Gimme That Glow

Lumixyl Creme Product Review

2010-03-09T10:22:00.007-05:00

Don't you hate when you have an unsightly blemish on your face at the WRONG time? You could use strong and harsh cremes to rid those blemishes but I think I found a great safer gentler alternative. Sometimes quick fixes, although quick can do some damage if not used properly. Lumixyl came in handy for me when I got the dreaded blemish between the eyes. UGH! I HATE those! They always seem to creep up when you REALLY don't want them to. It's gentle and safe to use over prolonged use. Here are some benefits of Lumixyl:

Non-irritating or allergenic

Non-toxic

Safe for all skin types

Safe for prolonged use

Easily degraded by the skin

Will not increase skin’s sensitivity to the sun

Stabilized so that it will not lose potency or turn brown after opening

A luxurious, moisture-rich texture

After a week and half of using Lumixyl that dreaded, horrible blemish 'tween my eyes had faded! No stinging, burning, NOTHING! This stuff is great! It's a little pricey BUT it is so gentle and cutting edge without all the harsh chemicals. Most cremes you can't use for prolonged periods of time but with this you can use it as long as you need to achieve great results. Lucky for me and unfortunately for that nasty blemish it only took a week and a half (and I'm still using it just because!)

To learn more about Lumixyl please visit their site.

Congratulations to Glow Girl Mo'Nique!

2010-03-08T09:27:00.000-05:00

Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Special night for Oscar winner Mo'Nique for her riveting performance in Precious. Congratulations!

Neoteric Cosmetics Alpha Hydrox

2010-03-05T13:18:00.000-05:00

As you get older, caring for your skin becomes increasingly important. Environmental pollutants, wind, dirt, etc are the skin's arch enemy. Those coupled with UV rays and aging it seems were in a battle to maintain great skin. Neoterics Alpha Hydrox is one of the best AHA brands I have used.
Alpha Hydrox Nourishing Cleanser ($8.49, 4.5 oz) is one of the thickest, gentle cleansers I have ever used. It's so thick you only need a dime size amount to cleanse your face. Contains Pro-vitamin B5 & Vitamin A&E microbeads condition and help protect against damage & aging. The cleanser is also soap free which is great because it will not dry out your skin! After cleansing, you can either use Alpha Hydrox Souffle 12% AHA ($15.49, 1.6oz) smoothes, softens & restores skin without the use of abrasives. Peptides & Green Tea preserve firmness and prevent free radicals from breaking skin down. It is very light and absorbs very well not leaving your skin oily or sticky. If you want to "breathe" some life into your face use the Alpha Hydrox Oxygenated Moisturizer ($14.99, 2 oz) unlike the other products this one does not contain AHA's. Great for smooth makeup applications and is designed to be absorbed quickly. Non-greasy, it also helps stimulate natural collagen production. For those times you need to give your face a good deep down exfoliation use the Alpha Hydrox Wipes 14% AHA ($16.99, 24 wipes) Exfoliates dead cells and blemishes, allowing healthier more radiant skin to emerge, diminishes fines lines and wrinkles, improves skin's firmness. Immediately reveals brighter, smoother, more even-toned skin.

One thing I found in using AHA's I have to cycle on and off with them. While my face LOVES AHA's, maybe after two weeks of use, I have to scale back because my face tends to get a little sensitive to them. I always notice skin improvement IMMEDIATELY and this is a staple in my skincare. African American women tend to have blemishes and marks and using AHA's can help diminish those imperfections in your skin and help improve skin tone. If your skin tends to get a little dry when using AHA's, which is normal sometime, use a good moisturizer.

Compared to the other AHA brand that I've used in the past, Neoteric is by far the best! To learn more about their products please visit www.neotericcosmetics.com

"Bra" room Brawl: Stop Letting Your Breast Beat the Pavement!

2010-03-05T10:03:00.083-05:00

Ladies, I'm tired of seeing ill-fitting brassieres. Sagging, drooping, dragging, pushed too far up, popping out, laying to the side....it is NOT appealing. Wearing cheap brassieres need to stop. Most don't provide adequate support and coverage. I see women spend damn near their life savings for Victoria Secret undies rather than purchase a good bra. Your girls shouldn't be sagging low enough for someone to play double-dutch with them.

Does the bra you have on RIGHT THIS MOMENT fit properly?

Common mistake for a woman to make when purchasing a bra is NOT GETTING MEASURED FIRST. You may have been a 34 D but maybe you lost some weight and have gone down a size (lucky you!) or gained some weight and went up a size (damn girl or lucky you!). Another common mistake is purchasing the WRONG TYPE of brassiere you need. If you're already say a 38DD, why would you purchase a padded bra or push up bra? Women often times get swept up in the pretty, frilly, sexy brassieres that may look like pure eye candy but not fit properly. Another common mistake is wearing the WRONG COLOR bra with tops. My grandmother taught me from the ripe ole age of 10 when I got my first bra (was a 34B right off the bat!) white shirt=black or nude bra, black shirt=black bra. Boy was she right! Wearing a white bra underneath a white blouse or shirt only draws more attention to your breast (and bra for that matter). You can clearly SEE the bra. Wearing a black bra neutralizes the transparency of the shirt or blouse you are wearing. When wearing a black shirt or blouse with a white bra is equal to turning on the lights in a dark house.

