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Deals A-Brewin’

There are about five hundred million or so deals starting to brew in preparation for the holidays. I don’t know if I can keep up with all of them, but I will surely give you a heads up on the ones I find most important! Click through the links to see the deals from Zoya, Shu Uemura, and Urban Decay!

Become a Twitter follower of Zoya by 11/11 & they’ll give out a code for three free lippies, just like they previously did at the 6,000 mark with three free polishes.

Shu Uemura is on sale on Hautelook! Remember that you get a $10 credit when you sign up with this link!

Urban Decay is having a friends and family sale. Just go to their site and enter code FNFW1 to get 30% off your ENTIRE order – 11/9 – 11/20.

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Shecky’s & Style Fixx Girls Night Out Goodies

After letting y’all know I was headed out to all sorts of fancy events, you think I’d just leave you out in the cold without any info?! No no!

To maximize on time I ended up going to both events in one night with a galpal, and boy were we tired afterward!

StyleFixx:

I went to this event first because it was only a two day availability. The floor was packed with vendors vying for your business. The mix was a pleasant one of beauty and fashion, with beauties like Eve Pearl, Emmy award winning makeup artist, Kara Janx fashion designer from Project Runway, and many more.

I went to the events after work and was present sans makeup. So I must’ve paled a bit next to Ever Pearl (left), and that’s Kara on the right.

The bar had a fab selection of drinks (the event was 21+ after all!) and my favorite of the night was the X Rated Fusion Liquor Martini with passionfruit & mango flavoring in it.

Shecky’s:

This event was bigger than the first in many ways. The goody bag and the venue held a lot more companies, and this event lasted five total days (and is also available in more locations). There was teeth bleaching and beer tasting available, along with personalized cell phone covers, lingerie, etc.

The Verdict:
I honestly think both events are a must go. The Style Fixx event is newer in age and is thus growing in size and event locations. Both events have vendors I didn’t hear of, and the only vendor they both had was hair strengthening services. If I had to choose one event to go to, I would sign up to be a Shecky’s insider to get in for free with general admission and skip on the goody bag and pay for my StyleFixx ticket with goody bag.

Both events were extremely great at bringing brands that people weren’t familiar with and had a great mix as I’ve mentioned previously. This isn’t a pop up version of a mall y’all. If we are to support local businesses and find new things everyday, then these two Girl’s Nights Out is where we need to be!

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The Essence of the Ruby Room

I came across the brand Ruby Room while walking around the commerce section of The Artist Summit in Miami. I was curious about the products from far, as I saw a table full of sprays amidst a hall of cosmetics. When I walked over I was introduced to the brand.

“Launched in February 2009, we are thrilled to share with you Ruby Room’s Aroma Infused Flower & Gem Essence Collection and accompanying service, Aroma Infused Flower & Gem Essence Journey, to help you manifest the life you envision.

The collection consists of ten sprays – seven of them created to balance and harmonize each of our seven main chakras (energy fields) and three essence boosters. Each spray is infused with specially chosen pure essential oils that further enhance the benefits of the flower and gem essence blend while taking you along on an energizing, inspiring, grounding, elevating or calming sensory journey.“

After a bit more research, I found out that the magic doesn’t stop at the sprays. Ruby Room provides guest services (when traveling), spa services, and other products as well. Check out the website for more info.

When I was speaking to the representative for the brand at the Summit, I was told that these sprays, made of essential oils are preferred by designers and makeup artists to sort of “clear the energy” during shoots and in spaces. That makes a lot of sense when you think about people being funky and their mood creeping over into you. I’ve certainly had those moments. Talking about chakras was a little over my head but, it made sense that certain aspects of each spray would do what promised because of the ingredients. We already use lavender to relax, chamomile to soothe, mint to focus/awaken etc. So without a chakra education you can still see why people would prefer them right?

Being that the sprays are made with essential oils and are natural, you can use this as a room spray, spray around yourself, or spray into a tub when taking a bath.

My only disclaimer to this product is that you should check if any of the ingredients rub you the wrong way first. I was enamored with the sprays but had a minor allergic reaction to one. Even still, I’d buy another (without my pesky allergen).

Have you tried this?

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Diamond Cosmetics

As a follow up to my Diamond Cosmetic adventures, I bring you a select few mattes from their collection, and more. From my introductory post here where I used the brand’s polish for the first time, I have fallen head over heels.

It wasn’t just enough for me to borrow the polish from a friend (xo Britt), I had to go to the darn site and purchase a few polishes (quit with the side eye y’all! They’re only $2 each!!).

I will be updating you with what I got once I get the package (I purchased some of the cosmetics to test out as well), but I have some polishes to hold you off until then.

