BA Star Holiday Red Lip Pencil Review (+ Discount Code!)

Recently I had the opportunity to try out the BA Star Holiday Red lip pencil. I am a huge fan of a bold red lip, but I have never tried to get the look using only a pencil.  To my surprise, the BA Star lip pencil worked great!

My Little Secrets "Soul" Lacefront Wig Review

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I ordered a second wig from My Little Secrets Online and would be posting a review.  I apologize for the delay; at first I was hesitant about how much I wanted to share about this experience but I realized that it is my duty as a blogger to keep it all the way real...so here we go!

The Buying Experience

BA STAR Natural Eye Shadow Palette Review (+ Discount Code!)

I may talk a lot about hair and fashion, but I am a sucker for a good eye shadow palette. I love the convenience of complementary colors that fit right into my make-up bag or into my purse for some grab-and-go action.  I recently received a smoky eye shadow palette from BA STAR, a company that specializes in performance make-up products for cheerleaders and dancers. Cheerleaders make a living by looking perfect, so I knew right off the bat that I had a quality palette on my hands!

It arrived in the mail well packaged with the actual palette sealed in plastic, wrapped in some fun zebra print tissue paper, and sealed in a plastic baggie. I was happy to see that there were no broken shadows and no loose powder within the palette!

I received the Natural Shadow Palette that includes 3 mineral shadows (bronze, cocoa, nude) and 2 gel glitter shadows in gold and crystal.

The mineral shadows were a dream to apply--smooth, highly pigmented, and blended very easily.  The three colors complement each other well and created a nice neutral, bronzed eye look for me.  I'm not going on the stage anytime soon so the glitter shadows are not my taste, but just from applying the glitter shades onto my arm I could tell that it only took a light swipe of the applicator brush to pick up a ton of glitter. The glitter shades really "popped" and the gel provided good staying power so they would definitely be perfect for the stage!

This palette really impressed me and has seriously become one of my go-to palettes for a quick, everyday neutral eye.  Using my Urban Decay Primer Potion, I was able to wear the eyeshadows a full workday with only a little creasing by the end of the day, but the colors still popped! Interested in getting this palette for yourself? Check out the BA STAR website  for eye shadow palettes, other makeup products (including lashes, bronzer, and lip pencils), head bands, and much more!  *Use the code BBSMOKY for 50% off your purchase*

*Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary from BA STAR via BrandBacker. The opinions expressed in this post are my own, and are in no way influenced by  the brand or by BrandBacker.

Spiral Curlers Review

I ordered a package of spiral curlers from Amazon that are similar to the brand Curl Formers. For $27, I received a pack 40 curlers (about 20in long) and 1 application hook.  These were about the same size as the Curl Formers Extra Long & Wide option. 

After freshly washing my hair, I applied a moisturizer (homemade mix of shea butter, aloe vera gel, and grapeseed oil), a litle bit of grapeseed oil, and a bit of EcoStyler olive oil gel to my hair.  I applied the curlers in a little over an hour (actually 1hr and 5min--I timed myself lol) and ended up using 39 of the curlers.  I watched a youtube video to see how to apply these curlers, but honestly it was really quick and easy. The only trouble I had was that sometimes the application hook would latch on to the top band of the curlers as I began to pull my hair through, however as long as I held the top band slightly open as I started pulling the hook through the curler, the hook would slide through with ease. 

When I finished setting my hair, I got a little anxious to see how it would turn out so I pulled out the first curler I had applied and was surprised to see that after only an hour (and with no heat applied), a nice ringlet had already formed!

Seeing that I didn't really need alot of heat to get a good curl, I only sat under the dryer for about 15min just to make sure my roots were dry to minimize frizz, as I was planning to sleep with the curlers in my hair. I do NOT recommend sleeping in these if you can avoid it, b/c it was so uncomfortable and I really had a hard time figuring out how to hold my head so I could actually fall asleep, and everytime I turned over I had to go through the process all over again. 

Despite my restless night, the results the next morning were well worth it--Perfect spiral ringlets! I was concerned about the possibility of breakage from pulling my hair through the curlers and pulling the curlers off my hair to remove them, but I did not see any pieces of hair caught in the curlers and felt no hair pulling from my roots as I removed the curlers. Also, my hair in the front did not look completely smooth on a few of the curlers while they were in my hair, but after removing them all the curls looked sleek so you don't really need to worry about about everything being perfect while setting, as long as all of your hair is in the roller and is given enough time to dry.

Separated Curls:

Overall, I am very happy with the curlers & they will definitely be a regular tool in my styling regimen!

