Greased Up and Socked Down

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 night.

Ummm.... No ma'am. I'll take ashy elbows for $500 Alex!

A quick google search revealed that there are folks out there that do indeed swear by the greasy goodness of Crisco for dry skin. I'm not at all knocking the efficacy of this "treatment" but I am knocking it's sexy quotient. I mentioned this tip to Mr. Brown and this is the following conversation:

Mr. Brown: Well Momma (Yes... he refers to me as Momma) if someones skin is that dry then I don't blame them for getting their grease on.
Me: Husband (Yes... I call him Husband. Really.) that's some bull stank and you know it.
Mr. Brown: Why? I wouldn't complain if you came to bed slathered down in Crisco.

At this we laugh but the old lady a few feet away seemed a little put off and gave me the hairy eyeball (We were in Walmart. What? You don't talk about slapping on hydrogentated vegetable oil in Walmart?)

Me: Well subtract the rubber sheets, Nasty... and add bicep high tube socks to that equation. Tell me what you think now.
Mr. Brown: Mmm... Yeah. You right. You would have to just have some ashy elbows sweetheart. I'd still love you though.

What ever happened to Aquaphor, Eucerin or just plain ole Vaseline? Am I being siddity? Are there hidden virtues of Crisco that we should be embracing? What say you,

B.B.

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 decrease the apperance of surface flaws essentially gining you a smooth canvas to apply your foundation. Notice I said decrease and not obliterate. Primer will not make the scars from a run with an ice pick disappear. It's just makeup not miracle juice.

This is with primer and foundation only. WTH is going on with the fro is beyond me.

Revlon Beyond Natural Smoothing Primer is a solid primer over all. It does everything a good primer should do. I was surprised that I liked it because the last silicone based gel primer I tried was not my friend. A greasy face and a nasty breakout was all I was left with at the end of the day. After wearing it for a full 1o hours there was still blush on my cheeks which is impressive . I had to blot around the 5th of 6th hour but this is par for the course for me. My face wasn't a crisco reserve with 3 hours. The were no more blemishes than I started with when I washed my face in the evening.

The most disappointing thing about RBNSP is the fact that it doesn't seem to do anything for the pores in my t-zone. They were still just as visible as before I put it on. It is also scented. Citrus and evergreen-y if that makes any sense.

Final verdict
Cost- 12.99 for 1 oz
Would I buy it?- Yes
Who is it for? Someone one looking for a good, inexpensive primer. I would be hesitant if you have a history with breakouts using silicone based primers.

On to the goodness that is NARS blush! NARS has one of the best blush formulas in the business. Crazy pigmented and long lasting.

I can't front... I was like blush smush until I purchased my first NARS blush. It was Crazed and I was fully prepared to take it back. The whole concept of blush was so foriegn to me that I *gasp* wouldn't even wear most of the time. That all came to a screeching halt the first time I wore Crazed. It applied like a dream using my MAC 187 brush. Using a traditional blush brush had me on straight clown mode. The pigmentation is not something to be played with. At. All.

NARS blush blends like no one's business and never looks powdery or flakey. It doesn't kling to cheek fuzz or settle in pores making them like bigger. They really are perfection in a pressed powder form!

For this FOTD I used NARS Dolce Vita blush. I really could go on and on about this blush but I will riegn in my inner NARS stan. Lol. I used DV on my lips and I eyes as well. Hey... If you're gonna do it, do it big. That's my motto.


Here's a pic of the products used. The only thing not pictured is my foundation, Kevyn Aucoin's Sensual Skin Enhancer.

Publish Post

B.B.

Great Beauty Finds at T J Maxx

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 has had a small offering of discontinued Too Faced products. While this was nice to run into, it ws the Stila and Kimora Lee Simmons items that got all of my love. There were about 20 KLS Foundation sticks and 10 concealer sticks for $4 a piece. There were Stila lipgloss pens along with several eyeshadow pans that were also $4.

I ended up leaving with (what? You didn't think I would actually show restraint at these prices did you? lol) 2 KLS foundation sticks, a chocolate flavored, glittering body powder and a Too Faced eyeliner. Everything came to $17 and some change!

Get the tail (and wallet)to T J maxx!

B.B.

