From now through Friday 7/3/2009, 5 PM Eastern Time, purchase a Zoya La-Di-Da Sampler and Receive a Zoya Ooh-La-La Sampler Free! Use code "WOW"
Last night our stars hit the red carpet for the BET Awards, and I was pleasantly surprised at how many divas gave us great hair and makeup last night! I guess everyone wanted to look their best for the event, since everyone and their mama was going to be watching for the Michael Jackson tributes.
So, let's get down to the Best in Beauty!
Latoya Luckett looked super glamourous last night! Her smokey eye and pink lip is a fave look of mine. Plus, her fring-ey bangs looked hot, too!
I know this is a beauty blog, but I just have to take a moment to pay my respects to Michael Jackson. For an 80's baby like me, no artist had a bigger musical influence on me than Michael Jackson.
One of my earliest musical memories is of sitting on the floor in front of the living room TV, watching a VHS of MJ's music videos that my dad bought for me and my brother. We watched that tape over and over again, transfixed by the music and Michael's dancing, our imaginations captured by the images (the "Leave Me Alone" video and the video where he dance battled that rabbit always got me).
There will never be an artist who had such a profound affect on music and popular culture. Not only is his music and dance style emulated by artists from Usher to Justin Timberlake, but his style and unique fashion sense can be seen today in pop princess Rhianna.
So, I'll be listening to the MJ channel on AOL radio today in honor of this American Icon, while sending prayers out to his family, friends and fans the world over. We'll miss you, Mike!
L'Oreal was found guilty of racial discrimination by La Cour de Cassation (the French equivilent of the Supreme Court).
The London Times reports:
So, I've been trying different ways to do my nails at home, because maintaining my gel overlays was costing me a small fortune.
Like me, you've probably seen those Kiss Everlasting French commercials on TV more than a few times (I swear I can't get that song out of my head!). Well, that clever jingle got to me and I decided to try out some of these "ever glam, ever easy, ever natural" nails!
I must say, I was pleasantly surprised! Now, I am not one for french tips (they're not the most natural-looking style out there), but I was game to try them out.
They were super easy to apply, but the key to getting the most natural
appearance is in the application of the glue. I found that if you apply exactly one drop in the center of the Kiss nail, and one drop in the center of your nail, the glue will spread evenly.
I can be pretty tough on my nails, but these tips hung in there for a whole week (Kiss recommends removing them after 7 days)! Only one nail started to lift on the 7th day, so I would definitely give these a A for wear and durability!
I got so many compliments on my nails, people had no idea I was wearing glue-on nails! When I divulged to a co-worker that I was wearing drugstore nails, she couldn't believe it. And, quite frankly, neither could I! I was so impressed I went out and bought some other Kiss nails to try.
If you love salon nails, but are looking to save some cash, give these a try. They look fantastic, the price is right, and the quality is phenomenal!
Bliss is offering 15% off on all Bliss and Rèmede products, now through June 28th! Just enter code 069907 at checkout.
I've also got some savings for MAC lovers! Get free shipping when you enter code OOHLALA at checkout.
Happy Shopping!
Brown Bomshell Beauty is up for four 2009 Black Weblog Awards!
We're up for Best Style and Fashion Blog, Best New Blog, Blog to Watch and Best Blog Design. The blog with the most nominations goes on to be a finalist. After that, winners will be voted on from August 1-31st.
Please be sure to vote for us here and spread the word!
Thank you for your support!
Philosophy is offering 20% off online orders, now through June 28th! Just enter code sharethelove at checkout. Easy peasy, huh? Happy shopping!
Well, the celebrity fragrance bandwagon strikes again! Oscar Nominee Queen Latifah will be releasing her own fragrance this August. Queen by Queen Latifah will feature notes of bergamot, mandarin, golden tequila, baie rose, jasmine noir, cognac, coriander, patchouli, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, incense and musk. Hmm, sounds pretty good!
The fragrance will be available in 1.7oz ($49) and 3.4oz ($59) sizes at Macy's, Dillards and Bon-Ton, though I can't say that I'll be running out to try this (that cheesy bottle is killing
me...).
So, tell me. Will you be giving Queen by Queen Latifah a sniff?
I apologize in advance for the blurry photo, but I just had to get these two side by side!
My fave nail polish blog, All Lacqured Up, had the scoop on Chanel's new Jade nail polish, debuting this October, and I knew I had to have it! So imagine my surprise when I got a glimpse of brow guru Damone Robert's new eponymous shade from OPI on Palacinka!
I think the OPI shade will be a great, lower-priced alternative to the Chanel version, no? Even better, it'll be out August 1st!
I can't wait to try these out! Will you be rocking pastel green nail polish this fall?
I made a video tutorial over the weekend showing how to achieve the perfect red lip for us brown girls. Take a look and give it a try!
