Betty Brown's Beautification and Banter

Hard Earned Appreciation

2009-03-16T10:08:00.002-04:00

There are some things in life that you can never fully appreciate until you get a chance to experience life without them. Living rent free in your parent’s house. A job that may not necessarily be be your dream gig but it gets the bills paid and you don't fantasize about committing felonies against your coworkers. The ability to eat a tray of macaroni and cheese, half of an apple pie and

Moving Epiphanies

2009-03-13T01:17:00.007-04:00

Just a little over two weeks until the big Florida move. My apartment is on it's ear. Boxes fill the rooms. The trashcan runneth over. It's amazing how much the "Ooh. I can't wait to try it!" product quickly becomes the "That ain't gonna do nothin' but take up space and add wieght." product. Can someone please tell me why I have 3 different mayonnaise conditioners? Better yet... can some one tell

2009-01-27T00:35:00.007-05:00

*Walks in and opens the blinds to get some light up in here*Daaaaang! It's dustier than mug up in here! Where ya'll been?Oh... That's a question that I need to answer huh? Lol.Things have been a little hectic on my end. Apparently homes don't move themselves and have the nerve to require packing and what not?!?! *Gives the boxes in the corner the side eye and sucks teeth*I am trying to get back

It's Official... We Are In a Recession!

2009-01-06T09:45:00.000-05:00

How do I know this you ask? Because MAC is having a sale! That's right! A sale at MAC! I know that I wasn't the only one flat out flabbergasted when I saw the email. I had to get up and look out the window t see if pigs were flying. I would have checked to see if Hell froze over but if it's in Connecticut it's been frozen for a hot second now. MAC has a Friends & Family Sale every year but it's

New Year, New Blessing, New Challenges

2009-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone! Doesn't the arrival of a new year always feel like a chance to start fresh and new? A way to start with a clean slate? Let's just shake off the heeby jeebies of last year and kick start the new year five pounds lighter shall we?A few phone calls and unforeseen blessings has given my family a chance to relocate to Florida. *looks out of window at the fresh snow that

2008-12-30T11:00:00.000-05:00

Hey bellas! I hope every one's holiday was super. Did you make through them relatively unscathed? The holidays can be crazy stressful. I make it through them buy humming and surrounding myself with polish fumes! Lol.Here are few of my recent NOTDs.This is China Glaze VIII. It's a wonderful dark eggplant creme. Very chic. The

My $30 Alternative to the Clarisonic

2008-12-24T13:00:00.000-05:00

Mr. Brown has pretty much put the kibosh on my plans to get a Clarisonic facial brush. When I called him in to watch the HSN presentation he said "We have a Sonicare toothbrush in the bathroom right now. I can go and grab you some extra brush heads and you can have a ball." Then he laughed. Hard. And went into the kitchen. Boo.With my hopes dashed and my spirit broken (yes, I am that dramatic), I

Yes to Carrots Wants Send You to the Movies!

2008-12-22T06:00:00.001-05:00

I love Yes to Carrots' C Me Smile Lip Butter!It became an instant HG because it kept my lips from peeling when I used lipstick. I knew it was a winner when Mr. Brown inquired "Where's that carrot stuff? This other stuff is crap."There ya go people. That other stuff is crap. Lol! I was excited to find Frosty Loves C lip butter set at my local Walgreens for $9.99. It is a the perfect stocking

Another Letter to Ms. Sally Hansen,

2008-12-19T00:00:00.000-05:00

You're going to stop playing with my emotions Sally. First this. Now your latest breakdown in communication. Just when I think I can actually start to love you for something other than your Megashine, Insta-Dri and Quencher you fall back right into your foul ways. Can you even imagine my delight when I stumble upon a gleaming, virginal display of your new Insta-Dries? Only a desperate seasoned

Free Misa Nail Polish!

2008-12-18T13:10:00.002-05:00

Holy sheep! I don't know if you all know this yet but Scrangie is the woman! And to celebrate her awesomeness Misa is giving her readers a FREE bottle of polish! Any color! All you have to do is pay $3 for shipping and it's yours! But who can choose only one color right? Well you can order up to 11 bottles for $1.50 each for additional shipping. Shucks.... How about just make it a smooth dozen

AHA's & BHA 's 101

2008-12-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

Grab some tea and get comfy Bellas. Today we're going to talk about Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids. We always see brands flaunting them as ingredients and hear skin care gurus preaching of the virtues. But do well really know much about them how to use them?Oh... You do?Well there is bound to be someone here that doesn't so no spoilers please. On a molecular level, AHAs and BHAs are very similar.

My Latest Weapon In the Battle Against Dark Spots

2008-12-17T12:00:00.000-05:00

Most of you know that post inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is an ongoing battle of mine. Over the years I have tried several lines that contain AHAs in order to get rid of the marks. The results have been mixed to say the least. Some items made my skin super dry while. A few gave minimal results while others just didn't do anything for the PIH. But they all delivered smoother, more radiant

Smurfette Makes the Big League!

