So Many Options I Need Protective Style Suggestions!

Hey Beauties!

Please trust that I have been taking pictures with the full intention of posting them to the blog with awesome reviews and recommendations but I have been busy with school and work and that takes priority over everything, SORRY!  But I will start to make time to devote solely to blogging, I just need to figure out when that time will be, so stay tuned!

In the meantime, I need some serious help from you all and all suggestions are welcome!  I'm a protective style fiend and I'm always looking for the next style but for some reason I am stumped on what to do next, I know I want braids of some variation but I'm not sure what style, there's just so many options!  LOL  Below I'll include some pictures of ideas I have in mind but you are also free to tell me of some other styles that you may have tried and how you liked them.  Please keep in mind I live in South Florida and I am sensitive to heat and my hair....I am the type to take my hair out if I feel like it's too hot after a few days...yeah. 

So go ahead, help ya girl out, I'd appreciate it!  Oh, and those big poetic justice braids are out of the question, I did those this past summer and my edges did not appreciate the heaviness of each braid.  All images provided by Google.

In Need of a New Moisturizer--Suggestions from the people?

Greetings!

Once again I'm coming to you all to help in my search of a product that I'm in the market for.  Recently, my Cetaphil moisturizer has run out and now I need something else to replace it.  Although the Cetaphil moisturizer did the job it would leave my eyes burning for a few minutes after applying and we all know that that is NOT CUTE!  So I'm looking for a replacement that is just as moisturizing minus the burn.  I have oily skin so an oil control and SPF lotion is very necessary. 

Do any of you have recommendations?  What works for you?  Please share in the comments section!  I love to hear from you all! :)

Makeup Ban!

Greetings!

Lately, I've been thinking about all the beauty purchases that I've been accumulating and have yet to use.  Yes, they are products that are lovely, but I don't even know if they're practical because I haven't had the chance to use them yet!  That's a problem.  So here's what I've decided to do.  In order to truly take my time in trying out these new products without jumping to the "next best thing" I'm going to go on a makeup ban, that's right, I won't be making any beauty purchases until November 30, 2012.  Yup, can you tell that I've prepared myself for this already?  LOL

I am a beauty lover and in order to maintain that zest for all things beauty I have got to start using my products more.  I am a firm believer in using all of my beauty products because I want to be able to indulge in them all, call it greedy if you want to.  I'm not in the business of buying products because they look pretty and never to be used again, NO, THANK YOU, MA'AM!  During this time off I'm going to use the items I currently have and my faves will make it to the blog, sounds like a deal?  Great!

For me this decision is difficult if you understand my affinity for the newest tube of lipstick or face primer, I am really going out on a limb to control my appetite for impulsive shopping but I am sure I can do it.  Now, just because I'm going through a "makeup fast" that doesn't mean I won't be blogging, of course I will, so don't be scurred!  LOL

Hopefully, by the end of this I will be able to see how much I have saved by keeping my money in my pocket and out of a beauty company's pockets.  And in the meantime, I'll finally have a chance to use some of the products I've been neglecting.

Have you tried this before?   Want to join in on this "makeup fast" with me?  Follow me on Twitter to join in on the fun!

Tell Me How You Feel...Part 9

Greetings!

Woo-Hoo! for another post in today!  :)  Earlier this morning while watching the news Chris Brown seemed to be the topic of conversation over his new neck tattoo.  Now, I'm no Chris Brown fan so this was not news that I particularly cared for but since I was busy in the kitchen cooking up breakfast I had no choice but to watch what the hoopla was about.  Apparently, his new neck tattoo is the depiction of a battered woman resembling Rihanna.  Imagine the judgmental side-eye I gave to that comment! 

At first glance I thought it resembled the comedy and tragedy masks, "Laugh Now, Cry Later" but on one face.  If you don't know what I'm referring to, here's an example...

