Sunday, May 31, 2009

Alterna Hemp Organics Straightening Balm: Heat Protectant and Blow-Out Maintenance in One!

Hello Divas!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! The weather in Atlanta was beautiful and gorgeous!

Divas I have been using a new product on my hair that I am madly madly in love with. It is Alterna's Hemp Organics Straightening Balm. My good friend Natasha turned me on to this product when I showed up at her house and my hair was a big cloud of pouf! Georgia humidity! I had my flat iron to straighten it out and she suggested that I use the Straightening Balm to maintain the straight look. Of course, I gave it a try. After 7 hours out on the town, my flat-ironed hair looked as good as new! It was still sleek and shiny. No pouffy hair! No kidding. Now I have been using this product every time I flat-iron my hair.

First this product is super lightweight. It does not weigh down your hair. It actually feels like a facial primer. In addition, you only have to use a tiny bit of the product to coat your hair. I just take a quarter size amount in my palm and run it through my hair. This amount is more than enough. I then run the flat iron through small sections of my hair. This product makes my hair straight but also light and full of body! But the genius of this product is that it is also a heat protectant. So while this product is straightening my hair, it is also protecting my hair from heat damage. Boy I love a two for one deal!

Alterna Organics are enriched with Certified Organic Botanicals to strengthen your hair and infuse it with nutrients that prevent damage. Nice!

I love this product! A 5.1 oz tube retails for $19 and you can purchase it from Ulta.

Toodles!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Fun Fridays! Sales and Luxe stores!

Hello Divas!

I hope all is fab in your world! It is Friday and the sun finally came out!

Divas CVS is a having a major sale on some of my favorite drugstore brand products! All Wet n' Wild products are buy 1 get 1 free. Also if you have a CVS card, you can save $3 on all ROC skincare. Lastly, all Maybelline Mascaras are buy 1 get 1 free. Great great sale! Stock up Divas!

My favorite upscale discount shopping boutique, Luxe-Atlanta, is having an uber chic event this Saturday from 12-5pm. They are introducing a new stylist, E. Vincent Martinez, to their team and will celebrate with great food and gift bags with purchase from Clove Salon Gallery & Boutique. Divas, I have been shopping at Luxe-Atlanta since 2003. The owners bring the hottest high-end designer fashions to Atlanta and sale them for up to 80% off. Love! Click here for event details and directions.

Toodles!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Hot Drugstore Find of the Week: Paradiso Soft Weave/Terry Wash Cloth

Hello Divas!

I hope your hump day is fabo!

My mom is great at putting together little gift baskets. She always makes me a little basket of goodies for birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, etc. Well for Mother's Day she put together a little bath and body set. She knows me well right? LOL! This gift basket included a Paradiso Soft Weave/Terry Wash Cloth. I was searching for my loofah to exfoliate and found the Wash Cloth in my beauty arsenal. I thought, why not give it a try.

Well Divas I did and I was BLOWN AWAY! This little wash cloth is unbelievabably fantastic! One side of the wash cloth is a soft weave and the other side is a textured terry mateiral. I used the textured terry side to exfoliate my skin. The exfoliation is perfect. It was abrasive enough to remove dead skin yet very gentle. It was so much nicer than using my hard loofah! After using this side of the wash cloth, my skin felt invigorated. Next, I used the soft weave side to gently wash my skin after exfoliation. The weave is very soft and nourishing to the skin. I tell ya Divas, this wash cloth is pure genius! So you know I had to find out where I could buy more. I located the company, which is Drake Williams, and discovered where to buy this wash cloth and the price point. The price of this wash cloth is unbelievable..it is only $2.99! I am stocking up on these wash cloths! They are even gentle enough to use on luxe son. I need to scrub his scruffy knees and elbows....... You can purchase this wash cloth at Eckerds, Wal-Mart, or Sally's.

Toodles!

Monday, May 25, 2009

I Need This in My Life: DiorShow Iconic Mascara

Hello Divas!