See how light and bright her bra shows up? HUGE NO, NO!

One of the more common and frequent mistakes women make is misunderstanding the measurements of a brassiere. You would figure as a woman it is one of the things that you should know and understand but many don't. The number represents the circumference of your chest and the letters represent the cup size. When properly measured for a brassiere one of two measurements can be taken to determine your ballpark number. First, directly below your bust is measured using a cloth tape measure. The other is measuring around the middle of your bust (which can be most likely inaccurate in finding a proper measurement). Measuring yourself may not be the best method. Asking a trusted friend or partner would be most helpful and more accurate.

For women who have small breasts a balcony style bra and padded bra suits you best. They will give you a more fuller look. You're able to get away with brassieres that have lace and design work. You should avoid purchasing larger cup brassieres to attempt to give you a larger breast appearance.

For women who have large breasts you need wider shoulder and back straps to give you added support. Underwire/Full Support provide the best support. One common problem for larger breast women is brassieres that rise up in the back like this:

Larger breast women also need to make sure their bra doesn't "dig" into the shoulder. You bra should NEVER leave shoulder marks or cause discomfort. That's a sign your bra is TOO SMALL. Make sure you get a bra that provides good back coverage. You know. The "back fat." Yeah, that.

As you can see in the photo above the back straps are not adequate. No woman likes back fat. Some of us have it. Some a little. Some a lot. It's a part of life. But you can make it easier by wearing a bra to help with that.

A lot of us fore go wearing a good bra because well...they cost a GRIP! On the flip side they are SOOOOO worth the cost! About two years ago I bought $325 worth of brassieres (13 total) ranging from $21-24 a piece. If you can spend that on ONE PAIR OF SHOES YOU CAN SPEND THAT TO GET SEVERAL GOOD BRAS! I saw it as an investment in my breast. They deserve to sit up tall and look youthful for as long as humanly possible. I owe them that. They have help me out a lot! LOL

Here are a few tips for a good fit bra:

1. Make sure you get the RIGHT CUP SIZE. Your entire breast should be covered. You shouldn't be overflowing or hanging out.
2. Your brassieres shouldn't cause you to become a pill popping nightmare because they hurt so much! They should be comfortable and you shouldn't be fussing with straps or constant adjusting.
3. Choose function over style. Yes, we want a pretty bra. We like pretty things. Now get over it when it comes to buying a bra. Unless you plan on ONLY wearing a bra sans a shirt or a blouse who cares about the lace details?
4. Note your problem areas and make sure you relay that information to a sales clerk or if shopping online, look for brassieres that target those problem areas.
5. Do not let cost make you sacrifice support! You can often find a great deal online. My favorite is freshpair.com! Make sure the site you purchase from shows plenty of pictures of the bra on a model.
6. DO NOT purchase an ill fitting size because of a sale and they don't have it in your size! What's the point?!
7. Wash your bras in a lingerie bag to help prevent stretching, fraying and broken hooks.
8. About every two years purchase new brassieres. They aren't meant to be passed down from generation to generation. Toss the old one's, re-purpose them or donate them.
9. Purchase neutral color brassieres. Black, White and Nude. Leave the crazy colors to the younger crowd and sometimes the bedroom.
10. Keep tabs on your size! Get measured every two years and ALWAYS give yourself a self-breast exam!
11. If you workout, wear a tight fitting sports bra with adequate coverage that doesn't choke your breasts but restricts movement as much as possible.
12. Try not and sleep in your bra. It may cause stretching and discomfort.

Have any questions? Ask me! Happy bra shopping!

GiveAway WINNER!!!!!!!!

2010-03-05T09:48:00.004-05:00

I want to thank everyone for entering our giveaway! The winner is Lunachique!!!

Please email me tamar@gimmethatglow.com with your mailing address so that we can get your Exposed Organics Beauty Box to you!

Too everyone that didn't win please don't get discouraged! We will have more contests coming up!!

New Zoya Summer Colors 2010

2010-03-04T11:01:00.002-05:00

Zoya Nail Polish presents six new creams and six new metallics for summer 2010.

Zoya Flash Collection

Robyn (ZP513) - perfect turquoise cream

Perrie (ZP514) - soft lavender cream

Dana (ZP515) - american rose cream

Jolene (ZP516) - summer pink cream

Maura (ZP517) - electric crimson cream

Jancyn (ZP518) - soft tangerine cream

Zoya Sparkle Collection

Ivanka (ZP507) - mermaid green sparkling metallic

Charla (ZP508) - tropical blue sparkling metallic

Mimi (ZP509) - royal purple sparkling metallic

Alegra (ZP510) - fuchsia pink sparkling metallic

Nidhi (ZP511) - rich red sparkling metallic

Gilda (ZP512) - fashion pink sparkling metallic

Both collections will be available in April!

