and, i got them all from kmart.

last week, i was out looking for curtains  – quite unsuccessfully – to buy for my bedroom makeover when i got tired of searching. there was a kmart next door to the linen store i was at so i walked over the kmart to see what old girl martha may have had curtain wise that i would find appealing. nothing. she had nothing.

but kmart, like target and walmart, has an awesome makeup selection.

so, i picked up some goodies!

• 2 wet and wild blushes: mellow wine #833E and berry shimmer #834E
• 1 wet and wild lip gloss in 570A (a bronzy dark peach)
• 1 tropez blush: sweet cheeks #35302
• 3 tropez lipsticks (from bottom up in the swatch photo): 22527 (a dark brown), 22508 (a goldish peach), 22537a alight shimmery pink; the second removed cousin of mac’s creme de la femme

the kicker of this purchase was the lipsticks. they were all $1.00 and go on creamy like high end brands. they also have very strong color pigments!

i picked up the brown for fun so that i can try a look with a bold brown lip and neutral face – very vintage.

(more…)

share and enjoy!

i’m in love! for a drugstore product, this mask is (5/5)

what say you about the Pantene Relaxed & Natural Conditioner Breakage Defense Mask? (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

i’m pretty sure many of you guys remember when pantene was THE thing – THE product. in the late 90’s it was the go to product line for all of my white friends. i remember trying the product line (the white bottles) but never really “getting” the hype. back then i was relaxed and though the shampoo and condish were nice, they did nothing extra ordinary for my hair.

i guess it was this way for many women of color since pantene decided in the early 2000’s to come out with this line of products targeted (more specifically, i’d argue) towards black women of color – hence the name “relaxed and natural.”

to be honest, i don’t like their relaxed and natural condish (since i co-wash) for washing but i’d heard tons of hype surrounding the Pantene Relaxed & Natural Conditioner Breakage Defense Deep Conditioning Mask. i’ve been ignoring it for years when i decided that it was time to get down to business and pick up a jar.

i’ve yet to find my holy grail deep conditioner – store bought at least – so i wanted to see what this product would do for me.

initial reactions: first of all, (more…)

share and enjoy!

since the makeup world has basically informed women all over the world that we NEED to be high def wearing ladies, aka flawless – or at least our faces, i decided to take the plunge and try a less expensive version of a high def makeup.

i went to my local riteaid and picked up some revlon photo ready foundation in caramel and because riteaid is also currently having a bogo sale, i also picked up revlon’s new beyond natural concealer and highlighter duo. i’ll be reviewing the concealer shortly.

right now, the foundation is in limited distribution/preview, but is slowly rolling out for a full launch in about a month. so don’t be surprised at the limited color selection for women of color until feb.

i spent an hour in riteaid walking in repeat circles around the three makeup isles; looking at products and comparing mascaras, et. al, don’t we all?! he he…but the only thing i didn’t take out, put back in and take out of my little basket was this foundation. i was so excited to try it.

ugh, if i’d only known what was in store for me…

ladies, i cannot explain how much of a FAIL this product was for me!

(more…)

share and enjoy!

most women have a signature scent. i think that’s very vouge to have your own go-to fragrance.

i don’t know if i have a “scent” just yet, but i do know that when i get out of the shower, i like to smell clean. not flowery or herbally, just soapy clean. i like a fresh smell. fresher and softer than just-washed laundry, and not too soft like baby powder, but feminine as well.

i think most everyone can agree that smelling soft and clean is something that all women can get down with.

i’ve found a few products that give me that “OMG, what is that smell! It’s so nice” response from people. And no, I”m not making that up.

i’ve been asked by men and women – all ages and races, quite often, “what are you wearing?”

(more…)

share and enjoy!

is awesome! i have a fond place in my heart for diorshow azur blue mascara.

besides the fact that it smells HEAVENLY — like rose water. it’s beautiful on.

it’s really, really blue out of the tube and on the lashes, so i DO NOT recommend this as daily wear. but it will make a evening/night face pop. or for fun, you can put just a touch on the tips of your lashes during the day – but be sure to do only one coat. 

it’s worth the almost…gulp…$30. go get some! 

this is a great way to do a blue eye (which by the way, blue highlights brown eyes well) without looking like you stepped out of a vintage saved by the bell episode.

please let me know if you would like to see a tutorial of this look. i have a tube of this very mascara ready to go!

share and enjoy!