Damnnnnnnn this a good primer! Normally my reviews starts off as an intro, but I can't help it, this is a darn good primer for oily skin. I also believe this is even better for people who have large pores, fine lines and want their makeup to last up to 12 hours. Read further for this priceless addition to my makeup routine.


Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector Claims
A targeted oil-control primer that perfects and minimizes pores for mattified skin that lasts up to 12 hours. Go beyond extending makeup wear to address the root cause of why your makeup moves.  The formula is sweat- and humidity-resistant and free of silicone, oil, alcohol, and fragrance.

I have super oily skins, and wearing makeup seems to makes it worst. If you happen to be like me, and you just hate how oily your skins gets while wearing makeup, below post will be of interests to you. I like these sheets because they are just great for absorbing oils, and they also great on the pocket book.



Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets Claim
Oil absorbing sheets instantly soak up excess oil and remove shine from your face, without smudging makeup or leaving behind powder. These super soft, silky sheets can be used easily around your nose and other oily areas of your face. Use them anytime, anywhere.

Like
- Absorbed Oil
- Clean & Matted Look Result
- Make Up Stays Put
- Feels Wonderful
- Not Expensive
- Great For Acne Prone Skin
- Wonderful Texture Sheets
- No Scent

Dislike
- N/A

I have tried a good amount of oil absorbing sheets, and the one that I found that are the best out of the bunch are Clean & Clears Sheets. I just keep coming back to these every time.

They are super absorbing, and they really do keep your makeup intact longer. The packet contains about 50 sheets each, and the feel of these sheets can be best described as slight textured and powdery soft, I just LOVE how soothing there are on the skin.

I usually know when I need to use these sheet when I start feeling the "tingling" sensation, I then proceed to bloat my "T" zone first, and then all over. I use about 2 sheet per day vs. 3-4 when I wasn't taking care of my skin (will share my skin care routine later).

Conclusion: I can stress enough how much I LOVE these sheets. So if you have extremely oily skin, please try these and I promise you won't regret it.

Been playing around with my eye area lately and decided to try an eyelash curler for the first time. Using it at first was indeed a daunting task, but once I got over my fears, I beginning curling like nobody business. Now after using this for weeks, I have become a pro at it, and I have come to truly love it (it has a home in my makeup drawer ^_^.

ForteBellezza Eyelash Curler Claims
Get rid of fake lashes, now you can have long lasting dramatic looking & fully curled lashes in seconds. Easily and anywhere without pinching. Thick and rounded silicone pad forms intense curl without creasing lashes.

Like
 - Easy to Use
 - Non-slip Plastic Handle
 - Curl Lashes in Seconds
 - Sturdy
 - The Closure Latch
 - Color
 
Dislike
 - N/A
 
I really never understood the need for an eyelash curler until now, and that is all due to this review. I have one old eyelash curler that I purchased years ago from the dollar store (never used it), and what set these two apart is the closure latch (which I love) and the rubbers for curling the lashes (it come with an extra rubber piece). I found the rubber is actually better on ForteBellezza eyelasher color vs. the cheap one I had, but I have to say what really set this curler apart is the closure latch. It just makes it so much easier to store or to carry with you.

When I  actually start use this product, I finally understood the need for eyelasher curlers. This eyelash curler (and I imagine many other) just give out the perfect curls to your lashes, making your lashes pop out even more. This is all due to the slight bend of your lash over your eyelid. When you don't use an eyelash curler, your lashes (well mines at least) are just straight and even though you add mascara, it not as noticeable far away. When you curl your lashes though, and add 1-2 coat of mascara, you will walk away with some amazing looking lashes.  I don't know how long this will last, but so far I really like it and have no issue using this for the past weeks.

Since I got a chance to review this product, one of my followers get a chance to win this for FREE (at no cost to you). This company believes in their product, so they decided to offer one of their curlers to my USA readers. All you need to do is follow me on GFC or Bloglovin, and Instagram AND below bad boy will belong to ONE of my followers.

Just comment below with your email (or you can send me your email via the contact form below) and the account you uses to follow me with :D. This contest will end 9/20/2014.  Please note that they may be out of stock, but I did contact the company to make sure they can deliver this to you. That is why I need your email ^_^. I will also have my daughter pull your name from the bag (will be doing this the old fashion way lol). 
 
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ahhhh...sorry for the back to back review post, but I totally believe in taking care of your skins and I like to share information that I found to be useful, and if you know me, that is what I'm all about.