I hope you had a fabulous Memorial Day Weekend! I relaxed, so I am very happy! I decided to start a new category on my blog entitled: I Need This in My Life. These posts will feature items that I want but have yet to purchase....probably because I have already spent my luxe life budget. LOL! First item up is Dior's Diorshow Iconic Mascara. Now I am already a fan of DiorShow Mascara. As a luxury brand Mascara, I would rate it a close second to Lancome's Defencils. Well this new Iconic Mascara claims to give you the same length, volume, and thickness of DiorShow and also curl your lashes! Sounds fab right? Dior claims the newly designed oblique brush will give your lashes the most amazing and sexy curves! Well I am definitely going to Sephora and test out their theory. I can't wait to get my hands on this Mascara! DiorShow Iconic Mascara retails for $27 and you can purchase it at Sephora. Has anyone tried this Mascara? If so, please share!

Toodles!

Are you a Makeup Fashionista??

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having a fab Memorial Day. It is rainy in Atlanta, so I may be in all day. I will catch up on some reading!

The below quiz is quick and so much fun. The results said I was a Classic Makeup Fashionista! Specifically, the results stated "You know exactly what colors work for you and on special occasions you like to try the latest trends or go a bit more dramatic. You revel in your femininity and enjoy putting time and effort into your look." Ummmm...I totally agree! The results were right on target! LOL! Take the quiz and tell me what type of Makeup Fashionista are you!

Toodles!

TotalBeauty.com
What Kind of Makeup Fashionista Are You?

Find the best makeup for your personal style with this quiz


Are you obsessed with the new neon trend or are you more of a stick-to-what-works kinda gal? Take this quiz to find out what kind of makeup fashionista you are and in turn you'll get customized makeup tips and product recommendations that'll help keep your beauty needs satisfied.

Take the quiz

Friday, May 22, 2009

Fun Fridays! How to Prepare for a day on the Beach!

Hello Divas!

It is Memorial Day Weekend! Whoohoo! Time for barbecues, shorts, and the beach! Whatever you do this weekend be safe but have a blast!

Now one of my favorite places in the world is the beach. Half of my dad's family is from Melbourne, FL so I have been going to beach since I was 5 years old. Love it! I know many of you Divas will visit a beach this weekend. So I have come up with some "beach beauty" tips to keep you looking fabulous while protecting your skin from the sun! Check them out!

1. In order to achieve a gorgeous tan, you must prepare your skin. I have said this before, I have a medium-dark skintone, but I love to get a tan. Why? Because my skin looks so luminous when I get a tan. So I always use a good sugar scrub and loofah to exfoliate my skin before going to the beach. Exfoliation will remove dead skin and your skin will tan much easier and even. The Body Shop has the best sugar scrubs for your body. They exfoliate but are super hydrating. Love them!

2. Next, make sure you have a very very good sunscreen. You need one for your body and one for you face. In addition, my philosophy is the more SPF the better. For the body and face, try Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 100. I know...100! It is non-greasy, so it won't clog your pores. Plus it is lightweight, sweatproof, and waterproof! It retails for only $12.


3. Make sure to wear big sunnies to shield your eyes from the sun. Make sure your sunnies have 100% UAV/UAB protection. Of course they have to be big and fabulous! I have been eyeing these Chanel Pearl Shades for the past month. I need them.

4. Get a pedicure before going to the beach. Remember, your toes will be on display for the world to see!

5. Also have tons of water...laying out in the sun can cause dehydration. Keep yourself hydrated!

6. Lastly, have a fabulous swimsuit. I am saving my money to buy a Shoshanna swimsuit. I am slim but heavy chested. So I always have a problem finding a bikini that fits. Shoshanna suits are great for heavy chested girls like me, (they offer lots of support) and they are stylish and adorable. This is my pick! So cute!

Toodles!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Hot Drugstore Find of the Week: Lumene Blueberry Curl Mascara

Hello Divas!

I hope your life is simply fabulous! I am learning to appreciate all of life's pleasures regardless if they are simple or grand! Life is beautiful!

I previously blogged that Lumene Skincare has a fan page on Facebook. When they initially set up the page, they had a contest and I was one of 15 people who won! We received $50 worth of Lumene Skincare products. I am already a fan of their skincare products. Since I have been using them, my skin's tone has improved and it is definitely more radiant. Well in the package they sent me a tube of their Blueberry Curl Mascara. I have never used their cosmetics, so I was excited to try out the Mascara.

