afrobella » Bella on a Budget

My Monday Manicure — Hard Candy Sweet P

bella — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:09:48 +0000

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.

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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This Is What Sam Fine Washes Makeup Brushes With

bella — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 17:43:52 +0000

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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Latest, Greatest Drugstore Buys

bella — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 20:02:12 +0000

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!

The coconut oil formula products smell INCREDIBLE. Just recently I was getting off a bus two steps ahead of my Twitter-buddy Luvvie, and she was raving over how great my hair smelled! It’s sweet coconut deliciousness. For my ingredient-conscious bellas, this may not be the best product ever…but if you’re watching your wallet and need a product with great slip for your twice-or-thrice weekly detangling, the repairing conditioner is wonderful.

If you’re more comfortable and accustomed to Palmer’s body care products, then add their lip butter to your list of gotta-have-it products. $1.99 and it’ll leave your lips tasting and smelling like York Peppermint Patties. (double score if your significant other loves that candy!)

Next up, Sally Hansen! I love their nail polishes (HELLO, HD!) but long before I even used Hard As Nails, I was on the Sally Hansen hair remover train. Woo woo, bare legs here we come! Even as we slip from fall towards winter, I’m staving off Chewbacca legs with their personal care items. Want easy breezy depilatory action? Skip the spray on, shower off. It’s slippery in the tub, sprays places you don’t want it to, runs out quickly, and only stays on your legs. Don’t even TRY to use this on your armpits, unless you want lots of stragglers. If you want a Sally Hansen product that WORKS, I recommend the Naturally Bare Creme Hair Remover for fine to medium hair.

In 3 minutes, your armpits will be silky smooth (the way nature never intended them to be, alas). Equipped with mini “moisture-lift” jojoba beads, this product might feel oddly textured, but it’s effective and that’s all that matters to me. I’ve even used it on other embarrassing-hair-removal areas (hello, sideburns) and it’s worked well.

Speaking of silky soft armpits, what’s your deodorant situation these days? I’m on team Dove! The Visibly Smooth line really has helped to soften the feel of my underarms over time. I’m not yet entirely convinced about it “lessening the look” of my underarm hair, but for sure my pits feel softer than they did when I used more harsh deodorant solids. And the Wild Rose scent is fresh, floral, pretty, and soft enough not to clash with my perfume du jour.

It’s getting cold here in the Chi, so I’m having to learn some tough lessons about my skin. Lesson #1 – ashiness is REAL! And it’s EVERYWHERE! Seriously, I am not accustomed to seeing every last scritch-scratch on my skin appear like chalk on a blackboard. To up the moisture ante to my personal hygiene routine, I’ve been using Softsoap NutriSerums. AKA, the only body wash my husband’s actually admitted that he LIKES. Is it the little gold-and-pink “softening serum pearls”? Is it the moisture-retaining Omegas 3 and 6? Is it the clean, subtly-floral scent? I don’t know, but both of us are loving this stuff (and battling to see who can finish the bottle first, apparently).

I’ve been slathering on the Softsoap with my new favorite bath accessory, the Essence of Beauty faux sea sponge, only available at CVS (and $2.79 at the moment, on sale!). I don’t know what it is about this sponge, but it absorbs and lathers like no other. Plus, it’s super soft! I might be totally spoiled for life (and not going back to the net-body wash sponges again)!

To complete my tour-de-drugstore, I’ve gotta mention my latest favorite decorative item for the dresser. Q-Tips Vanity Packs. So chic! So essential! Finally the beauty must-have that I use every day is packaged so prettily I can display it alongside my jewelry boxes. In fact…stay tuned, bellas. I got a giveaway to kick off your Monday!

Even MORE drugstore beauty finds are in store. Keep reading! And tell me – what’s your latest drugstore beauty buy? You know I always need to know!

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Cover Girl NYFW Makeover Giveaway!

bella — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:58:50 +0000

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!

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Who’s The Fairest? (I Am!)

bella — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 15:55:09 +0000

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!

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Gel Eyeliner FTW

bella — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:11:30 +0000

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!

