“She would always have a huge flacon of 4711, and she would dab it behind her ears and on her neck. Being a six-year-old, sitting there and watching her was so different and fascinating. Everything she had was beautiful. That’s how I remember her,” she told me.

Today my sister sent me a text.

“Can you send Dominique some lilac hand soaps? She loves the name and the smell. She is a mini you!”

Wow, how that took me back!

My niece Dominique is four years old (here’s a picture of her and little sister Isabella!) and right now Dominque loves the word, the color, and the scent of lilacs. Her earliest beauty memories are of me and my mom and her mom, I’m positive. We’re the most makeup obsessed of the family. She loves the rituals of beauty, and wants the products from such an early age.

All of this got me reminiscing about my first beauty memories. My mom always had a dresser cluttered with things I wanted to touch. But the clearest memory of my first beauty product came from going to a fashion and beauty event with my mother. The event was a product showcase and fashion extravaganza, hosted by a family friend, who owned a fancy perfume and makeup shop in the mall that my mother was always shopping in. At this event we had to answer a trivia question to win a prize. And according to my mother, this was the question.

What is the color of Elizabeth Arden’s famous door?

I answered “red”. And won!

I was seven years old!

I remember having to go on stage in front of everyone, and pick up my prize — a big bottle of Fendi bath gel. They don’t even make this product anymore — it came in a bottle that looked kinda like this.

After that, I established myself as a beauty rookie not to be underestimated! And oddly enough, the next Christmas our family friend asked my parents if I could be so kind as to help out at his store during the busy season. And my parents said YES. That’s how I wound up working in the mall, selling perfume and lipsticks and fancy bath and body sets to women at the tender age of eight.

Reminiscing about all of this is so strange, but explains so much about me today – I’ve been on this product obsessed, beauty loving path for a long, long time!

What are your first beauty memories?

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Billions of Chinese people around the world aren’t wrong. There’s a reason that this admittedly off-putting practice of sticking thread-thin needles into key, corresponding points in your body has been so popular for this long. Quite simply, I believe it works. And having just tried it for the first time – I totally plan to try acupuncture again.

My first interest in acupuncture came in Miami, when a friend with chronic back problems swore on his life that acupuncture had healed him of his pains. “Dude, just try it!” he encouraged. But despite stress levels that led to high blood pressure, bouts of nausea, and an ulcerated stomach, I still never listened. I went the traditional route, and was prescribed medicine to treat my symptoms. I tried to eat healthier and well…my efforts at exercise never took root and truly became the “lifestyle” I keep hearing it has to become. But that’s another post for another time.

The first opportunity I had to actually try acupuncture came when I was on board Royal Caribbean’s cruise ship, the Oasis of the Seas. That’s where I met Alaric Toy, the licensed acupuncturist who has a constant flow of enthusiastic patients in the ship’s spa. He told me all about the popularity of the acupuncture at sea program, which is currently offered on all the major cruise ships. He spoke passionately about HR646, a senate bill that aims to get acupuncture covered by medicare. And he explained what acupuncture could do for me, to improve my own condition.

“There’s an old Chinese saying — where there’s pain, there’s blockage. Where there’s blockage, there’s pain. The US Air Force is using battlefield acupuncture right now, because it offers almost immediate results. It gives you a sense of well being that can’t be measured. You’ll start sleeping better, eating better, makng better choices for yourself. I’ve been able to resolve the problems of people with pain issues who have had chronic pain for 15, 20 years,” he said assuredly. But despite the opportunity literally staring me in the face – I wasn’t yet ready.

It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago, that I found opportunity staring me in the face yet again. Spa Week Daily wanted to send me to the spa to experience one of their $50 Spa Week treatments as part of SPA MADNESS. And lo and behold — amidst the vajazzling and Botox and facials and body scrubs…there was the offer for me to experience acupuncture at Chicago’s renowned Ruby Room. This time, I leapt at the chance.

