I get tagged quite often, and I am a turrible knucklehead about responding in kind. I don’t mean to be a jerk, I just get super busy and overwhelmed and before I know it, a month has gone by, then two, then three… and then ah forget it. But not this time! My friend in cocktails, Christina of E Beauty Daily, tagged me about a month ago in the perfect kind of meme for a product addicted bella like yours truly. Without further ado, here are my freshest beauty faves — quite a few of which are products I haven’t had a chance to review yet!
My Beauty Secrets:
My Foundation: I was stuck on Cover Girl’s Queen Collection powder foundation for a while there.. then I wandered into Sephora with Mama Bella. A very friendly saleslady made us out for the ripe targets we were, and proceeded to give me an unrequested makeover using Benefit’s Play Sticks (my shade? Teeter Totter). I had to buy it. And Mama Bella bought TWO! The reviews over at Makeup Alley are mixed, but this cream stick foundation works great for me as a spot concealer. I blend with my fingers (or a wedge sponge), dust with the aforementioned Cover Girl’s Queen Collection powder foundation and I’m GTG.
My Mascara: Oh boy. Or as my mom sometimes says, boysie kapoizie. I have an array of mascaras to choose from, and I switch it up on the regular… but my current favorite for day is Lash Blast, but for evening drama… I’m really digging Prescriptives Plush False Eyelashes mascara of late. It gives you that bold, thick, lash drama without any mess.
My Blush: I am currently obsessed with NARS Orgasm, and like Chrisette Michele, I prefer to use two shades — so Orgasm and b.l.a.c minerals’ toasty. Just a teeny bit really gives my cheeks a delicious glow.
My Eye Shadow: No pigment stands out better on my skin than MAC. I can’t deny it. When I use shadow, I invariably return to MAC. But I do love Urban Decay’s range of colors, and you know what — Make Up For Ever makes a fine Star Powder that I adore as well.
My Day Cream: Another product I don’t have a brand favorite for… of late I’ve been fairly obsessed with L’Bel Matte and Controle, but my regular, fave return-to-everytime day creme is Kiehl’s Abyssine Lotion Spf 15. My skin responds really well to it.
My Lipstick: I have what MAC makeup artist Victor C. once described as “a dry lip.” The skin on my bottom lip is continually dry and gets really flaky. Most lipstick accentuates the problem, so I don’t usually use lipstick ever. BUT I just discovered an AMAZING new product that has finally helped my lips heal and become completely smooth! Drumroll please…. for Einstein’s Lip Therapy!!
I love, love, love this stuff. The pink one is a moisturizing cream with Vitamin C beads to exfoliate lips, the red one is a cooling balm with cocoa butter to make your lips shiny shiny. So pretty, and so affordable. So after I use part 1 of the Einstein Lip Therapy, I stain my lips with Vincent Longo lip and cheek stain. My shade of choice is Apollonia. Ooh! After lip stain, I use either the Einstein part 2, or I layer with my sheer/slightly tinted lip gloss of choice. It makes my lip color last longer.
My Beauty Product Brand: I really don’t have one single brand that I adore above all others. I’ve liked everything I’ve tried from Philosophy, Shu Uemura, Vincent Longo, and BeneFit. I think MAC, Make Up For Ever, and Kiehls are excellent brands, and I use Milani on a regular. I also really like some of the niche brands by little companies, like Valana Minerals, and Sally B’s Skin Yummies (review coming soon!).
My Essential Beauty Product: I won’t leave the house without lip gloss. No, really. I won’t.
My Favorite Makeup Product: See above.
My Perfume: I think we all know how much I adore Mariah Carey’s M, but I haven’t yet gushed about M Gold, the “deluxe” edition, “the purest and most luxurious form of the M by Mariah Carey fragrance collection.” Gawd. It’s even more decadent and more marshmallowy, and comes in a frickin’ gold bottle (which I didn’t get, I got sent one of those teeny slice your finger open samples. I’ll splurge for Christmas — I mean, how limited could this edition be?
My Nails: I just can’t keep up with a manicure. In fact, my manicure skills haven’t improved much from when I was seven years old. So from day to day, all I do is slather my nails with Grow Tougher by Nail Aid. It works, it’s environmentally friendly, and it’s cheap. Can’t beat that with a bat.
Woman I admire for their beauty: Oh, there are quite a few women I look to for beauty inspiration. Angela Bassett. Mary J. Blige. Liya Kebede. Iman, of course. Those four come most immediately to mind.