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 was right. I have seen it cost up to $13 at different drugstores though. Gotta love Wally World! It comes in a 1oz squeeze tube so the germaphobe in me was pleased. It is SPF 15 with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide as active ingredients. This is worth noting because depending on what active ingredients are in your primer or sunscreen (and we do wear sunscreen, right?), they may effect the photostability... But that's a whole notha subject.


Anyways... This foundation is a tinted moisturizer. No more no less. It does match your skin tone perfectly. It offers little to nothing in the way of coverage. If you have are actually trying to hide flaws such as hyperpigmentation or dark circles then this is a no go. If you already have really nice skin and just want a little something than this may be for you. It's a great way to save a little time by combining tinted moisturizer and sunscreen into one, easy to apply step. It has a nice natural matte finish. Matte yet radiant at the same time.

The nekkid trufe

It has these interesting little black specs. Let's just say I wasn't expecting them either.

The still pretty damn nekkid trufe

Bottom line: I'll give it a 4 out 5. I can't bring myself to hate on this simply because it's a tinted moisturizer. While my skin may not be ready for coverage this light, I know that many of yours are. I think this a great, wallet friendly alternative to some other tinted moisturizers on the market. My only beef is with Revlon. If its gonna act like a tinted moisturizer then just call it a tinted moisturizer. You ain't got to lie Craig. You ain't got to lie.

B.B.

I Need to Step up My Manicure Game

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 have a ways to go. I just recently learned the joys of a glass file and I am still working on a basecoat/topcoat combo that works for me.

I know that this isn't the prettiest manicure but I had to share fabness that is Finger Paints Brilliant Brushstroke.




See the spah-kles!!! This is one of my favorite shades. One of the unexpected bonuses of taking care of my nails is cheap, instant gratification. While $15- $20 on a new lippie or eyeshadow can break the budget at times $5 (most of the time even cheaper than that) on a new polish can be a great pick-me-up that won't leave you feeling guilty.... Or give you a case of makeup induced anorexia because you spent this weeks lunch money of the latest must have eyeshadow! Lol!

My pictures really don't do this polish any justice. Ya'll gotta run to Sally's and check this one out in person. Oh... If you need a little more coaxing, Sally's just began carrying China Glaze polishes. This is exciting news for polish heads as China Glaze has great colors for the right price. Finger Paints has a tool on it's site that allows you "try on" shades. The colors are not 100% accurate but it's still fun to play around and get an idea of what you're working with.

What are some of your fave shades? Any tips on doing a great mani? Let me know.

B.B.

Good, Clean, Wholesome and FREE Fun!

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 Fyrinnae's Powder Modifier. Most mineral eyeshadow will not press hard enough using just alcohol because there are no binders added to the shadows. I got my metal pans from Star Auctions on eCrater. Many people use these pans because they are the same size as MAC pans so they fit in MAC 15-pan palettes. Yaby Cosmetics carries pans and palettes in various sizes so you can really get gangsta with and make an entire face palette! I used a Modern Basics Beauty Supply palette with the insert removed.

It was so much fun! With the exception of the blue in the middle of the top row (Glory by Pure Luxe) all of these are shades that I created using pigment samples. This is a great way to rediscover some forgotten treasures in your stash and scratch that "I want something new" itch without breaking the bank. I have 17 new eyeshadows for less than $25 bucks! How cool is that?!?!

B.B.

What's Your Insta-Fix?

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 your lipstick has decided to migrate toward your nose like it's leaving for the winter. You frantically search through you bag all the while cursing your weak shoulders because they didn't seem to think fifty-eleven lipglosses and six compacts seemed like a normal amount to carry. All you come up with is a triflin Bonne Belle Lip Smacker and a lipgloss that hasn't seen the light of day since Bill Bellamy was funny. To add insult to injury, you look up and see your ex's mother coming down the street. You never did like that hussy! So what's the plan MacGyver?

What can you slap on to pull it it together? What never fails to bring sexy back? What's your insta-fix?

I am never without a tube of aquaphor and some type of lipgloss with a high shine. My current fave is Maybelline Shiny-Licious in Plum Passion (I think this shade has been dc'ed.) It goes on fairly clear but the brown-berry hint of color plays well with almost any traces of lipstick you are already wearing. I usually carry some type of compact also. MAC Select Sheer Pressed in NW 43 is in my bag right now. It tones down shine but still allows a natural glow.

