http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post – Page 12

Curls are so IN

Look y’all. I would be hard pressed to ever tell you that curly is not the way to go. Curly is Yaya all the way. When I was little, I used to cry because my hair was such a problem. I wasn’t savvy yet to the benefits of hair oil and sprays and such. I went completely natural with my hair and the frizz was tease factor number one. It was cute until the end of kindergarten and then it was back to reality. My grandfather (yes you read right) was the genius behind giving me pigtail braids that would last through any of my toss and turning dreams and still look neat for school. Whenever my mom or grandma offered to make my braids I would refuse. They were too soft with their hand and my braids would fall apart. How I longed to have sleek straight hair and maybe even bangs (another toddler horror story for another day). But my mom didn’t let up. She said if I didn’t like my hair the way it was, that she could easily shave it all off. Now look. No one could strike fear in my heart like my mama. She knew just the words. Soon as I transitioned into high school, my knowledge bank began to expand with hairsprays and leave in conditioners. Though I can’t say I haven’t suffered any epic hair fails after my learning sprees, I can say that I couldn’t love my curls any more than I have since those learning days.

Image Credit: Style.com

That’s the story of my hair. The story of fashion week? Let’s start with the invites. Once the season starts, to get an invite in the mail is of the highest level of excitement. It’s like Secret Santa at Christmas mixed with a surprise birthday party. You want it to happen. You want someone to think you’re special, but you just sit and wait. Then it comes. You ooh and ahh even if it’s terrible, because the experience can never be terrible. Right? Imagine my surprise party when I opened my invite for the Ports 1961 show. A small calendar just for fashion week, with a packet of seeds was in the mail. The date of the show was written in on the specified day in the calendar. As famous as they are for fancy invites, they didn’t fail this season.

You wouldn’t be surprised then, that no hail, sleet, or snow could stop me from attending the show. I was late, yes. I wrongly thought that I would be able to get from point A to point B and wherever else I wanted on the alphabet path during the first days of fashion week, to find that my little legs and public transportation didn’t agree. So I got to stand on my tippy toes to watch the show, with nary a backstage detail on the beauty or hair. The silver lining on my depressing cloud? Not a single thing could dampen my day once I saw the models. The models were rocking big CURLY hair. I took pictures and phoned home that the show’s hairstyle was what Yaya looks like in the mornings. Hello 80s? How nice of you to bring the hair back.

I met with the head stylist for hair for the show later on in my fashion week adventures (oh wait, did you doubt me?), and he said the Ports 1961 was a fun recreation of a big 70’s perm. He said 70’s but I couldn’t get the 80’s out of my mind. Any 70’s hair experts out there? I’ll research this and get back to ya.

The music at the show was a definite plus to me. Sometimes the runways turn into an excuse to run similar sounding techno back to back and ruins the experience. The collection had a vibe of Amelia Earhart going through the desert during the day and attending an Arabian Nights party. The makeup was soft, the hair was big, and the colors of the garments were in tune with all things fall and winter, with sultry sapphire and gold tones amongst others. According to the designer, the theme was the nature vs. technology, and you can definitely see it reflect in the fit and drape of the clothes. Check out all the looks from the show at my go to site for fashion week (outside of MyOwnJudge.net!) at Style.com.

Line up of models for the show

Do you feel big hair is back in? Reawaken the curl fiend in you!

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Crazy Sale on Lorac!

There are many brands that Sephora introduces me to and then sometimes takes them away. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Lorac is one of those brands.

But that’s okay for the next day or so because it is on sale at Hautelook with prices starting at $4 and not going past $10. Yes you heard me right.

Come join HauteLook for your sample sales and cheap designer duds.

Click here for your special invite!

Don’t forget that when you when you sign up through this link, you get a $10 credit to spend on whatever you please!

If the link is not working, copy and paste the following link in your browser: http://www.hautelook.com/invite/missyaya

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Tardy to the Party

Tardy is the kindest word that I can attach to my timing in regards to Mercedes Benz New York Fashion Week. Here’s the catch up (and if the following schedule of posts is too many too often for y’all, let me know!).

I got the ball rolling during the actual Fashion Week by doing a guest post for Miss Brittany over at Clumps of Mascara about the Vessel by Lois runway presentation, and trust me when I say that I could’ve went to just that first show and would have heard all the buzzwords and trends right away.

Image Credit: Style.com

With scheduling and location conflicts for many shows, you try to make one person act like as many clones at one time as possible. Want to know a true story? There were two shows going on within an hour of each other and next door to each other. I went to the first show to cover the backstage prepwork, snuck out through the side staircase (no one could leave because they were doing a test run of the show), ran around the block (with a camera, notepad, and no jacket), only to go into another show, cover the backstage prepwork there, only to return to the first show to catch the runway, and then back to the second. I probably would’ve attempted a lot more fashion herculean tasks similar to this if they were closer together, but that was not the case.

