Sometimes Yaya

LG of the Jury – Torn

Finally, this Thursday, Ladies and Gents of the Jury returns. As always, my apology for the delay lies with the scheduling conflicts that always surround a schedule full of beauty events and material to cover, and the exhaustion to follow. Can’t hate a gal for enjoying a snooze, can ya?

I have a dear friend who on occasion likes to tear the small holes in her denim into rather huge holes that tend to expose her knees or shins. To such an extent that one time, a parental unit of sorts (this was at a younger age) approached her with concern about her well being. He said her denim made her look like she had been mugged. This was more a joke at the expense of her hole-yness :), but that just further proves that a verdict is never the same with every juror.

This week, the verdict is out on torn edges. Beyond the distressed look on denim (and now leggings), torn edges have been used as one choice to the variety of embellishments. The following two ladies are lookers who both chose edges that didn’t see a sewing machine. Sienna Miller in NY (After Miss Julie Broadway opening night) and Paula Patton in NY (Angel Ball) as well.

Sienna Miller

Paula Patton
I feel like Sienna’s dress took it a bit too far with the distressing to the point that it looks truly distressed. This is how I feel people look after encounters with rose bushes or malnourished petkittens out for blood. Paula’s? I like it but could have done less fray. Maybe if the outside border wasn’t so?

Photo Credits: Sienna – WCBS & Getty, Paula – Zimbio & Photo Agency

What do you think Ladies & Gents of the Jury? What’s your verdict?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

L’Oreal HIP Kohl Liners Review

L’Oreal is turning 100 this year. From Eugène Schueller, creating hair products and dyes in 1907, to the registered company Société Française de Teintures Inoffensives pour Cheveux (“Safe Hair Dye Company of France” a la Wiki) comes one of our drugstore staple brands. I figured in honor of their anniversary, the least I could do is throw in some reviews. First up is the HIP Kohl Liner.

You must know by now that the brand is vast in its offerings of beauty products. You can really undertake a makeover project while limited to one brand. My focus to the HIP line (High Intensity Pigments) is because I’m quite the fan of high intensity pigments.

Honestly, this isn’t a brand I’ve been messing around with for too long. Between cheaper drugstore brands (when I was younger, my budget was more for snacks), and growing into higher end brands, I think I might have skipped over the wonders of the drugstore.

I am usually attracted to liners that are in pencil form. Liquid liners and I don’t agree often because they require high maintenance (I’m anal about making both eyes even so it takes forever), and loose kohl seems to be asking for trouble.

Tough luck for me then! I was set on a mission to test these out, as these babies are often on a BOGO deal in a drugstore. CVS & Walgreens are the best with L’Oreal sales. They usually sell for $10.99, but Tarjay the great sells them for a buck and change cheaper here.

Currently the liners are available in only six shades. 1-Black 2-Brown 3-Burgundy 4-Navy 5-Teal 6-Gold.

This is what the colors looked like:

The order of the colors are the same in each picture (with different lighting).

This picture is pretty true to color.

The liners are pretty vibrant in color, but still more fall shades than the bright rainbow colors I see in my head when I try to imagine high intensity pigments (but that’d be my fault for assuming the word “bright” was in there!).

The Claim:

Review (5 highest, 1 lowest):

Packaging: 4 out of 5
Price: 3.5 out of 5 ($10.99)
Quality: 3 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5

I have some qualms with this product. Though I appreciate the diversity that it brings to kohl liners, I am not won over.

The packaging makes it look like a mini mascara or a pen. There is a hole at the top, which serves for lots of twirling on my pinky finger, and could be used for a key-chain I suppose (though you’d have to be careful with your keys afterward). It’s pretty, but after a while you start looking at it and wonder what the point is.

Then there’s the applicator. That is 100% true to claim. It is loose kohl powder. It is vibrant. It’s everything they said!

The staying power? Womp womp womp. If you don’t use a sealant, don’t expect this bad boy to be smudge proof or wear proof at all.

Image on left is a smudge test 15 min after application, and image on right is smudge test an hour after application.

The directions to do a smokey eye and cat eye, etc. above are instructions from L’Oreal. As far as I’ve tested though, this product is well suite for those who want smudged/smokey looks. The liner applies very lightly and is soft on your eyes, so you can build it up or smudge until you get your desired look. But if you want a precise and unmovable liner? I suggest you head for the HIP liners (especially the chrome!) instead.

Have you tried these? Like them? Hate them? Let me know!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Trial Practice Tips

I have a new feature for you guys.

To encourage conversation, the sharing of tips, and a whole bunch of other goodness that comes with conversation and swapping secrets, I am starting the TPT (Trial Practice Tips). When you’re at MyOwnJudge and court is in session, you always need to be prepared, and you never want a guilty verdict. I am still unsure of the frequency of this feature, so we will play it by ear.