Eye'd Try It Look™: Phoenix Desert

2010-03-04T09:16:00.095-05:00

Prep and Finish: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, L.A. Girl Mark My Eyes Eyeliner, L'Oreal Hip Color Truth Cream Eyeliner (905) (Black), Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil (Zero), Maybelline Natural Accents (Phantom Grey), Revlon Beyond Natural Defining Mascara (Black)

Brushes: Modern Basic Chisel Pointed Fluff (#808), Sephora Professionel Smudge Brush (#14), Smashbox Eye Liner Brush (#28)

Shadows: MicaBella Shimmer Powder Carnival (#9), NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Orange Pearl (LP18), OCC Authentic

How I did it:

Applied the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Potion on the entire lid. Using the Modern Basic brush, I applied OCC Authentic to the lower lid working my way upward (Area #3). Still using the Modern Basic Brush I applied the NYX Ultra Pearl Orange Pearl directly above the OCC Authenic (clay color) (Area #2). Next I applied the MicaBella Shimmer Powder Carnival (same brush) above the NYX (Area #1) sweeping across the entire brow bone area.

Note: When using the same brush, be sure to tap off the excess color before applying the next color.

Still using the Modern Basic brush I applied all the colors again for a touch more color. Using a chisel brush helps apply color moderately without going too heavy which is perfect for this look because you want it to look natural and soft. It also helps to precisely place color. I then applied the Urban Decay Liner (White line) and the Revlon mascara.

On the lower lid I applied the L.A. Girl Liner at the water line and using the Smashbox Eye Liner Brush I applied the L'Oreal Hip Creme Eyeliner. To soften the line, using the Sephora Professionel Smudge Brush I applied the Maybelline Natural Accents Eyeshadow then applied Revlon mascara.

The great thing about these colors I chose, I didn't really have to blend very much because they fall in the same color family AND they all have lots of shimmer!

Back In Black

2010-03-03T14:15:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love this Back in Black look I created. It only took simple pieces to make a casual sexy look. I started with a nice pair of jeans. I'm a big fan of finding unusual jeans or adding some type of flair to them to make them your own.

Hat by Evita Peroni
Earring by Accessorize
Vest by Alexis Mabille for LaRedoute
Tank top by Nakkna
Jeans by Zara
Wedges by Bottega Veneta

Next, I went with a long black tank. The cut of this tank was fabulous and irregular (note: short ladies *such as myself* stay away from the longer shirts unless you plan to cut them to work with you). The tank can be extremely sexy by itself, but I wanted to add a little something more. I took a cute small vest and put over the tank. To top off this simple look, I added some earrings and of course a hat. I just think hair accessories are fabulous!!!! To give this outfit its perfect ending, I added some sexy black wedges.

There is nothing greater than jeans and a tank, just class it up and make the look you!

Product Review: Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural

2010-03-03T08:00:00.005-05:00

I was overjoyed when I was presented with the opportunity to try out Pantene's Relaxed & Natural Intensive Moisturizing hair care collection. Mainly because it's specifically formulated for women of color and I've experienced first hand how hard it is to find mainstream products that are designed for our various grades of hair. Not only did I get a chance to experience the products for myself but my sister also wanted to give it a try. Did we achieve the same results? Did the products meet our expectations? Find out in both of our reviews below...

What It Claims: Formulated for women of color. Helps make your hair up to 99% stronger against damage

After Using Pantene Pro-V Relaxed & Natural

My hair texture is fine & naturally curly and its been well over a year since I've had any chemicals aside from hair color put in it. I guess its safe to say I've "transitioned" into becoming completely natural. When people ask what products I use on my hair I always draw a blank because I honestly have no clue lol. I know it sounds crazy but its rare that I wash my own hair and my beautician keeps my hair looking fab so I never really asked questions ( is that bad?) But recently I've cut down on the weekly salon visits so I was really excited to see what Pantene could do for me.

Breakage Defense Deep Conditioning Mask

Likes: I absolutely LOVE the smell of the deep conditioner its so gravitating, you literally don't want to put it down. I also liked the fact that I could easily run my fingers through my curls without everything getting all tangled up. It made it much easier to manage! I have really oily hair and I noticed that the shampoo gave me a squeaky clean feel without completely stripping my hair, that was definitely a plus because some products leave your hair dry and stripped from its natural moisture which leads to damage.

Dislikes: I can't really call this a dislike but I just wish I could use the Deep Conditioning Mask on my skin too because the smell was just too yummy!

Would I Recommend It: Yes, Yes and YES!! In fact I already did lol, I was out the other day and someone asked me what products I used on my hair and of course I proudly told them Pantene Relaxed & Natural!!!

After Styling

Overall: I love it! Pantene has definitely found a customer for life because I intend on using it for a very long time. After drying and flat ironing my hair it had so much bounce & body and it was soooo soft!

Kim's Review (my sis)

After Styling

My hair type is fine/curly. I've searched for the PERFECT hair products that I can use at home for a long time. Odara suggested I try the Pantene products and I have to say after trying them - I am in love! The search for the perfect hair products between salon visits is over :-)!

After Styling

Likes: My hair tangles when it is wet and I often have to use a detangling conditioner. This time I didn't need it.

Dislikes: I didn't care for the smell of the shampoo because it couldn't compare to the heavenly smell of both conditioners.

Would I Recommend It: Without a doubt! In fact after Odara saw the finished product, she was in awe!

