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Tips for Looking Awake and Refreshed!

How to Look Awake and Refreshed -- Every Morning
Puffy eyes, dark circles and dull skin are no match for these skin care and makeup tricks

Late nights and early mornings are inevitable, so for times when sleep isn't an option, use these expert tips to help you look awake and refreshed. You'll have everyone fooled into thinking you got your required eight hours.
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Chapstick True Shimmer

Chapstick is one of those classic products that I grew up with. It satisfies that basic, simple need to moisturize and soothe dry lips. Convenient, pocket friendly and unisex. How LL Cool J hasn't gotten hip to this product, I don't know. He would probably stop licking his lips so much. No ladies, that is not sexy! I digress.

Chapstick's newest product is the Chapstick True Shimmer ($2.50-$3)-- flavorful balm with shimmer for a bit of sparkle. This item has been on shelves for a little while now, but Chapstick introduced two new flavors: Peppermint Rush and Blended Fruit Sherbert.

Of the existing flavors, I had only tried Tropical after reading Brittany's review. Me no likey. It was a bit pasty for my lips and there wasn't much more to write home about. Blended Fruit Sherbert was quite tastey, but I needed it to be more. Peppermint Rush is a blue stick, but not to worry. The color is very subtle. This concoction soothes lips and is minty fresh which is A+ in my book. The shimmer isn't as noticeable. While I could take regular Chapstick or even cherry Chapstick any day, the Peppermint Rush is definitely a bonus to the line!

Have you tried this? Did our old classic need a shimmery update?

Back in the Lab and Q-Tips Review!

Recently, the crew and I went back into the lab to get some work done. It has been a while since we have collectively done a shoot, so this was well over due. Here are my 'insider' shots:

Model Dorian and hair stylist Z doing touch ups.

Dorian's checking out some of her 'insider' shots while photographer and creative director L. Poteat is prepping the set.

Can't wait to see the finished shots! I'll share them with you and give you more deets on the look, etc. when I get the green light.

I can tell you now that Q-Tips brand cotton swabs were a major part of this shoot! From cleaning up falling glitter carefully, applying highlight color to the model's inner corner eye, to smudging out her lower lashline, they truly saved the day this time around.

Usually in my household, we have a stash of Q Tips in this bulk packaging:

In the kit, I stash a smaller amount in this purse pack size:

However, Q Tips has redesigned the packaging for their medium sized packs. This size has existed in the regular blue Q Tip packaging, but I've never come across them. It's nice to have this available now in a handy box with pretty designs. Check it out!

For more beauty tips and uses with Q-Tips cotton swabs, check celeb makeup artists Molly Roncal and Troy Jensen here!

I'm Featured on All Lacquered Up and My Newest Nail Color

Today, I had a huge grin on my face. I opened up All Lacquered Up to find me featured in her fun series, "What's On Your Nails?"-- a series where she interviews bloggers and polish fanatics to find out some fun facts about them and ..well what else, but polish! Check it out here!

Y'all know that I'm on orange right? I've been doing a lot of corals and bright, hot orange colors. This time around, I'm revisiting the pastels, with Milani's Retro. I picked it up with some others after seeing the Milani polishes a while back.

This pic wasn't taken in natural light, but you get the idea really. This is two coats with a top coat. I would have prefered 3 coats, but this was okay, with my nail line showing thru ever so slightly. This is a soft apricot cream color. I was debating between this and OPI's In My Back Pocket. In comparison to the OPI, this is softer, a more demure shade of orange, sherbert if you will. In My Back Pocket is a true orange cream. It's not a deep orange, but it's more orange than this color. I got this for my mani and pedi. At first I felt it wasn't bold enough for my taste, but it has grown on me; soft, but still stands out amongst nails.

As far as application, it wasn't the best. It was a bit streaky and not as even as I would have liked. Hey, it's Milani and still a good deal for a drugstore polish. (I'd rather pay $2 instead of $4 though!)

Loc Up-do Hairstyle with Dr. O

A few weekends ago, I got together with some of my good friends to catch up and celebrate milestones... remember this? Yeh, minus a few of our friends, we convened over good chat and food to celebrate my bday, Dr. Almoza's engagment and Dr. O going to Michigan to practice.

While at the gathering, I couldn't help but to admire Dr. O's up-do. She started locking around the same time I did, though she started with shoulder length twists as she had been natural for quite some time.

Take a look at some of the pics, I got of her and her regal do!