The tips are always in threes, Beauty, Fashion, and Fitness:

Beauty:
As the weather gets colder, remember to moisturize. If you don’t have time for your whole bod (it’ll appreciate you if you do), hit it up like the song says: head, shoulders (elbows & arms as an extension…), knees, and toes. Cream up your face, elbows & hands, knees, and feet. If you have gloves and socks to keep the moisture in, the better. The air is not as moist, and you won’t be awake to hear the please for it, so do yourself a favor before you crack up. I use the extra thick Planet Spa African Shea Butter from Avon – and for $4.50, nothing beats that softie!

Fashion:
If you feel the chills, forgo your vanity and invest in leggings and/or long johns. They don’t have to be thermals, it just has to be something that sits tight around your body as an extra layer of warmth under the rest.

Embarrassed about leggings showing under your designer jeans? I like to fold mine over the jeans. When I have bright leggings under the jeans, it looks especially fun & usually starts a conversation about how wonderful I am (if someone doesn’t tell me, I won’t hesitate to inform them…lol)

Fitness:
Drink that water! When you’re pent up inside for longer amounts of time, you might get restless and feel hungry more often. A lot of the times this is your belly just getting bored. Drink a glass of water and see if you’re still hungry after. Of course, if more than four or five hours passed since your last meal, you probably are hungry, so don’t go guzzling gallons to keep your grumblin’ belly at bay.

Have some tips for me? Feedback? Comments and/or e-mails are always welcome!

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Talk It Out Tuesday! Donate It!

We all know that this is the month of pink. I’ve posted previously about various companies that are partnering with research groups and fundraisers, such as Three Custom Color, PurpleLab, etc. But are you buying any of the items?

I like to participate in the walks by either sponsoring a participant, or participating myself (3 day Relay, Avon Walk, Race for the Cure, etc.) and raise money around the workplace for each time that I do. I also like to purchase the pins and bracelets that Payless sells for the cause each year, and just drop a dollar or two at fundraisers into the box. This year of course, I am looking at a plethora of items and am tempted to buy all.

But what about you? Are you buying anything?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Nails – Take Care TC Me!

I’ve promised to give ya the scoop on taking care of your nails, or rather, prolonging your mani, so here it is!

Remember, that it is not just an outside open and shut case. Your nails require attention on the inside, working along with the rest of your body. That, along with the products you use, and the polishes you use when manicuring are the perfect equation for well cared nails, and a pretty bang up bill of health as well.

Then again, life isn’t so easy is it? We often forget to take our medication, dabble in some not so 3-free polishes, and then chaos ensues!

Here are some tips (in no particular order):

Take Your Vitamins
Have you ever gotten white marks on your nails? Low calcium. Thin, brittle nails prone to breakage? Very often a sign of not getting enough of your vitamins.

You might wonder why it’s something simple as nails that start to show signs, but a lot can be happening inside you as well. Nails, like hair, teeth, etc., are just outer parts that people can notice quicker than say, vitamin deficiency in your guts. (excuse my ladylike dialogue) 🙂

Remember that in my completely nonmedical opinion, negative signs in nails don’t always have a perfect remedy by taking one vitamin or another. Look closely to your diet and habits and catch up anywhere you might have slipped.

Don’t Put Your ~~Money~~ Nails Where Your Mouth Is!
No matter how hard, or how much willpower you need to muster up, remember that your nails aren’t on the menu. Biting your nails repeatedly is damaging to more than just the aesthetics.

Take it from a partially recovered nail biter:

>Having polish on nails makes it less important/tempting to bite.
If your biting stems from a nervous/boredom habit, carry items that may keep you away (i.e. SuDoku book, sketchpad, gaming devices, Mp3 players, etc.).
If you willpower wanes, take to polishes that have scents or tastes in them that discourage biting, or at least insure a negative memory of such.

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B000HVIF4U
Take Care of the Surroundings.
Use plenty lotion for your hands, and thus, your cuticles. This is most important in colder seasons, when the skin surrounding your fingernails gets all excited to crack up and such (lol get it?!).

If you get too snappy with your cuticle remover, remember that less is not more in this situation. All you need to do is keep them moist and pushed back. Not always necessary to cut them away every other day. They are there for a reason!

http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&nou=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=myowju-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=10FE9736YVPPT7A0FBG2&asins=B000RW6EAQ Add a Coat.
Whenever you venture out into the outside world, you wear a layer of clothing or two, right? Don’t forget that your nails need the same care.

