COLOR ME BAD
Get rid of your boring black and brown mascara! Sexy lashes are not just long and full but they also come in color this season. Colored mascaras intensify and bring out your natural eye color and Benefit Bad Gal plum mascara is a warm shade that will give a hint of color without looking over the top:
Bad Gal Plum Mascara - $19
FINDING LOVE IN A DARK ROOM
Just because we’re putting away the bright, vibrant colors of the summer doesn’t mean that we can’t have fun with warm, bold colors this fall! When it comes to nail color, I usually opt for a deep red or black during the fall/winter. It gives a sexy, edgy look on short, well manicured nails.
Sephora's Dark Room by OPI - $9
New Love
Marc Jacobs Lola - starting at $65
Although I remain loyal to my Angel by Thierry Mugler, I like to switch it up with a softer fragrance for those days when I feel like luring my significant other aka MB with a “damsel in distress” scent.
Last season, I fell in love with Gucci Flora and now may have to add Marc Jacobs Lola to my list. It’s a sensuous array of flowery scents; not as demure as Gucci but light enough to capture the playful side of true diva.
What’s your fall fragrance? Have you tried this fragrance?
I HEART FREE STUFF!
While you’re checking out all the deals on clothing this weekend, don’t forget to visit the beauty counter or pages — if you’re an online shopper. Those free makeup bags and gifts with purchases are not only available at Christmas and Valentines! Over the years, I’ve obtained all my cosmetic bags as a free gift with purchase and it’s also a good way to get samples of products that you would like to try before investing the cash.
So, instead of the usual product review, I’ve decided to bring you my favorite FREE gift with purchase beauty items that are available at department stores right now…
FREE Clinique 8-Piece Gift and Exclusive One-Of-A-Kind Milly Bag with your Clinique Purchase of $25 or more on Bloomingdales.com:
Clinique free gift with purchase
Is It Okay to Go Bushy?
Tweezerman Slant Tweezer - available at Target and Sephora for around $20
Experts are saying that bushy eyebrows are in this fall, but here are three things to note – don’t take that literally, it doesn’t mean less maintenance and, like I always say, everything ain’t for everybody!
By bushy, they of course mean thicker brows but it does not mean “untamed, hair in every which way”. So, proper maintenance is a must and this may require less waxing or threading and more plucking to keep brows neatly groomed but not too thin. Also, women like Brooke Shields and Ashanti have naturally full brows that are flattering to their faces, so consider if this is the right look for you.
Aveda Botanical Kinetics Toning Mist - $19
This torrid weather that we’ve been getting can bring nothing but heat strokes, obnoxious body odor and oily skin. While you can find ways to stay cool and practice proper hygiene, the latter may seem like an impossible problem to solve.
I’ve always battled with combination skin, which means, in this heat, you can fry up some eggs on my forehead and cheeks while the rest of my face is dry. I think having this type of skin makes it even harder to treat my breakouts because how do you moisturize one area of your face and control oiliness and acne at the same time? Most of those combination skin moisturizers don’t work and they don’t really help to balance out the moisture/dryness in your skin.
I think the most visible signs of aging in most women are those darn dark circles and puffiness under the eyes. Then again, this could also be a result of martinis and late nights for some of us ;-). My sleep deprivation started in college and overlapped with my career and social life, so the dark circles became a problem long before my thirties. At this point in life, us thirty-somethings know (or at least I hope) that concealer is our “friend” but there’s also an easy fix for this problem – Lighten Up Plus Eye Cream by Avon. I’ve been loyal to this product for years and use it periodically. I love it because I can see results in just two weeks and it even helps to eliminate puffiness after just one night.
Avon Lighten Up Plus - $15
After a good six or so years in my makeup bag, I finally have to change a few of my brushes. Two brushes that I use on a daily basis, and probably can’t live without, are my blush brush and brow brush. If nothing else, perfectly shaped and shaded eyebrows and rosy cheeks can give you a fresh, well put together look on any day. And, as with any item that I use everyday, I like to make sure that I invest in a product that’s going to last long and give me the desired results.
Some ladies like to grab their applicator brushes off the shelves in the pharmacy and may think that it’s ridiculous to spend hundreds of dollars on a brush set. Well, there’s a good reason behind the high price tag — a well made brush with quality fibers will give you much better makeup application, can be washed and reused, and last longer than that stuff at the pharmacy. Throughout the years, my MAC brushes have been washed over and over again and will now have to be replaced only because the blush brush is lightly shedding, and I accidentally broke the brow brush by trying to forcefully fit it into a bag.
MAC professional brushes are hand made with quality materials such as birch, linden and ramin wood handles. They’re also $8 to $10 cheaper than other brands like Shiseido and Lancome.
MAC BROW BRUSH
Applies colour to the brow. Use to define or add “fill”. Its precise angled tip provides pro-style application. Synthetic / natural blend fiber. Use to apply powder, liquid or cream products.
MAC Angled Brow Blush - $18.50
MAC BLUSH BRUSH
Tapered for shading and highlighting cheeks and face with blush. The bristles on this brush are soft and form a full, rounded shape.
Mac Blush Brush 116 - $32.00
Sometimes Size Doesn’t Matter
Sometimes we make a judgment call based on size and we think…what can THIS do for me? I need something I can grip, hold on to! I once felt that way too until I had to work with something a little smaller than I’m use to. Although it was cute and nicely packaged, I was still a little worried that I wouldn’t be satisfied with the results. To my surprise, that little thing got in every nook and cranny, was gentle enough for my sensitive areas but held up nicely during those moments when I got a little rough. When I was done, my smile said it all.
Folks, the Colgate Wisp mini brush gets best new personal hygiene product in my book. This 3.5 inch brush has cleaning bristles on one end and a soft pick on the other to help remove food particles. It has a freshening bead that comes in peppermint, cinnamon and spearmint. You can buy this in a 4-pack or 16-pack, and there’s no need to rinse or use water.
Colgate Wisp Mini Brush - 16 pack retails at $7.99
GET YOUR SHINE ON
For the past 3 years I’ve been going to an Aveda inspired salon and, as a result, I’m now hooked. In the beginning, I wasn’t sure if Aveda was “enough” for my chemically treated hair. Switching from a relaxer to a texturizer made my hair even thicker than usual, and I’ve never considered this a product line for black hair. But, this no frill, environmentally-conscious stuff delivers so much more than it promises. Not only do the shampoos and conditioners leave my hair softer, more manageable and overall healthier than ever, but Aveda’s Brilliant Universal Styling Crème is the perfect remedy for dry, coarse hair.
Aveda Brilliant Universal Styling Creme - $17
This thick crème formula is very light-weight when applied and helps to seal moisture and define the texture of your hair. Plus, the certified organic aloe and other plant ingredients create super shiny locks. You can use it on dry or damp hair and will love the results!