Overall: Pantene products superseded my expectations! This particular line is for natural and relaxed hair. My hair is natural and I have not had a perm in almost two years. After flat ironing my hair, I was shocked at the results! My hair had so much body, it looked like I had just stepped out of the salon. My hair was also very soft and silky. Again- my search is over and thanks to Pantene (and Odara suggesting it), I am confident that I will have salon results every time I wash and style my hair.

Kim's son (my nephew) Malachi just couldn't resist jumping in one of the photos LOL!

Products were provided by PR & media Relations representatives for review. Read our disclosure policy here.

Product Review and Give Away: Exposed Organics Beauty Box

2010-03-02T08:30:00.003-05:00

****Giveaway Closed***

As promised I'm back with a review of some Exposed Organics products. This Beauty Box is Insane and I'm gonna tell you why!!

After speaking with Celeste I learned that they were getting ready to Launch a new item called "The Beauty Box" so I was excited that I was gonna get the opportunity to try one! Here's what I pulled out of the shipping box

Its cute right? Well I opened it up and I was surprised as to how much stuff fit into the itty bitty box! The touch of pink was girly and fun also

Inside I got 5 eye shadows which made me say WOW because most of the time when you buy "kits" you get the sample size of products. These shadows will last me awhile.

The names are fun and catchy. I would love to rename all my shadows but I'll leave it to the pros.

The colors I have are Bronze

Grinch

JungleBelle

PlumPudding

SumLikeItHot

These are very sexy and you don't have to pile it on to get a good color payout. I also received some Nectar, which is a mixing medium for your eyeshadow. It gives you a look that's more dramatic than what I'm used to. But I guess its necessary for using Mineral shadow?

I got some lip lube which has replaced my Carmex

Last and my absolute favorite has to be the Plain Jane Oil Cleanser! How does oil clean away all traces of makeup? I don't know but as soon as I figure out how and why I will let you know. It leaves my dry skin feeling so Hydrated!

So what do you think? Do you want one? Well Celeste is giving one lucky reader a Beauty Box filled to the brim with goodies.

Here are the Rules:

1. Follow this blog (click the link on the side bar)

2. Follow GimmeThatGlow and ExposedOrganics on Twitter.

3. Become a fan of GimmeThatGlow and ExposedOrganics on Facebook.

4. Leave us a comment saying Enter Me!

Simple right? You have until Friday March 5,2010 to signup!

Keep Glowing,

Nail Junkie: CHI Ceramic Nail Lacquer

2010-03-01T11:38:00.003-05:00

Yes, the same company that makes my favorite ceramic flat irons also makes nail polish! And not just any polish; CHI is actually formulated with ceramic to promote stronger nails. I purchased three fab colors while at the Bronner Brother's Hair Show last weekend.

They had so many beautiful colors to choose from but these were my top 3 favorites!

Double Fisted Fuchsia

Taken w/o Flash

This pink was definitely my favorite out of the bunch, the color was sizzling! This was my first time EVER painting my nails Pink and I was very pleased with the results.

My Knight In Shinning Armour

Taken w/o Flash

I loved the deep hue of this color, it was very subtle.

Gold Standard

Taken w/o Flash

The Gold was a more modest & neutral color, which is something I would normally wear.

Likes: The colors are extremely vibrant and very true to what they look like in the bottle. They are very rich & plentiful so you only really need one coat.

Dislikes: Here's the kicker, I HATED the fact that not even after a few hours the polish started chipping!!! That was a complete deal breaker for me, you mean to tell me I can't even get through a 24 hour day without my freshly painted nails becoming a disaster? At first I thought well maybe I'm doing too many things and THAT's the reason for the mishaps! But nooooo all three colors chipped like clockwork.

Would I Recommend It: I would! But, I'd also recommend purchasing a nail treatment to go along with it. They have a Ceramic Base & Top Coat Treatment that specifically prevents the polish from chipping or peeling. I sure wish the rep who sold it to me would have TOLD me about this before I purchased the polish because I would've bought it.

Overall: Honestly, I really love the colors but I can't say that I'm completely sold just yet. For CHI to be such a highly trusted brand they should be ashamed for making a polish that REQUIRES you to buy an additional "treatment" just for the sake of the original polish not chipping! IMO its misleading and they need to clearly state that they recommend you to buy the polish AND treatment as a set. I haven't met a woman yet who'd continue to buy a polish that chipped if the wind blew in the wrong direction, get it together CHI...

Glow Girl Spotlight: Exposed Organics

2010-03-01T09:00:00.002-05:00

I'm excited to bring another Glow Girl Spotlight Interview. We decided to do this series because there are so many women out there that are really working hard making things happen for themselves. I wanted them to have an outlet to tell the story of how they got started and inspire other women to do the same. I was able to snag an interview with Celeste Abrams from the Exposed Organics! Did we Expose them? Peep the interview to find out! If you're interested in being featured in our Glow Girl series please feel free to email me: tamar@gimmethatglow.com

Let me start by saying that doing this job we meet a lot of different people and deal with a few different companies. Some actually don't respond to your questions but some get a A+ for customer service. One of my best experiences came from Exposed Organics, which is why I decided to feature them this month!

