Moroccanoil | Oil Treatment | Review

For those of you who aren't familiar with Morccanoil they are the originating & leading brand in the professional argan oil hair product category, and the fastest growing independent company in the professional salon industry.

Moroccanoil Treatment is an ultra light formula which is absorbed by the hair instantly, resulting in a natural, silky finish and brilliant shine without leaving a residue. It has the ability to restore over processed hair damaged by environmental factors and chemical procedures.

Some of Moroccanoil's benefits include:

-Softens thick and unmanageable hair
-Restores shine and softness to dull, lifeless hair
-Strengthens brittle hair
-Promotes healing and provides nourishment to hair damaged by coloring and styling
-Protects against UV damage and other environmental factors
-Reduces drying time and speeds up styling time

The oil is really rich and almost reminds me of a syrup but it's not sticky. 

Glow: I really love the smell and the fact that it's pleasant but not at all overwhelming. The consistency of the oil is really rich and highly concentrated so you only need a small amount, it goes a long way. Per the directions, I applied  a small amount to my damp hair post shampooing & conditioning and just as it claims it indeed absorbed quickly! Also, I have naturally oily hair so I'm always hesitant about the types of oils & moisturizers I put in it, I was pleased that it did not weigh my hair down at all. I still had a lot of body and my hair was soft, shiny and silky!

Glare: *whispers* I wish the bottle was bigger!

Would I Recommend It? OMG! Yes! Yes! and YES! I'm not over exaggerating I've really fell in LOVE with this stuff lol.

Overall Glam: I was initially introduced to Moroccanoil a few months ago when my beautician used it on me. I loved it then as well but you know how your hair never seems to turn out the same when you attempt to do it yourself? Well lets just say I am IMPRESSED! Moroccanoil retails at $40.80 so it's not exactly what most would call "affordable" but from my experience with it I definitely think it's worth it. It's a price I'd be willing to pay being that you only need a little and because I don't straighten my hair that often so I think it would last a pretty long time in my favor.

Moroccanoil is available exclusively in professional salons. But be cautious because like most in demand products there are replicas of it all over the internet. So just be aware that when you purchase products from  unauthorized dealers such as Ebay, Amazon etc. you're also taking the risk that it may indeed be counterfeited and/or diverted products that are not protected by the company's warranty. To find out where you can buy genuine Moroccanoil products and to just learn more about the brand, please visit their website http://www.moroccanoil.com .

Product(s) in this post were provided for review. Read our disclosure policy here. 

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Part Time Business in Beauty

**Everyone loves Avon! We all have bought something from them. Why not join the team. For a small price you can become an Avon Associate that allows you to run your own business as well as receive more valuable professional development. Avon.com

**Mary Kay has a great line of targeted products. You can become a Independent Beauty Consultant sell great products that have been around since 63. It's  a bit more of a financial commitment but well worth it. Marykay.com

**Sell Mark! It's a cool more youthful beauty and fashion line by Avon. You can start your business for just $20. meetmark.com

**Do you make some cute crafts or jewelry? You can sell it on Etsy. It's a great website that supports handmade products. You can sign up for free and it only costs  20cents to list an item for four months.

**Do you love dancing and aerobics? You can teach total body conditioning program. Start your own franchise. jazzercise.com

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Glow Spotlight: Opulent Bath and Body

Welcome to another edition of Glow Spotlight! This is where we feature companies that make products that we adore and people that inspire us to keep on keeping on. If you know someone or you feel like you've got that glow yourself feel free to email us.


Can you believe its Fall already? Summer just flew by this year! As we all know when the weather changes so does our skin but thanks to Opulent Bath and Body company your transition can become easier. I was able to snag an interview with Jinger Marrero just to see what they're all about. Keep reading to be inspired.

Jinger

1. I love that you say "We combine old age ingenuity with new age creativity". How did the name and concept of Opulent Spirit come about?

The birth of Opulent Spirit is comprised of different events that happened over four year's time. The first event was in 2005 when I went into the hospital for major surgery. After my surgery, which seemed to work out well in the beginning, I started to hemorrhage and blood was crushing my lungs causing breathing distress. I was "on my way out" as they say. A second surgery saved my life. During this time my mother was in Atlanta awaiting word from New York where I was hospitalized. When she heard the news that I was in distress, she and my father began to pray. It had already been arranged that she would be coming up to New York the next day. When I saw her, she told me that as she was praying, the words "opulent spirit" came to her.

