C.C. Solomon's Blog, page 10

Party Idea: Sip and Swap

Here’s another idea in my limited party hosting series. I’ve done this before and it’s a great idea for getting rid of items you no longer want while socializing. [image error]

Tell your friends way in advance about this party so they can start saving and not throw anything away. I try to give at least a couple of month’s notice. I ask my friends to save clothes, shoes, purses, jewelry, unused makeup, barely used hair products/tools/accessories, perfume, and nail polish.

Food

Since it’s really about going through clothes and other items I wouldn’t advise making any real meals or anything that would involve messy fingers. Keep it light and easy. Just snacks to balance the alcohol. Think about the following:

Gourmet Popcorn– make it yourself or buy it- caramel, kettle corn. Or try regular popcorn and sprinkle with oregano/salt/pepper.

[image error]

Spicy Hummus and Pita Chips

Fruit Salad– grapes, strawberries, melon, watermelon, pineapple mix

Chocolate covered pretzels or cookies

Drink

Keep it simple. Wine is the way to go. Particularly white wine or sparkling rose since people will be walking around and you want to reduce stain possibilities.

Also try spiked water. Several companies are getting in on this low carb/calorie alcoholic option. You can also offer guest Club Soda with lime slices and the option of tequila (100% agave option) and/or vodka.[image error]

Music

I’m always a promote of a little mood music for the festivities. I tend to go with what ever you might hear in a clothing store. Most of that music is pop/dance tunes. There’s a reason for that. It gets people in a happy mood, they may stick around longer in the shop to eventually buy clothes.  I’m guessing this of course but I know music can lore me into a shop, especially one with a DJ.

So with that in mind, I suggest a play list of upbeat tunes of any genre. Not something distracting (ex. no curse words) but fun with a good beat to get people energized.

Décor

Really it’s all about how you lay out the goods. Have a space for each type of item. I live in a small one bedroom apartment so layout is essential so that items are easy to shift through and look enticing. Consider how many people you invite when you plan this. If you have a large space the sky’s the limit but I had to keep my event under 10. In my dinning area I laid out make up, hair products/tools/accessories. I hung purses on chairs. In my bedroom I laid out like clothing with like clothing and shoes on the floor. My kitchen held the drinks and the coffee table held the light bites.  Make sure your bathroom is clean as that will be your changing room, I even had a fragrant candle lit.

Extra

Conveniently, I have clothes donation bins in my apartment building so anything we didn’t exchange went downstairs to donation. If you don’t have such options, I would suggest you remind guests to take their goods home. It would end up being a big chore if you have to collect it all on your own!

Encourage people to pick up what they want as they see it. I had a couple of regrets of things I saw that I liked and didn’t pick up my first circle around my place but were snatched up by my guests.

Socialize and have fun!

 

 

 

 

Drugstore Makeup I’m digging right now

It’s been a while since I’ve done a makeup review. I’m in the middle of switching my monthly makeup box subscription to Ipsy so I’m pretty excited about what they’ll have to offer. Until I get their products I thought it would be a good time to share some of my now frequently used makeup products that I don’t spend a lot of money on. So here’s a quick review.

Rimmel Scandalous Retro Glam Mascara– If you’ve followed me for a while you know that I mostly have forsaken false lashes so I’m always searching for mascara that gives me the look. This brand comes pretty darn close. It’s also a great dupe for the expensive Lancôme Hypnose Drama Mascara which is my high end mascara pick. Great price at  $6 compared to Lancôme’s $30.[image error]

Covergirl Total Teased Mascara– Another mascara I love. Great wand that is designed to reach every lash for that wide eyed look. Great price at $9.[image error]

Milani Bella eyes gel powder– Love this brand. Great color that shows up well on my skin and last a good while on the lids. It has a high end look and can be used dry or wet for a bolder color. At $5 it can’t be beat.[image error]

Milani eye shadow primer– Perfect pairing with their eye shadows or any eye shadow, high or low end brand. My shadow stays on all day with this primer and at $7 I’m all for it.[image error]