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: Can I give a shout out to Michelle Obama right about now? The woman is flawless. My personal style is definitely funkier and younger, but I think her classic elegance should be applauded. And the New York Times agrees.
My Ultimate Dream (but I do not believe in selling my soul to the devil for it): I want to be published in national magazines, I want to write for the rest of my life, and more than anything else, I want to be a published author. I want to write lots of books, and go on book tours, the whole nine. Then I want to teach creative writing at some intimate gem of a college, and live happily ever after.
I have always aspired to be a novelist (and I still do…) but more and more I’m being drawn to nonfiction. An Afrobella book. What do you think about that, bellas?
How Do I Define Womanhood: Strength. Poise. Confidence. Responsibility. Knowledge through experience. Wisdom. I’ve been mulling this quite a bit of late. As I hurtle towards 30, I finally get it. I’m so not a girl anymore (even though I still reserve the right to act like one). I’m a woman, grown, responsible, savvy, and strong. It’s a mantle of pride.
My Favorite Fashion Publication: Um… let’s see. Suede’s long gone, so is Vibe Vixen. Essence and Ebony have stepped it up lately, but neither can really be called fashion publications. How’s about Bust? Is Bust a fashion… no? Um… OK. When I’m at a salon, the mainstream magazine I would first reach for would probably be Marie Claire, or Glamour. I like a mag with articles between the fluff, that features at least one page of stuff I can afford.
Whew! I actually cut out a few questions — this was super long. And I still have so much more to add! This beauty meme was pretty fun (and probably more detailed than it should have been), but I didn’t get to answer any hair questions! So I’ll post a part II favorite hair products post for you bellas soon. I’ve been reviewing lots of stuff here behind the scenes, and there are some GREAT new products for you gorgeous afrobellas (and fellas!)
And you know what, it took me this long to respond to being tagged, I’m gonna buck the cycle. I know how insanely busy my fellow beauty bloggers are, and I love hearing what you beautiful bellas out there in the real world are buying, trying, loving, and telling the world about. So I’m tagging you! What are your current beauty faves? Is there any particular product you’re singing to the heavens about?
Thanks for the Einstein Lip Therapy tip. I’ve been looking for something good to apply to my smoochers ;o)
I’m pretty low-maintainance; usually just lipgloss and mascara. I love MACs lipglosses (4N is my fave) and the Lash Blast mascara is the truth for my barely there eyelashes – it is the only brand that makes me look like I have the possibility of eyelashes.
I have a question and would appreciate a little help. My eyelids are super oily and eyeshadow just doesn’t stay throughout the day – I’ve tried. I start out looking lovely, but by noon, my eyelids are a oily, shadow in the crease only mess. Any help for this? Thanks in advance.
Great post Bella,and I think that we all can’t wait for An Afrobella book,Bella on Oprah,and Bella in Essence.When I run out of my favorite scent Dove go fresh body mist keeps me going on a hot day.Black Vanilla leave in,hair milk,and healthy hair butter by Carol’s Daughter keep my hair smelling,and looking good.I love Burt’s Bees on my lips,and Palmer’s cocoa butter on my skin, because it makes my sun screen last longer.
Exhibit A blush from Nars!! It looks a scary traffic cone orange mess pressed into its compact, but on my cheeks it looks a Caribbean vacation in the sun!
I’m all about anything from Burt’s Bees. It’s a TOTAL obsession. Garnier Fructis Mask & Leave In, Marc Jacobs “Rain” eau de toilette and Bare Escentuals/Minerals foundation and “faux tan”. Just love ’em.
@ Nerd Girl:
Try using a base like Urban Decay Primer Potion or Stila Shadow Pot
Just want t o say I love your posts. Sometimes it seems like your in my head. Just this morning I was looking over the products I currently use and those that I would like to try.
Like you, almost all of my eyeshadows are from M.A.C. Just recently I found this eyeshadow by NARS called Galopogos (sp??). It’s a rich brown with gold and green shimmer to it. Gorgous as a smokey eye. My must have mascara is DiorShow. Whenever I wear it people always ask if I have on false lashes. Lol.
Has anyone tried Rx for brown skin? It’s available at Sephora. I had a lot, I mean A LOT of dark blemishes on my cheeks and pimples in my T-zone. This stuff cleared it right up. And speaking about Sephora, I received a sample of some mattifier (sp??) by Benefit and it actually works.