Well, needless to say that I survived and although not able to go back to work for almost 4 1/2 months, I was fine. Almost a year later, my mother went through illness and also had to have major surgery. She, as well almost didn't make it. When she came out of surgery, my mom realized how close she was to not being here and the doctors still wanted to operate to remove more of bacteria that infected her liver. In discussing this with the doctor, my mother told him that "divine intervention" was the only thing that was going to heal her. As mom confirmed this, she started to become well, and realized how Opulent, omnipotent, omnipresent, and all-encompassing, Spirit is. At the time, she didn't know why she kept using the term "Opulent Spirit" however, it was revealed at the beginning of 2009, when my grandmother Inez Hickerson Hudson, had a fire in her home at the age of 99.

After her hands were burned, and she had severe smoke inhalation, as well as being a smoker for many decades, all the doctors said she had a zero percent chance of survival. During the time of my grandmother's issue, I lost my job after working there for nine years. Looking for another job was a part of my daily agenda; however, I knew that there was something better than just another job out there for me. My mother was still talking about Opulent Spirit and we were both trying to figure out what we were going to do with the name. At one point, we were discussing my great, great grandmother Fancy Hance and how Fancy used to make soap. That's when we decided that we would carry on Fancy's legacy and make optimal quality skin care products. In the beginning, it was not easy. Finding quality products took time and patience. Many people said that "in this economy, it's a bad idea to start a business". However, we looked at the determination and perseverance of my grandmother, Inez.

She was quickly approaching her 100th birthday even though "professionals" said that there was no chance of her leaving the hospital alive. However, three months after her accident, my grandmother walked out of the hospital, determined to celebrate her 100th birthday which she did. We always knew how strong and determined she was. When she wanted something, she was unrelenting and this is why she was able to survive her ordeal. Although, she passed away a week to the day of her centennial, her determination showed us exactly what opulent spirit is. Watching her survival skills during those six months before she passed showed us how much opulent spirit is involved in everything that we do. Even though my mother and I have endured quite a bit, opulent spirit has blessed us with the legacy of our ancestors and knowledge of what they stood for. Opulent Spirit Bath Essentials is dedicated to the legacy of women and men that were able to survive and maintain their dignity and self respect no matter what the cost. We believe the experience of life is through Opulent Spirit and it is within all of us to tap into that energy.

2. Who does the opulent team consist of?

We are a family-owned business. Peni Shellman (mother) is President and CEO, Jinger Marrero (daughter) is Vice President and CFO, Al Shellman (father) is COO. The extended family is Nicole Hudson (cousin), Althea Hudson (aunt), Ricky Marrero (husband), and Mary Gilley ("family" - a friend that is close as family). These people are intricate in supporting and assisting us where ever it is necessary.

3. All of your products are ALL organic and free of any chemicals. What made you go this route?

Because our great, great grandmother Fancy Hance, and great grandmother Anna Hickerson only used and made organic material, we feel if it worked well for them it will work well for us. Knowledgeable people of our generation will choose natural products over processed products for many reasons, including the fact that it is healthy for your skin.

4. Reading your website I noticed that you have an event called "Ladies Night Out". Can you share with us what it is and what its all about?

Ladies Night Out is inclusive of different events that we do throughout the year. This includes events that we do during the day such as the newest event; "The Egyptian Spa Experience". Taking place from 1pm to 6pm on October 23, for $150 per person they will receive a massage, body wrap, facial, and foot massage. Each client will receive a gift packet with the products that will be used during the sessions.

5. What are the best products for dry skin and/or skin issues?

For Dry Skin: Everyone seems to love our Mango Melon body butter.
For skin issues: That depends on the issue. We do not diagnose issues and we always suggest seeing a doctor or dermatologist first. However, for minor issues we suggest our Foaming Body Bath Butter. This can be specially made with ingredients such Emu oil which is good for helping minor cases of eczema, psoriasis, and acne.

For people who shave (both men and women): We recommend Cool Down aftershave cream. This is a great product to use as a shaving cream or an aftershave to cool down the skin. Many men specifically have said that it eased their shaving bumps considerably to almost none.
For exfoliating dry, dead skin cells: Our Sweet Brown Sugar Scrub is all the rage for people who like to exfoliate. The granules of the sugar are so fine that this scrub is the only scrub in our collection that can be used on the face as well as the body. Like anything else, use it sparingly and follow the directions.
All of our other products also help in achieving soft, radiant skin.


6. What is the shelf life of your products?

Our shelf life varies. The majority of the butters will last from eight months to a year. There are expiration dates on the jars. The sugar and/or salt scrubs last approximately three to five months. The body washes and lotions last approximately two years.