Konjac Sponge Infused with Activated Charcoal Claims
No other beauty sponge will work so hard for you! This luxuriously soft sponge gently exfoliates, cleanses, and is naturally pH balanced. The activated bamboo charcoal absorbs toxins, fights bacteria and excess oils leaving your face glowing, refreshed and radiant. Even preps skin to boost the absorption of your favorite serums and creams.

Like
- Very Soft When Wet (Love That)
- Great Exfoliator for Sensitive Skin
- Contain Charcoal
- Teardrop Shape (Point End Offer Easy Access to Difficult Spots)
- 100% Natural

Dislike
- No Life-Span Information
- Expensive
- No Cleanser Require Statement (You can still used though)

I have to admit when I first got this sponge, I was really surprised on how hard it was, and I didn't want it anywhere near my face. After clearly reading the instructions (which oddly enough calls for no cleanser) I was able to fully appreciate this sponge as my exfoliator. Once this sponge gets wet, it becomes super soft and really does exfoliator the skin without irritating it. I have to honest though and state that I had to used this with the combination of my Charcoal soap, and that is the only way I can see the benefit of this sponge, since its cost is to high for a product you going to have to purchase constantly.

The sponge directions states to use it as a stand along, but I feel my skin will not be properly clean if I did that. Since I still had the option to clean with a cleanser, I opt for that instead since I know for a fact that if I don't use a cleanser on my face, I will break out.

I didn't know how long this sponge is suppose to last at first, since it doesn't state that information on the box or instruction so I email the company and asked them. They stated the sponge has to be replaced every 2-3 months or once the sponge has broken down. That I think is not bad for a sponge life cycle, but I have to still state I don't see me spending $24.95 (original price) for this sponge.

So based on the cost, I can't recommend this product to you if you are on a tight budget. If the current price ever get cheaper (more on the line of $5-$6 bucks) then I could honestly recommend this product (since you be using a lot of it it).

I  will always recommend using a sponge or towel to exfoliate your skin, because it does do a good job of clearing out your dead skin cells, help with the pores, and help reap the benefit of your moisturizer (or any skincare products). Right now these sponge is going for $10 with Free Shipping, so if you want to try it, you are more then welcome. This product comes with a 90 day money back guarantee.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Ever since I started to really applying makeup, I have become obsessive with taking care of my skins....naturally. I have to admit though that prior I could have care less about the appearance of fine lines, since my main concerns was and still is to get rid of my acne and oily prone skin.

For my acne prone skin, my acne wash and moisturizer take care of that, but I do notice that my skin really has taken a beating as far as fine lines are concern, primarily on my forehead. I especially notice it when I apply makeup. Since I have recently decided to change my skin routine (will release a post later), I notice my skin health has improved greatly (which I thought was amazing considering how damage it was).

So right now I'm looking for the perfect face moisturizer, and I have found that Jojoba is best for me as a makeup base, but for an everyday Moisturizer, the Natural Facial Moisturizer by Adovia Mineral Skin Care is pretty darn good, and I prefer that vs. my now all time Jojoba facial moisturizer. By the way, my skin type would be best describe as extremely oily and acne prone, and below is my full and honest review.




Natural Facial Moisturizer by Adovia Mineral Skin Care Claims:

- Moisturize and protect your skin with Adovia's quick absorbing and non-greasy, daytime moisturizer.
- Quenches your skin's thirst with natural, deep hydration that lasts all day giving you a more radiant complexion.
- HYPOALLERGENIC. DERMATOLOGIST TESTED & APPROVED.
- Contains an active complex of Dead Sea Minerals for natural moisture balance.
- It continues working throughout the day by improving your skin's ability to regain it's natural moisture and - better retain it's moisture levels. People will wonder why your skin has than new, natural "glow".

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Hello everyone. I hope everyone is having a great weekend, I really do miss you guys (and blogging). My place is still a crazy mess, and I have about 21 days left to go for my trip to Greece (going shopping this week - hooray). Once I'm settled, I will be picking up the "What I Wore" series. Today I wanted to share a soap that is great for acne prone skin. I have used this soap for about three weeks now, and I have received such great results, but there is one negative issue I have to note. Below is the full review.



Bamboo Charcoal Soap by The Healing Tree

Claims
Bamboo Charcoal Soap is 4x more porous than wood charcoal, so it's high in absorbency and is able to draw dirt from deep inside your pores. Unlike normal soaps that only clean the surface of your skin, this soap can free up a lot of dirt that clogs problematic skin if you have acne, eczema, psoriasis, or dry/cracked skin.