2008-12-17T00:00:00.000-05:00

Stop the presses! OMG! Too Faced Cosmetics has a new Smurfette inspired collection! I know that I am probably the only one this excited. Don't ask me why, but Smurfette was my ace book koon! Her and Wonder Woman. I still remember fighting crime and saving smurfs in my under-roos. Ahhh.... Those were the days.There are 5 limited edition pieces in all so get it while it lasts! It's available only

Philosphy Sale!

2008-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

I don't' really make it a point to do posts on sales. If you are like me, your inbox receives so many emails trying to get your cash that your Paypal account is running for cover. But I just had to share this one!My latest health and beauty kick has been Philosophy shower gels. For a long time I was a naysayer and an unbeliever thinking "It's just soap. Why is it so friggin expensive?" Then I

2008-12-10T19:21:00.005-05:00

I wasn't planning to post this but I can't stop looking at so I figured it must be worthy of an STS post.It's a part of the long DC'ed Sally Hansen Magical collection. This is called Ruby Slipper... A name FAIL in my opinion because this bad boy is straight pink. But whatever... I still love it to pieces. I resourced this little

Dirt Cheap Never Felt So Good!

2008-12-08T12:56:00.007-05:00

I know that I am not the only one.I know that I am not the only one that has come across Montagne Jeunesse skin treatments, took one look and kept it moving. I am far too broke to be a beauty snob... but you gotta draw the line somewhere. They are packaged in bright and obnoxiously colored individual use packs. The models on the pouches are wearing masks embellished with curiously large

It's probably the wrong season for such a bright FOTD but....

2008-12-05T12:55:00.004-05:00

...It's cold as penguin snot here in Connecticut! The sun slipped behind a cloud weeks ago and hasn't been seen since so I was desperate for a pick me up.FaceSkinPrep FX (This primer is something else! A full review to come soon)Cover FX creme in B35NARS blush in Outlaw (it really is there in real life lol.)Pure Luxe Silica PowderEyesMAC Pharoah paint pot (shadow base)MAC Fresh Green Mix MES duo

2008-12-04T09:00:00.000-05:00

When I first laid eyes on the Cover FX display at my local Sephora my jaw dropped. Other than MAC and MUFE I had never seen such a wide selection of shades. There is a whopping 32 shades available in the cream formula and 25 in the liquid! Impressive right?Since Cover FX was developed to cover skin imperfections like port wine

Lush Makes Bath Time Fun... And Expensive

2008-12-03T00:00:00.001-05:00

My first trip to a bricks and mortar Lush this past weekend did three things. (1) Created a $50 hole in my wallet, (2) convinced me that I need to take more nice, long , hot baths and (3) woke up my creative DIY side because there has got to be a cheaper way to battle the ashe then dropping $12.95 on a King Of Skin Body Butter every few weeks. Here are a few quick and dirty reviews on my haul. No

Hey Hey a Giveaway!

2008-12-02T18:40:00.002-05:00

The wonderfully sweet Joi of Beauty Blvd. is having a great giveaway! She is giving 5 lucky readers the chance to win a tube of Rx For Brown Skin Body Butter. Lil' sis Brittany from Clumps of Mascara already did a lemming inducing review. I have the body butter and it's just as divine as she said! So cyber-trot on over to Beauty Blvd. for your chance to win!B.B.

RX For Brown Skin- Just What The Doctor Ordered

2008-12-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Let me start off by giving major kudos and appreciating to DR. Susan Taylor, the creator of the RX For Brown Skin line. The beauty industry has come along way when it comes to products for us Brown Bettys' but Dr. Taylor has significantly raised the bar by developing a line that caters specifically to us. How flippin cool is that? Dr. Taylor is also quite accomplished. Girlfriend is a mover and

I'm Calling Shaningans and Buffonery on the Philly PETA Folks!

2008-12-01T11:30:00.000-05:00

Mr. Brown and I spent Black Friday window shopping in downtown Philadelphia. It was great! I truly and dearly miss all of the hustle and bustle of my hometown so I was in my element. Bobbing and weaving. Ooohing and ahhing. Shaking my head at the redonkulous prices of a cup of coffee nowadays...All was going well until we arrived at the Burberry store on 17th and Walnut streets. There were about

2008-12-01T10:50:00.002-05:00

Hey beautimous people! My intrawebz was on the fritz for almost two weeks and the family went begging for turkey so I have been MIA for a little while. It's great to be back! I felt sooo out of touch! Thank you to my blogging BFFs Brittany and Kia for keeping me in the loop and sane during my own personal dark ages! I have some wonderful products and some weekeng shenanigans to tell you about!

