Would you like to fix your teeth gap?
I knew I should've picked up the April issue of Essence yesterday! In their "Shade Shift" story, Zoya Nail Polish in Gemma was one of the "Colors of Success" that Essence recommended. It's shades like this that give neutral palettes a twist. This was the same shade that Glamour beauty editor Baze Mpinja tweeted about in February. "Day 2 and no chips," she said.
Temptations, whispers, dreams, secrets, illusions, liaisons, trysts... lingerie... kisses
Today, after reading that Johnson's Baby Oil Gel with Shea Butter & Cocoa Butter won Best Body Oil in the Shecky's 2009 Beauty at Its Best Awards, I had a vintage Vibe Vixen moment. I swear I had a mental image of the Vixen favorite on an oiled, melon background.
Deemed as "Vixen Verified," this "Clear Winner" (Jun/July 2007) remains the ultimate beauty multiltasker, according to Baze Mpinja. I'm sure your mothers, aunts and grandmothers were using this beloved oil back in the '60s and '70s, right? Of course, they didn't hesitate to slather a healthy amount of oil on you too! "You can still get the classic beauty staple in its original formula, which smells faintly of baby powder, or you can switch it up and try aloe vera or lavender, the other two subtle scents," Baze reminded us. Let's not forget about the other testimonies of its versatility: it's a makeup remover, a shaving gel, and brillance in a bottle (read: best moisturizer for a miniskirt!)
While I usually just stick to the original formula, I might just have to pick up this version infused with shea and cocoa butter, two of my favorite moisturizers ever. I predict that I'll be using this all-year long, especially in the summer when I take my second mini-vacay. In addition, I'll be picking up another bottle of Johnson's Body Care 24 Hour Moisturizing Body Wash. I was in the market for a new body wash altogether. At first, I wanted something organic but the prices weren't exactly up my alley. I thought for sure that I would have to resort to my favorites - namely Tone or Caress - until I spied one of the products from Johnson's new skin care line for adults.
As a continuation of my previous Johnson's Baby post ("Baby Got Your Back: The Johnson Triangle of Baby Oil, Baby Powder and Baby Wash"), I was recently invited to take their "Blog For Beauty Challenge" in which I have to use Johnson's Baby products for one month and report my findings at least once a week. I also have to find inventive beauty and household uses for them as well. I already know how challenging that will be! (more...)
I am.
Baze Mpinja, beauty editor at Vibe Vixen, Suede and now Glamour, used to be until she took the Fake Lash Challenge last year. After writing that she was taking a break from false lashes, a reader wrote in to say that she was "shocked" that a beauty editor would shy away from falsies.
I can understand where Baze is coming from though. I know falsies have been around way before the glamorous days of Dorothy Dandridge and Marilyn Monroe but still. Furthermore, Essence has said that lashes with unexpected shapes are in this season, especially if you want to be a Makeup Diva.
When I read that, I was like, "I still haven't mastered Lashes 101 and now you're telling me I should be hitting up Shu Uemura to upgrade my lash game? Are you kidding me?!" Yeah, I was losing it until I chatted with Tia this afternoon.
She was telling me that she had fallen in love with NYX lashes. I told her that I wanted to try them as well but every time I muster the courage to apply lashes, it always looks a hot mess.
She asked me how I apply them. First, I apply glue on the band. I wait a few seconds, and then I try to fit them to the curve of my lash line with tweezers. That's where I mess up. Even with the Revlon Fantasy Lengths Maximum Wear Self Adhesive Eyelashes, I still had trouble. However, my sister were able to apply them perfectly. This aggravated me to no end. Why? Because her specialty is hair, not beauty, yet ol' girl were able to get a flirty look within seconds. Hmph.
However, Tia recommended the Sephora Brand Lash Placement Kit. This soft-tipped applicator promises to "provide the perfect placement of lashes and then, removes them with ease." It has a soft, anti-bacterial storage stand that retains the natural lash curve. You'll save time and you won't have to worry about making a mess.
Do you know that when I purchase this, it'lll be my first purchase from Sephora? Ever? Please, no photos! I know that might be unheard of but I'm used to being the exception. Maybe I'll inspired me to build my beauty bank...who knows?
Back to Baze. Inspired by Baze's previous "too thick, too long and too distracting" fiasco with falsies, Glamour challenged her to embrace the trend once more. She wrote that she was relieved that the false lashes in Glamour's beauty closet looked real and she settled on Sugar Cosmetics Flirt False Lashes in Angel, $9. Click here to read the rest!
Image via Fatima Siad's Facebook page
Editor's Note: You may remember reading this post back in September of 2008. Because I always felt I left out some important details about me and my focus towards Blaq Vixen Beauty, I have decided to edit it and expand on it. I hope it answers any questions that you may have. If it doesn't, feel free to contact me on Twitter, by leaving a comment on this post or by email. Thank you!
When I first started my blog, it was originally titled “Blaq Vixen.” The “Beauty” part didn’t come until later, after I discovered the plethora of beauty blogs by women of fall ages, ethnicities, races and motives. Besides that, I found myself writing about beauty products than anything else.
