I Spend All My Days, Hunting For Beauty

2012-01-22T14:40:00.000-08:00

My first January fragrance to review is Reveal by Halle Berry. The asking price ranges from $29-$34 for 1.7oz. They describe the scent as a radiant floral that is balanced, light, fresh and becomes sexier as you wear it. Here is my interpretation...

It is very floral and sweet, but not candy sweet. It makes me feel like I am a sweet, lovingperson for smelling this way. After afew minutes it changes into something more sensual, more provocative andfiercely feminine. I love thispart. About 4 hours later, the scent wasundetectable to my nose, but I enjoyed it while it lasted and would love to wearit on a daily basis. What a wonderfulway to flip the script, how one scent changes into another one so similar butdistinct. It certainly reveals itself inlayers and is girly and grown at the same time.

Go get you some!

Walgreens sale thru January 21st

2012-01-18T06:26:00.001-08:00

I got the Walgreens paper today and this sale lasts throughSaturday the 21^st. It startedon Sunday, I’m sorry I did not post these earlier this week, but here we go!

Select L’oreal products are $5.99, including Colour Richelip, eye and nail products

Other items are buy 1 get 1 50% off including Covergirl,Almay, Maybelline and Revlon.

Select Olay ProX items are $34.99, and the advanced cleaningsystem, including the skin brusher thing is only $29.99. I like the Clarisonic brush because itdoesn’t actually spin, just vibrates, but I don’t know how this Olay oneworks. If you have one, comment!!!

You can get a standard size Brita pitcher for $10.99 afterthe coupon in the Sunday paper and the discounts. Why am I talking about a water pitcher? Cuz itis a foolproof beauty tool! Drinkinglots of water keeps you hydrated, which keeps your skin moisturized. Staying hydrated will also clear yourcomplexion and give you a glow no luminizer can touch!

There are some other savings like $10 off crest 3D whitestrips,tresseme and pantene hair products and select fragrances are $10 off like WhiteDiamonds and Sunflowers, to name a few!

I hope you can make it to Walgreens this week and takeadvantage of your favorite products. Andget your water pitcher!!!

Tribal nails #2

2012-01-11T14:34:00.001-08:00

Nail Magic Botanical Strengthener with Horsetail

2012-01-09T01:00:00.000-08:00

So, last month I renewed my Sally's membership. I suggest you get one of these cards if you want to save on some great products. It's only $5 and they give you some coupons when you first sign up, one for $5 off $25, and another for $5 off, no matter how much you spend. What is really sweet about this one is you can use it with sales and other offers.

I combined my coupon with on of the specials they had for December. When you purchase Nail Magic Botanical Strengthener with Horsetail, you get the Cuticle Oil free, so I snapped some up! I love BOGO's and I will almost always take the opportunity to try something new. The Botanical Strengthener is clear-pink, the cuticle oil is clear-golden. The cuticle oil is just ok, not impressed. Sometimes companies are giving away products because they suck, bottom line. This product doesn't suck, but I am not impressed. Glad I didn't pay for it.

The nail strengthener on the other hand is awesome! I like the product, I am happy with the purchase. After 2 weeks my nails were shiny and super hard. I didn't take the polish off, just brushed more on every 2 days and it worked, like magic! For the most part, I believe products are worth what they are being sold for, and in this case I am willing to pay the full asking price of this product, $7.59.

Get you some!

Making Your Eyeshadow Pop Brighter and Longer

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

I went through a journey tonight finding the perfect information for one of my most lovely clients. Her bone structure make her eyes a particularly striking feature. For her, I am researching eye primer. I have please hold by mark. and I am actually using it as a concealer. I mix it with my speedway in mocha and apply under my eyes, around my nose and mouth. I bought it to try out some cream shadow, but that creased anyway so I didn't bother to use the primer again. So I have put my nose to the air, and primer is what I want to come up with, the hunt is on...

I started by looking for a website www.makeupforblackgirls.com, doesn't exist. The next selection was www.makeup4blackwomen.com. She hasn't updated since July so I looked at her links to see if there was someone fresh she had mentioned. And there I happened upon Scandalous Beauty, watched a video on her youtube channel where she shows a basic eyeshadow look. I liked the video, so I included it below.