1. I love the fact that you're a mommy, wife, and business owner. How
do you find time to manage it all?

I have a very supportive husband! My husband, Andy is a property investor, which allows him to arrange his schedule around our daughters' school and social schedules. We have a 6 year old in half day kindergarten, and a 7 (almost 8) year old in 2nd grade...so one of us is at their school 3x a day! We open our store at noon, so I can pick my daughter up from school on my way into work and hang out with her at the store. Its a very demanding schedule for all of us, but we make it work! I also have an amazing team at exposed organics who help me in every aspect of the business, from sales and makeup artistry to product development and events planning. I wouldn't be able to do this without their help and support!

2. How hard was it to open a store and get started?

Opening our store was a very trying but rewarding process. We went through months of local and state zoning red tape only to have to relocate and start from scratch. Being forced to start over ended up being a blessing in disguise! We found a great storefront in a location we love and things are starting to fall into place for us as a company. There were many times when we felt like giving up, but our hard work and determination is starting to pay off!

3. What sets you apart from other makeup companies?

We keep our makeup free of petroleum, parabens, lead, dyes and perfumes. Our makeup is created by hand in small batches, which allows us to have a large variety of color and natural flavoring choices. We offer do-it-yourself custom makeup blending in our store and we are currently working on making custom blending available to our online customers. There are currently 45 mineral pigments to blend for eyes, nails, hair, and lips. We have 16 delicious natural flavoring choices for lip products, like bubblegum, watermelon, cola, candy cane and cotton candy. We are in the process of adding custom blush, foundation and pressed shadow blending also! Exposed Organics offers high quality mineral makeup at affordable prices.

4. What type of woman do you make exposed organics for?

Exposed Organics offers something for every type of woman and men as well. We offer mineral eye shadows and dye-free pigments in colors ranging from sheer to extremely bold, so every makeup lover will find something that suits their needs. If you are not a makeup wearer, our cleansers, moisturizers, and lip balms and butters are wonderful! Our prices are very reasonable, so we fit into everyone's beauty budget.

5. Your Oil Cleanser is really a lifesaver! What is the secret behind it?

Our Plain Jane purifying oil cleanser and makeup remover combines the deep cleansing properties of Castor oil, the moisturizing properties of sunflower oil and a blend of pure essential oils that naturally nourish, clear and balance skin. Many cleansers contain chemicals that strip the skin of its natural oils, leaving your skin dry, dull and unprotected, which can lead to skin problems like acne, rosacea and clogged pores. Plain Jane purifying oil is a natural cleanser and makeup remover that leaves your skin clean, radiant and moisturized, while reducing acne and improving your skin's tone and texture. Plain Jane purifying oil comes in 4 formulas for oily, dry, acne proned and combination/sensitive skin types.

6. What is your favorite must have product from your line? Why?

I have 2 favorite products - Plain Jane purifying oil cleanser and Nectar transforming medium. Plain Jane purifying oil has rescued my skin! My skin has never been this radiant and clear, and my overall skin tone and texture has improved drastically. I get stopped on the street by people who have thanked me for changing their lives with our oil cleanser. Its our best selling product for a reason! Nectar transforming medium is a great addition to any makeup lover's collection. Nectar minimizes eyeshadow creasing, intensifies pigments, and turns shadows and pigments into an amazing liquid liner. The best thing about nectar transforming medium is that its 100% natural, so you can apply your makeup without worrying about harsh chemicals coming in contact with your eyes.

7. What 5 products do you keep in your bag?

I always carry at least 4 lip lubes and lip slips in different flavors with me. We live in Pennsylvania, and the winters can be really harsh, so i try to keep my lips protected at all times. I also carry a few custom blended lip glazes. My favorite lip glaze flavors right now are candy cane, watermelon and bubblegum, so i usually carry one of each. I have a small container of our meg-a-vanilla body frosting for when i need a little sparkle and sheen on my arms or legs. The natural mica in our body frosting reflects light, so you get that supermodel glow. My bag also has olive, celestial, coal and diva eye dusts because they make perfect liner, lid and smokey eye colors if I'm out and need a quick makeup change...and a bottle of nectar to help make that makeup change happen!

8. What advice can you give to our readers that may be on the verge of
starting a business?

Don't give up. No matter how defeated you may feel at times, or how hopeless things may seem, keep following your dream. If you do what you truly love, all of the stress and sacrifice is completely worth it.

I hope you enjoyed this interview and I really hope you were paying attention. Check Back Tomorrow to get down to the Knitty Gritty of what her products have to offer AND she is sponsoring a giveaway!!!!!

Keep Glowing,

Glow Girl Weekend: Beauty Worth Going To Jail For?

2010-02-27T11:26:00.000-05:00

February 18- A Pensacola woman was arrested for embezzling over $800,000 (NOT a typo) to feed her Mary Kay makeup habit. Apparently she bought and sold enough to earn a trademark Mary Kay pink Cadillac. Her makeup habit will cost her 19 years in prison. Ouch.

February 16- Two women, 19 and 20 of Delaware were arrested after crashing their car trying to flee police for stealing $350 worth of cosmetics from.....Kmart.

