Shanti.
30 y/o. capricorn. Queens, NY. mom. webdeveloper. goofball. geek.
my heart belongs to shane Loves: the diversity in NYC, cooking,
music, shopping, laughing, makeup, lattes, movies, chocolates, my
bed Hates: confrontations, ignorance, mondays... there's a
whole lot I don't want to think about cuz it makes me sad :(
Lemme tell you, I can never get enough of NYX Round Lipstick. That’s why I was excited to find a seller on eBay because they allowed me to buy them in lots of 3, 6 or 12 and I got to choose my own shades, which I like. I’ve seen other sellers that sells them in lots but the shades are pre-selected so you might have a couple shades that you don’t like. They sell other items in lots too, like blushes, shadows and liners. The prices are pretty decent too and they ship super fast. And if you spend over $30, you get a free gift. Plus they have 100% positive feedback so you know they’re good business. So check them out at Joy’s Cosmetics on eBay.
I got 12 NYX Round Lipsticks for $17.99 in pretty shades of nude and brown. My personal favorite is Mars, Champagne and Cocoa. I also picked up some lipglosses too. I’ll be having fun with these!
I’ll be definitely coming back to them. I was actually eyeing on The Bronze Goddess Box makeup set. It looks so darn pretty, doesn’t it? If you know of a review on it, please refer me to it? Thanks.
Before I go to bed, I’d like to share the brushes I got from Crown Brush. Now I can experiment and have fun with the Coastal Scents Eyeshadow Palettes I got a few months ago.
click to enlarge L to R: S231 Chisel Fluff, S217 Round Contour, S225 Shadow Crease, C141 SML Chisel Blush,
C151 SM Chisel Fluff, C138 Round Contour, C139 Stiff Tapered Crease,
C200 Deluxe Crease, C222 Round Contour, C317 Deluxe Crease, IB125 Metal Eyelash Definer
I’m expecting a 28 Neutral Eyeshadow Palette from a beauty blogger who is selling it to me. I can’t wait to get it in the mail! Check her out @ X3MZSHAR’s Blog Sale and there might be something you might like to buy from her. You can also check out other beauty blogger sale at this directory: Beauty Blog Sale Directory.
If no one takes away the AVON catalog, then I might as well be broke… LOL… I’ve been ordering stuff from AVON within the month since my first purchase of nail polishes and I think I’m hooked. So far I’m liking their products but I think have enough to keep me pretty for the rest of the year. Here are some of the things I got and my thoughts on them.
One of many orders I got from AVON
Nailwear Pro Nail Enamel
I wanted to give myself enough time before writing a review to see if the color would last, and sure enough it did. With 2 coats and no top-coat, it did not chip and I didn’t have to touch-up during the week. My manicure lasted for more than a week. It goes on so well with no bubbles or streaks, it looks like I had my nails done professionally. It even dries up fairly quick. My personal favorite is Coral Bikini for my toes, it compliments my tanned skintone. I would buy again.
l to r: Nailwear Pro in Coral Bikini, Tangtastic, Fucshia, Viva Pink, Tropical Punch
and Speed Dry in Mambo Melon
Nailwear Pro in Fucshia
Nailwear Pro in Viva Pink
Nailwear Pro in Tangtastic
Nailwear Pro in Tropical Punch
Nailwear Pro in Coral Bikini
Speed Dry in Mambo Melon
Speed Dry Nail Enamel
If you have trouble getting your nails dry fast enough, then this might be for you. On my first try, my nails got a bit messy because it dried too fast as I was stroking the brush over my nails several times. It dries within a minute or two. It’s great for when you’re short on time and don’t want to wait for your nails to dry. I would definitely buy more when they go on sale.