When all else fails I lube up the lips like my life depended on it. I'm talking about Crisco grease shine! I whip out the stunna shades and channel my inner Kimora/Naomi/Tyra. Afterall, only a true diva can pull off H.A.M.tastic-ness like it was on purpose! Sashay! Shante!

B.B.

NYX Cosmetics for a Steal!

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 with the jump in prices NYX cosmetics are reasonably priced but we're in a recession folks (despite what the government says) and times are hard! Lol!

Calm down and take a breath.

NYX has recently began advertising (or a least provided a link) catalogue sales opportunities. I signed up some time back and haven't looked back since! At the time I signed up, there were two different options. This is from the email I received explaining the options.

Option A

You are a sales Representative for NYX cosmetics that will go out and sell NYX products to general public. The Representative will receive 30% commission on the gross sales amount at the end of the month.

If sales are made in California, there will be and 8.25% sales tax.

If sales are made in another state, there will be no sales tax.

Rep. Takes the orders sends them to NYX.

NYX will ship all products with USPS regular ground shipping to customers.

With orders over $50.00 the customers will not have to pay shipping.

A $6.00 Shipping fee will be added to those orders under $50.00.

All orders must be pre-paid with money order or credit card.

• The W-9 form is only needed if you choose to be a sales rep with commission from Option A. if you choose Option B we do not need the form back.

Package # A is $10.00 and it comes with the following:

• NYX representative official card
• 2 catalogs
• 2 order forms
• & a goody bag as a gift for you

Option B

You can purchase products from NYX at 50% off and sell to the general public yourself.

• Selling option B:

The Representative will go out and sell NYX products to the general public. This Representative will purchase products and sell their own inventory.

NYX will give 50% OFF the products which will give the representative a 100% profit on their investment.

For this option you must provide NYX with a sales permit.

If the Rep. does not have a sales permit, NYX will still Give 50% OFF but it will be + tax.

Rep. can charge tax to general public and get their investment back.

Package # B is $ 60.00 it comes with all of the items in package #1 plus,

• A large Carrying case for make up
• Various cosmetics testers in retail valued over $ 600.00

This is a pic of Option B


Holy cow is right! That's a lot of FOTDs! I have since gotten rid of the trio testers and ordered the single testers. I think the single shadows are better quality than the trios. The powders at the top are tester pans of the Black Label Compact powder. I just chucked them not to long ago. I wasn't impressed with them at all. The compact itself is great though. I have gotten rid of the NYX powder and pressed my own into it.

Have I created a lemming? Let me know what you think!

B.B.

EDIT: I just learned that NYX just (less than a week ago) increased the price of Package B to $99. Boo. But you still get the discount.

See It Here First! *Pic heavy*

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 and this color appears to change from copper to gold to bronze right before your eyes. This will be fabulous on on warm toned ladies and could easily be worn alongside plums, wines, berries, and browns. Be Who You Are: This shade begins with a base of sheer pearl taupe but then morphs into sheer icy pink and gold with flashed of golden twinkle. This will be gorgeous on warm and cool toned ladies and would pair nicely with just about anything. Fairy Dust Frenzy: Sheer dazzling pearl with a hint of grey and pink...twinkles with a hint of clear crystal and should be worn by everybody. Over Coiffed: Pearlesque taupe-ish pink with twinkling white crystals...subtle so can be worn as a highlight on its own or alongside anything. This shade is wonderful for warm and cool toned ladies. Pumpkin Head: Softest shimmering coral with a subtle rose undertone and hints of berry iridescent light. Leans a little towards warmer skin tones but would also serve well on more neutral clients.

Copy Cat Karma: Washed out cocoa rose with a hint of pink and crystal twinkle. Definetely suitable for all skin tones. Another Angry Witch: Very complex shade consisting of smoky grey as a base...then iridescent grape coupled with crystal twinkles and layers of smoldering wine. This will be amazing as a contour and applied damp as a liner. Warm and cool girls will both enjoy this color. Tattered and Torn: Heated up chocolate with layers of cool iridesent berries and fiery coppers. This will be gorgeous with bronze, copper and plum...and delicious on warm and cool toned ladies depending on what you pair it with. Killer Couture: Very complex shade with ranges from midnight navy to deepest cocoa...but then a subtle flash of iridescent blue and raisin. Gorgeous as a contour shade for sexy smoky eyes and very fabulous as a liner. Cindy's Got Gumption: Fiery iridescent raisin for the first layer....then you see a base of hersey bar dark cocoa, iridescent gold and violet along with kisses of gold and lavender twinkle. Very subtle twinkle so absolutely wearable and fabulous layered next to plums, wines, and browns. This will make an exceptional liner for green eyed girls!!!