Greased Up and Socked Down

2008-11-17T09:28:00.003-05:00

I was channel surfing and happened to pause on a popular daytime talk show. The topic was beauty secrets and as usual... Most of them were not secret at all. Most of the "secrets" could be found out by thumbing through any number of blogs or magazines. I was about to change the channel until a tip caught my attention.If you have dry or rough elbows, put Crisco on them and cover them in socks over

The Agony of a Budget

2008-11-13T00:15:00.000-05:00

Makeup Forever... Why must you taunt me so? When I first came across this beauty I gasped. When I saw the price... I gasped and died.This is the Dany Sanz Limited Edition Palette. It is jam-packed with 30 shadows and blushes. Each palette is signed and numbered by Dany Sanz, Creator and Artistic Director of MUFE. Only 100 palettes are available and they are a Sephora exclusive. Hurry an get

Sally Hanson Needs More People

2008-11-11T14:17:00.004-05:00

Ya'll know that I am polish fiend. I have been dying to get my hands on some of the most recent LE collections from Sally Hansen. These beauties have been spotted all over the country but I have yet to see them. I swear Connecticut is where beauty products come to die. Beauty product hell has a zip code and I live smack dab in the middle of it. I decided that I may get somewhere by calling Sally

Great Minds Think Alike!

2008-11-07T18:18:00.007-05:00

Today's post was originally going to be a StS post featuring the wonderful new Zoya polish, Zara. But lil sis Brittany Bee from Clumps of Mascara was all over that. Isn't it a beautimous color? It is everything that I wanted MAC Trax eyeshadow to be. Trax looks very very similar in the pan but the gold shimmer isn't as pronounced once it hits the lid. BOOO! I was so stuck on the gorgeousness of

Flax Seed - It's What's For Dinner!

2008-11-06T00:15:00.001-05:00

O.k. Not really. But flax seed oil is definitely something that you should consider adding to you diet.Flax seed oil is very high in essential fatty acids (EFA). As you may know, EFAs are quite a big deal when it comes to your health. They help you burn excess fat, lower cholesterol, relieve arthritis pain, and improve the immune system.But did you also know that EFAs are also

Paint Cosmetics Penny Sale!

2008-11-04T13:59:00.003-05:00

Whaaaaat? Makeup for a penny? Whooda thunk it? If you are a fan of bright, fun colors than check out this sale. Paint Cosmetics has crazy, I'm talking insanely pigmented eyeshadows. With every full sized shadow purchased, you also receive a free sample shadow of your choice! Now that's a deal! Check out the penny sale here. B.B.I know ya'll got out and got your vote on, right? Don't complain

And the Winner Is......

2008-11-03T14:11:00.005-05:00

Submitted by Lesley.I know that I was supposed to post this on Friday but Friday was one heck of a day. Momma Brown and Step Brown came into town so Mr. Brown and I could celebrate our anniversary (also Friday) like civilized married folk... without the chilluns. Boy Brown also had to get his

I Am Not a Hater

2008-10-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

This post is not a review or rant. It's an explanation... An explanation as to why you will not find many posts on MAC products over here at BBB&B. To put it simply... I'm just not a huge fan of most of their products. Oh stop gasping. It's not blasphemous to not be a MACaddict. Lol.There was a time when I waited for product launches with baited breath and could be found at the store swatched up

2008-10-22T08:30:00.001-04:00

A little while back I received requests to review Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer and to do a FOTD with a NARS blush. I figured I would kill two birds with one stone.I am a whole hearted believer in foundation primers. A good one can totally change how well makeup applies, settles and ultimately looks through out the day. You can think of primer like spacke for your face. It should

2008-10-21T00:00:00.001-04:00

Believe it or not... This post was brought on by a trip to Sephora. How can a trip to Sephora induce a R.B. post you ask?Because a sista was returning stuff that's why! Lol! I have always been a proponent for returning things that don't cut the mustard. I once walked around with a bottle of Jet-Dry and the receipt in my purse for

My First Contest!

2008-10-20T07:55:00.005-04:00

I am starting a new weekly series on nails and I am having some serious brain cramps trying to come up with a name. I figured this would be the perfect time to have my first contest. The rules are simple. Submit a name for the series and if it's chosen, you win! So I guess you want to know what the prize is huh? Lol. The prize is a nail care essentials grab bag. It will include all of things that

I May Not Know Jacques, But I know Dirty Mop Water When I See It

2008-10-15T13:05:00.004-04:00

Here is a picture of OPI You Don't Know Jacques nail polish on my NC50 skin. This is a shade form the current French collection that can be found online and in most retailers.This is a good lesson that a nice color in the bottle doesn't always translate to a nice nail color. It shows just how much skintone can change th look of a color. This polish is waaaaaaay more flattering on Kia of Yummy411

A Little Porn Makes the World a Better Place

2008-10-14T09:20:00.006-04:00

I have gotten a few emails asking me about makeup organization and stash pics so I figured I would show you all how I keep my beloved pretties organized (I use that term in the loosest sense possible)These are my Helmers that I got from Ikea. Ikea is one of my favorite stores ever! It's full of quirky and stylish furniture and doo dads. Plus the food is awesome. The Swedish meatballs make you

Lustings from Broke Blvd.