The Ruby Room is not your typical spa. Oh sure, you can do typical spa things and get a facial, a massage, waxing, or a new hairstyle. They’ve got an amazing array of makeup and beauty products for sale, and you can get your face beat by a pro using lovely, high end cosmetics. The decor is clean, refreshing, and airy. There are absolutely stunning statues of Buddha everywhere. But then, you go up the steep red stairs, and the ambiance becomes more spiritual. The second floor of the Ruby Room is all about enhancing your internal beauty, and tapping into your spiritual center. There are crystals and tarot cards and Chinese herbs, and people there are ready to teach you how to apply those things to your life.

That’s where I met my acupuncturist, Pamela. Her approach was far different than the licensed acupuncturist I’d met on the cruise ship – he was more matter of fact, and the ambiance where he worked seemed almost clinical and spare – I felt very aware there that acupuncture is medicine, and it’s power is not to be underestimated. At the Ruby Room, acupuncture is performed in the same space where intuitives work with crystals and the general ambiance is very gentle and quite mystical. I found the contrast fascinating.

As a newbie to acupuncture, I found Pamela’s demeanor to be very comforting and nurturing. Before the procedure began, she gave me a detailed diagnosis, and in acupuncture that begins with a look at your tongue. Just from looking at the color and possible coat on your tongue, an acupuncturist can tell if there are graver issues taking place within your body. Pamela proceeded to explain some basic layman’s terms for what my issues could be attributed to. Chinese medicine is very much about achieving a perfect balance. There’s yin and yang, which just about everyone knows about. But there is also dry and damp – she sensed alot of damp within me. Pamela explained the Zangfu organs, and why she’d be putting certain needles in certain places. And then it was time for my treatment.

In general, I’m not particularly nervous about needles — unless I’m giving blood and I can see the blood filling up in a bag, I can block out the pain and fear of getting stuck. But I had reservations with acupuncture. Were these needles going to hurt? Would I wind up with needlemarks in my face? OMG, were there going to be needles in my face?

Yes. And I barely felt a thing.

The first needle went into my upper right ear, and I could hear it more than I could feel it. Acupuncture needles have teeny springs on the end, and I could hear the little zing as it went into my skin. The second needle went into my forehead. After that, I lost count. I know there was one in my right arm, one in my left hand, at least five in my stomach, and several in my legs and feet. But the only ones I could truly feel and felt aware of, were in my arm and my hand – that’s because I had to position them carefully and kept worrying they’d fall off the massage bed I was laying on.

If you want to get acupuncture and you’re concerned about needles hurting, please know that you shouldn’t worry. Quite literally, I fell asleep at the Ruby Room with a pincushion’s worth of needles sticking out of my face and body. Of course there were teeny drops of blood where I’d been stuck, but nothing hurt about this procedure. At all. In fact, just the opposite.

So let me explain the before and after. The morning before I left for my acupuncture treatment, I was more stressed out than I’d been in a really long time. I was so stressed out, I was nauseous. I took my blood pressure and it was indisputably high. I had to force myself to even relax enough to eat breakfast, take a shower, get ready, get on the el and head over to the Ruby Room.

After acupuncture, I immediately felt better. Restored. At ease. The issues that made me stressed out to begin with were still there, but seemed less oppressive and overwhelming. I came into the Ruby Room with zero appetite, and I left feeling ravenous. And maybe I even looked on top of the world, because three random strangers gave me compliments on the street when I left. So admittedly, I left my first acupuncture experience with a complete afterglow and the desire to return for more.

Of course, I was covering this for SpaWeekDaily.com –so I was sure to capture the experience on camera, and asked my acupuncturist some questions I got via Twitter.

Will I experience acupncture again? Definitely! It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when. I hope my experience helps to answer any questions you may have, and if you’re in Chicago, I highly recommend the Ruby Room – 1743 West Division Street, 773-235-2323. Visit RubyRoom.com. If you’re not in Chicago, make sure your acupuncturist is licensed!