(Side note: as I went back to link the video I found this bonus review of Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue!!!, and I am thinking that she should try this instead!)

Her another video by Makeup D0ll, which I really like because she discusses primers and bases to help make your eyeshadow last and show up vibrant and true.

My client is allergic to MAC...ok, shift gears, other products that can be used for this purpose, namely Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay Primer Potion. It seems the Urban Decay is a better formula, but for your money's worth, too faced has better packaging. I am looking forward to checking these products out to see what is better and how mark. compares. For right now, because of the packaging, I would say go with Too Faced Shadow Insurance.

Happy Hunting!

My current Web Favorites

2012-01-07T21:34:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I have been on a nail kick lately, so I am in love with a few tumblr blogs mynailsaredope, missladyfinger, idrinknailpolish and gemsinabottle all post regularly and have tons to offer. I especially love the way missladyfinger gets her inspiration from the runway. There are great tutorials on Youtube, check out the channel, Cutepolish. There are a bunch of tutorials. I can't wait to try the little moustaches, I think they are so cute! The Monarch Butterfly is one I want to try too, I love the way that came out and it looks super easy! I also used this video from mad4beauty, for my tribal nails. Sally's just happened to have a bottle of China Glaze that was so close to her base shade, I had to jack the color scheme. I love the way it came out, but I really need to work on my nail art. Still, it was pretty good for a first attempt! I also found a blog, Lynnderella, and I don't even wat to tell you about it because I am afraid I won't get any polish when it comes out. Check out my likes on my tumblr for some styles that feature Lynnderella glitter polishes. Tell her I sent you too! We don't have and agreement or anything, but, maybe I can negotiate one if I make myself known, lol! Anyway, those are my current faves as far as nails go.

Come back soon, I just got the most amazing face wash from Boots No 7, I have more perfume coming in, and I have to let you know about the sales this month at Sally's!

About the wallpaper change...

2012-01-07T21:07:00.000-08:00

Forgive me, I am still under construction. I will eventually settle into a style that is right for me and my blog. I will have lots of surprises to spruce the place up because I want this to be a true reflection of me and what I believe in. I really want to being you guys the best information out there on beauty and skin care. I love keeping my skin fresh and healthy and I love telling people what I know and what I am finding out about, so just hang in there with me and we can get there together!

I want this Wig!

2012-01-05T07:51:00.000-08:00

I couldn't get a picture of it but to see the most banging wig ever, the Soft Yaki Bangs lace front wig from platinum wigs, click on the name!

Deuces!

2011-12-18T17:06:00.000-08:00

Caring for your lash extensions.

Oil based products will dissolve the glue that bonds the extensions to your own lashes. Use only water based producst like SHANY Mark It Black, a water-based liquid liner, pictured below.

Personally, I don't wear lash extensions, I like less permanenet methods of beauty enhancement, but there are some great manufacturers of makeup for people who wear lash extensions. Try one out today!

For more information about the care of your lash extensions, click here.

Love and lipgloss,
Artemis

Perfumes for a Buck

2011-12-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

So, I am super excited!!!

I finally got my “perfumes for a buck.” What happens is you order 5 perfume samplesfor $1, free shipping. Then, every monthafter that you are charged 12.99 a month for 5 sample credits. They can only be redeemed 5 per month, butyou can make a queue, kind of like Netflix, where they will just continue tosend samples off your list, every month.

It comes in a little box like this:

Once you open it up, there are some cards and a plasticbaggie containing a larger sample of one of your selections. Mine was Burberry Touch.

The sticker on the bag invites you to upgrade to a premiummembership and you can get all your samples at the larger size. I am thinking of upgrading because I doprefer the spray top samples versus the smaller ones with the cap and wand.

The other samples are attached to a card with the webaddress, and another card for a website www.MyPerfumeSamples.com. They sell samples here, with different sizesto choose from. It has a coupon code for15% off, so I am interested. They evenhave 7.5 mL bottles for under $20. Idon’t know if I would make it through a whole bottle of fragrance, so I thinkthis is the perfect solution for me. Iwas thinking about getting come

I ordered Prada Prada Tendre’, Viktor & Rolf Eau Mega, and Burberry Touch, all for women. I also ordered Prada Prada Amber Pour Homme and Yves St Laurent YSL L’Homme, both for men.

