Blaq Vixen Beauty

For the week of January 7-14, I decided to post a bit more beauty posts this week so I wouldn't be tempted to deviate from my goal for this month! Out of the ten beauty stories we posted this week, six were based on a press that I received in the past two weeks. In fact, the most popular post this week was derived from a press release about Dr. Dre's new video "Kush." Here are the posts for the second week of January just in case you missed them:

1. Video Vixens Vamp it Up in Body Drench, Ardell Lashes and China Glaze
2. Should You Avoid MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microfinish Powder?
3. Which Makeup Look Do You Like Best on Melanie Barnett-Davis: Edgy or Natural?
4. Sephora and ShopBop Team Up for Color Play and a Giveaway
5. How to Get Dania Ramirez's 2011 People's Choice Awards Makeup Look
6. Jessica White's Blush in Maybelline New York's Limited Edition 2011 Calendar
7. Enter to Win Sephora's Urban Decay 15 Years of Beauty Sweepstakes
8. Limited Edition Sephora by OPI Gleek Chic Collection Preview
9. Will You Enter Black Opal's True Beauty Model Search?
10. Nails of the Week: Zoya Nail Polish in Kristi from the Wonderful Collection

Just in case you're watching the season 4 premiere of The Game today, enjoy these fashion posts:

1. Tia Mowry-Hardrict Wears French Connection Samantha Sequin Dress on The Mo'Nique Show
2. Tia Mowry-Hardrict Wears Lanvin for H&M Hot Pink Dress on The Wendy Williams Show
3. Melanie Barnett's Wedding Dress from The Game TV Show, Designed by Stacy Beverly

The MAC Pink Friday 4 Lipstick poll is still going on! Two more weeks left before I either host a giveaway or do a post on how to wear this limited edition shade. I wish I had more information about when MAC Cosmetics will bring it back. So far, 57% percent of you want me to do a post on how to wear it plus post dupes for Pink Friday 4.

Also, are you need in some free software geared toward women? If so, then enter our ChicaPC-fix Software giveaway. 20 winners will each receive a 1-year license key by email. This giveaway will end on January 29, 2011 at 11:59 PM PST.

Anything new in your world? Have a great weekend!

Iman Cosmetics have put together this mini guide to help you decide which foundation you need to use in order to put your best face forward. For reference, I am NW40/NC45 in MAC, Caramel in Revlon ColorStay and Clay 2-3 in Iman Cosmetics.

Read on to see which Iman foundation you should buy!

I am so in love with this makeup look that Teairra Mari wore to her album release party this past Wednesday. Her lip color reminds me so much of OCC Lip Tar in Hoochie but if you want to recreate the look, celebrity makeup artist Samuel Paul used MAC Lip Pencil in Magenta and MAC Lipstick in Go For It.

face. Black Opal Foundation in Heaven Honey and Nutmeg. MAC Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation in C4 and C7.

eyes. MAC Pigment in Rich Purple. Paul layered multicolored glitter on top of the eyeshadow. This geometric smokey eye reminds me of the look seen at DSquared2.

cheeks. MAC Powder Blush in Blunt (as contour). La Femme Blush on Rouge in Fuchsia. 

Lipstick by M·A·C

To see more pictures, check out VIBE Vixen's feature "A Night Out With Teairra Mari."

Excited as I was to finally review Paula Begoun's "Don't Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me," 7th Edition, today I am even more excited because of two things. First, not only am I receiving the 8th Edition (which came out January 2010) but Ms. Begoun's office asked me if there were any specific lines that I think they should review.

My picks would be Steelo Cosmetics, Black Radiance, Black Opal, Iman Cosmetics, Flori Roberts, Fashion Fair, Interface, and the CoverGirl Queen Collection.

I'm extremely curious to know what WOC friendly brands you all would love to see in the book. Just leave a comment and I'll be sure to pass along the information!

Editor's note: This post is under construction as I am taking better photos!

I can't even express how happy I am right now! This feels like homecoming to me! I never realized how much I loved face-of-the-days (actually, this was my face I did last night so it's actually a "face-of-the-night") until I took pictures. Believe me, I took so many pictures until I found one that I wouldn't mind showing on the blog. I used my beautyblender but I forgot to do the first step: Dampen your beautyblender with water and then towel dry to remove access water. I used mine dry and here's how everything turned out.

Want to know what I used in my first face-of-the-day (FOTD) of 2010? Want to see more photos? Peep the details!

Instead of doing a 5-minute face or even a 15-minute face, I did a 10-minute one. Here is what I used:

facial wash. SensiClear kit, which I was supposed to review this past Sunday. I'll have to start scheduling my Skincare Sunday posts just in case I'm too tired to blog.

moisturizer. Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Corrector and Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20. I used both products twice today. I plan to use them again right before I go to bed.

foundation + powder. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse Foundation in Dark 2, which I think looks a little too light in this photo...or maybe it's the M·A·C Mineralize Skinfinish in Dark that did the trick. Earlier, when I first applied it, it was too dark. This was even with Black Opal Invisible Oil Blocking Powder. However, it could just be the camera that I'm using...miss my Canon PowerShot!

primer. Clear Prep FX Matte Foundation Primer and Anti-Acne Treatment

eyeshadow. Love My Eyes Roll on Eyeshadow in Copper Mist. Surprisingly, this eyeshadow is pigmented. It also takes care of the metallic lid trend that I wanted to try. Maybe if I feel motivated, I'll smoke it out.

mascara. The review for CoverGirl LashBlast Lash mascara is in draft. I love that this mascara doesn't leave my lashes stiff and flaky.

lipgloss. Korres Jasmine Lip Butter with Lancome Color Fever Plumper in City Mauve over it. I hate that my mom's camera washes out the color. It's a mauve nude shade.

hair. I threw it up in a messy (and I do mean messy) ballerina bun earlier but since I wanted to make sleek down my edges and make it look perfect, I took it down. Then I twisted it up in the back and clipped it. I'm running low on my Soft and Beautiful StyleProtect Sculpting Gel and I'm trying to preserve the little that I have left. That's why my edges are sticking up! My swoop bang is nonexistent since I kept brushing my hair back. No, I didn't go to school like this. It was only after I got home that I decided to fix my hair.

What do you use for your 10-minute face?