If you are interested in experiencing acupuncture – or any other kind of spa treatment! – you can start booking appointments March 15th, when the Spring Spa Week directory launches onSpaweek.com !

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Consider the look of forgotten legend Nina Mae McKinney, who was known as the Black Garbo back in the 1930’s. Flawless. Timeless. Click here to read my Black Voices homage to her.

And behold, my forever inspiration, Josephine Baker. Drink in the stunning photo I found on the amazing Flickr site Discover Black Heritage. To me, Josephine is the definition of gorgeous. I wrote about her for Vogue Black this week, and they’ve posted some amazing photos of her to accompany the article. Click here for that.

If Nina Mae McKinney had any one beauty trademark, it’d be a flawlessly manicured brow. I just got mine whipped into perfect shape at the B Bella Salon. It was one of those perfect walk-in afternoons, and Rosa threaded and waxed my brows into amazing shape! Two thumbs up for B Bella!

Lately I’ve been using MAC’s Brow Set gel to keep the brow situation under control. I hate an over manicured, over darkened, thin, harsh looking brow. That’s how they did it back in the day, but in my opinion, it doesn’t work in today’s day and age. Brow Set in Beguile perfectly matches the color of my eyebrows, and gives me definition without making my brows cartoonishly dark.

When I want a really defined cat’s eye for everyday, I love a bold, strong eyeliner. Right now Avon’s Glimmersticks Eye Liner is giving me everything I need. Rich pigment that doesn’t smudge, lasts for hours AND it’s on sale, so it’s less than $4! Score!

You can’t do Twenties glam without a delicious, dark lip. Right now I’m practically obsessed with Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in chocolate cherry — it’s a deep red brown that manages to not be too bricky. And I just got my hands on Three Custom’s uber hot new Noir Sheer lipstick, and it’s just as gorgeous as I expected. This lippie looks black when you open it, but when you slick it on, it’s more of a deep burgundy plum that is sheer but buildable. It looks super pretty on, regardless of your skin tone — I’m here to testify that this lipstick is glorious on brown girls, but Twenties glam doesn’t have to end with us! According to Gouldylox, Noir looks equally pretty on pale Irish lasses, just so you know.

Twenties glam also calls for uber long lashes – so look out for a lashtastic post next week!

Got any makeup recommendations for Twenties glam, my bellas? Share with me!

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This was an epic Oscar night for black actresses, and an epic Oscar night for plus size women. Before the ceremony much ado was made of Gabourey Sidibe’s Oscar dress possibilities — blisteringly and brilliantly covered by Erica Kennedy, author of the funny, fierce Feminista and Bling: A Novel. The phenomenal Kate Harding outlined Gabby’s red carpet history and her prospects. And tonight she came through in blue Marchesa festooned with diamond-like appliques.

I didn’t love the dress, but I think Gabby was resplendent and her MAKEUP was to DIE for. Whoever did the makeup, holla at a bella because I want the deetz!

Mo’ Nique also looked resplendent in blue. She wore blue as an homage to Hattie McDaniel — to read a beautiful tribute to Oscar’s first African American winner, read Rita Dove’s poem, via 55 Secret Street. And when she won, the tribute she gave to Hattie McDaniel was truly stirring. Mo’Nique had her face as beautifully beat as evah, and she rocked the hell out of that ruched dress.

The one-shoulder trend was big (I’m not a fan, IDK #shrug). Mariah worked it.

As did Queen Latifah — and I liked the blinged out baby pink look – Queen is always so regal. She just makes me smile whenever I see her on the red carpet!

Anika Noni Rose looked adorable and fresh faced as always, something about her personality just seems so approachable and endearing to me! She looked super pretty and worked the night’s other trend — strapless, with a lush, full skirt.