Like
- Natural & Simple Ingredients
- Hypoallergenic
- Cleans Really Well
- Doesn't Break Me Out
- Scent (It has a light scent but it very earthy and clean)
- Doesn't Introduce Oily Skin

Dislike
- Messy (details below)

Many people don't believe that I suffer from really bad case of acne all my life. I still battle the very issue now and use these products to combat my issues. So knowing that, I do have to be really careful with whatever soap I used for my face etc.

This soap actually turned out to be good because it simply didn't break me out, nor did it cause my face to get oily after used (that is why I use hypoallergenic soap for my face, chest, upper arms, and back). The scent of this soap brings back wonderful memories of when I visited Haiti when I was young. It has a very light earthly smell that just delightful to behold (if you are into that lol =D).

The only thing I can note about this soap is that it can be very messy and that is due to the color of the soap. If your shower area has white tiles, and has texture surface bathtub, then this will stain the tub until you wash it out.

If you have dark showers, then you have no worries about the stain issue mentioned above, and I can then highly recommend using this soap for problematic skins. If you have shower area like mines, then you have to figure out if this product worth washing the affect area as you used this soap. I'm lazy, so I don't like constantly having to clean my shower area. I did notice The Healling Tree had "Bamboo Vinegar Soap" that is not as dark, and I may order that one since I really do like this soap. Until next time my lovely peeps!

Now that my Sisterlocks are mature, I don't use any Sisterlocks™ products to maintain my locks. I have tried many other shampoos & conditioners in the past, and some were good, and some for example the Shea Moisture Raw Shea Retention Shampoo & Conditioner weren't. Below products on the other hand turned out to be my favorite out of the bunch I have tried in the past.

I just love how it smells, and how healthy my scalp looks after using it. Below is my full review of OGX Shampoo & Conditioner (Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil). After my experience with these two products, I really want to try others from the same line, but I feel why mess up a good thing...right? If any of you have tried any of OGX shampoos, I would love for you to share your feedback on the ones you have tried (I'm sure others would appreciate it as well).
Claims
Like all other OGX products, the Anti-Breakage Keratin Oil Collection is packaged in eco-friendly bottles manufactured from materials containing recycled post-consumer resin.  OGX salon-inspired formulas contain exotic active ingredients, use a unique blend of sulfate free surfactants...plus, they smell absolutely amazing. OGX bottles are made from recycled, post-consumer resin. The labels are printed utilizing environmentally friendly inks and compostable label film made from an annually renewable resource corn, not from petrochemicals. The products are not tested on animals, a fact they are proud of and will not change. And OGX's continued mission is to never sacrifice performance in their quest for sustainability.

Like
- Smells GREAT!!!
- Moisturizing
- Cleans
- Suds Action is a Plus
- Mid-Range Affordable
- Contain Keratin Proteins & Argan Oil

Dislike
N/A

This has now replaced my long love affair with Miss Jessie & my wide range of clarify shampoos & conditioners.  It was truly a difficult parting in the beginning from Misse Jessie (*sniff...sniff*), but it had to done due to the fact that I'm locked, and I do like seeing some sudsy action.

This product is sooooo good, and I just love washing my locks with it. Whenever I used these products, my scalp just look so healthy and well moisturized. My Sisterlocks looking shinny and feeling light were a total surprise at my end. This product has both the moisturizing action I need (due to the fact I’m color my hair), and it cleans really well (as shown on my 5K dye run experience).

Even though Miss Jessie moisturizes really well, I could never use those products alone without having to clarifying my hair for my monthly appointment with my consultant (to retighten the roots).

So if you looking for a moisturizing shampoo & conditioner, that cleans really well, than I can wholehearted recommend this. As for preventing breakages, I'm locked, so I can't tell you if this really prevent breakages, but I do love the fact that it has Keratin proteins, and I have used it on my daughter hair with great result. Since I'm very careful with my little girl hair anyways, I didn't notice any less shedding then the usual. So I can’t really say this product prevent breakage.

I did a post on how to get really nice looking nails that last longer. If you read that post and have tried it, I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

For the ladies that did try it, and experienced chipping the same day or even after, this review will interest you. If you got yellow nails as a result of applying the nail polish, you either didn't apply a base coat (the most likely reason ^_-) or you purchased a cheap base coat (the least likely reason).

The best thing I ever did was to get my makeup done professionally by a M.A.C. makeup artist. She picked out the right color for my foundation, and also explained each item that she recommend for me to get, and how to apply it. I still have ways to go as far as makeup application is concern, but now I feel that I’m at a place where I can safely say I can now apply my own makeup, and look decent at it. I still have a couple of other makeup to review, but below is the makeup I can't really live without. My face just instantly transform with just the below basic. Please note, if you have really oily skin, please visit this post.