Glazewear Liquid Lip Color I want to like this gloss, but I don’t. Let me tell you what I like about it: the doe-foot applicator is a plus, it’s moisturizing and non-sticky, the mild smell that’s delish and there’s no taste. The shimmer on the ones I got were not as glittery than I expected, which is a good thing. I give it 3 out of 5 because the gloss doesn’t give enough color. It’s too sheer for my liking. Maybe it was the color I chose, which was Dynamo, Rave and Coral Beat. But their trial sizes seems pigmented, I got them in Darling Pink, Berry Cool, Brown Sugar and Iced Pink. Another thing I don’t like about it is that there’s not enough product on the applicator when I pull it out of the tube, no matter how much I twist and turn to get some product on the applicator, there just wasn’t enough. It’s like the tube just wipes the product off like how a tube of mascara wipes the product off the wand. I just hate to waste time to glob on some gloss just to show color, I just give up on trying in the end. Even though the minis were nicely pigmented, I wouldn’t buy the full size. My experience with it just turned me off.
top to bottom: Glazewear in Dynamo, Rave and Coral Beat
See? Not enough product on the applicator
l to r: Glazewear minis in Darling Pink, Berry Cool, Brown Sugar and Iced Pink
Supershock Mascara
I like how this mascara did not clump and it seperated my lashes and gave volume. It lasted all day, it did not flake, smear or smudge under my eyes. I have nothing bad to say about it except that I felt like the tube was empty and there wasn’t enough product on the brush, which I guess is a good thing, otherwise it’ll get clumpy. I would probably but this again.
Astonishing Lengths Mascara
This mascara is “meh” to me. Not too crazy about it. It didn’t seperate my lashes very well and it did not lengthen. Actually, it made my lashes look like spider legs, not the kind of look I’m going for.
Ultra Luxury Eyeliner
This eyeliner did not tug or pull my eyes, and they go on very smooth and easy. I got these in Black and Charcoal and I’m loving the Black. But they don’t last long if worn alone so I layer it with the Big Color Eye Pencil in Night Glisten and it makes such a big difference. I would definitely buy this again.
Big Color Eye Pencil
This pencil was made as a shadow and liner in one. I only use it as a liner so I can’t comment it as a shadow. The color I got was in Night Glisten and I love it! It’s black with a bit of shimmer and I think it’s great for the outer corner. The color stays true even in sunlight. The only downside of it is that it fades at the end of the day if you don’t touch up and it tends to smear a little, maybe because I have oily skin. But I find that if I layer it with the Ultra Luxury Eyeliner, it last all day. I would buy this again.
top to bottom: Glazewear Liquid Lip Color, Big Color Eye Pencil, Ultra Luxury Eyeliners,
Ultra Luxury Brow Liner and ColorTrend Mini Eyeliner
Top: Mini Eyeliner in Midnight Blue, Brow Liner in Light Golden Brown,
Eyeliner in Charcoal and Black, Eye Pencil in Night Glisten
Middle: Glazewear in Rave, Dynamo and Coral Beat
Bottom: Bronzer in Beachy
True Color Bronzer
OMG.. what can I say about this product? I just love it! I got this in Beachy and it’s perfect for my skintone. It’s not too dark, it’s not too light, it’s just right. It makes my face look like I was kissed by the sun. It’s great for when you want an added color to your face without looking like a clown.
courtesy of avon.com
ANEW Age-Transforming Pressed Powder
I swear carrying this around in my bag makes me feel like a cougar… LMAO! It claims to soften the look of wrinkles and fine lines… which I don’t have, but I do want to minimize the large pores. It doesn’t help with that problem But my boyfriend said that my face looks clean and he never says anything like that, but I guess he really noticed it that he had to say something. It didn’t help with my oily skin but with a few blots here and there with a tissue, my skin looks fantastic! I didn’t like the sponge applicator it came with so I have to pick up one of those refill applicator for pressed powder thingamajigs.
courtesy of avon.com
Now get that AVON catalog away from me before I go broke!!!
Not too long ago, I received the occasional newsletter from Coastal Scents announcing their sales and new products and noticed the African Black Soap they were selling online. It looked kinda odd, but as I was reading the description, it’s got so many usage, from relieving acne, preventing itchiness and rashes, pore cleansing, washing hair and so much more. What really got me was this one long review on the product. So I ordered one, not from Coastal Scents, but from a seller on eBay. I ordered 1/2 a pound because I didn’t want to commit to buying anything bigger unless I knew it would work for me.