Though it might be too much to ask for some to always have some kind of polish on your nails, but it is most beneficial to you and yours (your nails I mean) to have a top coat of some kind. The ones I found most helpful so far in my search are Duri‘s Rejuvacote and Nailene‘s Acrylic Strong Nail Topcoat. Remember that base coats work well to prevent nail yellowing with polishes that are dark in color, or stain.

Don’t Peel Out!
As tempting as it is, and as often as I tend to do it myself, don’t peel your nail polish when it starts to chip or bubble. Leave it as is, or carry one time nail polish remover wipes with you (E.L.F. has a pack of 18 remover pads for $1.00. That’s less than 6cents for each!). When you peel nail polish off of your nails, no matter what the druglike pleasure you feel at the moment, you are in that moment scraping nutrients and outer layers off of your nails. Thus, making your nail weaker, and more prone to breakage, etc.

I’ll post more tips soon! What do you do to take care of your nails?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

China Glaze Coverups – NOTD Adventures

Are y’all tired of my ClumpsofMascara shouts outs yet? That’s my Bloggin’ Beaut sister from another state. I’ve always said if she and I shared a living space we’d have to start doing makeovers on the street, and some other stuff, because no actual work would get accomplished.

But there is a bright side to friendship, always. This one? We always tend to tip each other off in the newest and coolest, brightest and funnest products and brands. And when one is too broke to indulge, we share our resources – kind of like being green, eh?

Evidence: Diamond Cosmetics famous for their $2 polishes with alarmingly addictive colors. I stole some from my trip to Florida (I have sticky polish fingers future hosts!). When I returned from Florida, I had some fab China Glaze finish polishes that threatened to just make my excitement bubble burst.

Speaking of being green, check out the initial look of Diamond Cosmetics nail polish in Never So Ever-Green on my digits:

such a pretty green, but so hard to capture on camera!

Then I checked it out in matte (courtesy of China Glaze Magic Matte from Head2ToeBeauty

index finger in left picture left with original color for comparison
And then of course, I had to top it off with China Glaze Wireless Holographic Top Coat (again from Head2ToeBeauty) – which of course looked cool.

I happen to find all holos amusing… and you?
But then, I needed to check what the Holo would look like in matte (so I used China Glaze Magic Matte from Head2ToeBeauty again.

halfway through:

I was lovin’ every stinkin step. You? How’d it have you feeling? Which finish(es) are your fave?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Magazine Weekend: People Style Watch Oct 09

Magazine weekend returns today with a bang! I am a bit saddened about September missing out on Magazine weekend, but I can’t say it was possible. See, with the presence of NYFW, and my birthday, followed by my Florida trip and the Bloggin’ Beauts event, today is the only possible day I could bring it to y’all. I know you missed it, so I won’t stretch it out more than needed.

This weekend starts with People Style Watch. Jennifer Aniston is on the cover, along with titles of articles such as ‘359 Looks You’ll Love.’ I really like how this young magazine is coming along with tips on how to wear the most stylish designs, as well as cheaper versions of celebrity getups.

I take to this magazine for a lot of new brand and designer insight, as they are sure to be the ones that give you a quick head’s up, and this time around, they also have a couple of pages dedicated to Breast Cancer Research/Awareness and the companies supporting the cause.

If you read on, you will see I chose the article giving you the Five Simple Rules of Natural Makeup. Make sure to snag, or recycle & reuse a friends copy to catch all their product recommendations and the rest of the explanations to each rule. And of course, to let me know what you think!

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.

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Artist Summit Miami – Inglot/NOTD

I missed the chance to give you the scoop about Inglot coming to NYC a while back (summer to be precise). Around the time of the first Bloggin’ Beauts get together, the makeup brand with hues in the 100s under their belt opened their US flagship store in the Times Square neighborhood of my beloved Big Apple. (The store @ 1592 Broadway (between 47th and 48th Street) open 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.!!)

When I started planning my Florida trip for the Artist Summit in Miami, no one could have been any more excited than I when I heard that Inglot was making an appearance.

A Polish brand, slowly making their mark all across the continents, they have been present in the world as a brand for a quarter of a decade and counting. They are creators to over 390 shades for your eyes, and over 200 for your pretty nails. Soon, they’ll probably have just as many stores for each color.

About Inglot Cosmetics:

“INGLOT Cosmetics was established over 20 years ago by Wojtek Inglot, a young chemist at the time working in Research & Development for a pharmaceutical company. INGLOT Cosmetics was founded on the principles of combining the most advanced technology and highest quality materials to produce the world’s most unique beauty products. The company’s point of difference is the freedom and flexibility for individuals to mix and match their own color line from the huge collection of colors. At present, INGLOT has one of the most extensive color ranges of cosmetic collections in the world and works with the best makeup artists to bring the latest trends in colors, textures and form of cosmetics to the market. With several new significant projects being fine tuned in the labs at the moment, coming months will see the introduction of a number of new and innovative products. All INGLOT Cosmetics are produced in the European Union and over 95% of them in INGLOT’s own state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.“

Their Canadian website has some info about stores but not products. Their Malta site has some galleries, and the Australian site is under construction… but alas, none with e-commerce. And the one we’ve all been waiting for? The US store is in the works, but plenty beauty bloggers and product junkies alike have been promised progress, and quick!