I recently had to opportunity to test out the new True Shimmer lip balm from Chapstick, and I wanted to let you know what I thought. There were some good qualities, and some not so good qualities. So here it is, Chapstick True Shimmer: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly!
The Good: Chapstick really really did a bang-up job on the flavors of these lip balms. I had the chance to try them in Botanical Berry and Tropical, and two new flavors that will be in stores later this summer: Blended Fruit Sherbert and Peppermint Rush. Blended Fruit Sherbert, Botanical Berry and Tropical were fruity and sweet without tasting fake or chemical-ly. They even smelled good. I also liked Peppermint Rush, but was surprised at how strong it was. There is definitely some peppermint oil in here, so beware. It's great though if you want a minty burst, like I sometimes do to pep me up.
The Bad: There is zero sun protection in these balms. For the life of me, I can't figure out why Chapstick can't release a flavored lip product with a decent SPF. With all that we know about skin cancer and sun protection, this really makes no sense. Boo for that!
The Ugly: The "shimmer" in True Shimmer is really not much more than some silver/white flecks, that look horribly ashy on pigmented lips. Because of this, I would NOT recommend True Shimmer to any person of color. I got a little carried away with Peppermint Rush (who I believe is the worst culprit of the bunch), and I ended up looking like Tyrone Biggums. Not a good look. Which was a shame because it was actually rather moisturizing.
Conclusion: If you're not worried about sun protection, then I would recommend Chapstick True Shimmer for its moisture factor. As far as the shimmer, I would only wear it in moderation or under something else.
So, what do you think? Would you give this a try?
Hey beauty babes! I know I've been away the last couple of days. I've been plugging away behind the scenes, working on the site relaunch.
One of the things most requested was to have videos on the site, and out first comes from celebrity makeup artist AJ Crimson! AJ is giving one lucky winner one of every shade of Kissable Couture lip gloss he has in stock! Unbelievable, right! Just watch this video for more details!
Fab site, the Hyper Luxe Media Network, is giving away a fantastic set of Borghese nail products worth over $100!
Head on over to enter!
I've got some great posts in the works! Be on the lookout for reviews/pics of products from L'Oreal, Soft Sheen and ChapStick. Also, I'll be posting a video tutorial on how to achieve the perfect red lip!
Stay Tuned!
P.S. If there's something you'd like me to do a video tutorial on, leave it in the comments or shoot me an email, and I'll try to include it in a future video post!
Last night the Council of Fashion Designers of America held its annual award ceremony in NYC, and everyone who's hot in fashion turned out. A few brown beauties turned up as well to hobnob with fashion's elite. Let's take a look!
Ok, so I got a little carried away plucking my eyebrows, and the ends are a little...sparse. It wasn't super obvious, but it was driving me crazy, so I dug into my beauty stash and came up with Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil in Dark Brown, $4. I bought it on a whim (and proceeded to throw it into my beauty closet), but I'm so glad I did because this little pencil is the TRUTH!
I usually prefer to use brow powders or waxes when dealing with my brows becuase most pencils are super fake looking. Not Rimmel. I just apply it in light strokes whereever my brows need a little color or shape, and I end up with really natural, perfect looking brows! Plus there's a mini brow brush to blend the color into your brow hairs.
I recommend Dark Brown becuase its a nice, soft, natural looking color. I lightened my brows and it still blending in! (Besides, Black is NEVER a good idea, I don't care how dark your brows are!).
A high quality brow pencil for under $5? Color me impressed!
Hey ladies! Once again, our latest giveaway was a great success! Thank you you all so much for entering and leaving such wonderful suggestions.
Some of your ideas are things that I've been working on behind the scenes to add to the site, and others were really fantastic ideas I hope to incorporate soon!
So, without further ado, the winner of the Beautè Noire Max Factor Giveaway, chosen at random by Random.org, is...
Online Deals
Carol's Daughter - Free Shipping One Day Only! See ad at left.
Sephora - Free AmorePacific Enzyme Face Peel sample with any online purchase. Enter code AMORE at checkout.
ULTA - $3.50 off any purchase of $10 or more. Enter code 24268 at checkout.
Bliss - Blowout sale through 6/15.
Drugstore Steals - 6/14-6/21
CVS
Beauty Deal alert! There must be something in the water, because everyone seems to be having a beauty sale. No complaint here!
This time, it's Kiehl's Friends and Family. From now until June 16th, Kiehl's is giving 20% off purchases of $45 or more.
Just enter code FAMILY at checkout, or print out the invitation on the left and take it to a Kiehl's freestanding store only.
Happy shopping!
It's been ages since I've done some serious beauty shopping, and there are so many products that I'm dying to try. Instead of sitting here lamenting to myself, I figured I'd start a new feature and share my Beauty Lust List with my fellow beauty-holics! Consider it a shopping/wish list, if you will...
