Like any witty consumer, I love to catch a great sale.  It’s even more exciting to get a fabulous beauty sale!  Here are a few ways to save extra money and get some great deals!

Online Sample Sale Sites: Hautelook, Gilt Groupe, Rue La La, Ideeli. These invite-only sites are great ways to not only get great beauty deals, but designer fashion, houseware, etc. I’ve done my fair share of shopping on these sites, and trust me, they are legit! Most products are on sale for a large discount. Plus, you receive a credit to your account anytime someone you refer makes a purchase.

Just a few weeks back, I made purchases from Kevyn Aucoin Cosmetics, and saves about $50. I only bought 3 products.

Cosmetics Company Stores: Such a great way to save on Estee Lauder products! They’ve got Bobbi Brown, MAC, Origins, Prescriptives, Estee Lauder, Clinique and more. You’ll save 30% on these items. There are so many of these across the country, you probably haven’t even noticed them! Read on for a list of locations.

Sephora: The sale section is great! I almost check here before I check out everything else. If you’re a makeup artist, it’s especially good to keep an eye out for foundations, concealers and things of the like. You can find rare extra dark and extra light colors, beauty gift sets, and other random finds.

Saturday Newspaper Circulars: Buy One, Get One (free or half-off) is a basic reoccurrence in the world of drugstore beauty. It’s a week long sale, and you can often get some of your favorite beauty products for under $5!

Note: Links in the Online Sample Sale Section are Affiliate Links.

We met her as Leena James in A Different World. As the years went on, we watched her on Set It Off, The Matrix, Ray, and Hawthorne.  I’m proud to claim the petite vixen as a fellow Baltimorian.  Here are some of the hottest looks from Mrs. Smith!

The silvery blue eye shadow is a hit! With her lovely bone structure, this smokey eye works perfectly for her. I’m thinking about doing this look over the weekend!

I love the hair more than the makeup here.  Buns are always such classic looks, and the side bang really suits her face.  Neutral makeup is always a winner! 

There’s More of Jada Under the Cut! Continue reading “Celebrity Beauty Guide: Jada Pinkett Smith” »

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Words cannot even express how happy this video makes me. The video had turrets, it seemed like it was all over the place. I had no clue where they were going with it at sometimes. Nevertheless, I loved every freakin’ second of it! Beyonce still can’t act, but she always gets an A for effort. Everyone looked freakin’ amazeballs. Beyonce’s Hair and Makeup were done by Francesca Talot, Kim Kimble and Nicola Formachetti , Gaga’s hair and makeup by Billy B. and Danilo.

Zoe Saldana is popping up all over the place! First of all, she’s too gorgeous for words. The Avatar star is on the March cover of Essence Magazine. I can’t wait to see Zoe’s spread, doesn’t she photograph beautifully?  I’m even more excited about “The Best Foundation For Our Skin Tones”!  These are the articles that make me a happy woman! Read on for more…

Singer and DJ Solange Knowles has been named a new Ambassador for Rimmel London! She’s now part of the fam with models Kate Moss, Coco Rocha, Alejandra Ramos Munoz and Actress Zooey Deschanel. I love seeing mainstream brands include brown girls!  Now I’ll try a few more of their products!

Kim Kardashian has a new Iphone App.  You can ask Kim a question. Every Tuesday and Friday, she’ll answer a question via her app. Some of the answers will also be sent out on twitter.  Check out the App Here.

The Real Housewives of Atlanta are in town this week for Bravo.  My best friend Warren B. was hired to do makeup for Nene Leakes and Lisa Wu Hartwell. I assisted him during his job yesterday in NYC. (Can you believe that just 7 months ago, I created a makeup tutorial based on Nene?!)  When we arrived, Nene already did her brows, which were chiseled to perfection!  She used a brow pencil (is it safe to assume it was MAC Spiked?).   I’m sure you all want to know the dish, and let me say this.  What you see on TV is real, Nene and Lisa are NO different than they are on camera.  They are as real as it gets!  Here are the looks that Warren did on the ladies. Click here for the looks!!! Continue reading “Dreams DO Come True: Warren B. Paints Nene and Lisa Wu!” »

And now, the final installment of MAC lipstick finishes!  These are some of my favorite lipsticks.  Each of these categories include colors that are packed with color, with I love.  I’ve included some lipsticks that you can buy at your local counter, some that are limited edition, and some that have discontinued for over 5 years.  The point isn’t to sell you anything (which it never is), but to further explain.

Frost

Continue reading “Guide to MAC Lipstick Finishes: Frost, Amplified and Cremesheen” »

On March 21, 2010, my darling Warren B. and I will be hosting a meet and greet in our Nation’s Capital! If you are a makeup artist, hair stylist, nail tech, model, photographer, beauty blogger, makeup junkie, come hang out with us! Bring as many business cards as humanly possible, you never know who you’ll meet!

We’ve got some great news that we’ll announce, eventually!  We’d love to meet you and hang out for the night!

Where:  Fly Lounge, Washington DC

When: Sunday, March 21, 2010

Open Bar 8-9 pm

Drink Specials until Midnight

Please RSVP via Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=10150101010275696

Last night’s Academy Awards were a huge success in my book. Instead of my usual live tweeting during the red carpet event, I stayed with my BFF and her 3 month old daughter. We oooh’ed and ahhh’ed. Loved it! Here are my favorite head-to-toe looks from the red carpet and beyond!

My girl Sarah Jessica Parker was a stunner. The first 3 seconds of looking at her, I thought, “what?” But that’s the magic of SJP. As the fourth second approached, I thought “Oooh, I get it! Yes SJP!” Her sense of style is on a different level. Always chic, always testing the waters. The mega-bun rocked my socks. However the “I love walking down the street on windy days” look was not so hot.

Who else can’t stop talking about Zoe Saldana? She’s already hot to begin with, but the hair, makeup, dress, shoes. Wow. There are a few brief moments where I only love her dress from the belly button, up. And then I see the rest of the dress and think that it can be cool too. But the shoes. Wow. Might have to snatch those up!

Continue reading “Five Oscar Looks that Demand Applause” »

Ah, it’s that lovely time of year again. Birds chirping (almost), snow melting (thank God) and beautiful Black women are being honored for their stellar achievements. This year’s honorees for the 3rd Annual Black Women in Hollywood included Cicely Tyson (Legend Award), Gabriel Sidebe (Best Breakthrough Performance), Queen Latifah (Power Award), Zoe Saldana (Star to Watch Award) and Mary J. Blige (Songstress of the Year). I love events like this! We all remember Jada’s emotional moment last year, correct? Let those tears flow, Lena James! Essence.com is giving us exclusive access to the event, so be sure to also follow them on twitter. I’m definitely looking forward to sharing more images from the event, so stay tuned!

Also, make sure to enter to win a Swagbag courtesy of Essence and Lincoln! I surely am!

The three lipstick finishes that we’ll cover today are full of coverage. They are long lasting. They are great! Here, we’ll take a look at some of the choices.  Remember to click on the image to see it up close and personal!

Satin

Continue reading “Guide to MAC Lipsticks: Satin, Matte and Mattene” »