7. Who is the Opulent woman?

Every woman who wants to experience life and abundance, along with soft, beautiful, radiant skin.


8. What advice can you give to women that may want to start a business but may be scared to take that step?

Just do it. Feel the fear and go for it anyway. Know that divine presence knows your desires and places people, and things in your path so that you will succeed. Don't listen to those vampires (some of them disguise themselves as "friends") that will do their utmost to take away your power. Stop listening to the negativity in the news. Right now is the best time for entrepreneurs. Go with the flow and do what gives you peace.


9. What new and exciting things do you have coming up in 2011?

Look for Bubbling Brown Sugar. This is a scrub and bubble bath in one. There are other products in the works and we will keep you posted.


10. What sets you apart from other bath and body companies?

We are family-owned. We make all of our products by hand. We use our own products for at least a year before we put them on the market. The people that work with us have to use the products also before selling them. We believe in building a relationship with our clients. They are able to speak with us personally in order to discuss their needs. We are not a "cookie cutter" company. Each person is different and we treat them as individuals not as statistics. We love our clients and our community. Although this is a computer oriented society, we believe that human contact is essential for the survival of the world. In the near future we will be providing jobs and training to people instead of having machines do the work. Although we have an answering machine, during business hours the phones are answered by a human voice not a machine. We want to perpetuate human intelligence rather than artificial intelligence.


This was a very inspiring interview. Not to mention that the products are great. Check back another time for a full review. You can check out the wonderful products here.

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Sonia Kashuk for Breast Cancer Awareness

Sonia Kashuk, Target and The Breast Cancer Research Foundation Introduce Beautiful New Ways to Support the Fight Against Breast Cancer.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October, breast cancer survivor and professional makeup artist Sonia Kashuk and Target have partnered with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation® (BCRF) for the fourth year in a row to create an exclusive, limited-edition collection.

The assortment of seven products is available from August 22 through October 24 with 15 percent of the purchase price to benefit BCRF.

Beauty expert Sonia Kashuk realized early on that makeup empowers, inspires and motivates. Her passion and talent has established her as one of the industry’s leading beauty educators. Because of her own personal experience with breast cancer, it is Sonia Kashuk’s mission to share her wisdom with women to help discover their true inner and outer beauty.

The collection includes:

BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY COSMETIC SPONGES
Effortlessly blend foundation to a flawless finish with this pair of pink makeup sponges. Try using these colorful blenders damp or dry for easy application and a complexion that looks air-brushed.
Price: $5.99

PRIMPING FOR A CAUSE CURLER & TWEEZER SET
Refresh your look with these must-have beauty tools that deliver flirty lashes and perfectly groomed brows. This double duty set opens the eye area for instant polish.
Price: $16.99

CIRCLE AROUND A CAUSE TRAVEL BRUSH SET
Housed in a chic pink case that doubles as a clutch, this professional-quality, six-piece travel brush set features long silver handles and brightly-colored pink bristles. Includes Sonia Kashuk’s signature blush brush, eye shadow brush, angled eye shadow brush, crease brush, smudge brush and lash & brow groomer – all the essentials to create beautiful looks for any occasion.
Price: $21.99

SEEING PINK PURSE BRUSH SET
This 4-piece brush set housed in a shimmering pink foldover case offers smaller sized brushes for touch-ups on-the-go. Complete with a blush brush, eye shadow brush, crease brush and concealer brush, this convenient kit includes tools for all your makeup application needs.
Price: $12.99

CIRCLE OF HOPE KABUKI BRUSH
This luxurious silver-handled brush with plush pink bristles expertly applies powder for a natural finish. Follow with a dusting of blush, bronzer or highlighter for radiant-looking skin in a flash.
Price: $12.99

PRETTY IN PINK EYE PALETTE
Enhance your eyes with this sweet trio of eye shadows including shimmering pale pink, petal and lilac shades. Housed in a slim, mirrored compact, this dazzling eye palette offers flattering eye shadow colors that will take you from day to night.
Price: $12.99

LEND A HAND NAIL TRIO
Look polished from fingers to toes with this set of three elegant nail polishes. Mauvey pink, metallic plum and deep violet shades look rich with an ultra-shiny, chip resistant finish.
Price: $9.99

All items from the Sonia Kashuk Collection can be purchased at your local Target.