Key takeaways:

• Easy to use
• No heat needed
• Uniform spiral curls

Kiss Nail Dress Review

As promised, here is my review of the Kiss Nail Dress strips included in my Influenster Holiday VoxBox.  I wanted to love these, but sadly that was not the case. 

I love the variety of designs offered, but the jeweled designs are harder to apply b/c the placement of the jewels may interfere with a smooth application.  To apply, you smooth the strip onto your nail and take the excess length, fold it at the tip of your nail and file the excess off using an emery board that is included with the kit. On several of my nails, the placement of the jewels were right at the tip of my nails so I had to pull the jewel off.  Also, the process of filing the tips can leave the edges a little rough, which makes the strips peel off faster.    Overall the strips were fast and easy to apply, but some of my fingernails have a weird shape (wide, slightly rounded) so a couple of the strips began to wrinkle at the corners of my nail. Within 24hrs, the strips started peeling off of about 3 of my nails. Because I really wanted to wear the strips for New Year's Eve (they were super cute, went well with my outfit, and I didn't feel like painting my nails) I fought the urge to just pull them off and used a little bit of eyelash glue under the peeling areas to keep them intact for the night.  

So, in summary:

Pros

• Great variety
• Pretty designs
• Quick and easy application

Cons

• Hard to get nail tips smooth
• Peeling within 24 hrs
• May have difficulty finding the appropriate sized strips 

Have you tried nail strips before? What's your favorite brand? 

*This post is a part of the Manicure Mondays link up hosted by Lipgloss and Binky and LA Lynn's Shoppe!

*Disclaimer: I received this product complimentary via Influenster. The opinions expressed in this post are my own, and are in no way influenced by Influenster or the brand mentioned.

Influenster Holiday Voxbox 2012

I received my Holiday Voxbox from Influenster right after Christmas. Take a look at what was inside:

Quaker Real Medleys Oatmeal (Not pictured): I received a cup of the cherry pistachio + flavor. I ended up taking it to work to eat for breakfast before even thinking about snapping a picture of it. I'm not an oatmeal eater--I tried it once as a child and didn't like it--but I really enjoyed this oatmeal because it had real cherry chunks and  pieces of nuts (pistachios and almonds) which added texture and flavor. It was tasty and super easy to make (I added water and put it in the microwave but you could just add hot water to make it without the microwave).

EBOOST Natural Energy Effervescent Powder: I tend to steer clear of energy products so I will give this product to a friend to try and report back with their results.

Sole Society $25 Coupon: This coupon made me happy! I've been a member of Sole Society for months but had not made a purchase yet. They have a huge selection of trendy styles and have a number of shoes and boots made of genuine leather and suede at a reasonable price point. I used my coupon to make my first order and my shoes are on the way! If you are not a member, sign up here. Oh and FYI, they have a winter BOGO free sale going on right now!

Goody Quikstyle Paddle Brush: This brush features microfiber bristles that are supposed to help dry your hair while styling. Since I've been natural, I have retired my brushes in favor or finger detangling and wide tooth combs. With that being said, I can't give a full review of this brush but  I did use it briefly to smooth my freshly washed hair up into a ponytail/puff.  I touched the microfiber bristles afterwards and could feel that they were wet, but because I only used the brush on the perimeter of my head I can't say that it removed a great amount of water from my hair. For natural beauties, I would recommend just using a microfiber towel (or a turbie twist) to remove excess water from your hair before styling instead of taking the risk of brushing wet hair to accomplish the same goal.

NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine in "Nude York City": I actually already own this gloss and it is one of my everyday go to lip glosses that I keep in my purse. It's a basic pink-ish nude shade that is cheap, works well with my skin tone, and doesn't dry my lips out.

Kiss Nail Dress Nail Strips in BabyDoll:  I love the design of these strips, and they come in over 20 different shades some of which (including the ones I rece'ved) include jewels in the design. I applied these last night, and will post pics and a full review after a couple of days! Here's a sneak peek:

*Disclaimer: I received these products complimentary via Influenster. The opinions expressed in this post are my own, and are in no way influenced by Influenster or the brands mentioned.

Ladi Look Back: Year End Review

2012 is soon coming to an end. 2012 was a little rocky, but I can honestly say that I have grown so much as an blogger, aspiring fashionista, and overall as a person.  I have already coined 2013 as the Year of NO Excuses so the seeds I planted in 2012 will blossom in 2013 as I work harder, take risks, and open my life to possibility and change.