2008-10-13T08:00:00.001-04:00

What's worse than the economy going straight to the crapper?The economy going straight to the crapper right before the holiday season! That's what!Us Brown's are trying to be proactive and cut spending where we can just in case. Let's face it... We are in very uncertain and scary times. If our financial bottom were to drop out tomorrow, no amount lip gloss or nail polish is gonna keep lights. But

PSA for SankofaQueen

2008-10-11T11:13:00.002-04:00

Please post this to your blog to help spread the word and find SankofaQueen's sister. B.B.

The Anti-Conditioner

2008-10-10T12:08:00.004-04:00

I have proudly worn natural hair for the better part 12 years (dang, I'm getting old). There have been a few lapses in my hair sanity when I went and relaxed it. The inevitable result was always me looking as I were swung around my feet. I don't do hair. At. All. The good Lord blessed me with boys for a reason. He saw no benefit in me scarring some poor little girl for life by sending her out

Effin' Technology

2008-10-08T08:33:00.006-04:00

So this post was supposed to be my first vlog. I figured a new layout called for new hotness. But alas, technology foiled my plans. I don't have the proper cable to connect my camcorder directly to my laptop. Hopefully, I'll just be able to buy a cord and not have to go through the trouble of using adapters and whatnot. If you noticed, this post is also not my typical font. For some reason,

Politically Pretty Challenge

2008-10-03T06:43:00.008-04:00

This is my submission for the Politically Pretty challenge that B and Kia put together.This was a surprisingly thought provoking challenge. While I have never been one of profound patriotism, I am surely not looking for the first thing smoking out of the good ole U.S. of A. My experiences just hasn't left me with an overwhelming affinity for the red, white and blue. I was brought up to be a proud

Fall Leaves Inspired FOTD

2008-09-30T10:45:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite things about living in Connecticut is the landscape. It is simply breath taking. You don't have to be a tree hugger to be rendered speechless by the lush, green hills of the summer or the crystal-like twinkling of the ice covered trees in the dead of winter. Every fall, I am treated to the colorful fashion show the hills put on. The leaves have just began changing color so a

2008-09-29T11:30:00.004-04:00

I stopped biting and picking my nails about 6 months ago. I am very pleased with my progress so far. I was doing a manicure with nail polish that I bought from the dollar store when it dawned on me "This is truly cheap gratification". I mean.. I was cranking up the fabliciousness for a dollar! So I figured it was a fitting way

2008-09-29T09:30:00.002-04:00

Any one can can bring the fabness with top of the line products. But the true test divaliciousness comes during lean times. It's like breaking a heel and not missing a beat. It's talent and finesse that everyone doesn't possess. Depending on what side of the political arena your seats are on, we may or may not be in a recession.

Autumn Skin Greatness

2008-09-22T10:00:00.003-04:00

Today is the first day of Autumn. The leaves are already beginning to change in my neck of the woods. The warm summer air has departed to give way for that crisp fall breeze. Shortly we will all be donning super sexy knee boots and cozy sweaters. Mmmm... Yummy!You may also have drier skin to sport with your latest BeBe bag...Yeah. Not the hottness. Moisturizing your face can be tricky. There is a

Back to Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

2008-09-22T08:18:00.002-04:00

Hey bellas!Yeah. I know I slipped off the side of the earth last week but I 'm back! Last week was was chock full of mom, wife and diva duties so a small sabbatical was needed to stay on top of things. Regular posting will resume today. So sit back, grab some tea and cookies (or beer and nachos because it's 5 o'clock somewhere lol) and let the beautification begin!B.B.

Morning Chuckle

2008-09-11T07:52:00.002-04:00

Hey ya'll! This has nothing to do with beauty but I it brought a smile to my face so I thought I'd share. This was sent to me by my mother-in-law. The woman is a something else. Sh once saw a woman with a stank walk and said "She looks like she has a hamburger up her butt and she's trying to keep the onions from falling out". Yeah... I died too! Lol!THE BOTTLE OF WINEFor all of us who

I'll Be a Little Scarce This Week

2008-09-08T09:08:00.003-04:00

Mr. Brown is taking a much deserved staycation this week so I will be away from the computer. I am only posting 3 times this week but I promise I will make up for next week. I am testing out some good items this week including a cuticle remover on Mr. Brown (He's never EVER had anything even resembling a mani!) and some natural oils for skin care. I'll be twittering a little more than I usually

