Nars Amazon Lip Liner and Mac Ruby Woo Lipstick Review

Hi Dolls!

This post is for the ladies and for the men that want their woman to have sexy Red Lips! (Fellas- Trust me, we won't get mad at you if you step outside the box and pick up a nice red shade for us, with some red shoes to match  :) ... especially with Valentine' s Day not to far away!  Even if you get the wrong shade, its the thought that counts...)  I digress.....

Now.. I must admit, I have NEVER been a fan of Red Lipstick on me.  I'm more of a neutral lip color sort of woman.  My sisters pull off red lips beautifully, but for me, I've been over it since my high school days.  In addition, red lipstick always reminds me of the bad fashion choices from the 80's that carried over to the 90's that got lost in transition.  Perhaps because I never attempted to find my right red shade?  who knows... I digress again....

HOWEVER...
I must say that I was recently blown away! 
YES!?  Could it be, will Red work on me?

I recently ventured out to Sephora and Mac, and here's my take (thanks to the lovely ladies at Sephora!)
Ruby Woo by Mac is a beautiful Matte color (think Marlyn Monroe's matte red lip color) with an orangey-red base and it worked great on me, thanks to the help from the excellent "Red Lip Expert" at Sephora! I have a yellow undertone in my skin.  If you have a Warm Skintone (yellow undertones) like me, then Red Lipstick with Orangey reds, Warm reds, Tomato reds, Brown based reds, Golden reds, Tawny reds will probably work best on you.  If you have Cool Skin Tones (pink undertones) then pink tones of red, Berry Reds, Blackberry Reds, Brick Reds, Blue tones of Red and Plum tones will probably work good on you.  (thanks Sephora ladies!)

Amazon Pencil Lip Liner by Nars,  was the perfect complement to the Mac Ruby Woo.   If you have difficulty getting this MAC color, try Jungle Red by Nars.  Its almost the exact same color!

Here is a pic with me wearing Mac Ruby Woo Matte Lipstick, Amazon Lip Liner by Nars and some red shoes, of course:

What do you think?

Clarisonic Pro Skin Cleansing System Review

Today I received my Clairsonic Pro Skin Cleansing System in the mail! Yeahyah... I am super excited and can't wait to use it. Clarisonic is revolutionary in the skin care world and is said to clean and remove up to 6x the amount of dirt and grim and clean deep into the pores. The battery has to charge for 24 hours, so it should be ready for my first use pretty soon. Please check back soon for updates and my personal review on this! A friend of mine dies for this and said its made a dramatic and noticeable change in his daily facial routine.  He said he couldn't imagine life without it!

Have you used this or do you own it? What is your take on it?

3 Natural Toothpaste brands

More and more people are converting to natural toothpaste as an alternative to cleaning teeth. Have you ever checked out the ingredients in regular mainstream toothpaste? Most people probably have not.   However, if you read the labels, most of the ingredients in mainstream toothpaste are chemically derived and names that most of us can't pronounce. I can assure you that you would be alarmed at the amount of chemicals that go into your mouth each day, at least twice a day. 

Most people that start using natural toothpaste, notice an IMMEDIATE difference and would not dream of converting back. I must admit, it took me a WHILE to convert as I had my favorite brand, but now, I love my natural toothpaste.  The best natural toothpaste ingredients consist of herbs and oils that protect the teeth and gums and promote a healthy, chemical-free mouth! Here are my top 3 favorite natural toothpaste that I would recommend are:

1. BlanX USA

2. Toms of Maine, Whole care, with Fluoride.* NOTE: This is now sold at Target, if you have a phobia of going into "natural' stores. ;)

3. Burt's Bees Natural Flouride-free Toothpaste, whitening without Fluoride. 99.2% Natural.  I have not personally tried this but have read great reviews on it!  Let me know if you've tried it.

BONUS: There are also natural mouthwash alternatives. Previously, I was a firm believer that if I didn't feel the "burn", then it wasn't working! I will review my top picks soon!