Bobbi Brown has this here on lock. Their long wear gel eyeliner is so precise, so easy, and comes in so many gorgeous shades. Their new fall color is Forest, mossy green with a subtle gold shimmer. It’s very low key and works great for bellas who like their makeup subtle and stunning. I prefer a bit more pop, so I need to get my hands on violet — purple makes my baby brown eyes look amazing (and it’s my favorite color!) These cost $21 a piece but they’ll last you forever and a day as long as you keep the jar tightly sealed.

Are you up on Lancome’s Fall 09 collection? It’s called Declaring Indigo, and the shades are sharp, bright, and classic. This isn’t the kind of makeup you buy that loses its allure next season. Gold and navy blue aren’t going anywhere anytime soon! Their Ink Artliner longwear calligraphy gel liner in Indigo Charm is nautical, and really stands out on brown skin tones. It’s $23.50, but you already knew Lancome is on the higher end of the makeup scale, right? And in this case you really do get what you pay for.

Cream to powder liner is an alternative to gel that’s equally long lasting, and a new one I’ve had the pleasure of trying recently is by Christopher Drummond. If you’re new to his lline, sit up and take notice! Christopher Drummond is all about 100% natural, organic based, high quality cosmetics. If you’re a fiend for good ingredients in your products, definitely check him out.

His cream to powder eyeliner is meant to be used as a brow filler as well as an eyeliner, so it’s super subtle and very complimentary to a variety of skin tones. I will be gushing more about his products soon, but for now I’ll just say this — the Sateen Blush is gorgeous, and the cream to powder liner surprised me for two reasons. 1. the name of the color, soft black, led me to believe that it was in fact, black. It came out more of a deep raisin on me. But surprise #2 – I love the color! It’s rich, soft, subtle, and very very pretty. It’s $22.50, and I’m anxious to see if this product is eventually released in even more shades.

Last but not least, let’s hear it one time for my bellas on a budget! If you aren’t up on Sonia Kashuk’s line of makeup at Target, you need to get there in a hurry. I can’t tell you how impressed I am with the quality of these items! Most of all, her gel liner. For some reason it isn’t on Target’s website but I know it’s available in stores. (I got this photo from Makeup Alley). Sonia Kashuk’s liner lasted me all afternoon in the blazing Lollapalooza heat, and with her equally affordable angled liner brush, application is a breeze. It costs less than $10, and the color is flawlessly dark and longlasting!

I’ve noticed a lack of available swatches for brown skinned beauties, so here’s my first attempt at swatching colors for you. From left to right, Bobbi Brown’s Forest, Lancome’s Indigo, Christopher Drummond Soft Black, and Sonia Kashuk’s black liners.

Whew! Do you prefer gel, liquid, or pencil eyeliner? Got a fave brand? Share!

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Colored Mascara – Is It Worth It?

bella — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:43:24 +0000

Blue. Plum. Platinum. Fuschia. Teal. There’s a colored mascara on the market to match just about every shade of the rainbow. But maybe you’re cautious with your makeup, or reluctant to part with your hard-earned bucks for a product that isn’t guaranteed to make a visible difference to your look. You’re wondering — is it worth it?

Depends on what you’re looking for!

I enjoy wearing colored mascara from time to time, it’s such an effortless way to switch up your look. And it can be surprisingly subtle, too. Depending on the shade of colored mascara that you wear, people may have to do a double take, or catch you blinking in the sun before they notice — hey! Your lashes are a different color! Colored mascara is fun, it’s a trend that comes in and out of style, and it’s a trend that (in my funky opinion) works just as well for teenagers as it would for someone old enough to be a teenager’s mom. Just because you’re not a girl anymore, doesn’t mean you don’t still want to have fun!

I’ve been around the colored mascara block a time or two, so allow me to share with you the outstanding ones, and the ones that could use a little more oomph.

Blue mascaras make big promises. Supposedly they make blue eyes bluer, brown eyes appear golden, and hazel eyes look green. I dunno about all that. But I do know they’re fun, especially if you’ll be in the sunlight.

Benefit’s BADgal blue mascara is rich, royal, and instantly noticeable IMO. I love a bangin’ blue on my lashes, and this delivers pigment from root to tip. it’s $19, but worth it if you want a noticeable shade. This is a true blue through and through, unlike CoverGirl LashBlast in Black Royale, which is really just a black with a hint of blue. The LashBlast Luxe shades are subtler, good for an office or professional environment. But if you’re looking for bam! in your face color, you’ll be sad.

