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The 22 Best Sephora Buys

Consider this the ultimate buying guide to your favorite beauty store

Sephora really is the beauty junkies' paradise. There are so many products to play with, you could spend days sampling and still not try everything. But, since most of us don't have days, or even hours, to spend in the store, we rounded up these TotalBeauty.com reader reviews and ratings for you. Now you'll know exactly which products at Sephora are worth your precious time and money. See products

No. 22: Beautyblender Sponge, $18.50

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.1*

Why it's great: "This is such a wonderful tool. The broad base of the sponge is..."

No. 21: CARGO Bronzer, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 9.1*

Why it's great: "CARGO's bronzer is a great find and beauty bag staple. CARGO didn't leave us pale..."

No. 20: Nars Blush, $25

TotalBeauty.com average member rating: 4.6*

Why it's great: "I have the award winning shade, orgasm. I was a little apprehensive..."

Want to see what's #1? Click here!

Ins & Outs

Here's what's In and Out for me right now....

IN

1. MAC amplified creme lipsticks
2. Blush
3. Ryan Leslie
4. Twitter
5. TangySweet frozen yogurt

OUT

1. Letting the workout DVDs collect dust
2. Fussy, high maintenance makeup
3. High maintenance hair
4. An overwhelmed Google reader =(
5. Bashing IMAN cosmetics! LOL

What's in an out for you right now?  I'm sure these lists will pop up from time to time.

Peaking Peppermint Patty

MAC SugarSweet Post 2!

I bought Peppermint Patty as it's a unique green cream! Love!

I group this with the pastels, but it's not as light or bright as a pastel may be.  Just a perfect mint green.  (I love pastel polish!)

As much as I love this polish, I didn't want to committ this time to a

mono- colored nail. (It is my mono-colored pedi though!) 

I wanted to step out this time around.

Do you see Peppermint Patty peaking out from behind the designs?

I've seen much better nail artwork before, but this suffices as I love the colors used.  I was also thinking of Ms. Nikki the entire time.

Nikki have you used a mint green polish in your designs before?

In this design along with Peppermint Patty, there is a turquoise blue

color used and a flash of strong metallic lilac.

Those colors belong to a brand named Famous.  I kept asking around

about the polish brand, but I could find nothing!

Nikkia is supposed to give us a review on of these days, but uhhh.... Nikkia?

Anyway, besides the cute square bottle with an eye catching silver label, the

names of the polishes are very tongue-in-cheek and can

make you gush as much as a Nars blush!

Turquoise blue- Jill went up a hill, Jack went in her (I'm not lying folks!!)

Metallic lilac- Premature orgasm

Why? For shock value? Go figure.  The flashing turquoise makes me smile during the day ;)

Do you have Peppermint Patty?

*Next and last SugarSweet post: MSF's Refined and Perfect Topping

MAC's Red Velvet Shadestick vs. L'Oreal HiP's Unmistakeable

After picking up my Sugarsweet haul, I thought to myself, 'Darn! Why did I buy Red Velvet when I have my barely used Unmistakeable HiP crayon at home?'

Ha! Glad I did.  They are indeed different!

Red Velvet- a bit creamier with a satin finish
Unmistakeable- metallic and after a while, might be a base without a smooth finish for your shadows

(flash)

top- MAC Red Velvet shadestick

bottom- HiP Unmistakeable crayon

Unmistakeable looks quite rusty red, but it's more of a metallic, rust- pink

(without flash)

The HiP crayon is a bit bigger.  Sorry I don't know the net weights.

Caps off..

OK, follow along... not the best example, but I wanted to try:
left base- Unmistakeable
right base- Red Velvet

swatched MAC shadows/pigment from top to bottom:
top- Falling Star e/s
middle- Paradisco e/s
bottom- Milk pigment

NYX Kiwi- Great Green!

I did a green sort of smokey look the other day.  When I got home I realized that I could have done something really hot if I had my NYX Kiwi shadow when doing my makeup... it's the prettiest green ever!  I thought that MAC's Humid did it for me, but this one is where it's at!

So I took my finger and just dabbed some NYX Kiwi over my shadow that I already had on, just to see how it would look (since I have yet to use it after hunting it down like a run  away slave!)

Just wanted to share with you!