Maybelline Vivid Matte Liquid– Great coloring and long lasting. Also a nice dupe for Nars Velvet Lip Glide which is $26 compared to Maybelline’s $8. [image error]

Wet n Wild Coloricon blush– Now although I love some drugstore alternatives I’m still a bit of a makeup snob so I was surprised that a super cheap line like Wet n Wild would have any products that would be worth discussing. I was wrong. I actually really like this blush line from Wet n Wild. It shows up nicely on my skin tone and it’s $3.[image error]

Ulta Pressed Banana Setting Powder– Ok Ulta is a drug store to me (well half of it is) so I believe this can still qualify. It took me some time to jump on the banana setting powder bandwagon but it really does give that finished, professional look. They have two options a loose powder and pressed power. I go with the pressed because it’s less messy. At around $8 (not yet sold online)  it’s much cheaper than the popular Ben Nye banana power for about $27. [image error]

Romantic Destinations for the Travel Bound

If you are a travel person like me, the idea of traveling for any reason is appealing. However, a wedding or honey moon destination has its own particular appeal. Yet, not every location is a great option. You must keep not only you and your partner happy, but also your guest. After all, they are spending money  to come celebrate.

Think about the following factors when planning destination wedding:

Romance

You don’t want to be in a loud atmosphere full of obnoxious partiers or a destination that might be over populated and not too soothing.

Down time

Let’s be real, a good portion of your time should consist of just being with each other, so you don’t want a place with too many options for things to do that you’ll miss because you’re in your room (eh hmm). Or the opposite, you’re so busy exploring that you miss the downtime together.

Fun

So this might seem at odds with what I stated above but it’s not. If you are having a destination wedding, it’s important to pick a location that is still going to be a fun time for your guest who may not be all snug in a “honeycomb hideout” and would rather explore an area or do some water sports. A cabin in the woods won’t work.

Budget

Be mindful of cost. Especially for your guest. They traveled all that way; it’s already an expense. And while I wouldn’t say skimp on the accommodations, think of destinations that aren’t too pricey in general.

So with those considerations in mind, here are some of my top picks for summer destination weddings or just good getaways for group of guys and gals:

Phuket, Thailand

[image error]

Okay, the journey there is long and you may not get many guests based on that but it’s

well worth the trip. You can stay in luxury for little money, you have a gorgeous beach (with boat rides to many other nearby beaches), a fun party atmosphere if you want it

and excursions to keep you busy if laying by the pool or beach is not enough.

Don’t forget to get pampered at a spa which are fabulous and very affordable.

Negril, Jamaica

[image error]

 

Well, many spots in Jamaica will do just fine but I’m only going to speak on my experiences. Negril is great for a laid back atmosphere with a few excursions or water activities to do if you choose. Or you can lay by the pool/beach with a frozen drink and be just fine. You can eat and drink there for reasonable costs as well. Nightlife is casual with beach bars and live music.

Florence, Italy

[image error]

 

I love this place. It’s a small city and you aren’t too far from wine vineyards as an excursion.  There’s also a ton of art to check out if that’s your thing. Shopping is also a biggie (especially that Italian leather). And if I didn’t say anything about food, you will eat your way around the city. Moral of the story, the setting is beautiful and slow paced but with enough to do to keep guests busy and still be enjoyable if you and your significant other don’t get out much (nudge, nudge).

Las Vegas, Nevada

[image error]

Ok, you might think this goes against some of my criteria but it actually doesn’t. Vegas is what you make it and there really isn’t any missing out. You don’t have to worry about your guests because they can go off on their own shopping, gambling, dining, to the spa, to the grand canyons, partying. You and your boo can cuddle up in the hotel until late. Just be smart about the hotel choice depending on what you want (quiet? Maybe go off the strip or to the end of the strip.  A party atmosphere? Check out more popular hotels in the center of the strip or the Palms off strip. Luxury? There are high end hotels all around. Bellagio, Cesar, Aria…). And if anything, your guests don’t have to stay at the same hotel.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

[image error]

You have the beach, excursions to keep you or your guests busy (rain forest, water sports, site seeing), great dining, and shopping. And if you want to lay by the pool (or in the room) instead all day, you really won’t feel like you’re missing out. There’s also a good nightlife and there’s something about salsa that is so sexy, which is perfect for a wedding getaway.

