Beauty Faves of the Moment

With so many beauty products in rotation in my makeup bag, I rarely ever keep the same item twice throughout the week but recently I haven't been able to leave the house without the items above.

First up are lip products "Force of Love" lipstick and lipglass from MAC's M·A·C Chenman collection (available now). When I first received the press info, I knew nothing out Chen Man (陳曼) but after researching a bit, I am thoroughly impressed. Chen Man is the star of the Chinese fashion photography world, capturing color and sensuality in every photograph. The M·A·C collaboration was inspired by the artist’s fascination with love and water (represented by the colors pink and blue). Force of Love lipstick ($14.50) is a matte lipstick described as a vivid honeysuckle pink. It's not a shade for the faint of heart and goes on as seen in the tube. I layer Force of Love lipglass ($14.50) over the lipstick just to add a bit of shine (I'm not generally a fan of MAC's matte lip colors). The lipglass is the same shade but softer (obviously since it's a gloss). As a bright pink aficionado, this has quickly become my go to color combo.

Now if you know anything about me, you know I love a good foundation. Anything that can even out my skin tone and deal with the oil factory known as my face is key in my book. Sadly, not many foundations can do both. At the same time. Until now. Laura Mercier's Oil Free Suprême Foundation (available on counter in April) provides ultimate coverage. Oil-free and lightweight, this goes on evenly, lasts all day (no joke) and remains matte. This is a vitamin-rich foundation is made of soothing and anti-aging ingredients including aloe and green leaf tea extract. I'm absolutely in LOVE with this foundation and am amazed at just how flawless my face looks from the start of the day until I wash it off. My only problem is that it dries FAST! If you don't blend immediately, you run into issues where you're trying to work settled in foundation and it's not a good time. I compare this to the holy grail of foundations (in my book), Revlon's ColorStay, MINUS the heavy feeling. Which means Revlon might be dethroned (sorry guys!).

What are you loving lately?

Pin It Disclosure: products given for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Recycle and Be Rewarded! with Kiehl's

Staying true to Kiehl’s mission of supporting initiatives to preserve and protect the environment, four “Friends of Kiehl’s” have created Limited Edition labels for Kiehl’s Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque, made with fairly-traded Amazonian White Clay from the Marajo Island.

An ingredient found at the basin of Brazil’s Amazon River, White Clay, also known as “magic earth,” is an ingredient known for its ability to remove dirt, toxins, and excess oils that can clog pores. The Limited Edition Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque series features Earth-inspired designs by some of the biggest socially conscious celebs, including Florence Welch (of Florence and the Machines), Spike Lee, Rosario Dawson and Mark Ruffalo.

100% of net proceeds will benefit Recycle Across America™ (RAA), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to delivering society-wide solutions that eliminate public confusion, stimulate the environmental economy and expedite progress. The funds will be used to create 150,000 standardized recycling labels.

The collection will be available in Kiehl’s stores and on Kiehls.com on April 3. Not only that but the brand is re-introducing their Recycle and Be Rewarded! in-store recycling program, which allows you to return your empty Kiehl’s containers for recycling, in exchange for product.

How's that for beauty?

Pin It Disclosure: product give for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

My Rock & Republic photo shoot!

remember when I spoke about a certain photo shoot I attended a couple weeks back? well, I've received the final images AND a video!

The concept of the shoot was “How to Rock Your Personal Style: It’s In the Jeans!” and the Glam team gave me a "Modern" look. I wore two outfits, the first being a pair of killer red jeans and black jacket; the second something I might wear out with my friends with skinny jeans, a blazer and a pair of sick wedges.

While I haven't worn cropped pants in a LONG while, I was open to the idea - primarily because this pair is so bright and awesome!

I arrived at the shooting location bright and early and from there a team of makeup artists, hairstylists, photographers (and even a director!) took me under their wing and transformed me from regular old me to a wannabe model ;) check out the video below to see my transformation, behind the scenes and the end result (in the video I totes meant to say "Rock and Republic is a BRAND I love" not "something". I got nervous haha.)