I wish I could have compared it to some other greens, but I wasn't thinking.  Rocketqueen did some fab green shadow swatches for me a little while ago.  Check them out and compare here!

Blogger Award- Thanks Distinque!

Shayna/Distinque gave me this award.  Thanks girl! (She's an awesome blogger too.  Be sure to check her out!)

“This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog’s content or design is, in the giver’s opinion, brilliant.“When accepting this auspicious award, you must write a post bragging about it, including the name of the misguided soul who thinks you deserve such acclaim, and link back to the said person so everyone knows she/he is real. Choose a minimum of seven (7) blogs that you find brilliant in content or design. Or improvise by including bloggers who have no idea who you are because you don’t have seven friends. Show the seven random victims’ names and links and leave a harassing comment informing them that they were prized with Honest Weblog. Well, there’s no prize, but they can keep the nifty icon. List at least ten (10) honest things about yourself. Then pass it on!”

Hilarious!

10 Honest Things About Me:

1. I have acrylic on my nails, but wish I could handle taking them off.

2.I love a bold lip look even though I don't always wear it myself.
3.This exercise is hard!
4. I thought my locs would be low maintenance, but they still require up keep that i'm too lazy for =p
Now I understand why ppl that cut their locs off keep a short haircut.
5. I like Pleasure P's new song, Boyfriend #2 Shameful. Hahaaa!
6. I like shoes and music as much as I like makeup.
7. I've sailed around the world.
8. I love my Wii.
9.A kickback day at home for me would be to lounge on the couch with a big blanket and OD on cereal!
10. I've only owned fish as pets.

Also, from the sweet Tammy of Not a Rich Girl, she gave me this 'Your Blog is Fabulous' award!

The rules:

1.Put the logo on your blog or post.
2.Nominate at least 10 blogs which you think are fabulous.
3.Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4.Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

I'm awarding:

ALL OF MY FOLLOWERS (with a blog)!!!!! You are all FAB!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Makeup Artist Tools: Tall Folding Chair

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been eyeing this tall, fold up chair since last year sometime, looking to take strain off of my back when working on clients!  I finally went to VietNam to get it a coupe of weeks ago!

Introducing the IKEA Franklin.
A tall, folding, bar stool

Comes in two sizes: 25" ($19.99) and 29" ($25.00)
3 colors: birch, oak and white with silver legs/frame
Folds for storage space
Lightweight; great for mobility

I also got my travel lamp, but I'm not sure it's as perfect for its purpose like this stool!  Since this is from IKEA, I'm not sure how long it will last (its durability), but I'm very excited that I finally own it.

New Hair Accessories!

Locking your hair is a permanent style for most, but options for hair-do's and being creative with your hair isn't!

While I'm not quite ready yet for more color and styles (I HATE THE DRYER!) I like accessories!

I've dabbled a lot with scarves and headbands and have even contemplated these.

My last trip to the mall I ran across these babies.  Finally, the mass chains caught on to the feather trend! 

I've been wanting to order from an Etsy shop, but my hesitation over internet shopping left me without the desired accessories (I love Sewsephine's shop because she's one of the few that makes stretchy feather headbands! Great for locs).

Full pheasant feathers

You can pin (to your clothes) or clip!

Peacock feathers

Bobby pin clip

Icings stores, $6-8 each

My Chill Collection (Dupe) and Maybelline Lash Stiletto

I slept on MAC's Chill Collection because after previewing it online, I thought it was a snore.  The eye shadows were grays, darker grays.. nothing exciting.  However, I thought twice about the collection when I caught wind of the lipglasses, which were fab in my opinion.  Great glosses with different hints of sheen and frost.  Definitely my kind of collection!  While I got one or two lipglasses, I didn't get the so called 'boring' shadows... Grays are part of the neutral family.  What was I thinking?  I love neutrals!
I turned to NYX  for some help to dupe (duplicate) my own Chill collection of sorts.






  

(Please forgive me as Blogger is being wonky with the pictures.)
1st pic- left to right: Charcoal, Grey and Opal, Pots and Pans shadow stick
2nd pic- top to bottom: Opal, Grey, Pots and Pans shadow stick, Charcoal

....and my FOTD!

I love love love silver, gray, bronze, brown smokey type looks. I'm still trying to perfect my look.