I MUST say, Zoe Saldana may have worn my second most favorite dress of the night. I am a fool for purple and that dress absolutely took my breath away when she came down the stairs during the ceremony. Look how excited she is to be wearing it!

For Oscar night, I love a little over the top drama. Which is why I loved Nicole Richie’s dress.

She looked fierce. Sleek. A little severe. Very Hollywood. Gorgeous!

But my FAVORITE dress of the night was worn by Rachel McAdams. Look at her. She knows she looks amazing. Beyond gorgeous!!

Who wore your favorite Oscar look of the night?

** all photos from Oh No They Didn’t

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I gave a long overdue shout out to one of my besties in the beauty blogosphere, Julia of All About the Pretty. I’ll tell ya, I touched her arm when we were at Fashion Week in September…her skin is like silk and velvet and all things soft and sumptuous because of the body scrub she’s been doing for years now.

Some of the hubbub and criticism of Vogue Italia’s new additions have died down, since Vogue Italia’s editor in chief wrote her rebuttal (in which she quoted ME! In Rachel Zoe’s words, I die!) And also, the announcement that the legendary Bethann Hardison is now the editor-at-large of Vogue Black quieted some naysayers.

Some of the hubbub has died down, but not all. And my attitude towards it can best be described as resigned bemusement.

I realized something recently — almost every website I write for has a variation of the word black in the title. Black Voices, Black Atlas, Afrobella, and now Vogue Black. It’s not that I’m exclusive about what I write about, I’m just passionate about celebrating our unique beauty.

Most of the time, when I read criticism of the sites I write for, it’s from white supremacists who are mad that black people have their own channel on the teevee and are living in the White House and going on fancy vacations and whatnot. To paraphrase. So I was kinda surprised that this time, the shrill voiced outrage was coming from women of color — about the fact that Vogue made a site dedicated to black beauty. I’ve come to the conclusion that I must be clueless.

To me it’s like – hey! Vogue’s catching up to what I’ve been doing since 2006! But to others it’s like how DARE Vogue create a channel just for us! Why separate us into another channel? The 1950’s are over! Thanks for setting us back * insert number of years*, Vogue! SMH! And if you admit to liking it even a little bit, people accuse you of having a “separate but equal mindset.”

I’ve seen articles online where it’s that serious. And I just don’t feel that way.

I don’t see Vogue Black as some kind of intended honor bestowed unto our people by the high priestesses of fashion. Please. I don’t see it as an attempt to neatly corral our beauty thereby throwing us a wacktastic bone while keeping regular Vogue the same as it ever was. I see it as a new initiative that’s beginning to find its look and find its voice, that is celebrating a range of black beauty and focusing on our celebrities and cultural icons. Big stories from Vogue Black also appear on the front page of Vogue Italia, and I hope to see more integration of articles from Vogue Black, Vogue Talents and Vogue Curvy on the main Vogue Italia website. The future is still wide open and bright, as far as I see it.

We’re at a fascinating crossroads in the black fashion world. On one hand, Vogue — the quote-unquote “world’s most influential fashion magazine” — is giving black beauty its own spotlight for the first time in the brand’s 118 year history. On the other hand, we’re seeing sad times as we face the apparent demise of the historied and celebrated Ebony Fashion Fair, which has brought high fashion to black women for half a century.

I guess it’s obvious, I’m biased because I’m contributing towards Vogue Black. But I gotta tell y’all, I am optimistic. I believe that this another step towards some long overdue changes. But enough about what I think… I’d like to hear your thoughts.

Vogue Black is here. What would you like it to be? What kinds of articles and photographic inspiration would you want to see? Do you have any constructive criticism to share?

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Since I moved to Chicago, my spa writing has slowed down some, but I’m about ready to get back into it. I’ve had the opportunity to experience some amazing Chicago spas. Here are my favorites thus far, so next time you’re in town (or if you live here) you’ll know where to go!