I do my own nails, and the reason is quite simple...I'm cheap! No really, I would rather pocket that money and save it for a future trip, then go to a nail salon and have it done. I know the same concept could be applied to me being a DIYer for sisterlocks, but doing my own nail takes about 20 min - 40 min (if I'm doing the nail stamping it takes longer).  Now doing my sisterlocks on the other hand will take me at least a whole day (or two day if I split the retightening up).

So let get back to nail stamping review. I like this a lot, but doing it on my own hand is always DIFFICULT, and the stickers were just a pain to deal with. So after many practice (both on my daughter's hand/feet and myself) I became more impressed with Konad & the Mash Plates. Below is my review.

Konad Nail Art Double Ended Stamper And Scraper
Used to stamp decorative patterns on your finger nails. This stamper has 2 ends with different sizes and colours. Great when stamping small images or for childrens nails. The green stamper is ideal when using red special polish because the red image shows up better on the green stamper.

Like
- This Product is Durable and Cheap.
- Love the Scrapper
- Like the Two Side (one for Little Hands (or Feet) and the other for Bigger Nail Bed)

Dislike
- Big Learning Curve
- Messy
- Application Time
- Scrapper Scratches the Plates.

MASH Manicure Image Plates 26-50 Accessories Set Kit
MASH Plates 26-50 were designed and created from the ground up to introduce exciting new designs to nail art stamping. There are no other nail art image plates like them. Each plate measures about 1.8" (5.5cm in diameter) with sanded edges for easy, comfortable handling and a protective nylon screen.

Like
- This Product is Durable and Cheap
- Easy to Set Up and Apply
- So Many Option and Choices (if You Get the Bundle Plates)
- Salon Professional Look

Dislike
- BIG learning curve
- Messy
- Application Time

Conclusion: Nail Stamping is a huge learning curve. There is an art to doing it, and once you know it, it becomes a breeze to apply. The only thing I like to note is to use the scraper that comes with Konad (it just scrape better), because it tends to scratch the plates a lot of people don't like to use it and tend to use a gift card. Using an old credit/gift card does a nice job as a scarper, and I agree it doesn't scratch your plates, but it not as clean as using a Konad scraper (in my opinion).

I would also like to note that Konad plates are the most popular brand out there, but they are more expensive. So if you are interested, I would test the nail stamping on the cheaper plates, and if you want to get better plates, then go with the Konad. I also did a "How To" on the nail stamping and how to get longer lasting nail polish as well, click here to check it out.

I have purchased about 4-5 lipsticks after I got sisterlocks, and out of the bunch, I only have 2 that I really love. Choco-Liscious & Black Cherry are by far my favorite shades. The pink shade from Revlon is okay when I mix it with the Black Cherry to tone it down. Below is how they look on me under direct light (no flash).

While I was experimenting with lipstick, I let my true passion go for a while, and that was lip gloss. They were always my go-to make up. I never got disappointment with them, nor do I ever regret putting them on. My favorite lip glosses are the one that give me a slight color coverage, and at the same time give me a longer lasting shine. I have tried many lip glosses in the past, but by far my favorite lip glosses are from Bath & Body Works (weird I know). They provide wonderful lasting shine in varies shades of colors and the tube last for a while. I decided this Friday to go and pick up another set of lip grosses, and found out that I really prefer lip gross over lipstick. Note: I did find a shade of lipstick I love and I will release a post about it.

Below are the three shade of three shade of lip glosses I purchased. They are called Caramel Cocoa, Blackberry Mousse, & Brilliant Berry from Dazzle⋆licious.



Below are my lips without any lip gloss. Pretty plain and boring lol.

I got this nice, light pink shade from Blackberry Mousse. I really love this shade on my lips (I'm not to fond of pink lipstick on me, and I think this shade is doable as a replacement for my pink lipstick). I consider this shade an everyday type of shade, and I can see me wearing this to go to regular outing such as movies, bowling etc.




This color is slightly darker then the Blackberry Mousse, and it is called Brilliant Berry. This shade I consider ladies night out and going out to drink type of shade. I really like how this shade made my lips look sexy (even though the lighten doesn't show  how dark and pretty it looks).



This shade is very plain and still makes my lips look lovely. This shade is called Caramel Cocoa and I consider this my every day wear. It is very light as a color shade, and blend very well with my skin tone.