Click the picture for the link

Harmless, right?  That's what I thought!  But then the rumblings of the tattoo resembling Rihanna and him making light of the domestic abuse Rihanna pursued and I thought, "Wow!  Could everyone just be over analyzing the tattoo art?"  Maybe, but who am I to know the truth of why he got the tattoo in the first place.  To put things in perspective for you, here's a picture of Chris' new ink...

Click the picture for the link

After chowing down on my breakfast whilst watching The Wendy Williams Show, by the way, this is one of my favorite talk shows as of late, Wendy made sure to spill the tea and stomp the pavement by getting Chris Brown's tattoo artist on the line.  The tattoo artist said that the new ink in no way was from Rihanna but instead from a picture that Chris Brown brought in on his cell phone.  What picture do you ask?  You know I have it for you...;)

Click the picture for the link

Now, mind you, I see this picture on the daily on Tumblr, and with that being said it is a dope picture from some makeup artist from MAC that created this face chart for Mexico's Day of the Dead celebration.  With all this extra information I was able to eradicate the Rihanna resemblance banter from my mind and actually see the tattoo for what it is, another tattoo on Chris Brown's body.  That's all I really could conclude and that's all I really care to know. 

I really want to know what you all think about the new ink on this pop star's neck.  Are you feeling it?  Do you think it looks like Rihanna or is it making light of the domestic dispute from two years ago?  Tell me in the comments, I want to know how you feel! 

Tell Me How You Feel....Part 8

Greetings!

Have you ever heard of someone disliking a product on  a person and telling that person not out of rudeness but simply stating an opinion?  I have and sometimes people's reactions are not too receptive to the truth, understood.   However, what happens when the stating the truth gets ugly and an individual is harassed by others for a making a comment that someone disagrees with?   I would imagine that someone would state their opinion and be done with the topic but sometimes people can get offended without understanding the gist of a particular statement. 

I am a huge advocate of admitting when I am wrong  but I am an even bigger advocate of stating one's opinion without bias, no matter the issue.  I understand that because some people don't  have the education or the tact to accept one's statement without degrading the person's character but I do think that we all know that it is best to resolve a perhaps offensive statement between two people without others being involved.  The best way to patch up a situation like this would be a gentle conversation rather than using the same technique to bash someone that a person supposedly is bashing.  Guess what?  You are not better. 

This post may seem a bit personal because it is, I'm speaking from experience and since then I have taken the precautionary measures to prohibit this type of situation from arising again because of some individual's grandiose complex and inability to accept the truth.  However, I did want to hear my reader's opinion of a situation where telling the  truth has ever put you in hot water with a group of individuals without realizing it was even that big of an issue. 

So tell me, has your truth telling ever been an issue for you?   Tell me in the comments!

Tell Me How You Feel....Part 7

Greetings!

I know it's happened before and as much as we hate to admit it, sometimes we can go overboard with the amount of makeup that we think we "need" and end up spending a little more than we had anticipated.  I've done it more frequently than I'd like to admit in public and quite frankly I understand that you have too, no need to lie, we're all friends here, right? 

Here's a scenario:  You go to the mall one day, you stop at the MAC counter and to your surprise MAC has released ANOTHER collection, of course you're overjoyed and start perusing the lipsticks and eyeshadows.  Still with me?  Ok.  After a few minutes of gazing at the new items we realize that you only have $10 in your pocket and you don't get paid two weeks from now.  Panic mode sets in.  What do you do when you clearly are interested in the products set before you and the girl at the counter feels pretty confident that she's going to make a sale out of you?  You start sweating bullets and then you remember, you have that credit card in handy, no big deal, you'll pay it back as soon as your statement comes in.  Cool.  The only thing is you buy damn near everything in sight because of this.  You figure since you don't have to "pay" for it now you'll do so in time.  Still here?