First I must say that I love the packaging. The mascara tube is navy blue with a really cool shaped top! This Mascara claims to curl your lashes, build your lashes, not produce clumps, and nourish your lashes with Artic Blueberry. Did this Mascara live up to the hype? Well let's see!

The brush on this Mascara definitely curls your lashes! The brush is plastic and very flexible. However the shape of the brush is what really curls your lashes. It is narrow on both ends but wide and flat in the middle. When I was using the Mascara, my lashes were curling with each stroke. Now that is genius! Also the Mascara will separate and lenghten your lashes. I was pretty impressed with the amount of length I achieved. The formula is pretty light too, which I really liked.

However, the Mascara did clump a bit. After applying a second coat of Mascara, I noticed that the Mascara begin to clump on my outer lashes. As I tried to apply a 3rd coat it continued to clump. So I was not happy with the clumps. Does it nourish your lashes? I am not sure. I do know that Artic Blueberry is a key ingredient in a lot of Lumene's skincare products, and like I said, I love their skincare. My skin has definitely improved for the better.

But besides that I really liked the Mascara. If you have straight lashes or short lashes and want instant curl, length, and separation, I would definitely buy this Mascara. I have used other Mascaras that claim to curl and they did not. This one lives up to the hype! This Mascara retails for $9.99 and you can purchase it at CVS or Ulta.

Toodles!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Luxe travel: How to pack for a quick weekend getaway!

Hello Divas!

I hope all is wonderful in your world. I am doing fantastic! Well this weekend, I was scheduled to take a quick weekend trip to New Orleans with my sister. But it was derailed. First she had drama with her rental. But we obtained a car and alas my nephew broke his leg in 3 places playing tackle football with his friends. Go figure. This trip was just not meant to be. Hey, we can always go another weekend. But I did pack my little weekend bag for this trip. My rule is to "travel light and still live the luxe life!" This means I only take one carry-on or one bag regardless of where I am going. How do I do it? Well take a look:

1. I always pack several dresses when taking a trip. I love dresses that are made of wrinkle free material like jersey and some polyester blends. Plus dresses are so easy to pack. You can simply roll them up very tightly...they take up minimal space. I purchased this wrap dress and shift dress from Target on sale! Love Target!

2. My next rule is to always pack a pair of jeans and/or slacks..depending on the nature of the trip. It may rain or be a little chilly. So jeans are a must! I packed my favorite Hudson Jeans. I love Hudson Jeans...I tell ya they are so comfortable you can sleep in them.

3. I love to pack a crisp white shirt. I can wear it with jeans, slacks or shorts. In addition, I also pack a nice casual shirt for sight seeing or for casual events. I love love my Ralph Lauren pink fitted polo shirt for casual events.

4. One pair of shorts is a must also. I love these green Bermuda shorts I purchased from Old Navy. I can dress these up or down.

5. Shoes and Accessories. I pack 2-3 pairs of shoes that can go with a multitude of outfits. As you can see my bronze pumps, brown pumps, or gold flats can go with any outfit. If I am going out, I can wear the pumps or if I want to wear flats the sandles are cute enough to wear to a restaurant or simply walking. Also my gold belt (so cute!) can be worn with my jeans, shorts, or dress.

6. Jewelry. Once again, I choose jewelry can that can compliment a multitude of outfits. As you can see, neutral but funky jewelry is the way to go! The orange necklace is great for a nice punch of color!

7. Beauty Products. I only take the essentials. These are the products I am currently using: Lancome Genefique Serum, Lumene Day Cream with SPF 15, Clean and Clear Astringent, Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser, Dior HydraAction Eyecream with SPF 20, RX for Brown Skin Naturally Flawless Skin Brightener (for hyperpigmentation), Johnson's Body Care Be Radiant Cocoa & Shea Butter Lotion.