Ren Ren did a great version which was inspired by Jennifer Hudson.

If any of you notice, this is a combo that is used often for celebrities.  Kim K. has inspired many with her recent look.  (I wish I had access to these tutorials when I did this look!)

On my eyes I used:

Pots and pans shadow stick (these definitely need a good base like UDPP)

Gray on the lid

MAC Soft Brown eye shadow in the crease

Charcoal and carbon in the outer v

Opal as the highlight and at the tear duct

Auto de Bleu liner on waterline

Maybelline waterproof liquid eyeliner to line lid

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Mascara

should have been wearing Soft Wave lipglass

(from MAC's Chill Collection LE) on lips.. don't remember what was actually used!

Lash Stiletto Mascara
This mascara is all about length and that's what I got.  A sexy length that I can't complain about!
-Brush gave full, lush definition to lashes.. not spikey, spider lashes.  The brush is the stand out feature.
-Gave reasonable length
-The color was a decent black
-Light weight formula
-Can clump a bit after two to three coats
-Don't expect volume

Are my lashes the sexy stand out Stilettos on my face? Maybe not.  I coat and comb until I have my desired look which may be too much for some.

B, I need help taking lash pictures LOL!

Remember Dame Edna? and Shisem Lashes

Dame Edna the icon collection at MAC that was out like yesterday, but 28 collections ago?

Yehhh, that one! LOL

I instantly was swooning over the lippies in this collection, but the eye shadow palette in Royal Tour

continued to catch my eye.. it's the purple I tell ya.  I had to have it.

Here's my look using the palette.

(The nails, the tissue, never mind all of that hahaaa!

I did the look a while ago and can't remember most

details of the look.)

Dun dun dun dunnnnnn!
A special THANK YOU goes out to a little lash fairy that brightened my day
while I was away from all of you and wishing I could blog.
I appreciate you Tammy of Not a Rich Girl!

She surprised me with a package of SHISEM lashes!!!  The first pair I tried was
 the double cross lashes.
I didn't believe at first that they would have enough drama for my taste,
but they really do! I love them!  They are more like layers of lashes.
I'm so excited to finally have some Shisem lashes of my own thanks to Tammy!!

CoverGirl Outlast Lip Stain #415 Teasing Blush

(I like the effect of the lighting in this photo =p)

-Not as drying as other lip stains

-Variety of colors

-Great drugstore option

-Fun with layering lip products or great worn with plain lip balm/chapstick

-Not a soft stain look, but bolder, brighter colors

-Easy application with marker felt tip

*I'm wearing Teasing Blush #415 layered with MAC's Naked Space lipglass*

Loc Journey: My Hair is Growing!

This is month........19??

I can even tell a difference from my Lola pics!

Well, I guess you can see it.. I see it a lot LOL

They are all fully locked.

Styling options, color?

I wanted to talk about locs with pics from my sister's bday party,

but the pics are stuck in SanDisk land. The comp won't upload from the other card =p

Go figure.

Gilette Venus Embrace Product Review

Gillette's Venus Embrace is a dream, smoothing legs, getting every hair with the least amount of effort.  The Embrace has 5 curve hugging blades and protective ribbons of moisture, ensuring soft silky legs after a quick shave.  Included in the package you will receive a shower pod and two cartridges for future use.  If you want your best shave and silky smooth skin afterwards, Venus Embrace is for you.  However, please do not: trickle some water on it, to do a semi dry shave, after work, on the run, before your self tanning lotion application, before a happy hour meetup.  Yeh. Ouch. Embarrassing.

*Ladies with sensitive skin (especially under the arms) beware.  Rubbing blades across the skin can be irritating.  Five times the contact with blades on the skin with the Venus Embrace may make for a terrible reaction.

Your Blog is Fab! Thank you Jesiah!

Aw I just got back into the game and this is how I'm welcomed!  Thanks so much Jesiah!
Now that I've received this award I have to:

1. Put the logo on your blog or post.
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which you think are fabulous.
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

Here are my nominees!

• Lollipop26
• Dominichulinda
• Scratching the Surface
• Clumps of Mascara
• Silver Lips Beauty and Music Haven
• Mel for Makeup
• Steph's Closet
• Nessasary Makeup
• Scrangie
• Reflections of Beauty
• Not a Rich Girl

Thanks again Jesiah!

