So a lot of people always ask me how come my eye shadows stay on all day (and all night) long, without budging?? The short answer? Skills!!! Nah, just kidding!
The secret weapon that makeup artists and makeup mavens use is the eye shadow primer. Primers come in different forms and you kinda have to experiment to see which one suits you best. They basically act as a barrier between you eyelid and your shadows. They provide a smooth surface for shadows to stick to and prevents the natural oils from the lid from smudging your handiwork. They last all day through work, sweaty gym workouts or just walking around in the heat, humidity or the cold. And they also help keep colours true and make them pop!
Factors to consider when looking for a primer include 1) Skin type: oily or dry, 2) ease of application, 3) price range. Listed below are some of the most popular primers available and I’ve used them all.
Eye Shadow primers
Eye Shadow Primers
Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP), 0.34 oz., USD$17, Sephora
Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFSI), 0.35 oz., USD$17, Sephora
So I have been transitioning to my natural hair texture for almost a year and a half. I have kinky, coily hair, but I don’t know what type it is (3C?, 4A?, whatever). I am not really interested in getting caught up in ‘type-ing’ my hair, that takes a lot of energy and I don’t think it’s ultimately important.
Anyway, I just spent a week at the beach (what’s up Fire Island ladies…and lad!) and needless to say my hair was super parched and tangled. When I got home, I decided to make a little concoction to help me detangle and moisturize. I went to the grocery and bought a large aloe leaf. You could usually find this in Latino and Asian markets. Back home in the Caribbean, as a child, we would also use the flat cactus leaves (the ones that had few pickers, needles). I did some research online and decided to make a very simple mix:
Aloe Vera Detangler Recipe
1 large aloe vera leaf
2 tablespoons, extra virgin, organic coconut oil
1 tablespoon vegetable glycerine
I forgot to add honey, which is great for hydration as it draws moisture from the air (next time!!)
I scooped the inside of the aloe vera leaf out, and added the other ingredients. Then I placed the mix into the food processor and pulsed it for a few seconds. I then sectioned my hair into quarters and applied liberally. I added a moisturizing conditioner (L’Oreal’s Nature’s Own, Mega Moisture Nuturing Creme) on top of that, covered with plastic and left it on for at least half an hour.
Let me tell you!! This made detangling super easy as the slip was AH-Mazing!!! Tangles just fell out. So I am going to add this to my routine, probably once a month or so. My hair was also left moisturized.
Things I learned….
I did not pulse the aloe enough and I had small bits of aloe in the mix… and all over my hair, small ting!! I think the next time I will blend the mixture and then pass is through cheese cloth or a linen sieve so I’ll just get the gel part.
Add honey for more moisture and antibacterial properties
Add oils like peppermint or rosemary
Use this mix with my beloved Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner. This might just be the ultimate moisturizing deep conditioner.
What recipes with aloe vera do you have for your hair???
So I was able to view the new M.A.C. nail collection on Saturday and I think this a great fall collection. The colours are very creamy, mostly dark, vampy and you would need at least 2 coats for full coverage. There was some streaking when applying the first coat but application was smooth on the second. The colours are beautiful and I was really tempted to just get them all, but I only got 2 of them: Cool Reserve and For Fun.
“MAC has partnered with renowned nail artist, Jin Soon Choi on her first-ever brand collaboration, she had a clear vision: highly pigmented, bold nail colours with a long-lasting, high-shine cream finish. With that direction, MAC Product Development experts set out to develop a F/W ‘09 trend-driven nail collection that would appeal to beauty and fashion addicts everywhere. The complete collection includes six rich, opaque shades with editorial flair and depth, as well as an Underlacquer and an Overlacquer, all formulated to strengthen and fortify nails. During the Fall/Winter ‘09 Collections, Doo.Ri chose Beyond Jealous (a blackened blue/green shade), to complete the models’ looks. Each bottle is priced at$12.00 U.S. / $15.50 CDN. The collection is slated to hit www.maccosmetics.com and MAC counters in North America on August 27, 2009 and International in September 2009.”
The MAC Nail Trend F/W ‘09 by Jin Soon Choi Collection consists of:
Cool Reserve (Dirty Grey Lavender)
For Fun (Rich Clean Purple)
Dance All Night (Brick Red)
Rich, Dark, Delicious (Rich Blackened Brown)
Dry Martini (Khaki Olive Green)
Beyond Jealous (Blackened Blue Green)
Underlacquer
Overlacquer
Also All Lacquered Up has some amazing swatches of all the colours. This is SURE to sell out, fast!
I know what I am getting: Cool Reserve, For Fun, Dry Martini. What are you going to get???
The final part of this collection has pigments and glitters. Personally, I LOVE the promo picture for this collection. It’s so…glittery!!! Ha! There is a mix of new, unreleased colours, repromoted and PRO-only colours. This was my favourite part of the collection. For more details, click the link below….