2 coats application

left with top coat, right with China Glaze Matte Magic Topcoat

Matte Black

This is a fab color. Without a matte or a shine top coat it is the most wearable black polish that I have come across, in that it isn’t too shiny, but it’s not completely matte yet either. As a matte it’s a bit more satin-y than how it is with the matte top coat as you can see above, but that just adds variety. I am a fan of these types of colors because then you get three for the price of one. You get cream, satin-y (lol), and matte with the help of top coats (but top coats help all polishes). The application is smooth and consistent, and nothing to complain about.

left 2 coats, right with China Glaze Matte Magic Topcoat
Matte Burgundy
I didn’t do a photo with a top coat this time, but I did try the matte coat. Unlike matte black, this is a little more matte when dry, but still more of a satin finish. The color looks like a chocolate/raspberry wine (can you tell when I post while hungry?). These polishes are great with coverage and only require two coats.

2 coats left flash, right no flash

With top coat, left flash, right no flash

With China Glaze Magic Matte top coat, left flash, right no flash

Matte Mulberry
This again, was a color that was hard to capture on camera. What did I say? Anything that includes a hint of pink becomes a photography rebel. The color is a bit in the middle of the flash and no flash. This was similar to the matte black, in that it was more of a satin finish at first.

Left flash, right no flash
Plum Pie in the Sky
My all time favorite of the bunch. This is the perfect plum color that I have been needing in my life. This is not a matte, and I didn’t try it as one either, but come on! How gorj!

Tried these yet? Want to?

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Review: Revlon Double Twist Mascara

Hey kiddies! As part of the “VIPretty” at PrettyCity.com, I get to review products for the site. Since I couldn’t really upload photos there, I wanted to share what I had for you guys here. You can check out my review by clicking over here. I got to review the Revlon Double Twist mascara and was surprised by what I got.

This is what the hubub is about. The innovative brush. But did it deliver?

As I mentioned in my review on PrettyCity.com, this mascara committed the epic fail with the packaging on the inside of the tube. If you take a close look at your mascara, you will see that the inside tapers in a bit so that when you pull the wand out, it kind of squeezes the remained of product away to allow optimal application.

The packaging here has it so that there are little spikes in a circle, which in thought are a good idea, but in reality they don’t take off enough extra product and the wand ends up being gloppy and overstuffed with product. Just one swipe on the eyes makes for a terrible clump of a time.

I wanted to compare the Revlon Double Twist mascara to my all time fave, Chanel Inimitable mascara. Yes Chanel is a pricey bugger, but it has yet to fail me. It gives me a soft and even application that’s perfect for anywhere.

Review
Packaging: 1 out of 5
Price: 4 out of 5 ($8.99 – lots of BOGO)
Quality: 3 out of 5
Overall: 2 out of 5

This is what the wands look like when pulled out of the tube as if for regular application:

I had to play around with the lighting to show the globs of mascara on the Revlon wand. See it? You can’t even discern a single fragment – it all looks like one… thing. None of the double twist technology even has a chance to prove itself because there is a thicker than thick layer of mascara paste stuck on it.

I think this was a major mistake in the packaging, and that the original idea of the mascara was just the innovation in the brush. The double twist has different bristles alternating on the wand. Does it work? Not with this tube. I will revisit this mascara with a different tube and see if the wand fares any better there.

left:no mascara, right:after one coat
Maybe if Revlon revises the packaging of the mascara with a different opening, it will become a hit. Otherwise, I’d say purchase at your own risk.

Have you tried this for yourself?

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Fafi + Adidas = Love?

What do y’all know about my girl Fafi? I first heard about her aristry and quirky designs when MAC partnered up with her way back when (check out all Temptalia related posts about the collection). Since then, I’ve been lemming over the t-shirts on sale at the e-commerce shop, and checking the design collabos she does throughout the world. The characters she draws are neverendingly (yes I made up a word) entertaining and original.

When I heard via FreshnessMag that she had partnered with Adidas I couldn’t understand why I didn’t know this sooner!

The collection is a bit smaller than I would’ve wanted, but had a good sneaker design on one pair. They also have a long sleeve tee and a jumper, but those didn’t catch my fancy either. Read on to see the images!

The prices range from $65 to $100, but I was only tempted to purchase two pieces. Can you tell which?

Do you like any of the designs?

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ORLY nails

Continuing my nail craze, I have grouped together some polishes with the same company. The ones today are from ORLY. These creams are always kind to your nails and define the word cream. A lot of the time they need a bit of extra maintenance, as they require more coats than usual, but all is forgiven. These polishes are perfect for summer and lighthearted manis, and the darker colors get heavier in consistency as if they know that you’ll be wearing them when the weather drops and will be less patient with coats.

ORLY Enchanted Forest
This is a green shade I am falling madly in love with. It’s like a mudy emerald green and applies like a dream. The color seems to be the type that is the perfect equation for happily ever after with anyone’s nails, and I’m glad this time they were mine. On the right is a matte version (using China Glaze Matte Magic top coat).