Great Beauty Finds at T J Maxx

2008-09-08T08:47:00.003-04:00

My trip to T J Maxx was not entirely fruitless. When I couldn't find anything flattering for my fanny I was consoled when I saw the display of makeup. My local T J Maxx has finally decided to actually make money on cosmetics by placing the display right next to the registers. This deters people from fouling up the product by touching with their smegma covered fingertips. For a few months now, TJM

2008-09-05T12:36:00.007-04:00

This time I will be reviewing Revlon Beyond Natural Skin Matching Makeup.Revlon says it's a "Weightless foundation that goes on white and self-adjusts to match your exact skin tone. In 5 shades with a flawless finish."I picked it up from Walmart for $10.97. It came with a bonus Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer so the price

Now There is Room For More

2008-09-05T07:34:00.005-04:00

L'Oreal H.I.P eyeshadow duos quickly became one of my favorite cheap indulgences when they were introduced. Who else has highly pigmented, dirt cheap eyeshadow that goes on sale practically once a month?As my collection grew, so did the space it took up. It's funny how storage space never enters one's mind when shopping for new goodies. You don't realize just how much space those multicolored

Just Thought I'd Share

2008-09-04T13:42:00.004-04:00

I know that I don't do FOTDs very often but I just just thought I'd share what I did today. I used Mehron Paradise Makeup AQ tropical palette as the shadow base. Love this thing!There are a few tutorials on Youtube reviewing it. One of my favorite Tubers, Juderivera uses them all the time.Here ya go!I forgot to take a pic of the mascara. I used Shesiedo mascara base and Rimmel Eye Magnifier Exact

The Glitter Eyeliner With a Death Wish

2008-09-04T08:30:00.001-04:00

Maybe it had a secret to desire to live in the trash. It may have needed to feel the warm comfort of a trashcan liner caressing it's plastic. Possibly, it developed a relationship with the receipt while they were traveled home in the same bag... The debil in blue!I am not really sure what it's motives were but they had to be something along these lines because Milani's Glitter and Glamour mascara

Time to Pass The Collection Plate

2008-09-03T08:10:00.009-04:00

OHEMMGEE!Has anyone else seen this?!?! Or better yet... Has anyone used this?!?!It's the Konad Nail Art System. It's a stamp that you use to put designs on your nails. Checkout some of these designs.Holy beautimous nail art Batman! How friggin cute are these?!?!There are a ton of different design plates to choose from so there is a little something for everyone and every occasion. You can spend

I Need to Step up My Manicure Game

2008-09-02T11:16:00.005-04:00

Up until a year ago I was a life long nail biter.It was bad. I never drew blood or anything... just never gave my tips a fighting chance to achieve greatness. A year ago I figured that it was time to get my grown and sexy on and try growing my own nails. Wow... It's a lot harder than it looks. I learned a lot about nail care from the fabulous woman on the nail board over at Makeup Alley. I still

I Should Have Kept My Tail in the House!

2008-08-29T11:44:00.004-04:00

I just came back from the grand opening of Sephora in Canton Connecticut. Don't bother Googling, there is nothing there... Just like the rest of northwest Connecticut. Anywayzzz.Sephora gave away giftcards to the first 100 people in line. Arriving at 9:45 to a 10:00 grand opening, I knew better than to expect to be one of the first 100. I didn't expect there to be about 300 people either!I know

2008-08-28T14:40:00.009-04:00

Drum roll please...Its time for the first official review forDang... My cornballness even amazes me at times. Lol. Anyways....High Definition or HD is the new hotness on the makeup scene. HD makeup was created in response to high-definition photography, which is rapidly becoming the the industry standard. HD photography can be

The Foundation Files- The Rules

2008-08-28T11:31:00.003-04:00

The Foundation Files is a new series that I present a formal review of the foundations that have crossed my path. To level the playing field, all foundations will be applied over the same moisturizer (Cera Ve) and primer (Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch). The night before I take pictures for the review I will exfoliate or use a mask, depending upon what my skin needs at that time. jhfdI

My First Request!

2008-08-27T16:11:00.007-04:00

I got a request to take some photos of the NYX tester eyeshadows that I mentioned in this post. So here you go Tanya. Just for you. Everyone else close your eyes. Lol. Just kidding. The pans are smaller than the full size singles but where would you store 160 full size NYX singles I'm sure many of you would find a place though. Lol. The NYX Rep Kit comes with the trio testers but I prefer the

Something is Brewing at Betty's!

2008-08-27T14:41:00.003-04:00

We all have our personal beauty quests. Some of us want lust worthy lashes while others are determined to banish dark circles. My my beauty walkabout is the search for flawless skin. Umm.. I ain't there yet. So on my way I have tried countless foundations to at least help me fake what nature seems hell bent on not giving me... Beautimous, radiant skin that totally negates the need for foundation.

Yu-Be Ashy No More!

