Haul time! I bought some more items from ColourPop recently plus some refills of my favourite Oyin Handmade products and I wanted to share with you. It’s summer and I am on the lookout bold lips and long wearing ability. I actually filmed a video unboxing of what I got.
If you love video, check out the unboxing below:
Here are the pictures and swatches:
Haul: ColourPop Cosmetics
I picked up 3 eye shadows, 5 lip colours, including their recently released Matte X formula and 2 of their new eyebrow pencils. Lets see how these swatch on dark skin. Links to the products will also be included.
While visiting Port-of-Spain over Christmas for some much needed sorrel, parang and hot sun, I paid a visit to the boutique on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, specializing in carrying most of the popular local and international hair care brands. This is of course “Body Beautiful on d’Avenue”.
Upon walking in, I was immediately impressed at how much the store had expanded and the number of brands that they have added. As a matter of fact, I think they have one of the largest collection of natural products on the island, and rivals stores in the US for variety.
I chatted with the lovely owner, Alison Goddard, who emphasized that she wanted to give Trinbagonians quality, proven choices and she has included 10, yes 10, locally-made natural brands.
Me with Alison Goddard, owner of Body Beautiful on d’Avenue
These include Happy Curls, Happy Girls, Kylex Naturals, Eco-Truffles, The Mixtress J Cosmetics and Yousentials. Of course you can get foreign brands like Oyin Handmade, Giovanni, CURLS, Alikay Naturals, Design Essentials, As I Am, Carol’s Daughter, Eden BodyWorks, Afexan and Shea Moisture (they have both the Jamaican Black Castor Oil and the Manuka Honey collections).
I really prefer to pick up my hair care products in a store. I only go online if I have to, because the wait makes me crazy! I love browsing the aisles, reading ingredient labels and generally getting lost in the plethora of products. I am so happy to see more and more stores carrying natural lines specially geared towards natural kinks, curls and coils. I have a special love and devotion to minority-owned natural hair care businesses, because back in the day, when I was transitioning, there were very, very few lines where I could buy a sulphate-free shampoo, or a silicone-free conditioner, and they were almost exclusively online. Mainstream companies hadn’t yet gotten the memo and although now they scrambling to get onboard.
Well, this store, located in Brooklyn, probably has the largest selection of natural hair care products in the Tri-State area, and northeast. Like, for real…Ecodermis, devoted specifically for natural hair care lines, currently carries over 30 brands and is constantly adding more lines. They carry products that no one else in the area does, like Darcy’s Botanicals. They also carry an expanded selection products and sizes that are not available at your local Target or beauty supply store, like the 16 oz. Oyin Honey Hemp Conditioner. On my latest visit, they had just recently gotten in the CHI flatiron, the Koils By Nature line, Coco Curls lines, the brand new Oyin “No Ash At All” lotion, Hydratherma Naturals, Alikay Naturals and a ton more! Also, every couple of months, they host special events with different brands.
I picked up the Darcy’s Botanicals Madagascar Vanilla Styling Crème, and I can’t wait to try it! This has been on my list forever and I will be doing a review soon!
So check them out, you might find your new holy grail product or just feed into your product junkie-ism! And call them before you go there if you are looking for something specific, as they are quite popular and sell out quickly! Find them online, and on Facebook.
I have sung the praises about products from Oyin Handmade. They have a fantastic collection for women how have naturally kinky/curly/coily hair. But there is one that truly has my heart and I will buy for the rest of time! Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade.
Oyin Burnt Sugar Pomade
First of all, this smells every bit as good as it looks! Amazing!! I have been so tempted to eat this thing! I actually think that it has quite a pronounced scent although it has been described as subtle.
Anyway, this is an all-natural, vegetable-based hair pomade, that has a very thick, almost grease-like consistency. Like old-school, back in the day hair grease. And to the touch, it is grainy, as if there is actual brown sugar mixed in it. But that quickly melts away once you warm it up in your palms.
As we all know, I keep my hair in two-strand twists about 80% of the time, out of sheer convenience. A few days before my fortnightly washing, I unravel my twists and wear it up in a high bun or some kind of updo. But considering the results of these next two products, I might have to incorporate more styles to show it off!
I heard the buzz about Oyin Handmade’s newest addition, boing! I had not bought any new products in a quite a few months and knew that anything Oyin is worth a try! Seriously, they are one of the best, natural lines for hair out there! This time I decided to try out the online store, Curlmart. They were having a 20% off promo. I was impressed with the turnaround, I placed my order on early Wednesday (about a month ago), chose the cheapest USPS shipping, and my merchandise was in my mailbox by the Friday! I ordered the 4 oz. boing! and the 4 oz. Burnt Sugar Pomade (BSP).
Sidenote: Uhm…..I cannot believe I have not given the Burnt Sugar Pomade its proper homage, a full review! This is my stuck-on-a-deserted-island-must-have-product!
Anyway, boing! is described as an ‘all-in-one coil styler’. It is supposed to define and moisturize all in one step. Typically I use Whipped Pudding as a moisturizer and Shine & Define as a styler, then add BSP to seal and some extra hold.
Here’s what the product looks like….
Oyin Handmade boing!
boing!
It’s quite creamy and not too thick. It is similar in texture to the Shine & Define. It’s smooth and melted quickly into my hair. So after washing and detangling, I ONLY added boing! to my wet/damp hair, then added the BSP on top. Two-strand twists all over.
This was the result!
My twists using boing! and Burnt Sugar Pomade
Look at the sheen! And all I did for the following week and a half, I just sprayed my hair with Frank Juice and some extra virgin coconut oil from Trader Joe’s on my ends.
When it was time to unravel, I added some more coconut oil on my fingertips. And this is what I got!!