Essence April 2009

1. The cover is pink!
2. It's not Beyonce (as much as I love her) nor Will and Jada. Yeh!
3. Iman is ageless. period.
4. Feeding my obsession with Taraji
5. Au naturale!
6. They have the perfect pink stained look on their lips and cheeks, like what I'd expect out of Smashbox O-glow
7. Flawless skin and not overly done brows
8. Taraji's bob!

Do you have this issue? I couldn't get past the front cover.. okay I did. Only to get stuck on the Essence.com preview page. Hot damn! Go girl!!!!!!!!!!! I'm beaming with pride. THEN, I had to go all the way to Tia's page just to realize she penned the cover story! Ahhh, this is a special edition of Essence for me!

My Hello Kitty Looks

Are you guys tired of MAC's Hello Kitty collection yet? I hope not. I haven't been able to share my looks with you! LOL I only went in for the first release of Hello Kitty. I'm staying away from HK Kouture. Both quads that were released make me happy! I also got the pigments and the On the Prowl polish. Can't wait to use those items.

First up, the Too Dolly quad has a fixed place in my makeup bag right now because I love the permanent color, Yogurt. It's a throw back fave that I never bought, but when I heard it was coming out in this palette with HK, I had to have it. Great bridal color!

All over and Lid: Loreal Hip paint Lofty, Yogurt e/s
Crease: Soft Brown e/s
Outer V: Stately Black
Maybelline Waterproof liquid black eyeliner on top lid
Auto de blue technakohl liner on waterline
Loreal Voluminous Carbon black mascara
Brows: Cork and Swiss Chocolate e/s
DermaBlend foundation Chroma 3
DermaBlend concealer in Tan
Lips: Peroxide lipglass
Blush: Flirt & Tease

Second up, the Lucky Tom palette was fun to play with it. It hasn't gotten as much play the Too Dolly quad or should I say Yogurt and Stately Black? I really need to use Romping (pink) and Too Dolly (blue) shadows! However, with the Lucky Tom palette, I did use all of the colors for this look.

As you can see my first picture is washed yellow by my cam and lighting, but I needed a redeeming picture for the second one with the pink night head scarf LOL

Based lid with Girl Friendly paint pot
Lid and crease: Paradisco e/s
Outer v and into crease: Stylin'
A bit in outer v: Lucky Tom
Maybelline Waterproof liquid black eyeliner on top lid
Waterline: Blue Pop (Blue Pop/Black Funk duo liner, Heather collection)
Tear duct: Creme Royal e/s
Bottom lid: Romp e/s
Loreal Voluminous Carbon black mascara
Brows: Cork and Swiss Chocolate e/s
DermaBlend foundation Chroma 3
DermaBlend concealer in Tan
Blush: Flirt & Tease
Lips: Soft Wave lipglass

88 Palette Review for the Record!

Coastal Scents 88 Palette has been reviewed ad nauseum on blogs, youtube and every where else. Well, my review was missing, so here it is!

Check B's review here for a few swatches.
Check MakeupbyRenRen's comparison review of this palette vs. Stars Makeup Haven's palette.

I wasn't quite in love with this palette when I first got it because 1- the top half of the palette broke off as soon as I took it out of the plastic. I had hardly touched it! and 2- I tried a color on my sister and the color seemed powdery and crumbly, lots of fall out. I called it a lost and let it collect dust. Finally, Yannize made me give her my opinion on the palette which forced me to break it out. I tried a baby sky blue color, just for kicks and it blew me away! I was stoked that there was something positive about this palette.

Yannize ordered it for herself and she put it simply, "These shadows are MAC's struggling cousin that's between jobs." So dead on! I was bent after hearing that one! My side was hurting soo bad.
PROS: Bang for your buck, different textures, plenty of color options, now made in a matte case (not shiny cheap plastic)
CONS: Some you will find with EXCELLENT payoff, others not so much, a few that are a bit hard to blend (like most mattes), some with fall out, a good base is definitely needed to ensure that the colors will stick
OVERALL: Buy it! Especially if you crave color! I just wanted to be sure to give you all an accurate description of the palette.