Today marks the tenth day after my first TCA peel. I just wanted to show everyone what my face looks like at this point. I only did one layer of the TCA peel but I plan to do (hopefully) three layers of the 12.5% TCA Peel on July 22, which will be two weeks after today:

I broke out a couple of times but I'm not discouraged. Also, since I only did one layer all over my face, there's not much dramatic improvement. However, I hear that if you layer the 12.5% TCA peel, you'll get better results. As you can imagine, I am patiently waiting until I follow up with a second treatment.

I want to start by thanking everyone that used my rep code BLAQVIXEN to shop on Karmaloop.com. I also want to thank one of my recent followers because I used his rep code to save an extra 1% off. Without all of you, I wouldn't have been able to buy my dream dress, the Rona Dress by Blaque Label for a mere $6.68 instead of the original price of $72! Here's how I did it:

Through the Karmaloop Rep program, I had earned 4350 points through sales, posts and street pics. I could either redeem these points for cash ($43.50) or for a gift certificate ($65.25). I've been eyeing the Rona Dress for a while -- this is the second time (I think) that it's been on the site. It's only available in small and medium so I knew it was a matter of time before (1) it was sold out completely or (2) Karmaloop jacked up the price for this particular item. I knew I had to act fast!

I combined by gift code with a rep code - not mine, of course - but from one of my followers. When you combine a rep code with a gift code or another discount code, the rep code only takes off 1%, as you can see above. So, if you happen to use either of the July promotion codes FUN15 (15% OFF on orders over $75) or FREENESS (Free Shipping on orders over $50) with my rep code BLAQVIXEN, it'll only take off 1%.

My order would've been cheaper if I hadn't upgraded to second day shipping but I couldn't wait 5 to 10 days (ground shipping) for this dress so I kind of "splurged" on shipping this time!

By the way, Blaque Label will be on sale on PLNDR starting tomorrow so sign up!! You can use my rep code BLAQVIXEN to save 10% on your PLNDR purchases as well!

Hey everyone, I'm on a mini-hiatus right now since school started but I wanted to give you an update on what's been going on with me lately.

First, I got a full weave - Harlem 125 Italian Body Wave. First weave ever...and I have to say that while it's pretty (at first), after you wash it for the first time, it has a tendency to tangle. It's not as wavy anymore and it's almost like you have to constantly style it, in my opinion. Wait, let me take that back - it tangles period! So you have to constantly detangle, especially in the back. The first week or so, I felt so much like Bella from The Twilight Saga. Even though you can't tell the picture (obviously), it's actually a bit lighter in person. I got it in shade 2 since the color of my real hair is actually dark brown.

While I paid around $80 for two bags at Hair City in San Antonio, this hair is currently on sale at Hair Sisters for $14.99. What a deal, right? I should've ordered from Hair Sisters but it's been years since I've bought any type of hair from them - rather it be a wig, hair for braids, etc. The last time I ordered from Hair Sisters was back in 2007. That was when I resorted to wearing ponytails, waiting for my hair to grow out again.

First day I got it done.

Second, I finished Step 1 of the Jolie MD Metamorphosis. I still have a quite a bit left of Step 2. I know you can't see in the above picture but it did fade most of my dark spots, but not the really dark spots. Those are deeply ingrained and would require a different source of treatment. Yes, I continued to break out but it wasn't because of the product. However, I will write a thorough review on it as soon as I've had time to get my thoughts together. Just know that if you have dark scarring on the surface of your skin, you will see a difference if you use JolieMD Metamorphosis. Just make sure to follow the directions exactly and wear sunscreen/sunblock religiously.

Third, I haven't been to a dermatologist yet. Just as I was about to schedule an appointment with a dermatologist (finally after everything was approved), I learned that I'm moving to Joint Base McChord Lewis in Washington! There's been conflicting dates about when I'm supposed to move - it could be this month, August or even September but I'm not really sure yet. Personally, I didn't want to start treatment with a dermatologist in Texas, only to have to switch to a new dermatologist when I moved to Washington. So, for now, that's on hold until I get to my new duty station.

Fourth, I ordered a 12.5% TCA Peel Kit from Makeup Artist's Choice. I've always wanted to try a chemical peel so I finally ordered the 12.5% TCA solution from Makeup Artist's Choice. I'm so thrilled that I did! I did my first treatment Monday night on June 28th. I'm currently on my fifth day of peeling. I have five days ago until my skin has completely healed. I've been flaking and peeling ever since. Here's a picture of my skin right after I neutralized the peel:

I had to pull back my weave to get this picture so that's why you see my curly (and darker) sideburns! I think the Jolie MD Metamorphosis as well as the 10% Lactic Acid Roller from B. Kamins primed my skin before I finally did the peel. I could only one layer over my entire face but on the sides of my face, I attempted to do a second layer. Key word being attempted because it started to sting like crazy. I had to go sit in front of my fan until my five minutes was up. I plan to do another peel on the 22nd. This time, I'm going to do three layers so that I can peel more.

I'll be sure to take another photo when I'm done peeling. Then I'll write a post about my initial TCA peel application. Stay tuned!!

Photos courtesy of Glamour's Girls in the Beauty Department Blog.

Celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees decided to give Ciara a gold-white half-moon manicure at last night's 2010 BET Awards. Kyees painted Ciara's nails with Orly Nail Lacquer in White Out (from the In the Stark collection). She then painted over the while polish with Orly Nail Lacquer in Tennis, Anyone? (from the Prepster collection) on top. She topped off this neutral combination with Minx gold moons. The finishing touch included Bella Forma Clear Gel, which was used as a top coat.

While I understand Minx isn't for everyone (it isn't for me at this point), there are nail polishes out there that will give you a Minx-like effect. For example, China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Hi-Tek (from the Khrome Collection) is very similar to the gold Minx moons that Ciara is wearing.

The easiest way that I've read on how to do a half-moon manicure (or even pedicure) comes from Glamour's Dita von Teese's Half-Moon Manicure tutorial. After you've layered Tennis, Anyone? over White Out, take a hole reinforcement or even the small strips that you use for French manicures to create a small half-moon. Paint this area with Hi-Tek and finish with Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.