You Cheat I Win: Multiple layers of stormy grey coupled with iridescent berry and finished off with crystal twinkle. This is a shade that can be applies with a light hand for a sheer finish or easily layered for more drama. Dusted With Magic: First applies as a smoky charcoal taupe but then a sheer layer of iridescent pink is very apparent. Apply this with boring browns that need a little help. Warm and cool toned ladies enjoy! Rapunzels' Bad Hair Day: Deepest midnight charcoal at first...electric berry and plum later. Stunning applied damp as a liner. This color you need to play with. Short on Sass: Blackened amethyst with a kiss of baby pink iridescent. Apply this dampened as a liner for a truly beautiful bit of raisin. Warm and cool ladies layer this next to simmering plums and raisins for maximum impact. Suspicious Step-Mom: (deeper and more plum than it appears in the photo) Simmering raisin with layers of magenta, crystal and baby blue.

Then He Kissed Me: Looks baby pink in the jar, but actually quietly turns from pink to baby blue to soft lavender with an icy cool light pink base underneath. This color reacts exceptionally well to what you put it next to. Secret Wishes: Complex icy shade...appears to be smoky pink, but actually applies as several different colors....light flashes of pink, berry lilac and baby blue topped off with a subtle turquoise iridescent twinkle. Cool toned ladies wear this with purples, blues, browns....just about anything. Prince to Pauper: Beautiful iridescent garnet with gradual violet and pink iridescent layers. Finishes with twinkling violet and blue. Definitely a versatile shade meant to be experimented with. Fairest of Them All: Beautiful iridescent ruby changes from icy cool plum to iridescent pink and lavender with a subtle cool base. This will be a stunner with grapes, blues and cool toned shades. Whirled and Twirled: Icy lavender (more lavender than it appears in the photo)with layers of smoky grey, baby pink and lilac iridescent shimmer.

Knights Trump Dwarves: Initially midnight raisin, but then iridescent layers of purple, blue and turquoise topped off with aqua and lavender sparkle. Proven Fabulous: Incredibly complex shade with multiple personalities. Starts out as a sheer aqua blue but then layers of turquoise, lime, grape and baby blue. This shade begs to be worn with a bit of imagination. Keys to the Castle: Delicious combination of midnight navy and iridescent aquatic turquoise finished with twinkling aqua iridescent light. Cool toned ladies, step right up. Misplaced Sanity: Initially a steel blue with subtle bits of sapphire light, then twinkling lime green and violet.....icy cool. Ignore the Talking Mirror: Iridescent and even a bit metallic periwinkle blue with hints of lavender and baby blue....a fabulous liner.

She Does Sparkle: LOOKs silver and at first, applies with a satin silver finish, but then.....subtle winks of turquoise, violet and crystal twinkle.
One Broken Stiletto: A base of midnight blue coupled with icy lavender, baby blue and deep twinkling green. This is a fabulous iridescent colors that will be gorgeous with blue and brown eyes.
Midnight at the Palace: Twinkling midnight navy a hint of charcoal and tiny bit of crystallized twinkle.
Snow White's Dark Side: Stormy charcoal with a hint of midnight blue, and twinkling bits of turquoise and lavender-ish pink...sexy nighttime look as a contour and liner.
Three Evil Chicks: Deepest blackened charcoal with turquoise, lavender and crystal twinkle.

Dragon Breathe: Multiple personality pigment starts as lime green iridescent but then goes to iridescent turquoise, lime and a hint of gold. Desperate Measures: Metallic lime with layers of twinkling gold, aqua and bronze. Warm and cool girls pair this creatively for maximum impact. Be the Fairytale: Fabulous iridescent kelly green with layers of bronze, copper and golden flashes of iridescent light. Rescue Yourself: Magical olive with layers of hot cocoa, gold and bronze. Finishes with a hint of gold and crystal twinkle. All Eyes of You: Complex forest green with magical layers of brown and charcoal finished off with iridescent lime and bronze.