Skin
Kate Somerville Detox Daily Cleanser
Kate Somerville Clarifying Treatment Toner
REN Glycolatic Skin Renewal Peel Mask
Philosophy Eye Hope Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream
Cosmetics
Nars Bridal Pallette
Damone Roberts Brow Kit
Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15
MAC Naked Honey LipGlass in Buzz and Queen Bee
MAC Naked Honey Eyeshadow in Buckwheat and Crème de Miel
Hair
Kinky Curly Come Clean
Kinky Curly Knot Today
Kinky Curly Spiral Spritz
Oyin Handmade 4pc. Hair Care Sampler
Oyin Handmade Grand Poo Bar
Nails
Nars Vintage Nail Polish in ChaChaCha, Hunger and Tallulah
Nars Nail Polish in Orgasm
Whew! I didn't realize I'd been lusting after so many items! But then, what kind of beauty product junkie would I be if I wasn't? ;) Sound off! Whats on your Beauty Lust List? I'm dying to know!
When putting on my makeup this morning I randomly reached for my Lipstick Queen Berry Sinner, $18 lipstick. I haven't really worn it since I bought it several months ago, so I thought I thought I would take it out for a spin!
If you're a lipstick girl, then Lipstick Queen is for you! Each shade comes in two formulas: Saint, a sheer glossy finish, and Sinner, an opaque matte finish. I bought Berry in Sinner, and another shade (that I can't recall right now, but I think it was Wine) in Saint.
Berry is a mauvy-brown shade goes on slightly more chocolately brown, then becomes more berry colored as it wears down. Looking at it in the tube you'd never guess it, but it definitely turned out to be more of a reddish-berry on me. Très cute!
Here's me wearing Berry Sinner with a little clear gloss over it (and after my morning bagel, no less!) Please excuse the crappy iPhone pic of me, I'll post a better pic tonight! Keep in mind that it is not shiny or sheer out of the tube!
Straight out of the tube.
Four words sum up my thoughts of Urban Decay Eyeshadow Prime Potion, $17: Where have I been?!?!?! This primer is a fave of beauty junkies everywhere, and I had no clue!
First of all, I'm waaay out of order for not reviewing this before now, as I've been enjoying this for well over a month. But better late than never, right?
This stuff is my new beauty crack. I just can't get enough of it! I just smooth a little of this on my eyelids, and my eyeshadow and liner stays fresh all day. Not only that, but it makes your eyeshadow pop.
My everyday eyeshadow is Bobbi Brown Metallic Eyeshadow in Burnt Sugar, and I've been wearing it since last summer. Well, when I put this Urban Decay primer on first, it's like I'm wearing a whole new eyeshadow! The color is richer and more vibrant. It's like this primer makes colors truer. I just can't say enough good things about it!
Even better, I opened my Sephora Beauty Insider email this morning and saw that Urban Decay is releasing a new foundation primer. Oh. My. Goodness. If it's half as good as the eyeshadow primer, I just may faint. You know I'll be copping it when it comes out, with a full review to follow.
In the meantime, get some of this eyeshadow primer! I promise, you'll thank me!
Makeup Files wants to know: What is your nighttime skincare routine?
Meilily discusses cosmetics ingredients: are they harmful, safe, or who knows?Read why Mineral Makeup is the Best Makeup for Acne at Mineral Makeup Reviews.
Suzanne at RN Guide to Skin Care tells you everything you need to know about Hyaluronic Acid Skin Care.
The Beauty Blog reviews Avon Anew Concealer (also known as Anew Age-Transforming Concealer SPF 15).
Intense At It Best....Next Level Eye Color Loreal High Intensity Pigments Eyeliner!!.
Paula at Older Girl Beauty Blog gives us her opinion on the new Maybelline Pulse Perfection vibrating mascara.
Hot Beauty Health shows you 10 natural solutions to preserve your youth and beauty.
Hey all! I decided to post a How-To picture tutorial on lightening your brows. I first got the idea from makeup artist Sam Fine. He always lightens the brows the celebs he works on, and I decided to lighten mine after coloring my hair a couple of months ago.
Well, I colored my hair again last weekend, and was mortified to see my dark brows in the mirrored elevator doors at my office! I looked a hot crazy mess! The lighter brow color had faded/grown out, so they definitely needed to be touched up too. Check it:
This is me before lightening my brows. They look a little light here because of the camera flash and face powder. Believe me, they looked dark!
This is the hair bleach I used. Yep, you don't need any special dye or anything. Just regular old facial hair bleach.
Here's what was inside the Sally Hansen kit. Just follow the directions on the box, and mix the cream bleach with the activator powder.
I look ridiculous! Ah, the things I do for beauty! Depending on how light you want to go, leave the bleach on anywhere from 1 minute to no more than 8-10mins. If you're tingling, you need to quit! I checked mine after 5 minutes, and left it on for a few minutes more.
Voila! Lightened brows to complement by hair color!
A closer pic. What do you think? Would you try lightening your brows?
