Blaq Vixen Beauty

Release Therapy: Scar Addict, Part I

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:37:27 -0500

Editor's Note: If you're viewing this post in Windows Internet Explorer, the pictures won't show up. Try using another browser like Apple Safari, Flock or Google Chrome. Thank you. :)

Today, I felt a bit like Monica Wright (played by Sanaa Lathan) in Love & Basketball. Maybe it was because I had just come back from the gym. Or maybe because I felt like my teenage self again, hanging out with the guys and playing basketball. And yeah, I harbored a crush on several of them. They all used to call me "LA," since I hated my real name. It's funny because one of my friends from high school still calls me LA. She's the only one though.

Let's fast forward, ten years later. Here I was, in my blue Foot Locker tee and navy blue Air Force shorts, taking pictures of my scars. I wish that I one distinct scar on my jaw because then maybe I wouldn't feel so insecure. I mean, what's one scar, right? I've got legions of scars - inflated, pitted, discolored reminders of my past life as someone who came alive as a tomboy. It was almost like living double lives - I was intelligent, reserved Lakish at school. However, on the weekends, I transformed into LA - this rough, aggressive chick. It was fun. I can't share the stuff that I did because some of those incidents showed up in my background check for the military but we're moving on.

Those were my best memories before I moved to Germany. I rarely went out. My best friend's mom remarked that I looked lighter than my siblings. That was true. I owe that to the bleaching creams and fade creams that I was using at the time. I would cover my skin up - if I wore short sleeves, I'd wear a sweater. If I wore a skirt or dress, more likely than not, I'd wear tights instead of stockings. I didn't want anyone to see my scarred arms or legs. It was bad enough they had to see my face. I hadn't mastered the application of makeup yet (I'm better but not so much that I've mastered the concept) so when I did wear makeup, it was painfully obvious. I'd had this Phantom of the Opera-type mask on my face with lip gloss on. It makes my stomach twist to think about it. I didn't have anyone there to teach me but I did have a few that turned me on to Proactiv. That's a different story though.

Here are my legs. I have to say that I thought that they were so much worse, especially my knees. I've been using the Black Opal Body Fade Creme in Extra Strength. Today, I was walking to the gym on post. I saw this Army chick looking at my legs. I felt so self-conscious that I started tugging on my shorts but the gesture was useless. For one, they were short and two, she had already saw how scarred my legs were. I was looking right at her. Do you know how irritating it is to "see" people in your peripheral vision staring at your skin? They try to be so slick about it but you KNOW they're wondering if you have skin cancer!

The scars on my legs are mostly flattened keloids. I was doing some research earlier this week. At CVS, there is a plethora of scar treatments. I was not aware of this. I've only been to CVS a handful of times - I visited one in Kansas on 3 or 4 occasions. In Texas, once. However, I was too busy looking for toners and makeup to notice, I guess. Wait a minute, I did buy a vial of Bio-Oil there. After stumbling on this site, I wonder how effective it will be on my scars, particularly my keloids. I'm also thinking about adding cocoa butter into my skin regimen again. I miss the smell. Carol's Daughter Gelee de Soleil SPF 15 Browning Gel looks tempting too because my legs look a little pale here. This is right after I spent 2 hours at the gym. I was in a hurry this afternoon (like always) and I didn't have time to apply lotion. So, I was in the car, moisturizing my arms and legs with Rosalyn's Body Cream in Cocoa Masoy. Yes, it is thick, but that's why I loved it so much. It smells intoxicating too. I have it in a sample size. I got a few other products from Rosalyn so stay tuned for that. Here's another picture. It's one of my favorite scars. It looks like a scythe, doesn't it? I like to think of it as an upside-down "L." If I remember correctly, I was sitting on the edge of my bed, swinging my legs. My ankle got caught on a sharp point sticking out from the bottom of my rail. At first, the scar wasn't deep but I was fascinated by the shape and the skin hanging off so I picked at it. I'd pick at it until a scab couldn't grow back. That's why it looks like that. The edges used to be darker - almost black - but with a combination of cocoa butter, shea butter, bleaching and fading creams, this is what it looks like. One of my dreams is to get laser surgery so that I can rid of all of my scars but I'll probably feel weird without them, you know? I've had them for so long that I probably wouldn't know how to act. I'm sure that I'd still feel the same. Lastly, I'd like to share a scar that I got in boot camp. Now, I'm not sure how this happened. All I know is that I noticed it right before I had to go to physical conditioning. I probably had hurt myself during training and was too stressed to notice!

But getting back to CVS, one treatment that caught my eye was Kelo-cote Advanced Formula Scar Gel. Have you heard of this? I had a feeling that this formula was for keloids so I read on. From the site: "For old and new scars. Reduces redness; softens and flattens raised scars; relieves itching and discomfort associated with scars; prevents excessive and abnormal scar formation. Kelo-cote is also for use on children or people with sensitive skin. Kelo-cote is a patented, self-drying, flexible, gas permeable, waterproof silicone gel sheet that is colorless and odorless. When used as directed, Kelo-cote has been shown to flatten, soften and smooth scars. Intended use: Kelo-cote is intended for the management of old and new scars, including hypertrophic and keloid scars, resulting from general surgical procedures, trauma, wounds and burns. CE listed."