*This does contain sodium lauryl sulfate but it is derived from coconut and/or palm kernel oil

Do you have a favorite natural toothpaste or what are your thoughts on the ones above?

Temp-tations Old World Thermal Printed Satchel with 2qt. Baker

How darling is this "Presentable Ovenware" set by Temp-tations(R) ? This is the 'today's special value' on QVC! They come in 2 designs and 16 amazing colors! This is definitely one to snatch up for the holidays! It presents very well and you will be the talk of the party with your fashionable accessory to bring your dish to various holiday dinners and parties! Its more then just a smart buy--including thermal insulated satchel, 2-quart baker with wire holder, tempered glass trivet, and plastic storage cover, its also trendy and cute as well! These also make for great gifts!

Enjoy!

Coconut Sweeter? Good or Gimick

Hi dolls! In case you don't know, I love everything coconut and its many uses... coconut oil for cooking, baking, hair and skin, coconut milk, butter, etc. So, I guess it was only natural, that when I discovered coconut sweetener, by Coconut Secrets I was ridiculously excited!!! I have not tried it yet but plan to this evening when I make my raw pumpkin pie and vegan pumpkin muffins! I'll be sure to post pics and maybe even a tutorial on these tasty treats! Ill also update soon on my take of the Raw Coconut Sweetener---- so look for that soon.

Enjoy you day!

Top Five hair oils

Hey dolls, 

Here are my Top 5 pics for natural hair oils....

#1. 100% Pure Coconut Oil-- Coconut oil has great strengthening qualities for your hair.
#2. Vatika Oil-- The base of this oil is coconut oil and it is enriched with Lemon, Amla, Henna and 22 other herbs.
#3. Wild Hair Growth-- This has a base of olive oil, coconut oil and jojoba oil and is enriched with other herbs.
#4. Brahmi oil by Ramtirth-- The base is coconut oil and it is enriched with Brahmi oil and 22 other herbs.
#5. Amla Oil-- Aids in encouraging hair growth, this has a base of vegetable oil. (I am currently looking for an Amla oil that has a Coconut oil base. If not, I plan to make my own at home!)

All of these products can be found at Amazon.com. I've purchased all of them and they are great products.   Feel free to check them out... the beauty of this is that NONE of these oils are expensive and they far supersede some of the expensive products that are currently on the market in my opinion.   As usual, you can add essential oil to the oil if you want to alter the smell! 

DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum

DiorShow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum



I just purchased DiorShow Max lash plumping serum from Sephora and I love it! This really does what it claims! My lashes look super full, curled and lengthened and are a great compliment to my full brows and full natural hair--- thanks to henna and no more chemicals in my hair. I recommend giving this product a try. The price point is reasonable for high end make-up as well.

Kajal Intense Kohl Eyeliner by Guerlain

For all of my "Sex and the City" fans, I'm sure you remember the infamous marketplace scene from the 2nd Movie when Carrie purchased the dark Kohl eyeliner (along with the SHOES) and then wore the intensely amazing eyeliner that night when she went out with Aidan. WELL.. of course, being the makeup junkie that I am :) I went to ol' trusty eBay and found the eyeliner that she purchased in the marketplace and ordered it! I got 6 tubes for like $3.14 plus shipping.... great deal right? Well, the eyeliner was really dark and deep, but I was little fearful of the reviews I read on the possibilities of lead poisoning from certain kohl liners. Needless to say, I've discontinued use on a daily basis.

HOWEVER, while in my travels, I did find a neat alternative. Guerlain Cosmetics has a spin on this eyeliner for all of us searching for that PERFECT intense dark kohl eye. It's Terracotta Khôl Kajal Intense Indian Kohl. Its a bit more expensive then 6 kohl's for $3.14, but it is lead free, so you can line away with confidence! :) Now, I have not tried this product yet, but Guerlain has NEVER steered me wrong. I am looking forward to purchasing soon and will share my thoughts... I'll do a video when I apply it to get some feedback.