I tried Viktor & Rolf, Eau Mega today. It’s a nice blend of bergamont, tea andflorals, according to the website. Ilike that it is soft and delicate. Thisis something I could wear on a daily basis. It promotes that dainty, girly vibe I like to give off. So if you want to buy it for me, please get the gift set with the lotion!

Fragrance for the Holidays

2011-12-10T22:17:00.001-08:00

Picked up the exchange catalog from my mother last nightwhen I dropped my son off for his sleepover. There is a fragrance section, and let me start off by saying that I hadno idea Calvin Klein had so many fragrances! I remember CKOne was the ish back in the day!

For this holiday season, I love all the Beyonce fragrances and thesegift sets are totally bomb! I can’tdecide which one I like the best but I currently have an obsession withgrapefruit so I gotta say get Pulse this winter. It is clean and crispy and the newestaddition to her line.

There were some things I wanted to try to I will see whatthey are like in the coming months. They include Heidi Klum’s Shine, ThePlayboy line of fragrances, Reveal by Halle Berry, and I am most stoked tosee what this Penguin, for men, is like.

I just love the packaging and I hope it smells good becauseI think it is really cute.

I have some fragrances coming my way soon, some for men,some for women, my man is going to be my guinea pig and I look forward tosniffing him in the future.

Honey, will you come put some Lotion on my Back!!!

2011-12-02T19:14:00.001-08:00

One of the main reasons I wanted to start a beauty blog is to share the things I find on the world wide web. One such item is the Body Buddy Non-Absorbent Lotion Applicator. This item comes in several colors and finally solves the problem of how to reach that spot in the middle of your back.

Judging by the reviews, the only complaint seems to be the elasticized straps. Some users have overcome this annoyance by forgoing the straps and grasping the product at the ends of the strip.

I will be adding this item to Santa’s list this year, and at only $19.95, I suggest you peep this online retailer to snag one before they are all gone! The company website suggest retailing the item at $24.95, but I found a place where you can get the Body Buddy for $19.95.

A New Direction

2011-12-02T11:52:00.001-08:00

When I first started this blog, I thought it was going to be about my beauty product recommendations, as if there are products that work for everyone, and some that work for no one. As I began to gather information on the topic, I realized, I know next to nothing about the topic I was seeking to explore. So, I shift focus. There are so many blogs out there with such wonderful information. Some of it is bogus, or full of opinion, but some is based in science and testimonials making it worth reading.

Everybody needs help with this stuff sometimes. You go to the store, and you see so many options, other than price, how do you decide what is right for you? Would you be disappointed to know that the product you are paying a premium for contains very little of a prominently featured ingredient? I know I would,, I have been already. My task is to cut through the marketing bull that is enticing you to spend your money on things that are neither useful, nor optimal to achieve the results you are seeking.

Then there are the myths you hear, like if you wash your hair too much, you will revert your relaxer. Dirt makes your hair grow. Vaporub will make your edges come back. I wonder where this stuff comes from. Ain’t it always a bald chick telling you this stuff? That’s the only time I ever heard it.

Anyway, its time for me to get out there and hunt down the facts. I am interested in finding out why some products work for some hair types and not others. Why do some people with the same hair respond differently to the same product? Can I identify a pattern of products that produce typical results that I can rely on enough to eventually categorize products to give you real information so you can make an informed purchase? I believe I can do it, and I believe you want me to do it, to help you out. So here I go, hunting for beauty.

Moisturizing Your Hair - Part 2 The Rude Awakening

2011-12-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

To make a long story short, I just realized that I have been a fool, I know next to nothing about these products and I am willing to admit that I am overwhelmed by the information out there and all the different opinions. For example, I once believed that if products within a line had the same ingredients, they had the same formulations. WRONG. I also was in love with a product that claimed to steam conditioning nutrients deep into the hair shaft. WRONG. I thought I could write a post that would describe a product in such a way that you would be able to purchase it with confidence. WRONG. Sadly, I will have to delay part 2 of my epic moisturizing adventure. I just don’t know what I am talking about!