Rotten Apples: Deepest midnight green with crystal flashes of lime green, and golden twinkle. A truly delicious liner. Seven Little Men: Iridescent midnight charcoal with twinkling hints of lime green and navy iridescent light. Foreclosed on the Castle: Blackened emerald with iridescent layers of cocoa, turquoise and lime. This is a sinfully fabulous shade when applied damp as a liner.

Looks like Heather over at TSS has come up with yet another batch of winners! This collection's claim to fame is the complexity of the colors. None of them are just straight forward. They all have subtle nuances that change depending on how the color is applied. For instance, in the jar "The Golden Rule" looks like a very soft, creamy, white with gold iridescence. I was shocked when it swatched a golden pinky-peach on my bare skin. It continued to morph in totally different shades when used with different colored bases. I also noticed that some colors act differently when applied differently. "Rapunzel's Bad Hair Day" was more metallic grape when I patted it on with a flat brush. When it I buffed and packed it on with the just the tip of the brush it shifted to a a smokier purple with a satin finish. A few of the shades look very similar in the pot but go on the skin very differently. "Snow White's Dark Side", "Three Evil Chicks" and "Midnight At the Palace" all look similar but have different colors twinkling throughout. You can bring out or subdue layers of color depending on what a shade is paired with. Heather (the owner) has provided wonderful descriptions that are spot on and very helpful. If there was a flash of color that I wasn't seeing, I just tried it with another base and took another look. I would suggest applying these before foundation though. Some of the shades have some major shimmer and I would expect some fallout during application.

Overall, I am very pleased with this collection. I am amazed at the complex behaviors of the colors. That fact alone is enough to keep this collection fresh for quite some time. As usual, the prices are very reasonable. $4.00 for a full three gram jar and $.50 for baggied sample. You can purchase the entire collection (samples or full size) for a discount as well. I still have a lot of playing and learning to do but my initial favorites are "Short on Sass", "Desperate Measures", "Seven Little Men" and " The Golden Rule". Of course there will be some swatch pics and some FOTDs featuring this collection coming very shortly! Until then-

Be bold and beautificated!
B.B.

$4 Dollar Full Sized Pigments @ Paint Cosmetics!

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

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 private label company and you probably couldn't just place an order. I was determined to get my grubby little paws on one of those palette! She gave the web address and wished me luck.

I made a phone call and discovered MBBS is indeed a private label company but they also serve professional makeup artists as well. All you have to set up an account! A sales rep emailed the applications and price lists to me. I filled them out and placed an order a few days later. Simple, right? The only catch is that there is a $100 order minimum. When I first heard this I huffed a bit but then I checked out the price list. $100 goes verrrry far.

This is a part of the price list for the brushes.

(click it to make it larger)

Go ahead... Pick up your jaws! Lol! MBBS carries a full line of cosmetics and supplies. They also have several cases and brush holders to choose from. The prices are phenomenal across the board. Eyeshadow pans are $1.55! Empty 15 pan palettes are $3.50! They have a professional quality traincase on wheels that costs $85!!! The 88 palettes are $17.

While I was blown away by these prices I was preparing myself to be disappointed. After all... you get what you pay for right? Not always! The brushes are awesome! I think they are totally comparable to my MAC brushes. These are the brushes that I ordered.



The 15 pans are good but they don't have a metal back so magnets won't work in them. If you don't move around your shadows you can always glue the pans down. I put some double sided tape on the bottom of my pans and this works well for me. I do like the fact that they are smaller than MAC's palettes. They take up far less room.


I was very pleased with the loose shadows as well. They remind me of the NYX Pearl Mania shadow. Not quites as powdery so they are not as messy as the NYX... Still, a finer mill than MAC pigments. This is a loose shadow called Blue Ah-Ha. Love this!

(This is an old pic. I was showing off the Port Red at the time but this is the Blue Ah-Ha as a liner.)

The one thing that I purchased that I was disappointed in was the eyeshadow. I ordered a total of 15 pans and they were just too hit or miss for me. I tossed about 7 of them. They were either too chalky or not pigmented enough for me. Since I can't just stroll over to a MBBS display and test them out I will pass on the pan shadows in the future.

