Here’s a new weekly feature that I hope you enjoy! I love reading manicure blogs like my friends of All Lacquered Up, Clumps of Mascara, 52 Flavors, KarlaSugar, Seouldiva and Vampy Varnish. Unlike those bloggers, I’m not an expert at-home manicurist, or a regular manicure-recipient. In fact, my nails are often um…shall we say, textured? I struggle to maintain a mani, and my polish is usually chipped. But I’m trying to step my nail game up a bit, and I’m gonna share my weekly nail colors with you!

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

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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!!

Bellas on a budget! I hear your cry. Your wallet is thin and your product stashes are running low. What can you get that’s new, amazingly effective, awesome, and AFFORDABLE?

Afrobella’s got your back! Here are some of the latest, greatest products I have been lucky enough to review, all available on the cheap at your neighborhood drugstore.

First stop — Palmer’s. The company known best for making delicious cocoa butter-based body creams has expanded their product line. So if you don’t know, now you know — Palmer’s is making coconut oil hair products! And olive oil hair products too!
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I’ve used Cover Girl cosmetics. I like Cover Girl cosmetics. But never before did I feel TRANSFORMED by Cover Girl, than at the CVS Reinventing Beauty lounge, when makeup artist Jake Bailey sat me in his chair and worked his magic on me.

Me and Julia of All About The Pretty

BAM!

Keep in mind, I’d already done my own face. But by the time Jake was done with me, I felt like a brand new woman.

Do you like? Here’s what he used:

Jake highlighted the apples of my cheeks with Cover Girl Simply Ageless blush #230 (or Lush Berry) – I was a bit apprehensive when he was putting it on. It seemed like A LOT of blush, but it photographed beautifully.

Then he went over my existing liner with Cover Girl’s Outlast Eyeliner in Indigo.

After that he used Cover Girl eyeshadow in Purple Pop, and WOW. Purple shadow with brown eyes FTW. Now there’s even more reason for it to be my favorite color.

On my lips, Jake used delicious Amazemints gloss in shade # 605, AKA Everything’s Rosy.

I was absolutely thrilled with my makeover, and Jake was so sweet and friendly and warm. He made me feel beautiful, and now it’s my turn to pay it forward!

TWO lucky Afrobella readers can win the four items Jake used in my Cover Girl makeover. All you have to do is tell me — do you have a favorite Cover Girl makeup item? If yes, what is it and why?

I’ll close these comments on Monday afternoon. And I’m about to make it rain with giveaways, so get ready! This will be an epic month!

Edited Monday 8:45 pm — Comments are CLOSED! I’ll choose winners at the end of this week!

Not to sound conceited (hopefully you know by now that is not how I roll) — but I’ve got some GREAT news to shout to the world!

Yours truly is honored to be part of an all star team of beauty bloggers on a brand new site.

Who’s The Fairest is the blog for beauty private-sale site The Fairest. Click there to sign up – we’re talking about 75% discounts off name brand makeup here!

Led by editorial director and all around awesome lady Nadine Jolie, my fellow contributors include Lianne Farbes (The Makeup Girl), Julia Coney (All About the Pretty), Shannon Nelson (A Girl’s Gotta Spa!), Michelle Mismas (All Lacquered Up), Christine Mielke (Temptalia), Robyn Cohen (Relevant Beauty), Marta Walsh (Talking Makeup), and Carolyn Hsu (The Daily Obsession). Together we are like a Justice League of beauty knowledge! Wonder Twin powers, ACTIVATE!

I’m going to be contributing regularly and writing about what I believe in — all things related to black beauty.

In fact, my first post there is a direct response to an Afrobella reader, Willow. Willow is a high school girl who left me a comment on an old post that I had to add my two cents to. So Willow, I hope you’re reading.

A Reminder: Black is Beautiful is dedicated to you and the other bellas like you. Every now and then, we all need a reminder to show ourselves the love we deserve.

Please comment, and share your views here, there, and everywhere. And expect the best from Who’s The Fairest!

Whew! I needed days of recovery after the madness that was Lollapalooza. More to come on this soon — you can read my first review here!

Over the weekend I dealt with the extremes of Chicago weather. Rain on Friday and blistering heat Saturday and Sunday. But through it all, my eyemakeup stayed in tact. How? I’ll tell you my latest little secret.

Gel eyeliner is my new best friend.

My hands are too shaky for liquid, and eyeliner pencils are frequently too waxy and smudgy for me. So when I want to get that kapow! liquid liner cat’s eye look, I reach for the gel. It’s forgiving and easy and lasts forever. Add a little eyeshadow primer and it gets even better!

Most department store brands have a gel or powder liner amongst their stock, but these brands are my favorites!
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