The Red Door Spa. The Red Door is one of the most recognized symbols of luxury in the world. The Michigan Avenue location offers classic Chicago excellence and experienced staff. The ambiance can be best described as established. Pristine, white accented with red, soft lighting and coolers filled with cucumber water in the relaxation room, and plush treatment rooms.

I got an AMAZING massage by Nadia Essat, who got REALLY deep with the technique. She also gave me some great life advice (for example, drink more water! Which I really really need to do). Flori Lupu, the manager of manicures, was so sweet and friendly and wonderful. If you’re going to the Red Door, ask for them by name. I promise you’ll have no regrets. I really enjoyed the glamorous old-school Chicago vibe of the Red Door (it’s right across the street from The Drake! Which may give you an idea of the ambiance and kind of clientele). But I must say, it’s not ideally shaped for a spa party — you won’t be facing your friends, it’s more of a one-on-one with the manicurist kind of thing. I’d recommend it for private indulgence, but if you want to round up a group of girlfriends and get mani pedis, I’d advise you to go to Bucktown.

Spa Soak in Bucktown manages to be both luxurious and funky. Maybe it’s the staff — you’ll probably see some really cool Chicago chicks with tats and piercings offering massages and manicures here. The manicure room is vibrant, fun, and SO perfect for a big party! When I came here I was having visions of bridal showers and girlie afternoons. Spa Soak has a fab manicure room but they’ve got an incredible range of facials. Hoping to return sometime soon to experience one of those!

For a spa that has a truly unique, serene and calming ambiance, you need to check out Allyu Spa in Rivernorth. From the moment you walk in, this environmentally friendly spa will take your breath away. The decor, the set up, the ambiance… it is just absolutely lovely. It’s a place where your spirit can truly feel centered and at peace. The center of the spa is a meditation tent, a space so serene and spiritual, it’s almost difficult to describe. Despite the meditative vibe at the spa, the manicure room is still a pleasure, and it’d be a great place to have a group of friends gather for a pedi party. The pedicure with the sugar scrub was absolutely amazing.

The spa I most recently had the pleasure of experiencing was the Ruby Room in the Ukranian Village on Division. I went there to review acupuncture for SpaWeek.com, so keep an eye out – next week a big post to come! The Ruby Room is like no other spa I’ve ever been to. It’s really more of a healing center, but you can get everything from a haircut to a eyebrow shaping to a colonic to acupuncture to crystal and tarot readings here. It’s all about enhancing your internal and external beauty. If you want to experience insight about your soul after you get streaks in your hair, this is the place to go.

Look out for a much longer review of my Ruby Room amd Spa Week experience SOON, and you should get familiar with SpaWeek now. It’s taking place April 12 to 18!

If you’re dying to get your spa on next week, check out the deal days at SpaFinder.com, to find $50 treatments from March 8 to 14 at spas in your neck of the woods!

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For Black History Month I was invited to speak at the University of Notre Dame by an amazing student group called Shades of Ebony. These girls were so inspired, so brilliant, so genuine…being around them made me yearn for academic life and that kind of environment of constant mental stimulation. Erdina Francillon, the current president of Shades, is the opposite of me in college. She is motivated, ambitious, organized, and amazing. I can’t wait to see what she does after she graduates!

Shades of Ebony planned a special event for Black History Month, titled BeaUtiful. The idea was to discuss and celebrate black beauty. The event was thrown by and for the members of Shades, and the intention was to also reach out to young girls from the community of South Bend, Indiana — girls from local high schools and even a few middle school girls came out despite the intense cold and deep snow, to participate in the event. My friends at Carol’s Daughter and Dr. Miracles very generously donated gift items for the girls who participated.

BeaUtiful was intended as a multifaceted event. Outreach to the girls of the community, a chance to speak and consider some of their own self-esteem and self-worth issues, and a chance to inspire (and in turn, be inspired by) each other.