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Wednesday Weekly Obsession | Gianmarco Lorenzi Crystal Pumps x Platform Sandal

Gianmarco Lorenzi | Crystal Platform Pump | $2,995.00

I know it's been quite awhile since I posted on this series but what better way to bring back my obsession than with a little shoe candy? Oh my GAWD!! Talk about having a shoegasm!!! Raven Symone was spotted sporting these babies in a recent appearance on the Wendy Williams Show. ( By the way, I adore Raven she seems so humble & grounded and has such a spunky personality! If you missed the show you can catch it here )

The Lorenzi Pumps retail close to $3,000 so unless you're one of those glow girl's whose theme song is 'Throw It In The Bag' I'm sure you'll appreciate a couple cheaper alternatives I've come across.

From ( L- R )

Miu Miu Glitter Peep Toes |  MyTheresa  | $465        

Miu Miu  | Net-A-Porter | $570

Gianmarco Lorenzi  | Cut Out Platform Sandal  |  $2,174

Last week Ashanti tweeted a pic of her at Fashion Night Out in LA rocking these kick ass Lorenzi Platform Sandal's in Black!  * Excuse the drool *  but if these heels were 6 inches of suicide then my final breaths never looked so pretty :o) These pumps are BAD!! 

Balling on a budget? Try these as a cheaper alternative. 

Zinah Stilettos | Steve Madden | $139.95

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Becca Cosmetics | Stick Foundation x Compact Concealer x Lip Tint | Review

BECCA Cosmetics is an Australian beauty line founded by make-up artist Rebecca Morrice Williams. The philosophy behind BECCA is about creating a natural flawless look for all women regardless of age or ethnicity. BECCA features a very wide range of shades with 34 concealer colors and 30 foundation colors.

I recently tried out BECCA's Stick Foundation, Compact Concealer & Lip Tints.

Compact Concealer in Almond

BECCA’s Compact Concealer cleverly contains two highly pigmented formulations within one slim compact – Extra-cover and Medium-cover. Enabling layering and mixing, this ingenious product provides total camouflage for almost any skin problem including blemishes, scars, birthmarks and under eye circles.

-The medium-cover version is sheer and creamy- perfect for dark shadows in the under-eye area

-The extra-cover version provides exceptional camouflage and adheres well to the skin

Stick Foundation in Truffle

The ultimate skin savior, creating the illusion of flawless skin by evening out skin tone and lightly concealing blemishes. A unique balance between maximum sun protection (SPF 30+) and long lasting wear.

-The soft, creamy texture allows a totally controllable level of coverage

-The non-powdery formulation is suitable for most skin types (including ultra-sensitive) and provides sheer to medium, natural looking coverage

-Doubles as a sheer under-eye concealer

Glossy Lip Tint ( L-R ) in Amaretto & Marsala

A long lasting translucent gloss that delivers radiant shine with a splash of colour. Deliciously scented with a hint of strawberry parfait, this luxurious formulation is silky-smooth and completely non-sticky.

-Conditions lips with long-lasting shine

-The most comfortable gloss you will ever wear

-Easy to use wand style applicator

-Non-sticky

Above: I'm wearing Stick Foundation in Truffle & Lip Tint in Amaretto 

-These are two different looks I created using BECCA's Stick Foundation, Compact Concealer & Lip Tints. ( Eyeshadow's by Coastal Scents )

Below: I'm wearing Stick Foundation in Truffle & Lip Tint in Marsala

Glow: The Stick Foundation truly lived up to its claims. Its by far one of the most natural looking foundations that I've tried. I also really loved the fact that it felt virtually weightless, it was really light and maintained throughout the entire day. I honestly felt like I wasn't wearing makeup, it wasn't heavy at all! The Lip Tint was another favorite as well, it wasn't sticky or waxy feeling and  it lasted a pretty good time, I only had to reapply it once.

Glare: I'd say so far the only downside I've noticed is that the Foundation colors in comparison to the swatches on BECCA's website aren't really the closest depiction of the actual hues. If you notice my foundation stick above in Truffle looks a little orange which is due to the flash because its much darker in person.  Before purchasing I'd definitely contact one of BECCA's reps to assist you with picking your perfect shade.

Would I Recommend It? Absolutely!

Overall Glam: I'm very pleased with my overall BECCA experience, the products are very high in quality and most importantly they actually do what they claim. Not to mention with over 30 foundation colors you're guaranteed to find a shade that's going to keep your complexion flawless!

Products in this post were provided for review. Read our disclosure policy here.

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Some more EOTD's!