February 23- Three individuals are being sought after for breaking into a Florida warehouse and making off with $150,000 worth of cosmetics. They are thought to be the SAME thieves who struck the SAME warehouse on January 25!

GoNails Product Review

2010-02-26T10:08:00.002-05:00

My nails had been through it. Finally I got them back looking half way decent and then...they just started looking terrible. One nail would break. Then another. Then came GoNail Natural Growth Treatment. HALLELUJAH! Day three of using this, my nails and cuticles started looking soooo much better! I apply in the morning and at night before bed. For $24 it's so worth it especially if your nails are not looking so great or you are a true nail product junkie! Check out the post I did last month about the product and then visit mygobeauty.com to learn more and purchase!

Black And Bow Look

2010-02-25T10:22:00.000-05:00

As you all know I love bows!!!! So this dress was all types of right! Its simple yet bow crazy cute. With so much going on with this dress, you don't have to add too many new elements to this outfit, but some cute shoes and a clutch. When picking your outfits pay close attention to the detail before deciding on accessories, you don't want to do too much and take away from the outfit.

I wanted to draw more attention to the legs since this a shorter dress. To do this I wanted a different color shoe than the outfit... and you can't go wrong with red shoes. They are sexy and brings out this black dress! If you are a short dress type of lady, make sure its a believable length...

Test: If you bend over and your special area is hanging out, you may need to come up with a new strategy for your short dress idea.

I paired it with a black clutch to keep it simple. Handbags of all types aren't for every lady. Although the ones (like me) who carry entirely too much in their normal bags, some variation of a handbag/clutch is needed to survive on.

Clutch by Red Collar Project

Dress by Rita Saardi
Boots by Melissa

Wednesday's Weekly Obsession: Sugar Luxe Designs

2010-02-24T12:39:00.003-05:00

This weeks obsession feature's Sugar Luxe Art. An adorable online boutique that creates Art & accessories that are designed to give your personality a custom fit. They make just about everything from Canvas Art to Designer Mirror Compacts. The thing that I love most about this boutique is that all of their products are so feminine and colorful.

New York Dancing Queen Designer Mirror Compact
$34

Dance the night away with this jeweled magnifying mirror. The design process includes an advanced pro-formula UV barrier to keep the imagery as vibrant as the day it was created. It's also made with genuine Swarovski Crystals.

Full Circle On Canvas

$459

Sexy, Successful, Smart, Seductive, Strong. Fashion always comes full circle. No matter what the new hot trend is, there is often nothing sexier than when a woman gets in her comfy jeans with a t-shirt or tank top. The least conservative of the new collection, this contemporary, ultra-modern piece is inspired by women with confidence, curves and unmistakable sex-appeal.

Sugar Luxe also makes the perfect gifts! There gift boxes alone are so adorable and make such a statement.

Meet the artist Chandra Michaels. You can learn more about her brand by reading her bio here.

They have a variety of Sugar Luxe girls to choose from. Interested in finding out which one fits your personality? Take the facebook quiz to find out Which Sugar Luxe Girl Are You? Here.

Glow Girl Makeover with Big Girl Cosmetics!

2010-02-24T10:16:00.008-05:00

While at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show, not only were there plenty of hair vendors, there were also several cosmetic brands there. Kiley Russell, CEO and Founder of Big Girl Cosmetics was on hand at the show and was more than happy to transform Odara's look in five minutes!

She transformed Odara's look using mineral face powder and mineral eyeshadows in Cassia and Chameleon Brown.

The colors are vibrant but soft. Doesn't Odara look great?! Love it!

Big Girl Cosmetics got a little help from an unexpected source to get off the ground.....OPRAH! As part of the audience Mrs. Russell along with the other audience members won cars. Deciding she really didn't need another one she opted to put it up for sale and use the money to launch her cosmetic line. Fresh and vibrant colors as well as yummy lotions and scrubs make this line one all Big Girls should have! To learn more about Big Girl Cosmetics please visit www.biggirlcosmetics.com!

Eye'd Try It™ : Wacky On A Budget

2010-02-23T13:13:00.002-05:00

After a conversation with Odara, I took a makeup challenge. To buy some beauty store eyeshadows and make crazy cool looks! It was tough, not many options.... But I settled on two small eye palettes and two eye shadow pencils for..... $10.00 YES YOU HEARD ME RIGHT!!

This was truly hard for me... I will admit the texture of these eyeshadow are totally different, but you can still get the job done! So all you glow girls on a budget and looking to do something crazy, check out your local beauty supply stores.

For this look I stuck with the hot pink, black, teal, and the different glitter creams.

With this first look, I used the glitter creams. I must admit the creams, wasn't creamy in a good way. It was truly a tough job to get on. When finally getting it together I used two colors. I did the teal on bottom and pink on top, something a little out the ordinary.

On this look, I just used the hot pink on the lower lid. It was surprisingly not as bad as the glitter. I love the color, but hell to get off.

The next crazy look I went for included the pink on the lower lid and blue on top. Sometimes its cool to be wacky and mix the unusual together. With the same look, I put some of the cream glitter on the top lid.

Here, I put a black eyeshadow on the bottom lid. Then on the right side of the lower lid I put a yellow from the palette. In the left corner of the lower lid, I used a pink eyeshadow.