Pin It Disclosure: Kohl's provided compensation to me as an incentive to blog about the Rock & Republic launch event. The opinions expressed herein are those of this author, and they have not been reviewed or approved by Kohl's in advance. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

She said she was wearing Jason Wu...

dress; jason wu x target; shoes: zara; bag: dooney & bourke; sunnies: asos; watch: betsey johnson; bangle: kate spade

It was Jason Wu for Target.

ever since my friend Paula discovered her local Target still had Jason Wu items, I've been saying this phrase in my head. If you haven't watched the "Shit Fashion Girls Say" videos, I don't know what's wrong with you. they're hilarious. riotous. quotable. most importantly, they're just what I need on a Friday afternoon.

Hashtag: Chic to the next lev

Pin It Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

not one to live by rules, but...

If you haven't guessed by now, skincare means a lot to me. I learned at a pretty early age the importance of a great skincare routine and, even more importantly, sticking to it. An ex-boyfriend once commented on my extensive structured nighttime routing once and his comment made me think (for about five seconds) on whether or not it was a bit much. But then I continued on with the creams and serums and such. Point is: taking care of your skin is good for you, not the opinions of others.

Let's admit it though, you get home from school/work/night out and you're T-I-R-E-D. The last thing you want to do is drag yourself to your bathroom and go through the process. I feel you. It's okay. But you need to be prepared for potential side effects. I've listed out a couple of DO's and DON'Ts that you can keep handy whether you're tired, aren't sure of where to begin, or just need a refresher:

• DO: wash your face when you get home. Doesn't matter if you wore a full face of makeup or just a touch of concealer, remove impurities by using a cleanser great for your skin type
• DON'T: fall asleep in makeup (hello acne!)
• DO: use a gentle cleanser. Products with harsh chemicals can aggravate your skin causing more harm than good
• DON'T: smoke. Yes, it's hard to quit but besides the health risks, smoking ages skin causing wrinkles, discoloration and leaves skin feeling leather-like. 
• DO: drink lots of water. Drinking water flushes out toxins and keeps you running.
• DON'T: take too many showers. I love a good, steaming hot shower, but guess what? That and taking multiple showers throughout the day can wreak havoc with your skin. Who wants to look all pruney and deal with dry skin? Exactly.
• DO: MOISTURIZE
• DON'T: go overboard with moisturizing. Heavy creams can create a barrier on the surface of your face and keep your skin from absorbing moisture. Kin of counter productive don't you think...
• DO: wash your hands frequently because you...
• DON'T: want to touch your face too much with dirty hands. Do I really have to go into detail?

There you have it! Easy, no?

Pin It Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Glam Media. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Clearly Kiehl's

When it comes to skincare, there are few brands I trust as much as Kiehl’s. These guys know there stuff and whether it's a body lotion, essential oil, or face cream I know that I can rely on them to deliver results and keep my pretty on point ;)

gotta love an Instagram filter!

Lately, I've been trying out their new Dermatologist Solutions® Clearly Corrective^TM Dark Spot Solution ($49.50). This is created to promote skin's clarity while targeting the appearance of dark spots, discolorations, acne scarring and uneven skin tone -- a problem faced (get it) by many women of color. I have uneven skin tone and have recently gotten a bit of scarring from acne gone wrong. Nothing major but it's freaking me out. Based off my preliminary test runs with this product, I like it and would recommend you give it a go if you're looking to deal with any of the aforementioned issues. Now I used this product for a week then stopped and then started up again recently so when I say preliminary, I mean preliminary.

The main ingredient, Activated C, is considered (by Kiehl's) the next generation of Vitamin C derivative. Activated C breaks up existing melanin clusters, works to treat pigment currently present in the skin and inhibits the formation of new melanin clusters. It's also photo-stable (remains unchanged when exposed to light) and is 100% active on contact, meaning it works fast and penetrates without the assistance of other molecules. In addition to Activated C, this contains white birch extract (a sugar derived ingredient known for its ability to restore hydration and nutrients to the dermis and epidermis layers of skin) and peony extract (helps protect against free radical oxidative damage).