So of course, it is with great sadness that I admit to you that I only got to see Toni’s backstage prepwork and not the runway show. Too bad too, because the dresses were phenomenal. The collection was a bit broken in half with soft, sheer fabric in shades of gray, and some dark pieces, with black and gold. Check out all the runway photos from the show here.

For this show, MAC provided the cosmetic creations, Zoya for nails, and hair was styled by the peeps from Cutler Hair Salons.

The look? A feminine, ethereal, “all about gold” theme. Once you look at the line, you’ll notice that the makeup matches the collection well.

Head makeup artist for the show, Dhai Naidu (pictured above) was swearing up and down the prep area that the item to buy from the fall brand collection is called ‘Hang Loose.’ The artists used Studio Moisture Tint foundation to cover up blemishes, but still keep the girls looking real; showing their real skin, freckles and all.

The polish colors were berry much in tune with autumnal shades, breaking out the berries (did ya catch the berry before?), and of course some glitterin’ gold. The colors used were Sloane, Nova, Casey, and Richelle. Sunshine, the head nail artist for the team had some test swatches with various combinations of colors ready before each girl got set up with her color. Some gals rocked a single blinged out finger with berry on the rest. Nothing new for us beauty junkies, no? But I did love the pink glitter and the creamy gold. Such a switch for the colors, right?!

The hair was sleek and neat, usually arranged in buns with gold threads, sequins, and applique dipping in and out of strands. The hair team used Cutler Volumizer Spray, along with Redken Workforce ’09. I was most impressed with the closeups of the hair (tell me you’re not!).

My favorite images captured on my camera for the day were the box of hair sequins above, and this one here:

I’m sure anyone who had one person handling hair, nails, and makeup each, could get ready just as quickly as these gals! (And don’t we all wish for a round the clock entourage that would help?)

How did this show strike you? Any favorite pieces yet?

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EOS – Evolution of Smooth

I have been hearing about EOS lip balm for a while now. The cute packaging, the roundness. Everyone had something to say about it, but I felt a little left out. Not anymore!

After a quick trip to Walgreens, I found a holiday three pack of the buggers still on sale by the counter. The three pack was meant for the winter holidays, but worked for February just fine.

The pack that I purchased had two mint flavors (peppermint and sweetmint – a lot like the Orbit gum!) and a sweet flavor (honeysuckle honeydew – which my mom stole from me). I think the trio I purchased may have had an error as it said that I’d get a summer fruit flavor, but oh well!

back packaging

There are so many things that I liked about these even before use.

First – the rubberized packaging. Think of a rubber grip cover for your phone. It feels like that but is in a cute round shape.

Second, I already mentioned it – how cute is this miniature roundbottom? If you are a sucker for cute packaging, you won’t get far saying no to this.

Also, I am very much a fan of packaging that screws in instead of just popping off. After numerous a handbag accident where a cosmetic item has decapped itself and then proceeded to soil the contents of my bag, I can really appreciate packaging that requires opposable thumbs to open it.

But then of course, we had to open the product for the real review to begin.

All cuteness aside, I was looking for some soft results.

I really liked that the lip balms weren’t pots. That’s the most important part! I remember when I would purchase pots of lip balm and use them much like I use my EOS lip balm now, except after a while, there would be a dip inside, and my pots were retired to only in home use. Having to use your fingers to dip in transfers all kinds of germs and bacteria to your lips (and oftentimes into your mouth as a result), and it also keeps the bacteria in the pot. The aforementioned fact of the balms screwing open helped them stay covered as well.

The one negative that I have with this lip balm is that when your lips are really dry, you cannot just drag the little ball over your lip. It pulls the skin and leads it to crack. When you have dry lips and are using an EOS lip balm, just tap it over your lips till they are hydrated and then drag it all around.

The lip balms sell in drugstores for around $3.29 each. Not bad right?

I was most excited to have a miniature clear cosmetics case from this three pack as well.

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What’s that on your face?

Fashion Week Smashion Week, right? I know some of y’all may be sour because you’re not in the middle of all the action. But trust and believe me when I say the foot, neck, back, and head pain that comes with it – ya don’t want it. Wait till you hit it big and get all the personal drivers and expense accounts to take a taxi-cab everywhere. Then it’ll be uberfun (and you can take me!).

So then what’s a little me going to do when there is so much beauty and innovation floating around? Come in sweat pants and makeup free? Nawwww. Fashion Week is usually the only time in the year where you will catch me sporting makeup every day for up to ten days. Can’t let these stinkin’ models show us up!

Enter into the courtroom the NY Fashion Week Makeup Challenge. Inspired by Twitterista @HeatherPark, I am joining the challenge. I am dutifully posting them on my Twitter with the hashtag NYFWMUC (#NYFWMUC). Click on the link to check out all the participants and their looks. There is so much creativity and inspiration around us, why not make the best of it?