Review: These lip glosses are super shiny, sweet, and have a girlish sweet smell to them. I also find these lip gloss to be super thick, and that may bother some people. In the end, I really do love wearing these lip gloss and I tend to come back to them time and time again. At $10.50 to $12.50 at Bath & Body Works, they are not cheap, so I suggestive trying them on first, before buying them.

The Natural Me headband makes me feel so Africanish (<-- that is not a word lol) and I did received some compliments when I wore it. If you are interest in this product, go ahead and visit here. Below is the very quick review of this headband.

Claim
Operated supplier of quality products, specifically formulated for moisturizing and cleansing hair and skin. We are proud to say our products are 100% all natural, and are a safer alternative to the hundreds of products containing chemicals and other artificial and synthetic ingredients which can be harmful to the body.

Like
- One-Size-Fits-All
- Made of 100% Cotton
- Quality was good.
- Fast Delivery

Dislike
- Expensive*
- Very Tight (Hopefully it will loosen with wear)

I note it as expensive (just for the people that are price conscious) but the quality of this product is nice, so if it last long, then it would be worth the price. This product also looks like it was handmade, so the fact that it looks slightly different from the picture was apparent. I couldn't put that finding in the "dislike" section, since they did make it clear that the colors will vary from the cart picture. If you really like this headband, but don't want to spend the money, you welcome to check out yoga headband on Amazon which is much cheaper (I can't vouch for the quality though). You can see how I wore it for the first time here.

When I got this, my main goal for this product is to use it for my sides, and maybe a little in the middle to give a thicker appearance. My goal was achieve, but it really hard to show the improvement since the light condition affect how the improvement is seen via pictures. So even though I'm showing the before and after photos in a different light condition, please believe me when I say there was an improvement in overall appearance of my sides, and the goal was achieved. Below is the final review of Caboki as a hair loss concealer.

Claims
Caboki is not what you think it is. It is neither paint-like nor shoe polish-like hair product invented in the 80s (of last century). It is like nothing you have used before. Caboki is a breakthrough product for hair loss sufferers that Instantly eliminates bald spots or appearance of thinning hair. Gives you a perfectly natural look. No one will know you're using Caboki unless you tell them - even if they get a close up view, outdoor, under bright sun light. Last all day, all night, through wind, rain and sweat. Will not smear or stain your skin or clothing. Works for both men and women. Unlike similar products on the mass market, Caboki is a professional grade product- Made of natural fibers from plants, safe even for sensitive scalp. Bonds to hair more securely, does not require specially-made spray to glue fibers to your hair. Free of animal ingredients, synthetic dyes, fillers and preservatives.

Like
- Great concealer for thin spot
- Easy to apply
- Easy to wash
- Love how natural it looks
- No scent
- 100% Natural
- Comes in range of colors

Dislike
- Not a permanent solution
- Rubs off easily
- Have to avoid wearing light color clothes
- Expensive as heck
- Application time
- Can be very messy

Product Photo
The appearance of the product looks really nice, and the holes on the top help with the spreading of the product on your trouble spots.




Below is the Comparison
Like I was explaining above, the before and after is hard to show with the same lightening condition, but you can get a rough idea on the improvement below. I used very little, and the coverage was decent. Don't expect a miracle though, just an improvement in the over-all look of your thin spots.

Before - With Flash

After - With Flash
Different Lighting Condition
This where you can see the actual improvement.



This product hands down beat the black spray I use to use back in the days to cover up my fading sides while I was wearing my up-do styles with weaves. You think back then, when I was losing my sides due to weaves, braids, etc., I would have stop, but no I used to use a black hair spray to cover up my non existing sides. For the black woman out there that is trying to fit in to the norm of standard beauty, stop now while you can, it so not worth it.

I really like this product; it does a decent job of blending in and doesn't look fake. They are some downside of this product though, if you touch it, it will come on your hands every time. So it is not a semi-permanent solution, and I don't like the fact that I have to worry about people touching my hair, and them seeing the residue on their hands. Now I know you thinking that people shouldn't be touching your hair, but it not a just curiosity with whites or other race, blacks are doing it as well, and it annoying, but it can't be helped, so you have to brace yourself for it as your sisterlocks gets longer. Still... it does a decent job at covering up the thin stops, and I can't help but appreciate that fact and recommend it for ladies who are too embarrassed to wear their own hair up due to their thin sides.

I plan on using this only for up-do styles when I'm going out (special events), and when I want my sisterlocks looking the best it can be. It washes out easily which is a plus in my book. If you looking for cheaper version to test it out, you can try Toppik and HairUBuild. Don't know how long they will offer it, but you can also try the Coboki sample off their site like I did.