What is it exactly? The one I got is 100% natural. It contains no dyes, frangrance or preservatives and it came in a plastic tub for 1/2 pound. It can be packaged in a plastic bag depending on how much and where you buy it from. The feeling is somewhat similar to Play-Doh so it’s soft but firm enough to mold however you want. You can cut it up to size and use little portions at a time. It has a light smell to it, like natural soap. And it lathers very well! To keep it last longer, I keep them in a wooden soap dish to keep it away from a pool of water. Otherwise it would melt and get slimy. You can find them at etsy.com.
I know it looks odd but this is an awsome gift from mother nature!
On the first day I washed my face with this soap, my skin felt soft and tight, and I would feel this way throughout the day. What amazed me the most was how my skin wasn’t as oily as it would in the evening. And it seems like it helped smooth the appearance of my skin so my large pores look less noticable. Since then, I haven’t gotten any occasional breakouts, even during my period. I’ve also used this in the shower and my entire skin felt squeaky clean. I haven’t used this on my hair yet so I can’t comment on that. 1/2 a pound lasted me 3 weeks and I recently placed another order for 3 lbs. from another eBayer to stock up. I couldn’t get enough of this stuff. I suggest you give this a try and tell me what you think.
EDIT 2009.05.26: Okay, so this past weekend, it was mad hot, so I wore my sandals, which kinda ripped my skin off on one foot around the strap area. I took a shower using this soap that night and it felt like I had put rubbing alcohol. OUCH!!!! Also I recently shaved my armpits and it was stinging a bit. Not sure if it was the soap I recently bought from another eBayer, but I never had this problem from the first merchant. So if you want to try, I suggest you buy it from Coastal Scents or the eBay merchant garybuilt2last.
I got some stuff in the mail this past week and hid it from my boyfriend who was playing Gears of War 2 at the time, so I opened them in the bathroom I recieved my Crown brushes and was disappointed that 3 of the 10 that I ordered were out of stock. The ones that are missing were some eyeshadow brushes I wanted to use for the palettes I got recently. I ordered them on a Wednesday and got it the following Monday. It’s sort of an odd e-store they have on their website, you add your items and the minimum is $25, when you checkout, your order is not finalize until they send you an email and you provide them with your credit card information. I didn’t want to wait so I called them, gave them my order number and my credit card info. I just wish they could’ve told me that some of my brushes were out of stock, so I could order something else from a different line. But the guy on the phone was super friendly and I would definitely order from them again. I’m happy with what I got and it even came with a catalog! Did you know that they are suppliers for Coastal Scents? Just thought you wanna know
From top to bottom: C106 Pointed Dome, C104 Angled Brush, C155 Brow/Lash Groomer
C213 Chisel Mini Smudger, C112 Stiff Brow
I ordered the Studio Professional line cuz I personally like the look of it. The blush brushes, in general, didn’t shed and smell as much as I thought it would, even after washing them. It did got black but i washed it serveral times until the water ran clear. They feel kinda prickly but for a few seconds of applying blush, it shouldn’t matter as long as it’s doing its job. I LOVE the Angled brush! I bought this to use with my contour palette and it’s smaller and not as fluffy compared to my Essence of Beauty Control Powder Brush. It’s the perfect size for the job. The Pointed Dome brush is great for the apples!
The Stiff Brow brush I use with my Ardell Brow Defining Powder cuz I lost the brush that it came with. It’s an ok brush. It picks up alot of product on the brush that if I’m not too careful, I could end up looking like Groucho Marx! So I use the brush on the Brow/Lash Groomer to blend so that it doesn’t look too solid. And I finish my eyebrow (the outer portion) with Cover Girl’s Brow & Eye Maker in Midnight Brown.
I also recieved my J.Lynne order
Nicely packaged. It looked so nice, I didn’t want to open it!
I’m at work right now and I quickly want to say that I received my Coastal Scents order I placed on Wednesday and they so friggin’ gorgeous!!! I’m so excited, I can’t wait to try them!