Shea Moisture Deep Treatment Masque and Hair Thickening Spray

Hi all~

Here is a quick post on two of my favorite products right now. I really am in love with Shea Moisture, deep treatment masque right now. It's sold exclusively at Target right now. This conditioner is super rich and super conditioning. I like to leave it in my hair for a minimum of 30 minutes(covered with a plastic cap or a brief sit under the dryer). It does an amazing job of providing me with extremely manageable hair with no tangles, deep moisture and super shine. Perfect beginning to perfectly styled hair. Works great for my curly styles. It may be a bit heavy for a straight flowing style, so leave in for about 5-10 minutes if you plan to wear your hair straight and fluffy.

The other product that I am really loving right now is Shea Moisture Thickening Mist. If you have fine or limp hair, this product really works great. I spray it on my roots and work it through my hair. This will give your hair amazing volume if you want to add volume to your curls, roller set or blow out. Works great on all hair types!

Enjoy hunnies!

False Lashes without the fuss?... try Ready to Wear Lash Extensions

I absolutely love this picture of Christina Milian. Make-up and hair are flawless! The best part of her look, to me is her lashes! I believes Eyes are the gateway to our souls, eyebrows are the gatekeeps so that makes our eyelashes the gate!

BRIEF EYELASH HISTORY: In ancient Egyptian times, Egyptians lined their eyes with kohl and used mascara to deepen their lashes. Because eyes were believed to be the windows of the soul, they concealed their eyes to protect them from any evil spirits (the evil eye) and bad energy. In addition, it's also said that it was applied to protect the eyes from sand, bugs and dust and for vanity and seductive purposes. Egyptian women concealed their lashes with kohl, water, crocodile dung and honey.
Since ancient times, women have been fixated on the appearance of their eyelashes.

Whether you were blessed with long, curly, luscious lashes or if you need a little bit of a boost, I would suggest giving Ready to Wear Lash Extensions a world if you don't want to try the false lashes, which from personal experience, if not done properly, can really damage your real lashes! I've lost a few lashes trying to glue false ones on! So if you are not a professional, I would suggest trying this as it comes off easily with no fuss!

I was introduced to this amazing product by my beautiful cousin and gorgeous Aunt (hi family!). Once they started using the product, I noticed their lashes right away-- it looked absolutely amazing on them, so I had to find out what they were using. Of course, ladies in families always share their beauty secrets amongst each other... so hopefully I won't be "disenfranchised" for sharing this info ;)

The application process is pretty simple:

How to Apply Ready to Wear Lash Extensions--

STEP 1: Start with clean eyes. Prep your eye area by applying either jojoba oil or almond oil (MY SECRET.. shhhhhh) around the eye area. As a preventive regiment, continued use of either oil really helps to maintain a youthful eye free of wrinkles, provides excellent care to the delicate skin around the eyes and provides excellent condition to the eyelashes.

STEP 2: Apply one coat of your favorite mascara, or the Ready to Wear Mascara to lashes. DO ONE EYE AT A TIME SO MASCARA DOES NOT DRY.

STEP 3: Apply one coat of the Ready to Wear fibers to lashes.

Repeat STEPS 2 and 3 until lash fullness is achieved. Repeat all steps on other eye. May be used on lower lashes as well for a more dramatic effect.

TIP: Instead of using a eye make-up remover (which may contain alcohol and may be drying to the eye), you may remove your eye make-up (waterproof included) with Almond oil or Jojoba oil! Take a small amount of either oil to your fingertip and rub gently on the eye area. Once eye make-up has become lose, remove make-up with a cotton ball.

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock, SPF 70, 1.4 fl oz

Best Sunscreen?

My Disclaimer: I know that not all of my products are natural, (lol), but like I said, its a journey and I'm getting there.. I do love my make-up and if I can't find something all natural I try to get the next best thing.

