Category Archives: Reviews

Banishing dry, flaky skin with SheaMoisture Body Scrub!

Banishing dry, flaky skin with SheaMoisture Body Scrub!

What’s going on???

One of the things that I love doing on the weekends (besides eating) is using an all-over body scrub.  My skin gets super dry, itchy and flaky especially during the colder months. The wintery air and the dry heat of the radiator leaves my scaly.  I sometimes even get dry patches that makes it look like I am moulting! So once a week, I exfoliate using a body scrub.

Exfoliation is vital to any skincare routine.  The body generates new skin cells in the dermis (the innermost layer of skin) roughly every 28 days.  As these new skin cells get older, they get pushed to the outermost surface of the skin (the epidermis), eventually die and gets filled with keratin (a protein).  This keratin helps protect the skin from outside world.  The epidermis then naturally gets eroded (or falls off) and so the cycle continues.  As we get older, this constant process becomes less efficient and that leads to patches of flaky, dead skin cells that makes the skin less smooth.  Also, when you apply moisturizers, serums, treatments etc., this flaky skin prevents these nutrients from getting to the deeper layers of skin.  This is where exfoliation is important.  When you remove this outer layer, you reveal fresher, healthier, younger looking skin and all your treatments are more effective.  You want glowy skin? Start with exfoliation!

Recently I have been using the SheaMoisture Organic Argan Oil & Raw Shea Body Scrub with Frankincense & Myrrh.

SheaMoisture Organic Shea & Argan Oil Body Scrub

Click here for more!

New product alert! Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

New product alert! Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

Recently I attended the launch of Make Up For Ever’s new lipstick line, Rouge Artist Natural.

Make Up For Ever Rouge Artist Natural lipsticks

A few years ago, they brought out Rouge Artist Intense, a 50+ collection of amazing, heavily pigmented lipsticks.  This time around, for Spring 2012, they are releasing another 50 lipsticks, which are supposed to provide a softer effect on the lips.   These lipsticks are more moisturizing, and have a glossy sheen to them, as if they were mixed with a little lip gloss.

So I decided to pick up one colour for starters, N28.

Click here for pictures and swatches!!

Recent M.A.C. swatch: Vintage Grape Blush Ombre from Daphne Guinness

Recent M.A.C. swatch: Vintage Grape Blush Ombre from Daphne Guinness

So the Daphne Guinness collection from M.A.C. came out right after Christmas and there was only one item that I wanted from this limited edition collection –  the Vintage Grape Blush Ombre.  The Blush Ombres were first introduced about 2 years ago with the Spring Colour Forcast collection.  I missed out on this and all everyone spoke about were these blush ombres; how versatile, how amazing, how cute etc.   These things sold like hot bread and I showed up after de bakery closed!

So I promised myself to pick up Vintage Grape if it was ever repromoted.  And here it is!

M.A.C. Vintage Grape Blush Ombre

Click here for more swatches!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is giving my skin new life!

Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate is giving my skin new life!

It has gotten really cold and windy here in the Big Apple and my usually dry skin, is super tight and there is some flakiness.  Truth be told, I don’t have a complete, regular skincare regime.  I cleanse and exfoliate but with respect to moisturizers, I kinda just try whatever moves me, or use coconut oil or nothing at all.  Crazy, right?

So, one day I took part in a Twitter chat hosted by one of my favourite bloggers and fellow Trini, Afrobella and Kiehl’s and they were answering questions on one of Kiehl’s newer products, the Midnight Recovery Concentrate (MRC).  Now, before I launch into the virtues of this product, here’s a little information about Kiehl’s.  This is a real, old school apothecary located in the East Village in NYC.  Apothecaries have been around for centuries and are the precursors to the modern-day pharmacy.  The medical professionals created medicinal concoctions and dispensed medical advice.  I am in love with Kiehl’s original location!  The wood  lab-like benches, apothecary jars and beakers, the porcelain mortar and pestles.  It reminds me of my early days in Chemistry lab!

But, I digress…

Anyway, the chat included a giveaway and I won one the MRC sets!!! I was super excited! I had been investigating these products for a few weeks and it was a great way to dip my toe in.

The Midnight Recovery Concentrate comes in a prussian blue glass bottle with a glass dropper.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate

Click here for more MRC from Kiehl’s….

Maybelline Falsies Flared! A review

Maybelline Falsies Flared! A review

Maybelline has been adding to their Falsies line every few months.  I tried both the original and the Black Drama versions. I held off on getting the Falsies, ‘cuz, what else could they do? Eventually, the complusive beauty buyer in me won out.  I passed Go and collected my mascara in Blackest Black.