I first applied this as part of my nighttime routine and woke up to super soft and slightly radiant skin. I was actually shocked at just how bright my face looked in the morning. I wish I was stricter in terms of application -- in all honesty, I often find serums to be just another step and skip it (primarily due to laziness). Compared to other serums, I like the consistency of this way more since it doesn't feel watery or too thin and doesn't leave a sticky residue on my hands afterward. It's lightweight and doesn't leave my face feel trapped under layers of product.

As an all over treatment, this isn't something you have to worry about dabbing onto problem areas only and can be used daily, year-round (which makes switching routines from winter to spring to summer to fall a breeze). Dermatologist Solutions® Clearly Corrective^TM Dark Spot Solution is available on counters and online now.

Pin It Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Face Anything

When it comes to skincare, I switch cleansers like I switch my hairstyle. I often use a cleanser that makes sure to effectively remove makeup and impurities but also takes care of the oil factory north of my neck. What some cleansers do, however, is make half of my face tight and dry while my forehead shines away. Not okay.

Knowing that people like me exist, Biore (who just revamped their entire line) has released their new Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser. This cleanser gently removes makeup, without disturbing the natural moisture your skin needs. This cleanser removes all forms of impurities while leaving skin's natural moisture, giving your face an even, all-over clean.

Biore - best known for their pore strips in my neck of the woods - have completely redone their image now that the consumer who grew up with them, has gotten a bit older and now has different needs. Biore’s new look features white and blue packaging, instead of the green of days passed. Heck, for a brand that's over 18 year old, a little update doesn't hurt anybody.

Pick up the Combination Skin Balancing Cleanser and the rest of the lineup at your local drugstore and online.

Pin It Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

reverse order

jacket: Express; dress and bag: Zara; shoes: Bass Shoes; sunnies: ASOS; bangles: Kate Spade

the reverse/ mullet/ whatever you call this trend dress is something that I've fallen for quite hard. I love them all. I scooped this bad boy up a week before my birthday and never wore it on my birthday because of the sharp winds and overal winter grubiness. Now that it's ahh-mazing in the city (feels like SPRING!) I plan on wearing it multiple times, hopefully sans tights next time.

ps: aren't these shades bad-ass?

Pin It Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

behind the scenes

Not too long ago, I had a photo shoot with a couple of bloggers and I'm so excited! Until the actual photos (and video!) come back, here's a quick peek at one of my looks. Will share details soon!

Pin It Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

M∙A∙C Mineralize Skincare

When it came to skincare, I never really went to M∙A∙C cosmetics. I figured, what did a color cosmetics line know about skincare? Turns out, quite a bit.

The 77-Mineral Complex that made our Mineralize makeup so good for your skin, debuts as a skincare collection. Featuring our ionized Super-Duo Charged Water technology, a nourishing regime to cleanse, hydrate, condition and charge the skin! (source)

Part of the brand's permanent collection, Mineralize Skincare contains five products that are designed to take over from cleansing to moisturizing with M∙A∙C's Super-Duo Charged Water technology. Of the five items, I road tested three (pictured above) to truly get a sense of what M∙A∙C has to offer in the skincare game.

Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Gel ($37) is a lightweight, creamy moisturizer that has a gel like consistency. Now when I think of gel, I tend to think of something thicker but this proved to be quite the opposite. Unfortunately, it didn't work wonders for me since I felt like my face was a wee bit tight after it settled in. During the winter, I get supremely dry skin and it took me applying it two times to get great results. Kind of annoying if you ask me but my skin is left soft like nobody's business. That said, not many moisturizers can be applied twice without making me feel like I'm suffocating so kudos MAC!

Where the moisture gel didn't work, the Mineralize Charged Water Moisture Eye Cream ($35) picked up the slack. I love this! Again, it's light and goes on smoothly. I leave it in the fridge so when applied, it's super cooling and minimizes the puffiness I tend to experience (maybe it's because I'm up all night watching Real Housewives of Atlanta!) .

