NOTD: OPI Gone Platinum in 60 Seconds

This is a platinum grey shimmer from the collection that supported the re-release of the Ford Mustang. I forget the year, but it was a few years ago. I don't have the label on it anymore, and I am trying to remember if it's a green label or not, since it is kind of old...It probably is, but I am not sure.

Anyhoo, this is 2 coats, and it's on Day 4. I refreshed it today with Barielle Manicure Extender. Great stuff! Should keep this looking great till Sunday (hopefully), then I will change.


Hope you like, and Happy Thursday :-)

Edit: I looked it up and it was the Ford Mustang Collection, 2005 :-)

Makeup Inspiration: Simple but Smoldering Celebs

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I actually didn't really think Kerry was that pretty for a long time. I dunno, maybe it was the roles she was taking. But having seen her on Bill Maher and her more recent films, and photos of her out and about, I am really feeling her natural beauty. Understated, but so smoldering. Definitely a vibe I aspire towards...

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Aaliyah has always been an inspiration to me. I am still sad that she's gone. She was so beautiful.

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Salma Hayek...Naturally gorgeous. It's like she doesn't even try...

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Makeup Inspiration: Angelina Jolie

Ahh, yes....my biggest girl/beauty crush...Angelina Jolie. I am a minimalist at heart (despite my love for color), and AJ's makeup is the quintessential "minimal" Beauty.  Black liner in a Cat Eyes, natural yet flawless skin (with the help of top-notch skin care and pricey foundation, no doubt) and nude yet sultry lips...What's hotter than that?

Timeless, elegant, Goddess-like. Yeah :-)

NOTD: OPI Hopelessly in Love

I guess I subconsciously was trying to do an all pink thing, cuz my nails are pink too, lol! Seriously, I did them last night on a whim after psyching myself up to "nubbinize" once again. These peelies are kicking my azz. Just when I got some new length going on too...*sigh* they'll grow back, right?

Here's what they look like now:

Peachy-pink, cream. 3 coats. 

After quite a few dark manis lately, I've found that I need to balance it out with a spell of "palate cleansers", if you will. This is actually one of my fave colors, so it was great to pull out an old throwback. This one and OPI's Infatuation...mmm, peachy black label goodness, I tell ya!

Have a great weekend!! :-)

FOTD: My interpretation of Pink 4 Friday, lol (+ thoughts)

Hi guys! So I'm sure you all know about MAC's Pink 4 Friday promotion/collaboration with pop artist/rapper Nicki Minaj. See here for MAC Cosmetics promo page.

I am not a super fan of her music, but I do think she is quite a creative and expansive young woman. LOL I sound like an old lady--she's...what...2 years younger than I am, hehe.

Anyhoo, I've been looking about the 'Net on this new lipstick shade, Pink Friday, and I must say that I am all for a sexy Barbie-style pink lip, however I will not be buying this one for the plain fact that I don't think this is the best for "our" skin tone. At all. Pink Friday is actually lighter than her previous fave, Pink Nouveau. Swatches I have seen on women of color have been (in my opinion, of course) quite horrible, to be honest. If you are lighter than NC43-45, then maybe, but then the undertone is all wrong. It's way too cool, imo. I don't even think it looks that good on Nicki, either...

Now, as ingenious as she can be, why oh why would she select an even lighter shade that what she normally wears?? Can you say "mega-jizz lip", people?! This is something that I will never understand. This color doesn't possess nearly as much color saturation and pigment as it should.  Don't get me wrong, though.  We can rock Barbie pinks, but not icy pastel pink!! In order to truly 'rock' a color, you have to take skintone and product pigmentation into account.  And you know all kinds of folks are going to try this lipstick (it's only available online for a limited time, so you cannot try before you buy)...and trying their best to 'rock' it b/c it's Nicki. Using whatever lip liner with it to "make it work", lol. I'm sorry, but there's not enough Currant, Cork, BBQ, Plum, whatever(!) to make this look cute. Esp if you're darker than NM. Bad form, my dear. Seriously. *smh*

Also, I sort of which the proceeds would have gone to, like, a girls' charity, but that's just me...C'mon, you're already going to make tons from your album coming out...but I digress.

So...if you have Pink Friday or plan to try it out, tell me your thoughts...If you like it, or not, and what your other fave pink lippies are. Love to hear from you guys!!


I want to check out Pink Nouveau and see how it works with my skin tone, but in the meantime, I did a look today (a really quick and lazy one--today was a heavy gym day and my arms hurt lol!) with MAC's Fast Play, which is a neutral pink.  Hope you like :-)

What I used:
Face
Becca Concealer Compact - Syrup
Prescriptives Anywear Powder Foundation - Antelope
Brows: MAC Brows - Spiked, Stud
Bronzer: Bobbi Brown Illuminating - Bahama
Blush: Nars Desire

Eyes
Base: UDPP, Bamboo/Brule e/s
Lid: Era, UD Toasted/Hustle
Liner: L'Oreal Lineur Intense (upper), Stila Kajal - Sapphire
Maybelline Full N Soft mascara

Lips:
MAC Cork lip pencil
MAC Fast Play lipstick

Happy Friday, y'all!!

<3

NOTD: OPI Pearl of Wisdom

Here's another NOTD. Trying to get through some untrieds while I wait for some new colors to arrive, lol.