That being said, let me assure you my blog is still worth coming to. Problem is, the stuff I started to write about is already out there. How can I make Hunting For Beauty unique, a site that someone needs to actually visit and see for themselves a few times a week? Well, I will post more often, with links to the articles I am reading, pictures of natural and relaxed hairstyles, and products I hear of that may be of interest to you. What is going to make this site work, and drive the success of Hunting For Beauty is input from people who use the products. Tell me about your hair and the products you use to make it look its best. Please include your email so I can ask you for more details.

You see, I am building a database of products that aid in the ease of maintaining and styling hair like mine and yours. I am natural, and will remain sensitive to the needs of the very curly girls out there. With your help, I can gain the knowledge to be able to gently guide others to product nirvana with confidence. What I want most of all is to be a part of the larger conversation about naturally kinky-curly hair.

So, go ahead and post your favorite products below, let’s get the conversation going! Remember to include your hair type, if you have relaxer or color, do you wear wigs or weaves, braids, cornrows etc. I look forward to reading your responses!

Here's a couple of deep conditioning articles I read today.
The Natural Haven - Is Deep Conditioning a Myth?
Should You Use Oil Before You Shampoo?
Letter from a Hair Scientist about Deep Conditioning

Really Moisturizing Your Hair, Part 1 - The Awakening

2011-11-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

I want to talk about what I have been finding about hair oils and conditioners and the best way to care for hair like mine which can get very dry, especially in the winter with all the dry heat indoors and the winter hats and scarves outside. It's too much, I need to give it to you in bits or I will never be able to start writing! So, here is part 1, which I will call the Awakening.

Only certain oils penetrate the hair shaft to provide moisture from within. Coconut, olive and avocado oil are the only oils that have been shown through science to penetrate the hair shaft. This is extremely important to remember. We have been seduced into purchasing shampoos and rinse out conditioners containing shea butter, jojoba oil, tea tree oil and others. This means that as soon as you rinse the product from the hair, the oil is gone. This does not mean that these oils have no place in your hair care routine, just not in your rinse out products. The oils can all be very useful for leave-in conditioning and daily moisture.

My favorite out of the three has to be coconut oil. Not only does it smell amazing, coconut oil has some anti-bacterial properties that may aid in retaining hair growth and reducing hair loss. This is the most effective oil to use when your goal is to penetrate the hair shaft with retainable moisture. Be careful what you buy, make sure you are purchasing products with effective ingredients. Head out to Trader Joes or Whole Foods, and purchase some pressed, virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil is solid at room temp, but a quick rub in the hands will melt it. I recommend you use a clean spoon everytime you scoop some out to prevent introducing bacteria into your jar.

Stay tuned for part 2 - hot oil treatments and deep conditioners, are they really necessary?

Sources:

Coconut Oil Article

Beauty Brains on Coconut Oil

6 Tips for Mascara Application (+2 mo)

2011-11-14T08:33:00.001-08:00

1. Before you apply your mascara of choice, brush the excess off on a damp makeup sponge. This will prevent you dabbing mascara on your eyes. Make sure you use a fresh sponge each time to prevent introducing dirt and germs into your product.

2. I like to wiggle the brush at the base of my lashes, it helps separate the lashes and gets the color deep down in the roots.

3. I also like to turn the brush as i sweep it along my lashes, in the same direction as the curl. This helps separate your lashes and applies an even amount of product all the way to the ends.

4. Always, always, always 2 coats! Nothing more, nothing less. If you want a bigger effect, find a different formula. I have several mascaras including mark. Lash All You Want, which is my everyday look, Rimmell London The Max Volume Flash Bold Curves, which makes my lashes super luscious and is perfect for when I want to feel super sexy.

5. Remember that mascara you brushed off on a makeup sponge? Take your flat eyeliner brush, dip it in and apply lightly to the little hairs on the bottom. This defines your lashes in the most naturally flattering way.

6. If I have fallout on my lashes from my eyeshadow, I go back over the top of my lashes with the mascara on the eyeliner brush trick.