Overall, I was very pleased with MBBS. The customer service is fantastic and they are happy to answer any questions that you may have. My favorite items were the brushes. Good brushes don't come cheap and it can take a while to build your arsenal if you are dropping $20 per brush. If you are new to the makeup game, this is a good way to build your stash without breaking the bank. If you are already a pro, MBBS could be great for replacing staples on the cheap. If the $100 minimum is a hindrance, get together with a few friends and put you money together. 2 or 3 ladies can drop $100 in the blink of an eye.

Be bold and beautificated!

B.B.

We All Must Wear a Mask

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. Activated Charcoal is the same stuff that is used in hospitals to treat poisonings and overdoses. The charcoal binds with toxins so the body cannot absorb them. I figured if it could save a life than it may save my skin as well.



As soon as I laid eyes on the tube I was intrigued. The dark gray color just made me feel like it meant business. It is a medium consistency paste that is easily spreadable. It goes on kind of on the thin side so it dries within 5 minutes. It tightens as it dries, which is typical of clay based masks.

After rinsing, my skin did feel soft and some of my pores were cleared. I liked the fact that this mask didn't dry me out as much as other masks but I wasn't totally floored by the results. I added a bit of aspirin and this definitely took the mask to the next level. But honestly, what mask doesn't aspirin improve?

So over all... Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask wasn't earth shattering... Especially considering the fact that it $20 for 3.4 ounces. For $20 I don't think that I should have to add squat to truly get the results I want. So back to the drawing board. I will always keep tried and true Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque and crushed aspirin handy when those sididdy masks fail me. We all know QHMJ & aspirin is the truth!

Something to Shake a Stick At

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.

About Face Cosmetics, which can be found at theshespace.com, are truly noteworthy. These are some if the most unique colors that I have seen. With over 200 eyeshadows available, there is a little bit of something for everyone. A little while back the "Pigment Bar" was launched. This is a feature that allows you to create your own shades of shadow. how cool is that?!?! Where else can you customize your own bit of special for $4.50? You read that right! $4.50 for a three gram jar FULL to the brim! Regular shades cost $4.

I admit, it took me a while to actually place an order because the samples are baggied. I had some weird mental block toward baggied samples. Yeah, I don't know what that's all about. Lol. So I bit the bullet and ordered full size shadows. When my order arrived all I could say was "Whoa". Simply fabulous I tell ya! I don't get excited over eyeshadow too often these days. My motto is "It can be duped" and more often than not I'm right. I mean let's be real... How many shades of taupe does a girl really need? Now teal... That's a whole 'notha story! Lol!

In a just a few days About Face will be launching a set of limited edition (take a gander)shadows called "Cinderella Left Her Fella". Ha! How cute is that?! There are a total of 38 shades in the collection. At $4 a shadow plus $4.50 for shipping you could get the entire collection for $156.50!!! Now I'm not saying run out and spend bill money on eyeshadow but think about it... MAC's current Starflash collection features 12 shadows at $14.50 a pop. The entire collection (minus the liners) would cost $174. That's all I'm saying.

Acidic Reign is one the best selling TSS shadows. It is decribed as a vivid metallic blue green. I really can't think of any other shades that this is similar to. I went through my blues and greens and I don't have anything close. These pics really don't so this shade justice. If you are a blue shadow lover like myself than this is a must have. Be Bold and beautificated! B.B.

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

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 comes to shaving. I figured that he was just getting desperate in his search for decent shaving products.

BB: "Shaving. Mmm hmm. You nasty".
Mr. BB: "No, really. It works really well. It gives me a close shave without the razor burn. Plus I like feeling slick as an eel"!
BB: "See. I told you... You nasty".
Mr. BB: "Yeah, that may be true but at least I'm nasty with a smooth shave. And don't even front... You know you're gonna try it".

A few minutes later...

BB: "How did you find out that KY worked so well for shaving"?
Mr. BB: "Why you all in my shaving going-ons and what not"?
BB: "You know you a perv, right"?



Well he was right. KY Liquid is great for shaving. I used it on my legs and I must say that it is indeed top notch. The razor just glided across my skin. The shave was hella close but that may also be due in part to my HG razor, the Schick Quattro Titanium. That's a whole 'notha review entirely. I didn't have any nicks or cuts which is unheard of for me. I usually nick an ankle or knee like it stole from me or something. A little went long way also. About a quarter size drop per leg. Apparently, every time I use conventional shaving cream I turn into a 4 year old and get it every where. The KY was super neat. No foam streaks all over the shower wall. It rinsed away clean and easy.

