Holy Grain Foundation "s" - Yes there can be more than ONE!

I've come a long way from Drugstore foundations and I have no intention of going back!
( I kid, I kid)

Not because of quality but because I can't try before I buy and I've wasted a lot of time and money going down that road. That frustration led me to a healthy relationship with Sephora and most department store makeup counters. Not only can I test things out and take home samples, but also most of these places have a satisfaction guarantee -at least here in the USA (apparently in Europe this is unheard of).

My foundation exploration has led me to amassing an pile of things that don't work for my combination skin and those that do. For today, let's focus on the positive today, shall we?

1. Kat Von D - Lock-it 

Pros: Highest Coverage I've ever achieved in a foundation. Option of having a Matte or Dewy Finish. Photographs Beautifully. Relatively Inexpensive @ $34.

2. Lancome - Teint Idole Ultra 24H

 

Pros:  Best Medium Coverage for everyday use. Option of having a Matte or Dewy Finish. All Day wear-time. Purchase usually qualifies for a Lancome Gift which goes on year round (Macys, Nordies, Bloomingdales, Dillards, Belks, ect.) and this gives you more bang for your buck!

3. Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk

Pros: Best Color Match I've ever achieved in a medium coverage foundation. Offers the most natural finish. All Day wear-time for sure!

 Honorable Mention: Hourglass - Immaculate

Pros: Wears like liquid IRON and has the best oil control in a medium coverage foundation.

So here I've focused on what makes these foundations GREAT and why they've landed in my Top 3. Later I'll discuss what they're lacking and the reason I use these foundations interchangeably. 

Thanks for reading!

NEW FAVORITE DESIGNER: BYRON LARS

If your still inching closer to high fashion (like me) then you've probably started noticing dresses by Byron Lars way before recognizing his name. Several visits to Anthropologie actually served as my introduction to the designer and I've been smitten ever since!!

Not surprisingly his amazing designs have already been worn by the incredulous Angela Bassett and First Lady Michelle Obama:

 

Needless to say, he's the BEST of THEE BEST and I can't wait to get more of his designs in my closet!

So far I have added the Beguile by Byron Lars Carissima Sheath to my collection with plans to also include the Beguile by Byron Lars Lace Study Dress.

carissima sheath byron lars

carissima sheath byron lars

lace study dress by byron lars

I'm also in-search of his more vintage pieces that I've missed from the Beguile Collection.

Please let me know if your also enjoying this a-m-a-z-i-n-g designer and if you have any of his lovelies hanging in your closet!

Stumbling Across Greatness...a Super Foundation Tool!

This is a great tool for those of us who wear foundation. It tells what shade you should choose across various brands thus making your purchases easier.

In the left hand column is your MAC number and that’s used as a standard from which to compare all other brands since everyone should know their MAC number.

If you don’t know your MAC number then darling this sheet just isn’t for you ;)

http://www.editgrid.com/user/apbunz/mega_foundation_chart

Also you can add to the fun via Temptalia's Foundation Matrix & Comparisions:

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ao6y1ARypAgbdDFtMDFVZlZEcnd0T0d5bTQwMmhzVVE&hl=en

It will allow you to add in color choices and brands to the chart thus creating an even bigger and more informative Matrix.

The High End of the Low End....Maybelline's Dream Liquid™ Mousse

I'm a HE kinda girl when it comes to buying foundation given that only the mid to high-end cosmetic lines even bother to offer a decent array of shades and color choices to Women of Color. And even on that level, the selection can still be suprisingly dismal (cough:Chanel:cough) so this is why I'm a fanatic of Bobbi Brown! She does it the best with her yellow based foundations and it makes me feel like she really cares about us (awww). So it's nothing for me to fork over $45 bucks a pop to have my genie in a bottle.

So anyhow while Bobbi Brown was busy discontinuing my HG foundation last month (see my last post), I planned to head out to the drugstore to find a backup formula for the few weeks in between her new foundation launch. It's been years since I even considered buying a DS foundation so I first armed myself with a product recommendation from MUA. The majority (which we call the Oracle) suggested I try a foundation called "Maybelline's Dream Liquid™ Mousse" and with that I ran out on a mission. The first 2 stores I visited, Wal-mart & Ulta, were out of the one shade that was made for the millions of people in my color spectrum. I must say that saved me lots of time in trying to make a decision (insert sarcasm)! I then made the following assumption "wow, this must be good stuff" since it wasn't available and I headed to my next destination with even more determination. I arrived next at Target and bought the last bottle of "caramel"...I swear it was a moment right out of the Rice Krispy Treat Commercial.

So here I am with the review for Maybelline's Dream Liquid™ Mousse in CARAMEL:

Color: About 2 shades off from of my natual skin tone but will do in a bind. Also can't tell if this has cool, neutral or warm undertones but whatever it is...I'm the opposite lol.

Coverage: almost a medium coverage which is suprising for a Mousse. I would expect more as you will definitely need a coverstick on hand if you have an blemishes to hide.

Application: a very smooth and silky application that glides on the skin. It dries quickly and evenly. I didn't notice any spotty areas.

Packaging: The pump is amazing and usually one squirt is enough for the entire face. This is the area in which they have most brands beat! Even the high-end brands don't usually offer the pump. It's so much more hygenic and make foundation easier to apply.

Price: around $7 - 8 bucks. Nothing to argue with there since this should last the average person about 3 months.

Durability & Finish: This product lasts pretty much all day with only a slight need for touch up after 6 hours. I have very Oily skin so that was a suprising little tidbit for me. It also indeed gave me the airbrushed look they claimed it would. I've never had that before and it was very exciting to me. +1 for truth in advertising.