2008-08-27T09:41:00.005-04:00

A lot has changed since moving to the hills of northwest Connecticut. I have gracefully adapted to crazy high gas prices, fickle weather patterns and my newly acquired size 10 derriere. The one thing that I can't seem to get a handle on is my skin. It is much drier here than back home in the Illadelph and I've got the ashy ankles to prove it. I'm talking ridiculous ash. Like someone beat me with

My CCO/ CoC Haul.

2008-08-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

The Cult of Cherry collection by MAC really didn't much for me. I am really not a bold lip type of gal and the eye shadow quads seemed easily dupe-able. I wasn't going to get anything until I saw Cult of Cherry lipglass in person. Surprisingly enough, I only owned one red lipgloss do this was easily justified. I also love the Mattene lipsticks so I grabbed Rapturous. While shopping for Momma

Things I Learned While Visiting the Motherland

2008-08-26T06:00:00.001-04:00

My weekend back home was great. I was visited a few family members and made my rounds to the local beauty supply stores. I never thought I would miss either one as much as I did... Especially the BSS. Lol! Here are few tidbits I thought I should pass along.1. While the King of Prussia Mall may be great for beauty lovers it is not for those with weak hearts. If you can overcome the moments that

On My Way to The Motherland!

2008-08-21T08:30:00.000-04:00

No... Not that Motherland... Philly ya'll! My hometown! Whoo Hoo!I'm going to pick up the Boy Brown from his summer vacay and celebrate Chocolate Olvatine's (that's baby sister Brown) birthday. I'm planning to check out the CCO at Franklin Mills Outlet mall so I'll let you know what goodies are to be had. I can't wait to check out some the neighborhood beauty supply stores to see what hidden gems

Good Things Apparently Come In Really Small Packages

2008-08-20T12:09:00.006-04:00

My dirt cheap Besame order arrived this morning. I haven't had a chance to play with it yet so no official word on the actual product but the packaging is truly divine! It's reminiscent of old Hollywood glamour. It's the prettiest packaging that I have ever owned... But I'm cheap so that's not a shocker.The compact and the lipstick came with the pretty "Crown Royal-esque" pouch. I was happy to

Urban Decay F&F Fabness!

2008-08-19T16:42:00.004-04:00

I know that most of you may have sen this already but I had put it out there just in case!I am on probation so I am counting on you ladies to report back with your hauls so I can live vicariously through you!Sorry. No "real"post today. I am dutifully testing out Make Up Forever new HD foundation though. I know. I know. It's hard work. But someone has to do it. :DB.B.

Good, Clean, Wholesome and FREE Fun!

2008-08-18T11:58:00.008-04:00

Yesterday Mr Brown spent the day at the office and you know what they say... When the cat's away, the mouse will spend the afternoon pressing pigments because there's not a dern thing else to do in Connecticut. But anywayz...Look what I did ya'l!There are several tutorials on pressing pigments on Youtube. Enkore's video is by far the most popular.In addition to alcohol, I also used glycerin and

Thanks Papa Brown!

2008-08-15T10:38:00.004-04:00

Among the many traits that Mama Brown passed on to me, adult acne in one of them. Unlike Mama Brown, I have to also deal with post inflammatory hyperpigmentation or PIH. She gets some PIH but it's nothing compared to mine. Mama Brown's is relatively light and fades much quicker than mine. While I have found several effective (and many more not so effective) treatments, I wasn't about to take this

I'm All Twitterpated!

2008-08-14T12:02:00.002-04:00

I'm on Twitter! I may be late but I made it to the party!Now what? Lol!I'm usually up on all the new whatsamawhozits and whatnots but this popular little doohickey has passed me by. I am soo out of the loop. I've been at home with Baby Brown for 15 months and I live in NW Connecticut AKA under a rock. So help a sista out and point me in the right direction!B.B.

What's Your Insta-Fix?

2008-08-14T07:00:00.001-04:00

We have all had them. Those days when we left the house thinking "D*mn I'm cute" only later to catch a glimpse of our reflection and recoil in horror. "D*mn, I'm cute" has somehow eroded to just "D*mn". Of course this only happens right after we decided to clean out the purse and right before we actually have a valid reason for look cooking cute.An example- You just looked up an discovered that

Sensual Skin Indeed!

2008-08-13T07:00:00.003-04:00

The Sensual Skin Enhancer (SSE) by Kevyn Aucoin Beauty (KAB) is a like a mythical beast. At least for me it was... While there are some true believers out there it had never crossed my path so I was still pretty skeptical. KAB makes some pretty high falootin promises also.Taken from the KAB site: A multi-tasking formula for creating a gorgeous, flawless complexion.• Mimics the appearance of

The Foolywang That is The Chinese Gymnastic Team

2008-08-13T00:15:00.004-04:00

Did anyone watch the Olympic female gymnastic competition? Am I really supposed to believe that those all girls from China are 16 years old? I have eaten chicken wings bigger than those girls. Don't get me wrong... I'm not hatin' because they worked very hard get to the games. They have worked harder to get to the Olympics than I have probably ever worked on anything in my ENTIRE life. But I'm

NYX Cosmetics for a Steal!