ORLY Sol Cabana
A very cute cream sorbet-ish orange. The color itself looks delicate and soft right? Though it has a bit of a sheer coverage issue, I think it works just right. Maybe even with a white puffy jacket in the middle of the slopes?

ORLY OMG
This peachy pink is of course hard to photograph. All the pinks in my life refuse to be photographed. Rowdy ladies. The actual color of OMG is somewhere between the left (no flash) and the right (with flash). Barely lets your nail shine through and conveys the super sweet with a side of sexy. (Hope that makes sense)

I tried to Konad it up with the black Konad polish, and Color Club in Revvolution for the paint splat (don’t like how it came out).

It was hard as rocks to get the lace like pattern apply evenly on the nail. I’m still undecided if I approve. Like it?

What colors do you have on your digits? What colors should I wear next?

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Magazine Weekend – Real Simple October ’09

I know I know, it is most definitely the first day of November, but being that I was behind on my magazine weekend, I had about ten more magazines to give to you and one and a half days. Add to that the fact that there is plenty of football and junk food to eat on a weekend, and you have a girl that doesn’t like to be around a computer much. (I’m typing this as I get my ice cream ready by the way).

To give you a snippet, I wanted to let you know how to do your own Bride-tastic hair from BRIDES, and how to give a good compliment from Esquire. None of this made the print for this post though, and instead, I looked through Real Simple and found a great list of things to do to prevent wrinkling in your clothes. We all wash our clothes right? And to make each dry a perfect dry, and not an expensive ‘Oh my, I have to go back to the dry cleaners and spend all my money’ trip.

The magazine always has great cheap lists of easy dinners. Overall, this is a magazine that includes information from every sphere someone would need to know. They don’t overindulge on one thing, and you walk away a knowledgeable reader. This mag is my equivalent of a book sometimes.

Have you ever heard of these tips to prevent wrinkles? I’ll be trying it out soon!

Shoot me an e-mail to MyOwnJudge@gmail.com if you would like me to explore other/have topics and/or magazines, or for general opinions of what’s in magazine weekend.

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Magazine Weekend – Allure October ’09

Happy Halloween everyone! I don’t know how many of you partake in the festivities, but I take it as a day to be extra fun. Plus with all negative thoughts aside (poison etc.) I think kids need a day or two like this where they can get dressed up and get free candy. The adults? They need a day to think back to the days of childhood past and take those ties off and relax. I don’t know how Halloween turned into a competition for the shortest skirt, but that’s what makes the day more fun, no? Finding the most creative costume that didn’t use a “lack of fabric” as the first step! In the past, I’ve had a theme going, where I was Betty Boop one year and Betty Rubble (Flinstones) the next. I had a couple of Bettys in mind for this year as well, but I don’t think I’ll be dressing up. Next year watch out!

As you guys await November 1 for the sale candy (that’s the best part of the day for me!), take a look through the magazine counters and check for Allure for October 09. It has Miss Vanessa Hudgens on the cover, looking a lot like MiMi (a.k.a Mariah Carey. The magazine is always well known for having an index card pullout with tons of tips. Sometimes fitness, sometimes beauty. These pullout cards have the directions on one side and product suggestions on the other. They serve as great bookmarks, and when you’re done with the magazine, you can hide the card in your bag or wallet, and head to the (drug)store to do some damage!

This month they had a chock full of advice from how to do successful blow outs at home to grooming your brows. Instead of just one page of full tear outs, you get a full three pages!

Do you do this to groom your brows? Does it work? Success/Horror stories? Share all!

Shoot me an e-mail to MyOwnJudge@gmail.com if you would like me to explore other/have topics and/or magazines, or for general opinions of what’s in magazine weekend.

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Zoya NOTDs

Watch out now as I get ultra colorful to keep the rainy day gloom away. Actually, I’m a big fan of the rain. I find it to be quite calming, and just awesome. But the rest of y’all that like to scream about the sky falling each time raindrops fall? Pansies!

Here are some Zoya NOTDs to keep up with my nail-a-day challenge. I cheated a little for a couple of days by wearing the same polish for two days, but I’m back on the straight and narrow, I promise!

Paz

Ali

Ali and Paz were both weirdly a difficult time to photograph. The pictures kept coming out more “radioactive” than the color was in real life. The colors are both very bright, but in a yummy way. I couldn’t get enough of Ali.

Malia

Rea

Want a Zoya to yourself? You can get them at $7 a bottle here.

I adored all these colors. All the photos on the left are with flash, and on the right without. Every single cream applied like a dream and the colors were all equally unique and vibrant. Seriously? I can’t get enough of my Zoya fix.

Which was your fave? Know a color I MUST try?

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