Using YABY and Stila Cosmetics on the eyes, Smashbox for the face/bronzer, Chanel for brows, and MAC blush and mascara

Using Inglot and Medusa’s Makeup shadow and Pencil Me In Cosmetics liner on the eyes, Prescriptives gloss on lips, MakeupForever for face, Smashbox for bronzer, Chanel for brows, and Lancome mascara

Using Inglot and Makeup Forever on the eyes, Styli-Style nude lipstick on lips (although it mostly wore off by picture time due to my snacking habits), MakeupForever for face, Smashbox for bronzer, Chanel for brows, and MAC blush and mascara

I also see now that I tend to do the same poses. Will be sure to mix it up for the rest of the days!

The rules:

New day, new makeup look.
You can repeat products, as long as they’re used in a different way.
You can’t repeat looks!
If you tweet it, please use the #NYFWMUC hash! (with pics, naturally)

As I am writing this, I am wondering what my Day 4 will be. Any suggestions?

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A Lotion a Day Keeps the MD Away

This winter is kicking my epidermis. Remember when we were all little and some smarty pants would tell us our epidermis was showing? We’d all initially get a bit shy and then research the terminology. Epidermis was our skin? Right!

Well this winter, everywhere my epidermis shows, and especially where it doesn’t, dryness has a field day. When that happens, I feel like I have super skin sensitivity. I can feel the skin tighten, itch, and yell at the highest pitch that skin can possibly yell at. A request to review lotion during these times? I thought it was a godsend.

From the site:

“A shielding lotion does much more than just treat dry skin – it’s a new kind of skin care product that makes a real difference to all skin types.

Skin MD Natural™ utilizes the finest effective natural ingredients for dry skin treatment along with the latest advances in technology to hydrate and protect the skin.

This is an entirely new concept in skin care requiring a new classification: “Shielding Lotion”. A shielding lotion keeps moisture-robbing irritants away from the skin while the proprietary “super” humectants hydrate the skin throughout the day.

Skin MD Natural™ is promptly absorbed, without the slightest hint of any greasy or oily feeling or residue, transforming the outer layer of skin into a hydrating invisible shield.

Glycerin has been the standard against which all humectants are measured. Until now no other humectant drew in as much moisture from the air as glycerin. But the proprietary formulation in Skin MD Natural has a moisturizing factor of at least 6 times greater than glycerin. Combined with its protective properties and natural ingredients, this makes Skin MD Natural a truly unique product.

An accumulated effect of Skin MD Natural is fully realized after only a few days of daily use. Depending on how dry your skin is the first few days may require reapplications after only a few hours. Usually, after a few days of continuous use, only one or two daily applications are necessary to see the improvement.“

When I think of a winter lotion, a successful winter lotion, I look for something that’s as thick as honey and peanut butter. I want to lather it on and feel my skin just let go sighs of relief. Skeptical was just the beginning when I was told that this lotion was thin but effective. What the heck could I do with thin?

Click on the images to see larger photos.

The directions already warn you about magical outcomes. You will not have healed and moisturized skin forever and always after one application. That in part made me feel good, because I like a company to tell it like it is. Outlandish claims only make me judge the brand faster than I can try it.

I was patient and I gave the Skin MDs inside my bottle time to work their magic. I reserved the use of this lotion on my face until I was positive my skin wouldn’t have a nervous breakdown (something you all should do – I sampled a product that shall remain unnamed and felt my skin burn almost immediately and for hours after even post wash). I used Skin MD Natural as an all over body lotion (but not my face the first time) after each shower for a week. I almost quit because I would have to use it a bit more often on my hands than my old lotion. With that fact withstanding, the thin layer of lotion I was so skeptical about was keeping my body shielded and moisturized. My hands?

My hands have been going through grunt work. They have gone through a million washes, gift wrapping, the carrying of uncomfortable shopping bags, and now with school and a temporary job? They’re suffering through piles of paperwork. So let’s not blame the lotion. After more frequent application, the hands came around. So did I.

The bottle is petite and fits right into my handbag, even though it’s a bit bigger than all the mini “purse size” lotions marketed for on the go. The lotion is super soft and super thin. You question what you can do with it the first few applications, but it silently and humbly gets the job done. It’s also completely scent free in case you were wondering. I’m not against a scented lotion, but I know a lot of people are bothered by scents.

Wear perfume? Lay this baby down and it is a great base foundation for when you spray perfume on your skin.

The final verdict? This is a definite buy. It’s a subtle lotion that packs an effective punch. Click here to purchase online ($18) or to check out which store near you carries it.

How is your lotion treating you?