There you have it, my top choices for summer wedding destinations…so far!

Dating Advice from a Father

[image error]

So I reached out to my dad some time ago for tips on dating and relationships that I thought would be a good post and spin for and early father’s day post. I figured he’d give me a few generic one-liners that I’d make pretty.

Boy was I wrong. And I should have figured. My dad is a thoughtful guy and a writer himself. He’s a bit kooky sometime but a deep thinker and the following advice my dad provides is pretty sound. I’m sure going to follow it!

My Father’s Top Five Tips on Dating and Relationships….

First: Truth and Honesty.

“Only those things built on truth and honesty will prevail.” An honest relationship can become a lasting relationship even if there is no chemical attraction. On the other hand, chemical attraction without truth and honesty are doomed as the chemical attraction subsides.

Second: Share your dreams.

If he has no dreams, then he is ‘suspect’. Sharing dreams and hopes reveals the person. Watch their eyes as they envision that which they hold in their hearts. Spend some time here. I have learned that great relationships are built on “dream sharing”. When two people who love and respect each other have the same dream or co-op each other’s dreams they become more than a team, they become a force!

Third: Find out what you like.

Find something about him that you truthfully and honestly like (not how he looks, he had nothing to do with that). It could be his haircut, but not his hair. His glasses, not his eyes. Find something that HE did to make himself the person you see before you. Then let him know what you like…

Fourth: Smile

and look into his eyes. Let him see the you behind the eyes and vice versa.

Fifth: Be Yourself.

In all of creation there has only been and will only be one YOU! It is my personal opinion that the NUMBER ONE cause of dysfunctional relationships is poor self-esteem of one or both participants. Be happy and proud of who you are…it will show. People want to tap into your life if you appear to have it “going on.”

Bonus

It may take a date or two because you may want to know each other, but try this… You order his dinner and he orders yours. Imagine.

Thanks for the advice dad! [image error]

 

Party ideas: Grown up Tea Party

I love to host a gathering but I don’t need to do an expensive, lavish affair to make it fun. I’m not being filmed on a reality show after all. I also don’t enjoy spending all day in the kitchen so I do take a bit of a short cut. It’s less about the what and more about the intent which is to have fun.

So if you want to have a girls night, couples night or whatever, I’ll be sharing some fun theme party/small gathering ideas and general tips to help you make it a fun affair.

First up: A Grown up Tea Party[image error]

I did this with my girls one Christmas Holiday season but this is a great idea for the spring season or even summer season as well. I combined my holiday event with a white elephant party but I made it special by doing my own English style high tea party.

Food:

Tea sandwiches- It’s a good option to make a couple of these as a savory option to all the sweets. Unless you’re serving high level foodies, I suggest keeping it simple for people not as used to high tea.

Cucumber sandwiches are a staple
Cuban sandwiches or mini mufaletta
Mini BLTs
Caprese sandwiches
Mini turkey or ham pitas
Mini quiche


Scones with clotted cream- I simply went to a gourmet grocery store to get the scone mix, clotted cream and fancy jam. World Market is a good option.[image error]
Fruit- grapes, orange slices
Dessert- Petit fours and mini cookies. I was actually and just went to the French bakery near me. Wegmans and Wholefoods are also good places to get tea cookies.

Drink: Tea of course. I suggest limiting the options to 2 or 3. Also add coffee. For something stronger, offer champagne. For something fancier do mulled wine in the winger. In the spring how about an Aperol Spritz.[image error]

Music: I play Christmas music in the background for Christmas. For the spring for fun songs maybe some pop or even old school R&B from the 60s to 90s.