If you ever used Mederma, you know it smells like onions. I wonder if this gel has a funky smell as well? It's also cheaper - it's $16.99 while Mederma is $18.99. If I could, I'd take advantage of CVS' huge beauty sale to buy this item. You heard, right? It started on August 15th and will end on September 11th. You can get 20% off of almost every beauty item in the store - both regular brands and CVS brands. Unfortunately, this is an online sale so you can't go to your nearest CVS and stock up on beauty goods. If you spend $49 or more, you can get free shipping! Oh, if only I had my Pell grant already!!

I'll stop here but let me know what you think. Do you have any scars? What did you do to treat them?

Promotions: Did You Order Your CoverGirl Lash Blast Length?

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:03:13 -0500

It's a fall fashion must-have...did you remember to order your CoverGirl Lash Blast Length mascara today.

CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Molly Stern says, "This season is about a return to drama - and this mascara captures the mood perfectly. Use 2 coats at night for extreme lash length that won't quit."

You can order yours at Amazon.com,Drugstore.com Walgreens and CVS. I'm not going to promise that your lashes will look like Drew Barrymore's on the landing page (hell, my lashes don't even look like that), but if you're curious to see how well this mascara measures up to the original Lash Blast, take a chance and buy it.

Look out for my review on this mascara soon!

Beauty 360's VIP Beauty Sale

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 24 May 2010 13:49:11 -0500

This sale ends May 30, 2010 at 11:59 PM EDT. Use coupon code VIP25 to save 25% off your entire purchase. Click the image to access the sale.

The Beauty Closet: CoverGirl LashBlast Length Mascara

BlaqVixenBeauty — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:20:03 -0500

Editor's Note: The product reviewed in this article has been sent by CoverGirl.

It seems like Pat McGrath, the P&G Global Creative Design DIrector, has worked her mojo again by creating another collection that is both affordable and fashion-forward! I want you to do two things: first, bookmark this link and secondly, circle November 2nd on your calendar. You can be one of the few to try out some of the products from the Blast collection. Check out the gallery to see which products you might be interested in! The new collection will be available on Drugstore.com as well as CVS (get free shipping!). If you visit Drugstore.com, you save $5 and earn free shipping when you buy all three products - the Smoky ShadowBlast, ShineBlast Lip Gloss and the LashBlast Length Mascara.

My first impression of LashBlast is that is smells exactly like Maybelline Lash Stiletto. This came as a bit of a shock to me at first. However, both mascaras are advertised to lengthen lashes so of course their formulas would be similar.

Unlike the original LashBlast, the LashBlast Length brush is slender and has more bristles - 450 in all. While I've never poked myself in the eye with the bulky, medium-length brush that is the trademark of LashBlast, I favor the ultra-long, skinny brush that LashBlast Length has. I have yet to experience clumpy, spidery lashes (like L'Oreal's Telescopic Explosion Mascara!) with this one. No clumping, no flaking, no smudging and no wilting after a busy day.

Recently, Daily Makeover did a segment with CoverGirl celebrity makeup artist Molly Stern on how to maximize your eyes with three of CoverGirl's star players - LashBlast Length, Original LashBlast and LashBlast Luxe.

Did you know there is a certain way that you should apply your mascara in order to make your eyes appear more open? "Wherever you first place the brush, that's where you're going to get the most definition," Stern revealed.

I placed the tip of the brush on the outer corners of my lashes first. I always do this trick so that I can extend the corner lashes and my eyes will pop. She also shared a complimentary eye makeup technique as well: To accentuate that mile-long lash look, contour your crease with a colorful shadow and drawing a thin, angular line with liquid liner along the top lash line. "I tend to very little shadow or line with long lashes because it's such an innocent look -- it's nice to keep it subtle," she says. To read the rest of Stern's insider tips, click here.

While it defines, separates and lengthens nicely, LashBlast Length does have it faults. I've noticed that some of the product dried in the tube but it has not affected the performance of the mascara, surprisingly. I hope to get more uses out of LashBlast Length as it is one of the three mascaras that I reach for daily.

I was sent "Blue" but as you can see, the mascara looks more like regular black. Based on the ads starring Drew Barrymore, I expected LashBlast Length to produce fantastical length and a pitch of volume, but it's almost like a teaser. You would probably need a mascara primer to increase the benefits of LashBlast Length.

I also found out that it's a little difficult to remove but it's not such a hassle that I want to stop using it. I just have to be a little more patient with this one, since it does have nylon fibers in the mascara. I love that I don't see the actual nylon tubes on my cotton balls like I would if I used L'Oreal Double Extend with Beauty Tubes Technology Mascara.

My next goal is to buy this mascara in "Very Black." That's the shade I prefer whenever I buy or test a new mascara. What's yours?

Promotions: Maybelline New York Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara

BlaqVixenBeauty — Mon, 18 May 2009 00:05:00 -0500

You can visit the site here or go to any of the following online vendors: CVS, Target, Walgreens or Wal-Mart.