26 Color Shadow Blush Combo Palette - $21.95
26 Color Shadow Blush Combo Palette
I love how these comes in different sorts of colors from browns, pinks, plums and peaches and they’re are a mix of matte and shimmer finishes.
6 Color Contour & Blush Palette - $19.95
6 Color Contour & Blush Palette
I’ve been wanting to learn how to contour and with the products I have on hand just wasn’t cutting it. After watching xsparkage’s video, I HAD to have this. I was surprised at how big this one was. And I love the colors, you can mix two colors to achieve the look you want, it’s just fabulous!
I also placed an order with CrownBrush.com and ordered some brushes as I need to update my collection, so that should be coming soon. I know I should be saving money for my house, but I got some money from my returns and why not spoil myself with a little something. It’s been a long time since I spent money on anything for myself, but just don’t tell the boyfriend
I’m into 2 months since I began CG and it’s becoming a lifestyle for me. I tell my kids, family and friends how bad shampoo does to your hair and the only people that listens to me are my kids… LOL. Now they co-wash their hair and my little one used up my Honey Coco Mango soap. Now only if we incorporate exercising into our lifestyle, we’d be fit curlies :D. But that’s a whole different story.
I’m still in a learning process with the whole CG thing; different techniques such as scrunching the crunch, plopping, pixiecurl, in what order to apply styling products, etc. Experimenting with different products to see what works best for me and such, this can be very overwhelming. I mean, I HAVE the curls, but lately they’ve been frizzy and flat on top.
As far as frizz goes, I read somewhere on NC.com forum that AVG can make hair frizzy. I’ve been using that since I started CG cuz it helped enhanced my curls and I’d wear it under LaBella Max Hold Gel. So as an experiment this week, I decided not to use AVG and used LOOB instead as a curl enhancer under HETT, plopped for a couple of hours and I didn’t even have to diffuse and I must say I had the best 1st day hair ever. I frizzed by the end of the day but not as much as I did using AVG. I only got 3 day out of that combo. And best of all, I had the best curl formation from the roots and volume thanks to my Denman D3 brush!
I might have to do a deep treatment to fix the frizz. Or maybe add protein into my routine. Not sure but I might have to post on NC.com and ask for advice.
Denman Be-Bop Massage Brush (D6) - Circular massage brush with extra-soft plastic pins
- Ideal for gentle, stimulating scalp massage during shampooing
- Perfect for distributing gels, waxes and pomades during styling
- Particularly suitable for short to medium-length hair
- Not suitable for use with a hairdryer
The minute I used the Denman D6 Brush against my scalp, I thought I died and gone to heaven! The feeling was so much better than my own fingertips, it’s that good. I use the Denman D6 Brush to cleanse my scalp and loosen any residue that’s accumulated. And at the same time, it massages my ever-neglected scalp. The final results… a clean, happy, feel good scalp I should get one more for my other hand so I could use both at the same time.
Denman Be-Bop Massage Brush (D6)
Denman D3 Brush 7 Row - Ideal for smoothing and styling
- Suitable for all lengths and types of hair
- Smooth, round-ended pins for gentle styling
- Ergonomic handle for balance and comfort
- Hygienic and durable
Alot of the curlies swear by this brush. Some of them use it to detangle their hair and others say it helps distribute products when hair is wet. Some have said that it helps with clumpage and define curls. I didn’t really need to buy this brush for those mentioned. I did fine without it, except for the lack of volume on the top of my head, which usually lays flat. So I brush my hair standing upright after applying AVG and styling gel to get the products through evenly. If I feel like I need more products then I apply more. Then I flip my hair over and brush upside down. By doing this, I’m lifting my hair from the roots to give me that volume. After that, I’d scrunch, then plop. So far the top of my hair looks even curlier and volume that I don’t need to clip.
Denman D3 Brush 7 Row
Mimi’s Diva Dryer Hair Towel Diva Dryer is made of Aquitex - Aquitex is a super-absorbent microfiber material that dries a girl’s hair quicker than an ordinary towel. Dry your hair in half the time!