Having provided my disclaimer, lets move on shall we! TIP: If you don't do so already, one of the best things you can do for your face is wear sunscreen/sunblock everyday. All skin shades need protection from the sun to prevent wrinkles, cracks, avoid skin cancer etc. I've been doing this for about 6 years based on the recommendation of a phenomenal esthetician that I was seeing when my skin was in MAJOR disarray. Part of my daily morning routine now includes applying sunblock/sunscreen to my face. Yes! You read it right. For the past few years, I've used Obagi sunscreen (amazing stuff). While I love this product, its always good to explore and test new products and I was looking for a sunscreen that did not contain zinc. Some sunscreens/sunblocks that contain zinc can leave a white residue on your face. While in Target yesterday, I came across a new zinc- free sunblock by Neutrogena, Ultra Sheer Liquid Daily Sunblock, SPF 70. What caught my attention was Neutrogena's claim that it works beautifully alone or under makeup and moisturizers.

I have really oily skin, so I actually DON'T put any moisturizer on my skin during the day, just a sunscreen and Jojoba oil around my eyes and mouth, so I thought this would be good under my make-up. (BONUS TIP: At bedtime I put Jojoba oil, Vitamin E OR Almond oil on my face and wake to a fully moisturized and revived face!) I figured I would give this product a whirl, right? Why not? After all, I am a product junkie and love trying new things. I did read that some people felt a burning tingling after applying, so as soon as I got home, I tested some inside my wrist to see if I had an allergic reaction. (I have sensitive skin --- geesh.. oily and sensitive skin.. what a combination right? :) Anyway, I had no allergic reaction to it. I applied it this morning and it feels great! Weightless, NO white residue, no burning/tingling sensation.. so far so good! So, I would recommend it! Has anyone else tried it? LMK your results!

Dabur Vatika Oil

Hola~

Well, one of my favorite hair oils right now is Dabur Vatika Oil, enriched coconut hair oil, export quality. I purchased this back in March from my FAVORITE local Indian store. A small bottle ran me about $3.99. super buy-- right? RIGHT! I've been using it for months now and I swear by it! It is truly an amazing product. I also bought a bottle for my Nana and my Mom who both love the product now. The results I've experienced from Vatika are substantial hair growth, overall strength in each hair strand, super soft darker richer hair color, and amazing shine (not too oily- and I have oily hair).. this really is an all in one product. I will post pics soon of before and after Vatika Oil use. I experience instantly results in the shine and texture of my hair. After use, my roots are super straight when I wear my my hair straight, and the perfect curl when i wear it curly.

Directions for use (My personal): The best way to apply Vatika oil, from my experience, is to take a small amount and place on each finger tip. Massage the oil into your scalp with your finger tips, starting at your edges and working inward to the center of your scalp in a counter-clockwise motion. Do this for apx. 1-3 minutes every other night. The night before you plan to wash your hair, you can "oil" your hair through "Hair Oiling" procedures. You will saturate your hair with the Vatika oil. (check out post on "Hair Oiling" for information on how to do this.)


Product description: Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil provides natural nourishment to your hair. Giving it body and radiance, taking care of the critical balance of nutrients. Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil is a delicate mix of pure coconut oil with special hair care herbs including henna, amla and lemon. Blended together to strengthen each strand of hair from within, making you look really gorgeous.

Product Ingredients: Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil is a premium coconut hair oil enriched with Henna, Amla (Indian Gooseberry), Lemon and five other trusted herbs. Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil unique natural formulation ensures deeper oil penetration. Giving your hair and scalp complete nourishment for problem free, healthy hair. While Henna forms a protective coat to prevent oxidation, Amla strengthens the hair-roots and the astringent action of Lemon prevents dandruff. Dabur Vatika Enriched Coconut Hair Oil is a herbal oil for nourishment to the scalp and hair. Superior to coconut oil as it contains vital herbs and milk with coconut oil base. Herbs provide nourishment, prevent overall hair damage.

Where to buy: Local Indian store. If you do not have a local store that sells this, you can purchase this product on Amazon.com. Make sure that you get the "export quality".