I was brought there as a special guest speaker, along with amazing artist Dawn Okoro. Dawn’s art is incredible just on the computer screen. In real life? Oh WOW. I just want to decorate my whole living space with her work. Click here to buy prints!

We were both asked to deliver speeches about what inspired us to do what we do, and what beauty means to us. I shared my background, my ideas about the beauty icons who have inspired me, and my suggestions for living a life that’s filled with beauty.

It was an incredible experience for a few reasons. First, I was just honored to be invited to such a prestigious institute of learning. And second, this was a big first for me. Please be gentle. This is the first public speaking I’ve ever done.

As you can hear from the response, they liked me. They really liked me! The feeling of that applause at the end…I can’t quite put it into words. It was a very, very proud moment. Could this be the beginning of a new chapter, where I do more public speaking appearances? I hope so. I feel so much less fearful than I did in the past.

Unfortunately my camera died during Dawn’s speech. So I uploaded the part that I managed to capture here.

Before our speeches, we were assigned into groups — I sat with two members of Shades of Ebony, and there were four high school girls and a middle school girl at our table. Some of these girls are experiencing things I can hardly relate to — seeing abuse in their families, getting into physical fights with boys at school, running the risk of getting suspended because of their own behavior. One particular girl who sat with me, was like a tightly closed fist at the beginning. She barely offered monosyllabic responses. She seemed so angry and tense. But after our talk, after the speeches, we broke into groups again – this time in a more intimate setting. And I do believe we had a breakthrough. This same girl wanted to share her experiences, and we were able to give her advice on how to deal with the conflicts at school that were jeopardizing her education. I know we were able to help that evening. I just hope the lessons are still resonating, and that she is now going to school with her head held high.

That’s how I celebrated Black History Month, and I can’t thank Notre Dame and ALL of the members of Shades of Ebony enough. It was an honor to meet all of you, and spend time with you on your beautiful campus.

Dawn Okoro – you are amazing, and it was such a pleasure to share the experience with you, and to get to know you as well!

Thank you to Carol’s Daughter and Dr. Miracle. The girls were so excited and ecstatic for their gift bags!

Thank you Notre Dame, for inviting me and hosting me so graciously.

I hope that this is just the beginning. It’s a year away, but already I’m thinking about fresh ways to celebrate Black History Month next year!

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For example, I strolled into my apartment building the other day, and a normally unobservant security guard looks at me and says, “you’ve got such beautiful skin.” That was a total first. And I have one product to thank.

Jolie MD.

This two step kit has cleared most of my discoloration and hyperpigmentation, brightened my skin tone, and generally improved the texture of my skin. Not overnight, mind you. I used this product consistently for two months or so — enough to completely finish both bottles of product. So please know this about to be a thorough review.

Jolie MD is the brainchild of Beverly Hills plastic surgeons Dr. Jason Litner, and Dr. Peyman Solieman — and renowned blogger, author, and all around benevolent goddess of the beauty world, my friend Nadine Jolie. I interviewed Nadine to find out how all of this came to be.

“I partnered with the doctors and we’ve been working on it for a year. I’m the creative director, so it’s kind of their baby. From day one we wanted to make a product that is different from the samey-samey skin care that is on the market.”

And apparently, ethnic skin was a particular concern for Drs Litner and Solieman.

“They were meticulous about the ingredients. This product is really meant to address the issues of ethnic skin and it was very important to them to get it right. There are no parabens, no hydroquinone. It’s tailor made as an at-home alternative for women who can’t get chemical peels or laser treatments without fear of discoloration. ”

Step one is the Metamorphosis Softening Serum, a yellowish, clear, thin serum that spreads and absorbs into skin easily and can sting a little bit, if you’ve got sensitive skin. Step two is the Metamorphosis Enlightening Lotion, an opaque lotion that immediately reduces the sting, absorbs well, and leaves my skin feeling soft and well hydrated.