My style has definitely improved this year, largely due to me stepping out of my comfort zone and becoming more accepting of my body. Joining the Big Fat Summer Challenge was one of the best decisions I've ever made style wise, and a close second would be planning my look by season (helps soo much with shopping!). 2013 I will continue refine my style and take a few fashion risks (like print mixing, wearing bold accessories, and adding more body con skirts/dresses).  Below are some of my favorite looks of 2012:  

(click to enlarge)

In the beginning of 2012, I set a hair goal to grow and retain 4 inches. I spent a few months wearing protective styles like sew-ins, buns, and wigs (even made my own!). I perfected my twist-out technique, tried to  improve my wash-n-gos, and tested new products to help with growth. I can't do an official length check yet because I'm still wearing a sew-in, but I'm sure that I've achieved some good growth this year! Hoping for Bra Strap Length (or at least fully covering my tattoo) in 2013!  Check out a few of my favorite hair moments from the past year:

(click to enlarge)

Thank you all for reading my little blog and sharing in my journey this past year! I appreciate you all, and hope you all are riding with me for another year!

Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Review

As part of my Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox, I received samples of the Boots No. 7 Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm and the Beautiful Skin Night Creme.

From the Boots No. 7 website:

Beautiful Skin Cleansing Balm (Dry/Very Dry)
A gentle, non-drying balm that cleverly dissolves make-up and impurities to help keep skin looking clear and healthy. Works in one simple step leaving no residue, just perfectly clean, soft and supple skin. It includes replenishing ceramides to help nourish dry skin and Glycerin and cocoa butter for deeper hydration.

Beautiful Skin Night Creme (Dry/Very Dry)
Instantly nourishes and promotes optimum hydration for healthy-looking radiant skin. making it less likely to be dry in the future. Containing additional moisturizing properties, this is exactly the care dry skin needs overnight to ensure you wake up with nourished and healthy looking skin. Glycerin, Shea butter and ceramides are added to the formulas leaving it incredibly smooth. Designed to work in harmony with your skin, replacing lost moisture and leaving you with healthy looking radiant skin.



My Thoughts
For about a week and a half, I used only these two products on my face. I noticed on the Boots website that each of their products have different formulas based on skin type (normal/oily, normal/dry, dry/very dry) and luckily the products I received were the dry/very dry skin formula. Every evening I would use the cleansing balm and follow up with the night cream, and in the morning I would rinse my face with warm water and use the night cream as my daily moisturizer (note: the brand does have a day cream, but I didn't get a sample of that).

I was very impressed with the way these products worked on my skin. My skin is DRY and sensitive and is prone to peeling on my forehead and my nose, even in the summer. Well I had absolutely NO peeling at all while using these products. After using the cleansing balm, my face felt soft and clean without the tight, dry feeling that I sometimes get with other products. The night cream also had my skin looking soft and supple. I didn't experience any adverse effects, and what few bumps and whiteheads I had went away within the first few days of using these skin products. One tip I have about using the cleansing balm is to make sure you follow the instructions which state that you should massage the balm into your skin--note that it does NOT mention wetting your face beforehand. The first time I tried it, I used it like a regular facial cleanser and wet my face first, but after rinsing the product off my face I could still feel some residue left behind. Using the cleansing balm as instructed, it rinsed clean without any product residue.

In short, I loved the cleansing balm and the night cream! I already ordered full sized bottles of both products and the day cream. If you want to try out the Boots No. 7 skin care line, their website ShopBootsUSA is offering free shipping on orders over $25!



*Disclaimer: I recieved these products complimentary via Influenster. 

Beauty Blogger VoxBox Reviews: Part 1

As I mentioned in my last post, I received an Influenster Beauty Blogger VoxBox. So far I have tried out 3 items with mixed results. As promised, here are my thoughts:

  

NYC IndividualEyes Custom Compact in Dark Shadows - This NYC makeup palette came with four eyeshadows, a primer, and an illuminator. There was a diagram on the back to show you where to apply each color.  This palette was not the best selection color-wise for my complexion. I tend to avoid white and silver eyeshadows and I did not like the way the lighter colors in this palette looked on me.  I did like the darker colors, however I wish the darkest shade would have had a more intense color.  The primer applied really smooth, but after a couple of hours of wear, it didn't stand up to my oily eyelids and the shadow I applied disappeared from my creases. I have used the illuminator along my browbone, the inner corner of my eye, and a little on my cheekbone for a nice glow.

Top: without flash. Bottom: with flash

Goody Simple Styles Spin Pin - I remember a couple of years ago the blogosphere went crazy with the introduction of the Spin Pin. I never tried it until now, and I think I really missed out! It is so easy to use (spin it in clockwise to put in, spin counterclockwise to take out) and it so comfortable. It doesn't feel like I have anything in my hair, but at the same time it feels very secure. I just twisted my hair up into a messy bun, put in the Spin Pin, and just whipped my hair back and forth (#NoWillow) to test it out and the spin pin did not move one bit! I noticed the Spin Pin comes in different colors to match your light or dark hair, but once I put the pin was in place (I received the Spin Pin for light hair) I couldn't see it so I don't think blending is a big deal. I can't wait to try this tool with a curly hairstyle!