Until then, enjoy the images I got for ya, and my two NOTD’s for my nail-a-day challenge from their polish (with more on the way). Photos on the left are without flash, photos on right are with flash.

single eyeshadow pans (the refillable choices for palettes is the main pic)

lip gloss pots and trio color cubes

mineral shadows

Inglot Cosmetics Matte Nail Polish in 709

Inglot Cosmetics Matte Nail Polish in 722

These polishes are called matte but I would call them semi-matte, as they are flatter than a cream, but more satin-y than a normal matte.

I thought the polish looked like a yellow peanut M&M candy, so I had to buy a pack to compare. It was a little bit lighter, but way too fun… & yummy! 🙂

Heard about Inglot yet? Like it?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

Artist Summit Miami

How could I continue and introduce brands and events, if I didn’t at least share what my new camera captured in Florida?

While smaller than the NY Makeup Show in size for commerce, the lessons and seminars were of the most value. As I continue with new knowledge and inspiration, I hope you enjoy the images of the brands that both break through into the market to continued jaw dropping reactions, as well as the brands who never fail to amaze year in and year out, from quality to customer service.

The best part of these shows for me? Realizing that this is much more than just makeup. The search for the perfect product to accentuate and work well with every person’s beauty is evident from the product selection, to the dedication from even the creators (who are almost always present at each show!).

I’ll be doing some in depth reviews and intros to some brands, while others, the pictures will be worth plenty words.

Inglot Cosmetics – watch out for my review

Crown Brush – the best quality for the cheapest price

owner of Pencil Me In Cosmetics showing that her pencils aren’t just great for shadowing and lining the eyes – but making fancy hairstyles too!

Danessa Myricks showcasing her brand (I Make You Beautiful) of dvd’s & makeup. And her fab hair y’all!

My girl Britt from ClumpsofMascara showcasing Naked Cosmetics!

OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics)

Ruby Room aromas & sprays. Stay tuned for an intro and review.

Always a fave, Korres

A new fave, Yaby Cosmetics

p.s. this is a new & very loved camera for me – What y’all think about it? Snazzy photos?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js

NOTD mashup

As you read this, I will be attempting to be a snazzy paintball shooter. I have never tried, but I envision myself to go in and knock everyone out like a sniper. I might just come back sad and bruised, but as I continue my Nail-a-Day challenge, and try to catch up with the days I owe ya, I’ll keep the digits soft, unscathed, and unbruised.

Want to take part of this challenge? Everyone is welcome – even if you extend your -a-day part with a week or a-every other day! 🙂

Send me your mani pics, and I’ll feature them as part of the challenge. I’m sure by end of each month, I can scrounge up some fancy polishes as a reward for the most original submission(s)! 🙂

Read on to see all the colors that I sported, and let me know which is your fave. For reference, whenever there are two pictures, the one on the left is without flash, and the one on the right is with.

Victoria’s Secret, Beauty Rush in Velvetini
This one is a bit difficult to apply, but I will do a separate review of this line a bit later. The color is very pretty in the bottle and with flash, but extremely hard to capture with either regular camera, or with the naked eye after more than one coat (which is necessary).

Shades by Barielle, in Grape Escape
This one was totally stolen from my fellow Bloggin’ Beaut, Britt from ClumpsofMascara. I knew that this bad boy had to travel to the Big Apple ever since she posted about it, but now I’m not sure if I’ll send it back to the orange state. (Okay I will, relax!). The color is an amazing vibrant purple and is not like any other I have seen.

Shades by Barielle, in Sweet Addiction
Such a pleasant green, that I’m ssssweetly addicted. :)~ Yet another win win from Shades by Barielle. I’m not sure what had my nail lumpy in the picture without flash, but it seemed to have gone away with flash. The green though? Super minty and melon-y. Just enough bright to be reminiscent of warmer weather, but appropriate still to be fashionably forward in the office.

And now this… is just a tease of polishes to come. My other Bloggin’ compadre, over from VampyVarnish posted about these polishes not found in the US, and I was so enamored that I scampered over to eBay to get them right away. I used my Ebates account when doing so, so I already got money back for my purchase, but the polishes are reward enough themselves!

Which one is your favorite? Any requests?

tweetmeme_url = '';
http://tweetmeme.com/i/scripts/button.js