With the last look, I used the pink on the lower lid, with black on the top lid. Over the black on the top lid, I used a blue to give it a little more color and shine.

Glow In The City: Bronner Brothers Hair Show Part II

2010-02-23T11:30:00.005-05:00

This past weekend not only did I get the chance to experience the world famous Bronner Brother's International Hair Show here in Atlanta but I also had the pleasure of meeting one of my blogging partners in crime, Martini!!!! That's right, Glow Girls were in the building! We mingled, took lots of pics and indulged in hair & makeup heaven!!!!

There were literally hundreds of vendors in the building and so much to take in. But I think we managed to grace just about every isle. I think I can pretty much speak for both of us when I say the Makeup booths kept calling both of our names... " Martiiiiiiiiini....Odaaaaaaaara....cooooome heeeeere"

I really racked up on a few deals!

NYX were one of the many vendors there and definitely one of my faves. The prices were insanely affordable! $2 shadows, $3 lip glosses, I could've spent hours at their booth!!!

The creators of my FAVORITE ceramic flat irons were also there. Who knew that CHI also made cosmetics and nail polish? I certainly didn't until this weekend. I bought a few colors from their Limited Edition Galaxy Nail Lacquer Collection. ( Review coming soon)

I was introduced to Vonetta Cosmetics and instantly fell in love with their Mineral Foundation. I'm so glad this company is local because I'll definitely be buying more from them! (Stay tuned for the review)

Also, we got a chance to catch up with Kiley Russell; President of Big Girl Cosmetics.

She was so thrilled when she found out that we follow her on twitter LOL.

She also gave me a mini makeover ( footage coming tomorrow)

and you know I couldn't leave without buying SOMETHING!!!!

The Ginger Almond Body Butter smells SOOOOO good!!!!

For more pics from the show be sure to check out our photo album on Flickr

Catch a little of the footage from the show below...

Me headed to the after party Owwww!!!

I had such a great weekend and I can't wait to do it again!!!

Eye'd Try It Look™: Calypso Madness!

2010-02-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

While at the Bronner Brothers Hair Show this past weekend, I really wanted to play up my eyes from normal everyday "workplace friendly" eyeshadow.
The inspiration came from a dress I wore to the afterparty on Saturday night. I got a lot of compliments on the shadow! Here's what I used to create this look!

Prep and Finish: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (OBSESSED with this stuff!), L.A. Girl Mark My Eyes Eyeliner, Revlon Beyond Natural Defining Mascara Black

Brushes: Sonia Kashuck Medium Shadow Brush, Studio Tools Blending Brush, NYX Shading Brush (B14), Artistry Flat Liner Brush

Shadows: Wet n Wild White Liner Pencil, NYX Yellow Funk (60A), NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Orange Pearl (LP18), BFTE Raspberry, Nicka K High Definition Shadow #3039, Jane Eye Zing Electric Iris (16)

How I did it:

Applied the Urban Decay Eyeshadow Potion on the entire lid. Then with the Wet n Wild white liner applied it to the brow bone to medium to heavy (Area #1). Using my pinky finger, I blended until harsh lines softened being sure to leave most of the color visible. Next using the Sonia Kashuk Medium Shadow Brush I applied the NYX Yellow Funk across the brown bone on top of the white. Next I applied the NYX Ultra Pearl Orange Pearl directly below the yellow (same brush)(Area #2). Next I applied the Nicka K HD Shadow (Pink) layering a small amount of the BFTE Raspberry at the upper half of the Nicka K shadow below the orange (same brush)(Area #3) last the Jane Electric Iris (same brush)(Area #4).

Note: When using the same brush, be sure to tap off the excess color before applying the next color.

Still using the Sonia Kashuk brush I applied all the colors again a little heavier. Using the Studio Tools Blending Brush I began blending the colors at their transition lines applying more of each color as needed making sure they look "faded" into one another. Using the NYX Shading brush, I buffed the entire lid in small sections from starting at the top of the lid to soften the colors. I then applied the L.A. Girl Liner (White line) and the Revlon mascara.

On the lower lid I applied the NYX Yellow Funk, Nicka K (Pink) and Jane Electric Iris by wetting the Artistry Flat Liner Brush in dipping in each color making short dashes to create a flowing color liner look. Finished by lining the waterline and lower lash line with the L.A. Girl liner and applied the Revlon mascara.

**Bonus:Lips**
For the lips I used Urban Decay Lip Primer Potion, Revlon Creme Gloss Patent Leather Pink (025) and clear gloss.

Earrings by Lunaversoul

Glow Girl Events:The Makeup Show-Los Angeles

2010-02-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

This year marks the 5-year anniversary of The Makeup Show. After a successful debut in Los Angeles in 2009, The show meets again for its annual West Coast The Makeup Show LA on February 28 & March 1, 2010 at downtown’s California Market Center, located at 110 East Ninth Street, Los Angeles, CA, from 9AM-6PM daily.

For two days, The Makeup Show LA brings together top industry exhibitors, speakers from all areas of the makeup artistry, new product introductions and special pro-only offers - all in an intimate setting where insider-only tips and techniques are traded between the best in the business.