According to Maybelline, Falsies Flared is supposed to give you thick voluminous, flared out lashes, with no clumping.  The volume is supposed to come from the the Pro-Keratin formula and the patented spoon-shaped mascara wand gives the shape or flare.

For the review, click here!

Looking for a quick photo-ready makeup look? Try Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio!

Looking for a quick photo-ready makeup look? Try Smashbox Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio!

Hey!

Now that I have been expanding my makeup choices, I am excited to try a few products from Smashbox Cosmetics.  I received a few of their products from PR.  Smashbox has been on my to-try list for ages.  I am a huge fan of lead makeup artist Lori Taylor!  They have always had that professional but laid back vibe to them.

Since the advent of High Definition cameras and televisions, more and more companies have been refining their product lines so that makeup and skin could look as life-like and perfect as possible.  We used to be able to hide under Standard Definition but HD can easily magnify anything on the skin.

For Fall 2011, Smashbox brought out a line of Photo Op products which are supposed to be long lasting, highly pigmented and to bring the subject on camera to life!  A girl can be photographed at anytime and we need to be ready!

I tried the Photo Op Eye Shadow Trio in Quick Take which contains 3 coordinated shades that are easy to use, and takes the guesswork out of trying to combine shadows.  I love the packaging! Black, smooth and semi-matte.  It’s simple but very sleek!  Not bulky, compact and there’s a little window so you could see the colour without having to open the lid.  What’s cute about this is that if you flip to the back and peel the label off, there is scannable code which is linked to a video of Lori Taylor showing you how to create a look.  Very cool! Yuh get points for that Smashbox!  There are 18 different trios and they vary in textures from matte to frost finishes.

Quick Take, Smashbox

Click here for more pictures and the review!

This might just be the best shampoo ever….

This might just be the best shampoo ever….

I’m talking about the SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo with Sea Kelp, Argan Oil & Shea Butter for dry, damaged hair.  I have been using this shampoo for about a year now.  AND I LOVE IT!!!!!

SheaMoisture Organic Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo, image courtesy of Target.com

While I was a relaxed girl, as a matter of fact, I have always have problems with shampoos drying my hair and scalp out.  I would often feel like my scalp was tightening and pulling away from my hair.  Fast forward to last year as a natural.  Now my hair is growing and kinky and my number 1 goal is to prevent my hair from completely drying out when I wash it and to still effectively cleanse it.  I have tried other natural shampoos and many of them while they work, they also did not suds enough for my liking.  A little bit of sudsing or foaming is actually good because it helps trap and remove oil and dirt.  It’s when there is excessive bubble action when the skin and hair feels dry.  I also avoid traditional shampoos with certain sulphates and their derivatives like sodium lauryl sulphate, ammonium laureth sulphate etc. This is one of the moves that I have made that has totally changed the health and condition of my hair.  I stick to the gentle cleansers that can remove water-soluble products.

Click here for more of the review!!!!

Mascara review: Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Mascara review: Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

I was supposed to review this mascara a while ago, but better late than never, right?

Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash

Smoky Lash packaging

According to MUFE, Smoky Lash contains an ultra-pigmented product that gives exceptional volume, length and curl for you smokiest lash. Upon opening the package, it contains your standard wand and brush (not too large), that is quite dense and is supposed to apply the product form the roots to tip, which adds volume and length.

Click here for more of the review!!

Matte Eye Shadow review: Inglot Cosmetics

Matte Eye Shadow review: Inglot Cosmetics

Hey guys!

So I recently started purchasing products from Inglot Cosmetics.  They are a Polish brand with tons of eye shadows, lipsticks, liner, everything.  Their colour palette is amazing and what really drew me in was their Freedom System.  The majority of their products come in pans so you could customize whatever palette you want. You can mix eye shadows of different textures, colour families or you can even create a palette with eye shadows, lipsticks and blushes.  Their palettes come in various sizes including a 40-pan palette.

I purchased 3 matte eye shadows from their Freedom System as I am interested in playing with different textures.  I am a sparkle girl, and I have very few mattes in my collection.

The first is Freedom System Matte Eye Shadow # 339

Inglot Matte Eye Shadow # 339

Click for more…

Quick review: This blush is Fira-y!

Quick review: This blush is Fira-y!

Hey!

Here’s a quick review of a blush that I think fits well with the current trend of bright, bold colour – Kevyn Aucoin’s The Pure Powder Glow in Fira.

Kevyn Aucoin The Pure Powder Glow in Fira

So I purchased this blush from the Kevyn Aucoin sample sale a while ago and I am in love with it!

Click here for more!