When I started learning how to plop, I used a regular towel. I didn’t have any problems with frizz, but I hated how heavy it felt on my head that I get a major headache and it’s very uncomfortable when I sleep with it on. With the Diva Dryer, it’s very light and it definitely cuts the drying time in half. If I plop overnight, my hair is 80% dry the next morning. It’s so light that if I plop during the day, I can get dressed, put on makeup, clean the house, do a light workout and not having to worry about the towel sliding off my head.
Mimi’s Diva Dryer Hair Towel
Yeah, yeah… I look funny! My son said that my hair looked like George Washington
Btw, if you want to know what the heck is a plop, check out this video, she’ll explain it alot better than i would… LOL.
Naturally Up North Soaps
I initially bought Honey Coco Mango soap cuz a curly girl at NC.com said it did wonders to her hair and I figured I’d give it a try. We probably have different hair type after all cuz I didn’t have the slip I’d expected and it didn’t leave my hair feeling “slippery silk wet seaweed” But let me tell you what a treat it is to lather yourself in natural soap. It smells sooo yummy, I could just eat it! I also ordered Sugar & Spice, it smells like Big Red. She added a sample soap to my order, Vanilla Cream! Ain’t she sweet?! Visit her @ Etsy and tell her that VirtualBabe sent you
Darn you enablers at NC.com!!! I should stop going to the forums or else my bathroom will be filled with a year supply of conditioners and gels… LOL. I couldn’t curb the PJ in me that I ordered a few things online and at Target, CVS, Rite Aid, the local beauty supply store…… *sigh*
Curly Girl the Handbook - So this book is like the Bible for curlies. I got my copy from eBay. I was disappointed when I found out that I could’ve bought it for $5 cheaper at DeepDiscount.com (free shipping too) and to top it off I had ordered a DVD from them If I knew they sold the book, I could’ve ordered it there to save on shipping and get both items at the same time. Oh well! I can always use this book as reference, but I’d rather hang out at the message forum where I can find a wealth of information, share ideas, give advice and compare notes.
Mimi’s Diva Dryer Towel - Ever since I’ve been going CG, I like to plop overnight not only to get nice clumpy curls, but my hair takes forever to dry, and lately I’ve been using a regular towel which gets very uncomfortable when I sleep with it on and my hair is still damp the next morning. So when I hear the other curlies using micro fiber towels to dry and plop their hair, I HAVE to have one for myself. I got mine at eBubbles.com and they come in my #1 favorite color… PINK! It also comes in white and it measures 39″x20″. It’s super soft and ultra-absorbant. This baby cuts the drying time in half and minimize damage from blow-drying.
Denman Brush in D3 & D6 - We all know, as a curly girl, you’re not allowed to brush your hair cuz it’ll promote frizz and cause damage to your hair. The curlies in the forum says otherwise, at least with the Denman D3 Brush. Some of them use it to detangle their hair and others say it helps distribute products when hair is wet. One member said that she brushes her daughter’s hair with the D3 and it gave her “amazing clumps”. She had me on that. And another member invited me to see her progression in her Fotki album. She has the most GAAAAW-geous curls and we both have the same hair type. I’m sold! I ordered mine from Birth of Beauty cuz they carry another brush that I really wanted, the D6. You can use it to apply shampoo and it also gently massages your scalp.
Shampoo Bars - I’ve been reading alot about shampoo bars and how alot of the curlies really like it being that it’s good for curls. There’s this one particular thread that was started by a member who I was kinda stalking *hehe* because we have the same hair type and she had mentioned about a shampoo bar that she tried. She said it had so much slip that she was able to comb in the shower. Not only that, she also said that after she rinsed it, applied condish and rinsed again, her hair felt like slippery silky wet seaweed. SOLD! LOL… http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5244673 I got the Honey Cocoa Mango that’s supposed to smell yummy and Sugar & Spice.