Okay, so now that you have the whole collection with you back at home finding petty joy in doing swatches you get a text from a bill collector reminding you of balance due that you have yet to pay.  Surprise, surprise, it's the credit card company and no, you cannot pay your credit card balance with your credit card, lol.  You only have $10 and that's for lunch for the next week since you are a broke college student.  Now you are STUNNED!  You have all this makeup and you don't know where your next meal is coming from nor do you have enough funds to pay off a balance.  What do you do?  Call somebody, anybody, just don't call me!  LOL

Have you ever been in a situation such as this?  What did you do?  How did you overcome it and has it taught you to do better with finances?  Tell me in the comments!

5 Things You Need to Know When Heading to the Cosmetics Counter

Greetings!

Earlier this week I went on about not being a fool for the hype and instead seeking to make good decisions based on research you've done to ensure that you've made the best product choice for you.  Well, that got me to thinking, since I opened up that can of worms I might as well let you in on the goodness of the rest of the pack....get it?  lol  Here's a list of 5 things I feel are imperative when you are out and about searching for cosmetics, period.

1.  Go with a friend. -  There's nothing like bringing an honest but kind friend with you to the counter that can assist you in your buying choices.  Now this friend doesn't have to be a professional makeup artist or cosmetologist, but you do want this friend to have some sense of beauty skills.  The ideal friend to bring on this outing would be the friend whom you'd want your makeup to match.  You know, that friend who's makeup is always on point and never overdone.  Remember, this friend is here to help you and not hurt you by making foolish comments about your taste, just use this individual as a buffer and a sense of reasoning in your buying decision.  You don't have to get everything that's in her stash, the purpose is to create a stash that matches your aesthetic.

2.  Try it on. -  I know, I know, no one wants to try the tester that's been used a gazillion times before you  and that's understandable but if you don't want to be caught in the fool's game of buying items just because they look pretty in the pan but turn out to look ashy on your skin then you better whip out your own, tissue, cotton pads, and alcohol and go.to.werk!  I've been there and trust me, I'm the woman that is quick to wave off the sales person for the sake of me not hurting her feelings because she's hounding me to purchase the new stock, I'm more of a slowly walks around the counter once, then walks around twice to try it on (with my hand sanitzer and alcohol in hand).  Also, the benefit to trying it on is so that you can see what it looks like on while walking around the store and see what reactions others give you.  If the reactions are positive, go for it, if not, then you know what to leave at the store for the next person.

3.  Ask for a sample. -  So many people are apprehensive about this but don't be, it's a part of the experience.  Why wouldn't you want to try something before buying it?  That's like buying a car before seeing the carfax.   If you can take the product home with you and wear for a day or two and not like it then there is no harm done because you don't have to go back and return it PLUS you can go back and try something else.  And if you do like it that means you can wait a little longer to get the full size when the sample finishes because you still have the sample to finish.  ;)

4.  Research a bit.  -  If you have an idea of what you're looking to purchase, let's say foundation, google foundation shades for your skin tone and see what other women who look like you are saying about what types are best for them, narrow the list down to what it is that you're looking for and use that final list as a guide to what it is you want to leave the store with.  From past experience I find that the less you know the more you can get suckered into making an impulse purchase, so if you walk in with a plan and a list then the salesperson can take you more seriously and engage you in the process rather than pick one out for you that he or she thinks will work for you.

5.  Make a friend at the counter.  -  The great thing about building a relationship with the counter person is that you'll now have an insider who knows when and what new products that suit your fancy will come in.  Beware that you do not get suckered into buying things you don't need off the fact that this person clued you in early.  Remember to be firm and decisive.  When you have a REALLY good relationship with the counter person they will become your ally in your future purchases, whether it be for skincare or beauty related.  This person will begin to know your needs and make recommendations based on your needs and your skin type.  Isn't that neat?  It's like having your own personal cosmetic shopper in a way.

What do you think?  Did I get everything?  Do you have anything else to add?  Tell me in the comments!

Don't Get Caught in the Hype!

Greetings!