Décor: This is an easy one. Holiday décor of your choice. And burn a cinnamon, vanilla or apple inspired candle. For spring, go for fresh flowers in varying sized vases and burn a candle with a flowery or fruity scent. You can even blend this in with watching the horse races during the spring season and have guest dress in spring dresses and fancy hats.

Extra: If you want to be super special give guest little party gift bags filled with little chocolates or scone mix put in little fancy jars.

Enjoy!

 

 

Things I learned from my mother

In honor of mother’s day I decided to share some life long lessons I have learned from my mother that has shaped the woman that I am today and can apply to almost anything.

Now my mother didn’t actually tell me everything I am sharing but some of these are implied by how she lives her life.

[image error]

Get out and do something

A funny thing happened with my mom in my teen years. She started to become more active (or so I noticed) in life. She went vacationing overseas, bought a new home. Later she went back to church, started exercising, went to all sorts of shows and events. Even some I begged to join her in but she only wanted to do with “her girls”, making me feel like the mom and she the bratty teen. Even after she retired she kept moving. Made herself a crew (the above mentioned girls) and continued to travel. She even did a solo trip to California for over a week.

When people ask me why I am always down to do hang out or seem to have so much energy, I can say “I get it from my mama”. We have plenty of time to just lay on the couch and watch TV but we only get one life to live.

Keep pursuing the excellence

My mom is a hard worker and expected the best of us. She always encouraged my sister and I to succeed and strive in school and at work and that is a motto I never forgot. She made it clear that we have to give 110% in this world even if other groups didn’t have to work so hard. And she wanted to make sure we had a better life than she did. I never forget that and it has formed my work ethic and led to much success.

Don’t let others limit you

My mom achieved a lot in her career and she never let naysayers/haters or whoever decide what she could and couldn’t do. Because of that spirit I made choices in my life to pursue options that others said weren’t for me. I graduated second in my high school class and did well on my SATs. When I went to my counselor to consider what schools to go to, I was only given local, fourth tiered colleges. I didn’t want to consider that I was only given these options because of my race but it does stay in the back of my mind. Nevertheless, I applied to those fourth tier schools but I also applied to several first tier schools. I even got accepted into an Ivy League university. Had I listened to the counselor I would have short changed myself.

Clean on Saturdays

Well this one is just practical. And though I don’t always do this it makes good sense. Then you can fully enjoy the rest of your weekend, including resting on Sundays. That’s what they are for.

Be giving, even to those who may not deserve it

This is a tough one. I watched my mom on many occasions be giving of her time and money to those who I wasn’t sure really appreciated it or, honestly, deserved it based on their treatment of her. But my mother believed in karma and just continuing to be a good person despite the behavior of others. In the end she has lived a great life because of it. This is a hard one but a lesson I keep at the forefront of mind when I’m ready to be full “Petty LaBelle” like.

Wear control tops

Another practical tip. My mom insists that my sister and I wear control top stockings and other undergarments. She swears that because she’s worn these all of her adult life that this is the reason her stomach is not big. I don’t know if that’s true but I’ve been wearing them since I was a teen.

Cheddar makes it better

And just for fun. My mom insists on loading her baked mac and cheese with cheddar cheese. And I do the same and, yes, it does make it better…

Love your mom![image error]

Mini Chop: A Hair Horror Story

Once upon a time, not so long ago there was a girl who stopped using chemical relaxers and allowed her hair to grow in the texture she was born with. For a while it was fun. Her hair natural curls grew long and full. Her hair was almost effortless.

Then one day the girl decided to color her hair and bleach it to get blond highlights like she saw in the magazines.  She did not deep condition her hair and eventually it broke off. She had to cut it. Then she decided to flat iron her hair…a lot. This loosened the beautiful curls that she had growing again. Then she decided to get a weave. This weakened her hair.

Eventually the girls hair grew sad and grew out frizzy. Part of the texture of her hair changed from a 3b/c curl pattern to a 3c/4a curl and became highly porous making it hard retain moisture. Parts of her hair didn’t curl at all anymore and parts grew very thin.

[image error]My curls during the good times

 

It was a mess.