7. Take your eyebrow brush/comb and use the comb side to go in and separate your lashes. This help if you got carried away with your 2 coats.

8. Always replace your mascara every 3 months. Don't risk an eye infection! Pulling the wand in and out, over and over, day after day, introduces dirt and bacteria. It's just like opening a gallon of milk, it has a definite shelf life.

Monday Morning Bling

2011-10-31T07:00:00.000-07:00

I know it's old, but I still love it!

2011-10-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

I know better!

2011-10-19T22:36:00.001-07:00

Let me start off by saying I know better. I know better than to cut my hair with my son's safety scissors. I know better than to keep cutting when I have clearly cut too much off. And I damn sure know better than to cut my hair wet, then dry, then wet, then dry…but, somehow it still happened. I don't know what I was thinking. I just have a trashcan full of my beautiful fuzzy topping and knot you would not believe that are preventing me from twisting this mess up so I can pop a wig on top. So, I am heading to the beauty salon bright and early tomorrow, because I am going to the Velocity Dance Festival tomorrow night and I would like to look nice.

So, learn from my mistakes. Do not cut your hair at home unless you have the proper tools and some knowledge of design and texture. If you are like me, please use the knowledge you have before undertaking any activities. I think people need to go see the hairdresser anyway. Women who get relaxers and color should invest in letting a professional do it. It is worth the money to be able to rip a picture out of a magazine and have someone else do the thinking. The problem is finding someone you can trust to make you look good. Lucky for me, a friend referred me to a hairdresser I have seen once before, so as soon as I finish this business class I have scheduled tomorrow morning, I will head in her direction.

It's a shame really. I was avoiding the cost of the hairdresser and now I have to pay anyway, and I have already cut off way more than I needed to. My girl just laughed when I told her about it, she then went on to remind me of the last time I tried to cut my hair myself, which was amazing to me because I should have learned this last time this was a bad idea. I never cease to amaze myself with the number of times I can repeat the same mistake without taking away the lesson.

We ladies, in our quest for beauty, sometimes ignore clear signs, signals and evidence that we are using the wrong approach to deal with an issue. Whether we fight our natural texture with straighteners, braid it up in impossibly tight weaves, neglect our god given strands, giving preference to unidirectional remy from india, we can be nicer to our hair, and it will be a beautiful result. Challenge yourself, change your concept of beauty, professionalism, and sexiness. Just because I can't fingercomb my hair from roots to tip does not make my hair hard to manage. It is just a different kind of management. The world deserves to see this beauty, and those who would deny me, need to face the fact that I exist naturally in this form. Show em your bush girl!

--
Joni Murray

I am cool
I love lots
push the button

Glycolic acid peel

2011-10-17T09:51:00.001-07:00

I just turned 30 and I am worried about dark spots on my chin, blackheads on my nose and lines around my mouth. I know I am not the only one who has no idea what to use and when, so hopefully the details of my personal story can help you find some items that work for you.

I am starting with glycolic acid and retinol because I currently own products featuring these ingredients and would like to know if I wasted my money or not. I was wondering what the product does, when to use it, and if I can use them together

Glycolic acid is a chemical exfoliant that helps encourage cell renewal by penetrating the skin's surface layers and breaking up the bonds that hold dead skin cells to the surface. When you use glycolic acid as an exfoliant, the skin is better able to accept any further treatments and moisturizer in your skin care regimen. In my mind, I say this is the time to apply any treatments you need to penetrate the skin to work. Use glycolic acid as part of your PM routine, as it sensitizes the skin to UV Rays. Apply to face, neck and chest after washing, in place of toner.

You don't want to use glycolic acid and retinol at the same time because they can have neutralizing effects on each other, but you can use them the same day, just use the glycolic acid first then follow with your retinol 15 - 30 mins later.

I was surprised to learn that concentrations of glycolic acid 10% or higher are considered hazardous material! There are a lot of different concentrations out there some as high as 70%!!! You're gonna have to see a dermatologist for that but concentrations as high as 30% can be found in spas and salons throughout America. The next question, naturally is how much do I need to use and how do I know the concentration of what I am buying??? I will get into that next time!