OPI Pearl of Wisdom
This was released with the Hong Kong collection (Spring 2010), but I already had it, (woo-hoo for saving money) so I guess this was a re-promote. Pearly white, pink and green flash, though on me, it's a multichrome look. I don't like this one at all. While VNL (visible nail line) is not prohibited in my world (as I own tons of sheers), I would prefer it not to be so defined as it is pictured above. This was 3 coats. I didn't use a ridgefiller, so that is part of it...I don't know, I just don't like unintentional French manicures...call me crazy haha.

I will try this again with a ridgefiller and see how it goes, but as of now, this is a like, not a love.

ttyl! <3

NOTD: Misa - It's You

Hi guys~

Misa - It's You
From the "What I Like About You" Fall 2010 Collection.


This color is like a charcoal base with green duochrome, so it looks purply. I often see other colors as well depending on the lighting. Very chic, though too dark for my tastes at the moment. When the weather is murky, I try to go for lighter or brighter shades to cheer myself up. So I might like this more when the weather goes back to normal, or if I am in a "black and gray" mood again...

Holla!

Haul pics, NOTDs and Catching Up

Hey guys! I am still here, I just have been so distracted. My psychological testing class has been the most frustrating course I've taken in a while, so I haven't had much desire to do any blogging. I really enjoy learning how to administering the assessments and interpreting the results (very interesting), though. Enough about that...

Earlier this month, Rescue Beauty Lounge had the allegedly "last big sale" so I did jump on that. Plus Zoya had a BOGO, which gave me a chance to try them out finally...

Here's what I got :-)

From RBL: Ani, 360, Om, and Diddy Mow

From Zoya: Freja, Jo, Adina, Ki, Harley, and Raven

I am not big on swatching polish just for the sake of doing so, and I haven't tried them all yet, but here is RBL 360. I loved wearing this one, as blues are my other SO, hehe.

And here's a random NOTD that I happened to have photographed.

OPI Diva of Geneva

And here's my Thanksgiving mani, which surprisingly rocked and I got compliments all day :-)

OPI Chop-sticking to My Story

I also got some Misa polishes (I really like that brand), so I have quite a few untrieds to go through. I'll try to remember to take pics to post here.

Thanks for looking!

FOTD: Kohl-rimmed Eye Day

Hey there! Here's my look for today. I love black kohl pencils so this is my fave look to do...Hope you like :-)

Here's what I used:



Face
Px Virtual Skin - Antelope
Becca Concealer - Syrup
LM Translucent Loose Powder
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzer - Bahama
MAC Blush - Melba
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - Light Flush

Eyes
Brows: MAC Eye Brows (Spiked, Stud)
Base: UDPP, MAC Bamboo e/s
Lid: MAC Brown Down e/s
Crease: MAC Soft Brown, Cork e/s
Highlight: MAC Creme de Miel e/s
Liner: MAC Smolder eye kohl
L'Oreal Collagen Volume


Lips
Nars Pigalle lipstick
MAC Beaux lipglass

Have a great Friday :-)

FOTD: Blurple Fun

Okie dokie, here's today's FOTD. I was bored with the neutrals and wanted to do some full-out color. It's been awhile. I'm not sure why sometimes it's easier to do the bright bold color combos, but the neutrals leave me "blah". Guess it just means, I need to practice more? Lol, anyhoo, on to the pics.

Here's what I used:
Face
Px Virtual Skin - Antelope
Becca Concealer - Syrup
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder
Cargo Bronzer - Deep
Nars Blush - Dolce Vita
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish - Light Flush

Eyes
Base - UDPP, MAC Stars N Rockets
Lid - MAC Vibrant Grape, Deep Truth  + Prussian e/s (outer v), Digit (inner tear duct)
Liner - (upper) L'Oreal Lineur Intense Carbon Black; (lower) Stila Kajal - Sapphire
L'Oreal Collagen Mascara, CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion

Lips
Nars lipstick - Pigalle
Nars lipgloss - Stolen Kisses

Have a great day!!

<3
A.

I almost BC'd this weekend, lol!!

I had a hair crisis after yet another failed braid-out attempt (pics to follow) and texted my BF to come chop all my hair off!! I'd had it with the tangles and was (kinda) ready to look like a boy again (not!). But I took a deep breath, got my detangling comb and some clips and proceeded to blow dry instead. Thank goodness I have my Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum and Relaxing Balm. These two products smooth my hair out immediately once I blow dry with my paddle brush. Add in my FHI and all is well in the world.

Here are the pics my braidout experience. My last one for a long time, hehe

Rocking my braidout and Becca lip gloss :-)

Um, yeah...I sectioned my hair off and braided it this way as opposed to cornrows, which I refuse to do. I hate them. Mainly because I don't have thick hair. Yeah...While it did turn out better than when I do cornrows, all that detangling and braiding and sitting under the dryer biz is for the birds. I don't know I used to do this every week in the past. Crazy. I couldn't be bothered nowadays.  BF said if I try it again next time to use setting lotion, which worked famously for my flexi-rods (lasted forever!!) so if I do, I will follow his advice. His brain is so smart ;-)

Seriously, I have the blowdry/flat iron process DOWN. It's a science when I get in the bathroom. I've got it down to 2hours, from start (shampoo) to finish (combing out to wrap or go on about my day). No other styling method can beat that for me at the moment. I make sure to sufficiently condition and deep condition regularly, so my new growth isn't "heat trained" at all. Which is great for when I do want to do wash n go's next year.

So yeah, basically, I just rationalized to myself that since blowdrying/flat ironing is working so well for me, there really is no point to BC. I'll just continue to grow it out and trim relaxed ends as needed...No need to over-complicate this process at all :-)

Holla <3

A.