Overall: I give this product 3.5 stars (out of 5) but with the right color selection and coverage, I could see myself switching to this brand in a heartbeat~

So Bobbi Brown discontinued OIL-FREE EVEN FINISH FOUNDATION SPF 15 and no one told ME!

So I'm telling you ;)

This has been my favorite foundation of all time *somebody cue Kayne West* OFF ALL TIME! The one that allowed me to quit searching for the perfect color, the one the garners the most compliments "you look flawless girl" and the one that doesn't break me out like a teenage girl.

So much to my surprise, as I attempted to replenish my stock yesterday I found that it had been narrowed down to only (2) options to choose from...neither of which being my preferred shade. After a quick Live Chat session (those artists are really great by the way) I learned that it had been discontinued to make way for a new and improved formula which will be available at some point in the near future. Time and Date...unexact but it's said to be within a month and I'm on pins and needles. I like new and improved but in a world filled with constant email BLASTS and promotions couldn't someone have hit the sent button on that little tidbit of information? DUDE! The anouncement that Clinque's Prescriptives brand was to be no longer went out seasons ago and yet they are still hanging out at the mall everytime I go. Haven't seen a sale on that either by the way... not that I'm looking lol.

So anyhow here I am in between foundations and feeling helpless. Im trying to hold out for the new stuff and thus decided to work with an imposter DS brand to tide me over (guess i should add that this Maybelline Liquid Dream Mousse isn't half bad). I'm a foundation snob for the record.

A couple of sites that I searched (NM & Macys) did have a bit more shades to choose from so be quick on right clicks and don't get caught bare faced like I did. In the meantime, I am actually excited about the new formula and will review as soon as it gets in. It's supposed to have incorporated new technology that will allow the formula to actually absorb the oil that plagues us. Sounds like a tall order but we shall see...

Sephora bids adieu to CARGO....everything 50% Off

I can't say that I'm a big fan of CARGO Cosmetics but they have the creamiest looking Quads of Lipgloss that I've ever seen. I love the product names too! You can't go wrong with names like "South Beach" and "Argentina." So if you've ever been on the fence about trying out this product line now's the time to get it before it's all gone. See your local Sephora for more details.

Products for Natural Hair...Only the BEST of the BEST please!

I've been natural since 2004 (meaning my hair is free of any chemical relaxers or color) and it's been quite a journey that was mostly unintentional although largely worthwhile and beneficial! I was wearing extensions quite a lot which eliminated the need for me to relax my hair and what I discovered was that during the absence of the chemicals, my hair grew like a weed! One day I met a woman with an amazing head of long/straight hair who informed me that her hair was all natural. I was a non-believer at first (I'm stubborn) because her hair was straighter than most ladies with relaxers. But my hair was becoming too thick for me to continue on with my extensions so I decided to visit the salon that was performing these miraculous changes to her hair, before succumbing to the creamy crack once more. That salon was called "Too Groovy" and I was instantly hooked! Aside from having the best salon & spa service in Atlanta, the results were unbelievable! So I frequented the salon regularly for 2 years before I learned to create the same magic at home. I also had to work up the nerve, my hair was fabulous when I left the salon and I just couln't imagine creating the same results at home.

It's been a year since I've been maintaining my own hair and I can finally claim success! So as a result, I would like to do a 3-part series on natural hair based on my own experience, in hopes that it may help others. I'm not a hair stylist in the least but being able to make my own hair beautiful feels great and has saved me a lot of $$.

First I'd like to start off discussing the best products that you can use for your hair. I know that's important to everyone and something I always want to know from others. Personally, I've been through an expensive trial and error session and it's only today that I finally feel like I have the best product line-up offered for curly locks. The right product combination and usage really makes a huge difference in your results at home and you can go from healthy hair to haggard hair in just 2 sittings.

In my next post, I would like to detail the best way to achieve a blow out/physical change. I do a weekly blow out because my scalp is oily (plus I work out) so I need to wash my hair very often. What used to take 3 hours is now down to 2....and the results are better and healthier. It's important not to over-straighten your hair because your curls will start to diminsh. It's called "thermal re-conditioning"...but more on that later.

Lastly I would like to discuss good vitamins & daily supplements that you can take to encourage hair growth. Plus tidbits on how nutrient deficiencies and other variables can contribute to hair loss.

Now without futher adeiu.....

Product #1 Organic Shampoo for the scalp (a clarifyer)

Product #2 Organic Shampoo for the hair (a moisturizing treatment)

Product #3 Organic Conditioner (to be used in combination with a 30 Minute Steam Treatment)

Product #4 Organic Thermal Heat Protection (helps to prevent blow dryer heat damage)
Product #5 Organic Silk Essentials (silkens/softens the hair almost instantly)
Product #6 Organic Aveda Brilliant Anti-humectant (keeps natural hair straight on humid days)

Product #7 Aphogee Two-Step Protein Treatment (to be used only every 6 - 8 weeks if you have breakage)

Product #8 Creme Hairdress *optional* (for added softness)

Styling Tool #1 Denman Brush
Styling Tool #2 FHI FHI Heat Nano Weight Pro 1900 Turbo Dryer
Styling Tool #3 FHI Heat Platform with Nano Technology
Styling Tool #4 Steam Hydration Machine

Styling Tool #5 Silk Hair Wrap/Silk Pillow Cases (used to protect hair when retiring for the night)

The Best Brands for Natural Hair:

Design Essentials

Aveda

Bumble and Bumble

Aphogee (for protein treatments only).

Additional Brands worth mentioning are Nioxin's Shampoo's/Conditioners/Thermal Heat Protectant (for thinning hair) and Paul Mitchell's Tea Tree Scalp Clarifying Shampoo for those who need something stronger.