FBLE 2011 Review

2011-09-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

So, I went to the 2011 Fashion, Beauty and Lifestyle Expo at the Washington Convention Center Saturday, September 10th. I did not stay for the entire show but I did see a bridal fashion show. I wasn't feeling the clothes so I walked around and took a look at the different vendors and there were some interesting things.

One vendor was Sanjules Unique Art Creations, where I saw the cutest Foxy t-shirt. She had a really beautiful bracelet/necklace set and some awesome feather earrings. I am going to have to call her in the future when I have a little bit of money and can get what I really want. I will be picking up the t-shirt and I am thinking my little sister would like some feather earrings.

There was a skin car specialist from Bruno and Brown Aesthetic and Cosmetic Plastic Surgery. What I learned from them was to lead with the big guns. You can draw someone in with conversation about services she may or may not want. She will find something to be interested in and the difference in price will create feelings of savings. Anyway she was demonstrating the Clarisonic on my hand and I was amazed at how gently the brush vibrated against my skin. I now desire this item, and seek to possess it in the near future, I'm thinking Christmas???

C.A.T.WALK Boutique, owned by Carolyn A. Thomas, was displaying some mighty unique designs and I definitely want to see more from this shop. They even had a cape! I didn't have the nerve to try it on but I am determined to "make it work" with this piece because it looks so killer to me. You can go to 1404 H Street NE on the weekends from 11AM - 4PM. They had a really cute hot pink dress for with silver chains hanging across the front and sequins, the works! I only brought $20 which ended up being a blessing and a curse. I still managed to waste $11 on a bland overpriced plate of Curry Chicken, but if I put that together with the cost to print my tickets at Kinko's, I still came in under budget for the day so it was all good to me.

I have 3 more cards here from places I don't remember going to, or, more accurately, I don't remember the stuff they had there.

Nicky B's – I saw some wooden bangles and the basketball wives hoop earrings, but at least one other jeweler had the exact same stuff

Cynirje – First of all, needlessly complicated business name. Had some of the same jewelry as another jeweler but for less in the case of the basketball wives hoops

Charming Accessories – All I remember is that they were the first booth I visited…I think. Actually, now that I am looking at her card, I remember her saying that the address on the card was incorrect. Not a good impression

Now for some more "whimsical" entertainment, Paul Wharton has a new dance tune available for download on iTunes called "Hide Your Crazy," inspired by his experiences with "The Real Housewives of DC." At the time I am writing this, I have not heard the single yet, but I have the feeling I will need to dedicate a whole post to that experience.

There were some really cool bags featured by Clutch. There will be a Fall Trunk Show, Friday Sept 16^th,2011, from 6PM – 9PM. Email info@clutchbagsonline and talk to Julia Singleton for more information. I really want to buy some of these bags when I have some more money. I am going to go through my wardrobe and make exact notes about what I need to add to make things more wearable. Go to the website because these bags are really cute.

Then there was a booth that looked like two men making excuses to rub on women. There were so many people offering massages! My friend was getting a massage and I couldn't tell what they were selling. I asked the man if they were just giving out massages, and he told me that it is all explained in the book. I walked over and lo and behold, they were selling a book called White Man. Black Man. Chinese Man. Now, what this has to do with massage? I do not know. But, he said it was all explained, if I read the flyer. So I read the flyer and learned that Dr Henderson was skilled in "…generational dynamics and diversity in the workplace…", which I still have no idea why he was massaging people. So, I decided not to be that vendor. I will make sure visitors to my booth know exactly who is in charge, what we do, and how to get in touch with us. I mean, he had out two laptops and neither one was playing anything!

Speaking on what not to do, there were several unmanned booths including one I wanted to talk to, Chef Huda. Apparently, she has a blog on DC50tv.com called, "A Happy Food Place." I wasn't able to access the blog from my phone, but I did run into an article from The Washington Informer from last July announcing the blog. Chef Huda graduated from Le Cordon Bleu at the top of her class and runs the catering company, Pretty and Delicious, LLC. I will have to check the blog, but there was a cool recipe for a pasta dish for kids with hidden veggies. I'm not sure my son will go for it, since he doesn't like tomato sauce, but I will give a try at least once. I'll let you know how it turns out!