8. I also minimize all of my beauty products and place them in these 4 oz. containers. You can purchase these from CVS.

9. I only take essential make-up to save space. The Lancome Eye Palette in Safari Escapade (has 4 neutral but hot colors that will compliment any look), Lancome Defencils Mascara, MAC lipglass in Spite (great neutral), Black Opal stick foundation in Hazlenut, Milani lip pencil in Dark Coffee , Lancome Kajal Eye Pencil in Gold Blaze, Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, Revlon lip palette in Honey Bunch, Nars Blush in Lovejoy and makeup-brushes. All of my make-up has to fit inside my small compact Helena Rubenstein make up case. It fits perfectly in my handbag.



As you can see, I pack at least 2 outfits per day. I have a total of 5 oufits that are interchangeable and that will be appropriate for any occasion! Truly fabulous.

I also filmed a short video on how to actually pack your weekend bag with these items. Check back tomorrow to see the actual video!

Toodles!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Best Waterproof Mascaras!

TotalBeauty.com
The 12 Best Waterproof Mascaras

Keep your eyes smudge-free with mascaras from L'Oreal, Maybelline, Lancome and more


There are certain times and places (weddings, the beach, a sudden emotional breakdown) when you just need waterproof mascara. The problem is, so many waterproof formulas can be drying -- or not waterproof enough. Thankfully, our readers shared which formulas got them through tear sessions, surf outings and more without a single smudge or flake. Find out which mascara will help you weather those soggy situations.

See mascaras

No. 12: Tarte Lights, Camera, Splashes! Waterproof Mascara, $18

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.6*


Why it's great: "This is a great mascara that volumizes and lengthens my lashes..."

No. 11: Avon WASH-OFF WATERPROOF Mascara, $6.50

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.7*


Why it's great: Readers say, "this is perfect for daytime. It's not too heavy, but defines lashes..."

No. 10: Dior Mascara Diorshow Waterproof -- Backstage Makeup, $24

TotalBeauty.com average reader rating: 8.7*


Why it's great: "My eyelashes look huge, fake and melodramatic, but without clumping..."

Want to see what's no. 1? Click here!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Fun Fridays! Fun Videos

Hello Divas!

I hope all is fabulous in your world! Today I am taking a quick road trip with my sister and luxe baby to New Orleans for my cousin's wedding. The last time I was in New Orleans was before Hurrican Katrina, so I am curious to see what the city looks like now. Of course, I will visit some of my favorite spots and it is always great to see family! I am going to post a video on my luxe packing tips! Stay tuned!

Well my favorite luxe beauty brand, Lancome, has produced a new commercial featuring Anne Hathaway. This commercial is for their fabulous Magnifique Eau de Toilette. My hubby loves the parfum more than any other parfum I wear. He says it smells like Cinnamon with a hint of musk. He LOVES IT!! I previously blogged about this beautiful fragrance here. Check out a couple of pics from the commercial and if you want to see the full length commercial, visit this link.


Remember when I hosted the Johnson's Body Care Cause Party? Well Ashanti hosted the very first Cause Party, and Johnson's Body Care provided a video of the event. Looks like loads of fun! Check it out!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Luster's Renutrients Slick Stick: Smoothes fly-away hair strands!

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having an awesome day!

Divas I discovered the perfect product to address those days when you just want to slick your hair back in a ponytail or if you need to tame fly-away hair strands. I have been using this product for two years now and I am really surprised I have not blogged about it before. Well Luster's Renutrients Slick Stick is a must have to smooth edges, tame fly aways, and create a molded or sculpted look. What I love most about this product is that it does not make your hair hard or greasy. It is pretty light weight but holds perfectly. Also it contains natural ingredients such as Castor Oil, Beeswax, Mineral Oil, and Olive Oil. So it is very moisturizing and hydrating. Plus it gives your hair a brilliant shine!

If I am wearing my hair down and I have a few fly aways in the front or at the top of my head, I simply apply a small amount of the stick to my finger tips and rub them together. I then smooth the stray hairs down. The strays stay in place until bed time! Alternatively, if I want to wear my hair in a bun, I apply the stick directly to my hair giving particular attention to the edges. I create my bun and go. The amazing thing about this product is that I can wear the bun for several days without having to reapply the stick.

Seriously ladies I love this stick! It won't damage your hair and it smells very nice! A 2 oz. stick of Luster's Renutrients Slick Stick retails for $5.99 and you can purchase it here or at any CVS.