A few years ago when I first begun getting serious about cosmetics I can recall having this uncontrollable desire to have it all.  When I say all, I mean it, if there was a YouTube video on it, a blog post dedicated to it, an endorsement by it, or even a mention of it in everyday conversation I was already on the prowl to purchasing that specific item.  Little did I know that was the wrong way to go about it.  I figured if this and this person liked it then I would too but in reality it was costly habit and along the way I ended up making some huge mistakes.  When I first gained interest in it all I felt that this was a brand new arena that has oodles of things to try and if I didn't try everything then I was missing out on the next best thing.  WRONG!  In reality, not everything works for everyone and girl, you could NOT tell me otherwise.  Let me tell you a story.....

A few years back there was an up and coming independent cosmetic line that received rave reviews all over the internet from some of my favorite gurus on YouTube.  I took the plunge and purchased a mass ton of items from that company and let me tell you, the items were lackluster and lacked any type of pigmentation!  I was so dissatisfied and angry with myself because I let the hype get to my head and in the end I was short some cash with a whole lot of bad products.  I couldn't return them and rather than make due with it all I had to throw it all away.  I couldn't believe that for a line that had so much acclaim could be this bad. 

Fast forward 9 months and those same YouTube gurus backpeddled on their claims on how wonderful and life changing those products were and then dedicated a video to bashing the company AND the owner.  Crazy, right?  Free products will make people do crazy things for the recognition.  smh  Because of all this and other experiences that followed it has made me one of the most cautious cosmetic purchases ever!  LOL  I will research a product to the ground, ESPECIALLY from independent cosmetic companies.  Not to say that independent cosmetic companies are all terrible because there are a handful that I know of that I can trust and recommend to others but for the many that I know of and have actually tried, I chose to stay away from.

So I say all this to let you know to be aware of what it is you're purchasing.  If you don't like parabens in your products, don't buy an item that has it for the sake of it being in trend, don't agree with a companies' ideology, then it's a no go for you.  Do and buy what works for you instead of going in head first with products you don't care for.  Also, it doesn't hurt to have a friend with you that will be able to tell you the truth about that new lip shade you want to try, when you're at a counter alone, of course the salesperson is going to persuade you into buying that uber pale lip color but when you get home, people will talk about you.....including me.....lol

Take heed yall!  Any questions?  Leave them in the comment section. :)

Tell Me How You Feel....Part 6

Greetings!

How many of you either begrudgingly or enthusiastically watch the Basketball Wives reality television show?  *raises hand*  As much as I hate to admit it you can on occasion catch me watching the shocking portrayal of minority women, *weeps* but it isn't the reason why many people are taking note of this portrayal and calling for action to cancel the show and perhaps any follow up series behind it, but instead I'd like to call it "artistic curiousity" is the reason why I chose to tune in.  I must admit that after the most recent episode I just may be calling it quits because of the constant schoolyard bullying demonstrated by a couple of key cast members.  I didn't like seeing it in grade school and I don't like seeing it now.

But back to my "artistic curiousity", every week I catch a rerun of the show to see the makeup of the cast members, vain, I know, but it's the truth.  Although, it isn't as glamorous as the backstage prep of a major fashion show it is what is feeding my satiated creativity levels.  We all can admit that we've taken a glance at a screen shot and mentioned whether someone's concealer was overdone or whether or not this person had too much blush on, the only difference is that we're mentioning this together while in the same room, but we have done this before.

So, what do you do when you look past the makeup of the women and start to actually be engaged in the subject matter of the show?  I must say, not that I was unaware of the petty cat fights and the loose language being fired on the show I was not concerned with the behaviors of the women because it was not my intent to be entertained by this show but rather take note on the makeup application.  This gets me to thinking on the old saying, "pretty is as pretty does".  Do you think a person can still be attractive despite being ready to throw around bottles at the tick of a timewatch or does having a potty mouth automatically make you an ugly person?

