly task of setting  far fetched goals for ourselves, aka New Year’s Resolutions.

I’m always for setting goals, but let’s face it, how many of us actually stay committed and consistent with our new year resolutions? Forget unrealistic resolutions, let’s try keeping it simple for 2012.

Here are some simple beauty resolutions that you might want to add to your list:

1. Try Something New: Whether it’s a new hairstyle/color, lipstick color, or cosmetic brand, do something different for a change.  This doesn’t require a long commitment, just courage to step outside the box.

2.  Implement a Skincare Regime in Your Morning & Evening Routine: Remember, makeup can’t substitute proper skincare, so cleansing, exfoliating, moisturizing and SPF should be incorporated in our daily routine.  To make it easy, try buying a skincare set.  That way everything you need is in the set, which will make it easier for you to remember to use.

3. Book an Appointment with Your Dermo: It’s always best to be safe, not sorry, so by visiting your Dermo, you’ll not only address any skincare concerns you may have, but, your dermatologist can check for any issues you may not be aware of.

4.  Stop Settling for Less: When I started my beauty addiction, I would always go the cheap route — buying products because they were cheaper.  But, we all know, you get what you pay for.  Sometimes, you have to spend the big bucks for that great product. Most of the time, it’s worth the investment.

5.  Invest in You: We all get caught up in the everyday hustle of life — work, kids, and/or school, etc.,  but remember, no one is going to love you like you! So take the time out, weekly or even monthly to do something for yourself, whether it’s painting your nails, getting your hair done or booking a facial.

Overall, it’s all about simplicity and taking baby steps.

What are you New Year Beauty Resolutions?

Holiday Beauty Inspiration

It’s the Holiday Season, get inspired!

Don’t Grab My Hair Because You’re Messing Up My Weave

I celebrated my 10,592.0238 day birthday this past weekend.  The theme was “Valley of the Dolls”, so I wanted to do everything doll/barbie-like — pink everything, apparel, big accessories, big lashes, and most importantly, big hair.  


Now, I’ve done the weave thing from time to time, but I’ve never been consistent with it.  The maintenance and expense is a bit much for me.  The longest I kept it in, is about 2 weeks, but I decided to do something different and get the sown in to have it last longer.  


I went to my sister’s salon in Baltimore, Salon Blush, where she sewn in 16 inches of lovely locs. For the record, I am tender-headed AND this was my first time, trying this method, so it was a bit painful for me.  My head was literally throbbing, and for a moment, I had contemplated stopping and taking it out.   The whole time I was thinking to myself, how do women do this consistently, it’s torture and how can I go out tonight and celebrate with my head hurting like this.  The price of beauty!

Maybe because my mind began to focused on others things, the party and joking around with the ladies in the salon, but it’s as almost the pain went away soon after.  Looking at the end result certainly helped as well.  I loved it, but I did have to issue a warning, that if anyone, pulled, touched or even patted my head that night, it would be on!

Would I do it again??? I would never say never, but I will say, a sew-in is perfect for those who intend on keeping it in longer than a few days/weeks and who aren’t tender-headed.  

Review :: Ojon’s Best of Damage Reserve Kit

If I ever had a hair profile status, it would read the following:

“I’m a fiery redhead, living life on the wild side, who prefers to have a little fun with being a blonde, yet also finds time to relax every 3-4 months.”



Yes, I know, it’s a dangerous combination, the coloring and relaxing, but I’m a gambler.  Recently I’ve experienced some breakage, nothing too major, but still, I wanted to address the issue.  I visited my local ULTA and picked up Ojon’s Best of Damage Reserve Kit.  Now, I’ve never used Ojon products before, but I’ve heard plenty about the brand.  Recently, GAWJUS songstress, Melanie Fiona mentioned in an interview with Fashion Bomb TV that she uses Ojon products to nourish her lovely locks.  I thought I’d give it a try and for only $39 for the complete kit including: Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo (8.5 oz), Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner (8.5 oz) and the Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment (1.7 oz) it was a sweet bargain.