Lastly, the Mineralize Charged Water Cleanser ($23), which gently removes makeup without excessive scrubbing. My face doesn't feel tight or dry, making it dream to work with. The only caveat is it doesn't remove waterproof or long-wearing makeup. For that I use a muslin washcloth -- gentle yet effective.

M∙A∙C Mineralize Skincare is available now in stores and online.

Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Julep Nail Polish Review

colors: Meryl (grey cream) and Oscar (gold glitter)

Recently, I've developed a terrible nail polish obsession. Like, sickening. I went from having a measly collection of about ten solid polishes to over 30 in such a short time span. I'm not complaining. I'm just stating facts. And admitting my problem. Adding to my new-found addiction is the Julep Maven program. Juelp Maven is a subscriber service (these are popping up everywhere lately!) in which users pay a set amount ($19.99) per month to receive a set of polishes (and other goodies). I think $20 is a fair price to pay for at least two nail polishes per month (especially when one Julep polish sells for $14).

Julep nail polishes come in sleek packaging with long and lean silhouette. The colors themselves are pigmented and gives you great coverage in two coats. The consistency itself is good as it's neither thin and watery, nor too thick. Overall, I love the coverage (the glitter isn't chunky which is how I prefer it) and it lasts at least a week when applied with Seche Vite topcoat.

Pin It Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Shop M·A·C, Cook M·A·C

Releasing more collections per year than any other brand I can recall, M·A·C quickly stole my attention with their latest Shop M·A·C, Cook M·A·C collection. Every year there's one (or two) collections that boast bright colors, cute packaging and all around BOOM IN YOUR FACENESS (a measurement standard set forth by moi in relation to anything fly and fabulous).

Try and Buy a delicious, delovely, delectable, divine, degorgeous, de-with-it, degroovy assortment of Eye Shadow x 4 in wearable brights perfect for Spring. Treat yourself to Lipstick in heavenly hues, mouthwateringly Kissable Lipcolour and Cremeblend Blush. This Spring, shop ‘til you drop with a tongue-in-cheek collection that elevates the everyday into the extraordinary. Whether it’s detergent or diamonds, produce or Prada, everyone loves to shop, shop, shop!

Ladle on an extra helping of foodie fun with an appetizing assortment temptingly tasty Tendertones, nearly black Fluidlines, Studio Careblend/Pressed powder, Opulash Mascara, two Brushes and nosh-worthy Nail Lacquers in fun, bright shades sure to satiate even the most discriminating of glamorous gourmands. COOK M·A·C has Spring 2012’s no-carb, no-calorie recipe for kooky, kitschy, kitchen kouture in savoury shades for Eyes, Lips and Nails. -- M·A·C Cosmetics

Within the Shop M·A·C collection, lies three Eyeshadow Quads ($38 each) that make creating a look quick and easy as each color are complementary. M·A·C does all the hard work for you in terms of color selection (thank goodness because I'm too lazy). I've never had an issue with the brand's range of eye shadows regarding wear. They're not chalky or matte or chunky. Super easy to work with in my book.

Colour Added: is a mix of dark and light colors that make for an interesting night time look. In it, you will find Laundry Daze (light yellow), Colour Added (bright yellow), Pre-packaged (muted turquoise), and Self-Serve (deep grey). Of the four, Colour Added is my favorite since the deep turquoise looks amazing against my skin (apply it lightly for day and more intensely for night.

Call Me Bubbles: four cool-n-spicy coral eye shadows that I find the easiest to wear everyday out of the bunch. The palette contains Call Me Bubbles (a light tan), Fresh Daily (orange), Full of Flavour (coral), and Brash (frosty reddish copper).
Shop & Drop: a violet inspired palette with Sugar Snack (light pink), Hypnotizing (frosted greyed mauve), Power Boosted (violet), and Shop & Drop (deep blue).

Shop M·A·C lipsticks ($14.50): there are six total lipsticks available -- all quite lovely colors. My favorite, oddly enough, isn't pictured here but it's Quick Sizzle, a bright pink (shocker) that has exceptional wear. 