Toodles!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Lancome Le Crayon Khol Kajal Eye Pencil in Gold Blaze

Hello Divas!

I hope your Tuesday is going great! I am having a good morning. The sun is shining so I am happy.

Divas I have a new eye pencil that I have been rocking like everyday that I am so in love with! It is Lancome's Le Crayon Khol Kajal "Smokey Eyeliner Pencil" in Gold Blaze. I LOVE IT! First it is perfect for my skin tone. The gold color accentuates and highlights my eyes. It also gives me a nice "bright eyed" look! But what I really love is that the eye pencil is very very creamy. It glides on like a dream! Typically I do not wear eye pencil. I prefer to line my eyes with a light eye shadow. It just looks good on me. But since I have been using this eye pencil, I realize that I can wear eye pencil as long as it is the right color and texture. Fabulous! Check out a few pics of my eyes with the pencil. I also used:


Lancome Defencils. Don't my eyelashes look long and lush? LOL!
Lancome Smooth Hold Eyeshadow in Chic all over my eyelids and,
Lancome Smooth Hold Eyeshadow in Sparkling Nude on my brow bone.

Most times I wear the eye pencil alone with Mascara. I try to do my makeup in 10 minutes or less and this creates the perfect quick look.

Lancome's Le Crayon Khol Kajal Eye Pencil in Gold Blaze retails for $23.50 (worth it) and you can purchase it here or at any Sephora.

Toodles!

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Mother's Day!

Hello Divas!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mommy Divas out there! I hope your day is filled with pampering and so much love! I plan to enjoy the day to the fullest. Luxe son made me a beautiful picture frame with his picture in it! Luxe son is so sweet! The best!

In honor of Mother's Day, I wanted to hip you ladies to a fabulous contest! Sephora is giving away a $5000 shopping spree! Wowza! That is enough product for years and years! Make it a great day Divas!

Toodles!

TotalBeauty.com
21 Days Left to Win a $5,000 Sephora Shopping Spree

Write reviews and sign up for TotalBeauty.com's newsletters, and you could win!


Put your beauty know-how to good use and you could win the ultimate product-junkie prize: a $5,000 Sephora shopping spree. All you have to do is sign up for TotalBeauty.com's newsletters or write product reviews on the site. Every day that you write reviews gives you a better chance to win! What are you waiting for?

Enter the contest

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Its My Birthday! Birthday Wish List!

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having an awesome day! Well today is my birthday! I am so thankful to God to live and enjoy life another year! I have so much to be thankful for! I plan to truly enjoy this day and stay upbeat and happy no matter what! Whoohoo! In honor of my special day, I made a little wish list of things I would certainly love to have on this wonderful day. Will I get them? I will let you know! lol! Enjoy!

Sky High Platforms. I must I must have a pair! I just love these Steve Madden Platorms. They are affordable but so luxe!

A stylish yet classic shift dress. This Segovia Dress from Anthropolgie is so versatile. I can wear it lounging around the city or out at the No Doubt Concert!

Clarisonic Plus Skincare System. Oh how desperately I want a Clarisonic brush. This tool is a must have for any Diva! It thoroughly cleanses your skin and pores while also exfoliating and revealing healthy skin. I need this in my life!

Michele Women's Deco Day Diamond Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch. I have been wanting this watch for years. It is large and a bit over the top, yet simple and clean. I may have to buy it as a birthday gift to myself! Hotness!

Of course, my birthday would certainly be complete and I could forget all of the other items on my wish list, if a pair of tickets to the No Doubt concert somehow fell in my hands. I love No Doubt. I have been rocking out to No Doubt since the "I'm Just a Girl" days. I have every album and I know all of their songs verbatim. They are my favorite band of all time. Really. I am so glad they are back together and of course, Gwen Stefani rocks! So if anyone out can make this happen, I would be soooooo happy! LOL!

I hope you enjoyed my little list! Make it a great day!

Toodles!

Hot Drugstore Find of the Week: Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser

Hello Divas!

I hope your are having a fabulous hump day!