So the next time you're in Walmart, and you see the skeevy, greasy dude that is freakish perversion personified buying KY*... Take heart. He may just be shaving... something. lol!

*It has to be the liquid version though. If it's not, then I would suggest that you not touch anything after him.

Be bold and bueatificated!
BB

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

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 prescription for Retin-A. This stuff is the truth! I'm talking about beautimous, Gabby Union type skin y'all! Unfortunately, if you don't have insurance you may need Gabby Union type duckets to foot the bill.

Being that my derm's office is also a medi-spa they are always trying to upsell. (I ain't mad at them. Times is hard! Lol).On one particular visit they were trying to talk me into buffered chemical peel set so I could (at my own risk lol) do my peels at home. A wonderful esthetician thoroughly described the different peels and what they were used for. Who knew that there were so many different peels? She explained that while it does sound suspect, peels can be done at home just as safely as they were being done in the office for a fraction of the price. After she carefully planted and watered the seeds of lust she gave me the price... $250 an ounce!!!! Evil woman! What in the over-priced-beauty-product-hell?!?!?!? I have had car payments that didn't cost that much! Since said car has gotten me much farther than my skin has I decided to pass.

I went home and did some searching and found out a few things:

1. At home chemical peels are not for the uneducated. If you don't do your research you can end up doing some serious damage. I don't care how beautificated you are... Excruciating pain and 1st degree burns are not a good look on anyone.

2. There are a lot of companies on the net selling chemical peel solutions. A whole lot... If you decide to purchase, please make sure it is a reputable company. The beauty industry is a multi billion dollar industry. There are far too many people out there trying sell you their new and improved version of high priced crap.

3. My derm needs to be beat with a stick (a very big stick!) for charging $250 for something that is readily available for 1/10th of that!

I ordered a 1/2 ounce sample 40% Lactic acid peel kit for $17.75 from Makeup Artist's Choice (MUAC). $17.75 isn't a bad price at all. I have done 5 peels and still have a little more than half the bottle left. One peel at the derm's usually costs between $80 and $100. To achieve the desired effects (scar fading, reduction in wrinkles, etc) it takes a series of 4-6 depending on one's skin. Yeah ladies... It's a bargain to say the least.

MUAC has 8 different peels in different strengths depending on ones needs. They also offer a complete line of skin care products that are very affordable. The site is very easy to navigate. Complete ingredients and instructions are on the site so you know exactly what you are getting yourself into before you buy.

Keep any eye out for reviews of some the great things that MUAC has to offer. Until then-

Be bold and beautificated!

BB

Makeup Forever HD Powder $6 Dupe!!!

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 purely by chance quite some time ago. I was just trying various products to get a feel for what the brand had to offer.

PL describes the silica powder as "Unbelievably feather light. Silica is a nautral oil absorber and light diffuser, giving you an all-over soft appearance. The "slip" silica offers as a primer will make this a staple in your cosmetics case".

I must say... It lives up to these claims... Kinda.

I didn't use it as a primer. I used it as a finishing powder. It felt great on my face! It was so lightweight it felt as if I was wearing nothing. No cakeyness or ashy-ness. I was left with a soft air brushed appearance. Dare I say it looked as if I had a "natural glow" As far as it being an oil absorber... Well, I've had better. I'm not a particularly oily gal but I did notice some T-zone oilies about 3-4 hours after putting it on.

Like most etailers, the packaging is nothing special. A regular 'ole sifter jar. No frills but effective. I'm not at all upset about this it because keeps the price dirt-stinkin-cheap!
1/4 tsp sample=$1.50 10Gr jar=$6 20 20 Gr jar=$10 30Gr jar=$14

Make Up Forever recently released High Definition Powder. This too is 100% silica. I bought it not knowing that I had basically the same thing in my stash already. I must point out that the MUFE HD Powder is a finer mill than PL though. I got the same results with the MUFE HD Powder than I did with the PL silica. I have to admit that the MUFE version is in a much nicer package! lol.


Don't worry... I took the MUFE HD Powder back to Sephora. I used my credit to get... Well, I'll save that for another post. Until then-

Be Bold and Beautificated!

Betty Brown