CoverGirl Black Platinum was honestly, a disappointment. I noticed hardly any shimmer or color, even in the sun my lashes just looked kind of washed out. Not even close to “platinum,” as I was hoping they’d be.

For a far better Cover Girl mascara experience, I recommend Exact Eyelights. My mom in law LOVES the Black Sapphire for Blue Eyes, and I’ve been using the Black Pearl for Brown Eyes practically every day since I got my sweaty little hands on it. LOVE how it makes my brown eyes pop. But please search online for reviews – they are kinda mixed when it comes to these mascaras. I love it, not everyone does though!

Benefit BADgal plum mascara hardly made a difference to my lashes — at times it looked like I wasn’t even really wearing mascara, apart from the definition of my lashes. It’s kind of like wearing brown mascara, except — cosign with Bellasugar — it can make your eyes look a little um, red and tired.

Those are the shades I’ve tried most recently. I’m intrigued by Urban Decay’s Big Fatty in teal, and I’ve been hearing raves about LA Splash mascara — YouTube makeup artist Risa really likes em. They’re affordable, come in CRAZY colors, and are available here.

Have you tried colored mascara? Do you have a fave brand?

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Get The Look – BET Awards Makeup

bella — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 06:31:07 +0000

I missed the BET Awards but I didn’t MISS the BET Awards, if you know what I’m sayin’.

Judging from the various indignant responses on Twitter, it seems I didn’t miss much. But thanks to some of my favorite sites — Oh No They Didn’t and Crunk & Disorderly, I saw all I needed to see. Red carpet fabulousity! And if you’re like me, you might be wondering — exactly how did these stars get so amazingly dolled up?

Today’s your lucky day. Celebrity makeup artist Ashunta Sheriff wanted to share her special makeup tips and tricks exclusively with Afrobella readers, and here’s the scoop on her lush looks for humanitarian award winner Alicia Keys, and one of my favorite child stars who’s gorgeous and all grown up, Tatyana Ali!

Take it away, Ashunta!

Alicia Keys
Inspiration: Moroccan inspired due to her recent trip there in May for the Mawaline Festival. Alicia’s short bejeweled shift dress in its soft aqua truly brought out her golden complexion. I wanted to give her a touch of sun kissed glow and egyptian/moroccan eyes with coral lips remniscent of the colors of a Moroccan Paradise.

Skin: Mary Kay Oil Free Hydrating Gel to make skin supple and soft. Oil of Olay Illuminating Eye Cream to diminish imperfections, Naked Cosmetics Shadow Base, Laura Mercier Mineral Primer.

Face:Mary Kay oil free Tinted Moisturizer in Bronze 1, Mary Kay Concealer in Bronze 1, Black Opal translucent finishing powder, Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer in Light Bronze.

Eyes: Egyptian inspired eyes using Jane Iredale 24 Karat gold shimmer in the inner corner of the eyes, Naked Cosmetics eye color is EC15 Green in the outer corner and lower lash line. I used Make Up For Ever Gold Cream on the lid to give Alicia a Cleopatra eye effect. I used Styli Style 24 hour Black Liquid Liner and completed the look by adding 3 coats of Dior Show Black mascara on top and bottom lashes.

Lips: Mary Kay Coral Lip liner I lined and filled lips in then used TRUE lip gloss an all natural organic brand in Coral to give Alicia a beautiful coral pout.

Cheeks: I made cheeks pop by applying Mary Kay Strawberry Cream mineral blush on the apples.

Body: my secret weapon body glow mix is a combination of Dior Bronze Sun Powder Spray, Smashbox Bodylights body Lotion shimmer and Girlactik Beauty Gold Shimmer powder. The combination gave Alicia an amazing bronzed sun kissed glow to make her legs and declertage look flawlessly stunning.

Client: Tatyana Ali
Inspiration: Bollywood Princess, bringing out more of Tatyana’s Indian heritage I used metallic earth tones to shape and frame her eyes. Radiant bronzed skin works for her toffee complexion and an iridescent nude topped the look off.