So the girl, heart broken, had to chop the damaged hair. She had to learn from her mistakes and start a new but what would she do differently?

Treatment

The girl in the story was me. Big surprise. Almost three months ago I decided to do a mini chop and cut about 3 or 4 inches off of my hair. Whoever said natural hair was easy lied. Sure there are some textures that are easier to grow long with little effort. But if you desire long hair and have a tighter curl pattern (3c – 4c) then you have to put in effort or else just go short.

So deep condition, steam, or hot oil treat weekly. Anything that focuses on super moisturizing works so I won’t pick a brand over another.

Make hair strong like bull.

One thing to keep your hair from weakening is to build protein strength. You can do this by minding what you eat but an added bonus is to use proteins in your hair. I would not do this weekly because too much of a good thing can be bad. Try anything from Carol’s Daughter or Shea Moisture. I also like the very affordable Dominican line Kenechom for deep conditioning which you can find on Amazon. Some mix it with Silicon mix but be careful with using silicones in your hair. They are great for making your hair shiny but you have to use a clarifying or sulfate shampoo to get them out.

I also advise you Nairobi hair conditioner. It has protein and helps define curls but use this sparingly. Don’t leave on overnight like you can with the above named conditioners. Proteins can dry the hair out.

I also use Aphogee protein treatment every 4-6 weeks

 

[image error]The mini cut
Heat and Color

I won’t say don’t do this. You have to have some fun with your own hair. But be careful. Limit using a curling or flat iron. Personally, I’m trying to keep it at no more than 4 times a year for straightening my hair and for now I don’t plan to straighten my hair until September for a length check.

For color, avoid bleaching, the farther the color is from your natural color the more likely you might see damage. Try to keep the color you pick in the semi permanent, ammonia free line. ALWAYS deep condition weekly.

Get Your Curls Popping

After the cut the first thing I did was fully embrace the hair that I had to work with little to no manipulation. The curls around the perimeter of my head are a 4a texture which is new for me.  That hair is also more porous. Therefore I tried the Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse  and the Max Hydration Method to get those curls popping and more moisturized to match the rest of my hair.

Ya’ll this is work and although the results are nice, I just don’t have the time to do this treatment every day for a week. Luckily the wonderful natural beauty brand Shea Moisture made a line that incorporates the goal of this method. It has been a life saver for me. Most of my curls around the edges came to life. The few that did not, I simply flat twist (just one or two) to match the rest of my hair.  I also use clear gel or pomades to lay the edges.[image error]

Refresh your curls daily with a spray bottle of water and conditioner. I also like a clear gel which most natural hair lines have or Miss Jessie’s Curly Buttercream.

Protective Styles

Low manipulation of hair is another way to get it healthy and growing. No worries about brutal cold or dry heat stiffening the curls or having hair rub on clothes and weakening it or over styling (especially with heat tools). So a popular alternative is wearing wigs.  Get a good lace front, synthetic or human hair, and let your curls relax a bit. Play with different colors, lengths and textures. It can be fun!

People also try sticking to braids or buns. Be careful with both. Use of synthetic hair with your own hair for braids can be heavy on the hair shaft and repeat ponytails for puns can weaken the hair around the ponytail holder.

That’s all for now folks. I’ll keep you updated on my journey and anything new I learn along the way. Have you learned anything about your hair after a big chop?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guest Blog: She Wanderful on Race and Travel

Check out an article I wrote for She Wanderful regarding race and travel…http://www.sheswanderful.com/2017/03/29/6-things-black-travelers-need-to-know/

Iceland for the Urban Travelista

So I went a wee bit out of my comfort zone and tried a vacation in a cold climate. If you are like me and love travel but with comfort and a metropolitan atmosphere Iceland might not be on the top of your list. Yet I kept hearing about how much of a good time it was and then there are the cheap flights. So why not? So here are some to-dos for the urban gal for an Iceland adventure. [image error]

[image error]

Transport

To start I took Wow airlines to get there. It’s cheap but barebones. Pack your snacks and plenty of water and entertainment.