For those who aren’t familiar with the brand, here’s a little background info:  It’s a natural and organic line of naturally derived ingredients from the tropical rain forest in Central America.  Ojon’s secret to beautiful hair, is a rich palm nut oil extracted from the tropical tree. This unique tree grows only in the rain forest of the Mosquitia region of Central America. Ojon instantly hydrates and improves the condition of damaged, color-treated or processed hair without weighing it down. Fortifying, rebuilding and nourishing, it leaves hair extraordinarily shiny, silky and manageable. Ideal for dry, dull, damaged, natural or chemically-treated hair.


Formulated WITHOUT:
Parabens
Synthetic Fragrance
Synthetic Dye
Formaldehyde Donor
Phthalates
Triclosan
DEA,
PABA
Paraffin
Petrolatum/Mineral oil


According to the kit, the treatments which are fortified with pure Ojon oil, are suppose to instantly mend and strengthen my hair against breakage. So, as the kit instructed, I applied the Damage Reverse Restorative Hair Treatment to my scalp, massage it in and combed it through and let sit for 20 minutes. Next, I shampooed with the Damage Reverse Restorative Shampoo and followed up with the Damage Reverse Restorative Conditioner.

So here are the results…


I must admit that after I shampooed my hair, it didn’t feel as silky as it does when I use Shea Moisture’s Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo, but it felt very soft and pumped up the volume in my hair and added a lot of body to it.  When I walk, my hair just flows and bounces and I LOVE that!

Two thumbs up!

Ojon products are available at Sephora, ULTA and at Ojon.com.

Beauty Junkies Stay Organized

As you all should know, I am a beauty product/tool junkie!  Seriously, I have products everywhere!   In my bathroom, I have a cabinet filled with beauty tools (flat iron, curling irons, blow dryers, combs, clips, etc.) and products (shampoos, conditioners, styling products), and I also have a cart holding my everyday stuff (more shampoos, conditioners, styling products and makeup).  I have a big case of makeup, that I keep in my living room, and in my closet I have a self for more things that I don’t use as much.  So, as you can see, organization is essential for me.  

I came across article in the latest issue of InStyle Magazine “Vanity Sanity” on how to keep your beauty essentials organized, so I thought I would share some ideas with you.




1. Containers – Use containers or jars to hold your cotton balls, q-tips, and/or sponges.  The colorful stackable containers in photo 1 are from Zak Designs.  I purchased inexpensive glass jars from Ikea.  

2.  Wall Mount or ShelvesThe Vitra Uten Silo Wall Organizer is the perfect organizer for your beauty products and tools. It can hold a lot of items, without taking up much space, but it’s pretty pricey…$425, to be exact. An alternative would be to purchase inexpensive shelves and mount them on your wall.

3.  Labels - Keep your products organized by labeling them by the date of purchase. This helps you remember what products to trash when they expire.  These label package from Beauty Alert come with 20 labels in four categories:  3, 6, 12 & 18+.     



4.  Luxury Deluxe Wood Cosmetics Box w/Mirror by Lori GreinerAvoid the cosmetics crush with this deluxe wood makeup box with built-in mirror. Spacious and separated into four different levels with swing-out doors and magnetic closures, it offers ample room for 30 lipsticks and numerous other cosmetics, like blushes, shadows, pencils, mascara, foundations, nail polishes, and more. From Lori Greiner.  Available at www.QVC.com for only $69.12


5.  Brush Holder - Keep your brushes organized, simply by using a glass, metal or plastic container or cup.  


6.  Cosmetic Vanity Organizer - This organizer is perfect for your everyday essentials.  Available at www.touchofclass.com 

Vampires, Skeletons, & Geishas :: Halloween 2011

Unlike Halloween last year, I waited until the last minute to get my Halloween costume together…a few hours to be exact.  I ran out to the costume store, and tried to think of something creative, yet simple. I purchased fangs, white paint, black nails, lashes and a black leotard. I figured I’d be a sexy vampire.  I beat my face, but my costume on, but the only problem was, my vampire teeth wouldn’t stick (this is what happens when you procrastinate), so I had to quickly think of something else.

I went through some boxes and found a geisha costume I’ve never worn.  I figured this would work perfect since I only had my face painted white, I just had to change my lipstick and add blush.  I decided against the geisha wig and stuck with my own do.  Unfortunately I didn’t get a picture of the full costume….

“We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word “geisha” means artist, and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art.”



But I did enjoy seeing some of my fav celebs dress up for Halloween.  Take a look:

Who were you favs? Did you dress up for Halloween this year?

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