Skin: prepped skin with Mary Kay Oil free hydrating gel to moisturise skin, Elizabeth Arden Gold Ceramide Capsules using as a primer plus it makes skin glow, Mary Kay Eye Primer so eye shadow last for hours on end, LaVanilla Lip balm because it hydrates lips and smells so good.

Face: I used Mary Kay Tinted Moisturizer in Bronze 2, Black Opal Concealer and translucent pressed finishing powder to keep skin shine free and polished. Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue Mineral Bronzer in Brown Bronze to sculpt and shape face.

Eyes: Mary Kay Cinnabar Mineral eye shadow on lids, MAC Pigment in gold and vanilla in inner corner of eyes and brow bone to highlight. Make Up For Ever Aqua Colors Black Eye Liner and Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara for extra lush and thick lashes. For red carpet glam I added Ja’maal Buster Eye Lash Guru Lashes called 2nd Date Guaranteed which are vampy sexy lashes that really opens up the eyes.

Lips: Mary Kay Lip Iiner in Chocolate with Mary Kay Sugar berry nourishine lip gloss.

Cheeks: Bare Escentuals Flowers Blush applied to apples of her cheeks to make them pop.

Body: Palmers Organic Olive Oil Body Cream and Smashbox Bodylights Lotion body shimmer to make her legs look flawless.

Did she say Mary Kay? Palmers? Olay? Cover Girl’s Queen Collection? Black Opal? Ashunta is my kinda bella! There’s something so wonderful about knowing celebs are using the same products a bella on a budget might swear by, am I right?

I promise to fill in the complete list of products with links where you can check out these items ASAP! Right now it’s 1:30 a.m. and this blogging bella needs her bed.

Click here to visit Ashunta’s website to see even more of her amazing work, and click here to follow her on Twitter! Look out later today for even more BET Awards looks from the red carpet and the ceremony itself — Janet, Beyonce, Nichelle Nichols and more!

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Summertime Skin -Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask

bella — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 05:33:51 +0000

I don’t know about you, but in the summertime my skin goes ka-razy.

I find myself almost constantly plagued by acne and excess oil. Lucky me – being a beauty blogger I have the privilege of reviewing quite the variety of skin care products, some of which are insanely pricey. I’ll do a review on the latest and greatest soon! But when my skin’s at its most unpredictable, I find myself reaching for the tried and tested, and super affordable. That means good ol’ Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, which retails for $3.99 online.

It calms down my frazzled face with green kaolin clay goodness, and makes a great overnight spot treatment if I have an especially hellacious zit. Plus, the minty scent and cooling clay make it an ideal summer skin savior.

I kind of can’t believe I’ve never reviewed this product before. But at the same time I can — how often do you really think about your standby beauty favorites? The products your mom used, that sit there patiently at the back of your bathroom cabinet until you realize they’re exactly the thing you’ve been needing all along? I’d also include St. Ives Apricot Scrub and Pond’s Cold Cream.

Queen Helene’s been producing the same goodness for 75 years now, but looky here! A new line of fair trade certified cocoa butter products! I’m gonna have to check em out.

What are your stand-by never fail beauty faves? Do you have any special summertime skin saviors?

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Bobbi Brown — Investment Makeup

bella — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:30:06 +0000

Bellas, I’m trying to be better and faster with the blogging over here, so expect to see some itty bitty blogs mixed in with my regular long-form musings. When I see a hot sale or a sweet deal, best believe I’m gonna put you on!

This week — Bobbi Brown in the house! Their Summer Shopping Event is going on, and you can score 25% off all your favorites. Enter code SUMMER3 thru 6/11. Waitaminute, that’s tomorrow!

It’s hard to choose just ONE Bobbi Brown product to recommend, but I can personally vouch for the bronze shimmer brick and Copper Diamond shimmer brick — those shades blend beautifully and will just glow on women of color. Trust! For eyes, their long wear gel eyeliner is hard to beat (and my homegirl The Makeup Girl agrees)!

Bobbi Brown isn’t cheap, but I’d describe it as investment makeup. Is it worth it? I already told ya! The items I just mentioned will last and last, and the shimmer brick is one of those great multi-use makeup items you’ll be able to work in a million ways. Whatcha waiting for? Click here to get your discount on!

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