The show features more than 60 pro-makeup industry companies including: Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Alcone, Becca Cosmetics, Smashbox, Iredale Mineral Cosmetics, Korres Natural Products, Embryolisse, Stila Cosmetics, Face Atelier, Graftobian, Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics, Bellápierre Cosmetics, Longmi Lashes by Daniel and many more!

For more information please visit www.themakeupshow.com

Glow In The City: Bronner Brothers Hair Show!

2010-02-21T08:25:00.005-05:00

If you haven't been to the Bronner Brothers hair show it is a very exciting and overwhelming experience. Hundreds of vendors from across the country, daring stylists, beautiful models, cosmetics and a few celebrities make this event pure eye candy. It was our first time attending the show and boy oh boy we did NOT (but we should have) expected the "three feet of personal space" being seriously violated...lol. There were HUNDREDS if not over a thousand or more in attendance. Yesterday marked the first day of the three day show. Here's a video and some photos at the show!

We'll be posting more pictures and video as well as feature products and vendors! Stay Tuned!

Nica Naturals Review

2010-02-18T11:02:00.003-05:00

Lately, I've tried several natural soap and scrub products by different companies, all had such different effects on my skin. I finally came across a line that not only works well with me, but smells absolutely great. Nica Naturals is my new obsession!! Nica Naturals has an absolute great line of soaps, scrubs, and shea butters. Their handmade products is packed with yummy greatness such as jasmine, sweet almond, and tea tree.

The Nica Naturals mission is to promote a holistic approach to health and beauty by providing quality hair body and home care products made with natural ingredients tailored to produce results without compromising quality.

Sweetness Soap
The Smell: It smells divine. Mild fruit and flowers smell that makes me want to smell the soap day in and day out. It's one of those smells that will linger on the skin, with just the right hint of smell good. I can smell the Jasmine and Rosemary clearly.

The Look: It looks like a big piece of Chocolate bar, its very appealing to the eye! The name definitely describes this product. Sweetness

Ingredients : Saponified Coconut Oil , Apricot Kernel Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary, Extract, Jasmine Flowers,and Fragrance Oil.

Sweetness Scrub
Details: This phenomenal brown sugar smell introduces a product that not only smells great but exfoliates and moisturize the skin. This scrub leaves your skin feeling silky smooth, I love the feel!

Ingredients: Brown Sugar, Sweet Almond Oil.
Price: $8.00 (Buy Here)

Sweetness Shea Butter
Details: This product you can use on your hair or body. The ingredients in this butter produce a moisturizing conditioner, that can help hydrate and restore dry skin or hair.

Ingredients: Shea Butter, Vegetable Glycerin, and JoJoba Oil
Price: $10.00 ( Buy Here)

Caress Me Soap
Details: I love this soap. The lather is great and the smell is yummy, I can feel the apricot all over me.

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Apricot Kernel, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary, Rose Petals, and Fragrance Oil.

Lanbeli Soap
Details: I am a Jasmine fiend, so the ability to smell Jasmine and Lavender in this great soap is refreshing.

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Apricot Kernel, Avocado Oil, Rosemary, Lavender & Jasmine Flowers, Lavender Oil, and Jasmine Absolute.

Bay Bay Soap

Details: I love the lather you work up with this soap, it leaves a truly smooth texture to the skin.

Ingredients: Coconut Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil, Olive Oil, Avocado Oil, Rosemary Extract, Ground Bay Leaves, and Bay oil.

www.nicanaturals.com

Save 10% on any order with this coupon code:

1GTGG0 (offer expires 4/30/10)

Eye'd Try It™: The Eye Experiment

2010-02-17T13:25:00.002-05:00

Inspired by Mardi Gras time down here in New Orleans, I wanted to create me a nice crazy look for the season. Playing around with colors, I came up with a look that actually can work throughout the year. I'm all about blending colors so I took several colors from Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box and made a very cute look.

I started with a Underground, which is a medium fawn. I always like to start with a dark color over the complete lid to even everything out before I put my main colors. on.

Next, on the lower lid I put one of my favorites Peace,a shimmering turquoise. I just love this color, it truly makes the eye pop, but it's definitely one of those colors that would be a bit drowning for a warm skin tone. Try a slightly darker turquoise .

On the inner portion of the top lid, I used a Honey, which is a glistening gold. You can take any gold or any shimmering color you have and use it here.

On the outer top lid I used Fishnet, a iridescent purple. In this area, use something wild and crazy don't be afraid to experiment.

Just go crazy with it and try stuff, see what works for you. Blend colors be your own creative artist. Play around enough you will create many different looks for yourself.

Wednesday's Weekly Obsession: Deena & Ozzy Small Lock Wallet

2010-02-17T12:50:00.001-05:00

Urban Outfitters $24

I love accessories and I'm always changing my wallet every chance I get. A girl can never have too many, right? Usually I prefer larger wallets that can pretty much hold everything but I thought this was the perfect selection for those days when I want to keep things to a minimal. It's compact & cute! I love the bronze hardware and the detailing over the flap. It folds out to reveal a bill pocket, 4 card holders and an I.D. window.

It's also available in Coral, very chic and springy!