My sister and I went to Target this morning cuz she wanted to get a few things for her new apartment. Of course, with the little PJ in me I had to stop at the hair section to see if anything was there that I could remember from my list I picked up L’Oreal Melting Gel and Herbal Essences Totally Twisted Gel. And when I saw that Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner was $0.97, I bought three bottles (the only ones that were there so I literally took it off the shelf… haha) and two bottles of Juicy Green Apples Conditioner for $1.27 each.
You think that’s bad, I have a few more stuff laying around in my bathroom. You can take a look in my Fotki album. And don’t be suprised about the lubricant bought from an adult novelty store. Yes, I use that on my hair and I can tell you it’s WAYYY better than Frizz-Ease
That’s not all. There are a few more things I do want to try. If I ever make a trip to Sally’s Beauty Supply, I’ll be picking up a bottle of Biotera Curl Creme and Styling Gel, the GVP Volumizing Root Lifter and Conditioning Balm. And next time I shop at VitaCost.com for a bottle of LOTD, I’ll be adding AOHR and Giovanni 50/50 to my shopping cart as well. I’m also looking for a really deep discount on SheaMoisture Shea Butter LI online. I did found one site (Beauty of New York) but their shipping is not so discount. Actually I can order and pick up in person and save on shipping, but something about me that is too scared of being in a neighborhood that’s too foreign to me, even if it’s a few train stops away from me. I know, I’m chicken-shit!
So anyway, whatever happened to September??!! All of a sudden you see Halloween stuff on displays and slowly the Christmas stuff. It felt like yesterday when I was sending my kids off to school on their first day and here I am trying to get ready for Trick o’ Treaters. I’m planning on taking the kids to Six Flags Great Adventure for Freight Fest next weekend so it should be a fun night. In the meantime, here’s a treat for you! Thank you for reading.
After years of straightening my hair, whether it’s from flat iron or blow drying, I’m noticing that my hair is falling out more than usual. I’m not sure if it’s from pulling my hair too much, but I’m positive that it is. Even after a trim, my hair would still fall out. So enough of that and decided to go curly and embrace them.
I’ve been curly since August, and my hair is responding very nicely so far. I’ve been lurking at NaturallyCurly.com forum and there’s a wealth of information. You can find me at the message forum, where other curlies are there to help, make suggestions and offer advice. It’s a bit overwhelming for me still, getting used to the abbreviations they talk about, their routines, etc. I’m also trying not to be a product junkie. Alot of the curlies on there have successful stories with the products they’re using and it makes me wanna go out and try it myself. ARGH!!! I think I’m good with what I have right now. It only takes time and patience, trial and error. I’m still in a learning process.
This week, I had the time to document my results and have pictures taken. On Tuesday, 9/16, I co-washed my hair with Suave Naturals Ocean Breeze Conditioner, rinsed, then applied more conditioner mixed in with honey, left it on while I wash my face and shaved my legs. Then I rinsed it off with cool water. While my hair is soaking wet, I sectioned my hair and applied Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Gel (LOTD) , squeezing access water and scrunched. Then I applied LaBella Max Hold Styling Gel and scrunched again. Plopped for 30 minutes and here are my results:
I liked how my hair clumped but I didn’t like how my hair curled. I think I’ll love it more if I gave myself more time to plop. So on 9/17 at night, I co-washed and styled my hair the same way I did on 9/16. Only this time I plopped overnight and this is my result:
Nice bouncy curls!!!! I love it!!! Now only if I can prevent it from getiing frizzy, I’d be a happy curly girl!
Shanti.
30 y/o. capricorn. Queens, NY. mom. webdeveloper. goofball. geek.
my heart belongs to shane Loves: the diversity in NYC, cooking,
music, shopping, laughing, makeup, lattes, movies, chocolates, my
bed Hates: confrontations, ignorance, mondays... there's a
whole lot I don't want to think about cuz it makes me sad :(
Here are some of the things I got and my thoughts on them.
But my boyfriend said that my face looks clean 
and he never says anything like that, but I guess he really noticed it that he had to say something. It didn’t help with my oily skin but with a few blots here and there with a tissue, my skin looks fantastic! I didn’t like the sponge applicator it came with so I have to pick up one of those refill applicator for pressed powder thingamajigs.