Disclaimer: This product(s)was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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Denim x Denim

One of the new trends coming out for the still questionable spring (questionable by the snow flurries outside my window…) is denim squared. The pairing of denim as a bottom with a denim for the top.

Continuously recycled, the trend fades in and out of the spotlight with plenty of ease, especially with the continued popularity of denim overall. Did you go through a period of a denim jacket with perfectly color matched denim jeans when you were a wee lad in school? I remember my denim jacket lasting from elementary school (third grade) all the way through to high school. I might even still have it in my closet. Honestly though, this is a trend I’ve always had difficulty with.

Ever since I was a big girl enough to buy clothes with my hard earned money (as of age 14 thankyouverymuch) I have yet to pull off a denim top and a denim bottom. It feels like either too much or too off for me.

Care to experiment? I like MyTrueFit‘s post about double denim and the images and tips for pulling it off.

How do you rock your double denim? Are you accepting of this as a spring trend?

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Eyeko Nail Polish Swatches

As promised in the introduction, I have the swatches of the Eyeko polishes for ya. Check back to the intro to see how the polishes match up to other famous brands in size, and to see what Eyeko is all about. Also? I’ll be coming out with a post about how these colors all look in matte. Any expectations?

Vintage Polish for Elegant Nails
What does this make you think of? Tiffany’s? Jade? I don’t feel like this is a dupe for any color out there, and is such a pleasant color on nails – I feel like this is great on all skin tones.

Nude Polish for Perfect Nails
Not exactly nude, it has a tinge of orange in it, but it looks like the perfect fresh ‘neutral’ polish. Looks super ladylike for sure!

Check out the rest of the swatches after the jump!

Lilac Polish for Lovely Nails
This is such a pleasant color. I think it’s soft and seasonless. One of my favorites!

Purple Polish for Electric Nails
This color actually changes with coats. With just one coat it is a much lighter color, and with a second or third coat, it turns a bit vampy.

Here is what it looks like on the nails with the varying coats:

Can ya tell which finger has only one coat? (no flash)

Indigo Polish for… none!
I suppose this one is a pick your poison description!
This is the kind of blue polish I dream about. The kind that looks like a moody sky.

Check out how it simmers in light:

Cosmic Polish for Space Nails

This one really impressed me the most. A creamy black with a constellation party on your nails! There are different colors peeking out at you. Catch the red, green, blue, etc. This was the most favorite of the bunch, and I already used it as a base for a Konad here!

Which one’s your favorite?

Disclaimer: This product(s)was sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on MOJ remain unbiased and unpaid. For more info, feel free to contact the author.

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Konad Practice Makes Perfect

Don’t let the title of the post fool you. I am nowhere near perfect with my Konadicures. But I do believe that practice makes perfect by how much I have improved at stamping my nails.

And a word to the wise? If you are stamping a fresh mani, don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because the top layer is dry, that the nail is dry enough to have a Konad stamp roll on it with the pressure that you choose. It’s not. You’ll be mad. I was!

For this Konadicure, I used a black polish and lots of holographic polishes as partners in crime. As promised in Order in the Court, here are the photos from my attempts at fabulosity.

The colors that were used are:
Eyeko Cosmic Nail Polish as base
China Glaze Wireless Holographic top coat (as top coat duh! 🙂 )
Color Club Worth the Risque as the Konad color

Left image is without flash and right is with flash.

I tried to do a gradient on my ring finger with the China Glaze top coat, but it was more wishful thinking than it was what I hoped. Any advice?

What do y’all think?
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Sephora by OPI NOTD

I was inspired by reading a lot of blogs and posts on Twitter and all around the net about how everyone is organizing their nail polish stash.

Mine is a hefty one, but by no means amazing. What it really was – was messy. You know how sometimes it just takes a single prompt to inspire you to do things? Like a fire under your bum? That’s what it was when my honey asked why there was a forest of polishes lining up at my computer. So I set to stay up into the night, reading Twitter replies, Google Reader, and organize polish.

First I tried to do it by color. That was murderous. I would be conflicted on what to call each color and argue (with myself) that one color cannot be separated with another, and so on. So I gave up and started organizing by brand. It was something therapeutic to see polishes lined up in battle formation with uniform tops facing me. I felt highly accomplished.

But enough about that. Details? They will probably come if you want to see. The point today is that during cleanup I unearthed an unopened gem. My Sephora by OPI polish in Run With It was highly coveted. I usually put polish on one finger and then revisit the store later if the color leaves a lasting impression. This is my pseudo attempt at shopping less. Well this color had me returning and searching more than a handful of counters. So why did I find this unopened? I don’t know the reason, but I sure didn’t waste time making amends.

First I spent some time taking photos of the golden swirls inside the grayish/silver polish, and then I loaded up three coats. On the left you will find the photo with no flash and on the right with flash. Forgive my lack of attention to my cuticles, I was too excited about the polish!