I’m sorry if this turned into a mini blog.
I wore false eyelashes mascara this past Fall. it is a wonderful product. I also like the pigments of Makeup For Ever. I tried the powder and cream this Spring and I really really like its staying power and intensity. I like Nars lip pencils this season, too and the LORAC rocks in gold.
Makeup For Ever has great products. I love MAC but Makeup For Ever is definitely give them a run for their money…
Those “Taggers” can get quite overwhelming!!! lol
Afrobella, how do you feel about “green” environmentally friendly cosmetics?
I generally dont have any brand loyalty when it comes to make-up, I just use what suits me or I like. Right now I am so loving the Sleek cosmetics Divine eyeshadow collection the colours are beautiful and every single shade suits me. Even better there are about 3 green shades and I love green eyeshadow. I also love Bourjois eyeshadow in 03 rose and 04 noir. they make for an effortless smokey eye. i do need help with smokey eye techniques though… Blush is either Iman blush in sunset copper or I use their Bronzing powder in Mingle on my cheeks. It gives my cheeks a warm glow. My other faves are MAC liquid last liner in aqualine and auto orange. I use them as a eyeshadow by themselves. great tip from the MAC girl. oh yeah I do like bodyshop bronzers and eyeshadows too. I have yet to find a fave mascara and may just treat myself to that dior one mentioned above.
sorry for the
I forgot to mention I use bronzers or pressed powder brushed on instead of my old fave creme to powder as make-up folk and friends said i didnt really need heavy foundations and so far so good.
To MeikMeik:
Thanks for the info on Rx for Brown Skin…I got a brochure on that line from Sephora a few months back, and I was hesitant to try it. I had a lot of scars from old acne too. What’s been working for me is Aqua Glycolic (cleanser, toner and cream). I use the whole regimen day and night, and in a couple of weeks my skin felt silkier and velvety soft like never before…what is that, velvet? Now, after about 4 weeks, I’ve noticed my spots really fading, without that unevenness that’s pissed me off in the past. What’s cool is that the whole thing was on sale at drugstore.com for $25!
I’m glad we’ve both found something that works!
You are amazing and I’d buy your book in a heartbeat!
@ Nerd Girl
For oily eyelids or anywhere on your face u can use;
Matte it Face and Lips, from the Body Shop or, Matte from M.A.C.
I completly agree, i love love love Urban Decay’s selection also. I have to try b.l.a.c minerals’ toasty..i really dont have any MAC makeup but their eyeshadows are indeed great…I am very picky about foundation. Have anyone ever hear of LOCAR…i like there foundation beacuse its non-oil base. I dont know that much about foundation and I use it only when I’m going out. Any suggestion on great foundation?
I’m a new fan Afrobella! I love My Favorite Lip Balm by CO Bigelow (@ Bath & Body Works). It smells divine and imparts moisture and a little sheen. And it’s usually just $5. My favorite fragrances are Tracy by Ellen Tracy, Max Mara, Pure Grace by philosophy and my new favorite, Tahitian holiday exotic body mist (part mist, part oil) from Avon. Thanks for letting me share! Can’t wait for a book!
Great line up of products. Thanks for sharing
Nerd Girl to help with those oliy eyelids that I myself suffer as well try concealer from MAC on the lid before applying shadow and it helps to lock the shadow in all day. My favorite brands are Physicians Formula found at a your local CVS for that bronzy dewey look for the summer great for cheeks and eyes. My old faithful mascara is Loreal Voluminous Lash, people ask me do I have on false lashes. MAC, hands down has the best selection of eyeshadows for all races. For the summer I’m rocking chrome yellow, orange, humid and electric eel, for intense color. I also love the lipglosses from MAC, oyster girl, cultured, star nova, c-thru. I’m a local makeup artist out of Detroit Michigan, so if you’re in need of an artist contact me @ missuno1@yahoo.com
This is my first visit to your blog but I am very impressed. You are a wonderful writer and helping me out a lot. I am a self-proclaimed tomboy about to start my first real job and I am ready for a change. This includes makeup, which I have NEVER worn before. I really appreciate this post and I look forward to trying some of these products. Thanks!
Soooo many great tips from you all!! MeikMeik, that NARS shadow sounds awesome! And thanks for the tip on Brown Skin — I really need to give it a try and review it.