Some Like it Wild!!!

As I've said before, I'm obsessed with my nails. I love trying new designs and being inspired. Well back in February, I was on YouTube watching a video from the user LOVE4NAILS. Her name is Raquel (hope I spelled that right), and she is a spectacular nail artist! Her videos never cease to amaze me.

One day I decided to do something I never do with my nail designs: copy. This design was stunning. And when I finished, I got sooooo many compliments. And I must give credit where credit is due. So this is a thank you post to her for being such a wonderful nail artist and an inspiration. So here is a picture of my finished product and the video that gave me step by step instructions on creating this beautiful nail look. Enjoy! :)

Stronger Nails :)

I am obsessed with my nails. I paint them every week (sometimes more than once), I treat them delicately, and I love to show them off. Unfortunately, all that changing things up had started taking a toll on my nails. I started noticing peeling, chipping, and breaks. It made me want to scream. But rather than be defeated, I decided to do something about it.

I walked into Walgreens and saw a coupon book. It just so happens they had a $2.oo off coupon for the Sally Hansen VitaSurge Strength Gel. Figuring I had nothing to lose and hating to miss out on a good deal, I decided to try it. Sally Hansen has some awesome products, and this was no exception.

The way the gel works, you just apply it to the nail and massage it in. I put mine on when after I cleaned the nail completely of debris and polish. Then I followed with my base coat, color, and top coat. And this is one of those products that can even be applied over dry color. When applying, I was sure to cover the entire nail including the free edge.

In a span of just a few days, I noticed that the peeling was clearing up.I couldn't believe it. It was like magic. I haven't had any chipping or breaking of nails in that span as well. My nails feel thicker and stronger. Bending them is really hard to do. That's a good sign. For this reason, it is my new favorite nail product. I recommend this to people with weak, peeling nails. Just try it. It's working for me. :)

I'm Back!

I know it's been awhile everybody, but I'm finally back to blogging. I was busy with my schoolwork. And I would like to tell you all that this weekend, I graduated from Park University. That chapter of my life is closed now, and I feel relief. LOL

I have a ton of products that I want to review and have been wanting to review for months. There are hair products, nail strengtheners, and a whole bunch of other wonderful beauty products. I also relaxed again. I haven't done that since February. Great results too. So stay tuned because there are tons of goodies. :)

New Additions are Great

I had a good time this evening. I was hanging out with my mother and we always have a good time. Today I took her to Sephora for the first time. It's not her bag, but she really dug the perfume section. We picked up the perfect gift for my grandmother, and I grabbed two items for myself as well. I won't put up a pick of my grandma's gift just in case there is a leak, but here's what I got.
This is Philosophy's Hope in a Tinted Moisturizer. I tried it out about a week ago and fell in love with it. This retails for $38 USD, but it's well worth it. No foundation needed when you use this stuff. It's amazing.I also picked up the Stila seasonal blush "Make Me Blush". It was so sweet that I just couldn't resist. I'm not too much into the Valentine's Day hype, but I love hearts, gold, and Stila cosmetics. This retails for $14 USD.
Our last stop was Wal-Mart. I couldn't resist the last purchase. It's the "Honey" perfume from Mariah Carey's Lollipop Bling Collection. It smells amazing. It's bright and lovely like a spring day. I will get the others in the next few weeks, but this one was the closest to my personal taste. It retails for $19 USD.

Rainbow Dazzling :)

I haven't had a lot of time to post lately. I'm so sorry all. This is my final semester of college, so I'm pushing things into overdrive.

One thing I have been maintaining fairly well, and occasionally are my nails. This is my design from last week. I couldn't figure out which color to use, so I just used them all. They were bright, fun, and I got lots of compliments. Perhaps, when I finally do get time, I will do a video tutorial on how to replicate some of my designs.

I Can Feel My Scalp

After approximately three months, I'm relaxed. I always say that I will not stretch again and then...Well, I do it again. LOL. It's been good for my hair though. It's so thick and strong. Length is increasing, but the thickness is my goal right now. And I'm definitely achieving that with no issues.

I will be posting pics tomorrow most likely, but I'm just glad to have gotten it done. I refuse to wear my hair down in this weather (brrrr!), so I just keep rockin my buns. Maybe I'll flat iron it because I need to trim and check length. HHG everybody! :)

Tumeric :)

The other I was talking with a friend of mine about natural remedies for the skin. For the record my friend is Indian and Bangladeshi. At any rate, I raise questions about spices and so on. Eventually we got on the subject of turmeric which is a base spice in many dishes from India and Bangladesh. Apparently it has quite a few benefits for the skin. However, it's a messy affair dealing with turmeric because it can stain, permanently. Not the skin of course, but clothes, counter tops, and any other surface that may be porous.

So you all know me. I had to get in the kitchen and try out a homemade turmeric mask. My goal was to brighten my skin up a little. The winter makes me dull and a little patchy because of the shorter days and less sunlight. I also have reddish undertones in my skin that don't go well with my winter makeup.

Here's what I used:

1/4 tsp Turmeric
1/2 tbsp Plain yogurt
1/2 tbsp Honey
1 tsp Lemon juice
1/4-1/2 tsp Pearl powder
1 tsp Mashed papaya

You'll also need:

small bowl
spoon
plastic gloves
facial exfoliating sponge
face wash

NOTE: Do not wear any clothes, shoes, socks or use any towels that you would wear outside the home. You will stain them in this process because it is inevitable. Also, wear plastic gloves to prevent staining of the fingers and protect any fabric around you that would accidentally be stained.

Mix the items together and apply over the face with the plastic spoon. Unused portions can be stored in the fridge for two days max, but try to use it all if you can. Let the mixture sit on the skin for approximately 15 minutes. Rinse completely with warm water. Moisten the exfoliating sponge and add your face wash. Gently wash the face at least twice to remove any leftover residue from the mask. Rinse again thoroughly, pat the face dry and tone use toner. Moisturize, and you're done.

The turmeric will give the skin a slight tint, but most of that will be washed away. Your skin should feel very smooth and glow as if you have been kissed by the sun. :)

Let me tell you. It's a messy affair but well worth it.