Top to Bottom: Dish it Up (lustre): a berry pink; Innocence, Beware! (cremesheen): a light yellow pink; Naughty Sauté (cremesheen): a bright pepto pink.

Creamy and easy to blend, I've been getting into creme blushes more and more, especially by M·A·C. Three total available in Shop M·A·C that have medium coverage and is easily buildable.

Cook M·A·C contains fluidlines, tendertones, nail lacquers and makeup tools. When I heard the tendertones were coming back, I kind of squealed with joy because of their hydrating and conditioning properties, bright, punchy colors and SPF 12 (great for everyday wear).

Left to Right: Tread Gently: soft lime green with yellow pearl; Purring: sheer tangerine with pearl; Hot n' Saucy: soft cherry red (my favorite); and Hush, Hush: sheer gold with yellow gold pearl.

 Left to Right: Al Fredo and Salad Dressed

All three polishes (one is missing here because I left it inside, boo!) are cream formula meaning they apply easy and without skipping. Two coats are enough (except for Al Fredo, left, which is SO sheer). My favorite is definitely Salad Dressed, a medium teal blue that looks amazing against dark skin. Kid Orange (iPhone photo below!) is a orange-coral that makes for a great pedicure during the spring.

Shop M·A·C, Cook M·A·C is available on counters, online and in M·A·C stores now (products are as available). Visit www.maccosmetics.com to see all items from the collection.

Pin It Disclosure: samples provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

Nourishing My Hair Back to Health

Recently, I colored my hair (January) and relaxed it (late February) but it seems that the month in between didn't make a difference as my hair started breaking something nasty. Every time a comb (or, heck, ran my fingers) through my hair, there were strands falling off as well. Quelle horreur!

To nourish it, I've been using Peter Lamas Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner (plus got a trim, which turned into a cut leaving me with MUCH shorter hair than anticipated). The Avocado Olive Ultra Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner features avocado (surprise!) and olive oil, two well-known moisturizers. Avocado is known to condition and hydrate, while olive oil also conditions and provides a shiny finish.

Peter Lamas' shampoo and conditioner contains a proprietary blend of certified organic bark, barley, sandalwood extracts and Panthenol (Vitamin B) to restore, fortify, and smooth hair cuticles preventing future frizzy flare-ups.

Although I've been using this for a short time, I've already fallen in love. The shampoo isn't harsh or heavy and really cleans. I have a dry scalp issue (ahem) and after using this, I haven't noticed the nasty little flakes that sneaks up on you. The conditioner is unbelievable in terms of detangling. I also use this as a deep conditioner (apply and go under a dryer for 10-15 minutes). After taking a peek at their site, I'm itching to get Repair Me, a leave i conditoner mist that claims to manage frizz and restore hair. Needless to say, I'm down with Peter Lamas!

Peter Lamas hair care products are available online and select retailers (find one here).

Pin It Disclosure: sample provided for editorial consideration. Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.

blue suede shoes

top: H&M; Jeans rock & Republic (c/o Kohl's); shoes: Zara; bag: Alexander Wang; lipstick: Force of Love by MAC Cosmetics' Chen Men collection

I'm 98% sure there's no graceful way to take photos when its windy.

Beside that, I'm super excited the weather has warmed up a bit again this week. I've been in such a major funk and I'm hoping the weather and increasing daylight will turn this frown upside down. It's a funny thing when you get older. School prepares you to know lots of random facts you may never use but not the real deal. Real life is rough. When was the last time I had to deal with parabolas at work, yet I had the WORST time in my mathematics class!! I've been out of college for two years now and I'm faced with too difficult decisions. What if I don't get into law school, then what? Do I even want to go when the New York Times keeps publishing articles like this and this, oh, and this? Not only that, I've reached a point of annoyance with several aspects in life that I'm yearning for a change but too fearful to just go for it.

That's what they need to teach in school: how to grow some damn balls and make the right decision.

Pin It Please don't forget that you can still help the people of Haiti, donate to the Red Cross today. Thank you.