The ride from the airport to Reykjavik can be a long one and therefore expensive. Book a shuttle transport through FlyBus. Reykjavik Excursions and Grayline Tours both set up transport for Flybus so make sure if you do a roundtrip ticket that you go back with the right company (my mistake so I ended up paying twice for a return trip to the airport). A round trip transport is around $50.

Lodging

One common theme you’ll find is that Iceland is expensive. I’m talking New York or Vegas prices. I still can’t quite understand why that’s the case and it didn’t appear as though the Iceland salaries were commiserate with the prices. With that in mind if you want to save some money but also want to be where the action is, as most cosmo/urban gals should, then picking an apartment might be a better, more economical option than a hotel.

I stayed in a one bedroom apartment in the Luna Hotel Apartments. It was a great location to restaurants, shopping and nightlife. I was able to walk everywhere outside of excursions which of course was a money saver. [image error]

Iceland is a pretty safe place for travel so even during late hours I felt fine walking back to my apartment (although I did have a roommate). The apartment itself was tiny but stylish and comfortable with all the necessities. We saved money by buying groceries and eating in for breakfast and lunch. We didn’t get any housekeeping services which I was fine. Everything was clean when we got there and there were drawers with multiple towels and toilet paper. The kitchen had dishes and utensils as well as cleaning supplies. It was perfect and I’d be open to doing something like that again in a safe city. There is something to safety in a hotel if one is traveling solo though. But in a town like Iceland it was perfect.

Dining

As stated above, eating out can be a costly event. An average breakfast can be about $20 bucks and lunch/dinner can range from $20-$50 for an average restaurant/diner. I have to admit since I have a sensitive pallet I wasn’t as adventurous as I could have been for meals but there were places I dinned that I liked.

Solon Bistro -I had a super yummy brunch there with French Toast and eggs. I also came for dinner and had wings and a salad both very satisfying. Prices were average fair.

Rossopomodoro- Good Italian restaurant. I split an Italian style pizza and had some calamari. Both were really good.

Kebabhusid  – I had fish and chips here. It’s just a small restaurant with affordable prices for Iceland at $28 compared to the $35-40 I was seeing at other places. I really liked my meal.

Excursions

I suppose there are many things that people come to Iceland for but outside excursions have to be the key reason. As an urban dweller I can’t say that I’m the most outdoorsy but there are some basic activities that are a must do while in Iceland.

The Blue Lagoon- This is the reason many people come. There is something so cool about going to a huge natural body of water in the middle of nowhere that’s heated like a hot tub. Go as early as possible to avoid the crowds. Take advantage of the included mask and if you want a full experience get a massage. The weather wasn’t that kind when I went but I still had a great time there. I could have stayed all day if it hadn’t rained. [image error]

Golden Circle plus trip- This was a really nice excursion via Grayline tours. It’s a ways out of the city in southern Iceland so it’ll be an 8 hour day excursion. On this trip you’ll see a park where Game of Thrones was filmed which was very amazing to see,  waterfalls, geysirs, craters and we visited a farm and had the popular Icelandic yogurt-ish food called skyr and ice cream. Both were delish. [image error]

[image error]

I also suggest taking a city tour either on foot or on a hop on hop off bus.

Southern Coast tour- I didn’t do this tour but I wish I had. On this tour you’ll see waterfalls up close, black sand beaches, volcanos…

Diamond beach– I also missed out on this and I wish I had gone. It’s not exactly a beach full of diamonds but rather a black sand beach with ice that have the appearance of large diamonds. Very much a photographers dreams.

Northern Lights- This is another famous reason to check out Iceland. It’s not always set that you’ll get a chance to see them, especially after March until their colder seasons because after that time the days get super long. When we arrived in late March it didn’t get dark until 9. There is a time where it’s mostly daylight there so you won’t get a chance to see the lights at all.

Kringlan Mall- Not too far from city center, if you get a bit tired of all the nature this is a good place to check out some shopping. The mall has mostly local Iceland chains which is a good because if you’re going to pay crazy Iceland prices you might as well get something unique.