I'd like to think that the person's internal goodness is equated with their external appearance but that is in an ideal world and we are not living in an ideal world.  As for me I agree that the two go hand in hand but that is not to say that you can't blurb a few profanities every now and then and automatically be placed in a box of "ugly", I'd prefer that all that "extra" is kept to a minimum, simply because it is annoying and demeaning.

I'd love to hear your thoughts!  What do you think?  Tell me in the comments!

Tell Me How You Feel....Part 2

Greetings!

Last week I blogged about the hype surrounding limited edition cosmetic products and how quick they are to sell leaving many of us kicking shrouds of dust around us bitter and disappointed at others "I need to have" mentality.  I was actually surprised at how many of you felt about the topic and I'm glad that I am able to share those thoughts with you.  Since it was received so well I've decided to make it a weekly post here at Cosmetic Diet because frankly, I have alot of thoughts when it comes to beauty and I feel that it will benefit us all if we have a platform to discuss these issues, after all, a pretty face doesn't always mean a pretty mind.  So let's get on with today's topic, shall we?

Imagine yourself walking across the street, face done, hair done, nails done, only to have someone misconstrue your desire to be "done up" with the idea that you're trying to snag a man.  Assuming that most of you don't apply makeup or spend hours at the salon for a man's affirmation of your beauty, I think that others who persistently identify your good looks with trying to find a companion are ridiculous.  Granted, as women, we have the tendency to perhaps spritz that perfume that he likes or wear those bangles he complimented you on the last time you wore them because hey, you like to be admired.  But for the most part, you should be doing these things for you not him, her, or they. 

"Why are you always dressed up all nice like that? "  Why the hell not?!  Who doesn't want to wear nice clothes, look presentable with some blush and mascara?  Instead you may be questioned on your motives and not how your confidence level allows you to stand a little straighter, walk alot stronger, and speak a little louder all because you took the extra time out to make sure that your eyeshadow was blended well.  I cannot describe how these types of questions used to irk me back in undergrad from those who would walk around campus with pajamas and slippers.  Excuse me for having the decency to actually give a damn about my appearance.  At first it would bother me because I felt that maybe I should dress down a bit, but that thought process was quickly dwindled when I thought about the woman that I wanted to be.  I am strong believer in "act the part, be the part," if I look like a milliion bucks, well damn it, I am and who's to tell me otherwise.

I know often in the beauty community many of us get these same comments, questions, and side looks from others because we like the process of enhancing our beauty because we know it can be the difference between being greeted at the door by the help or being mistaken for the help.......

So what do you think about this topic?  Tell me in the comments. :)

Tell Me How You Feel....

Greetings!

MAC, Makeup Art Cosmetics, the end all and be all for many beauty junkies for good reason.  The lip colors are great, there's a blush color for everyone, and the MSF's are heaven sent peaces of domed arches.  Despite all of that MAC is always putting out a new collection that gets people anxious and excited to get the "next best thing"--I get it.  You want to get that red lip because it's unlike anything you've ever seen and yet you have a drawer of red lipstick that haven't been used.  You wait in line on your lunch break because you just have to get 4 of those new MSF's that your counter only has five of.  Just like you I love these collections just as much as the next person but what I am really peeved about is the audacity of some people to deliberately purchase half stock only to sell it at a higher market price.  Do you know that I saw a Candy Yum Yum on Ebay for $125 dollars!!  $125.......that's gas money!  Don't get me wrong, everyone is trying to make a buck but I mean, that much for a tube of lipstick is outrageous.

Let's not forget about how quickly MAC sold out of lipsticks from their most recent collection, Shop MAC, only to have it restocked and sold out AGAIN within minutes, I didn't even have a chance.  I am truly amazed about the power of it all, we continue to buy these items and never really use them, I mean do you really need three tubes of Ever Hip??  I guess what I'm saying is,"Can I have a chance?"  LOL

I am really interested in knowing how you feel about this.  Tell me, do you think it is all worth the hype?  Is it worth it?  Is MAC the cosmetic version of the Jordan?  TELL ME HOW YOU FEEL....