2008-08-12T08:17:00.005-04:00

Did you know that you could get the beloved NYX cosmetics for 50% off of the retail price? That means that means Round Lipstick for $.1.75. Single Eyeshadow for $2.50. Doll Eyes mascara for $4.00. (The 50% off is based on prices on the NYX website only.) Somewhere in the recent past NYX raised prices. They are still MUCH cheaper (and better quality in some cases) than the high end brands. Even

I am Soooo Never Shaving my Legs Again!

2008-08-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

No, I haven't gone all hippie-viking. I discovered Sally Hansen's Spray-On Shower-Off Hair Remover. *que angelic singing*Quite some time ago I wrote chemical hair removers off of my list of beauty needs. I couldn't stand the smell, they were messy and it never worked in the amount of time it was supposed to. Five minutes my foot! I may have dealt with all that if it actually removed all the

See It Here First! Pic heavy

2008-08-11T15:26:00.009-04:00

It's finally here! Remember this post where I mentioned the new L/E collection from About Face Cosmetics? I was lucky enough to get my hands on a little earlier than most so I am doing my civic duty and sharing some pics! The collection is called "Cinderella Dumped Her Fella". All descriptions are from TheSheSpace.com:The Golden Rule: Sheerest iridescent trace of cocoa..but move your head a bit

If you found your HG foundation, would you throw all of your other foundations out?

2008-08-10T22:17:00.003-04:00

Better yet, would you no longer try other foundations? Not even free samples?I am asking because I think that I may be on the verge of finding mine.More on the actual foundation later...It feels kinda weird to be honest. I always expected to be exhilarated and empowered when I finally reached foundation Zen. You know... Kinda like I just put on my Wonder Woman crime fighter cuffs. (Dang, am I

$4 Dollar Full Sized Pigments @ Paint Cosmetics!

2008-08-09T02:14:00.004-04:00

Look what I found in my inbox!You can't beat that bogo with a stick can you? Take a look here. Act fast! Its over in a little while! Tell them Betty sent you!

Modern Beauty Gives the Middle Man the Boot

2008-08-07T07:39:00.011-04:00

I first learned about Modern Beauty - MBBS (or Modern Basic if you're in Canada) while lusting over my bff's trade show haul last year. She whipped out the now very well known 88 color eyeshadow palette and I almost peed down both legs. If you have seen this palette in person than you understand my momentary lack of bladder control. Lol! Imagine my disappointment when she told me that MBBS was a

Send in the Clowns

2008-08-05T13:43:00.009-04:00

My never ending search for ignorantly bold and in your face eyeshadows has led me down the road of theatrical makeup. It started when I discovered Makeup For Ever's Flash Color Pots. There are 20 bold shades available spanning the color spectrum. A wonderful SA at Sephora hooked me up with a generous sample of fuchsia and I was hooked immediately. It went on creamy, opaque and bright! I packed

Dr. Brandt Brings the Beauty but Breaks the Budget

2008-08-05T06:48:00.006-04:00

On my last trip to Sephora, my dutiful shopping rewarded me with a deluxe sample of Dr. Brandt Microdermabrasion. I had been eyeballing the Dr Brandt line for some time. The sleek, clinical style packaging called out to me. It just looked like it would bring the business. More research revealed an even more impressive ingredient list. The only thing holding me back was the price. Cleansers start

Can a Sista Rant for a Bit?

2008-08-04T23:00:00.002-04:00

I have a thing or two to get off of my chest so please bare with me...Umm... I know that coming up with a brand new collection every month is hard work for MAC but I'm sayin'... What's the deal with Starflash? Can we say H.A.M.tastic? This collection hasn't moved me in the least bit. I am not the one that has to have something from every collection but dang... I at least desire something from

Quick.. Someone Do the Cabbage Patch With Me!

2008-08-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

A sista is getting a Sephora!*Breaks out with the running man followed by the kid-n-play*Right now, the closest Sephora is about 35-45 minutes away from my house. Actually, anything worth while is about 45 minutes away from my house. My family moved to northwest Connecticut recently. While it's a great place to live, let's say it's just different from my hometown of Philly. The sidewalks roll up

HUGE Besame Closeout Sale!!!!

2008-08-01T13:46:00.003-04:00

Besame is normally out of my price point. $75 for a palette... me thinks not! But they are currently having a closeout sale. This isn't a any old regular sale. This is a HUGE sale. How huge? Foundation that normally costs $40 is now $4! The packaging is beautiful to boot. Wouldn't you love to whip out a compact that looks like this?This compact costs $8 by the way! Check out the goodies here.B.B.

Show Me Yours, I'll Show You Mine!