Iceland also has a bunch of boutiques. Check out Laugavegur and nearby Skólavörðustígur for shopping.

To save a couple of coins on Saturday or Sunday stop by the Kolaportid Flea Market to get immersed in local Icelandic style and find a few cool things for lower prices.

 

Nightlife

Iceland has a ton of nightlife and bar hopping is super easy to do but again, with prices being so high you might want to pregame at your apartment first. Go to Vinbudin for spirits which is an Icelandic chain. You can also swing buy duty free on the way from the airport when arriving to grab drinks which is what we did (don’t judge!)

Most of the nightlife we visited was on Laugavegur street or right off of it. Some notables were:

Lebowski Bar– An homage to the movie The Big Lebowski they specialize in different types of white Russians which were very yummy. Stay for their Thursday night movie trivia night. [image error]

Dillon Whiskey Bar- If you are a whiskey lover this is the place. They have a decent happy hour.

Prikid- If you like house and hip hop this is the place to be. the music gets better the later it gets so be warned if you get there too early it might not be what you expect. The drinks at cheaper especially on weeknights.

Kofinn- We happened upon this on a Friday late night. They were playing “real” hip hop and reggae. Had a fun time but they don’t stay open super late.

Kaffibarinn, – This trendy little spot is super tiny but if you like dark and cool this is it. On Friday we heard house music which I loved. Great spot for hanging with friends but not so much for meeting new people.

[image error]

In sum it turns out the outdoorsy vibe of Iceland can be a great spot for a Cosmo girl. Iceland is a flexible town to be enjoyed at any level whether you are camping or staying at the Hilton you can find your comfort there. [image error]

Beauty Haul: Urban Decay, Kat Von and Clinique, Glamglow

So I get a monthly subscription for a Sephora box. Each month many fabulous new products come to me in mini sizes for review. Sometimes it’s a hit sometimes it’s a miss. I’m on the search for a new subscription box so any suggestions are welcome. I like Sephora but I’d say that many of the products cater to certain skin care issues that I don’t have a big focus on like dry skin.

However, there are some hits. Here are my recent favs along with a quick review of urban decay naked pallet that I got separately.

Glamglow tinglexfoliate youth mud- this is perfect for exfoliating and making skin glow. For dry skin this is great. This also works for people like me who might get peely skin after overusing acne care products. [image error]

Nars velvet lip glide bound – This is beautiful against my skin. Has a very natural look; like a pinker version of my natural lip, but gives a hint of color with glam eyes. Not super long lasting but you maintain a color even after eating and drinking. Nars is pricey but might be worth the cost.

Clinique lip stain black honey- Although this shows up a bit reddish brown because it’s sheer it’s not overpowering and is another good lipstick for work or with a strong eye.

[image error]

 

 

[image error]Black Honey

 

 

Urban Decay Naked Pallet – I really like this pallet. What made me pick it is that there were many reviews with women of color to show that it complemented darker skin tones nicely. I wanted more Smokey eye color options and this pallet has it.

 

[image error]Urban Decay Pallet and Nars Bound lipstick

 

Kat Von D Tattoo Liner- I am not a pro at lining my eyes but this is a great liner for doing a cat eye. The liner is bold so you don’t have to go over again and again. It also doesn’t wear off which is big for me since I have oily skin. I’ve heard good things about this makeup line so I’m curious to try more.

 

[image error]Kat Von D liner and Urban Decay eyeshadow

[image error]

 

Lancome hypnose mascara- Since I don’t know how to put on fake lashes to save my life, I’m always searching for a mascara that will give me that look. This one is pretty darn close. Really just gives me that “done” look without putting too much effort into it.

 

[image error]

 

Urban decay all nighter makeup setting spray- I usually stir clear of setting sprays because of my oily skin but decided to give this a whirl one night. I really liked it. I rocked a bold eye so I wanted my make up to stay in place. Not only did my make up stay but it didn’t make my skin oily. [image error]

Hope this helps and if you have any subscription box recommendations let me know!