White Barn 3-Wick Candle in Mahogany Teakwood Scent - I love the smell of this candle! It's very masculine and smells like men's cologne which in my opinion is a good thing. I think it is a great scent for Fall and Winter as it gives a sense of warmth and comfort. 

Look out for my next set of VoxBox reviews coming soon! 

Hair Randoms

 ponytail=growth!

• I've been using Tropic Isle Jamaican Black Caster Oil on my scalp and eyebrows to help with growth. After a month I had to stop because the itching was unbearable!  I read that the itch comes from the oil detoxifying your scalp, but I can't say I buy that explanation (and I am not willing to wait to find out if it stops when my scalp "detoxifies").  I do feel that my eyebrows have gotten a lot darker since I've been using it, and my hair has grown since I've taken out my weave--but I can't say for sure that the growth is due to the castor oil, or the fact that I had a low-manipulation style.

• As you can see from my wedge sneaker post, I straightened my hair for the first time this year! Instead of following my usual straightening routine, I used a sample of Dark and Lovely 6 Week Anti-Reversion Cream Serum. I had reservations about using this product because the advertisements and the packaging states that it was made specifically for relaxed hair (as if a heat styled natural wouldn't need an anti-reversion product) and I felt the claim about results lasting 6-weeks was a little confusing/misleading. In order to last 6-weeks, the product must be used weekly after every shampoo. Maybe I think too much, but I feel if it works as well as it claims to (and I'm using it weekly), then I should be able to use it for months and it would still keep new growth from reverting! Anyhoo, I used the product as instructed and didn't use any other products except a little Aveda Brilliant Anti-Humectant Pomade at the end.  By the time I finished my whole head, the hair on the side I started with already looked poofy so I doubt this product alone would keep my hair straight for an entire week. I did like that the cream/serum didn't feel heavy, and it made my hair feel really soft after blowdrying.  I am on Day 5 and with nightly rolling or wrapping and a little bit of the Aveda pomade in the AM, my hair is still straight!

• This Fall, I'm going to focus more on hair styles where my hair is stretched, such as banding or lightly blowdrying my hair before doing twist-outs and braid-outs. As the temperature gets cooler I want to limit my wet styling and maybe straighten my hair more often since I don't have to worry as much about reversion. 

Product Review: Beautiful Textures Curl Control Defining Pudding

Product Claims

From the website: Get the frizz control and definition you desire with Curl Control Defining Pudding. Transform and stretch your tresses to the soft, and shiny look you want to achieve.

How to use

From the website:  After your hair is clean and conditioned, apply your desired amount of Curl Control through sections of hair, use fingers or wide tooth comb to evenly distribute from roots to the ends of your hair. Allow your hair to air dry. For maximum curl elongation repeat process above twice and air dry.

My Review

I bought the curl control defining pudding because I was looking for a product to create more definition and hold for my twist-outs.  The first time I used it, I completely ignored the directions and used it on dry hair that had been stretched after a braid-out. I applied the pudding to my hair, sealed with a homemade mix of coconut oil and shea butter, and did a flat twist-out following the instructions here.  I may have been a little heavy handed with the product because my hair looked a little wet as I set it (it is water based).  The next morning, my hair felt really soft but did not have the definition I wanted and was a major frizz ball by noon.  

The next time I used the product, I stuck pretty close to the directions on the package. I applied the pudding to wet, freshly washed and conditioned hair. I'm sure I used less product than my first go 'round because products always seem to spread better on wet hair. I still topped the pudding with my shea butter/coconut oil mix, but instead of flat-twisting I set my hair in 4 big twists and let it air dry over night.  Surprisingly, my hair turned out very moist and defined, even though my twists were pretty big.  I smoothed my hair up into a well-defined curly puff, and didn't experience any frizz even as I separated pieces of hair to make the puff look more full.  Now usually after wearing a puff, my hair is super tangled and I have single-strand knots galore so I usually have to wash my hair before I can style it again.  After using this product, I was able to easily comb out my puff and do a braid out on dry hair with little to no hair loss!

Conclusion

I had great results using it on wet hair and I can't wait to try it on a wet flat twist-out.  I prefer to style my hair while it is dry because with wet styling my hair usually isn't completely dry by the time I wake up in the morning, so will try to use the pudding again on dry hair making sure that I use only a small amount so hopefully I get better results.  Overall, I'm happy I purchased this product!

Have you tried any products from the Beautiful Textures line?