As the product details reveal, “JolieMD’s innovative Softening Serum formulation is the first line to feature a proprietary blend of slow release alpha-beta-poly hydroxyl acids for daily use allowing us to gently exfoliate and remove pigment stains and blemishes, stimulate new collagen, and improve penetration of pigment inhibitors without irritation. While other products solely address tyrosinase (a key pigment-producing enzyme) with one or two active ingredients, JolieMD’s Enlightening Lotion uses multiple melanin inhibitors working at several different points to restrain the entire pigment producing cascade. As a result, we know that with continued use you will find more even skin with gradual but consistent clearing of your discoloration. JolieMD is specifically designed with all ethnicities in mind; safe and highly effective for African-American, Hispanic, Middle-and Near-Eastern and Asian skin.”

That’s exactly what it did for me. Jolie MD didn’t lighten my skin like the “fade creams” I’d used in the past. I didn’t have to worry about using it in just one spot at a time to be effective. I used it all over my face and it just gave my skin an overall healthy glow, and over time it almost completely reduced the spots of hyperpigmentation I had along my jawline and chin area. Now I feel more confident about my skin. For a while there I literally wouldn’t leave the house without a liberal spackle of foundation and powder on, to cover my dark marks. But now I use much less foundation, and it takes me less time to get ready and go out the door. My skin is glowier and clearer than it’s been…well, possibly ever.

Now please note, it didn’t completely 100% clear my skin. I do still have some dark marks, and I do still wear makeup when I go out. In the early stages, my skin felt sensitive to the first serum. That took a little getting used to. And I did wind up with some dryness around my mouth and chin for a while there, but continued use cleared that up as well.

Nadine addressed my continued hyperpigmentation concerns in our interview.

“It’s not going to go away overnight. Or maybe even two months from now. But if you stick with it, Jolie MD will dramatically improve the quality and appearance of your skin.”

I believe her. My results speak for themselves, and I’m convinced enough to shell out the $96 for more Jolie MD. It ain’t cheap, but it’s worth it in my opinion.

Click here to buy Jolie MD.

PLEASE NOTE that what works amazing for me, may not knock your socks off in the same way. And I am especially cautious about skincare reviews. I know what it’s like to try something that promises to alleviate your problems and to see it not make a difference. So please, if you do try Jolie MD – give it time. Use the whole two bottles to the very end, then come back here and leave your review. I’m interested to know how it works for you!

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This super glittery chartreuse nail polish is Sweet P by Hard Candy.

Last week I got the opportunity to review some Hard Candy products, and can I just confess that the products are giving me all kinds of pleasant surprises. I’d kind of thought of Hard Candy as a brand I loved as a glitter-obsessed teen. But the brand has lasting quality for the adult in me (who still loves her share of glitter!) Reviews of their makeup to come. This post is all about the polish!

Sweet P is a bright acid green, not for the faint of heart and definitely not for those who are conservative in style. These are nails that are meant to be noticed! If you’re fine with that, you’ll probably love Sweet P.

The first coat of Sweet P goes on kind of sparse, but the second coat makes for a dense, all over sparkle – glitter with texture. I’ve been getting teeny little threads caught on my nails because of that, but I don’t even care. I absolutely love this color with my skin tone!

Hard Candy nail polishes cost $5 a pop at Walmart, and judging from the quality of Sweet P, I need to go get some more. The purple glitter colors — Hot Pants and Mr. Wrong — are calling my name!

What are your thoughts, bellas? Would you rock a polish this glittery, or are these kinds of colors best left for your younger years? What are your go-to polish colors?

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I know because he told me himself! And here I’ve been buying overpriced brush cleaner this whole time!

For more gems of wisdom, follow him on Twitter or visit his website, SamFine.com. My girl Erin Scandalous did a great review of his new DVD, and now I need it in my life ASAP! Click here to buy his DVD, Fine: The Basics of Beauty.

Thanks for the money-saving tip, Mr. Fine! I’m a big fan!!

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