2008-08-01T12:15:00.005-04:00

Tell the truth...You would rather look at pictures of your coworker's stash than their overpriced vacation to the baseball hall of fame, the family dog that is so old he doesn't even know why he's still here, or their funny looking, cockeyed chillens.Some days, nothing puts a smile on my face like some good ole' stash porn. So spread the smiles ladies. Send in pics of your beloved stash and I

We All Must Wear a Mask

2008-07-31T06:00:00.003-04:00

I truly love facial masks. It is the one part of my skincare regimen that is always in constant flux. I am always on the look out that magical one that will cast the clogged demons out, shrink pores, and leave my skin radiant... all for under $20. Lol! A girl can dream can't she?Lately I have been using Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. It's claim to fame is the activated charcoal.

Eyebrow Madness and HIP Sculpted FOTD

2008-07-30T13:44:00.010-04:00

Happy Hump Day!It's finally Wednesday and I am thankful for it. Today I decided to play mediator between my feuding eyebrows. They are not the same shape and I am not talented enough to groom them into conformity. That's what waxing is for right? Well, for years that's what I did until and unfortunate burn about 6 months ago. Oh! You can only imagine how upset I was. I had to take some deep

Something to Shake a Stick At

2008-07-29T17:00:00.001-04:00

If you haven't yet tried About Face Cosmetics, do yourself and favor and take the plunge. There are tons of mineral makeup companies out there. A Google search will result in eleventy billion results. To be honest with you, I'm not impressed with most of the ones that I have encountered. In my experience most don't offer anything that I haven't seen before. It's just blah backed up with boring.

I Was Living Rather Viking-esque

2008-07-29T15:00:00.000-04:00

I needed to be beat. My makeup area was a big ole' bowl of hot mess. Brushes just laying about all willy nilly. Random pans of shadow thrown to and fro. The beloved stash had begun to get, dare I say - overwhelming. It was shameful madness ya'll! I know. I know. Don't make no sense! In my defense though. This is NOT my bedroom. No one sleeps in here. My closet and dressers are in here along

Now back to your regular scheduled programming....

2008-07-29T13:01:00.004-04:00

A billion apologies for being MIA. Life has been hectic these past few days. A lot of cleaning, purging, organizing and gifting has taken place. Thank goodness that's over! Now I can concentrate on important things like eyeshadow and eyebrows! B.B.

What's for dinner?

2008-07-24T11:43:00.002-04:00

I know that this isn't my typical post. The name of the blog is Betty Brown's Beautification and Banter though. So this would be banter... I have no idea what I should cook for dinner so I am reaching out for some suggestions. Help a sista out!It needs to be healthy. There is about 20 pounds of budonkadonk that followed me home one day and I can't for the life of me find the rightful owner. I've

Um... Why is there K.Y. in your bag?

2008-07-23T05:00:00.000-04:00

This was the question that I posed to Mr. Brown as he was packing for a business trip. He replied "shaving" just as pleasantly as you please.Ha! I see ya'll are giving him the exact same side-eye and twisted lip that I was.Before I pulled his "pervert" card and called his mother to ask her where she went wrong, I decided to press for more details. Mr. Brown has terribly sensitive skin when it

Makeup Artist's Choice Brings the Medi-Spa to You

2008-07-22T05:00:00.001-04:00

Hyperpigmentation is the bane of my existence. Every time my skin decides to act a fool I am left with the tell-tale scars for what seems like eons. To make matters worse... I often breakout in the exact same spots so scars that were finally fading are injected with a fresh dose of melanin! Yipee! After trying several worthless over the counter products, I went to the derm and received a

Beautification for the Boys!

2008-07-21T10:32:00.009-04:00

Hey all! I hope your weekend was fab! They go buy so fast. The highlight of my weekend was scoring these Steve Maddens for $15! TJ Maxx is the bee's kneesAnyways... On to the boy beauty!I am the lone female in my house so it's only natural that my love for beauty spills over into the lives of my men. At any given moment I may request testers for scents, soaps and the likes. Evey now and then,

Makeup Forever HD Powder $6 Dupe!!!

2008-07-19T05:00:00.001-04:00

Pure Luxe Cosmetics (PL) is fairly well known among mineral makeup circles. I learned of PL after my fruitless foray into Bare Escentuals (We'll touch on that at a later date. Since this is my first post, we'll keep it positive. Lol). PL quickly became one of my favorite e-tailers with the cheap, jarred samples and wide array of colors. I stumbled across the loveliness that is silica powder

Links

2008-07-18T22:41:00.000-04:00

Coming Soon!

About Betty Brown

2008-07-18T22:39:00.001-04:00

Hey there! I am Jamila... AKA Betty Brown. Welcome to Betty Brown's Beautification and Banter. These are my opinions on makeup, skin care and other random beauty products that I come across in my travels. There are also some other random opinions of mine thrown in every now and again. After all... A girl cannot live on eyeshadow alone! You can check back to this page for random photos from time