During my son's school auction, I received a bag of Neutrogena products as part of a ticket raffle. I thought oh goody, more products to try! Well when I recently ran out of my Oil of Olay facial wash, I decided to give Neturogena's Extra Gentle Cleanser a try. At first, I was not impressed. This facial wash does not foam and I love foaming washes. I just feel like my face is really getting clean. However, this cleanser really does clean! How do I know? I always follow up with my toner and each time I use this wash, there is hardly any left over dirt or make-up! In addition, it is moisturizing. So after cleaning your face, it feels clean but not dry. Your face will have a clean but soft feel to it. Of course this cleanser is soap free, non-comedogenic (won't clog pores) and hypo-allergenic. It is specially formulated for those who have extremely sensitive skin. A 6.7 ounce bottle retails for $8 and you can purchase it here or at any CVS.

Toodles!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Winner of Miss Jessie's Hair Care Giveaway!

Hello Divas!

The winner of the Miss Jessie's Giveaway is.....Sapphire! Sapphire you have 24 hours to contact me via email with your address or I will give the prize to the next runner up! Thank you thank you to everyone who entered. I wish I could give you all a prize! It is always hard to pick a winner. Thank you all for visiting the Miss Jessie's website and sharing Miss Jessie's facts and your own personal stories.

There will be more giveaways, so please keep coming back and thank you so much for reading my little blog!


XOXO!!!

Eucalyptus Oil: A Natural Pick Me Up and Healer

Hello Divas!

I hope your Monday is simply outstanding!

Divas I want to share my love for pure Eucalyptus Oil. It is one of my favorite natural and pure beauty oils. I first started using Eucalyptus Oil when luxe baby developed a slight head cold. I read that placing a few drops in her bath and on her clothing would help with the congestion while soothing her. Well after one day of following this regimen, luxe baby was healed! No kidding! After this positive experience, I started doing more research on Eucalyptus Oil. I found that it is also an aroma therapeutic product. Placing a few drops in a shower or bath, will give you an instant pick me up. It wakes you up and gives you an invigorating feeling. So if I am sluggish in the morning or just need a little pick me up, I place a few drops of Eucalyptus Oil in my shower and I feel like I can take on anything. I feel energized and refreshed! In addition, I use Eucalyptus Oil if I am experiencing a stuffy nose. Works like a charm every time.

You can purchase pure Eucalyptus Oil from Whole Foods or any other natural foods store. The brand I buy is produced by Now Personal Care. A 4 oz. bottle retails for about $6.00. They also carry a ton of other pure natural oils.

Toodles!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Mother's Day Gift Ideas!

Hello Divas!

I hope you are having a fabulous Saturday. I am sipping tea and enjoying life!

Mother's Day is very soon. I am so excited because this year my birthday and Mother's Day are a few days apart. What does that mean? Double Gifts for me! The last time Mother's Day and my birthday fell on the same weekend, I received a Ralph Lauren Large Satchel as a gift! The hubby knows me and knows how to gift well! LOL! So here are a few cool Mother's Day gift ideas! Enjoy!


Toodles!

TotalBeauty.com
13 Must-Have Mother's Day Gifts

Every mom will be thrilled if she gets one of these made-for-her beauty kits


Sure, you could give your mom flowers and a card for Mother's Day, but how boring is that? Instead, give her one of these beauty product gifts perfectly suited for her. And, bonus: Almost all these gifts are available online, so the ideal gift for your mom is just a few clicks away.

See gifts

Friday, May 1, 2009

Fun Fridays! New Stores

Hello Divas!

I hope your day is awesome! It is overcast today in Atlanta, but the temperature is nice.

There is a new discount shopping store in Atlanta. The store is A.J. Wright! A.J. Wright is a leading discount retailer that features brand names items for up to 70% off! Yes this is my kind of store! The grand opening of this new discount retailer was yesterday. There are 3 locations in Atlanta. Visit www. www.aj-wright.com/atlanta to find a location near you.

The retailer is also selling T-Shirts designed exclusively by Mycheal Knight from Project Runway. The proceeds from the sale of this one of a kind T-Shirts will benefit the Boys and Girls Club of America! I am always down for shopping for a cause! Fabulous!

Toodles!