So lately I've been back into doing my eye makeup everyday. For a while I was just doing foundation, lipstick, and blush. I'm in love with my Urban Decay Naked palette and my eyeshadow palettes from Sugar Pill. So as you will notice a lot of my EOTD's for a while will probably be from these two brands.

I'm wearing Sugar Pill eye shadow's in Tako & Afterparty as well as Bobbi Brown Steel.


This is how it looked further away. I used MAC's Texture eye shadow as my highlight so you probably can't tell in the picture since it's neutral on me.

I used Urban Decay Virgin mixed in with a Too Faced shimmery white eyeshadow in the corner, UD Buck on my lid, and on the outer corner, I'm not sure. I think it's Bobbi Brown Steel or UD Creep.

The look further away.

And in all these pictures my eyeliner is always Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero and Clinique's High Impact mascara.

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Own The Look: Dress and Blazer Combo Look

Earring by Queen of kitsch
Blazer by Samsoe o Samsoe
Ring by Vintage
Dress by Missoni
Heels by Massimo Dutti

When the weather starts the change, you can pair your favorite dresses with cute little blazers!

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Sigma Makeup Brushes Review

I’ve fallen in love with a new phenomenal set of makeup brushes. Sigma Makeup has created a truly essential brush kit for face and eyes. The kit ($54 value) includes 3 brushes for face and 3 brushes for eyes. You have everything you need in this kit to create most looks you desire. These perfect brushes are professional quality with soft bristles in natural and synthetic. Each brush was completely hand sculpted and contains a wood handle and nickel planted brass ferrules.  How can you go wrong with such a phenomenal design?

Check out my new Sigma Brushes:

Large Powder Brush

It’s truly a perfect brush for me. Being a powder foundation lady, this brush helped to give me full coverage with its natural bristles.

Due Fibre Brush

For all the ladies wanting a Temptu Airbrush system, this is the perfect alternative brush to use with your liquid foundation to give a perfect finish. With a blend of synthetic and natural bristles along with the shape makes it a good choice for loose pigments. I even recommend this tool for trio blush blends/bricks.

Pencil Brush

This is a good tool to add color to the corner of the eye or applying color to the crease. It’s also good in helping smudge out pencil lines when creating every look.

Tapered Blending Brush

This is probably my favorite brush. I’m all about blending colors and this is the perfect tool. This rounded brush is great to blend specifically three and four color effects.

Eye Shading Brush

This is the ideal brush to put your main colors on your eye. The natural bristles are soft and perfect to create the main effects of your look.

Buffer Brush

This is my first buffer and I love it. It’s small and great to buff colors and create softer looks. You can use this tool with your powders.

Glow: I love the shape of the Sigma products, its perfect for every effect you are looking to make. The bristles are soft and feel wonderful to the eyes. I’m in love with the Tapered Blending Brush and Large Powder Brush because they work wonders in my looks.  When you think of professional quality brushes you think of expensive, but with these beauties you can have them at reasonable prices.

Would I recommend? Yes, I definitely recommend these brushes to all the glow girls out there. They are quality brushes that will stay in your collection for a long time.

Overall Glam: Take a peek at the look I created with my Sigma Brushes. The look came out just the way I wanted. The precise tools allowed me to even cut down on prep. The Buffer is a lifesaver!

Here are some other smart choices for Sigma Brushes:

Foundation Brush

This is a great brush for ladies who use liquid foundation. It would definitely help get coverage to the crease, such as by the nose. This is also a great tool for ladies using concealer, specifically under the eye.

Large Angled Contour Brush

This is a good brush to use with your blushes.  The large angle will provide an opportunity to give sweeping movements of color to your cheeks without giving an overwhelming effect to your face.

 Concealer Brush

This is a perfect tool to work with in small areas. For instance, around the nose and eye you can conceal the areas you may normally miss using other tools. This is also great for those who need just a little to cover up under the eye.

Medium Angled Shading Brush

The shading will help to enhance your brow line with its angle. Either if darkening or lightening under the brow, this will be your most precise tool.

Small Angle Brush

If you are a cream eyeliner type of girl this angle brush is great to use on the lash line. The angle will help to provide great effect especially in creating the smokey eye.

Large Shader Brush

This is something you need when prepping the eye with your favorite primer. It allows you to give the eye full coverage with your cream primers. Great for us Urban Decay primer girls.

Eyeliner Brush

For you ladies with a steady hand (not me) this tool will allow you to line the eye with precision. This will provide an opportunity for you to use your color and create your own liner effect.

Products in this post were provided for review. Please read our disclosure policy here.

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